[oneshot] GM sorts out XP with Jemmy.
[oneshot] Erich says, "Now is not the time to discuss programming strategies."
[oneshot] Miseri says, "You know you've been playing too many RPGs when you start referring to your resume or CV as your 'character sheet'."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
[oneshot] Erich says, "'Yeah, I got two XP for fixing the bug in our B-to-B transaction software, and spent it on my Java skill."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee hee"
GM says, "Last time we saw our intrepid heroes, they had just finished up an exciting mission for the Explorers Society."
Jemmy says, "yay us"
GM says, "That was a couple months ago; now (early summer or late spring) they have had a chance to relax and enjoy their earnings, and they've also been summoned back by Mr. Devon Billings."
Erich says, "Ah, I had hopes another job like this might come up."
GM says, "It seems that most of the real explorers are off on important digs right now, and they need someone who's had experience dealing with distasteful elements for another job."
GM says, "Alas, Morgan was unavailable -- which is a polite way of saying incarcerated -- but he did arrange for a friend of his to take his place. A fellow by the name of 'Kestrel'."
Jemmy says, "he sounds like a trustworthy sort of fellow"
Erich says, "Any friend of Morgan's is..."
Erich says, "well, possibly to be watched carefully."
GM says, "When you arrive, it's not long before you're brought into Mr. Billings' office. It's much like it was before: books and knick-knacks and papers and so forth on the shelves and desk, a Billings behind the desk, etc."
Billings says, "Ah, good, good. You're all here? Well. More or less, mmm."
Lydia says, "Good day."
Billings asks, "So. Er. What was it you wanted to see me about?"
Erich nods to Billings.
Jemmy exclaims, "here I am again!"
Lydia says (to Billings), "You called for us, sir."
Billings says, "Oh! Right, yes. That, er, that new dig..."
Billings says, "Mmm. Well, you see, a new site has been located, an, er, ancient or such ruin, you know the sort, and normally, you see, we sent an experienced team of society members out for such a thing..."
Billings frowns. "Unfortunately, most of our experienced members are rather occupied at the moment. And it's rather, um, urgent that someone be sent quickly, because apparently, a certain, er, private collector of artifacts and such has, sort of, found out about this, new, er, dig...
Erich says, "Ah."
Erich asks, "And public collectors wish to have them instead?"
Billings brightens. "Yes, exactly. It's vital that they be brought back here, you see, for proper study. As opposed to, say, made into jewelry. Or such. Less important endeavors."
Jemmy asks, "shocking! I can't believe anyone would abuse -- you *did* say I could borrow the sword sometimes, right?"
Lydia says, "I think I get the idea. Count me in."
Erich asks, "What payment do you offer non-experienced non-members, then?"
Billings says (to Jemmy), "Mmm? Oh, yes, of course. As a society member, you have access to the artifacts collected for your own personal study."
Erich asks (of Jemmy), "Member?"
Jemmy exclaims (at Erich), "you bet!"
Erich says, "Goodness."
Billings says (to Erich), "Well. I presume you'll be operating as a team, yes? Yes. The rewards, er, offered for a unique, one of a kind sort of artifact, along with proper identifying data about its, er, site and location and so forth, is worth two hundred shillings to the Society."
Jemmy shows off his guild cloak-pin.
Lydia asks (of Jemmy), "Doesn't that go on the other lapel?"
Billings says, "For other items, rare items, you can expect eighty shillings, with proper documentation, and twenty shillings for more common sorts of items."
Erich says (to Jemmy), "It's very shiny."
Erich says, "and possibly muffin-shaped, though that could be the light"
Jemmy says (to Lydia), "er -- they explained it to me when I joined but I might have it wrong"
Jemmy turns the pin upside-down and looks at it thoughtfully
Billings shuffles the papers around on his desk, moving the funny-shaped bowl out of the way in the process, then shuffles them back.
[Crows-Nest] Erich decides it's coffee time.
Lydia asks (of Billings), "Do you know anything else about the site?"
Billings looks at the bowl funny. "Now why did I put that there. Hrm."
Billings says (to Lydia), "Mmm? Ah. A little bit. Er."
Erich eyes the bowl thoughtfully.
Billings says, "The persons who discovered it were abe to provide, er, some description of the entrance..."
GM says (to Erich), "It's rounded and obling, but vauguely triangular: one of the two ends is wider than the other. There's a series of small holes near the rim along each of the long sides, with a symbol below each hole (http://www.tiac.net/users/jota/runes-bowl.jpg for the symbols)."
Billings says, "It was somewhat reminiscent of another site, a temple or shrine of some sort, very badly damaged. Unfortunately rather little was recovered from it."
Erich asks, "How was this site found? And how did others learn of it?"
GM says (to Erich), "There's also a row of symbols inside the bowl, on the bottom (http://www.tiac.net/users/jota/in-bowl.jpg)."
Billings says, "I, er, had an artifact that was, uh, recovered from it..." He looks about himself, making vague motions with his hands. "Some sort of, er, bowl...""
Billings shrugs.
Billings says (to Erich), "This site? Or, uh, that other site? Mrm."
Erich points to the bowl. "That bowl?"
Jemmy asks, "is it *that* bowl?"
Billings blinks. "Oh. Ah, yes. Thank you."
Billings shows you the bowl, which is as described to Erich.
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Billings is what happened to the Professor from Miseri's game later in life."
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
Jemmy says, "hmmm"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "I suppose whatever runes these are, I don't recognize them?"
[Crows-Nest] Miseri says, "yay"
[oneshot] Erich says, "(same here?)"
Erich says, "Both sites, now that you mention it."
Lydia asks (of Billings), "Hm. What do these marks mean?"
[oneshot] Billings says (to Jemmy), "Only inasmuch as you might have seen this bowl while wandering around the building looking for napping places."
[oneshot] Billings says (to Erich), "You can roll Syrneth Lore if you like."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "mm, napping"
[oneshot] Erich says, "sure"
[7thsea] Erich rolls 5k3: 4 3 8 7 6 | 21
Billings says (to Erich), "The first, um. It was a number of years ago. It was located somewhere in, um. Castille, I think it was. I don't have a lot of information on it, unfortunately."
Erich nods.
[oneshot] Billings says (to Erich), "You may have seen similar ones before, but you don't know anything about them."
Billings says, "This more recent site was actually described to us by an, uh... information gatherer. Of the sort who, er, is familiar with the circles of the private collectors in this area."
Jemmy says, "hmmmm"
Erich says, "Ah."
Billings says, "He hasn't personally visited the site, of course, but has heard of it from, er, less academically minded researchers, if you will."
Billings opens a drawer in his desk, peers at it as though wondering why its not bigger, then closes it again.
Billings opens a somewhat larger drawer below it, and takes out an adventurer's pack, which he lays on his desk.
Billings opens the pack, displaying its contents. "Here you see, er, equipment for packing and binding artifacts safely for transit... several notebooks, with pen and ink, for recording observation... um... ah, waterskins -- very useful. Particularly if you're thirsty..."
Erich says, "indeed"
Billings says, "Mmm. Rope. Quite a bit of that. Um. And so forth and so on. On loan to you for the duration of this job."
Lydia says, "Oh. Thank you."
Erich says, "Our thanks."
Erich asks, "How much -- resistance might we expect to meet?"
Billings smiles. "It is to everyone's benefit if you are prepared. Including ours. And yours. Mmm."
Lydia takes one of the notebooks and makes a quick sketch of the bowl.
Erich says (to Lydia), "(a good idea)"
Lydia draws the symbols next to it, with arrows pointing to the holes and the inside surface.
Billings says (to Erich), "That is difficult to say. It depends a great deal on how quickly the gentleman who discovered the site prepares a team of his own. Luckily, the location is unclaimed land. Which simplifies matters somewhat."
Erich asks, "What are this gentleman's likely resources?"
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "Does the same row of 8 symbols appear on both long sides of the bowl?"
Billings thinks for a moment. "Well. From what limited information I have, I suspect less than the Society's. However, this is uncertain: the trade in such artifacts can waver, and his funds could be higher than expect. Or, er, lower."
[oneshot] Billings says, "Yes. In reverse order on the other side, so that the symbols line up with themselves."
[oneshot] Billings says, "The first one is nearest the broader end, and the last nearest the narrower."
Erich asks, "And where was this site?"
Billings says, "It's, um, about seventy miles from here. East, or maybe eighty? Or so. I... I used to have a map, at one point. However, we'll send you by carriage, most of the way... shouldn't be too bad... um. From there, someone... yes, I'm sure someone will be able to give you proper directions..."
Erich asks, "I suspect there is no one there for us to meet, and we'll be on our own, yes?"
Billings says, "Er. You'll ahve to check with Miss Cavendish for exact details, and, er, carriage arrangements..."
