GM says, "The last time we saw our heroes, they were outside the door marked with a hole surrounded white circles, noticing the water filling the windowed recess nearby, and chatting amongst themselves..."
[vodacce] Kestrel says, "It's in the transcript.  Hang on..."
[vodacce] Erich has joined the channel.
[oneshot] GM says, "http://www.tiac.net/users/jota/gems.gif"
[vodacce] Kestrel says, "Whoops ;-)"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Yeah, that."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Full transcript (with other pictures/sound linked) at http://www.bioc.rice.edu/~lpsmith/IF/7thSea/oneshot/ruins2.html"
[oneshot] Gunther says, "wh"
[oneshot] Gunther says, "er"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I forgot about the sound."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "heh"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Ofc, we already solved the gems one."
[oneshot] Gunther says, "I completely missed those"
Jemmy says, "so"
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "That was actually quite useful.  It let me know clockwise/counterclockwise."
[oneshot] Gunther says, "so I should probably read them and then go to sleep"
Jemmy looks at the white holes in the wall, and rolls the white marble around in his hand.
Lydia says, "Well, I don't know why they filled it with water either, but should we try ..."
Lydia says (to Jemmy), "Just what I was thinking."
Jemmy asks, "but what do we do with it?"
Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "Maybe the order is important."
Gunther disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.
Erich says, "though I would hate to lose our marbles"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Er, log on?"
Jemmy kneels down and peeks into the white holes and the hole in the center
[oneshot] GM says, "Yes."
[oneshot] Erich says, "good. pity if my witicism were lost to the ages"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
Kestrel looks again.
GM says (to Jemmy), "The white circles are just marks on the wall; the hole in the middle is aroung eye height, if you average yourself with Erich."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "I thought there was one hole, and .. oh, okay."
Jemmy shrugs.
Jemmy says, "well, ok, here goes"
Jemmy puts the marble in the hole.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(I'd been thinking the white circles were also holes; whoops)"
GM says, "You hear the marble rolling down into the wall, followed by a plink, and then fainter rolling/plinking noises that grow less distinct."
GM says, "The door shudders."
Jemmy says, "hey, cool"
Kestrel has disconnected.
Kestrel has connected.
Kestrel walks the plank to adventure. Arr!
Kestrel arrives, looking for booty.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "oops."
Erich furrows his brow.
Jemmy tries to open the door.
GM says, "The door (in the southwest door) shakes, and starts to slide open (I'll describe the inside in a moment; don't enter yet)."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Woo!  What did we do?"
GM says, "As it opens, you hear water flowing."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "put the marble in the hole"
Erich starts to enter, then finds himself stopped, as if by some unseen force.
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "There was only one hole?"
GM says, "The water in the windowed recess is flowing out through some crack or crevice whcih you can't clearly see from here, and it is quickly empty again."
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Yay wasting the other party's water and not our own!"
GM says, "As soon as the door is fully open, there is a 'plink' -- as the white sphere drops into the recess where you originally found it."
Erich says, "interesting."
Erich says, "I find myself wondering at the mechanism."
Jemmy exclaims, "cool!"
Lydia says, "Er."
Lydia says, "So that's why they put water in it."
Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "Now get back the marble again, so the other group won't have it."
Lydia says, "I guess they figured how to open the other door earlier."
Kestrel says (to Lydia), "No, if they had, it'd have been empty."
Erich checks water supplies, to see if there is enough with some to spare.
Lydia says (to Kestrel), "The one we didn't open, with the black circles."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(we could try getting it out the same way as before, with no water)"
Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Maybe.  They did say they had the black marbles."
GM says, "Looking through the door, you notice that the floor tiles of the next room, while all the normal color, are each marked with a symbol (http://www.tiac.net/users/jota/floor.jpg -- this diagram is set up so that the door leading into the room is at the middle of the bottom side of the picture)."
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "Right."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "oh lordy"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "well, thank god we know what all these runes mean"
[oneshot] Erich says, "goodness."
[oneshot] Erich asks, "which ones spell out 'the pentitent man shall pass'?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "also, if I have not expressed this before, I am in awe of your mad prop-making skillz"
Kestrel says, "Hey, some of these are notes."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "props to them, in fact"
GM says, "An important feature here is the fact that there's a large hole or gap in the floor, not far from the entrace. Another feature is the fact that where the tile furthest from the entrance should be, there is instead a column, like the ones you saw earlier."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "one column in total?"
Erich asks, "who has the bowl?"
Kestrel says, "That's me."
Kestrel pulls out the bowl.
Erich says, "Try some of the notes; see if the floor responds."
[oneshot] GM says, "Right. On the diagram, it's the tile with no symbol."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Are there two holes?"
[oneshot] GM says, "One hole. trapezoidal."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "that's a black circle on the right side, isn't it?"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "What's the black circle, then?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Right; I just got carried away with blacking blacks in PhotoWHatsit."
[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "A circle."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "So it's a circle like to the left of the hole?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Right, except colored in."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Got it."
Kestrel plucks a bar-d
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "heh"
[oneshot] GM asks, "What's a bar-d?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "a guy who sings song-s"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Someone who goes around singing epi-c song-s."
[oneshot] Erich says, "bah"
Lydia says, "Hey, look."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "ha-ha, I have foiled your pun"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "The lower case d with the bar on top."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "much in the manner of firefighters burning a firebreak"
[oneshot] Erich says, "hoist on my own pet-ard"
[oneshot] GM says, "Oh, OK."
GM says, "The bowl plays a note."
Lydia points to a tile to the left of the door, and then another just past that. Those are the first two runes of the scale.
Jemmy asks, "do we step on those, perhaps?"
Lydia says, "["..."]"
Lydia says, "And there's the third, a step past."
Erich says, "If someone wishes to try, I will tie a rope around them and brace myself at the doorway"
Erich says, "the holes make me fear the floor might drop away"
Kestrel nods.
Jemmy exclaims, "oh boy, I'll try!"
GM says, "(For reference, the size of the tiles is such that you could step from any one to any tile touching it by side or diagonal. Any more would require a leaping roll.)"
Erich says, "the scale seems our best thought so far."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "but first, I will look at the map and see if there's really a complete path"
Erich pulls some rope out of his pack and begins securing it around Jemmy.
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "btw, what's the trait for leaping? brawn?"
Kestrel says, "Let's see.  Yeah, looks like you could make it."
Kestrel says, "With only taking normal steps, too."
Erich says, "My. If you have too many more muffins in the near future, I fear this rope will not fit around you."
Jemmy exclaims (at Erich), "I keep extremely trim with exercises every day!"
[oneshot] GM says, "Depends on the kind of leap. Finesse, probably."
Jemmy says, "although, er, I got distracted with drawing sheep this morning"
Lydia says, "The notes don't go to the pillar though, they go to the other corner."
Kestrel says, "Start at this 'd', then left to the reverse-B, up-left to the b, up-right to the circle with the line,..."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks (of Lydia), "wait, the pillar is at the top corner, isn't it?"
Kestrel says, "Up right again to the reverse-B with P glommed on, straight right to the forward-B, straight up to the forward-B/reverseP, straight up to the 8."
Kestrel follows along on the edge of his bowl to make sure.
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Oh, and the circle is just a circle. oops."
Kestrel says, "And to make sure, I'll play the note you're supposed to stand on before you take each step."
Jemmy says, "ok, here goes"
Jemmy takes the first cautious step out and sets his foot on the tile ...
[oneshot] GM asks, "Which tile, specifically?"
[oneshot] GM grins.
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "The right one!"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "arg. must eat. back asap"
Erich braces himself across the doorway, ready to hold on or pull Jemmy back.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "the one kestrel indicated, which I believe is the first down-pointing one under the trapezoid"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "er, s/first/left/"
[oneshot] (from GM) Kestrel says, "No, wait! Left! I mean the left one!"
GM says (to Jemmy), "It feels solid enough, as you put your weight on it."
GM says (to Jemmy), "From here, you can better see the hole in the floor. It looks dark down there."
Jemmy says, "ooh, it's dark"
Jemmy listens to hear if there's any noise from below
GM says, "No."
Kestrel plucks the next note.
Kestrel says, "OK, now the reverse B."
Kestrel points.
Kestrel says, "It's just to your left."
Jemmy takes a breath, and another step, to the down-pointing one to the left.
GM says, "Your progress continues safely, so far."
Jemmy looks around. "Now what?"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Wait--down-pointing?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(down-pointing triangle)"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "or s/triangle/tile/"
Kestrel says, "Now up and to your left, the lower-case 'b'."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Er, that's the wrong one ;-)"
Jemmy follows directions.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "You wanted the reverse 'B'."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Just beyond."
[oneshot] GM asks, "The reverse B *is* down-pointing, no?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "right, that's the down-pointing one to the left of the one I was first standing on"
[oneshot] (from Jemmy) Kestrel says "Wait, I didn't say *simon says* up and to your left"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "There's one with a triangle on it that points down.  That's not a 'note'."
[oneshot] Erich says, "we should have tossed muffins on the tiles where Jemmy needed to go."
[oneshot] Kestrel laughs.
[oneshot] Jemmy says (to Kestrel), "yeah, but it's not down-pointing either :)"
[oneshot] Jemmy says (to Erich), "then at the end, I get a power-muffin and can chase the ghosts around"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "It looks down-pointing to me ;-)"
Kestrel plays the next note.
GM says, "OK, you step on the one like a lower-case b."
GM says, "And nothing happens."
Kestrel exclaims, "Good so far!"
Jemmy exclaims, "nothing's happening!"
Kestrel plays the next note.
Erich exclaims (at Jemmy), "That's good!"
Kestrel exclaims (at Jemmy), "That's good!"
Jemmy says, "oh yeah"
[oneshot] Erich says, "we are quite the komedy team."
Jemmy scratches his head, and takes the next step, to the circle with a 7
Kestrel says, "Now go up and to your right, to the circle with the line through it.  Uh, yeah, that one."
GM says, "Presuming you mean the one right next to you, you yet stand."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "if the adventuring gig doesn't work out we can take this show on the road"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks (of GM), "Um?"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "it's up and to the left, isn't it?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, there's one across the way.  Gotcha."
Kestrel plays the next note.
[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "Right. I'm guessing that Jemmy wouldn't be making heroic leaps for the other one."
Jemmy steps to the next symbol.
Kestrel says, "OK, same distance to the next.  reverse-B with an extra bit like a P."
GM says (to Jemmy), "It holds."
Jemmy asks, "am I there yet?"
Kestrel says, "Now straight right to the capital B."
[oneshot] Lydia returns and reads scroll.
Kestrel plays the next note.  It's dissonant, so he plays it again.
Jemmy steps right.
[oneshot] GM says, "Hey, you haven't found the rivkronk spel-- oh, wait."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "heh"
Kestrel exclaims, "Now head straight for the pillar--straight north to the B with reverse-P, then to the 8!"
Jemmy says, "oh, good, straight"
Kestrel plays the notes as he goes.
[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "Actually, the backwards B with the P was the nasty-sounding one right here; I lost track of which you were playing."
Jemmy walks straight ahead.
[oneshot] Lydia is back.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, right."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Lost count myself ;-)"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "which isn't actually north, I assume, since we entered going sw at the bottom of the floor"
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "Er, right."
GM says (to Jemmy), "And you find yourself standing at the far corner of the room almost, facing a pillar."
Jemmy exclaims, "I'm at the pillar!"
Jemmy looks at the pillar, checking for handholds.
[oneshot] GM wasn't going to be so cruel as to make you read the diagram rotated to point southwest :)
[oneshot] Kestrel laughs.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(we appreciate it, believe me)"
GM says (to Jemmy), "There are, just like the three pillars in the room at the east end."
Jemmy exclaims, "I'm climbing!"
