13: Razing Cain

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> The muse looks out on the pool, which ripples constantly from the patter of raindrops. "What do you plan to do next?" she wonders.
<Madeline> "Now that we know how to access the Duke, our path would seem clear. We must hunt down those who hold his tokens and seize them for ourselves," replies Madeline.
<El-Cideon> She nods. "I can't properly advise you where to start...Maxwell hides away in his laboratory most of the time, attended by bodyguards and his own private army; Mary would be a challenge unless you have weapons attuned to strike down one in spirit form, even if you could find her alone; Cain has the guards at his command; and Larchmont, well...please know that if you kill him but prove unable to complete your mission here, you've condemned me to a slow death."
<Madeline> "Cain and Maxwell," states Madeline. "They are the most organized of our opponents, and we've seen their minions several times. Cut off the head to kill the snake."
<Eliaphas> "You draw sustenance from his... 'artistic', outlets?" Eliaphas asks, frowning. Nonetheless he nods in agreement with Madeline, "Ending them would make the rest easier for us and the former prisoners."
<El-Cideon> Another nod. "That's correct," she says with a pained expression. "My kind don't eat and drink as you mortals--I rely on the creative process for sustenance. He's the only one left in the castle who can meet such a demand. I am loathe to continue attending his performances, but without them I would waste away."
<Eliaphas> "If we go back to the West Wing, we can finish scouring it and find Cain first before seeking out Maxwell," Eliaphas states, stepping away from the Muse.
<Corben> "Agreed," Corben voices, ready to scour!
<Madeline> "I concur. Oh, and as for Mary- do you know of any weapons within the castle that could harm her?"
<El-Cideon> "Armaments were never my concern," she says. "I can only guess at this. Much of what's taken from wayward adventurers goes to the tower, I would presume for storage in the vault. But if you've made it that far, you'd hardly need them. The surest location to find them down here would be Maxwell's lab. I don't know of a certainty that he has any, but I would be surprised if he hadn't taken steps to prepare for dealing with the others. Just in case."
<Eliaphas> "I have bolts that can pierce the ethereal. At worst if we find another crossbow you can use that," Eliaphas tells Madeline.
<Madeline> Madeline nods. "Good enough. Let's get moving."
<Corben> If he hits the spirit enough times, it will be given a final death. That's all that matters to Corben, and he is ready to seek out Cain!
<El-Cideon> "Feel free to drink your fill from the fountain in the sculpture garden," she adds as you leave. "It's the only one on the grounds that's not poisoned."
<Eliaphas> "Have to remember that," Eliaphas nods gratefully for the information that could avoid embarrassing mishaps later on with other water sources. "Farewell, Brilliant Crystal."
<El-Cideon> The castle's inhabitants continue their curious reluctance to ambush the team, and you arrive at the lower courtyard unmolested. Most of the surrounding rooms here are familiar to you: armory to the north, mess hall to the south, and the doors to the west can only lead to the foyer. There are some unopened service doors along the wall underneath the ramp, next to the dragon's head fountain.
<Eliaphas> "That door goes to the foyer, and we never investigated what lay to its South," Eliaphas indicates the double doors opposite the winding ramp as they descend, heading onwards to re-enter the foyer.
* Madeline takes a moment to enchant her current quiver with a burning spell, and then follows Eliaphas towards the doors.
* Madeline changes topic to '6Corben: 119/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 66/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50|'
<El-Cideon> The remains of the butler and his slain guardsmen have been scoured away since your earlier battle here, and the room looks neat and tidy once again. Stairs wind up to a second floor in addition to the doors on each side.
<Eliaphas> For now the South door is Eliaphas's goal, and he opens it with aplomb, crossbow ready to perforate anything on the other side!
<El-Cideon> Rows of bunks fill this long room, stacked two high and each with a chest at the end or underneath the bed. The beds are all made, looking soft and clean. Tables and chairs made from unfinished wood litter the south section of the room in haphazard profusion, much of the furniture marked with rings from mugs, the occasional chipped corner, gouged initials. An array of cards from an unfinished game sit on one: an undistributed pile of coins sits in the center next to the deck, a hand of five cards at each side of the table, two face up and two face down. Aside from doors at the northeast corner and along the southern end of the eastern wall, you can exit via a ladder of iron bars ascending near the northern door.
