On his guard, Wilthorn carefully walks past Matam, before stopping next to door, waiting for the rest of the party to arrive. He motions to Matam to keep quiet, before drawing his greatsword as quietly as he can.
Tamat searches the bottom rooms.
As Galen drops through the hole onto the floating walkway, he reminds the others :"Keep an eye out for that shark. It almost had me once."
While Galen and Wilthorn move out of the front room and down into the children's dormitory, Gwernach collects the items he's found. He carefully places the wand in one of his many pockets of appropriate size; finding similar homes for the amulet, tangle foot bag and thunderstone. Gwernach fixes the dagger to his belt and entrusts the coins in a separate pouch. Leaving the leather armour and flail, Gwernach stands just as Galen follows Wilthorn down the hole in the floor. Oh, pummil me...we gadda jump?!
Moving down the catwalk, Gwernach checks on Eltanin's where-a-bouts, Eltanin, ya com'in lass? Nervously, he steps up the edge of the hole. Looking down he can make out Galen and Wilthorn just below. Swallowing hard, Gwernach kneels down to inch his way closer to the edge before carefully sitting, letting his legs dangle over the edge directly over the jetty below. The dwarf turns his body slowly and grabs hold of the floor. Easing his body down, Gwernach's legs kick the air as he tries reaching for the flooring below with his outstretched toes. Turning his head, he can see Galen standing at eye level only a few feet away. The dwarf wheezes, Almost got'it!, still trying to reach some firm footing with his toes. Taking a deep breath, he settles himself, If they can do it, I hav'ta trust... and lets go.
Gwernach lands on the jetty with a thud, wavering slightly. Catching his balance, he turns towards the door smiling to himself in relief.
Tamat searches the bottom rooms.
[dice=Perception]1d20+4
The door to the room on the lower floor is locked.
[dice=Spellcraft Wand]1d20+6
Sliding off his bulky coat, Wilthorn takes a few minutes to pick the lock, giving it his best effort. Once finished, he puts his armor back on, and grabs his sword.
Gwernach frowns. At first he's a little puzzled, Why's Wilthorn tak'n off 'is coat? However, Wilthorn's actions soon solve this mystery.
With little to do, the dwarf begins to fidget quietly; his fingers busy themselves rummaging his pockets when suddenly he comes across the pocket with the key he'd just found. Not knowing much about door locks, Gwernach takes the key out of his pocket. He looks at the key. Then at Wilthorn working the lock. Back at the key. Gwernach tentatively opens his mouth, but thinks better of it, Probably not tha right key...
The children get a glimpse of why Eltanin seems slow to react - the craggy lines under her skin seem to suddenly smooth out. She stretches, then doubles over in a brief coughing jag. When she lowers her hand from her mouth, it seems to have dried leaves in it. She tucks them into her satchel, smiles and holds one finger up to her lips as she descends to join the others.
Sliding off his bulky coat, Wilthorn takes a few minutes to pick the lock, giving it his best effort. Once finished, he puts his armor back on, and grabs his sword.
Wilthorn manages to open the lock without too much effort.
"Stand aside, friends. Let me enter here and strike the first blow if Lamm is indeed inside. My family honor and the cry of the Inheritor demands no less."
Galen readies his longsword and shield for battle and, if allowed to the front, pushes through the door ready to strike.
The air in this large room is somewhat chilly and stinks of the river, no doubt thanks to a huge opening in the floor that drops away to the river shore five feet below.
Several pilings emerge from the waters to support the roof above, with mossy ropes slung between them. In two places, rusty manacles hang from the ropes over the water. Two five-foot-wide walkways cross the hole’s edge to the other side of the chamber, where a collection of old cabinets, lockboxes, and piles of clutter are strewn about.
Chipped porcelain plates, a cracked goblet, badly rusted silverware, an old wooden shield with a crossbow bolt embedded in it, the odd dinged helm, and other “treasures” litter the floor of this entire chamber. Three tables, their tops heaped with additional clutter, stand amid this mess, while just west of that a wooden door seems to provide access to a walled-off section.
Once the door is open, Gwernach readies his shield and battle axe. Waiting only for the fighters ahead of him to make their way into the room, the dwarf quickly follows the others steps inside.
Galen scours the room for any threats. Waiting as the someone brings a light source to bear in the dim and smelly room.
"By the Inheritor's sword of righteousness, we are getting close, I can feel it. I expected more of force of bodyguards or thugs around Lamm. Are we sure we are in the right place?"
If he fails to see anyone or anything, he proceeds to the interior door, pausing briefly so the others can catch up.
Eltanin keeps her voice low but clear. "We're going on the word of Zellara. She might simply have been mistaken." Feeling the quarters being close, Ellie keeps only a dagger in hand as she moves just behind Gwernach. She frowns and glances behind them once, still feeling nervous despite the demise of Giggles.
There is clearly nothing else to see in here. That walled-off room is the only thing of interest.
Stepping into the room, Gwernach's eyes quickly spot the door on the other side. There, the dwarf points to the far corner of the room, another door.
