Squash Stack Studio

The next corridor that beckons has an unusual and eye-catching appearance that makes Smilax instantly suspicious.

One wall features circular openings at irregular intervals and the wall opposite is heavily damaged. Piles of rubble from the damaged wall litter the floor.

“The torch sconce is different,” says Smilax. “Stand back, I have an idea.” He takes up one of the polearms they claimed from the skeleton warriors and gingerly pokes the torch mounted on the wall. The torch swivels, and suddenly heavy steel arrows and jets of flame launch from the holes in the wall! Smilax groans. “I bet that panel I was fiddling with on the other side was the safety for this trap! If it weren’t for that Gelatinous Cube, I could have disabled this!”

The traps keep firing, and with the body of the Gelatinous Cube splattered over the adjacent hallway, Smilax can’t disable the trap. “I’m tired of waiting,” growls Ingrid. “I’m going through!” Shield raised, she barges down the corridor, stumbling once under the impact of a steel arrow. She makes it through bruised but intact.

Smilax is close on her heels, although he relies on his grace and dexterity to dodge the projectiles rather than plowing through them. Once on the other side, Smilax notices another panel jutting from the wall like the one in the previous corridor. He signals the others to wait and while Ingrid guards his flank, digs into the panel with tools. His suspicions are confirmed – the panel conceals a secret catch that disables the flame and arrow traps!

Smilax beckons to Taddeo and Misako to cross the corridor – which they do at great speed, heads down and shields up. “You could have a little faith in me,” Smilax grumbles as they reach the end of the trapped corridor unharmed.