Secret Door

Sandros, as the group is traveling through the tunnel, every so often tries to give a look back towards Avon. If the fellow wouldn't pout so much, he might actually be kinda fun to hang around with...

Once the group has reached the end of the trail, so to speak, Sandros chews on his food quietly. He watches as the dwarf continues to look around, and shakes his head. What he wouldn't give to have the skills that came naturally to that fellow.

His infravision helping him out(at least he can see those in front of him walking and stopping and such) Andrew makes his way through the cave. Doing his best to stay as quiet as possible Andrew is fairly worn out by the exertion and stress of the expedtion so far and quite happy for a rest. Feeling exactly the opposite way about the caves than Daggda(all that stone where the open sky is supposed to be makes for a very uncomfortable elf) Andrew is a little withdrawn while he eats a bit of rations from his pack. Taking a renewed interest in the search for the door (the sooner to be out of this hole in the ground the better) Andrew searches with the others for the secret of the door.

Daggda scrambles over to the corner of hand-hewn rock, and begins search around the floor of this corner for evidence of movement from a door, or previous tracks. The dwarf elaborates on the earlier statement. "I think we should finish our lunch very quietly," the dwarf whispers tensely. "I can search for evidence of concealed doors and passageways amongst stonework, but this is very rough stonework indeed. It is not masonry or a barrier to stop the tides, since the tides do not come this far. I think an entrance is hidden somewhere here. Avon, your eyes may help mine in finding such a hidden door or its handle." The dwarf continues the search from floor to the wall.

Once the reach the end of the tunnel, Myr staggers over to the closest soft spot and collapses animatedly to the ground with a large moan, sprawling out her arms and legs as if she's about to make a sand angel. "Sweet peppercorns in a moose's behind!! I can't move. I'm pooped!" She lies there prone, staring up at the ceiling, until lunch is suggested, and then she rolls over enough to get something out of her backpack, and eats it lying down.

When everyone else begins looking for the hidden entrance, she drags her dust covered self up from the floor with a jingle of her extra-large chain mail and digs Flybreath out of her pocket, offering him a piece of apple before sitting him on the ground beside her. "Flybreath, dahling... be a sweetie, and search the ceiling, would you now? There's a good lizard." She pats him on the head, and begins searching herself.

Flybreath swivels one eye around at Myridian, and beams a thought at her: "Search for what?"

Myr smiles at the lizard. "Search for, you know... cracks. Um... cracks that don't belong. Just see if you can see into another room besides this one." She looks down at him. "Am I making any sense?"

Flybreath swivels his other eye up to look at the craggy ceiling of natural rock, and beams a thought at Myr:

"Yeah, sure. Cracks. Looks like lots of cracks from down here, but I'll be glad to go up and look. Anything for you, oh provider of apple snacks."

He scampers up the wall and begins to look at the rocky ceiling. Within about 30 seconds he starts pelting Myridian with thoughts, "There's a crack over here, and here's another one... two more over here... Dont see any other room though. LOOK! this rock is a little loose, so there's a crack all around it.. OH GEEZ! a whole bunch of cracks over here... and another one .... HEY LOOK. These 4 cracks come together and make a kind of spider shape... One more crack over near this rock and another and here's another..."

And on, and on, and on, and on. AND ON AND ON... In about 2 minutes, Myr is holding her hands over her ears. She wants to recall the little lizard, but he's having such a good time---being out of her pocket and exploring and actually finding all these useful cracks.

Myridian turns the demon-ceiling-crack-hunter, Flybreath, loose and begins to search for a secret door on the walls or floor.  Andrew's already there, peering at rocks and walls.  Avon takes a stroll around the cavern to see what is in the places nobody else is looking, but all he finds are rocks, more rocks, and some boot prints in the dust.  Daggda is looking at the walls and floor too.  Tav and Quill join in, with Quill's sword turned up to maximum light -- it's the only source of light in the cavern.

Finally, coated in a thin layer of sweat in the stale air of the cavern, the explorers stand back, looking at the door in frustration.

