IC XIV

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

"Didn't you fellas say something about orc trophies? Is that still a thing?" he asks quietly.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Not worth taking orc ears for reward now. We are after bigger loot now".

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

"More of those larger orcs. Notice none of them has bludgeoning weapons - they have stone-tipped spears - so I doubt the dead ones we found earlier were killed by these guys. Something else down here, back the other way, maybe, did it."

Rhys looks to make sure there is some way to activate the door they used to enter the room from this side. If there is, he closes the door to make sure anything that doesn't already know about the lever can't open the door.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
"A guard post of some sort. If these fellows were here to keep watch, then that noise-maker hanging there means there are more orcs to be dealt with. We got the jump on these thanks to Severi's spell, and I can still cast a sleep spell myself."

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, Dwarf

Thurgan looks over the stonework of the room to see if it is of orcish make, before going and looking down the western corridoor.

[thirdkingdom]

Rhys finds a corresponding lever that closes the door. Thurgan examines the stonework, and finds it very strange. Instead of laid stone or bricks, or even carved stone, the work appears almost as if it were secreted; layers flow and mix like hot wax. It is definitely worked, however, in comparison to the natural stone of the previous tunnels.

Severi peers down the tunnels. Both are dimly illuminated by patches of the bioluminescent fungi. The western corridor runs for twenty feet before turning into a set of stairs, leading down, whilst the northern passage runs for twenty feet before dead-ending in another iron door.

[Wyzard]

Severi goes to listen at the iron door.

[thirdkingdom]

Severi goes to listen at the iron door.

Severi hears nothing. A close examination reveals no traps; it does not appear to be locked. Or, at least, it has no locking mechanism, and the elf can find no evidence of trigger or lever.

[Wyzard]

If he can get the party to form up behind him, he casts the door open.

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev is standing ready nearby, only keeping a distance so as not to overwhelm the elf's ears with the rattle of Tev's armor and weaponry.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys forms up behind the elf, sword at the ready.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan readies himself for the opening of the iron door.

[thirdkingdom]

The door swings open, revealing a wide hallway, approximately twenty feet in width and forty feet long. There is an open archway at the end of the hallway, and a door set into both the eastern and western walls. In the center of the hallway are two evenly-spaced columns, reaching from floor to ceiling. The columns seem to share the same construction techniques as the rest of the place, and resemble artificially constructed stalagtites. Far off in the distance, echoing strangely, the sound of hammers can be heard.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
Quint moves into the room when the others do, and goes to examine the columns more closely.

Do they seem to be supportive, decorative? Anything on or in the floor around them to indicate their purpose?

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren

"Ok," Tev says, relatively quietly. "We're in an enemy compound, so let's get some formation discipline. Quint and Semele, you should both stay close to one of us, and we need to identify who's rear-guard and who's front-guard. We've got an unexplored corridor behind us, and could get surrounded. Severi and Rhys, which of you are taking point? Who do you want there with you? The other two can take rear-guard."

He positions himself in the middle of the room and off to the side just a bit so he can intercept movement from the western door.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
Sighing a bit in consternation, Quint does as asked and moves back to the relative safety of the group. He clearly is thinking more of exploring the bizarre nature of this place than the risks involved - ever the scholar.
"I'm sure your caution is well-founded, Tev, but surely it can't hurt to have a look around while we're in here. This room, at least, is empty right now."

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

"By all means, Quint. Just make sure to stay close, or bring someone with you if you're going to wander off. Those orcs looked tougher than usual."

He'll listen at the western door while the others are looking around.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"I'm willing to lead, not scared of the orcs and I can recognise things in the stonework".

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys will take lead along side Thurgan to help keep an eye out for traps.

[thirdkingdom]

Quint's quick examination of the fictile columns reveals something strange; what initially seems to be a bulging concavity is instead a skull, the mouth opened as if screaming. He soon notices several other shapes, oblong, that could very well be bones.