(024) The Ravine Door

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The passage goes on and on... it is certainly curving around to the left and sloping downward now, perhaps turning in upon itself into a downward corkscrew? It's hard to tell. After ten minutes of so on this...

(1d6)

...the gradient is verging toward too steep to stay upright... Olaf would have to slow down, and possibly even use a hand on the floor or wall in order to not risk slipping.

The air seems cooler here. Verging on cold, even.

The dark passage continues onward, ever onward into the dark.

What now?

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
"No, this is no good!" Olaf mutters, "We want to go UP not down."

"Let's go back and try the other way." Olaf turns and starts back.

He says to Victor, "Victor, I'm crapping out at leading. So, if you want to lead the way, just say so."

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
"Yer doin' an okay job," grunts Victor in reply, "we ain't dead yet." and spits.

The pair trudge back up the slanted, curving passageway, all the way back to the last intersection, though it seems further going upslope than down.

(1d6)

Olaf's stomach makes an inquiring rumble as they reach the last intersection. Up top it must be past noon...

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

"Yer doin' an okay job," grunts Victor in reply, "we ain't dead yet." and spits.

"Yeah, but we've come close twice and we ain't any closer to getting out of here than when we first came in." Olaf sighs.

The pair trudge back up the slanted, curving passageway, all the way back to the last intersection, though it seems further going upslope than down.

(1d6)

Olaf's stomach makes an inquiring rumble as they reach the last intersection. Up top it must be past noon...

Olaf leads Victor down the other passage adding with another sigh, "Getting hungry."

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The passage way becomes narrow and the air cool and damp...

After a time Olaf sees another T intersection ahead from where he could turn left or right, or else attempt a closed doorway which lies directly ahead.

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

The passage way becomes narrow and the air cool and damp...

After a time Olaf sees another T intersection ahead from where he could turn left or right, or else attempt a closed doorway which lies directly ahead.

Olaf listens at the door, and if he doesn't hear sounds beyond he nods to Victor and then opens it.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Olaf listens at this latest door... and after a moment's concentration decides that he hears nothing more than an infrequent dripping sound from beyond.

There seems little reason not to open the door, so after signalling his intent to Victor, he does so.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The door is stiff, but with a forceful grunt Olaf shoves it open.

Within is a chamber far too great for his bold little lantern to reach across. In fact, at second glance it appears to be the remains of a great chamber, for a land-slip seems to have partially collapsed the right side of the once-hall, and opened up the far left into a yawning blackness that might lead who knows where?

There are certainly echoes of running and falling water rising up from the depths. And worse! Olaf now spies several more of the fiendish lizard-Men lying flat on their bellies on the cold stone ledges in the dark. They appeared as stones until their crocodile snouts all turn as one to peer toward the doorway questioningly. There are what, four? five? six? of them out there in the dark. The nearest slides slowly, snake-like, into a standing position -- facing Olaf across barely 50ft of dark air.

What now?

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

The door is stiff, but with a forceful grunt Olaf shoves it open.

Within is a chamber far too great for his bold little lantern to reach across. In fact, at second glance it appears to be the remains of a great chamber, for a land-slip seems to have partially collapsed the right side of the once-hall, and opened up the far left into a yawning blackness that might lead who knows where?

There are certainly echoes of running and falling water rising up from the depths. And worse! Olaf now spies several more of the fiendish lizard-Men lying flat on their bellies on the cold stone ledges in the dark. They appeared as stones until their crocodile snouts all turn as one to peer toward the doorway questioningly. There are what, four? five? six? of them out there in the dark. The nearest slides slowly, snake-like, into a standing position -- facing Olaf across barely 50ft of dark air.

What now?

Shove the door closed. If they are coming out, I'd rather have them come through the door one at a time. If they aren't, that's even better.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Olaf pulls the door to in a hurry.

"This ain't good," growls Victor, and spits savagely. "Ain't good at all!"

"Jam the door somehow!" he grunts, looking about desperately for some means of doing so, "Or else set it afire!"