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Post by Bolo on Aug 15, 2012 22:51:10 GMT -5
Bolo makes some purchases from the Faceless Man: - Does the candle of magic detection reveal magic throughout the area it illuminate? If so, he buys one. How long will it burn? Or how many uses, if that's how it works? If you have to check things one at a time, then Bolo will skip this purchase, because the violet dust can do that just as well, right?
- Is the acid is suitable for dissolving locks? If so, he buys 2 vials. How long does it take? He also asks how to apply it safely. If some sort of special equipment is needed, e.g. protective gloves, he buys that also, unless the price is silly.
- He buys some chalk. Is one unit enough for just one climb, or multiple climbs? He buys enough units to cover five climbs, if that's more than one unit, otherwise one unit.
- He buys the master thieves tools.
- He expresses interest in the manual of stealthy pilfering, but states that he doesn't have the cash on hand for it at this time. He hopes to return for it in a few days.
On his way back to the inn, Bolo stops by Magician Street and purchases a Mirror Image charm. Will the Faceless Man accept payment in gems for anything better than 80% of value? If not, please liquidate gems for cash as needed, keeping cash on hand of 10 dinars or so and some random centimes and dirhams. Back at the inn, Bolo claims the party's magnifying glass and retrieves it from the quantum box. He also borrows Nordel's silver apple, promising to return it or reimburse him appropriately. As before, he leaves a bunch of items (but not any of the newly purchased ones, nor any cash this time) at the inn to reduce his encumbrance. What encumbrance does this leave him at? Before attempting the job, Bolo spends the night at Shahrzad's Sensuous Shack. He observes the layout of the place - staff, number and arrangement of rooms, presence of windows, etc. - and has a nice relaxing time that gives him a plus to ... what was it that this does again? The following day, Bolo pops quickly back to the inn and applies camo paint. He then meets Mary at a time and place convenient to her schedule and asks her to cast Invisibility on him. He says that this is needed for his reconnaissance efforts on Umad. If that fails, he asks Colby to cast Invisibility on him. If that also fails, he returns to the Faceless Man and shells out 40gp, feeling somewhat disgruntled, though of course still highly relaxed and satisfied with life after his pleasant time at the Shack. Once invisible, he heads to the house of Samat Salazien. Moving silently, he first sprinkles violet dust on the front door, including the knob, lock, hinges, and frame. Any magic there? Either way, he next proceeds to the crack in the wall of House B and enters. Still moving silently, he proceeds through the side room to a point where he can see into the adjoining room or hallway. He has the luckblade in one hand and the belt of binding in the other.
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Post by venger on Aug 15, 2012 23:35:28 GMT -5
Bolo makes some purchases from the Faceless Man: - Does the candle of magic detection reveal magic throughout the area it illuminate? If so, he buys one. How long will it burn? Or how many uses, if that's how it works? If you have to check things one at a time, then Bolo will skip this purchase, because the violet dust can do that just as well, right?
- Is the acid is suitable for dissolving locks? If so, he buys 2 vials. How long does it take? He also asks how to apply it safely. If some sort of special equipment is needed, e.g. protective gloves, he buys that also, unless the price is silly.
- He buys some chalk. Is one unit enough for just one climb, or multiple climbs? He buys enough units to cover five climbs, if that's more than one unit, otherwise one unit.
- He buys the master thieves tools.
- He expresses interest in the manual of stealthy pilfering, but states that he doesn't have the cash on hand for it at this time. He hopes to return for it in a few days.
