In reply to Larzander Gunderzen (msg # 336):

Boris saw they were in a rectangular room that was wider than longer. There was a door facing them, which presumably led onwards, and another door off just to the side that could conceivably lead back into the gated-off area.

Boris pointed to the side door, that was in the same wall as the door they had entered. It looked like it might lead back the way they came.

"It seems like this side door perhaps leads back into the area closed off by the portcullis. I suggest we take that one, Larz. Perhaps we might get around that which has denied us!"

My apologies again...sometimes it gets a little tricky trying to describe certain designs or features.  Hope this helps...


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You entered the room through the left most opening

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 338):

"Yes that sounds like a plan." Ondrea looks the door over before trying to open it.

-

The dust immediately in front of the door had been recently kicked up and the hinges had recently been worked as well.  This door, unlike the last, had no window in it and was not stuck, giving way freely as you open it.  Beyond lies a hallway very similar in appearance to the one you just traveled down.

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 341):

Leaning around the corner, Boris checked to make sure it was leading back the way they came.

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 342):

Stoney, or better known as captain obvios speaks up.
"Look here, the dust is moved.  Looks like someone has been through this door recently."
Pushing his wineskin in front of Ondrea.
"Here take a drink, you never know when it will be your last!"

Ondrea nodded at Stoneys words looking at the tracks and the hinges. Next time they will have to remember to use lamp oil before forcing the stuck door open.

Either way she continued along the corridor with her hammer at the ready.

-

The hallway did, in fact, appear to be heading back in the direction you just came from.  Upon the floor, the track marks break apart into three distinct trails; all appear to be of the same origin or creature.  Venturing further down the hallway, you begin to find remnants of habitation and decor.  Crumbling canvas frames litter the walls and periodically you pass a moldy mound of what was once a book shelf or dresser of some kind.  Even traces of carpet that must have once run the length of the hall can be spotted among ruin and decay.  Eventually, you reach the end of the hallway and, as expected, you find yourself staring through a solid portcullis into a chamber you can still see your footprints upon.

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 345):

"Well isn't this ironic, back where we started.  Seems like someone higher up, wants us to leave this gloomy place."
Drinking a small sip, and swishing it in his mouth.  Then looking for a lever or something to lift the gate.  (Out of laziness on my end, not wanting to search back through old posts.  I THINK we did see the lever from the other side, right?)
If Stoney finds it, he will pull/push or do whatever to lift the portcullis.
09:38, Today: Stoney Applesmith rolled 57 using 1d100.  find lever.

"I vote we leave this place, and destroy the entrance somehow.  I dont like the dark and decay that much."

In reply to Stoney Applesmith (msg # 346):

Boris chuckled, then winced. "Ow. Still a little sore here. Anyways, it looks like our lonely friend was camping here. But this appears to be a dead end, it's obvious whoever they are went no further in this direction.

"I guess they actually did go down the hidden corridor of traps after all. We have determined there is no one in this part of the abandoned temple. Let us go back to that infernal corridor hidden under the altar and proceed. It seems that's the way this unknown track-maker went. And then probably died, may God rest their soul.

"The deuce of it is we are seeking the Saracen bandits... but we don't even know if this is their base or not. We could be seeking someone with no connection to the Saracens. Oh well, we haven't anything better to do so let's continue!"

Boris looked for a way to raise the portcullis. But if not, they could just go back the way they came to find the other, trapped, passage.

Stoney - There was indeed a lever, as previously noted, and as you wrap both of your hands around it you heave downward with all your might...and subsequently collide with the floor as the lever moves easily without resistance.  The groan of gearing rumbles in the walls.  With a shudder the portcullis begins to rise into the archway above.  Peering through you find that the other hallway, previously ventured down, was now closing off as a similar portcullis slides downward and clanks into place ominously.

Boris - My apologies here for under-writing on the footprints.  If you were to follow their direction of travel, they would have come through the portcullis that Stoney has just opened and traveled down the hallway towards the "changing" room.

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 348):

"Where did the footprints go, again?" Boris tried to determine if these were the same ones that led to the trapped passage above.

OOC: Where in the "change room" did the footprints lead? And were they coming or going? Thanks!

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 349):

Popping up off the ground, in hopes no one saw him fall.
Gently brushing off his clothes.
"There we go, boys.  Looks like this is the way out."
Bowing forward, as almost like a courtesy yot a king.
"Shall we?"  Expressing his interest to leave this place.

Oncrea kept guard while the other tried to work out a route. "Sorry Stoney but we have not accomplished our mission and kept our word to the village we need to finish this."

-

OOC: In the 'changing' room, there was yet another door leading further away from the direction you came.  The tracks headed that way.

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 351):

Boris nodded. "Yes, although it is convenient to have this gate open, it only leads back the way we came. Our quarry seems to have gone this way.

"Back to the changing room, then through the far door. Come, my friends!"

Ondrea follows Boris as they walk back to the other room. Once there she will let him do his thing before opening the door, or at least trying.

-

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 354):

Going up to the door, Boris checked for traps.

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 355):

Taking a long drink, and begrudgingly following the rest to the changing room.
"Lead on, I'll hang out like usual."
Grabbing a bite of bread.

Retracing your way back to the 'robe' room begins to slow as Larzs' injuries begin to catch up with him.  He is able to support himself but his movement is slow and deliberate.  When you finally reach the remaining doorway, Boris pauses and begins to pick over the door and its' frame for any subtle nuances.  Oddly enough, the door was sliding door that disappeared into the wall.  After several moments he signals that the doorway appears safe.  Stepping forward, Ondrea grasps the door handle and gives it a heave to the side.  An irritating grate of a sound emanates from above the door as she muscles it into the wall.  Before you, a small, arched room runs straight for perhaps 20 or 30 feet before exiting into, what appears to be, a much larger chamber.

Once the door is open Ondrea takes a couple of seconds to look down the corridor and to what might lie beyond. She lets the others go down the hall first and follows behind ready to move forward should she be needed.

-

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 358):

"Larz my friend, drink this it will help you."
Handing over his wine skin, but just before Stoney takes a drink himself.

"Let me see your wounds, I might be able to help."

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 358):

"Ondrea, is it wise for you to follow? Larz seems a little woozy, do you think Stoney and I will be best at confronting any danger?"

Still he moved to the front, looking for traps and snares.

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 360):

"Yes I can take the lead...." She steps up and lets the small halfling do his work while casting a worried glance at Laz.

Working through the small hallway, you find yourselves in a large, square room.  Approximately 40'x40' or so with a very high, arch-framed ceiling.  To your left, in the middle of the wall, sits what can only be described as an abandoned alter of some sort.  A large, grotesque stone figure rises to the height of the room at the back of the alter.  Much of its stone work was crumbling and large chunk of the face had fallen off, crushing a large stone alter into pieces that were scattered everywhere.  The dust and decay was thick in the room and the tracks you had been following were etched clearly into the floor.  The lead towards the far wall where a set of double-doors sat, one of them was left open.  On the far left wall, the remnants of single door hung precariously from hinges; much of the timber was in a pile upon the floor.