Hezrog will take point into the room, avoiding the pressure plate while Ian finishes with the door.
Issa, follows Hezrog, looking for anything unusual in the room and avoiding the pressure plate.
As Hezrog and Issa move into the room, avoiding the pressure plate Morvae is standing in front of, they catch movement near the north wall, the face of a human male taking a quick peek from behind the stacked sarcophagi.
A split second later a voice calls out a command word and a streak of multicolored light shoots out from behind the stack, veering through the door and down the hallway, then shooting upwards through the hole in the ceiling some distance back.
What's that ?! Asks Issa having no knowledge about magical effect.
Whoever you are, we are not here to do harm ! We are here to fight the evil which took hold in this place.
He adds, hoping to make the human friendly.
There is no response, and edging around the room to get a better look... whoever it was is no where in sight.
Whatever spell that was, it isn't anything you've seen before. At best guess it was some kind of modified form of bladed dash.
Be warned. Cindy cautions. Whoever that was likely wants us to pursue.
"That was a lookout. Probably came to see why the water had drained out," Ian follows after where the figure went, weapon at ready.
Master Hast puts his one hand to an ear, "I don't hear anything back there... I hope that wasn't something dangerous just escaping."
With a somewhat stunned look on her face, Serelina tells the group:
"While I've never seen the result of that particular spell, I have heard about a spell like that being researched. Researched by the wife of Radgar. Yes, that Radgar."
Looking to Cindy she says,
"And if it has to do with Radgar - or his wife, it is someone we likely may want to pursue. And if it was someone who has been trapped among coffins and held back by running water, we might want to pursue quickly."
Morvae sprints down the passage back toward the hole in the ceiling, Ian following behind him, and Master Hast after a moment of hesitancy curses, "By the gods." and follows after.
"Captain" Morvae shouts up to the guards waiting above. "Captain, did something just come through there?"
It takes a moment for one of the guardsmen to appear above the hole, "Yes sir. There was a streak of light, went up the stairs into the main library. Captain Skelir is investigating sir, trying to find out where it went."
There is a moment of waiting and voices up above asking for more information. Then the captains face appears, "It left the library, and best I've been able to get so far from a few witnesses outside is that it streaked north down library street, then veered eastward. Would you like us to try and find it?"
Master Hast shakes his head in a resigned fashion as if to say that sounds like a fruitless task, but then calls back down the hallway. "Miss Bellafini, do you have any way to track that, or him?"
If whatever that was left actual tracks, Hezrog is happy to help examine and follow them.
Hezrog examines the area for any kind of actual tracks. He does find a few faint boot prints around the sarcophagi where the man started, remnants in a thin layer of silt on the floor near the wall. None of these give a clear direction of movement though, the man moved around by the northern wall quite a bit.
There is no sign of tracks leaving the room or in the hallway.
Ian walks to stand next to Serelina, "Orders, ma'am?"
To Master Hast Serelina says, "I do not. I have spent most of my magic for the day already."
To Ian she says, "Let us support Morvae, we should see if pursuit is still possible. Perhaps Riluman can track with mundane ability?"
She sets of at a quick pace to follow the celestial.
"Is the job finished here?" He keeps pace with Morvae and Serelina.
"I'll give it a shot. not sure if they were even touching the ground with that spell though."
Leo stays with the group.
"Radgar's wife, hmmm..." He says, thoughtfully.
Rilumin aids Hezrog in his search for clues and a trail to follow, but nothing new is revealed.
Master Hast responds to Leo, "Yes, he was married once, a long time ago. Does that surprise you?" He then calls up to the captain, "See what you can find out captain, but maintain your post here." Then more quietly to the group. "We should continue here and hopefully find the end of these tunnels soon - and put an end to whatever still lurks down here."
Cindy is at a loss on what to do about the fleeing creature. I fear we may have to deal with that creature later on. she says. For now let us continue with this mission.
Bowing slightly to Master Hast, Serelina says, "Very well, let us finish exploring these caverns. We can follow other leads later."
Master Hast and Morvae turn back to the room, Morvae taking a moment to examine the corridor beyond, searching for traps. The opposite corridor has a similar chain on the outside for opening the stone block doors, and the floor in that passage is also soaked with water. The open chasm is a 20' drop, and a large volume of water is pooled across the uneven floor. From this passage the sound of a small water fall can be heard echoing throughout the chamber.
