The Giant Wolfspider also known as Vrindel, finally drops his animalistic form when Zove emerges bleeding from the mental trap.
"I'm not sure what is happening here with all the disappearing and such... and the Ley lines feel fine to me... but I do know what to do about bleeding and injury".
Vrindel moves to lay on hands, and heal Zove, finding it hard to work around her furious scribbling and chanting at the book.
Cure Wounds at 2nd Level.
But is still able to get some healing magic into the squirming wizard.
The gnome looks from Vrindel to Zove to Vrindel. "She just appeared out of nowhere. Zove just appeared. And, Trevor has lost it, too. Talking about playing chess with an old man." His cheerfulness has been replaced with confusion.
"I'm going to go talk to the horse. Maybe figure some things out." The gnome steps out of the tent to continue his conversation.
"Pardon my manners. You can call me Ibrox. What do you call yourself?"
"What can you tell me of this Vinder? Is that his tent? Do you know why he came up here? Do you know where he is now?"
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Aterro stood founded-dumb at the mad ravings of the re-appeared Trevor, but his patience had been spent and his hand curled into a fist as he prepared to attempt to beat the man into coherence and, consecutively, begin to take the course where he could not discount that he may have had something to do with Zove's disappearance--unlikely as that is, but too horrible to be discounted.
Fortunately his sensible (and not at all paranoid) violence was side-tracked as the wizard stumbled in, raving about...something about as odd as Trevor playing chess (pah!).
"Speak sense, woman! You talk gibberish. Craft a pocket dimension? Who is 'he'. And what is an 'Anymore'.
And...have you learned aught of the shard of Thor that we are here for?"
Trevor lets go of Ibrox when Zove returns. He goes to grab her and hug her, but then hesitates and, thankfully, Zove starts on her own, writing herself away from him.
He takes a step back, confused by what she is saying and her punching Aterro confuses him further.
"Wow... This is a conundrum! We need to move everyone in the box, is that what you're saying? Every. One?" he says.
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"Oooofff," Aterro grunts, more from surprise that the fragile fey punched him than any real damage.
Indeed, for a moment he hopes she didn't just hurt her hand on his heavy armor.
The cornucopia of words washes over him with little effect. He hangs on to the idea that the...thing...they encountered at the cave (and which turned down his dagger for lack of usefulness!) is some kind of magical creature...and he probably should've killed it when he had the chance.
As Trevor suggests something more solid--if equally insane--he chews on the idea.
"But to get out of the box, do we...have to...play chess?" he inquires, not really seeing how the dots connect.
"I've found that strange and wonderous things occur around you two legged folk. Especially those who smell of magic like yourself." The young stallion says. "As for my name, I am called Pearl by most, I think it is because my shiny white and gray coloring." He adds holding his head high and proudly, while flicking his tail.
At the mention of Vrinder, Pearl's head droops slightly. "He's not my favorite master. I much preferred young master Ysdrik to Vrindel, but I'm afraid he's gone now, killed in a big battle back home."
"Vrindel always smells funny, makes my nose itch and tickle half the time. Like you, he smells of magic, but also like old blood and dead things. I got used to it after a while, but sometimes it still makes my skin shiver."
"He hasn't been here for a while. Went down into the ground with the others and hasn't come back. I've no idea why or for what. He's always going underground, digging up old bits of this and that. Pretty dull really, but he does give me good food and makes sure I'm brushed and warm and dry most nights so I can't really complain much."
[speaking horse]"Thanks Pearl. You've been very helpful."
[/spoiler]
The cheerful gnome returns to the tent and surveys the state of conversation. He wonders what he missed, but everyone seems to be as confused as when he went to speak to the horse.
He clears his throat to gain the attention of his companions, "Alright, the horse's name is Pearl. His master is Vinder who is that Doctor Necromancer from the village. He took everyone underground awhile ago. So, that's where we should be headed."
He looks to Aterro and Zove, "Did you get that small metal box open that we found? Anything useful or dangerous?"
Examining the opened chest further, it is only about half full but you do find several items. First, is two sets of fine traveling clothes with black and red coloring. An expensive, fur lined heavy cloak with an embroidered silver thread stair step pattern along the collar and outer edges. A money pouch contains fifty gold coins from various nations, but most are newly minted crowns featuring the crown of Morgau on one side and the profile of Hristina, the new Duchess of Krakovar on the other. In addition to the gold, there are 18 silver and 25 copper coins. Finally there is a belt pouch containing several small compartments. Each of the smaller compartments holds a few tablespoons of a dried herb. They seems to be labeled in tiny script, Kariv Thyme, Khazzaki Pepper, Centaur Mustard, etc.
