"Take a look at this," I say, pointing to the scratched section of the wall opposite the door.
The scratches and scrapes show that this block of stone has rubbed against something recently. There is stone grit at the base of this section of wall.
"Secret passageway." Liandra mutters taking it all in.
Approaching the wall section, Sir Manfred concentrates and tries to Detect Evil.
Knotty will take a low level look, about three foot off the ground.
He also casts detect magic to better see anything beyond normal sight.
That section of the wall does not appear to be particularly evil or magical. It is as much a wall at three feet in height as it is at eye level for normal sized people.
Knotty will be guided by where in the wall Liandra and Galadar point first off. He eventually points up and down, and behind himself paranoid of magical traps.
Knotty will be guided by where in the wall Liandra and Galadar point first off. He eventually points up and down, and behind himself paranoid of magical traps.
Galadar finds nothing magical up or down or behind him.
"I really don't think we have time for this." Eria mumbles watching the back way
I'll search the wall for any obvious ways to open it.
There are no switches, buttons, or levers that you can see.
Liandra begins a systematic search of the room starting near the scratches
Perception
Eria also searches (giving any tapestries a wide berth)
Liandra begins a systematic search of the room starting near the scratches
Perception 1d20+10
Liandra can see scuff marks on the stone of the floor and wall that suggest someone has dug their heels in and put their shoulder against the centre of the square.
Eria also searches (giving any tapestries a wide berth)
1d20 + 6
As Liandra gets closer to the vista of the rising sun, she hears the cry of a familiar bird -- a Aspodell Blue Thrusk. It takes her a second to register that such a bird only cries in the evening.
As Liandra gets closer to the vista of the rising sun, she hears the cry of a familiar bird -- a Aspodell Blue Thrusk. It takes her a second to register that such a bird only cries in the evening.Eria also searches (giving any tapestries a wide berth)
1d20 + 6
Does Eria have any idea where the noise came from?
"Hey goldenboy," she calls looking at the Paladin, "think you can throw some of that muscle over here?"
Sir Manfred looks around, wondering who "goldenboy" is. Then it hits him and he hurries over to help.
Strength check:
"My name," he grits out, "is Sir Manfred VonFalkenburg."
Does Eria have any idea where the noise came from?As Liandra gets closer to the vista of the rising sun, she hears the cry of a familiar bird -- a Aspodell Blue Thrusk. It takes her a second to register that such a bird only cries in the evening.Eria also searches (giving any tapestries a wide berth)
1d20 + 6
The sound appears to be coming from the meadows beyond the keep, which Eria can see through the large openings in the wall but the sun has been rising on them.
Sir Manfred looks around, wondering who "goldenboy" is. Then it hits him and he hurries over to help.
Strength check: 1d20+3
"My name," he grits out, "is Sir Manfred VonFalkenburg."
The wall is unable to mock Sir Manfred, but if it could, it would.
"Do you want a hand, Sir? Come on put your back into it." Knotty laughs at the knight's efforts.
"Not really. If someone strong were to brace their feet before pushing their boots might scuff like this. Especially armored ones."
Snickering quietly Liandra looks over her shoulder at Hru. "Care to give him a hand? I fear the wall has offended our lord's delicate sensibilities."
"Effing move back!" Knoty angrily casts at the wall a knock spell.
"I will not have a single spell left at this rate. Come on we still have to deal with the Baron and get out, .....Sir." he stares hard up at Manfred.
"Effing move back!" Knoty angrily casts at the wall a knock spell.
"I will not have a single spell left at this rate. Come on we still have to deal with the Baron and get out, .....Sir." he stares hard up at Manfred.
The knock spell has no effect on the section of wall. If the wall could speak, it might express a greater willingness to be moved.
Whilst the others try to figure out how to open the door Eria has a listen for the guards downstairs.
Perception
"There are no words to express how useful that was, MISTER Ashe."
Sir Manfred tries again.
Strength check:
Liandra's shoulders shake with barely restrained mirth.
"Galadar, any tricks up you sleeve?"
"There are no words to express how useful that was, MISTER Ashe."
Sir Manfred tries again.
Strength check: 1d20+3
Whilst the others try to figure out how to open the door Eria has a listen for the guards downstairs.
Perception
1d20 + 6
There's some pounding and shouting but Eria doesn't think they've entered this level yet.
"Oh for the...... here let me try"
Eria trys to move the wall section by pushing it
str check
"Oh for the...... here let me try"
Eria trys to move the wall section by pushing it
str check
1d20 + 1
The wall slides back as Eria pushes against it. A flight of stairs heading up sits just beyond it.
"Eria blinks in mild surprise for a minute or two before remembering the others are watching.
"Oh uh nothing to it come on lets get going."
Sir Manfred blinks with astonishment; then gives a quick grin.
"Yes, ma'am." Then he looks at the others. "After you."
Liandra wipes the tears of laughter from her eyes as she enters smiling at Eria
Eria will hold back at the rear for now
Knotty gently shucks Eria's chin as he passes, "like it. Keep showing up the officers, they need to know who does the work round here."
As the party exits the ballroom, Galadar turns back and catches a glimpse of the vistas shimmering as two figures step through them and onto the dance floor. You hear a pained roar above, as if some gigantic beast awoke to find itself trapped in a cage.
"I think we have company," I say, pointing to the two figures entering the ballroom.
The pained roar makes it clear that you also have company above.
"Damn!" Liandra swears as she readies her khukri.
"Why not go through this wall and close off the monsters, or fight one at a time?" Knotty is already backing up into the hole.
"Why not go through this wall and close off the monsters, or fight one at a time?" Knotty is already backing up into the hole.
"Why not go through this wall and close off the monsters, or fight one at a time?" Knotty is already backing up into the hole.
The party can plainly see that the vistas they saw through openings on either wall must have been an illusion. The fact that two figures just stepped through them makes this more clear. The stairs go up to the fourth level.
Knotty keeps one eye on Eria instead of just running for it.
"What are they? and what is that roar from?"