Island Paradise IIX

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12a8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id230.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Frontier Map"><U><B>Map of the Frontier</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Missiledines Archives"><U><B>Archive Directory</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Missiledine's Archives</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Missiledines Archives"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id302.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Island Paradise I"><U>An Island Paradise I</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id306.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Island Paradise II"><U>An Island Paradise II</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id308.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Island Paradise III"><U>Island Paradise III</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id310.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Island Paradise IV"><U>Island Paradise IV</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id311.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Island Paradise V"><U>Island Paradise V</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id316.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Island Paradise VI"><U>Island Paradise VI</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id317.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Island Paradise VII"><U>Island Paradise VII</U></A>   |   <B>Island Paradise IIX</B>   |   <A HREF="id320.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Island Paradise IX"><U> Island Paradise IX</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Island Paradise X"><U>Island Paradise X</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id325.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Island Paradise XI"><U>Island Paradise XI</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id326.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Island Paradise XII"><U>Island Paradise XII</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>Island Paradise IIX</I></div> <div> You have just entered room "The Sharpe End."</div> <div> Missiledine: The sharp end of the stick?</div> <div> Dukejr01: something like that.</div> <div> Dukejr01: also a reference to where the fighting is going on, in military parlance</div> <div> Missiledine: yep</div> <div> Missiledine: ever read the 'Sharpe Series' ?</div> <div> Dukejr01: yes, I own the lot</div> <div> Missiledine: so do I</div> <div> Missiledine: why am I not surprised</div> <div> Dukejr01: Sharpe's falling out with that german captain was an unexpected but realistic plot twist.</div> <div> Dukejr01: lol</div> <div> Missiledine: yes it was... he does get more then his share of the women!</div> <div> Dukejr01: Still think he sould have killed Colonel Whathisname, the guy whose daughter was his cuckholding first wife. ah well, he ended up with a French chick</div> <div> Missiledine: true</div> <div> Dukejr01: oh, I dunno, I forget names but lets count it up, the Spanish partisan leader, the colonels daughter, french babe, ummm... I can;t think of any other long term relations.....  I forget, did he get busy with some Indian princess in</div> <div> Dukejr01: Sharpe's Tiger?</div> <div> Missiledine: have not read that one yet... there is also the 'whore' from Sharpe's Eagle</div> <div> Dukejr01: oh yes. forgot about her.</div> <div> Missiledine: then the bimbo from the 'first' of the Penninsula series, who ultimately went with the Spaniard</div> <div> Dukejr01: Sharpe's Tiger is a prequel, when he served in India as a private.</div> <div> Missiledine: I have read of it</div> <div> Dukejr01: completely don;t recall her. I better reread the series.</div> <div> Dukejr01: did you see the PBS/BBC miniseries?</div> <div> Missiledine: when he was a new Lt and first met Patrick</div> <div> Missiledine: a couple episodes, just wasn't convenient to watch</div> <div> Dukejr01: Sean Bean or Brown or whatever made a good Sharpe. had the look</div> <div> Missiledine: I'm not sure that women should really count, don't think he actually had her</div> <div> Missiledine: yes he did look good in the role</div> <div> Missiledine: didn't think the guy who played Patrick was big enough as I recall</div> <div> Dukejr01: hmmmm.... could be.</div> <div> Dukejr01: vegans starve baby</div> <div> Dukejr01: http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/46860.htm</div> <div> Missiledine: lol</div> <div> Missiledine: damn Vegans! They oughta go back to their home world!