Quote from JJWattaker99 >>

A short wooden ladder leads to a stone basement, and the faint light of a torch can be glimpsed down the corridor.

 ((I'm going to assume that line of sight from the kitchen to well inside the laboratory (the chained door was on the far wall) is out of the question and ignore that charm spell.))

The guard stammers a reply, salutes Landrae/Alais, and departs hurriedly.

(Happy Holidays, all!)

"May the gods find mercy on your soul."
Elber utters a short prayer, possibly the only prayer anyone has ever given the alchemist in a while, as he unceremoniously decapitates the defenseless mad man. As he wipes his blade clean he determines to himself that, despite all illusions and corrupting sorcery that had put fear and grief into their heads today, his act was of his own will alone. May the gods find mercy on his soul too.

After seeing the guard out of the Kitchen, Landrae heads down the ladder and over to Jack, Elber and Duncan to see what is going on. As she approaches the room where they are all located, she see's Duncan getting back to his feet by one wall, Jack hunched over protecting his head with his arms, and a familiar feeling sends a shiver down Landrae's spine as she empathises with exactly what Jack must be feeling.

Elber is standing over the now still and silent body of Fosa, he is breathing slightly heavier than normal, standing but slightly slumped over as if he has just exerted a great deal of effort. Taking in more of the scene, the realisation that Fosa's severed head lies several feet from his body, still rocking slightly from where it's short flight has carried it. The blood still drips from Elber's greatsword, and there is a pool of blood starting to form as it is pumped from the lower part of Fosa's neck - his organs and nervous system not yet having recognised that the brain is no longer pushing them to keep functioning. "Well, Alais was not really expecting to walk into this..." 

Dismissing the illusion, Landrae walks over to Elber, calmly and with her open hands raised, palms out. As she approaches, she lays a hand on his shoulder and nods solemnly, "It might be for the best Elber, he was insane. No amount of lawful justice was ever going to save him."

Elber nods along. "He be beyond salvation, but it be a warning to others. And for people like Hosvi, seeing the deed could ease their fears. Not so now." He sighs.
"But if you be feeling better now, I will live with this."

Jack pulls himself to his feet, looks at the dead man and then back at Elber. “Well, I guess our work here is done. We should get out of here before anyone else sees us.” He looks at Elber and says “I really wish you would not have done that. He is in a better place for sure, but we could have used the coin for turning him in.” 

Jack walks down the hallway and goes back upstairs to see if the back door gives them a less noticeable exit from the house.

"Yes. Let us hope that Elron's task be rewarding, for now let us leave with whatever spoils you already found." Before leaving the cellar Elber will scratch away the summoning circle as well, if no one else has tended to that already.

((What's our madness timer at?))

Wisdom Save: 2

As the party turn to leave, Jack and Elber exchanging thoughts. Landrae looks at the circle as Elber walks over to it, she again feels the fear wash over her, and recoils into the corner of the room. "No, do not go near it Elber! I don't want to be near it..." Landrae scrambles away from Elber, the source of the words, and the summoning circle.

(Two hours have now elapsed since the beginning of your madness)

Elber steps away from the circle at Landrae's request and silently leads her upstairs. The circle was engraved into the floor anyway, so he would need tools or magic to do any good, and he lacks both at the moment.

Quote from JJWattaker99 >>

Elber: Your madness condition lasts 2 hours

Jack: Your madness condition lasts 7 hours

Landrae: Your madness condition lasts 4 hours

Duncan: Your madness condition lasts 10 hours

(Jack and Landrae, in this instance your source of madness will be spoken words. Whenever anyone speaks all you can remember is horrific gibbering)

 (( So Elber is now fine, Landrae is half-way done, Jack and Duncan have a while to go yet.))

Landrae gracefully accepts Elber's assistance, knowing she is still struggling despite the death of Fosa. Quietly she whispers to him, "We should head to the inn, rest, and make our appointment with Elron." The sound of her own words brings tremors over her whole body, she cope slightly better, but still recoils from Elber and stumbles slightly, need to pause and lean against the wall to compose herself again.

After clambering down into the dreaded basement of madness again, Kai performs a meticulous examination of the circle.

Investigation: 3

<and to help things along, though I am guessing Arcana might help better>

Nature:  16

Religion:  11

<<  only decent roll so far was saving vs madness>

Quote from Kasian_Armistus >>

<and to help things along, though I am guessing Arcana might help better>

 

 ((Why not roll for Arcana then?))

Quote from Twooshort >>

Quote from Kasian_Armistus >>

<and to help things along, though I am guessing Arcana might help better>

 

 ((Why not roll for Arcana then?))

 Not a skill, but hey...

Arcana: 5

The runes which form the ring derive from Abyssal. (Does anyone speak Abyssal?)

<< No one's character sheet list Abyssal. >>

While Landrae composes herself and Kai examines the circle, Elber turns to Duncan and Jack. "So, did Fosa be one to write notes? Or have you found anything else of use here?"