Utar recovers 89 HP and gains 14 temp HP (93+14/93).
Obsben recovers 34 HP and gains 14 temp HP (72+14/72).
Graxx recovers 92 HP and gains 14 temp HP (143+14/143).
Neya (including Second Wind) recovers 67 HP and gains 14 temp HP (75+14/76).
(OOC: So, everyone is back to full HP except for Neya, who fell just 1 point short. As a side note, it looks like both Graxx and Obsben are still benefiting from Aid. Does that sound right?)
(OOC: The short rest is completed successfully. I assume the group is going back down to the sub-archive?)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Having spent their rest quietly seething that this thief has continued to be one step ahead of them and also silently berating himself for trying to throw his weight around with the Head Curator earlier whicha appeared to do absolutely nothing but add another name to long list of folk he had rubbed up the wrong way.
Staring intently at the floor, Utar raises his head and carefully wanders over to the hole blasted in the side of the sub-archive. Poking his head in, he listens intently, seeing if he can determine if anything is alive in there.
"Okay, whats our next move? We've found two of the three stolen books and the one missing is the one from that snarky arsehole, right? We've one Cult of the Dragon member with Aleyd but there's another out there and maybe another, if they aren't this mysterious 'B' character. Do we start hunting for the book? Do we delve into whatever this is and hope to follow them? Something else entirely? For the first time in a long time, I don't think I know for sure."
"Well, let me make it easier on you."Obsben put a fist before her mouth and cleared her throat, then practically slapped both hands on her waist and said, "We go down flipping hole. Because, and I hate to say this particular phrase, 'with any luck' we'll discover our culprit WITH the book, seeing as the last one was abandoned part way here. At worse, we'll have a bit more on our plate to handle before the night and maybe the next day out, but it'll be far easier to manage when we've at least apprehended our thief."
She then abruptly points at Utar. "So stop doubting yourself needlessly. Sure, you've put your foot in your mouth a few times, and your god seemed not much of a mind to mend our hurts at your request. But you mean well, and from what I've seen, most deities tend to be a bit either a bit dickish or too busy dealing with their own messes. So don't take it too much to heart, ya nutta man." She states frankly, before her shoulders sag and arms hang to the side in a tired sigh. She then looks up to Graxx and holds out her hand. "Up, up."
(OOC: Forgot to mention re-uping the Light on her dagger once the original died out.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"I'm curious what the Cult would want with the tome that Ellison took," Neya says. "We know that particular one was tampered with. I guess that's a question for him when we catch up."
On their way back to the sub-archives, CRAP recaps their mission so far. While Neya shows particular interest in the last book they have to recover and the Cult's use of it, Utar allows some doubt to seep into his thinking. Obsben is quick to swat that hesitation away, and Graxx punctuates that stance with a team-spirit shout! Recognizing the value in having a close-knit team, Utar takes the lead (despite Obsben asking Graxx to do it) and peeks into the room past the blasted wall.
This room is approximately 30 feet deep and half as wide. Its walls are lined with shelves laden with books, as well as miscellaneous objects. At the far end of the room, a silver chest rests on a wooden table; a unique sigil is embossed on the chest, and its lid is open. A series of racks and boxes jut out of the silver chest on clever, articulated hinges that unfold and spread out. The chest mechanism's simultaneously allows access to the multiple different storage spaces within. This was surely the creation of an accomplished artificer or mechanist.
A second hole, similar to the one Utar is peeking through, has been blasted into the wall to his right. Beyond this second hole, the sound of running water can be heard. On the blackened and charred floor around this second hole are the remains of a musical instrument, shattered nearly beyond recognition. These pieces include a broken lion's head and the shaft of a wind instrument, resembling a flute without holes beyond the mouth piece.
Unless a door was blasted away in the creation of one of the two holes, there seems to be no original access to this hidden chamber.
"There's something in here! A chest! Obsben, might be in your wheelhouse?"
Stepping into the room, Utar casts a quick eye around, clearly the chest is of some importance, and whoever they are chasing has already taken what they want from it.
"We need to check the chest and we need to know what was taken. Anyone know what that sigil relates to?"
After scratching his head and trawling his own store of religious symbology, Utar looks to the surrounding bookshelves, looking for any kind of journal or diary, even a logbook or inventory.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Presumably upon being carried inside, and then in seeing the shattered remains of the instrument, she clicks her tongue and softly shake head. "Guess we won't be returning that one." She quietly mused, remembering a certain elf's commentary about a missing horn. However, before she can request to have the fragments collected, Utar's question leaves her looking puzzled for a moment or two. "Mm~ A lot of things are in my wheelhouse I suppose, but I wouldn't count on me finding out much in my state. As it's... *yawn*... taking my everything as is just to not go nappy nap." Obsben admits as much, and so looks to Graxx with both an expectant yet questioning look. For the decision to bother with the chest and risk wasting more time she'd leave to him. And if he wished then... well, she wouldn't argue further!
