Into the Mists-The Condemnation of Strahd

Gillain wanders into the cell block and looks casually around. While she does so, she wracks her brain to think whether she can recall anything about similar cults: the chanting, the robe, the desecration, the undead, ghosts... all the things they have seen so far... Is anything sparking any memory of anything?...

History or religion both +4, (if needed): 13 

Gimble:

Gimble will share what he has learned from the spellbook/journal to HELP Gillain’s cult research (give advantage on the roll).

((If Gimble’s help, helps!... here’s another roll: 8 ))

...”Gimble... can’t you see I’m thinking!” (joke)

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1pwub2TjYteNGW2gstdNxMpmoxkqrzJxDOSbE_WtKF5E/edit

The discovery of the skeleton (X mark on the map), creates a bit of interest in the party. Gimble cautiously creeps forward to inspect the find. As he walks forward Gimble finds the floor of the cell very wet and muddle. Gimble moves closer and after a couple of minutes, he realizes it is as it appears, a skeleton. Gimble takes a few minutes to inspect the skeleton and finds the only thing of interest, a small gold pinky ring on the left pinky. Gimble does identify that the tattered robes are like the robes found in other areas of this basement as the robes the Cultist wore.

Gillain, as she walks around the cell, tries to recall any knowledge she may have retains from her studies at the Citadel of Light-the place she took her vows and entered into the holy service she follows now, but outside the ideas that cults were evil and opposed the Light, she does not recall any information that she could use in her present situation. 

When asked Gimble tries to relay information about what he has found so far, which is very little so far. The journal, an insight to the Lady of the House, is a testament to a woman subject to mood swings and an overinflated idea of her own entitlement.

DM: For the purpose of time I will be rolling Investigation rolls (passives).

Gimble:

Picking up the ring and showing it to the others, Gimble looks at it carefully to see if it has any identifying marks or script that might give a clue to its origin or the identity of its previous owner.

History:  16

Advantage if magical, alchemical, or technological from Artificer’s Lore:  21

Unless he detects something unusual, Gimble puts it away and says, “Right, the other passage, then?”

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1pwub2TjYteNGW2gstdNxMpmoxkqrzJxDOSbE_WtKF5E/edit

The party spends time waiting while Gimble takes a look at the skeleton. Ban's restless elven nature gets to her in these moments and she starts looking around then walking around, still close to the party, when something draws her attention. In the large cell directly across from where the party, something is wrong with the wall. It is uneven.

DM: Noted by S on map.
I was going to continue but will wait for everyone to respond as they desire. 

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

Gimble:

Picking up the ring and showing it to the others, Gimble looks at it carefully to see if it has any identifying marks or script that might give a clue to its origin or the identity of its previous owner.

History:  18

Advantage if magical, alchemical, or technological from Artificer’s Lore:  16

Unless he detects something unusual, Gimble puts it away and says, “Right, the other passage, then?”

 Gimble wracks his brain trying to see if he can place this ring but, comes up with, sadly, nothing outside that it's worth close to 25 gold.

Bob cranes his neck and stands on tiptoe to see what the others were peering at and offer his help, but they seemed to have things well in hand. He finds his eye drawn to Ban and he waddles after her. "Wot do yer elf eyes see, my friend?"

Fidgeting as the eladrin waits for people to think, she quickly grows bored and begins to look around the place. With a smirk, Ban responds to the drawf as she pokes around the wall. "Well, I think I may have found a recurring theme 'round this place. Seems like rich folks really get off on hiding things in plain sight, but I could use a dwarf's second opinion on this strange area in this section of stone here." Seeing him at odds, she steps aside to allow Bob primary access to the wall and will assist in checking for a hidden door with the help action as she comments and checks the higher areas. 

Gillain is stumped by the cult angle and can’t work out how it all fits together. She’s intrigued about what has been found in the stonework, and is then keen to keep pressing forward (whether that’s through the wall here, or back down the second passageway)... 

Gimble:

Giving up on the ring for now, Gimble looks up and responds to Ban, saying, "Oh-ho, what do we have here?  A secret door--to the hidden chanting room perhaps?"  He listens carefully to try and determine from which direction the chanting is emanating.

Perception:  8

Tio following the others to the recently discovered entrance “Well Gimble. Anything of note? Should we proceed with cation is it trapped?”

OOC:  Gimble will respond once the results of his perception check are granted to him...

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

OOC:  Gimble will respond once the results of his perception check are granted to him...

 Post#1043
Cautiously the party navigates the stairs. 
The party comes to the landing and another set of stairs going down, to the east.
As the party navigates the passageway down the chanting becomes louder. The chanting, combined with the scents of earth and stagnant water that seem to waft up from below, creates an uneasiness within the group. 
The party comes to the end of the stairs to find themselves in a 10 ft. long x 5 ft. wide tunnel. In the end, the tunnel turns to the south to a set of stairs that descend 5 ft. 
The party descends the new set stair and the lights from their torches illuminate a 15 ft. x 25 ft. room.
The scents of earth and stagnant water are thick in this room. 
The chanting is much louder than before and the party is able to make out what the chanters are saying: 
"He is Ancient." "He is the Land" is repeated over and over in a low, almost guttural rhythm and is coming from a tunnel 5 ft. from the southwest corner of this room. 

Quote from leapingmountain >>

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

OOC:  Gimble will respond once the results of his perception check are granted to him...

 Post#1043
Cautiously the party navigates the stairs. 
The party comes to the landing and another set of stairs going down, to the east.
As the party navigates the passageway down the chanting becomes louder. The chanting, combined with the scents of earth and stagnant water that seem to waft up from below, creates an uneasiness within the group. 
The party comes to the end of the stairs to find themselves in a 10 ft. long x 5 ft. wide tunnel. In the end, the tunnel turns to the south to a set of stairs that descend 5 ft. 
The party descends the new set stair and the lights from their torches illuminate a 15 ft. x 25 ft. room.
The scents of earth and stagnant water are thick in this room. 
The chanting is much louder than before and the party is able to make out what the chanters are saying: 
"He is Ancient." "He is the Land" is repeated over and over in a low, almost guttural rhythm and is coming from a tunnel 5 ft. from the southwest corner of this room. 

Having gone down the tunnel from whence the chanting originated and finding a prison with no obvious exits, Gimble listened to determine which direction the chanting was coming from now--surmising it might be from behind that secret door.  If this is indeed the case, Gimble will so indicate.  If the chanting is coming from another location, Gimble will follow the sound and look for another concealed or secret entrance of some kind.

((Also, it’s not labelled, but I think north is ‘left’ on those images. Always makes me so confused lol))

Quote from Grwobert >>

((Also, it’s not labelled, but I think north is ‘left’ on those images. Always makes me so confused lol))

 OOC: Well, that’s a horse of a different color entirely!

Gimble responds, “I think the chanting is coming from the direction of the secret door.  Let us proceed, but carefully.”

Gillain is ready to follow closely through the secret door if everyone decides to head that way now. As ever, she has her spear and shield up.