Den of Thieves

Moving towards the breeze a hint of bluish light reveals an opening. Picking up the pace to the opening Carr sticks his head into a shaft. The breeze is coming from above along with pinholes of light. An escape tunnel.

Stepping in hesitates as his foot hits a wood floor and hears voices coming from below. Kneeling down feels the floor, immediately to the left an opening big enough for a large man.

Searching the dark for a way down feels holes in the stone, wall. Cautiously lowering a leg down rubs the wall with the foot until it finds a hole. Convinced this is an escape tunnel, eases his way down to the bottom.

Reaching the stone floor below there is a niche to the right with an inset wooden door. Voices from the other side carry through.

Peering through the cracks in the door spots the sub level guard chambers. Across the room the wooden door to the bar. Carr strains to make out the door to the pisser, but can only see the edge of it.

Not wanting to get caught down here relocates the holes in the walls and climbs back up.

Back on the wooden floor feels for other holes or a ladder. Finding another series of holes on the opposite side.

Scaling the escape shaft, the farther up the more cobwebs and bugs he disturbs.

Reaching the main level, a small opening is to the left or he can continue up. Seeing an outline of light marking a door in the opening also hears two other voices. Carr stops to check it out.

Moving barely a pace into the space he listens to the voices on the other side. They seem to be slurring their speech. Pressing an ear to the stone door recognizes the voices as Cal and Toad.

Carr grins, “ah my young friends. I wonder if they know they are sleeping next to a hidden door?” Giving him self a spine shiver thinking that an assassin could easily slip by and take them out.

Giving his head a shake steps back to resume scaling the wall.

Looking up can almost make out a trap door above allowing in thin shafts of moonlight.

Curious to see where this leads, he climbs on. As wee beasties race from the holes and over his fingers Carr grimaces but is thankful that’s all that’s been encountered so far.

Arriving at a larger niche in the stone notices the end is close. Deciding to see where it comes out first.

At the top he pushes up on a wooden hatch, covered in forest debris. Dirt falls to the wooden floor below.

Peeking outside, the shaft comes up the hollow of an old tree stump. Around him the dark woods of the plateau, the mine is dug into. A dozen paces to the south the ravine can be seen. Closing the hatch, he climbs back down thrilled to have found another escape route.

Stepping onto the opening of the upper-level Carr shakes out his hands and arms from being crawled on.

Looking into the opening makes out an actual crafted wall blocking the end.

Touching the crafted wall, it’s smooth, almost polished. Feeling it, he comes across a central keyhole. Running his hands to the outside edges it occurs to him this is a large round stone and steel door. The masonry that incases the door is solid and perfectly fitted.

Putting an ear to the door hears only his heartbeat and thoughts, “this has got to be Dwarven made. A door like this was built for a reason. I wish I had some light.”

Locating the keyhole presses his thumb against the hole. Sensing air from the other side knows the door can be locked from either side. After a quick mental debate decides to try and pick the lock in the dark.

Taking out a couple favored picks he works the lock blindly. Poking at the inside components for a couple minutes starts to get a feel for how it works.

Knowing from the size of the door this isn’t going to be easy on the aging tools stops for a prayer. Chislev, I know you care not for these efforts. If you know of whom I’m doing this for. Please just aid my tools in staying true. I’ll do the rest.

With a calming breath he gets as comfortable as possible to work the lock.

Several minutes pass, with each attempt he gets closer to moving the inner mechanisms. Stopping to steady nerves Carr takes a couple deep breaths.

Back to it locates the locking pin, easing it aside. Now the hard part moving the components, applying pressure the old pick bows. Stopping before the pick breaks Carr repositions his fingers along the tools shaft.

Reapplying pressure to the tool the mechanism starts to move. Moving far enough he lets the locking pin go. Now with both picks and two hands he rotates the inner components; causing six metal bars to retract into the door.

Unlocked Carr pulls on it, the quality crafted door opens smoothly with little noise.

Standing to stretch out Carr breaths a sigh of relief and a pat on the back. Excellent work. Glad I was there for me.

Putting the picks away he steps inside closing the door behind. From the sounds of footsteps made, knows he’s in a cavern. Touching the rough wall to the right searches for any passages or hidden doors.

A fairly long cavern that turns right reaching a section that has been carved out. Stretching arms out connects with a similar feeling wall.

