As Solrisa and Ascaria pull further into the Mine, the others follow along closely, adhering to the gnomelight.
Solrisa and Ascaria seem quite ready to confront the voice as it becomes a dwarf, who appears to be brushing himself off.
"Oh, hi! Is there another elevator down? We're trying to get lower."
""Hey, over here! I need your help. We need to get down this passage but, as you can see, I'm not with miners today. Any chance you all can clear this passage for me? I don't want this lot messing with it for fear they'll tear the whole tunnel down."
The dwarf guard, armor clad, weapon sheathed, looks from the woman with uncomfortable surprise, to the gnome. His demeanor seems to change quickly, as Ascaria beckons him forward.
"Oh, hey, Canary. You're the last person I'd have expected to see, what with the miners done for the day." He listens with a light frown, continuing to brush hair from his sleeve.
"What business you got down that passage, Ascaria? The boards are up for a reason, you know." The dwarf continues toward the 2x4s, but waits for an answer before he begins to pull down the boards.
Ascaria looks uncomfortable briefly. "Well you know how it is. Our employer," he winks as if the dwarf knows who that is, "doesn't want us talking about it. So I'd rather keep it to myself, you understand how employers are. Always with their little annoying rules." he laughs thinking about the discussion in the prison.
"I'll make sure this lot doesn't get into too much trouble," he looks to the group with honest warmth. "If we need anything though, I'll come back up and get you - that OK with you? That way we're both covered." he grins.
The dwarf seems to instantly ignore anything the gnome has to say past 'our employer'. He gives an eyeroll that suggests 'don't I know', then proceeds to take down several of the boards, which come down easily enough, without the use of tools.
"Alright then. You've got your light. Let's just hope you keep your wits about you. That shaft is said to be pretty touchy, they're still reinforcing the platforms." In no time, the passage is clear.
The dwarf stands at the passage, and waits for your band to pass. Once through, he boards up the entrance again.
"Just remember to use all the boards when you come back through, alright?"
"Just remember to use all the boards when you come back through, alright?"
Ascaria shoos the party through quickly, "You got it mate! Have an easy shift - eh?" he smiles back at the dwarf as the last planks are put back in place.
Once on the other side, he takes out his pipe, and lights the tobacco with a cantrip. He takes a deep drag, and blows it out slowly...
"Whew."
He smiles, at ease.
"I owe that man a drink when this is done."
Sol waves to the nice miner.
"Thanks for your help!" Sol says before turning back to Ascaria. "Boy Ascaria, everyone seems to like you, huh? All the friends in the world." Sol notices that which is her truth.
"Well, Mort? Shall we go down? You or me first?"
Sol either leads or follows, whatever would make Mort happier.
"Well, Mort? Shall we go down? You or me first?"
"After you," says Mort, abiding by Sol's earlier suggestion to him to let her go first. He keeps a close eye out ahead of Sol for any signs of danger, and is ready to deal with any if necessary.
Tynan watches the interaction between Ascaria and the guard, and says a silent word of thanks that the potion's effects haven't yet ended. Freezing in place near the wall, he remains motionless until the dwarf has passed out of hearing range.
I wondered where the sixth guard was...
"I owe that man a drink when this is done."
"Was that Dunn, Ascaria?" Tynan whispers to the gnome. "If so, I might suggest taking him out for a meal instead... that will win his loyalty much faster."
Pillette is ready to slink into the shadows before the Dwarf agree's to Ascaria's suggestion. The boss seems to instill enough... respect... for underlings not to question. An important quality in a boss, but perhaps the underlines should be chosen more carefully.
Her attention moves back and forth from the guard to the boards he is taking down, and then replacing behind them, looking closely in case the group will need to pry them open themselves on the way back.
She keeps en eye out for any pitfalls at this chokepoint, hoping they won't ever have to fight their way through it.
Rae keeps her head down and her eyes open as she follows behind Ascaria.
