Immersive Ink

waysoftheearth wrote:
After short council, Tafari leads the way into the passage, moving as stealthily as a cat. She reaches the intersection and duly notes that the torch is burnt right down to its last... it must be an hour gone or more.

To her left there is a short, darkening passage that leads to a closed door.

To her right the passage is longer, and sports another guttering torch some 60ft along. Beyond that can dimly be seen an open archway, beyond which lies some manner of chamber that is also dimly lit...

aquebman wrote:
Tafari whispers to Jan "Hey, keep a lookout for me"

Tafari will go to her left and inspect the door for traps and if it is locked. She will then press her ear against the door to see if she can hear anything on the other side. If the coast is clear she will try to get the door open.

waysoftheearth wrote:
Tafari moves swiftly up to the door while Jan keeps a nervous eye out... {1d6} it doesn't look suspicious, so she listens... {1d6} and hears, foreboding silence. She's confident there is nothing awaiting her on the other side, so she tries the door {1d6=1}, but it's stuck fast -- even against her considerable strength. She doubts anyone could have used the portal recently; the hinges are rusted real good.

aquebman wrote:
Tafari will head down the hall to investigate past the open archway being very careful to move completely quiet and avoid any unexpected traps or ambushes. She slowly investigates whatever resides in the dimly lit chamber if anything.

Green Lama wrote:
Jan Keeps a lookout. Carefully following Tafari towards the dimly lit room.

waysoftheearth wrote:
Tafari pads some 30ft ahead of Jan down the passage, moving like a shadow.

She reaches the archway with complete stealth and listens, hears only distant echoes, and then peers in.

It is apparently some kind of stowage chamber dominated by rows large, iron bins. The room must be at least 80ft long and 40ft wide. The bins are arrayed along both walls, running the length of the place and are each waist high and 8ft or so wide. Several of them contain great mounds of earth; others are all but empty.

Down the center of the room runs a curious, but vacant steel track. Across the far end of the chamber she sees another arch which blazes a much bolder, orange light. The scent of coal fire is upon the air, and the clatter of industry carries from beyond this next portal.

What next?

aquebman wrote:
Tafari goes to investigate the strange orange light that appears down the path of the tracks. She values stealth above all else and at the first sign of another will dive for cover.

waysoftheearth wrote:
Tafari sidles across the large, empty chamber, keeping near to the bulk of the bins so that she might dive between them if anyone should enter. Jan, meanwhile, keeps a lookout from the doorway at her back.

All bodes well and Tafari nears the opposite doorway without incident. She begins to feel a heat emanating from the arch, and the warm, orange glow becomes brighter. From the smell and clatter and heat, she feels sure she has come upon a forge, and as she peers into the room her suspicion is confirmed.

Beyond is a hot, busy smithy. There are several furnaces, and at least half a dozen sweaty, bare-backed goblin smiths working bellows, and melting pots. The nearest of them are 60ft into the warren-like space, partially obscured behind their furnace chimney, and pre-occupied with their noisy work. She's confident no-one as seen her...

aquebman wrote:
OOC: Is this a dead end or does the hallway continue past the forge?

waysoftheearth wrote:

aquebman wrote:OOC: Is this a dead end or does the hallway continue past the forge?

The chamber that Tafari is presently in is about 40ft wide, and continues a little way further on. From the forge doorway, she can see a rear wall about 30ft distant. She doesn't see any obvious means of egress beyond the forge door, and the doorway behind her (which Jan is presently occupying).