Grog'tial's mind goes into overdrive as his half-brother's name is mentioned. It's obvious that the skull's act is a ruse, that there's no way he could actually be mistaken for his half-brother by this skull. Yet, the skull is working for a most cunning adversary, and certainly knows that he knows that he knows that he knows!
It's a known fact that his half-brother is in league with the Shadowy Figure, who in turn is in league with the Aboleth. Yet he observed some tension between the skull and the Shadowy Figure, and since he was allowed to observe that, this means that it was meant to be understood as being fake, which means that he's meant to believe that the skull is a creature of the Shadowy Figure, while in reality he must be either an agent of his half-brother, or a servant of the Aboleth, and probably has designs on turning the tables on his master.
Since he's meant to believe that the skull, as a creature of the Shadowy Figure, is pretending to have assisted his half-brother, it's likely that his half-brother is preparing to stab the Aboleth into its back and take over its servants for his agents, probably in an ultimate attempt to become the senior partner in his relation with the Shadowy Figure! (That stands to reason, because why else go through all this trouble?) Since the skull is actually not a creature of the Shadowy Figure, but he's meant to believe that he is, there's an opportunity here!
So... He needs to let the skull know that he knows, while showing himself to be more reliable than the skull's current master - easily done by playing along on the surface level - in order to get him to switch sides - all the while distantiating himself from the blabbering of this human captain...

Having in mere moments reached this conclusion, Grog'tial addresses the skull. "Aye, secrets are important! They shouldn't just be blurted out by random bystanders, particularly when there was no indication that they were secret at all, hiding in plain view.
Your gift, last time, was a great help - yet..." and here Grog'tial lowers his voice and glances around meaningfully, "...foul magic while I was hunting the Ugliest of Fishes caused me to lose most of my possessions, as well as - indeed, as you justly observed - cause a small bout of amnesia. I'm trying to retrace my steps to where I lost the guide you mentioned, but that does mean that for the moment, I am without it. Any further assistance you could offer to speed me on my way would not be forgotten! Your desires are plain to me, and help will be reciprocated! Where was it, that I went? Can we reverse the mix-up, or how do I get to the paintings without dilly-dallying, and from thence to there? And what other effective ways of obliterating a hag in an efficient and satisfying manner are at hand?"

Grog'tial files this away. There is no way this human captain - or any crew member - could know about the uterine relation he has with Og'rialt. That he chose to reveal this knowledge - or dared this audacious bluff - at this very moment has layers of implications, none of them good. It's only Cliodhna's absolute trust which makes him think there must be an additional layer of misdirection at work, which will need careful unraveling...

As GM I concur. While I included it above until I could find time to verify, it was not actually replied to by the skull. Since BenKii posted that claim I've been going back to double check (still have a bit to do, it's a long game) but I find no place in thread that Grog'tial has mentioned to Crew that his half-brother is Og'rialt. So far only Clíodhna and the shadowy figure (and possibly Devin) would actually know. So I have to ask, how alike do they look? I would expect some resemblance, but Grog'tial is a half-dwarf while Og'rialt is full dwarf. I'm not seeing how Captain BenKii would be able to know about their relationship ... unless BenKii is just bluffing (diplomatically), as Grog'tial is partly assuming here.

To clarify, Grog'tial has thought about it, but not spoken of even a having a brother in thread, except privately to Clíodhna, and that was before BenKii joined the Crew. So unless someone can point it out to me, I am ruling that BenKii cannot know Grog'tial and Og'rialt are related and will just rework it in as BenKii's diplomatic ploy to buddy up to the skull with "all those dwarves look alike."

As for the skull, gogtrial already knows it's done it before. ;) LOL.

(Oh shoot! I thought everyone knew those two were brothers. My bad, forget anything I said about that. I'm getting what I know and what my character knows mixed up.)

Gilius sees the Count trying to block the door with his shield. If this succeeds, he will move forward in the corridor past the trap and keep spotting for possible other traps (in the walls, floor, or ceiling). Otherwise, he will drink a Repel Zombie Potion and help the Count fight them.

Bellandra noted how many had seemed to go through the vortex. First Argy, then the flying skull that had suddenly appeared. And now BenKii and Grog'tial had disappeared, and Kyp too had gone through! She surmised that BenKii must have gone through as well if the shout of "GERONIMO" was anything to judge by - she was not sure what Grog'tial had done but the vortex seemed the most likely explanation again.

