With the restoration of magical items the Strangers were able to restock their potions, scrolls and other magical items. The Sablewing Council agreed that the opening should be explored. Sophia was returned to her father for the few days the Strangers would be out of town. Hugin volunteered to stay back at the Keep so he was given access to the lockbox that stored the gold for expenses of the keep. Dwarves were working on covering the spring outside the keep and piping the water into the kitchen and the downstairs garderobe on the other side. Thera and Katana would accompany the group in order to guard their wagon while The Strangers explored the castle. Although Katana is a half-orc, Kaylord talked with her and agreed to put aside his prejudice against orcs and see how she would work out.
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After restocking and some rest from their in-town adventure The Strangers headed back up to Castle White Rock. Thera and Katana were setup in the top level of the castle and the Strangers ventured back down into the depths of the castle and caverns they had found. They went into the opening and found a large room with an organ and an air elemental trapped within the organ. The group chose to parley with the elemental. He asked to be released from the organ by having a tune played with a special set of instruments. The instruments are made of jade and are a lute, drum and flute. The group remembered that they had found strings and parts of a jade instrument which they had shown to Brianna in town. As a promise of not hurting the group if they let him go he gave them some information about the ring they had gotten from the nixie as a reward for helping her. The ring is a minor artifact, called the Aquil'iya. Without activation the wearer is able to breath underwater. If the ring is activated it gains power from each activation. After the first activation the wearer can understand and speak Aquan, and cast the spells detect magic, create water (at will) and quench (1/day). This activation occurs by subjecting the ring to at least 50 points of magical fire or fiery breath weapon damage. Aramil stepped up and quickly cast a spell which damaged the ring. The second activation would give additional spell abilities and the ring would also gain intelligence at that time. Aramil again took the ring and activated it by falling more than 100 feet and than casting feather fall. However, Aramil was almost taken over by the ring before he could cast the spell and it was decided to back out this activation. Kaylord offered to take the ring so he could have the opportunity to cast detect magic.
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While the group was interested in the plight of the elemental they could not help and chose to go on. The room looked as if it had no exit but when Coravel explored further he found that the far wall was illusion. The group made their way through and found themselves in an area with hewn walls. They found a small door with a design on it. Coravel picks the lock and they find themselves in an intersection of a hallway. After checking for traps the group went right and found themselves in a hall with a balcony. They were attacked by metal constructs that fire spears at them. After defeating these wheeled contraption they found a passage down. In exploring they detected magic and found several water elementals still left and ready to attack. After some careful coordination they were able to get the magic items and defeat the elementals.
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They went back down and went down a passage that went straight from the main door. Coravel found a secret door and checked it for traps. After a check he was sure that it had some kind of magical trap but he could not find a way to remove it. After talking with the others, Coravel went ahead and opened the door, preparing to jump aside if the magic trap was activated. Nothing happened and the group found a hallway with several offices however, there was not much left. On one side there was a balcony that overlooked an area that appeared to be a construction space. After checking out the area and hearing slobbering noises the group went back out to enter by stairs. They found a xorn that went after their metal equipment and animated furniture that annoyed them before they destroyed them. The xorn was quick work as well. They found another room with a shaft up. After going up they found an old store room and shocker lizards that set them back with their electrical attacks. However, after The Strangers regrouped they were able to take the lizards down before any of them went down.
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Going back down they explored further and found a glass case with a scarab and the message, in gnomish, “In case of emergency, break glass”. Due to the other dangers they decided to get the scarab last. They went back to the last secret door that Coravel had found. He was sure he had found another magical trap that he was unable to disable. Aramil decided to walk through and found himself fighting off a spell that could have killed him. The group then found a ghost haunting the room. The ghost was the last thief who had tried to take the items and was cursed to haunt this location to protect them. After fighting off the ghost the group searched the room and found another secret panel. Behind the panel was a large book and more constructs protecting it. The constructs were taken out and the book was safely pulled out. There were also stairs going down to another level. It was decided that they should head back up and take stock before heading back into the castle. As they headed up they were met by Thera, running and out of breath. She reported that she and Katana has been attacked by creatures from the lake. She and Katana had fought but the creatures focused on Katana. Before Katana had gone down she ordered Thera to go and get help. Thera continued to fight but when she saw Katana go down and was heavily outnumbered she ran to find The Strangers. They quickly headed towards the top so that they could rescue their helper.
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