As Clas watches in alarm as the wall of flames ignites ahead, his instincts kick in. Without a moment's hesitation, he gives the rope that links the party together a firm and decisive pull. The rope tenses, and Clas swiftly hauls Tarysaa out of the path of the encroaching fire. STR check 9 Inspiration 3

(OOC: OK, Given Clas' attempt, I'd say Tarysaa will have Advantage on her DEX saving throw, if she is trying to jump back - because Clas is back, so is in jumping back that his decisive pull can help)

[ Dex Roll w/ Adv. = 12 ]

Tarysaa had barely touched one foot into the dead end when flames began to blast up from the floor.  Thinking she had a split second to leap forward;  her toes barely leaving the ground when -- with a suddenly jerk on the party rope line - she was hauled backward into the intersection.  A few scorched hairs, but uncooked.

Clas' reflections are rapid, but the vigorous flames are painful for Tarysaa, who loses her sense of direction and, confused, finds it hard to second the pull (OOC: Fail saved, sadly).

The elf wizard finally staggers back from the sudden burning curtain and...

Tarysaa takes 27 fire damage

...and her clothes are on fire, which the party members rush to help her put out. She has burns in different parts of her body... it is clear that the accident has deeply affected her. She could have burned alive!

In the meantime, the barrier of fire continues to burn, crackling ominously, while a few small pops announce the cracking of some stones inside the dead end. Impossible, however, for now, to see inside... Fortunately, at least, most of the heat seems magically directed towards the inside of the dead end, now practically transformed into an oven... Outwards, the heat of the flames is not likely to put you in danger.

'Barely burnt' was an understatment from Tarysaa's first impression.   Burnt and burning, she tries to do Prestidigitation to instantaneously snuff out her clothing and hair.  Even taking all that damage, her first concern is her spellbook; making certain it survived the ordeal.  Then her component pouch and her backpack, bow & quiver.   

This is almost a 'shock after reaction' for her.  (( She just lost 82% of her hit points with this encounter!!! ))

Barely keeping her feet, she ends up slowly crouching in the middle of the crosshall to catch her breath, stop her hands from shaking and continuing her item inventory -- making certain she still can function. If anyone cares to listen, they can hear her muttering a non stop stream of prayers to Azuth and Mystra right now.

While seeming to be 'keeping it together', it does not take much to note that she is about to lose her composure as she lightly strokes her staff.  What was once pristine and covered in lightly glowing runes now looks like a soot covered stick.  Spots become clean as her tears drop onto the wood.

     Daisy turns from peering down the hall, about to relate to the other what she was able to see in the far room. However, the dwarf jumps back as the gout of flames engulf the elf. 

     "Wha-?! Oh no! Oh no! Tarysaa, are you okay, hon!?" She marches over and wedges herself between the elf and Clas. "Stop that damned laughing! People are getting hurt here. Not everything is a joke, ya know!"

     The druid reaches out with a hand and lightly touches the blistered skin of Tarysaa. "Lheihys," she says quietly. Much of the redness begins to subside as the healing energy flows through the elf's body. "Easy now," she says with a comforting pat. "Maybe we should just call it a day and search this level when we're fresh. We've been through a lot today already." She looks up to the others, letting out a heavy sigh as the events of day begin to take its toll on dwarf.

(Cure Wounds, 9hp)

Tarysaa lets out a long sigh as Daisy gives her comfort and healing.  "Many Blessings upon you, Daisy.  I fear I have no means of healing myself... not even caring for cuts and scratches; let alone something such as this."   She waves her hand up and down her length, indicating the bright red skin still visible in spots. "And blessings on you, Clas.  If not for your speedy action, I would be well done and dead."

Taking a moment, she slowly stands and leans on her staff - working to get her breath back as she straightens her back.  "You all saw what the 'dead end' has to offer.  Daisy, what did you see to the north through the open doors?"

In the meantime, the fire in the dead end finally goes out. There are new burns and cracks on the alcove. It is quite obvious, now what had caused the olds too!

     Daisy helps the elf to her feet then looks toward the end of the hall.

