Norry asks, "Ancient gates, you say? Gates to what?"

Sebrinia grows quiet now and thinks back to the conversation. "Norry, I'm not quite sure I remember what the gates go to. Just know it's not something we want to open."

Norry says, "Well alright. I suppose one of these gate stone things is buried in the crypt here, and that wizard person is here to take it."

Sebrinia nods slowly. "That possibly be a good take on that."

Norry nods. "Well, if that's that, that's that. We should be off to bed for an early start."

Sebrinia glances around and nods. "Yes, bed is a good thing for most of you."

SteelBrow snores LOUDLY in a nearby room.

Akia attempts to make the bed more comfy in a nearby room.

Norry gives Sebrinia a queer look, but makes his goodnights and heads off to bed. After a quick run to the kitchens.

Sebrinia notices the look from Norry and just shrugs her shoulders. She settles a bit more on the bed.

* The night passes without noteworthy event. The beds are comfy, and the inn itself grows respectably quiet in the night. Norry, roll me a d20.

* Norry rolls 1f20: 18.

SteelBrow rolls over in the all too soft bed.

* The next morning arrives, and the rising sun starts to illuminate your rooms. Those of you that feel you might not wake up with the sun, feel free to roll a Con check.

* Norry rolls 1f20+1: 18,1 = 19.

Sebrinia is awake before the sun rises.

SteelBrow is woken by sunlight in his eyes, and grumpily gets up and dressed for the day.

Norry wakes easily and refreshed, and pops a remaining bread roll into his mouth as he tugs on his coat and breeches.

* Akia rolls 1f20+2: 4,2 = 6.

Akia sleeps in rather lazily, enjoying her comfy pile of whatever bedding she could scrounge up in her room.

* The sounds of activity in the common room and kitchen start to filter down the hall where your rooms are.

SteelBrow grogally plods downstairs for breakfast, not quite fully awake yet.

Norry picks up his backpack, and heads downstairs to see about breakfast.

Sebrinia quietly exits her room and follows Steelbrow and Norry down the stairs.

* Those heading into the common room discover that there are a few patrons already sitting at tables, and you smell bread, some kind of meat, and eggs in the air. Some of the patrons look vaguely familiar, perhaps as though you'd seen them in passing previously. There are still plenty of available tables, though.

SteelBrow plops into a seat at the bar, "whatever's hot and fresh for breakfast."

Akia wanders out into the common area, seemingly following her nose in a half-awake state.

Norry hops up onto a stool next to SteelBrow. "Same for me, of course." And to SteelBrow, "So. What do you know about these ancient magic gate stones?"

Akia stops in the doorway, blinking and fully awake.

Sebrinia notices the pair before her and walks up to them. "We seem to be one short this morning. Anyone notice if Akia got up yet?"

Akia sits down in a chair nearby, "Good morning."

* A younger gentleman assisting at the bar nods to Steelbrow, and then to Norry. He turns away, and hands them both plates of fresh bread, eggs, and what could be sausage when he comes back. He also hands over two mugs of what smells like hot spiced cider, and says that'll be three silver apiece.

SteelBrow seems a bit confused for a moment, "what ancient gate stones?"

Akia says, "Hm? Gate stones? Oooh... I'll have some of that."

Sebrinia's question is quickly answered as Akia is there.

SteelBrow digs out 3 silver and places it on the bar in from of him.

Norry plunks down a gold. "I've got breakfast this morning, friend dwarf."

SteelBrow nods and retrieves his silver.

* The young man double-takes at Akia, letting his eyes linger perhaps a bit too long at the second glance, then he nervously gets ahold of himself, nods, and retrieves the same order for her, naming the same cost.

Norry says, "She's with me, my good man."

Akia smiles at Norry, "Why thank you. This looks tasty."

SteelBrow eats in silence, slowly waking as his plate empties.

* The young man nods to Norry, and pockets the coin, then gives Sebrinia an expectant look, clearly wondering if she wants the same order.

Sebrinia mmms softly. "Just eggs and fresh bread for me please, sir."

Akia gets a little self conscious and starts eating.

Akia yawns a little, and uses it as an excuse to look around the common area.

* The assistant barkeep nods to Sebrinia, indicating that the remaining coin will cover her meal if that is acceptable to Norry, since it appears they're part of a single group. He also brings her what she asks for.

Norry munches, and between bites answers SteelBrow. "Seems there are some stones, magic I shouldn't guess, that our friend the Evil Wizard is after."

Norry nods to the barkeep, "Ah, yes of course."

SteelBrow says, "really don't know much about them. Magic isn't my thing."

Akia leans in, listening while she picks though her food... mostly eating the meat and eggs.

Sebrinia quietly eats her own food, listening to Norry talk with Steelbrow about the stones. "Steelbrow wasn't with me and my mother when we talked about the stones," she replies.

