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Post by Spwack on Aug 21, 2020 8:49:02 GMT
It looks something like a heart and something like a clock, it's about the size of twice big fists together, and looks like it has some kind of complicated gearing built within the rims. Considering that they are just piled haphazardly in that barrel, it makes you wonder what is supposed to go inside these spheres.
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Post by dankashi on Aug 21, 2020 13:59:05 GMT
Ronald is incredibly surprised to hear a male voice.
He blasts Joffi with a chain of questions. - Who is there? Where are you leading me? Am I under arrest?
Not waiting for a response he starts to shout. - Margaret! Margaret?! In the name of God what's happening?!
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bluewolf
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Post by bluewolf on Aug 21, 2020 18:03:07 GMT
"Calm down. I'm just leading you towards some friends." Joffi says to Ronald. "Look, we got here just as unexpectedly as you. Bear with us for a while, alright?"
"Found anything interesting? If not should we try another lever? One next to it perhaps?" Joffi asks Henry. "One of them is bound to do something interesting."
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garmr
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Post by garmr on Aug 21, 2020 23:47:44 GMT
Henry XIV shows Joffi and Ronald the mysterious lumpy sphere.
"Damned if I have any idea what it is."
Is there a cavity in the middle of the sphere that you can put something in? If so, I'll put my dried ear inside to see if anything happens.
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Post by Spwack on Aug 22, 2020 3:05:22 GMT
Yes there is, it's mostly hollow, it looks like it's mostly in two pieces but doesn't open all the way out without some serious tinkering.
The ear goes in and... does nothing? It appears to be a complex bit of machinery, but you don't get the tingle you'd normally feel near anything magical.
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bluewolf
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Post by bluewolf on Aug 22, 2020 7:30:21 GMT
I want to examine the shape and size of the hollow part and memorize it in case we come across something that'd look it it fits.
"Same here. Never seen anything like it. Must have some purpose though."
I'll go over to the rest of the balls and compare two together to see if they're same.
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Post by Spwack on Aug 23, 2020 2:03:48 GMT
All of them are exactly the same, they look mass-produced. Henry, it does somehow remind you a little of the boxy machine that you destroyed with your blasphemy grenade a while back.
What are the rest of you doing? Where do you want to go?
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garmr
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Post by garmr on Aug 24, 2020 0:18:27 GMT
"The design is somewhat similar to machines we have encountered to the north of here. I believe they are scientists of a sort - they build traps and make notes on how we respond to them. That is my conjecture, anyway."
Henry XIV puts the mechanical orb in his backpack. He will then start pulling each lever in turn to see what it does, stopping if something particularly dramatic or dangerous happens.
(I'm not terribly interested in this room, so I'd be happy to move on southward when we're ready.)
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Post by Spwack on Aug 24, 2020 1:54:05 GMT
From left to right? You've already pulled the lever on the far right (number 6), so 1-5:
1. From somewhere down the line, a machine starts up, with a methodical whirring sound 2. The canister nearby makes some more odd sounds, stopping and starting again as you move the lever. This lever has a spot where you can move it sideways 3. There's a tremendous BANG as two angled pieces of metal the size of a table crash together at an exact point near the whirring empty canister. If anyone had had their arm near it and while you'd pulled it, they would've had it cut clean off.
I'll presume you stop there unless you want to try 4 and 5.
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bluewolf
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Post by bluewolf on Aug 24, 2020 18:53:01 GMT
"Woah. Easy there with the levers. We better make sure no one stands anywhere near the machines before we pull more."
Let's make sure everyone is in a safe distance away from other machine parts then continue pulling the levers? We only have what, two more?
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Post by Spwack on Aug 25, 2020 1:25:15 GMT
Yes, the last two:
4. Unknown. Perhaps some machine down the far end is doing something? 5. The two claw-like machines closest to this end of the conveyer belt lower down, reach out as if to grab something, then start rapidly spinning in opposite directions with a high-pitched whine. The other machines that were caked in frost start to spray a thick cold gas over the whole assemblage until you can't really see what is happening.
And 6 has already been tested (the first lever that was pulled)
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garmr
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Post by garmr on Aug 27, 2020 1:35:47 GMT
Is the conveyor belt moving? Could we conceivably put an object on the belt and then zap it with each machine in turn?
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Post by Spwack on Aug 27, 2020 1:41:57 GMT
((Oh yeah I forgot about the conveyer controls))
There is a pretty obvious lever on the side of the conveyer belt that turns it off, to slow, and to fast. And yes, that seems to be the purpose of the conveyer belt in general.
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bluewolf
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Post by bluewolf on Aug 28, 2020 15:35:48 GMT
So do most levers we pulled somehow affect the items placed on the conveyor belt (assuming they would be in the right spot at the right time)? If so I say we place some random item on a conveyor belt, set it to slow movement and then time the levers in such a way it'll affect the item moved on the conveyor belt. Perhaps we could try with one of the metal spheres. If not then I say, we move on? Starting with heading south?
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Post by Spwack on Aug 29, 2020 4:07:48 GMT
It looks like that's the purpose, and the metal spheres look like they are supposed to go on the conveyor belt. However, the empty and open drum next to the barrel of spheres seems problematic.
Looking down the south tunnel, you can see what looks like a very narrow bridge over some kind of ledge, but not much else.
What would you like to do?
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garmr
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Post by garmr on Aug 31, 2020 5:55:28 GMT
Let's go south. Maybe we can fiddle with the conveyor belt later.
