Is it? Can it really be... ToU PART 4!

[Radium]

<b>I was a bit hesitant to deviate from the pipe, but the light seemed to be emitting a warmth of its own. I crossed the pipe and walked ahead until I reached the yellow glow. Two thick shafts of light were shining down from far above.
"Where are they coming from?" L33tz4n asked, perhaps rhetorically.
"The ceiling. Probabaly the surface, maybe the ice cave," I answered.
Araches looked up, squinting her eyes. "If we could throw a rope or something, maybe we could find a way back to the surfa-"
"Wait!" Fawriel interrupted, "you want to go back? We've spent weeks trying to get here in the first place, fought our way through demons, foliage, snowmen, British avians, and inanimate objects, suffered insurmountable pain and agony, and you want to <i>go back?</i>"
She shrugged. "Well, we'd know where the hole was. We could go get a burger, sleep in beds or something and come back."
"Oh. Yeah, I'm all for that."
As nice as that sounded, it didn't look like we'd be able to throw a rope that far.

http://www.foxmage.com/u/map/LightB.png

[White Rabbit]

Pick up rock!
Look into the lights, and try to see the ceiling.

Go back to the pipes, and go left (down the heated one where we haven't been).

EDIT: Map updated. http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8845/mapye9.png
I can guess where we'll be going if we go left, but let's do it anyway. We might find a cog. :D

[Radium]

Only stupid people look into lights D=.

<b>It was a nice, well-lit place with a smooth ground, except for the rock. It was just sitting there, being a rock. Existing in a place otherwise devoid of small rocks. It might be kind of nice to pick up.
"No!" exclaimed my Superego, "Shuri, you can't pick up a rock! Only Uberbob would pick up rocks. Even Fawriel only picked up shiny rocks."
"But Shuri," my Id retorted, "this rock could be direly important. So few other things around here are pocket-sized."
If it had arms, my Superego would have crossed them. "It's not pocket sized. Her pockets are too small; it wouldn't fit."
"I bet it would. Pick it up and try, Shuri," Id urged.
"Don't Shur! It's a trap! He wants you to pick up the rock!"
"Yes, I kind of caught onto that," I responded. "What about ego? What does she have to say?"
Ego piped up. "This is way over my head."
"Ego, you suck."
"I still firmly believe you should leave the rock," Superego concluded. "Think of your reputation! Think of your sanity!"
"Actually," I pointed out, "I'm having a vivid four-sided conversation with the Freudian repsentation of my personality. I think sanity isn't a valid argument."

"<i>SHURI!!</i>" Uberbob screamed in my ear.
"What? What is it?"
"You've been standing there for two minutes. Are you okay?"
"Oh.. yeah, fine. Just.. taking a nap."
"With your eyes open?"
"I'm that badass." I noticed Uberbob was holding the rock. "You picked up the rock?"
"Yeah. I'm going to carry it in case we need it later."
"Oh. Okay, cool." I sighed with relief of a problem solved.

As soon as we got bored with the shiny light went back to the pipe and took a left. Disappointingly, it simply led to another dead end and broken pipe.

http://www.foxmage.com/u/map/PipebreakL.png

[Puffie40]

'k. Head back to the valve, rotate it, and head the other way!

I have a feeling we are close to the end of exploring all the pipes...

[White Rabbit]

The things ToU characters go through...
Go with Puffie's commands.

EDIT: Huh, from the picture, the rock looks like a lump of gold. :p

[Xobim]

Take a look into the broken pipe.

[Radium]

The rock looks gold from the light, WR =P

<b>I glanced into the end of the pipe, but it seemed to just contain steam. So, without any cans or anything to pry open on its jagged edge, I decided to head back, turn the valve, and take a left.
Soon the pipe took us to another narrow stream, thin enough to step over. On the other side was a rock mass with a pipe coming out of it. I felt the pipe; it was heated.

http://www.foxmage.com/u/map/FeedF.png

[Ae]

Ask Fooruman and the FooCanoe to go explore the streams while the rest of the party covers the land-area

[White Rabbit]

<s>Ask Fooruman to lick the lights.</s>
Adam, neither the fooruman nor Canoe know how to swim. Besides, we think the streams are too cold (we *think*..we haven't tried swimming in there yet :p).

Follow the heated pipe left.

[Raven aka StL]

Yes, do that.

[Radium]

<b>I followed the new heated pipe to the left as it went along the edge of the rock mass. Something felt oddly familiar here. The pipe to the left was warm, while the one forward was cold.

http://www.foxmage.com/u/map/RidgeL.png

[Raven aka StL]

Holy (-), it's bipolar!

Go left...
Try to beat the living hell out of the door with the scales...

Then go around the known routes (comg back to the scales) and check how many valves there are in total...

[White Rabbit]

We don't need to check the valves out, I am keeping count of them with my map (now updated): http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/6297/mapfv6.png
Yes, go left.

[Radium]

<b>Since we couldn't really reroute the steam flow, we headed off down the left pipe until we reached another split, on which the right pipe was heated.
"Amazing!" Uberbob exclaimed, "<i>another</i> dome! We must've stumbled upon some sort of... <i>DOME CITY</i>"

http://www.foxmage.com/u/map/LabtB.png

[Ae]

dennis

[Puffie40]

Wait WR! This area is the same as the area by the dome! We went in a full circle!

So that means there is one last point to be explored. That is the pipe (According to WR's map, looking north) RIGHT of the first valve we encountered.

so, RIGHT, LEFT, Turn Valve, LEFT

[White Rabbit]

Er...
Clearly something's wrong with my map.

I'll never be a master cartographer now. :(

It's possible for us to go in a circle, but the pipes will have to bend. On the pictures they're all nice and straight. I'll re-check them.

[Torkell]

Looking at your map, the alternative is that we're in a closed space of some sort. If you map the map onto a cylinder, then you could walk east or west without ever stopping. Could be a sphere, but we've got no knowledge of what happens if we keep going north or south.

[Torkell]

(apologies for the double post, but people tend not to notice if I just edit mine)

WR: your map appears to be right. I've gone and made my own, and they match.

Radium: can you have a look at WR's map, and check we've not missed a turning somewhere? I *think* I've not missed any, but without compass directions it's hard to tell.

Anyway, there's one route we've not taken: going right at the very beginning. Let's give that a try.

Edit: my map (created in Excel of all things):
http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toumap3a.png

[White Rabbit]

Ah, just like in the Romero Challenge. :D

[Xobim]

Turn valve, go right, turn valve, go left, follow the pipe past the boxclaw, rotate valve and finally take a left turn.

[White Rabbit]

Just do what Puffie said. We can't turn the valve and go right at the same time, Xobim, because the right pipe is already heated.

[Raven aka StL]

Right, left, right, left, examine scrap, turn around, right, forward twice...

[Puffie40]

Alright. Considering the hints rad dropped us, this is the same area. Think of that asteroid acade game <strike>that has been around since the beginning of time</strike>

[Xobim]

Yes, but we still need to find out where that pipe leads to.
Then we should try to open the dome.

[Radium]

Wallace, we already examined the scrap, I think. It's just a large piece of metal that weighs about 300 lbs.

<b>We followed the long, twisty pipe to the right, to the left, and to another left, turning the appropriate valves (er.. valve) as we went. It ended in extreme disappointment; the pipe merely went down straight into the ground. Ahead and to the left I could see the dome.

http://foxmage.com/u/map/PipedownR.png

[Puffie40]

Let's go get that chunck of scrap metal. I think it'll be a help at opening that door.

[Raven aka StL]

Put that on the "3" scale and get 400 kg on the "4" scale...

[White Rabbit]

Ask Fooruman what he meant by 'relative equality'.

[Xobim]

Allright, move back to the boxclaw and ask Uberbob if he can use his robot arm to search through the really cold liquid. Then head to the dome.

[Blackraptor]

I just noticed that ToU (all 4 parts of it) compose slightly less than half of all the 26k something posts on the WT forum. jesus christ.

[Raven aka StL]

That's one way to express it's quality.

Rad, carry on plz thnx.

[Torkell]

Wallace killed the thread :(

Anyway, let's try an experiment. Go and get Uberbob's chunk of metal from where the scales are, and then head to the dome with the two plates (changing valves as needed). Have Araches, L33tz4n and the Mythslayer stand on the '4' plate with the chunk of metal. Have Shuriken, Fawriel, Uberbob and the A.W.A. stand on the '3' plate with the Foocanoe. Fooruman should not be on either plate.

And lets hope that I'm a) right and b) the tolerances are at least +/- 2 pounds :P

[Radium]

Instead, let's finish taking finals. Call back in a week.

[Xobim]

Yay! :D
Did you manage to do your exams properly?

[White Rabbit]

Hasn't been one week yet.
But no popcorn gun for you until ToU comes back, Radium. :(

[Radium]

But no popcorn gun for you until ToU comes back, Radium. :(Alas D=. Can we at least come to a consensus on the next action? I hate executing tons of almost-conflicting commands, especially when they involve pushing a massive rock all over the place. I should just do them all and make you die of overworkage.

[White Rabbit]

So, we're stuck, unless we can find a way to follow the cold pipe from the valve-less valve. Clearly, we need a valve. There are two places of interest: the pump and the dome. The pump is missing a cog, so it doesn't work. If the cog is anywhere, it's in the dome. After we get the pump going, we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Oh, and there's also a locked door involved in all this.

Ask Fooruman what he meant by 'relative equality'.
Investigate the boxclaw, and try to operate it.
Go to the pipe junction to the north of the dome. Turn the wheel so that the pipe leading to the cliff is warm. Tell the Mythslayer to pull the wheel out.

[Xobim]

I agree with WR, plus: Ask Uberbob if he can stick his metal hand in the cold liquid and feel around...

[Torkell]

I shall break the dispute by retracting my previous command for now, and voting for Xobim's command in #826 (including WR's command in #825).

Conflict BROKEN!

[Torkell]

*poke*

[Radium]

give me a minute, I'm scholarshipapplicationing D=

[Torkell]

You've had your minute. You've had that week too :P

Seriously, best of luck with the scholarship.