* The assistant barkeep largely leaves you alone after you're served, although he does glance at Akia rather more often than the rest of you.

Akia rolls her eyes and trys not to look at him.

- s/trys/tries

Norry says, "Well if one of these stones is buried in the crypt up the way, maybe the locals could tell us something."

SteelBrow empties his plate, and now fully awake downs the bottom half of his cider in one gulp, "who's ready to bash some nasties?"

Akia can't help but chuckle a little.

Akia sips her cider a bit, then doubletakes and looks in the mug.

Norry also cleans his plate, and sips at his cider. "No sense waiting, I'd say."

Sebrinia finishes most of her food and pushes her plate away. "So I guess it's time to find out more?"

Akia takes a few long draughts of her cider, "Well I guess we go."

Akia grabs a sausage between two halves of roll and gets up, heading for the door.

SteelBrow says, "a moment", and marches smartly up to his room to get his axe and pack.

* The young gentleman gives you all a polite wave and starts to gather up your plates and mugs as you finish and begin heading out.

Sebrinia gives a smile to the young man and grabs up her things and heads off with her group.

Akia pauses in the doorway, then takes a peek outside while waiting for Steelbrow.

SteelBrow a moment later hustles downstairs again after the group.

Norry jumps down from the stool and shrugs into his pack.

Akia steps out into the street and looks both ways... "Um... looks different in full morning daylight... which way?"

* The town outside the inn is clearly still waking up. Except for a few citizens and what you think are farmers off in the distance, tending to their fields, the main path is unoccupied. It looks partly cloudy outside, perhaps with the threat of rain later in the day, but right now the sun is shining through a large patch of clear sky.

* As the cemetary bordering the mausoleum is up on a hill behind the inn, it's pretty easy to spot that it's approximately north of where you are.

Akia says, "Ah, sorry, eyes were still adjusting. This way."

SteelBrow turns exiting the inn towards the graveyard and marches forward.

Sebrinia glances in the direction they need to be going and makes a face. "Oh boy," she mutters and trudges along.

Norry trots along.

Akia pads along behind, nervously.

SteelBrow pauses at the gate.

Sebrinia says, "Lets go."

The DM forgot to ask about the gate last time, and concludes that it was closed, but not locked, by one of you. It opens readily enough.

Norry digs out his crossbow, and cranks it back before proceeding.

* Much like before, the full sunlight shines down on the graveyard, and the path back up to the mausoleum is clearly marked. Unless you should choose to dawdle or investigate some of the grave markers, you make it back to the mausoleum without incident.

Akia looks about the graveyard for anything that may have changed since the other day before we open the gate.

Sebrinia says, "Still as creepy as it was the last time."

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: 7,4 = 11.

The DM will assume that Steelbrow is following you as you progress.

Norry adjusts his pack and tests the cord on his crossbow, not anxious to lead the way in.

Sebrinia worms past Norry and leads the way, this time.

Akia tries to stay in front, but not too far from the pillar of steel.

SteelBrow allows Akia and Sebrinia, both much stealthier than himself, to take the lead.

* The bodies at the front of the steps are still there, probably because the town guard is still too afraid of whatever else might be going on inside. The doorway itself is ajar as you last left it, but from what you can see inside, nothing has changed since your last passage through it.

Akia sniffs at the air, then slinks quietly inside.

Sebrinia has her bow and arrow ready and pushes forward, into the building.

Norry's eyes twitch, looking around in all directions.

SteelBrow slips inside and circles towards the back door.

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: 2,4 = 6.

Akia raises an eyebrow, "Seems safe..."

Akia heads down the stairs cautiously.

* There are no obvious threats inside. The spattered blood over the walls and floor is still drying. The rear door is also ajar, left that way from your previous egress.

Sebrinia follows along with the others, somewhat trailig now.

Akia shudders at the thought of all that blood, probably slightly distracted as she creeps down the stairs.

SteelBrow nudges the door open with his axe.

* Down in the second room, the torches continue to burn in their sconces, providing sufficient natural illumination for the room. The corpses, and the two zombies you defeated, are still where you left them. The two vaults on the northwest edge are ajar.

Akia peeks cautiously around the corner.

SteelBrow advances behind Akia.

Sebrinia quietly follows along, ready for anything

* Around to the east is the end of the hallway, lined with closed vaults on either side of the walls. The door at the far end, just behind a small layer of scattered bones, appears to be closed.

Norry creeps around the western edge of the room, crouching among the rubble with his crossbow pointed down the hall.

Akia steps over and investigates the door.

SteelBrow creeps towards the east door.

* Akia rolls 1f20+1: 16,1 = 17.

Sebrinia continues to be behind again.

Akia leans up against the door and listens carefully.

