Northlands Campaign

Barnaus pauses to say " don't forget to bring the box." Before continuing on to the secret entrance at the end of the passage.

Cade shrugs.  “Haven’t been looking at the papers, as I was checking in here for any other secret doors.”  He is standing just inside this chamber with you.

((Ugh, again, sorry bout that folks. Cause of the time lost, work got pretty busy. Will post tomorrow!))

Kina rubs her head.
"I haven't the slightest what it could be. I'm not particularly well versed in history or anything arcane... and it certainly doesn't look like the sort of thing you just want broken, so I'm at a complete loss." she states.
She pauses, looking around their surroundings.
"Any ideas what this structure could be even used for? Seems a very odd thing to connect to a deep tunnel unless it was at some point a hidden tunnel for spying..." she mumbles.

"" I'd say it was originally an escape route but possibly converted into a secret lair of sorts then possibly forgotten." Replies Barnabus. The dwarf tries to get the group back on the path that will take them to the temple.

Kina hmms, and gives a couple of experimental kicks to the fireplace, checking for hollow points.
"Still strange to have something like -this- here. A fireplace implies a chimney. A chimney implies that this place wasn't meant to be hidden because smoke would give away its location." she murmurs.
"Probably not important..." she says, trying to not get distracted, but she can't help but sift about the debris, looking for some more clues about the stronghold.
"If we knew what this place was and why this cult has decided to make this its home, we might have a better idea of what we're facing... right now, we're just stumbling into the dark hoping we don't get overwhelmed by whatever forces this.... THING commands."

Investigation: 5

(Oh, THIS again.)

Wil gives the room and fireplace a once over…..

Investigation: 18

Wil:  The only remaining item of interest in the room seems to be the tomes in the bookcase where the box was found.  They are old and extremely brittle, but seem to be fairly advance spell books for a wizard.

Rachel looks at the skull, and her face sours.  "I don't like the aura that thing is giving off.  Can we spare some time and I'll try a couple of spells to see if I can learn more?"

"Perfect!" Exclaims Barnabus. Smiling with approval He steps back into the room to await the results of the searches.

"of course Rachel... What kind of aura are you feeling from it?" Bart asks Rachel sitting right next to Kina 

"Just as well." Cade says to Rachel. "Best learn what we can prior to moving on."

Rachel clears a spot to sit, and commences to ritual cast [Tooltip Not Found], followed by Detect Magic.

Once she finishes her examination of the skull, she heaves a sigh, almost of relief, and passes it off to anyone nearby.  "Well, that was enlightening.  This whole place radiates magic and evil.  That object also reeks of both as well.  Please someone else carry it, for I cannot bear to hold it any longer."  She gives a shiver of relief at being rid of the box and skull.  "What I sense in the stones around us is old, and seems to be fading somewhat.  As for the skull, it is evil to its core, but seems to be incomplete, because I cannot get a definitive reading from it.  However, it all seems to be part of the same magic, so we should probably bring it along."

Barnabus relieves Rachel of the skulls burden before taking point and leading them on their way. As he does he says, "I agree. Who knows what use it may prove to be. Hopefully it will be part of a solution and not part of the problem."

OOC: I assume Wil saw nothing when he whirled around as a result of the response to his Bob question? Or was one of the group messing with him? If neither then Wil will relate what caused him to go ”Zoinks!”

Kina folds her arms.
"If the thing is so evil, why is it still with us? Shouldn't we just smash it to pieces?" she asks.
She doesn't know much about the arcane, but given its size, she pictures just pushing a boulder onto it and crushing it flat.
"I have to admit, the idea of carrying around a skull seems to be inviting trouble... though it doesn't have eyes, I can't help but feel watched in this place... then again, this blasted place literally has eyes floating about as it is, so I suppose that's already moot...."

Quote from Zalmanni >>

OOC: I assume Wil saw nothing when he whirled around as a result of the response to his Bob question? Or was one of the group messing with him? If neither then Wil will relate what caused him to go ”Zoinks!”

 (You saw/felt/sensed nothing afterward.)

Rachel shakes her head as if trying to clear it.  "Kina, when we consecrate a temple, we only have to do it once and over the course of even an elf's life, the consecration holds.  This area was desecrated to an evil power and that desecration is fading, which means it is older than anything we can reference.  That the skull is tied to it but still retains its magic means it could very well be some sort of artifact and will not be easy to destroy.  I can't decide if we need to find the missing pieces, or just get it out of here, but we need to do something to break whatever plans are in store for our homes and homeland."

Wil tells the group, specifically Rachel, what he felt/heard after asking if Bob was there.

"Normally I'd agree with you Kina but something tells me this may be the key to stopping all this. I also feel like what ever evil was released, this skull had a part. As in maybe it was a vessel of some sort and once we vet the pieces back together we can imprison it again. I mean look around. Doesn't this whole place scream of an awakening gone wrong. In that vein also make sure we grab that spell book. Also I don't believe those eyes are real. They've made no threatening moves and Fire hasn't warned us about them. I think it's all a out scare tactics and this one is about to realize ol' Barney doesn't scare so easily." Barnabus says all this as he leads the group back out of the bedrooms, through the adjoining center room, out into the hallway where he makes a left and continues down the passage.

Cade grabs anything anyone else did not, spellbook, skull, whatever, and follows after as they head out.