Sedwigs Manor IC

[KingOfLaughter]

You do not know how you got here, why you are here, or where here is exactly. However as your grogginess fades you find yourself in a burlap sack and remember one name, Sedwig.

Suddenly you find yourself in a study, or library, of some sort. Before you sits a man, writing furiously while studying a large text. Behind you comes a loud, sharp knocking sound. The man stops, stashes his work under his chair and goes to the sound. A scene of shadows playing out before you, you see the man open a door and suddenly something jabs in to his chest, spraying blood on to the wall. The assailant hides in shadows but mentions to an unknown entity that a third party, multiple, third parties, are watching somehow. The scene starts to fade and two men appear, dressed in guards garb, but fancier, one says clearly, "Well detective, I think that makes the case a mystery. It's like Sedwig just.. Vanished in to smoke, no blood, no show of foul play. I'm lost..."

As the man finishes talking you feel extremely light headed, and then awake. You find yourself laying on a stone slab, your gear missing. You can faintly hear something burning, and above you you see a stone roof.

[Magnera]

DM ONLY
(Rolling bluff check to see how well I do for my post to be accurate) Bluff [roll0]

Markarth slowly awakens and his great mind immediately starts thinking about whats going on. Whats going on... The floor is hard... Why is that? Where am I? Its most likely that nobody knows me where I am at. That means I can practice my acting and trick them into thinking something else! Wonderful!

Markarth shoots up and immediately shouts out. "What in the world is going on! Where is my stuff?!?! Where am I?!?! Whats burning?!?! Is my time near an end?!?! Somebody help!" His green eyes reflect fear, maybe, along with his dark black hair sticking up in several spots you can tell this man is not in the greatest of places. His arms shake a little and his legs are bent inwards, shaking even worse. But Markarths eyes move quickly, looking for anything that could help him feel better than what he feels now.


If you get a certain roll above 18 you may read this or you are the DM
Markarth is acting, making himself look weaker than he actually is. If someone didn't know he was actually completely calm then they could make the mistake of dropping their guard. Thankfully you didnt

[Medic!]

Erasmus

The machine's head lamp activates and flickers a moment, he sweeps the room taking in information. Erasmus rises from the stone slab and scans for immediate threats. Something seems incomplete in his memory...aloud he repeats "Sedwig....Sedwig...Sedwig" as he tries to associate the name with a face or basic information.

"Odd. Perhaps I was deactivated for some sort of maintenance." He then gives the room a more detailed scan to take in his surroundings.

[KingOfLaughter]

You both notice you're in a large(ish) square stone room with 2 stone coffins to either side and slightly in front of you, your gear is scattered across these 4 coffins. You see two torches flanking an archway directly infront of you, though you cannot see anything beyond the archway.

Everyone roll a listen check.

[Medic!]

Erasmus

Erasmus locates and retrieves his hammer from the floor, identifying it by the solid construction and the words "Key to the City" etched into the head, as his auditory receptors trigger, picking up input.


[roll0]

[The Zoat]

Gwuh? What just happened? "looks around" Just how drunk was I? Where am I? Dilon looks around, taking in the surroundings.

1d20-1

edit: mixed up my roll method.

[The Zoat]

Redoing my check:

[roll0]

[Magnera]

[roll0] listen check. Do I have my spells for the day?

Markarth swiftly walks over to his gear, his legs shake as he goes over to his poorly placed belongings. The hearthstones, bolts and many bags of marbles are scattered around the coffins but it takes only a short time for Markarth to gather them. His quaking hands drop a few of the hearthstones as he places them into a bag intended to hold them. Packs of marbles are tied around the shaken mans belt. Well, however much of a belt you can get with a waist cloth tied around black wizard robes.

"S-s-so does anyone know of a man named Sedwig? I uh... think he got killed when uh... umm... Arg!" Markarth goes from scared to angry in moment " I don't recall when. I just know he was killed recently! Anyone have a clue as to what in all hell is going on?"