Gwernach reaches for the large silver ring hanging from his neck. Speaking a few words in an obscure, forgotten language, divine light erupts from the dwarf's shield, illuminating the room.
"Thank you, father dwarf for the light. Now we shall see what we shall see and woe betide Gaedran Lamm if he is present here."
Galen treads carefully around the pool in the center of the room, and to the walled off room. He opens the door when he arrives, leading in shield first, sword ready.
As Gwernach casts a spell, the room fills with light eminating from his shield and for most of you, your vision changes from black and white to colour. In reality it makes no difference to what you can see but it is, at very least comforting to know there is nothing hiding in the shadows.
As Galen opens the door a foul-smell hits him and quickly fills the room the rest of you are in. This smaller room seems to be a combination bedroom and study. A wooden bed with a lumpy mattress stands against the east wall, while a round table heaped with dirty plates, bread crusts, stained goblets, fruit rinds, and scuttling cockroaches sits nearby.
At the foot of the bed sits a large strongbox, a slighty rusted lock securing its lid. A sagging dresser filled with moth-eaten clothes well past their glory days is in one corner—what appears to be a wooden hatbox surrounded by a small cloud of flies sits atop this dresser.
Disappointed at no sign of Lamm, Galen stands down, letting the others explore the goods in the room.
"Carefully with the box, it is likely trapped." he warns. "It appears Zellara's information was incorrect. Lamm is not here, unless there is a secret entrance somewhere."
"A locked box? Not for long. If we're lucky, it might have a clue to Lamm's location." Wilthorn remarks, walking over to it. He spends a minute checking for any traps, before sliding off his coat and getting to work.
Gwernach stands at the door as Wilthorn gets to work. Angling his shield to give the ranger ample light, the dwarf stands watch incase anyone approaches via the lower entrance or the floor opening.
"A locked box? Not for long. If we're lucky, it might have a clue to Lamm's location." Wilthorn remarks, walking over to it. He spends a minute checking for any traps, before sliding off his coat and getting to work.
You are able to identify that nothing is trapped and the chest’s lock is a challenge but with patience is opened. As you search through the ‘treasure’ a number of things catch your eye.
The key items are:
1. A narrow teak cigar case inlaid with tiny bits of jade;
2. A 2-pound gold ingot; bearing the Cheliax coat of arms;
3. A miniature gold crown;
4. A fist-sized scrimshaw carving of a kraken with garnets for eyes;
5. A silver ring bearing the inscription “For Emmah — the light in my nights;”
6. A highly realistic (and scandalous) ivory figurine of two entwined succubi;
7. A masterwork shuriken;
8. An adamantine arrowhead;
9. An abalone-shell holy symbol of Shelyn;
10. A tiny glass tube containing a substance that looks like oil;
11. An obsidian wand;
12. A crystalline vial.
The most interesting item in the box is a bejewelled brooch with a broken clasp. Even to an untrained eye, this brooch is obviously the most valuable object in the entire collection. The circular gold brooch depicts a pseudodragon and an imp coiled around each other in an almost yin-yang pattern. The pseudodragon’s eye is an amethyst, while the imp’s eye is an emerald.
The hatbox actually contains something shocking — Zellara’s severed head, poorly preserved and decorated with unsightly makeup in a crude attempt to give her sagging flesh the semblance of life.
Her Harrow deck sits in a smaller wooden box under the stump of her neck.
The sound of the box opening catches Gwernach's attention and he turns his head to see what has been found.
The severed hand elicits little reaction from Gwernach. The fact that Lamm would take it upon himself to possess such an item merely speaks to the old man's depravity. As for the rest of the items, none of them seem to stand out as having any particular importance. But then the dwarf's attention is divided between the contents of the box and the door on the other side of the room. Perhaps later, after he has had a chance to examine the items closer Gwernach can make a more accurate appraisal to their worth. The wand however does seem to have a hint of quality to it. Once Gwernach has a chance to handle it he may have more to say about it.
The sound of the box opening catches Gwernach's attention and he turns his head to see what has been found.
The ring is not magical but the wand is charged with the magic missile spell (23 charges).
The review of the head suggests Zellara has been dead for weeks - which begs the question, who met you in her house?
Matam recoils in horror.
Gritting his teeth at the grisly discovery, Galen covers the rotting head as best he can while taking the Harrow deck.. "Blessing of the Inheritor on her poor soul! If the lady has been dead for what appears days, then who did we meet his afternoon? A ghost, an imposter? Either way, it appears Lamm is not here. Priest, can you give ample rights to Zellara so we can inter her head and put her to rest? We can bury her with her card deck to ease her spirit. We should take these valuables and sell them to fund care for the lost orphans upstairs."
Galen moves to help gather the valuables, then will proceed to leave the basement if the others agree.
Gwernach hesitates at Galen's request to give Zellara's head some sort of spiritual blessing. Clearing his throat, the dwarf tries to choose his words carefully, Ya should know, 'am no expart in these sort's'o things lad, The dwarf looks up to the sky, I've no official ties as it ware. Returning his gaze back to those in Lamm's bedchamber, 'Owever, the dwarf adds respectfully, it would be sensible ta reunite Zellara with 'er body. Spirits don'na rest well when tha bodies 'ave been desecrated like this. Than I can arrange ta give 'er a propar burial an put'er spirit ta rest.
