Lisebet is overheard praising Leary: for running an event


What mysteries could Ulfcar Castle hold indeed. Whatever various connections each person has to the Marquis Leary, one thing is not in question. Everyone is here to explore Ulfcar Castle and find the treasure inside. Marquis Leary has personally taken the time to explain the results of his research, detailing some basic history and knowledge about Ulfcar Castle. Each person has their own set of skills, that has been employed to convince the Marquis to investigate these ruins.

From the sounds of it, Baron Ivan Ulfcar was an incredibly skilled Knight and tactician during the Crownbreakers War. So skilled, in fact that he was one of the front leading figures in many of skirmishes and battles against the Sylv'alfar. Legend has it, that Baron Ulfcar fell a power Sylv'alfar Knight, and collected a rare and powerful ring, known as Rosecrest or, The Rose of Ulfcar.

Now, the rumor further explains that Baron Ulfcar has died and kept the ring, locked away in his families Crypts. The very crypts, which are supposedly deep underneath the castle that stands before you. A castle which has been worn down heavily over the ages, dilapidated from the elements and leaving the structure crumbled in many areas.

Carriage ride over, Lisebet disembarks, glancing around quietly. She's maybe the weakest link, not a lot of experience and all, but she's here. She pauses to rub her hands together, as she waits for others to disembark/arrive, whatever. "I wanted to come on an adventure," she mutters to herself. "And here I am. That's a good thing, right?" So says the purely decorative jewel of Westrock Reach.

As they arrive, Elloise stops every few minutes or so when something new catches her eye - stones, architecture, plant life - everything. She's fishing around in her over-sized satchel for a specimen jar. But, she's all out of them it seems and she siiiighs out dramatically as she simply removes a quill-shaped hairstick that she tucks into her hair. "Well, rats."

Choosing to ride alongside the driver, Fecundo keeps a sharp eye on the land. When they arrive, he makes sure everyone is settled before he gets down, himself. He takes a breath and stretches from the ride, "Anyone familiar with the area?"

It hadn't been a stretch to get Arthen Dayne out on an adventure like this one. The man was a treasure hunter after all, and the Rose of Ulfcar sounded like a thing that needed to be rediscovered. So it's easy enough to see why he would be in a carriage full of other people, most of them strangers to the man, headed off toward the borders of Leadholdt. But the explorer was a talker, that's been said before, so it would be hard to remain a stranger to him over the length of such a ride. By the time they arrive, and he's stepping out of the carriage, most folks are probably getting used to his mouth. Hopefully. "It's good to go on adventures, Lisebet. Just don't let adventures go on you, that's the tricky part. Builds character, diggin' around in history and lettin' things try and kill you for the sake of it.", he mentions, a slow and easy smile on his lips. The man takes a moment to survey the area with those baby blue eyes of his. "Can't say I've ever been around these parts before."

Corbit arrives, looking around the area and noticing everyone else arriving too, he shakes his head at Fecundo, "I'm not." he says, "Though, I think that's the point, explore, get familiar with it." he says the grins at Arthen, "Well, hopefully nothing tries to kill us."

"Corgi --" Elloise sing-songs in an offtune warble toward Corbit, "You're such a bright ray of sunshine for the approaching dusk, brother-mine." She offers a flash of a wide smile, glancing away from her fellow Leary and toward the others: Lisebet, Fecundo, and Lisebet. "Wanna race to see to gets inside first?!" And she's off.

Elloise checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 0 higher.

Lisebet glances at everyone as they step down. She grins at Arthen, as he comments on her words. "I am with Lord Corbit on that one. I do hope that nobody and nothing tries to kill us." She then blinks as Elloise starts to towards the castle at a run. "Oh goodness. We'll get there all out of breath and what an impression that will make! No ghosts will ever invite us in for tea." She gripes. Though she does get a slightly mischievous look in her eyes, before she heads off after Elloise. "I suppose we shouldn't let her get all the tea."

Fecundo shakes his head and looks to Elloise, "Slow down....take your time. Old place...rotting floors..shifting stone." He sighs as she takes off and then moves to see what the approach and entry look like.

Corbit nods at Lisabet, "I wouldn't worry about it, if they don't invite us then they'd have nobody to drink tea with." he says, then to Elloise, "Elly! Slow down!" he calls out and takes off trying to catch up with her, "It might be dangerous." he says while chasing after her.

"Well, if something tries to kill us, you can just ask them real polite-like if they might not. If that don't work, we'll figure something out.", Arthen Dayne promises Lisebet, just before people go charging for the castle. "Hey! Try not to make the castle think we are stormin' it!", he calls out. He spends a good minute going over his gear, before he looks back at the driver, "Do me a favor and don't ride off or nothin' without us, yeah? Be a long walk home." There's a tight smile for that driver, and then he starts heading off in the direction of the castle, but not at a run.