She noted, "Arr, this vortex be attracting too many. Aye, I had thought to go through too, but not all at once! But mayhap 'tis better that than these zombies. Gilius, Count, I say we shut and bar that door first ere the zombies arrive, then we may either join the others through the vortex or go down this corridor. If we do not bar the door, methinks the zombies would just follow us, even if we go into the vortex too."

She moved towards the Count and the door, weapons ready, and suggested to Gilius, "Gilius, can yer staff hold the zombies in place while we bar the door?"

If they succeeded in barring the door she would first explore down the corridor, and if it seemed fruitless then she would suggest going through the portal while having others hold onto her scrollcase, so that they could pull her back.

If the zombies broke through she would defend the Count and Giliius. She would suggest one of them would go through the portal to get help and others would retreat down the corridor while fighting. If there was an opportunity to lead the zombies to a trap she would suggest to use it.

"Nay, but I got other options..." said Gilius with a smile while tapping one of his potions.

Mission 7 - The Tunnels, Turn 19
*Turn Ends 9PM UTC, 13 May 2025.*

In order: Bellandra, Count, Gilius
Per posts and story timing ... Argy, Grog'tial, BenKii, Kyp, Argy, Grog'tial, BenKii, Argy, Crew

Bellandra: (roll dice*6) You note that four of your crewmates must have gone through the vortex. First Argy, followed by the flying skull, then Kyp too had gone through! Grog'tial and BenKii are missing and you surmise that they too have gone through if BenKii's shout of "GERONIMO" was anything to judge by. Indeed, the vortex seems the most likely explanation. "Arr, this vortex be attracting too many," you say. "Aye, I had thought to go through too, but not all at once! But mayhap 'tis better that than these zombies. Gilius, Count, I say we shut and bar that door first ere the zombies arrive, then we may either join the others through the vortex or go down this corridor. If we do not bar the door, methinks the zombies would just follow us, even if we go into the vortex too."

Bellandra, you move to the door beside Count, weapons ready. "Gilius, can yer staff hold the zombies in place while we bar the door?" you ask as you see Count reaching for the door. You suddenly realize the door opens towards the zombies, meaning there is no way to effectively bar it from your side. You raise your hand crossbow and shoot. *Success* Your blessed regular bolt hits the first zombie in the head, making it stumble back as sparks of electricity dance over its head and neck and the blessing burns half of its undead face away. The burning stench of decay assaults your nostrils and you call out a suggestion to the others for one of them to go through the portal to get help while you and the other retreat down the corridor while fighting.

Count Karnstein: (roll dice*10) (Weakened) Seeing the zombies continue coming towards you even as Bellandra shoots one, you quickly reach out to close the door. However the door closes towards you and opens towards the oncoming zombies, so your original thought of using the shield to jam the door shut won't work ... unless you just want to stand there trying to hold it closed in your weakened condition. Instead you are rather surprised to find your arm suddenly extending to shield bash the door open again just as the zombies reach it! The door slams open, sending two of the zombies reeling off their feet backwards into a couple others as the shield pulls you forward into the fray, its polished silvery-white metal faintly glowing with a strange aura that flows around you with entirely too much nauseating virtuous goodness for your tastes. However the nauseousness fades as the aura seems to settle over you with a sense of powerful protection, inspiring you forward. Not really having the time at the moment to contemplate this, you bring the warhammer down on a zombie's head. *Success* As you satisfyingly smash in the zombie's head, the zombie promptly bursts into silvery flames and vanishes!

Gilius: (roll dice*6) [Rocky, 2 Turns reserved] Seeing that the door won't be able to be jammed shut from this side and the Count advancing into the fight, you calmly answer Bellandra's question about your staff possible abilities to hold the zombies in place. "Nay, but I got other options..." you say, smiling while tapping a potion. You swiftly drink a Repel Zombie Potion and run to join Count in the fight. As you come up beside him you feel a strange aura or feeling flow over you, however it doesn't feel malicious or harmful, rather the opposite. One zombie immediately turns and shambles away before you can even reach it with your staff. The wounded zombie with half of its face gone turns and stumbles, colliding with the wall while the two zombies on the floor try to crawl away from you.

Situation: One zombie has vanished. One unwounded zombie is shambling away while the wounded zombie has stumbled and collided with the wall. The two door-bashed zombies knocked to the floor are trying to crawl away from Gilius.