[GnomeGninjas]

Who are you and what is going on? I'm Hobarta and I have no idea whats going on. Hobarta gets up quickly collects he things and donors her armor. Does anyone have any information on Sedwig or what he she it is.?
1d20+5[/roll

[GnomeGninjas]

I should have paid more attention when coding my last roll :[roll0]

[Magnera]

Derp I did it wrong x infinity 1d20+1 Can I just delete this post?

[Magnera]

After MASSIVE fail of the likes i have never done before i must try again in a different post. [roll0]

[The Zoat]

Where's the other guy?

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta will pear into a coffin to see if who lies inside can provide evidence as to what is going on. Anyone have a clue at whats going on?

[Medic!]

Erasmus

Erasmus selects a phrase from his memory banks that he often heard from the guardsmen he patrolled with, Must have been a cat... and proceedes through the archway to explore his surroundings, anxious to be back at his post.

[KingOfLaughter]

You all hear someone, or something, yelling. The sound echoing through the darkness toward you.

[Medic!]

Erasmus

Erasmus moves to investigate the sound, announcing loudly, "This is City Watch Unit Erasmus, identify yourself and the nature of your distress! with his warhammer at the ready.

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta follows him with her flail out. She hopes that the source of the screaming will be out side of the house so that maybe it can lead them out. She doesn't think this is likely however.

[Magnera]

A few oddly random hand movements and two unintelligible words emanate from Markarth. His crossbow lifts into the air and is loaded by an unseen force. In a few moments the crossbow is loaded and in the quivering wizards hands.

Now finally awake the decision to actually look around for a moment is made. There is nobody around to test my bluff! Fine then, it just changes my plans a little. I need to find water and food if i am going to survive. Shouldn't be too hard if i'm lucky and don't find trouble.

The mage listens in for the sound he heard and immediately runs to the direction he heard it come from. If worse came to worse, blood could probably get the hearthstones wet.

[The Zoat]

Dilon rushes over to his belongings, gathering them up. He notices everyone leaving, and follows at the back of the line. Hey, guys?
anyone got a clue of what's goin' on? No? Okay.' He puts his toad familiar, Wogmump, on his head as he follows.

[KingOfLaughter]

As you explore the room (I assume you're exploring the rooms?) you find it's actually well lit by torches that only activate when someone enters the room they're in.

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj577/DriverRJ/Crypt.jpg
You each started in one of the 4 middle rooms on the top or bottom, on the middle most coffin (light gray slab)

[Magnera]

((I'm assuming I am in the lower right area))

Markarth immediately stops running to the sound and instead falls back into the room he awoke from. It would be foolish of me to run right into something in which I know next to nothing about. Based off of what I saw, the pillars that extend to my left continue as much as I know, but the pillars on my right extend by only a few before continuing its path deeper into the room. That means I can use that corner as a safe position to watch what may or may not occur. But then I will have to watch both visible pathways that follow along the outside of the pillars and thus I wont be able to absorb the information from the central most area of the room...
The wizard began calculating a solution to his conundrum and, within moments, his solution is found.
However, if I hide along the corner's right side, then I will be hidden from the sight lane of the hallway closest to me. Unfortunately, anyone that enters this hallway will be blocked from my line of sight as well, but at least I will know they are there. If someone approaches me from the middle, I will be able see them with ease and then devise a counter. If they come from the opposing side, then I can, with great simplicity, discern where they are. Perfect!
Hoping Markarth was the first to move and whoever may be watching would be distracted, he quickly moves behind his target pillar and peaks into the center of the room while hiding as much of his body behind said pillar as possible, the crossbow held tightly in the studious mage's hands.

Spot 1d20+1
Hide 1d20+1
Can someone help me with my rolls? I'm having the darndest time with them for some reason.

[Magnera]

I got my friend to help they should be good from now on.
[roll0] Spot
[roll1] Hide

[The Zoat]

Dilon worriedly peers from the doorway, wondering what happened. He sneaks out to the middle, hiding behind a pillar and loading his crossbow.

Move silently [roll0] Hide [roll1] Spot [roll2]

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta calls out to everyone, We are all trapped in a place we know nothing about, it would be good if we get to know each other. My name is Hobarta and I was going off to join the military but I found myself here. I am very strong and I am good with a flail. Toad Gnome what is your name and how can your help us? Hobarta hides behind a pillar next to "Toad Gnome".

[Medic!]

Erasmus

Erasmus begins patrolling the cooridors and rooms, searching for the source of the sounds he detected. If he encounters anyone he says, This is City Watch Unit Erasmus, do you require assistance?

[The Zoat]

Don't call me Toad Gnome, Orc w/ Axe. My name is Dilon Gitun. Have you seen me before and was I drunk or unconscious at the time?

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta is confused, she doesn't have an axe and she just said her name. Sorry, Dilun Gitun I just needed to make sure you knew who I was talking to. I just saw you when I got up, you were getting up too, I don't think either of us know how we got into this building.

[The Zoat]

"This is city watch unit Erasmus, do you require assistance?" Dilon runs out of cover towards the iron watchman. What in god's name are we doing here, officer?

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta follows Dilun. She doesn't like watchmen much but she believes that it would be good to get to know anyone else who is stuck in this building.

[Medic!]

Erasmus

It seems my memory banks are incomplete on recent events. the robot begins to stutter as it repeats Sedwig...Sedwig...Sedwig then returns to its previous train of thought, not seeming to notice the interruption, I'm not certain where "here" even is, or how I came to be here. Do you require assitance?

[GnomeGninjas]

Yes, I require assistance figuring out what is going on and what a Sedwig is?

[Magnera]

Something tells me these people will be of the few I am around for the next while. Its might just be best to befriend them and act like my self, noting the fact that my guise will be eventually dropped whether or not I want it to.

Markarth ditches his spot in favor of being right next to the warforged guard hoping he will gain some much needed protection. As he approaches he waves his hand so he may attract their attention.

"I think we all need assistance, but some more than others. Namely, the source of that screaming and burning. Everyone, see if you can discern the location of these noises. Maybe we will also discern the whereabouts of this Sedwig you both speak of"

[GnomeGninjas]

Hpbarta thinks that the non-gnome non-warforged whos just spoke has made a good point. Good point, what is your name by the way?


Listen [roll0]
Spot[roll1]

[Magnera]

With the soiled Salmetal name it might not be best for them to know my actual name... But I'm not going to lie to them either... I'll just tell them what to call me, they probably wont bother with actual names noting our current dilemma. Once we are done here then, most likely, they wont bother with questioning my actual name!

I am called Markarth. says the new black haired, green eyed, human.
[roll0] Listen [roll1] Spot

[Medic!]

Erasmus

Erasmus keeps having an uneasy feeling every time someone says the name "Sedwig" but shakes it off, knowing there's nothing to be done about it at this time. Greetings, citizens. Allow me to escort you to safety from this unknown place. The guardsman runs each name he hears through his database, ensuring that he isn't traveling with known criminals. When finished, he strikes off to the closest exit.



[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[Magnera]

"Um does anyone by chance have water? If we come to a place where lighting is an issue I have about forty-five or so hearthstones that will provide light when wet, that is plenty for all four of us."
Markarth's unseen servant caries forth a single bag of marbles about 15 or so feet in front of the guardsman with Markarth being right next to him.

[GnomeGninjas]

No water, some wine though. I also have some candles but I seem to have lost my flint and steal some time before I woke up.

[Medic!]

Erasmus

Apologies, citizen, I require no water, and carry none.

The light shining from its eyes illuminate like a lit torch, demonstrating his lack of need of an outside light source as well.

[The Zoat]

I've got a lantern on me, if anyone wants to know. I'm glad I can see in the dark, seeing as we're probs gonna be in some dark places.I'm Dilon. Dilon Gitun, wizard extraordinare.

[GnomeGninjas]

Does anyone have a flint and steal? If not then a lantern and candles won't help much.

[The Zoat]

Got some tindertwigs. They might be useful. Probs best to use the candles for lighting stuff though. And as for Markath here: spit. That is all.

[Magnera]

"I wonder if using prestidigitation to make the cubes damp would work for making them light up."
Markarth continues to follow the warforged during their walk to the burning sound. "Dilon, your a wizard extraordinaire? How did you come to obtain such a title?"

