Chgowiz's Server - act26-game

Continuing on from #act25-game You come to another square room, with a large stone stair leading upwards. "Beyond is the main floor of the Keep." Herm explains. "Further west, if we'd stayed on that tunnel, leads to the portcullis winch which protects the main, trapped passage into the sewers." There is a large door at the top of the stairs. It is barred from your side with a thick beam, as well as extra planks of wood that have been nailed into it! @TAKASHI (Alan) , you feel a whisper of cold from your wound. Angon and Almanin look at the door and frown. "They didn't want anyone to leave... or to enter from the Keep? What lies beyond?" Herm has no answer. What will you do? (edited)

BELLESH asks @Cynric if he'd like him to cast an enchantment on him. "It would make it easier for you to pull those planks out," he adds.

« Go ahead », says Cynric while preparing himself to remove the planks and push through the wood of the door .

CALLIN looks at the door then back at the others and sees the look in @TAKASHI (Alan) eyes. "Darkness lies beyond this door. But so so answers for our friends. " CALLIN adjusts the holy symbol around his neck. "I am ready to spread the LIGHT"

TAKASHI readies his sword, and hopes that he has no use for it once the portal has been breached.

BELLESH nods and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a few hairs and sprinkling them over his left palm. Rubbing his hands together, he begins a low chant, rising in volume and ending with him extending his right forefinger and touching @Cynric on the back, right between the shoulder blades. (Casting strength on Cynric)

@Cynric - Now that you've been endowed with magical strength, what will do you?

ATACIUS asks for a lit torch and readies an oil grenade. He also gives one to Apinro. (edited)

After having warned his comrades of his next move, Cynric removes the planks and pushes with all his Strenght, enhanced magically, to open the heavy door.

With a feeling of deja vu GRAIAN will ready his last magic missile

@Cynric - with your muscles bulging in your now suddenly VERY tight clothes and armor, you easily pull off the boards. The large beam barring the door normally takes two people to remove, but you one-hand it away. The heavy doors GROOOOOOAAAAAAANNNNNN and want to resist, but your strength makes that a moot point. Sunlight filters through a side window immediately in front of you, thick dust floating in the air. Several inanimate skeletons lie on the floor immediately in front of the now open door. They are still wearing armor, though it is tarnished. Swords and spears are in their bony hands. You are in some sort of side passage and it looks like it opens up to the right. It is quiet. The dust floats, unconcerned. What will you do?

After nodding and showing the way to his fellow party members, Cynric draws his scimitar and shield and cautiously enters the room, carefully looking at the skeletons in fear that they might undeadly animate and try to hit him and leaving space behind him to let others enter the room.

TAKASHI will enter the room as well, and will approach one of the skeletons which lie on the ground. With precision, he will lift his heavy boot and attempt to crush the skull under his heel.

@Cynric - The small hallway you are in opens into a larger room that has weapon racks, armor stands and smaller chests. The room is in disarray, with weapons lying on the floor, chests thrown open and shields scattered here and there. There are a few of the inanimate skeletons lying there, intermingled. @TAKASHI (Alan) - it's a satisfying CRUNCH. Claudia looks at you with surprise.

BELLESH enters the passage tentatively, carrying Jellesh in his arms. He tries to take a look through the side window.

CALLIN enters as well

Cynric slowly approaches the skeletons, trying to decipher what did happen in this room, how did the poor warriors died... with caution though, knowing that the undead are common in the area.

TAKASHI looks at Claudia, and speaks quitely. "I'd rather know now if the skeletons are going to jump up and attack us, when we can easily retreat from whence we came. If we move into the middle of the room and then the rise, things get more difficult."

12:57

TAKASHI will then examine the arms and armor still in the skeleton's possession with CYNRIC.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - Claudia nods and moves to another one. She takes out her axe and smacks it against the skull, which disintegrates into shards and dust. She takes a peek at you. @Cynric - They appear to have been fighting each other. Some fell grappling each other. Others show evidence of severe wounds, with broken ribs, skulls or severed limbs. Most appear to be fairly well armored, some better than others. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - Almanin and Angon walk in with you, but they are silent as they take in the area. @CALLIN - no sense of danger or of the unliving can be felt. There are two exits from this rectangular room, one at each end of the room.

"For the moment, I sense no Darkness here." CALLIN will go toward each of the exits reachout out with his senses to root out the Darkness. He will also look to Herm... "Do you know which way from here?"

Seeing there's apparently no threat, ATACIUS walks in motioning Apinro to follow.

TAKASHI nods to Claudia. "We don't do this to desecrate the dead. Only to protect the living here in this cursed city."

BELLESH moves on into the room with Cynric, and starts looking through the mess of things on the floor to see if he can find anything that might be useful for anyone.

Herm looks around and then answers @CALLIN "We are in the armory for the guard. Their quarters are outside this area. The main hall lies beyond the quarters. Both doors lead that way." He is standing near a particular set of armor, looking down sadly at the skeletal remains inside. The rest of the party follows @ATACIUS (Gabriel). Claudia nods to @TAKASHI (Alan) and puts her axe away, a look of relief on her face. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) /BELLESH - While the armor and weapons appear mundane, there are quite a few small personal effects scattered around the skeletons - necklaces, bracelets, charms and the like. It would take you 3 turns to collect them up, is that what you want to do?

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) BELLESH will begin gathering them up, letting the others know what he's doing and inviting them to help. He won't linger behind however, if the others want to move on.

Cynric help Bellesh in retreiving the personal effects scattered around.

ATACIUS will put away his oil grenade and start looking for any quality weapon (hopefully a dagger) that might have survived without rust all this time.

CALLIN will head toward the one of teh doors and wait for his companions to finish in the room. "Thank you for doing this Herm. Your help in this endeavor is more valuable than you could know"

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - yes, there are daggers - four that look like they were more personal or custom made as versus "standard issue". The remaining 12 are more common. All have some amount of tarnish and corrosion on them. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) BELLESH and @Cynric - it takes you two turns (instead of three) to collect up the personal items. You have 9 bracelets of various metals and designs. None have gems. You find 14 necklaces, also various metals and designs. 1 has a nice ornamental gem (reddish color) that is probably worth less than 100 gold crowns. @CALLIN Herm looks determined and nods to you. "We must not delay." he says as he watches BELLESH/CYNRIC and ATACIUS. "HE will know we are here... and not of Him."

At @CALLIN's behest ATACIUS will quickly pocket the 4 daggers. "Once cleaned they might be sold as curios from Ramathia back in Skalfier..." he thinks. "Skalfier... it seems we left so long ago... Appleton..." "Oh, I miss the cider!" he mumbles to himself.

Cynric quickly picks up the bracelets necklaces, and regroups with CALLIN and Herm.

Graian having been keeping watch in case anything unexpected happened will walk across to the door where Calling and Herm are.

BELLESH puts the items he's collected in his backpack and falls in behind the others.

TAKASHI motions to Claudia, and moves toward the others.

OK @SouthernSeas - you're gathered at the door. There is no sound on the other side. Herm looks at all of you and begins to reach out. @TAKASHI (Alan) - once again, you feel a slight chill in your wound.

BELLESH watches closely to try and see what's on the other side of the door once it's opened a bit.

TAKASHI shivers visibly. "There may be more damned on the other side of this door. Be very careful."

"@TAKASHI (Alan) You felt them before going into this room and there were none. Maybe they're retreating... or luring us deeper! "

"we should listen to Herm. This creature will know we are here. Best to move quickly. And when we meet his minions show the the LIGHT. We should press on."

« Agreed », concurs Cynric.

GRAIAN waits, watching and listening.

Herm slowly opens the door. There is a short hallway that goes to the right and then connects with a larger hallway. It is very quiet. "The officers were to the left, the men quartered along the main hall. The doors to the keep's great hall are to the right." Herm whispers. Indrian and another elf move past Herm and creep down to the T intersection. They look left and right, listening. They return. "It is as he says." Indrian whispers. "All doors are closed. There are three down the left. There are five along the hall heading right. There are two great doors at the end to the right." What will you do?

BELLESH looks up at @TAKASHI (Alan) and asks, "Which way do you think would keep us away from the undead and get us where we need to go?"

Cynric asks CALLIN: « Do you sense Evil around us? Is it stronger one way or the other ? »

TAKASHI takes a step or two towards the right, then does the same down to the left. He's trying to see if he senses any differences between the two directions.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - the burning cold doesn't change. It's a whisper of a chill, like a tiny itch that is maddening, but hard to get rid of.

08:04

@CALLIN - while you have felt the oppressive touch of Darkness before, you don't feel anything specific here.

"@Cynric i do not feel the darkness, I know it is here, but I feel it may be deeper within. We should move forward."

Where do you move forward to?

I vote the great hall

To the right where the two great doors are, and listening at/checking the doors along the corridor?

Yes, let’s press on towards the Great Hall.

You enter into the main hallway of the Armory and head towards the doors leading to the Great Hall. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) stops and listens at each of the five doors quickly, and it is as quiet as a tomb on the other side. Two of them are splattered with blood. It looks like they are ordinary latches and they are not locked, as far as the littleling thief can tell. At the large double doors to the main hall, there is a skeleton lying in chain armor - it's chest has been impaled by a spear. It's arm appears to have been in the door when they were shut. What will you do?

BELLESH follows @ATACIUS (Gabriel) slowly down the hallway, watching to see if his panther cub reacts to any of the doors they pass, knowing that his sense of smell and hearing are probably far better than his.

GRAIAN looks to the left as Bellesh follows Atacius, listening as best he can.

ATACIUS will listen at the large double doors without disturbing the skeleton.

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) Jellesh doesn't seem interested in the doors, having been distracted by a loose thread on the bottom of @Graian's clothing. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - a quick listen doesn't reveal anything. It's still as quiet as a tomb.

"Jell, no!" BELLESH whispers fiercely, "Leave that alone! @Graian 's whole robe could come loose!"

TAKASHI will advance towards the doors leading to the great hall.

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - Jellesh stops and gives you a somewhat annoyed look, but does stop playing with @Graian's robe hem. @TAKASHI (Alan) - what will you do?

Graian looks at Jellesh with a scowl on his face.

Graian

Graian looks at Jellesh with a scowl on his face.

The young cat looks back at the mage with an unsettled, unhappy look on its face!

TAKASHI reaches for the large doors that open to the great hall, and quietly says, "Opening in 3... 2.. 1..."

Trying to be silent, Cynric joins Takashi to face any ennemy that might jump on the party.

Atacius gives way to Takashi and Cynric.

CALLIN will follow in after Takashi and Cynric

@SouthernSeas - Madness. Bedlam. Lunacy. That is the sight that greets your eyes as you open the doors. Immediately in front of you are skeletons strewn in a pile, bearing silent testament to the violent battle fought at these doors. The Great Hall is narrow. To your left is a grand staircase leading up. To your right are the main doors in and out of the keep. In the center of the Hall is a large table. Skeletons lie on top of it and around it in groups, signifying where melee ocurred. There are, ominously, six skeletons with the black aura of fire around them standing at the foot of the grand stairs. They do not react to the opening of the door. This is a quick glance - if you want to know specific things, ask! Looking about carefully only takes time...

