Jammers: Turn 18, Chapter 7 Summary

The Ongoing adventures of my Spelljammer PBEM game.

Here's the Jammers web address:

http://jammers.s5.com/

Comments, questions always welcome:)

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

IC:

Finished, Talus flies over to the trapped section of the hallway and
when everyone is in position jumps up and down hard on the trapped
floor, flying safely up and out of the way--in order to give the rest
of the party a clear line of sight for missile weapons--when the
floor trap springs.

A dark abyss with the sounds of water can be heard from below.

Holland ties a coin with Continual Light to one end of one of the
poles for a light source and drops it into the pit. Talus flies down
and investigates the pit.

The room below the trap door is flooded with water to a depth of 5'.
The ceiling above is reddish-black from an oxidizing rot, and the
supporting beams are almost entirely rotted away, the marks where it
was further cut to assure a collapse are obvious, but do not appear
particularly recent.

As the taller members climb down into the water, and it reaches well
onto chests, Freneth frowns and says, "This one is not a good
swimmer.  I'm afraid that water is much to deep for me.  Dhebun would
have problems as well probably."

Peering down at the water Ives says "Why don't we grab a canoe what!
Some of our shorter members won't be above their necks in the water
that way. As well we may want to cache some of our gear to ensure it
stays dry. We don't want to loose it before we have to make our
march."

Freneth looks to Ives gratefully. "A very good idea Master Ives. This
one would appreciate it."

"Capital idea Ives." Ferric nods. "The two of us get it. Lets get
this sodden trek underway." Ferric turns and heads toward the
entrance where the canoe was left.

As Ferric and Ives go out to get a canoe, Freneth makes sure that
most of his javelins are attached to ropes, leaving one of his
shorter lengths out.

Nilaroo bundles up his chain mail on the far side of the deadfall
trap and waits for the canoe to return.

-------------------

Heading back up the stairs Ives says "Ferric perhaps we should double
check on the prisoners, no need for them to escape on us what!"

The prisoners are still very shocked and up to nothing. Ferric and
Ives get the canoe with no incident, and see nothing untoward outside
the temple.

-------------------

Once the canoe is brought back, Freneth holds out the length, and
says, "Perhaps if this can be tied to the front the canoe could be
pulled. The paddles will not have much room down below to work
properly."

"Good idea Freneth, I was thinking of just having Holland push it
what!" Ives booms out. "We should though try and cache everything
that we don't absolutely need to ensure it stays dry. If we do run
into trouble the canoe could well be dumped over, tipsy thing that it
is."

"Speaking of which I need to get my gear stored." Ives booms out. He
stores his backpack, starwheel pistols, glaive and his jacket on the
other side of the pit trap.

The canoe is lowered into the pit and the group climbs down, some
into the water, a few into the canoe.

"Come on Nilaroo, Freneth, Dhebun no need for you three to drown
what!" Ives says as he helps the others into the canoe.

Nilaroo rides in the rear of the canoe with an arrow nocked to his bow string.

Freneth drops into the canoe as easily and with as little motion as
possible.  Once he is in, he quickly makes sure his javelins are
easily available. Freneth mutters, "An odd way to travel."

Giving the water a suspicious look, Dhebun follows Freneth into the
canoe, sitting down with great care and uttering a quick prayer to
Mahl. Gripping the sides of the ship as if his life depended on it,
Dhebun looks to Freneth. "The khazad are simply not meant to dwell in
such a vessel. It does not feel sure underfoot. If we are to meet our
enemies, I pray it is on solid ground!"

Ferric extends a hand to Leera.  "You too should ride.  Best to have
your hands free for casting spells.  Not to mention the toll wading
would take on you."

<reply>

Ferric lowers the small illusionist into the canoe waiting below then
hands down his bow quiver and pack before dropping into the chest
high water himself.

Holland puts his sashling with spell components and
starwheels/smoke-powder into the canoe to keep them dry and then
lowers himself into the water, grimacing as the cold water envelopes
his body.

Raken frowns at the neck-deep water and tosses his medical bag into
the canoe before he lowers himself into the water. He keeps his sword
sheathed and keeps it over his head. He struggles through the water
and nearly stumbles over a loose stone, but manages to keep his head
above water.

Sekeht slogs through the water as the party moves forward. He keeps
close to the canoe and concentrates on scanning the surface of the
water, watching for unwanted dangers.

Small, cold and slimy things occasionally bump against everyone's
legs. There are several sharp metal, stone, and glass items hidden
underwater, discovered by probing ahead with a sword or stick.

Taking the lead Ives probes ahead as he pokes with a stick at the
murky water.  His sword and shield are sheated above the water on his
back.

The room was possibly once a torture chamber, the door leading out is
open, revealing a passage that is also filled with water to a depth
of 5'. Along the passage are cells with iron bars, the bars appear
badly corroded. All the cells are empty.

At the end of the cell corridor there is another corridor crossing
the T as it were, with passages leading to the left, and to the right.

Holland says, "Talus could you please scout ahead on the left and
right corridors?"

