Roshan's expression does not change. He merely nods in agreement. But being in the background, leaning against a wall, does anyone even notice?
"Rescuing prisoners sounds good."
The stairs lead down into darkness, ending in a large pair of iron metal doors.
Directly beyond the stair door, you find yourself in a iron cage protecting the entrance from any escaped prisoners. As Miril works on the lock to the doors keeping the cage closed you see that there are numerous dark, narrow prions cells - but all in this room are currently empty. A set of double doors lead further east and passages lead northwest and southwest.
Although Miril is her normal quick self in unlocking the door, it seems to take longer.
You hear a low whispering, try as you might you can't quite force the barely audible speaking into intelligible speech, but it is always just there, making you try.
You hear a low whispering, try as you might you can't quite force the barely audible speaking into intelligible speech, but it is always just there, making you try.
You hear a low whispering, try as you might you can't quite force the barely audible speaking into intelligible speech, but it is always just there, making you try.
You hear a low whispering, try as you might you can't quite force the barely audible speaking into intelligible speech, but it is always just there, making you try.
You hear a low whispering, try as you might you can't quite force the barely audible speaking into intelligible speech, but it is always just there, making you try.
One open, the passages to the west reveal simple chambers that look like they served prison keepers rather than the kept. The architecture in the dungeon proves less organized than the neat perfect lines of the dwarven citadel above. Rather than the original dwarven and Iomeadaen art being defaced, the walls here have demons carved and abyssal runes decorating the surface.
The eastern facing door leads to...
A long passageway extends past multiple prison cells before ending within a barred chamber to the east. An alcove along the south wall includes another set of iron doors leading south, while opposite this a barred gate provides access to another set to the north.
"Feels like uneasy spirits," Chancre says. "Like there's oil in the air."
Roshan writes "Forge?" in the dust on the wall of the southwest room, then draws his finger along the crease outlining the secret door.
"Feels like uneasy spirits," Chancre says. "Like there's oil in the air."
"This would explain the whispering I am hearing."
The oily feeling voiced by Chancre grows as the group moves into the long hallway. Halfway down the long hallway filled with empty cell after empty cell, you see a large 'cell' to the north has a door set in the back wall. Once Miril has gotten both cell and door lock picked, the group finds the ...
Two prison cells flank this large interrogation chamber. The entryway to each cell is is lined with multiple layers of arcane sigils scribed into the floor, lintels, and even the barred door. While the symbols around the western door glow with red light, those to the east do not.
A moment later you see a ghostly flicker travel from the northern wall to the southern wall of the prison, towards the doors in the opposite direction.
"I don't hear anything, although --" Chancre pauses and points to the wall, his finger tracking south. "Ghost?"
"I hear the whispering, too. And, yeah, I'd say that woman was a ghost."
Samirah looks uneasy in this part of the building and says nothing.
She's much more focused on looking forward as they move through the rooms than she is investigating what she's passing. She also seems to be looking behind her quite often to make sure everyone is still there, if she's in the lead.
"Ghosts," Konstantin agrees with apparent distaste. "The sigils are for a permanent anti-magic field. The glowing ones are still working, but the ones to the east appear to have been overloaded. Something has escaped."
The first of these has Irabeth's name - although she is more often referred to by unpleasant epithats involving her gender and parentage. Staunton appartently has been holding a grudge since she 'ruined everything in Kenabres'.
More recently there are two demons that stick out - an escaped succubus prisoner that Staunton needs to recapture. A task that he thinks will be easier since "the heretic has lost many of her natural demonic gifts. B%~~~ can't teleport anymore."
The other is a shadow demon, Eustoyriax, who arrived in the body of a crusader named Maranse. Once the shadow demon no longer required the vessel, the man was given to Kiranda for any information he might possess. From the notes in the journal, Staunton seems to actually fear the demon - something that is normally reserved for the marilith Aponavicius, but there is also awe becasue the demon bore a gift from abyss - a purple elixir which either kills or ascends the drinker to new power.
There seem to be other things, but they don't jump out on the quick scan.
The not-antimagiced door proves to be unlocked, swinging open the door, it appears that the wall has been carved with millions of butterflies.
"Hallit," Konstantin says, nodding at the far wall. He advances toward it cautiously, alert for an ambush.
Samirah looks marginally more at peace in the room with the butterfly wall, but shadows Konstantin, at his back while he moves forward. A tiny flame dances on her hand in lieu of a torch.
"The heat of the forge will be most welcome after this," she says idly.
Samirah looks marginally more at peace in the room with the butterfly wall, but shadows Konstantin, at his back while he moves forward. A tiny flame dances on her hand in lieu of a torch.
"The heat of the forge will be most welcome after this," she says idly.
"You are not going to like Irrisen much, I think," Konstantin says.
