The garden is now much more lively than before. Little berry-eating and nectar-drinking birds flutter in the trees, while on the ground the overgrown plants are starting to thin out under the hunger pains of newly awakened herbivores. Even the pond seems a bit more clear as a multitude of fish swim through it, and some slug-like creatures slowly work on the algae that have grown on the pond's sides. After the introduction of several of these fish, the pond has proven to be much deeper than was thought. Just how deep has yet to be seen, but so far no rope has been able to touch its bottom.

Daylight began to wane on the hunters' first day of exploring, and the next few days after that were spent tending to the creatures and working in the previously explored rooms.

So far, the only column in the Gemstone Room that seemed to have any affect on anything has been the red coral one, which opened the door to the Sapphire Aquarium chamber, as long as it was the only column down. The other columns didn't seem to have any affect on the hallway with the smashing stones, from what could be gathered by having Skye stand in the aquarium and watch down the hallway.

There have been a few other distractions. The captured beast from the entry hallway had escaped from its bindings, and encountered the sand golem. Thankfully, the trio of hunts had been inside the tree at the time, and had only momentarily heard the commotion. The image of the beast sinking below the sands, and of the golem glaring at them through the amber door of the garden was the only hint of what had happened outside.

But today is a new day. Sunlight filters in through the leaf-covered windows of the garden, and the animals within it have begun to awaken again – as have the three tower explorers.

Sitting on the stairs, Skye adjusts his hat, tending to the long, turquoise and treasured eep feathers. Every now and then, he glances towards the amber door. With a final stroke, he sets his hat atop his head, and then he looks towards Lakshmi. "Yi know boss, w'en it's all said and done, let's not forget we 'ave a someone waiting for us. Do golems get 'ungry?"

Lakshmi gathers up her journal and looks around after breakfast. "All right… so, today we'll try mapping out the smashing stones in the hallway, to see if we can make a path for Lochinvar, so he can see if there's a lever to turn them off… " She glances at Skye and shakes her head. "They're not sapient like animals, Skye; they're more like forces of nature with a pre-programmed singular goal. In this case, it would appear to be protecting the tree from invaders."

Almost, but not quite, directly in view of the golem, Lochinvar watches the creature. "Nevertheless, it still would have to get in here before it can pose a threat, and I would doubt it could get through the amber trap," he offers as means of assurance.

Lakshmi nods to Lochinvar. "True… although it is a shame Fenter's wards have been destroyed." She heads for the stairs, with the occasional affectionate pat to any creature that crosses her path. "Shall we, gentles?"

"Of course," the Hekoye says, and gestures the Naga towards the stairs. "After you, Master Lakshmi?"

Brushing off his breeches, Skye stands. "That's at least true. T'ou' we mite find 'im stuck in t'e amber stairs if 'e gets clever." Padding quietly towards the edge of the pond, Skye looks for a handful of pebbles – or better, a five count of small rocks. "Is there a good sized stick in t'e garden, boss'Laks'mi? T'at could pass for a staff?"

Lakshmi nods. "Try that fruit tree over there; that hanging branch is broken and dead."

Lakshmi slithers up the stairs, through the different chambers, and waits for the others in the aquarium room.

With a brisk step, Skye retrieves the long branch, carefully leaning on it to test its strength. Finally, he gathers up his gear and padpadpadpads up the stairs.

The winged coyote follows the Skreek into the room, after double-checking that the golem seems to be content to remain outside.

Lakshmi is curled neatly up by the hallway door of the aquarium, her journal out and a carefully approximated sketch of the hallway (as far as she can see it) ready on the page. She beams, "So! With the appropriate cautions, let us begin. Skye, if you would be so kind?"

The stone corridor ahead looks to be quite plain compared to the rest of the castle. The floors are smooth, except for a few broken bits of bone and powder collected here and there, and for the seams between blocks that comprise the floor.

Lochinvar, trying desperately hard to keep his mind off the shinies, looks into the corridor and hrms to himself.

Lakshmi hands her journal to Skye, then takes a neatly coiled bullwhip off her belt. She checks to make sure both her companions are clear… then flicks it forward down the hallway, trying not to touch any surfaces.

Suddenly, there's a sound of grinding rock … and then the ceiling starts to warp in shape. A giant stone foot materializes out of the ceiling, and stomps downward!

Lakshmi frowns, "Drat," and snaps the whip back.

The corridor is filled with much stomping and pounding, as first a foot, then a hand, then a hoof, then a tail materialize from the ceiling, one after the other, one appearing as the other is melting away, coming down to smash against the floor, then return again. Once the corridor finishes its cycle of foot, hand, hoof, tail, the tail comes back a second time, then continues a backwards cycle onward to hoof, hand and foot … and then it goes back again.

Lakshmi blinks… then grabs the journal and tries to carefully record what is smashing where, and in what pattern.

The cycle of stones continues – foot, hand, hoof, and tail, and then in reverse, tail, hoof, hand, foot; then back again to foot, hand, hoof, and tail.

"Now we know what we're up against here," Lochinvar says, "but now that it's turned on, how do we turn it off?"

Lakshmi mutters under her breath, trying to get the measurements right, holding up her tail tip to try "guesstimating". She nods absently to Lochinvar. "It's annoying, definitely… but if we can figure out exactly where each one comes down, then theoretically we should be able to thread a path between them… and around the corner hopefully there's a lever or somesuch. If not, we'll just have to thread our way back here and think some more, I guess… "

Lochinvar wonders. "Maybe cracking the whip again might work?"

Lakshmi blinks at Lochinvar's last comment, then nods. "Good idea." Setting the journal carefully aside, she cracks the whip out again as Lochinvar suggested.

The whip slaps against one of the cycling stones, but nothing else seems to happen. The cycle continues.

Skye takes a careful look about, to ensure there's no trigger or device hidden on either side, above or below the corridor entrance. As he does, he rubs his muzzle, considering.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Ah well… " She picks up the journal and continues carefully jotting notes down. "Looks like thread the needle for us, then… there. What do you two think of this map? Relatively accurate, measurements-wise?"

The Hekoye walks over to the Naga, looking at the map. "Hrm," he says. "It looks accurate enough. As for your suggestion of threading a path – possible. If the timing's right."

