Nodding, Lys shuffles along with the rest. Nodding at Zekal, she shrugs. "I'd be happier with brandy, too, I know."
Nox walks up and peers down into the water.
Gwenhyfar slinks up beside him and looks as well.
When Nox finally enters the well room (K21), he spots a secret door in the wall.
Opening the door reveals a five foot wide corridor that runs about thirty feet. Beyond a locked portcullis (hardness 10, hp 60, lift DC 25), there are rungs leading up, the back of another secret door on the right side; and the back of another secret door at the end of the corridor.
Crom = AC 21 (v. giants 25) & 60/90
Hill giant AC 21, touch 8, flat-footed 21
Lys = AC 21 (v. giants 23) & 66/66
Nerak = AC 14 & 48/48
* Nox = AC 19 (v. giants 27 with DR 2/-) & 65/84
Gwenhyfar = AC 23 & 27/27
Wulfrum = AC 22 (v. giants 26) & 51/60
* Zekel = AC 19 & 51/59* –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" Nox says, before entering the secret passage. "Somebody help me with this gate, I can't lift it." Nox says, reaching the grate.
Wulfrum made his way over to where the others had slipped into hearing their commotion. He dismissed the warhammer's magic finally, feeling safe enough to do so and looked down the hallway.
He shook his head at one of his younger cousins. "The danger's past, no sense trying to be subtle." he said walking up and rolling his shoulder a bit to try and ease out the stiffness.
He lifted the warhammer and motioned the other stand-aside before he ran his hand over the head of the hammer and acid began to drip from the head ominously. He raised it overhead and slammed it against the gate.
He paused after three successive strikes and admired the handiwork.
Making no move to help with the gate Zekal does at least give some encouragement to the others.
"Thats it lads, get those backs into it. I will keep you covered back here."
As they attempt to bust it open he keeps his eyes peeled for anything attracted by the noise.
Lys frowns when the door starts ringing, covering her ears. "I guess there's no point in my trying to jimmy the lock, then.", she notes, before wiping her brow and lifting her crossbow. "I guess there's no chance for giants here, though, unless they're really into contortionism. Or they're really short."
Wulfrum took a few breathes before he hefted the warhammer again and went back to work. This almost reminded him of working in the mines in his youth...well if the gate was rock and the warhammer in his hands was a pickaxe, actually this reminded him nothing of working in the minds.
Crom will help lift the gate. If that fails, he will help Wulfrum smash it.
Wulfrum finally batters the portcullis into submission.
Crom = AC 21 (v. giants 25) & 60/90
Hill giant AC 21, touch 8, flat-footed 21
Lys = AC 21 (v. giants 23) & 66/66
Nerak = AC 14 & 48/48
* Nox = AC 19 (v. giants 27 with DR 2/-) & 65/84
Gwenhyfar = AC 23 & 27/27
Wulfrum = AC 22 (v. giants 26) & 51/60
* Zekel = AC 19 & 51/59* –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls
"Unbelievable"
He mutters as he shakes his head at the whole spectacle.
"I would never be able to look the gods in the eye if I was murdered after every giant in this forsaken keep came calling after hearing that."
Lys snickers at Nerak's comment. "After this amazing feat of subterfuge, Nerak, I'd probably be staring at my feet and mumbling if I come to meet any god crazy enough to take me.", she jests. "Besides, dwarven wisdom - you can't go around chasing giants, since they're legs are waay too long. Let them come to you, then headbutt them in the giantalls.", she lets out a snortle. "Giantalls. Get it?"
Wulfrum leans against the wall and puff a bit before looking at Nerak with a grin and outright laughing at Lys's joke. "Aye, a Dwarf is never good for running, best to just brace yourself and prepare to use your trusty helmet." he said laughing a bit.
He stood up after he managed to stifle most of the laughter and then gained a good grip on his shield again and looked up the "secret" hallway. He grunted and began to walk.
Crom proceeds to the end of the hall.