Jemmy exclaims, "oh boy, a carriage!"
Billings says (to Erich), "Mmm? Ah. Right. From the point where the carriage drops you off. In. Er. Whatever town that is, over, um, there..."
Lydia asks (of Billings), "Do you know what the symbols on the bowl mean?"
Billings asks, "Mmm? Bowl?"
Billings says, "Oh, oh, the bowl. Right."
Billings says, "Um. No, actually. There are some nice theories, though."
Erich says, "Ah."
Billings says, "Several of the fellows thing that this one is, er. Um. Well, I shouldn't say that in front of a lady, although it does rather look like..."
Erich says, "*Theories*."
Billings says, "Um. Oh, and that one is rather like a cherry, isn't it? Sort of. Hrm."
Billings says, "So it may have been a fruit bowl. If, er. If those are fruit."
Billings says, "Or. Some people think it was a, sort of a lamp? See? The holes. Um. Fill it with oil, and you can have, er sixteen. Sixteen? Mmm. Little flames. Perhaps a religious symbol, in that sense. Of some sort."
Billings says, "And then. Er. Perhaps the symbols might represent. Er. Whatever the sixteen flames represent."
Erich says, "If no one else has other questions, we should get ready to leave."
Billings looks around. "Mmm? Ah, good idea."
Jemmy exclaims, "I'm always ready!"
Erich says, "But of course."
Erich asks (of Lydia), "And you?"
Lydia says, "Yes, let's see Miss Cavendish."
GM says, "And so you set out, making a stop to see Miss Cavendish for carriage arrangements, and another to the store room so that Jemmy can make a quick artifact withdrawal."
GM says, "(Or so I assume :) )"
[Crows-Nest] Miseri says, "yay"
Jemmy signs for the sword carefully. "I'll bring it back safe! Just as soon as I'm, uh, done experimenting with it. Yeah."
Erich says (to Jemmy), "I trust you will use it unwisely."
Clerk nods. "Will there be anything else?"
Jemmy exclaims, "no thank you!"
Jemmy walks off whistling, waving the hilt.
Clerk says, "Good day, then."
Clerk closes the case still containing the rod and ring and returns it to the proper shelf.
GM says, "And so you find your carriage, and the driver accepts your chit. One long carriage ride, one night's sleep at the local inn, and one short hike later, and your find yourselves at a dark cave entrance, midmorning."
Jemmy exclaims, "oh boy, we're here!"
Erich stretches, stiff from the cramped carriage ride.
Erich says, "Carriage makers should make larger seats."
Jemmy looks around alertly.
[oneshot] Miseri says, "arr, i should be off."
Jemmy asks, "do we just go inside?"
Lydia asks, "Well, what are we wating for?"
[oneshot] Miseri says, "bye all"
Erich walks into the cave.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "wave"
[oneshot] Erich says, "bye"
Miseri never imagined the next generation of pugilists to be so poorly dressed.
GM says (to Jemmy), "It's a mountainside. There is a path leading back where you just came from to the village of no name, and a nearly-concealed cave entrance waiting to be discovered."
Jemmy lights his lantern and follows.
Lydia goes in as well.
GM says, "You proceed into the cave. It's rather dark, and the passage gets narrower as you proceed."
Erich says, "rf"
GM says, "The ceiling as gets lower, forcing you to duck slightly (or more than slightly, in some cases)."
GM says, "Eventually, it opens up quite suddenly into a wider chamber."
GM says, "(Perception)"
Erich grimaces. "Again, cramped and crawling."
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 3k3: 3 8 8 | 19
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 3k2: 4 3 7 | 11
GM says, "There is a sheer drop ahead of you, which you are about to step over."
[oneshot] Erich asks, "And again I forget what perception is. Wits + 1 unkept for keen senses?"
GM says, "(to Jemmy, not Lydia)"
[7thsea] GM rolls 4k3: 2 2 1 2 | 6
[oneshot] GM says, "And Erich rolls a six :)"
[oneshot] Erich exclaims, "Hey!"
[oneshot] GM says (to Erich), "Wits + Keen Senses."
[7thsea] Erich rolls 4k3: 2 9 7 7 | 23
Jemmy exclaims, "whoah!"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Pbbth."
[oneshot] GM says, "Oh, alright. Erich sees the sheer drop too."
Erich flings out an arm. "'ware -- there is a drop."
[oneshot] GM says, "(Not really fair to leave your lives in the hands of Jemmy's mind, so to speak)"
Erich finds a convenient outcropping to hold onto and leans forward to have a look.
Jemmy drops to his knees and peeks down.
GM says, "It's hard to see how far the drop is by lantern light."
Jemmy throws a pebble in.
Lydia asks, "Can we go around it?"
GM says, "Plink."
GM says, "At least forty feet deep, maybe more."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(and how far across?)"
GM says (to Lydia), "You check the sides of the cavern: the edge stretches from side to side."
Erich eyes the distance, wondering about leaping.
GM says (to Jemmy), "You can't see the other side from here."
Jemmy says, "hmmm"
Jemmy exclaims, "let's climb down!"
Jemmy looks around for someplace to tie rope to.
Erich says, "If necessary, I can help anchor the rope while you or Lydia climb down."
GM says (to Jemmy), "You find a convenient outcropping which appears strong enough."
Erich says, "though you seem to have found a better anchor"
Lydia takes another pebble and chucks it forward, and a little up.
GM says (to Lydia), "...p-dink... plink-ink."
Jemmy says, "here goes..."
Jemmy grabs the rope and starts climbing down.
Erich watches Jemmy descend.
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 5k3: 6 7 5 9 9 | 25
Erich says, "Yell if you run into anything interesting."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(climbing + finesse)"
[7thsea] GM asks, "Where are you putting your lantern, meanwhile?"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "who plans for that?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I suppose I blow it out and stick it back in my pack"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "although forgetting it up top is equally likely"
Lydia lights her own lantern.
[oneshot] Erich says, "Actually, we could hold it up here and lower it to you."
GM says (to Jemmy), "The first twenty feet or so go quite smoothly, although the others' lanterns get dimmer quickly, making it more difficult to see what you're doing."
[7thsea] markm asks, "Wouldn't you rather ask me about her 'headlamps'?"
Jemmy starts to scratch his head, reconsiders and keeps holding onto the rope. "Sure is dark!"
GM says, "Not having a light with you, you have no idea how much further down it is."
[7thsea] Lydia says, "Hey."
Erich takes another rope from the pack and ties it to Jemmy's lantern, then begins lowering that.
Erich shouts (to Jemmy), "You might need this!"
Erich says (quietly to Lydia), "Hope I don't burn him by accident."
Jemmy says, "hey, it's floatin-- oh"
Jemmy continues climbing down the rope, thinking of sheep names to pass the time.
GM says (to Jemmy), "Aha. You can see the bottom, you think. Or else the light is making blotchy bits that look like the bootom in your eyes."
Jemmy exclaims, "almost there!"
Jemmy speeds up a bit as he sees the end in sight.
GM says, "The next twenty feet go reasonably well as well. The rock face gets smoother as you go along, which would be a problem if you were scaling this by hand."
GM says, "By this point, you can see the bottom clearly. It's only another score feet down, which you finish without difficulty."
Jemmy exclaims, "I'm down! Lydia's turn!"
GM says, "Luckily, the rope was seventy-five feet long, so it made it to the bottom as well."
Lydia asks, "Does it go back up on the other side?"
Lydia says, "Well. Okay, here goes."
Lydia says, "Hm."
Lydia asks (of Erich), "I guess Jemmy will need his light, will you lower mine down?"
Erich says (to Lydia), "Certainly."
GM says (to Lydia), "It goes for you as it did for Jemmy, more or less. Make sure to take a breather every twenty feet to strengthen your grip."
Jemmy unties his lantern and wanders northwards a bit.
Lydia descends carefully and slowly, but without trouble.
GM says, "You note that it's fairly cool down here, which is nice if you like it cool. Or it's damp and chilly if you don't."
Jemmy . o O ( good thing I have my cloak! )
Lydia says, "Hm. Reminds me of the weather up in the rest of Avalon."
Erich asks (of Lydia), "Down yet?"
Lydia says (to Erich), "Yes, go ahead."
Jemmy says (from up ahead) "That's a big door!"
Erich climbs down quickly yet carefully.
GM says (to Lydia and Erich), "You can see where the other 'side' of the chasm comes down: it becomes the ceiling for part of the chamber you're in now, which continues north."
GM says, "There's a small twinkling light sometimes visible in that direction, in the distance."
Lydia unties her light and follows after Jemmy.
Erich catches his breath, then follows after.
GM says, "The light slowly resolves itself into Jemmy's lantern, and you reach the end of the passage, where the rough cave walls come up against the smooth cut stone of a wall. With a doorway in it."
