Ch. 3.1 - On a Dark, Deserted Highway...

[Mr. Handy]

"It must be bolted from below," says William. "The other rooms probably have them too. We can keep it from being opened by putting something heavy on top of it, but if we're going to get down there, we'll have to find another way in."

[HoneyDog]

"If there's a tunnel, I bet there's an entrance at the reception somewhere" says Howard.

[Philulhu]

OOC,The only items of any weight are a small bookcase and the bed, although that’s a frame bed, rather than a divan, so potentially there would be a gap between the underside of the bed and the floor.

[peper757]

"I'd bet that you're right, Howard, but we'd have to distract the owner for a while if we wanted to search it." Thomas says.

"Perhaps we could try breaking the trapdoor or forcing it open somehow?" he suggests.

[HoneyDog]

"Before we try that" Howard says, "maybe we should check the other rooms and see if they have trapdoors too. Maybe one can be opened."

[Mr. Handy]

"That's a good idea," says William. "We can check the rest of our rooms. Now that we know what to look for, it should be easier to find them. I don't think anything less than an axe will break open that trapdoor, and that would leave some rather obvious traces even if we had one."

[Philulhu]

A search of the other three rooms revealed that they all had a trapdoor under the rug. All appeared to be fixed in place with no means of being opened from above.

[HoneyDog]

”I don’t see how we can get into this tunnel from the rooms” says Howard. ”Shall we wait until late and then check the reception?”

[Bullfrog]

Lawrence puts any large, heavy thing in his room on his room's trapdoor.

[HoneyDog]

Howard watches Lawrence wrestling with the furniture.

I’ve had another idea” he intones. ”How do you think about leaving one trapdoor unblocked? We can surprise whoever comes out and finally get some answers.”

The thought of giving some creep a good beating cheers Howard immensely.

[Bullfrog]

"Hmmmm.... A fine idea. I could pummel just about anything that comes through that door into a bleeding pulp."

[peper757]

"Not a bad idea. There might be some rope outside we could use to restrain whoever comes up through there." Thomas says.

"I'll go look now." he adds, before starting leaving the room.

[Mr. Handy]

"Excellent suggestion," says William. "We can leave the trapdoor in the biggest room unblocked, and we'll all stay in it."

[Philulhu]

A quick search of the environs yielded a short length of rope approximately 10 feet long, coiled in the bow of one of the rowing boats. It was a bit frayed but looked sturdy enough.

None of the furniture on its own was particularly heavy, but a combination of the bookshelf and a bed would be sufficient to slow down anything coming through the trapdoor, if not stop it altogether.

OOC,Is there anything else you want to do, before I move the story on?

[Bullfrog]

OOC:   nothing for me. Fixin' to completely pummel whoever comes through that door.

[peper757]

Thomas returns to the room, keeping the rope on him.

OOC:   That's me done.

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,I'm ready.

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Yes, please continue.

[Philulhu]

OOC,OK, I’ll update tonight. In the meantime, what are your plans? You’re staying on one room - are you sleeping? Taking turns to keep watch?

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Taking turns might be best, but I would suggest two watch while two sleep - if they are surprised it might be too much for just one man.