Cellaich, I will now need a Fort save, please.
The hook latches, and the rope can now be used to climb. Anyone attempting to climb the shaft will need to make a climb check for me.
Jagray watches as the others explore, but is more concerned with keeping an eye out for any threats that may arise. As he sees Cellaich scale the mound of corpses and actually land the shot, he raises his eyebrows in amazement but grins to the success.
Waiting for someone to try the rope first he continues to keep a lookout for any threats.
Springy removes her buckler and gives it a good old fashioned climb attempt.
Cellaich, somehow more afraid of embarrassing himself than he is whatever's ahead, grabs hold of the rope and prepares to climb- and as he does, he foolishly takes a deep breath, inhaling the smell of rot and barely containing the contents of his stomach. He begins to climb regardless, moving slowly and carefully up the rope, much to the dismay of his innards.
As each of you climb up, I'll need a Fort save, please.
Amestri nonchalantly climbs up the pile and waits by the shaft. It's a good thing they had us train around corpses to get used to battle. This would be a lot harder if it wasn't so familiar.
"I will wait and go last. If anyone slips or has an issue I'll be behind you with healing."
After some go up, Jagray attempts to follow behind.
Endol climbs up.
Endol -
Cellaich -
Jagray -
Pushing open the metal trapdoor at the top of the chute, you emerge into a 10x20 room with a closed door at the south end. You see nothing else in the room, except for what look like bloodstains and drag marks leading from the door to the chute you just climbed out of.
Cellaich, upon everyone reaching the top, stows away his rope and grappling hook quickly in his bag. Looking down at the bloodstains and drag marks, he quickly begins to piece together how the pile of bodies got there.
He draws his smallsword and once again, slowly and silently he approaches the door and attempts to listen through it, just as he did before.
Upon reaching the top Jagray follows Cellaich's lead and draws his weapon following closely behind the man.
Endol will squat on his haunches, not use to feeling useless he waits for Cellaich to give the all clear.
Amestri patiently watches Cellaich from a few yards back, readying herself for whatever might be on the other side of the door.
Cellaich, you hear nothing out of the ordinary. It is eerily quiet.
Cellaich motions for the others to approach as he slowly and quietly pushes the door open, stepping through and attempting to take stock of his surroundings while remaining quiet.
Amestri glides up to the door and waits for the signal from Cellaich to proceed
Trampled flowerbeds lie smeared and squashed across this muddy courtyard. As far as you can see, stark gray walls climb toward a narrow gap of sunless sky. There is a faint, but unpleasant, odor.
[b]"I don't like this but at least it is not dark, do you think it is safe?"[/]
"Not any less safe than waiting down in the basement..." he mutters, slowly stepping out into the courtyard and giving it a detailed scan, remaining in the shadows as best he can.
Having not yet heard any screams of pain or terror from Cellaich, Amestri follows him into the courtyard and helps search for any useful items or clues about where they are.
In the meanwhile, Springy (having also gotten bored), catches up as well.
"Is there anything here? There wasn't anything back from here, so there's got to be something here, right?"
Endol moves up ready to put himself between danger and the others.
He takes in the odors of the courtyard, still uncomfortable with the changes. He tries to distract himself. "Springy, where do you hail from?"
"An excellent question!"
She thinks about it for a moment.
"Fog!"
Amestri glances down at Springy. "Although I was first born the normal way from a man and a woman, I was reborn in the fog." She gives her a warm smile. "Perhaps in a way we are sisters"
The dwarf rolls his eyes at the idle chatter and steps into the courtyard to give it a look.
"Maybe. Did you get torn to pieces too?"
"Ah, I understand. I was referring to the battle fog of the Ashiftah, but I did recently have a dream of a fog where I was torn asunder. It ended with me awakening here." She looks down at the gnome a little confused. "How did you know what was in my dream?"
The ratman starts for a bit at the witches question and tries to watch for Springy's response without wanting to give away anything.
"I didn't! Or did I? I do know things..." Springy taps her chin, looking from one end of the room to the other. She puffs up proudly, then jabs a thumb at her chest.
"Well! I had the dream, so maybe I dreamed of your dream. Or you dreamed of mine! I don't remember being veiled, though. But you didn't wake up with a veil, right? So maybe I did dream of being you. I didn't feel like I was being you, though... How do you know you're you? And how do I know I'm me... Hey!"
She turns to someone completely at random.
"I'm me, right? Not her? Or you?"
Endol looks to Springy, "I can assure you that you are not me." he stops for a second, his hand reaches back to touch the too large blade on his back. "But I guess, I do not seem to be me either."
"In any case, it seems we might have some time to rest, whoever we are." Amestri sits down at the base of a tree and starts thinking. "Once Cellaich is done exploring this courtyard we'll have to start moving again, so I wouldn't mind some time off my feet."