Ghosts of Gauntcliff: Chapter Two

[ewancummins]

In the pit...

Thom is the last one to make his way up the rope. As he had planned, he began to climb up once Benn was about a third of the way to the top.
When Benn nearly fell, Thom had a bit of a surprise, but things seem to be okay up there now.


Something flickers past Thom in the gloomy pit, like a silent bat.

[Adam]

Benn stands up, panting in sudden fear. "There's a door. It's sealed by someone who seemed...very convinced that it should remain that way. I fear, however, there is a more present danger. I thought I saw something moving down there before, and now I'm sure of it. I was struck in the back on the way up the rope."

He looks down into the pit, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Please take a look, Dorgio. See if I'm wounded and, if so, by what."

[ewancummins]

CRACK!
As Primerio staggers to his feet, the stone ledge beneath him suddenly crumbles and drops at a sharp angle. He reels forward into the pit!

His cry is cut short by a loud crunch as he strikes the bottom.

[Ail]

Eustace nods at Benn's description.

"I saw something down there. It was a shadow of sorts, probably incorporeal. It disappeared before I climbed, but it was very conscious. It laughed at me."

Then he describes the door.

"As Benn said, there is a door down there. It gave me a very uneasy feeling. It's bolted and barred from the well, which seems strange if you ask me as a well is not exactly an entry point. And it has runes and probably protective signs. I didn't read them, but the look of the door was enough to warn me we shouldn't meddle with it.

Now, of course... that brings in question the suitability of these ruins as a tourist attractions..."

[Ail]

And then, Primeiro falls!

A look of shock blanks his face, as he retreats a bit back into apparently safer ground and looks for a place to fasten his rope. A secure place. Once found, he casts light on its end and throws it down to Primeiro.

[ewancummins]

In the pit...

a moment ago-
Primerio falls past Thom as Thom climbs the rope towards the top of the pit. A loose paving stone nearly smashes into Thom's face, but the printer jerks his head out of the way. With a grunt, he hauls himself over the top.

Juergin pulls himself up onto the opposite side of the roughly circular pit, close to the stone table.


Now-
Primeiro groans from his bed of rubble at the base of the deep pit. The rope that Eustace has enchanted with light hangs just above the injured man, and swings wildy about the deep shaft. The magical light casts long shadows on the curved, slimey walls; shadows that seem to leap and dance with a life of their own.

THUMP


THUMP


THUMP

Everyone in the ruins can hear the thumping noise from the opposite side of the barred door, but the sound is magnified for Primeiro.

All alone in the pit, the young gentleman can hear something else; a mocking titter from the other side of the door, like the laughter of a demented child. Then, he hears the sound of metal twisting, groaning in protest, like a hinge breaking...

[Ken of Ghastria]

Primeiro practically growls in pain and frustration as he gets up. Along with various scrapes across his arms and head is a nasty-looking gash just above his right knee. "Damnation! Serves me right for being a fool to offer--"

THUMP


THUMP


THUMP

Everyone in the ruins can hear the thumping noise from the opposite side of the barred door, but the sound is magnified for Primeiro.

All alone in the pit, the young gentleman can hear something else; a mocking titter from the other side of the door, like the laughter of a demented child. Then, he hears the sound of metal twisting, groaning in protest, like a hinge breaking...

His hand reaches instinctively for his sword, but he decides discretion is the wiser choice. He crouches down and leaps as high as he possibly can to grab the glowing rope.

_______________________________________
Jump check (1d20+10=22). If that gives Primeiro a head start up the rope, he'll gladly take it.

[Adam]

"Everyone back!" Benn shouts, moving away from the ledge. "Primeiro, are you alright?"

[ewancummins]

His hand reaches instinctively for his sword, but he decides discretion is the wiser choice. He crouches down and leaps as high as he possibly can to grab the glowing rope.

Primeiro's jump gives him a good head start up the rope.

Below him, the door rattles in its frame.

As Primeiro struggles up the side of the pit with the aid of the rope, his feet slipping on the dank stone wall, the noises below him fade away into silence.

THUMP
THUMP

THUMP

thump

[Ail]

Eustace helps pulling the rope up. His strength is not remarkable, but he does his best while coaxing his friends to help him bring Primeiro up.

[ewancummins]

With help from his companions, Primeiro makes it out of the pit.


A voice from behind the party, towards the point where they had entered the ruins, calls out-

''Any trouble? I thought I heard someone shouting..."


It sounds like Melmoth.

[Ken of Ghastria]

"Ezra's bones...!" Primeiro says, breathing heavily, as he reaches the top. "Thank you, thank you, gentlemen... I'm all right, mostly." He stands up and takes a few limping steps, and then he glances back toward the edge of the pit. "But there's something fiendish down there. No beast I've ever heard titters with glee." Still staring at the pit, he draws his rapier... just in case.

[ewancummins]

Melmoth says, "It's probably just a feral cat, or maybe mice. The island has no dangerous creatures. None but Man."

He looks about at the party.

''Then again, maybe there is a reason why the mules won't come in here... "

He pulls his coat snug about his body, although the sunlight is warm and no breeze blows within the crumbled walls.

"Have you seen enough of the ruins? Would you like to go back to the chateau now? Staying longer? ''

[Adam]

Benn ignores the man, looking to Dorgio. "I have a suspicion. There may be a creature of shadow down there, some form of vile un-dead. I'd like you to channel the power of the Lightbringer into the pit, if you could, and either destroy or drive it off."

[ewancummins]

Melmoth shakes his head.

''Vile undead? I'll just wait outside, then..."