Long Lost Friends - Home Depreciation

12 Feb 1371 (1828 Grimmlands calendar)

While Chronosaj heads over to the top of the stairs to keep watch for more spider-infested corpses, Knives moves to the door to the cell that holds the bearded man. He draws the slender tools of his trade, a slim hook and a notched blade that vaguely resembles a city skyline in profile and slips both into the lock. Before he can even begin to apply pressure, the door flies open, slamming the rogue's shoulder and knocking him back. The barrier slams shut instantly, sealing the portal tightly before the prisoner within can even attempt to move forward.

The noise draws Chronosaj's attention and he turns just in time to see the door shut. As he starts to move forward to check on his comrade, the walls of the stairwell begin to gnash together. The gunslinger barely leaps aside as everything on the steps is quickly ground into splinters or dust and the mournful wail continues to echo throughout the entire structure.

More spiders appear, scuttling rapidly through the gap at the bottom of the cell doors and out through the windows as quickly as they can.

Knives pulls another flask of the fire breath elixir from one of his many pockets and downs the contents in a single gulp. The sensation of cinnamon soaked in the juice of hot peppers spreads throughout his entire chest. Beads of sweat collect along his hairline as he moves in closer to Chronosaj to keep enemies from squeezing past them and shouts, "I'm down to my last five of these! Got any ideas on how to get us out of here?"

The man trapped inside the cell sticks his arm through the bars and cries out, "HELP! DON'T LEAVE US TO DIE IN HERE!"

Knives reaches into one of his many pockets and pulls forth a wooden wedge. He drops to one knee, just beyond the door's reach, wary of another surprise opening. Spiders stream past him, slipping beneath the gap at the bottom of the door. A startled cry and the sound of stomping boots comes from inside the cell.

The former Mayor of Hamelin steadies himself and starts to lean in, as if daring the door to take another swipe at him. He holds his position for a second, then two, then a third when the portal flies open. Knives jerks back, narrowly avoiding the blow, and slaps the wedge in place like a makeshift door stop to keep it from closing.

Once the door is blocked, the blond, bearded man rushes out, pushing past Chronosaj as the gunslinger runs in. The man races to the door of the second cell and begins pounding on the wood. "Don't worry, Anna! We're going to get you out of there! Just hold on!"

Meanwhile, Chronosaj reaches the window and looks out, nothing that it is only about 18' to the ground.

Knives crouches in front of the center door. Instead of readying his lockpicks again, he grabs a thin metal punch and small hammer. He instructs the bearded man to lean against the door to hold it shut. A series of sharp, quick raps pops the hinge pins out of their holders. He nods to the man who steps aside, allowing the barrier to fall away. The woman rushes out and into the man's arms. She is slender with blue eyes, fair skin with a light dusting of freckles, and long unkempt light brown hair. 

"Kristoff! I am so sorry about Sven!" The bearded man pulls her in close and glances over his shoulder at the web-shrouded figure at the center of the room. He shudders and turns back to Knives. 

Anna and Kristoff both nod their thanks to the ex-mayor who leads them into the cell where Chronosaj is planning the next step of their escape. The gunslinger has drawn his dagger, Exterminator, and grabbed a fistful of webbing. He gives the threads a pull. Magic flows from the knife, through his body, and into the silken cords, giving them enough strength to hold his weight. He rolls out of the window and shouts to the group, "This way! I can lower you down!" before transferring the blade to his teeth. 

In short order, Anna, Kristoff, and Knives all emerge from the window and drop to the ground. Chronosaj lands beside them. All four are stand there panting, catching their breath when, suddenly, the sound of stone grinding against stone fills the air. The group is already in motion when the tower bends at the "waist" and tries to drive them into the ground. The group avoids the crushing blow and retreats farther up the trail, out of the reach of the homicidal tower. The sounds of wracking sobs chase them into the Great and Awful Forest. 

Chronosaj: 86% health

Knives: 82% health