Sohn was the first to spring into action when Vander started his descent. Unfortunately, the oldest member of their team was not able to grab the staff in time. Instead, the team heard Vander scream, loudly and distressingly. After about 10 seconds, it suddenly stopped. Anyone who would look down the hole after the noise ceased would see some kind of acidic substance at the bottom; the man was completely dead and dissolved. Eliel’s suggestion of “find a way to get Vander out of the hole” would not be happening.

On a slightly brighter note (both figuratively and literally), the oil lamp was still intact. It was a little scuffed from the drop, but this wasn’t anything that impaired its functionality. And for whatever it was worth, Magolor had been able to spare the carpet from the acid’s wrath without sliding into it himself.

Once the realization that Vander wouldn’t be coming back hit everyone, another shocking development was noted; Sunne had completely disappeared, almost as if she had never been there in the first place. The only hint that she had been there were a few drops of blood on the floor, still liquid rather than hardened like it becomes over time.

The group of three would now have to decide where to go from here. They could still go towards the light in front by walking around the pit, they could go through the door on the left, or they could walk up the staircase on the right. However, if anyone tried to exit through the front door, they would find that it is impossibly locked. There would be no leaving the abandoned mansion without finding out what it was that had caused the disappearances of their two teammates and those who had entered the building before them.