Caine pauses behind Jim and Razi and tries to determine if the chanting sounds louder coming from the south or from the east.

Perception: 13  

Nelyna doesn't like the sound of that chanting, not one bit. She fears they are drawing close to the source of evil in this place. She casts Mage Armor on herself in preparation. 

ETA: I believe it's been longer than 8 hours since the last time she cast it but not sure. 

"Great, some cult ceremony, always a good time."

Before heading through the passage, Jim turns to the others, "They might have decided to set traps to stop people from finding them. Although, I doubt there's anyone actually alive down here. Might be more ghosts though."

As he begins walking down the passage way, Jim searches for clues of any possible traps.

(Investigation: 6)

From below in the spiked pit, Jim lies there injured. He groans in pain, but has managed to survive falling unconscious.

"Jim!"  Razi moves to the edge of the pit and observes Jim's condition.  "Can you stand?  Here, let me help you climb out."

Once Jim is up, Razi casts cure wounds for 8 healing.

Caine comes to the edge of the pit, he kneels to help Razi with Jim if he needs it, if not, he looks to the edges of the pit to see if there's away around on the sides.

"You jinxed yourself," Caine says to Jim. "No more anticipating traps for you."

Caine looks back at the pit, then down the stairs to the chanting and then to the passage to the east, it's silence feeling more ominous than it should.

"Downstairs first?" Caine asks the others. Then keeping in mind that he's not entirely convinced that Jim didn't make that pit appear because he said something about traps. "Bound to be filled with mounds of gold, and a banquet fit for royalty."

Nonetheless, Caine keeps an eye out for traps as he starts down the stairs.

Perception: 20  

“Yes.”  Razi agrees that they must move down.  He is more sure than ever that the darkness behind this haunted place can be found below, in the depths.

"My friend, I am willing to take point if needed.  Stealth is not my strong suit however or finding traps the easy way."

"Well, I'd say Jim has shown us the easiest way to find a trap," Caine says to Sleet. "I don't think we're sneaking up on anything in here anyway. I get the sense that the entire house is watching us."

If he makes it down the stairs without setting off any traps, Caine moves to the side to let Sleet go first. Caine double checks his lamp for the hundredth time and holds it high to get a better look at what's ahead of them.

"The least I can do, I would not have survived 10 minutes in this place without you all.  Just point me the right direction and see if can't get out of here.". 

Nelyna stifles a cry of surprise as Jim falls down into a hidden pit with spikes. Razi and Caine help him out of the pit, and Razi provides a bit of healing, but it's clear the rogue is much the worse for wear. If they are going to vanquish the evil in this house, they must do it soon, she realizes, before the house plots even more creative ways to maim and kill them.

"Damn it, I knew I should have paid more attention to the healing arts," the elven wizard frets as she trails along behind the others, at the very rear of the party. Only the soft blue light emanating from her shielded body gives her any comfort right now.

Caine looks around at all the trinkets stashed about the room. He laughs at the bag of bat guano, thinking what a 9 year old Caine could have done with that, but recoils from many of the others, especially the head of the halfling.

"So, the guy who ran the cult thought all of this kind of thing would appeal to this Strahd guy?" Caine says to the others. "Don't you think that says an awful lot about Strahd? Are you getting the impression that the story those Travelers gave us was a pile of orc dung? Thinking we were lured here as opposed to coming to rescue this lord of theirs."

He looks at the southern end of the room and their options.

"Water in a basement never means good things," Caine starts. "How about this way first?"

Caine heads into the western most hallway on the south wall (the one leading to the alcoves).

Razi considers the surroundings (assuming that detect magic confirms this is all just occult junk?).  "I think we should withhold judgement for now.  It does seem that these folk saw Strahd as some kind of dark monster, and his letter would confirm that impression.  Still... the travelers said their prince was subject to a curse.  Perhaps he is... possessed?  Once we get out of here we must find the seer, Madame Eva."

Jim thanks Razi and Caine for their help in getting out of the pit. Then Razi once more for the healing.

"I think you're right," Jim groans. "I think someone should be leading the way for the moment."

Once Caine has explained his thoughts on Strahd, "I think you might be right. I think this whole land is cursed."

He then follows Caine through the most northern passage on the west wall.

(The compass for this map points to the left.)