The day brought sullen rainclouds that drizzled over the countryside and made everyone grateful for the overhanging roof that offered some protection from the pervading damp. "Let us find the mag Jarrow or a vay to end the enchantment and let us get out of here," the Lady Tjesnitjérs said, summing up the general feeling.
            "That is the plan, my Lady," Vhivi said as she bowed to the priestess. Vhivi had been up early and was in the process of packing her gear and laying it next to the tower. When she was done, she went to check on Inyaroch, then back to her equipment in order to finish preparations. She slipped her waterskin over her shoulder and tucked the crowbar into her belt, then smiled to the priestess and said, "I hope the... leader... takes her Lady's advice and sends in the whole contingent." Alexana nodded distractedly; she was busy checking her horse's bandages. The horse kicked at Vhivi irritably, but the elf had no trouble sidestepping.
            Vhivi stood in thought for a few moments, then in an undertone to Alexana said, "Heimdall has been loath to take my advice on anything recently, and I think his male ego is bruised. I know many things that could help vith this venture, but I think he vould discount them since they were spoken by me." Alexana stopped poking at Demos, turning to the elf with a frown. Vhivi looked imploringly to the priestess. "Could you emphasize our need to take as many as we can to do this? He vould listen in earnest to you."
            "I... I do not know much of adventuring, for all that I have been in the Crusades," Alexana said, a worry line appearing on her brow. "Heimdall, he is a sellspear sent by somevon I trust - surely he vill do vhat is best..." The priestess looked towards the half-elf's bedroll, where snores and a mop of blonde hair and loose bandages spilled from under his blanket. Her eyes were troubled as she replied, "I vill... bring the matter up." Vhivi bowed again to the priestess then moved around to the west side of the tower.

            Durn rose quietly as the others were beginning to wake and discuss the morning. He bundled up his gear, pulled on his armor, and strapped on his weapons. Durn grumbled something about needing a moment in private, then disappeared around the far side of the tower, passing Alexana as she approached the firepit, settling down to a breakfast of simple hard rye-bread and cheese.
            Rhia looked up from where she was studying the leather-bound book she had brought out of her pack an hour earlier. Making eye contact with the priestess, she brought up something that had been on her mind. "I may know of a way to find the scroll that Jarrow used to create the Weaving on your uncle's keep. I've never done it this way before, but it's the best I can think of, and I'm pretty sure it will work. We'll need to 'clear' the tower first, to make sure it's safe to enter, but then I should be able to locate it - with your help. Of course, that assumes that the scroll still exists, is here in the tower, and that you remember what it looks like. Do you?"
            Alexana stopped eating midbite, staring at Rhia over her hardtack. Swallowing hastily, she exclaimed, "You can do this? You vill help me then? Loviatar's blessing upon you!" She tapped a finger against her cheek, brow wrinkling as she thought. "I know vhat it looks like, but how to describe it? It is simply a sheet of parchment decorated vith... symbols." She glanced at Rhia from the corner of her eye, taking a quick swallow from her waterskin as Ty handed it back. "I cannot describe these pictures, but surely you vould know them vhen you read them?"
            "Well, milady, that's the best part. If this works, I won't need you to describe it to me," Rhia smiled. "If you've seen it, and can remember the day and time and place you did so - bring that memory back into your mind - I should be able to take that picture directly from your thoughts. Once I've 'seen' it then, I have a Weaving that will locate the actual object, provided it is in the tower." She spoke quickly then, to prevent any falsely raised hopes. "Keep in mind, this is all theory. I don't know for sure if it will work, but it is the best chance we have, unless Jarrow just happened to leave the scroll laying out in the open, and clearly labeled."
            A resonating snore rose up over the conversation where Heimdall was still wrapped peacefully in his blanket. Morning had apparently not touched him yet, and he smiled in his sleep. Apparently, he wasn’t dreaming about the Moonsea. Kerri, across the fire, was also still wrapped in a bundle of blankets, though much more quietly than her leader. Alexana smiled in their direction, her face gentle. The smile didn't fade entirely even when she spoke. "I do not know if Jarrow, he used a scroll to create the spell he gave to Onkel, but if it is the spell on Ezeroh you wish to find the origin of, it vas created by the scroll inside Ezeroh itself."
