"I doubt it.  Probably a private door.  But it's now our private door, so..."

Continues heading to the room with the metal door.

"I have, um, a master key.  Sometimes takes a couple tries to get it to work, though."

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 805):

Charlene takes a position with readied spear to the side of the door, allowing space for someone to work the lock.

In reply to Charlene Le Poire (msg # 806):

Clarence holds the light to give someone plenty of light to work with the lock.

Jareth checks the lock to see if either of his keys will fit and gives the door the once over for obvious traps.


OOC:  01:18, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 13 using 3d6.  Checking metal door for traps.  Skill 14.

Mario approaches the door, feeler and lever in hand.  "This may take a minute."  He probes in the lock for a moment with the feeler, inserts the lever and maneuvers it around a ward, then with a smooth movement rotates the lever to push back the bolt.

"That should do it."  He puts his tools back in his pouch as he backs away from the door.

[Private to GM: 05:05, Today: Mario Crowfoot rolled 7 using 3d6.  Lockpicking (11) .]

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 809):

Jareth could not detect any traps, and Mario sprung the lock with a dull clang.

The door slowly swings open, revealing a spieal staircase down.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 810):

Clarence move forward, holding the light tready to follow whoever leads down the stairs.

Jareth follows keeping a wary eye out for rune traps... and any other traps.

Mario follows Clarence, beckoning for Charlene and Jocelyn.  "Mellarill, you bring up the rear."

Yeah, always fuckin' last...

I stay back - be two

In reply to Brodak (msg # 815):

An odd odor drifts up from the depths.

Rherevare no signs of runes on the steps...

In reply to Narrator (msg # 816):

Clarence continues to follow whoever leads in silence.

OOC: Just noticed that Clarence is following, Jareth is following, Mario is following -- who's leading?  I can take point if needed.

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 818):

Lol, who knows where we are going?

Jareth continues leading down the spiral staircase.



OOC:

Mario Crowfoot:

OOC: Just noticed that Clarence is following, Jareth is following, Mario is following -- who's leading?  I can take point if needed.

Right my bad...  when I responded I thought Clarence was taking the lead...  so if no one objects, let's just say Jareth took the lead initially.

After all, he ostensibly 'knows his way around down here', and it would be natural for Clarence and Charlene to fall in behind him from past rat hunts/mapping missions.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 820):

After what seems to be an extended descent, Jareth realizes that these steps lead below the catchment rooms to what must be the third level down.
There is not much damp here, and the peculiar odor is becoming stronger, an odor not unlike fish oil, and vaguely familiar.


Anyone have merchant or connoisseur skills?

Jareth opens a flapped closed pocket on his great coat and gives the ferret within a poke, "Ere, wake up you.  Give a sniff an report."





OOC Jareth has Merchant and Connoisseur at defautl... technically everyone does at IQ-5... but Jareth has bonuses.

14:07, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 6 using 3d6.  Merchant 11, What an incredible smell we've discovered!

Let me guess... ambergris?

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 822):

Clarence has no idea.

"Rotting fish, isn't it? Perhaps the lantern burning effects my smell. No wait, it is magical..."

In reply to Clarence Montague (msg # 823):

Smells like...raw wet silk

Mario sniffs.

"Seems kind of familiar, like something from the cellar at the orphanage.  Never liked going down there when I was small.  Dark, and it smelled funny."

As he clears the steps, Nodwin  also blinks at the smell permeating around them.
"That smells a little familiar."


23:09, Today: Nodwin Zideqick rolled 8 using 3d6.  Merchant 12.

"Wet silk.  Think we're headin t'e right direction."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 827):

"Wet silk? huh? Why, what has that got to do with anything?"