</div> <div> Dukejr01: e wish</div> <div> Dukejr01: we</div> <div> Missiledine: everyone knows you gotts feed a baby or they aren't good eating!</div> <div> Missiledine: <hmmm, maybe I better edit this one before I post it...></div> <div> Dukejr01: a friend of mine had a story about a vegan couple, the Doorknob vegan father told her that Nature was wonderous and that their children had developed teeth like that of cows because of their vegan diet... My friend replied, that </div> <div> Dukejr01: their childrens' teeth were deformed due to malnuitrition, you idiot</div> <div> Missiledine: lol</div> <div> Missiledine: sad tho</div> <div> Dukejr01: yah. the kids are no doubt low IQ types because of it</div> <div> Dukejr01: kids need fat and protean</div> <div> Missiledine: well the father surely was... ya never know, it could be genetic</div> <div> Dukejr01: imagine getting bad DNA then going on a bad diet that damages what potential they had.</div> <div> Dukejr01: yech</div> <div> Missiledine: sigh</div> <div> Missiledine: probably Dems too</div> <div> Dukejr01: they are the reason that serfs and peasants used o exist.</div> <div> Missiledine: :-D</div> <div> Dukejr01: lol</div> <div> Dukejr01: Greens.</div> <div> Missiledine: mouldy Dems</div> <div> Dukejr01: mossy</div> <div> Missiledine: serfs and peasants still exist, they just have different names today</div> <div> Missiledine: <definately gonna have to edit this one!></div> <div> Dukejr01: welfare cases.</div> <div> Dukejr01: lol. do you have to?</div> <div> Dukejr01: doc is on</div> <div> Missiledine: yep, invite him in</div> <div> Dukejr01: did</div> <div> Docportal has entered the room.</div> <div> Missiledine: Yo!</div> <div> Dukejr01: hey</div> <div> Docportal: Hi both of you</div> <div> Missiledine: we'll wait a few minutes for Dawn</div> <div> Docportal: Great that will let me check my mail.</div> <div> Docportal: What happen after I left?</div> <div> Missiledine: everyone died</div> <div> Missiledine: :-D</div> <div> Docportal: Oh well</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren is on fire</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren the Flaming Fighter in front.</div> <div> Missiledine: He's Smokin!</div> <div> Docportal: That sounds like fun. If dawn shows up you all will have to work that out.</div> <div> Dukejr01: Why, yes, yes he is.</div> <div> Docportal: lol!</div> <div> Missiledine: fear not, I will engineer a way to suck you in... errr, include you, too</div> <div> Docportal: That will work.</div> <div> Dawn12 has entered the room.</div> <div> Missiledine: Hellloooo Dawn!</div> <div> Dukejr01: how hard could that be? "You hear fighting! You hear Dawn scream!"</div> <div> Dukejr01: hi Dawn!</div> <div> Dawn12: hi</div> <div> Missiledine: last weeks is posted, btw</div> <div> Missiledine: yep</div> <div> Dukejr01: yes, I have it up</div> <div> Docportal: not if you are as far up as i think you are.</div> <div> Dukejr01: <snort> sound carries, and we are not that far apart.</div> <div> Docportal: Well then I may have to come to you resue</div> <div> Docportal: :-P</div> <div> Missiledine: The sound will echo down the stonetunnel, it is jumbled and confused at first, but Dawn's scream is quite clear</div> <div> Missiledine: something is clearly going on at the top of the stairs</div> <div> Dukejr01: Well, lets get on with it then..... to battle.</div> <div> Docportal: "Come on long double time it. back up the stairway!"</div> <div> Missiledine: Long will follow you </div> <div> Docportal: As I start up the stairs I put up my non lighted sword and pull the other.</div> <div> Missiledine: Okay, Corren... Your opponent and the men behind him have backed out into the chamber above </div> <div> Missiledine: ok Doc</div> <div> Missiledine: Dawn has managed to untangle herself from the still burning cloak that was thrown in her face. </div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren advances, moving immediately to his right if he can make it into the chamber.he will All out defend the first round when he advances.</div> <div> Missiledine: Corren, FYI  Only 1 point of that kick was 'real' damage. The rest was stun and will affect you next rd as tho it was real, but you will recover quickly</div> <div> Dukejr01: okie doke</div> <div> Dukejr01: that is good</div> <div> Missiledine: Dawn, are you following Corren out?