Kestrel says, "We could, I suppose, tie up Mordigan somewhere and put Emily in charge of him."

Kestrel says, "So he won't know where to use the chimur."

Lydia says, "I thought we'd be taking him with us."

Kestrel says, "Back to Avalon, yes, but not necessarily through the syrneth ruin."

Kestrel says, "I'd rather he know as little as possible about it."

Lydia says, "Of course, we have no idea how the way back works, if there actually is one."

Kestrel says, "Right."

Kestrel says, "All we know about so far is a door."

Lydia says, "So I suppose you're right. We could investigate, then either bring something out with us, or bring him in if necessary."

Giancarlo has connected.

[oneshot] Lydia says, "(I've been considering this IC conversation since a while after we started talking about it. Out of earshot of Mordigan.)"

[oneshot] Kestrel nods.

Erich says, "the only concern is if the door reveals another zooming sphere that sucks up all who open the door, and the chimur along with it."

Kestrel says, "Heh."

GM says, "(For reference, it's now rather late at night, some time past midnight)"

Kestrel says, "Well, if it *does* take us back to Avalon (or, possibly to one of the other bowls, like the one in Castille), we can always come back."

Kestrel says, "Banther here knows the tune to reactivate the bowl."

Kestrel asks, "Sound like a plan?"

Erich says, "indeed."

Lydia says, "Good, except for right now maybe we should get farther from the village."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "If Emily does show up, we can say X amount of time has passed; let's trade shifts. Maybe send John back."

Lydia says, "I'm not sure how the Landaka will react."

Kestrel asks, "Right. Up the mountain?"

Erich says, "sounds good."

Lydia says, "Around would be faster, I think."

Kestrel says, "Right, but as a place to leave Mordigan."

Erich says, "and hopefully, if we leave Dana with Mordigan, he'll have all of his limbs when we return."

[oneshot] GM asks, "Are all five of you travelling together right now?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Right."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Seven, all told."

GM says, "You pick your way back through the village and across to the other side."

[oneshot] GM asks, "So you'll stop at camp to pick up the other two?"

[oneshot] Erich says, "Yes."

[oneshot] GM says, "You have no trouble finding your way back to where you made camp earlier."

GM has disconnected.

GM has connected.

GM says, "You have no trouble finding your way back to where you made camp earlier."

Kestrel, Emily and Mordigan head up the mountain a bit, find a good spot, and Kestrel comes back, all the while trying to cover the trail they're making.

Dollen asks, "Halt. Who goes there?"

Kestrel says (to Dollen), "It's us."

Dollen says, "Ah, good. I was starting to worry -- you've been gone for a while."

Dollen asks, "Find anything?"

Kestrel exclaims (at Dollen), "We got the chimur!"

Kestrel says, "He hid it in an underwater cave."

Dollen asks, "Fantastic! Does it do anything?"

Kestrel says, "We hope so."

Erich says (to Lydia), "now I wonder what exactly that chimur is going to do."

Dollen rouses John Banther, who was napping meanwhile.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Er, 'Dana', not Emily, earlier."

Lydia says (to Erich), "Well, I guess we'll find out."

Kestrel says, "I'll try to cover our trail--back in a jiffy."

Erich says, "I'd hate to think that it will lead us to yet another place which is not Avalon"

Kestrel says (to Erich), "Oog."

Banther asks, "Mmm. May I look at that?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Roll track+finesse? Wits? (to hide the trail behind us)"

Lydia hands the chimur to Banther.

[oneshot] Banther says, "Wits."

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 4k3: 9 3 2 1 | 14

Banther turns it over in his hands. "Interesting." He hefts it. "Reminiscent of a later class of artifacts..."

Erich says (to Banther), "do note the runes on the side."

Banther nods, "Yes, this symbol on the top -- or bottom, perhaps -- is called 'mur', or 'open'."

Banther hands it back.

Banther says, "That is unusual, though..."

Lydia says, "Later? I thought they were all really old."

Erich says, "I was a little surprised to see it"

Erich says, "since it is something like writing 'knife' on the side of a knife."

Lydia says, "Well, it doesn't exactly look like a key to me."

Banther says (to Lydia), "Yes, but there are two general periods that these artifacts seem to originate from..."

Banther says, "Ones of this style are believed to be from a more recent part of history than the others, as the places they're found have often been built on top of older ruins."

Banther says (to Erich), "Actually, the use of runic writing in this particular script is often indicative that the name of the rune is to be spoken aloud."

Kestrel returns, sans Dana and Mordigan.

Banther says, "There was something that Matthew Travers was studying recently, a sword, that had similar markings."

Kestrel tells everyone how to get there, if need be.

Erich says, "interesting."

Lydia says, "Oh, right. The sword."

Banther says, "Where the sword couldn't be used until its name, written on the hilt, was spoken."

Kestrel asks (of Banther), "So, you think a later generation of ancients found the original chimur and wrote 'mur' on it? Or does the whole thing date from the same period?"

Banther says (to Kestrel), "By my best estimation, from the crudeness of form exhibited by this chimur, I would guess that it was fashioned in the later period."

Kestrel strikes the camp during the conversation, tries to make it look like nobody was here.

Kestrel says (to Banther), "Hmm."

Kestrel asks (of Banther), "What about the crystal bowl?"

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 4k3: 9 8 1 5 | 22

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(tracking again)"

Banther says, "That was what I had originally thought to be strange -- the bowl is almost certainly from an earlier period. The aesthetic style alone suggests that, and the slowing scripts such as that have never been seen on recent pieces."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "'flowing'?"

[oneshot] Banther says, "Right."

Kestrel says, "Eeeentaresting."

Kestrel says, "I guess we'll shortly discover if the site is of later design or earlier. Or later on top of earlier."

Kestrel asks, "Shall we go?"

Erich nods.

Lydia says (to Kestrel), "If you're done, yes."

Kestrel surveys the camp, nods.

Dollen asks, "To the door?"

Dollen asks, "Should we take the easy route around the long way, or swim across the lagoon?"

Erich asks, "that would be the easy route which involves going down the cliff?"

Kestrel says, "Heh."

Kestrel says (to Erich), "No, to the original entrance, which then splits into the three passageways."

Dollen says (to Erich), "The one that involves walking around the mountain, I mean."

Dollen says, "Either way, we'll need to reach the same cave entrance. But either way, we'll have to go around one side of the mountain or the other."

Erich says, "I would prefer to stay dry for a while yet."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "afk a sec--either's fine with me."

Lydia says, "Walking around is probably easier on the gear."

Banther says, "I suspect I might not be able to make it all the way across the lagoon, myself."

Lydia starts off, making sure the mountain is on her right.

Dollen follows, whistling merrily.

Kestrel doesn't hide this trail, but, halfway there, has the party detour down a small stream, then tries to hide where they come out.

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 4k3: 5 9 9 5 | 23

Erich says (to Kestrel), "though I made my preference regarding water clear, I suppose I can stand this."

Kestrel grins.

GM says, "The night wears on as you travel... but you eventually find the stream and the cave opening that Dollen led you to previous."

Kestrel says, "Let's take the high road this time."

Kestrel enters the cave.

Kestrel says (to Dollen), "OK, let's see how well I remember this."

Kestrel says, "Tell me if I mess up."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "(the top road leads to the Maze, right?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, ")"

[oneshot] GM says, "Yes, to a hole high up in the side of a wall."

Dollen says, "Alright. Lead on, then."

Dollen follows Kestrel.

Kestrel leads the party to the hole in the wall.

Kestrel climbs up to the hole.

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 4k3: 4 8 4 3 | 16

Lydia asks (of Kestrel), "Do you think you can get a rope around that rock up there?"

Kestrel says, "I think so, yeah."

Kestrel looks around for a suitable outcropping.

Erich asks (of Kestrel), "and you do have a rope, yes?"

GM says, "You find one, a few feet above you"

GM says, "You can't quite reach it by hand, though."

Kestrel climbs up again.

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 4k3: 8 1 7 10+6 | 31

[oneshot] GM asks, "Climbing out of the hole, to scale the wall?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Climbing to the thing I found."

[oneshot] GM says, "Right."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Wherever that was."

Kestrel ties off the rope with big clunky knots.

GM says, "Kestrel climbs out and, showing a famed skill, finds a way to hoist himself up onto the narrow outcropping."

Kestrel . o O ( Just like Beggar's Canyon back home... )

GM says, "It holds his weight well, although most of you can't really see this from where you are."

Dollen exclaims, "Well done!"

Kestrel exclaims (at Dollen), "Thanks!"

Dollen says, "There's only one problem, though."

Kestrel asks, "Yes?"

Dollen says, "If we go this way, we don't get to do any swimming."

Erich says, "ah."

Erich says, "the "problem"."

Erich climbs the rope.

Kestrel says, "We can come back that way, maybe."

[7thsea] Erich rolls 6k3: 10+4 9 4 8 5 7 | 31

Dollen follows after Erich's down.

Kestrel rolls his eyes in the darkness at Dollen.

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Good thing Erich went first..."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "If Lydia was there ahead of him, she'd have gotten quite the, er, entertainment."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "I am tired of waiting for other people to climb. :)"

Lydia asks (of Banther), "Do you need any help getting started?"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel asks, "?"

[Crows-Nest] GM asks (of Kestrel), "Has he changed clothes yet?"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel asks, "Who, Erich?"

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Not yet."

Banther says (to Lydia), "I think -- thank you. I should be all right..."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Oh! heh."

Banther climbs carefully, and slowly.

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "since there's a good chance we'll go swimming."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Just keep your pistols dry."

Lydia climbs down last.

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "that's what the oilcloth is for."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "We're climbing up, right?"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "I thought we were climbing down from the hole to the room."

[oneshot] GM says, "I thought what Lydia thought."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Then Lydia must be right ;-)"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I was picturing climbing up to the hole from the passageway."

Kestrel waits until everyone's down the rope, unties the rope, climbs down himself.

