(038) The Concourse Catacomb

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The magical flames shoot up into the four corners of the steel box, illuminating it all rather brightly. It is neither deeper nor wider than 10ft.

There are no obvious writing on the interior walls, but there is what appears to be a bulky metal lever sticking out of the wall adjacent to the inside of the door. It stands out of a metal slot in the wall with three distinct notches in it; top middle and bottom.

The level is presently in the center position.

Rufus also notes a square grill in the ceiling which might be a portal of sorts... although he would be hard pressed to reach it himself!

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
Rufus looks into the room with the gate open, from the safety of the outside, to see what else is in side the roof with the wall switch.
"Maybe its a lift that moves the roof up and down", says Rufus to himself.

Brave or dump, Rufus will plant a foot on the floor of the room to see it moves up and down a bit, to test if the room is hanging by something. If anything alarms him he is pull it back out. [img]images/smiley/huh.png[/img]

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
By the weight of one Hobbit's foot, the steel floor seems completely solid.

No alarm is triggered -- only silence hangs in the air.

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
"I'm no fool to walk into a trap. This metal box looks dangerous!", says the halfling up to the taller Dugel, Wendel, and Mads.

"Now if my memory serves me correct we were told to go straight", starts Rufus.

"The entrance to the catacombs is directly ahead, there," the Concourse Man continues, indicating the great dark arched doorway directly ahead. "My Men here, Meinhard and Gregor will await you at the top of this stair, and ensure that nobody else comes this way. Remember, all you need do for your hundred gold pieces is verify that the Old Vault remains sealed -- you must report to me the four numerals that are visible on the face of the lock. You should find the vault one level down, and some hundred yards or so ahead."

"Me thinks we should go back and check out the middle passage before dropping down in this metal coffin", says Rufus screwing up his face. [img]images/smiley/undecided.png[/img]

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v stair down (we are here)
# Explore here

"While you think it over I will use a torch and explore this room we killed the centipede in", and Rufus walks off to poke around.

Rufus will explore the room carefully, checking the walls and any object inside for hidden doors and anywhere treasure may be hidden. Rufus looks for where the centipede may have come from, so to locate its lair. He will not walk in theslick stream of @#?& again, but take the centipede bridge.

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Enlightened

"You were the one who wanted to come down here to begin with," Mads shrugs. He'll direct his magical light to lead ahead of Rufus, and follow behind himself.

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
Rufus says, "Yes Mads I lead us down here guessing this may be the right way, but I would feel better making sure the other 2 passage ways above are not the door we are looking for, before attempting to go deeper into this Catacomb." Then he adds,"Let us hope there are only eternally sleeping dead down here."

"How far of the 100 yards do you think we have travelled friends", asks Rufus.

After the answer Rufus says, "For now lets complete investigating this room first, unless there are any other ideas".

OOC: How far does Rufus think they have travelled?

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The way back to the vault containing the sluice channel, and the slain centipede that nearly saw the end of Mads, is illuminated quite adequately by the levitating candle flames that zip hither and tither at the warlock's bidding.

Rufus hops down the three gritty steps, and across the temporary causeway of the centipede corpse. Mads, Dugel and Wendel. All note the foul smelling slick with distaste as they enter, but Rufus sets about examining the room in more detail.

A quick scan reminds the foursome that there is another, as yet untested, passage leading away from the space. It is also apparent that the steady press of the dark sludge is forcing itself around the centipede, and very gradually pushing the corpse downstream...

Rufus has no real idea how far they have come, what with doubling back and all. Maybe 30 or 40 yards? He was never that good with numbers anyway...

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:

...
A quick scan reminds the foursome that there is another, as yet untested, passage leading away from the space. It is also apparent that the steady press of the dark sludge is forcing itself around the centipede, and very gradually pushing the corpse downstream...

OOC: In which direction is the new passage way to the one we entered from above.

Rufus will approachthe new passage way carefully with Mads light to investigate the new opening, really with weapons in hand just in case.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

The lay of the land is thus:


.........||/.............
.|.........=.............
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~.\~.~.~X~.~.~.~.~.~.~/~.
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You originally entered via the stairs.
You most recently entered via the blue route.
You have not yet explored the red route.

The centipede, marked X, has been slain since the quoted post, and the body moved.

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
Rufus will asks the party to be quiet and ready for anything, as he sneaks up to the unexplored passage way to look down, with some light from Mads. He will look for traps around the entrance if nothing is inside to alarm him.