In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 57):

<rose>"Well lets try the back door again into the alter room and then the secret passage if that reveals nothing ?"<?rose>

-

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 58):

Sipping on a wineskin, which might be permanently attached to his mouth.
"I am fine with that.  To the alter room, then!"

Fist out in front of him, as he starts his march to the alter room.

Once more you stand within the echoing silence of the alter chamber.  Moving towards the rotted, broken door, you find no traces of any recent markings upon the floor.  The dust and old cobwebs cover the doorway from top to bottom; a quick flash of a torch makes easy work of the obstructions.  Gazing inward, you see a small hallway that leads towards another chamber; its' door resting in similar fashion the first.

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 60):

If no one else volunteers Ondrea takes the lead using her hammer handle to check for pit traps and trip wires.

-

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 61):

"The secret passage seems very dangerous, but perhaps we should examine it once we are done with the back door in the altar room.

"It's ok, Ondrea. I can take the lead. Christ will protect me!" Cautiously he made his way to the front of the group.

With Larz and Stoney keeping watch at the entrance, Boris and Ondrea begin to creep forward.  Once more you find the dust almost choking as it begins to swirl around from your movements.  Finding no traps to speak of, you both reach the second doorway and gaze inward.  It appears you may have located the high priest room (or whoever it was).  Immediately in front of you sits a splintering desk with all manner of rotted papers and books strewn about.  The floor was littered with broken objects.  Further in the room expands sharply to the right where, one can only assume, his/her living quarters existed.  Several chairs, the majority of which were smashed, sat around a small wooden table still set with a few unbroken cups.  A small dresser with the drawers pulled out and broken sat against a nearby wall.  At the very end rested a simple bed.  Despite the layers of dust and age, the sight of a body was still visible.  Aging it was no simple task but clearly it had been there for some time as virtually no meat was left on the bone.  A single arrow ran through the rib cage and was embedded into the bed beneath.

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 63):

Stoney will get closer to the skeleton, and visually inspect it.
"Someone had a bad day, but someone else was a good shot.  A single arrow!"
Looking to see if Stoney can determine what type of humanoid it is/was from the skeleton.
06:50, Today: Stoney Applesmith rolled 76 using 1d100.  skeleton determine .
Also looking to see if there is any jewelry or manner of garb to determine what type of priest it was.  Evil/Good, etc.

Ondrea takes her time searching the room and its contents. She will check the papers and books and then move to the corpse before lastly searching for secret doors in the chamber walls.

"It would seem that foul play was a foot in the death of this priest... it looks as if someone was searching for something."

Ondrea Avalor rolled 5 using 1d20.  Intelligence = 12.


-
This message was last edited by the player at 06:05, Sat 24 Mar 2018.

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 65):

"It is a shame this wretch likely did not accept Christ into their soul, else they could be given a Christian burial.

"What is on the papers, I wonder?" he carefully wandered over to examine the sheets, pulling on soft leather gloves. Were they parchment? Or vellum, like the monks used to illustrate God's glory?

"I further wonder why they have rotted so badly. It is so dry in here one is left scratching one's head as to what the method of corruption might be!"

The skeleton is definitely that of a human.  The clothing is pretty much in tatters but nothing identifiable can be seen.  The silent mass of bone does, however, seem to have a few extra trinkets; two rings, one on each hand and a necklace.  Blowing of the dust you find the necklace is a large, metal circle with some sort of cylindrical crystal suspended within it lashed to a small chain with some cording.  One of the rings appears to be of solid gold with an emerald set within and the other appears to be carved from some sort of dark stone.  A closer inspection reveals a crude carving of a grotesque sort of face.  It seemed rather similar to the large carving that surrounded the entrance to these caverns.

What remains of the books that are still visible, you find the majority seem to be encyclopedic in nature, more specifically, they seem to be catalogs of known magical artifacts.  The papers, however, seem a tad more enigmatic...

Anyone checking over the papers if I could have an Intelligence check

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 67):

Saying a few quiet words over the skeleton.
"Rest in peace, I hope your soul is resting for eternity."
Reaching for the trinkets trying not to touch the bones themselves.
"Not sure he will need these anymore."
Slipping off the rings first, then the necklace/pendant.
"Anyone want these.  I like the green color of this ring, unless someone has any objections."
Tossing the ring in the air, then catching it, holding it up in the air to inspect it more closely.
Looking at the other ring.
"This ring has a similar carving as the cave entrance.  I wonder if this skeleton was in fact the magical source of the cult?"

In reply to Stoney Applesmith (msg # 68):

"Agreed Stoney take it all. Perhaps he was the center of what was going on here or just some fallen soul... the ring might give entrance to other areas though in the complex ?"

Ondrea continues to look through the papers.

Ondrea Avalor rolled 5 using 1d20.  Intelligence = 12.


-

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 67):

Boris helped Ondrea sort through the papers, reading what he could.

The language seemed strangely familiar. Almost like Latin.

02:49, Today: Boris Underhill rolled 1 using 1d20.  Read papers (Int 14).

It's hard to decipher what exactly the papers may have said as the symbols are completely alien to either of you.  However, the drawings, even the ones damaged with decay, were incredibly detailed.  Many seemed to show the inner workings of various devices, or at least the plans for them.  One lone, solid sheet clearly was some sort of theft deterrent device; a rather nasty one as it employed a bear trap like system.  A few pages you found had been badly burnt with only three pages that survived legibly.  They depicted something wholly different.  Even the symbols used were different from the other pages.  The drawings, while still very detailed like the others, were technical drawings of any sort but what exactly they were supposed to enshrine was beyond you.

"We should probably take these and see if we can find someone who can tell us more."  Ondrea will continue to search around the room looking for any hidden areas or spaces.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 19:41, Wed 28 Mar 2018.

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 72):

"Let us take the tomes as well. They seem to chronicle many mystical items, some perhaps holy, others demonic."

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 73):

"Yes that sounds smart. Let us all spend some time looking for hidden areas in this room and then we can move on."

Ondrea Avalor rolled 5 using 1d6.  Search Secret doors.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Wed 28 Mar 2018.

While it does take some time and effort, the party manages to locate a small, locked hatch under a corner of the bed.  The workmanship was stellar as it blended seamlessly with the surrounding stone.

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 75):

Sitting down on the bed, which is now moved to expose the secret hatch.
"Wow, that was hidden very very well!"
Sipping on his wineskin, which was refilled at the town.
"Well, who wants to open it?"  Shaking his wineskin to evaluate how much liquid is in it. "Or should we go back to the town?"

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 75):

Crouching down Ondrea takes a closer look at the hatch. "Perhaps this was what they were looking for when whoever killed him tossed the room. I am happy to open it Stoney if someone wants to look it over before hand."


-

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 77):

Boris nodded. "I don't mind having a look."

19:04, Today: Boris Underhill rolled 72 using 1d100.  Check for traps.

The hatch appeared to be free of any traps.

With a nod from Boris Ondrea pulls the hatch open if she is able.

-

Without warning, as the hatch lid is lifted out of the way, a sudden flash explodes from the space beneath...

I'm gonna need some saves vs. spells, if you please

Toppling back with her arms out wide Ondrea ends up sprawled on the floor of the chamber.

Ondrea Avalor rolled 12 using 1d20.  14/12 vs magical charm, fear, emotion or domination.

-