That's the most innocent looking door that Nikkitch has ever seen. Upon being opened, it behaves very politely and doesn't spring any traps on you.
The room beyond is a fairly sizeable 40 by 40 room. It is strewn with rotten supplies and the remains of a fire pit. Three bugbear corpses and an the body of a strange brain thing with legs are heaped in the northeast corner.
There is a corridor going off north at the back wall.
Jaya [City Guard], Pisgah and Canti [Survival]: You recognize the site of violence when you see one. This room has seen a skirmish, not all too long ago. Broken bits of shields, torn shreds of armor, splatters of dried blood. The culprits are probably long gone and the corpses could have belonged to either side.
Nikk, Rico [Arcana 17+]: That brain thing is an aberration, a so called "intellect devourer". It is said that they feed on intelligence and can take over another creature by replaing its brain with their own.
Rico warns the others, "That dead brain thing is an aberration called an intellect devourer. They feed on intelligence and can take over another creature by replaing its brain with their own. It probably cannot take over me, since my brain is not organic. But the rest of you need to be careful if we find more of these things down here."
"So, do I hear you volunteering to stab the first one we find?"
Pisgah will move on up to the north, about 10 feet into the hallway, and will take a look that direction. He will also look for signs of blood or foot traffic to try and identify how many attackers may have come this way.
Pisgah can identify boot and foot-traffic back through the door you entered from. There are only very faint traces of tracks to the north, as if this hallway hasn't been used in a long while. As you step into it, you see that it goes on for some 80 feet and then turns east. From this distance, you can once again start to hear the faint music from before.
"Okay folks, I am going to sneak up to the end of the hallway and peek around that corner to see if I can spot who or what is playing that music. I'm going to try and remain unseen and will come back to let you know what I find. If Ricco or Canti stand 10 feet inside the hallway they should be able to see me at the corner."
Slowly approaching the corner of the hallway, Pisgah's attention is focused on the sound coming around the corner and the spot where he will post up to take a peek at the unknown musician. Concentrating on moving quietly to that point, he fails to see a broken furniture leg that must have been dropped by the attackers who killed the bugbears. As his weight settles on the piece of wood he feels it begin to roll from underneath him. Trying to remain upright he makes an off-balance leap that sends him crashing into the wall on his right. As he slaps up against the wall he pops his left eyeball around the corner.
Pisgahs eyeball sees more corridor around the corner. The architecture remains blissfully unaware of the barbarians shoddy footwork and noise. Seems like this part of the dungeon loops around to the previous corridor. The music leads you down it to a side-passage to the east.
A shame-faced Pisgah sullenly walks back down the corridor, stopping to pick up the loose furniture piece, and whispers to Canti as he passes by "I'll give you two gold pieces to not mention that to anyone."
In a louder voice, "Hey folks it looks like this end of the tunnel just makes a loop around this room and heads off to the east. We could barricade ourselves in this room and take a long rest if people are feeling tired or are worn out from getting through the first level."
The kenku continues, though if a bit reluctantly. Every corner is another chance at exposure. As drained as he is, a drawn-out skirmish would be bad. He can do the bare minimum. Regardless, he remains silent. Living in the streets means hiding weakness, concealing shortcomings.
A long hallway in a southward direction unfolds before you. The music emanates from a room at the end.
In the middle of the room is a harpsichord made entirely of bones, with finger bones of wildly varying sizes for keys. Somber music emanates from it. Carved into the north wall is a single measure of musical notes. They are faded and difficult to read.
Pisgah [Lute proficiency] recognizes the vague forms of the notation. Even without classical training, the script indicates a fairly simple melody.
That's the most innocent looking door that Nikkitch has ever seen. Upon being opened, it behaves very politely and doesn't spring any traps on you.
The room beyond is a fairly sizeable 40 by 40 room. It is strewn with rotten supplies and the remains of a fire pit. Three bugbear corpses and an the body of a strange brain thing with legs are heaped in the northeast corner.
There is a corridor going off north at the back wall.
Jaya [City Guard], Pisgah and Canti [Survival]: You recognize the site of violence when you see one. This room has seen a skirmish, not all too long ago. Broken bits of shields, torn shreds of armor, splatters of dried blood. The culprits are probably long gone and the corpses could have belonged to either side.
