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Start of #indie_nar buffer: Mon Jun 06 22:47:22 2005
<04Zolobachai> "Where are you taking us, urchin? It feels as if we are making no progress at all!" <04Zolobachai> "Zolobachai of the Nine Visions, and his patron the Baroness of Ashvale, will brook no delay!"
<04Zolobachai> To D'ombreaux - "These beasts infest the ruins of our civilization, and vex all who live nearby. Are they common in Ammeni?"
<04Kapoor_3> "You asked me to lead you to Ruki, and I will take you to him. I just do not wish to use the front door."
<04Zolo_3> "Very wise. A wizard of his caliber may have taken precautions. My estimation of you has increased. You are shrewd creature indeed."
<04Kapoor_3> "I would not call him a Wizard, although he does have a fine collection of books on jommetry and such. Never let me near them!"
<04Vaxalon> As you're coming up on a deep vertical shaft, you see a beam of light coming up the shaft... it seems bright, in the gloom, and it is of an unnatural blue color. <04Vaxalon> (hold off on that last line a moment) <04Kapoor_3> (acknowledged)
<04Vax_DM_3> When you get to the shaft, however, it is gone.
<04D`ombreux_3> "What is down there?" <04Zolo_3> "A mystery confounds us, but nothing may hide from the All-Seeing Eye of the Sun-King." <04Kapoor_3> "Ratkin braver than I may have ventured into those depths. But if they had, none ever bothered to explain what they saw. I hear rumors, but this is the first time anything from those depths has roused before my eyes!" <04D`ombreux_3> "How deep I wonder?"
<04Kapoor_3> "If you drop a stone, you might find out."
<04D`ombreux_3> "Karko, if you would be so kind." <04Vax_DM_3> Karko looks quizzically at D'
<04Zolo_3> "Hold a moment."
<04Vax_DM_3> Karko shrugs, and picks out a tiny pebble. He peers over the edge, and drops it. Darkness envelops it. Then... a chorus of faint little clicks.
<04Zolo_3> Zolobachai chants in his spooky voice: "The Watcher in the Deep, Thunder Bound and Lightning Chained, That Which Waits."
<04Zolo_3> Shaking his head to clear it of the visions, Arnold is grateful that he did not swallow his tongue during the trance. <04Kapoor_3> "Very dramatic, Mister Nine Visions. I suppose that now you're down to eight then?" <04D`ombreux_3> "Kapoor, do you perhaps know of a way to get down there, besides this shaft that is."
<04Zolo_3> "Thunder and Lighting may be a signal of spiritual transformation through dire challenge and crisis." <04Kapoor_3> "There are many routes through these tunnels. Often where one shaft drops straight, another switches to and fro, or around in a great arc of gentler grade <04D`ombreux_3> "Well, I can't think of any better way to describe the magical secrets you search for, Master Wizard." <04Zolo_3> "The mockery of the philistines of this sewer only enhances the dignity of the Three-Corner Academy, ratling." <04Kapoor_3> It is possible that I could bring us to within a certain distance of that spot, but what could you possibly hope to find there?" <04D`ombreux_3> "Everything."
<04Zolo_3> "The vision indicates that a great power is chained here, awaiting release. If unleashed by a fool, great harm could come to pass... but if subborned to one of the Wise---" Zolobachai trails off into silent speculation.
<04Zolo_3> "Voshpar's Igneous Flow could conjure an inclined plane of molten magma, hardening to stone as we pass... but over such a long distance I fear it would not bear our weight. I advise seeking Ruki, and interrogating him as to this subterranean power."
<04Kapoor_3> "very well. Onward we go."
<04Kapoor_3> "If it's three corners you seek, then Ruki will at least intrigue you. Three Corners and Three Sides is about all he talks about these days. <04Kapoor_3> Him and his precious Jommetry!" <04Zolo_3> Zolobachai claps his hands. "Then waste no more time in speech, take us to him at once! But first-- you no longer trust Ruki. It may follow he no longer trusts you. <04Zolo_3> "By your leave, I shall enchant you with the Spell of Duplicitous Design, to render you glib of tongue and convincing of speech.
