The cage door is locked so the girl is unable to be freed. She continues to rock back and forth in her cell seeming oblivious to the concepts of help, freedom, or the word friend.
The children downstairs with Zel, are shy but are very calm, they begin to speak to each other quietly pondering what is going to happen to them next...
Parnell
Liek you hear Parnell behind you speaking in heated tones of anger. Parnell being a Paladin that you are the Evil in this room runs high. It's something that you have never felt before...for all the training and years you have spent as a paladin, the evil you have felt from man and beast..this level of it is nothing something you were ever truly trained to deal with.
"Do you not feel it?" Behind the investigator, Parnell, with a grave expression on his face, quickly removes his shield. Drawing his longsword, the young paladin also removes his holy symbol of Ceana from his neck, and holds it out in front of him , as if willing the Light of Ceana to illuminate the room.
"Evil. Of a strength I've never felt."
The young paladin continues to glare about the room, as if challenging it to attack.
Children, everything is going to be fine. My friends will do everything they can to make this right. Please do not worry so much. We will protect you. Do you know who it was that made you do these things
Interesting, most interesting
Liek will go to discuss his findings with the "wizard" and Parnell.
Zel- the boys tell you four names of the older ones. Johnathan, Nickolas, Billy, and S.C.
Finding the girls cage locked, Sierra starts looking around for a key. "We need to find a key or break the lock so we can get her out. Do you think the boys downstairs could calm her down while we look?"
-I'm not sure anything could calm her down. But anyway, she doesn't seem to be going anywhere, so I guess we can search. And maybe ask for help.
Tipene looks for the most obvious things - you know, those that one would usually discard first.
Sierra Tipene- A key is not found within the room. You mostly find on the floor filth, bloody rags, dirty bowl, and hanging on the wall a rope, and a whip.
-Sierra, please, would you tell the boys to look for the key? I'll watch over the girl.
Sierra glances again at the girl before nodding at Tipene, "Yes, i'll head downstairs and speak with them."
Sierra walks through the hall towards the stairs, her head shaking and eyes sad. So much ugliness. Children should be cherished, not used like this.
Walking into the room with the boys, she notices how much calmer they are.
"Sir, we need the boys help, if they can help us, that is. Looking at each a boy, she addresses them next. We found the little girl but she's locked in a cage upstairs and we can not find the key. We need your help to get her out. Any idea where a key might be? If not, help us look for one. But please, don't run. We will not hurt any of you. We will take you to the church for help, once your sister is freed.
The boys look up and respond,"Sis is upstairs?...They didn't take her with? really?... they grow excited and relieved. "They key might be in His Room..." They point to the door across the room on the east wall. "That is the room S.C. used.
The boys murmur to each other for a moment, "Can we see sis?" They look up to Sierra and Zel with pleading eyes.
While this is also going on, Zel you are visited by Liek who will shortly after discuss his finding upstairs in the room with the bloody pentagram on the floor.
Pyhrrus there is nothing else you find within the room itself, if you search the boy you find junk like buttons, string, torn paper, a couple of small rocks of no value, and a small picture of a older woman; likely his mother.
Sierra looks at Zel questioningly, before responding to the children. Go ahead and go upstairs. She's very scared and your presence may help calm her. I'll look for the key in this S.C's room.
Sierra heads over to the room, opening the door slowly and looking around. She heads to the desk in the room and starts rifling through the drawers.
Zel looks at Sierra.
Very well, please be careful as we still do not know who or what is behind this. Perhaps Master liek will join you in your search.
Zel turns to face liek
Master liek I thank you for the information on your findings up stair. I will go and see what I can make of it. Would you please help the young lady with her search. It is not wise to wonder off alone
Looking at the children.
Children will you come with me. We will go upstairs and join my friends. I do not want you to see what is in that room. You have been through enough already. You might be able to help us by telling her that everything is going to be OK..can you do that for me. Reassure her that it is over
Zel will lead the way up the stairs looking back every now and then to make sure the children are following...
