A disembodied voice says:

"I kinda agree.  Plus, if we mess up and it explodes or something -- less of you to be hurt or to have to deal with the response from within."

The dwarf nodded "That all be good points. Yet, if Dame Daflin or Dame Sarah get the door open then they'll be all alone and those inside be alerted. If the dragon comes out Sarah maybe fine cause she's invisible. Dame Eoni will then have to cross over that wee bridge alone wi' ah dragon n' mayhaps alot of hobgobs on her tail. I nay like that. Also, if there be a secret way in M'laird n' me be the best o' the lot ta find it. The keen eyes o' the elves are well known. Me n' me kin know about stone construction n' we both have eyes fer see'n in the dark."

The dwarf thought for a moment "Ah compromise might be that Dame Daflin n' Sarah go o'er first. We let them get in position. Then M'laird Vaxfor n' me go on across. I'll take off me armor so I'll make less noise. The rest o' ye kin stay here and cover us wi' yer bows n' spells. I'll nay stay this side o' the bridge while Dame Daflin goes across alone unless she orders me ta stay."

"Or . . . Sarah tries it alone?"

In reply to Sarah (msg # 257):

The dwarf nodded again "Aye! the quietest among us fer sure. That ye be invisible makes ye less likely ta be discovered. Wot if ye fail ta disarm the trap? It goes off n' mayhaps yer no longer invisible or mayhaps too hurt ta get back. If yer alone lass n' whoe'er be inside that place will be come'n out... n' the dragon as well. I just nay like the idea of either o' ye being by yerself. I'll do wot ye all think best but I nay like say'n we all be safe n' ye nay be."

"All right, stop," Dame Daflin said firmly, raising a hand.  "Sarah and I will go across.  Everyone else stay here behind the rocks.  If we get the door open, Sarah will come back to get you.

"Just have your bows ready in case something goes wrong."

She held up a hand to forestall Ovo's rebuttal.  "I'll be OK, just be ready to come over when you hear Sarah.

"Sarah," she said in a random direction, "let's go."

She made her way quietly in the direction of the bridge.

Ovo lips trembled as he saw Eoni's hand raised, but he finally nodded. "At least take me shield Dame Daflin. I'll be using me crossbow leastways n' it may protect ye."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:49, Sat 22 Aug 2020.

"If I'm in that much trouble," Dame Daflin said over her shoulder as she walked away, "a shield isn't going to be much help."

Ovo gathered his crossbow and placed a quarrel in the grove and nodded. He then looked to the others. "Well Lads n' lass, ready yer bows. Keep yer eyes on the cave. If the dragon appears and sees Dame Daflin, we fire at it and spread out as best we may. Elam? Wot is the strongest spell ye can throw at ah dragon? Best use that one first, then duck behind this wall only when his eyes are nay yer way then use the next best until he is dead or we are."

Dergan has stood ready to fire an arrow as words flow around him.  He doesn't much listen other than to the tone, if you raised dogs, you know what they say even without knowing their language.  He lays a hand on Ovo's shoulder.

And whispers, "You've a bigger heart than I, yeh don't have to prove it just to cover up that measly beard of yours..."

The issue of who all will investigate the Tiamat Door seemingly resolved, Eoni and Sarah leave the rest of the party behind and approach the natural bridge under cover of darkness. Fortunately, it's a cloudless night and the pair have a half moon and the stars to provide some illumination, otherwise there is no way either of them would be able to see well enough to safely cross the natural bridge.

In any event, only Eoni is visible to the naked eye, Sarah is still cloaked in invisibility as they move out. But both are still very much hearable and smellabale, so Sarah's invisibility is by no means a panacea against detection.

With this thought in mind, the women attempt to cover the distance as quietly as possible. If either are detected along the way, there is no indication. They reach the double door without incident. Unfortunately, the threshold is quite dark, as it is set flush against the mountain, with a sheer cliff rising above. Still, both women can see the five dragon heads clearly pointed at the threshold, and both might be able to make out a vague impression of the strange sigils carved into the lintel. Certainly not enough light to read by though, as all details are cloaked in darkness.

PM

[Private to Eoni Daflin:  "I have the magical club, which gives off a light.  If we cover it, maybe we can control it so that we can see what we're doing better, and you can take a look at those words or glyphs I couldn't read."

Anticipating Eoni's approval, Sarah pulls out one of her large, empty sacks -- but she doesn't allow the club's light to be revealed until she hears from Eoni.]