BELLESH is certainly not doing anything other than looking, he's in no hurry to go in there! Remaining behind Atacius and craning his neck for a better angle, he tries to look up to the top of the staircase; are there any more walking dead up there, or anything else? Are the six skeletons armed, and how? Is there anything barring the main doors, or blocking our way to them? Anything interesting on the ceiling or floor? (edited)

Cynric tries to look at what's on the table from where he stands right at the door, besides bones and maybe rusty weapons.

ATACIUS, from where he is and by looking at the skeletons, tries to figure out if there were two sides fighting each other or if it was more like everyone against everyone.

TAKASHI will begin to slowly close the doors. "Perhaps we can find an alternate way of going upstairs?"

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - the stairs go up about ten feet to a landing, and the second set continue upwards out of sight. There are no other of the unliving beyond the six gathered at the foot of those stairs. As you turn to look around elsewhere, @TAKASHI (Alan) starts to close the doors, interrupting your view. @Cynric - papers, books and scrolls opened and scattered, goblets - some overturned, candlesticks, and some skeletons draped over the great, long table. Then, the door starts to close as TAKASHI begins to shut it. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - it looks helter-skelter, perhaps a general melee, but only a few are armored similar to the skeletons (and ghosts) that you saw in the sewers. Then TAKASHI closes the door with his question. Almanin and Angon turn towards Herm, who frowns. "Possibly by scaling the walls and climbing into a window. That would be difficult!"

CALLIN: "The other doors in theory go to the same place right Herm? Could that path lead us around these creatures?"

TAKASHI, once the door closes, continues. "Perhaps we should search these other chambers before deciding to face those undead ." At the mention of the word unded, TAKASHI visibly shudders.

CALLIN

CALLIN: "The other doors in theory go to the same place right Herm? Could that path lead us around these creatures?"

"If you mean the doors behind us, no, they lead to barracks and officers quarters. There's no other exit. Those doors in the great hall lead to the outside. The stairs lead up to the second floor." Herm says.

"Then I guess we need to go through them. CALLIN, I trust you'll do what you can with the LIGHT, and hope that can assist us in our fight. Anyone need to prepare anything else before we do this?"

"I'm ready," Cynric said, holding his scimitar and shield firmly. "Let's bring them down, let's show them that the Power of Light is on our side," he adds, seeming oblivious to the dangers these Undead pose to him and his friends.

ATACIUS takes his oil grenades out and give 2 to Apinro. He mimics to him how to light them in the torch fire and throw them.

Apinro looks at the grenades, you all preparing, the door, then starts whispering, waving his arms, pointing in the direction of the stairs, then in the direction of the main door, then more waving of arms. He looks at @Graian, Angon and Almanin and the more he talks, the more frantic his whispering seems to get.

ATACIUS looks at Apinro quizzically, then points at the stairs and frowns, then point at the main door and smiles. He waits for Apinro's reaction...

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - in an obvious way, Apinro reaches into one of your pockets and pulls out a sling bullet. He points to the bullet, then mimes tossing it in the direction of the main doors. He points to the direction of the stairs, then makes "walking" motions with his hand from the direction of the stairs to the direction of the main door. He then mimes sneaking in the direction of the stairs.

ATACIUS face lights up and let the others know about Apinro's suggestion.

BELLESH nods and picks up his cat. "Ok. Good plan. I'm ready."

"It's worth a shot", TAKASHI muses. "Let's give it a try. Plan B is always available if it doesn't work out!"

« Let’s try Anpiro’s plan », adds Cynric.

@SouthernSeas - since we might be heading into possible combat, just getting a feel for what @Graian might want to do, or spells to have ready (same for @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) and possibly @CALLIN as well...) and any other "pre-combat" like things you might want to prepare and let me know about.

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) Bellesh's Strength spell should still be active on Cynric - duration is 18 turns, or 180 minutes, and it was just cast on him right before we opened the previous door. Bellesh doesn't have any memorized spells left that would be useful in this situation, but he does have a scroll of Burning Hands in his pocket that he's ready to pull out and use if needed.

GRAIAN watches Apinro's pantomime thinking. " I have three spells left, all could be useful if we use them properly. I have strength, Invisibility and of course trusty Magic Missile. Invisibility could enable someone to get to a flanking position, perhaps sneak for a back-attack," he pauses looking at Atacius, "if for some reason we do not end up attacking you can remain invisible anyway. The strength will be useful to Callin or Takashi, or perhaps anyone really. Just a thought."

CALLIN clutches his holy Symbol and says a quick prayer as he can feel the darkness growing.... // As for spells I think mine are still defined on the Google sheet. I don't think we have had a long rest to change them as of yet... though I could be mistaken.

ATACIUS looks back at @Graian. "I don't know if that would be effective against these creatures but I can use it to douse the area in front of the gates with oil. If they move to investigate the noise (thrown bullet) I can lit the oil so the flames may cover our move towards the stairs..."

TAKASHI speaks with Claudia briefly. "If we have to fight the dead, try the axe first. If it doesn't seem to be doing much damage to them, try switching to your club - sometimes the heavier blunt weapons can hurt beings without flesh more than a sharpened edge can. Have no feear, remember your training, and stick close to me." He smiles and says, "ready?"

Apinro watches you all dicuss, tossing @ATACIUS (Gabriel)'s sling bullet up and down with the expectant and impatient look that only a teen-age boy can effect. Angon and Almanin murmur to Indrian, who snaps her fingers and points to the elven scouts. They put their arrows away and draw blades. The warrior then nods to @TAKASHI (Alan) and @CALLIN in readiness.

14:55

(Last chance before Apinro lets fly...)

Holding Jellesh, ready to move, Bellesh nods to Apinro.

TAKASHI nods in agreement. "Here we go..."

Graian "One moment" he walks up to Takashi and casts Strength upon him.

CALLIN nods back and grips his holy Symbol and Shield in his hands....ready for lies beyond!

Cynric joins the party into preparing himself for the combat that might likely occur!

Upon being given the signal from @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH, the young islander moves back to the door and cracks it open. He takes the sling bullet, aims, and throws it quite hard towards the great doors, immediately ducking down. "CLANG!" echoes through the hall from the impact. A minute, then a second passes, and there's no sound except for the breaths from the party waiting. Apinro frowns, peeks up and sighs. Without turning around, he holds out his arm and makes a "more" motion with his hand, holding it open.

Atacius gives him a handful of bullets from his pouch.

Apinro grins at @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and hefts the bullets in his hand. Taking a position near the cracked open door again, he tosses them all in rapid fashion, one after the other. "CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!... " the impacts hit the door, and it sounds a lot like someone banging on them, as if to get in! The sound echoes a bit around, and then there is a dry, creaking, rasping sound from the direction of the stairs! Apinro ducks down quickly. The sound moves slowly, but steadily from the left to in front of you and then to the right! After a long, long, long two to three minutes, the sound stops. Apinro motions to you all to come to the door. The skeletons are now standing in a semi-circle in front of the great double doors, facing it! The stairway is now open! What will you do?

To the stairs! Two files! On the double!

Indrian raises her fingers to her lips and motions to the elves to be quiet and ready to move!

TAKASHI nods in agreement with ATACIUS, and moves out towards the stairs, trying to be as quiet as possible while still making good speed.

callin does his best to move quiet as well. and follows

Bellesh takes up his place in line and moves quietly up the stairs with the others.

Cynric follows, keeping an eye on the Skeletons to react quickly if they rush towards the party.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - give me a save vs. paralysis, please. (edited)

Apinro opens the door carefully and gingerly steps around the inanimate skeletons piled in front, making it clear what path to take. He keeps a nervous eye on the guardian unliving who are watching the great double doors. Slowly, so slowly, the party makes their way from the guard's quarters into the Great Hall and towards the stairs. The elves gingerly tiptoe around the bones, their sea-honed suppleness allowing them to nimbly avoid touching anything. Claudia takes up a position behind TAKASHI as the warrior begins the trek. However, a few steps into the room, he suddenly freezes! - TAKASHI - your vision seems to shift and swim, as if you are looking through smoke, or intense heat! Your point of view seems to change rapidly. One moment, you are looking off of a tower that seems to be perched on a wall facing a jungle. Then, you are looking at a building that is half burnt. Next, you are at an intersection, standing next to some sort of beings that appear like black clouds. Then, you are staring at a set of large double doors. The images pound at you relentlessly. You hear a high pitched keening that fills your mind. Claudia makes to gasp, but catches the sound in time! She takes hold of one of the warrior's arms, then looks at @CALLIN and @Cynric with a frightened look! What will you do now?

TAKASHI will struggle to calm his mind, and fill it instead with images of those he has loved but lost. His wife and child, friends from his tribe, and even recent friends like Sir Flinnigan. "Must move past the fear, and accept what is. Here. Now." He will attempt to move again towards the stairs with Claudia's assistance.

Sensing that his friend is feeling the Undead presence in his wound and his mind, Cynric walks quietly near Takashi, grabs him and tries to lift him up in his arms, and tries to continue walking towards the stairs. (edited)

CALLIN seeing Claudia's wide eyes goes to TAKASHI still holding his shield takes the other side of TAHASHI under the arm opposite Cynric and attempts to help team lift so they can still defend themselves as they move. He then motions to Claudia to stay behind them as they begin to move to the stairs

@TAKASHI (Alan) I - The heat. The HUNGER. They are the only things that can be felt. Eyes rove everywhere, looking for life. To feed. To replace the loss. There's the third emotion... loss and grief. Unendable, infinite grief over the loss that runs so deep. Wives. Children. Family. Friends. All gone, stolen, taken ... and where is the life?!? It plucks at you, and tendrils of cold/hot wrap themselves around your heart. Between @Cynric , @CALLIN and Claudia, TAKASHI's paralyzed form is dragged/lifted to the stairs. "There is something happening to the skeletons." Angon whispers and points. Indeed, the animated bones seem to be quivering in place, the scraps of armor and weapons jangling slightly in the silence.

Bellesh looks to see if he can recognize what's happening with the skeletons; if there's some sort of magic or spellcraft going on here.

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH - there's nothing apparent that it is, or isn't, magic. They are unliving, which implies some sort of supernatural force at work.

CALLIN will begin a prayer to the LIGHT. "May the LIGHT course through you my friend. May it warm your heart and your Soul. May the LIGHT cast away the darkness that as seeped into your body by cursed wounds. May the light shine upon that wound and cast is asunder. May you feel the life that courses through your veins full and free."

Bellesh frowns, looking at Takashi, then at the skeletons, then slowly back to Takashi again, obviously thinking hard. "Something..." he finally whispers, "Magic, the Light, or something... is holding them in place! It's affecting anything what's been touched by necromantic magic, that's why Takashi's frozen too! I think we should get out of here... NOW."

As much as he's tempted to fight, crush the Undead force animating the Skeletons, Cynric agrees with Bellesh that the party should exit this room as soon as possible.

