Victor raised an eyebrow as he watched Luciel reveal his wide arsenal of crossbow related weaponry and gear. Bolts of a peculiar size as if etched to fit the interesting custom crossbow. Though only one of medium size for Victor it was large in the boys hands and he had set up a crank from a much larger crossbow to assist in reloading. He took aim at one of the strange scarecrow-like creatures on the ground and, with superb aim nailed the thing center mass, the bolt tearing through the creature but to seemingly no effect.

Regardless Victor laughed and lightly clapped the boy on the back, "A fine shot Luciel, fine indeed. You have quite the aim for a boy your age.", he chuckled, watching as their companions made their way down the newly formed spiral stair like structure, first Rose... and he intended to be next. Hopefully before Luciel could do anything Victor scooped im up and tried to place him on his shoulders in one smooth motion, "For such a good shot you shouldn't need to walk! Come, if your on my shoulders you'll be able to better survey our surroundings!", he stated elatedly as he made his way behind Rose, and debating charging her and throwing her off the stairs to her death... no too suspicious, besides she hadn't revealed his true nature yet as far as he knew. "What d you see Luciel? Anything going on with that cottage?"

~~~~~~

With a sigh, Luciel's composure tempered after seeing the impact from the bolt yield no avail. Frowning, he took hold of the mechanism to wind up his armament for a second bolt just in case the first one had struck a fake of some sort. Truth be told, he'd never even seen a scarecrow before and the pitch-colored entities that inhabited the field would have surprised him, either way. Rationalizing his actions, what business would so many of a similar figure be doing so far below ground?
Cynically, Luciel joked with himself about the idea about most humans looking the same with the exception of the interesting group he'd fallen into step with.

The chimera's expression shifted as he muttered a small 'tch' after seeing the result of his efforts yield virtually nothing. Darkly, he had hoped that the figure was some form of entity in disguise as to make a fool of their supposed 'camouflage'.
Again came the comment on his age from Victor while Luciel watched Rose begin their descent and make their way through the field. "Yeh...iz..." he softly began, unsure how to conclude his statement.
Although, it would seem as though he didn't need to as Victor scooped him off of his feet with just enough time to snatch his cloak off of the ground. More along the lines of instinctively reaching for a means to hold himself down, Luciel was not a huge fan of being picked up and it showed as he clung to the wings of the man's helmet. "H-hey!" the chimera barked, ears folding back while wrapping himself around Victor to keep from falling off. Thankfully, the sling kept him from dropping the crossbow which could jokingly have a purpose with such a vantage point while on top of the knight.
"I invite you to ask for permission!" Luciel growled, complying by giving the area a good look as the tapestry unfolded and settled around the two. "Ehn...no...nohszink" he stated in a hushed tone, skeptical as not even smoke rose from the chimney. It wasn't like it was cool enough for a fire, but cooking took time and the field was eerily peaceful in a graveyard-esque way.
It certainly had the chimera at odds with the otherwise lovely scenery.

~~~~~~

It wasn't much longer before Victor reached the ground, Luciel still on his shoulders with legs around his helm and hands gripping the ornamentation on his helm. He grumbled as he felt the boy starting to go off balance obviously not paying attention. He quickly set his hands back to balance him, accidentally gripping the boy by his rump to push him into a more stable and safe position... be a shame to lose such pure blood to an unlucky tumble.

~~~~~~

Luciel had been trying to get comfortable on Victor's shoulders, leveling the crossbow at the figures as they passed by them after finishing loading another bolt. Just because the one he shot didn't react in no way meant he trusted them. As he heard a splash of some sort, he turned his attention to the pond and had assumed it was a fish of some sort before jumping as the gauntleted hand pushed him back up.
Blushing lightly, Luciel growled and gave the top of Victor's helmet a smack while his ears stood back up. Though his hand now stung, he hoped the knight at least got the message, tail plume fluttering with indignance.

~~~~~~

Victor heard the smack on his helmet and for a moment thought a rock had hit him before he heard Luciel make a hiss of pain. He laughed a bit, "What? Would you rather have fallen and possibly gotten hurt Luciel?", he smiled and approached Rose, coming up beside her, Luciel still on his shoulders, "So, are we heading for the cottage or not? We could need the supplies, and besides its shelter.", he scanned the area around, similar to Luciel searching for what or who may have caused the splash a bit earlier. Seeing nothing he decided it was not a threat and turned back to look at the cottage, wondering what it could be hiding from them.

