Assuming no one objects Jane will take the time to cast a detect magic as a ritual in order to learn which school of magic each item is enchanted with.
(Going to assume a short rest period here - roll hit dice and recover as appropriate for anyone interested)
Between Rantel and Jane's efforts the party is able to ascertain the following:
Longsword +1 with a faint aura of necromancy Shortsword with a faint aura of abjuration Crossbow +1 with an indefinite magical aura Bearded axe +2 with a strong aura of enchantment Dagger +1 with a strong aura of necromancy Bracers +2 with a strong aura of abjuration Cloak has a very strong aura of illusion
Rantel has little use for the crossbow. He'd be able to use the bracers, though it seems the monk or druid might be best suited to them? He's interested in the cloak and/or longsword. But if someone wants the cloak, have at it). Hoghead claimed the axe which works fine (go you, +2!). If no one wants them, he'd examine the dagger, and even the shortsword. He trusts his old longsword, but this isn't the mean streets of Waterdeep anymore, and he might have to change up his normal methods of survival. As he rests and takes closer looks at these items, he continues humming to himself.
Hoghead will look around at everyone else to see what they are getting. He notices that Z isn't taking anything and holds up the bracers. "Hey Z! There's some monk looking garbage over here! I'm going to sit and attune to this axe to see what it does. If it makes me crazy, go ahead and cut me down if you can. We're not making it out of here anyway but that doesn't mean we can't have fun!" Hoghead will go and sit with the axe on his lap and briefly nod off.
As the party rests and fusses with the newly discovered items, Jane and Bree make their way back to the Rift. The two lean over and crane their heads to assess the apparently naturally occurring opening as it runs roughly perpendicular to the Hallway.
To the West (your left) the rift appears to taper off, getting smaller and smaller so that about 50 feet in that direction even tiny Bree would have a hard time moving. To the East (your right) the rift is slowly widening and appears to end in a large cavern-like opening about 100 feet to your right. The cavern-like opening is discernable because something inside it along the walls and the roof has a faint purple glow giving just enough hint of the shape of the space from where you crane your necks.
The rift is a 30 foot drop down from where you stand, but the walls look like they have good natural handholds and shouldn't be hard to climb down, especially with the use of your rope.
SUMMARY AND ACTION
You can go one way and one way only to explore the rift. Give me any rolls you think might be interesting.
At the first ask, Spidey Celeste would nod to Hoghead when he'd offer to grab items for her. Waiting as patiently as an excitable spider can, she eventually starts shifting and loading items for him to carry over to the pile of goodies being identified. She'd try her best to remain still while the review and sorting began, but she couldn't help but pop up and down, and spin around, in enthusiasm. Many eyes wide in wonder wait for the original group members to help themselves to what they required before picking some out for herself.
Celeste would take the crossbow and bracers (should no one else want them). She'd hover over the dagger for a while. Pointing and poking at it, she had interest in learning more about it. While she didn't want to be greedy, or hasty, in taking it over any one else, there was definitely something about the identified aura that was pinging her spidey senses. Her many eyes would look to Rantel before looking back at the dagger then back at him. Celeste couldn't shake her micro focus on the necrotic dagger. Could it be something the baddie druid could use in a bad way? That made her... suspicious? A desire to want to protect it, or see to it that it's in the proper hands? Ma' Toots would know...
Since Hoghead was getting busy to attune to his axe, she'd put her selected items in Zerxius' arms, while he's still holding Potts. After a pause, she'd blink. Spidey Celeste would glance around, pick up a collection of pebbles from the ground and neatly place them in the pot with Pepper, occasionally trying to sneak a few in Z's pockets, maybe a couple in Hog's too. Then once satisfied with her pretty pebble stash, Celeste claps with her free limbs. After yet another pause, she then chitters in thanks to Z and takes the crossbow, then gives him her old one, and accepts the bracers from him. With a bob of appreciation, she scurries off to go plop herself across from Hoghead. As best as a giant spidey Celeste can, she mimics him and tries to concentrate on figuring out her new shinies.
When Hoghead would open his eyes, Celeste would be her normal self. Sometime during their rest and attunement, she'd have poufed out of her spider form.
