FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

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Surprisingly, Slutcat got through without a scratch and there was indeed a chain mechanism on the far side that stopped the blades. However, try as she might, Sworddog was unable to discern any magical forces involved.

"Maybe they're just really, really efficient?" Slutcat offered.

"Not likely with all of this dust around, and with technology of stone and metal. I've not even seen evidence of the use of anything like grease. No, it must be magical. It had better be!"

"Better be? Why?" Slutcat asked as they explored deeper into the Barrow.

"Because we rely on physics, Slutcat. Magic can do pretty much anything, but it's a localized effect. But physics is universal. If physics breaks down, we could be sailing off into space at any minute!"

"I think we're safe from that, Sworddog."

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"Wait. Do you smell that?" Sworddog stopped, sniffing the air.

"I think so. Kind of like gasoline?"

"Kerosene I'd say, or something similar. More stable than gasoline, but still flammable."

"Is it bad to breathe?" Slutcat asked, noticing the scent - not overpowering but getting stronger.

"Not yet, I don't think."

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"Shhh... there's another one at the end of the next turn. But look at the floor. That's got to be the kerosene," Slutcat said, crawling to peer around the corner.

"Hey, I've got an idea..."

"What?"

"When I got this Spark spell, I noticed another that seems to be related to fire I think I could use."

"Oh really! You thinking of setting off the kerosene and fry that beef jerky?"

"That's exactly what I'm thinking."

"Go for it, but be careful."

Slutcat shifted her mind and two fireballs appeared at her hands. The beef jerky hadn't stirred yet.

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She crept a bit closer, then she saw the undead thing begin to move and raise it's sword. She cast her flame spell at the floor and the hall light up like a bonfire. An overhead jug of the liquid burst in an explosion but the thing kept coming so she directed her flames directly at it rather than the floor.

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Then Sworddog leaped into the flames in front of her unexpectedly. She doused her spell as quickly as possible, but not before the dog was enveloped in accidental flame.

"SWORDDOG! GET BACK!" she cried, though it was clearly too late.

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The undead thing staggered and fell before Sworddog even reached it, but the flames died out quickly and Slutcat ran to the end of the hall where Sworddog was whimpering.

"Here, drink this," Slutcat said, offering a health potion. She wasn't sure if it would work for burns, but it was all she had to work with. Fortunately the dog was good as new in an instant, though they had only one vial of health potion left.

"Sworddog, are you okay? I'm sorry, I didn't see you coming!"

"Hurt like a bitch, but I'm okay now. Say, maybe..."

"Don't worry, no more flames. Sparks will have to do." Slutcat agreed.

"And I promise I won't jump in front of you without warning again. It hurts to burn!"

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They continued on, finding more treasure and a hidden passage or two, but nothing really significant and the passageways always led back to the same main path. Finally they came a large, low hallway with an odd circular doorway on the far side. Slutcat approached cautiously.

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An hour later, they were still there, flummoxed.

"Okay," Sworddog said, sitting on her haunches. "What do we know?"

Slutcat sat rather ungracefully at the foot of the door. "The claw fits the holes perfectly, and I can turn it a little, so that must be the way it opens..."

"And the three circulular rings move..." Sworddog added.

"And there are three symbols on each. You're the math wiz. How many combinations does that make? 9?" Slutcat guessed.

Sworddog corrected her. "Twenty seven. It's not 3*3. It's 3*3*3."

"So we could brute force it. There are no traps set off if we get it wrong. But those things are damned hard to turn. Surely there's a better way."

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Sworddog sighed, "The last place had symbols on the walls, but I don't see anything here."

"Neither do I. There's got to be something though."

"What about on the claw itself?" the dog offered.

"On the claw? Well yes, I suppose there might be. Let me check, though I'll have to turn on the UI..."

They both looked at the camera.

"Don't look," Slutcat said to the audience. "This will break your immersion." Then she turned on the UI and looked at the claw.

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"That it! The Spider, Venus Butterfly, Horny Owl!" Slutcat cried, turning off the UI.

"That's not a spider, that's a..." Sworddog started, then stopped mid-sentence. Obviously Slutcat's brain had cross wired the images. This would not be a good time to fix that. "Er... I mean, are those animals or sex positions?"

"Yes," Slutcat said and got to work on moving the rings. Soon all were in place.

"I swear you bipeds have more sex positions than stars in the sky. No wonder you're so obsessed."

"Ready?" the Khajiit asked, ignoring Sworddog's jibe as she finished the last ring and prepared to slide the Claw back in place.

"Always ready! Turn away!"

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Suddenly the rings began to rotate on their own and the very rock under their feet began to shake. Then, slowly at first and with a fierce cloud of dust, the door slid downwards. It came to a shuddering stop and the world was silent again.

"Well, I guess this is it Sworddog. If we're going to have to live in this god-forsaken age, I guess we're going to have to learn how to handle situations like this. No doubt there's a 'Level Boss' somewhere just ahead. There always is. I'm not sure if we're up to it or not. But we're going to try. If something goes wrong, I just want you to know that I forgive you for what happened with the WABAC machine. And I've never had a better time," Slutcat said to her companion.

"That's... very nice of you to say Slutcat. Very nice indeed. I'm sorry about all this, but at least we're in this boat together. I'd rather not die down here though, so let's not start eulogizing yet. But you should know I feel the same about you. Even if you are the horniest cat I've ever met."

"Thank you Sworddog."

"It is my pleasure Slutcat."

And with that they crossed over the threshold and up the steps beyond.

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