Arthen checked perception + war at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Corbit checked perception + war at difficulty 20, rolling 1 higher.

Elloise checked perception + war at difficulty 30, rolling 13 lower.

Fecundo checked perception + war at difficulty 20, rolling 1 lower.

Corbit checked perception + war at difficulty 30, rolling 12 lower.

Lisebet checked perception + war at difficulty 30, rolling 16 lower.


Approaching the the group can clearly see a massive, wooden door that appears rotted in several places. It looks rather heavy, worn down with age. Even the hinges and the locking mechanism appears to be heavily rusted. In some parts, there are large cracks that shine the last sheds of daylight into the castle. Just above the door is a balcony, where the old guards of the castle used to live. Suddenly a hail of arrows fall down towards the group, as the pair of Shav that guard the entrance make themselves know.

Arthen checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 28 higher.

Elloise checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Fecundo checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

Lisebet checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Corbit checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 4 lower.

Elloise skids to a short and wholly ungraceful stop at the main entrance, likely because she heard many warnings voiced from the rest of the party. She fidgets, shifting her weight from foot to foot and tugging on her sleeves. "Fine, fine. Goodness -- like there's something DANGEROUS in an old CASTLE. That's silly." Yes, she is being perfectly sincere when she says this, offering a guiless smile over her shoulder. Then - arrows happen and she backs the fuck up with a squeal. "I was wrong!"

Small scratch, right leg. 2 inflicted and Corbit is unharmed.

Small cut, left hand. 2 inflicted and Lisebet is harmed for minor damage.

Lisebet is already slowing, or perhaps slower to start with, when those arrows come flying. Her hands go flying up in the air as she backs up, backs up, backs up. Eyes wide, she lets out a yelp as one hits her left hand and she finds herself for the first time hit by any thing! "Ow," she grumbles, checking to see that she's bleeding. She doesn't fall over but her eyes go even wider and she gulps. Then she takes a deep breath, to say, "At least that didn't put a hole in my clothing." She continues to back up, holding her hand out in front of her, just in case it decides to bleed.

Fecundo manages to avoid the arrows with a few deft steps and gestures the others behind him after the arrows come down. He takes out his axe to move in towards the ones guarding the door.

Arthen Dayne's mid-sentence in saying, "The thing about these old castles is, you never really know who or what has started takin' a liking to them, once they've s-..", just about the time a hail of arrows comes raining down, to which his response is a deft sort of backpedal, "I think we've made some friends!", and he takes several more steps back while unslinging that crossbow of his and setting it against the ground to draw back on. "I'd find some cover if you don't like carryin' arrows home in the wrong way!". The weapon's lifted, the man looking for someone to line a shot up on.

Corbit swears under his breath as an arrow sings past him and takes a small bit of his leg with it, burying itself in the ground behind him, he spots Elloise and tries to grab her and pull her to find cover with him. "No more rushing in, ok Elly?" he says with a bark of a nervous laugh as he hauls ass behind whatever he can find.

Fecundo has rolled a critical success!
Fecundo checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 10, rolling 50 higher.

Corbit checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 10, rolling 1 higher.

Lisebet checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 10, rolling 0 higher.

Arthen checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 10, rolling 36 higher.

Elloise checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 10, rolling 4 higher.

Lisebet checked charm + diplomacy at difficulty 35, rolling 4 higher.


Another hail of arrows sails out towards the group as the Shav seem intent on killing the group.

The second hail of arrows, he's prepared for, and Fecundo deftly avoids any possible strikes as he moves closer to where they are, wielding that axe. He's not rushing, watching for other surprises along the way.

Elloise darts behind Corbit as he hauls her backward and away from the second volley of arrows, and the entire time she's grumbly, "We could have brought a host gift, Corgi, that's generally the socially acceptable thing to do when you visit a place --" a gulp "--uninvited."

Lisebet has to dodge again, as arrows come flying, and she can feel the swoosh of that arrow, and the tickle of its feathers, but it doesn't damage her. "Oh hey, hey now, hold up," she protests calling out loudly. There's a touch of composure to her that might be somewhat startling. "Shouldn't you at least find out if we are enemies before you start shooting? I mean, maybe we can help each other?" Seems reasonable to the young Lady at any rate. She's used to dealing with shavs back at Westrock Reach - but at least there she can be understood. Sort of.

Think diplomatic thoughts, Arthen Dayne. When the second hail of arrows come, he finds something to get behind real quick-like. It doesn't seem like there's a lot around though, so he makes for whatever he can while people start trying to talk it out. He keeps that crossbow readied, navigating a strange side-back path.

