Avron rolls the cask to the stairs. There is a disappointed look on his face, as he realizes he isn't strong enough to carry around much further. The scholar leaves the cask near the stairs and follows the others.
Descending into the depths, its gets cooler and sound of water can be heard. As you reach the end of the stair, its source becomes clear. Black, still water fills the arched hallway here, the water's surface like black glass disturbed only by occasional condensation. Two arched doorways lead off either side of the hall to half submerged iron doors. A weak cry for help occasionally sounds from the sound door.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
@stonegod: I assume the sounds come from the 'south' door (not the 'sound' door)?
Ashlyn looks at Jarrith and tilts her head in the direction of the southern door. Then she draws her blade and proceeds carefully to the door. Once the others are ready and in position, she'll nod to Jarrith to open the door.
"Don't trust any sounds you hear in this place, people. I've seen enough magicians produce fake sounds and voices to know that nothing is necessarily as it seems." The stalker moves to the south door with Lady Ashlyn and takes a few seconds to do a quick scan of anything untoward. If he notices a wire, a lock, something... he does his duty to bypass it, and then once he finds it to be clear, he reaches out and gently grasps the knob.
Turning back to the group and placing his other hand on the grip of his rapier, he nods to the others and says quietly... "Careful now, here we go." He then slowly opens the door and looks in.
As Jarrith begins to prattle on about sounds, magicians, wires and locks, the warlock brings his hand up to his face and begins to mimic the stalkers words with his hand.
As the door opens, the warlock says in a sarcastic tone,"Once more into the breach we go...."
Tessa looked ahead with a perceptible discomfort, then took her place in line as the others began to move forward. "Be careful," she said quietly. "Who knows what is lurking in this water." She paused for just a moment to sling her shield across her back, so she could carry both her Everbright lantern and wand of missiles...
Avron mumbles to himself about not drinking the water. He sloshes forward, hoping to be in the middle of the group. "Imagine all the great things that could be in there! Leeches like in the swamp maybe, or perhaps an electric eel as big as a tree! Oh! Oh! Maybe a waterlogged zombie that drowns you with a glance!"
The south door is more below the water level, making opening it difficult. After some difficulty, Jarrith is able to shudder it open. Beyond, brackish, smelly water floods the chamber, providing only a few feet of clear air between the surface and a dripping ceiling thick with greenish-black growth. Intact cellblocks run along the south wall. Corpses float aimlessly in the two nearest, black bile in their veins. For the far cell comes the cries for help: A lone villager holding on as best he can.
Hey! Can you get me out of here? I'm so glad to see you! I can't believe I've survived for this long. I figured if I didn't drown, the undead would get me!
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
[Detect undead (looking around the room, including the villager)]
... and then she looks at Jarrith, and tilts her head at the cell holding the villager. Choosing her words carefully, she says "What do you think, can you open that?"
Jarrith glances down the hall towards the cell which holds the man and begins sloshing his way down it. The stench is horrid, and it takes all his endurance not to lose his stomach to it. As he approaches the cell, he allows his senses to drift out to the man who is captured. (Detect Evil) Once he comes upon the cell, he stands a few steps away from the bars so he could not be reached, should the man lunge for him, and Jarrith then begins a quick conversation. "Not the best location to be caught in, it looks like. Got lost on the way to the market, did you?" As the convo continues, his intuition checks to see if he can tell if the prisoner is being truthful with him or not. (Sense Motive)
Standing at the back, knowing her armor would be a detriment, Ashlyn shudders as it is made clear the two "corpses" are indeed bear the taint of undead. They, however, remain unmoving as Jarrith enters the room.
Jarrith wades into the cellblock, the stagnant water making navigation very difficult. The man cries out as Jarrith gets closer, She's mad. The madwoman. Consorting with the dead and now this dark place. All know its curses! The Stalker takes a moment to assess the situation.
Jarrith
The man is touched by avarice and greed, the signs of it clear. Detect Evil. His main motives are clear, he does want out of the cell and is concerned or against this 'madwoman.' But Jarrith has the nagging feeling he's not telling them everything, though he does not seem hostile. Sense Motive
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
"Madwoman, eh? And what be the name of this madwoman? And for that matter, what is your name, sir, and how did you come to get locked up down here?" Jarrith takes a few sloshing steps closer to the cell, but remains just out of arms reach. Although he doesn't believe the man to be a direct threat, there's no telling what he might try and do. "We are well aware of the undead, both intelligent and non- that wander this place, so you'll have to excuse me if I cannot take you directly at face-value. Answer my questions in the name of the Light, and if they are satisfactory, I shall endeavor to open your cage."
Not wanting the hunter to be caught and surrounded by undead and the prisoned man in a less than ideal situation, Ladreth wades out with his greatsword drawn, sloshing his steps toward the two floating undead, just in case something happens.
The man shakes water out of his shaggy hair. "I am Emil. My family and I live on edge of woods, outside the town. Nigh two weeks ago, during wolf attacks, madwoman appear on our farm with the speaking dead. Forced me to go with them, guide them here. I do not know her name, only that she consorts with the dead. Now, get me out, please! I can fight!"
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
As the others converse with the man, Ravika tries to understand his motives and whether his words are true, she struggles with who to trust in this dark place.
Ashlyn barely pays the villager any heed as her attention is captured by the undead 'corpses' in the cells. She takes the crossbow hanging from her belt and loads it, before taking careful aim and firing at the 'corpse' floating in the nearest cell.
![stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. III [IC]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/iconimages/playing-game/stonegods-expedition-castle-ravenloft-ch-iii-ic_ltr.gif)
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