Giving the koold a nod of appreciation at the ease with which he handles the lock, Nahuatl ti follows silently.
Tragon gives one last look in the alleyway to make sure the party is not observed or followed. Then he follows, his blades at the ready in case they encounter any resistance.
Jakun heads to the door and gives Kossel a treat for a job well done. He searches for a way to activate the hidden door.
Perception
The kobold follows,. also looking for the opening mechanism.
Norveg oozes in the door amidst the rest of the crew and stands aside, so as not to be stepped on. He peers around, whiskers twitching. "...just ain't roit..." is the only audible part of his self-directed mumbling.
Taische spots the mechanism that triggers the secret door. It appears unlocked and untrapped. He pushes the small hidden mechanism and the door clicks open quietly.
Past the door is a small length of hall and then a small room. The room is lined with shelving and upon the shelves are various wooden boxes, labeled with one word descriptions like ‘stuffing’ or ‘eyes’. On the floor is a trapdoor with a large polished brass ring set into it. The hinges indicate it swings up and to the back of the room
TAishe examines the trap-door for,... well,... traps.
Once as sure as he can be that the trap door is, in fact , NOT trapped. The kobold gestures to it.
"Little help, much larger friendss?"
Jakun nods at Taishe and lifts the door by the handle, once he is sure that it is indeed clear....
The trapdoor indeed is unlocked and free of traps. Jakun grasps the ring and discovers that the door is well-oiled and relatively light. It opens without a squeak. Below is a shaft leading into darkness. A hempen rope ladder is secured to the side of the shaft.
Taishe bows his head to the massive Minotaur in thanks. The kobold peers down the shaft, and holds up a single claw for silence,...
Taishce peers down, but hears and sees nothing. The shaft is brick lined, very similar to the old zombie pirate smuggler tunnels the group had explored. No one seems to be around the entryway
Tragon offers to lead the way down the corridor.
Taishe looks up at the rest, and nods. The kobold moves and allows the larger, scarier members to go first.
Jakun gives a short snort of deference to the capable warrior as he leads the way. Though a Wizard, Jakun is powerful in stature and heads down the ladder second, plus, if his tactic to use his group effects is to work, he will need to be near the front of the fighting.
Norveg waits until the minotaur's weight is off the rope, then glides down the line to the tunnel below.
Nahuatl ti makes her way down next, climbing carefully after Norveg, with Haplo clinging to her.
Taishe cautiously follows the rest down the rope,...
Narl also heads down the rope trying his best to make it down the rope ladder remembering when he first joined a ship and needed to learn how to navigate such things. He keeps the light on his cane about him so he can see where he is going and offers it up to the other remembers of the group.
The party makes its way down the rope ladder to the floor easily enough. It is staked into the ground to assist in keeping it from swaying overmuch. The brick-lined tunnel weeps water, small rivulets running down the brick, and collecting in a shallow puddle on the floor. It looks like the eastern end of the tunnel is slightly sloped, and the water slowly trickles into the darkness beyond. Those with darkvision or a light source can see the tunnel continuing about 25’ before it turns and line of sight is lost.
On the western brick wall a stout wooden door with iron bands is shut. It again reminds those that explored Parrot Island yesterday of the doors there. This one, though, is well kept. The iron and brass fittings look recently shined and oiled, as does the wood of the door itself. The wood looks to be teak or ironwood, both well known for their water resistance.
"'Sscusse, pleasse,..." Taishe slips forward, and gives the door a once over, turning his head almost sideways to look at it from all angles.
The door sports a solid, if simple key lock. Taishe can see that this door is currently unlocked. There are no traps he can perceive
Tragon, leading the way, opens the door.
The door opens silently, with a well-oiled smoothness. Beyond Tragon can see another hallway. To the north is a shut door, much like the one he just opened. The hallway continues south and makes a turn to the west
Tragon looks into the hallway. "Another door. Does one of you want to check it out?"
"One will be happy to examine." Taishe murmurs softly. The kobold slips past Tragon and peers nearsightedly at the door to the north.
"G'luck, mate," Norveg murmurs, patting Taishe on the shoulder before the kobold shoves past the half-orc.
