Ch. 1: Finding the entrance to the Tomb

[zebediah]

Upon reaching the location the monk pointed out Fosco pauses and catches his thoughts. He than begins to search for traps and if none are found...hidden doors.

ooc...we will be given maps of this death pit of a dungeon once we get inside? I hope so

The halfling finds a slope of loose gravel and sand leading up to the ledge. Near the middle of this area is a gap just under the ledge. The hole is too small for even the halfling to enter. Because you are under a ledge and on the north side of the hill no light enters the opening. You can see nothing but blackness.

You look for traps but as suspected find nothing. It just appears to be a big pile of sand possibly blocking a cave entrance.

OOC: Oh there will be maps and illustrations!

Not having found much himself Zoster the druid approaches his companions in the northern area with the stone ledge and beholds the gap just identified by Fosco This seems to match the description given by the snake. The question is whether this is a real entrance or just a trap. Why don't we try to remove some of the gravel and sand?

[MrHemlocks]

Fosco, looks for traps and false doors. ( I guess the DM rolls?) If none are found he will gently remove some of the sand and rocks away from the area. But, before doing so he ties a rope around his waist and the other end tightly knotted around a large boulder or stump...just in case.

[Bhart]

The druid and thief begin moving sand. After 10 minutes of digging you've enlarged the opening enough for someone to crawl through it. From out here, you can tell There is definately a larger open space on the other side even though you can see very little in the inky blackness.

The opening is near the ceiling of a passage (you can see the flat finished stone). The space opens below, sand and earth slope down and away toward a floor you cannot see.

[Distorted Humor]

"My Mothers people have a good way of finding out it is a trap, they take a condemned person and have them walk it, and if it a trap, well, the gods will show it. if not, perhaps he was not so guilty after all. Too bad we do not have one to test. "

[MrHemlocks]

Fosco looks up at Elsa, "that is just barbaric! Remember Elsa that karma will one day bite you on the ass for any wrong deeds commited! This place, pointing below, might give all of us our just rewards."

Fosco, can see down in the darkness so peers into the hole. After looking into the darkness he gathers a LARGE stone and drops it into the opening. Followed by a torch to lighten the blackness. If all is still clear he, being still fastened to the rope climbs into the hole and toward the tunnel that waits below. " Tell the others to come quickly. We found an entrence and I am going in."

[gray mouser]

Hearing what the monk said, Fosco drops the stick and says, "lead the way. Nothing here but a hole with some bones in them." Fosco looks up at where the monks points and head that direction.

Malibran shakes his head. "Bones here but a waiting sand-trap there, I warrant. Let's not forget the warning Zoster received. I would prefer to hold death in abeyance as long as possible!"

Malibran will take out the copper piece he has with Continual Light cast on it and kneel by the hole using the magic light to see what lies within. He will, if necessary to get the light to show what is in the tunnel extend his arm into the hole but will be careful not to touch the sides of the opening.

[NJWilliam]

Worren describes the blackened circles and the campsite with horse skeletons to the others."I say a quick look for anything left behind, such as a map or information or supplies, would be worth the bit of time required."
Worren has Edgar the Hawk fly closer to the horse skeleton campsite to see if there are any other details of note.

[Nuke66]

Mason stands and watches the grand confusion. Seems as if nobody communicated.

[MrHemlocks]

Mason stands and watches the grand confusion. Seems as if nobody communicated.

ooc...I found out that communication gets a lot better while in a dungeon. We will need to have order of march and a point man. In this case the fighter. My goal right now is to just get in this darn place and really kick off the adventure.

[Distorted Humor]

"perhaps as a party we need to go over the ways in and decide which way to go in, since we can't round out some outlaws to test them" Quotes Elsa

[Bhart]

Fosco drops a rock through the opening. It tumbles down the sandy slope disappearing into darkness, a second later you hear the clatter as it rolls to a stop on what sounds like a stone floor.

Next the halfling lights a torch and tosses it in. The soft orange glow of the flames reveals a corridor of plain stone 20' wide by 20' high. With a rope securely tied about his waist, Fosco squirms through the opening. The halfling slides down the sandy slope to the floor below, the rope trailing behind him.

