"No enemies here, at least..." Khessa is partially relieved "Maybe we are gradually culling their number. After all, we have been 'cleaning' for a while now. I can't wait to find out if our good Saintess can really save some poor innocent victim... that would be so wonderful!"
And that's why the blonde arcane warrior does not hesitate to continue the inspection of the last rooms: she reaches the new door, and, keeping herself ready to face any last pockets of resistance, she opens it.
The door opens into an empty hallway. This hall stands in deadly silence. Heavy beams support a ten-foot-high ceiling. There is a set of double doors to your left about 10 feet away that is slightly open. There are three doors set in the wall across from you, and to your right you see an opening to what appears to be wine storage, and a set of stairs going up. There are no sounds of living or otherwise coming from the area.
Since opening the doors could compromise the stealth capabilities of the group's skilled scouts, it seems logical to Khessa to explore the right side first, to the opening to what appears to be wine storage.
She silently points the stealthy pair of giant and fey in that direction, confident that they will shortly be able to confirm whether or not that area is safe.
As the group gathers in the T-shaped hall / scullery supply closet, Tyekanik's rage subsides. When Vrox is finally ready, he strides through the door into the empty hall and enters a rage again, growing to Huge size, and imbuing Annam's Greataxe as his Elemental Cleaver with thunder damage.
Tyek pads quietly behind the satyr, keeping an eye on the doors to the left as they approach the gate at the end of the hall.
As Vrox finally makes it up the stairs and joins the others, he files past the group in the T-shaped hallway to the next door. He stows his bow and switches back to his shield in case something attacks. Before he passes into the empty hall, Vrox says, "I'm fairly certain that this hall,"indicating the 20' wide hallway, "is directly under the hall that led to the chapel. To the east, where the wine storage is, would be directly under the chapel. Those double doors on our left must lead to a room directly under the entrance hall with the pillars and gargoyle statues." He's not sure whether any of that matters, but he hopes that it helps everyone get their bearings in case they end up in a hasty retreat back to the chapel or courtyard or something.
Vrox slips into the empty hallway behind the hulking form of Tyek and skulks along the south side of the hallway, trying to keep in the shadows and keeping his eyes and ears open for demons or any sign of a trap or other danger. If they're not interrupted, Tyek and Vrox go all the way to the gate at the east end of the hall. Tyek on the north side; Vrox, to the south.
Assuming that they make it to the gate without being attacked, is it like a portcullis? Or is it more like a metal cage with a door in it? Does it appear to be locked?
It's a simple gate, that looks into a well-stocked wine cellar. On the wall facing you are shelves with hundreds of bottles of wine lining it. Then to either side are great casks of wine on their wooden supports. There are four lanterns hanging from the corners providing light. There are no traces of any recent human activity in the wine cellar.
"This level of the Castle seems to be devoid of both demons and people..." Khessa sighs.
But the blonde arcane warrior still wants to explore every possible passage - both in the unlikely event that survivors are hiding somewhere, and in the event that demons are hiding in some nook and cranny. She doesn't intend to leave any possible connections or tools to the Nefarious Duo...
The tall adventuress then suggests she approaches the closed door closest to the wine cellar and, ready as usual to fight on the threshold if necessary, opens it.
As you approach the door, the smell of cooking food greets you. You open the door to see the kitchen, cook pots hanging in the fireplaces, long preparation tables. From what you can see, something happened that disturbed a meal being prepared, as platters are strewn across the floor, roasts and other assorted food scattered across the floor and tables. There are tracks in the crushed food stuff, cloven hoof prints and drag marks.
Khessa tries to determine where people have been taken to... the direction of the tracks seems downstairs? So probably to the extermination chamber? Or elsewhere?
As you approach the door, the smell of cooking food greets you. You open the door to see the kitchen, cook pots hanging in the fireplaces, long preparation tables. From what you can see, something happened that disturbed a meal being prepared, as platters are strewn across the floor, roasts and other assorted food scattered across the floor and tables. There are tracks in the crushed food stuff, cloven hoof prints and drag marks.
Tyekanik agrees with Khessa that this floor seems to be devoid of enemies. When he sees the empty kitchen, he moves to the next door to the west even before Khessa is done with her investigation. He's either at the middle door on the north wall, or, if we see that that door also leads to the kitchen, the door on the north that's closest to the double doors. He opens the door quietly and looks through to see whether there are any foes inside.
Khessa then goes to open the last single door, expecting yet another deserted room - but obviously not wanting to leave any stone unturned.
