IV. The Witch Tower

[onlyme]

Fulp looks at the rope and wonders if they would need it.

Hey fellows, i have some twine. While it wont be enough to hold our weight. it should hold the weight of the rope. If one of you more-skilled archers could shoot an arrow over the beam with the twine tied to it, we could then tie the rope to the end, and pull it over the beam.
that way, we at least could keep the rope with us.

He calls out to any remaining natives in the area.
Can one of you please see about a rope to be tied to this beam? We will look for Kobolds down below.

[hedgeknight]

Festus watches his companions lower themselves down, satisfied to bring up the rear. Hoping the rope (and beam) will hold his weight, he lowers himself down to the next level; if for some reason he plummets toward his doom, he secretly hopes the gnome cushions his fall.

[Alethan]

"Why don't we just tie one end of the rope to the beam above and then drop it all the way down to the basement level once we open this trap door?" Ciar asks.

Then he grabs the ring in the middle of the trap door and pulls it open.

[AleBelly]

"That's the simplest solution, Ciar" replies Sylvan, as long as we don't need the rope further down. Let's do it your way."

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow seems to be getting upset about the rope dilemma.

Do you have a rope that we could just leave here master halfling? If not, then I guess we will do it my way instead. I don't see anyone else that brought rope and I'm not leaving my only rope here tied off to a beam. We might need it somewhere down the road and it won't do us much good if it's tied off up here.

Sparrow proceeds with his initial plan to double the rope around an anchor point and pull it down with us when we are safely down.

If we need it to get back out, we can then use Fulp's idea of shooting an arrow with his twine attached and use it to reposition the rope again later.

[dmw71]

Sparrow insists on keeping his rope, so using his doubling up trick, the entire party reaches the main floor and the dark skinned human pulls the rope free. Ciar pulls open the ring handle to the next trap door to reveal another dark area below. Sylvan brings his lantern over to the edge and peers down below.

The trap door opens into a chamber about fifteen feet beneath the main level. The walls of this chamber appear have precariously in several places, and masonry and dirt are scattered across the floor — the result of the collapse above. Festus, however, believes the structural integrity of the room is intact.

The room appears to broaden into a larger chamber, with additional space off to the east and west, but the light from above is unable to provide enough illumination to reveal these off to the side areas.



Actions?

I'll need to know how, and in what order, the group gets down to this lower level.

Since there's no heavy beam on the main level you're on that can used to wrap the rope around (and you would have realized this), I'll allow Sparrow to pull the rope free from the second level after everyone reaches the basement if that's your plan.

[Alethan]

Ciar moves up to the opening and then asks Sylvan to move the lantern from the opening for a bit.

Then he sticks his head in the opening.

[AleBelly]

Sylvan moves behind Ciar such that the halfling's body blocks light from reaching the hole. He stands ready with one hand free to pull him in case of danger.

[Alethan]

Ciar pulls his head back out and shakes it.

"Nothing. Looks safe, from what I can tell. But... the room's bigger'n I can see, too."

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow retrieves his rope and begins tying it into a lowering harness. He smiles a nearly toothless grin and says...

Well, who wants to go down first?

[Storm11]

Kassal shakes his head. "After you" he says stroking his designer stubble

[AleBelly]

"Does it have to be one at a time?" asks Sylvan. He looks into the opening, looking to answer two questions: 1. How many could fit through the trap door at once and 2. If someone held on to the main floor and hung from the floor, dangling their body below, would they be hurt by dropping below that way?

[dmw71]

Sylvan examines the opening and figures it has a diameter of roughly three feet, and might allow two people to pass through it at a time, especially if the larger humans pair with a non-human counterpart.

Looking down, the main floor to basement is about 15 feet. An average human, standing not quite six feet tall, could dangle another three feet or so with his arms fully extended -- their feet would be approximately 8 or 9 feet below the main floor, but still 6 or 7 feet from touching the floor. It wouldn't be a guaranteed safe drop, but the risk would be relatively low. For a human. The idea wouldn't be possible for the shorter, non-humans in the group.

[AleBelly]

Sylvan proposes a plan, or at least part of a plan. "Well, Festus, how about it? I'll drop down while they lower you. Maybe Kassel can follow next in case we need any magical protection. My only useful spells remaining are curative."

[hedgeknight]

Sparrow retrieves his rope and begins tying it into a lowering harness. He smiles a nearly toothless grin and says...
Well, who wants to go down first?

Festus grabs Sparrow's arm and says, "Leave yer rope tied up top. We'll use mine to tie off from here and lower down, alright?"
Festus doffs his pack and pulls a coil of silk rope from it. He begins working a knot that will secure both ropes.

He listens to Sylvan's plan and gives a nod. "Sounds good. I'll be along as soon as you get off the rope."

[Storm11]

The gnome nods his agreement with the proposed plan. "good luck!"

[dmw71]

Getting up and down between levels isn't meant to be this challenging, or time consuming. You have rope, you make it to the basement.

Let's continue.

The dry-rotted frames of five simple beds lie against the north and south walls. To the southwest, the room broadens into a larger chamber. A rusted, grinning iron statue stands in an alcove in the north wall between the two wings of the room itself, and in the wall to the south is an old iron door.

A4.jpg (28.48 KiB) Viewed 465 times

[Storm11]

Kassal guards the rope diligently, watching the company's exit

[Alethan]

Once he is down in the basement with the others, Ciar's interest is peaked by the statue. He examines it closer.

[AleBelly]

Sylvan stands in the basement, admiring the rope. "Hey guys, this is neat. What style of rope is this, kernmantle or laid? And is it static or dynamic? Sure wouldn't want to take a fall on the former. Ouch!"

Sylvan holds his lantern aloft, giving his eyes a few minutes to adjust to the dark basement. "What do you suppose this place was? Barracks for an old watch tower?" he asks nobody in particular. His spear in the other hand, he prods some of the moldering bed frames.