Knowledge shall lead the...

[Anastasia]

Gimme a marching order, in case it matters.

[Corwin]

Seira, Elle, Sanzha, Oberuth. Also, Elle isn't wearing Eldath's Tears, only has it ready in case we need some zome of nonviolence.

[Anastasia]

Thus you slip in. The ruined courtyard has no one visibly around, and doors to the keep itself are intact and shut.

You notice a few skeletons are about here, weathered with time and age.

[Corwin]

The doors won't stay closed for long given Seira is here!

Percepton 115, Disable Device 120 if all is clear.

[Anastasia]

Simple as can be. The doors are merely locked with ancient locks. A bit of magic softens rust and allows them to be opened. Within lies a hall full of slain warriors, skeletons with the rusted remnants of armor and weapons about. Molded, crumbling banners of blue with a winged lion and hawk in flight can be seen.

"A mortal kingdom of some kind?" Sanzha speculates, flowing like water between the corpses, each getting a simple check.

"It wouldn't be the first or last lost to some unspoken disaster," Oberuth seconds. "Balmuria's had its close calls too."

[Corwin]

A bit of her divine power allows Seira to conjure up a vision of the last stand for these warriors. She's the goddess of knowledge and war, and their intersection clearly calls for her to take a peek!

[Anastasia]

It's easy.

Blood. Fellow soldiers stand against an invading army - a green banner of stacks of hay - and the battle goes on. They fight long and hard, but in the end succumb to the invader.

Dreams.

A thousand dying dreams amid the sack mix with a thousand dreams - of those victimized by the pillage and plunder and worse. An army taking its gold and blood from a defeated foe, officers not holding the common soldiers back. Dreams of revenge, of things going differently - but mostly of dreams to get away, to escape. A dream that never quite gave up, until it echoed and became here, materialized here, an echo of what was at the lowest point, sacked and broken and forgotten.

[Corwin]

Seira shows those echoes another dream, of the afterlife where sins and suffering both are cleansed and the soul is reborn with a newborn's wonder and joy. Not the fate she sought, perhaps, but one rather popular with most mortals. May it offer them a measure of peace.

[Anastasia]

If it is any consolation, the dead do not linger here, only the echos of forgotten dreams made real.

[Corwin]

"A sad memory," Seira voices, exploring the rest of the keep.

[Anastasia]

"Ruins always are," Oberuth says shortly, "Except gnomish ones."

Looking for anything in particular?

[Corwin]

"I disagree. Especially gnomish ones, given what they did," Seira responds, shaking her head. Some of their prisoners and experiments were still alive, which makes it even worse.

Seeing if there's more to find here, mostly. If not, we can get going again.

[Anastasia]

You search. By and large there's nothing - but as you pass by some skeletons in a hall - your sharp hearing lets you hear one of the skeletons rattle, bones shaking.

[Corwin]

Taking a closer look, Seira checks for magic and signs of unlife!

[Anastasia]

There is very weak magic - but not from the skeleton. Beneath it. A magic weapon in particular.

Elle turns, finger pointed as flames dance. "A mere skeleton?"