Adrian follows, staying toward the rear of the group. He looks about as they go, constantly alert for some sign of danger.
Cyrene helps Anabella with her outfit, and then closely follows the rest of the group through the tunnel. She stands near the front, trusting her sharp vision to spot anything concerning up ahead.
Ana brings up the rear, looking less glamorous in her borrowed clothes and armor, but certainly capable with her estoc drawn.
The group starts to head around the hallway to the left. The first door you come upon once opened is empty, just a table and some chairs. As you turn the corner, you check the next door to similar results, heading further down the hallway, eventually you see a body on the floor across from the next door. It looks like it is reasonably recent since the blood is still fresh. The man grasps at his neck where it appears his throat was cut open.
"Stay alert!" Caspian commands. "Whatever did this could still be nearby!" He leaves examining the body to others and steps past it, sword at the ready for an attack.
Adrian grimaces. "Even down here we can't escape the slaughter, it would seem," he says. With little other choice, he continues on with the rest, alert for the aggressor he's sure will come sooner or later.
Alex will be checking the door for traps and if no one else is he'll peek in the door.
Adrian hesitates a moment, then kneels beside the dead man for anything that might be useful. Dirty as it makes him feel, it's not like this poor sap was going to be using any of his things again anyway.
Cyrene also gives the body a quick once over, checking to see if it held anything important, or was worth investigating.
While Caspian stands watch Adrian and Cyrene check the body an Alex takes a look at the nearby door. As they are checking the body, the wall next to them seems to move as if coming to life. The torso of a humanoid figure with jagged claws extends outward from the wall, its features patterned with the texture of the structure around it.
It attempts to claw at Cyrene but only catches on her armor.
This is a type of undead creature called a walcofinde. They are created from humanoids who were intentionally buried alive.
A walcofinde in a sealed chamber, slowly regains health over time. They also can merge with walls providing them with additional protection from attacks and an extended reach with their claws.
Ana lets out a short scream as the shape emerges from the wall. "AHHH! W-walcofinde!! I think it's a walcofinde! Undead - it's a part of the wall!" Oh god, someone was buried alive in there!
Caspian leaps in swinging and lashes a blow at the strange creature in the wall. His sword hits the wall with a clang.
Caspan moves up and strikes out at the strange wall creature but ends up missing it and just hitting the wall instead. Still focused on Cyrene the thing lashes out at her again.
It rips into her with both claws, tearing away skin. It's fairly apparent now what happened to the poor man you were examining.
Adrian's eyes go wide in surprise as the creature emerges from the wall, clawing at Cyrene. A walcofinde! he thinks in panic after hearing Ana's outburst. He dashes away a few feet, chanting a few words, before flinging a small orb of acid from his finger.
Unsure as to what he can do against an enemy that is part of the wall Alex readies himself and waits to attack until it showes itself again.
Cyrene takes the total defense action, trying to keep up her guard while it focuses her down.
Adrian steps back and lobs a glob of acid at the thing, it hits it and sizzles as it burns away a little at the undead. Alex waits for a good opening while Anabella stands their in shock at some undead creature coming out of the wall and tearing into Cyrene. Cyrene, severally injured holds her ground but does the best she can to avoid any further attacks.
Caspian lashes out again, landing a solid blow to the creature rather than the wall this time.
Caspian cuts into the thing, adding to the wound from Adrian's acid, but it doesn't seem to hamper the creature much. However, actually being injured it turns its attention to the more immediate threat and attacks Caspian.
Similar to Cyrene, the thing rips into Caspian clawing at the mans chest and drawing deep wounds.
In attacking him the creature over-extends and Caspian is able to land a riposte, although not as strongly as he'd have liked.
Upon seeing both Caspian take two swipes from the undead creature, Adrian decides that throwing small globs of acid isn't going to kill this thing fast enough to prevent serious injury. He reaches deep within himself, tapping into the pool of power waiting there. Using that power, he begins speaking, his hands begin moving, as he reaches out beyond the Material Plane.
An eagle materializes from the ether, appearing just above and ahead of Adrian. The bird beats it wings furiously and lets out a screech before diving at the walcofinde, clawing and biting.
