Cassyt responds dutifully to the questions as they are asked.
"I don't know the exact age of the fresco, but it has been here longer than any still alive within the Order of the Silent Shroud, a century or more at the least. If it is meant to be anything more than decoration, its purpose was not documented for us."
"That door leads to the funerary banquet hall. It is customary in Phlan for families to hold funeral banquets when their loved ones are interred. Middle class and wealthy families usually prefer to rent a banquet room in an inn or host the banquet in their homes, but we faithful of Kelemvor don't charge for the use of this room. That makes it very popular with poorer families in Phlan."
Her eyes turn downcast when the dead Kelemvorite is mentioned. "Well, we...found her here. Whatever it was that killed her did not stay to be discovered," she says.
For Uragum:
Nothing stands out to you about the fresco as you look it over.
As Cassyt mentions that the body was found in the room, Hex looks around for any signs of a struggle or fight, maybe even a trail left behind by whatever killed her.
"Right at the doors, then!" Ola did not try to find the signs but asked "How far did you go to check for the attacker? And - is this the only entrance to the funerary banquet hall? Would not want something to sneak upon us."
Sylyra calls forth a flame in his own hand to aid in looking for clues in the room. He aids Hex in her search for anything related to the death and where the attacker might have gone next.
"There is an exit from the banquet room to the Necropolis, where we inter the dead, but that door is kept locked," Cassyt answers. "Doomguide Glandon led a thorough search when the body was discovered, before he sealed this off. We did not find anything, but the catacombs are so large. There are surely places that nobody living within the Order has any knowledge of."
Hex and Sylyra find nothing of any import within this section of the room. The place has been kept spotless, and without any dust to be disturbed, there is not so much as a stain on the floor.
Hex crouches to tbe floor and swipes two fingers on it. "Its kinda weird that this place is so clean despite the fact that the body was found here. You'd expect at least a bit of blood." She stands up and begins to dusts herself off before realising she probably doesn't need to.
She walks towards the bend to the left and peeks around the corner. "What's over here?"
"Probably a funeral was held here after the event," needlessly commented Ola. "How far did the search for the attacker went? May be we can just walk there and continue the investigation deeper?"
"Up ahead are the First Families of Phlan. They are crypts reserved for the wealthy and powerful: Successful merchants, political leaders, military officers and their families. This is typically as far as non-faithful folk ever come into the catacombs. Only the clergy are usually permitted past this point," Cassyt answers Hex before responding to Ola, "I was part of a group that searched through the Necropolis, but like I mentioned, we only scratched the surface."
When Sylyra asks for direction, she answers, "I can take you whichever way you choose. I could not lead this investigation; if I had the necessary skills I would have volunteered much sooner, believe me." She shivers, apparently intimidated by the thought.
Having finished up finding nothing about the tiles, Uragum joins with the others. "I agree, lets start the hunt. Maybe head to the scene of where the body was found. From there we might be able to track it."
"Instead of going straight to where they stopped, why don't we investigate the place ourselves? They might've missed a detail that we'll pick up. Either way, we'll probably have to go through this way." Hex jerks her head towards the left bend and steps aside for the guide to walk through.
Sylyra levels his gaze at Cassyt. "My mistake. I thought you were our guide." Without waiting for a verbal or physical response, the elf turns away. "I agree with Zelra's friend," he announces to the group. "Let's do this ourselves. Which way?" he asks Hex.
Cassyt stops at the entrance to the next room in response to Sylyra's barb and bows. "If my services are no longer required, then you may explore without my aid so long as you do not remove that which belongs to the dead. I am not an adventurer, sir. I do not possess the skills and abilities of those such as yourselves, and therefore guiding you from the front, where some undead menace can reach me first, would not serve you well," she says. "If you wish me to stay, however, then I will do so, providing my knowledge where I am able and guiding from a safe position, as Doomguide Glandon has asked of me."
The series of crypts ahead has doorways sealed by locked iron grates. Within, you see scenes of normal daily life: Richly-dressed people sitting around dining tables, at writing desks, or in luxurious chairs.
All of this would be completely normal, except that all of the participants in the macabre dioramas are the skeletal remains of the affluent--carefully posed and interred among their favorite possessions.
Flanked by these displays within their iron grates, the hallway within this room runs to the opposite side, where a set of stairs descend further into darkness.
"Please, forgive the poor wording, we did not mean for you to get harmed in any way," tried to defuse the little tension Ola. "Your comments on the surroundings will be most appreciated. For example that ... peculiar display. I have never heard about such custom--to leave your dead on the open, posing for visitors."