"The left passage may lead back under the altar chamber, where we
fought the natives," Sekeht observes.

Talus turns invisible and flies off. After a few minutes he returns.
"The passage to the left turns right and then runs about 120 or so
feet. About half-way there is a raised platform that rises above the
water, it is damp and covered with a pale fungus, cold and slimy to
the touch. On the other side of the platform, the hall ends in a
tightly closed door, most of it below water level."

Talus continues, "The right passage is much shorter, it ends after
ten feet at a closed door."

"Perhaps it would be best to not open other sections before those
that have unlimited access have been explored," suggests Freneth.

Holland hands Talus one of the wooden poles and a set of the goggles
and says, "Please use these in your future scouting to check
underneath the water for any traps, secret doors, drop offs, and
things like that."

Holland asks Talus, "Is the door in the right passage tightly closed as well?"

"Doesn't seem to be." Talus answers.

Holland pokes the light pole into the water to see how clear the
water is but the water is pretty murky, nothing can be seen
underneath the surface.

Holland says, "Let's head to the raised platform.  Talus please start
at the right passage door and search for secret doors, work your way
toward us at the raised platform.  Don't forget that the ceiling or
even the walls or floor - underneath the water line - might hide a
door or passage."

Talus says, "Am I the only one looking for secret doors?"

Holland asks, "Who else is good at finding secret passages? They
should also check as we slowly move to the raised platform. We need
to be careful, who knows what might be lurking in the water--animate
or inanimate. Anyone with infravision should speak up if they see any
heat sources." Holland passes the light pole forward so the lead
party member has the light source.

Taking the light pole Ives passes back the pole he was using to poke
the ground ahead of him with.

Holland walks along the right (north) wall, starting across from the
open doorway, searching for secret doors as the group heads down the
corridor, turns right, and heads to the platform.  Holland moves
slowly, using a pole to check the ground ahead of himself to make
sure he doesn't step off a drop-off or the like.

As the group nears the platform Holland says to Ives, "Why don't you
poke that fungus with the light pole before we actually step onto
it..."

"Why not" Ives says as his voice echos in the waterfilled hallway.
Extending the pole he pokes the fungus. The fungus is just a
covering, not large and it seems harmless.

"Right then" Ives says as he rises dripping out of the water and
stands on the platform with his boots squechling from the soaked
water.

Once the canoe is next to the platform, Holland moves forward and
says, "Hmm, there are stairs here.  That is odd." and climbs up the
stairs, carefully stands up, ready to jump back into the water if the
fungus starts crawling up his boots. Holland requests, "Please hand
me the light pole." With the pole in hand, water drips off Holland as
he takes a few steps towards the other end of the platform. Holland
extends the light pole towards the door to illuminate the area and
examines the door. Holland then sticks the light pole into the water
on the far side of the platform to check to see if the water is any
clearer in this little 'pool'. Holland says, "There are stairs on
this side too. I wonder why they built this platform here in the
first place.."

"I suggest myself and Allagan move forward and open the door. If
there's undead Allagan can hopefully make them fear his god, if not I
can still whack them. Likewise if theres a foe I can still hit them.
Everybody else can provide ranged backup. Its when we submerge that
you fire yes?" Ives booms out.

Holland looks around at the party members and asks, "Does anyone have
an axe or weapon good for chopping wood handy?"

"If its just wood, odds are I can try breaking it down" Ives says.

Holland replies, "With the tight seal, the next room might be
water-free. I would rather just break in a portion of the door that
is above the water-line.  No sense in flooding the next room if we
don't have too, who knows what we might damage."

"Ah good point Holland, didn't think of that what!" Ives answers back
to Holland. Scratching his nose Ives looks at the other party members.

"Nothing for it" Ferric says as he moves to the door and beings using
his dagger to dig a hole into the wood a few inches from the top.
Working patiently the grey skinned warrior tries to be gentle enough
that his efforts do not ruin the integrity of the door.

Stepping forward, Dhebun unsheathes his hand-ax, "I have one Holland,
and I well acquainted with its use."

Holland says, "Would you mind if Ferric borrowed it to chop a hole in
the door?  It might be blade for the blade but it would make the work
easier."

After borrowing Dhebun's ax Ferric and Ives cut a large hole in the door.

The room on the other side is dry, likely because the door's wood
appears to have swollen sealing the room. There are no exits
apparent, and the room seems to be unoccupied. There is a small altar
stone but no statue or icon upon on it. Hanging from a stone hook
there is a war club similar to those seen at Panitubi, but it is very
old and it's handle is bone. Despite it's age it appears useable.
Otherwise, only a few stone benches are in the room.

The hole is largest enough for any of the smaller members of the
party to enter and explore the room more closely.

Date/Time: 2:40 pm, 7th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC
--
"...And nobody is to be killed at all, if it can be helped. Keep your
tempers and hold your hands until the last possible moment!"
"But if there many of these ruffians," said Merry, "it will certainly
mean fighting. You won't rescue Lotho, or the Shire, just by being
shocked and sad, my dear Frodo."

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State University