Barkas is sitting off to the side with Elonast, watching with enrapt attention, like he is watching a very suspenseful movie, occasionally taking a bite on his popcorn ration, feeding Elonast over his shoulder, he has the healing potion out to slug down depending on what happens....

"I don't like that it's unlocked," Eldeth says. "Maybe the chest is empty. Everyone back up." She'll wait until everyone is back as far as they can (she can only be 30 feet away from the chest) and everyone is ready before instructing the mage hand to open the lid and retrieve whatever's inside.

Elonast nibbles lazily at the food offered by Barkas; it seems the tiny dragon may begin to doze off.

Meanwhile, Eldeth ends the suspense of the iron chest. Her mage hand lifts the lid to the full open position and withdraws five items: a silk pouch heavy with coins (200 gold pieces), three spell scrolls, and the spellbook of Zaldara, the Duchess of Rot, bound in humanoid skin. 

After stepping back, Edrik watches Eldeth extract the items from the chest. "Excellent! We've got what we came for.  Now we just have to get out of here. Back the way we came?"  It all seemed relatively easy, so he's a little concerned he's now jinxed the group.  He almost hates to turn around, but does so anyway, ready to head out. 

"Oh oh oh," Eldeth mutters as the mage hand brings the items over. She'd inspect (without touching) the spellbook especially, trying to make sure there's no illusions on it, that it's really the correct spellbook.

Matthias smiles, accepting whatever he is allowed to carry from the contents of the chest, he'd walk over to Barkas and put a hand on his shoulder, giving a smile to Elodath chewing on a ration.  "Okay...  Barkas you stay in the middle with Elodath, you can't risk getting jumped by a zombie.  We're done here, let's stay far from any doors and finish this mission."  After all is collected and everyone is ready, Mathias would leave the room and keep an eye-out for any monsters that would ambush.

Perception:  20

Barkas nods and puts away the potion of healing.  He readies his shield and pack, gets Elonast in position to walk out of here.  He steadies himself with his staff.  Snack time done, he is ready to complete the mission.  "Back to the boat, I wonder how the main invasion team is doing?"  Stay with me little Elonast, we will get you out of here.  I sure like your company.  You fit just right up there!

Confident the spellbook is what it seems to be--its pages are filled with the intricate notes and complicated diagrams that are the hallmark of a wizard's tome--the party retraces its steps toward the exit of Zaldara's basement. No more surprises, no more traps, no more undead. Just a simple dash to the outside world where Callbrax is waiting for you on the shore, scroll unfurled. “Stand still. This’ll only take a moment,” he barks before uttering an incantation.

In a flash of blue light, you are transported to a circle of runes on a forest floor. Dark pine trees with enormous spider webs block out the sky. Injured and dead Harpers lay upon stretchers, and the remains of undead, demons, constructs, and more litter the ground. Before you is the monolithic tower of black stone that Zaldara calls home. The smell of flesh burning and ring of steel emanates from the place of horrors. “Stay here!” calls the voice of Remallia Haventree.

The elf stands behind you, her left leg crisp with burned flesh and her right arm limp and bleeding. She screams at the tower, “Zaldara! It is done! We have your spellbook!”

An instant later, there is a terrible crack. Appearing before you is a woman with a face that is half beautiful, half skull. Despite her ragged breath and multiple fresh wounds, the Duchess of Rot is still clearly a force to be reckoned with. She points a finger at Remallia, and lifts her high into the air, and drops the elf back to the ground unconscious. The lich then turns to you.

“I’ll take that back,” she says with a weak, but defiant voice. "I kept my word and remained within Cloakwood, bothering no one. But behold!"

As she utters those last two words, she motions towards the dead and wounded nearby. 

Faloniir draws steel and says, "Come and take it, wench. You'll find Faloniir and the Five are more than enough match for you." He'll then turn to the rest and say, "Five, let's show some steel!"

22

Each of you discerns that Zaldara has little, if any, strength to jump into another fight. Furthermore, with the lich's phylactery in your possession, you have the lone bargaining chip. 

"I must have that book," she explains. "What do you seek?"

Matthias would look around at the devastation caused by the battle and would be disgusted mainly by the smell of the aftermath.  Upon seeing the noble elf again, Matthias would nod his head, acknowledging her request to stay put.  

