[Game Thread] The First - Finding Terrible Things

[Fragmaster01]

The place is happily lit by the flickering rays of the spell, saving you from tripping over whatever would have been there to trip you later on. The rails overhead spark and zap eerily. You don't like that, they're supposed to be completely off.

On the right side of the tunnel is an oval-shaped hatch, with the words Lower Levels - Authorized Personnel Only. Its release mechanism is an old metal wheel that you spin around lots of times(the things people did back in the day, right?), hopefully its still willing to budge for the sake of your interview.

[copatt]

Serena stares at the hatch and metal wheel for a second, then shakes her head. I think maybe one of you guys have this one.

[Caput]

Mu turns it. "Lets get away from the rails. If anyone asks, we're a surprise inspection and we left the paperwork with their office or something."

[badhorse]

Ringo rubs his hands together in anticipation. "Oh boy, this is really exciting. I wonder if those mole guys are good-looking." He peers around the edge of the hatch as it opens, eager for the first glimpse of whatever lies beyond. You'd think he'd be more careful.

[Fragmaster01]

It's... it's...! A ramp. A spiral ramp, to be precise, lit by an old halogen lamp dangling on a cord from the ceiling. How far down it goes, you can't really say. The steel of the ramp is dusty and rusty from age, though it's suitably thick to be considered sturdy.

[copatt]

Serena tests the ramp with the big toe of one of her broad, bare, front feet. When she is not instantly shocked, she places the entire foot on it. The other front foot follows, then the back two do as well. Before long, she's walking down the ramp, guided by her arcane light. Thankfully, it was a ramp, not something dreadful like a... ladder.

[Fragmaster01]

You trudge along down the ramp for quite a few spirals, before coming across a door, set into the outside wall. It has a label, scrawled in Old Outrim. If you remember your literature classes well enough, it says "Transportation Room Herein". Whatever that means.

The ramp continues spiraling down past the door.

[copatt]

Serena nods toward the door, wishing she still had fingers with which to point. You guys think we should look in there or just keep going down the ramp?

[badhorse]

"I have this rule about closed doors. They are to be opened, doubly so if they're locked. If I'm being kept out, there's a good reason for it and I'm not going to let that stand." Ringo tries the door confidently.

[Caput]

"Interesting rule. Normally I'd just say 'why worry?' and keep walking, but since we're here to find things out..." At Ringo's suggestion, Mu also ponders whether mole-guys might be good looking. He guesses not.

[Fragmaster01]

Ringo: Inside is another circular room, this one a bit smaller(diameter 15). There's a large hatch set into the wall, like something you'd see covering a drain pipe. It is securely closed with a spinny hatch wheel.

There are no lights in here. Or critters to keep you company. This room has been closed off for a long time...

[copatt]

Ducking her head on its long, leathery neck, Serena takes a step into the previosuly sealed room. If this is mole-man territory, it's the part of the territory even they visit infrequently. Serena positions herself to better shine her glowing spelldic on the hatch in the wall.

[Caput]

"Yup. Probably not where we're supposed to be going." Apparently, Mu doesn't consider that a problem. He stretches out an arm and tries turning the wheel.

[Fragmaster01]

The wheel turns... rather easily, actually. It spins and spins and... falls off.

There is a very loud *KLUNNNNN* of the wheel hitting the ground. The hatch does, however, swing open quite happily. Inside is... a pipe. How remarkable.

A slight bit of suction is coming from the pipe, pulling air in, and slowly gaining force.

[copatt]

Serena half-steps, half-jumps out of the way of the falling wheel. She imagines for a second that she probably looks not unlike a scared animal. Hey Mu, watch where you drop those things, she says, regaining some composure, just because my feet are too big for shoes, doesn't mean they can't be hurt by falling objects of significant weight. Vindicated, Serena leans closer to get a better look into the pipe. Wonder what's sucking that air in?