</div> <div> Dawn12: dawn gets hwer shild and sword out</div> <div> Missiledine: ok</div> <div> Dawn12: and follow corren </div> <div> Missiledine: Corren, as you reach the doorway you see your primary opponent, the man in the plate armor, and 4 other fighters, in scale and chain, spreading out and facing the dorrway, their swords are in hand</div> <div> Docportal: "Man what a long way up they must be." </div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren screams and makes his flaming appearance look scary as he clears room for his companions.</div> <div> Missiledine: Doc, as you are pounding up the stairs, you will meet a cloud of smoke wafting its way down.. you hear Rolb asking "Are ye alright lass?"</div> <div> Dawn12: "yes i'm ok"</div> <div> Dukejr01: Do the fighters have any heraldry on their shields?</div> <div> Missiledine: Corren as you come out the leader (or so you assume) slashes at you with his sword, another one, tp your right, lunges at you with his. They are the only two in immediate posistion to attack</div> <div> Dukejr01: k. I specified an all out defend.</div> <div> Missiledine: got it</div> <div> Missiledine: ok, the big guy slashes and you manage to deflect it with your shield. The thrust gets through but your armor turns it</div> <div> Missiledine: Dawn, as you move past Corren and into the room, you will have to go to Corren's left. The shape of the room allows for only one fighter to attack you at the moment</div> <div> Dawn12: ok</div> <div> Dukejr01: cool.</div> <div> Dukejr01: does that mean 2 on corren and one on Dawn?</div> <div> Missiledine: The posistion of your attackers keeps you both close to the entrance and you are unable to give Rolb, or Long and company, room to come out</div> <div> Missiledine: correct</div> <div> Missiledine: Dawn, your man attacks and badly fumbles it, almost dropping his weapon!</div> <div> Dukejr01: okay. Corren will block the platemail guy and attack the other guy. thrust.</div> <div> Dukejr01: ping?</div> <div> Docportal: "Dose any one have a long pole?"</div> <div> Missiledine: <ping?></div> <div> Dawn12: Dawn gets her sword ready for the next guy she sees</div> <div> Missiledine: the stairway, or passage, is very narrow, there is no room to pass each other, the exit is on your left side as you reach the top, so there is no room to use a spear or similar weapon</div> <div> Dukejr01: <my post didn;t show up for awhile. so I pinged></div> <div> Docportal: <lot of lag on my end also.></div> <div> Missiledine: okay, Corren, you are faster then 'the other guy' but the bastard in plate is faster then you <Mine was delayed as well> You stab at your man and he parries it, meanwhile the big guy hacks at you but you catch it on your shield</div> <div> Docportal: is there room to use my crossbow?</div> <div> Dawn12: swing/parry </div> <div> Missiledine: no, Rolb is between you and the opening and the space is less then 2 feet, no room to pass while your both in armor</div> <div> Docportal: Then I will take a long rest on the stairs wail I wait.</div> <div> Missiledine: Dawn, you attack, the man parries and does not attack this round</div> <div> Missiledine: Corren, the man you thrust at did NOT counter attack</div> <div> Dukejr01: okay. Thrust block, attack on the scale guy, block plate guy.</div> <div> Missiledine: Dawn and Corren, you can hear Rolb calling encoiuragement and suggestions as you attack</div> <div> Dawn12: swing/ parry</div> <div> Dukejr01: any useful advice?</div> <div> Dukejr01: what does it look like the second guy on corren is doing?</div> <div> Dawn12: that would be nice</div> <div> Missiledine: Corren, you score a hit, but his armor absorbs it... The big guy jabs at you, but its a feint and he passes your guard but your armor saves you, barely</div> <div> Dukejr01: k.</div> <div> Missiledine: You don't recognise the big guy, but the one on Dawn looks familiar, he's one of the men that escorted you from the inn to see the Lord of Sharpstone</div> <div> Dukejr01: great.</div> <div> Missiledine: Dawn, your man attacks with a slashing blow, which you manage to parry, your counter attack is easily avoided</div> <div> Missiledine: Rolb calls to Dawn, "Use the point Lass! Drive 'im back so we ave some room!"</div> <div> Missiledine: To Corren he says, "Watch that ugly one lad! He's a tricky one!"</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren thrust/blocks the plate guy so he doesn't become confident that Corren won;t attack him.</div> <div> Missiledine: ok</div> <div> Dawn12: Thrust/Parry</div> <div> Missiledine: The leader's attack passes your shield again and the blow rings your armor, but again you take no damage (Damn!)  Your attack is parried.  The other man will suddenly press forward, hacking twice at youhitting you both times!</div> <div> Dukejr01: ouch.