As Bruno stands ready he sees his fellow dwarf throw the goblin. The grimace on his face indicates his distaste for the action and he gives Uthecar a look that suggests his disapproval, but he says nothing not wanting to make unnecessary noise.

"Oh, sorry that was rude of me.  My little friend Ginger, she speaks to me in my thoughts at times.  I forget myself at times and reply out loud to her.  She pointed out to me that my first few shots were misses and that I should have done better."

Zan stopped what he was doing to watch the goblin toss.

Uthecar sees the distasteful stare from Brother Bruno, and shrugs his shoulders as if to say, "What?  Don't tell me you didn't always want to do that."

He continues watching the goblin spinning out over the ledge and as it starts to lose elevation he replies to Zan, "You're a strange one elf, even for an elf."  It is said a little absentmindedly, as his attention is on the final resting place of the goblin shot.

Uthecar's loft is perfect, the trajectory at a slight incline.  The goblin spins, limbs straight out - spread eagle.  Initially it looked to be a clean, admirable throw, but as the body helicoptered, it seemed to gain height and the distance took on monumental proportions.

Now, the downslope is at about 45% decline, easily a good 60, perhaps even 70 yards down to the stream.  The stream is about 10 yards wide.  By the time the goblin crashes to earth, it has cleared the stream by another 15 or so yards.  After bouncing, it settles a clear 20 yards past the stream.

An impressive throw indeed, one that instills awe, and a certain level of humor after the tension of the past couple days.

Once the laughter has died, the party regains their composure and begins the inspection of the portal.  First Myrrick, then Zan take a look at the door, searching in varied form and fashion - both agree there is a lock, though they seem befuddled by it.  Neither is successful in locating a trap, if trap there be.  Stepping back, both give way to Weasel.

He looks at his compatriots, rubs his hands together, and gives the door a study.  Reaching into a small pouch at his side, he pulls forth a small implement with a wooden handle & sharp point.  From the same pouch he pulls forth a small mallet and gives the wooden handle of the first tool a sharp rap.

There is the sound of wood breaking within the small crack in the door, then Weasel steps back and says, "I've disabled the trigger holding the darts in place.  Anyone got the key?"

Bruno watches the throw. He does not laugh. He seems... Embarrassed? Repulsed? Angry? Yes. All three of them simultaneously. He takes a breath and seems about to say something when Weasel speaks.

Looking from the young human to Zan he asks, "You do have a key, do you not?"

Not waiting for an answer he looks back to Uthecar, "Do unto others, stripling, and mind the thin ice you're dancing across."

"That I did, brother, that I did."  Uthecar nods in agreement with a smile of content.  Bruno knows he got his point, even though he makes out Bruno meant he had just done what a goblin would do if the tables were turned. (and they had the strength)

Although they have traveled together for some time, the two dwarves do not know each other very well. Bruno had been warned of Uthecar's lack of discipline and immaturity, but his actions here seem beyond the pale. He's turning out to be just the smart ass, the Sergeant warned he was. And an unfortunate lack of morals to boot.

Help me with this one Soul Forger!

His face remains somber in response to the smile and he turns back to Zan looking for the elf's response to his question.

"I thought dwarf throwing was illegal in most of the Rakers?" said Weasel, as he looks at the body of the goblin across the water, it's limbs spread akimbo.  "Shame t'boot, critter might of had some treasure for us to spoil."

"Impressive throw, though we might could have used the body as a pin cusion were something  shooting back at us but no matter, I'm sure that we will figure out something"

"As for a key, I did check the goblin can't say that he had a key on him.  So if he didn't have a key he would have had to knock or something.  Don't figure knocking would be the best of actions, So I guessing that we may be able to open it without a key."

Zan got out his silk rope and tie it to the door knocker, "We can us the rope to stand at a distance and open the door.  That way if something come spring out, we are ready to deal with it."

OOC: obviously assuming that the door opens out.

"I doubt goblins care for the legality of dwarf throwing." Uthecar observes to Weasels question.  "He was too small to make much of a pincushion mage, but where he is, is sufficient to not warn others that this gate has been challenged once we go through.  Given the distance he obtained, no one will think he has been thrown.  From here it is just another dead goblin who never made it home.  Perhaps wolves will disposed of the corpse before anyone notices."

He turns away from the body, already forgotten.  He wasn't going to explain it further, his methods were often controversial, but he was use to getting things done.  It served to illustrate what the racial hate dwarves and goblins had for each other really meant.

The door handle, such as it is, seems to indicate the need to pull, thus it seems likely the door will pull out.

All that to say: there is a lever to pull down to unhatch the door so that it does open.  Based upon Weasel's claim, the trap's been disabled...

