Same.

Devin looked around for somewhere to secure his torch and light the room.  If something came in, he wanted both hands free.

The room was waterlogged. As Devin looked for anywhere dry to place his torch he was unsuccessful. The floor was wet and the walls damp. After a tense few minutes the sound of walking resumed and faded away to the south.

OOC Day 22. Time: 12:30pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 2 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 2 Turns
Eadwynn’s Torch: 5 Turns

Wyndham exhales.
"Not sure how successful this trip has been but can we get the ring rubbings, then back to town?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:08, Fri 15 Apr 2022.

"Brother," Derry answers, his voice warm with human feeling, "let us squeeze that last item into today's itinerary. I will restrain the magic lady from a bout of compulsive scraping once there."

Wait 5 more minutes and then return to the ring room in our new marching order.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:42, Fri 15 Apr 2022.

Devin was game to make the final stop on their itinerary.  He was wondering, however, how an underground lair like this had been lit without any place to hang a torch on the wall.  It had been a wizard's abode, but was the entire place lit by magic?

He'd keep an eye out for wall sconces and the like.

After waiting five more minutes the door was opened and the hallway was empty. Devin looked around but found no sign of sconces. The musty, dampness of the cellar and the overall state of the place reminded Devin more of a storage place than living quarters, presumably the upper levels of the tower had been more luxurious.

OOC What route are you taking to the ring room?

Day 22. Time: 12:40pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 3 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 3 Turns
Eadwynn’s Torch: 6 Turns

North, up and around through the bandit lair, then back south.

For one thing, whatever was walking apparently went south.
For another, and more importantly, that's the only route we know, without exploring unknown dungeon.

The party safely left the waterlogged library and back to the slippery stairway that led upward out of the cellar.

OOC Day 22. Time: 1:00pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 5 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 5 Turns

Unless Wyndham has changed his mind, continue south until we reach the eastern door leading to the giant circle.

Wyndham's still hoping to get rubbings of the runes.

No change.

Devin keeps an eye out with his torch held high.  Just one more stop and they'll have another successful trip.

The door was only thirty foot south of the stairway and was safely reached.

Per the usual, Wyndham listens. If he hears nothing, he returns to his place in the marching order and the hireling opens the door.

Nothing was heard through the door and Eadwynn opened it. The faint hint of chlorine was smelt alongside the smell of hair and sweat as a large white ape sat on one of the three stone slabs. The white ape turned to look at the party with its red eyes.

OOC Actions?

Day 22. Time: 1:10pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 6 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 6 Turns

Could you describe the ape's demeanor more? Its level of aggression or lack of same?

The ape appeared to have been idle and is not acting aggressively.

Wyndham attempts to give the ape part of a ration.
"There's a good fella," says Wyndham gently.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:00, Wed 20 Apr 2022.

Although they had not exactly sealed the bonds of friendship upon their first meeting, man, woman, dwarf, and ape and not exactly parted enemies. Thus, with the ape in a state of near repose, Derry's and Wyndham's thoughts, as they so often are, prove to be aligned once again.

Derry mildly interposes himself when the drippy rogue offers some rations, whispering, "no meat." Instead, he retrieves a bag of apples from his pack and starts rolling them to a spot in the vicinity of the primate.

The ape remained docile as it watched the antic of Wyndham and Derry and sniffed the air cautiously. The ape took a good account where the apples were rolling to but did not reach down to pick any up but rather kept one wary eye on the party.

"I think that means come back later," Derry translates for the party.

"I like that idea," Devin agreed quietly.  "Let's come back another day."

Kara had hoped the food gambit would have enticed the ape. But even if it had, she would still have been wary of having to try crossing the room with the beast within.

"A graceful, and purposeful, exit does seem to be best. The ring will have to wait another day. Perhaps you can hire a sketch artist to come along next time and make a detailed picture" she added, half joking, before slowly backing up the hallway, lest sudden movements attract the ape's attention.

Wyndham expelled a sigh so heavy and full of grief that the very gods were near brought to tears.
"Fair thee well, sweet monkeyman, till next we meet," said Wyndham as he slowly backed away, closing the door before him.
Then, stifling a sob, he turned and took his place at the tail of the party as they departed the cellar.