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All - this is what you see from where you currently are. I'm making some exceptions, but I think that's both safe and pretty obvious.
As your group collects itself, it realizes that the upstairs isn't necessarily vast, but the many nooks, some cloaked in shadows, have made it rather easy to miss the obvious. Your battle with the spirits in the place haven't helped, either. You've had moments of darkness, fear, and uncertainty - all of which have driven you into the northeast corner. After carefully searching that area, your group slowly begins to make its way south again, completing its search of the remaining prison cells.
In the last hall, the one that Valen pointed out, you discover a door on the eastern wall that leads to a set of stairs. These stairs lead downward to what you can only assume is the ground floor.
Just south of that stairway, at the end of the same hallway, you discover a guard's cage. A massive oak desk with several wooden chairs rest behind the bars. Two doors along the southern wall are the only visible exit from behind the cage.
Having followed his curiosity to the hallway, Valen makes his way towards and around the guard's cage - looking for an entrance and a way to check the desk - hoping they might find further clues about the inmates of the prison. Or at least some new information about what the cultists were doing about.
So, I would bet that there is another creature in here. Might as well see.
Use Spirit Sense focusing on the area behind the bars.
So, I would bet that there is another creature in here. Might as well see.
Valen shouts from the eastern side of the cage (square 33):"There's a door on this side." He tries the door to see if the cage is unlocked. If so, he moves to examine the desk.
After she finishes scanning the area of what appears to be an office, Alexa stops using her detection ability:
I do not sense the presence of anything unnatural here. Perhaps they are beyond my ability to sense them, or perhaps this part of the prison is somehow warded as the rest of the prison exudes a distinct aura of undeath. Or perhaps the evil presences are just not here, but this seems a little strange after having met so many others.
Madeline nods,
"Always good to know there's maybe some place we can run to to recover and recuperate." She eyes the door way obviously still skeptical though...
Ah - I had forgotten that he just channeled. It was 3 weeks ago in real time. I also did not realize that the cell was right next to this area.
It is also possible that Valen's use of positive energy may have cleared anything that was in here.
It is also possible that Valen's use of positive energy may have cleared anything that was in here.
"Let's hope it remains so, Pharasma guide us," Valen mentions as he enters the area through the ajar door. He proceeds to examine the desk, looking for any papers or information that might help them further know what's going on - or at least help against the undeath.
Creel walks through the door. Checking to make sure that it can be easily opened from the inside as he does so. "Hmmm door's in good shape. I would hate to get locked in."
Alexa also carefully helps to search the room.
Perception:
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This guard area is blocked from the cellblock by an arc of iron bars. Within sits an old wooden table and a few chairs.
Your group searches the area and discovers a pair of manacles (with matching key), an old watch bill, several pieces of parchment with faded ink, a quill pen, a crystal bottle with dried ink and matching stopper, a satchel with some dice, and a dozen silver coins.
Well...we may as well take everything we find. Sentimental value...at least." Madeline suggests.
There must be something else of note here.
Alexa carefully attempts to search the area for anything else of interest.
Perception:
Discovers a pair of manacles (with matching key), an old watch bill, several pieces of parchment with faded ink, a quill pen, a crystal bottle with dried ink and matching stopper, a satchel with some dice, and a dozen silver coins.
Unless Alexa finds something amiss, Valen glances towards the two doors on the back wall and opens one to see where it leads.
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Valen calls back to the others: "There's another room back here - looks like a guard's room. Don't see much in here that isn't busted...I think I can see the outside from here as well."
He props the door open for others to follow, and tries to carefully approach the south wall. If anything feels like the floor might give way, backs up.
Madeline waves her hand, indicating Smith should try and be of some assistance.
Even as her eyes continue to watch the darkness behind/around them.
"A potential other way out is always a good thing. Yes?" Madeline calls in response to Valen's information.
Smith simply nods at his Mistress' commands and slowly creeps forwards. His eyes scanning every where, checking as many things as he can.
Bad! Very bad!" Is all Madeline simply says, even as she begins to back peddle and try to exit the room, as well as give others space to like wise evacuate, as quickly as possible.
Alexa looks through the door as the others retreat.
A second exit is always good in a place like this. Although we might want to get a ladder next time we come here so that we can leave without falling to our deaths.
"So not much to see in there, apart from main floor that is." Creel smiles.
"Hmmm I wonder how this place has managed this long. This level of rot in a strongly built building seems odd. But then I know little of carpentry and such things."
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The cellblocks, unlike the ones in the west, lie quiet here. The skeletons lie still, their remains in peaceful piles in chairs and on rotting racks. Although some of the cells are open, a thick layer of dust covers the floor, betraying none have passed through here in a very long time. The smell of mold is strong here.
Valen almost trips over Madeline and Smith as he backs up. Slightly embarassed, he gives the space a backward glance and then follows the others to the next area of cell blocks.
"Maybe we can find a way down that doesn't requires collapsing floors or bare openings in walls," he adds nervously.
As Madeline walks along with the others, she nods in agreement with Valen's comments. Looking about the place she sighs.
"So much neglect. The church must be thin stretched to have not come and cleaned this place out..." She gives voice to the thoughts in her mind, even as she eyes the surrounding spaces.
"So...are molds also dangerous? Or am I getting mixed up with poisonous mushrooms...?" She ponders quietly.
Alexa returns to scanning the area for spirits.
Using Spirit Sense trying to limit the range so that I am not overwhelmed.
Perception:
Please be careful all. As a group we are solid, I would prefer not losing someone to a broken floor or collapsed wall.
Alexa gives a worried look to the others: Clearly we are not alone here. Lets keep moving.
Alexa will lead on carefully watching for any traps and expecting unnatural things to jump out at her at any time.
Creel follows the druid halberd at the ready.
Smith walks along besides Valen....His eyes silently scanning the surroundings as they move.
"Something about this place certainly feels wrong. It is like time is slowed here. I can't shake the feeling that minutes have turned into months, days into years." Vaghn shudders and continues with the others.
Like the others, Valen feels a sense of dread as they walk through the old building. He flinches with his shield slightly at the noise, but keep focused on making it to the double doors. It seems to be the only doors they have come accross that isn't a barred door or a hole in collapsed masonry.
He starts to reach for the handle; pauses to make a soft prayer to Pharasma; and then opens the door.
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Your group sweeps the rest of the upstairs, looking carefully into cells and dark corners, with little to speak of. Here and there, a loud 'bang' from downstairs forces you to stop and evaluate your surroundings. You also notice that both Kendra and Tharnik, who you could swear were just here are gone. You're not positive when you lost them, but you are certain they entered this level with you.
'Crash!'
As Valen opens the double doors and peaks inside, a wave of stench washes over him. While the stench isn't enough to sicken him, it does not bode well for whatever lies beneath.
Vaghn starts when he notices Kendra and Tharnik have disappeared. "Where did they..?" he mumbles to himself. He calls out: "Kendra! Tharnik! Hello?"
Alexa looks rather bewildered for a moment, it is unlike her to miss two companions suddenly disappearing.
Did anyone see Kendra and Tharnik leave? She is a wizard and he a warrior, so they should be fully capable of taking care of themselves, just seems strange that they disappeared like that.
On the other hand, with all the noise from downstairs, it is quite possible they are down there and in trouble, lets see what is there.
Alexa moves past Valen and begins to slowly and carefully proceed down the stairs prepared for anything that might jump out.
Using Spirit Sense.
Perception: