Café de Nuit

The mid day sun is warmer than expected after the burial of the house maid Mariabella. The group of Goran Pancrazio, his cousin the Ezran champion Sir Julian, the house men at arms: Tristan the houndsman and the elf Tahl now stand outside the manor's greenhouse. They are accompanied by Harold Noor, a renown scholar from beyond Borca.

The greenhouse is covered with thick vines, and the windows are caked with years of dust. Entering the greenhouse during the day is a different sight to the group. There are several rows of pots where long dead plants have become dried brown stalks. The heat inside the greenhouse is slightly uncomfortable.

Ahead on the floor is the exposed trapdoor leading into the unknown. A stained and flame scorched ground before the trapdoor is a grisly reminder of the night before.

Tristan opens a few window panels to admit fresh air.

''I'm just going to take a quick look about the place...''

He proceeds to do a hasty search, hoping to note anything unusual. If he finds a clue , he'll stop to examine it. Otherwise, he'll wait by the trapdoor.

Tristan discovers that amid the brown flowers a small, white-purple flower seems to thrive.

These are the same flowers Tuke has pointed out to the group before.

Tahl waits for their intrepid leader Julian to lead them down into the tunnels .

Goran steps into the greenhouse less than eager for what might become of them. It doesn't matter now, he reassures himself, the time has come.

The ranger quickly looks about the greenhouse with a hurried sense for anything quere and unusual. Goran finally lands next to the others at the trapdoor. There, he uses his flint to spark to life one of the oil torches, then promptly lights the second with the first, then with a low utterance, "Someone grab this" as he holds out the extra torch.

Harold accepts the torch, muttering under his breath about 'waste'.

"Just remember," he grumbles out loud, "if something attacks us down there, I am not the one to look for if you seek armed support. I'm an old man. Sending me down tunnels to look for the undead, indeed ..."

The 'old man' lapses back into muttering and grumbling under his breath, some of the muttering apparently in Draconic: "Neque vis, neque infortunium me tangete! Lorica magi me vela ..."

(OOC: Casting Mage Armor. I figure people would need to make a Spellcraft DC14 check to identify it. )

Goran bends and grasps the trapdoor with his right glove, he pauses before lifting it out of it's snug home. While on his knee, he raises his gaze to peer through the glass roof of the greenhouse into the sky above. (1)


"If you believe it is a waste old man, then by all means find another bearer. Perhaps it is best not to burden your worn frame... now, if there will be no more objections let us begin." Goran pulls on the door to the underground...

"Harold, it would be best for you to stay near the center of the group."

Goran flashes his torch into the hole in preparation of his next action...

(1) Survival or Knowledge(Nature) check, result 17 for Survival or 13 for Know(Nature). check is to attempt to discern the time of day and possibly a weather prediction. SORRY< NOT SURE WHICH SKILL WAS REQUIRED HERE

Flashing his torch into the shaft revealed by the trap door, Goran can see wide stone stairs leading below. A secure looking rail bolted to the west stone wall of the secret passage offers some relief to the wary who would descend the steps. There is nearly no dust in the passage, though there is a heavy scent of lavender and other sweet flowers.

At the bottom of the steps a passage leads off to the west. A torch lies in a sconce on the wall alongside the threshold of the passage. (1)






(1) Marching order please

Julian walk makes his way down the steps "Perhaps it is best if I take the lead cousin." he says to Goran as he passes him.

He cautiously makes his way down the stairs into the tunnel below.

(1) Julian will take the lead.

Tahl goes right after Julian to guard his back and to be a buffer against attacks to the rest family members that are coming down into the tunnels .

Tristan follows just short of two yards behind Tahl. The young man keeps his eyes peeled for danger.

Harold follows behind Tristan, the torch held high to provide the group with the most light he can manage. His eyebrows are drawn down in a frown, however ...

Goran follows the rest of the group down the shaft. Behind him, he slowly lets the trapdoor come down into its resting place.

The woodsman encourages the group, "I suggest we hurry this along, but keep in mind to move softly and not tary from our goal."

Goran will keep rear security

As the group reaches the west passage at the bottom of the stairs they can see part of the hall before them. It is a long hallway, the walls and ceiling are stone that seemed to be formed from the mud itself. Just at the edge of vision another unlit, but well used torch can be seen along the walls. Just below it there is an old chair upon which rests a large, but thin book. A barred door lies ajar opposite the torch.

The odor of the tunnel is that of the grave. The hall seems only to go forward.

There is heavy dust on the smooth stone floor. A set of recent footprints lead away from the cell further down the darkened hall.

Goran walks slower than the rest of the group to space himself from the old scholar, about ten or fifteen feet of air kept between.

Goran remains ever vigilant in his guarding the rear by keeping his senses focused behind him. His right paw shields the intense heat and light from the torch so he may see without having to squint.