            Ty looked forward to seeing how the incursion would be organized this time around. He munched on what he could get a share of for food, which he now considered fairly bartered for with the drawings and maps he was providing. When they had all finished getting past breakfast and getting ready to get on with things Ty found a comfortable place to sit where he could see all the others. "Hrh humm! Heimdall? I believe you requested a plan from me."
            Heimdall awoke with a start and hit the ground running, so to speak. Years of practice. He blinked too many times while listening and stood. “What? Oh - plan, yep! Of course.” He covered his face with both hands and drew them down, rubbing.
            Durn returned to the group as the discussion was already in progress. The heavily armored warrior watched the group quietly, arms folded across his steel breastplate. His features were stoic, like a guard on duty, as he listened to the various comments being made.
            Ty continued, "Before I present how I would suggest we proceed, I think you'd better start by stating quite clearly exactly what it is we are trying to achieve with this incursion. And what priorities. Then I can suggest the proper combination for the job. I have heard mention of all going in, as well as the three you said last night should go in with me. Is this to be a scouting mission or a full-fledged invasion of the premises? Do any stay outside to stand watch over the horses and gear?"
            Heimdall hadn’t missed a beat. “I agree that all should go in, save for someone to watch over the horses and the trapdoor, two if you think it practical - to ensure our escape route remains clear.” The half-elf brushed back his mop of ruffled hair where it stuck out above the bandages. Alexana frowned at the unraveled mess and tugged them loose, resetting them in a tight cap about his head.
            “My thinking is that we must secure the tower in its entirety - both in the unlikely event someone may be inside in need of rescue, and so that we have time to find what clues may lie within. I can't give Vhivi specifics on an object to retrieve, unfortunately - so I'd rather not rush the investigation and risk missing something important. It is possible that the answer to getting that damned barrier down may be inside, just waiting to be found. But that could take some time, and we do not know what manner of obstacles lie within.”
            Heimdall shook off the morning from his arms and pulled out the makings of his morning rations. “As for me, I suggest we go in two waves - you take the first, I’ll take the second. Admittedly, Kerri and I can’t move as quietly as you and Vhivi, but we will try.” Heimdall wobbled an arm at Kerri and Durn. “We’ll act as your backup, keep you in sight and advance on your signal.” Alexana frowned, shooting a glance in Vhivi's direction. As Heimdall knelt, he shared with Durn the list of hand signals - impressing upon him the primary ones as he ate. Durn studied the signs which Heimdall showed him, attempting to duplicate them, and memorize their meaning.
            Ty said, "The rest of you? Any summary of the situation, or other such high points, you think need to be brought out before we proceed? Now would be the time to repeat what you might have said to a few others. Or just bring up a new thought that has struck you. One of the keys to teamwork is by definition to be focused on a common goal. I am not so sure, from either the open talk or all the private conversations I have heard or not heard, that we are at that point just now."
            Feeling much better after a night of sleep, Heimdall turned and nodded in understanding as he secured his armor and readied his weapons. “Well, that ring you wear on your finger, Ty, should be held by the young wizardess. Alexana says it was Jarrow's, and if it could help the human manipulate the Weave, then it would seem prudent.” Heimdall said Weave like it was some foreign tongue he was trying to learn.
            Ty said, "As for two teams, I suggest Rhia, Vhivi and myself as team one, if that is what the others see would work. We go in and see if anyone objects. We work our way to the door and see if we can let you in that way. Cyravel's owl with us would allow the two groups to keep some sense of contact, if the little I picked up on such connections is close to right. If we get the door open then Kerri and Cyravel make sense to me to watch the mounts and gear."
