[[ Name: Elosa ]]

Ithelion smiles mentally, Wasn't what I gave you enough? Greedy bird! You can have the rest of my bacon when we finish.

She didn't want it to get out of range, so pulls it back before it does. If it can circle out of range of the spiders, it does. Otherwise she sends it to the pocket dimension, and summons it to her side. [[ Assuming that's permissible ]]

Was there any sign of the equipment the couple were carrying? [[ (a) interested in gear(!), (b) if no gear, it implies intelligence ]]

Turning to Durnan, she says, "You wouldn't have any mice, by any chance? She's hungry."

[So, a little more visualization for you and what you will need to do.  The hoist can accomodate 2, maybe 3, people at a time.  Depends on the weight.  It will take about 1 minute to lower you down safely - you can choose to be lowered fast but not recommended - then another 10 seconds or so to pull it up.

You'll need to decide on the order you are going down.  I think Daemyar and Lorell still need to pay?  Apologies if that's wrong.  Here's a visual of the pit and the hoist:]

 [[ The beginnings of an idea for a plan:

- First group going down slowly with either lights or darkvision, and spells or missile weapons if they can be used while holding on to the rope. It looks like one hand may be free; I assume bows could not be used, but spells could?

- If we can get three down first (Daemyar, Krom, Garnet), Krom could use Light on something and drop it down, so the bottom is lit. The he could use cantrips as they go to soften things up (unless they can use a bow).

- The second group (Ithelion and Lorell) could come down fast or slow; slow would give them a few rounds to use cantrips, fast might be necessary if there are unwanted surprises.

- Ithelion sends Elosa with strict instruction to fly above the first group so she can keep an eye on them.

]]

[[OOC: does the first group have someone with a heal? I have two separate healing spells and think I should go in the first group in case there is a conflict and there isn't a healer among you all.]]

Lorell sits patiently waiting for the group to decide what the order will be for descent, while sipping on his tea. 

[[ I'm off to sleep: happy with any plan that does not start with "toss the elf into the pit..."]]

( I have a spell I would like to use ethier at the top on all five or at the bottom of the well with the first group. Not sure with spell restrictions from Durnan. Pass without Trace. Is the one. I like The group suggestions @Garrazthevagabond Yes I do have healing.)

Daemyar flicks a gold piece to Durnan.

”Won’t be needing the second one, one way or another.”

He then readies himself to go down first. “What are we waiting for?”

Krom finishes his breakfast and free dwarven ale, letting out a belch of satisfaction, "This Dwarf is ready to go and any order is good with me." Krom hoists his backpack onto his back and takes up his trusty warhammer, "Better be ready to scrap once ye set foot down there. Though, if ye want a light to go first I can light up me warhammer or handaxe and drop it down fer any of us go."

[[ I think Krom also has healing; Daemyar probably needs light...
@Lothar: Am I correct in my earlier comments that bows would be unusable, but that one hand is free? Or is there a way to have 2 hands free? Or no hands free?  ]]

Ithelion looks at each of the first three as they voice their readiness, encouraged by what she assumes must be their bravado. She manages a faint smile, her own stomach churning. "Well then, it seems we are decided."

Her attention is drawn back to the pit and she absent-mindedly feeds her bacon to Elosa, then she regains her focus, and turns back to the three, "I will send Elosa down with you so that we can be a little better informed as we approach."

Speaking to Elosa she says, I apologise, I should have warned you: the bottom of the pit is very dangerous. You should not go there until I am there. Ground at bottom very dangerous. Huge spiders. Other things. Bad things at bottom. She waits for some sign of understanding, then turns back to the group.

"If there is nothing else, then it is time."

[[ Over to Krom, Daemyar and Garnet! ]]

As they get on the rope, Ithelion says to Lorell, "If you need my attention, tap my hand. I will not see or hear for a time."

With that she takes a seat near the edge of the pit, and closes her eyes, once again seeing through Elosa's eyes. To Elosa she says, Circle, near the top of the pit. Do not go down. Ithelion takes in what she can through Elosa's eyes. Listening and watching, if she can, to their discussion and preparation.

