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

[jp1885]

Stomach rumbling, Lepus rummages around his person for scraps of food, pondering out loud as he does so.

“Psht! Old Lepus would walk the road less travelled, thus choosing the dusty steps, yet the one with water might prove that t’other end at least could provide drink...”

[SunlessNick]

"Do these characteristics reflect anything from natural philosophy or magical lore?" asks Eliza. "Or the tales of Greece, since we seem to have been plunged into them."

[Mr. Handy]

Henry ponders this. "Some of the staircases are indicative of certain elements," he says. "The first one is associated with water, which I must admit would sound good just about now. The second has to do with air, the third perhaps with earth, and the last perhaps with fire."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Thirst being, as any who have suffered from it know, a far more harsh taskmaster than hunger, it seems prudent to investigate the first staircase, and determine if it offers relief from the ravages of a dry tongue. This proves to be a wise decision, for after some amount of time spent climbing in spiral fashion, the crude stone steps lead to a flat, extended area, covered with a large pool of sweet-smelling water. Caution is advisable, to be sure, but observation of small creatures of darkness -- moles, lizards and the like -- sipping at the liquid without ill effect, as well as the presence of sightless fishes within the pool, lead one to experiment. Indeed, the water proves to be entirely refreshing, without ill effects. There remains the problem of how to cross the pool, if it so be desired, as it is wide across and of unknown depth.

[jp1885]

“Do we swim?” Lepus asks as he wipes his beard dry. “Or go back and try different steps, hm?”

[SunlessNick]

"I do not believe that I can swim," says Eliza. "But if this staircase leads to a pool, perhaps the one you chose leads to rocks or Earth. I may be able to move them aside."

[Mr. Handy]

"There is another option," suggests Henry. "We can go back down the stairs and retrieve one of the boats. I'm sure you and Ivan are strong enough to carry it up the stairs."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

This suggestion by Doctor North seems promising, but offers a further challenge; specifically, how one is to return to the place where the boats are waiting, now that the adventurers have passed through what seems to be, for the nonce at least, solid stone, into the chamber of stairs.

[SunlessNick]

Eliza looks at the ceiling above the pool, and the walls, wondering if there is a way she might climb along them.

[Mr. Handy]

"Either way, we need to return back downstairs once we have our fill of water," says Henry. "We can see if the wall will let us pass back through it. If not, we can try the earth stairway."

[jp1885]

“Aye, ‘tis worth a try,” concurs Lepus.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Close examination reveals that the walls and ceilings, although somewhat rough, in the nature of stone, do not allow for climbing to any great extent, unless one be a spider or some such vermin.

Returning much refreshed from deep draughts of clean, cool water, the adventurers find their way out of the lower chamber blocked, with no evident manner in which to pass through solid rock.

Investigating the dust-covered staircase, the trio make their way up, raising many fine particles of very fine dirt into the air as they do so.

Spoiler:

CON 14, 10, and 180 Going to count the borderline results as failures, this time

The dust being inhaled, will-I nill-I, by all three, regardless of the care taken to avoid such, they suffer irritating coughs, such as are known to plague miners of coal and other such unfortunate laborers.

Spoiler:

Temporarily reduce CON, STR, and DEX by 1 point until out of the dusty area, due to the effect of the toxic substances therein.

Persevering despite such infirmity, the adventurers finds their way up blocked by an enormous, rough-hewn statue, resembling nothing so much as the large pagan idols reported by Dutch, Spanish, and French explorers, not to mention the late Captain James Cook, on the remote Pacific Island named for the holiest day in the Christian calendar.

[jp1885]

After much coughing and hacking, Lepus bows to the statue.

“Greetings mighty one. How goes the day?”

If the statues doesn’t respond, he will approach and inspect the behemoth.

[SunlessNick]

Eliza tries to see if the passage continues past the statue or ends.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry examines the statue closely, also looking to see how difficult it would be for Ivan and Eliza to move it.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

After much coughing and hacking, Lepus bows to the statue.

“Greetings mighty one. How goes the day?”

If the statues doesn’t respond, he will approach and inspect the behemoth.

There is no indication that the figure is able to speak, or indeed possesses life in any way. Close examination reveals pale brown stains upon the base of the statue, visible upon the darker stone from which it is hewn.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Eliza tries to see if the passage continues past the statue or ends.

It is just barely possible to determine that the stairway continues it way upward, the bulk of the statue blocking most, but not quite all, sight of what lies beyond it.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Henry examines the statue closely, also looking to see how difficult it would be for Ivan and Eliza to move it.

At a guess, the combined efforts of the two stand a good chance of repositioning it. There remains the problem that there is little room to maneuver within the stairway, making such an effort awkward, at best.

[jp1885]

“Stay your hand, friends,” requests Lepus before the others try to move the statue. “Mayhap it only needs feeding.”

Kneeling at the base of the statue, he nicks the palm of his hand with his dagger and lets a few drops of blood fall onto it.

[SunlessNick]

Eliza grows tense, remembering the last time it was suggested that Lepus be fed to a god. She makes ready to sieze him and drag him away from the statue if anything sinister should occur.