Marrow, hearing the others headed this way, moves forward up to Destin, and waves his glowing sword through the air at the top of the stairway. Do you think we'll see anything down there creepier than this? - he indicates the skeletal scenes around him.
"There is always something more sinister." Destin responds. "You just have to know where to look for it." He'll continue to take the lead, using the light from Marrow as his guide.
Regarding your spoiler about who's where, Ralotumal and Tumal are the same person. I'll stop using Ralotumal in descriptions and only use it if he introduces himself to eliminate that confusion.
Tumal looks from Casmenos to Cassyt. "I believe he refers to the gate in the banquet hall. We saw there is a shaft of sorts behind a locked gate." The elf turns toward Casmenos. "I'm not sure we need to access that area yet," he says, looking again at the guide, "but could you tell us what that shaft is used for and where it leads?"
Cassyt smiles at Tumal, all traces of suspicion gone in an instant as a chance to share her knowledge presents itself.
"Oh, of course, you mean the dumbwaiter? Oh, please don't tell the Doomguide I call it that," she adds, a bit concerned. "The Faithful use that to lower bodies from the Banquet Hall to the lower level, where they are prepared for their final resting. It stays locked simply to prevent casual intruders, hunters, and pranksters. You know, teenagers."
At the top of the stairs, there is now enough light to see bit down. You can see a single flight of stairs, with what appears to be a door on one side of the hallway. Beyond that door, another set of stairs goes further down.
Since we have a majority of the party at the top of the stairs, I am not including this in PMs, and presenting this as party knowledge, assuming the party is largely together. However, regardless of direction you decide to pursue, we will soon get to the point where position and separation will matter. At that point, I will be asking for things like marching order, and we will also have to adapt the pace for everybody to respond.
Tumal accepts the guide's explanation with a nod and gets quiet again, slowing to allow almost all of the party in front of him, content to walk in the rear.
Bastian rejoins the group, walking ahead of Tumal. He hums to himself quietly, wondering if he should have ignored better judgement and tried to make off with the lock to the shaft gate.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Bastian's hum catches Tumal's ear. The elf immediately listens, trying to discern the tune. If he knows it or can anticipate the melody, he will hum along, adding harmony where appropriate, but purposefully not overshadowing the human.
Cassyt blushes at the Kobold. "Me, I have been here only a few years, and most of that in the library, researching the history..." she stops, as she hears a tune from down the stairs. "Oh...I know this. Come on!" She moves down towards the crypt and the stairs.
Whether she knows it, or does not know it, she joins in, without caring who she overshadows, in a voice that can charitably be described as enthusiastic. Midway down the Hall of the First Families, she remembers where she is and goes silently reverent. Not entirely silent - but not wake-the-dead loud anymore, either.
At this point, I am presuming all party members are between the bottom edge of the Hall of First Families and the doorway down the first flight of stairs. If somebody has preferred to stay up investigating the Banquet Hall instead, please say so. Otherwise, you will need to decide what to do at this midpoint, with stairs further down and one visible door.
Marrow has walked down the stairs, presumably next to Destin and with the rest of the party following just behind. His armour clanks a bit, but he suspects this is less likely to alert enemies than the singing so he doesn't stress about it. He takes up position on the left-hand side of the closed door, holding up the glowing sword so that it illuminates the next set of stairs leading down; he studies the way for a moment. He makes no move to open or inspect the door, but nods briefly in its direction: Any takers?
Casmenos offers his thoughts, "If the door is locked, move on until we are sure nothing can come up from below to strike us in the back. If the door is not locked, then lets check it out and decide from there."
"Everyone be on your guard. There could be anything beyond any doorway." Destin advises, his axes ready to face against what is behind door #2! He'll attempt to hook the head of his axe onto the handle and pull the door open, checking to see if it is locked.
The door is unlocked, and opens easily. Without even going in, you see a circular pit nearly fills this chamber, leaving only a foot-wide pathway between the edge of the pit and the wall. The pit is filled to about five feet below the lip with humanoid bones. A narrow walkway hugging the walls is the only path through the chamber.
Narrow niches in the walls are filled with carefully placed bones, baubles, and other similar items.
With the narrowness of the room around the pit, should the party enter, I would like to know who, and in what order. Cassyt will follow where you lead, but in the back.
"I...don't know," answers Cassyt. "I did not know there was a pit here, much less that anybody would throw bones in it, instead of storing them respectfully."
"If someone would like to travel around the pit to investigate," Tumal offers, "I will happily cover them with my bow."
If someone takes Tumal up on his offer, the elf will enter the room and stand along the wall to one side or the other of the entry (to not block the entry/exit) and ready action his longbow to attack anything he perceives as a danger to himself or any others who enter the room. His crystal is still projecting light. And he has darkvision. If the investigator moves left first, Tumal will stand to the right, and vice versa.
Marrow, hearing the others headed this way, moves forward up to Destin, and waves his glowing sword through the air at the top of the stairway. Do you think we'll see anything down there creepier than this? - he indicates the skeletal scenes around him.
"There is always something more sinister." Destin responds. "You just have to know where to look for it." He'll continue to take the lead, using the light from Marrow as his guide.
