Tynan continues to examine the markings on the walls."Something strong made these scratches."
Advancing down the corridor 15 feet, he makes room for the others in the tunnel as they climb up. With his short sword drawn, he watches down the corridor to make sure nothing interrupts the others as they climb up.
Mort trundles steadily down the hallway to make room for the others as necessary, hoping the space opens sooner than later -- in case the party needs to deal with whatever made these marks.
The corridor, although narrow to begin, widens to ten feet in width, with a ten foot ceiling.
As Mortimer proceeds, in the light of a gnome's hairpin, he suddenly hears a soft click beneath his feet, roughly sixty feet down the corridor.
"Oops." The bodiless voice is young, possibly male.
At the same time, the light's radius touches upon the far wall. It seems to be a face, and a grand one at that. It takes up the entirety of the ten-by-ten wall, and reminisces of the sexless face of the individual on the lid of the sarcophagus, except for the look of anguish permanently chiseled into the stone.
A red glow arises, and begins to swirl in the eyes of the wailing rictus.
From the mouth, a fierce wind begins buffet everyone in the corridor. It seems to be picking up strength, as well.
Weapon Equipped = Sling (cold iron bullet)
Cold Iron Bullets (8/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = None
Channel Energy (4/5) (1d6+1)
Sling Attack: BAB +1, Dex +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 2, Concentration +6)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (5/5) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Liberating Command
"We're all going huh? OK then."
Ascaria takes the rope in his hands and carefully climbs, trying nothing fancy, as he gets up the rope.
He moves down the hall behind the others. When the hallway widens, he takes out and loads his sling. He just keeps Mort in sight and so cannot see the face when things begin to happen. But he feels the wind...
"Flight of birds but that's a strong wind! I think we're about to be blown back down this tunnel!"
He hesitates on his round, not knowing what to do and assuming for the time being, likely to his detriment, that the wind will not blow the entire party back out of the hole and down the shaft like the little boy...
Sol edges up closer to the rope, preparing her own mind for the climb when she notes the detritus, dirt, and whatever being blown down upon her.
"Hey! What's going on up there!?" Sol yells up. "Oh! Is it autumn breezes!? I love autumn breezes!"
I've had it with this voice...
"Oh no... hang on Mort!"
Tynan yells "Stop climbing! Pillette, brace yourself!"
Tynan moves back toward the mouth of the tunnel, reaches out and grabs the chain, and swings himself onto it, beginning to work his way down.
Oops indeed.
Mort minimizes his profile to the wind by throwing himself to the ground -- but not onto the floor switch he stepped on that started this whole thing.
He begins to make his way crawling back to where the tunnel narrows (avoiding more switches if any are spotted) hoping to wedge himself against the walls just on this side of the entrance of the Narrows to wait out the wind.
"Get out of the Narrows! It's going to be amplified in there!
Upon hearing Tynan's warning, Pillette tries to stay out of his way when he scrambles for the chain. She slips off her belt, tying one end of the leather strap to the rope. The other end she firmly twines around her hand and wrist, giving her a tether against the wind.
She glances back at Mort and the Gnome. "I'm braced."
I won't let that big one drop, not if I can help it. He's too handy to have around.
Sol edges up closer to the rope, preparing her own mind for the climb when she notes the detritus, dirt, and whatever being blown down upon her.
"Hey! What's going on up there!?"
"Hey! What's going on up there!?" Rae's words resound in concert with her sister's.
Sol yells up. "Oh! Is it autumn breezes!? I love autumn breezes!"
"OH, it is *NOT*, Ris! What on earth have you lot set off now?!?!"
Tynan flies with the wind, securing a position on the chain, which rocks the Blue Lantern below violently, its facets streaking the light in haphazard patterns across the wall. Mortimer hits the floor, making it 10' down the remaining 60' of the corridor in a crawling manner. Pillette secures herself to her rope, bracing for the worst. Ascaria stands alongside the halfling, a sapling bravely hoping his little roots will weather the coming storm. Raella and Solrisa debate breezes below, waiting for report.