Tipene, Lord Ludington I am coming up the stairs with the children could you please make sure there is area that we can go to that is quiet and away from the room with the cage. Please I would like to avoid the children seeing anymore than they have.
Tipene shouts back down through the stairs.
-The children? Why? All we need up here is the key!
Then hastily tries to accommodate a space for the children in one of the other rooms... if there's a room that fits.
The young paladin maintains his guard over the pentagram room, making sure the children do not get to close to it.
Sierra as you search the room you mostly notice that it is very cluttered. There is an area you figure this S.C. slept in, a desk that has several documents and maps on. There is a key in easy sight resting on the table.
The Children do head upstairs to the girls room, there appears to be enough room for the small children, Tipene, and the small cage. The sight of the three boys does seem to calm the girl down...well you think, even though she begins to cry as she looks to them. The boys and the girl begin to talk back and forth.. Mostly that she doesn't have to cry and it appears the children make you all out to be heroes that are going to save them...
Parnell it isn't difficult for you to notice that when the children come up the stairs they are very careful to skirt away from the area your in. They immediately advert their eyes from even looking in your direction. It is obvious that they have some knowledge of that room and want nothing to do with it.
Zel- Roll two times, Once for Perception and once for Arcane Knowledge. Upon entering the door and seeing the room even at glance You are already aware that this is room has significant magic radiating within it. You feel the strong negative energy just as strongly as Parnell. You get this Before the Rolls.
Sierra immediately sees the key laying on the table as she looks around the room. "Found a key", Sierra calls out before searching on the desk.
Picking up some documents and maps, Sierra glances through them. Wonder if any of this will help us determine where they went? she wonders to herself.
Taking the maps and any documents that look helpful, Sierra exits the room and heads up to the room with the kids.
At the door, Sierra stops. Seeing the room rather full, she holds out the key to Tipene, "Here, Tipene, try this key. Hopefully it opens the cage."
The Key will work to open the cage-It will take the boys to coax the girl out of her cell. She will require treatment for she is far to weak to walk. Nothing but skin and bone, and in the worst care imaginable.
Zel- between the two rolls you have figure out several bits of information. You recall reading some time ago in your past of a cult that once caused issues by attempting to summon dark beings of another realm. In todays world it is pure fiction because magic and the ability to summon anything seems forgotten or a lost art.
Even the tome you read from was from your knowledge One of its Kind. The few other books that speak of such magic arts or even history of such things occurring are All suppose to be locked up in the city Asmerade in the only known tower- Spiral of Magi-. So how a group of misfit kids were able to make this, at such accuracy is beyond you.
You do know also they were and were not successful. They did pull something out, but not exactly what they were going for as the girl is still alive.
Parnell watches Zeladaris closely as the wizard peruses the occult books.
"If I had the ability, I would drown this room in holy water", The young paladin said sternly.
Zel looks at the paladin with understanding.
Something of this evil is of great concern and I would like to see it destroyed as well, but we can not do such a thing at this moment. Until we can determine several factors. I need to study this summoning circle more to determine if I can, what was summoned and if it was successful. If we destroy the circle now we might release such an entity on the world. Zel turns his attention to the children.
Who can explain the summoning circle that was drawn in the other room there.
He will try to make his voice sound reassuring but will fail at it.
I am sorry but this is of utmost importance. What that circle can do or might have done is extremely dangerous to everyone. Not just this building, not even the town. This affects the world. Any Knowledge of such a circle is kept at the Spiral of Magi, so I would like to know how this circle came to be.
and in a softer tone
Please
"Study this", said the paladin with a tone of disgust as he looked around the room, "but don't let your immortal soul be consumed by what you find."
"I don't trust this room. I will guard you, Wisened One, or anyone else who enters this room. But please hurry. I feel the room staring at us both."
Zel looks at the paladin with admiration and pride.
Lord Ludington, I do understand your concerns and desires. Yes I will study this circle as I need to find out what type it is. With that Knowledge I can then determine how to best proceed with its destruction. These things are dangerous and must be dealt with care and and respect for the power that it contains. I do not like it at all but I have to study it to determine its nature. Zel looks the paladin in the eyes and places a hand on his shoulder. In a soft gentle tone
I appreciate your concerns for my soul and welcome the guard...now do you understand my desires...