Without looking at Cassyt, Sylyra smirks in appreciation for her apparent backbone. "I didn't expect you to lead," he says casually, still not looking in the cleric's direction, "only to point a finger now and then." He moves along one side of the crypts, wave his flame around to see the macabre displays better. He occasionally makes a noise of interest at the sight of some piece of fine jewelry or other rich possession on display.
Hex stands still, a slight amused expression on her face as she looks back and forth between Sylyra and Cassyt. She clears her throat and nods as Ola attempts to defuse the situation, taking a closer look into the crypts. "Yeah, not gonna lie, kinda weird but also kinda cool too. This is some pretty expensive looking stuff though. Do you guys get tomb raiders often?"
"More often than not," answered Ola after counting their in and out of some kind of dungeon experience. "Though here, I believe, we are leas of a "tomb raiders" and more of a "family crypt visitors", as our guide just reminded us".Ola looked at Cassyt and offered: "I can carry your lamp. Would allow me to see where we are going and you stay behind me in case of danger."The paladin would not try to really scout ahead, but would prefer to stay in the front line -- just for that, protecting those less adjusted to close quarters.
Cassyt nods to Ola and Hex, "This is tradition among the most powerful of Phlan. I suppose it allows them to show their most prized possessions and...activities, under the safe watch of the Kelemvorites. Tombs like theirs are naturally beautiful to many a grave robber, so careful inventory is kept of their items, and each grate is double-locked and warded. It is part of our agreement to honor the dead and protect them on this side of the afterlife. I find it almost sanguine, but I can see how some may see it as grotesque."
Her fiery demeanor returns for a moment with Sylyra, answering, "These catacombs are ancient. There are many areas that we patrol and tend to regularly, but there are many, many more that we do not tread. The Order of the Silent Shroud is not the first to use these grounds for burials, and even those much more senior than I do not know all of the history within. I will guide and provide context where I am able." She softens slightly when the elf takes a serious interest in the displays.
"If you believe carrying the lamp would be best, then I will oblige," she replies to Ola.
As Cassyt explains, Hex looks around the area for anything of interest that may help them find out who killed the woman, though she's doubtful she will find anythig.
If she finds any she would point them out to the group. If not, she'd wait by the stairs until everyone else is ready to go.
Cassyt responds dutifully to the questions as they are asked.
"I don't know the exact age of the fresco, but it has been here longer than any still alive within the Order of the Silent Shroud, a century or more at the least. If it is meant to be anything more than decoration, its purpose was not documented for us."
"That door leads to the funerary banquet hall. It is customary in Phlan for families to hold funeral banquets when their loved ones are interred. Middle class and wealthy families usually prefer to rent a banquet room in an inn or host the banquet in their homes, but we faithful of Kelemvor don't charge for the use of this room. That makes it very popular with poorer families in Phlan."
Her eyes turn downcast when the dead Kelemvorite is mentioned. "Well, we...found her here. Whatever it was that killed her did not stay to be discovered," she says.
For Uragum:
Nothing stands out to you about the fresco as you look it over.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
As Cassyt mentions that the body was found in the room, Hex looks around for any signs of a struggle or fight, maybe even a trail left behind by whatever killed her.
"Right at the doors, then!" Ola did not try to find the signs but asked "How far did you go to check for the attacker? And - is this the only entrance to the funerary banquet hall? Would not want something to sneak upon us."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Sylyra calls forth a flame in his own hand to aid in looking for clues in the room. He aids Hex in her search for anything related to the death and where the attacker might have gone next.
"There is an exit from the banquet room to the Necropolis, where we inter the dead, but that door is kept locked," Cassyt answers. "Doomguide Glandon led a thorough search when the body was discovered, before he sealed this off. We did not find anything, but the catacombs are so large. There are surely places that nobody living within the Order has any knowledge of."
Hex and Sylyra find nothing of any import within this section of the room. The place has been kept spotless, and without any dust to be disturbed, there is not so much as a stain on the floor.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Hex crouches to tbe floor and swipes two fingers on it. "Its kinda weird that this place is so clean despite the fact that the body was found here. You'd expect at least a bit of blood." She stands up and begins to dusts herself off before realising she probably doesn't need to.
She walks towards the bend to the left and peeks around the corner. "What's over here?"
"Probably a funeral was held here after the event," needlessly commented Ola. "How far did the search for the attacker went? May be we can just walk there and continue the investigation deeper?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"We've come here for a purpose," Sylyra says, sounding only slightly impatient. He looks at Cassyt. "Which way?"
