RED OAK: Beyond the Mirror

[Longman]

(This map upload supersedes anything I may have told you about room numbers).

Level 3a is all one level of the map. The thing is, it drops down 15' at the point marked 12b. So if you want to keep going north, you have to drop down into the pillar room (room 13). There isn't anywhere else to go.

Freya and the dwarves are currently at 12b. The floor is stable. You are looking down into the pillar room. 15' below. It's still on level 3a.

Do you go down or not?

[Woe]

I am using http://basicfantasy.org/forums/download ... hp?id=1527. See the passage in 12 that leads north to 3a? That's where I'm headed. 3a -> eventually up to outside. Of course the map isn't correct. That's what I get for trusting a map that's hundreds of years old.

[Woe]

Ah. So 3a and 3b are not the same level? That was my mistake. I thought they were.

Ok, so now they definitely need to figure out what's down there. Fortunately, we have a periscope! Freya, raise... uh... lower periscope!

[Longman]

See the passage in 12 that leads north to 3a?

It leads north until it drops down into the pillar room, from above. Then the passage to 3a goes on form there.

I don't understand the source of the confusion. The map is entirely accurate.

Basically, do you want to go down into the pillar room or not? It is the only way to get to the passage that goes north to 3a. If you do not climb down into room 13, you will have to go someplace else.

[Woe]

Yep. We double-cross-posted. The party wants to see what's down below first.

[Longman]

3a and 3b are on different maps. Is that what you mean?

Freya lowers the periscope to check out the pillar room.

She sees pillars, in spots indicated. Can't see anything in the alcoves yet.

She also sees a trip wire strung between the first 2 alcoves. Looks like goblin work. An alarm, plus a beaker of stuff to fall down on you. The usual deal.

[Woe]

3a and 3b are different maps. I thought they were the same level, with 3a being "level 3 north" and 3b being "level 3 south". It makes sense if you start with the assumption that it's the same level.

Time to have a wee bit of exploratory fun. Tiana will animate her magic hand and float it down with some smelly dwarven jerky. If that doesn't excite anything, next up she will try a candle, then a torch.

[Longman]

This indicates that at least the magic user has moved up to the hole now.

She floats down various objects during the spell's 10 round duration, and nothing at all happens.

[Woe]

Ok, very quick powwow amongst the party. Does it seem better to climb down via rope or by having Tiana cast spider climb and ferrying everyone?

[Longman]

Spider climb would be inadequate unless you also cast coracle (floating disc). So that's 2 SP. Spider climb just gives Tiana her own carrying capabilities and there's no way she could carry a dwarf or Talin down the wall.

Seems like rope is a better option to me. If you spike a rope in, you might as well go around with a megaphone yelling INTRUDERS IN THE DUNGEON. So, someone will have to hold the rope and then jump down afterwards. (My money's on Freya for that job.)