Lakshmi nods thoughtfully, "Yes… the trick will be timing. Let me see if I can plot a path now… " She continues working in the journal, looking up and counting under her breath, and trying to figure a safe path.

Backing up a step, the little Skreek shakes his head. "I t'nk I see somet'ing, yes? We got to stop t'e smashing for a bit. Let me try t'is." And with a rapid padpad, Skye retreats from the aquarium and the noise, and taps the onyx pedestal. As it lowers, he turns and calls out, "Did t'at stop t'e pounding?"

Lakshmi watches.

The door to the aquarium closes… but the cycle does not stop.

Lakshmi foos softly under her breath… then continues trying to plot a path.

Lochinvar calls out in response, "No!"

Smiling for a brief set of heartbeats, Skye enjoys a moment or two of at least relative quiet. Then he taps again at the onyx stone.

As the onyx column rises, the door opens once again.

Lakshmi finally looks up and smiles at the other two. "Okay! I think I have it… Lochinvar, I plotted for your steps, since you're a bit taller than Skye, and have less tail than I… You need to take five steps forward, wait for the foot to smash down in front of you, two steps left and four steps forward, wait for the hand behind you, one step back and wait for the hoof in front of you, then five quick steps forward and three right and wait for the tail. By then you'll be around the corner. I'd suggest you look quickly, and unless it's clear (like the lever for the stairs) come right back, but with the reverse pattern?"

The Hekoye nods, but asks, "Maybe you could call out the directions also as I go? It's a fair bit to remember all at once."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Absolutely, Lochinvar. We don't want you getting hurt."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Whenever you're ready."

Skye slowly walks back, listening to the pattern of the paces. He nods quietly, silently in agreement.

Lochinvar walks up to the threshold of the corridor, and takes a breath. "Five steps forward and wait is first, right?" he asks. "Just say when to go."

Lakshmi straightens, holding the journal carefully open in front of her, one finger on the pacing pattern so she won't lose her spot. "Don't be surprised by things smashing down all around you, remember… okay? Right, first is five forward, and I'll say 'now' to start… " She waits, counting silently under her breath, then says calmly, "Now."

The Hekoye goes to put out a foot on the command, then stops, looking back. "You did base this on my normal pace, right?" he asks.

Lakshmi relaxes, since the pattern will have to go through entirely once more before they can start, and nods, "Yes, I measured your pace in the garden yesterday. Believe me, Lochinvar, we're being as careful as we know how… and you don't have to do this if you don't want to."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Here, would you like to see in the Gemstone Room how long I measured one of your paces?" She lays out a length of her tail and indicates with a finger, "From here to the tip – that's one of your regular paces."

Skye blinks, and then smiles. "Also Laks'mi, give 'im a count before yi say 'now', so 'e gets an idea for t'e beat of each pace. And I'd stand next to 'im, an walk 'im t'rough it by word a time or two before 'e actually steps out into t'e corridor."

The coyote goes over, and checks the measurement of his pace, and nods. "All right. Even though I don't mind the odd game of chance, there are certain things I like to be sure of first," he says with a slight grin, before stepping back over to the corridor.

Lakshmi nods to Skye, "That's an excellent idea, Skye. Lochinvar, if you'd stand next to me, we can practice here, all right?"

"A countdown should suffice, I think," Lochinvar says, looking ahead down the corridor as the "stompers" go through their cycle.

Lakshmi nods. "Very well then." She gives him a counted walk-through as he watches the stompers, then adds, "How's that?"

The Hekoye nods, and looks at the corridor once more. "All right… "

Skye watches, listens, and then starts a soft clap of his paws, to match the rhythm Lochinvar must keep.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Excellent. Just to remind you – your first set is five forward, wait. Get ready… and… now."

Lochinvar steps forward, thankful for the regular beat that the Skreek is keeping for him, and stops after the fifth pace.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Wait for the foot… "

The smashing stones move up and down around the Hekoye as he moves, but so far the instructions seem good. Behind him the foot starts to come down.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "After the foot, take 2 left, 4 forward, wait for the hand behind you… "

Skye keeps up his clapping, matching the required beat…

As the foot hits the ground, Lochinvar takes the instructed directions… Two steps left, four steps forward, and stops again.

The appendages continue to move, behind him the hand starts to rise back up into the ceiling.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "After the hand take one step back and wait for the hoof in front of you… "

The hand disappears into the ceiling, while a hoof shape appears over Lochinvar's head and begins to stomp downwards.

Lochinvar quickly takes the one step backwards, out of the way of the hoof.

Lakshmi sounds a bit relieved. "After the hoof, take five steps forward, three right and wait for the tail… then look around the corner!"

The hoof starts to rise up again while the stone tail begins to smash down.

As the hoof rises, the coyote moves the prescribed five steps forward and then three to the right, then pauses once more.

The tail comes down completely, and then rises back up … and then smashes down the second time. Over the Hekoye's head, the hoof starts to come down again.

Lochinvar takes a quick glance above to see the hoof about to come down, and jumps forward out of the way of it.

The Hekoye skitters past the hoof and makes it into the chamber beyond.

Skye sharply chitters, "Lochy, it s'ould be ahead. I t'ink yi can t'e switch from t'e corridor."

From the fact that Lochinvar calls out in the following moment, nothing obviously bad was there to greet him. "Well," his disembodied voice comes back to Skye and Lakshmi, "there is a lever here. So, unless you say otherwise, I'll give it a try?"

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Please do!"

Lakshmi tries again, hissing loudly over the stomping noises, "Please do!"

The smashing stones suddenly freeze in place… and then slowly rise up into the ceiling again.

The disembodied voice calls out again, "Okay. It's pulled."

Lakshmi sighs in the sudden silence, relaxing into a pile of coils for a moment.

Stepping forward, Skye stabs the long branch into the corridor, just to make sure.

Nothing happens.

Lochinvar pokes his head out from around the corner, and looks up at the ceiling. "They stopped then?" he asks.

"Yes, thank goodness." Lakshmi neatly tucks her writing utensil and journal into her backpack, then checks herself… bullwhip neatly coiled back in place, medical satchel over her shoulder, Lapis coiled on her arm… then slithers slowly after Skye.