Gwernach stops briefly to check on the door before continuing, Unless we find Lamm t'night, I suggest we take Zellara's deck back ta 'er apartment. Zellara 'ad a strong connection with it, an if 'am right, 'er ghost may still be there. Heeding the opposite door, Zellara's ghost shuld know where shea died, an that could lead us ta tha body. Frowning he continues, Tis odd tha Lamm's no'ere. 'E must'ave fled shortlay afta tha fight'n started an Zellara will no find peace with him still breath'n.
"As you say, good dwarf." Galen agrees. "Let us return her to rest, bring these treasures, and see to the Lambs above. Then let us clear out of here. The smell is enough to make me gag..."
Ellie kept her silence as they pressed forward; now she seems more stunned than anything else. "I can't believe it." she murmurs. Then as Galen starts toward the door she comes to herself. "May I hold that box for a moment, Master Galen?"
"For what it's worth, I think we should keep the cheaper items, and the box. If they have value to Lamm, they might have some use. You know, as bait or some such. And, what smell were you talking about...?"
As Galen opens the door a foul-smell hits him and quickly fills the room the rest of you are in.
Galen gladly hands over the box to the alchemist for her inspection. "The more value you can find in here, the more our orphans have to start out with. Look to your hearts content, dear lady."
He sets the box down allowing her perusal, and takes it up again once she's done.
I think Lamm's too smart ta allow himself ta be baited lass. Gwernach moves away from Lamm's bedchamber door, stopping by the opening in the floor to continue, Let's no get ahead of ourselves Master Galen. Don'na forget, we're 'ere ta take care o'Lamm. See'n ta tha orphan's well being is second on tha list. The light from the dwarf's shield reflects playfully off of the water in the pool before him. Looking to the door and open floor the dwarf ponders, A don't think Lamm's fled. He'd of had plenty o'time ta take tha box with'im if tha were tha case. He must be out'on business. Catching Wilthorn's eye, Gwernach shifts his cloak to cover up his shield before asking, What's yar take on this Wilthorn? D'ya suppose Lamm'l return?
"Too smart too be baited, yeah, but maybe not smart enough to dodge an ambush. You've got a good point in Lamm leaving his valuables. I originally guessed a setup with a fake Zellara, but if it was, he'd have taken his goods with him. We've searched the building from top to bottom, so unless there are secret compartments somewhere, he has to be out. If we clear out the bodies and blood, we can lay as nice trap for him."
After giving the one room one last look, Wil scratches the back of his head, mumbling "...if we can figure out how to get back up to the main floor. Did anybody see any stairs?"
As you consider a way back to the main floor - two things occur to you.
Firstly there no obvious means that will take you back up to the room above. Secondly, you haven't searched the barge that is moored next to the building.
Ellie glances toward the moorings and nudges Gwernach "He might be out, but he needn't be far." she murmurs.
Gett'n back up should'n be too difficult, Gwernach points his thumb in Eltanin's direction - and her rope.
Eltanin's interest in the moored barge at the other end of the boardwalk causes Gwernach's eyebrow to raise. Shifting to the eastern side of the room he squints his eyes as he peers past the open door to the barge. Aye, could be 'e's there, I'll grant ya that. Tilting his head, the dwarf strokes his beard in thought. The idea that Lamm uses more than one room is nothing to scoff at. But the fact that Lamm would use rooms that are on the opposite side of the building from each other strikes the dwarf as being odd. Still, Might be worth a'look...
Gwernach stops mid sentence to ponder, ...eff Lamm left, 'owd he leave? The opening to the river in this room strikes his interest.
... no doubt thanks to a huge opening in the floor that drops away to the river shore five feet below...
...Several pilings emerge from the waters to support the roof above, with mossy ropes slung between them. In two places, rusty manacles hang from the ropes over the water...
There is nothing in the room description, but how much of the river's shore is visible? What's visible on the shore? Could Lamm have just walked out? [/ooc]
Eye the barge in the distance, Wil speaks, "One way out, it looks like, and we might as well be thorough anyway."
As you approach the barge, it looks like any other discarded vessel but when you get right up close, the outline of a door cut into the hull becomes visible. It could only be seen by someone standing as close as you are now.
Gwernach stands behind Wilthorn as he examines the door. His eyes narrow and his ears strain to gleam as much as he can once the door is opened.
Wilthorn motions for the others to stay back, before carefully trying to open the door.
Eltanin again takes one of her exploding vials in hand, glancing behind before focusing ahead.
Wilthorn opens the door in the hull. Behind it you find the 'barrel' of a crossbow and at the other end of the weapon is a man you presume to be Gaedren.
The space he occupies is dark and tiny - this is obviously some sort of a bolt-hole.
He fires the crossbow at Wilthorn, the bolt embedding itself in his left shoulder and draws a dagger before shouting,