            <"Lia is not well enough to enter with us,"> Cyravel protested. Beside her, the owl was perched with its eyes closed, asleep; Cyravel gently draped her own blanket over its head. <"She will stay with the horses.">
            Heimdall shook his boots out in the fire, wriggling his toes on the broken stones at his feet. “I don’t like the idea of sending you in without more arms to back you up through the trapdoor. I want two, at least, following your group - if not three.” He stood and pulled his pack and saddlebags back together.
            "As to the ring, I am of the mind that mastering a new tool is best done before you need it, not on the job. If the ring has magical impact, then maybe it is better we presume it would trigger magical attention. In that case, having it on me might leave our own Weaver untouched and able to learn from the experience. Not that I'm keen to play the part of bait or decoy." Ty halted before going on with too many speculations so that others could contribute before too many presumptions took hold. The facts they really had a firm grip on were few and far between. With an ocean of what if between each one.
            Ty did have a thought. "I don't suppose this magic that might detect the scroll could be used to determine if those remains are Jarrow's. Now that would be a really important point to clear up, if possible."
            Rhia frowned. "No, I'm afraid that I've only managed to locate objects with this Weaving - people are so much more complex, and it's more than simple looks..." She trailed off, realizing that a discourse in the finer points of magic and the Weave was probably not a good idea at the moment. "Well, anyway, it's for locating things - things I've seen. Although, if Alexana's memory of the scroll-reading day happens to include Jarrow, I might be able to get a picture of what he's wearing, which may serve to identify the... items we've recovered. I won't guarantee anything though, as my focus will be on that scroll."
            "Mags are known to be eccentric, but Jarrow was not so much so that he never changed his clothes," Alexana said doubtfully.
            Rhia shrugged. "As for the ring, I'll agree with you - it may be best for me to wear it, but there's no proof of that, so as long as someone wears it, I'll be content. What I'd really like is the chance to study the ring - and any books we find inside. I was hoping Jarrow would be able to teach me, but if he is gone, then that ring and his books are the best that I can hope for." She turned back to Alexana.
            "Milady, these others have been promised boons or pay or favors in exchange for helping you. I would ask none of these things, except that, with Jarrow gone, I have no one to aid me in my arts. Jarrow's books, and perhaps his ring, are the only hope I have to continue my studies. To study them alone, without guidance will be difficult, and possibly even dangerous, but it is the only way open to me. Yet, if he is dead, these things belong to you - or your family. So I must ask you for this. I will help you if I can, regardless of your answer, but please, may I have Jarrow's books and ring when we have finished rescuing your Uncle?"
            The priestess smiled broadly at Rhia. "At last, something I might offer! Yes, such... things... are of no value to Onkel, so I'm sure he vould agree. Anything that he does not vish to keep for sentimental reasons, you may take as a sign of the gratitude of our family."
            Looking to Heimdall, the priestess nervously fingered her scourge. "Heimdall... are you certain it is vise to go in so few? I do not claim to know of these matters, but is it not better to face a threat in strength?"
            Heimdall hefted his saddle and bags onto his shoulder, his pack balanced in his other arm. “Yes. Indeed it is. Which is why I wish to follow Ty, Vhivi and Rhia, threestrong through the tower from the trapdoor.” He shifted his weight onto his other foot. “Ty, signal us from the end of the corridor and we will then follow. You proceed further and signal us to come at whatever point you feel necessary. Try not to outdistance us in there though. I don’t want to lose you around a blind corner.” He smiled and started merrily down the knoll to Ivan. “We leave two outside, one above at the trapdoor, one below at the front with the horses readied. There is only one door we know we can move through, after all.” Heimdall greeted his mount with a vigorous scrubbing and began to saddle him, murmuring phrases of praise in his native tongue.
            Ty listened as they went from a simple investigation to a full scale invasion once more. Well , maybe not full, but way too many for what needed to be done. "Heimdall? I'm sorry but I am not in agreement with your breakdown of assignments. Look at the size of the place. How big do you imagine the halls and corridors are going to be? Three is more then enough to risk. Vhivi and myself I think know how to move through such a place. Rhia is quick and we need her expertise."