Nodding quietly, Skye looks back to Lakshmi. "That was good figuring Boss … and yi," he quickly pads down the corridor, " … yi'honor Loc'invar, t'at took more t'an a little nerve."

The Hekoye just grins at the Skreek, then retreats back into the chamber behind the corner to wait for him and Lakshmi.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Thank you, Skye… and yes, I'd have to say Lochinvar did the most there. Thank you, Lochinvar." She rubs her face a moment, then smiles, a touch relieved. "Well… what is next? What did you find, Lochinvar?"

The chamber beyond seems smaller than the ones that preceded it. This one is fairly plain except for a rather ornate doorway at the other end of the chamber.

Atop the doorway is a strange sculpture, with the face of a female Khatta, but over the shoulders can be seen wings of a Vartan, and instead of hands, there are sharp talons. The rest of the figure disappears into the stone wall. At first, it seems like only an illusion, but, no, the eyes do move … and so does the mouth. In a grating, raspy voice, the Sphynx says, "To pass this way, lest you eaten be, you must tell the answer of a riddle to me."

The coyote looks up at the "gargoyle" and cocks his head a little, staying silent until his companions catch up with him.

Lakshmi frowns up at the statue thoughtfully, studying it, then hisses softly, "Are you a golem or a live creature? Are you trapped there?"

The statue looks down at Lakshmi and opens its mouth to speak again…

Lochinvar looks over his shoulder, acknowledging the Naga's arrival, then looks back at the statue.

"What can run but never walks,"

"Has a mouth but never talks,"

"Has a head but never weeps,"

"Has a bed but never sleeps?"

Lakshmi nods thoughtfully, muttering, "… golem… " as she pulls out her book and scribbles down the riddle.

Skye smiles quietly…

Lakshmi finishes writing down the riddle, then looks up at the other two, "Suggestions?"

Skye dryly chitters, "It runs in its bed, from its head to its mouth. A river."

"That is the correct answer," grates the stone Sphynx. "You may pass."

Lakshmi looks at Skye, then nods slowly. "Of course. Thank you, Skye." She heads for the door.

The coyote gives the Skreek an impressed look. "Well done, there," he comments.

The door opens slightly, although not quite enough to hint at what might lie beyond.

Skye nods quietly, opening the door and looking through before her steps beyond.

Lakshmi gently pushes it ajar before slithering through.

Skye dryly chitters, "Yi welcome; it comes from drownin' in t'e flood plains previous."

In the chamber on the opposite side of the Sphynx gate, there is another Sphynx directly opposite the first. The chamber is fashioned of stone, dominated by a giant balance that stands in the center of the floor, with two platforms hanging on each side, and a curious lever built into the base. Sitting about the room are nine stands, each one holding a different stone: ruby, sapphire, emerald, topaz, opal, diamond, onyx, agate, and amethyst. The door opposite is made of stone, and is closed, with no obvious handle or knocker, but with a depression set into its face, the same size as the little gems sitting around the chamber. The gems glow unnaturally, providing illumination to the chamber.

The Sphynx's voice grates, "Another puzzle you must solve in order to pass. There are nine stones, each of equal weight, save for one. Use this balance to determine which of the nine is different, but you may only use the balance thrice, to see which side is heavier: the right, or the left. Then, once you have determined which stone is different, use it as your key to unlock the door. If you fail, the stones will return to their places, and a new one will become the key. And to make your puzzle even more difficult, it may be lighter … or it may be heavier." And then the stone sentinel stops moving, and becomes silent once more.

Skye looks to Lakshmi, shaking his head. "Oh, bad habits coming to 'aunt me. Yi want to 'ear my way of solving t'is?"

Lakshmi nods, eyeing the odd contraption.

Lochinvar, meanwhile, walks around each of the stands, looking over each of the stands and stones for clues.

Skye looks to Lochinvar. "Yi 'ave a practical 'ead, make sure I'm keeping proper track, yes?. First split t'e stone four an' four an one. Weigh four against four. Either it will balance, which means yi 'ave t'e 'eavy stone, or one side will be 'eavier… "

Lakshmi nods again, "I get it. That would work excellently, yes."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Just keep halving the heavier pile."

Continuing, the black Skreek's eyes sparkle, like he was counting shekels. "T'en ye split t'e 'eavy four to two an' two. One will be 'eavier t'an t'e other. Take t'e heavier pair and weigh t'em one an' one. Three balances, an' yi got t'e 'eaviest."

Lakshmi frowns, "No… wait… or lighter… "

Skye stops, quiet. "Oh. I didn't 'ear t'at correctly… "

Lakshmi shakes her head, "We're on the right track, Skye… if four and four balance, we have the right stone. If one is heavier… then we know the singleton isn't the one we want… so how to test that… "

Skye thinks again…

Skye taps his muzzle. "I'm 'alfway t'ere. Like to 'ear?"

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Yes, of course."

Over by one of the stands, Lochinvar waits, listening to Skye's theory.

Skye dryly chitters, "We split t'em into piles of t'ree. Wei' two piles. If t'ey balance, we 'ave t'e odd one in 'and. Wei' any two of t'e t'ree. It t'ey balance, we 'ave t'e odd one in 'and. If t'ey don't, pick one we just balanced, and set it aside. T'en we take t'e one we held, knowing t'at its t'e proper weight, and weigh it against t'e other. If it balances, t'en t'e one we just set aside is t'e one. if it doesn't, t'en we now t'e other is t'e odd one out. Now t'e problem is, I don't know, is if t'e odd one is t'e first two bunches of three, 'ow to find t'at one in two."

Lakshmi blinks suddenly, "Wait… there's no penalty for being wrong, except that we have to start over, yes? So… if we narrow it down to two stones, it's a half and half chance of being right. Even if we get it wrong the first time, our chances of getting it correct eventually are quite good!"

Skye shakes 'is 'ead. "No. Remember, t'e stone changes if we fail."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Yes, but so what? We simply start over."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Our chance of picking the correct stone is good enough that it's worth starting over, surely?"

"I think that your first suggestion was more along the right lines, Skye," Lochinvar says. "With two piles of four, if they balance, we know the odd one is the right stone."

