i will attempt a running jump across the five foot gap

As Seigfried stared dumbfounded into the dark hallway, Tram asked him questions. "Can you see that? The hallway seems to take a turn about sixty feet down." The gnome was shifting about, obviously eager to move in.

Meanwhile, the other two members of the part decided to leap across into the doorway. The maenid leapt across and only barely landed on the ledge. Upon doing so, he realized how hard it must have been for the rest of the party, because it was slick and curved and he lost his balance and nearly fell in. He didn't fall though, because Riaharan leapt as well, and he landed past the ledge, safely in the hallway. He grabbed his comrade and pulled him in behind him.

The elf could see down the hallway as well, though it looked to get darker further down. Here, he could see that at the edge of his vision the hallway took a right. He couldn't tell much more than that. The decision of where to go was up to the group.

as riaharan looks down the hallway and he finds himself surprised at the feeling that he has.

riaharan had never felt this emotion before and couldn't quite describe it.

But, during this wierd feeling a new enthusiasm was revealed to him.

despite this enthusiasm he knew he had to be careful after his previous stupidity so riaharan says to the others

"lets go but this time i'm not goin first"

cautiously riaharan draws his bow and notches an arrow.

"Are you sure he's dead?" Tram asked as they sized up their next situation.

"Yes... his chest aborbed the blow of a flying tree. The storm outside is definately violent."

He bowed his head as the cleric said a few words, then nodded to the gnome. "Perhaps it would be best if you went first - I am good at springing ambushes, and overcoming them - but not so proficient in spotting them. Let me get us some light."

Siegfried rummaged around in his pack, searching for a light source. (I know I have a bullseye somewhere in there)

"Wait," Tram says putting his hand out to Siegfried. "Give me just a minute first. I can see in the dark, but there are many foes that can't. You're disadvantage might be theirs as well. I don't want to startle anything in here." He lowered his head, shaking it slowly. "It's too bad about Roy. I don't know what's with this world. The last person I hung out with got killed by a dragon. This one got killed by a tree branch. I've never seen anyone get killed by a tree branch before. That's pretty weird to think a tree has something in common with a dragon."

He pauses, thinking for a moment, then his head pops back up, "Aaaannyway. I'll sneak down to the corner, give a look, then head back. Of course all this might change if you hear the signal which will be, 'AAAAHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!'" (that part was whispered.)

Tram carefully sneaks down the hallway, looking for anymore traps, and listening for any sounds that might clue him in on what was around that corner up there. He plans to just look around then come back.


(Obviously, I'd love to take 10 or even 20 on these checks, but whatever is cool with you, I'll go with.)

Valerick thanked the 'elf' for helping him and fell into place in front of him. He drew his sword and refastened his shield to his arm, then caught up with his new found allies. He waited with some impatience for the small one to check the area ahead. If he found the gnome's joke at all funny, he made no sign of it. Decided to note when he lost earshot of the cacophony raging outside.

The gnome took his time sneaking down to the end of the corridor. When he got there, he held his back to the wall and peered slowly around the corner. It was obvious from this position that the hallway only turned right, it did not continue further. He saw around the corner, that the hallway became darker. The hall went 20 feet to another right turn. Yet again, it did not continue further.

As per his specific statements to the others, he turned and headed back to tell them.

Tram returns to the group and informs them on his findings, which apparently were nothing. He looks up to everyone else. "So what now?"

Valerick answers the little one by walking purposefully forward down the hall with his sword and sheild ready for a physical resistance. He keeps his attention on those behind them, to make certain they are following him. In the dark he decides to pull up the question.

"Is it still necessary to maintain the dark," he whispers, the fingers of his shield arm moving to touch his focus.

(If the gnome answers that it is necessary, I will provide no light, but I will wordlessly expect him to lead. If light is allowable now, I will cast the light spell on my focus, assuming no one pulls out a torch or other item that allows me to save my measley little spell.)

