Book the Second, Chapter the Tenth: An Introduction to Soci

[jp1885]

“Mayhap yon whirly-pool be the portal to the Styx?” suggests Lepus.

[SunlessNick]

"It seems a dangerous course to take," says Eliza. "Though I suppose we should expect no different."

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, I think you are right," says Henry. "We must all tie ourselves to the boats so we are not thrown overboard and brace ourselves." He translates these instructions to the Greeks.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Down and down go the tiny vessels, through black and chill waters. Curiously, this does not seem to offer any impediment to respiration, the passengers of said craft instead experiencing sensations akin to those to which one might be subjected upon a sailing ship cruising at great velocity through the agency of high wind. Time passes; exactly how long a period is spent in this manner is difficult to say, more through the confusion of the faculties rather than due to the lack of accurate timepieces. At last, the boats land, with surprising gentleness, upon a sandy shore within a great cave, against which the waters of the whirlpool whisper faintly. Only the dim phosphorescence of tiny organisms in the water offers any light. It requires quite some time before one can make out anything in detail. Then, there appears a figure, tall and slender, nearly hidden in black hood and robes. What little one can see within these garments is of a dull ivory hue. A hollow voice comes from within as the figure raises an arm and gestures at Eliza.

"You have been here before. Why come again?"

Dropping the long, thin, becloaked arm, the figure continues.

"Who offers payment?"

The Greeks evidence much excitement at these words. It seems that each person understands the figure, as if it speaks in no specific tongue, but all at once.

[jp1885]

Lepus bows deeply and produces the mouldering coins he found in Longbones' hut.

"'tis I Lepus, oh Charon. Here be payment, from the pockets of the immortal once known as Tithonus," he intones. "Be these coins enough to ferry yon lost son and daughters of Hellas to their rightful place?"

[SunlessNick]

Eliza shakes her head at Charon's words, but does not attempt to contradict him or interrupt Lepus.

[Mr. Handy]

"The rest of us will be returning whence we came," says Henry. "It is not a journey I intend to take." As much as he would like to visit ancient Greece, getting back would likely prove challenging, and he has too much tying him to this time. Still, he is intrigued about the idea of inventing a device to travel through time.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Lepus bows deeply and produces the mouldering coins he found in Longbones' hut.

"'tis I Lepus, oh Charon. Here be payment, from the pockets of the immortal once known as Tithonus," he intones. "Be these coins enough to ferry yon lost son and daughters of Hellas to their rightful place?"

"It shall be done." With no other words, the figure turns away. The Greeks follow him into a dark tunnel, and are soon lost to sight.

The adventurers remain behind on this underground shore. The three boats, now empty, drift lazily nearby. There remains the problem of how one might win passage to whence one came, given that the flow of the whirlpool tended down to this place, and there is no obvious manner in which to induce it to reverse course.

[jp1885]

“Hm, mayhap we should jump back in?” says Lepus. By way of an experiment, he tosses a stone into the vortex.

[SunlessNick]

Eliza looks around to see if there's another exit. In a different direction from the one the Greeks went.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry looks around as well for any other exit from this place.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

“Hm, mayhap we should jump back in?” says Lepus. By way of an experiment, he tosses a stone into the vortex.

The pebble swirls down into the whirlpool and is lost to sight.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Eliza looks around to see if there's another exit. In a different direction from the one the Greeks went.

Spoiler:

0

She does not notice any such.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Henry looks around as well for any other exit from this place.

Spoiler:

0

Doctor North's familiarity with the natural philosophy of caverns allows him to perceive that certain stalagmites have been knocked down within the dim tunnel ahead, in a way indicating that some person or persons moved in such a direction as to require removing this impediment to travel, said path leading, as far as one can tell so far, to a blank cave wall on the left of the passage.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry shows his discovery to the others. "I have a feeling there's a secret passage in that wall," says Henry. "Let's take a closer look."

[jp1885]

Lepus joins his friends in inspecting the wall.

[SunlessNick]

As does Eliza.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

wis 11, 18, and 100

Perhaps it requires the naïve eyes of one who has not yet been jaded by earthly appearances to perceive what is not obvious to others. Be that as it may, it is Eliza alone who barely detects a thin, rectilinear crack running throughout the cave wall, in a pattern that suggests a door drawn upon the stone by one without great skill. In what manner this seeming portal may be entered is by no means clear, for the sense of touch does not evince any way to pass through, but rather signals only solidity.

[jp1885]

“Hm, mayhap we should knock,” suggests Lepus, stepping forward and rapping on the door.

[SunlessNick]

Eliza gets out of Lepus's way.