OK. Now try each of the 24 character strings as the seed for a rotating cesarean code for character. Thus: on page one of the encoded diary shift the first character by the first letter in The seed, then the second letter by the second the third by the third the fourth by the fourth and then the fifth by the first and so on for a couple of sentences to see if it makes any sense. Try this again for each of the 24 variations
Also I have found that when the cleric says words and make gestures I occasionally become better at what I am attempting to do then I would be otherwise . so perhaps he could go through those words and gestures while I study the problem. Also, my understanding is that occasionally effort this helps to have more than one person working on it at a time. Maybe by combining our concentrated efforts we can see some thing that I am by myself cannot see. So let’s give that a shot.
Should that fail and unless someone can convince me that behind the door lies the secret of forcibly combining celestials and demons to cause a universe shattering conflagration who’s aftermath I can control I find my interest in this will have waned.
During your investigation of the device you notice a pattern. If you adjust the two wheels on the left, the two wheels on the right will move but the other of the two wheels on the left move. If you move the two wheels on the right, the other of the two right side wheels will move. But, the two wheels on the left do not move.
So it seems that the left two set the key to turn one of the right ones (coded text) to the other right one (clear text).
So, again respecting combinatoric ambiguities and taking the time needed, assume each of the 4 strings of 3 chars are (key1,key2)(encoded char) and then read off the clear character. Then use the resultant 4 clear chars as possible settings of the dials of the door. Should that fail, try them as keys to decipher encoded diary.
So it seems that the left two set the key to turn one of the right ones (coded text) to the other right one (clear text).
So, again respecting combinatoric ambiguities and taking the time needed, assume each of the 4 strings of 3 chars are (key1,key2)(encoded char) and then read off the clear character. Then use the resultant 4 clear chars as possible settings of the dials of the door. Should that fail, try them as keys to decipher encoded diary.
None of this yields results in opening the door, or developing cogent words in elvish. Starker and Gneuman continue to evaluate the device with Kragen's assistance with generous prayers of Guidance.
Setting the left two wheels to the first two characters on a page, then setting the third wheel as the coded text then rotates the fourth wheel to a new letter. On three different pages, this translates the coded text into readable Elvish. Eureka!
Still gotta figure out plaque. We should read clear text of diary to see if there is a clue.
we should see if the characters corresponding to the (page char, char, char ) clear text reading of the diary form words or the meta encoding of wheel settings to find the combos for the door.
Starker goes to work to translate the plaque in the format Page, Character, Character, Character to develop four sets of three characters. These are then used for the combination locks and .............the central wheel turns. There is the sound of metal gliding against metal and the door becomes loose.
The great steel door silently pivots out into the laboratory on internal hinges. The room beyond is floored in white marble. There is a glow of soft white light from the entire ceiling casting its warm glow throughout the vault. At the far end is a large, finely wrought table. An open book sits on the table in front of a golden rack holding what appears to be a short sword. The blade of the sword gleams in the light, giving off a bluish hue from its steel. On each side of the room sit large mahogany and brass chests.
Each of the chests are in good condition. There is a handle and latch mechanism on each. No lock can be seen.
You stand in the doorway, observing the room and giving Starker and MMM room to effect their magic. Starker detects that the sword radiates magic. He discerns the schools of Divination, Abjuration and Evocation.
Whatever is in the chest on the left radiates Evocation magic.
There is no magic detected in the chest on the right.
From the doorway, the stand holding the sword appears to be gold.
‘Ware the chest on the left. It radiates the magic of my school, evocation, and much of what it allows puissant wizards to evoke is fell. The book and the chest on the right may still be deadly, but they are not currently magical.
”You will none of you be surprised that the sword is multi-hyphenately magical .”
Starker gives CM, MMMM, a dried mango slice he carefully selects from a bag, after rejecting a couple. The one he gives the spider monkey is marked with a zero. Starker makes a note in his notebook.