If her guess turns out to be correct, the blonde arcane warrior will finally open the double door that was already ajar... going to Tyekanik's side, if the giant is already there.
The room next to the kitchen appears to be quarters of some type. There is a bed, wardrobe, a small desk and chair. There is no one in the room.
[[OOC: It's unclear, but I'll assume that that was the middle door on the north wall.]]
Tyekanik grunts and moves to the next door on the north wall, the one farthest to the west. He opens the door quietly and looks through to see whether there are any foes inside.
The room next to the kitchen appears to be quarters of some type. There is a bed, wardrobe, a small desk and chair. There is no one in the room.
Vrox pads lightly into the room after Tyekanik moves on to the next door. He spends a few moments to check the desk, chair, and wardrobe for any letters, notes, or other personal effects that would tell them more about the former occupant and whether they knew anything about what was happening at the castle. Finally, he checks under the pillow, bed, and mattress for anything that might have been hidden in haste.
The room next to the kitchen appears to be quarters of some type. There is a bed, wardrobe, a small desk and chair. There is no one in the room.
[[OOC: It's unclear, but I'll assume that that was the middle door on the north wall.]]
Tyekanik grunts and moves to the next door on the north wall, the one farthest to the west. He opens the door quietly and looks through to see whether there are any foes inside.
[[OOC: Oops! Cross-posted with @Painted_Beyond. Let's say that Khessa checked the little door and then Tyek opened the double doors. While raging, Tyek can blockade the larger doorway and prevent enemies from getting past all by himself.]]
Khessa then goes to open the last single door, expecting yet another deserted room - but obviously not wanting to leave any stone unturned.
If her guess turns out to be correct, the blonde arcane warrior will finally open the double door that was already ajar... going to Tyekanik's side, if the giant is already there.
The room appears to be a dining hall, you guess for either the guards or the staff as the one you first visited was more and likely for the lord and ladies. Three rows of long tables and benches are in this room that is fifteen feet wide, and thirty feet long. There are doors on either end of the room (N and S). There are plates, bowls and cups on the tables, however there are signs that whoever was in here, left in a hurry as the benches are pushed back, and meals left on the tables.
The room next to the kitchen appears to be quarters of some type. There is a bed, wardrobe, a small desk and chair. There is no one in the room.
Vrox pads lightly into the room after Tyekanik moves on to the next door. He spends a few moments to check the desk, chair, and wardrobe for any letters, notes, or other personal effects that would tell them more about the former occupant and whether they knew anything about what was happening at the castle. Finally, he checks under the pillow, bed, and mattress for anything that might have been hidden in haste.
"No enemies here, at least..." Khessa is partially relieved "Maybe we are gradually culling their number. After all, we have been 'cleaning' for a while now. I can't wait to find out if our good Saintess can really save some poor innocent victim... that would be so wonderful!"
And that's why the blonde arcane warrior does not hesitate to continue the inspection of the last rooms: she reaches the new door, and, keeping herself ready to face any last pockets of resistance, she opens it.
Clarac takes note of where the cleaning supplies are; once the castle is clear there will be much cleaning needed.
When Khessa opens the door to the next room, Clarac stands nearby, just behind that strange automaton that follows the warrior around.
The door opens into an empty hallway. This hall stands in deadly silence. Heavy beams support a ten-foot-high ceiling. There is a set of double doors to your left about 10 feet away that is slightly open. There are three doors set in the wall across from you, and to your right you see an opening to what appears to be wine storage, and a set of stairs going up. There are no sounds of living or otherwise coming from the area.
Since opening the doors could compromise the stealth capabilities of the group's skilled scouts, it seems logical to Khessa to explore the right side first, to the opening to what appears to be wine storage.
She silently points the stealthy pair of giant and fey in that direction, confident that they will shortly be able to confirm whether or not that area is safe.
As the group gathers in the T-shaped hall / scullery supply closet, Tyekanik's rage subsides. When Vrox is finally ready, he strides through the door into the empty hall and enters a rage again, growing to Huge size, and imbuing Annam's Greataxe as his Elemental Cleaver with thunder damage.
Tyek pads quietly behind the satyr, keeping an eye on the doors to the left as they approach the gate at the end of the hall.
