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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3808153" data-attributes="member: 11760">Feeling too restless to sit still, Katadid gathers up the spoils of the spider's cave, ties them into an empty pouch, tucks the dagger into his belt and heads for the well entrance."That dagger is rightfully mine to keep or sell as I please. I'll have it returned when this is over," Renraw whispers, jogging after Katadid as far as the cave mouth. "It follows logically. I killed the spider.""But ... the townsfolk," he trails off under the weight of Renraw's glare, shrugs and hands over the dagger as he leaves the cave.He has done no more than grasp the rope dangling down the shaft of the well when a head at the top of the well partially obscures the light."Oi! Done so soon?" The guard looks baffled, but also smiles hopefully. "Got the thief, did ya?"There's a banging noise and soon a bucket on a rope starts to rapidly descend, forcing Katadid to jump back into the secret passageway to prevent being struck on the head."Use this for the swag!""Not ... " Kat unties the pouch and pours the coin into the bucket. The guard may have been looking down expectantly, but Kat couldn't help but to count the coins again as they lay in the muck at the bottom of the bucket. Tugging on the rope, Kat watches the bucket ascend and he takes a few deep breaths, working up the courage to shout. "More soon! Still much to ..."He trails off and turns around, not listening to any response of the guard. Having become suddenly overcome with vertigo from looking into the circle of light above, Kat find himself tapping the ground every six steps to calm himself.He meets the rest of the party waiting for him at the split in the caves: Renraw preening over his new dagger, Ragglus fuming over the wounds still burning, and Tock simply relieved Kat made it back without getting overly distracted. They begin their walk down the cavern in the same marching order as before.The passage curves to the left, and after about 40 feet, it comes up short against a rusted portcullis, which prevents further passage."Odd well," Katadid says. He carefully examines the portcullis, murmuring to himself as he does, then sticks his face up to the bars, squinting between them to look on the far side of the barrier. "There's a lever just inside. Perhaps ... a rope? We could tie a loop, or maybe a hook would be. ... Just throw it on and pull ...""Chaplin, it's your rope," Renraw says, snapping his fingers. "Hop to, man.""Grappling hook might be noisy if I miss," Ragglus offers, taking out his rope. "Hook or loop?""Loop," Katadid says authoritatively. "And a step or two back."Ragglus makes a loop with the rope, and attempts to catch the lever.Leaning against the rusty bars, Ragglus tosses the rope and misses.Again and again and again.The water dripping in the spider's cave seems to grow louder and louder as the Gentlemen Delvers wait.Finally, on the thirteenth try, the rope catches the lever and Ragglus pulls it taut before it can slip down off the end. Carefully pulling upwards, he tugs at the lever. At first, it doesn't want to move, and then it flips upward with a loud noise and hidden mechanisms clank and spin as the portcullis slides up into the tunnel roof with a thud.The tunnel is now open to the group.The cavern vibrates from the boom of the gate."Well, that wasn't quiet..." Kat muses.Kat briefly examines the mechanism that raised the portcullis, then follows the group as they continue ahead. He touches the lever once as they pass by."Fourteen," he mutters.</blockquote>

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