Deeper Underdark

Going down ...
After passing through the known caverns with the Matrix Node, the group is now at the top of the chasm that leads down to the deeper underdark.

Oliver, let’s leave some alcohol here at the mouth of the chasm. Back in his element, Grin hammers two pitons into the rock (one is a backup), ties a pulley to them and threads a rope though the pulley.

Right, if it’s alright with you lot, I’ll go down first. We’ll be rappelling into the chasm, one at a time. Brewner, hold this end of the rope tightly and let me down slowly. We’ll use the communicators if I need you to stop. I’ll tie this end round me like this.

He shows them how to attach it to their climbing gear.

Ealdwig should come next, I’ll counter his weight on the way down. Then Ealdwig and I can together counter the larger folks until we’re all down. We’ll leave this rope here so we can get back.

Grin uses the echo amulet to give him a sense of the shape and size of the chasm. Lighting a torch, he intends to hold onto it for as long as possible, dropping it below him if he needs both hands at any difficult points.

He turns to the group and says: For Frodo.

If there aren’t any objections, he starts down into the chasm.

Ealdwig pauses at the mouth of the cavern. Repelling already, great. Ok, let's do this. Hearing Grin call up from the bottom, Ealdwig starts to climb down the rope.

"Good plan, i have an extra climbing gear, if needed"
Brewner holds the rope firmly

Ealdwig takes Brewner up on his offer and puts on the gear quickly. Thanks. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he grabs the rope and goes for it. He's screaming in his head the whole way down.

Finally hitting bottom, Ealdwig swoons a little, and finally exhales. With small shaking hands he unhooks himself.

Holy Hells. Ealdwig exclaims quietly to himself. Calming down and steadying himself, Ealdwig smiles excitedly pretty great. I can get used to that, just like when I started with acrobatics. Ok Grin, that's the first one. Not too bad. Just need some practice. I've never done that before. Ealdwig looks up, wow, that's high.

I should have taken some time to practice with the rope caster. Only used it the one time Skeeve showed me how. Ealdwig takes it out to study it. Seems good for going up, maybe even crossing a chasm, but going down? Ealdwig scratches his head trying to figure out how to do that. Do I wrap it around me then shoot up and attach it to something, then drop down with it? Hum...

I wonder if the spider silk could hold my weight?

Ealdwig takes Brewner up on his offer and puts on the gear quickly. Thanks. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he grabs the rope and goes for it. He's screaming in his head the whole way down.

Finally hitting bottom, Ealdwig swoons a little, and finally exhales. With small shaking hands he unhooks himself.

Holy Hells. Ealdwig exclaims quietly to himself. Calming down and steadying himself, Ealdwig smiles excitedly pretty great. I can get used to that, just like when I started with acrobatics. Ok Grin, that's the first one. Not too bad. Just need some practice. I've never done that before. Ealdwig looks up, wow, that's high.

I should have taken some time to practice with the rope caster. Only used it the one time Skeeve showed me how. Ealdwig takes it out to study it. Seems good for going up, maybe even crossing a chasm, but going down? Ealdwig scratches his head trying to figure out how to do that. Do I wrap it around me then shoot up and attach it to something, then drop down with it? Hum...

I wonder if the spider silk could hold my weight?

Well done, Ealdwig! You’re a natural!

Grin uses the communicator to silently describe them pulling up Brewner’s climbing gear so he can use it on his way down. Realizing that they all have climbing gear, he suggests they all use the rope to steady them and come down when they are ready - no need to go one at a time.

He places his torch down, steadying it to be a beacon of sorts for the team as they rappel down. He uses the echo amulet again to determine the shape and size of the cavern they’ve landed in.

"Oliver are you ready? the last one to reach the bottom have to pay a round of ale for the whole group next time in town" Brewner says in good spirit

Ealdwig pulls the chromacloth out and puts it on, like a headband. He commands, light and the headband starts to glow dim light. He looks at Grin and grins not bad right?

Felix glanced at the pitons as the others descended into the chasm, making sure they didn’t budge. Hmm, are we playing Rock, Parchment, Shears for the last trip down? Or is it more of a race at this point. I’m almost broke, and I owe 25G for this climbing harness, and probably triple that for this magic brain crystal….so I’m libel to just jump to get out of that bar bill

Felix grins at the ridiculousness of his situation, and readies his rope, leaning over the edge, with his spade and sword swinging a bit more freely from his back.

For whomever Frodo is!

The climb down was both awkward and tricky, but not exceptionally difficult as they came prepared. Once they got into the pit, they saw it was not completely vertical, but at a slop initially. However, after the initial 10 feet or so, it's incline increased steeply to a near vertical drop. The craggy tunnel also narrowed, then expanded, ranging in size between 2 and 20 feet and back again. After a bit, Grin found himself needing to extend his rope to make it to the bottom. All told, the entire drop ended up being around 80 feet down.

Once Grin made it down, the others were able to follow. Ealdwig followed first, then both Oliver and Felix followed behind Ealdwig. Brewner waited for the others to make it down, before untying all of the ropes except for the one Grin initially used. (There was no reason to just leave all of their ropes hanging in case they needed them later.) Once the other ropes were released, Brewner followed on Grin's ropes.

When they reach the bottom, they found themselves in a cavern more than 10 times larger than any you have seen before. You realize there is a dim ambient light, enough to see forms move in the darkness, as well as the general outline of most stones. Small patches of lichen or fungus emit a soft blue/gree light. In the distance the light is a bit brighter, but the air seems oddly milky from the glow as if mist or dust fills much of the cavern.

You hear scratching noises, like claws on the stone surfaces. Grin and Ealdwig can hear it coming closer, but as Oliver and Felix land, the sounds of movement stop. As the noise of Brewner's descent reaches the wary ground, the movement starts up again, but it recedes into the distance, soon becoming inaudible.

Once sure that whatever was making the noise is gone, the group starts investigating the huge cavern once more. Now that they are quiet so that they can hear the receding noise more clearly, they can hear the occasional sound of wind, though the are feels still and stagnant. As you look out, you can see the cavern floor is rough, and there are frequent stalagmites and stalagmites throughout.

Well friends, we’ve made it. And we’re not alone. What should we do? Perhaps head towards the light in the distance?