Above & Below

Effort carefully scoops the eyeball into one of hre empty vials, corking it and wrapping it in cloth, before resting with the others.

(Effort doesn‘t actually need a short rest so she can stay on lookout or do anything else the party might need in this time, like inspect the room or look through the books we took.  helpful possible roll, investigation 14 + guidance 3)

Brask laughs and relaxes.  They had us fight blind in the arena a few times.  Crowd didn't like it - too many misses.  But I guess I remembered some of it.

He's uninjured (unless I missed something) but will happily rest and recover his action surge.  He keeps his back to the tunnel the basilisk used, and his ears open, in case this one had a mate.

A few hours pass by as Burik and Kurama tend to their wounds. They get some much needed rest as Effort begins reading the Comprehend Languages book from the library. Brask stays somewhat alert, but there are no other sounds or movement coming from the tunnel. He does notice that when peering down and moving his torch in front of the opening, it seems to open up again not that far from where they are now. 

Another room that way, says Brask pointing down the tunnel.  You folks ready?  

As soon as the group has finished their rest, Brask holds up a torch and heads down towards the new opening.

After patching himself up and stretching a bit to test his wounded side, Kurama gathers his things and follows Brask into the next area.

Perception: 18

(I hope anyone who celebrated had a Happy Thanksgiving!)

"I am," Effort says, closing her book carefully before storing it away in her pack, careful not to damage the fragile pages.  She then beckons to Cadmael, sending him up ahead to scout with Brask.  

Cadmael perception: 22

"Kurama, can you find any further signs of Promise's passing?  Perhaps he left some traces along the way somewhere that could guide us in finding him."  As Effort makes this request, she also does her best to search, reaching out with her senses and tries to feel for any disturbances in the building... traces of magic passing, or residual fiendish energy of any sort.

Arcana: 13 + Guidance 3

(Yes, hope anyone celebrating had a great holiday! :-) )

You all follow Brask down through the basilisk tunnel, sometimes having to get down on your hands and knees to crawl through. Brask grunts as he really needs to squeeze through the stone at a few points, tossing the lit torch up ahead as he pushes off of rocks and moves bits out of his way. Finally, he emerges, followed closely by the rest of the party. As you all stand up straight again, your lights expose an enormous cavern. Stalactites hang from the ceiling and cast long shadows. As you peer around, Kurama and Cadmael notice on the far right side of the cave seems to be a huge pile of boulders - it appears as though there may have been a cave-in here at some point in the past. The massive pile stretches up to the ceiling, blocking off the way with countless tons of stone.

Effort, as everyone looks around, you notice two strange sensations bubbling up within you. The first is a faint trace of arcane energy. It seems to have left a trail coming the same direction as you did, and traveling off through the length of the cave. As you peer further into the cavern, a glowing blue light calls out like a beacon, beckoning you with its pulsing, mesmerizing patterns. You blink, and its gone, but the feeling it left you with remains. 

The second sensation is a familiar one, but one that has been very faint up until now. 

Effort:

Quote from Enkida >>

 

"Kurama, can you find any further signs of Promise's passing?  Perhaps he left some traces along the way somewhere that could guide us in finding him."  As Effort makes this request, she also does her best to search, reaching out with her senses and tries to feel for any disturbances in the building... traces of magic passing, or residual fiendish energy of any sort.

 "Not sure."  He replies as he approaches the cave-in, seeing if he can determine how long ago it may have occurred.  "Any of you see something up ahead?" 

Investigation: 6

The cave-in looks like a bunch of big ol' rocks to you, Kurama. You turn to ask the others if they see anything - Effort seems preoccupied, but Pip and Burik join you and search around the boulders. Brask, let me know what you'd like to do.

Burik & Pip investigation: 15 & 6

Brask is keeping an eye out for trouble, as the others are doing their investigations:

Perception 6

"There is... something here," Effort says to the others, distracted, as she tries to follow the traces of arcane energy that suddenly flare and nearly overwhelm her senses.

"I'm not sure what it is.  But it leads to the end of this cavern.  I believe it to be the remnants of Promise's passing," she adds, pointing in the proper direction to follow.  "It did flare up briefly... we must follow that trace," she declares.  She is distracted for a moment, before she adds on, "Be on your guard.  Not everything is as it seems..."

Casting mage hand, she lights a torch and hands it to the spectral hand, willing it to lead the way along the path of arcane energy she had traced.

Nobody finds anything of interest within the cave-in rubble, and you all begin to work your way to the far side of the cavern. Brask scans the sides of the cavern for any signs of movement, but sees nothing. Even he is beginning to feel a bit anxious this deep into the earth. Effort seems to be pulled by some external force - she strides confidently in a straight line toward a specific location. When you arrive, you find a stony set of steps heading down. These look somehow older than anything else you've discovered in the mountain. The soft edges of the steps suggest thousands of years of gentle wear and erosion. As torchlight passes in front of the steps, you can see them open up about thirty feet down.

Everyone, roll a perception check. 

Effort: 16
Cadmael: 19

You really think your buddy went this way?  Brask asks, mystified at where this path is taking them.  

Perception 7

Brask really cannot see to save his life.

“I am quite certain of it,“ Effort replies with a distracted air, focused wholly on the path ahead.

Perception: 8

"And you're sure he's deceased...?" Kurama adds tentatively as he reaches the edge of the steps

Kurama, as everyone pauses in front of the steps, you're sure you hear the gentle *plink* of a falling pebble somewhere back toward the entrance to the cavern. 

A voice suddenly calls out from down the stairway. "H-hello? Is someone there? I need help..." It's a male voice, however Effort doesn't recognize it to be the voice of Promise. 

Effort gives Kurama a flat look. “The magical remnants of his passing.  I do hope to find him breathing.“. She stops when the voice calls out.  “... that... is not Promise,“ she mutters, sending Cadmael ahead to take a closer look.

As Cadmael emerges into a wide hallway, a man jumps back, startled by the owl. He is bald with sharp features and wears a long, slightly tattered brown overcoat. Around one of his legs is a heavy piece of cloth, soaked with blood. "Ah! Um...hello? Is this your owl?" Peering beyond the man, who sits slumped up against the wall, is a huge wooden door with thick beams and iron hinges. 

Brask goes over to the door, ignoring the man, and inspects it without touching:  Investigation 17