If the party wants to stick together, Xanrym heads to the door to the east, opposite the one where Jocyln went, as quickly as possible. He'll try to open it quietly and peek through before they go into that room. Stealth25
If the rest of them want to stay in the main sanctuary, Xanrym asks ask, "Should I try to follow her? Or try the other door?"
Xanrym seems a bit oblivious about the acolyte's trustworthiness. He's just happy that she let them into the main sanctuary, and he had intended to snoop around whether she was a faithful follower or Merikka or not. While Xanyrm is a kind and friendly guy, he's a bit relentless in his efforts to solve mysteries. He seems to have no misgivings about breaking the temple's rules in pursuit of more information about Misha's cult.
Xanrym isn't sure how much time they have before Joclyn returns and, not hearing a strong vote from the party one way or the other, he heads to the door to the east and peeks through (as described above).
Theldrin shrugs and heads over to the eastern door with Xanrym, half expecting an imminent attack when Joclyn returns. He keeps a close eye on the exit she used to leave the sanctuary.
You open the east door to find yourself immidiately in a hallway running north south. This hall has a gleaming white tile floor and a series of alcoves along the east wall. Each alcove is lined with black velvet to highlight the beautiful golden items placed in there. The items are replica's of Merikka's bountiful harvest: a potato, beans, a cluster of barley, stuff like that.
Sorry i didn't see Liarin's question about turning into a rat. This temple is meticulously keeped, so a mouse would find a hard time finding cracks it could get through. An insect could get anywhere though.
To the north the hallway wraps around and turns west. To the south it ends in a doorway, a well used wooden door stands there.
(OOC: Any sense of the scale of this hallway with the alcoves? I'm trying to get a sense of where we are compared to the exterior footprint of the temple.)
Xanrym looks through the door. Not seeing anyone in sight on the other side, he makes a smacking "tshk" sound and waves Avery and Liarin to join them. He reminds Theldrin, "Make sure to close the door behind them," and then he enters the hallway. He walks a little way to the north -- just far enough to see that the hallway curves around to the west -- and then he hurries to the door at the south end of the hallway. He listens closely at the door and, if he doesn't hear anything, checks to see whether it's locked. (Perception18)
Xanrym is worried that they could get trapped at the south end of the hall, and that would end their exploration. But if can quickly check that there's nothing interesting through this door, they could all head toward the north once Avery and Liarin make it through the door into the hallway with the alcoves.
You look around the corner and see another well used wooden door. When you put your ear to the door to the south, you hear nothing, and the door is open. When you peek inside you see a simple bedroom for one person. A small bed, a trunk, and a desk are the only items in the room.
I'm just using Xanrym's token for the moment just to give you an idea where you are in the temple.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Theldrin nods and follows Xanrym. Once everyone is through the door and Avery closes it, he moves towards the north examining the replicas in the alcoves as best he can as he passes.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(OOC: if Joclyn doesn't come through the door from the main sanctuary immediately, Xanrym's next action would be to quickly check the bedroom. But I'm not trying to "tick" the clock forward yet. Just letting you know what Xanrym would be doing next so that you can the next step.)
Xanrym darts into the bedroom, leaving the door open. He does a very hasty search of the room to see whether there's anything worth looking into. He's looking for any paper, message, or item that may indicate whose bedroom it is and whether they were either a member of the cult or aware of Misha's affiliation with the cult. (For example, letters or papers on / in the desk. Books, clothing, or idols in the chest. Something hidden under the bed or between the mattress and the bedframe.)
Theldrin - You note that these items are very valuable, and this section of the temple must be open to the public, so there must be some defence mechanism to stop people form stealing them. Although you don't see anything that might tip you off.
Xanrym - Judging from the clothes and lack of faciness in the room, you suspect this may be Misha's quarters. In the chest you find some weapons and armour (Chainmail, Shield, and Morningstar). Most facinating, when you look under the bed, is a trapdoor leading down.
Avery is watching the hallway behind them in case someone catches them by accident. He wishes not to harm any of the acolytes, not sure who are fully cultists, and who may be innocent, and will try to take them down via non-lethal with his hands.
Theldrin moves back towards the bedroom, rejoining the group. "I think those alcoves may be trapped..." he warns.