Corbit is a talker certainly, but not that kind, what he is good at though is thinking and hiding behind stuff, one of those skills which he's using right now. He glances over Ella to make sure he's alright and goes to peek over his cover before dropping down again right before the other volley comes down.


When Lisebet starts calling out, trying to reason with the Shav, there is a brief moment were it seems they at least pause. Then they start shouting, angrily, threateningly even, all in Isles Shav. There is a moments delay, just enough time for the group to realize what is going on, but then the Shav start readying their bows to launch out another round of arrows.

And in comes Cora, who was somewhere doing something in the Castle and was drawn by the loudness. Oh crap arrows! Someone does the chicken dance to avoid being hit.

Arthen checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

Arthen checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 33 higher.

Elloise checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Corbit checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 10, rolling 0 higher.

Lisebet checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 10, rolling 0 higher.

Coraline checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 41 higher.

Fecundo checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 33 higher.

When the Diplomancer's best efforts seem to go a little to the left, Arthen Dayne shouts, "I don't think they much want to be our friends! That's pretty hurtful!", and he lines up that shot on one of the guards, calling up, "Hey! We got women down here!", and after a second of considering, he adds, "And men!", before he fires off that bolt with the sharp slapping sound of the catgut against the crossbow's limbs. It flies true, sinking into the throat of one of the shav guards, but he doesn't brag about it. Instead, he sets to reloading.

Fecundo doesn't seem to have much fear of the arrows as he keeps going forward, finally reaching the door. Looking over where it is rotting, he finds a good place to make use of the weapon he's brought, "Glad I picked the axe instead of the sword today." He looks to make the door more of an archway.

Having managed not to become a pincushion Cora calls, "What is going on? Why are we getting shot at? Who pissed them off? Why did nobody tell me I would need my armor?" Thankfully she is never parted from her sword and that quickly gets drawn, "I will never again go anywhere without my armor." She mutters as they reach the door.

Coraline wields a slender ember-hued rubicund longsword.

Arthen wields a dire-sized ashwood crossbow with rubicund fittings.

Fecundo wields Dark Wings, a falcon-etched steel battle axe.

Corbit peaks back over his cover, he glances over the top of his cover again and goes back down when he sees them about to fire again, after the volley goes by he yells out, "They all better be glad I don't have a sword... Or skill to use one... Or muscles... Or basic eye hand coordination!"

Elloise gets a mortar and pestle in ceramic stone from a strangely spacious battered black leather satchel of holding stuff and things.

Elloise wields a mortar and pestle in ceramic stone.

Lisebet frowns, not understanding what the men are yelling. "I don't understand you," she calls back at them, still trying. Though she then nearly gets hit by an arrow again, this one squealing way too near her hair for her comfort and she ducks back again, making herself as small as she can. "I think they know that, but you can tell them again, I'm sure. If they even understand us."


Just as Fecundo and Coraline reach the door, it burst open and a trio of three more Shav come rushing out, swinging their maces and otherwise crude weapons at the pair of them. Meanwhile, the remaining archer takes aim on Arthen.. You know, the guy who just killed his friend?

Coraline checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 37 higher.

Coraline checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 32 higher.

Arthen checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 27 higher.

Coraline checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 33 higher.

Arthen checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 20 higher.

Fecundo checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Fecundo checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

Feeling like she needs to equip herself _somehow_, Elloise removes a ceramic stone pestle from her carryall. (She can't find the scalpel.) "It doesn't matter, Corgi, ack - ack - ack." She considers throwing the pestle at someone anyway.

Well..he was aiming for the door, but not Fecundo's fault that one of the Shav decides to make it easier for him, open it, and step out, the swing is enough to take out the enemy and Fecundo resets to see if there are more coming.

Cora moves up to an archer and stabs him, no muss no fuss, just freaking stabs him. "Please stop trying to shoot us." She says as the guy is already bleeding copiously and collapsing. Removing her sword she cleans it on the corpse and looks to see if there is anyone else to kill. No? Oh well then. Her eyes pan to see if there is furhter danger and is ready to get out of the way from more arrows. "Why are these people shooting at us again?"

Arthen Dayne's got one hand lifted, two fingers extended, which he uses to gesture to his eyes and then gesture at the remaining archer, threateningly, when that next arrow comes sailing in for him. The sight of it lights a bit of a fire under the man's ass, who takes a bit of cover just in time to see it thud into the ground where he was. A long, slow whistle of appreciation precedes him appearing once more, crossbow leveled, and he snaps off a quick shot and nails his opponent in the face with a crossbow bolt. No sassy remarks, this time.

That runaway guard gets hit in the back with a stone pestle, somewhere between the shoulderblades, and Elloise leaps up - punching the air in victory befre she goes scurrying off for her tool. "That worked - that worked - thaaaaat worked."

