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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3835131" data-attributes="member: 11760">Katadid tosses a copper to Ragglus for the amazing neck shot."Let's see: three for Tock, one for Renraw, four for Ragglus. No, three now ...""Oh! That one went up his NOSE!" Renraw cheers. "My brother did that to a raccoon once! ... What?"Ragglus puts the boards back over the pit and Katadid and Tock descend into the pit to examine the bodies of the zombies. One of the spears appears to be magical, but whoever murdered them has stripped them of everything but their unexceptional weapons and (somewhat funky) chain mail."Oooh!" Kat passes his hand through the glow that only he can see, under the effects of his cantrip. He takes a few experimental stabs with it, but his arm rapidly tires. Reluctantly, he hands it to Ragglus.Renraw likewise hands Ragglus the bow and arrows he's finished with, not bothering to check whether or not Ragglus can hold it all."Leach! Wait up! I'm coming, too!"Crossing the rickety bridge of planks, Katadid and Renraw attempt to elbow each other aside to get into the secret room first.It's an irregular chamber about 15 feet by 20 feet. The room reeks of rotten dwarf flesh. It appears to be a hybrid bedchamber -- there are unused bedrolls and a long-unused fire pit (now growing a bit of cave moss) -- and storeroom -- iron bars, rotting planks, ropes and stonemasonry tools line the east wall.Renraw goes to look at the hole in the wall, more clearly visible from this side of the secret door. Peeking through, it occurs to him that he could stab someone with a spear if they were attempting to lift the portcullis manually or bend the bars.Meanwhile, Katadid has found a small scrap of paper, clearly part of a larger document torn to pieces. The writing on it is fragmentary, but appears to be in code. He stares at the paper for a long moment before looking back up again. His eyes burn with their familiar manic intensity."More paper ..."Kat begins tearing the room apart searching for any more fragments. At the same time, he begins moving the letters around in his head to determine their significance."Huh," Renraw grunts, "Reminds me of the basement of Kem House. What is that paper, Katadid?"Kat shoves the parchment into Renraw's hands."Help me find more ..."Ragglus and Tock find the two wizards tearing apart the room and screaming with glee whenever they find another damp scrap of paper."Careful! Careful!" Kat screams as he sees Renraw almost tear a particularly moist sheet. He doesn't even notice his cousin or Ragglus enter, let alone the two of them exchanging glances.Finally, with all the pieces firmly in hand, Katadid reassembles them on a mostly dry plank and begins making notes on a piece of parchment."It's a substitution code. Simple, really ..."The translated message slowly takes shape on his parchment:"Work AgreementThis contract is between the Azzak brothers (contractor) and Card Firmer Then (hirer).In return for the sum of 450 gold thrones, the contractor agrees to provide the following:1) Construction of an iron portcullis with a concealed lever;2) A 10 foot deep covered pit;3) A pair of simple traps.These services are to be performed at an undisclosed location and shall be completed within 30 days of the start date. The contractors will keep this agreement secret and not disclose the location to any other persons.Payment terms: Twenty-five percent advance with the remainder due upon completion of services. Contractor provides all raw materials needed."He leans back, satisfied."Well, that explains the presence of the cavern and traps adjacent to a simple well." He looks up towards Ragglus. "The creature was a dwarf before he changed, correct? It's likely he was the hirer."This is a great deal of planning for just simple robberies. I wonder if he has anything else planned ..."</blockquote>

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