Roselina had heard as Jodrith commented on how someone of importance owned this house back in the dining room, nodding back in agreement. Then she followed everyone, going up the stairs and through the hallway as she saw the family portrait. She wondered why a family with money like this would be keeping a monster in the basement, unless that has something to do with how they got to be so rich in the first place.
When you go through the doors, the first thing you notice are the windows which are covered with red drapes. There's an exquisite mahogany desk and a matching high-back chair that face the entrance near the back of the room. Above the fireplace on the North side of the room is a framed picture of a windmill perched atop a rocky crag. Situated in the back corners of the room are two overstuffed chairs. Along the south wall are floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, filled with hundreds of books. A rolling wooden ladder allows one to more easily reach the higher shelves.
There are a number of items that are lying on the desk, from the entrance you can see an oil lamp, a quill pen and some sort of small box, roughly about 10 inches wide and 12 inches long.
Vrakvroth watches as Jinhazar starts going through the desk.
"Are we involved in petty theft now? We are here to check the welfare of a child and deal with a monster. Unless you hope to find either one in the desk? I suggest we move on and check the other rooms."
Having a look on and around the desk, you find in addition to what you saw from a distance, a tinderbox. Inside the letter kit is a red wax candle, four blank sheets of parchment and wooden seal bearing the mark of a windmill, similar to one in the painting above the fireplace in this room, and to the image depicted in the family portrait in the dining room downstairs.
There is also a single draw in the desk, inside of which is nothing except an iron key.
Jinhazar then looks over the books. As you inspect the bookshelf, one of the books doesn't seem to be in the right location based on the way these books have been organized. The book has a red cover and a blank spine. Looking more closely, you notice that this isn't a book, but some kind of switch.
Jinhazar looks at Vrakvroth after taking the key. Speaks into his mind, "You never know when your going to need a key. Obviously I'm not here to steal. Keys are always useful. Maybe it will help me open this switch." As he is speaking to Vrakvroth, he pockets the key, walks over to the bookshelf and grabs for the book and pulls it out. "Trust me Vrakvroth, you don't spend your entire life in a library and not notice a few things when you step into a new one."
When Jinhazar pulls on the red book, there is a click as a bookshelf in the Southeast corner clicks open, revealing a small chamber beyond.
The room contains more bookshelves, however, all of the books in here are either describing fiend-summoning rituals or necromantic rituals of a cult called the Priests of Osybus.
There is also a heavy wooden chest with clawed iron feet standing against the south wall opposite, its lid only half-closed. Sticking out of the top is a skeleton clad in leather armour, his left arm still pinned by the lid of the half-open chest.
Jinhazar has never even heard of the Priests of Osybus and is unsure if they are even a real thing. Thinking about it, there are no temples, and no such God, if that is what Osybus is. It's more likely to not actually exist. Looking through the books, there's a lot of claims that the priests could change the world by a word - though there have been no historical accounts of such a thing, or any other religious texts to confirm these "miracles".
Vrakvroth enters the room and intently looks at the chest. "The skeleton is an interesting feature. This is an odd place and it gives me, hmm, I'm not sure. It doesn't feel right."
He considers some more. "We should have brought those children in with us. They could have told us where to go, who their parents are. Now we wander a stranger's home and it leaves me, unsettled."
Stepping towards the skeleton, curiosity getting the best of him, he reaches out and lightly touches the skeleton with the tip of his blade. He expects the thing to move, to get up. He waits to see what happens.
Vrakroth takes caution as he approaches the skeleton. When he pokes it with the tip of his blade, the skeleton slips free of the chess, leaving a pile of bones on the floor, in the skeletal hand that was pulled out of the chest by the poke, there is a slip of paper.
Jodrith now stands in the middle of the library of sorts where he can have both a view on the new room as well as the entrance still keeping and eye out for threats that could come from, well anywhere.
Roselina looked around the library, noticing Jinhazar start going through all the stuff and Vrakvroth questioning him. She could only imagine that the other is conversing with the Paladin telepathically, annoyed that he can't just tell them all what he is thinking. Then she heard the click, surprised when the bookshelf opened up and a new room revealed itself. It was another library as she went in but noticed that all the books had something to do with rituals for demon-summoning and a cult called Priests of Osybus. "Guess this explains why they would have a monster in the basement that they didn't want the kids to find out." Roselina had said out loud, now making sense of why such a rich family would even have a monster in the first place. How utterly shameful that a family with a noble lineage would be stupid enough to get involved with demons and cults, clearly the parents got what they deserved. She watched as Vrakvroth freed the skeleton and picked up the slip of paper it had. "What does it say?" she asked him, curious as to if there was any of importance on that note.
