Male Halfling Cleric/2 | AC 16, T 12, FF 15 |HP: 15/8 | F +4, R +1, W +5 | Init 1, P 2, I 1 | CMD 10
Valind coughs
"With respect Portia, while you are indeed slim, lithe and athletic I sincerely doubt you are the lightest. on the other hand I'm not a trained spelunker! On the other hand, I can provide a platform that will hopefully carry additional weight."
Valind looks at the eye and tries to judge time
"My hours start soon - I will need to meditate. In the meantime I can assist with one more healing without using Scrolls. Bill?" treat deadly wounds if time, with guidance:1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9
"I'm sorry Bill, that's the best I can do. I just wish I had more leeches."
Male Oread Monk/2; 20/20 HP | AC 14, T 14, FF 12 | F +4, R +4, W +5 | Init 7, P 5, I 6 | CMD 17
"I don't mean to contradict any one, but I am solid as a rock, no pun intended, and would most likely make the best anchor for you all to make a safe trip down. Also with my weight I may snap the rope, but at least if I'm the last one I'm only hurting myself."
Male Halfling Cleric/2 | AC 16, T 12, FF 15 |HP: 15/8 | F +4, R +1, W +5 | Init 1, P 2, I 1 | CMD 10
"Well, I don't like it, but Sithundan has a point. I'll pray for you. Portia; you first, then the rest of us. I'll go second last with Bill, then Sithundan. Let's do this now and I'll pray down below."
Portia helps Lars to “run-out” a few ropes, as Jeannine drives in a few long stakes that will act as anchors (in places, and at the angle shown to her by Bill, who directs her patiently). In just a short time the ropes are ready, and Karl has packed up the supplies and stowed the kitchen gear.
With Issabelle overhead, crisscrossing the sky in wide low circles, Portia and Lars begin the first descent. Sithundan and Derrick belay the two, and they are easily lowered down to the ledge below.
It is a wide, but shallow ledge. It is easily forty feet from north to south, but only about eight feet extends from the cliff face. You take a moment (while still holding and secured by the ropes) to look below the ledge and you can see that the ledge is solid and in no danger of collapsing. The cave on this ledge is located near the northern end of the ledge. When Portia and Lars are sure they are safe they release the ropes, give a signal to the others above to wait before sending anyone else down and move to the cave. There is enough light to see well back into the cliff face beyond the opening of the cave. It appears natural, about ten feet wide at the mouth of the cave, but only about five feet high.
Lars whistles the way is clear, and there is no immediate danger, and Derrick and Sithundan begin to lower Karl and Edren. When the pair are safely down, the next thing that is lowered are a few of the packs, the camp gear and the tents, and Karl and Lars transfer this equipment into the cave (Karl can see that the entrance goes straight back into the cliff beyond the range of his Dwarven vision).
Finally Sithundan lowers Derrick and last but not least, he readies himself to lower Valind.
Valind checks Bills bandages again, and assure the other Halfling that everything will be fine. Sithundan places Bill on the floating disk, once Valind has readied himself and checked his ropes a second time. It is easy for Sithundan to lower the Halfling Cleric, and he lets out the rope gently, giving Valind no worries as he concentrates on the spell and keeps the disk close to him.
Once Valind’s feet are on the ground, Portia keeps close to the disk while Valind unties the ropes around him. Lars points to the cave, and vValind guides the disk to the entrance. Karl has lit a small lantern. It is tall with four sides made of glass, and he shows Valind a flat place on the ground twenty feet into the cave where Bill can be placed down. It is a niche, about three feet deep, and only four feet high, and seems perfect.
With everyone else lowered safely, Sithundan checks the two ropes. He unties one of them and then kicks the long spike back and forth until it is free. He rolls the spike in the second rope, then lowers this bundle before bringing the rope back up again.
Now Sithundan begins the climb on his own.