<Madeline> "The soldiers left in a hurry," notes Madeline, eyeing the unfinished game. "Called to arms, no doubt."
<El-Cideon> Madeline sees that the winning hand was merely a pair of kings, supported by the queen, jack and ten of clubs. The latter two are defaced, the center marred by something like acid.
<Eliaphas> "They may be the ones we slew in the armory... if not I wonder where they are," Eliaphas muses, deciding to go and try climbing the ladder after slinging his weapon.
<Corben> "That may well be," Corben agrees with Eliaphas, waiting by the ladder to promptly respond to any ambush.
<El-Cideon> Eliaphas finds a trapdoor closing off the ladder at the top, but it doesn't seem to be locked in any way.
<Eliaphas> Up it goes, then!
<El-Cideon> Another barracks hall, you see, with the addition that a quadrant of the northern side of the room is walled off, a heavy wooden door the only apparent means of entry. The ladder also continues upwards to another trapdoor in the ceiling of this room. And as Eliaphas opens up the door into this room, there's a clatter of armor as several figures turn his direction--two guardsmen of the familiar sort, and the looming, black and silver brute you saw in the upper castle after meeting Cat. Two undead hounds accompany them as well.
<El-Cideon> "Even in my quarters the rats swarm, eh?" the large one says, echoing voice thick with age and weariness. "Rise then, I'll not strike you down helpless."
<Eliaphas> "Cain, I presume?" Eliaphas growls, his own voice not one to lose out when it comes to age and weariness! Nonetheless his body remains spry enough, and he hauls himself up the rest of the way to spring to his feet, reaching for his crossbow smoothly as he does.
<Madeline> Hearing the obvious sound of challenge from above, Madeline scampers up the ladder to greet their newfound foe!
<Corben> Likewise, Corben rushes towards battle!
<El-Cideon> "Captain Cain Vorela, long in His Grace's service," he says, drawing a massive greatsword familiar from his portrait. "Perhaps too long. No matter, a man is only as good as his oath. Might I have your names before disposing of you? You've led my men--what little remain of them--on quite a chase. I commend your effort, though I can't allow it to continue."
<El-Cideon> The guards similarly draw weapons, the axes that seem standard issue for their lot.
<Eliaphas> "Eliaphas Crane, Inquisitor of the Vigilant Hound," the aged priest levels his crossbow, the steel bayonet glinting in the light ahead of it. "Your oath may grant some mercy in Norusk's eyes. Pray for His grace before you face His judgement."
<Corben> "So this is where you were," Corben says, stepping to Eliaphas's right and drawing Crom from its sheath. "You and your master are abominations. The time to pay for your crimes has come!"
<El-Cideon> "My soul is spoken for," he says, without any particular rancor or pride, just statement of fact. "I wish your god luck in claiming it."
<Madeline> "You are a knight, are you not?" demands Madeline, raising her bow. "Then you must have some honor beyond cleaving to ancient and outdated oaths. Even you must see that your master is a cruel and evil man. If you won't break your word, then at least tell me! Where is Elswith? What is he planning with her? Your soul may be spoken for, but what of hers?"
<El-Cideon> "The disposition of the prisoners is not my responsibility," echoes from the armor. "I gather you have slain the harlot Maxwell put in charge of the prison? If you did not find your charge there, any number of cruel fates might await her. Randolf takes the young for his sacrifices, Larchmont for his troupe. Maxwell takes all manner of person for his experiments. I know not why, nor do I wish to know. If she went to the tower, she may be fortunate enough to live for some years before going mad and throwing herself from the roof. Most of the duchesses do, in time."
<Madeline> "Most of the-" Madeline scowls. "No time. You, first. Them, second."
