After finishing up with the magic user on the first floor of the castle, the group decided that they wanted a break, in order to restock and prepare for exploring the lower levels. After a final look around the first floor, they went back to their encampment down in the abandoned village. The group was somewhat weary from their battles, yet they felt a new confidence in their abilities and used the afternoon to practice new fighting techniques based on what they had learned.
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They found that Koya was still tending Sophia who was still unconscious. She had not eaten for two days or taken in much water, yet she appeared in good health. They then checked with Brianna and Sandru who were keeping watch outside the wagons. They had not had any trouble or seen any intruders. When the Storm Peace Keepers started discussing and practicing their new techniques, Brianna and Sandru listened and joined in with the practice. The time passed, the group kept watch, but the night was quiet. When the Storm Peace Keepers woke the next morning, they felt more confident and experienced in their abilities. This included some new ideas and techniques for giving more damage to their enemies. After meditation and a quick breakfast, Sandru and Brianna stayed behind to continue guarding, while Darsus, Danicia, Cendrine, and Sheliak with Ulric went back to the castle.
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The group were alert as the entered the grounds, but they found no sign that anyone was waiting for them on the first floor. They cautiously made their way to the back stairs down and were on full alert as Danicia checked the stairs for traps. As she stepped foot on the top stair, the old, dried blood on the walls appeared fresh, then changed and the forms of soldiers, shaped in blood, started coming out of the wall. As the shapes came out, screaming in terror, the soldiers were cut in half and blood appeared to spatter over the group. The sight startled Sheliak, Cendrine and Darsus so much, that they ran in fear from the room. Danicia was able to keep reign on her fear and stepped away from the stairs and the bloody spectors. The others returned to the room and Darsus remembered that haunted visions like this could be created when horrible events had happened. He also remembered that positive energy could be used to temporarily drive the visions away so that they could then proceed down the stairs without worrying about being made afraid. Darsus channeled and the vision was driven away, when Danicia stepped towards the stairs, it was not reactivated.
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The group cautiously made their way down the stairs and found the stairs ended at a hall that had steel bars closing it off from another room. There were two 5 inch circular depressions on each side of the barred door, and each softly glowed. One side had an image of the castle with a sun behind it, the other had a circle with a picture of the castle and the moon behind it. There was also a soft green glow around the room and in the next room, which Darsus could tell would prevent his teleporting or using a Dimension Door to try and bypass the bars. It appeared that if matching discs were placed in each of the depressions, the bars might open. The group decided to try one of the other stairs to see if they could find the discs and open the bars.
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The group made their way back upstairs to the ballroom and went down those stairs. They cautiously checked for traps and at the bottom found a door. After listening, they heard nothing and peaked in. They could see what had once been a kitchen but which was currently unused. They found several doors leading out of the room. The doors on the west end of the room had tracks leading in and out but one well locked door showed no signs of use. The group decided to unlock the door to see what was behind it. They found a cavern tunnel, that was unfinished, unlike the room they were in. They followed the tunnel and found a door to the side and an opening to a crypt area. They heard sounds behind the closed door and decided to check it. They saw 3 jail cells, one person in one of the cells and an ogre in the center of the room. The group came back together and attacked the ogre, quickly taking it down in spite of its great strength and attacks. They then tried to talk to the young woman in the cell, who simply stood and stared off into the distance. They secured the room, then went back to the wall by the crypt area. There was a door, with screened wall that they could see through. The door had an image of Pharasma, goddess of the dead. They could see alcoves and the contents of the crypts which had been disturbed. They decided to leave the area and go back to the jails to check out the door and the prisoner.
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After some persuasion and offer to giver the young woman her gear back, she told them she was a barbarian from the northern lands, Kelda Oxgutter. She and her shield brothers had come down to raid the abandoned castle, but all of her companions had been killed and their bodies left in the old bay, along with the sea monster they had managed to kill before dying. Kelda had decided to continue into the castle into a secret tunnel she had seen on a map of the castle. When she entered the dungeon, she was captured and put in the cell while her captors, the serpent folk, tried to figure out what to do with her. After her failed adventure, she was ready to leave the castle and offered the group a reward if they would help her get back home. The group decided to escort her back to the camp, then come back to the castle to continue their exploration. Kelda agreed.
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The group found a secret door, that led back to the cavern where Kelda had been captured. She told of a large monster that was had easily captured her and held her for the serpent folk. They left that door and went through the other door where the serpent folk had entered in order to get into the cell area. The room beyond was empty and appeared to be the water cistern for the castle. They found the door on the other side of the room went into the kitchen they had originally been in. As they went through the kitchen to the stairs, Danicia heard a sound behind one of the other doors. The group decided to investigate. When Danicia peeked in, she saw two serpent folk, one just passing by her location, on patrol, the other watching another set of stairs up. Danicia quietly closed the door and the group prepared a surprise. Danicia yelled in about a prisoner escaping and the one serpent folk came out the door where he was surprised by the group. He was quickly taken down as he tried to fire arrows at his attackers. The other serpent folk was not in the room so the group went in and checked the door to the side.
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Cendrine went, along with Kelda and found a hallway, leading to another room. They heard the sounds of battle and found a small room, with serpent folk and two flying beings. The flying beings appeared to be attacking each other while the serpent folk watched. As Cendrine watched, one of the flyers disappeared while the other cursed. The serpent folk held their position while the rest of the group moved in. The session ended here.
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