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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2016 19:58:43 GMT -5
She watched the interaction with some interest. The elder was a bit doddering, but helpful regardless. She looked back at the instructions. If the battery is still charged, chances are this will work. If it's not...we'll need to open the panel and work on recharging it. Somehow.
She winces slightly, seeing the amount of pressure Ikram put on the lever. She hoped it didn't snap or they'd have a whole new mess of trouble.
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Post by Azuloth on Mar 24, 2016 20:36:04 GMT -5
The lever moved like it was supposed to. Smooth, easy. Nothing happened. Then a small bit of water slipped passed the clean side, a small amount slipped into the filth side. But the pump didn't start up like the instructions said it was supposed to. Instead that was all that happened. Just a little water, in and out.
"Huh. Don't know what to do with that."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 12:18:02 GMT -5
"So it's... on now?" I ask hesitantly. There is not much water. Maybe it takes time? Maybe. Maybe it's off because it's actually broken? But if that's the case... who could have pulled this rusted lever up so that I could pull it down? I scan around the room for any other signs of interruption down here. Maybe footprints in the murk? It's hard to say.
"Has there been anyone down here in the last few days that you've seen—other than us old man?" I turn to look at him. While his presence has been helpful, it's also possibly suspect. It's also possible that I'm over-paranoid. I try to reign in my aggression. "Because this lever should have been down if the machine was meant to be on." It's also possible that I'm an idiot and don't know what it is I am talking about. Very possible.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 12:30:50 GMT -5
Astris shakes her head. "I don't think so. I think this lever acts as a way to start the machine once it has the power it needs." She looks over at her husband. "I don't think this was mischief Ikram. Come, help me with this valve here...we might need more of your oil, sir..if you don't mind."
She gestures at the valve. "This should release pressure to make opening the battery panel safe? I believe so." The truth is she wasn't sure. But the instructions seem fairly obvious. Though, how on earth she was to charge this battery is something she will have to improvise. But at least -some- water came through. That means the battery may not be destroyed, simply drained.
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Post by Azuloth on Mar 25, 2016 12:49:26 GMT -5
There was a ticking noise then the lever Ikram had operated snapped back to its original position. Then the machine fell silent. There was no more water flowing.
The old man walked over to where the valve thing was and poured some oil on it carefully.
"You know, they should think about replacing some of these rusted pieces. Like that lever, and this here circle thing. They seem important enough."
Threshold increased for turning the valve by 15.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 12:58:39 GMT -5
Damn. I thought to myself. I held my tongue. For what I'd said, I felt foolish. No time to second guess anymore. I nodded in agreement to the consensus and walked to the circle thing. The gloves gave me a fine palm grip, but at the same time I didn't really want to stain them with rust.
Oh well. "I think it turns this way." I say as I attempt to demonstrate, putting my strength into it.
With a solid tug I try yanking the thing around and find that it doesn't move. It doesn't even budge. I nearly pulled something. I give a small glance to the pair behind me, and nod reassurance. Yes, no—I can handle this. I think, but I am not sure.
jsr_iwtL Threshold: 33
Another tug, and nothing happens. Age has done it's work on this... circle... thing. I reposition so that I can tug on the top of the circle with both hands. Perhaps I don't have enough leverage?
Threshold:33
I grunt and give a solid tug and still nothing happens. This is stupid. The device is offering too much resistance. Maybe I'm going in the wrong direction? I attempt to pull in the opposite direction.
Threshold:33 ··
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 14:01:01 GMT -5
Astris nodded encouragement as Ikram looked back. If we can't get this turned, we'd have to simply try opening the panel and charging the battery. She breathed a sigh of relief when the damned thing turned. Apparently it was being turned the wrong way. Oh well.
"Next we will need to open this box. Here." She points it out. "It houses the battery. Please be careful with it. Chances are it's still good inside if things worked a little." She rubs at the casing with her fingers, trying to find where it opens at. The whole thing is rusted. It wouldn't be easy to open.
