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With shaky knees the man steps beside Mavaro, Erasmus takes hold of his exquisitely crafted starknife and looks toward the door on the left. "Aye, let's try this door and see what horrors are to be found," he says with effort, clearly still struggling against the phantom grip of the haunt. "I'll hold off on a stunt like last time, you all seem to be capable as it is." he laughs under his breath then finishes with a cough.
Again he turns to looks at an empty space on the floor nearby, seems to concentrate as if listening to something unheard by the others, then laughs once more under his breath.
The Pathfinder exit the bathroom, and then head back east. This time they stumble upon the kitchen.
Two stoves sit in the southwestern corner of this large kitchen
area. Multiple worktables and butcher’s blocks occupy the
center, while the other walls are covered with cabinets and other
storage areas. A large wooden barrel sits, almost out of place,
to the west. The scent of death that is so prevalent elsewhere is
weaker here, replaced by the smell of overripe fruit.
The room has seen recent use. Upon one table, large eartherware jar sit open. A few sniffs and the Pathfinders can tell that the wine in these jars is not fit for table consumption, at least not one a particular elf would imbibe. It seems to be oxidizing.
There is a clue in there.
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Mavaro walks over to the wine and, like an expert, gives it an experimental sip. Also like an expert, he spits it out. "This foul tipeu du vin is in the process of turning, meaning it has not yet turned and was left open relatively recently... in the last day or so, I would guess."
While grasping the jar, Mavaro once again tries to get an impression of what the jar was being used for. I hope I do not come to regret doing this in the wrong order...
When he is done with the jar, Mavaro moves over to the barrel.
Neither Mavaro nor Rivani find anything of significance by studying the objects in this room.
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Estra again waits patiently while Rivani and Mavaro use their inherent powers to try to ascertain what is going on, to no avail. When all seem satisfied that nothing else can be gained from this small little brewing room, she has Honaire open the door to the room in the bottom right corner of the house.
Honarie glides into the next room. The troom is empty save for a chair.
+2 to avoid being surprised and detect invisible and incorporeal creatures; Aura sight, darkvision 60
Erasmus informs the group that he has discovered a peephole in the door.
Upon further reflection and the group's unique abilities, they are able to piece together that this was probably a guard room, and they probably used the peephole to observe people who approached the house.
"Alors, looks like all the action is upstairs. Still, best to clear things down her, non?" asks Mavaro, growing slightly agitated. All this tension was getting to him. Investigation was all well and good, but a man could be ready for a fight only so long before he started spoiling for a fight.
"Honaire, if you would be so good as to lead us back to the other room so we can try the door on the right?" Mavaro gestures to show where he means , "Merci beaucoup."
Several barrels, storage bins, and stacks of very dry firewood line the walls of this room. Wall racks hold a number of earthen jars with lids. A single window is set in the east wall.
+2 to avoid being surprised and detect invisible and incorporeal creatures; Aura sight, darkvision 60
All of you easily notice a poorly concealed secret door is set in the floor in the northwest corner. Scratches in the wood suggest that stacking boxes and barrels once concealed it further.
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Estra smirks as she spies the inadequately hidden door in the floor. Perhaps, when the house had been busier, with more activity, such a thing would have gone unnoticed. But this group was used to walking into areas with eyes wide open.
She holds up her hand to stop Honaire from following through on Mavaro's request. It wasn't needed, really...her spiritual partner responded to mental commands, but it was a remnant of his time on Golarion.
"Friends...should we put something heavy on top of the door until we've explored the first floor, then come back to investigate? Or go down now?"
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"Oh come on... The first interesting thing found in this oh-so-boring place. And you want to check it later?"
Meligaster moves closer to the secret door and presses his ear on it. Then he steps back and shrugs. "Rivani, does your..." - the halfling makes a wobbly gesture with his hand next to his forehead - "..thingie.. detect anything beyond the door?"
"Yes, yes, the secret door first," agrees Methodios, "I am still looking after things upstairs. Oh, speaking of, that eye won't last much longer..."
Methodios winks with his left eye, and maintains the wink, keeping his eyelid firmly shut. He then holds his hand in front of his face and smacks himself on the back of the head hard. His right eye rockets out from its socket and plops into his upheld palm. As the other eye did, this one zips off upstairs to watch the door.
"Va bien. Alons-y!"
As the Pathfinder open the secret door, the find a simple passage with rough earthen walls and wooden supports that descends. At the end of the passage is a heavy wooden door. It is the only hinged door in Hinojai, and is locked.
Past the door, Mavaro can feel the presence of a [i]Strong undead presence. Only one, and it is STRONG.
"Caution, mes amis," says Mavaro, holding out a hand, "There is a very powerful undead creature just beyond this door. If you have the means, enhance yourselves before we enter. Honaire, you should be ready for something severe when you enter the room. Mes dieux, protect us."
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Yoon takes a sharp breath in when Mavaro lets on about the powerful undead below them.