Odd little thing. Wooden but found in the middle of a treeless cavern, no smoke from the chimney in spite of the fact he could guess it was near dinner time. Certainly eerie... but what wasn't in this strange existence of unlife Victor lead? Nothing had been normal for him for quite some time... oh well, soon he would know exactly what secrets it held.

Mathias and Lila kept moving at a pace to keep ahead of the Pursuer. Its supernatural speed was curious as it was easily able to keep up despite the limping in its gait. Up ahead the light that Lila had mentioned grew in intensity as they closed the distance. It was raised into the air. Through cringing eyes Mathias could make out the outlines of people or more likely humanoid creatures.

The unknown personage called down the tunnel. "Who goes there?"

Mathias may well have called back but noticed a glinting reflection swinging out of the corner of his vision. The Pursuer's great axe swept through the air. Mathias spun, driving his shield quickly in place to block the attack. The sheer force behind it staggered him away several feet. That one's going to hurt later.

The Pursuer started moving toward Lila. Mathias intercepted it with a challenging shout, trying to lock its attention. The strength of his voice was startling to many creatures that were capable of fearing. This one however seemed little more than inconvenienced that something was in its way toward easier prey. Now that Mathias was face to face with his assailant he could tell how large this fearsome creature was. In life he must have been a champion among the barbarian raiders from outside the walls. Maybe he led a group down here to try and find a way past them. The towering Pursuer raised its own warcry, a terrifying raspy shout that defied human limit.

Taking the axe in both hands it swept down toward Mathias, eager to split him like a log. The lord leapt back, realizing he wasn't going to block something like that. Finally given the chance, he glanced back at the person addressing them. No way he was going to take this thing down on his own.

"SIr Godfrey of Penshold!" He exclaimed his title without announcing himself a lord. The Pursuer quickly recovered its strike and prepared a sweep that spanned the cave tunnel. Mathias jumped back again but his enemy kept pressing forward. Between strikes he called back. "A little help?" Screw formalities this was a dangerous foe. Finally he backed out of the cave mouth into the massive underground road.

Cyrano carefully set his treasures down and as out of the way as he could before following Fazra back down the hall he and eh-cho had come through. The scent definately came from the smaller tunnel that fazra had found, as did the sounds of struggle.
"Shall we to battle fellow Fazra?" Cyrano asked, even as someone stepped out from the tunnel wielding a torch and a shield, clearly hard pessed and holding his own.
Cyrano peered down the tunnel and saw the abomination pressing toward where they were gathered in the larger tunnel. Cyrano moved, intending to place what he thought was a reassuring claw on the new-comers shoulder, and let forth a mighty bellow of challenge belying his usually mellow, demeanor.
@Necrophage "no fear fellow. Let us feast on this foes bones" he said with a growl in his throat.

Running again. These tunnels only seemed to get ever more dangerous, Lila recalling having been running from another large creature before finding herself down here. This one wielded a mighty axe to match its size. It a glance she could tell that it was not like anything she'd ever come across. It's appearance was that of death and decay. How was it that this thing was moving? Though she was faster than Mathias she didn't want to leave him behind.

The light ahead moved into direct view and was raised up. A voice called out asking for their names. This hardly seemed the time but that would soon become apparent to those ahead. The sounds of her companion fighting drew her attention again as he had drawn attention from her with a battle cry. Unphased the lumbering foe let out a much more intimidating yell before attempting to sweep the two with his axe. While Mathias dove for the newcomers Lila lept for the walls. Essentially on her own she was going to rely on her speed and reflexes to survive. Somehow she did not feel that she had much of a chance of taking this thing down. While the strength of her legs were capable of dismemberment it would not be enough for something this large.

From experience though the spider woman knew that she didn't necessarily need to kill something to eliminate a threat. Scaling the wall with ease she became the closest target. Swinging the axe once again the Pursuer attempted to hit Lila as she moved upward. The movement of something this large was much easier to read and before getting cleaved it two she jumped up and over both the axe and its wielder. Trailing behind her was a strong strand of web that draped over and stuck to the Pursuer harmlessly. For something this large it would take several more but it was the start of her plan. Hopefully with some assistance she could do more before slipping up.