"Was that Dunn, Ascaria?" Tynan whispers to the gnome. "If so, I might suggest taking him out for a meal instead... that will win his loyalty much faster."
Ascaria shakes his head, "Sorry, I don't know him by name. Never been formally introduced. But sure, I'll spring for a meal!" he grins and continues into the mine.
As all eyes ease into the darkness peeling back with Ascaria's advancing light, you can see the elevator of which Smenk speaks. Soundly enough constructed, the platform hangs from a very sturdy metal chain which extends up and into the ceiling. Along the right wall, you can see a metal winch. Wrapped around it, the same thick chain, coming out of the stone wall.
The platform itself seems to allow enough space for four medium miners to ride it down.
All is quiet, the light tapping of the dwarven guard but an echo of recent percussion. All stand around the glow of the gnome, in front of the elevator. No sound echoes from below either.
Ascaria scans the room briefly with a Detect Magic before moving up to the winch. He gives it a once over, trying to figure out if there's a way that everyone can be on the elevator and still operate the chain.
He doesn't actually try anything yet, just measuring the mechanics.
The winch seems to be the main control for the elevator's descent and ascent, at least standing in this room. The winch itself has a brake mechanism that prevents its spinning, and it is currently in place, a curved hammer that fits nicely in the circular cog. Pulled from its place, it is likely that the winch can move freely.
Nothing detects as magic here.
de
"Can anyone figure out all this stuff?" Ascaria looks at the winch helplessly.
He considers pulling the hammer just to see what would happen.
Mortimer looks around the room for bits of equipment that might be useful. He grabs the rock hammer (if one happens to be laying around).
"Can anyone figure out all this stuff?"
"Don't remove that hammer from that winch just yet, please," he says to Ascaria and anyone else investigating the winch.
He eyes the elevator platform warily, and cautiously tests it with his own weight.If it proves to be as sturdy as it looks, he'll get onto it and take a closer look at the central support beam as well as the metal chains suspending the platform.
"I'm looking for -- another mechanism on this thing besides that winch to move this platform... but I have no idea what that might actually look like."
If that turns out to be a fruitless endeavour, he'll relocate to the winch.
"Stay off the platform for a second, please," he instructs everyone.
He removes the curved hammer from the cog and tries to lower the platform about 5 feet or so by rotating the spool. He then places the brake hammer back into the cog, and ambulates to the elevator to take a better look at the now partially exposed shaft.
Mortimer looks about, but finds nothing tool-like other than the winch in this end chamber of the mine. Two sets of similarly-sized chains lay about on opposite sides of the space.
The platform rocks a little as Mortimer steps over the slight gap, but otherwise feels sturdy enough with the burden of big men. The central support beam shows no signs of stress, the wood looking strong and fresh, as well as the well-forged links in the chain.
The very familiar 'O' of the workmanship is pressed into every link you can visualize.
Relocating to the winch, Mortimer deftly flips the hammer brake, and the platform descends incredibly smoothly to his cranking. The sides of the shaft appear to be smooth enough to allow passage of the elevator, without damage to the platform in straight descent.
Tynan scans the mechanism and the rest of the chamber for anything unusual. He fades back into view while doing so, the effects of the potion at an end.
"Mort, go ahead and lower me down. I can check to see if there is a similar winch below. It should be fairly straightforward."
Tynan pulls out a torch and lights it, prepared to be lowered into the mine.
She looks at Rae and Ascaria, who seem to be the most familiar with this place, double-checking to see if they know anything of how this platform can be raised again, before sending one ahead alone.
"We've used the potion. Perhaps you shouldn't go by yourself." Scouting ahead is a good idea. But if anyone is at the bottom of this platform...
Pillette will try to slip into any shadows on the opposite side of the elevator as Tynan's torch.
" Perhaps you shouldn't go by yourself."
"If you'd like to come along, please do. You have a way with mechanical devices, it seems." Tynan smiles down at Pillette. "You might even get a chance to use your new goggles."
