Ghosts of Gauntcliff: Chapter Two

[Ail]

Eustace's focus is now divided in two. Had it been only the masonry, everything would be alright... probably... with a bit of luck. But there was something else down there, something else that looked like a disembodied shadow and had simply laughed at his attempt to turn it. He is now severely alarmed. He backs away from the probably falling stone trying at the same time to avoid the shape. However unnerving the shadow's laughter, though, a 100 pounds of falling stone are a more immediate and definitive danger so he gives his priority to avoiding it.

As he does this, he prepares to cast a spell.

OOC: Ewan, I need to ask you something before deciding on the spell to cast. So I stop here for now, but will come back to it later.

[ewancummins]

Of course, there is very little room in the bottom of the pit. The mass of hanging stone overhead is large. If it falls, Eustace probably cannot avoid it...

Unless he squeezes into the shallow alcove that holds the the lead-paneled, barred, nailed door.

[ewancummins]

Even as the men at the top begin to haul, and as Eustace frantically searches for a place to hide in the narrow bottom of the pit, the rope below Jeurgin suddenly snaps! The mass of masonry falls down the pit.

Eustace is crushed beneath the stonework. He lays at the bottom of the pit, stunned and bloody, with broken building stones and chunks of dry mortar piled on his body.

[steveflam]

"Noooooo!!!!!!!!!!!" Juergin screams out loud. "Sheisse! I climb down now to help Eustace. Let go of the rope!" The youth detaches himself from the rope and climbs down to Eustace.

[steveflam]

Juergin scrambles down as fast as he can, jumping the last feet, landing awkwardly but not hurting himself. He assesses the situation. Eustace is covered in debris and unconscious. The youth judges that the man needs medical attention. From what the lad knows,only a doctor can heal Eustace. He calls up to the others "Eustace is unconscious. He needs a Doctor to tend to his injuries. I can clear away the rubble and debris on him. But he needs medical attention. Maybe someone should get a doctor!"

The youth starts by removing anything on the Monk. Then he checks the man to make sure he isn't dead.

[ewancummins]

Eustace is bleeding, and Juergin knows that corpses don't bleed. They don't groan like that, either...

[steveflam]

The young lad grabs Eustace by the head, hands over his ears and shakes his head to rouse him as he yells at him "Herr Eustace, are you loosid? Wake up! You are on the ground in the hole in the abbey you fell in at the table. Wake up, Eustace, wake up!" It appears that Juergin is offering up a prayer after he yells at Eustace, whispering to himself quietly.

[Adam]

"His neck could be broken, fool boy!" Benn shouts over the ledge. "Don't move him! Wait for one of the healers to get down there!"

He looks back and forth between Dorgio and himself. "I'm probably lighter, old man. It'll be easier for them to lower me down." He reaches for the rope and looks to some of the others to affix it around his waist.

[PathOfDreams]

During the leisurely walk along the clifftop, Petrie had been lagging behind keeping to himself. He enjoys quick stops at the edge of the cliff to sip his spirits and take in the sea air. He cannot help turning to catch glimpses behind him, keeping in mind the litle creature, whatever it was, in the brown wrap.

Upon approaching the ruins he once again lingers on the edge of the group outside the ruins. He cannot help but think that the creature he saw is the same they spyed upon the pier. He is ever vigilant in his surroundings outside the abbey.

When at last he dumps the last of his bottle down his throat, he hears the shouts from inside the ruins. Petrie chucks the empty bottle aside with a crash on the stoney ground. He darts inside among the collapsed stones of the abbey to assess the disruption. "What 'appened then? Where is Mr. Eustace?"

As Petrie learns that the holyman has taken a tumble down a sunken hole, he assists the others in hauling out the stone jammed in the shaft.

SNAPPP!!!... The whip of the rope suddenly slackened when it snaps causes Petrie to dump backwards onto his rear. He scrambles up, now shockingly sobered, fearing the worst for Eustace. He approaches the edge of the pit as the young sailor descends to assist the crushed man. "We must lower the rope down. Juergin, is 'is back broke? How 'bout 'is neck, can you discern?"

[ewancummins]

Juergin can plainly see that Eustace is alive, but bruised and bloodied.

[steveflam]

"His neck could be broken, fool boy!" Benn shouts over the ledge. "Don't move him! Wait for one of the healers to get down there!"

