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Peering around, Aldus says, "Beautiful shot, Alden. I... I'll just dash over and collect those. Back in a stitch."

Aldus digs a spare tunic out of his backpack and lays it around his hands so that he can grab the implements without touching them—never can be too sure about items found on dissection-altars. Running out, being careful to give the protruding peg a wide berth, he snatches up the tools in the tunic, wraps them in a quick bundle, and dashes back to the passageway.

Sneaky Stealthiness (DEX 15) [1d20] = 7 [1d20] = 1

Like a ghost, Aldus, you effortlessly steal into the room, padding over the stone tiles to claim the shiny implements.

You peek behind the altar as you lean over to grab the items, but nothing lies behind the solid stone block save for the rack of mundane tools you could see from the doorway.

As you step back towards the passage, something catches your ear. A barely-audible rasping, scratching sound. Scratching like a single nail scratching, methodically, on a metal surface.

Straining to identify the source, you think it is coming from behind one of the metal panels attached to the wall to your left.

Just as you place the sound, a second, louder noise from your right makes you start. A single loud clang, from another of the panels.

Steady, rhythmic clanging rings from a third panel, and in an instant the small room is filled with angry, metallic peals of sound.

One of the panels on the back wall flies open on its hinge with a loud bang.

Filled with smoke, the space behind the panel is entirely obscured.

A skeletal arm reaches out of the fog...

You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to...

Aden: "RRRUUUUUUUUN!!!"

Arrows {usage die} [1d8] = 3

DEX (15) [1d20] = 3

Siegfried backs up ... again. "The joke is wearing thin, my friend," he growls.

As the three of you escape into the large chamber, you hear more bangs and what seems unnervingly like the sound of weapons being drawn.

There is no sign of the lone skeleton, waving its censer.

The metallic clattering stops as suddenly as it started, and is immediately followed by footstep-like tap-tap-tapping echoing down the passageway.

In the blackness of the far end of this chamber, you see a burst of light, followed by a confused scuffle of grunts and curses. In the gloom it is difficult to make out who or what is making the pained noises, but they don't sound skeletal...

What next?

Aden draws his sword, raises his torch to best peer into the darkness, and says hopefully, fearfully, "Uh, hello?"

Aldus ignores the non-skeletal scufflings and remains focused on the passage they just escaped from. "I-if whatever that was follows us out, then perhaps we had best find a likely spot to ambush it. The door itself seems a good choke-point doesn't it?"

"We could pull out the spike and let the door shut," suggests Siegfried, before positioning himself to one side of the opening with his axe raised high.

Aldus says enthusiastically, "Oh good! Yes! Let's do that!"

Patting at his pockets, he sheepishly adds, "Would you happen to have a spike or two upon your person?"

Siegfried kicks the brazier leg used to jam open the secret door, hoping to dislodge it. He drops his pack and grunts, Spikes are in there." Possibly not the wisest course of action when dealing with a light-fingered character, but wisdom has never been one of Siegfried's strong suits. He then resumes his pose beside the opening.

STR roll to try to kick the brazier leg out from under the secret door: (STR:15) [1d20] = 11

Aldus roots through the pack, his fingers making an automatic inventory of the contents, until he finds the spikes and a mallet.

"How many would you advise for a job like this? And should I place them... oh, here? And over here?"

STR (9): [1d20] = 14
Let's hope a STR check wasn't necessary.

The figures at the far side of the room appear to be otherwise occupied, and do not immediately answer your "Hello", Aden.

With the spike removed, the door closes. The bony footsteps are immediately silenced.

Using the spikes, you attempt to wedge the door closed, Aldus. Working quickly, it is impossible to know if you have succeeded.

The stone door jolts open a crack, wedging hard onto the spikes. Through the gap, only a few inches wide, a skeletal arm reaches out, clawing at the air. The door appears to be stuck fast.

Cautious, Aden moves closer to investigate.

With door seeming to hold, Aldus opens his bundle and visually inspects the purloined implements before stuffing them in his bag.

Inspection (INT 10 or WIS 9): [1d20] = 12

As you move closer, Aden, the door shudders with an impact from the other side. The wedge holds, and the sounds from the other side of the door cease. The skeletal hand retreats into the darkness beyond the gap.

With a moment's breathing room, Aldus, you take a look at your new-found treasure. The tools appear to be well made, and the gems likely valuable. Beyond that, it's hard to say whether they have any special significance.

With a high-pitched, scraping whine, the door closes, shaking loose the wedge. The door immediately begins to swing open once more.

If you act quickly, you may be able to re-wedge the door.

Could I get a DEX and STR check?

Aden half steps back and forth manically...

...toward the shuddering door
......the noises from the darkness
..........the door
...............the darkness

......................................then leaps towards the door, attempting to kick in the wedge.

DEX 14 [1d20] = 7
STR 8 [1d20] = 5

In the darkness at the far end of the long chamber, voices and torchlight accompany what sounds like a splash. It's hard to make out what is happening, but it appears that at least one skeleton is engaged in combat with one, possibly two, people.

Aden's deft footwork flicks the wedge back under the door, but the momentary delay allows the door to open just wide enough...

The first of the things beyond the door slides through the gap, a skeleton armed with a short spear. You can see another skeleton follows behind.

Roll with advantage for any attacks as the skeleton squeezes through the doorway into the chamber.

With a messy pinwheel of sword hilt and blade and some schoolyard kicks, Aden, wages an ugly frantic battle at the skeleton squeezing through the door.

STR 8 [1d20] = 16 [oops wrong dice]
Short Sword {STR 8} [1d20] = 8 Damage [1d8] = 8

Rolling to attack with advantage:
(STR:15) [1d20] = 15
(STR:15) [1d20] = 18
Both rolls miss.

From his post beside the door Siegfried brings his axe down with tremendous force ... just missing the skull of the skeleton by the breadth of a non-existant hair.

If possible he will try to peek into the corridor to see what the sounds of battle are about.