Cetan takes one last look around the room, then nods at Sky Voice's direction.
So it seems. Any traps on that trap door?
He looks it over himself, but he fully expects someone other than him to have a better eye for this.
"I don't have an eye for traps however that trapdoor is falling apart. Would have been better to hide it, not trap it, no?
Brogann shrugs. "I think Sky Voice is probably right. Both hidden and trapped would be unusual. But I don't know."
The wizard is a bit impatient. He drags the bedframe out of the way, then moves back.
"Stand back."
Brogann casts Open/Close on the trapdoor. As long as it weighs 30 lbs or less, he can open it.
Sigrun is skeptical of all the to do over opening the trapdoor. But she waits while it's done.
Without warning, the ruined infirmary erupts with noise. Humanoid forms, barely more than charred skeletons, rise from the previously empty beds and scream. Within their gaping mouths, all that can be seen is ash and fire.
The terrifying vision ends, nearly as suddenly as it began. The spasming bodies vanish, their screaming cut abruptly short. All that remains is the stench of burning flesh.
Brogann's spell opens the trapdoor, as it is neither locked nor barred. A ladder, mounted to the wall, leads downward and into the Plague House's basement.
Sky Voice jumps at the sudden vision. He quickly turns to Towering brother to sooth him. Brother is much smarter than any normal animal but still easily scared by the unexplained.
After calming brother Sky Voice walks him back to the previous room and tells him to wait for him to return and to trumpet loudly if anything happens or he need help.(Towering Brother has 6 Int and can understand Giant so he should be able to follow those orders).
"What a terrible shame. It seems those that died here are stuck in torment for some reason. I know not the proper rites of these people to try to set them at rest but I will say a prayer nonetheless. When we return to town we should inform a Priest their of this and bring them out to set these souls free."
Sky Voice utters a prayer to the wind and waves and asks that the tormented here be comforted.
The terrible vision leaves Sigrun looking even paler then she usually does, and maybe a little sweaty.
"This was a plague house that burned? The sick were still here inside when it burned?"
"Yes, it was a great tragedy for the town. That's why the place is seen as haunted, which as we now see it well may be.
Our resident Iomedans have their work cut out for them. Restoring the statue of their goddess, setting the dead to rest, and so on.
Can any of you cast Light on my sword? It will be darker in the basement."
Out of habit, Cetan grips his bow.
Yes, it seems haunted indeed. That is not something one wants to see...
Everyone notices his eyes glow a faint purple for a moment as he turns his arcane eye on the beds for good measure.
But just in case...
That was unexpected, to say the least.
The mention of the sick people burning to their death seems to awake a flicker of compassion in the usually gruff fighter.
But soon he shakes it, and looks around with an even sterner demeanor
Glad we don't have to fight the already dead. I had to do it once, and it was enough. Quite the scary experience.
Sky Voice nods at Brogann and than utters a few words and touches the mages blade making it emit a clear bright light.
Cast Light on Sword.
[spoiler=Cetan]You detect a weak aura of necromancy in the area. Unlike a recently cast spell, the presence lingers. You think that the vision could manifest again in the future.
Descending the ladder, Brogann finds a moderately-sized chamber with walls and floor carved from smooth granite. The center of the room's floor displays the symbol of Iomedae, a longsword of faded gold surrounded by a circle of white marble. A wooden portcullis blocks the southern exit, and a sturdy wooden door leads west. A small wooden chest and decrepit bookshelf face one another on opposite walls.
The tiefling seemingly sniffs in the air near the trap door and closes his eyes for a moment. He opens them as he exhales and speaks.
I sense death here. The visions will like recur in the future.
---------
On descending the ladder, Cetan conducts his usual routine of scanning the environment for traps, and then opening his arcane eye on the room.
Sigrun descends after Brogann and looks around. She waits for the others to come down, and watches for surprises.
Sky Voice gives Brother one more scratch behind the ear and lets him know he will be back soon. He than follows the others down the ladder.
Brogann walks over and examines the bookshelf. Are there any books that have survived?
"A wooden portcullis, door, chest, and this bookshelf - it would seem the fire did not affect the basement much if at all."
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Gabsen looks for a mechanism to rise the portcullis, and tests the weight of the wooden structure
The bookshelf holds little of value—only the mostly destroyed pages of Iomedae’s holy text, Acts of Iomedae, and several other weathered scriptures.
The chest contains several auras of transmutation, one strong and two faint.
Gabsen tests his strength with the portcullis, lifting it an inch or two. If he had a second pair of hands, it might actually be forced open...
Signy goes to help Gabsen with the portcullis, not that it makes much difference.
Cetan strides over to the other side of Gabsen to lend what strength can be mustered from his wiry from.
With the help of Sigrun and Cetan, Gabsen manages to overcome the portcullis's mechanism. With a metallic click, the locks in its open position.
