KD, if she is made aware of the chest, offers to check to see if anyone has designed any sort of trap to catch the unwary…

Investigation: 23

KD would be able to confirm that it was not trapped. She’d also be able to suggest that a knock spell could unlock it, or the chest could be smashed open.

Auric:

Backing away from the chest, Auric indicates that he has no such spell or key himself.

Footsteps are heard entering the room. First is Fae, followed by a familiar redhead, Stacey. She had originally hung back in the bushes, outside the manse. "Nova called fer me teh see if yous needed a hand." Their hands find their hips. "Found Fae an' she said ya could use a firm hand." Sliding into their pockets she pulls out some fingerless leather gloves and slips them on. "Let's liven things up."

Stacey nods their head to Auric upon passing. Reaching the chest, she reaches each hand to opposing sides of their waist. Unsheathing two blades from their person, in one swift motion, she cross cuts the face of the chest from base to top. The lid pops, silk flops. Re-sheathing their weapons, Stacey steps back to allow the contents to reveal themself to Auric.

Having to step closer to peel away more of the cloth, Auric would discover a spellbook, a pocket watch, and a leather bag.

Chest Contents:

Auric:

“Quite so, quite so,” says Auric excitedly as he investigates the contents.  Pulling out the silk, he checks to see if it is magical—perhaps a cloak or sheet of some kind.  Speeding the silk out, he opens the bag and pulls out its contents, placing the pocket watch next to the other items found.  

He sits down and prepares to identify the magic items, though his eyes keep farting to the book he knows he will want to read as soon as possible.

Arcana with Detect Magic up to suss out any bad juju on the items:  11

Perception to see any trapped or hidden places in the chest:  13

Identify ritual casting, 11 minutes each, then reading the spellbook! 

(*Spreading and *darting…can’t fix the spelling without screwing up the rolls…ugh!)

A hasty preliminary investigation of the silk reveals that it was strategically used to bundle the items safely together to be carefully stowed away and protected in the event of a physical breach of the chest. In order to look at it more thoroughly, he has to remove all the objects in order to spread the fabric out. So in favour of sifting through the bag, and his excitement for the book, Auric pushes the pocket watch off the cover, casting it aside for now to pull the other items from the chest first.

Meanwhile, behind him, Hansel is busy admiring himself in his new cloak that absolutely matches his attire, billowing in it's magnificence. It was as if his goddess hung it there herself for him to find in the most trying of places. He had traversed the most unsightly of conditions to get here.

Placing the book beside him, Auric reaches into the bag. Hoping to find anything that's not in front of his eyes, he searches thoroughly. Elbow deep, he feels like the bag is a lot roomier than he expected. He eventually comes to find that it's completely, utterly, and truly empty. Putting that aside, his eyes dart back to the book. However, he reaches back in for the silk

Finally, pulling out the material to free it from the broken chest, Auric unravels a cloak of his own to admire. In his excitement, he immediately gets to work.

His detect magic confirms that there's no bad juju. Quite the contrary actually. It appears these items belonged to the original owner of this manse, and two of the items gave off a magical aura. The cloak, and the unassuming pocket watch.

Dedicating time to identification, Auric confirms a Cloak of Protection. As for the Golden pocket watch, he comes to realize that it's quite rare, almost one of a kind, and crafted specifically for on versed in the arcane arts. He would need to attune to the item to learn it's full details.

When Auric finally cracks open the cover of the book he comes to realize it's not written in common. It's written in celestial.

Rune Primer of Invocation

Auric:

Sharing what he has learned of the items, Auric asks, “KD, doth thou have the need of such arcane formulae, or be it my sole purview?”

If they have finished searching, Auric would dearly like to attune the watch and learn more about it—as well as investigate the spellbook, though he knows it will take much time and practice to master the spells within.

(Oop, I forgot something too.)

Thorough in his reviews, Auric also comes to realize that the bag was no ordinary bag. It was a bag of holding.

KD nods eagerly as the whatsits are revealed and cleared. "I dabble. Happy to help examine all of this. Perhaps there is something in here of use. I like to make things for people. I'll help you try to delve the secrets of that watch when we have a minute. Do we have a minute?" she says, looking up and Fae and her new arrival. "Fae, have you found what you came here for? What next?"

