05. Journey to O'Hare

[Alethan]

I concur.

[Stonjuz]

ooc: Assuming it gets this far into the watch, eventually.
Gwilt's watch comes to an end and when he approaches Garth's door, for the changing of the guard, Shannigans takes the shift, allowing Garth an uninterrupted sleep.
"I'm all set Gwilt. I'll take this shift" , he whispers, opening the door enough to show the ranger that the druid is still resting soundly.
During the watch, the halfling occasionally listens to the wood.

[onlyme]

Definitely in the hallway, pacing between the 3 rooms. I would have a thief or other qualified folk check for hidden doors, etc in each room to make sure they are secure from within.

[dmw71]

The entire party files into the middle room, the most private of the three, and plans their nightly activities and sleeping arrangements. Ewell also suggests a security inspection be performed on the rooms just to be safe, which Garth and Shannigans readily agree to perform.

Nothing is detected in either of the adjacent rooms after an initial inspection.

"Hmm..." the halfling says, staring at a small, unusual-looking vertical crack on the far wall (opposite the door) of this middle meeting room. "Not sure if this is anything, but it seems a bit odd," he finishes.

[Alethan]

What is the layout of the rooms in relation to the rest of the building? Do any of them have outside walls? Or what might be on the other side of the walls opposite the door? Is that something the party could determine from viewing the building from the outside?

Gwilt motions everyone to resume talking about mundane things while the halfling examines the line more closely. Gwilt stands back, off to the side, and takes in the details of that wall to see what is on it, what is in front of it, what is attached to it... that sort of thing.

[onlyme]

Ewell nods his understanding, and replies...
I do not know about the lot of you, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. It beats dried rations any day. I can only hope we breakfast tomorrow with equally appetizing a meal.

[dmw71]

What is the layout of the rooms in relation to the rest of the building? Do any of them have outside walls? Or what might be on the other side of the walls opposite the door? Is that something the party could determine from viewing the building from the outside?

It's a fairly simple Inn, with a fairly simple layout. From the lower level, you ascend a wrap-around flight of stairs which turns 180-degrees half way up. The stairs open into a single, long hallway; a window on the far wall leads you to believe this main hallway extends the length of the entire building. There are four doors on the left, marked 1-4, and six doors on the right, marked 5-10.

I was going to provide the following description once everyone settled into their respective rooms, but will share the following now:

Each of the rooms you've been assigned are decorated in the same manner: Three beds, each with an empty chest at the foot, and a single desk with a recently lit lantern. You estimate that all rooms extend from this main hallway to the outer wall of the building itself, but there are no windows in any of your rooms.

[Alethan]

Gwilt removes the protective hurricane from the nearest lantern and holds it closer to the crack in the wall to see if any air flow can be detected.

If so, he'll return to the group and, gather everyone into a huddle around something on the floor. Using a bit of chalk from his pack, he'll outline the three rooms and draw an "S" near where the crack is in the wall while making verbal observations about an imaginary map of where they are and what they may do in the morning. Drawing an "X" and question marks on similar locations on the back wall of the other two rooms, to indicate they don't know about those walls yet, Gwilt says,"Garth, can you go to my room," he discretely points to the X-marks drawn in the other two rooms, "and see if I've left the rest of my chalk in my bag there? This one is almost out..."

The goal is, if one secret entrance is found in one room, to see if the elf can locate secret entrances in the other two rooms in similar locations. Since he has a good idea of where they might be, it shouldn't take long to search them and he should have a better chance of finding something...

[wolfpack]

so we believe the back wall ofthe room to be the same wall as the out side of the inn correct.

epsilon will go to the back wall and press his ear against it and tap slightly on the wall with his staff, to see if he hears an echo like there is an empty space.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan mutters in agreement to the line of secret entrance thinking. "What do you think about taking a peek into that kitchen? He was cranky and secretive... "

[Stonjuz]

"Yea, I'm with you Alordan. I must get the recipe for the meat pie. It was quite filling. Great cooks are always secretive about their dish though."

[ravenn4544]

Alordan smiles at the quip and mutters to himself.

[Nuke66]

Garth looks at Gwilt a bit odd, somewhat puzzled by his request.

