Chapter 8: Out of the frying pan, into the attic?
Copyright © 2000 by the players of Emerald Sphere of Sighs.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-07-27 13:43:53]
Subject: up and out?
Chúrisan uses his spear to help Neshkriuma make a man-sized hole. "That is a clever idea, learned Adzul. I fear I have left my helmet in my room, but perhaps Neshkriuma would risk his fine brains-bucket?" He is looking around for furniture tall enough to be a step up as he speaks.

From: Game Master [2000-07-28 12:41:51]
Subject: Up, Up and away.....
Chúrisan joining Neshkriuma helps to open the hole quicker. Never the less, it is a hard and time consuming endeavor. The "soft" spot was only a large as a mans head once it had given up all the material it would. The harder sections did not give in so easily, and it was quite some time before a body sized hole had opened up. Luck is surly on your side as the hole opened up right between two rafters allowing you a sturdy climbing area. You thank your god for allowing a leaky roof which obviously had softened this section over the years. The helmet on a spear, "let's see if he's still lurking about" <---- Bugs Bunny fans will get that one :) yields nothing in particular. Safe to say that besides a few bugs and perhaps a rat or two, nothing else is mulling around.

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2000-07-29 14:36:00]
Subject: Furniture and holes
Ssrivan sees that the efforts to open a hole in the roof have been successful, and begins to drag any available medium sized furniture items towards the space below the hole--he will assist anyone else attempting similar actions, as two can move larger objects and thus, speed our escape.

"It seems our enemies are not omniscient--and that is good, as I wss beginning to worry that all possible avenues of action on our part had been anticipated and blocked. At least now we have a chance to find out what is going on here. Hopefully enough of our hosts survive to allow us to gain possible answers there as well."

He then continues his labors with the furniture.

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2000-07-31 14:01:14]
Subject: Right then.
Hrissu, seeing that an avenue of escape might be possible, stands up, dusts himself off and helps with the furniture moving.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-08-02 22:07:09]
Subject: first out
Chúrisan asks: "Could one of you sorcerous fellows make a light up there? I'll go through, but I'd like to see where I'm going." Once the hole is big enough, Chúrisan will climb up on to the table, with a torch in hand if no magical light is available, and peer in. If all is well, he'll gently toss his chlen-hide sword up first, then pull himself up and through. "Could someone pass up my bow and arrowcase please?"

From: Game Master [2000-08-03 11:54:51]
Subject: Up, up and away....
Chúrisan stands on the short legged table which has been dragged to its position under the man sized hole in the ceiling. As he peers up into the dark hole a slight glow starts to emanate from somewhere in the rafters. It slowly becomes brighter and brighter until Chúrisan can see to the ridge beam. At this point he looks around the room at each of the members takes a deep breath and jumps as high as he can with his arms high over his head. He manages to grab some solid joists and pulls himself up so that his head rises above the ceiling and takes a look about. Confident that there are no Ssu lurking about he hoists himself up the rest of the way. It is a tight fit but he is able to get into the attic with little
trouble. Neshkriuma hops up on the table and motions for the next person to climb up into the attic. He is offering a hand from down below as Chúrisan's down stretched arm offers assistance from above.

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2000-08-03 14:22:05]
Subject: Next.
Gathering Chúrisan's bow and quivver, Hrissu passes them up to the waiting archer, then accepts the offered assistance.

"I knew that you were favored by the Gods."

From: Adzul hiOgeado [2000-08-07 05:48:41]
Subject: Up I Go
"I suppose I had best go next, as I am afraid I may need assistance on both ends. My days in the temple hardly prepared me for these exertions."

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2000-08-07 22:36:56]
Subject: possible lower back strain
Neshkriuma looks at the corpulent priest and sighs. "Between Adzul and the that limp rag of a Deshnah I'll be lucky if I can get out of bed in the morning. By Hru'u, I'll be lucky enough if I get into a bed this morning! Ah well..." Nesh continues to hoist party members into the attic space all the while keeping an eye on the door for any intruders.