Hearing @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / BELESH, ATACIUS rushes downstairs to help carry TAKASHI faster.

Between the members of the @SouthernSeas party, @TAKASHI (Alan) is carried up the stairs to the landing. The elves have crept up to the second floor and signal for you all to proceed. On the second floor, the reception/council hall is less of a helter-skelter than the first hall, but there is evidence of the chaos from the last days of Ramathia. Doors are thrown open, and there are many things on the ground. There are not any bodies! In this large hallway, you see doors open to the left and right wings, but the door to the area above the Great Hall is closed. After a moment, two elven scouts point out two secret doors that they believe lead to towers. @TAKASHI (Alan) - the vision continues as if you are flying above Ramathia. Every now and then, as you look to and fro, you feel/see a flash. The vision seems to be trying to focus on these flashes. It turns and you recognize the smaller plaza outside of the Keep! Whoever's sight you are sharing, they are interested in the flashes that have come from this area! A shrill cry erupts from its/your lips! Then the vision passes and you regain control of your limbs... and you find that you were softly crying/shrieking similar to what you heard in your vision! (edited)

TAKASHI tells the party about his vision, and tries to keep his cool. "I think that my wound allows me a small measure of insight into this creature's mind. And I feel as if it is searching for something, perhaps us - the living. I am not sure. Let us find what we were meant to find, then leave this cursed island!"

BELLESH goes a little pale as Takashi talks about the vision. "Do think it was...* HIM?* Did he talk to you in your head?" But then, shaking his head, "No, he would've gone after me if he knew we were here. But wait, you said it felt like they wanted to look in a plaza outside the Keep? What would they want there?"

GRAIAN is deeply disturbed by Takashi's story, this moves into areas he does not want to contemplate. He moves towards one of the scouts to examine the secret door.

Cynric seems worried about Takashi's vision, pondering if the party is going towards more dangers that those it has already faced. "Let's follow our Elven friends", he adds.

@Graian - it would probably be fair to call it a "concealed" door as versus a secret door, now that you are closer to it. It was meant to be unobtrusive, but the rectangular notch in the wall is easy to grasp. The two scouts nearest it look at you to see if you want them to open it. @TAKASHI (Alan) - Claudia briefly touches your shoulder as if to comfort you. Angon shakes her head. "The touch of the wraiths is said to be a curse and now I see that the stories are true. It could be that our presence stands out like a torch in a dark forest. We should move quickly... " and then she looks at Herm. "Where is the library that we seek?" Herm points to the left door. "'Tis through there, and then through the doors that lead to the end of the wing."

"A curse, indeed. It plagues my nights and even now invades the waking hours. Let us hasten to the library and leave this city-island-tomb as soon as possible!"

BELLESH heads over to the open door on the left and sees if he can take a look inside.

Cynric picks up his short bow and has an arrow ready in the case he has to react quickly versus a monster that would come out of the left door and attack the group.

BELLESH/@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - you move over to the open door and look beyond. Sunlight filters in through high windows, with dust motes floating in the breeze. This looks like an area for scribes and officials, with writing tables and stools arranged like soldiers before several larger desks that could be commanders. This area seems to be as wide as the entire wing. There are many doors in the back wall, but there is one large one in the center. Several are open, but the large one is closed. There are papers, scrolls, and books on the tables and floor, many of the tables and chairs are overturned. There are no figures or skeletons that you can see.

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) As a moth drawn to flame, BELLESH is drawn towards papers and books. So, after a quick look back at the group, he sneaks into the room towards one of the larger desks to inspect the materials on top. (edited)

ATACIUS will follow BELLESH and move to inspect the closed door.

TAKASHI will wave to the Elves. "Perhaps there is something here of interest to our search? Surely, if these were scribes desks, someone must have written something in regards to what was happening in the city?"

Graian turns to the scouts "Let us follow the others, we can come back to this if time permits, I would rather we do not get separated." He walks towards the open door.

Cynric enters the room and walks carefully towards the far end, to the back wall, to peer through the opened doors.

BELLESH/@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - You find a great amount of receipts, bureaucratic reports and notes, forms and ledgers. This clerk looks like they were handling supplies. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - The large door has a metal sign affixed to it that reads "OFFCs OF THE CASTELLAN, SECRETARY, EXCHQUR -- LIBRARIES -- TREASURY" There is a large, ornate lock on the door. @TAKASHI (Alan) - the elves nod as Indrian snaps her fingers and points to the desks. They, along with Angon and Almanin, spread out to look among what remains. @Graian - the scouts move with Graian and then move towards the desks and tables at Indrian's command.

ATACIUS will try to pick the lock. He has a small mirror and a magnifying glass. He'll try to look inside the lock by reflecting the light on the mirror and look through the magnifying glass, if that's possible and helps to understand the mechanism.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - Roll me a d20 and tell me what you get, please.

DM (Michael/Chgowiz)

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - Roll me a d20 and tell me what you get, please.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) rolled 9.

BELLESH scans the notes over to see if any unusual supplies were being ordered at the time.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - it is one of the most complex locks you've ever seen. If you have frequented taverns where thieves gathered, this lock would be one of those that is whispered about in hushed voices or in boastful lies of non-accomplishments. The mechanism looks simple, but your eyes see that there is much more than just simple tumblers, cams, wheels and flies. It might have even required multiple keys! @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) /BELLESH sees that a simple glance will not lend to much info, these documents would take a few hours to go through in order to get a sense of their story. Your quick glance doesn't reveal anything except that the papers are scattered in haste.

ATACIUS will try to figure if it was locked from the inside (maybe they locked themselves in and left the key). If not, maybe one of the many corpses laying around has the key(s) to this lock? Any corpse that might be someone of rank? Perhaps Herm could help with that. (edited)

ATACIUS (Gabriel)

ATACIUS will try to figure if it was locked from the inside (maybe they locked themselves in and left the key). If not, maybe one of the many corpses laying around has the key(s) to this lock? Any corpse that might be someone of rank? Perhaps Herm could help with that. (edited)

It's hard to tell if it was locked from the inside. There's no clear view through the lock. There are no bones or bodies in this room, perhaps in the other rooms?

(Right, the corpses are downstairs. I hope the flaming undead doesn't have the keys! That would be an evil thing for you to do... ) ATACIUS will check the other rooms for the key(s) first. If no luck, he will go back and try to pick it.

ATACIUS (Gabriel)

(Right, the corpses are downstairs. I hope the flaming undead doesn't have the keys! That would be an evil thing for you to do... ) ATACIUS will check the other rooms for the key(s) first. If no luck, he will go back and try to pick it.

There are a total of 8 doors leading out of this main area, on the same wall as the large door. 4 to the left of it, 4 to the right. 2 on the left are locked, and the signs on the door read "Seneschal" and "Secretary". The one on the right reads "Admin of Treasury". The other doors lead into small offices. To search each one thoroughly will take 3 turns per person. What do you want to do?

Cynric, already near the back wall, will begin to search one of the two rooms that the door is unlocked, at the left of the large door.

ATACIUS ponders a bit where to go. "The treasure administration would be a good start...." and starts working on the lock. (edited)

Bellesh will search through the papers and books on the desks and floor for anything useful while Cynric is searching the other room and Atacius is working on locks.

@Cynric - these doors open up into small offices, probably best described as "closets with desks and a stool." These were for assistants to the Seneschal and Secretary of the keep, and they are filled with papers, boxes, books, a couple of crates and various other bureaucratic tools. The first doesn't even have any natural light, resembling a cell. The second has a tiny skylight, and a thin beam of light filters down. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - this lock, while impressive, is not nearly as impressive as for the door in the middle. It is, however, not an ordinary, easy lock and will require some skill. It's probably the hardest lock you've had to pick in quite a while. (ie., it will require that you attempt a pick locks roll. At your convenience, please let me know what your Pick Locks skill value is.)

09:22

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / BELLESH - Understood. Once I get a sense of how long it takes @Cynric and @ATACIUS (Gabriel) , we'll see if you've spent enough time to find anything of interest! (edited)

TAKASHI will help to search the room, but won't do anything that would break locks/doors.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - this lock is extremely intense. With each turn of your tools to set a pin, you hear the previous pins drop, forcing you to go back. At one point, you have every single tool in your kit stuck in the lock. Then... it happens. Your tool accidentally slides a bit sideways and you can hear the lock do "something" odd... For the rest of you watching, you see a mini-lightning bolt arc out of the lock, the energy licking its way up the tools that ATACIUS is holding, and then into his body! @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - please make a saving throw versus Paralysis. After that, please roll a d100. (you want to roll low, you are saving for your tools!)

GRAIAN, who had been looking through various papers on the desk, hears a strange sound coming from where Attacius was trying to open the doors. Looking up he sees the lightning hit Attacius.

In what seems like slow motion, the lightning envelopes the littleling in a web of bright tendrils of electricity. His small body is hurled across the room, arms and legs akimbo. He spins like a seed in a strong breeze till his body slams into into wall opposite the door. ATACIUS twitches several times and then stops moving. Thin tendrils of smoke rises from his still form. ( @ATACIUS (Gabriel), you take 7hp of damage and are paralyzed for 18 turns. I also need you to roll a d100 please...)

@SouthernSeas - what do you want to do now?

CALLIN will rush to @ATACIUS (Gabriel) side and kneel next to him checking on him. // Casting cure light wounds to heal him

10:52

" @ATACIUS (Gabriel) ! Are you alright little one? "

CALLIN

CALLIN will rush to @ATACIUS (Gabriel) side and kneel next to him checking on him. // Casting cure light wounds to heal him

Go ahead and roll for the cure

Done in #dice-rolls ! (6) (edited)

3

Upon hearing the sounds of Atacius fall and Callin’s casting incantations, Cynric exits the room he was exploring and rejoins his friends that attending to the Littleling health.

The elves look on helplessly as they watch @CALLIN administer to @ATACIUS (Gabriel). Almanin turns to @Cynric and inquires "Did you find anything in the room?"

I searched quickly in two rooms and besides books and papers, there was nothing much useful there. There was sunlight coming in one of the rooms, so we are near the roof here. The door with the big lock... maybe I could try to break through it... would you cover me?

Cynric begins to look around, to find a large piece of wood

, that he’d like to use as a ram to break down the large door when Atacius will be up again.

Cynric

Cynric begins to look around, to find a large piece of wood

, that he’d like to use as a ram to break down the large door when Atacius will be up again.

There are a couple of desks, especially in the private offices, that look pretty stout. Are you waiting for ATACIUS to recover? That will be 3 hours...

Don't worry about ATACIUS, just have a couple of elves watch over him and carry on.

BELLESH tries to place himself at a good angle to the door, so he'll be able to see in some and back up @Cynric when he breaks it down. He nods to the warrior and says, "Go ahead Cynric, that spell won't last forever."

Cynric gives himself a boost and tries to break through the door by hitting it hard with his left shoulder.

1

@Cynric - your leg muscles bulge as you crouch and then dash towards the door. Your now-extremely-large shoulder smashes into the center... and it cracks with a sound like a tree falling! The wall shakes and the other doors alongside rattle! There's enough room for someone to wedge in something and pry the crack open to gain entrance!