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 4k3: 6 8 7 6 | 21

[oneshot] Erich asks (of Kestrel), "wait: if your climbing's only 1, why are you doing all of it?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Because I took the initiative ;-)"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "And didn't know you had a 2."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Also, you're scantily clothed ;-)"

[oneshot] Erich says, "I don't."

[oneshot] Erich says, "I have a 3."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "3? Heh."

Dana has connected.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "You can do the climbing next time."

[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Woo!"

[oneshot] Dana says, "(ack, sorry)"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "We left you behind with Mordigan ;-)"

[oneshot] Erich says, "don't injure him too much."

[oneshot] GM puts her on #interludes.

[oneshot] Dana says, "I went to asleep at like 5 intending to have a short little nap and I think the last two weeks hit me all at once"

[oneshot] Kestrel nods sympathetically.

[interludes] GM says, "At Kestrel's suggestion, you brough Mordigan partway up the mountainside, and tied him up."

[oneshot] Erich says, "Yeah, I bet the squid attack would have taken it out of me too."

[interludes] Dana says, "aha"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks (of GM), "You want to run something with her for a while, and/or can we trade off with Dollen?"

[interludes] Dana asks, "what've the rest of them gone to do? back to the cave?"

[interludes] GM says, "You graciously volunteered to stay behind and guard him while the others took to the cave where you found the door earlier."

[interludes] Dana says, "aha"

[interludes] Dana says, "well, if he's not dead yet he must've been behaving himself"

[oneshot] GM says, "Um. For the moment, you can keep on as you are, I think. If you decide IC to check on her, then you can take care of that then."

Erich says, "onward, then."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Just so she doesn't get bored."

[interludes] GM says, "He seems to be thinking or meditating or something."

[interludes] GM says, "Or possibly napping with his eyes open."

[oneshot] Dana says, "ah, s'ok"

[interludes] Dana says, "heh"

Kestrel attempts to lead everyone through the twisted passages, checking with Dollen to make sure he's doing it right.

Dollen says (to Kestrel), "I don't think I told you about where to go from that entrance... let's see how you do."

[oneshot] Dollen asks, "Is there a light source right now, or does Dana still have it?"

[oneshot] Dollen says, "Also, Wits + Navigation."

Kestrel asks, "This should be room... seven?"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "One of us got the rod, I'm sure. And I have a lamp in my pack."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Navigation? Like, sea navigation? Street navigation?"

[oneshot] Erich says, "I'd assumed I'd grabbed the light rod."

[oneshot] Dollen says, "Street Nav's probably closest."

[interludes] GM says, "Being gagged, he hasn't spoken since you brought him here."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Well, I don't have either ;-) I assumed the earlier bit was me figuring out the route."

[oneshot] GM says, "Right, the route from the main entrance :)"

[interludes] Dana asks, "are we far enough from the village that they wouldn't be able to hear him?"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Heh, OK. straight wits, then?"

[interludes] GM says, "Yeah."

[oneshot] GM says, "OK."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(FWIW, I was assuming this one)"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "I thought they did talk about that route. But maybe not."

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 3k3: 5 1 9 | 15

[interludes] Dana carefully unties just his mouth (not allowing herself to be bitten or anything)

[oneshot] (from Erich) Kestrel says, "It's this way!" and walks into a boulder.

[oneshot] Lydia |Kestrel sits down with Sam and tries to get a good description of how to get through the twisted passages, both from the lake area and from the high path.

Dollen nods. "Yes, that'd work... not the -- watch the overhang! -- shourtest way around..."

[interludes] Dana asks (of Mordigan), "hungry or thirsty at all?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Oh! Whoops. Must have misremembered, sorry about that."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, hey, there we go ;-)"

[interludes] Mordigan says, "Thank you. I'm fine."

[interludes] Mordigan asks, "What, if I may ask, do your friends expect to discover here?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "A wits roll is good anyway, since"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "...RL is always different than a description."

[interludes] Dana asks (of Mordigan), "on the island, you mean?"

Kestrel says (to Dollen), "Oh, so *that's* what you meant by the overhang. I was picturing something different"

GM says, "You do get to the dead end that you found before, with the circular indentation in the wall, and the metal door to the right of it."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "AFK baby a sec."

Lydia asks, "Shall I?"

[oneshot] Erich asks (of Kestrel), "doesn't that normally take about nine months?"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "Hey, you didn't say it was on the right. I pictured it on the left. ;)"

Erich says, "go ahead."

Banther says, "Please. I'm quite curious myself."

[interludes] Dana says (to Mordigan), "they didn't arrive here on purpose, and they're only looking for a way back out"

[interludes] Mordigan says, "I see."

[interludes] Mordigan sighs.

Lydia puts the long end of the strange artifact into the long hole in the wall.

[interludes] Dana says, "a pity for you, I suppose"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Not if you're the guy ;-)"

[interludes] Mordigan asks, "By sheer coincidence, you would say?"

[interludes] Dana says, "quite coincidental."

[interludes] Dana sits on a nearby rock and starts getting out some of her food

GM says (to Lydia), "It slides in easily, most of the way... you feel some resistance when there's about a foot left sticking out."

Lydia says, "Hm."

Erich says, "'mur'"

[interludes] Dana asks (of Mordigan), "Had you hoped to stay here indefinitely? Or were you trying to get back to Avalon?"

Kestrel says, "Maybe it's filled with dust and rocks."

Lydia waits for something to happen.

Erich asks, "'chimur'?"

Erich asks, "'open sesame'?"

Erich says, "perhaps it works as a key. try turning it."

[interludes] Mordigan says, "To be honest, I have some trouble believing that you arrived here by cahnce. But I'll tell you the truth: I wanted to find the purpose of the chimur."

Lydia puts a hand on the wheel part and says MUR.

Kestrel asks (of Lydia), "Can you get it in all the way?"

Lydia tries turning the wheel.

[interludes] Dana says, "well, I imagine my friends are finding its purpose out at this moment."

[interludes] Dana says, "and if we're fortunate, we can all get out of here"

[interludes] Dana offers Mordigan a chunk of the cheddar

[interludes] Mordigan says, "Of course. Reaping the benefits for your Explorer's Society, I am certain."

[interludes] Dana gets annoyed

Lydia slides the chimur out and back in a bit, trying to feel what sort of resistance there is.

Mordigan takes the cheese with some difficulty, with his wrists bound.

[interludes] Mordigan takes the cheese with some difficulty, with his wrists bound.

GM says, "(Ilac)"

[interludes] Dana says, "Dammit, this is not about benefits"

[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "ha ha ha she's feeding him cheese"

GM says (to Lydia), "You can push against the resistance, yes."

[Crows-Nest] Erich exclaims (at Mordigan), "do not eat it! it is poisoned!"

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "or at the least, mouldy."

[interludes] Dana says, "*we* only came in here to rescue the others, who got here by accident"

[Crows-Nest] Dana says, "I keep my cheese in very good condition thankyouverymuch"

[Crows-Nest] Erich asks, "even the cheese you give him?"

Lydia asks (of GM), "does it feel like anything in particular?"

[Crows-Nest] Dana says, "well..."

GM says, "Kind of like a sponge or cushion being compressed, or a spring. Or maybe someeone pushing gently back."

[interludes] Dana asks, "did something happen in the past that gave you such a strong conviction that the Explorers' Society is sinister?"

Lydia says, "It's kind of like a spring."

Lydia carefully pushes somewhat harder, trying to push the wheel to the wall.

[interludes] Mordigan says, "Not sinister, I wouldn't say. But hypocritical."

[interludes] Dana says, "whereas you openly steal things and murder people."

GM says, "You push it all the way, and it clicks into place as the disk is flush with the wall."

Lydia exclaims, "Aha! Mur!"

GM says, "The door shudders..."

GM says, "And the left side levers inward, groaning..."

GM says, "Grinding to a halt after opening about three feet."

[interludes] Mordigan says, "I have never killed anyone."

Erich peeks through the opening.

[interludes] Dana regards Mordigan with grrrreat skepticism

Kestrel says, "Wow."

[interludes] Dana says, "as I recall, we met you because you were the leader of a band of murderous thieves, and you had a reputation for locking people in your basement and torturing them to death for entertainment"

GM says, "Inside rocks are piled around the door, and up against the walls of the corridor which leads into darkness."

[interludes] Dana says, "neither of which is a feature, generally speaking, of sainted pillars of their communities"

Erich shines the light-rod down the corridor.

[interludes] Dana says, "whatever you might have claimed for yourself"

[interludes] Mordigan says, "Torture, yes. Murder, no. There is no value to a corpse."

[interludes] Dana says, "(slowly) ahhhhh."

Kestrel examines the rocks. Do they look haphazardly fallen, or stacked?

Lydia slips through the door and looks behind it, where she presumes are rocks blocking its movement.

[interludes] Dana asks, "and the time you cut me with that poisoned blade? that was honorable?"

GM says, "As you look past the rockfall and rubble partly blocking the door, you see a smooth flat stone floor, as well as walls and ceiling of the same material."

Kestrel lets out a low whistle.

GM says (to Kestrel), "Haphazard, and the ceiling near the door is somewhat crumbled away. Or smashed, as the case may be."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Can I tell?"

GM says (to Lydia), "Yes, there are rocks piled up on the right, behind the door, blocking it. As well as on the left, against the wall."

[oneshot] GM asks, "Hmm. Any skills that might be relevant?"

[Crows-Nest] Erich clears the rocks away from the door, to see if they will let the door finish opening.

Erich clears the rocks away from the door, to see if they will let the door finish opening.

Lydia says, "Hmm. Maybe if we let the door finish we can get the chimur back out of the wall."

[interludes] Mordigan says, "What, the sleeping medicine? Ha. Poison -- I've drunk the same myself many a night."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Not that I have, but I'd imagine 'examiner' would be relevant."

Lydia helps to move the rocks behind the door.

Erich says (to Lydia), "that was my thought as well."