The candle requires explanation: It burns as a normal candle for 4 hours, shedding light in a 5' radius. When in the presence of magic the candle burns considerably faster and the flame turns blue. 1 00 dinars, does Bolo still want?The acid is suitable for lock dissolving. It takes 1 turn (10 rounds) for it to be effective. As long as Bolo is dextrous enough not to spill it on himself, it doesn't require accoutrements. The chalk is enough for several climbs. Subtotal: 1252 dinars with the candle. On his way back to the inn, Bolo stops by Magician Street and purchases a Mirror Image charm. It will take time to create and Bolo can pick it up on the next day. Unless he wants it rushed in 6 hours and then it will cost double (200). Subtotal: 1352 dinars, not counting the rush order. Will the Faceless Man accept payment in gems for anything better than 80% of value? If not, please liquidate gems for cash as needed, keeping cash on hand of 10 dinars or so and some random centimes and dirhams. He can actually use some of Bolo's gemstones, so if Bolo is willing to give him his choice he will accept part in cash and the rest in specific gems: all the diamonds including the uncut stones and the large, flawless aquamarine. That's 1050 dinars in gems, and he'll take the rest (202) in dinars if Bolo is amenable to this. Back at the inn, Bolo claims the party's magnifying glass and retrieves it from the quantum box. He also borrows Nordel's silver apple, promising to return it or reimburse him appropriately. As before, he leaves a bunch of items (but not any of the newly purchased ones, nor any cash this time) at the inn to reduce his encumbrance. What encumbrance does this leave him at? What encumbrance does he want to be at? The DM is willing to compromise in order to spare himself the effort of determining the actual number. Before attempting the job, Bolo spends the night at Shahrzad's Sensuous Shack. He observes the layout of the place - staff, number and arrangement of rooms, presence of windows, etc. - and has a nice relaxing time that gives him a plus to ... what was it that this does again? -5 dinars for +1 to all savings throws for the day. The following day, Bolo pops quickly back to the inn and applies camo paint. This has a set duration once applied and Bolo is smart enough to know not to waste it wandering around the city. Unless he wants it in effect while he's in transit but that will eat up its duration. He then meets Mary at a time and place convenient to her schedule and asks her to cast Invisibility on him. He says that this is needed for his reconnaissance efforts on Umad. If that fails, he asks Colby to cast Invisibility on him. If that also fails, he returns to the Faceless Man and shells out 40gp, feeling somewhat disgruntled, though of course still highly relaxed and satisfied with life after his pleasant time at the Shack. Mary was agreed to cast spells upon Bolo for these efforts and by the timeline in this thread she is not engaged in training, so I will allow her to cast Invisibility. Once invisible, he heads to the house of Samat Salazien. Moving silently, he first sprinkles violet dust on the front door, including the knob, lock, hinges, and frame. Any magic there? This will dispel his invisibility, does he wish to do it anyway? Either way, he next proceeds to the crack in the wall of House B and enters. Still moving silently, he proceeds through the side room to a point where he can see into the adjoining room or hallway. He has the luckblade in one hand and the belt of binding in the other. Bolo enters the abandoned house through the hole in the alley. He discovers an identical room (servant/slave quarters) to the first across the hall. To his left is a decorative entry hall which must have once been used to welcome the guests visiting the prosperous inhabitants of the house. Frescoes and mosaics remain, but furnishings do not. Debris has fallen from above, and weeds have sprouted in the gaps. There is a foul, unclean smell. A stairway leads to the floor above, while another leads into the basement. A pile of soiled rags lies in a corner.
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Post by Bolo on Aug 16, 2012 9:12:34 GMT -5
Yes, Bolo wants the candle.
Please push back the timeline for the Shack visit and the Big Job as needed to accommodate the charm purchase.
Bolo is fine with paying in gems. He would prefer to keep the uncut gems. Will the FM take other gems in lieu of those, or cash, or is the whole gem deal off if he doesn't get the uncut gems? Bolo won't push this. If FM really, really wants the uncut gems, so be it.
While he's at the Faceless Man's emporium, Bolo will inquire whether the material used in the smoke and flash powders can be used to construct "flash-bang grenades" - devices with a fuse of some kind that can be thrown into a room to create a disturbance. If so, he will be interested in buying a couple of those a few days from now, if the price is reasonable.
Bolo wants to have at least 100 free encumbrance. Is that doable?
Bolo won't apply the camo paint until he arrives at House B. What is the duration of the paint?
Does any use of an item dispel Invisibility? (The candle? a wand of secret door detection?) If so, cancel the Invisibility spell from Mary and instead add the purchase of one Invisibility charm in Magician Street, for use at some later point in the job if the situation arises.
Bolo will look over the mosaics, just in case they include any semi-precious stones. He will kick the pile of rags to see whether it conceals anything enlightening. If nothing nonmundane happens, he will proceed down to the basement, still moving silently. In the basement, if nothing nonmundane happens, he will look for concealed passageways that might lead into the house of Samat Salazien. He will use his wand of secret door detection ("detecto") to assist in this, if he doesn't find anything nonmagically hidden first.
