Does the cylinder have anything to grip at the top? The bottom?  Maybe it’s what can be moved or turned? Otherwise how was it built here with the wall of the chamber...?

Interesting puzzle.

Up on the slab himself, Gundrabu ceases all movement and listens to the voices. Does he recognize words or the language?

Kondor tests the cylinder, as it being separate from the slab could mean it is not attached the way a screw or peg would be.

Ooc: so the cylinder is ribbed, not on the cylinder like a nut on a bolt?
What is at the top of the cylinder? Can Kondor move it at all, or is it only the slab that would move?

Iron Ranger wrote:

Kondor's hands roam the cylinder in the total darkness while the voices echo.

The cylinder's ribs are indeed gently sloped, exactly as a giant screw.
It is 10 inches in diameter.
The threads are stacked every 3 inches.
The cylinder is much taller than Kondor.
The cylinder seems more stable than the slab.

Is there any thing on the cylinder that could be used to turn it? Like a notch at the top?

Oh, so it rises above the muck?

Kondor feels the edge of the slab near the wall, then follows the slab away from the wall to get a sense of the shape of it. 

"That voice bodes ill, Gundrabu. We must get out of here. Maybe this slab and screw-like cylinder are the means of our escape, but the slab does not turn because it is too close to the wall. I'll feel to the other edges of it. Those boats got in here, too, some how, and there may be a cave or other means to escape."

“Not I, Kondor, but others—and I can’t make out the meaning of those sounds.”

Last edited by Eirvit (9/10/2020 11:34 am)

Eirvit wrote:

“Perhaps you should ascend the shaft, friend. I hear your folk are unequaled in climbing.”

"We are! But the top of the shaft is slick and unclimbable. Whatever spoke those words sounded like YOU! I think we've got company. Get ready to duck!"

Kondor points above them and fires off a fireball from the helm of brilliance at the highest point above - the ceiling of the shaft they fell down - and expects the shaft entrance to be within its range.

When the fire goes off, Kondor tries to memorize the shape of this place, to get an idea of where they are and what's down here.

ooc:  If something is messing with our heads, making Kondor hear Gundrabu's voice speaking in a strange language, that's sorcery. Ergo he's going to use a weapon to even the playing field, and get them some light! They should be low enough in the shaft to be outside the blast radius. Plus the oil slick on the slide down is probably flammable, and some fire just might burn it away so they can climb back out. 

d4: 3!

Gundrabu shakes his head at what he believes is the barbarian’s slipping sanity.

Then he dives into the water, ducking beneath the surface just when he senses that the fireball is going to ignite!

fireinthedust wrote:

d4: 3!

3 is a fire opal!
The blackness dissolves as the fire opal ignites on its flight over head!

Kondor notices in the blossoming firelight :
The cave is natural rises another 60 feet above the muck line! 
Gundrabu is undermuck.
Next to him the cylinder is a giant screw that rises to the edge of the lip 20 ft over his head.
The cylinder is metal and is attached to a large gear protruding from the upper shaft.
There is more metalwork on the distant wall of the 40 ft diameter cave.

Then the fireball expands and explodes blowing high toward the ceiling, out of the upper shaft,
And back down toward Kondor!

[Kondor Add 500XP!  then  roll a feat of DEX  d6.]