Immersive Ink

"I don't relish going down the pit either." Maloof comments, "Even if we were to secure a rope, anyone could simply cut it or pull it up."

"Let's see if these medallions will allow us passage past the guards."

"All right," Rhod says, fishing out his medallion and wearing it normally.

"So, are you off to negotiate with the fighters guarding the stairs?"

Vesh and his henchmen are ready and are under the assumption that we are in agreement to go down via the stairs, he is just waiting for others to confirm his assumptions or not.

"Sounds good to me," says Franklin, "but I don't have a medallion, so one of you should go first." (He will move to the front for scouting duty once the party has reached the unexplored territory of the 2nd level.)

Wiglaff takes his own medallion out, and asks Edgar to the do the same. Then he looks around.

"Many of us don't have these medallions, but we'll sort that out once we see if they'll allow passage in any case."

We follow the corridor round to the stairs room & open the door!

Wiglaff opens the door onto a largish room, with a few beds and chests. In the south is a set of stairs leading downwards. In the room are two evil-looking men with mail, shield and sword, ready and waiting for combat. One says "10 gold per person toll for descending to level 2. How many you got?"

Vesh whispers to the others, "Surely they jest. I cannot afford that. Had I known there was a hefty toll I'd have only hired one footman. Maybe the ogre pit is the way to go unless someone can lone me 11gp, to be taken out of the next share we earn. Would someone be willing? I do not like the look of those two, not at all. Maybe we can negotiate a lesser toll?

Vesh is clearly aghast at the sum required.

Wiglaff holds up his white medallion.

"Will this secure passage, good gentlemen?"

In his other hand he loosely holds his battle-axe, as is his wont.

Aldbane too dons his medalion. "I can cover the fee for those that need it," he says quietly to the group.