I see something glinting up there. I am going to go have a look.
Malph flinches at the banging and noises caused by the other explorers. He returns to the others after watching the trapdoor for a period of time to see if anything comes out.
In a low voice, "There's a trapdoor behind the grating. The wall looks like it's about to fall over here." Malph pats the wall through which lies the end of the hallway. "A solid push from one of you bigger fellows should knock a hole for you to get through. If anyone else is interested, I can keep a lookout from the other side of the room while you all try this way in."
Alassa says, "There is a desk in this room. It might be worth a search for clues or something of use."
Alassa goes over to the desk to search it. She looks for traps first
If she sees no traps she does a through search of the desk to see if anything is on or inside of it, opening drawers and such.
"Oh, that was easier than I thought."
Malph carefully knocks the wall over a few bricks at a time, watching for bricks falling from above to avoid getting hit. After he clears a hole big enough for everyone else, he returns to the party.
"Hi everyone, I found a trapdoor, but I'm not terribly keen on entering alone. Anything on the other side probably heard me already. Anyone else want to come? It's just past this archway I just constructed."
Malph points to the broken wall as one last loose brick falls into the debris pile.
Alassa finding nothing of interest gives a curious look to the flying objects, suspecting more magical trickery rather than actual ghosts. She then leaves the office and says, "There is nothing of interest in that desk. We will have to look elsewhere it seems."
When hearing of the trapdoor, Alassa says, "We should investigate the trap door as if one exists it may lead to the lower levels we saw through the grate."
Having knocked a hole in the wall, Malph exits the stable and circles around the building. He knocks on the now shut door and tries to pull it open.
"Hello in there, I have found another door!"
Matsudaira calls to Alassa
Alassa, what did those papers say? Anything about the Silver Ravens or even who owns this place? Maybe an invoice from someone who we can speak to about the ravens?
Alassa says to Matsudaria, "Unfortunately no such information was found in the papers. Even if there were, the papers were ruined."
Unable to determine anything about the ring Matsudaira puts it in his backpack for inspection later.
As Malph hears the others talking about recent spoils (to his ears), he suddenly stops calling to the others. Maybe he should take a look in the trapdoor first, he thought. Spoils might be on just the other side.
Though usually hesitant to put himself at personal risk, curiosity was starting to get the better of him. I can come back to get these guys after I clear out some things, the little gnome thought.
Malph returns again to the trapdoor and slowly opens it, watching for traps.
Assuming nothing jumps out at him, he slips in as stealthily as possible.
Hearing the laughter, Malph draws out the silver dagger. Spooks, here I come, he thinks to himself. Malph hesitates to venture farther into the darkness without light, but he doesn't want to negate his stealthy entrance.
As he debates with himself, Matsudaira approaches the trapdoor with the sunrod. Malph pushes as far forward into the receding darkness as he can, while sticking to the less deep shadows.
Matsudaira whispers ahead to Malph while simultaneously trying to hide the sunrod's light and see by it.
What do you see?
Matsudaira balls his fists, preparing for whatever is coming. He sets his feet into a ready fighting stance.
Matsudaira launches a flurry of unarmed blows at the nearest creature.
Matsudaira moves toward the closest creature and launches an attack.
Alassa will go and investigate the noise with all haste, wondering if her friends are in danger. She uses her round to move to the fight.
Malph dashes out of the shadows up behind the rats attacking his new friends. Well, I'm glad someone came after me, he thought. He stabs at a rat with the oversized dagger in his hand.
Seeing a rat advancing toward him at speed, Matsudaira throws couple of kicks in its direction.
Gilen finishes smashing the splinters out of the floating furniture long enough to hear the sounds of combat and follows after his comrades, more or less oblivious to anything and everything in his path.