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Horton, Wikerus, Flintlock, and Basil Day replace the portal to its customary location in front of the reed boat, and climb inside. They find no indication of controls, mundane or mystical, but the boat is easily propelled along its path, into the void.

The void is cold. The boat seems to offer some protection—it is noticeably less bitter than when one stuck an appendage or two through the portal on one's own. But it is still cold enough that Wikerus is glad of the protection of his strange garb, and the party congratulates themselves on staging the transportation of their flesh-and blood comrades.

The voyage is steady, but slow. At least two hours pass as the boat draws nearer the distant star. Everything is silent and still. There is a beauty to the color-streaked emptiness around you, but it is a cold beauty that serves only to make you feel smaller and more vulnerable.
The single star resolves into a pale-grey rectangle, like the portal you left. And then the reed boat's prow is scraping across a sandstone floor.

After your time among the titanic proportions of the Castle Gargantua, this room seems impossibly small and cramped. Sandstone walls slope up to mere 18' tall ceilings. Small marine shells are imbedded in the walls and floor. Mud and mildew are caked in the corners, and there is a pervasive smell of soot and seawater. A very dim light emanates from the walls—no brighter than what is shed by a crescent moon at night. The embedded shells twinkle in the gloom.There is nothing else in the room.

The reed boat slides to a stop, having passed through a portal exactly like the one you entered.

Leaving Wikerus and Horton behind, Flintlock and Basil return for Jake, then Deet and Schroff (who must share the strange garment), and, finally, Splinters and the Princess Dormillon—who finds the garment now now home a fog of uncouth smells.

It takes a long time to shuttle back and forth, but, finally the party is reunited.

The long voyages gave everyone plenty of time to tend to anything anyone wished to do before leaving Drosselmeyer's Tower. Let me know if there's any business you want to wrap up, there.

For convenience sake, we'll pretend no one explored past the new portal's room while waiting for the ferry.

The Crooked Theodolite: The room is 20' x 30' and has one wooden door in the center of one of the 30' walls.

While waiting, Horton and Wikerus twice hear traffic pass by the other side of the closed door. The first time, there are several light feet accompanied by low, sibilant voices. The second time, considerably later, it is a single, heavy, ponderous tread.

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More on Monday!

While waiting for the others to finish the crossing, Horton will listen carefully at the door for any further clues as to what lies on the other side.

The Princess thanks her escorts cordially upon arrival, and alights from the boat and sheds her cosmic suit with dignity.

She looks a little alarmed at the ponderous stomping of feet coming from the other side of the door, but dares not use her magic to peer through, for whatever is on the other side might not yet know of their presence.

Instead, she moves to the very center of the room and hikes up the skirt of her dress so that she can crouch down onto the floor. She touches her wand to the sandstone and peers closely to see whether there is a room beneath them.

Basil Day

Basil Day once again falls asleep while waiting and after hearing the sounds from outside their room. When he wakes this time he looks prepared for a battle. Broad paint strokes of gleaming metal, an impressive sword at his side, and a red plumed helmet atop his head.

"King Arthur of Albion, at your service.", he says in a deep heroic voice while bowing, "Ha played this chap for a time in a romance of betrayal. Lost his lady to his best friend or some such. Thought it might be intimidating." He moves around the walls, no louder than he did without the metallic looking armor, to look at the seashells but throwing glances at the door from time to time.

Splinter is nervous, pacing back and forth as he waits for the ship to return. When it does, he exlaims I can't believe that it worked! We might get to see the wizard after all! And with a last parting glance he mumbles, Half a mission accomplished, after all these years, I think. He gets on the last boat across the void and rejoins the party after many hours.

When he hears about the various voices on the other side, he votes for contacting the people with the sibilant voices. Better sibilant than stomping, he says.

Deet takes advantage of the wait on both ends to sharpen his bayonet and Odric's sword, check his musket's load (demonstrating an OCD streak as he checks it countless times), and take a few fitful naps, cuddled up with Schroff, whose twitching doggy legs and soft barks are just adorable. Once evereyone's arrived in the soggy room he's as well rested as possible, has bayonetted a few pretty shells out of the walls, and is ready to take on the doors.

He leans in behind Horton, and stage whispers, "what do you hear?"

