RED OAK: Beyond the Mirror

[Longman]

The hole in the ceiling is open. It does not lead to another level. You don't know what it us for. It is in the middle of the room near a lantern hook.

Door to rooms 7 have NO outer lock - that means if you close them Tiana will have to use knock again, and will have to roll to see if it works. Unknown difficulty level. Do you really close the door from room 7 into the secret tunnel?

There are no regular doors remaining here. You enter into room 8, to the north, and see the viewing slits pointing out into 5b in the main hall. The room is empty and fits the description of previous rooms.

So far you have been going about half an hour since you re-entered. I have neglected to mention that you can periodically hear the mimic scoffing itself in room 6. That sound has now stopped. You have found nothing other than an odd hole in the ceiling, 12' up, in room 7.

If you want nothing you got it.

[Woe]

The hole in the ceiling is open. It does not lead to another level. You don't know what it us for. It is in the middle of the room near a lantern hook.

I meant does it open up into another chamber, or is it ultimately closed off? It sounds like it's a closed space.

Door to rooms 7 have NO outer lock - that means if you close them Tiana will have to use knock again, and will have to roll to see if it works. Unknown difficulty level. Do you really close the door from room 7 into the secret tunnel?

Well... if you put it that way... no, the secret door from room 7 gets mostly but not entirely closed. Kilian will block it a bit so it doesn't accidently close either.

There are no regular doors remaining here. You enter into room 8, to the north, and see the viewing slits pointing out into 5b in the main hall. The room is empty and fits the description of previous rooms.

Without the light from the headlamps, Freya peers into 5b, just because she can. She will definitely look over toward 5a.

So far you have been going about half an hour since you re-entered. I have neglected to mention that you can periodically hear the mimic scoffing itself in room 6. That sound has now stopped.

Uh oh. It's quite. Too quiet. Most of the party will wait in 9a, expecting to ambush something. Freya will keep watch on 5a/5b. But if the sound resumes in a little bit, or too much time passes (5 minutes) without any noise returning, they will proceed to 10. I do want to go back to check out the mimics, maybe strike up a conversation in exchange for more food. Best case, 10 -11 - 6. I know, it'll never happen that way.

If you want nothing you got it.

Good job! Keep up the good work!

[Longman]

There is a space in the middle of the ceiling of room 7. It is 5' wide and goes up about 8 to 10 feet before stopping. Maybe there was once a hatch in the ceiling but it has gone now. The space looks closed, but there could be small shelves off to the side of it - you'd have to go up there to check.

Secret door remains partially ajar on your instructions.

Nothing in the 5b niches - the remains of pedestals where statues or armored suits may once have stood, all empty now.

5 minute wait. No encounters, no noise, except you think the mimic may have left room 6 after it finished eating. You can't hear it now.

Entering room 10 - there are 4 carved pillars standing in the corners of this room, as indicated on the map. They do not serve any structural purpose. These have a variety of different faces carved on them. It looks as though at one point these may have had gems for eyes, but they have been taken out. How annoying!



There is also a large ornate circular carving in the roof, which is a bit uneven.



To cut to the chase - the whole west side of the long hall, area 5c-5e, is similarly empty except for minor carvings and niches. These people really liked niches. They must have been pretty wealthy too.

You can move through this area in safety, and be left with a choice of going into room 11, or you can go back west towards room 6. Or you can check out the hole in the ceiling of room 7.

[Woe]

If Freya is confident she can climb up without falling, I definitely want to check out that ceiling.

I forgot how many times Tiana can cast mage hand (level zero spells) in a day. She'd be able to use the hand to get a torch up there, so maybe we can skip the climbing.

[Longman]

I think it's 3.

Your helmet light already reaches up there - the angle is the thing that is preventing you seeing if there are any side spaces, not the lack of light.

You can't just climb up there, it's in the middle of the ceiling. She'll need a boost from Talin. Is that what you want to do?

[Woe]

It's the leaning tower of adventurers!

Yes, and the two dwarves will be ready to catch her if she falls. Not that she needs it. She's an acrobat.

Anna and Tiana on watch.

[Longman]

Talin loses his grip at one point and she tumbles gracefully to the floor. Anna smirks gleefully. But then Freya is up and away, and into the ceiling space.

There are several side spaces, one of which holds the remains of an old chain ladder and a large metal hook. There are also old oil containers, several lamps, and some flint, steel, wicks, and other lantern paraphernalia.

She can't see anything of real value from her initial inspection.

[Woe]

Anna smirks gleefully.

Hey! Freya didn't get any BFF points for diving in after Anna when the mimic turned to shut everyone out?

Freya will hop down to rummage through her bag. "It's a bunch of old lanterns. They must have used it for lighting. Anna, you want to take a look. Maybe your eyes will find something I missed."

It will be really interesting to see how the Anna/Talin contact goes!

[Longman]

Anna on Talin's shoulders. The high point of her adventure so far.

She clambers up there and checks for secret compartments (which Freya didn't). She then rolls a 1. (Really).

She going to open it? It's a loose stone about 2'x2'. Pretty well hid.

[Woe]

Quite possibly Talin's high point too. Is she going to deliberately tumble and be caught by Talin?

She should open it on the floor, after she is done with climbing all over Talin.