Behind them trudge Bina and Mey'Luskar. The latter mutters darkly, while the former radiates an aura of indignation. Atraktu moves between and slightly behind them, not sure what to make of it all. Pru, one of her looted guns at the ready, marches a pace back, eying the Ahmonite warily.
Furnfinndorn and L'Toyei quietly bring up the rear.
About a third of the way up, the panting starts. A little more than halfway up, Widjgleeby comes to a stop. "Need rest," she moans.
"Oh, come on!" snarls Lirassa. "Put some spunk in it!"
"I'm with her!" huffs Mey'Luskar, leaning heavily against the rail. "Not all of us are sodding war machines!"
"Why don't we leave the tired ones here for a minute," suggests Betham, "while the rest of us move ahead and see what's up there."
UPDATE 5/3 (since no one has commented)
After a bit of the usual quibbling, it is decided that Widjgleeby, Mey'Luskar, Bina, Atraktu, and L'Toyei will stay and rest while Pru stands guard. The rest of the party continues up the remaining few levels to the top. Zobog has already scouted ahead and found nothing of any obvious concern, as Zeton reports. There are a couple of domed housings on the ceiling near the doors at the top, but they appear to be inert. The doors themselves are obviously equipped with some kind of protection, but it's unclear whether it's active or not.
The party assembles on the landing, eying the doors and the surrounding chamber warily. Then Ham takes a few impatient steps closer, ignoring a few muffled warnings. "I don't see any controls," he says.
"Intelligent," replies Furnfinndorn. "It will open if it knows you, or if you know the password."
"Any ideas?" wonders Lirassa.
"What the..." mutters Betham in Her-galad.