Sithundan must make a series of Climb Checks (four of them) the DC is 25, but he gets a +10 modifier because the people below are holding the rope steady, and the top is secured in the gound with a long spike
Male Oread Monk/2; 20/20 HP | AC 14, T 14, FF 12 | F +4, R +4, W +5 | Init 7, P 5, I 6 | CMD 17
"What is the point of having a friend made of stone if not to be a solid anchor, but, Derrick, if not for you and the others securing the rope on the cliff I surely would have been turned to rubble. So thus it was the power of teamwork that saved us all." That's not good, I'm starting to sound like a cheesy 80's after school special.
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
I feel a bit dumb... there was a description in the post just prior to mine!
After Sithundan is safely lowered down, Edren re-dons his armor and grabs his glaive. At Sithundan's comment, Edren looks at him oddly and shakes his head, "You are starting to sound as strange as that fellow with the snake was, Sithundan."
He then moves to within about 20 feet of the cave mouth and starts looking around, searching for any signs that small metal legs have passed through here.
Sithundan takes the rope and begins climbing down. Keeping his large feet flat against the wall of the cliff, he moves one hand over the other one at a time, easing his way down, little by little. When he is almost at the ledge, the rope gives just slightly, but it does not break, and after a brief pause he descends the last few feet.
Edren looks into the cave. The ceiling here is low, and he knows that he and some of the others will have a hard time going this way. To his right he sees Karl making Bill comfortable in a small pocket at the side of the cave, and to the left, Valind is sitting in prayer. Karl has left his small lantern a good way back in the cave, on the floor, and it illuminates a passageway that heads back into the cliff as far as Edren can see.
”We’ll set up a base camp here,” Jeannine says as she begins to unpack the camp. “We can even set up the tents, to help keep us warm. We’ll start by searching as far back as this cave goes for any sign of our friends. Then if we come up with nothing we’ll see if there is another ledge we can access further down from here. We should all be ready to head into the cave soon, it’ll just take a few minutes to get the tents up and make sure Bill will be alright for a few hours.”
The party should decide in what order they are going to move into the cave. It is wide enough for two people to walk side by side, and at first, for now, it looks like regular human sized folk will have to stoop. You’ll have Karl’s lantern, to see by, and it sheds light like a torch, 20 feet in every direction. When you have decided how you will proceed, please tell me what, if anything each of you will have in a ready hand, if you are going to keep something in your hand at all, thanks.
Male Oread Monk/2; 20/20 HP | AC 14, T 14, FF 12 | F +4, R +4, W +5 | Init 7, P 5, I 6 | CMD 17
Sithundan can go first, he'll have to crouch but 60 ft darkvision he'll be able to see danger even before it's in lantern range. He's not going to hold anything.
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
"I can either take point with Sithundan or function as a rear guard. I know you came here expecting action, too, Valind, but I feel you may be best off in the middle, unless you disagree. Derrick and Portia, what say you?"
Male Tiefling Slayer 2 | HP 0/24 | AC 18, touch 14, FF 14; CMD 20 | Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +2 | Init +5, Perception +6 (darkvision 60 ft.)
"I would serve where most useful and most able to protect you and the others, Edren, though I have no doubt you can protect yourselves as well. I can take point alongside Sithundan."
Portia thinks for a moment while taking in the breathtaking views of the cave and surrounding area upon her descent. At the bottom, she secures everything and watches everyone else shimmy down the rope. Come Sithudan's turn, she holds her breath, hoping the rope holds. She watches as the bulky man descends the rope and nearly flawlessly reaches the bottom, but nearly falls when only feet away.
When she reaches the bottom, she scans the entrance to the cave, letting her various senses take over and inform her of anything. Perception; intuition:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 101d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Male Oread Monk/2; 20/20 HP | AC 14, T 14, FF 12 | F +4, R +4, W +5 | Init 7, P 5, I 6 | CMD 17
"Edren, Derrick it matters not to me which of you will join me in the front, but the sooner we get moving the better, the longer we wait here in the mouth of this cave the more likely we are to be found by things we may wish no to be found by."
