Evelyn heads north to the door and begins checking it over, looking for signs of traps.
"Quickly now. Time is of the essence."
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"He's not missing anything?" Evelyn reached out to her shadow, summoning it to block the door they just entered through. "The halfing must have come this way. If this kobold is not injured, then we just be moving on quickly." Evelyn begins looking around the room, hoping to find some indication on which way the halfling went from here.
"He went north." She turns to head into the northern passage, but pauses, looking back to her shadow. "Sister, do be so kind as to remain here and watch for any surprises." The shadow nods once. Evelyn walks slowly to the door in the northern tunnel and gives it a quick once over.
Evelyn begins to scour the hallway, looking for any signs of the halfing's passage. Her Shadow moves beyond the others, heading to the western hallway. It halts just at the corner and begins to look around.
"I think the more prudent choice would be to follow where we think the halfling is going. As much as I would like to explore the area more, we need to meet with our benefactor."
"Yes, yes it was, but you handled yourself well...although you may want to fix your hair. You have a point" Evelyn responded and fanned out, searching the rest of the room.
"Oh damnit all to the hells." Evelyn moved forward, closing with the others and launched a handful of acid at the paper opponent.
Evelyn, hoping that Mal and Camila could handle the scroll, continued to stay back and guard the door. "Oh my god Mal. Look what it did to your hair!"
Seeing Camila rush to Malora's aid, Evelyn decided to hold back and block the doorway. Expecting an untimely appearance from their halfling friend, she decided to close the door and wait.
Evelyn took a step back away from the door and nodded to Camila. "May as well open it." The Shadow quietly continued it's way down the western hallway.
Evelyn and her shadow emerge into the hallway and head separate ways. Evelyn follows Camila and glances to the door on the south wall as her shadow creeps along the hallway further to the west.
"Indeed. Come. We must be moving on." Evelyn waved the others over to the door near her. "Wait, let me heal you sister."
Evelyn's shadow continued to rip and slash at the griffon.
As the shadow continued its assault, Evelyn, still paranoid about the invisible halfing reappearing readied a spell in greeting. Readied Spell for halfling: Evelyn cast command - fall if the halfling emerges.
Evelyn's shadow hissed like a cornered cat before it tried to rake the automaton with both claws.
As the others surrounded the animated griffon, Evelyn readied to cast a spell should their invisible little friend pick now to reveal himself.
Evenly tried to open the door as the others moved to engage the animated griffon. She then stepped away from the door, closer to the others and hurled a glob of acid at the griffon. "We should keep moving forward. I doubt it'll be able to follow us once the door is closed.
Evelyn's shadow darted into the room and immediately approached the lumbering griffon, taking a swipe at it with her claws.
"A rich man's entertainment" she answered with disgust. She shook her head and moved towards the door along the north wall and started examining the door.
Moving into the room, Evelyn wanders about slowly, taking in each display. "Such a waste. I imagine at one time this facility was quite the attraction. Yet another example of the aristocracy wasting money that could have fed and clothed the poor." As Evelyn moved into the room, her Shadow crept away from the door, finding a darkened corner to hide in.
"We seem to have mostly been moving north, as far as I can tell, so I think we continue that way" she says, pointing to the door on the right. Her shadow nodded and made it's way to the door, looking it over briefly before trying to open it.
"What's going on? Where is he?" Evelyn asked. "Let's just calm down. There are several of us, and only one of him. I doubt he's here for us, unless one of you two are much more important than I am aware of. Remember, he's not our responsibility. We need to keep moving to find our benefactor." "Besides, if he used magic to hide himself, he'll show up eventually..."
"Come sister. Let us rejoin the others. Safety in numbers and all that." The Shadow nodded and both exited the room and headed to rejoin Malora and Camila. "What happened? Did you see where he went?"
At hearing the halfling scolding the others, Evelyn looked at her shadow. "I don't think he understands the hierarchy here yet. Pity." She nodded to the western door. Her shadow nodded, and moved to investigate the door. Evelyn summoned her magical site and began looking around the banner room from the doorway.
"Well check it out, would you? The sooner we're out of here, the better." Evelyn and her Shadow approached the western door. After a cursory check, Evelyn nodded to her Shadow who tried to open the door.
"Mal, quit playing with your hair. What was in the other room? Where's the halfling?
"Oh, how lovely. You could prove to be immensely valuable" Evelyn mummers to the hat. The Shadow's head tilts ever so slightly.
"Ahhhh, what is that!?!?!!" she exclaims, tossing the hat and it's contents to the floor and taking a step back.
With a nod, Evelyn directed her Shadow to stand opposite her as she approached the wig.
"I'm not sure yet. A magical aura, coming from over there." Evelyn slowly walked around the room, her eyes still on the aura. Occasionally she would stop and pick up something that caught her eye, but she made steady progress towards the source of the magic. Wary of traps, or more objects coming to life kept her paranoid.
Evelyn surveyed the room from the doorway, activating her magical sight before finally stepping inside. Half a step in, she called back. "Camilla, stick with Mal if you would." "Sister, if you would do be the honor of accompanying me, I would feel much safer in your presence." With a slight twitch of it's head, the shadow crept ever closer to Evelyn.
"You keep it for now. My palette is too refined after having dined with the nobles" Evelyn feigned. She scooped up the crossbow before moving to the first door that Iggy had determined safe. She gave it a quick glance of her own before trying to open it.
"Why all of them, I should think."
