Operation 1: Front Porch

[Jack Grey]

Jack sets Sparks down and says, "You touched the obelisk, as if in a trance. There was a glow, and you passed out, so I threw you over my shoulder and got you out of there, but you kept repeating, "He Stands Outside of Time." over and over again. The obelisk reacted to you touching it by starting to emit some sort of force which began pushing the ice away, and we thought it might collapse the entire tunnel system, so we ran. How do you feel? Can you stand, can you walk? What did you see?"

[Steve Trustrum]

Sparks stands and visibly shakes off any residual influence.

"I feel fine, but there's definitely something about that column that seems familiar. Almost like it's been there forever, waiting to ... talk ... with me, is the only way I can describe it."

[vidar]

"I feel fine, but there's definitely something about that column that seems familiar. Almost like it's been there forever, waiting to ... talk ... with me, is the only way I can describe it."

"Wait, what!? How can a column talk to you? And how can it seem familiar to you? What is it about you that it is reacting to?"

[Steve Trustrum]

"Not so much with words," Sparks replies, clearly as confused as everyone else. "It's more like I ... felt ... what it was trying to say."

[vidar]

"Not so much with words," Sparks replies, clearly as confused as everyone else. "It's more like I ... felt ... what it was trying to say."

"And that was 'He Stands Outside of Time'? And you still haven't explained why you?!"

[Steve Trustrum]

Sparks doesn't seem to have a reply for that.

[vidar]

Sparks doesn't seem to have a reply for that.

Chandra looks intently at Sparks waiting. Then shakes his head and turns to look at what's happening with the new pit.

[Steve Trustrum]

Croner is slowly inching forward, peering down the tunnel towards the settling ice. "Any of you sense anything I should know about down there?"

[Jack Grey]

Jack says, "I could sense energy, but nothing more than that. And I'm not sure why Sparks reacted to the pyramid, or the pyramid reacted to him, in the way it did. I'm sorry, but this is out of my wheelhouse."

[Steve Trustrum]

anyone maybe want to PM me what they are doing if they don't want to declare it publicly?

[vidar]

anyone maybe want to PM me what they are doing if they don't want to declare it publicly?

Alternating between watching Sparks and the object to see what's going on and if there's any further effects.

[Jack Grey]

Jack says, "There is energy pouring out of that column."

Jack will take a look at Sparks as well, to see if he looks... 'altered'... by touching the column.

[Steve Trustrum]

Sparks looks the same.

[vidar]

Jack says, "There is energy pouring out of that column."

Chandra looks at Jack. "Really? How much energy?"

Does the column look like it's doing much any more?

[Steve Trustrum]

As Chandra looks more closely, he notices that there seems to be some sort of faint light floating through the ice that remains around the column.

[vidar]

As Chandra looks more closely, he notices that there seems to be some sort of faint light floating through the ice that remains around the column.

Chandra takes the rope from his pack and ties it around himself. "I'm going for a closer look at the item and to see if it's safe to go back." He hands the other end to one of the stronger looking guys. "If I fall I need you to make sure it's not too far. Keep behind me and make sure there's some slack in the rope." Then he starts to carefully walk forward, keeping an eye in the ground ahead and being especially careful where there are cracks in the ground.

[Jack Grey]

Jack grabs the end of the rope, and wraps it around himself, ensuring that he would accompany Chandra to whatever horrible frozen demise awaited them. He says, merely, "I got you."

Due to the disparity in weight, Jack braces himself against a solid piece of ice with one leg. He says, loud enough for Chandra to hear, "I've been reluctant to touch that pillar - I'm not sure how it would react, but I can foresee several scenarios where it would be potentially dangerous. But I am also becoming persuaded that whatever it is has not fully come to 'life' if you will. Anyone have any other thoughts?"

[Steve Trustrum]

The rest of the team sets up a cautious perimeter around you. Croner tells you not to touch it unless he gives you the go ahead.

[vidar]

The rest of the team sets up a cautious perimeter around you. Croner tells you not to touch it unless he gives you the go ahead.

Chandra looks at Croner and grins impishly. "Sure." He winks then continues to walk toward the column.

