Road to Phandalin

Not needing to be told twice, the tiefling had double backed to the mouth of the southern passage again, and assumed the over watch position again. When it came to the noise, though surprising, he jolted but suppressed ensuing panic. At least long enough to look to carefully look about the eastern and western passageways first before in expectation of the noise being but a distraction.

Further confused, Nobody tail lashed at the air in agitation behind him. "Wait... Is... this why its called what it is?" He mumbled to himself. Out of curiosity he then drew forth the tree shaped 'key', curious to see if it reacted at all to pulse of noise.

Margret sends a message to Nobody 

"Ahem! Do you really want to be alone? Right now its just me Dain and Otrov if we're attacked"

She looks on in the room and gets Marco

To do so temporarily in his senses perception

18 

Then she goes back out

Behind the counter you find a locked iron strongbox. The whole thing is rusty from olde age, but still as sturdy as if it were new.

Sending Otrov a message she tells her about the locked iron strongbox.

(if you fail I hope you roll a one Otrov so you can reroll)😉

[i can’t remember if there was a light source or not!]

Otrov starts at Margrets message and nods. She pads carefully over to the counter and considers the strongbox, checking for traps. INV - 10   And if no traps, she’ll try to open the lock DEX - 13 

Quote from Stormbringer4729 >>

Margret says to Nobody "Okay"  

She looks towards the southern passageway 

"I think we were hired if I remember right to clear this place out so we need to deal with whatever that is to the south"

She takes out a piton and casts the same color light as before a bluish purple, on it and holds it out to Otrov

"It wont last long, only an hour. But since you want to go that way look for traps while your at it. We'll follow abit back but not far."

she motions towards the south passage.

Otrov you examine the box and you don‘t find anything odd or dangerous so you give it a shot. Unfortunately a mix of clever gnome engineering, precise dwarven handiwork and several centuries of corrosion, prevents you from opening the box. 

Dain will give the help action on the strongbox.

There's at least a moment's pause, if possible, even an agitated sigh through the message before Nobody answers dryly, "I'm literally a dagger throw away, and keeping an eye on the corridor. If something comes bursting out the room opposite of yours, I have the shot to draw them and maybe buy you second to ready yourselves in need be." He replied via the spell. 

Although more was on the tiefling's mind, he wouldn't let emotions or stress get the better of him. After what happened in the castle he couldn't afford to. But neither would he needlessly have the entire team compressed in what may have only been a room, knowing a potential lurked on the opposite side. Rapier, enchantments, and scales aside, he was not Zurzg by any stretch of the imagination. Nor, as he came to accept, was he that needed to help in more than combat that what Dain could provide..

(To Storm: I took a look at the previous made posted, and the door you guys entered is barely 15ft away. Well within walking distance in an emergency. We had the bell to the north, and potential death fungus corridor to the east, and allies to the west.)

(To DM: So, no reaction from the Tree Stone Key thing following that wave noise?)

Margret shrugs and sends another message to Nobody "Wave, Echo Cave?" With an emphases on the question of their surrounding 

(No, the weave noise or the source of it doesn‘t trigger the tree.)

Otrov - roll with Dain’s help to pick the lock!

24

With Dains explainations and a good bit of oil, you actually manage to defeat the locking mechanism and the box reveals its content. You  find a large amount of coins: 600 copper coins, 180 silver pieces and 78 gold coins.

Otrov flashes a big smile at the gruff Artifizard.  Otrov piles the coins into a pouch and says, "I can keep this stuff until we're ready to split this.  Unless we find a wandering shopkeeper down here!"  

Otrov eyes the scales warily.  "Do you think those are important?  Or just a long-forgotten relic of this place?  What killed all these people, Dain?"

“No idea.” Dain responds tothe question on what killed these people.  He nods to the coins, then heads to the door back to the hall.  “Just as well see what is behind door number 2.” He says, moving to the other door, witht he sounds behind it.  “Let me know when you are ready.” He says, preparing to open it.

Otrov readies the Prick with a bolt for a hostile target when Dain opens the door, if there is one.

Margret thinks "Here we go" moving out of the way to let Dain pass her She readies talon when she see's him messing with the other door 

Nobody canted his head at the odd message before replying 'I... imagine that is how it got its name. Though, I do not yet understand what sort of phenomenon would cause it to emit such a noise. Though, it could very well be the after effect of some great, magical catastrophe or event affecting the land itself'. At that, seeing the group later reenter the hall again to fiddle with the next door, the tiefling gave one last look back to make sure the area was yet clear behind him before focusing again on the southern  tunnel.

Dain opens the door and the old rusted hinges squeak loudly. The room is 15 by 25 ft big, with a small alcove in the far right side corner. Splintered stone benches and heaps of rubble from a partially collapsed ceiling fill this room. Amid ruined stone bunks and toppled weapon racks are the bones of several dwarves and orcs. A big half rotten orc in rusted chainmail stops walking along the right side wall and turns to you:

Round 1:

Dain initiative: 8

Dain lifts a hand and a blue ray of energy leaps towards the figure.

ray of frost

to hit: 24

Damage: 7