The wind surges violently. No part of the corridor provides safe harbor against the blast. Tynan and Solrisa find security in their respective ropes, chain or silk. Mortimer, larger and prone position, is able to resist the strength of the winds, for the time being.
Ascaria is not so lucky.
Sol waits at the bottom, looking up.
Oh, maybe that's not an autumn breeze.
If her grip remains firm on the belt and rope, Pillette would try to get a hold of Ascaria, preferably reaching for a belt or something her hand could get a firm grip on, and hoping to prevent him from tumbling over the edge. She glares at the Gnome and and scolds - "Hold on!"
She blurts out at Solrisa - "Get ready to catch the Gnome!" Realizing she's giving orders to a full-sized, armored warrior, she adds. "Ma'am!"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Weapon Equipped = Sling (cold iron bullet)
Cold Iron Bullets (8/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = None
Channel Energy (4/5) (1d6+1)
Sling Attack: BAB +1, Dex +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 2, Concentration +6)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (5/5) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Liberating Command
vs DC 18 or fall
Ascaria rolls and tumbles, bounces and rolls, all the way down the tunnel to the very lip of the shaft. Grabbed by Pillette, he hangs there a moment suspended in time and grasps his little cup around his neck and Channels Energy (standard).
"Cayden don't fail me now!"
He then struggles onto the rope over the lip where the wind will be less fierce (move to climb 5' down the rope (quarter speed)).
"Er, I mean now. Cayden don't fail me now!!"
He grips the rope tightly and hangs on for all he's worth.
Tynan descends another five feet down the swinging chain, keeping an eye on Pillette and Ascaria as they cling to the rope.
"Hang on!"
Maybe I can grab one of them if they get blown off the rope... that fall would be deadly.
Giving up on the crawling, Mort tries to shelter in place with the help of the crowbar.
" That sounds bad, Sol. Prepare to catch whoever falls."
Tynan descends, as Pillette snags Ascaria onto the rope for their shared security. Solrisa and Raella brace for falling objects, while Mortimer sinks the crowbar into the corner between wall and floor.
Being the only one in the path of the wind, Mortimer tries to hold on for as long as he can. The wind upsurges, almost as if the face sees Mort, with its red-glowing eyes, and is displeased with his efforts.
"Shut it off! We're trying to help you! What's with the dirty tricks?!" Mort cries to the disembodied voice as he goes tumbling down the corridor.
Once in the Narrows, Mort lies as flat as possible trying to wedge himself against both walls of the narrow as tightly as possible as a brace against the wind.
He pulls out a potion and quaffs it.
As the wind rushes over him he thinks: Is that all you got Fester?
Weapon Equipped = Sling (cold iron bullet)
Cold Iron Bullets (8/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = 30’ up on the rope, 10’ down from the lip
Channel Energy (2/5) (1d6+1)
Sling Attack: BAB +1, Dex +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 2, Concentration +6)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (5/5) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Liberating Command
Ascaria hears Mort tumbling through the tunnel he himself just left. Catching a glimpse of his shirt, he channels energy to heal them both just a little more before the descent.
Thank you lord!
He then climbs down the rope a little further (5’ further down) to get out of the way of Mort so he has room to climb as well when the time comes.
Sol waits to catch any that need to be caught, but mostly hoping that everyone gets down safely.
Once she's sure Ascaria has a firm grasp himself on the rope, Pillette lets go of her grip on the Gnome. Taking care to stay out of the wind's effects as much as possible, she'll carefully un-twine herself from the belt and try climb as far down as possible, trying to stay out of the way of any incoming climbers or wind-fliers.
Seeing his two smaller companions safely descending the rope, Tynan descends the rest of the way down the chain, and dextrously drops to the ground next to Solrisa.
"Be careful coming down! It's a long walk back to town with a broken leg."
Rae continues to brace for catching falling people.
Tynan clears the chain, touching down next to the sisters. Pillette works her way down carefully, making room for Ascaria, who peeps above the lip of the ledge, and heals the goliath still lodged in the corridor, before beginning his descent as well. Mortimer blows like a leaf on the wind, fumbling for some healing, and standing firm against the continual onslaught. Solrisa and Raella brace for the likely event of a giant falling from the beanstalk.
