IX. The Witch Towner - Third Trip

[dmw71]

After a considerable amount of time is spent counting and dividing the coins, the group resumes their normal activities, including more fully exploring the chamber they're in.

Kassal begins to carefully check the walls for secret doorways but fails to discover anything of note. While packing his coins, Ciar examines them and notices some variation in the coins, even those minted from the same material. While most of the coins are generally the same, those that are different are so for different reasons: age of coin, with some appearing older; condition, most are fine, but some have their fair share of nicks and cuts; and decoration, with some appearing to have a more royal appearance.


Anyone who peers down the rough-cut tunnel in the northwest corner notices that it is narrow, varying in width from 3-feet to 5-feet wide, and runs about 20-feet. At the end of the tunnel, a pair of low barricades made of timbers and rocks partially block the remaining 5-feet of passageway, which opens into a larger cave beyond.


---

Rough math:
23,543 total coins / 5 characters = 4,708.6 coins per character
4,708.6 / 50 coins per pound = 94.172 pounds

Since each chest can hold up to 100 pounds, each of you will be able to store your respective shares in a single chest (and leave two chests empty).


If you haven't already done so, please update your character sheet indicating how your coin is divided -- how much are you carrying and how much are you leaving behind.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow looks around in the dirt to see if he can find tracks from anything other than the ghoul or kobolds. He then takes the torch further into the tunnel to try and see into the larger cave.

Sheet updated, leaving copper behind in a chest.

[dmw71]

After he fails to notice tracks from anything other than the kobolds and the ghoul, Sparrow takes a torch and heads into the cramped tunnel. Near the end of the narrow passage, he reaches the pair of low barricades which span the width of the tunnel -- one right after the other. The obstacles, which rise nearly four-feet off the floor, are made of timbers and rocks and block the lower half of the remaining 5-feet of passageway. Peering over the first of two barricades, Sparrow can see that the tunnel he's exploring spills into a larger cave.

This cave ahead of the group appears to be drastically different than the previous areas explored in that it is in a much rougher condition, with uneven and jagged walls and the ceiling is probably only five-feet off the ground. Unable to see the what lies off to either side of the cave beyond, Sparrow does notice a large pile of debris about 30-feet ahead of his current position, on the left hand side of the cave.

[Alethan]

With his bag of coins packed, Ciar steps away from the chests and stands outside the bars.

After everyone has sorted out what they are bringing and leaving, he will retrieve the two daggers and stow them safely in the metal case before following Sparrow down the passage of rubble.

"Careful," he warns. "I've always heard ghouls referred to as infestations; I assume that means more than one is common..."

[dmw71]

As Ciar removes the first dagger from its slot, the bars raise and the cage closes.

[Storm11]

Kassal will inspect the tunnel for safety.

[AleBelly]

Sylvan leaves his 3711 copper in the chest and proceeds along with the others towards the collapsed rubble. "Careful with that mess to the left. There's bound to be some nasty things in there."

[onlyme]

Fulp calls out Ciar,
Meant to say, smart move on those daggers. How'd you know?
He waits for the recon from the scouting group.

[Alethan]

Fulp calls out Ciar,
Meant to say, smart move on those daggers. How'd you know?
He waits for the recon from the scouting group.

Ciar shrugs and taps the side of his head, "Takes more than a deft hand to be good at getting places you're not supposed be. Just looked like it was a cage with two nearly identical keys and we had those daggers with the special notches in the flat of the blades. Figured they might be the keys we need."

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow studies the part of the cave that he can see into. He looks for any movement and quietly listens for any sounds that might be heard. Especially in the area of the mound.

[dmw71]

Kassal studies the tunnel, and doesn't detect anything unusual about the tunnel itself. The barriers, though, give the gnome pause, but he can't seem to place the exact reason for his concern.

Sparrow does not see or hear any signs of movement in the cave beyond the barriers.


Sorry for the delay, guys. Things, with my daughter's surgery, are starting to get real. I will still do my best to keep up with the daily pace, but will be hit-or-miss the next couple of days.

[Storm11]

Kassal will share his concerns with the group about the barriers.

dont worry about posting rate here dude. It's totally cool. My paws are crossed for your daughter and for you guys.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow whispers.

I have a strong urge to throw a rock or something through the barricade and onto that pile. Any objections?

He looks around the ground for a small chunk of rubble or a large stone.

[dmw71]

Sparrow locates a suitable rock and tosses it over the barricade and into the pile of debris in the cave.


Aside from the pile growing in size by one stone, nothing happens.

[Alethan]

Ciar examines the barriers, as well, to see if they were hastily or quickly built, well-constructed or crude, and if he can tell if which way they were meant to be barriers against.

[onlyme]

Fulp continues to await the opinion of the scouts, anxious to see if the rubble and barriers will hold enough for them to progress through the area.

[dmw71]

Ciar examines the barriers and notices that they are more crudely constructed, but breaking them down will still be a considerable task. His best guess is that they were put in place to hinder or prevent access to anyone or anything coming from the direction of the party.

Scaling the barriers appears to be the only way to proceed.

[AleBelly]

"Shall we scale the barriers?" asks Sylvan.

[OGRE MAGE]

Kassal studies the tunnel, and doesn't detect anything unusual about the tunnel itself. The barriers, though, give the gnome pause, but he can't seem to place the exact reason for his concern.

Sparrow looks around on this side of the barrier to see if he can notice any weak spots that would fail if a lot of weight was applied.

Climbing it seems like our only option but, something about this seems strange to me. Looks like another great spot for a trap.

[dmw71]

Sparrow examines the first barrier and, while it wasn't masterfully constructed, it does look sturdy enough for climbing.