She blushed, "Maybe not."

07:59, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 18 using 1d20+2.  Intelligence.
"I am smartieness!"

At first Penny's knocking yields absolute silence. The singing stops and all falls dead quiet on the other side. Then, alarmingly, there is pounding on the other side of the door. Desperate, wild, pounding. Is someone there?! A ragged voice can barely be heard. Are you in my head? Have my thoughts gotten out again? Let me OUT!!!! The word "out" is said with emphasis as he seems to ram himself at the door. You feel somewhat alarmed by this reaction, as with the heavy door such an action would be quite harmful, yet you can hear him running at it again and again, heedless to the damage it is doubtless causing him.

Amazed by this strange reaction and wanting to calm the speaker, Penny moved closer to the door, then backed away just as it resounded with the shocking thud, before it could slam into her too. 'Please— please stop! Calm yourself, sir!' Penny called between impacts, hoping to make him see sense. Who was this man? Another undying knight? How long had he been locked behind this door? Archambaud had had the luxury of eternal sleep. She couldn't imagine what a millennia conscious and trapped alone in a small chamber entirely separated from the world could do to a mind. 'We are working on it! Please tell us your name! Who are you?'

Alice backed away from the door and drew her pistol. She looked around to make sure the ruckus  wasn't drawing more attention.

Name? The voice wants to know my name? You hear him mutter in half bewilderment to himself. They haven't asked me that one before. Oh but what could it be? What is my name? There is silence a moment, and then, with excitement, I can't remember but it starts with an A! Is that enough? Is that enough to open the door? Oh! Oh! I can give you the answer to the riddle! Sort of. There's a mon and sun and a circle with a cross and uh...geese? Is it geese? No....swans! That's it! Don't know about the order though...

At this, Loki puts his hand on his face and shakes his head. Wow. Leave it to an old fart to just blurt out the secret door code to strangers. Don't let him near any Nigerian prince emails... He mutters.

Swans? Penny might well have been capable of solving two riddles at once, but preferred to have this man half-sane and sensible before she opened the door and unleashed him on the group. So she settled for trying to work out this name. But, starts with an A? Assuming he was a Knight Templar, of the nine founding knights, only four were lost from the historical record, she'd already met Archambaud de St. Amand, and the remaining three names... did not start with A. Then again, not even their given names had been recorded. 'Three doves and a copper spoon.' Penny announced, recalling Archambaud's jest and feeling as if she was joining the madman in speakind absurdities. 'Archambaud de St. Amand says he sends three doves and a copper spoon. Does that mean anything to you?' she asked hopefully, because it still did not mean anything to her.

The madman listens, and there is a long silence. Then, to your alarm, he starts to cry. Archambaud....why have you all left me to rot? Why did no one come? The crying continues. Meanwhile, Loki looks uncomfortable. Geez. Awkward. he makes a face. He turns to Penny then. Look, when you're ready I can probably give you a hint about the key thing. I mean, he pretty much gave it away, not me. It's not reeeeeally cheating at this point, he says with a tinge of doubt. With that, he gestures at the correct keys, looking unsure of himself.

By now, the man on the other side is lost in his own sobs. If you wish to enter, you may do so. If you do, you'll find a thin old man huddled in a ball on the other side of the door. His hair, beard and fingernails are long and unruly. He's wearing red robes, much like Archambaud was, but his are tattered and stained. The room itself is fairly large, with high ceilings and stone walls. In the center of the room are the remnants of a glass case and chair, just as you've seen before, but broken and shattered. The walls themselves are scratched, spidery crude handwriting that is little more than the ramblings of a madman.

Whereas Penny had been somewhat mystified by the puzzle before, the madman behind the door had supplied the missing clue. 'I have it now, thank you.' Penny said gratefully to Loki, 'Though I do appreciate the confirmation. In alchemy, swans represent arsenic, to which the "poisoned" part of the riddle refers. I missed that before. The count to four must mean all four keys are required. Gold, silver, arsenic, and antimony, in that order... I hope.'

In the end, with one permutation of keys or another, they had the door open and the sight inside revealed. But Penny did not immediately step inside, being wary of another water trap or the like, and especially of the man inside. But the smashed glass suggested the immortal had already escaped his long sleep, disarming the trap before ever setting it off. But death by drowning may have been a mercy to what this man had endured over centuries. 'Careful, the room may not still be trapped, but this fellow needs no sudden movements on our part.' she whispered a warning.

Then she announced softly 'Hello, sir. The door is open now, and we are quite real, as you can see.' The scanned the debris for the scroll case, but feared he may be holding tight to it still. This could be even harder than persuading Archambaud.

Loki looks relieved that Penny's figured out the clues, which, indeed she has. Clearly he is walking a fine line with helping you, one that even he is wary of.

