Branmar's thorough investigation quickly reveals a pattern between the two devices. The main panel is an entry point for arcane energy - by expending a spell slot, the machine should power on and remain on for as long as the spell slot lasts. Presumably heavy use drains the power supply more quickly, requiring another spell expended in order to continue powered functionality! As for quality, these are mid-upper tier devices. This kind of technology is not readily available - a somewhat guarded corporate secret - and is obviously scrupulously and lovingly maintained, though it has seen some previous use.
Austrig's investigations are fruitful, and he is soon able to infer a few useful features of the cave itself. These hills are old , likely a long-term project for the Company and probably the home of enterprising dwarves for millennia before. The cave itself, while yet to be explored, is likely both deep and very well-developed, featuring any number of possible surprises within. What stands out to you is not so much the old stone itself, but the newer additions - an odd pattern of newer stone layered on top of old. The new stone is of a lighter material, a sediment formed by mixing various other kinds of rock with copious amounts of water until it forms a slurry that has rubbed into various nooks and crannies of the floors and walls.
Now thoroughly familiarized with the climbing gear, you all make your way inside the cavern, equipped with the provided supplies. You all pass by the welcoming sign and head down a long corridor until you reach a broad entrance to a wide circular chamber. A thick pillar stands in the middle of the room, with an exit directly across the chamber from you.
bfoster121 OOC: About 20 of the glowsticks in box #3! And you all are correct in that you have dark vision, so light is less of a concern - it will be nice to be able to create more light on demand, however!
Dhara mostly just follows the others for the time being. She is acutely aware that she isn't an expert on mining, and she would like to get some idea what she's doing by watching the others before she jumps in.
With a wave of his hand and a grimace Thondor uses his psionic power to lift the large piece of equipment out of its box. A small bead of sweat appears on his forehead as he steps under the floating device and it settles onto his shoulders. (Telekinetic Movement)
He effortlessly supports the weight of the machine as he straps it to his torso. Taking a few steps to test the balance he grunts to either express approval or disapproval, it is difficult to tell which. Looking to the Boss he says, “Testingthis contraption here, are we? Any idea how to start the bloody thing?”
Austig sets off town to tunnel, his staff tapping out a rhythmic beat. His low voice rumbles barely audibly until the chorus...
Where it's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew, Where the dangers are many and the pleasures are few, Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines, It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mines.
His singing is a little off key, giving the song an even more mournful quality.
Raven turns a curious gaze on Thondor then giggles. “I have no idea how to start that thing! But did you just lift it with your mind? No mage hand or anything? Wow, I think that skill will be quite useful!”She giggles as she repacks the climbing gear and puts the one glow bottle into a pocket. “Well, let’s go! I think we are quite ready now!”
She gives Austig an odd look before skipping off ahead of him. What’s his problem? Why is he killing the mood with sad songs? Yeah it’s dark down here, but why make it gloomy? Humph
Ignoring the singing dwarf, the gnome heads off past the sign. She wants to be the first to see this challenge.
Branmar's interest in the technology of the devices is clearly evident on his face as he handles the scanner and turns to Thondor, "It appears that they are powered by absorbing arcane energies. I could power one for a limited time, but my arcane reserves a quite limited." Noticing Dhara hanging back and looking a bit unsure, he holds the scanner device out towards her with a smile, "Perhaps you'd like to give this one a try, lass? Guessing you're no stranger to the arcane?"
Dhara accepts the scanner with a little smile. "You would be correct... I have my fair share of skill in the arcane arts..." she says as she experimentally fiddles with the device for a few moments. "Alrighty, let's see what she does when I give her a bit o' juice."
Dhara lays a hand on the device and expends one of her first-level spell slots to energize it.
At Dhara's impulse, the machine breathes with life, several indicators abruptly flashing with arcane light and relatively clear runes glowing on their faces. The largest panel immediately catches all eyes as it lights up in a fascinating pattern that ripples and writhes with every twitch at the controls. After a few moments of experimenting, it becomes clear that this device penetrates natural rock formations to a remarkable depth - at least 60 ft in any direction while in use, and this at a relatively conservative power-consumption setting. Pointing the device towards the cave walls around you, you notice a few distant glimmers of light on the indicator, implying the presence of a small mineral deposit of some kind, though apparently not one valuable enough to tempt DRI's avid miners in the last few decades.
