Feldard eyed the gems a moment, wondering if it were worth the risk. “Nicolai, anything heard beyond the door?” he asked, referring to the lone exit in the room, a set of double doors. ”If not, any chance of you disabling the trap we both know is present?” There may not be a decapitated body in this vault but the dwarf was rather certain the same sort of security measure were active.
Feldard stood back and let the rogue do his thing. While he waited, he moved back to the ladder, stifling a yawn and listened to the distant snores of the Siswa elf. “Pah! and humans say dwarves are loud..”
Ignoring the dwarf for the moment Nicolai lightly ran his hand over the lock mechanism of the door. If his intuition was correct, this door would lead to a stairwell if the elven structure maintained its symmetrical design. His questing fingers expertly searching for tell-tale signs of traps. Satisfied, he opened the door a fraction to look at the room beyond.
As expected, there were stairs leading up. Though they were covered with some rubble, the stairs appeared to be passable, at least the section that he could see.
He pulled the door closed and circled around the block to look at the vault entrance. His eyes scanned the opening. Nothing obvious, could be magical….no bodies. Disintegration trap? He pulled a coin from his pocket and tossed it onto the pile. No blinding flashes there so… something more mundane. Pressure pads? Dart trap? Blades seem to be a favourite. Nicolai checked a range of possible methods in his attempts to find out how the vault was defended. Hmmm, he searched and searched until he saw the two very small holes—a telltale sign of a poison gas trap…Though there were a few gemstones and coinage in the vault, was it worth it to risk setting off the trap, the rogue had to ask himself…
Meanwhile, back at the tomb…
Hasan’s snore was so loud, he woke himself. Staggering to his feet, the elf heard the sounds of the dwarf’s grousing as clearly as he would a bear’s roar at 15 paces. “I fear our thief’s role in the van may be a bit compromised by his traveling companion,” the elf observed as he passed the studious and devout humans. “Come on, Saeth. There’ll swordplay yet for you this day.”
…drawing the torus into the ethereal planar node, the element is charged with possitive magical flux within the negatively charged moulding channel. This can be suspended for a few moments to allow the recipent pattern to be embedded within the flux. Adept users can master ‘flux pumping’ or multiple yield, see appendix 24…
“..piet Halav un dominee. Omo domus et santu persil. Ajax Halav. Sanctus…”
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June 27, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Hasan descended the ladder and joined Nicolai in examining the vault. “Hmmm,” the elf said. “last time, a bit of agility and then a bit of magic was enough to evade the trap. But that one was a bit more provocative. What do you think? Is it worth it this time? I say press on. We can always return later.” With that, the elf returned the the ladder and holler up at the humans, trying to urge them on from the studies. “And I thought humans were the most impetuous of races,” the elf thought to himself.
June 27, 2008 at 4:14 pm
The dwarf pondered the same question and then shook his head – this wasn’t a treasure hunt they were on he reminded himself. “We have three Sisters to find and deal with. The elf is right.” Amazingly. That said Feldard headed to the door which the rogue had peered through and opened it wide, taking note of the rubble along its passage. The dwarf paused a moment to assess the structural integrity of the stairway and judging it safe, he started up.
June 29, 2008 at 4:25 am
It didn’t take much to convince Saeth to give up on her reverie and move back towards the action. She trailed after, Hasan, her hand near her blade’s hilt in anticipation of the other Elf’s promise.
July 3, 2008 at 8:57 pm
If it is possible the disarm the trap without setting it off Nicolai will attempt it. Failing that:
“There’s not been much loot down here,” grunted the rogue. “And there it is and you want to leave it. Look, its a poison gas trap, if you all clear off into the stairwell and I’ll put a damp cloth over my mouth and nose. I take a deep breath and activate the trap with a pole or something, run out to the stairwell too. We wait for the poison to go. In ten minutes time we’ve got enought loot to feed us for a few more months.”
“Or we could be nice and safe and just try to destroy the living dead! I want to leave here with more than just a story for drunkards.” Nicolai scanned their faces, no point in pushing things now. Anyway as much as he hated to admit it the elf was right there was always later…
He shrugged. “The stairs then.” he made his way round the vault to the stairwell and shone a narrow beam of his light up.
July 3, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Maruc continues to pray…
July 3, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Miklos continues to study….
July 8, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Sorry for the delay. I’ll try to post a new one tomorrow!