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Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1985774" data-attributes="member: 143">Double post time... Friday cliffhanger coming in the second post below: * * * * * Chapter 314After a brief discussion, the companions proceeded carefully down this new shaft.  This time Fario and Mole were the first down, with Mole using her own slippers of spider climbing, and Fario rappelling down using rope that Hodge and Arun had securely fastened via several spikes hammered into the chamber walls above.  Dannel remained at the top of the shaft this time, with his own feather fall spell ready to bring the rest of the group down, if necessary.  This time there was no illusory floor to block the view from above, so the companions could watch the gnome and half-elf as they descended. The shaft was dark and quiet, with Mole’s burning brand forming a bubble of light as they descended, pushing back the menacing black below.  They gone down almost a hundred feet before they encountered their first break in the smooth walls of the shaft: an odd door set into a shallow recess.  The shaft continued down into more darkness, well beyond the radius of their flickering light to penetrate. “Strange,” Mole said, examining the door.  The portal was round, and oddly crafted to resemble the visage of a beholder.  Carved eyestalks set with gems were positioned around the perimeter of the door, and a clear stone the size of a fist was situated in its center.  “It looks like it’s designed to break apart into several segments, which draw back into the threshold.” “I don’t see a keyhole or other locking mechanism,” Fario said. “It’s probably operated by some sort of magic, or something to do with these gemstones,” Mole said.  “Trapped?”“Oh, no doubt.” A voice drifted down from above, faint.  Fario gave the rope a few quick tugs; a symbol they’d agreed upon to indicate that all was well. “Well?  Should we go further down?” Fario asked. “Hmm...  I don’t like the idea of leaving this door behind us.  But on the other hand, the coolest stuff is probably deepest down.”The half-elf grinned.  “I’m sure the others would hate to miss that.  How much rope is left?”“I brought four coils, about fifty feet each.”“There’s not much room here,” Fario said, indicating the slight indentation into which the door was set.  The ledge there was tiny, maybe two feet deep, wide enough for maybe three or four people to stand tentatively there. “If we could get the door open, we could take a quick look at what’s behind, and if it’s danger, we could hurry back up the shaft, with the others covering.”“Unless something is waiting for us to open it.”“Well, yes, there’s always that.  But look at it this way; there could be something waiting for us below, and with our light, it’ll see us coming a long way off.”“There is that.”“Wait here,” Mole said.  “I’ll go up and borrow Fellian’s magic chime.”“I’ll just hang around here then, until you get back.”The transaction went smoothly, with Mole hurrying to get maximum use out of her slippers.  Their magic was not unlimited, and she was very conscious of the down side of their potency suddenly failing while she was hurrying up or down the shaft.  But soon she had rejoined Fario with Fellian’s chime of opening in hand, having appraised the others waiting above of what she’d found. “Okay, ready?” she asked.  She was perched above the door, ready to flee if the portal opened to reveal something nasty.  Fario hung across from the door, ready to be pulled up quickly by the others at a sudden tug on the rope. The chime’s clear note echoed through the shaft.  The door split into three segments, each sliding back into the threshold, leaving a round opening into a chamber beyond.  Nothing immediately jumped out to attack them, so Mole shone her light through the opening.  “Better tell the others to get down here,” Mole said, peering into the darkness.</blockquote>

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