The Wanderers

[Sparrow]

Emerson took his place near Beau, but facing in the opposite direction. He pulled Smith's revolver up to his sights, trying to get used to it's weight.

"Anyone see anything?"

He didn't wait for a reply as he started looking around the room, shivering slightly. He hadn't exactly grown fond of the former beasts they faced.

"Anything at all, just tell me. A-a-anything. Whatsoever. Give me a shout."

 

[Fraught]

Mental images of horrible monsters danced around in Anselm's imagination. Mutated limbs, and a grotesque face, with long, dark-yellow and curvy teeth. For a moment, his whole body shaked, as he and his companions were thrown into his imagination. He saw them all being attacked, and killed.

He looked around. The place was even kind of peaceful. Here was a group of explorers, one old man collecting gold coins, like some kind of greedy millionaire from one of those comics. Then there was the young one, scared that something may pop out, a fear all too realized in Anselm's mind, too. And then there was everyone else, many of them having their guns at the ready. And then there were the shadows on the ceiling of weird figures. But everything seemed to be as quiet as when they had come here in the first place. Not a single sound could be heard, except for Smith taking the treasure, and placing it in his backpack.

"I-I really think you should hurry up," he said while walking towards Smith, trying to soften his steps, and grabbing his revolver.
"I really think this will not end well if we don't."
He looked around him while waiting for a response from the old man, enjoying the colors created by the reflection of the lights on the runic pillars off the walls.

 

[Combined]

He stuffed the last of the gold in his pockets and quickly snatched up the chalice. This wasn't a good move.

Shadows began crowding the top part of the cave and the lighting was dimmed by the amount of disgusting creatures looking down upon the group, preparing to feast on their flesh. Some sort of crude war-drums began playing, whipping the creatures into a wild frenzy, their heathen minds lusting for the blood of our heroes.

H.W. saw this. "Right. Run!" He began a mad dash towards the stairs. "And for God's sake don't look back!"

 

[Fingerprint]

Beau didn't need telling twice. He heard the panic in Smith's voice and saw the movement over head. It was as if the ceiling, although already sinister with creeping shadows, had taken on a whole new form, a living mass of of half mechanical and half living corpse like machines all intent on feasting on the flesh of the explorers.

The was the crack of a Martini-Henry rifle followed by a hiss of steam, a hideous gurgling and the crash of metal on stone as Beau fired at one of the abominations. He didn't even see it hit the floor, he was already turning to run up the stairs.

 

[Fraught]

"I knew that would happen! I knew it!" Anselm cried out, half scared and half proud of himself.
"No matter what we 'thought' of the situation, I knew it!" he continued, already starting to follow Smith, offering to lift his pack, as he thought it to not be the right thing to do, to let an old man carry a big bag full of heavy gold. The whole endeavor was made with gestures, as Anselm disappointedly, with a mild tone of sarcasm in his voice, asked: "Why can't they ever completely abandon these places?!"

As Smith was probably thinking of whether to give it to him or not, Anselm looked back for a moment, seeing the monsters coming after them in a huge swarm, now the runic lights that inhabited the farther part of the room completely covered by their bodies.
"Oh, bloody Jesus," he said, contemplating whether to take out his gun or not.

 

[Sparrow]

Emerson ran behind the others, his head turned to the monsters following them. He fired erractically at them, knocking down a few targets. He then heard Smith's revolver reply with a faint click, click.

"Aw, crap.", he said, fumbling with the gun to try and reload it, "How far until we're clear of this place?"

 

[Combined]

"I'll take care of myself, just get up those stairs as fast as possible. Right now, even." Smith said, doing his best to keep a steady, quick pace.

He reached the stairs, the black mass still some ways behind, the first children of the dark coming into view, barely lit by the lights, their deformed faces grinning towards the adventurers.

He steadied himself and began climbing, the weight taking a toll, but not enough to slow him down very much. Every few steps he'd stop for a breather, then continue, seemingly revitalized.

It was only a few steps to the top now...

 

[Combined]

Spoiler: Bump

...

 

[Jedoro]

Conner rushed up to the top of the stairs after staying unnoticed for most of the run. Once on top, he quickly turned and aimed both his pistols down the stairs, careful not to aim at the others.

"Let's go, boys!" he called out, spraying bullets at the monsters. A few clicks went by before he realized the guns were empty, so he put them away and took out his shotgun. One of the beasts got dangerously close to the group, but was blown back by a well-placed slug.

