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Rummaging through the locker's contents, Lizbeth restrains hersellf from showing off any the guards more 'personal' effects, remembering to act with at least a little decorum in public as 'official investigators' however she keeps a few ideas back for discussion later.
Following the new and perkier Kara out of the room Lizbeth waits for her to examine the vault before speaking.
"Well boys and girls seems like we have a Vault to search! Then we will do the office on the way out?"
The double doors to the north leads down a set of stairs which end at a corridor. This bare corridor leads to the double doors of the vault. A hook for a hanging lantern is mounted on the western wall at the base of the stairs, and underneath it is a single chair.
Neither Lebraerio nor Lizbeth sense anything amiss. The vault door is securely locked.
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Lizbeth, her tools out and rolled at her feet pouts at the dwarf as she is about to start on the Vault's mechanisms, it would seem that doing things legitimately may be the best way around here though. Standing up and packing away her kit, she watches Balfour work on the door.
"Of course Darling, please be careful now!"
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"Hold it, Lizbeth", says Balfour as he moves to the front, next to the vault door.
"Let me handle this."
Balfour stretches his fingers, clenches his fists, then takes the key out from his back pocket and opens the door.
"My dear if we let men handle everything by themselves we would need a fine pickle. I mean 'we'd indeed be in a fine pickle'." Rilia smiles faintly at the mistake and readies her rapier.
Beyond the heavy steel door, this darkened chamber is lined with shelves, including freestanding shelving in the center. There is ample room in the vault, but labeled boxes, bags, weapons, and armor are spread throughout.
Balfour spots two rather interesting things. Five feet past the doors, there is a five-foot-by-ten-foot pressure plate on the floor. Furthermore, a secret panel is built into the shelves just east ofthe vault entrance.
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Lizbeth shrugs at Balfours statements and tips him a wink as her tools once more materialize in her hands with a mischievous grin. Patting the dwarf on the shoulder she kneels to examine the pointed out pressure plate and softly begins to examine it for defects.
"Well, my Forté is Sea chests, but I am sure I can make an acception for my dearest Dwarf."
Lizbeth struggles with the trap, but Lebraerio swoops in and takes care of it. As he stands up to asses his work, the doors behind him and Lizbeth suddenly swing shut. Momentary panic sets in before they remember that Balfour is on the other side with the keys.
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Lizbeth jumps involuntarily as the doors slam behind them and turns on her heel gracefully before composing herself with a deep breath. With a voice loud enough she hopes the others can hear she turns to Leb.
"Well I never dear! If you wanted some alone time you could have just asked!" she teases mercilessly before going back to the door and knocks loudly.
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The short one comments that thieving is so dishonorable he can't really imagine what a thief might do. When the doors close, he pulls out his polearm and shouts for Balfour to open the door again.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Balfour reopens the door without issue, allowing the entire party to enter.
Veilblade's suspicious eyes see nothing. Lizbeth is confident that she has disabled the door closing mechanism.
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Lizbeth shrugs elgantly, stepping into the hallway and motioning for Balfour to toss her the keys in case her door jamming skills become undone.
"Sure, as long as you are not implying you don't trust me in the merchant's vault? For a town moneylender he has quite the collection of war-related gear though. Be careful my darlings!"
As the rest of the party are snooping around the inside of the vault, Lizbeth and Balfour suddenly spot a humanoid creature trying to sneak out. It's skin changes color to better blend in with the background.
The creature attempts to step past Balfour, but it takes more than that to fool a dwarf, and he cuts it down with one fell swing.
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Lizbeth, just about to call out a warning to her allies is stunned into silence be the sudden ferocity of their comrade Balfour and his efficient greatsword. Snapping back to focus at Balfour's question she nods and laughs.
"Besmara's T@%$! That was impressive Balfour! Remind me not to tick you off! Let us take a look, that camouflage trick was unlike anything i've seen before"
Cautiously, Lizbeth makes her way to the near-decapitated fe and looks it over.
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The short gray thing comments that retreat is dishonorable and checks to see if the skulk is still breathing
-Posted with Wayfinder
The skulk is close to death, but still breathing.
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"We need answers! CLEAR!" Rilia produces her blush-worthy stubby black-lacquered wand, warns the little gray goblin guy away, jabs it at the skulk's chest, and utters the command phrase "Ooh, Yess."
She looks the mostly-naked creature over.
"A skulk and a drug addled one at that. Does anyone speak anything subterranean? Someone tie him up, and I'll try and bring him(?)-" She checks. "-around."
"Hmm." Rilia puzzles. "How does it hold the third blade it's carrying?"
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Lizbeth shrugs as she watches the decidedly odd display by Rillia, holding back a giggle at the suggestive healing implement.
"Drug addled? Hmm, this makes a perfect assassin that one would find hard to notice and could be easily controlled through addiction. I am sure the daggers are there to throw and the Sword to stab my dear."
Leaving Rillia to play with the nearly departed SKulk, Lizbeth searches the vault for any other potential clues, or missing items.
Lizbeth finds no clues in the vault, but the rest of the party hears a feeble voice from under their feet.
"Is Zahkar alright? I'm trapped down here in a pit..."
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The gray thing points at the disarmed trap they are standing on and says the voice must be coming from inside the trap.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The voice hesitates for a moment before continuing.
"I'm Rogi. I'm a skulk like Zahkar. I fell into this trap when we tried to escape."
Uh, perhaps...? Promise not to hurt me?
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Bored with searching, Lizbeth returns to the group to see what the fuss is all about, smiling at Balfour's deduction and tipping the dwarf a wink. Stretching out on the trap she speaks to the trapped Skulk.
Hmm, what crime did you commit? Your friend had a run in with a frightfully efficient Dwarf here and lasted no more than a handful of heartbeats. May that spur you to be truthful before a similar fate befalls you. I am able to get you out, if you co-operate..."