Near the edge of vision into the cavern a swift flowing stream, or small river, cuts from the northwest to the south. At a guess it is probably 3-4' deep.
Morvae climbs down into the cavern and begins exploring on this side of the river. A small waterfall cascades water into the cavern from a hole in the northwest portion of the cavern.
Across the river the cavern extends beyond the edge of vision, while the river continues south into a passage that direction.
Issa follows Morvae into the cavern.
Casting detect magic and looking around him.
Serelina enters as well, staying a pace or two behind the celestial and signals Ian to stay close.
"Hmm, interesting. I wonder just what we'll find at the end of this path." Leo whispers as they group continues.
Ian nods and stays next to Serelina, greatsword at ready. "Got a bad feeling about this cave."
Issa senses a faint aura of necromancy coming from the southern passage, the residual traces of powerful necromancy used in the past still clinging to the walls and floor.
There is something magical coming from the southern passage. I think it's a necromantic effect... There is also the lingering of powerful necromancy still clinging in all this area. Something big happend here.
Says Issa to his comrades. Moving toward the southern passage with great care.
"It's making my f*~@in' skin crawl."
"Then let us move swiftly to be done with this place."
Serelina joins the group heading towards the southern passageway.
Heading south, a few scattered bones lie on the cave floor, then dozens, the hundreds as the group progresses. The residual necromantic magic is coming from the bones.
The cave and river veers eastward until it comes to another cavern, and the air grows frosty and slivers of ice line the river. A wooden bridge crosses over the river into the cavern where a dozen sarcophagi, all more ornate than those seen previously, rest in the middle of the cavern.
It should not be this cold. Something magical, or unnatural is at work. Those running detect magic spells find no trace of magical auras to account for the cold though, narrowing down those options to the latter.
I'm not sure, but I think this cold is unnatural ... May be the work of a powerful necromancer ? Be warn, something not right here.
Says Issa looking around him.
"I agree, caverns like this should be warmer and we should be ata depth that the caverns and tunnels should be at a consistent temperature. Can anyone detect any specific evil auras around us?"
------------------------------------------------------
Current Effects: heroism (Ian), 54 min (minus elapsed time);
Serelina inspects the bridge for soundness.
She then says, "Well, we best be ready for whatever might be in those sarcophagi - but standing here gawking will get us no where. If our celestial protector will take point, I suggest we proceed."
While the two ropes running beneath the wood is old, the bridge is sturdy enough to support use.
Morvae casts a shield spell, then heads across the bridge, the others following.
Inscriptions on the sarcophagi denote the names of those interred within.
These were more notable citizens of Coran from several hundred years ago. The wealthy, generals, magistrates, and other notables.
Examining them closer shows that the seals on the lids have been broken at some point in the past.
Examining the sarcophagi Issa says The seals on the lids have been broken some time ago.
What's was in there is long gone or ...
Cormick will follow across the bridge, but will wait for the others to cross to help minimize the amount of weight on the bridge. Once over he will help inspect the sarcophagi.
"I recognize some of these names from my learning as a youth, as people of note from several hundred years ago."
------------------------------------------------------
Current Effects: heroism (Ian), 15 min;
Cindy is last to cross and pauses on the bridge.
"Yeah, fine, they're old. Can we get on with whatever we're gonna do?"
Ian has looked relaxed and composed, even through the fights--until this room. He's clearly unnerved.
Morvae checks for traps on the closest one, and finding none, pushes the lid to the side to reveal the contents. An intact skeleton lies within. Once fine, but now aged and rotted cloth clothes the corpse.
From back in the cavern is heard the sound of bones shifting, and in a brief moment at the edge of her vision Cindy sees several skeletons rushing towards the bridge.
Incoming from behind! Skeletons! Cindy calls out as she turns to fast the threat.
------------------------------------------------------
Current Effects: heroism (Ian), 15 min;
Ian reacts immediately, running across the bridge to stand between the skeletons and Cindy, readying an attack. "Good lookin' out kid," he says over his shoulder to Cindy.