"Sol, please go with them. You have strength."
Mortimer waits until everyone who is willing to be lowered into the (a)byss is on the platform, and he begins to crank the winch to lower them.
"No worries, I think we got this," he says.
As Tynan steps on, the winch doesn't press into your hand as the platform takes on weight. As Pillette steps on, the same. When Solrisa steps on, your hand tightens, as the winch begins to turn, requiring your strength to see it steadied. Your strength is proportionately more necessary should anyone else join the initial descent team.
The winch's control is smooth, in spite of the large chains.
Mortimer oversees the first descent, hands on the winch, steady movement of the platform in spite of adjustments made by the riders.
The light of Tynan's torch slowly slips into the awaiting darkness, illuminating the sides of shaft for its full length, 200' total. It takes a very long minute to complete the descent.
At the bottom, your torchlight extends throughout the main room of this otherwise dark chamber, revealing three hallways, heading to the north, west, and east. Pillars partially obstruct your view, as the flame's light dances shadows. There seems to be a larger chamber to the south of the elevator.
A similar winch stands at the ready, the large chain feeding into the stone floor.
Two hundred feet? I could climb that if I had to.
Pillette will gesture from the shadows at the winch. "It appears you are correct, Tynan. We could try and operate it ourselves, or simply tap/tug/sway the chain to signal Mort to bring us back.". But before we do, we should makes sure there aren't any obvious surprises.
Pillette will slip quietly out, trying to move softly through the shadows, taking a quick look at the room and the entrances to the three tunnels, trying to spot any one who could be watching the elevator.
"Sol, please go with them. You have strength."
Sol claps her one free hand, entering the elevator. She looks around smiling, quite excited to be doing stuff.
"Ooh, this is different than the walk of air."
* * *At the bottom
Sol startles at Pillette speaks.
"Oh Pillette! When did you get here?" Sol asks as the halfling goes off into the dark.
She will help with the winch, doing whatever is necessary to get the others down.
Seeing the presence of a winch below, Tynan joins Pillette in checking the corridors, listening intently for any sounds emanating from the passages.
Tynan speaks quietly. "Go ahead and send the lift back up, Sol. The quicker we can finish down here, the better."
Sol does more uplifting, humming a cheery tune as she works.
As the elevator platform returns, Mortimer silently estimates what it will take to get the three remaining topside Party Members down the elevator shaft.
He turns to Rae and Ascaria.
"Despite the fact that these chain links were manufactured by Osgood -- I don't think this elevator was designed to take our combined mass -- I should probably go alone if you would like to board together now."
Mortimer lowers the elevator after Rae and Ascaria are safely aboard. When it returns once more, he boards it and patiently waits to join the others.
Huzzah for Dwarven engineering!
Ascaria frowns at the idea that Mort be left alone, but it's only a short time, so he goes along with the plan, and agrees to be lowered with Rae.
He wonders at Osgood's involvement... is he a member of the group? Or just a contractor, making chains for the mine? How deep into the town does this 'cult' extend?
He had been thinking it was only isolated to the folks below, who they were going to deal with shortly. But perhaps there will be further examination needed... He doesn't like the thought and rides silently all the way to the bottom.
Rae fidgets with her sap as they head down, her attention moving from where they were to where they will be and back again as they descend.
"I don't really care for the idea of Mort riding alone. He's just so damned big, though." She mutters to Ascaria as they descend.
Solrisa cranks and winches and works happily to get people down the lift. Each arriving passenger gets a big smile as if Sol had not seen them in a long time and she was welcoming them home.
When that is done, Sol will re-don her shield and is ready to move on.
"Before we head down one of these passages, should we make sure no one above can raise the lift back up, so they can't follow us down? If the guard Ascaria was talking to mentions us to the guards outside that I distracted, they could head down here after us, and we would be cornered."
Tynan's voice belies a note of anxiety.
