They hadn’t come far, the group of three.

After meeting up, they went west through a small forest. Soon the bickering had started, but they continued on and over a stream only to soon run into a ruin. This is what they met up for, after all, the ad Bard had posted mostly described dungeoning, so since this was their primary goal, they dove straight into the cavernous entrance.

Bard was in the front, while Alabaster and Thorn stayed close behind. This wasn’t a matter to be rushed - although their makeshift leader did not slow down even when the light dimmed and the atmosphere got thicker with dust.

“Hey, watch where you’re going” said Alabaster “I will leave you behind if you activate any traps with your carelessness.” He snorted, avoiding another collapsed pillar on the ground which Bard had swiftly jumped over. Next to him, he could hear Thorn nicker in agreement, he had been the one most eager for a fight, but it’d be best on their own terms and not due to an unforeseen attack.

“Yeah right! I know these types of ruins, like the back of my hocks. I have been exploring them since I was a colt. You guys wouldn’t even get a single coin out of this place if you didn’t have me.” Bard bellowed loudly, his voice bouncing off the walls.

“Right.. seems you won’t need my help for fights then either.” comes the low mumble from Thorn, his eyes had narrowed even more during Bards little soliloquy.

“Well..” Their leader began before swiftly getting pulled back by his tail. “Ow! What the-“ turning around, he saw Alabaster, sourly pointing with his head to the big fissure in the floor before Bard. As he lets go of Bard’s tail he stomps angrily. “I said watch it!” He pins his ears and begins moving past the fissure, Thorn in tow.

Their hooves echoed, occasionally one could hear a kicked pebble or a branch being broken and the silent constant jingle of Bards accessories. Lost in thought about what was to come, the party moved deeper into the ruins.

After a while of walking, the jingling got louder - Bard, seemingly having caught a second wind, canters past the rest of the party. He hops over one and two and three pieces of debris before coming to a sudden stop. The sound of something falling to the ground can be heard as the other two continue their slow pace.

Suddenly, a faint dragging sound can be heard as if a hatch opened. Without warning, a huge log swings past Alabaster's face, having jumped back and backed into Thorn just in time. Bard, now with one of his fallen accessories in his muzzle, looks back absolutely unaware of the disaster that almost occurred .

“Hey now, I know my rump is not bad! But no need to jump back in shock.” The two stallions at the back, who were now closely huddled together due to Alabaster's evasive manoeuvre, just staring at him for a moment. They throw their tails left and right and move past the clumsy 3rd member. No need to cause another argument. They were in enough trouble, as it were.

As they turn the corner towards the right, they approach the thing no adventurer wants to see - a dead end. “I didn’t see another way..” Bard mentions suspiciously. “Neither have I.” throws in Thorn. Looking around the room, there were coloured and engraved tiles on the ground while approaching, someone stepped on one and the rumbling of an old mechanism could be heard.

“What do you make of this everyone? This sort of stuff isn’t my strong-suit, kiiiinda why I looked for buddies” comes Bards' confused tone. “Hmm..” grumbles Alabaster as he frowns. He had seen similar locking mechanisms before, though none quite as intricate as this one. “The artwork must be the key.. Each of you, have a look around the walls nearby. Perhaps there are clues to be found.” he continues. Soft nickering was the answer from both members as they approached the walls carefully not to step further on any tiles.

The last time a puzzle like this presented itself in front of him, Alabaster had to result in trial and error. The noises when stepping on tiles, however, made him adamant about trying that method. He sighed, certainly this has got to be worth it in the end. He knew all the members of this party were in it for something else, so there would be nothing to contest. Right, concentrate.

As the other members one by one returned to the middle, both shook their heads, nothing out of the ordinary. Stone walls and cracks and pebbles. After a moment, Thorn speaks up “Are those tiles important?” And yes indeed, 7 tiles in total look out of place. Always a set of two and a single one, more worn down and only solid in colour while the others had a multitude of colours. Stepping back, there in the artwork can be seen the moon, a half moon and the sun, as well as a star, the star being the one occupying the single tile.

“Well.. Logically, assuming these should be pressed in order.” Alabaster quips. “Right and which number does the star get? Also, the tiles don’t stay down, so.” Bard speaks up next. “We each have a pair of front and back legs.. so that’s not the issue, the star in the other hoof..” mentions Thorn.

A minute goes by without a sound before Alabaster perks up. “Of course! The Star has got to be the first pressed. They never go away out of the sky, unlike the sun and moon. We just don’t see them in the day.” He snorts as he moves towards the star tile, he empties one of his bags and distributes the fallen items into his other bags, then drops the empty one onto the tile, pressing it down. “There we go.”

“Good thinking.” Issues Bard and he receives a nod from Thorn. They then each approach the paired tiles of the celestial bodies, stepping on the moon, then the half moon and then the sun. As the wirring and scratching of the old mechanism starts up they stay completely still, petrified yet hopeful. As the sound comes to a halt, they release their bated breaths.

Ka-klunk opens the wall in front of them.