[interludes] Mordigan says, "As I said, I've never murdered anyone. I would far prefer to peaceable disable an enemy to restful slumber than cut his throat. Or her, as the case may be."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "But that's more examining blood stains and the like."

[interludes] Dana says, "I see."

[interludes] Dana says, "well, if you can convince a judge in Avalon of that, perhaps things will go easier for you"

GM says, "The door shudders a bit more, opens a bit wider, but the mechanism is too badly gone -- it groans to a stop after only a few more inches."

Erich shrugs and moves down the corridor.

GM says, "Although in moving the rocks, you ntice something sticking out of the pile on the other side."

[oneshot] GM says, "Nah. You can't tell, then."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "OK."

Lydia looks at the something, and continues moving rocks.

[interludes] Mordigan says, "Perhaps."

[interludes] Dana says, "I fail to see what it matters if you convince me"

GM says (to Lydia), "Something metal."

Lydia tests whether the metal piece will move.

GM says (to Erich), "A little further down the corridor, you notice metal support beams in the walls, running up from the floor, and then across the ceiling."

GM says (to Lydia), "It looks like a metal bar, horizontal. In the middle, it's bolted to the wall. The pile stones are still too much in the way to move it, though."

Dollen strides ahead with Erich.

Lydia says, "Hey, maybe this thing will turn and release the chimur."

Dollen says, "Wonderful. Fantastic."

Erich asks (of GM), "are the walls different in any way from the ones closer to the door?"

Dollen knocks on the wall.

GM says (to Erich), "They're less broken, but otherwise, not really."

Lydia tries to clear more stones away from the metal bar.

Kestrel helps Lydia move stones.

GM says (to Lydia), "OK."

Erich sees what Lydia's talking about, and comes back to help out.

[interludes] Dana chews for a while, keeping a close eye on Mordigan

GM says, "The bar is a couple feet long, and it's mounted parallel to the wall."

[interludes] Mordigan nibbles tentatively on the cheese.

Erich gives it an experimental tug.

GM asks (of Erich), "Which way?"

Erich says, "anti-clockwise"

[interludes] Dana asks, "(gruffly) how's your, uh, hand doing?"

[interludes] Mordigan says, "It should be fine, I imagine. That was a well-placed strike."

[interludes] Mordigan says, "I congratulate you; highly effective."

GM says (to Erich), "It turns to vertical; there's a click."

[interludes] Dana nods.

Banther looks outside the door. "Ah, well done. It worked."

Banther pulls out the chimur, and hands it back.

[interludes] Dana says, "I'm glad you're not letting a thing like that make you all resentful."

Kestrel asks, "Should we close the door? Would it open again?"

Erich says, "someone stand outside with the chimur."

Lydia says, "I doubt it. It made some pretty awful sounds, then stopped altogether."

Kestrel says, "Better leave it open, then."

[interludes] Mordigan says, "I would resent you if you ahd done poorly, but I do not resent you for doing well."

[interludes] Dana says, "heh. Fair enough."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I'm trying to think of an IC excuse to go get Emily ;-)"

[interludes] Dana says, "though you could have resented us extremely if things had been a little different with the squid"

[interludes] Dana shudders

Erich wanders back down the corridor.

Lydia heads onward as well.

GM says, "The corridor's about wide enough for three across."

Dollen hurries to catch up with Erich and Lydia.

Kestrel is also following, natch.

GM says, "It continues for some distance into the darkness."

Banther follows behind Kestrel.

GM asks, "Any particular walking order?"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "I hate when they ask that."

Erich says, "I'll be lead."

Lydia walks up front with Erich.

[interludes] Mordigan says, "That would have been highly unfortunate, yes."

Kestrel takes up the rear with Dollen, with Banther in the middle.

[Crows-Nest] GM asks, "Worse than when they say, 'OK, you go in front, then you next, ...'?"

[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "no comment."

[Crows-Nest] Dana says, "just as long as I wind up on Eolo's team. oh wait"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel chuckles.

GM says, "You continue for maybe a couple dozen yards, uneventfully."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says (to Dana), "Hey, there is no 'I' in 'Eolo'"

Erich exclaims, "hold!"

[Crows-Nest] Dana laughs

Lydia stops

Erich stares at the floor. "take a look at the floor ahead of us."

Lydia tries to see what Erich saw.

Dollen bumps into John.

Erich says, "something about it isn't right."

GM says, "You see a crack in the floor, running from left to right."

GM says, "A groove, perhaps."

Erich eyes the ceiling above the groove.

[interludes] Dana says, "[would it work if I stepped afk for a minute? in addition to sleeping for four and a half hours instead of 15 minutes I also failed to eat dinner]"

Lydia looks to the walls at the groove's ends.

GM says, "Where this one touches the wall, similar grooves begin; they run along edge of the floor and the wall for a distance ahead."

GM says, "(On both sides, that is)"

Lydia exclaims, "Oh, this must be one of those traps!"

[interludes] GM says, "Sure."

GM says (to Erich), "The ceiling appears ordinary."

Banther says, "Be careful."

Lydia asks, "So, uh, how do we get past it?"

Erich asks, "do the grooves form a square?"

Lydia says, "Not that I can see from here, but they might."

GM says, "Sort of."

GM says (to Erich), "Or more like a rectangle, probably."

[oneshot] GM asks, "What light level are you using?"

Kestrel pulls out a piece of paper to see if he can put it in the groove/crack.

GM says (to Kestrel), "Yes, it's thick enough."

Kestrel puts the paper all the way in.

GM says, "The grooves along the walls seem thicker than the one running horizontally."

GM asks (of Kestrel), "I.e. dropping it?"

Kestrel says (to GM), "If it gets that far."

[oneshot] Erich says, "Moderate light level."

GM says (to Kestrel), "OK, it falls."

[oneshot] Erich says, "Enough to show details, but not so much that everything outside its beam is featureless black."

Kestrel listens to see if he can hear it flutter.

GM says, "The cracks along the wall go at least a couple yards downt he corridor, but it gets too shadowy after that to tell how far they continue."

Kestrel says (to Erich), "Hmm. Turn up the light; maybe we can see how far it goes."

Erich does so.

GM says (to Kestrel), "You hear something, but it's hard to tell clearly what."

Kestrel listens to the crack just in general. Lying on the floor with his ear to it.

[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "Big blade! In your head! No ear no more!"

GM says (to Kestrel), "You don't hear anything."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "I was afraid it would literally be 'Wham! Spikes! For you!'"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Ow."

Kestrel says, "Well, it seems to be a trap door."

Erich says, "so."

Erich checks the wall for oh-so-convenient handholds.

Kestrel says, "We could either try to trigger it, or get across some other way."

GM says (to Erich), "In the improved light, you can see that they go about three or four yards down, and end at another horizontal crack like the one in front of you."

GM says, "No convenient handholds here."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel asks, "How wide is the corridor?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Two or three yards."

Lydia asks, "Maybe if we open it, we could climb in the gap underneath?"

Erich says, "hm. or jump it."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "If Erich stretches his arms out, he can touch both walls."

Lydia says, "It's a tricky leap."

Erich says, "yes."

Lydia says, "I could try it."

Kestrel says, "Probably simplest to trigger it, then get across. But there might be more than a simple hole."

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "I could try to vault you across, like I did with Jemmy in the last ruin we came across."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Someone have 'leaping'?"

Lydia says, "Well, let's trigger it. Everyone get back."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "No, but I have Break Fall. :)"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Heh."

Kestrel says, "Here, let's tie a rope to you."

Kestrel says, "In case it's incredibly deep."

Lydia says, "I was just going to push on it first."

Erich asks, "what? you don't want me to trigger it and the rest of you try to hold on to me?"

Kestrel nods.

Kestrel says (to Erich), "Riiiiiight."

Kestrel backs up.

Lydia says, "And jump out of the way in case it does anything else."

Erich says, "still, let us tie a rope to you so we can jerk you back if necessary."

Lydia says, "Okay."

Lydia gets out some rope and ties it around her waist.

Erich takes the other end of the rope and steps back.

Lydia crouches down and pushes on the ground just past the crack.

[interludes] Dana switches over to playing some kind of solitaire game with little sticks

Lydia gives it a solid shove and pulls back her arm.

GM says, "Nothing happens."

Lydia says, "Hm."

Lydia stands up and stamps with one foot, then takes a jump back.

GM says, "You see nothing."

Erich says (to Lydia), "wait a second."

Lydia asks, "Hm?"

Erich says, "when you did that, the floor did..."

Erich says, "well, it did *something*."

Erich frowns.

Lydia says, "No, it didn't move."

Erich says, "it happened so fast I couldn't tell what happened."

Kestrel asks, "Hmm. Try again? Same thing?"

Erich says, "yes, please do."

Kestrel tries to watch closer this time.

Erich watches very intently.

Lydia stomps on the floor's panel again.

GM says, "Lydia stomps on the middle of the floor, by the crack. The floor wobbles very slightly for a moment."

GM says, "(The part of the floor past the crack, that is)"

Lydia says, "Oh, hey, it does move."

Kestrel asks, "Hmm. Crawl backwards?"

Lydia says, "Not quite like a trap door though."

[interludes] Dana says (to Mordigan), "I bet they're discovering ALL KINDS of fascinating things AS WE SPEAK."

Lydia says, "Oh, oh. It must pivot here and move at the other end."

Erich says, "i wonder if it slides or turns"

Erich says, "mmyes."

Lydia says, "Because it didn't feel as though it moved."

[interludes] Mordigan says, "Or perhaps falling into all kinds of traps. Probably best to wait here until they declare it safe anyway."

[interludes] Dana says (to Mordigan), "you have a disconcerting lack of concern for anyone's skin but your own"

Kestrel says, "I wouldn't have though it would pivot at this end, since the paper went all the way through. But with non-continuous hinges, maybe."

Lydia sets her pack down in the solid part of the corridor.

Erich says (to Kestrel), "or hinged on a very tall post rather than on the floor we're on."

Lydia says, "Keep the rope ready."

