The Rope Crew's Account

Incident Report #17 • Bridge of Kridor Maintenance Authority Date: Three days before the PCs arrive Subject: Loss of Worker Eldrin Kest during lower-support inspection.

The bridge itself was never in danger.

Recent storms loosened rock along the eastern cliff, prompting a routine inspection of the bridge's lower buttresses nearly 250 feet below. Three safety lines were secured, and junior stonemason Eldrin Kest was lowered over the eastern parapet.

Descent Log

Depth	Report
40 ft.	"Stone's clean."
90 ft.	"Little seepage. Nothing unusual."
140 ft.	"Support's solid. Mortar's weathered."
180 ft.	"Need another lantern."

A second lantern was lowered.

Nearly a minute passed.

"Hold..." "...there's a hole down here..."

Witnesses disagree on the final words.

"The rock's hollow."
"There's a tunnel."

Then the rope suddenly went slack.

Recovery

Harness recovered.
Carabiner still locked.
Belt carefully unbuckled.
No torn leather.
No broken hardware.
No blood.

Rescue Attempt

Every volunteer turned back before reaching Eldrin's position.

All reported:

Visibility vanished below ~170 feet.
Lantern light failed to penetrate the darkness.
Dropped stones never struck bottom.
A faint vibration travelled through the ropes.

Official Finding

Cause: Accidental Fall Body: Not Recovered Bridge Condition: Structurally Sound — Open to Traffic

Crew Rumor

"The bridge's fine. Whatever took Eldrin wasn't."