Chapter 14 The cavern of the Ancients?
Copyright © 2001 by the players of Emerald Sphere of Sighs.

From: Game Master [2001-07-12 00:11:29]
Subject: going down?
The party shuffles down the small crag of a passageway for some time. The palanquin, packs supplies and other large gear find their way down this narrow passage, though not without some scuffs and missing lacquer. After some 15 minutes of cramped travel the narrow crack of a passageway opens up into a large chamber. When all the busy work of getting the party within the chamber is done, you take a moment to examine how large the opening truly is.

Your party stands at the narrow end of a great cavern. It is obvious that it has been worked and carved, but the inscriptions on the pillars and the walls seem foreign to you. Where you are, is just the beginning of some sort of building or temple. The rock is rough where you are, untouched, unworked. But just a few meters ahead of you there are the beginnings of sculptures and worked stone. The cavern grows larger the further away it travels from where you stand. Your torches and lanterns are insufficient for casting light much beyond 100m or so. While the ceiling of the cavern seems to be rough hewn at your end, there is a hint of it being crafted in some designs a bit further out. You seem to be standing at the narrow end of a gourd shaped area, as it were, with the larger end expanding out ahead of you. Dlarumei approaches Churisan, Ssrivan, Almodhim, Orun, Adzul and some of the guard as they stand contemplating their whereabouts.

"This is not at all what I expected," she starts. "I was looking for a much smaller opening, just a doorway at the end of tunnel. Either the reports are misleading, or we have entered a different passageway than I had hopped for. All of the other signs were correct." She says almost to herself. "All things leading to this point have been as they were supposed to be. This area is a bit of a quandary for me at this moment. Please excuse my rambling on, I do not mean to offend." She looks out into the darkness of the cavern beyond the torchlight and contemplates something.

From: Almodhim hi'Harisaya [2001-07-12 08:54:04]
Subject: Kinda creepy
"This feels most unnatural," Almodhim mumbles to herself. "It is not good for the living to be under the earth!" The warrior preistess gives her torch to a servant and orders them to stay near her. "Needs must I see what I'm doing if there is trouble." She brings her sword out and makes ready for whatever danger may lie within the cavern. Almodhim looks as far into the cavern as the torches will let her but is frustrated that she cannot see more. She closes her eyes to call upon her other senses to inform her, and smells water! But she can't quite decided which direction the smell is coming from.

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2001-07-15 04:16:15]
Subject: Sounds.

Hrissu looks around unhappily. "Lord Drhe rarely comes to this place. The chamber is not fit for singing."
He pokes at the floor with his foot.
"This cavern is not like most caverns."
From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2001-07-15 18:00:29]
Subject: Holes and Picking at the Walls
"Hmmmm... It seems someone wanted to modify things here a bit. See these holes--they're not exactly part of the original workings, though integral to them. Let's see what we find inside one or two of them."

Ssrivan then starts poking around in the holes carefully, to see if he can identify whatever it is that they were designed to conceal. As they might be traps, he is proceeding with extreme caution, so as not to get himself hurt again. His somewhat nervous nursemaid is at his side to assist (and to yank him out of harms' way if he really screws up).

From: Game Master [2001-07-18 12:50:57]
Subject: out into the dark.
The quiet of the cavern is almost hypnotic in nature. Orun takes a deep, loud breath, blinks his eyes and shakes his head as though to ward off sleep. He had been gazing off into the black distance, which seemed to capture him for a moment. With a muted gesture from Orun, a torch barring slave scurries to his side. He says but a few quiet words and the slave starts to walk out into the cavern with his torch; stopping every 20m or so and then being flagged on by Orun until the man reaches about 100m out. There he stands, a lone beacon in the dark, an oasis of dim light in a desert of black. Orun calls forth another slave who repeats the process until he is several meters behind the first. This continues until there are 10 torchbearers stationed between the party and the first slave to venture out into the cavern. They have been set in a staggered pattern to promote the greatest amount of light coverage possible. With this arrangement you are able to see that the floor of the cavern slopes away from where you stand. The ceiling of the cavern is not visible from where the furthest torchbearer stands, but more of the pillars come into view and you can now see the vague outline of some statues off in the distance. You are unable to see the other side of this cavern but all of your surroundings indicate that traveling further into the cavern will bring larger and grander monuments leading up to some sort of entrance. All of this seems lost to Dlarumei and Ssrivan as they study some carving on one of the pillars.

