"Well it might." Caelynn pointed out as she sipped on her tea. "If the haunt is too power then it will only damage it. If that is the case, hope that I react before the haunt does." Caelynn said softly as she set her cup down. "Mathias another sword here is always welcome." The half-elven woman smiled.
"I do believe that I am ready as well." She agreed as she nodded and stood.
"I'm as good as I'll be given my now minor hangover...."
Harrowstone is located on a barren hill south of the city of
Ravengro, the stark, sagging roof of its central structure
visible through a large gap in the surrounding wall. A
partially overgrown track leads from the southern edge of
town, winding around the base of the hill and then back up along its southern slope to the prison itself.
A sagging wood and metal gate set between a pair of stone
guard towers once barred entrance into Harrowstone, but the
gates now hang negligently open, creaking softly in what wind
touches the ruined bars.
"Foreboding abandoned, I wonder how it looked still functioning", Rego moves closer to the gates to investigate whether any recent footprints are present before they all trample any tracks.
Survival
Ingrid came not wearing her usual attire but one more for battle....
"Anyone else getting chills going up their spine being here?"
"Chills such as these are an old friend to me I'm afraid." Caelynn said before she took a long look at the prison. "Stone doesn't burn easy. It does however turn things into an oven."
Quinn sees Rego examining the path and decides to look to its left and right along the walls. He also casts a glance at Regos work in case Rego missed something.
Unfortunately the omanis presence of the place makes Quinn to jumpy to focus.
Mathias sighs as he comes within view of the prison. "Even in death old Petros takes me to the nicest places."
he examines the building for a moment.
"We should use caution, who knows what resides in those old halls now."
"Caution I can agree with... but we'll need more then Caution here.... crap this place is giving me the creeps...."
"Caution I can agree with... but we'll need more then Caution here.... crap this place is giving me the creeps...."
Rego shrugs at Ingrid and calls back, "I am just glad for once it is something besides me giving someone the creeps".
Ingrid replyes
"Your a bit creepy, but no where near as creepy as a few folks I ran into."
Ingrid starts slowly moving closer to Quinn as if doing so subconsciously.
"You don't give me the creeps Rego." Caelynn said with a small sympathetic smile before giving a wave of her hand. "Lets go, we're not just going to stand out here and learn the things we wish to know. We must go in."
From the gate you can see the interior of the courtyard. To the west the wall still seem sound and two observation towers can be seen. The wooden roofs have collapsed and the stonework seem to be crumbling under the think ivy vines.
To the east the wall has collapsed and a small pond has formed over the years.
A small brick manor house is overgrown with thick sheets of gray-green ivy. The roof sags ominously, and the front door stands askew.
A two-story stone building looms in the center of the prison grounds. Ivy and moss cling tenaciously to the walls, while above the wooden shingles of the roof are often missing entirely, exposing the wooden rafters of the upper structure to the sky. Here and there, leering stone gargoyles perch on the eaves, once functioning as drain spouts and decorations but now seeming almost to serve a more ominous role of sentinels. Many of these stone decorations have crumbled away and lie in ruined piles on the soggy ground below. Windows in the building's Façade are narrow and blocked by grills of rusty iron bars. Stone columns support a slumping wooden balcony over the building's wooden front doors, both of which hang skew and reveal dark glimpses of chambers within.
Quinn draws his sword and shield and walks through the gate."Lets look at that overgrown house first. We don't want anything sneaking up on us, and it's as likely to give us clues as anywhere."Quinn says as he starts walking over to it.
Mathias draws his sword and follows "I concur with Mr. Dealnegru, I shall keep on watch for any traps"
Ingrid follows behind Quinn
"I just hope ghosts aren't haunting this place as I won't be able to do anything to them....
As I have no magic or know how to use most weapons...."
Rego shakes his head, "I see no tracks. Agreed, let's go". Mace in hand, the Cleric heads into the grounds staying towards the back of the group.
Burgen follows the group.
"Good idea, let us see what we can find." Caelynn agreed as she made her way to the house.
with a mildly frightened voice
"This building is almost reminding me of my hometown's abandoned manor."
"lets just hope it has the same number of residents."Quinn says as he opens the door, and floor permitting steps in.
Quinn climbs the steps up to the front door followed by Mathias. Each step creaks with age. When Quinn pulls on the door it comes loose from its hinges and falls the floor.
Ivy's been following Quinn.
Quinn, Mathias, and Ingrid enter the main hall of the manor while Caelynn, Bergen, and Rego wait outside. To the right is a dining room with a door that must lead to the kitchen area. On the left is a sitting area. Ahead is a staircase that leads to the second level. The walls are crumbling, and what furniture is left has been smashed beyond any usefulness. All the glass in the windows has been broken.
As the three stand there surveying the home, their combined weight causes the floor to collapses.
