Welcome to the Banter thread! If two or more of you (characters) really get into a discussion that really part of your "in-turn actions," put it here!
Rin sighed. If he didn’t know any better, he’d have guessed the individual tiles of the mosaic floor were placed to be mathematically random. Intentionally or not, the architect of this labyrinth had spent a great deal of effort in countering a tool it was exceptionally unlikely to face. …Worth a try.
He kept scanning the edges of the pit where the floor had given way, hoping to find something useful. Parts of the mosaic hadn’t broken cleanly, resulting in an irregular border of chipped tiling that resembled the notches of a key. Something caught his eye - where the mortar binding them was exposed, it seemed paler and less weathered than the rest of the floor. He’d have dismissed it for the obvious if there weren’t bits of mortar further from the break that appeared newer, too. Okay, now Kolibri can’t decide if the fresh parts are a different species of mineral or not. Pfft. “I think someone’s been through here before us…the tiles around this pit look like they were repaired. Before we broke them again, anyway. It’s a little hard to tell with the dust, but notice how the sealing seems less worn? Not sure how recently, but newer than the rest of this place at least. I’d expect company ahead if regular maintenance is being done - would ask if we could pass peacefully, but I think we all know how that’s gonna go.” It’s a start, but not enough to advance safely without following up.
The pathfinder holsters his dustgun before retrieving an object about the size of a thick book, rectangular with a vertical handle set in one face. It almost looks like a bulky, strangely designed clothes iron. “Um, would any of you happen to have some rope? Like, the sturdy kind?” From Ant and Lisa’s perspectives, the screen above this handle bears a resemblance to the tiny mirror he uses to communicate with his familiar.
He kept scanning the edges of the pit where the floor had given way, hoping to find something useful. Parts of the mosaic hadn’t broken cleanly, resulting in an irregular border of chipped tiling that resembled the notches of a key. Something caught his eye - where the mortar binding them was exposed, it seemed paler and less weathered than the rest of the floor. He’d have dismissed it for the obvious if there weren’t bits of mortar further from the break that appeared newer, too. Okay, now Kolibri can’t decide if the fresh parts are a different species of mineral or not. Pfft. “I think someone’s been through here before us…the tiles around this pit look like they were repaired. Before we broke them again, anyway. It’s a little hard to tell with the dust, but notice how the sealing seems less worn? Not sure how recently, but newer than the rest of this place at least. I’d expect company ahead if regular maintenance is being done - would ask if we could pass peacefully, but I think we all know how that’s gonna go.” It’s a start, but not enough to advance safely without following up.
The pathfinder holsters his dustgun before retrieving an object about the size of a thick book, rectangular with a vertical handle set in one face. It almost looks like a bulky, strangely designed clothes iron. “Um, would any of you happen to have some rope? Like, the sturdy kind?” From Ant and Lisa’s perspectives, the screen above this handle bears a resemblance to the tiny mirror he uses to communicate with his familiar.
Lisa listens, nodding thoughtfully as Jiyarin shares his construct’s observations.
“That much doesn’t surprise me. If other adventurers have been here before us, and the villagers expect there to be more to follow…” of course they’re meticulously maintaining their traps.
“Could you tell me what you need a rope for? Does it have something to do with that?” She asks, pointing at the strange device Jiyarin clutches in his hand.
“I…don’t have one personally.” She casts a furtive glance toward Ant…wherever he’s gone. “But depending on what needs done, I might be able to help you anyways.”
“That much doesn’t surprise me. If other adventurers have been here before us, and the villagers expect there to be more to follow…” of course they’re meticulously maintaining their traps.
“Could you tell me what you need a rope for? Does it have something to do with that?” She asks, pointing at the strange device Jiyarin clutches in his hand.
“I…don’t have one personally.” She casts a furtive glance toward Ant…wherever he’s gone. “But depending on what needs done, I might be able to help you anyways.”
The pathfinder guesses Ant may have left to summon another…servant, but isn’t sure. Before answering Lisa’s question, he takes a moment to choose his words. “It’s a machine which emits a kind of light that can shine through solid ground, at least over a short distance. Some of the light is reflected back as it travels, and an eye inside this box-shaped part can use the strength of this reflection to gauge the position and nature of stuff underground - like loose soil, metal, stone, or even hollow voids. It can do this over a certain area and depth, though not particularly far in either for this handheld thing. A little under twice my height, at most.”
