Plans, Into the dark, turn
Subject Turn
We still need to hear from Jason and Randy, even if it is just to check in please.
Thanks
From: Jason
Subject plans
Ragnar will be more than happy to head down first. He'll try to be quiet, for all the good that will do while wearing full plate.
From: Kevin
Subject Plans
Well, Harp ain't much better, but the lift is probably going to make some noise anyway. Salix is more concerned with it being dark down there, and both Harp and Rangar have darkvision, so they can scope out down there with out lighting up a torch.
IC: While Salix watches Harp and Ragnar prepare to head down the shaft, he says to the others "Ran, would you and Kal go get those baldrics off those two guards? They may come in usefull later on. Mund, get your torch ready to attach to your shield. Those two may be able to see without it, but the rest us us will need it sooner or later."
From: Mark
Subject Plans
What are you doing with Hanz and Franz?
So Harp and Ragnar are going to go down the lift?
Ok as soon as I have heard from Randy I will write something up.
From: Kevin
Subject Plans
We are going to leave them unconcious and well trussed up by Surin hidden as well as possible in the building we are in. Harp and Ragnar are going to go down the lift without torches to see what they can see at the bottom on the shaft. IF it looks clear, they will explore a very short way down the rail line, but will otherwise go back and rap on the lift that the way is clear (assuming it is). If there is more than 1 or 2 someones down there, they will knock once and wait to be hauled back up. If there are only a couple of guards, Harp and Ragnar will probably try to take them out.
From: Porter
Subject Climbing
OOC: How hard would it be for Mund to climb down there without using the lift?
From: Mark
Subject Climbing
Since it would be down an unknotted rope it would be a DC 15 climb check every 10 feet.
From: Kevin
Subject Climbing
What if Harp were to lower him down? Just tie a loop of some type for Mund to put an arm or foot thru and then Harp and/or one of the other character could help lower him down?
Of course, Porter, how you gonna see without gettin out your torch??
Maybe we could work out a way for Harp to get let down? This is when a Whisper Gnome would come in handy.
From: Porter
Subject Climbing
Mund looks down the shaft and says "If'n you wanna check it out first without using that noisy lift, I think I could climb down on my own and see what's there."
From: Kevin
Subject Climbing
Salix thinks for a minute. "Mund, thats a good idea, but lets still have Harp go first. We can tie the rope off up here and he can just slide down the rope. He can see without a torch and can give a quick scouting of the bottom when he gets there."
OOC: Mark, is this a skill we can take a 10 on? I do not know how Rangar will fee about being let down wearing his armor - the rest of the group would probably have to lower him down.
Would the DC still be a 15 since we are going down the rope, not climbing up? It is substantially easier to go down than up.
From: Mark
Subject Climbing
It is all still part of the same skill. You can not really use gauntlets while going down and unless you want to rope burn your hands you need the climb skill.
Stop trying to get out of simple skill checks.
From: Randy
Subject Climbing
Ran will go along with the plan of checking out the tunnel. He is concerned about abandoning Mund's people to the fate that Faldor has planned for them but until they have more information, he doesn't speak up about it.
From: Mark
Subject Plans
Ok everyone has checked in I'll try and get a turn out this afternoon.
From: Mark
Subject Into the dark
Surin, Ran and Mund make quick work of Hanz and Franz. The two guards are trussed up, gagged and deposited under a stack of hay. Harp and Ragnar ready their swords and move over to where the lift is. Ally takes a second to inspect the lift mechanism and then points to a large wheel. "Turn this way" he says and grabs the wheel and starts to turn. The mechanism makes several loud squeaks as the rope pulleys strain. Salix and Kal give the mage a hand and the two can see a platform with some railings slowly moving up from the dark pit.
A minute later a wooden platform large enough for maybe a dozen unarmored, normal sized people stops at the top of the opening. Harp and Ragnar open the gate and step onto the platform. It sways a bit from their weight and Harp takes a quick step to keep his balance. Ragnar's short, stubby legs keep him well balanced. Salix nods and Ally flips a lever. The three start turning the wheel again, this time lowering the platform back into the darkness.