(Should no one want the bracers and crossbow, Celeste would accept them and attune to them) (By obtaining a new crossbow, she'd have one to pass on to another or add to a sell pile.) (Should no one want the dagger, Celeste would want take it for further inspection/research. She'd intend to learn about it before attuning to it or taking it for actual use. She'd take care to wrap it in some cloth or something, and put it in her bag, if there's nothing they can do to further learn more about it for now.) (RP fluff: Celeste may occasionally be inspired to collect pretty pebbles in places, to build up a 'hoard' of them, stashing them in convenient areas. Never know when you need a 'lucky' Magic stone!)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Jane is intrigued by the faint purple glow. She tries to remember if she had heard anything about it in the past when she was listening to tales of adventure from her friend (History: 13, or -1 for Nature) before turning to the group. Seeing that a couple of them are busy, or at least occupied at the moment, she finds as comfortable a place to sit down as she can. Speaking to the rest who aren't concentrating on gear, she says "I suppose we should keep heading down. That rift has some mighty interestin' fungus or something that's all glowy, it might even be enough for me to see where I'm going in the dark. Who knows what might be interested in a torch moving around down here.'
Jane remembers the glowing fungus from the cavern they dropped into - the one with the skeletal farmers and the entlings. This glow has a similar feel and luminesce.
Celeste finds the Bracers slide comfortably into place on her forearms, fitting as if they were made for her. A warm glow suffuses the druid, making her feel stronger, safer, more confident.
Zerxius meditates while every one else goes over the weapons. Celestes crossbow settles in his lap and although hif e notices the pebbles being placed (passive perception 12) he doesnt say anything. "So the rift then?"
Rantel spends time with the longsword and the cloak - to learn more about what they do and not to claim them. He then prepares to move along with those who have found the next step in this strange place.
Hoghead slowly opens his eyes. He looks at his new axe and feels a compulsion towards it. He loves it. "Alright, who's ready to go find someone to try out our new toys on? This thing feels like it will do some damage."
When everyone is ready, he will lead the way down the corridor.
As Rantel spends time with the longsword he notices the strong Dragon motif worked into the hilt and paired runes etched into the blade itself. This is a powerful weapon, one used or collected by an ancient Dragon-cult obsessed with harnessing the power of dragons for their own use. The wise tortle soon realizes this weapon requires him to commit to it to unlock it's full potential. He pauses, unsure whether the risk is worth the reward (Let me know if you want to attune to it).
The cloak is a simpler item, the magic powerful but straightforward. Wearing the cloak creates a 'shimmer' around the wearer, making them much harder to pin down and hit - at least at first. The 'shimmer' goes away if the cloak is grabbed or otherwise touched and takes a beat to reset. Cloak of Displacement
“Okay!” Celeste chimes, skipping after the others to join them. She felt dolled up with these new items on her person, giving her extra pep and flourish, until something else catches her attention and she completely forgets about them.
"AH, let me just stretch my legs a minute. Ok, I'm ready to go." Jane does a couple of quick stretches to limber up after resting for so long and then follows Hogshead, deciding to stay near the front of the group.
It's an easy enough climb down into the rift with Hogshead and Jane leading the way. The heavily armored dwarf leads the party down the narrow split in the earth, feeling as it slowly widens to let his bulk pass more comfortably. Once he's about 20ft from the cavern opening, Hogshead sees that what he's stumbled upon is an underground aquifer system of some sort. A large pool of dark and still water stretches out in front of him, covering most of the 60 ft round cavern that his dark vision uncovers.
The ceiling soars up 80 ft or so and the stalagmites hanging down are covered in a now familiar fungus with a light purple glow. The effect is almost of very soft overhead lighting giving just the barest hint of illumination to the darkness.
In the center of the pool sits a small rocky outcropping of an island - roughly 7ft in circumference - it's hard to tell from this distance, but it looks like there is a body slumped there.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rantel figures out the cloak and asks if anyone wants it. If no one takes him up on it, he'll put it on, the faint glowing lines from his shell mostly covered, but still barely pulsing through the material.
He very nearly commits to the risk and reward of the longsword, but in the end holds off. He's comfortable with his old sword, at least for now. He'll try to learn more about the new one, and the shortsword, after they get through this place. As they begin to leave, he sidles up next to Celeste. "So, ol' Tootsie has you searching for a bad druid, eh? She tell you more? And have you learned any more since you got here? I wonder if this druid of yours has something to do with these young noble pups we're searching for."
He quiets down as they descend the rift and goes silent when they get to the cavern opening. He sees what may be a body and his mind flashes through dozens of crime scenes he's witnessed in Waterdeep, trying to figure out what he's really looking at.
Looking around. "Seems.like safe enough place for a rest. Least there is only one way in"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Assuming no one objects Jane will take the time to cast a detect magic as a ritual in order to learn which school of magic each item is enchanted with.