When she sees the group descending, she instructs Elosa, Keep circling, but go a little lower. Keep glancing at the people on the rope. Keep going...a little further down...When Elosa is roughly level with the group again, she says, Go no further for now, and be wary, but look around and down. Keep flying, but is there anywhere you could land near the walls?

Ithelion will also be looking for ledges, roots, old structures, especially as they near the bottom.

When the group is once again below Elosa, she will repeat the same procedure (assuming it worked the first time!): Keep circling, but go a little lower. Keep glancing at the people on the rope. Keep going...a little further down...When Elosa is roughly level with the group again, she says, Go no further for now, and be wary, but look around and up and down. Keep flying, but is there anywhere you could land near the walls?

Krom walks over to where the hoist is at and turns to the group, "If ye want me thoughts on first to go down, it would be Garnet, meself, and one of ye. Also, if any of ye can't see in the dark now would be a good time to say so I can give ya a light." He takes a bit of a closer look at each of them, giving a small tug on his holy symbol, "And if one of ye don't feel like yer well protected I can bless yer armor before headin' down, or if ye want your weapon to have a wee bit more punch I can bless that instead."

Daemyar snorts. “I’m at home in darkness. These things won’t touch me. Send me on in.”

Garnet nodded tapping her chest" I agree, I can go down first with Krom and Daeymaur. I don't see in the dark but I have a torch we can use" She quickly fished the torch from her pack peering over the edge. She turned back to Durnan "I know you said no magic but can I cast something before we decend?.. or is it best to wait untill we reach the bottom?"

( The spell is Pass without Trace I have to go to bed soon feel free to drag me along I think I need to roll dexterity for the spell? If so dexterity 18)

@Garnet

"Just so," Durnan says.  The only people in the common room right now are his guards and him.  "But just so ye know.  The critters that live in darkness will see ye, smell ye, hear ye.  An' there's only 2 ways out: the one ye're going down, and the one that leads to more complete horrors."

Quote from Ereshion >>

[[ I think Krom also has healing; Daemyar probably needs light...
@Lothar: Am I correct in my earlier comments that bows would be unusable, but that one hand is free? Or is there a way to have 2 hands free? Or no hands free?  ]]

---

Ithelion looks at each of the first three as they voice their readiness, encouraged by what she assumes must be their bravado. She manages a faint smile, her own stomach churning. "Well then, it seems we are decided."

Her attention is drawn back to the pit and she absent-mindedly feeds her bacon to Elosa, then she regains her focus, and turns back to the three, "I will send Elosa down with you so that we can be a little better informed as we approach."

Speaking to Elosa she says, I apologise, I should have warned you: the bottom of the pit is very dangerous. You should not go there until I am there. Ground at bottom very dangerous. Huge spiders. Other things. Bad things at bottom. She waits for some sign of understanding, then turns back to the group.

"If there is nothing else, then it is time."

[[ Over to Krom, Daemyar and Garnet! ]]

---

As they get on the rope, Ithelion says to Lorell, "If you need my attention, tap my hand. I will not see or hear for a time."

With that she takes a seat near the edge of the pit, and closes her eyes, once again seeing through Elosa's eyes. To Elosa she says, Circle, near the top of the pit. Do not go down. Ithelion takes in what she can through Elosa's eyes. Listening and watching, if she can, to their discussion and preparation.

When she sees the group descending, she instructs Elosa, Keep circling, but go a little lower. Keep glancing at the people on the rope. Keep going...a little further down...When Elosa is roughly level with the group again, she says, Go no further for now, and be wary, but look around and down. Keep flying, but is there anywhere you could land near the walls?

Ithelion will also be looking for ledges, roots, old structures, especially as they near the bottom.

When the group is once again below Elosa, she will repeat the same procedure (assuming it worked the first time!): Keep circling, but go a little lower. Keep glancing at the people on the rope. Keep going...a little further down...When Elosa is roughly level with the group again, she says, Go no further for now, and be wary, but look around and up and down. Keep flying, but is there anywhere you could land near the walls?