Slowly the two descend into the shaft. The darkness starts to surround them. The colors first dim and then fade out until only black and white remain. The top of the shaft is small above them, a faded pin point of dim light. Harp can hear Ragnar mumbling to himself "10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40." When the dwarf hits 40, the lift jerks to a stop. The two fighters look out down the tunnel in front of them. For 60 feet down the tunnel they see nothing but two metal rails, about three feet apart. The tunnel itself is about 15 feet wide. Ragnar opens the gate and steps out onto the floor. It is dirt, not stone. There are support beams every five feet or so with large sections of wood between the beams that seem to be used to support the ceiling.
They spend the next few minutes exploring the first thirty feet of the tunnel. They find nothing out of the ordinary. Ragnar is not impressed by the construction but he does not know how he would do better. Something about it just offends his dwarven sensibilities. The floor is well worn but the walls, the railing and the lift all seem to be reasonably new, no more than 3 years old. The air is a bit damp and chilly.
OODM: What now?
From: Jason
Subject Into the dark
Ragnar says to Harp, quietly, "I think we should investigate a couple hundred feet out, and then see if Salix wants us to keep going or not."
OOC: Can we tell which way the tunnel is headed, both in direction and especially if it might be leading toward the temple?
From: Mark
Subject Into the dark
It heads west. On the map I had sent out a while back that is to the left of the map.
From: Kevin
Subject Into the dark
"Lets not get too far ahead. We'll go down a hundred feet or so. If it is clear, I'll wait here while you go back and get the others."
From: Jason
Subject Into the dark
Well that is the way we want to go. We need to head northwest. The squares don't really show up very well, but it looks like we need to head about 750' west and about 900' north. Of course, its just a sketch so I don't expect that to be completely accurate, but is that about right?
From: Jason
Subject Into the dark
Ragnar agrees to that.
From: Mark
Subject Into the dark
The two move down the tunnel slowly, trying their best to be silent. After 100 feet or so they see no change ahead of them. The rails continue heading in a straight line west.
From: Mark
Subject Into the dark
Basically yes.
From: Kevin
Subject Into the dark
When they get about 100' feet from the shaft, Harp holds up his hand. He motions to Ragnar that he will stay where he is and that Ragnar should head back and get the others. He watches as the dwarf heads back.
While Harp waits, he settles down to see what if anything he can hear. He wishes he were as quiet as Surin, but he is not willing to go on without his armor. If only Surin could see in the dark the way Harp and Ragnar could - he would be a hell of a scout then.
He waits silently for the others to come down the tunnel.
From: Jason
Subject Into the dark
Ragnar will head back to the lift and tug on the rope to be let back up. Once above, he'll say "The tunnel goes a ways to the west. If it eventually turns north, it should head to the temple. We got about 100 feet down and didn't see anyone, but that's as far as we went. I think we should give it a try; if we can rescue Acer before the ceremony even starts, that's far better than attempting to interrupt it."
From: Kevin
Subject Listen
OOC: Mark, on listen checks, it is -2 for every 10 ft away from the noise source, correct? So at the limit of Harp's vision any creature would have a -12 to its listen check? Granted, Harp still have to do his move silent checks, but the opposed check woud take a -12, right????
From: Mark
Subject Listen
Yes under most circumstances.
They would also usualy need to have a reason to make a listen or spot check. If they have no reason they take a -10 for being distracted. That is the modifier that usually affects everyone one unless they say they are listening.
From: Kevin
Subject Listen
Thanks, great.
From: Mark
Subject Turn
Are you guys waiting on me?
From: Jason
Subject turn
I'm either waiting on you to say we all go down, or on everyone else to say we go down in the tunnel. But I'm definitely waiting for something :)
From: Mark
Subject Turn
Well then lets have everyone check in since I want to make sure all the players have done what they want before I go on. Things are going to get fun soon. :evil grin:
From: Porter
Subject Turn
Mund's ready to go down, and has his torch attached to his shield, currently with a hood over it.
From: Josh
Subject Turn
Kal's ready.
From: Derek
Subject Turn
Do we want to ask Hanz and Franz where the tunnel goes, and what creatures await us at the end? If not, then Allistair will go down with the rest.
From: Kevin
Subject Turn
You can try real quick.
Salix will be ok with going down the shaft and heading down to where Harp is.
From: Mark
Subject Turn
I thought I had made it clear. The guards on the property do not go to the temple. Hanz and Franz load bodies on to the lift and lower them down. Someone or something unloads the bodies at the bottom of the lift.
From: Derek
Subject Turn
OK, then we'll leave them where they are.