Alright, so a majority want to go up the stairs, you all ascend.
This small stone chamber above is almost a perfect cube. Other than the spiral stairs down, two staircases ascend on the southside of the room, one attached to the eastern wall and the other to the western . At the top of each stairway is a stone door with a heavy iron bar across it. The space between the two flights forms a sort of passage, but that way ends in a bare wall.
Khessa scans the room for magical auras, using her still-active Detect Magic spell.
The blonde arcane warrior then, if she finds nothing suspicious, walks down the passage to the bare wall and examines it critically: "Could there be a secret door here too?"
At the top of each stairway is a stone door with a heavy iron bar across it.
Xanrym isn't fond of these small rooms: if something were to leap out and attack, the confined space would make it difficult to get the fighters "up front" to face the threat. It also means that if the Necromancer left additional magical wards, the whole Company could be exposed to the effect!
Xanrym doesn't want to crowd around the blank wall with Khessa and Theldrin, so he heads part-way up one of the staircases. His brow furrows as he looks at the heavy iron bar that blocks the door from this side. He points it out to the others, "This seems odd. The Necromancer hid the stairs that lead to the upper levels of his home behind a secret door, but the stairs lead here, and these doors are barred from our side. It looks like he was trying to prevent something from getting out, not trying to keep intruders from getting in."
Xanrym wonders whether Fadheela trapped something on the other side of the door and added the bars in just the last week. He moves close enough to the door on his stairs to check whether the bar seems like a recent addition. Investigation: 7
(OOC: I set Xanrym's "height" to +10-ft on the map to make it clear that he's at the top of the stairs, not standing right next to Khessa.)
Xanrym sees that the bars have in fact been in place for some time, no one has explored this area in years. However, Theldrin and Khessa find a faint seam, a secret door that pushes open in toward a passage to the south. This passage does show some sign of use in the last few months.
(I’ll update the map later, but the 5ft passage runs straight ahead before fading to darkness.)
[[ OOC: @DM: ...And no magic, I guess, since you didn't mention it. ]]
Khessa pats Theldrin on the shoulder, laughing: "Well done, my friend! My feminine intuition told me there must be a secret door here, but I just couldn't seem to locate it... You know, I spent my childhood picking cabbages from the fields... and those aren't 'secret' at all!"
The blonde arcane warrior reasons: "This path seems more promising than the barred ones... I suggest we continue in this direction" (and indeed, if no one objects, she leads the way along the new path past the secret door).
Theldrin smiles, "Yes, your intuition was spot on... and so our chess match against our opponent continues. I'm sure this is indeed the way. Well... I look forward to enjoying some cabbage soup with you once this all over, back at the manor."
"Really?" Khessa seems flattered by the simple proposal and enthusiastically returns Theldrin's smile. Evidently, the connection to the cabbages that were such an important part of her carefree childhood has struck a chord with her—and put her in a good mood. "Great! We'll definitely do that!"
And so, with a smile still lingering on her face, the tall adventuress leads the party down the new path, determined to 'checkmate' Fadheela...
indeed, if no one objects, she leads the way along the new path past the secret door).
Xanrym agrees, "Yes, let us not disturb whatever is barred behind these doors. The secret passage seems much more promising!" He comes back down the stairs and follows at the the back of the group with his lantern held high so that it provides light 120-ft down the new passage if it stretches that far before turning.
(OOC: Xanrym's Bullseye Lantern should cast Bright Light 120-ft from his position because of the boost from Syllen's Control Flames. FYI - I also lined up everyone's tokens in marching order even though they're overlapping at the moment because of the available space on the map.)
“Given that this passage has been used in the last few months it is a good path to follow.”
Syllen will attempt to get a more accurate understanding of when someone last moved past this area and how many individuals there were using his survival skills.
You all head down the passage, Syllen seeing numerous signs of use within a couple months, but the tracks are too masked to work out how many have been through. With Xanrym's bullseye lantern lighting the way, you can see that the passage ends about 80ft ahead. But as you move, you spot two little alcoves, first to the west, then to the east. All of these exits have handles opening the secret door on the other side inwards. You notice that the other two doors have been used far less than the one heading south.
