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Post by waysoftheearth on Aug 17, 2012 0:41:07 GMT -6
The company descends the narrow stair cautiously, abandoning what remains of the grey autumn light above and plunging themselves into cool, steamy darkness... The stair is steep and narrow. Its stones are pocked by ages of dripping water and loose and muddy with searching roots and tunneling vermin.
It takes a few minutes for eyes to adjust to the ocher glare of burning torches, but before the descent counts twenty steps it ends and the company enter into a broad, but claustrophobic chamber.
Cool vapours seep down the stair from the mire above to swirl about the floor, an additional tide of it pushed ahead of you and out into the dark like a blanket. Water too, drips incessantly down the stair and walls, and from the ceiling too, dispatching frequent echoes. Where the stone floor can been seen through the slowly curling mist, it is uneven and waterlogged.
The full dimensions of the chamber are not yet evident, but the central space is dominated by a great circular bowl of crumbling stone around a bulky column of disfigured stonework choked by pale roots and creepers. A far wall can scarcely be made out in the gloom beyond this work, perhaps 60ft away...
What now?
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Post by alcyone on Aug 17, 2012 0:54:20 GMT -6
Vangelis says, "This mist is thicker than that gruel they've been serving up lately. Come to think of it, that's not saying much. What do you all say, maybe we should circumambulate the room and establish where the exits are?"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2012 3:53:32 GMT -6
Dram's hackles rose as he surveyed the room. War, he understood. Kill or be killed, that was simple. But this? After hesitating for the blink of an eye, he stepped into the room. The lure of gold and jewelry was strong than the preternatural warnings of his primal brain. A near imperceptible flick of his finger and Spaz took up station at the stair they just came down, his watchful eyes looking up the way they came.
Noting Vangelis's lit torch, Dramorian nods tacit agreement to his comrade's suggestion and, with a jerk of his chin, indicates they set off to the left along the room's perimeter. Loosening his sword in its sheath and with Vangelis and the light source behind him, he sets off.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Aug 17, 2012 5:30:55 GMT -6
Javas, as one of the torch bearers, reaches the bottom of the stairs and moves towards the right. He wishes dearly that his elvish foster-kin passed on not only their beloved waybread, but their keen eyes for times like this. " His right hand grabbing firmly to his unsheathed dagger, he lifts the torch as high as he can without losing footing. A funny sight to behold. Always ready to serve, without speaking he waits the leadership of others.
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Post by verhaden on Aug 17, 2012 5:33:20 GMT -6
Gaspard
Gaspard wanders over to the column of disfigured stonework, and peers at it from a few angles trying to discern what it could have possibly been.
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Post by mgtremaine on Aug 17, 2012 7:32:37 GMT -6
Tirandir would release a few nervous giggles then take a few cautious step towards the center of the room. Arrow half drawn ready to shoot. Scanning and listening for signs of life.
-Mike
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Post by ehiker133 on Aug 17, 2012 8:16:47 GMT -6
Firas descends the stairs, watching those ahead of him with a shake of his head. Some move left while others go straight or split off to the right, even.
"Stick together!" he hisses in the quiet subterranean air. He will provide light for the group moving left.
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Post by waysoftheearth on Aug 17, 2012 8:39:48 GMT -6
Having entered first, Mab then waits for the others to arrive, allowing Firas, Vangelis and Jaras to bring their light giving torches.
One all are present Dram sets Spaz the guard dog on the stair, and then makes a way cautiously along the wall to his left, followed by Vangelis with his sputtering torch. Javas and Firas position themselves (and their torches) to the right of the entry as the others slowly begin to move into the dark, wet room, their feet disturbing the mist and an inch of standing water.
Tirandir scans the dark for any living thing, but there is aught but his own company and the gradually churning mist and dripping water that moves.
Gaspard moves purposefully toward the overgrown column in the center of the room, dragging a wake of mist and water with him. The rocky artifact must have been a carving or statue of some sort, but now roots and creepers hanging through the ceiling partially cover it. Gaspard sidles somewhat left to get a better look at it... what is it, a trio or men holding something up..? or are they winged..?
[Roll to determine whether or not a trap is sprung; 1d6=1 so it is]. With a sudden gasp and splash, Gaspard unwittingly steps into a depth of cold water!
By the time everyone looks around he has completely vanished from sight. The only indication he might have been present at all is an area of more agitated mist some 10ft from the central column, that seems to have swallowed Gaspard entire!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2012 9:21:54 GMT -6
Clad as he is in metal armor, Dram will wait for someone else to jump in the water to help his friend. He is not inactive however. Dram takes a knee as close to the edge of the water as he can get and begins rummaging in his backpack for his 100 foot coil of rope. It is his intention to throw it to his foundering friend.
"Watch our backs!" he calls to the other fighters.
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Post by Zenopus on Aug 17, 2012 9:23:46 GMT -6
If Mot can swim, he will pull off his pack and thrust it into the hands of the nearest companion and jump into the water to search for Gaspard. He is wearing no armor, and has STR 13 so if he can swim he should be a decent swimmer.
If he can't swim, he will probe forward with his 10' pole until he comes to a drop-off, and then lower the pole downward into the water in hopes that Gaspard can grab onto it.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Aug 17, 2012 9:51:50 GMT -6
Javas sheaths his dagger and hurriedly pulls his 50' of rope from his pack. He stands ready to be used as a counter-weight....
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Post by ehiker133 on Aug 17, 2012 10:06:18 GMT -6
Firas, seeing the others move into action, shakes his head and mutters to himself about staying together.
He slowly makes his way to the center column behind Mot, providing light for the search effort.
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Post by alcyone on Aug 17, 2012 10:09:40 GMT -6
Vangelis stands vigilant against attacks on the rescuers.