[ShadeJackrabbit]

w00t. Back in ToU! Anyways, I have an idea for the weight puzzle:
----------------------------------
Take the total weight of the party and divide by the # of people in the party.
Multiply this number by three to get X.
Multiply that same number by four to get Y.

Place things/people necessary for x on the "3" pad.
Place things/people necessary for y on the "4" pad.

You will now know how much weight to put on each pad. Seeing as how this is relative weight, if you can't get a combo to work out, add/subtract summons or that chunk of metal.
----------------------------------
So why don't I do it? Uhm... I might get around to it. But not tonight. Maybe tommoro.

[Torkell]

w00t. Back in ToU! Anyways, I have an idea for the weight puzzle:
----------------------------------
Take the total weight of the party and divide by the # of people in the party.
Multiply this number by three to get X.
Multiply that same number by four to get Y.

Place things/people necessary for x on the "3" pad.
Place things/people necessary for y on the "4" pad.

You will now know how much weight to put on each pad. Seeing as how this is relative weight, if you can't get a combo to work out, add/subtract summons or that chunk of metal.
----------------------------------
So why don't I do it? Uhm... I might get around to it. But not tonight. Maybe tommoro.
I invite you to read the post I made earlier, suggesting how people should stand on the pads. I did all these calculations, and the answer was good to within a couple of pounds.

For the record, it was:
On the '4' plate: Araches, L33tz4n, Mythslayer, chunk of metal.
On the '3' plate: Shuriken, Fawriel, Uberbob, A.W.A., Foocanoe.
On neither plate: Fooruman.

[ShadeJackrabbit]

Oh... sorry, I guess I didn't see that. Well.. I vote we try it!

[Xobim]

It is the only option we have left. The whole area is examined.
So:
Turn the wheel and follow the pipe to the dome. Then follow Torkells plan.

[Radium]

Since it's like 8:00 and I'm trying to turn my schedule back a bit, I don't have time to do anything useful. Might as well ressurrect this.

For anyone who forgot everything that's going on, this puzzle begins on page 17 (http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showthread.php?t=15473&page=17). Torkell has a very nice and comprehensive map (http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toumap3b.png), probably the second best in existence (the first being mine, since it also lists item locations. But that's on the table next to me and you can't have it).

Also, to save some tedium, I'll say all commands since the last time I responded would do nothing. Even asking Fooruman what he meant by relative equality. Thus, I'll do absolutely nothing.

<b>It was still very cold.
http://foxmage.com/u/map/PipedownR.png

[Erik]

Do nothing!!

Nice to have it back again. Even though I never really played it

It's still nice.

[Xobim]

W000T, ToU is back!!!
Well, for the moment, atleast... :)

[Torkell]

Drat, I thought I had sussed the number-pad puzzle.

I'm working on an updated map showing the flow of whatever liquid is in the pipes.

Rad: is the number 130 at all significant in relation to Fooruman?

[Torkell]

Right, here's the updated version of the map. There's a few changes to the layout, and I've added arrows to show the flow in the pipes, markers to show where the valves are, and a grid reference. The compass directions are arbitary - we've not been given the direction of north. Note that the map appears to tile horizontally - it could even be a disc. We're currently (assuming I've not messed up a turning) in T11.

Map:
http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toumap3b.png

http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toukey3.png

Radium: could you check I've not made any mistakes with this map?

[Radium]

It's better than my map now D=. Also, I'll go ahead and say that the pipes are slightly curved (so that the water forms a ring around the tower), though it doesn't really affect the map any.

<b>I pondered to myself whether the number 130 was of any significance at all in relation to Fooruman. It could be his age, I guessed, but I could recall him saying he was older than that. His weight.. probably not, considering when we met him he was starving to death, and I wasn't starving to death too until at <i>least</i> a day later.
"Shuri," Faw addressed me, "do you have any idea what you're doing? I mean, we've been here a while, I feel like you're ignoring us all, and you look like you're thinking really hard about something."

[Torkell]

http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toumap3b.png

http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toukey3.png


Right, let's take stock. We're looking for up to three items: a gear for the pump in J5, something (most likely a fuse) for the boxclaw in P6, and a wheel for the valve in Y3. There's also two doors, in I13 and V11. The door in I13 needs a key, while the one in V11 is linked to a '3' and a '4' pad (the '4' pad is slightly larger).

It looks like to continue we need to open the dome. It's not dependent on a 3:4 ratio of weight or pressure, as we've tried that (unless the weights need to be in an exact 3:4 ratio - I think I was a couple of pounds out). We've sort of tried numbers, but I'm not sure if the canoe counts.

There are also two small rocks, and a patch of light. Hmm...

Pick up the small rocks in F9 and U8, then weigh them on the scales at M15. Adjust valves as needed to actually make it there.

[Ae]

Review inventory.
Go W, N, E. Point out the useful rock to Uberbob. Shuri probably doesn't want to start picking up rocks also.

[Radium]

Sorry, had some art award and class planning things to go to.

<b>Something about being cold, scared and alone (yeah... I'm not counting the rest of my party as people anymore) evidently causes you to take stock of your possessions a lot. I had:

-My katana, which was about three feet long, steel, and was starting to look like a piece of sticky bloody schrapnel; I'd need to swing by Ninja Depot and pick up a new one after this "adventure".
-My "awesome ninja pants", which were secretly just a pair of one-size-too-large black jeans. From Wal*Mart.
-My armor, which was sleeveless, only came down to the bottom of my ribcage, and entirely made of metal. In retrospect, I really should've worn something under it.
-Some paper and a pen I stole from Faw and used to write down our weights. You know, so after this was all over we could give health talks about how we lost 30 pounds fighting an evil dreadlord that lived in an ice cave.

All things considered, homeless people that push around shopping cards had it better than us. "Follow," I yelled over the wind, walking back along the pipe, turning right towards the river, then right again to the last rock I'd seen.
"U., want to get the rock?" I asked, gesturing towards it.
"Nah, I'm cool. My current rock is better," he explained, holding it out.
I looked at the rock on the ground, then at his. "They look exactly the same."
"They <i>are</i> exactly the same, but mine's slightly larger. That makes it better for most things rocks are used for."
I wished he'd just pick up the (-) rock. "Not everything, though," I said, "Like throwing, and with two you can stack them up."
"I don't usually plan that far ahead," Uberbob admitted, "so far it's worked, and I don't want to stop now."
I felt a hand on my soulder and snapped around. Fawriel was there. "It's okay if you want to pick up the rock, Shuri. We won't make fun of you or anythin-"
Araches interrupted. "Yes we will. I will, anyway."
I sighed. I hated this adventure. "For the love of God." I knelt down and snached up the rock.
"Shuri!!" Uberbob exclained, "you picked up a rock!"
Araches laughed darkly. "Is this what you've become, Shur?"
Me: "We can't tell what might come in handy. And, I mean it wasn't nailed down or anything."
Uberbob clapped his hands together with glee. "You get it! You really get it!"
Me: "Regret."
Fawriel frowned. "Guys! Don't make fun of her! She's just trying to help us-"
"How long did you carry that First Aid kit for, Faw?" Araches asked.
"That SAVED us!"
"STONE saved us!"
"Okay, all of you shut up," I ordered, "we need to weigh these rocks." We quickly moved back to the last valve, turned it and continued to the scale. I grabbed Uberbob's rock from him (much to his discontent) and ran ahead to the scale.</b>
(Radium note: it's been half a year. I forget what position the valve by the scale was in. Let's presume Shuri turned it towards the scale if it wasn't)
<b>I dropped the my rock on the scale with a <i>CLANG</i>. The needle flickered from the impact, then settled on "3". So far so good. Without bothering to take mine off, I dropped Uberbob's on. "7".
"I believe I see our solution..." Fooruman said speculatively, startling me.
I turned around. "How'd you beat everyone else here?"
"I have a vehicle, in case you haven't noticed, Senyor Ken." I decided to not pursue this topic any further.
http://foxmage.com/u/map/JunkB.png

[Torkell]

What's with the red dot on the image?

Head to the dome, and put the rock that weighs 3 (Shuri's) on the 3 plate and the one that weighs 4 (Uberbob's) on the 4 plate.

[Xobim]

What Torkell said. Allthough it sounds waaaay too obvious to be the solution to the puzzle...

[Torkell]

If this doesn't work, then I'll tell Uberbob that really super cool rocks are inside the dome.

[Xobim]

Or ask him if he can dip his robot hand in the liquid and feel around...

[Radium]

His arm would just end up freezing, Xo, like Shuri's katana did.
And check the art forum for BONUS INTERACTIVE TOU FUN, guys!

<b>Before leaving, I looked closer at the red dot on the piece of scrapmetal. It looked like a built-in light, as though the metal was once part of an airplane wing. Or a wall with a red light on it. It was not glowing, therefore probably broken.
The rest of the pack was arriving just as I was turning to leave. "Follow," I ordered again, and they grudgingly turned back with me.
After an annoyingly long walk and one valve turn, we arrived at the dome. I dropped the two rocks onto the respective platforms. There was a short rumble of a motor starting, gears clicking, and the doors slowly slid open.

It was considerably warmer inside - no doubt due to the lack of wind.
The contents of the dome itself were rather strange. A few clocks and other trinkets lay scattered around, along with a few rocks (a spare set?). Most of all, everyone seemed happy to get in from the cold. Except Uberbob, who was no doubt about to pocket everything he could.

http://www.foxmage.com/u/map/LabB.png

[Ae]

Grab the first aid kit and hand it to Fawriel.
Inspect the paper and the star on top of the cabinet.
Open the cabinet.
Open the drawers.
Take the mirror.
Is that a crowbar?

[cooba]

Are the clocks of any significance?

[Torkell]

What times are the clocks showing (I don't trust you to have them all the right way round)? Are any working? Can the time shown be changed?

What state is the trolley in? Is that a <s>dagger</s> broken wheel I see before me? How are the other wheels secured?

The pipe that goes into the dome - what is it connected to on the inside?

