CHAPTER 2: Beyond the Secret Door

[drpete]

Luke searches for any handholds to pull the secret door with, and pushes on it in various places, hoping to get it to move.

Knuckles traces along the edges of the secret door, trying to pull off the fresco and reveal whatever is beneath it.

Einstein comes over to the group by the door, though he stays in the back. He tries to illuminate the proceedings with his magic ball, hoping the light might show something regular torches don't.

[Norjax]

...

LePlank takes Zeeks’ pitchfork and offers it to Ruby. Ruby uses the longer pitchfork handle to explore the space beyond the wall slot. She can feel the handle hit the sides, floor and ceiling of a passage, but cannot detect an end. Anne harasses Ruby by mimicking a spider crawl and warning of impending doom. Zeek looks on with Michel, who watches with curious anticipation.

Derrek searches the mosaic for other valuables besides the gems. The dark, glossy tiles used to outline the spider image could be valuable to a collector, but he is unsure how to remove the pieces. Tony keeps an eye on Derrek, making sure his companion is of sound mental capacity.

Hanover returns to the group probing the hole. He plays with his green marble, lost in his own thoughts. Betty snorts a white powder that she dispenses from a blue vial. She too has lost interest with the current investigation.

Arya takes a step back to make room for others investigating the secret door.

Luke and Knuckles examine the details of the presumed secret door. Luke tests for mechanisms and Knuckles removes the loose frescoes. (Die roll by DM) Tiberius feels for a draft that might be flowing from beyond the door; seeking a clue to how it opens. Einstein uses his magic ball to provide additional illumination.

As Knuckles pushes on the masonry blocks, a slight ’CLICK’ vibrates the door and it slowly falls forward and drops into a pocket on the floor. There is enough light to reveal an un-decorated 5ft passage, 15ft deep that turns to the left (south).

MAP 37

Actions?

Light Sources: Torch (Zeek), Torch (Anne), Torch (Hanover), Torch (Knuckles), Candle (Derrek), Torch (Luke), Glowing Ball (Einstein)

Hit Points [Luck Points]

Knuckles 3/3 [0]
Einstein 1/1 [3]
Luke 1/1 [0]

Tony 2/2 [14]
Hanover 1/1 [8]
Betty 4/4 [15]
Michel 1/1 [7]

Zeek 5/5 [0]
Tiberius 1/2 [0]
LePlank 3/3 [0]
Anne 4/4 [14]

Arya 4/4 [11]
Derrek 4/4 [16]
Ruby 1/1 [11]

...

[rossik]

surprised by all that, Zeek, the snake killer, will step inside the darkness with his torch.

The rest will join in, but outside the door.

[Ardak2000]

Michel snorts in derision at the ineffectiveness of probing the hole, and nudges Ruby out of the way with a curt "Watch out little girl, let us see what we shall see". He bends down to look directly into the hole.
OOC: Do elves have Ultravision?

Hanover, attracted by the opening of the secret door behind him moves to the other group to investigate.

Tony also moves to the secret door. He spares a brief glance over his shoulder at Derrek and feels that the man sufficiently distracted so as to cause no immediate trouble.

Betty closes her eyes, raises her hands to the side of her head and while rhythmically tapping her fingertips, begins to chant:
                                                  Softly at first
                                                   anal nathrak
                                                            uthvas bethud
                                                          do che-ol di-enve!
                                                  Then Louder
                                                anal nathrak
                                          uthvas bethud
                                        do che-ol di-enve!

[Urson]

Arya is on her toes as Zeek enters the secret door. She breathes deeply, looking for any sort of scent coming from the tunnel.

Derrek joins the group at the new secret door, always alert for a chance at new wealth.

Ruby steps away from the peephole. Rude! she says as she moves to the back of that group. She leans the pitchfork against a wall.

[drpete]

Knuckles, Luke and Einstein will head into the secret passage, keeping some distance between them, in case a trap of some sort springs on them. Knuckles will take three lead, at the moment...

[Norjax]

...

Knuckles takes the lead and enters the secret passage. As he pads forward, Luke and Einstein follow at distant intervals to avoid being caught in any potential trap. (Die roll by DM) The narrow, undecorated hallway turns twice to the left and hooks back heading east. Knuckles pauses when he observes an intersection 40ft ahead, leading in the four cardinal directions.

Zeek follows close behind Einstein and gives the polygonal walls, floor and ceiling blocks a cursory review. (Die roll by DM)

A gaggle of people wait outside the open door and wait for a signal from their companions. (Tiberius, et.al.)

