Want to just take charge and line the party up? Bark out some orders, get this thing moving. Keep in mind the spells that are available and the offer already made.
Ghân finds nothing special about the brambles accept they are tough and very sharp. He suspects they may have been bred for such toughness.
With a grin Elfstan says to Mulligan, “So, who’s turn was it to open the next door?”
After a pause he adds, “I think we should both look it over before one of us tries to open it.”
I think we should both look it over, however, heads or tails 
“Ummm… heads!”
Mulligan pulls out a coin and expertly flips it into the air before neatly catching it on the back of one hand.
Heads it is. The pleasure will be all yours.
Elfstan thinks to himself, *“Didn’t Grampa Samwise tell me to never wager with a Took? Or was that with a treasure finder? Certainly not a Took treasure finder. Sigh!” *
Out loud, “I hope that means I won.”
So, are we going to have Renee cast her spells before we try to open this door?
Ghan’s observation about tunnels and bows having been taken into consideration, along with a personal, silent observation about elf rangers and traps, Miron will happily step back and take position wherever he’s needed.
Ghân thinks to himself about an old Wose saying*:
‘Suppose a human comes up to you and shows you a piece of parchment with a picture of a noble on it. Then the human says that if he can make the noble spit a fruit-based alcohol drink into your ear, you should pay him money. However if he can’t he will pay you. Do not make any such agreement, because you will finish up with a damp ear and an empty purse.’
*Wose sayings are not well known. Perhaps they are too verbose…
If Gwaelur will oblige us with a spot of bramble-clearing, then, we can fall in behind the two hobbits once the entry is clear. If it’s really too cramped within for bow-work, Miron and I will have to revert to melee weapons. Gwaelur next behind Elfstan and Mulligan, giving them the usual minute’s start to let them get the best use out of their sneakiness, then Thoroncir and Miron, then the spellcasters, finally Theogrim, Brin and myself. We can rejig that if necessary once we see how things look inside, but as usual, I’d like plenty of brawn both before and behind, and I don’t mind taking a turn at the back for a change.
Do I need to find places for Hodwain and Riglo?
[grumbles to himself] my axes aren’t weed whackers any more than your swords are [/grumbles]
Of course I will help out. I need to be upfront anyway. If we run into trouble in there I am best suited to handle it.
Hodwain will come up the very rear in bear form and Riglo is content to stay outside for this one. The Hobbits probably don’t want to be too far ahead of the spell casters. Renee has some very useful spells up.
Renee, “I detect neither traps nor evil.”
Elfstan studies the door and gives it a light prod with Sting. It pushes open quietly and easily. Renee offers up her **Bauble **to someone in the front. It is lit and ready. Mulligan takes it to follow Elfstan as Gwaelur is ready to move.
Elfstan goes forth a short way ahead of the others. Sting is brandished and not glowing. The passage is old, stone hewed and about 4’ wide and 7’ high and arched. It is musty and smells of corruption. It goes about 30’ and turns to the right. Taking the turn the passage goes only another 20’ and opens into a larger chamber. Renee detects a weak or residue of Evil. Ghân detects magic in the chamber on the far wall as he gets to the entrance.
The chamber is oval, about 40’ long from the opening and only 20’ wide. There is much debris and rubbish about. Ghân locates a magic dagger on the floor, a magic stone and a magic figurine of a dragon made from Mithril is Gwaelur’s sharp eye is any gauge.
The walls are blood stained, water stained and moldy but no other doors or exits are found.
A dragon made from Mithril…fascinating! Can the magic users tell what kind of magic it posseses?
Naturally Ghân will whisper exactly what he has Detected to the party.
(DM, I just know they are magic, right? Only [COLOR=“blue”]Identify will tell us more…)[/COLOR]
Once the first Detect Magic runs out, Ghân will cast another.
Thoroncir will stand at the ready, sword drawn and shield on his arm, and ask Gwaelur and the Hobbits to check the floors and walls carefully, all the way from the entry to the big room, to see if there are any other doorways or hatches.
Are there any more-or-less-intact corpses or other remains, human or otherwise?
glee, I recognize that ancient Wose wisdom from Guys and Dolls. “Cider!”
Thanks, but so do I! We’ll use yours, though, so that I can do more ID today.
An entire figurine of mithril? That’ll be immensely valuable.
Deor will carefully observe the room, visually checking the floor and ceiling too.
It will take an ID spell for the magic items.
There are no corpses of any sort in the chamber.
Sweeping the floor and walls reveals no exits and no more magic. It does turn up some decrepit coins and tarnished jewelry.
As the valuable get gathered up, Renee relates, “the Evil is getting stronger. Separate the items and scatter them outside in the sunshine for a time.”
Deor will gather the new finds up in his cloak and proceed outside with the rest of the party.
:eek:
Deor gathers up the loot to take out and takes 12 points of damage.
Renee shrieks, “Separate the stuff. Don’t gather it up! No one touch more than an item or two at a time.”
Whoa! Reading for comprehension, engage!
Ah, this party just wouldn’t be the same without ‘Kamikaze’ Deor. 
Ghân takes one item out into the sunshine.