Skye dryly chitters, "Wait … I think I know 'ow to do it in two … after I 'ear what yi'honor 'as to say."

"That's one use of the scale. Then," Lochinvar continues, "if one of the piles is heavier, we split that into two and two and check again. That's use number two. Then, we split into one and one whichever is heavier. That's the third use."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Um… but what if our desired stone is a lighter one?"

"Then we try again," says the Hekoye. "If we keep ending up with a heavy stone each time, the odds say that we'll need the heavy one eventually."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "No… if we don't end up with a heavier stone by the um… second measurement, then we know that it's a lighter one, I think?"

The Skreek shakes his head again. "It works because we will know by t'e second weighing if it's 'eavier or li'ter. Think, if t'e t'ree by t'ree doesn't balance, we know we 'ave t'ree of t'e same wei't in 'and. We t'en wei' t'ose t'ree against any one of t'e other t'ree. If t'ey don't balance, we know t'at t'e stone is in t'ose t'ree and if it's 'eavy or lite. T'en we just weigh two of t'e t'ree and we shall know t'e odd one out. If t'e do balance, we know t'e stone was in t'e other pile, and t'e way it balanced before will tell us 'ow it's off. T'en we just wei' two of t'e t'ree."

Lakshmi nods to Skye, "Exactly. All right then… let's gather the stones, shall we?"

Lakshmi slithers around collecting stones into one hand. She pauses by the opal and admires it, murmuring, "I always did like opal." She smiles and shakes her head, adding it to the pile in her hand, and continues.

"Did that sound right to yi, Loc'invar?" Skye looks over his shoulder, as he gathers the stones into three small piles. Ruby, sapphire and emerald in one. Topaz, opal and diamond in the next. Onyx, agate and amethyst in the third.

Lochinvar shrugs a little, but nods. "Near enough to give it a try"

Gathering up the stones, Skye puts the first two piles into the balance. He steps back from the balance, eyeing the little lever. "T'ink t'at lever sets t'e balance into motion?"

Lakshmi hisses softly, "I… suppose so. Lochinvar, could you flip it, please?"

The winged coyote walks over to the lever, and toggles it.

The balance creaks, and the left dish – containing ruby, sapphire and emerald – lowers. The right dish – containing topaz, opal and diamond – rises.

Lakshmi frowns, "Now the problem – is our target stone lighter or heavier? Somehow I'm guessing we're going to have to try this more than once. Let's measure the third group against the right dish, shall we?"

Skye nods quietly, and removes the first pile – ruby, sapphire and emerald – from the left dish.

As soon as the rat does so, the balance resets itself, so that both dishes are level.

Skye looks to Lochinvar, before he puts the onyx, agate and amethyst in the left dish. "And this test will tell us, since t'ese t'ree stones all wei' t'e same."

Lakshmi nods, "Exactly, regarding the weights."

Looking across to Lochinvar, Skye nods. "Time to test again, yes?"

Now, the balance has onyx, agate and amethyst in the left dish. Topaz, opal and diamond are still in the right.

"Here goes," says the Hekoye, and pulls the lever again.

The balance creaks … but it balances level. Neither dish rises nor lowers.

Lakshmi nods slowly.

"So, one of the ruby, sapphire or emerald is heavier than all of the rest?" Lochinvar asks, but it's more of a statement really. "But we now have just one more try of the balance before we have to start again."

The Skreek smiles. "T'e gem is 'eavier, and it is eit'er ruby, sapp'ire or emerald. Here, give me a 'and taking t'e gems off t'e balance, yes? All of t'em."

Skye and Lochinvar patiently remove the gems. When that is done, Skye places the ruby on the left dish and the sapphire on the right dish. That done, he steps back. "If yi would, yi'onor Loc'invar?"

The balance has a ruby in the left dish, and a sapphire in the right dish, while the emerald is kept off of the balance.

Lochinvar sets the balance into motion again by pulling the lever.

The balance remains level. Neither dish rises nor lowers.

Lakshmi sighs softly, "Finally. Emerald."

Skye smiles and holds up the emerald. "T'is s'ould be t'e 'eaviest one, t'en. It's a bit 'igh for me. Some do t'e honors?" He holds up the sparkling and glowing gem.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Lochinvar, would you do the honors please?"

Taking the gem, Lochinvar walks over to the door and chuckles a little to himself, then fits the gem into the depression on the stone door.

Lakshmi sighs softly, gazing at the small piles of gemstones, then slithers over towards the door… pausing to study the lovely sculpture of the Sphynx as she does so.

The gem neatly locks into place in the depression, held as if fused into place.It begins to glow more brightly, bathing the room in an emerald glow, overwhelming the colors of the other gems … and then the door neatly slides open, retracting into the wall.

Lakshmi slides towards Lochinvar and the door.

Beyond the doorway, a staircase leads up to the top of the tower, where stone gives way to metal … hammered copper, stainless steel, polished brass, stained bronze, and even trimming of silver and gold! When this room was built, it would have been worth a king's ransom and then some … and even though the steel isn't worth very much (and comprises most of the walls), it's still downright extravagant to say the very least.

Lakshmi looks faintly puzzled as she slides carefully up the stairs. "What is this stuff the walls are made from?"

Skye walks into the room and just freezes.

Lakshmi glances over her shoulder when there's no answer… then blinks, "Skye? Are you all right?"

Lochinvar pauses a little in the room with the balance before following the others in, and looks up at the Sphynx statue. "You never did answer the question, if you're alive and trapped there," he muses out loud at it, then steps through the door.

The Sphynx doesn't answer the Hekoye.

Skye dryly chitters, "T'is room is almost wort' more t'an t'e Temple in Rep'idim."

Lakshmi glances around, then smiles quietly at Skye. "Worth is relative, Skye." She continues slithering up the stairs.

Skye shakes his head and continues after Lakshmi. He quietly chitters as he continues up after her, "True, but t'is will buy yi enough beer to bat'e in all year round… "

At the top of the stairs, six rooms (one of them being the stairway landing) branch off from the center chamber, which is roughly donut shaped, with six doors leading into another room in its center, open to the sky. Through one doorway can be seen what looks like some sort of bedroom. Another doorway leads to what looks like an eating area. Another doorway leads to what appears to be nothing more than just a place to view the surroundings. Two of the other doors are closed, with no apparent way to open them.