Regarding your spoiler about who's where, Ralotumal and Tumal are the same person. I'll stop using Ralotumal in descriptions and only use it if he introduces himself to eliminate that confusion.
Tumal looks from Casmenos to Cassyt. "I believe he refers to the gate in the banquet hall. We saw there is a shaft of sorts behind a locked gate." The elf turns toward Casmenos. "I'm not sure we need to access that area yet," he says, looking again at the guide, "but could you tell us what that shaft is used for and where it leads?"
Casmenos squints and concedes, "My eyes are playing tricks on me. I thought I saw a gate blocking our way down those stairs. Never mind me."
Casmenos takes position behind Destin, as he insists on leading.
Cassyt smiles at Tumal, all traces of suspicion gone in an instant as a chance to share her knowledge presents itself.
"Oh, of course, you mean the dumbwaiter? Oh, please don't tell the Doomguide I call it that," she adds, a bit concerned. "The Faithful use that to lower bodies from the Banquet Hall to the lower level, where they are prepared for their final resting. It stays locked simply to prevent casual intruders, hunters, and pranksters. You know, teenagers."
At the top of the stairs, there is now enough light to see bit down. You can see a single flight of stairs, with what appears to be a door on one side of the hallway. Beyond that door, another set of stairs goes further down.
Since we have a majority of the party at the top of the stairs, I am not including this in PMs, and presenting this as party knowledge, assuming the party is largely together. However, regardless of direction you decide to pursue, we will soon get to the point where position and separation will matter. At that point, I will be asking for things like marching order, and we will also have to adapt the pace for everybody to respond.
Tumal accepts the guide's explanation with a nod and gets quiet again, slowing to allow almost all of the party in front of him, content to walk in the rear.
Bastian rejoins the group, walking ahead of Tumal. He hums to himself quietly, wondering if he should have ignored better judgement and tried to make off with the lock to the shaft gate.
Bastian's hum catches Tumal's ear. The elf immediately listens, trying to discern the tune. If he knows it or can anticipate the melody, he will hum along, adding harmony where appropriate, but purposefully not overshadowing the human.
Intelligence: 16
Performance: 6
Keksi, getting bored waiting, asks Cassyt an idle question: "So, how long have you worked around these parts?"
Cassyt blushes at the Kobold. "Me, I have been here only a few years, and most of that in the library, researching the history..." she stops, as she hears a tune from down the stairs. "Oh...I know this. Come on!" She moves down towards the crypt and the stairs.
Whether she knows it, or does not know it, she joins in, without caring who she overshadows, in a voice that can charitably be described as enthusiastic. Midway down the Hall of the First Families, she remembers where she is and goes silently reverent. Not entirely silent - but not wake-the-dead loud anymore, either.
At this point, I am presuming all party members are between the bottom edge of the Hall of First Families and the doorway down the first flight of stairs. If somebody has preferred to stay up investigating the Banquet Hall instead, please say so. Otherwise, you will need to decide what to do at this midpoint, with stairs further down and one visible door.
Marrow has walked down the stairs, presumably next to Destin and with the rest of the party following just behind. His armour clanks a bit, but he suspects this is less likely to alert enemies than the singing so he doesn't stress about it. He takes up position on the left-hand side of the closed door, holding up the glowing sword so that it illuminates the next set of stairs leading down; he studies the way for a moment. He makes no move to open or inspect the door, but nods briefly in its direction: Any takers?
Casmenos offers his thoughts, "If the door is locked, move on until we are sure nothing can come up from below to strike us in the back. If the door is not locked, then lets check it out and decide from there."
"Everyone be on your guard. There could be anything beyond any doorway." Destin advises, his axes ready to face against what is behind door #2! He'll attempt to hook the head of his axe onto the handle and pull the door open, checking to see if it is locked.
Kelvin catches up with the rest of the group, staying near the back.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
The door is unlocked, and opens easily. Without even going in, you see a circular pit nearly fills this chamber, leaving only a foot-wide pathway between the edge of the pit and the wall. The pit is filled to about five feet below the lip with humanoid bones. A narrow walkway hugging the walls is the only path through the chamber.
Narrow niches in the walls are filled with carefully placed bones, baubles, and other similar items.
With the narrowness of the room around the pit, should the party enter, I would like to know who, and in what order. Cassyt will follow where you lead, but in the back.
Destin looks at the pit. "Well unless you wish to try some spelunking, perhaps we should close this door and come back later."
Due to Destin's request to move on, Casmenos asks Cassyt, "What is beyond that pit? Is this door the only way in or out of that chamber?"
"I...don't know," answers Cassyt. "I did not know there was a pit here, much less that anybody would throw bones in it, instead of storing them respectfully."
Looking at Destin, Casmenos says, "Not a comforting answer. I would like to investigate this pit and beyond it."
"If someone would like to travel around the pit to investigate," Tumal offers, "I will happily cover them with my bow."
If someone takes Tumal up on his offer, the elf will enter the room and stand along the wall to one side or the other of the entry (to not block the entry/exit) and ready action his longbow to attack anything he perceives as a danger to himself or any others who enter the room. His crystal is still projecting light. And he has darkvision. If the investigator moves left first, Tumal will stand to the right, and vice versa.