~The Dark Tapestry IC ~

[RolandDeschain]

Cal moves around the corner and comes to a stop in front of the lone cell in this area. Dust blankets the floor and untethered cobwebs flutter on the light draft emanating from the small room. The light from Aerlya's spell barely penetrates the heavy darkness within, but from his position he notes more desperate ancient scratches on the walls and floor.

A sudden sense of impending doom washes over Cal, as the darkness within the cell seems to warble and swim within his vision...

Spoiler: Will Save DC 13

Show

or be Shaken - A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.

MAP

[razorback]

Cal walks forward and, to his surprise, he almost stumbles. He reaches a hand out and the wall to steady himself as he tries to look around.

Spoiler

Show

Will Save
(1d20+5)[11]

[RolandDeschain]

Cal steps into the darkened cell. Old bones and a few scraps of clothing lie on the floor along one wall, the obvious remains of someone who died here many, many years ago.

Spoiler: OC

Show

Cal continues to experience waves of dread and despair as result of being Shaken.

[CWater]

"Anything there?", Jheren asks, walking towards the cell where Cal is. "Uh, you ok?" The blue human looked a bit nervous.

[RolandDeschain]

As Jheren approaches the cell, the darkness of the cell that seems to almost cling to Cal. His vision warbles and swims briefly as a vertiginous feeling of impending doom washes over him.

Spoiler: Will Save DC 13

Show

or be Shaken - A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.

[razorback]

"... aug... no, stay back..." he says weakly as he tries to make his way back to the others.

Spoiler

Show

Move back to AK-39

[Kish]

"What's wrong?" Aerlya asks sharply as Cal seems to be having trouble moving. "Is there something there?"

[RolandDeschain]

Cal pushes past Jheren and moves out of the cell, as Aerlya hustles forward to see what's going on.

The lights from Aerlya's spell brighten the alcove in which the lone cell is located, casting thicker shadows as they do so. Jheren turns to watch the Samsaran exit the cell, and for a moment it appears as if the deeper shadows surrounding him thin and dissolve back into the cell.

Cal breathes a heavy sigh of relief as his inexplicable anxiety fades once he's back in the hallway.

Spoiler: Cal

Show

No longer Shaken.

[razorback]

"It was... like something was draining the life from me. I did not like that feeling at all."

[CWater]

Jheren feels an unpleasant chill go down his spine. "Ok. OK. I suggest we stay well clear of those cells and move quickly forward. Seems like whatever... horrors happened here have left a mark behind..."

[Kish]

"Hm. I wonder what the source of that effect is." Aerlya shakes her head. "But nothing we can do about it now."

[RolandDeschain]

The party retreats back into the hallway, just beyond the alcove containing the dreadful dungeon cell to collect themselves. As they appraise their situation, Barnibus speaks up gruffly, "Judging by the looks on your faces....I don't think I'll be goin' down that way to check for m'self."

Spoiler: Knowledge Relgion DC 12

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You suspect that the dungeon cell contains a "Haunt"....possibly the residual effect of someone dying a horrible death within the cell a long, long time ago. You have heard that there are ways to deal with such things, but little more than they require a specific set of conditions to be met to put such restless spirits to rest.

MAP

[razorback]

"Well, I've hear old wives tales before but I've never seen... well, felt, a haunted area before, but I suspect I just have felt it. I don't think we are equiped to deal with this. At some point, we will need to seek out a priest to help relieve the poor soul of its pain and help it move on to the afterlife."
taking a deep breath, he continues "Let us finish exploring this area, make sure there aren't any others surprises, eh?" as he moves off.

Spoiler

Show

Move to AO-36 and check through the yet to be seen area.

[Kish]

"Huh. Haunted? Guess we can take that as confirmation that something happened here considerably worse than a single kobold getting instantly killed by an accident," Aerlya says.

She continues to hang back and watch as Cal goes ahead.

[RolandDeschain]

Cal and Jheren move to explore the first hallway, pausing to peek into the the open cell. The room is slightly larger than the others. Rusted and pitted iron chains hang from the ceiling in the center of the room, but other than that the cell is entirely empty and unremarkable.