Crom pushes past the resting Wulfrum and proceeds to the end of the hall. The dwarf triggers a scythe to release from its wall hiding spot and stab into him.
Crom = AC 21 (v. giants 25) & 60-13=47/90
Hill giant AC 21, touch 8, flat-footed 21
Lys = AC 21 (v. giants 23) & 66/66
Nerak = AC 14 & 48/48
* Nox = AC 19 (v. giants 27 with DR 2/-) & 65/84
Gwenhyfar = AC 23 & 27/27
Wulfrum = AC 22 (v. giants 26) & 51/60
* Zekel = AC 19 & 51/59* –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls
Crom grunts in pain as he is the scythe knocks him to the ground. He uses his hammer to bend the blade to stop the trap from resetting. "I could use some healin' if you can spare it Zekal."
Wulfrum raises a hand to have Zekal hold on that thought before he concentrates a bit once everyone is within range and releases a blessing of Torag.
He looked at the two Dwarves for a moment and shook his head. "Looks like you lot like to get hit a bit more than I." he says gruffly before looking at the Cleric and shrugging. "I have a wand but I reckon if you can squeeze a bit more divine energy out, we should hold onto this a while longer."
Wulfrum raises a brow and takes his chance pushing past Crom to continue to the end of the hall, checking for traps.
Wulfrum raises a brow and takes his chance pushing past Crom to continue to the end of the hall, checking for traps. Another portcullis crashes down . Wulfrum barely stops in time, or he would have been crushed.
Now an identical portcullis blocks the end of the hallway.
Crom = AC 21 (v. giants 25) & 47+11=58/90
Hill giant AC 21, touch 8, flat-footed 21
Lys = AC 21 (v. giants 23) & 66/66
Nerak = AC 14 & 48/48
* Nox = AC 19 (v. giants 27 with DR 2/-) & 65+11=76/84
Gwenhyfar = AC 23 & 27/27
Wulfrum = AC 22 (v. giants 26) & 51+11=60/60
* Zekel = AC 19 & 51/59* –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls
Wulfrum jumps back a bit and looks at the other "Grr...If I run into one more F*#$ing trap, I'm gonna start dismantling this entire damned fort." he jerked his head at the new gate. "I'm a start hammering away at this one, you look check the other directions. This is getting worse than trying to teach an Elf the beauty of a proper stone wall." he said as he began smashing into the Portcullis!
Eventually, you get past the second portcullis. The secret door at the end of the hall opens into an empty guard tower. You believe the ogrekin archer who got away was at the top of this tower.
Through the other secret door, you find yourself sort of outside the fort. However, it actually opens into a large tent. The furnishings lead you to believe that tent belongs to the chieftain of the orcs who is not there. You do see the trunk there that he never opened during your negotiations.
The only other way out of this secret hallway is up the iron rungs installed into the wall that lead up.
Crom = AC 21 (v. giants 25) & 47+11=58/90
Hill giant AC 21, touch 8, flat-footed 21
Lys = AC 21 (v. giants 23) & 66/66
Nerak = AC 14 & 48/48
* Nox = AC 19 (v. giants 27 with DR 2/-) & 65+11=76/84
Gwenhyfar = AC 23 & 27/27
Wulfrum = AC 22 (v. giants 26) & 51+11=60/60
* Zekel = AC 19 & 51/59* –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls
Wulfrum pokes his head into the tent and shakes his head. "Iffin I was half the Dwarf I've grown to be...I'd be a Halfling and I might even look in that chest." he says before pulling back and giving the others the chance to look or loot.
He'd not blaim them for taking the treasure if they really wanted to screw over the orcs.
Crom spits a large wad of tobacco onto the chieftan's bed. "Well, I always was half the dwarf that you are Wulfrum, so don't mind if I do. You know I got to take ol' green belly's loot just to spite 'em."
Crom studies the chest for any traps and then kicks it open.
After the blade swings into Zekal also lets the divine power flow from him to bolster the group.