"Maybe it's magically locked," Myr suddenly realizes, as a pleased, and somewhat tired Flybreath scurries up her side, and sits happily upon his shoulder. One could swear that the little guy was smiling. "I'll check," she says, and moving to stand before it, she concentrates upon the door, trying to detect any magic about it.

Daggda watches Myr in her spell-weaving, curious as to what she is looking for. The dwarf does not want to interfere, especially with fool magics, but waits to help Tav look for that secret button or conspicuously well-worn rock.

Soon Myridian turns away... "No magic in that door that I could detect."

After searching for a while longer if nothing presents itself as any sort of solution Andrew will mentally scroll through his magical options. After pondering for a time his head pops up, "how thick do you suppose that door is Daggda? If it's not too thick I may have just the trick. One problem. If anybody comes across the door afterwards they WILL know someone's been here. There won't be much left. So we'll only try it if we can't find any other way."

"Hmm...I couldn't imagine it's very thick," Daggda mused, hands gently carressing the stone wall as though it were a silk curtain. Ear to the stone, tapping ever so softly, the dwarf is deep in thought. "Hmm..." Then Daggda bolts upwards and grins at Andrew. "Gotcha! Hell, I have no idea how thick it is, unless I take a pick to it. I can tell where hands have shaped natural stone, and I can tell you if our route heads upwards or downwards, but I can't see through stone."

Daggda hears the "cantankerous dwarf" voice creeping in again, and consciously shifts to a self-deprecating manner. "In any case, it's a door, so at this size it won't be more than a foot thick, at most. When you've figured what you are planning, please tell us." The dwarf completes the search, and if the young warrior has found nothing, sits down on the sandy cavern floor. "Anybody want to hear another joke?"

Tavarak grins Daggda as he puts his hand thru the crack in the wall (Left hand) and searches around the other side for a lever or button.

Tav looks at the mage and chuckles, "Your not going to create a rampaging elephant by chance are you?"

Tav stifles a laugh. "Yes Daggda lets hear a joke, yet don't make it to funny or else our laughter will give us away for sure."

During all this patter, the adventurers are looking around the walls near the door carefully for some sort of mechanism or perhaps a door bell... and soon Daggda finds a small hole in the wall near the floor, behind a rock on the floor. Moving the "concealing" rock out of the Daggda explores: it is large enough to put a hand in, and Daggda does so. The dwarf's extended arm is just long enough to touch a metal handle of some sort, set in the upper side of the hole.

A longer arm is soon found as Tav volunteers to stick his hand in the guillotine... [--No.. sorry.. bad joke.]

A longer arm is soon found as Tav volunteers to stick his hand in the hole and he says, "It's some sort of lever. Should I push it?"

[Quill] The half-elf switches the illuminated sword to her left hand as she tries to examine the area around the hole Tav's arm is in. (or at least as close as she can get) "It's amazing the lengths people will go to hide something," she whispers.

Tav looks at Quill and grins "Hmmmm I do appreciate the light, but do me a favour and try not to cut my arm off with that sword if you please"

"Maybe we should check it for traps first?" is Andrew's only suggestion.

The darkness is comforting to Avon. Although it is a cave and not a mansion or a castle he feels at ease. The knowledge that the inky black shadows give him cover sooths the anxiety in his mind. His muscles relax, his eyes embrace the nothingness. Then suddenly his attention focuses on the outside world again. He can hear some one ask whether or not to open a door, and words about traps. “Wait,” he whispers, “get away from the door. Let me light my candle. Some one can open the door. I can have a look before we all storm in.” But being careful not be too eager, like the last few times, he stays back while he offers his advice.

"Hmm, yes." The dwarf peers intently at the hole with the hidden lever. "I think we had best all be ready to storm in, just in case Avon's search for traps triggers anything, or opens the door. We have to assume that once the door opens, whoever is on the other side will be ready for us." Looking around at everyone, Daggda continues. "Everyone should have your weapons or spells ready, other gear stowed away. If the door opens unexpectedly, we should charge in, but quietly. If we get lucky, nobody will know the door has opened. Since Avon is already checking for traps, I recommend we use our previous single-file order to go through the door if it opens. What do you think?"