From: Game Master [2000-08-07 22:57:34]
Subject: definite lower back strain.
The groans and grunts can be heard from below as Adzul is hoisted into the attic. A bit of extra effort is imposed on his assent as his "learned" physique is forced through the narrow passage. After Deshnah is poured upward, Neshkriuma tosses up several pieces of equipment and then springs up and, with a small assist from Ssrivan, comes to stand on the joists. As you look about your new haven you notice that the attic is one long contiguous room, there is nothing stored there nor is there anything of note. There is, however, quite a thick covering of dust on the joists and ceiling back, so being able to tell if you have company should be very easy.... The attic is not huge, in fact you have to bend a bit to fit well. It is apparent that if you were to stand or jump on the space between the joists that you would fall through into the room below.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-08-08 10:54:28]
Subject: tactics?
"Where next, learned colleagues? It appears we could emerge into the hallway below that leads back to the main house (though it was recently occupied by numerous enemies), or we could pop out of the roof and down onto the balcony. I saw the ropes on the balcony cut from the far end, at the temple of Vaomahl far across the plaza, they could still be hanging down into courtyard below. Or we could just drop down into one of our rooms. Suggestions? Could any of you sorcerors hide the sounds of our breaking through?"

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2000-08-10 15:57:24]
Subject: Taking a look.
Hrissu bends down to look through a hole in the thatch between the support beams, checking to see if the way is clear. "Your womanfriend went down the hallway, some time ago... I saved her from the Flame Priests... she went to get help. Perhaps we should find her."

From: Game Master [2000-08-16 13:18:19]
Subject: Is it warm up here, or is it just me?
With a bit more exploring you notice a few more details. The large ridge beam is supported by great, thick and heavy, uncut rafters. Between them are smaller slats of wood which, though they look ridiculously small and frail in comparison to the larger rafters, are ample support for the slate tiles which act as the roof. With just a glance you realize that these small supports could easily be snapped to create an opening. Looking between the joists beneath your feet you can see the back side of the ceiling below. There are bits of straw and thatching materials poking through the plaster type material which constitutes the smooth ceiling beneath. A glance to the left and to the right puts you at almost dead center of the attic area. Though the attic lacks height, it is extremely wide as it encompasses not only the area directly over your rooms but it also extends out over the hallway to the one side and over the balcony to the other. You can see that in the center of the attic, directly under the ridge beam, there are several planks which have been placed across the joists, rather haphazardly, to form a walk way. The air in the attic is musty and humid, all together not a pleasant atmosphere for most activities.

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2000-08-17 02:01:21]
Subject: Walkways
"Folks, we might just want to get to those boards over there that look like a walkway, as moving about on these beams will be quite dangerous otherwise. One wrong step and the unlucky individual will probably plunge through this plaster into whatever room is below--and we still don't know exactly where our enemies are hiding in wait for us. It would probably be best to use this attic to get as far as possible from our original problem, as it is large, open, and best of all--unknown to them."

With that he begins to pick his way carefully towards the walkway, helping to carry the limp form of Deshnah as he goes.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-08-17 14:39:38]
Subject: good news
"A thousand thanks, Hrissu. Jangalva was a delight, and from the absence of our hosts, I feared that she had been taken."
Chúrisan takes a cautious step from one joist to another. "Master Locksmith, your advice is sound. Let us follow the planks, they will probably lead us to the main section of the house, away from our enemies. I am beginning to wonder at the delay. If we are so valuable to Darmkula and his associates, why have we been so poorly protected?"

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2000-08-17 15:26:27]
Subject: But of course...
Hrissu smiles slightly. "Chúrisan, my friend, it was a pleasure to watch her work. She had laid three low before tiring. I had only to... distract... her captors to allow her to fell the rest."

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-08-18 12:34:05]
Subject: multi-talented
Chúrisan's eyes go wide. "Three? By Orkutai's third head, I had no idea the woman was so, ah, formidable. Truly a person of many talents..." His words trail off as he picks his way along the planks towards the main wing of the house.

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2000-08-22 14:08:54]
Subject: Hah.
Walking behind Chúrisan, apparently not finished, Hrissu remarks, "She does not know that I was the one who gave her attacker his charming smile. What is our next move, Tirrakámu?"

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-08-23 13:20:58]
Subject: forward!
"Kind of you to ask, noble Singer. I suggest we proceed along these planks towards the main wing of the house, and then find a way to drop down. If the attic space goes far enough, we may actually get into the main house, or if not, at least we'll be behind our enemies, with our backs to the main wing and (I hope) some assistance." With that Chúrisan proceeds along the planks, placing his weight carefully to avoid a sudden drop through the ceiling.

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2000-08-29 02:44:54]
Subject: Plank Walking
Ssrivan continues down the planks with the others, assisting them with the transport of Deshnah where needed and looking carefully at everything they pass--it is always possible there is another hidden way out of here.

From: Game Master [2000-08-29 17:03:27]
Subject: Let's get a move on....
Carefully placing your feet, your party slowly makes its way to the planks which run down the center of the attic. Getting Deshnah there has proved to be quite a task and almost jeopardized your position several times.

