Varumani Lifts
Summary
The Varumani Lifts are a mechanical lift system operating within the Great Chasm, operated by Varumani staff. They allow travel between multiple levels of the Chasm, including the Arena level, the Varumani level, and the floating garden island. The Lifts also have cross-chasm ferry service to the garden island and to the far (west) side of the Chasm.
Structure
Upper Lift Station (Sundered Span Level)
- Located at the top of the Varumani Lifts, accessible via the Sundered Span from the Wet Caves.
- A Varumani operator runs this station.
- Pricing: 10 silver per “leg” of travel (or 20 per person — the operator quipped this was because people have two legs). First-time riders are charged a surcharge; this is waived for returning customers.
Arena Level Station
- The operator here directs visitors: Inn to the north, Arena to the northeast.
- To continue down, passengers must take a cross-chasm ferry to the garden island floating in the center of the Chasm.
- The cross-chasm ferry carries maximum four people per trip.
Floating Garden Island
- A garden of tropical plants, lit by very bright (non-magical) globes overhead.
- Has a hill in the center with a pool of green water on top. (Sample taken but not yet analyzed.)
- Gold and magic detected inside the hill via Seek Earth/Seek Magic (Session 39).
- Two Varumani ferry operators watched visitors; the party didn’t want to poke around too conspicuously.
Far (West) Side — Varumani Control Station
- Has a giant stone chair and a gate behind it.
- Operated by a senior Varumani with a gold baton of office.
- Beyond the gate: described as housing “scary ice monsters” — the operator strongly discouraged entering without paying a surcharge (and sarcastically suggested leaving their money with him for “safekeeping”).
- A Lift here descends to the Varumani level.
Varumani Level Station
- Has the Lift landing but no machinery of its own — end of this Lift line.
- Ogre guards prevent entry into Varumani territory (to the west) without a passport.
- The officer-in-charge said they might not be issuing any more passports and would ask the thegn.
- A staircase descends further down the Chasm wall from this level.
Passports
A Varumani Passport (discovered in Session 45 as a Rudishva plasteel card with a Varumani image on one side) is required to enter actual Varumani territory. Riding the Lifts does not require a passport — just payment.