<04Kapoor_3> "I would just as soon stay out here. I have no further truck with Ruki." <04Kapoor_3> "Per the bond, I will not desert, but I would stay hidden from his wrath." <04Zolo_3> Quietly, to Dombreox - "It was a bad contract you signed. I begin to doubt your literacy."
<04D`ombreux_3> "You may wish to keep your doubts to yourself, good wizard. Such things have a habit of coming back to haunt one."
<04Zolo_3> "You were to be our guide. True guidance is not only material, but social as well, for you have no doubt spent all of your sheltered life in these fetid environs. But lead as you may; I and the Baroness's Borderer shall follow." <04D`ombreux_3> "Let the ratlings await here and we shall discuss our business with Ruki ourselves. Or if you'd rather, I will visit this eccentric Ruki on my own." <04Zolo_3> "Your over-fond gazes to the young Karko have not escaped my attention, northerner. Nor has your culture's reputation for depraved conjugal relations. But as a representative of the Three-Corner School such calumny is beneath my dignity." <04Zolo_3> "I shall accompany you. Ehrein, make certain these two do not get up to any mischief." <04Vax_DM_3> Karl nods, but not without a sneer. <04D`ombreux_3> "Let us not fool ourselves, enchanter. Your dignity is a long-dead and altogether anemic presence. You have the stench of a complete mountebank about you. Now, will you be so kind as to have your hulking shadow open the portal?"
<04Zolo_3> "I laugh at your aspersions and sneer at your trepidation. I shall open the door." (He does so.) <04Vax_DM_3> The rooms beyond are completely trashed. Delicate instruments and tools are broken and scattered. Books have been shredded, and their pages thrown to the winds. Bloodstains can be seen in several places. Corpses of several albino ratkin, torn limb from limb, are scattered around the room. <04Vax_DM_3> As you take in the destruction, you see that one of the bloodstains has a trail of streaks, as if something bloody had been dragged along, leading towards a set of stairs leading up. <04Zolo_3> "He is a much cleaner librarian than the Headmaster of Gallin." <04D`ombreux_3> "My my, someone has been up to mischief here."
<04Vax_DM_3> There are several footprints in the blood, footprints that only the huge ratkin of Speartooth's brood could have made. <04Zolo_3> "I trust your forensic abilities will serve us well here, D'ombreaux."
<04D`ombreux_3> "They were torn apart. Or did that detail escape your notice?"
<04Zolo_3> "I had heard that those in the medical field possessed special knowledge; how pleasing to learn that is not the case!"
<04Zolo_3> "Kapoor, which of these was your teacher? Strip the body, if you can find it. I shall examine the books." <04D`ombreux_3> "Indeed. And always be wary of your physician. He might perhaps covet something you are not willing to part with." <04Vax_DM_3> Kapoor would have to examine the bodies rather closely to identify them... it's quite hard to manage in this state.
<04Vax_DM_3> There aren't enough body parts to account for all of the members of Ruki's little workshop... Ruki doesn't seem to be there. There isn't a great deal of value around, but Kapoor manages to get some beads and trinkets that the marauders didn't get. <04Vax_DM_3> A Nything? vaguely weaponlike appears to have been taken. Just about everything else seems to have been ruined. <04Kapoor_3> "Mast-- er, Ruki made many weapons... Weapons of great power for my kind. Weapons of the old Empire. They and all their makings are gone!" <04Kapoor_3> "The thieves wanted his engines of war..." <04Zolo_3> "Hmmpf. Material weapons are no match for the supernatural powers of the Sun-King, but even they may cause havoc in the wrong hands."
<04Zolo_3> "Hold your ground, little one. A true scholar does not flinch when there is knowledge to be gained." <04Vax_DM_3> Zolobachai examines scattered book covers. All of them are from before the sky-fire. Authors range from names he has never heard of, to great classic authors. Topics are mainly on geometry, mechanics, and engineering, but there's one labeled "Catalog" which is about half intact.
<04Vax_DM_3> The catalog appears to be a list of the books in the library, with a summary of the contents of each one, and a description of where it is to be shelved. Quite a useful thing! <04Vax_DM_3> Sections L-Z are intact... the rest appears to have been ripped out and scattered, like the rest.
