"Rats,Rats,Rats! went through Gwyn's mind as the chaos started. Whelp, at least she knew that the rainwater wasn't drugged, even if it meant she'd need a new waterskin soon. Right now, she and Cicero needed to get out of here alive. Cool heads were definitely not on display in thinking that Cicero could throw his sword that accurately from the arena.

The rainfall had stopped. Gwyn could see clearer now. There were guards waiting to attack her the moment she left her ice shelter and probably more would come below for Cicero or would come later as reinforcements. She was not at full energy and was separated from Cicero, which was not a great place to be. That would need to be remedied first.

She set her destination in mind, down in the arena. Then she closed her eyes, lit up her light as a flash bang, and teleported down. Rather major headache, but she could push a little farther with a few lights and illusions. Hopefully, any major heals could wait till later. She spun around and darted towards Cicero, glad to see no new major injuries. "We need to get out of here. Now!" She said as she reached him. Then she drew out her rapier and had her wand in her left hand for increased spell focus while looking for what to do next.

Cicero looked in utter horror at the lifeless corpse of Alvion's king. The man who had knighted him. Who Cicero had sworn to serve until his death. Now, gone. As he stared, Cicero saw his own weapon sticking in him. His heart broke at the sight, but he was frozen in place. He could not move.. He faintly heard shouting in the distance, but did not hear any discernable words. That was until Gwyneira yelled out, "We need to get out of here. Now!"

That was all it took for Cicero to finally snap out of it. He nodded and retrieved his weapon from the former king. It slid out of him without much trouble, but Cicero felt like he had been the one who killed him. Emotions aside, they had to move!

Cicero jerked his head in the direction Rhakkar ran and followed as fast as his feet could carry him. He yelled to Gwyn, "He's apart of this thing, I know it!" His voice audibly shook in distress. Cicero may have not known the king well, but Cicero's alliegence lied with his corpse now. It was like a part of him had died.

Currently Rhakkar was the only one Cicero could perceive was connected with the monarchs death. He had to have gotten those weapons from the dark figure. They would discuss all that information at a less chaotic time..

Cicero glanced at Gwyn quickly before he made his choice. His leg bled again which left them without many options. He went prone and rolled under the steel grate as he reached for Gwyn to do the same.

Gwyn nodded in Cicero’s direction and hurried after him under the grate. She could feel herself drooping off even as she did so, showing that she’d misjudged her reserves again and this was as good of an escape as they were likely to get.

The floor slightly sloped downwards as they entered underneath. There was water which flowed by a miniature stream. The air smelled bitter in this damp, dark place.

The man let the two slip past the spikes of the portcullis before closing it, the metal slammed heavily into the floor as the wheel spun back on it's own.

Immediately he started kicking the handles forcefully and when they bent a few hard strikes of his boot later, he growled and yanked one of the bars free. He shot a glare at Gwyneira, though it did not seem malicious - just angry, at nothing.

Then, moving ahead of them both, he jammed the iron bar into a lock-slot of an iron door to the right of the walls. It must have been how he got in here, that was one of the access doors, now barred from intruders. The wheel lever, broken as well.

"...excuse me." He said, looking at the floor as he pushed past Cicero.

Without any further ceremony, he threw a handful of spiked metal from a satchel in his vest onto the ground. Caltrops! Mean little traps that rupture the feet of all who step on them, the craft of less savoury characters.

"Watch your step."

Whoever this was, from the way he worked through every precaution without hesitation, his expression of emotionlessness, they could see it was not his first time.

The walls were slick with verdant moss and where the sun did not touch, lichen and mold. Still, having to lean on them was a necessity as they made their way quickly down the narrow tunnels. Their benefactor in front leading the way, no light to guide them that even he had to rely on being dirtily guided by the walls.

Gwyn stumbled along, her eyes blinking rapidly in a desperate attempt to stay awake. She wished that she had enough energy to cast a light or even heal Cicero’s new leg wound right now and cursed her waste of magic in that ice canopy to protect against what had turned out to be ordinary rain. If their guide hadn’t shown up, death would have been the most probable ending. She was pretty sure the guy had been Cicero’s visitor earlier from the voice and his hood, but couldn’t know for certain with how gosh darned tired she was. Still, he was owed some thanks unless he turned out to be Cicero’s sorcerer that he’d talked about before.

”Sir,” She softly called, being careful not to make too much noise in case others were listening for them. “Thank you for helping us out there. I’m not sure we would have escaped without you.”

