Mari and Velon between them quickly dispatch the remaining two skeletons, leaving them sort of alone in the passage under the partially closed trap door. In the light provided by Velon's glowing axe, Mari can see part of the mechanism that dropped the section of floor out from underneath her feet.

Above, the group continues to lay into the monstrosity before them. It reels from the damage taken, especially Lawrence's firebolt. It is about to attack again when your host speaks once more. "That's enough Lisa, fall back." The thing retreats, the door slamming shut behind it.

Poljen attempts to stop the door with the blade of his battle axe.  If he can catch the door with the edge of the blade, and the door jamb with the back of the head, Cratol ought to be able to slip in if he wants.

Cratol moves but not quick enough to stop the door from closing.  He stands in the hallway with the others and looks at the door knowing that the creature named Lisa has gotten away for now.

Rolled a 5 +4 is only 9  sorry guys

Velon nods and grins at Mari once again, relieved that she is alive.  He looks up at the trap door and asks Mari "how can I help?"  He kneels and leans forward, head down, and holds his shield flat on the back of his shoulders so she can climb up and do what she needs to do in lieu of any other instructions from the rogue.

OOC: Help action to Mari

Perry watches in awe as the surprisingly agile, ham-based creature manages to outmaneuver the legendary heroes of the Silver Blaze. After the over-sized pork-chop scurries away and the large freezer door slams shut, creating an reverberating echo throughout the baconless halls, Perry steps forward and says, "Who could have possibly imagined that such a well-preserved loin like that, which has most certainly been locked away in this ice bucket for over a century, could possibly be so nimble and quick. For it to have hoofed it right past our fastest warriors is truly remarkable. I'm not so sure I want to stick around to find out how the sausage is made in here guys, but we might be able terrine some insight into how Dr. Freeze is managing to do all this if we can make it to their lair. Then we can get out of this chill box."

  Mari laughs in relief.  " I cant believe that we are still alive. You should have listened and left me Velon but im glad that you didn't.  " She glances up at the trap door mechanism.  " Hmm...interesting.  That is perfect Velon.  Just give me a steady platform to work with.  " She dextrously climbs onto the shield on his back.  Once she is balanced she  will work to try to reopen the trap door   

 Lia looks down worriedly where Velon and Mari are temporarily trapped. She glances over her shoulder as she hears the other door slam shut.   Relieved that the creature is taken care of she speaks to the others.  " Well done everyone. Velon and Mari are trapped below for now. There is still hope though for them to rejoin us.  Please watch our back while we try to get them free.  Does anyone need healing by chance?" 

Poljen does show some signs of wear and tear.  "As always, I will gladly accept any of the divine healing you and Sune wish to gift me."  He is panting from the exertion of the fights.

Lia walks over to the weary barbarian. " Im sorry my friend ," she communicates over the mental link.  Placing her hand on his shoulder he can soon feel healing warmth from Sune easing his pain. 

The door slams shut behind the creature apparently called Lisa. All goes quiet in the hall, though a few shadows can yet be seen lurking near where Shadowsnacks fell.

Down in the pit, Mari fiddles with the mechanism, but it refuses to budge.

"Hmm, subjects seem to be communicating mostly nonverbally. A mental link perhaps? Worth looking into. Regardless, they seem to be performing better than average, they might be useful as more than test fodder."

"Test subjects, would you be interested in a little gainful employment? Simple tasks really, mostly fetching things from places less dangerous than this. The pay starts with leaving here alive and gets considerably better from there."

Velon calls out to the voice "sorry, but we'd need some payment up front, in the form of a few specific items."

To Mari he says over the link "here, I'll stand taller so you can stand on my shoulders and get a better look."

Velon also speaks to the rest of the group over the link "we may want to explore down here if Mari can disable this."  "It might help is move through this place with fewer traps in our way.  There are quite a few more skeletons though.  If we're all ready with ranged attacks before Lawrance brings down his wall, though, I bet we can clean them up quickly."

