Lalandar, looking at the group states I suspect a trap with the ropes but the doors could easily be traps too. I would look in the open room first, where those ropes are. We can use the fire to make torches if we desire.
Sounds as good a way as any.
Assuming we all agree, Lalandar will do a Perception check with the help of the torch, assuming no one disapproves of the torch use
It's quickly apparent that the ropes are slack and no threat. In fact, they are attached to battered buckets. Getting closer, you see the low wall is in fact surrounding a well. The buckets are apparently used to dip water from an underwater stream that you can see flowing below thanks to the light of your light source.
An opening in the northwest corner of the room leads away. The room is otherwise empty of anything significant - dust and a bit of trash are the only real decorations other than three empty torch sconces mounted on the walls.
This well can't be the only water source or they would have gaurded it more fiercely. Even goblins know the value of water.
Conn shrugs, ”Maybe. In the time I’ve been here, this is the first time anyone’s tried to invade their space. We fight in the courtyard a little, skirmish in the woods a lot, and clean up after their failed invasions some mornings. I wouldn’t say they are smart or dumb, but I wouldn’t say we’ve tested their defenses, either. Why does it matter if they have other water?”
I don't figure on waiting for them to die of thirst. Which hole should we check next?
Still wouldn't go down until we've cleared here..
Ferrum grunts his assent, nodding. "Maybe they were guarding that hall where you saw the door. Didn't seem to care about this room, eh?"
Bose Nods, Makes sense to me big guy. I wasn't intending to go swimming. Let us be on our way?
Moving forward down the hall that the goblins appeared to be guarding, the party finds the door previously noticed by Lalandar on the left (south) side of the hall. A small alcove across from it (on the right, or north, side) has a second door.
In a whisper we should check all these doors. If Ferrum was right, might be at least some valuables here.
Ferrum, knowing he's the only one with darkvision, steps up to the corner past the two doors and takes a position as a lookout while the others examine the doors.
Listening at the south door, you hear nothing from within. Because that roll was so high, I will offer that you do hear faint voices, probably speaking in goblin, in the distance echoing down the hallway beyond Ferrum. They do not seem to be very close and do not seem to be getting closer at this time.
The north door does not have a lock, either, and you do not see light emanating from the other side of it. No traps are apparent, yada, yada, yada. Listening at this door, you hear nothing from within.
Peering at the door, Lalandar freezes and in a whisper shh, I hear goblins I think down the hall. Be aware Ferrum. I don't notice anything around these doors but that last trap makes me wary. Someone else want to take a look before we explode.. er, I mean explore?
The goblins are too far to make out words. It’s more like a group of them trying to talk over each other in a crowded room. Think grade school cafeteria or a crowded bar.
If there are goblins ahead we can't afford to waste more time. I'll try my hand at finding any traps around the door.
Since you know that you will only have a few minutes of Iluvitar's aid, I presume you will check as much as possible during the window you have available.
Jaonos says a prayer to Iluvitar that ends with him passing his right hand over his eyes. Trusting in his deity's assistance, he examines each door in turn. Bose does likewise. No one finds indications of a trap.
Both doors open into the space beyond, but when you push them, they yield, but only slightly. They appear to be stuck in their frames. You may be able to force them open, but doing so quietly will require some care and possibly some luck.
I don't believe these doors are with the trouble. If we force them open it is very likely that we will alert every goblin in the area of our presence.
In a whisper This might make some noise. Sir Alfren, please would you support Ferrum in case trouble shows up.
Lalandar’s shoulder just doesn’t budge the door.
Jaonos sighs and places his bow on his back and leans into the door.
When Lalandar steps back from the door, Jaonos sighs, realizing that they are going to open them one way or another, and gives it a few good pushes. The door gives way on the third push with a grind that sends a chill down everyone's spine.
Ferrum and Alfren report no sign of visitors. Once free of the frame, the door swings relatively easily to reveal an untidy tangle of boxes and barrels filling much of the relatively small chamber.
The group, finding nothing of obvious value or insight into their foes, checks the hall carefully. Ferrum still watches patiently, but Alfren cannot see without light, so when the party's lights come back into the hall, he looks their way. He shakes his head, so they go on. Jaonos, feeling empowered by his earlier success, gives the door two good shoves and it swings open, easier than the first.
This small room appears to be an armory. Small-sized suits of leather armor lie heaped in one corner and nearby a pile of bucklers adds to the disorganization. Covered with an array of weapons, sagging shelves line the walls.
Spending a few moments in this new room, Lalandar does a quick look around.
Then moving back to the other room, he glanced again.
Lalandar focus in the first room is on the shelves. The armor doesnt interest him too much.
In room two, the barrels interest him as he does his cursory look around.
First check, Lalandar finds that the majority of the gear on the shelves is Small; sized for goblins makes sense in this context.
Looking closer, he realizes there is a random pile of gear that is too large for goblins. He finds morningstars, longswords, studded leather, and scale mail along with a variety of other mundane gear potentially useful to the party.
