Chapter 3 > Redbrand Hideout, Part 2

[hedgeknight]

Thick dust covers the flagstones of this somber hallway. The walls are decorated with faux columns every ten feet, and you notice that the double doors (now that they are open) are sheathed in copper plate, green with age. A relief carving of a mournful angel graces the doors.
Aslaan readies an arrow and takes point, moving quietly down the hall, checking for traps...

PM sent...

...and he only goes about ten feet before calling a halt. Looking closely at the floor, Aslaan states emphatically, "This entire 10' section is a trap."
He goes on to explain that most likely the floor was dug out and then breakaway timbers were laid down and then the loose stone tiles laid atop them. He points out narrow ledges on the north and south sides of the pit.

"Do ya think we could skirt around the pit using them ledges?" lady Dendrar asks. "How else can we get out? What if we can't ever leave?" She sniffles and you can tell she's about to break down crying again.

[coil23]

Aslaan

Aslaan turns back to the others long enough to sternly hold a finger to his lips to try and get the woman to be quiet. Honestly, this woman has NO conception of stealth mode when lives are at stake.

Investigating the borders of the 10' section to see if there is any possible way to skirt the trap and still continue down this hall. *sigh* Although it would have to include the woman and the boy so we may just be better off taking the other route.

Aslaan gestures and with minimal whispers trying to convey the idea of the others all getting crossbows from the armory and then the group pretending like someone fell through (make the stones go crashing through, start yelling and screaming as if in pain) and then the group open up with missile fire on anyone who comes around the corner.

[wordoftheoracle]

"In the interest of luring out a possible ambush," Ioriston whispers to the group, "we can take the remains of my Redcloak archer friend and activate whatever trap is there using his corpse. It's a bit on the macabre side, but I believe it will be effective in determining the nature of the pending challenge."

[Computer +1]

Wordlessly Kael backtracks to find the closest corpse. He will then toss it into the trap area to try to set it off.

[coil23]

As Kael does that and before any corpses are thrown- Aslaan will go and retrieve four crossbows with quivers and pass out to others so they may prepare them.

We may as well cut down on the odds when we lose the element of surprise.

[ybn1197]

While the others prepare to cross the pit, Gerland will attempt to calm Dendrar.

[hedgeknight]

Once everyone is armed with a crossbow (or at least has one close to hand), and Gerland is attempting to console lady Dendrar (but is actually having better luck with her 18 yr-old daughter ), Kael returns with the corpse of one of the Redbrands, and with Kelton's help, chucks the body onto the section of floor Aslaan identified as a trap.
Sure enough, when the body thumps onto the tiles, nearly the entire section of flooring gives way, crashing several feet in the pit underneath. The noise is loud enough to wake the dead in the crypt behind you... ...and everyone prepares for the arrival of more ruffians.
But after several minutes pass, and the dust and debris settle, no one appears.

Actions?

[coil23]

Maybe we should have screamed too?

Looking to see if there is any way for everyone to get across the pit and continue down the hall. Those two archers came out of this door. How did they skirt it? Aslaan puzzles over this, looking for options.

[hedgeknight]

Read my post at the top of the page really closely...

[wordoftheoracle]

Ioriston says in a manner so scholarly that, if he didn't have perfect elven vision, he'd be adjusting his glasses and looking at the class just above them:

"These columns look like they are just for show. We could probably span the ten foot gap with them or at least get close enough to jump."

Ioriston sighs and folds his arms at something he feels should be more obvious.

[coil23]

Aslaan

Aslaan uses the ledge to skirt the pit and get to the other side.

[hedgeknight]

Anyone using the ledges must roll a Dexterity save...

[coil23]

Aslaan

Dex save (16) [1d20+3] = 6+3 = 9

[hedgeknight]

Aslaan takes the chance on using the narrow southern ledge to cross the pit. However, he loses his balance after about five feet, slips and falls into the pit! Flailing through the air, he falls twenty feet and lands hard on the timber and tile-strewn floor at the bottom of the pit.
Falling dmg: [2d6] = 3

The Dendrar women gasp and cry out in alarm, rushing to the edge of the pit. "Are you alright?" yells lady Dendrar.

[wordoftheoracle]

Ioriston shakes his head and groans. "We can probably use these columns to our advantage. Aslaan, friend, I have a plan. I always have a plan. Which one of you is the strongest of our merry band? A brief moment for reflection goes a very long way."

[coil23]

Aslaan

Aslaan considers yowling out in pain just in case that was the missing ingredient before with the corpse. Painfully picking himself up, Aslaan looks around the pit area.

[hedgeknight]

Aslaan

Aslaan considers yowling out in pain just in case that was the missing ingredient before with the corpse. Painfully picking himself up, Aslaan looks around the pit area.

Nothing down in the pit area but debris.

[coil23]

Aslaan
Aslaan pulls out his 50' rope and ties small piece of debris to the end for better distance throwing and then asks for volunteers to pull him out once he throws the rope.

[hedgeknight]

It's fairly easy for Kael and Kelton to pull you out.
Gonna give it another try?
Anybody else?

[coil23]

Aslaan

I'd be happy to try again but I am more interested in something that gets everyone across, not just me, so I'll wait to hear Ioriston's plan.