Neshkriuma has set up a small contingent to keep a close eye on the area from which you have just arrived.

Deshnah and the Livyani priest squat just outside the torch light to one side of the party. It is unclear what they are doing though it seems that they are discussing the nature of where you are.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-07-19 16:36:43]
Subject: outta here
Churisan looks at Dlarumei in dismay. "You mean you have never been through the Underworld you directed us to? And you don't have clear directions? How could we be in the wrong place? There were no turnings or other passages. Perhaps we entered the wrong hole in the ground? If so, there is no reason to loiter here, we should return to the surface and find the right entrance."

From: Game Master [2001-07-20 01:55:05]
Subject: Umm wait?
Dlarumei stands from where she was kneeling with Ssrivan studying the carvings in the pillar and turns to Churisan. "I said that this was not what I expected based on the information that I was given. We have followed all the proper and correct signs to get to this point. I must admit to being a bit bewildered by this cavern, but many things involving the ancients are mysterious and not always what we expect. All of my preparations have been made to get us to this point safely, and I think that has happened. I know the general path and have studied the map stones to where we are to travel but I have never traveled to the destination. Had I done so, there would be no need for this party. As for leaving at this moment, I know that you have served well in the legion of Serqu, so I am sure that you realize that, though we are uncertain of the relative safety of this cavern, we are most sure that the forest above is not safe at night. If nothing else we should rest for a bit while we examine this cavern. If it is found to be nothing then I am happy to head back up to the surface and look around. But, after more thought and examination here, I am sure that this must be the entrance that we seek."

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-07-20 12:05:19]
Subject: Churisan responds
"Indeed, one of the many lessons I learned marching with the Sword of the Empire is not to proceed blindly when one's guide is lost. If this is the way, then by all means, let us proceed."

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2001-07-22 07:04:27]
Subject: Pillars and keys
"It appears these holes were intended as receptacles for keys of some sort. They may have been bars shaped like this (draws a "U" in the sand), sized to fit into the holes, or they may have been individual pieces. If this place has remained undisturbed, they may still be somewhere nearby, as they would have been a bit unwieldy. More likely is that they are concealed within the rest of the decorations in this cavern--and probably nearby."

Ssrivan begins a very careful scan of the nearby area looking for both places of potential concealment and for additional holes.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-07-23 21:46:19]
Subject: what is this place?
"I don't recognize the symbols and carvings here. Could anyone tell me what this place was, or who built it?"

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2001-07-25 12:07:50]
Subject: Builders
"Churisan, from the style evident in the original carvings here, it is quite certain to have been work of the ancients. Since we came here looking for one of their tubeway stations, it is very likely that we are on the right path. This pillar is some kind of key, and it might just get us closer to our destination. I will need to work carefully, as I wouldn't want the rest of you to come to harm due to unforseen accidents. Dlarumei and I are pretty certain we have found the right tools to open this, but it might take some time to do so safely."

Ssrivan then collects his pouch of tools and begins a careful investigation of some carvings on the far side of the pillar. Dlarumei is seen to smile encouragement in his direction as he sets to work.

From: Almodhim hi'Harisaya [2001-07-26 15:20:09]
Subject: Feelin' ancy.
"Being underground is NOT for the living..." Almodhim mumbles to herself, once again. She decides to occupy her time by taking a turn around the perimeter of torch-bearers. She makes her sword ready and walks towards them. "I do not like waiting for danger. I would rather rush to meet it if I have my druthers."

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-07-31 11:29:03]
Subject: waiting
"Noble Ssrivan, is there anything we can do to help? It is uncomfortable, loitering here in this vast darkness, and we are liable to be inconvenienced by things that might live here."

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2001-07-31 12:02:29]
Subject: Assistance
"Yes Churisan, you can help if you like. If you would hold this while Dlarumei and I remove the others, I would greatly appreciate it. Please be careful, as I would prefer as little sand as possible on it."

With that he hands a large, "U" shaped copper rod that he has extracted from the pillar to Churisan for temporary safekeeping. He will then dive back into the task at hand.