"Either that," Xanrym says, looking uncertain, "or our hunch was wrong, and Misha really was the only cultist here. If there are still true clerics of Merikka here, she couldn't just steal the statues representing the 'Bounty of Merikka'', could she?" He tells the others what he found and says, "A private bedroom in the temple? My guess is that it was Misha's room, but I haven't found any overt evidence of her cult. But here, help me move the bed...quietly." He shows them the trap door that was under the bed.
Smiling, Xanrym asks, "What do you think? 'In for a copper, in for a gold', as the saying goes?" He looks down at the trap door and his smile fades. Trying to make a quick decision before Joclyn finds them, he starts thinking out loud: "Maybe this room was repurposed as a bedroom, and that's just a door down to the storage cellars. Temples dedicated to Merikka often store grain and other crops in preparation for years where the harvest fails because of drought or flood or war. Then again, maybe the trap door is a new addition: a hidden door that leads down to tunnels like the ones we found under the inn. Did any of you find anything more promising at the north end of the hall?" He looks hopefully at Theldrin and Liarin. Then he grabs the handle of the trap door, "Or should we try this door?"
(OOC: improvised world building based on IRL history based on a Religion, 10 (in game log). If that's wildly inaccurate for the world of Greyhawk, let me know, and I can strike that last bit.)
"Only looked at the alcoves so far," Theldrin replies as he eyes the trapdoor with obvious interest. He looks back towards the way they came and if there are no signs of anyone coming, says with a grin, "Let's take a quick peek, shall we?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Xanrym checks the trap door for traps. (Investigation6)
If he doesn't find any traps, then Xanrym suggests that Theldrin and Liarin either step back from the door or get ready. "Remember that this cult apparently used ghouls to protect the tunnels under the inn," he reminds them. Once they're set, Xanrym positions himself "behind" the door and pulls it up toward himself.
If nothing happens when they open the trap door, Xanrym lets Liarin take a look first.
If there's a chamber below, is there a ladder or some other way to descend and get back up? Is the chamber below lit, or do they need to bring their own light?
Avery continues to be a look out. "If we go down the trap door, we'll use something to block the door to the room so it can't be open," he suggests. He'll watch as the others do their quick look into the alcoves.
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Is there enough room under the doors for a rat or even a mouse to squeeze through?
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Xanrym seems a bit oblivious about the acolyte's trustworthiness. He's just happy that she let them into the main sanctuary, and he had intended to snoop around whether she was a faithful follower or Merikka or not. While Xanyrm is a kind and friendly guy, he's a bit relentless in his efforts to solve mysteries. He seems to have no misgivings about breaking the temple's rules in pursuit of more information about Misha's cult.
Xanrym isn't sure how much time they have before Joclyn returns and, not hearing a strong vote from the party one way or the other, he heads to the door to the east and peeks through (as described above).
Theldrin shrugs and heads over to the eastern door with Xanrym, half expecting an imminent attack when Joclyn returns. He keeps a close eye on the exit she used to leave the sanctuary.
You open the east door to find yourself immidiately in a hallway running north south. This hall has a gleaming white tile floor and a series of alcoves along the east wall. Each alcove is lined with black velvet to highlight the beautiful golden items placed in there. The items are replica's of Merikka's bountiful harvest: a potato, beans, a cluster of barley, stuff like that.
To the north the hallway wraps around and turns west. To the south it ends in a doorway, a well used wooden door stands there.
Sorry i didn't see Liarin's question about turning into a rat. This temple is meticulously keeped, so a mouse would find a hard time finding cracks it could get through. An insect could get anywhere though.
(OOC: Any sense of the scale of this hallway with the alcoves? I'm trying to get a sense of where we are compared to the exterior footprint of the temple.)
Xanrym looks through the door. Not seeing anyone in sight on the other side, he makes a smacking "tshk" sound and waves Avery and Liarin to join them. He reminds Theldrin, "Make sure to close the door behind them," and then he enters the hallway. He walks a little way to the north -- just far enough to see that the hallway curves around to the west -- and then he hurries to the door at the south end of the hallway. He listens closely at the door and, if he doesn't hear anything, checks to see whether it's locked. (Perception 18)
Xanrym is worried that they could get trapped at the south end of the hall, and that would end their exploration. But if can quickly check that there's nothing interesting through this door, they could all head toward the north once Avery and Liarin make it through the door into the hallway with the alcoves.
I'll map this out for you so you can get a better idea of what you're seeing, and where you are in relation to the rest of the temple.