"Something magical in here."
Brogann examines the chest for any traps.
"Looks safe to me!"
Nevertheless, he will use Open/Close on the chest from a distance, assuming it is not locked.
Turning back into the room, Cetan watches on curiously as the chest is opened. It attempts to detect magic on whatever contents are revealed.
Within the chest is a 50-foot length of silk rope, a disguise kit showing some use, a set of thieves' tools, a noble's outfit, a signet ring, and several bags of coin. Additionally, there two flasks, one containing a viscous amber substance and the other a slick, clear fluid. The former exudes a strong aura of transmutation and the latter faint.
"No sense standing around counting coins, lets move on through the doors?
"Yes, grab the stuff and let's go."
Sigrun takes a couple of steps through the portcullis to look around.
Brogann casts Detect Magic and looks over the stuff briefly.
"No idea."
He seems vaguely annoyed at having to be scholarly and a proper wizard.
"Yes, let's go on."
He stands back, greatsword in hand.
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Cetan turns away from the items for now, ready to follow Sky Voice and Sigrun through the door.
Quite some smart clothes here...
Gabsen admires the nobles outfit
But it won't fit me. Anyone knows anything about the high and mighty? Maybe you could recognise the mark on the signet ring...
Beyond the open portcullis, the hallway branches in two directions. To the west is a closed door; to the east, it opens into a stark chamber. A stairwell climbs back up to the ground level, apparently unharmed by the fires that destroyed the Plague House.
The sole feature in this room is a lone statue of Iomedae, relegated to a dusty alcove. This depiction of the goddess is one of peace, with her hands wrapped loosely around the hilt of her sheathed sword. The weapon itself is not part of the statue, and closer examination reveals that it is slightly askew in her grip.
Brogann takes a look at the signet ring. Does he recognize the signet?
He then moves up to the alcove and casts Detect Magic on the statue of Iomedae, and in particular the sheathed sword that is askew in her grip.
"Could be a lever for a door. Could just be a nice sword that we could use."
He is not going to touch it just yet.
Sigrun stands and stares at the statue.
"Hm, this is the warrior god? Same as the one who has the church in town?"
The sword radiates no magical auras.
The signet ring bears only a stylized "R", likely belonging to a wealthy merchant or artisan. He hasn't seen anything like it in Trunau.
Cetan inspects the closed door to the West.
"Same one, Sigrún. Iomedae. Don't they have her in your lands? Maybe not so much."
Brogann takes a closer look at the sword, and sees if it can be removed from the statue's hand and drawn from the sheath.
If successful, he tries to assess its quality.
"No, I have never heard this one before coming here. In the Linnorm Kingdoms we have Gorum, and one is enough."
Brogann smirks and hefts his greatsword.
Ain't that the truth.
He actually likes having Iomedans around - they keep their word and do their duty - but their way isn't for him.
Brogann is no artisan, but he knows swords. The blade is sharp, sturdy, and well-balanced; a fine weapon. The sword and its sheathe can be removed from the statue with a little work.
The door to the west is unremarkable, and nothing can be heard from the other side.
"Ready, Gabsen?"
Standing behind the warrior, Brogann opens the door with his magic.
Ready.
Sword in hand, the massive fighter braced himself.
Sigrun also readies herself.
Sky Voice stands ready with gauntlet and shield raised.
The walls of this chamber are pocked with skull-sized cubbyholes, each containing a single brass or clay urn—some long since shattered or dented, others still intact. A lightly colored stone statue depicting a burning chariot wheel occupies the northwest corner of the room.
A quivering of the torchlight betrays the presence of a gelatinous cube, motionless in the center of the room. It was likely trapped here, unable to leave due to the iron doors. It remains motionless in the center of the room.
Cetan peaks around the corner and spots the large, mostly transparent cube.
Hmm, I'm betting that thing hasn't had a good meal in a while.
He squints and peers into it to see if it contains any recent victims.
Is it worth disturbing that creature to get at the urns, or that fancy wheel?
He gestures towards the relic at the far end of the room.
Sigrun tilts her head in curiosity, unaware it was alive or whatever until Cetan brings it up.
"What is it?"
After several moments he defocuses his gaze at the thing and turns back to Sigrun.
It is a gelatinous cube. They are fascinating to look at but very dangerous. They move slowly, envelope their prey within their being and then dissolve them over time. Oftentimes the remains of prey can be seen suspended in them. It's really quite...
The tiefling winces apologetically before continuing.
beautiful, it an odd way.
Can't you shoot at it until it dies? Can you burn it? No need to risk our skin if we can defeat it from afar
"Indeed truly an interesting creature. Not natural tho so if we need what is in there I have no qualms with putting it down especially if it is suffering. However it doesn't look like a threat and if we close the door it shouldn't be able to get us."