Checking the space, there is more storage vases and containers of reagents of the harmful kind resting on black furnishings with silver trimmings.. Checking the exits, they seem clear as they were.

As knowledgeable as Bart is with the arcane, these glowing markings an detailed and complex. One simple sigil at a brief glance is actually made up of several other sigils fitted together in such a way to make another sigil, and who knows how many layers that goes on for?

Alysa picks up the gems, moving them around in her palm, "Are these similar to the one before? May I see it for just a moment?" A look of concern on her face under all the dust and small streak of blood.

Bart shoves one of his daggers into Daffafle’s hand. “Keep it.”

While the others sort themselves out and Alysa pulls on the thread of the gemstones, Bart goes to stand by Azazel. “Which way do you figure?” Looking down the exit tunnels

Khazan moves to were the Alysa was lying and looks into the nearby doorway

Perception: 13

“Thank you,” Daffafle’s eyes widen a bit as Bart hands her a dagger. She proceeds to sheathe it in her belt. 
The halfling walks to the priestess, pulling out the two gemstones she took herself. “Is something wrong with them, Alysa?”

Khazan sees nothing but the collapsed stone, seeing no way anyone or anything could gain entry or exit...

=========

"It's not these ones that draw my attention, Daffafle." The priestess pockets the ones Khazan decided not to take. Alysa proceeds towards the half elf, "Bart, would you give me a moment with that gemstone... I have dark suspicions what it could be."

Wulcrath saunters up to where the group is gathered and gazes at Alysa, his face scrunched up once again in confusion.

"What seems to be the matter with it Preistess? Do you know why it's... Abnormal?"

Bart gives an involuntary bit of shaking as he reaches in his pack, but he holds out the stone in both hands for Alysa to examine. 

“Please, tell us.”

Khazan comes back to the group

"Nothin' over there, just rubbles ... what're doin' with that? Ain't that the same gem Bart touch'd before?"

Alysa turns to the dwarf and gently holds out a hand for patience, although she does double-take at Khazan's continuous glowing tattoos...

Taking the gem, Alysa winces a moment but seems to recover quickly before raising the large black gemstone to her eye level as it rests between her middle-finger and thumb. The elf gestures gentle, before holding onto her amulet of Pelor tightly and closing her eyes. A tense moment passes before she suddenly starts with a gasp.

"This gem... contains a soul, desperate for help. To get out." Alysa is left breathing heavy.... 

“Perhaps I could beseech the Raven Queen to release it,” Daffafle offers, staring at the dark gem. “She seems to know much about the matters of life and death...and undeath.”

Bart takes a deep breath of relief. “And what do you recommend we do with it?”

The priestess turns to Daffafle, "By all means. Any answers would help us here, although my mind cannot help but come to grim conclusion who resides on here..."

Alysa averts her gaze, but not meeting Bart's, "Ideally, we would have whoever to have done this to return and... undo all of this. But I would not know where to begin."

4

”Raven Queen,” Daffafle mutters, holding her hand over the gem. “This soul wishes release from its prison. It asks for help. Please give us insight into its nature. Allow us to communicate m, and end it’s unnatural imprisonment.”

Bart has his hands on his weapons, his whole body a tightly wound spring. He watches the gem.

A silence lingers before Lucky flaps onto Daffafle's head. Slowly, it raises and opens its beak as a light, dull of any warmth, emanates from its eyes and throat.

As it does a heavy presence makes the hairs stand on end, dark-feathered wings suddenly flapping above just out of sight and a voice is heard to everyone. Daffafle would recognise it as the Raven Queen; the halfling is locked eyes closed with her hand over the gem.

A soul on hold; trapped in between.
The choice will be between yourselves:-
find the culprit, empty the shell and return it here for the soul to return to or I can free her soul now to join me.
I await your answer as you slumber.

For a moment all can see within their minds an image of adolescent girl trapped space, crying silently and trying desperately to get out of a seemingly invisible prison.

The light from the raven's eyes and mouth fade as does the presence and voice, while Lucky flies off Daffafle's head and back to her shoulder and the halfling is free to move again but is left feeling exhausted.

((1 Level of exhaustion for Daffafle.))

Shuddering, clasping her amulet, Alysa would exclaim, "Claudia... That was Claudia Melyne, Lady Melyne's daugher."

Daffafle collapses to the ground, trying to catch her breath. 
“The Queen has spoken,” she says weakly. 

Bart kneels down with Daffafle and hands her a water canteen. “That was amazing. Are you alright?”

Bart isn’t looking at Daffafle though. He’s looking at his larger stone. “And... I think I know how to ‘empty the shell’ if that’s what we’re doing.”

“Yes, I’ll be fine,” Daffafle nods slowly. “And that seems like the best course of action...what do you have in mind?”

“Empty the Shell, sounds like getting a foreign soul out of a body, yes? The big gem here has plenty of things inside it looking to grab at a soul. It might just drag it on out.” Bart puts the gem away, looking not entirely confident in his plan

"Bah! I have no idea what're talkin' about. I'm goin' tae the inn fer some ale."

He pats Wulcrath on the shoulder "Yer comin' ?" and heads back to the entrance of the tunnel