Lakshmi chuckles softly, "Then your fur would stink of fermented hops, Skye. Would you really want that?"

The semi-domed "donut" ceiling, with its crystal paneled skylights, has suspended from it many strange metal constructions, some of them looking like spherical framework shells, and others looking like other geometric shapes combined with strange runes rendered in hammered metal. The constructions are all suspended from tracks in the ceiling and walls, and some of them can be seen slowly moving. Something about it is reminiscent of a Chronotopian clock, though there are no visible (or audible) gears. Due to the ring-like shape of the chamber, it's impossible to see all of the ceiling at once from any one location, so it'd be an inconvenient way to try to tell time, even if it were possible.

Alcoves ring the "donut" corridor, in between doorways leading to outer chambers. In each alcove is a different statue carved from tiger-eye agate, each representing some small burrowing creature. There is another at the top of the staircase.

"Prolly not," the little Skreek shrugs. "But after about a week yi prolly wouldn't remember much. But yi know me. I'd prolly get bored and miss t'e serendips feedin' on me… "

Lochinvar catches up with Lakshmi and Skye, and looks at them. "Was I imagining things, or did someone mention beer?" he asks, then looks around at the room.

Lakshmi laughs as she looks around.

Lakshmi wanders over to lean down to examine one of the little tiger-agate statues.

Lakshmi looks around thoughtfully. "Hm… living quarters, eh? Well… let's check all the rooms, I guess, so we don't miss anything."

The particular statue that Lakshmi studies is a squat looking creature with a build about as large as the waterbound vermites in the flood plains, except that it has no tail, its nose is spade shaped, and it has an extra set of clawed arms sprouting from its shoulders.

At the top of the stairs, Skye looks at the bizarre orrery. He slowly paces all around, every now and then pausing to straighten his whiskers. "W'at is t'is contraption, Laks'mi?"

Lakshmi glances over, "That's a good question, Skye. I've no idea." She grins at him, "Sorry. Maybe Lochinvar knows? or more study would reveal its use?"

The winged Hekoye looks up at the things moving and not moving around the ceiling. "I've seen… well, similar things back in the Temple," he says after a moment. "However, I have no idea what their purpose was, or what they do. Of course, none of the people there would tell me."

Lakshmi frowns up at the contraption thoughtfully.

Lochinvar looks over to Lakshmi, and notices her frowning. "Have you ever tried getting answers out of a Technopriest?" he asks.

Stretching, Skye pads over to the doorway that leads to what might be a balcony, taking a moment to poke his muzzle past the doorway to see what he might see.

Lakshmi blinks absently at Lochinvar, obviously lost in thought. "I beg your pardon? Er… no, why do you ask?"

"Well," answers the Hekoye, "they're the only people that I would think knew what those things I saw in the Temple did. They're not that forthcoming with information though."

Lakshmi nods, looking a little confused, "All right." She smiles, a little puzzled. "Um… why are you telling me this, please?"

The balcony is sealed with some type of clear amber window (this one without any bugs or other creatures trapped inside of it) while beyond Skye has an excellent view of the sands outside.

Lakshmi exclaims suddenly, "Oh! I understand! You're telling me you don't know. That's all right. I'm sorry, I was trying to figure it out." She nods, looking around. "Well… first of all, why don't we check each room out, shall we?"

The coyote blinks a little. "I thought that you asked if I knew what these things," he says, gesturing up to the orrery, "were for?"

Lakshmi nods. "Yes, I was… but I certainly did not expect you to know. It's all right." She smiles. "Let me get my journal out and we'll do each room one at a time." She looks around, "Skye? Where are you?"

Calling from the balcony, Skye's voice is light. "It's a wonderful view from 'ere, yes? Yi can see all t'e sand, all t'e way to t'e cyclone storm. Yi can even see w'ere t'e ruby beast broke 'is bonds and busted yi'onor Fenter's wards."

Lakshmi sketches a quick layout of the upper floor, putting in all the doorways she can count. Then she goes over to the room Skye's in and looks around. "Oooh… how nice!"

Lakshmi writes "balcony" in on the appropriate room on her sketch.

Lochinvar hrmfs a little at the mention of the Rath'ani mage. "So much for his magic, then," he notes dryly.

From this perspective it looks like two of the four poles set outside the camp were knocked down. There's no sign of the golem though.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Well, it did keep magic out. That was its purpose, no? Not to keep magic in?"

Lochinvar walks out of the room with the balcony, not appearing to care much as to the purpose of the warding spells.

Lakshmi ahems softly, "Let's take this methodically, shall we, guys? Shall we use the right hand rule, starting from the stairs, and check each room as we get to it?"

Lakshmi slithers out of the balcony room and looks in the doorway of the first outer door that's to the right of the stairs.

Skye turns to pad back into the main room. "T'at sounds wise. One at a time, an' toget'er. Maybe yi will find somet'in' t'at will tell us about t'is place. An w'y it was so protected."

Lakshmi nods wryly to Skye. "Yes… there should be a reason for all those interminable puzzles! We just have to find it."

This door leads to a sleeping chamber. Some simple beds are inside. They probably should have rotted away by now, but show no signs of age. There are no other furnishings in the room beyond the four beds.

Lakshmi calmly and methodically checks the room, looking under the beds and mattresses, flickering her tongue thoughtfully to check the air, looking around carefully.

Lochinvar seems, at the moment, content to wait outside and watch the activity up high, still curious to what its purpose is.

There is nothing else in the room, save for some bits of dust under the mattresses.

Lakshmi slithers out and checks the next room to the right.

The next door on the outer wall refuses to open.

Lakshmi frowns in puzzlement, then looks up. "Skye? Can you open this door?"

Skye looks over his shoulder and up to Lakshmi. "Well I never 'ad a c'ance to get t'e right tools, but let me take a closer look at it." To that end he carefully checks out the door, for visible catches, latches and locks.

Shaking his head the Skreek steps back. "If it was just me, Laks'mi, I'd say t'is door goes now'ere. Now'ere, unless … unless it c'anges if w'at's up on t'e ceiling is working."