</div> <div> Missiledine: Fortuneately only one blow actually does damage, for 1 point <great></div> <div> Docportal: <no damage no damage...></div> <div> Dukejr01: I love dwarven armour.</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren will block the plate guy and thrust at the other guy's vitals.</div> <div> Docportal: <ouch></div> <div> Missiledine: Dawn, your thrust takes the man in the abdomen, passing his defense. It doesn't seem to be a serious wound but he does take a step back, giving you room to advance and Rolb to move out and the next guy to move up</div> <div> Docportal: I pull cross bow and start to load it.</div> <div> Missiledine: Dawn: His conter attack is a miss</div> <div> Dawn12: advance and thrust/parry</div> <div> Docportal: Oh and advance forwards.</div> <div> Dukejr01: <shooting a crossbow into a melee is risky.</div> <div> Missiledine: Corren, your thrust strikes him in the belly and penetrates. He screams and stumbles backwards</div> <div> Docportal: <maybe but it all I can do for now. And maybe it will make them run.></div> <div> Missiledine: No room to push out Doc, your stuck in the doorway for the moment</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren steps smartly into his place so Vance can advance.</div> <div> Dukejr01: or would that leave Corren in the middle of the room?</div> <div> Missiledine: you will move to the right which leaves the big guy to Rolb</div> <div> Dukejr01: k.</div> <div> Dukejr01: <does that leave a hole for Vance to move in?></div> <div> Missiledine: With a roar that surprises you and everyone else, Rolb suddenly charges the man in plate and actually slams into him...  Rolb's opponent stumbles backwards and trips on the low stone shoulder at the edge of the pit... Suddenly </div> <div> Missiledine: they are both gone</div> <div> Missiledine: there is a hole there now</div> <div> Dukejr01: oh shit!</div> <div> Missiledine: for Vance to move up</div> <div> Missiledine: All actions stop as everyone stares at the pit where the two men vanished</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren doesn't heasitate, he attacks.</div> <div> Docportal: Put bow up and take sword out and shiled and move up.</div> <div> Missiledine: when you attack it seems as tho their nerve breaks and suddenly everyone, except the man corren wounded, is hoofing it out of the cave</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren pursues them to the cave mouth.</div> <div> Docportal: <Shit that crossbow would let me take one or two of them out.> </div> <div> Missiledine: the wounded man would clearly LIKe to run, but he's hunched over against the wall</div> <div> Missiledine: <yes it would have></div> <div> Docportal: Time to ask question... the wounded man. "What the hell is going on down here??"</div> <div> Missiledine: the fleeing men run past the rubble pile, across the track, into the scrub woods</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren stops. he goes back.</div> <div> Docportal: <Check up on our man.></div> <div> Missiledine: "Bugger off!" He spits at you</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Elf, go aid the man on the stairs, I am going after him." Corren sheathes his sword and climbs dow nteh rope.</div> <div> Missiledine: Man on the stairs is dead</div> <div> Docportal: How bad are his wounds?</div> <div> Missiledine: who?</div> <div> Docportal: the wouned man that I questioning.</div> <div> Missiledine: Climb down the rope?</div> <div> Dukejr01: I thought it was secured on top here</div> <div> Missiledine: He doesn't let you near him</div> <div> Missiledine: yes it is</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren looks down first. tries to spot Rolb</div> <div> Missiledine: The man is still armed</div> <div> Missiledine: total darkness, no sign of him</div> <div> Docportal: Try to remove the weapons still on him.</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Dawn, watch the entrance in case they come back. Corren drops his pack and takes his med kit. He climbs down the rope.</div> <div> Missiledine: He thrusts at you with his sword... you parry it, barely</div> <div> Dawn12: ok</div> <div> Docportal: <Who is still in the room with me?> All out defend</div> <div> Missiledine: <Are you sure you want to do this?></div> <div> Dukejr01: <sigh, okay.></div> <div> Missiledine: Long and Dawn and Corren</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren will go over to the man he woundedhe uses his sword to pin the man's sword and grabs his arm.</div> <div> Docportal: I will help corren with that.</div> <div> Missiledine: He manages to avoid your blade with his and thrusts at you. "Leave me be!"