Nodwin considers a moment, then answers the question.  "I don't see where we'll be any readier later than we are now.  Can we remove the runes and make the approach safe?"

OOC  Do you think Clean (Holy) would take care of the runes?

"Quietly?  No.  Easily enough step over."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 281):

Clean (holy) coud work; qc of clean vs Inscribe. I thought thers was an Erase spell somewhere...

Jaareth starts heading back down, "Might try rinsin 'em away like did t'e ot'ers in t'e upper tunnels..."

Mario gives up his rear watch position to follow Jareth down the stairs, right hand still blocking (most of) the light from his light stone.

Nodwin suggests "Jareth, we cn try washing off the inscriptions, if you think it wise.  Otherwise, I will implore Vejovis to help us."

In reply to Nodwin Zideqick (msg # 285):

Clarence waits until directed. Withholding light goes against his nature...

"Long as it be quiet.  Don't ken t'ere be nought down here, but Akimbo could be mistaken.  Best stealthy till sure.".

Jareth whispers as he approaches the gate.  He waves over Clarence and mimes removing his hands from the light, to let it shine forth completely.  He crouches and uses a water skin to try to rinse away the runes.




OOC: 15:16, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 13 using 3d6.  HazMat (Magical) 13.  Dealing with the runes "safely".

Mario tries to position himself to have a clear shot though the gate, in case something approaches while Jareth is working.  He takes his hand off his own light stone, so as to be able to hold his bow in ready position.

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 288):

Jareth pours the water, but on this occasion, onlyba little grime flows away.
Beyond the gate, nothing can be seen to be moving.

[Private to Narrator: clean may work on these. A gelatinous cube is attracted by the light]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:39, Wed 28 Oct 2020.

Jareth whispers, "Stained in, could do it, but noisy.  Can Vejovis help on t'e quiet Nodwin?"



OOC:  gwythaint, your Private Line failed.. but we'll ignore it.  ;)

Nodwin nods quietly and approaches.  Laying his hands on the stairs with much care to not disturb the runes, he murmurs quietly to Vejovis to clean the evil markings.

[Private to GM: Made it by 3.
00:00, Today: Secret Roll: Nodwin Zideqick rolled 11 using 3d6.  Nodwin Clean (Holy) 14.]

In reply to Nodwin Zideqick (msg # 291):

The runes shift as the dust on them is blown away, and warp into a different set of runes...

      3j3H 5@m 》0j][!>l

Nodwin cocks his head to the side, staring at the runes in front of him.  Then he motions for Jareth to come over and look.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 292):

Clarence just holds the light nervously...

"If readin right," he cranes his head around to read the upside down righting, "either t'e infernals ain't happy Vejovis castin t'em out an are leavin t'e mark, or Vejovis has weird sense humor."

He straightens up and takes a pull from his flask and rubs his temples, "But it's backwards... an upsides down... sigh.  Probably t'e demons."  And then as an after though he mutters, "Killroy" , and shakes his head.




OOC:  11:15, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 9 using 3d6.  Cryptography (Default*) 11 (IQ 15 - 5 Default* + 1 JoAT).

* Trivial codes are IQ -5 default ('1337 speak' is technically a trivial code), non-trivial codes default to Mathematics (Cryptography) -5, there is no general default for cryptography.

11:10, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 10 using 3d6.  History (Alternate World) 10?  I dunno, I'm making things up here but that sounds like a Mythos skill specialty if I ever heard one...

Nodwin's eyebrows furrow at Jareth's explanation, as he is confused by the answer.  He whispers to the sage in an effort to clarify the meaning.  "That's a good description, I suppose, but is it safe to use the stair?"

OOC  Nodwin will prepare to lead the way up the stairs if Jareth pronounces it safe.  And if something happens, he will step to the Zide Qickly.

OOC2  I'm sure Jareth is quite happy to have such a good zideqick watching his back.  I'm Watson to his Sherlock...

"No tellin but for to try," Jareth steps confidently onto the doorsill, and checks to see if either of his keys will work in the gate's lock...

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 297):

As you are on the third level down, your level 1 and 2 keys do not work. It is an average lock of a similar type, however.

Jareth pulls out the rolled up leather wallet that contain the bent pieces of wire that he calls lockpicks and starts to work.  After a long few minutes of him scratching about in the lock...




OOC:  16:34, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 9 using 3d6.  Lockpicking 10 ( Default 5 + 2 Extra Time + 3 Joat/Dabbler).  MoS +1.

Ew, having the Lockpicking default switch from IQ or DX to DX only really killed that skill for Jareth.

Mario, watching as Jareth fumbles with the lock, bites his tongue as he makes little pointing gestures behind Jareth's back, then settles down when the lock clicks over.

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 300):

Clarence gives him light to work by.

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 300):

The gate unlocks, and starts to swing noisily inward. The outer surface of the gate is freebof tarnish, and has a rough texture.

Mario cringes at the noise, raising his bow to cover the section of hallway beyond that he can see.

His voice barely a breath, "You'll never make it as a burglar, Jareth."

Nodwin squares up on Mario inquisitively (not aggressively).  You seem to have some skill with this, Mario.  Sneaky do you think, or should we go in with flaming weapons, ready to go?