The wind reaches hurricane speed, its only focus, Mortimer.
The big poor stubborn fighter somehow manages to anchor himself in the tunnel.
Sol blinks back as Pillette scampers down.
"Oh, hi, Pillette," Sol says, brushing her braids back. "Did you stay up there the entire night?! When did you get here?"
Sol steps away to make room for Pillette, then watches Mort above in case he needs any help.
Weapon Equipped = Sling (cold iron bullet)
Cold Iron Bullets (8/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = 30’ up on the rope, 10’ down from the lip
Channel Energy (2/5) (1d6+1)
Sling Attack: BAB +1, Dex +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 2, Concentration +6)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (5/5) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Liberating Command
Ascaria cilmbs down the rope , double moving to just about eye level with Sol. Relieved to be relatively safe, he looks up with concern at what he expects will be Mort’s body flung into space at any time now.
Tynan moves down the corridor a bit, leaving space at the base of the wall for the sisters to get into position to assist Mort.
Having successfully descended, Pillette will step aside and let the brawnier folks try to assist Mort. Perhaps I should have stayed tethered to the rope, but I doubt I could have held Mort if I tried. I'll have to do something about that. Perhaps a potion? Or some alchemy?
"Oh, hi, Pillette," Sol says, brushing her braids back. "Did you stay up there the entire night?! When did you get here?"
The halfling's eyebrow crinkles up. She knows my name? Who would have thought?
"I try to be present when needed, Ma'am."
If this one doesn't recognize me, she's less likely to be helpful. Of course, then she's less likely to be a problem to be dealt with.
"However, if this wind doesn't stop, Mort might need your assistance."
Terrified.
Mortimer.
With all this wind, Mort cannot hear himself think. All he knows is that he is determined to continue holding his own in the Narrows.
The terrified Mortimer hunkers down in the Narrows. Ever hopeful, he imagines that he is pinnned by an eddy of wind, like a surfer after a wipeout pinned by the undertow of the massive passing wave. Except -- here he can at least breathe.
"That thing there -- has a huge hole where a heart should be. Maybe if I resist long enough -- it'll blow its self-loathing out."
As Mortimer teeters on the brink of a significant fall, the wind shrieks, unabated. Everyone below readies for the fall.
Be the tunnel, I am the tunnel I am...
Mortimer curses as he's ripped from the walls by the hurricane force wind.
As he's firmly and even blown off of the ledge, Mortimer manages to entangle himself in snag the chain to prevent himself from falling.
Hugging it, he slides down it carefully like an inch worm, every muscle in his body fatigued.
Mortimer finds his way down the quite sturdy chain, joining the others without further injury. The wind continues to blow, making it difficult to hear each other at the end of the Blue Lantern tunnel.
As the gathering collects itself, the sounds of the wind eventually die down, after several minutes.
Ascaria, as is his wont, checks the others for injury. He chatters a bit while he does so.
"Wow that was some wind huh - even blew old Mort here off the edge. I don't know any way around that, a wind out of nowhere like that. Geez. Maybe we should give that hallway a miss for now unless someone has a good idea how to get past a magical vapor with that much force."
"Sol, did you see anything down the hole? Maybe we should check that out first. Much safer I bet. Ayep."
As the wind continues to blow Mortimer slides down the wall at the bottom of the Blue Lantern Tunnel. His hair, pointing in six different directions all at once helps to externally illustrate his frazzled nerves.
As the wind dies down he looks up at the group and says quietly, "You should see the Other Guy..."
"Sol, did you see anything down the hole? Maybe we should check that out first. Much safer I bet. Ayep."
Mortimer bounds to his feet and grabs ahold of the chain.
"No really, you should see this -- and meet the Luring Voice" Jerk. " -- at least long enough for me to retrieve my crowbar."
He adds: "...there's a trigger for the wind. Just don't step on it like I did."
He starts ascending, more sure of himself this time.
"Sol, did you see anything down the hole? Maybe we should check that out first. Much safer I bet. Ayep."
