2. The First Delve

Pressing their collective ears against the stone door, Swan, Ricard and Lanhkmer can all hear muffled voices on the other side. The door is too thick and too well-fitted to make out the words, but there is definitely a dialogue taking place beyond.

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Day 2, 10:20 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

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When the others listen Fenwick inspects the door, wondering why it's different and comparing it to the carved faces, she's seen in the other area.

Swan whispers, "There is others beyond. Lets go the other way as this door is too difficult to open fast." She is motioning to go to the more northern passageway. Possible to go around and hit this door from another angle.

The carved ogre-mouth archways that you encountered previously were effective but crude. There was no refinement to the features, and the stonework was rough with a myriad of chisel marks on the surface.

In contrast, the door in front of you is simple but immaculate. The straight edges are perfectly straight. The door’s surface is perfectly flat - so much so that it appears almost polished and reflects your lantern's light. It fits within the accompanying stone door frame so accurately that the crack between the two is barely perceptible.

The ogre mouths were carved by a competent stonemason. This door has been produced by a master stonemason.
On the contrary. Stonehell’s usual doors are difficult to open because they are not particularly well made and the timbers have warped over the years. This door is so well crafted and engineered that it looks like it will open very smoothly and easily.

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Day 2, 10:20 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

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Swan says, "On the other hand that door is rather crafted well. It may open easy an allow us a surprise attack. Let try it." With change of mind Swan is going to try to open door and rush in to surprise whoever is talking on the other side.

Architectural Wonder
Swan pushes firmly against the stone door and it does indeed open smoothly and silently.

Beyond is a rectangular chamber. Within it are five dwarves. One of the dwarves, a particularly stout fellow with a long braided beard and a balding head of red hair, is deep in concentration, scribing on a parchment. The other four dwarves, all equipped with warhammers and shields, are chatting idly amongst themselves. All five dwarves are wearing chainmail armour.

The focus of the older dwarf’s attention is the room’s stonework. The walls are carved with exquisitely detailed images of dwarven gods, whilst the floor is adorned with intricate patterns. Like the door, the masonry within the room is of the highest craftsmanship.

Mapping information: rectangular room, 20’ x 30’. The door that Swan has just opened is in the northern section of the western wall. There is a further exit, which heads west, in the southern section of the western wall.

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Day 2, 10:30 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

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The dwarves are surprised by Swan's sudden appearance ... the older dwarf is too engrossed in his studies of the stonework, whilst his chatting companions have let their guard down.

Lanhkmer thinks if such a direct approach was the best option, but anyway there they are.
"well, salute to you all, Master Dwarves"

Swan is caught but the situation says abruptly, "Wow. That door does open easily." and gives up her surprise.

Ricard also relaxes his stance upon entry, the dwarves not seeming particularly threatening to him. He nods a short greeting but lets Lanhkmer and Swan do the talking.

Architectural Wonder
I’ll make a reaction check for the dwarves. Lanhkmer's courteous introduction negates Swan’s rather rude interruption, so there’s no situational modifier to the roll. And Lanhkmer has no Charisma modifier.

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Day 2, 10:30 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

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Link to Tiberious' mega-maps ...

Architectural Wonder
The four dwarf guards look rather embarrassed at being caught unawares, but quickly form a protective arc around their scholarly colleague.

The dwarf inspecting the stonework barely acknowledges your arrival. He glances up briefly from his work, peering at Lanhkmer over a pair of wire-rimmed eyeglasses that are perched on the end of his nose, grunts, and then returns to his studies. "Quite remarkable …," he mutters to himself under his breath, as he transcribes an image from the wall onto a piece of parchment.

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Day 2, 10:30 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

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Swan asks, "Would you take it kindly to let us pass through and enjoy your artwork."

"It really is beautiful, " Fenwick comments, eyes skimming the walls. "I'm afraid I don't know enough of the theology, what's depicted here?"

"Yes Master Dwarves, we'd gladly learn something from you about this place and those fine stoneworks"

OOC: my charisma is just 10, but someone who's better than me can try to gather better info from them

Architectural Wonder
The dwarf brightens at the interest of Fenwick and Lanhkmer in the focus of his study. Gesturing at the particular scene on the wall that he is meticulously copying he explains "Here we see Grimbeard Cragheart, the Dwarven God of Obstinacy, stoically defending the Great Forge from a horde of filthy elves …"

With a sideways glance at Fenwick, his explanation tails off. "Ahem … well … different times of course. Nevertheless, you have to admire the craftsmanship. It rivals anything you’ll find in Khaz'Adraghim. How it came to be here is something of a mystery. Was it carved by dwarven inmates long ago? Or does it even predate Stonehell?"

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Day 2, 10:30 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

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Swan asks, "Would you have a token of your workmanship to show others your fine work. This isn't to sell but to show." Appears that Swan is taking in some interest in the dwarven works.

Fenwick appears to take no offense, though she self-consciously brushes a bit of dust from the dungeon from a strap on her breastplate before stopping herself.

"Ah, that is what I was going to ask-- would a prisoner have been able to carve it? Seems like they would have found him other work to do---unless it came before or after the prison was in use. But your people would know if there had been some Dwarven settlement here, wouldn't they?"

"Seems awfully close to the entrance to pre-date the prison," says Ricard lowly,

"But what would I know? Have you been further in?"

Architectural Wonder
"Oh, miss, you misunderstand. This is not my work. I am but a humble scholar, a keeper of records. This stonework is centuries old."
"Sadly, reliable records from Stonehell’s time as a prison are scarce. Many unfortunates went in, few came out, and even fewer came out sane. I think the most likely explanation is that the work was done by dwarven inmates. But how, and why, is a mystery I have yet to get to the bottom of."
"Not much further. At least not further down. I’ve heard rumours of other such stonework elsewhere in the dungeon. If you find any, I’d be very grateful if you could direct me to them. Naturally, I’d reimburse you for your efforts."

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Day 2, 10:30 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

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