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Post by venger on Aug 16, 2012 16:24:41 GMT -5
Yes, Bolo wants the candle. Ok. Please push back the timeline for the Shack visit and the Big Job as needed to accommodate the charm purchase. Ok. Bolo is fine with paying in gems. He would prefer to keep the uncut gems. Will the FM take other gems in lieu of those, or cash, or is the whole gem deal off if he doesn't get the uncut gems? He'll take the dinar value instead if Bolo is unwilling to part with the diamonds. While he's at the Faceless Man's emporium, Bolo will inquire whether the material used in the smoke and flash powders can be used to construct "flash-bang grenades" - devices with a fuse of some kind that can be thrown into a room to create a disturbance. If so, he will be interested in buying a couple of those a few days from now, if the price is reasonable. For 60 dinars each he will take the time to rig them up with fuses. Bolo wants to have at least 100 free encumbrance. Is that doable? Yes. Bolo won't apply the camo paint until he arrives at House B. What is the duration of the paint? There is no way to know this. Does any use of an item dispel Invisibility? (The candle? a wand of secret door detection?) If so, cancel the Invisibility spell from Mary and instead add the purchase of one Invisibility charm in Magician Street, for use at some later point in the job if the situation arises. Any use of magic counteracts invisibility. Second charm purchased for 100 dinars. 1452 dinars in total... Bolo will look over the mosaics, just in case they include any semi-precious stones. He will kick the pile of rags to see whether it conceals anything enlightening. If nothing nonmundane happens, he will proceed down to the basement, still moving silently. Anything of value has long-since been picked over. The rags conceal nothing. In the basement, if nothing nonmundane happens, he will look for concealed passageways that might lead into the house of Samat Salazien. He will use his wand of secret door detection ("detecto":) to assist in this, if he doesn't find anything nonmagically hidden first. The air is cooler and has a musty scent. The steps descend into a large underground area which looks like some kind of chapel, fallen into disuse. A small brazier in the center illuminates the room. The ceiling is low and covered by still vivid blue stucco. A stele stands at the far end. A relief on the stele depicts a muscular vulture-headed man in rich robes as he holds two struggling heroes under water. Bolo can faintly hear some kind of commotion from the right-hand passage.
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Post by Bolo on Aug 16, 2012 16:35:01 GMT -5
Is north still north? In other words, is the left passage the direction of Samat Salazien's house?
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Post by venger on Aug 16, 2012 18:16:08 GMT -5
Is north still north? In other words, is the left passage the direction of Samat Salazien's house? If Bolo walked down the stairs and continued directly forwards he would be going in the direction of Samat Salazien's house.
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Post by venger on Aug 16, 2012 18:28:02 GMT -5
If this helps, the stairs descend in the direction of Samat Salazien's house. Bolo thinks if he walks much to the left he'll be under the city street.
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Post by Bolo on Aug 16, 2012 19:00:06 GMT -5
Using his magical camo paint to blend in with the walls and floor, Bolo silently moves to a position where he can see into the right-hand passage and observe the source of the commotion. He also uses his (rather lame) 20% hear noise ability to determine the nature of the commotion.
If the commotion appears to be something mundane, like beggars arguing over a bedroll, then Bolo will ignore it and investigate the stele. If possible, he will walk freely around the stele to view all four of its sides and the space behind. He will also take a glance in the brazier on the way by.
But I suspect the commotion will not be entirely mundane ...
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Post by venger on Aug 16, 2012 19:38:14 GMT -5
The dotted line represents the building above and the alley. Dung burns in the brazier. The commotion seems to be coming from down a set of stairs. Bolo can't make out any distinct sounds - he might want to practice that skill more! - but he can tell there are people down there. The stele is a solid slab of stone, it's pretty dusty back there. A worn inscription reads either "Armadad Bod and the Unbelievers" or "Made in Indulapar," apparently halflings need to be extremely smart (17+) to learn new languages...
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Post by Bolo on Aug 16, 2012 19:54:21 GMT -5
Bolo will next turn his attention to the other exits from the chapel area. Still moving silently and continuing to take advantage of his camouflage, he will investigate: (1) the small area near the bottom left of the map with the exit continuing toward the bottom of the page; then if nothing untoward happens there, (2) the room to the left; and then finally, if nothing untoward happens there either, (3) the passage toward S.S.'s house. If nothing happens to change his mind, his intention is to proceed down the last of these passages.
