Chapter 8: A Puzzle

[jstater]

Who has a really good argument against Grumm jumping into the portal?

[Nekron99]

"I am more for the halfling, but if you need help I can push you in"

"I would actually have no argument against that, you are the most able to handle the situation on the other side, but then again, you may be faced with a conundrum that you, er do not have the faculties for....you know, perhaps something your sword cannot handle. Then all we could do is sit at the wall and listen to you scream for your mommy. But I guess we could always throw food and water into the portal so you might not die. But how do we know that you can get out if you go in? Should we perhaps try the same experiment with a rope tied to a bag so that we can see if it can come back?" Brother Arven replies to Grumm's question, in a joking manner but you can tell that there is an underlying seriousness as well.

[Hywaywolf]

Its likely that the door is easy to open from that side, if it is a door. Or maybe yopu can come back through the portal tyhe same way you went in. You can always toss the pottery back through and we can knock on the wall twice to tell you it came back. I won't stop you from going through, but this is a thief's job. And for a thief, shybolt is also pretty good in a fight. If you do go through, step aside quickly because I am coming in right after you

[Nekron99]

Brother Arven listens, "Master Shybolt, as much as I would hate to say it, does make a good point. The scouting and sneaky stuff is the realm of the "Thief" (Arven actually does the obnoxious finger air quote marks) and that is what he is, and, as he also says, he is fairly adequate at the martial skills in so much that I believe he could handle something on the other side, at least for the few moments it would take us to discern that he needed help and follow him through."

"I myself would feel more comfortable testing it to see if there is indeed a way to come back through the portal first, but this is my first foray into the unknown depths of the great underdark and I realize that you are all much more experienced in this matter than I so I will humbly go with what you all want to do."
Brother Arven stands by expectantly

[Hywaywolf]

After hearing the second noise confirm his belief that the portal leads to this potential treasure room, shybolt hurriedly returns to the portal room gathering Grumm and Arven as he goes. he explains to them what he heard and listens to their comments, then says, "I believe this portal is the way into the secret room. It won't take but a moment or two to toss in something with a rope tied to it and see if we can pull it back. Then those of us who want to go in will go in."

I am assuming we resupplied with rope and whatnot while we were resting in the if not some of us must still have rope left. Shybolt will tie that rope to his winter blanket, stand on the free end of the rope. (not hold it or tie it onto my body), and toss the blanket into the portal. If it goes in and the rope doesn't sheer in half then he will try to pull it back.

[jstater]

Then by all means, let's throw in something tied to a rope, and then Shybolt tied to a rope.

[Sir Bedivere]

"If Shybolt comes back alive, maybe we could find a way to anchor the rope and all go in," Timorel says.

[Hywaywolf]

ok, so now we wait to see what the GM says about the blanket and rope.

[Solomoriah]

The discussion being over, Shybolt threw the bundled blanket into the circle. As before, it disappeared instantly as soon as it touched the floor, as did the rope up to the point it crossed the circle. But though the evidence of his eyes told him it was gone, the tug on the rope revealed that it was still there. As best as Shybolt could tell, the "magic portal" was a pit covered by some persistent illusion...

[Hywaywolf]

Shybolt will pull the blanket back up and tie the rope to himself, ready his sword and after making sure the others had the rope held tightly, says, "let me down slowly. When I reached the end, I will give a double tug on the rope. If I yank hard, many times, pull me back quickly. After I give the double tug, I'll look for a way to open the secret door. If I find it I'll see if I can open it, and if I can, I'll give another double tug to let you know you can come around the other way if you don't want to come thru the portal."