[vidar]

Jack grabs the end of the rope, and wraps it around himself, ensuring that he would accompany Chandra to whatever horrible frozen demise awaited them. He says, merely, "I got you."

Chandra grins and says. "This is 30ft of rope, we are more than 30ft away from pillar. You do the math!" He takes off his pack. "Tell you what, I help you two ways." He hands the pack to Jack. "I lighten myself and make you heavier! Don't say I never give you anything!" To the rest of the team. "Radio me if Sergio, or anybody else, start acting funny."

[Steve Trustrum]

As you approach the pillar you notice light spilling out into the ice particle still floating in the air. The light seems to be coming through some sort of seem that splits it roughly down the middle, stretching down into the crevice below.

[vidar]

As you approach the pillar you notice light spilling out into the ice particle still floating in the air. The light seems to be coming through some sort of seem that splits it roughly down the middle, stretching down into the crevice below.

Is the seam in the pillar, or the air in front of it? Is the pillar still moving?

To Jack. "You'd tell me if you're detecting anything wierd right?" Over the radio. "Ok we have some sort of seam of light." Waves hand in front of light, but not touching. "It is not reacting to my presence." I hope.

[Jack Grey]

Jack says, the strain of holding Chandra up showing slightly in his voice, "Aside from the fact that we are hundreds of feet under the antarctic ice shelf, after fighting all manners of tainted things, currently looking at an ancient shard of power which is split after a team member went into a trance and touched it? My point is, the baseline of 'weird' here is pretty high."

Then Jack says, "I cannot tell much from here, although I find the fact that it split to be somewhat concerning. I wonder if we should have Sparks touch it again, if if *I* should?"

[Steve Trustrum]

The seam is in the pillar, and no, it is no longer moving. Best you can tell, it stopped when the quake did.

[vidar]

Jack says, the strain of holding Chandra up showing slightly in his voice

"You know if you're having too much trouble I can get one of the others to take over, the priest perhaps..."

Then Jack says, "I cannot tell much from here, although I find the fact that it split to be somewhat concerning. I wonder if we should have Sparks touch it again, if if *I* should?"

"Why? What makes you think, my touching it would have no effect?" He rolls his eyes and mutters something not in english, then he smiles. "And why should we let Sparks have all the fun? Besides he hasn't gone back into his trance or anything like that. I think his part is over the rest is up to us." He considers and adds. "Much like a test, but I'm not sure I like that idea."

He leans forward and has a closer look at the seam of light and over the radio. "It's not doing anything wierd any more and nothing seems to be happening. I'd like to touch the pillar see if I can't get it to complete the... whatever it is supposed to do."

[Jack Grey]

Jack chuckles, "No, sir, not having a problem holding you up, although I might lay off on the sweets, cupcake. And regarding you touching the column, you strike me as a place where magic and wonder go to die - we're trying to get it to activate and complete its task, not turn turn cold and grey and expire. Of course, maybe it would swallow you up, and we could all enjoy a quiet ride home. Any other questions?"

Then Jack looks back at Croner, and says, "Sir, I think one or more of us need to touch it to get to do what it is going to do. Orders?"

[Steve Trustrum]

"Prod it with something other than yourself, first. Don't let your skin touch it yet" Croner replies.

[vidar]

Jack chuckles, "No, sir, not having a problem holding you up, although I might lay off on the sweets, cupcake. And regarding you touching the column, you strike me as a place where magic and wonder go to die - we're trying to get it to activate and complete its task, not turn turn cold and grey and expire. Of course, maybe it would swallow you up, and we could all enjoy a quiet ride home. Any other questions?"

"But I like the sweets!! And quiet is over rated I prefer living and life is NOT quiet! Besides you might be surprised at my beliefs. Go read the Bhagavad Gita or the Ramayama then come talk to me about wonder and magic!"

[vidar]

"Prod it with something other than yourself, first. Don't let your skin touch it yet" Croner replies.

Chandra looks at Jack obviously considering. Then wraps an arm around the rope and leans in to prod the seam with the end of his carbine.

[Steve Trustrum]

Nothing seems to happen.