1

Cynric inserts his scimitar into the crack and uses it as a lever to make enough roomfor him to pass the entrance of this well locked room. (edited)

@Cynric - Hmmm... it's a pretty thick door, and your experience gives you a moment's worry that there might be too much force on the flat of the blade when you do that, especially given your strength. Do you still want to try?

Bellesh will look through Atacius' gear, to see if he can find that hammer that he's seen the littleling use, and to see if it's sturdy enough to give us some leverage on the door.

Cynric looks around the room to see if there is a piece of furniture that could fit in the crack and support the force necessary to finish opening the door. (edited)

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - you have @ATACIUS (Gabriel)'s hammer now. It's a smaller hammer, great for striking iron spikes, but looking at it and the thick (thicc? LOL) door, you have a feeling it might not be up to the task. But you could try! @Cynric - there are plenty of chairs and desks made of wood, perhaps they could be used in some fashion? You are very strong...

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) Lol well, there's no way Bellesh is going to try, but he'll hand the hammer to Cynric and ask him if this will help. We just need the opening to be wide enough for Cynric to get his fingers inside and pry it the rest of the way open, right?

Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) Lol well, there's no way Bellesh is going to try, but he'll hand the hammer to Cynric and ask him if this will help. We just need the opening to be wide enough for Cynric to get his fingers inside and pry it the rest of the way open, right?

That's one option you could try, sure.

Cynric tries to find, among the furniture and pieces of wood in the room, a piece of wood, thin at one end, but which widens at the other end, in order to insert it into the crack of the door. With the hammer found by Bellesh, Cynric knocks on the wide end to force the crack between the door and its frame to widen. When it's large enough, Cynric grabs the door, and pushes, and pulls, to make it large enough for the party to see what's on the other side of the door.

One of the table is made from slats and wouldn't pose much of an issue if you wanted to rip one off and shape it. It does make some noise as you start to pull apart. Would you continue? @Cynric

Yes, Cynric is quite curious about what’s on the other side. « Get ready, companions », Cynric tells the others in the group.

CRUNCHCRACKBREAK - the table falls apart under @Cynric's spell-enhanced muscles and he has a piece of wood that he likes. The cracked door complains mightily, groaning and cracking itself as Cynric wedges his temporary crowbar and widens the gap. The elves wince from the noise! Beyond is a hallway, but the walls and floors are more richly appointed. There is a carpet in the colors of Ramathia, though a thick layer of dust lies up on it. The walls have a colorful wallpaper, though peeling, and there are gold chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Six doors are shut in this hallway, three to the left and three to the right. At the far right, the door there is iron.

"I'll bet that metal door has the magic books," Bellesh says.

Angon and Almanin, standing behind BELLESH, peer into the hallway. "It looks untouched..." Almanin says in a low voice. Indrian waves for @TAKASHI (Alan) and @CALLIN's attention... "One of my scouts watching the stairs has reported that the unliving bones have moved back to the stairs after the warrior made all the noise." she says in a whisper.

« One plan could be to send Atacius, or one of the elves, look closely at that door, with us covering him with our ranged weapons », says Cynric.

Once Atacius is free from the paralysis, with pleasure.

TAKASHI nods at Indrian's words. "We'll need to keep the noise down lest we attract the attention of the undead!"

Indrian nods agreement to @TAKASHI (Alan)'s words. "Four scouts remain at the top of the stairs." she whispers to @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH. "They will raise the alarm should the bonewalkers move up the stairs. Still, we should not tarry!" Angon answers @Cynric - "I will go if you will be at my side..." the mage says.

"I still feel the magical strength that Bellesh's spell gave me. I will accompany you in exploring this hallway. There doesn't seem to be any immediate danger, so let's be careful and examine and listen to each of the doors, starting with the left one and then the right one as we go along. What do you think of this plan, Angon? That way, we'll protect our rears and we'll be able to retreat quickly if needed.", answers Cynric. (edited)

Bellesh nods. "And I'll be at the end of the hallway, just inside the doorway here, in case you two need help."

« Good. let’s go! », whispers Cynric to Angon.

GRAIAN wincing at all the noise, moves up to join Bellesh, "Yes, we can provide some support from the end of the hallway."

TAKASHI will follow behind the two to provide help if needed.

Angon, @Cynric and @TAKASHI (Alan) move down the hall. The carpet at their feet is thick with dust, but it's clear that this was a comfortable luxury. There's barely any sound as you move down the hall. The first door to the left has a gold plaque that reads "Library" in Common, Elvish and Littleling. It appears to be unlocked. Angon turns with a raised eyebrow towards the @SouthernSeas PCs. "Could it be...?" Herm, who is watching from the door behind @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) /BELLESH nods with an almost manic glee.

Cynric carefully opens the door to peek a look inside and see if anything is moving.

@Cynric - for a "blink of your eyes" moment, it seems like the room expanded/zoomed to be much larger! After that initial eyeblink, what you see are dozens, if not hundreds of book shelves, tables, chairs and the like, forming what has to be a huge library. It almost seems too big for the area? There is some sort of movement among the shelves!

TAKASHI motions to the others. "It appears as if we have found the library, though it may have unexpected occupants." TAKASHI will nod to CYNRIC and Claudia, ready his sword and shield, and then carefully enter the room.

CALLIN who has during this time been muttering prayers under his breath while watching over /carrying @ATACIUS (Gabriel) so he is with the rest of the group.

I'll rule that 2 turns have passed for ATACIUS's condition

Bellesh eagerly shuffles ahead at Takashi's signal.

« I fear that we will not be able to avoid meeting with the inhabitants of this room, if we want to look through the bookshelves », says Cynric. « Do we go in ?», adds the young Fighter, now worried that some fearsome creature would jump upon him if he enters the room. (edited)

"What are they?" Bellesh asks as he comes up to Cynric, frowning. "Library creatures can be nasty..." he adds. (edited)

@TAKASHI (Alan) - as you enter the room, it seems awfully similar to the Merchant's Guild library in Skalfier but larger... MUCH, MUCH larger. The shelves stretch long enough that you can't really make out the end of the room. The space inside is definitely larger than the hallway of the keep you just left. Near you is a long desk with ledgers on them, and seats clustered around. Several have what look like aprons or some sort of jacket tossed on them. A couple are lying on their side. The silence is thick... nearly as thick as the dust on the carpet and dancing in the air. Again, some sort of movement catches your eye, further down the rows of shelves. It's hard to say what you're seeing.

TAKASHI will look a little closer at the aprons, to try and figure out what they might be or what purpose they serve. He will keep a wary eye out for the maddening signs of movement flitting in his peripheral vision.

Cynric cautiously follows Takashi into the room and approaches the nearest of the bookshelves, to look at the books. He tries to be as silent as he can.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - the apron itself doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary, aside from being dusty and perhaps a bit fragile from sitting for nearly 50 years. There is a name embroidered into it, it looks like this was once worn by a Karla. @Cynric - as you get close to the bookshelves , you see a quick movement - it looks like a child-like figure but... there's something not quite right or perhaps there's just too much dust in the air...

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / BELLESH - Jellesh makes a low growling, a sort of "WTFITS" noise...

Cynric stops and looks closely throughout the bookshelves to see if he catches a better look at the thing moving in there.

Bellesh: "Takashi, Cynric, be careful!"

@Cynric - they seem to know you are there! The movements are now more furtive but the one glimpse you have of a leg as the figure turns a corner leaves you with two facts - it was a small, human-like leg and you think it might have been transparent!

TAKASHI speaks slowly and quietly, so that only those in this room can hear. "We mean you no harm, and do not wish to interrupt your rest. However, if you would speak with us, we would be happy to hear your story."

@TAKASHI (Alan) - for a brief moment, your wound throbs, but not in the cold way that you've felt before. It feels more like a "poking" or strong tickle, but not entirely unpleasant. Then you hear a sniffle from behind a set of shelves near you.

TAKASHI will slowly come to the edge of the shelves, and carefully poke his hand around the corner and wave. Then, he will peek around to try and see who or what is there. Hopefully, his head will not be removed...

Bellesh will carefully make his way in through the doorway, keeping an eye on Cynric and Takashi and watching for anything that might threaten them.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - there's no response to your wave. When you peek around the corner, you see the figure of a young woman, maybe younger than Claudia, crouched behind the shelves, head lowered. She seems frightened. You can see through her, though. The colors of her skin and clothing flicker, almost as if looking at her through heat or flames. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / BELLESH - Jellish does NOT like entering the room. It yowls angrily and spreads its wings. @Cynric - you see more movement, as if something is fleeing from you as you move through the bookcases.

Bellesh kneels down and pets Jellesh on the head. "What's the matter? Are you ok? We can go back out if you want to."

« Clearly, those people are more frightened by us than they pose a threat », whispers Cynric to his comrades.

Cynric looks more closely at the end of the room, in an attempt to detect any danger that would be coming towards the party.

GRAIAN passes by Bellesh and Jellish, pausing to pat Jellish as he passes, "He has senses much keener than ours and much more powerful, we should be wary." Moving slowly he walks to the desk to examine the ledgers.

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - Jellesh seems unnerved and isn't comforted by your attentions. He continues to growl in a low voice. @Cynric - you can see the end of the room nearest to where you and the other party members have entered, but you have not yet gone far enough to see where the library ends. It seems to extend far beyond what you would think would be the dimensions of this space. However, aside from @TAKASHI (Alan) waving and peering behind a book shelf, you don't see anything else that would indicate that something is nearby. @Graian - the ledgers seem to be visitor logs and materials check-outs/check-ins. The dates correspond up to several days after The Doom began.

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) - Does Jellesh's attention seem to be focused on any item or area of the room in particular?

Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) - Does Jellesh's attention seem to be focused on any item or area of the room in particular?

In the direction that both TAKASHI and CYNRIC are headed... deeper into the library.

DM (Michael/Chgowiz)

In the direction that both TAKASHI and CYNRIC are headed... deeper into the library.

Bellesh will walk very warily in that direction, leaving Jellesh behind and keeping his eyes locked ahead for trouble.

Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)

Bellesh will walk very warily in that direction, leaving Jellesh behind and keeping his eyes locked ahead for trouble.

Jellesh does NOT seem very happy about being left behind, and MROWWWRS his displeasure in a quite clear howl.

TAKASHI will slowly make his way around the end of the bookcase, trying not to surprise the spectral figure of the young girl. He also waves to Claudia, motioning her towards the girl.

GRAIAN look and Indrin and point to the left wall and indicate he is going to move up a little way.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - Claudia comes up behind you and is startled by the sight of the girl. She quiets her gasp, but it's audible enough and the spectral figure crouched seems to pull herself even more tightly into a protective ball. You think you might have heard a sniffle or two. @Graian - Indrian nods and motions for two scouts to accompany you. The elven warrior is watching TAKASHI intently, as are Almanin and Angon. As you move towards the left side, you think you see a flicker of motion up ahead. Whatever it is... it is small... maybe a bit smaller than the unconscious @ATACIUS (Gabriel)! @Cynric - you sense for a moment that something is behind you! A quick glance and you see quick movement, as if something scurried from one side of the shelves to another set of shelves.

