"Gauge, then.  Well met.  So, it is just us three?"  Garath's face grows reflective.  "My -" he pauses, abruptly.  "The caravan I accompanied into town will be dropping off some of its guards, a few of whom I know well from home.  Do you think it would make sense to offer employment to one of them, to help us balance between spell and sword?"

The academician shrugs, his mind clearly spinning in a different direction now.  "Traces of blood, and tracks leading to the well, you say?  The town guard showed me the map with the locations of these tragedies, and it does seem the well is at the center of things.  The guard also mentioned you had examined the bodies of one of the children."

Garath begins pacing up and down the street, arms folded behind his back and head lowered in thought.  "Was there blood on the poor waif's clothes?  I believe the guard mentioned the bodies were found unmarked, so it is a puzzle where the blood came from.  Also - are you sure there are no tracks leading back from the well to the site of the bodies?  The bodies must have somehow been placed in their final position after whatever horrors were visited on them down the well..."

Garath, I'm amazed at finding any tracks at all. This is a busy part of the city; a commercial district, and I don't expect to find much more no matter how much we look. The body had a faint marking as if the throat had been slit, and then someone had taken the trouble to heal the wound. There were also traces of magic, although I don't think Gauge was able to tell much more than that.

Heading towards the well, Quinlan continues. We expect the killer to strike again tonight.... The regularity of these killings makes me suspect the children have been sacrified by a cult or creature of some sort. This being a busy part of the city they would hardly be able to conduct such acts without the outmost secrecy. Hiding underground might be one way of avoiding attention.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:57, Tue 14 Aug 2007.

At the well Quinlans keen eyes have no trouble piercing the darkness below.

Garath's musings interrupted by Quinlan's urgency, he looks up at the half-drow.  "That soon?" he mutters softly.  "That does not leave us much time.  And yet... knowledge is so often the difference between a full grave and a full life.  Is there anything we can find out about these murderers before venturing into their lair?"

As Quinlan approaches the well, Garath falls silent, clearly contemplating the few scraps of information available.  After waiting for his comrade to scan the well-shaft for a few moments, the young scholar steps up to the well and peers down himself.

Agreed, but we are talking about the life of a child. We need to act on what we have, and that means investigating the well!

Since you have the better sight 'Q' should we climb or jump down?  I for one am not looking forward to trudging around in anothers poo or pee for that matter any more then is needed.  Gauge takes his jackets tails and ties them off to his legs so that the fabric would not drag anywhere on the sewer floor.  If they had to go into the water he was already counting the number of coins he had so he could buy new gear and get the soiled ones burned or washed really well by a launderer.  The thought of all that filth down there made Gauges face turn more then a few shades of green while he waited for a answer looking into the shadows with the others.

The academician seems a little flustered by Quinlan's urgency, but he quickly accedes to the half-drow's logic.

Noticing Gauge's discomfiture, he smiles reassuringly.  "Relax, Gauge.  'Tis a well, not an access point to the town's sewage system, if it even has one.  Think drinking water, not... effluvium."

Garath is making some sense, after all.

There is something down there, looks like an opening in the well wall. I could take a closer look...
Quinlan reaches for a bundle of rope in his back pack. The rope has a hook in one end that he fastens securely in the railing surrounding the well, he then peers down once more before deciding to let down the rope.
Shutting out the the din of the surrounding city Quinlan sharpens his senses as he tries to find an access down, as well as spotting possible dangers below.

12:23, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 19 using 1d20+4. Listen.
12:23, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 15 using 1d20+6. Spot.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:26, Thu 16 Aug 2007.

Well you can never be too sure in these 'proper' sections of town now can we.  Gods speed "Q".  Let us know what you see.  peering into the darkness Gauge has no idea what is past the shadows of the street lamps light, or even the moons radiance.  Looking over to Gareth from time to time to see if he can see anything more then himself for a clue as to how Quinlan is doing.

'Q' looks and listens.

The coast appears to be clear! Give me hand while I try to take a closer look.
Quinlan attaches a rope and hook securely to the side of the well, making sure that the rope falls down besides the perceived opening, and not right on top of it.
He then swings himself over the side and starts the descent.

