"Perhaps some sort of parasite that grows in this basement burrowed into our brains as we slept and is slowly driving us insane." Ysabell replied in tune with the song, once again without a hint of sarcasm. Though curious, she wasn't particularly bothered by their peculiar situation for the time being (despite what she just offered as a potential cause) and resumed her breakfast as she pleasantly continued to hum the mystery song.
Eralynn snorted in a laugh and almost choked. Garmy was literally the most adorable thing she had ever met. He was probably one of the most dangerous people she knew, too, along with the others.
Parasite. And she drew something on her sketchbook to illustrate the concept. It involved a picture of the bread crumbs in his beard from the night before.
K’Tulah and Ebder share the table with you with guys. Ebder is reading from the same book he had last night. The humming is clearly bothering him, and after a short time, he sternly says, "Will you please stop that humming? Keep quiet in the library!"
What very unusual is that, after about a few minutes, Ebder begins humming the melody as well, though he is unaware of it at first. "What the!?"
"I'm becoming more and more convinced that this is the work of parasites..." Ysabell commented in time with the song as she finished her meal. Looking to the others, she rose and added (again in time to the song), "Perhaps we should see if this has affected more than one floor of the Cellar?"
(It's unfortunate I don't have Remove Curse prepared or else I would've given that a shot!)
Moments later, the hatch in the ceiling of the upper floor (area F1) slams shut, followed by the sound of several mechanical locks engaging. Varnyr, the senior-ranking Avowed in the place, has locked the hatch, sealing herself, you guys, Ebder, K’Tulah, and Crinkle inside the Firefly Cellar. Eralynn looks around concerned.
As she descends the spiral staircase to area F2, she hums the cursed tune in a soft voice. With effort, Varnyr suppresses her humming and shares the following information:
“When I first arrived at Candlekeep, the Avowed were concerned about a ‘singing madness.’ A book merchant had been afflicted with it and was put in isolation after several Avowed began singing the song as well.” She pauses and frowns. “I don’t know what happened to him or the others. That was six hundred years ago.”
She gathers her composure and adds, “I’ve alerted the Avowed and sealed the exit to stop whatever this is from spreading.”
"Ya mean we're trapped down here until everythins' clear?" Garmus claps his hand over his mouth, a look of horror on his face as his words come out like he was signing a ditty.
"I'm afraid so."Varnyr admits. "At least till we figure out what's going on and how to stop it."Crinkle comes in from the kitchen, bringing more food, whistling absentmindedly. “But perhaps you can find an answer in all this,”she says, waving at the general direction of the cellar you're in.
Ecko trills the tune happily! Until he realizes they're locked up. He rubs his feathered palm together with glee. "I can show you all my inventions until this curse - disease - plague - whatever wears off!" he happily comments.
He stands and begins pacing around, absentmindedly looking around the place for clues. "Thinking logically for a second, this must have originated somewhere, right, Varnyr?" Despite his absentminded demeanor, Ecko was a clever individual. This was just another problem to solve - like arcane studies or any sort of engineering issue to tackle. "You said a book merchant brought this? Did a book cause this? Oh! Or was it the merchant? He could've been resurrected and brought the curse back! Who knows. This is exciting."
Despite his enthusiasm, when he gets a chance to speak privately with Ysabell, he whispers - "You're good at reading people. Something this sudden means someone here's responsible. I doubt it's any of us - that leaves Ebder, K'Tulah, and Crinkle. I suggest rounding everyone up and asking them a few questions while you search for any lies. Does that work?" he happily calls.
Before that, though - Ecko will do a thorough investigation - including ripping up floorboards and dusting out every single shelf - starting with Area F2 and continuing onwards, with the spell Detect Magic up. Investigation: 11
Ecko trills the tune happily! Until he realizes they're locked up. He rubs his feathered palm together with glee."I can show you all my inventions until this curse - disease - plague - whatever wears off!" he happily comments.
Eralynn took a great interest in this request, but everyone else wasn't too keen, more concerned about the unrelenting song in their head.
He stands and begins pacing around, absentmindedly looking around the place for clues. "Thinking logically for a second, this must have originated somewhere, right, Varnyr?" Despite his absentminded demeanor, Ecko was a clever individual. This was just another problem to solve - like arcane studies or any sort of engineering issue to tackle.
"Correct, from a book over six hundred years ago, here, in Candlekeep."
"You said a book merchant brought this? Did a book cause this? Oh! Or was it the merchant? He could've been resurrected and brought the curse back! Who knows. This is exciting."
"I'm hoping that's what you all can find out." she confesses.
Your detect magic isn't pinging anything.
F2 THE STACKS
The musty smell of old books hangs in the air here. Concentric rings of bookcases dominate the space, with a heavy granite table occupying the room’s center. The table would be a circle, but for six semicircular gaps cut into it around its edge, creating spaces for six chairs. Small stacks of books rest on the table along with a candleholder that contains firefly-filled jars.
The Firefly Cellar’s general study area encourages quiet reading. The shape of the table creates six individual study spaces. The table weighs around 300 pounds, and four rolled-up indigo rugs rest underneath. The bookcases are 10 feet tall. Two of them have attached rolling ladders. An unattached ladder leans against a shelf in the southwest part of the room.