Once on the planks you find them to be thick and solid, able to hold much more than what your group has to offer in weight. Caution is still in order as the thick layer of dust does prove to be rather slippery. The planks create a pathway which is about four feet in width. About every fifteen feet there is a thick support beam which runs vertically, from some where below the ceiling, up to the ridge beam where the two are fastened together. This is your only road block as the planks split, and travel around the large supports, giving you about two feet, on either side, to skirt around.

As you draw near the first support you notice a rune, which is carved towards the top, starts to give off a bit of light. Your party stops! Backs up. The glow diminishes. You move forward and the glow becomes brighter again. Ssrivan recognizes it as a lighting system. The rune is activated by your proximity and emits a glow to light that area of the attic, and indeed, as you pass that support and leave it behind, its glow darkens until the next supports rune lights up to bring you into its presence. You continue on in this fashion, passing one lit support after another, until a hand is raised (one of your party members) and you stop.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-08-30 21:39:33]
Subject: wind?
"ohe, there is a breeze here!" Chúrisan moves out to the edge of the attic, where the roof meets the "ceiling" below our feet. Stepping aside to move his shadow he grunts, and points. "A small hole, but the air moves as though there were a fan. It is too small to climb through, and I don't want to end up on that balcony again. Let's move towards the main wing of the house." With a glance at the glowing rune, he mutters "Much sorcery in this place".

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2000-09-03 01:17:56]
Subject: Air holes
It must have been for the comfort of those who once used this place, like the glow stones on the pillars. Nice, but nor necessarily important. It does say that those here had a nearly limitless supply of sorcerous power at some time in the past--but as I saw no evidence of similar appurtenances below, it must have been exhausted by now.

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2000-09-05 22:58:09]
Subject: Air indeed?
Neshkriuma takes a good look around and says, "I still feel a breeze which is far stronger and sweeter than what that small hole could produce, is there perhaps another opening, one being concealed by magic? There seems to be plenty of it up here at this moment".

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2000-09-06 10:47:14]
Subject: What a wierd guy.
Hrissu slips up ahead, threading through the beams of the attic and begins poking at the walls. He slides his hands over boards and beams, humming slightly to himself.
From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2000-09-06 17:44:35]

Subject: Air Holes II
You are right Neshkriuma, there is much mure air than such a hole could produce normally. If there is such a portal concealed from us in this place, it must be in that area over there (points to the general area of the delicious breeze He has been following). The others see him concentrating briefly as he begins to truly scan the area before him.

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2000-09-07 16:10:45]
Subject: Warnings!
"Hrissu, watch out! You are right in front of a sorcerous portal. Please stop and allow me to examine it before we make a mistake."

Ssrivan then advances carefully to the place where he can see the vortex, looking carefully for any and all signs of its triggering mechanisms.

"Somewhere near here there will be a device that allows me to deactivate this for a short time--and when I use it, we will be able to see whatever it is that this protal conceals. This is an ancient magic, much used in the tombs of our illustrious ancestors, and usually not nearly this strong. I do wonder what it is doing here."

Ssrivan continues to comb the area as he speaks, moving carefully from beam to beam as he approaches the concealed portal two pillars in front of the main group.

"This portal's energies do not seem to be inimical by nature, though it may cause grievous harm if not approached in the appropriate fashion. I have skill at opening such things, for specialty locks have always interested me. It must have been something very important to someone to have secured it so carefully in such an out of the way place. With luck, it may even assist us in our venture. The gods may have pointed us this way with just such an eventuality in mind, a thought that if known, would give our enemies a great deal of consternation."

Ssrivan chuckles a bit and looks over the final space separating himself from the portal with a very practiced eye.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-09-07 19:58:05]
Subject: cautiously...
Chúrisan is obviously uneasy. "While it's true that our hosts have quite failed to provide us with the customary secure repose, it doesn't seem quite appropos to go rummaging through their secret treasures in response. Let us make a quick check and move on. We should not linger here."

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2000-09-07 22:35:30]
Subject: A light come on
"That's it"!!! Neshkriuma exclaims, "that black onyx blocking the doors. I knew that I had seen that somewhere before. Chúrisan, you have seen battle. Have you never seen the priests of the prince of the blue room cast spells which create black obelisks? Unless my memory fails me I have seen them conger such monuments in narrow spaces to block out troops and attackers. Perhaps it wasn't our would-be assassins who erected those stones? Is there not a black robed priestess on our side? Mayhaps it was for our benefit that those doors were blocked". Neshkriuma glances around at the other party members. "Still, I feel much better up here, where there is room, than I did in that box in which we were confined".