How do I know that?! He suddenly snaps at Penny's assurances you all are real. Ian steps closer to Penny, protectively. You figments always say you're real! Liars! Every one of you! LIARS!!! He staggers to his feet, lurching towards you. Ian smoothly steps in front then, but before he can react, the man stops, staring behind the Scot's shoulders. But....but none of them have opened the door before... he breathes, anger melting. He moves around Ian, eyes filled with wonder as he trance-like drifts to the now open doorway. He looks like he's seen the most beautiful thing in the world, and even runs his weathered hands on the door frame like he's seeing a long lost friend. There is a beat of silence at this moment of awe, and then, suddenly, the old man is running down the corridor with far greater speed than someone his age or condition has the right to.

ooc: Roll a constitution check to see if you can outrun him. Also, if you like you can roll a spot check to see if you did notice any evidence of a trap in the room too.

As the crazed man ran past her Alice attempted to catch his ankle with her foot to send him sprawling.

05:07, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 14 using 1d20+8.  AoO trip.
Trip attacks are vs. Touch AC.

Wondering how she could possibly prove she was real, and if it might not have been better to say she wasn't, Penny was taken aback by the vehemence of the old man's denials. But she was thankful for Ian's leaping to her defence. She was content to let the old man rediscover the world outside, right up until he took off on a headlong flight into it. 'No, please stop, sir!' she called, before giving chase. 'It's not safe!'


OOC:
16:30, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+10. Spot.
16:30, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 17 using 1d20+1. Constitution.

The trip works and the old man goes sprawling, hard. He lays there on the stone floor, gasping in shock and then, his shoulders begin to shake and a strange sound comes out of him. It takes you a moment to realize the wheezing, lilting sound is laughter. It starts as a chuckle and erupts into cackles as he just lies there, laughing. This guy is creeeeep-y. Loki says with distaste. Think we should just...? he makes a throat slitting sound and a gesture. Ian looks at him in horror and the trickster quickly explains himself. What? It's an act of mercy! I mean, this guy is nuts as a jar of skippy. We'd be doing him a favor. Mental health care in your day and age is pretty brutal. Hearing this, the old man gets excited. Yes! Yes! Kill me! Release me from my torment! Do what I've been too cowardly to do! Loki gestures triumphantly then, as if to say, "see?!"

We can't kill someone for being mad, Ian scolds both men with a glower. He might get un-mad, you never know. A start would be getting him out of this horrid place.


Meanwhile, Penny, you do notice a lever in a similar location as the first tomb you went to with the water trap. Something tells you it's the same situation.

If looks alone could kill a god and make him shut up, then Penny shot one at Loki for his crass and callous remark. He seemed intent on evaporating the good will he had just earned, but then, tricksters rarely set out to be liked. She returned her attention to the crazed old man, crouching down and urging him 'No, please, stop that. You were brave not to take that escape. You don't want all that waiting to have been a waste, do you? And there's a whole wide world out that there you'll want to see. The modern city of Rome, the New World of America, the southern continent of Australia, the great oceans, the, the moors of Devon.' she ended, grasping for good examples and starting to feel homesick herself. But she hoped to counter the man's despair by reviving the exhilaration of freedom he'd shown earlier, just without haring off into danger. 'Let us help you, let us show you them.'

Alice went over and began to hogtie the crazy man.

08:30, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  Use Rope.

Seeing what Alice was doing, Penny raised a hand to halt her. 'Alice, please wait. This man has been bound more than long enough. I would not see him bound one more minute if we can help it.' she asked, hoping she could get through to him first. If Alice tied him up, then he might never trust them.

Alice nodded and backed away without tieing crazy man up. She kept a hand on a revolver, just in case.

The mixture of Penny's words and kindness and Alice's obedience in not tying him up seems to affect the man. He laughs, uncontrollably, then his laughter turns to sobs as he lies there on the floor in a heap. Lily and Ian exchange sympathetic looks, neither quite knowing how to react to this. Loki just looks uncomfortable, clearly not liking the man's display of emotion. At last he stops, wiping his face and sitting upright. Living, or dying, either is better than this tomb. Do with me what you will. I have no allegiance to anyone or anything. Not anymore. I take it you're here for this? he pulls out a scroll from the tattered rags he wears. If you are deserving, I'm happy to give it to you. If you are demons, I have not the strength or mind to stop you.

