Bjorn and Korvus approach the red lines and find markings on the ground near the foundation of the building. The grass and brush has obviously been cleared away for the markings to be placed in this location, and they apparently extend around the entire part of the prison that has not disappeared into the murky pond to the east. The marks appear to be sinuous runes scratched into the ground then then smeared with a thick dark red liquid... likely blood.
-----
Nobody sees anything out of the ordinary in the entry hall or first room with the doors.
"Interesting," Korvus muses, his bestial expression a mixture of scholarly curiosity and horror. "Do you happen to remember the dwarf's name? We should let Sheriff Caeler and Father Grimburrow know, in case a friend or family member is searching for a dwarf who has gone missing in the area."
"I'm sorry, I don't. I was still groggy from my injuries. I'll let you know if anything comes to mind."
---
After examining the hall, Korthul will get in behind Harold, axe held in one hand, dagger held in the other. "I've got an eye out. Let's move quietly."
Northern Door:
A short hallway leads north with two doors, one leading to a staircase leading up (S10), and another with a staircase leading down (S9). The stairs leading down, however, are blocked by large stone blocks and fallen timbers.
Western Door:
A long hallways contains several small offices (S3). From the folders, files, and papers strewn about the offices, they were obviously used for some kind of administrative function.
There are two larger rooms at the end of the hallway.
Korvus shakes his head as he studies the dark red runes circling the ruined prison building. "Well, this doesn't look good, gentlemen and lady. Not that any of us expected anything to look good here," the half-orc wizard says, adjusting the pince-nez perched upon his snout as he turns to regard his companions. "These runes appear to be part of a larger ritual that involved both necromantic and abjuration magics. Magics for manipulating the powers of life, death, and unlife, as well as protective magics used to create physical or magical barriers - possibly to bind someone or something. In his journal the Professor indicated that the Whispering Way seemed quite interested in someone who was held in Harrowstone prison. The Professor also wrote about observing strange symbols etched around the foundations of the prison - I assume he meant these very same symbols we're studying now - and that ghosts prevented him from investigating further. This leads me to speculate that perhaps the Whispering Way sought to capture one of the spirits trapped within the ruins. But if that's the case, did they also unleash other trapped spirits to plague the town?"
Korvus glances into the smaller room as Bjorn searches the larger room. "A washroom and privy. Likely used by the guards and staff, I would think," he announces. "There may be some useful information contained in the files and papers strewn about these small offices, though."
"I don't suppose you know anything about cracking locks?"
"I'm afraid such skills are beyond my area of expertise. Now my mother, however, is quite the skilled locksmith," Korvus replies to Bjorn's question.
Korthul warily looks up the un-ruined staircase and turns to Harold, saying "I don't think we should go up there right now. Not without bringing the others, at least."
Korthul looks at the other doors in the hallway, quietly putting his ear to them and listening for noise on the other side.
"Assuming prisons here are anything like back home we need to get down below the ground in some way. You think there still are cultists around?" She keeps her voice at a low volume while she also checks the northern doors. She walks around with her weapon drawn, but her finger off the trigger.
Bjorn determines the safe is attached to the floor.
Neither Korthul or Asha hear or see anything unusual in their searches.
Harold inhales deeply as he tries to take the measure of the place. He opens the doors leading to the stairs that go down, now rubble-strewn and clogged hoplessly up. He shakes his head to Alexei, Korthul and Asha, "No explorin' da bowels ov dis place, at least not what way. And I agree, lets wai' until we're all together befawer 'eadin' up. Nevar know wiv old places if da upper floors 'aven't decayed in spots an' prone ter collapse. Let make sure there are no 'ives ov cultists down 'ere first befawer we end up crashin' down in'er da midst ov 'em." He goes to stand by the double doors leading north as Korthul and Asha check them out for any hidden dangers. He'll give Bjorn and Korvus a couple minutes to catch up before prodding the doors open.
"Let's inform the others of what we've found and see if one of them can open the safe," Korvus says to Bjorn, heading down the hallway to rejoin the other companions.