"Up ahead are the First Families of Phlan. They are crypts reserved for the wealthy and powerful: Successful merchants, political leaders, military officers and their families. This is typically as far as non-faithful folk ever come into the catacombs. Only the clergy are usually permitted past this point," Cassyt answers Hex before responding to Ola, "I was part of a group that searched through the Necropolis, but like I mentioned, we only scratched the surface."
When Sylyra asks for direction, she answers, "I can take you whichever way you choose. I could not lead this investigation; if I had the necessary skills I would have volunteered much sooner, believe me." She shivers, apparently intimidated by the thought.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Having finished up finding nothing about the tiles, Uragum joins with the others. "I agree, lets start the hunt. Maybe head to the scene of where the body was found. From there we might be able to track it."
"Then as I suggested - why don't we go straight to the point where your investigation stopped last time?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Instead of going straight to where they stopped, why don't we investigate the place ourselves? They might've missed a detail that we'll pick up. Either way, we'll probably have to go through this way." Hex jerks her head towards the left bend and steps aside for the guide to walk through.
Sylyra levels his gaze at Cassyt. "My mistake. I thought you were our guide." Without waiting for a verbal or physical response, the elf turns away. "I agree with Zelra's friend," he announces to the group. "Let's do this ourselves. Which way?" he asks Hex.
Cassyt stops at the entrance to the next room in response to Sylyra's barb and bows. "If my services are no longer required, then you may explore without my aid so long as you do not remove that which belongs to the dead. I am not an adventurer, sir. I do not possess the skills and abilities of those such as yourselves, and therefore guiding you from the front, where some undead menace can reach me first, would not serve you well," she says. "If you wish me to stay, however, then I will do so, providing my knowledge where I am able and guiding from a safe position, as Doomguide Glandon has asked of me."
The series of crypts ahead has doorways sealed by locked iron grates. Within, you see scenes of normal daily life: Richly-dressed people sitting around dining tables, at writing desks, or in luxurious chairs.
All of this would be completely normal, except that all of the participants in the macabre dioramas are the skeletal remains of the affluent--carefully posed and interred among their favorite possessions.
Flanked by these displays within their iron grates, the hallway within this room runs to the opposite side, where a set of stairs descend further into darkness.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"Please, forgive the poor wording, we did not mean for you to get harmed in any way," tried to defuse the little tension Ola. "Your comments on the surroundings will be most appreciated. For example that ... peculiar display. I have never heard about such custom--to leave your dead on the open, posing for visitors."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Without looking at Cassyt, Sylyra smirks in appreciation for her apparent backbone. "I didn't expect you to lead," he says casually, still not looking in the cleric's direction, "only to point a finger now and then." He moves along one side of the crypts, wave his flame around to see the macabre displays better. He occasionally makes a noise of interest at the sight of some piece of fine jewelry or other rich possession on display.
Hex stands still, a slight amused expression on her face as she looks back and forth between Sylyra and Cassyt. She clears her throat and nods as Ola attempts to defuse the situation, taking a closer look into the crypts. "Yeah, not gonna lie, kinda weird but also kinda cool too. This is some pretty expensive looking stuff though. Do you guys get tomb raiders often?"
"More often than not," answered Ola after counting their in and out of some kind of dungeon experience. "Though here, I believe, we are leas of a "tomb raiders" and more of a "family crypt visitors", as our guide just reminded us". Ola looked at Cassyt and offered: "I can carry your lamp. Would allow me to see where we are going and you stay behind me in case of danger." The paladin would not try to really scout ahead, but would prefer to stay in the front line -- just for that, protecting those less adjusted to close quarters.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Cassyt nods to Ola and Hex, "This is tradition among the most powerful of Phlan. I suppose it allows them to show their most prized possessions and...activities, under the safe watch of the Kelemvorites. Tombs like theirs are naturally beautiful to many a grave robber, so careful inventory is kept of their items, and each grate is double-locked and warded. It is part of our agreement to honor the dead and protect them on this side of the afterlife. I find it almost sanguine, but I can see how some may see it as grotesque."
Her fiery demeanor returns for a moment with Sylyra, answering, "These catacombs are ancient. There are many areas that we patrol and tend to regularly, but there are many, many more that we do not tread. The Order of the Silent Shroud is not the first to use these grounds for burials, and even those much more senior than I do not know all of the history within. I will guide and provide context where I am able." She softens slightly when the elf takes a serious interest in the displays.
"If you believe carrying the lamp would be best, then I will oblige," she replies to Ola.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
As Cassyt explains, Hex looks around the area for anything of interest that may help them find out who killed the woman, though she's doubtful she will find anythig.
If she finds any she would point them out to the group. If not, she'd wait by the stairs until everyone else is ready to go.