"That's fine," grenk says.  "Uh, just keep those books I asked for separate.  If I don't come back in a week i guess resolve them."

Mal starts to snore a bit till the book slams shut and then she jerks awake, wiping a bit of drool from the side of her mouth. "Ahh, so his highness is ready to move on now, let's get to it. Juyst before walking through the mud door she turns back to the seated creature. Did anyone ask you what lies at the end of the paths on the other side of this "door"?"

"We could return. We still need to secure this tomb before we may depart," Silas tries to consult Badger before eyeing the mud door.

Mr.Fox responds to Mal's indirect question, "Indeed they did, I'm afraid I have no experience of any other part of this place. Just...this room. Best of luck. And if I know Acerack, never take the first choice, and don't take the choice that seems hidden. The middle road. Unless the last road you took to get there was the middle road, then definitely take the obvious road. Unless before that it was obvious, then do the other thing.  I'm afraid I thought I was going to be helpful, and then was not. Well, best of luck to you. I hope not to be making further room for your bodies in a few days."  He glances up at the hanging corpses, then turns back to a book and begins reading.

Civi...aka manservant...is quick to respond, and follows Badger. Emerging from the mud wall you find yourselves standing, once again, at the end of the purple path just in front of the mud wall you moved through. 

Badger nods knowingly at Mr Fox's words, as if understanding them perfectly. In any case he seems more sure now that the gold path is safe, because even though it is the middle road it was neither the obvious road nor the road they took first, and therefore more likely to be the less obvious road and less likely to be the most obvious road. The red path is definitely out, being both the most obvious and the least hidden.

Once the group is out of the mud portal and back in the hallway, Badger hurries back down the purple path to the start, then eagerly commences on the gold path until he reaches the archway, stopping to take a look if there is anything different about this one.

Investigation: 23

Badger reaches the end of the golden trail and finds a blank wall.  Looking carefully he sees the outline of a secret door, and notices a slightly elevated brick that likely is pushed to open the door. 

Where does everyone else go while Badger is doing this?  Are people sticking together and staying on the gold trail with him? 

Silas will move back to other side of the curtain in the room but is ready to act should Badger get blown up or something. 

Mal will also follow the lead of the others, since it appears they have not exploded in a puff of red mist yet.

Badger reaches for the brick... then realises how reckless and foolish he is being, and backs off to let Mal take a look...

(OOC: Just realised Badger is still on 11 HP. Have we not rested since Acererak? Does the library count as a short rest? Should we take one?)

With a am sile on her lips Mal watches Badger reach his hand out, then she sighs as she sees him back off, "So close." she whispers and moves forward to check the door for any traps.

Perception: 19

(Short rest achieved.) 

Mal, during the short rest, your pocket and side is getting rather numb from the intense cold throbbing from your pocket through your thin clothes. It's getting a bit painful and you're forced to wipe away the frost forming on the outside every 5 minutes or so.

Zalder was quite talkative in the other room, but is quiet and respectful in the library. He thumbs through a random book during the rest, placing his axe and blade down beside him while he reads in his underwear. 

------------

Back in the hallway, Badger backs away from the secret door trigger at the end of the gold path and looks to Mal.  Once again, Sickle and Civi are at the end of the hallway, this time with Silas, watching to see what happens. Keshma sticks close to Grenk who...seems a bit blurry and undefined at this exact moment, you're unsure where he's decided to stand.  Zalder stands on the path just behind Mal. 

Grenk leaves the books and follows the others.  "Go figure, the only treasure Acerack had was 'knowledge.'  I would have thought he'd have a store house filled with precious stone to pay for all this."

Hit Dice: 4, 7, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 7, 3

Mal walks up and examines the doors.  Nope, no traps.  Grenk stands on the gold path behind Badger. Keshma floats nearby, and yawns. 

Confident in Mal's trap-finding abilities, Badger feels it is safe to activate the brick.

Badger presses the brick. A secret door slides open leading to a short hallway, and the back of another secret door. 

Mal, Badger, and Grenk see a glowing symbol burn into the ground at the bottom of the door.  And then a thunderous explosion occurs around them. 

Mal, Badger, Grenk : Dex Save DC 24 : 24 Thunder Damage, save for half. 

Keshma save : 5

Zalder save : 8

After the thunder is gone...it leaves their ears ringing for a few moments. Zalder is clutching his head.... "owwwww."  He manages to shake it off and looks around to make sure everyone else is ok.  Keshma also has her face in her hands, "Ug....Acerack is a dick...."

A quick exploration of the small hallway and the secret door on the far side shows that it opens up into the same library you just left.  Mr. Fox looks over, "Oh...well...hello again. What was that loud bang?" 

(DC 24 ???)

DEX save: 13

Grenk dex save 24 rolled with advantage due to mantle of spell resistance.  Not using shield master feat to negate damage because he was surprised by this. 12 damage taken.

"Indeed, dick move." Grenk responds go Keshma.  "I suppose we take the last route now."

WHAT? yells Badger in reply when he sees Grenk's lips moving. 

The gnome shakes his head - not just to try to clear the ringing from his ears, but in dismay at being saddled with incompetents, like a rogue who can't find simple magical traps.

Badger sees Grenk motion toward the red trail and says: NOT THAT ONE. I HAVE A BAD FEELING ABOUT THE RED PATH. 

"Come here!" Silas shouts into waves for them to come back, "If you wish to continue, I hope in helps" Silas casts bless on Badger, Mal and Grenk when they're in range before take a few steps back into the room away from the possible explosions.