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Post by venger on Aug 16, 2012 20:13:05 GMT -5
The rooms are uniformly dark, dusty and empty with the exception of the bottom-most chamber. There is a dry cistern in the wall. An inscription scratched into the stone reads either "Well of Wishes" or "Well of Fishes." Stairs lead down.
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Post by Bolo on Aug 16, 2012 20:49:30 GMT -5
Bolo will search the room at the top of the map for concealed doors or passages, hoping to find a way into Salazien's house. If he finds nothing with an ordinary search, he'll try the wand of secret door detection ("detecto").
If this fails, he will return silently to the room on the far right and see what else there is on this level of the basement. On his way past the stairs where he heard the commotion, he will try again to hear the nature of the commotion. If all he can determine is that it's people, can he tell how many people?
If the passage on the far right happens to connect to a passage leading in the direction of Salazien's house, Bolo will again look for concealed ways through.
Otherwise, unless something nonmundane happens, he will silently proceed down the stairs near the dry cistern. On the way past, he will take another look at the cistern. Nothing inside or underneath? Nothing left on the floor nearby? Clean? Stained? Any fixtures (such as a drain or a tap)?
Is this entire basement level finished in stucco like the ceiling of the chapel area? Are there any unmentioned furnishings (such as furniture) in any of the rooms Bolo has seen so far?
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Post by venger on Aug 16, 2012 21:10:14 GMT -5
Bolo will search the room at the top of the map for concealed doors or passages, hoping to find a way into Salazien's house. If he finds nothing with an ordinary search, he'll try the wand of secret door detection ("detecto":). Nada. If this fails, he will return silently to the room on the far right and see what else there is on this level of the basement. On his way past the stairs where he heard the commotion, he will try again to hear the nature of the commotion. If all he can determine is that it's people, can he tell how many people? He still can't tell how many are there. If the passage on the far right happens to connect to a passage leading in the direction of Salazien's house, Bolo will again look for concealed ways through. No luck. It does however lead to a gallery, overlooking a columned hall from which the commotion comes. This cellar is vast, a veritable forest of thick rectangular columns that continues out of Bolo's sight. It seems to be the home of the degenerate beggars who live in the undercity. An overbearing, greasy stench assaults his senses. The beggars are stooped, gaunt humans wearing filthy garbs. They are physical and mental wrecks, and no longer human: this is betrayed by their possessed gaze and simpleminded, obsessive muttering. The entire band appears to live, eat and sleep in the columned hall. They cook a vile stew in a gigantic iron pot… maybe rat, maybe human, Bolo can't tell from his position. Must be at least 30 people down there. Otherwise, unless something nonmundane happens, he will silently proceed down the stairs near the dry cistern. On the way past, he will take another look at the cistern. Nothing inside or underneath? Nothing left on the floor nearby? Clean? Stained? Any fixtures (such as a drain or a tap)? Seems fairly deep and dark, does Bolo have a lightsource? Otherwise he can't see anything down there with his darkvision. Down the stairs and down more stairs he comes to a vaulted chamber. In the center is a deep pool, the waters are a turquoise green and very dark. Its source is a wall font in the shape of a bearded head contorted into a crazed grin. Ghostly whispers emerge from the pool, one after the other. "No! Do not do this to us!"
"Save me, please, I implore you by our benefactor, save me."
"Do you already believe that every thing is yours to do?!"Is this entire basement level finished in stucco like the ceiling of the chapel area? Are there any unmentioned furnishings (such as furniture) in any of the rooms Bolo has seen so far? Only the chapel. The rest is bare stone. No furnishings.
