[Ptolus/AD&D] IC Thread #2 - Underground (part 1)

[Imperator]

Rissthil nods to Ylarum as he takes the polearm and says, "aye, my thoughts exactly."

He moves back up the trapped area, and stands back as far as he can and holds the weapon at the very end of the haft.  With a big heave, he brings the polearm overhead and swings it down with all of might on the southern most edge of the pressure plate.

I stand by Rissthil's side, eyes peeled to catch any detail of the working mechanics of the trap (assuming it's not a magic one). I'm specially looking for any hints on how it can re-arm itself.

[winkingbishop]

Othos thanks Runch, absently pockets the gold ankh, and looks over the scroll: "If these Knights of Rattle and Spear have been hiding out down here since their exile, it's been awhile...," Othos counts on his stubby fingers. "What, six years?  More than enough time to stir up some of this trouble.  It would be worth askin' Cadfan or the others about if we make it back up alive.  Or checking the next string of victims for uniforms."

[winkingbishop]

Othos watches Rissthil attempt to trigger the trap anxiously.

"Careful there fellow.  We don't want to bring you back up in a pouch."

[Sigmund]

Heaving a sigh as he watches the others fussing over giant crystals stuck in a wall, and the dirty floor, Tudd wanders over to the chest nearest to him and starts looking at it, poking at the lock with his morningstar and examining the outside of it.

[Benoist]

Rissthil nods to Ylarum as he takes the polearm and says, "aye, my thoughts exactly."

He moves back up the trapped area, and stands back as far as he can and holds the weapon at the very end of the haft.  With a big heave, he brings the polearm overhead and swings it down with all of might on the southern most edge of the pressure plate.

You slam the polearm on the edge of the pressure plate, and instantly, as you do so, you see orange waves of light rippling from the crystal of the same color to the violet crystal. Then, in the same fraction of second, you feel a great force pushing back at your fauchard, which rips out of your hands and is thrown back swirling in the air all the way to the steps of the steps of the dais, at Json's feet to be precise.

I stand by Rissthil's side, eyes peeled to catch any detail of the working mechanics of the trap (assuming it's not a magic one). I'm specially looking for any hints on how it can re-arm itself.

As Rissthil slammed the fauchard on the pressure plate, you saw a little cloud of dust puffing around it as it went through the floor. You couldn't quite see what was happening then. But as the orange blobs of light went from one crystal to the next and the fauchard flew over your head towards Json, you were able to see the pressure plate re-arm itself. There seems to be a series of ropes of some kind under the plate connected to some kind of timer (usually those use weights in one fashion or another) which progressively places back the plate in its initial position.

Heaving a sigh as he watches the others fussing over giant crystals stuck in a wall, and the dirty floor, Tudd wanders over to the chest nearest to him and starts looking at it, poking at the lock with his morningstar and examining the outside of it.

Tudd examines the chest (or "eastern chest" to be precise, as opposed to the southern chest, which has been opened, and the northern chest, which has not). Its dimension are similar to the one the group already inspected (about 3' x 2' x 2'). It has a padlock as well.

Tudd pokes the padlock with his morningstar. "Tung. tung-tung." Nothing particular happens.

[Sigmund]

Tudd looks up alarmed as the weapon flies across the room, then, seeing nothing he can identify as immediately threatening, he starts poking around the clothing of the bodies in the room.

[Benoist]

Tudd (...) starts poking around the clothing of the bodies in the room.

DM: Roll 1d100.

[Sigmund]

DM: Roll 1d100.

Die roll for Tudd

Rolled on: 2010-12-07 08:27:50.892035
1d100 → [8] = (

[Imperator]

As Rissthil slammed the fauchard on the pressure plate, you saw a little cloud of dust puffing around it as it went through the floor. You couldn't quite see what was happening then. But as the orange blobs of light went from one crystal to the next and the fauchard flew over your head towards Json, you were able to see the pressure plate re-arm itself. There seems to be a series of ropes of some kind under the plate connected to some kind of timer (usually those use weights in one fashion or another) which progressively places back the plate in its initial position.

I lie flat on the floor and carefully crawl to get a close look to the pressure plate without activating it. I need to know if I have space to insert a dagger blade or something similar to act as a wedge. Maybe we can activate it again and prevent it from re-arming.

[Benoist]

Die roll for Tudd

Rolled on: 2010-12-07 08:27:50.892035
1d100 → [8] = (

DM: Wow. That's a good roll!

You poke around randomly and suddenly hear the definite sound of something metallic rattling in the dead diseased monk's pocket.

[Benoist]

I lie flat on the floor and carefully crawl to get a close look to the pressure plate without activating it. I need to know if I have space to insert a dagger blade or something similar to act as a wedge. Maybe we can activate it again and prevent it from re-arming.

Inserting a dagger between the plate and the edge of the firm ground might be a possibility, though the space is narrower than the base of a dagger's blade. It could still rip off somehow. Activating the plate and preventing it from re-arming itself might be possible, depending on the manner you wish to proceed...

[Drohem]

Looking back toward the group on the dais and then the fauchard at Json's feet, Rissthil shrugs his shoulders with a sheepish look.

Turning back to Gareth, he says in a jovial tone, "looks like we have a live one, eh?  Let's work together on disarming this one.  You take the lead and I'll assist you."

[Drohem]

Inserting a dagger between the plate and the edge of the firm ground might be a possibility, though the space is narrower than the base of a dagger's blade. It could still rip off somehow. Activating the plate and preventing it from re-arming itself might be possible, depending on the manner you wish to proceed...

Seeing Gareth fiddle with his dagger and the plate, Rissthil looks up and turns his head as he calls back to the others, "does anyone have a knife or eating utensil?  A spoon or fork, perhaps?  We need something thin and strong to wedge under the pressure plate."

[Imperator]

Inserting a dagger between the plate and the edge of the firm ground might be a possibility, though the space is narrower than the base of a dagger's blade. It could still rip off somehow. Activating the plate and preventing it from re-arming itself might be possible, depending on the manner you wish to proceed...

I guess the best thing would be to insert some big nail to ensure it doesn't move again, but I guess the hammering may trigger it.

Looking back toward the group on the dais and then the fauchard at Json's feet, Rissthil shrugs his shoulders with a sheepish look.

Turning back to Gareth, he says in a jovial tone, "looks like we have a live one, eh?  Let's work together on disarming this one.  You take the lead and I'll assist you."

"Get me something a bit narrower than the base of a dagger blade, and I think we can work this out, my friend."

I guess I could use some of my lockpicking tools, but I'm not willing to lose some here. Hey, Gareth has got an idea.

"Why don't we test it with one of the corpses? Maybe if we pile enough of them, we can prevent it from rearming, or even damage the mechanism."

[Sigmund]

DM: Wow. That's a good roll!

You poke around randomly and suddenly hear the definite sound of something metallic rattling in the dead diseased monk's pocket.

I reach into the pocket and remove whatever's in there and look at it.