Old Ways IC

[Frivolous]

Brandon Bor


Brandon joins Mycah in checking the giant bat corpses. He frequently winces and cringes away from the bodies, seemingly disgusted by them.

"No signs of collars or anything like that. They may just be wild animals and not some kind of creepy guard animal for whoever turned the miners into walking dead."

"I'm ready to go."

[Matthew]

Nathros keeps watch for more enemies.

[MeanMrsMustard]

Alanna nods. "Ready," she says. She seems quite a bit quieter than she was at the start of the mission.

[Roland St. Jude]

The tunnel is straighter than the last and slopes down noticeably. The earth under foot becomes softer as well with rivulets of water running along the floor in places.

The tunnel opens into a wider, taller cavern, the floor almost entirely covered in dark, dank water. Wide enough to walk three abreast and longer than the torchlight can reach, the several masses of rats can be seen scurrying away from the torch light toward the room's edges.

[Matthew]

"Hmmn, bats and rats, perhaps we ought to try the other passage."

[Altair_the_Vexed]

"Yes, but I think we should find the end of this route first, Master Dwarf," Talsarios says with an air of assumed authority. "We should not leave an unknown passage at our backs."

Once again, the young scholar seems unaware of the irony of giving a dwarf advice on underground exploration.

[MeanMrsMustard]

Alanna giggles at Nathros' comment.
"I agree, this place seems to be bad luck. It's almost as if this was planned... or is it always like this?"
Even though she's joking, the thought strikes her that maybe this was planned. What if this entire place is just a big trap?

[Frivolous]

Brandon Bor


Bran grimaces. "I hate rats. They eat the grain back home. That's why we keep cats and dogs."

He hefts a flask of oil. "But I can deal with the rats..."

He glances at the other party members to discern if any agree with his unstated plan of action.

[Nevaera]

"Perhaps there's an exit somewhere we cannot yet see... we must further investigate. Oil and fire would be a terrific way to deal with the masses of rats, were they to become a problem, though I doubt it'd do much in this room covered in water."
Ash sheathes her sword and shield, the removes her bow and prepares an arrow in case something comes from above in this vast room. Then she starts to wade forward, leading the group as best she can to the other end to look for more passage ways.

[Roland St. Jude]

Ash finds the water to be only a few inches to as much as a foot deep, with a muddy bottom and overall dark disposition. The rats scurry away from any movement near them, preferring even to climb on top of each other in piles long the walls than be near the invading humans. The room ends roughly forty feet ahead in a bare wall.

[Nevaera]

"Well, there we have it. Let's head back and try the other way - see if we can't find our hidden riser-of-the-dead."

With that, Ash will take a final look around in case there are any hidden passages she may have missed noticing earlier before heading back to the tunnel they came from.

Spoiler

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Alertness DC13: (1d20)[13]

[Altair_the_Vexed]

"Excellent, yes." Talsarios turns to go back and almost sets off before he realises - from his position at the back of the group, he'll now be leading from the front.
"Ah - after you, of course, chaps, ladies." He holds up the lantern to helpfully light the way.

[MeanMrsMustard]

Alanna waits for the others to pass her. The excitement to explore is back again, and she can't wait to find something new at the other end of the tunnel.

[Matthew]

Nathros checks for secret doors before accompanying the party back the way they came.

[Roland St. Jude]

They're subtle, but definitely there. In the left-hand corner of the wall, notches cut into the stone. Nathros recognizes them as hand and foot holds for climbing.

[Matthew]

"Looks like there is more to this place than it would first appear. There are hand and foot holds in the wall here, leading up," Nathros gestures to the notches. "Definitely not the work of bats or rats, or zombies for that matter. Could be a dangerous climb, and a difficult fight at the top if there are enemies lurking above."

[Koren n'Rhys]

Mycah had stood quietly to the side as Ash explored the watery end of the room, alert for danger as she did so. Once Nathros points out the notches carved into the stone, he moves over to the spot, torch in hand.

He holds the torch up over head, trying to see what the "ladder" could lead up to.
"I expect I'm best suited for clambering up there to see what's what." He removes his pack, bow and quiver, setting it carefully aside in a dry spot next to his staff. He hands off the torch and gets ready to climb up and see where it leads. "Wish me luck."