From: Game Master [2001-07-31 15:59:04]
Subject: The eyes have it.
As your eyes adjust to the softly lit cavern you are able to make out more details of what surrounds you. You notice that the majority of the party, servants, porters and those persons of noble esteem have migrated to the sides of the cavern, seeking places closer to the walls rather than standing out in the open. The exceptions to this are those slaves that were placed out into the cavern, Almodhim, who has walked out to where the furthest slave stands and now seems to be venturing further with that slave in tow. Dlarumei, who is walking from one side of the shallow end of the cavern to the other, and who appears to be headed for a large pillar on that opposite side. Ssrivan, who is working hard on something connected to the pillar where he stands and Churisan who is now in possession of a large "U" shaped copper rod.

Some of you look at the sand and find only your tracks around where you have been standing. Though Deshnah and the Livyani priest seem to be studying something in the sand out amongst the slave-torch forest Orun created.

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2001-07-31 18:56:44]
Subject: Ssrivan's toys
Ssrivan looks carefully at the second copper rod extracted from the bowels of the pillar and smiles with the glimmering of an idea. He motions to Churisan and his assistant to follow as he heads over to the second pillar.

"Don't forget the first rod Churisan, we'll probably need it there."

Ssrivan carries the second rod and works his hands around it slowly to further limber up his somewhat tortured flesh. He seems in much better condition than would be expected by those who had seen his once badly burned hands prior to the start of the journey.

From: Game Master [2001-07-31 23:05:28]
Subject: Dlarumei's actions
Dlarumei comes out from behind the pillar that Ssrivan is headed toward and motions to him, "I think that you will find this interesting." She waves him around to the backside of the pillar.

From: Deshnah [2001-08-01 06:37:57]
Subject: Temples in the Sand
In another place this could be most relaxing comments Deshnah quietly. He continues to gently probe through the sands both down and around the area whilst crouching lower and seeming to squint over the tops of the sand towards the distant walls.

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2001-08-01 12:31:34]
Subject: Examining the new Pillar
"Just as I thought--there are at least two places to put the keys, and each conceals the keys for the other. Now, let's see if there are holes to put this pair into on this pillar, otherwise, we may need to find another one with more puzzle pieces."

Ssrivan then begins to carefully examine the side of the pillar away from the concealed rods, looking for telltale holes (or traces thereof, in case someone has tried to conceal them).

From: Almodhim hi'Harisaya [2001-08-01 18:00:10]
Subject: Danger
Almodhim and the torch bearing slave walk about 30 paces deeper into the cavern, following footprints. The slave trembles, nearly dropping the torch, when he and Almodhim see the figure lying on the cavern floor. Almodhim bends to investigate the body. It is a worshipper of Sarku with arrow shaft sticking out of his left eye. The blood is black and dried. Almodhim considers him to have died about 1 or 2 days ago. She sees that the man must have been killed by surprise, for he is still holding his blade and a small sack. Almodhim stands up and grumbles, "just as I thought. Underground is not for the living. Here is proof." She laughs musingly to herself while the slave gives her a look of crazed fear, his eyes imploring for her to release him. "Do not fear," she tells him. "We shall not go any farther. Rather, let us find the warrior Churisan. This will be news to him. I feel that we are going to have to ready ourselves for attack." Almodhim keeps her sword at the ready, takes one last look into the distant cavern, and makes her way to find Churisan.

From: Deshnah [2001-08-02 03:32:55]
Subject: We seem to be following in others footsteps...
Deshnah, finishes scanning the sand and heads towards Churisan.
"Many others have passed this way - certainly more than ten. They were running quickly - which seems an unusual action in this dark place. Perhaps we should ready weapons to avoid a similar chase ourselves?"

Deshnah, returns to the tracks and begins to follow them (whilst remaining within the range of torch light).

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2001-08-02 21:56:47]
Subject: Rear guard to the ready
Still awaiting word from Churisan, who seems to be otherwise occupied at the moment... Neshkriuma strides around the rear guard area, quietly, yet with an air of impatience. In a second, he motions to the rear guards, who have been eyeing him uneasily. Quietly but firmly, he speaks: "Archers, nock your arrows. Pikemen, prepare your arms. Crossbows at the ready." I am sure death has been here recently, and I am not ready for us to meet it soon." He motions for the men to cover the door by which the party just entered. "Be ever vigilant. We know not when the Sarku worshipers will return."

