Story - Part 2 - Icespire Peak

You go through the opened door. It leads into an impressive chamber with an arched ceiling high above your head. A balcony runs around the whole room about 20 feet above your head. It is held up by massive wooden beams. The walls are decorated with ornaments and mirrors made from polished black stone. A massive table is lying on its side on the right side off the room. Beside it is a pile of finely crafted chairs.

In the place where you presume the the table was, you see a massive mirror, at least double your height. It seems top be made from polished dark grey metal and is held by a silver frame which is covered in ornaments. As you enter the room the knights close the door behind you.

Look into the mirror. The mirror of possibilities. And you will see what is possible, how you can BENEFIT your people, yourself and whoever else you decide to expand your gratitude to the woman calls down from the balcony above you.

"Um, I'm good. I'd rather not look in the mirror." She did her best to be pleasant about the refusal, but this woman didn't even try to be subtle.

No thanks. If it takes make for it to make sense then it doesn't make sense and is likely a bad idea.
Thinking for a moment Garic reaches over his shoulder to grab his bed roll and toss it at the mirror, using Spell Touched to have it drape over the mirror

The bedroll tightly wraps around the mirror, fully covering it up.
The woman above you starts to clap slowly Veeeeery impressive... Well frankly, I understand your hesitation. I too had to think about the offering . I'll give you some time to think. You could bring great value to your communities with the powers I offer you

The woman disappears in a puff of purple smoke. At the some time the door behind you shuts close and locks itself. Garic immediately tried to open it again but doesn't budge at all.
At the other side of the room is another door.

What do you want to do?

"Well, I officially hate it here. What do you think? I could have Ahki peek through the door."

Good idea. The more we know the better. I definitely don't want to have some ancient mirror fill my head with visions and who knows what else. The question is how do we break the enchantment on that elf?

As he talks Garic looks around the room.

Vienne quickly checks the other door and finds it unlocked. She quickly peers through it and finds a long hallway behind it.She sends Akhi ahead to scout

After a few minutes the familiar returns. It reports one open door on either side and a door at the end of the hallway.
Akhi couldn't reach the door at the end but could look through the other two doorways.
Behind the left one is a spiral stairway that leads up and behind the other one seems to be a kitchen

Garic meanwhile checks the room for anything useful or threatening but doesn't find either

Vienne relays Ahki's findings to Garic once her snake returns, not entirely sure on how useful it might be. "We could check out the possible kitchen, and maybe peek through the door he couldn't reach before we tackle heading up the stairs."

Lets go he says as he causes flame to encircle his shields to give light to their investigation as he heads cautiously down to corridor towards the kitchen when his companions are ready.

You head down the corridor, your steps eerily echoing through the room. As you reach the open doorways you look into the kitchen weapons drawn in order to fewnd off any adversary in there, but no one is in there...
It's actually quite unremarkable, the kind of kitchen you'd find in your town's inn. Copper pots, pans and an assortment of cutlery hang on the wall above a massive wooden countertop. An oven for cooking is in the corner, beside it is a sink. Interestingly the kitchen shows sign of recent use. The oven is still warm and there are dirty dishes in the sink. Also a door in the back leads to a larder that's stocked with basic foods like potatoes, carrots and some meats.

"Hey, this place seems so...normal. It's honestly making it weirder for me." Vienne looks around, curious as to how recently it had been used. Perhaps there was someone in here with them? It seemed pretty...well used.

Vienne looks around. Investigates the oven where there are still some embers, finds some potato peels, also the countertop hasn't been cleaned.
Based on her findings she determines that the kitchen has been used a few hours ago.
She also finds a splash of what appears to be a stew in the doorway leading to the spiral staircase

upwards and onwards? Vienne, can you have Ahki keep an eye out at the door to the main hall. That will let them watch this hall way and it can then meet us on the balcony or join us if we get to far from there. Garic takes a few steps up the stairs looking up. He will proceed if the others follow

Vienne points the stew out to Garic as she agrees. She has Ahki stay as far from her as he can, to keep an eye out until he needs to rejoin them "What do you think we'll find? Do you...think we're stuck here?"

Garic and Vienne make their way up the stairs. At the next floor they find two ways onwards. One leads back to the balcony that's in the room you came from the other ends in a doors. It's a bit ajar and you can peek behind it. You see a troll in robes, clearly not fitted to its stature. It runs around and sorts book into several shelves that are placed in the room

"Which do you want, Garic? I'm curious about the troll, and maybe they won't try and kill us on sight?" She really wasn't sure how 'welcome' they were in here.

Stilling his flames Garic stretches out his senses to feel any nearby magic.
Whispering softly he relays what he learns before replying Yeah lets greet the troll. We need more information. Gesturing her to the side Garic pushes the door open enough to frame himself but keep Vienne hidden, for now.

Excuse me sir. Can we ask you a few questions. Though his arms are at his sides Garic is glad his shields are ready for use if needed as he tries to gain a measure on the troll.

Garic let's his magical senses reach out. This place reeks of magic. The whole castle is engulfed in magical energy and it's coming from further within.
The troll too seems to carry some magical energy within but Garic can sense that it has been granted to them and is not coming from any source within

The troll quickly turns around to you, a thick book in their hands. The eyes go wide und the troll reaches into the robe but withdraws the hand quickly and relaxes.
Did the empress grant you access? In that case I'm more than happy to help her guests.

Yes, we we told we had the run of the place. We were curious about the history of this castle both ancient and recent. Garic will try to get as much information as possible about
+ the origins of the castle
+ what happened to cause the castle to become abandoned
+ who the last leader of the castle was