IC V

[zebediah]

Lanny the elf

"It appears the circle cannot be destroyed from the outside with mere physical force. Yet it might be possible somehow to destroy the circle from the inside, using skill and cunning... But until we know more about how these circles operate, we should not even approach it. Before we do anything else, I would suggest we search the boxes and crates in the storage rooms on the third floor. Yes, it will take time, but this demonic experience has been a wake up call - we need to know what the wizard knew before we meddle with any of the wizard's magical creations. Perhaps he kept journals of his summonings and stored them in those boxes. I think it is worth taking the time to look before we proceed to the crypt."

Drudsa the dabbler

"That makes perfect sense Lanny, I also prefer to ensure we have checked the storage area for anything even remotely useful that it might contain."

[Luis]

''We really should check the crates! Who knows if there's magical weapons there to help us fight any demons like the one we just fought. Imagine we fight the real deal in the lower levels?"

Saul is in panic over his uselessness during this fight and is anxious to find something to help him even tough he knows there is no chance a wizard would just pack a powerful weapon in a crate.

[Bouv]

Tratiln agrees, "Since we're here, looking through those crates is a good idea."

[sulldawga]

Marodin

If Thordin wants a CLW, he can have it. Otherwise, Marodin is in favor of searching the boxes.

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf

"Can't do nothing for your beard though, mate. I reckon even if it doesn't grow back, it'll make a good story for the ladies back home, eh?"

"Aye, the girlies love this stuff. Why do you think we have such a disproportionate number of blacksmiths among us? Save your magic, I'm not really hurt."

[thirdkingdom]

The party descends the stairs, back into the gloom of the tower, and return to the room of crates and barrels. An hour or so of fairly thorough searching reveals no hidden items of arcane puissance, no diaries describing the nature of the fell beast trapped in the summoning circle, no bags of jewels and gold. In fact, the room appears to have been a sort of dry goods storeroom for the tower, containing everything a fairly self-sufficient household would need to survive long, snowed in winters. There are several crates of decaying fabrics of various colors and textures; two pallets of torchwood, brittle and mildewed, a half dozen barrels that, when opened, prove to be empty but release the sweet odor of lamp oil into the room. One corner is filled with coils of rope, another with bags of what at one point must have been flour, though by now has caked into a single rock-like mass. The whole room is filled with such sundries, all of it affected by age and the elements.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

"Well at least now we know what is in here. It is quite likely that all of the wizard's books and scrolls were on the upper floors and were destroyed by the fire. It seems that the crypt is now the only place left to search to find the answers."

Lanny favors returning to the first floor of the tower and opening the door suspected of leading downward to the crypt.

How late in the day is it?

[thirdkingdom]

Lanny the elf

"Well at least now we know what is in here. It is quite likely that all of the wizard's books and scrolls were on the upper floors and were destroyed by the fire. It seems that the crypt is now the only place left to search to find the answers."

Lanny favors returning to the first floor of the tower and opening the door suspected of leading downward to the crypt.

How late in the day is it?

About noon.

[Luis]

Saul is pretty bummed. He expected something out of those crates and even the ropes seem to be too old to be reliable.

"I'll go on ahead and see if there's any danger..." he utters with no enthusiasm.

[thirdkingdom]

So, what's the plan, gents? Down to the cellar/crypts? The door to the crypts is locked, and no key was found, so you can either have Saul try and open the door or just bash it down.

[Luis]

So, what's the plan, gents? Down to the cellar/crypts? The door to the crypts is locked, and no key was found, so you can either have Saul try and open the door or just bash it down.

That was my idea, check the door for traps and then open it if nothing bad happened. IIRC no one wants to head back to town so that's our only option here.

[thirdkingdom]

No one else objected, so I am assuming it is on to the crypts.

