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Post by Game Master on Apr 29, 2007 3:04:14 GMT -5
Kursaville decided to reassert control over his investigation before people scattered or Ritage decided to take it from him. "You heard the man people. Firebug talk to him on the way down. We'll separate into teams at the bottom. One dwarf per team. Siff, get me a head count. Master Halfhelm how many people can this elevator hold?"
"All of us. It's designed to carry two tons or iron ore plus the carts and miners. She'll hold." The smith retorted with a touch of injured pride in his voice.
Stone had managed to figure out the controls just about the time the last person, including Porthen boarded the platform.
"Hold on." He pulled both levers and untied a rope and the great dwarven elevator began its decent.
"How long till we reach bottom?" Someone called from the group.
"Seven minutes." Came the reply as over a half dozen dwarfs stated in unison.
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Post by sfliegel on May 1, 2007 18:23:18 GMT -5
As the elevator dropped into the darkness Siff scanned the group and began taking a head count, counting herself, 22 bodies. She leaned over to Kursaville and whispered the head into his ear.
Firebug pushed his way over toward Stone. He spoke as softly as he could so as to still be heard by Stone, "What did you do to the door of the mine? When we first met up with Halfhelm, he was half crazed because of it."
As the cart neared the bottom Kursaville and Ritage were discussing teams, Ritage wanted to slip up into as many as possible so he suggested 11 teams. Kursaville wanted larger teams in the event of trouble and suggested 7 teams. Soon everyone was making suggestions tossing them into the ring.
Finally, just feet from the ground Firebug says, "I suggest 5 teams, safety in numbers. Stone, Siff, Halfhelm and myself will be one group and we will follow Stone's hunch. Constable Ritage you lead your team of, Sull, Brashen, one of Halfhelm's other miners and smith. Constable Kursaville you lead a team of Cette, Porthen and another of Halfhelm's smiths. Deputy Kollins, you lead your team of Rex and another miner, and another of Halfhelm's smiths. Mason I think you should lead the final team with the last 2 miners and the last smith. Does that sound acceptable to eveyone?"
Just then the elevator touched the ground and came to smooth stop.
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Post by homeskillet on May 1, 2007 19:29:53 GMT -5
Firebug pushed his way over toward Stone. He spoke as softly as he could so as to still be heard by Stone, "What did you do to the door of the mine? When we first met up with Halfhelm, he was half crazed because of it." Stone looks very disinterested in this conversation. He is concentrating on something, far off. " Friend Firebug," Stone begins," I am really concentrating on something right now to be able to get into this talk, but go ask Porthen about the door, since his lack of helping is to blame for it." Stone then goes back to his meditative-type state. |
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Post by Game Master on May 2, 2007 12:54:50 GMT -5
It is dark down here. VERY DARK. "Anyone have a bloody torch?" Constable Ritage asks. The dwarves just grunt or chuckle. Tull speaks up. I have two, and lights them both. Upon reaching the bottom the group sees that there are 8 main tunnels spreading out like a wagon wheel with the elevator at the hub. Some decline while others have a slight incline. Still others seem to just go straight. The dust down here is thick and palpable. Rocks ranging from pebbles to large stones are scattered everywhere. Of the 8 tunnels two have collapsed not far inside. A thirds entrance arch support look ready to give at any moment. Soft creaking and groaning sounds can be heard from all directions. The one word that comes to everyones mind is 'unsafe'. Aiko continues meditating. His eyes snap open and he darts off down one of the inclining tunnels. "This way, watch your step." He gets only one hundred feet before he reaches his first obstacle. The tunnel has partially collapsed and there is over a half ton of rock blocking 90% of the passage. A very small of thin person could snake through the top.
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Post by homeskillet on May 3, 2007 1:46:27 GMT -5
Stone closes his eyes and begins to breathe slow and rhythmic. He pivots and moves his arms in a circular motion. The slow movement resembles some kind of alien war dance to the southerners present. The rocks on the bottom of the hole begin to creak and pop. Before everyone's eyes the stones melt into mud.
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Post by Game Master on May 3, 2007 2:00:37 GMT -5
"Ahh, so he's the one." Halfhelm grumbles. "I'll be wantin to talk to yeh later lad." He tells Aiko when he finishes his exotic dance.
The mud seeps into the cracks or slurps down the side. The hole is now twice as large. Big enough for everyone to crawl through.
"What exactly are we tracking Master Stone?" Siff the priestess asks in a lovely inquisitive voice.
