[hr][center][h1][color=007236]Mahendra Huq Zalil[/color] & [color=#255DB3]Richard Barker[/color] [/h1]
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[hr][center]Location: Athribis (Underground)
Skills: [Color=007236]Geology, Excavation, Understanding of local Egyptian superstition[/color] - [Color=#255DB3]Observation, Deduction[/color][/center][hr] 

One again they were making progress down in the darkness, hopefully brushing away the proverbial layers of dirt and soil that had hidden some buried gem Since Time Immemorial. They had been standing around for a long time now, both discussing the best ways to approach their mysteries down in the tunnel and dealing with the two newcomers, but it would seem that had been decided on by several members of their Fellowship. Most importantly was the Lord Major's authority that settled the issue. Mahendra himself was still weary of these two new Americans, but perhaps they could be of use? Like the Lord Major said, in the very least now they wouldn't run into them if and when the time to leave came. Mahendra gave a friendly smile to Lauren who volunteered to hold the rear, and a polite nod to the Lord Major for his consideration. But now, down into the dark tunnel with Nora and Gene he went!

Richard turned sligthly to give Faye a glancing look with his eyebrows raised, before looking back at the odd troupe of fellow Yanks, Limeys and the one Indian fella who were beginning their descent into darkness. It had worked, surprisingly well and without the need for violence; They were in. Richard looked at the older military man and gave him the tip of his hat at his confirmation that they could come along, before beginning to follow them himself. [Color=#255DB3]"Yeah, I'd like to keep myself from turning into an Egyptian roadkill for a few more years. Thank you, Sir."[/color] Richard said back casually to the Lord Major, looking ever so often over at Faye to make sure he kept close to her. They were with the group, but were they safe still? And why wasn't his eyes adjusting to the darkness? Was he the only one was dealing with this?

[Color=007236]"You have my word, dear Miss Kingston. And thank you."[/color] Mahendra felt a weight fall from his chest with Nora taking his apology, as he followed her and Gene downwards and kept his wits about him. Not that his attention for traps was needed it seemed, not with Nora's expectionally expertice. Perhaps it would have helped if neither the haze obscured his eyes, or Gene wasn't bombarding him with more troubling words, to which Mahendra looked at her with shock and a certain disdain. [Color=007236]"Well I've never…I will not even bother with a response to such vile accusations of my character! Not now…Miss."[/color] Mahendra responded to Gene with equally curt words like Nora, though he kept true to his word and didn't say any more. Perhaps later when they were on the boat, he would protest her intrusive and reckless behaviour to the responsibles of the Fellowship. For now, they were working.

Thanks to Nora and her excellent pathfinding, they soon found their way down the dark tunnels illuminated by their burning torches, to eventually stand before a wall. A very solid wall, to which Belladonna was presumed to be found behind. [Color=007236]"Some kind of mechanism…?"[/color] Mahendra repeated after Nora's assumption, watching her for a moment inspect the wall. If Belladonna was behind that wall, then time was of the essence! Mahendra began to inspect their general area for such a mechanism. Now he didn't find any levers, door handles or anything that was an overly obvious mechanism, but something did stick out to the Bengali geologist. Cats, or one of the cats. [Color=007236]"This image, the cat one. It is more carved than the others on the wall. As if it is more important or more recent, maybe? Could this be it?"[/color]

Richard wasn't an academic of any sorts, not like the eggheads up front he presumed were leading the charge. The only smarts he could brag about were not so elegant as one roaming around a library or university. He couldn't explain to you how Roman architecture had shaped western civilization, or the intricate doings of cells, but if you needed to find someone and beat the truth out of them, Richard was your man. For now as they descended further and further down into darkness, Richard was of the earlier. Torch in one hand and his cigarette going back and forth from his dried lips, Richard listened to the tense exchange of words up ahead. He had no idea what the beef between them was, but right now he wasn't about to ask as he gave Faye another look of "Tough crowd". He did take note of the names being thrown around, trying to attach them to the individual members. [Color=#255DB3]"Name's Barker, by the way. If we're going the same way, might as well introduce myself."[/color] Richard introduced himself to the Lord Major, refraining from asking his name. Best not to push too hard for information just yet.

What he did push for, so to speak, was his nose and its ability to function after years of damage and bullshit. As they went further and further down, one of the American ladies asked Richard and Faye if they saw or smelled anything odd. [Color=#255DB3]"…No? Do you…"[/color] Richard began to ask back, until his nose registered it too. Smoke? Instinctively Richard raised his hand and looked for his sleeve on fire again, until he realized he must have looked like an idiot as it was just fine. [Color=#255DB3]"Well now that you mention it, Miss, I do smell something."[/color] Richard's trained detective eyes scanned their subterrainian surroundings, his nose working like a blood hound pulled out of a Sherlock Holmes book as he tried to pinpoint where the smell came from. While he didn't see anything, probably thanks to that cursed haze that was still messing with his vision, his nose for once worked. [Color=#255DB3]"That wall."[/color] Richard pointed at the wall some of them were studying like a critic studied a new art museum. [Color=#255DB3]"I suspect it's coming from behind it, the smell. What,did you lose someone behind that wall?"[/color]


[hider=Roll Request - Mahendra]
Characters current location: Athribis, Underground. The Wall.
Characters attempted actions: Mahnedra would like to take a look at the deeper carving of the cat with the torch and his magnefying glass, to see if he can make any sense out of it.
Any and all skills being used: Excavation, Understanding of Egyptian superstition
Why each skill is being called: Excavation to pull from his experience in dig-sites and such, and Understandng of Egyptian superstition to see if he can remember anything of exploding cats and deeper-carved symbols.
Desired location: Athribis, Underground. The carved cat that was carved deeper than the rest..
[/hider]

[hider=Roll Request - Richard]
Characters current location: Athribis underground, standing back with the group.
Characters attempted actions: Richard is trying to make a guess on what the smoke could be; Gasoline, oil, wood, cigarettes, booze, human flesh, you name it. It's not normal for an ancient ruin to have smoke like this, after all. Right?
Any and all skills being used: Deduction.
Why each skill is being called: Deduction to put together the pieces of information he can garner from smelling and guessing what the smoke could be.
Desired location: Athribis underground, not moving anywhere particular.
[/hider]