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2000-09-08 22:11:11]
Subject: Levers and holes in the floor
"It seems that our hosts may no longer even know of this particular storehouse of wealth themselves my friends. This box has not been opened in generations. Unless they have good records of all that their esteemed ancestors set up in this place, it is likely that none living know of it any longer. Finding it, and potentially using it to their and our benefit, would be a great aid in our endeavor. Of course, we must report our find to the master of the house when we find him--we cannot just walk off with it and expect to maintain his confidence."

Ssrivan seens to be carefully worrying at a small plank in the floor while he is speaking to you. He waves the curious back a bit without too much explanation, though there seems to be something wrong with the plank's underside for those who look closely at it. He pulls a small vial of oil from his toolkit and places several drops at strategic places on the dusty lever revealed in the compartment below, taking care not to touch the lever with his hands or even with the applicator from the vial--the drops seem to float into position and drop exactly where he wants them. Anyone watching realizes that this man is a true master of his craft--and he is in his element here.

"Once I move this lever, the portal will open for a short time. I know not what I will see within, but if the gods are with us, it will be something we can put to good use."

SSrivan then tests the strength of the boards to either side of the depression holding the lever and drives his dagger carefully into the stronger of the two planks, at a steep angle away from the depression. He then ties a long strip of the cloth he has left over from the fireball lantern preparations to it and carefully threads it under the lever and out the other side of the depression. He moves away and extends his arms out to the cloth strip, placing his entire body very low to the floor. He also motions the others away from the opening. Once all is in position, he begins to slowly tug at the strip, alternately adding and releasing force to slowly worry the oil into the various components of the lever. Once it appears that the lever will move more than a miniscule fraction, he will increase the strength of the tugs carefully to force the lever up and deactivate the portal's defenses. He keeps his eyes averted from the depression at all times, as it would not do to have the lever release something noxious into the air around him this late in the opening process. He has taken all possible precautions to verify that no such traps exist, but being careful is his watchword--especially with old traps and sorcery.

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2000-09-11 17:13:34]
Subject: Is that a can of worms????
"By Hru'u's teeth!!! Don't pull that lever"!!! Neshkriuma shouts in a loud whisper "Ssrivan, believe me, I do not wish to call into question your expert handling of this situation. You have proven yourself to be quite the master at your craft and I mean you no disrespect or malice. But, mayhaps this is not as much a hiding place as a prison. Would it also not be prudent to believe that the reason why this magic is well hidden and long forgotten is because it holds back something that needs to be forgotten? I, for one, agree with Churisan, let us not tamper with it, notify our hosts, if it is worth something to them they would surly reward us in some fashion".

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2000-09-11 20:08:48]
Subject: levers and secret hiding places
"Neshkriuma--I thank you for your vote of confidence in this. As to the sealed portal--the weave of the portal itself tells me it is not a trap for something, rather a secure storage location--nothing more. This is a method used for securing things to be kept from the prying eyes of the overly curious, nothing more."

He continues to worry at the lever with the cloth fulcrum as he speaks.

"It may be that this will assist us in our battle with our hosts' opponents--I feel this hunch strongly, which is why I have not yet desisted. I feel the need to help our hosts--and I am quite sure that they would use the tools hidden here if they knew of them. That is why i shall restore them to their owners--for it is something I must do--just as you feel the call to battle."

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2000-09-12 17:37:27]
Subject: Humming along.
Hrissu sits down on a plank where he can watch the proceedings and still be out of the way. He peers down through the thatch, humming quietly under his breath.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-09-13 16:37:19]
Subject: watching
Chúrisan also watches with interest, from a distant plank.

From: Game Master [2000-09-13 16:49:41]
Subject: let the show begin....
The rest of the party watches quietly as Ssrivan works the lever. It is obvious that he has done this sort of thing many times before and you are content to let him have his way with the object. As you peek down into the box shaped hole in the area where the lever is, you notice thousands of very fine, hair like, needles which line the box. This would explain the reason why Ssrivan is using the cloth bands to pull the lever. Ssrivan explains that these small needles are almost certainly poisoned and had he open the lid quickly or had smashed it open, these fine needles would have flown everywhere. While they seem rather harmless he is sure that, when they were fresh, one is all it would have taken to drop a grown man. He mentions that the trap is so old and has been neglected for so long that the adhesive used to attach the needles lightly to the surface of the box has solidified, thus bonding the needles rather securely. Not willing to trust that every needle is secure (after all, there are probably thousands of them) you watch Ssrivan working the lever from several safe feet away.