Uthecar holds up his hand as Zan starts to unwind and tie the rope to the door, "A good idea in theory ghost talker, but the mechanism is such that, that will not work.  This one is made so those opening it remain in the danger zone from those beyond.  I lack your smarts, that is clear, or the skill set of the lads," he says with some surprise, as he witnessed the tools Weasel had used, "I'm just the mug that stands in front and gives out a beating"  He shrugs, "I'm dwarven, it's what we do.  You might like to position yourselves again for arrow fire," he says turning to everyone with a ranged weapon.  "as long as you shoot like he did the second time when he took down the gobber.  That was a fine shot.  Don't make me your pincushion, and I will go toe to toe with whatever is beyond and hold them back as you pick them off."

He will wait for others to have their say, or for anyone to propose an alternative or better plan.

"Sounds like you know a thing or two about doors.  Your plan is solid, I'll move to a spot that will give me a clean look.  I would suggest that you try and draw any out that you can so we can help with arrows, if you charge in our ability to support will be limited."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:32, Thu 13 Oct 2016.

Myrrick shrugged and nodded, "I am all in, let's get ready." drawing his bow and knocking an arrow, "Ready when you are."

Bruno says nothing, but it obvious that he too is ready. His crossbow is loaded where it remains on his shoulder and his hammer and shield are to hand and at the ready.

ooc: I'm trying to figure out what you're doing.  Are you affixing the rope to the door to yank it open?  There is a catch mechanism in place that will prevent it from opening without first lifting the catch...fyi.  At this point as well, those who studied the mechanism all think it's locked.

I will say this, however: dwarves have stone-working ability of a sort, and can intuit things of this type of nature.  I'll give each dwarf a wisdom roll (d20 & roll less than wisdom score).  If one or both roll less than their score, I'll let you know what you intuit.

Uthecar is taking point, and opening the latch.  Everyone else is standing back with ranged weapons to pick off whatever comes through.  If they are one of the hated races, there's a very good chance Uthecar is going to see red and get all medieval again.

I must admit I assumed Weasel had also unlocked the mechanism when he disarmed it.  (Joking - Weasel why would you leave it locked man?!!)

Happy to play this out as it is, as truthfully I (= Uthecar) had assumed the lock was open after Weasel had finished, and haven't thought to question it.  We're young and green, possible rookie mistake?

ooc: to clarify, there is an 'open locks' roll that had to be made - he did not.  Low levels tend toward more misses than hits, unfortunately - 'tis a hazardous trade, Sir Dwarf!  Be thankful: Weasel found the trap that was in the door!

Zan looked the door over, "Some of the doors, I come across have a catch mechanism, making it appear to be locked, almost like it requires two people to open the door.  Of couse that makes me wonder how that lone goblin was planning on opening the door.  Maybe he would need to knock to get them to open the door, could always try that.  If we can't figure out how to get it open from this side"


OOC: 08:30, Today: Zan rolled 26 using 1d100.  open lock.  Success   Let us know if this is sufficient to get the door open.
LOL an adventure that can't start cause we can't get the door open.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:42, Fri 14 Oct 2016.

Bruno also takes a look at the door and lock and the stoneworks therein along with everyone else....



I misread the post and added my Wisdom bonus, but it still worked out okay:
Bruno Rhunthane rolled 7 using 1d20+3.  Dwarven Insight Roll.

Both Zan and Bruno have zen moments: the door is locked, but it is an easy mechanism to unlock, especially with the trap being disabled.  The party can now move forward as planned.

ooc: LOL - so right.  'Um, the door's locked.  Let's go home.'

Relieved that they have managed to get through the lock Bruno shifts the crossbow hanging from his shoulder and the rest of his gear as he picks up his shield and gets ready to move forward, "If the door was locked, that goblin, who appeared to be either escaping or a messenger, would have had a key to get back in if he were a messenger, no?

"And if he didn't or was escaping there would've been his fellows on the other side to open it up for him or are running after him, no?

"And if they are others, but have not heard us out here or noted the disabling of their trap... That suggests they may be waiting on the other side, no?

"Let us be ready, comrades!"

"If there're poison darts for a door, what about the first ten steps inside?  Best place to put a trap is right next to another one that is easier to find."

Weasel moves in, odd shortsword in hand, checking the floors and ceilings for more traps, especially pits and dead-falls.

Keeping to the back of the group, Kullonar was shocked to watch Uthecar chuck the dead goblin off the trail and across the river. He made a mental note of it and shook his head at the blatant disregard for the dead...regardless of the species. He thought about the tenets of the Cudgel while the others explored ahead, trying the door...and failing.
"We could have always knocked," he says to no one in particular as he readies to follow his companions inside...

Uthecar places his right hand on the latch mechanism ready to open it, and in his left hand he holds his ax.  He looks to everyone to make sure they are all ready and in position.

OOC:  It isn't clear whether we are about to open a double door or a single door Seer.