Before examining the twin, closed cell doors at the end of the hallway both Jheren and Aerlya note the outline of what was likely once a well disguised secret door in the wall opposite the empty cell.

Spoiler: Secret Door

Show

Red-dotted line on the MAP

[CWater]

"Something over here", Jheren says and walks up to the wall, pressing his hands against it. "Looks to be a door. I wonder how it opens..."

[RolandDeschain]

As Jheren places his hands against the wall he feels it shift ever so slightly...moments later a heavy *CLUNK* is followed by the low rumble of stone grinding on stone as that section of the wall slides away to reveal a narrow passageway beyond.

[CWater]

As Jheren places his hands against the wall he feels it shift ever so slightly...moments later a heavy *CLUNK* is followed by the low rumble of stone grinding on stone as that section of the wall slides away to reveal a narrow passageway beyond.

"Whoa! Well, that was... pleasantly simple for a change." Jheren moves just a little inside the passage and peers around (which is likely pointless as it is probably pretty dark there) and tries to listen for any noises that could indicate a presence of some kind down the path.

Spoiler: Perception

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(1d20+7)[11]

[RolandDeschain]

The elf steps into the deeper darkness of the narrow corridor and pauses to listen intently for any noise coming from deeper into the dungeon. After a moment the door rumbles closed and he's plunged into complete darkness.

[CWater]

"Hey- wait!", Jheren quickly steps back to the door, just avoids bumping to it in the dark and tries to reopen it.

[RolandDeschain]

Despite the pitch black darkness, Jheren is easily able to locate the door he stepped through. Tracing the outline of the door with his hands, the elf pushes against it to no avail. It occurs to him that if this was once a dungeon, and all of the cells would indicate it was, there may not be a way to open the door from this side.

[Kish]

"Well that's not good." Aerlya makes a pushing gesture at the wall Jheren disappeared through.

Spoiler

Show

Using Mage Hand to push on the wall where Jheren pushed on it, on the outside side.

[RolandDeschain]

Aerlya points at the recessed door. It shifts,*CLICKS*, then rumbles open, spilling light into the narrow corridor and unto Jheren's relieved face.

[CWater]

Aerlya points at the recessed door. It shifts,*CLICKS*, then rumbles open, spilling light into the narrow corridor and unto Jheren's relieved face.

Jheren stumbles out of the corridor, shakes his head and breaths a deep sigh of relief. "I would prefer NOT to do that again. It was pitch balck in there. I wonder where the path leads, but I'm not too keen on investigating if we can't be sure to get out, or have to split up and leave someone here."

[razorback]

Cal, alarmed at first, tries to stifle a grin at Jheren's fortune. "Well, if we can wedge or block it somehow, we can see what's down there... but, being this was a dungeon, I fear more implements of torture and perhaps some more haunts. What do you think?"

[CWater]

"I think we should first explore areas that are easily accessible, before going down dark spooky corridors", Jheren replies and shudders visibly.

[razorback]

"Fair enough. Alright, this side looks like its been done out, except for that, so lets go back and see the other area." he says and, once everyone is ready, moves back to the entrance and continues looking.

Spoiler

Show

go back to AF-32

[RolandDeschain]

The small group makes their way back to the entry to this section of the dungeon in the eerie darkness and pervasive silence. Rounding the corner they see open cell doors, an adjoining corridor and a slowly bending hallway that appears nearly identical to the area they just search. An unusually large and thick cobweb does, however, hang from wall to wall where the corridor slowly bends to the right.

Spoiler: Cobweb

Show

....as indicated by the dark grey portions of the MAP

[razorback]

"Hmm, that doesn't look right." Cal says as he forges ahead then points at the webs. "Don't suppose anyone has a torch? Aerlya, any way to... you know, magicly light them?"

[Kish]

"I'm afraid not," Aerlya says. She gestures to the web.

Spoiler

Show

Pushing on the web from a distance with Mage Hand.