</div> <div> Docportal: "Lets just cut him up for fish food?"</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren sheathes his sword and uses block, grab on his weapon arm.</div> <div> Missiledine: He tries to avoid it, but you are faster and grab his wrist</div> <div> Dukejr01: twist and make him drop the sword.</div> <div> Dukejr01: any symbol on his shield?</div> <div> Missiledine: He's strong tho, even injured and it is a struggle to keep control and force him to let go...You strain at it for a couple rounds before, with a gasp, his grip loosens and the blade falls</div> <div> Missiledine: Yes, that of the Lord of Sharpstone</div> <div> Dukejr01: shit!</div> <div> Dukejr01: pardon my french.</div> <div> Missiledine: lol</div> <div> Docportal: I grab sword and move it away from him.</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Right then, where does that shaft go? I want my friend back dead or alive, what about your boss?"</div> <div> Docportal: Well we be in shit lets question this man.</div> <div> Missiledine: "What are YOU doing here?" The man gasps in pain. "You've been banished."</div> <div> Docportal: "Like that going to stop us!"</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Getting shot at. Where does that shaft go?"</div> <div> Missiledine: "Down." He grins  "A long way!"</div> <div> Docportal: Re move left boot.</div> <div> Docportal: on the man.</div> <div> Missiledine: what?</div> <div> Missiledine: He does not sit quietly. He whips out a dagger and glares at you</div> <div> Missiledine: "Don't touch me Outlaw!"</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren rolls his eyes. "We may be in enough trouble as it is, and we do not torture people."</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Look, let me stop that bleeding. While I am doing that you can tell me how to recover the bodies of your Boss and my friend."</div> <div> Docportal: Forget trying to save his boots. "All I am going to do is shave his foot off. Who said anything about torturing.?"</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren rolls his eyes.</div> <div> Missiledine: "I'm not telling you shit. It won't be long before Lord Sharpton rides up with the rest of his troop, then YOU will be doing the bleeding!"</div> <div> Missiledine: <Sharpstone></div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren hands him a bandage.</div> <div> Missiledine: he hesitates but takes it</div> <div> Docportal: Let corren deal with the man. I will look at the entres. Can I see a way to bring down the roof here such that we can be safe for a little wail?</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren goes over to the pit and drops the light coin he had.</div> <div> Missiledine: you would need some tools to knock the stone loose</div> <div> Dukejr01: before he does so, coren makes sure that his hand brushes or touches the man's skin.</div> <div> Missiledine: the coin falls, revealing the rough hewn sides of the shaft that gets smaller and smaller as the coin falls farther... suddenly it is swallowed up in darkness</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Strange. Darkness wallowed the light."</div> <div> Dukejr01: <swallowed></div> <div> Missiledine: a moment later you hear a faint 'plop' of water</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Damn!"</div> <div> Dukejr01: <pardon my French></div> <div> Dukejr01: "Alright, we have a difficult position. This may or may not be the source of the Darkness and we have lost a man. If we stay here we will probably be trapped by reinforcements...."</div> <div> Dukejr01: "... however there is no place to run to anyway on this island. We know strange thigs are happening what with the warning we recievd and the Lions and wolves and such about"</div> <div> Docportal: "Well what other leads do we have?"</div> <div> Dukejr01: "The question is where to now?"</div> <div> Dukejr01: "None."</div> <div> Missiledine: Long says, "Maybe that wizard knows something! He was kinda suspiscious if you ask me."</div> <div> Docportal: Turn to the wounded man. "If you can tell us what,  who or where the darkness is coming from we let you go free. Completely unharmed."</div> <div> Missiledine: He laughs, "You better start running you bastards! You've got everyone after you now!"</div> <div> Docportal: "IF it was it for the fact that you maight be help for. I would have killed you already."</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Leave him Lets check the other entrances."</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren goes to check the nearest one. he looks for signs of habitation.