(017) A closer look at the Gatehouse

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 11:11 pm

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Fair

Mads pokes around the room with his 4' pole--finally justifying its existence?

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:43 am

waysoftheearth wrote:

tonneau wrote:Gustave sighs at all this high drama then, taking a deep breath in through his prominant (but shapely) nose, approaches the opposite side of the courtyard and peeks into the window there.

While the others are moving into the trapped room, Gustave wanders across the courtyard and peer in through the window to the right of the door opposite (the one on the left being behind a filthy pile of junk)...

The glass is thick, dirty and of uneven thickness, and the room within is dark. However, it appears to be a long hall cluttered with a jumble of benches and pews. It may, once, have been a great dining hall. Now it is a mess...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:47 am

waysoftheearth wrote:

heartless wrote:Wibert listens and looks for tracks or any signs of the others. He turns back towards Nidhogg and KOCH and quickly says, "I do not hear any fighting so that's a good sign. Let's approach the keep get ready for anything just in case and keep your heads down", suggests Wibert.

Wibert will hold his hand-axe and shield.

Wibert, Nidhogg and Koch sees the gatehouse clearly now, and are approaching from the south east. They see that there are folks up on the battlements, and prepare their shields and weapons -- fearing the worst.

Then, one of the Men on the battlements gives a friendly wave. Wibert and Nidhogg recognsie Ulric and relax a little -- could the rest of the company have taken the gatehouse already??

They hasten toward the front gate, eager for news...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:53 am

ehiker133 wrote:
Once Desmond squeezes past Olaf, he begins searching the room for anything useful... or dangerous.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:56 am

waysoftheearth wrote:

eris wrote:Olaf grunts, almost a chuckle, at Desmond's comment, then moves further into the room, still looking for traps and other dangers.

"Just a trap." he says as he moves the crossbow from the chair, "Be careful, but let's search this room for anything useful or dangerous before we do anything else."

Olaf, Desmond, Dieter and Mads being a thorough search of the room...

verhaden wrote:Mads the Fair

Mads pokes around the room with his 4' pole--finally justifying its existence?

Presumably Mads would have been using this stave as a trekking pole for much of his travels to date. But now it certainly comes it handy for rattling around in dusty corners...

The chamber is indeed a series of dormitories. Four of them, in fact, each sporting a pair of narrow, musty bunks -- so sleeping for 16 Men in all. Most of them appear dirty, lice and flea ridden and long unattended. A quarter of them perhaps -- those at either end of the dormitory -- look as those they may have seen recent use. At either end of the dormitory is a high arched doorway, leading into another, dark room.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:57 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
A scratch map of what you have seen thus far...

```````````````Bridge``````````````
````````````````Gate```````````````
````############...############````
````#..........#+++#..........#````
````#..........#...#..........#````
````#####..#####...########..##````
````#......#......Junk%#....+.#````
````#..##..(.........%%)+..+..#````
````#Dorms.#...........#...+..#````
````#..##..|...........|.....+#````
````#......#...........#.+Mess#````
````#..##..(.Courtyard.)..Hall#````
````#......#...........#.++...#````
````#####..#####...########..##````
````#..........#...#..........#````
````#..........#...#..........#````
````############...############````
`S`````````````Front```````````````
E+W`````````````Gate```````````````
`N`````````````````````````````````
# Wall
| Door
( Window

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:02 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
The crossbow itself is likely the most valuable thing here, even though there is no more ammunition for the weapon.

Other than that the searches turn up a pile of flea-bitten laundry, a dozen or so lice-filled straw matresses, one chair, four stools, three empty foot-lockers (1ft long mini-chests), and... the grand prize... Desmond turns up a loose stone under one of the bunks and unearths an even smaller wooden lock-box... this one only 2 inches thick.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:06 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
On the South East Tower Roof

mushgnome wrote:
danhem wrote:"There is a trapdoor leading down into the other tower. I see there is one here as well. Shall we continue to stand watch or try the trapdoor?"
"Aye, Ulric, let us test this Trap Door," replies Highbough.

He uses his spear to lever it open from a safe distance.

Highbough jams his spear point between the trapdoor and the stone roof, and then levers the hatch open. It give way surprisingly easily, and soon enough the canny old Elf is able to force the hatch fully open... but (wisdom 15) he does not open it so far that it should fall backward and slam on the roof top.

Beneath the hatch is a narrow stone stair leading down into dimness...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:16 am

ehiker133 wrote:
Desmond examines the lockbox to see if it is indeed locked. If not, he'll open it up, keeping the hinged side to his chest and opening the box while not facing anyone else in the party (just in case it is trapped...).

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:19 am

waysoftheearth wrote:

ehiker133 wrote:Desmond examines the lockbox to see if it is indeed locked. If not, he'll open it up, keeping the hinged side to his chest and opening the box while not facing anyone else in the party (just in case it is trapped...).

Desmond brushes the damp earth off the box and tests the lid (facing away from anyone) but it is indeed locked...