Manholes & Motleys

[Smudge]

Smudge led Green towards the manhole cover that would eventually lead to the sewer that Degnar and the Ogre had set-up as their shared Hollow. In truth, the stinking Blightbent had pretty much moved in with some simple adjustments to a wall, making more space for the pair of them. If all went well with Green, then perhaps more walls would have to be 'adjusted'.

Smudge smirked at the thought of hulking out again. It seemed to be happening less and less.

"Gotta warn you, bud, it don't smell so great down there," the Ogre said as they neared the manhole in question, the night air not exactly fresh in this part of the city.

[Yumyumcrow]

Green grunted. "Work don't smell too good - what with ripe man smells, dust and equipment going off. Guess I'm getting used to off-smells." His stone locked face remained impassive as always but there was a certain... light... in his eyes.

[Smudge]

Smudge didn't catch the look in Green's eyes, not really one for reading people that well, and was instead focusing on the manhole that came into view. Crouching down, Smudge pried the cover from position before beginning to descend the ladder.

"Be careful, its a l'il slippery. Jus' try not t' fall on me," Smudge grinned, halfway into the ground. "Oh, and dark." The Ogre then continued to carefully descend the metal ladder into the bowls of the city itself.

[Malcolm Green]

Green shrugged and very carefully, and very slowly, made his way down. He coughed once or twice. After all, it did stink down there.

[Smudge]

Once he reached the bottom, Smudge pulled out a rubber gripped torch from one of the pockets of his long, stinking coat and switched it on. When nothing happened, he smacked it into his palm a couple of times until the light flickered to life and grunted under his breath.

"Righ', this way," he said, shining the light further down the sewer tunnel before stopping and glancing to Green. "Did ya drag the cover back in place?" he asked.

[Malcolm Green]

The curse followed by the ponderous sound of the Elemental climbing back up the ladder told Smudge all he needed to know. Eventually, there was a scrape of metal and a dull clank. Green, still muttering, made his way delicately back.

[Smudge]

Once Green had returned from closing the cover, Smudge nodded and led the way along the sewer, trudging along near to the wall to avoid the worst that drifted along. Fortunately, his boots were quite sufficient for this kind of walk. Finally, a new, more horrid stink soon hit them.

"Tha' smell is the Jennystones bush," Smudge commented, glancing towards Green. "We put it outside the Hollow's entrance as a deterrent."

[Malcolm Green]

"Well. Yeah. It works!" Green coughed. He puffed and hacked and wheezed as he followed behind. But he did not stop. His footfalls were tireless, despite being bent under the confines of the tunnel, with his arms stretched out, seeking purchase on the walls to support his balance.

Looming behind smudge, his body contorted to fit the scant space, Green appeared more like a subterranean troll than an elemental.

[Smudge]

"Ha!" Smudge said as they trudged further along the tunnel until finally reaching a space that was more swathed in shadow than the rest. And, just where the Ogre mentioned, a Jennystones bush had been planted nearby, the stinking aura more purified in such an enclosed space.

Finding the doorway was relatively simple for the Ogre now he knew where it was, but at first, Smudge had always relied on Degnar to locate the entrance. He looked round to Green. "Welcome t' the hollow. Mind ya 'ead." The Ogre of Winter then stooped under the archway and out of view.

[Malcolm Green]

Grumbling and cursing the mountain squeezed his frame through the door. It was not the height that was the problem, not really, but the curious angle he needed to attain in order not to dump himself in the slush and muck of the sewer. It took a while to pull off.

"Ah! Christ!"

And inevitably, a foot found its way into the rancid waters...