Immersive Ink

coffee wrote:
Eremin Sulk sets down his pack and withdraws from it his rope and grappling hook.

"'Ere, you; bit o' room there," he cautions, then winds up and throws the hook to catch the lantern.

Once he's got it, he'll climb up and take a look.

waysoftheearth wrote:
The Hobbits bow themselves away from Lomeluin's stern glare, professing that Eremin seems to have matters entirely in hand.

And that he does.

They canny burglar soon has his grapple whirling around him in a wide arc, and then lets it loose toward the overhead lamp.

The steel hook flies over the suspended beacon, then wraps tightly around it on fast shortening cord, before clanging onto it and gripping fast.

Eremin test his line with a firm tug, and the beacon above gives a muted groan as it moves slightly. Dust and a few pebbles fall from the ceiling, but it appears the Dwarvish work is good and strong and will likely take his supple weight...

waysoftheearth wrote:

crusssdaddy wrote:Arbenbard takes a moment to look up to examine the huge lantern... perhaps his studies will bring further insight into its nature & function.

Meanwhile, Arbenbed examines the passageway, and the works around the lamp.

He discovered an interesting fissure in the wall adjacent, with appears to be a straight course 3 inches wide and deep, and tall enough to hold a long spear. Alas, whatever tool once rested in this nook is no longer present.

At the very bottom of this crevice is a larger divot from the wall, almost 2ft square and deep. Again, this is empty but for ancient dust...

doctorx wrote:
Satisfied that Eremin has matters well in hand, Lmluin moves to keep watch into the depths of the Eastern passage, alert for any sight or sound of trouble.

tombowings wrote:
Elendir follow closely behind Lmluin.

coffee wrote:
What does Eremin find in the giant lantern?

waysoftheearth wrote:
Lomeluin and Elindir advance cautiously up the broad, dark passage while the bulk of the company fuss around beneath the lamp and watch Eremin staining to scale his line...

The passage way continues ahead, straight and true for a ways into the dark, and in the gloom ahead can just barely be spied (by Elvish eyes) what might be a door arch on the right hand side of the passage.

waysoftheearth wrote:
Meanwhile Eremin clambers and strains his way up the rope. The great lantern above him groans as it swings and sways slightly under the load, but it holds firm enough for the burglar to eventually reach it.

There are ages of dust upon the metal casing, which are not quite large enough for Eremin to actually sit upon, so instead he has to merely cling to the edge and peer into the vessel in the gloom.

There is a upside-down pyramid of grubby glass pointing down toward the passage, and at the bottom of this is a broad, flat iron bowl which presumably should hold burning fuel. Of course, it appears to have been dry for many years...

Eremin's arms are already burning with the effort of dangling precariously from the lantern casing -- he won't be able to hold on much longer.

What now?

coffee wrote:

waysoftheearth wrote:Eremin's arms are already burning with the effort of dangling precariously from the lantern casing -- he won't be able to hold on much longer.

What now?

Climb back down, quickly!

"Pfew!" Eremin says, returning to floor level. "Vat's a bit of a climb and no mistake!"

Then he'll relay what he's found and even kindly offer the use of his rope for someone more athletic to climb up and fill the lantern and light it, should anyone chose to do so.

doctorx wrote:

coffee wrote:

waysoftheearth wrote:Eremin's arms are already burning with the effort of dangling precariously from the lantern casing -- he won't be able to hold on much longer.

What now?

Climb back down, quickly!

"Pfew!" Eremin says, returning to floor level. "Vat's a bit of a climb and no mistake!"

Then he'll relay what he's found and even kindly offer the use of his rope for someone more athletic to climb up and fill the lantern and light it, should anyone chose to do so.

Use the Hobbits..! ;D