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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1080197" data-attributes="member: 143">Eh, Mole, Mule, what's the difference...*typo fixed** * * * * Chapter 27“Let’s try this way first,” Mole said, checking her map. The passage in question was one of the side-branches of the skulk tunnels that they’d bypassed earlier.  According to the map, it led back in the direction of the rooms that they wanted to get to, so Arun led them in that direction.  The dwarf had insisted on maintaining his position of leadership at the front of the line, and Fellian did not further contest the issue.  The half-elf moved close behind the dwarf, however, an arrow fitted to his bow. The circular tunnel twisted and turned before straightening out once more and coming to an end beneath a steep shaft that led up to an opening in the ceiling about seven feet above them.“Boost me up, I’ll lower the rope down to help the rest of you up,” Mole said.  She’d rescued as much of her rope as wasn’t damaged by the acidic goo from the pit trap, leaving her with a segment about ten feet in length.  “I don’t like it, there might be something waiting for us up there,” Arun said.  “Well, unless you’re going to sprout wings, or can leap straight up seven feet...” “Listen, you two,” Zenna broke in.  “Whatever may be up there, it’s already heard you bickering, if it didn’t hear you coming fifty paces distant, what with all the clanking we’re making.  Let’s lift Mole, but drop back down if you see anything dangerous, okay?”Arun harrumphed, but he helped Fellian lift Mole up to the opening.  The gnome nimbly leapt up into the opening, pulling herself through and disappearing from sight.  “Everything all right?” Zenna called up. “Smells like skulk,” came the gnome’s voice, “but there’s no one here now.  It’s just a little dead end-room, no obvious exists, but maybe one of those secret doors.”“Lift me up,” Fellian said.  “I’ll help her search.”“We’ll all go,” Zenna said.  “Arun, why don’t you come last, and we can all hold the rope to help you up, since you’re the heaviest.”  The dwarf grumbled some more at that, but helped each of them up in turn, then pulled himself up with the help of the rope.  By the time they were all in the confines of the small chamber, Fellian had already located the secret door in the east wall, and they opened it to find the hexagonal room indicated on their map, just south of the lift.  Unfortunately, that meant that there were still two of the trapped gnome-doors to navigate before they could reach Fario and the route down to the Malachite Fortress.“I bet you’re wishing that you hadn’t destroyed Smashy now,” Mole said.  “Give it a rest, Mole,” Zenna said.  The room was mostly unremarkable, but what caught their attention immediately was a large, iron-bound chest sitting in the exact center of the chamber.  Atop the chest was a small iron cage, inside which was a small brown rat.  The rat, which had a white star-shaped patch of fur on its forehead, chittered excitedly as they entered the room, grasping the bars of its cage with its tiny paws.  “The locksmith’s familiar, I presume,” Zenna said. “Ah, a treasure chest, allow me, this is my specialty,” Mole said, slinging her crossbow across her back and cracking her knuckles before starting forward.  She’d barely gotten within ten paces of it, however, before the chest suddenly began to... move.  A seam opened within its front, resolving into a gaping maw full of jagged teeth.  Mole jumped back in surprise, letting out a startled, “Eep!”  The cage and its occupant bucked slightly at the chest-creature’s movements, although it remained fixed to its perch.  “On second thought, maybe you’d better handle it,” she said to the others.</blockquote>

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