The hand is moving on a circle that is horizontal, so it doesn't point up or down. It is on a part of the device that is a bit lower than your chest. When hand strikes the bell, it will poit directly at the gallow-like "arm" of the machine (only thinner) that holds the bell into the way of the hand. The wall behind the machine looks like the other cellar walls.
Trying to remember what you once learned about astronomy, you come to the conclusion that the bell would be triggered exactly once a year, except for one wheel that represents no (known) planet at all and is shaped in an oddly irregular way. What it does and if and how it affects the system is quite unclear. You can tell though that it is unlikely for the hand to strike the bell within the next two moons, but some time this year.
Honorus looks around with a puzzled look on his face.
(in a low voice. Talking to himself)
"Yes I noticed that.....There must be another way in that we have not found.....A secret door? How original.....why don't you help look for it....Well if you would be quite for a moment and let me concentrate I might find it, no thanks to you."
Honorus starts looking in every room at the walls, floors and ceilings. Looking for another entrance or hidden door.
Hildegard joins the search, wondering why Rabanus doesn't use his magic to aid them.
They find a loose stone in the servants' room, with a pouch containing a few little silver coins, but no other secret passages.
ooc: I rolled for the two (using Hildegard as the assistant).
Honorus shrugs his shoulders and heads out. He hands David the Silver pennies that they found and waits for everyone to exit the Convenant except Hildegard.
To Hildegard:
"After we leave close and lock the door then come out through the tunnel. I will close the tunnel after us."
ReTe 4 - Fill the tunnel 1d10+23=27
To David:
Thank you for your time and patience. We will take out leave now but I ask you not to enter the old Covenant. I say this for you and our families safety. We do not know what those items could do and there could be traps still in place. We will come back at a later date and collect the lab equipment and other items."
Honorus then heads out to get a beer and a good dinner.
David leaves the room, and exchanges some words with the other Jews there in a strange language. He protests when he sees that they want to close the opening again: "I've seen valuable things and machines down there. We will have to negotatiate about these items in the basement. You seem to be eager to leave. I expect to get an offer, by mail or in person, within a year. Otherwise, I'll have the door broken down and all of these things sold. As for the books, I do want them back - but you may keep them for 7 years to make copies. This is a gesture of good faith because I am sure we can come to arrangements profitable for all involved."
He leads you to the wineshop, and politely bows his good-bye at the door, as you step into the street.
Later, as you are sitting over a good dinner in your inn, several men enter the room. They are the brawny kind. You count 8 of them - all armed: 6 of them are carrying an assortment of knives, whips, and hammers that tell you their professions (smith, butcher, wagoneer,...). Two of them have real swords.
They come straight for your table (the few other guests are getting out of the way): "Our Lord Archbishop is not here, so we have to take care of foreign dick-cut Jewlovers such as yourselves. My boy told me you smelled wrong. He was right. But we can take care of heretics." Looks around to his men: "Isn't that so?" His speech is greeted with a murmur of approval. Satisfied, he caresses the heavy hammer in his fist.
The owner of the inn pipes up, but squeals like a rat and runs, when the red-faced smith in front of you smashes his hammer into your table, sending your mugs flying.
ooc: Not meddling with mundanes can be quite a task. Divine aura of 2.
As the inn gets quiet and the pretty lass he was chatting up jumps off his lab, Carolinus notices something is not right. The sound of wood splintering confirms it. Carolinus catches a glmpse of the other magi between the shoulders and weapons of the townsfolk.
Now what have they done? I can't imagine why anyone with such obvious gifts would come to this city. Better find out before they get into any more serious trouble.
Carolinus picks up his lute, sits on the table, and begins to sing:
Bring in good ale, oh bring in good ale!
For sweet heaven’s sake, our strong thirsts to slake,
Bring in good ale!
Bring in good ale, oh bring in good ale!
We don’t want brown bread for it has no sweet head;
Bring in good ale!
Bring in good ale, oh bring in good ale!
