Turn, in the tunnel, fireballs
Subject Turn
Ok I got the new computer at work today. I have a couple of large projects to do and I am learning the layout of the new system. It might be this afternoon when I get a turn out. If not then, tonight.
From: Kevin
Subject Turn
BTW, since I am still playing Salix, Salix will agree to let Harp look a little farther down the tunnel before they start checking the doors.
From: Derek
Subject Turn
Got to learn all this new-fangled Windows XP stuff? You know that new operating systems are unstable, right? You probably want to wait 6 months or so for all the bugs to be worked out before you upgrade to XP. ;)
From: Mark
Subject In the tunnel
No. They are wooden doors with iron bands, maybe 6-7 feet across, no windows or small hatches.
From: Derek
Subject In the tunnel
While we're waiting for Harp, Allistair will quietly ask Salix if it's OK to have his familiar check out one of the doors. Assuming Salix agrees, Allistair will have Sysyphys slither up to one of the doors and take a sniff there. If there's no dangerous smells, then he will have Sysyphys slither in and see what's behind one of the doors.
OOC: You want a quiet scout? We have a quiet scout...
From: Kevin
Subject In the tunnel
Agreed, and you wrote exactly what I was hoping you would write.
From: Mark
Subject In th tunnel
At the site of the door Salix holds up his hand for the party to stop. Harp turns "Let me go a bit ahead to make sure no one is coming our way. Mund, can you dim the light a bit?" Mund throws the hood over the torch and the tunnel is plunged into almost total darkness. The half elves can see a bit from the tiny bit of light seeping from under the hood. Only Ragnar and Harp are not affected by the lack of light. The dwarf takes up position a few feet back, watching out behind them. Harp starts to move slowly down the tunnel. As Harp goes off to look around Ally turns to Salix "How about I have Sysyphys go investigate the door? See what he can find out?" Salix nods but when he does not hear anything happen he realizes that Ally is almost blind in the dim light. "Go ahead."
The mage whispers to the snake and the little creature slithers down his arm and onto the floor. It spends several seconds tasting the surrounding area before moving on to the door. Once at the door its tongue spends a while taking in the scents and odors around the opening. It then slithers underneath the jam and disappears. While the party is waiting Harp returns. Whispering "I went down over 100 feet and did not see anything other than more doors, following the same pattern, 15 feet apart, alternating side, 30 feet between doors on the same side." About that time the snake's head appears under the door and Sysyphys shows back up. The snake climbs up Ally's arm and the two spend a few minutes hissing at each other.
OODM: I will let Derek know what the snake found.
From: Derek
Subject In the tunnel
Allistair motions the others closer so that they can speak quietly. "Sysyphys tasted old death mixed with strange spices. Also stale, damp air. The room is about 15 feet deep and wide, and there are holes in the walls. The taste is similar to what he tasted in the alcoves where those blood hulks were near Sephrenia's cell. However the smell here is much older."
Allistair pauses for a second and adds his own comment. "If all these rooms are the same, we really don't want those doors to come open."
OOC: If Ally used a fireball down here in the tunnel, would there be a significant chance of causing a cave-in? Probably not in the stone part, but what about the mine-like portion?
From: Derek
Subject In the tunnel
OOC: Ignore what Ally just said. I misinterpreted what Mark told me. Retcon:
IC: "Sysyphys says the room smells like old death, mixed with spices. The room is about 15 feet square, with alcoves in it. My guess is it contains catacombs with embalmed bodies."
From: Mark
Subject In the tunnel
There would not be an immediate chance but there would be other side effects, such as loss of oxygen, volume for the flames, etc.
From: Porter
Subject In the tunnel
"That don't help us none. Let's get a move on."
From: Derek
Subject Fireballs
What about if Ally detonated a fireball in the tunnel? Is collapsing a possibility? If the wooden supports were seriously burned by the fireball, I think a collapse would certainly happen, but that doesn't mean the rules reflect that...
From Derek
Subject Tunnel
OOC: Is it an evil act to desecrate a tomb in an evil temple? Or is it a good act? (shrug)
From: Kevin
Subject Tunnel
"I agree" Harp says. "Lets leave lying bodies lie. If these things are some type of undead, lets not tempt fate by rousing them. Much as I would love to send them to their rightful rest, there are many doors and the could overwhelm us."
OOC: Mark, how far away is the torch noticable? At what distance down the tunnel can it be seen? I know that we can only use it for a short distance, but someone else can see it from approximately how far away? Would we know that??
