Jones opens the container.
Inside are five vials, each labeled "Youth Tonic".
A little voice in Jones' head says "Well, that sounds completely innocuous and 100% legit, and furthermore something I really need to drink RIGHT NOW", so he rips the cork off one and chugs it down.
Immediately afterward, another voice says "OH GOD THAT'S NOT YOUTH ELIXIR IT'S POISON".
Jones fights off the initial effects of what he now knows to be Lich Dust poison, but is aware this poison is especially virulent, though takes a long time to take effect.
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"Hm, unfortunate. One moment."
Jones prepares and chugs a Delay Poison extract.
"A problem for later."
"Magic?"
"Typical witches."
"Search the box for a false bottom? That poison could have been a trap protecting something else."
"First, let me be sure that won't happen again."
Jones smashes the remaining poison vials on the ground. Then he searches for a false bottom.
All of the bottoms are completely real.
We continue searching the premises.
Zone will do that with his touchsight, opening all the blockage if there are any that prevents his power from working.
Are there more rooms and floors in the Abbey, or is it time to head into the cellars?
You search the rooms oe by on, revealing a barracks, guest rooms, and a much nicer bedroom with two very comfortable looking beds. One of the doors opens onto a terrace, with soil spread around and shrubbery growing in it. A spider swarm scuttles away from here as well.
The last room is a bit more interesting. Four invisible creatures hang around the ceiling of this room, but currently make no move to attack. THe rest of the room is dedicted to an altar with a headless skeleton n it; Jones can recognize it as the skeleton of an Annis hag, and likely deduce it was the leader of the Dublesse sisters' coven once upon a time.
Osric takes a look at the altar. Does he see signs of any rituals?
Taking 10 for a 29 Knowledge (Religion).
It does not appear to be a part of any magical ritual.
Osric casts Detect Magic and scans the room for any items or active spells.
He doesn't know much about Invisible Stalkers.
This room is a library and the skeleton is lashed to a pole and strung together with wires
The altar is in a nearby corner of the room, and appears to be used primarily as a workdesk, with papers and books scattered about. One of the books does detect as magical.
Osric looks through the papers on the desk.
Zone acts like a sentinel, having his blade out. If the stalkers (which touchsight detect) or any threat attacks them whether out of the dark, he will move and flings his blade (Fury of a single blade; 2x damage for two successful hit & x5 damage for three) at one of them.
(AC: 30; +3 from dodge bonus)
The stalkers shift as you move forward, ready to pounce...but relax once it's clear you aren't going toward the skeleton.
The table contains an assortment of papers, most related to necromancy and immortality. One book in particular is a libram on blood magic, specifically magic that allows you to transform yourself in various ways using the blood of certain creatures(it used to belong to a bloatmage going by the descriptions of ones the previous owner had used on themselves). It also doubles as a spellbook, containing several useful spells (Clone, Horrid Wilting, Insanity, Transformation, Iron Body, and Vision).
Jones pockets the book.
"I see no need for us to approach that skeleton at the moment."
Sledge agrees with Jones.
Osric agrees with Jones.
As the guard assuredly told you, the secret entrance to the basement lies in the Winery, an adjacent building to the Abbey. You begin heading down the stairs again. However, once you're all descending, you hear a cracking, like a tree branch snapping, and then a loud *GOOONNNNNGGG*....just before the great abbey bell falls down on top of your heads.
Sledge opens his third eye and casually dodges everything.
Jones nonchalantly steps back from the falling bell.
Zone flips away from the area with ease as the bell's fall kicks up dust.
"Your jinx gone yet, Sledge?"
The xeph tone is teasing.
The great bell slams into the floor, sending shards of wood and chunks of stone flyig in every direction, pelting all of you. Your ninja-like reflexes allow you to avoid the worst (and being smashed by the bell itself in the first place), and most of you manage to grab onto the edge of the floor and haul yourselves back up. Osric, however, is unlucky. He was stuck with a loose board, and the weight of his armor pulls it out, sending him plummeting to the ground floor below, heavy stones falling around him but not managing to strike his unprotected head.
You are safe for now, though note that getting down is somewhat inconvenient now that the stairs are gone.
We continue searching the building.
Jones activates his celestial armor's flight.
"Perhaps we should check the bell tower? I get the feeling that the bell didn't fall on its own."
"Actually, it was definitely the spiders. Which I have no intention of dealing with again."
Jones flies down toward Osric.
Osric flies up, his angel wings spread.
"Onward."
Holy power flows from him, healing the party's wounds.
We continue eye, keeping a sharper eye out for traps. And by we, I mean Jones.
Zone will continue for the lookout for enemies. If he sees the spider swarm or enemies, he will attack them. (See rolls from above post).
You continue downward and see no more traps. Going onto the grounds and into the winery, you begin searching for the trap door to the basement.
As you pass one of the large casks, you hear a voice.
"You...you are not the usual victims or thralls that enter this place. Who are you?' it half-whispers.
"I could ask the same of you." Jones replies. He can't help but be reminded of a certain, rather unpleasant brain-in-a-jar incident.
"I am Osric, last survivor of the Shining Crusade. I am a foe of all who follow the Whispering Way."
Osric figures the time for the subtle approach has passed. He tries to identify the source of the voice. Is it a person in the cask, or behind it, or a talking cask (i.e. a mimic)?
The voice appears to be coming from inside the cask.
"We are mutual enemies of the Dublesse sisters. We will aid you, if you let us, and do us a favor in return."