Pockets looks at Pardot, "The stone is too cold down there to sleep and there is nothing to eat so I stay up here. Besides when Fistandia comes back I want to be very close by so I can greet her at the door. I'll wait here for you to come back up and we can play when you get back." She stretches out on the chair and swiftly nods off to sleep.

As you all descend the stairs the air turns cold and damp. The fine wooden floors turn to stone and you can hear your footsteps echo as you descend into the basement. You are all on high alert taking it all in but everything is quiet around you and there no signs of traps or danger as you reach a landing. The area is lit by candles along the wall and you find yourself in yet another hallway surrounded by an eerie silence.

First Floor:

 Basement:

Quote from Culuril >>

"Sir, did you just say what we need are letters on the spines of books?"  Triäsa says, addressing Ludolf. "This one has an 'I' embossed on it.  (I'm assuming upper case 'i' not lower case 'L' - can we tell?)

 

It is an uppercase i the font on the book less ambiguous than on here. :)

Daventry holds up a hand in a closed fist, pausing a moment, before pointing south. She continues down that path, stepping quietly, once again apparating the ghostly blue hand to open the door from a few paces away, the magic softly glowing its icy blue. 

Stealth: 14

Triäsa starts to speak as they reach the bottom of the stair, "Perhaps we should..."  Daventry's gesture holding up her fist stops her, and she begins to ask, "What..."  But then when Daventry points and moves along, she says softly, "Oh, I see."   She watches with interest as Daventry's ghostly hand attempts to open the door.  

Ludolf notices Daventry´s effort to not advertise their approach, and does his best to follow suit, one hand on his book in the shoulder bag by his side.
Stealth:11 but the echo of his footsteps would still divulge their presence to the nefarious peril waiting on the other side of the door.

As you make your way down the hallway your footsteps echo softly in the emptiness. Daventry's magic hand gently pushes the heavy wooden door and it freely swings into the room with an audible groan. Inside the room the air smells of astringent chemicals. Long wooden tables stretch across the room, laden with vials, beakers, and flasks holding various liquids and powders. Books are stacked between the glassware and chemicals. Yellowed paper charts and blackboards full of complex formulas cover the walls. Four clay figures rest on a table in the middle of the room. They range from a rudimentary, barely humanoid shape to a small, winged body so lifelike that it almost appears to be a real creature that is merely asleep.

Walking quietly into the room behind the others, Pardot continues to keep his sharp eyes peeled for anything threatening, or that would give signs of life. Knowing little of the arcane, he does have some knowledge of herbs, so will go to the liquids and powders to see if there is anything he can identify.

Daventry takes a look at the clay figures as the rest of the group fan out into the room, trying to figure out their purpose. "Now, you aren't going to come alive and try to attack us, are you?"

Arcana: 16

Pardot -- You are able to figure out based on the markings on the board and various reagents throughout this room that Fistandia was trying to turn various metals and materials into gold. You see scorch marks, remnants of explosions and broken vials. On closer inspection leading you to believe that she was very unsuccessful in her attempts. As you are going through the materials you note that some these reagents are actually rather rare and if sold to the right person could have a value around 50gp

Daventry -- As you speak to the clay figures all you get is silence in reply. They do not move or budge in the least, however, as you look over their form a little more you realize these are the early stages in the creation of a homunculi but it appears that the process was not completed.

Kiln -- You notice a few things. Firstly, on a shelf there is are two vials a sweet smelling liquid that is a very faintly tinted red. After a moments pause you identify these as 2 Potion of Healing. Perhaps more interesting than this is a red book sitting right next to them with a single letter embossed on the spine. The letter "B"

Not knowing if they will come in handy later or not, Pardot puts the reagents in his pack, saying, mostly to himself, though anyone around could hear if they were listening, “creating gold is a fools errand…” as he sighs to himself.

Triäsa first heads to the stacks of books she sees stacked on the tables.  She specifically looks for letters on the spine.  (Investigation: 21) She also keeps her eyes open for any particularly interesting titles or books stashed elsewhere.

Quote from Culuril >>

Triäsa first heads to the stacks of books she sees stacked on the tables.  She specifically looks for letters on the spine.  (Investigation: 21) She also keeps her eyes open for any particularly interesting titles or books stashed elsewhere.

 The books here are rather ordinary compared to the ones in the study above though through some dedicate study and a significant time investment you would likely learn some concepts of alchemy or transmutation. You feel confident there are no further lettered books outside of the one Klin found.

"Brilliant, good work Klin, just five more letters to go, and I´m fairly sure we only need about three more to make educated guesses on that command word." Ludolf says, clearly enjoying the exploration of Fistandia´s manor. "I suggest you keep one of those potions for yourself Klin, and give the other one to your social mentor, as she is most likely to get bruised." Ludolf adds as-a-matter-of-factly while nodding at Daventry. "It seems we already found all worth finding in this laboratory, let´s continue. After you young Daventry." Ludolf says prepared to move on exploring the basement level. New perception when needed:5

"Great Klin! One book closer to figuring out the word to open the portal." Triäsa finishes looking through the books herself. She then comes over to Daventry,  looking at the clay figures. "Anything interesting here?"

"Well, looks like your mistress-to-be didn't quite grant you that last spark. Shame." Daventry touches the winged clay statue.

"I've wondered what it'd be like to craft magic into bringing a creature to life... Must be exhilarating." She says to no one in particular, as Ludolf and Klin approach.

Taking the potion, she smiles at Klin. "Thanks! Hopefully a potion I'll not need to drink."

She looks around, seeing if there are any other exits to the room, hidden or otherwise.

Perception: 19  

There are no other exits to this room the only way out appears to be back the way you came.

Daventry nods at the others, and makes her way back to the hallway, pushing open the first door to the east with her mage hand.

(If nothing of note, South door next)