CHAPTER 12d: Across Motter's Realm

[doppelganger]

Urlando
Urlando inspects the vertical shaft he is in for anything that might serve as a handhold, or for that matter, a pawhold. This must be how they got to the upper levels, he mutters aloud, but how? Even a rat cannot climb smooth stone.

If he gleans no more information on the purpose of the shaft, or how it might be climbed, he will return to the side corridor and join Podo in inspecting the marking the intelligent mushroom has found in the wall.

[GrapeApe]

Podo

Looking behind for Denslow who was just right next to him, he sees Urlando's tail swishing back and forth from the side opening. "Urlando have you found anything? I think I might have found access into the interior structure itself or something that might be leaking from behind it, I think I might be able to open it. Tell the others just in case something is behind here."

"I wonder if there happens to be rats behind the panel, if Urlando can speak to them and find out what went on here..." Podo wonders to himself as he tries to manipulate the panel.

If I am going to knock on it to see if it is hollow sounding, push and press on it, look for a switch or toggle, run my hand around the circular pattern in case it is like the box in Hellraiser, and if all that fails I will attempt to pry/punch/smash it open with force.

[shaidar]

Silvestri

Pondering what's happened to the water, and if it's got anything to do with those noises, the psion breaks himself out of his reveries and rushes to join Max.

"Sorry, I got distracted thinking about what happned to all that water. We should stick to at least pairs, for safety. Should we continue to move round checking these side rooms?"

[shaidar]

Saiph

Seeing the group stating to disperse in it's searching, Saiph heads off after Denslow

"Is it OK if I search with you? I don't think we should split up too much in case the flies get antsy. One of them might try and carry me off."

He looks at the empty alcoves

"So did the knights take this stuff, or did Motter's creatures take it with them when they left?"

[greyarea]

Denslow says, Sorry Saiph, I figured more would follow around the place.

I'm not sure if these were ransacked by the Knights or what. I'm not sure I trust that Motter's people would take them as they fled, if indeed they did. If they were, as some have surmised, power cells for the tower, then they might not do much good unless they can plug them into other towers. My loam does not feed you: we all have different power needs.

Let's head back to the interior unless you think we can find something new here.

[greyarea]

Max smiles at Silvestri. I don't figure we can find out what happened to the water from them side rooms, although I'm willing to search there if you are.

See these creatures had a chain on them. Were they slaves of Motter or was that a weapon of the knights? Or is it something else...

Max examines the chain closely to see if there is any circuitry on them.

I figure the side rooms might be a dead end. But if we can climb this central tower maybe... I'm not sure what the next best move is, actually. And this isn't something I'd bother my patron about.

[Norjax]

Gam’A Zone, Motter’s Realm 261D/81 (Afternoon)

Urlando inspects the vertical shaft for handholds or other geometric means used to ascend. He doesn’t see anything to indicate any were ever there, concluding that a ladder or “magical” method is required. He leaves the shaft and joins Podo in the end room.

Podo feels and picks for a seam to indicate a panel of any sort. Unable to detect any, the fungal giant begins to bash the stone surface. The material crumbles to reveal tiny hexagonal patterns, as if the wall is a beehive filled with artificial stone. The hexagonal portion stops at the circumference of the three-foot-diameter blemish and outside this perimeter, the stone is denser and more difficult to remove.

Silvestri ponders what has happened to the water and if the noises rumbling in the depths of the structure are connected. He places his hand on the glass port and feels a slight vibration through the window. He moves to join Max and suggests searching the unexplored corridors.

Max examines the broken chain that is too small for a restraint but sized to support a medallion or something the size of a human hand. He dismisses the side rooms and considers climbing the central column sporting the translucent canisters.

Denslow leaves the entry room and meets Saiph on the way to the central column chamber.

Saiph joins Denslow and they ponder the meaning of the missing tubes used to possess humanoids bodies. Where are they and who took them?



OOC: Next update is Monday.