Once out in the tent.
"No point in leaving it for them. We may not need it but it can do not good with them."
Zekal keeps an eye on the flap of the tent in case they get surprise visitors.
Crom finds the chest locked and impervious to dwarven boots.
Crom = AC 21 (v. giants 25) & 47+11=58/90
Hill giant AC 21, touch 8, flat-footed 21
Lys = AC 21 (v. giants 23) & 66/66
Nerak = AC 14 & 48/48
* Nox = AC 19 (v. giants 27 with DR 2/-) & 65+11=76/84
Gwenhyfar = AC 23 & 27/27
Wulfrum = AC 22 (v. giants 26) & 51+11=60/60
* Zekel = AC 19 & 51/59* –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls
"Ah, my friends of flexible morality.", mutters Lys, as she draws a small leather wrap from her bag. "This requires the Brokenshield touch." As she studies the chest, she looks up. "You know, technically that's us betraying the orcs now.", she points out. tapping the chest for hidden surprises. Eventually, she reaches for the lock, only to mutter a quiet "Ow.", as a splinter impales her finger. "This could be a sign we're doing the wrong thing, you know.", she adds, before sighing and setting on to unlock the lock.
Click The lock opens. Lys opens the lid without traps. Inside she finds dwarven-sized +2 breastplate, a +1 warhammer, two light hammers, a potion of barkskin, two flasks of alchemist’s fire, and a set of thieves’ tools.
Crom = AC 21 (v. giants 25) & 58+8=66/90
Hill giant AC 21, touch 8, flat-footed 21
Lys = AC 21 (v. giants 23) & 66/66
Nerak = AC 14 & 48/48
* Nox = AC 19 (v. giants 27 with DR 2/-) & 76+8=84/84
Gwenhyfar = AC 23 & 27/27
Wulfrum = AC 22 (v. giants 26) & 60/60
* Zekel = AC 19 & 51+8=59/59* –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls
Nox follows the others quietly, not entirely sure what the deal with the orc chieftain was, since he hadn't joined up at the time.
Crom smiles as Lys opens the lock. "Aye, that's how ya do it. Now, let's take this stinkin' orc loot and get back to giant killin'!"
"I am sure some arrangement was made before I arrived. Little bit bulkier then mine but the magic makes it tough."
"Huh. Good point.", she shrugs. "Still, I wouldn't necessarily steal it now.", she reasons, before sighing. "I should really consider having a lot more mercenary mindset..."
She lifts her crossbow. "If you want to, take it and we give it to Umlo. And let's go deal with the giants before we have to deal with the orcs, too."
Crom leads the way up the ladder.
Crom heads up the ladder. He arrives in a short 10 foot long hallway that has the back of another secret door. Through the door, he finds a low fence surrounds a rectangular opening in this room’s floor. A winch, a frayed rope, several rusted buckets, and three large water jugs sit next to the fence.
The only other exit from this room are double doors.
Crom = AC 21 (v. giants 25) & 66/90
Hill giant AC 21, touch 8, flat-footed 21
Lys = AC 21 (v. giants 23) & 66/66
Nerak = AC 14 & 48/48
* Nox = AC 19 (v. giants 27 with DR 2/-) & 84/84
Gwenhyfar = AC 23 & 27/27
Wulfrum = AC 22 (v. giants 26) & 60/60
* Zekel = AC 19 & 59/59* –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls
Lys throws a raspberry. "Well, we already broke into the chest. And the orcs kind of forced the dwarf to fight bears.", she rationalises for a moment. "Besides, I don't think either of them would fit, and it's only fair to share your old clothes with friends.", she gestures towards the gear.
"Towards the doors? I don't think our Wulfy's respectable equator would fit through that hole. And I'm willing to bet there's a well down there, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to go for a swim. Let's go." She moves towards the door, readying her crossbow, and giving them an unimpressive shove. "You're free to help!", she shouts back at the group.