There's something unusual on that center pillar to our right, maybe weee should movve in and take a closer look?
Runvald was starting to get anxious, I don't like this crypt and we seem to be taking forever to do what we need to do so we can get the hell out.
QUIETLY follows Bottle-Kisser and examines what he is talking about.
(I am assuming it is stone, otherwise I am only =+5)
I found a key in these saddlebags.
Finnrick puts the items he found in the saddle bag in his pack. And casts light on Etam's shield.
Etam nods a greeting at Finnrick and, carrying the illuminated shield, joins Jaed and the dwarves. "Perhaps it would be prudent to test the ground before we advance?" he whispers and then throws a pebble towards the spot Runvald pointed out.
Sounds like a use for these brooms? He flips the broom over and starts poking the ground ahead of him as he walks.
The pebble lands harmlessly in the middle of the square. You wait a moment, but nothing seems to happen.
As Artair moves forward, nothing seems to happen until he steps on the stone in question, at which point the floor suddenly falls out from under him. However, with the aid of the broomstick to test out his footing, he's able to sense the pit opening and leaps back to safety. The pit door remains open.
"That was a very good idea, master Artair. Can you use the broom to reach for the switch? Or perhaps it is better to have master Zandorias inspect it before we try anything else."
"Mmmm, nice idea Artair. Let's get this place clean. Well, at least clean of traps."
Jaed carefully walks closer to Artair, watching every step. He then inspects the trap and its surroundings, trying to unveil any wires or other connections around the trap.
A bit befuddled why are there pillows at the bottom of this pit? Anyone need a nap? It seems that this path is blocked but we might be able to get around another way, does anyone see a way out?
Specifically looking at the pit and the passage to the south with the switch.
Jaed looks around and finds another pit just to the North of Artair's current position. He doesn't see any wire or other connections though.
For Artair's part the switch looks like it's just a lever made of wood. It seems to have two positions: up and down. Currently it's in the up position. Nothing else stands out about it and there are no obvious connections between the switch and anything else.
Should we try to trip the trap? As he pokes it with his broom.
"Maybe we should explore the rest of the room before fiddling with the switch."
Jaed tries to see what's at the other end of the room, carefully moving north and exploring each of the tiles in his way.
And most importantly we need to locate the exits to this "maze"...
Jaed doesn't find any more traps as he carefully moves North. Meanwhile, Artair's poking doesn't seem to do anything.
While the others work on finding a safe path Finnrick takes a better look at the things he found in the saddlebags.
Hmm I wonder what type of bird these feathers are from and why someone would have them in there possession?
Trying to figure out the trap:
Jaed scouts the north of the room, inspecting every tile on his path and jumping over those that don't feel safe.
This place looks like a labyrinth. Better not go too far from the rest of the group.
Etam accompanies Jaed, avoiding getting in the way, but still close enough to help if needed "Let me know if you need any assistance, master Zandorias."
He looks around himself, half-expecting something to jump out of nowhere.
Artair jumps the open trap (Acro is +, so it should be automatic)
What can I see from this side...
Maybe I will take another try...
Or should I take 10....
As they move forward, Jaed misses another pit. Etam calls out a warning to his companion, allowing Jaed to jump safely over it.
There is a door here, it appears locked. Maybe that is what the switch does. I will continue moving east, carefully probing with the broom and searching for anything.
"Wow, thanks Etam. Close call." I have to be more careful if I don't want to end at the bottom of one of these pits.
Jaed decides to go take a closer look at the far end of the room. He makes a circle around the pillars paying attention to floor and walls.
"Glad to be of assistance, master Zandorias."
Once Etam is sure that Jaed has a solid footing, he shines some of the shield light inside the pit. "There are…pillows in the bottom of this pit. And a sack of some sort. Master Finnrick, could I borrow your grappling hook again? Let us hope we have more luck fishing this time."
With the hook and rope in hand, Etam slowly lowers it inside the pit. When it reaches the sack, he first tries to poke it 'It would be lovely to bring this sack up only to discover it was filled with snakes.' and then tries to gently grab it with the hook and pull it up.
Hmmm, no clue about these feathers and I know most of the birds in this area, I'll have to take a closer look when I have some better light. Until then they should make a decoration.
Finnrick weaves the feathers into his hair and turns to follow Etam.
"Here you go Etam,"Finnrick says handing Etam the grappling hook."How deep would you say the pit is?"
Looking around Etam, Finnrick peers into the pit trying to determine its depth.
I am going to head north as much as I can looking carefully for pits as I go and trying to link up with the loop the others are doing.
Etam manages to fish the sack out of the 10 ft deep pit. Inside is 6 platinum pieces and a small piece of parchment that says, "Three to open, but be quick, for the door will only open for those who work together".