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-08-03 11:51:22]
Subject: closing up
Churisan grimaces in response to the information he gets. First he gets a slave to hold the copper rod he held, then he gives some orders. The torchholding slaves are to stick the torches in the sand where they are, and return to the group. All carriers and servants are to move to one wall of the cavern, in a group, as close to where Dlarumei and Ssrivan are working as practicable. The guards (whom I presumed had arrows nocked and weapons at the ready from the moment we came in to this place) set in a perimeter around the group. Spearmen and halberdiers to set aside polearms and take up shields and swords. 3 guards to watch over Dlarumei and Ssrivan, if they are too far out in the middle of the cavern to be included within the perimeter.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-08-03 16:20:37]
Subject: examining the body
When Almodhim reports her find, Churisan is eager to see the body. He asks her to show her where, and brings a torchbearer along. When he gets there, he examines the arrow, and the possessions on the corpse.

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2001-08-08 01:11:14]
Subject: Whistling a little tune
Hrissu is continuing to attempt to make music, his little whistlings in the corner sound sad and small.

From: Game Master [2001-08-14 11:53:53]
Subject: What is going on here?
The once still cavern is now a buzz with activity. People moving about quietly, but trying to appear not to move. People searching about the end of the cavern, yet some trying only to stay out of sight. All manner of activity is now being played out on the caverns stage, yet, somehow, each player is seeking to remain as obsequies as possible.

Neshkriuma, it seems, is unable to remain satisfied with his selections of postings of his rear guards. He has changed their position several times, each time reassessing their vulnerability and position and making minor changes to the rank and file. It appears that the silent calm of this cavern is a bit unnerving for him, as it seems to be for the majority of the rest of the party.

Hrissu's songs have become more sullen and almost sad in tone. Adzul has been silent from the very moment that the party has entered the narrow crevasse, which leads to the cavern. Orun seems to be lost in thought as he continually stares out into the cavern, motionless, barley breathing at times. The Livyani priest is perched next to the wall drawing symbols in the sand directly in front of himself and chanting some low toned minor keyed prayer.

Almodhim has ventured forth into the cavern and has returned with news of a dead body, which has taken Churisan to follow her to where the poor soul lies. They seem to be busy investigating the corpse intensely. So intensely that Deshnah's passing by them seems to go unnoticed. He has wandered out to just inside the farthest reaches of the torch lit boundaries. There, he knelt, made some gestures, stood and strolled out into the darkness.

Ssrivan and Dlarumei are busy bouncing from between the two pillars that stand just before you. Two mighty pillars standing like the gateposts of a massive entrance. The two of them seem to be in possession of several large "U" shaped items that they are about to use. You watch as Ssrivan hands the bent copper rod to a slave and, after blowing out the holes in the pillar, requests that the slave insert the item into the openings provided by the pillar. The slave seems hesitant at first but follows his orders. The rod slips into its holding place with ease. There is an audible click and the slave jerks his hands back, rubbing them together, and imploring Ssrivan, with his eyes, to let him return to the others. Dlarumei hands the slave the rod she was in possession of, and with head hanging low, but knowing his duty, the slave heads to where the second set of holes are in the pillar. The first rod, looking more like the handle on the side of the pillar than a key of any kind, starts to glow a bit. Dimly at first, and this causes all who are around it to pause for a moment, but its glow seems to intensify quickly. Along with the increase of white/blue color to the rod comes a slight crackle sound and the smell of dust burning. Ssrivan, feeling the heat, which is being produced by this first rod, demands that the slave insert the second rod immediately. The slave jumps at Ssrivan's sharp ton and pushes the rod in quickly. He then leaps back as the click of the rod seating itself is heard and smiles as he has felt no ill effects from his task. Upon entry of the second rod, the first starts to cool off and dim in color and intensity. Neshkriuma is among the first to notice the small red lines, which seem to light up in a progressive order from bottom to top on the front of the pillar.

(That is the side facing the area in which your party entered and where Neshkriuma has set his guard).

Ssrivan and Dlarumei scurry around to that side of the pillar to see this advancement of lights. The rest of the party pauses their tasks to focus on what is happening. All those, that is, except for Deshnah, who is now no longer in view of the torchlight. Orun, who seems caught in a trance and the Livyani priest who continues to draw in the sand. There are several porters, guards and slaves who seem oblivious to what is happening at the moment as well. The lights continue to climb the side of the pillar, the lower third all in red, then they change to yellow for some distance and then to green for the rest of the pillar. Once the last line of green is illuminated there is a sound of stone against stone and a healthy portion of dust and debris, which falls from the ceiling from between the two pillars, and a slight bit of dim illumination, which allows you to see the top of this first pillar.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-08-15 12:10:48]
Subject: in motion
Churisan comes jogging back to the main group to see what new trouble Ssrivan and Dlarumei have conjured up. He has his bow and one of his arrows in his hands. On the way he jogs Orun's elbow, saying "my apologies warrior, were you meditating?"

