A Crow Left of the Murder [D1, EM, Rhaunades's Library Remains] (Closed)

[Gabriel Morningstar]

Gabriel blinked and bleary eyed. "Before we formulate any kind of theories, we should definitely make sure that there is nothing left unturned. Like the suspicious things that Rufus smelled out."

He pondered. "Besides, we should have the apples checked out for..magical resonance or whatever it is that wizards do. I know I'm not competent in that area. They might be poisonous or something."

[Flession]

Rufus sniffs around the area, after which it stop scrapping against the ground where the claw marks were found, trying to dig underneath remains of the floorboards.

((You pass!))

"I will be right with you all in a moment."

Rubbing ash from her spectacles she makes her way past Amelie with a polite nod before withdrawing a crowbar from her own pack, slotting it neatly into a gap and giving it a heave.

Day 1 EM, crowbaring up the floorboards, DC 12 strength with advantage: 2#1d20 18 60

((Final result: 18))

While the others stare at fruit, you find a stone staircase leading downwards. Hard to tell where, but it definitely leads towards the underbelly of Sigil.

[Naila Drooten]

Naila waves away the resulting cloud of ash as she peers down the staircase. Curiouser and Curiouser. A secret entrance and exit? Seems unlikely with the floorboards. Perhaps a vault of some kind? Either way it should probably be investigated.

Calling out to the others and only occasionally sneezing: "Rufus and I have found a secret passageway of some sort. I'm not sure if it's linked to the case but it certainly merits investigation."

She'll wait a few moments to make sure the posse has time to organise, but then the detective is heading down the stairs!

[Amelie Crane]

Standing still next to the spot on the floor with mysterious scratches, Amelie watched as Naila also found the same location and began to remove boards to reveal a stairway. She looked to the woman and gave a nod.

“Fine find, Detective. I’ll accompany you down.”

And after Nalia began her descent, Amelie followed behind, still utilizing her handheld light to illuminate a path downwards.

[Mysti]

Mysti blinked at the hidden staircase. Then blinked again.

"I knew it. I bloody well knew it! How did that get past me? I swear I poked every stone, hit every wall with the pommel of my daggers. I must be losing my touch or something. Disappointing to say the ..."

She pushed the handle of the fruit basket up her arm so she wore it almost like a piece of jewelry -- thus freeing up her hand to actually use her bow rather than to just hold it.

"Actually, mind if I come with you? We can give this fruit all the scruitiny it needs once we see what's down there."

Without waiting for a definitive answer -- she didn't think she'd get one anyway -- Mysti pulled an arrow and nocked it, though she kept the weapon pointed at the floor. Then she followed the other two down the stairs.

"I damn well knew there was a secret in here ..." This last, she growled to herself so that no one else would hear.

[Flession]

You all begin to descend into the darkness below, as it goes below. You pass thru a archway to see a small room filled with graves, the dust and age of the stone seal showing it has been far too long since they were properly maintained, much less touched..

As Mysti begins her descent, the archway reacts with a bright light and swirling effects, and she immediately vanishes before you.

[Naila Drooten]

“So… there appears to be an active gate down here.”

Naila eyes the archway suspiciously.

“I rather hope this doesn’t go to one of those instantly lethal planes.”

With a quiet sigh she follows through the archway.

[Gabriel Morningstar]

Gabriel frowned at the situation. "Well...there is a portal." He focused his eyes, trying to find out more. He reached out with his paladin senses, and found nothing overtly magical. "Well...here goes something." He stepped into the portla after Misti, followed closely by Rufus.

OOC:
Casting Detect Magic via Paladin

[Mysti]

Mysti stopped dead in her tracks the moment she realized everything was different. In fact, she stopped so quickly that anyone moving behind her likely would've pushed right into her back unless they were sufficiently far away -- though she was the last one down, as far as she knew.

She quickly belted out a warning, a tight hiss between her teeth, "Everyone don't move ... not yet. Let's get a sense of where we are first. At least all of the basic things are still here -- air, gravity, and a survivable millieu."

At which point she did try to see if she could figure out where the group now stood. Unfortunately, from Mysti's perspective, someone else could have had the key, so she is unaware that the apples had been the key all along.

"Anyone else been traveling the planes longer than me? Does this place look familiar to anyone? Because to my eyes it looks infernal or abyssal. One of the two. But more Hellish than Abyssal-ish."

She gave a quick look around to make sure everyone else had traversed the portal with her -- that she wasn't standing there by herself holding a longbow -- with a basket of fruit on one arm.

[Flession]

((Roll me a Arcana check to determine where you are. DC 16))