Vapourware [Play-by-post] Lamentations in Averoigne

[Madeline]

Once all the investigation she wanted to do is mostly ignored by the powers that be, Maddie stops by the message written in blood, and for a moment, stands in front of it like a deer in the headlights.

a bit like this ;)

Once she recollects herself, she stands behind the courageous men guarding the west side of the hallway, ignoring their shaking knees, and gently pushes them forward from the back, trying to reach the nearest next wall sculpture. Assuming they don't resist as she moves them like pawns on a chessboard, stopping them just in front of the next potential doorway. Lifting her hand in a "come hither" motion to Sancho, she has him shine his lantern at the next relief, presumably on the left, if they alternate.

somewhat like so

assuming the next door is indeed on the left

 

[nikolokolus]

Once all the investigation she wanted to do is mostly ignored by the powers that be, Maddie stops by the message written in blood, and for a moment, stands in front of it like a deer in the headlights.

a bit like this ;)

Once she recollects herself, she stands behind the courageous men guarding the west side of the hallway, ignoring their shaking knees, and gently pushes them forward from the back, trying to reach the nearest next wall sculpture. Assuming they don't resist as she moves them like pawns on a chessboard, stopping them just in front of the next potential doorway. Lifting her hand in a "come hither" motion to Sancho, she has him shine his lantern at the next relief, presumably on the left, if they alternate.

somewhat like so

assuming the next door is indeed on the left

Investigations?

Shit, did I miss one of your questions? If so let me address that before things mover any further.

As for the passages: the 'X' is another passage branching off to the north (and it continues on to the east), the only visible door is that little white rectangle on the map along the south wall of the passage 15 feet beyond the secret door

Madeline accompanies Daphe in examining the western chamber and is able to deduce that the stairs should ternminate somehwere behind the rubble. Clearing it from here would be substantially easier than from above, so perhaps 2-3 hours with everyone chipping in to clear blocks and shovel dirt. She also turns her attention to the frescoes

She concurs with Daphne that the corpse bearers are somehow enslaved by the black-robed figures depicted, but is able to deduce little else.

 

[nikolokolus]

As you start to wrap up your survey of the vaulted chamber with the frescoes, there is suddenly a very faint sound of a door being slammed in the distance . . . You freeze and strain your ears for seconds that grind on for an eternity, but there is no other sound. Because of the acoustics of the place it is nearly impossible to tell from where the sound originated, but it was somewhere to the east.

 

[Madeline]

The following silence is then interrupted by a different, sharper, and closer sound, as Maddie withdraws her rapier theatrically, drawing a large arc in the air with a whoosh, before pointing it ahead of herself towards the west in the En Garde position.

Spoiler

 

[AdamReith]

Vincent adopts an east facing defensive stance and prepares to tactically withdraw with the rest of the group, acting as rear-guard.

Desperately he contains an immense desire to complain profusely.

 

[L'ennui]

Guillemin's heart almost jumps out of his chest when the silence is broken unexpectedly.

After Maddie draws her rapier and the group settles back into a heavy silence, he can't help but whisper almost inaudibly.

"Shit."

 

[nikolokolus]

You stand at your guard in utter silence for what feels like a very, very long time. No other sounds are heard.

 

[Madeline]

Maddie is the first to eventually sheathe the pointy sword, especially as she realizes she's facing the opposite way from most everyone else. She wordlessly scolds Sancho for doing the same, even though the sound clearly came from the east, and refocuses on continuing the exploration . . .

 

[AdamReith]

Spoiler

I say we advance stealthily then. If they shut a door, they are presumably leaving the area.

If we haven't encountered them by now they weren't heading west.

 

[L'ennui]

Guillemin sighs and takes a tentative few steps into the eastwards corridor, pausing to see if the others follow.

Spoiler

If they do, Guillemin assumes his place in the standard marching order.

 

[AdamReith]

Vincent advances, keeping step with Guillemin.

 

[Grimgravy]

Ganelon flinches at the sound of the door. Clearly we are not alone. A survivor from the expedition that left the tripod and note seems less likely than Hell-spawn to him. He hefts his mace as he takes his place in line. Best to be ready to bludgeon anything that calls this place home.

 

[nikolokolus]

The first few tentative steps deeper into the darkness reveals more doors along the northern and southern walls of the passage; barely perceptible at the edge of your lantern light. Twenty feet to the north a short passage terminates at closed wooden door. Ten feet beyond that passage another passage turns splits off to the north and the passage continues to go east as far as you can currently see . . .

Which way would you like to go?

 

[AdamReith]

Vincent stalks up to the wooden door to the north and puts his ear to the door.

 

[nikolokolus]

He carefully and gently places his ear close to the stout wooden door as he can without touching the suraface slicked with mildew and damp. He strains to hear anything for almost a minute but can detect nothing.

 

[AdamReith]

Spoiler

Let's open this mother. What say you all?

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Spoiler

Let's open this mother. What say you all?

Spoiler

A capisce. But maybe we should see if the hinges can be lubricated with a bit of oil so it won't make as much noise as I expect it would.

 

[AdamReith]

After confirming that there was nothing to be heard on the other side of the door, Vincent looked to Guillemin with a "is it safe" expression.

 

[L'ennui]

Guillemin inspects the door, its handle (if any) and its hinges, searching for a trap.

Spoiler

Busy day today

 

[Madeline]

Madeline stands with Sancho at the rear guard, using the lantern to "patrol" the hallway they just left, making sure someone -- or something -- does not bite the party in the ass. Perhaps literally.

 

[nikolokolus]

Guillemin inspects the door, its handle (if any) and its hinges, searching for a trap.

Spoiler

Busy day today

Guillemin takes about ten minutes to carefully inspect the door jamb and the pull ring set into the right hand side of the door. (ERYFKRAD: There is no way to inspect or oil the hinges because they are on the other side of the door - it opens inward). Guillemin is satisfied that the door doesn't have any hidden needles waiting to stab him in the fingertips, nor any other hazards, but while he's kneeling down on the floor, he puts his hand out to brace himself while peering under the door and rests his hand on a loose flagstone. Moving the flagstone aside reveals a shallow recess with a small stone lever pushed down into the "closed" position.

Result of Guillemin's Search

 

[AdamReith]

Spoiler

So, it wouldn't have been activated by walking on top of it? Not a trap?

 

[L'ennui]

Guillemin's eyebrows perk up in surprise as he uncovers the small lever beneath the flagstone.

Spoiler

Can a rope be used to action the lever at a distance, as had been done in the burial mound's entrance room? If it looks feasible, Guillemin will signal for the others to stand back and do just that.

 

[L'ennui]

Guillemin loops his rope around the lever and walks back several paces, coming into the main branching corridor. He sets the rope against the edge of the intersecting walls, walks another several paces back towards the western chamber they have just passed, and gives a sharp tug.

 

[nikolokolus]

There is a sharp grinding noise followed by a deep resonant *ka-chunk* that reverberates down the passageway. Dammit! That was loud! you all think to yourselves. The doorway is still shut . . . and nothing else seems to have changed around you.