OOC Help action.

Poljen mulls it over.  He also uses the link to ask, {Lawrance, can you just keep that wall up like a shield, and we can walk down the tunnel, shoving skeletons ahead of us?}

%As useful as this wall is, it doesn’t have the ability to move. It is a fixed shape in the magical Weave and can’t be destroyed normally. We have about nine minutes before the magic fades, or I can disperse it at any time before then. Let me know when you’re all ready, and the traps lid is broken. %

just for added eyes, Lawrance recalls Gamliel from his realm, the hawk form perched on Lawrance shoulder. Lawrance also keeps wary eyes out for other hazards.  

  " Keep steady right there Velon....hmmm. hopefully this will do it.  " She works carefully on the trap door mechanism to reopen the door fully.  

While everyone else does useful things, Perry, now annoyed, responds to the evil voice, "Now listen here, you mean Dr. Freeze person. You killed my Pegasus, who isn't actually dead, and hurt Mari and NOW you want to hire us to do your dirty work. At the very least, we should have just been invited in for tea, talked about the terms of the contract like adults, discussed the various vesting cycles and stock options, discussed benefits, and so on, as is typical of such employment negotiations. But, nooooooo, we had to go through this creepy place with spooky shadows and skeletals everywhere."

Perry harrumphs a bit, then continues, "Now, I am not 100% unwilling to hear you out just yet, since I, as a rule, like to keep my options as open as I can. With that said, sir and/or madam -- RUDE! This whole experience has just been terrible and it is unreasonably cold in here and who even names a ham?!"

Perry is upset.

"Specific items? Interesting. I do have a few trinkets lying around that I no longer have any particular use for. What, precisely, are you here for? Perhaps something can be arranged."

There is a long silence after Perry makes his spiel, then the voice states, "I don't think you appreciate how rare it is that I'm making the offer at all fiendish one. I have no tea, no use for menial conversation, and even less use for moderating my behavior to fit your standards of civility."

Meanwhile, there is a scraping sound as Mari teases a rod in the trapdoor mechanism out of places. She quickly rolls off of Velon's back in time to avoid the trapdoor as it swings down again to limply hang where it is. The path back to the first floor is open again.

%im not adverse to getting the items we wanted in barter, as long as the terms are reasonable. It’s not like we want another castle, after all.% Lawrance ‘paths to the group. %We could also come back later if this foe really needs to be put away. Better prepared too, knowing his defenses a bit. %

Velon calls back to the voice.  "Well, it's a very tempting offer, but I have a feeling it wouldn't be that simple.  Plus, we're really quite busy, and you've taunted us enough that our honor demands we see your tests through.  How will we ever know if we stack up otherwise?  Feel free to improve your offer though, or we can just discuss it all together in person."

Through the link, Velon says "nice job, Mari."  "Well if it is to be the tunnel, everyone down here please then.  Is there anything more we can do to ensure this trap door never gets closed behind us?  Let's all prepare some attacks on the remaining skeletons, and then Lawrance can drop his wall.  We might even be able to rest a moment if it's safe down here."

Perry squints his eyes distrustfully at the voice's response. He says nothing and instead communicates over the mental link, "Anyone who doesn't have or enjoy tea is untrustworthy guys. Now then, I am prepared to enter this evil skeleton hole that we don't know anything about whenever you all are." 

%I'm ready when you call it, Velon. Let's make some bone shards.% Lawrance sends, as he holds the Wall in place, Firebolt ready on a distant skeleton target in the hole. 

OOC - Using Spell Sniper to choose a very obscured target to hit, if there is one. 

Morgaine will place her Longbow into her Quiver and ready herself to go into the room and down into the tunnels. Once there she will retrieve her Longsword out and hack at any skeletons that she encounters.

OoC:  Will wait to post attacks and damage until all of the group is in the tunnels and know how many more skeletons we have to deal with. If none or very few and they are quickly taken care of will just have the sword ready for any attacks.