Ghosts of Gauntcliff: Chapter Two

[ewancummins]

"How nice," Everline replies. "Are there separated baths, or is it, ah... co-ed?" Everline giggles a little at the suggestion, but her eyes keep zipping left and right as she scans the area for magical auras. "Do you have rules regarding the use of herbal soaps and foam-inducing agents?"

Denys chuckles-

''Ah, of course there are seperate dressing rooms and bathing areas for gentlemen and ladies. ''

He moves to the door and opens it for Everline.

''You won't need fancy soaps and foams, mademoiselle. There is a certain natural alchemy at work here. Let the waters cleanse your hair, your skin..."

His face flushes a little and his smile broadens ever so slightly.

''Yes, you'll feel like a new woman when you exit the waters, I'm sure."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Oh, I'm afraid I will not be bathing just now, Monsieur," Everline says, a faint note of surprise in her voice. "There is so much left to do today! I would like to look, as the shopkeepers say, but not touch -- just yet."

While she remains pleasant on the outside, Everline is starting to feel faint twinges of disquiet on the inside. 'I am getting close to a series of caves... with natural flowing water inside of them.'

Unbidden and unwanted, memories start to rise from the bottom of Everline's mind. Diving into the stinging water under the Delaporre mansion. Nearly drowning in those same waters. The horned monstrosity, dancing over the waters. The deadly devilhorn fungi, waving at her from the cave ceilings. The hideous, mind-warping hallucinations and the sensation of death growing in her flesh, creeping through her veins...

'I am getting close to a series of caves with natural water.'

Equally unwelcome is the memory of the oddness that had infected her mind after the whole adventure, her obsession with wandering the caves.

'I could have died down there if they hadn't forced me to stop wandering around in the dark. I could have just wandered away and never come up again. Or worse. Somehow, it could have been worse.'

She had managed to rid herself of that obsession. Yes, she had. Definitely. But now Everline feels on edge, and somehow Sancerre is putting her off a little.

With this feeling of agitation comes insecurity, and she feels the Power rising from the bedrock of her mind. No, not just her mind; it is rising from the marrow of her bones, from the blood running through her veins. This power is hers. The incantations running through her mind are as much hers as the air filling her lungs.

(OOC: Everline continues to scan for magical auras, and just for giggles, I'm throwing a Sense Motive check at Sancerre: Is he trying to do something sneaky here, is something wrong, or am I just being too paranoid? Sense Motive check to the tune of 17. If possible, Everline holds a Ray of Clumsiness prepared as a ready action; if Sancerre tries anything fishy, he's the target.)

[Adam]

"We should get out of here," Benn says, an alarmed note entering his voice. "The words are a warning. We need to get away from this door."

He hastily removes the rope from his waste and attaches it to Eustace. He gives the rope a tug so the people on top can start pulling him up.

[PathOfDreams]

Feeling the second tug on the rope remaining in his mits, Petrie gathers his strength and begins to methodically extend one hand over the other, again and again to produce a stong yet smooth ride up for the man of cloth. "I've got ya laddy... keep... ugh... a good grip there and I wull snatch ya up when... umph... when I can reach ya."

The large Forfarian continues pulling the rope until he can grasp the arm of Brother Eustace with one of his massive meat hooks, retreiving him like a miraculous catch from the lake back home. Petrie will retain a hold of Eustace and offer assistance out of the rubble should he allow it.

[steveflam]

Juergin will move to help get Eustace out of the pit. He is obviously not needed to pull the man up.

[Ail]

"You read it? I thought as much. Yes, let's go at once!"

Eustace takes another rope he has in his pack. It's of the silk variety.
"This should be strong enough. Tie this rope while they hoist me I'll fix it up as soon as I get there.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio slings his spear and helps take hold of he rope, helping Petrie's efforts to haul their comrades from the pit.

[RocEter]

"I was thinking the same thing about those runes Benn, to be honest though the door spikes and bar gave it away." Thom says with a small smile. "I will be the last to go up, only one us can up at a time. Once you are.." He trails off look up at the wall. "Say ten feet above me I will start to climb up."

[Ken of Ghastria]

Primeiro also lends his assistance, pulling where necessary and making sure that the rope doesn't get snagged on anything jagged in the process. "So... ufff, our first afternoon of... ufff, relaxation, gentlemen. Do we feel properly relaxed yet?"

[Adam]

Benn flashes Thom a grim smile. "I was thinking the same thing." When the rope is available, he uses it to get himself up and out of the hole.

[ewancummins]

As Benn nears the top of the pit, he feels a sudden pain in his back, cold and sharp. He loses his grip on the rope...

[Ken of Ghastria]

Seeing Bennedict suddenly lose his grip, Primeiro lunges forward to grab Benn's hand.

______________________________
Reflex save, Ewan? Or is that for Benn to make?

[ewancummins]

Benn manages to catch hold of Primerio's outstretched hand, but just barely. Benn gets his right foot braced against the inside of the pit, and lurches up with help from the other man. A stone slips under Primerio's foot, and he slides forward an inch or two. Benn and his rescuer teeter on the verge of the pit...


And then they tumble backward to safety, sprawled out on the stone floor of the ruins.

[ewancummins]

At the baths

Denys stands at the threshold and props the door open with his outstretched right hand.


"Are you well? You look a little out of sorts."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio takes a step back just in time to avoid being bowled over as Benn and Primeiro topple backward and away from the pit. "That was many times to close. What was giving you such a scare down there?"