Pointing the scanner into the aforementioned circular room with a pillar in the middle, the indicator reveals a large mass of red-tinted rock makes up the entirety of the ceiling - a dangerous sign of possible collapse in the near future!
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
See that most everyone is working together Eb has a half smile cross his lips, "Good job everyone, let's keep up the good work." He looks around to see if there is some indication if the are supposed to be looking for something specific. ((IInvestigation with guidance))
Investigation check 13
Not seeing any thing he says with minimal confidence, "My best guess is that we need to find a deposit, dig to it and remove it?"
Raven turns back to face the group, wherever they are, "The challenge is this way! What are you all--oh!" Her words are cut off when she sees Dhara has powered up the scanner. Well, that's interesting! She wonders is she can use it... oh well maybe next time. She had long past up her chance to do that.
The gnome claps her hands excitedly, "Well, it looks like you got that thing working! Now why don't you bring that stuff down here so we can figure out what this challenge is! Hmm?"
(I forgot that Gawain prefers us to roll in forums. I rolled a 20 for perception in the game log but I can roll again here if need be. Lol I'm so used to doing it on the sheets now just because the forums can be...annoying, but I will start rolling here in the future.)
Reluctantly turning his head away from the intricate equipment, Branmar turns to address the gnome. Attempting to keep an empathetic tone to his rough voice, "I admire your ambition and drive, but workplace safety is priority number one. Accidents occur when workers rush into a job without taking the time to familiarize themselves with their equipment and the task at hand. Research shows that a vast majority of workplace accidents are preventable!" Gesturing to his scarred face he adds, "Trust me, you don't want to learn the hard way and end up looking like me," trailing off at the end. Clearing his throat he continues, "Someone want to power up that drill or should I?"
((I don't mind dropping a spell slot if the full casters want to reserve resources. Just figured I'd take a shot at passing it to the ones with more slots.))
Raven puts a hand over her mouth feigning shock, "Oh you don't say?!" She takes her hand away from her mouth, giggling, "Of course safety comes first, as long as it's an option anyways! There is risk in just about everything. Especially way down underground, like we are right now. Hehe. But I would never purposefully put any of us in danger." She continues in her cheery, almost musical voice, sounding neither annoyed nor chastising. "It's not like I'm asking you to jump down a shaft and start drilling without looking at the thing. I just want you all to come down here so we can at least look at what this challenge is! We can't plan our strategy without knowing a bit about what we are up against after all." She giggles again, and makes a dismissive gesture, "And don't worry about me, I doubt even the worst accident will make me look like you. Tehe." She states this like a fact, and despite her innocent grin, it's hard to tell if this was meant to be offensive, or if it it simply is a just that...a fact. She seems completely oblivious to Branmar's change of tone at the end.
"Well love, I'm already taking care of one of our machines, so I'll leave the drill to someone else," Dhara says to Branmar with a smile, then turns to Raven. "Now Raven dear, we're coming to see the challenge... But we've got a scanner, so it would be rather silly for us to go in too fast without doing our due dillogence, dontcha' think? This is the whole reason we have a scanner, after all."
Eb looks gratefully at Branmar and Dhara, "Raven we are down where we need to be, we have found where ore may be and we now need to drill, but Branmar is right, the higher up's may only give lip service to safety but I take it seriously...would be terrible if we had a cave in so we take our time. Austig, how stable are we here?"
(Is this circular room where Raven ran off to, or did she have to go through it in order to pass the sign?)
OK! I think my description may have been unclear. I will try to illustrate what I intended. From left to right:
Cave Entrance (boxes of supplies) -> Challenge sign -> Standard hallway -> Circular room with the pillar.
As of right now, to speed things along, I am hoping to move the party through to the first challenge room (the room with the central pillar) where you scanner has already revealed part of the first threat.
Eb doesn't notice any obvious instructions, but given the equipment at hand he feels confident in his guess.
Austrig's close investigation of the pillar reveals its intentionality. On its front face, a small panel with lightly inscribed runes, written in a miner's shorthand, reads: "Stand back from pillar."
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Once finished, the gnome turns her grin back on Eb, "Teehe, My pleasure. I cannot wait to get started."