Lisebet simply stays where she is, hiding. "I need to learn more languages, obviously," she says. She glances at her little scratch and grumbles lightly, before she peeks up to see what is going on.

Corbit laughs at Elloise and gives her a quick hug, he then glances over at the group who fought, "Is everyone alright?" he asks, then glances to Coraline and answers her, "Because, the other kind of diplomacy failed." he explains deadpan.

Fecundo looks to Coraline, "Well, Highness..I don't think they liked the way we looked? Overdressed?"


After the last of the Shav guards meet their demise by the group (or runs off to hide somewhere), everyone has a chance to start making their way inside. For a place that is decrepit and utterly falling apart, it doesn't actually look half bad. Once you get past the layers of dust, rotted wood and potentially dangerously crumbled stone archways. More than a pillar or two lay across the floor, withered over time. And at least one looks like it might topple over any day now. Inside, it seems they are in somesort of Great Hall. This must be where the Baron held court, so long ago, as their is a pair of throne like chairs positioned neatly in the center of the room.

Corbit checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 24 higher.

Arthen checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 7 higher.

Corbit gets a wry look, "Now Bitty, you know it is a boot to the head not a sword, or axe, to the heart that is the way to solve these things." Cora deadpans back and Fecundo gets a look up then down, "Do I have to poke you to make sure you are fit to be standing right now? At least you aren't wincing every few seconds. I might just strip you to make sure your wounds are alright."

Lisebet checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 8 lower.

Elloise checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 21 higher.

Coraline checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 27 lower.

Fecundo checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 15 lower.

Lisebet finally stands up, looking around, and goes into the main hall along with the others. She is quiet now, litneing to the cameraderie and teasing going on, not adding to it.

Coraline checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 15 lower.

Arthen Dayne steps inside, looking around. "This must have been one heck of a place, back when it was stirred up with life.", he says, admiring the architecture. An architecture-lover, go figure. "I'm surprised these shav haven't done more with it. They struck me as interior decorators, really."

Arthen checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 33 higher.

Walks carefully behind the others, head up - eyes sweeping the decrepit main Hall of the keep that they've entered. Expression scrunched up into one of concentration, "But so much room for activities," Elloise notes earnestly to Arthen Dayne.

Elloise checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher.

Fecundo says something quietly to Coraline before looking around this room, circling the throne-like chairs to see what might be about. He doesn't rehang his axe just yet.

Fecundo checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 15 lower.

Corbit walks along quietly, glancing around, "Kind of spooky." he finally says, "I think it would be less spooky if it wasn't in such good shape for it's age."

Corbit checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher.

As he looks around the area, Corbit's head stops on the raised area with the chairs, he immeadiately walks over to it and looks at it for only a split second and pushes the button. He might not be as impulsive as his sisters, but it *IS* a button. "I wonder what this does." he says as he presses it, he does however take the caution to take a step back as soon as he presses it.

There's a button? What button? Lisebet is oblivious to any buttons, just looking around randomly.

Cora has also not realized such a thing as a button existed anywhere around here and so is blissfully unaware of what Corbit is pushing.

Arthen Dayne sort of notices the button just before Corbit pushes it, and looks on in slow horror as it's pushed. He cringes a bit, expecting.. well.. he isn't sure what he's expecting, but he expects it.


When Corgi finds the button and presses it, suddenly the whole of the slightly raised section that houses those two elegant chairs starts to grumble loudly, slowly sliding back to reveal a hidden stairwell. With as old and decrepit as the whole place is, a couple stones in the walls wiggle out and crash to the floor below. Really, this whole place may come down at them at any minute.

"Cousin Cora, should we have let Corgi DO that --" Elloise doesn't look alarmed, not at all, she's followed Corbit's path toward the raised dais and the chairs. Blinking hard, squinting, and she fidgets restlessly in place when he presses the button. Her fingers flexing at her side. There's a tiny bit of mischief in that gaze. "SECRET DOORWAY."

The expression on Cora's face is clearly oh shit, "No, no we shouldn't have!" And Cora sets herself to shove people out of the way of falling debris, people like Elly and Corbit and Lisbet who she knows can't dodge.

"Oh hey, would ya look at that. Secret stairs.", Arthen Dayne says, relaxing just a bit when nothing awful happens to the lot of them. He gives the group a bit of a cautious look, shoulders his crossbow, and says, "Elloise, why don't you race up those stairs, see what's up there? I bet it's fine. It's likely fine." Those baby blue eyes of his cut over to Lisebet, a wily grin pulling on his lips for a second.

Elloise checked composure at difficulty 10, rolling 12 higher.

Fecundo jumps a bit when things shift around and he watches Coraline move like that to get people out of the way. He nods and smiles a little, looking down the stairwell, "Anyone bring a torch?"

