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Hatfield knows he's not sneaky or silent. Shaking his head and using facial expressions, he does his best to convey that he doesn't want to fight.
The healer nods to the door to the south (farthest away from the curtain, in this room) hoping to explore and glean more information about the situation down here.
Nasir nods his head, understanding Doc's choice.
He also shrugs his shoulders at Ayita's question and then shakes his head "No".
Nasir then points his sword to the same door that Doc indicated and shakes his head "Yes".
Roscoe agrees with Doc's thoughts that they should survey the situation before proceeding. However, he did not like that he was claiming it as his idea, since clearly Roscoe had already thought of it as he analyzed tactics, possible responses, and the various parries and counter-attacks they might employ to counter the enemy's myriad of possible actions.
He points at the door, then Ayita, and whispers "Check for traps."
Nasir nods in agreement and positions himself between the curtain and the western door to try to protect the team should attacks come from this direction. He waits for Ayita to check the door to the south.
Nasir thinks to himself.
It is good that we have a competent scout in our squad. They have always been worth their weight in gold...
Ayita heads to the south door, grinning a bit at Roscoe's latest switch.
[dice=Checking for traps]1d20+9+1
[dice=disabling any device found]1d20+12
Ayita finds no traps on this unlocked door. As she is checking, she is a bit clumsy and the door creaks open slightly under pressure from her investigation.
The walls of this wide hallway are carved with dense inscriptions. The inscriptions converge into a spiraling pattern the south. Forty-five feet to the south, the hallway doglegs to the right.
Ayita can see periodic pulses of orange light to the south, but cannot see the source, yet.
Nasir looks down the hallway and sees the pulses of orange light.
Looks like some foul magic might be in progress there...
He points with his sword to the now opened hallway, jabbing in it's direction to indicate that everyone should go in. He continues to watch the other entrances for signs of attack as he slowly starts walking to the door that Ayita has opened.
Frantino will usher everyone out into the hallway then quietly close the door behind him as he follows. He'll resume his rear guard position.
Ayita finds no traps. The heroes walk into the hallway towards the orange glow.
The runes inscribed on the walls in Thassilonian: All Hail the Mother of Wrath, Queen of Ire, Runelord Alaznist! May she whip us bloody for our patheticness! We will delight in the pain her wrath imposes upon us! We will cry out in honor and ask "May we have another, please, Lady!" Alaznist, greatest of Runelords, Lady of the Hellflumes, Destroyer of Her Enemies, Mistress of Anger and Hatred. She is just the super duper best and we love it when she smacks us!
It goes on and on. Words of praise and adoration for Alaznist and her wrath, directed at others, at the praisers, her people, at everybody....etc etc.
The runic inscriptions spiral along the walls until they encircle a glowing orange space upon the south wall. You can see the wall through the glowing circle of runes. The adoring inscription at the glowing wall changes to say "Let Her power flow from the Forges of Wrath within great Hollow Mountain to us here. May we be graced with the opportunity to return there and bow before Her."
Perhaps if you put your hand through...
Opposite the glowing portal is a mundane door on the north wall. It is closed.
There is also a door on the east wall of the hallway, near the initial entrance that Ayita just checked for traps.
Frantino whispers, "We should check out the door on the left before seeing what is glowing around the corner."
The spirit residing in Roscoe simmers at the language praising Alaznist.
Curse her! May she die a thousand deaths! I was always her better!
Roscoe spits.
But he does look at the runes and tries to determine what it does, then shares what he thinks he knows.
"The spiraled runes are part of a magical portal that currently functions only one way. Things can arrive, but the portal will not open in the "outbound" direction. Any attempt to erase the runes only results in them reappearing within a second. Perhaps some powerful magic could close it off or turn it off, temporarily. But the malfunction is likely a problem at the origin point, not here."
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Ayita nods, going up to the first red-circled door, on the left, and checking it for traps and sounds of disgusting squishing tentacled things.
If no squishing sounds, and if she finds a trap or lock, once the party is ready, she will start to attempt open it quietly. (She waits for others' input and movement.)
Frantino moves down the hall past Ayita to make sure nothing comes around the corner at the party.
Ayita nods, going up to the first red-circled door, on the left, and checking it for traps and sounds of disgusting squishing tentacled things.
[dice=perception for traps]1d20+9+1
If no squishing sounds, and if she finds a trap or lock, once the party is ready, she will start to attempt open it quietly. (She waits for others' input and movement.)
[dice=disable device]1d20+12
There is definitely something moving on the other side of the door.
The door is also locked. And you can pick the lock easily.
Roscoe nods at the suggestion of Nasir opening the door.
"Get it, big guy. I'll cover you with the best covering fire you'll ever see. Everyone else, eyes open!!!"
Nasir moves in and quietly closes the door. But he hangs back, reticent.
"OK, Ayita, open the door, please."
Nasir moves from the back of the group to support the entry into this new door. He readies himself for anything with shield up and sword poised as Ayita opens the door.
Assuming that no one is coming at us from the glowing area, Frantino prepares to follow Nasir through the door, greatsword in hand.
Ayita opens the door and Nasir steps up... and sees... oh s$+!.
Monsters. Lots and lots of monsters. An entire room full of the things that crawled out of the well and into town under cover of night.
I assume we roll initiative? Do we have a surprise round?
By the Dawnflower's breath...are they breeding these abominations?!?!?
If the creatures don't seem to notice the open door, Nasir will indicate to Ayita close it. Once she does, Nasir will grab the door handle with his shield hand and whisper to Ayita.
"Lock it."
"Yes, lock that!" Roscoe whispers harshly.
"We struggled with one--six would be devastating!"
The monsters all slowly turn and look at the Kelishite warrior, standing behind a shield in the doorway.
The door is definitely strong enough to hold one or two. It was securely locked when you arrived. You wonder why somebody would lock six of these things in here. Especially when you've already seen them in the dojo sparring with humans, earlier.
Why are these in here? Why aren't they trying to bust out? CAN they bust out?
Nasir's estimation of the door is that it is strong, but not INCREDIBLY strong. The entryway is a good choke point and it will make it hard for multiple creatures to rush the door and force it.
Roscoe surveys the situation.
"Can we form a bottleneck here and fight them one at a time? If so, maybe we go for it!" he says encouragingly.
"I mean, with me leading, how could we fail?"
Nasir whispers to Ayita urgently.
"Lock this door!"
Ayita quickly works to re-lock the door...
[dice=disable device]1d20+12
Ayita expertly locks the door, ensuring it is sealed as tightly as possible.
Nasir wonders just how "sealed" the door can be, as the creatures on the other side <thump> into the door. He can hear them grunting and babbling as they try to force the door.
"There's no guarantee the door will hold that many back! I'd rather these things not come up behind us while we're examining the glowing runes. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Roscoe's plan seems sound. We'll set up a kill zone right outside the door and take them one at a time. We need the corners covered, too, so none of them can push between us. Doc, if you have a wand of mage armor now would be the time to use it!"
Frantino moves to set up a flank with Ayita and readies his greatsword.
"Who wants to be a large-sized version of themselves?" Roscoe asks as he plans the upcoming tactics for the battle.
Frantino will give Nasir first dibs on being enlarged, if Nasir declines then he'll happily give it a try.