Siward offered Fiene one of his rations from his pack, should he elect to leave an offering for the imposing creature. That done, he moves in the direction of the northern passageway, trusting that St. Ras is guiding his and his companions’ steps.

Urkov moves away with Vitchna keeping himself between the bear and his old friend.

OOC I see Vitchna as a valuable asset allowing us to carry much more. I will protect her.

Anfinn looked on awaiting for a strong fighter to take on the bear head on. His sword sheathed. Anfinn grasped one of his daggers and anticipated a chance to stab the fury beast in the back if need be. Otherwise the slight thin man will stay out of its way.

Everyone was careful not to upset Coal, the bear having demonstrated the canyon as part of its territory and turned its back on them as it climbed up to the cave mouth in the south wall and entered the cave.

On the other side of the canyon Ben and Siward headed to the man made entrance on the canyon floor. The doorway was open to the outside with dirt and debris blown in and around the entrance. The interior was darkness.

Protectively Urkov led Vitchna further away from the bear whilst Teodore stood defiantly with sword drawn to protect the party.

Teodore looks at the others and jerks his head slightly toward the northern entrance, heading in that direction, continuing to keep his sword and shield ready.

"I'll have to find you another cloak, Ermengard."  Fiene says, lifting his staff, and turning towards the northern entrance.  "Come along."

Anfinn flung his hair back and stood. The thief made his way to safety confident the ear had left them alone.

Adventurers began to gather around the northern entrance. The adventurers saw through the entrance way a dark room. Dirt and debris had been blown in by the wind. Deeper inside a mildewed door could be seen in the north wall.

Northern chamber
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:06, Wed 09 Dec 2020.

As of yet Stonehell had not revealed any of its mysteries to Barnabas -- if this was even the entrance to it. To remedy this, Barnabas asks, in hushed tones, whether the "door expert" would venture forth and ply his trade.

Fiene relights his lantern, directing the light towards the northern passages.

With the room lit, Teodore steps forward into the center of the room, watching both the revealed passages for trouble and covering the others as they enter the room.

Recklessly or bravely the fighter Teodore entered into the unknown chamber. Loyally the old man Hopkins followed with his back bent. Hopkins kept to the edge of the chamber and looked suspiciously at the detritus. The chamber was dirty and unkempt, dirt and leaves had gathered in the corners. The door Teodore found himself next to was mildewed and he could smell rot.

Passageways led both east and west out of the chamber but the light from Fiene's lantern could not penetrate far from his position in the doorway.

Northern chamber

OOC

Day: 1. Time: 10:10am. Turn: 7. Weather: Clear. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:22, Thu 10 Dec 2020.

Fiene moves deeper into the room. Is shining his lantern to expose the darkness. "Fortune favors the bold." he says to those behind.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:41, Thu 10 Dec 2020.

The lantern light filled the chamber, which showed it to be in a poor state of disrepair. The smell of rot was apparent to any that entered. To the west along a short corridor the northern wall of a smaller chamber could be seen. To east the corridor turned northward into darkness.



OOC I've added more characters to the map, but if you want to stay away from the chamber or explore elsewhere let me know.

"You know, Teodore," Barnabas produces, while fidgeting at the entrance, "why don't you just open the door -- so long as you don't think the floor will give way or the ceiling will collapse when you do?"

"I'd rather follow a hallway where I can see what's coming," the fighter replies. "Any preference?"

Anfinn scratched his whiskers and said, "so do we go in? Maybe I can find some gold or trinkets...."

"I think," Ben replies neutrally, "that those 'gold and trinkets' will be more likely to be found in the rooms -- not in the hallways."

He does not add that he doesn't like to leave any door unopened; that's just a personal thing for him.

”Perhaps we should take a glimpse inside that chamber before pressing onward,” Siward suggested, his nose wrinkling slightly at the lingering scent of decay.

Fiene approaches door in question, trying to tell if is has been opened recently.  The rot coming from it seemed to suggest it was not much of a barrier to someone or something determined.  Still, he checked the handle to see if it turns.

When Fiene does that, Teodore relents. "I will open the door if you think it the better option."

The door was four foot wide and eight foot tall, made of rotting wood and rusty iron bands. The wood was swollen and damp to touch when Fiene approached. He took the handle and twisted, the water logged wood was stubborn but a little effort made the handle move.

The thief walked in to the room and looked at the three men inside. "Well you all are bigger and stronger than me, but if we are need of someone to check locks or for traps. Please step aside and let me do what it is I was born for... outside of my looks."

"All yours." The fighter waves Anfinn toward the door with a small smile.

With more and more people fussing with or about the door, Barnabas (mentally) increases the odds of it being opened from three in ten to four.