Hearing Tynan's concerns, she slips out of the shadows, moving slowly and bowing slightly to Solrisa so as not to surprise her. "I might be able to do something about... ahhh... immobilizing the mechanism."
She will study the winch, chain and gear system, looking for a way to disable it's operation after the entire group is reunited at the bottom. Perhaps a piton struck in the chain's slot? Or an iron quarrel lodged in the winch lever?
"I assume a temporary impairment in operation is preferable to wrecking it more permanently?" Unless you know of another way out of here. Climbing 200 feet of chain wouldn't be the easiest departure.
"Indeed, temporary would be best. If you can come up with something that could be quickly undone, that would be even better. Thank you Pillette."
I could probably climb the chain out of here, but poor Mort would probably keel over at those heights...
It is slow, but reliable, using the elevator. First three, then two, then one. The platform glides smoothly, no easier or harder to crank the winch in either direction.
In the time it takes Mort to make the final descent, Pillette manages to find a pressure plate by the winch. By stepping on it once, four hammer clasps swing up from the floor, securing the elevator platform. Stepping on the plate a second time retracts the hammer clasps, releasing the platform for ease of ascent.
Three short passages lead from this chamber, one to the north of the elevator and one to its east and west. Each ends in marble doorway.
The door to the north is marked with the symbol of a skull-decorated fly. A pair of crimson banners flanks the door to the east, each marked with the symbol of a red pentagram. A carving in the door to the west depicts a three-eyed jackal's head.
These three doors represent the gods Asmodeus, Urgathoa, and Lamashtu. There is rumor of a cult dedicated to seeing all three gods merge into an overgod. The cult is named the Ebon Triad.
To the south, the chamber opens into a vast domed hall. In stark contrast to the rough mine passages above, this place bears the mark of an expert artisan. The black, marble tile floor glistens in the light of several glowing torches, while elaborate, carefully worked marble pillars and arches sweep over the chamber.
Toward the back of the chamber, opposite the elevator’s door, is a large pool of dark liquid. A stairway carved into the curved wall around the pool ascends to a platform thirty feet above the pool. The chamber’s domed ceiling arches to a height of sixty feet over the pool’s surface.
Behind the door to the east, you can hear subtle adjustments in armor, as if more than one individual is standing in wait.
Know (Rel)
Sol looks at the symbols, thinking about what Mum had explained to her and what the dragon fro her dreams might think of them.
Adherents to the doctrine of the Ebon Triad clutch close their secrets even from other worshipers of Asmodeus, Lamashtu, and Urgathoa, who consider them heretics. In fact, word of the heresy has not spread far from these three churches, who keep accounts of Ebon Triad activities brutally suppressed lest the cult gain more converts.
Despite the internecine struggle between the Ebon Triad and the orthodox churches, clerics of Asmodeus, Lamashtu, and Urgathoa in thrall to the cult continue to receive spells from their godly patrons. This fact especially galls the church of Asmodeus, whose rigid faith cannot square the contradiction.
Tynan cocks his head to one side as he listens intently. His eyes grow wide, and he gestures to the others with an index finger covering his lips. He points down the eastern corridor toward the door flanked by crimson banners.
He whispers quietly. "There are multiple armored men lying in wait for us just beyond that door. They must have heard the lift."
HP:22/22
Saves:F3,R7,W2
He whispers quietly. "There are multiple armored men lying in wait for us just beyond that door. They must have heard the lift."
"Crud." Rae weighs her sap in her hand and finds it wanting. "Are we still being... soft?" It's clear she'd be much happier with a blade in her hand.
Tynan whispers "I think soft was for the dwarves above, who might not even know about this place. Evil cultists are a different matter entirely..."
Ascaria nods in agreement and casts Bless .
If he has time he also draws his sling and generally steels himself for combat.
"Let's get them!" he whispers hoarsely.
Solrisa begins to explain what she knows of the symbols above...
"Let's get them!" he whispers horsely.
