(012) Beneath the Gatehouse

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

As near as I can make out, this is the resultant marching order:

#####...C # Caine
#####.....#
#####.....#
#####.m...# Michele (Caine's torch)
#####...D.# Dieter
#####..T..# Thorgrim
#####.O...# Olaf
#####...A.# Andaros
#####.P...# Padrig (torch)
#####.M...# Mads
#####...U.# Ulric (lantern)
#####.a...# Anwyn
#####..G..# Gustave


Now is the time to speak if you want to change it.

Olaf is going to move to the rear of the party to guard against attack from behind.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Ulric has already taken Flewellen's purse and alchemical curiosities.

Andaros adds Flewellen's rations and waterskin to his back, and Dieter picks up the four more flasks of lantern oil that Gustave did not take, as well as his dagger and sling.

Flewellen is then left laying upon his bedroll.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

OOC: Just to note, Ulric left his bedroll and rations in the cart before entering the gatehouse. See post #268 in 'The Expedition North' thread.

Yes.

I have re-calculated everyone's encumbrance and assumed that all gear beyond what you can carry unencumbered has been left behind with the Victor, Boris, Fix and the mule and cart.

Here is a summary of what has been left outside the dungeon:

• Caine's 6 days of trail rations (1 stone)
• Mad's 10 days of trail rations (1 & 1/2 stone)
• Dieter's 6 days of trail rations (1 stone)
• Dieter's shovel (1 stone)
• Dieter's second lantern (1/2 stone) -- he still carries his first lantern.
• Dieter's eight flasks of lantern oil (4 stone) -- he still carries 2 flasks of firewater, and has just picked up Flewellen's 4 flasks of lantern oil.
• Olaf's 13 days of trail rations (2 stone)
• Olaf's 60ft hemp rope (1 stone)
• Olaf's 3 flasks of lantern oil (1 & 1/2 stone)
• Ulric's 3 days of trail rations (1/2 stone) -- two thirds of his original rations having been eaten by Boris and Fix.
• Ulric's bedroll (1/2 stone)
• Padrig's 6 days of trail rations (1 stone)
• 3 more days of good mule feed (3 stone)

Despite the above being left outside, the company is still carrying a combined total of 42 Man-days of rations, 8 flasks of lantern oil, 1 of magefire oil, and two of firewater (all this weighing an impressive 11 stone).

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

Olaf is going to move to the rear of the party to guard against attack from behind.

Very good. Olaf moves to the rear of the party so that the marching order is now:


#####...C # Caine
#####.....#
#####.....#
#####.m...# Michele (Caine's torch)
#####...D.# Dieter
#####..T..# Thorgrim
#####...A.# Andaros
#####.P...# Padrig (torch)
#####.M...# Mads
#####...U.# Ulric (lantern)
#####.a...# Anwyn
#####..G..# Gustave
#####...O.# Olaf

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Caine, Michele, Dieter... what do you do next up front?

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
Michele stands guard at the archway to the right, torch in hand, so that the party is not surprised by any wandering ape-beasts from that direction.

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
Olaf has his sword and shield ready as he keeps a close watch on the rear.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Michele waves Caine ahead, and by his sputtering torch light leads the column into the passage to the right of the ante.

That passage is equally narrow to the first, and extends unevenly some 60ft to the archway.

Once Caine and then Michele have reached the archway, they can peer into the chamber beyond. It is a roughly rectangular excavation, just large enough to be dimly illuminated by Michele's ocher torch-light.

The walls within are seemingly propped up by uncertain stone-work, which has partially fallen in here and there. It is not immediately clear what purpose the chamber may once have served, for now it appears empty but for the minor piles of broken stone that have tumbled from the walls, and scattered pieces of ancient, broken timber.

Diagonally opposite the archway in which Caine stands in another, similar exit, leading off into a pitch darkness.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
As the company advances, and follows the right hand passage, Padrig at last reaches the ante and has the opportunity to pause and listen carefully to the strange echoes.

(1d6)

Despite the keenness of his Elvish ears, it is not clear from whence the distant echo of howling laughter comes. When it is for a moment detectable, it seems to come from all directions at once, but as soon as Padrig concentrates upon the sound, it is gone.

[waysoftheearth]

makofan wrote:
Caine speaks "I think we should head back and go up the staircase to the left. I like to secure the higher ground."