Unimpressed by the first, and empty, room, the group moves to the second. Utar and Neya work together to push the robust but damaged door out of its rusted bolt-hinges. The effort is effective, but loud. The door falls towards the group, but the fall is expected and easily avoided.
With more of Graxx's light pouring into this second cell, you note that the body inside is from a woman. Her skin complexion is dark and her clothes are common both in quality and fashion, except her muddied jacket, which is clearly a bit foreign in design. The human victim is not very tall and is bruised and cut in several places. Her left hand in clenched, surely taken by rigor mortis.Neya's intuition is tickling the back of head. There is something about this woman...
Graxx will slowly approach the woman. When he gets there he will lightly nudge her with his foot. If she does not stir as an undead. Graxx would like to try to see if there is anything in her left hand.
Investigation: 8
"If the door was broken then how did whatever killed this woman get out? Are we dealing with another spirit?"
"At first I thought this bag was odd, because we only knew of the presence of the mercenaries and the Black Fist. But her being here made the connection for me, she was an agent of the Silent Wood!"
Neya starts taking out the contents of the bag.
"The bag is a message using some of the select items we use to communicate. You saw an example of that at the Tea Kettle at Evenfest. Some of she used would mean something entirely different, normally. But, putting them in context of where we are we can put together her final message."
"It seems she was on assignment here, and it did not end well," she takes out the mint. "She must've been attacked without warning and was terribly hurt. She knew her time was short, but was hoping someone would be here in time help," the bell and the candle. "She was even trying to tell us where she was with the next best thing she could think of to represent an ancient underground cult complex," the piton.
She then looks at the body with a mix of sadness and determination, "It's hard to say whether or not we would've made it in time to help you, but even in silence you speak loudly. We will finish your work."
Graxx approaches and nudges the body with his foot. No reaction. As he bows to reach for the woman's clenched hand, Neya's suddenly realization turns into an explanation of some of her clan's secretive communication codes. As if confirming the monk's suspicions, Graxx opens the dead Silent Wood agent's hand and relieves her from a handful of crushed mint leaves.
Knowing exactly where to look, Neya then reaches for a secret pocket in her dead colleague's jacket, and produces two potions of healing.
(@Drache: I've been waiting for this post from you for nearly a month. My DM-self is pretty satisfied. :) )
“I’m sure she won’t be needing those” says Praxx as he watches Neya remove the potions.
“Now listen Graxx.. that mint is not there to season her hand while you try to eat it you big ogre. That isn’t a way to pay respect for the dead” Praxx says with a hint of laughter
Utar joins the others in the small room from his position in the corridor. Hating the words he is about to say, knowing they never seem to mean much, but unable to say anything else.
"I am sorry for your loss, Neya. Would you like to say some words for her?"
Graxx grins very very slightly appreciating what Praxx is trying to do, "I appreciate the attempt to lighten the mood but we will do better by avenging this person."
Graxx kneels next to Neya, "We will wipe this cult from the island! Till every last one is dead. What does your group do typically do with the body? Should we build a pyre after we leave? Place her into the sea?"
As the group tries to ensure Neya's wishes are respected and her clan's customs observed, Drazzim steps a bit farther into the hallway. He shows back up a few seconds later: "I do not mean to be disrespectful, but you should know there is another one of those beaten brass doors up ahead. It is not closed, but it isn't fully open either. I can hear water on the other side."
Mere moments after the words leave Drazzim's mouth, the sound of a whispered conversation can be heard echoeing off the walls again from beyond the door. The other group were close now. Perhaps even right beyond the door? Only the most perceptive of the adventurers however might glean another truth in leaving the closets. One that inevitable leads to putting an ear to a wall just opposite of them, and hearing the following as more than just the rare punctuated words on the wind:
(@All: Up to Lerus who might hear without a perception check. But if one wishes to try after having it pointed out, the words are in the spoiler)
"Is everyone ready? We may only get one shot at this. And I'd certainly hate to lose more men to foolishness... or worse."The threat clear in the resonant voice from before despite the pleasant execution of words.
"E-everything s-s-set, sir! Couldn't make much progress. The maces--"Says a worried voice -- the man from earlier overheard arguing with another.
"--No need to remind me. Still. Should be deep enough in case--"
"I still say we go through the walls. Between you and me alone, Grim--"A more feminine voice speaks up, agitated and increasingly more familiar sounding.
"--I said, no. If they missed any, or decide to retreat while we work, we'll be right back to the start." Grim(?) replied, sounding for the first time exasperated rather than pleasant or jovial.