Rin takes a shaky breath before facing her again with a determined gaze. “I may be able to use it to pinpoint any more of these pits before they open up under us. But it’s short-ranged, and I’m also willing to guess they aren’t the only defences waiting ahead. Following too closely might be…unwise. That’s why I asked for a rope - as long as I have one tied around my waist and you or the big guy keeps it taut, one of you could probably pull me back fast if I miss a pit completely and fall in. Or we run into something else trying to take us out.”
On a different note, as of now the kassari is entirely unaware of Lisa’s shapeshifting abilities…
Rin takes a shaky breath before facing her again with a determined gaze. “I may be able to use it to pinpoint any more of these pits before they open up under us. But it’s short-ranged, and I’m also willing to guess they aren’t the only defences waiting ahead. Following too closely might be…unwise. That’s why I asked for a rope - as long as I have one tied around my waist and you or the big guy keeps it taut, one of you could probably pull me back fast if I miss a pit completely and fall in. Or we run into something else trying to take us out.”
On a different note, as of now the kassari is entirely unaware of Lisa’s shapeshifting abilities…
Lisa nods thoughtfully as if she completely understands what he's talking about. Well, she gets the gist; it uses light to detect what's under the earth. Strange but useful magic device. Good. Very good.
The problem is its range, and Lisa frowns when Rin explains his current plan. She doesn't like it much at all, though it's not an unwise plan given the resources and the information they've got.
"We should ask the undead if he has rope, but..." she hesitates. "Is it simple to use? The device? As in, could someone untrained learn how to read it quickly? And it is heavy?" There's a moment of hesitation before she clarifies, "I'd be willing to volunteer as scout. I'm agile. I can fly. These traps are most likely meant for human-like bipeds, and in a way I'm perfect for countering that sort of thing."
She's operating on the assumption that Jiyarin is familiar with magic and therefore has drawn the conclusion that she can shapeshift, so she doesn't explain further. Instead, Lisa turns toward the sound of footsteps from the tunnel's entrance.
The problem is its range, and Lisa frowns when Rin explains his current plan. She doesn't like it much at all, though it's not an unwise plan given the resources and the information they've got.
"We should ask the undead if he has rope, but..." she hesitates. "Is it simple to use? The device? As in, could someone untrained learn how to read it quickly? And it is heavy?" There's a moment of hesitation before she clarifies, "I'd be willing to volunteer as scout. I'm agile. I can fly. These traps are most likely meant for human-like bipeds, and in a way I'm perfect for countering that sort of thing."
She's operating on the assumption that Jiyarin is familiar with magic and therefore has drawn the conclusion that she can shapeshift, so she doesn't explain further. Instead, Lisa turns toward the sound of footsteps from the tunnel's entrance.
“Some of the information it displays is in a language that probably doesn’t exist here. The controls, too,” Rin admits. “But I’ve been wrong about that assumption once already, and the image itself should still be readable. I’ll try to explain in a sec. In a word, yes. I think.” The kassari brightens a little, happy to answer her questions. “Weighs about…two-and-a-half pounds, power supply and all.” A vendor in that creepy settlement outside used this unit, if I remember right. Hope it’s a common one. “Do you have something in mind?”
At Lisa’s offer to take his place scouting ahead, his expression changes to one of both gratitude and concern. “T-thank you, and I don’t doubt you could, it’s just…I’d rather not send someone else into danger for a plan I put forward.” He closes his eyes for a moment before looking back up and managing a nervous smile. “Not to mention I’m the smallest out of us. Still, if you believe you can improve our chances this way, I trust your judgem - waitwaitwait, you can fly!? But…how??” The poor creature just seems terribly confused now, head tilted and ears standing bolt upright, before deciding he - probably - misheard her completely. Human-like bipeds…? What am I missing here? “I-I apologize. This, uh, isn’t my first language.”
Their conversation is interrupted by the returning member of their party…
At Lisa’s offer to take his place scouting ahead, his expression changes to one of both gratitude and concern. “T-thank you, and I don’t doubt you could, it’s just…I’d rather not send someone else into danger for a plan I put forward.” He closes his eyes for a moment before looking back up and managing a nervous smile. “Not to mention I’m the smallest out of us. Still, if you believe you can improve our chances this way, I trust your judgem - waitwaitwait, you can fly!? But…how??” The poor creature just seems terribly confused now, head tilted and ears standing bolt upright, before deciding he - probably - misheard her completely. Human-like bipeds…? What am I missing here? “I-I apologize. This, uh, isn’t my first language.”
Their conversation is interrupted by the returning member of their party…
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