[Radium]

<b>Uberbob rushed towards the table and began to tug at the handles on the drawers. They didn't budge. "Crap, they must be for storing glue."
"Or just locked," Faw proposed, confirming the cabinent was as well. He tried reaching for the paper and first aid kit on top of the cabinent, but they were out of reach. It was a pretty big cabinent, probably containing amazing things.
All of the clocks were still functioning, but none of them had numbers. I took a closer look at the clock on the broken trolley; the back had a knob for changing the time. Judging from the orientation of the word "Clockworks^TM" on the back, the correct time was a little bit before 3:00.
"Got a hot date?" Araches asked, leaning against the side of the dome. Near her, the pipe led into a heater. I ignored her.
The trolley was made of rusted metal, with 3 wheels bolted to it. The last wheel was missing its bolt and had fallen off.

Hoping no one would notice, I took the magnifying glass and crowbar.

[Ae]

Go East then North. Try to pry the wheel off with the crowbar so you can use it on the broken valve to the north.

[Torkell]

Get someone to lift Faw up so he can get at the first aid kit. If Faw's too heavy, try lifting either Shuri or Fooruman. What does the paper on top of the cupboard say?

Use the crowbar to open the cupboard and drawers.

[Radium]

<b>"Faw, prop me up so I can reach the top of that cabinent." Fawriel gave me a lift, but the top of the cabinent was still out of reach. I could read off the top of the piece of paper "the secret of happiness is", but the rest was blocked by the cabinent.
Feeling attention defecit, I grabbed the wheel that had fallen off the cart and departed, turning left to reach the broken valve. I put the wheel on top of it. It fell off. It occured to me I didn't plan this very well.

http://www.foxmage.com/u/map/RidgeF.png

[cooba]

I think Ae meant to use the wheel from the souther valve, not the cart ;|

Also would it be acceptable if we'd use commands like "go to Y3" rather than "East, North, North"?

[Ae]

Yeah wrong wheel D;

[Torkell]

Head back to V11, and change the time on the clock on the trolley to match the others.

[Xobim]

Those clocks remind me of the poem in the icecave puzzle...
The magnifying glass probably needs to be use in combination with the yelow light.

Go south and try to break the wheel off with the crowbar.

[Radium]

Sorry, Ae, misunderstood. There's a lot of wheels here. And sure, Cooba.

Also, Torkell, the clock on the trolley was the only one with an identifying mark signifying direction. Shuri was presuming the time was 3:00 on all of them from this. Sorry if I didn't imply that well enough.

<b>I suddenly realized that I had misunderstood my own brilliant plan. I trudged back through the cold wind until I reached the previous valve. I snagged the crowbar under the bolt to try to pry it out class-two-lever style. After a bit of prying, I finally managed to work out both the wheel and the fragile, rusty bolt that held it in place. Score.

http://foxmage.com/u/map/Foundwheel.png

[Torkell]

Y3, attach the wheel, turn the wheel.


I'll try to avoid shifting the co-ordinate grid on the map.

[Radium]

<b>I turned back, put the wheel on the broken valve, and pounded the fragile, rusty bolt through it with the crowbar.

Huh, I thought to myself, I honestly wasn't expecting that to work. I've been having a pretty good day.

http://foxmage.com/u/map/Fixedvalve.png

[Ae]

Turn it counter-clockwise!

[Radium]

<b><i>creeeak</i>
http://foxmage.com/u/map/Fixedvalve.png
</b>It looks the same because she turned it 180 degrees.

[cooba]

Attempt to follow the left pipe.

[Radium]

<b>I followed the pipe left along the ridge. At the end stood a tower, at least 100 feet tall, and with what appeared to be a clock at the top... I guess making it a clocktower. I approached the door; it was shuddering as if trying to open, but it did not have enough force. The pipe feeding into the other side of the tower was cold, and disappeared across the icy river behind me.

The clock face read 3:10, confirming that the clock on the trolley was correct and suggesting I had been wandering around crowbaring valves for about 20 minutes.

http://foxmage.com/u/map/TowerL.png

[Torkell]

Try kicking the door down?

The more we wander round, the more this seems like Myst.

http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toumap3c.png

http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toukey3.png

[Xobim]

Find out where the cold pipe leads to by peeking into it's direction.

[cooba]

Find out where the cold pipe leads to by peeking into it's direction.The boxclaw, I suppose.

Which could as well mean that it's the power source for the door.. how are we supposed to use the boxclaw is beyond me.

[Radium]

<b>I looked across the river; I could vaguely make out the metal box I had encountered earlier.

Since this otherwise looked like a dead end, I gave the door a mighty kick, resulting in hurting my foot. It didn't look like there was much else I could do here, at least alone. Though I rather liked the relative quiet of being off on my own.

[Ae]

Follow the cold pipe west.

[Radium]

Boggy's map isn't completely accurate in shape/spaceing. West along the pipe crosses the river and connects to the boxclaw.

[Torkell]

Think of my map as being like the Tube map - it's not geographically accurate, but it shows what's linked to what.

Hmm, I have an idea...

Head west to Y3, turn the valve, remove the wheel. Head south to Y7, add the wheel. Go to V11 and collect the rest of the part (unless we want them to freeze). Make our way to E7 (adjusting valves as needed), make sure the north pipe is heated, and remove the wheel. Back to Y3, add the wheel. Then head to Q7 and stick the crowbar in the claws of the boxclaw.

[Xobim]

As Torkell said, but don't forget to pick up the small clock on the cart when you're inside the dome and try it on the boxclaw when you're at Q7.

[Radium]

<b>Deciding I'd better reroute the steam before my tag-alongs froze to death, I walked back to the valve and turned it clockwise. Since I'd need it to get back to the metal box, I stuck the crowbar under the fragile, rusty bolt to pry it out again.

<i>SnnnAAP</i>

"(-)," I shouted as the head of the bolt snapped off and bounced into the river.

http://foxmage.com/u/map/Rebroke.png

</b>EDIT: what do you mean "try the small clock on the boxclaw"? This isn't King's Quest D=

[Ae]

Go to AC3.
Look over towards the pipe that starts (or ends) at AE3, maybe we can follow it somewhere.

[Xobim]

The small clock could fit between the claws. Try to see if it indeed fits.

Erm, is the wheel at Y7 turned so that the heat goes to the boxclaw or to the dome?

[Radium]

Erm, is the wheel at Y7 turned so that the heat goes to the boxclaw or to the dome?The dome.

<b>I followed the pipe to my right, back to where it was connected to the cliff face. The other pipe, whch led across the river, was so cold it was painful to touch.
http://www.foxmage.com/u/map/FeedR.png

[Fawriel]

Tell Araches that she's lookin really pretty today, by the way.

[Xobim]

Go back to the wheel, turn it so you can go to the clocktower. Try to open the door with the bar of crow.

[Torkell]

http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toumap3c.png

http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toukey3.png

Ah, balls. At least Shuri turned the valve first, so the party's not going to freeze.

<s>Meh. Continue with the rest of my instructions</s>... except we can't get to the boxclaw anymore. Hmm....

Head back to the dome, and crowbar the cupboard open.

[Birdie]

Try tipping the cupboard in the dome so all of the objects on top slide off.

[Radium]

I'm going to skip Xob's command because:
A) Your party's probably a little (-) you turned the heat off on them once already.
B) Do you really think I'm going to let you crowbar a door open? Even Gordon Freeman can't do that.

<b>Going back to the dome sounded nice. "Welcome back, Shuri," Faw said. I ignored him and began trying to tip the cabinent over or crowbar it open. Neither seemed to be working very well, as the cabinent appeared to be either very heavy or rooted into the ground, and, knowing whoever designed this place, it was probably welded shut.
"Not even a hello?" Araches asked, still leaning against the side of the dome. "Not nice playing with the heat pipes while we're in here. You know, hon, you're acting more and more like Uberbob by the minute." Uberbob looked at her, not as though he was hurt but as though he were perplexed at the very thought that being like him could ever be a bad thing.
I turned to Araches. I looked her straight in the eye. I raised a finger, opened my mouth, and said:
"You look really pretty today."
I couldn't believe I said that. Awkward silence. Even from Fooruman. Time to save it.
"I mean, since it's cold."
Awkward silence again. Fawriel backed up a little.
"Not like that."
Silence.
"Let's forget this ever happened."
She nodded. "Just this once."

I felt very scared. I was doing strange things. I wanted to get out of here and never look at these people ever again.

[Risp_old]

Break down crying, then apologize for it all.

[Xobim]

B) Do you really think I'm going to let you crowbar a door open? Even Gordon Freeman can't do that.
But you did let us enter the dome with two rocks, so I guessed it was going to be just as easy...

Anyway, commands:
"Sorry about that, but this place is really making me lose my mind. Especially since I just found out we've got one hell of a problem."
check the time on the clocks.

[Radium]

<b>I almost started crying, but then it occured to me that's what the voices wanted me to do. They wanted to break me. They wanted to (-)ing <i>win</i>.
"I'm sorry about that," I explained to Araches and Faw, "but this place is really making me lose my mind. Especially since I just found out we've got one hell of a problem. Hey, what time is it?"
Araches cocked her head. "Wait, go back, problem? What is it?"
"I broke one of the valves. The one that leads to the light, the cave, the other cave, and the machinery."
"Wait, what?" Faw asked, "how are we going to get out? We'll freeze to death if we try to walk that in the cold."
"No problem," Araches encouraged, sounding oddly optimistic, "we have some tools, and there's some more stuff on top of that cabinent. I'm sure we can fix it."
Fooruman stood in his canoe. "Miss Poppins speaks the truth, Herr Shurismo. With our powers combined, there is no mountain we cannot tackle."
"I guess," Faw added, meaning he had nothing helpful to say.
"What kind of ITEMS do you have, Shuri?" Uberbob asked.
Despite feeling dirty for actually answering, I said "Sword, crowbar, magnifying glass, pants, armor, wheel.
"No bra?"
"..."
"... just asking. I think the answer's pretty clear: we need to build a car." He speculated this a bit, to himself.

Also, it was 3:18.

[Torkell]

Push the cart over to the cupboard, get Faw to lift you up and see if you can get at the stuff on top of the cupboard.

