Each of the towers are halfway between the prison and the outer wall. They are about 70 feet tall of sheer smooth walls.
Though after touching the first one you notice a glowing yellow light on the outer wall and an elf with a bow exit from the yellow glowing portal. He is a good 100 feet away.
Imrik waves at the elf and calls out,
The elf takes a few steps forward and draws his bow. A ruby glint can be seen from his eyes under his hood.
Rai gets ready to take evasive action in case the elf proves hostile, which seems likely.
Hael Og Skaell Ragnar offers a Kellid greeting
Are you here to fight us, or do you dislike the undead as we do.
He asks neutrally
In the name of my Lord in Iron, either is fine, and you seem like a fun fight
Ragnar spreads his wings in a display of power
"Don't even think of doing anything stupid!! Visayn screams while aiming his own bow
Alkaid sees the commotion then comments
"Already a fight this early in the day......."
With everyone distracted, and the party between the elf and himself, Valiard moved quietly into the brush, pulling his brown cloak around him to break up his outline.
He moved smoothly and silently into the scrub, watching for any opportunities, or new dangers.
Calin strides forward a few strides toward the elf and speaks in a clear, non-aggressive voice. "Well met. I am Calin. My companions and I are here to investigate the prison and rid it of evil spirits. We mean you no harm. Do you know anything about these towers. From what I've gathered, they are new."
Calin takes a close look at this unfamiliar elf, hoping to gain insight into their intentions.
Imril will also move up and look to see if the elf might have any other allies about.
Lectrum moves up to cover Calin, horsechopper in hand.
It seems the elf is by himself.
Lowering his bow and pulling back his hood you see a smile upon his face. He shouts, "Well met I am sure Visayn, Valiard, and Lectrum can offer a vote of confidence that I am an ally not a foe."
Imrik speaks quietly so only his allies can hear, "He has a friend up in the trees with a bow." He tries to avoid looking at the elf and will approach the one coming out of the building.
When he gets there he says, "We are not here to hurt you. But this place is dangerous and we would like to know why you were in there. Items taken from this place may be very dangerous for you and those around you."
"But of course! Our good friend Drake, you were scouting in the prison. You found anything there?" Visayn relaxes and puts arrow back into quiver, but is baffled when Imrik notes the other elf "Do you think something might have happened to him?"
Alkaid observes for now
An Ally, can you direct us to were the foes are? A certain Hopper's face has an appointment with my claws and fangs.
Valiard continued to circle around, looking for a place where he had some cover from the elf on the tower above.
Who is the other elf on the tower above? Perhaps I can get a better view? Valiard thought, as he moved along quietly.
Valiard moved until he could get a better view of the elf above.
Ha! You startled us for a second. Maybe two! Lectrum doesn't even look around for other threats. Apparently he has lapsed in his guard training.
As Valiard rotates around the tower he notices the figure is not on the far side as it doesn't open up on that side.
He chuckles and then disappears. The elf in the tower seems to stand still as the tower descends. Near the ground it stops. Drake steps out of the tower stating, "It is always better to be prepared. Foes? Yes there are some flaming skulls and other haunts on the second floor. But the Hopper and the other evil spirits are surely in the lower levels of the prison. The mutations below remain in captivity. Where is the rest of the group?"
He would walk up to each of you greeting you with an open palm.
Will DC 15
Ha! You startled us for a second. Maybe two!
His lips break into a smile as he replies, "I wasn't sure seeing a much larger group return with new faces and forms. You know we can never be too careful."
---
When he gets there he says, "We are not here to hurt you. But this place is dangerous and we would like to know why you were in there. Items taken from this place may be very dangerous for you and those around you."
His smile turns more into a sly grin with a knowing look. He states with confidence and a charismatic lilt, "Yes this place is . I am a custodian of sorts for the tower. Did you tell them of the Elven Tower? Items taken from the prison are likely to be cursed. We have lucked out in the tower."
When Drake stands in front of him, Calin extends his hand in a more formal greeting. "Nice to meet another ally. I am Calin."
His grin turns to a pleasant smile as he states, "It is nice to meet you Calin, call me Drake." The handshake seems solid and maybe too firm. Though it fades quickly enough as he goes to greet the next one.
"I am Imrik Farstrider. Are you also trying to remove the haunts?" Imrik asks as he will also shake the offered hand.
Drake heh? Ragnar goes for a warriors clasp.
Lets go reaquaint some ghosts with high class violence.
Visayn decides shaking hands with Drake would be strangely formal when the two have known each other for some time. "Let's finish what we started."
Rai starts off observing from a distance. As Drake extends a hand, he decides to shake hands with him.
"I am Rai, nice to meet you."
Drake looks at Visayn and sees dried blood, pointing to it he asks, "Visayn are you hurt?"
He greets the rest of you warmly like a kind grandpa.
He nods and agrees with Ragnar.