<El-Cideon> "Very well," he says, clearly waiting for this. "Stand firm, men! Fulfill your oaths!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: init time
<Madeline> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+9 and gets 24."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Cain
<Corben> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 Cain and gets 13."12 [1d20=11]
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+12 and gets 17."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 guard
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 guard and gets 16."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 guard
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 guard and gets 17."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 dog
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 dog and gets 15."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 dog
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 dog and gets 10."12 [1d20=8]
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 119/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 66/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50| Madeline > Corben = guard > guard > dog > Cain Vorela > dog'
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+9 and gets 25."12 [1d20=16]
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 119/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 66/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50| Eliaphas > Madeline > Corben = guard > guard > dog > Cain Vorela > dog'
<El-Cideon> OOC: open up, gang.
* Eliaphas prays to Norusk, the true God filling him with boundless strength and granting himself and his allies extra resilience!
<Eliaphas> OOC: divine power cast, bestow resolve used for +18 temp hp
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 119+18/137, Eliaphas: 102+18/102, Madeline: 66+18/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50| Eliaphas > Madeline > Corben = guard > guard > dog > Cain Vorela > dog'
<Madeline> Madeline swiftly infuses her allies with great and terrible speed, before cowering behind them like a little girl!
<Madeline> -or taking a position at the rear!
<Corben> Raising his falchion high overhead, Corben charges ahead, calling out Cain's name!
<Corben> roll 1d20+22 surprise accuracy, come and get me, 8pa
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+22 surprise accuracy, come and get me, 8pa and gets 35."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+16+3+2d6
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+16+3+2d6 and gets 45."12 [2d4=1, 1][2d6=4, 4]
<El-Cideon> Corben pounds a dent into Cain chest plate, and the guard captain reels momentarily. "I am personally challenged, then! I will meet this challenge warrior to warrior--go, men, strike down the others!" The guardsmen each circle around the duel and one each heads for Eliaphas and Madeline.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17+2 charge at E
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17+2 charge at E and gets 38."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17+2 charge at M
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17+2 charge at M and gets 27."12 [1d20=8]
<Eliaphas> OOC: AC 25
<El-Cideon> OOC: AC, Madeline?
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+6+1d6 cold E's damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+6+1d6 cold E's damage and gets 13."12 [1d8=1][1d6=6]
<Madeline> OOC: more than 27
<Madeline> OOC: because it is 28!
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 119+18/137, Eliaphas: 102+5/102, Madeline: 66+18/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50| Eliaphas > Madeline > Corben = guard > guard > dog > Cain Vorela > dog'
<El-Cideon> An axe shears the flesh from one shoulder, biting cold tinting the exposed flesh a crystalline white. The dogs follow their master's command and break for the archers as well, just as Cain himself adopts a cautious stance and swings his heavy blade at Corben--(OOC: I'll deal with the dogs first, actually, same rolls and all)
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12+2 doggy charge at E
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12+2 doggy charge at E and gets 20."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12+2 doggy charge at M
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12+2 doggy charge at M and gets 20."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+26 Cain mk 1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+26 Cain mk 1 and gets 30."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+21 Cain mk 2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+21 Cain mk 2 and gets 38."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+16 Cain mk 3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+16 Cain mk 3 and gets 31."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: take your AoOs and we'll see who's left standing~
<Corben> roll 1d20+19 8pa
<Corben> roll 1d20+19 8pa
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+19 8pa and gets 36."12 [1d20=17]
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+19 8pa and gets 33."12 [1d20=14]
<Corben> roll 1d20+19 8pa
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+19 8pa and gets 38."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> OOC: all hit. Crit-immune, though.
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+16+1d6 cold mk 1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+16+1d6 cold mk 1 and gets 29."12 [2d6=6, 2][1d6=5]
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+16+3+2d6 I hit first, at least
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+16+3+2d6 I hit first, at least and gets 44."12 [2d4=1, 4][2d6=2, 2]
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+16+3+2d6
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+16+3+2d6 and gets 49."12 [2d4=2, 3][2d6=3, 6]
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+16+3+2d6
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+16+3+2d6 and gets 53."12 [2d4=4, 3][2d6=6, 5]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+16+1d6 cold mk 2 he dies after this
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+16+1d6 cold mk 2 he dies after this and gets 24."12 [2d6=5, 1][1d6=2]
* Corben swings his own sword into Cain's unguarded flank after luring his opponent into committing to the attack, grinning savagely!
