Over the night the frost waned and by morning the day was warm. The sun shone and the sky was clear with only a few stray clouds.

The parties trip through the forest and into the foothills was uninterrupted. They reached the canyon and stood before the broken gates.

OOC If any characters have anything else left to do in town let me and we can sort it out.

Day: 11. Time: 6:00am. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

"Somewhere south of the dragon's den," Derry says to himself, before turning to Fiene.

"Have you tried the room in the southeastern corner?"

OOC NE corner if you look at the wiki map.

Assuming that she has joined the group, Kara takes stock of her fellows.

There was already a magic-user in the group, two in fact. On seemed to be the leader, the other, laconic indeed. But despite the one being leader, there seemed to be some unspoken animosity or exasperation towards him from some of the other members. Perhaps it was his personality, or stemmed from some event that had happened? Whatever it was, it could not have been too unpleasant. They were all setting out again together, after all.

Two warriors, a human and a dwarf. The human seemed pleasant enough, but relaxed. The dwarf seemed a friendly sort- was that unusual for dwarves, she wondered?

And then a cleric, clearly still a novice. But that was not anything to look down upon. It was not as if she was anything but a novice in her field as well.

There was no burglar or locksmith among them though, and she assumed that was why there was such a focus on finding a key to some locked doors.

The locked door... While she had hoped to go to explore the ruins of the tower, they were already on a quest of their own so she had to put her own goals aside for now. It was best to focus on the task at hand at the moment. So, she asked a few questions for clarity as they walked.

"This key- have we any leads on where it might be, or what might lie beyond the doors? Is there any particular reason to feel those doors are so important in a dungeon as big as Stonehell? And as for the door itself, there may be no key. Is there any reason not to just come with axes, crowbars, and oil and take the door down physically if it has stymied you so? Is it enchanted or made of stone, to prevent that, perhaps?"

Devin didn't really know his way around past the first few turns. He'd always been paying more attention to the shadows and creepy crawlies.

Fiene leaves his usual offering for Coal, and for St Ras on their way through the canyon.

He responds to the dwarf. "That room was empty." Fiene says.  "I was planning on going around one way door, and exploring the passages to either side of the north south passage.   I'm certain there is a way around the door, there are enough Orcs and Kobolds, that they must know a way around.  One of the kobold's told me about a marketplace to the south east.  Though if the one way door could be spiked, it may be a shorter route.  Assuming it remained unmolested."

To Kara, he adds. "The oracle said it was to the south."  he offers as explanation.  "Since the doors are still locked, whatever treasure that may be behind them must still remains.  It is somewhat close to the entrance, and the dangers of deep travel are lessened.  When I approached the door at first, I had neither crowbars or battering rams.  I suppose that would be a less elegant solution, if we came prepared of such.  Though I fear the noise might draw the attention of aggressive inhabitants.  On my first delve, I was able to charm a group of orcs into helping me slay 'da dragon'. and would hope to do similar if I encounter another band."

To all he adds.  "You may choose to go your own paths, and I would think none the less of you.  I do not expect my goals and reasonings to be everyone's."  Fiend goes towards the stairs and again starts his descent into Stonehell.

Kara listened to Fiene's explanation, and appreciated the response and the logic behind it. It made sense for the most part, if one had come here for treasure. Not that she agreed with everything he said, but she could follow his thinking on the matter and that was important.

So, she responded, "I have three things I wish to accomplish in and about Stonehell. None are time sensitive, save for my own impatience. So, I will go and see if we can solve the problem of the door first. Perhaps once we have made that attempt, and come to a solution one way or another, I can prevail upon everyone to come with me to the ruins of Modnar's tower."

So, she would go with Fiene on his doorquest, ensconcing herself in the middle rear of the group for protection in case she needed to cast spells on something hostile.

The party safely passed through the gatehouse and into the canyon. Fiene made his offerings on both the bear Coal and the deity Saint Ras. The bear was not seen.

They reached the archway that would lead them into Stonehell dungeon.

OOC Day: 11. Time: 9:20am. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

No light

Fiene lights his lantern, and Holden a torch.  Unless there are objections, he begins the trek down the stairs.

Led by Fiene the party reached the bottom of the stairs and into the dungeon.

OOC Which direction are you heading? Any particular marching order?

Day: 11. Time: 9:30am. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Lantern oil and torches
Fiene: 1 Turn - lit
Holden: 1 Turn - lit

Devin listened with one ear to the conversation between dwarf and wizard about making the one-way opening they'd used before into an exit as well.

"Could we use a board from the pit trap to keep it wedged open?" he proposed.  "Something less permanent than a spike if we needed to retreat in a hurry without being followed back through?"

Kara went along with the others. She was a bit surprised by a discussion of equipment, coupled with her questions about a crowbar or axe before. If they truly knew where they were going and what they were facing, then why not stock up with those items in town before coming? Perhaps their last delve had been a very very poor one indeed, and they had not the coppers to pay for such items. That would be an understandable reason, and a far more charitable than believing they simply did not believe in planning.

Responding to Devin, she said thoughtfully, "That could work, but there would be nothing stopping a random goblin or kobold from taking the board and shutting the door rather easily. Perhaps taking about a large rock from outside to pound in a spike? Parts of buildings are crumbling, so it should be possible to find a suitable one without much effort. Of course, driving a spike would be noisier than taking down a door."


(ooc)

DM:

OOC Which direction are you heading? Any particular marching order?

As noted, Kara is in the middle rear (center rear) of the group.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:42, Fri 03 Sept 2021.

If Fiene is leading the way, then Teodore will stay just a step or two off his shoulder, ready to protect him should danger arise, without interfering with the wizard's own hired guard.

Devin stuck close to Theodore.