    "Hard to tell... Just looks to be a large room, but some whirlwind musta came through there! There's junk all over the ground from what I could see."

Ardana will step forward with her flag to the doorway of the large room and looks inside.    Any other exits?  Distinguishing features?

"Does it look like a battle was in there -or- more like someone came in a tore the place up looking for something?"  Tarysaa asked.  "If tables and chairs are smashed.  Equipment shattered and so on, it might have been a big fight."   Her brows furrowed as she considered.  "If the chairs and tables are 'just' flipped or tipped; books or scrolls scattered about but not torn or shredded - likely someone was in a hurry to find something specific.   Perhaps the 'born again' item WE are looking for?"   Tarysaa slowly walks over to the open doors to see what she might see as she holds up the purple flag for light.

[ Investigation = 7 ]

She sighs and shakes her head, "I think that roasting took more out of me than I thought."   Turning to her companions, "Should I try to detect magic?  Either it will pinpoint things or I'll see nothing but a fog since it seems this place is nothing BUT magic."

Ardana e Tarysaa (OOC: Tarysaa has her own flag or is she joining hands with Ardana?) immediately notice that the salon is of immense size - not even in the light of the flag it is possible to illuminate it in its entirety! The ceiling is very high, 20'. The walls are devoid of particular ornaments, but made of large blocks of stone and probably as strong as a castle perimeter wall.

Whatever this place was before, now it is simply a chaotic mass of all kinds of materials and rubble. Practically every section of the floor is covered by some type of rubble: split or burnt pieces of wood, cracked stone fragments, dust of various nature, pieces of metal of various kinds often broken, bent or melted... All this rubbish, here and there piles up in heaps, but still it is spread everywhere and it is difficult to walk through it (OOC: all the area must be considered difficult terrain).

A disgusting stench of decay hangs in the air - and indeed, at second glance, more macabre remains can be seen, like decomposed portions of corpses, jutting out here and there.

Tarysaa definitely thinks a battle was in there.

There are some large side rooms, like big alcoves, as well as a common-size door around the perimeter. That's at least what you can see from there.

Given the size of the room, obviously carrying out searches would be a long and time-consuming operation.

This is what you can see, right from the threshold... The first yellow circle is the full light range of the flag, the second yellow circle is the dim light range. Beyond that range, darkness takes over.

I also blackened some areas that are in range, but blocked by walls.

so the second yellow circle is dim light - so those aren't walls there, just blackness in the back corners?

Yes. Blackness of actual walls is only in front (near the door) and near you.

Here's another version of the map where 'unknown' parts are dark gray instead of black - so you can tell what's wall and what's unknown.

Quote from Quid2Facis73406 >>

Page 62 - Entry # 1238 >>  Hahahaha! One for Ilwythe, Tarysaa, Daisy, and Ardana! Hahahaha! Nim we’ll all let you choose whose hand you want to hold! Hahahaha! Tarysaa, Ardana, Daisy why don’t you three lead, your keen eyes can guide us. I’ll follow with a torch and bring up the rear with Ilwythe. Hahahaha!

So, unless Tarysaa dropped the purple flag as she was being roasted and toasted, she should have it as she stands with Ardana.

Seeing the damage and destruction before her, Tarysaa turns to Ardana. "Maybe I'll try that detect magic just to cover our bases."

Detect Magic (as a ritual)  

and she will take a chance... if she does not detect ANYTHING from the doorway, she will progress forward SLOWLY and carefully, so as to do the least amount of 'debris' movement and soft noise (those elven feet!)... to the next 30 feet forward... keeping within Ardana's flag light range.

IF IF IF... nothing happens to Tarysaa on her move forward... AND she detects 'magic' within 10 feet of her position, she use Prestidigitation to mark the positions.    Since she can only mark 3 for one hour... she will be selective in marking the spots.... using the symbol of Azuth -- a human left hand pointing upward outlined in fire... all blue.

Ardana will divine Sense on the same path as Tarysaa to the center of the room, with 15' of movement forward this should allow the whole room to be within range and lit at one point during the turn.  Ardana will look around during this time.