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

[Mr. Handy]

"An excellent idea," says Henry, standing back.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The knocking produces a hollow echo from beyond the wall, indicating a lack of complete solidity beyond. Despite this evidence, the wall itself is as resistant to brute force as a mountain.

After a moment, softly glowing letters, like pale fire, appear on the wall. At first they seem to be of some indecipherable ancient text, composed of small lines and triangles. Then, changing in the manner of the patterns produced by the tossing of a stone in water, they transform into plain English.

WHAT BUILDING IS IT WHEREIN ONE ENTERS BLIND AND EMERGES SIGHTED

[jp1885]

Lepus frowns and turns to his companions, gurning with puzzlement.

“What say you? A lighthouse? A birthing place, where thou art blind in the womb and then born into the light? The shop of a purveyor of eyeglasses? I know not.”

[SunlessNick]

"A library, perhaps?" suggests Eliza, "where one emerges with newfound insight?"

[Mr. Handy]

"It is a womb, I believe," says Henry.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

These speculations being voiced, there follows a most peculiar phenomenon. It seems as if an irresistible wind, such as ravages the West Indies from time to time, seizes Eliza, but not her companions. It draws her up to the stone wall, and then -- mirable dictu! -- entirely through it, as if it were no more than the finest gauze of Araby. Dying away thereafter, the forceful breeze is felt no longer, nor is its involuntary passenger detectable by human senses.

Eliza,You find yourself in a completely dark chamber.

The previous message having, much like the writing on Belshazzar's wall, appeared out of nothingness, it now reshapes itself into a new form.

WHO ARE THE LANTERN-BEARING SERVANTS WHO APPEAR EACH NIGHT WITHOUT BIDDING, AND WITHDRAW EACH MORNING WITHOUT DISMISSAL

[jp1885]

“Be they the stars?” asks Lepus.

[Mr. Handy]

"They are indeed the stars," agrees Henry, who has spent his share of time observing them.

[SunlessNick]

Vicki,"[color=#0040FF]Father? Lepus?[/color]" Eliza screams, trying to get her bearings and gauge where the door is, if it is even there at all. Both of them referred to a womb, while Eliza was the only one to say library - she is uncertain whether this means she has failed or passed the door's test.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The selfsame unsourced wind carries both Lepus and Doctor North through the stone wall. The sensation is not unlike passing through a particularly thick fog. They find themselves in a completely lightless chamber, the approximate size of which may be deduced by the echoing of Eliza's anxious cries. In short, the volume of the room is not insubstantial. Each is able to locate the other two easily enough, via voice and touch, but otherwise it is a case, as they say, of the blind leading the blind.

[jp1885]

Glad that everyone is reunited, Lepus rummages around his various pouches and pockets for his tinderbox and enough bric-a-brac to start a small fire; enough to cast some light around them.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry takes out his Illuminator and uses it to provide light.

[SunlessNick]

Eliza expresses her relief the others' arrival.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The chamber fills with light, revealing a vast cavern.

Spoiler:

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A quick search of the place, which appears to rival Saint Paul's cathedral in extent, reveals that there are no less than ten staircases, for lack of a better word, carved into the rock, leading upward through small openings in the roof of the cave. Examining each one via the Illuminator elicits only the information that they all go up a very long way, further than the light can penetrate. Each climbs in an irregular spiral. Taking a close look, one can tell that they were chiseled into the stone with rough tools in times long past, judging by the way in which the tiny, slow dripping of water from overhanging stalactites has worn holes in them. It does not seem possible to determine where each might lead, if anywhere.

[jp1885]

“Whichever we choose, we should ascend together, yesno?” says Lepus as he scrutinises the steps for clues.

“Let old Lepus meditate for a moment...”

He closes his eyes, letting his preternatural sense sweep through the cavern. As he does so, he mutters an incantation to detect evil, in case any of the steps leads to peril.

[Mr. Handy]

"Unless we can get more information about where the stairways go, we'll have to pick one at random," says Henry when Lepus finishes. "I agree, we should all stay together. Do you still have that pathfinding talisman? That might give us a hint as to which way to go."

[SunlessNick]

Eliza looks to see if anything appears different about any of the staircases. Width, steepness, the shape of the exit, anything written on them...

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

“Whichever we choose, we should ascend together, yesno?” says Lepus as he scrutinises the steps for clues.

“Let old Lepus meditate for a moment...”

He closes his eyes, letting his preternatural sense sweep through the cavern. As he does so, he mutters an incantation to detect evil, in case any of the steps leads to peril.

The hedge wizard's arcane sense for unnatural dangers reveals that each of the staircases contains hazards, set to trap the unwary, but that this was done more as a means of limiting access to those worthy of it, rather than strictly from sinister intent.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Unless we can get more information about where the stairways go, we'll have to pick one at random," says Henry when Lepus finishes. "I agree, we should all stay together. Do you still have that pathfinding talisman? That might give us a hint as to which way to go."

Use of the talisman reveals only that all of the staircases lead upward, emerging somewhere above ground.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Eliza looks to see if anything appears different about any of the staircases. Width, steepness, the shape of the exit, anything written on them...

Once each of the staircases has been studied in detail -- a task requiring no little time -- certain distinctions are discovered; to wit, in roughly clockwise fashion:

A staircase down which a tiny flow of water continually flows, so small in volume that it is hardly noticeable, and which vanishes into the dry and dusty floor of the cavern.

A staircase in which a gentle warm breeze is felt, with less force than a feather falling to earth.

A staircase with steps bearing slightly more dust that the others, suggesting perhaps that is has been less traveled.

A staircase somewhat broader than the others, although not so much as to allow two to go abreast.

A staircase, on the other hand, somewhat narrower, although this would not prevent even a large person to make use of it.

A staircase whose helical windings are more evident than the rest, making more turns in an equivalent climb.

A staircase whose steps are of lesser height than the remainder, although still suited to normal use.

Contrariwise, a staircase whose steps are of greater height; again, this is no impediment to their use.

A staircase with steps containing, here and there, tiny glittering places, as of bits of mica or quartz.

A staircase with pitch black areas scattered about, resembling coal.

By this time, the adventurers feel themselves in need of sustenance and rest, after such a detailed investigation.