Prepare to enter Deathtrap Dungeon

[Balgin Stondraeg]

"Ah well now," the old man cackles, "you don't want to go walking down this tunnel oh deary me no. It'll just take you back where you've already been. You want to step into my basket, and pay me suitable remuneration, and then my colleague will haul you up to the upper level. And that's where you want to be, believe me."

I doubt more than 2 people could fit in the basket at any given time but suitable remuneration in this case is likely to be little more thana  single coin each.

[Keeper]

Rhana looks up to see where the basket will go.

Balgin, can you describe what she sees up there, please?

[PaulH]

Ellion studies him closely, to see if he's telling the truth.

(Sense motive)

[Custom_Hobby]

Dekion takes in the information and suggests "even if we do what he wants we should plan who goes with who just in case it is a trap on either end." Turning toward the old man he asks "and who or what is your colleague?"

[Custom_Hobby]

OOC: Err Balgin do you want me to post an action for sarian? Eyeolas is M.I.A. at the moment so you can either three day him, One of us can cover for a bit, or we can get a new player. I can just mod the post into this spot if needed

[Balgin Stondraeg]

OOC: Err Balgin do you want me to post an action for sarian? Eyeolas is M.I.A. at the moment so you can either three day him, One of us can cover for a bit, or we can get a new player. I can just mod the post into this spot if needed

Nah, I'll cover it. It's just that last night was tabletop night and today I had a long lie in. I was meaning to update after the weekend but not on monday.

The old man snivels and snickers. "Oh you'll like Ivy. She's good and strong and hauls up the rope. She might even be able to handle two at a time if you're little."

[Custom_Hobby]

Dekion looks at the rest of the group "It looks like this is it then, lets pay him and move forward. Throm I'll pay for you and myself. Who wants to go up in the first set?"

[Keeper]

"How about Throm first, in case there is trouble - we know you can handle it, big guy.  I can always make my own way up if needed."

[Custom_Hobby]

"Sounds good to me. I'll go up with the last, that way we have one fighter on either end."

[PaulH]

Ellion studies the 'Lift Giver' for a moment, then readies himself to go next.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Throm eager steps into the basket. The old man painfuly explains how he requires payment for this wondrous service. Nothing much, a coin, or an object Throm has picked up during his travel in here. Poor Throm is bewildered. He has not bothered to pick anything up beyond the bundle of rope he discovered earlier. Warily he hands it over the rope and proclaims his desire to be raised. Stepping back, the old man cups both hands to his mouth and calls "take her up Ivy."

The basket begins to rise with an uneasy juddering motion. Once it is about four feet from the ground the old man sniggers and speaks to Throm "you'll like I've, I think the two of you will get along just fine." He cackles as the basket continues it's ascent.

All is silent. Our merry adventurers imagine the basket rising up an endless shaft (and for some reason Rhana imagines really bland music playing as it does so). Soon the silence is broken by an outburst from Throm up above. "By the mother of all storms, that is the most hideous troll I ever have seen!"

The old man down below sniggers as the sound of steel grates on stone and then a gravelly deep voice that can only barely be called female demands "get out. Now I want paying too!"

There is a roar from Throm, the sound of feet pounding and then a heavy thud as something mighty crashes to the ground. There is silence for a few moments and then the basket comes tumbling down, rope and all, accompanied by the bellowing laughter of Throm himself.

"Fools, I am up here and the rope down there. Now I, Throm, shal win this dungeon pof death and you all shall fail for you cannot fly!" His booming laughter retreats as he moves away from the hole and the old man quails in fear.

Hands up who didn't see that one coming a mile off. I hope Rhana's got a spiderclimb left.

[Keeper]

Rhana points at the old man.  "Dekion, please detain that cretin and deal with him as you will, whilst I sort this basket out."

With that, she casts Spider Climb on herself once more, picks up the rope attached to the basket and climbs up the shaft with it, taking the basket with her so that she can pall up the others.

"Figure out which one of your is lightest and I'll pull you up first, then we can get everyone up here."

[Balgin Stondraeg]

At the top of the shaft Rhana emerges from a well into a room. In the room is adecapitated hill troll clutching a large double handed axe (clearly the scrud*ing sound was picking it up in a slow and intimidating manner). Her head lies in the corner, half turned towards the wall but that one beedy eye seems to be watching Rhana. An open doorway displays a short flight of steps leading down into a corridor. Two maimed guard dogs lie where Throm slew them. Clearly they had not wanted him to pass. Beyond them the corridor takes a turn to the left. There doesn't seem to be much else in this room.

[Keeper]

"OK chaps, I am at the top.  There is a troll up here that is incapacitated but doesn't look entirely dead, so let me know when the first of you is in the basket and I'll haul you up."

Balgin, is there anything I can put across the shaft to act as a pulley - or is there anything on the ceiling above the shaft I can pass the rope over?  In fact, is that troll's axe big enought to put across the shaft?{

[Balgin Stondraeg]

In fact, is that troll's axe big enought to put across the shaft?{

Yes. :)