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Academy of Drell, Part III

Thinking that Charlotte's plan was a good one, and that that the rear is well guarded, Victor takes the central position, sheating his sword and readying his crossbow instead.

Once arrived in the room he tries to recall his artistics study for a clue to recognize the style or the age of the room.
"Do you know how old is the Academy and what was here before?"
Bardic lore 15+6=21

He checks if the smell is more powerful now and if it comes from the front door. He'll also look at the ceiling to find any track from bats or other animals that wouldnt leave footprints on the floor, using his still active prestidigitation to get rid of the dust if necessary.
Search 7+2=9

"This is strange. Surely the Headmaster and the Librarian didn't go this way, but neither whatever is sending that smell. Any ideas?"
 

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"Hmmm, I think Rallyn is right. We should double back and scope out that other passage real quick. Besides the doorway opposite us in this room, has some pretty strong enchanmants on it. Transmutive, nasty stuff sometimes, changes the fundamental way you and the world interact. Of course it could be some sort of transportation enchantment."

Kith patiently waits too see if the others wish to press on or double back.
 


Rallyn can't see into the room to whatever everyone is looking at, but having heard two assentions, he starts to walk back towards the other cave in the hopes that what worked for Arana will work for him.

Or maybe it only works for slim golden-haired elves...

Rallyn smiles to himself.

You followed too.

I'm a guard, she's a student. That's all there is to it. Though she isn't hard to look at.

Lecher.

Rallyn grins, and continues towards the other cave.
 
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.. what happens to the coin?

Gazing about and trying to recall what little he knows about the history of the Academy*, Victor sheaths his sword and loads his crossbow. Victor realizes the stonework here certainly predates anything extant in the Academy today.

The smell of death is now far more pervasive than it was earlier; even Victor's human nose can detect it easily now. It doesn't smell like recent death, but rather something old and lingering. No tracks are evident, save for the group's.

Kith seconds Rallyn's suggestion that they double back.

Rallyn tired of waiting for everyone else to decide on a course of action, turns and leaves, making way for the earlier chamber where the pool entrance was.

As Rallyn turns to leave, Victor pulls forth a small copper coin and lobs it into the opening to the north. It flickers briefly out of sight, making a brief tanging sound against the stone floor, then skitters very rapidly down the steep slope, without bouncing.

* The Academy was built on the island of Drell near the founding of the Empire when Kazak the Conqueror slew the last of the Warrior Kings, nearly two-thousand years ago. Some legends attribute Kazak as designing the Academy -- he was known to be an architect. About four hundred years ago, there was a "barbarian invasion" from some unknown island chain and most of the island was burned to the ground, save a few of the stone and brick buildings.

The Empire sent an entire legion of troops to rebuild the island and to eradicate the barbarian threat. While the Academy was restored, it is probable that the architecture wasn't completely restored. It's quite evident that some of the stonework in Coles's villa, for instance, is fairly contemporary, as is most of the public area. Serbanas's cottage is also relatively knew.

The main library is of an older style and probably wasn't razed during the invasion.
 

Interesting...

"That is definitely not normal..." Keith says offhandedly.... "I am not sure what it means but that is strange."

Keith adjusts his posture and relaxes his frame... reclining against the wall as the others deliberate or turn back.

"I have to agree with turning back... and regrouping..." Keith follows Rallyn...
 

Sildarin follows Rallyn after seeing that more people are going to join him. He moves without sound, shadow among the shadows.
 

Seeing that the rest of the group is doubling back, Ellie will follow them to the other passage.

"Although I do think this way may be worth checking out later. You never know what could be down there."
 


return to the pool

Keith notes how odd the effect is, reclinging against the wall... which has no ill effect. Keith follows Rallyn back to the room with the pool in it.

Sildarin also fallows Rallyn back to the pool room, doing his best to be stealthy.

Ellie also joins Rallyn, and mentions that they should come back later to investigate this mysterious doorway in more detail.

Kith waits for the others to pass, then takes the defensive rearguard, watching the back of the group.

The room with the pool only takes a few minutes to return to. Walking back takes a little while longer than the original trip, probably because it's all uphill. The slppe didn't seem so severe while walking downward, but upward it's far more noticeable.

The pool is still calm and unchanged. The area where you entered still has wet footprints from when the group clambered out of the water, though it is drying slowly.
 

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