Sensing no immediate danger around him, Cynric steps away from the bookshelves and pushes forward, cautiously, towards the far end of the room.

GRAIAN will continue moving up slowly, looking to see if he can catch anything else. He will call out in Elven and with a gentle voice "We are not here to hurt you, we are looking for answers."

Bellesh continues to move up towards Takashi and Cynric, as well.

@Graian You catch a whisper, with your Elven hearing, a young voice saying "That's Elven speech. Maybe they're not bad..." and a response "Shhhh... Karla said to be quiet and they'll go away soon enough!" @TAKASHI (Alan) Claudia crouches down and speaks in a soft voice "We're not here to hurt you. We're exploring the city and looking for something. Are you lost? Where do you live?" The transparent figure sniffles again and peeks up. The face is of a young human girl, with large roundish eyes. Her hair hangs in her face, which a hand goes to swipe it to the side before she huddles up again. "Not lost..." she says in a soft voice. "This is where we do our clerking... " She then tucks her head down again. @Cynric As you come past another set of bookshelves, you catch sight of several transparent figures at the other end, huddled around and peeking around the other side, their backs to you. They are littleling (halfling) height or smaller! They all are wearing similar looking smocks. One turns a bit, see you, YELPS in surprise and they all fall tumbling to the ground in their haste to run away! One falls through the bookshelf, it's legs sticking through with its upper half on the other side!

11:17

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) Jellesh's hair stands up, he hisses and MROWLS! very loudy, his ears twitching! His claws extend and his wings raise in a defensive posture! (edited)

Bellesh whips around, looking for anything that might be threatening Jellesh, spell at the ready...

Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)

Bellesh whips around, looking for anything that might be threatening Jellesh, spell at the ready...

Jellesh is focused in the general direction of @TAKASHI (Alan), @Graian and @Cynric

Gritting his teeth, Bellesh continues on in that direction to see if his friends are ok...

GRAIAN continues moving up slowly now in common he says "I am indeed an Elf, as are some of my companions. We are not here to hurt you, we are looking for information from the past that may explain our heritage and where we came from."

Cynric tries to convey a peaceful attitude towards the creatures that inhabit the room, but while also being mindful of the danger that Jellesh seems to detect. Cynric's goal is always to catch a glimpse of what is at the other end of this large room.

@Cynric - as you look at the transparent figures' backs, one of them half turns and sees you! It... rather... he... lets out a startled squawk! "'e's behin' us!" the figure yells out in a young boy's voice and backs up suddenly, tumbling over his companions who were bunched up. There's an immediate pile of ghostly arms, legs and torsos thrashing, along with young yells, exclamations and cries! "HELP! HELP! HELP US KARLA, THEY GOT US!" a voice cries out from the throng.

11:40

@Graian - coming up to the edge of a series of low bookcases, you see two transparent figures crouched, watching you fearfully. After you speak, one of them stands with a tentative smile. "That's what we do here... we help people find things!" she says proudly in a young girl's voice. This figure resembles a human child, no more than a decade old perhaps. The other one clutches at her arm, it looks older - another girl. "No, Mary! Karla said don't talk to strangers!"

11:41

@TAKASHI (Alan) - Claudia looks back at you, with a puzzled look on her face. Then, you both hear a commotion further down the long room! It sounds like shouting and then someone is yelling for a "KARLA" and "THEY GOT US" and "HELP!"

TAKASHI will motion to Claudia to follow his lead, and will then move back to investigate where the noises appear to be coming.

GRAIAN about to step forward hesitates as he hears the commotion, he then crouches down and slowly holds out his hand, "Can you help us find the history of the Elves?"

Feeling that he's the one that is frightening the ghostly figures, CYNRIC backs up and joins TAKASHI. "They're afraid and are calling some Karla. We may run into trouble soon..." , he adds.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - at the shouts, the transparent girl leaps to her feet and jumps THRU a book case towards the source of the sounds. Claudia lets out a surprised noise and looks at you in astonishment. @Cynric - as you back away, a figure floats THRU book shelf that the (now) pile of thrashing children are behind. The figure seems to be of a pre-teen/teen-aged girl, nearly Claudia's age, and she assumes a protective position facing you. She sees you backing away, turns around and looks at the tangled children - her hand raises to her mouth to suppress a giggle. @Graian - the younger one starts to speak, but then they hear the commotion. The other, older-looking transparent child grabs the younger one's hand. "Yes, I can... HEY" the little girl yelps. "C'MON!" the older one says, "Karla needs our help!" They both go through a book shelf, and nearly run into @Cynric! The older one lets out a squeak and drops to the floor, leaving the other looking puzzled. She glances at @Cynric and smiles a hopeful smile. "Hi... are you friends with the elf?" she asks.

« Yes, I am », replies Cynric. « We are good people. I am helping the Elves into getting the knowledge they want about their past. We know it is buried here somewhere. Can you help them find it? »

@Cynric The little one claps her hands happily and points to @Graian. "He's an eff! First one I ever saw... he has neat ears!" The older one makes to pull the younger one back but then there's an EARSPLITTING WHISTLE! The ghostly children turn towards the source which is the one who seems to be "Karla", who has her index fingers in her mouth. "What is going on here?!" Karla demands in what sounds like a "Mom" voice - a voice very similar in human, littleling and elven communities! Even Angon and Apinro look impressed by her tone. Apinro, who had been sitting next to the paralyzed @ATACIUS (Gabriel), stands to watch. The little one speaking to CYNRIC turns to Karla happily. "They customers! They want effs!" she giggles happily.

Cynric turns himself toward Karla, keeping his scimitar down, and says : « We’re sorry to disturb you in this room. We come from the continent, searching informations for our Elven friends » says Cynric, pointing at the Elves. (edited)

« Can you help us ?», he adds. (edited)

Karla has he other arm outstretched as if to protect the pile of children behind her. They are quickly standing, although very close together and very obviously behind the young transparent woman. She looks suspiciously at @Cynric and at @Graian, then at the other party members who've come up behind the fighter and elf. "We are The Clerks of the Library of The Keep of Ramathia." she says and you can even hear the capital letters in her words. "Or... at least we were until the awful days..." she says in a much lower voice, but she then seems to catch herself. "Who are you and what do you want? Are you here because of the Black Fire ones?" "They WANT fings on effs!" the little girl says in an impatient voice. "'member I said that? He came to me!" and she points to herself proudly. Karla makes a shushing motion, looking at you all.

"I am Cynric The Honest", begins Cynric. "I was hired at 16 as the esquire of a knight, and with this Knight, I traveled on the main continent. After some time, I decided to go my own way on the roads of adventure. I had just finished my duties to the knight I was serving before I joined this group of adventurers and their Elven friends. Since we got on the island, we fought some foul creatures, but it's glad that we had the help of Herm, who was a Guard in Ramathia when he was young. But maybe my friend @Graian can tell you more about what we are looking for." adds the young Fighter. (edited)

"Be careful, @Cynric " Bellesh says softly as he comes up behind him, "something back here has Jellesh all worried and upset. It could be these... people."

As BELLESH/@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) comes up behind @Cynric, the young winged panther lets out a distressed cry and struggles to jump away from children. All of them immediately get the universal "Awwww" look that children get when seeing an unhappy animal. Jellesh does not seem to care, he struggles mightily to get away! The little girl seems to "tug" on Karla's ghostly clothing - the transparent smock resembling the one sitting on the table at the entrance! "Can I h'ep them?" she asks. She reaches out to take @Cynric's hand, but all the fighter feels is a cold touch, as if a mist had drifted across his skin.

Seeing the young panther in distress, Bellesh does what he can to let him keep his distance from the children. "Jellesh is, erm, shy..." he tells them and Karla. "I'm here to learn things too, but mainly we're trying to find the history of Elves in the city. I'm called Bellesh."

Cynric quickly removes his hand from the child's grasp, fearing that some black magic will be spread upon him by this chilly touch.

The little girl pouts as @Cynric removes his hand. "I know, I know... we're DEAD, OK?!" she says in a sad voice. "It's not fair!" She starts to cry. Karla comes up to her and puts her hand on the young girl's shoulder. "You're not the black fire or the black robes, and you're looking for books on elves? Why?" Herm does a doubletake and peers at one of the boys. "Rimey... is that you?" he says in a strained voice. "Rimey... oh by the gods, what happened to you?" A boy of early teens shuffles forward from the group that was behind Karla. Herm reaches out to try to hug him but his arms go through the apparition. Herm shakes his head sadly. Rimey stands awkwardly, looking at Herm with sadness.

(Karla is looking at @Cynric, @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro), @Graian and at @TAKASHI (Alan) when she asks this.)

Bellesh tries to comfort the little girl: "I'm sorry you're dead. But, when my guardian died, he was reunited with his wife, who he loved very much, and they both looked very happy, so maybe it's not all bad..." Then, he tries to answer Karla: "Well, the elves want to know about their history with this city. If nothing else, it could give them some hope when things seem pretty bad right now. If we could bring back some good news, and proof that the elves used to live here, it might help stop a lot of fights and maybe even stop a war from breaking out." "But, could you tell us the story of what happened here? We don't know anything about the black fire or the black robes, and we've been just guessing based on what we saw. I think it will be important for us to know what happened to you and the rest of the city before we try to do anything else." (edited)

The young girl sniffles. "The mean monster won't let us go to our parents." she says in a soft sad voice. "We're stuck here." Karla listens to @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH's question. "Bad things started happening one day. The mountain shook and fire came out of its top. The University wizards tried to do something, but it made things worse. Everything started shaking and falling. The fire from the mountain started to come towards the city." "We all work here as clerks. Finding things, helping people. Our parents sent us here to the keep, to be safe. When the wizards failed, the guards locked us in here, said for us to wait. We heard things outside the window. Lots of screaming, yelling and even fighting. We heard big rumbles, saw flames and flashes of light.. then it got quiet... and we couldn't get out through the main doors down the hall. Couldn't go through the windows, they're magic." Angon and Almanin, who've been listening behind you, close their eyes in sadness. "We got hungry... sick... then ... when we fell asleep, we saw fire, but it was black. Something was there, and made us come back... to be like this." and Karla passes her hand through the shelves. "We know we died... but the thing that the wizards did, it did something, awoke something. We see the things that burn and are walking through the street. We don't bother them, and because we're... dead... they don't bother us." She glances sideways at @TAKASHI (Alan) for a moment, her eyes lingering on the spot where the wraith touched the warrior. "We can show you... where books on elves are." At that, the young girl, who introduces herself as Aimee, perks up. "I show! I show!" She reaches for @Cynric's and @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH's hands...

ATACIUS "Are they talking to dead people now? Have they gone mad! Oh well, at least I'm not laying on the cold stone. It feels like a comfy rug. "

ATACIUS (Gabriel)

ATACIUS "Are they talking to dead people now? Have they gone mad! Oh well, at least I'm not laying on the cold stone. It feels like a comfy rug. "

Yep, you're paralyzed, NOT dead... you can hear what's going on and think about it!

