Bloodless follows on, his wolf creeping alongside him.
The dusty attic above is filled with expensive but old furniture, particularly chairs, tables and dinnerware making this the likely spot where much of the banquet and ballroom furniture is stored when unused. Much of this looks pretty much as expected and even a semi thorough search reveals nothing but the occasional startled torble and rat corpse.
Yet something up here unnerves you. As you make light sources for the slightly mroe human of you to see it seems as if the shadows move reluctantly away and for a second as one is lit you hear a nasty hiss as a shadow reluctantly slinks away. There's movement out of the corner of your eyes and though nothing attacks you or even seems particularly aggressive it leaves you feeling uneasy. Bloodless's new pet wolf spends much of the time with its tail curled between it's legs and stops at the threshold of the attic whining pitifully.
The room you are currently in has four exits. One to the east, one to the south and oen to the north. There is also a staircase leading downward. The door to the north catches your attention purely because of the heavy and impressive looking padlock on it.
Handle Animal.
Bloodless looks at the wolf, trying his best to look comforting...
"That looks important" Bloodless gestures to the locked door.
Not that anything is natural in this damned city. But this truly has the smell that is touched by hell.
Aerieth very carefully begins to search the room to see what is apparent keeping her rapier out should anything decide to jump at her.
Perception:
After exploring the room, Teo stays close to Aerieth, wanting to help her when she tries to open the padlock.
Quite perturbing Mutters Bingomite peering into the shadows, nooks and crannies of the room. As he searches Bingo gives off a nervous high-pitched laugh. There's something... off here.
"We should check the other rooms before going in to the locked one. Secure our flank and all that..."
"That does make sense, Beljis. Let's clear all the unlocked doors first. Then we can focus on that padlock over there."
Lets check the unlocked doors first. South first.
Ailetha moves over and begins to examine the door for any traps.
Perception: <-- extra +1 to find traps
DD(if necessary):
Bingo nods hesitantly in agreement before quietly moving over to one of the doors. Do you think it might be trapped? he hisses to Aerieth, looking at the door as if it might suddenly grow a pair of eyes. Then realizing that if it was trapped he would be dangerous close to it, he shuffles back slightly, putting some of the riff-raff and curios between him and the door.
After clering the door All of you enter the south chamber to find yourselves standing in....the limehouse.
Or rather this is what the limehouse would be if it was several months from being done, located in an attic and missing its colorful owner and his assistant. Perhaps a more accurate description would be that this is the mayor's soon to be private theatre. Obviously a must for any rich fanboy of the opera with way too much money. There's little else of interest here even after a thorough search. Across from it to the east is what you can only assume to be the actor's dressing room.
Searching other rooms:
Perception(southern most east room):
Perception(middle east room):
Perception(northern most east room):
If necessary:
DD:
DD:
Following on!
The southermost east room appears to have once been a lounge though it does not seem to have been used in a long while.
The next room makes your heart stop cold. It's a dungeon, complete with bars, manacles and all manner of torture devices complete with dried blood stains on the floor. Unfortunately for those looking for cause to start revolutions everythign is covered in a thick layer of dust and many of the torture devices are covered in a canvas tarp. It's obvious that at least this mayor hasn't made much if any use of this room.
The northernmost eastern room would be more interesting if you had lots more time on your hands. It's an old record room, a brief appraisal of its contents suggests paperwork, deeds, and other miscellany official documents dating back to Aroden's death. Unfortunately the time it woudl take to sort through it and find juicy documents would get in the way of your task and increase the chances of you getting caught doing something impolite as a guest dramatically.
"This is easily the strangest home I've ever been in," Teo mutters as she looks through the various rooms. "I wouldn't expect a dungeon and an office to be right beside each other."
"I wouldn't expect a dungeon and an office to be right beside each other."
Bejis mutters, "Law and evil, hand in hand...."
I imagine that devils like to keep a record of who they torture.