He looks back and forth between Dorgio and himself. "I'm probably lighter, old man. It'll be easier for them to lower me down." He reaches for the rope and looks to some of the others to affix it around his waist.

"Oh, I am sorry. But I am no fool. What do I know of injuries, Herr Gehrman. I am but a young man vist not many experience. Give me a break already, unt let me act as I see fit, Donnerweiter!" The young man thinks to himself That man is a pain in the arse. Maybe one day he will trust me as far as he can throw me

During the leisurely walk along the clifftop, Petrie had been lagging behind keeping to himself. He enjoys quick stops at the edge of the cliff to sip his spirits and take in the sea air. He cannot help turning to catch glimpses behind him, keeping in mind the litle creature, whatever it was, in the brown wrap.

Upon approaching the ruins he once again lingers on the edge of the group outside the ruins. He cannot help but think that the creature he saw is the same they spyed upon the pier. He is ever vigilant in his surroundings outside the abbey.

When at last he dumps the last of his bottle down his throat, he hears the shouts from inside the ruins. Petrie chucks the empty bottle aside with a crash on the stoney ground. He darts inside among the collapsed stones of the abbey to assess the disruption. "What 'appened then? Where is Mr. Eustace?"

As Petrie learns that the holyman has taken a tumble down a sunken hole, he assists the others in hauling out the stone jammed in the shaft.

SNAPPP!!!... The whip of the rope suddenly slackened when it snaps causes Petrie to dump backwards onto his rear. He scrambles up, now shockingly sobered, fearing the worst for Eustace. He approaches the edge of the pit as the young sailor descends to assist the crushed man. "We must lower the rope down. Juergin, is 'is back broke? How 'bout 'is neck, can you discern?"

The young lad calls back up "I do not think his back is broke. He seems to be stunned. Maybe let Herr Gehrman know I am doing my best and am not a nimcompoop or dumpkopf as he might call me. Tell him am doing my best and I hope that meets his approval. I can wait until he comes down so he can see for himself what is going on."


The young man sighs, rolling his eyes.

[PathOfDreams]

"You're right, 'ere then Benn." Petrie gathers the frayed end of the rope and begins to wrap and knot the rope about Bennedict's midsection. He tugs the ropes to ensure a true hold. "There you are, let's get you down that hole." He secures the rope into his grip and sits to ready his body for the load. "Dorgio, loose that anchor so the rope will reach the bottom."

He calls down to Juergin, "Nevermind that laddy, 'tis no time for 'hurt pride. You skinny up as far to the side as you can me boy."

[steveflam]

"Bah! Pride mein behint. He questions unt criticizes mein actions, Petrie. I can do no right in his eyes." Juergin punches his fist in rage. " I can move up ja. But sent a Doctor down. Eustace needs one unt quick. I give up on anything else before someone criticize my acions."

Juergin sighs as he begins climbing up, swallowing his pride.

[RocEter]

"Fools! Damn fools!" Thom shouts as he pushes himself up after the masonry plummets down on top of Eustace. He stalks off towards the mules while removing his jacket and taking his hat off his head. "Fool, idiots rushing in like damned heroes..." He says to no one in particular, his voices trails off as he walks further away.

Once at the mules Thom stuffs his jacket and his hat into a the saddle pack of the mule he was riding and pulls out his satchel containing all his tools and other necessities. Rushing back to the pit, he sees Benn about to be lowered and Juergin back out of the pit. "Well I guess he is still alive then." He says. "Well I will be going down there with you Benn. No time to argue, best to make sure the area is safe." He says in a no nonsense attitude. "Dorgio, perhaps you can instruct these fine men here on how to make a proper litter. We may be needing on to lift Eustace out of this pit and carry him back to the Chateau. Be careful, there are bound to be more unstable areas around here." He says.

From where he is on the opposite side of the pit, Thom drops into the pit without any rope to lower him. The party watches as Thom gently falls to the bottom of the pit and lands on his feet. Pulling out a sunrod, he activates it and raises it above his head to shed more light. He immediately scans the area, as he remembers Eustace saying he thought he wasn't alone down here..

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Everline accompanies Sancerre. As they walk, she casually tugs on her sleeves - the better to loosen the daggers she keeps hidden in there. She brushes her skirts - checking to see her wands are still safely hidden in their folds.

'Caves... I'd best be cautious.'