Part 8: Once more unto the Barrowmaze

[ybn1197]

Milo does not hear any noises coming from within the room.

[Zhym]

"Well," says Simoni, "it is only half a skull. You could say that half a skull is better than none, but one really needs the whole thing to work."

Milo takes another look at the symbol over the door. "Well, how about that? Do you suppose we need another half-skull to open the bricked-up door?"

He thinks back to the room with the skulls on a table—were the skulls all whole?

"But all in good time, gentlemen. Would any of you strong types like to open this first door?"

[Stirling]

Grigg

"My journal notes only say 'crpyts' beyond. No other indication of who and what passed by here. The map was a little blood stained though."Grigg will inch his way forward, down the hallway checking the flooring for hidden traps, pits, footprints indicating recent use. Anything sighted in the portcullis room?

[ybn1197]

Grigg's search of the floor for traps or pits comes up empty; the hall seems safe enough. There is a large amount of dust and dirt on the floor which makes searching for footprints child's play but there is nothing there to indicate anyone or thing has been down this hall in some time. The room with the portcullis appears to be empty.

[Stirling]

Grigg

Grigg will check the portcullis gate. It seems unusual to have a gated room here, unless the room was used as a cell or where the occupants could be observed. A store would natural just have a closed door so rats couldn't enter. If there is no working pulley to lift the gates, Grigg will try to bend the bars so he can sneak in.

"Could do with a little extra smithing muscle to move these,"Grigg asks of Pyrrhic.

[RiotInferno]

Pyrrhic looks around. "Someone cover our back while I get to this."
Pyrrhic tries to help bend the bars or life the gates so Grigg can get through.

[1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7

[Zorroroaster]

Bronn looks on with mock impatience.

"If you require assistance, indicate with a suitable gesture, otherwise feel free to take your leisure here while the legion of undead slumps ever closer."

[Zhym]

Milo also takes a gander at the bars. "In my experience, most gates have doors and locks. Otherwise they're just walls with holes in." He looks for a lock or something similar. If there is one, he'll search for traps and try to pick the lock if he finds none.

[RiotInferno]

Pyrrhic chuckles. "Bronn, care to take the lead on this?"

[ybn1197]

The portcullis does have a lock along the right hand side designed to keep it closed and in place. Taking a quick look, Milo does not see any traps and proceeds to pick the lock. A tense minute passes as Milo fiddles with the device but he is satisfied with a slight pop as the lock snaps off.

[Zorroroaster]

"Brains before Bronn. Bravo."

The big half-Orc continues to guard the hallway.

[Zhym]

Milo waves a hand at the lock with a flourish. "There you go! Unlocked and ready for one of you strong fighter types to boldly lead the way through!"

[Stirling]

Grigg

Grigg will enter the empty portcullis room with care. He will check the ceiling before stepping in and check around the floor, sweeping through the dust for anything like hidden seams, tripwire or triggers.

[RiotInferno]

Pyrrhic resumes his stance at the back of the party, keeping a watchful eye on the rear flank.

[Zorroroaster]

Bronn moves in to the room after Grigg, his sword at the ready.

[SocraticLawyer]

Peaches enters with the group, with Claude by her side.

[ybn1197]

Grigg, Bronn, Peaches, and Claude enter the 20 x 20 cell. Milo stands at the entrance way and Pyrrhic and Simoni watch the hall for anything to come along. It is not long before their caution is proven worthwhile as the sounds of some creature(s) are heard exploring the hallway before the turn into the crypt area.

Grigg does not find any traps within the cell.

[kalstone]

Simoni readies his mace to attack anything hostile coming around the corner. He also tries to quietly signal everyone in the room that something is coming.

[Stirling]

Grigg

Grigg remembers that the portcullis room shows a secret door on the eastern wall. He will search for this, hoping that the latch is the same sort of mechanism as in the first chamber with the skeleton, so that he may discover it before the creature turns the corner.

"The lamplight will surely give you away, better hide in one of those rooms."Grigg advises those in the corridor.

Incidently, how did the portcullis gates move? Upwards with silent well greased bearings or screeching of rusty metal unused in ages? It may help decide actions if we know how much noise it'll make moving it again, unless it stayed open of course?

[Zhym]

Hearing something approach, Milo backs up a few steps past the door and tries to blend into the shadows.