[KingOfLaughter]

You notice the burning comes from all sides, and closer investigation reveals it's just the torches. Through exploring the room, you find it's just a massive crypt, filled with tombs, 3 hallways dead end in windows, 1 dead ends in two doors, and around the outer ring there is 4 benches.

[The Zoat]

Won it in a competition. says Dilon, as they enter the tomb. Hang on, what is it with this place and tombs? I don't see why we're here OHWAITAMINUTE, we were sent here to be killed! That's why a bunch of strangers one day wake up surrounded by coffins! Someone or something is out to get us I fear. We should get out as fast as possible.

[Magnera]

That sounds about right, one door out means there is a designated path for us to take. As he speaks, Markarth takes a look out the window and attempts to discern what is on the other side of it.

[KingOfLaughter]

All that can be seen through the windows, is a large black fence, and a lot of tall grass, almost obscuring the entire window.

[Medic!]

Erasmus

Erasmus moves to the indicated door and opens it.

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta follows with her flail at the ready. The revalation that some one is out to get them isn't comforting.

[KingOfLaughter]

The door leads to a huge open graveyard, with a large fountain at it's center. In the distance is a large decaying old house.

[Magnera]

[roll0] Arcana
[roll1] Dungeoneering
[roll2] Planes
What can I make out of everything so far based off these knowledge checks?
Anyone else want to bet on our adversary being a necromancer? Tombstones and crypts could also make it a lich or some other powerful undead.

[KingOfLaughter]

It looks like a normal crypt and graveyard, the grass itself looks too green for the state of the house, almost as if it's holy ground, the tombstones are all a shiny white, identical in make and shape, and you're too far to see if they're inscribed.

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta shall walk up and read the graves stones just incase. She still keepsher weapon out, also just incase.

[Magnera]

Markarth shortly follows Hoberta but turns towards the fountain. With it still providing water he places all the hearthstones in, with the assistance of his unseen servant, and each one begins to glow with a shimmering light. Well now we have 48 wonderful sources of light!

Markarth speaks up so everyone may hear him. Now just a quick group vote! Do we want to mark areas that we have been in with a marble? Each bag contains about 25 or so, thus we wouldn't have to worry about back tracking. But this also means that the opposite could apply and if something removes them then we will think that we have yet to enter that room.

[The Zoat]

That's such a waste. I've a better plan. I''ll mark the doors we've passed through with my dagger, thus ensuring that nothing short of magic will remove the marks.

[GnomeGninjas]

Mark some thing specific with the dagger so we can tell that the door isn't just scratched. Lets not use up marbles if we can.

[The Zoat]

Nah, nothing else to mark.

I roll a local knowledge check to see if I know of any recent encounters with intelligent undead.

[roll0]

[Magnera]

What about a special mark? One that takes a steady hand and we put it in a good place, like the lower corner of the door, or maybe on the thin part of the door that is on the side. And what if the door is iron or steel? Marbles arn't in short order as I have a little over 1000.

[GnomeGninjas]

Yeah, specific mark. That's what I meant. Marbles aren't in short order but they roll away, if there is no other way to mark a door than a marble will have to do though.

[The Zoat]

Dilon strolls over to the door and carves two crosses into it.

Still waiting for the results.

[KingOfLaughter]

They're regular grave stones, each reading of some one whom died, each a different name.


There's been no recent sightings of undead you can think of.

[The Zoat]

I cast open/close on the door.

[Magnera]

Maybe we will be lucky and we won't have to use our unique mark all that much. Markarth waits for the warforged watchman to proceed before he does.

[Medic!]

Erasmus proceeds through the door to the house, hammer in hand.

[Magnera]

Following no more than five feet behind Erasmus, Markarth keeps his eyes open for clues to their location and or whereabouts. How ever he also keeps looking for the worst possible scenario in his mind. Who is Sedwig? If that was the person murdered than why was it done? Who are these third parties that wish to get involved this? Perhaps they are the ones that caused this almost ragtag group meeting... What were those papers that the man hid under his chair? The Mage digs deep into his memory in order to recall what they looked like and maybe see if they were somehow magical in nature.
Since its best to think we are involved in this somehow it would be prudent to discern who we may meet. Our known characters consist of Sedwig (maybe it could be an item), the third party, that assassin, the person that called for the assassination and finally me and the rest of this group. That leaves a lot to the imagination.

