Subject Beyond the giants door

Harp grins at Mund's assurance that the next room is clear. "Mund, I am sure that if there is anything in the room, it is hiding and being quite after hearing the giant pound on it's door so much. I say we go back to the main room, have a quiet lunch, and come back in 1/2 hour. By then whoever, or what ever, might be in the room would have a better chance of moving around so that we could hear it. Let's go eat and maybe Salix or your brother can tell you what is in that vial you found."

Mund looks disappointed for just a second, but his face brightens with the mention of the vial. "Do you think it could make my axe magic?" he asks Allistair as the party works it's way back to the main room. When they get there they have a quiet meal, while Harp and Allistair review the map that the mage has been keeping. When they are done eating Allistair motions to his brother to bring the vial over. The mage inspects the vial. The liquid inside looks to be a medium green, the same basic color as the cure potions they have, but of a more vibrant color. He looks at it but comes up with nothing (Knowledge Arcana, DC20, 1+11=12, failure). "Sorry Mund, I have not really ever gotten into the brewing of potions."

When lunch is done, the party moves back to the manticore room. "Kal," Harp says "you and Surin go to that door. You protect Surin if anything happens. Surin, you go see if you can hear anything. We will be right here. If you need help, yell and we will come running." With that Harp gives the two a clap on the back and pushes them on their way.

The halfling and the elf work their way to the other door in the manticore room. Surin holds up his hand and signal Kal to hang back a few feet. Then the halfling starts strutting his stuff. Kal closes his eyes for a second, trying to pick out where the halfling is just by listening for him, and even this close, it is like Surin has disappeared. Kal reopens his eyes and sees that Surin has already moved 20 feet into the room. The elf starts to follow, moving quietly and slowly behind the halfling. When Surin gets to the door, he turns and signals Kal to stop.

The halfling then places his ear to the door and listens. For a good 5 minutes he stands there, listening for anything on the other side. He then turns and signals Kal to gather the others. Kal moves back to the door and motions the rest of the party to advance. They do so as quietly as possible, and Surin meets them in the middle of the giants room. In a quiet whisper, he reports in.

"I did not hear anything. Doesn't mean nothing is there, it just means that if it is there, it is real quiet like. But my best guess it that the room, or whatever it is, is empty." Harp nods and points to Mund and Ran, then to Kal and himself. He motions to the door and the four move into position. With Ragnar, Salix, Surin and Allistair watching from behind, Ran motions for Mund to open the door. The barbarian does his best to open the door quietly and it swings open to the left.

Ranthir and Mund make a quick peek into the room but see nothing moving. Along the east wall is a small table. On the table is a brass key with a gem in the handle. After a few seconds of expecting something to attack, Harp motions Ran and Mund to slowly enter the room. The two fighters advance and make room for Harp and Kal to enter the room as well. The room is 20 feet east/west and 40 feet north/south, with the door being in the northern most portion of the west wall. The table is twenty feet down the east wall.

Harp moves back to the door and gestures to Surin. When Surin gets to the door Harp points at the table and the key and makes a looking gesture. Surin nods and moves off to inspect the table. He stops 10 feet away and over the next 10 minutes works his way around the table, checking the floor, the wall, the ceiling. When he is done he moves to the table and takes the key off the stand.

OODM: Now what.