Starker walks into the toom with the 4 vats. “I wonder if these are the source of the vile sprays that come out of the floors and ceilings, and if there is a mechanical way to prevent further traps by cutting off these resevoirs.”

Investigates. (Investigation roll = 25)

There are several fittings of pipes to each of the vats. The fewest has three, the others four each.   Each has a valve associated with it.

Starker:”Generally speaking, in my experience rotating valve controls clockwise slows or stops the flow.  Give me a few moments to conjure up Jievs and I will have him shut the valves.”

<does so, from outside the room>

Jeeves is unable to rotate the valves.

Starker will try. 

(Strength roll d20-1 = 7)

Trolkarl will give it a shot after Starker and the unseen servant

str  check; 16

If only only we had someone with the power of an ogre…. They could help try with their magic gauntlets

Starker turns the first valve.  There is the sound of pressure releasing through the pipes up above.

Trolkarl follows Starker’s lead.  Again, there are the sounds of releasing pressure through the pipes around and above you.

Starker:”Thank you, Friend Trokarl. It will be interesting to see if our actions correlate with a lowering of the frequency of our beery bile baths.”

While the team is working on stopping the flow of rancid beer, Kragen investigates the door.

investigation = 15

To the group “it may be good for me to use Tyrs blessing to purify those vats of poisonous liquid. Once you are done we can determine the results and make a decision.”

Starker attempts to shut off the other valves. 

Starker busies himself turning the valves.  Most yield no noticeable effect.  The eight of 13 yields another pressure release followed by the ninth that also yields a pressure release.  This one is followed by Starker being doused in Toxic Brew from a nozzle above.  DC 14 CON save vs poison = 18.  No effects other than being covered in foul, toxic brew.  Four valves remain.

Kragen examines the door.  There is a handle, no lock.  It is heavy wood and bound with iron.  Nothing seems unusual about it.

Starker tries to follow the pipes both ways to and from the valve he was manipulating before being doused. He hopes to establish the source of the bile that doused him and the purpose of the valve. 

“Maybe it’s righty loosey lefty tighty?”

investigation = 22

The pipes are a 3D maze once they get up into the ceiling area.  Starker sees other connections, dead ends and loops that show him there is no coherent pattern to the piping.

Xymox, leaning against the stone wall just down the hall from the room of fog and ferment, cannot see his companions—but their voices carry clearly enough. The hiss of valves, Starker’s muttering, the splash of something deeply unpleasant hitting flesh. He winces.

Then, raising his voice just enough to echo off the corridor walls, he calls out:

“I assume that splash was not applause.”

He listens a beat longer, then continues, dry and loud enough for Chadwick, Kragen, and Starker to hear:

“Well then—no melting flesh, no screams, and the door hasn’t demanded a riddle. That’s progress.”

Another wet, metallic clang echoes.

“Tell Starker I admire his willingness to bathe in hazard. But perhaps we let Kragen purify those vats before he accidentally invents a new strain of undead ale.”

He shifts slightly against the wall, violin case nudged out of the way of his shoulder.

“I’ll remain here for now. Shout if the door tries anything dramatic—I’ll be sure to arrive fashionably late and incredibly helpful.”

The door exiting the foggy vat room seems to be fairly mundane.

Pipes from the vats have had their valves turned.  8 have been changed.  5 remain untouched.

The ceiling pipes are a seemingly random 3D maze of pipes, valves, fittings and nozzles.

Curiousity getting the better of him, Starker manipulates the last 5 valves.

”Xylox!  I admire you instincts. It is good to not be the only one who prefers avoiding danger unless necessary or interesting.”

if Starker is still up and functioning, he will examine the walls around the door and the perimeter of the door. Are there hinges in this side? Are there handles, toggles, wheels, indents or exdents in the walls that might cause it to open?

investigation = 22

Starker turns the next valve with no visible or audible effect.  At the next valve turned, Trolkarl is suddenly doused in Toxic Brew.  DC 14 CON save vs poison = 20.  He is wet, sticky, smelly and displeased.  Nothing more.

From previous inspection by Kragen, there is a door handle.  Hinges are seen to suggest the door opens into the room you are now in.

Chadwick seems a bit surprised seeing Starker turning valves willy nilly and getting himself doused in the toxic ale.

"Perhaps we should refrain from turning anymore of these for now? Or perhaps put a barrel over your head to protect you from the rancid rain?

Or if we wanted to be done with it stand around the corner and fireball the room?"

Xymox, now fully aware of the continued symphony of squeaking valves and poorly timed showers, lets out a long, theatrical sigh from his post down the hall.

He calls back, voice echoing with a dry, elegant melody of exasperation:

“Ah, the thrill of progress—measured in liters of cursed beer and dignity sacrificed in layers.”

A brief pause as he processes the exchange.

“Starker, I do admire your enthusiasm, and I thank you for acknowledging my fondness for not dying unnecessarily. Though I must confess, your interpretation of ‘interesting danger’ seems to involve a surprising amount of humidity.”

He then addresses Chadwick, a touch more serious:

“The fireball option does have charm—though by roaseting a room before searching it, I believe Hoid might refer to it as ‘premature cremation.’ I’m inclined to agree.”

And finally, toward the group:

“I say no more valves. The door appears mundane, and whatever was meant to hiss, blast, or ruin a good cloak has done so. If it opens inward, and the path ahead is dry, let’s simply try the handle—with care.”

A final note, muttered mostly to himself:

“If that door opens to another vat, I’m composing a dirge titled ‘The Brewed Awakening.’”