Bellesh does not flinch from the young girl's hands, but does not reach out to take them, either. Instead, he gestures towards the bookshelves and says, "Why don't you lead the way for us, Aimee?"

You feel a misty, cold touch as Aimee's hand passes through you. She pouts for a moment, but motions for you all to follow her. She winds her way through shelves upon shelves of books, scrolls, bundles of papers, boxes and even artifacts - artwork, items and such. As she's guiding you through the maze, her voice calls out the various sections and topics in a monotone voice. You pass one area that seems to be separated by gilded screens and a fancy door. "That's the restricted area..." she says. "It's just boring stuff." Angon, Almanin, Indrian and the elves follow, and the group of ghostly children follow behind them. Finally she stops and waves her arms at a group of several tall shelves. "And here's effs! Histeree, biahleegee, speaking, food... all here!" she says in a proud voice. She then shamelessly sticks her hand out for a gratuity.

ATACIUS "Don't leave me here guys! Guys? "

GRAIAN follows the group keeping an eye out wondering whether it is just the dead children that is causing Jellesh to be nervous. As they pass the restricted area he looks in to see if there is any indication of what is on the shelves.

Graian

GRAIAN follows the group keeping an eye out wondering whether it is just the dead children that is causing Jellesh to be nervous. As they pass the restricted area he looks in to see if there is any indication of what is on the shelves.

There are books and scrolls here too, but they look ancient. You feel the hair on your skin rise, a similar reaction you get in the presence of magicks.

Bellesh grins at Aimee and pulls out a gold coin from his pouch. Holding it over her hand, he places his other hand in the same space as the one she's sticking out, so that when he drops the coin, it looks a little like she's actually holding it for a bit. To the elves, he says, "Angon, do you think you'll find what you need here? I know that someone writing about the elves being here isn't exactly the same as actual proof of them being here, but maybe there's something in those books..."

Cynric picks up Atacius and keep pace with the other party members.

ATACIUS "Hello there Cynric... Oh, so many books... Wait, did I hear? A restricted area? There are no restricted areas for Atacius Lightfoot! Just wait I get out of this, this... sorcery and you'll see! " (edited)

1

Aimee pouts again as the coin falls through her hand. "Thank yous..." she says softly and then stands there, waiting to see what you all will do. Angon and Almanin look at the many, many books. "We can guess that history would be our guide, so all others can be discarded." Quickly, Indrian and the elves split up to look at a shelf each, with enough still left for each of you (except the still paralyzed @ATACIUS (Gabriel) [15 more turns! but this search will consume time...]) to look for yourselves. The books and scrolls are not dust covered and look as if they were just placed on the shelf, although many seem old just from appearance. (edited)

07:42

!roll 5d6

DM (Michael/Chgowiz) Roll: [6, 5, 4, 3, 2] Result: 20

An hour passes... and @ATACIUS (Gabriel) finds his limbs can move! (Maybe it feels like a gradual arm or leg that has fallen asleep, or maybe it's a sudden switch - which do you think?) A stack of books have been placed in front of Angon and Almanin, who are busy flipping pages and comparing what they find. The pile of discarded books has grown and their faces reflect frustration. "Hints and whispers but nary a clue!" Almanin says in an aggravated voice. It's as if we were just suddenly here, without beginning! It makes no sense!" In the meantime, Herm has been sitting with one of the ghostly boys, alternating between tears, a bit of manic behavior and some whispering and pacing. Whoever this "Rimey" is, Herm seems to be very familiar with him.

Cynric walks quietly towards Herm and Rimey, and tries to hear some words of their conversation without interrupting it. « There might be clues about what evil lurks around here », he thinks.

While the elves are going through the books, Bellesh will sneak back with his familiar to the 'Restricted' area to try and get a peek in there...

ATACIUS stretches and groans as he starts to feel free of the sorcery. "Ah, at last!" He reaches for his waterskin and takes a gulp. He wipes his mouth with the sleeve and is about to say something when he sees the ghostly figures. The locuacious littleling is speechless and moves to the nearest one trying to poke it with his index. He gasps at the figure's etherealness and is overwhelmed with a feeling of sorrow that briefly drains.his natural cheerfulness. "How...? Why...?"

The girl who is standing near @ATACIUS (Gabriel) at first looks surprised at the littleling's boldness, then giggles at his confusion. "I'm dead, silly! You can't catch me!" She takes her finger and "pokes" back, there is a small cold chill where she "touches" you. "We've been this way since... well, what Karla said. The Bad Time. Now, we hafta stay here. He won't let us leave." (edited)

TAKASHI rubs at his wound that won't quite heal right, and claps ATACIUS on the back when he see that his friend is able to move and talk once again. "It's been way to quiet around here without you!"

@Cynric - "I do miss your mother, my boy..." you hear Herm say. "I miss her a lot. Her soups, her laugh... she was the best sister I could ever want." The young boy nods and sniffles. "I miss her too!" and puts his head in the area of Herm's shoulder. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - The closer you get to the door and screen of the restricted area, the more your skin tingles. When you are next to it, the hair on your arms is practically standing straight up. Of course, no hair is growing on your head... The items inside look old and extremely well preserved. You see languages that you don't recognize. After some time, the tempo of the elves returning books to Angon and Almanin, who are frantically flipping through them, has slowed. The sunlight that is visible in the high, tall windows of the library is dimming. Somehow, small lamps in the room are lighting, a trick that the mages will recognize as obvious magic. "I have come up with nothing conclusive." Angon says in a resigned voice. "Books on the elves living in Ramathia, even books on when the elves turned over Ramathia to the humans after the rebellion against the Dark Ones! Before that, it's as if nothing was recorded. Which makes no sense!" Almanin's brow is deeply furrowed. "Perhaps it does make sense. Think of the stories that the lore masters tell us. Little details before the arrival, then during and after the rebellion, a great many songs, poems and stories. I'd never thought of it before, but seeing it here in written word, it's as clear as the horizon - there is a line between times!"

Bellesh may be young, but he wasn't born yesterday; he knows very well that at least some of the magic that he is sensing could be protecting the items in this area. He tries to see what he can figure out just by looking over the books, scrolls, and any other items for words and symbols and other clues, not touching them. He says to @Graian, "These look so old! Do you think it's safe to touch anything in here? I'm dying to read them!"

After leaving Herm with his relative, Cynric is walking slowly around the room, occasionally looking outside to spot any foul Undead that would be approaching.

GRAIAN replies, "I think it would be unwise to touch, there is magic in this area, I am not sure wheter it is from the item themselves or from something protecting them. I do wonder if there is information in hear that will help us, it seems the books are not providing any innformation about the origins of this place." He pauses for a moment "We should talk to Angon and Almanin about this."

Bellesh nods an affirmative to Graian and returns with him to discuss things with the elf leaders after he's learned what he can from looking over the items in the room.

ATACIUS smiles back at @TAKASHI (Alan) "It's good to be back, my friend. That was some nasty sorcery and I bet there's more of it there." e says nodding at the door and screen of the restricted area, where @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) and @Graian are looking. He then turns to the ghostly girl that has just poked at him and asks: "Do you know how we can san safely get in there? Maybe there's someone among you that know." (edited)

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - as you turn around, you see that Karla is watching you all very closely. As you and @Graian walk over to elves, she comes up to you. "Those are the restricted books. Only the elders and the wizards went in there. They were always grumpy about it." At @ATACIUS (Gabriel)'s question, Karla nods her head. "I was the senior clerk and had the first key." She points to the actual smock that lies on the table at the entrance to the library. "But the second key, that was always the magic part that the Head Librarian would do. I didn't have that... but I know that even now, like this, we can't get in there. Not even the dark fire ones."

"Do you know where the first and second keys are ?" ATACIUS asks Karla.

Karla points @ATACIUS (Gabriel) to the smock that is labeled "Karla" that lies on a table near the entrance to the library itself. Other smocks lie on that dusty table as well. It resembles the ghostly smock that the apparition is wearing. "The first key should be in there. The second... was magic, like a spell, that the Head Librarian did. The first opens the door. The second.. opened something that keeps people out."

"Be careful, Atacius. Don't get yourself struck by weird magic again", warns Cynric.

Cynric

"Be careful, Atacius. Don't get yourself struck by weird magic again", warns Cynric.

Indrian chuckles at @Cynric's joke about @ATACIUS (Gabriel) (edited)

"Ha, very funny. I'll just sit here, grab a bite and read something while you sorcery dabblers figure out about that magic key!" ATACIUS snaps back in a mocking tone of hurt feelings.

Bellesh rolls his eyes at the back-and-forth. He tries to get Angon & Almanin's attention so that they're involved in the discussion about the restricted area, then he asks Karla, "When the Head Librarian did magic for the second key, do you remember any of what that looked like or the movements they made? Could you show us? Do you remember them saying anything at the same time?"

Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)

Bellesh rolls his eyes at the back-and-forth. He tries to get Angon & Almanin's attention so that they're involved in the discussion about the restricted area, then he asks Karla, "When the Head Librarian did magic for the second key, do you remember any of what that looked like or the movements they made? Could you show us? Do you remember them saying anything at the same time?"

Angon and Almanin are very much paying attention. Karla thinks for a moment, then stands in a very dramatic pose. "Ala balla bidda zoom hoo booee walla balla oof da zing zang!" she says in a fake deep voice. It sounds like no magic you've ever heard, but Almanin is trying very hard not to chuckle at the apparitions impression of casting a spell. "He didn't do no movements, just say the funny words. But when he locked it, he waved his hands a lot and said more words." Karla adds.

Bellesh frowns in thought and says, "So, like a magic password or verbal spell of some kind? How could we find out what it was? Do you think that they wrote it down somewhere?"

Angon and Almanin shake their heads at @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)s question. "No, there are spells that are verbal only, just as there are those that only require components, or gestures. It's possible... " Angon trails off.. in thought. "It is possible to sense the power of a spell through Detect Magic, but only if one concentrates on the specific thing for the full duration that the magic lasts." (1) (edited)

"Well, if it turns out to be not too powerful, maybe there's a spell we can cast to remove it? Or maybe there's a spell for opening things we could use?"

The elven mage nods and turns to Indrian. "Guard me well, this will take a bit of time to do." The warrior nods her head and draws her sword. "My life will keep you safe." and she motions to four other elves. They array themselves around Angon as she approaches the metal gate that leads into the restricted area. Angon extends her hands and begins tracing arcane symbols into the air as her voice changes - becoming whispery and sibilant. @Graian, @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) can feel the arcane power as she weaves it into a shape that settles over her eyes. For the briefest of moments, they catch a glimpse of something that is entwined around the metal screens that cover the cage surrounding the books. Then Angon settles in, moving her hands slowly, sometimes extending them, reaching out, tracing in the air. For a long, long twenty minutes, she concentrates. The sun has lowered itself nearly to full dusk, and the lights in the library have brightened on their own. Angon lets out a deep sigh and stands. "I can detect magic and that is not a particularly powerful spell, but it is effective. One who knows knock or could dispel magic would easily be able to remove this. Unfortunately, I know neither."