Jemmy is looking at the scrollwork around the door.
GM says, "There's ornate scrollwork carved into the stone around the doorway, which is about ninefeet by five."
Erich says, "Hm."
Erich asks (of Jemmy), "Discover anything about the scrollwork?"
GM says (to Jemmy), "It's very pretty. not really symmetrical, though. Perhaps it's not just for show."
GM says, "The door itself is a large slab of rock, with several grooves running vertically from near the top of it most of the way to the bottom."
Jemmy says, "hmm"
Erich looks closely at the grooves, trying to see how the door works.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(does "scrollwork" just mean "curls" here? or are we talking runes and things?)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "And if anyone wants to say 'YOu turn a knob and it opens' I'll have to thwap them."
[oneshot] GM says (to Jemmy), "Somewhere in between."
Lydia takes out her notebook and turns to a blank page.
[oneshot] GM says, "Think funky cursive."
Lydia begins a map, with a part of the passage at the bottom of the page.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hmm"
Erich pokes at the scrollwork.
GM says (to Erich), "The grooves are big enough to fit the end of your finger into. The door doesn't push inward, if you try that. And it doesn't pull outward -- or at least, the way the grooves are set up, you owulldn't really be able to get a grib to pull towards yourself."
Lydia writes in a couple of words in Montaigne, by the squiggly cliff line and the small double line at the door.
Jemmy tries to figure out if the irregularities in the scrollwork point out any patterns.
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Losing Your Grib"
GM says (to Erich), "It looks a little familiar to you, actually."
Erich takes a closer look, trying to place the scrollwork.
GM says (to Erich), "You've seen samples of similar markings before, in a book. The author suspected they might have been writing."
Erich says, "This scrollwork...looks familiar."
[oneshot] Erich says, "...as you know, Bob"
Erich says, "I think I saw it in a book once."
Erich says, "but the author had no idea what it meant."
Lydia says, "Hm."
Lydia says, "They might like to see more of it then."
Erich says, "indeed"
GM says (to Jemmy), "The patterns in the scroll work suggest meaning, like writing, but it's in no language that you're remotely familiar with."
Lydia turns back to the first page with the bowl, and underneath begins trying to copy the curves.
Jemmy scratches his head.
Erich pulls a thin knife out and gently sticks its end in one of the grooves.
GM says (to Erich), "The grooves are wide enough that there wouldn't be much need to poke a knife in: your finger'd work just as well."
Erich says (to GM), "I'd like to keep my fingers for now, thank you."
GM says (to Erich), "Suit yourself."
Jemmy pokes a finger in the first groove.
GM says (to Jemmy), "Yup, a good inch of finger fits in there. Room for the other three next to it, if you like."
Lydia finishes her drawing of the left side, and writes a sentence to the side.
Jemmy pokes more fingers in and wiggles them around.
Lydia starts with the right side of the door.
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "Wait, you mean we can see the depth of the grooves?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "width, I think he means"
GM says (to Jemmy), "Yup, they all fit."
[oneshot] GM says, "Yes. About an inch deep."
Jemmy gets bored and takes them out again.
[oneshot] GM says, "You can see pretty much all there is to see about the grooves, really."
[oneshot] GM says, "Just imagine you took a big flat piece of cut stone, and chiseled a smooth groove in it."
[oneshot] GM says, "About an in wide and an inch deep."
Jemmy pokes at the scrollwork, looking for hidden buttons or thingys.
Lydia checks over the sketches. "About as close as I'm going to get, I suppose."
GM says (to Jemmy), "Nothing looks particularly buttony."
Lydia asks, "No ideas yet?"
Erich runs his fingers in the grooves, trying to find anything.
GM says, "(If you guys need a hint on the door, you can make a Wits check)"
Lydia looks at the bottom and top edges of the door.
GM says (to Erich), "The inside surface is smooth."
GM says (to Lydia), "Mostly flush with the ground/frame, although with enough leeway that the door could slide without a horrible about of friction."
[oneshot] Erich asks, "So: a couple of vertical grooves in the door, scrollwork around the edges. Any gaps around the door?"
Lydia says (to GM), "[slide sideways you mean?]"
[oneshot] GM says, "Top and bottom: just enough gap for it to slide, if it had to. Left and right: the door seems to actually be set into the frame."
GM says (to Lydia), "Slide whichever way the door was willing to slide."
Lydia says, "We could try pushing it. Forward, or left and right."
Jemmy knocks on the door.
GM says (to Jemmy), "A hollow voice asks, 'Is that you, Jemmy?'"
GM says, "No, wait. That's your imagination again."
Jemmy says, "dang"
Erich says (to Lydia), "Pushing hasn't done any good."
Erich gently tugs on the scrollwork, trying to slide it to either side or up or down.
GM asks (of Erich), "Well, which ways ahve you pushed?"
Jemmy runs his finger along the inside of the groove.
Lydia stands at the right side of the door, reaches for a groove to the left, and pulls as hard as she can.
GM says (to Lydia), "Crrrreeeeeaaaak. It resists at first, but after a shaky start, slides open."
Jemmy jumps back.
Jemmy exclaims, "it opened!"
Erich says (to Lydia), "Well done."
GM says, "The door itself slides completely flush into the right side of the frame, in fact."
Lydia asks, "Whoops. How did it do that?"
Erich takes a look at where the door went.
GM says (to Erich), "You can see the flat edge of the door, but the whole thing slid apparently into a recess in the wall."
Jemmy steps through the doorway, peering ahead with his lantern.
GM says, "On the other side of the door is a large room, which you'll see better as you enter. Right in front of the door, you note, is a large red triangular tile, which stands out from the rest of the grey rock."
Erich joins Jemmy, stopping at the edge of the tile.
Lydia says, "Maybe this tile moves the door."
GM says (to Erich), "The triangle is part of the floor, and it's placed about where you'd put a doormat."
GM says (to Jemmy), "As you step on the tile to enter, nothing happens."
Jemmy says, "aw"
Jemmy shrugs and steps into the room.
GM says (to Jemmy), "Continuing into the room, you start to get a feel for its shape: a triangle, about twenty feet to a side, pointing north."
Erich asks (of GM), "Is the red tile pointed in the same direction, or a different one?"
GM says, "The ceiling is about fifteen feet high, although there's some kind of iron gridwork a couple feet below it."
Jemmy says, "there's something familiar about this room .."
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "Which way did we come in?"
GM says (to Erich), "It's pointed north."
[oneshot] GM says, "You came from the south."
Jemmy looks up at the gridwork.
Lydia takes a close look at the red floor tile.
GM says, "The north half of the floor is taken up mostly by a tile mosaic. The south half is made of tiles roughtly the same size and shape as the one by the door (a few feet to a side), except grey, aside from the first one."
Jemmy looks at the mosaic also.
GM says (to Jemmy), "The red tile is a bit smooth than the rest of the stone: probably more polished than the other tiles."
Erich runs a hand over the red tile, seeing if it will turn or push.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(that was to Lydia, I assume)"
Lydia looks at the edges of the tile and tries pushing it as well.
Lydia says (to Erich), "Try standing on it."
Erich nods and steps on the tile.
GM says, "The mosaic depicts a sunrise: a mountain sits in the southwest corner, covered in evergreen trees. At the north end is the sky, black, with a few stars. In the southeast corner, the sun is rising, passing yellow sunshine into the world."
GM says, "#ones (Yes, sorry)"
Jemmy says, "ooh, pretty"
[oneshot] GM says, "(Yes, it was to Lydia)"
GM says (to Lydia), "It doesn't react. Although it doesn't feel as cool as you'd expect from polished stone, considering how far underground you are."
GM says (to Erich), "You have a good view of the room from there."
GM says, "There are several doors leading out of the room, each much like the one you entered from:"
GM says, "One in each wall (northeast, northwest, and the south door you came through), and one in the north corner of the room."
GM says, "Each has similar grooves to the first one."
Lydia turns and looks at the wall to the left (behind which is the door through which they entered).
GM says, "The doors inside the chamber don't ahve the nifty scrollwork, though."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "is the north point of the triangle flat? how is there a door there?"
[oneshot] Erich says, "What's the north door -- right."
GM says (to Lydia), "The walls in this room are undecorated and grey."
[oneshot] GM says, "Yeah, the north corner is clipped off."
[oneshot] GM quickly draws a little diagram.
Lydia reluctantly gives up on reclosing the door, and sketches a triangle into the forming map.
Jemmy attempts to open the northwest door the same way Lydia opened the one to this room.
Erich goes to the mosaic, looking for any tiles out of place.
