Aldous retrieves his lantern and ascends the steps to examine the door.

"Lemme check this's safe."

[Private to GM: 19:02, Today: Aldous Hack rolled 12 using 3d6.  Traps (12) .]

I'm as ready as ever...

The siblings watch Aldous, as he inspects the door.

In reply to Svendegard Yurick (msg # 334):

Aine recovered yet?

In reply to Aine Walsh (msg # 335):

Aine has recovered 15 minutes worth of fatigue.

The door at the top of the step is locked, but so far, free of traps.

"Well?  D'we wanna op'n it?"

"Yes. Let's see where it goes..."

In reply to Kazimir Yurick (msg # 338):

Finally recovered, Some is ready to go.

Her light held high (well, waist height) she prepares to follow them.

"Sure. Let's go!"

"'Kay."

Holding his light to the keyhole first, for a moment's look into the wards, Aldous pulls a slim bundle of small tools from his pouch and begins probing within the lock, searching out by feel the moving wards, denial bar, and actual latch before selecting the correctly angled hook to lift the denial and slide the latch back.

After a moment, there's a clack from within the lock mechanism.

"Drat!  Gonna take a min'."

[Private to GM: 05:12, Today: Aldous Hack rolled 13 using 3d6.  Lockpicking (11).]

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 340):

You can try again, with +1 as a long action.

Aldous lifts his light for another look into the lock, getting his face so close to the lantern's hot shell it seems he'll be burned.  Then he changes one of the slender tools for a different one, puts the lantern down, and resumes probing.

"Stercore!"  Even for those who known no Latin, the tone of voice carries a meaning.  He scowls and lifts the lantern once more, this time holding it on the other side of his face.  This time, he puts his eye so close to the keyhole that the door handle rattles from the pressure of his head.

He draws back, shakes his head slowly, and returns both of the tools he was holding to his bundle, selecting a different pair.

Another minute of probing, and he shakes his head once more, withdraws and puts away the picks.  "D'no whut's up, but w'ain't got all day.  Aine?  Sparky?  C'n ya magic it op'n?"

[Private to GM: 18:51, Today: Aldous Hack rolled 13 using 3d6.  Lockpicking (11 +1 for long action = 12).
18:51, Today: Aldous Hack rolled 13 using 3d6.  Lockpicking (11 +1 for long action = 12).]

Well if I knew how to pick locks, I could improve my skill, not sure I can cast it on you though? ...

"Dunno. Try it?"

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 344):

If anyone knows continual light, casting it on the tip of the lockpick at candle brightness would give a bonus

Aldous reaches into his other pouch and pulls out the bundle of rusty picks, holding them up and looking at them next to his own reasonably clean set.

[Private to GM: Any tools in the rat-man's set that aren't duplicates?  And are they fragile with rust, or just on the surface?]

So if I were able to light up your lock pick, would that help?

"Mebbe.  Oughta be I c'd do it b' feel.  Won' hurt, tho."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:02, Fri 06 Nov 2020.

Let me see your Lock pick ... he takes the tip in his hand and casts ... there isa small flurry of orange sparks  and he tip quickly fades to normal.
Sparky makes a face... spell fizzled.


[Private to GM:    09:15, Today: Sparky rolled 14 using 3d6.  Continual Light.  Skill is 13  I presume touch is necessary so offers no +1.]

"Spark it up, Sparky! Fire in the hole!"

"You haven't been hanging out with the rope guild, have you?"
Kazimir raises an eyebrow at his daughter, and folds his arms.

In reply to Sparky (msg # 349):

Another try with extra time couldn't  hurt.


The rat man's picks are effectively poor quality due to rust, and may be at -1.

Sparky mumbles something and then concentrates again, speaking the spell very deliberately; this time there is only a minor glowing coming from between his fingers.


[Private to GM:  11:55, Today: Sparky rolled 10 using 3d6.  By 3,  Continual Light.  just moon bright... ]

"Sump'n's better'n nuttin."

Aldous puts away the rusty picks once more, and returns to the lock with his own set, peering into the hole and scowling as he works.

[Private to GM: 18:45, Today: Aldous Hack rolled 15 using 3d6.  Lockpicking (11 +1 for extra time = 12).
Who needs Unluckiness, when you have my dice?]

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 354):

Having a bit of light on the probe may turn out for the better, you have +1 on lock picking for the next 5 days. Perhaps getting a little fresh air might clear your head before trying again.


You will definitely be able to put points into this skill in a bit

With exaggerated care, Aldous stows his lockpicking tools and stands up, his scowl fiercer than before.  He looks at his hands, first the palms, then the backs, then the palms again.

His voice taut and his speech uncharacteristically precise, he speaks: "I need to get away from this for a moment."

Then he walks, lifting his feet high to minimize splashing in the still-draining water, over to the grating, grabs a pair of bars like a cliche image of a jailbird, and sticks his face into one of the gaps, breathing heavily.