[Ae]

Ask Fooruman if he can do a Quantum Squaredance with the first aid kit on top of the cabinet.

[Xobim]

Can't we swipe the stuff off with the crowbar while Faw gives Shuri a lift?

[Radium]

<b>"Fooruman," I addressed the wizard as I assessed the cupboard, "would you be able to get up there using your Quantum Squaredance spell?"
"Alas, no," he sighed, "I can only use that spell in combat. And we could <i>never</i> have a battle here! There was no lead-in, no villain, and no cryptic foreshadowing."
"Er, if you say so." I thought a minute, then pulled the trolley in front of the cupboard. "Faw, get on this."
"You're going to stand on me again, aren't you?"
"Yes. Now get on the trolley."
He reluctantly complied, holding me up. I reached up with the crowbar to knock the things off the top, but evidently they were all nailed or glued down or something. And then the trolley slipped out from under Faw, which didn't help.

[Ae]

<STRIKE>Attack Fooruman</STRIKE>
Take the clock on the counter and try attaching the wheel to the trolley.

Maybe a clock will fit in the indentation in the boxclaw with the claws in it.

[Torkell]

Well, I'm stumped. I'm sure the clocks have something to do with the puzzle. I'd guess we have to set the clocks to a specific time.

Ideas, folks?

[Ae]

Well, the pump (http://foxmage.com/u/map/PumpF.png)
has a big clock-shaped circle on it. Maybe one of the clocks or a wheel can fit where the missing gear is or on that circle.

[Radium]

<b>I decided to take the clock that was laying on the counter, quietly telling myself "it's because it's functional. It's not kleptomania. It's so we can tell the time. Wait, we?"
I considered also putting the wheel back on the trolley, but the bolt that one held it on was missing.
"Perhaps we should go fishing, Herr Shurismo," Fooruman proposed.
"Fooruman, we are in a cold, dry, barren, red wasteland"
"Hmm.. perhaps you are right after all. Though I could've <i>sworn</i> my acute elven senses picked up fish of the Clupeidae family, albeit they were camouflage..."

[Ae]

Ask L33tz4n if she can summon a water elemental to help get the bolt out of the water. And if it can look for more things in the river that might help.

[Radium]

The bolt broke, Ae, only the head of it fell in the water.

<b>"Hey, Leetzan," I said while looking out the door towards the tower, "could you summon up a water elemental to search the river?"
No response.
"Er, sorry if I mispronounced your name. The pretentious numerals always throw me. L33tzan? L33tz4n?"
Still no response.
I turned to the party. "Hey, guys, is Leetzan oka-" I stopped suddenly, noticing Leetzan wasn't in the room. "H... have you guys seen Leetzan?"
Araches looked around, slightly surprised. "Er.. I presumed she was somewhere here."
"This room is twenty feet wide! How could you lose her?"
"It's not like she's very conversational. Excuse me, but I'm pretty sure <i>you're</i> the de facto leader."
I rubbed my head in anticipation of an upcoming headache. What about you, Uberbob? She seems to like you. Have you seen Leetzan?"
"Leetwho?"
Headache. "Nevermind. Faw?"
"Er.. I was trying to remember this movie I saw once. Just think, Shuri, what's the last time you remember seeing L33tz4n?"
I thought a moment. Very hard. "Er... honestly? Unfooruman's citadel."
Faw stared at me a moment, blankly. "You're kidding."
"No, really," I explained, "I mean, I know I've yelled 'summon this' and 'summon that' since then, but I never really thought hard about where they were coming from."
"Fooruman," Faw asked, "you know stuff. What was the last time you remember seeing L33tz4n?"
"Hmm..." the wizard muttered, "HMMM... Page Twenty."
"Oh. Thanks Fooruman, <i>that's</i> helpful."

[Ae]

Go East, North, West, West, South, West, West, North, West, South. Look for L33tz4n along the way.

[Torkell]

There's a minor problem with that: we broke the valve at Y7, and can't go west from there.

[Xobim]

Both the pump and the boxclaw are inaccessible due to the heat being directed at the dome instead of the rest of the area. We've got to use our inventory and the things found inside the dome.

Erm, lead the part to Y3 while looking for Leetzy on the way. Turn the wheel to search at AC2, and at the clocktower. Adjust the clock in your inventory to the time set on the clocktower.

[Radium]

<b>"Follow," I ordered as I led Uberbob, Araches, Fooruman, and Fawriel out of the warmth of the dome and back towards the clocktower.

After a bit of walking and a valve turn, we reached the tower.
"Oh, nice find, Shur," Araches mocked, "another clock."
Ignoring her, I took out the clock I had taken off the counter top so I could make it match the clocktower. Upon looking at the clock, though, I remembered why I had not tried this sooner: the clock from the counter had no numbers on it (source (http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showpost.php?p=408566&postcount=852)). Both clocks represented about 30 degree angles, though, so chances are they were already coordinated.

</b>Oh, and if you haven't, don't forget to give the art forum Uberbob contest a shot!

[Raven aka StL]

Load save.

[Torkell]

Are we screwed?

[Radium]

I'd want a few more people to agree on that, Wallace, since there's still <i>potential</i> remedies. Admittedly, tearing off the valve was not the intended function of the crowbar, but I thought I'd have some fun. And I like how every time you interacted with the bolt, I described it as fragile and rusty. The one thing that puts a story like this above me just making a text based game is that I can have more fun with character interactions and allow more things to happen.

Looking back may reveal things you have not yet done. Or looking around harder in places you've been. And don't treat Fooruman like you treat Uberbob; things Fooruman says usually have meaning.

[Torkell]

I had noticed the fragileness and rustiness of the bolt, which was why I was suprised it actually worked. And also suprised when you only let us shift it once (it didn't break the first time).

Anyway, here's another of my state-of-the-foo posts.

We currently can't go east of Y7, thanks to the bolt snapping. The valve at Y3 does still work, so we can get to the clocktower, but currently not beyond.

The dome contains a trolley with one broken wheel, a cupboard with a star, a sheet of paper ("The secret of happiness is...") and what looks like a first-aid kit superglued to the top, and some drawers with two rocks, a magnifying glass and a clock on top. The cupboard also has a clock on the doors, and all the doors appear to be made out of no-open-ium.

L33tz4n is not with the rest of the party. According to hints given by Fooruman, she is most likely in the pool of light near E10. Anywhere else, and she'd be a nice ice-cube by now. There's not much we can do with her, even if we can switch POV, as all the nearby pipes are cold.

I still think the clocks are an important part here, though if they're Fooruman's (possibly red) Clupeidae then I'm out of ideas. So let's try an experiment.

Go back to the dome, and set the clock that Shuri's holding to match the clock on the cupboard, assuming that the one on the cupboard is positioned with 12 o'clock at the top.

[Xobim]

I agree with Torkells plan. According to the image all three of the clocks don't seem to show the same time. something inside the big cabinet is probably needed to activate the boxclaw and open the door of the clocktower.

On a sidenote: any ideas about the magnifying glass?

[Raven aka StL]

Would be, the light... but since Rad pulled that nasty surprise on us, I doubt we can get there...

How wide is the river, east from the broken valve?

[Torkell]

*pokes Rad*

There is actually a command in the last paragraph of my post.

[Radium]

Sorry, had more award things. By the way, the US government does not hold very good parties.
How wide is the river, east from the broken valve?Like, at this (http://www.foxmage.com/u/map/FeedR.png) place? Around 1-3 feet. It's easily crossable, but the pipe that goes across it is not heated.

<b>Much to everyone's dismay, we went back, turned the valve, and headed all the way back to the dome, without explanation.
I looked at the clock on the cupboard. 3:25. I looked at the clock I was holding. 9:55.
"Hmm," I thought aloud. I turned the clock upside down. As if magic, it now matched. I looked back up at the cupboard. Suddenly, I heard a slow, scraping noise, like something being dragged across metal. The noise got more intense, almost ear-piercing, and was followed by a lighter <i>TINK TINK TINK TINK CLINK TINK TINK</i>.
I turned around. Fooruman was dragging one rock across the metal counter top and beating the counter top with the other.
"Fooruman, you're doing something stupid. Why."
"Dramatic effect."
"Fair enough."

Apart from that, nothing happened.

[Xobim]

++ dramatic effect.
"where did you get those rocks from? They aren't the ones used to open the door, right?!"
Turn the knob on the clock in your posession.

[Torkell]

What Xobim said. Because, looking at the image you did, the only way the green clock and the clock on the cupboard can be showing the time is only if some combination of these are true:

# The clock on the cupboard does not have 12 o'clock at the top,
# The green clock does not have 12 o'clock at the middle of one of the 4 sides.

[Radium]

# The clock on the cupboard does not have 12 o'clock at the top,
# The green clock does not have 12 o'clock at the middle of one of the 4 sides.Shuri was holding the clock from the table, not the green one (unless I made some horrible mistake). she is assuming -- based off the clock tower and the logo on the back of the green clock -- that the clock on the cupboard is rotated to the left.

<b>"Fooruman, where did you get those rocks?" I asked the archmage, a bit concerned.
"The table. If you look at this (http://foxmage.com/u/map/LabB.png) picture from when we first entered the dome, Senor, you will notice that the table contains special BONUS ROCKS. If you had - without informing me - claimed these rocks in advance, I profusely apologize with all my arcane power for using them."
"Ah... " I wondered to myself what picture he was talking about, and how he managed to say "this" in a red, underlined tone.

[Torkell]

I thought she was holding the green clock. My mistake.

Ah well, do what I said originally but changing the time on the green clock. And ask Fooruman what the rocks taste of.

[Radium]

<b>I picked up the green clock and turned the knob on the back, making it read about 5:30-something. Much to my disappointment, nothing happened. Except now the green clock was probably wrong.

