”So this is what you call a map then Hoskar. And a map is used to find things? Why don’t people just ask their elders if they don’t know the way?” Ohanzee says somewhat dubious of the whole idea.

He looks over the wall, or at least the bits that he can see without risking stepping off of the safe path around the edge, trying reconcile what might be landmarks on the map with what he knows of Prax, looking for anything that stands out as not being there.

After some time he shrugs ”Well, I’ll take your word for it.” and moves his attention to the apparently blank walls to the West and then East looking for anything that they might have overlooked there.

Amara examined the walls looking for anything that stood out to her. She wasn't the scholar that some of the others were, but she hoped to find something to make a contribution for the group. This entire place seemed raven like to her.

Still grinning, alive with interest in what the Mostali might have recorded about that old trading post, Hoskar finds the pole they'd used to turn the key, and heads gingerly back to the mural wall on the tested flagstones.

You've got it, Ohanzee. Imagine the elders know they won't be around but still want their Sept to be able to find places. You've got to use your imagination a fair bit, but it might help a stranger.

Stand clear, everyone - we might need a quick route out of here if anything bad sounds like happening: don't want to trip over one another.

Here goes. See you with the Great Herd if something nasty happens.

When he's got a clear run for the exit, he gingerly pushes the door symbol with the pole, standing to one side; ears open and ready to run for it.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:36, Wed 25 June 2014.

Melock makes sure he is standing in the other room so he isnt in Hoskars way, should he need to run

Ohanzee and Amara's investigation are interrupted by Hoskar's warning and his pressing of the Door glyph.

There's a familiar CLICK and then from below the picture of the compound springs a compartment. At the same time the compound shifts and changes as sections of the picture swivel, revealing what must be the rooms behind. Of particular interest is the appearance of what looks like a tunnel leading from the compound out in to the desert to a rock that resembles a Jerboa.

Looking in the compartment Hoskar can see what looks like a heavy key....An Iron heavy key at that.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:37, Wed 25 June 2014.

The Sun Hawk brave joins his friends as they wait about the entrance into the mural room, watching as Hoskar pushes his glyph and activates the Compound map.

At his side hangs a bulging sack, which clanks as he moves.

Clever buggers. Never thought something that intricate would work. Is that key made of what I think...it is, too.

Hearing the noise from Ohanzee's sack, he looks round.

Now that's what I call a map. And that key looks like it's valuable as well as useful...for something.

Anyone seen the Copperman lately? Wonder if it's safe to take the key away, or if it opens something in here. Thinking of which, what's in the sack? I've been so absorbed in here I've no idea what's happening out there.

From the doorway Haratt lifts the sack, holding it up for Hoskar to see. "I took the Tin containers.....Found this too" and he shows the small bent bladed knife.

"It's for opening them. Some sort of food inside. I asked Copperman and he said that's what it was....Food. Keeps for ever, or so he said."

"So what have you found?" and he edges in along the side of the wall to come have a look.

As nothing bad has happened the rest of the gang move back in to resume their own examinations

Ohanzee finds something of note, situated someway to the West of the diagram of Pavis, though this is not the New city built outside the Walls, but the Pavis of old.

First he locates Tada's high Tumulus, well known to each of the braves present, due South of which there is an Oasis marked. It is between this Oasis and Pavis that the brave finds a collection of Mostali, leaving a doorway situated in the side of hill. There is a jumble of pictograms, writings and engravings depicting many of the small people at work. Atop the hill is a raised Mostali, holding an Axe. The 'button' turning out to be made of Copper. It's safe, going by what Melock had deducted, being at waist height and not higher where a human might reach.

By his side Amara, making sure to step carefully, studies the map, following the Zola Fel from North to South, where she finds another City, being built by Mostali and what must be men. She realises that of all the tales she has heard that there is no such City there now. The estuary only filled with mangroves, mud sharks and Newtlings. Her Uncle had visited there in his youth and swore about the myriad biting flies, sucking mud and not much else.
Along side the River, at knee height, she spies another of the raised 'buttons' this one depicting a small fish.

As the group does their thang, Mordy the dog walks up to the entrance, looks in and begins to enter.

Looking around to warn the others that he is about to try the button that he found Ohanzee spots the dog ”Mordy stop!” he warns and then asks ”I assume that someone has warned him about where to step?” before continuing ”There’s another thing here that appears to do something other than just make a kaboom, but just in case maybe you should go outside until we are sure."

Assuming everyone complies or otherwise indicates their desire to stay he makes sure that his escape route is at least clear and then, primed for flight, he presses the “button”.

Amara frowned as she examined the wall. Was it a deliberate falsehood on the wall, or did the Mostali and humans actually build a city which sank into a lake. She paused a moment to wonder at what they might find if they ever chose to go look, though it would be next to impossible to actually explore it. She pointed it out to the others. "Hoskar, you've been to the big cities. This picture looks like there is a city further up the Zola Fel. Made by Mostali and man. Do you think it actually exists or is it a trap? There's also another button here of a fish, more Mostali height I'd imagine."

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 723):

Being careful to keep out of Ohanzee's line of flight should something go wrong, Hoskar's face wrinkles with the effort of recollection at Amara's question.