Nope, not so good at dodging, well, only when they're not really aiming at her. "Wait, what?" she asks, as she turns to see what is going on. "Secret doorway? That didn't seem very secret did it?" Then there's Arthen suggesting Elloise dart down the stairs, and her mischief flairs on Lisebet's face, though she says, "No, I think we shouldn't really. Maybe a little more care? I don't want anyone getting shot. or anythng. And what if there are traps?"

Renn, the mousy, scholarly brunette arrives, delivering a message to Coraline before departing.

Corbit simply holds his arms out to the door like a magician who has just done a particularly amazing trick that he totally expected to work, "See? I mean, what could possibly go wrong from pushing a button." he says before taking a long look down the stairs, he grins at Elloise, "Shall we go?" he asks, then adds, "Carefully!".

"-- I" Easily, Elloise begins to dart forward in the direction of the dais on Arthen's suggestion (poor impulse control, what) and then Coraline gives her a nudge out of the way and Lisebet's talking about traps and getting shot and other (sigh) dangers again. So, instead, she listens to that little warning voice and hangs back. Head ducked, "We can go. Carefully, I suppose. Although where's the fun in that?"

Corbit checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 47 higher.

Fecundo checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 1 lower.

The expression on Cora's face is the same one she uses with her little cousins, and with knights and other adventure types who don't think things through. "Carefully!" She emphasizes to everyone. "As in think /before/ you do something, Bitty." The one who pushed the freakin button.

Lisebet checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 36 higher.

Arthen checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 37 higher.

Elloise checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 37 higher.

Coraline checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 12 lower.

Renn, the mousy, scholarly brunette arrives, delivering a message to Coraline before departing.

Fecundo looks to Coraline, "You want lead or tail, Highness?" He's willing to take whichever she doesn't, apparently. He offers her a smile before looking to the others.

Corbit begins to makes his way down the stairs, he takes each step carefully looking around him as he goes down, "Hey Elly." he says, "If I find another button I'll let you press it this time." he says with a grin as he makes his wat further down the steps.

"CORA, traaaap. That step, that one right there." With a lift of her chin, Elloise squints at the step, stepping away from the opened doorway in the floor. "It's pressure sensitive - rather like those iron jaws they use for bear hunting. Step on it and oof. Only, this might be a switch - like the button. Darts, arrows, sharp stabby things. Who knows?"

Fecundo's question gets a Cora /look/ You get the rear so I will take the front." She pads over to do just that then freezes at Elly's words, "Nice catch, can you see a way around it without hitting the trigger but also not setting off other potential traps?" She asks Elly

Lisebet eyes the others, gaze going to the ceiling over the stairs they go down, following in where she is told to go, and listening to the instructions if others find traps and so on. She is carefully looking for herself as well, of course, but perhaps not so good at finding them? Maybe.

Fecundo nods and can't help but grin, taking up the rear, but noting where the trap was identified.

"That's a pretty good catch.", Arthen Dayne compliments from his place in line, somewhere near-abouts the middle or close to it. He steps over the pressure-plate as well, lightly, "Boy, they must not have wanted anyone down here. I don't figure you install traps like that unless you want to keep your guests around for a long while." What's the harm in a little idle conversation during a dangerous adventure?


Thankfully, after a hefty little walk down the stairwell, the group is otherwise unimpeded by traps or other dangers. For now, at least. But the stair well travels deep underground, with rusted torches hanging from the walls. Seemingly, they have all been lit. Which may mean there are more Shav deeper inside. Finally at the bottom of the stair case, they find themselves in a long hallway, of sorts. At the end of the hallway some grinding noises can be heard coming from that direction. As the group moves through the hallway, they find themselves in a large, open room with what looks like brass pipes above their heads. In the center of the room are a few of the large pipes that most of them seems to be connected to. On the otherside of the room is a large, brass gate that somehow seems to be connected to the pipes as well. On occasion, in the pipes there appears to be sections that have glass in them, with steam filling some of the empty sections, and others simply empty.

Corbit hangs his foot in mid-air for a moment then simply hops over the trapped step, he continues down, but this time, he's *really* taking his time, looking at each step closely before he steps down onto it. When they get down to the larger room, Corbit simply stares in awe at the pipes and steam and everything else around them.

"Which, leads to a logical conclusion, that hiding - and trapping - a place means we're going in the proper direction. Or, it's that part where the floor drops out from beneath us and we fall into a bunch of sharp and pointy rocks and diiiie. Oh, this is neat." Elloise chirps as the group starts to all gather in the long hallway, staring up, up, and UP at the brass piping.

Arthen checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 12 higher.

Fecundo checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 7 lower.

Elloise checked intellect + alchemy at difficulty 30, rolling 52 higher.