Feeling like tempers had calmed for the moment, Evelyn made her move as soon as the halfling moved to check the doors.
With the threat of armor ended, Evelyn gave an exasperated huff. Turning back towards the crossbow and eyeing Mal with her rapier aimed at the halfling was an unexpected turn of events. Slowly, she nodded to her shadow and then approached the pair.
"Now Mal, I'm sure we all have our secrets. Let's not beget the little one his. A dishonest job is an honest day's work. While don't you lower that pointer of yours. There doesn't appear to be anywhere else he can go. Besides, he might prove useful yet."
Despite the overwhelming desire to pick up such a famed piece of Taldor history, Evelyn's hand recoiled at hearing the sound of other glass breaking. At seeing the ancient armor spring to life, she dropped the longsword and waited for them to close, lashing out with her claws.
"They, are the least of your worries little man" Evelyn snarled. Evelyn's shadow quietly crept around the other side of what was left of the glass case to come up on the armor from it's blindside.
Stopping in front of the crossbow, Evelyn begins looking for any tell-tale signs of traps...
before trying to smash the glass with her appropriated longsword.
Evelyn slowly made her way around the room, taking each glass case in turn. She inspected each one up and down, running her fingers along the edges, tapping the glass with a claw, even blowing away the dust to see if any clues lied beneath.
"What do you make of this? A display room? Here? Who would see it?"
Evelyn nodded to her shadow and headed into the room with the long table. After a slow circuit around the table, she pulled out her healing kit and set it on the table. She proceeded to empty the contents out into her backpack, placing the crystal glassware carefully into the medkit and wrapping each glass with a bandage. Somewhat satisfied, she stuff the medkit back into her pack and opened the document box. After a quick cantrip to identify the scrolls, she carefully stuffed them into the many pockets of her pickpocket outfit. As Evelyn packed the discovered supplies, her Shadow went about flipping the latch to the poorly concealed door.
"We're wasting time" Evelyn said before turning and heading north. Her shadow turned the corner and approached her quietly. The two stood examining the northern door.
Evelyn looked to her shadow. "What do you think?"
"Stay here if you wish. We must make haste." Evelyn gave the nobles no more thought as she continued on north to the next door.
Evelyn weighed the extract in her hand, finally popping the top and downing the contents. The gashes across her shoulders sealed, but did nothing for the blood staining her feathers and clothes. With a shake, her feathers rustled, almost like a dog shaking off water. She sighed with muffled content as she offered the empty vial back.
"Thank you" she said with a nod. Evelyn slowly approached the dame. "If the lady would permit me to examine her wounds, perhaps I could help ease her...discomfort?"
Evelyn backpedaled slightly, enough to close the gap with Camila Malora. With a hushed voice, she asked "Lord Manshum, either of you recognize the name?" The Shadow looks at the man, it's head tilted slightly off center. With a slight nod, it continues around the corner heading farther down the passage, stopping at the next door to listen for sounds.
At hearing about the wounded woman, Evelyn nodded to the others and made her way towards the man charged with protecting her. "How badly wounded is the Dame? I have little left in the way of healing abilities at the moment."
"Yes, someone is here. I am Evelyn, and it is safe enough for the moment. Who are you? How did you get here? Evelyn tries to be polite and somewhat disarming.
"She is my sister...of a sorts. She can be most helpful...when she wants to be" Evelyn replied, starting at her shadow come to life, one hand holding her side where the stone creature's claws had opened a gash. "Are either of you hurt?" Evelyn looked at her shadow. "Sister, would you mind scouting to the east. Stick to the shadows and alert me if you encounter any other creatures?" The shadow seemed to smile. "Since you asked nicely..." it replied mentally.
Once the eidolon has set off, Evelyn will head to the nearest western door and check it out.
"With your blessing, the Blood flows in your name oh king of wind demons.
Evelyn continued to claw and rake the humanoid creature in front of her, just as her shadow mirrored her.
"Gah!" Evelyn nearly shouted, surprised as her feathers were streaked by her own blood. Not to be outdone, especially in front of the others, Evelyn clawed right back at the creature. "You're not the only one with claws!"
Evelyn whispers fervently. "Here me oh king of wind demons. Grant me the strength to continue fighting and I will spill blood in your name!'
Silently, a shadow of dark feathers slipped up next to Camila and started ripping into whatever was trying to emerge from the walls.
Shifting past the body on the floor, Evelyn drew the longsword. It suddenly felt heavy and awkward in her taloned hands, so she claws at the creature instead.
Carrying her candelabra-now-torch, Evelyn peaks down the corridors and listens for signs of life. She slowly approached the body on the floor, the thumb on her right hand gently sliding across her clawed fingers to steady her nerves.
"Magical money? What could this be used for?" Evelyn pulls a coin out of the bag, handing the rest to Malora as she flips the coin over and over.
"I suppose that one's as good as any." Evelyn chanted while moving her feather-covered hands in an intricate pattern, summoning her magical sight.
"The only light I have is this candelabra, so no, we have left no candles burning. Wands of food, spoons of gruel...this place is a hide out...of sorts" she said, looking around. "But for who?" Evelyn began to pace. "The crystal ball serves us not for now, not without a light source to see into the distance. And it seems we have found all of the obvious doors. There must be more. There must be a way out. These brass buttons must be the source of our release."
Evelyn grabs the bottles, one in each hand and holds them up. "Anyone care for a drink?"
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