Hearing her name, Fae snaps her journal closed and glides steps forward. “Yes Miss KD. My business was with the tree in the well. Now that the darkness has been quelled, that initial business has been addressed.” She dips her head in thanks. “What’s next quite depends on the context.” She starts. “As for what’s next for the manse, I’d like to see it rehabilitated. It can serve as a home, or even a base of operations.” The wizard shares her thoughts, the same ones Nova had some what expressed earlier. “In terms of you and your companions, I believe that’s up to you how, and if, you wish to continue your journeys.” She says plainly looking to Onu and Hamish, then Hansel before returning her violet eyes to KD. “It is not for me to make your decisions, or guide your path. Only you know what interests and drives you.” Fae says firmly but respectfully. “But if I must recall for you, there was desire to seek out the burrow. Then the dragon.” With that, she walks away and returns to her book.

Hansel takes a break from admiring himself in the new cloak, and looks back to Fae as she addresses them. Thoughts of his goddess' possible involvement plays on his mind as Fae mentions rehabilitating the manse, and with a serious tone he replies: I also would see this building restored to its former glory. However I suppose that will take much time and effort, while the dragon is a more pressing concern. Whether Fae continues with them or not, Hansel believes he will return here to help her, but feels committed to eradicating the threat of the dragon first.

Fae dips her head in acknowledgement to Hansel, “Indeed it will take some time. Rehabilitation could start almost immediately depending on whether any one remains behind. However, speaking for myself, I have business with the dragon.“ She admits.

Stacey shifts her stance, propped back against the wall. “I can git started clearin’ an’ cleanin’ the place while yous investigate the burrows.” She suggests. “Can pit stop back ‘ere when yous finish there an’ are on yer way back teh the Peaks fer the Dragon.”

Auric:

Fascinated by the watch and spellbook, Auric nods as seeking the dragon is mentioned.  He then continues to settle in for rest/identification/attunement.

Auric sits on the floor near the fireplace, surrounded by debris and remnants of the once grand furnishings. The fireplace, despite the destruction around it, retained its elegance, featuring an intricately carved mantelpiece of great craftsmanship. The dragonborn wizard, with scales shimmering in hues of gold and azure, focuses intently on the small golden pocket watch in his hands. The watch, a relic from a different wizard who once called the manse home.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

It started almost inaudible at first, but then it grew louder the longer he sat with the watch. Its ticks reach it's crescendo in the silence of the room, sounding as if echoing in the space. A rhythmic reminder of time passing amidst the wreckage. However, only he could hear the ticks, and the hands never moved.

Deep in concentration, Auric completes the process of magically attuning to the pocket watch. The delicate process took an hour, during which he harnessed the arcane energies within himself to synchronize with the timepiece's magical properties. The watch, though seemingly ordinary, held secrets unlocked only by those with the knowledge to manipulate its hands.

The hands of the pocket watch, though static to an observer, could be turned by its holder. Each setting to specific times activated different enchantments. Auric, with a keen understanding of its intricacies, carefully manipulated the watch's hands, unraveling its mystical potential.

As he worked, Auric couldn't help but reflect on the significance of the watch and the responsibility it now held in his care. The ticking, a comforting companion in the midst of chaos, as if whispering secrets lost to time. It became apparent that this timepiece, a relic of the past, could be further enhanced in its magical capabilities by the skilled hands of a jeweler proficient with Jeweler's Tools or a tinkerer adept with Tinker's Tools, offering the promise of even greater power in the future.

Golden Pocket Watch

Hamish follows Fae into the room, scratching at the back of his neck.  As Auric sits and attunes to the watch, Hamish will leaf through the spell book.  He understood Celestial but was no wizard so the formulas meant nothing to him.  He put it back where he found it and found a place to sit and meditate.

Hansel does his best to help out the others, including anything Fae needs help with around the manse, but otherwise takes the opportunity to relax and refresh himself. 

The handsome cleric is not just a pretty face... But neither is he particularly gifted in the brains department. It's only been a few days out of Phandalin, but he has already forgotten what the purpose of visiting the "burrow" is, and what they hope to find there. He asks the others...

Auric:

Having been lost in contemplation for a time, listening only to the ticking of the stopped pocket watch, Auric hears the last question and pipes up, “Twere we not intended to roust orcs most heretical, both from manse and barrow?”

(Sorry I missed that awesome pocket watch write up!  Have we long rested yet?  I think it is nighttime, right?)

KD helps with the examination, and resolves to learn Celestial one day. She consults her map to try to plan a route to the Burrow, and estimate the length of the trip, talking with any others who know the area better. She's ready to move along on the next step to see about how to take on a dragon.

(We approached the Manse about an hour before sunset, so I expect it to be full dark now—maybe settle in for the night and recover before heading out in the morning?)

Auric is too tired to do any spell scribing this evening before bed.  He does look at the map and try to help KD figure out the best route to the burrow from the orc’s document before he turns in.