Gundren raises brow at Riris' exuberence. But with her skipping off with Pip in tow, he, in the end, nods thankful to the pair. Gundren then turns to the rest while Nundro had gone back to sizing up the Drow, giving them them similar suggestive looks. "Me and me brother should be safe enough on our on for a bit. The rest of you lot should go with your friends. After that last fight, I don't want to be responsible for splitting you lot up if it turns out there are returning forces from there. Ya know?" Gundren says to the rest of the party(ie. Ordrin, Anton, and Mixum).

"One lone and near dead drow aught not to be much trouble at this point."
 

 Ordrin watches grimly as the other dwarves do what they will. When it is over he turns his attention to the gems, studying them for any sign of foul play.

Investigation: 8

OoC: Can Ordrin reach the gems? Would he have to climb the statue?

Mixum sees Pip and Riris starting off down the corridor. He collects his gear and climbs onto Charlotte and follows after them. 

(Looking back, I missed this part of the statue room's description:)

The dust and debris covering the floor has been swept to one side, and a campsite of sorts now spreads in front of the statue. Half a dozen bedrolls and packs are neatly arranged around a rough-built fire pit. A wooden table stands on the west side of the room between two pillars.

(Assume instead the campsite was off to the side of the statue instead. I assume while the execution is going on, Anton has opted to have a closer look at the belongings and contents on the table, searching for more clues/insight into Nezzenar's activities among the belongings:)

Beneath some of the bedrolls Anton discoveries a mere 12 copper pieces, and a small, worn, and leather bound book. However, a quick glance inside reveals the words to be in some language the man doesn't understanding.

Moving on to the table, he finds a sack laying atop of it. The sack contains 190 ep, 130 gp, 15 pp, nine small gemstones (10 gp each), and a dwarven ale mug made of hammered electrum (100 gp).

While that is going on...

To Ordrin & Anton: With most gone and the only active witness being a fellow dwarf, Gundren again sets his sights on the drow after pulling out the War Pick. Yet oddly, a look of hesitation crosses his face while staring down at the elf. It is possible, or so Odrin might figure, Gundren's stint away from traditional dwarven homes and society has lessened the fellows edge and stalwartness. Nundro looks from Gundren to down the hall Pip and the rest marched down, before scowling and ripping the weapon out of Gundren's hand.

"Shame on ya, Gundren! This shameless, tunnel rat kills our brother, kidnaps me, and try ta kill you and tha rest of ya lot. If ya ain't got stomach to do wae' needs tae be done jus' cuz the ****ers defenseless now-" Nundro turns about, raising the war pick high. "I'll do it me self!" Shocked, Gundren cannot even get a single word before is brought down on the head of the drow. Once. Twice. Then a third for good measure with the flat back of the weapon. 

After leaving the head little more than mush, Nundro angrily throws aside war pick, and without even glancing in anyone's direction, began marching his way for the southern doors in a huff.

To Ordrin: Assuming you do not get side-tracked trying to intercede in some way, then you may make the climb immediately to get a closer look at the gems and see the spoiler:

 To Mixum, Pip, and Riris: You travel about maybe 20 to 25ft down the hall before coming across the door Nundro mentioned being along the way. The same one leading to a room he'd been kept in whenever Nezzenar had no need of him. Further to the east are stairs leading down a level, before the hallway curves northward again. If any of you try open the door to look inside, jiggling the handle reveals the door to be locked.

Riris will be the first to try to open it, being always eager and curious. "Hmmm... Ya know, I was thinking this would've been opened. We might have to go back and steal a key from the recently dead man if y'all think we want to get in here. There's also downstairs, but I don't think we're gonna be going that far before 'em, right?"

Ordrin stands by and grimly watches the end of the drow, disturbed more by the strife between brothers than the violence. Then he turns to the statue and its tempting treasure. "Ah, Moradin's moustache," he complains, "they're naught but baubles." He tugs his beard in disapproval but finds the statue interesting, nonetheless.

INT: 9

 After finishing up his consideration of the statue, Ordrin runs down the hall after the others.

Quote from Pertuie >>

Riris will be the first to try to open it, being always eager and curious. "Hmmm... Ya know, I was thinking this would've been opened. We might have to go back and steal a key from the recently dead man if y'all think we want to get in here. There's also downstairs, but I don't think we're gonna be going that far before 'em, right?"

 Pip nods.  "Ya, the dead bugger probably has the key.  I'll go back and see if he has one, wait here."