<El-Cideon> A vicious exchange of blows flashes between the two swordsmen, but at the end of it Corben is the only one standing! Undead will sapped away, body falling to pieces, Captain Vorela breaks apart onto the ground. "My watch...is at an end," he seems to breath before the light dims in that black helmet.
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 119+18/137, Eliaphas: 102+5/102, Madeline: 66+18/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50| Eliaphas > Madeline > Corben = guard > guard > dog > dog'
<El-Cideon> OOC: team PC, go. Also note damage to Corben.
* Corben changes topic to '6Corben: 88/137, Eliaphas: 102+5/102, Madeline: 66+18/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50| Eliaphas > Madeline > Corben = guard > guard > dog > dog'
<Eliaphas> Harbouring a faint disappointment that Cain was so easily dispatched, Eliaphas is trapped now with his back to the wall and enemies to his front, forced to resort to his bayonet and stabbing at the guard monster with a fury!
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+21 undead bane
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+21 undead bane and gets 30."12 [1d20=9]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+21 undead bane
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+21 undead bane and gets 31."12 [1d20=10]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+16 undead bane
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+16 undead bane and gets 33."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> OOC: all hit
<Eliaphas> roll 3d6+21
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 3d6+21 and gets 26."12 [3d6=2, 1, 2]
<Eliaphas> roll 12d6 bane damage of course
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 12d6 bane damage of course and gets 40."12 [12d6=3, 1, 5, 4, 6, 5, 2, 3, 2, 4, 2, 3]
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 88/137, Eliaphas: 102+5/102, Madeline: 66+18/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50| Eliaphas > Madeline > Corben > guard > dog > dog'
<El-Cideon> Eliaphas's holy fury dispels the spirit powering the shambling armor suit and it falls to the ground in a wreck of metal!
<Madeline> Confronted with two enemies right before her, Madeline is forced to step back and unload a colourful barrage into both of them at once!
<Madeline> roll 1d20+24 guard first, then dog
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+24 guard first, then dog and gets 39."12 [1d20=15]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+24
<Madeline> roll 1d20+24
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+24 and gets 42."12 [1d20=18]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+24 and gets 36."12 [1d20=12]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+19
<Madeline> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+19 and gets 22."12 [1d20=3]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+14 and gets 18."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first three definitely hit the guard...latter two wouldn't, but they would hit the dog. So roll damage for those first three to see if you kill the guard.
<Madeline> roll 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6
<Madeline> roll 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6
<Madeline> roll 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6
<Madeline> roll 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6  and gets 31."12 [1d8=4][2d6=4, 4][1d6=5][1d6=6]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6  and gets 23."12 [1d8=6][2d6=1, 1][1d6=5][1d6=2]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6  and gets 31."12 [1d8=4][2d6=4, 4][1d6=5][1d6=6]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6  and gets 26."12 [1d8=1][2d6=4, 5][1d6=4][1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: wait, they charged, so the 22 would get him too
<Madeline> roll 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6
<Madeline> roll 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6 and gets 23."12 [1d8=4][2d6=4, 1][1d6=1][1d6=5]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+8+2d6+1d6+1d6 and gets 28."12 [1d8=2][2d6=5, 4][1d6=3][1d6=6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 88/137, Eliaphas: 102+5/102, Madeline: 66+18/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50| Eliaphas > Madeline > Corben > dog'
<El-Cideon> The echoing retorts of arrowheads on hollow metal, the thump of dead meat hitting the ground, and two more enemies fall.
* Corben gives his downed opponent a respectful nod, but then proceeds to dispatch the dog with all due haste.
<Corben> roll 1d20+15 12pa, charge
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+15 12pa, charge and gets 29."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+24
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+24 and gets 44."12 [2d4=2, 2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: that is precisely their HP, too
<El-Cideon> With one terrific slash, Corben cuts the dog in two right down the middle! The halves twitch a moment before falling still.