Following it in the passage quickly narrows. Walls on both sides have been constructed with bricks of the same rock the mines are carved into.

Pausing to feel the masonry Carr is able to touch the top of an arched tunnel. Either side can be touched at the same time without having to completely stretch out his arms.

Working both sides starts down the passage. Not going far before reaching an intersection. A tunnel heading to the north is constructed to match. The passage also continues east.

Taking only a second to choose direction Carr takes the north tunnel. About as long as the cavern but the brickwork stops half way down. The rest or the rough passage narrows to a point. Assuming there is a plan to continue the upper-level Carr quickly returns to the intersection.

Continuing east for several minutes comes to a second intersection with a passage north. Figuring it’ll be like the last north passage merely slides his hands along the walls. The passage turns out to be just like it ending at a rough long point. Sighing from wasting time returns. How many passages am I going to have to search? This is going to take all night. Should’ve brought a lantern or torch.

Not checking the walls as well along the remainder of the east passage, it widens. Reaching out to feel both sides Carr walks into a wooden door blocking the end.

Taking a step back while shaking his head feels the door. No light can be seen coming from the other side or any sounds heard. The door is obviously locked from the other side as he finds the locking latch.

Before opening the door, he looks back into the pitch, black tunnel. Why do these tunnels have such a well-crafted door at one end and a wooden door here? Maybe I missed something? Or it’s some sort of trap?

As the wooden door opens into the next area Carr leans against the passage’s wall, to push the door all the way open.

The door opens with a creak, but no other sounds are heard from inside.

Carefully stretching his head in the doorway, an orange glow frames out a concealed door. Having been in the dark so long the faint light seems like a bright torch. In the center of the rounded space several chests.

Around the chests, statues, busts and vases. A sly grin crosses Carr’s face entering. Walking right up to the chests notices the far door is like the concealed stone door of the sub level pisser.

Examining the chests, he feels built in locks on each one but the chests are not locked, he shrugs. What’s the sense of locking them if everyone in here can pick the locks?

The thought makes him nervous. Concerned the chests may be trapped he stands behind each to open them away.

The first chest houses silver. The second is full of copper. Opening a heavy iron chest Carr finds it contains gold.

The next three chests are smaller he still treats them with the same amount of caution. Inside one finds a heavy collection of platinum. The smallest is filled with assorted sized gems. The best crafted of all the chests houses jewelry.

With all the lids open Carr removes his backpack wishing. I should have brought my new magic bag. Sighing he uselessly checks the pack, already knowing he didn’t bring it.

Remembering what he’s there for digs into the box of jewelry searching for the anklet. Finding many bracelets and large rings but nothing looking like the ankle. Sighing Carr sits back thinking just load up the backpack and get out of the guild.

Ah, I made a promise. He reluctantly closes the lids to the chests. This stuff is probably the guild’s share from its’ members. Marten or Glar have to have the anklet. I bet it’s got magical properties. Well, if nothing else I know where this stash is.

Not wanting to be caught by the sound of precious metals clinking away he decides to just add a handful of gems to his coin pouch. Closing the last lid of the chest of gems Carr catches a glint of light from the bottom of the north wall.

Going over to the area sees it’s another camouflaged stone door. Scratching his head from the two choices. Figuring might as well start with the one he’s at. Pressing an ear to the door hears nothing. Easily locating the exposed latch quietly opens it.

Opening the secret door to a small room. Lit from a man-sized hole in the center of the floor. The room is lined with weapons and gear.

Entering the room hears voices below and carefully peers into the hole below. A wooden ladder rests against the edge of the thick hole. Below more weapons can be seen. Altering position can see the iron bars and desk where he checked in his weapons.

Scanning the room in spots his sword, jeweled dagger and other items. Immediately gathers the things up placing them where they belong.

Exiting the storage room, he carefully closes the secret door. Before making his way over to the concealed door providing the light.

Sliding the locking latch aside Carr opens the door wide enough to peek in. Seeing a large bath chamber. It has five detailed chamber chairs. A stone bath sits in a corner with an unlit firebox underneath it. There is even a nice washstand with a mirror.

Boldly stepping through the room Carr has a look into the outer corridor. Peeking out the opening of the room spots a guard stationed to the south in an intersection.

He can barely make out the tunnel down to the main level across from the guard. Beyond the sentry, there appears to be two other paths.

Looking left to the north three other corridors and a nicely furnished sitting room.