Jemmy starts climbing.
[oneshot] Erich says, "Next we'll have to do major triads by jumping on the correct tile and singing, 'hellooooooo!' 'helloooooo!' 'hellooooooo!'"
Kestrel exclaims, "Go you!"
Erich says, "we can see"
[oneshot] Kestrel giggles.
Jemmy says (to Erich), "oh yeah"
GM says, "At the top, you have to be careful so as not to bump your head on the iron gridwork below the ceiling."
Kestrel notices the ceiling in the room for the first time.
Jemmy . o O ( did we ever find out why the gridwork is here? )
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Wait, the gridwork is everywhere in the complex?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "um"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "it was in the other pillars room, for sure"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I *think* everywhere"
GM says, "Jemmy climbs on top of the pillar and grabs something that was sitting there."
[oneshot] GM says, "Yes, everywhere."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Have we tried touching it?"
Jemmy starts climbing down.
[oneshot] GM asks, "Have you avoided touching it?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "no, but there hasn't been much opportunity to do so"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Unless I'm Andre the giant, I don't think I could have."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(er, to touch it, not to avoid doing so)"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "I always avoid touching things that have been out of reach the whole game."
[oneshot] GM says, "When you were on top of the pillars in the other room, I mean."
[oneshot] Jemmy says (to Lydia), "well, they're distantItems"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "Jemmy certainly wouldn't think to avoid touching it"
[oneshot] Erich says (to Jemmy), "yay"
[oneshot] GM says, "Where it would ahve been easier to accidentally bump it than it would to avoid touching it, especially for Erich."
[oneshot] Jemmy gives Erich the TADS high-five.
[oneshot] Lydia says, "this game is in TADS? huh."
[oneshot] Erich says, "I wasn't taking any precautions on top of the pillars."
[oneshot] Erich asks (of Lydia), "Which game do you mean, the game or the game?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee hee"
[oneshot] GM says (to Erich), "Right. So assume you bumped the iron bars, and nothing happened."
GM says, "So, uh, you all see Jemmy climb down."
Jemmy starts retracing his steps along the tiles, once he's down.
Kestrel helps direct Jemmy back, again playing the notes as he goes.
GM asks (of Jemmy), "Carefully?"
[oneshot] Kestrel accidentally dials a new bowl!
Jemmy says (to GM), "carefully stepping on the same tiles, yeah"
[oneshot] Jemmy <-- Rash, but not *Reckless*
Erich reels in the rope to limit the amount of slack in it.
GM nods. "Jemmy manages to find his way back to the rest of you, while Kestrel plays what sounds suspeciously like a musical scale. Well, not all that suspicious, I guess.
Jemmy exclaims, "look! another pottery piece!"
Jemmy displays the black piece.
Kestrel says, "Excellent."
Lydia asks, "It's black?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I believe so, yeah"
Lydia says, "I wonder what color the third piece is."
Jemmy asks, "white?"
Erich peers at the black piece, looking for runes.
[oneshot] GM says, "Jemmy's piece is black, yes."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "What was the first?  Yellow?"
[oneshot] Alex says (to Kestrel), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Yellow is about 570 nm."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "yeah"
[oneshot] Jemmy says (to Alex), "hee hee"
[oneshot] Alex exclaims (at Jemmy), "Awwwk! No parse found!"
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to alex), "Oh, hush."
[oneshot] Alex exclaims (at Kestrel), "Awwwk! Just trying to help!"
GM says (to Erich), "It's surprisingly blank and smooth, like first one."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "ok, question"
Kestrel says, "So, now, we need to get those marbles from the last group, or get them to open the door."
Erich scratches at the piece with a dirty fingernail, then scowls.
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "there was another thing besides the dial with the gems in that one room, wasn't there?"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "ie, something along the north wall?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "A locked door to the north."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "and black circles around a hole/"
Kestrel says, "Or, if they've already passed it, and gotten the pottery piece beyond, we need to get *that*."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Looked a lot like this one, but with black instead of white."
[oneshot] GM says, "(If you want to go back there, I can describe that room again)"
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "Also, a shelf."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "aha"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "no, wait"
[oneshot] Erich asks, "The bowl was on the shelf, yes?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I mean, I'm wondering where the black marble came from"
Kestrel says, "No, the bowl was to the north of this room."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "the bowl was on the shelf in the other room"
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "Was there a matching recess?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "that shelf was in the equivalent place as the goblet in the room to the NE of here, I believe"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "ie, on http://www.tiac.net/users/jota/mosaic.gif, numbering the hexagons 123 on first row and 456 on the next"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "the goblet was in 4. the bowl was in 1. the shelf that was empty when we got there was in 6"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "And the pedestals that were empty were in 2."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "2 had eight pillars which (we assume) had whistles on them"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "yeah"
Kestrel says, "Maybe if the black marbles are placed in the hole, they'll reappear on that shelf, like this white one."
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "We saw one whistle. You don't believe this guy, do you?"
Kestrel says, "So we'd only need to borrow them."
[oneshot] Erich says, "Must reboot. One moment."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I *think* we saw two people with whistles"
Erich has disconnected.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "it could be the same whistle, admittedly"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "but it is true that they said they found eight in response to Erich or Kestrel saying "yeah, but they only play one note""
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Yeah, we saw two with whistles, and when taunted, they claimed to have 8, and when we said things worked in 9's, said 'well, let us know if you find the ninth pedestal.'"
Jemmy exclaims, "Arthur would never let us borrow one of those marbles if it'd mean we might get ahead! I can't stand him!"
Lydia says, "And it wouldn't do any good if they managed to get the other piece from inside."
Lydia says, "Although they've been showing off most of what they found."
Jemmy says, "the heart of the place must be in the tip of the pyramid"
Erich has connected.
Jemmy exclaims, "so we have to get in there!"
Jemmy says, "which means we have to get that third piece"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hmm"
Erich says, "there are methods of persuasion which might be useful here"
Jemmy meanwhile attempts his earlier method of getting the white ball out of the tank.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "this is too devious for me to suggest, but we could in theory try trading the white ball for the black one. unless they'd already gotten their piece of pottery, of course"
GM says (to Jemmy), "Finesse."
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 3k3: 2 6 9 | 17
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "There are 8 black ones, right?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hmm"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "he *claimed* to have found a dozen, I think"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Otherwise, yeah, I'd have thought that too."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "all we saw was one, I'm pretty sure"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Too bad we can't lure them into the runes room"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "And we wouldn't lose much for that. Hm."
GM says (to Jemmy), "You get it most of the way out, but it gets knocked off when you try to bring it through the hole, leaving it half-covered in wax."
Jemmy says, "hrm"
[oneshot] Lydia says (to Erich), "If we trade the white marble, they will enter."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(can I try again? or somebody else?)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "I don't know what stepping on the wrong runes would do, but it undoubtedly would be bad."
[oneshot] GM says, "Someone else can."
Erich says, "let me try."
Jemmy hands over his wax-tipped rapier
[7thsea] Erich rolls 3k3: 9 1 4 | 14
[oneshot] Lydia thought he was going to try stepping on the wrong rune.
GM says (to Erich), "It's harder than it looks, apparently."
Erich says, "mmm. I am having no more luck than you."
Kestrel says, "Sigh.  Here, let the juggler do it."
[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 3k3: 3 1 1 | 5
Erich hands over the rapier.
[oneshot] Jemmy exclaims, "ha!"
[oneshot] Erich snorts.
Kestrel says, "Um."
GM says (to Kestrel), "Odd, it seems almost as if the hole is blocked! You cannot get the tip of the rapier in."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "ok, that sucked, but it was still funny"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Can I try again?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Well..."
Kestrel says, "Sheesh, this thing is small."
[oneshot] GM says, "I think one try per person."
Lydia says, "I might as well take my turn."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "hrm, there aren't any relevant skills to use here, hunh?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Since I didn't even get it in."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Hmm. Do you have one to suggest?"
[oneshot] Lydia asks (of Jemmy), "Levitate?"
[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "I'll think about it."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I have 'stunt'."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Which I don't remember what it is.  Just a sec..."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Remind me of the Stunt rule again?"
[oneshot] Erich says, "I love that album."
[oneshot] GM says, "Hee."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I've got no skills, unless Traps would apply somehow"
[oneshot] GM says, "Also, Lydia can try it."
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 3k3: 4 4 8 | 16
[oneshot] GM shakes his head.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Hmm, nope."
Lydia gets the marble stuck, but only lifts it an inch before it falls off.
Jemmy says, "oh dear"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Hey, let me try my 'Creative' advantage."
Jemmy scratches his head and looks at the marble.
Lydia says, "I guess we were just lucky before."
[oneshot] GM asks (of Kestrel), "OK, remind me how that works again?"
Lydia asks, "We have enough water, don't we?"
Jemmy says, "I used to know how to do this"
[oneshot] GM says, "(In your version of it? :) )"
Jemmy makes sad fishing motions with an imaginary sword
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "We didn't specify, but 'get a bonus for wacky schemes'."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "it came up once in muskeeters at the end"
Kestrel pulls out some thread from his pack, rigs a small slipknot.
Erich glares at the marble, as if he might lift it from its resting place by force of will alone.
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "Oh, that's right."
[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "Um. One problem, I think."
GM has disconnected.
Kestrel attaches it to the end of the rapier with the wax, runs the tightening end up the blade.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "but it doesn't exactly appear as though it gave a specific bonus"
Kestrel eyes the waxy marble.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hrm, this suggests an earlier conversation that decided on a bonus, but I'm not sure what it is"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "No, we never really said."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(also, if I'd know everyone else was going to blow it, I would have just used a drama die)"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "My idea was mostly 'can actually roll for schemes too crazy to work normally'."
[oneshot] Erich asks (of Jemmy), "Who knew the juggler had sausages for fingers?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "he's a lousy juggler, but oh-so-tasty"
[oneshot] (from Lydia) Erich says, "Mmm, sausages."
[oneshot] Kestrel backs away nervously.
[oneshot] Erich laughs.
Erich says, "if all else fails, we can drown the marble to get it out."
Erich says, "though I will be interested to see if your thread idea will work."
GM has connected.
GM has disconnected.
[oneshot] Lydia says, "I should have waited to eat."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Heh."
[oneshot] Erich says (to Lydia), "Little did you know there would be sausages later"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "actually, I had a brat."
GM has connected.
GM says, "Grrr."
[oneshot] GM says, "Now then, I was about to ask if Kestrel had enough drama dice to trigger his Virtue."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "No, but I'm liking my idea anyway."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(I have 0.)"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "But I'll just use it as a character trait."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "To repeat:"
Kestrel pulls out some thread from his pack, rigs a small slipknot.
Kestrel attaches it to the end of the rapier with the wax, runs the tightening end up the blade.
GM has disconnected.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Grr."
[oneshot] Erich exclaims, "That's his Fate thread! Stop tugging!"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Say the magic ... ooh, Erich wins."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
GM has connected.
GM asks, "You were, er, repeating something?"
[oneshot] GM says (to Erich), "Also, hee."
GM asks, "OK, so you have a string with a noose at one end, a rapier at the other?"
Kestrel says (to GM), "Right.  Right at the tip."
Kestrel attaches a secondary thread opposite to the rapier, runs that up the blade, too.
Kestrel says, "Hmm, let me try this with something else first."
Kestrel finds a small rock.
Kestrel lowers the loop next to the rock, then drags it over.
Kestrel tightens the loop a bit, so it will no longer fit over the rock.
[oneshot] Erich says, "You are carrying:  useful thread"
Lydia says, "Hmm."
Kestrel lifts the rapier, holding the secondary thread taut.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Finesse, I guess."
[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 3k3: 2 6 7 | 15
GM says, "It... *could* work. Sure, try it."