Branmar's thorough investigation quickly reveals a pattern between the two devices. The main panel is an entry point for arcane energy - by expending a spell slot, the machine should power on and remain on for as long as the spell slot lasts. Presumably heavy use drains the power supply more quickly, requiring another spell expended in order to continue powered functionality! As for quality, these are mid-upper tier devices. This kind of technology is not readily available - a somewhat guarded corporate secret - and is obviously scrupulously and lovingly maintained, though it has seen some previous use.
Austrig's investigations are fruitful, and he is soon able to infer a few useful features of the cave itself. These hills are old , likely a long-term project for the Company and probably the home of enterprising dwarves for millennia before. The cave itself, while yet to be explored, is likely both deep and very well-developed, featuring any number of possible surprises within. What stands out to you is not so much the old stone itself, but the newer additions - an odd pattern of newer stone layered on top of old. The new stone is of a lighter material, a sediment formed by mixing various other kinds of rock with copious amounts of water until it forms a slurry that has rubbed into various nooks and crannies of the floors and walls.
Now thoroughly familiarized with the climbing gear, you all make your way inside the cavern, equipped with the provided supplies. You all pass by the welcoming sign and head down a long corridor until you reach a broad entrance to a wide circular chamber. A thick pillar stands in the middle of the room, with an exit directly across the chamber from you.
bfoster121 OOC: About 20 of the glowsticks in box #3! And you all are correct in that you have dark vision, so light is less of a concern - it will be nice to be able to create more light on demand, however!
Dhara mostly just follows the others for the time being. She is acutely aware that she isn't an expert on mining, and she would like to get some idea what she's doing by watching the others before she jumps in.
With a wave of his hand and a grimace Thondor uses his psionic power to lift the large piece of equipment out of its box. A small bead of sweat appears on his forehead as he steps under the floating device and it settles onto his shoulders.
(Telekinetic Movement)
He effortlessly supports the weight of the machine as he straps it to his torso. Taking a few steps to test the balance he grunts to either express approval or disapproval, it is difficult to tell which.
Looking to the Boss he says, “Testing this contraption here, are we? Any idea how to start the bloody thing?”
Austig sets off town to tunnel, his staff tapping out a rhythmic beat. His low voice rumbles barely audibly until the chorus...
Where it's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where the dangers are many and the pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines,
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mines.
His singing is a little off key, giving the song an even more mournful quality.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Raven turns a curious gaze on Thondor then giggles. “I have no idea how to start that thing! But did you just lift it with your mind? No mage hand or anything? Wow, I think that skill will be quite useful!” She giggles as she repacks the climbing gear and puts the one glow bottle into a pocket. “Well, let’s go! I think we are quite ready now!”
She gives Austig an odd look before skipping off ahead of him. What’s his problem? Why is he killing the mood with sad songs? Yeah it’s dark down here, but why make it gloomy? Humph
Ignoring the singing dwarf, the gnome heads off past the sign. She wants to be the first to see this challenge.
Perception: 20
Dhara glances at whichever one of her fellow dwarves is nearest.
"I'm starting to worry about that gnome," she whispers under her breath.
Branmar's interest in the technology of the devices is clearly evident on his face as he handles the scanner and turns to Thondor, "It appears that they are powered by absorbing arcane energies. I could power one for a limited time, but my arcane reserves a quite limited." Noticing Dhara hanging back and looking a bit unsure, he holds the scanner device out towards her with a smile, "Perhaps you'd like to give this one a try, lass? Guessing you're no stranger to the arcane?"
Dhara accepts the scanner with a little smile. "You would be correct... I have my fair share of skill in the arcane arts..." she says as she experimentally fiddles with the device for a few moments. "Alrighty, let's see what she does when I give her a bit o' juice."
Dhara lays a hand on the device and expends one of her first-level spell slots to energize it.
Branmar focuses intently on the dwarven woman and the device in her hands, making mental notes as she powers it up.
At Dhara's impulse, the machine breathes with life, several indicators abruptly flashing with arcane light and relatively clear runes glowing on their faces. The largest panel immediately catches all eyes as it lights up in a fascinating pattern that ripples and writhes with every twitch at the controls. After a few moments of experimenting, it becomes clear that this device penetrates natural rock formations to a remarkable depth - at least 60 ft in any direction while in use, and this at a relatively conservative power-consumption setting. Pointing the device towards the cave walls around you, you notice a few distant glimmers of light on the indicator, implying the presence of a small mineral deposit of some kind, though apparently not one valuable enough to tempt DRI's avid miners in the last few decades.
