2. The First Delve

"Well that was... disappointing."

Ricard stretches out his leg as he glances at the empty shelves. As his eyes find the key on the floor, he gestures to it with his sword,

"A key! So not totally empty handed, eh?"

"Why would there be a key out in the open like this, though?" Gabbro wonders. "Either somebody left it there deliberately, they threw it away, or they dropped it by mistake. The first one would probably mean a trap, the second suggests that it's useless, and the third? The third makes sense only if the person who dropped it never missed it." Gabbro takes one of his few copper coins from his pouch and tosses it at the key as a first test to see whether it's safe to retrieve.

Ricard takes hold of Gabbro's meaning with both hands and hops away from the coin toss as though it were on fire...

"It is pretty rusty looking and this space is very dry so I would imagine it came from somewhere else. Maybe lower levels of Stone Hell?"

Old Storeroom
In response to Gabbro’s coin and Bob’s arrow, the key, and the floor upon which it sits, behave exactly as you would expect a normal key and floor to behave. There is nothing that arouses your suspicions further.

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Day 3, 9:40 pm
Bob, Thief 1: 4/4
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

"Huh. So either it's useless, or it was never missed. My vote is for useless, as it looks like this room was tossed a long time ago, and nobody has bothered to pick up the key in all that time." Gabbro shrugs and grins. "I'm not saying we shouldn't take it, just that we shouldn't get our hopes up." Gabbro retrieves his coin. ::Every little bit counts.::

Before Gabbro can reach for the coin, Ricard puts an arm out to block his path. He leans forward from as far back as he can and jabs at the ground vigorously with his spear just to be sure it wasn't reliant on bodyweight...

Pickles had moved to the doorway and watch the farcical exchange with a smile upon his face, "I say let’s take the key, we can always sell it to unsuspecting traveler with the hint it may hide vast treasures."

Jessica scowls slightly at Pickles' comment. She would certainly never agree to such deception. Why, the poor soul might take it on themselves to enter this place without allies or aid. They would be easy prey for the goblins or worse.

Old Storeroom
The floor does not yield to Ricard’s spear prodding.

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Day 3, 9:40 pm
Bob, Thief 1: 4/4
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Ricard, satisfied at his efforts, steps aside and gestures for Gabbro to proceed with his key grabbing endeavors.

Old Storeroom
Gabbro is able to retrieve the rusty key safely.

Please add it to your inventory … you never know, it may come in handy. It’s sufficiently small that it won’t take up a slot.

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Day 3, 9:40 pm
Bob, Thief 1: 4/4
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

"Is the door locked? That might be what the key is for. Does work in this lock?"

Neither door has a lock. They are both "stuck" and require some effort to open. But they are not locked.

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Day 3, 9:40 pm
Bob, Thief 1: 4/4
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

"Maybe we take the quieter approach this time?"

Ricard works to ease the door open more subtly this time...

Ricard attempts to open the door in a more measured way. It takes a couple of gentle shoves and a kick to the bottom corner, but it eventually yields to reveal another 10’ x 10’ storeroom.

This storeroom is less bare than the previous one. It might even be in semi-regular use, perhaps by the kobold work gangs. At a quick glance you can see:

- Various decrepit-looking tools - shovels, pick axes, shears, etc., all housed in an open-topped wooden barrel.

- Two stacked wooden buckets, the top one containing a sludgy brown substance.

- A small sack of rock salt.

- A blank, journal-sized book (some water damage, but usable).

- A grappling hook.

- A pair of manacles (unlocked, but without a key. And, no, the key you found earlier doesn’t fit!).
Yes. After the second door, it continues east for a further 10’ before arriving at a corner section and turning to the north.

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Day 3, 10:00 pm
Bob, Thief 1: 4/4
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...