Taishe thought he saw a trap on the lock, but it turned out to be just an odd tumbler in the keyhole. This door is unlocked as well
Tragon steps forward and opens the door.
Tragon opens the door and sees a small room. A man dressed in dark loose clothing with a bandanna on his brow is sitting slumped in a chair with a tiny desk. He turns his head sleepily towards the door, then his eyes widen in shock as he spies Tragon
Initiative
Tragon, weapons in hand, moves up next to the man. ”Don't make a sound, and you might make it out of here alive,” he says threateningly.
The man blanches then raises his hands slowly.
“Easy friend. I’m in no hurry to be gutted. What do you want me to do?”
Taishe nods slightly, in appreciation of Tragon's excellent use of intimidation tactics.
Norveg squints up at the big half-orc. "So guttin' 'im's off the table? You sure, mate?"
He looks around the room for rope, manacles, strapping tape... anything to bind the captive.
Jakun enters the room and pulls rope from his backpack handing it to Norveg, he begins to inspect the room as well.
Taishe follows Norveg inside the room, also peering around intently,...
”Good, you’ve got some sense,” Tragon says. ”Aye, my furry priest friend - check this gentleman for weapons, why don’t you. And you’ve got the right idea - let’s keep him tied up while we do what we have to do.” He keeps a cutlass leveled at the man’s throat.
The room is very small, in fact just a small 10’ square area. There is the desk and chair, but little else. There is a crudely done mural of the Lotus Deagon symbol on the wall, basically a graffito more than anything
Norveg searches the man, and relieves him of his short sword and a pair of daggers. His belt pouch has a dozen silver falcons and one gold in it. His clothes are unremarkable - light weave loose dark cotton tunic with matching pants. The tunic has a built in cowl, what Opalline youths call a ‘hoodie’.
Taishe enters after the larger folk and looks around.
The kobold gives a non-committal snort at the graffiti on the wall, and continues to examine the rest of the room.
Another door is shut on the north wall
The man clears his throat nervously as Tragon menaces him with the cutlass
“If you would, could you all give me a good clout when you tie me up? Just enough to put me out, mind. It will go easier on me later if my mates think I put up a fight. “
The man tries not to flinch as Norveg investigates him
Taishe's serpentine tongue flickers in and out once. The draconic equivalent of a soft chuckle. He nods his head once.
"One thankss you for your cooperation." He says softly. Then leaves the man for his other, larger companions to deal with, and heads to examine the other door.
The door is similar to the others, and it’s lock looks similar as well. A standard interior heavy door, no intricate gears or suspicious-looking needles in the locking mechanism. However , this one is locked
Attached to the prisoner’s belt is a ring with a large key on it. The key has been painted a bright yellow color
”A good clout could be in the offering. Might even be nice and use my left fist instead of my right. But that’ll cost you. Who else is down here this evening?”
He turns to Taishe. ”My scaly friend - maybe see if there’s any papers in that desk, too.”
TAishe turns away from the door, and nods at Tragon.
"One concurss." he says, and heads toward the desk. The kobold pauses momentarily, and points at the prisoner's Belt.
"Key, Pleasse. Should open door."
Taishe waits a moment, feels the expected tap on his shoulder from his furry friend, then moves and cautiously but swiftly examines the desk and it's contents.
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”A good clout could be in the offering. Might even be nice and use my left fist instead of my right. But that’ll cost you. Who else is down here this evening?”
The man shrugs
“Anyone not on a job is down here. I mean, you know what you are getting into here, right? This is the Lotus Dragon headquarters. I’m not one to tell you your business, and I admire the brass set in coming down here, but if the alarm is raised or Rowyn and her new man Vanthus catch you…”
The man shudders
“You’ll be fish food”
Taishe pauses and looks up from searching the desk. He turns and glances over his shoulder with a reptilian curiosity.
"Your concern iss appreciated. But we are very much looking forward to sseeing Vanthuss. Again."
Taishe gives a slight, reptilian smirk. It makes him look, hungry.
"Vanthuss hass already left uss for fish food once. We are merely here to, return the favor." The kobold hisses softly.
Taishe turns back to searching the desk, and asks over his shoulder.
"How many are here, and not on job tonight? Your accuracy is important."