Lakshmi nods. "All right, we won't worry about it for now. I'll just mark it 'closed' and go on. Thank you." She does so, then slithers to the next door to the right.

The next outer door leads to the balcony.

Lakshmi nods. "Got that one already. Okay, next… " and slithers on to the next door.

Quietly padding along beside Lakshmi, Skye tucks his paws in his belt. As they move round the tower, he keeps an eye peeled for any odd lever or device, which might set the strangeness above in motion.

And the next outer door leads to a room with a few more statues set along the sides and a rounded wooden table in the center with five chairs placed around it. Some dishes rest in cabinets against the walls.

Lakshmi carefully notes what each statue is of, then pauses, looking around… "Skye? Would you check the cabinets for anything unusual?" She then carefully and cautiously settles into a chair, as if she's not sure whether it will burst into motion under her – or something equally unexpected.

The chair seems to have been made for someone smaller than Lakshmi, but feels sturdy enough. The wood seems as sturdy as oak.

Lakshmi looks faintly relieved, then sets her journal down on the table and looks over to where Skye is.

His muzzle ducking, Skye examines each cabinet in turn, checking each drawer before peering in, each cupboard before poking in an inquisitive muzzle. One by one, until all are done.

Lakshmi nods, "Okay, this appears to be a dining room. On to the next room… " She neatly puts the chair back, then slithers out.

Skye quietly laughs. "Settings for five, boss'Laks'mi. T'ough w'ere t'ey got food in t'is desert would be news to me."

Lakshmi nods to Skye. "It is very strange… "

Lakshmi frowns thoughtfully. "We're missing one bed, I think… " She checks the next room.

The next outer door does not open.

Lakshmi glances hopefully at Skye when the door doesn't open.

Skye looks to Lakshmi and shrugs. "I'll bet it's jus' like t'e other one, yes?" But he checks again, to be sure, before moving on.

Lakshmi smiles. "Thanks, Skye."

After rattling the knob, Skye steps away. "Yes. We need to find t'e mechanism for making t'ese doors work."

Lakshmi nods. "Closed door, got it… " She notes it down, then moves on to the next door.

Lochinvar walks over to the Naga and Skreek after getting bored waiting for the contraption above to do anything different. "Anything?" he asks.

The next outer doorway is the opening to the staircase that led up into this chamber.

Lakshmi nods absently to Lochinvar, "Two closed doors, a dining room for five, a bedroom for four; that's it on the outside ring. Now the inside ring… " She turns and goes to the nearest inside door that's to the right of the stairs.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Oh, excuse me, and the balcony."

The closest inner door opens up into a central chamber. The other doors lining the inner wall also have portals into this chamber.

This central chamber is open to the sky, with a table in its center upon which are scattered four cylinder discs, roughly arranged at the four corners of a square. One is made of gray stone. One appears to be made of packed sand, but keeping surprisingly solid. One is made of burnished bronze, green copper, rusty iron and tarnished brass, all melded together. A fourth is made of wood, somehow sprouting a couple of leaves. In the center of the table is a circular depression, about the size of one of the discs.

Skye blinks and whispers, "Oh my."

Lakshmi looks at the table silently, then around slowly, taking it all in.

Elsewhere in the room is a misshapen chair of asymmetric proportions, seated before an array of levers and panels, made of wood, stone, crystal, amber, metal, and even packed sand. There are several colored crystals set on the wall above the array of levers, and what looks like an etched representation of the tower, and cross-sections thereof. Some of the crystals appear to correspond to some of the rooms that the party has visited, while other crystals are positioned in a way that seems to represent the doors between them. Some glow faintly; some are dark.

Lochinvar gets a look inside the chamber, too. "Some kind of control center? Perhaps this stuff controls all the things above?"

Lakshmi nods slowly at Lochinvar's words. "So it would appear… "

Skye ducks his muzzle. "Or all the rooms below … "

Lakshmi slithers over to the chair, examining it in puzzlement. "What would fit in this chair, though… ?"

The chair has three sets of armrests, and odd bumps in the back and seat.

Lakshmi murmurs, "A … Nohbakim perhaps?"

Lakshmi curiously and cautiously slithers into the chair, seeing if the bumps would correspond to a place to put coils perhaps.

Skye looks back quietly. "T'e infamous earth mage. Maybe this controls t'e rooms on t'e way up, so fooling wit' it might reset some of t'e trouble we 'ave already solved? But t'is center table, center of t'e tower … might control t'e machine outside?"

"Possibly," Lochinvar notes to Lakshmi, momentarily thinking back to his own experiences with the Nohbakim.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "What machine outside, Skye?"

Lakshmi hisses softly, "The plant?"

The chair is rather uncomfortable under Lakshmi's coils. If a Naga sat there, he must have not minded having bruised coils.

Skye dryly chitters, "All t'e things on t'e ceiling, maybe."

Lakshmi settles for a moment experimentally… then shakes her head. "This would give you coil ache after a while."

Lakshmi looks at the array of levers, trying to figure out if they seem to correspond to particular spots in the etched representation of the tower – although she's careful not to touch any of them.

Skye looks at the table, one ear up, one ear swiveled back. "Maybe we should put a disc in t'e center of t'e table? Like t'e wood one?"

Lakshmi umms… "Do you want to try? I'd vote for the wood one too, actually. It seems the most… ," she hesitates, looking for a word, "alive?"

Skye shrugs quietly. "And if'n I was an animal, t'at's w'ere I would like to be… "

Lakshmi nods. "Me too."

After a perusal of the levers, it appears that they do indeed correspond to spots on the representation of the tower. There's one on the "outside" section of the map that appears to be glowing, another – in the base of the tree where the amber doorway is – that also glows. Another crystal in the section of the amber corridor glows, while the crystals in the place of the staircase are dim – as are the ones in the gargoyle chamber's position, the room with the columns, and the two chambers with the Sphynx.

Lakshmi nods slowly. "I see, I think… if it's not glowing it's something we've worked through somehow, see?" She points to the crystals on the tower map.

Stepping over to near the chair, Lochinvar looks up at the map too. "I'm not sure. It could show the traps that are still active," he says.

