Tex

Lana

“There’s a way down through the basement and into the rock below!” Tex announces to the rest of the group. “It could be an escape tunnel or lead to some secret caves. Either way I can’t imagine they fit the coffin through this.”

Zane says, "Hold on, lets go check on Lana first. Considering the hostile carpet we can assume nobody has used this route for a very long time."

He goes and taps Lana on the shoulder after the lock has been picked. (The whole area is still in silence) He beckons her to follow back to the previous room.

Once out of silence again he says, "There's a tunnel here going somewhere really deep. Doesn't look like it's been used in a very long time, though, especially considering the carpet."

Zane looks at others, "I would prefer to check the other room out first as the silence is still up. And then go with this tunnel instead of the upstairs. What about you?"

“But we came for checking the coffin, right? You think they brought it down this way? I think, we best check all the mansion, including the stairways up, before we leave down this way. Also, if no guard found us yet after several fights, I assume there’s no one else here. Or what do you think?”

Zane replies, "This is an ancient manor inhabited by clever and resourceful people for a very long time. I assume most places have several access points and I'd rather explore something more secret than the most obvious way. Should be less defended and trapped and might lead us directly to where we want to go instead of fighting through all of this weirdness."

“Hm,” Tex considers Zane’s arguments. “You may be right. If it’s just a secret exit, I guess we can simply return here.” Tex glances at Liz wondering how to get her down the ladder in this tight shaft.

"The coffin was heavy, perhaps two hundred pounds.  It might be that they could lower it down that way with magic or a contraption with a pulley and counterweight or something like that.  Or someone very strong.  But I lean towards searching the rest of the house first.  If the coffin is still here, and the brown-haired woman and her mages are gone for now, it may be our one chance to liberate our friend's brother."

Rel finds herself uneasy at what 'liberating' an undead creature under the effect of some spell might imply, but she does not speak that part.  She also does not speak Vale or Vlad's name aloud yet, though she supposes at this point, Lana has earned their trust.

"Of course, if the brother is undead and can climb ladders on his own, then they might have no need to lower the entire coffin.  So there is that."

Quote from Tybard >>

"Of course, if the brother is undead and can climb ladders on his own, then they might have no need to lower the entire coffin.  So there is that."

 “I fear the same,” Tex seconds Rel’s thought. “And in this case, there should still be an empty coffin around to prove this theory.”

"So there are some undead and you do expect to run into them," smiled Lana. "Not going to pry, just thinking that opening all the doors and windows to let the sun enter is a good idea. The door at the end of the corridor is unlocked now. We might as well open it too, I did not find any traps. Meanwhile..." She looked into the dark opening below. "Agree, we can first check the rest of the manor. But we are already here - why not simply look inside? Not going far, just to look around. I can climb there to see how deep the ladder is going."

If there were no objections, Lana did just that - climbed down to see where the path leads.

Zane nods to Lana. Then notices the rope he's still holding on to and offers, "Here, tie this around your waist."

Bellamy looks down at the shaft "I really want to see what is in that room. Lana has already unlocked it. What is the point of avoiding it now?" He will then head back down the hall to stand waiting in front of the door.

Rel splits the difference, standing just outside the sphere of silence in the hallway, northwest of the door to the room with the rug.

Keeping an eye on both the hole which Lana disappeared down and the door next to which Bellamy is standing.  Occasionally also glancing backwards to the west to make sure nothing is sneaking up behind them.  She looks a little worried at splitting the party, hoping Lana comes back up soon.

Tex stays close to Bellamy and offers to open the door himself (just a bit to peek out) so that he can block anything from getting out (or in). Liz remains on his side. 

Tex and Bellamy

 Lana

"This was not what I was expecting. I thought it was a study" says Bellamy

He looks at the overgrown plants and checks to see if there are any noticeable dangers and to identify some of the plants in the sense of whether they have a use or if they are poisonous

Perception - 16

Nature - 19

Rolled in game log

Lana modulated her voice to be heard above the passage (using Thaumaturgy if needed). "It's all the way down two ropes. Full 100ft, I would say. Don't like those bats but want to check. I'll leave the rope and go to the bottom." She climbed to the ground.

Tex groans at the sight of the interior garden. “There is no way that we can search this way fast enough to catch up on the other direction. I think we need to decide, this way or the other. We really shouldn’t get too far separated.”

Zane shrugs to himself, "I guess she's familiar with small dark spaces and stays there, looking down."