</div> <div> Docportal: "I say we drop him down that hold there."</div> <div> Missiledine: the closest one is clearly untouched... the dust, dead leaves and rubbish indicate no one has been in here in ages</div> <div> Dukejr01: okay. number 3</div> <div> Missiledine: brb </div> <div> Missiledine: sorry, phone call</div> <div> Dukejr01: np :-)</div> <div> Docportal: np</div> <div> Missiledine: this tunnel entrance is similar to the first one you explored, it has clearly had some recent use</div> <div> Dukejr01: Okay. Corren goes back to the rest of the party, he mentions that he other entrance has seen use</div> <div> Dawn12 has left the room.</div> <div> Docportal: We should do somthing with the men first.</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Like what? He may not actually be the enemy."</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren turns to the wounded man. "Have you noticed strange things going on around here lately? Like Long Tooths loose?"</div> <div> Missiledine: "What's it to you?" He demands</div> <div> Dukejr01: "I was contracted by the man who fell down that shaft. He was supposed to fnd out what was wrong here. Without information we were simply groping around looking for whatever it was that troubled Sharpstone. Then we ran into you...."</div> <div> Dukejr01: "I was shot by someone with a siege bow down there and the rest you know. I fear that we have erred, fighting the wrong enemy, but that doesn't help figure out what is going on here."</div> <div> Missiledine: "Oh yeah, right. You get thrown off the island by it's Lord. Sneak back on. Skulk around like bandits and now your here to save us! Hah!"</div> <div> Dukejr01: "We have seen signs of wolf and actually seen a Long Tooth. Odd, that is, on an island like this, don;t you think?"</div> <div> Missiledine: "Lots of odd things around.." He grins "Look at the company you keep."</div> <div> Docportal: ""When the next time of the full moon?"</div> <div> Missiledine: <who are you asking?></div> <div> Docportal: <Any in the room></div> <div> Missiledine: The elf say, "Couple days."</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Skulking is not my idea of a great idea, either. However I was bound by my word and now I want to know what has happened to my friend and Contract holder. I am asking you, please, how to go down and get him."</div> <div> Missiledine: "Jump."</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren grins.</div> <div> Docportal: "Is there ever been a mity about shapechagers? asking Long"</div> <div> Missiledine: <mity?></div> <div> Docportal: <myth></div> <div> Missiledine: "Shapeshifters are real, so is Lycanthropy. Lots of Druids can shape change, some have Lycanthropy. Druids don't see it as an evil.  Some of the Scarlet Cults can do it too, or so I hear."</div> <div> Dukejr01: "no point in staying here. Lets go." Corren turns to the man, "Is your bleeding stopped?"</div> <div> Missiledine: "Like you care."</div> <div> Docportal: "Well that helps some but no great ideas have come around."</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Lets go" Corren heads over to the other entrance</div> <div> Docportal: leave the wounded man's sword and follow the others.</div> <div> Missiledine: "We just leaving him?" Fin asks  "What if he's one of them? Who ever 'Them' is."</div> <div> Dukejr01: "He isn;t going anywhere"</div> <div> Missiledine: <sorry, Long asks></div> <div> Docportal: "Not fast anyway"</div> <div> Missiledine: Long shrugs, "Good point."</div> <div> Missiledine: you go where?</div> <div> Dukejr01: other entrance.</div> <div> Missiledine: ok</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren wants to see if there is a way down </div> <div> Missiledine: entering the other tunnel, you find the passage to be about 10' wide and seven feet high. Some forty feet in the tunnel widens out to about twenty feet, but ends with a ledge. You can see the top of a wooden ladder projecting </div> <div> Missiledine: up from below</div> <div> Docportal: "Down?"</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren takes off his helm and holds it over the edge</div> <div> Missiledine: <yes the ladder allows you to go down></div> <div> Missiledine: nothing happens</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren puts the helm back on and looks</div> <div> Dukejr01: he has his shield ready</div> <div> Missiledine: the ladder leads down into the gloom below.  You notice an iron spike on the wall to the right of the ladder, below the ledge, there is a lantern hanging there</div> <div> Dukejr01: lit?</div> <div> Missiledine: no</div> <div> Dukejr01: oil in it?