[3.5] Answering the Call

[Arkhandus]

Lars waits by Orinar, battleaxe and shield back in hand, waiting for Kyl's signal to follow. His face is grim with the knowledge that any minute now, he and his fellows are most likely to be spilling blood and shedding blood in turn. He takes no pleasure in it, but it must be done to protect the people living nearby, as the Archpaladin wills it.

 

[Mark Chance]

At a silent signal from Kyl, Lars, Orinar, and Menno make their way to the cave entrance. Kyl looks at the others, "Allow me to get the door." With a smile he pulls the hidden lever, silently praying he just didn't miss a trap.

The crossbar on the other side of the door slides away, and the door swings open a few inches as it is apparently hung crooked on its hinges. With a gentle push, it opens more to reveal an unlit collection of passages, the walls made of worked stone. To the right, one passage heads northwest. To the left, another heads due east. The third corridor leads due south. All of the halls are about 10 feet wide. The ceiling is shored up by upright logs braced against the walls which support crossbeams. The smells of urine, sweat, and smoke hang in the air.

Map Here

[sblock=For Lars]
Lars's darkvision lets him see farther than his comrades. To northwest, the passage turns due west after about 30 feet. To the east, there is a southern turn after about thirty feet. To the south, after about 10 feet, there are stairs going up.
[/sblock]

 

[Arkhandus]

Lars mutters quietly "Looks like they veer off. Follow me for a bit." With that, the paladin marches along a corridor that turns to stairs after a short ways. He gazes upstairs as he tries to go up quietly. His armor and shield are ill-suited to it, however.

1d20-5=5 Move Silently

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Kyl follows, not really caring if he is silent or not with the noisey paladin in front of him. All Kyl could think of, was that this place stank..........

 

[Rhun]

Orinar follows along behind Lars, his great blade ready in hand. His giant heritage allowed him to see fairly well in the dimness, but it was dark ahead. They'd have to light a torch as soon as they moved away from the entrance, and that would probably alert their quarry of their presence.

 

[Mark Chance]

The stairs ascend sharply into darkness for most of the party, but Lars can see they rise about 30 feet before they reach a landing.

[sblock=OOC]
Orinar's intuition about the lighting is accurate. Moving too far from the entrance -- which I presume is still open -- will require a light source for those who don't have darkvision (assuming they want to see).

If it becomes relevant, moving up the steep stairs requires 2 squares of movement to enter each square. Running or charging down the stairs requires a DC 10 Balance check.
[/sblock]

 

[Rhun]

Orinar turns to Menno and Kyl. "I've a hooded lantern," he whispers, fumbling to remove it and a pint of oil from his pack. "But I need both my hands free to wield my blade." Noticing Menno's longspear, he turns his attention to Kyl. "Would you mind doing the honors?"

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Kyl looks at the lantern....... he hated lights. All they seemed to do was provide an easily seen target to their enemies. "Sure." he takes the lantern from Orinar.

 

[Wiggimuck]

Fumbling in the darkness the tip of Menno's longspear brushes against Lars. Sorry about that, ha, it happens sometimes. Menno peers ahead and walks down the stairs with his wobbling spear.

 

[Mark Chance]

The adventurers cautiously ascend the stairs, casting long shadows before them by the light the lantern carried by Kyl. Lars leads the way, followed by Menno, Orinar, and Kyl. The stairs ascend steeply for about 30 feet. The 10-foot-square landing runs perpendicular into another corridor running west to east.

Peeking around the corner, it can be seen that the eastern passage dead-ends after about 40 feet. To the west, the hallway turns sharply to the north after about 20 feet. Voices echo down the western passage.

[sblock=If You Understand Goblin]
One voice stands out. "Get them tables in place, cur! I'm goin' ta check on tha guest of honor!"
[/sblock]