"Here Gom Gom, time for you to help!" And with that, she pours her oil of daylight on the stuffed owl, bringing a bright light into the room.
"Wait! Just before we open the door, I've got something else for everyone! Well, almost everyone." she says, pulling out a thin, long wand. She concentrates for a moment, then waves it about.
It is the only hinged door in Hinojai, and is locked.
"Step aside, I will have a go at this!" proclaims Mavaro, drawing out his lock picks. He sets the skull of Mother Wren down next to the trap door.
"..."
"Putain! I would like to see you do better!" In anger, Mavaro pulls out one of the skull's teeth and jams it into the lock to hold a pick in place while he performs his other lock picking tricks.
"Merde alors! This thing is tricky. Do any of you have the means of helping me out with this?" asks Mavaro before trying again
"Yawwwn, just let us know when it's done..."
The door open, the Pathfinders emerge into a room.
The manacles and fetters set in the western wall leave little doubt as to the room’s purpose. Ancient rusty-brown stains coat the walls and floor where prisoners once hung in chains. In the northeast corner, a small table is covered with torture instruments and a small stack of books. In the opposite corner of the room sits a very large barrel next to a stool with a hammer resting on it. The lid has been removed and the barrel is empty.
+2 to avoid being surprised and detect invisible and incorporeal creatures; Aura sight, darkvision 60
Can act in surprise round of a haunt
Mavaro, Meligaster, and Yoon all notice that the barrel in the corner of the room is filling with liquid, and can feel a haunt manifesting.
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After consideration some time later, Yoon can understand why such a horrific place would have souls unable to rest here. But in the moment there is just panic.
"use the cage! Use the cage! "
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Gah, one of these things again! Erasmus, this is your expertise... " Meligaster stutters, keeping his distance to the haunt. He fixes his gaze to the creature, and tries one of his spells against it - whatever good it'll do.
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Erasmus pulls one sleeve up as he notices the others reacting to some unfelt presence in the room. His eyes are tired, each with lines of fatigue and pain etched beneath, but his mind remains sharp to a growing sensation of something unknown approaching. "Once more, as always," he says under his breath with a heavy sigh, taking a few steps toward the barrel. As he nears, he can see it filling with liquid and reaches down to place his hand on the outer radius of the barrel.
If a touch attack is needed
"Why do you choose to stay in this place?"
a haunt—a hazardous region created by unquiet spirits that react violently to the presence of the living.
From beyond, the haunt communicates with Erasmus.
Though Erasmus damages the haunt, the Pathfinders eyes widen as it manifests. Two large men approach Honaire. The grip him by either shoulder and drag him towards the barrel that is now filled with wine. Pushing down hard, they shove him face first into the barrel.
Fighting in the ectoplasmatic universe, Honarie resists as best he can.
He places one hand on either side of the barrel and pushes up with all he has. His strength is too much, and he breaks the men's grip.
"You pulled out the syphon too soon, ma petite," Mavaro scolds Yoon half-heartedly, "Weaken it first, and then use the syphon to store its energy to use against your enemies later. Alors, time to put my magic where my mouth is."
Mavaro pulls out a wand and waves it about menacingly, speaking a command word and attempting to 'touch' the haunt.
Meligaster stares in horror as the ghostly men drag Estra's companion to the barrel, trying to drown him.
"Uh, you seem to be doing just fine here" the halfling's voice is shaky as he takes a silent step backwards. "I... I will be guarding the rear, so no one can sneak up on us"
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With but a thought, Honaire disappears from between the two would be ghostly murderers, reappearing immediately beside Estra. Tapping her chin, she remarks, "Perhaps if we destroy the wine barrel it will cease this particular haunt's abilities?"
Still, better safe than sorry. She backs away, Honaire silently following her.
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Yoon looks crestfallen at the failure of the item that she used incorrectly in her haste and fear. Unsure what to do, she watches Mavaro use a healing wand on the haunted area.
She is right, if there is no wine barrel, then no one can be made to drown in it!
Yoon begins to wave her arms around her, and suddenly the entire room fills with a dark mist, crackling and humming with the sound of a roaring fire. The swirl is centered on the little girl as she gathers energy from the very room around her.
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"It hasn't been neutralized, so it must stay here," the man says, a pain in his voice. It is clear he has sorrow for the thing haunting this place, as if it were a victim too, in addition to the endangered Honarie. Gathering his composure, and listening to his companions call, Erasmus prepares his next question.
"What binds you to this place, spirit?" he questions to the ether, reaching out his hand and punching the barrel with great strength. He knows it is not the force of the strike that will damage the spirit haunting this place, it is merely his touch, but that does not prevent the anger from brewing into a strike for fear of his friend.
Tell what to destroy so I can release you, the thought races in his mind, hoping for a clear answer from an unknown entity.
Mavaro considers the haunts actions and answers deeply, attempting to ascertain what may allow them to eradicate it forever.