Vapourware [Play-by-post] Lamentations in Averoigne

[SoupNazi]

Finn observes, genuinely impressed by how finesse can outdo reckless brawn.

 

[nikolokolus]

Each of the other three boxes have an identical configuration: a pivoting false bottom that slides out of the way when pushed on, and a single black lever laying down horizontally inside of a small recess underneath.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Each of the other three boxes have an identical configuration: a pivoting false bottom that slides out of the way when pushed on, and a single black lever laying down horizontally inside of a small recess underneath.

Were Requin or any other dude to run their gloved fingers across the surface of the boxes, would they find any marking/scratching/engraving that indicates their purpose or order or usage?

 

[nikolokolus]

The boxes are unadorned: roughly chiseled black, volcanic rock of some sort.

 

[SoupNazi]

Can we tie a bit of rope to the levers and pull one from outside of the room?

 

[L'ennui]

"Worth a try."

Spoiler

If that should prove unworkable, Guillemin will try to jam his pole under a lever and push it towards an upright position.

 

[SoupNazi]

Should even that not work, Finn will try to pull one of the levers - first with the glove off, then with the glove on. And he'll keep his ear pressed to the pedestal while doing it, listening to any mechanisms, if they get stuck after moving (like when a the wrong key hits the spools even if it can turn), or if the mechanism doesn't move at all.

 

[AdamReith]

And if that doesn't work Grima will suggest that the group pull all levers together simultaneously.

 

[SoupNazi]

And if that doesn't work Grima will suggest that the group pull all levers together simultaneously.

Gloves on and off!

 

[nikolokolus]

Trial and error, trial and error. Nothing seems to work . . . Until Grima offers up the idea of everyone donning a glove and pulling all of the levers simultaneously. Suddenly a part of the eastern wall in the northeast corner grinds and slides inward, revealing a portal to another room. Peeking through the open door reveals a room choked with cobwebs and dust. There is an elevated bier in the middle of the room decorated on its side with bas relief spirals designs and intricate carved leaves of holly and oak around its edges. On top of the bier is an ancient corpse, withered and desiccated. It is still wearing a mostly intact robe of linen, that is yellowed with age. The robe is hemmed in thread-of-gold embroidery, and held in its clasped hands is a polished shillelagh made of gnarled wood, and there is a torc of gold around its neck. Most notably, the skeltal remains have a large rack of a hart affixed to the skull by wires. Thankfully, it does not rise or do anything that skeletons aren't supposed to do (under normal circumstances).

Marcus takes a quick look at the revealed room and mutters very softly, "Hmmmm . . . a druid of the Gauls, I think?"

There are no other objects in the room. All you can see is an unadorned, featureless stone door in the south of wall of the 20' X 10' chamber. Next to the door is a stone lever set into the wall, on the right hand side, that is looks as though it can be pulled down.

 

[nikolokolus]

Puzzle XP!

Everyone earns 250 experience points for solving the puzzle of the 4 gloves/levers.

 

[L'ennui]

Guillemin carefully navigates towards the bier, prodding the ground as he goes with his pole. He also takes a look at the ceiling before entering the room.

 

[nikolokolus]

Guillemin carefully searches and examines the room and finds nothing unusual or threatening about the floor or the ceiling. He eventually reaches the edge of the bier and looks down on the reposing skeleton. Thin wisps of ancient brown beard still cling in a ruff around the corpse's chin and he sees a little sprig of ancient, dusty mistletoe clutched in his fingers that are wrapped about the perfectly preserved cudgel resting on his breast.

Upon closer examination, Guillemen also finds a thin wand of willow tucked into his rope belt on his side opposite to the secret door and sees that his white robe isn't made of linen after all, but appears to be woven from some kind of fine silk. Very odd, he can't help but think

 

[Grimgravy]

"Clearly a high status fellow. And one of wealth." Ganelon looks over the corpse checking for tattoos and signs of injury or organ removal. He tries to void touching the corpse and its belongings with his bare skin.

 

[nikolokolus]

The skin on the corpse (what remains) is very dark and like dry parchment, so there is no way to know if it was tattooed in life -- no more than scrips and scraps here or there. You peek under the room and see a skeleton. If organs were removed at any point it's impossible to tell, and there are no obvious signs of injury or trauma from what you can tell.

 

[Snorkack]

"May I have a closer look at the wand," Daphne asks and meditates a bit about its nature.

Spoiler

Didn't expect to be afk for so long, pardon.

 

[SoupNazi]

"A rich man with a cudgel? I don't know, I'd expect a thug skulking around the back streets of Vyones to have one, at best, not a noble. Anything special about this one?" He lifts the cudgel off of the corpse carefully and passes it along to Requin. Remembering how much they party got for the curtains from the other tomb, he also lifts the cloak and dons it around his shoulders, straightening his back and giving a twirl. "Do I look rich now?"

 

[ERYFKRAD]

By cudgel you mean the shillelagh right?

 

[AdamReith]

Grima snaffles the torc and looks about the new room for anything else of value that could be removed by the group and brought to the surface.

 

[L'ennui]

Guillemin leans closer to examine the wires affixed to the skull.

Spoiler

My reading comprehension fails me... not sure what we're supposed to be looking at here - can't fathom what a "rack of a Hart" could be.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Guillemin leans closer to examine the wires affixed to the skull.

Spoiler

My reading comprehension fails me... not sure what we're supposed to be looking at here - can't fathom what a "rack of a Hart" could be.

Spoiler

Deerhorns

 

[nikolokolus]

The cudgel breaks from of the dead man's iron grip, as you break finger bones to get it to come loose. The thing is polished, and hefty and doesn't appear to have aged a day in this dusty, moldy place. Finn, strips the raiment from the corpse and jokingly throws it over his head. He doesn't look rich, but he does get a strange expression on his face.

Daphne takes up the wand and spends several long minutes concentrating on it. Her eyes go wide and a little gasp escapes her pursed lips (Snorkack I'll send you a PM with deets)

Guillemin leans over the dead man's face and looks at the wires affixing the antlers to his crown. Marcus comments, "Cernunoss, the Gallic Horned God, I'd wager. We spent many a month battling some holdouts who rebelled against the Empire in my youth. These me thought they could transform themselves into beasts. I never saw such a thing, but they certainly fought like beasts."

Grima gently lifts the heavy gold torc and pockets it, while scanning the room for anything else of value or interest, but sees nothing.

 

[Grimgravy]

Noticing his odd expression, Ganelon asks: "Anything wrong, Finn?"

 

[AdamReith]

Grima also turns his attention to Finn. Attempting to attune with the silk garment to determine any magical qualities.

"You best not damage that, it is likely very valuable."

 

[nikolokolus]

Grima walks over and grabs ahold of the hem while Finn is still wearing the raiment, and after several minutes of concentration decides that there's nothing about it that he can detect as unnatural. Meanwhile, one of your torches burns out.; it's probably been about an hour since you crawled down here and started to snoop around, which means you are getting very close to needing to turn back and head for home if you want to avoid getting caught out in the swamp after dark.