-----
Argy: (roll dice*2) You feel some remorse for not having told Gilius about the switch in the tunnel, but you have other matters to pay attention to at the moment. So, 'tis be the famous flyin' skull and his books... I should let Grog'tial do the parley. He seems capable enough and somehow involved in this mess... Maybe I should make sure BenKii stays quiet? You shake your head. Nay, that scurvy Ug'rialt, Og'rialt or whatever he be called was also famous for his weird (and occasionally brilliant) ideas. If they were mateys, the skull migh' actually like Cap'n BenKii. For now you stay silent, posing with your most innocent look while smiling faintly and covertly looking around the room for any possibly hidden or not so hidden traps, doors, levers or particularly interesting books. Unfortunately you don't see anything beyond the bookcases full of books you can't decipher the titles of, the empty mortuary slab, a few candles and the floating skull. You do manage to slip two unlit candles into your pocket while the skull isn't looking.

Grog'tial: (roll dice*3) You carefully manage to keep your face neutral while mentally raising your eyebrows. You have strong suspicions about the first couple layers of an obvious ploy here, but if you're correct then your adversary should know you're not an easy mark, so the other layers to the plot will no doubt be opaque and much more devious. As the skull snidely mentions the pink outfit you can't help but finger your ribbon ... but no, you tell yourself, that type of power play is exactly what you won't allow yourself to be goaded into!

Grog'tial, chuckling along while acutely aware of Argy nearby, you address the skull. "Aye, women! They have a lot going for them, though. Well, except for some of them - like those zombies you mentioned. Or hags!" When the skull doesn't take the bait on his own, you continue. "I heard you pulled a fast one on one of those, though. Nicely done! I'm half a'mind to try something similar myself. Got any... tips? Maybe something I could taunt her with?"

The skull sighs. ""Typical! Why do I always get lumbered with amnesiac stiffs? What happened to the book I gave you last time? You know, the one you used to obliterate one of the hag sisters? Og'rialt's Guide to Dungeoneering, the log of all your travels? Did you lose it, or give it to that bald mercenary friend of yours like the other book you stole from me, Gith? You should take better care of your stuff. You really don't want just anyone sifting through the crap and knowing all your secrets, chief."

Captain BenKii: (roll dice*7) You holster your weapons, seeing no threat from the floating skull. Instead you address the skull in your most diplomatic voice. "Sup Skull Dude," you say with a nod. "I'm Captain BenKii, these are my comrades Argy, Kyp, and Grog'tial. But I guess you already know him," you say, pointing and looking toward Grog'tial while squinting. "Oh, you're right he would look better in pink. Haha, looks like you got yourself one good funny bone in that noggin of yours." Somewhere in the distance you could swear you hear a "buh dum tss."

"Don't talk to me about boners, Gith! You've no idea how long it's been!" the skull replies with a rueful laugh.

BenKii, you nod again in comradely sympathy. "But I digress, look Mr. Skully we have a common enemy. The Hag. She wants us to steal some book from you but clearly she's a lying good for nothing.. uhh... well Hag. She's locked us in this dungeon and won't let us go until we give her what she wants but I have a better idea. We just kill her and find another way out. I've already escaped this dungeon once and I can do it again especially if we have your help." You hold the Book of Armaments open to show the Skull Man the page about Hagsbane while making sure to not open it on the page with the sealed wights. "Here, check the page on Hagsbane. Maybe you can help us with it. If we can find the ingredients to this Hagsbane and mix it up, then we'll have another weapon to fight her. Just got to find a way to get her to drink it. Maybe invite her for dinner?" you said jokingly, but in the back of your mind you keep it as a serious possibility.

The floating skull mumbles to himself before answering. "Another way out? After last time, this place is locked up tighter than a chastity belt!" he pauses in consideration. "Well, except maybe the paintings." He hovers over you looking over the page. "Says you need moonflowers and graverot," he says to you oh so helpfully. "Graverot's easy, find an old graveyard at night."

BenKii, you remember the paintings in the western tunnel room. Could the skull be talking about those? "Paintings you say, eh? Think I remember a room with some of those the last time I was here. About which direction would that be? ... And which way is the graveyard?"

The floating skull rises higher, spining dizzily. "Where? With the way you've made it mix things up? Hell if I know! Do I look like a tour guide now?" Then he laughs like a maniac. "Invite a hag to dinner and you'll end up the main course. Kiss her with it! Hag's are suckers for kisses. I mean, who'd want to pucker up to that, am I right?"

BenKii, you grin. "I'm not completely against it. I have been known to be quite charming from time to time. It's true."