Harold nods as Bjorn and Korvus join the rest of them. He points offhandedly toward the stairs, "Parf down is closed ter us. Up looks clear but could be fallin' apart. We should clear da first floor 'ere befawer pickin' aaahr route up awer down." With the information relayed to Korvus and Bjorn, Harold pushes the north doors open if Korthul gives the okay on it not containing any surprises.
For anybody attempting the safe:
Bjorn listens to Harold's report. He points back towards where he and Korvus had just been.
"Before we move forward there's something the rest of you should see. There's a safe in what looks like an office - it's locked up tight though. Any of you know your way around a lock?"
Bjorn will lead whoever can pick the lock to the safe.
"Let me take a look at that safe," Korthul says before following the large northman to the office.
After tinkering with the lock with his tools, Korthul shakes his head. "I haven't had much opportunity to work on locks this complex. They tend to be opened with an axe-head rather than lock picks where I come from."
---
After returning with the group, Korthul nods to Harold, ready to proceed in clearing out the first level of the macabre prison.
You open the door and find a large space. There are several doors along the outer wall, and two chambers with doors inside this area.
The stone in this area seems relatively intact compared to the rest of the prison, and you do not see any sign of fire or heat in this space. Nature, however, has left her mark. The roof sags in places, and you can easily spot animal spoor along the walls - most likely some kind of vermin. The large webs in the corners of the space also catch your attention... to spin those, the spiders would have to be dedicated, or quite large...
Inner chamber 1 sounds good to me.
Korvus and Maximus each keep a sharp eye out for whatever spiders spun such large webs.
The door to this room has fallen from its hinges. The rectangular chamber beyond seems to have once been a chapel, but now thick sheets of what appear to be cobwebs drape everything within in gossamer threads.
Bjorn glances at the room's interior briefly.
The group moves across the narrow hall into another room. This chamber is in a shambles—old wooden benches lie inruins along the walls, while rusty chains and bits of rotten rope lie scattered on the floor.
Two tables have been set up in the middle of the room more recently, with well-oiled chains hanging off of them. One the south wall, blood is smeared into rough letters forming ... Dedric
Korvus mutters the words of the cantrip that allows him to see magical auras, and studies the name written in blood on the wall.
Korthul appears to be visibly unsettled. "I've no strong desire to be here once again. Best we find what we need and move on."
"Interesting. The blood-writing does not possess any magical auras, yet Professor Feramin clearly believed that spelling out his victims' names in blood gave him power over them," Korvus muses aloud.
"'Ere, now. Poor bloke looks like 'e's seen a ghost," the blackbird perched on Korvus' shoulder twitters, pointing a wing toward Korthul. "Grimsley! Best give 'im a swig from yer flask an' put th' wind back in 'is sails!"
"Oh shush it viking. We'll see if you talk big when it's your name mama's in her blood." Asha had been covering the rear of the group for some time now. Both because she wanted to keep an eye on the next stupid action of the oaf and because she hoped those at the front would trigger the apparitions as her gun seemed powerless against them.
Alexei sighs as he begins to exit the room, still on guard. "Enough of that. Let's not dawdle, who knows what could be going on in this place while you two bicker like a married couple."
The group continues around the area and enters a stark room containing a low stone bench against the north wall and a ruined desk to the west that sits under three narrow, barred windows. An old brass brazier lies on its side to the south, surrounded by several rusty branding irons.
Harold grunts at Korvus' bird as he fishes into his jacket for his lucky flask. The silver container is finally found as the half-orc pulls it out before unscrewing the top and holding it toward Korthul, "It's brandy. Might take da edge off. Not everyday yew are faced wiv yaaahr own mortali'y in such a brutal an' 'elpless fashion. They say da worst part ov 'avin' yaaahr 'ead on da block is da waiting. The axe only breaks da flesh, da waitin' breaks da spirit."
Entering the next room, Alexei doesn't notice anything of importance, though he sticks close to his other comrades.