Bands of Power - Game thread

As Borgo ducks down, his head dissapearing beneath the illusory floor, to yell instructions to Berith, Lattremond quickly grabs one end of the rope and kicks the rest out so that it also dissappears down the hole. Then handing off the rope to Thak, Lattremond also kneels down to push his face below the illusion.

To Thak and Elspeath, the view is slightly disconcerting. The Goblin and Priest appear sliced off at the necks like some macabre artwork. Their apparent aliveness with their head "gone" is unnerving as is the giggling of the rope and heavy weight now tugging on what appear to be a short length somehow adhered, but moving, against the illusory flagstone. You know it is not real, you can see through them hazily. You can see the darker extent of the opening, but not what is occuring further below.

Borgo and Lattremond see the rope go taught almost as soon as the last length tumbles out of view against the light from below. You can sense the urgency of Berith's ascent and a dark shape blocks the light and begins madly scrambling up over the lip of the chute below. It's at this point that the crazed keening babbles and yowls suddenly explode in volume from below and headaches blossom in your skulls. The dark shape below, jerks and writhes as if in physical pain.

Please have Berith make those roles before she takes her action. Wis save vs DC12 and a separate roll of 1d8.

Borgo and Lattremond can see that the backlit Berith is climbing up, but not what might be coming for her or might be below her. You estimate she should make good speed up the smooth chute with the rope.

Light Sources:
Elspaeth - Lantern (10)
Torch burning below (6)

Initiative Order:
Borgo 1/3HP
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond 4/5HP
BerIth 4/10HP
Elspeath 6/6HP
Unknown Horror from Below

I imagine Thak standing a few feet back from the edge squared down anchoring the line. It’s low to the ground but you are shortish.

You can add a strength check to try and hurry Berith along.

Unless Thak take a specific action, I'll presume he continues to brace and hold? Can Thak, give me a strength check, please? If he has something else in mind, please post it and roll and appropriate check.

Lattremond continues his watch down the chute, wishing she were close enough to reach so that he could grab onto her. Soon enough if she keeps up the pace.

Berith has already posted her action, so just waiting on Elspaeth, confirmation about Thak, and Borgo's roll.

Berith continues her mad silent scramble up the rope. Thak and Borgo start to haul at the rope, but something jerks hard on the other end unespectedly sending Thak lunging forwards a step before he stops himself. Borgo quickly jumps in help Thak and actually helping him to move back a bit hauling some of the rope up.

Lattremond curses as Berith slips a bit when the something from below pulls on the rope, but she maintains her grip and scrambles further. She's about 5' short of the lip, but the two above pulling she's able to swing her arm up with one final surge to catch Lattremond's hand and he leans far down to reach her. Pulling and calling out for assistance, he and Eslpaeth manage get pull the panting warrior the rest of the way up and into the room.

Berith and Lattremond lay panting on the stone floor with Elspeath standing over them having picked her lamp back up. Borgo and Thak, stand near the edge still holding and tied to the rope.

Berith has been retreived, but something knows little mice are scurrying about. You find yourselves regrouped in the fake chest room. Tired and breathing hard. The multitudinous cries of the creature below still jar against your ear drums.

What happens next?

Borgo saws at the taut rope with his dagger. As it parts, the rope is dissappears down past the illusory floor, leaving Thak to toss the remanants after it.

The rope has been dragged below by whatever is down there. The warbling yammers continue from below. What to the others do?

The caterwauling continues from below. Lattremond suddenly sits up. "The torch went out!" Standing and taking a couple of steps back from the hole, he rubs his head in obvious discomfort. "I feel as if my brain is getting… can you hear that? I thought it sounded a bit softer for a moment", rubbing his head again, "but now I swear it’s a bit louder."

As Berith regains her composure, she quickly tells you she fell into a medium sized room mostly taken up by a shallow pit. The creature was coming from a wide opening leading to another room or wide hall that she couldn’t see anything.

You are all up now. You are fairly sure about Lattremond’s words. Something did change in the sound. You assume it’s moving around down there.

Ooops! Double post.