A sudden revelation: Open RP

[bestdigger.livejournal.com]

((Takes place a couple of days after Musical Day.  Much like last time, start a new comment thread when your character shows up.))

In the classic manner of all great ideas, this one came to Sallah at an unlikely time.

He dreamed he was walking through the Temple of Mara -- the original, not the replica.  Before him was the cistern, and within he could hear a tap-tap-tapping of metal on stone, and a voice: Becker's.  He leaned forward to hear what the man was saying, but it was faint, so faint -- six feet ... down ... below ... below ... six feet ... more ...

He leaned further into the cistern, straining to hear, and then his foot slipped and he fell, down into darkness --

-- and Sallah sat bolt upright on his cot.

Of course!

The entire entrance display to the Indiana Jones Adventure was underground.  More than six feet underground -- past the putative barrier that they'd encountered!

He burst out laughing and, too excited to sleep (dawn was still at least a couple of hours away, he guessed), scrambled out of bed and dressed.  He scrawled a note on a scrap of paper, grabbed a pickaxe, shovel, and lantern and headed out, first to tack the note onto the front gates of Adventureland, next to fill a rucksack with food and water, and then onward to the Indiana Jones Adventure itself.  He descended into the tunnels and when he'd reached a suitably deep spot -- as best as he could tell -- he set up operations.

The walkway shattered most satisfyingly when he smashed into it with his pickaxe.  This was more like it.

***

The note tacked to the Adventureland gate read:

Not done exploring yet.  Continuing work inside the Indiana Jones Adventure.  All are welcome to join.  --Sallah

Comments

[king-longshanks.livejournal.com]

Having explored the caged-in place thoroughly and found it to be strange beyond measure, Aragorn decided that the wisest thing to do in his current position was to meet the others similarly trapped there.

Thus, when he read the note posted on the gates which claimed to be the border of “Adventureland”- an odd appellation indeed and one which Aragorn resolved to consider further at another time- and saw it to be an invitation to all, he decided to offer his service in whatever work was being done.

The Indiana Jones Adventure was easy to find, as it was well marked, and the sound of voices and work being done was direction enough.

Upon reaching the group inside he paused, letting his eyes adjust to the dusk and lamplight of the dimly-lit tunnels, such as they were.

[bestdigger.livejournal.com]

"It pleases me to think that I can sustain a certain spirit of exploration, even here," Sallah said with a chuckle. "And I thank you."

[bestdigger.livejournal.com]

Sallah heard the newcomer approach and extended a lantern. "Halloa sir," he called out. "I am Sallah. I do not believe we have met."

[hidden-paw.livejournal.com]

Macavity gave him a long look, ears back. He spared another glance to Sallah and James, tail twitching, and snorted at Kira's comment about 'screaming like girls'. Inwardly, he was still incredibly amused at the reaction of the two men to his pranks, and wondered what sort of past event had made them so scared of the dark.

After a moment or two, he sighed. "Very well. I'll go first."

The cat-man crouched and marked an X in the centre square.

[king-longshanks.livejournal.com]

Aragorn bowed his head in greeting to the man with the jovial face.

“Nay, we have not Master Sallah,” said he. “I am called Strider. I am new to this place, and find myself without purpose. I thought I might offer my service in whatever endeavor you undertake here.”

[bestdigger.livejournal.com]

Sallah doffed his hat and bowed. "Thank you, sir. We are exploring what lies belowground here. An earlier excavation revealed an impenetrable barrier some six feet below the surface, but it occurred to me to see what we could find if we started from a place already deep in the earth."

[hidden-paw.livejournal.com]

The cat-man blinked, and grinned briefly before marking the square to the left of Kira's O.

[hidden-paw.livejournal.com]

"In my personal opinion, the spirit of exploration is an admirable but ultimately self-detructive trait." Macavity stood up from his game with Kira, accidently-on-purpose sweeping his tail over the markings and effectively obleiterating them, and walking over to Daniel. "Dr Jackson, this sounds right up your alley."

[a-good-man.livejournal.com]

Daniel grinned back at Sallah, feeling that he really had found a kindred spirit in the man. Then he glanced over at Macavity

"Self-destructive?" he asked. "What makes you say that?"

[hidden-paw.livejournal.com]

The cat-man shrugged. "Call it past-life experience. That and the knowledge attempting to be heroic or brave will only ever lead to trouble."

[a-good-man.livejournal.com]

“I didn’t know we’re attempting to be either,” Daniel said, giving Macavity a puzzled look. “And I’m not sure I understand your qualification. A true spirit of exploration is driven by curiosity and a desire for knowledge, I suppose a certain amount of bravery is required in the face of the unknown, but that’s really just one’s desire being greater than one’s fears.”

[tas-wanderlust.livejournal.com]

"Hi!" Tas said, when he saw the blond coming towards him. "Have you come to help too?"

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

"Yep, of course," Setsuna responded to Tas as he started to pick away at the dirt. "Who isn't trying to get out of here?"

[king-longshanks.livejournal.com]

“Are there those among you with the knowledge and skill to prevent this place from bringing itself down about our ears?” he asked politely, looking about at the work being done. It looked sturdy, but Aragorn doubted he would be able to tell if it were not.

[bestdigger.livejournal.com]

"I am an excavator by trade, sir." Sallah smiled; he was far from offended, but he was alert to any possible impugning of his professional reputation. "I've done much work of this sort, and I believe I can ensure our safety."

[king-longshanks.livejournal.com]

Aragorn smiled too.

“It is well then,” said he. “If you will excuse the question, Master Sallah, I meant no offense, but have hardly the knowledge to tell for myself if the work be good or ill, and so thought it wiser to ask. How my I aid you?”

[bestdigger.livejournal.com]

"Of course, sir, I understand. Well -- do you prefer pick or spade? The work now is mostly a matter of digging down as efficiently as we can."

[king-longshanks.livejournal.com]

"I will take a pick," Aragorn answered, accepting the tool. "Where would you like me to begin?"

[bestdigger.livejournal.com]

"That area should do," Sallah replied, gesturing to a spot orthogonal to where Kira and his friends were at work. "My thanks, Master Strider."

[bestdigger.livejournal.com]

After several hours of work, they came to the expected conclusion.

Concrete. Sproingy concrete, just like last time.

Sallah wasn't exactly disappointed, although he certainly would have liked something at least a little different. But it was clear that the six-food depth was constant, following the overall depth of the park.