"No, they are not that close to me or I would feel them. They are inside the prison, and my husband only mentioned a 'safe closet'. Or maybe 'safest closet' - I can't be sure."
"Feel free, it leads into the prison laundry. The workers used it to move between these rooms without having to enter the hallway."
Alexei nods at the ghost, finally relaxing in her presence. He coughs into a gloved hand, and speaks, "We shall do all we can. The Dawnflower may offer redemption to these souls yet, but it is my sworn duty to send them to her."
"I agree with the big guy, let's get moving. You said the workers used to laundry room to move between places while avoiding the hall. Which rooms does it connect?" While talking Asha moves to the secret door. The prisoners, including the undead ones, probably didn't even know of the place so chances were it would be a safer route.
"I said they used it to move from the laundry room to this room. It is simply a shorter walk through the secret door in the wall than to go out of the room, down the hallway, and back into the other room."
Harold bows his head at the ghost of the warden's wife, "We'll see deese murderers an' criminals back ter their slumber eternal, miss, then we'll find yaaahr 'usband so yew can be re-united. Dearf ought ter brin' love ones back together, not pull 'em apart." The half-orc lets out a sad sigh as he plods after Asha toward the secret door.
Vesorianna bows her head deeply as she begins disappearing, "Thank you, and good luck."
-----
The secret door swings open to reveal several rusty iron tubs sitting in this room along with washboards, metal buckets, and heaps of moldy clothing.
As the group moves into the room, a small pile of clothes in the northeastern corner shifts slightly, drawing everyone's attention.
Harold draws his sword as he nods to Bjorn and proceeds to cautiously step toward the pile of clothes. He extends the curve of his sword to snag under some of the pile and prepares to throw the fabric off whatever is moving under it with a loud yell.
Before Harold approaches the pile of clothes, Korvus taps the martial artist with one of his wands and conjures an invisible protective aura about him.
Alexei raises his shield before him, clutching his holy symbol in his right hand.
Asha circles around the pile of clothes, making sure she's got a clean shot. She'd didn't want to end up making Harold's speech any worse than it already was.
Harold tenses his muscles as he prepares to throw the clothing aside. With a loud shout, he flicks his sword and the moldy remnants explode upward.
An empty straitjacket flies up into the air, twisting and writhing around itself, arms flailing wildly. A strangled cry emerges as it tries to wrap itself around Harold.
Alexei grunts as he drops his holy symbol and reaches for his morningstar.
Harold growls as the jacket flies up to reach for him with its empty sleeves. His sword cuts down at the jacket with a quick snap, trying to slice the fabric in twine.
Alexei attempts to strike at the animated jacket.
Korthul advances into combat, readying his axe for a powerful downwards blow, but seeing his allies move into close quarters with the haunted restraining device, he decides to wait for the opportune moment to strike, rather than risk hitting one of his allies.
Asha pulls the trigger on her pistol. It was just a piece of clothing and she didn't know how much good putting a hole in it would do but it was worth trying.
Asha tries to get a good aim at the jacket but decides she can't take a shot without risking hurting one of her newfound comrades. Instead she decides to wait and see.
Round One
20 Asha
18 Harold
12 Alexei
11 Bjorn
09 Korthul
09 Korvus
06 Straitjacket
Harold reflexively lashes out with his sword and manages to tear a long gash across the chest of the jacket.
The jacket lashes out with its arm but fails to connect with the half-orc.
Asha pulls her gun and shoots at the jacket, blowing a hole through the leather.
Harold attacks in a rapid pattern, connecting with one blow on the right arm.
Alexei moves forward and smashes his morningstar down on the jacket, bashing it into the ground and leaving it motionless.
-----
The group looks through the rest of the room but doesn't find anything of value or interest. A doorway to the south leads back into the large area, and toward the staircases.
Alexei nods, storing his weapon. "This whole place is becoming stranger and stranger..."
"Well done, all. From what I can determine, that straightjacket was possessed by a minor spirit. I suspect the outcome would have been more dire if it had managed to wrap itself around Master Grimsley."
The group moves out of the room, leaving the destroyed straitjacket in a crumpled heap on the floor.
Another door to the north leads to a privy. After several seconds, the heroes are able to determine that nothing of interest lies that direction.
Moving forward, the group once again reaches the hallway with stairs leading upward, and a door to the south heading back to the entry vestibule.
Opening the double doors, you see several rows of wooden benches, all spotted with mold and sagging with neglect. The benches face a stage separated from the rest of the room by a wall of iron bars.
Another set of double doors lies across the room.
Harold tugs his jacket tighter at the sudden temperature shift as he trudges into the ravaged training room, "Mit' chilly". He nods to Bjorn as he slips his sword free again, carefully circling around toward the dark hole in the floor. The half-orc creeps slowly toward the edge, trying to get a good view of what lies below without falling in due to rotting, damaged floorboards.
Feeling uncomfortable due to the change in temperature, Alexei begins to incant something quietly. Gesturing softly, he finishes the orison, before moving to follow Bjorn and Harold.
This cavernous chamber may have once been an underground cellblock, but it has long since collapsed. The crumbled walls are thick with mold and stained with soot, and heaps of fallen stones and charred wooden beams line the area. Water drips and seeps along the walls, collecting in a dark, murky pool in the middle of the room. To the north, the twisted remains of a wood and iron lift lie in a heap in a shallow portion of the pool. A jagged hole in the roof yawns twenty feet above this ruin. To the west, a partially blocked opening seems to open up after several feet into a dark but stable tunnel.
As he crosses the room with his companions, Korvus shivers as he passes through the area of unnatural chill. Once beyond the chilly spot, the half-orc wizard pauses and turns to study the area, casting the minor spell that allows him to perceive magical auras.
"Master Stonehand? It appears as if you have stepped in something," Korvus calls out to his Ulfen companion. "You are leaving bloody footprints wherever you step."
Sighing quietly, Alexei begins a different incantation and series of gestures, before tapping his shield with his right hand, causing it to illuminate the room. He steps towards the hole in the floor, shield held forward like a torch.
Alexei pauses in observing the hole to look at Korvus and Bjorn. "Is something wrong?"
"I don't see anything", the Ulfen grunts in confusion.
"Can't you see them? They're getting larger. Why, blood's flowing all over the floor!" Korvus exclaims, his voice rising in alarm.