The smaller hand sized box is locked.
The sight of new Krakovar coins pains the paladin, reminding him of his past failings.
When Zove asks for help, Trevor hesitates, not wanting to get back to the old man so soon. The old man might be there this time, and he had been quite unhappy at seeing Trevor so frequently. He is about to voice his concern when Ibrox's reaction comes back to him and he decides to keep these concerns to himself.
"Sure, why not. The necromancer's brassiere is sure handy..." he says, and gives Zove a hand, though he cringes the whole time, worried he'll get sucked in once again.
Completely ignoring the glow of magic emanating from the small locked box, Zove continues to wiggle her improvised undergarment derived lockpick into the mechanism until there is a soft 'click'. It takes a few seconds more, but suddenly the lock pops open. As it does so the wailing screams of a multitude of tortured souls fill the tent. The screams are vile enough to feel as though they are withering your minds directly as well as leaving your ears ringing for long seconds after.
CON Save
Vrindel expecting the worst is able to get his hands up over his ears before the worst happens.
"Quit opening things! Please! he shouts in what he deems is an appropriately too loud voice.
He then runs from the tent, not only to escape the eerie sound, but also to make sure that it doesn't attract anything unwelcome.
The gnome grabs his ears and falls to the floor in complete pain. He looks around as an eerie silence fills his ears and head. What did they do now? Blood slowly drips from his ears.
After a minute, he works his jaw to pop his ears, "I need a nap before we go spelunking."
The small box contains two envelopes, one sealed with the black and red crown of Morgau, the other simply sealed with plain yellow beeswax. Under the two letters is a small leather bound book. The book has a silver embossed skull on the cover. Finally, there is a small padded case holds a pair of finely crafting gold rimmed glasses. Each of the lenses glow with a soft divination aura.
Vrindel steps outside of the tent and sees no immediate threats. But a few seconds later he hears a distant call for help coming from somewhere inside the keep.
"Help! Can anyone hear us! HELP! Get us out of here!" The shouts are muffled and hard to hear, but certainly real.
Vrindel quickly steps back inside, and motions the others to follow him. He rights the words... TROUBLE... in the dirt outside and starts towards the keep.
Snicker circles the immediate area, but doesn't see or sense anything unusual. Following Vrindel's motions, the hawk lands near the entrance and chirps softly. The shouting is definitely coming from somewhere inside.
Blood drips from Trevor's ears, drawing lines on his cheeks as he screams in pain and falls on his buttocks.
Taken by pain, he winces and wails softly hoping the pain would go away.
Finally, when it does, he looks to the others: "Can we not open anything else, yes?"
Ibrox will reluctantly follow anyone headed for trouble. Readying to turn invisible to save his wounded self.
The entrance to the keep is pitch black with no light shining inside at all. A thin wisp of smoke continues to drift out the doorway, but there's no obvious sign of a fire, torch, or even a brazier. The smoke smells of both wood and something herbal. There's also the tinge of blood and death in the air drifting from the opening.
The ground outside the door has been heavily traveled in recent days. Bare, muddy ground shows the prints of multiple shoes, boots, and bare feet having trampled back and forth from the keep to the midden piles and elsewhere in the courtyard.
As you all hesitate around the entrance, debating whether to rest or not, the cries slowly grow faint and eventually stop completely.
-Two sets of fine traveling clothes with black and red coloring.
-An expensive, fur lined heavy cloak with an embroidered silver thread stair step pattern along the collar and outer edges.
-A money pouch contains fifty gold coins from various nations, but most are newly minted crowns featuring the crown of Morgau on one side and the profile of Hristina, the new Duchess of Krakovar on the other. In addition to the gold, there are 18 silver and 25 copper coins.
-A belt pouch containing several small compartments. Each of the smaller compartments holds a few tablespoons of a dried herb. They seems to be labeled in tiny script, Kariv Thyme, Khazzaki Pepper, Centaur Mustard, etc.
-Two envelopes, one sealed with the black and red crown of Morgau, the other simply sealed with plain yellow beeswax.
-A small leather bound book. The book has a silver embossed skull on the cover.
-A small padded case holds a pair of finely crafting gold rimmed glasses. Each of the lenses glow with a soft divination aura.
Trevor nods as Zove says to go forward: "Yes, it seems these need help. Rest will have to wait." he says, but does not seem to be willing to go first...
"I shall lead the way. I agree it would be most prudent to rest and recover, but from the sound of things that might be too late. Perhaps they are simply trapped behind a rock slide or something".
Vrindel enters the keep carefully and stealthily, hoping to get a clue as to what is happening.