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Post by homeskillet on May 3, 2007 2:09:07 GMT -5
" I must find it first," Stone is being cryptic and mysterious. He doesn't want to let the cat out of the bag," Hopefully, Lady Siff, Nilla will be what we find." Stone turns to Halfhelm," We can discuss anything you like after we find the girl," Stone declares,"But I want Porthen present when we do and by the way you have a fantastic mine." Stone smiles and bows and goes back to tracking.
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Post by Game Master on May 3, 2007 2:27:56 GMT -5
The group takes a few minutes to squeeze through. The corridor continues past the rock fall. Aiko turns back and studies the cave in. After a moment he looks to Halfhelm. Honorable smith, this cave in looks natural. Do you agree or does it look like it was purposely blocked?"
Halfhelm looks at the rock pile as well. "No, it was natural. Looks like a tremor shifted the weight distribution there and there." The smith pointed.
Satisfied Aiko turns to the tunnel and continues on. It winds this way and that. Occasionally there is a side tunnel but Aiko ignores them for now. The tunnel continues to head on an incline.
"What can you tell us of these passages Halfhelm?" Siff asks with a slight tremor in her voice.
"Nervous child?" The smith asks in return.
"A little." Siff smiles. I've never been this far underground before."
"Well this is the oldest of the mines. It was the original. The main tunnel we are in now slowly heads back to ground level. Only small deposits of Iron ore were ever found up this way. Hence the high quantity of side passages. They all play out a short distance in. A good pick for our relentless guide there." Rudgarr points at Aiko's back. "It is almost impossible to get lost in this particular passage. Every branch runs off this main artery."
"Thats good to know." Firebug commented. Siff had almost forgot he was there he had been so quiet.
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Post by sfliegel on May 4, 2007 14:44:54 GMT -5
Firebug brings up the rear but tries to stay close enough not to become seperated. "Master Halfhelm, do you think those rocks I showed you might have come from this area?"
Siff glanced over her shoulder, "I was beginning to think we had lost you."
"No such luck I assure you. Stone I don't know what it is you are tracking exactly but in my vision of Nilla..." Firebug goes on to describe in as much detail has he can recall of his vision of the area where Nilla was being held. In one part he hoped Stone could tie the two together, his sense the decription, in the other maybe something might sound familiar to Halfhelm.
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Post by homeskillet on May 4, 2007 19:26:43 GMT -5
Stone listens to Firebug's description. " My tracking is not as visual, Firebug, but I will keep your vision in mind." Stone informs.
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Post by sfliegel on May 4, 2007 19:54:51 GMT -5
"All I'm saying is that when we get to where ever your sense is leading us and if it matches my earlier vision, then we will most likely find Nilla. What about you Master Halfhelm? Would that sound like anything we might find along this route?" Firebug seemed very sincere in his question.
Siff gave him another long look, she hadn't heard him speak with such sincerity before. She wondered how much of this was to find Nilla, and how much of it was to prove himself, his visions were right.
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Post by Game Master on May 6, 2007 0:12:29 GMT -5
Halfhelm snorts gruffly. "This whole bloody mine matches that description. Look there." Halfhelm points. "Some of the Orange lime you refer too. It is getting more plentiful." He added.
Aiko intent on the gold loses it and must stop and join with the earth once more. He has done this on a half dozen occasions Fire Bug notes. Each time taking a few minutes of Stone 'digging in' to the earthen floor and meditating. Then without warning he darts forward hot on the trail up the main artery. Only this time he heads down a side tunnel.
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Post by homeskillet on May 6, 2007 2:06:03 GMT -5
" I beleive we may be getting closer," Stone hopes.
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Post by Game Master on May 6, 2007 2:29:05 GMT -5
Unlike the main passage, this one is rougher and much more narrow in width and shorter as well. At random intervals small alcoves can be seen hewn from the stone walls around you were decades ago dwarfs attempted to hit iron. None are more then 10 feet deep until you come to one that opens up into a small chamber a good 15 feet square. Stone takes this path without hesitation but stops inside the chamber. Another passage can be seen continuing on. The chamber is only 5 feet high. Stone senses....
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Post by Game Master on May 6, 2007 2:30:38 GMT -5
"I think..." Too late. Stone was so focused on his other senses he failed to notice the fatal flaws in the rock above. The chamber was unstable and the ceiling ready to collapse. "MOVE!" is the only warning he can give his comrades before he dives for safety.
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