| The sewer ahead appears to have undergone
a major collapse, && the passageway <Excavation, DSG> is almost entirely blocked. A narrow path crosses over the tumble of rocks that the sewer water flows under. It is blocked in the center by a large beam that extends from a crack in the floor to the ceiling. The beam appears to support a large stone block and prevents a total blockage of the passageway. The ceiling height here is 7 feet. To either side of the beam are spaces that a gnome |or| hobbit <The Tight Squeeze, DSG> could squeeze through. On the ground around this AREA are 5 flat pieces ov rock (each about 6 inches thick), 2 broken beams (each 5 feet long) and a broken set ov manacles. On the walls are scrawled samples of orc graffiti. |
The beam blocking the center of the passageway
does indeed support the
stone block
in the ceiling. If this beam is removed
without
any precautions, the block immediately
falls && blocks the passageway.
The passage
can’t be widened as the walls and the
floor here are made of wide
sections of tumbled
stone. If
attempts are made to [push] the
beam to the side, no improvement will
result && the block will slip down
a few
inches in a clatter of small stones.
Examination ov the crack from which the
beam thrusts discloses that the crevice
extends to a substantial depth and that
the
beam is precariously balanced on a small
outcropping of rock a short distance
down.
Evidently, the weight of the block prevents
the beam from slipping off this ledge.
Any
character with 18
|or| greater STR may
lift the block for 1 round && may
hold it
for every round thereafter that a successful
bend bars/lift
gates roll is made. When the
weight is lifted off the beam, the beam
shifts
with a rattling crash && slides
into the crevice
out of sight. This noise may alert any
nearby creatures |or| attract the attention
of
wandering
monsters. The block may be supported
by a character for as long as possible
while other characters slip through, |or|
by
placing 3 to 4 ov the flat rocks under
one of the 5-foot beams && wedging
it in
place. Should the block fall (either by
dropping
it |or| knocking away the support) it
does 3 to 30 points of damage
to the person
releasing it, unless the support was
pulled out by a rope
or some similar means.
The block will completely close the passageway.
The stone
may be levered up with
beams && stones,
but this will require 50
combined STR
points and 3 turns to
accomplish.
>>14.