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Post by Azuloth on Mar 25, 2016 14:10:21 GMT -5
If there was any pressure release there wasn't an indication. The wheel turned but there wasn't a sound emitted from it. When Astris began pawing at the housing for the battery, looking for the latch, the thing flipped open like it was meant to. Rusted over, sure, but apparently not in terrible shape. The inside of the box was pristine. Hanging on the door of the box was a fist sized star shaped object with twelve equally sized faces. It was a reddish orange color.
"Oh jeez. Dang thing startled me. What do you reckon that is? Some kind of gemstone? What do you think it's worth?"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 14:46:13 GMT -5
"Enough for your hide." I growl. I realize my temper, and attempt to rein it in. I clear my throat. "It's clearly important." I look to Astris. If there were a time for her to do magic, it would be shortly. I need to draw the old man away.
"Old man, why don't we look further into the waterways? There might be a collapse in the tunnel, or some blockage." I begin climbing the stairs at a lively pace. "I can open the door enough to let in some light, but pile something in front of the doorway to ward off children while my wife tries to make sense of this machine. What do you think of that?" I ask, looking at Astris.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 15:08:29 GMT -5
Astris furrowed her brow and looked at the box that had come open in her hands. Oh, it's beautiful. Huh. It must house the energy needed to fuel the pump. I wish I knew...how much it needed, or even the best way to funnel power to it. This may take some trial and error.
She realized she was being talked at and looked up. "Hm? Oh, yes actually...It might take me some time with this to figure out what might be damaged. It wouldn't do to have anyone wandering in here while we've got the systems open." She gives the elder one of her best and helpless smiles. "You'll see to it won't you? I trust your wisdom in how to best guard against intrusion while I work."
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Post by Azuloth on Mar 25, 2016 16:39:11 GMT -5
"Oh hey. No I'm not goin down in that there waterway. That's... no. Not anymore. Especially not while it's off. Could be skaldi, or salamanders in there."
He sat the lamp down on the ground and started up the stairs. His knees popping with each step.
"I'll just do that thing. Keeping the kids out."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 17:28:26 GMT -5
"Good. That would be for the best, I think." I usher the old man out of the door, walking behind him at his pace. "We'll ensure you get your lantern back." I say this in as reassuring a way as possible.
I didn't care about the latern, so much as making this man's presence as scarce as possible. I had to be thankful for our stroke of luck as he arrived—but for this to get fixed we needed as much privacy as could be. After this, we'd have to slip out of the town and hope that either the man's memory gave, or his heart did before any major questions were asked.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 17:37:24 GMT -5
Astris watches after the two as they go up the stairs. Good man. Here's hoping he can keep the old man distracted. From what she's seen, it shouldn't be too terribly difficult. She returns her focus to the crystal. It's meant to take energy. That she's entirely sure of. It's shape likely is what doles out the essence over time. To run this thing? She runs her eyes over the entire mechanism. It's going to take a lot of energy. But I have to do it by degrees. I don't know how much it can contain and if this shatters...well...I can't imagine it would be good.She places her hand over the crystal. Alright girl. Confidence. And be specific. She takes a breath and focuses on the facets of the crystal, accepting and containing the arcane energy she creates.
Mana /173 Recharge the battery! Threshold - Thaumaturgy II (+10), Arcane I (+5) = 15 (pending PM) yc_CJUDi
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Post by Azuloth on Mar 25, 2016 18:00:00 GMT -5
As soon as she touched the crystal she'd feel a pull. The crystal took all of the energy she had available. It began to glow. It had taken everything she had available. The glow was proportional. It's charge wasn't full. But its glow was like a torch.
Battery now possess charge.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 18:07:12 GMT -5
She blinked and felt the drain, giving what she had. It's made to pull from a person. Huh. Exhausting.
She closes the cover quickly, cutting off the glow from the room. She then turns the valve back to closed. She doesn't know what the pressure is for, but she doesn't think it'll work without it.
Finally she attempts to pull the lever. It might allow her to do so, since the lever was oiled and pulled recently. Here goes nothing.
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