Portia, before descending will tell Issabelle to 'hunt' and scavenge for one week. That she will be back at this spot, in one weeks time to see her again.
Upon reaching the bottom, and hearing who should go first, well, I could go, but I am not the more durable. It would be foolish if I think I were as durable as the boys accompanying me right now.
Well, who goes first is up to you. I feel more comfortable being towards the back, since I am not as durable as your hardy boys are. I will be happy watching our back and making sure all is well. Besides, I am better with my bow anyways, she says with a smile at Edren, Sithudan, and the others.
Karl and Lars take a quick moment to check their back packs, and then Karl takes the small lantern from the floor and hands it to Lars.
”You stay close behind them,” Karl says to Lars, and then steps back as the group begins moving.
Jeannine also checks her back pack and the puts it on with a bit of difficulty.
Portia and Edren wait for Valind to finish his prayers, and then notice that with a group this size, the small lantern might not be enough light for those in the back.
The party begins heading into the cave, the taller folk stooping a bit, with Derrick and Sithundan side by side. Derrick is armed, holding a weapon, but Sithundan has nothing in his hands. Lars is right behind the two large folk and he is carrying the small lantern in his left hand, and has a pick-axe like tool in his right. Next Karl and Jeannine are side by side, and then Valind, Portia, and Edren follow (I’m not clear what they are prepared for?) the group occupies a space of about ten feet wide by about thirty feet long.
After the initial small cave, the party follows a tunnel that is short for about forty feet, then gradually you begin to notice that the ceiling is rising, until, after another twenty feet in you can see the ceiling is well above your head, probably ten or more feet high and it is smooth, there are no natural formations on the ceiling and it appears “built.”
It is just when you notice this change in the ceiling when the passageway suddenly opens up into a large chamber. Although the walls appear natural, all you can see with the light you have is dirt and rock. Three of the walls are strangely uniform in length and height. It is a chamber about eighty feet from north to south and forty feet from west to est. The floor here is rough, rougher than the passageway you followed to get here. In fact it is very difficult to maneuver around this open space as the floor has holes and boulders all over it making it impossible to walk through the area casually. The far east wall is entirely sloped (being the one wall different from the rest) indicating that a collapse of some kind occurred here filling this space with dirt and rocks. The slope begins some forty feet away, and meets the ceiling (here about fifteen feet high) ten feet further to the east. The sloped section is obviously a collapsed area and is loose rocks and dirt.
At first it appears this is a dead end, but on closer inspection you discover a very low tunnel on the north wall. When looked at from a few feet away it appears as a tunnel only three feet in height, but upon closer inspection you discover that there is tunnel, ten feet high here, with the floor of the tunnel eight feet below the floor of the chamber. It wouldn’t be difficult, but it would take time, to crawl through the opening, and then drop down to the floor beyond. Most surprising is that this tunnel is highly uniform. It is exactly ten feet wide and ten feet high.
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
"If only Gruingar hadn't run off. I could see that snake of his being highly useful here. I suppose there is nothing to be done about it though. This looks like the only way through."
Edren scratches his head while looking between the room with the rubble strewn about and the small tunnel. "Do we want to crawl through or should we try to make the hole a little bigger? If this is where those spiders came through, I'd rather not get caught trying to crawl through a tunnel that is just their size."
Male Oread Monk/2; 20/20 HP | AC 14, T 14, FF 12 | F +4, R +4, W +5 | Init 7, P 5, I 6 | CMD 17
"We could send Valind through to the other side to scout and guard the other side as we dig away at this side and make the hole big enough for the rest of us."
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
"I think that's a sound plan. I suppose I should have added this earlier; before we continue, does anyone have a working knowledge of stone or structures? I'd rather we make sure the cave-in doesn't continue once we start digging."
Male Halfling Cleric/2 | AC 16, T 12, FF 15 |HP: 15/8 | F +4, R +1, W +5 | Init 1, P 2, I 1 | CMD 10
Quote:
"We could send Valind through to the other side to scout and guard the other side as we dig away at this side and make the hole big enough for the rest of us."
