PBEM - Episode 240. Secret Doors and Vaults.

TWO HUNDRED FORTY

(I/C)

Brendon kept his ear pressed against the secret passage back to the throne room while the party debated their options.  “Shit,” Lyra cursed, “there goes our hide at the Butcher’s. Once they find out she’s gone they’re going to ransack the entire first floor looking for us.”

Kovid was comparing his map and Arik’s map to where we were, turning to the eastern wall. “Wyn, what’d ya say you try your key one more time on this east door here. Map seems to indicate a safe room behind the throne.”

Stepping up to look over the keyhole, Wyn replied, "Oui, dwarfriend. East door makes most sense to moi, too."

While the elf was going through his key ring, Lyra continued, “If we CAN open the locked door we should explore both rooms - see where they lead before we decide what to do next. I’m up for resting until we can go back in the throne room and grab those crystals - or at least look at them and the bodies.” 

Slumping down in pain and holding his ribs, Lannis pulled his hat lower and replied to the cleric, "That sounds fine to me, I could certainly go for a rest, I'm not quite feeling myself at the moment. However, I do not think we should touch those crystals, not without way more information on what we're doing. They seem to be in some kind of balance or alignment, who knows what might happen if we touch one, or try to remove one? I know you might perceive me as abrasive at times, but please, let's just leave the crystals alone for now."

Abraxas was watching everyone, Scythe up, point wavering in a slow circle. “Going back to look at the crystals later seems fine to me. We could look around and perhaps come back here to rest after. Seems like no one has been here for a long long tiempo. This should be where we reconventilate once we want to rest.” Looking down at the aching magic user, the fighter asked, “Señor Laysana, how are you feeling? How was being dead?"

“Kind of like talking to Lyra,” he replied, eyes close, “But darker.”

Kovid pointed at the south part of the hall and the secret door in that direction. “We didn’t see any doors in the hall we traveled that would connect to it. It also seems to be above the spy area. Like this hall it’s a safe bet no one’s been in there for a long time. It’s definitely intriguing. South door being a push stone, seems likely it’s a hidden entrance on the other side. Most likely a public space. Just something to keep in mind.”

“Señor Kovarch?” Abraxas said with a smile, “You choose, we will follow.”

Meanwhile Wyn had discarded the possibility of the Throne Room Key, but was surprised to see the key labeled Vault fit in the lock perfectly and turned slightly. "Ah... I tink dis be de one. Everyone ready?” He got a number of nods and grunts from the party save Brendon. “Cen someone poke de scout en tell him eet be time to go?"

“Sorry,” Brendon replied stepping up. “There is still some movement in the Throne Room, but no other real conversation.”

“Bien,” the elf asserted. Pointing back to the eastern secret door, he advised the group, “We ain't know what behind dis, but now or never, oui? Un. Deux. Trois!"

He turned the key and the secret door opened out towards them slow and heavy, the entire foot and a half thick wall turned on a faintly grating pivot point. Beyond our lantern picked up a 20’ x 20’ chamber. In the middle was a stout oaken table with some scrollwork along the edges on which sat a stout iron banded wooden chest. The chest had a bronze latch lock that looked like a screaming face with wide raised eyes. 4 chairs with light padding sat around the table. There were 2 small barrels (5 gallon) on the east side of the room, each of them closed and had tar seal around their tops.

On the north wall was a bell mounted on a swivel, with what seemed to be a hammer attached to it, designed to rap along the wall if it was rung. A rope ran from the bell and hung slack, running east to a hole in the wall near the ceiling. Stepping further into the room and looking around some more, on the west wall just south of the door was a set of dusty but silvered steel elven chainmail (would fit an elf or a woman). A green cloak with black knotwork designs was on a hook along with a stout bow (short) made of Heartswood and a thin quiver with perhaps 10 arrows. 5 of the arrows had dark fletching and black heads etched with golden runes and 5 had white fletching with silvered heads etched with copper runes.

Before anyone could say anything, Lannis raised his hand and said, “No one is claiming ‘dibs’ on anything so don’t waste your time.” He looked down, “And there is considerably less dust in here but it smells old and unused. I’m good to go in.”

Time now is Day 6, 5:02 PM

(OOC)

Congrats on finding the Vault! Hidden behind 2 secret doors, was only going to be discovered by chance. Going in?