Lone_Scout: (?): Rudy, who wanted to go alone (did Og'rialt warn him about the fire trap?)
gogtrial34987: Rudely ignored though we were by this human ranger, I did indeed point out the trigger mechanism for him to avoid, as he does not appear to be many clawed. I suggest we let him pass us by, and wait momentarily for the effects of the detect secrets spell to become clear before rushing deeper into the unknown. Mayhap we'll encounter him again later; perhaps his fresh corpse will at some point warn us of a trap!
As I finish setting the trap and prepare to leave it to guard our back, I look back into the circular chamber. Of those nearest the southern tunnels, I see a half orc waiting around, a party of three entering the main tunnel and calling out to two more to join them, a single mage entering the main tunnel while casting a summon monster spell, and a thief listening at that same tunnel.
Meanwhile, the drow, a halfling, a human, two elves and the two called upon by the party of three, have yet to take any action.
gogtrial34987: I call out to the Elven thief listening at the southern tunnel, taking note of his decision to grab a torch for himself, "Hey, friend, there's strength in numbers, and a small tunnel is easier to scout for traps than a large one. Care to join us?"
Turning toward the remaining group, including the two who have already been called upon by the other party, I call out "I extend the same offer to you. If your purpose here is to get out alive, then let us work together, and be smart about it!"
I leave it carefully nebulous if I do or don't include the drow in my offer. My own sensibilities have not yet come to a conclusion. As a cast-out from dwarven society (by choice!), I tell myself over and over that I do not want to judge those who live differently, and I see that the drow is just as befuddled as I was to find himself here. He is not many-clawed, and will want to escape as much as I do. And yet everything in my upbringing screams out that the way drows live in darkness, underground, is in every aspect a perversion of the One True Way which has been taught to dwarves since the Beginning of Time. And if I can overcome my own sensibilities, could I convince my fellow party members to do so as well...?
I look at the dwarf talking to me.
I make a sign for his group to wait up while I continue to use my high perception to listen in to the tunnel to confirm it's safe.