</div> <div> Missiledine: yes, feels full</div> <div> Docportal: "take it and light it."</div> <div> Dukejr01: k, corren puts on his pack, slings his shield. he lights the lamp and starts down.</div> <div> Dukejr01: "We should warn thorin."</div> <div> Docportal: "I will be the last to go down so I will warn thorin."</div> <div> Dukejr01: Best go get him. he jsut as well come along. its all or nothing now.</div> <div> Dukejr01: <quote that></div> <div> Docportal: "Ok I go get Thorin."</div> <div> Missiledine: <right></div> <div> Missiledine: you climb up or call to him?</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren will start down.</div> <div> Docportal: climb up</div> <div> Missiledine: ok... when you get to the top you discover he is gone... you do find his bow</div> <div> Docportal: take his bow and look for sings of trouble.</div> <div> Missiledine: Corren, the ladder goes down about twenty feet and rests on a ledge that is about 8' wide and ten feet long.  There is another lantern here and the top of another lantern going down</div> <div> Missiledine: sorry, ladder gouing down</div> <div> Dukejr01: corren tests it and goes down.</div> <div> Missiledine: The ground up top of the bluff shows many foot prints, some yours, some other folks. </div> <div> Missiledine: Dawn is with you</div> <div> Missiledine: Long will wait for Vance to return</div> <div> Dukejr01: k</div> <div> Docportal: Any sign of a person being drage off?</div> <div> Missiledine: there is no sign of blood or battle tho</div> <div> Missiledine: the unknown foot prints follow the edge of the bluff to the right, heading roughly in the direction of town and the path</div> <div> Docportal: do the seam to get heavier after the area where Thorin was last?</div> <div> Missiledine: Corren, the ladder seems ok and you start down. From above you hear Long call, "Vance hasn't come back, what should I do?"</div> <div> Missiledine: you can't tell</div> <div> Dukejr01: "he might have run into trouble. Go to the entrance and call to him."</div> <div> Docportal: Climb down and tell the others.</div> <div> Missiledine: You will meet Long coming to look for you</div> <div> Docportal: explan to him what I found</div> <div> Dukejr01: continue down</div> <div> Missiledine: Long will go in and call down, "Thorin is gone!"</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren swears again. "Dammit, this keeps gettting worse. Well, you can stay together with us or go look for him. I am going after Rolb first."</div> <div> Missiledine: Corren, just after Long calls this bit of info, you think you hear a noise below</div> <div> Dukejr01: no surprise. we just warned the guy guarding below.</div> <div> Dukejr01: do we get to another ledge?</div> <div> Missiledine: you continue down?</div> <div> Docportal: Follow corren down. "Might be of help to him down there."</div> <div> Dukejr01: depends is thre another ledge?</div> <div> Missiledine: you see one below you</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren will slide down the ladder. placing feet and arms on each side of the ladder to make it a swift passage.</div> <div> Missiledine: The ladder is a bit rickety for such antics, but you make it down in one piece.  You are on a ledge that is a bit bigger then the one above you, maybe 9' wide and fifteen long</div> <div> Dukejr01: are there any large rocks to drop down?</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren will go to the edge and stick his helm over it like he did before.</div> <div> Missiledine: you hear a scraping sound and see the next ladder down, to your left, start sliding down</div> <div> Dukejr01: how long are these ladders?</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren runs over to it.</div> <div> Missiledine: the last one was a bit over twenty feet, tho they are not uniform in size</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren grabs for it</div> <div> Docportal: How far down are me and Long?</div> <div> Missiledine: you grab the top rung and can feel the weight of the ladder suddenly hang free as it's other end drops off the ledge below (you think.)</div> <div> Dukejr01: pull it up. get head and hands from over hte edge</div> <div> Missiledine: you have just reached the first ledge. Dawn is below you as is Corren</div> <div> Missiledine: Some one is still pulling on it, but you can't see them in the gloom below. Dawn will grab on and help you</div> <div> Docportal: IS there a lamp here? grab it and take it down with us</div> <div> Dukejr01: brace and grimly pull it up run by rung</div> <div> Missiledine: yes, at the top of the ladder to the next ledge is a lantern</div> <div> Missiledine: it is quite a struggle, but the two of you seem to be winning, slowly</div> <div> Dukejr01: corren sneaks a peek over hte edge to see his opponent.