<El-Cideon> OOC: free act
<Corben> "A good fight," Corben declares, cleaning his blade.
<Madeline> "It was?" asks Madeline, uncertainly. "I do not feel much pride..."
<Eliaphas> "I admit I expected more," Eliaphas admits, shaking his head and going to heal the barbarian a little.
<Eliaphas> roll 2d8+10 2x CLW
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 2d8+10 2x CLW and gets 24."12 [2d8=7, 7]
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 114/137, Eliaphas: 102+5/102, Madeline: 66+18/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50| Eliaphas > Madeline > Corben > dog'
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 112/137, Eliaphas: 102+5/102, Madeline: 66+18/96(-1wis)| Flame Arrows: 50| Eliaphas > Madeline > Corben > dog'
<Madeline> She shakes her head furiously. "No, I am not upset that it was not so difficult," she mumbles. "We are all still alive and that is always something to be thankful for..." As she continues talking to herself, Madeline begins to poke around the room for any exciting objects, particular on Vorela's person.
<Madeline> OOC: DM is on, let's say
<Madeline> roll 2#1d20+18 sword, armor
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 2#1d20+18 sword, armor and gets 43."12 [2#1d20+18 = 19, 24]
<Madeline> "The armor is resistant to cold, and forged from adamantine," muses Madeline. "The sword... I don't know." She straightens up. "That's all I can see here with any trace of magic to it."
<Corben> "And what of the key to the tower?"
<Madeline> "I can't see it." The elf takes a quick glance around the room. "Somewhere nearby, perhaps?" she ponders, opting to scale the ladder to the next trapdoor up and see if she can push it open.
<Eliaphas> "It may not be a physical key. Look for anything on him that doesn't appear to have an obvious purpose," Eliaphas suggests, looking about the room in case he had a key cabinet or something.
<El-Cideon> The room is full of beds and chests, just like the one below, and there is a small room partitioning off the northwest corner. This proves to be locked. Madeline finds the trapdoor lifts easily, and soon enough she's looking out at the castle roof. Moist stone, parapets for archers to shelter behind and even a few catapults.
<El-Cideon> OOC: perception, E?
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+21
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+21 and gets 31."12 [1d20=10]
<Madeline> "Corben, I need you!" calls Madeline, giving the door a baleful eye.
* Corben is instantly there to help!
<Corben> roll 1d20+22 SUNDER
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+22 SUNDER and gets 26."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit, you show that door who's boss
<Corben> roll 2d4+16 THIS DOOR
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16 THIS DOOR and gets 21."12 [2d4=3, 2]
<El-Cideon> THIS DOOR is no match Corben's martial prowess, and falls like many others! A small office lies on the other side of the door, furnished with nothing more than a simple bed with a chest at the foot, a desk, and an armor stand (currently holding nothing). It's quite modest and unassuming. A ragged curtain closes off a small restroom in one corner.
* Corben takes a look inside the room, searching for the key! The chest is first.
<Madeline> Madeline loiters near the door, nodding her head in approval of Corben's ransacking technique.
<El-Cideon> Eliaphas does find a keyring inside one chest in the far corner...not that it seems he needs it. However, his search also turns up a couple blue potions, in addition to a wide variety of personal knickknacks like small coinage, cheap jewelry, cameos and other personal mementos.
<Corben> roll 1d20+17 am I perceptive?
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+17 am I perceptive? and gets 27."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> Corben finds the chest is full of old clothes, all of them extensively motheaten. If they were Cain's, well, he hasn't had need of them for a long time.
* Corben proceeds to ransack the rest of the room!
* Eliaphas shakes his head, his search fruitless. Hoping Corben has better luck, he waits outside the inner room.
<El-Cideon> Norusk only knows why he was looking there, but Corben notes the toilet seat is slightly dislodged and...clawmarks have chipped away at the rim. Hm. The desk is more obviously useful--inside are a ring, another potion, and a notebook.
<Corben> "Could this ring be the key?" Corben voices for Madeline's sake, going through the notebook for more clues.
<Madeline> Madeline pushes off the wall and steps forward to inspect the jewels!