Erich gets a good grip and braces himself.

Kestrel picks up the rope behind Erich, should he need assistance.

Kestrel watches.

[interludes] Mordigan says, "I have difficulty sympathizing with anyone who works at corss-purposes to me."

Lydia stands carefully just a foot past the crack.

[interludes] Dana says, "and considering that your purposes are entirely selfish, that covers just about... everyone"

[interludes] Dana says, "very tidy"

GM says (to Lydia), "It feels secture..."

Lydia says, "Give me some slack, I'm going to run and jump."

[interludes] Mordigan chuckles.

Erich pays out some of the rope.

Lydia takes two quick strides down the hall, then pushes off.

GM says (to Lydia), "When you stop standing carefully try to run, the floor begins tilting left and right under your feet! Roll Finesse + Balance."

GM says, "Or + Footwork with a raise required."

Lydia doesn't set off after all.

[oneshot] Lydia says, "footwork"

[7thsea] Lydia rolls 6k3: 5 9 8 2 2 8 | 25

GM says, "And leaping + Finesse."

[7thsea] Lydia rolls 3k3: 6 9 9 | 24

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I thought she was leaping from the pre-groove part of the floor."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Was she?"

[oneshot] GM | Lydia stands carefully just a foot past the crack.

[oneshot] Lydia says, "No, I meant to run along the wobbly part for a bit."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "OK."

GM says (to Lydia), "The floor heaves beneath you, but you keep yourself straight and manage to leap..."

GM says (to Lydia), "..to land on the far side of the second crack, on solid ground."

Kestrel drops the rope entirely so Erich can more easily play it out.

Lydia says, "Oh, so it moves left and right."

Lydia stomps on a corner of the rectangle.

GM says, "Behind her, the whole tile levers itselfleft and right, pivoting on an invisible line running straight downt he middle."

GM asks (of Lydia), "Left or right?"

Lydia says, "uh, right side as they face onward."

GM says (to Lydia), "The right side wobbles down and the left side wobbles up, as you stomp."

Kestrel pushes down on the same side, from a kneeling position.

GM says (to Kestrel), "Same effect."

Erich says, "aha."

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Let's see if we can see what's down there."

Kestrel pushes down.

Lydia says, "if you want."

[Crows-Nest] Erich exclaims, "Look! Now there's a Kestrel down there!"

Lydia watches the rhythm of the wobble and pushes the corner every time it's moving down.

GM says, "As you hold down one side, the other lifts up -- the floor segement is about two inches thick."

Kestrel peers down into the darkness below.

GM says, "With effort, you're able to keep one side down far enough to look through, although it's rather dark down there."

Lydia says, "Oh, or we could just hold it. I thought it would be heavier."

[Crows-Nest] Dana exclaims, "It's a giant squid breeding pit! aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!"

Erich assists in the floor-pushing-down and shines the light rod into the darkness.

Kestrel moves to pushing the other end up, since Erich is on the right now.

[oneshot] GM says, "FYI, I'd be willing to send Dollen back to get Dana and Mordigan if you asked. Although I don't know if you want Mordigan here, or if you want Dollen watching him."

GM says, "It's a pit, about tend feet deep, with smooth walls."

[interludes] Dana marches back and forth around Mordigan

GM says, "At the bottom is something white; it looks like it might be a skeleton."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Human?"

[interludes] Mordigan watches with vague interest.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Also, if nothing's happening with Dana, then yes, let's."

[oneshot] GM says, "Looks human."

[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "You'll have to suggest it IC."

Kestrel says, "Hmm, it's been about two hours. We should probably relieve Dana."

Kestrel asks (of Dollen), "Would you mind going back and watching Mordigan for a spell?"

[interludes] Dana practices her knife-throwing skillz on a nearby tree

[interludes] GM says, "I should also note that it's getting light out, almost dawn."

Kestrel says, "You could even swim on your way out."

Lydia says, "Hm, but Dana doesn't know the way in."

Dollen looks disappointed at first, until he hears the word 'swim'.

Dollen says, "Well, alright."

Lydia says, "Oh, hold the block for a moment..."

Dollen asks (of Lydia), "Me?"

[interludes] Dana says (to Mordigan), "we'd best hope that they're coming soon, because if not, it's just you and me"

Kestrel holds the block.

Lydia lays her sword on the ground, trying to align it to point exactly along the axle.

[interludes] Dana says, "and personally I don't relish the prospect of being stuck here with you for company"

[interludes] Mordigan says, "And a village full of people."

[oneshot] GM asks, "Holding the block flat or angled?"

[interludes] Dana says (to Mordigan), "Right, but I think I'd have to get rid of you if I were going to go back there"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "angled like it already was, I meant."

Kestrel says (to Dollen), "Just explain the route like you did for me."

[interludes] Mordigan says, "Very wise."

Kestrel exclaims (at Dollen), "Thanks!"

Lydia says, "Good, that should help."

Erich asks, "what is your idea?"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Does dollen head out?"

GM has disconnected.

GM has connected.

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Does dollen head out?"

Lydia says, "We could probably all make it across walking."

Lydia says, "As long as there's something to sight and head for."

Kestrel nods.

Lydia says, "And the other people could try to hold the corners steady."

GM says (to Lydia), "If the block is at an angle, the sword tends to slide down it, as would be expected."

Erich says, "also, you and I can hold the rope as a handhold for most everyone else."

Kestrel asks, "Shall we try to get that poor skeleton out?"

Kestrel asks, "Give him a proper burial?"

Lydia says (to GM), "No, on the solid ground, pointing toward the axle."

Dollen says (to Kestrel), "Right, I'll just tell Dana. She should ahve no trouble with the directions."

Kestrel says (to Dollen), "Excellent."

Dollen waves. "Don't discover any artifacts of great and etheral power without me!" And then sets out.

GM says (to Lydia), "Ah, got it."

Ghogg materializes.

Ghogg hides in the corner

[Crows-Nest] Dana asks, "'no trouble with the directions', eh?"

Lydia asks, "Do we have to?"

Lydia says, "I mean, it's a skeleton, and a long ways to proper earth."

GM says (to Ghogg), "You can play the skeleton at the bottom of the pit."

Lydia says, "And it's kind of buried already, I guess."

Banther asks, "Are we certain it's human?"

Kestrel says, "I am, at least, curious as to how it got here without the chimur."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, I asked, but guess I didn't get an answer."

[oneshot] GM says, "Might have been lost in the disconnect. Roughly, 'it looks it'."

[oneshot] Erich asks, "Is there anything I could tie another rope to for climbing down into the pit, or is the wall rough enough for me to find handholds?"

Kestrel says (to Banther), "I don't know."

Kestrel looks to see if the skeleton looks like it has anything with it.

Ghogg asks (of GM), "Do I get to rise up and attack them for 2k2 damage?"

[oneshot] GM says (to Erich), "No handholds here -- the walls are smooth, like cement. But as for things to tie it to, only the things you already know about..."

Kestrel says (to Erich), "We could tie a rope around the whole floor."

GM says (to Ghogg), "No, but you can lend a sense of danger and foreboding."

Kestrel says, "Or just the pivot."

Ghogg plays creepy organ music for atmosphere

Erich says, "an excellent idea."

Lydia says, "He might have left the chi-mur behind."

GM says (to Kestrel), "Rags, maybe more."

[oneshot] Kestrel breathes in the creepy organ music.

[Crows-Nest] Giancarlo asks (of Ghogg), "Become the 7th Guest, have you?"

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Look out for soup cans"

Erich takes out some more rope and ties it to the floor's pivot.

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Odd that someone would then take it out and cast it into the sea, but yeah."

[Crows-Nest] Ghogg says, "Beware, the...dang it"

Lydia helps hold the block in place so a rope can be tied around it.

Kestrel loops a rope around the pivot point in the floor.

[oneshot] Erich asks (of Kestrel), "I know I'm big, but *two* ropes?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "BTW, I'm trying to estimate the time so that I can go get Dana when she'd be due back, if need be."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oops."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, ">UNDO."

[oneshot] GM says, "Under-lay ood-stay."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "Sorry, that mistake can't be corrected."

Kestrel merely helps Erich with the rope/floor.

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Lunder?"

Erich starts climbing down.

[7thsea] Erich rolls 6k3: 1 9 3 4 8 5 | 22

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I did better than that with 4k3 ;-)"

GM says (to Erich), "It's cozy down here. The skeleton is just a couple feet from you, and appears to have fallen along the right side, when the floor tilted."

[oneshot] Dana says, "It's 'I come from a land down under,' sung very fast"

Erich asks, "human?"

[Crows-Nest] (from Lydia) The skeleton does not respond.

Kestrel asks, "Any last messages, scrawled in the dust?"

Ghogg tries his best to keep playing the organ while lying on a tilted floor

GM says (to Erich), "it looks human. It's dressed in rags, and most of its bones are broken."

[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "actually from there it's the ceiling that's tilted."

GM says (to Erich), "No final messages, though."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says (to Ghogg), "With all those broken bones you must be playing diminished chords."

Erich climbs back up. "just a skeleton. looks to be human, though with a lot of broken bones."

Kestrel asks, "And my piece of paper. Shall we bury it?"

GM says, "Oh, right. And a piece of paper."

Kestrel says, "Not carrying anything of note, I guess."

Erich says, "not any more."

Kestrel says, "Hmm. I guess he's already entombed..."

Kestrel says, "I'd like to do this, at least."

Kestrel sits down.

[interludes] GM says, "You hear something in the bushes."

Erich asks, "so you wish to carry him with us, or bury him outside the entrance?"

[interludes] Dana looks in its direction

Lydia says, "sshh. He's going to eulogise. Or play a song or something."

Kestrel says, "I think I've changed my mind. Let's just leave... him or her there."

Erich says, "oh."

Kestrel begins to sing a soft, haunting song in a language you don't recognize.

[interludes] Dollen says, "Oh, there you are! Sorry I took so long -- I think the villagers are starting to get up, and I didn't want to risk being seen."