The lever creeks and grinds. Small pieces of corrosion flake off as the handle starts to move. What ever the liquid was that Ssrivan used on the lever is beginning to work. Finally after some moments you hear a snap. Under the planking there is a grinding sound and you can feel a slight thud vibrate through the planks you're standing on. Ssrivan stops immediately and raises a hand.

"Don't anyone move" he says quietly. "There is a second trap". Not stirring from his spot he studies the planks and the spot under the area where he says the vortex of magic is located. He then makes sure that every one is back at a safe distance and with a smile on satisfaction on his face, he pulls the strap with one mighty tug. You hear the awful sound of metal grinding, you feel the planks move and rumble beneath your feet. The sounds of something spinning, rotating, turning, gears not quite meeting between their teeth, the rumbles of moving objects. Ssrivan motions to you to stay calm and stay put and then leans back on his elbows, in a reclining fashion on the planks, staring at the attic in front of him, ready for the show to begin. "This is where the fun begins" he shouts above the mounting noise level of the trap. " I would suggest that you all follow Hrissu's example and sit down. Actually I would rather that you get as low as possible, but don't move from where you are now, just get down. As long as the level of your head is below mine, you should be just fine".

You notice that a round wooden disk under the planking begins to spin in a counter clockwise direction. Slow at first , then after a few jerks and rattles it begins to speed up. You can tell that it was designed to operate smoothly and that the slow start up would not have been the norm. Time and neglect, however, have allowed this device to fall into disrepair, so it does not function as it was designed. After a moment or two, and with the disk spinning wildly, a corkscrew tip shows through the center of the planking followed rapidly by the shaft which opens up a hole large enough to allow the spinning disk to rise up above plank level. You notice a lever attached to the bottom side of the spinning disk and when it has risen enough to hit the planking it is thrown back and snapped off. You hear a quick, sharp click and a whirl and four round metal disks shoot out of its center. They travel several feet and are brought to an abrupt halt by the line that is attached to each one, teathering them to the wooden disk. Within no time they are rotating as quickly as the wooden disk, extensions with razor edges spinning wildly at waist level. The wooden disk rises higher and you can now see that it is just the top of a rotating column. Another lever is snapped off and several blades appear at the center of the column. Their rusty metal a blur as they rotate with the column. After a few more moments the column starts to slow and finally comes to a stop. The blades, like old crooked fingers point straight out at you. The metal disks dangling down at the end of their cords. It is obvious that, in its time, this was a lethal device.

"Well, that was fun", Neshkriuma exclaims with a very thick tone of sarcasm.
"Ohhhh it's not over yet" responds Ssrivan and at that moment you hear another clank and a shinny metal ball is hurled up from along side the column and rockets straight through the roof. The early dawn light streams in through the hole left by the projectile. You all wait for the ball to return. For, what goes up, must come down, right? Well..................

From: Hrissu hi Metumel [2000-09-14 14:26:21]
Subject: Autism and You.
Hrissu forgets to look up at the whirling crazy magic thing in the middle of the attic. Instead, he continues fiddling with the floor as though nothing has happened otherwise.

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2000-09-14 19:33:35]
Subject: Balls and Messages
"It appears our pillar here has sent notification somewhere that it has indeed been opened. It is not likely that there will be someone to receive it after all this time, but one can never be sure."

Ssrivan then begins to examine the area of the pillar and of the gateway itself to see what it is that the lockbox contained.

"I thank all of you for being so careful while I opened this--it was most refreshing."

Ssrivan chuckles to himself lightly as he continues his investigation.

From: Adzul hiOgeado [2000-09-19 08:21:27]
Subject: Get The Blades
Adzul takes his knive and starts cutting one of the lines that are attached to the blades saying "these might be usefull and at very least they will not start up again at some inopportune momment."

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-09-20 10:05:43]
Subject: prudence
Chúrisan watched in consternation as the huge mechanism arose out of nowhere, his sword held at ready. When the tethered metal blades began to spin, he hit the floor, not trusting the rope or cable that held them. From this low vantage point, he watched the metal sphere smash through the roof, speculated a moment, and moved away from his best guess for it's landing point.

Once things calm down, and Ssrivan commences to puttering again, Chúrisan joins Hrissu in trying to detach the hanging blades. While he cuts and pokes, he says "Neshkriuma, before this monster arose, you mentioned something about stone spells being a tools of the Prince of the Blue-Room. I've no experience with the sorcery of that temple, but it would be an encouraging factor. As soon as we are done with this (he waves at the hulk) we should drop down into the main wing and find out what's what."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 18:30, Fri 25 Feb 2005.