[002] A Temple and a Tomb

[Eris]

Willow follows Wendel's light to the stairs, suspiciously pointing her bow up and down as she also watches with a wary eye.

The vestments and priestly items are of more interest to Naugrim, who studies them with an expert gaze.

Do I know religious thing? (Advantage) [1d20+2]=9+2=11[1d20+2]=2+2=4
...11 if it is WIS, 9 if it is INT.

Naugrim sees nothing remarkable about the vestments...except their cleanliness. They look like they were hung there just recently. Even the benches and floor are clean and free of dust.

[Eris]

Wendel moves over the other opening and holds the light up high to check there is nothing lurking down the stairs, but does not leave the room.

Fergus lets Ulfgar do his searching, and moves to guard the stairs with Wendel.

The stairs go down about 10 feet, it looks like, and there is a stone floor down there, but that's all you can tell. There are no sounds from below and no movement of anything you can see in the clear white light from the magically lit candle.

[shaidar]

Fergus

"So what then, we going down there or taking the altar way? Not much going on here."

[axis57]

I am in favor of taking this route over the altar. I fear that a path beneath something so important would have more undead nearby.

[Marullus]

"The way under the altar remained trapped - and was the object of the cultist's desire. That means it is both important and remains undisturbed. I saw we let Wendell disarm the trap using the Book of Ord and we check under the altar before anything else."

We have now exhausted all known exits from the main chapel area except this stair and the dug-tunnel, right? I lost track with us finding some doors from the wrong side.

[Rex]

Ulfgar

"I think the stairs is our best bet, put that is just a gut feeling."

[Eris]

"The way under the altar remained trapped - and was the object of the cultist's desire. That means it is both important and remains undisturbed. I saw we let Wendell disarm the trap using the Book of Ord and we check under the altar before anything else."

We have now exhausted all known exits from the main chapel area except this stair and the dug-tunnel, right? I lost track with us finding some doors from the wrong side.

Yes, that is almost correct. To your knowledge, the only exits are under the Altar (which is trapped), down these stairs (which remain unchecked by anyone) and the big hole in the floor of the Nave where it appears attackers came up from below.

[Rex]

Ulfgar

"Perhaps climbing down the big hole in the floor is the best option, seems less likely to be trapped."

[shaidar]

Wendel

"I agree we should take the altar route, it is likely to be the most direct route."

[Marullus]

"The hole in the floor leads out," quips Willow, "The altar leads to the thing of greatest value. The stairs probably lead to the tombs where the stuff is for the dead ghost guy and the scepter. Depends what we want. I vote valuable stuff, bargaining chips, get out. But I will take that torch and peek down these stairs if nobody else will. Just so its not another dead end closet."

[shaidar]

Wendel

"It does make sense to take a quick peek down the stairs. Ultimately, it is likely we might end up having to go both ways."

[Eris]

"The hole in the floor leads out," quips Willow, "The altar leads to the thing of greatest value. The stairs probably lead to the tombs where the stuff is for the dead ghost guy and the scepter. Depends what we want. I vote valuable stuff, bargaining chips, get out. But I will take that torch and peek down these stairs if nobody else will. Just so its not another dead end closet."

With Wendel agreeing, Willow takes the torch and moves down the stairs just to the bottom of the steps. Reaching the bottom she sees a corridor straight ahead with 3 closed wooden doors on either side. The light doesn't extend much beyond that, but she thinks there are another couple of doors on either side further ahead and then she *thinks* the corridor enters another room straight ahead, but it is so dark she can't tell without moving further forward.

[Marullus]

Willow comes back up. "So many doors, it will take a while. But at least nothing ate me. Let's go open the altar thing while we can."

[Rex]

Ulfgar

Ulfgar will take a better look down into the hole to see if he can determine anything about what is down there.

[Edeldhur]

Erlthal

The elf kept watch as the others explored, and peeked into the hole next to Ulfgar.

He then stood ready to follow the others in he exploration of the altar.

[shaidar]

Wendel takes the Book of Ord to the Altar, and once everyone is ready he will perform the ritual

[Marullus]

Naugrim stands ready at the altar, providing support for Wendel where we can.

[Eris]

Ulfgar

Ulfgar will take a better look down into the hole to see if he can determine anything about what is down there.

OOC: To clarify. The hole under the altar or the big hole in the southern part of the Nave? If you say the altar then I'll move on to that, otherwise I need to describe what, if anything you see down that big hole in the Nave.

[Rex]

Ulfgar

I meant the big hole in the nave but if it is easier he can just assist Wendel.

[Eris]

Ulfgar

I meant the big hole in the nave but if it is easier he can just assist Wendel.

OOC: I thought you meant that, but wanted to be sure. It's not easier, just slightly different.

As most of the party gathers on the dais, Ulfgar and Erlthal walk back to the large hole in the southern part of the Nave, past the broken bones and dropped weapons of the skeletons you fought only a few minutes ago...although it does seem like it's been hours to Ulfgar.

It is pretty dark down the bottom of the hole, but Ulfgar can tell there isn't stonework down there. It looks to him like a tunnel that was burrowed under the Temple and then up and into the Nave. Looking about him he sees signs that the stone floor simply collapsed over the hole partly filling it but also forming a rough ramp that could be used to climb up from below, or to descend for that matter.

Erlthal notes that it smells a bit damp and dank right over the hole and there seems to be a slight movement of air coming up from below.