Michel presses Ruby aside and peers into the narrow wall slot. Having been abandoned by those with torches, the elf’s infravision reveals an irregular 10ft deep by 9ft wide void that continues to the south. It is constructed of the familiar polygonal masonry and is plain and unadorned.

Betty is lost in her own reality and chants an ominous rhyme in an unfamiliar language.

Ruby withdraws against the nearest wall and leans the pitchfork against it. She stays within proximity to the lit area afforded by Anne’s torch.

MAP 38

Actions?

Light Sources: Torch (Zeek), Torch (Anne), Torch (Hanover), Torch (Knuckles), Candle (Derrek), Torch (Luke), Glowing Ball (Einstein)

Hit Points [Luck Points]

Knuckles 3/3 [0]
Einstein 1/1 [3]
Luke 1/1 [0]

Tony 2/2 [14]
Hanover 1/1 [8]
Betty 4/4 [15]
Michel 1/1 [7]

Zeek 5/5 [0]
Tiberius 1/2 [0]
LePlank 3/3 [0]
Anne 4/4 [14]

Arya 4/4 [11]
Derrek 4/4 [16]
Ruby 1/1 [11]

...

[rossik]

surprised by all that, Zeek, the snake killer, will step inside the darkness with his torch.

The rest will join in, but outside the door.

(OOC: i thought Zeek was the first to enter)

[rossik]

Tiberius feels that his staff may not be that useful, and spend some time getting back to take Zeek former pitchfork from the corner Ruby left it.

Zeek will enter the secret room just one step, getting closer to the wall on his left. He will examine it.

Zeek will join Luke and watch the corridor. He suggest, as this is a long one, that the corridor may be traped, as the previously he entered.

Anne tries to open her way and say "lets the holy goose do his job!" and release Sir Honksalot into the room.

LePlank will wait to see what the fuss, and after everyone enters, he will follow


(OOC: i will try to gather all m pcs next to Luke and the gang)

[drpete]

Knuckles advances to the intersection, then turns north to try to find the hole the others were looking in.

Luke will follow up to the intersection, and move just south of the intersection, looking south.

Einstein will come up to the intersection and look east.

[Ardak2000]

Tony and Hanover follow Zeek into the passage.

Michel steps back from the hole with a shrug, and issues a barely audible "Hmmph". Without another word he turns and joins the others entering the passage.

Betty stops her chanting and cracks one eye open and scans her surroundings. Upon seeing herself in the dark and alone, she squeals "It worked!" She turns and bounds toward the secret passage and the faint torchlight.

[Urson]

Arya enters the new tunnel, watching the walls for traps and secrets. As soon as she can, she'll get to the crossing and look East.

Derrek pokes along, muttering to himself. Occasionally the words "thief" or "treasure" can be heard.

Ruby dawdles at the rear of the group entering the new tunnel.

[Norjax]

...

Knuckles approaches the intersection. His torch illuminates a passage to the south that stops after 15ft. The northern passage stops after 25ft and appears to connect to the wall slot. To the east, the 5ft hall is obscured by thick, dusty cobwebs from the floor to the ceiling. He can barely make out the corridor beyond the spider webs, which continues for at least 20 more feet.

The wainwright proceeds north and verifies the connection to the slot from the mosaic room. The walls, floor and ceiling angle up to the slot, so a 3-4ft tall observer (Kobold) could watch activities in the other room. He sees fresh scrapes, presumably from Ruby’s long sword. Other than the sword marks, this area appears old and abandoned for many years.

Luke crosses into the intersection and moves slightly south, examining the dead-end corridor. The walls are plain, undecorated polygonal blocks.

Einstein uses his magic orb to peer into the cobwebs to the east (Die roll by DM). He catches a glint of metal suspended in the cobwebs about 3ft inside the mass of dusty silk strands, 5ft above the floor.

Zeek enters the new tunnel at the heels of Einstein and checks for traps (Die roll by DM). He halts when Einstein pauses at the intersection.

Arya examines the new tunnel as she cautiously treks forward. (Die roll by DM) She is held up, prior to the crossing, by Einstein and Zeek.

Anne enters the passage with her goose under one arm and a torch in the other. Sir Honkalot wiggles in her grip.

Tony and Hanover follow Anne after she enters the corridor.

Derrek stays in the middle of the group, just ahead of Betty. He mumbles to himself, occasionally coherent enough for others to hear specific words.

Betty is convinced her charm has worked. She follows the torchlight into the newly-discovered hallway.

Michel, having exhausted his curiosity at the wall slot, follows the others into the secret passage.

Tiberius retrieves his pitchfork and follows the group, ahead of LePlank and Ruby, into the secret corridor.

