Down then, I suppose.
"I am a fairly good climber and I see quite well in the dark... would you like me to go down first?" Alexia asks, moving to open the trapdoor.
From the kitchen's entrance Taltōsh replied, "If you are willing, Lady Alexia."
"Know that I can produce magical light if needed--which I will need if I am to follow into the dark."
Alexia nods and smiles slightly, "Of course. I don't need the light yet though so just bring it with you when you are ready."
As the others inspect the kitchen, Gryfford takes a closer look at the statue on the altar.
Adriel addresses the two newer members.
I can make most things within 30ft fall asleep. A quiet death of a sentry might be preferred to loud combat to maintain surprise, if your faith permits.
"We should at least look and see if there is anything to put to sleep first... no need to waste valuable magic if there is nothing immediately there to cast it upon hmm?"
Elorin looks at Adriel then back to the trap door. "I will fight fairly when the fight is fair, and I will strike quickly and without mercy when it is not." He puases for a moment and takes a deep breath
before continueing. "We hunt a master vampire capable of great evil. If they are allies of his, of their own free will, it will mark their soul. Please allow time for The Dawn Flower to show me this and I will strike them down myself."
If you can do it quietly in a single stroke, go ahead. Otherwise, give me a hand signal and I'll whisper via a MESSAGE spell. If you want them slumbering, reply and I'll do it. The power is not a spell and doesn't run out, but I can try it once per foe per day. If they resist, just use the old fashioned method.
Taltōsh admired the convictions of their newest allies.
I hope I prove a worthy companion to such as these, he thought, adjusting his hood to further conceal the burn scars beneath.
Perhaps they will be as understanding of my disfigurement as the others have already proven to be.
As you descend down through the trapdoor, you find yourselves in a dark room. It's clear that this part of the cellar is some sort of extension of the kitchen. There is another cauldron laying upside down in one corner as well as another rack filled with bottles of alcohol. Off to one side is a small wooden door. There is a large cupboard across from the cauldron.
"Do you see anything?" whispered Taltōsh.
"Seems to be some sort of cellar... there is a door to the other side... you'll want to bring a light down."
Alexia is going to check the cupboard while everyone else comes down.
"Wait - there's some kind of ward. Don't touch anything."
Adriel freezes in place.
Where?
When Arasmes points it out, Adriel casts Detect Magic +
"At the door. I think it is reacting to my link to the Dark."
Arasmes pauses for a second and continues "If that's true, then Nikolai could not have gotten in. That suggests he's sent us here to bring something out, or disturb something, or break the ward. Nobody touch anything, or disturb anything, or open anything, or come out."
There is an artificial calm in Arasmes' voice
"But nothing stops him from being out here. If I were him I'd be waiting out here for us."
Arasmes looks at the sky
"I hope you're wrong about Nikolaï whereabouts, Arasmes" Gryfford says, his voice tense.
"It's a bit too late not to touch anything..." the warrior adds ruefully.
"Anyway, in case that can help decipher the riddle of this place: this here statue " he points to the statue on the altar "is in the likeness of Angradd, the dwarven god who watches over battles and decides the destinies of dwarven spirits."
"Luckily, I happen to know a few things about warrior deities in general" Gryfford murmurs mostly to himself.
Elorin takes a moment and scans what he can see from his position
Adriel freezes in place.
Where?When Arasmes points it out, Adriel casts Detect Magic +1d20+8
AnythingGM?
Sorry everyone. I didn't notice before but the walls in there entirety emit a faint protective aura. The place could be warded or maybe it's just under a consecrate effect? Arasmas, do you normally have trouble entering the churches of good gods?
"Well, while I haven't made a practice of entering Churches of the Light, this isn't a problem I've encountered - though I remember my mother talking about it happening once when she was tracking a murderer."
"Could someone maybe tell me what you've found inside?"
Gryfford makes a concise summary to Arasmes of what the party has found inside the building.
"Taltosh, Alexia and Elorin are currently exploring a hidden cellar they found under the kitchen's floor tiles" Gryfford concludes.
"So far, I didn't heard any sounds of battle from below."
"I think it's best that I stay above ground - especially if you fear Nikolaï's presence around the building, Arasmes."
"Gryfford; did you say there was an area that looked like it had been used?"
"Alexia said the living area looks like it's been used, yes" Gryfford answers Arasmes.
"Hmmm. Possibly the ward does not cover the whole place? Is there a door to that area?"
Arasmes looks up again
"I don't think Nikolai himself will be out here. But he might have minions who area."
sigh
"I'm not sure we have time to be careful."
Is it worth Arasmes and Gryff remain here while the the rest of us check below? Not too far of course.
"I'll head up to the roof. You lot keep looking - but don't break the ward! I think the Amulet might be in there - don't touch it till we're ready."
With four glowing spheres lighting the way, Taltōsh went down into the basement to look around.
Calling up he said, "We shouldn't wander too far, in case someone needs help."
The hooded sage then examined the area.
Basement
Now in the light you can see inside the cabinet are scrolls and books of various sizes. You see nothing out of the ordinary for the cellar of a kitchen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upstairs
"Well, Arasmes: shout if you need help !" Gryfford advises the dhampir.
He then goes into the small living chamber with the four beds along the wall, after the right passageway, to get a look at the books on the table, and to pry open the chest which is on the same table.
Very well, I'll stay with Gryff.
This is bad. We should not split up.
"Taltosh... are any of these scrolls magical? Could you see?" She gestures to the scrolls in the cupboard.
Arasmes checks the horses' bags for a short length of rope.
"Let me check," the sage replied.
He muttered a minor incantation and drew symbols in the air.
Elorin watches as the others leave then nods his head, slings his bow and draws his scimitar. "I stand ready. Let us continue."
After examining the scrolls, the sage said, Alexis, while they are magical, the scrolls are divine rituals for temple use."
"Unfortunately, they would not be useful to us in our endeavor."
Alexia nods slightly, "Alright then... we should check the door over there but it might be better to wait for the others."
"Agreed," Taltōsh replied.
"Perhaps we should join them upstairs?"
Gryfford opens the chest with ease.
Arames wanders back with fifty feet of rope, making a lasso.
Taking aim and squinting at the sky he attempts to throw the loop around the Belltower.
Arasmes barely makes it up the side of the old building and finds himself on a rickety roof with wooden tiles covering it. He can see where the chimney off the living quarters is about 60 ft ahead.
Meanwhile in the living quarters as Gryff opens the lid a flash goes off but he manages to avert his eyes and avoid being blinded. When he opens the chest he sees a stack of books and papers as well as a few vials. There are also two clerical tunics.
Arasmes takes a moment to survey the area around him. He sighs when he sees the chimney, recalling a story his mother told him about a vampire, some bats and a chimney. In an effort to avoid having to risk falling off by heading over to it he tries levering off one of the wooden tiles (to see if the ward covered only the door).
"I found these" Gryfford says to the others, while pointing to the inside of the chest.
He hands the vials over to Adriel and Taltosh for identification, and flips through the books and papers to see what they are about.