The party, after a disappointing search through the storage room, returns to the first floor and begins to make preparations for their descent into what they can only assume is the crypt as Saul examines the locked door. The scout finds no signs of traps and after a few moments is able to spring the lock quite easily. It is old and outdated, as far as mechanisms go, but Saul can also tell that his skill and deftness of touch is improving.

From what the companions have observed of the Tower from the outside, and from in, it seems logical that there are at least two levels below the ground floor. As with the rest of the Tower, perhaps half of the exterior wall circumference is exposed to the air, though no windows were visible to let light into the lower levels.

Saul opens the door gingerly, after applying several spritzes of a light oil he carries in his kit to prevent the hinges from squeaking. The door opens effortlessly, revealing a curved set of stairs descending into the darkness, hugging the wall as it does. The right side of the staircase appears to be open, as opposed to being bounded by a wall. A foul, vinegary smell wafts up from below.

[Luis]

Saul puts on his goggles and takes a quick look, an arrow notched in his bow, to the right of the staircase.

[Bouv]

Tratiln joins Saul for a moment at the top of the stairs and adjust his sight to see if he can see anything as well. After a moment, he'll step back. "Well, we've gotten this far, might as well go down. Let's be careful though. This area was locked, the others weren't. That tells me the old mage didn't want anyone going down here and might have prepared traps to ensure that if anyone did, they wouldn't survive."

[thirdkingdom]

In order to see into the room Saul and Tratiln must go down about six or seven steps. They do so, weapons drawn, and allow their eyesight to shift over to the infrared spectrum. One of the drawbacks of heatvision, they notice, is that it is difficult to discern detail, especially when, as in this case, everything in the room seems to be at or about the ambient air temperature. Neither notice anything moving. The room seems large, perhaps forty feet deep and wide -- or a quarter of the Tower's footprint.

There is a large bulk along the two straight walls that can only be shelving. Several large shapes occupy the center of the room. Disturbingly, a number of round, orb-like shapes are suspended from the rafters, at a height of perhaps six feet off the floor. While most of the shapes are perhaps only slightly larger than a gauntleted human fist, a not insignificant number of them are disturbingly head-sized.

[sulldawga]

Marodin

"I'll take the lead, with Thordin if he's willing, but lets have some light, eh?"

Marodin will proceed slowly and cautiously once light is provided.

[rremedio]

Meagnor the Elf will walk slowly towards the odd shapes to check what they are without touching them.

Once light is provided, if it's clear that the large shapes are possible enemies, Meagnor will hold his ground, ready to shoot with his bow.

[thirdkingdom]

A light is produced, and the companions gingerly proceed down the stairs. The floor of this room, unlike previous rooms, are flagstones, and the walls are cut stone as opposed to wood. Upon a closer look the hanging orbs prove to be neither a devious trap nor the severed and shrunken heads of the necromancer's victims but are instead the dried and shriveled remains of various vegetables -- desiccated onions, bunches of garlic, various gourds and other root crops hang suspended in netting. All appear to have been preserved by the still air in the room.

The shelving against the two walls is just that; one section is a wine rack and at some time held a variety of bottles and casks. The few bottles and casks that remain have been punctured, their contents spilled upon the floor. A far greater number have been strewn about the room, shattered and broken. The shelves appear to be empty except for the occasional heap of moldering sackcloth, or basket of decaying potatoes. In fact, most of the contents of the shelves seems to have been scattered about the room; barrels are overturned or split, spilling ancient corn or flour or pickled fish. The impression one gets from observing the room is that a very large or very strong toddler had a tantrum and decided to systematically destroy everything within the room.

In the very corner of the room where the two straight walls would normally meet, there is a ten-foot wide section of wall truncating the angle. Set into that wall is a stout wooden door, leaning crazily on one hinge. Darkness looms ominously on the other side of the door.

Again, I am assuming this is Drudsa with the magical lantern, but let me know if anyone else decides to carry a torch/oil-burning lantern.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

The magician follows his companions from what he assumes to be a safe distance, trying to make sure they have enough light.

[thirdkingdom]

Anyone?