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Post by verhaden on Aug 17, 2012 11:11:23 GMT -6
Gaspard
*glub*glub*
Gaspard tries to swim up towards the surface and keep his head above water.
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Post by mgtremaine on Aug 17, 2012 11:39:27 GMT -6
Triandir would gaffaw at this stroke of ill luck.... Quickly move closer while scanning the far walls for openings or threats. Move as far forward as the watery opening then focus on the "statue"? A few glances down indicates that perhaps he should do something about the departed.....
OOC: waiting to see if there is a a threat and if rope and or a swimmer appears before my next action.
-Mike
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Post by Mushgnome on Aug 17, 2012 16:58:24 GMT -6
"Be careful!" shouts Dishmab. "It's possible this floor is not entirely stable!"
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Post by waysoftheearth on Aug 17, 2012 19:54:07 GMT -6
The sudden disappearance of Gaspard stirs the company to a certain urgency. Dram and Javas hastily unshoulder their packs and rummage about for the lengths of rope they carry.
[Roll to determine whether Mot is a swimmer; 1d6=2 so he is not].
Mot meanwhile daren't risk the cold, mirky water himself, so uses his long wooden stave to feel out the solid ground beneath the water and mist. He hastily figures where there is good stone out to where Gaspard vanished, and that there exists a ledge, beyond which is deeper water.
Firas follow Mot with his torch, and by the general hustle of movement the mist is temporarily cleared, before it rolls back on itself.
Tirindir and Vangelis (as well as Spaz) are alert of any sign of further danger...
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Post by waysoftheearth on Aug 17, 2012 19:54:59 GMT -6
Gaspard desperately tries to swim upward, but the weight of his mail, helm and pack are pulling him down, down, down into the cold black water. He knows his only hope of survival is to get free of the deadweight that is drowning him...
[Roll to determine whether Gaspard can get out of his armour to avoid drowning; in mail armour this requires a roll of 5-6; 1d6=6! He does.]
...and by great fortune he has always buckled his pack and armour in such a way that he can get free in a hurry. That luck (or wisdom) pays dividends now, as he wriggles free and surges upward, while his pack and armour vanish into the cold black depths.
Near a minute passes with Mot probing the water, and Dram and Javas standing by with their ropes, before Gaspard bursts out of the water to inhale a mighty draft of air!
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Post by mgtremaine on Aug 18, 2012 8:32:25 GMT -6
Tirandir would offer Gaspard an arm and haul him out of the water. (Careful not to get pulled him himself). Once the dripping form of Gaspard is safely out of the drink, he would burst out laughing, pick up his bow and re-seat the arrow.
-Mike
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Post by Mushgnome on Aug 18, 2012 9:06:07 GMT -6
Dishmab gives Gaspard a hearty clap on the back to expel the water from his lungs.
"Alright listen up everybody, let's hold hands and move single-file. You there with the stick! Find us a safe path through to that column; I want to take a closer look."
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Post by alcyone on Aug 18, 2012 11:41:33 GMT -6
Vangelis has no hands free, and will protect the group's rear without approaching the column closer than necessary.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Aug 18, 2012 15:12:30 GMT -6
Javas, gets back into the order as previous holding his torch in his left hand, dagger sheathed.
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Post by waysoftheearth on Aug 18, 2012 20:01:44 GMT -6
With Gaspard hauled soaked and gasping from the cold water, Mot is able to identify the perimeter of a 20ft long crack in the floor, which can be easily be circumnavigated once its location is known.The mist agitates as the company move around the crack, sploshing through the water as they approach the column.
By this time the general dimensions of the chamber are apparent; is it approximately 60ft square, and now that it is better lit, Mab has the feeling the geometry of it is twisted. The stair end of the room has subsided somewhat, while the floor slopes slightly upward beyond the column. There are two open door arches in the wall opposite, and one in either wall to the left and right. Five exits, total, including the stair.
[Gaspard is now bereft of his mail armour and backpack, and whatever was in it. He retains his sling, helmet and Holy symbol. Please update you PC sheet Verhaden].
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Post by waysoftheearth on Aug 18, 2012 20:06:28 GMT -6
Mab is first to examine the column covered in ugly roots and creepers... It is difficult to see the stone work for the all the choking vegetation, but it looks to be some kind of... totem? It is comprised of three adjoined columns each with a number of layers of rough hewn or time worn figures. There appear to be spouts protruding here and there, so perhaps it was a fountain once?
it might be a whole lot clearer if all this vegetation were cleared...
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Post by ehiker133 on Aug 19, 2012 6:30:23 GMT -6
"What is this? Some sort of fountain?" asks Firas, as he grabs some vines and starts pulling them down to get a better look at the column.
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Post by mgtremaine on Aug 19, 2012 7:38:41 GMT -6
Tirandir would move towards the left side a bit to keep an eye on the archway on that side and the far left exit as well. But not so much attention as to not as beware of how the statue uncovering goes.
-Mike
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2012 8:09:27 GMT -6
Dram whistles Spaz over, signalling the junkyard mutt to keep watch as he (Dram) assists with clearing the vegetation from the column.
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Post by verhaden on Aug 19, 2012 8:59:42 GMT -6
Gaspard
"From the depths," he coughs, "I have prevailed once again." He adjusts his helm and collects himself as the others attempt to clear vegetation from the columns.
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Post by Zenopus on Aug 19, 2012 14:33:46 GMT -6
Mot says, "Watch out in case those vines are literally 'choking vegetation'..."
He steps back (to a safely probed spot) and readies a dagger.
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Post by alcyone on Aug 19, 2012 17:37:58 GMT -6
Vangelis looks around to see if there are any sconces or other obvious sign that anyone with normal sight has made use of this place. If there are torches or lamps on the wall, Vangelis will light them, after looking to see if they may have had recent use.
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