[oneshot] GM says, "|-|"
[oneshot] GM says, "/ \"
[oneshot] GM says, "/ \"
[oneshot] GM says, "- -"
[oneshot] GM says, "- -"
[oneshot] GM says, "/ \"
[oneshot] GM says, "/ \"
[oneshot] GM says, "------| |------"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "right"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Grrr. I set pastenotrim!"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "did you use /paste instead of @paste?"
[oneshot] GM | |-| [oneshot] GM | / \ [oneshot] GM | / \ [oneshot] GM | - - [oneshot] GM | - - [oneshot] GM | / \ [oneshot] GM | / \ [oneshot] GM | ------| |------ [oneshot] GM | @nedpaste [oneshot] GM says, "There we go. The | | at the bottom is the open door you came through; the other three are closed."
GM says, "(Back to the story)"
GM says (to Jemmy), "The door resists at first, but then slides smoothly open, disappearing into the wall the same way the other one did. Speaking of which, the door you cam in slides shut at the same time."
Lydia says, "If we can't close it, I wonder if we can somehow slow down or maybe detect anyone else who comes this way."
Erich says, "Aha."
Erich says, "A pattern."
Jemmy says, "my"
Lydia says, "Oh. So we can close it."
Erich asks, "But can we open it again?"
GM says (to Erich), "The artwork is somewhat primitive, of a stylistic design moreso than representational, but nothing seems out of place."
Erich goes back to the south door and tries to open it.
GM says (to Erich), "It does, and the northwest one closes."
Erich says, "Good."
Jemmy opens the northwest one again.
GM says, "And vice versa."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(take *that*)"
Erich opens the south one again.
Jemmy exclaims, "quit that!"
Erich grins.
GM says, "Shwip, shoop. Shwip, shwoop."
Jemmy opens the northwest door and steps through.
Erich says, "I suppose we should follow."
Lydia asks, "Can we wedge this shut until we come back somehow?"
GM says, "The south door closes, of course, and the new room is also triangular, and of similar dimensions, although pointing south."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "ie, the two rooms together would form a parallelogram?"
Lydia says, "There doesn't seem to be much lying around here..."
GM says (to Jemmy), "There is a small in the northwest corner of the room, and there are doors in the three walls. The door in the south wall, unlike the other's you've seen, is devoid of grooves, but there are some interesting things on the wall near it. The floor tile in the southernmost corner is red, like the one by the original entrance."
[oneshot] GM says, "Right. An approximate parallelogram, at least."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(uh, a small what in the NW corner?)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Just a small."
[oneshot] GM says, "Er, shelf."
[oneshot] Erich says, "I won one at a fair once."
[oneshot] Erich says, "But that is a story for another day."
[oneshot] GM laughs.
[oneshot] Jemmy says (to Erich), "if you'd knocked off one more bottle you could have got a medium"
Jemmy walks over to look at the south door and the wall beside.
[oneshot] Erich says, "Remind me when this is over and I shall tell you the story of winning the small."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Then who would have worked the fortune telling booth?"
Jemmy says, "(not stepping on the tile this time)"
Erich goes to look at the shelf.
[oneshot] GM says, "(Sorry, southwest wall, inasmuch as there is a south corner, rather than a wall)"
Lydia hangs behind and looks through her pack for something sturdy that might fit between the door frame and a groove.
GM says (to Jemmy), "Beside the door is a small hole, perhaps an inch across. Around the hole is a ring of six white circles, about the same size as the hole. There is more stuff a bit further down the wall."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "er, you mean the sw door is the one that's different?"
GM says (to Erich), "On the shelf is a largish cup or globlet, made of gold or something that looks kinda gold-like."
[oneshot] GM says, "Right. The se door is the one that you just came through, and the north door is normal and closed."
GM says (to Lydia), "You could stick a blade, perhaps, under it. But there's no telling if it'd actually work."
Erich asks, "Anything obviously...trapped about the goblet?"
[oneshot] Erich says (to Lydia), "We need spikes from D&D."
GM says (to Erich), "You can try perception, if you like."
[7thsea] Erich rolls 4k3: 8 4 3 1 | 15
GM says, "You see nothing trapped about it."
Lydia tries wedging in a knife on each end.
GM says (to Lydia), "OK, wedged."
Lydia says, "Hm. Well, maybe."
Lydia goes northwest to the next room.
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "uh, ok, just because i'm slow, this room has a total of three doors or four?"
Erich says (to Lydia), "Come take a look at this, please."
[oneshot] Erich says, "You're not slow. You're differently sheeped."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "baa"
[oneshot] GM says, "New room, three."
Lydia looks around and updates her map. She puts a dot for both of the red tiles.
Lydia looks at the shelf and writes a word in the north corner of this room on the map.
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "and the doors in the new room are north, southeast, and southwest?"
Lydia exclaims, "A find!"
Jemmy asks, "a find? where?"
Jemmy comes over to look.
Lydia says, "[northwest]"
[oneshot] GM | -----|-|-----|-| [oneshot] GM | \ / \ [oneshot] GM | \ / \ [oneshot] GM | - - - [oneshot] GM | - - - [oneshot] GM | \ / \ [oneshot] GM | \ / \ [oneshot] GM | ------| |------
Erich says, "Right. Be ready to run."
Lydia says, "run? Oh, right."
Erich reaches out and gently takes the goblet.
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "ok. and the special door is sw, and the shelf is nw?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Right. Shelf NW corner, red tile S corner. Special door SW wall."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "ok, all clear, just as the room collapses on us from taking the goblet"
GM says (to Erich), "It's a bit dusty, as would you be if you'd been here for countless centuries."
Erich dusts the goblet carefully.
[oneshot] GM asks, "Are you still looking at the wall?"
[oneshot] Erich says, "I'm looking at the goblet."
GM says (to Erich), "You can see the script more clearly now."
[oneshot] GM says, "I meant Jemmy."
[oneshot] GM says, "Since there was more stuff on the wall that I hadn't described."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "oh, yes, if there was more stuff"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Oh ah."
GM says (to Jemmy), "On the suthwest wall, a ways further down from the door, you see a window set in the wall, looking into an area carved out of the stone."
GM says, "Above that is a second recess, similar and size and shape, but open."
Jemmy says, "ooh, neat"
Erich tries to read the script.
Jemmy looks through the window.
GM says (to Erich), "Like the markings around the entrance, it would take a great deal of time to work out just where the words begin and end."
Erich says, "Bah."
Erich says, "Scholaring takes so much time."
GM says (to Jemmy), "The area back there is about a foot high by half a foot wide by a few inches deep. There's a small white sphere sittin at the bottom, behind the glass."
Erich stows the goblet carefully in his pack.
Jemmy exclaims, "a small white sphere!"
Jemmy goes and looks in the other recess.
Lydia looks at all the stuff on and in the southwest wall. "This looks complicated.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(how big is the sphere?)"
Erich joins the others.
GM says (to Jemmy), "The second recess, immediately above the first, is curved at the bottom, like a bowl or a funnel. It has a hole leading down."
[oneshot] GM says, "Maybe an inch, maybe a bit less."
Jemmy thinks.
Lydia asks, "Can you reach the sphere?"
Jemmy says, "I dunno"
Jemmy attempts to reach into the hole.
Erich asks, "Need a boost?"
GM says, "You can get two fingers in the hole."
Jemmy exclaims, "it's too little!"
Jemmy says, "or I'm too big"
GM says, "Everyone can also see two of Jemmy's fingers poking down into the lower recess, behind the glass."
Lydia looks at the top of the lower recess. "Wonder if it floats."
Jemmy thinks.
Lydia says, "Or that would probably be a waste of water."
Jemmy asks, "do we have enough water?"
GM asks, "Your best estimation?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I do not make good estimations, sir."
Erich says, "Our best estimation, certes."
[oneshot] GM says, "Ah. No. You would need an ocean, sir, to fill that small recess."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "there we go"
Jemmy thinks.
GM says (to Erich), "Yeah, you could manage it, although you'd be down to one or two waterskin between the five of you."
Jemmy asks, "do we have a long stick?"
Jemmy says, "we could -- hmm"
[oneshot] GM says, "(Are you asking me if you have a stick?)"
[oneshot] GM says, "(Or them?)"
Lydia flips to a new page and sketches the recesses and sphere.
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "uh, I dunno. is it reasonable to have some kind of wand-like thing in the archeologist kit or my pack?"
Lydia says, "Glass breaks, of course."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "and a candle?"
Erich says, "mmm."
Jemmy looks shocked. "We can't *break* it"
Erich says, "I hate to break things down here"
[oneshot] GM says, "Nothing particularly wand like. A candle, if you like."
Erich says, "I say after having taken the goblet"
Jemmy exclaims, "this is an ancient artifact of mysterious origin!"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hmm"
Lydia says, "Oh, sorry."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "how about somebody's sword? would that be able to be manuevered into the hole?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Yeah, as long as it's not a broadsword."