"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, chief." The skull turns to Grog'tial and rolls it's intact eyeballs as if to say 'Where do you pick up these people?' "Sorry, the air in this place makes my skull itch."

BenKii, you recall what the skull said previously and diplomatically correct him. "Oh that's Grog'tial, not Og'rialt. Met him once. Nice guy. Ahhh, all those dwarves look alike, I know." The skull just looks at you as Argy accidently treads on your foot. You move out of her way, then continue. "So then I take it that you don't have the book in question? Well darn, I thought there might've been something in that book we could've used on the Hag."

"No, he does ... or did." The skull nods toward Grog'tial, then looks pointedly at the book still in your hand. "Huh. Looks to me like you have a book in your hand with something about Hagsbane, chief. Or you could tear out that page and throw the wights at her for a kiss. Then again, she might throw them right back at you." The skulls laughs.

BenKii, it seems this line of questioning isn't getting you any further. You shift off your sore foot and look around the room. Your stomach grumbles as your gaze lands on Argy and you turn back to the skull. "By the way, you got anything to eat here? I'm starving. Or even something to steep my tea in? Gotta keep my calories and caffeine level up!"

The skull flies around the bookshelves and otherwise empty mortuary room, guffawing loudly. "Do I look like a waiter to you, chief? Don't talk to me about hungry. I've been milling round here for an eternity, or so it feels."

Kyp: (roll dice*5) (Weakened) Seeing the others questioning the skull, but having no good ideas of what to ask, you try to think of a way to trick the skull into answering another way, not wanting to feel left out. "What question should I ask you to get information to defeat the hag or get out of this dungeon? And then what is the answer to the question that I should ask you to get information to help us get out of here." You pause, then add, "Oh and... how does it feel to be flying? That seems pretty cool except for the fact you are able to go so high up"

The floating skull turns to you. "What? Now I'm a Monster Manual?" He jerks his jaw towards Argy. "Why isn't anybody asking her? Gith, you already have the recipe for Hagsbane, what more do you want, a warning guide?" Shaking his head at you the skull coughs up a small pamphlet, 'A Guide To Hags: The Wicked Witches', dropping it at your feet. "Don't ask me where I keep this stuff.

"I already said this place is locked up tighter than a chastity belt, except maybe the paintings. Didn't you hear? So far it looks like you still have your ears. As for flying, see for yourself." The skull zooms in and picks you up in his teeth by the back of the collar and proceeds to fly you high around the room before dropping you back down. He laughs as you sink to your knees, swallowing hard. "Does that answer your question, chief?"

Kyp, trying your best to be courteous and respectful while quivering and holding onto the ground, you shakily take the pamphlet as you reply. "Thank you for the demonstration... kind... sir? I heard but I felt like if I didn't ask a question I wouldn't be as cool as the rest of my crew."

Argy: (roll dice*3) You accidently step on BenKii's foot when he tells the skull that it's wrong and Grog'tial isn't Og'rialt. So far the skull is giving information, but who knows what will happen if he discovers the mistake? Hopefully Cap'n BenKii takes your warning. After some more wandering around looking at everything and listening, you turn to the skull. "Won't ye have a map of this place, my jolly sir? We be a little lost, and hag magic isn't helping..." you ask in your most innocent voice, giving the skull your best puppy eyes.

"Oh sure. I'll just draw one with my hands ..." The floating skull stares into your eyes, then he clacks his teeth together before replying. "A map of this place?" He looks around at the entire room. "What you see is this place, but sure ..."

The skull coughs up a piece of chalk and gripping it in his teeth draws an X on the floor with the words 'YOU ARE HERE' written underneath it.

Grog'tial: (roll dice*6) Your mind goes into overdrive as your half-brother's name is mentioned. It's obvious that the skull's act is a ruse, that there's no way you could actually be mistaken for your half-brother by this skull. Yet, the skull is working for a most cunning adversary, and certainly knows that you know that he knows that you know! You know for a fact that your half-brother is in league with the Shadowy Figure, who in turn is in league with the Aboleth. Yet you've observed some tension between the skull and the Shadowy Figure, and since you were allowed to observe that, it must mean that it was meant to be understood as being fake, which means you're meant to believe this skull is a creature of the Shadowy Figure, while in reality he must be either an agent of your half-brother, or a servant of the Aboleth, and probably has designs on turning the tables on his master. Therefore, since you're meant to believe that the skull, as a creature of the Shadowy Figure, is pretending to have assisted your half-brother, it's quite likely your half-brother is preparing to stab the Aboleth in the back and take over its servants for his agents, probably in an ultimate attempt to become the senior partner in his relation with the Shadowy Figure! Yes. That stands to reason, because why else go through all this trouble? Therefore, since the skull is actually not a creature of the Shadowy Figure, but you're evidently meant to believe that he is, there's an opportunity here! So... you need to let the skull know that you know, while showing yourself to be more reliable than the skull's current master - easily done by playing along on the surface level - in order to get the skull to switch sides - all the while distancing yourself from the blabbering of this human captain.... You see Argy step on BenKii's foot and barely restrain a smile.

