OpenQuest PbP - In Search of Folly

Drohem · April 25, 2011, 01:38:08 AM

Seeing the pillars rotate when he advanced, Norel stops in his tracks and then slowly back steps several feet closer to his companions.

"I don't like the looks of it," Norel says quietly.

Pseudoephedrine · April 25, 2011, 01:51:49 AM

As you retreat beyond the white line of tiles, the pillar rotate back to their starting positions.

Pseudoephedrine · April 25, 2011, 08:49:38 PM

The droning grows a little louder. Clearly, the movements of the pillars are agitating the wasps.

Sigmund · April 26, 2011, 08:43:03 AM

Alric whispers, "This is not a very good time to be doing this. I do not know much about the insects, but are they not more dormant at night when it is cooler? Is there perhaps a way we can wait until then to check this out, or perhaps find some way to temporarily remove the insects... smoke them out maybe?" He holds the lantern lower to the floor while looking up at the wasps nervously.

Pseudoephedrine · April 26, 2011, 10:50:27 AM

The temple you're in is in the middle of a forest, so if you could get back outside, there's tons of wood laying about that could be burnt. Behind you are the massive front doors of the temple, jammed shut. They're iron-banded wooden doors about 3m high.

skofflox · April 26, 2011, 04:41:53 PM

Eye'n those pillars with suspicion while trying to ignore the drone of the wasps

listening as the others talk over the choices I keep an eye out for any movement with bow at half draw.

"Mayhaps Alric has the way of it, the fire may drive the bruin out as well, though other folk may see the smoke and perhaps come to investigate?!" as I flick my head in the direction of the bears den. " I am happy to explore the other areas first."

Pseudoephedrine · April 26, 2011, 09:29:37 PM

There are a total of seven doors on each side, and what looks like it might be a door behind the altar, though you'd have to cross the white tile line again to get within torchlight to confirm.

You recognise four doors on the west side - one from the room you entered from, two from that long, empty room, and one from the bear's room. It looks like the door arrangements are symmetrical.

Drohem · April 27, 2011, 03:10:51 PM

Norel shakes his thoughtfully and scratches his beard absently as he muses, "the silver we have come for to save the village is right there on that altar. The rotating pillars are strange and may very well be a trap to protect that untouched silver. Alric is right though, if we are to work in this room we have to do something about the wasps. Let's build a fire and smoke them out as best we can, and then we can focus on the altar and pillars. Although, Amrakhan does a valid suggestion as well. It might be that we find another way to the altar by exploring elsewhere in the temple first. What say you, should we smoke out the wasps first, or explore elsewhere and come back to the altar later?"

Sigmund · April 28, 2011, 09:31:14 AM

"It could be that by exploring we find an alternate. We also made a promise to the dead king. At the very least, it may be closer to nightfall when we get back to this obstacle and the cooler night air may eliminate our need to smoke out the insects. As a newcomer to your band, however, I will do whatever you folks decide." Alric says quietly.

skofflox · April 29, 2011, 09:23:59 PM

"I am for finding other ways." as I continue to eye the wasps.

Akrasia · April 30, 2011, 03:03:26 PM

"Norel, my impression is that the pillars shifted because of the weight of your step. Perhaps we might be able to secure the silver without triggering this mechanism at all? By means of my modest sorcery, I may be able to fly over the floor and retrieve the silver we need to save the village without arousing the ancient pillars at all."

Bryce then pauses for a moment, listening to the buzzing above him.

"Although it may, of course, be prudent for me to employ my magic only after the wasps either have calmed down or been driven away."

Drohem · May 02, 2011, 12:04:58 PM

"Well, let's move back into the other room, build a fire, and smoke out the wasps," Norel suggests, "so that Bryce can employ his magic. Also, it might a good chance to smoke out that old bear from his den and see what those written documents are about."

Pseudoephedrine · May 04, 2011, 12:31:14 AM

The only challenge to building a fire and smoking everything out will be how much time you want to take to accomplish this. Harvesting a substantial amount of firewood (enough for a big smoky bonfire) and bringing it in through the crack you entered by will be the most time consuming option, taking probably two or three hours of work. You could also build that bonfire just about anywhere in the building and smoke the whole place out (though watch out you don't accidentally commit arson...).

Smaller fires would be faster to collect wood for, and being able to come in either through the bear's tunnel or the temple doors would be faster. The bear's tunnel is protected by the bear, of course, and the temple doors are jammed, but could possibly be broken down (using weapons or magic). A smaller fire might not be enough to flood the entire temple with smoke though - you'd probably have to choose a room or two, build the fire close by, and fan the smoke into wherever you wanted it to go.

Sigmund · May 04, 2011, 10:45:03 AM

Alric quietly says, " I can accomplish the task of starting the fire, and making sure it does not escape control, if we can gather the fuel for it. I would suggest we stick to mainly the insects for now and see how effective our strategy is first, and because I gather for you fellows, the silver is important for this village you mentioned and so aiding my esteemed colleague to secure it is a high priority. After that perhaps we can continue to pursue the knowledge we need to help the poor king's spirit. That would be my suggestion.

Drohem · May 04, 2011, 12:18:35 PM

Norel nods in agreement, and says, "yes, the wasps is first priority. We can always deal with the bear at our convenience. Let's start looking for fuel. Unless either Alric or Bryce have some magical way of getting the wasps to leave their nest?"