GM says, "Meanwhile, you hear something of a zhrwoomph! sound from the south corner of the room."
Lydia says, "If we use both rocks and water, we could save some water. Assuming it --"
Erich spins around.
Jemmy is hunting through his pack and doesn't notice.
GM says, "A tall figure -- perhaps seven feet -- wearing blueish-tinged armor is standing on the red tile."
Erich says, "..."
GM says, "There is a marking on his -- her? its? -- breastplaste, of three circles."
GM says, "It turns to you, draws a blue-tinted sword, and charges at you."
[oneshot] GM says, "Fight or flight time."
Lydia recovers from her shock and draws her sword.
Jemmy looks around. "Er?"
Erich says, "Scheisse."
Erich pulls his broadsword and similarly charges.
[oneshot] GM says, "Initiative."
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 2 dice: 9 1
[7thsea] Erich rolls 3 dice: 10 7 6
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 2 dice: 1 8
[7thsea] GM rolls 2 dice: 5 4
[oneshot] GM says, "Lydia first in phase one, then Jemmy."
Jemmy names the sword and once again the blade appears (I assume).
GM says, "It does."
Lydia sidesteps slowly away from the wall to increase her options. [hold]
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(although I suppose I have my normal rapier if it didn't)"
Jemmy exclaims, "ha!"
Jemmy charges forward, stabbing right at the circles on the breastplate.
[oneshot] GM asks, "Is that a called shot?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "yes"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "'cause hey, why not"
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 7k3: 1 6 3 8 8 6 1 | 22
[oneshot] GM nods, "Sounds good to me.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(why not = because I'll miss)"
[oneshot] GM says (to Jemmy), "Remember that the Chel Fa Nir gets you a free raise the first attack each round :) Damage."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "oh er-- I rolled 7k3 instead of 6k3 because of that, but I suppose the last of the 7 dice was a 1, so it doesn't matter"
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 4k2: 6 9 10+10+8 9 | 37
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(uh, please don't make me reroll now :)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Wow."
[oneshot] GM says, "Hee. Don't worry."
[7thsea] GM rolls 2k2: 3 7 | 10
[oneshot] GM says, "*Two* dramatics with one blow -- enough to take off a limb, if you'd like to RP that."
Jemmy's mystic blade strikes straight into the circles and then twists outwards, an arm flying off with the sword's arc.
Jemmy says, "take THAT"
GM says, "The shambling apparition hasn't the chance to attempt a single blow before it's sliced apart by Jemmy's magical blade. As it falls, it shimmers and disintegrates into a vague blue afterimage, which slowly fades from vision."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "yow, power fluctuation..."
Lydia says, "That was strange."
Erich raises an eyebrow and puts away his broadsword.
Jemmy says, "wow"
Jemmy says, "er"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "If I disappear, a local storm has rebooted my computer."
[oneshot] GM asks, "We'll expect you back, then?"
Jemmy says, "what was -- er"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "yeah, most likely."
Erich walks over to the red tile and stands on it.
Jemmy reholsters his hilt (the blade vanishing) and scratches his head as he looks at where the knight-thing was.
GM says (to Erich), "That spot's slightly warmer thant he rest of the room."
Erich jumps on spot.
GM says (to Erich), "Nothing in particular happens."
Lydia inspects the red tile, when Erich is through with his acrobatics.
Jemmy says, "look, the door's closed"
GM says (to Lydia), "It's warm to the touch."
Jemmy walks over to it.
Lydia asks, "Hm. Noone saw that happen?"
Erich says, "I was watching the armor charge us."
Jemmy asks, "should we open it again?"
Jemmy says, "but maybe it'll just close again after that"
Lydia says, "Let's check the first door and red tile."
Lydia opens the southeast door.
GM says, "The east door slides open. As it does, you catch a glimpse of motion at the east side of the other room."
GM says, "But it's only a momentary glimpse. It appeared as though the east door of *that* room may have been sliding shut."
Lydia says, "Strange. The east door was open. I think."
Lydia looks at the first door to the south, and touches the red tile in front of it.
GM says (to Lydia), "It doesn't seem to have changed."
Erich says, "Given this, we should stay together."
GM says, "(Are the rest of you following her, or staying behind?)"
GM says (to Lydia), "Er, that is, the tile hasn't changed."
Jemmy is poking his head through the doorway.
GM says (to Lydia), "The south door has: the knives are gone."
Lydia says, "Someone else is here."
Lydia rejoins the group.
Jemmy whispers "It must be the people Billings told us about!"
Erich says, "Quite possibly."
GM says, "The door closes immediately behind Lydia."
Lydia exclaims, "Hey!"
Lydia tries to reopen the door and look through.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
GM says (to Lydia), "It opens, and you see three people in the room, staring at you. The door behind *them* slides shut again."
GM asks, "What the Occupied Castille is going on here?"
Jemmy exclaims, "hi!"
Erich says, "Ah. Other explorers."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(what language are they speaking in?)"
Man exclaims (at Lydia), "Young lady, I would appreciate it if you would kindly stop closing our door!"
[oneshot] Man says, "Cymru"
Man turns and opens his own door again.
Erich reopens the door in front of Lydia and braces himself in the doorway.
Jemmy scratches his head thoughtfully and looks after the man.
Man almost loses a finger, but steps away from his door.
Lydia is obviously at a lack of things to say.
Erich says, "A word with you, before you go on, please."
Jemmy exclaims, "Arthur!"
Man asks, "Mmm?"
Man blinks.
Jemmy asks, "what are *you* doing here?"
Man looks at Jemmy.
Erich asks (of Jemmy), "You know him?"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Theus help us: If the man brought muffins, we'll never see Jemmy again."
Jemmy says (to Erich), "we were at school together"
Man says, "Jemmy. *Jemmy Lesnork*? Why, fancy seeing you here."
Jemmy says, "that's *Ninepence*. Jemmy Ninepence."
Jemmy says (to Erich), "...the no-good rat."
Arthur does something between a cough and a chuckle. "Ah. Alright, Jemmy *Ninepence*. So you're a digger too? What a small world it is."
Jemmy says, "I certainly am *not*. We are working for the Explorer's Society."
Arthur smirks. "Oh, Theus help us, an Explorer. Or better yet, Theus help the Explorer's Society..."
Jemmy says, "why you .. I oughta .."
Erich says (to Jemmy), "Now, now."
Arthur laughs. "Ah, Jemmy, you would if you could, I'm sure. Old Mishkin knows youhow many times you've tried."
Lydia whispers to Jemmy, "what? tie him up and take what he's found?"
Arthur asks, "Well, as much as I'm enjoying this little reunion, I'm sure both of us would like to get back to business, eh?"
Erich asks, "And what exactly is your business?"
Jemmy is apparently still caught between being tongue-tied and being furious.
Arthur says (to Erich), "Why the same as yours, for today at least. Grave robbing, artifact collecting, and so forth."
Jemmy asks, "for who?"
Arthur waggles a finger. "Now, now, Jemmy. A gentleman never tells."
Arthur points. "And didn't they teach you *anything* in class? For *whom*."
Erich asks (of Arthur), "Sure enough. But will you tell?"
Jemmy says, "I .. er .. was absent that day."
Arthur grins (at Erich), "I like you. And no, of course I won't."
Arthur leans against the wall. "So, what have you found so far? Anything exciting?"
Lydia says, "Not a thing."
Arthur raises a small black sphere in one hand, about the size of the white one you saw earlier. "Found a good dozen of those in the other room back there. They'll make lovely brooches. Or perhaps bracelets. Better than black Cathay pearls, to the right audience."
Arthur slips it back into a pocket before letting you get too good a look at it.
Erich says, "and perhaps you'll find some armor as well."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(how many black holes were there around the white hole?)"
[oneshot] Arthur asks, "You mean the six white circles around the hole in the wall?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "oh, whoops"
[oneshot] Jemmy scrolls back, rereads.
Jemmy exclaims, "I can't believe you're just going to sell those off -- those could be priceless for understanding what this place was for!"
Lydia says softly, "Well, now what? Make it a race, maybe?"
Erich murmurs (to Lydia), "With proper timing, we could keep him from moving far by opening doors and jamming them as best we can."
Arthur says, "Priceless. And you're doing this out fo the good in your heart. But... I think the lady has a very good idea."
Jemmy asks, "oh yeah? and what does the winner get?"
Lydia rolls her eyes.
Arthur says (to Jemmy), "The winner gets a reward from his employer."
Jemmy says, "bah"
Arthur says, "And the loser gets a pat on the back from the Explorer's Society."
Jemmy exclaims, "we'll see about that!"
Lydia asks (of Jemmy), "This isn't a good friend, right?"