Fosco, when you pick up the torch to have a better look you can see that most of the hall is full of cobwebs. They are thickest near the ceiling and obscure it from view. Strands of the webbing dangle from above swaying lazily back and forth. The air smells stale and old and the only sound you hear is the crackling of your torch and your own breathing.

At the end of the hall you can see a set of plain bronze double doors. ( See Illustration 1)

[Bhart]

Hearing what the monk said, Fosco drops the stick and says, "lead the way. Nothing here but a hole with some bones in them." Fosco looks up at where the monks points and head that direction.

Malibran shakes his head. "Bones here but a waiting sand-trap there, I warrant. Let's not forget the warning Zoster received. I would prefer to hold death in abeyance as long as possible!"

Malibran will take out the copper piece he has with Continual Light cast on it and kneel by the hole using the magic light to see what lies within. He will, if necessary to get the light to show what is in the tunnel extend his arm into the hole but will be careful not to touch the sides of the opening.

Malibran examines the small opening further. His magic light fills the space under the rocks revealing that the cavity ends after a few feet. The only thing to be found are some more bones and the dried out bedding of grass and fur that the dead creature was nesting in.

[Bhart]

Worren describes the blackened circles and the campsite with horse skeletons to the others."I say a quick look for anything left behind, such as a map or information or supplies, would be worth the bit of time required."
Worren has Edgar the Hawk fly closer to the horse skeleton campsite to see if there are any other details of note.

There is nothing more that Edgar can see. Worren would have to approach on foot to make a more thorough search.

[max_vale]

Xale sees that the Halfling has made it down safely and has a torch illuminating what appears to be an entrance to the dungeons they seek. Turning to the others; Xale says; "It appears that Fosco may have found an entrance; I feel we should descend to investigate it with him".

Turning back to Fosco; the Dwarf calls down; "If you untie the rope from around you; I shall join you momentarily Mr. Proudfoot"; though at the end his erstwhile companion; Malevexa comes over and says quietly; "I believe I should go first sir"; to which Xale just shakes his head and shrugs and replies; "Very well."

As they wait on Fosco's reply; Xale turns to Worren, Malibran and Zoster and inquires; "I know I have memorized a pair of dwemors designed to discover Traps on this day; have you gentlemen done likewise? I would think it prudent to utilize such spells for each chamber we find in this place due to the fearsome reputation it holds."

[Nuke66]

Mason finally gives in. "We should wait for the other two before we go too far."

Climbing the sand hill a bit further he stops to make a comment. "Xale, perhaps we should let the little one and myself take a look before we talk of detection magics."

Mason finishes his climb and looks in after the Halfling. "Slow down a bit Fosco, we are still waiting on two more to join us."

[gray mouser]

Seeing the rest of the party congregatig around the other opening and Fosco entering it Malibran resists the urge to search for any secret doors or entrances and joins the rest of them.

[MrHemlocks]

"Mason",Fosco voices up toward to the opening,"where are these 'others', and why are they taking so long? The rest of you must decide for yourself on your course of action. In front of me stand two doors but I will wait if you so wish."Fosco's voice trails off..

Fosco, places the torch down in front of him. He takes off the rope and gives it a slight tug. Carefully steps back a bit into the shadows and disapears within the darkness.

ooc....who are we waiting on?

[zebediah]

As they wait on Fosco's reply; Xale turns to Worren, Malibran and Zoster and inquires; "I know I have memorized a pair of dwemors designed to discover Traps on this day; have you gentlemen done likewise? I would think it prudent to utilize such spells for each chamber we find in this place due to the fearsome reputation it holds."

I have prepared some comparable tricks Xale, though I wonder what kind of traps one might come across in such a place.

The druid beckons his follower and wolf to follow him and looks at the tunnel uncovered by Fosco.

OOC: is Zoster's spell still in effect?

[Nuke66]

OOC: Halbrad and Malibran were checking out a different hole. They were not with us.

[MrHemlocks]

OOC: Halbrad and Malibran were checking out a different hole. They were not with us.

I would imagine that they would meet up with the rest of the party by now. We were all so close together to begin with. We're just waiting on the keeper now...)