Sol smiles at Ascaria, bouncing in the direction she wanted to go anyway.
"Oh! I think we can walk right down the hole!" Sol cheers, leading the way back to greenie, the green hole.
Walking back, Sol asks for a description of what happened up there.
"Rae! It's a joke! Get it!?" Sol looks at her sister. "The blue one blew! I wonder if we'll get yelled at in yellow!"
Sol walks, thinking about what's going to happen down green.
"Rae! It's a joke! Get it!?" Sol looks at her sister. "The blue one blew! I wonder if we'll get yelled at in yellow!"
Rae stifles her own groan, not wanting to hear any of Tynan's judgmental blathering.
"Let's hope not. Hopefully blue will quit blowing soon and we can try again."
Mortimer drops back down again to the bottom of the Blue Lantern tunnel.
"Look -- I'm just going to get the crowbar. There's a voice up there that seems more enticing to lure children to this place than the other -- 'enemy', 'sacrelige' -- whatever. I just thought maybe that might be very thing we were after.
We know -- at least in one very immediate way -- how the wind is triggered.
I don't know what's under the green lantern tunnel any more than anyone else might. Maybe dealing with whatever's there will resolve whatever is going on up here -- I also would like to go explore that area at some point. Maybe this tunnel is a literal Dead End. Either way, I think the 'bar might come in handy. If you don't want to see what else is up there now, at least loan me some light so that I might find it on my own and catch up with you in the green lantern tunnel shortly."
Tynan moves next to Mortimer. "I can retrieve your crowbar for you." He claps Mort on the back. "You've been through enough up there. Let me do this for you. I still have Ascaria's light pin."
Tynan climbs the rope."Besides, the wind seems to have stopped, and I know where you were when you found the trigger. I'll catch up with you in a minute or two at the green tunnel."
"Oh, and Sol... orange you glad we didn't climb up the orange wall?"
It takes some doing, but the crowbar comes unlodged. The eyes of the rictus do not alight in a red glow again. Perhaps you need to get closer for that to happen.
[smaller]"Could have sworn you had them all..."[/smaller
Tynan returns, crowbar in hand.
"unless someone has a good idea how to get past a magical vapor with that much force."
"We should be fully healed first, of course. If we have another rope, I have a set of pitons. If we return to the wind tunnel, we could tie the leader off to a rope and connect it to a secured spike. If we keep moving slowly down the hall, we could drive another anchor five or ten feet down, and secure the rope to each one as we mover forward. We have a line in the wind tunnel securing one or more of us, so we may be secured but be able to crawl back and forth." It might not prevent all buffeting injury, but at least one could get out without being blown dozens of feet against a wall, and eventually over the edge.
She scans over the group with a judging eye, wondering if any others might have appropriate skills. "Of course, if we can avoid that plate in the first place... I might have a little skill in identifying just where that plate might be." She looks pointedly at Tynan, wondering if that's something he might be better at.
"I have a coil of rope." As he removes it from his pack.
"The tunnel up there seemed to just dead end at the carved face where the wind came from. I didn't see any side passages... at least nothing obvious. I can show you where the plate was, if you like."
Sol waits, doing nothing, waiting to move on. Just waiting. Still waiting.
"Sol's looking pretty bored Pilette. Perhaps we should come back to the blue corridor should the green corridor not pan out."
Tynan smiles at the impatiently waiting sister.
"Lead on, Solrisa."
"Sounds good. Lead on, I will follow." Better not to tempt fate if we don't have to.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ascara shrugs with a smile and moves to the green shaft. He looks down into the darkness below. "How far down does it go? I can't see. Do we have enough rope?"
He flexes his climbing muscle, already sore from the efforts in the blue tunnel and readies to follow the others down the green shaft.
"It would be... odd... to trap a dead end tunnel in an out of the way location like this. But sure, if Tynan feels it's got no value, then by all means, let us check elsewhere."
Sol leads the way to the green hole with her torch in hand. She climbs down carefully, trying not to lose her balance.
"Oh, and Sol... orange you glad we didn't climb up the orange wall?"