Chapter 3: Trying Again

[jstater]

Grumm to Shybolt, in a deadpan: "I dare ya to touch one."

[Nekron99]

Brother Arven is both relieved and disappointed that they were not undead, tries to see past Grumm and Shybolt.
The "mottled markings", do they appear to be writing or runes?
During Arven's training in the monastery, he would ride with the local militia on their patrols into the Hoolgane Marsh, and while never actually involved in fighting ("You are here to watch the horses and heal.", Sergent Unford had growled at him repeatedly.) he did get a chance to see and study the bodies of several different clans of lizard men. Could this knowledge, coupled with his extensive (if mostly trivial) book learning, help identify the armor pattern or perhaps the clan from any markings seen on the walls?

OOC: I am not saying that I studied "Ancient Armor Patterns of Underground Lizardfolk in the Third Epoch" by Varsivus Rasmusin, because that was a restricted book. But you know, granted, there were perhaps a few "racey' woodcuts of buxom women that had been captured by the lizardfolk in there, but nothing I saw that would make it restricted. I mean not that I saw it, cause I didn't...really I didn't.

[Hywaywolf]

"Touch one? I tie rope around their feet and kick em in the arse," Shybolt says fiercely. But he'll only slip quietly into the room to the left and after a quick glance around the room will start searching the walls for secret compartments, doors, arrow traps and the like. He'll continue along the wall until either he gets to the first statue, all hell breaks loose or someone needs my assistance.

[jstater]

Grumm will step in after the halfling, keeping his eye on the statues and the door opposite the one used to enter, glaive at the ready.

[Solomoriah]

Shybolt found that the markings on the wall were a badly faded mural; what parts he could see appeared to show throngs of lizard men in robes standing around a pyramid, atop which he could see a green dragon. There were other scenes, possibly martial scenes, but the paint was too faded to see clearly. Shybolt wondered what would fade the paint so badly underground, where no sunlight could shine.

What he didn't find was any sign of a secret door.

Grumm stood in the room, keeping careful watch; he couldn't shake the feeling that he was in turn being watched, perhaps by the strange statues.

[Hywaywolf]

Shybolt will repeat his actions on the walls on the left side of the room checking for the same stuff. He will pay careful attention to the statues as he gets close to them trying to determine if they react to his presence. If they stay inert he will then closely examine the statues and their base (if they are standing on one) for anything out of the ordinary like a portion of it that may be depressed, pushed or twisted. for any discolorations in any one area or anything else that might stand out to him. He'll do this without touching them at first.

[Solomoriah]

Shybolt continued searching the room, but found nothing further. The murals on the remaining walls were too decayed to identify, and he saw no signs of any secret doors. The statues continued to stand immobile as he slunk around the room.

Of course, he hasn't stepped between them to inspect the door...

This whole searching procedure takes a long time. What are Grumm, Timorel and Brother Arven doing?

[Sir Bedivere]

Timorel walks to the doorway and pauses to give the room a thorough look from floor to ceiling.

He doesn't want the door to be able to close behind him, so he'll step into the room along the door (though not touching it). He pulls a spike from his pack, makes sure the door is a few inches from the wall (using the spike to move the door if necessary), and looks to see how he could use the spike to keep the door open. (I.e., maybe he could insert the spike between two stones in the floor, or maybe it looks like he could drive the spike into the floor, or maybe just using the spike like a door jam.)

If he finds a way to spike the door open, he'll do that, making as little noise as possible. If he has to pound on the spike, he'll fold up a rag and put it over the spike to reduce the noise. When (if) he gets that done, he'll step around to look at the other side of the door.

[Solomoriah]

Timorel found that the easiest way to hold the door open was to use the spike as a door jam. Being careful not to get any blood on him, he slipped the spike under the door, then pushed it back until the door was pinned against the wall.

[Nekron99]

Brother Arven, covers Timorel while he jams the door. Mace in one hand, torch and shield in the other. Is the blood on both sides of the door or just the outside? Any trace on the room floor, perhaps drips? Did any scrape off the door along the floor, as it was opened, and if so, any indication of any of us stepping in it? OOC: Just finished with a 7 hour house fire, I am beat, got the family out (Dad,Mom,3 kids), 2 story home gone. 1 Fireman injured and at hospital so now my job really starts with all the paperwork, gota love being the Chief. Goona sleep for an hour the back to work. Game on!