Quest #47 "The Eyes Have It"

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag waits for the results of further testing to come in before attempting the padlock.

"Lockpickin' is 'ard enough with wivvout weird black fings wrappin' themselves around yer 'ead and meltin' yer face off."

[jemmus]

Theo holds his glowing sword blade to illuminate the padlock. I can't see you, Maag. If I happen to nick you a little, just yell.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Ethereal Marketplace
Zuhma’s Sewer Quest
The Tunnel

Suggestions are made while Andron casts a spell that should tell him if his idea of sticking his real hands into the black flesh is a good one or not.

BJ watches this with great interest, having no idea what to think of the black circle on the wall. "If this is indeed a place where Stalks hides treasure, my guess is that thing is some kind of defensive mechanism. But that's only a guess."

Maag waits for the magical results before trying the lock, careful to keep both his invisible ears intact.

After a couple of minutes pass, Andronichishche eventually receives his premonition, and it isn't a good one. He deems the action of sicking his own hands into the rubbery substance to be fraught with woe.

Actions?

Alordan AC3 22/22 (Sword)
BJ
Torbath (M3) AC8 18/18 RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 1/1 (top of backpack) Comet AC:7 4/4
Aliendron AC10 17/17 (CL4) 1st: 5/5 2nd: 3/4 (MU3) RM, CL, DM, 1st: 1/2 2nd: 0/1
Feanol (MU3) AC:10 14/14 RM, CL, DM 4/4 1st 2/2 2nd
Theo AC:5 13/13 (Sword)
Maag AC4 20/20

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche


"Your guess agrees with my first impression."

"The augury certainly seems to confirm whatever this is, it is not something we want to mess with. So, that suggests if we attempt to open the door, that thing will be released from stasis."

"We do know it reacts to fire, but would that hold it at bay?"

Oh, and he should be 2/4 for 2nd level CL as he cast Find Traps earlier.

[Quonundrum]

In which direction does the door open? If it's outward, into the tunnel, is it towards the black anomaly?

[jemmus]

Theo says, Stand back, everyone. I'm going to try something that may be foolish. He takes a torch from his pack and tentatively starts to put its but into the black circle, looking back and kind of hoping that someone will yell "Stop!"

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche


He appears unconcerned and makes no attempt to stop the young ranger. "Without the application of heat, you should find it quite solid. I suspect this could be the heat from a torch, or a pressed body, such that if the door were spring loaded to snap open against the unwary, trapping them against the anomaly."

"Does anyone have iron spikes we can use to prevent this possibility? BJ, Mr. Maag, would you be able to detect any traps rigged upon the door? "

[gurusql]

Torbath

"I have 4 spikes, but I also have my Sealant Wand - which would you prefer?"

[Jernau35]

Maag

If he were able to see Maag's face, Andron would notice a frown upon it directed at him, and then a bigger one directed at the door.

After a few seconds various tapping sounds emanate from the surface of the door. Then it seems like some kind of implement is inserted in the gaps at the bottom and top of it. The lock swings ever so slightly as someone blows heavily upon it. Those with good hearing can also pick up:

"Maag risk yer neck wiv dis door. Maag get yerself killed wiv dat door..."

Then, several footsteps and from at least ten feet away Maag confidently says "Yeah, dat is fine. No problem. Whenever yer like".

[OGRE MAGE]

Doors appear to open inwards, so no threat of being pinned against the black anomaly.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche


He examines the door hinges. "Appears to open inward. I don't think spikes will be necessary, and thank you for checking, Mr. Maag ..." He looks away from the group where the invisible thug is at a safe distance. "I forgot you had that glue, Mr. Torbath. Perhaps we have a simple solution, then. Cover the anomaly with glue?"

[gurusql]

Torbath

Torbath will cover the black space with his sealant wand. "It will take a minute or two to dry."

(charge marked off)

[OGRE MAGE]

Okay, sorry. I wasn't sure what you were trying to do with the glue.

So, a space as large as 2.5 feet around will take a good deal of glue to cover.

In fact, it will use up ALL the glue in this case, to spread enough of it to cover the entire anomaly.

It will work......but is that something you are still willing to do?

[Quonundrum]

Can we take the smaller wooden door off its hinges and glue it against the anomaly?

[gurusql]

Torbath

"Sure"

Marked off

[OGRE MAGE]

Can we take the smaller wooden door off its hinges and glue it against the anomaly?

This action will involve some pounding and other loud noise, but you think it might work.

So, I will leave it up to you if you want to simply glue over the hole, or make a bit of noise to stick the door over it as well.

[Quonundrum]

The former is quieter and looks like Guru was okay with using the glue, so that works for me, too.

[gurusql]

I would prefer just the glue.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Ethereal Marketplace
Zuhma’s Sewer Quest
The Tunnel

It takes a few moments for the clear gluey substance to fully harden, but the remaining material inside the strange wand is just enough to cover the entire opening. The black flesh-like material continues to wiggle and move slightly, until the glue becomes hard, ceasing its shimmying completely.

The lock is easily handled by the thieves, with no interference from traps, allowing the wooden door to slowly creak open.

Beyond is a long dark hallway that ends in a set of stairs that drops down to lower level. At the base of these stairs, torchlight can be seen glowing in the distance.

The hallway is dim, but much wider than the tunnel you navigated to reach this area. After about 30 feet, a pair of doors can be seen, one on each side of the 15 foot wide hallway. The area beyond those doors opens up into a wider room, but it is difficult to make out any details beyond that point from where the group is currently.

No significant smells or sounds can be heard at the moment.

Actions?

IMG_4275.jpeg (51.78 KiB) Viewed 521 times

Alordan AC3 22/22 (Sword)
BJ
Torbath (M3) AC8 18/18 RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 1/1 (top of backpack) Comet AC:7 4/4
Aliendron AC10 17/17 (CL4) 1st: 5/5 2nd: 3/4 (MU3) RM, CL, DM, 1st: 1/2 2nd: 0/1
Feanol (MU3) AC:10 14/14 RM, CL, DM 4/4 1st 2/2 2nd
Theo AC:5 13/13 (Sword)
Maag AC4 20/20

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche


Whispering, "If that's torchlight, then someone must have lit it fairly recently. Perhaps now would be a good time for Mr. Maag and BJ to scout ahead invisibly?"