The body is relatively bare though you do find a pouch on his hip made of some creatures organ dried out. It contains several shiny river rocks, a few dead turtles, a key, 77 gp, a filthy masterwork dagger, and a dull shiny rock that has a soft glow.
As you enter and the floating lights disperse about the room you can see now there is a pile of gear heaped in the corner of the room. Left discarded and forgotten with hides, a shield, and a sword visible.
The woman in the cell stands rigid, and despite the rags and grime is unashamed. She has a scowl and stares at you all as you enter she looks to you Adrian. “I’m in a cell, I’m not alright.” she doesn’t look really hurt and despite everything seems to be for the most part fine.
As things begin to settle a quietness begins to settle back in, which for good or Ill is here.
Byron stretches after the healing washes over him and smiles back at the cleric, "Don't worry. I will zag instead of zig next time. Or was it zig instead of zag? Well, one of those things." He will then turn, collect his spear and move to quickly search the area in case others are incoming.
Aiko says to the prisoner, "C'mon, we're breaking you out of here. I presume you need something to eat and drink." She rummages through her back briefly to provide a waterskin and a handful of nuts and smoked, thin-sliced preserved fish.
"Tell us about your captors and who all is in here while we get you out of here, please."
She just nods waiting expectantly for the key to unlock her cell. When handed the food she devours it in moments, draining part of the skin. Coming up for air she lets out a response breathing deep “Bird creatures. Led by a tengu he jailed me for later. I haven’t seen the castle entirely don’t know much.”
"Oh right... that's pretty obvious," he replied sheepishly. He then asked a different question. "Did you happen to arrive in the area by boat?"
She just looks at the cell door, and shrugs, “Yeah”
Zaraleva looks over at the two clusters of "loot." She doesn't see anything that will likely help with our unconscious friend, but the key might release the lady and there might be some magic in the stone.
Or maybe it just glows... :(
Since nobody else has done the obvious, Aiko checks the jailer's key in the lock to release the captive woman.
As Aiko tries the key to free the captive woman, ;yraesel looks through the weapons and random other objects collected for signs of anything useful.
@Zaraleva you recognize this as a earth elemental gem
@Aiko you find the key fits the lock and she pushes the door open. As she gets out she gives a nod of thanks.
@Lyraesal besides the pouch of items there is only the heap of gear. Looking through it you find a finely made suit of +1 scale mail, a heavy steel shield, a bundle of 4 javelins, and a masterwork longsword. You do find a small pouch of with 97 gp in it. There is also a folded up set of papers with writing on it in what you can surmise is skald. The bundle is tied up so as not to fall apart.
As she walks out of the cell she looks to the heap of gear and Lyraesal. She says in a forceful but not aggressive tone. “That is my gear. Can I have it?”
Another knock against him. Quelietly thanking Aiko for finding the key, he gestured towards the hear. "Go ahead.
Once the woman was stocked up again he decided to press a bit further. "Do you have the means to go back on your own?"
"Of course." Lyraesel replies, stepping aside to let the woman don her armor and gear. "How many in the group that captured you?"
"We are being rude, this is Adrian and Lyraesel. Over there you will see kind hearted Zaraleva, who certainly would like to check and make sure you are healthy. Hattori and Winsome are over there and I am Byron Vhiski. We found signs that you were captured and came to free you and ensure that this area was safe for our caravan. It looked like you were traveling here by boat and were captured. Would you share your tale with us?" Byron says with his most charming smile. But since he was a hunter and slayer by trade, it was only so charming.
As usual, Lyraesels brusque nature gets in the way of any social interaction with any but the few that were close to her or knew her relatively well.
The woman looked intense, but he did his best to at least look friendly.
"We have some supplies in the caravan if you want. We can also help you find the rest of your allies."
As she finishes suiting up she looks over Her shoulder turning, looking every bit a warrior from the north. “No. Our ship was destroyed by a drake. I’m all that’s left, I came here for a hidden treasure. Walked into the front gate and was captured by a group of 4 or so. It’s humiliating being taken prisoner when I could have fought, but I could hear creatures further off. I didn’t have the stomach to go down fighting.”
Aiko says, "We saw the ship in the harbor. You're right, I'm afraid, that it won't be going anywhere now."
"We need to get into this castle and... deal with whatever malevolent thing is in there. We have a camp nearby, where you can safely take the opportunity to rest up, get some more food, and prepare yourself for your next steps. If you are still set on looking for the treasure, lend your sword arm to us. If you have no stomach for this quest any longer now that your former companions are gone, then of course we won't stop you from going on your own way."
Aiko posts her naginata and adds, "Hopefully we will not become more casualties."
His face fell when the woman told her tale. "I'm sorry about your friends going out like that."
Adrian laughed nervously as Aiko was tempting fate. "I hope it doesn't come to that... but you seem like someone who wants to fight, so you're free to join us in fighting if you want.
“I don’t know much about the castle. But I would be more than willing to go with you to see if we can find this treasure, I have something that might make it easier.”
With that she pulls out the wrapped up paper and undoing the knot unfolds it to reveal a map of the castle.
Zaraleva peers over the map.
"How did you get this?" Adrian ask in an exasperated voice.
