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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 831435" data-attributes="member: 6294">Kull's Second Report - Part 1SaltmarshMidwinterTo:  Bishop-General Kartrak VisehartReport from Kull RedfistSir,Recent events have been such that I felt compelled to send a further report to you immediately.As outlined in my previous report, I had decided to investigate the ruined house on the cliffs near Saltmarsh.  I had little expectation at the time that the investigation would turn up anything of note, but it has proven far more significant than I had imagined.The house itself stands in the midst of a walled, overgrown estate.  Most of the others from the island had accompanied me - only Zalich remained behind, due to his injured arm - and, after reconnoitring the situation, I led the others into the building.Immediately, a "magic mouth" effect appeared and pronounced a warning that I would die if I did not leave, threatening attacks by ghosts and terrible curses.  Wizards: always expecting people to be impressed with their parlour tricks.  Still, if a wizard was attempting to frighten off intruders from the house, then I knew there must have once been something there that was worth protecting - and it might still be present.Following some footprints in the dust on the floor, I led the way into the interior of the house.  Within, the trail split in two: one set of prints led upstairs, while another followed the downstairs hall.There was some foolish talk of taking the stairs to the upper floor, but I quickly overruled such nonsense.  To plunge ahead without securing our flanks could have left us trapped and surrounded.  Apparently these people have never heard of Rahless Gorge.  That, or they are too foolish to learn from its lessons.The downstairs footprints led along the hall, passing several doors as they went.  I briefly checked each room as we went, and in the fireplace of the second I uncovered a secret compartment that contained a small gem.  Immediately, the others - who had been complaining about 'delays' - became much more interested in searching as well.I was far from surprised when, in the next room we entered, Troilan ducked past me and immediately scurried over to the fireplace.  She scurried out again just as quickly, whining that there was another compartment within, but that it was also home to a "huge spider".Stepping past the fool of a girl, I thrust my hand up into the chimney, grasped the spider, and threw it out onto the floor of the room, where it was quickly crushed by the others.  I then removed another gem from the secret compartment.There were no more items or dangers of note in the remaining rooms that we searched, until we reached the kitchen.  I did notice that the ceilings of many of the rooms appeared to be badly rotted, however.  When the time came to explore the upper storey, I would need to be careful.At the end of the hall was the kitchen.  The footprints led into it, then a smaller chamber that was probably once the pantry, where they reached a trapdoor in the floor.  Once this had been examined and pronounced free of traps, I covered it with my crossbow while Brodnak stood behind it and pulled it open.Once the trapdoor had swung all the way back, I moved forward, still covering the opening with my crossbow, in case someone was waiting, out of sight.  Thanks to my orcish blood, I was able to see clearly into the darkened cellar below, making out several ancient boxes and crates - and a man's body, sprawled face down in the centre of the room.</blockquote>

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