You look around the corner and see another well used wooden door. When you put your ear to the door to the south, you hear nothing, and the door is open. When you peek inside you see a simple bedroom for one person. A small bed, a trunk, and a desk are the only items in the room.
I'm just using Xanrym's token for the moment just to give you an idea where you are in the temple.
Avery states, "I'll cover our rear, close any doors behind us."
Theldrin nods and follows Xanrym. Once everyone is through the door and Avery closes it, he moves towards the north examining the replicas in the alcoves as best he can as he passes.
Perception: 11
Investigation: 26
(OOC: if Joclyn doesn't come through the door from the main sanctuary immediately, Xanrym's next action would be to quickly check the bedroom. But I'm not trying to "tick" the clock forward yet. Just letting you know what Xanrym would be doing next so that you can the next step.)
Xanrym darts into the bedroom, leaving the door open. He does a very hasty search of the room to see whether there's anything worth looking into. He's looking for any paper, message, or item that may indicate whose bedroom it is and whether they were either a member of the cult or aware of Misha's affiliation with the cult. (For example, letters or papers on / in the desk. Books, clothing, or idols in the chest. Something hidden under the bed or between the mattress and the bedframe.)
Perception 13
Investigation 12
Theldrin - You note that these items are very valuable, and this section of the temple must be open to the public, so there must be some defence mechanism to stop people form stealing them. Although you don't see anything that might tip you off.
Xanrym - Judging from the clothes and lack of faciness in the room, you suspect this may be Misha's quarters. In the chest you find some weapons and armour (Chainmail, Shield, and Morningstar). Most facinating, when you look under the bed, is a trapdoor leading down.
Avery is watching the hallway behind them in case someone catches them by accident. He wishes not to harm any of the acolytes, not sure who are fully cultists, and who may be innocent, and will try to take them down via non-lethal with his hands.
(Sorry got a bit busy, will be non-responsive for the next 24 hrs.)
I am following along with the others, keeping my eyes open, Perception 17 with guidance, investigation 5.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Theldrin moves back towards the bedroom, rejoining the group. "I think those alcoves may be trapped..." he warns.
"Either that," Xanrym says, looking uncertain, "or our hunch was wrong, and Misha really was the only cultist here. If there are still true clerics of Merikka here, she couldn't just steal the statues representing the 'Bounty of Merikka'', could she?" He tells the others what he found and says, "A private bedroom in the temple? My guess is that it was Misha's room, but I haven't found any overt evidence of her cult. But here, help me move the bed...quietly." He shows them the trap door that was under the bed.
Smiling, Xanrym asks, "What do you think? 'In for a copper, in for a gold', as the saying goes?" He looks down at the trap door and his smile fades. Trying to make a quick decision before Joclyn finds them, he starts thinking out loud: "Maybe this room was repurposed as a bedroom, and that's just a door down to the storage cellars. Temples dedicated to Merikka often store grain and other crops in preparation for years where the harvest fails because of drought or flood or war. Then again, maybe the trap door is a new addition: a hidden door that leads down to tunnels like the ones we found under the inn. Did any of you find anything more promising at the north end of the hall?" He looks hopefully at Theldrin and Liarin. Then he grabs the handle of the trap door, "Or should we try this door?"
(OOC: improvised world building based on IRL history based on a Religion, 10 (in game log). If that's wildly inaccurate for the world of Greyhawk, let me know, and I can strike that last bit.)
"Only looked at the alcoves so far," Theldrin replies as he eyes the trapdoor with obvious interest. He looks back towards the way they came and if there are no signs of anyone coming, says with a grin, "Let's take a quick peek, shall we?"
Xanrym checks the trap door for traps. (Investigation 6)
If he doesn't find any traps, then Xanrym suggests that Theldrin and Liarin either step back from the door or get ready. "Remember that this cult apparently used ghouls to protect the tunnels under the inn," he reminds them. Once they're set, Xanrym positions himself "behind" the door and pulls it up toward himself.
If nothing happens when they open the trap door, Xanrym lets Liarin take a look first.
If there's a chamber below, is there a ladder or some other way to descend and get back up? Is the chamber below lit, or do they need to bring their own light?
Avery continues to be a look out. "If we go down the trap door, we'll use something to block the door to the room so it can't be open," he suggests. He'll watch as the others do their quick look into the alcoves.