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2001-08-15 16:47:27]
Subject: Pillars
Ssrivan begins another careful examination of the now-illuminated pillar, looking for the potential of another set of keys within the newly exposed portions of the pillar. If nothing, he will then move on to the other pillar and continue his investigations there. He seems pretty much oblivious to the others, sparing attention only to show Dlarumei items of interest and to chatter instructions to his lissome aide. Mostly, it seems, to get her to write down specific thoughts and notes.

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2001-08-18 22:04:50]
Subject: Rear guard in action
Neshkriuma sends Ruqu to Churisan with a message. Nesh and a veteran guard carefully sneak out the cavern's opening.

From: Deshnah [2001-08-21 09:05:25]
Subject: Ambling back into the light...
Gradually from the shadows of the far end of the cavern Deshnah emerges, he scans the activities of the party, searching for a suitable individual to discuss his findings with.

From: Game Master [2001-08-23 00:13:51]
Subject: next
As Ssrivan and Dlarumei examine the pillar there comes another large sound, stone against stone, and more debris falls from the ceiling between the two pillars. As you look up into the air it is still too dark to see exactly what is going on.

Please private post the GM with you exact location as you see it and what you are doing at this moment.

From: Game Master [2001-08-25 14:55:50]
Subject: Und so weider.
All remains the same as the last post save for the pillar descending from the ceiling. It has advanced several meters.

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2001-08-26 16:34:06]
Subject: Pillars
"I would stay away from there if I were the rest of you, as that should come all the way down--unless it gets stuck along the way, as it hasn't been used in a long time--something the stone bits falling from it tell me quite succinctly. You might also want to stay away from the center of this room--it might just be a platform for our conveyance, and I wouldn't want any of you to be crushed by it."

From: Almodhim hi'Harisaya [2001-08-28 09:00:54]
Subject: The sky is falling
Almodhim feels the cavern over her head getting closer and closer and feels as if she's losing her breath! She swallows down her feeling of impending hysteria and makes her move towards Churisan. "Warrior. These men, these people are in danger! Where may we take them?" A thought strikes her. "Is it not Deshna who knows the most about this cave? I must know what is happening!" She runs toward Deshna, keeping her fear at bay.

From: Game Master [2001-08-29 17:29:40]
Subject: cavern delights
Almodhim seems to be correct as larger pieces of the ceiling tumbles down to the ground. A piece of stone, as large as a mans head, falls to the cavern floor. When it hits the sandy floor you notice that it does not make the large "THUD" sound that you would expect. Instead, its sound is muffled by the sand, and you see a ripple spread out through the sand as though it were water. The ripple does not travel far, and the sand flattens itself out quickly after the effect has passed. The stone is, perhaps, only one quarter submerged in the sand, though it has fallen from, at least, 30 meters up.

A few moments past and the third pillar descends farther, belching forth more small stones, dust and debris. When it reaches it half-way-point it stops abruptly, shaking the entire cavern at your end. Or at least it seems that way. Slaves and porters alike scurry and cling to the walls for safety as the cavern thunders and sways. You find it hard to keep your footing where you stand. The slaves standing with the torches remain in place but it is easy to tell that they are in a panic as the ground rolls under their feet.

After several, terrifying, moments the ground stops moving and all goes silent. Ssrivan, seemingly unshaken by this event, notices a slight glow in the holes of the opposite pillar, the one without the keys installed, and quickly heads in that direction. The holes with the three lines between them have a slight glow to them, a slight pulsing glow. Dlarumei has a slave bring the three-pronged copper rod over to where Ssrivan is standing and wait for his directions.

From: Deshnah [2001-08-31 01:32:23]
Subject: Keeping one eye on our delicate ceiling
Seeing the comotion around the pillars and the strange effects of masonry falling on the floor, convinces Deshnah that now is the time to be careful where he treads.

Spotting a figure running towards him prompts a change in direction and he to moves at a loping jog towards Almodhim, trying to shout about what the cavern beyond the torch light.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-09-01 16:49:39]
Subject: more motion
Churisan orders the guards to herd the porters along the wall away from the descending pillar. He whacks any nearby minions who seem entranced or unresponsive with his bow (not too hard, but hard enough). When the group is moving he looks to Orun and the priests, are any of them still out of it?