"Archmage Fooruman," I sighed, and continued, "I can't believe I'm actually asking this... but what do these rocks taste of?"
He lifted one - the larger of the two - to his face. He examined it, slowly rotating it in his hands as though it were a jewel, and then inhaled deeply, pausing to assess its odor. Most carefully, he extended his tongue and slowly and, as though savoring it, dragged it across the rock's rough surface. He closed his eyes, thinking deeply, moved his cheeks around as though swishing something through his mouth, then proceeded to spit off to the side. "This rock... it most definitely tastes of STONE, my good sir."
I was about to ask about the other but he swiftly raised a finger, signaling for my silence. He raised the smaller rock up to his ear, tapping it softly with a flaky old fingernail. He quickly changed his stance, hunching over the counter top. He dragged the stone across the surface, his keen old eyes watching the trail of brownish-gray residue it left behind. He meticulously swept this into a small pile and exhaled softly on it, watching its particles flutter away like butterflies in the dim red light.
The old man reached into the sleeve of his robe and, in four swift movements, withdrew two thin champaign glasses, a bottle, a jar of marmalade, and a butter knife. He whispered a few arcane words under his breath - words of a language long forgotten, a magic lost to time - and rays of light emanated from the bottle as its cork burned away. He slowly filled the two glasses, keeping the first on the counter and handing the second to me. He raised the knife and delicately spread the glistening orange marmalade over the surface of the rock, each stroke seeming as planned as calligraphy, as precise as math. He raised the rock, he looked me in the eye, he mouthed the words "it is time"...
And shoved the whole thing in his mouth. And started chewing vigorously, backed by the sounds of snaps and cracks that I could only assume were his teeth. He gnashed away with a dark glare of determination in his eye, accentuated by the <i>CRUNCH CRAAKK SNAAP</i>.
"Fooru-"
He raised his hand again, and I was silent. He ceased his chewing, leaned his head back, and then threw it forward, spitting directly down in front of him. Before him, webbed in orange-tinted saliva, lay some shards of wood, a bent piece of plastic, and a single, rusted key.
"It tastes of deception. Of secrets. Of hidden panels, false appearances, concealed answers. Shuriken Amanda Darkblade -" he took the glass of champagne off the counter with one hand, bent down, and took the key with his other. He held it out to me with two fingers. "- It tastes of <i>destiny</i>."
He clinked his glass against mine and then swigged it in one gulp.

My middle name was not Amanda.

[Torkell]

"Who's?"

Any keyholes in here? My guess is that we need to go to I13 next, but we broke the way there...

Crowbar a bolt and wheel off the trolley.

[Xobim]

"Whoa, talking about good taste.."
then follow Torkells plan. :P

[White Rabbit]

Drink from your champagne glass. Take the key from Fooruman.

Should we have him do the same thing to the small rock outside the dome? We wouldn't be able to get back inside if he eats it.

[Radium]

Yeah, I was waiting for someone to bring up the key or the glass. It's hard to narrate when you completely ignore things that just happened.
And Tork, I'm assuming you meant "whose", because otherwise you'd have to be referring to the rock as a person.

Should we have him do the same thing to the small rock outside the dome? We wouldn't be able to get back inside if he eats it.It's pretty easy to tell a fake rock if you pick it up, since they're usually notably light - especially considering the one Fooruman broke was made of wood. If you had picked up the rocks on the table, you would've found the key.

<b>"Talk about good taste," I said, taking the key, wiping it off on my pant leg, and placing it in my pocket. I took a sip from the champagne glass. It tasted suspiciously like lemon Gatorade and seltzer, but even having something to drink in the first place was rather nice. "Whose destiny?" I asked Fooruman.
"That of the past, present and future, professor."
"Ah. That helps." It occurred to me that the trolley might be a good place to get a bolt to fix the valve. I took out my crowbar and tried prying one of the bolts off, but it simply snapped like the last one. If I wanted to get a bolt to fix the valve, my best bet would be to find one that was already loose.

[Raven aka StL]

List all objects found inside the dome.

[Ae]

Attempt to unlock the CABINET and the DRAWERS!

[Torkell]

I assumed the glass-drinking would be auto-narrated. And correct grammar I try to have :P

Look to see if the missing bolt for the fallen-off wheel is here.

[Radium]

<b>I scanned around for any loose bolts on the ground - specifically, whatever once held that wheel on - but loose bolts were strangely absent.
Despite the fact that I was now in possession of a key, the cabinets lacked keyholes. Perhaps Uberbob was right about them being for glue storage.

I took stock of everything currently in the room: The metal counter with two sealed drawers, a rock (the other of which was destroyed by Fooruman), the broken, three-wheeled trolley, two clocks, the cabinet, and whatever was on top of it.
Earlier, I had taken from the room a clock, a crowbar, a magnifying glass, and a wheel, all of which I still had with me.

</b>Page claim.

[Ae]

Inform the party of the key discovery and lead them E, N, W, W, S, W, W, S to the cave with a door.
Then try to open the door with the key!

[White Rabbit]

Inform the party of the key discovery and lead them E, N, W, W, S, W, W, S to the cave with a door.
Then try to open the door with the key!
We can't go there, because the valve controlling the heat flow to that area is missing a wheel, which is on another valve, and can't be removed because the bolt fixing it in place is broken.

[Torkell]

http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toumap3c.png

http://thomasmccorkell.me.uk/jj2/toukey3.png


I have an idea, just a silly old idea, I have a plan, just a silly old plan...

Head to Y3, nick the wheel.

Go back to Y7, place the wheel on top, push the handle of the magnifying glass through. Hope for a +2 circumstance bonus to counteract the -2 improvised tools penalty.

[Radium]

<b>I started to get a really bad idea that involved disassembling the valve I had just gone to so much trouble to fix. I ignored it.
I considered the possibility of using the magnifying glass as a makeshift axle, but it was far too thin and probably not strong enough. The last thing I wanted to do was break more potentially useful things.
"Shuri," Faw asked, "do you have any ideas or are we all going to die here?"
"Also, Shur, I'm bored and hungry. At once," Uberbob added.</b>

[Torkell]

Use the crowbar as a makeshift axle.

[Xobim]

Tell to the party: "We need to get to that door at the cave, but it's impossible due to the broken bolt. I'm trying to find a way to solve that problem. If you got any ideas, do tell me."

Ask Uberbob with a macabre grin: "And Uberbob, have you ever heard of the Book of Bunny Suicides?"

[Radium]

<b>I considered trying the crowbar as an axle, too, but it was the wrong shape. Pity, though, as that would've been a very simple solution.

I decided to almost think about Uberbob and co as people for a second. "We need to get to that door at the cave, but it's impossible due to the broken bolt. I'm trying to find a way to solve that problem. If you have any ideas, do tell me."
"We could have a footrace," Uberbob suggested. "If we're all running and trying to beat eachother, one of us is bound to make it."
"Uberbob, have you ever heard of the Book of Bunny Suicides?" I asked.
"No, can't say I have. Why?"
"No reason."
"What do you think we'll find in the cave that'll be so useful, anyway?" Araches asked, "it could just be for storage, or completely empty"
I shrugged. "Anything would be helpful. A ladder, a bolt, a jacket, I don't know. We have no other leads."
"Maybe Uberbob's right... a little-" Faw proposed.
Everyone, save Uberbob and Fooruman, stared at him as if to say "heresy!".
"Really. One of us could try gunning it directly to the cave, loot it, and run back. The pipes go in a circle, so it we take a straight path it might not be too far."
"Great," Araches responded, "I vote Faw goes. He's actually almost dressed for cold weather."
Faw looked shocked. "Wait, what? I can't run that fast. You or Shuri should go." He paused, then added more. "And it's your fault you didn't pick up a sweater at the <i>first</i> ice themed villain."

[Torkell]

"Fooruman, how fast does that canoe of yours go?"

[Radium]

<b>"Fooruman, how fast is your canoe?"
The old wizard glanced down and to his left as if staring at something invisible. He looked back at me. "Two spaces per turn."
"Thanks, Fooruman. The measurements you give me help so much, you have no idea."
"Wait," Araches asked, "you're considering one of us rowing a canoe, across dry land, to the cave?"

[Torkell]

"You got any better ideas?"

[Radium]

<b>"You got any better ideas?"
Araches stared directly at me, expressionlessly.
"Better... than... rowing a wooden canoe across dry land?"
"Yes?"
"Walking?"
"...oh."

[Torkell]

Remind me how everyone in the party is dressed.

[Radium]

http://www.foxmage.com/BigUberbob.jpg http://www.foxmage.com/BigFawriel.jpg http://www.foxmage.com/BigShuriken.jpg http://www.foxmage.com/BigAraches.jpg http://www.foxmage.com/Foocanoe.jpg

[cooba]

..so the plan is to run across the wasteland, from the dome to the cave? <s>I say Shuri does it so that we can reload the game and start over.</s>

EDIT: The cart is all wooden, right? Araches could set it on fire to provide a heat source for whoever does the run.

[Torkell]

Hang on, Araches can conjure fireballs, right?

So, can Araches create and keep one for heating instead of the more usual incineration?

[Radium]

So, can Araches create and keep one for heating instead of the more usual incineration?Way back in the Perfect Solstice arc she said something about how she was "contemplating fireballing herself for warmth". For the sake of consistency, I'd say she's only capable of blasts of flame rather than maintained ones.

EDIT in response to an EDIT: The cart is metal, presumably the same kind the valves are made of.

[Torkell]

Hmm.

I vote we send Uberbob, he's the most hyperactive. It's a toss-up as to which direction is shorter (east or west), but I figure it's harder for him to get lost if he goes west.

[Radium]

I vote we send Uberbob, he's the most hyperactive. It's a toss-up as to which direction is shorter (east or west), but I figure it's harder for him to get lost if he goes west (rather, it's radial).Technically, on the map I'm using there is no east or west. And Uberbob is enthusiastic, but Faw was suggesting Shuri or Araches because they can run faster (assuming combat move translates proportionally in-game, Shuri can run twice as fast as Faw or Uberbob and Araches can run 1.5 times as fast as Faw).

[Torkell]

Hadn't though about the combat values. Shuri's got more clothing on than Araches, so she goes then.

And the compass directions on my map are a) there to allow directions to be indicated, and b) because a square projection is a lot easier to do than top-down circular or flattened.

