BlackHat

So, the key he originally discovered in the southern dormatory opened something in the mess hall. It stood to reason, then, that the ornate key that Myrthe found near the sofa would open something found in the storage room. Greyrose called out the switch-changes necessary to illuminate that room (ideally, the combination of switches that would illuminate all four rooms from wherever Armen left off) as he made his way around to the storage room to search through the dusty boxes and stone tiles looking for a keyhole... or any other detail they might have overlooked in their initial shock from Ka's dramatic appearance.

It does not require a Greyrose to notice how dissimilar the two keys they discovered were. Unless magic was involved, they did not belong to the same lock. That means the key he found when they first arrived wasn't the backup for the second key they found. Perhaps there was a third key somewhere? Or perhaps the first key could be used in the same room where they found the note - although he has yet to spot any keyholes. He continues to follow Ka into the final room, completing his initial patrol of the area and confirming there were no obvious exits. There is, however, a lock on the cabinet in that last room. Greyrose holds both keys near the keyhole to try to determine if one of them might fit, while he admires the craftsmanship of the cabinet and places one hand on its surface, looking for strong psychic impressions left behind. OOC Greyrose also has Trap Finder, so he should automatically get a (secret) Perception check to notice traps, so while he might seem kind of cavalier about trying random keys on locks, he will pause if he senses the 'vibes are off'.

Greyrose looks at the new key and holds out the other to compare them. Based on the message, it makes sense that the key he found, initially, was the backup, but the backup to what? What was so important down here that a spare key needed to be hidden on the opposite side of the chamber. Also, it was somewhat unsatisfying to discover that the first key was entirely unnecessary because the primary key was right where it was supposed to be. The lights gave him the same uneasy feeling. There was a puzzle here but for what purpose? Switches that turn on the lights in other rooms? Surely someone did this for a reason. It serves no practical purpose other than to slow them down... but why were they even here?

"Your confidence in us is much appreciated." Sutter lowers his head, slightly, "... as is your continued patronage."

Greyrose spends quite a bit more attention to the fresco then the rest of the rooms they explore. While he stays out of the debate between Ka and Hrotha, the half-orc catches Greyrose eye a couple of times making it clear that he is tracking the movements, words, and deeds of the strange spirit currently holding their friend's corporal body hostage. He had let their initial encounter go unchallenged - and he truly does believe Ka thinks of their possession as symbiotic rather than parasitic - but he has decided to reserve his judgement. For the time being, Lorelei was safe and if Ka was telling the truth as soon as they are safe they will be able to confirm Lorelei's consent. "This is important." Greyrose says, simply, drawing other's attention to the fresco before they continue on. Tethered, metaphorically, to Armen's magical light, Greyrose follows him into the hallway, although he give he and Myrthe plenty of space to have a private conversation. Or, at least, he appeared to pay them no more mind than he did Hrotha and Ka. Instead, his attention seemed focused on their surroundings and he was routinely distracted by seemingly insignificant details - scratches in the masonry, abstract shapes in the wood of the door, repeated patterns in the disturbed dust and cobwebs as they make their way further ....

Sutter seems more confused than usual. “What precisely would you confront him about?”

Greyrose follows the others as they explore deeper into the hallways but he appears far more fixated on Ka than on anything that they discover in the side-rooms. When they discover weapons, in usable condition, he turns his attention from Ka to the rapier. "Perhaps any one of you might put this blade to better use than I," he draws the weapon from its sheath and inspects the edge, "... but, if it would only collect dust, otherwise...." He concentrated on the rapier's psychic resonance, hoping to glean some impression left behind by a previous owner.

Greyrose studies the masked stranger carefully before his eyes alight with an intensity he had not shown all evening. "The Veil of Ka’mhet!" He steps forward and bows before the entity, "Then know me as 'Greyrose,' and - if what you say is true - if this is her will, I pledge to help you with your unfinished business. If this is not her will..." With a flick of his wrist, a pale blue arc of magical light flashes across the palm of his hand. Those familiar with sanctified magic would recognize the soul-energy which can damage spirits even those that take possession of mortal bodies. To his companions - including Armen, who was closest with Greyrose - this was a magical aptitude that Greyrose had never been revealed so obviously, before. "... the abhorrent tools of exorcism are, regrettably, at my disposal." He then narrowed his eyes at 'Ka' looking for some assurance that their friend was a willing host. "Will you allow us to speak to her, directly?" OOC Greyrose will cast a Divine Lance cantrip at nothing, just to emphasize his conviction.

Greyrose slowly rises and joins the others, inspecting the key as he goes. He has a lot of questions about the key but takes a moment to sense if there is any psychic resonance around the object. Keys were not usually sentimental pieces but this one was special or important enough for someone to conceal it where it wouldn't be found easily. Perhaps they had strong feelings about whatever it was they wanted to keep locked away. Perhaps that would give them a clue about the nature of the lock that this key is meant for. Greyrose listens in on the conversations, saying little but making small mental notes about the two new women - at least for the parts of the conversations that took place in the common tongue. He nods at Hrotha's suggestion of a second light source. In the meantime, Greyrose had no concerns about sticking close to the others as they explored.

Greyrose finds his senses drawn to the fourth bed among the six arranged neatly in rows. As he moves closer, he touches the side of his head as though concentrating on something just at the edge of perception. Standing beside the bed, Greyrose closes his eyes briefly. His fingers gently graze the edge of the comforter, tracing the intricate patterns sewn into the fabric. He taps the comforter twice with the glowing violin-bow, right where he believed he had found the first clue. "Here," he looks back at the others, "there is something sewn into the blanket." His eyes flicked to someone's weapon and once again, he does not simply draw his own dagger from where it is buried in his satchel. He then turns to Hrotha and answers her question, "I do not yet know. Perhaps, if we have time, I can attempt to commune with beings that do." Greyrose understood that the others might be in some hurry to try to escape and return to the Senate. Greyrose felt sure that any impact they might have on that battle had already been made.

