3) Undermountain: Life and Death

[Jandolar]

Jysteen has visibly grown more upset as the conversation has continued. You don't just find something like that. It doesn't just lay on the floor collecting dust waiting for someone to pick it up. An artifact like that is guarded, hoarded, protected and coveted until a power player shows up to buy it. The price is usually very high. She looks up sharply as Giovanni comes trotting up outside. Through the shattered door she sees him bend slightly with his hands on his knees while he catches his breath. Her gaze passes slowly over Opyeen noting his calculating expression, slowly over Hermia and her ready crossbow..... finally settling on Rykken she smiles. You don't have it with you do you? That makes it easier, easier for us. now moving backwards through the webbing away from the assembled CoS she continues That statue can not be take by force, cannot be claimed from the dead by the killer, cannot be used by any without faith. Beholders have no gods save themselves, have no faith of spirit, they need someone to use that key. She fidgets with her left bracer for a second before continuing.... to use that key my little mage you need wisdom that you don't have, a position of power that you haven't reached, advise from an elder that you haven't been given yet she glares at Prydwyn and one of unwavering faith at this she looks at Giovanni..... and grins..... glutching something pulled from her bracer in her right hand she continues to back away.

[LibraryLass]

Spotting the sudden motion, Hermia pulls her trigger!

[Jandolar]

*pffftt-thwack* As the drow begins her move a crossbow bolt from Hermia buries in her chest. Eyes wide the dark elven priestess slides to the ground dead, From her hand something small falls to the floor. *TING*..... the sound reverberates through the dwelling like far off thunder through a grove of trees. For now there is silence....

[Jandolar]

Hermia take 2000 exp
Rykken take 2000 exp
Opyeen take 2000 exp
Giovanni and Quistine split a share of the exp (she is an NPC and Giovanni wasn't there for all if it) so they each get 1000 exp.

[Hywaywolf]

Oypeen dives for cover, clutching his 2000 experience tightly.

If nothing blows up, he will stand back up, grin sheepishly, then dispel the web spell and search the house for valuables

[Blazeguard]

As soon as the web disperses, Rykken will start searching for whatever it is that she dropped. If he can locate it, he will visually examine it but will not touch it. "Prydwyn, any ideas what this might be or what that strange noise was?". If/when it is determined that the object is safe to pick up, Rykken will pick it up and then hurry back to the inn to make sure that the statuette is still safe.

[LibraryLass]

Hermia lowers her head and mutters a short blessing to Yondalla, then assists in the search.

[Jandolar]

With the web dispelled the groups gets busy searching the home. Rykken and Prydwyn quickly find a standard sized key laying next go the dead drow. Looking at her bracer they can see a pouch in the leather where the let was stored. The ring isn't magical in nature and doesn't appear to be trapped so Rykken picks it up. Ol' Prydwyn takes the key to start looking for the lock while Rykken beats feet back to the inn to check on the statue. (Rykken once you get there Durnan informs you that there were a couple of merchant types looking for you, the statue is still where you left it.)

Continuing the search the other members soon have the entire house picked through with nothing of real value to show for it other than spices and herbs. Muttering to herself about not finding any goodies Quistine kicks at the rug in the master bedroom and inadvertently finds the edge of a circular door. Calling out to Hermia to come help the two of them get the ruv pulled up and out of the way. In the floor is a 10 foot wide door, in the edge of the steel banding is a keyhole next to a recessed handle.

[Blazeguard]

Relieved that the statuette is safe, Rykken will put it back in his backpack so that he can keep an eye on it.

On his way out he stops by the bar. "Merchant types you say. Were they locals? Have you ever seen them before? Did they happen to mention what they wanted?"

After quizzing Durnan, he will return to Jysteen's to see how the rest of the party is making out.

[LibraryLass]

Upon realizing that it was merely a key, not a hidden weapon or other danger, Hermia makes a mental note to find out who Jysteen's family is and write an apology letter.

Hermia calls out to Prydwyn to come try the key.