"Looks like the woman we sort of rescued has given us the slip." Veil informs the others as she turns her attention back to the current chamber again. "Let's burn away some more of that green stuff, so we can get at the slab a bit better." Suiting action to word, she then uses fire bolts to burn away more of the green slime.

((assuming Veil's fire bolts burn away the slime, one could help another lifting there lid, with one player on each side. )) Choose who will roll Strength or Athletics (STR) check with advantage to try to lift off the stone lid.

Veil and Vinny look to be the strongest (Athletically). “Veil, do the honors, I’ll assist.”

Bran steps back, avoiding the slime, and lets Vinny and Veil have clear access to the chest. He looks around "Where did the women go, did anyone see?  There is no other way out of this hall."

"I heard a door open and close, sounded like the one back towards the spider-men we fought." Veil says with a shrug. "If she did not wish to stay with us, and headed back that way, then I say good riddance." She uses her fire bolts to clear a path around to the far side of the slab, then prepares to help lift it off...

Athletics rolled in game log, result is 22.

Veil and Vinny lift the lid easily and place it on the ground. Inside the chest the light sparkles off of many coins.

Inside they find:

• 3000 gp
• 1000 pp
• a staff carved with ornate figures of totems or gargoyles stacked on top of one another from the bottom to the top. 
• A finely made, but well-used longsword. The family crest that you have seen throughout the castle so far is embossed on the hilt above the handle. Worn leather wrappings protect the handle and a cut amber stone is set into the pommel.

. . .

as the party examines the treasure, they hear the familiar "tick-tock" accompanied by what sounds like a single person slowly clapping. After a short while, the clapping ceases.

((After the next long rest, all will level up to LEVEL 4... start planning now as well as thinking about how to describe your character's advancement))

Zera says “I can try to see if any of those things are magical, if you’d like?”   Singing a song of secrets revealed, She casts detect magic and studies the sword and staff.   She seems a bit cheered up about the sight of actual treasure- still her usual happy and optimistic tone is out of her voice.  

As the last notes of her song hang in the air, Zera begins to see the swirling dance of the weave about her and her companions. To her, the weave looks like the night sky and images she has seen of the Astral Sea, spheres and streams interacting in a beautiful cosmic dance. 

She sees about each of the members various points of light 'twinkling' and moving. Some rest upon a person or a thing, others orbit, others pass through, and still others seem to rhythmically expand and contract.

About these items in particular:

The staff has tendrils of flourishing green streams with little light green spheres flowing along the streams, entwining up and down the length of it. This magic seems to be rich with life and in tune with nature. A vine of abjuration and evocation.

The sword is different. Deep within seems to pulse a singular, strong amber sphere. It pulses in sync with the tick-tocking of the castle. The magic seems to be of the school of divination. As Zera looks closer, however, she stops in shock - did the sword's pulse just wink at her or was that her imagination?

Zera, entranced by the magic of the weave, shares her findings with the group.  She carefully approaches and picks up the sword, looking at it closer.   “Something about this blade- more than meets the eye..” she says. 

Veil smiles at the sight of the treasure, then cocks her head at the description of the magic around the two items. Not thinking either is likely something she can make use of, she helps collect the rest of the treasure and is ready to move onward.

Ooc// sorry  I disappeared. Went on vacation and thought I would have access to google but didnt

As the others search through the treasure, Bran cocks his head and listens to the sounds of the castle. “Is it mocking us?” He looks over at his companions, throwing a second glance at the mysterious longsword “Which way now?  There are no other exits out of this hall, do we try the room with the spiders again, or try to retrace our steps?”

"Its no mockin us any more'n you're mockin actors in a play when ye clap for 'em. We're entertainment fer th bastards"

“Well, I am not in an entertaining mood, whatever our strange hosts may think” Bran responds to Perner and looks at the others.  “Unless we are going back to the linen closet, the room with the spiders is our only option.  We should find the girl as well, she could be in danger.”

((Sorry heck of a week last week - back now! Hurray!!!))

Bran and the party approach the center door again and fling it open. Inside the entrance is thickly covered with web once again. They hear a 'hiss' from inside and a harsh cruel voice passes thinly through the webbing "Go away. Or don't, and feed our hunger ..."

"We will fight you, if we must." Veil shouts back. "There is no other path forward, we must go through this chamber. Stand aside and let us pass, or we will see who lives past a true battle between us."

Persuasion is a 10.

zera tries a bit more sweet talk.  “Listen, we don’t want trouble, and we’re happy to feed you some of our rations.   Just let us pass, and we will be on our way”. 
12 persuasion

Bran gives the webs covering the doorway an uneasy glance and calls out to Veil and Perner “Perhaps we should try your fire here as well.”  Raising his voice he calls into the room, guessing that the girl they had rescued returned there. “Let the girl go, she is not one of your meals.”

"Hah, my fire burns naught tha hasnt life. An we should recuperate afore I do anythin at all"

Ooc// out of spell slots