[interludes] Dana nods. "how are our friend?"

[interludes] Mordigan looks up.

[interludes] Dana says, "(er, friends)"

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "'Kumbaya, my Lord, Kumbaya...'"

[Crows-Nest] Dana exclaims, "ha!"

[interludes] Dollen says, "Playing with some kind of interesting trap, last I saw."

(From Kestrel) It lasts about a minute, then slowly stops, the echoes gradually diminshing as well.

[interludes] Dana says, "I see"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Pfft ;-)"

Lydia says, "That was lovely."

Kestrel stands back up.

Banther says, "That was very nice."

[interludes] Dana asks, "did they send you to look after Mordigan?"

Kestrel says, "An old Fhideli hymn."

[interludes] Dollen says, "Oh, right! Yes. I'm here to take over the next guard shift."

Lydia lets the floor piece back down to cover the 'tomb'.

[interludes] Dollen says, "You remember where the cave was, ith the..."

[interludes] Dollen trails off, noticing Mordigan.

[interludes] Dana says, "yes, I remember"

Kestrel says, "The native language here even seems to be related to Fhideli--maybe they knew it, or a version of it."

GM says, "With the ropes tied over the axle, it doesn't lie flat."

[interludes] Dana says, "good. if he does anything that bothers you, slit his throat"

[interludes] Dana smiles brightly at Mordigan

Lydia says, "Oh, look at that. Maybe we could even wedge it still."

Lydia pushes on the raised side some.

[interludes] Dana asks, "(aside to Dollen) any particular instructions once I get inside?"

[interludes] Dollen asks, "Kestrel suggested I remind you of the remind you of the twisty bits. Or do you remember the way?"

[interludes] Dana says, "remind me."

Kestrel says, "I guess we have more rope..."

Lydia asks, "But is it too tilted to walk across easily like this?"

GM says (to Lydia), "It does stick a bit -- it's less wobbly than it was when you first came across it at least, although not quite level."

[Crows-Nest] Trent has joined the channel.

[interludes] Dollen asks, "So you remember in the first room, how there are -- wait. Did you want the way with the new rope, or with the watersli-- er, waterfall?"

GM says, "Still, easier than having it move under your feet so much, at least."

[interludes] Dana says, "uh. new rope, I think"

Lydia says, "So as long as you can stay on this one half, should be easy."

[interludes] GM says, "Ah. Well then, remember the place with the three passages, where the two passages were really the one passage, but one was wetter? Take the other passage, that was the high passage, on the left. That'll take you to a little hole you shouldn't fall out of. Then when you climb the rope..."

[interludes] Dana nods

[interludes] Dollen goes on for a bit explaining.

Erich asks, "should we wait for Dana?"

[interludes] Dana says, "great, thanks"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel asks, "Time estimate?"

[interludes] Dana sets off as soon as Dollen is done

[interludes] GM asks, "Any navigational type skills?"

[interludes] GM says, "Learning this takes a roll."

[interludes] Dana says, "only street navigation"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "He's probably gotten to where she is, but she probably hasn't gotten back to you yet."

[interludes] Dana says, "and I'm guessing there aren't any streets"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Can we hit the fast-forward button?"

Lydia says, "We probably should."

[interludes] GM says, "Good enough. Wits + that."

Lydia says, "Or at least one person."

[7thsea] Dana rolls 5k3: 1 1 8 2 2 | 12

[oneshot] GM asks (of Kestrel), "That'd mean that you guys are taking a break in IC time to sit there waiting?"

[interludes] Dana says, "(lordy that suxored)"

[7thsea] GM rolls 4k3: 6 6 10+7 8 | 31

[interludes] GM says, "He seems to explain it clearly, and you get a very good idea of how to get someplace."

[interludes] Dana frowns confusedly

Erich says (to Lydia), "if we wait, she can also use this rope as a handhold, and only one of us has to cross without its help."

[interludes] Dana says, "ah, ok, good."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Right. If Dana OOC has nothing else to do."

[interludes] GM says, "You're just not sure which place."

[interludes] Dana says, "heh"

[interludes] Dana tries it anyway

[interludes] Dollen exclaims, "Have fun!"

Lydia says, "Right."

[interludes] Dollen sits down with Mordigan.

Kestrel says, "We have a little bit of time to explore the immediate area beyond this, maybe."

[interludes] Dana scampers through woods

Kestrel says, "But I'd also be fine with waiting."

[Crows-Nest] Erich sees Dana rolling, says uh-oh.

[Crows-Nest] Dana says, "you would think that 5k3 would do better than that"

GM asks, "Taking an IC break before crossing, then?"

Lydia says, "Probably better to wait. There may be more traps."

GM says, "You wait until Kestrel thinks Dana might be getting near."

Kestrel nods. "OK, I'll go back out and make sure she can make it through the maze.

[interludes] GM says, "Scamper scamper scamper."

Lydia says, "good idea."

Kestrel does so.

Ghogg disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

GM says, "Time passes."

[interludes] GM says, "A bit tired, whether from no sleep or too much scampering, you make it to the other side of the mountain, and the edge of the lagoon where it runs into the cave. Kestrel is standing there in the water, at the mouth of the cave."

[interludes] GM has added Kestrel to the channel.

[interludes] GM says (to Kestrel), "you see Dana coming around the side of the mountaing, shen she comes."

[interludes] Dana says, "(snrr)"

Kestrel waves cheerily.

[interludes] Dana exclaims, "greetings!"

[interludes] Kestrel says, "Also, on channel."

[interludes] Dana asks, "anything afoot?"

[interludes] Kestrel says (to Dana), "Well, the door opened, and we found a pivoty trap."

[interludes] Kestrel asks, "How's Mordigan holding up?"

[interludes] Dana says, "traps. lovely."

[interludes] Dana says, "oh, he's his usual bright-eyed bushy-tailed self"

[interludes] Kestrel says, "Excellent."

[interludes] Dana says, "charming me with his witty conversation and so on"

[interludes] Kestrel asks, "How well did Dollen do explaining? Want to try to navigate the twisty passages yourself?"

[interludes] Dana says, "he said something about a hole that I wouldn't be able to fall through, and a rope and a waterfall"

[interludes] Dana says, "if you're here to act as guide, that's quite a relief"

[interludes] Kestrel grins.

[interludes] Kestrel says, "Well, then. This way..."

[interludes] Dana follows

[interludes] Kestrel leads on, McGurk.

[interludes] Kestrel asks (of gm), "I assume we make it back?"

[interludes] GM says, "You take the high road, find a rope, climb it, poke your way through a few twisty passages, and eventually find the open door."

GM says, "Someone approaches, from the direction of the door."

Kestrel exclaims, "Haloo!"

[interludes] GM has removed Kestrel from the channel.

Erich exclaims, "kestrel!"

[interludes] GM has removed Dana from the channel.

Kestrel asks, "And Dana. Shall we continue, then?"

Dana says, "let's"

Erich says, "wonderful."

Lydia holds the raised far corner, just in case someone slips.

GM says, "For crossing with the rope wedged, if you don't have balance, I'll just want an easy footwork roll."

Kestrel tries first.

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 7k3: 3 8 4 1 3 6 4 | 18

[oneshot] GM asks, "You *do* have balance, right?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Just footwork."

[oneshot] GM nods.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, wait, look at that."

GM says, "Kestrel proceeds without difficulty."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Balance 1."

[oneshot] Dana says, "I have balance"

[oneshot] GM says, "With balance, no roll needed."

Dana traipses easily across

[Crows-Nest] Dana says, "doing a tapdance on the way"

[Crows-Nest] GM asks, "Ah, but do you have Dancing?"

[Crows-Nest] Dana says, "details"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "I have Dancing ;-)"

[Crows-Nest] Erich asks, "Bah. What's guy's name? Dollen?"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Banther."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Dollen left."

[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "the one with us is Banther."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "That's what I needed to know."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Sam Dollen, John Banther."

Erich asks (of Banther), "care to hold onto the rope on your way across?"

Banther says (to Erich), "Thank you."

Banther carefully tip-toes from one end to the other.

Banther breathes a sigh of relief on the other side.

Erich sets his jaw and treads as lightly as he can.

[7thsea] Erich rolls 5k3: 10+6 6 7 9 5 | 32

[oneshot] Lydia says, "if anything, it's going to get more stable when you cross."

[oneshot] Erich asks, "with that roll, who cares?"

[oneshot] Banther says (to Lydia), "Assuming he steps on the right place."

Banther says, "After Erich floats across, everyone is safely together on the far side."

[oneshot] GM says, "Er, GM says."

Kestrel and the group press on, with Dana taking Dollen's place in the marching order.

Lydia tries to keep an eye out for anything strange about the floor, walls, or ceiling, now.

Dana marches

[Crows-Nest] Dana says, "I'm picturing a nice little marching outfit with epaulettes and a baton"

GM says, "After a while more of corridor, you notice that ahead of you, a section of flooring is a metal grating instead of normal smooth rock."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Only if you twirl a flaming baton"

GM says, "(A few yards ahead of you)"

Lydia says, "Well, hm."

Dana asks, "these guys were quite the decorators, weren't they?"

Erich gets closer and tries to look through the grating.

Lydia stops and checks carefully for anything else unusual closer by.

GM says, "As you get closer, flames suddenly rise from the gating itself, several feet high."

Erich exclaims, "yah!"

Lydia exclaims, "Ack!"

Erich dances back, then narrows his eyes at Kestrel. "did you shoot something?"

Lydia can't help but grin.

Kestrel laughs.

[Crows-Nest] Dana exclaims, "it's a bbq grill!"

Dana says, "well"

Dana says, "this looks like time for us to pass the fire-ring back and forth"

Lydia says, "That might work."

Dana says, "if there is a way to do that without losing it under the grate"

Kestrel asks, "But what about our stuff?"

Dana says, "perhaps thread the rope higher up than the flames go and pass stuff across"

Lydia asks, "Could we toss it?"