"Sure thing, be right back." Garth enters the hallway quietly before retrieving the chalk.

[Alethan]

Garth looks at Gwilt a bit odd, somewhat puzzled by his request.

"Sure thing, be right back." Garth enters the hallway quietly before retrieving the chalk.

Oi.

Sorry, I guess the written description wasn't as clear as I'd hoped.

Gwilt thinks there is probably a space between the bedroom walls and the outside wall, where someone can at least spy on people in the room, if not open a door and sneak in to steal valuables and whatnot. Trying to not discuss it aloud, in case someone is currently in the secret space, listening, hence the bit about everyone huddled around in a circle on the floor, Gwilt drawing a map of the three rooms, marking the secret passage in the middle room and the question marks in the other two rooms, then pointing to the question marks and asking Garth to go look for something.

Gwilt wants Garth to check out the other two rooms and make sure they don't have something similar to the unusual vertical seam in the back wall, as well. Since Garth is an elf, and is able to locate secret/hidden passages more easily, he is the likely person to check for such things.

Incidentally, Gwilt's backpack is right beside him. It isn't actually in either of the other rooms...

[dmw71]

Gwilt wants Garth to check out the other two rooms and make sure they don't have something similar to the unusual vertical seam in the back wall, as well. Since Garth is an elf, and is able to locate secret/hidden passages more easily, he is the likely person to check for such things.

Garth, with a combined intelligence and wisdom score of 35, will understand Gwilt's intention.

Currently composing update and will post shortly.

[dmw71]

Shannigans discovers a small, vertical seam in the wall and calls it to the attention of the rest of the group. Gwilt immediately becomes suspicious and removes the protective hurricane from the nearest lantern, holding the unshielded lantern close to the crack in the wall in an attempt to detect any air flow.

A slight flicker raises his alarm.

He returns to the group and gathers everyone into a huddle around something on the floor. He retrieves a bit of chalk from his pack and draw an outline of the three rooms the party has been assigned. He draws an "S" near where the crack is in the current rooms' wall, and drawing an "X" and question marks on the matching locations on the back wall of the other two rooms. All the while, he makes verbal observations about an imaginary map of where they are and what they may do in the morning.

He eventually says to the elf, the most qualified party member to detect secret passages: "Garth, can you go to my room," he discretely points to the X-marks drawn in the other two rooms, "and see if I've left the rest of my chalk in my bag there? This one is almost out..."

Garth discretely nods affirmatively and "accidentally" enters the room marked 9, the one not occupied by Gwilt first. He inspects the wall where the suspected secret door is, disguising his actions as if he were looking for Gwilt's backpack. After detecting nothing, or finding any "chalk," he wonders aloud: "Must be the wrong room." He repeats the process in room 7, again detecting nothing. "Here it is," he says, picking up an imaginary piece of chalk before joining the rest of the group in room 8. "Your chalk," he says, while nodding negatively as he approaches the huddled group and completes the imaginary hand-off.

---

Upon closer inspection, the crack discovered by Shannigans is confirmed to be a secret entrance into the room.

[onlyme]

Ewell attempts to rationalize what is being said and offers assistance, hopefully without blatantly exposing their knowledge.
In the morn, shall we immediately go exploring, or shall we wait a bit, to see if something interesting comes to us? I could pry some coins loose from the armorer in exchange for this magnificant sword.
He holds up the orcish sword and points it subtly toward the secret opening.

[Computer +1]

Strom's face darkens when the secret entrance is revealed.

[wolfpack]

Giddy with excitement over such a devious and intersting discovery Epsilon heads over to where the crack is and starts pulling and prodding at anything around the area that might be loose and a trigger. Loose boards on the wall or floor, a torch hanger, ect.

[Alethan]

Giddy with excitement over such a devious and intersting discovery Epsilon heads over to where the crack is and starts pulling and prodding at anything around the area that might be loose and a trigger. Loose boards on the wall or floor, a torch hanger, ect.

Gwilt grabs Epsilon handily by the shoulders and pulls him back to the center of the room where the rest of the group is.

"What are you doing?" he hisses quietly. "Can you not tell we're trying to keep such knowledge secret? It could mean the difference between our lives and our deaths! I took you for a wise and learned man. Time to start acting like it!"