Lisebet checked wits + riddles at difficulty 30, rolling 11 higher.

Corbit checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 14 higher.

Arthen Dayne plays with the valves and so on. "You know, I've never seen a setup like this before. Elloise, what's goin' on with all this junk?", he asks, just sort of moving whatever moves. At least that's how it appears. He might be more clever than he looks.

This is not, apparently, Fecundo

Corbit looks the valves up and down for several moments before shrugging and turning one, he looks around to see if anything changes before trying a few more watching any reactions or lack thereof trying to analyze the pipes and valves as best he can.

This is not, apparently, Fecundo's game as he moves around, burning himself once or twice in the process of fooling about with the valves, and seeing how the others are making out.

Lisebet looks around very curiously, pausing to tap at one of the pipes, and then looking at one that seems to have glass. She jumps back from one with steam, expecting it to be hot, and not wanting to burn herself. "How very odd," she says, looking around to see what all the others make of it.

Elloise starts to tinker with the various valves and taps when she can reach them, falling into a quiet place of quick thinking and restless hands that need to explore. She's muttering quietly to herself - taking mental notes. "Goodman Dayne, I am attempting to figure that part out. I presume that these valves, opened in the proper order, may open the gate --" she shrugs "-- another assumption. I'll need to test that idea out."


It's a complex locking mechanism, that seems to be all based on the pipings above. As the group moves and turns the valves, the steam begins to shift and change direction. Really, this is a group of scholars and brilliant minded individuals, so it really doesn't take long for everyone to collectively communicate and puzzle and figure out the correct way to spin the valves until suddenly there is another rumbling and a clank, and the brass gate begins to open.

Corbit glances at the door as it opens, he immeadiately starts walking towards it, but stops right before he gets it he looks around the inside of where the door leads to, glancing along the walls and floor before he steps through.

Fecundo shakes off the little but of burn on the one hand and moves along with the others, stopping to wait and see if Corbit sees anything, and to get a good look, himself.

"That's sweet of you to say, Elloise, but I'm only an okay man.", Arthen Dayne assures the woman, while continuing to work his subtle brilliance on the whatever these things are. When the gate begins to rumble and open, he cuts his blue eyes over in that direction, "Oh hey, look at that! Someone did somethin' right to it, it'd seem."

Lisebet works with those who are so inclined, concentratind on the riddle of it. As the gate cranks and clanks open, she turns to look that way, smiling. "Well done," she says with a nod. "But are we sure we want to go in there?" It is said straight faced, but then she adds, "Oh who am I kidding, let's go. Just carefully."

"We're going. Carefully," Elloise repeats, glancing back at Arthen Dayne with a bemused expression. "What that an attempt at humor, sir? I am afraid I didn't get it. Apologies."


The gate opens up to another long hallway, it seems, and now screams can be heard. The screams of a woman on the other end of the hallway. Desperate, scared... There isn't much time to lose.

Corbit takes off down the hallway, what he's going to do if he gets there and something wants to kill him isn't clear, maybe he's hoping the fighting types will outrun him, maybe he hasn't thought that far, either way, down the hallway he runs.

"Well, you called me a goodman. So I said I was only an okay-..", Arthen Dayne begins to explain, very helpfully and because it's clearly very important too, when the sounds of a woman screaming float down the hall. "Oh wow, that is not the good kind of screamin'..", he says, a little wide-eyed. He picks up his pace too, but not too fast, because of traps. The crossbow is hoisted, not readied, but prepared.

When Corgi takes off, Fecundo has to keep pace with him, shaking his head, "Ever think that steam could be made into a whistle...who would be down here to scream?" He shakes his head softly and moves along the hall.

Lisebet has no idea what she is going to do, short of joining whoever is down there in screaming, but she follows along, most definitely. only one thing worse than heading towards the unknown with the sound of a woman echoing is staying behind by yourself in the scary steam lock room.

Elloise is behind, at the end, going nope-nope-nope as she walks briskly in that the direction with the others.


This isn't as long of a walk as the walk down into the last room, and it is made all the more shorter when the group takes off, moving a bit faster than they were before. As they go, they can hear another sort of shouting... Chanting, even, in Isles Shav. Bursting into the room, the group is suddenly face-to-face with a group of five or six men and women all dressed in long, flowing red robes. It seems the room around them is a family crypt, with sarcophagus surrounding the room. In the center of the room is an altar with a woman tied down to it. On the far end of the altar is a mechanical box made of wire and thin plates of metal. Inside the box is a conglomeration of blades, all spinning at incredibly high speeds. Even deeper inside, a beautiful golden ring with a large ruby gemstone can be found. It would be impossible to remove the ring without first deactivating the blades.