Erich says, "if our clothes can survive, perhaps our things can if we hold them close to ourselves."

Erich says, "not that I am too enamored of my current outfit"

Lydia says (to Dana), "If the rope doesn't burn."

Kestrel says (to Erich), "Well, we'll try with you first, then."

Dana says, "if our clothes can't survive, everyone's going to get issued blinders"

Dana says (to Lydia), "that's why I said higher than the flames go"

GM says, "The grating itself reaches from the left side of the corridor tot he right, and continues about three or four yards down the length of the corridor."

Kestrel searches the walls.

Kestrel says, "There may be a way to turn it off on the far side."

GM says, "Shortly after the end of the grating, there's an alcove in the wall."

Dana says, "one of us should go across with the ring and see how it goes"

Kestrel says, "Like, in that alcove."

[oneshot] Dana asks, "I had it a while ago, do I still?"

GM says, "Possibly a room, possibly another corridor, possibly a closet."

Kestrel says, "Let's let Erich go, in case his clothes get burnt."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "You had the water ring, I thought."

[oneshot] Dana says, "but I had the fire ring too at one point"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Oh, it doesn't matter."

Dana says (to Kestrel), "if you want to see that..."

[oneshot] Dana says, "ok whatever"

Dana gives the fire ring to Erich.

Lydia asks, "Well, how did it know he was coming?"

Erich puts on the ring, grumbling under his breath.

Lydia looks for another crack on the floor.

Kestrel says (to Dana), "If you are volunteering, I shall not stop you."

Kestrel keeps Erich's stuff for him.

Erich says (to Lydia), "we can watch to see when it turns on this time."

GM says (to Lydia), "You can't look too close to the grating without endangering your eyebrows."

Erich walks towards the grate, trying not to flinch.

GM says, "Flames leap up when he's a few feet away."

GM says, "They reach up to two or three feet above its surface, and extend from one end to the other."

Kestrel . o O ( Good thing we thought to bring that ring. )

Erich crosses over.

[oneshot] Erich says, "assuming I don't get burnt to a crisp"

[oneshot] Erich says, "in which case I suppose I 'cross over' in a different fashion"

GM says, "The flames lick at his bare legs."

[oneshot] Dana says, "if you do, you still cross-- dammit"

[Crows-Nest] Giancarlo says, "That sounds dirty"

GM says, "Erich pauses for a moment."

[oneshot] Lydia asks, "He had shoes or boots or something on, right?"

[Crows-Nest] Dana says, "gives new meaning to the phrase 'hot pants'"

GM says, "He kneels..."

[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "that can't be called pants."

Erich exclaims, "ow! ow ow ow!"

Erich says, "just kidding."

Lydia frowns.

Dana says, "grrr"

Kestrel grumbles.

Erich says, "but I have found another skeleton."

Erich says, "I think."

Dana asks (of Erich), "Charred?"

Erich says, "feels very brittle, yes."

Kestrel asks, "Why didn't we see it?"

Lydia says, "Well, go to that gap in the wall, and see if you can turn it off or something."

GM says, "He continues across, carrying th light."

GM says, "When he gets a few feet from the end, the flames stop."

Erich says, "there is another of those horizontal bars in the alcove, along with a stool."

Kestrel blinks in the sudden darkness.

Lydia asks, "A stool?"

Lydia asks, "Have you turned it?"

Erich says, "am doing so, yes."

GM says, "Erich walks back onto the grate. It does not burst into flames."

Lydia moves forward cautiously.

GM says (to Lydia), "Nothing happens."

Lydia continues to where Erich found the skeleton.

Erich stops by the skeletons on the grate.

GM says, "As you walk out towards Erich, you can see the two skeletons, brittle and charred, on the ground."

GM says, "Whatever clothes they once had a blackened scraps, and each has a sword, rusted beyond use."

Lydia says, "Ew."

Giancarlo has disconnected.

Erich hands the flame ring back to Dana.

Kestrel asks (of Banther), "Can you tell when or where these swords were made?"

Banther kneels down beside the bones.

Giancarlo has connected.

Banther says, "Hmm."

Banther starts to examine one of the swords, then stops, and looks at the skeletons themselves.

Banther says, "My..."

Kestrel raises an eyebrow.

Lydia looks interestedly at the swords.

Banther says, "We ahve to take these bones back with us."

Erich asks, "yes?"

Kestrel asks, "Are they not human?"

Dana asks, "someone you know?"

Banther says, "They are... well. i'm not certain."

Kestrel asks, "What do you suspect?"

Banther says, "They are human, I think. But not the same race as we are."

Kestrel says, "Wow."

Kestrel asks, "What about the swords?"

Banther asks, "The length of this femur, and see the shape of the skull?"

Kestrel looks with curiosity.

Banther says, "The swords? Second period artifacts, but of poor quality. Similar pieces, and in much better condition, are on display all over Theah."

Kestrel asks, "Second period? The same as the chimur?"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel asks, "Just before recess?"

Banther says, "Yes. Admittedly, bladed weapons from this period do tend to be of superior alloys to what most smiths can produce today."

Banther says, "But these particular ones are far degraded."

Lydia says, "Obviously."

Banther says, "Still, this is the first time I've seen a sword like this found beside its original owner."

Lydia says, "Maybe the other one was of that other race, too."

Kestrel asks, "What of this place in general? The people who set up the grate and pit? First period, or second?"

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "It seems likely."

Banther says (to Kestrel), "Oh, definitely, second. See the starkness of it -- the paleness of the walls? The lack of style? Highly utilitarian."

Kestrel says, "Hmm."

Kestrel says, "Well, if we're taking them..."

Banther asks, "Do we ahve any way to carry them safely?"

Kestrel unrolls a blanket, carefully places the bones and swords inside.

Banther says, "It would be a terrible loss if they were to be damaged in transit."

Kestrel asks, "Will this do?"

Lydia says, "It might be better to get them when we come back the second time."

Banther says (to Kestrel), "It should... but be careful."

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "True, but lets at least move them off the grate. No sense flaming them more."

Erich says (to Banther), "Now I wonder if the other skeleton, the one in the pit, is similar."

Lydia nods.

Erich says (to Banther), "I saw no difference, but my eye is untrained."

Lydia says, "We can check later."

Banther asks (of Erich), "it is possible. What condition was it in?"

Erich says, "intact, though with many of its bones broken"

Banther nods.

Erich says, "making it even more fragile for transport."

Banther says, "Whatever we can bring back will likely be of great value for study."

Giancarlo has disconnected.

Kestrel asks (of Banther), "They will be given a proper burial after being studied, right?"

Lydia says, "Hmm. Now why would so many of the bones be broken? I wouldn't think a fall of that height would likely do that."

Kestrel asks (of Lydia), "Maybe crushed by the rotating floor?"

Banther says (to Kestrel), "it is likely that they will be put on display, eventually -- respectfully, I am certain."

Lydia says, "Maybe."

Kestrel frowns, but says nothing.

Lydia has had enough standing over a fire grate, and moves to the ground at the far end.

Kestrel finishes gathering up the bones, and moves them to the far end.

Banther does as well.

Kestrel says, "Shall we turn back on the flames? Have to turn them off for Dollen, but in case Mordigan escapes..."

Dana tries not to grin too broadly

Lydia says, "I suppose it shouldn't hurt anything."

Lydia looks for the stool, and wonders why it would be there.

GM says (to Lydia), "It's much like a normal stool, except made of metal. Not as badly corroded as the swords. It's a little bit taller than an average stool, maybe."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel asks, "Oh, and I assume Erich's clothes made it through OK?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Yes."

Lydia asks, "Is this stool an artifact too?"

[Crows-Nest] Erich asks, "you think he would have passed up the opportunity to comment if they hadn't?"

Banther says, "In a general sense, yes..."

Banther says, "But it might be better to leave it, for now."

Kestrel grins. "Onward, then."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(after we turn on the flames)"

Erich heads on, keeping an eye out for...well, for danger.

[oneshot] GM says, "Click."

GM says, "You head onward apace."

GM says, "You can see up ahead, it looks like the corridor stops, or turns."

GM says, "With something in the wall, doors it looks like, near."

Kestrel says, "Kind of odd that this is just a simple corridor with traps. Wonder what they're protecting."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(I left the skeletons in their bundle by the alcove, BTW)"

Kestrel slows.

GM says, "Getting closer, you can see that it is the end of the corridor. There are four steel doors there, two on each side. In each door is set a handle, like the ones that controlled the grating and released the chimur."

Lydia says, "And now I suppose we have to choose the correct door."

Lydia looks for any markings on the doors.

[oneshot] GM says, "(AFK a moment)"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "me too."

GM says (to Lydia), ";(Back)"

[oneshot] GM says, "(Back)"

GM says (to Lydia), "No markings apparent."

Kestrel says, "Well, might as well pick one."

Erich says (to Kestrel), "take your choice."

Kestrel points to each of the doors in succession, chanting something vagely rhythmic.

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 1 die: 3

Kestrel ends the rhyme on the back right door.

[Crows-Nest] Dana says, "'if he hollers let him go!'"

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "This is going to turn out to be The Lady Or The Chimur."

Banther asks (of Kestrel), "Is this a sort of sorcery of your people?"

Kestrel says (to Banther), "Nope, just a children's rhyme."

Kestrel grins.

Kestrel asks, "But, my uncle likes that one, so. Someone want to give me the chimur?"

[oneshot] GM says, "I think Lydia has it."

[oneshot] GM says, "So feel free to take it from her while she's AFK."

Kestrel gets the chimur from Lydia, puts it in the door.

Kestrel pushes it in all the way.

Kestrel says, "Stand back, just in case..."

[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "There isn't a hole to push it into."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Er, what?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, *this* side of that door."

[oneshot] GM says, "Just a horizonal bar, mounted to the door by a bolt in the middle of it."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, ">UNDO."

[oneshot] GM says, "Much like the bar that controlled the grating, and the one that *released* the chimur."