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: 9,4 = 13.

SteelBrow stands in silence.

Akia shrugs and attempts to quietly unlock the door with the key, padding them with her armfur as she does so.

* Akia rolls 1f20+9: 8,9 = 17.

* It takes Akia more time, but the lock retracts almost soundlessly, and the door hardly makes a noise as she pulls it open. As you are all being quiet, you start to hear the sounds of running water as she pulls the door towards her, creating an opening.

Akia peeks in the opening, slinking to the wall to use it as cover.

Norry's finger twitches toward the trigger as he peers into the blackness.

SteelBrow stands to the side in case a target for an arrow should appear.

• It's really dark beyond the door. As it's not opened fully, you can barely see five feet beyond, given that the last torch is about 45 feet away from the doorway. But you don't see any immediate threats.

* All of you can also smell the distinctive scent of rain as you peer down the dark passage.

The DM is finished describing. "You may now continue."

Akia pushes the door open far enough to let the dwarf in and heads up the corridor carefully.

Sebrinia looks a puzzled and moves closer yet to the door. As close as she can get with the group.

SteelBrow follows a pace behind.

Norry glances wistfully at the torchlight behind him. Suddenly he turns and trots back to the nearest torch, and tries to remove it from the sconce.

* Norry rolls 1f20+7: 13,7 = 20.

Norry returns to the group, torch in hand and a smile on his face. "This should help. Me, at least."

Akia hehs.

The DM notes, in case it's not obvious on the map, that there are more torches in the room you're leaving.

Sebrinia stays along with Norry.

* With the aid of the torch that Norry brings along, you have no further problems making out the rest of the darkened room. (more)

* This passage has the statue of a human woman set in a niche on the northern wall. She is dressed in robes, and her arms and face are held upward as if towards the sky. On either side of her, fountains gurgle with what appears to be fresh water. The passage smells like rain.

* Directly across the hall from the statue is a closed stone door, and farther down the passage is an archway on the northern wall. Beyond that archway, grave vaults like those you've seen before occupy all sides of the passage. Many have been opened and apparently looted. (done)

Akia whispers, "Not quite what I expected. Well... onward..."

Akia creeps silently towards the door (taking a 10 = 19?)

Norry stays back with the bow-wielding elf.

SteelBrow stands still for the moment.

Akia examines the door, expecting it to be locked.

Sebrinia continues to follow along, not saying too much or doing much.

SteelBrow creeps forward a pace.

Akia huhs, "Verduun and Gola Mikolos... mean anything to you guys?"

Sebrinia blinks. "What?"

Norry shakes his head.

Akia huhs.

Akia takes a look in one of the fountains.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20-2: 17,-2 = 15.

* Akia rolls 1f20+4: 15,4 = 19.

SteelBrow examines the stonework around the statue.

* Akia rolls 1f20+1: 19,1 = 20.

* Norry rolls 1f20+5: 4,5 = 9.

Akia huhs, "Those names sound familiar... can't put my finger on it."

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+2+1: 2,2,1 = 5.

Akia sniffs a little at the water, "Huh. Nice."

Akia leans over and peers into the archway.

* Sebrinia rolls 1f20+3: 15,3 = 18.

SteelBrow searches for hidden doors in the stonework.

Norry approaches and glances at the statue, the fountains, and the door.

SteelBrow moves over and looks through the arch.

* Through the archway, The color of stone here is a darker gray, and the shape of the blocks making up the walls changes. You can see a pair of staircases beyond.

Sebrinia seems to be deep in thought as she plays the names out in her mind. "This should mean something to me," she replies loudly. "But I don't know what yet."

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+2+1: -10,2,1 = -7.

Akia turns to Sebrinia, "Think we should try and open it?"

Norry sheds some light down the corridor under the arch.

Sebrinia glances at Akia. "Well if you do, please be very careful."

* Akia rolls 1f20+1: 14,1 = 15.

Akia huhs, "This part is different. Dwarven architecture, I'd wager."

Akia says, "Seems odd."

SteelBrow looks over where Akia is.

* SteelBrow rolls 1f20+2+1: 13,2,1 = 16.

* The torchlight Norry shines under the arch illuminates the corridor to the end of the hall, where there is another stone door. There's something odd about it, though, like your eyes can't properly focus on it.

Akia was commenting on the stairwell.

SteelBrow says, "yup, dwarven architecture, good work too."

Akia asks, "Well... shall we try this door first?"

SteelBrow says, "and been here awhile."

Norry says, "Let's try the door."

Akia says, "I wish I could remember the significance of those names."

Akia moves over towards Sebrinia, "You want to try it, or shall I?"

Sebrinia hrms. "Go ahead, Akia."

SteelBrow focuses his attention on the door at the end of the stairs.

Akia carefully attempts to unlock the door with the key.