Meanwhile, there is a man standing over the altar with an athame raised over his head, and the other four cultists surrounding the altar, chanting. It seems to be some sort of blood sacrifice. As the group arrives, cultists all turn to face them, and point with athame at hand, shouting and now charging at the group.

Arthen checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 25 higher.

Fecundo checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 37 higher.

Lisebet checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Corbit checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 8 lower.

A clean slice across the cheek. 6 inflicted and Lisebet is unharmed.

Light scratch to the chest. 8 inflicted and Corbit is harmed for minor damage.

Vern arrives, delivering a message to Fairen before departing.

Elloise has rolled a critical success!
Elloise checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 4 higher.

Arthen checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 30 higher.

Fecundo checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 40 higher.

Corbit slides to a stop in the room as soon as he sees what's going on, though he doesn't stop quick enough "What the fu..." is cut off as he runs into one of the blades getting a small, but decent scratch across his chest, he immeadiately darts the other way to get behind the people with pointy things.

Elloise checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 13 higher.

"Not again, not again - no, no, oooh what's that sharp-ended box - no-no-no." Elloise closes her eyes, making herself compact against the walls and she flings the pestle in her hand again. She doesn't see where it goes or if it strikes. She's just trying to stay out of the way.

"Hey! I don't know what's goin' on here!", Arthen Dayne says, bursting into the area along with the others and leveling his crossbow, taking aim. "But I don't recall anyone gettin' permissiont to kidnap women an' stand around them lookin' creepy as fuck in robes!". He fires, deadly with that dire-sized weapon, the bolt cutting through the air to take one of the.. - cultists? wizards? - .. in the throat, killing him. "Y'all can just give up now! And nobody gets hurt!" A moment later, "..Nobody else gets hurt!".

Lisebet squeaks as someone swings a knife at her face, somehow managing to not get the uggliest scar ever on her face, but a very small scratch certainly mars that porcelain look she has. "Ow that's not very nice," is her comment, understatement. She makes her way back to hide a bit, not exactly sure what to do if anything here. "Somehow I don't think I can sweet talk these guys out of - well, most anything," she says with a sigh. "Also, help!"

Managing to block the attack on himself, Fecundo winces as Lisebet and Corbit get struck. He wades in, dispatching his attacker and then turning first on Lisebet's as he sees that Elly has some ability to protect herself for the moment. And Corbit...well....he's on his own.

Arthen checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 28 higher.

Fecundo checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 36 higher.

Elloise checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 6 higher.

Lisebet has rolled a critical success!
Lisebet checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 8 higher.

Corbit checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 14 lower.

Stab wound, right shoulder. 14 inflicted and Corbit is harmed for moderate damage.

Corbit grunts in pain as he takes a sword to the shoulder, this one isn't a knick, it gets him pretty good, "Mother fucker!" he exclaims, grabbing his shoulder and tries to keep away from the crazy cult person trying to somewhat successfully hack away at him.

After dispatching the second, Fecundo is not merciless and does not chase the last fleeing Shav. He does turn to Corbit, "You might want to have Princess Coraline look at that." He shakes his head a little and then looks back to the box and then to free the woman. He looks to Corbit again, "Ok..I was wrong."

"That's okay, Lisebet. We are just goin' to keep usin' this alternative diplomacy. Seems to be workin'.", Arthen Dayne assures, while he's reloading his crossbow, which is a bit of a process, but nothing he hasn't smoothed down to a finer and more measured thing. He winces a bit on noticing Corbit get stabbed, lifts that crossbow a second time and sinks another bolt into a cultist, murdering the person. It was self-defense. Everyone saw.

Lisebet has a red scratch on her face, matching her hand. both on her left side. Says something no doubt. "Let's get her free, and find out what is going on, maybe." She's an optimist, it seems.

Arthen checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 25 higher.

"Aggressive alternative diplomacy appears to be a very successful method," Elloise murmurs at Arthen Dayne dispatches the runaway. She moves toward the strange bladed box, peering at it, but not touching it.


Now that the cultists are dispatched, the group has time to recover, rescue the woman who nearly became subject of a blood magic ritual of some kind, and most importantly... Make an attempt at figuring out this box. It seems the box is attached to the altar, on a pedestal of some sort. All along the pedestal is an array of strange and bizarre writings. Thankfully, it's all in Arvani. Unthankfully is that there is so much of it, it seems incoherent to most viewers.

Elloise checked perception + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 12 higher.

Lisebet checked charm + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 10 higher.

Corbit checked perception + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 5 higher.

Arthen checked charm + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 9 lower.

Fecundo checked charm + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 13 lower.

"That diplomacy definitely seems to be working so far, yes," Lisebet says with a smile, in agreement. But now she moves her attention to the poor girl. "Hi, you're okay now. We're not going to hurt you," she starts with.