(Going to assume a short rest period here - roll hit dice and recover as appropriate for anyone interested)
Between Rantel and Jane's efforts the party is able to ascertain the following:
Longsword +1 with a faint aura of necromancy
Shortsword with a faint aura of abjuration
Crossbow +1 with an indefinite magical aura
Bearded axe +2 with a strong aura of enchantment
Dagger +1 with a strong aura of necromancy
Bracers +2 with a strong aura of abjuration
Cloak has a very strong aura of illusion
Rantel has little use for the crossbow. He'd be able to use the bracers, though it seems the monk or druid might be best suited to them? He's interested in the cloak and/or longsword. But if someone wants the cloak, have at it). Hoghead claimed the axe which works fine (go you, +2!). If no one wants them, he'd examine the dagger, and even the shortsword. He trusts his old longsword, but this isn't the mean streets of Waterdeep anymore, and he might have to change up his normal methods of survival. As he rests and takes closer looks at these items, he continues humming to himself.
Zerxius at the moment takes nothing
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Hoghead will look around at everyone else to see what they are getting. He notices that Z isn't taking anything and holds up the bracers. "Hey Z! There's some monk looking garbage over here! I'm going to sit and attune to this axe to see what it does. If it makes me crazy, go ahead and cut me down if you can. We're not making it out of here anyway but that doesn't mean we can't have fun!" Hoghead will go and sit with the axe on his lap and briefly nod off.
"Let our spider friend or Rant take them"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
As the party rests and fusses with the newly discovered items, Jane and Bree make their way back to the Rift. The two lean over and crane their heads to assess the apparently naturally occurring opening as it runs roughly perpendicular to the Hallway.
To the West (your left) the rift appears to taper off, getting smaller and smaller so that about 50 feet in that direction even tiny Bree would have a hard time moving. To the East (your right) the rift is slowly widening and appears to end in a large cavern-like opening about 100 feet to your right. The cavern-like opening is discernable because something inside it along the walls and the roof has a faint purple glow giving just enough hint of the shape of the space from where you crane your necks.
The rift is a 30 foot drop down from where you stand, but the walls look like they have good natural handholds and shouldn't be hard to climb down, especially with the use of your rope.
SUMMARY AND ACTION
You can go one way and one way only to explore the rift. Give me any rolls you think might be interesting.
At the first ask, Spidey Celeste would nod to Hoghead when he'd offer to grab items for her. Waiting as patiently as an excitable spider can, she eventually starts shifting and loading items for him to carry over to the pile of goodies being identified. She'd try her best to remain still while the review and sorting began, but she couldn't help but pop up and down, and spin around, in enthusiasm. Many eyes wide in wonder wait for the original group members to help themselves to what they required before picking some out for herself.
Celeste would take the crossbow and bracers (should no one else want them). She'd hover over the dagger for a while. Pointing and poking at it, she had interest in learning more about it. While she didn't want to be greedy, or hasty, in taking it over any one else, there was definitely something about the identified aura that was pinging her spidey senses. Her many eyes would look to Rantel before looking back at the dagger then back at him. Celeste couldn't shake her micro focus on the necrotic dagger. Could it be something the baddie druid could use in a bad way? That made her... suspicious? A desire to want to protect it, or see to it that it's in the proper hands? Ma' Toots would know...
Since Hoghead was getting busy to attune to his axe, she'd put her selected items in Zerxius' arms, while he's still holding Potts. After a pause, she'd blink. Spidey Celeste would glance around, pick up a collection of pebbles from the ground and neatly place them in the pot with Pepper, occasionally trying to sneak a few in Z's pockets, maybe a couple in Hog's too. Then once satisfied with her pretty pebble stash, Celeste claps with her free limbs. After yet another pause, she then chitters in thanks to Z and takes the crossbow, then gives him her old one, and accepts the bracers from him. With a bob of appreciation, she scurries off to go plop herself across from Hoghead. As best as a giant spidey Celeste can, she mimics him and tries to concentrate on figuring out her new shinies.
When Hoghead would open his eyes, Celeste would be her normal self. Sometime during their rest and attunement, she'd have poufed out of her spider form.
(Should no one want the bracers and crossbow, Celeste would accept them and attune to them)
(By obtaining a new crossbow, she'd have one to pass on to another or add to a sell pile.)
(Should no one want the dagger, Celeste would want take it for further inspection/research. She'd intend to learn about it before attuning to it or taking it for actual use. She'd take care to wrap it in some cloth or something, and put it in her bag, if there's nothing they can do to further learn more about it for now.)
