<strong>Location:</strong>Wolkhart School of Evocation<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Mel, Na'ima, Nys<br/><br/>"Hmm, good, good," Professor Murrin said as he walked from desk to desk, observing the various students.  "No, use the tweezers, not your fingers!  That's what they're there for!"<br/><br/>By watching Nys' hands maneuver both quickly and with precision, Murrin knew that the young man was well-versed in this art.<em>He knows exactly what he's doing.  Odd that he's taking an introductory class.</em><br/><br/>Eventually a small chime echoed from someone's lockbox.  "You activated the trigger," Murrin said.  "You'll be hearing that if you make a mistake.  Here, try again," he said as he deactivated the chime by turning a small screw around.<br/><br/>Melda activated a few (3, to be exact) before completely unlocking the box.  Na'ima only activated 1 chime; Nys was the only person in the class to perform flawlessly.  5 of the other 9 students stumbled frequently, unable to unlock their boxes at all.  One first year kicked his desk in anger, only to be admonished by Murrin.  "You need to keep your cool in this line of work!  An impatient trap springer is the bane of all adventurers!"<br/><br/>The other 4 succeeded along Melda's level of skill.  Na'ima and Nys were the only ones who passed with flying colors.<br/><br/>"Time's up!" Murrin exclaimed.  "Please bring your boxes to my desk."<br/><br/>"About half of you managed to make it through to the end."  The students who failed cringed.<br/><br/>"Don't be down, as a whole you did far better than many other classes I've taught.  Now then," he bent over to the floor and slid over a hidden trapdoor, "it's time to develop your skills further in the Gauntlet."<br/><br/>The class was atwitter with speculation.  "The Gauntlet?" Daniel exclaimed.  "Isn't it a little early for that?"<br/><br/>"Are you sending us into a dungeon?" a halfling boy sitting next to Na'ima asked.<br/><br/>"Any questions you have will be answered once you follow me!  Take your tools along with you, you'll need them!  Now take your time on the ladder, and wait for the people in front of you to descend for a few moments before following them.  I don't want you all bunched up like a cavern full of gibberlings!"<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">"Knowledge Nature DC 10"</div><div class="spoiler_body">Gibberlings are barely sapient, black-furred humanoids who lair in the Underdark and constantly howl, shriek, and babble for hours on end.  They're considered pests and vermin by dwarves, drow, and other subterranean civilizations.</div></div><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/ygXsuOI.jpg?1)<br/><br/>Theme for the dungeon. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvcJN6r7H04#)<br/><br/>You've heard that Redhurst contained a vast series of catacombs below the school, although you're surprised at how much room there is in this dark chamber.  The ladder ends at a platform located at the top of a spiral staircase which winds down a dimly lit pit.  Black, winged creatures which surely are not bats flit about at the edges of light.  Daniel casts a spell to create four orbs of white light to circle around the class.  Even the three dwarves in the class of thirteen appeared frightened, sticking close to their friends and the Professor.<br/><br/>The passageway at the bottom opened up into a stone room with 3 iron portcullises at the north, south, and east end and a single bowl of burning incense in the center.<br/><br/>"Now I'll split you all into three groups, of 4 each."<br/><br/>"Melda, you're with Nys, Na'ima, and Ellen!  Line up at the south door!"<br/><br/>Ellen was a young woman with elven ancestry, although her ears were not as prominent as Mel's or Nys'.  Her black hair was very short, with bangs over her brow.  "So, looks like the Professor put all the elves together, not that I'm complaining."  She smiled slightly.<br/><br/>"Daniel, you're with Arbo, Rize, and Tergen!"  It became apparent that Arbo was the halfling boy from earlier.  Rize and Tergen looked to be identical twins, dwarves with dark complexions and matching yellow and red robes.<br/><br/>"Alna, you're with Harold, Alice, and Nancy!"<br/><br/>After what felt like an eternity in an awkward silence, Murrin spoke again.  "Each of you must stick together as you progress through this dungeon.  You will be monitored remotely via scrying, and none of you will be in direct danger."<br/><br/>Professor Murrin tossed a bag of powder into the fire, giving the room an eerie blue glow.  "All of the passageways are relatively equal in length and magnitude of challenges.  You will encounter environmental obstacles, and hidden objects and locations if you can find them, and locks and trap to unlock and overcome.  You will be judged on how fast and efficiently you can make it to the end, with as many of your teammates as possible.  At my signal, you will proceed beyond the doorways."<br/><br/>The portcullises opened seemingly at their own accord.<br/><br/>"Get ready."<br/><br/>One of the students whimpered.<br/><br/>"Get set..."<br/><br/>Ellen looked at Nys with a serious look on her face, then at Melda and then Na'ima.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">"Sense Motive DC 10"</div><div class="spoiler_body">She seems to be judging you, possibly for trustworthiness and competence.</div></div><br/>"GO!"<br/><br/>[The portcullis behind you slammed shut as soon as the last of you passed through.  The hallway stretching before you appears nondescript, with a 20 foot high ceiling above you with torches of blue flames at every 10 foot  interval.  The archway at the end of the hall is shrouded in fog beyond the threshold]