Spellcraft check to tell if the papers could have been magical in nature. [roll0]

[The Zoat]

You DO realize we're heading straight to our deaths, says Dilon, following the others into the house behind Markath.

[Medic!]

That is quite an invalid conjecture. What leads you to believe this Dilon Gitun?

[Magnera]

What else do we do? We cant just stand here and fail to do anything at all. 'Still hands are the hands of the darkness', that was a quote from my father, it means if you procrastinate then you will fall to evil. Thus if we use the idea that death is evil then we can conclude that if you procrastinate, then you will DIE. At least in our case where if we don't move forward we will eventually encounter life threatening danger.

[GnomeGninjas]

Markath is right. We must try to enter the house. If we shall dying trying at least we aren't dying standing around. Unfortunately Hobarta does feel close to as confident as she would like others to believe.

[The Zoat]

Alright, I'll commit suicide by walking in.

I go in.

[Magnera]

Unfortunately, Dilon, this is the only option we have. Call it what you will but at least you chose to die unlike some of the beings in our world. You could wait out here and rot... Unless you have an alternative plan?

[The Zoat]

For lord's sake, you doltish fool! I'm already going in!

[KingOfLaughter]

The front doors open to a large, ornate entrance hall, though only a small portion of what it once looked like, as the paint peels on the walls, broken furniture lays around the room, and the once grand chandelier lays broken, half hanging from the ceiling, and half smashed on the floor.

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta will take and examine a piece of the grand chandelier.

[The Zoat]

Oh my stars! What happened here?

Dilon searches the room for anything odd.

[roll0]

[Magnera]

Knowledge Dungeoneering [roll0]
Markarth looks around the room trying to discern what caused all this damage. His thoughts bring many possibilities to bare against his mind.

[KingOfLaughter]

From what you can tell the room has simply fallen into disrepair, having been left untouched and not maintained for what looks to be centuries in some places, and months in others.

As for the chandelier it looks to be made of iron, with a gold coating, though most of the gold has since gone missing.

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta pockets a piece of chandelier. Since a lot of the gold on the chandelier has gone missing then someone probably has been here. They may have came a long time ago though. Lets keep moving. Hobarta moves to the next room.

[Medic!]

Erasmus follows Hobarta soundlessly, scanning the area, cataloguing information in his mind.

[The Zoat]

Dilon goes to the next room.

[Magnera]

Markarth follows just behind Erasmus keeping his invisible servant close by.

[Magnera]

are we dead?

[The Zoat]

OOC:
Why are you asking this here?

[GnomeGninjas]

are we dead?

I'm not. I don't know about you though.:smalltongue:

[The Zoat]

I'm not. I don't know about your though.:smalltongue:

OOC: :smallbiggrin:

edit: "your"? I think you mean "you"

[Medic!]

OOC: Still alive for what it's worth!

[GnomeGninjas]

edit: "your"? I think you mean "you"

It said you all along.:smalltongue: Look at the original post that I definately didn't just edit.

[The Zoat]

All in favor of Pm-ing the DM?

[KingOfLaughter]

Sorry lads/lasses. I'm self distracting, tis my bad.

Which next room are you going in to? (Forgot to add this, I'm going to get you guys up a map in a few.)

There's a door on either side of the entry room, and one at the far end.

[The Zoat]

I'm definitely going to the far end. Alone, if I must.

That door, it calls to me. I MUST go there.

[Medic!]

Never alone! Erasmus will quietly follow anyone who sets off to explore

[The Zoat]

"Bump"


Because now that King is back I'm not letting this die.

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta will go to the far end.
OOC: When I PM KingOfLaughter last time he said that we should PM him if he doesn't respond for two days. I think that it might be more effective than bumping. I'm PMing him now.

[KingOfLaughter]

You enter the far room which turns out to be a huge ballroom, a massive fireplace sits at either end, and the floor seems to be made of marble, contrast to the other room it seems to be in completely perfect condition. As if cleaned just before you entered.

