The party sans Sorin huddle under the canoe, speeding back to the Tormite, collecting her, then rushing over to the other curtained area.
Dex Save:
"Let's have a quick look.."
Watching from the safety of the corridor, Sorin is impressed with the ingenuity of her companions. As the canoe swings her way, she slides quickly underneath deftly falling in step with the others.
Everyone moves forward under the canoe to the other set of velvety black drapes, and Jack slows everyone to push back the curtain with at least a little caution. Beyond, most of you can see what appears to be a workshop; benches and desks are piled high with all sorts of vials, alchemical apparatus, mysterious objects, and what must be the spell components of a wizard. Everything looks cramped and chaotic, but to the discerning eye there is an underlying logic apparent to the contents of the room.
However, before anyone can move or react further, a series of elvish letters flares up in phosphorescent blue, right before Jack's nose. After a moment, they reshape themselves into common, then dwarvish. They read:
Know ye this, that all shall be turned to stone, shall ye enter this place of the over-mage.
Less than half a second later, the hiss of dissolving boot leather reaches your ears.
"Kraz doesn't like the idea of being a rock.. Kraz thinks we should maybe come back after we finds the wizard.."
As simple as it is, Sorin cannot refute Kraz’s logic. ”I agree. Let’s get moving and out of this acid.
"Yes, we can always stop back on our way out...and maybe by then this acid will have run its course! To the door!"
To the observer, it must appear as if some strange, multi-legged canoe-like creature is scurrying around the ritual chamber as the acid that drips from the ceiling pools on the floor. As one, you wheel and hurry over to the open door to the southwest.
Once through, you find yourselves in an unlit, stone-worked corridor that continues on for twenty feet before turning at a 45 degree angle to head due west . Setting the acid-riddled canoe aside (it's just about ready to fall apart) you make your way to the bend.
Thirty feet farther along, those of you able to see in the gloom make out a closed wooden and iron-bound door.
"Kraz thinks you better check for traps Jack.."
"Kraz thinks you better check for traps Jack.."
Jack moves forward and, by the light of the magic spheres that float around the group, is able to examine the door for any traps.
Traps (Investigation)!:
Jack examines the door for traps or any other signs of strangeness, but finds nothing by the light of the glowing balls. He steps back, unconvinced, but unable to detect anything dangerous about it.
Stepping up to his side as Beerg notices Jacks puzzled look.
"What are you thinking Jack? Is it trapped?
Beerg examines the door intensely and listens to see if he can hear anything beyond its seal.
Beerg moves up to the door and listens carefully. Through the thick wood he hears the faint sounds of a male voice.
Beerg silently gestures to Jack to hold, while he listens. Swiftly turning his head
"I can here someone in there!, but I cant make out what they're doing. "
"Jack, check this door one more time and then lets go in? Or can you see beyond the door with some magic spell Nilelane?."
;)
Jack attempts to crack the door open just enough so they can hear better what is being said on the other side.
Kraz waits, sword at the ready..
Jack carefully tries the door, concentrating on being as silent as possible... but there's no need. The doorknob doesn't even turn.
Perception:
Sorin watches the rear trying to remain alert to other dangers though seems to be slightly distracted by the action at the door.
"Can you pick lock, or does Kraz need to break it down?"
"Just give me a moment..."Jack mutters as he examines the doors lock
Examine Lock (perception?):
Jack looks intently at the lock, and while he is confident it isn't trapped at all, there is something odd about the internals. It's as if some unseen thing is holding the pins in place...
"There is something wrong with this door. The pins to the lock will not move, but I can see no reason why! If we want in we might have to knock the door down, or use some sort of magic to open it."
Jack sits back on his haunches, frustration etched all over his face.
"Let Kraz try his key.."
He moves up and smashes the door with his greatsword..
Beerg looks on as kraz bashes into the door, as he readies himself to assist if it doesn't work.
Greatswords are not made for chopping through iron-bound doors, but Kraz's mighty swing crashes into the locked door, doing visible damage to its structural integrity - cracks run up the central third of the door, from near the top to about three feet from the bottom.
Kraz rages and swings again.
Kraz attacks the door with an impressive brutality, and after a few devastating hacks - one of which sprays splinters of wood as the central section of the door collapses - you can see into the room beyond.
Peering in the door without poking your heads through it, you can see the chamber, shrouded in darkness is 50 feet long north to south, 30 feet wide, and 20 feet high (the now destroyed door is in the east wall). It contains a large, stone throne encrusted with six black pearls to the north, and two onyx tables with elegant runes carved upon them to the south. A giant mural covering the three walls of the chamber facing the throne shows dwarves being captured by drow, carried in boats on an underground river, working in a slave camp, and being magically and painfully transformed into gibberlings, which are then shown stampeding away through tall fields of ripe wheat. The mural works around a small door in the wall directly opposite the throne to the south. Behind and above the throne on the north wall is a ledge which holds various souvenirs and trophies - dwarven banners, shields, and what appears to be the skull of some kind of giant.
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Kraz moves in looking for something to swing his sword at..
"Kraz has come to fight Wizard! Don't be a hiding coward!"
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"Ummm, Nilelane could you please move your light into the room. I cannot see a thing!"
Jack slides into the dark room and moves off to one side to let the others entre.
Kraz steps boldly into the room, and his challenge echoes through the chamber. Jack follows after, skirting along the wall. It is cold in here, and both the half-orc and the human get the uncomfortable feeling they are being watched, like a shiver down one's spine.
Beerg enters the room with Jack and Kraz. As he steps behind them he bows his head and focuses his thoughts. little cotton strings of light pull towards Beerg and enter his head, yet it doesnt effect the light of the room.
You strain your divine senses, searching for the presence of particularly terrible evil. You sense nothing, however.
Nilelane sees the runes are a twisted form of elvish used by the drow, although she can't discern their meaning or function; for all she knows, they are merely decorative.
Sorin cautiously enters the room, staff held in a defensive position in front of her. Looking around, she is sure they cannot be alone.
Jack scans the room for anything that might be considered a trap or out of place.
Perception:
Jack scans the room but doesn't spot anything particularly suspicious. Soren looks around, the words of a prayer on her lips, but she doesn't spot a target for her holy fire.