Gish went along after the others, watching the scarecrows intently, certain that they were about to come alive and rend Rose to pieces even as she poked and prodded at it. She was almost disappointed when it remained as still as a statue and the black hunk that coated them smelled much worse up close. Combined it reminded her of home, but this concentrated? Yuck!

She waves a hand in front of her face as the smell reaches her nose in force. "Maybe they're meant to keep something away? Mother once whipped up some gunk that kept mosquitos away with a smell. And scarecrows are meant to keep things away anyway."

Then Rose directed her attention to it. "Things like that!" she yelped. Tentacles. Tentacles! Why was it tentacles!? She jumped backwards, clanging herself into Sir Guttman, before scrambling behind him and Luciel. She peekd out from between his legs at the thing. God, it was so much worse than the first one. At least that one had had a proper face, sort of like a fish or alligator. This thing didn't even have that. Had that splash earlier been this thing coming out of the water?

"Let's," Fazra replied in a growl to Cyrano. Her polite demeanor was gone, replaced by a sudden battle fury. Though when the armored man announced his heraldry, a small voice in the back of her mind acknowledged it. She did not know the place he mentioned, but a Sir is a Sir, as far as she cared.

She charged down the tunnel, keeping toward the right to leave room for Cyrano beside her. The spider creature that accompanied the knight had spun a web to capture the undead thing. It wasn't enough to hold it, but it destructed it enough that it didn't bring its axe up in time to catch Fazra's hammer as it swing into the thing's head.

The helmet caved in, and the sound of crunching bone could be heard. The dead thing staggered, but did not fall, despite the grotesque angle its neck now bent at.

Cyrano let down the narrow hallway after fazra, and it was only at this point that he noticed spider thing, and the ensnaring webs that it had woven in its own struggles against the abomination.
"Fellow or foe?" He asked himself out loud while still turning his attention to the abomination rather than the spider thing. If it attacked him, then he would know.
He placed himself at Fazras side as the abomination regained it's balance and pressed the attack in another great sweeping arc, seemingly teying to cleave through both fazra and cyrano in one blow. Had either of them been lacking in either strength or courage, the abomination might have done so, but as it was, Cyrano caught the blow that still nearly threw him into fazra, and bit down hard on the things wrist. A bite that would have easily sheared through most of a man did not loosen the abominations grip on its weapon, but still Cyrano reared and braced himself to try to keep the weapon pinned so that another could close and destroy the thing. Cyrano did not need the taste that he got of the creature to know that it's strength and endurance were magically fueled, but knowing so helped assuage his pride at not being able to take the things arm off in one blow

Echo nodded in agreement to the battle plan as he followed Cyrano and Fazra down the hall. A new knight and a spiderwoman came into view first and moments later a very eerie man appeared as well. He appeared to be badly injured or at a closer look quite definitely dead. The nature of his movements were probably magic, but nonetheless they were certainly lethal. With Cyrano, Fazra and the knight all facing it, there was little room for his to actively engage as well. He laid his door off to the side, making it easier for him to possibly maneuver his way into the fight.

He noticed the spiderlady leave a strand of silk across the dead guy as she gloriously lept over him. He saw that she planned to do this more times. He decided that he would try to help her. He quickly made his way around behind Fazra and grabbed onto a loose piece of the web. It was very odd though, because it didn't let go of him. Even though the silk was stuck to his hand he figured there was nothing he could do about it now, and began to run around the dead guy. As he made his way to any of his allies he would wait for a break in their action, before sliding or diving passed them to keep them from getting ravelled up as well. As more silk fell around he quickly grabbed them and contiued his rounds. He had no trouble hanging onto the threads, in fact that seemed to be slowly becoming a problem.

Mathias was suddenly surrounded by friendly strangers, all eager to help him and Lila survive. The term stranger must definitely be stressed as it seemed none of them were human at first glance either. The strange throng of allies worked well against the Pursuer, disabling it quickly.

The Pursuer was not done, in a strangely intelligent fit of rage it peeled the crushed helmet from its twisted skull and hurled it at Fazra. Its axe hand was being effectively crushed by the gargoyle. In an empowered effort to free itself the Pursuer moved its free hand against the gargoyle and rammed him toward the wall, everyone else be damned.

