Helping Sa'id, Warthog of Death
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
Cadfael continues watching what is approaching from the forest. He feels the rope tighten as Rennik grabs a hold and turns his head down to him, although he does not take his eyes from North.
"Rennik, do not come up here, I will be needing the rope in a minute. But... Rennik, what does a swamp dragon look like?"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
Farron moves over to join Mission and Sa'id. He will check Sa'id's injuries and try to see if there is any first aid he can give.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
Garyth comes to Sa'id's side. A twinge of guilt comes over him for allowing his companion to be harmed. He does what he can to help the mage, but his skill at healing is limited to simple battlefield first aid. They really need Cadfael. Where was he, anyway?
But first things first. Garyth helps Mission move Sa'id over to the rocks.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
Rennik will attempt to get to the rope, brooding and not talking to anyone. If he must, he'll ask for aid, but he'll give it a go on his own first.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
Whoops! Scratch that... Didn't read Dan's email.
Turn coming in a sec.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
Rennik freezes, hoping that he heard Cadfael wrong, then yells back.
"It's like a great big alligator or crocodile, eight or nine feet high at the shoulder, thirty or forty feet long! If you even think you see one, get down here!"
He then turns to Garyth or Mission (whichever is closer to the hole). "If Cadfael drops my pack down to you, could you catch it for me? I'm afraid it'd drop me right to the bottom."
(OOC: I'm gonna hope the answer is yes, and that Rennik will yell to Cadfael to drop the equipment down. If the answer is no, Rennik will make a dash for the rope and an attempt to climb up to get it hissowndamnself)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
Mission will catch Rennick's gear.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
Cadfael nods slowly. He'll then carefully reach over and grab Rennik's gear, gingerly pushing it over the lip of the well. All the while keeping as close a look North as he can, as if such a creature were looking directly at him. Once he's done he'll get ready to swing down the rope but won't actually do so until whatever is coming pops out of the clearing.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
Wait wait wait. Ty, let's say that *is* a swamp dragon that's coming. Let's say it's hungry for, I dunno, man-flesh. Let's see it sees me drop down the hole or smell us down the hole. Could said swamp dragon reach inside the hole? In order to get at said tasty man-flesh. Based on Rennik's description anyway.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
Yeah, just how big is this hole? Now, granted, if we got it in the hole, we'd likely pound it into dust... it's huge, and it wouldn't be able to turn around. But, I'm thinking it'd be too big. I'm not entirely clear on the size of the hole.
If Rennik thinks the whole is big enough for a swamp dragon to crawl down after them, he'd tell Cadfael to get in the hole, then direct the group to split up - half on one side of the hole, and half on the other.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The hole; Undercurrents 5
(OOC - good idea. That way, while it's eating Farron the rest of you can pound it to dust. :-)
From: Ty
Subject: The hole and above; Monster mash
With the last of the zombie destroyed, there is little left to do down in the hole. Farron and Garyth get Sa'id mostly out of the water, but there is little they can do for his bruises. Mission goes over to the rope, and begins catching Rennik's gear as it falls down a bit at a time. The monk has amazing reflexes, even catching the weapons easily and always by the non sharp bits. He carries everything over to the rock pile for safe keeping. Rennik works his way over there as well by clinging to the stone walls.
Above, Cadfael finishes tossing Rennik's belongings into the holes, and goes back to watching the jungle. A few seconds later, the source of the grunting and crashing bursts out of the wall of trees. It is a creature unlike any Cadfael has ever seen, though on first glance it appears to be a giant boar. But, surely no boar every grew to this prodigious size. This creature is even bigger than a large bull, and stands almost seven feet high at its massively muscled shoulder. The mouth sports two ragged tusks that look capable of gutting a horse, and above them are two ill tempered reddish eyes that show no hint of intelligence. Most unusual though, is the creature's skin. It at first appears to be shaggy with fur, but a second look shows that it is actually covered in short, thick spines, like a giant hedgehog. In all, it is a ferocious looking thing, armed and armored for survival in the inhospitable jungle.
It enters the clearing and makes snuffling noises, as though scenting. Periodically, it roots in the ground with its tusks, pulling up clods of dirt and sniffing beneath them. It does not seem to see Cadfael? yet.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The hole and above; Monster mash
OOC: Ha ha! Scott was right!
Cadfael heaves a sigh of relief before realizing that his is still above ground. Not the best place to be right now.
He slowly and as quietly as he can manage climbs down the rope. If he's noticed this will become as quickly as he can manage.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The hole and above; Monster mash
Farron will continue trying to make Sa'id as comfortable as possible in the waterlogged hole.