Stealth: 16 (advantage when trying not to make a sound from Boots of Elvenkind)
Perception: 11
As Vrox finally makes it up the stairs and joins the others, he files past the group in the T-shaped hallway to the next door. He stows his bow and switches back to his shield in case something attacks. Before he passes into the empty hall, Vrox says, "I'm fairly certain that this hall," indicating the 20' wide hallway, "is directly under the hall that led to the chapel. To the east, where the wine storage is, would be directly under the chapel. Those double doors on our left must lead to a room directly under the entrance hall with the pillars and gargoyle statues." He's not sure whether any of that matters, but he hopes that it helps everyone get their bearings in case they end up in a hasty retreat back to the chapel or courtyard or something.
Vrox slips into the empty hallway behind the hulking form of Tyek and skulks along the south side of the hallway, trying to keep in the shadows and keeping his eyes and ears open for demons or any sign of a trap or other danger. If they're not interrupted, Tyek and Vrox go all the way to the gate at the east end of the hall. Tyek on the north side; Vrox, to the south.
Stealth 36, advantage from Shadowfell Brand Tattoo
Perception 21, advantage from Sentinel Shield
Assuming that they make it to the gate without being attacked, is it like a portcullis? Or is it more like a metal cage with a door in it? Does it appear to be locked?
It's a simple gate, that looks into a well-stocked wine cellar. On the wall facing you are shelves with hundreds of bottles of wine lining it. Then to either side are great casks of wine on their wooden supports. There are four lanterns hanging from the corners providing light. There are no traces of any recent human activity in the wine cellar.
"This level of the Castle seems to be devoid of both demons and people..." Khessa sighs.
But the blonde arcane warrior still wants to explore every possible passage - both in the unlikely event that survivors are hiding somewhere, and in the event that demons are hiding in some nook and cranny. She doesn't intend to leave any possible connections or tools to the Nefarious Duo...
The tall adventuress then suggests she approaches the closed door closest to the wine cellar and, ready as usual to fight on the threshold if necessary, opens it.
As you approach the door, the smell of cooking food greets you. You open the door to see the kitchen, cook pots hanging in the fireplaces, long preparation tables. From what you can see, something happened that disturbed a meal being prepared, as platters are strewn across the floor, roasts and other assorted food scattered across the floor and tables. There are tracks in the crushed food stuff, cloven hoof prints and drag marks.
Khessa tries to determine where people have been taken to... the direction of the tracks seems downstairs? So probably to the extermination chamber? Or elsewhere?
Tyekanik agrees with Khessa that this floor seems to be devoid of enemies. When he sees the empty kitchen, he moves to the next door to the west even before Khessa is done with her investigation. He's either at the middle door on the north wall, or, if we see that that door also leads to the kitchen, the door on the north that's closest to the double doors. He opens the door quietly and looks through to see whether there are any foes inside.
Stealth 19 (advantage when trying not to make a sound from Boots of Elvenkind)
Perception 27
The room next to the kitchen appears to be quarters of some type. There is a bed, wardrobe, a small desk and chair. There is no one in the room.
Khessa then goes to open the last single door, expecting yet another deserted room - but obviously not wanting to leave any stone unturned.
If her guess turns out to be correct, the blonde arcane warrior will finally open the double door that was already ajar... going to Tyekanik's side, if the giant is already there.
[[OOC: It's unclear, but I'll assume that that was the middle door on the north wall.]]
Tyekanik grunts and moves to the next door on the north wall, the one farthest to the west. He opens the door quietly and looks through to see whether there are any foes inside.
Stealth 29 (advantage when trying not to make a sound from Boots of Elvenkind)
Perception 11
Vrox pads lightly into the room after Tyekanik moves on to the next door. He spends a few moments to check the desk, chair, and wardrobe for any letters, notes, or other personal effects that would tell them more about the former occupant and whether they knew anything about what was happening at the castle. Finally, he checks under the pillow, bed, and mattress for anything that might have been hidden in haste.
Investigation 16
[[OOC: Oops! Cross-posted with @Painted_Beyond. Let's say that Khessa checked the little door and then Tyek opened the double doors. While raging, Tyek can blockade the larger doorway and prevent enemies from getting past all by himself.]]
The room appears to be a dining hall, you guess for either the guards or the staff as the one you first visited was more and likely for the lord and ladies. Three rows of long tables and benches are in this room that is fifteen feet wide, and thirty feet long. There are doors on either end of the room (N and S). There are plates, bowls and cups on the tables, however there are signs that whoever was in here, left in a hurry as the benches are pushed back, and meals left on the tables.
You find some odds and ends, and a ledger that shows this must have been a room for a butler or head servant who managed the other servants.
It seems that the only paths to continue the exploration of the current level are the doors to the north and south of the dining hall...
Khessa goes to open the south door.