---

[Private to Sarah: "All right," Eoni whispered back.  "Just a little light.  I want to see what these glyphs look like before I try to dispel their efficacy."

She could have used her tiara, but Sarah's idea of limiting the light was a good plan.]

PM

[Private to Eoni Daflin: Sarah uses the bag to cover the club, then activates its magical light.  Staying as close to the door as possible without touching it (so as to limit the ability for it to be seen from above - hopefully), she slowly she reveals a bit of the light so the writing can be illuminated.]

Those party members who remained behind see a brief flash of light near the Tiamat Door and perhaps Eoni's silhouette before the area is shadowed in darkness once again.

[Private to Eoni Daflin; Sarah: Eoni and Sarah seem strange sigils carved into the lintel, but neither are able to make sense of them. They look like nothing either woman has ever seen before. Definitely writing of some sort, though their meaning remains a mystery.]

"All right," Eoni whispered to Sarah, "you can put the light away.  I don't recognize any of it.

"Let me see about the power you sensed."

Murmuring quietly, she chanted, "Blessed Avandra let me spy what powers guard this wicked sty."

[Private to DM Pawn: Detect Magic to identify what magic Sarah sensed so she can pinpoint what to Dispel.]

More darkness and shadow as the minutes pass...

[Private to Eoni Daflin: The door and each of the five dragon heads strongly radiate magic.

OOC: The dragonheads are all pointed in the doors' general direction.]

Ovo was getting worried and when he saw the light flash, the dwarf nearly rushed forward. He remembered that Dame Daflin asked them to stay... to be ready so he stayed. Though there was light, no one screamed out nor was the dragon alerted. Ovo did not wish to jeopardize their mission so he remained alert but stayed where he was.

"They may be close. Be ready!" he whispered.

---

[Private to Sarah: "There's definitely some sorcery on the door as well as each of the heads," Eoni described quietly to Sarah what she could now see.  "Unfortunately, I can only release one area at a time and I don't think any of the heads will overlap with each other or the door.

"I suspect the sorcery on the door triggers the statue heads to erupt in a fashion matching the dragon they're carved to resemble.

"Do you think that removing the sorcery on the door will uncouple the heads or trigger them?"]

[Private to DM Pawn:
I'm assuming by the scale of everything that a 20' cube can only envelope one of these targets at a time.]

A brilliant shooting star streaks across the sky...

[Private to Eoni Daflin: OOC: The 20 foot cube is large enough an area to encompass the doors and the five dragonheads.]

PM

[Private to Eoni Daflin: Sarah studies as best she can to try to answer Eoni's question . . .

OOC: I don't know if I know, or if I know that I don't know. :)]

More darkness and silence...

[Private to Sarah: Sarah believes the door is the trigger to the trap. Without attempting to Remove Traps, she has no way of knowing whether or disabling the door will neutralize the heads.]

PM

[Private to Eoni Daflin: "I agree that the door is the trigger to the trap; whether it can be disabled at the door -- I don't know without trying.  But it makes sense, I think."]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:54, Tue 25 Aug 2020.

---

[Private to Sarah: "I'll see if I can encompass as much as I can," Eoni whispered.  "You should stand away from the door in case something goes wrong."

Closing her eyes, the Sister of Avandra prepared herself to channel the Essence of her Goddess.]

[Private to DM Pawn:
Give Sarah a chance to move or stay.]

Ovo cursed under his breath! A shooting star? Could such a thing be a warning or signal to the dragon in the cave above or the Wyrmlaird without upon his dragon? Could it mean the trap was sprung and his companions laid dying or already dead? Could it be a sign from the goddess, The Lady Of Luck, that her servant was in need of assistance? Too many questions with no answers. The dwarf looked to Vaxfar and Elam for possible answers.

"Do either o' ye have magics that could give us answers? How do we know the Dames are safe, dead, or captured? Just how long are we to wait afore taking action? I would nay disobey Dame Daflin's order lightly but neither would I just stand here nay knowing that she yet lives for me to obey it?"

It was difficult to make out the look on the dwarf's face in the darkness, but it was clear from his voice and fidgeting that he was concerned. Elam leaned in close and placed his hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "It's just a star, not an omen. Unfortunately, my magic does not allow me to know anything more than you and my eyes provide me far less help than your own. As always, I must rely on my head and logic. If trouble arose, we would certainly hear the sounds of battle, no? They certainly would not go quietly." His voice was confident in his assessment, but he turned to the elf. "You know them better than the rest of us. We will follow your lead if you sense any need to change directives."