Chapter 8: A Puzzle

[Solomoriah]

Timorel says, "Why don't we tie another rope in? That way we don't have to worry about losing hold of this one."

What, exactly, does this mean?

[Hywaywolf]

I wasn't sure either, but figured it couldn't hurt lol.

[Sir Bedivere]

Swinging to the doorway might be possible, but he'd have to let go to land there. If he's very lucky, he might be able to hang on to the very end of the rope... but getting back up the rope would still expose him to a dunk in the water first.

My earlier thought was, why take a chance on losing hold of the rope? We have more than one. Take one we aren't using, splice it to the end of the rope we'll be going down, tie the other end to Shybolt and have him loop the slack diagonally from one shoulder to the other hip. Then, he goes down, swings over and drops, but doesn't have to worry about holding onto the rope he's swinging on.

However, it might be more effective if we anchored the rope on the same side of the pit as the doorway we're trying to get through below. Then, very little if any swinging around and jumping would be involved.

[Hywaywolf]

I think the pit hole isn't very wide so I took Chris at his word that the distance from the pit hole to the passage is about 10' and swinging over would be required no matter where we tie the rope. I was also thinking that reaching the passage was a function of geometry and not length of rope. IE, I am hang 10' feet down and need to swing over 10', the distance from the pit edge to passage would be 14' so I would have to use my momentum to go the final 3-4 feet, even if I still had plenty of rope left. So I think he is saying I can hold onto the extra rope but I would have to actually jump a little for the passage.

Either way, if there is not enough rope I will tie on more, if there is enough I won't. But I don't plan to be hog tied to the rope and tossed like a dwarf at the passage . I don't want to make the leap either because if I slip and fall, the beastie will get me. I would rather try the distraction and then run for it.

So thats my plan, slide down, toss 1/2 sandwich. drop into water and run for it. And hope the others follow.

[Sir Bedivere]

I'm not talking about the rope being long enough. I'm talking about not losing hold of it. Even if you swim, why not keep hold of the rope? That way we can climb back out more easily.

[Hywaywolf]

Its only a couple feet deep, so I shouldn't have to swim. And I don't plan on coming back this way . And if I do I am killing the beast before I go back up. At any rate, I don't need to take the rope with me because someone in the portal room can just toss me the end of the rope once I make the passage. I want my hands free to react to whatever happens, and I don't want to be tied to the rope just in case it snags on something as I am running for the passage. Don't want to be jerked to a stop in the middle of the water

[Nekron99]

"Well go on and start descending there Master Shybait and we will be right down after you." Brother Arven suggests.
"I have the tail, and if we need to climb out the rope will still be here, if we do not need to climb back out then the rope will still be here regardless." he shrugs and starts to get nervous thinking about being the last one up in the room alone.

[Hywaywolf]

I'm ready. When Chris decides we are all set on the same plan he will trip the trap, err I mean tell us what happens. So anywho, shybolt makes sure we have plenty of rope then starts to descend into the pit, sandwich ready to throw and legs ready to run to the passage. "Shine the torch down here so I can see," he calls back.

[Solomoriah]

I'm ready. When Chris decides we are all set on the same plan he will trip the trap, err I mean tell us what happens. So anywho, shybolt makes sure we have plenty of rope then starts to descend into the pit, sandwich ready to throw and legs ready to run to the passage. "Shine the torch down here so I can see," he calls back.

No one can hear you. Once you step inside the runic circle, you are invisible and inaudible to the others.

[Hywaywolf]

Ok, I wait a 30 seconds and if no light shows up (we did discuss this earlier ) I will climb back up, poke my head up and say, "A little light, please." Then go back down. when the light shows up I do the toss, splash and scamper.