Pointing the scanner into the aforementioned circular room with a pillar in the middle, the indicator reveals a large mass of red-tinted rock makes up the entirety of the ceiling - a dangerous sign of possible collapse in the near future!
Austrig approaches to column and circles it cautiously.
Investigation: 17
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
(Is this circular room where Raven ran off to, or did she have to go through it in order to pass the sign?)
See that most everyone is working together Eb has a half smile cross his lips, "Good job everyone, let's keep up the good work." He looks around to see if there is some indication if the are supposed to be looking for something specific. ((IInvestigation with guidance))
Investigation check 13
Not seeing any thing he says with minimal confidence, "My best guess is that we need to find a deposit, dig to it and remove it?"
Raven turns back to face the group, wherever they are, "The challenge is this way! What are you all--oh!" Her words are cut off when she sees Dhara has powered up the scanner. Well, that's interesting! She wonders is she can use it... oh well maybe next time. She had long past up her chance to do that.
The gnome claps her hands excitedly, "Well, it looks like you got that thing working! Now why don't you bring that stuff down here so we can figure out what this challenge is! Hmm?"
(I forgot that Gawain prefers us to roll in forums. I rolled a 20 for perception in the game log but I can roll again here if need be. Lol I'm so used to doing it on the sheets now just because the forums can be...annoying, but I will start rolling here in the future.)
Reluctantly turning his head away from the intricate equipment, Branmar turns to address the gnome. Attempting to keep an empathetic tone to his rough voice, "I admire your ambition and drive, but workplace safety is priority number one. Accidents occur when workers rush into a job without taking the time to familiarize themselves with their equipment and the task at hand. Research shows that a vast majority of workplace accidents are preventable!" Gesturing to his scarred face he adds, "Trust me, you don't want to learn the hard way and end up looking like me," trailing off at the end. Clearing his throat he continues, "Someone want to power up that drill or should I?"
((I don't mind dropping a spell slot if the full casters want to reserve resources. Just figured I'd take a shot at passing it to the ones with more slots.))
Raven puts a hand over her mouth feigning shock, "Oh you don't say?!" She takes her hand away from her mouth, giggling, "Of course safety comes first, as long as it's an option anyways! There is risk in just about everything. Especially way down underground, like we are right now. Hehe. But I would never purposefully put any of us in danger." She continues in her cheery, almost musical voice, sounding neither annoyed nor chastising. "It's not like I'm asking you to jump down a shaft and start drilling without looking at the thing. I just want you all to come down here so we can at least look at what this challenge is! We can't plan our strategy without knowing a bit about what we are up against after all." She giggles again, and makes a dismissive gesture, "And don't worry about me, I doubt even the worst accident will make me look like you. Tehe." She states this like a fact, and despite her innocent grin, it's hard to tell if this was meant to be offensive, or if it it simply is a just that...a fact. She seems completely oblivious to Branmar's change of tone at the end.
"Well love, I'm already taking care of one of our machines, so I'll leave the drill to someone else," Dhara says to Branmar with a smile, then turns to Raven. "Now Raven dear, we're coming to see the challenge... But we've got a scanner, so it would be rather silly for us to go in too fast without doing our due dillogence, dontcha' think? This is the whole reason we have a scanner, after all."
Eb looks gratefully at Branmar and Dhara, "Raven we are down where we need to be, we have found where ore may be and we now need to drill, but Branmar is right, the higher up's may only give lip service to safety but I take it seriously...would be terrible if we had a cave in so we take our time. Austig, how stable are we here?"
(Is this circular room where Raven ran off to, or did she have to go through it in order to pass the sign?)
OK! I think my description may have been unclear. I will try to illustrate what I intended. From left to right:
Cave Entrance (boxes of supplies) -> Challenge sign -> Standard hallway -> Circular room with the pillar.
As of right now, to speed things along, I am hoping to move the party through to the first challenge room (the room with the central pillar) where you scanner has already revealed part of the first threat.
Eb doesn't notice any obvious instructions, but given the equipment at hand he feels confident in his guess.
Austrig's close investigation of the pillar reveals its intentionality. On its front face, a small panel with lightly inscribed runes, written in a miner's shorthand, reads: "Stand back from pillar."