Arthen Dayne brandishes his crossbow around a little too wildly as he walks up on the terrified woman, "Yeah! We ain't here to hurt you! We killed 'em all! You need uh.. some candy, or something? I got some Lottie's stuff in my pocket here.", he tells her, putting on his sweetest and most charming smile.

Corbit lets people who are better at dealing with people handle the girl as he makes his way to the box, he feels his shoulder and winces, tearing off a piece of his shirt he wraps it around the wound with his other arm, tying it off with his teeth and a wince. With the wound treated as much as it's going to be right now, he turns his attention to the box, inspecting it but not touching it, even if there is a button.

For some reason Cora apparently got lost and makes her way in taking a look around to see what she missed....again. "This damn castle is trying to eat me!" She declares but then notes blood, blood means injured and she sighs before going to shove the injured around. Corbit first, "Sit, lemme get you patched up."

Maybe you should not send the one with the bloody weapon to calm the human sacrifice. When Fecundo walks up...that's when the woman bolts. He doesn't even get a word out, shaking his head and sighing, "Right..put the axe away, then talk to the nice lady."

Arthen checked perception + riddles at difficulty 30, rolling 12 higher.

Coraline is looking at Corbit's more serious injuries, and Elloise looks over a shoulder toward Lisebet - toward the pedestal - and back again. "Cousin Cora, the Lady Farshaw has a few cuts that likely need to be tended." Elloise continues to study the pedestal. The writing, the box. Trying to figure it out. She's confused and curious.

Corbit checked perception + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 18 higher.

Elloise checked intellect + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 9 higher.

Lisebet checked wits + riddles at difficulty 30, rolling 1 higher.

Fecundo checked wits + riddles at difficulty 30, rolling 14 lower.

"What are you doin' over here, Elloise?", Arthen Dayne asks, walking over after the human sacrifice has fled. Hey, it wasn't his job to chase her down. That crossbow is slung, and he takes a moment to rub at his jaw, looking the box over carefully. "I don't suppose we can just break it open..", he muses. "What if we, uh..".

Dart wedged into the shoulder. 6 inflicted and Fecundo is unharmed.

Looks like Bitty did most of the patching himself, eh as it doesn't look like he is about to die, Cora heads off to Lisbet, "Alright lets get you patched up." She says with a cheerful smile. "Lemme see em."

"I think it's in there. I only think, Goodman Dayne." Elloise doesn't touch anything yet, trusting that Corbit will take the lead. When he notices the pattern - she catches on a second later.

Lisebet actually is very nearly untouched, a superficial cut on her face that is not even going to scar without treatment, and a slightly bigger scratch on her left hand. She does pause to let Coraline look her over though, raising her hand to let Cora see.

Fecundo is looking over the writings and places his hand, apparently somewhere he shouldn't. A dart shoots out, sticking in his shoulder. He blinks and looks at it, stepping back from the pedastal, puling it out.

Corbit starts pressing on words, nodding to his sister assuming she also has it figured out, before long, they both have it figured out and press all the right words.

Fecundo keeps back, letting the people better at the puzzles work this one out.

"Thank you, your highness," Lisebet says to Coraline. "Much appreciated." She carefully looks around, as the others do, only since they're looking at the top, she crouches down, her petite stature maybe coming in handy for once. She looks over once, twice, and on the third time, there's a "Oh," she says, after a few moments. "There's a book here." She reaches to pull the book out, carefully. "That - I nearly didn't see it, it blended right in with the pedestal."

Arthen is overheard praising Leary: A great expedition! Always happy to have the funding of a fine family like Leary.

Fecundo is overheard praising Leary: For the opportunity for a great adventure.


As Elloise and Corbit figure out the trap and press on those almost... Seemingly random words on the pedestal, the box starts to grind down into the the pedestal below it, and the blades actually seems to stop. The ring can be safely acquired, now. With the ring in hand, the party can continue to mend their wound. The book Lisebet found was actually some diary, that of Baroness Elani Ulfcar, the wife to Baron Ivan Ulfcar at the time the ring was discovered. Her recounting of the events after Ivan stole the ring from the corpse of a Sylva'alfar Knight are quite telling. Apparently, the ring was rumored to possess magic power that needed to be activated through a blood sacrifice.

Blood would sate the rings hunger, and grant the wearer immense power. But what the Baroness has to say is.. Well, quite dreadful. It tells that the ring drove her husband mad, and he began sacrificing servants to fuel it's power. Even, at one point, his youngest son. The Baroness was distraut and when she found that the ring wasn't actually magical at all? She planned on confronting the Baron. Upon further investigation, the altar was actually the tomb Ivan left is wife in, and he locked the ring away so no one may suffer the same loss he did. All over a pretty, mundane ring.