LePlank and Ruby jockey for position at the rear of the party. Eventually, the jester defers to the noble and takes the tail position.

OOC: Everyone’s position in the hallway is relative to their location last round and their stated actions.

MAP 39

Actions?

Light Sources: Torch (Zeek), Torch (Anne), Torch (Hanover), Torch (Knuckles), Candle (Derrek), Torch (Luke), Glowing Ball (Einstein)

Hit Points [Luck Points]

Knuckles 3/3 [0]
Einstein 1/1 [3]
Luke 1/1 [0]

Tony 2/2 [14]
Hanover 1/1 [8]
Betty 4/4 [15]
Michel 1/1 [7]

Zeek 5/5 [0]
Tiberius 1/2 [0]
LePlank 3/3 [0]
Anne 4/4 [14]

Arya 4/4 [11]
Derrek 4/4 [16]
Ruby 1/1 [11]

...

[rossik]

LePlank start thinking about the size of the spider. Really impressive!
He will look up, if theres any sign of spider trails.

Anne will approach the webs, and whisper "burn baby buurn!" (she will torch the web)

Tiberius will take a closer look to what seems to be a trap. Maybe the floor have some trigger. He will press the floor ahead, so to ative the trap.

Zeek will wait in the northern corner. If something appears from nowhere, he can flank it !

[Urson]

Arya waits, ready to act if trouble starts.

Derrek and Ruby wait in the crowd, too far back to act.

[drpete]

Einstein will try to reach in and pull out the metal thing before the webs get caught on fire, if he can reach it...

Luke moves south, crouching down to avoid any missile shots, and tries to search the far end of the corridor for secret doors.

Knuckles goes back near the intersection, ready to help pull out Einstein if he gets stuck in the webs.

[Ardak2000]

Michel, Betty, Tony and Hanover all strain to see what's happening at the head of the column.

[Norjax]

...

LePlank looks at the ceiling for spider sign. (Die roll by DM) The masonry blocks appear plain, old and undisturbed by arachnids.

Tiberius presses on the floor, attempting to trigger a trap. (Die roll by DM)

Zeek moves into the northern corridor to position for a flanking maneuver.

Arya, Derrek & Ruby wait in the crowd along with Michel, Betty, Tony & Hanover.

Luke pads south, crouching, and searches the end of the dead-end corridor. (Die roll by DM) The woodcutter examines the walls for signs of secret doors.

Einstein reaches into the web mass and tries to negotiate the dusty strands. He makes an effort to retrieve the small metal object, but the unlucky gambler is unable to grasp the metal sphere. (Reflex save vs. DC 17)

Einstein Reflex vs DC 17 = [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13

(With only 3 Luck points, using these would have brought the roll to only 16)

He withdraws his arm just in time before Anne reaches forward and jabs her torch into the webs. Knuckles grabs Einstein and pulls him back from the flammable gossamer just as the entire mass erupts into flame! The small spherical object, now loose, drops to the floor and rattles around with a metallic jingle. Anne’s expression is that of pyromaniacal glee as she watches the old webbing dissolve to the fire, revealing a corridor leading 40ft ahead. A row of barred cells flanks the northern wall. Most of the doors are open and three large black spiders (1ft in diameter) scurry out into the hallway!

MAP 40

Initiative and Actions!

OOC: Be mindful of one’s position on the map. LePlank, for example, can’t move ahead of Einstein and attack.

Light Sources: Torch (Zeek), Torch (Anne), Torch (Hanover), Torch (Knuckles), Candle (Derrek), Torch (Luke), Glowing Ball (Einstein)

Hit Points [Luck Points]

Knuckles 3/3 [0]
Einstein 1/1 [3]
Luke 1/1 [0]

Tony 2/2 [14]
Hanover 1/1 [8]
Betty 4/4 [15]
Michel 1/1 [7]

Zeek 5/5 [0]
Tiberius 1/2 [0]
LePlank 3/3 [0]
Anne 4/4 [14]

Arya 4/4 [11]
Derrek 4/4 [16]
Ruby 1/1 [11]

...

[Urson]

Arya sees the spiders and smiles. She whips the hood from Dart's head and launches him at the spiders. Dart will attempt to strike #1.

Derrek snorts in annoyance. He looks at Hanover, wondering if the man has anything of value in his pockets.

Ruby stands near the back, eyes blank and nothing on her mind.

[drpete]

Knuckles and Einstein retreat into the northern corridor. As they go, Knuckles squeals, and Einstein calls out "Get 'em, guys!"

Luke continues, more frantically now, to look for a secret door in the southern end of the corridor.

Init [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9
Forgot the initiative roll!