The Black Maze

Xenruth draws his daggers, then slips into the shadows, watching over the group, prepared to attack anything that would try to ambush them (stealth 17)

Zillah is very upset about seeing the two bodies reaching for each other. She gets closer and examines the bodies, eyes watering.

"these poor souls...what did this?"

"These poor souls... let's make sure they are actually dead dead, then me and Effy can give them their last rights. Hopefully put their souls to rest." my divine sense also detects undead, so if there are any i'd know, at least for most the room.

I walk into the room over toward Zilla and Gauldring. 

"It's Elly actually" I smile, but it fades as I look at the two bodies reaching for each other. 

"We can ask them what happened if it would help. I can speak to the dead."

Zillah turns away from the bodies, as she doe not want to hear what they have to say to Elly. She scopes out the third cell. 

"A good idea and an impressive talent, Elly, but let us see what we can learn first. They may resent being returned here, and at the very least we will be able to ask more informed questions."

I step forward to examine the bodies and their cells, focused primarily on whether they are dead and what killed them, but also looking for any trace of whatever locked them in these cells.

Investigation: 7

(Clearly I am more repulsed by this scene than I am letting on.)

I will also investigate the bodies to determine a possible cause of death. If I can only look at one, I choose the tiefling: 21

Zillah calls from over her shoulder as she is investigating, "hey professor, Effy" (she said it wrong on purpose) "If I die, please don't bring me back, or talk to my corpse"

"You seriously don't want me to revive you if you fall?!  I am a CLERIC.  This is what I DO."  

"I mean as a corpse! Obviously if I need help, you have to save me"

I look over my shoulder at Zillah, "For what it's worth, you'll be happy to know that I haven't the foggiest idea how to bring anyone back from the dead, nor talk to them. At least not yet anyway..." and I give Zillah a bizarre conspiratorial wink before turning back to the corpses.

Elly

The two in the first cells basically died from dehydration but the also have signs of torture.

Zillah

The second set of cells as well as the third sets are empty.

Professor

You do noticed there is a tome in the cell of the elven skeleton's cell that is within reach in between the bars.

i pull out some of my blacksmiths tool and start breaking the manacles off the bodies i'm positive are dead dead

Not wanting to reach into the cell myself, I will use mage hand to grab the tome.

Zillah returns to the entrance to the room and keeps on the hallway

Gauldring

As you are handling the skeletal remains of the first humanoid it beings to shutter, snapping its jaw at you! The other two skeletons begin to move as do the skeletons in the cells by the rest of your party!

Professor

You managed to reach the tome in time before the elven skeleton comes alive! It now stands and charges the bars of the cell reaching out towards Elly.

Elly

Roll a dexterity saving throw to avoid being grappled by the tiefling!

Initiative just in case: 15

I'll do that too: 14

{I didn't call for initiative y'all.}