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Post by Spwack on Aug 31, 2020 8:17:22 GMT
Heading south, the lot of you quickly see what the bridge is crossing: An immense ravine, with rushing water far below. The bridge looks like an absolute nightmare, a thin and twisting spit of rock that looks nearly impossible to have been built, let alone stay standing. You'll be able to cross so long as you use both hands, take small steps, and don't look down... and of course, if nothing happens to be waiting for you on the other side.
So, who wants to go first?
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bluewolf
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Post by bluewolf on Sept 2, 2020 7:47:56 GMT
"Anyone've got a rope or something?"
Is there any path or anything leading to the right or left along the ravine or is the bridge only way forward?
Can we not see over to the other side of the bridge. If so, I'll go back to the assembly line room, take one of the metal balls and toss lightly over the bridge and listen for any reaction noises from the other side.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 2, 2020 8:47:15 GMT
You can see the other side of the bridge, it isn't very wide, just jagged and unsettling. It is the only way to continue south however. You could try climb down the side of the ravine though, if you wanted.
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bluewolf
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Post by bluewolf on Sept 2, 2020 17:01:00 GMT
I start carefully crossing the bridge. Once safely on the other side I'll scout that side for exits and such.
Btw, how steep are the ravine walls. Are they completely vertical or very close to vertical?
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Post by Spwack on Sept 3, 2020 7:53:01 GMT
They are pretty close to vertical, but you can see a few ridges and runnels that would make it possible to climb. Just dangerous, even with water down below to catch you.
It's a nerve-wracking crossing, but you eventually make it to the other side. The other side opens out into a large lumpy cave with exits in nearly all direction, south, west-ish, south-eastish, and a tiny little tunnel in the north-east corner that is marred with ash and scorchmarks.
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bluewolf
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Post by bluewolf on Sept 4, 2020 6:28:37 GMT
I'm not sure how we're doing waiting for other party members. If I go onward will I split from them or will they be assumed to tag along?
I guess while I'm in a lumpy natural cave, I'll pocket couple pebbles just in case I want to throw them at something later on.
That scorched tunnel certainly doesn't look inviting. Is there any discernible difference between the other tunnels (W, S, SE)? Do any of them slope up or down? Any immediate sounds (don't want to wait around for 10 minutes to listen)? Any smells coming from either of them?
If there is nothing of note I'll head down the SE tunnel giving a wide berth to the NE scorched tunnel.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 4, 2020 9:21:35 GMT
((Re: Waiting, players can either declare that they are with you or not when they return, given that it is reasonable for them to have accompanied you. Currently, it is.))
The West tunnel seems to quickly swap from raw stone to quarried-looking slabs. Heading south-east, you quickly hear a faint rattle of chains. Ahead you can see the source: a chain, rattling (surprise surprise). There are two large holes, one in the ceiling, one in the floor. Two chains pass through each of them, one going down, one up. The chainlinks occasionally have metal rods through them that look quite easy to grab ahold of, whether as handholds or footholds.
Other than that, there doesn't seem to be much of interest in the room.
What do you do?
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bluewolf
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Post by bluewolf on Sept 4, 2020 11:47:48 GMT
Just to make sure, no other exits from this room? Are the walls/floors/ceiling still natural/cavelike?
I'll look up and down the holes. If I don't see anything in particular I'll ride the chain going up (assuming it doesn't look like it would require a feat of strength to hold on).
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garmr
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Post by garmr on Sept 5, 2020 1:18:06 GMT
Henry XIV has followed across the bridge. He agrees with the plan of going up on the chains - one level higher is one level closer to escaping this infernal place.
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garmr
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Post by garmr on Sept 5, 2020 1:39:50 GMT
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Post by Spwack on Sept 5, 2020 3:20:44 GMT
It looks like a slightly uncomfortable ride up, but completely safe. There are no exits apart from the ones going up and down.
The journey to the floor up is noisy and a little claustrophobic, but uneventful. It opens out into a small square room, with the chains continuing up/down through very narrow holes in the ceiling. You can hear something rattling on the other side, presumably the device powering this lift. The room gets crowded quite quickly as more of you arrive, there are exits to the north-west and north-east. The NW tunnel drops down a step onto crumbly limestone as soon as you leave the room.
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bluewolf
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Post by bluewolf on Sept 5, 2020 12:29:19 GMT
I'm assuming the holes in the ceiling are too small to comfortably fit through, this being effectively the top floor of the "elevator"?
Any immediate sounds or smells in either direction? How are the walls of this room (cut roughly into stone? made of stone bricks?)?
Looking into the NW tunnel, does the floor have any visible gaps either in the middle or to the sides where it meets the walls? What does the ceiling of the tunnel looks like? I'll try throwing a pebble 10 or so feet down the NW tunnel to see if anything happens.
If there is anything that would make me uneasy about the NW tunnel, I'll instead head down the NE tunnel. If the NW tunnel looks safe, I'll head inside and pick up the pebble I've thrown.
Oh and the map looks really dope.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 6, 2020 5:44:26 GMT
That is correct, it looks like this is the top. No sounds or smells, the walls are made of chiselled slabs similar to down below. The NW tunnel doesn't have any of the obvious hiding spots for traps, or any of the less obvious hiding spots either. Your pebble is completely fine as well.
The NW tunnel twists and turns a bit further down, your brief glance down the NE hallway looks like it's been blocked, perhaps a cave-in?
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bluewolf
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Post by bluewolf on Sept 6, 2020 9:57:12 GMT
"Looks like we've got only one way to go."
I'll poke at the caved in part with my feet just to make sure it's solid.
Then I'll head down the NW tunnel.
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