-----Dread heads over towards the door and begins checking it for traps.
-----Brandel draws his sword again and says through gritted teeth, "Dread's right, we cannot go back now. I am still good to fight. If Redmarsh falls, what good then am I?" The young man winces, trying to shake off the pain of his wounds.
-----"Aye," Runik says slowly eyeing Brandel, "Th' Cap'n be right in also thinkin' ye be postin' th' rear wit' Krord by yer side." Thumping his hammer into his hand, Runik grumbles, "Blast, we kin prob'ly blame Marast fer this. We could'a used 'em down 'ere fer baitin' the dead wit'. E's prob'ly enjoyin' his ride back ta Oakwood takin' in the sights."
-----The dwarf draws a weary smile from the injured young mercenary. Everyone then watches Gimplefwick as he examines the door.
-----The Dread Pirate ceases his checking of the door and says to the others, "It seems to be alright. Ye might want to stand back a bit though, just in case." Dread gives everybody a chance to take a couple steps back, then moves to one side of the door, reaches out and turns the handle, opening the door.
-----Kazel seems to calm down as Brandel looks well enough for now. "No point in turning back now," she sighs and says glumly, "with all this mess and screaming anyway." She leans against the wall and watches Gimplefwick open the door with a detached and weary look on her face.
-----Dread easily turns the handle on the door and, with hardly a sound, it opens exposing a large chamber beyond. The large spacious floor before them is dry; somehow this chamber being built over the sewer system. Eight torches dully illuminate the area from sconces mounted on columns that line the room. It appears to be about sixty feet to the opposite wall where a few steps rise there to a low platform. Beyond the columns on the sidewalls, silhouettes of arches can be seen; either being small tunnels leading elsewhere or the beginnings of catacombs. A dank, mouldy smell assaults the senses.
-----Most intriguingly, in the middle of the floor, is a small treasure trove. Three boxes overflow with an accumulation of coins; mostly gold and platinum, with quite a few gems in sight as well. Several scrolls are scattered about as well as jewelry and other objects of an artistic nature.
-----"Lass," Runik whispers beside Kazel as if disbelieving his eyes, "Do ye be seein' what I be seein'?" A grin begins to widen across his bearded face as he stands mesmerized by the room's contents.
-----The Dread Pirate's jaw gapes open as he gazes at the accumulated loot stores in front of the party. Holding up a hand to halt the party, he mutters softly, "Arrrr, this be too good to be true. I can't believe that those skeletons were the only guardians fer a pile o' loot o' that size. It's layin out there in plain sight, just beggin fer some idiots to stroll out there and get scragged. I'm not sayin that we aren't takin it, but let's be careful."
-----The Dread Pirate removes his pack and ties the rope that he had taken from the bandit keep to it. He then motions for Krord to stand in the doorway and throw the pack out towards the pile of treasure.
-----Seth eyes the treasure and places a hand on Runik's shoulder. "Do you think it might be a trick?" He stretches his neck to try and see the artistic pieces better.
-----Krord frowns as Gimplefwick hands him the pack and explains what he is to do. The huge mercenary nods with understanding and tosses the pack out toward the treasure pile. The pack lands right on top of one of the coin-filled boxes. Everything in the chamber remains quiet. As the Dread Pirate reels in the rope attached to the pack, a few of the coins drop off the pile where they ring brightly on the stone floor. They then reflect the pale light in a somewhat appealing way.
-----On the second throw, Krord lands the pack near a golden goblet encrusted with gems. Again, everything in the room remains deathly settled.
-----Finally a third time Krord hefts the pack. Suddenly something strange happens. The rope tied to it comes loose and the pack sails on the other side of the treasure pile. Krord puts one finger in his mouth and looks down at the Dread Pirate with an apologetic expression. The quiet continues inside the chamber.
-----Runik watches all this take place before he replies to Seth with a vague shrug.
-----The Dread Pirate frowns at the untied pack, "I don't like that. I've never had a knot of mine come undone that easily. I'm fairly handy with a rope. And that pile o' loot is just too obvious."
-----Dread sits in silence for a moment, then smacks his forehead with an open palm, "I'm an idiot." He then fashions one end of the rope into a lasso and commences flinging it towards the three boxes of treasure.
-----"The loot isn't going anywhere so let's take a look around before we make too much noise," Kazel says quietly. "The torches are lit so someone's probably here."
-----With that she starts to skirt the edges of the chamber to get the layout of the room.
-----Seth stands and watches the rope work silently, hoping that nothing bad happens.