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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PhoenixAsh" data-source="post: 2391750" data-attributes="member: 18230">Update #26: Whitehearth and a White WolfFortunato is the first to exit the pinnance, and though his plating is scored and rent in areas, he appears in fairly good shape.  Over both shoulders he holds the limp forms of Cynde and Kashandi.  “They need the healer’s attention, quickly,”Is all that he offers as he marches straight towards the healing bay.  Maddy Treagar is next, a fresh cut contrasting the mark of handling across her temple and cheek.  She supports a limping Kyrjet d’Lyrandar and both nod grimly to D’meryl as they follow Fortunato.  Redbeard is behind them, holding a large sack over one shoulder and a wicked looking double scimitar.  His arms and legs are laced with scores of gashes, claw and teeth marks.  The deckhand pauses and drops the sack, fishing around in it and retrieving a small blue rod with a Cannith seal inscribed in mithral at one end, which he tosses to Alexandre.  “Elaydren said it would be important in Whitehearth, called it a keystone.”  With a shrug, he hefts the sack again and walks off to join the rest.  Krynson, the pilot, is the last to step free of the craft, coughing as he shuffles forward to stand at attention before Captain D’meryl.  A bandage is wrapped around his head and over one eye.“At ease.” D’meryl steps forward to help the pilot sit against his craft, “What happened Krynson?”“Rough landing, sir.  Bruised my ribs, maybe broken, I don’t know.  Pinnance was damaged and I couldn’t get back right away.  Ran into a lot of trouble, a lot of strange things down there.  And healing magic and potions are no good, either.”  Krynson coughs violently before continuing, “We think we found the entrance to Whitehearth sir, but we dared not go any further after that damned crab attack.  We got it though sir, it should be safe, at least until you go inside.  Wydeth.”  The other pinnance pilot moves over.  “Here’s a map, should get you there.  Go down real slow, visibility is awful.”  He winces and is racked by coughing again, doubling over.  As he brings his hands away from his mouth, they are covered in blood.“Alright Krynson, you’re coming with me to the healing bay, on the double.”  D’meryl helps him to his feet and Errol comes over to help support the pilot as well.  “Wydeth, take them down.  The sooner we are done with our mission, the sooner we can leave this blasted place.”As the captain, pilot and cabin boy leave, Wydeth looks to the Irregulars and smiles nervously, “I guess a few scratches on the hull weren’t so much to worry about after all, huh?  Come on, let’s get this over with.”***The descent through the dead gray mists is nerve-racking but uneventful and following Krynson’s directions, Wydeth puts them down right next to the opening of a nondescript mineshaft.  As soon as the Irregulars disembark Wydeth lifts off, waving briefly as he flies back upward.  In seconds, the air-elemental powered pinnance is lost to their sight in the mists.Ruel retrieves their ever-burning lantern and shines it down the mineshaft, revealing a long, dusty tunnel.  Dox moves forward and inspects the mouth of the passage for any nasty surprises.  A moment later he leads the way down the mine, the rest of the Irregulars following closely.  Mining equipment, much of it still in good order, lines the passage and worn and crude stone tiles line the floor of the cave.  Loki pauses to retrieve a pick, inspecting it a moment before putting it in his pack.  “Sure doesn’t look much like a secret Cannith facility.”Dox nods, “I’ll bet that was the idea.”The mine tunnel branches in three directions and they follow the middle of the three to find a heavy metallic slab lying on the ground at the end of it.Dox inspects it carefully and looks up, “No traps and it’s sealed tight, but take a look at this.”  He points out a small, blue enameled circular opening in the center of the hatch.Alexandre retrieves the blue keystone and peers closely between it and the opening, “Looks to me like it would fit.”Ruel nods, shining the lantern about them.  “Let us make certain there is nothing else of interest down the other passages first, before we try going down any further.”They search out the other two passages only to find the same metallic slab with a blue keyhole at the end of each.  Dox frowns as he inspects the cover on the left-hand branch.  “This one is definitely trapped, magically.  I’d rather not try it.”Audric shakes his head, “But the other two are not?  Are you certain?”Dox nods, “Pretty sure, yeah.”Ruel incants briefly and his eyes glow violet.  He studies the cover for a long moment; moves to the central cover and then to the left-hand cover before returning to the rest of the Irregulars gathered around the right.  “All of them have several potent and overlapping magical auras.  I am not certain what to make of it.”The Irregulars file back into the branch in the corridors, inspecting each closely for any other clues on how to proceed.  Elisa bends to run her hand over the flagstone in the central passage.  “Ruel, bring your light a little closer would ya?”The wizard obliges and kneels to inspect the stone, “I’m no dwarf, but it does look more worn than the other two, doesn’t it?”Elisa nods, “My thought too.  