Leap of Faith

[Ginrai]

"What?!" Ginrai sputters to the rather unexpected reply from the Lady.

Before he can ask the Lady if she's joking Ginrai wisely shuts up and sighs.  "I guess that's why you're a bit wary of me?"

[Brian]

"Your lore is your own path," she says, not really answering the question.  "More to the point," she says, directing an inquiring look at Bjorn.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn shrugs.  "I worry about traps, m'Lady.  Tripwires, triggers hidden in the cobblestones, what have you.  We can watch for anything living, but there's nothing to do but go slowly for the rest.  Something to sweep ahead of us would be nice, but it seems we're lacking."  Bjorn grunts.  "Then we go slowly.  Don't take a step without feeling your way through it.  If a stone shifts, or if you feel resistance, stop, and warn the rest."

Bjorn looks around, to see if anyone has objections or suggestions.

[Huitzil]

"I don't know if those lizard things are smart enough to set traps... they did eat their own instead of going after us, which could have got them more food."

He pauses. "Unless there's something else down here with them."

[Ginrai]

"Quite possible.  I really wish I had more time to look through my book and see if there was any spell to detect others in a surrounding area."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn grunts.  "There almost certainly is," he says to Paul.  "Those lizards were bad, but enough men, with spears... they'd be nothing.  This place has a reputation for a reason.  I'd rather be patient than dead.

"As for spells," Bjorn shrugs.  "If you don't have spells, then wishing for them doesn't do anything.  So.  Any ideas, or shall we proceed?"

[Brian]

The lady nods.  "This is your area of expertise," she says, gesturing you to lead the way.

[Bjorn]

Looking around at the other silent faces, Bjorn shrugs.  "Well, then."  Fumbling briefly at his belt, he unhooks his scabbard.  Holding it by the mouth in his left hand, he says, "If you have anything solid, use it to check ahead of you as you walk.  Otherwise, stay directly behind someone who does."

With a last look around, to make sure everyone understands, he starts off down the corridor, sliding his scabbard along the ground in front of him, carefully poking at each cobblestone before putting his weight on it.  At the same time, he keeps his sword held in front of him, slowly swinging it (edge upwards) from side to side across his body.  It's slow tedious going, but better, he thinks darkly, than dying.  

It leaves him sufficient time to wonder just who and what his this-self was, that creeping through underground ruins is his "area of expertise."

[Huitzil]

Paul checks his stuff for anything similar he could use; besides the lute of course.

[Brian]

Paul: You got nothing.

Bjorn: You proceed.  With grueling slowness.

You reach the top of a rise, and enter another largish room.  This one's got spirals all over the floor -- cobblestones of black and white whirling into something in the center.  And the last cobblestone you poked is either lose, or a trap.

This room's probably about forty meters, circular.  One other exit, as usual.  Without being asked, the lady brightens the light.  The walls here are dark.  Dark enough that you hope any pale lizards can't hide in it.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn gestures sharply with his sword hand for everyone to stop.  "This stone is loose," he says, warningly.  "Get back."

When everyone has retreated a good distance, he gingerly lifts the scabbard off the stone, keeping himself ready to jump in any direction.

[Brian]

You step back ... and thin, razor-wide curved discs of metal saw through the air, leaping between cracks in the cobble-stones to dice any unwary traveler who steps on the cobble the wrong way before vanishing beneath the floor once more.

Luckily, you are out of range, yourself.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn closes his eyes and exhales, carefully repressing his impulse to tremble.  Inhaling again, he opens his eyes, and observes, "Well.  That wasn't wasted effort."

Studying the layout of the room, for a second, Bjorn then looks down at the scabbard of his unfortunately short sword, and then grimaces.  Turning back to the rest of the group, he says, "Master Parthipan, I think I need to borrow your staff."

[Ginrai]

"Eh?!  Wait one moment here, Bjorn.  You sure that it won't end up getting cut into pieces by the razors?"

[Bjorn]

Bjorn eyes the staff.  "Fairly certain.  It looks like a  nice, hard wood.  From experience, it wouldn't be easy to cut, and I don't plan to hold it in place for the blades to go through.  

"On the other hand, those blades will go through me without a moment's pause, and my scabbard doesn't have enough reach to test the area around the entrance without putting myself at more risk than I care for."

He cocks an eyebrow.  "If don't want me holding the staff, I'll understand -- but I don't see that we have anything that'll do the job even half so well."