<04Vax_DM_3> No books are listed on that topic. <04Vax_DM_3> It says, instead, "See the main collection." <04Zolo_3> Arnold curses quietly, and hides the catalog in his robes. "Perhaps we should... quite cautiously... follow the trail and return the weapons before those louts misuse them." <04D`ombreux_3> "Do what you wish. What I seek is below us."
<04Zolo_3> "Your monomania is what has ruined our civilization. These ratkin, filthy as they are, do not deserve to be oppressed by every gang of thugs who wander by. Such brutality is all too common above." <04Vax_DM_3> D'ombreux finds some startlingly sturdy cord wound up in the remains of a clockwork device. It seems strong enough to hold his weight, but it's a bit thin to climb on.
<04Zolo_3> "If you truly intend to climb on such a cord, I will enchant it to bear your weight... and Karko's, should you endanger him further." <04D`ombreux_3> "Keep your magic to yourself, wizard. Go, stay, but leave me be."
<04Zolo_3> "Very well. I go in search of Ruki and to restore tranquility to these warrens. I advise against tampering with powers you cannot possibly comprehend."
<04Zolo_3> "Kapoor-- your contract was fatally flawed. I advise you to abandon it and help put right the atrocities that transpired here. Any such villains may return to disrupt your life later, if not stopped now." <04Vax_DM_3> Karl looks up from idly kicking at a grisly skull, and follows Zolobachai.
<04Zolo_3> "Besides--you said you would take me to Ruki. Ruki himself appears to have decamped; I expect you to honor your part of the bargain, if nothing else."
<04Kapoor_3> "I know no secrets, but as your guide I suggest you search that way."
<04D`ombreux_3> "Karko! Lad, come here. <04Vax_DM_3> Karko, shuddering with terror, slinks out of the doorway, his nose twitching and eyes staring. <04D`ombreux_3> "Karko, come here. I think it would be best if you used those funny little legs of yours to take you as quickly and quietly as possible back to your mother's burrow."
<04Vax_DM_3> Karko nods, and then dashes up the stairs with all the speed he can muster.
<04Vax_DM_3> Too late; he's gone... <04D`ombreux_3> whatever
<04Vax_DM_3> You go back to the shaft. <04Vax_DM_3> It's quiet and dark. Somewhere, there's a dripping sound. <04Kapoor_3> "You mean to just lower us in?"
<04Vax_DM_3> You recall passing a ruined grate a ways back that might serve. <04D`ombreux_3> "No, we need a tie off. If you would be so kind as to lend a hand.."
<04Vax_DM_2> You wrestle the grate into position. <04Kapoor_3> "I am handy with rope if you need..."
<04Kapoor_3> "Of course, this will fall under clause VI of our countract: extra-directional duties..."
<04Kapoor_3> "It is ready, but it may not be long enough <04Kapoor_3> " <04D`ombreux_3> "We shall see."
<04Kapoor_3> "Are you all right, sir?"
<04Vax_DM_2> D'ombreux drops a pebble. T Here?'s only a short interval before he hears it bounce, bouncebounce, clickclackclickclack
<04Vax_DM_2> D'ombreux drops for only a moment, before an experience that feels like getting beaten up by thugs over the course of a single second. Only by curling up in a ball does he manage to avoid breaking something... as it is he's bruised and bloodied.
<04D`ombreux_3> "Everything is.. fine. Come on down if you like. <04Kapoor_3> "Sir! Are you all right?"
<04D`ombreux_3> "Oh, splendid."
<04Vax_DM_2> The light grows slowly. You are on the edge of a natural cavern. The jumbled rocks behind you look like they must have been thrown down from above, because they do not match the smooth, pale rock that forms the walls of the cavern. <04D`ombreux_3> "By the way, it seems we would have benefitted from just small amount of additional rope." <04Vax_DM_2> Kapoor can see that there's a ten foot gap at the bottom of the rope. With light to see by, it should be somewhat easier to make the leap. <04Vax_DM_2> T He? cavern has water in it... still, mirror-flat water.
<04Vax_DM_2> D'ombreux can't see another side to the water. There is a ledge around the side, but the roof slopes in from the sides, and he would have to crouch, or even crawl, to keep from getting wet.
