My brother is no climber, but we've done this sort of thing. Herbert has made it easy enough. I can secure the top of this hall or follow him down, your call Isis. My advice is to stay put at the bottom. Until we get everyone's eyes and ears in to the tomb the danger is multiplied.
Reed noticed the smile his brother hid poorly.
He caught me being serious...
Reed, your one of the stronger members of our group and have a better chance of being able to defend yourself alone if need be. I think it is best if you secure the top while we all climb down and then come down after the rest of the group is safely at the bottom.
Reed begins to make some room to defend the portal if necessary. He loosens his pack and unbuckles the strap of leather across the blade on his hip.
Get yourselves down the rabbit's hole my pretties.
The ranger leaves his back to the hole and waits.
In I go dear brother.
Gribb hikes his robes and places his leg into the hole. He takes the rope and lowers himself down.
down I go!
Isis lowers herself down into the hole
Reed lowers the rest of the gear then enters the hole himself.
So long world of the living.
Halt everyone! There is danger close at hand. This man is dead. I will check these doors to see if they are emitting any magical auras. Herbert, check for traps. Reed and Gribb, ready your weapons in case we need to defend ourselves.
Herbert sets forward as Reed and Gribb ready their weapons. The light from the bullet reflects of the newly drawn steel.
Careful of the body.
The legs of the body are mostly skeletal and bent at unnatural angles.
In a low whisper Herbert relays his findings:
The doors aren't trapped.
He moves slowly away from the body. Something about the way those legs bent unnerves the rogue.
A look at this corpse may reveal something.
The shaft is a death trap. It would take a brave and competent thief to climb out. This man was only the first.
I`m going to have one more look around the room...something still seems amiss.
This is becoming an exercise in exercise.
Reed places his crowbar into the gap of the doors to get the most leverage.
Herbert scans area for traps.
The carvings show an older man in their scenes. We are walking through Akhentepi's life.
Gribb's voice is solemn, the tone appropriate for a funeral.
Let me take a look down this corridor before we proceed.
Herbert, check out the last two flagstones on the floor, they are slightly higher than the rest of the hall.
It takes a while for Herbert to see it. He feels embarrassed that the flagstones evaded his view.
How'd I miss this? It is pretty simple. Let me see about getting this deactivated. Everyone stand back please.
Herbert took care of that. Let's get a marching order for the rest of the tomb. He should be up front. I'm sure he'll be more alert after this mistake.
Herbert you go first, followed by Reed, then myself and Gribb can bring up the rear
Herbert takes his spot in front, pausing long enough to snatch a dart from an unseen recess in the carving.
One of these in the ribs would've been a poor way to start.
He brings the dart closer to the glowing bullet.
No poison, but rusty and nasty none the less.
Lets continue onward. These doors seem to be stuck shut. Reed, can you try to get them open?
The doors aren't locked. Just, takes, some, muscle.
Some help please
Reed's crowbar is sliding from it's place losing any leverage it may have had.
Isis slides her crowbar in as well
Gribb's Crowbar comes in for the assist.
Watch your knuckles brother.
Herbert scrambles into the last available spot. His crowbar threatens to smash his own face if it kicks back.
Grrrrrrr!!
Herbert's crowbar slides into Reed's giving each the leverage they need to pull the doors apart. Isis's crowbar darts into the hole, followed shortly by Gribb's. The Obsidian Marketers make a team effort of defeating the door, but finally it lays open.
Isis takes a look around at what the now open difficult door reveals
isis attempts to detect magic in the room.
Herbert stares at the tapestry.
There's something here..
I recognize several of these symbols and some of the form. I think his family died of a tragedy...see this is disease or death. This means untimely...Does that make sense with what you know of the symbols Isis?
Yes, it does Herbert
We can go north or south Isis. What do you think?
The look of concern hasn't left Gribb's face. His step has been light and his voice soft.
Akhentepi certainly did a fine job commemorating his life. I feel like I know the man and know that feeling will only grow. Surely this must be against the Lady's wishes. Khamet is greedy and thoughtless. The dead deserve better.
Brother, I say this with respect for the dead. This man was a warrior who dreamed of immortality. If I know you, his story will find its way to your journal and reports. A millennia ago he sealed the doors on his story. Without us here to see it and retell it, that story dies. The goddess would be aware of this man with or without his effort. Our eyes and minds find his story, perhaps not immortal, but memorialized at least.
Reed doesn't find any pleasure in the undecided look on his brother's face. Gribb is probably coming around;Reed won this round. The simple crude remarks that flush Gribb's cheeks delight Reed. This profound reordering of beliefs is scary. The depth of his brothers convictions has always been a quiet point of pride for Reed.
It takes a genuinely good man to take his beliefs through this tough life. My brother is wise enough to set down the beliefs that prove false and continue forward. He is braver than I.
Why don`t we check each of these doors for traps and then listen at each one to see if we hear anything on the other side before deciding which one to open?
When Gribb's head comes up and his eyes refocus after the deep searching, he looks clearly at Reed.
I will tell his story, as long as it doesn't shame the man. I am still unsure of our right to be here, but you may have hit upon the goddess's saving grace in this excavation,Reed. Thank you for helping brother.
It is Reed's turn to redden and stammer. His brother rarely praised his internal processes.
I'll take the north door Isis.
Good thing the Cleric came to terms early on. His stance could've been a problem later.
Isis takes a closer look at the door to the south