Arthur asks, "Or were you thinking of a wager?"
Jemmy says (to Arthur), "well, now that you mention it"
Erich sighs.
Arthur asks, "How do you propose to judge the contest, then?"
Jemmy thinks.
Jemmy says, "straight numbers seems a bit unfair"
Arthur motions to one of his associates. "As a jeweller and an expert in metalworks and gemstones, Miranda would be a fair adjutant for the value of most pieces."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "there's how many of them? 3?"
[oneshot] Arthur says, "Right."
[oneshot] Erich says, "I am tempted to kick heads."
[oneshot] Erich says, "but I suppose that would be Unsportsmanlike."
Lydia asks, "What about the research value?"
Jemmy says, "very well, but we reserve the right to present an expert of our own as well"
Arthur asks (of Lydia), "We send all the pieces to the Society, and then wait six to eight months for a detailed report, do we?"
Erich says (to Arthur), "What a fine idea."
Arthur laughs.
Jemmy asks, "very well. time limit?"
Lydia says, "Thirty seconds."
Lydia says, "Is about the rest of my patience."
Arthur asks (of Jemmy), "Until we both agree there's nothing more to find?"
Jemmy says, "I suppose .. or a fortnight, whichever comes first"
Arthur nods, "Fair enough. I agree my patience would reach a limit by then as well. And what stakes do you propose?"
Jemmy says, "hmm"
Jemmy says, "half the loser's artifacts, winner's choice."
Arthur asks, "Half by value, or half by number?"
Jemmy says, "by value."
Arthur asks, "And if they don't divide evenly?"
Jemmy says, "the winner may be over half with their last piece"
Arthur says, "Remember your arithmetic, jemmy. One priceless vase divided by two equals a great many worthless shards."
Arthur nods. "Alright. It's a bet."
Jemmy says, "very well"
Arthur asks, "Shall we begin by releasing that door?"
Jemmy looks to Erich.
Erich says, "If I must."
Erich steps back out of the door, then runs for the north door to open it.
Arthur motions to his friends; one of the opens the west door, and five more people tumble through to join him.
Jemmy says, "bah -- exactly what I expected of you, Arthur."
Jemmy says, "but never mind"
Jemmy follows Erich.
GM says, "Are Lydia and Jemmy on Aruthr's or Erich's side right now?)"
Lydia is on the west side.
Erich says, "I had assumed we were all in the east room. Whoops."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "er, I guess I'm attempting to reopen the north door and follow Erich"
[oneshot] GM says, "Er. Right. I'm asking this wrong."
Lydia says, "wait, hang on."
Lydia never left the west room.
[oneshot] GM says, "I meant... oh never mind. Everyone's where they thought they were."
Erich says, "We are off to a blazing start."
Erich attempts to reopen the northwest door and find Lydia.
[oneshot] GM says, "And Arthur's people aren't holding his door open."
Jemmy exclaims, "don't trust Arthur an inch!"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(btw, how long are we going for tonight?)"
Lydia asks (of Jemmy), "How long before they try to steal our collection?"
[oneshot] GM asks, "So are the three of you in the west room?"
[oneshot] Erich says, "we are, I suppose."
Erich says, "and now we get to race through a Syrinth tomb."
Jemmy exclaims (at Lydia), "let 'em try!"
Erich says, "With luck I will get to keep my head attached to my body."
Lydia says, "If they do, we can call this silly bet off."
GM says, "The east door to your room slides shut, of course, as Arthur et al. go wherever they're going."
Jemmy says, "but we've got a mission here to get back these artifacts! this was the only way I could think of to get ahold of the ones Arthur's got"
Lydia says, "Hm. I just hope it works."
Jemmy sighs.
Jemmy says, "me too"
Lydia returns her attention to the southwest wall.
Erich says, "if not, my honor would not keep me from cracking a few skulls."
Jemmy goes back to the window with the visible ball.
Jemmy says, "hmm"
Jemmy says, "I was thinking perhaps we could lift the ball out .."
Lydia says (to Erich), "Were you going for that north door? It would at least keep them out of this room and the next."
Erich says, "Certainly."
Erich goes to the door and props it open with himself.
Lydia adds a few notes to the map, then looks at the hole in the wall.
GM asks (of Erich), "Are you looking into the other room, or still paying attention to Lydia and Jemmy?"
Erich says (to GM), "Oh, looking into the other room."
Jemmy says, "ok, let's see"
Lydia asks, "Is there sand here anywhere?"
Jemmy pulls out a candle and attempts to 1) attach it to the tip of his rapier 2) heat the top of the candle until it's soft 3) stick the rapier in the hole and get the candle to adhere to the ball 4) lift the ball, candle, and rapier out.
GM says (to Erich), "It's a triangle, pointing north. There are no doors in it aside from the one you're in. There's a large slab of stone toward the western side of the room, about the right height for a table, and there's some kind of mural or mosaic on the west wall."
GM says (to Erich), "There's something on the 'table', and there's also another red tile in the floor, in the southwest corner."
GM says (to Lydia), "You haven't noticed any sand. Dust, but probably not in handfuls."
GM says (to Jemmy), "The candle doesn't stick to the rapier very well at first, but when it gets warmer and sticker it sticks better."
Lydia asks, "Now why do these floors have to be so nicely tiled.. Hey, what are you doing?"
GM says (to Jemmy), "It takes a little work to get the wax ti hit the ball just right -- you need tot ake it back out a couple times to warm it again, to keep it sticky."
GM says (to Jemmy), "Finesse."
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 3k3: 8 8 10+8 | 34
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(does that work?)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Given that, I think you could hit the window a la Fonzie and have the sphere leap out of the hole."
GM says, "But yes, you get it. Right to the end of the sword. You pull it out smoothly, nothing but net."
Jemmy exclaims, "aha!"
Lydia puts a hand underneath as it comes out, just in case the sphere suddenly falls.
Lydia says, "Nicely done."
Erich applauds.
Jemmy hands the sphere to Lydia, removes the wax from his sword and resheaths it, and then puts away the candle.
Lydia feels the weight to see if it's likely to float, out of curiosity.
Erich says, "Come look at this room."
GM says (to Lydia), "Yeah, it feels light enough."
Jemmy says, "I guess we're done here -- for now, anyway"
Lydia tries fitting the sphere in the hole.
GM asks (of Lydia), "It would fit. Do you put it in?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(we might not be able to get it back)"
Erich calls out, "Consider attaching a rope to it with wax if you want to do that."
Lydia puts it part way in, then pauses.
GM says, "Luckily, it's still sticky enough that it doesn't slip out of her fingers."
Lydia says, "Well, let's see this other room."
Lydia puts the sphere in her pack.
GM says (to Lydia), "Stepping over Erich's feet, you see mostly what I described to him."
Lydia looks at the table, if that's what it is.
GM says, "From your perspective as a mobile observer, you also notice a smaller stone behind the 'table'."
Jemmy follows Lydia into the other room.
GM says (to Lydia), "You can see the object that was on it, as well: it's a bowl, more or less, like the one on Billings' desk."
Erich says, "I have found my calling."
Erich says, "To wit: blocking villians by keeping doors open."
Lydia says (to Erich), "Let me know if you want Jemmy to do that for a while."
GM says (to Lydia), "There are a few differences, though. This one has lengths of... something. Perhaps string, more likely hide or gut, but incredibly well-preserved, stretched across the top, from hole to hole."
Lydia says (to Jemmy), "Look, another bowl."
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 2k2: 8 9 | 17
Jemmy thinks.
Jemmy asks, "some kind of musical instrument, perhaps?"
Lydia tries plucking a string.
GM says (to Lydia), "It is a pleasant tone."
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 3k3: 10+6 3 8 | 27
Lydia looks for markings on this artifact.
Erich says, "If you decide to take it, I would like a closer look at that."
GM says (to Lydia), "You see runes around the sides and in the bottom."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(I think you could probably come out of the door, since we've emptied the previous room)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "I was holding it to slow down Arthur and the others."
Lydia takes out the notebook again and flips to the first drawing.
Jemmy exclaims, "hey, these are different runes!"
[oneshot] GM says, "(AFK a moment)"
Jemmy points out the differences.
Lydia asks, "All of them?"
Jemmy says, "just the ones on the bottom"
[oneshot] Erich says, "I'm willing to leave the door, if we don't care so much about them moving around."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(I assume it's ok for me to point at http://www.tiac.net/users/jota/bowl-bottom.jpg)"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(which the GM just whispered me)"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "well, holding this door just stops them from getting into that room, which is empty, right? or, wait, does it have a third exit we haven't explored yet?"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Oh, I thought you could only have one door open in the complex at a time."
Lydia says, "The eight are probably a scale, I guess."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "oh hrm"
Lydia says, "Which would make the other markings short tunes."