Parnell simply nods, and returns to his vigil.
As you speak to the children earlier they are unable to reply to your request it seems Their Fear of the room has held their tongue. A little bit of pleading with the children will only gain the ground that you already have from the knowledge you have read up on.
Inward detailed study on the circle does inform mean to remove the circle The Power Within will take a very strong holy entity something at this time you do not possess however you may be theorize that the church might lead you in the right direction however you don't know for sure.
Also you have figured out that whatever it is they may have successfully summoned is no longer in the room or in the building but you're not sure what it could have been you also know that whatever was came through not long ago sometime right before you all showed up.
You can attempt diplomacy roll with the girl to see if you might be able to persuade her to give you some more information.
Tipene you are more than enough aware that the children are suffering from something akin to someone surviving a bad War. You are also aware that the children deeply desire to leave the house.
Liek you have gleaned from what everyone has said and done that there is a deeper Secret going on right now and the only Clues you might have might be in the same room that the key was retrieved from. So you can search the room a roll.
-Okay, so... We've got thhings to do, they've got things to do... Everyone's got things to do. Shall we give word to the authorities on this? And leave?
Tipene is a bit uncomfortable in the house, with the children and the circle. He knows the children are uncomfortable too, and hopes they can be taken care of elsewhere, maybe at the church...
The young paladin hearing the words of the brawler, chimes up from outside the pentagram room, "Yes and no. Please take the children to the cathedral: the church will give them the help we need. I will stay here to watch over the room..and it's contents..until either the local authorities or The Church relieve me."
-Will do.
With these words, Tipene sets himself to go back to the cathedral.
-Come on, kids, follow me. I bet you'll fancy a nice breakfast.
Nodding to the rest of the party as they pass, Parnell remarked, "I'm sure Tipene could use some assistance. I'll be fine, I swear", smiled the paladin.
Tipene the children are quick to follow you out of the house and the idea of real food, warm good food, makes them all the happier. One of the boy's offers the girl a piggy back ride as she still to weak to walk on her own.
Tipene when you arrive at the church,at first someone begins to speak "I need to remind you that...." They trail off seeing the children and the girl and their tone changes..."what is this? tell me where did you find these children and why are they as this?" the person is alarmed. The man you speak to is of low rank, an over glorified errand runner and messenger by the name of Thomas.
-Please, make sure they're given something proper to eat, and we'll talk meanwhile.
When the children are gone to a happier place to have an aperitif, Tipene carefully explains how it all happened.
Meanwhile, Parnell tries not to fixate too much on the closed door and the contents behind it.
It is said that those who stare into the Abyss, have the Abyss stare back at them.
Despite this, the young paladin has a yearning to fight something solid, not a nebulous 'fear'. Especially after seeing the conditions the children were living in.
Tipene after you are finished explaining everything in detail Thomas ask you to wait a moment as he runs off to find the right person for the job it doesn't take him long before he returns with a halfling man and a human man. He introduces them as Frederick the halfling and Jonathan the human. They were garbs of the priesthood. After a very brief introduction they inform you they will be going with you back to the location of which you found the children.
Parnell you find yourself standing next to the door your thoughts meandering about what it is it's inside what demon of unknown nature was summoned. Make a will check.
Zel a short time later Tipene arrives with the two people into the house and they go up the stairs to meet you in the room with the Demonic essence. Immediately they find themselves uneasy with the room they introduce themselves to you before they begin to make measurements and speak in Whispers and drum notes into a notebook trying to figure out what it is this room is what Secrets is hiding and what this room may have done.
They are willing to speak with you to discuss what it is that you know and share what they know after a few notes have been taken. No they're not with a hundred percent certainty they have a fury but they're not yet willing to share it with the group more of they're not sure if they are allowed to. So they advised the group to let them handle the room and for them to return to their mission and once they have some more information they will summon them back to the church.
