House of the Noose & the Mental Affliction

[DM Bob]

The city walls supported by gates outside of the warehouse are perhaps 8-10 feet high. A half giant or kreen could easily peek over (assuming they weren't affected by the same malady that Hawkings recently felt). The gates themselves are shut, but there's no evidence of locks - at least on this side. There could be a bar on the opposite side, but from here that isn't possible to see.

The inside of the warehouse is indeed an interesting sight. Pic below is similar. Less light inside. Some slight materials difference.



Round spindles, long wooden frames, a faceplate of stone with holes bored into it, bales of dusty, dry brittle rope...

And signs of ancient fire within. Light char is seen. There are indeed bones about, but nothing in a complete skeletal arrangement. The circular brick area in the corner is covered with a few planks. A couple empty pitchers, matching those outside the back door lay nearby.

[ascieszl]

Ibubesi will be extremely on edge, expecting a potent lethal surprise. (Alertness check: 19 vs. 19)

Quietly: "Baxby, check out the hole? Be careful of *creatures* hiding inside."

(For floor stability, traps, etc - not using him as a meat-shield)

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Oct 18, 2021 5:22:52 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

There's also a thrum or gentle buzz that you seem to detect. It feels like if you focus on it, it disappears and then reappears once you disregard it consciously. Perhaps a mental effect?

[Bob: do I detect whilst walking around any relation to the black/green balls atop the slender 15 feet high poles near the double gates? Just by regular observation and some intelligence that is - no specific power/spell/nwp that I'm using (yet)]

[Attilius]

Hawkings squats low at the entrance and looks at the floors dust, silt and soot buildup for animal tracks...

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila nods to the man with the two Kirre that stares a long time at her. "Indeed, hello."

If all the rest are inside, Quila walks up to the door and peers inside of the warehouse seeing the old contraption inside. "Hmm that kind of looks like how rope could have been made here, no?" she quietly blurts out.
This would be the moment the rest of the group that hasn't seen me yet would see me.

(Bob: I rolled a 18 vs. 16 on my Local History so that's a fail, but did roll a 14 vs. 15 on my Seamstress/Tailor - hence I know from my trade what this contraption could be, but I do not recall any facts about the Tablelands and rope trade whether Celik was ever part of that)

Is there anything resembling writing or instructive markings on the parts of this lengthy machinery that provides further clues?

(Bob: how big is the inside in feet by feet area? large enough for all people to be inside?)

After tuning into the tenseness of the situation, judging from the very focused attention the man with the Kirre seems to be paying to a tari he calls Baxby, I fall back into my own inner vigilance and am alert once more.

(OOC: rolled a 4 vs 18 on Alertness)

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Calidane lowers his dowsing stick, then puts it away and draws his boomerang and shield. "We can get back to that later."

[DM Bob]

The building is long and supports 3 rows of wooden machinery. You would guess it's at least 60 feet long, and a little less than half as wide. But without proper tools for measuring? You can only guess. Your group can all fit inside. The floor is level packed earth or clay set with flagstones, this only changes by the circular pit covered in planks, which is ringed in large clay brick. You figure that's at least 5 feet wide. The machines have no writing apparent upon them and the general thrum of Old Celik is less within the walls of the warehouse. The sound seems not to emanate from anywhere specific, but if it gets louder or softer, I will let you know.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Valmera's eyes open wide and, without stepping into the circular pit, she gets closer to inspect the wood constructions - This is really amazing.. - She speaks in lower but surprising tone.
She first looks to one of them,looking from the front, the back and sides, inspecting it, touching the surface, amazed with the discovery

[OOC:I rolled 98 in F/RT]

[DM Bob]

No traps are detected.

Baxby asks, "Shall I open 'er up?"

[Attilius]

Oct 30, 2021 6:46:34 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

No traps are detected.

Baxby asks, "Shall I open 'er up?"

Hawkings nods as he preps his two tortoise blades.

[Niachi]

Moktli readies his axes and nods to the tari.

[DM Bob]

The tari moves the planks to the side. Underneath?

An opening is revealed, a long disused contraption as well. A few feet or so below the lip of the hole, a wooden wheel supported by a pole sunk into the sides of the shaft is seen. A series of pegs (imagine a pirates' ship steering wheel) jut out from the contraption able to be reached from the side of the hole. A linked system of wooden planks wraps around this strange wheel (like a bicycle chain)... these pieces seem to be coated in a resin. Perhaps ock'n resin?

Anyways, a rotted leather sack or pouch is attached to wooden "chain".

There is no room to fit between the sides and venture down...

Unless you happened to be halfling-sized.

Pic below is similar. There is no trough as seen.

[Attilius]

"I got this..." the chipper pink feathered halfling quips.

He stows one of his tortoise blades in his pack and pulls out a torch and flint. Once the torch is lit he moves to the edge and focuses upon his nexus...

[Phase 23, rolled 12
Power Manipulation 18, rolled 13
-17 PsP's]

The halflings ghostly form winks to everyone then quickly levitates below the wooden contraption...

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

“Can you see whether there is water down there?” whispers Quila to the tari and/or others that stand closer to the well like stone enclosure at the edge of the room.
She also readies a short bow and nocks an arrow and makes sure to position for a clean shot if something surges upward from the well to the tari.

Seeing Hawkings disappear in a ghostly translucent shape and move into the well makes Quila tense up a bit more.
She starts walking to the well and will stop at a 35 foot distance of it, with an arrow still nocked.

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Calidane turns in a slow circle, boomerang held at the ready.