            Durn looked up at the tower. "Doubt there are any halls at all, just a couple of rooms off the stairs."
            "Just what are you going to rescue us with? After all, it's magic and traps that are the main threat we should expect. If that is what we run into, your muscles and blades are nothing. And if we need to retreat it will be in a hurry, and the last thing we need is to stop and explain to you why it is time to haul ass." Ty looked over to Vhivi and Rhia. "Make sense to you Vhivi? Rhia?"
            The half-elf shot Ty a hard look over Ivan's back. "I have had enough of this. We have to clear the tower of it's dangers. No less than six go in." He lifted his chin to the tower. "You give us the signal to retreat - and we'll do it. Take the rogue and the wizardess, and scout it out as you see fit. But like it or not - we're going in with you and we will stay close enough to keep you in earshot if not sight. I will take Kerri and Cyravel in to follow you. Durn will wait on the roof and Alexana will wait at the door." He arched his eyebrows in a decisive fashion. "This is what we are doing."
            Ty paused for a moment to consider how to evaluate the matter. He also realized Vhivi had moved off by herself and may not have heard the last of the discussion until Heimdall spoke up with a decision.
            Durn shrugged in his armor. "If that's the way you want it, I suppose I can stand in the rain and watch a hole in the roof while you guys check out the nice, warm, comfy tower." The warrior looked up into the falling rain for a moment. "I won't be climbing a rope in this", Durn tapped the steel breastplate of his armor, "so I'll have to bundle it up and haul it up after me." Durn hesitated for a moment. "Don't mean to question the plan, boss, but how are you going to provide backup when two of your crew can't understand what is being said by anyone? Not going to be time to translate if things go ugly."
            Heimdall nodded, curiously examining the case of armor Durn was lacing together, looking impressed. “Working on that now, actually.”
            Durn gave another shrug and removed his armor, interlacing the straps from the separate pieces so that it would hang together. Once completed, he deposited the armor near the end of the rope and went to his pack to fetch a few other items he would need for his vigil on the roof.
            Ty looked around at the others. Grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "We are probably making more of this then it needs to be anyway. And a poor plan executed is better then a dozen perfect plans lost in committee. Though I do think, Heimdall, in this case you are overriding the advice of those of us most expert in the ways of uninvited entry. We can discuss this after. Provided none have been turned into horny-toads or feywings, of course."
            A reflective look crosses Ty's features. "Granted, most of the time when I am sneaking in, there is at least one female inside looking forward to my entrance. But how much different is avoiding waking husbands and fathers to a wizard's defenses can there be?"

            Ty addressed Lady Alexana on a matter that was a part of most of the variations he had planned over the night. "M'lady? Just how did Jarrow, who I gather kept no servants, same as your uncle, keep the place lit up? Torches on the walls? Magical lighting? Or did you forget to tell us Jarrow kept the same loyal conjured retainers around that he gifted your uncle with?"
            The Lady frowned at the rogue. "I am not privy to the inner vorkings of the mag's household. However, vhen I visited, the parlor vas lit vith... vell, magic. I do not know vhat manner of sorcery it vas, but it vas brighter than the brightest day." She gave an involuntary shudder. "But I do not think Jarrow vould stoop to household chores, that much is true. If he conjured my father's guards, vhy not his own? Surely it vould not be difficult for his kind to call forth any manner of devilry."
            Ty shook his head at the new information and glanced over at Heimdall. "Okay. Maybe we will need some muscle after all. Lets hope Jarrow was content to conjure female servants for himself to cook and clean for him and bed with him. Anybody got a lantern or some torches? Magic see-it of our own, perhaps? I'm not too keen on keeping a candle going while moving about. Rhia? Think if we spot something that does light a la magic, you could come up with something to turn it on for us? Do you need to do anything special, need any kind of extra room, to try and determine what has been Woven?"
            Rhia began to frown as the talk began again. The frown got progressively deeper as the talk continued. Finally, taking advantage of a break in the conversation, she spoke up.