While waiting for a response, Daggda chuckles, "Of course, Avon, if you don't find any traps and the door doesn't open accidentally, we'll have more time to discuss the whole matter, won't we?" Daggda makes certain the back pack is secure, chainmail tightly fastened, and footman's pick fimrly in hand before Avon inspects the secret door's lever.

"Everyone should have your weapons or spells ready, other gear stowed away. If the door opens unexpectedly, we should charge in, but quietly. If we get lucky, nobody will know the door has opened. Since Avon is already checking for traps, I recommend we use our previous single-file order to go through the door if it opens. What do you think?"

Tav nods, "An excellent idea, Andrew, and an even better solution Avon." Tav moves out of the way so the thief can check the lever for traps. He begins to mentally prepare himself for a possible battle. "Its times like these i really miss Stalwart and a solid lance." Tav looks at the confines of the cave "Hmmm then again perhaps not." Tav ponders Daggda's proposal for a moment. I think that order was fine for exploring the unknown, but I think this situation calls for more of a punch up front. perhaps something like..."

Daggda (F/C) Tavarak (B) Quill (R) Sandros (F) Veneron (M) Andrew (D) Myridian (M) Avon (T)

"This will also have the added bonus of having some of our climbers towards the back, so if we need to make a run for it they can get to the ropes quicker then aid the rest of us.

Avon takes a quick look at the hole in the wall and shrugs, reaching his hand in to touch the lever. He feels -- as Tav indicated -- a metal bar mounted in the roof of the hole. He withdraws his hand and then turns to the area around the door. "Not much to be seen, actually, " he advises. "A thin crack around the door. Nothing much unusual. And I cant even see the lever inside the hole, let alone tell if there's a trap on it. What we're going to need to do is push -- or pull -- on the lever and then look at what happens."

Tav whispers (for no reason other then it would seem appropriate to do so) "Open the door and lets see what we shall see." He looks at Daggda, "And I still want to hear your joke my friend."

Nervous and uncomfortable in the dark confines of the cave Andrew takes up his position and runs through possible scenarios in his mind while he waits for the door to be opened. The possibilities of what "could" happen seem endless. Trying to focus on his spell options Andrew prays fervently to Najela to see them safely out of this dank hole in the ground some time very soon.

Myr seems more than happy to take her place near the end of the line, and she so hovers close to Andrew, he can feel her warm breath tickling the hairs on the back of his neck. "Have we met?" she jokes, then quickly silences herself.

Flybreath nestles himself against some pocket fuzz, and is soon asleep

Andrew is tense and jumps a little when he feels Myr so close. Not that he's opposed to it in any way she just suprised him is all. Taking a deep breath, his spirits rise, among other things, at her and her unique sense of humor, "never did like waiting," he whispers back with a smile on his face. He seems a little more at ease if still nervous.

With an embarrassed laugh, everyone realizes at more or less the same time that EVERYONE is standing around the door, waiting for it to open.... Hands poised on weapons, spells at the ready... Quill and Avon are discussing the relative merits of putting out all the lights and using just Avon's candle, or leaving Quill's sword blazing bright. Sandros coughs quietly, and whispers, "Well, I guess somebody's going to have to leave the door and go over and push the lever, or whatever."

Tired of waiting, still in one of his dark moods, Avon pulls/pushes the lever. "Oops sorry," he whispers, just before he pushes the lever.

He has to push on it quite hard, but finally the mechanism -- whatever it is -- engages and there is an audible CLUNK of metal.
Everyone jumps a bit in the semi-lite cavern at the sound, and stares expectantly at the secret door.