Looking up, you can see into area F1 and the enormous stone book sculpture dangling overhead.
"You said a book merchant brought this? Did a book cause this? Oh! Or was it the merchant? He could've been resurrected and brought the curse back! Who knows. This is exciting."
"I'm hoping that's what you all can find out." she confesses.
"Well I guess we better start then." Ysabell replied Varnyr. "Anything different or unusual happen over the past few days?"
Garmus looks around the room as Ysa and Ecko talk with Varnyr. "Feels like that statue is goin' ta fall right on me. What is that thing?" He asks during a break in the conversation.
"Feels like that statue is goin' ta fall right on me. What is that thing?" A giant stone book statue! Isn't is beautiful?Eralynn says, looking at it with you.
"Well I guess we better start then." Ysabell replied Varnyr. "Anything different or unusual happen over the past few days?" "Not a thing! That's why this is all so strange!" she says.
Ebder sighs, over in AREA F3. "Nothing has been out of the ordinary, unless you count the kenku, who keeps shuffling through here constantly on the way to and from her supply closet."
"Well I guess we better start then." Ysabell replied Varnyr. "Anything different or unusual happen over the past few days?" "Not a thing! That's why this is all so strange!" she says.
Ebder sighs, over in AREA F3. "Nothing has been out of the ordinary, unless you count the kenku, who keeps shuffling through here constantly on the way to and from her supply closet."
"What is odd about that?" Ysabell sang in reply to Ebder
As Ebder is about to answer, he lapses into some sort of trance and begins making a horrible sound. It's a shrill sound that tears through the Firefly Cellar, overpowering all other noise. Though it rapidly rises to an uncanny pitch, scaring the dickens out of you. Ebder’s eyes are bulging in terror. He begins to hums the rhyme’s melody, the rest of his body paralyzed. He’s cold to the touch. He continues to sing the rhyme over and over for five minutes. Eralynn looks truly terrified.
Immediately on alert, Ysabell drew her Scythe, currently handheld size due to the cramped conditions, and immediately cast Detect Evil and Good on herself. She was fine with the song when it seemed like a harmless joke. Now though that it seems to have shown it's true colors, she was quite ready to have it excised from existence by whatever means necessary.
"Perhaps some sort of parasite that grows in this basement burrowed into our brains as we slept and is slowly driving us insane." Ysabell replied in tune with the song, once again without a hint of sarcasm. Though curious, she wasn't particularly bothered by their peculiar situation for the time being (despite what she just offered as a potential cause) and resumed her breakfast as she pleasantly continued to hum the mystery song.
(Is Nameless meowing the song too? XP)
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
Sure, what the hell, that's awesome. Haha! Didn't know cats could hum, but here we are! lol
Eralynn looks to each of you suspiciously. Her face wrinkles into concern.
"A parawhat? In our brains?" What in the nine hells are ya goin' on about Ysa?" Garmus sputters, picking the song back up when he's done.
Eralynn snorted in a laugh and almost choked. Garmy was literally the most adorable thing she had ever met. He was probably one of the most dangerous people she knew, too, along with the others.
Parasite. And she drew something on her sketchbook to illustrate the concept. It involved a picture of the bread crumbs in his beard from the night before.
Garmus studies Eralynn's picture. His eyebrow raises in a look of skepticism, pointing his fork at her. "You tryin ta pull my leg here, girl?"
She tilts her head and looks at you with a face of affection and shakes her head. Of course not, silly.
K’Tulah and Ebder share the table with you with guys. Ebder is reading from the same book he had last night. The humming is clearly bothering him, and after a short time, he sternly says, "Will you please stop that humming? Keep quiet in the library!"
What very unusual is that, after about a few minutes, Ebder begins humming the melody as well, though he is unaware of it at first. "What the!?"
"I'm becoming more and more convinced that this is the work of parasites..." Ysabell commented in time with the song as she finished her meal. Looking to the others, she rose and added (again in time to the song), "Perhaps we should see if this has affected more than one floor of the Cellar?"
(It's unfortunate I don't have Remove Curse prepared or else I would've given that a shot!)
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
Moments later, the hatch in the ceiling of the upper floor (area F1) slams shut, followed by the sound of several mechanical locks engaging. Varnyr, the senior-ranking Avowed in the place, has locked the hatch, sealing herself, you guys, Ebder, K’Tulah, and Crinkle inside the Firefly Cellar. Eralynn looks around concerned.
As she descends the spiral staircase to area F2, she hums the cursed tune in a soft voice. With effort, Varnyr suppresses her humming and shares the following information:
“When I first arrived at Candlekeep, the Avowed were concerned about a ‘singing madness.’ A book merchant had been afflicted with it and was put in isolation after several Avowed began singing the song as well.” She pauses and frowns. “I don’t know what happened to him or the others. That was six hundred years ago.”
She gathers her composure and adds, “I’ve alerted the Avowed and sealed the exit to stop whatever this is from spreading.”
