CF - Volo's Adventurers' Guild - PbP Campaign

If the rat is still up when Banjo's chance to act arrives, he will use shocking grasp  Attack: 15 Damage: 2.  On a hit, the target can take no reactions this turn.  Banjo will then use his movement to retreat behind Tresvar - again assuming the rat survives.

"Look out Banjo!" Serena says as she takes a quick aim at the giant rat and fires her crossbow.
Light crossbow:14 Damage: 8

Banjo shocks the rat. It is dazed from his attack and unable to take his opportunity attack as Banjo retreats. He was just thinking how did his "food" stun him, when Serena's bolt makes that his last thought.

As the giant rat drops Serena quickly walks over and kicks it to make sure it really dead. "Rat infested place this huh." She says to no one in particuler as she returns to the dragon lock.

Quote from Oberon99 >>

As the giant rat drops Serena quickly walks over and kicks it to make sure it really dead. "Rat infested place this huh." She says to no one in particuler as she returns to the dragon lock.

((Is Serena attempting to pick the lock at this point, as you have already discerned that it is very sturdily locked? If so, she will need to do a Thieves Tools check (added to your Character Sheet)))

Wiping singed rat hair off of his hand, Banjo takes another look around the room.  "I wonder if all the goblins have been slain?  They aren't the cleanest people... but it's odd for them to share a residence with such large, hungry rats.  If the goblins were still in control here I would think they would be sure to drive such threats out."  He reconsiders.  "Or perhaps these are... guard rats?"  Almost immediately, "No.  That's ridiculous."

He will go back - more carefully now - and look around the rubble in the back of the room while Serena worries at the lock.  Is there a crack or a tunnel?  Where did the rat come from?  Investigation 19

"I wouldn´t put it past goblins to have giant rats for pets, they´re practically family Banjo." Serena says smirking as she produces some slender tools from her backpack and goes to work on that dragon lock. Pick lock: 8

(OOC: Thanks. I guess you would need proficiency with tool to do help action right?)

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

He will go back - more carefully now - and look around the rubble in the back of the room while Serena worries at the lock.  Is there a crack or a tunnel?  Where did the rat come from?  Investigation 19

 Looking more closely, Banjo sees that the masonry wall are crumbling, with large cracks and fissures. While still too small for a humanoid, it is clear that this is the route the Giant Rats use to traverse through the ruins, searching for food. 

Quote from Oberon99 >>

"I wouldn´t put it past goblins to have giant rats for pets, they´re practically family Banjo." Serena says smirking as she produces some slender tools from her backpack and goes to work on that dragon lock. Pick lock: 8

(OOC: Thanks. I guess you would need prificiency with tool to do help action right?)

 After 20-30 minutes of trying to pick the lock and almost breaking her tools twice, Serena cannot seem to make any progress on the lock mechanism.

((OOC: yes. ))

"No, that lock is definitely unpickable my friends, and I don´t think you will bash that stone door down any time soon Tresvar. Let´s go back and try the other door." Serena says looking to the others, unsure if Tresvar or Banjo will take the lead now. Investigation of the other door in the room before this one, hopefully with help from someone:22
Stealth when/if moving past that door:8 Perception when needed:9

"Right behind you, Serena.  Oh... and we should all be cautious around any collapsed walls or broken masonry.  The walls are riddled with cracks and are how the rats are moving around in this place.  There's no telling how many could be lurking here still and we don't want to be caught unawares."

"Yes, you should remember to take care of those cracks once you redecorate this place Banjo." Serena says as she starts examining the next door.

"I don't think I could take on a project like this.  Besides that, the place is simply too large for me.  While I enjoy the finer things as much as the next gnome, there is also too much of a good thing.  And I simply don't have enough possessions to warrant occupying such a grand demense.  Which is to say nothing of what the renovation costs on a project like this would run... masons, brickworkers, tile... probably a locksmith to fix that last door you were manhandling... Gods!  The foundation work!  The place is sinking after all.  And then even if you got it up and running, while the present location down here underground is nice... there is simply nothing in the neighborhood.  And what about guests? 'Oh, hello cousins!  Yes, just follow the road until it ends at the pit, and then shimmy down a rope to my front door.  Mind the rats, if you please!'  No... its a quaint dream but entirely impractical."

Tresvar looks wistfully at the door with her hammer in hand, but she has no desire to smash the carved dragon- it’s too much of a work of art.  She goes with the group to the other door.  “Maybe there’s a key someplace?” She says.

The party of intrepid adventurer's double back, this time more wary of movements in the rubble and looking for the glint of rodent eyes in the dark cracks lining the walls. Serena pushes the third door, and like the other, it moves with a little shove within its jamb. 

Lit by Tresvar's lantern, the party enters into a dark, narrow hallway which ends with three more doors; one at the far end (W) and one on each side of the hall (N&S).

Link to image of party in narrow hall beyond the tower shell

Tresvar says “maybe this door to the left leads to the other side of that dragon door?   Shall we try that one first? Do your trap checking thing Banjo? “ 

Serena cautiously moves up to the door on her left and puts her ear to it. Perception:11
Unless she hears anything on the other side she examines the door. Investigation:23 with help.
Unless it seems trapped or locked she swings it open, crossbow ready.

Serena approaches the  door on the left. It is stone relief-carved, portraying a dragon-like fish swimming. 

What Serena hears:

 The door is locked.

"There´s a strange sound coming from here. Be ready. I will try to open this lock." Serena says and goes to work with her tools again, hoping for a better result this time.
Pick Lock:21

The craftsmanship of this ancient lock mechanism eludes Serena's lock picking skills.