Doors, doors, doors and the final clue
Subject Round and round
"The 'mores' that the rhyme is talking about can mean more physical things, which I kinda doubt, but it can also mean a kind of moral attitude. So maybe they're expecting us to prove we've learned somethin' in our time here."
"I tell you what, I'd probably do anything short of getting naked and dancing a jig if it meant getting out of these damned stone mazes. I can barely remember what trees and grass even look like anymore. I for one can't wait to get my feet into some dirt and my face in some sunshine."
OOC: Surin has an intelligence of 16, so I, not being as smart as him, felt justified in taking a trip to webster:
Main Entry: mo·res
Pronunciation: 'mor-"Az also -(")Ez
Function: noun plural
Etymology: Latin, plural of mor-, mos custom
1 : the fixed morally binding customs of a particular group
2 : moral attitudes
From: Derek
Subject Smores
"That's all well and good," Allistair replies, looking at his brother, "but that just means we managed not to kill each other in the process. Although that itself was a challange at times."
OOC: I'm surprised no one has made a smores joke about that line yet.
From: Porter
Subject Smores
I was >< this close to making a smores joke.
From: Kevin
Subject Smores
OOC: OK, there will be no "smore" of those jokes.
IC: Harp looks at the door, and then back at Allistairs map. Had they finally come the the end of this place? This door hinted at that, but then this place was designed to test you, and one of those tests could be hope. Best to be careful. "Surin, take a close look around this door again, just to be careful. I want the rest of the group back behind the corner when you and Mund open this door. I am concerned about the "on your knees" line we saw earlier. Can you and Mund sqaut down when you open the door, just in case?"
From: Mark
Subject Turn
I will be working on the turn tonight. If any one wants to say or do anything, you have until about 7PM to get it done.
From: Karl
Subject Round and round
Salix just says "Maybe we should kneel before opening the door?"
(OOC - I'm just thinking Indianan Jones and the Last Crusade. If we're on our knees, the neck height saw blades that pop out of the walls will miss us. ;)
From: Karl
Subject Round and round
Salix nudges Mund. "This place has been pretty literal so far. Maybe the 'on your knees' part is a test of following instructions and not a command to debase ourselves. At any rate, a forced attitude of worship won't change your heart, Mund, but it might save your life. I'll kneel, but Obad-Hai knows where my allegiance lies."
From: Kevin
Subject Round and round
OOC: I am thinking the same thing. Harp will have no problem kneeling in this case - he is near the completion of the task he was given and the person who designed this place was a friend and confidant of the founder of his Order. He is more worried that he will have failed the test in some way.
From: Porter
Subject Round and round
Mund grumbles in frustrated agreement.
From: Randy
Subject Round and round
Ranthir listens and nods in agreement. He takes up a position just around the corner, leaning his head around to watch and see what he can.
From: Mark
Subject Doors, doors, doors
At Harp's suggestion that they be on their knees when they open the door Surin laughs. "Harp, even on your knees your taller than I am. I think I could stand if you are worried about some sort of trap. But if you want, I'll be on my knees. Just don't step on me with that boat you call a foot." Surin then turns to take another look at the door and the surrounding area. Another 15 minutes pass and he turn back to Harp. "Still nothing. I say lets go." Harp nods and the rest of the party moves back around the corner. Mund and Surin kneel in front of the door. "Mund, you are going to have to do this one." Surin says. "I can't reach the latch from down here." Mund swallows hard and reaches out a hand and works the latch.
The door swings open to their left. In front of them, 20 feet away then can see a wall heading east/west. Along this wall they see doors. Lots of doors. When nothing comes flying out of the wall to cut them in half, the barbarian and the rogue get to their feet and look in the door. There are 7 doors along the southern wall, each identical. They are heavy iron doors with no obvious latch mechanism or lock. The room is empty otherwise. Surin turns back to the others. "Give me a few minutes to check out the room and then we can go in."
Surin enters the room, with Mund just behind him. Stepping gingerly he walks up and down the room, looking for any trip wires or traps. He goes back to the door and reports "All clear." Harp signals the rest of the party to enter the room. They move cautiously but nothing happens. Mund can be heard grumbling about this being a temple to the God of Doors.
A few seconds after Ragnar enters the room several things happen all at once. There is a flash of light from the door way and suddenly there is no door anymore. A solid stone wall has taken it's place. The iron doors flash and numbers appear on each of them, listed in the common format, 1-7. As the party spins about trying to figure out what has happened, Surin's voice can be heard over the din. "Guy's I'm sure that that was not there when I first searched the place." He points to the north wall, opposite doors 4-7. There is writing on the wall.
OODM: I will have more later tonight, hopefully. New map attached.
From: Mark
Subject The final clue
The party stares at the wall. Just as in the first room they had been in, there is writing on the wall. In the same 10 languages, the script glows with an eerie light. Harp reads the words aloud as the rest of the party follows along.
The final challenge
Lies just ahead.
You've faced many monsters
And yet are not dead.
Dragon's cold breath,
Creatures of earth,
Beings to whom,
The planes gave birth.
From ogres first
To trolls at the last.
Through many rooms,
Many doors you have passed.
From seven paths
You must now choose,
Recall what you've seen.
Your memories use.
The one that can take
Water from fire
Succeeds; the others
Face peril most dire.
Win through you must
To claim your prize.
The one who sees
No victor denies.
Harp turns to the rest of the party. "Any one have any ideas?"
OODM: On the map the size of the doors has nothing to do with anything. They are all the same size and type.
From: Mark
Subject Acknoweledgment
I want to thank my wife for her help in cleaning up the final clue verse. My 20 year old high school doggerel was unintelligible and she made it nice.
From: Ashley
Subject The final clue
"With seven doors and seven of us, I'd almost figured we'd all have to each open a door at the same time to trigger whatever it is to lead us onwards. But I don't see anythin' in the clue here that really supports that -- though the "you now must choose" bit doesn't really specify choosing one or choosing all of 'em. Would be kinda lucky if that were the case, us having just enough people open each door. That 'water from fire' bit is beyond me, though. I imagine it's somethin' magical, and if we can't do it...well, we'll just have to figure out how to do it, won't we?"
From: Porter
Subject The final clue
"Water and fire, huh? The water and fire rooms were past door number eight. We should choose door number.. oh. There are only seven doors. Damn."