(RP fluff: Celeste may occasionally be inspired to collect pretty pebbles in places, to build up a 'hoard' of them, stashing them in convenient areas. Never know when you need a 'lucky' Magic stone!)
just an unstable unicorn.
Jane is intrigued by the faint purple glow. She tries to remember if she had heard anything about it in the past when she was listening to tales of adventure from her friend (History: 13, or -1 for Nature) before turning to the group. Seeing that a couple of them are busy, or at least occupied at the moment, she finds as comfortable a place to sit down as she can. Speaking to the rest who aren't concentrating on gear, she says "I suppose we should keep heading down. That rift has some mighty interestin' fungus or something that's all glowy, it might even be enough for me to see where I'm going in the dark. Who knows what might be interested in a torch moving around down here.'
Jane remembers the glowing fungus from the cavern they dropped into - the one with the skeletal farmers and the entlings. This glow has a similar feel and luminesce.
Celeste finds the Bracers slide comfortably into place on her forearms, fitting as if they were made for her. A warm glow suffuses the druid, making her feel stronger, safer, more confident.
Zerxius meditates while every one else goes over the weapons. Celestes crossbow settles in his lap and although hif e notices the pebbles being placed (passive perception 12) he doesnt say anything. "So the rift then?"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Rantel spends time with the longsword and the cloak - to learn more about what they do and not to claim them. He then prepares to move along with those who have found the next step in this strange place.
Hoghead slowly opens his eyes. He looks at his new axe and feels a compulsion towards it. He loves it. "Alright, who's ready to go find someone to try out our new toys on? This thing feels like it will do some damage."
When everyone is ready, he will lead the way down the corridor.
As Rantel spends time with the longsword he notices the strong Dragon motif worked into the hilt and paired runes etched into the blade itself. This is a powerful weapon, one used or collected by an ancient Dragon-cult obsessed with harnessing the power of dragons for their own use. The wise tortle soon realizes this weapon requires him to commit to it to unlock it's full potential. He pauses, unsure whether the risk is worth the reward (Let me know if you want to attune to it).
The cloak is a simpler item, the magic powerful but straightforward. Wearing the cloak creates a 'shimmer' around the wearer, making them much harder to pin down and hit - at least at first. The 'shimmer' goes away if the cloak is grabbed or otherwise touched and takes a beat to reset. Cloak of Displacement
“Okay!” Celeste chimes, skipping after the others to join them. She felt dolled up with these new items on her person, giving her extra pep and flourish, until something else catches her attention and she completely forgets about them.
just an unstable unicorn.
"AH, let me just stretch my legs a minute. Ok, I'm ready to go." Jane does a couple of quick stretches to limber up after resting for so long and then follows Hogshead, deciding to stay near the front of the group.
It's an easy enough climb down into the rift with Hogshead and Jane leading the way. The heavily armored dwarf leads the party down the narrow split in the earth, feeling as it slowly widens to let his bulk pass more comfortably. Once he's about 20ft from the cavern opening, Hogshead sees that what he's stumbled upon is an underground aquifer system of some sort. A large pool of dark and still water stretches out in front of him, covering most of the 60 ft round cavern that his dark vision uncovers.
The ceiling soars up 80 ft or so and the stalagmites hanging down are covered in a now familiar fungus with a light purple glow. The effect is almost of very soft overhead lighting giving just the barest hint of illumination to the darkness.
In the center of the pool sits a small rocky outcropping of an island - roughly 7ft in circumference - it's hard to tell from this distance, but it looks like there is a body slumped there.
Rantel figures out the cloak and asks if anyone wants it. If no one takes him up on it, he'll put it on, the faint glowing lines from his shell mostly covered, but still barely pulsing through the material.
He very nearly commits to the risk and reward of the longsword, but in the end holds off. He's comfortable with his old sword, at least for now. He'll try to learn more about the new one, and the shortsword, after they get through this place. As they begin to leave, he sidles up next to Celeste. "So, ol' Tootsie has you searching for a bad druid, eh? She tell you more? And have you learned any more since you got here? I wonder if this druid of yours has something to do with these young noble pups we're searching for."
He quiets down as they descend the rift and goes silent when they get to the cavern opening. He sees what may be a body and his mind flashes through dozens of crime scenes he's witnessed in Waterdeep, trying to figure out what he's really looking at.
Investigation: 12 (if perception, -4)
Zerxius follows behind. Shielding the torch for the darkvision capable persons to look over the lake
Laissez les bons temps rouler