"Well, Bubba, you can make up some plausible story for us to carry our weapons and armor?"
"Well I'm not sure whether it would be better to try and get jobs, or simply pay someone to let us in. I can't see the guards at a place like that being particularly picky about who they let in if we paid them enough, especially knowing how bad the pay there actually is."
"Well, Bubba, you can make up some plausible story for us to carry our weapons and armor?"
"I can certainly try. But, like Chisora said, a bribe will probably make the task easier."
"I don't think I'll have a problem; those guards probably can't tell the difference between a bomb and a beer!" Vug grins cheerily.
Feres listens quietly as his companions plan a way to infiltrate the mine, his expression distant and concerned.
"I don't dispute that we must get to the bottom of what is happening in the mine," the stout priest begins, pausing to find the words to express his concerns. "But I don't feel comfortable doing so at the behest of Master Smenk. We have proof from the necromancer, Filge, that Smenk made a deal with the Ebon Triad to provide them with supplies, and even though they frightened him, he didn't notify the authorities of their presence. Instead, he brough in Filge to research the Triad's strange undead, and I wouldn't be surprised if he did so with the intent to find a way to use them for himself. Now he wants us to get rid of the Triad for him while still keeping everything quiet. I can just imagine that if we bring the Ebon Triad and Master Dourstone to justice, then Smenk will move in to take over the mine and just make more profit on the broken backs of the miners. No, I don't like this. When we bring the Triad and Dourstone to justice, we need to notifiy the authorities of Smenk's involvement in all of this as well. As corrupt or inept as the officials may be in this town, I can't imagine even they would turn a blind eye to the threat that Smenk was willing to allow to grow right under their feet."
"As far as for bribing the mine guards to let us take our gear in, how do we know that anyone in a position of authority at the mine isn't also involved with the Ebon Triad like Dourstone? Maybe we'd be better off seeing if some of the miners themselves could help us get in unnoticed. Bubba, do you know if any of the Dourstone mine workers frequent Zalamandra's?"
" Bubba, do you know if any of the Dourstone mine workers frequent Zalamandra's?"
Chisora nods at Friar Feres words. "I most certainly agree that once we bring down this Ebon triad, we work towards dealing with Smenk. People like him and the ones that run Dourstone arm pathetic. they make thir money off the backs of decent folk and don't give those folk what they deserve. It's not much better than slavery in my opinion. I'd like nothing more than to see the mine in the hands of someone who'll appreciate his workers and pay them what they're worth."
The miner's camp is a bleak place, where Dourstone provides cheap accomodation and cheaper booze for men (there are few women here) with nothing to lose. Most of the miners look despondent, but one or two is busy making grand plans for saving enough money to finally leave Wolfstone behind. The guards on the other hand look substantially better fed, and seem to be enjoying their power.
If you sign up as workers you will be expected to join the miners at dawn. You have the rest of the day to figure a way to get your gear into the mine.
The miner's camp is a bleak place, where Dourstone provides cheap accomodation and cheaper booze for men (there are few women here) with nothing to lose. Most of the miners look despondent, but one or two is busy making grand plans for saving enough money to finally leave Wolfstone behind. The guards on the other hand look substantially better fed, and seem to be enjoying their power.
If you sign up as workers you will be expected to join the miners at dawn. You have the rest of the day to figure a way to get your gear into the mine.
You seem to have made a couple of new friends there. But how much are you going to tell them about your intentions?
Rhiannon slowly rode through the town taking in the sights around her. Her eyes combing the crowds, many individuals dropping their eyes and hurrying along at the sight of the heavily armed and armored woman on the massive steed.
"She definetely picks the most unpleasant places to be doesn't she?" the young soldier mutters to her horse, a deep whicker the only response.
"I just hope she hasn't gotten herself into anything too deep, that and that she holds her temper in check, although that priest's been helping her with that. I'd really rather not have to ride down an angry mob again."
Vug recommends telling the miners that they're worried about monsters and that the guards won't do a good job of protecting them (or something like that).
Vug recommends telling the miners that they're worried about monsters and that the guards won't do a good job of protecting them (or something like that).
And Feres adds that we're trying to keep it quiet for now to avoid a panic, but that if we don't return they should notify Allustan the sage and the authorities.
"Well, before we go alerting them to our presence, we should scope the place out, see how well guarded the sealed off shaft is, to decide how much money we're going to have to shell out to the guards. I'll work there for a day, would be good to get some good ole fashioned mining done. I don't know how many dwarves they have there, but they'll be glad to have someone who is hardy and can naturally see in the dark. What do ye think? It'll look less suspicious than having 5 strangers show up at the same time, eh?"
You all make friends with a shaggy man named Willum, who speaks with a heavy Skandik accent, and over a jug of bad moonshine he spills his sad story. He was mugged and lost his money in Warwik and fell into debt slavery, eventually coming here to work for Balabar Smenk and, one drunken brawl later, got kicked out and now can only get hired by Ragnolin Dourstone. He's eloquent about his grand plans to make some money, get to Warwik, get on a ship and go home. His prospects don't look that good, though.
On the other hand he brightens visibly as you feed him the tale of monsters down in the mine. You're not sure whether he believes you or not, but he agrees to hide your gear in one of the empty mining carts, just to have a laugh at the guard's expense. More than one of them is far to fond of his whip, and there is even one who's bragging about the intricate scars on his forearms. Sick bastards, all of them, if you ask Willum.
As Valgrim spends one of the worst days of his life down in the mine, working with poor quality tools and hounded by the guards, he is able to spend some time exploring. The forbidden shaft is clearly marked with several warning signs that say to stay out, and it is also boarded up. Guards pass by at irregular intervals, but he has no trouble staying out of their sight. He thinks he could break down the barricade, but it might make a noise.