Penny could not possibly imagine the endless despair and deepest depression this man must have faced, trapped within such a small bare chamber for centuries, alone but for his personal demons, with no hope of escape or release or any interruption to the monotony and madness. He had not slept like Archambaud, something had gone awry and he had been conscious and aware the entire time. Yet he had not gone wholly insane, he had not tried to take his own life, if he even could. There was some incredible about this man. Penny gently laid a hand on the scroll, not wanting to risk losing it, as she said 'Take heart, sir knight. We are not demons nor monsters, just men and women like yourself,' Naturally, she discounted Loki, who was not a mortal man and also officially not here and not helping them. 'In our own struggle against them. We need this to banish a prince of Hell. Archambaud de St. Amand sent us here. Your long vigil is at an end, and, sir, I must say I do not see you as defeated and broken. I stand in awe of your strength of character, your courage and mental endurance, and your patience. Few others could have done what you did. Though you have suffered and lost, it is true, you have persisted against impossible odds, and you have succeeded. Please, cherish that knowledge.' She shifted her hand to his hand, understanding it was the first friendly human contact he'd had in all that time. She needed to coax this man back to his humanity. 'Do you remember your name?'

Alice nudged Penny, "We should get moving."

Your words have a profound effect on the man. He squeezes your offered hand warmly, gently, looking at it in wonder for this is indeed the first human touch he's felt in centuries, save for Alice's trip, of course. At last, he gives a small nod, gathering strength, his eyes starting to focus and clear, though it seems to be taking all of his effort. Andre he says thickly. Andre de Montbard. That was my name. Is. My name. He corrects himself.

As he speaks, you hear approaching footsteps from down a corridor. A lot of them. They will be upon you soon. Loki turns his head sharply, his eyes narrowing. Those are not the footfalls of priests, he warns. Sounds like we have some nasties coming our way. Watch that scroll, he nods to Penny.

ooc: Ok, you have about three or 4 rounds before they get there. There is another corridor you can try to escape down, but you'll have to roll a move silently to see if you can keep them from hearing where you've gone. Also you would need to roll constitution checks to see if you can outpace them. Penny, you may keep your constitution roll from before if you wish since you didn't use it. Up to you. Or, you can stay and try to fight or trigger traps or all sorts of variations.

Alice asked, "Penny?" Penny was the brains of their partnership and Alice  waited for her to give a plan to follow.

'Andre de Montbard,' Penny repeated for his benefit, and her own recollection of Templar history after recent research. She'd been expecting one of the obscure, forgotten founding knights, like Archambaud, Geoffroi, or Rossal, but not him. 'Of Hochadel in Burgundy? Fifth Grand Master of the Knights Templar. History records that you died in Jerusalem.' she was saying as she came aware of the approaching footsteps.

Taking the scroll and giving it to Alice, Penny hastily worked through their limited options. Close the door and creep away? The enemy knew they were here, as they always did; they would not waste time with the keys and code. Loki had triggered all the traps; they were no longer effective. But for one. Reaching into the chamber, Penny hooked her cane on the lever that hat taunted poor Andre all these centuries.  'Run! The side corridor!' she urged the group, waiting until they were far enough away before she yanked the lever, turned and ran from the expected deluge!


OOC: Betting on another water trap, Penny will set it off for a distraction and then run down the side corridor.

Alice put the scroll away and nodded at Penny's idea. "No heroics ya hear me?" then she motioned for the others to follow except Loki, "What say you watch this for posterity sake?"

Andre starts to answer Penny, but cuts himself off as the situation takes a turn. Seeing Penny's intentions, the old man starts ushering the rest of you towards the side corridor, Penny only seconds behind. The trap works beautifully. Water gushes out with alarming force, sweeping the corridor the footsteps were coming from. Over the the rushing sound of water, you can hear cries of alarm as you race down the new path. Loki takes the back, keeping look out for any dangers while Andre, surprisingly spry, leads the front. Much like his counterpart Archambaud did before, he bids you to step where he steps so as to avoid traps. You remember all these but barely remember your own name? Ian pants in surprise as he barely avoids triggering a trap. I'm the one who told them where to build them! Andre calls back. Impress- Ian's compliment is cut short by a startled curse from Lily just as a spear shoots out from the wall and grazes her side. You seem to have forgotten that one old man! she snarls angrily. He gives her an apologetic look, but continues on. Fortunately, the rest of the way goes smoothly. The water seems to have done its work, though your head start won't last much longer. You can hear footfalls in the distance once again. By then, however, Andre already has reached his destination. He stops so suddenly that it's difficult not to slam into him, and places his hand on a wall, pushing in and sliding it open. He looks delighted with himself that he's remembered it. He ushers you through, the wall closing behind you, and to your surprise you find yourselves in what seems to be a bedroom, an ornate, carved wooden bed in front of you, simple yet elegant furnishings about you, but thankfully empty. Breathing hard, Andre plops on the bed, laying on his back and laughing. My brain is rotten but there's still a clean spot or two!

Alice looked this way and that as the wall closed behind them. "Where are we old man? I'm done with games. You said you were leading us out not to some bedroom."