Good gentles all, raise a toast to this hall
Our spirits revive and good will doth thrive
Put ‘side all harsh thoughts as we drink hearty draughts
So bring in good ale!
OOC: Carolinus will continue singing, using the more traditional lyrics of the song, attempting to calm the belligerent ruffians and distract them long enough to let the magi escape. Hopefully, the innkeeper will also get the message and bring in the ale.
Music: +4 (lute) + 2 (Com) + die roll (just need to avoid botching)
Enchanting Music: + 2 + 2(Com) +die roll vs ease factor of 9 (pg65 of ArM5)
A strange change overcomes the followers of the man with the hammer. They move to the counter, and shouts for ale fill the room, some angry, some happy.
The lute player is somehow influencing the crowd, and it seems to work. The innkeeper doesn't have to be told twice. Only the man with the hammer remains unconvinced, but realizes that he is alone all of a sudden. He steps back, forlornly gripping his hammer. Will he run? Will he attack because the situation makes him feel foolish? Who knows? He doesn't seem to know himself - he hesitates.
Carolinus will keep an eye on the man with the hammer, but continue singing. As the patrons get their ale, he changes the song to something a little less raucous. He does not use Enchanting Music, but hopes the calmer song will work its own magic.
A forthright lad went wandering
Through hill and gnarly wood.
He happed upon a grieving lass
Who o'er her lover's body stood.
Fair lass, pray tell what happened
The wand'ring lad drew near.
I've kild my love the lass replied
Love's dart too sharp, I fear.
...
The innkeeper walks over to the man with the hammer, puts a hand on his shoulder and gently steers him towards another table. When the smith opens his mouth to protest, the innkeeper points out that he will have to pay for the table, which shuts him up.
Hildegard, having depatched her grog to go packing, sits at the feet of the player. She knows that her gift is still a danger, but she hopes that being a child will protect her from the worst (and yes, Bonisagus' curiosity does play a role as well).
ooc: we will jump to shortly before the next location soon. All that remains for us is to complete the link to Archimedes. Pfalzgrafen Island or Waldstein next?
Carolinus, intrigued by the obviously gifted girl sitting near him, smiles at her as he plays. A rather brave apprentice to stay in a hostile room once her master has left, he thinks. After the next song, he whispers to her, "Please tell your master that I should like to meet him. I'll play one more song after he leaves, then I will follow." He briefly tunes his lute, then calls to the innkeeper "Can you spare a pint for a thirsty voice?"
Hildegard frowns when she realizes that she is mistaken again.
"We are leaving town - obviously. We'll wait for you on the Rhine Road one league from the city from sunset onwards for two hours," she can't help adding a pointed "sodalis."
Then she slips away.
The magi and their grogs manage to leave Trier and wait under a tree outside the city.
Carolinus' eyes widen at the child's "sodalis", but he holds his tongue. Interesting. I wonder what the story is here ...
Carolinus thanks the innkeeper for the mug, sings another song or two, and bows with a flourish if any customers are still paying attention. He dons his dark cloack, picks up his staff, and limps from the room, well before sunset, knowning that walking the league will take a while.
Once the group left the towns perimeters, with every step Rabanus´ mood gets better and better. After hearing from Hildegard about the impending meeting, he settles down to wait patiently. With the tension gone he even starts to chatter a bit with the rest of magi.
When Carolinus arrives, Rabanus greets him heartily.
"What a lucky stroke of fate that brought you to our inn. We are certainly very grateful for your help. My name is Rabanus ex Criamon and these are my sodales. What is your name if i might ask?"
Surprised that a Criamon would be so straight forward, Carolinus smiles widely at the magi, as well as their grogs.
"Salve, Rabanus. I am Carolinus ex Jerbiton, a peregrinator from the Alps, and this is Tristram, my custos. I was surprised to find other members of the Order in Trier, and glad I was to prevent harm to yourselves or to the good people of that city."
Hildegard greets Carolinus, introduces her self and thanks him for his help. She asks him for his further plans and tells him of the group's plan to explore a site for a future covenant.