OOC: Hi all! I'm back!

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-09-02 12:58:21]
Subject: standing still?
As the big group of minions gets moving, Churisan turns and looks askance at Orun, who should be moving to protect the priests, but instead is standing stock still. "Orun, is something wrong? Why are you standing there?" The archer looks around at the rest of the party too. "Adzul, are you well? Can you help Orun? And where is that Livyani fellow?"

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2001-09-02 14:09:57]
Subject: Looking up quickly.
Hrissu, as though snapping out of a daze looks up at the chaos surrounding him. His eyes widen, as though he hadn't noticed any of this as it was happening.

"There is a sound beneath the sound."

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2001-09-03 18:50:14]
Subject: Hey!
After ordering the rear guard into appropriate positions around the rear opening, Neshkriuma can be seen jogging over to Churisan and whichever others are conferring with him.

From: Game Master [2001-09-04 00:26:30]
Subject: Dlarumei's actions
Dlarumei approaches Hrissu with the sound of concern in her voice. "Noble singer of songs, when you speak of sounds, I listen. Who better than you to notice something in the area of tone. Would you be so kind as to elaborate on what you have heard"?

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-09-04 15:58:32]
Subject: help?
Churisan approaches one of the bearers who is standing still and unresponsive. "Ohe, you! What are you staring it? Get moving!" When the man doesn't move, Churisan waves his hand in front of his face. "What's wrong with you? Are you deaf? Why have you buried your feet?" The man's feet are sunk into the sand up to his ankles. Churisan pokes the end of his bow into the sand next to the man's left foot, and pushes some of the loose sand away. "Learned priests, can you tell what has happened to these men?"

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2001-09-05 00:41:04]
Subject: Spoken Towards Dlarumei
"Noble guide, I hear, no I feel a low tone. Not a singing so much as a humming. The buzzing of a swarm. Listen to the ground beneath us."

From: Deshnah [2001-09-05 04:58:17]
Subject: Staring up towards the thrid pillar
Deshnah stares intently at the descending pillar. After a while he cocks his head to one side, smiles and trots over to Ssrivan to speak to him

From: Game Master [2001-09-10 00:24:13]
Subject: what's next?
Churisan's tapping of several individuals brings nothing; they seem to be oblivious to these attempts to bring them back to conscious recognition. Only when one of the affected slaves is knocked over by several of his comrades is the spell broken and the slave stirs back into the world of your consciousness.

All of this is interrupted by a sharp "CRACK" sound coming from the second pillar, where you see that a slave has just inserted the third key into the its side, and the sound of tumbling gears and grinding stone as the third pillar begins to descend once again. There seems to be a slight blue illumination at its very tip the pillar, once again, begins its downward trek.

Ssrivan looks quite pleased with himself and Dlarumei breaks off her conversation with Hrissu, in a polite manner, and rushes to the side of Ssrivan. You can see them conversing with one another about the new predicament.

From: Adzul hiOgeado [2001-09-10 07:23:05]
Subject: Doing what I Can
Adzul will attempt to aid Orun if he is still in need of aid, otherwise he is largely trying to stay out of the way.

OOC: I am having troubles with my 2D10 connection, sorry for the spotiness of my posts.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-09-11 21:27:32]
Subject: Toppling
Churisan summoned some porters, and had them stand behind Orun. "Get ready to catch him now!" he said. Then he stepped to the big warrior and give him a firm shove. The man toppled back, and was laid on the sand by the porters so Adzul could tend him. "Now the others too" ordered Churisan, going first to th guards and then to any other bearers who were "entranced", toppling each one.

From: Game Master [2001-09-13 17:10:34]
Subject: Oh the fun of it all.
Orun awakens with a start and tries to stand, but finds that his feet will not support him. They have gone dead, cold to the touch, ice cold one could say, he can barley move his ankles and he complains that his knees hurt as well. Upon Adzul's closer inspection he notices that Orun's feet have lost all pigment and that his veins are now extremely close to the surface of his skin. Upon inspecting the others who had been in similar states as that of Orun, Adzul finds the same characteristics are present in their feet as well. He also finds them to be in a weakened and slightly anemic condition.