Kestrel turns the bar.

GM says, "Click. The door opens."

Kestrel peers in.

GM says, "You see twisty metal and the remains of rags."

GM says, "Twisted, I mean."

Kestrel goes in, looks through stuff.

Kestrel says, "Not much here but metal and rags."

Kestrel asks, "Banther, you want to have a look?"

Erich picks the front right door and turns its bar.

GM says (to Kestrel), "The bits of surviving material are singed, and there are broken pieces of bone among the metallic scraps."

Banther steps in behind Kestrel.

GM says (to Erich), "Click. It also opens."

Banther says (to Kestrel), "I wouldn't like to see whatever had caused this."

[oneshot] Lydia returns from smoothie-party.

Erich looks in carefully.

Kestrel says, "Erk."

GM says (to Erich), "You see a table and stool, of similar manufacture to the stool you saw earlier."

GM says (to Erich), "On the table is something that's been smashed into small pieces."

Erich says, "I'll check the floor and walls before venturing in to get a closer look at the table."

GM says (to Erich), "There's also a hole in the floor to the back of the room."

GM says (to Erich), "But the floor and walls near the door look alright."

Kestrel tries to figure out what the metal and rags might have been at one point.

GM says (to Kestrel), "Wits."

Erich steps into the room and looks at the table.

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 3k3: 1 4 1 | 6

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Snrk."

GM says (to Kestrel), "No comment."

[Crows-Nest] Erich exclaims (at Kestrel), "Look at the pretty metal!"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "'This used to be fiber before it was made into cloth.'"

GM says (to Erich), "Dented on the top, probably from when the thing on top of it was smashed."

Kestrel, flummoxed, gives up.

Erich is more specific and looks at the thing on the table.

GM says (to Erich), "The remains of whatever it was include bits of glass, metal, possibly ceramics, and probably inky."

[oneshot] Lydia asks, "Are the metal things sticking out of the walls around the doorway?"

GM says, "Ink. Ink."

Kestrel wanders over to Erich's room, figuring Banther can figure stuff out here.

[oneshot] GM says, "The bars? No, the doors themselves."

[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "The remains of inky? The barbarians!"

[Crows-Nest] Dana cries

[oneshot] Lydia says, "I mean the twisty things Kestrel was just looking at."

Banther kneels beside one heap of scrap, picking through the remains.

[oneshot] Banther says, "Oh, no. Just scattered across the room."

Erich says (to Kestrel), "take a look at this hole."

Lydia walks in the room being careful not to touch anything.

Lydia looks at the hole in back.

Kestrel takes a look at that hole.

Erich take a look at that hole as well.

Banther says, "The hole is jagged, as though it were either from a natural cave-in below, or else hacked out crudely."

Banther says, "Below, you can see a dark chamber."

Lydia says, "Try shining the light down there, Erich."

Erich does so.

[oneshot] Kestrel says (to GM), "You like putting in short-cuts at the end where we've struggled through the front, don't you? ;-)"

[oneshot] Banther smirks.

Banther says, "The chamber below is triangular, and made of a different quality of stone from these walls up here. most striking are the murals on the walls... although faded and dusty, their color still shows through..."

Dana says, "Goodness"

[oneshot] GM sighs. "Not Banther..."

[oneshot] Dana says, "we can just assume that he's one of those annoying guys who points out very obvious things aloud"

[oneshot] Erich asks, "Do the murals look like those from Last Adventure?"

Lydia says, "Oh, wow. The old ruins on top of even older ruins."

Kestrel calls to Banther "Hey, come look at this! Might be first-period.

Kestrel "

GM says, "Immediately below the hole is a ladder, fallen to the ground. And near the middle of the chamber is what looks like a pedestal, although you can't see it clearly from here."

[oneshot] GM asks, "Which murals do you mean, exactly?"

Banther comes up from behind.

[oneshot] Erich says, "The striking ones on the wall"

Banther says, "Yes?" He looks down. "My... oh my, yes.""

[oneshot] Banther asks, "I mean, which mural(s) from Last Adventure?"

Dana stands at the edge, looking eager to hop in

[oneshot] Lydia says, "the artistic one on the floor, probably."

[oneshot] Erich says, "All of them. :)"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "The triangular one, say, that told us the order of the clay pieces. Front room."

[oneshot] GM says (to Lydia), "Ah, right. Yes, somewhat."

[oneshot] Erich says, "(geez. couldn't say 'this mural is like that one from the last adventure which was...')"

Kestrel, as the others are looking at this new place, wanders back out and opens the left front door.

Banther says, "If someone climbs down there, I wonder if that ladder is still strong enough..."

Lydia says, "Yes, but..."

[oneshot] Banther says (to Erich), "Sorry, my brain was stuck on the other one, so I was confusing myself."

[oneshot] Banther says (to Erich), "It took me a minute to remember the other one."

[oneshot] Erich grins.

[oneshot] Banther says, "Er. If that makes sense."

Lydia asks, "If that hole was broken open at some point, what is this corridor for?"

Banther asks, "What do you mean?"

Lydia asks, "Did whoever made these things just like making halls full of traps that don't lead anywhere?"

Banther says, "Hmm."

Banther asks, "Did you see that other room?"

Dana gets bored of waiting and says, "If I shout, someone lower me a rope."

Dana clambers into the hole.

Lydia says, "The first one? That looked like a trap that had already been sprung."

Lydia says, "There are those other doors though."

Erich calls out, "kestrel! find anything?"

Lydia returns to the hall.

[oneshot] Kestrel says (to GM), "(left front door)"

Banther has disconnected.

Banther has connected.

Lydia inspects the dead-end past the four doors.

[oneshot] Lydia said (in response to Banther), "The first one? That looked like a trap that had already been sprung."

[oneshot] GM asks, "Sorry, where exactly were we?"

Banther says (to Lydia), "Perhaps... or perhaps it was done by someone else."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I'm looking in the left front door."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Others are looking down the hole, possibly entering."

[oneshot] GM asks, "And did I just see Dana jump down a 12-15 foot drop?"

[oneshot] Dana says, "I was thinking that she climbed to hang down from the edge of the hole, then dropped the rest of the way"

[oneshot] Dana says, "so more like slithering, and more of a 6-foot drop"

GM says (to Kestrel), "You see broken metal boxes -- not so badly destroyed as the pieces from the first room. In them, and around them, are course dust and ash."

GM says (to Dana), "You land on your feet, next to the ladder. It's Tall enough to reach the hole above you."

Kestrel looks in the boxes, generally searches around.

Dana looks around the hole

GM says, "The murals around you are fashioned in the same style as the sun mural as from before (as Erich noticed), and they appearch to depict a seascape view from someplace high up."

GM asks (of Dana), "Above you, or the floor?"

Erich goes to see the last room.

GM says, "(I.e. under the hole, or the hole itself)"

Lydia inspects the dead-end past the four doors.

Dana says, "the floor"

GM says (to Lydia), "It's a smooth wall, with no features of note."

Lydia knocks on it and listens.

GM says (to Dana), "Nothing of note."

Dana looks over the murals

Erich turns the bar.

GM says (to Erich), "It opens the same way as the others. Inside, you see what may be the remains of a table, with stools around it, and more bones..."

Erich says, "not much into decorating, our ancients."

Erich takes a look before stepping inside.

Kestrel asks, "Man, what *did* this?"

[7thsea] inky says, "http://www.dieselsweeties.com/strips/sw226.shtml"

Kestrel says, "This is so sad."

GM says (to Dana), "They show the view from someplace high up; they appear to be looking down on trees and beaches and ocean."

[7thsea] veek says, "Ha"

Dana asks, "And the pedestal?"

[7thsea] josh_g says, "yay"

GM says (to Kestrel), "The coarse dust feels fibrous, and you find small scraps of burned paper in it."

GM says (to Lydia), "It sounds like plain stoone."

Erich looks at the remains of the table.

GM says (to Erich), "The table is large, about five feet by eight."

Lydia shrugs, and enters the first room carefully to inspect it.

GM says, "One end of it is on the ground, where the legs gave out; the other is still standing."

Kestrel searches for any scrap of paper with any writing or marks of some sort.

GM says, "It's dusty, but you can see something carved into it."

Erich looks at the carving.

GM says, "Before we continue, I need to give a nod to realism..."

GM says, "One of you has a light source. The rest of you can't see anything much."

[oneshot] Dana asks, "I had that pouch from the little hut containing a flint and steel, right? can I make light using that?"

GM says, "So, um. Something should be done about that. :)"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I thought we had lanterns."

[oneshot] GM says, "Sure."

Lydia gets out a lamp to see better.

[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "You didn't light them."

[oneshot] Dana lights lantern

[oneshot] GM asks (of Lydia), "You're with Erich now?"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "That can't go without saying?"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "uh, in the far right room."

[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "Not if I'm trying to follow four people at the same time, and need to give them an excuse to pause for a moment :)"

[oneshot] Erich says, "Whoops. :)"

[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Hee!"

[oneshot] Erich says, "Well, since I have light."

Erich, having paused for a second to realize that he has light, goes back to looking at the carving

[oneshot] GM asks (of Lydia), "OK. Are you trying to discover anything in particular, or just looking for anything left behind?"

Kestrel sets down his lit lamp (ahem) so as to sift through the papers.

[oneshot] Ghogg says, "have 'em eaten off by grues"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "looking for anything interesting, nothing specific"

GM says (to Erich), "When you clear the dust away, you can see that it looks like a map of Theah, more or less."

GM says, "It doesn't have the national borders, but it does have the shape of the main islands, rivers, and so forth."

Lydia picks up a piece of the twisted metal and looks at it, puzzled.

[oneshot] Lydia asks, "how large are twisted metal pieces?"

GM says (to Erich), "There is a * someplace in where the Mirror Sea would be."

GM says (to Lydia), "You discover a knife in the corner which seems to be in good shape."

GM says (to Lydia), "The pieces are mostly long pieces, but now bent. possibly beams of some kind."

