The Town That Was Not There

[greyarea]

Dieter gives Grimes the grapple and, moments later, the rope is securely fashioned. Everyone gets a DEX check at -5 (-10 for thieves) because the rope is secure but the rocks are still slick.

Einar attacks the rope with gusto Einar DEX check [1d20-10] = 19-10 = 9 and soon joins the others.

Furuk goes next Furuk DEX check [1d20-5] = 11-5 = 6 and breeches the top in good time.

Castinus goes next Castinus DEX check [1d20-10] = 2-10 = -8 and doesn't even need the rope.

Shae follows Shae DEX check [1d20-5] = 17-5 = 12 with ease.

Theo is almost magically in the cave with you, looking down at Dandy. You don't recall him even climbing the rope!

Dandy, dwarf cleric, goes last Dandy DEX check [1d20-5] = 18-5 = 13. He slips twice but catches himself and you finally see the dwarf cleric poke his head over the lip of the cave.

The cave is about eight feet in diameter and forty feet long. The ceiling and walls of the cave are slick with the condensed steam which runs down them. The floor is covered with several inches of fine muck. The muck is already covering your boots and the tails of your cloaks. It coats part of the rope and smears the front of your clothes and armor from your climb in, although that is beginning to run off due to the regular steam blasts.

Air flows into the cave with a speed that causes Theo's torch to flicker madly, accompanied by a loud whistle. The rush of air slows down presently, and there is an ominous silence for a heartbeat or two. Then, almost without warning, a blast of steam flows against the cave ceiling and out the mouth. This flow, too, abates, and the cycle is repeated.

Theo says, Geez, I wish I had a magic light stick and not these old torches. All this wind and wet is not going to be fun.

Actions?

Hit points and marching order
Grimes 46/46
--Furuk 51/51
Dieter 27/27
--Dandy 33/33
Castinus 34/34
--Shaelyyndenel 21/21
Einar 11/11

[Spanningtree]

Dieter - Mage

Theo, produce your dirk so I can ease your burden. If he does so Dieter will cast continual light on it.

OCC: Spell removed.

[badams30]

Grimes - Fighter

Grimes makes an exasperated expression at the steam blast and says "What is it with us and volcanoes? Why can't we find a nice, cool glacier? Oh well, let's get on with this so we can make those pompous jerks eat some crow, eh?"

OOC: Do we see any obvious exits from this room?

[greyarea]

Not other than the cave mouth you came in. As you look to the back of the cave, another gust of air comes from behind you as the cave "inhales" and then, from near the back of the cave, a blast of steam flows against the cave ceiling and back out towards you.

Theo thanks Dieter for the light source. This is much better than that old torch!

Actions?

[tumblingdice]

Castinus will look for secret doors, even on the floor, if possible. "Nice weather up here," he muses to no one in particular.

[greyarea]

Castinus finds nothing when searching the walls for secrets. When probing the floor, he comes to a place where there is a metal plate, buried inches deep in muck. He with his hands in the muck, he feels a metal trap door with an iron ring set in it. Clearing away the goo covering the trap door takes some time, but finally it is revealed.

The door is large enough for you to get through, although it will be tight for all except Grimes, but it's not going to be easy to open. A tug or two on the iron ring, well rusted, it is, shows that it isn't going to budge for much.

In the end, it takes three of you working in unison to get the door open. Once it reaches halfway on the rusty hinges, it creaks the rest of the way open with a splash of gunk and a thud. There will be no closing this door behind you, nor any way to open it easily from within if you did.

Peering down the newly disclosed hole, you can see a spiral metal, rusted staircase leading down...

Actions?

Hit points and marching order
Grimes 46/46
--Furuk 51/51
Dieter 27/27
--Dandy 33/33
Castinus 34/34
--Shaelyyndenel 21/21
Einar 11/11

[merias]

Dandy, Dwarf Cleric

"Lead the way, Master Grimes," Dandy says, pointing to the trap door. He'll fall in place in the marching order, hammer at the ready.

[Fearghus]

Einar, Thief

Einar dons his head and readies his bow.

[badams30]

Grimes - FIghter

Grimes nods, and with a smirk he says "Away we go!" And he starts climbing cautiously but quickly down the ladder, pausing for a moment if he hears anything out of the ordinary.

[greyarea]

Anything out of the ordinary with rickety, rusted stairs? You're pausing a lot!

There's a low continuous vibration as you descend the spiral stairs, which creak and groan under your feet. The metal is worn but still solid enough to hold you. You descend at least a hundred feet and finally come to the bottom.

At the bottom of the staircase, the floor is covered with water. Floating upon it are patches of green and white scum. Some of the scum seems to have gained purchase on the rock walls and ceiling. It clings there, moist and ugly, staining the smoothly carved volcanic rock. Just opposite the foot of the stairs is a 10-foot-wide corridor that heads east.

The water is about a foot deep here and the floor beneath is covered in slippery scum.

Actions?

Hit points and marching order
Grimes 46/46
--Furuk 51/51
Dieter 27/27
--Dandy 33/33
Castinus 34/34
--Shaelyyndenel 21/21
Einar 11/11