[oneshot] GM says, "(unAFK, and OK to point)"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I assumed it was just per-room"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "but I could be wrong"
Jemmy says, "interesting"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Hm. Well, one way to find out."
Erich leaves the door and joins the others.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(also, is someone actually mapping? I assume the red triangles will be important later)"
[oneshot] Erich asks (of Lydia), "You are, right?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "I have it in my head for now. Let me get a real one started."
GM says (to Erich), "Your back feels better now that you're standing upright again."
Erich says, "Teworistoosma"
Erich has disconnected.
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Just for completeness, which way were they pointing? First one north."
[oneshot] GM says, "Let me double-check my map."
[oneshot] GM says, "Second one, pointing south (in the corner). Third one (this room) southwest (also in the corner)."
Erich has connected.
[oneshot] Lydia says, "okay, got it."
GM says (to Erich), "Still in the room with the tablish-rock and the bowl and the mural and the red tile and all that."
Erich takes a close look at the bowl.
GM asks (of Erich), "Want to roll Lore?"
Jemmy says, "it might be some kind of instrument"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "(in other words, all we've seen were aligned with the room)"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "except the current room, isn't it?"
[7thsea] Erich rolls 5k3: 7 4 3 5 10+2 | 24
[oneshot] GM says, "Right. And the rest of the floor tiles (the normal grey ones) are also aligned."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(or, rather, it's aligned, but not north/south)"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "hm, well I assumed they were equilateral."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "right"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "but, I mean, we've had north tip, south tip, and now suddenly southwest tip"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "oh, yeah."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I dunno. maybe not important."
Jemmy looks at the mosaic, meanwhile.
Lydia carefully picks up what might be a strange banjo.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee hee"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "now, if we just had some syrenth moonshine"
[oneshot] Erich asks, "Do the runes on the bowl line up with any of the strings?"
Lydia plucks all the strings, from longest to shortest.
[oneshot] GM says, "(Just a moment, a file seems to be out of place..."
GM says (to Lydia), "It sounds like a scale -- except at the fifth not all the strings chime dischordantly."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks (of GM), "oy, you mean we were supposed to have been paying attention that time dfan explained all this music stuff?"
[oneshot] GM says (to Jemmy), "Hee. Only if you have the Musician knack."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "whew"
Lydia says, "Hmm."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "once again ignorance saves the day"
Erich says, "Try that fifth one again."
Lydia plucks the fifth string.
[oneshot] GM says, "Ah, file fixed."
GM says (to Lydia), "Hmm. Souonds fine now."
Lydia looks at the other five runes on the artifact, and matching them to the scale runes, plays out the 'tune'.
GM says (to Jemmy), "The mosaic looks mostly like http://www.tiac.net/users/jota/mosaic.gif, but with a couple minor differences: two of the small blue triangles in the top section are glowing softly, and the leftmost and rightmost red triangles are actually green right now."
Jemmy says, "ooh"
GM says (to Lydia), "At the fifth one, the strings all play a very nice glissando."
Jemmy thinks.
Jemmy says, "wait, this mosaic looks familiar somehow"
GM says, "And you hear an echoed 'ooh' from the bowl."
GM says, "And an echoed 'wait, this mosaic looks familiar somehow'."
Erich looks over Jemmy's shoulder. "It is like the floorplan of this place."
Lydia asks, "The mosaic?"
GM says, "(And... well, you get the idea.)"
Jemmy says, "oh dear"
Jemmy says, "that means this isn't as big as I'd thought"
Lydia flips to the map. Yes, exactly.
Jemmy looks worriedly at whoever's holding the goblet.
Erich says, "That would be me."
Lydia sketches in the mosaic around the existing map.
Jemmy says, "he said he had twelve of those little balls ..."
Lydia says, "Probably exaggerating, I would think."
Jemmy says, "ooh, I can't stand him"
GM says, "You hear something vaguely like a 'zhroomph!' sound."
GM says, "At the same moment, two figures clad in blue armor materialize on the red tile."
Lydia flips back to the first page, and setting the notebook on the table, ... looks around
Jemmy says, "oh, not again."
Erich says, "Rg."
GM says, "They both draw swords and shamble forward."
Erich hefts his broadsword.
GM says, "(Initiative or flee)"
Jemmy exclaims, "(in old Thean) you'd better stop right there!"
[7thsea] Erich rolls 3 dice: 10 3 2
GM says (to Jemmy), "They fail to acknowledge you."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(probably too recent. bah.)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "was worth a try"
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 2 dice: 2 6
[oneshot] GM says, "Indeed."
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 2 dice: 8 5
[7thsea] GM rolls 2 dice: 7 5
[7thsea] GM rolls 2 dice: 1 2
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(zippy)"
GM says, "The symbol -- the three circles -- on the chest of the foremost guard glows for a moment. Then three glowing spheres leap away from it, and begin buzzing around the room."
[7thsea] GM rolls 2 dice: 7 6
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(colored?)"
[oneshot] GM says, "Blue."
GM says, "Phase two, I believe Erich's first."
Erich points at the lead guard, then swings his sword at it.
[oneshot] Erich asks, "What's their TN?"
[oneshot] GM says, "15"
[oneshot] Erich says, "I'll take a raise."
[7thsea] Erich rolls 6k3: 7 5 6 6 1 9 | 22
[oneshot] GM says, "A hit."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "woo"
[oneshot] Erich asks, "Ooh, I've never done a general raise in combat before. What's it get me?"
[oneshot] GM says, "An extra unkept damage die."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "the acclaim of your peers"
[oneshot] GM says (to Jemmy), "That too."
[7thsea] Erich rolls 9k2: 5 6 2 9 10+4 4 9 8 5 | 23
[7thsea] GM rolls 2k2: 7 5 | 12
[oneshot] GM says, "One dramatic wound. Play it."
Erich manages to wedge the tip of his sword in the armor joint between shoulder and left arm. He shoves the sword -- hard -- and twists, before jerking the sword back out.
GM says (to Erich), "Whatever's underneath feels somewhat malleable when you drive your sword in, more like modelling clay than flesh."
GM says, "Still phase two, I believe Lydia's next."
Lydia is more intrigued than anything else at the moment, and rather than drawing her sword, plays the five note tune again.
GM says (to Lydia), "When you hit the first note, the bowl stops echoing, and the other four notes don't have any unusual effect this time."
GM says, "The figure facing Erich swings its sword at him."
[7thsea] GM rolls 4k2: 4 10+4 3 10+9 | 33
[oneshot] GM says, "(A hit?)"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "yow"
[oneshot] Erich says, "yipe"
[oneshot] Erich says, "I think I shall be rolling a wound check"
[7thsea] GM rolls 4k2: 9 2 8 1 | 17
Lydia sets the instrument on the table again.
[7thsea] Erich rolls 5k5: 10+10+2 8 4 2 10+10+3 | 59
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "cripes"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "it is exploding dice night, clearly"
Armor grazes Erich's chest with the blade.
Erich hisses. "That stings."
[oneshot] GM says, "Phase three."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Erich again?"
Erich goes for the armor again.
[7thsea] Erich rolls 6k3: 10+9 4 1 4 9 8 | 36
[oneshot] GM nods, "Damage?"
[7thsea] Erich rolls 8k2: 5 1 3 7 3 5 2 2 | 12
[7thsea] GM rolls 2k2: 8 4 | 12
[oneshot] Erich says, "(teach me not to ask for a raise)"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "nertz"
[oneshot] GM says, "Close, but no dramatic."
Erich smacks his broadsword against the armor, but the sword rebounds with little effect.
[oneshot] GM says, "Let's see, phase five starts with Jemmy."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "m'yes"
Jemmy swings out his hilt again, and the blade materializes as it flashes towards the other armor suit.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(taking a raise, which I guess cancels out the free raise from the sword)"
[oneshot] GM asks, "This'd be the one Erich's not attacking?"
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 6k3: 2 4 1 1 1 3 | 9
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(right)"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(uh)"
Jemmy's overly enthusiastic swing carries him right on past
[oneshot] GM says, "Well. At least it wasn't that raise that prevented you from hitting it."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "true"
GM says, "The suit pauses in its advance for a moment, and its breastplate glows as did the toher one. After a moment, three more blue spheres join the three already buzzing around the room."
[oneshot] GM says, "Phase six, and the sphere's are first."
Erich says, "Er."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "meh"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "(uh-oh)"
GM says, "All six of them swoop down on Jemmy, like a swarm of angry bees."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(double meh)"
[7thsea] GM rolls 7k2: 1 2 7 3 7 7 2 | 14
[oneshot] GM asks, "What's your TN?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "20, thankfully"
GM says, "Their uncontrolled and disordered motions fail to make contact."