            "Ty, I think you have some misconceptions about magic. It's not something you just 'turn on' when and how you need it. Certain items in that tower will undoubtedly be imbued with power from the Weave, and those items will either be always 'on,' or be activated by a command of some form that I may or may not know. All we really have to go on is my knowledge of the Weave, which I fear is small - though greater than anyone else's here. I do have the ability to Weave the same spell I did yesterday; the one that lets me see the patterns of the Weave in an area, but only twice today. I'd prefer to save it for the actual investigation of high-probability areas or items, but if we absolutely need one before that, it's available. I can also open one door or small chest without touching it, and have a few other minor tricks up my sleeve, but for the most part, we'll be depending on you and Vhivi to do the scouting, and me to hopefully recognize a few things and help steer us clear of any magical disasters." She shook her head. "I'm no expert, but I'm the best we've got."
            <"Rhia, if you don't mind... whats going on?"> Kerri interrupted, leaning over to punch the wizardess lightly on the arm. <"I can't understand a word of this orc-spitting.">
            Heimdall quickly translated Kerri's words for Rhia with an interesting twist on the phrase orc spitting, something to the effect of cursed phlegm, and added, "Uhm, Rhia - I do not speak Cyravel's language. Would it be an imposition to offer her the gift of your little statue that goes poof?" He waved a morning greeting at the elven ranger.
            The wizardess turned to Heimdall and Kerri. "I can Weave the spell of understanding again today, but only twice, and for less than an hour each time. For that reason, I'd prefer to wait until just before we enter, as I'd hate for communications to fail just when we need them the most. If we're just 'clearing' the tower on our first sweep, one hour should be more than enough time, but if we're going to examine everything in detail right away, or stand here and continue to 'plan,' we'll have wasted the majority of the Weaving before we're even half-way through."
            As she spoke, Heimdall translated for Kerri. “Understood. You’ll cast then just before your group enters.” Then he called Ivan up the hill and pulled two torches from his pack, tossing one to Ty. The other torch, he tucked into his belt where it wouldn’t obstruct his movements.
            Ty moved over to talk to Vhivi to get things in motion. "Vhivi? Time to finally get things in motion. You, me and Rhia as forward element. Heimdall promises to keep the others from stepping on our heels. Thinking same format, I tried to get us inside and doing last night. You on point, me in the middle with the light and mapping. Rhia next. What I had in mind was you move forward just short of the next door or corridor. You and I give a quick look for physical traps. I fall back and we let Rhia give a look for magical clues to be alert about. Nothing jumps out and goes boo or bites us, we go forward once more, same pattern. I think we can get through this quickly and on with things. Ty gave Vhivi a look that tried to show his confidence in her. "That work for you, or got any alterations to suggest?"
            <"Finally?"> Vhivi smiled to her compatriot as she stood playing with the end of the rope. <"No need to translate this to anyone, Tirecs. I don't mind Rhianna along with us so long as she stays back at least twenty feet unless called forward and follows as close to our footsteps as possible. For her safety as well as ours."> Vhivi took the few steps back to the southwest corner of the tower and called softly to Cyravel. <"Cyravel! You go no? I like better have back watch, you. You go no - I - uhhh - <understand.> You go? You go no?">
            <"Understand,"> the elf corrected her with a smile. <"And yes, I am coming. I will cover you with Tanakpilininge."> She patted the end of the beautiful elven bow slung across her back.
            Rhia looked at everyone standing around, or preparing to enter the tower. "I think we have a plan - perhaps not the best, but also not the worst. We should execute it. Soon." Rhia turned to the elf. "My life will be dependent on you, Vhivi, and Ty as well. Your lives may well also depend on me. I am confident you know this, and that you will not intentionally 'let something happen' to either of us. I pledge to you the same, and I hope you will believe me."