Solemnly Bingo nods in understanding. His facade of cheeriness dropping away for a brief moment before comming bubbling to the surface. Yes, it all makes perfect sense really. This is Westcrown, where the mailed fist of the dottori is covered by a veneer of silk. one hand to strike while the other to beckon. Let's move on.
Bloodless simply moves past the paperwork, "At least we all know how they operate and how they all think"
The northern door's lock is pretty sturdy looking of good quality. It is to date the first locked door you have encountered.
"Aerith, I assume this is your calling," Two nods toward the lock. "I can give you a bit of assistance. I think I've seen such a lock before. It has a tricky bolt, if I recall correctly."
"Alright, let's get to work. Hopefully this is what we are looking for." Bejis will stand guard, watching for threats. He will also take out a wad of Barbarian Chew and put it in a pocket, for quick future use.
Bloodless watches with interest as the lock is being dealt with.
Aerieth moves over and carefully examines the lock. She then attempts to disable or unlock it as relevant.
Perception:
Disable Device:
Second DD, if necessary:
Rather than an earth shattering KABOOM! There's a disappointed jangling and muttered cursing as the lock stubbornly refuses to be unlocked.
A few more Disable Device Attempts:
DD:
DD:
DD:
If that does not work, she will slow down and take 20.
After an agonizingly long amount of time where everyone simply pulls up chairs and takes a rest wile the elf fights, cries, and gets really really aggravated, the lock finally clicks and falls to the floor wiht a heavy iron thud.
"Slow and steady wins the race, right Aerieth? Unless an ogre or something is chasing you I suppose...then fast might be better," Teo counts off, as she clearly had lost a bit of focus during the lock ordeal.
As the lock finally releases, Aerieth lets out a sigh. About as tough as I could possibly disarm. Whatever is up here, this guy must value. Strange that there was no trap though, I would have expected one. Or perhaps he is so cocky about his position that he did not think that anyone would ever break in.
"You normally set a trap to keep someone out, but what if the lock was there to keep something in?"
Bloodless will move forward to advance the party.
"That's an absolutely horrible thought, Bloodless."
"We're in a horrible place"
"Well, I guess you are certainly right about that."
Bejis advances with Bloodless, covering his back.
Oh I don't know Bloodless, sure the people are rude, slavery is abundant, oh and lets not forget about the lack of religious and personal freedoms... and the devil worshiping of course. But really aside from all that its not bad. Sheepishly finishing, Bingo fiddles with his spectacles momentary while lost in thought. She's just fallen on hard times. It was before your time, but I remember how Westcrown used to be. This was back when the twelve visages of Aroden along the Parego Spera canal were washed daily and people from all over came to visit the "City of Nine Stars". She can be great again. I know it.
"I hope to one day see such a sight, I began this quest in earnest, to help the downtrodden and set a fine example, to be a light in their darkness - yet when they saw my light they acted more like cockroaches and fled to the corners to watch again from the edges, to sit in the dark cracks out of sight... I find their cowardice and lack of altruism fills me with deep dismay. Then again that is perhaps for the best, as it allows me to keep my mind on what I was really born for"
The north attic is much similar to the one you left. The only difference being it's much dustier. A door to the southwest is the first obvious exit.
Perception
In mid conversation with Bloodless, Bingo looks over his shoulder towards the far wall. Sorry my good man, one moment please. Bingo cheerfully replies stepping around the white hunter. Aerieth, I think there's a hidden door over there. Bingo prompts pointing to the northern wall. If you look close you can seethe glow coming from around the edges. Oh and Bloodless, I apologies for interrupting you. If you like once we have found what we are looking for and its daylight, I would be happy to take you around to several places I have fond memory's of in the city. It might be an inspiration to you if I told you more of how it used to be. Oh! But we will need to wait a few weeks, I think the Dottori are still looking for me, but I am sure that will all sort its self out, probably just a misunderstanding.
Bejis will draw his Greatsword, keeping it in hand in case it is needed. He follows behind the others, letting them do their work. He will continue to be on guard.
"That sounds like a nice idea, Bingo. Seeing the city from your eyes would be a definite experience, I am sure."