Loten leaned in and whispered to the group " Remnants of evil linger, but I detect no serious threat." Erelis coughed hard and gripped his scythe with emphasis. " Let's do something fast or I'll be joining the others outside!"
Oktavianus grimaced claiming that he had experienced worse odors before and this was mild in comparison. Gailwind remained quiet waiting for their next move.

Reaching the stairs, Teflar held up his hand for a moment and leaned forward over the lower steps. " Okay, it looks like there are more tracks, but I see no blood. I suggest you all step where I walk. Don't follow too close, though, in case I am mistaken. I'll need someone to pull my body down the staircase if I am wrong about this." The paladin nodded, firmed his shoulders, and stepped immediately behind the ranger as they followed the staircasing leading to the upper floor.

1:30 AM: Slowly and carefully the five crept not intending to arouse any precense upon entering the second floor. Immediately to their right following the east wall, a wooden door stood. To the west across the room, an open-faced window shone outward onto the back of the keep. In the center of the room's ceiling, dangling halfway to the floor, hung a leather thong with twelve skulls tied indiscriminately along it.
Telfar frowned and stepped warily towards the hanging skulls. Shaking his head, he squatted down examining the floor beneath them very carefully.
" You know, I've trapped raccoons almost the same as this. Hang a fish from a branch and put a snare below it. Don't know if it's a trap, but I'm not gonna yank on those human bones."
Loten and Gailwind moved in behind the ranger. The paladin agreed " No sense messing in anything not completely understood. Let's take a quick survey and return to the others."
Teflar turned around in his crouched position " Let me have a look at the door for a moment. I'm no rogue, but I may be able to tell if anyone has passed this way recently." He crept back over muttering under his breath about certain weak-stomached thieves.

Taking the glorious que, the cleric grumbled abstractedly " Too bad we haven't that slimy little weasel Nanith when he is needed. He would surely be able to open this door without offsetting any traps or causing the slightest disturbance."
Of course, the dwarf offered his hefty hammer, but Teflar had other plans.
Erelis went first and pulled at the old door " Hmph, it's locked...or jammed."
Realizing Erelis was not waiting for his approval, the ranger told him not to test the door too hastily, but instead, rely on logic. Looking back over his shoulder, he glanced at the dangling skulls once again.
" Wouldn't that be a hoot if those skulls were a pullchain that opened this door." He regarded the psionic " Hey Erelis, you like yanking on things, you wanna pull the leather thong over there?"

Erelis became a bit stiff while regarding the woodsman with momentary, stunned eyes. He responded calmly " I don't recall you making the wisest choices there, Teflar, especially the Bethlun mission I've learned you helped direct thus far. I need not remind you that you haven't gotten my vote for said 'Leader', so I suggest you act as such only with the knowledge that, with any misstep, you risk alienating companions and harming your cause." The psion's eyes lit with an internal fire, but remembering his postion, ended " Go ahead and carry out your designed task yourself. I am no servant and will not welcome the disrespect you serve."

Loten stepped in between them " Hey....calm down gentlemen. Let's not lose our heads. You both have made your point. Let's tinker with the door and get this over with!"

Teflar raised an eyebrow with his hands outspread. " You misunderstood me, my friend. What I said was in jest only. I was trying to relieve some of the stress and you never saw my genuine smile. Truly, there was no disrespect intended." The ranger held out his right hand in apologetic offering. Erelis, being prompted by the cleric on the authenticity, nodded and answered
" Okay then, I didn't know you spoke a sarcastic tone." He smiled onto himself, gave a return handshake and replied " But I still won't yank the chain like you had done mine."
Teflar turned his head and glanced at the skulls as they dangled eerily before them. " So be it then; I'll take that risk." With his sword, he stuck it through the amalgam of bone sockets and pulled downward. Nothing happened; the thong did not budge from its hooked position. The heads clattered dully together like some dastard windchime while Gailwind filled in some inner knowledge.
" This must be a trophystrip of the humanoids. It is common to have such things as decor to represent success in battle. Perhaps a den or warroom this was?"

The paladin stated flatly " Then we are at an end here. Perhaps we can come at this door from the other side. Anyway, the ammonia stench is starting to get to me. Let's get out of here!"

" Wait just a second!" the dwarf bellowed. Pushing past the others, he raised his warhammer " By the power of Moradin!" and smashed it through the panels of the jammed door. Wood splintered everywhere and the bits fell away onto a stone flooring beyond. Stepping away in satisfaction, the cleric reflected " There, it is open."

Loten quickly drew his sword and moved to the shattered entrance. Fearing a threat, he paused and listened. He then motioned for the ranger " After you, my friend. That way I can follow in your footsteps. I sense no threat." Erelis and Teflar approached the door to assess the situation as Gailwind and Oktavianus stood back watching the trio. Soon they began tearing away the main pieces of wood until a wide hole was opened up.

The psionic instructed " Lorist, lend me your torch." Receiving it, he thrust it through the hole and surveyed. " Looks as if this leads back outside. A walkway along the northern perimeter wall." He scuttled on through, followed by the rest of the team. The paladin was the last to leave and he took a hard look at the sparse trophyroom as if to memorize it.

The night was as clear as it had been fifteen minutes prior and they were all now at a vantage point on which to oversee both courtyards and the northern woods. The stoned walkway 20 feet ahead ended abruptly because the wall had collapsed long ago negating any further progress.