As Etam and Finnrick examine the pit and the sack, Artair and Jaed continue to move, both failing to see the slight signs of more pits along their paths.
Even Jaed's sharp reflexes and Artair's careful probing with a broom doesn't give them enough warning as they both fall 10 feet. While still painful, their falls are cushioned by soft pillows lying at the bottom of their pits.
Jaed recovers after the fall, shaking the dust off his clothes. He picks one of the pillows and examines it.
I wonder who put this pillows in the pits. I'm really thankful.
HEY! ANYONE CAN GIVE ME A HAND?! OR A ROPE!
While someone comes to help, Jaed tries to get out of the pit by himself.
'Oh, great, another cryptic message. Very helpful.'
"Hard to say, master Finnrick. At least we did better this time…if another riddle can be considered an improvement from our previous situation. Look at this."
After passing the message to Finnrick, Etam hears the muffled thuds of Artair and Jaed hitting the bottom of the pits, followed by their calls for help. "I will check on Jaed, master Finnrick. You can take this rope, I have another bundle on my backpack."
Etam runs towards the pit where Jaed is. "Master Zandorias, are you hurt? Here, grab this!" He throws the rope and holds it so Jaed can climb.
With the help of the rope, Jaed has little difficulty climbing back out of the pit.
Finnrick reads the note with and puzzled look on his face.
"Hmmm..? That is quite interesting, I guess we will see what it means whenever we can navigate this room and get to the door. I'll check on our dwarven friend"
Finnrick takes the rope and walks back the way that he saw Artair head.
"Grab hold Artair,"Finnrick says throwing the rope down."I'll try and pull but I need you to help."
Finnrick throws down the rope and put all his strength into hauling up Artair.
"Runvald I may need your assistance."
I assume I will need to climb...
Artair also manages to climb up Finnrick's rope and out of the pit.
"Thanks Etam. I'm ok, just a bit bruised. Luckily all this pits seem to be full of pillows."
Once Jaed is out of the trap he resumes his search around the north part of the room.
Artair continues to the north as he was planning.
to cross the trap
Continues to use the broom, since it sort of works.
Still searching for traps and anything else of note.
Jaed continues moving about, finding a switch on the Northern wall that looks identical to the one to the South. He also finally seems to have caught on to what to look for for the pit traps, managing to spot no less than 3 on his circuit about the area.
Artair manages to meet up with the rest of the group, also finding yet another identical switch just North of the pit he fell in to.
Three switches, that could be the way to open the door?
But what does the clue mean about being quick?
Do we want to search the unopened traps?
Apparently it takes something heavy to spring them, we could put some rocks in the empty saddle bags tied to rope to trigger the pit traps from a distance?
"Hmmm…What if it actually refers to the door opening and closing very quickly? We could investigate the other trap doors and then use the stone filled saddles to stop the door from closing completely. Master Zandorias, you seem the most skilled with these mechanisms. What do you think?"
We could try the three switches and see what happens.
"The note says -Three to open, but be quick, for the door will only open for those who work together- so you may be right, Etam. Let me take a closer look to those switches and the door while you examine the other pits."
Jaed starts walking when he suddenly stops and turns back. "It just occurred to me that with Finnrick's key we now have two and the other room has two doors. Maybe it would be worth trying the new key in those doors. Or at least examine it for any magic."
When he is finished talking Jaed walks to the South of the room and carefully examines the southern switch. He then moves to the door and also checks it thoroughly.
Erazmus informs you that the new key isn't magical.
Lets pull the switches and see what they do. Was there a keyhole on the door?
Jaed finishes inspecting the door and turns to his companions.
"It seems that this door has an alternative locking system so we'll probably need to pull that switches and maybe use that key we found at the same time. As we are six, what do you think if we cover each switch in pairs? We don't know what will happen when we activate them so better safe than sorry. I can take the one in the North in case we have to rush to that door if it closes quickly as Etam suggested."
Let's leave some in view of the exit as well. I will take the one along the east wall.
"Very well. I will take the switch in the south. In the unlikely case something comes storming out of the open door, I can try to make a stand to avoid another flood of beasts."
Etam walks towards the southern wall with the stone-filled saddle. He leaves it near the door and then goes to switch. Whilst waiting for the rest of the group to get in position, he briefly takes out his spear: 'I am tempted to use you, dear friend…but it is far too risky if there are skeletons prowling nearby.' He puts it away and stands at attention.
On the count of 3..... 3.....2......1......PULL!
Everybody pulls their lever at the same time. There's some whirring of gears followed by silence. After a few moments, nothing else seems to happen.
"Let's see if this time we can sneak in the room without letting everyone know that we are coming." That's if they don't know it already.
Jaed waits until everyone gathers around the door and then carefully opens it, revealing the contents of the room.