As you clasp his arm you find a platinum coin in your hand. You also feel some energy course through your hand to the rest of your body.
You are affected by the spell aid until you leave the prison grounds.
Aid grants the target a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves against fear effects, plus temporary hit points equal to 1d8 +4.
With the blood and wounded fixed the group moves towards the prison.
He asks, "Do we want to quickly get down to the basement?"
Valiard moved out of the scrub, silently merging once again with the group.
"Drake! Good to see you hale and hearty." he said, speaking up.
"I think we would appreciate getting down to the basement as quickly as possible. Dr. Ramada's life may depend on it. It seems that he was attacked, and while he has stabilized for the moment, we may need to end the curse on this place to ensure that his life isn't under threat." Valiard said, motioning towards the tower.
His joyful look stays on his face as he replies, "Valiard! You as well, youngster." As we walks with the group towards the prison he says, "Ah! Then follow me, we will go down the same way as before. I have been elsewhere. I was telwported to other rooms and found some activator runes to get the watch towers working. I believe I am halfway done with restoring the tower. But the vengeful spirits should be dealt with before that happens."
As the part follows Drake, Calin asks about the purpose in restoring the tower.
"Apologizes for my ignorance. What is the importance of restoring the towers? Is that task connected with removing these spirits?"
Imrik draws his chain and follows along to see what dangers the towers hold.
As the part follows Drake, Calin asks about the purpose in restoring the tower.
"Apologizes for my ignorance. What is the importance of restoring the towers? Is that task connected with removing these spirits?"
"Not exactly...its more of a personal quest of Drake's...with benefits. If the towers are active, they will defend the ruin, make it that much harder for anyone to disturb things in the future. And who knows, it may be useful to the townfolk in the future if there is an invasion or something." Valiard said before giving a small shrug. "Drake is good people, and this place could use a protector." he finished as they walked.
Lectrum, one of the greatest warriors Lectrum knows, greets another great warrior with the accepted warrior's clasp.
Entering the front doors you find the first Haunting. The doors slam shut after the first person enters spectral faces and scream emit from the doors.
Beyond the entrance hall Drake and the others more familiar with the layout lead you East. Through several tunnels to a larger room. There are mant holes in the walls but also a 15 foot wide hole in the floor. Drake simply jumps in and splashes into a pool.
Alkaid will open the doors after they close
and she does so with ease even in medium armour.
Imrik looks around the area as they go for potential dangers.
Calin follows Drake past the room and he takes in his new surroundings. He jumps slightly in surprise when the doors slam shut. He shakes his head a bit and mutters to himself. "Don't be surprised, Calin. Of course this old prison is haunted."
When the group enters the larger room, Calin opens his mouth to ask Drake about the holes in the wall and the floor. "Drake, where do these holes lead?" But Drake drops into the hole in the floor before Calin can speak. Calin turns to those who have been here. "What are these holes used for? And, does Drake normally act so quickly without a pause for questions?" Calin peers down into the hole, attempting to see where Drake went.
A screaming challenge? By GORRUM MASSIVE BRASS BALLS I ACCEPT!
Ragnar regards the screaming with a gleam in his eyes
He sings rather off base though.
If these skulls have any sense of music, they just took some psychic damage
He remarks, not unaccurately.
You are within the prison proper, the ceilings are low, they may have been taller when it had seen better times. The ceilings are around 6 feet tall in most of the building.
You easily hear the splash from below, you can't see anything without a light source and then you discover a twenty foot drop into water. Valiard's rope remains in place which should allow access without a swim at least once Drake pulls the line and supports it.
Drake looks at Visayn and sees dried blood, pointing to it he asks, "Visayn are you hurt?"
"Oh, its just a little scratch. I'm pretty fine, thanks for asking."
----Visayn moves cautiously near holes as if expecting something to jump out of them and grab him. "Drake comes and goes as he sees fit. Holes, as far as I know, occur when buildings crumble due to lack of repair."
"Weren't there undead in the water the last time we were here?" Valiard asked, staring over the edge to the blackness below.
"I know that I had moved beyond this room into another larger space, and a door slammed behind me. There were plenty of undead still up and walking around in there...they may have wandered out here."
Ragnar throws a rock into the water
Lets Foind out!
"I prefer to fight on dry land, if possible. But if this is the quickest way to the basement, then so be it."
Calin scans the party and notices at least a couple of them appear to be suffering from lack of sleep. "If anyone is feeling especially tired this morning, I can take away the weariness by asking for Iomedae's blessing."
Calin walks over to each party member that indicated they would like Calin's help and briefly rests a hand on their shoulder. "Iomedae, take away our weariness and give us strength to face whatever is in our way."
After solving the tiredness problem, Calin looks down one of the holes, carefully not to get too close to the edge. "Does anything stir from that rock?"
Imrik will fly down without saying anything as this is apparently the way to go.
"Thank you Calin!" Rai expresses his appreciation as the fatigue is lifted and he feels more energized.