(052) Reckoning the Abbey

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Wen fires up another torch, temporarily enabling Dorgan to better see the walls -- which are solid blocks of a relatively sandy stone, separated a wee finger width of crumbly old mortar. Dorgan reckons he could easily drive an iron piton between the blocks, but the stuff there is so flaky he'd be better driving on directly into a block if he could find a suitable fissure that won't crack the whole stone... but before he does, Wen lobs the torch down the stair, briefly illuminating the shaft as it goes, then striking the bottom few stairs, perhaps 60ft further down, then vanishing into darkness.

Meanwhile, the others haul up some rope from their assorted packs... they've got two 60ft lengths.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Below, Desmond/Mondes hears the torch donking down the stairs above him, before coming suddenly into view and tumbling through a 20 or 30ft fall to drop directly beside him. Fortunately, it is not extinguished, and the bruised Halfling sees his surrounds for the first time.

It is a good thing he didn't wander far, for he finds himself on a 20ft circular stone platform raised another 10ft above the floor of a large, grim chamber. Below, at the edge of visibility, he almost sees dark shapes moving, unhurriedly, out of his sight. He senses movement, but whenever he looks directly at it, there is nothing but dark. But scattered about the floor are what might be... bodily remains... broken armour... a splintered shield and spear? Here and there he also spies a twinkle or a glimmer than might be treasure, but once again, whenever he searches these out, there is nothing to see.

Perhaps his eyes are playing tricks?

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:
Once another torch is lit, and once he's able to get his iron spikes out of his pack, Dorgan will put away his shield and Mads Cold Iron Axe and pull out his other axe. He'll use the flat side of the axe head to hammer in a couple of spikes in suitable locations.

Once the two lengths of rope they own have been knotted together securely, he'll tie one end to the spikes, drop the other down, and then climb down himself.

[waysoftheearth]

ehiker133 wrote:
Desmond holds his position, back to the stair/shoot opening, holding torch and sword out against the darkness...

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Torben

Torben will keep an eye on the rear of the party, hoping that the noise they've been making does not attract unwanted guests.

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:
"Carefully, my friend," whispers Josiane anxiously as she watches Dorgan descending into darkness.

She will attempt to move up to the edge of the drop, ready to follow the dwarf down or haul him swiftly back up again depending on how events play out.

[waysoftheearth]

danhem wrote:
Ulric sighs again as he stands watch with Torben at the outer doorway leading into the two laboratory chambers.

"This is why we should stick to the plan," Ulric says mostly to himself.

"Shall I watch to the north while you keep an eye to the south?" he asks Torben.

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Torben

Torben nods. 'Makes you think, though,' in a low voice as he turns his head. 'Things like that take a long time to build. I wonder how long the Sisterhood had been infiltrated.'

[waysoftheearth]

coffee wrote:
Dieter stows his sword and grasps the rope, setting himself up as the anchor.

"Anybody else want to go down there?" he asks (not really expecting a reply). "We haven't split the company to its logical conclusion yet. After all, I'm not alone up here."

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:
As Dorgan peers down the hole, he remarks, "Still looks dark down there. Can we get a few more torches?"