Maybe...a long time ago...I'm not sure. Perhaps something close to the sea. What was that name? Fur-something maybe? Merchants mutter about the river trade not being what it was, about shifting marshes that grew on the shore and elder glories, but I don't recall anything definite straight off. Pavis is old: maybe there was another city back then too, like that trading post there was probably active long ago.

Come to think of it, that trading post would have to be on the way from somewhere to somewhere, wouldn't it? And it's not on the way from Pavis to anywhere special judging by the lie of the land.

Wish I could be more sure. I'll think.

"Unless you have something to say about the murals and maps, I'd say you better stay outside."

Salen warns Mordy in no uncertain terms to stay put, but if the dog/spirit has something to share he is all ears...

In reply to Hoskar Feather (msg # 719):

"Well, a big lizard came visiting down the tunnels, but Salen and Ohanzee dealt with it. Just glad it didn't go for me"
He waits until Ohanzee has pushed his button, then if all is clear he will find the ravine on the map and follow the route they travelled from the clan to see if there is anything else of interest

Melock with a bit of help from the others soon finds the tomb, though there is nothing showing the ravine on the map, nor is there any sign of the Giant Finger Holes.

The Tomb is recognised by the four rooms and a line of Mostali going in the door and then out, both lots carrying boxes or possibly weapons in their arms.

Not far to the South West is the Trading Post found by Hoskar and then further West the tower marked by the Black Feather.

Then with the room emptied once more Ohanzee pokes the button

*Click*

*Whirr*

And out of the wall slides a shallow drawer, four hand spans wide and a good thumb's length in depth. It's empty. Then from the picture of the Hill above the drawer comes another *Whirr* and the Hill's doors open allowing a small tray to move out.

Several moments later from the hole behind, comes a small Ga-metal Mostali figurine that rattles out to the end of the tray. It's  holding a hammer and a bell, which it proceeds to hit at regular intervals, causing the room to be filled with the sound of small metal chimes.

Mordy begins to bark.

"Dwarf's knoll" points out Haratt knowingly as he rejoins Ohanzee.

"Grandpa says it's an Old Copper mine, or so the rumours go."

”Copper mine, under the hill there?” Ohanzee replies without turning. ”What do you think this is about then, the little Mostali ringing the bell and the open box that has slid out?”

He glances into the drawer to see if it is flat at the bottom or has a mark or indentation suggesting what might have once been in it or maybe should fit in it. ”Do you think the ringing is to call the Mostali in to put something into this sliding box? Maybe it needs one of those metal things like the one that opened the stone door, key did you call it?”

Liking the ringing noise for the moment at least Ohanzee calls above the noise ”Perhaps there is something in another sliding boxes. I’m going to try all of the low down pushing things that don’t look like they are going to make any kabooms in case they open a sliding box that contains something to put in another sliding box.”

“Hoskar, you want to help, that way we’ll get the job done quicker and can run different ways around the edge if it goes wrong.” ”and if we are still able to run he adds under his breath.

He tries Amera’s fish button first as that is know, but then working from the middle out to the right (if alone or from left to right if with someone else) he meticulously searches for low buttons and for traps on them and, if reasonably confident that they are safe, he attempts to activate them (push, pull, twist, etc).

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 730):

Hoskar just keeps grinning. This is just so informative. He makes as if to fall in with his Raven comanion's idea, but then backs out of the way when he senses Amara might want a try.

Stay ready to run, everyone.

Oh! Feroda was the name I was trying to remember for Amara. I've got nothing else, but I knew it sounded a bit like fur.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Thu 26 June 2014.

Amara looked curiously at the wall trying to figure out if there was anything to the west of Pavis or if the city itself was the source of her urge to travel in that direction. As she looked she activated the fish switch wondering what Mostali concoction would appear.

"Hush! Unless you have a real warning for us, stop barking your head off.

...This isn't a real warning, is it?"

Salen eyes Mordy curiously.

Mordy stops barking "It's the #€&%ing bell...." and leaves it at that.

Ohanzee finds nothing in the drawer apart from some verdigris discolouration, indicating that something at some stage had been in there. It would possibly accept a hand axe sized object.

The bell keeps ringing.

The Fish Button is pushed in by Amara and it *Pops* out on a hinge revealing a hole, inside of which can be seen what looks like the tail end of a metallic fish, about the size of a fat middle finger.

Other buttons follow in quick succession divulging several empty drawers, both horizontal and vertical, these looking as if they held the long digging implements seen to be used in the construction of various cities and monuments by the Mostali. Hoskar names them as spades and pick axes.

By Haratt a large compartment swings open, revealing three bronze hammers on short wooden handles, covered in dust, and finally under the glyph of Mostali working on humanoid constructs there's a *Whirr* that continues as a drawer sticks and refuses to open....

In reply to GM (msg # 734):

He looks at the stuck compartment, then picks up one of the small hammers and hits the compartment with it, not to hard as he is trying to free it, not break it. "any chance of stoping that ringing?"

"Maybe the noise is to call the Mostali who were here in to get their things from his wall so that they can go use them in whatever they do, building their things." he suggests and then "So if we close all the sliding boxes the bell ringing might stop."

"I wouldn't just hit it like that Melock" Ohanzee says to the fellow Raven brave.

Fishing around in his pouches and pockets, Salen pulls out a copper clack and places it into the appropriate slot. He kicks below the stuck drawer and gets everything where it should be...then stands back to watch what happens.

Then he looks at Mordy.

"I hear ya...bloomin' racket."