GM says (to Kestrel), "You do manage to snag the rock. Although the rock is much rougher than the marble, and you're not operating through a little hole."
[oneshot] Kestrel nods.
Kestrel says, "OK, here goes."
Kestrel does the same thing, only with the marble instead.  Fortunately, the marble is slightly lumpy due to the wax.
[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 3k3: 4 6 5 | 15
GM has disconnected.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(maybe he didn't see that)"
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "The suspense!"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Heh."
[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 3k3: 9 2 10+7 | 28
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "see? SEE?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "There we go ;-)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "woot"
[oneshot] Lydia says (to Jemmy), "He will see that comment."
[oneshot] Jemmy laughs.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "good point"
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Oh, while we have a moment."
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Two potential advancements in the science of ifMUD dice."
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "One would be a 'roll this several times in a row'"
[Crows-Nest] (from Jemmy) Erich says "1) respond more accurately to "baby needs a new pair of shoes"
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "so that 'roll 4k3 2' would do it twice in a roll, or 'roll 3 4' would roll three dice four times."
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "yay"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel falls over.
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "The other would be 'GM dice' which would do sekrit rolls for GMs who only have one or two ten-sided dice IRL."
[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "hey, that's a good idea."
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "I thought so. :)"
[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "another unrelated thing they could do is to @tell Alex."
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "or, I suppose a more generally "private roll" that only shows it to you and the GM"
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "(oh, and alex, perhaps, yeah)"
[Crows-Nest] Erich says (to Jemmy), "mmm-hm."
[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "not the private one."
GM has connected.
[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "right, subject to configuration about who the GM is at the moment."
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "oh yeah"
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "I think the GM's dice-rolling thing should perhaps make a general comment about the GM rolling dice behind the screen."
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "heh"
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says (to Erich), "hee hee"
GM has disconnected.
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Hey, I'm serious. :)"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel exclaims (at Erich), "Yes!"
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "just thinking about having people roll their own perception rolls vs. GM doing it."
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Telling everyone, 'Roll perception' is a bit of a give-away."
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel nods.
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "The dice-rolling behind screen is at least a bit mysterious."
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "I'm signed up for this java-based client that does that sort of thing."
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "oh yeah"
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy asks, "what's up with that?"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "But I've never been able to try it out because the server's only up during work hours."
[Crows-Nest] Erich asks, "java-based client?"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "And that's when I don't have access to my home PC."
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says (to Erich), "It was announced on the 7th Sea list."
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Ah. That thing I'm not on."
GM has connected.
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "It's a chat-like thing designed specifically for 7th sea games.  So, yeah, private dice rolling, one person set as the GM, stuff like that."
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "At least, so they claim."
GM quietly steams.
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "I've tried a similar thing before called 'WebRPG' that looked like it could work OK."
[Crows-Nest] Lydia softens the wax in the excess steam.
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Well, there's my dice suggestions. If you're busy, should I get the chance in the next bit I'll look at making such dice."
[oneshot] GM asks, "OK, um. Where were we?"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel asks (of GM), "I rolled a couple times whilst you were away.  Shall I use one of them, or roll again?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Ah, right."
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Oops."
GM says (to Kestrel), "You manage to get the loop around the sphere, but when you try to tighten it, it slips off."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks (of GM), "I rolled a couple times whilst you were away.  Shall I use one of them, or roll again?"
[oneshot] GM asks, "Rolled once before I vanished, right?"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "is some wax still on the marble?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "And once after you left."
[oneshot] GM says, "I think we'll just ahve to say that you didn't get it off for now."
[oneshot] GM says (to Jemmy), "Right."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "OK.  Can I try again?"
GM has disconnected.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I wonder if there'd be any way to make it easier to grab the marble"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Sigh."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "maybe wait til the GM disconnects, then smash the glass and get it out"
[oneshot] Kestrel laughs.
[oneshot] Erich laughs.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "er, I mean, drip wax on the marble until it's bigger"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Then it won't fit out the hole! ;-)"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "picky picky"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "but good point"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "It'd just get all over."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "and stick it to the ground."
GM has connected.
Kestrel pulls out the rapier, re-enlarges the loop.
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Can I try again, or give it to someone else?"
GM asks, "Sothestringdidn'tworkandyoucantrysomethingelsenoworthatlaterOK?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
[oneshot] Kestrel laughs.
[oneshot] Erich says, "yay. Also, if permissible I'll give it a try."
Kestrel says (to Erich), "Here, you try."
GM says, "Or someone else can try the string, yes."
Erich says, "certainly."
Lydia asks, "Are we really that low on water?"
Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Oh, hush.  This is fun ;-)"
Erich takes the contraption, eyes it dubiously, then lowers the thread into the hole.
[7thsea] Erich rolls 3 dice: 6 7 6
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "19!"
GM has disconnected.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I assume you don't want to blow a drama die on this, since, as noted, we do have water."
[oneshot] Erich says, "Yeah. I'd rather save it."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "hrm, ok, so we'll all go round with this noose thingy, and if that fails, pour water in?"
Lydia says, "I just don't want to stick around waiting for some armor."
[oneshot] Erich says, "Sounds like a plan."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(not that we're likely to get much done elsewhere until Jota's connection stabilizes)"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Why, it seems like we've been here doing this for hours."
GM has connected.
GM says, "Erich, roll. Now."
[7thsea] Erich rolls 3k3: 2 7 1 | 10
GM asks, "Fail. Next?"
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 3k3: 4 3 6 | 13
[7thsea] Lydia rolls 3k3: 2 8 3 | 13
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "wow"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "That's just astounding."
Jemmy and the others pour water into the hole until it's filled, attempting to get the ball out.
[oneshot] Erich says, "This is not Meant To Be."
Jemmy, meanwhile, has retrieved his rapier and cleaned the wax and stuff off, and resheathed it
Kestrel, looking on the bright side, notes, "Hey, this way the other group won't know what we've done."
GM says (to Jemmy), "As you pour the water in, the sphere floats on its surface. It takes a few waterskins to fill it completely, bringning the ball out into the upper recess."
Lydia uses her smaller fingers to try to poke the ball up when the water is just above the hole itself.
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "ok, and now where?"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "is it worth trying the white sphere in the other hole?"
GM says, "You have ball. You also have about one and a half skins of water left."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "no."
[oneshot] Erich says, "only if we have enough water to float it out again"
[oneshot] Erich says, "which appears to be 'no'"
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "Is there another recess like this one though?"
[oneshot] Jemmy exclaims, "but we could try the famous wax-sword trick in the other recess!"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "also, what lydia said"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "and no recess in the pillars room, I assume"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "No, no other recesses."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "The corresponding thing is that shelf."
Lydia says, "Well, I wonder if they found the third piece."
Lydia says, "I say we try to trade the white marble for their black one."
Erich says, "I like that idea."
Jemmy says, "well, just don't trust Arthur"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "This room has a shelf too."
Erich says, "we should claim not to have had any luck with this marble, and that we wish to try the other one"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hmm"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, with a goblet.  Right."
Jemmy looks at the open southwest door.
Kestrel asks, "Shall we close the door?  Anyone want to explore that pit?"
Jemmy exclaims, "it looked dark and deep!"
Jemmy says, "although I guess somebody could lower me down ..."
Erich says, "I'm willing to try if you are."
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "isn't the goblet supposed to be beyond the treacherous tiles?"
Kestrel takes the rock he was experimenting on, walks to the doorway, tosses it into the trapezoidal hole.
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Hee!"
GM says (to Kestrel), "It strikes stone quickly."
Lydia says, "I'd rather let the other group see this room as it is now."
Erich says, "well"
Kestrel asks (of Lydia), "And how would we leave?"
Lydia asks, "What?"
Kestrel says, "When we open that door (points east), that one (points sw) will close."
Lydia says, "I mean if we trade the marble."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "wait, we'd explore the pit first, then trade marble"
Kestrel asks, "Well, do we want to explore the pit?"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "so am I/someone exploring the pit?"
Kestrel says, "It's not deep, but could well be trapped."
Erich says, "I am interested in exploring the pit"
Lydia asks, "It probably is trapped. What do you expect to find down there?"
Erich says, "but as I am likely to be anchor and not explorer, I should not make the final decision"
Erich says (to Lydia), "this is a syrinth tomb. I expect nothing and everything."
Kestrel says (to Lydia), "If we knew what was down there, this would be an easy decision."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(we could lower a lantern in first, I suppose)"
[Crows-Nest] GM asks, "Aside: Earlier, was someone asking about a secret GM roller?"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "'roll secret *'"
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls secret 1k1: Arr.
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls secret 2 dice:
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "I mean, 'rollsecret *', sorry."
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Argh."
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "'rollsecret *;rolls *;rs *', drat it."
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Hm."
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "it doesn't do the 2k2 summing properly, though"
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "but yeah"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "(No esploding or summing, though)"
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "aha"
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "So some tweaking necessary"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Just a quick-and-dirty roller."
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "since even if it does announce dice, announcing the # is not so nifty"
[Crows-Nest] GM asks (of Erich), "?"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "anyway -- someone want to lower a lantern in?"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "No announce, except to the roller."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "You might suggest it."
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "Ah, I see. I thought the 'Jemmy rolls secret 2 dice:' was from the rs command."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "well, yeah, but it seems excessively cautious for Jemmy"
Kestrel cautiously steps on the first tile, peers into the hole.
[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "so just the mKn syntax is needed"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "No, that was from my accidentally calling it 'roll secret' rather than 'rollsecret', confusing him."
[Crows-Nest] GM nods. "I've been esploding your Perceptions manually."
GM says (to Kestrel), "It is dark, yes."
Kestrel holds up his lantern.
[Crows-Nest] (from Jemmy) GM says "You are likely to be eaten by a grue, yes."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Up being away from the pit?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Up over the pit."
[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "anyone who wants it can get a copy of the code I used (either language) for the current roll *k*"
GM says, "You think you can see the bottom. Doesn't look too deep, actually."
Kestrel lies down on the tile, lowers lantern over edge into hole.
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "(anything on the walls of the pit?"
GM says, "Actually, the pit doesn't seem to have 'walls', so much: the floor surrounding it is only a few inches (4-6) thick, so the pit continues under the floor."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Even under the tile I'm on?"
[oneshot] GM asks, "You're on which one exactly, remind me?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "First one.  d."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(afk a sec)"
Lydia asks, "No spikes?"
GM says (to Kestrel), "Yes, but oddly, not the one right next to it. The tileright in front of the door (with the seven-like symbol), is something like the top of a pillar, going all the way down."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hmm, maybe it smashes upwards"
Kestrel says, "I don't see any spikes."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "it seems like this is all part of the trap, not something new to explore"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "but admittedly we didn't trigger anything"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "so there may be no trap at all"
Kestrel looks around at the other 'safe' vs 'dangerous' tiles.
GM says (to Kestrel), "You can't see the bottoms of them from up here, of course. The tops look normal, much as they did before."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "So, there's a few 'gaps' with the safe tiles, but everything else is solid rock?"
[oneshot] GM says, "I'm not sure I understand the question."
Lydia says, "Maybe it's worth looking around down there after all."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Are you talking about the thickness of the floor?"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "You said the tile next to mine went all the way down.  Right?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I believe you've only seen under the tile you're on and the tile next to it"
[oneshot] GM says, "Right, the one in front of the entrance."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "A pillar under it does."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "The upside-down 'L'."
[oneshot] GM says, "It's the only one that you can see from here that goes all the way down."
[oneshot] GM nods, "That one."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "What about the B?"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "And that triangle with the right-pointing tail?"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "And the circle?"
Kestrel checks the pillar for handholds.
[oneshot] GM says, "Four-to-six inches thick stone, with open space below."
Kestrel says, "Hmm."