Grog'tial, you quickly address the skull. "Aye, secrets are important! They shouldn't just be blurted out by random bystanders, particularly when there was no indication that they were secret at all, hiding in plain view," you say, resisting a sidelong glance at BenKii. "Your gift, last time, was a great help - yet..." you lower your voice and glance around meaningfully, "...foul magic while I was hunting the Ugliest of Fishes caused me to lose most of my possessions, as well as - indeed, as you justly observed - caused a small bout of amnesia. I'm trying to retrace my steps to where I lost the guide you mentioned, but that does mean that for the moment, I am without it. Any further assistance you could offer to speed me on my way would not be forgotten! Your desires are plain to me, and help will be reciprocated! Where was it, that I went? Can we reverse the mix-up, or how do I get to the paintings without dilly-dallying, and from thence to there? And what other effective ways of obliterating a hag in an efficient and satisfying manner are at hand?"

The skull nods knowingly. "One time you awoke obsessed with the idea that *I* was your skull and chased me around the Spire trying to shatter and devour me. Luckily, you were crushed by a passing cart in the street. As for where you went after we and my ex rocked that Beholder's world and you grabbed those chests? Hell if I know! Shame if you lost all that gold and stuff." He hmms a moment. "Why would you hunt the Ugliest of Fishes? A gift for the Hag? Hags like ugly, misery and power. It might work. Put a big old Ugliest of Fishes in her path and let them face each other while you grab the goods and go." He laughs. "Once again, I'm not a tour guide, chief, nor an engineer. How it's changing is beyond me. All I know is you best get going or you'll be stuck here. Time to shake a leg... Well... YOU shake a leg..."

The floating skull nods at the plain wall and looks at you expectantly. Sighs. "Don't tell me you lost the mirror again too. That's why you can't open portals and haven't called me, eh chief? Fine." He turns to BenKii and the odd box Captain BenKii carries beeps. "Point that at the bare wall where you entered this place, it should open a portal back."

Captain BenKii: Your tricorder beeps. Looking down you notice it has been recharged and now indicates something akin to a teleporter signal in the middle of the plain wall where you entered. Pointing your tricorder at the signal opens the vortex.

Argy: (roll dice*2) [Per PM] Just before you leave, you quickly pull a fancy dark green leather bound book off the shelf and stuff it in an inner pocket. It was only a simple snatch, but you hear an avalanche of books starting to tumble and the skull's voice yelling after you as you run back through the vortex.

"Hey! That's my book you thieving Gith!"

Argy, Captain BenKii, Grog'tial, Kyp: You feel a inexplicable force drawing you into the vortex. There is a bright flash and you all stumble out into the corridor where you see Bellandra, Count and Gilius fighting four zombies in the connecting passage through the door ahead of you. The vortex behind you has vanished.

Bellandra, Count, Gilius: There is a flash from the vortex behind you, then it vanishes. Your crewmates have returned.

-----
Available: 5 regular unbroken hand-bolts (scattered in corridor trap area)

Dungeon side passage (near left door): Bellandra, Count [weakened], Gilius
Dungeon side passage: 4 zombies
Dungeon tunnel (near right door): Argy, BenKii, Grog'tial, Kyp [weakened]
Somewhere out in the World, near a brothel: Devin
???: Aylar, Cliodhna, Aeshma, Refyx, Rummyfangs, Baldbeard

Count Karnstein was too shocked and awestruck by his shield suddenly acting up and zombie dissolving under his blows to analyze the situation, and not wasting any time proceeded to vigorously smash any remaining undead FILTH.

Afterward, he glances at the shield suspiciously. Previous owner of this junk was hellbent on killing him, no doubt about that, yet it didn't do much good for him. Earlier he jokingly thought of becoming a paladin, now he begins to be slightly worried that maybe he caught an eye of some deranged deity, hopelessly fond of redemption arcs or some such bullcrap. Oh, come on, ol' fool, it's just an enchanted shield. Prolly didn't work before 'cause that cleric was, in fact, AN ILLUSION!