Mathias shouted. "Disable the legs! Power comes from the base of the body, don't let him move!."

While Victor made to question rose, Luciel looked over her in the direction she was facing the a grip on her stick. He may have been wrong about the figures all around them, but the writhing tentacles of the entity were unmistakably alive. Shouldering his crossbow, he aimed at the ground slightly in front of the figure since Rose was apparently attempting to communicate with whatever it was.
This approach isn't one that Luciel would have picked, but he doubted how much effect his crossbow would have...assuming he could even strike a vital point, wherever it was in the creature. An attempt to talk it down from any inherent hostility it could harbor appeared as viable as a preemptive strike...which wasn't saying much.
Regardless, Luciel had already played himself as a fool in regards to the 'scarecrows' which Gish's explanation validated. They were hideous and foul, but as long as they stayed inanimate, the chimera found it easy to put them out of his mind in favor of more pressing matters.
As composed and logical as the thoughts leading to Luciel's rational in resisting the urge to spend another round to test this mysterious figure, he openly trembled...more than what others could percieve as 'usual' by now. Ears folding back and a curiously eyeing Unyat, eyeing them up. Today had tested his nerves, and his rashness was attributed to being out of his element, though now with weapons to fight back his anxiety and those that caused it.

Lila's efforts were not in vain it seemed as everyone nearby appeared to rally to their aid. Quite an odd assortment of races at that. Not one of them was alike. She had not the time to question how or why they were gathered together though. Wasting no time in chatter the orc woman took her mighty hammer to the Pursuer's head. Much to Lila's surprise the blow didn't seem to phase it's target. However the attack was followed up by the stone creature attacking the arm holding the axe while the other newcomer seemed to understand what she was trying to do with her webbing.

With the immediate threat of being sliced in two gone Lila felt a bit more bold. Mathias had the right idea in immobilizing the larger foe. It was how she often approached pray. Once it could no longer move it made easy pickings. The others having its attention she scurried around and jumped on the Pursuer's back. It was struggling to free itself from the gargoyle's grip but her eight legs held fast. As quick as she could she touched the end of her spinneret to one leg and moved back and forth between the two legs, working her way upward. Creating a zigzag pattern of strong sticky webbing her hope was as the monster struggled it would find its legs bound ever closer together.

In the tussle she missed the other arm of the Pursuer reaching back to grab her. Being pulled from its back by its unusual strength she was tossed aside like she was nothing. Bouncing off the floor several times she managed to right herself mostly unscathed. From a distance she realized the one that had been holding the lantern could very soon find himself in bad position if she didn't free him from the strands of web he'd grabbed to assist. Hurrying over she pleaded. "Please hold still while I free you." The front two of her legs reaching out toward where he'd grabbed the web she made quick work of unsticking him.

Cyrano actually cracked the stone of the passageway as the abomination drove his head into the cave wall, but Cyrano held his grip on the monster despite, and indeed, seemed little phased by it. He saw the efforts to constrain the creature using the spider lady's webbing, and decided to try to use that to his advantage. He braced himself against the wall and pushed with the whole strength of his body back against the abomination while it was focused on throwing the spider lady. When the momentum of his shove had carried them both sufficiently far from the wall, Cyrano got his feet under him and finally released the nearly severed wrist to launch himself with all his speed and might at the abominations knees, mouth and claws agape seeking purchase to again grapple the foe. It was easy to do, the webbing soon caught Cyrano up along with the abominations legs, but he gave little heed to his own entaglement. He did, as he continued to kick and thrash and claw and bite in an effort to topple the abomination, give a thought to Eh-cho and sir godfrey of penshold and what the crushing weight of the beast might do to those smaller and made of less solid material. "Ware fellows!" Cyrano shouted.... or meant to shout. "Wharwwflllllofffff!" It sounded more to his ears. Oh well. No help for it now, there was webbing thoroughly covering his eyes now as well.

The legs, of course, Fazra thought as Cyrano was already tackling the creature to the ground. A living being would be dead from the Orcish knight's onslaught, but a hex walker needed neither brain nor head, and this Sir Godfrey had the right of it.