With the appearance of the lich, Matthias' body would go tense.  Truthfully he was chilled to the bone despite his confidence before a real lich.  With Zaldara lifting Remallia from the ground and slam her effortlessly, it would really bring a reaction out of the hexblood.  "No!  Oh damn...!"   He would immediately get into a stance, ready to make a move once the lich makes a move.   He'd look to Eldeth for a split-second who would be holding the tome.  He mutters under his breath to the others, shakily , "If anyone would care to prove me wrong  with negotiating with liches, now is the time to do it..." 

Matthias was about to look to Faloniir after his boast like What in the hell are you doing?! Until he heard the lich starting to negotiate with -US-.  Liches are powerful and if she isn't just slaughtering us she has to be absolutely desperate; Matthias learned well enough as a noble and a gambler both.

Matthias would draw his bow, but no arrows yet, keeping his arms lax and posture straight.  "What about not killing anyone any further, for starters.  Truthfully, these lot hired us so that we may, ummmm, "recruit" you in assisting in locating a source of power."

Persuasion: 12

Faloniir will scoff and say, "Faloniir and the Five do not negotiate with undead abominations! We seek your end!" Unless the others move to stop him or talk him down, he will then attack the Lich.

Attack: 8 Damage: 6

Attack: 13 Damage: 10

Eldeth will hurry to speak before Faloniir can end any chance of negotiation. "Duchess, you're right, you have kept to your word. And until now, the Harpers have as well. You must know, then, how desperate they are if they would seek to break this pact with you. I myself know the power of a spellbook, and I swear that I will see it come to no harm. The Harpers seek it only as a bargaining chip, a way to hold you attention and focus to their need." She swallows. "And their need is great. But I think -- if you will listen to them -- that the threat they came here because of may well be a threat to you as well, and I ask that you listen to what they would have of you."

Persuasion (rolling with advantage in case swearing not to harm the spellbook helps, but if not of course feel free to just take whatever the first roll is). 19

"CAN YOU CHILL BEFORE I PUT AN ARROW TO YOUR ******* KNEE?!"  He'd bark out Faloniir as he sees the wood elf rush the lich, drawing an arrow and aiming at Faloniir's legs.

"We are -NOT- going to fight, unless you make it a fight.  And there is no reason to make this any more of a fight, right, Duchess?"  He'd say through his teeth, trying to keep his composure after almost seeing Faloniir rush the lich, regardless of it's state.

Upon the party finding the phylactery, Rasp’s primary imperative was to escort the group out as quickly and safely as possible. 

After being teleported into the fray, Rasp barely spared a glance around the battlefield before locking eyes with the Lich. Some instinctual part of him compelled Rasp to slay the Lich without question - but another told him this Lich could potentially shed light on Rasp’s primary concern. 

Disregarding the words of his companions, Rasp sheathed his sword and held his hands in a nonthreatening position. The Kenku took a step forth and lowered his cowl, beady eyes focusing in on the Lich. A feathered fist held in the air curled, indicating Rasp’s suggestion of withholding their fire for now. This Lich knew more than them. “We are not blind, Duchess of Rot, and you are not a fool. For a Lich to stoop low enough to negotiate with us, it is plainly obvious your cards have been drawn already. I am no Harper, and I am willing to negotiate with the powers the naive give the moniker of evil,” Rasp spoke, voice monotone and determined as the Kenku brought his skull-like talisman from one pocket. Radiant, purple smoke poured from the skull’s vacant eyes and screaming mouth. “I care little for good or bad, Duchess. I simply wish for information. I will be happy to come to a resolution where we all leave in peace, and you with your phylactery.” The Kenku paused. “You Liches are fond of an esoteric kind of knowledge. What do you know of the affliction withering the living away?” 

Upon seeing Faloniir attack the Lich, Rasp finally drew his sword, leveling the curved blade directly towards Faloniir’s chest. 

Speaking directly to the Duchess, Rasp simply spoke, “I apologize for this one’s behavior. There is information I desire, and I value it more than the lives of most. You would understand, Duchess.”

Faloniir will stop his attack, glaring angrily at Matthias before backing away, "I knew nobles would bed with vipers so long as there's coin involved, but this... I thought you better Saville." He'll keep his scimitars drawn and watch the Lich for any sign of subterfuge.

Perception check: 18

"Would bed with vipers before I bed with maggots and worms in the ground.  No offense."  He'd give a curtsy toward the duchess, putting away his weapons as he sees Faloniir chill out. 

"We knew before going into this that the goal was negotiation, Faloniir," Eldeth reminds him quietly.