            Vhivi looked agast at the slender woman, "You think I would - outrageous!" Vhivi rolled her eyes to the leaden sky, turned, snapped a quick shake of her head and stormed back to the dangling rope, grabbed it then called back in a soft, but clearly agitated voice, "There are professional ethics here and I am under the observation of a member of The Craft. To allow a teammate, skilled in The Craft or not - to allow a teammate of an operation to take intentional harm would be a serious breach of protocol. I would be black-listed from here to the edges of the world! One does not do such things to a true teammate on a operation. Ever!"
            Vhivi, with an impish grin, shot Ty a sly wink and whispered to him <"It's the truth, but that was fun anyway!"> She then scrambled up the rope, muttering under her breath.
            With that, Rhia turned back to the group and cocked an eyebrow. "Now, is there anything else in need of discussion, or shall we go up?"

            The rooftop was drier than might have been expected; there were no puddles among the pebbles, much less the small pond that might have been expected. Vhivi rose from beside the trapdoor, which had lain open all night. "Oh! By the vay!" she said in a barely audible voice to Heimdall as she took a signal whistle out of a pouch, "Give this to whomever is not going in. If there is trouble, it may help letting those of us inside know about it. Its sound carries farther than von can shout. I still have your candles vith me. I vould like to hold on to them until later - if you do not mind."
            “Good idea.” Heimdall topped out onto the roof and stepped quietly to the door, kneeling beside her with a deeply concentrated expression. “Thank you. Keep the candles. I’ve given Ty a torch and I have one as well. Do you still have your flint?”
            Durn was happy to see that the roof was not overly wet, although he still loathed standing watch in the rain. He pulled his armor on carefully, tightening each strap with practiced precision. Behind him, Rhia murmured something to Cyravel and Kerri, brandishing something between them. Durn checked to ensure that each weapon was in its proper location and loaded his crossbow. After his gear was ready, Durn checked the view. After everything was double checked, he finally took his place near the trapdoor entrance.
            Vhivi turned to Ty, motioned him over to the east battlement and pointed down to the ground. In a soft, hushed voice she said, "This tower is built on rocky ground. It isn't that large of a tower, but we don't know how large Jarrow's wine cellar is. Just a heads-up." Vhivi stepped over to a coiled rope on the east battlement and nonchalantly tossed it over the side so it could dangle down to the ground. She smiled sheepishly to Ty, gave him a wink then pointed around to all those standing on the room, made the hand signal for "Move," pointed at the open trap door, then arched her brows in question.
            Heimdall tossed Durn the alarm whistle as the forward scouts dropped through the hatch, into the dank corridor below. Well-lit as it was by day, it took little time for the scouts to report that the stone hallway ended in a blank wall.
            <"Well, now what?"> grumbled Kerri helpfully from behind them.
            Vhivi shot the warrior a hard look and put a finger to her lips in a shushing motion, then turned her attention back to the passageway and thought for a few moments. She bent close to Ty and in a nearly inaudible whisper, "Let us make a completely thorough investigation of these walls for a secret door. Make sure you prod the surface - I've heard tell of false walls that looked completely real but had no substance. If we can't find a door we may need to try getting in through one of the other windows. These face south unless I miss my guess."
            Ty nodded that he understood and proceeded to follow behind. Since Vhivi was doing a good job on all the surfaces, Ty focused on looking for any sort of designs or anything that might serve as a trigger mechanism. His artistic eye probably better suited for this. When he spotted some pattern that held promise, he pointed it out to Rhia to see if it suggested something to her before touching it.
            As soon as the lead three were inside and away from the others, Ty motioned for Vhivi to keep about five to ten feet ahead of him, and Rhia about the same behind. Ty got the torch fired up to give them light, strapping the handle to the side of his leather case so that he could again fill in the blanks on his map as he had set up to do last night. If he had to do something he could safely set the case and torch down. The carry strap to the case he bundled up under the top of the case so that if set down the weight of the case would out balance the torch head to keep the flaming end of the torch just off the floor.