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Post by Bolo on Aug 17, 2012 8:03:05 GMT -5
Seems fairly deep and dark, does Bolo have a lightsource? Otherwise he can't see anything down there with his darkvision. He has two lightstones. Or possibly one, depending on what you had him leave at the inn to achieve his "negotiated" encumbrance. He will attach a lightstone to the end of his fishing line and lower it gradually down the well to see what he can see. How wide is the well? How deep? Anything inside? When he has finished this investigation, he'll reel his lightstone back in and put it back in its usual place. In general, however, Bolo will rely on his darkvision as much as he can, keeping his lightstone(s) covered up, so as not to compromise the effect of his camo paint. After completing his investigation of the well, and proceeding downstairs to the vaulted chamber with the pool, Bolo will check each of the side rooms off the pool room. He will do this in clockwise order, starting with the side room nearest the stairs. Moving silently and taking advantage of his camo paint as usual, with his luckblade and belt of binding at the ready, one in each hand. He will keep as far away from the pool as he can, right up against the outside wall, and always with an eye out for anything unusual happening in the pool (in addition to the freaky voices) or coming out of it. If nothing unexpected happens in Bolo's initial exploration of the pool room and its side rooms, Bolo will examine the wall font more closely, with his magnifying glass if nothing shows up with an unaided view. If he finds nothing, he will light the magic detection candle and walk with it around this area, noting whether any particular location seems to make the flame burn unusually.
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Post by venger on Aug 17, 2012 8:10:32 GMT -5
He has two lightstones. Or possibly one, depending on what you had him leave at the inn to achieve his "negotiated" encumbrance. He will attach a lightstone to the end of his fishing line and lower it gradually down the well to see what he can see. How wide is the well? How deep? Anything inside? When he has finished this investigation, he'll reel his lightstone back in and put it back in its usual place. It's about 3' wide and 8' deep, looks like there's a smattering of coin down there: mostly brass dirhams and silver centimes, maybe a dinar or two. After completing his investigation of the well, and proceeding downstairs to the vaulted chamber with the pool, Bolo will check each of the side rooms off the pool room. He will do this in clockwise order, starting with the side room nearest the stairs. Moving silently and taking advantage of his camo paint as usual, with his luckblade and belt of binding at the ready, one in each hand. He will keep as far away from the pool as he can, right up against the outside wall, and always with an eye out for anything unusual happening in the pool (in addition to the freaky voices) or coming out of it. If nothing unexpected happens in Bolo's initial exploration of the pool room and its side rooms, Bolo will examine the wall font more closely, with his magnifying glass if nothing shows up with an unaided view. If he finds nothing, he will light the magic detection candle and walk with it around this area, noting whether any particular location seems to make the flame burn unusually. The rooms are empty but for what has already been described. The wall font is shaped into the face of a bearded man with a crazed grin. Bolo does not recognize him. Dark turquoise green water flows from his mouth in a constant stream into the pool. More whispers float up from the water. "Do as you please, just don’t take my only son! Please…"
"You can follow through with your madness, and may God see I am prepared, you madmen."
"You have been blinded by the Lie and become as animals."The candle glows blue when within 5' of the font or the pool.
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Post by Bolo on Aug 17, 2012 8:54:04 GMT -5
Can Bolo see (without touching) any feature of the wall font, or any feature on the wall near the wall font, that he thinks might be a control for turning off the flow of water?
With his darkvision, can Bolo determine whether there is any warmth in the pool (e.g. from the submerged body of a living creature).
When Bolo takes out his lightstone and holds it in one hand, his luckblade still in the other hand, how far deep into the water of the pool can he can see? He is not leaning over the pool, just standing cautiously on the floor next to it.
Is there a wall around the edge of the pool or is it just set into the floor?
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Post by venger on Aug 17, 2012 10:10:45 GMT -5
Can Bolo see (without touching) any feature of the wall font, or any feature on the wall near the wall font, that he thinks might be a control for turning off the flow of water? Nope. With his darkvision, can Bolo determine whether there is any warmth in the pool (e.g. from the submerged body of a living creature). Water doesn't seem to have temperature variations that would indicate a creature submerged, but who knows how deep it is... When Bolo takes out his lightstone and holds it in one hand, his luckblade still in the other hand, how far deep into the water of the pool can he can see? He is not leaning over the pool, just standing cautiously on the floor next to it. Dark green turquoise water is opaque. Is there a wall around the edge of the pool or is it just set into the floor? There's a lip, but no wall.
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Post by venger on Aug 17, 2012 10:11:41 GMT -5
"Please no more, I can't take it..."
"Release me, release me and I will do anything..."
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Post by Bolo on Aug 17, 2012 12:50:17 GMT -5
Bolo will take another look around the pool room and its adjoining side rooms, looking for any type of control that might open a drain.
Are there doors on any of the rooms encountered so far, or is everything just open doorways?
If Bolo finds nothing resembling a drain control, he will attempt to use his rope and grappling hook to drag the pool. Is there anything down there?
