A book and many things to do

[Anastasia]

In that case, stealth checks, everyone.

[Iron Dragoon]

Stealth:

[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+65 : 5 + 65, total 70[/blockquote]

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+5 Jarem
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+5 Emily
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d20=17]
> roll 1d20+39 Ianvasah
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 41 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+38 Bastian
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 40 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+8 Dolmaya
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 14 > [d20=6]

Thus you all sneak on, down the silent steps. As you approach the bottom of them, you can see a simple stone floor and a hall leading deeper in.

[Iron Dragoon]

All ya'll suck at stealth. Geez, gonna have to get them some ninja items.

'I'll bet there's an ambush there. Ready?'

[Anastasia]

They do suck.

'Ready,' Jarem sends, several nods and agreements at that. Emily readies her blades while Bastion silently cracks his knuckles.

[Iron Dragoon]

'GO!'

[Anastasia]

The party races out - and it's a simple hallway, no signs of an ambush at all. It just goes on, a few doors on each wall until a door at the end.

[Iron Dragoon]

'Keep moving, let's find the source.'

[Anastasia]

Onward you go. There's the doors ahead - which ones are you going to check?

[Iron Dragoon]

First one. Do them in order. Skeleton Key 'em.

[Anastasia]

The first room is an empty cell.

The second room is an empty cell.

The third room is a cell. Hanging on the wall by the arms is a man - arms and torso and head, nothing else left below the waist. He is completely hairless and bloodstained, sobbing silently.

[Iron Dragoon]

'I don't know who this is... He's suffering, but if we can dispel this silence I can use Regenerate.'

[Anastasia]

Jarem looks on with his jaw set, not making a sound.

Bastian shakes his head, muttering something never heard.

Emily closes her eyes and breathes slowly. 'If there's anything of his mind left,' she says. 'The body live, but the mind withdraws to the soul, to await when it is freed from the vessel.'

[Iron Dragoon]

'Let's at least get him out to the other level. We can heal him and see if our people can get him somewhere secure.'

[Anastasia]

Jarem goes to him at that, working on the chains. After a few moments the man is still sobbing, the chains not giving. A slice of Jarem's sword and another manage to break them. Emily's there, catching him as he shakes and sobs.

'Let's go.'

The party goes back...and the stairs to leaves are gone.