K’Tulah says, "I'm not sure I like being confined down here. What does this mean? Are we stuck here?"
Ebder says, "Ugh. What an annoyance. All this commotion will certainly affect my work!"
Eralynn looks at the camera.
"Ya mean we're trapped down here until everythins' clear?" Garmus claps his hand over his mouth, a look of horror on his face as his words come out like he was signing a ditty.
"I'm afraid so." Varnyr admits. "At least till we figure out what's going on and how to stop it." Crinkle comes in from the kitchen, bringing more food, whistling absentmindedly. “But perhaps you can find an answer in all this,” she says, waving at the general direction of the cellar you're in.
Eralynn gasped, excited. Another mystery!
Ecko trills the tune happily! Until he realizes they're locked up. He rubs his feathered palm together with glee. "I can show you all my inventions until this curse - disease - plague - whatever wears off!" he happily comments.
He stands and begins pacing around, absentmindedly looking around the place for clues. "Thinking logically for a second, this must have originated somewhere, right, Varnyr?" Despite his absentminded demeanor, Ecko was a clever individual. This was just another problem to solve - like arcane studies or any sort of engineering issue to tackle. "You said a book merchant brought this? Did a book cause this? Oh! Or was it the merchant? He could've been resurrected and brought the curse back! Who knows. This is exciting."
Despite his enthusiasm, when he gets a chance to speak privately with Ysabell, he whispers - "You're good at reading people. Something this sudden means someone here's responsible. I doubt it's any of us - that leaves Ebder, K'Tulah, and Crinkle. I suggest rounding everyone up and asking them a few questions while you search for any lies. Does that work?" he happily calls.
Before that, though - Ecko will do a thorough investigation - including ripping up floorboards and dusting out every single shelf - starting with Area F2 and continuing onwards, with the spell Detect Magic up. Investigation: 11
Ecko trills the tune happily! Until he realizes they're locked up. He rubs his feathered palm together with glee. "I can show you all my inventions until this curse - disease - plague - whatever wears off!" he happily comments.
Eralynn took a great interest in this request, but everyone else wasn't too keen, more concerned about the unrelenting song in their head.
He stands and begins pacing around, absentmindedly looking around the place for clues. "Thinking logically for a second, this must have originated somewhere, right, Varnyr?" Despite his absentminded demeanor, Ecko was a clever individual. This was just another problem to solve - like arcane studies or any sort of engineering issue to tackle.
"Correct, from a book over six hundred years ago, here, in Candlekeep."
"You said a book merchant brought this? Did a book cause this? Oh! Or was it the merchant? He could've been resurrected and brought the curse back! Who knows. This is exciting."
"I'm hoping that's what you all can find out." she confesses.
Your detect magic isn't pinging anything.
F2 THE STACKS
The musty smell of old books hangs in the air here. Concentric rings of bookcases dominate the space, with a heavy granite table occupying the room’s center. The table would be a circle, but for six semicircular gaps cut into it around its edge, creating spaces for six chairs. Small stacks of books rest on the table along with a candleholder that contains firefly-filled jars.
The Firefly Cellar’s general study area encourages quiet reading. The shape of the table creates six individual study spaces. The table weighs around 300 pounds, and four rolled-up indigo rugs rest underneath. The bookcases are 10 feet tall. Two of them have attached rolling ladders. An unattached ladder leans against a shelf in the southwest part of the room.
Looking up, you can see into area F1 and the enormous stone book sculpture dangling overhead.
"Well I guess we better start then." Ysabell replied Varnyr. "Anything different or unusual happen over the past few days?"
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
Garmus looks around the room as Ysa and Ecko talk with Varnyr. "Feels like that statue is goin' ta fall right on me. What is that thing?" He asks during a break in the conversation.
"Feels like that statue is goin' ta fall right on me. What is that thing?"
A giant stone book statue! Isn't is beautiful? Eralynn says, looking at it with you.
"Well I guess we better start then." Ysabell replied Varnyr. "Anything different or unusual happen over the past few days?"
"Not a thing! That's why this is all so strange!" she says.
Ebder sighs, over in AREA F3. "Nothing has been out of the ordinary, unless you count the kenku, who keeps shuffling through here constantly on the way to and from her supply closet."
"What is odd about that?" Ysabell sang in reply to Ebder
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM
As Ebder is about to answer, he lapses into some sort of trance and begins making a horrible sound. It's a shrill sound that tears through the Firefly Cellar, overpowering all other noise. Though it rapidly rises to an uncanny pitch, scaring the dickens out of you. Ebder’s eyes are bulging in terror. He begins to hums the rhyme’s melody, the rest of his body paralyzed. He’s cold to the touch. He continues to sing the rhyme over and over for five minutes. Eralynn looks truly terrified.
Immediately on alert, Ysabell drew her Scythe, currently handheld size due to the cramped conditions, and immediately cast Detect Evil and Good on herself. She was fine with the song when it seemed like a harmless joke. Now though that it seems to have shown it's true colors, she was quite ready to have it excised from existence by whatever means necessary.
Zoldier’s Curse of the Crimson Throne: DM/ Redii || Zoldier's Strange Aeon's: DM