(041) The Fireplace Subterrane

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 4:24 am

mushgnome wrote:

waysoftheearth wrote: Highbough bends down over the manacle about the fellow's grubby ankle, and observes (besides the odorous, gnarled toe-nails) that the manacle is of a superior construction indeed, and there are a litany of tiny etching scrawled over the surface of the metal.

What is the mechanism to open the manacle? Is it locked by ordinary mechanical means or some kind of magic? Highbough examines the etchings. Does he recognizes the script? If not:

"Ulric, what do you make of these glyphs?"

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 6:57 pm

danhem wrote:
"Well let me see."

Ulric shoulders himself into the small cell to investigate the writing.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 10:08 pm

tonneau wrote:
"First giant pottery men and suits of armour for giants, and now smelly captive dwarfs...", mutters Gustave to no-one in particular, "This cellar is getting curiouser and curiouser...and we are yet to find a single drop of wine."

He watches Ulric examine the dwarf, scratching his chin in thought.

"I'll warrant that sleeping beauty here holds answers to some of our questions, and we cannot leave him now that our presence here has become...obvious", he adds, glancing at the remnants of the door strewn about the place, "I suggest we take him with us if possible, and withdraw to our increasingly intriguing abode", he says weightily, pausing briefly before adding with a mischievous grin "...at the very least we can then rush young Olaf back to the careful ministrations of his sisters."

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 11:25 pm

waysoftheearth wrote:
Highbough and Ulric examine the etchings on the manacles. They both conclude that the restraint is a sorcerous thing, and that it is probably responsible for the prisoner's unnatural slumbering...

There comes a little squeak, and Ulric looks down to see another rat scampering off and a chipped glass marble lying by his feet...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:56 am

sulldawga wrote:
"Bound by sorcery?" questions Dorgan. "Then leave him to rot. Though I'd still like ta see his head separate from his body."

Once again, the dwarf leaves the room to the others and resumes his watch on their rear.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:46 am

doctorx wrote:
Josiane is more than a little uncomfortable at Dorgan's bloodthirsty words, but for her friend to react thus suggests these 'Guore' must be fell indeed. And the captive seems to be in no immediate danger, (unless it be from her companions).

"Let us leave him here for now," she says; "at least until we have found a way to waken him, or at least more information to allow us to come to an informed judgement on this matter."

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:26 pm

mushgnome wrote:
Highbough doesn't like dwarfs much anyway, so if Dorgan's motion is to put it out of its misery, Highbough will second the proposal.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 11:26 am

doctorx wrote:
Josiane notes the murderous gleam in the ancient elf's eyes and stands ready to interpose herself gently but firmly between the slumbering captive and any of her more 'overzealous' colleagues should it prove necessary.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 10:12 pm

danhem wrote:
"No need to kill him just yet," Ulric says as he picks up and inspects the marble. "We should at least learn his name first. Someone give him a slap and see if that wakes him up."

"I'm not certain how to unlock his bonds," Ulric admits. "Is there a key hole or is it entirely held by magic? We may need to do some research to learn more about this sorcery."

Ulric inspects the manacle more carefully looking for said keyhole. He then takes out some parchment and tries to copy the etchings carved into the metal.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 10:17 pm

tonneau wrote:

doctorx wrote: "Let us leave him here for now," she says; "at least until we have found a way to waken him, or at least more information to allow us to come to an informed judgement on this matter."

"My dear Josiane", says Gustave with a concerned sidelong glance at Highbough, "I would be more than happy to return home unburdened by a smelly Gu-wore, but I fear that if we do leave him here, he will not be thus upon our return. Moreover, the who or what that placed him there will have made certain such an opportunity will not arise again."

"This, my friends", he continues, indicating the dwarf with a flick of his blade and turning to the group at large, "is a chance for us to strike a blow at whatever malign force is lurking in our wine cellar, for clearly he is being used for some underhand purpose. By removing him we have a chance to learn something of our latest foe, while also causing him at least some inconvenience."

He pauses, apparently for dramatic effect, a subtle frown upon his brow, "But...it is time for morning tea, so let us decide quickly, and thence return to the manse to discuss our next move".

While he lets his words sink in (or, alternatively, go our the other ear), Gustave inspects the restraints to see if it might be possible to extract them from whatever they are fixed to with the aid of Dieter's crowbar.