Noah says "We should check all the rooms we skipped and then we will have to deal with those thieves."
I agree. We should check those 2 doors we passed and then if nothing there take out the thieves and see what else we can learn about this place.
Before we go to far can anyone use those items we found? If you can put them to good use I say take them now and we can sell them later and split the profits as needed.
Dixon will take the wand of quench, just because it is easy to carry.
Then he checks out F3.
Two walls of wine racks face each other in this large, damp wine cellar. The contents of the racks are limited to about a dozen scattered bottles.
Weapon racks line the north and south walls of this armory, while even more weapons and suits of armor lie on a long, low table that runs down the room’s center.
This armory was utilized to store additional weapons used by manor guards; the mayor rarely felt the need to arm his guards from these supplies. In all, this armory contains 20 longswords, 20 short swords, 20 longbows, 500 arrows, and 10 suits of chainmail—none of them of particularly fine workmanship.
Noah searches through the armory and casts detect magic to make sure nothing magical is in the room.
"Now the wine cellar is worth coming back for..."
Duke looks around the armory, and is simply not interested in armor and weapons.
"OK, I guess it's time to deal with those guards. Wanna throw another ball of fire in there, or should we just go give them a proper beat down?"
"Right, the door. Depends on how many survivors we need. I can open things up, since they can't see me."
These weapons are of decent quality but that Is it. Should we have time we can come back and gather them to sell at my shop. For now let’s leave them and the armor. Richard go ahead with the door and I will be right there should anything try and jump out.
As you approach the room that you locked the thieves in, it is strangely quiet and the door is now ajar...
"Alright then, I'll go in and take a look. Where did those thieves go? Sherix, stay back for a moment."
Invisible Richard enters the room and takes a look for the thieves as Sherix buzzes around Tal's head.
Tal readies to jump in if he sees blood splatter anywhere. Hopefully Richard doesn’t get turned into a frog or something as there is no way Tal could see him to help at this point.
Besides the busted furniture that was used as a battering ram, there is no signs of struggle. You also noticed that while the door is damaged, it does not look like it was busted opened. It looks like Duke's wedge was removed and the door was simply opened....
"Well, this may come back to bite us..."
Duke proceeds inside the room to look around, and then checks the next door.
"Redd?" Richard ponders. Did he...?
Duke was correct. They were exposed.
It was possible it was Redd but if so all he did was let them out. We were not attacked as we were searching the other rooms so whoever was heee must have fled upstairs. Let them run away. It means less people who stand in our way from shutting this place down.
Tal moves into the room and helps the others search it.
Auto aid perception check
This large, damp cavern has a low ceiling thick with hanging cobwebs and strings of mold. To the west, the cavern widens a bit, and something has used the extra room to build a filthy nest of rags, rubble, and bones.
A man is standing in the room.
Why have you invaded my home? You better have a good reason!
Richard just blinks. "Err, Mayor? Sorry, former mayor?"
He certainly looks like the former mayor. But... he's still here? Why has he never formally retired? Why is he still here despite the literal hellmouth?
"There's a hellmouth open in your mansion, sir... where have you been? People think your successor killed you."
Clearly out of his league when it comes to knowledge and diplomacy Tal nonetheless joins in when asked a question. Moving to the front to protect the others Tal answers, We have permission here from the latest mayor to inspect the area below the mansion as decreed by the contract with my name upon it. We are tasked to finding out what is happening down here and preventing a calamity from destroying Westcrown.
Duke just stands by and watches. He was never a fan of the former mayor to begin with, but this was certainly suspect.
Where have I been? I have been here of course! Where else would I have been? A hellmouth you say? Hmmm...very disturbing. Well, I will have to think about that. Carry on and leave me be. Good bye!
Duke just stares at the man incredulously. "Mayor, you have been missing for quite some time... you know that, right?"
Clearly something was afoot, but Richard couldn't detect what exactly. "Now then, former mayor. How could I come all of this way, meet such an incredible man, and not give a performance?" Richard and Sherix begin a 2 person play, The Chains of Freedom, about a prisoner counting down the final days in his jail cell, with only a bird as his companion. He's grown too comfortable with his cell, his relatives disavowed him. He has no applicable skills - is he truly free outside the cell?