Vug is ready and raring to go when Valgrim is. She suggests that maybe an assault by night might be more sneaky (e.g. the guards might be more tired), so maybe they can get put on the night shift.
Feres is ready to go when Valgrim gives the word.
Valgrim, during his shift, will make numerous trips to the sealed off mine shaft and try to loosen the boarded planks while leaving the structure intact when the guards are away.
Rhiannon spends the majority of her day working her way through the town following leads. As people react to her bearing, they are quickly disarmed by her soldier's manner. Acomment about the weather here, a dirty joke with some fellows playing dice there, a shared drink at a tavern, and tongues begin to loosen.
Nightfall brings her riding towards the tavern where she believes Chisora and her companions may be staying.
Chisora is sitting by herself agin, waiting for Valgrim to complete his reconnaissance when out of the window, she spies the armoured figure of Rhiannon riding towards the tavern. Wondering what her friend could be doing in town, she gets up and goes outside to hail her over, a rare smile on her face.
"Ho Rhiannon, what brings you to this place," she calls out, waving to the Cavalier. Once she stops and dismounts, Chisora greets the other woman with a sisterly hug, an uncommon show of affection from her noramlly dour bearing. "I must confess that after leaving Warwick I thought to never see you again. Do you have time for a meal? Friar Feres is here, I believe you met him once or twice back when he was helping me get back on my feet. He and I have actually joined up with some other adventurers and are preparing an assault on a secret Cultist Shrine in the mines. If you are in town for a while, perhaps you would care to join us. Surely your sword will be in need of some swinging after your journey."
Dismounting, Rhiannon returns Chisora's hug with genuine warmth.
"A meal would defintely be welcome," she responds with a smile. "We've had a long ride to get here. Honestly, I finished a job protecting a caravan and was considering what to do next when I had an odd dream that you were in danger. Something about caves. I figured I might as well find you if only for a warning but it looks like I can actually help."
"Is there a good stable nearby? Thunderhead is about as tired as I am."
Willum can get your stuff into the miner's cart, and then you can gear up and try to sneak past the guards to the sealed shaft. Will you try to find an opportune moment or will you try to create a distraction? Or do you have a better idea?
"Is there a good stable nearby? Thunderhead is about as tires as I am."
The Emporium has a quite good stable, and Bubba could probably get you a good price.
Vug tinkers with the barrier, trying to weaken it with acid (after drinking her dexterity draught first).
Disable Device:
Bubba tries to negotiate a good price at the stables.
Bubba tries to negotiate a good price at the stables.
1d20+9
Yeah, Bubba knows a lad who'll stable Thunderhead for free. Some of the guests of the Emporium are so out of it they can't remember how many horses they are paying for.
"Let's try to open that door before the guards come back. If they do I will try to distract them."
Vug pours some acid on strategic places and then a well-placed knock will bring the barrier down. There are no guards about but a couple of miners are watching you with undisguised interest. Maybe Bubba should go talk to them.
Bubba saunters over to the miners.
"What's up guys? Don't you have mining to do? You didn't see anything here, right?"
The miners snicker a bit, happy to see you throw a wrench into Dourstone's operations.
proceeding down the 10 feet wide corridor, what will be your marching order and lighting?
Vug Vang has a lit torch, as usual. She stays behind Valgrim and Rhiannon if possible.
Feres casts Light on his shield, has his scimitar in hand, and brings up the rear with Chisora (assuming the marching order is Valgrim and Rhiannon in front, Vug and Bubba in the middle, and Chisora and Feres in the rear).
The tunnel to the elevator stretches to the west and has a sharp, downward slope. After 400 feet, you come to a chamber in which is a large, wooden platform with a 5-foot wall built around its edges. Struts rise 10 feet from each of the platform’s corners, joining in an X above the platform.
A thick iron chain runs through the X’s midpoint to a large, wooden spool set in the middle of the platform. The platform is 10 feet wide and 10 feet long. Since the elevator is up, most of the chain is wound up on the spool.
In the middle of the elevator there is a wheel, with a brake mechanism that holds it in place. To lower it you release the brake and turn the wheel. Three people can help operate the elevator, which demands a certain amount of strength to hold in check.
Knowledge (engineering) 15:
How will you go about the descent?
"Maybe I should go get the miners to lower us?"
Chisora introduces Rhiannon to the rest of the party, and Friar Feres nods as he recognises the young woman. Bubba manages to talk one of the stablehands at the Emporium into stabling Thunderhead with the horses from another group for free and promises the Cavalier to take good care of the fine steed.
They make thier way with the others into the mine, hiding their gear together and picking it up again once they are assembled at the entrance to the sealed shaft.
I'll take the rear with and protect the Friar. Valgrim, Rhiannon is good in a fight so she should probably go up front with you." She nods to Rhiannon to lea don with the Dwarf as she takes up her regular position as rear protection.
Looking over the elevator with the others, she shrugs and then agrees with Bubba's idea about getting the miners to assist them.
Pondering the elevator for a while, you decide to go get Willum his friend Svein to help you. They are surprised to see the shaft go so far and even more shocked at the sight of the elevator, but surprise quickly turns to anger at Dourstone for deceiving them.
"The elevator is quite safe", Svein says in a slight Skandik accent, "and I think it could take all of you at one time even if you will be cramped. It would take someone as strong as an ox to maneuver it" (he glances at Valgrim, Bubba and Rhiannon) "but you shouldn't have any trouble in that department. You'll need to hurry, though. We'll try to cover for you and repair that fence, but they'll be looking for you eventually."
The two men gravely wish you luck with whatever you'll find down there. They look a bit concerned as they bid you farewell and return to their drudgery.