<El-Cideon> The notebook contains mostly a litany of slavish devotion to routine--guard rotation schedules. Captain Vorela immortalized nothing more personal than that to print. Over the centuries, the number of guards dwindled considerably. Prior to your arrival, there were no more than a dozen.
<Madeline> roll 2#1d20+18 ring, potion
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 2#1d20+18 ring, potion  and gets 52."12 [2#1d20+18 = 19, 33]
<Madeline> "I don't think so. The ring grants resistance to fire. As does the potion," muses Madeline. "Do you want to use it? My fingers are spoken for, I fear."
<Corben> The guards must all have been slain, now. Corben nods in satisfaction, putting the notebook away. "As are mine," he responds to Madeline, shaking his head. "We could barter with it, if there is need?"
<Madeline> "I.. suppose? We will probably need to take anything of real value by force," replies Madeline, deciding to slip back down the ladder and report her findings to Eliaphas.
<Eliaphas> "Probably used for visiting that forge," Eliaphas notes about the ring and the potion, sighing afterwards. "Hopefully this will remain undisturbed, we should try to learn what the keys are before killing our next target."
<Madeline> Madeline decides to take the sword for her own use, as whatever it is, it's probably got to be better than hers.
<Madeline> "Who would know, and be willing to tell us?" asks Madeline, frowning. "He was probably the only honorable opponent in the castle."
<Corben> "The demon we heard of?" Corben suggest, rejoining the others. "That seems the only way."
<Eliaphas> "The..." Eliaphas frowns and nods to Corben. "Yes. Kisantha."
<Madeline> "I must admit, seeing a demon as a, hmm, a lesser evil, it flies in the face of my lessons," confides Madeline. "But there aren't other options."
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll will, Madeline
<Madeline> roll 1d20+9 ohno
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+9 ohno and gets 21."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> OOC: carry on
<Eliaphas> "I am uncomfortable with it as well," Eliaphas agrees, "But we have few other options. Lets explore the rest of the castle's centre for either the library or a food source for the prisoners."
* Corben agrees with this course of action as well.
* Eliaphas thus leads the way back down into the courtyard and up the ramp into the main castle complex. This time they head South, though, to find new places!
<El-Cideon> As the trio makes their way back up to the castle's main level, they find something waiting for them at the top of the ramp: writing floats in the air by the entrance to the castle proper, a careful and elegant cursive script wrought of silver flame. The message is simple: "Request meeting for discussion of mutual goals. Northwest tower, two o'clock." Off in the distance, the clock tower tolls once.
* Corben briefly thinks of how long it would take them to get to the northwest tower.
<Madeline> "I am unable to take comfort in this offer of shared purpose."
<Corben> "If it's a trap, our enemies will be there. Meeting us in the open, instead of hiding!"
<Eliaphas> "It could be from Kisantha, if the Muse has already spoken to her of us," Eliaphas suggests. "I think we should investigate."
<Madeline> "I will try to scry the area once I can properly ascertain it," responds Madeline, leaning on her bow. "Perhaps once we see the tower from the outside."
<Eliaphas> "It's just by the clock tower, so we might as well go there now," Eliaphas shrugs, putting aside his earlier plan and heading that way.
<El-Cideon> The castle corridors are again empty. At the bend in the hallway, where one branch heads northwest towards the clock tower, a stairway recessed into the wall leads up. A similar stairway to the south led to a small watch tower, you recall.
<Eliaphas> Then up those stairs Eliaphas will go... but not before casting a little spell to protect himself with armour of faith!
<Madeline> Taking a strategic guess, Madeline flings out a scrying sensor towards the watchtower's upper room.
<El-Cideon> The little breakroom on the second floor is just like the on in the southwestern tower. A cot, a table and chair, little else. Doors lead out onto the castle wall, and the stairway continues upwards--Madeline's arcane sight shows her there's an empty roof up there, not much more. It is a good vantage point to get a look at the sprawling complex in the center of the main courtyard, though--the westernmost room of which has tall, clear windows, and the mist is just thin enough for you to make out what looks like a fancy ballroom inside.