He will do his level best to avoid splashing any water on himself during this process. For example, he will not throw the hooked rope into the water, but rather will lower it gently at one edge, then walk to a different point along the edge and pull. And he will avoid touching a wet part of the rope by backing up to pull, rather than pulling hand over hand.
Does he hook anything? If not, how deep does the pool appear to be?
If none of this causes anything to happen, Bolo will gingerly touch a moist spot on the rope with the sole of his boot. Does he get any suggestion of a bad effect from this? If not, he will gingerly touch a moist spot on the rope with the back of his hand. Any suggestion of a bad effect?
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Post by venger on Aug 17, 2012 14:33:04 GMT -5
There are no doorways, the corridors open into the rooms. There are no mechanisms not already described.
The pool is about 30' deep at the center, shallower toward the edges. Trawling its depths with the hook, Bolo feels it catch on something... does he wish to pull?
Touching the wet rope has no ill effect.
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Post by Bolo on Aug 17, 2012 15:45:15 GMT -5
Sure, he'll pull. What does he win? A goldfish? (not)
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Post by venger on Aug 17, 2012 19:35:07 GMT -5
Bolo dredges up a bunch of human bones.
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Post by Bolo on Aug 17, 2012 20:07:49 GMT -5
Just bones? Not, for example, animated bones that promptly begin to assault him? Well that's a surprise. :-)
Bolo will make a couple more attempts to dredge something interesting up from the pool. If he gets nothing more, or if he just gets more bones, he will will relight the candle and check whether either the wet rope or the bones show any signs of magic. If not, he will wring out his rope, shake off his grappling hook, and store them away again in their usual place.
He will then poke through the pile of bones with his sword, checking for anything other than the bones themselves. For example, are any of the finger bones wearing rings, are any of the wrist bones wearing bracelets, etc.? Do any of the bones show signs of mutilation, of being an unusual size for an adult human, or of anything else at all that Bolo can determine?
Next he will search along the long wall of the pool room, opposite the wall with the two side rooms, for a concealed entrance to another side room.
If he finds nothing further, he next wants to carry some water up the stairs to dump into the dry well. Will his sacks hold water for a short distance? Or can he use a skull as a sort of pail? As a last resort, he could use his waterskin to carry water (if he didn't leave it at the inn as part of the encumbrance "negotiation"), but he would prefer not to contaminate his waterskin unless there is no other option. He will be careful not to enter the pool, or put an arm in it, or anything of that sort, when filling whatever container he ends up using. Then he'll make a few trips up the stairs, filling the dry well to a depth of an inch or so, or until the coins at the bottom are covered. (If this is going to take more than a few minutes, let me know and I may rethink.) At that point he will toss a silver centime into the no-longer-dry well and make a wish: "I wish that when my friend Friedrich fights Umad on Day 39, the crowd will enthusiastically support Friedrich."
Oh, and while he's at the well, he will also use the candle to check whether it is magic.
If all this produces nothing of interest, he will proceed back to the stele and check it with the candle. And if that also produces nothing of interest, he will guess that there's nothing of value in the area where the beggars hang out, and therefore head back up to ground level to take the stairs up to the second floor.
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Post by venger on Aug 17, 2012 20:25:17 GMT -5
All the bones show signs of teeth marks. One of the gnawed-on hands bears a golden signet ring with a trident shape, but other than that nothing.
It will take many such trips to fill up the well as Bolo does not really have a suitable means of transporting water. Filling a waterskin might involve getting his hands wet.
Bolo is not touching the water, correct?
His search for secret doors in those areas turns up nothing. His use of the candle only reveals the pool and font to be magical.
"Oh mercy on this pitiful servant, master..."
Upstairs: ---
A gallery overlooks the entry hall. The balustrade’s decorative stone carvings have mostly fallen, or are close to collapse. Debris litter the floor. Stairs continue up.
Three columns are carved into the shapes of nubile women clad in silken gowns and holding fans made of palm leaves. These columns flank two entrances into another room where faded frescoes cover the walls, depicting an undersea environment – mermen, mermaids, giant sea-horses, seaweed and so on. Bolo finds nothing of value.