Stealth
Perception
You all spend a few minutes recovering from the traps in the necromancer's tent and then carefully make your way through the doorway and into the ruins of the keep. Vrindel leads the way moving with quiet determination followed by Zove, Ibrox, Trevor and Aterro.
The entryway quickly gives way to what once must have been the keeps great hall. The wide open room stretches the length of the ruin. Several portions of the ceiling have collapsed and much of the area is filled with rubble and other debris. Not far from the entrance is a pile of shovels, picks, and other digging gear along with a pair of oil lamps and a half dozen flasks of lamp oil.
Peering into the darkness, Vrindel makes out two stairwells. One, leading up to the collapsed second floor, is impassable due to debris and crumbling stone. The second leads down and like the courtyard has been recently cleared and shows signs of recent foot traffic. It also seems to be the source of the smoke that drifts lazily up from whatever burns down below.
Two bodies lie covered under blankets behind the piled equipment and are the obvious source of the foul smell emanating from the room. Both appear to be former villagers.
The light from Zove's lamp reveals little else to the room. Simply more clarity to the long rotted remains of what once may have been furniture, walls, or other items of use long since returned to the elements.
Investigating the stairway going up, it is quite clear that any significant excavation would very likely lead to a full on collapse of not only the blocking rubble, but much of the rickety second floor as well. Zove's simple pushing on the rocks and moving a few small bits as part of her exploration cause an alarming sifting of dust, dirt, and pebbles to fall from the above as a deep creaking groan echoes throughout the room with the shifting of the old heavy stones.
Trevor squirms as the upper floor threatens to sit on his head: "This... This is not safe, right? I mean, we could just drop the building on them, no? Trap them d- Oh right... The villager... Never mind. We head down?"
The gnome follows along not so cheerfully. Wounded and wondering what they will find, he shuffles along. He cautiously approaches the bodies knowing that there is a necromancer afoot and offers, "Both these men have been crushed to death by stone or other rough, heavy objects. Be careful."
He surveys the room for any other clues.
"We are beat up and tired. I say we do a quick scan of downstairs before withdrawing to recuperate. The cries for help have ceased, so it might be too late for us to do anything. I'll go on a scouting mission. Stay ready".
Vrindel once again takes his arachnid form and moves forward to scout.
Stealth
Perception
Blindsight 10', Darkvision 60', Climb speed 40', speed 40'
Trevor sighs in relief at Vrindel's suggestion and nods his approval.
He then takes position near the entrance of the stairs, axe ready, waiting for Vrindel to report back.
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Aterro does his best to stay quite and stay away from the walls, fearing that his natural bent toward destruction might very well bring the whole of the thing down upon them just for an extra-enthusiastic sneeze.
"Might you investigate the second floor, Vrindel, nimble as you are? I'd hate to leave any stone...unturned."
He paces the area, twirling WarGuard.
Spider-Vrindel scurries down the stairs leading further into the depths of the hill. Unlike the stairs up to the ruined and collapsed second floor of the keep, this passage has been recently excavated and is fairly stable. The stairs spiral their way down ten, twenty, thirty, forty feet before ending in a small landing and a narrow passage that leads east.
The thin passage is just wide enough to allow a regular human to pass with only minor trouble. It continues for twenty paces and then opens into a small room. Two men lie trapped under a collapsed beam and several smaller stones. One still apears to be breathing.
There is another exit beyond the cave in, partly blocked by rubble, but passable by someone small or willing to crawl. An eerie red glow emanates from the opening.
SV attempts to latch onto the mans clothing with his mandibles and pull him loose. He first inspects the beam to make sure it won't fall if he pulls him out.
Investigation
STR Check
Both of the men appear to be dressed in typical peasant clothes, and you even recognize one of them from the imprisoned group of villagers you encountered a few long days ago.
Spider-Vrindel's examination of the beam leaves him thinking it is possible to get the men out safely, but it will take at least three people. One to lift the beam and one to pull each man to safety. Taking a closer look at some of the stones, you think it might also be a good idea to clear a few of those out of the way as well.
Vrindel moves back to the others and takes back on his more familiar Trollkin form.
"There's a couple of villagers in there trapped beneath some rubble. I believe that three of us working together could free them. I think there's bad stuff beyond where they're trapped, but is we could rescue them, and get out of hear to rest and recover, they might have valuable information as to what's going on here".
He then looks at the bedraggled crew..
"I think it's worth the risk. We can always run away if things go south. Whose with me"?
The wounded but cheerful gnome stands up and says, "Let's go." An unlikely volunteer for altruism, he must have ulterior motives.
Ibrox follows the crew.
Zove's magical servant rummages through what little broken, rotted goods remain but it finds nothing of value. Most likely anything of real value has already been plundered either long ago or by the recent excavators.