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Recovery - 360D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [10/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [11/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [8/15]
Max – 28/28 [4/15] Glowburned AGL 2, STA 3
Anton – 43/43 [8/11]
Saiph – 25/25 [5/11]
Podo – 63/63 [12/14]
Urlando – 75/75 [11/17] Glowburned AGL 2, STA 2

[Zhym]

Kurot, a little concerned about the extent to which everyone seems to be splitting off into small groups, suggests to Anton that they stick with the others. Since Saiph and Denslow sound like they're inclined to rejoin Silvestri and Max, Kurot does likewise.

[GrapeApe]

Podo

"Look Urlando, the whole interior structure is like a bee hive, what do you think it means? Do you think it's just to make the tower structure stronger or could there be some kind of robot queen egg in one of these cells?"

Podo shudders slightly at the thought and a little puff of fungal spores float off his body.

[shaidar]

Saiph agrees that everyone should reconvene and try to find a way up the tower.

[shaidar]

Silvestri suggests to Denslow they head back to the others.

"I don't fancy trying to climb that spire, it's a shame none of us can fly. I could probably lift someone up using my magnetic powers, but the have a limited range."

[greyarea]

I agree, Silvestri, replies Denslow. We need to make sure they can get down as well. I’d hate to see someone treed. Let us see what rope we have so as to make it a bit more secure as they ascend.

[greyarea]

Max says, so who’s gonna climb it? I can and I’ve got rope, but I’m not the best climber.

[Anton_E_Gregor]

"There must be maintenance access somewhere else. Let's look for access panels all around."

[doppelganger]

Urlando
The two-headed rat man observes Podo's discovery with curiosity.
I agree, these shapes are like bees or wasps nests, Podo... but why would they be covered in stone. Strange...
His other head scans around the room for anything else like the three-foot diameter panel uncovered by Podo.

After a few minutes, if he finds nothing else, he will join the others around the central tower. He wonders if there is a way he find purchase to climb up in rat form, and where the central tower leads. He looks up to see if there are any openings or variations in the central tower farther above the main floor.

[GrapeApe]

Podo

Podo leans in and takes one more intense look at the hexagonal pattern, trying to see if they are filled with anything or if he could possibly see through them or discern their purpose. He will try to remove a section of cells for a moment but if unsuccessful will return to the center tower to inform the others of what he has discovered.

[Norjax]

Gam’A Zone, Motter’s Realm 261D/81 (Afternoon)

Saiph, Silvestri, Denslow and Max discuss a means to ascend the black metallic central column.

Urlando joins them and ponders if his rat form would facilitate a climb. The shallow geometric patterns in the vertical grooves, where the translucent cylinders are set, are deep enough for a small rat to negotiate.

The first ring of cylinders is 30ft above the floor. More rows are above this, spaced 10ft, disappearing into the dark.

OOC: Climbing this wall is a Difficulty of 10, checked every 10ft. Those unskilled in climbing use a base die of 1d10. Skilled used 1d20 base. This is an Agility based check.

Urlando in rat form may use an unskilled base die of 1d16, skilled 1d26.

A rope won’t help anyone to climb until someone secures one for others to use.

Podo digs into the wall, crumbling the arrow-shaft-sized hexagonal cores. The entire three-foot section is comprised of packed hexagon-shaped construction terminating at the circumference, where it meets a solid stone wall. Podo has excavated around six inches of “panel” and the hexagon logs run deeper into the wall.

Kurot joins the others at the base of the axial tower.

Anton scans the area for any access panels or covers.



OOC: Next update by Thursday night.

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Recovery - 360D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [10/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [11/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [8/15]
Max – 28/28 [4/15] Glowburned AGL 2, STA 3
Anton – 43/43 [8/11]
Saiph – 25/25 [5/11]
Podo – 63/63 [12/14]
Urlando – 75/75 [11/17] Glowburned AGL 2, STA 2

[Norjax]

Any decisions on actions?

[shaidar]

Silvestri ponders for a few moments.

"How much rope do we have? It might be a long shot, but if one of those flies could carry me then could use my powers to try and dominate its mind and fly me up to the top."

[Anton_E_Gregor]

"We still haven't gone all the way around this central area. Maybe we missed something? Lets move clockwise around give it a good search?"