Pip heads back up the corridor to the other room.  Finding the dwarves and perhaps Ordrin he asks "Does he have a key on his body that'll open this door?  Or anything else of interest on him?"

To Ordrin: After ruminating on the statue for a bit, you recognize it to be a depiction of Dumathoin (Doo-muh-thoe-in), patron of Shield dwarves, and the dwarven deity of mining and underground exploration. He is also known as the Keeper of Secrets Under the Mountain, and protector of the dwarven dead. Although a long shot, it is possible Nezzenar had recognized him as well, and is why the "emeralds" had not taken it. Because among the faithful of Dumathoin, any potential traps tended to truly guarantee the demise of the greedy, or might plunder the secrets of dwarves.

Before Ordrin goes, Gundren says something to the effect of going after his brother, and escorting him back to the entryway. "The trip and fresh air would do'em some good," He added, if though without much conviction. Either way, he'd jog after his brother, who by then had by then was well on his way out the same way the group had come into the room.

Both Pip and Ordrin have a chance to call him back before he gets too far past the south entrance. But regardless, the two at least would bump into each other at the eastern entrance of the chamber. At the question, Ordrin wouldn't be too sure about the key off the top of his head. Between the "jewels" and the fuss with the brothers, there'd been plenty of distractions. And even before that, securing and further stabilizing Nezzenar at the time had taken priority. If any revisit the body, and can stomach to look at the brutalized remains of the drow's head, even a tenative search would eventually reveal the key on a string among the bloody clothing.

Pip squeezes his eyes shut for a moment.   He knew they were going to kill him but this is not what he had in mind.   But Pip wasn't going to go back empty-handed.   He swallows hard and then searches as quickly as he can eventually finding the key.  He then hurries back to the others and tries the key in the door. 

 Ordrin clasps Gundren's arm and gives him a knowing nod. Then he readies his hammer and shield again and heads after Pip.

Mixum stands at the ready as Pip tries the key in the door.

With a curt nod, Gundren parted ways, leaving Ordrin to follow after Pip and his somewhat bloody prize. As some of the party stands about in the hall at the ready for any further surprises, the lock is undone, and the door presumably opened enough for all to see inside.

Dusty draperies adorn the walls of this room, which also contains a bed and brazier. However, what likely draws attention the fastest is not any arrangement of decor, but the sole visible occupant in the room. A badly disheveled dwarf lies bound and by all appearance is unconscious on the cold stone floor near a far off corner.

Pip moves into the room.  Seeing no obvious foes he gets closer to the dwarf to get a better look.

"Who in the blazes would this be?"  Another prisoner?"

Mixum follows Pip inside. Not seeing any wounds. "Not too shabby for a prison cell." Mixum sniffs for the smell of alcohol. "Maybe he's sleeping one off?"

Mixum detects no trace of alcohol in the room. In fact, when actively searching for the scent, a more coppery odor drifts into his nose, along with a few even less pleasant smells that are much harder to identify. As those that drift into the room to further check things out, or more to the point, examine the dwarf, they see a familiar face. Although the myriad of cuts and bruises across his face renders it hard to see, there was little doubt the shabby burgundy bearded individual.... was the very exactly the same as the recently "rescued" Nundro!

As this realization dons on the viewer, Nundro stirs and eventually awakens, opening his one not swollen eye slowly until focus registers the party. "What.... a....... Who are you all?"

Mixum looks bewildered. "Great Googly Moogly, Nundro's got a twin brother!"

Riris has to take a moment, blinking, quietly. No, this had to be some trick of magic. Either this Nundro isn't real or the one they saved before isn't real, and if one of the two is true, it's likely the real Nundro was more protected than the fake one, but what if it isn't?

Arcana Check: 20 (Trying to see if she knows in which ways a trick like this could happen, and, hopefully, which is more likely given the situation)

"Ach, no!" Ordrin shouts and runs as fast as his pegs can carry him after Gundren.

Pip furrows his brows and ponders for just half a moment.  "This would make sense,this is likely the real Nundro.  The other must be some sort of doppelganger.  That would explain why it was attacking us and then suddenly seemed to be OK and acted like Nundro.  It saw it had lost and acted in self-preservation.  We thought it was an enchantment but no, it seems it was not."

Pip watched as Ordrin dashed out of the room, he seemingly had come to the same conclusion.  

Pip couldn't decide to stay or go.  How much did he trust his gut on this one? 

After only a moment's hesitation he dashes off with Ordrin.