</div> <div> Missiledine: you have gained about ten feet of ladder, when you can just make out the other end... there is no one there, but a rope is tied to the bottom rung and it is pulled taut, leading over the ledge into the dark below</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Clever"</div> <div> Dukejr01: keep pulling.</div> <div> Missiledine: <thank you 8-)></div> <div> Dukejr01: as soon as Vance and Long get to our level corren says "take the ladder you just used and use it to gain the next level down.</div> <div> Docportal: any body have a tourch?</div> <div> Missiledine: quite suddenly there is a 'thwish' and a 'snap' the rope breaks, apparently rubbed through on the rock edge. Vance and Long arrive as you two satumble back, the ladder slamming into the wall behind you</div> <div> Dukejr01: oops!</div> <div> Missiledine: do you pull it up the rest of the way?</div> <div> Dukejr01: nah put it back down. </div> <div> Missiledine: ok</div> <div> Dukejr01: is ther anywhere that is best for cover?</div> <div> Missiledine: back behind the edge where you can't be seen from below</div> <div> Dukejr01: do that.</div> <div> Docportal: Cloths someone. then use some lamp oil on them. light them drop them on to the next level.</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren will quickly clamber down the ladder</div> <div> Missiledine: the next level is about twenty five feet below</div> <div> Missiledine: whose clothes?</div> <div> Docportal: <NM. Corren is aready down there.></div> <div> Missiledine: ok</div> <div> Missiledine: there is no ladder off this ledge...</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Come down and hand down the other ladder too."</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren does his helm check thing.</div> <div> Missiledine: nothing happens</div> <div> Missiledine: from below you hear a grating sound, then silence</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren puts his helm back on and looks.</div> <div> Missiledine: dark down there</div> <div> Dukejr01: k. lower a lantern on a rope.</div> <div> Docportal: "Hold on we will do this my way."</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren shrugs. "okay"</div> <div> Missiledine: below is floor... no sign of anyone, but a length of rope is visible</div> <div> Docportal: Any one have some rags on them?</div> <div> Dukejr01: corren lowers the lanp on the rope.</div> <div> Missiledine: Long will give you some clothing</div> <div> Dukejr01: nm</div> <div> Docportal: "If the lamp on the rope is working then we go your way." Give back the clothing.</div> <div> Missiledine: it lights an area around it</div> <div> Dukejr01: corren looks</div> <div> Missiledine: <as above></div> <div> Dukejr01: how far down is it? will the ladders reache?</div> <div> Missiledine: the one you recovered is the longest you have, it will be about three feet short of cresting the edge</div> <div> Docportal: Sould we lower the ladder now?</div> <div> Dukejr01: drive in a piton. tie the remains of the rope to it and lower it. use the rope to climb down to the ladder.</div> <div> Dukejr01: yep</div> <div> Missiledine: ok.... you do that without any difficulty</div> <div> Docportal: I will help lower the ladder</div> <div> Missiledine: everyone going down?</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren climbs down and looks about.</div> <div> Dukejr01: WE should take all the ladders we have with us.</div> <div> Missiledine: large area down here. Piles of rubble, rusting tools, rotting wooden crates and, what look like carts</div> <div> Dukejr01: last person down cut the rope before decendingthe ladder so we can lower it to our level in case someone draws it up from above.</div> <div> Missiledine: "What about the top ladder?" Long asks</div> <div> Dukejr01: Corren will circle the walls looking for exits.</div> <div> Dukejr01: "Too late now for the top ladder."</div> <div> Missiledine: Everyone down? All ladders collected, except the top one</div> <div> Docportal: I go down and look to see where the rope leads.</div> <div> Dukejr01: cool</div> <div> Missiledine: <I think we'll stop here.></div> <div> Dukejr01: k. thanks!</div> <div> Dukejr01: night all</div> <div> Docportal: k thanks.</div> <div> Missiledine: thank you</div> <div> Missiledine: night</div> <div> Dukejr01 has left the room.</div> <div> Docportal: night to both of you.</div> <div> Missiledine: night</div> </td> </tr></table></body>