Adrian summons a bird out of no where that tears into the creature, while Alex, Anabella and Cyrene either stand by or defend themselves, Caspian strikes back again the creature delivering a solid blow that causes it to fall out of the wall un-moving.
Caspian turns and gives Adrian a nod of respect, before wiping off his sword and looking to Cyrene. "You are hurt my lady. Does anyone have any healing skill?"
"If someone has a healing wand I can use it to patch myself up" Cyrene remarks grimly, not happy with the wounds she had already taken from the freaky creature that was hiding in the wall. She tries to stay in the center of the corridor as much as possible.
"I didn't bring one with me, unfortunately," Adrian says dryly. "I didn't believe I'd need one at that sort of event." His eyes are still wide and alert as he scans the hallway, apparently still not convinced that they're out of danger.
As you stand in the hallway deciding on your next steps you hear a brief noise from the door near you in the western wall.
Adrian hears something coming from the door on a nearby wall. Gesturing to it for the others, he warily approaches the door and leans in to listen.
Caspian waits a pace behind Adrian, sword still out. When his fellow nobleman shakes his head Caspian steps forward and gently tries to push the door open.
"We are friends, trapped down here like you." He calls, "We are looking for a way out, you are welcome to come with us!"
Caspian opens the door to the nearby room where and finds two men and one woman inside. The man in the lead looks at you all with a hesitant smile "Uh... Hello. I... is that thing dead? Is it safe?"
"We killed it yes." Caspian responds. "Who are you? How did you come to be down here?"
The man lets out a deep breath upon the news of you killing the undead and shakes your hands vigorously. "Well done then! When that thing killed Lord Manshum we sought shelter in this room. Luckily for us whatever it was it did not give pursuit."
He looks back to the others and motions for them to come out since it is safe. Turning back to you he does a slight bow "I am Lord Wilfen Botoles." He points to the other man and the woman and continues "That is Sir Gryphus Plastion and Lady Gael Urbaen. We just appeared down here after the chaos that erupted in the senate floor."
You notice they are also wearing senate aid badges similar to yours but with a different crest on them.
"Caspian Lotheed." He offers, shaking hands in turn. "I suggest we stay together and attempt to find a way out of here. We'll be safer as a large group than moving individually."
"Its nice to meet you" Cyrene remarks politely, still managing her wounds. "Did you manage to explore before you ran into this creature?"
Adrian nods a polite greeting to the three in the room. "Adrian Merosett, at your service. Tell me, how did you get down here?"
The man shakes his head to Cyrene. "No, we found ourselves down here with no light or anything. Then we heard a horrible scream from Lord Manshum, we felt around and luckily found the door here and promptly got inside to hide."
When Adrian asks about how they got down here he shurgs "I mean, we were on the Senate floor. When things went crazy, some man tried to cut down Lord Manshum but as soon as the blade began to cut into him there was a flash of light and we found ourselves here..."
"I see. I would agree with Caspian, it would be best if you stayed close. Safety in numbers and all that. Do you know if there are others in any of the other rooms here?"
The man shakes his head and as you mention moving out together he looks back at the others hesitantly before asking "Perhaps it would be better if we stayed here while you made sure there weren't any further threats? We aren't really battle hardened soldiers so any help you could provide would be appreciated!" He pauses a moment and then smiles "Of course, I would be willing to offer a reward for our safe passage out of here, maybe 300 gold?"
The other two nobles chime in as well noting they would offer the same for their safety as well.
"Very well." Caspian accepts, although he doesn't acknowledge the offer of gold at all. "Lock the door again and wait here. Don't open the door for anyone unless they tell you that 'Taldor endures and prospers'. We will return for you once we've secured an exit."
With that decided he gives the nobles a short bow and steps back, turning to the rest of the group with the incident apparently already forgotten. "So? We should press on I think - there's nothing to gain by waiting here."
So saying he takes the lead towards the next door.
The nobles gladly close the door as the group departs to continue exploring. Caspan leads the group forward, turning the corner and heading west. On the northern wall here is an alcove and the obvious sign of the back side of a secret door. On the southern wall there is another normal door.
"Secrets first?" Caspian suggests, stepping back to let sharper eyes examine the door before he opens it.
Cyrene steps to the front and quickly attempts to see if she can spot any dangers.