GM says, "No handholds."
Kestrel says, "This upside-down 'L' is different from the rest.  It'"
Kestrel says, "...It's a pillar that goes all the way down, possibly.  No handholds, though."
Kestrel shines the lamp around, sees if anything glints.
Kestrel says, "Maybe I could lower this."
GM says, "Nothing glints."
Kestrel ties a rope to the lantern, lowers it down into the pit.
GM says, "It lowers about four or five yards before touching down at the bottom. You can more clearly see now that the floor beneath the floor appears to be plain, smooth stone, untiled."
Kestrel starts the rope swinging so as to see more area with it.
GM says (to Kestrel), "Your range of view is more limited by the fact that you're looking down through the opening than it is by the location of the lantern, right now."
Erich says (to Kestrel), "kindly do not start a fire"
Kestrel says (to Erich), "It's all stone."
Kestrel says, "But yeah."
Kestrel says, "Well, there could feasibly be something there."
Kestrel says, "But not where I can see it."
Kestrel says, "It's about 10-15 feet deep."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I'm still lying on the tile, BTW."
[oneshot] GM says, "Ah, OK."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Hence the swinging and stuff."
GM says (to Kestrel), "From a lying position, you can see that the northeast wall of the room (where the door is) extends down there, too."
Lydia asks, "Do you think it's worth a descent?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Although there's no door down there."
Kestrel says, "All I can say is that I can't see the other two walls."
Kestrel says, "Heck with it, I'm going in."
Kestrel pulls up the lantern, stands, goes back into the room, ties the rope in a harness around himself.
Kestrel says (to Erich), "I've set this up like we used to do in our shows.  If I yell, just pull me up--it won't hurt too much."
Erich nods.
Lydia asks, "Shows?"
Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Yeah, me and some other Fhideli have this stunt show."
Lydia says, "Oh, how wonderful."
Kestrel says, "It's pretty fun, and at one point during it, I get swung into a pyramid of them, and send them all flying.  Looks horribly dangerous, but it's nothing, really.  But that one always gets the most cash."
Kestrel grins.
Erich says, "with luck, this will net some cash as well."
Lydia says, "Sounds exciting. Of course, we don't need the swinging and flying just now."
Kestrel sits on the edge of the d tile, swings around so his legs are dangling, then scootches himself over the edge until he's hanging by his arms.
Kestrel says (to Erich), "Hold tight, now, I'm letting go..."
Kestrel says, "And, while you're at it, have Lydia or Jemmy hold on, too."
Erich braces himself. "Ready."
Lydia gets behind Erich and takes hold of the rope.
Erich quickly loops the rope around him and ties it in a bowline to himself, then re-braces himself and holds onto the rope once more.
Jemmy stares around alertly.
Kestrel lets go with one arm, tests the rope, then lets go with the other (assuming I'm not dropped ;-)
DiegoValdez has connected.
Kestrel holds on to the rope with one arm, shines the lantern around with the other.
Kestrel hollers "OK, I'm here!  Give me some slack, and I'll go explore to the walls!"
Erich says, "will do"
Erich plays out some slack.
Kestrel hollers "No obvious doors..."
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "By the way, whatever happened to Dana?"
[oneshot] Erich says, "terrible accident in a cheese factory"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "in-game or out-of-game?"
[oneshot] Erich asks, "she had a cheese accident in both?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "Emily isn't here tonight because she's attending a wedding out of town"
Lydia says, "I wonder if the Society would be interested in these other symbols."
Kestrel hollers "Whole lotta nothing down here."
Lydia says, "As long as he's exploring anyway..."
Erich says, "good idea"
Lydia begins to draw the floor layout on a fresh page.
GM says (to Erich), "There's a tug on the rope."
Kestrel says, "OK, I'm coming back.  "Make sure the rope is pulled up over that 'd' tile!""
Erich takes in the slack, making sure to keep the rope across the proper tile.
Kestrel climbs.
Kestrel hauls himself up on to the tile again.
GM says, "And so re-emerges Kestrel, a bit dustier than before."
Kestrel brushes off his hands.
Kestrel says, "Well, probably worth a shot."
Kestrel says, "Could have found the remains of the last unlucky adventurers to come this way."
Jemmy asks, "now what?"
Kestrel exclaims, "Fortunately, the next group won't find the remains of me.  Let's go find Arthur!"
[Crows-Nest] GM whispers (to Kestrel), "You see a skeleton. It's holding a rusty knife."
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel exclaims, "Yay!"
Kestrel asks, "Anyone want to be the spokesman/lady?"
Lydia says, "Should I finish with these symbols? I think I'll be done before too long."
[oneshot] GM says, "AFK a moment."
Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Sure."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "I'll take that as a 'yes'"
Lydia says, "Hm, a few of the symbols appear twice."
[oneshot] GM says, "Back."
Lydia says, "... and a triangle. Okay, I'm ready."
Kestrel asks, "Anyone here skilled at, uh, being persuasive?"
Lydia asks, "Or lying?"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Hey, I have bonuses on the repartee table, don't I?  Are there 'normal' things there, or is it only for fights?"
Erich asks (of Lydia), "could I see those symbols for a moment?"
Lydia says, "Certainly."
Kestrel points to the room  "You can see them for yourself still, of course."
Lydia hands over her sketchbook.
Erich says (to Kestrel), "these I don't have to crane my head to see."
Erich reads the symbols carefully, matching some up to the bowl, in an effort to find other patterns.
[oneshot] GM says, "Hmm. There's Charm, and Intimidate. And Taunt."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Hey, Charm, as you say."
[oneshot] GM says, "All of them are useful to a degree outside of battle, although they can't be used to force someone to do something totally contrary to them."
Kestrel says, "Hmm.  I guess I can try being charming.  I do seem to have better luck at it than some."
[7thsea] Erich rolls 5k3: 2 7 9 5 5 | 21
[oneshot] GM says, "E.g. you might get a shopkeeper to lower his price with a Charm roll, but you probably won't make someone sell you a prized possession."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I get a free raise on rolls that succeed in the repartee system."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Right."
[oneshot] GM asks, "That was Showmanship?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Right."
Lydia says, "I don't think we'll get much trouble if we just offer a trade politely, maybe say something interesting about this room, and claim to have found nothing."
Kestrel nods.
Kestrel says, "Well, they're bound to be to the east somewhere."
Kestrel says (to Lydia), "If you're done copying symbols..."
Erich says, "surely we could find them if we start moving that direction."
Kestrel opens the east door, sadly watches as the SW door closes.
[7thsea] Erich rolls 5k3: 10+2 10+6 8 7 10+7 | 45
Kestrel . o O ( Good thing they didn't come in here while Jemmy was in that back room... )
[7thsea] Jemmy asks (of Erich), "why couldn't you have rolled that with the marble?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Erich), "Holy moses."
[oneshot] Erich says, "heh."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I *hope* the GM told you to roll that."
[oneshot] Erich says, "yes"
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Yay!"
[oneshot] Erich says, "I'm trying to recognize various symbols on Lydia's transcription."
GM asks, "So you move back into the entry room, with the mosaic and the four doors and all?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Oh, right. Lore-man."
Kestrel says (to GM), "Right."
GM says, "You hear some muffled noises from the north."
[7thsea] Erich rolls 5k3: 7 9 8 9 3 | 26
Kestrel puts his ear to the door, listens.
Lydia pauses to look curiously at the mosaic again.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Wait, the mosaic was in the entry room?  I thought it was in the NW room."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "But hey, either way."
[Crows-Nest] Lydia exclaims, "Hey, that one was part of the symbol in the ST:tNG episode where Data was inhabited by a sun god!"
GM says (to Kestrel), "It sounds like someone shouting, but you can't make out the words."
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel exclaims, "Yay!"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Different mosaic. landscapey morning/evening thing."
GM says (to Lyidia), "It's a dawn scene -- at the top (north) corner of it, the sky is dark, with a few stars."
GM says (to Lydia), "To the lower left corner, a mountainside waits, covered in evergreen trees."
[7thsea] Erich rolls 5k3: 4 3 10+9 7 3 | 30
GM says (to Lydia), "In the lower right corner, the sun is rising."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "oh yeah, that mosaic"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "oh, heh"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "I had forgotten it as well ;-)"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "and the sun is yellow?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "no, wait"
[oneshot] GM says, "Sure, the sun is yellow."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Yeah, that could work."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(but the lower-left, not the top, would have to be black for it to match)"
[7thsea] Erich rolls 5k3: 5 1 3 5 7 | 17
[oneshot] Lydia says, "hrm."
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "But it could be a clue for where to put which one in the upside-down 'Y'."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "ok, this is true"
[7thsea] Erich rolls 5k3: 8 4 3 8 10+1 | 27
[oneshot] Lydia says, "I was thinking more 'what does this have to do with music?'"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "so presumably the next one should be green"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Right."
[oneshot] Jemmy says (to Lydia), "good point also"
Kestrel opens the door just a crack to see if he can hear any better.
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Sara just walked in with a cake."
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "woo"
GM asks (of Kestrel), "All or nothing, really. Still opening it?"
Kestrel frowns, makes shushing noises to everyone else, puts ear to where the crack would be, closes his eyes.
GM says (to Kestrel), "They seem to have stopped shouting so much now."
Kestrel sighs.
Kestrel says, "OK, here goes."
[oneshot] Erich says, "puts Lydia's book away."
Kestrel opens the door, watching closely to see where everyone is and what their stances are before they notice him.
Arthur says, "...so now we know what tha-- oh. It's *them*."
Kestrel asks, "Figured something out, have we?"
GM says, "The group is mostly standing around, attending to each other: a couple of them are on the floor, and some seem injured."
Kestrel sighs.
GM says, "One is providing aid to the others, in the form of bandages, etc."
Erich says, "you met the armor I mentioned last time, I see."
GM says, "A couple of the pedestals have also been knocked over."
Kestrel says, "You guys look a little worse for wear."
Arthur snarls. "So that was your doing, was it?"
Erich says, "our doing? no."
Kestrel asks (of GM), "Purposefully, or more accidentally-in-the-fight?"
Erich says, "am I displeased? also no."
GM says (to Kestrel), "Haphazardly. Whether it was intentional or not is unclear."
Kestrel asks, "Which was our doing?"
Erich says (to Kestrel), "the armor we -- and now they -- have been fighting"
Arthur says (to Kestrel), "Whatever trap you fools set off, raining unholy warriors out of the darkness..."
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Oh, man, that'd be rich if wandering around in the pit did that."
Kestrel frowns.
[Crows-Nest] Erich laughs and laughs and laughs.
Derec says (to Arthur), "Calm down, Arthur. Let me see that arm."
Kestrel asks, "When did this happen?"
Kestrel asks, "And do you need any extra bandages?"
Derec puts a bandage on Arthurs left hand.
Arthur asks (of Kestrel), "They showed up about -- how should I know? Do I look like I brought a clock?"
Arthur waves his arms, show that he probably does not ahve a grandfather clock concealed about his person.
Kestrel sooths, "Of course not.  I was just trying to figure out the timing, so if we *did* set something off, we'll know not to do it again."
Jemmy smirks quietly to himself.
Arthur has disconnected.
[oneshot] Erich says, "it's the good-kestrel-bad-erich show."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "And if you should need it, confused-innocent-Lydia"
[oneshot] Erich says, "excellent"
Arthur has connected.
[oneshot] Arthur says, "(WHo am I? Who the heck am I? :) )"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Heh."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Derec? No..."
Arthur asks (of Derec), "How long were we fig-- quit that! My hand's fine. How long were we fighting them?"
[oneshot] Arthur says, "(Frustrated trying to figure out whom to 'connect' as.)"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "'connect GM password' 'connect derec password' 'connect jota password' ..."