Jemmy exclaims, "duck! dodge! twist! parry!"
[oneshot] GM says, "Phase six continues with Lydia."
Lydia says, "Sorry guys, here I come now."
Lydia pulls out her sword and charges the thing Erich was attacking.
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 6k3: 5 5 7 10+10+8 9 1 | 44
[oneshot] GM says, "That'd be a hit, Bob."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "yay"
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "Once again, what's fencing sword damage?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "2+brawn k 2"
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 4k2: 3 5 9 4 | 14
[7thsea] GM rolls 2k2: 1 6 | 7
[oneshot] GM says, "He's totally toast, if you'd like to finish him off."
Lydia pokes past the armor, and makes a scratch. The suit twists and falls over.
Erich says, "I could have finished him."
Lydia says, "I was hoping his sphere things would disappear."
Jemmy says (to Erich), "well, I, uh, left one for you"
GM says, "The armor breaks apart as it strikes the ground, each small piece flaring for a moment like a spark from a fire, before it's gone."
Lydia takes a second to try to count them.
GM says (to Lydia), "Still six."
[oneshot] GM says, "Next in phase seve, is Jemmy's armour..."
[7thsea] GM rolls 4k2: 1 10+9 4 8 | 27
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "ow"
[7thsea] GM rolls 4k2: 1 8 2 6 | 14
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 2k2: 9 4 | 13
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "ow again"
GM thrusts its sword at Jemmy, opening a bleeding wound on his off arm.
Jemmy exclaims, "now I'm mad!"
[oneshot] GM says, "And phase seven continues with the spheres..."
GM says, "The six spheres coalesce around Lydia."
[7thsea] GM rolls 7k2: 1 6 1 8 1 4 10+8 | 26
[oneshot] GM says, "(TN 20?)"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Yes."
GM says, "Two of the spheres hit home, snapping apart like a nasty shock of static electricity. The other four back up and regroup."
GM says, "(12 damage)"
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 2k2: 10+2 4 | 16
Lydia exclaims, "Ouch!"
[oneshot] GM asks, "Phase eight, Jemmy?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(taking a raise again)"
Jemmy swings at the armor once more.
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 6k3: 5 9 9 3 8 5 | 26
Jemmy exclaims, "ha-ha!"
[oneshot] GM says, "Very good."
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 5k2: 3 6 10+2 6 1 | 18
[7thsea] GM rolls 2k2: 1 4 | 5
[oneshot] GM says, "One dramatic wound."
Jemmy spins around and slashes into the armor, connecting cleanly this time and opening up a crack.
[oneshot] GM says, "Phase ten for Erich."
[oneshot] Erich asks, "What's the TN of the spheres?"
[oneshot] GM says, "TN, and you can take raises if you want."
[oneshot] GM says, "Er, 15, and you can raise."
[oneshot] Erich says, "I'll take a raise on the spheres."
Erich glares at the spheres buzzing about and takes a swing at them.
[7thsea] Erich rolls 6k3: 9 2 5 6 2 8 | 23
[7thsea] Erich rolls 9k2: 9 3 3 2 3 3 3 8 8 | 17
[oneshot] GM says, "That's two of them destroyed."
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "What weapon was that?"
Erich manages to smack two of them hard.
[oneshot] Erich says, "broadsword"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "backed by godawful amount of muscles"
GM says, "They vaporise on contact, leaving only two still active."
[oneshot] Erich says, "right. brawn 4 plus 1 for Large."
[oneshot] GM says, "New round."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "wait, did lydia take out some?"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "or did two vanish when they hit her?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "More like they took themselves out on me."
[oneshot] GM says (to Jemmy), "Two of them self-destructed at her."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "aha. sorry, missed that"
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 2 dice: 6 6
[7thsea] GM rolls 2 dice: 8 7
[7thsea] GM rolls 2 dice: 10 3
[7thsea] Erich rolls 3 dice: 10 7 3
[oneshot] GM asks (of Lydia), "Initiative?"
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 2 dice: 2 8
[oneshot] GM says, "Lydia's first then, for phase 2."
Lydia swishes her sword like a flyswatter, trying to finish off the spheres.
[oneshot] Lydia says, "(raise)"
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 6k3: 6 1 2 9 2 10+5 | 30
[oneshot] GM says, "Nice."
[oneshot] GM says, "They're gone."
[oneshot] Erich says, "woo"
[oneshot] GM says, "(As soon as you act it, that is.)"
(From Lydia) The spheres burst and crackle as the metal slices through them.
[oneshot] GM says, "Then... it'll be phase three, for Erich."
Erich says, "I see my choice is simple to make."
[oneshot] Erich says, "One raise."
[7thsea] Erich rolls 6k3: 6 3 6 8 6 7 | 21
[7thsea] Erich rolls 9k2: 5 9 10+2 2 7 1 2 6 4 | 21
[7thsea] GM rolls 2k2: 4 3 | 7
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "ERICH SMASH"
[oneshot] GM says, "<Mortal Kombat>Finish him.</Mortal Kombat>"
Erich reverses his sword, holding it tww-handed above his head. He rushes forward, driving the sword deep through the armor's helmet.
GM says, "The armour melts away around the blade, like a Vodacce ice on a summer's day, quickly evaporating."
Jemmy says, "mm .. Vodacce ice."
Lydia asks (of Jemmy), "What?"
Jemmy says, "er, sorry, distracted"
Jemmy remembers his shoulder is bleeding, and pulls out some bandages to attempt to tie around it
Lydia says, "Anyway, I think perhaps we should get to the north part of this complex."
Jemmy says, "yes"
Jemmy asks, "is there anything else in this room?"
Jemmy looks around.
Lydia says, "There's something behind the table. Maybe just a bench."
Lydia looks at the something.
GM says (to Jemmy), "Mural, desky-stone, bench-like stone, red table."
Erich starts to wipe his blade off, then realizes there's nothing staining it.
Jemmy scratches his head and looks at the mosaic again.
Jemmy exclaims, "the tiles have changed .. I wish I knew what it all meant!"
Lydia asks (of Jemmy), "Did they show you how to use these artifact-packing things?"
Erich looks at the mosaic as well. "What's different?
GM says (to Erich), "Out of the six medium-sized 'red' triangles, the rightmost one has gone from green to red, and the top one has gone from red to green."
GM says (to Erich), "Additionally, all three of the little blue triangles are now glowing."
Lydia says, "Maybe the next attack will be in the room east of here."
Erich asks, "What color were the spheres?"
Jemmy says, "blue"
Lydia says, "with three things? Hm."
Jemmy says, "there were three of them"
Jemmy thinks.
Erich says, "Interesting."
Erich says, "I'd like a look at that northernmost room"
Jemmy says, "yes"
Lydia says, "But two blue triangles were glowing, and two suits appeared."
Jemmy says, "good point"
Jemmy says, "well, only one way to find out what's in that room"
Lydia packs up the instrument.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hmm"
Jemmy helps Lydia pack it up in the protective box.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "those rooms in the corners could certainly be secret doors"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "er, secret rooms. whatever."
[oneshot] Erich asks, "HOw long we going?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Yeah, definitely want to go back there later."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "yeah, it's getting a bit late, isn't it?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Not exactly secret, since there's obviously a door."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "well, there's just the hole in the wall, right?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Just locked or something."
[oneshot] Lydia is tired but okay to keep going for an hour or so.
[oneshot] Erich says, "I'm starting to fall over. Don't know how much reasonable thinking I'm good for in the near future."
[oneshot] (from GM) Erich says, "I may start bashing heads."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee hee"
[oneshot] Erich says, "yay"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "is this a good stopping point?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Sure, if you like."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Or, to the north room, where there will most likely be something surprising."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "let's wait, so there's less to catch up folks on next week"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "right."
[oneshot] Erich says, "That works for me."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "this is rockin' so far though"
[oneshot] GM says, "Enjoy another pair of XP, then."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "woo"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "can't go wrong there :)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Excellent."
[oneshot] Erich says, "A few more and I can up my SMASH skill."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee hee"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Hey, I can almost increase my Fashion sense."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "excellent"
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "See you next week?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, ""does this sword thrust match my dress? or this overhand cut?""
[oneshot] GM says, "Oh, I almost forgot: Jemmy also gets one XP from his background."
[oneshot] Erich says (to Jemmy), "cool"
[oneshot] Jemmy exclaims, "I'll get you, arthur!"
[oneshot] GM asks, "How is Saturday, next week?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I'm pretty sure I can do any of the three days"
[oneshot] GM says, "(lps has CSz Friday)"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "should be good"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Hm."
[oneshot] GM says, "See you folks then, then."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "alrighty"
[oneshot] Erich says, "I've got this movie thing to go to at 7pm, and a museum before that"
