(052) Reckoning the Abbey

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Josiane swiftly ascertains that most of the various vessels are labelled with a brief description of what they might contain, "Vitriol", "Soap Ash", "White Salt", "Ammonia", "Liquor Hepatis", "Black Pulvis", and so on. The mind boggles at what some of these substances might be for... some include a date collected, although none seem very new. Most of the specimen jars likewise identify the occupant by some kind of classification genera.

A brief glimpse at the documents reveal they are treatise upon symptoms and ailments, and proported remedies for such, and descriptions of tortuous medical procedures from leeching eyeballs to amputating limbs and performing lobotomies. Much of this wisdom must have been gathered by centuries of medical research.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

Armando volunteers to examine the trapdoor. He sets the lantern down on the floor and gets to work ...

Meaning..?

[waysoftheearth]

flightcommander wrote:
"A notable scheme has occurred to me," announces Armando. "While no trick or trap is evident on this side of the trap door, the obverse remains a mystery! A poisoned needle, falling granite block or magical conflagration might be triggered, should we but lift the plate an inch.

"We need only affix this rope to the plate with a suitably fast adhesive €”perhaps a blob of pitch from the courtyard €” then we stand aside, pull the rope, thus upending the plate safely.

"Alternately, I might simply pry it up with this crowbar, and we accept our fate."

OOC €” I assume there is no handle on the trapdoor.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

OOC €” I assume there is no handle on the trapdoor.

Quite so. It is less a "trapdoor", and more an unhinged, flat slab which (presumably) covers something worth covering.

[mgtremaine]

mgtremaine wrote:
Wen would puzzle his way thru the shelf, then sigh. He would pick 2 likely sized small bottles, vinegar smelling seems best, and proceed to dump the contents on the floor. The empty bottles with be stored in his pack. When Wen finally comes across the oil flask he would smile. "Ah ha! Something we might actually use". Wen would shoulder the flask and go see what the others are doing.

[waysoftheearth]

ehiker133 wrote:
Desmond looks over from his conversation with Ulrich and says, "Sod it all! Pry the bloody thing up and let's get out of these horrible rooms!"

Turning back to Ulrich, but also moving closer to the doorway (just in case), he says, "Found 'em on a shelf in the other room. I 'ssume the 'X' is an indication of potency. I, er... gave the "XX" and "XXX" bottles to Rufus. Figured they might be useful for burning out a lock or sommit. But if you think they can be used for sommit else, then we can get them back."

Desmond keeps the bottle marked 'XXXXX', because you never know when you might need to quickly disable a rope bridge or the bars of a gate or... whatever. He offers the 'X' and 'XXXX' bottles to Ulrich, if he wants them.

[waysoftheearth]

coffee wrote:
Dieter shrugs out of his pack and gets out his trusty crowbar, setting his sword and shield within close reach.

"Stand ready," he says, before levering the slab up.

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:
Dorgan will move out of the way and let Dieter do his thing. He stands ready to assist if any more muscle is needed, but otherwise he'll have axe and shield up.

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
"Ah...some action at last" grins Gustave, appearing next to Dieter with blade at the ready, "When you are ready Ogre-slayer"

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Dieter jams his crowbar under the slab, and with impressive strength levers it up a few inches (the minute suction causing a brief eddy of dust dance in the yellow light) before heaving it aside. It drops with reverberating thud, and by its massive weight Dieter reckons it inch thick solid steel.

Beneath is a steep, narrow stair leading down into cool darkness...