            Ty whispered briefly to Rhia as Vhivi began their advance. "You are right - too much is presumed about those who Weave the magics. I shall look forward to learning from you. I have been tempted once or twice to learn its ways myself, but travel and apprenticeship are a poor match. Then again, perhaps you presume too much of my skills. I am, when all is said and done, primarily a painter. All else just secondary to pursuit of my artist passions. Vhivi is the one we must both trust in." Ty winked back to Vhivi. "You call the pace and motion us forward as needed."
            His team quickly establishing its order, Ty followed Vhivi's lead. After all the stomping around and shouting they had done since arriving, like a feywing died quietly if nothing else, Ty saw no need to keep all that silent. He reported back to Heimdall by shouting. "Ran into a dead end. Stay back til we check it out. Don't call us, we'll call you." Ty looked to Vhivi to see how she wanted to proceed next.
            Durn chuckled when he heard Ty all the way outside of the trap door. The warrior grinned and looked down at Heimdall on the ladder. "Why exactly did you leave me outside?" Durn chuckled again and turned away without waiting for an answer.
            Heimdall winced and pushed his hand out from his body in a lulling gesture. He nodded his understanding that he and his group would remain poised at the entrance until the first team had made progress. "Quietly, Ty," he whispered in that deep resonant tone that carried without ruffling the stillness. "Remember, there was an illusionist here. Just because it isn't seen doesn't mean it's not there." There he remained poised, two thirds of the way down the ladder, totally silent and utterly focused on the people ahead of him.
            Vhivi winced and in a hushed voice called to Ty, "Please! No more shouting. Hand signals! I don't know much about wizards, but if half of what I've heard is true then I don't see why they can't have devised some sound-sensitive traps. We can holler up a storm once we've cleared the tower, but what say we play it wise until then, okay?"
            Ty gave a chagrined wince as Vhivi requested quiet in the future. They had, after all, pounded on the door, tromped about all over the roof, made no end of noise climbing the walls and all. But sound-sensitive traps were something he had not considered. Whispering back, Ty responded, "Good thought. At least we know there was no such trap at the trap door."
            She worked her way carefully forward, looking to the walls and ceiling for strange symbols, stooping low to examine the floor, and prodding each spot on the floor firmly before placing her weight on it. Occasionally she looked back to check on the progress of her team. Vhivi suspected, given the signs on the roof, that the passageway was relatively safe, but chose to remain cautious, mentally repeating the mantra, Less haste, more speed.
            Once at the end of the passageway, she began to examine the walls for signs of a hidden door and immediately noted slight, straight cracks in the wall as well as a small divot in the stone at roughly waist height. She motioned for Ty to move up, pointed the outline of the door out to him, took the torch and in the light examined the small divot closely and thoroughly. Satisfied, she returned the torch to Ty and pressed a finger gingerly into the recess. With a barely audible snick she found and pressed a latch causing the door shifted ever so slightly to reveal that it was now unlocked. She noted that there was roughly a three inch sill for the door, then leaned close to Ty and whispered in his ear, "Let's move the others up to here before we open it."
            Ty pointed to Rhia. "But along the vein of trapped doors, let's make it a practice of letting Rhia take a look before we open anything else. Kinda like, Step One; you approach and examine, Step Two; I back you up and make any double check the situation suggests; Step Three, I switch with Rhia and she gives her best guess; Step Four; Rhia and I back off and you go for the open, if that seems best. Step Five, we bring the second team forward one bound. That should be a dance sequence we can all hold to with little delay. Okay?"
            Vhivi nodded her acquiescence,then bent to listen at the crack while Ty went to fetch the others, staying out of Rhia's way as much as possible so she could also examine the location. Ty motioned Rhia to switch with him to give the entrance a look over while Ty stepped back far enough to quietly inform Heimdall his force should come forward and halt.
            Heimdall nodded once at Ty’s signal and addressed his group in a voice hushed, but heavy with anticipation. “Alright. Quietly - advance to my mark and wait for further notice from the scouts. Don’t touch anything. Durn, the trapdoor must stay clear and open if we must make a retreat. Be at the ready if we call for you.” Durn nodded that he understood Heimdall's request. With that, the half-elf stepped off into the corridor and moved silently to Ty’s indication, where he crouched with his sword unsheathed at his side. He raised his fist into the sign for “stop” to his team.