As he turns to leave, he casts a disdainful glance at the pile of goblin-sized leather armor and notices a few things: Most of the armor contains significant damage and bloodstains implying that the previous owner was probably was killed while wearing it; All of the armor and buckler include the symbol you've associated with the tribe you are expecting to find here; and there is an oh-so-faint outline in the wall behind the pile of armor.
Searching the second room, you find that the food is usable and could be taken for rations (or possible resale, but it would be heavy to haul enough to town to make it worthwhile). The barrels contain a sour red wine. Two barrels are full while the third is roughly half-full.
Do you all see that behind the armor? Jaonos, can you take a step over here and see if its nefarious?
Jaonos’ divinely-enhanced sight detects no traps. In the process of examining it, he moved some of the armor away from the wall, allowing Lalandar to find a loose stone hidden under the armor.
Moving this stone reveals a catch that easily opens the stone panel, revealing in turn a narrow tunnel covered in dust and cobwebs. It appears nothing has passed through here in a generation. Well, a shorter-lived race’s generation, anyway.
Peering into the narrow tunnel, Lalandar sees:
Cobwebs throng the ceiling of this small, roughly finished chamber and dust lies thick on the floor. A small chest stands against one wall next to a pile of mouldering bedrolls. The flickering light of a torch fills the room.
Odd that this hidden room would have light...
well, we are here for treasure and mystery so let's take a look. A archer may want to stay close by. Ferrum, you can move back toward our opening. We might be a minute unless you are fine where you are. Lalandar will try to crawl in. [Ooc] if Jaonos has time left on his trap clock... I'd gladly let him go first. [/b]
Perhaps the dog should go first as he will be atless of a disadvantage.
Jaonos calls softly to Frenhir to summon his complain. While waiting for Frenhir to reach them, he draws his bow from his back.
While I'm not keen to the idea, if he is willing, perhaps Frenhir can check to ensure the cost is clear. He will be the least exposed when going through the opening
Frenhir trots over to Joanos and observes the room. He approaches the opening. As he gets closer, the fir on his back stands up. He stops to sniff the opening.
Frenhir sniffs the air and looks up at his friend, but there is no hesitation as he moves into the tunnel. Once inside, he sniffs around some more, pawing at the bedrolls for a moment, then turning to look at Jaonos. He seems to be awaiting instructions, then he sneezes once and looks back at you.
Crawling into the tunnel, Jaonos finds a room that by all signs is long-abandoned. The last of his blessed sight shows no concerns before he feels the sensation fade and he knows the spell has expired. The ceiling is thick with cobwebs, but where he can see past, the room appears to be about ten feet in height.
A single torch sconce is mounted to the wall above the tunnel. A carved wooden torch - far fancier than anything you’d buy in town - rests in the sconce, shedding light though there is no flame nor heat.
Investigating the ancient moldering bedrolls, Jaonos finds a vial of liquid that detect magic shows to have an eldritch aura. The chest is unlocked and contains foodstuffs and clothing, both old and rotten and of no value.
After staring at the vial for a second, lalandar will go over to the torch and try and identify how it burns
After these checks, lalandar will, if the clothing is unidentified, will attempt a untrained knowledge check.
Lalandar's inspection of the potion identifies it as a potion of invisibility while he recognizes the unusual torch as an everburning torch, usually created by casting continual light on an otherwise unremarkable torch - apparently, the creator of this one wished it to be somewhat decorative, as well.
His knowledge of the clothes, however, is less certain. He does know that the style is not one he is familiar with. It is certainly not Elven.
At Lalandar's invitation to rejoin the group, Ferrum shakes his head and growls, "Nah, I'm fine. Kid, you go see what's up. The dark doesn't suit you, aye?"
Alfren doesn't hesitate, following Lalandar into the armory. While the druid and his animal explore the tunnel, the young man looks at the gear on the shelf. "Hey, Conn, remember that time Jorma and Unto came back to the keep all beat up, said they'd gotten into a scrape with a bear?" He holds up the chest piece of a suit of studded leather armor. "We thought those two ran away, but this is Jorma's armor or I'm a, an old goat."
Conn squints at the armor, "Mebbe, but what's his armor doing down here? Those idiots skipped out on the boss a week ago." Alfren just stares at him, waiting for the older man to make the connection. He finally says, weakly, "There's not much blood on it, is all."
Alfren turns back to the shelf, perusing. He selects two goblin-sized short swords and a longsword sized for a human hand to go with his existing armament. He holds up a suit of scale mail, but it's obvious that the weight would be too much for his slender frame, so he sets it down. Conn smirks and turns away. As he leaves the room, he tosses over his shoulder at the younger man, "Next thing, you'll be guarding caravans and earning an honest wage. I'll go listen down the hall with the bruiser."
Bose will gladly collect extra 'daggers' and would have entered the armory at the mention of blades.
Bose will gladly collect extra 'daggers' and would have entered the armory at the mention of blades.
While you are in the armory making your selections, Conn trots into the room. Seeing you all looking relaxed, he looks around, confusion evident. "What is it? I heard the dog bark and thought something must have happened..."