Derec says, "At least twenty minutes, with those little ones flying around..."
Arthur nods. "Yeah, maybe twenty minutes ago."
Kestrel thinks.
Erich says, "ah, the spheres"
Arthur asks, "What were *you* doing then?"
Kestrel . o O ( What were we doing 20 minutes ago? )
Kestrel says, "Well, we've been in that southwest room for a while now, trying to get past that door."
Arthur looks suspicious. "Which one?"
Kestrel says, "Messing with the chamber you guys filled with water."
Miranda smirks.
Erich says, "nice to know some people have water to waste"
Kestrel says, "But, of course, you were there doing similar things earlier, and nothing happened to us."
Miranda stifles a laugh. Arthur is almost grinning too.
Arthur says, "Yeah, a shame some people don't."
Erich frowns, looking confused.
Kestrel asks (of Arthur), "What's so funny?"
Kestrel . o O ( They found a way to fill it with water automatically, didn't they? )
Arthur shrugs, "Perhaps we were just a bit better prepared than you."
Kestrel frowns.
Arthur asks, "Did you, uh... need some water?"
Erich has disconnected.
Erich has connected.
Arthur says, "If you're running low, I'm sure we could find a fair price."
Lydia glances toward her group's water, counting silently.
Kestrel sighs.  "No, we have enough water."
Kestrel says, "But, it seems to us we've reached an impasse."
Kestrel says, "There are areas of this ruin we can't get past, and we can only assume you haven't gotten past them either."
Derec finishes tending to the injured, and rejoins Arthur.
Miranda surreptitiously steals a glance north.
Arthur asks, "Oh?"
Kestrel says, "Perhaps we could trade artifacts for a while, or even permanently, and see if one group could succeed while the other has failed."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I'm trying 'charm' here."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "contested roll vs. his wits."
Arthur asks, "Oh, *trade*, you say? And you think this might be of benefit to us?"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Grr. Must reboot"
Erich has disconnected.
[oneshot] Arthur nods, "OK. I'll tell you when you get close enough to roll."
[oneshot] Arthur says, "s/when/if/ :)"
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Arthur), "It's an ongoing thing.  I have to beat him as many times as he has resolve."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(well, half as many, since I get that raise."
[oneshot] Arthur asks, "Half as many, or just a raise?"
Kestrel shrugs.  "I'm not going to say you will definitely benefit.  We believe we would benefit, obviously, and you must make that decision on your own as well."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "well, the raise isn't effective until he passes. So it has the raise's effect of knocking off an additional Wits point."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(resolve, but yeah)"
Erich has connected.
[oneshot] Arthur asks, "So since he has Resolve of 2, that'd be basically a single contested Wits, right?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "If I beat him in a contested wits roll, I get a point.  If I get as many points as he has wits, I convince him.  For each raise I make, that's an extra point."
Arthur asks, "Now, why would you be offering to give us something unless you felt you'd already done everything you could with it?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh.  Well, yes."
[oneshot] Arthur nods, "Then I'll tell you when it's time for the roll."
Kestrel asks, "Have you nothing you yourself have fully exploited?"
Arthur points to Kestrel. "Ah, but if you have this, this... whatever it is that you think we might find so valuable..."
Arthur asks, "Wouldn't you have used it to take everything you could get?"
Lydia mumbles, "we wish."
Arthur asks, "What do we want with your empty husks?"
Derec taps discretely taps Arthur on the shoulder. He is ignored.
Kestrel asks, "In exhange for your own empty husks, perhaps?"
Arthur smirks.
Arthur says, "Perhaps you should tell us what it is you want, and what it is you offer us."
Kestrel shrugs.
Kestrel says, "Right now, all I know that you have is those flutes."
Kestrel asks, "You said you had eight of them?"
Kestrel glances around the room at the pillars.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Er, pedestals."
Arthur nods slowly. "Mmm, yes. Although giving one up would break up the set. Could be quite detrimental to their value on the whole..."
[oneshot] Arthur says, "There are still eight, although a couple have fallen down. One of the fallen ones looks cracked."
Kestrel says, "Well, another option would be to buy them from you directly, I suppose."
Erich says (to Kestrel), "they toy with us. they have cleared all the rooms they have found, and will clear the ones we cannot enter as well"
Kestrel says, "Though that would throw off our original deal, I guess."
Arthur nods, "Indeed... It could be tantamount to admitting defeat, for you..."
Jemmy exclaims, "never!"
Derec mutters, "Why do they want the..."
Arthur smirks.
Arthur says, "Ah, Jemmy. So naif, to the very end."
Lydia asks, "If you can't part with a whistle, what about some of that jewelry?"
Arthur raises an eyebrow. "Jewellry? The black pearls? Hmmm."
Arthur asks, "What do you think you could offer to match them?"
Miranda smiles smugly.
[oneshot] Kestrel re-reads the deal.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "the deal is, it ends when we agree there's nothing more to find"
Kestrel says, "Hmm. Well, we've found our own jewellry.  A white pearl.  But it's only one."
Arthur says, "Aw. How sweet. A single, common, white pearl."
Kestrel rolls his eyes.
Arthur says, "Perhaps two, maybe three of them might be worth one of the ones, I imagine."
Kestrel says, "Miranda, you're the appraiser.  Here, take a look."
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "Kestrel has it, right?"
Miranda steps forward to examine it.
Erich says (to Kestrel), "it is as I said. he will not deal, certainly not honestly, and even if he did, such a deal would be to his benefit and not our."
Miranda asks, "Hmm. Similar in composition. Odd. A waxy surface." She scratches it with her fingernail. "But that comes off. Shouldn't affect the value, much. Mmm. Is this the only one of them you've found?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
[oneshot] Erich says, "yay"
Kestrel nods.
Kestrel asks, "Is it the same size as yours?"
Lydia says, "Maybe we should start with just the one."
Lydia says, "I like white pearl."
Miranda nods. "Could be worth slightly more as it is then, due to rarity, unless others are found. I'd estimate its price to someone like us as about, oh..." She looks at Arthur. He raises his eyebrows. "Fifteen shillings. Ten apiece, if there were more."
Miranda says, "As opposed to an estimated t-- yes, thirty shillings for each black one, if sold separately."
Jemmy says, "bah"
Jemmy says (to Arthur), "I see your experts are as reliable as you are"
Lydia asks, "What makes you say the black ones are more valuable?"
Arthur asks, "So, if you're still interesting in trade, then perhaps our black pearl would be worth, to you... your white pearl, and fifteen shillings?"
Lydia says, "Besides Arthur, that is."
Kestrel asks, "Your single black pearl?  As opposed to the dozen you claimed to have before?"
Arthur says (to Lydia), "Why, white stones are everywhere. Have you not been to the Montaigne courts of late?" He grins cruelly. "They are much too mundane for a sophisticated client.""
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Okay, we'll take two."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "heh"
Arthur asks (of Kestrel), "You wish to make an offer on those, as well?"
Kestrel sizes Arthur up.
Lydia says, "None like this. A black pearl is -- strange, and not as beautiful."
Arthur smiles. "Interesting. I see your game."
Arthur asks, "You want to buy our artifacts, then claim you won the bet, and take from us what we've left?"
Erich sighs.
Kestrel says, "No.  You know, we'll never get a fair deal from you down here."
Erich says, "his brain twists round until he sees the back of his head"
Kestrel says, "So, I propose something new."
[oneshot] Arthur says, "(Now, you can try Charm to force an even trade...)"
[oneshot] Arthur says, "(Or you can keep trying something new)"
Kestrel says, "For half the value of your pearls in the bet, we'll tell you how to use them.  Then you get to try to exploit that knowledge first, then us."
Arthur asks, "What makes you think we don't know how to use what we've found?"
Kestrel says, "If you do, then hey, don't take us up on it."
Arthur waves his hand dismissively.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(it might, possibly, be worth something to us to know where they found the spheres)"
Derec says, "He just wants us to say about what we did, and then he'll do it himself..."
Lydia asks, "You did something? With a pearl?"
Kestrel exclaims (at Derec), "We don't have your spheres!"
Kestrel asks, "How could we use them?"
Miranda hmphs. "Like it'd do any more for them than--" A swift galre from Arthur stops her.
[oneshot] Jemmy exclaims, "ha!"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "alright"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "unless it's all bluff, like my mumbling."
Arthur asks (of Kestrel), "Hmm. Is this a new deal, then?"
Kestrel says, "Yes."
Arthur says, "You said... the value of this information would be worth one half of a black peral..."
Kestrel says, "No, half the value of the set of pearls."
Arthur coughs.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "you'd better find how out many there are"
Arthur asks, "You want to pay us *that* much to tell you?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "No, that's a good play."
Kestrel says, "Huh?  No, for us to tell *you*."
Jemmy says, "see, I said it was no use talking to him"
Arthur says, "But you have yet to convince me that you know anything we don't."
Kestrel says, "If it doesn't work, the deal's off."
Lydia says (to Kestrel), "He, uh, may be right."
Kestrel asks (of Lydia), "Hmm?"
Arthur gets frustrated. "I *know* it works. I've *put* the pea-- I mean. Grar."
Arthur scowls at you.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
Kestrel asks, "And the door opened?"
Arthur sighs. "Yes, yes. So you know as well I we do. Fine."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "To make him really mad, 'excuse me, we'll be right back'"
[oneshot] Jemmy says (to Lydia), "hee hee hee"
[oneshot] Erich laughs.
Arthur says, "We know why you want the black perals, and you know what we would do with the white one."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "arthur being annoyed is amusing me much more OOC than it should"
Kestrel says, "But you couldn't figure out what to do *past* the door.  I get it."
Erich asks, "oh?"
Erich exclaims, "oh!"
Lydia asks, "So we're not talking about the value of the pearls themselves here, are we?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "this is probably #belated and #obvious, but perhaps the black spheres don't get returned, which is why there's more than one"
Arthur says, "That is your own inference; if it so please you to believe that, be my guest."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Or maybe it takes more than one for some reason."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I hope not, since then we'd be screwed in a 1-for-1 trade"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "but yeah, good point"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Or again, maybe there only is one."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "mmhmm"
Arthur says (to Lydia), "Let us simply say that we fully intend to sell these pearls when we leave. And that there are many nobles who would have them about their necks, whether they've any other use or not."
Lydia says, "Of course."
Erich mutters, "we should leave them for the armor and *its* spheres."
Kestrel says, "OK, fine.  How about we pay you to open that door for us, then."
Arthur says, "Fine. Thirty shillings."
Jemmy asks (of Kestrel), "are you kidding?"
Kestrel says, "Ten."
Arthur says, "Twenty-five."
Kestrel says, "Fifteen."
Lydia asks, "Or we could exchange the white pearl for all the black pearls and promise to return each to its finder?"
Arthur says, "Twenty."
Kestrel says, "Eighteen.  I'm feeling generous."
Arthur says, "... fine."
Derec and Miranda exchange grins.
Lydia asks, "Wait. You don't want to try the white door?"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Er, How much is that in US dollars?"
Arthur asks (of Lydia), "You're offering to open it?"
[oneshot] Arthur says, "Eighteen guilders."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Guilder == $20, roughly?"
Lydia says, "Seems to make more sense to me than paying."
Lydia says, "But I'm not the one with the pearl."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "we got 250 shillings for finding travers, 120 shillings for each of the artifacts"
[oneshot] Arthur says, "No clue what that is in 2001 money. I never understood them 'Mericans."
Erich throws up his hands. "wonderful. just wonderful."
Kestrel says, "OK, then.  If your wounded are tended to, then let's go."
[oneshot] Arthur says, "A guilder will buy you a new (plain) jacket/coat/cloak/cape."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "or a chicken"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Two for a sheep."
