[b][color=39b54a][h1][center].:Alexander Corvus:.[/center][/h1][/color][/b]

With the gang pulling itself together for the hike up the mountain, Alexander lets his gaze sweep up to the cave mount which held their destination. More than likely they were going to find rocks and more rocks, maybe even some interesting enough to take note of but he had agreed to Jake's enthusiasm about the whole thing and so here he was. At least, he figured, he was far from the reach of his father who had hounded him endlessly to come home and take his place.[color=0054a6]"Phil, please, no one wants you to teabag them"[/color], the verbal match about Phil's...colourful humour snapped him from his thoughts for a moment, allowing him to start his trek up to the rock face. 

Pausing for a moment to watch the others start their trek up, Alex once again cast his eyes about, allowing them to land on Izzy who had yet to make the trip up. The faint etches of a smile touched his lips as he motioned with a hand for her to head up before him, [color=39b54a]"After you, Isabel"[/color]. Alexander could be considered distant and perhaps even condescending at times but you certainly couldn't fault his manners.[color=39b54a][i]Lets hope noone falls or you'll be on the bottom[/i][/color], the voice commented needlessly in his head. Alexander considered biting back at it before resolving that talking to himself inside his head would be unproductive at best and lunacy at worst. After smoothing out a few crinkles in his shirt and straightening his tie, Alexander pushed himself up after Izzy and the others, one rock at a time. Whilst he was in no way unfit, Alex hadn't taken rock climbing as a hobby in his life and the strain could be seen uncharacteristically across his face.

After spending the journey upwards looking dead ahead to the rock, despite what he assumed would have been a lovely view above him, he finally clambered up into the mouth of the cave with the others. The demon mask caught his darting glance first, drawing him to retrieve his journal and sketch it out as best he could.[color=9e0b0f]"We could continue looking or-"[/color], Everything rumbled, causing Alex to mess up part of the sketch, a line of ink scrawling off the paper. He managed to catch his balance long enough to stow the journal but was thrown by the shaking once more, falling through the crack forming in the ground.[color=39b54a][i]Not Good[/i][/color], The words barely had time to drift through his head as he fell, trying to catch the edge of the broken floor. Sharp pain shot down his arm as his fingers caught the jaggard edge and he knew in that split second he wasn't going to be able to hold on. Once again he fell with nothing else to grab onto..except. Out of nigh on instinctual protocol, Alex managed to get a hold of Izzy on the way down, the only one close enough to him. The hole wasn't deep enough down to seriously hurt anyone but he didn't know that before he hit the ground with the weight of another human being adding to the impact atop him. It was enough to drive the breath from his chest for a moment. [color=39b54a][i]Clap...Clap..Clap[/i][/color], the sarcasm of his thoughts rich enough to choke on. It took a few more blinks to regain some level of composure and let go of Isabel, righting himself into a standing position. [color=39b54a]"Sorry about that"[/color], surely given different circumstances he would have been able to come up with something slightly better but given the situation that's all he had as he offered his hand to help izzy up. 

Already the others were checking out the carvern they found themselves in, Louise having already roughly translating some latin that jake had found. He spent only a moment looking over it [color=39b54a]"It's actually probably closer t-"[/color], the words died in his throught. Although usually latin would take his attention, but not this time. Before them Lay 7 stone podiums, each adorned with some sort of artifact. Eloise's warning fell on deaf ears as each of them seemed drawn to a pillar. Atop one, was a beatifully crafted noose, or was it a tie? A noose fashioned to be a tie? Before he knew it he was there, running his fingers along it's corded length. He knew not what could have possessed him but before he could think better he was lifting it over his head. [color=39b54a]"How..Strange"[/color], he couldn't tell if he had said it outloud before the the sensation raced over him, things seems sharper in an instant and within the workings of his mind, puzzles he had poured over were solved. He felt the immensity of clarity that washed over him as the noose tightened of it's own accord enough that it wouldn't slip off. Blinking in shock, alex looked around to the others. [color=39b54a]"...What have we done?"[/color], with a mix of awe, concern, bewilderment and other emotions, the words weaved into form a question with implications beyond their knowledge.