Chapter 1: So it begins.

[VonAlric]

Rodbert looks to Earnest. "Quick, go into Baldwin's pack and grab any torches and tinder. Our need may be greater from here on." After Earnest grabs the items (torches and tinderbox), they mount up and follow along with Ingvar. "So, which way?"

[Rex]

You decide to follow Martins directions to Demon Rock. They are easy to follow and you soon come to a stream that he said would take you close to it. Following the stream you head more or less north, soon you are catching glimpses of what must be Demon Rock when you come to small clearings. Soon you see it through the an opening, it is to your NE and towers 80 or 90 feet above the stream. You are almost there and everyone seems on edge. You leave the stream and head towards the rock, there is no trail here, but Martin mentioned the Taelada trail comes from the Taelada village to the NE end of the rock, so you head that way. Quickly cutting the trail you follow it towards the rock.

[Rex]

Where the trail meets the hill there is a busy slope with a narrow foot path climbing up. You have to ascend single file. Martin told you the pit is at the highest point. You climb to the top, there is no evidence that the trail has been recently used. In fact there isn't much sign of animals at all except for some small birds. As you approach the top you see a low stone wall about 4 foot high and several human skulls on stakes. The wall surrounds what appears to be a natural limestone pit about 3 foot in diameter. You can't see a bottom, it just grows black at perhaps a depth of 15 feet. You have been traveling since noon and there is perhaps an hour or a bit more before the Autumn sun sets.

Actions?

[alver]

Ingvar peers into the pit, careful not to let any debris fall in. He speaks in a low voice, "Can I borrow your covered lantern, Humfrey." If the priest provides the lantern, Ingvar would like to lower it into the pit using his 100ft of string.

[GreyWolfVT]

Sheamus whistles "It's bigger than I expected."

[VonAlric]

"If this is the way in and out for whatever this creature is, it cannot be much thicker than one of us. To me, that is a slight comfort after seeing that footprint. Let's see if there are footholds in the side walls of this pit and any evidence of something climbing in and out of it as well."

[Rex]

Humfrey hands over his lantern. "I agree, it can't be too big if this is where it comes out."

It appears natural limestone, someone with experience might be able to handle climbing it without a rope. But it would be risky for sure. You don't see anything that indicates anyone has climbed it recently.

As Ingvar lowers the lit lantern, it keeps going down and down...

I will finish the post after I get a 3d6 roll from each of you. Just your main PC's. If you have anything you want to add feel free

[GreyWolfVT]

For Sheamus [3d6] = 8

[alver]

[3d6] = 14

[VonAlric]

"Earnest, keep looking behind and around us. Focus out there."

[3d6] = 13

[Rex]

The lantern goes slowly down, the light becoming fainter as it descends. Everyone seems to agree that the pit is widening as it descends. The surface of the pit walls are also damp. Suddenly the lantern goes out, still descending but not as fast, as if there is resistance. This continues for another 15 feet or so, 80 feet total. You haul the lantern up, hearing some sort of noise as you do so. Once all the way up you see that it has obviously been submerged in water, and is dripping.

[alver]

Edited: yeah I guess based on new information, this post didn't happen.

[GreyWolfVT]

Sheamus waves his hand indicating to stop with the lantern on the rope a moment "Something looks off. About 25 feet down what was that can you raise the lantern back up a bit?"

[Rex]

OOC: Alver, I am going to assume your post didn't take place. After this post you continued to lower the lantern and gained the info in my previous post.

On hearing Sheamus speak up, Ingvar slowly pulls up the lantern. Everyone studies the area Sheamus is pointing too. There is definitely something different with a small area, perhaps 2 foot across on the side, roughly 25 feet down. No one is sure what it is, possibly a hole, but the angle is very bad to see it.

[VonAlric]

"Men are the only creatures that will create a habitat with only one way in and out. There is more animal to this thing. Good eyes, Sheamus. That hole does look rather small though."

[alver]

Ingvar looks dubious. "That is where the mighty beast hides? It looks very small."

"Maybe it is our eyes playing tricks on us. I will go down and see, I am the smallest."

The Ivinian starts clearing away loose rocks from the wall, so that it would not collapse in during the process of lowering someone in the pit with the rope.

[Rex]

Everyone swings into action, setting up the rope so that Ingvar can be lowered down. Sheamus anchors him and then starts to lower him down, stopping him when he lets him know he is there. Set in the limestone on the side of the pit wall is an iron grate, rusted badly. The grate was clearly set in the wall from this side by someone very skilled, a long time ago. You think it the bars could be broken or the whole grate removed with a bit of noise. The hole behind it appears to be a shaft, a bit more than 2 feet in diameter, descending at a 25 degree angle. It goes well beyond the light. The only one fitting in there is Solvi and she would be out of armor with no way to turn around, but you are sure she could fit.

[GreyWolfVT]

Sheamus calls down "See anything else down there?"

[alver]

Ingvar

"Can you lower me any deeper?"

Ingvar will try to look around to see if anything else can be found that wasn't visible from the surface. On the way back up, he will try to yank the grate to see if it is loose or still firmly in the stone. If it looks solid, he will leave it alone.

[GreyWolfVT]

Sheamus lowers Ingvar more as directed. "Yup. Here you go." he says as he lowers the man down more.