Spoiler: OOC

Sorry I've been gone so long, had internet issues and been working a lot lately, but I should be good to go daily from here on out.

 

[Sparrow]

"How far, Smith?"

Emerson turned around quickly to check the distance between him and the monsters.

"How god damn far?!"

 

[Combined]

"Just a bit more!" he reached the top of the stairs and dashed madly towards the door. "Move, damn it, move!"

The black army was right behind the team and was ready to pounce at a moments notice. Even in the dark you could already see the deformed faces and bodies of the ...creatures.

Apparently, the door had been partially closed after the creatures attacked and Henry began pushing it open with all his might.

 

[Fingerprint]

Beau wasn't hanging about. As soon as he'd emptied his rifle into the mass of deformed limbs and twisted metal he took to the stairs pausing only to load a round into the chamber and fire before hurrying onwards again.

"Get th'ick damn door open lads!" he cried to the men ahead of him, "Get them open!"

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Rufus had run with all the energy he could muster, and when he saw the partially closed door in front of him he paused for a second. He turned to look back the way they came, and saw the horde that was following them, and his skin turned very pale.

Von Bernkastel decided he would prefer to live. He threw himself at the door, hitting it beside Smith, trying to add his own desperate weight to the struggle. "We are going to make it, aren't we, Mister Smith?!!" He shouted over the sound of gunshots, still pushing at the door.

 

[Jedoro]

Sweat pouring down his head, Conner desperately tried to help buy time for the others to get the door open, putting down another monster before he had to reload. Taking out the empty shells, he quickly pulled two more out, not caring if they were slugs or shot. Remember, slow is smooth, and smooth is fast, he repeated to himself to avoid panic. Placing the shells in, he quickly brought his shotgun up to put down a monster that had gotten too close. Trying to ignore the shouts behind him, he checked the hallway for the closest enemy and prepared to fire.

 

[Sparrow]

Emerson shot down a target, severing it's arm from it's torso.

"I know this probally isn't the best time to say this, but this revolver or yours is pretty ridiculous Smith."

He fired widely at a nearby monster, as Conner knocked down another two.

"Chop chop, guys. I'm not exactly a good shot."

 

[Fraught]

Oh, bloody hell.
Anselm had had his share of frightening encounters, but none were so puzzlingly outlandish as the horde they faced now. Their appearances repulsing, the sounds they made too unbearable and weird to comprehend.
"We've got to get out of here," Anselm said. He didn't scream though. He just felt it'd be odd, so he just shared his trivial conversation with whoever was near enough to listen. After a few started to push the door, Anselm couldn't decide. He knew he had strength, and could contribute to their goal of opening the door, but at the same time, he had a gun, and was a good shot.

In the end, he tried to push the door with his left shoulder, shooting the monsters, holding the weapon in his right hand.

 

[Combined]

As Anselm began to push, the door finally gave way and collapsed under the combined might of the adventurers. Henry fell through the gap into the corridor, collapsing through the floor in a fit of coughing.

"Run, I'll catch up." he managed, between gasps and wheezes, as he tried to get up.

 

[Fingerprint]

When the door caved in and the light hit the corridor Beau could see the horde with a horrifying new clarity. He turned and bolted towards the opening. As he made it to the door he saw Smith gasping for air through the dust that had stirred up. Stooping as he ran, he grabbed the scruff of Smith's jacket and heaved the old man to a half upright position. "C'mon, they ain't gonna be waitin' for 'ee to get up!"

 

[Jedoro]

"Go, get him out of here!" Conner shouted, firing at the closest monster. Trying to ignore his shoulder's throbs of pain, he reached for the last two shells he had outside of his pack. "I'm gonna have to go to the sword soon, guys, so let's get out of here before I do." Shoving the two shells into the barrels, he closed the gun and looked over his shoulder to see how the team was moving.

 

[Fraught]

Him? Does he mean Smith? Well, of course he does. Everyone seems to be so worried about him, and him only. It's enough to make a man feel unappreciated.
Anselm knew he couldn't blame anyone, though. He did it himself. Smith had always seemed the one with most experience, most elderly charm and knowledge than the rest of them. He was the one they should be following. That moment, Anselm decided to follow behind Smith. The man wasn't the best runner of the bunch, but he was going to make sure nothing'd happen to him.

With one swing, he pulled out his gun once again, carefully aiming and trying to hit a monster with every bullet.