Aseneth accepts the torch with a quick smile and a quiet 'thank you' and holds it up so that Jess can also see at the edges of its light.
Jess, nodding her understanding that the party want's to head left, begins down the left passage. She leads you about 25' feet as the passage heads in a southeasterly direction to another intersection.
This intersection has the passage continuing southeast with a spur heading off in a more direct easterly direction. Based on the dim light of the torch, the spur appears to be about 20' long with what appears to be a chest sitting at the end of the corridor.
Rethal says, "Hold here every one this could be a trap." He take a arrow and shoots the chest to see what happens. If nothing happens he will look to Jess. "Let me cover you as you check for anything amiss. I do not like a chest just sitting out in the open. The rest watch the other passageway in case this is a ambush."
Rethal's arrow flies through the air and hits the chest with a solid 'thunk!'. However, there is no reaction from the chest or anything else.
Jess slowly makes her way down the corridor, checking for traps or any other devices as she goes. Finding none, either in the corridor or on the chest, she opens the chest which is unlocked. As she does so, a heavy portcullis drops from the ceiling where the party waits at the entrance of the corridor with a loud 'CLANK!'. The portcullis has Jess trapped in the corridor while Rethal, Oberon, Grevase, and Aseneth are all outside of it.
Edited: Falrun on 6th Aug, 2015 - 12:06pm
Oberon, not surprised, motions Gervase to go to the end of the corridor and keep a look out. "I expect someone heard that. We don't want to be surprised."
"Rethal, give me a hand, maybe we can get this up before anyone comes." Planting himself squarely with his back against the grate, he tries to lift it enough to let Jess slide out.
Jess reaches into the chest and pulls out a single slip of paper and rushes back to the portcullis just as Oberon and Rethal are able to lift it about two feet off the floor. Jess quickly slips under the gate and the two warriors let it slide back down but not without some noise.
Aseneth alerts the party to some movement further down the corridor to the Southeast. "I'm not sure what it is, but I'm sure I saw something moving!"
Your torch shows you that the corridor goes another ten to fifteen feet and then opens up into a room. You can't yet tell the dimensions. But, just at the edge of the limit of the torches light you can now see several shadowy images, about four.
Just as you're about to react, you hear a loud cry of, 'Bree-yark!' and a spear goes sailing by Rethal's ear.
Gervase lets Rethal and Oberon fight shoulder to shoulder. If there is room for the goblins to flank the line, he will take this position, praying that Heironeous show him favour.
If there is no room on the front line, he supports from behind, ready to cast cure light wounds if his companions are injured, or loose a sling stone at any goblins that are hanging back.
"Don't let any escape alive or we could have the whole hive to deal with."
Out of Character: I'm on a hiking trip and have infrequent access to internet at the moment - sorry!