With the creature(and Cyrano tangled with it) on the ground, Fazra found the opening she needed to finish the fight. Live or dead, lying on your back was only slightly less vulnerable than lying on your belly. Fazra swung her hammer down, two handed now, and caved the walker's chest in. The spine broke too, and when it tried to drag itself away from Cyrano, one of its arms came free from the shattered bone cage and ceased to move.

With no priest or sorcerer, they couldn't properly destroy the thing without fire, but by smashing its core, Fazra had crippled it as well as she could. She reached down swiftly to wrench the axe away from its entangled arm. She held it in her left hand, down by her side as Lightbringer shone in her right, still held up to cast light around them. She looked down at poor Cyrano, still transfixed in the webs.

"You can't eat stone," she said to the spider woman. "May as well let him out."

Looking at the subdued Pursuer it seemed that the stone creature had managed to get itself tangled in the same webbing. Crawling over Lila sighed to herself. This is why she'd freed Echo, to avoid this mess. She look displeased at the prospect of getting Cyrano untangled. "I will need some time. Why would you do this?" She first removed any webbing from the gargoyle's face so he could see and speak clearly again.

Despite how she made it sound she made surprisingly quick work of web removal. Her legs worked furiously and soon had all of Cyrano's limbs free of one another. There were still bits and pieces here and there but nothing that would hinder his ability to move. "I can clean off the rest if you'd like. It will eventually dissolve on its own though." Satisfied the spider woman stepped back and looked at the other two that were new to her. Together they put an end to the threat rather quickly. Now that things were quiet she was not entirely sure what they would do.

All present appeared to be intelligent enough though so she decided to introduce herself. "Thank you for the assistance. I'm not sure what would have happened had you not come to our aid. You can call me Lila." She held her hands together and hoped that things would not get any more hectic for a moment. Waking in a strange underground was concern enough.

As the spider lady worked to free him, Cyrano worked to rise again, possibly making it more difficult to free him. Nevertheless, he was eventually freed, and on his feet.
@t2wave@Necrophage"thank you for setting me free lady lila. I am cyrano and most pleased to meet you, and you as well sir godfrey of penshold"
Cyrano paused, unsure whether or not it was better manners to introduce his fellows as well, or to let them introduce themselves. It had been so long since he had been in company other than that of... what was the gnomes name? Had it been long since he'd been around others?
He remained still as he thought through these things, still posed as if he might be about to say more. He realized this and knew that whatever was the polite thing to do, that wasn't it.
He decided to stop being awkward and instead to do something useful, and began devouring the Pursuers corpse, beginning with the already mangled wrist.

The lord offered his warning, "Hold, Cyrano! For one who has helped me I cannot stay my hand." He strode up to the gargoyle. "Eating such a creature, even if it is in your very nature, is foolish."

Offering his torch to the gargoyle, he continued. "Who knows what foul curses have consummated in this poor sod. The reasonable action is to purge it completely. Use this. The old armor that still clings to it will make a suitable pyre."

Mathias turned to face each of them, getting a good look in the light of the hammer before stopping at Fazra. "I thank you all for your swift action." He focused on the hammer for a blinding moment before looking down. "What's your name? And what kind of weapon is that? I can scarce look at it."

Cyrano swallowed the abominations hand the rest of the way down, but did take the torch offered by Sir Godfrey of Penshold, and set the thing alight.
The webbing it was swathed seemed to help the fire along, and Sir Godfrey was right about the armor catching as well.
Cyrano prowled over to settle down next to the spider lady, and watched the fire burn contentedly. Hungrily, though it wouldn't nourish him anyway, but contented nontheless. He sat like this for sometime, before finally address g lila.
@t2wave
"Have you traveled with sir godfrey of penshold long?" He finally ventured.

Gish shivered as she watched the writing, slithery mass. What gripped her as she kept her attention focused on it wasn't a fear that one learned, like touching a hot stove or being chased by an angry dog. It was something instinctual. Something Deep. She feared it the way a rabbit feared any sudden movement.

She looked over her shoulder, breaking every instinct to keep eyes on the creature, to search for some way out. She caught the sparking reflection of the lake. That was comforting. No matter what nothing had ever been able to catch her once she made it into the water. The pool wasn't filling up so there had to be a way out that way if things got dangerous, some underwater cave or passage to another chamber. Even if things didn't go badly up here, just being near the water would make her feel better. She was about to go before she remembered Rose's words and looked up at Luciel on Victors shoulders. That wasn't exactly alone, but she wasn't sure being in the grip was a much better prospect for him. Besides, this was a good chance to get him alone and relay Rose's warning. She hadn't felt comfortable doing it so near Victor.