Moving closer to the words scratched into the wall, it reads in Hallit:
HEAR MY PRAYER, LADY LUCK. FOR IT IS LUCK I NEED IN ESCAPING THIS CELL. NOT JUST THE LIFE BEHIND THESE BARS, BUT AN ETERNITY SPENT SHACKLED TO THE ABYSS ITSELF. IF YOU TRULY ARE THE TENDER OF DREAMS, THEN TENDER UNTO ME A NEW EXISTENCE. LET ME SING THE SONG OF THE SPHERES, SEE THE STARS WITH NEW EYES, AND ESCAPE THE PIT INTO WHICH MY SOUL WAS CAST. BRING ME GOOD FORTUNE, MY LADY. BRING ME A NEW SPIRIT MADE CLEAN. AND I WILL FOREVER BE YOURS, IN LIFE, AND IN FAITH. I AM READY. FINALLY READY.
A frown ripples over Konstantin's normally impassive features as he steps into the cell. "This place is welcoming me with cold and silence... I wonder if perhaps it wishes to have company once again."
He looks over the words briefly. "This would appear to be religion," he says, apparently dismissing it as the purview of someone else.
"I wouldn't call it cold, but it is more comfortable here for me too. And it's nice to have the maddening whispers stop for a while."
"And me as well. Although I can think of dark benefits to a prison cell that allows your captives to heal faster. As well as the more altruistic ones."
... as if the oasis of peace in the horrible place is not an standard feature.
"You are not going to like Irrisen much, I think," Konstantin says.
She nods in response, looking solemn. "The things we do for those we care about. My sacrifice will become the stuff of legends!"
She does check the other cell, if only for a moment, before all but rushing back to the relative sanctity of the butterfly room. "As you say, these rooms used in concert speak of terrible purpose." She shivers visibly. "Is there any magic that could be disabled here? Or would we need to destroy the cells to end their effects?"
Her necklace does start to burn angrily in the cell.
On the other hand, in the broken cell (with the butterflies) there was a genuine sense of calm - but it wasn't being forced on Samirah, it was just there if you wanted it.
"I do not know how to destroy this. From an arcana standpoint, there is no magic. This does not preclude other sources, but it is not one familiar to me."
"I don't know, either. But it is good to keep this place in mind if we find ourselves in need of rest and retreat."
Chancre idly taps his fingernail against the front of his teeth.
"It may be useful for injured when we have the pathway cleared and the town fully retaken."
Going back to the long hallway, you notice the door to the south is ever so slightly ajar. From that direction you hear a pained scream.
Saves DC 22
Roshan
magic: +2/+2 or +1/+1
masterwork: +1
Pt.Blank:+1/+1
Bless: +1/+0
Deadly Aim:-2/+4
As Roshan enters the door to the south, a golden glow appears in his hand, then arcs sideways into the nearby shadows.
The not-antimagiced door proves to be unlocked, swinging open the door, it appears that the wall has been carved with millions of butterflies.
Roshan places one hand on the wall, grasps the locket around his neck and briefly closes his eyes. Quite likely reciting the equivalent of a silent prayer, or maybe just allowing his essence to attune with that of the room.
Unlike the previous room, Roshan makes no overt gestures, though if one is very perceptive they might have noticed the slight flaring of his nostrils and tightening of the skin around his eyes.
"Well, let us go see who it is we must kill or save to the south."
Samirah moves through the doorway and down a set of descending stairs, Miril pausing at the doorway as she senses something in the darkness and waits to see what it is before committing herself.
Just as Samirah gets to the bottom of the stairs, Chancre casts a spell on himself, and two babau step out of hiding to flank the fiery swashbuckler. ( ; ) Despite not knowing the demons were there until they attacked, Samirah parries both with ease.
Back at the top of the stairs, Roshan releases a golden disc which cuts into the demon painfully. Konstantin is the only one to notice the other danger, pulling freezing mist up at the end of the long prison hallway. You don't see the victims of the cold fog, but hear hisses of pain and hunger. Two more pale once-humans push themselves unnaturally through the bars of the prison cell to lope down to the fresh meat they smell.
A cry of fear cut offs off in the middle of the sound. A second later another voice, calls out, "HELP!"
Konstantin's jaws and hands reshape themselves as talons grow from his fingers and saber-like teeth extend from his jaw. When the first of the monsters reaches him, he tears into it.
Distracted from her surroundings once more, Samirah's laughter bubbles up through the darkness as she's engaged by the demons on either side of her. "Close! So close!"
Second Attack
After parrying both attacks, Samirah whirls in place to dish back what she was given.
"Vampire spawn," Chancre says.
Míril chases after Samirah, dodging past the two babau, and placing herself in a flanking position on one of them with Samirah.
Chancre activates Steve, targeting the nearer Vampire Spawn.
Roshan
magic: +2/+2 or +1/+1
masterwork: +1
Pt.Blank:+1/+1
Bless: +1/+0
Deadly Aim:-2/+4
Likely Totals:
Once-human: 38hp
Belatedly recognizing the nearer danger, Roshan spins and throws a flurry of blades, the first three of which cut deep into the nearer once-human. He steps forward to distract the vampire spawn from any of his allies.