Erich finds where Lydia has gone. "do you have any paper and a charcoal stick?"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Did I find anything amongst the papers?"

GM says (to Dana), "In the middle of the room is the pedestal. On it, is a black bowl, with writhing markings around the outside, and with a black crystal set inside it."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(paper bits)"

GM says (to Kestrel), "Even the best pieces are confetti; most of it crumbles in your hands."

Lydia says, "I have a notebook. Charcoal? Hm."

Erich says, "I found a carving on a table, and would like to transfer it to paper"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I keep forgetting that this incarnation of me doesn't have 'drawing'."

[oneshot] GM says, "Or, for reference, examiner."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Right ;-)"

Lydia says, "Someone must. I think."

Kestrel gives up and goes back to the hole.

Lydia picks up the dagger from the corner and gives it a brief lookover.

Kestrel asks (of Dana), "Anything down there?"

[oneshot] Erich says (to GM), "I'm going to see if any of the rags in the first room Kestrel looked in have enough charring to serve my needs."

Dana says, "Murals, drawn as if from a great height"

Kestrel asks, "Of?"

GM says (to Lydia), "It seems to be in pretty good condition. The hardwood handle is a little loose, but the blade's not too badly corroded."

Dana says, "of a beach scene"

Dana says, "also, a black bowl with a black crystal in it."

Kestrel asks, "Oooh! Is there a mountain in the background?"

Dana says, "That is, there is such a bowl, not in the picture"

[oneshot] GM says (to Erich), "I'm going to say sure, for the same of convenience."

Dana says, "And I have to say that I'm disinclined to touch it just at this second."

Kestrel Oh, you found the bowl!

[oneshot] Erich says, "excellent."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Er, "."

Erich takes some rags, then goes back to the table. He proceeds to lay out several sheets of paper, slightly overlapping, until the table is covered. He then transfers the map via rubbing.

Kestrel asks (of Dana), "Does that ladder look sturdy?"

Dana says (to Kestrel), "No sign of mountains."

Dana checks the ladder

GM says (to Dana), "Looks solid enough."

Dana asks, "Why, you don't want to jump and have me catch you?"

Dana puts the ladder up, yells that it should be safe.

Lydia makes sure Erich finds what he needs, then goes to find Banther.

Kestrel says, "I was going to help Banther down. He knows more about the other bowl than I do."

Lydia asks (of Banther), "What do you make of this dagger?"

Banther looks up from the debris he was examining.

Kestrel pauses to let Banther look at the knife.

Banther says (to Lydia), "Ah, very nice."

Banther holds it by the light.

Banther asks, "See how the blade shimmers like fish scales when the light hits it just right?"

Lydia says, "Ooohh."

Erich, finishing his rubbings, looks around the room for anything else of note.

Banther says, "That's how you can recognize this material. Promethean Steel, it's called, named after the monastary where the first blade like this was kept."

Banther hands it back. "It's very strong -- almost impossible to break it. And it can hold an edge for a very long time, with proper care."

GM says (to Erich), "Around the table are seven stools -- three on each long side, and one at one end."

GM says, "There are also the remains of six people , one by each stool, except for the one closest the door."

[Crows-Nest] Dana says, "it's a bar-- ew"

Erich shouts, "Banther, you may want to see this."

[Crows-Nest] Ghogg cues Star Wars cantina music

Banther asks (of Lydia), "If you'll excuse me?"

Lydia nods.

Banther goes out to see Erich.

Banther asks (of Erich), "Yes?"

Kestrel sighs.

Erich gestures towards the skeletons.

Kestrel says (to Dana), "Never mind, I'm coming down myself."

Dana says (to Kestrel), "He'll get down here eventually..."

Banther says, "Oooh..."

Erich says, "and notice the map on the table."

Banther says, "These are in *much* better condition than the others."

Kestrel climbs down the ladder.

Banther says (to Kestrel), "As you climb down, it's almost like re-entering the ruins you visited before in Avalon. Except with better artwork."

Banther says (to Erich), "Yes, they're all similar. With just two, I wasn't sure if they were anomalous, but all of these share the same unusla features."

[oneshot] Banther says, "(Yeah, you know who I am :\ )"

Banther says (to Erich), "I wish it were possible to bring them all back with us, but I imagine it's probably not practical. Perhaps, if there's a way to return..."

Erich says, "I am very curious to know about the marking in the sea there on the map."

Lydia thinks it better to wait here for the rest, and looks over the smashed things in the room in the meantime.

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Just one room?"

Banther asks, "Mmm?"

Erich says, "here." He points out the map on the table.

[oneshot] GM says, "Just one room, but nice and spacious."

[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims (at Erich), "Oooh! oh oh oh!"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Dangit, and I'm out of the room ;-)"

Banther says, "I wonder. I would suspect an island, maybe..."

Banther asks, "Do you know of any islands in that area?"

Erich says, "I do not."

Erich says, "I wonder if it is where we are now."

Banther says, "That is possible -- it's certainly the right climate."

Erich says, "I did what I could to transfer the map to paper"

Kestrel examines the murals, then turns his attention to the bowl.

Banther says, "This entire place is quite a find, really."

Erich says, "we should check on the others. I'm curious about the chamber Dana was exploring."

Banther nods. "Alright."

GM says (to Kestrel), "The markings around the outside are similar to the ones on the bowl that brought you here."

GM says, "They're etched in silver on the black surface of the bowl."

Kestrel digs through his pack and pulls out Banther's notes from the original bowl.

Lydia says (to Erich and Banther), "The ladder seems safe enough."

Banther says (to Erich), "Only one of us should go at a time... just in case."

Banther asks, "Should I go first, then?"

Lydia says (to Banther), "I think you'd be most interested in the murals they were talking about."

Banther climbs down the ladder.

Banther says, "Ah..."

Kestrel calls up "There's another bowl here, too!"

Banther says, "Aha -- this must be it, then."

Banther says, "That would explain why we were sent here."

Kestrel says, "Hmm."

Kestrel says, "This bowl is very similar to the other bowl. And, presumably, to the bowl in Castille that Mordigan used."

Banther looks around at the walls. "I wonder what this place was... a meditation chamber? A prayer room? A restreat of some kind, maybe?"

Kestrel says, "So, maybe it's like the *other* bowls we found. You have to use the right tune to get sent to the right bowl."

Banther says (to Kestrel), "That would make sense."

Lydia asks, "Do we want to bring the bowl with us? Or bring Mordigan in here?"

Kestrel says, "Well, we can't bring the bowl with us."

Banther says, "On the other one, I played the music that the markings represented..."

Kestrel exclaims (at Banther), "And it went crazy, because you told it to send you to itself!"

Banther says, "But this one seems to have different markings -- a different tune, indeed..."

Kestrel says, "So, maybe if you played that same music, it'd send you back, only orderly this time."

Banther says (to Kestrel), "Mmm? Perhaps."

Kestrel asks, "You also mentioned 'stabilizing' the sphere?"

Banther says, "I wonder though, if I played the music on this bowl..."

Banther says, "It looks more complex than the other, but I think I could manage it..."

Banther says, "But then, rushing into things was how I caused this problem in the first place."

Kestrel grins.

Kestrel says, "Also, something killed a lot of people upstairs."

Banther says (to Kestrel), "Ah, yes. My original suspicion was that perhaps I hand't played *well* enough."

Banther says, "But that if I could play the tune clearly to the end, the sphere would, well, calm down."

Kestrel nods.

Lydia says (to Banther), "You could try that still, using the sound bowls."

Kestrel says, "Mordigan did say that the Fhideli with the other bowl seemed to have that sphere under control."

Kestrel pulls out that bit again.

Banther says (to Lydia), "Ah! Hmm."

Kestrel re-reads the relefant passage.

Banther asks (of Lydia), "Would it work, I wonder?"

Kestrel says (to Banther), "Worth a try."

Lydia says, "I think it would be good to find out."

Kestrel cautiously steps toward the bowl.

Kestrel touches it, then picks it up.

Banther tries to stifle a yawn.

[oneshot] Lydia asks, "is the bowl small enough to Bring?"

[oneshot] Banther says, "Let me check the book."

[oneshot] Banther says, "I'll say yes."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Bring? Oh, via porte."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Grm, tired myself."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Shall we break? Decide what to try in a couple weeks?"

[oneshot] Erich says, "I need to stop soon."

Banther asks, "All of this excitement has begun to wear me out a bit. Should we, perhaps, set camp here?"

Erich shakes his head, suddenly realizing how tired he is.

Lydia says, "Maybe we should find Sam first."

Lydia says, "I wouldn't want to leave him alone with Mr. Mordigan."

Lydia says, "all night, I mean."

Lydia says, "It's probably safe to bring the bowl with us."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I'm not exactly sure whether to bring the bowl to Mordigan, or bring Mordigan to the bowl, but I'm too tired to figure it out right now ;-)"

[oneshot] Banther asks, "Do you want to stop here without deciding?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I'd rather, yeah."

[oneshot] GM asks, "Everyone in agreement?"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Who isn't already asleep?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Heh."

[oneshot] inky says, "you guys should all move to the west coast. not even 11pm here."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "not deciding sounds safe"

[oneshot] GM asks, "OK. Do we skip next week, or just schedule for a different night?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "That's up to Erich, I think."

[oneshot] GM asks, "So, figure that out when he wakes up, then?"

[oneshot] Erich says, "Sorry, back."

[oneshot] GM says, "Also, three XP for everyone."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "I can do it most any time, as usual."

[oneshot] Erich says, "I need to skip next weel"

[oneshot] Erich says, "s/l/k/"

[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims (at GM), "Yay!"

[oneshot] GM asks, "OK. Two weeks from tonight, then?"

[oneshot] Erich says, "That works for me, assuming you folks can tear yourselves away from comp games."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Sounds reasonable."

[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Dana), "Psst! We"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(sigh)"

[oneshot] Erich says, "Also, yay 3 xp"

[oneshot] GM says, "OK. See everyone then."