The Treasure of the Tierra Padre... [Knight Otu Judging]

[Xael]

"If the tunnel or whatever is even relatively straight, one should be able to see the sunrod's light, and possibly both Rogier and whatever cut the rope. Unless the sunrod is in something's stomach, but I seriously doubt that there could be anything actually alive down there, since I doubt there's much to eat here.", Almayce says.

Now, if it's an undead fish-monster...", he continues, stopping mid-sentence and shrugging.

"It could also be just some kind of a delayed, misworking, rusty blade trap. But more importantly, there seems to be at least a chance that our resident Paladin is still alive, as he's had some kind of a head start to the supposed monster.

If he noticed that the rope was cut, that is."

OOC: I'm not certain it'll make you feel any better, but... No, you didn't.

OOC: Well, at least that proves that I'm not overly paranoid.

 

[Manzanita]

Iggy

Iggy shakes his head. "Poor Rogier. Perhaps he is alive. I certainly hope so. Yet there's nothing we can do for him. It would be foolish to send someone else down there, for clearly there is some sort of protection. With study, I could summon a porpoise, but, since I would have no way of communicating with it, it wouldn't be able to tell me what was down there."

"We'll have to try another tack. Perhaps there is a way to drain this pond. Or perhaps there's another way into the old dragon lair. I say we search around a bit more outside."

 

[Gurdjieff]

OoC: I'm very sorry for all the time I've been not responding and possibly holding up the game. After I became ill a couple of weeks ago I've had a hard time catching and keeping up with school, work, etc. and I never figured I'd be away this long. Again I'm very sorry, and I hope I can still take control of Rogier again.

 

[Pbartender]

OOC: No trouble, Venus... To tell the truth, I've been running PbPs so long, I've gotten used to players vanishing without word. That said, I'm glad you're back. I won't have time tonight, but I'll get an in-game post up for you tomorrow.

 

[El Jefe]

Oirhandir dropped the wet part of the rope on the floor of the cavern in a neat coil. "Ignatious, I must disagree", he said. "Just because you are not able to help him this time, that doesn't mean that the rest of us are so ill-suited for the task." He paused.

"Suppose it was an old blade trap", he suggested. "If it was blocking the tunnel, we might be able to dive down and work it loose, freeing Rogier. Doing nothing leaves us no closer to answering Rupert's questions or to saving our friend." He glanced at the pool. "If nothing else, we can at least find out what happened to him and write a proper epitaph." Then, with conviction in his voice, he added: "I won't leave him...I can't leave him, at least not without knowing his fate."

 

[Manzanita]

Iggy

"What you suggest, Oirhandir ? Would you risk another life swimming down there?"

OOC: Could we see anything of the sunrod? It was in the tunnel out of sight when the rope was cut?

 

[El Jefe]

Without a pause, Oirhandir answered: "Yes, I would. I'd risk going as far as that", he said, nodding at the coil of rope at his feet, "but no farther." He added, "I think Razir is best suited for this job. But I'll go myself if no one else will."

OoC, to Manzanita: Recall that the "pool" is really more of a shaft that goes down for about 15 feet or so, with a narrow tunnel at the bottom proceeding horizontally (at least, at first) from there. Rogier would have had to dive down 15 feet, then swim horizontally (we think) for about 90 feet or so. To get to the spot where the rope was cut, we'd have to dive down 15 feet, then swim horizontally for about another 45 feet. If the sunrod is on the bottom of the tunnel about 90 or more feet from the shaft we're looking down, I'm not surprised that we can't see it. Especially so if the horizontal tunnel has a bend or two, or (hopefully) Rogier managed to ascend to air on the other side.

 

[Manzanita]

Iggy

Iggy begins pacing and muttering calculations to himself. Then continues the conversation. "My summoned porpoise is just useless. It won't stick around long enough to be able to fight anything that far down. Now Oirhandir, if you or I swim for it, what is our goal? First we'll see if we can see the sunrod or Rogier. If so, we'd try to help him, although how is another question. If we don't see him or the sunrod in the tunnel, then what? Try to swim the whole way? Using the rope again? How much rope do we have left there? Just 60 feet? I'm a slow swimmer, and a bad one. And we don't even know there's air at the end of the tunnel."

 

[El Jefe]

Oirhandir gently put his hands on the hafling's shoulders in an attempt to calm him down. "Slow down, friend", he spoke. He had almost let "little friend" slip out, but decided that might not be the kindest thing to say under the circumstances. He continued:

"I doubt we'll see the sunrod, even if Rogier dropped it at the moment the rope was severed. It's just too far inside. As for Rogier, he's either found air by now, or he's gone forever. I'm concerned that he's found air, but is somehow trapped. And if that's true, we may be able to find a way to help him.

We've got plenty more than 60 feet of rope, but I wouldn't go in any farther than that. That's why I want Razir to go...I think we're looking for some kind of blade trap or something that cut the rope behind him. Razir would stand the best chance of disarming such a device.

I'm also worried about the distance. Whoever goes will swim 60 feet in and 60 feet back without taking a breath. That's about as much as any of us can manage. I don't think I could manage by my self: you'd have to pull me the last few fathoms, and even then I'd be coughing up water when I returned. Still, that might be enough to tell us if Rogier has a chance, or if we can help him. It would be worth it to me, just to find out."

 

[Manzanita]

Iggy

Iggy sighs. "You're a brave man, Oirhandir. Or elf anyway. You seem so confident that it's a blade trap, but I'm dubious. Who would set such a trap? It seems much more likely to be some sort of underwater beast or humanoid. And probably a smart one. We didn't get jerking or pulling on the rope, like a shark might have done. And animals wouldn't attack a rope, probably, but Rogier himself. Whatever did this cut the rope 30 feet after Rogier passed. Perhaps a Sahaugin. I think it borders suicide to send a weak unarmed swimmer down there. I can't cast spells underwater."

"Yet what choice do we have? We can't just give Rogier up for lost. I'll go. Know that I can only hold my breath for about 1 minute and a half, so after one minute, just start pulling me back!"

"And if I don't return, you will look after Kennedy for me won't you? He's a nice bat. Doesn't cause any trouble."