The Heart of Darkness... [Main Game Thread]

[Squirrellord]

Since it seems the small crystal box was not handed to some else, Bryce will examine the small box for traps. If none are found he will attempt to open it and hand it to his brother for his magical assessment.

[TristenC]

Bryce checks the crystal box for traps, but it seems to be safe so he opens it and hands it to Van. There is a platinum ring inside.

[Nocturno]

"Almost as shiny as that armour that couldn'tbe tarnished!" Van will cast detect magic. Focusing on the ring at first. Then around the room.

[TristenC]

Van scans the box and contents with magical detection. The box appears oo be simply a finely crafted case of crystal, but ring itself glows with a faint protection aura; probably of the most basic level [Looks like Ring of Prot +1]. He continues by taking several minutes scanning the walls, chests, ceiling and floor. Finally he finds a faint outline of a trap door on the ground behind the central chest!

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[Time is 7:20 pm]

Van casts Detect Magic

[Nocturno]

He will point it out to Bryce.

"Brother you seem to have missed something behind this chest..."

If he has time he will try to make it back to the hall to scan it with the spell.

[BishGada]

"Nice catch Van" Galan remarks in regard to the trap door Van mentioned. "Is is magically trapped?"

[Squirrellord]

Bryce heads over to the chest to start checking for traps as thoroughly as he knows how. (chest itself/floor/connection points of the chest and floor/stray breezes/smells/anything and everything at this point)
"Good eye brother."

[TristenC]

Bryce approaches the chest once again and inspects all around it and the floor behind. he is unable to find even the hint of an entrance until his brother points out precisely where the magic indicated something was. even then he has to Knock around with a tool until he hears a hollow spot, in order to locate the trapdoor. Once located he inspects it as well as possible for traps but there seems to be nothing visible on this side of the opening. Doing so seems to require attempting to pry one of the stones out of the floor, although given the hollow space beyond it might be much easier than appearances would suggest.

[Nocturno]

"Hand me one of your chalks." Van will draw the outline, then walk out of the room.

[Squirrellord]

"Give me moment here." Bryce attempts to pry up a stone from the floor at the edge of the chalk outline.

[TristenC]

The stones appear to be tightly fit to one another, but with the liberal use of some wedging tools in his thief's kit and the proper application of leverage he manages to wedge up the stone enough to get a tool under it and in short order the slab is lifted out of the way. A 3 ft diameter hole descends 10 feet to the corner of a tunnel that runs both East and south from their position.

[BishGada]

"Well... it seems like an invitation." Galan smiles and plays a cheerful short tune.

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(OOC: What was the aura of magic that outlined the trap door?)

[TristenC]

===
detect magic outlined it to Nocturno's vision

[Nocturno]

"A rat tunnel brother? Or good fortune?"

[counterkid]

"We have a decision to make, go down this tunnel or go back and try that new ring in the slot in the room with the pews."

"I vote we go and try the ring out."