CHAPTER 12a: The Fortress of the Plain

[greyarea]

Denslow slaps Max on the head again with a tendril. Stop being a fool and bring that crowbar over here.

[greyarea]

Max tubs the back of his head, he hasn’t been the same since the neural feedback event.

But… wasn’t there a gate or something? How’d they get in? He wonders aloud as he hands his crowbar to the tree.

[greyarea]

Denslow yanks the crowbar from his companion and sets it into the spot in the floor, mumbling under his breath about “stupid meat” as he does so.

[shaidar]

Saiph

Observation: [1d20+1]=8+1=9

[Norjax]

With assistance, Denslow uses the crowbar to pry the circular section up and out of a recessed pocket. The 6-inch thick stone disc is slid aside to reveal a 5-foot deep pit full of weapons, armor and equipment. (The new character’s gear)

[shaidar]

Saiph

Seeing his belongings the mutant rushes over "Excellent, excellent. That's much better" he exclaims quickly grabbing his gear.

"There's a vibration in the east wall, maybe there is some hidden machinery we can expose and find a way past"

[greyarea]

Max arubs the wall, putting his ear to it. Trusting to ascertain if he can get a feel for it.

My abilities are limited until I rest up, but if I can do anything to help I’ll try.

[Norjax]

Saiph spots some of his gear in the pit. He leaps into the depression and starts rummaging through the pile, looking for his equipment.

Max interacts with the surface of the east wall, attempting to divine some clues or knowledge. He feels the slight vibration and puts an ear against the cold stone surface. Suddenly, the neuronaut receives intermittent visions of the masked humanoids approaching and focusing their thoughts on a spot in this featureless wall. He pulls away, experiencing a moment of dizziness before reaching out and preventing collapse.

[GrapeApe]

Podo

Glancing back over his shoulder, Podo realizes the disk in the floor was able to be moved. He is caught between providing a lookout to prevent his new companions from being surprised from behind and the curiosity of what could lay inside the circular opening in the floor.

Podo retreats another step closer to the inside of the room just as he sees the one called Saiph jump into the pit. "What is it? What's in there?" he calls out.

[maceo_the_escher]

Needle

Being near Silvestri provides Needle with a good idea of the activity near the floor but can't make out what the discovery was. He calls out What did you find? at the same time as Podo and gives his new companion a quick smile.

[shaidar]

Silvestri smiles "By Saiph's reaction I think this might be your gear"

[maceo_the_escher]

Needle

Needle makes a loud clicking noise with his tongue and with relief says, "By the will of the Knights, it is!" Once he recognizes his belongings he will quickly set them aside while he finished helping the other retrieve their equipment too. Needle then asks the general group a question, "Once we have our gear, what's the plan?"

[GrapeApe]

Podo

Podo temporarily leaves the edge of the structure to enter the room and glance inside the hole. Seeing his belongings inside as well, he climbs down to retrieve his belongings, strapping on his backpack and hefting his spear.

Barring anything else happening during the time he recovers his possessions, he will then return to the edge of the destroyed wall to resume his lookout.

[shaidar]

Needle

Needle makes a loud clicking noise with his tongue and with relief says, "By the will of the Knights, it is!" Once he recognizes his belongings he will quickly set them aside while he finished helping the other retrieve their equipment too. Needle then asks the general group a question, "Once we have our gear, what's the plan?"

Silvestri

"Once you are all ready we should try and find a way further into the building and see what we can learn. I had hoped this mark on the floor was some kind of doorway."

[shaidar]

Saiph finishes gathering up and putting his gear away, lastly slipping a pair of daggers up his volumous sleeves.

"I might be able to help with that... getting through the wall, I mean."

[GrapeApe]

Podo

"Is there anything else in the hole? Do you have anyone who is good at detecting hidden passageways? I know for a fact I came from deep underground, perhaps there is a tunnel or cave leading to my cluster."

[Norjax]

Needle and Podo recover their belongings and empty the pit.

After the gear is removed from the pit, you discover two toothed, intermeshed cylinders at the bottom. A closer inspection discovers fabric and metal debris stuck in some of the gaps of the mechanism.

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"Well, that certainly doesn't look pleasant. So, do we try and get through the wall, or try and get past the machinary in the pit?"

[Anton_E_Gregor]

"I should have some things in there, any tools with these markings?"

Anton points at a faded red white and blue diagram on his suit.

"Do not dislodge the stuck items, the mechanism may resume function"

[Norjax]

"I should have some things in there, any tools with these markings?"

Anton points at a faded red white and blue diagram on his suit.

"Do not dislodge the stuck items, the mechanism may resume function"

OOC: All characters have had their equipment removed. The residual fragments are from previous deposits into the pit.