"Sure - that sounds reasonable. Bit of a drop though in case I need to come back up. Can we have the rope ready? Or set up?"
Quote:
"I think that's a sound plan. I suppose I should have added this earlier; before we continue, does anyone have a working knowledge of stone or structures? I'd rather we make sure the cave-in doesn't continue once we start digging."
"Wait, is that likely? I'd prefer not to get buried alive..."
As the group fans out across the large discovered area, Jeannine moves in and out of sight as she climbs over boulders and around and thru deep holes in the floor.
Jeannine reaches the east area of the room and examines the debris there.
One by one the rest of the group congregates near the small tunnel opening on the north wall. Seeing she is separated from the others, Jeannine moves back where the light is strongest.
”Further collapse?” Jeannine asks to no one in particular as she only catches the end of the conversation. ”What do you think Lars?”
Lars kneels by the hole in the wall and peers into the darkness beyond, and the he stands and brushes the dirt from his hands while he examines the ceiling here.
”That space beyond this tunnel looks safe, but I can’t tell you a thing about its construction. It almost looks as if the ceiling here caved in a long time ago, and that wall over there,” He points to the east, ”That looks like it’s been stable for a while. The roof here is solid rock, but there must have been a cavity, or some water flow through here a long time ago that shifted some of the lose dirt and rocks. We could probably shift some of this dirt near the opening of the tunnel back away from the passageway beyond easy enough, there might be a slide of some material into the passageway beyond but I don’t think it is going to create a hazard. Tell you what, Jeannine, Valind and I will scout ahead just a short distance, while the rest of you take those folding shovels from Karl’s pack and start by digging a kind of sloped trench from about here,” he paces to a place about twenty feet from the hole in the wall, ”Start about a couple of inches deep here, and then gradually get deeper by a few inches as you dig closer to the hole, throw the dirt to the east and that will compact the weight there and maybe keep the floor from shifting. I don’t know how much we want to move, it can be a lot of work. Portia, why don’t you hold the rope while we climb down?”
Male Tiefling Slayer 2 | HP 0/24 | AC 18, touch 14, FF 14; CMD 20 | Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +2 | Init +5, Perception +6 (darkvision 60 ft.)
"Alright, Lars. Sounds fine by me." Derrick sets his naginata and pack down and moves forward, taking a shovel and getting to work. His powerful muscles are more built for combat than menial labor, but he makes good headway, falling into a meditative state as he works.
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
Edren sets his glaive near to Derrick's naginata, after which he stretches his back and shoulders. "It's been some time since I've had to dig a latrine, this will be good practice." He picks up a shovel and begins working alongside Derrick.
After a few shovelfuls, Edren sees Derrick attacking the ground with a little too much fervor. He leans over and says, "Derrick, if you turn like this as you come back up, you'll keep from wearing yourself out as quickly. Slowing it down a little helps too, we can't have you hurting yourself now, not with adventure ahead of us!" Edren's eyes are alight with excitement at the prospects of what the expedition may discover.
Derrick, I hope you don't mind that I expounded on your post a little! If so, let me know!
Male Oread Monk/2; 20/20 HP | AC 14, T 14, FF 12 | F +4, R +4, W +5 | Init 7, P 5, I 6 | CMD 17
Sithundan sees Edren and Derrick grabbing shoves then thinks to himself "A wooden handle probably wouldn't last very long in these stone hands of mine, but..." Sithundan then sticks his hands into the dirt one-by-one and scoops fistfuls out on either side of himself.
Male Tiefling Slayer 2 | HP 0/24 | AC 18, touch 14, FF 14; CMD 20 | Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +2 | Init +5, Perception +6 (darkvision 60 ft.)
Derrick looks up at the other warrior and smiles, nodding thankfully. "Thank you, Edren. I never did much labor like this, not since I was a very young learner, when I was set to simple tasks just to build my body and mind. Most of my training was preparing to fight, and learning about life at court. I was to be a bodyguard or champion." He gives a small grin. "Looks like that won't happen for a while yet."