I’ll bet this is the right way down.”Alexandre smirks as he leans against the corridor wall behind them, “Good a guess as any, let’s give it a try.”Elisa rises and moves forward to stand over the cover, holding the blue keystone.  The rest of the party stands back, Ruel closest to give her just enough light to work with.  It is hardly an inspiring show of support.  Licking her lips, she gingerly slides the keystone into the slot and quickly steps back.  Nothing happens.  Swallowing she taps the keystone carefully with her fingers.  Nothing.  At last she steels herself and twists the rod and as she steps back the slab swings open, revealing a short tunnel and a ladder down into a spherical chamber below.  Oddly, the ladder is not attached to the top of the sphere nor the bottom, but is suspended in air.  Two lanterns are also suspended in the air, illuminating the interior, and she can see that at the bottom of the sphere is a small central metal sphere with several openings similar to the blue slot on the tunnel cover, except those below are a mix of blue, brown and green.  At a gesture from her the rest of the Irregulars gather around the opening and peer down inside.“What do you suppose would happen if we used this in those slots down there?” Dox ventures.Alexandre grins, “Only one way to find out!”Audric looks to the metal hatch and shakes his head, “Let’s brace this open with some of that mining equipment.  I don’t want this closing on us while we’re down there.”After bracing the metal hatch open, the Irregulars climb down the ladder and cram into the chamber.  It is cramped, and finding purchase on the curved floor is difficult.  Dox looks over the various openings in the central sphere.  “I can’t find any kind of traps on any of these, I think it’s safe.”Loki is braced uncomfortably against the wall and lifts his eyebrows, “We’re going to be in a bad way if it’s trapped.  Are you sure?”Ruel smiles, “Only one way to find out.”  He inserts the blue keystone into one of the blue slots along the circumference of the sphere and twists.  Slowly the chamber begins to turn and spin downward and the Irregulars are forced to pedal their legs to keep their places.  The opening at the top slides down until the end of the blue keystone is pointing towards it, revealing a metal hatch.  The sphere comes to a rest with a gentle click.  Everyone releases a pent breath while Dox inspects it.  “It’s not trapped and it’s not locked.”The party readies their weapons as Dox swings the hatch open.  Inside is a long corridor, its stones charred and scorched in several places.  Behind a burnt out door and frame, a blackened room glows as if with a merry flame.Dox looks to the rest of the Irregulars, “Er, how about we try a different one?”The Irregulars first test the central blue opening to make certain their way out was not sealed off, and finding it as they left it, try a second blue aperture on the circumference of the interior metallic sphere.  The room turns and they find themselves with a similar hatch.  Dox inspects it again before pressing it open; revealing a small room with a body slumped over a chair and books and papers neatly organized.Audric steps inside and checks the body, “He’s… fresh.  As if he just died, though he is very much dead.”  He looks back at the Irregulars, but no one offers an explanation.  Ruel and Dox step inside and look over the papers.  Searching the bookcase, Ruel finds a small rolled up piece of parchment.  He carefully unrolls and inspects it, “This is a scroll of Resist Energy.  I think I can make use of it, should the need arise.”Dox flips through a ledger and the sorted papers.  “This must have been a clerk.  These look like expense reports, inventory, nothing interesting.”Loki shifts his weight as he rebalances in the sphere, “Let’s see if we can find a room with a little more head room.”  The Irregulars return to the sphere and select a third blue hole for their keystone and the room turns again.  Once more bracing for trouble, the hatch is opened.  Inside they see a small clear pool and several racks of very clean, neatly pressed clothing.  The party steps inside and stretches out in the larger, cozier room, while Dox inspects the clothing, mostly uniforms and coats with the Cannith symbol on them.  He is thumbing through their pockets when Elisa jumps to her feet, drawing her greatsword.“Something brushed against my back!”  She jabs the air behind her with her weapon.“Now that you mention it, I thought I felt something tugging on my sleeve,” Loki furrows his brow, glancing to Ruel.  “Some sort of magic?”Ruel considers, “Quite possible.  Perhaps this room has an Unseen Servant that cleans anything placed inside.”Elisa grits her teeth, “It gives me the creeps!  Come on Dox, stop picking pockets and let’s get out of here!”They return to the central sphere without incident and with somewhat cleaner clothing.  The keystone is placed in the last blue opening and the chamber turns.  When the hatch is opened, a narrow hallway is revealed.  Dox takes the lead and the party files down to the end of the passage, which branches off in two directions.  Suddenly a large, shaggy white-furred animal leaps into the junction, barring the way forward and growling low in its throat.  It is twice Dox’s size and wickedly serrated bones jut from its shoulders.Dox swallows hard and lifts up his hands, “Nice doggie!”The massive dire wolf stops growling, canting its head curiously at him, then it nods and rumbles out a single word, “Yes!”</blockquote>

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