Having a look at the note, it bears a seal that none of you recognize.
The note is written in a flowing script and says:
"My most pathetic servant,
I am not a messiah sent to you by the Dark Powers of this land. I have not come to lead you on a path to immortality. However many souls you have bled on your hidden alter, however many visitors you have tortured in your dungeon, know that you are not the ones who brought me to this beautiful land. You are but worms writhing in my earth.
You say that you are cursed, your fortunes spent. You abandoned love for madness, took solace in the bosom of another woman, and sired a stillborn son. Cursed by darkness? Of that I have no doubt. Save you from your wretchedness? I think not. I much prefer you as you are.
Your dread lord and Master,
Strad von Zarovich
Meanwhile, having a look inside the chest, inside are three books with black leather covers, bearing no markings and blank on the inside. There are also three spell scrolls, which Hansen, Jinhazar, and Roselina can tell between them are spell scrolls of bless, protection from poison, and spiritual weapon.
There is also a deed that is addressed to this house, the deed to a windmill, and a signed will.
The deed to the windmill has the location identified as somewhere in Vallaki, a place that none of you have heard of, and the will is signed by a Gustav and Elisabeth Durst and bequethes the house, the windmill, and all other family property to Rosavelda and Thornboldt Durst in the event of their parents' death.
"Whatever is going on in this place is far from normal. It would seem these children's parents dabble in dark arts and probably brought that monster down below upon themselves. Yeah best we hurry and finish our business here."
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Roselina had heard as Jodrith commented on how someone of importance owned this house back in the dining room, nodding back in agreement. Then she followed everyone, going up the stairs and through the hallway as she saw the family portrait. She wondered why a family with money like this would be keeping a monster in the basement, unless that has something to do with how they got to be so rich in the first place.
When you go through the doors, the first thing you notice are the windows which are covered with red drapes. There's an exquisite mahogany desk and a matching high-back chair that face the entrance near the back of the room. Above the fireplace on the North side of the room is a framed picture of a windmill perched atop a rocky crag. Situated in the back corners of the room are two overstuffed chairs. Along the south wall are floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, filled with hundreds of books. A rolling wooden ladder allows one to more easily reach the higher shelves.
There are a number of items that are lying on the desk, from the entrance you can see an oil lamp, a quill pen and some sort of small box, roughly about 10 inches wide and 12 inches long.
Jinhazar searches through the desk for anything useful or for any information about the owners of this house.
Investigation:6
After rummaging through the desk he walks along the wall of books for anything interesting to read.
Investigation: 16
Jodrith enters the room but just stands beside the door in the room keeping a watchful eye on everything.
Perception: 3
(( Yep everything looks clear and normal))
Vrakvroth watches as Jinhazar starts going through the desk.
"Are we involved in petty theft now? We are here to check the welfare of a child and deal with a monster. Unless you hope to find either one in the desk? I suggest we move on and check the other rooms."
Having a look on and around the desk, you find in addition to what you saw from a distance, a tinderbox. Inside the letter kit is a red wax candle, four blank sheets of parchment and wooden seal bearing the mark of a windmill, similar to one in the painting above the fireplace in this room, and to the image depicted in the family portrait in the dining room downstairs.
There is also a single draw in the desk, inside of which is nothing except an iron key.
Jinhazar then looks over the books. As you inspect the bookshelf, one of the books doesn't seem to be in the right location based on the way these books have been organized. The book has a red cover and a blank spine. Looking more closely, you notice that this isn't a book, but some kind of switch.
Jinhazar looks at Vrakvroth after taking the key. Speaks into his mind, "You never know when your going to need a key. Obviously I'm not here to steal. Keys are always useful. Maybe it will help me open this switch." As he is speaking to Vrakvroth, he pockets the key, walks over to the bookshelf and grabs for the book and pulls it out. "Trust me Vrakvroth, you don't spend your entire life in a library and not notice a few things when you step into a new one."
When Jinhazar pulls on the red book, there is a click as a bookshelf in the Southeast corner clicks open, revealing a small chamber beyond.
The room contains more bookshelves, however, all of the books in here are either describing fiend-summoning rituals or necromantic rituals of a cult called the Priests of Osybus.