Bellesh looks over at @Graian hopefully...

GRAIAN looks a little downcast, "Unfortunately I also have neither of those spells in my spellbook, Dispel Magic is always one I have regretted not having, so useful at times!" He looks through his backpack, "Alas the only scroll I have is this interesting one of Ignite."

"Ahem, a question if you please Angon. If we use brute force to open the screen, will the magic bestowed upon it damage or destroy the books inside?" the littleling asks without taking his eyes from the book he's been reading. "Or... maybe we can search the head librarian's chambers in case he had stored some scroll with the needed spell, just in case of an emergency..." ATACIUS suggests as he closes a tome of recipes he was leafing through.

Angon thinks for a moment about @ATACIUS (Gabriel)'s question, then she points to @Graian. "Don't you have a book, a journal, that mentioned something about a magic user? You were reading it, from when we had that odd encounter with the boat and skeletons on the beach. Where we found Herm. "

Indrian, who is listening, frowns. "That would mean going back out. It's getting dark. Were there no mages quarters here in the keep?"

While the discussion continues, Bellesh says "Well, we shouldn't forget this..." and walks over to the Head Librarian's smock lying on the table and lifts it up carefully, then tries to find the key in the pocket. He'll investigate both the smock and the key to see if any more clues can be gleaned from them.

ATACIUS will stand up and go search the table/desk where the Head Librarian's smock was lying.

GRAIAN looks at Angon for a moment, "Why yes, that book from the boat with the skeletons." He digs into his backpack and carefully pulls out a fragile leather-bound book. Laying it on the table he gently opens it and skims though the pages, "Here we go, the mage was called Gellinis, he had his assistant going out all over the island collecting odd items, towards the end he getting more of those associated with the darker side. At one point Gellinis had his assistant, her husband and an apprentice mage, Hester, explore the caves near the volcano. Seems Hester lost his life investigating some strange ruins. Gellinis had Samual, the author and husband, make a map of the caves as they explored." He pauses and looks up, "He stops writing then until after the Doom when he talks about their attempt to escape. He mentions 'the blackness and "Malachai's wrath" as men disappear from the ship."

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / @ATACIUS (Gabriel) You find Karla's smock lying on the dusty table (the only place in the library that shows the passage of time, apparently). In one of the inside pockets is an ornate bronze key. Karla confirms that is the key to the restricted area. As @Graian reads the journal entry, Herm stirs a bit. "Gellinis?" He be the assistant to the Keep's Magus... the wizard of the Keep. How did you find his journal?"

Bellesh pockets the bronze key and goes back to join the discussion.

Angon and Almanin listen to @Graian and Indrian, then turn to look at surprise at Herm. They then look at the rest of the @SouthernSeas party. "Much to consider. And it is getting late. Do we dare move about the city to find where this Gellinis lived? Or do we look within the Keep itself for chambers for Gellinis and the Keep Wizard? What say you all?"

"I'd rather we explore the city further in daylight, but perhaps we could continue to explore the keep further as we are here now. However, I am concerned that any light sources we use may draw unwanted attention."

TAKASHI (Alan)

"I'd rather we explore the city further in daylight, but perhaps we could continue to explore the keep further as we are here now. However, I am concerned that any light sources we use may draw unwanted attention."

You feel a tug on your armor, Aimee has a secretive smile on her face. "I can show you lots of f'ings..." she whispers. "I can go through walls!"

"Let's look for the chambers first!", Bellesh says.

DM (Michael/Chgowiz)

You feel a tug on your armor, Aimee has a secretive smile on her face. "I can show you lots of f'ings..." she whispers. "I can go through walls!"

TAKASHI looks at the little one tugging at his armor, and smiles. "And what kinds of things could you show us, Aimee? YOU are the expert here - we are only visitors."

ATACIUS seconds @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro). "To the chambers!"

Now that his magic wielding friends have ended, for now, their researches, Cynric agrees to Aimee’s plan and prepares himself for the exploration.

Aimee smiles and starts to reach for @TAKASHI (Alan)'s hand. "I can show you all the things. Where the lords and ladies sit when they have on their beauuuuuuuutiful coats and dresses... and even where some have them in their closets!" and she holds her hand up to her mouth to stifle a giggle. The coldness of her hand touching you makes your wraith-wound burn. "What do you want to see?" "Be careful!" Karla says in a warning voice. "The ... other ones are around and they might hear. It'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly... " (edited)

Upon hearing Karla, Bellesh looks in her direction with a worried frown. "What... other ones, Karla?"

"The dark ones we saw earlier, those that leave wicked wounds in the flesh and spirit." (edited)

Karla nods. "They are mad. Sad. Mean. They don't like what happened. They yell and scream and want to hurt. They all know what each other does, 'cause of Him. 'Cause they died 'cause of him." Aimee continues to tug at @TAKASHI (Alan)'s hand. "It's OK, we won't tell - the other ones don't see us." "But they are around. And they walk at night." Karla warns again. Aimee leads TAKASHI to the entrance door of the library. As the party begins to move away, the lights dim behind you, throwing the vastness of the room into shadows and gloom. The other spectral children cannot be seen anymore. Herm sighs sadly. Once through the door, Aimee leads you to the great door (that @ATACIUS (Gabriel) will remember very well...

) and through it. She points to the other doors to the left and right of the 2nd floor landing. "That one's for the lords and ladies. That's my favorite!" she says pointing to the left. "The other one is for other peoples." she nods to the right. "Quiet!" Indrian hisses. "Don't forget there were bone walkers near the stairs when we first entered this accursed place!" Where do you want to go now, @SouthernSeas?

BELLESH (in a whisper, to @TAKASHI (Alan)): "You can sort of 'feel' when they're around, can't you? Maybe Aimee can scout ahead in the places where we want to go, and you can let us know if you get that feeling that we're getting too close to one of them?" (edited)

Cynric goes near the door Aimee identifies as her favorite and listens to it, to try to judge of the danger that might lurk on the other side.

Cynric

Cynric goes near the door Aimee identifies as her favorite and listens to it, to try to judge of the danger that might lurk on the other side.

It's as quiet as a tomb, aside from the small sounds that the party makes behind you. Aimee giggles as she watches you, then she walks over next to you and shoves her head through the door. After a moment, she pulls it back and smiles at you. "Nobody home!"

Seeing what Aimee has done, ATACIUS nudges @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) "A spell that does that would be really helpful!" (edited)

2

"What did you see?" asks Cynric to Aimee. Then he turns to his comrades without waiting for the answer. "Do you want me to open this door?", he follows.

ATACIUS (Gabriel)

Seeing what Aimee has done, ATACIUS nudges @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) "A spell that does that would be really helpful!" (edited)

Bellesh grins evilly at @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and replies, "Oh, I know lots of spells what could turn you into a ghost."

TAKASHI "holds" Aimee's phantom hand in his, and slowly (and quietly!) opens the door that Aimee identified as her favorite. "Let's see what the lords and ladies left behind before the doom feel upon this land."

@TAKASHI (Alan) and @Cynric open the door, which GROANNNNNNNNNSSSS from age and disuse as you start to push it open... (do you continue to open it?)

Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)

Bellesh grins evilly at @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and replies, "Oh, I know lots of spells what could turn you into a ghost."

Almanin hides a chuckle at Bellesh's response.

ATACIUS "Right, very funny..." the littleling says to BELLESH. "... Stop, stop! Let's put some oil on those hinges!" He snaps at TAKASHI and CYNRIC as he gets an oil grenade from his satchel and starts to take the cloth wick. (edited)

TAKASHI looks around to the rest of the party. "Anyone have any oil we could use to lubricate these hinges? They haven't moved in quite a while and are a bit noisy."

ATACIUS will hand the oil to @TAKASHI (Alan)

1

After @TAKASHI (Alan) puts oil on the hinges, the door moves much more quietly. Indrian and a couple of the elven scouts watching down (and up) the stairs nod affirmatively to you all, as if to indicate that all is well. Beyond the door is a sumptuous hallway, bedecked in gold/silver scones whose flames magically flicker to life. The (dusty) carpet is rich and thick. There are six closed doors in total to the left and right, trimmed in rich colors. The curtains on the window at the end of the hall are drawn and closed. Aside from the dust, this area has not apparently aged at all. Aimee giggles, lets go of TAKASHI's hand and runs toward the center right door, disappearing through it. Angon looks at @Graian and @CALLIN. "I don't think I will get used to seeing that trick." she comments.

CYNRIC carefully enters the room and slowly walks towards the curtain, to check out what could lie behind them.

While Cynric is checking out the curtain area, Bellesh walks over near the door that Aimee went through, and tries to listen and hear any sounds coming from inside.

TAKASHI looks at @ATACIUS (Gabriel) after Aimee disappears through a door, and says "I bet you wish you could pull that off too!"

17:53

"Let's go see what she is so excited about." TAKASHI will head to the center right door and carefully try to open it.

1

GRAIAN, looks a little worried at Bellesh's remark but shrugs it off as flamboyant youth. He heads to the foor with Takashi.

@Cynric - you cannot hear your footsteps in the thick carpet, though each step brings up a little cloud of dust. At the curtain, a quick peek shows that you are looking outside into the city of Ramathia... and that the lights from the now-lit sconces are very visible! @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - you hear Aimee giggling faintly. No other sounds. @TAKASHI (Alan) - stepping around BELLESH, the door opens with some creaking and groaning. A musty, stale, perfumed odor assails your nostrils! Beyond is a gaudily decorated room, done in noble-woman style with rich appointments, decaying curtains and dusty fabric dividers. The same magic sconces flicker to light, as do some candles and lights. You are in a sitting room, and you catch sight of Aimee moving around in what appears to be a bedroom, judging by the corner of the huge bed you see. There appears to be curtained windows there as well. It looks as if this room was searched or gone through in a hurry, as chests are open, drawers half pulled out and various pieces of clothing and bric-a-brac on the floor.

"@Cynric close those curtains!" ATACIUS hisses. "They haven't been drawn in ages! We don't want to draw atention."

Bellesh steps up to stand by @TAKASHI (Alan) . He wrinkles his nose and says, "Smells bad in there. Should we take a look around or try another door?"

TAKASHI nods at BELLESH's words. "Let's take a a thorough look through this room, then move on to check the others."

It takes a bit of time to poke through the room, looking through wardrobes and chests of drawers full of women's clothes and underclothes. At one time, these would have been of great value, but 50-plus years has left them brittle and falling apart. Most other items are decorative - perhaps valuable to an antique collector, but bulky and heavy. An excited Aimee points out a small, bejewelled box that lies under the bed. Small gems are outside and it is filigreed in gold and silver. There is a small handle sticking out the side of it and a tiny clasp that holds the lid shut. (2 turns pass).

"@ATACIUS (Gabriel) , take a look at what we've found here. Maybe a jewelry/music box? If it makes too much noise, we probably should try and muffle it under some bedding..."