But nothing happens. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

Finally Tav approaches the door and pushes tentatively ... then with more force.  **IT MOVES**

The door slides back an inch.  It is heavy, as a large hunk of rock should be, and Tav calls for reinforcements.  Soon enough, Sandros, Daggda, & Quill are all leaning and pushing against the large slab of rock that forms the door.

There is a loudish SQUEEEEEKKKKK of rusty iron rollers and the rock door glides back grudgingly.  Pushing straight back, there's a gap of about 2 ft thru which people can squeeze.  Looking down, one can see there is an set of iron rollers set into the floor upon which the rock door moves, and there are several metal bars -- now retracted -- that would have extended from the inside wall to lock the door in place.

Tav sticks his head around the edge of the door.  It all looks black and empty.

Daggda takes a quick look around the door as well.  "This tunnel is man made,"  is the dwarf's quick comment.  "And that noise would alert ANYthing down this tunnel that we're here.  Maybe we should either go fast and in force --- or ask Avon to use his invisible light and scout ahead."

[Tav] "This is true Daggda, and if they heard the noise they will come to investigate sooner or later. If they don't well then they will have a good reason, like the way is so heavily trapped that they won't come to investigate. If this happens then at least we will know to tread softly, then perhaps Avon will scout out the tunnel. I Think we should wait for 30 minutes and if nothing happens then let us proceed with caution. But for now lets take up a defensive posture. "

Sandros glances at the others, and says quietly, "Well, if we're gonna charge, not much time to chat about it. Let's go for it, and hope there's no one waiting to ambush us." He has his sword in hand, ready to move when the others do so.

"Its more the thought of traps that worry me Sandy". Tav chuckles "After all we all are Vampiric ya know. If I were defending this place what I would do is send a force in thru the tunnel we just came in from. It blocks the escape and that way I would have any intruders, namely US, trapped inbetween two opposing forces. Not to mention fighting on unknown ground, tis a very effective way to split an invading force in two, when they have to fight a frontal and rear action."

Quill realizes that while she has been staring intently at the door, Tav's comments bring her back to the group. "Oh, sorry, I'm getting used to it being a torch instead of a blade in all this darkness," she whispers. At the suggestions of the others she douses the light with a thought, keeping it just dim enough for everyone to get one last look at the door and get their bearings, then the blade is as dark as her companions'.

The door opens noisily and after all the work and stress involved nothing happens, the room is still quiet and dark. Andrew slumps visibly at the anti-climax and prepares for some more tunnel travel. Over his shoulder to Myr, "I told you I hated waiting. Getting all worked up over nothing makes Andrew an unhappy elf." Whether the others dash madly in or slowly creep hoping no one heard Andrew joins them happily. "Anything is better than sitting around doing nothing!"

Tav grins in the darkness and whispers, "Myr, get your hand off of my butt!!! That wasn't the rear action i was talking about!!!."

"Tav, dahling, I hate to disappoint you... but that's not *my* hand." She chuckles. "Sandros, are you misbehaving again?" Feeling a bit antsy, Myr scoots closer to the door, obviously anxious to get on in if they're going.

Waiting for the onrushing charge seems to make good sense, so, in the near darkness of the cavern, lit by only a faint sword-glow the group waits.  30 minutes passes slowly -- or perhaps it is 3 hours or 5 minutes -- but eventually everyone agrees that "enough time" has passed, and if "they" were coming, they'd be here.... and is ready to move on.

Squeezing thru the opening on each side of the rock door-- actually it's more like a plug that fits in a hole, than it is a door -- Daggda looks down the hallway in almost complete darkness.  Seeing nothing alive/warm down there, the dwarf motions the others to step thru and then asks Quill to turn the light back on.  "I can't even begin to see a trap in the dark."

Tav says he can hear the far away sounds of a concertina and a male voice singing a lewd song in Orcish.  No one else hears anything.

The party regroups on  the other side of the door, and after a quick look around, they see that the corridor is obviously man made -- it is nearly straight, about 8 - 10 ft wide.  Daggda travels slowly, looking at walls, floor and ceiling (about 6-8 ft overhead) for dangerous sections.