Lying in the rubble, the three of you find yourselves in the basement.
Burgen goes to the doorway and looks inside. Upon seeing the collapse he shouts, "Any O' you lot still breathin'?
Ivy lands face down on Quinn
"I think we are fine...."
As Mathias falls he lands on a broken piece of wood that stabs through his Thigh. He takes a moment to pull out the piece of wood from his leg, and weakly stands up.
Rego stands behind Burgen and starts pulling rope out of his pack, "Hold on a moment, I've rope I'll throw down to you".
As the dust settles and our three adventures gain their feet, Mathias spots a section of wall that has been dislodged by the recent collapse of the floor. Inside is a chest that has a thick layer of dust on it.
Ingrid suddenly realizes she's fallen on top of poor Quinn, blushes some and gets off him.
"I hope I didn't hurt you when I landed on you Quinn."
She extends her hand to help him up.
"Is everyone alright?" Caelynn asked as she called down. "No one too badly injured to climb back up are they?" Caelynn looked sideways at Rego as she awaited a reply from below and said, "Ensure to knot the rope. It'll make climbing for the others easier."
"No no, I'm fine." Quinn says red faced as he takes her hand and gets up."We should find a way out before the rest of this place comes down on us."
"Give me a minute, i found a chest here" Mathias begins examining the chest for traps before opening.
2 masterwork daggers (a matched set)
MW Longsword
MW Studded Leather
MW Light Steel Shield
4 potions of CLW
2 Scrolls of Restoration
10 gp and 100 sp
"These were the wardens by the looks of it"
Mathias then begins emptying the contents of the chest in a neat pile on the floor
"there are weapons of quality here, two matching daggers a longsword and a shield. Some good armor as well,and some potions and scrolls with some coin."
Mathias takes the papers and the smaller mementos and puts them in his pack.
"I don't want this place to collapse on us so, Let's quickly tie the chest to the rope, climb out, then haul the chest up."
"Well then something good came out of something that was almost bad then!"
Everyone gets out just fine and the chest is recovered.
"Scrolls? Now those I can use. All else, especially the potions, are not for me..."
"Should I tie to the rope to the grappling hook so we can use it to explore the second floor? While the chest is nice we did not come here for that alone".
"Let's just put it next to the wall and pick it up when we head back?"
"I don't want to forget it on the way out."Quinn replies. Then he continues, "I will take any weapons you guy don't want. Caelynn our goddess grants you healing powers so you are the one we wont give a potion to so we have them to administer if you are unconscious. Tell me when you have used up your favor and I will give you one of mine. The armor is of better quality then any leather in the party so Mr.Trellar you should use it. I would give you a chance at it Ms.Yuri, but it is fitted for a man. The gold we split evenly now that's two gold, thirteen silver, and eight copper for all but one other and myself who will get one gold twenty-three silver and nine copper. we take the extra two copper produced by this split for the inconvenience of the extra weight. If future money splits end up with loose ends we will be the last choices in who is shorted. Are we all agreed?"
Ingrid replies to Quinn's words on the armour
"That fact that the armour is made for a man is minor problem, the bigger problem is the armour is sized for a 5 foot 10 man, I'm 6 foot 6.
The arms and Legs would not be the right length, the thighs area would likely be tight and the torso's length could also be a problem.
That and there is a reason for my current design of my armour."
Rego nods to Quinn, "Fine for me as far as the split of treasure. All else you can decide among yourselves. The scrolls of course are there for those who need them, not for me personally". He grins as he pulls the rope back up and starts knotting it into the grappling hook.
As you stand around discussing your option you hear strange groaning sound coming from the manor house. As you watch the volume increase. You turn to face it as volume increases. Finally there is a sharp crack as the structure begins to collapse in on itself.
As the building groans
"What's that noise...."
After the building collapses
"Wow, good thing we got out when we did..."
"I will gladly take the daggers if no other wants them. I am well versed in using daggers as I've been around them all my days. I'm also more skilled with them than the average user if I do say so myself." Caelynn said with a small smile before she laid her hand upon Rego's shoulder. "Also I have thought ahead for you. I've asked my Lady to give me the power to use more... negative energy this day. I can heal you." She told him with a nod.
Caelynn accepted the coin and put it away as the building collapsed. "Thank the Lady. Not today."
"Probably best to stay clear of the building and focus on the prison now."
Mathias steps away from the house then sits down. He then opens his back back and begins reading some of the wardens papers for any insight.
Rego pauses is shock, "I seemed to have misjudged the condition of the house. I am sorry I suggested entering once more my friends". He then begins to back away as well.
Ingrid replies Rego
"It's not your fault, we took the risk that it was safe."
Quinn Sees Mathias start to read and suggests "Perhaps I can read those aloud so we can all get the info. while you put on that new set of armor."