"Well, I didn't see anyone or any creatures so far, so if you want to light something up, be my guest. It doesn't affect me at all," Tram replied.

"sure light something up i am bored of this gloom" said Riaharan. "I think we should start to move onward I would take the first steps but because of my injury i think it would be best if i went in the middle for now at least" said Riaharan. Riaharan thought to himself, this is BORING i want a fight. At least these lot seem to be component adventurers one of them may even be able to heal me.

The group descended into the dark hallway. It was perhaps only 20 feet down when most of the group found themselves completely blind by the dark. Only a few could see at all, and the elf knew that his vision wouldn't lead much further before he was also blind.

"Is it still necessary to maintain the dark," Valerick's voice echoed, even in his whisper.

Well, I didn't see anyone or any creatures so far, so if you want to light something up, be my guest. It doesn't affect me at all," Tram said this, closing his eyes to allow them to adjust to the change in light when it came.

"sure light something up i am bored of this gloom" Riaharan's whisper confirmed the task, and the Maenid touched his Holy symbol. A soft, unintelligible, word later it glowed like a torch, leading their way further down the hall.

Riaharan broke the silence, looking down the hall at the right turn that the gnome had just pointed out. "I think we should start to move onward I would take the first steps but because of my injury i think it would be best if i went in the middle for now at least"

"Unless there are any objections, I'll take point from now. Of course, if trouble does arise, I'll be in back. Looking for trouble is what I'm used to. Dealing with it is another story," Tram said as he drew his bow once more heading down the hallway, following it to the right. He stepped slowly and cautiously, keeping a watchful eye, and a keen ear for any trouble that might arise, be it foe, or traps. He tried to stay to the shadows and keep his footsteps as silent as possible.

"Let's be off then," he whispered. "Personally, I hope we find food more than a fight."

"That is fine with me" replies Riaharan. He hopes this guy is good at scouting ahead or he knows he's for it and wont last long when something springs out to attck him.

Riaharan felt somewhat relieved in this big party because, he could just blend in with the others, he ,for once, didn't have to lead the way and jump in holes like before he thought it was a duty.

The hallway was lit rather reasonably by Valerick's holy symbol. The group approached the right turn that the gnome had found, and turned the corner. The hallway was just as he described, a U shape. In the light, they noticed that the walls held empty sconces. The 20 feet of travel, was brief, approaching another right turn.

The gnome took th lead again, peeking around the dark corner. What he saw was, rather surprising. About 30 feet down, the hallway ended. The hallway continued to be empty, but it was, as far as he could tell, completely purposeless. He motioned to the group, and they turned the corner, heading toward the dead-end...

Tram had been mulling over his thoughts, knowing full-well that they weren't approaching food. If anything, this was someone's home, but it looked clearly abandoned. The only strange thing was the trap earlier. He didn't know why, but he felt it unlikely that someone would abandon a place and leave their traps set in the process.

The Elf, however, made a more significant discovery. As they approached the dead end, he felt a distinct need to turn right, probably associated with his elvish roots. There was a door there, made of stone and nearly flush with the stonework of the cave. The door was distinctly different from the other doors the group had seen, not because it was stone, but because it slid to the side, rather than a swinging door. It must move into the wall itself.

((this is just a minor liberty))
Tram took the time to examine the door as it was pointed out to the group. Though he did not find any traps, he did find the door to be strange. There were strange markings on the door. The entire group brainstormed as they examined them and came up with a strange explanation. The markings were not of any magical origin that they knew of, but were more like claw marks. It seemed, though, that they did serve a purpose. They were patterned with 4 vertical struck across by one diagonal mark. Who(or what)ever made them clearly had a purpose. Near as they could tell, it was counting something. It could have been followers, or victims, or gold pieces. Whatever it was, there were a LOT of marks. The marks overlapped each other even. It was a strange revelation, but it clearly gave the group a clue as to what might lie behind the door.

Now, the decision was...did they proceed through it?