(048) The Undercroft

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 10:50 pm

Green Lama wrote:
With his breathing slowing Jan looks around the cavern from his new vantage point before continuing upwards if the way is clear.

Where does this stair/ladder go?

What manner of beings are working this mine? Men, Dwarves, Snorks or stranger things? Do they seem to be workers or slaves? Are there overseers? Is there conversation? Is anyone working this side of the cavern?

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:38 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
The stair seems to climb up and up for ever into the impeneterable darkness above... it seems to wind its way further and further from the industry going on far across the cavern.

If they weren't so far away Jan could be more certain. But as it is, Jan would guess they're Snorks, busily labouring away. They don't appear to be under any duress... so whatever they're mining at must be worth getting!

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:37 pm

Green Lama wrote:
Jan Hmmm I wonder if this is the legendary source of the Snorks wealth? I might be able to sneak out by following the ore but let us see where this leads first. Jan continues up and up and up!

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 9:24 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
Jan climbs a way further until he sees a chain dangling some way out of reach in the darkness. Climbing further, he realises soon that there are two chains. Then three. And they all seems to hang from a scaffolding that hoves into view above him has he edges around a bend.

The gantry at the lowest reach of the scaffold is lit by a few pitiful candles -- as are many other platforms and gantries above it that cling to the cavern wall like an ivy.

Looking up at it from almost directly below, Jan sees there are two figures upon the narrow platform above him -- one at either end, perhaps 30ft apart. The nearer one isn't moving... other other seems intent upon chiseling something from the cavern wall. Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 4:12 pm

Green Lama wrote:
With a quick twist of the cover Jan extinguishes the Iridescence. Carefully continuing to climb the the semi-dark Jan creeps cautiously closer.

What is the non-tapping figure doing? Guard? Armed? Napping?

Can the platform be avoided or is this the end of the path?
Is it possible to get above the platform without too much difficulty?

Is the platform supported only by the chains of is it attached to the wall?
Can Jan see any gearing or levers that might allow the platform to move up and down the chains or is the platform firmly affixed?
Does the ladder/stair/path that Jan is climbing look frequented with no dust/rubble in the center of steps or other likely high traffic areas?

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:28 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
The gantry is affixed to the wall as the lowest part of a major work in scaffolding that appears to climb ever upward upon the cavern wall... the terrible stair appears to reach a narrow catwalk a little way above the gantry, before climbing further (Jan's poor legs!).

The fellow at the nearer end of the gantry appears to be asleep. The other, is picking at the rock wall incessantly.

Jan would have to climb up to and past the sleeping fellow at the end of the gantry to continue.

It appears that the chains are not really supporting this gantry, but dangling from other platforms, above. In the dimness above, he spies a bucket being raised upon the chain with a distant clatter... The stair he finds himself upon looks scarcely travelled.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Fri Mar 22, 2013 7:46 pm

Green Lama wrote:
Resting for a moment and silently moaning for his poor legs Jan does his best to continue the climb. He does not know how the minors would react to his presence. Though given that a mine this big this close to the city could not be kept secret without extreme effort Jan is loathe to test their good-will.

"Up and out." he thinks to himself as he tries to silently continue the climb. Hopefully his steps will be lost under the ring of metal on stone.

Keep going up. Stairs to catwalk to .......?

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:33 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
Well, now this is a tricky business, thinks Jan.

He mounts all but the last few stairs cautiously, so that the gantry is now at about waist height directly infront of him. The sleeping miner is a Snork, and an ugly one! Not like the well dressed, overfed Trader Snorks he has seen around town, but a dirty, wiry, half-started, warty specimen that -- quite frankly -- stinks. The nasty fellow is asleep right across the base of the stair, so he'll have to step over him!

The other fellow is 30ft farther down the gantry and preoccupied with his mining work. He is muttering something to himself as he chips away. Could that be what passes for singing? In any case he seems quite enthused, for a Goblin.

Jan takes a deep as he tries to creep around the sleeping Snork...

(1d6=2!)

"Oi!" snorts the "sleeping" Snork just as Jan steps up onto the Gantry, "Wassizz?" The other fellow immediately looks about. Jan feels like a boy caught with his hand in the cookie barrel!

What now?

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 8:56 pm

Green Lama wrote:
"Security inspection. Good thing you were awake, you passed."

Hoping against hope Jan strides confidently down the gantry. If he reaches the point where the stair continues up he will take it. If as is woefully more likely he hears rapid steps behind him of the face of the working Snork betrays the imminent attack of the sleeping Snork Jan will run. The boy wizard, knowing that his legs are in no good condition, will look for a chain hanging from the gantry. If he can reach it he will go over the side and start climbing down. Perhaps finding a bucket to rest on or another chain to swing out to.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:44 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
(reaction check; 2d6=5)

"Sek-yooority?" says the nearest Goblin, trying the word suspiciously as Jan steps swiftly by.

"Not likely!" interjects the other, abandoning his work and heading toward Jan with a wicked grin.

Jan finds himself between two Snorks on the gantry, but just as they close in to grab him he leaps off the edge to grab a chain that dangles in the void some 3ft out of reach!

It's the wildest risk he's ever taken in his young life (1d6=1 Eek!) and an eager Goblin clips his shoulder as he leaps, throwing his balance off and causing him to miss his grab awkwardly and fall past the chain instead of clutching it!

The gantry and the Snorks diminish above him in a dark, violent rush as he tumbles into a wild descent into the abyssal cavern (save or die; d20=18!) but by an unthinkable chance the wind is knocked out of him as the lowest loop of a chain catches under his armpit and he spins wildly out into the dark cavern suspended by the most tenuous grasp upon a the bottom of a thick, rusty chain...