[ThunderPX]

Take Faw's shirt before going =p

[Radium]

<b>"Alright, fine, I'll go. I'll take the left route around so I don't get lost. Faw, give me one of your shirts; you have too many on."
"Shuri - wait, (-) it, you aren't understanding what I'm saying." He took his spear and scratched a circle into the ground. "The pipes go in a circle. Rather than following them all the way around-" he scratched a line across the circle, "-just taking a direct route will make it, like... a half-pi^th shorter."
"Even then it's pretty far, though," Araches added, "and you're forgetting the river is somewhere in the middle."

[Ae]

Haste! Ninja Speed!

[Torkell]

Hmm, perhaps I should map the map onto a circle.

To be honest, I don't have any other ideas. If Shuri turns into an icecle, at least we know to steal a better valve.

[White Rabbit]

How will we know what direction we should take if we want to go straight to the cave door instead of following the pipes? Without an accurate map, there's no way to find out.

I noticed that Fooruman got to the scale before anyone else, and he claims it is because he has a vehicle: http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showthread.php?p=408451#post408451 Maybe rowing a canoe over dry land is faster after all?

[Radium]

I noticed that Fooruman got to the scale before anyone else, and he claims it is because he has a vehicle: http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showthread.php?p=408451#post408451 Maybe rowing a canoe over dry land is faster after all?This is Fooruman, though. After he fell of a cliff while fighting Abydos, you found him at the save point a few hours later. His explanation was "I had to go to the bathroom".

Also, there appear to be no actual commands to go D=.

Even without a perfectly accurate map, there are some routes/planning/stuff that are clearly better than others. Deviating from the pipes even slightly can shorten the distance. And I really don't want to have to load, but I've decided ahead of time which solutions are plausible/implausible so I don't accidentally have mercy.

Or you could continue to pester your party for ideas, though theirs aren't always good.

[Torkell]

"Fooruman, can you use megawarp to get to the cave?"

[Radium]

Since no one else seems to want to respond until I answer this, I'll say: no. Megawarp takes universal coordinates, which Fooruman usually guesses at.

[Birdie]

Use current universal coordinates with an offset.

[Torkell]

If we can do what Birdie said, then do that.

Otherwise, get Shuri to leg it for the cave. The best route is probably to follow the pipe to Y3, then circle round to the right. When she reaches AE3/E3, follow the pipe south to the glowing light at D10. She can pause there to warm back up, and also check on L33tz4n.

That's probably not the shortest possible route, but a) it's reasonably short and b) it has landmarks. Feel free to adjust it slightly for the actual scale of the map.

[Xobim]

Haste! Ninja Speed!I agree. If Someone can cast a speed spell on Shuri, he/she should do that before Shuriken tries to run through the freezing cold.

I just hope the key fits inside the lock of the cavedoor...

[Raven aka StL]

Use the save command 9999 times so you'll level it up and be able to quick save...

[FreeFull]

Hmm, I will join in after I will finish reading all ToU parts. I'm currently on page 95 in part 1.

[Radium]

Sorry, was Harry Pottering yesterday. And the day before.

<b>I thought a moment. "Alright, I've got a plan. I'll head down to the cliff face where the heating pipe starts, from there I'll leg it to the shaft of light, and from there it shouldn't be too far to the cave. Faw, one of your shirts. Can you do something to speed me up, Araches?"
Our healer-turned-necromancer pulled off his blue overshirt and handed it to me while Araches pointed a gloved finger at my feet and said "haste!" I discreetly put Faw's shirt on under my armor (which is surprisingly easy to do when you have ninja-like agility), said "be right back" in hopes I'd be right, and sprinted away outside.
Back to the cliff face, I looked ahead. In the distance, across the smoking silver river, I could just barely make out the foggy shaft of light piercing the gray-red landscape. I crouched to get a running start, summoned up my inner racing-ninja, and darted out towards the horizon.
My face and feet felt numb in the freezing, screaming wind, but after a few seconds of running and bounding over a pipe I had reached the warmth of the light. I stopped to catch my breath and looked around, but despite my prior prediction, Leetzan was nowhere to be found.
"Leetzan?" I called. "L33tz4n?" I called with more numbers. Still no response. I guess this meant she was off somewhere dead. "Eh," I shrugged, not caring, and turned around to try to spot the direction to the cave. In the far distance to my left I could make out a large dark object, so I breathed in a bit of the slightly warmer air, dug me feet into the dusty red ground, and charged towards forward.
This was a much longer walk than it was to the light, and I got the impression that I should've been able to discern this from my knowledge of the circular map. Despite this, I trudged on at a rapid pace until I could barely feel my tiring appendages in the cold. After what felt like hours (two minutes), tired, cold, and hungry, I reached the door. It looked about as we had left it, though steam no longer poured out of the loose bolt from when the pipe was heated.
If I had the wrong key, it would be so ironic. And I'd probably die.

http://foxmage.com/u/map/CaveB.png

[White Rabbit]

Nothing else to do but to try to open the door with the key.

[Ae]

And grab the loose bolt if it's loose enough to grab.

[Radium]

<b>Before trying to open the door, I put my hands around the loose bolt that had once poured out steam. I tried to pull it out as hard as I could, digging my frozen fingers under the cold metal, but it remained stationary. If only I had some sort of prying device with which I could loosen it...

Despite the bolt, I was still freezing to death and quite ready to seek shelter. I fumbled around with the key in my numb hands until I managed to get it in the hole, gave it a twist, and was rewarded with the click of a door unlocking.
I pushed the door, slipped inside, and shut it behind me. It was still cold, but not the piercing, windy frigidness of outside. I let out a sigh of relief, which I could see swirl and float away ahead of me in the dim lighting.
I felt along the wall next to me for a switch or button, finding one and successfully lighting the room with the whiteish glow of halogen bulbs embedded in the ceiling. It looked like I was in a natural cave, refurbished to be a living quarters. A soft bed with blue covers was to my right, and next to it a nightstand with a crystal lamp. A small table was across from the bed, holding an onyx-hued laptop computer. A list was hanging on the wall ahead of me.
In the very center of the room, a blue carpet had "BR" embroidered in the center. "Blackraptor?" I asked myself, half expecting myself to reply.

http://foxmage.com/u/map/ChamberB.png

[cooba]

Read the list!

[Radium]

<b>I took a closer look at the list.
<TABLE cellpadding="1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width=140>
<TR><TD><b>PEOPLE TO KILL
-Uberbob
<s>-Clone of George Washington From the Future</s> ?
<s>-Jazz Jackrabbit</s></b>
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Huh. Blackraptor was doing quite well.

[Xobim]

Boot the computer (and suddenly realise why Leetzan has dissappeared because the laptop is probably locked by a password and needs to be hacked.)
Look inside the cupboard and swap both knives on the wall for your katana.

[Torkell]

Look carefully at katanas first. I imagine setting off some sort of alarm would be a Bad Thing.

[ThunderPX]

Also, look under the carpet.

[n00b]

Check under the bed for monsters.

[Radium]

<b>The katanas mounted on the wall were brand new and looked quite nice, though I decided it would be best to inspect the room for traps first. There was no trap doors beneath the rug, no monsters under the bed, and appeared to be no alarm systems wired into the hooks holding the blades. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Regardless, I still chose to swap my blade with one of the new ones Indiana-Jones-style.
I pulled open the cupboard, but a blast of cold air drove me to slam it shut again. I was baffled as to why Blackraptor needed a freezer but it was fully stocked with frozen meals nonetheless.
This room was still uncomfortably cold and I wasn't looking forward to hanging around much longer, but the computer on the table warranted my attention. I flipped its lid up, pushed the on button, and watched it boot to DOS. Evidently it was no pinnacle of technology.


</b>
<div style="font-family: fixedsys; background: #000; color: #A8A8A8; width: 320px;">
C:\><blink>_</blink>

</div>

[Ae]

type "del C:\"
press enter
press Y
press enter

[n00b]

AE, that's not very useful at press time.
There could be a map or something stored on the computer that we'd be missing out on.

[White Rabbit]

dir

[Torkell]

Follow the white rabbit. Also,

<tt>path</tt>

Edit: also, is the laptop plugged into anything? Does it have wireless networking? How much battery does it have?

[FQuist]

I know I'm not a regular here, but I figured I'd have some fun with Radium in this instance. If this is generally frowned upon, please ignore. I just can't resist a DOS console, though.
<pre>dir /S /W</pre>
I'm not sure if DOS displays hidden files on default. Someone help me out there. In which case, <pre>dir /AHS /S</pre>
Also, check if the device has any other drives using <pre>D:</pre><pre><strike>qbasic gorilla.bas</strike></pre>

[Stijn]

<code>edit tou.txt
hello world
alt+f
down
down
enter
alt+f
up
enter
ftp
open ftp.foxmage.com
[radium's username]
[radium's password]
put tou.txt
quit</pre>

[Radium]

Ouch, guys D=. I know I'm going to get something wrong. And I'm ignoring the bit where Stijn hacks my webspace.

<b>The laptop was not plugged in, but a series of lights were along the back next to a battery symbol. Three out of four of them were lit. Despite the temptation to delete the entire drive, I thought it better to snoop around a bit first.

</b>
<div style="font-family: fixedsys; background: #000; color: #A8A8A8; width: 320px;">C:\>dir /s /w

Volume in drive C has no label
Volume serial number is 8145-2972

QBASIC < DIR >
COMMAND.COM
CONFIG.NT
TM.EXE

3 File(s)
1 Dir(s)

C:\><blink>_</blink>

</div>

[Stijn]

cd qbasic
dir /s /w

[cooba]

attrib -a -r -s -h C:/*.*

And if you bothered to make the list of people in kill in HTML (haha you used a table) you may as well use HTML for this:
<div style="font-family: fixedsys; background: #000; color: #A8A8A8; width: 320px;">C:\&gt;dir /s /w<br /><br />Volume in drive C has no label<br />Volume serial number is 8145-2972<br /><br />QBASIC &lt;DIR&gt;<br />COMMAND.COM<br />CONFIG.NT<br />TM.EXE<br /><br />5 File(s)<br />1 Dir(s)<br /><br />C:\&gt;<blink>_</blink></div>

[Raven aka StL]

Can you take the laptop with you?