Map update hopefully tomorrow!

The party takes time to rest and replenish themselves during the staggered journey through the void. Everyone with ongoing injuries regains 1 STR.

The Princess Dormillon turns sections of the floor transparent, revealing stone foundations set in dark sand.

Horton strains his ligneous ear for sounds of passage. It has been hours since he has heard any movement outside. Finally, some motion is heard: a small group of footsteps, come from the left of the door.

Various dicey things:

Some house-keeping and reminders:
Jake and Wikerus are still wearing the heavily lacquered "uniforms" from their time in the Bivouac. This will continue to result in a -2 to DEX Saves until the clothes are removed.
The Princess has removed the void-proof garment. Is this being left with the boat, or taken with you?

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Thanks, pulpatoon

After he finally gets to the new location, Jake looks down and realizes what he's wearing. He strips off the jacket and pants, replacing them with the only other clothes he has. He gawks at the fossils while the others arrive and arrange themselves.

When it comes time to deal with the door, he hefts his trusty maul, ready to deal with whatever may be out there.

Before the princess lady arrives on the boat, Wikerus changes out of his hated lacquered uniform and into the only spare set of clothing he has, a pair of handkerchiefs tied into a loincloth and a work apron. He looks like an idiot, but, he reasons, it's better than having your bits hanging out behind. After a moment's consideration, he casts his old, lacquered clothing into the void. "Hope it's not too cold where we're going. Keep an eye out for some trousers, would you?" After listening to the sounds from beyond the door: "You don't suppose all the stomping is one of them giants, do you? I recon it may be. Has anyone ever met one? Are they friendly?"

Deet sits up from a nap, and he and Schroff both regard Wikerus thoughtfully, "there are many species of giants, varying by habitat. They have been observed to be as tall as ten meters, or as small as a tall man, though there is debate as to whether such a creature deserves the label 'giant'. Their intelligence seems to correspond with their size, the larger being the more rational." He's obviously quoting something, and after the lengthy statement gives Wikerus a simpleminded smile, a nod and a "yup yup," underlined by a definitive "wuf!" from Schroff.

We're not in Kansas any more, so I've started a new map. Not much to see yet, and gee that room's tiny...

Horton moves away from the door and whispers to the others what he has heard so far. Personally, I think I might prefer to run into a giant than something our size. I don't expect anything to be friendly or safe in this place and something huge is easier to hide and escape from than something our size. Once there is a good interval of silence, do we want to venture out?

Can Horton discern any patterns in how often sounds are heard? Wondering if this may be sentries or just representative of some schedule. If so, we can better time our debut.

I wasn't worried about leaving the space suit with the boat until Pulpatoon asked. Now I'm worried.

"Giants can be pleasant, when civil exhibiting a mannered comportment," says the Princess.

She makes her way to the door and stands to the side, behind those who are listening.

Horton has not, as yet, determined any pattern in the traffic.

The footsteps come to a stop outside the door. There is some rough mumbling whispers, and then the door begins to creak open. It opens slowly and deliberately, as though with caution.

A head begins to extend through the door, light from behind by torchlight. Thus shadowed, it it impossible to make out any details of who or what is there.

The party, mostly arrayed by the door and alert to danger, has the drop on this interloper.

Actions!
More Friday!

Wikerus freezes like a small, woodland animal. Somehow he wasn't expecting or ready for the door to open. After a pause, if nothing else sudden or violent transpires, he says "Ahem. Hello?... We've arrived."

Before the door opens:

I'm a giant! bursts Flintlock. A short giant. He looks at his companions. Terribly fierce, I am. When needed. He offers to scout the hallways for the group but the door opens before he can do so.

With the silhouette emerging, Flintlock instinctively ducks behind everyone else. Help, he squeaks.

Deet looks shocked, and fumbles his musket up to his shoulder. It's aimed at the emerging head from just a few hand-spans away. He stage whispers,"open the door somebody..."

Schroff takes up a low, slow growl.

The Princess decides to be helpful for once and opens the door from the side. so that she is behind it as it swings open.

Horton looks significantly from the princess to the emerging stranger, figuring she is the liaison most likely to command some authority.

Jake raises his voice and calls out.Move careful, friend. There's a lot of weapons on this side of the door.