The archives are a series of wide, interconnecting hallways with high, arched ceilings. Long, stone-topped reading islands run down the center of the halls, dividing them. Dust and cobwebs cover everything, easily marking the recent passage of several large creatures. Tall shelves line the walls, filled with assorted tomes and grimoires. Some of these bear recent damage: shelves smashed and singed, and books lying in scattered piles, torn, tattered, and burnt. Ten feet from the door sits a large desk covered in an assortment of dusty tomes.
The archives consist of an 80-foot-long central passage, with shorter passages bisecting along the north and south walls. The west, east, and southern most passages end in small alcoves, each centered on a statue of Cayden Cailean.
Gianluca turns to Argor and Cladissa. "Do you think there's something worth searching for in these archives now? I'm inclined to heal quickly and keep up the pressure on these demons, but if you think there's some advantage to be had here, I'll wait."
"I'll start searching for the demons while you heal. I'll begin turning left. If we don't find anything after a few minutes, I can ask the stones to tell me, but that'll take 10 minutes."
"We must move quickly, in case there are further threats to deal with lurking about. I presume the proprietor of these archives likely kept his most worthwhile information around, on, or in the desk, so I will focus my attentions there. Everyone else, spread out and look the rest of the room over for anything out of the ordinary," Argor says as he moves to the desk.
Rutai flies over to Cladissa and mutters the command word for the final charge of healing from the infernal wand. It takes him several tries, each failure ushering forth a new curse of frustration from the imp, but finally the magic takes hold. As it works, he uses the other wand to continue patching up the wounded.
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Cladissa tries to keep a neutral expression as she feels the sensuous sensations of her flesh repairing itself under the infernal magic. For a moment, it's a nice distraction from the shock she received facing another succubus.
She takes a quick search of the archive using her augmented senses to see invisible creatures, and watches for signs that Sabrina smells something. If they establish the archives as being unoccupied save for them she then starts going over the books and volumes with more attention to ascertain if they have discovered the lost archive.
"I'll start searching for the demons while you heal. I'll begin turning left. If we don't find anything after a few minutes, I can ask the stones to tell me, but that'll take 10 minutes."
Hrim sees more shelves, and one of the statues, but no evil.
"We must move quickly, in case there are further threats to deal with lurking about. I presume the proprietor of these archives likely kept his most worthwhile information around, on, or in the desk, so I will focus my attentions there. Everyone else, spread out and look the rest of the room over for anything out of the ordinary," Argor says as he moves to the desk.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 9
Rutai flies over to Cladissa and mutters the command word for the final charge of healing from the infernal wand. It takes him several tries, each failure ushering forth a new curse of frustration from the imp, but finally the magic takes hold. As it works, he uses the other wand to continue patching up the wounded.
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15; [dice=CMW]2d8 + 4
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15; [dice=CMW]2d8 + 4
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15; [dice=CMW]2d8 + 4
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15; [dice=CMW]2d8 + 4
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15; [dice=CMW]2d8 + 4
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15
[dice=Rutai UMD]1d20 + 15; [dice=CMW]2d8 + 4
Argor finds two magical scrolls.
Cladissa tries to keep a neutral expression as she feels the sensuous sensations of her flesh repairing itself under the infernal magic. For a moment, it's a nice distraction from the shock she received facing another succubus.
She takes a quick search of the archive using her augmented senses to see invisible creatures, and watches for signs that Sabrina smells something. If they establish the archives as being unoccupied save for them she then starts going over the books and volumes with more attention to ascertain if they have discovered the lost archive.
[dice=Perception]1d20+14
Once reasonably satisfied there are no more demons lurking about, Cladissa takes note of the statues of Cayden Cailean. Mindful of being pressed for time, she quickly puts her mind to analyzing them -- looking to see if one or more have any sort of distinctions or features that would not belong to the Drunken God.
Hrim continues to move, detect evil, and move scouring the archive in 60-ft increments.
Gianluca follows protectively behind Cladissa, as she examines the statues.
Cladissa goes to examine one of the statues, as Hrim and the others also start searching. The svirfneblin and witch simultaneously discover well hidden latches on each of the Cayden statues they are examining. After going to the eastern alcove to check, the group finds that the statue there has a similar latch.
After studying the scrolls, Argor hovers over to the group and learns of their discovery. He patiently waits well behind the group as they examine the switch.
"Shall we try to simultaneously activate each switch? It worked before in the Deckland's vault."