You all head south, opening the door and heading through into the next room. This small stone chamber mirrors the one you arrived in on this floor of the Spike. An iron spiral staircase leads upward. Two staircases ascend from the northern wall, one attached to the western wall and the other to the east. Both doors at the top of the stairs are barred. You head up the staircase
(Look I'm just going to assume you head up the stairs, you've skipped whatever's behind those doors and I don't expect you to want to go beyond them.)
You arrive in a short hall that widens into a massive chamber with a green fog seeping into it. closest to the stairs you just ascended are stone pews. On the farthest end of the room is a stone stage, and just in front of that is a huge stone platform or table that is at least 10 feet long and darkly stained. It has shackles attached to it. Three smaller stone desks and chairs are arranged between the dais and the pews. Two stone doors both open stand near each other on the western wall and a closed door is farther to the north on that same wall. A shut stone door is set in the eastern wall not far from where you entered.
The air crackles with power as three amorphous creatures glide into view. A large purple glowing hand to the east, a permanent streak of pure blue lightning to the west, and from the stage flies an ornate and magical black sword. All three living spells close toward you all immediately. Initiative:
Group 1: Avery and Khessa
Group 2: Living Sword of Disaster
Group 3: Xanrym and Theldrin
Group 4: Living Lightning Bolt and Living Bigby's Hand
Group 5: Coriana and Syllen
Avery and Khessa are up. Three permanent spells fly toward you from the corners of the room. (Also, i've lost access to Coriana's sheet, perhaps the privacy settings have changed?)
Khessa's attention was immediately drawn to the magical nature of the living spells, so she isn't surprised by their advance—in fact, she anticipates them and, pointing her unpredictable wand at the Living Blade of Disaster, unleashes its power!
[[ OOC: Action: Use the Wand of Wonder. Before deciding her other actions for the turn, let's see what effect it manifests... ]]
Alright, so a majority want to go up the stairs, you all ascend.
This small stone chamber above is almost a perfect cube. Other than the spiral stairs down, two staircases ascend on the southside of the room, one attached to the eastern wall and the other to the western . At the top of each stairway is a stone door with a heavy iron bar across it. The space between the two flights forms a sort of passage, but that way ends in a bare wall.
Khessa scans the room for magical auras, using her still-active Detect Magic spell.
The blonde arcane warrior then, if she finds nothing suspicious, walks down the passage to the bare wall and examines it critically: "Could there be a secret door here too?"
Khessa's Perception, if needed: 2
If neither Khessa nor other party members find a secret door, she ascends the staircase attached to the eastern wall and tries to open that door.
Theldrin joins Khessa at the bare wall area and looks for a secret door.
Investigation: 14
Additional roll for Advantage if Khessa or someone else helps:
12
Xanrym isn't fond of these small rooms: if something were to leap out and attack, the confined space would make it difficult to get the fighters "up front" to face the threat. It also means that if the Necromancer left additional magical wards, the whole Company could be exposed to the effect!
Xanrym doesn't want to crowd around the blank wall with Khessa and Theldrin, so he heads part-way up one of the staircases. His brow furrows as he looks at the heavy iron bar that blocks the door from this side. He points it out to the others, "This seems odd. The Necromancer hid the stairs that lead to the upper levels of his home behind a secret door, but the stairs lead here, and these doors are barred from our side. It looks like he was trying to prevent something from getting out, not trying to keep intruders from getting in."
Xanrym wonders whether Fadheela trapped something on the other side of the door and added the bars in just the last week. He moves close enough to the door on his stairs to check whether the bar seems like a recent addition.
Investigation: 7
(OOC: I set Xanrym's "height" to +10-ft on the map to make it clear that he's at the top of the stairs, not standing right next to Khessa.)
Xanrym sees that the bars have in fact been in place for some time, no one has explored this area in years. However, Theldrin and Khessa find a faint seam, a secret door that pushes open in toward a passage to the south. This passage does show some sign of use in the last few months.
(I’ll update the map later, but the 5ft passage runs straight ahead before fading to darkness.)