Portia stretches, after the the cramped walk through the tunnel system. She looks around, in amazement at the size of the area they are in, then wonders what could have caused the cave-in. She wonder what could have "built", the giant chamber they are in? Was is one those 'machine' things they encountered earlier. Was is some dwarf or dwarf-like humanoid, or perhaps something else?
She is lost in thought, but is brought back at the sound of Lars and his request.
Of course. I will be more than happy to steady the rope while you descend to get a better view of things..
Is there a pillar, or some other stable secure objects I can use as a counter-lever to support the rope ad the weight of Lars and Valind. I way to gain a "higher strength score" so to speak?
Male Halfling Cleric/2 | AC 16, T 12, FF 15 |HP: 15/8 | F +4, R +1, W +5 | Init 1, P 2, I 1 | CMD 10
"Thank you Portia. This should be exciting Lars!"
Valind strides around nervously, then shrugs and starts pacing the area out, making notes in his book.
It would be easy to brace one foot on the wall next to the hole near the ground and lower the Halflings down one at a time. In an emergency, you could haul them all up at once, if others ran to help you, since they will be nearby working on the excavation.
Portia lowers the three Halflings down to the floor in the tunnel just beyond the hole near the ground while the rest of the party begins digging away at the ground near the hole.
A torch is lit, and the Halflings begin to move away to the north as Portia watches the light recede, then it turns to the right and all she can see is a yellow glow.
The Rest of the group digs diligently, while Karl goes back to keep Bill informed of what’s been going on.
Valind:
After you measure this area, Jeannine helps you to don a climbing harness. Lars has already descended through the hole into the tunnel beyond, and then Portia lowers you. Jeannine follows and the three of you light a torch and begin to explore. You, Jeannine and Lars explore down to a “T” intersection in the passageway. Ahead of you, to the north is the sign of another collapse or cave in, but the passageway to the east is clear. You turn to the right and explore a little further and find a collapse on the right side of this passageway which narrows the way to only a five foot wide tunnel. After a short distance you come across a mysterious chamber. The floor of this chamber is clear of dirt or debris and appears to be made of hard ceramic tiles. There are deep alcoves all around the perimeter of this chamber and upon examining them you find that each alcove appears to contain a bottomless pit, but there are more interesting things discovered than this! You find the remains of a human skeleton, still wearing hardy explorers clothing, and with a robe connected to a climbing harness around the bones. You find this skeleton at the eastern most alcove, on the floor just a couple of feet from the alcove. The rope connected to this body extends down into the pit below the alcove, and then comes back up and is connected to a spike driven into the tile floor. At the alcove just to the west of this one, on the south wall, you find a heavy wooden beam, six inches square, spread across the opening of the alcove and two ropes descending into the darkness are tied to this beam. Jeannine recognizes the clothing as belonging to one of the men on of the ill fated group you are trying to find, but she does not recognize the body. From here it would appear the party must descend one of the pits. When you are examining the area for one last look, as Jeannine collects the remains of the skeleton, you discover a strange sliding door on the north wall that reveals another alcove, but this alcove is a small seven foot by seven foot room, and not a bottomless pit.
Derrick, Sithundan, and Edren:
Working together you make quick progress through the lose dirt, but to your horror you begin to discover collection of bones of several humanoids, but among the bones, arm bones and legs bones, ribs, and pelvises, you find no skulls.
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
"Hmm... no skulls. Think this has anything to do with our mechanical friend back at the camp?" Edren sifts through some of the bones, trying to ascertain what type of folk they may have come from. Having no medical experience beyond the most rudimentary field medicine, Edren has to rely on his intuition.
Male Halfling Cleric/2 | AC 16, T 12, FF 15 |HP: 15/8 | F +4, R +1, W +5 | Init 1, P 2, I 1 | CMD 10
Terquem:
Valind puts a hand on Jeannine's shoulder
"I'm sorry Jeannine... it looks like your fears are confirmed. Did you know them well?"
