-----"I think I'm getting used t'it." Carefully, flinching a little from the pain, Sol's slips the dagger back into his right boot. As he looks at the box's contents, he surmises, "I believe I'll look away next time."
-----"Or maybe you'll listen to me." Sarah says, chiding her warrior gently as she applies healing herbs to his face. "But I know better than to try to tell Sol Herron what to do." She says with a grin, Sarah is obviously quite relieved that Sol is only mildly injured.
-----As Sol and Sarah look down at the box, they can see there are four potion bottles. Two of the bottles contain thick pinkish liquids. A third one contains a clear blue substance while the fourth one holds a potion of an opaque orange hue.
-----"Hell of a storm today," Lovan says as Rinda wraps one of his hands.
-----The Huntress then quickly steadies his other hand holding the torch before he drops it to his side. She then looks with concern into his lowered eyes. "Lovan, are you all right?" she asks him.
-----His eyes then brighten and his voice is a little stronger as he answers, "Yes, although I'll be much better after they stop ringing that bell."
-----Rinda's eyebrows lift as she wraps his other hand.
-----Sol nods sagely at Lovan's words, and raises an eyebrow at Sarah, which in turn is followed by a quick grin. "I did listen an' I was careful. There's only so much ye can do about an exploding box!" The grin turns into a grimace as his face stretches.
-----"Thank ye, that feels better." The Gorian says as the herbs dull the burning sensation somewhat. He indicates to Sarah that she'd best take charge of such items, before once more heading towards the door.
-----"What's next?"
-----"As long as you live through it I won't say I told you so." Sarah says and kisses Sol on the cheek as she finishes up and the group leaves. She gathers the potions up as she goes.
-----A frowning Raven looks to Sol and winces, "Damn that looked like it hurt. Maybe we need to work on adding a skilled locksmith for our group. Our current 'Let Sol Open It' method isn't working out." Raven smiles and then shakes his head, "By the way, I'm not open to try the 'Let Raven Open It' either."
-----Raven looks over at Rinda, "Thank you for saving my eyebrows. Did you sense I was in danger?"
-----"Much danger." Sol nods as he continues on in a lecturing tone, "Fer a hunter without his eyebrows is perilous indeed. They're like yer feelers fer seeing in the dark, are they not?"
-----Raven puts a finger to his lips, "Shhh. Don't give away all the Ranger secrets." Raven gives a Sol and smile and then says, "If you are done ruining my aura of mystery, let's head back down."
-----Rinda then gives a mock look of hopelessness to Sol and Raven's exchange. She then looks one last time at Lovan who is currently shaking his head as if he is regaining his wits.
-----As the party leaves the room, Rinda tells Raven, "All I knew was that as soon as I saw Sarah take cover, I thought maybe she sensed something wrong. As I looked at Sol put his dagger to the box, I knew it was too late to stop him."
-----She then meekly says to Lovan and the Gorian, "Sorry, we couldn't warn you quicker."
-----"Nevermind that now, woman!" Lovan interjects as he hoists his torch high so that the light shines more in the corridor, "I just want to have at those buggers that are ringing that confounded bell!" The storm priest then puts his other hand to his head and grimaces.
-----The five then retrace their steps back along the darkened hall toward the stairs. Just before they reach the steps, a low moaning sound gives pause to them. Recognizing it as the wind as it moves through the arrow slits and eaves of the place, they continue.
-----Descending the stairs, they find the battle scene much as they left it. Toward the top of the stairs lies the body of the one-eyed orc and its guards. At the bottom of the stairs, they see the body of the half-orcish commander that Sol hacked down. Strewn about on the stairs and across the entire floor are scores of bodies of the chained armored orcish soldiers.
-----Still standing on the stairs, everyone can see and hear the rain coming down outside the lightning blasted outer doors. They can also see the glow from outside of a light spell Sarah had cast earlier.
-----"Raven, let's take a look at the heavily armoured one, Sarah, ye may want t'look at one-eye. Stuff th' rest."
-----Sol heads down the stairs to take note of what equipment the commander may have.
-----Sarah grimaces. "Caranip." Then an idea takes hold. She calls. "I have duties for you, my apprentice."
-----In the next moment, the gnome comes dashing in as if anxious to be out of the rainstorm. "Yes, Mistress," she says in her high squeak. Caranip then runs up the stairs hopping over orc bodies as she goes. She quickly dodges and passes Raven and Sol as they descend the stairs.