"I- ..." He paused, looking over his shoulder at her direction for the briefest of moments when she spoke, then turning back, "...we're not out yet." His voice wavered with a degree of uncertainty.

Cicero followed the two as best he could. Despite the slippery surfaces he managed to stay afoot evading the caltrops. However, his eyes were not adjusting properly to the darkness. Cicero could barely see in front of him. His mind raced as to the latest turn of events. The king was slain and everyone believed it was by his hand! By some miracle he had managed to kill him during single combat. It was utterly ridiculous. Cicero's heart weighed heavily as he proceeded through the tunnels. Despised and rejected by his own people. He would get whoever was at fault. They would be brought to justice.

As they descended further a handful of long minutes in, the air became uncomfortably damp and musty. They could only hear the splashing of the stream in between their feet and their own footsteps. It quickly got too dark to see, even for elven eyes, swinging his backpack in front of him, he dug for a small stick with cloth wrapped around it and a thumb sized device, pressing the block into the fibres - it glowed red hot.

Firelight flooded the once dark man-made caverns...

It was then they heard a loud crash echo through the tunnels! Again and again. The groan of abused metal followed. Someone cussed loudly in pain. The sounds prompted him to heft his backpack, taking longer strides forward with torch in hand now, almost breaking into a run ahead of them.

”Put up anything to slow them down. That trick." He hushed his suggestion in a hurried 'DO-IT-NOW' kind of fashion.

Cicero whispered back, ”Gwyn can't cast anything. She is at her limit. We have to find another way.” He looked at his companion and around for a way to use the stream against their followers. How would they lose their pursuers? Then the thought hit him. The vial. ”Gwyn! In my bag there's an orange vial. Drink it now!” Cicero whispered as loudly as he could so that she could he at the urgency and at the same time not alert their pursuers.

Gwyn raised her eyebrow, but opened Cicero’s pack and took out the vial, wondering why this would help. As she opened it, the smell overwhelmed her senses, but she forced herself to drink it in spite of it. The instant she swallowed the sip, her tired mind shocked itself awake. The world was suddenly a song, thrumming with power and life, like the first moments of her awakened magic when she danced to the songs of her ribbons of light. She felt like lighting would spring from her fingertips and smite the pursuers to gleeful laughter, but she forcibly held herself back. Why was it so hard to keep a clear head? Was this like being drunk? Instead, she smirked as she caused a large portion of the stream behind them to become clear ice, perfect for slipping on. That would slow the guards down. She then turned around to the others and said, ”Let’s go!” Then she ran ahead.

@Cyrania @Spiffy

Gwyn found herself in an area with dim light and a gap to jump across before she forced herself to stop. She could easily jump the gap, but what about Cicero. She had to control herself. Cicero had a wounded leg and would have trouble jumping across if she didn’t do something. So she waited for the other two to catch up, restraining the urge to leap across or do something. She paced, feeling a nervous pent-up energy rising within her. Cicero and the other man finally arrived and she went over to Cicero, grinning as she heard the thuds of falling guards. “Let me have a look at your leg. She declared.

In all the excitement, Cicero nearly forgot the pain from his slightly bleeding wound. It would be difficult at best to try and bridge the gap with his armor, gear and wound. Gwyn's heal was a much needed boon to the tired knight. Cicero removed his shield from his back to defend from the oncoming pursuers behind as he faced his leg toward Gwyn, ”Much appreciated.”

Their acquaintance watched them impatiently as she healed the knight's wounds with a spell, his glance darting back and forth between them and the cave behind them repeatedly,

”C'monnnn~”

He hushed, urgently to no one under his breath. Remembering to slide the torch on the floor, he put out the fire that would have made them obvious targets to shoot at. Popping something in his mouth to chew to keep his nerves down - it was not really helping the situation, but not really able to hold back either.

After a awhile, as the spell was nearly complete, he suddenly looked sideways in concentration, furrowing his brow,

"...they made it past your ice, th-they're running again!"

Looking back at them, the man was now gesturing for them to cross quickly. Going by the raised tone of his voice, he was NOT comfortable with any further hesitation.

The leg healed, Gwyn grinned then ran and leaped over the gap. After landing on the other side, she turned and waited for Cicero to come, prepared to catch him with an ice spell if he fell or the guards came.

Cicero watched as Gwyn leapt over the gap with ease. He restrapped his shield to his back. Then he backed up a few paces to get a good running start. His leg felt much better but his blood loss made it hard to stay focused. With all the energy within him he charged toward the ledge and jumped. Cicero landed without a problem. Breathing heavily he called out, ”Go!”

@Cyrania @Spiffy