"You're not listening, Grim. They'll see him!"
"I know... I know... Just, leave most of the talking to me, my angel. I'll make them understand. One way or another... Same goes for the rest of you."
(There are murmurs to faint to be even heard past the wall. But it is clear that at least two others are with the three from before)
"What was that?"
"Sir! Nothing sir!"
"... Good. Now keep working on that barrier. Quietly. Timing is everything, and we'll need to move quickly."
Without listening closely, only the "Sirs" and "Him" carry with any clarity before the voices again come to a stop altogether, leaving the group to their own thoughts.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"I would like to say something, thank you. However, I am unsure what to say, mostly because I don't believe I ever seen her before. We could have passed each other any number of times on the streets, and never realized. The only thing I can think of is to continue where she left off, giver her some semblance of closure. Granted, I don;t know what it is she was doing, but I feel we are close to finding out." Neya stands up, exits the room and turns her head back to her fallen comrade. "We will be back with news."
Hearing the commotion from the other room, Neya tries to extend her senses to find out what is being said.
Graxx seeing a fallen friend of Neya is beginning to get antsy. He has the greatsword blade touching the ground and he passes the handle back and forth from hand to hand. "We will be back with heads!"
(@Drache: Just to confirm, you do not know this other Silent Wood agent.)
Utar and Praxx happen to be closer to the far wall, outside the prison cell where the the body is in. As such, they can hear and understand the conversation happening on the other side of it simply by standing in place, quietly. After clarifying her wishes for news from deeper into the cave, Neya notices that the pair is paying attention to something and reacts by placing her ear to the wall after approaching the cleric and bard. She manages to catch the conversation as the female voice is first speaking up.
Graxx and Drazzim never even realize that a conversation is going on. In fact, Drazzim instead shows the barbarian the next beaten brass door he had just mentioned: "You see the door up ahead? It's half open. Can you hear the water?"
Graxx keeps his sword held high to provide light for those pulling at the doors.
"Another body inside... Seems death loves this place."
Praxx stares intently at the door as they prepare to pop it open. He slooooooowly begins to remove his lute from his backpack.
Unimpressed by the first, and empty, room, the group moves to the second. Utar and Neya work together to push the robust but damaged door out of its rusted bolt-hinges. The effort is effective, but loud. The door falls towards the group, but the fall is expected and easily avoided.
With more of Graxx's light pouring into this second cell, you note that the body inside is from a woman. Her skin complexion is dark and her clothes are common both in quality and fashion, except her muddied jacket, which is clearly a bit foreign in design. The human victim is not very tall and is bruised and cut in several places. Her left hand in clenched, surely taken by rigor mortis. Neya's intuition is tickling the back of head. There is something about this woman...
Praxx prepares for the worst, just in case.
Graxx will slowly approach the woman. When he gets there he will lightly nudge her with his foot. If she does not stir as an undead. Graxx would like to try to see if there is anything in her left hand.
Investigation: 8
"If the door was broken then how did whatever killed this woman get out? Are we dealing with another spirit?"
Neya goes over to the body and looks it over to verify her suspicions.
Investigation: 6
"it's possible that she was attacked elsewhere down here and went in here to try and recover. But breathed her last, instead."
Extended Signature
Neya's eyes then go wide with realization. She takes out the bag that she found in the tower and takes a look through its contents again.
"Why didn't I see this before...! What happened?"
Extended Signature
"What do you see, Neya?"
"At first I thought this bag was odd, because we only knew of the presence of the mercenaries and the Black Fist. But her being here made the connection for me, she was an agent of the Silent Wood!"
Neya starts taking out the contents of the bag.
"The bag is a message using some of the select items we use to communicate. You saw an example of that at the Tea Kettle at Evenfest. Some of she used would mean something entirely different, normally. But, putting them in context of where we are we can put together her final message."
"It seems she was on assignment here, and it did not end well," she takes out the mint. "She must've been attacked without warning and was terribly hurt. She knew her time was short, but was hoping someone would be here in time help," the bell and the candle. "She was even trying to tell us where she was with the next best thing she could think of to represent an ancient underground cult complex," the piton.
She then looks at the body with a mix of sadness and determination, "It's hard to say whether or not we would've made it in time to help you, but even in silence you speak loudly. We will finish your work."
Extended Signature
(@Grx: No need to roll to open her hand.)
