The eldritch fire flickers out and the twisting black shadows manipulating the undead dissipate as the bones clatter lifelessly to the floor in a heap in a cloud of dust.

The threat of danger gone for the moment the monk scans the room looking for anything of use.

N'ruel gives a pleased nod as he collects the arrows that appear to be of better quality. "I think you can put these to good use," he says to Darastrag. He's not sure what to do with the coin but pockets it all for the time being.

"So which way," he asks to the group indicating the two doors on the opposite side of the circular room.

"Most people will go right, so I say why not go left," Aerin suggests.

"One is good as the other to me."

DM: I suppose there isn't anything different about the doors?

"Thank you, friend N'ruel. They are beautiful and will serve us well." Darastrag tucks the special arrows in a separate compartment of his quiver and sniffs at the two doors, his tongue flickering forth as he looks for any markings of previous usage.

Survival: (with help from N'ruel) 25

Aerin keeps an eye out as best she can, while seeing what she can deduce from her surroundings.

Perception 10

Investigation 23

Quote from DMProctor >>

 Esvele leans close to the wooden door, placing her ear against the rough grain as she listens for what might lie beyond. Behind the southwestern door the light pitter patter of feet and the familiar chattering of rodent can be heard. From the door in the northwestern part of the tower there is nothing but silence.

Quote from jr_el_leon >>

Esvele rejoins the group and in a hushed voice, says, "Rodents. Silence." She points at the appropriate door for the given word.

 Esvele comments in a hushed voice, "Rodents to the southwest and silence to the northwest - which poison do we pick?" 

"With the rats we at least have some idea of what to expect.  I think we're in fairly decent shape for another confrontation, too," Aerin replies.

Battle was hardly favorable but forewarned was forearmed.

"Indeed. Rats would suggest something for to bring them together, no? Perhaps our missing hunters. I agree with Aerin."

Esvele responds, "Well, okay then. Did we check that door for traps? You know I'm sure it's fine..."  She begins to make her way towards the rodent door, seemingly with an intent on opening it.

"Wait, let me check," Aerin replies.

Quote from TheManyNamed >>

Aerin keeps an eye out as best she can, while seeing what she can deduce from her surroundings.

Perception 15

Investigation 7

N'ruel moves to the southwestern door and give the handle a pull (provided no traps  were discovered by Aerin).

Aerin examines the wooden door with banded iron and does not find any traps. There is no locking mechanism and with a gentle push the door opens on rusted hinges that scream out with distress.

Beyond the door the masonry walls of this twenty foot wide hall are in poor repair. The far end of the chamber has collapsed, filling the southern section with mounds of rumble. The western wall is in much better shape than the other walls, and it holds a stone door with a gazing eye carved in relief on it. The door has a single keyhole, situated in the pupil of the unblinking stone eye.

The long pink fleshy tails of more vermin can be seen sliding out of sight into the dark recesses of the piles of rumble at the southern end of the room. Their high pitched chattering muffled by the layers of crumbled masonry.

Map

 "That I will absolutely check for traps before we try to open it," Aerin whispers.  "So, who shall draw out the rats?"

Even if the sight of them wasn't enough, the smell certainly was.  The pungent smell of rodent waste made Aerin want to gag.  Really, they were doing a public service getting rid of such vermin.

N'ruel uses his innate drow abilities to call forth four dancing lights and causes them to coalesce into a humanoid shape. He sends it over to the south wall to see if it is enough to draw out the large rodents. 

Tovar rests his shield on the ground, unslinging his light crossbow and checking the bolt loaded into the weapon. With a quick and practiced pull back, he readies the weapon to fire on the first clear target. As he aims the weapon, he focuses on the shadows beyond, trying to discern darkness from grey, rodent hide.

perception: 11

Darastrag hurries back to where their last fresh body lies. He picks up one of the goblin corpses and carries it back to the group before tossing it into the doorway as rat bait. The ripe corpse splatters with gore and its aroma floats back into the room as well as forward towards the rats!

The dancing lights coalesce into a fuzzy humanoid form close the the pile of rumble. The glint of red beady eyes can be seen reflecting the slightly pulsing lights as the hover off of the ground, but none of the rodents peak out from their places of hiding.

A great rotten stench fills the room as the lizardman tosses the bloating goblin corpse in the direction of the rats, a wet squishing sound emits as the head splatters along the stone floor. Rivulets of putrid black fluid poor out of the decaying skull. This grabs the rats attention as four of the mangy beasts scurry out from within the nooks and crannies and dash like mad towards this newly introduced source of food.

Initiative 12

Initiative 5