Míril chases after Samirah, dodging past the two babau, and placing herself in a flanking position on one of them with Samirah.
After parrying both attacks, Samirah whirls in place to dish back what she was given. And she does better than the demons did, with one of her attacks sliding through the damaged babau's defenses. Then she slides out of the flank, moving out of the view of those on the stairs. And leaving Miril with no flanking.
Chancre activates Steve, targeting the nearer Vampire Spawn. And Steve dislikes the undead, easily cutting in the creature's flesh.
Seeing how hard it had been to hit the nimble swashbuckler when she was unaware, the demons turn on Mirl, one moving so that the half-elf is now flanked. The demons prove to have more success in teaming up to hurt Miril and her blood is added to the older stains on the floor.
Belatedly recognizing the nearer danger, Roshan spins and throws a flurry of blades, the first three of which cut deep into the nearer once-human. He steps forward to distract the vampire spawn from any of his allies. And the spawn damaged by Steve goes down, although it is a near thing based on the flesh which heals for a milisecond before laying still.
Konstantin's jaws and hands reshape themselves as talons grow from his fingers and saber-like teeth extend from his jaw. When the first of the monsters reaches him, he tears into it.
The vampires caught in the freezing fog are staggered by the cold, the intense storm breaking flesh. Closer the one bloodsucker still standing slams (), or tries to slam into Konstantin, but is unable to get past the sorcerer's own claws and teeth.
Seeing that the group has the bloodsuckers well in hand, Irabeth moves down the stairs, flanking one of the babau with Miril.
Aron seems caught by something back at the entance to the prison, staring in that direction, even taking a step that way.
V1 -13,-21
V2 -13,-21
V3 -13,-21
V4 -13,-21
V5 -8,-46 DESRROYED
V6 -15
Samirah lingers by the cage long enough to reassure the prisoner that he won't be forgotten, then turns to attack the babau behind her, focusing on a single target this time.
Second Hit
Roshan
magic: +2/+2 or +1/+1
Likely Totals:
Babau: 9hp
Believing Konstantin more then capable of taking care of the last once-human on his own and with the other creatures still trapped by Kon's magics, Roshan leaps down the stairs to support Miril. Radiance glows fiercely as the monk lands beside the nearer assassin demon and punches up into it's rib cage.
Chancre moves to Miril (or as close as he can get).
Not having a flanker, and being fairly injured by that last set of attacks, Míril dances away from the demons and further into the room.
Once sufficiently away from the demons she touches her Scale to heal herself.
With flanking provided from Irribeth, Míril stabs at the nearest demon with her cold iron short sword.
With flanking provided from Irribeth, Míril stabs at the nearest demon with her cold iron short sword. Her second strike cuts deeply through demon flesh brutally wounding the demon, but not killing it. Meanwhile, a subtle silver flash heralds the healing of some of Miril's wounds.
Samirah lingers by the cage long enough to reassure the prisoner that he won't be forgotten, then turns to attack the babau behind her, focusing on a single target this time. The additional damage just enough to slay the demon, saving Miril (or anyone else) from the vitally striking flank of the assassin demons.
The force weapon moves to the vampire spawn still standing and attacks. The force weapon again striking true and scoring a small wound against the semi-vamp. Meanwhile, Chancre moves down the stairs to get within striking distance of Miril.
The demon stabs Miril again, but without his little red friend it doesn't carry the same sting.
Believing Konstantin more then capable of taking care of the last once-human on his own and with the other creatures still trapped by Kon's magics, Roshan leaps down the stairs to support Miril. Radiance glows fiercely as the monk lands beside the nearer assassin demon and punches up into it's rib cage.
Alone at the top of the stairs (well, Aron is there, but the rogue seems distracted), Konstantin continues his grim, if disgusting work, with the vampire spawn. He'll show them what claws and teeth really are. The undead must really taste vile, because only Konstantin's claws slice through the dead flesh. But it is enough, living unmoving dead flesh on the floor to rot.
But just when it looks like Konstain will be able to relax (or move down and help with the demon) the bloodsucker free themselves from the cold to jitter down the hall, two hungrily attacking the spellcaster. ( The damage of the bloodsucker's teeth doesn't seem that bad, but Konstain's pale skin grows whiter with blood loss.
Irabeth moves to stike once at the remaining demon () Her father's sword doing him proud as it strikes into the demon.
Appearing suddenly from the shadows where there was nothing before, something pale green and toothy strikes at Samirah. ( But at the last moment she manages to dodge away from the suddenly appearing combatant.
Aron moves takes a step away from the wall of bloodsuckers, then shakes himself and dives into the fray next to Konstantin. ( His heart may be in the fight, but his mind isn't and his sword is deflected by undead flesh.
B1 -7,-22
V1 -13,-11,-19,-17,-22
V2 -13,-11,-19,-17,-22
V3 -13,-11,-19,-17,-22
V4 -13,-11,-19,-17,-22
V5 -8,-46 DESRROYED
V6 -15,-22,-42 DESTROYED
Miril -55,-41,-47
Disguise DC 31