"Kendra does make amazing meals. But I've been doing busywork all day, I want a little excitement."
Harold nods in agreement with Bjorn and Lucius, "We're grown men, not mewlin' babes. If i' gets a bi' dark, we'll light some torches. When we grow tired enough, we'll 'ead back ter town. For now, I say we finish sweepin' da upper floor fer pesky dead blokes an' send 'em on their way ter Lady Pharasma's 'alls. Then come morning, all we'll 'ave left in da dank pi' what is da basemen' levels ter worry about."
"What he said."
"Yea, why wouldn't I?" Lucius looks back with a look of confusion.
"Artists are never appreciated in their own time."
"Ain't that the truth."
Alexei nods to the other men. "Alright then, but I must stress caution." He moves up next to Bjorn, weapon and shield at the ready. "Let's move on, then."
As you head into the corridor, you see row upon row of ten-foot-square prison cells line the walls,each separated from the passing hallway by a series of iron bars fitted with a narrow iron door. Row upon row of ten-foot-square prison cells line the walls, each separated from the passing hallway by a series of iron bars fitted with a narrow iron door. Skeletons slump in many of the cells, the bones scattered where they lie and coated with a mixed layer of ancient ashes and fresh mold.
At the end of the corridor, a wood and iron ladder leads upward to a trapdoor in the ceiling (T4a).
Beyond the corridor is a room containing a reinforced steel door in the outer wall of the prison. It apparently leads outside (T4b).
You also notice a privy in a room north of the ladder (T3).
Alexei checks the surrounding area for danger, occasionally looking back to make sure Bjorn is okay climbing the ladder..
Korvus stows his wand of magical missiles back in his spring-loaded wrist sheath as he follows the group down the hallway of cells. The half-orc wizard warily watches the skeletons in the cells on one side of the hallway while the blackbird perched on his shoulder keeps its beady eyes trained on the skeletons on the other side of the hallway.
Wizard and familiar keep silent watch as Bjorn attempts to open the trapdoor in the ceiling.
"Just hold on. Let me make sure it's on the level. After that I'll be out of your way."
Lucius walks up and attempts to check it for traps, assuming Bjorn lets him.
He then retakes his place in the back rank.
"Then there's no harm in me looking. Relax, what could go wrong?"
In this case, nothing has gone wrong. Lucius does not find any traps, and Bjorn is able to open the trapdoor with some effort. The trapdoor leads to a small balcony on the top of the prison.
Still carefully checking the area, Alexei notices a buzzing coming from the west. "What is that sound?", he asks, looking in the direction of the noise, but not seeing any source. "Some kind of buzzing? Do any of you hear that?"
"Nope. Maybe you're hearing things? I hear a knock on the head causes a ringing in the ears."
Harold sticks a finger in his ear to clear out any blockages as he listens to nothing but the normal creaks and groans of the abandoned prison, "Nope, I 'ear nothin' as well. I'm sure da Ulfen is right an' dis place is filled wiv mawer van one nest ov flyin' pests since it's been deserted fer years now." While Bjorn is checking the privy, Harold moves over to the reinforced door leading outside, trying to pry it open.
Alexei frowns as they dismiss his claim, but climbs back down and pulls out his morningstar, ready to move on.
Bjorn investigates the privy, finding it devoid of anything interesting.
Harold puts his shoulder to the door, forcing it open after a few determined shoves. The door opens to a wide balcony that everyone recognizes as the location of Gibs' defeat.
"I could see that Harold." Lucius keeps his crossbow drawn as he follows.
Further east is a large open chamber full of long tables and benches. From what you can see, it appears to be a mess hall of some sort - probably for the guards who worked in the prison.
Another item of interest is the far wall has completely collapsed, leaving the chamber open to the elements. Beyond the chamber, you can see the large murky pond covering the eastern side of the prison courtyard. It would be a pleasant sight, if not for the location, and the haunts, and the undead roaming the grounds.
"Yea, I'm hearing that buzzing sound too. Did I get hit on the head too? I don't remember that, though that may be a sign that I did.."
"Yes, see? I told you!" Alexei seems enthusiastic, until he hears Bjorn's warning. He hefts his shield in front of him, morningstar at the ready.
Harold cocks his head to the side as he listens with the others. The buzzing goes from barely audible to loud, as if a swarm of bees were buzzing right next to his ears, "Oy, so yew was right, Alexei. Noisy buggers i' sounds like."
"What, and have us miss out on this fun?"
Alexei almost snorts at the statement, hiding his face behind his shield until he can compose himself.
"No, but that just means that I'm due for one, right?"
Lucius just lets Bjorn know that he's on to him by cracking a big smile.
"Heh." Lucius replies with a mock salute while trying keep his laughter to a minimum.
As you move around the large chamber, you spot a kitchen to the south. From the scorched walls and furniture, you can tell it was the scene of an intense fire - not a surprise given what's usually kept in a kitchen.
Each of you pauses as something else catches your attention. The buzzing sound has completely stopped. In its place you can hear music. Somebody, somewhere, is playing a slow dirge. As you listen, the music begins to get louder and louder, and you can tell it seems to come from a wind instrument... most likely a flute.
Harold scratches his head for a moment, "A flute? Is somebody playin' what one we picked up down below? Cause they could 'ry playin' a bi' mawer upliftin' tune, ya know?"
Korvus and Maximus share a look upon hearing the buzzing sound. "Indeed," Korvus agrees with his companions' assessments. "Whatever type of insect that is, it would have to be quite large - several feet long with a wingspan over six feet in length, if I'm not mistaken!" Korvus exclaims.
"Yes, Master Grimsley, I hear the flute as well. But didn't Master Korthul take the flute we found below?" Korvus asks, glancing around for the party's third half-orc companion. "If Master Korthul is not the source of the music, then I would hazard a guess that the sound may be coming from the ghost of the Piper of Illmarsh. According to the files, the Piper was accompanied by pet stirges," the wizard warns.
Korvus takes this opportunity to attempt to cast a protective spell on himself.
Korthul looks around, pats his vest, then pulls out the flute, "Not me, friends."
"I don't like the sound of that..." Alexei stores his weapon in order to recast a spell upon his shield, providing more light in the dim surroundings. He then pulls the weapon again, holding his makeshift torch ahead of him.
The sound of the flute seems to come from all around you, even from outside.
Harold finds himself humming along to the tune as he lifts his new handaxe up in a ready pose for someting to jump out and get a faceful of blade.