The stairway here once led up to area S9 above, but the deadfall has rendered it impassable. The party's search discover scratches along the rubble and stone blocks—testimony to the prisoners’ futile attempts to dig out the deadfall from below.

The brass nameplates that hang above each of the four hallways leading out of this room identify the cellblocks that lie beyond, although the soot must be wiped away to reveal these names.

To the north lies “The Oubliette.”

To the west lies “Reaper’s Hold.”

To the south lies “The Nevermore.”

And to the east once stretched “Hell’s Basement.”

This was a vast area (70' x 60'), so the whole affair took over 5-1/2 hours, with only the first four hours being helped by Wren (remainder of his first usage, and then the next three hours). There is definitely a lot of grumbling from those that don't realize what a careful search really entails, while the more meticulous, thorough, or experienced understand that is simply par for the course.

Zauberei's mage armor will have faltered by now. Marius' ant haul has less than a handful of moments before it is done.

While you could push on today, Marius and Zauberei both feel a sort of mental fatigue as all of the searching was extremely taxing on these knowledge workers.

Do you quit for the day and return to Lorrimor House?