The hobbit's face lit up with enthusiasm. " Stand back friends!" He motioned forward of the group with a windmill of arms as if swimming through its human tide. " Aramil might just have stumbled upon our first trap of many to come." The halfling hunched down carefully and inspected the flat board. " It could be a pitfall, but it may also just be a hiding place."

Loten and Teflar drew their weapons in anticipation as the rogue set to his hobby. He pressed and prodded the surface of the board. " Mmm..." he noted to himself in deep concentration. " It does not appear to be trapped." Carefully moving his slick hands over the grain, he examined the plank from all sides. He pulled out a dagger and positioned himself so that most of the party members were behind him. He lifted up the board from arms-length with his head half-turned in protection. What was revealed was nothing substantial; only more of the flagstone floor was discovered.

" There we have it." smiled the wizard " A concealed lid in perfect sync with the stone." The admiring elf crouched beside the hobbit who quickly discovered a latch on which to pull upon a hidden trapdoor.

" Nanith, " the mage whispered " Are you sure when we open this up nothing is going to come at us like a gas or something?" He rose and moved backwards letting his falcon find a perch on the staircasing.

The rogue mused at the latchring " Well, one can never be certain. As for holding some unforeseen monster, let's find out." Nanith warned the others to take heed before he pulled at the lid.

Teflar stared at the halfling with a frown. " I will guard you Nanith." He curled his fingers around the hobbit's collar " The rest of you watch for anything that comes up from below."
Everyone readied their weapon of choice and waited the tension-filled moments as the trapdoor was easily and slowly lifted up and placed aside. Soon, a dark 2'x2' opening shown back at them. An eerie silence ensued.

Gailwind stepped forward and shone the brilliant torch down into the opening. The light never reflected back; darkness seemed to be an absorbant, thick mass. Signaling the others to remain still, the half-elf fetched his old torch that he had fumbled earlier and dropped it into the hole. A dull, echoed clattering was heard seconds later. " Sounds like a 12 foot drop to another stone floor. No ladder to avail us. Anyone care to jump down?"

Teflar stepped behind the lorist laying a pressured handgrip upon his back. " Nice of you to volunteer. Do you need a push to get you started?" Gailwind, startled at this inclination, twisted away in angst and fell flat on his ass in his haste to escape.

"Stop it!" roared Erelis; his scythe weapon lowering quickly, but his threat no less potent. " I ought to beat the hell out of you right here, ranger! Who do you think you are trying to warrant duties to others!?" Parting his way from the back of the group, Meadows got into Teflar's face " Back off ! You have no authority here and, if you did, I'll strip you of it! You've gone too far."

The half-elf popped off the floor quickly; his face flushed with embarrassment " N-n-no cause for concern guys, really! I-I-I just tripped." The half-elf stuttered profusely " Teflar p-p-probably was kidding."

Erelis eyed the ranger waiting for any move of aggression. " We left jesting back in Airrdale when my folk were slaughtered. There will be no more jokes. You could have twisted an ankle, sage; don't pardon this bully's conduct."

Taking a step back from Erelis, Teflar held his short sword pointed forward between himself and the psionic. " Meadows, do you challenge me? Here and now? If you feel you are a better leader than me....then lead. Don't just talk about it!" Teflar's eyes blazed " Be a man and step up and take charge!! Nobody else has and it has cost us the lives of friends and allies!"

Erelis followed the movements of the woodsman closely in the shadows of the main room. " I ask that you correspond with your companions in a mature way, Teflar. I desire no leadership and I warn you not to insult our dignity again!"

A wee one interceded the two combatants; her head rising just above their knees. " Come now gentlemen, I am sure that we can all work together if we try. I do not know what your past relationships have been, but we are here to accomplish a task, and it won't get done if you continue to argue." Roslyn pleaded with the two. " I am sure the feeling that this place is emitting is not helping anyone's mood. Please let us all get along."

With a flip of his hand, Teflar dropped his sword at the feet of Erelis.
" The shard is more important than honor...than my own pride. Let us forget my brashness and continue on without any further delay...so help me I will not offend any again."

The rest of the comrades looked upon Meadows who delivered the final conclusive words. " We cannot afford to have any more animosity and I will not raise my voice again in a manner that will shake our party. Let those who do not stand as one unit leave this fortress of beguilement right now. For there are no more chances left once we enter that hole."