Looking over from the table, Skye considers, "T'e amber floor, t'e amber doors, t'ey are t'e types t'at may be always operating? Or maybe t'ey can only be turned off from 'ere? Either way, safe not to touch."

Lakshmi gets a thoughtful look. "If… if you pass through a doorway and the trap is defused by you… to come up here… then… then there'd be an open path between the floor garden and here. But there wasn't… so… unless one of the closed doors somehow leads to someplace else… " She looks around a little uncomfortably. "The mage… would have to still be here?"

Shaking his head, Skye looks back out to the other room. "As I said, t'ose doors, t'ey don't go now'ere … yet."

The map panel doesn't seem to have any crystal representations for the closed doors outside on this level, or the open ones. The diagram hints at rooms beyond them, but no manner of getting to them.

Lakshmi sighs a little wistfully, "I know what I'd do if I had a place like this… I'd link it permanently somehow to someplace I really liked being, so my two favorite places were easy to get back and forth to… ," she thinks a moment, then grins mischievously, "like the barn where Agni lives!" She giggles softly at the thought.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Well… if I had that kind of magic, I mean."

Skye looks across to Lakshmi and Lochinvar. "S'all we see w'at 'appens?"

Lakshmi smiles and nods excitedly. "Let's test it!"

Lochinvar nods. "All right. Should I stand outside and see if anything happens out there?"

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Ooh, good point, Lochinvar! Yes, see if the doors that are closed will open, can you?"

The Hekoye nods, and steps outside of the chamber.

Carefully reaching out to the wooden disc, Skye weighs it in his paw. Then he places it down, in the center of the table, in its little recess, in the center of the tower.

The disc doesn't seem to fit properly in the slot… and nothing appears to happen.

Lakshmi sighs, "What a shame… well, check and see, Skye, if one of the others is of a more appropriate shape perhaps?"

"T'at's … odd." Skye sets the disc to the side, and then tries the disc of mixed metals.

This disc doesn't seem to fit all that well either. Again, nothing seems to happen.

"Curiouser and curiouser." Skye tries the disc of gray, and then last, the disc of sand.

A voice calls in from outside, "Are you trying anything in there, yet?"

Lakshmi grins, and calls back, "Yes, but no success yet!"

Lakshmi watches intently on the last two cylinders.

The stone disc produces similar results. Although nothing seems to visibly happen in the room or outside when the sand disc is placed down, it seems to click into place as though it belonged there.

Skye dryly chitters, "Try a door now?"

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Hm." She eyes everything she can see… levers, crystal map… looking for any changes at all that she can discern.

Nothing changes in the room. The arrangement in the chair also remains the same.

Lakshmi tilts her head, listening for anything from Lochinvar.

"No," Lochinvar calls back in. "They still won't open."

Lakshmi sighs, leaning her elbows on a coil and her chin on her fists. "Now what, I wonder."

Skye leans on the table, shaking his head. "T'ere's somet'ing we are missing. Unless … unless all t'e traps 'ave to be reset before we leave, so t'at no one comes in while we are gone. If t'e doors go somew'ere else, t'at is."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Reset? Hm… " She studies the crystal map in front of her carefully… then looks up, "Skye, if we reset the doors we can't go back down, can we?"

Skye shrugs quietly. "I'd t'ink if t'e chair can turn t'em on, it can turn t'em off. S'all we ask yi'onor Loc'invar w'a' 'e might t'ink?"

Lakshmi nods, frowning absently at the map, "That might be wise… and we might play it cautiously, sending someone downstairs and only closing, say, the gargoyle door, which was relatively easy to open."

Lakshmi looks around, wondering if there are any other spots to put the remaining three cylinders.

There is only the pedestal with its single sandstone cylinder and then the chair in the metal chamber. No other spots to place them make themselves apparent.

Skye dryly chitters, "Well it makes sense; this is t'e desert t'ree."

Lakshmi looks up at Skye in startlement. "Desert… tree… ? You mean there might be… three other such places?"

Lakshmi shakes her head. "Fascinating thought, but no way to test it currently." She raises her voice, "Lochinvar? Could you come in here a moment please?"

The coyote reenters the chamber. "Anything happen in here?" he asks.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Lochinvar, we were thinking of testing the use of the levers. Skye suggested that if the chair can turn them on, it should be able to turn them off as well. Before we tried anything, we thought we'd ask for your ideas on the matter?"

Skye dryly chitters, "So, s'all we try locking t'e doors before we leave, like a good li'l eart' mage mite?"

Lakshmi hms. "All right, I'm guessing the stairs crystal is dim because we flipped the lever for it. For the amber hallway, I'd guess the ruby hound still being there is what's got it glowing, and the same for the golem outside. So… if we lock all the doors, then perhaps we can try another cylinder, yes?"

Skye nods quietly. "T'at's w'a' I was t'inking."

Lakshmi nods firmly. "All right then. Here we go… the stairs first." Carefully she pulls the lever next to the dim stair crystal.

Lochinvar mentions, as Lakshmi pulls the lever, "I can't think of anything else at the moment, so I suppose it's worth a try." He looks up at the opening to the sky. "And even if we can't disarm the traps again, maybe we could get out that way."

The crystal next to the lever begins to glow.

It looks like the remaining dimmed crystals are the Gargoyle Room, the room with the pedestals, and the two Sphynx chambers.

Lakshmi nods thoughtfully. "Now… which of you is swiftest? We need someone to zip downstairs and check and see if the stair lever is reset, as we're guessing… before we try pulling any more levers."

"Maybe before we do that," the Hekoye adds, "you might want to try toggling the lever the other way to see if the crystal dims again?"

Lakshmi nods, "Good point," and carefully does so, watching the crystal closely.

"Besides," Lochinvar continues. "We could be wrong about the dim crystals being disarmed traps, though it is a best guess at the moment. And the stairs are quite a way back from where we came."

The stair crystal dims again.

Lakshmi nods, "Yes, I'm afraid so, but I picked them because they were the least potentially damaging trap… ah! Excellent, it dimmed. Okay, let me toggle it back to brightness before we check… " She moves the lever so that the crystal brightens again. "There we go. Could you check now, please?"

Skye stretches and nods, and turns to pad all the way down again. As he does, and passes through each room, he makes sure the doors are open behind him.