"Gilius, ye felt that too? This design means anythin' to you?", Count asks while turning toward the dwarf and raising the shield.

Upon seeing the crew members returning, Count greets them with words: "Thank goodness! I'm so, so, so, so glad we don't 'ave come t'rescue ye! Is the deed done? Can we skedaddle?"

Count will scan the side room/passage, checking what's in there and where it leads to. Seems like there are only two paths available now: main corridor and whence the skull with zombies came. He wonders if maybe they could bypass main corridor using side tunnels. Main path was likely guarded and booby-trapped, on the other hand there was a risk of getting more lost or going in the wrong direction. But then again, was there such thing as right direction in this dungeon, seemingly transforming on a whim?

He will listen what others have learned in his absence and will tag along.

Grog'tial smiles inwardly at this treasure trove of information he's stumbled upon with regard to his half-brother's exploits and available assets. It's going to take many long nights of careful plotting to sift through it all, and design counters. The good thing is that the skull is obviously willing to make the switch to his team (for the right price of course, which he respects), so when his half-brother next uses this "mirror", he'll be in for a surprise! He frowns... unless that's exactly what the Fish wants him to think? He'd better guard against that possibility. And what if this was all the work of the cabal after all...?

With some effort he stops his mind from fully exploring those possibilities for now, to focus on the here and now. If the zombies haven't yet been dealt with, he'll dare using the battle axe to cut off their heads. Afterward, he'll inform the rest of the crew that their objective has become to find the paintings which the female voices behind the door previously referenced. Haste should be made. He resolutely sets off down the corridor from which the zombies arrived, still carefully scanning for traps, but not worrying overly much about them, since the zombies would likely have set off anything in the immediate vicinity.

Captain's Log: Mission 7 - The Tunnels, Turn 19
We managed to get some decent information from our skull friend including a possible way out via the paintings room. But with every shifting of the dungeon, it makes it more impossible to find. Our only hope is that when we stumble across it that we take full advantage of the opportunity to escape. My tricorder, now fully recharged thanks to the flying skull, was now able to open portals in this dungeon. As we left the semi circular room through the portal, I was still left with one question I forgot to ask. What the heck is a Gith? Probably this world's version of a curse word.

Captain BenKii arrived right back where they started in the hallway but it looks as if Count Karnstein was engaged in battle with zombies. Now these were enemies that BenKii knew how to deal with. "We're back gents!" said the Captain as he pulled out his musket and silver sickle, "Be sure to save a few zom zoms for us."

BenKii will position himself at the foot of left side doorway and aim his musket for the head of the closest zombie. While the musket recharges, he'll use his silver sickle to decapitate the next closest zombie. After the zombies have been dispatched, he'll relay the information they learned from the skull to the rest of the crew -- The paintings and where to find the ingredients for Hagsbane. He also remembered to show Argy the part about a complicated grog recipe for the Hagsbane thinking she may know how to make that part. Finally, he'll move further down the left side passage making sure to let Grog'tial take the lead scanning for traps while BenKii kept his eye out for more enemies and any useful loot. If the side passage dead ends, then he'll instead move further down the Dungeon tunnel and avoid that trap Gilius and Bellandra discovered.

Argy steps out of the vortex shaking her head "The accursed skull been not o' any 'elp. Useless parley and little advice. Besides, it been so close fisted with them books an' did nay give us any, so I 'ad to borrow one... Blimey, don't ye trust any skull unless it has crossed bones under it"

She will help finishing the zombies with the help of her pan and, after that, she will take a quick look at the borrowed book. If it doesn't seem to be written in any language she knows, she'll give it to Karnstein with a wink "Arr, matey! Aeshma might be able to read 'tis... a jolly gift fer such a lass, don't ye think?"

She will take a look at the Hagsbane recipe. If there is any possibility of brewing it on the field, she'll consider doing it after disabling the trap. Else, she'll have to trust the cupcakes as an alternative.

She'll then head to the tunnel and warn Gilius and Bellandra about the switch above. If no one is able to reach it, Argy will use her Spiderclimb Oil to climb near the ceiling and activate the switch (and she will remain clinging to the walls for the duration of the oil, somehow it seems safer that being on the ground)
She'll continue advancing ahead of the tunnel afterwards.

Kyp gets onto his feet and if there are any zombies will slash them with his sword.

If there are on zombies he will run with Grog'tial to wherever