(062) The Basal

[waysoftheearth]

[p Man,leather,spear,hand,12,7/7]Beringar[/p] and [p Man,elvish mail+helm,spear,shield,12,10/11]Torben[/p] are somewhat relieved when half the weight suddenly comes off the rope... clearly there is only one person suspended on it now...

[verhaden]

Torben

Torben almost falls over as he pulls Beringar towards him as all of the weight comes off the rope. Steadying himself, he grabs the rope Ulric was just tossed and attempts to tie a very durable, slip resistant knot to bring the two lengths together. 'Call down to them and let's bring them up.'

[mushgnome]

Highbough waits for the signal and then lends his not inconsiderable (for an old Elf) strength to Team Rope.

[danhem]

"Well done, well done," Ulric says. "Now let's get them up back here."

As the others man the rope, Ulric moves to stand watch at the opening of the passage leading to the open pit.

"Wen! Stand watch on the other passage. No more surprises."

[mgtremaine]

Wen nods and continues to stand watch, arrow ready.

[waysoftheearth]

With the two lengths tied together and the rope lowered, there seems to be some response from below. After a minute of minor agitations, there is a definitive jerk upon the rope--surely the signal to pull someone up, and Torben, Beringar, and Highbough work together to hoist someone up...

...and after a minute's labour, Dorgan the dwarf is drawn up. He is in a bad way, and seems hardly able to lift himself, let alone any gear. Some foul sorcery afflicts him.

[verhaden]

Torben

Torben helps Dorgan out of the rope harness and drops the length back down below. He turns his head to say something, but can't quite put any words together.

[sully]

Dorgan croaks, "There are life-sapping shadows below. Ulric and Olaf might think about going below to assist Dieter and Josiane."

[Eris]

Dorgan croaks, "There are life-sapping shadows below. Ulric and Olaf might think about going below to assist Dieter and Josiane."

"I've already been sucked almost dry by something like that." Olaf says and you see a hint of fear in his eyes.

With grim resolve, Olaf steps to the hole in the floor and says, "Never the less if they need me I will try."

Sucking in his breath he leans over the shaft and shouts down it, "Dieter! Jos! Do you want me to come down to help!"

Olaf won't go down the rope, having heard that there are "life sucking shadows" down there, unless he hears Dieter or Jos call for help.

[mushgnome]

"Dwarf, you look as though you've been to hell and back!" exclaims Highbough. Dorgan cannot quite tell whether the old Elf's tone is sympathetic, impressed, sarcastic, amused, or some combination...