When the group gets to the far end of the corridor, Daggda pauses, does some quick calculations and says: "I'd guess it's about 5 or 6 pm -- in case anyone's interested."

The only obvious exit from the corridor is a narrow crack in the wall.  It's a "Z" shaped passageway thru thick rock walls and opens into a largish room, partly lit from the far side -- probably by a torch on the other side of the exit.  The room is filled with boxes, crates and barrels.

The concertina and singing are audible to all, at this point -- still in the distance.  Much closer are the echos of two voices arguing - in Orcish - about a dice game.  They are either on the other side of the cavern/room or just outside it -- the echos are deceptive.

Quill shuts down her sword-light, and one by one, the group slithers out of the narrow rock opening and takes cover behind the nearby crates.  They look around, trying to gauge the overall size of the room -- without success.

Contact with ...?

Happy to be in a decent sized room at least Andrew breathes a little easier. Whispering his thoughts to the others, "I'd just as soon find this prince and get the hell out of here as wait for someone to find us. If we're lucky we might even be able to get out the way we came in before anybody notices that door." Quietly praying to Najela that they see the outside of this place soon Andrew closes his eyes and tries to determine the direction the voices are coming from. Hoping the others opt to go on as well Andrew impatiently awaits the groups decision

Myr stops in her tracks and stands still, listening to the orcish singers with an ear cocked. "Oh gods, everyone was right. I am mad. I've gone totally and completely nutters. I hope I haven't died - Orcy angels aren't exactly my idea of paradise." She peers around into the darkness. "Maybe it's the first rung of Hell," she suggests. "I must go to the light!" With that, she takes careful steps in that direction, progressing cautiously.

Daggda chuckles. "The only thing orcs are good for is bleeding, I say," the dwarf smiles, "but they enjoy their horrid songs and that turpentine they call liquor. It sounds like we might not have been discovered. And if they're singing, they're probably drinking. Why don't we hold tight a bit longer, and wait until they send someone our way? If they don't, we can wait until they're good and drunk to make our attack."

[Andrew] "A few people sneaking up sounds good. A little noise shouldn't hurt too much they can't possibly know where evreyone is in this massive place. Anyone know a few words in orc? Might be able to draw them to you. Unfortunately I've neither any spells or language skills that will help. So good luck to whoever goes and know that one shout and the rest of us will be right there." Andrew whispers his ideas then awaits the decision of who goes and how many.

Daggda sighs softly. "Am I a dwarven warrior, or a elven nursemaid? You're right, let's get the prince." Daggda peers towards the sound of the two orcs playing dice. "Here's the problem: we don't know if the rest of those wolf-spawned bastards can see these two or not. Even if we kill them before they can spread an alarm, we might be spotted. As much as I hate to say it, now is a good time for a wizard's sleeping spell. I will go with whoever can cast such a spell and get us within eyesight of these two, then the rest of us can follow. What do you think? Veneron? Myridian?"

"I can cast it," Myr replies, stopping her progress toward the afterlife for the time being.

Sandros whispers, "Avon...maybe you and I should sneak up there, see if we can surprise those two and take them out quickly before they can raise an alarm? Or perhaps a spell of sleep or something simple?" He shrugs. "Seems to me we'd be best off trying to stay unseen and unheard as long as possible."

Avon shrugs, "I'll just follow your lead then?". As he turns around he whispers, "who can spare a dagger?"

"I'm not accustomed to these caverns, but I agree. Silence and subtlety would helps us the most." The ranger keeps her sword to a minimal level.

The dwarf nods. "Good. You should advance with Avon and Sandros then, a few paces behind. If there it even begins to look like these two scumbags will give an alarm, you know what to do. I will be only a few paces behind you."

Myr gives Daggda a comical salute, and then falls in place behind Sandros.