[You will not be able to use bows on the descent.  You will need to focus on not plummeting to your death.]

Roll a perception check (your perception).

[[ What about spells, that require just one hand? ]]

Perception: 11

You see the walls through Elosa's eyes but things are a bit herky jerky.  In order to descend slowly, she has to make circles around the well.  You see some ledges where things could stop - or be waiting.  You notice the descending group's head.  

[Re: spells that require one hand - you are in a trance-like state at the moment.  If, on your way down, you want to try to cast a spell - it's possible.  :) ]

Ithelion instructs Elosa, Keep circling, but go a little lower. Keep glancing at the people on the rope. Keep going...a little further down...When Elosa is roughly level with the group again, she says, Go no further for now, and be wary, but look around and down. Keep flying, but is there anywhere you could land near the walls -- perhaps a root? Ledges might be dangerous.

[[ Good to know re spells...for when Ithelion goes down, or Krom etc ]]

Garnet steps out into the hoist torch in hand. She hangs on tight as her other companions load on to the hoist behind her. "Alright we are ready." Turning to Ithlion and Lorell she grins "See ya'll at the bottom. " 

As they lower into the pit the spreading light from her torch does not do much to penetrate the darkness below. She can see Ithlion's little owl flirting back and forth it's little shadow scattering across the walls.
Garnet fights the urge to look up instead keeping her eyes on the walls and the darkness below. Remembering there task find the Harper shield.

Revised instructive to Elosa: Stay above the people and find a safe Perch to watch them from.

As the three of you (Garnet, Daemyar, Krom) take your places on the rope, each sliding a foot in the loop, and twining your arm to hold on to loop above, the pulley system creaks and groans under the weight of Genasi, Dwarf, and Hobgoblin....but the machinery holds despite its protestations.

As you all descend into the pit, the air gets colder and the gloom more intense.  The smell of earth and dirt assail you, as does an eldritch wind.  There is nothing wrong with the wind – it’s not deadly or anything – but the presence of it unnerves you.  Around 50 feet down, you begin to make out shapes of the structure.  The well is actually part of an old tower, the stones used are still in pretty good shape – a few missing here and there, or chipped in places.  There are uneven and rough areas where you presume stairs used to be.  The structure itself is sound and strong, as it looks like dwarven craftsmanship.

After 60 feet you are immersed in darkness and can look up to see the bright glaring mouth of the well high above.  Other than the faces of your companions peering down from the top, it reminds you of the Sun or the Moon in a pitch-black sky.  The walls are painted haphazardly with smears of darkness on the stone and even some handprints (they don’t look fresh).  The light from Garent's torch shows the dark shadows are actually blood.  You surmise that these are probably from adventurers lucky enough to ascend the well - whether they remained alive you cannot know.  This continues on.  Around the 100 foot mark (or so you’re not too sure) it gets noticeably colder and silent.  As you near the floor of the room, those of you who can see notice the dozens upon dozens of shields lining the circular wall. 

Group 1:  Room at the Bottom

You reach the dusty floor without incident, the last one of you stepping off gingerly.  Normally, you’d have to bang on the shields to signal that the rope can be brought back up.  However, with Elosa keeping watch 40 feet up - and through her Ithelion - the rope begins to climb back up the well.  It will take, you guess, about 30 seconds for it to reach the top.

Garnet's torch illuminates the room well. It’s about 40 feet in diameter with a doorway leading out. The walls are full of shields - you guess there could be upwards of 200 shields bucklers of all kinds lining the walls. More importantly, you begin to hear clicks and clacks around you.  Looking around the room, you notice some bones picked raw by...something or someone.  There are no signs of bodies or weapons or belongings.  As Garnet's torch bounces off the walls, you also notice some holes and crevices.....and reflections of light shining back at you.  you begin to see the light from garnets torch reflecting back at you. You pull back in horror as you see the first two of eight legs climbing out of one hole...then another, and another.  As you instinctively bunch together, you can currently see 3 spiders moving towards you.  Beyond them, a noticeably larger spider, along with a few more tiny ones begin to move.

I would like you three to...................Roll initiative!    :)