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Post by Bolo on Aug 17, 2012 20:46:31 GMT -5
a golden signet ring with a trident shape Bolo will, of course, pocket this. No, Bolo doesn't want to touch the water in the pool, especially after seeing the bite marks. He is somewhat disappointed that his plan to get a wish has been foiled. But he figures that if the well isn't magical, then his plan wasn't going to work anyway. Bolo finds nothing of value. Bolo is beginning to feel that Bhatandu exaggerated the potential of this job. But hope springs eternal in the halfling breast, according to Alexander Popo, a notoriously derivative halfling poet whom Bolo half-remembers from his half-forgotten and only half-effective days in half-high school half a century ago. Bolo will closely examine the flanking columns with the carvings of nubile women, using his magnifying glass and checking for unusual features on the women. Also for traps. Unless he finds something, he will then enter the room with the faded undersea frescoes. Moving silently, taking advantage of his camo paint, sword and belt in hands, etc., as usual.
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Post by venger on Aug 17, 2012 21:13:26 GMT -5
Bolo is beginning to feel that Bhatandu exaggerated the potential of this job. Maybe Bolo should have entered Samat Salazien's house and not this looted, beggar-infested, abandoned house. Bolo will closely examine the flanking columns with the carvings of nubile women, using his magnifying glass and checking for unusual features on the women. Also for traps. Unless he finds something, he will then enter the room with the faded undersea frescoes. Moving silently, taking advantage of his camo paint, sword and belt in hands, etc., as usual. There's nothing more than stairs up.
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Post by Bolo on Aug 17, 2012 21:37:41 GMT -5
Maybe Bolo should have entered Samat Salazien's house and not this looted, beggar-infested, abandoned house. Are you suggesting that Bolo made a bad decision? Surely not. Never happen. :-) There's nothing more than stairs up. Well, in for a dirham, in for a dinar. Bolo will proceed up the stairs, cautiously, and noting his surroundings in the event that there's anything of interest. But if nothing nonmundane happens, he will proceed all the way up, right to the roof. He'll keep an eye out for anything long, like a loose floorboard, that he could use to span the alleyway to get to the roof of Samat Salazien's house. If he gets all the way to the roof without finding a suitable floorboard or similar, he will use his rope and grappling hook to establish a tightrope across the gap between the houses. He will tie off his end against something secure on the roof. And because his rope is much longer than the gap, that will leave him plenty of free rope to tie around himself so that if he falls, or the grappling hook comes loose, Bolo will dangle artistically from the roof of the abandoned house instead of falling four stories into the alley. And then, after all these careful preparations, Bolo will will tightrope walk across the gap between the houses. If you tell me that there is no roof access in the abandoned house, or that there is nothing on its roof to which a rope can be tied, then the heck with this place ... In that case, Bolo will head all the way back downstairs and out through the crack, to the front door of Samat's house. He'll do the candle thing on it, and he'll check carefully for traps using his magnifying glass. If he finds nothing, he'll pick the lock. So does he get in through the top, or the front, or neither?
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Post by venger on Aug 17, 2012 21:50:24 GMT -5
The stairs lead up to a room with a marble dome supported by five thick columns. An opening in the floor below it allows one to observe the lower floors. There is a small silver lantern hanging from the top of the dome, 20' up.
Adjoining this room is a suite similar to the one on the floor below, but much better illuminated. Decorations are primarily geometric, in red and green colours. There is a trapdoor in the ceiling.
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Post by venger on Aug 17, 2012 22:00:43 GMT -5
Technically 40' up if you count the opening to the floors below...
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Post by Bolo on Aug 17, 2012 22:02:41 GMT -5
Does Bolo judge that he could climb the walls to reach the lantern, or does the curvature of the dome make that impossible? Also, is the observation hole wide enough that one could fall through it? If climbing appears possible, and the hole isn't too big, Bolo will attempt to climb up and get the lantern. If climbing appears possible, but the hole is big, Bolo will first loop his rope around one of the columns and attach a sufficient length of it to himself that he (a) can still reach the lantern, but (b) won't fall all the way down to the ground floor if he slips.
After this, Bolo's next step will be to check out the room with the trapdoor. Why is it better illuminated? Is there a light source, or are the windows larger/cleaner, or what?
If he finds nothing else in particular in this room, he will check the trapdoor for magic with the candle and for traps with the magnifying glass, and if he finds neither, he'll open up the trapdoor and head to the roof, taking all the usual precautions.
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