1) The Haunted House

[Mant72]

Keilif Zythanthus:

When they reach the well, Keilif examines the ground carefully, smells the contents of the well, and then looks for a loose stone to drop into its depths.

[Nordbo]

Danny Cruester

says: "Here". and hands Keilif a pebble.

[wolfpack]

Seeing the mound Jervis comes to a stop and calls out to ermulf and Alec

You two over here I have found something.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sorry, I assumed you would stop once Jervis made his discovery.

Doubtful continues to search the ground as the others enter the yard. He encourages some to keep an eye on the windows.

Despite young Jervis announcing his discovery, some of the party continues on to the well at the side of the home. Keilif looks around at the base as he approaches and sees that the ground has been disturbed recently. There are small scuff marks in the dry dirt but he can't make out any prints.

The fieldstone well is 5' in diameter and drops 15 feet to the water level. There is no sign of a grate, or anything else down below. There is also no foul odor emanating from it.

From this vantage point it is now apparent that the back door to the house is slightly ajar.

[hedgeknight]

Burly can't help but look out over the edge of the cliff at the large expanse of ocean stretching away. He breathes deep...and then breaks into a coughing fit, leaning on Jonas for support. "Sorry, nothing contagious. Just hacking up all the mold and rot from Trenchtown. Lungs are not used to all this fresh air."

I thought we had already headed to the well BEFORE Jervis made his discovery. If not...

Wiping the tears from his eyes, Burly turns and looks at the rest of his companions over by the corner of the crumbling stone wall. "Looks like Jervis found something."

[Fulci]

Jónas Gillman

While Keilif examines the well, Jónas is attracted - no, even drawn! - by another thing. He walks closer to the edge of the cliff, admires the magnificent view, his lungs breath in the salty air. Then he looks down (carefully, though, he doesn't want to fall!) and examines the shore at the foot of the cliff.

hedgeknight, wow! Funny coincidence! I was writing my own post when yours appeared!

Burly appears next to him, he too is taken by the way, then starts coughing heavily. Jónas does his best to comfort the baker. He pats him a few times on his back. "Trenchtown, must be a bad place," he wonders.

After looking down the cliff, he gallops to the stone wall patch his companions are examining.

[Stirling]

Vhing Cranepool

Vhing reaches the wall a little behind the others. He gazes into the well. (Is it covered with a bucket and spindle attached or just a wall?).

"Water, it's not my thing. Don't seem so far down though, anybody want to descend the shaft and see if there are loose niches and secret sneaky tunnels?"

If there is a bucket, Vhing will wind down any one standing in it willing to in investigate the well shaft.

[ravenn4544]

Ben

Watching the group go each there own ways in ones and twos, Ben will move around the house to the right staying far enough out to study the windows of the house for any movement.

[Nordbo]

Danny Cruester

having been down a good number of fishmeal silos this summer confidently replies to Vhing: "Sure. But I need a rope around my waist"

Once this has been sorted, Danny takes a look out to sea for luck, then turnes volte-face, looks down and - with his toes - starts to feel the well wall for cracks to get a foothold. If there is a bucket, he uses that.

[Mant72]

Keilif Zythanthus:

Sorry, I also thought we left off for the well before Jervis saw what he did.

Hearing Jervis call out that he has found something, Keilif turns to the others surrounding the well, "We can come back to this later. Sounds like Jervis has spotted something. Better go help check it out." Keilif pulls his crab-mallet from his belt and begins to walk over to where Jervis and the others have made their discovery.

[Urson]

Seeing the mound Jervis comes to a stop and calls out to ermulf and Alec

You two over here I have found something.

Alec

Alec shakes his head. This must be one of the structures his Father worked on. It would be an exciting thing to find Father's makers-mark on one or another of the archways. Hearing Jervis' call, he turns and begins wading through the deep grass and weeds of the yard to join him.

A rats' nest, perhaps? Or maybe someting effen stranger. Alec pokes the pile with ther end of his crowbar.

[coil23]

Doubtful

Starting to move towards Jervis as others do then thinks better of it, keeping an eye on Ben and Danny.

This seems a good time to practice Vhing's buddy system. I'll keep an eye on Ben as he checks the right side of the house. Will somebody watch Danny as he checks down the well?

[hedgeknight]

Burly appears next to him, he too is taken by the way, then starts coughing heavily. Jónas does his best to comfort the baker. He pats him a few times on his back. "Trenchtown, must be a bad place," he wonders.

"It's a rathole for sure. But, what are ya gonna do when it's all ya can afford?"

Burly watches several of his companions walk over to see what Jervis discovered, but decides to stay near the well and help Vhing and Danny.

[Nordbo]

Danny Cruester

adds that he'll also need "A torch, too."

[Stirling]

Vhing Cranepool

Vhing calls Doubtfull over and asks that Danny could use the twine, rope and his lantern to illuminate his descent into the well shaft.

If there is a bucket and spindle, the best way seems for Danny to stand in the bucket, one hand on rope, one on the lantern. Vhing will wind him up and down.

If no stuff then lower the lantern using the twine to just above the water level and Danny abseil down a knotted rope, using two hands for better safety. Vhing can even tie it around him if he prefers so we can 'drag him out if a brick falls on his head.' Wet slippy moss covered walls and a loose brick....a ten foot drop into three feet of water could be lethal at this stage.

When Danny is ready, Vhing reminds him, "Get in the water and fish around, there might be a drainage plug or underwater tunnel or even lots of silver coins tossed in by well wishers."Vhing winks at him as he descends, secure in the knowledge that it would be a fine heavenly vision to ease his mortal passing if the last thing Danny sees is Vhings' smiling face silhouetted against a sun filled blue sky.

[coil23]

Doubtful

Doubtful sets lantern,rope, and twine on the ground before moving on slowly to the right. Calling to Burly, would you take these things to Vhing and Danny? I want to keep Ben within sight.

Continuing to investigate the grounds and looking up every few seconds to make sure Ben is in sight and ok.

[Nordbo]

Danny Cruester

as he descends, Danny feels completely safe in relying on Vhing holding steadily on to the rope (alternately the turning handle), using a special grip Vhing perhaps learned in jail ?

Danny observes Vhing's taut sinuous arms do their job, and marvels at this multi-tasker simultaneously being able to discuss their next move with Burly without for one moment losing sight of himself down the well. The words of encouragement Vhing shouts to him are just what slightly shaky Danny needs on his downward climb.

[hedgeknight]

DoubtfulDoubtful sets lantern,rope, and twine on the ground before moving on slowly to the right. Calling to Burly, would you take these things to Vhing and Danny? I want to keep Ben within sight.

"Sure thing!" Burly calls back, grabbing to lantern, rope, and twine and taking them to the well. As Danny descends, he says, "Careful now, Danny...watch out for rats!"

[Mant72]

Keilif Zythanthus:

Keilif approaches the mound of vegetation and dirt and about stops when he is about 10 yards away. He notices Alec prod the mound and warns the dwarf, "Take caution, friend. You may disturb something, or somethings, that we may not want to awaken." He anxiously clutches the handle of his mallet in a white-knuckled grip.

[Urson]

Alec

I haff no worries. My first job in my Father's shop wass to kill rats, mice, undt other crawlies.