"...I can kind of see how Lab 2 and 3's theorems could help," also the idea of being used as a battery remains incredibly hot, "So it might be meant to be done last, or second to last if we're right about numerical order mattering - we could try it once we've gotten a few others." She glances at Ellyn for confirmation.

"We'll talk about it. Take Lab 9 if you want."

"Right, forgot about that one."

She sticks her tongue out at Palamedes. "Feel free to ask if you need help."

"Sure, sure."

"Anyways - once we've secured the keys, we can help each other make sure we've got the actual trials down."

"What are the keys for?"

"There's studies with more details on the theorems involved - both the ones needed to actually pass the trial, plus the ones involved in setting it up. They're the living quarters of the original Lyctors, too."

"How thoughtful of them. I love being able to check my work."

"There's a lot more doable with the theorems, too, and we've been finding a couple synergies even with only two labs done."

"Interesting..."

"We were thinking of hitting the labs again tomorrow morning - we can show you the studies after?" Assuming they have a key to share with the Ninth. 

"Sounds good."

They can spend the rest of the session discussing particulars of the trials they've already all attempted. 

The common thread, if there is one, seems to be advanced applications of different facets of necromancy.

Mastery of all - as the First House - rather than of their individual spheres?

Sounds like what a Saint should exemplify.

...Seems a bit too simple, though - especially with the way the labs Gideon and Ellyn have completed were pushing them...

Perhaps a hidden layer will reveal itself when they've finished?

Maybe! 

Alas, finishing the labs will require time to pass. Fortunately, it does that without external prompting. And so, night passes to day, today becomes tomorrow, and all the good little necromancers have another chance to practice unspeakable abominations beloved in the sight of God.

She lets the Fourth know, too (and makes sure to have the 'they won't be doing anything and we'll all be down there, they'll just watch me and maybe advise' conversation with the Fifth, just to avoid Incidents). (It's probably convenient there that Labs 4 and 5 are down the same hallway.)

Gideon is very excited about starting their next lab - and hopefully now that they've got some momentum (and understanding of non-bone necromancy), this will go much faster than Lab 3.

Perhaps. Or perhaps not. Lab 4, when entered, treats them to a brief view of what is presumably their object, a safe set into the far wall. Then a veritable forest of oss sprouts out of the floor, each ivory spike weeping blood from a multitude of pores. The arrangement shifts slowly over time, swaying as if in an invisible breeze, revealing first one clear path and then another into the depths of the thicket.

Ellyn tries the brute force approach first, of course, to simply bend the bones out of their way, but this proves ineffective. Not only are the spikes regenerating in the same fashion as the construct from Lab 2, but the blood running through them acts as ward reinforcing the structure as a whole.

Fourth House does thanergy explosions, right? Maybe they're meant to just blow up the entire field. 

Isaac will mention that seems ill-advised, looking a little worried about it. Converting this much all at once... Uh. Pi times the cube- yeah. They would Not make it out of the blast zone.