[Ptolus/AD&D] IC Thread #2 - Underground (part 1)

[thedungeondelver]

Ylarum (in the past-tense) grumbles about the group not being at full fighting strength and has Tarm and J'son form up on him...when the action starts he shouts:

"To battle!  Liir, Dallow, Snave, to the rear.  Tarm, J'son, arms at ready.  We'll send them to hell!"

[Drohem]

DM: Drohem, roll 1d6 twice, once for Belak, and once for Klob.

OOC: Belak rolls a 1, and Klob rolls a 5.

[Benoist]

"I'm wearin Bug on my shoulder already. Thanks though." Tudd replies.

Bug seems particularly nervous. It (He? She?) hops up and down Tudd's arm, with an excitement the half-orc didn't notice earlier.

Ylarum (in the past-tense) grumbles about the group not being at full fighting strength and has Tarm and J'son form up on him...when the action starts he shouts:

"To battle!  Liir, Dallow, Snave, to the rear.  Tarm, J'son, arms at ready.  We'll send them to hell!"

Ylarum's men are assuming their positions, behind the dwarf (adjusted positions on the map accordingly - see below).

OOC: Belak rolls a 1, and Klob rolls a 5.

Klob seems busy checking out his crossbow to make sure it is working properly.

Something catches Belak's attention while he examines the floor right under the secret opening. Despite the mess of goo and guts and bodies lying around him, there is something about some earlier pattern very lightly imprinted in the dust and rock under it that makes the dwarf stop a moment and consider. This pattern forms parallel lines indicating some sort of regular movement in a forward motion running east to west from the armory wall up to the yellow lantern and the mess of boulders and beams lying under.

Like so:

[Cole]

Something catches Belak's attention while he examines the floor right under the secret opening. Despite the mess of goo and guts and bodies lying around him, there is something about some earlier pattern very lightly imprinted in the dust and rock under it that makes the dwarf stop a moment and consider. This pattern forms parallel lines indicating some sort of regular movement in a forward motion running east to west from the armory wall up to the yellow lantern and the mess of boulders and beams lying under.

Watching Belak examine the floor, Ulas refrains from activating the switch.

 "What do you see on the ground, there? Or is there something amiss on the eastern wall?"

[Drohem]

Belak walks along the grooved areas and points to it as he says, "some mechanism causes something to slide clear to hear from the east wall there.  It is probably the one you found.  Although, what moves out here must be large and very heavy, but I don't have an idea as to what it may be."

[Cole]

Belak walks along the grooved areas and points to it as he says, "some mechanism causes something to slide clear to hear from the east wall there.  It is probably the one you found.  Although, what moves out here must be large and very heavy, but I don't have an idea as to what it may be."

From examination of that area, does it look like the wall opens like a door, slides away, separates out like a plunger, anything like that?

[Benoist]

From examination of that area, does it look like the wall opens like a door, slides away, separates out like a plunger, anything like that?

Close examination of the eastern wall shows very fine straight cracks into the sandstone. These cracks are almost invisible from a few steps away. Looking at the shape these lines form, it looks like a large rectangular portion of the wall, maybe some twenty feet wide and fifteen feet tall, is isolated from the rest of the structure.

[Cole]

Close examination of the eastern wall shows very fine straight cracks into the sandstone. These cracks are almost invisible from a few steps away. Looking at the shape these lines form, it looks like a large rectangular portion of the wall, maybe some twenty feet wide and fifteen feet tall, is isolated from the rest of the structure.

"What if the wall slides out to block off this doorway," Ulas thinks aloud.

Ulas moves north, examining the wall for signs that there is a similar separated wall piece that would block off the exit to the burned room NW.

[Benoist]

Ulas moves north, examining the wall for signs that there is a similar separated wall piece that would block off the exit to the burned room NW.

Ulas examines the wall further north and doesn't find any evidence of a second separated wall section there.

[Cole]

Ulas examines the wall further north and doesn't find any evidence of a second separated wall section there.

"We should array our ranks to be prepared to defend ourselves after the mechanism activates."

[skofflox]

"We should array our ranks to be prepared to defend ourselves after the mechanism activates."

"Indeed, what do you suggest?" as I look to Tudd and the others gathered. "We can ill afford a multifront fight with our ranks thinned so. Prahp's we should confer with Mundels man first?" as I cast an eye in the direction of the chasm. I take a moment to glance at Erarht as well...

[Drohem]

Belak returns his tools into his backpack and puts it on again.  He readies his battle axe and shield, and nods in agreement with Ulas as he says, "let's trigger it now, and not give our enemy any more time to prepare if they're waiting behind the wall.  Do it, Ulas."

Klob cocks his crossbow and loads a bolt into the channel, and then raises the crossbow to his face pointing in the direction of the east wall.

[Benoist]

The basket shows up above the dais, by the opening in the ceiling. It carries a man clad in the same black clothes and mail as Mundel of Kantz earlier. His hooded face is thinner, and bearded. A long bow and sword are visible in his back. A loaded quiver hangs from his belt(*). He is crouching on the side of the basket in such a way as to be able to jump before it touches the ground.

DM: Is Ulas actioning the mechanism of the pillar at this point?

(*) About quivers hanging from belts, assuming some of you are interested, since it's aesthetically appropriate, see this art piece from Le Livre de Chasse of Gaston Phébus (France, Paris, 15th century). Character in the lower left.

[Cole]

DM: Is Ulas actioning the mechanism of the pillar at this point?

He is waiting for the rest of the party to get clear of the tracks and form us as they choose to deal with the potential aftermath.

[Benoist]

He is waiting for the rest of the party to get clear of the tracks and form us as they choose to deal with the potential aftermath.

DM: Alright. I let you work this out. It's good to know in advance to prepare the next map.