They do not
Perception check = 15
OK. Now try each of the 24 character strings as the seed for a rotating cesarean code for character. Thus: on page one of the encoded diary shift the first character by the first letter in The seed, then the second letter by the second the third by the third the fourth by the fourth and then the fifth by the first and so on for a couple of sentences to see if it makes any sense. Try this again for each of the 24 variations
Also I have found that when the cleric says words and make gestures I occasionally become better at what I am attempting to do then I would be otherwise . so perhaps he could go through those words and gestures while I study the problem. Also, my understanding is that occasionally effort this helps to have more than one person working on it at a time. Maybe by combining our concentrated efforts we can see some thing that I am by myself cannot see. So let’s give that a shot.
Should that fail and unless someone can convince me that behind the door lies the secret of forcibly combining celestials and demons to cause a universe shattering conflagration who’s aftermath I can control I find my interest in this will have waned.
Investigation check = 9
Perception check = 9
Forgot to add Guidance to the above rolls:
Investigation check = 13
Perception check = 10
During your investigation of the device you notice a pattern. If you adjust the two wheels on the left, the two wheels on the right will move but the other of the two wheels on the left move. If you move the two wheels on the right, the other of the two right side wheels will move. But, the two wheels on the left do not move.
Chadwick will assist if it helps, but with a 9 Int and 10 wis not sure how much good he'll do.
So it seems that the left two set the key to turn one of the right ones (coded text) to the other right one (clear text).
So, again respecting combinatoric ambiguities and taking the time needed, assume each of the 4 strings of 3 chars are (key1,key2)(encoded char) and then read off the clear character. Then use the resultant 4 clear chars as possible settings of the dials of the door. Should that fail, try them as keys to decipher encoded diary.
None of this yields results in opening the door, or developing cogent words in elvish. Starker and Gneuman continue to evaluate the device with Kragen's assistance with generous prayers of Guidance.
Investigation check = 27
Perception check = 12
Setting the left two wheels to the first two characters on a page, then setting the third wheel as the coded text then rotates the fourth wheel to a new letter. On three different pages, this translates the coded text into readable Elvish. Eureka!
Huzzah!!
Still gotta figure out plaque. We should read clear text of diary to see if there is a clue.
we should see if the characters corresponding to the (page char, char, char ) clear text reading of the diary form words or the meta encoding of wheel settings to find the combos for the door.
Starker goes to work to translate the plaque in the format Page, Character, Character, Character to develop four sets of three characters. These are then used for the combination locks and .............the central wheel turns. There is the sound of metal gliding against metal and the door becomes loose.
Huzzah^2
Hoid will prepare for the worst (e.g., Demogorgon) being in the vault.
The great steel door silently pivots out into the laboratory on internal hinges. The room beyond is floored in white marble. There is a glow of soft white light from the entire ceiling casting its warm glow throughout the vault. At the far end is a large, finely wrought table. An open book sits on the table in front of a golden rack holding what appears to be a short sword. The blade of the sword gleams in the light, giving off a bluish hue from its steel. On each side of the room sit large mahogany and brass chests.
Each of the chests are in good condition. There is a handle and latch mechanism on each. No lock can be seen.
Starker asks for 10 minutes and performs the sequence or words, gestures, emotional and thought patterns which will allow him to detect magic.
Cyrus attempts to mimic Starker, perhaps to enable the detection of murder monkey magic, or perhaps to ellicit laughs and/or dried mango slices.
Is the rack made of gold, or painted gold?
You stand in the doorway, observing the room and giving Starker and MMM room to effect their magic. Starker detects that the sword radiates magic. He discerns the schools of Divination, Abjuration and Evocation.
Whatever is in the chest on the left radiates Evocation magic.
There is no magic detected in the chest on the right.
From the doorway, the stand holding the sword appears to be gold.
‘Ware the chest on the left. It radiates the magic of my school, evocation, and much of what it allows puissant wizards to evoke is fell. The book and the chest on the right may still be deadly, but they are not currently magical.
”You will none of you be surprised that the sword is multi-hyphenately magical .”
Starker gives CM, MMMM, a dried mango slice he carefully selects from a bag, after rejecting a couple. The one he gives the spider monkey is marked with a zero. Starker makes a note in his notebook.
Hoid will inspect the magic chest for traps. If he does not perceive any danger, he will open the chest.