Lakshmi takes this moment to carefully slide out of the chair and stretch herself, making sure she doesn't get achy from this odd and uncomfortable chair… then she curiously peeks around the doorway, checking the orrery for any changes.

Parts of it are slowly moving as always, but nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Lakshmi curls up in the doorway, waiting for Skye, and pulls out her journal, then flips to the back and starts sketching in the odd metal shapes, and making notes of the runes.

Lochinvar passes the time waiting for the Skreek's return by taking another look at the chair, levers, panels and crystals – just to see if there's something they overlooked.

After a longish while, Skye returns. He leans upon the table and shrugs, straightening his hat and his whiskers. "It surely controls t'e tricks an' traps, as we t'ought. I spent a little w'ile going now'ere again. Turn t'em off, Laks'mi."

Lakshmi brightens at seeing Skye, then looks curious, "I thought we wanted to turn them all on, then try a new cylinder? Do you want to try something different?" She slithers into the chair again, carefully rearranging herself.

Skye ducks his muzzle again. "It's a place to start, yes? S'ould we remove t'e sand disc first?"

Lakshmi frowns thoughtfully. "I… don't know, Skye. Well… it was out when we started. Sure, go ahead and take it out, please?"

Lochinvar stands to the side of the chair and watches, still trying to make sense of this.

Shrugging his shoulders, Skye reaches over and tries to pop out the sand disc.

It takes a bit of work, but the disc finally pulls free.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "There we go… " She carefully touches each lever associated with a dimmed crystal, toggling them to brightness once again, then looks at Skye, "Which cylinder now? Wood perhaps?"

As each switch is flipped, the gemstones begin to glow.

And when the last gem is glowing, the tower secure and closed, Skye reaches over, and tries to slip the wooden disc into the center recess.

Lakshmi crosses her fingers and grins hopefully, watching.

The wood block doesn't seem to fit properly… and nothing happens.

Skye frowns quietly. "Maybe t'e answer isn't 'ere? Maybe wit' t'e statues in t'e other room? Do we remember any ot'er place where we might fit one of t'ese?"

Lakshmi sighs tiredly, "I wish this stupid mage gave some hint somewhere of what he was trying for. Even a few notes on a piece of paper would help."

"Perhaps the sand disc is the only one that's going to do anything," Lochinvar wonders out loud. "A lot of what we've seen ultimately ends up with just one item being the 'key'. Could be the case here, too."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Which statues are you speaking of, Skye?"

Looking back over his shoulder, Skye nods at the doorway. "T'e little burrowing creatures in t'e other room?"

Lakshmi nods, "I remember them. Are you saying they should be… I don't know, awoken somehow?"

Shrugging again, Skye just looks between Lakshmi and Lochinvar. "I don't know. I'm just t'inking aloud, yes? Maybe we s'ould walk t'e outer room, to see if we can find places for t'ese discs, yes?"

Lakshmi nods a little wearily. "All right… let's go gather more information then." She slithers carefully out of the chair. "I'll check the statues. Can you two check for alternate places to put the cylinders, Skye and Lochinvar?"

Lochinvar looks dubious at finding such a place, but heads out of the central chamber to look.

Lakshmi heads for each statue in turn around the hallway, taking notes and marking what rooms the statues are between, and calls, "Don't forget to keep an eye on the orrery too, please?"

Skye slowly pads out of the room. "Maybe in t'e metal 'anging t'ings?" Then quietly and thoroughly, he looks for places to place the three other discs. "Above an' below… "

There don't appear to be any depressions around the statues or in any of the rooms for the discs. Some of the bits of metal overhead might conceivably hold one of them for a little bit, but they don't seem to be actually built for the job.

Lakshmi gets a funny look on her face while examining the little statuette of the creature with an extra set of arms coming out of the shoulders… She slithers to the doorway of the chair room and checks it – Could a creature with arms coming out of its shoulders sit comfortably in the chair?

The base of the statue looks fairly flat. If placed in the chair, it appears to have a high risk of falling over.

Last, Skye checks each of the doors to nowhere, before he leans against the outer wall. "We are missing somet'ing, we are. It was too 'ard to get here jus' to find a room wit' two doors just for s'ow."

Lakshmi nods tiredly to Skye.

While Skye checks the closed doors and Lakshmi checks the statues, Lochinvar takes a look in the "dining room" and bedroom.

Lakshmi hisses softly, "Plus we've not found the fifth bed."

Lakshmi waves a hand at the statuettes. "These appear to be… brace yourselves… just statuettes. Of little hybrid digger creatures."

Skye quietly pads into the control room again, his ears perked. He chuckles a bit, looking back over his shoulder. "I met a man w'o lived in a t'ree, and in t'at t'ree t'ere was a tower, and in t'at tower t'ere was a room, and in t'at room t'ere were six little 'ybrid digger beasties … sounds like a bad it'uns song, yes?" Once inside, he looks at the sketches, to see if there were any crystals representing things in this level of the tower.

On the metal panel that shows the map of this floor, there don't appear to be any levers for anything. The switches are mainly focused on the sandstone, wood, and rock panels with the map images of the lower floors.

Lakshmi frowns. "Well… the only thing I can think of right now is to slither out into the hallway and yank one of the metal things into a new position – and see if that changes anything. I'm not sure that's a good idea though."

Skye shakes his head, "We might break something, yes? Maybe we should get some rest for t'e eve."

Lakshmi nods tiredly. "I think you're right, Skye. At this point I'm weary, frustrated, and about ready to just smack something! Not a good way to do investigations."

Lakshmi hisses softly, "And we do have bedding up here, even if we've no food."

The Hekoye nods. "Maybe a break would be for the best. After all, we've come a fair way pretty quickly today," he says.

Skye sits down on the floor and stretches out, looking to the sky above. "Oh, we will solve it, Laks'mi. It's not a matter of if, just of w'en."

Lakshmi eyes Skye and murmurs dryly, "I wish I shared your confidence, Skye."

Skye looks back and just gives Lakshmi a mischievous dry wry look. "I just 'ope it's well before my teeth grow so long t'ey curl back into my jaw."

Lakshmi grins at Skye, and pats her medical satchel.