[Ptolus/AD&D] In-character thread #1 - The Gold Ladder

Benoist · November 24, 2010, 11:27:49 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;419826(overhearing this part of the discussion, Ylarum frowns a bit and examines the underside of the table - is it one central leg or four (or more) outer legs?)

DM: The tables are made of planks about half-an-inch thick cut in a round pattern (a table being about 7 feet wide or so on its eating/drinking surface) nailed to a square wooden frame under the table, with four strong feet (about two inches-and-a-half wide at the base nailed to the square, and an inch-and-a-half thick when they reach the floor) nailed at each corner of the square.

thedungeondelver · November 25, 2010, 12:27:07 AM

"Right, enough of this silliness about draining barrels. We'll drain one when we get back."

Ylarum flips a vacant table over and sizes it up.

"Two, back to back, ought to fit. Need some securing...Dallow, the rope."

Ylarum ties the rope around the legs (picture the ring ropes on a boxing ring, except crossed over in the middle) until he's out of lengths of rope, tying it off firmly (strength 18/85!) to one of the legs.

"Now...back over...pardon me, goodfolk. Take it out of my pay..."

At this point he seizes another unoccupied table and a saw and makes short work of the legs, setting them aside. He places that table top on the floor, then places the "basket" he has constructed directly on top, making sure that the planking of the two tables intersects rather than runs parallel (so it forms a # shape with the planks, essentially). Ylarum then nails the two platforms together, enthusiastically over-engineering the nailing (but not so much as to split the wood), briefly flipping the contraption back on the "basket" table's legs briefly to hammer the protruding nails-tips at angles so they won't easily be pulled out.

"There. A fine breeches' buoy. When you get the rope, m'self and Snave will go down first. Enough room for two and gear, maybe three lightly armed and armored. Probably take a few hundred pounds. Sit, hold on to the ropes, and you'll be fine."

Ylarum twangs the rope once and thinks to himself Dammit, I know Liir and Dallow are going to need that cursed thing down there. I just know it. Oh well...

(Ben are you getting how I have the rope wrapped around the legs? It's not forming an "X" across the middle of the table, but rather if you looked side-on at the legs it would appear thusly: |X| )

Cole · November 25, 2010, 12:28:40 AM

"Hmm."

Ulas looks over to Ylarum and says,

"It might at least be good for a trip down for one or two while the keg is being emptied."

Cole · November 25, 2010, 12:32:28 AM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;419848"There. A fine breeches' buoy. When you get the rope, m'self and Snave will go down first. Enough room for two and gear, maybe three lightly armed and armored. Probably take a few hundred pounds. Sit, hold on to the ropes, and you'll be fine."

"Ah! Very good. Now how shall we be lowering this down?"

thedungeondelver · November 25, 2010, 12:36:44 AM

Quote from: Cole;419852"Ah! Very good. Now how shall we be lowering this down?"

"The rope, when it's gotten tied off here, here, here and here on each leg, comes to a point at the top. It'll sway a bit but anything would. If you're worried about the rope slipping on the legs, it comes to me now to cut up one of the other legs into four pieces and hammer it on crosswise on each of the legs, as a cleat. Yes, I'll do that..."

Ylarum proceeds accordingly.

Cole · November 25, 2010, 12:40:31 AM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;419854"The rope, when it's gotten tied off here, here, here and here on each leg, comes to a point at the top. It'll sway a bit but anything would. If you're worried about the rope slipping on the legs, it comes to me now to cut up one of the other legs into four pieces and hammer it on crosswise on each of the legs, as a cleat. Yes, I'll do that..."

Ylarum proceeds accordingly.

"An excellent addition!"

Benoist · November 25, 2010, 12:40:54 AM

Cadfan looks at Ylarum's craft, and seems impressed. "I'm guessing this could hold for much more than one trip. Maybe you could start getting down once we get more rope, and while you're investigating down there, I'll build a larger platform I'll send down when I'm done, or you'll use when you're back up, whichever comes up first?"

Angharad walks towards the door: "You'll need the ropes. I'm going." (assuming Smeads is going with her here)

thedungeondelver · November 25, 2010, 12:51:36 AM

"Once we've enough rope, Snave 'n me'll go down together. Then Liir and Json, after that Tarm and Dallow at the last. I'd rather have the balance in fighting-men but I want these lads down quick. Building another bucket for the most of us to come up in, quick like, is a good idea. The getting down don't bother me much. It's the getting back up in a hurry as needs be that worries me."

Cole · November 25, 2010, 01:01:15 AM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;419858"Once we've enough rope, Snave 'n me'll go down together. Then Liir and Json, after that Tarm and Dallow at the last. I'd rather have the balance in fighting-men but I want these lads down quick. Building another bucket for the most of us to come up in, quick like, is a good idea. The getting down don't bother me much. It's the getting back up in a hurry as needs be that worries me."

"If you want your boys down there with you first, I won't argue. I will guess at the danger by how many different screams there are."

Ulas looks down into the well, then continues,

"Not that I would dare to slight a plainsman's valor in the face of death. If I hear five screams, I will trust that you bravely died in silence."

thedungeondelver · November 25, 2010, 01:02:54 AM

Quote from: Cole;419862"If you want your boys down there with you first, I won't argue. I will guess at the danger by how many different screams there are."

Ulas looks down into the well, then continues,

"Not that I would dare to slight a plainsman's valor in the face of death. If I hear seven screams, I will trust that you bravely died in silence."

"You can insult as well as you can count."

Cole · November 25, 2010, 01:06:15 AM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;419864"You can insult as well as you can count."

"I mean not to insult, merely to eulogize."

Ulas scratches his head.

"If I could count, I would likely have more money."

Benoist · November 25, 2010, 01:21:41 AM

DM: lol

Imperator · November 25, 2010, 02:10:34 AM

"You will need a scout that can actually think and speak, and who has the ability of seeing in the dark. Also, you all weight too much with all those muscles and armor and weapons. I should go down on the first group, so I can do the reconaissance."

Gareth inspects Ylarum's craft, to check its safety.

Lilaxe · November 25, 2010, 09:59:56 AM

(Smeads will go help get the rope)

OOC: I'll ask about a spell before I describe what I can do with it next time. Was hoping to just use it to open some doors or move things to spook out anything that might be waiting.

winkingbishop · November 25, 2010, 10:09:55 AM

Othos examines the constructions, scratches his beard and nods with something like admiration.

"Folks, I have no doubt we have the talent and the brains to build an elevator to reach the top of the Spire. However, time is still our enemy and this contraption looks like it will get us down there once we've enough rope. Instead of trying to rebuild the platform, perhaps we should consider recruiting our fellows and extra hands to begin fortifying some sort of camp or stronghold at the bottom of the well for us while we carry on. After all, if we are being chased by a horde of goblins and trolls (and their elf comrade assures us they are down there), it won't matter what sort of luxury elevator we have if we have no time to use it."