(021) Vegetable Soup

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

With everyone returned, and all the goods out of the rain at last, Desmond is eager to show Olaf and Ulric the get mechanism.

He leads the way to the opposite end of the mess hall (from the kitchen and fireplace), and into the stair landing. With the sun gone down, it is properly dark beyond the fireplace in the mess hall. Olaf has his bright, enchanted scepter to illuminate the way, however...

As the trio move to investigate, they are aware of a constant dripping and splattering sound -- rain coming into the gatehouse through numerous holes in the leaky roof, and dripping or running down the walls.

"At least, it is drier inside that out." Olaf says to the sounds of the dripping water.

"Let's see if we can get the gate down and then get back to the fire. I really need to dry out." Olaf adds.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The portcullis mechanism is not too complicated.

It is an over-sized spool of chain with handles either side so that four Men can operate it at once (two each side), and a ratchet mechanism which prevents it from falling back as it is raised.

The is a foot-level which can be kicked to free the ratchet, and thus allow the gate to drop.

The whole of it is dusty and strewn with cobwebs. There appears to be some rust on the chains -- even those extending up to the ceiling (which must be holding the gate up). Apparently, the portcullis has not been lowered in a good long while...

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:

While the others are unloading the goods from the cart, Wibert tarries in the cellar in search of anything else that might be even halfway edible...

Wibert will take the chance to gather all the food that is eatable from the cellar. Even if he has to cut off 60% of the bad bits to get sometime to cook with.

He has already used up the least rotted vegetables to make his soup. With that lot, he had to cut out at least half of the flesh. What remains is in even worse condition. He might be able to salvage a fifth or a tenth part of some of these... but if he isn't careful someone could end up getting sick...

Wibert takes a couple of old boxes of the foul smelling vegetables into the kitchen to see what he can do with them. It's a good thing it is mostly dark in the kitchen now (with only the hearth fireplace for any light). He'd hate to see what some of these things actually look like!

Wibert will be careful and if there is mostly rotten veggies he will not use it. He will go to the light to make sure only good bits are used for cooking. It may take longer but he does not want to be sick.

Wibert asks Koch ,"Can you please ;D close the cellar door and put the wood box back on top when you are finished looking around. You know you can't be too safe around here!", smiles Wibert [img]images/smiley/smiley.png[/img].


Note: Re: (017) A closer look at the Gatehouse

...
OOC: When we leave Wibert will take a few days food and his backpack of all his stuff and weapons, just in case it takes more than a day to return, he wants to be prepared.

OOC: In regards to Wibert's stuff he did not leave any thing on the cart (except half his food) to loose.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

OOC: In regards to Wibert's stuff he did not leave any thing on the cart (except half his food) to loose.

Yes indeed... I read "a few days" as "three days". Wibert is carrying 3 days of trail rations with him, the other 2 days worth of his rations are among those that were on the cart.

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
Gustave raises his weary corpse from the stinking pile of blankets in the corner, and retches some purplish fluids onto the floor.
This unpleasant task completed, he shuffles his way to a standing position, hand clasped against his skull, 'I believe it was Duke Penlington Pillik who informed me that smoking would be the end of me", he announces to noone in particular, "He would not see the irony in my current state however, as he was a well noted blockhead."
He grins weakly, "...but some soup might help."

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Boris and Victor observe Gustave's behaviour dubiously as they shake the worst of the water off themselves and then begin pulling off sodden backpacks, boots, cloaks, greasy wet coats of iron rings, shirts and what knot. All this they plonk down infront of the crackling fireplace (avoiding Gustave's puke) with a series of loud wet squelches.

Then they begin draping these items over the backs of chairs and so on and stand by the fire rubbing their hands together in an effort to get dry and warm.

"You look as thou you should stay warm too, eh?" grins Boris at Gustave.

Gustave reflects grumpily that he could do worse than get out of his own armour and crawl into his bed roll in front of the fire, and get some real rest...

[waysoftheearth]

Professor P wrote:
KOCH follows Pelenwin out of the cellar and then heeds the words of Wibert and covers up the hatch to the cellar with the chest.

He sees Boris and Victor sitting by the fire and smiles. "Good to see you again Boris and Victor. Here Victor, your hand axe. THank you for lending it to me."

KOCH heads to the others that have just returned, "What can I do to help? Let's get everything inside and settled, so that we can fortify the hall."

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
Highbough continues making caltrops and helping with other chores. "Once we are done for the night, I will trammel these doors and seal us in for the night."

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

The portcullis mechanism is not too complicated.

It is an over-sized spool of chain with handles either side so that four Men can operate it at once (two each side), and a ratchet mechanism which prevents it from falling back as it is raised.

The is a foot-level which can be kicked to free the ratchet, and thus allow the gate to drop.

The whole of it is dusty and strewn with cobwebs. There appears to be some rust on the chains -- even those extending up to the ceiling (which must be holding the gate up). Apparently, the portcullis has not been lowered in a good long while...

"I'm no expert at these things, but it looks like that thing right there is preventing the wheel from turning...and keeping the gate up." Olaf observes.

"What say I kick it free and see if we can get the gate to lower?" Olaf asks, "What do you think?"

I want all three of us to take good looks to make sure it is not booby trapped in some way, and that once lowered, it will be possible to raise it again before I kick the level free though.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Once everyone is out of the cellar Pelenwin and Koch lug the heavy box of firewood back over the trap-door, more or less sealing it off.

Koch gives the hand axe back to Victor, who accepts it with a minimal shrug of his shoulders and a grunt that might have been "Don't mention it,", or not.

All the other wet gear from the cart is arrayed about the room, hanging over the backs of chairs, or layed out upon the long tables, in order to dry off some. It is doubtful that much of it will be fully dried by morning -- especially if this rain continues. The mess hall roof has three or four significant leaks that drip persistently into the the room, and half a dozen or so lesser ones. There are several trickles of water running down the walls and puddles developing in places on the floor...

Highbough continue to work on the bucket of caltrops...