[[ OOC: @DM: ...And no magic, I guess, since you didn't mention it. ]]
Khessa pats Theldrin on the shoulder, laughing: "Well done, my friend! My feminine intuition told me there must be a secret door here, but I just couldn't seem to locate it... You know, I spent my childhood picking cabbages from the fields... and those aren't 'secret' at all!"
The blonde arcane warrior reasons: "This path seems more promising than the barred ones... I suggest we continue in this direction" (and indeed, if no one objects, she leads the way along the new path past the secret door).
Theldrin smiles, "Yes, your intuition was spot on... and so our chess match against our opponent continues. I'm sure this is indeed the way. Well... I look forward to enjoying some cabbage soup with you once this all over, back at the manor."
"Really?" Khessa seems flattered by the simple proposal and enthusiastically returns Theldrin's smile. Evidently, the connection to the cabbages that were such an important part of her carefree childhood has struck a chord with her—and put her in a good mood. "Great! We'll definitely do that!"
And so, with a smile still lingering on her face, the tall adventuress leads the party down the new path, determined to 'checkmate' Fadheela...
Xanrym agrees, "Yes, let us not disturb whatever is barred behind these doors. The secret passage seems much more promising!" He comes back down the stairs and follows at the the back of the group with his lantern held high so that it provides light 120-ft down the new passage if it stretches that far before turning.
(OOC: Xanrym's Bullseye Lantern should cast Bright Light 120-ft from his position because of the boost from Syllen's Control Flames. FYI - I also lined up everyone's tokens in marching order even though they're overlapping at the moment because of the available space on the map.)
Syllen nods his head.
“Given that this passage has been used in the last few months it is a good path to follow.”
Syllen will attempt to get a more accurate understanding of when someone last moved past this area and how many individuals there were using his survival skills.
Survival Roll: 10
You all head down the passage, Syllen seeing numerous signs of use within a couple months, but the tracks are too masked to work out how many have been through. With Xanrym's bullseye lantern lighting the way, you can see that the passage ends about 80ft ahead. But as you move, you spot two little alcoves, first to the west, then to the east. All of these exits have handles opening the secret door on the other side inwards. You notice that the other two doors have been used far less than the one heading south.
So do you head straight south, west, or east?
"Take the most travelled path?" Theldrin asks, with a gesture towards the south.
“It seems like the obvious choice” Khessa confirms, continuing in that direction.
Avery will caution, "Paths most used are where ambushes could hide, we should be cautious."
You all head south, opening the door and heading through into the next room. This small stone chamber mirrors the one you arrived in on this floor of the Spike. An iron spiral staircase leads upward. Two staircases ascend from the northern wall, one attached to the western wall and the other to the east. Both doors at the top of the stairs are barred. You head up the staircase
(Look I'm just going to assume you head up the stairs, you've skipped whatever's behind those doors and I don't expect you to want to go beyond them.)
You arrive in a short hall that widens into a massive chamber with a green fog seeping into it. closest to the stairs you just ascended are stone pews. On the farthest end of the room is a stone stage, and just in front of that is a huge stone platform or table that is at least 10 feet long and darkly stained. It has shackles attached to it. Three smaller stone desks and chairs are arranged between the dais and the pews. Two stone doors both open stand near each other on the western wall and a closed door is farther to the north on that same wall. A shut stone door is set in the eastern wall not far from where you entered.
The air crackles with power as three amorphous creatures glide into view. A large purple glowing hand to the east, a permanent streak of pure blue lightning to the west, and from the stage flies an ornate and magical black sword. All three living spells close toward you all immediately. Initiative:
Group 1: Avery and Khessa
Group 2: Living Sword of Disaster
Group 3: Xanrym and Theldrin
Group 4: Living Lightning Bolt and Living Bigby's Hand
Group 5: Coriana and Syllen
Avery and Khessa are up. Three permanent spells fly toward you from the corners of the room. (Also, i've lost access to Coriana's sheet, perhaps the privacy settings have changed?)
Khessa's attention was immediately drawn to the magical nature of the living spells, so she isn't surprised by their advance—in fact, she anticipates them and, pointing her unpredictable wand at the Living Blade of Disaster, unleashes its power!
[[ OOC: Action: Use the Wand of Wonder. Before deciding her other actions for the turn, let's see what effect it manifests... ]]
Wand of Wonder: 71