            Seeing Ty's motion, Rhia moved carefully forward to examine the door. She looked along each edge for symbols, but mostly she kept her eyes open for the little oddities that served as tell-tales of magical effects. She had noted the lack of water (or anything else) pooling on the roof, and had chalked it up to a harmless weather-repelling spell, but one never knew.
            She examined the floor to see if they had left any wet bootprints on the floor; they had. She checked to see if the dust motes that floated in the light inside most buildings were present, and if so, were they passing through the door cracks, or being stopped somehow. Unfortunately, the diffuse light from the windows wasn't enough to see dust by, and the doorway was in darkness. She held her hand close to the cracks, feeling for air flow; sue enough, there was a gentle movement in the air. She also looked for anything that might have matched the designs on the token at her neck, but in vain. Finally, she knelt by the doorsill and drew forth her waterskin. Carefully, she dribbled a bit of water into the crack; predictably, it ran over the side and pooled on the stone floor. Rising, Rhia nodded to Vhivi and stepped back.
            Vhivi used her crowbar to push the door open. It swung in and to the side noiselessly, revealing heavy, well-oiled metal hinges as well as the latch in the far sill. The corridor lightened as the stone 'door' swung wide, revealing a large room dominated by the massive table in its center. Its surface was cluttered with pots, vials and strange glass instruments, some half-filled with colored fluids. Beyond it, a mahogany cabinet stood between the far windows, its twin doors marked with what Rhia recognized as the wizard's sigil. A peek farther into the room revealed a fireplace at the far end, firewood stacked neatly beside it.
            "Something is wrong," Cyravel whispered behind them, her musical voice lending even the gutteral Moonsea tongue grace. The elf frowned, her eyes narrow as she peered into the room. "Vhivi, do not go on."
            Vhivi, who had just about been ready to advance into the room, froze at Cyravel's warning then eased away from the door and shot Cyravel a worried look. Her gaze flicked to Rhia then back to Cyravel and in a hushed, slightly quavering voice, "W-wrong? What - what is wrong? Do you see something?" Vhivi's eyes swept over the room again then went back to Cyravel, "Do you feel something?"
            Cyravel shook her head slowly, eyes flicking about the room. Her bow was notched and drawn. "I... do not know. I see nothing, and yet..." She shook her head. "Perhaps I should move ahead of you." Heimdall looked up to Cyravel, listening worriedly. With a swallow, he met Vhivi's eyes and nodded agreement with Cyravel.
            Vhivi regarded Cyraval for several moments then looked back into the room and sighed, "If you think that is best, then okay. Do you want to go alone or do I at least get to follow you in?"
            "I shall approach alone." The elf pushed past the others at the edge of the door, stepping into the room on the balls of her feet. She paused there, every muscle tense, poised to leap back into the hallway. "I... don't see anything," she said after a moment, reluctantly. "But still, perhaps it would be best if you all backed a bit away. I'm sure there's something... off here."
            A wave of fear swept over Vhivi and she could feel the hairs all over her body standing on end, but she stayed steadfast at the door and called softly but urgently to the elf ranger, <"No! You go - we go. Come now out. Back us up. Stay you in, here stay I!"> Vhivi turned to Rhia and pleaded, "Do you know vhat is going on? Do you feel this vhatever it is being off?"
            Cyravel hesitated for a long moment, scanning the room one final time, then turned to head back through the doorway. Suddenly, she was jerked back as though snatched - and the air shimmered around her, revealing a man grappling the elf from behind, trying to drag her to the floor. The two became indistinct, wavery, as yet another man solidified before them, leaping up to wrap arms and legs about the elf; overbalanced, Cyravel fell to the floor, and after a moment let out a rising shriek of agony. A stench of chemicals filled the room, nauseating and thick.

            The speaker, who had never taken his eyes off Rhia, swept out his arm to indicate the far door - the door into the tower. "Honored Guest, allow me to show you out."