"So there's our flock of cursed." Ludolf says plainly, looking down. "Do you want to go down or would you prefer staying up here." He says quietly to Triäsa, having noticed her discomfort, likely with being in the confined space they are in and moving into a crowd of other people would probably not help.

"There is little we can do from here." Pardot says looking downwards. "We should try to learn what little we can at least. And perhaps someone below can give us information."

Triäsa nods to Ludolf, "We should go down and see. Seems like maybe someone has a Silence spell down there?" She heads for the stair to head down.

"Ludolf and I can communicate mentally," Pardot says. "We can ask yes/no or other simple questions at least to those down there."

As a group you all head back to the spiral stairs and make your way down to the next level. As you cross the threshold to the second level your ears are assaulted by a cacophony of sounds. You hear the mutterings of the rhyme all around you. Similar to the upper floor 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. One end is cracked and broken.  Small stacks of books rest on the table along with a candleholder that contains firefly-filled jars.

Sitting on the floor between the stacks are are 50 or so people. Most are muttering the rhyme looking as if they have not slept in days. Their lips are cracked and bleeding, dark black circles surround weary eyes. Others are eating small amounts of rations and drinking water. As you take in the scene a familiar voice rings out.

"Oh thank goodness!! I was worried you were out there wandering the mountains mad and singing this damn song." She sprints across the room as fast as her gnomish legs will take her and crashes into Ludolf with a big hug. When she speaks again her voice is strong and peppy but you see a weariness on her you did not think possible. "I am  so happy you are here, all of you! We have got to fix this... This song is maddening.. Literally..." As she takes a quick breath her eyes fall on Triäsa . "OH MY GOD! Triäsa  your hair!!! I love it! You think I could make that color work?! When we get out of here will you PLEASE show me how you did it!" Davy would love it!"

Triäsa cracks a small smile at seeing the energetic gnome once again. "I am glad you like the hair. We can talk about how it came it be that way later. I am not sure I will be able to show you."  She glances very briefly at some of those muttering the rhyme. "The Avowed outside made it sound like this was a quarantine for those exposed.  I thought those fully affected would be taken elsewhere?"

She continues looking around at the books as well. "So, there must be some sort of sound barrier between here and upstairs?  I thought someone said the thing came from down here? And... what is this place anyway? A bunch of books hidden away under the House of Rest?"  She then stops, giving her a slight grin. "Sorry, that's a lot of questions."

As Fembris hugs him Ludolf is at first a little awkward but then he smiles and hugs her right back. After a moment he let's go of the excited gnome, steps back by Triäsa, listens to her and waits for Fembris to answer her.

(Oh, hey, we're back!)

Daventry has been silent since the avowed ushered them into the basement. She's had the look of a headache since Triasa sang the song, perhaps resisting her own compulsions, though in the darkened basement she still has summoned a small, dim ball of starlight, holding it in her hand like one might hold a stress ball.

She snaps out of her stupor at Fembris' arrival. "Fembris! Glad you aren't lost to rhymes without reason. We've got quite a tale or two, once we get out of here. Even found Fistandia! What's the situation here?"

At the mentioned of Fistandia Fembris whips her head around side to side, "Thats amazing! Where is she?! I have SO many questions!" Not seeing her Fembris she sets out to answer Daventry and Triäsa queries. 

"OK well it's something of a long story so buckle up. The day after you left I was having lunch with Davy at the Hearth. Seafood stew, fresh shipment from the grippli had just arrived. It was AMAZING! Anyhow I was telling Davy about my family when a half-orc gets up on the bar and starts screaming the song over and over again. People thought it was funny at first but he just kept going, he could stop. Eventually he grabs a steak knife from the bar and cuts his own tongue out! Right there in the Hearth!!" She gasps for breath before continuing, "Bookwyrm was obviously upset and since you were gone he put me and Davy on the case! Our first big CIA task! We interviewed EVERYONE found out that lots of people were singing the song some were pretty bad off couldn't eat or drink or talk just sing. Found a poor dwarf in his room with his wife. She got so tired of it she sewed his mouth shut...." Fembris shivers ar the memory. "Well at that point we locked down the Keep no one in or out. Anyone that heard the song was sent down here except some of the Avowed who were quartintined behind the Emeerald Gate. I figured out that Varnyr and Ebder were among the first to hear the rhyme but they aren't really sure where... BUT they both live down here so we made this our isolation pod and continue the investigation... That's about what you missed... more or less."