Greyrose takes the glowing bowstring, carefully, giving Armen an impressed look then turning his attention to the room around them. "I was fortunate enough to be overlooked," he responds, when his friend inquires about injuries. Greyrose is being modest, he actually did quite well against armed guards, considering he was without armor or weapons. Where did he learn to fight like that. It was strange, though: when he was searched on the way in, he did have a blade, but he hadn't reached for it in battle... or even attacked back, come to think of it. "Indeed, perhaps someone else was overlooked, as well," Greyrose notes, gesturing with the bowstring to draw their attention to the western side of the room. "...six beds and five of us."

For a man who, in principle, has little occasion for violence, Greyrose manages to avoid being cut down by the Ulfen Guard, who trained quite extensively for violence. Amid the chaos, few spare Greyrose any attention but those who do might see that he seems just a step or two ahead of his opponent. Whether this is evidence of a true supernatural precognitive gift or simply the ability of a con-man to read a mark, even under stress, Greyrose manages to avoid joining the ghosts with whom he communes. "The Dead shall offer succor, from the Arcade, if we fall back," he shouts to Bartleby and Lorelei, hoping at least Bartleby understands his meaning and can reach it first and begin the search. Greyrose joins Armen's side, near the princess, to begin clearing a path so that the princess could fall back to the Arcade, and then the secret tunnels through the Mausoleum. Greyrose could clearly see that he was outmatched in this fight. Their opponents outnumbered them and possessed armor and weapons. While Hrotha had a plate and Armen had a violen, Greyrose had only his intuition, and that was telling him that their best bet was to use the secret escape tunnels. OOC Action 1: Devise a Stratagem (got a 5, so won't bother attacking) Action 2: Stride to join Armen and get close to the princess if possible. Action 3: Interact with Dueling Cape to help his defense again.

Greyrose displayed only mild disappointment when Bartleby confessed to knowing nothing of the entrance to the Mausoleum. He spotted Octavia Nicodemius beyond them looking more annoyed than afraid, as she calls forth a ghostly spiritual knight to defend her. If any of the senators had any hint of the location of such an escape-tunnel, it occurs to him that Lady Nicodemius might be among those who possess the secret of the door's location. Bartleby and Lorelei might still be the keys to opening it. Still, if anyone could find an ancient lost secret passage that lead to a mausoleum, with little-to-no information to go on, it would be Greyrose. While he did believe that the ghostly visions he and Hrotha witnessed in the washroom were an omen, perhaps a warning, it did not appear that the senator-ghost found any secret safe passage from that room. Could those ancient prayers have been in Osirian? Were they looking for the passage when they were forced to cower in a stall? If he led the others there, they might meet similar ends. Moving quickly, Greyrose weaved between combatants - himself, unarmed and unarmored - in an attempt to close some distance between their group and Octavia Nicodemius, "Viscountess!" Greyrose calls out, sensing an opportune moment between avoiding strikes. He was not a high-priority target but their enemies were indiscriminate. "... we must get the princess to safety! Can you lead us to the House of the Dead, buried beneath these halls?" He waved one arm around and caught his cape, preparing to use it to distract any nearby Ulfen guards although it would do little to stop their blades. OOC Free Action: Greyrose will use Expeditious Inspection to make a Recall Knowledge check with Lore (Spirits) to see if he knows anything about this knight that is defending Octavia. Its probably an Eidolon but if it is the devotion phantom spirit of an actual knight with a name, it might be cool to know if Greyrose knows who they are, or anything they stood for in life. Action 1: Stride to somewhere relatively safe between Martella and Octavia and the princess (who is still right next to the crazy prince?) Action 2: Persuade Octavia to help lead them to the ancient secret escape tunnels (once they free the princess)? Hopefully she's on board already, but I will include the check in case she is disinclined. I think Greyrose at least made an okay impression earlier. Action 3: Uh... I guess he will Interact with his Dueling Cape for the +1 AC bonus until his next turn.

Greyrose was not entirely caught off guard. The sudden presence of armed guards, the wild look in the prince's eyes, the uncomfortable exchange between Eutropia and Stavian. Each of these small hints called out to Greyrose - not to mention that he and Hrotha had just watched a ghostly play about a historic slaughter in the Senate Building. The spirits of this place had been trying to warn him. There may be a few new ghosts haunting its halls, before the night is through. "... the Mausoleum awaits, Lord Lotheed." Greyrose knew of a well-hidden chamber, where the dead are buried beneath the Senate that rumor says connects to the sewers. History says it has been sealed for at least a thousand years, but that that magic, given by magi from Osirion who worship Nethys, gave select senators a way to reach this underground chamber in times of turmoil. That art is believed to be lost but Greyrose also knows that Bartleby belongs to a secret society dedicated to the pursuit of arcane magic with Nethys as a patron. If he didn't know how to access it, he would at least recognize the implication. "Lorelei, fate has brought you here for a reason...." If Lord Lotheed has not been entrusted with these secrets, Lorelei's field of study might be the key to solving the riddle. Greyrose only regretted that they had not had time, earlier, to solve the Osirian puzzle he had brought with him. OOC Since Greyrose was looking for anything out of the ordinary let's have him use Perception for initiative.

"Wait. Your father is a genie?" Sutter narrows his eyes, uncertain of what magical abilities this apparent 'girl' could perform. "I believe that means we can each ask you three questions...."