Solrisa shrugs, intending to explain later (unless she forgets...but what are the chances of that?), and moves to help 'get them', trusting Ascaria's instinct on such things.
"I don't like bad people...and certainly not those who would deign to work around those holy symbols." Sol draws her long, sharp sword.
Upon hearing Tynan's warning, Pillette readjusts here bow, making sure the flash vial is tucked securely in her bandolier, a clean quarrel loaded.
Is the door secured? Perhaps rigged to alarm or hurt if intruders try to enter? She stares down the corridor, realizing just how long and narrow it is. Before we go barreling down there, we should see if that door is open or not. Otherwise a long, narrow corridor is a perfect place for an ambush.
The halfling will scan down the hallway, looking for tripwires, signs of a switch plate, or any other indications of danger. If it's helpful, she will put the goggles on and look down the corridor to try and spot any locking mechanism on the door.
"Wait. There's a problem..."
"Let me check the door. Cover me, please."
If the way looks clear, she will try to move quietly down the hall, using soft footfalls and attempting to stick low to any shadows cast by the flickering light on the ground.
Reassured, Rae switches weapons and moves closer to the front, ready for Pillette to open the door.
Pillette is reasonably sure the hallway leading up the marble doorway is clear of traps/pressure plates/murder holes/arrow slits... perfectly safe.
The sounds behind the door have grown quiet.
A brief try on the handle of the door demonstrates its locked condition. Perhaps a knock on the door is merited.
As Mortimer arrives down below with the others, he stares about at the various religious symbols in wonder.
"I don't like bad people...and certainly not those who would deign to work around those holy symbols."
... Yah, O.K. Good enough for me.
"So, the symbols are all evil? Do they each represent some specific God or something?" he quietly asks Sol as Pillette scans the corridor for traps.
Still way to distracted by his experience with Aesur and -- now -- the very space he's in which he is standing, Mortimer doesn't notice much of anything that isn't at least 5 feet directly in front of his face.
Rae tries to pay attention to the whispered god talk, but most of her attention is on what lies behind the door.
Rather wary, before continuing the halfing will listen at the door, trying to keep some attention on the lock.
She turns back to those down the hall, gesturing to the door and a lock pick. If we aren't waiting to parley, and instead we are going to 'get them'....
The halfling puts her bow down, slips her goggles into position and raises her pick. She'll look back, waiting for the "get the evil cultists" crowd to move forward in position before she starts to work on the lock, or to see if they will wave her off.
If folks move into position and don't wave her off...
Mortimer watches Pillette move down the corridor and prepare to pick the lock.
Ah.
"*Wallaowallowawoallow -- GROWL*"
He tries to follow her silently down the hallway, but his recent ordeals have left him a little on the hungry side and his belly wails like a banshee.
He cringes and freezes in the corridor for a moment, listening.
Sol moves up, ready for a fight, her dragon eyes taking in whatever the light allows.
As Pillette continues to tinker with the lock on the door, she feels the lock unclasp, and immediately knows it wasn't her work that unlocked the door. This is when the door flies open, revealing a pair of tieflings.
The one directly in front of Pillette looks at Rae first, then turns his head downwards to find someone shorter in front of her. He is sporting a lovely rapier, which points directly at the goggle-sporting halfling.
"พวกเขากำลังติดอาวุธ เสียงปลุก"
"They're armed. Sound the alarm."
The second tiefling nods at the tiefling in the doorway, and appears ready to move down the hallway from whence they came.
As the first tiefling speaks, he starts to reach for the door to close it, when Mortimer's bellow rings out. The tiefling stops to hear what the big man says.
"Fine, you try and anger me with your petty words. I accept. Come forward, and state your terms, but the rest of you need to return to the cathedral while I bleed your moronic friend." He doesn't attack Pillette, standing his ground with confidence, waiting for the girls to retreat obediently.
Raella's ready fails to go off.
Round 1
Unsure what is happening and no where to move if she did know, Solrisa delays.