[Radium]

Can you take the laptop with you?Well, remember your goal is to find something to fix the valve and run back to your party before you freeze to death. Old laptops aren't exactly light.
Also, Cooba, I'm stealing your code )=. I use tables because I never learned much about divs.

<b>This must be how Amish hackers feel.</b>

<div style="font-family: fixedsys; background: #000; color: #A8A8A8; width: 320px;">CONFIG.NT
TM.EXE

3 File(s)
1 Dir(s)

C:\>attrib -a -r -s -h C:/*.*

ok done

C:\>cd qbasic

C:\QBASIC\>dir /s /w

Volume in drive C has no label
Volume serial number is 8145-2972

QBASIC.EXE
QBASIC.HLP

2 File(s)
1 Dir(s)

C:\QBASIC\><blink>_</blink>

</div>

[White Rabbit]

cd C:\
TM

[Torkell]

You're reasonably accurate with the commands, Rad. dir /s should list subdirectories recursively, and /w makes it look like explorer's list view instead of the normal full details.

I'm aware this conflicts with WR's, but it's worth another look having revealed any hidden/system files:

<tt>cd \
dir /s
type config.nt</tt>

Keep an eye on the battery lights, and watch to see if any go out.

[cooba]

I'm all for doing Torkell's commands instead.

[FQuist]

I'm also still for <pre>dir /s /w</pre>That would show general file sizes, and who knows if those might be illuminating.

[Torkell]

No, /W is a condensed format:

<tt>H:\Documents and Settings\Thomas>dir
Volume in drive H is WinXP
Volume Serial Number is B0B7-9B99

Directory of H:\Documents and Settings\Thomas

20/07/2007 07:33 am &lt;DIR&gt; .
20/07/2007 07:33 am &lt;DIR&gt; ..
11/02/2007 08:56 pm &lt;DIR&gt; Contacts
23/07/2007 01:03 pm &lt;DIR&gt; Desktop
18/07/2007 02:56 pm &lt;DIR&gt; Favorites
13/02/2007 06:00 pm &lt;DIR&gt; Start Menu
18/06/2007 02:13 pm &lt;DIR&gt; vw
10/02/2007 07:59 pm &lt;DIR&gt; WINDOWS

...

H:\Documents and Settings\Thomas>dir /w
Volume in drive H is WinXP
Volume Serial Number is B0B7-9B99

Directory of H:\Documents and Settings\Thomas

[.] [..]
[Contacts] [Desktop]
[Favorites] [Start Menu]
[vw] [WINDOWS]

...</tt>

Edit: additional command: does the laptop have a CD, floppy or other removable drive? If so, is there anything in the drive?

[ThunderPX]

Random tidbit: the first part of the drive's serial number is l33t for 'BIAS' =O

[Radium]

As much as I aspire to be The Human Dos Prompt, I'm going to go with WR's command because it's pretty obviously something plot relevant, and I know what it does. Also, I was presuming filesizes have been appearing all along and Shuri just didn't care or find them interesting enough to look at.

<b>I looked at the lights on the back of the computer, which revealed no change in battery life so far. I looked around the computer for any removable drives. There was a 3.5 inch floppy drive, but it was currently empty.
There were much more interesting things to mess around with at the moment, though.</b>

<div style="font-family: fixedsys; background: #000; color: #A8A8A8; width: 320px;">Volume in drive C has no label
Volume serial number is 8145-2972

QBASIC.EXE
QBASIC.HLP

2 File(s)
1 Dir(s)

C:\QBASIC\>cd c:/

C:\TM

Connecting to clocktower...

100%

Downloading data...

0%

Error: process already initialized. Report to clocktower.

C:\><blink>_</blink>

</div>

<b>That was disappointing.</b>

[cooba]

config

[Radium]

<div style="font-family: fixedsys; background: #000; color: #A8A8A8; width: 320px;">QBASIC.HLP

2 File(s)
1 Dir(s)

C:\QBASIC\>cd c:/

C:\TM

Connecting to clocktower...

100%

Downloading data...

0%

Error: process already initialized. Report to clocktower.

C:\config

Bad command or filename.

C:\><blink>_</blink>

</div>

<b>I was beginning to feel like I had gotten horribly sidetracked.</b>

[Torkell]

Report to clocktower.

[Radium]

<b>I began to get a really stupid idea that involved ignoring the one reason I came here and instead walking around in sub-zero temperatures, likely until I froze to death. I ignored it.</b>

[Torkell]

Look in the cupboard

<tt>TM /?</tt>

[White Rabbit]

We could take a closer look in the cupboard, but it's a freezer full of meat.
I guess TM /? is worth a try.

[cooba]

Steal the meat from the freezer!

However would you transfer it to the party is beyond me.

[Torkell]

Good point, I missed that from earlier.

[Radium]

<b>Digging around in a freezer and carrying cold packages was not a very appealing idea at the moment.</b>

<div style="font-family: fixedsys; background: #000; color: #A8A8A8; width: 320px;">100%

Downloading data...

0%

Error: process already initialized. Report to clocktower.

C:\config

Bad command or filename.

C:\>TM /?

Connecting to clocktower...

100%

Downloading data...

0%

Error: process already initialized. Report to clocktower.

C:\<blink>_</blink>

</div>

[Stijn]

<code>edit config.nt</code>

(if this is DOS, why is there a file belonging to Windows NT?)

[FQuist]

<pre>undelete c:\windows</pre>

Profit!!

[White Rabbit]

Ok, time to start distributing InvisiClues (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisiclues), Radium.

[Radium]

Ok, time to start distributing InvisiClues (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisiclues), Radium.That would be such a depressing, waste-of-money book. Everyone knows red fish are my weapon of choice. Anyway:



<b>Still feeling that I had gotten horribly sidetracked, I continued to mess with the computer.</b>

<div style="font-family: fixedsys; background: #000; color: #A8A8A8; width: 320px;">C:\>config

Bad command or filename.

C:\>TM /?

Connecting to clocktower...

100%

Downloading data...

0%

Error: process already initialized. Report to clocktower.

C:\edit config.nt

Bad command or filename.

C:\>undelete c:\windows

Bad command or filename.

C:\><blink>_</blink>

</div>

[Torkell]

<tt>type config.nt</tt>

Take the crystal from the light.

[Radium]

<b>I got the impression that, in the throes of obsession, I had begun to repeat myself. I shook my head, quietly assured myself that I was not going insane, and carefully thought about the reason I came here: to find a bolt and go back before I froze to death. Huh, that seemed like a while ago.

Dragging around more large cold things did not strike me as overly appealing.

[cooba]

Look under the bed.. and then under the pillow and the matress.

[White Rabbit]

Examine the katana wall mounts.

[Torkell]

Hmm...

Doesn't Shuri have the crowbar? Crowbar or katana the bolt out.

[Radium]

Oh, hey, Boggy got modded. And page claim.

<b>Getting desperate, I looked under the bed, under the pillow, under the sheets (hey! Blackraptor has a Serta!), even under the hooks on the wall that held the swords. There was not a single loose or easily accessible bolt that would suit my needs. The only one I had seen that even looked mildly like it could work was the loose bolt by the door to the cave, and there was no way I could dislodge that one without some sort of tool designed to act as a class-2 lever...

"Oh, wait. (-) it," I said aloud, looking at the crowbar I had been carrying. I walked back into the cold outdoors, jammed the crowbar under the edge of the loose bolt, and shoved the handle forward. I was rewarded with a perfectly unbroken metal bolt.

http://foxmage.com/u/map/CaveBbolt.png

[cooba]

Use Feat and attempt to leap back to the party!

[Radium]

I'm pretty sure that maxes out at like 9 battle tiles.

[Torkell]

Leg it back to the party. Use the bolt and a wheel from the cart on the valve we stole the wheel from.

[White Rabbit]

It looked about as we had left it, though steam no longer poured out of the loose bolt from when the pipe was heated.
I can't believe none of us thought this was significant. ><

[Radium]

I can't believe none of us thought this was significant. ><Much funnier was when Shuri thought "if only I had some sort of prying device with which I could loosen it". Though personally, I'm surprised nobody tried feeding the DOS prompt "bolt /please".

<b>Well, my task here was done. I shielded my eyes against the tempest and glanced around until I could make out the shaft of light. I ran there, looked for the cliff, and ran there, finally reaching the pipe that led into the cliff face. The trip was excessively painful but relatively uneventful. If anyone asked what took so long, I'd have to add a dragon or something in.

After a long, weaving path along the pipe, I reached the rest of the party. Fooruman was explaining something to Uberbob, Faw was seated on the ground in front of the heating vent, and Araches was tapping her foot, probably waiting for something interesting to happen. "What took so long?" she snapped as I entered. Ignoring her, walked directly to the heater, kicked Faw over, and flopped backwards onto the warm ground beside it.
"I had to fight a dragon. From space." The sorceress shot me a glare of disbelief, which I ignored as usual.
Fawriel cut in, standing up and brushing himself off. "So tell us what you found, Shur!"
"Living quarters. Bed, food, weapons, computer, and, best of all-" I reached into my pocket and pulled out the reddish metal bolt.
"An ITEM!" Uberbob exclaimed.
"Well, a bolt."
"So we can fix the valve?"
"Yeah. Well, I was going to go use the wheel from the trolley to do that. Now. Follow."

So, long story short, I fixed it.

http://foxmage.com/u/map/Refixed.png

[Torkell]

w00t!

Now, where was I? Ah yes, head to the boxclaw and attempt to use the crowbar in the claws. Unless anyone else has a better idea.

[MSB3000]

Have a slightly optimistic outlook on life.

[cooba]

Eat a noberry.

[Ae]

Lead the party west west south west west south to the cave, go in.
Type "clocktower" on the laptop.

[Radium]

Oh, right, this exists.