All of this, however, does not slow the descent of the third pillar as it continues its methodical downward progress. The thunder of the stone on stone and the cogs and wheels of some hidden mechanisms have a steady beat and rhythm that seems to keep time as the massive stone pillar is slowly lowered towards the cavern floor.

Churisan and all those around him are startled as the bronze sword that he wears on his side flips up into the air, changes into its disk form and races off into the dark of the cavern. A second disk sails off after the first and one can see that Adzul has a surprised look on his face as well. After a few moments you watch as Churisan falls to his knees, in some obvious pain, and then the disk returns to him and becomes the bronze sword to which you have all become accustomed.

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2001-09-13 23:33:44]
Subject: The Singing, the Singing!

Hrissu stands silent for a few beats of his heart and then raises his head, an eerie ululation erupting from his throat. The air vibrates with his voice, his wordless *sound*. Where the vibration under the floor is low and felt more than heard, his voice starts out inhumanly high and works its way down, interfering with the sound below, causing strange pulsating sounds to course through the chamber with the full force of Other Planar Magic.

His breath seems to last forever until...

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-09-16 22:48:09]
Subject: reconaissance
Churisan groans and speaks as he stands with exaggerated care. "Out there is a pool or stream, the water lives and steals life, moves through the sand. It retreated from fire. There is an archer too, we must take care. Ohh, my head still spins."

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2001-09-18 23:34:01]
Subject: The song remains the same...
Hrissu continues his eerie song, his voice modulating to cancel out the humming under the floor. His hand is outstretched, his finger pointing to a section of the sand that seems to be vibrating.

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2001-09-19 22:23:27]
Subject: Healing
Neshkriuma can be seen hunched over the feet of Orun, chanting and gesturing, in an attempt to heal the warrior's apparently useless feet.

From: Game Master [2001-09-20 19:19:55]
Subject: Hey, hey now...
The anti-harmonics being produced by Hrissu is almost painful to anyone with ears. It is the first time that the cavern has had any "live" sound produced in it that hasn't been muffled. It is hard to tell what kind of an effect it is having except for the fact that the sand within a one-meter circle of the Dre Priest has blanched a bit.

Nesh works hard to cast out a healing spell but you notice only a slight fizzle, a disappointed look and two down turned eyes looking to Adzul.

Deshnah's concentration is steady as he rubs his hands together vigorously and in the blink of an eye, casts his hands forward towards the descending pillar. His elbows lock, his wrists up and the palms of his hands facing the target. The thrust Deshnah delivers is so forceful that you fear that his body would fly apart. Instead, from his hands (still attached to his wrists and arms) shoots a white string type substance. It sails from Deshnah towards the key hanging from the bottom of the pillar creating a long line that Deshnah seems to be controlling. The two strands, one from each hand, intertwine and spin as they head for the key, creating and end with two strands spinning fast enough to make a 10in disk of sorts. As it nears the key, you can see Deshnah shift his shoulders and watch as the strands turn a bit to the left, allowing them to hit their target dead on. The white strands stick to the key, and with a definitive yank, Deshnah pulls the key away from the bottom of the pillar. It falls 10m to the floor where Ssrivan instruct the slave next to him to retrieve the key.

Ssrivan inspects the key and finds it to be a match for the fourth set of hole. His directions are clear, he orders the slave to insert the key into its position immediately. The slave, who has already installed three other such keys, cautiously sets the key into its resting place. With a magnetic surge, the key is pulled into the holes and an audible clicking noise is heard. This pillar illuminates itself just as the first but as its colors of green reach the top of the pillar they seem to spread around the ceiling in a spider vein pattern, where they finally converge at the third pillar. When this is done, you can hear some sort of object, possibly above the ceiling itself, start to whine. At first it is a low tone and then it rises in pitch. The tone continues to get higher and higher in tone until it reaches a high-pitched scream. At this point the third pillar begins and illumination sequence from the ceiling down. All blue lights jump down the pillar, one after the other in rapid succession, until they reach its bottom. Once there, two small hole open on the underside of the foot of the pillar and two narrow beams of light shoot toward the sandy cavern floor.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2001-09-21 14:58:23]
Subject: That's quite enough
Churisan looks in horror as lights run across the ceiling and the sounds increase in pitch. He gives a deep shout to get attention, and then a set of simple hand signals to the guards. They start to retreat towards the entrace to the cavern, herding the bearers ahead of them.