Graxx approaches and nudges the body with his foot. No reaction. As he bows to reach for the woman's clenched hand, Neya's suddenly realization turns into an explanation of some of her clan's secretive communication codes. As if confirming the monk's suspicions, Graxx opens the dead Silent Wood agent's hand and relieves her from a handful of crushed mint leaves.
Knowing exactly where to look, Neya then reaches for a secret pocket in her dead colleague's jacket, and produces two potions of healing.
(@Drache: I've been waiting for this post from you for nearly a month. My DM-self is pretty satisfied. :) )
“I’m sure she won’t be needing those” says Praxx as he watches Neya remove the potions.
“Now listen Graxx.. that mint is not there to season her hand while you try to eat it you big ogre. That isn’t a way to pay respect for the dead” Praxx says with a hint of laughter
Utar joins the others in the small room from his position in the corridor. Hating the words he is about to say, knowing they never seem to mean much, but unable to say anything else.
"I am sorry for your loss, Neya. Would you like to say some words for her?"
Graxx grins very very slightly appreciating what Praxx is trying to do, "I appreciate the attempt to lighten the mood but we will do better by avenging this person."
Graxx kneels next to Neya, "We will wipe this cult from the island! Till every last one is dead. What does your group do typically do with the body? Should we build a pyre after we leave? Place her into the sea?"
As the group tries to ensure Neya's wishes are respected and her clan's customs observed, Drazzim steps a bit farther into the hallway. He shows back up a few seconds later: "I do not mean to be disrespectful, but you should know there is another one of those beaten brass doors up ahead. It is not closed, but it isn't fully open either. I can hear water on the other side."
"Is everyone ready? We may only get one shot at this. And I'd certainly hate to lose more men to foolishness... or worse." The threat clear in the resonant voice from before despite the pleasant execution of words.
"E-everything s-s-set, sir! Couldn't make much progress. The maces--" Says a worried voice -- the man from earlier overheard arguing with another.
"--No need to remind me. Still. Should be deep enough in case--"
"I still say we go through the walls. Between you and me alone, Grim--" A more feminine voice speaks up, agitated and increasingly more familiar sounding.
"--I said, no. If they missed any, or decide to retreat while we work, we'll be right back to the start." Grim(?) replied, sounding for the first time exasperated rather than pleasant or jovial.
"You're not listening, Grim. They'll see him!"
"I know... I know... Just, leave most of the talking to me, my angel. I'll make them understand. One way or another... Same goes for the rest of you."
(There are murmurs to faint to be even heard past the wall. But it is clear that at least two others are with the three from before)
"What was that?"
"Sir! Nothing sir!"
"... Good. Now keep working on that barrier. Quietly. Timing is everything, and we'll need to move quickly."
Without listening closely, only the "Sirs" and "Him" carry with any clarity before the voices again come to a stop altogether, leaving the group to their own thoughts.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(OOC Utar's passive perception is 14 for what it's worth)
(@Moist: Should be just enough, but up to Lerus.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"I would like to say something, thank you. However, I am unsure what to say, mostly because I don't believe I ever seen her before. We could have passed each other any number of times on the streets, and never realized. The only thing I can think of is to continue where she left off, giver her some semblance of closure. Granted, I don;t know what it is she was doing, but I feel we are close to finding out." Neya stands up, exits the room and turns her head back to her fallen comrade. "We will be back with news."
Hearing the commotion from the other room, Neya tries to extend her senses to find out what is being said.
Perception: 11
Extended Signature
Graxx seeing a fallen friend of Neya is beginning to get antsy. He has the greatsword blade touching the ground and he passes the handle back and forth from hand to hand. "We will be back with heads!"
(@Drache: Just to confirm, you do not know this other Silent Wood agent.)
Utar and Praxx happen to be closer to the far wall, outside the prison cell where the the body is in. As such, they can hear and understand the conversation happening on the other side of it simply by standing in place, quietly. After clarifying her wishes for news from deeper into the cave, Neya notices that the pair is paying attention to something and reacts by placing her ear to the wall after approaching the cleric and bard. She manages to catch the conversation as the female voice is first speaking up.
Graxx and Drazzim never even realize that a conversation is going on. In fact, Drazzim instead shows the barbarian the next beaten brass door he had just mentioned: "You see the door up ahead? It's half open. Can you hear the water?"
"Thank you, Drazzim! Let the hunt continue!" Graxx snarls now bloodthirsty.
Graxx will attempt to kick the half door open. "RAH!" He shouts as he kicks!
Strength: 18