[oneshot] Erich says, "or a chicken's weight of muffins"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Maybe $15?  Twenty?"
[oneshot] Kestrel laughs.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I was thinking shillings were worth less than guilders, but eh."
Arthur says, "So you'll open the west door for free, and we'll open the east door for eighteen guilders? Fair enough. Let us to the west."
Arthur motions to his followers, and heads south.
Erich shakes his head.
Kestrel rolls his eyes.  "No, no, no.
[oneshot] Arthur says, "A shilling is a guilder, in value."
Kestrel says, "Just 18 guilders for the east door.  If you want us to open the west door, we can work that out afterwards."
Kestrel heads south, then east.
Arthur nods, "Alright, alright." He heads through the open south door with his associates. "Come along, then. Miranda, wait here with the runts. Derec, Leo, come with me."
Lydia says, "except that they won't be able to leave."
Arthur says (to Lydia), "Mmm? Oh, we don't intend to go in with you."
Erich follows along, cursing softly.
Arthur follows Kestrel east.
Lydia asks (of Arthur), "You don't mean to head back and reclose the door on us?"
Kestrel says, "No, but you'll have to wait in the room, unless we can go in and open it from the other side."
Kestrel shrugs.
Kestrel says, "Let's get it open, first."
Arthur says (to Lydia), "I have no control over the doors, my lady. But we cannot allow progress to stop."
Arthur asks (of Kestrels), "I believe we agreed on eighteen guilders?"
Kestrel says (to Arthur), "In case you hadn't noticed, progress already stopped."
Kestrel says, "Yes."
Kestrel says, "18 guilders, and you don't close the door on us."
Arthur says, "You would have us stand here and wait? For our time, I fear I must raise the price."
Kestrel says, "OK.  10 guilders and you don't close the door on us."
Erich says, "you could leave the pearls with us and continue on your way"
Kestrel says, "Or else we'll call this off right now and go back."
Kestrel says, "Because ain't none of us getting through that north door."
Arthur laughs. "You seem to be forgetting that *you're* the ones who made us an offer."
Kestrel sighs.
[oneshot] Lydia says, "Try a Charm to get an exchange of pearls, either temporary or permanent."
Arthur asks, "Eighteen to open the door, and ten to wait here until you leave. Happy?"
[oneshot] Arthur says, "You can try that."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Sure."
Erich says, "theu in himmel, the two of you could talk a sheep to death"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I do have 'barterer', BTW."
[oneshot] Arthur asks, "Mmm. Were you using the Haggling knack?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Hmm."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "It's a knack?"
[oneshot] Arthur asks, "Or are you just going to go for what Lydia suggested?"
[oneshot] Arthur says, "Merchant advanced knack."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, there we go."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(it would be nicer if we could get the sphere, of course, since then they can't watch us work)"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I do have merchant, but not haggling.  Normally -1, right?  And barterer gives free raise, so +1 again."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "But, sure, charm for temporary exchange of pearls."
[oneshot] Arthur nods. "You'd still be rolling -1 die, and then just adding +5 to your total after the roll."
[oneshot] Arthur says, "OK. Make the offer IC, then roll Wits."
Kestrel says, "This is getting a bit silly."
Kestrel How about we just exhange the pearls, then give them back in, say, an hour?
Kestrel says, "The value is equal--they both open a door the other's been through already."
Arthur asks, "If you don't give it back?"
Kestrel asks, "It only takes one to open the door?"
Kestrel asks, "And it doesn't give it back to you?"
Arthur doesn't speak for a moment. "We can't be certain we can trust you."
Jemmy mutters "I don't think *we're* the untrustworthy ones here"
Kestrel says, "If we can't give you back the pearl, we'll pay you 18 shillings, as previously agreed.  Same goes for you with our pearl."
[oneshot] Arthur asks, "Are you going to roll?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Sure."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "'I was kind of hoping you'd give in due to my incessant nagging.'"
[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 3k3: 2 1 5 | 8
[oneshot] Jemmy says (to Lydia), "hee hee"
[oneshot] Arthur says, "Hee."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(sigh)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "heh"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Pppft."
[oneshot] Erich says, "also, blah."
[7thsea] Arthur rolls 3k3: 6 10+7 7 | 30
[oneshot] Arthur says, "Hold on."
[oneshot] Erich says, "and blah again."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "just can't get a break with the 3k3s tonight"
[7thsea] Arthur says, "Arthur turns some of his dice over. Whoops."
[7thsea] Arthur rolls 3k3: 1 1 1 | 3
Arthur says, "Fine."
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "What's that? GM uses drama die to help the players?"
[oneshot] Kestrel laffs.
[oneshot] Jemmy laughs.
[oneshot] Arthur says (to Lydia), "Nuh-uh. I still have all my drama dice, in case I need them to undo this later :)"
Arthur takes out a black sphere, holds it up.
Kestrel . o O ( I just hope they didn't get that last piece already. )
Arthur asks, "And yours?"
Kestrel holds up the white sphere.
Arthur nods, and trades.
[oneshot] Erich says, "They bring the two spheres together. The spheres meld into a yin-yang configuration."
Kestrel says, "See you in an hour."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "yay"
Arthur says, "Likewise. For now, I'd like to leave this room before that door opens."
Arthur exits, et alia.
Kestrel says, "I hope he didn't mean there's dangerous stuff back there."
Kestrel says, "Oh, well."
Lydia says, "And honestly, I can't wait for him to leave it."
GM says, "You are now in possession of a black sphere."
Kestrel asks, "Ready?"
GM says, "It feels and looks a lot like the white one, except for being black."
GM says, "And not waxy."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
[oneshot] Erich laughs.
Erich says, "as long as that took, let's not delay any further."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "We can wax it up later. They'll love that."
Kestrel looks to see everyone's weapons are at the ready, puts it in the hole.
[oneshot] Erich says, "except we won't be getting it back, I suspect."
GM says (to Kestrel), "There is the sound of a sphere rolling, and a plink, and more muffled noises... a moment later, the door slides open."
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "end of session, maybe?"
[oneshot] GM says, "If everyone wants to stop, this is a fine place to."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "aieee suspense"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I could go a bit more."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "but it is midnight over there, isn't it?"
[oneshot] GM says, "If everyone wants to keep going, then you'll get to see what's ont he toher side of the door :)"
[oneshot] Erich asks, "how much longer would longer be?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "I'm okay, it just seemed like one of those To Be Continued spots."
[oneshot] Jemmy exclaims, "well, if folks can keep going a bit, tell us what's on the other side!"
[oneshot] GM says, "If we keep going, then next week's session will probably be on the short side."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Actually, I'm gone next weekend."
GM says, "OK, you find another room, this one pointing north..."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "aww. We'll look for a chance to beat up Arthur for you."
[oneshot] GM asks, "We can try making next week's on a different day, if you want. Weekday, Sunday?"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "What about the 4th?  Are people off then?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "I'm probably out at fireworks with the family."
GM says, "It's... divided into two parts, really. The south side, near the entrance, has a red tile in the southeast corner."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Or the 3rd night?"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Or 12th night?"
[oneshot] GM says, "I have plans for the fourth; I'm not sure how late they go. The evening of the third is fine for me."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(sorry)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "4th is party day."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I could do 3rd night"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "3rd, sure."
GM says, "The north end of the room is raised, so that the 'floor' there is about five feet higher than it is here, so that you're facing a sort of 'wall', which extends down until it meets..."
GM says, "The water. The middle of the room is bisected by a sort of moat, running east-west, about five feet across."
GM says, "At the far north corner, a pillar rises."
GM says, "There are also horizontal grooves cut in the 'wall' formed by the raised part of the room."
[oneshot] GM asks (of Erich), "Third also OK for you?"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Um hm. I think that should be fine."
[oneshot] GM says, "OK. Next week will be eight o'clock on the third..."
GM says, "So, um, here you are."
Jemmy looks at the grooves in the riser. Are they spaced for climbing?
Lydia says, "Hm."
GM says (to Jemmy), "Yeah, they could work for climbing. Although they're on the far side of the water."
Lydia walks in and looks around for a moment.
Jemmy asks, "this couldn't be connected to the other water somehow, could it?"
Erich asks, "Where are the grooves placed?"
Lydia asks, "The other water?"
GM says (to Erich), "In the middle of the wall, lined pretty much with booth the door in and the pillar in the far corner."
Kestrel says, "OK, let's stand two of us by this red tile, swords drawn."
Lydia says, "Oh, I guess we can fill our skins."
Kestrel exclaims, "Don't touch the water yet!"
Lydia says (to Kestrel), "I'm not sure. Who would be more surprised."
Kestrel says, "It might activate the tile."
Lydia says (to Kestrel), "Right, let's take a look at it."
Lydia walks to the moat and looks at the water.
Kestrel looks to see if he can see anything on top of that pillar.
Erich eyes the handholds. "I might be able to jump across and grab the handholds."
GM says (to Lydia), "It looks like it's about four or five feet deep, mostly clear, although the stone on the bottom and sides is darker than the usual grey walls and floor, making it harder to see down there."
Kestrel says, "Hmm.  I've done stuff vaguely like that with my stunt troupe."
GM says (to Kestrel), "The bottom of the pillar is five feet off the ground, from your perspective. The top is rather highter."
GM says, "Higher, even."
Kestrel says (to Erich), "Maybe you could toss me across, or let me jump from your back."
Erich says, "first we should test the water"
Kestrel says, "I'd offer the same for you, but you're bigger than me ;-)"
Erich says, "none of this may be necessary."
Erich says (to Kestrel), "true"
Kestrel asks (of Erich), "Er, really?  What if it triggers the armor?"
Lydia says, "What a shame we don't have a trampoline."
Erich asks (of Kestrel), "would you rather trigger it deliberately or by an ill-timed fall into the water?"
Jemmy says, "perhaps we can get across some other way"
DiegoValdez has disconnected.
Jemmy thinks.
Lydia says, "I'm not sure anything we do really triggers those things, anyway."
Kestrel says, "We should be ready either way, but I think I'd rather try it first without touching the water."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(I've got leaping -- can I estimate the TN?)"
Erich shrugs. "and I would prefer to test things on our own time. we have handled the armor previously."
Lydia says, "They seem to get worse, of course."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Are you trying to land atop the opposite bank, or just grab onto the ledge/grooves (might get your feet wet)?"
Kestrel says (to Erich), "Also, testing it deliberately doesn't rule out also triggering it from an ill-timed fall."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "the former"
[oneshot] GM says, "About 25."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "incidentally, is this flowing anywhere, or just standing water?"
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Can I use 'stunt' to lower that for him?"
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "and the latter?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(er, grabbing the grooves, I mean)"
Erich says (to Kestrel), "perhaps, but we have not had the tiles re-trigger after they have done so once."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "By helping toss him across, or have him leap from my back?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(also also, it's possible the water is actually acid or something)"
[oneshot] GM says (to Jemmy), "The surface doesn't show any current. Since the stone at the bottom and sides is dark, it's hard to tell if there's any underlying motion."
[oneshot] GM says, "15, for just scrabbling onto something."
[oneshot] Erich says, "I'm for taking something like a strip of leather and dipping it in the water. perhaps an empty skin."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I think that'd be my preference too"
Lydia looks at the walls to either end of the moat.
[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "If you made a succesful Stunt roll, I'd call it a free raise for whomever you're helping."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "OK, cool."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(like, TN 15?)"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(for me?)"
[oneshot] GM says, "Sure."
[oneshot] GM says, "But of course, if you failed, they couldn't back out of the jump at that point :)"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "well, I only have leaping 1, so it'd be 4k3 assuming it's leaping + finesse"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "which, as we know, averages to 10"
Kestrel asks (of Jemmy), "I saw you leaping over some of the streams on the way here.  You good at that kind of thing?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Hee."
