[color=1a7b30][h2]Rezello[/h2][/color] [hr] As the metal slab receded into the ground, Rezello entered after the others into the once-sealed corridor, followed shortly after by Elc and Verdant as the slab of a door sealed once more. The door at the end of the passageway they found themselves in was of similar make, and it seemed as one was opened the other closed, likely as a security measure. As he moved down the corridor, Rezello extinguished his remaining flame, the light of which had been drowned out by the structure’s own lighting. Aside from the door Vesemir had already begun to open, a smaller set of doors stood at the end of a passage that branched off from the main hall, sealed with a far simpler mechanism than the two heavy slabs - metal bars, jamming it shut. The same vile aura that he had felt from the darkness behind the shattered wall could be felt radiating from the doors; evidently, it hadn’t been enough to prevent whatever used to be in that room from escaping its confinement. Putting aside the thought of the evil room - and whatever had once been in it - Rezello continued into the next chamber, a large square room that presented two new directions; another sealed slab-door to the left, and what appeared to be another hallway identical to the one they were currently exiting opposite, though it was difficult to tell as its lighting had ceased to function. A fountain in the center and a pair of statues on the wall to the right served as decor. The latter reminded Rezello of secret passageways he had encountered in ruins before, flanked on both sides with similar structures as a reminder of their location. Perhaps in their exploration they’d stumble across some hidden switch or lever. After taking a moment to admire the room, Vesemir began another of his characteristic speeches, only to be interrupted by the appearance of an unfamiliar individual - a man dressed in formal garb, though from the abilities he casually displayed it was clear he was no mere human. He introduced himself as the curator of the vault, opening the western door and inviting the party to view - and claim two of - the artifacts held within. He also offered to answer any questions they had, and question him they did - though the questions asked generally had more to do with the curator’s nature than anything to do with the artifacts on display. When Miwa questioned about the lingering magic in the sealed room, Arcan recounted a story of a necromancer that had previously visited the gallery, apparently having taken the scepter as his treasure... and, after being betrayed by his cohorts, having used its power to summon the people that had died in the tunnels. The hypothesis Rezello had been formulating seemed to be confirmed. The dead bodies of people from Scheel they had found in the tunnels had been summoned as fuel for this necromancer’s magic. Yet at the same time, more questions were raised - “dozens” would only account for a small portion of those that had vanished from Scheel. Furthermore, why specifically the people of Scheel? Did the necromancer have some connection to the city? Or perhaps the scepter itself was somehow linked with Scheel - after all, its location was chosen to safeguard something. What that was, though, Rezello had no idea. The details on that was something either lost to time or known only to a select few within Scheel. As Arcan finished his offer to assist investigating the room - a detention chamber, as he had called it - Rezello spoke. [color=1a7b30]“This scepter... its power, do you know how it worked? Or perhaps, did Theriadoere leave behind any information, notes or some such on it?”[/color]