In reality, Richard is using his Spellsong to quietly weave Charm Person into his spell. Maybe he can convince the former mayor to speak more.
Tal looks at Richard as if the man has lost his marbles. Now is not the time for a recital! Snap out of it man. We have to find the Spiral before the place blows up taking us and Westcrown with it.
"Apologies, Tal. I had to properly thank the man." Richard smiles. "Perhaps, maybe the former mayor wanted to tell us something about why he stayed here?"
The Mayor waves off Duke, Bah! What is time? I have important business to attend to here! Please leave me alone to do it!
Duke can't seem to figure the man out and Richard's performance seems to have no affect on him!
"Hmm. As you wish." Richard bows. "Tal, let us proceed."
Not knowing the full situation Tal does as asked and moves past the mayor to get to the nest. He searches it and calls Duke over as well to look for any signs or clues of its occupant. Should they not find anything Tal continues on north till they reach the dead end. This place is a nightmare trying to figure out. Let's just head back to where we started and head west and finish clearing out those rooms before we delve any deeper
Duke shrugs and decides to go look at what Tal is pointing out. "What do we have here?"
Richard looks at the mayor with pity. Is he dominated? Is this a simulacrum in the Mayor's image? Is this his ghost doomed to haunt his manor? Did he sell himself for power and must pay the price? Sherix gets Richard's attention as they move towards the door Tal pointed out.
As Tal heads to the nest, the Mayor reproaches him. Hey you! I said leave! Leave personal stuff alone! Leave this room this instant!
Tal ignores the dead has been major and looks around the nest some more. If the mayor was real then Tal would see that soon enough. If he was a fake or a ghost well they would find out the truth if this bizarre situation one way or the other. Frankly why couldn’t everything just be simpler around here. That is what happens when you mess with devils and such.
"Mayor, it seems like we will be casing your joint whether you like it or not. Why don't you just take a seat and wait it out like a good little boy? I am sure we will be out of your hair in no time."
NO! You can't! Leave at once! If you go through my things, I'll see you all hang!
Tal continues on, Sorry but your successor has tasked us with exploring everything down here to fix his problems. As the former mayor he currently outranks you. Besides how is it you are even still alive down here?
"My friend here is right. You have no actual authority since you were ousted as Mayor."
This is getting more and more suspicious by the minute. Richard keeps his hands on his whip, just in case...
Why couldn't you have left me alone!? The mayor says as a fox-looking humanoid suddenly appears and tries to reach out and touch Tal.
"Greed gets the best of us, eh mayor...?" Who is this?
Fort save fail ugghhh
Tal doesn’t care what is going on. He just knows the ex mayor changed j to a creature and hit him. Tal vowed to hit back...harder. He does make a quick side step to try and flank with Duke
+1 keen long sword Power attack expertise for
Iterative for
Noah looks at the creature trying to figure out what it is so he knows how best to attack it. In the mean time he knows a good blow always helps.
(probably don't even have the right one...)
Duke reacts, noting Noah's moves and works to make sure the flank is complete.
If sneak is successful, also give a debilitating Injury (Bewildered: –2 AC + –2 vs Duke).
"Well done, trickster. Looks like your magic has reached its limits, though." Richard winces as Tal and Duke and Noah retaliate.
Duke misses with his attack. Tal delivers a huge blow to the creature, followed by Noah.
The creature seems to heal her self a but.
I just want to be left alone and wait for the Lord-Mayor to return!
Fort save
Noah feels less like himself.
"The Lord-Mayor? He's gone. Abandoned everyone. Including you."
Richard and Sherix wither beneath her magic.
"Tal here? The man you just bit? He has control over the manor. He signed the contract himself. This is his home."
Richard casts Charm Monster on her.
"And if you don't believe, you will die waiting for his return. Now calm down. Or we will use our silver weapons to take you down."