The map shows the entirety of the castle grounds, as well as two secret passageways into the castle from the sides.
She looks to Adrian, “I got it from an old stonemason, he said he worked on a castle that had a hidden treasure within it. Said it was abandoned long ago for some reason. Never heard back from the family he designed it for once they left. Said that they would come back one day for another design:”
Byron looks at the woman and smiles and says, "Well, if you are to travel with us perhaps you might share your name, and is there a particular item that you and your company came for or were you hoping to just collect whatever you found?"
My name is Kelda Oxgutter, as for the treasure. He said there was great treasure hidden here. Possibly hidden all these years. He helped design many hidden doors and secrets.”
It seemed like an odd coincidence for sure, but Adrian shrugged it off. "Well, it's matching the info we've had about the place. Say, where did the stonemason come from?"
She shrugs “I didn’t ask, he sold me the map for cheap and we left to go find plunder a few weeks later. This was supposed to be the first stop of several.”
As odd as it felt for him to have been gifted such a work, he decided it best to follow his allies advice and take advantage of it. "Alright. By the looks of it we have a lot of ground to cover, so we better get moving."
"Useful. Let's get moving." Lyraesel says, moving toward the next door.
Byron will move up to examine the next door.
Zaraleva stands in the back and loads her crossbow again.
The door opens to a semi-carved semi-natural tunnel then ends with an intricate iron screen blocks further progress into this large chamber, although a wooden door painted with the image of a tall, beautiful blue-skinned woman sitting on a throne stands in the middle of the screen.
This is Pharasma, the Lady of the Graves.
Adrian acknowledged the woman. At least he remembered that part of his lessons on religion. "Pharasma. At least this place wasn't built by evil worshipers," Adrian said.
Winsome follows somewhat nervously behind the others, eyeing the newcomer with a wary eye. "The worshippers of the Lady of Graves d-d-don't really make me feel all that s-s-safe," he stammers quietly. "Death cultists of any sort m-m-make me pause."
Aiko says flatly, "So that means we're entering the crypts? The image of Pharasma there to guard against malice among the interred dead?"
"Probably."
Winsome follows somewhat nervously behind the others, eyeing the newcomer with a wary eye. "The worshippers of the Lady of Graves d-d-don't really make me feel all that s-s-safe," he stammers quietly. "Death cultists of any sort m-m-make me pause."
"I don't think we have much to worry about," Adrian replied. "They only really care if we create undead. Or the few who don't believe in resurrection... or also what Aiko said... which might actually be dangerous for us."
The monk brought his guard up as he searched the area.
Beyond, the room stretches dozens of feet to the east, supported by stone pillars and with deep funerary alcoves to the north and south. The far end of the room seems to have partially collapsed into a large cavern in which faintly glowing motes of light swirl and dance in the air. Without even having to start checking you can tell the place has been ransacked. Sarcophagus lids lie on their sides, bits and pieces of items lie broken near the alcoves.
"Ransacked. Someone has been here,...looking for something important." Lyraesel says looking at the chaos and sniffing the air.
"But how long ago is the question." Byron says as he enters and looks around for signs of how long ago this room was destroyed.
Lyraesel, meanwhile studies the faintly glowing motes of light dancing in the air, her curiosity aroused.
Looking around Byron you can’t tell exactly how long it’s been, but it has been a long long time. The place has no signs of any recent ransacking with all the dust settled. A trail of some traffic leads onward toward the cavern beyond.
Lyraesal you aren’t entirely sure what’s going on here but it appears to be some kind of spore you don’t know of any like this that glow and drift into the air. This is good news and bad news; if it was dangerous you’d likely have heard of it.
"The good news is I don't think they've found it just yet. The bad news is it's not here." Adrian would seek to follow the trail onwards into the cavern.
Byron nods and says, "If it was ever here. We should move on." Byron says as he continues on.
You see from above amidst the stalactites a creature descend, speaking in a strange chorus like voice in a strange language shouting to you.
A sickly green burst disperses hitting Winsome, Adrian, and Byron.
Order
Winsome, Adrian, Byron, Kelda
Nindinzego
Lyraesal, Zaraleva, Aiko
Adrian gasps as the miasma of energy nearly saps him completely of his strength. "Nope... still has evil cults in it."
The monk then performed a tactical retreat towards Zaraleva's side for some healing help. He was going to need to feel better if he's going to reach that thing.
Winsome yelps in pain and terror and looks wildly about him for cover. Not finding any in this cavern, he steels himself and in a fit of desperate self-preservation moves forward and tries to retaliate with his magic.
Byron reels back from the black ray and then as the pain subsides some he takes a moment to study the flying creature before moving to separate out from his allies.
winsome recognizes the spell as unholy blight, or a form of it.
However he doesn’t recognize the creature, it being some strange abomination. Dungeoneering being the necessary skill set to know more.
The coins however do little besides scattering into the void. Unable to damage the creature.
Kelda sword drawn shield out runs up and tries to keep the creature at bay for a moment.
You watch as the creature lands near the opening and bellows a roar as one tentacle holds an ivory stick out towards you all.
Both rays slam into their targets, Kelda takes 10 fire damage, Byron 14 fire damage.
Order
Lyraesal, Zaraleva, Aiko