From: Almodhim hi'Harisaya [2001-09-22 11:45:20]
Subject: Gotta get outta here
Almodhim has been biting down her terror; she's right at the verge of screaming, looking at the ceiling getting closer and closer to her head. She looks around the cavern to find the entrance way, and to see what others are doing. "I will stay calm," she tells herself. "It is not fitting for a warrior to run, but I see no way out of this!!" Almodhim buckles her sword at her side and beats her hasty retreat. "I knew it was not fitting being underground!! It is for the dead, not for the living!"

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2001-09-23 16:23:58]
Subject: To the Rear
Now is the right time to guard the rear. Not wanting to be at one with the jelly-like floor of the cavern, Neshkriuma makes haste to the rear entrance of the cavern. He then sets the rear guard as a frontal scouting force and directs them back into the labyrinth outside the rear entrance.

From: Deshnah [2001-09-25 01:25:48]
Subject: Concentration lleaves Deshnah
And he realises the level of sounds and amount of movement going on around him.

He quickly scouts around to check for signs of danger and trieds to spy out the Liviani priest... once spotted he heads in that direction, mindful of the shifting sands across the floor

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2001-09-25 17:47:24]
Subject: Pillars and Light Shows
Excellent! Ssrivan directs his coterie of assistants to approach the glowing suspended pillar and looks carefully at the beams of light as they spear into the sand. Two possibilities come to mind--there is a socket buried in the sands or the key is meant to be placed into the exposed lighted sockets above. He directs the slaves to carefully probe the sands around the light and brush it aside to see if it exposes a stone socket for the pillar while he carefully scrutinizes the pillar base to see if the holes look right to be a key socket in placement and in size/shape. The fifth key was different enough in shape that it might be obvious to the experienced eye of a locksmith.

From: Game Master [2001-09-27 17:33:20]
Subject: Places to go?
Ssrivan's "coterie" moves, somewhat hesitantly, towards the underside of the hanging pillar. While it is still a good 10 to 12 meters above the ground its slow descent and enormous size are a bit intimidating to say the least. The light from the ceiling now casts a faint shadow under the 3-meter by 3-meter square foot of the pillar. The slave, knowing that the consequences for not following Ssrivans directives is far worst that the impending danger, moves into the shadow of the pillar and, on hands and knees, starts sifting trough the sand. The blue beams of light cross over his hands and arms as he digs into the sandy floor. In only a few short inches he arrives at moist sand. When he touches it he shrinks back in surprise.

"The sand; it's warm to the touch, and it tingles on my hands!" the slave exclaims.

He has sat back on his haunches, still under the pillar, and waits for an order. The beams of light seem to affect the moist sand when they hit it, now that the slave is out of the way. The sand seems to stir a bit as it dries up at the point where the light shines upon it.

Dlarumei steps up next to Ssrivan and says.
"I believe that you are correct in your assumption that the key slips into the holes from where the light is being cast forth. My only question would be, how do you intend on reaching that lock, or will you wait for the pillar to descend to our level?"

The rest of the party has moved back to the thin crack in the wall that birthed them into the cavern. All save for Deshnah who was last seen walking over to where the Liviani priest is seated; still chanting over the runes he has drawn in the sand.

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2001-09-29 03:48:51]
Subject: Descending Pillars
"Dlarumei, this pillar appears to be descending slowly enough that the slave should have no trouble placing the key and getting out of the way. He will just have to prove his nimbleness at the right time--for the price of his failure will be his life."

From: Deshnah [2001-10-04 10:16:53]
Subject: Surveying the ground
Deshnah completes his walk to the Priest and spends a few moments surveying the sand at this feet, gradually he move his gaze further away form the priest.
He smiles a the priest then turns to face the groups of fellow travellers sheltering at the entrance way.

He waves and shouts for people to join him in the safe area around the Livyani Priest.

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2001-10-04 19:59:35]
Subject: Looks OK to me...
The frantically gesticulating Livyani priest seems to be making himself heard and understood. Neshkriuma will quickly but cautiously venture across the sand to the place of safety. Turning, Nesh waves for the others in the entranceway to follow. "Bring your esteemed selves in haste", he calls.

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2001-10-05 00:00:36]
Subject: Lost in thought.
Hrissu is performing the "Inestimable Call to Tuleng at Midnight" and does not hear or see the rest of the party. He continues to stare ahead and sing at the top of his voice.