Valind wants to pull up the other ropes, but is cautioning to wait for the others. He does look on morbidly while Jeannine gathers the bones of the fallen.
Halfling bones?
Male Tiefling Slayer 2 | HP 0/24 | AC 18, touch 14, FF 14; CMD 20 | Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +2 | Init +5, Perception +6 (darkvision 60 ft.)
"I don't know, Edren. It's very strange, though. Disgusting." He shakes his head and pulls on a pair of leather gloves before moving the bones carefully to the side. "We should keep them intact, prepare them for more fitting burial."
The work clearing the tunnel is slow, but it is productive as the soil is lose, and not compacted.
Edren:
You have a very strong feeling that these are common human bones, but there are also, occasionally, different humanoid bones of a kind you cannot make sense of, particularly you find long, very long, finger bones.
Valind:
Jeannine’s face is a blank stare, and she is shaken by the find, when you ask her if she recognizes the individual, she shakes her head and says, “No, but the clothing matches the gear the people of the expedition would have been wearing.” She thanks you for the reverence you show in collecting the bones, and comments, that the individual was too large to be a halfling. Finally, Lars tries a very cautious check of the ropes, and finds they are taunt, and he says, “We better not disturb these until we have everyone here, who knows what these might be tied to, could be a trap.”
After some time, Valind, Jeannine, and Lars return to the hole. By the time the three return the hole is enlarge to almost twice its original size.
The Halflings have to be hauled up, but a human could now sit, and slide into the passageway easily, and could scramble back up without much effort.
”Well,” Jeannine says to the group, “We found another cave in to the north, and a passageway that goes to the east. That passageway ends in a large chamber, with almost no dirt on the floor, and unfortunately, the remains of what appears to be one of the explorers we are looking for. There are some shafts, that descend into the darkness and it seems that someone tried to explore that way.”
Lars
interrupts her and says, “We found ropes, and they aren’t more than a few months old, in this dry climate, they would have rotted away by now if they’d been there longer.”
Jeannine goes on, “We are going to have to follow these shafts down, and look for more clues. How does everyone feel about that?”
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
"I think most of them are human. I'm not sure about these long, thin bones, though. They almost look like fingers, but not from any folk I have seen."
"You hired us to find out what happened to your colleague. I think it's fair to say that going deeper in and searching is what we are here for." Edren checks to make sure his pack is securely fastened and then says, "Lead on, to what is looking like a grand mystery!"
After a brief rest, and when all of the tools are repacked, the group, one at a time, descends down the widened tunnel into the passageway below.
The tunnel is more like the hallway of a strange building, perhaps some kind of temple. The walls are smooth, made of an unidentifiable material and covered with a clingy film of dust.
Jeannine and Valind lead the party to the large chamber, through a narrow (5’ wide) tunnel where it appears as though one of the strange walls (the wall on the right) has collapsed and the passageway is now filled with dirt to a height of about four feet on the right side (otherwise you are sure the passageway would be 10’ wide).
As you form a single file line to make your way through this area, Jeannine describes the chamber ahead, once again, mentioning the shafts that descend down into darkness. When she gives details, her voice lowers to almost a whisper, and above the sound of her voice, you think you may have heard something troubling.
Each Character may make one check, either an Intuition or Perception Check at this time. The DC for an Intuition check is 17, while the Perception Check DC is 16
Portia, will slowly descend into the tunnel below. She listens intently to Jeannine, and the various headless bones found by the others, shuddering at the thought.
[i]I don't want to know what could be down those shafts, I hope there isn't something else down here besides us. Not more of those...machine...things with human..[i] Her thoughts stops, as her gut tells her that they very well might not be alone.
She listen intently, trying to drown Jeannine out and focus on the background.
Male Oread Monk/2; 20/20 HP | AC 14, T 14, FF 12 | F +4, R +4, W +5 | Init 7, P 5, I 6 | CMD 17
Intuition check:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 "I wonder if those bones we found were the remains of previous attempts to create those mechanical monstrosities we fought earlier."