Jemmy thinks.
[oneshot] Erich laughs
Jemmy says, "I might be able to jump across"
Jemmy exclaims, "I suppose I might -- nah, I wouldn't fall in!"
Kestrel says, "I could help--I've learned how to throw people so they land properly."
Jemmy says, "ooh"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(so obvious next question -- should we try for the TN 25 or the TN 15?)"
[oneshot] Erich says, "or the wineskin"
[oneshot] Erich says, "(they always forget about the skin)"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "If I make my roll, it'd be TN20."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Also, you still have drama dice."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "this is true"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I was hoping to use them to beat Arthur's head in, but hey"
[oneshot] Erich says, "Here's the thing: the worst-case scenario I imagine is Jemmy falling into the water, it summoning the armor, and the water hurting Jemmy in some way"
[oneshot] Erich says, "and then we get to split our attention"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hrrrm"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "right"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "um"
[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Erich), "Say this out loud."
Lydia says, "I'd rather find out if the water's fine before anyone tries jumping."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "I'm convinced ooc"
Erich says, "I agree with Lydia"
Jemmy asks, "aw, I'm sure it'll be fine .. what's the worst that could happen?"
Jemmy says, "er"
Jemmy says, "ok, good point"
Erich says (to Jemmy), "I fear you falling in, summoning the armor, and the water hurting you"
Erich says, "so that we must attempt a rescue while fending off armor and spheres."
Jemmy asks, "what should we do instead?"
Kestrel says, "OK, we can test the water first."
Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "I'll throw you across next thing, I promise."
Erich takes an empty waterskin.
Jemmy says, "oh boy"
Jemmy makes a few trial jumps up and down.
Kestrel says, "I'm the weakest with the sword, let me do it.  The rest of you stand by the tile."
Erich says (to Kestrel), "very well"
Erich hands the skin to Kestrel, then goes to the red tile and draws his sword.
Lydia says, "I think we'll be better prepared if we're a bit farther from the tile."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "actually, one sec"
Erich nods and takes a step back.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "well -- nah"
Lydia draws her sword and approaches the tile.
Jemmy alertly stands by the tile.
Kestrel says (to Lydia), "If you're ready for it, it'll appear, you'll slice it up, and it'll disappear right away."
Kestrel gets out his bow, sets it by the canal, ready to scoop it up.
Kestrel takes the wineskin.  "Everyone ready?"
Lydia asks, "It'll take a moment. Who can tell if that thing needs a moment?"
Lydia nods.
Erich says, "yes," and takes a tighter grip on his sword.
Kestrel dips the empty skin in the water, taking care not to get his hand wet.
GM says (to Kestrel), "The leather waterskin gets wet, and water begins to flow in through the open mouth."
Kestrel fills the skin, lifts it back out again.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(bah)"
GM says, "It's most of the way full now, although you couldn't quite fill it completely without getting your fingers wet."
GM says, "The skin drips placidly."
Kestrel says, "Hmm."
[oneshot] GM says, "(You want armor? I can give you armor.)"
Kestrel pulls the skin back out.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Heh."
Jemmy says, "well, ok"
Kestrel says, "Well, the leater by itself did nothing."
Kestrel sniffs the water.
Jemmy exclaims, "now I can jump!"
GM says (to Kestrel), "No scent."
Lydia says (to Kestrel), "You could try dipping a finger in. If you don't want to, I understand."
Erich says, "shame Arthur didn't join us"
Kestrel tips the bag so it drips on the floor, lets one drop hit his pinky.
GM says (to Kestrel), "it's wet."
GM says, "As is part of the floor, now."
Kestrel sucks the water off his pinky.
Erich says, "well"
GM says, "Slightly salty, but that could just be the finger itself."
Kestrel says, "OK, the water itself doesn't seem to be a strong acid or anything."
Kestrel says, "But I'm going to try to touch the water."
Erich says, "thus clearing the way for a good toss"
Kestrel sits on the ground near the canal.
Kestrel says, "Ready?  One,... Two..."
Erich says, "one moment"
Erich asks, "can I be of some help?"
Kestrel says, "I'm just going to touch the water."
Erich holds his ground.
Kestrel says, "Just be ready by the tile.  And be ready in case the tile's a red herring, as it were."
Lydia laughs.
Kestrel says, "Again:  One,... Two..."
Erich says, "now I am hungry."
Kestrel puts his pinky in the water on three.
GM says (to Kestrel), "It's cold."
Lydia exclaims, "How silly this all is!"
Kestrel pulls his hand back out again.
GM says (to Erich), "As you should be. You haven't stopped to eat or drink since breakfast."
GM says (to Kestrel), "And, of course, wet."
Kestrel says, "I can only assume we're releasing hordes of armor-people into the north room again."
Jemmy says, "we can but hope"
Lydia laughs again.
Kestrel asks, "Well, whatever.  Doesn't seem too dangerous.  Jemmy, you ready?"
Jemmy exclaims, "yes I am!"
Erich asks, "now can I help?"
Kestrel fills skin to the top.
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "I dunno, can Erich help?"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Uh, you coach ;-)"
[oneshot] GM says, "Without the Stunt knack, he might be more of a hindrance, really."
[oneshot] Erich exclaims, "More! More practice, or never will you be winning the gold medal!"
Kestrel asks, "Have anything in mind?"
Erich shrugs. "you are the performer."
Kestrel says, "Hmm.  I think I got it.  But be ready for that tile again, of course."
Erich says, "if I cannot help I'll stand here and watch for armor."
Kestrel practices a couple times with Jemmy with some low tosses.  Basically just Jemmy putting his foot in my laced fingers, jumping as I lift.
Jemmy practices impatiently.
Kestrel says, "Excellent!  You're a quick study."
Kestrel says, "OK, ready?  Here we go..."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Finesse?"
Erich says (to Lydia), "be prepared, should Jemmy miss."
[oneshot] GM says, "Yes."
[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 4k3: 1 8 7 8 | 23
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Woo!"
Lydia stands at the south wall, where she can see both the stunt and the southeast corner.
GM says, "He's flung neatly into the air..."
[7thsea] Jemmy rolls 4k3: 3 7 9 7 | 23
[oneshot] Jemmy exclaims, "ha-ha!"
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Yay!"
[oneshot] Erich says, "...and the blade of death pops out of the ceiling"
GM exclaims, "And lands with a lovely tuck-and-roll on the other side!"
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "*4*k3!  That's what we needed!"
Erich exclaims, "well done!"
Jemmy stands up and bows enthusiastically.
Kestrel exclaims, "Beautiful!  Never seen it done better!"
Jemmy inspects the pillar.
Jemmy exclaims, "maybe I should join the circus!"
Jemmy says, "I could be a sheep tamer"
Kestrel says, "I'm pretty sure they come that way, but hey."
Jemmy exclaims, "oh no!"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "wow, Dana's not here for the circus line."
Jemmy exclaims, "the pillar's empty!"
Lydia asks, "Does it move if you climb it?"
Jemmy thinks.
Jemmy says, "this one doesn't have grooves on it"
Erich says, "try giving it a gentle push"
Erich says, "or see if it will sink down if you put some weight on it"
Kestrel sighs.  "No, more likely that Arthur and co. got the green piece already.
Lydia looks around the room, as though they must have missed something.
[oneshot] Lydia asks, "Or is the top reachable from where Jemmy is?"
Erich says, "hm"
Kestrel says, "Although,..."
Jemmy thinks.
Kestrel says, "Could be, I suppose, that there's a trick to it.  Doesn't seem too difficult a room, otherwise."
Kestrel peers into the water.
Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "Here, take this and put water on the pillar."
Kestrel tosses the wineskin across.
Lydia looks at the ceiling.
Jemmy tries splashing some water on.
Erich says, "if that doesn't work, see if the pillar will turn at all"
Lydia says, "It looks like the water in the moat is moving."
Jemmy asks, "uh .. moving?"
Kestrel asks, "Flowing?"
Lydia says, "Well, the light is all wavy."
Erich takes a corner of a blank sheet of paper from Lydia's book. He shreds it and drops it on the water's surface.
Kestrel examines the water again.
Erich watches the paper to see how it's moving.
GM says (to Erich), "It rests stationary on the surface, then slowly sinks. As it does, it starts to drift, and slowly slips away to the north, disappearing."
Erich exclaims, "a-ha!"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "well, I don't have swimming"
Erich says, "I think I feel like a swim"
Erich says, "or at least a hold-your-breath-for-a-while"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
Kestrel asks (of Erich), "I've always meant to learn how to swim.  Is it difficult?"
Erich shrugs.
Erich says, "I've heard not, though I've not learned myself"
Jemmy asks, "well, should I stay here?"
Kestrel has disconnected.
Erich hms.
Lydia says, "I don't see why not. If something happens, you might see something interesting from up there."
Kestrel has connected.
Kestrel walks the plank to adventure. Arr!
Kestrel arrives, looking for booty.
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Whoops, accidentally closed the window."
Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "Yes!  Stay there."
Kestrel says (to Lydia), "We can stay and watch the pillar, I guess."
Jemmy says, "ok then"
Jemmy sits down.
Erich says, "this is bound to be cold"
Kestrel asks (of Jemmy), "Watch the top of the pillar, though?"
Kestrel asks (of Erich), "Want a rope in case we need to pull you back?"
Erich removes extraneous equipment, especially his pistols.
Erich says (to Kestrel), "yes, please."
Kestrel says (to Erich), "Better strip.  Don't want to wander around in wet clothes the rest of the day."
Erich glances at Lydia. "I--ah."
Erich says, "yes."
Erich says, "well."
Lydia says, "Err.. I'll watch the tile."
Jemmy laughs.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "that rules"
Erich waits until Lydia has turned, then strips.
GM asks (of Erich), "Chilly down here, isn't it?"
[oneshot] Erich says, "if I run into anything underwater, good thing I know how to grapple."
[oneshot] Erich says, "most grappling I do is when naked anyway"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "now lydia's *really* blushing"
Kestrel loops a rope around Erich's foot.
Erich lowers himself into the water.
GM says (to Erich), "It's quite cold, but you can handle it. The bottom of the moat is about five feet deep; there's a swift south-to-north current down around your feet."
Erich says (to kestrel), "if I tug twice, start pulling."
Erich takes several deep breaths, then ducks his head underwater to have a look around.
You whisper "From here you can see that there's a gap to the north and another to the south; the 'banks' of the canal don't reach down to the bottom." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "can I guess how far I'd have to go while holding my breath?"
You whisper "Roll Resolve + Swimming." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "Heh. no swimming."
You whisper "Straight Resolve, then." to Erich.
[7thsea] Erich rolls 2k2: 5 4 | 9
You whisper "Actually, I take that back: it's Resolve * 20 seconds." to Erich.
You whisper "IC time, not typing time." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "okay. I'll move towards the north bank, then surface to inform the others & take a few breaths."
You whisper "Tok about five-ten seconds to look around and get your bearings." to Erich.
You whisper "OK. From here, you can see that the north gap extends a ways into the darkness." to Erich.
Erich surfaces. "there is a gap in both the north and south banks. I'm going to see where they go, if I can."
Jemmy exclaims, "cool!"
Erich takes a *very* deep breath, and down he goes.
Erich whispers, "Okay, going to head north for about twenty seconds."
You whisper "The north gap is about two feet high or a bit more, leaving you limited space to maneurve. Before the twenty seconds are up, you feel stone ahead of you, and the current turns to the east and west." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "can I tell which way the current's headed, east or west?"
You whisper "The water also feels different, as though it's more open at this end." to Erich.
You whisper "It feels like both -- if you drift east, you feel the east current pick up; if you drift west, you feel the west one. And you're not banging your head on the 'ceiling' above you any more." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "Okay, going to move east and up."