Huge windows dominate the wall across from you, letting in shadowed sunlight. The wall to either side of the door you entered is covered in portraits of people you assume to have lived in the mansion.

[Magnera]

Markarth examines the side of the door inwhich the group came in from.

If the front of the door is pristine and the backside is not, then what is the story of the door's side... It's middle ground? If it was a mix of pristine and dirty then the door has probably been used multiple times. If it's totally dirty then the door has probably not been used untill we entered. If it's totally pristine then the backside of the door must have been deliberately left untouched... Why?

As soon as Markarth stops examining the door he returns to Erasmus with his Intel.

[GnomeGninjas]

What the? Why is this clean? This isn't right. Then she calls out to who ever may have cleaned it Where are we? Since you probably live here you might know.

[The Zoat]

Y'know Markath, I didn't prepare the spell for detecting magic today, but the next best thing is to see if this room is cleaned magically. I cast Presdigitation on the floor in order to make it dirty.


Is that okay?

[KingOfLaughter]

The ballroom side of the door is clean and almost brand new, while the entry way side is worn, and older looking.

As you cast dust upon the floor it lies in rest motionless and innate.

[Medic!]

It would appear someone is still living here.

[The Zoat]

Damn straight! This dust isn't moving at all!

[GnomeGninjas]

Now whoever lives here will be mad at us for soiling the floor. I hope they are forgiving entities.

[Magnera]

King, you didn't explain the thin part of the door. There is the big part, what your talking about seems to be that side, then there is the thin side that you don't see when the door is closed. That's the side Markarth is examining.

Prestidigitation actually has many uses for the few hours it can be used for. So we can clean that soiled carpet whenever we need to

[KingOfLaughter]

The side where a lock would be?

[Magnera]

Ummmm, sure? Ill see if i can find a picture of what im talking about.

[Medic!]

I just wanted in on the Spoiler convo

[The Zoat]

"convoy" It's "convoy.

[GnomeGninjas]

Does anyonerespond to Hobarta's call?

[The Zoat]

What call?

[KingOfLaughter]

No one responds.

Please keep all non directly IC related stuff to the OOC.

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta will walk over to one of the windows and look for what is outside.

[The Zoat]

Dilon goes through the farthest exit.

Let's see what LURKS INSIDE.

[KingOfLaughter]

The windows are impossible to see through in parts, show only tall grass in others, and only one small spot shows anything of interest, a small walkway, with a centered fountain.

There is no other doors in the ballroom.

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta says Well, what now? We can't find who lives here. Maybe thats not a bad thing? I think we should make a plan. It is important to keep calm and make a plan.

[Magnera]

Well what kinda plan do you propose? Says the young wizard. Markarth closes the door to the previous room and walks back over to Erasmus in hopes of being close to the war forged will keep him safe.
"Do we want to get out? Sure. Do we know how to get out? Not really. Personally, all I know is that there was a murder that occurred and we need to get back to town so that we may inform the guards.

[GnomeGninjas]

We could climb onto the roof perhaps? We could break down a wall with enough time?

[Medic!]

Erasmus

We should investigate the premesis further. There is much of the house left unexplored, and no physical evidence of any murder.

[GnomeGninjas]

Lead on Watch Unit Erasmus!

[Magnera]

Continuing to follow Erasmus, Markarth does what he can to keep an idea as to where they should be in the building. He may be no minotaur but he can certainly keep his direction.

[Medic!]

Erasmus

Erasmus moves to the first exit from the room (that doesn't go outside) to his left hand side, moving in a clockwise manner, and begins a systematic search of the manor. He will continue to "bear left" until something interrupts him.

[Magnera]

As Erasmus follows some odd program, Markarth splits away and opens the only door in the room. The one they came through.

[GnomeGninjas]

Hobarta follows Erasmus. She hopes that Erasmus knows what he is doing because she has no idea what he's trying to acomplish.

[The Zoat]

Whoa, forgot the sign!

Dilon goes back to the door with Markath and scratches a sign into it with his dagger.

[Magnera]

Markarth awaits Erasmus' arrival to the door and then proceeds to follow him. He still keeps his place as to where they are in this building.