"As for what this well it's the Firefly Cellar. We call it that because the only light comes from these." She holds up a jar with 20 or 30 fireflies in it it gives off a nice soothing pale green glow. You notice the jars scattered through out the area and realize there are windows or another sources of light. "It is the only part of the main collection not behind the Emerald Gate. Made it neglected and the whole area was a big mess until a few years when we put Varnyr in charge of reclaiming the area. The books here are old pretty boring honestly, folk tales and children's books."

"As for the cursed itself we don't know much. It affects people differently some hear it and barely ever hum it again others seem to lose control very quickly. We placed silence wards around this level so the noise is more or less contained here... and in the side rooms on this floor..." You notice two doors on this level on in the north and one to the south there is also a seperate set of stairs that lead down in the west.

11

Fembris gets a bit of a panicked look on her face as she start singing the song...

Daventry puts a firm hand on Fembris's shoulder. "Fem! FEM! Focus, you are stronger than this curse! You are the CIA, and you can beat this, both now and at the source!"

Intimidation? 14

Triäsa quickly turns from Fembris and steps away.  She'd like to help but it seems like she's been more susceptible to these things than most. 

"I wonder if they found the book where Varnyr and Ebder first read the thing.  In fact, where are those two now? I presume they have been...  infected?"  It doesn't quite feel like the right word, but it does seem to be a contagious curse.  

"Yes, from what you tell us Fembris we can surmise that the origin of the curse likely is one of the children's books found down here. We should start with interrogating Varnyr and Ebder. As Pardot suggested one of us can send questions as thoughts, and those questions could be answered in writing. This is clearly a mission suitable for the CIA Fembris." Ludolf finishes, putting an encouraging hand on the gnomes shoulder. "Now, take us to Varnyr my dear Fembris." He finishes, ready to follow the gnome. "If we find the source we might also find a way to remove the curse."

Fembris looks terrified as Daventry yells at her. She trips and falls backwards startled. Alas she continues to sing. She gets to her feet, motions for you to follow and starts to walk to the north stepping over a few people until she gets to a very old sun elf sitting at the large table. She is reading a book and quietly humming the rhyme. As Fembris approaches with her singing the sun elf looks up from her book. "For the love of Oghma now you too Fembris. Remain calm.... if that's possible.... hopefully it will pass. I see we have new guests. My name is Varnyr, senior scribe in charge of the restoration of the Cellar. Welcome to our prison." Her voice is weathered and tired.

Everyone time for our first round concentration checks! With your next post please roll concentration.

Klin -- you can also make a history check to see if you have any additional information regarding the Firefly Cellar. It's possible during your book research you came across more information

"Thank you venerated Varnyr, I am Ludolf Crowley and we are conducting an investigation into this mystery." Ludolf begins sitting himself down by the table. "Now, do you remember if you found any partiular book around the same time as this curse befell you?" He starts asking, making an effort to sound polite and considerate.
Persuasion if needed to get Varnyr's cooperation: 12

Con check: 21 And lucky con check: 11

(CON Check: 21)

"Maybe if we look at the book with this thing in it, we can find a clue as to the cause." Triäsa says. 

I did not mention the DC for the concentration check. It is 10 now it will go up the longer you are here. 

Varynr looks a put off by Ludolf's bluntness as she answers, "A book you think this curse has come from a book? Honestly, I don't know what you are talking about. I simply started singing this melody one day about 4 weeks ago. It seemed a little odd. Reflecting with young Fembris when we all got locked down here I did remember the tune being whistled outside my study a while back and before you ask, no I don't know who was whistling, it all sounds the same to me. I had never hear the words or anything like it before then. I simply knew them." At this point she closes her eyes you can see focus deeply and after a tense moment she relaxes and opens her eyes again. "I certainly have not read these words or seen anything like it in the past."

Fembris continues to sing...

"Thank you Varnyr. I believe we should still investigate the firefly cellar thoroughly, the origin of the curse surely is to be found down here somewhere." Ludolf says. "But first we could perhaps talk to Ebder."