12:58, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 27 using 1d20+7. Use rope.
12:58, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 11 using 1d20+6. Climb.

OOC: Climbing using a rope and bracing against a wall (of a well) is DC5
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Thu 23 Aug 2007.

Looking down as the companion heads deeper into the darkness using the wall and rope to decend Gauge raises an eyebrow.  Let us know when its safe for us to climb down 'Q'  Glancing back towards the newcomer Gauge speaks softly more to him self then anyone in general.  _{You know I have never climed up or down a rope before in my life...}
This message was last edited by the player at 02:55, Fri 24 Aug 2007.

Q climbs down.


Take your time climbing down, I'm bringing in another player.

Garath, leaning lightly on the well's wall and looking down at Quinlan's receding figure, glances up at Gauge, mild surprise on his face.  "I admit, my own climbing skills can be best described as pathetic, but - never to have climbed a rope?  Even as a boy?  What kind of childhood have you had?"  The youth's tone holds curiosity, concern and sympathy in balance.

Still watching 'Q' travel downwards into the darkness Gauge kept a watchfull eye and spoke softly towards Garath.  Trees, houses, barns, carts I have climbed but never a rope.  Why is that so strange, I just never did it, I mean come on, look at my arms, do you really think I can pull my self up with just a rope?  Gauge rolls up his sleave closest to Garath as if to show a point.

Gauge's words are answered by a good-natured chuckle, as the academician rolls up one of his own sleeves, displaying pale skin stretched over rather modest musculature.  Letting his robe's sleeve fall back, Garath continues, "So, you grew up in a rural area, in the countryside?  I'm a city lad, myself.  No barns, but plenty of overhanging eaves, and garden walls, and other obstacles for which a rope would come in handy."

Quinlan takes another look, to see if there is nothing he missed at first glance before heading up the rope once more (take ten). Assuming nothing of note is found he says: "So, how shall we make it down? Gareth first, then I can lower Gauge using the well pulley, and finally climb down myself?"

12:34, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 19 using 1d20+6. Spot.

Q sees nothing more.

ummmm, how big is the opening you slid down on the rope to look at?  For that matter how does it even look other then being an opening?  I for one do not want to go down knowing less and less then its a opening you saw before.  Work with us 'Q'  Not being normally frightened he still was a bit aprehensive now knowing he may be stepping into the lair of whome ever is killing these kids and the somehow healing the wounds for less evidence.

"Very well, I shall descend first," Garath agrees.  "As a favor, Quinlan, since I am not a very able climber - call out the footholds for me, if you please, so I can better brace myself against the wall here."

The fair-haired human resettles his clothes into a more comfortable position around his joints, nimbly hoists himself onto the well's well and straddles it, one leg in and one leg out.  Before taking hold of the rope to begin his descent, he looks down at Gauge, standing by the well.  "Worry not, Gauge.  If I start screaming like a stuck pig, you'll have plenty of warning to vacate the area."  His gray eyes' gaze rests coolly on his fellow arcanist for a short moment, then Garath turns to the task of climbing down the well, scanning it as he descends.

OOC:  Quinlan, can you "aid another" to help Garath with his climb check?


OOC:
23:50, Today: Garath Darkstar rolled 4 using 1d20. Listen.
23:49, Today: Garath Darkstar rolled 2 using 1d20. Spot.

His jaw drops at the sly comment, and he stares at him with wide eyes.  Oh that is SO not reasuring.  You really know how to charm a man into following you dont you.  Looking to Quinlan for maybe a little moral suport he he points with his hand, as if to say can you believe what he just said.  Shaking his arms a bit and his head trying to get a reaction of any sort from the cool man that he is.

There's a tunnel on the side of the wall, i can go down first and hold down the rope. That way you can practically slide down. Try not to make too much noise.

Garath delays his descent until Quinlan has first reached the tunnel, and then follows Quinlan's instructions on using the rope to climb down.

OOC: 11:25, Today: Garath Darkstar rolled 5 using 1d20+2. Move Silently.

Nice try, if there's anything there, you're pretty sure it heard you.