Farron and Garyth Make It Down

From: Karl

Subject: Re: The underground trail; of crocodiles and hippogriffs

Farron gasps and winces with every move as he positions himself on the rope and moves down. He is worried about his speed, knowing that any delay could mean one of his companions might die, but he also knows any fall at all would likely kill him in this state. His progress is further slowed by the fact that holding the rope with his legs causes near-blinding pain. He concentrates on holding the rope tightly with alternating hands and letting gravity move him down the rope.

At about the halfway point, the pain has become so bad that he briefly contemplates just letting go. One more burst of pain at the bottom and then he wouldn't hurt anymore, being dead and all. But he grits his teeth and, white-faced, continues on.

From: Ty

Subject: The underground trail; we all finish running away....

[Initiative Sa'id 20, Tichenor 17, Garyth 14, Cadfael 13, Rennik 12, Mission 12, Swamp dragon 5, Farron 4, hippogriff 4]

Sa'id stands at the bottom of the rope looking worried and making "go faster" gestures with his hands as he watches Farron slowly trying to climb down.

Tichenor shakes himself all over once after Mission puts him down, then immediately begins scouting out the sewer tunnel, sniffing the walls carefully.

Above, Garyth is helping the badly injured Farron get onto the rope. Watching the wizard grimace in pain every time he moves his legs only reminds the battered guardsman of how bad he himself feels right now. The halfling had gone on and on about how dangerous the jungle was, and how dangerous the swamp dragons were, until finally Garyth had begun to tune him out. Now, with half the party badly injured and their camp in disarray, he resolves to pay attention again.

After saying "two days" to the monk, Cadfael rolls out his bedroll and sits down on it.

Rennik stands in front of Garyth and Farron as they attempt to move down the rope. He holds his bow in one hand, but does not fire. If the swamp dragon is distracted by the wizard's monster, then so much the better.

The crocodile continues to thrash the hapless hippogriff about in its jaws. [Grapple check 34 vs 24; hippogriff still pinned; damage 21] The hippogriff struggles to break free, but the swamp dragons jaws grip it like a vice. There are more sounds of crushed and grating bones, and the hippogriff looks like it won't last much longer.

Farron moves with great pain about ten feet down the rope, and sees that Garyth has climbed on just above him. Now, only Rennik remains on the surface.

The hippogriff, badly broken in the swamp dragons teeth, continues to fight and struggle. It's dying screeches are terrible to hear, but it does not appear to be giving up either. [Full attack 16, 16, 14; all miss]

From: Karl