Woah. Nice find, Aliana. Let's take a quick look around this building and then head down.
With that, Elric takes a look around the room they're currently in.
Aliana can't suppress a smile at Elric's compliment. I'll stay here, make sure no surprises pop up through the hatch.
Elric will open 3-4 boxes at random just to see if there's any contraband.
No!
Elric stops in his tracks at the warning from Orne, and turns to him expectantly.
Don't waste time... And it could be booby trapped.
Your thoroughness is admirable, but we can check later.
Orlin slowly and heavily thumps into the office, and catches Elric's shattered countenance.
"Constable? Is everything ok? Did you find something more of evidence??
Pavo follows the rest in and takes stock of his surroundings. Upon noticing the trap door, and Aliana standing guard, he utters "So what's down there?"
Don't know yet, Aliana whispers, peering into the darkness. The Constable was having a quick look around up here first. She looks up and sees the look on Elric's face. What is it?
Yeah. This is.. Elric trails off on his words. He just stairs at the ring in his hand.
This was my wife's. And it's in the shop of the Moncello's. The mirderous bastards who have killed a lot of the people I like in this town. And they have my wife's wedding ring.
And I don't know why.
WHY?
Elric throws the box of rings to the ground violently. Then he takes a breath.
Let's end this, he says as he heads towards the trap door.
Aliana steps back wide-eyed to let Elric lead the way, then follows behind him, descending through the trapdoor on his heels. Let's end this indeed...
If anyone tries to go down through the trap door before Pavo, he puts up a hand and says "Unless one of us is going to try to sneak around down there, you should probably let me go first."
All right. I'm...not the greatest at sneaking. Go ahead.
Orne casts virtue on each party member as they speak and prepare to descend.
+1 temp HP: Pavo 7, Elric 8, Aliana 9, Orlin 10 rds
Pavo will descend into the depths below the trap door. Expecting trouble, he tries to keep his shield up and ready, and it clangs loudly as he climbs down.
Aliana enters the trap door behind Pavo and Elric, trying to step quietly as she descends.
Orlin waits until last to climb down the ladder, awkwardly lowering his staff first, then climbing down, unfortunately banging the lengthy pole against the steps at least once.
Well, looks like being quiet is out. They know we're here. But we still need to be careful.
"Well, we know they had to silence Filton as a witness. Otherwise he would have gone to the Sheriff about their illegal shiver operation. I guess they wanted something out of the bank, although I have no idea what. They musta blackmailed the skulks or something to get it for them. I guess the carnival presented them an opportunity to shift the blame. They musta killed some of the others to throw us off their trail. Maybe they had more reasons, maybe not. Maybe we can ask her when we find her. Maybe not."
I had the same questions kicking around in my head...like Pavo said, I understand Filton; he could have snitched on them. The guard at the Locked Box because they needed something from there, though gods only know what. Archivin to open the way for the Locked Box, maybe. But the Braetons and Sister Woodmere? What did they have to do with anything?
They were trying to get that carnival to take the fall, maybe Sister Woodmere was a murder of convenience. Right place at the right time to try to get the Sphinx to take the blame.
As for the Breatons - well, they were their primary competition for river and lake trade. Discpicable reason to kill someone.
They recruited by hiring, with Braeton... not present, there would be folks losing and therefore needing new jobs. He was also a stabilizing force, a voice of decency.
The Locked Box, if discredited would have people thinking it best to safeguard their belongings, themselves. Where a criminal organization would have a much easier time pilfering them. All in all, their wickedness had no bounds.
"They will pay for their actions and we will right this injustice, for both Ilsurian and for the carnival. I swear to all of the gods, that I will not rest until Robella herself has paid her debt."
Aliana merely gives a solemn nod at Pavo's declaration.
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You descend the stair, into the darkness.
You find a rough earthen passage which runs north out of Ilusrian where it opens into a concealed opening in the forest. You guess this is how the guild gets out of town and makes contact with the Nisku tribe without ever being spotted. The southern end leads to three closed doors.
Elric realizes the Gilded Hands didn't build all of these tunnels, some of them were in place when the original foundation was intended to be a mobilization point against military forces Ilsur thought might come from Korvosa or Magnimar. Sadly he overestimated their interest, and as you can see with his death they sort of became insular farmers and fisherman (with a military bent). But he thought one day he was going to depose the monarchy, and they might seek his army's death before then.. time and age got the best of everyone, and the building sort of moldered until the Moncellos bought and re-purposed it.
You don't hear anything in any of the doors.
Combat Map
Aliana begins a soft, rhythmic chant, gesturing toward each of the doors in turn in a repeating cycle.
...my...mother...told...me...you...are...it.
At her final syllable, her finger points toward the center door. Let's go to the middle, Constable, the door straight ahead, she whispers over Elric's shoulder in front of her.
Orlin follow the group down the hidden tunnel, staying near the back of the group, concentrating on not making TOO much sound, and keeping up with the group, leaning heavily on his staff.
"Really? What's the charge? And show yourself. Who addresses the Champion of Ilsurian?" Pavo bellows.
"Yes, as well as the Constable and the rest of the entourage. So I assume no one else has exited from here?" Pavo turns back towards the others. "It looks like this exit is still secure. Let's try a different route."
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"Sorry contable! Sheriff Feldane asked us to keep watch on this exit. yes, no one has exited via this way."
"Good, good job. We're heading back in to find these scum. Keep up the good work."
Pavo will try the western door to see if it's locked.
You believe them?
I Recognize them, Orne. They work for the Sheriff. Let's follow Pavo.
Very well... Let's move.