Harp wants to suggest that they continue forward with Munds torch slightly covered so as to give light immediately around them but not shine too far ahead. That way Harp could continue to scout ahead in the darkness and the others could have enough light to see to walk.
From: Derek
Subject Tunnel
Allistair has a suggestion. "Since I am capable of some degree of telepathic communication with Sysyphys, I could have him go in front of us. Due to his small size and silence he will be virtually undetected, and he could warn us of people or creatures before they can detect us."
From: POrter
Subject Tunnel
"That could take all day, and the tribes could be dead by the time we made it to the temple. It's time for us to get a move on."
From: Kevin
Subject Tunnel
Salix looks at Mund "It won't take us any longer than it has taken us so far. I think that is a great idea. He would be able to tell when we get to somewhere that has light and stop well short of there, giving us time to prepare. Remember, our main mission is to rescue the Stormfather. If we can do that, we will probably mess up Faldor's plans for the tribes. But, gettting caught down here in this tunnel won't help anybody."
OOC: how fast can the little viper move if he is taking a double move action each turn?
Approx. how long have we been down in the tunnel?
If I remember correctly, the sun was just setting. Mark, would that make is about 6 pm in our understanding of time? We had about 5 hours till the first ceremony from when we made it onto the estate, right??
From: Porter
Subject Tunnel
"It won't take us any longer than it has taken us so far."
Mund replies "And I'm saying that's too long. Every minute we pussyfoot down here is a minute closer to slaughter up there. I know you like your druid buddies, but you don't want to make me choose between one druid and three northern tribes."
From: Randy
Subject Tunnel
"I agree with our barbarian friend here. We are running out of time. We have no guarantee that we will easily find Acer at the end of these tunnels and I think we need to make haste. I know that you prefer to plan everything out and take all possible cautions to give us an advatage but I don't believe we have time for that luxury. For all we know,"
Ranthir looks at Salix hoping to drive his point home,
"They could have plans to prepare Acer for the ceremony hours before the thing actually happens. We need to hurry for his sake as well as for the barbarians whose lives may be forfeit by a betrayal they have no way of knowing about."
From: Josh
Subject Tunnel
Kal speaks up,
"It seems to me that the Barbarians can make their own fate. If they go along with what Faldor is planning, they'll get what they deserve. That said, let's move as quick as we can without taking un-necessary risk. It wouldn't hurt to save the Barbarians from their well-deserved fate."
From: Porter
Subject Tunnel
"That's the dumbest thing I've heard you say all day, [i]elf[/i]. They can't go along with what Faldor is planning, 'cuz they don't know what he's planning."
From: Kevin
Subject Tunnel
Salix considers the comments of the party, especially those of Ran. He had never seemed overly impetuous, and Salix counted him as a friend and reliable voice. Maybe he was being too cautious.
"All right, we will move on. Harp you take the lead well ahead of us and and stop when you begin to see signs that there might be people about. The rest of us will follow after a couple of minutes, agreed??".
From: Kevin
Subject Tunnel
"Mund, that's enough. We are going to move on. Stop trying to stir up trouble where it does not need to be stirred up."
OOC: I am going to be signing off for a while. Pizza and spending time with the family.
From: Kevin
Subject Tunnel
Harp says to the group "Give me a 1/2 a minute or so to get ahead of you. If I see a light, I'll come back and let you know. I will not worry as much about being quiet, I'll just keep an eye out for a light in the distance"
Salix says to Mund "Mund, I cannot guarantee that what we do here will save the tribes. If your are intent on saving the tribes, then you should go back to the lift and find a way to get out there on your own. I don't want to split us up, but my goal is to save the StormFather, and that is it. If that means that we don't get to save the tribes, so be it. They were not my concerns a day ago, and they are not my concern now. Only the StormFather, and through him the gem, are my concern now. So, if you are going to leave, go now. I can provide light for those who stay."
From: Porter
Subject Tunnel
Mund gives Salix a narrow look. "A day ago, we didn't know that the tribes were all going to be murdered. That's no concern for you? You're not the man I thought you were. Or elf, I guess. Just out to protect your own kind, and let the rest of the world go hang, eh? I should have known."
OOC: Remind me again -- what's the connection between the Stormfather and the gem?
Oh, and now that we're moving, Mund will continue to go along, despite what he just said. Not that I mind writing up more arguments, but I don't want to hold up the action either. I wanna know what happens next!