(04) The Cathedral

[mushgnome]

Maybe we should try this: "It depicts half a dozen, almost life-sized figures supplicating themselves respectfully--three to each of the wings"

Genius idea! Stern would assist you for sure.

[sully]

"What happened to Sully?"
"I had to let him go."

[waysoftheearth]

The party fidgets with gold coins in palms, and arraying themselves to either side of the statue, and even attempting (some with more difficulty then others) to supplicate themselves as depicted in the rederos. Nothing seems to have any effect.

Goldwen gazes up at the remains of the stained glass windows... it is impossible to guess what story may have been told from the little that remains there. However... in her mind's eye she can half envisage how scenes from her recent vision could be portrayed in the windows, to depict the heydays of the Gods, long before this cathedral fell into ruin. She is left with uncanny sense that the Gods do point the way....

Fun times looking for the secret mechanism Perhaps a bit more difficult in the PBP format. I'll drop a few hints...

[ehiker133]

Goldwen studies the statue of the Immaculate Mother Goddess to see if her eyes or her hands might point towards the entrance to the underground ruins.

[waysoftheearth]

Bringing the peaceful memory of the Vision to mind, Goldwen recalls almost easily that the Mother doesn't concern herself with such incidental things... but among the other Saints and Almighties there were some who busied themselves with such labours...

[mushgnome]

Stern delicately wiggles the arms to test whether they might act as levers? If the arms of the central figure are in a different position than the arms of the big statue, Stern attempts to adjust them so they match.

The central figure is likewise dinged and punished; her arms appear cracked, almost like they might fall off...

[ehiker133]

... completing his purveyance, Flin points out a pair of subtle depressions in the stone floor before the pedestal. He concludes they are tracks, and that--unlikely as it seems---the entire weighty mass of the statue and pedestal is somehow moveable.

I somehow missed this post earlier! Sorry...

I WONDERED why everyone suddenly assumed the entrance was under the statue! lol.

[ehiker133]

Before it can be moved, Goldwen quickly studies the central figure of the rederos to see where their arms are pointing or if there is any sign that they can move or be moved.

[mushgnome]

Stern points out the oddity to Goldwen, then steps back and defers to her expertise.

[waysoftheearth]

Stern and Goldwen zero in on the central figure of the rederos. Goldwen knows intuitively that Stern is onto something and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she grasps the two upraised arms and gently presses them downward.
They comply.
And, when the arms are as near to downward as they may go, a solemn CLICK is felt beneath the feet as much as it is heard.

The great statue and the entire pedestal slowly, and silently, then rolls forward a dozen paces to reveal a steep hidden stair descending into darkness...

(Flin's eye twitches involuntarily at the thought of what intricacies could possibly be involved in such a mechanism).