Spoiler

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Climb Walls (88% chance): (1d100)[30]
Given there are handholds, I don't know I need a roll, but there it is just in case.

[Nevaera]

ASHALA

"What I remember of last time, it may be best one of us comes with. If there's a fight to come, I'll gladly go in the stead of others. We may need a rope to secure upon reaching the top. I'm not sure falling hurts much different when you're in armor. Just have to watch out for deep pools of water beneath."

[MeanMrsMustard]

Alanna stands near the back of the group, tapping her foot.
Whoever goes next, I hope they get on with it -- and I hope they're safe!

[Nevaera]

ASHALA

If there are no ropes left and no one objects, Ash will not hesitate to make the effort of scaling the wall, though she'd go somewhat slower than Mycah and she'd make the effort to be extra careful.

[Altair_the_Vexed]

"I say, Ashala, are you quite mad?" Talsarios objects when he sees the armoured fighter preparing to climb. "You can hardly see the damned scratches there, let alone climb them, surely. I think we should get more ropes from the miners, eh?"

[Nevaera]

ASH

She shrugs, "Last time I let Mycah go first, he nearly lost his head. I don't intend to let the risk he takes come without immediate reinforcements this time.
"Please feel free to retrieve my rope from the miners. I still think we could use it for the rest of you..."
She trails off and whispers to herself, "... and maybe yet for me."

To begin the effort to climb, she would likely have had to remove her helmet and gauntlets. Ash would also quickly discover that removing her pack, bow, quiver, and spear would wise as well.

Spoiler

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AC likely changes to 2 even with her shield and 3 without it. Of course, Roland may have better insight than I.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Mycah pauses before his climb and takes in the exchange between Ash and Talsarios.
"Lady Ashala, I... appreciate your concern, but it seems unnecessary for you to climb up there with me. Even if there is some danger, in your armor and all, you just won't be suited for any fighting hanging on the wall. My contribution to this group is to be the one who takes these risks - I can do it..."
He trails off, realizing it may sound like he's whining a bit...

[Nevaera]

Ash tilts her head down a bit to ponder for a couple seconds, then she replies, "Very well. Perhaps I've over estimated my usefulness. I'll fetch the rope, if you'll wait a moment... ' save you the trouble to climb twice."
She does not seem cross with anyone or anything. She goes on as a soldier would, resolving to continue the next course of action. She does not wait around, however.

[Roland St. Jude]

Mycah scrambles quickly to the top where he finds a small ledge and a passageway beyond. Probably big enough to crawl through, though the torchlight below is scant at this height.

Below Ash begins her preparations and ascent.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Mycah takes a quick survey of the area, and looks down the passage to see how far it seems to go, without venturing inside just yet. He looks for any signs of occupation - webs, bones or other debris, then climbs back down to the cavern floor to report his findings to the group.
"So, there is a small ledge up above, and another passage going on from there. We can certainly explore further, but we might be better off checking the other tunnels on this level before making the effort to get everyone up this wall and beyond. What do you think?"

Spoiler

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Also, how high did Mycah need to climb to the ledge?

[Nevaera]

Ash makes sure to have handed the rope off to Mycah before his climb so that he can secure it at the top with a pike which she borrowed from the miners when she fetched the rope.

[Roland St. Jude]

The ledge is a few feet wide, and the light from below only carries a few feet deep. Mycah spies small bones littered across the dry dirt.

[Frivolous]

Mycah takes a quick survey of the area, and looks down the passage to see how far it seems to go, without venturing inside just yet. He looks for any signs of occupation - webs, bones or other debris, then climbs back down to the cavern floor to report his findings to the group.
"So, there is a small ledge up above, and another passage going on from there. We can certainly explore further, but we might be better off checking the other tunnels on this level before making the effort to get everyone up this wall and beyond. What do you think?"

Spoiler

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Also, how high did Mycah need to climb to the ledge?

Brandon Bor

Bran nods. "That sounds wise. I'm not keen to go climbing in armour. I'd make a very big hole if I fell."

[Matthew]

Nathros remains vigilant below.