ATACIUS will look at the box carefully without touching it while he asks Aimee "Do you know what it is and what's inside? Maybe who it belonged to?"

Aimee nods with an impish grin and pushes her face into the box. Almanin makes an odd noise. "I cannot get used to seeing that." he says. "It's a pretty, shiny necklace and some rings around a dancer!" Aimee says. "So pretty!" She looks at Claudia. "You would look pretty with them!" Claudia immediately blushes. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - It looks like an ordinary box, aside from the jewels on its surface and the ivory handle. Nothing about it seems suspicious.

ATACIUS' eyes widen when Aimee looks into the box and chuckles at her remark. He then proceeds to check the box (everything is suspicious to him) and use his tools to open the box.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) The box is easily opened by a thief of your skills! When you open it, tinkling music starts to play, interrupting the thick silence of the room! A small figurine, looking like a dancer with tiny gems on its clothing, turns around. Laying around the figure's feet at the bottom of the box is a thin platinum necklace with a single dark green gem, and two rings, both with single gems (one is banded red/black, one is a brown/green color). Indrian looks alarmed at the sound of music! She looks at @CALLIN and @TAKASHI (Alan) (edited)

TAKASHI quickly pinches the tiny dancer to halt its movement, and hopefully the music as well. "Take out the valuables, friend. Then we can close the box and silence the music..."

ATACIUS will swiftly take the necklace and rings so Takashi can close the box. "Sorry about that..." He'll then look at Aimee and wink. "They're finely crafted indeed!" he says as he tries to figure out how much they are worth. (edited)

TAKASHI whispers to ATACIUS, "The red and black ring is handsome indeed. Can you see any markings on them with your keen eyesight?"

ATACIUS will follow TAKASHI'S suggestion. He reaches into one of his satchels and produces a magnifying glass to check the rings for special markings or inscriptions. (edited)

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@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - the ring with the brown/green gem has a tiny inscription "All our love to our princess Haley". The red/black ring is interesting, it seems that the gem can be removed!

08:13

Indrian comes back from the door. "One of my scouts says that the bone walkers below are moving about!"

Bellesh: "Oh, no! Which way are they going, Indrian?"

Indrian whispers to one of the scouts and then looks at @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) "They seem to be just moving about, but we don't know if they'll react to noise. Some bonewalkers do. And there might be worse yet..." Indrian looks at @TAKASHI (Alan) with a curious look. "Do you feel any thing, my friend?" Angon looks at @Graian. "We should find where the keep's wizard had quarters."

Does TAKASHI feel anything?

TAKASHI (Alan)

Does TAKASHI feel anything?

There's a sort of background ache, much like a sore muscle would eventually fade into the background, but it's there. Moreso since you've been moving about the keep. (edited)

ATACIUS will pocket the jewelry and asks Aimee, "Who was princess Haley?"

Aimee smiles at @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - "She was a beyoooootiful princess! Always so sparkly and dresses and shoes. Her and her mommy Princess always walked around and say HELLO to everyone!" Herm's face brightens up. He had been walking around with a sorrowful look after his conversation with "Rimey" but now he looks happy with memories. "Ah, the Princess, she was so beautiful with her daughter as they walked on their morning routes. I would be with them, you know, making sure they were safe!" He straightens up and you catch a flash of the old Herm, guardian of the royals.

@SouthernSeas - having searched the Princess's bedroom for about 30 minutes, what will you do now?

TAKASHI motions to the others. "I feel the dull ache of the dead below. Should we search the other rooms here and then sleep here for the night?"

Bellesh nods, but looks nervous. "That sounds like a good plan, but we've gotta be careful if they're moving around. Jelly, stay close."

« Maybe some magic could keep us safe while we search the other rooms » says Cynric, adding that he can take the first watch when the resting time comes.

Jellesh is apparently distracted by a fuzzy something-or-other in one of the wardrobes, batting at it, while uncurling his tiny wings. He does the "cat wiggle" and pounces! Unfortunately, his skills are not quite as cat-like as his parents, and he ends up in the wardrobe, clawing at clothes as he falls in! With rattles and rips, clothes and hangers fall in a heap over the cat, who YOWLS in distress! Indrian looks at the noise with alarm and shuts the door, hoping to keep the din to a minimum! @SouthernSeas (edited)

Bellesh runs over to the wardrobe and tries to rescue Jelly and calm him down.

( @TAKASHI (Alan), @Graian , @ATACIUS (Gabriel) , @CALLIN - any actions before we press on? Do you want to explore before resting?)

Graian, startled by the noise looks back towards the door.

20:40

@SouthernSeas We might want to make sure there are no bonewalkers coming to check on a stange noise.

At @TAKASHI (Alan)'s prompting, Aimee scouts the remaining doors on this wing. They all appear to be similar - private rooms/bedrooms for the nobility of the Keep of Ramathia and guests. Aimee says that the upstairs level was for the Duke/Duchess of Ramathia. It's a different story on the other wing - while there are rooms for what appear to be the various staff of the keep, there is one room that Aimee cannot enter. "That's where the wizard and his 'prenitses lived" Aimee pouts.) As the darkness gathers, the elves report that the bonewalkers appear to be more restless. Indrian has pulled them back into the hallway, with two listening at the door to the grand stairs landing that leads up and down.

TAKASHI thinks a moment at the report from the elves. "Perhaps it's best if we all safely bed down in this room for the night, and then resume our exploration tomorrow when the bonewalkers are more dormant during the day."

Bellesh nods and says, "I'll do first watch, I don't think I could sleep yet." (edited)

"We can rely on Aimee and the other ghosts to look out for us while we sleep." says the littleling as he gets ready to grab a bite before going to rest.

Hmmm, I'm not sure that it would be safe for us to all go to sleep and only rely on our new friends to stand guard. I'll take the second watch. (edited)

Indrian plans out the watches with you - quietly and carefully shutting the door that leads out of this wing to the stair landing. She then posts two elves by the door, and another elf at the end of the hall by the window to keep an eye on the outside. They will rotate with those of you who wish to stand a watch. Apinro, who has been busy poking around himself, places himself next to the window in the hallway. He seems unsettled by the intent of you all to stay here and through his rough communication, tells Angon and @Graian that he would usually leave the city by night, or go underground for safety. Aimee, in mid-sentence during a child-like explanation of why she liked the adult Princess, suddenly leaves without explanation, sailing through the walls. The elves outside tell Indrian that the ghost was headed in the direction of the wing where the library is. The night grows quiet as elves and PCs start to fall asleep. @TAKASHI (Alan) and @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - please give me a Saving Throw vs. Rod/Staff/Wand.

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - your dreams are fitful and at one point, you see fire on the horizon! But, as you roll over, the dream fades into whatever slightly more pleasant dreams that the young mage would have (I'll let you describe them if you wish!) If only @TAKASHI (Alan) were as lucky... The screams of the damned fill the warrior's dream ears and horrible visions of death and unlife fill his sleeping mind. His moaning is enough to wake several in the room up. Indrian, worried, goes to @CALLIN, @Graian and @ATACIUS (Gabriel) to ask what should be done. He also notes that the scouts have reported hearing increased activity from the bonewalkers at the bottom of the stairs, for whatever reason...

ATACIUS will sit next to @TAKASHI (Alan), put a hand on his forehead and start talking, in low soothing voice, about the good times back in Skalfier and Appleton, hoping this will calm him.

TAKASHI rubs his wound as if trying to work some kind of warmth back into his body. He tries to shake off his dreams and sits up in his bedroll. "If I sleep, I am a danger to you all. I shall take watch and let you all rest. I'm not sure how long we can stay here."

Cynric rises to take his watch shift. He goes over to the two elves that are guarding the door and whispers : « are the walking dead moving around? Have you heard them? », he asks. (edited)

Bellesh's dreams this evening bounce back and forth between two of his favorites: One where he is the wisest wizard in the world, and one where he is the most powerful. Sometimes, he dreams he is both at the same time.

Cynric

Cynric rises to take his watch shift. He goes over to the two elves that are guarding the door and whispers : « are the walking dead moving around? Have you heard them? », he asks. (edited)

The elven scouts and Indrian glance over at @TAKASHI (Alan) and then to @Cynric and nod. "As he thrashed about in his dreams, they seemed to react to it. Now that he is awake, we will see." After a long, silent turn of listening, one of the elves turns back. "They seemed to have stopped moving, but they are still at the bottom of the stairs, I did not hear them leave. We will be cautious."

@SouthernSeas - do you want to do anything about the skeletons at the bottom of the stairs, or continue on?

DM (Michael/Chgowiz)

@SouthernSeas - do you want to do anything about the skeletons at the bottom of the stairs, or continue on?

If they stay downstairs I say we move on.

DM (Michael/Chgowiz)

@SouthernSeas - do you want to do anything about the skeletons at the bottom of the stairs, or continue on?

In this area, I believe the general wisdom would be to avoid fighting the Undead Ones, as you never know if they are mere skeletons, or nastier fiends. I'd also say that we move on.

Graian has little desire to engage them at this time, if at all!

Agreed - TAKASHI would very much prefer to NOT lose another level. It burns!!!

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The night passes uneventfully, aside from a hideous, otherworldly, ear-piercing shriek that comes from somewhere in the dead city during the night. The elves report that the bonewalkers moved around a great deal after that, but they did not come up the stairs. At dawn, the ghost children return quietly, simply watching and whispering among themselves. 58th day of Summer, 57AD Congratulations @SouthernSeas! It took surviving a pandemic, but we've advanced a day! In the previous day, you investigated the plaza in front of the Keep, avoided a strange creature within the fountain, went through the sewers, stumbled onto a deadly fire trap, found ghostly Keep Guard survivors who were freed by @CALLIN, explored a bit of the Keep, found the library, learned about the keep mage and his assistant, saw a strange magic-locked area of the library and are now exploring the wing to perhaps find a way in. @Graian and @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro), what spells do you want to have for the day? If it's alright with you all, I'll start #act27 ... (edited)

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DM (Michael/Chgowiz)

The night passes uneventfully, aside from a hideous, otherworldly, ear-piercing shriek that comes from somewhere in the dead city during the night. The elves report that the bonewalkers moved around a great deal after that, but they did not come up the stairs. At dawn, the ghost children return quietly, simply watching and whispering among themselves. 58th day of Summer, 57AD Congratulations @SouthernSeas! It took surviving a pandemic, but we've advanced a day! In the previous day, you investigated the plaza in front of the Keep, avoided a strange creature within the fountain, went through the sewers, stumbled onto a deadly fire trap, found ghostly Keep Guard survivors who were freed by @CALLIN, explored a bit of the Keep, found the library, learned about the keep mage and his assistant, saw a strange magic-locked area of the library and are now exploring the wing to perhaps find a way in. @Graian and @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro), what spells do you want to have for the day? If it's alright with you all, I'll start #act27 ... (edited)

Bellesh will memorize Burning Hands, Magic Missile and Strength (updated on character sheet). Looking forward to the next Act! (edited)

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Ready to press on!

w00t! new act! :>

GRAIAN will memorize 3x Magic Missiles, Invisibility and Strength

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