Gianluca walks to the third statue and stands ready as well.
As the three Pathfinders throw the switches, three things happen. Gianluca and Cladissa's switches cause part of the book shelves to slide open, revealing further segments of the vault. Sabrina's section causes the forced doors they entered through to swing shut. There remains a small gap in those doors where the demons busted them.
Hovering right in front of the secret door that opened, Hrim says, "I've stairs over here. I'll take a look." Hrim stealthily flies down pausing to detect evil.
Hrim makes his way laboriously down the stairs, detecting as he goes.
The room at the bottom of the stairs is in disarray. The remnants of a large laboratory lie in splintered ruin, a bizarre sculpture of strange cogs, split beams, smashed furniture, and dunes of broken glass.
Everything is splattered with chemical stains and compounds, and a toxic reek fills the air.
Hrim begins hacking and coughing on the gasses in the air. He covers his mouth and manages to back up the stairs a bit to clearer air before succumbing to any ill effects.
Hearing the thin coughing from the steps below, Cladissa again renews her guidance to help bolster her defenses against whatever foulness lay down there.
She waits on Gianluca or Sabrina to move downstairs, then lightly steps down the stairs, steeling herself against the reek.
Hrim gets to the top of the stairs. His coughing and hacking effectively disrupting his obfuscating shadows. "Let me explore the other stairs first. We should avoid that stairwell for awhile. If you have any magic ventilation, it could be put to good use." Hrim suggests.
He recovers his breathing and stealthily flies down the other stairs repeating his detection and movement dance.
"What seems to be the trouble, Hrimnagel? Is it a foul odor, or some sort of poisonous gas?"
"My nose is not that discriminating, Argor. You're welcome to investigate."
"Trying the second stair first sounds like a good idea. I'll follow 10' behind you this time, in case there's trouble."
Turning to Argor, "By the way, you have the ability to enlarge people, don't you? My belt keeps that from causing me problems...and it'll help me reach further, if needed. If we see a situation that merits it, it's not crucial but it can be handy."
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Sabrina looks at her furry wrist to check her nonexistent watch and utters a low growl of impatience.
::I wonder when Argor will remember that he can summon some air elementals to clear the room via whirlwind:: Sabrina unintentionally chimes to Cladissa.
::...Is this thing was on? Huh. Well, you can make the suggestion I guess. It's not like I can talk to him!::
"There's a thought by our druid companion that a denizen or two from the plane of air would be able to clear the noxious fumes from the lower chamber. Is that something you could provide us, Argor?" Cladissa asks off-handedly as she studies the steps down.
The other set of stairs leads to a small chamber. Several sealed casks line the south wall, pressed against a work desk fitted along the room’s curved corner. Within a wide alcove at the far end of the chamber rests a bed with moldering sheets and a hope chest at its foot. Near the bed balances a crooked wardrobe adjacent to simple brown robes dangling from pegs. On another wall hangs a map of the area around Lake Encarthan. Pinned along its perimeter hang dozens of faded papers, diagrams, and notes. There is a door in the north wall.
Gianluca goes to listen at the North door, while others inspect the papers.
The door shows no signs of recent damage. It's a plain wooden affair. Gianluca doesn't hear anything on the other side, but he catches a faint acrid wiff from under the stop.
Cladissa surveys the room, studying the casks for signs of their contents. Cole sniffs at the hope chest and mews softly. She looks at him and nods. "Sure, go ahead."
The black cat suddenly dissipates into a fine mist which then slips through the fine gaps of the chest. After a few seconds, the mist pours out again. Cladissa gets a full report of the contents, and some idea if there are any traps guarding the chest.
All of the room’s cloth items are moldered and frail, and fall apart when handled. The casks hold naught but badly-soured vinegar. The hope chest holds blankets, while the wardrobe contains more cleric’s robes. The notes are faded beyond value or recognition. The desk drawer is locked.
Whispering, Gianluca says, "There's an acrid smell coming from under this door. I think we should head in. Anyone have something to cast before we do?"
While he waits for an answer, Gianluca stands by the door, sword raised, ready to swing at any demon that comes through.
Argor nods to Gianluca, and uses his transmutative magics on him to make him grow to the size of a giant. He then covers his mouth and nose with the sleeve of his elbow to try and help filter out the obtrusive odor as he enters.
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Hrim heals Cladissa twice and advises, "be careful. The door could connect to those noxious fumes that I inhaled down the other stairs."
The door is opened easily enough. It leads to another stairway, going down.