There is also a heavy wooden chest with clawed iron feet standing against the south wall opposite, its lid only half-closed. Sticking out of the top is a skeleton clad in leather armour, his left arm still pinned by the lid of the half-open chest.
Jinhazar checks his notes, looks through a few of the books and tries to recall anything about the Priests of Osybus.
Investigation: 15
History: 21
While looking through the notes, he telepathically tells Vrakvroth about the chest in the new room.
Jinhazar has never even heard of the Priests of Osybus and is unsure if they are even a real thing. Thinking about it, there are no temples, and no such God, if that is what Osybus is. It's more likely to not actually exist. Looking through the books, there's a lot of claims that the priests could change the world by a word - though there have been no historical accounts of such a thing, or any other religious texts to confirm these "miracles".
Vrakvroth enters the room and intently looks at the chest. "The skeleton is an interesting feature. This is an odd place and it gives me, hmm, I'm not sure. It doesn't feel right."
He considers some more. "We should have brought those children in with us. They could have told us where to go, who their parents are. Now we wander a stranger's home and it leaves me, unsettled."
Stepping towards the skeleton, curiosity getting the best of him, he reaches out and lightly touches the skeleton with the tip of his blade. He expects the thing to move, to get up. He waits to see what happens.
Vrakroth takes caution as he approaches the skeleton. When he pokes it with the tip of his blade, the skeleton slips free of the chess, leaving a pile of bones on the floor, in the skeletal hand that was pulled out of the chest by the poke, there is a slip of paper.
Curiosity getting the best of him Vrakvroth reaches down and picks up the note and reads it.
Jodrith now stands in the middle of the library of sorts where he can have both a view on the new room as well as the entrance still keeping and eye out for threats that could come from, well anywhere.
Roselina looked around the library, noticing Jinhazar start going through all the stuff and Vrakvroth questioning him. She could only imagine that the other is conversing with the Paladin telepathically, annoyed that he can't just tell them all what he is thinking. Then she heard the click, surprised when the bookshelf opened up and a new room revealed itself. It was another library as she went in but noticed that all the books had something to do with rituals for demon-summoning and a cult called Priests of Osybus. "Guess this explains why they would have a monster in the basement that they didn't want the kids to find out." Roselina had said out loud, now making sense of why such a rich family would even have a monster in the first place. How utterly shameful that a family with a noble lineage would be stupid enough to get involved with demons and cults, clearly the parents got what they deserved. She watched as Vrakvroth freed the skeleton and picked up the slip of paper it had. "What does it say?" she asked him, curious as to if there was any of importance on that note.
Jinhazar walks over to the chest and opens it now that the skeleton is out of the way. He looks inside to see if there is anything of use.
Perception:11
Investigation:9
Having a look at the note, it bears a seal that none of you recognize.
The note is written in a flowing script and says:
"My most pathetic servant,
I am not a messiah sent to you by the Dark Powers of this land. I have not come to lead you on a path to immortality. However many souls you have bled on your hidden alter, however many visitors you have tortured in your dungeon, know that you are not the ones who brought me to this beautiful land. You are but worms writhing in my earth.
You say that you are cursed, your fortunes spent. You abandoned love for madness, took solace in the bosom of another woman, and sired a stillborn son. Cursed by darkness? Of that I have no doubt. Save you from your wretchedness? I think not. I much prefer you as you are.
Your dread lord and Master,
Strad von Zarovich
Meanwhile, having a look inside the chest, inside are three books with black leather covers, bearing no markings and blank on the inside. There are also three spell scrolls, which Hansen, Jinhazar, and Roselina can tell between them are spell scrolls of bless, protection from poison, and spiritual weapon.
There is also a deed that is addressed to this house, the deed to a windmill, and a signed will.
The deed to the windmill has the location identified as somewhere in Vallaki, a place that none of you have heard of, and the will is signed by a Gustav and Elisabeth Durst and bequethes the house, the windmill, and all other family property to Rosavelda and Thornboldt Durst in the event of their parents' death.
Jinhazar takes the books and scrolls.
(OOC: Unless anyome else wants the scrolls.)
Vrakvroth reads the note out loud to the others.
"I do not like the owners of this home. There is evil afoot here. Let's finish this and get out of here."
"Whatever is going on in this place is far from normal. It would seem these children's parents dabble in dark arts and probably brought that monster down below upon themselves. Yeah best we hurry and finish our business here."