Tavarak looks at Andrew and shakes his head "Nay, I don't speak orcish unfortunately. It sure would come in handy about now though." He looks at Myr "I'm not sure casting a sleep spell would be a good idea right now. There are only two of them, and thats a powerful spell to waste on only two. It might be more useful later on if we encounter a hmmm well a horde of them. I like the plan that Sandros put forth. He and Avon should be able to handle them. If not the the battle will be on anyways. Then again we could just walk out of here ya know. There was a mixed crew unloading these crates, and we could just pretend we are part of the crew." Tav grins and looks at Myr, "Or have Myr try and lure them in here and dispatch them here. Either way i think they will speak limited common, if they are working with humans." Tav looks at the rest of his companions and readies his sword and adjusts his shield.

Sandros nods, and whispers to Avon, "Once we get closer, I'll head left, you head right. When you see me move out to attack, move quick, and hopefully we'll catch them before they know what hit 'em." He grins. Once everyone is ready, Sandros does as planned, his sword held at the ready, moving as quietly as he can.

s Sandros moves out Avon whispers to him, "Why do you want left. Is it any better than the right side? Why don't I get to take the left side?" Somehow though Avon doesn't seem to make a big deal out of it, and probably will take the right side once they get to that point. Since no one gave him a dagger Avon readies his sword and follows Sandros. His eyes focussed on the other site of the cave. Concentrating. His face turns cold. Death is close, again. And it will not be Avon's blood that will stain the sands.

With Sandros and Avon in the lead, followed by Myr, Daggda, Tav, Quill, Ven and Adrew, the adventurers pick their way over crates,  boxes and barrels -- all unmarked and all closed.  Partway across the room, a rat scurries out of its hole and runs across the room, right in front of Tav.  He starts a minute in surprise, and then exhales. He's surprised to note he was holding his breath -- fighting in this environment is very much different than in an open field, or on the jousting grounds.  This "feels" more dangerous.  Both Quill nor Andrew are sweating uncomfortably in the underground, damp and stale air.

Sandros and Avon are working carefully among the shadows as they approach the mouth of the cavern room.  They blend into the mottled dark/light that they seem to disappear -- then some brief movement, as each theif moves.  It is the ability to stand absolutely still that Myr notices.  "Wish I could do that" she thinks, as she gathers the loose folds of the hobgoblin's armor about her, trying to silence its metalic rustle.

They come to a narrowing of the walls at the top of G6.  Sandros takes the lead as there is room for only 1 at a time.  He crouches low, in the shadows and indicates to Avon, who is looking over his shoulder, that he (Avon) should take orc A, while Sandy will go after B. 

This new cavern is about 10 ft high and very rocky.  Andrew notices to his disappointment that the walls, ceiling and floor seem to be solid rock... no roots visible that he can use for one of his spells. 

Just as they're about to make their move against A&B -- the gamblers-- Sandros' and Avon's attention is drawn by the unmistakable sounds of sexual moaning and groaning.  At the other end of the cavern (male) orc C and (female) half-orc D are doing it "orcie style".  He is squatting behind her and she is on hands and knees in front of him.  Both are facing toward the about-to-take-place attack.

Sandros taps Avon on the leg and jumps out, quickly covering the few feet separating him from B and slashes down with his sword.  The stroke is sure and true, it drives into B's back, and when Sandros withdraws it, the orc falls forward and is still.
Avon, only one step behind, runs around Sandros and veers off to attack A.  Avon's sword bites into the leather armor worn by A and the orc reaches for the short sword on the ground, and then stands to face Avon.

Myr steps out, watching Sandros' and Avon's attacks, but does not notice the coupling-couple on the other side of the cavern.
Daggda appears from the opening and moves to the side, ready to swing the pick but there's not enough room to get around A/B/Avon/Sandros, and so the dwarven warrior looks around for a target.  The dwarf DOES notice the pair of orcs some 30 yards away.  The female's [D] eyes meet the dwarven warrior's and the female half-orc pushes back against the male and reaches around to dislodge him.  The male orc C notices nothing, of course.

Tavarak steps into the mouth of the passageway at the entrance to the room, Quill, Ven and Andrew are behind him.