<04Vax_DM_2> Kapoor climbs to the bottom of the rope without difficulty. <04Vax_DM_2> While Dombreux examines the water, he notices that there are small white fish in it, about six inches long, swimming about.
<04Vax_DM_1> Kapoor leaps the last of the distance and hops down to the shore of the underground lake with aplomb. <04Vax_DM_1> The water stirs. A vortex appears about ten feet out... but it doesn't dip downwards, like draining water... it simply swirls. <04D`ombreux_2> "Well then..
<04Vax_DM_1> The vortex spins and spins... and starts to rise out of the water, a spinning mound of water. <04Vax_DM_1> It begins to glow, with an eerie blue-white radiance that quickly rises to a blinding glare.
<04Vax_DM_1> A voice echoes from the radiance. "I am the watcher at the gate. A hundred upon a hundred have come this way, and none have passed. Ten upon ten have attempted to evade me, and all lie drowned at my feet."
<04D`ombreux_2> "What is required to pass?!"
<04Vax_DM_1> "I am not a riddler, mortal. I am the watcher at the gate." <04D`ombreux_2> "Will you allow me to pass?" <04Vax_DM_1> "I do not answer questions. I am the watcher at the gate. I make no warnings and I give no clues."
<04Vax_DM_1> The voice is genderless. It has echoes of both male and female. <04D`ombreux_2> "Well, I don't suppose you'll mind too much is we just sit here a bit then."
<04Vax_DM_1> Kapoor manages to squint enough to see that the fish are clustered up in the center of the swirling vortex, and not elsewhere.
<04Vax_DM_1> The Watcher seems willing to wait.
<04Kapoor_3> "I think it's the fish we saw. Like some sort of salamander... they're in the vortex and nowhere else." <04D`ombreux_1> "Hmm."
<04Vax_DM_1> "Do not try to propitiate me with foolish sacrifices, mortal, I am no spirit and I am..." <04Vax_DM_1> "I am..." <04Vax_DM_1> The voice gets a little smaller. <04Vax_DM_1> "I am a little..." <04Vax_DM_1> "I'm a little teapot..." <04Vax_DM_1> "No, no, that's not right..." <04Vax_DM_1> "I'm the ... gate... wa..." <04Vax_DM_1> T He? water starts to splash and churn <04Vax_DM_1> Droplets fly off, thoroughly saturating both of you.
<04Vax_DM_1> The water rises and falls erratically. <04Vax_DM_1> "Ex... ba... ko..." <04Vax_DM_1> The column collapses suddenly. The little white fish slowly drift apart, twitching, gills flapping. <04D`ombreux_1> "Let's be on our way. And try not to get wet."
<04Kapoor_2> "As you say..." <04Vax_DM_1> You move out along the edge... and make a long, slow circle that leads back to where you came. <04D`ombreux_1> "Oh bother..
<04Kapoor_2> "Perhaps we ought to get wet after all..." <04D`ombreux> "It looks that way. Well, no help for it." <04Kapoor_2> "smart tongue for a creature with so little fur..."
<04Vax_DM_1> The bottom seems a long, long way down... after swimming as far as he can go, he finds the bottom, a metal plate, with a handle.
<04Vax_DM_1> D'om, you're running out of air. Are you going to risk drowning to try to open it?
<04Vax_DM_1> D'ombreux manages to wrench the latch open, at which point the door suddenly falls open, and the water in the little pond rushes down through the hole. <04Vax_DM_1> Kapoor is left holding one twitching fish in his claw.
<04Kapoor> "Sir, are you all right down there?" <04Vax_DM_1> D'ombreux is left sopping wet and gasping, next to the heavy triangular hatch. <04D`ombreux> "Oh, just keen..
<04Vax_DM_1> It has a small triangular mark on the top of its head, a little gold scale.
<04Vax_DM_1> It's well-attached, but with a little work you pull it free.
<04Vax_DM_1> Looking down, D'ombreux sees a short shaft, leading down to a grate, through which the pondwater presumably flowed. Off to the side, another shaft can be seen... one in which light can be seen, flickering all the colors of the rainbow.
End of #indie_nar buffer Mon Jun 06 22:47:22 2005 |