As the inky water splashes upon the locking mechanism, all signs of the curse dissipate. A clear hand-shaped indentation, surrounded by symbolic patterns of law, takes shape. 

Well, Rogi, you had the magic touch last time. Wanna give it another try?

Perhaps it has something to do with what's in your bag of holding. Oh! Which reminds me. As much as I loathe a bath, I think you may need to douse me like you just did the hatch. My Detect Magic is still in effect and I'll know if the transmutation is affected by the old black water.

"Do we know anyone with the ability to shape or control water?" Korba asks. "Can we flood the whole island?"

"I could," states Marlin, "As long as I can get myself a pinch of dust, that is. Shouldn't be too difficult. Still, do we really want to flood the island? You saw what that water is capable of. Besides, we have no guarantee that the effect will be permanent. If that sailor could get... infected, what's to say that the island won't just return to its previous state?"

Rogi is visibly uncomfortable with that idea. "What would be the point? Call me crazy but I actually prefer the order. And this isn't your friendly neighborhood elvish type of chaos, either. The black oil... the fiends... the undead... It all stinks of the Abyss to me. As long as we keep our self control and get Kivari out of here, I'd just as soon let the island do its thing. We're all intruders here, after all." He scooped up some more of the oil sprinkled it over Gwin's body. "Just so you can test your theory, Gwin. I don't think we should be careless with this stuff."  

"He uh...Kivari could have answers, too."  Dabbert says, nodding his head in agreeance with Rogi.  "Plus...I mean...I uh...have seen what happens when you mess with that oily crap, but I don't trust it.  I don't trust that we understand any of it the way we think we do.  But that's just me being paranoid."  

Rogi splashes a bit of the mystery water onto Gwin, but nothing seems to happen. Her detect magic continues to indicate that she is somehow under the effect of transmutation magic. She doesn't look any different; she doesn't feel any different; but, somehow, she is different...

Gwin shakes her head dejectedly. It didn't work.

There are big magics at work here and we need to get to the source of them. It's the only way we'll save our friend, and possibly me at this point. I say we open this hatch and keep going. I could always send my Arcane Eye out ahead. Unlike my 75 year old waistline, it can squeeze through some pretty tight spaces.

"If we wont be flooding the island, we may as well move on," Korba says, adding to Gwin, "Any advance information would be helpful of course." Down here, Korba's sword is still flaming, giving light, and a nice dry heat to the group.

Rogi nodded at Gwin. "I think it's worth it to spend the magic to get some intel on what's past that door. I'll open it now, and you cast the spell." He reached out and placed his hand into the palm lock.

With a crisp woosh, the second metal door irises open after Rogi places his hand into the indentation. Simultaneously, the first metal hatch (which is approximately 40' above the party) closes just as rapidly. All of you suddenly realize the potential danger of being located in the wrong place at the wrong time; a metal hatch that closes upon someone would likely sever that person in two. 

As the second metal door opens, you see another circular shaft with metallic walls and a diameter of approximately 20'. Unexpectedly, this shaft runs perpendicular to the shaft in which the party is currently located. Gwin's arcane eye reveals the following:

• Immediately below the party and to the right, is an apparent collapse in the tunnel shaft (A). A pile of cubes in metallic hues blocks the passageway.
• Immediately below the party and to the left is a cavernous room filled with furnaces, pipes, smoke, armor, weapons, and constructs. A shaft leading upward (B) is located one corner, exits to other areas (C) are located on the opposite side of the room, and stacks of armor and weapons (D) are nearby. Furnaces (maroon dots) are abundant, but even more abundant are the constructs (gold squares, hexagons, and diamonds), of which there are three kinds. They seem to be patrolling the area for intruders but show no indication that they are aware of the party's nearby location (red square). 

NOTE: Everything in this room shows effects of the cube-creating curse.

The layout...

The constructs (with the first one represented by squares, the second by hexagons, and the third by diamonds)...

Listening to Gwin report on the area Korba says, “Well… this is why they brought in the big guns eh? We should probably avoid as many as possible, though I do wonder if the water would have any effect on the constructs in here. If our friend isn’t in this big room, should we try to head towards the exits down south? Can your eye go past them?”

I, too, am curious to see what is beyond this room. If our presence is still unnoticed by the constructs perhaps my eye can venture into the shaft and the other exits.

We also have the location spells, which may come in handy now that we're down here.

Dabbert listens and pulls his cloak a little tighter around himself, trying to muffle the sounds of his armor and blend into the weird walls better...if that's possible.  

"Metalhead uh...what are these things?  What can you tell us about them?"

Metalhead points toward the room filled with furnaces and constructs. "Enemy work. Enemy resources. Enemy..."

The monodrone's train of thought, simple as it is, is interrupted as the entire area around the party begins to shudder. Disoriented for a few seconds, the five of you begin to make sense of what is occurring: the island is tipping...or rotating. Clinging to the ladders along the sides of the metal shaft, you're able to ride out the bewildering change of direction without incident. After a span of two minutes, you are now looking up through the metal hatch through which the arcane eye was sent. Below you is the hatch you used to enter the island's interior, and you sense that it is now completely underwater.

"Down up," observes Metalhead.

Oddly enough, Gwin can sense through her arcane eye that nothing has changed within the large furnace room. Somehow the gravity didn't change for the constructs. 

Dabbert clings to the ladder for dear life, having a moment where he thought he'd be sick, but by some miracle he isn't.  

"Oooh...didn't like that..."

((When yup say it didn’t affect the constructs, does this mean they are now walking on the ‘roof’?))

”I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that up has become down…” Korba says, then looking to Gwin asks, “Has your eye seen anything past those doors you mentioned down south? Or… I don’t know the directions anymore… anyway… that way…” And to the others says, “Do you all think we can just take a couple of them out on the way? Or should we try to sneak by the whole lot?”

Quote from kevtr0n >>

((When yup say it didn’t affect the constructs, does this mean they are now walking on the ‘roof’?))

 Not exactly. It feels more like they're walking on a wall. 

"That was... interesting." Marlin looks a little green around the gills. "I think we've found our reason behind the conflicting reports of the island's surface."

I really don't like it here, Gwin whispers as she regains her bearings. I'm going to send my eye to the exits (C). I'd like to know what lies on the other side of those doors. Maybe just water now.