[center][i]A collab by [@Blitzy], [@Famotill], [@Redrum] and [@Lauder][/i][/center]

“[color=olive]Well, that’s a spot of relief, I suppose,[/color]" Elias called out to the Caracan woman from the first floor. Black looked through the notes the group had brought to him again. “[color=olive]Perhaps there may be answers behind the wall of the kitchen.[/color]” Flipping through the notes once more he continued. “[color=olive]Alternatively, the wine cellar might have some answers. Whichever one of these bloody rooms that might be.[/color]” 

Another scream from outside was enough to shake the ward. This scream was different. “[color=olive]As much as I hate to speak it into existence,[/color]” he said as he turned to the group. “[color=olive]I think we may be dealing with more than one of those things. If it [i]was[/i] crying the tiefling and siren heard then there could be one in the house. If Rose’s shot was enough to make the banshee retreat, and we’re still hearing screaming directly outside of the entrance then it’s likely we’re dealing with some kind of brood.[/color]” Their roguish leader began pacing around the foyer. “[color=olive]I’ve never seen anything like this. Banshees are miserable creatures. One will etch out a territory for itself just so it might cry in peace. I’ve never seen them [i]work[/i] cooperatively.[/color]” 

[hr]

Everything had happened so fast that the Siren barely had enough time to comprehend what was happening. Her melody getting interrupted, some of her party rushing upstairs, and the gun fire from Rose's musket had stunned her for a good moment. Listening to Elias, Anwyn turned her attention back to cellar door behind her, before looking at the dining area. "[color=gold]Well, I can use the Wisps again, check out what's in the cellar. That or Hadar and I can check out the wall behind the Kitchen.[/color]" Combat, while it wasn't her absolute forte, Anwyn knew she could easily support Hadar or any of her party if a fight were to break out. Be it with her songs, or her blade.

Licking her lips anxiously, she looked back at her ward, "[color=gold]If we're really dealing with a brood then taking care of any Banshee's that might be in house should be top priority, no? Whatever is in the cellar hasn't attacked us yet, ya know? So maybe it's not the threat we should be focusing right now.[/color]"

“[color=olive]Aye, a fair point. If the noise from behind the wall is a banshee it may be best to take care of it first. I just can’t imagine something the size of a banshee being stuck in a wall. There must be a room behind the wall. Otherwise, we may be dealing with a different beast entirely.[/color]” Anwyn could see Elias’ hands still trembling slightly. It did his best to steel the shaking, but he was doing a fairly poor job. “[color=olive]Whatever we choose to do we need be ready. Banshees move with the wind. Their speed is unparalleled. We need to corner it. That feat will be made all the easier inside of a manor.[/color]”

Anwyn gave a nod in agreement, "[color=gold]Right. If we can't get out, neither can whatever's in here.[/color]" Taking a deep breath to calm her own nerves, Anwyn placed a comforting hand on her wards shoulder, "Don't get yourself all worked up, once this is all over I'll treat us all to some drinks at the Fort."

Stepping away from the cellar door and heading towards the dining room, Anwyn looked back at her ward and the party, "[color=gold]Their speed is unparalleled, eh? That's not all that special. I move with the wind when it comes to drinking, bet they couldn't beat that.[/color]" Trying to ease the tension, Anwyn winked at Elias, giving him a witty smirk before twirling her blade and sheathing it. "I'll go check out the Kitchen then. Hadar -- let’s go take a look again, maybe whatever is crying behind that wall is hiding the booze too?"


As the group made their way to the kitchen the moans from behind the stone wall became increasingly apparent. Each cry more dire than the last. As the siren approached the fortified wall, with rapier unsheathed, there was a small humming that rang through the air like electricity. With a salute the sword itself began to vibrate, and in an instant was Anwyn striking the wall with a swift series of blows. 

Twas as if she’d spotted every crack in the mortar. Every eroded stone. Each strike was enough to rip apart fragments of the wall revealing an awful stench, and the sight of debris. Broken wood littered the room, and upon second glance it was apparent to Anwyn that a shape lay beneath the rubble. It’s gaunt figure compressed and expanded every so slowly. Even from here it was clear that this was no human, and considering the impending doom- it was likely that this was another of the banshees. 

The creature could only let out a whimper.

Ralorin stared, taken aback by the siren's ferocity. He had traveled to the furthest corners of Ithea, and nothing had ever terrified him like this. The screeches turned his blood to ice in his veins. But there, in the pile of rubble formed from the siren's attack, he felt something stir. The wood elves had always drawn on the nature of Ithea, be it the greatest tree or the lowliest worm, as a source of great power. And whatever was here was making its presence felt. Great pressure overwhelmed Ralorin; intense and magical, unlike anything he had ever felt before. Whatever it was, it whimpered before them, helpless in its wood and stone bindings. It wasn't human, nor was it elven, or dwarven, or any civilized being. It was a monster. Ralorin steeled himself, doing his best not to let his shattered nerves get the best of him. Time seemed as if it was standing still before he eventually brought himself to act. He stepped towards the source of the noise, down on one knee, sifting through brick and mortar and wood. He hoped to unearth the source of the noise. It wasn't long before the others joined him.