<b>I tried having a slightly optimistic outlook on life by considering everything that was going in my favor. For instance, I could probably solo anyone in the group, meaning that if we were stuck down here for a while, I'd outlast everyone else. It would also provide me with a relatively steady source of food, and I don't think it would be cannibalism, since none of us were really the same species... I think. Just to be safe, I'd start with Fooruman, then go onto Araches, then Uberbob, then Faw. I'm not entirely sure the ethics of things like that. It's a pity we couldn't find Leetzan, though, because I think everyone would agree both that she's a separate species and probably tastes the best.

Mm. In any other adventure, that mental image might hurt your appetite.

Anyway, I focused on the issue at hand: defeating Dreadlord Blackraptor so I could leave these people forever. "We should go back to the machine with the inset claws," I suggested, "maybe we could crowbar them open and find a way to make the machine operate." I began to march along the pipe, but couldn't help but notice that everyone but Uberbob was simply staring at me, dumbfounded.

"What?" I asked, wondering what was wrong with everyone.

Araches had a note of pity in her voice. "Shuri, you just said you found fully-stocked living quarters, with a bed."

"And food," Faw added.

I could hardly believe I was saying this, but: "I'm hungry too, but we ate just yesterday."

"That's what I keep telling them!" Uberbob exclaimed.

Araches strode over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. She looked me directly in the face, her troubled eyes gazing directly into mine. Then, with her other hand, she proceeded to slap me heavily across my face. Part of me suddenly realized that I deserved that, and part of me was slightly relieved it wasn't a friendly shoulder-touch. Before I could think much about it, though, I noticed everyone but me and Uberbob were sprinting (or rowing) towards the cave.

"If it makes you feel better, Shuri, I think crowbarring the boxclaw is a really good idea," Uberbob said. I used my limited sign language knowledge to explain to him what his caring meant to me, and continued after the rest of the party.


The cavern room was a bit cozier with the heat from the pipes directed to it. When Uberbob and I got there, Araches and Fawriel were busy taking stock of the contents of the refrigerator while Fooruman, still sitting in his canoe, was rapidly typing something on Blackraptor's computer. I considered interrupting him to type more random keywords into the command prompt, but he looked wholly engaged in whatever he was doing. Food seemed more interesting at this point anyway. "Fawriel, status report on rations?"

Fawriel was holding a stack of frozen boxes. "Two lasagnas, fettucini alfredo, and some self-packaged meat labeled 'Former Enemies'... let's not eat that one. I guess Araches can thaw the rest of these with her sorceressism."

http://foxmage.com/u/map/ChamberB.png

[n00b]

Tell Araches to thaw the food starting with the package of meat labeled "Former Enemies"

[White Rabbit]

Lie on the bed and cry yourself to sleep. Wake up with a clue in your head.

[Ae]

Look at the screen of Blackraptor's computer.

[Xobim]

\o/

Ask if Faw would like to have one of the katana's on the wall.
Ask what Fooruman is doing behind the laptop.
Make a health meal from the Lasagna and the Alfredo.

[Radium]

<b>I peered over Archmage Fooruman's shoulder at whatever he was typing; it appeared to be some very convoluted computer code. "So... what are you doing?" I dared to ask.

"<i>Chronicling</i>. With vigor."

Alright," I said, used to this by now, and redirected my attentions to more relevant endeavors. "Fawriel, you should probably arm yourself better." I took Blackraptor's other katana off the wall and held the handle out to him.

He uneasily took it. "But Shuri... I already have a weapon," he stuttered as he brought the glistening blade around upright in front of him.

"No, Faw, what you had was a stick. It was a pointed stick, and as such can be used to kill things, but it is no more a weapon than a candlestick, a rope, or a bottle. This, on the other hand, is a weapon and with it you can make things die with much greater efficiency."

He still seemed unsure about the idea. "But why not give this to Uberbob? He doesn't even have a weapon."

"Would you give Uberbob a sword?"

"Point taken," he resigned, sticking the blade through his belt.

Next issue at hand: "Araches, heat us food." I picked up the three frozen dinners and shoved them towards her, leaving the "Former Enemies" package to examine myself. I ran a claw across the wrapping and pulled it open; Faw, curious,watched intently. Much to my disappointment, it just looked like regular meat. I still didn't particularly want to eat it.

Fawriel stared at the meat darkly. "This is philosophical," he observed. "I guess deep down, we're all meat." I had a sudden, disturbing mental image of four more packages packed into Blackraptor's freezer. Then again, maybe he had just killed some birds that were roosting in his evil layer. Yeah.. birds.

[Ae]

Ask Fooruman if he can get the computer to display all of its information and commands about the clocktower.

[Radium]

<b>"Fooruman, can you get the computer to display all its information and commands regarding the clocktower?" I asked.
"It seems like it'd be a rude thing to ask about, considering we've just met." I presumed this was his way of saying no.

[White Rabbit]

I don't know about you guys, but here's the conundrum I'm stuck in:
1. We have a pump with a missing cog (http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showthread.php?p=389423#post389423) (5J on Torkell's map). The pump can be activated by diverting warm liquid into it, but it won't function without the missing cog (http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showthread.php?p=389445#post389445). We don't know what the pump does...presumably it pumps in the warm liquid into the cold one. Also, presumably, we need to find the missing cog to get the pump to function.
2. We have a box (http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showthread.php?p=388508#post388508) with an indentation containing two claws (6P). The pipe coming out of the box leads across the cold liquid, towards the clock tower.
3. We have two pipes leading into the clock tower (http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showthread.php?p=408754#post408754). One pipe is warm, and comes from the cliff at 2AC on Torkell's map. Presumably, the other pipe, which is cold, comes from the box. The door is 'shuddering as if trying to open'. Presumably, it will open if both pipes are warm.
4. Leetzan is missing. She was last seen here (http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showthread.php?p=389728#post389728). I don't think we'll ever get anywhere concerning the old laptop without her.

So, find the cog, find a way to use the box, and find Leetzan.
Where could the cog be? No idea.
How to use the box and the claws? No idea.
Where could Leetzan be? Well, almost the whole map was freezing cold for a while, so if she's alive she can't have been anywhere near the pipes. Shuriken travelled to the light from the ceiling, and didn't find her there. Where else is it warm enough for survival? The cave opening we came from in the first place. She must've gone back to Abydos, so, let's try going there.

[Xobim]

Abydos closed it's mouth, and from that part it only got colder. Leetzan cannot be there.

For the rest of your post: UR Friggin' right dude!
I think it is best to find out what would fit inside the claws of the boxclaw. I'll delete my former post...

EDIT: a command.
"Allright everyone. Sitting down here won't get us any closer to Blackraptor. We must find out what the boxclaw, the clocktower and the pump do, and how we're going to get them into action. I'm going outside to investigate. Anyone who wants to join me, please do so. Those who stay here should hide under the blankets, since I'm going to redirect the heat."

[Radium]

<b>"Alright everyone," I announced, "sitting down here won't get us any closer to Blackraptor. We must find out what the boxclaw, the clocktower and the pump do, and how we're going to get them into action. I'm going outside to investigate. Anyone who wants to join me, please do so. Those who stay here should hide under the blankets, since I'm going to redirect the heat." Uberbob put up his hand for a high-five, which I ignored.

"Yeah, Shuri, about that..." Fawriel began, "I understand you're enthusiastic, and apparently getting even more enthusiastic as time goes on, but.. well, maybe we should just kick back for a bit. We haven't had a decent night's sleep since back on Antifoo Isle, and even there we spent most of the night watching a wagon or something."

"Not to mention that if you turned off the heat, we'd have to kill you," Araches added as she finished magically cooking the frozen meals, which were starting to smell very edible.

"What about Leetzan?" I asked, ignoring the aroma of actual food. "She could be in danger, or dead."

Fawriel shrugged. "If she's dead, Canoe or I can fix it. If we try to drag outselves into another battle while half asleep, though, we might end up dead."

"Anyway, did any of us really like L33tz4n much?" Seeing Fawriel start to raise his hand, Araches added "-besides Faw."

"Not really, but-"

"Shur, dear, the rest of today is just going to be a 'don't do anything' day. Oh, except eat and sleep and see if Fooruman has any more alcoholic drinks on him." Araches pulled the plastic cover off a freshly heated tray of lasagna and shoved it my way. "Hope you don't mind sharing with Uberbob."

http://foxmage.com/u/map/ChamberB.png

[Torkell]

Faw makes a good point, given that Canoe == Fawkes the Phoenix.

Get Fooruman to check the food is safe to eat, then get a good night's sleep. Make sure someone reliable is standing guard at all times, just in case BR drops by. (have a few watches so that everyone gets some sleep)

Oh, and turn the laptop off first. It's only got so much battery.

[Xobim]

Check party morale.

[FreeFull]

Yay, I finished reading. Do what Xobim said.

[cooba]

Get Fooruman to check the food is safe to eat, then get a good night's sleep. Make sure someone reliable is standing guard at all times, just in case BR drops by. (have a few watches so that everyone gets some sleep)<!-- revival // -->

[Torkell]

Don't forget to eat food too.

And then look out for the plot hook.

[Puffie40]

Oh, and give faw his sweater back on top of that.

WE DO NOT WANT HIM TO PLAY THE GUITAR!!!

[ThunderPX]

Oh, and give faw his sweater back on top of that.

WE DO NOT WANT HIM TO PLAY THE GUITAR!!!

That reference is awesome.

[Pie_warrior]

Experience an INTENSE urge to Breakdance

[n00b]

Considering how long its been since our last GM update, the pressure to out-ridiculous each other for a move that will surely never happen is on


I say we attempt to sue the bed, and the table will be our lawyer.

[Xobim]

Good idea noob, maybe it'll catch the DM's attention!

Put Uberbob in the bed and ask Araches to throw a fireball at it.

[Torkell]

Put Uberbob in the bed and ask Araches to throw a fireball at it.

Hang on, I thought we were posting moves that were unlikely to happen?

[Xobim]

It's a ridiculous move given we're so close to the final boss fight...

[Ae]

Maybe Sir Radium will give us another downloadable game!

[MSB3000]

I say we dance.

[Raven aka StL]

It's been too long.
(Excuse me for lacking knowledge on different means of connecting Radium, or something.)

[Xobim]

The DM died. D=