IC: Dichotomy's Age of Worms Redux, Part I

[o3caudata]

"What the hells!!" Alexis exclaims when the newly reattached finger folds itself up.

Looking to Boldak and Alendar she continues. "This place is wonderfully odd. We're fairly certain there aren't any other exits, yes? At least not obvious ones."

"This room and the fresco seem linked. I think the fresco is the key. I'm going to take a second look."

[sblock=ooc]Alexis is going to double check positions of lanterns, color order, whether all the lanterns in the picture are lit, etc etc. Essentially checking the room in an attempt to make the other look as much like this one as possible.[/sblock]

 

[Dichotomy]

[sblock=Ti]With her low-light vision, Shavora can see that the ceiling in the blue tunnel is higher than the others: 50 feet rather than 40. But it does, in fact, still end at the ceiling. However, when the raven flies up, at the top of the shaft she sees a passage leading to the northeast. Shavora can't see more than a few feet down the passage, though.[/sblock]
As Alexis checks the fresco in the other room, it seems that the lanterns are in the same order they probably would be in the larger chamber (ROYGBIV) starting from the southwest and going clockwise, if two weren't missing. All the lanterns have light in them. Presuming that you attempt to do so, the indigo lantern can fairly easily be placed on the end of the chain in the east tunnel. You'd need one torch for each lantern to make them all lit. But even so, there is still one missing.

 

[worthley]

Viktor takes his pack off, and reaches in. He pulls out 5 torches and asks "Do you think these will be of some help"

 

[michael_noah]

A bit frustrated with the lack of new information, Boldak returns to the middle of the room and calls the others over, "It seems there are a number of interesting things about this place: these lanterns, the circles in the floor underneath them, and this arrow shaped thing. The dead body gets me, too. I'd say we need to investigate all of them to get any more treasure out of this place."

At this he looks around at the others as a way to solicit their ideas about how to proceed. He also voices his own oppinion, "That fellow fell from somewhere. I could probably try climbing up the chain to see what's to be found. The sarcophagus points to one alcove, but they all seem the same. I'd think that there would be something special about the alcove it pointed to, but I see no difference. Perhaps we should light that lantern first. If there is still no difference, perhaps we can rotate the arrow to point at other alcoves. Why don't you try that while I look up there," the dwarf suggests. He proceeds to do just that, though with great caution.

 

[TiCaudata]

As Boldak approaches the Blue alcove, Breth and Shavora turn to him. "The ceiling in here is about 10 feet higher than the other ceilings. Shavora tells me that there is a passage extending northeast at the top, but she couldn't see very far down it.

Breth walks to the middle of the room and looks at the sarcophagus.

"Lighting the torches before we can find all of the lanterns would probably be a waste. Has anyone checked to see if there is something under our stone "man" there? No? Well let's have a look then."

He then tries to lift the lid of the sarcophagus.

 

[michael_noah]

"Even better," says Boldak with a wink at Breth. He proceeds to dig out his rope and questions the others, "Does anyone have any more climbing equipment?"

In response to Breth's comments, he opines, "It would indeed be a waste to light all but one, but I'd definitely suggest moving the everburning torch to the western alcove before disturbing the locals."
[sblock=ooc]He'll try climbing the chain, using the best tools he can get. He'll anchor a knotted rope at the top if it looks like the others might need to come up as well. I'd hope he can take 10. If it seems very difficult at first, he'll take off his armor. After finding out a bit of what's at the top, he'll check with the others about their progress with the lanterns, etc.[/sblock]

 

[TiCaudata]

"Hmmm, you might have a point in case the arrow is some clue."

Breth moves the torch to the yellow lantern, and then goes to the sarcophagus again.

 

[worthley]

"I don't have any equipment" replies Viktor to Boldak. He then moves over to Breth, "Lets leave disturbing the dead to out absolute last option. That includes clearing out the caved in area"

 

[TiCaudata]

"I'm not planning on disturbing him, I just want to see if he's got a lamp in there with him."

Breth opens the sarcophagus.

 

[Dichotomy]

[sblock=OOC]Ti, you said yellow, but I think you meant orange, since that is the way the arrow is pointed. Let me know if I'm mistaken.[/sblock]
After much discussion, Breth moves the everburning torch from the green lantern to the orange lantern. Aside from the fact that glass and shiny metal in the domed ceiling now reflect orange light, there appears to be no other change.

Boldak makes his way to the blue tunnel, and Alendar follows him. "In case you need a boost," the elf says jokingly. The dwarf climbs up the thick chain. Forty feet up, he finds another tunnel extending to the northeast.
[sblock=mn]A thin passage extends into shawos to the northeast. Perhaps seventy feet away, the passage ends in what looks like an enormous stone human face, its mouth open in an angry scream.[/sblock]

Meanwhile, Breth returns to the sarcophagus, and over Viktor's objections, opens it. As he slides the lid, a burst of flame erupts and burns him, but only slightly.

Unfortunately, after that is done, there appears to be nothing at all inside the sarcophagus, not even a body.
[SBLOCK=OOC]Boldak's climb check: take 10+6=16, success
Breth reflex save: 14+2=16, success; 1 damage[/sblock]