Despite his best efforts, Parnell's thoughts veer toward what type of horror was unleashed.
Even though you swear you heard Whispers of unknown origin your steadfast beliefs in Ceanna hold you steady and firm in your post.
Even though you swear you heard Whispers of unknown origin your steadfast beliefs in Ceanna hold you steady and firm in your post.
Liek scoures the room, his investigative skills not letting up, fearing that there is probably more to this horrible scene
Everyone has made into the room as they begin to discuss whatever it is that came from it. Upon full disclosure it has become apparent that a dark essence did come from the magic circle but it did not stay here. It has left the room and the building yet with the magical energy, it is theorized that it has yet to leave the town.
Someone who has the ability to detect evil may have the best chance of tracking it down. But no one knows exactly what this may do to the person either who is capable of feeling it out. Nor does anyone know what this thing may do out in the world, what it is capable of.
As the Frederick and Thomas speak to each other, they speak here and there about something in hush tones. They do discover a means to destroy the circle, and Frederick informs the group that he must return to the Church at once to discuss the findings in more detail!
While Thomas will stay behind and begin the preparations to eliminate the circle completely. They both make a request that everyone here does not speak of what they discovered to the citizens as a panic would do no good.
Thomas begins to pour a clear liquid onto a cloth and he removes chalk from his pack.
Someone who has the ability to detect evil may have the best chance of tracking it down. But no one knows exactly what this may do to the person either who is capable of feeling it out. Nor does anyone know what this thing may do out in the world, what it is capable of.
Upon hearing his, Parnell's face become a mask of resoluteness, and steps forward.
"I am but a humble tool to Ceana's Great Task. I will do it. I will use Ceana's Sight to find the monster, and hopefully end it's existence."
Parnell you will need to cast your detect evil and make a knowledge religion roll. Also Parnell will need to make a prayer to Ceanna to seek her guidance on finding this evil.
Liek are you still searching the room with pentagram or have you moved down to the office?
Anyone is also free to try to make a perception check on if you figure out what the two guys were Whispering about.
If anyone background would include a deep research into history religion magic combination thereof can attempt a roll in knowledge that area to see if they are successful in piecing together some information but let me know what the role is.
Parnell takes a quiet moment to say a prayer to Ceana, asking for guidance and protection. Then, with great focus, Parnell casts detect evil.
Zel looks at the two young men. Then he looks at the rest of the party.. realizing that maybe no one else heard what the whispers were about.
Clearing his throat rather loudly and with a stern look about his face
I do not know how your parents raised you, but I do know that it is not proper to whisper in the company of others...Especially their elders. Now come over here where I can hear you and say what it is that has you two so animated. Come on...I do not have all day...
Zel waves the two young men over to him.
Parnell you will find that you have absolutely no trouble tracking down this essence of Darkness. You can already tell that it has left the building in headed in the direction out of the main part of town.
As for everything else anyone who has been able to successfully roll above 15 will know the following.
There is an ancient story that has been passed down through generations In This Very town and through the Church of Ceanna. Even those with a history of Arcane knowledge have heard the stories and Whispers.
Been a long time ago surrounding the Legend of Zale, a dark or omniscient being burst through the heavens attempting to engulf the world in Eternal damnation. However through the sacrifices of Zale and of Ceanna, things became safe but rumors says a significant change took place though no one remembers what.
However the men speak of a prophecy that they are not sure but May deal with this very Circle and what it represents.
Parnell eyes flash open. "It's on the move, leaving town." The young paladin quickly leaves the building, making his way to the source of the tainted energy.
Liek smiles upon seeing the office, something he can understand. He begins his examination telling people not to disturb the evidence.
Parnell it's not long before you find yourself outside and slowly walking East heading out of town. The pull you have it's pretty impressive and the Darkness you're feeling is growing more intense.
Sierra was standing in the hall, not wanting to go into the room with the circle, when Parnell quickly calls out about something moving and then rushing out. She follows behind him quickly, calling out softly "Parnell, are you sure you should be rushing off after this thing?"