Being unable to reach him all the way up there, and not wanting to alert anyone to the fears so evident on her face, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her flute. She threw it, it impacting Luciel's back with a soft thump before falling into the soft grass. Once she was sure she had his attention she jerked her head toward the lake, pointed at herself, pointed at him, pointed urgently at the lake, made a beckoning motion with her hand, and started making her way to way to the edge of the lake as casually as possible. It wasn't very convincing. After scooping up her flute she seemed to skip every other step, glancing back frequently to make sure that Luciel was following and that the thing was absolutely not.

Her pace didn't slow the entire time she was moving. It fact, she got faster the further she was from the thing. It was probably for this reason she didn't see the boy laying flat on the grass, head in the water. Her heel collided with him and she tumbled backwards with a quiet yelp.

As I was refreshing myself I felt a hard blow to my side, immediately startled and being pushed I would fumble further into the water and roll on my back, seeing the strange fish-lady thing from before wielding a flute. In panic I would get out of the water, but I was too frightened to even stand up, instead I just crawled backwards as I kept my terrified eyes onto the stranger before I bumped my head into a large stone with rather hard force. Stopped in my tracks, after I recovered from the pain, I instinctively held my hands outwards to protect my face as I looked away. "Don't eat me I don't taste good!" I pleaded with a trembling and youthful voice.

As I sat there, lowering my guard for a moment I saw the rest of the band of, strange strangers behind her. A sinking feeling of dread slowly filled my gut as I waited with now fearful silence, I was too scared to even look away, as if I did I feared they would snag me then. I had the resolve to at least wait and watch, fight or flight ready at hand for the right moment to escape..but where would I go? what if there were more monsters in these impossibly expansive hallways? The more I dwelled on the thought the further I felt the bitter and depressing taste of hopeless defeat.

Honestly, Luciel had been frozen in his hesitation, waiting for a move and not even noticing Gish had left before feeling the impact of the flute against his back. It was as good enough of an incentive to spring back to life, kicking his feet up out of Victor's grasp to flip backwards onto his feet. While he had intended on using Victor as cover from whatever threat that was now unseen, he reached for the flute before Gish dashed to retrieve it before running off into the tall grass.
It didn't take much to get the hint as he'd much rather be anywhere else than in the possible range of attention of the ghastly creature. Luciel wasn't opposed to sacrificing either Rose or the knight, Victor, in the hope of escape. Frankly, he trusted the smaller humanoid creature 'Gish' far more than either of the other humans, going so far as to whisper the tiny prayer to fade into the meek shade of the brush. Granted, the minor illusion had little effect in the rays of light cast down from the hole in the cave ceiling, but it made him feel that much better as he chased Gish.

Crossbow still in hand and armed, he dared to look back long enough to at least attempt to assess the situation. However, the motion drew his attention away from the obstacle which the lady had ran into, causing him to also stumble over the sprawled bodies and collapse in the shallow water. This was enough, in his panic, to send him a bit over the edge, thrashing and clawing his way the mere few feet onto dry land.
Clinging to a fistful of tall grass, he rolled onto his back with the weapon propped on a knee and aiming at the third figure which had impeded their escape.
"Th-who...?" he hissed, confused with fingers tensing on the trigger while aimed at William, hesitantly directing the armament back where they came while curiously listening to the human. An ear tilted to the side, perplexed how there could be another person living in such a place...though maybe they owned the cabin? It would certainly make the task of finding refuge easier if they could simply ask those it belonged to, or take it by force.

Their fearful claims that they didn't taste good put the chimera at odds, curious what they had experienced to the point where they would assume the two were here to eat him. "Vh-vhat are you doink here?" he quickly asked in a hushed tone, trying not to spook the person by making sure they weren't aiming directly at him. "...E-ehn who...ehrm" he tried to begin, figuring it may not be in the best interest of the situation to be too demanding. Regardless, based on the fragment of the question, Luciel assumed the young human got the jist of his question.