Episode 2

In the lower chambers...

After some time going this way and that, through many hallways, stairwells, a few open air balcony gardens, and several chambers, all the while dodging palace guards here and there...Bryn feels pretty certain that he is in the lowest level of the building, or at least the lowest that is obviously accessible.

There have been a few small chimney chutes that catch smoke from braziers and apparently route it outside by draft. Still, so far no room that Bryn can describe as a room with a large or multiple great hearths.

Sizhen, Trece, and Bryn hear a sort of tone in the air. Like a bell chime. Crisp and clear "DDDDIIIIIIIIiiiiiiingggg". Loud at first in then fading out.

They are unsure from where the sound comes, as if it is emanating just from the air itself, no clear direction.

But then silence.

Required Action: Bryn, Trece, and Sizhen Insight Check

Nice one. Well put. Definitely seems like a mindfuck palace.

In the lower chambers...Bryn, Sizhen, Trece have noticed for a while now that there are not just few guards in this section of the palace, there are NO guards here. It was quite a ways back in the palace maze when there were some sort of guard patrol route that was in process.

This area is very deserted. The single sign that there is at least some rare passage or attendance here is that there are still rare oil lanterns lit. There is only one such lantern in this chamber, a room which seems to be in use now as old furniture storage. The single lantern is at the entrance way, and only serves to cast heavy black shadows into the dim room filled with stacked and lined chairs covered with old tarps.

Beyond this, there is one hallway that goes off into the darkness. There is no light there at all. It seems to be one of the last routes yet unexplored by the group.

As for the chime sound, the group suspects that the sound emanates through a peculiar metal piping that they notice that runs along the high corners of the stone walls. These tubes have periodic funnels that junction out. Only the single chime was heard, but the guess would be that the sound genrated out from these pipe openings.

With all these things in mind, the group must wonder if there is some sort of detection apparatus or signaling measure, an alarm system of some sorts. Still though, none of them have noticed any trip wires, floor panels, trigger bars, or any other traps that they may have tripped inadvertently. All the same though, their intuitions press them to be watchful and alert, as they may have been either detected or at risk of being so.

Though very quietly, the Old Seetan is snoring lightly. He certainly seems to be asleep, or he does an outstanding bluff.

Sounds like someone might get spooned to death by Trece ha!

Bryn investigates the metal piping and discovers that it runs high on the walls through this room and continues down into the darkened hallway. In the other direction it leads back down the previous hallway and branches off into other rooms in this lower deserted section.

Backtracking for a short way, Bryn can see that the pipes have been present in other rooms already passed, now that he is looking for it. At some points it is more obvious than others.

There are also junctions he can see now that turn upward and go through the ceiling.

No traps on the lantern. It is an oil and wick long neck brass canister. Bryn grabs it by the handle bar and walks down the hall, traveling slowly enough so that the open flame does not flicker out. As the small flame wafts and rattles in the air, the dim lighting in the hall ebbs and flows, and cast shadows dance around on the floors and walls. Bryn extends the wick out a bit in an effort to stabilize the light.