Nikk, Rico [Arcana 17+]: That brain thing is an aberration, a so called "intellect devourer". It is said that they feed on intelligence and can take over another creature by replaing its brain with their own.
Rico warns the others, "That dead brain thing is an aberration called an intellect devourer. They feed on intelligence and can take over another creature by replaing its brain with their own. It probably cannot take over me, since my brain is not organic. But the rest of you need to be careful if we find more of these things down here."
"Do you know how they would take over someone's brain? Do they have to attack first? Do you know what they may be vulnerable to?"
"Try. Stabbing. It. That. Usually. Works." comes the mechanical voice from the map. Even in monotony, the sarcasm is palpable.
"So, do I hear you volunteering to stab the first one we find?"
Pisgah will move on up to the north, about 10 feet into the hallway, and will take a look that direction. He will also look for signs of blood or foot traffic to try and identify how many attackers may have come this way.
Investigation roll of 11
Survival roll of 15
Pisgah can identify boot and foot-traffic back through the door you entered from. There are only very faint traces of tracks to the north, as if this hallway hasn't been used in a long while. As you step into it, you see that it goes on for some 80 feet and then turns east. From this distance, you can once again start to hear the faint music from before.
Pisgah returns to the room and tells them about the tracks and the music coming from around the corner and asks if they are ready to go check it out.
"Rico do you know if those devourers could explain bugbears with telekinetic abilities?"
"Halleth, let us know when we are close to anyone from your old group please."
Halleth nods. "Of course." His exes gleam with a fanatical sheen, but he is clearly trying his best to keep it together.
"Okay folks, I am going to sneak up to the end of the hallway and peek around that corner to see if I can spot who or what is playing that music. I'm going to try and remain unseen and will come back to let you know what I find. If Ricco or Canti stand 10 feet inside the hallway they should be able to see me at the corner."
Stealth roll of 4
Slowly approaching the corner of the hallway, Pisgah's attention is focused on the sound coming around the corner and the spot where he will post up to take a peek at the unknown musician. Concentrating on moving quietly to that point, he fails to see a broken furniture leg that must have been dropped by the attackers who killed the bugbears. As his weight settles on the piece of wood he feels it begin to roll from underneath him. Trying to remain upright he makes an off-balance leap that sends him crashing into the wall on his right. As he slaps up against the wall he pops his left eyeball around the corner.
Perception roll of 24
Pisgahs eyeball sees more corridor around the corner. The architecture remains blissfully unaware of the barbarians shoddy footwork and noise. Seems like this part of the dungeon loops around to the previous corridor. The music leads you down it to a side-passage to the east.
A shame-faced Pisgah sullenly walks back down the corridor, stopping to pick up the loose furniture piece, and whispers to Canti as he passes by "I'll give you two gold pieces to not mention that to anyone."
In a louder voice, "Hey folks it looks like this end of the tunnel just makes a loop around this room and heads off to the east. We could barricade ourselves in this room and take a long rest if people are feeling tired or are worn out from getting through the first level."
Canti grins widely at Pisgah and raises a finger to cover her thin lips.
Pisgah slips her 2 gold......
I don't need a rest yet but happy to take one if others would like.
"I will need one soon but can keep going for a bit. We know the puppet room is a place we could secure."
"Let's go ahead and keep moving toward the music. It is just just to the east and then a turn down a corridor leading to the south."
Pisgah will move to the corner of the corridor leading south and take a look. Perception roll of 9
The kenku continues, though if a bit reluctantly. Every corner is another chance at exposure. As drained as he is, a drawn-out skirmish would be bad. He can do the bare minimum. Regardless, he remains silent. Living in the streets means hiding weakness, concealing shortcomings.
He'll endure, if need be, as he always has.
A long hallway in a southward direction unfolds before you. The music emanates from a room at the end.
In the middle of the room is a harpsichord made entirely of bones, with finger bones of wildly varying sizes for keys. Somber music emanates from it. Carved into the north wall is a single measure of musical notes. They are faded and difficult to read.
Pisgah [Lute proficiency] recognizes the vague forms of the notation. Even without classical training, the script indicates a fairly simple melody.
Pisgah tries to hum the melody inscribed on the north wall.
Performance roll of 4