You whisper "OK. Feeling your way east, you find it drops down to a two-foot gap again, and a couple feet in, the way is blocked with regularly spaced iron bars, too narrow to pass." to Erich.
Kestrel says, "I hope this isn't like that pit I explored."
Erich whispers, "when I start passing the half-way point of air, let me know."
You whisper "(This precluding you from going up, here)" to Erich.
You whisper "You're probably at the halfway point." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "time to back up. I'll give the west a tentative try, then start heading back."
Kestrel says, "On the other hand, I hope there's not a Squid of Doom there, either."
You whisper "OK. It opens up again where you just were, and you find a gap to the ewst, just like the east one." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "A question: what happens as I run over my alloted time?"
Jemmy exclaims, "I'm sure Erich could handle it!"
Erich whispers, "That is, if I go over exploring the west, can Kestrel pull me back out before I drown completely? :)"
You whisper "When you go back south, you find that the gap there leading back tot he moat is much like the east/west ones, but not barred." to Erich.
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "(and thus was calimari brought to theah)"
You whisper "I'll start giving you wound checks from drowning, and you'll pass out eventually. Also, I'll tell the tohers you were downt here a long time." to Erich.
[oneshot] Kestrel laughs.
Erich whispers, "Okay. So bars to the east, none to the west. Right?"
You whisper "No, sorry. Bars to the east and west, no bars to the south." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "and no up or down"
You whisper "In between all the gaps, there is up, but no down." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "Right, I'm confused. :)"
Erich whispers, "(Sorry, having a hard time visualizing what my character's seeing)"
You whisper "OK, imagine the moat's a room. You can go up from there, into the real room, right?" to Erich.
GM asks, "Amazing how time gets compressed when you're typing, huh?"
You whisper "There are tunnels leading south and north from the moat. The north one is a short tunnel which quickly leads into another 'room'." to Erich.
[oneshot] Kestrel asks (of GM), "You're telling us that Erich got squished, aren't you?"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "hee hee"
[oneshot] Erich exclaims, "hbe hbe!"
You whisper "That room continues upward, and it has tunnels leading east and west, as well as back south." to Erich.
You whisper "The east and west tunnels are both blocked a short way in." to Erich.
You whisper "Does that make sense?" to Erich.
Erich whispers, "Okay. So from where I am now I could try going up, yes?"
You whisper "Yes. If you're feeling lucky. But your lungs are getting a bit sore." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "hrm rrm. Back to the others, then."
GM says, "A very long forty seconds later, Erich emerges, gasping for air."
Erich says, "..."
Erich says, "..."
Jemmy asks, "what happened? what happened?"
Erich holds up one hand, still puffing.
Erich says, "I took the northern tunnel."
Kestrel asks (of Jemmy), "No tile there, I take it?"
Erich says, "it reached a point where I could go up, east or west."
Erich says, "I tried east and west, but both of those branches were blocked off by bars"
Erich says, "I would like to try going up, but was running very short on air"
Kestrel nods.
Kestrel says, "Sounds good."
Lydia says (to tile), "Maybe there's air above the upward branch."
[oneshot] Erich laughs.
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Yes!"
[oneshot] GM asks, "She's getting senile already?"
Erich says (to Lydia), "I am hoping so, and will try again."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "that rules"
Erich blinks to clear his eyes and takes several more breaths.
Erich says (to Kestrel), "remember, two tugs."
Kestrel says, "Got it."
Erich gulps in air and heads back down and to the north.
Erich whispers, "Okay, straight north and then up."
You whisper "OK, it's just a few feet of swimming to get where you were." to Erich.
You whisper "You pull up, and brak the surface. Air!" to Erich.
Erich whispers, "quick look around, ready to duck down in case of flying spheres"
You whisper "You find yourself in an air pocket behind the 'wall' you just swam under. You feel the current under the water, flowing from the south and out to the east and west." to Erich.
You whisper "You see blackness. There's a very slight glimmer of light to the south, probably from the others' lanterns, but not enough to see anything by." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "I'll feel the ceiling, to see if there are any vents bringing air in."
You whisper "It's about nine feet about the 'floor', and feel solid." to Erich.
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Apropos-of-sitting-here, I'm reading the Ussuran destiny spread, and it's all 1-5 point stuff, generally advantageous, or at least interesting."
Erich whispers, "I'll tap it, then, to see what it feels like."
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy asks, "how ussuran-specific is it?"
You whisper "Stone, at least inches thick, perhaps miles." to Erich.
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Some more than others."
Erich whispers, "Heh. Back down, then, with a brief stop to tug on the bars to the east."
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Many are generic-ish."
Kestrel draws a card from the sorte deck: the Nine of Cups.
You whisper "OK. (You know that you haven't seen any of this 'room' yet, right?)" to Erich.
Erich whispers, "Oh, wait, no."
Erich whispers, "when you said 'air pocket' I got in my head a small depression against the roof."
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "'As a youth, you posessed a beautiful voice, and were sent away for training. / Performer skill w/additional point in singing knack for free'"
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "m'yeah"
Kestrel draws a card from the sorte deck: the Two of Cups.
Erich whispers, "Okay. I'll paddle the circumference of the area."
You whisper "Oh, sorry. Thought I mentioned it -- the water's about as deep as it was in the moat, but the ceiling's a good nine feet from the floor." to Erich.
You whisper "OK, starting in which direction?" to Erich.
Erich whispers, "Whoops, you did mention it. My visualization is clearly on the fritz."
Erich whispers, "starting east"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "'People have always found you fascinating.  Making friends and lovers has always been easy for you, but so has making enemies.   Just recently, your love has abandoned you for an enemy. / Dangerous Beauty, 1-point Lost Love, 1-point Nemesis."
You whisper "OK. You find the east wall, and can feel a strong current flowing past your feet. There's also a gap higher up, near the ceiling (i.e. not submerged), which is also barred." to Erich.
[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "wow"
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "mm"
Discretion is the better part of valor.
Erich whispers, "I pull on the bars, then (assuming they don't give) move north."
Discretion is the better part of valor.
You whisper "OK. The wall slants west toward the corner (like all the walls around here), except the corner is blocked by what feels like the earlier pillars, with grooves." to Erich.
GM says, "Erich has been gone a while now, at least as long as he had been the first time when he came up for air."
Jemmy says, "I hope he's ok"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "The only Ussura-specific things seem to be Fhideli connection (though they aren't exclusively in Ussura, at that), and cheaper sorcery."
Erich whispers, "Ooh! climb climb climb"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "And that could be translated, too, ofc."
You whisper "OK. You only need to climb a foot or two to reach the top, which is just below your 'ceiling'." to Erich.
Kestrel says, "Well, I haven't felt any tugs.  It does seem likely he found an air pocket."
Erich whispers, "I'll feel around gently for, oh, I don't know, pottery."
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "let's see"
You whisper "On the top of this pillar-like area is a small object. It's flat and slightly longish, with a point at one end." to Erich.
Kestrel says (to Jemmy), "You don't hear anything, do you?  He's probably close by."
Erich whispers, "I'll take that and make sure there's nothing else. Then back down and continue my perimeter sweep."
You whisper "That's all you find. Continuing southerly downt he west wall, you find the same gaps above and below as you did on the east, similarly barred." to Erich.
[Crows-Nest] Jemmy says, "vodacce has one where you're a governor, one where fate witches fear you, one where a prince is a patron, one where you're a prince's assistant, one where you're a courtesan, one where sorte magic doesn't work right on you, one where you have a vodacce valet"
Jemmy puts his ear on the raised area and listens.
Erich whispers, "Continuing on. When I reach the middle of the south wall, I'll try to tap on the wall and see if Jemmy can hear me."
You whisper "Shortly thereafter, you find the south wall, which is featureless aside from the gap running the full width along the ground, by which you entered." to Erich.
Erich whispers, "(shave and a haircut, of course)"
You whisper "Tap-tap ta-tap tap, tap tap." to Jemmy.
Kestrel has disconnected.
Kestrel has connected.
Kestrel walks the plank to adventure. Arr!
Kestrel arrives, looking for booty.
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Hmm, booted."
Jemmy asks, "a tapping noise?"
You whisper "For some reason, you suddenly wonder if you need a shave." to Jemmy.
Jemmy whispers, "two bits?"
You whisper "Indeed." to Jemmy.
Erich whispers, "after listening for a moment, to see if Jemmy taps back, I'll head back to the others"
[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Yeah, I remember Vodacce being much more Vodacce-specific."
GM says, "Erich has now been down a very long time, at least twice as long as the first time."
You whisper "OK, you find your way back under the wall without trouble." to Erich.
Lydia says, "Try knocking on the floor."
[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "What did I miss?"
[oneshot] Lydia says, "nothing"
[oneshot] GM | Jemmy puts his ear on the raised area and listens.
Jemmy whispers, "er, wait, was that actually what I was hearing?"
You whisper "Yes." to Jemmy.
You whisper "OK, you're in the moat, and can surface at will..." to Erich.
Jemmy taps back on the floor with the hilt of his sword.
Erich whispers, "Up I come, then."
Erich surfaces, gasping again and with something in one hand.
Kestrel asks, "You got it?"
Jemmy looks up excitedly.
Erich looks at what he found.
GM says (to Erich), "It's a ceramic tile, dark green, and shaped like the others."
Kestrel exclaims, "Yes!"
Erich says, "the 'up' direction took me to a large triangular room"
Erich says, "with a pillar"
Erich says, "atop the pillar, this tile."
Jemmy asks, "and did you tap on the ceiling?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Poor Lydia doesn't get to see what Erich has. (IYKWIM...)"
Kestrel exclaims, "By the wall, that's fantastic!"
Erich says (to Jemmy), "I tapped on the south wall, hoping you'd hear."
Erich hands the shard to Kestrel. "there is still south to explore."
Jemmy says, "aha"
Lydia exclaims, "the tile? That's great! We did it!"
Kestrel grins.  "Go for it!"
Lydia almost turns around in her excitement, but remembers not to in time.
Erich breathes in again and down he goes.
Kestrel tucks the shard away safely.
[oneshot] Erich says, "heh"
Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Oh, he only has his head above water."
Lydia exclaims, "Aie!"
Kestrel says (to Erich), "Be careful.  And if I tug once, tug once so I know you're OK."
Lydia draws her sword.
Lydia says, "It's ..."
Kestrel picks up his bow, whips around.
GM says, "You hear a... zhrwooomph noise... and three figures in violet armour appear on the red tile."
GM says, "[To be continued.]"
Erich scrambles to the handholds and out of the moat, scrabbling for his sword.
Kestrel exclaims, "Three of them!"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "oof"
[oneshot] Erich says, "oy"
[oneshot] Erich says, "and me without my sword"
[oneshot] GM says, "Or pants."
[oneshot] Erich says, "well, my other sword -- well, you know what I mean."
[oneshot] Jemmy asks, "I forget, have we seen the violet ones yet?"
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims (at Erich), "Ack!"
[oneshot] GM says (to Erich), "Well, the water was pretty cold. Perhaps we should say 'dagger'."
[oneshot] Lydia says, "nope, don't believe so."
[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims (at GM), "Double Ack!"
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I think we saw one last session."
[oneshot] Kestrel says, "And my guess is the other party just saw two."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "ok, so at least they're only the TN 20 kind"
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "and not, presumably, TN 25"
[oneshot] GM says, "So... two XP all around, and an extra one for Jemmy."
[oneshot] Jemmy says, "argh, one short of 15"
[oneshot] GM says, "And I'll see all of you Tuesday night and eight."
[oneshot] Erich says (to Jemmy), "no wingeing"
[oneshot] Erich says, "some of us haven't gotten the bounty of XP you have"
[oneshot] Erich says, "despite going pantsless"