(Okay, well that map does show one way of getting through the house quicker, but does our characters now it?)

"Come on!" Jim shouts. "That creature is not that far behind us."

He then begins running up the stairs to the upper level of the basement.

"Forget the pit?" Caine says as they bound up the stairs to the next level. "Are you forgetting that we don't have a way out of here yet? At the very least if that thing falls into the pit it's going to take time to get back out."

When they get to the next level, Caine looks at their choices and heads to the one with the pit, skirting around the edges of it (number 26) and then waits at the end of that hallway so the mound when it comes up the stairs can see him.

"Yes!" Jim snaps back. "Forget the pit. I saw a shortcut through the house it will lead us back to by the front doors. I noticed it when I studied the dollhouse."

Nelyna nods to Sleet and stands on her own feet. She keeps pace with the dragonborn as they run. She can hear Jim and Caine arguing over which way to go. Suddenly worried for the dog they found, she looks down to find the little guy running along at her heels. For a moment she was worried something bad had happened to him, but she was glad he was still ok. As for themselves, they still seemed to be in imminent peril, and she had no idea who to follow, Jim or Caine. 

"What if the doors are still locked?" she shouts to Jim. "Maybe we should try to slow this thing down."

Caine stops on the other side of the pit and thinks for a moment. His memory of the dollhouse is not as good as Jim's and he doesn't remember a shortcut but if there is one, maybe it buys them time.

"Go ahead that way," Caine calls to Jim. "I'll try and lure the lumbering compost pile into the pit then I can circle around and catch up." 

"The pit is an excellent idea, we can try the doors on the way up, if locked, the attic is our best hope."

"Pick a destination, friends.  I think I hear it coming up the stairs behind us...".

Nelyna follows Jim and the others who are heading away from the pit. She casts a worried look back at Caine. Hopefully his plan to lure the shambling mound into the pit doesn't backfire on him. 

gingerly steps around the pit following Jim

Jim nods to Caine and Sleet before dashing down the passage to the south, heading up the stairs.

“Good luck.”  Razi says as he departs Caine and Sleet to follow Jim and Nelyna.  “If we should become separated in the house, let’s meet at the staircase.”

Caine laughs out loud and claps Sleet on the back. But as soon as the house rumbles, he removes his hand and holds it over his mouth, linking the laugh to the change instead of the date of the shambling mound.

”So Sleet, what are your views on running?” Caine says.

Without waiting for an answer, Caine takes off in the circular route to go catch up with the others who went the direction of Jim’s shortcut.

Jim continues down the corridor, heading south and stops when he sees the 'X's on the floor. He then decides to check the area out before continuing.

(Investigation: 18)

"we are not running, we are advancing in the other direction!"

runs with Caine...

"Is this the way out, Jim?  I'm all turned around."

Caine trots away from the pit and the shambling mound, turning south and heading into the dining room with the moldy food (room 27). He pauses only long enough to make sure Sleet was coming too. Seeing the big dragonborn, Caine nods and continues through the room and out the west exit (leading to number 29). 

He comes to a stop at that intersection and calls out to the others.

"Which way did you go?" Caine calls.