-Sigil Study: 21. (or if History would more applicable, same bonus)
Regardless of what comes about, Obsben voiced all the same, "If I had to wager to guess, I'd imagine the sigil ties into either a former magical ward, or.... hmm.... or given the nature of the chest and how cut off this space is, this could've been wizard or sorcerer's secret study."She then shrug, and carrying on trying to seem detached about the prospect of further studying the room. But one way or another, her eyes would keep drifting to the nearby shelves and linger perhaps a few seconds longer than they should for any given moment.
If it starts to look as if the party might linger in the room for more than just a couple of minutes one way or another, she does eventually find a moment to begin the ritual of enhancing of her senstivity to magic on the off chance some yet lingered in the room. If not in the books, then perhaps in the trinkets scattered about the shelves.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx receives Obsben's look and receives the message.
"Whatever was there is somewhere now ahead of us. If you can't figure out or get any hints quickly then I think it's best we continue our hunt before our prey gets too far ahead." says Graxx.
Graxx listens intently on the running water.
"The running water concerns me. It could be a second way out of here depending on how the water flows or where it's coming from." says Graxx.
Graxx will approach the hole with the sounds of the running water.
"I'm going to look inside."
Graxx looks down at the broken instrument. Scratches his head for a just a moment. Then will peek through the second hole.
"That's just the thing, Neya. So few visit the archives given its condition, and we're so deep underground for the most part by this point that I'd be surprised if anyone even felt it, let alone heard it... Also, given what happened back at the stacks, I'm fairly sure we we're kind of 'here' for the opening of at least one of those holes. So either way, it'a be a 'recent' development." Obsben commented.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
The sigil: Utar comes to the conclusion that the symbol on the chest has no religious significance, to the best of his knowledge. However, something clicks for Obsben. The halfling associates the symbol with Denlor, a wizard who once resided within Phlan at least a century back. It seems plausible this walled off room was used as a hidden stash for the wizard, though it has clearly seen better days. The blasting of the walls seem to have destroyed plenty of books and materials, and the chest...
The chest: Utar figures out that many of the chest's compartments were ransacked, albeit not thoroughly. He is sure the extruding trays and boxes can be manipulated further, but the cleric can't seem to figure the mechanism out before frustration gets the best of him. One other thing Utar notices is that there is a tiny needle jutting from the keyhole, the point of which is smudged with barely-perceptible blood. Obsben shows some interest in the chest as well but only after the group agrees to linger in this room for a bit longer. Her sensitive eyes capture a source of magic within one of the hard to reach compartments in the chest, but some mechanism manipulation will be needed if she is to reach it.
Meanwhile, Graxx uses to afforded time to peek past the second hole. He sees a rope anchored to one of the nearby shelves, leading downward into darkness. The sound of running water can be heard within, even more loudly than when Graxx first entered this hidden room. With his darkvision, the barbarian also sees a pair of walkways running along a channel of moving water--a sewer, by the smell of it.
Neya continues to try to put some pieces of the puzzle together and Obsben helps her connect a couple more dots. CRAP was here (just one level above) for the opening of the holes.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Obsben "Hmms" and "Hawws"and almost failed to give much of a real answer in response to Graxx inquiry. But eventually with a sort of grumbling start she admits aloud, "Almost done, more or less. Just, uh, neeeed a little assistance with the box. Seems our thief was in too much of a hurry and missed a little magical nugget here.... Neya? Would you mind coming here for a second?" With a single finger she motions the totally-not-a-ninja woman over before directing over to the compartment.
"The thing I sensed is in there, but we need to move a few things around. So, I need your fingees for this one. But I'll try to guide you as best I can. Though much like the Ferrohorned fox, I'm sure you'll be fine either which way." She said assuringly, failing to mention the possible poisoning upon potential failure.
-If possible, granting Neya help and a Bardic Inspiration(d8).
(@Lerus: If the help might be contingent on Obby making some sort of investigation check initially to discern how best to get access to the compartment, then I'll leave that in the spoiler. Or can maybe go by her passive -5 due to disadvantage from exhaustion.)
"Hmm, maybe this thief isn't so magically inclined as we thought. Or maybe they're running on empty just like us. Either way, good work, Graxx."
Reasoning that they can wrap this up fairly quickly then at least follow the trail of the thief, Utar points at the blood spotted needle. "Let's grab that before we go. If it belongs to our thief, maybe we can use it get the drop on them, watch them, zero in on their location?"
(OOC: I'll say Obsben's investigation will allow her to quickly study the contraption, lowering the DC for Neya's assisted check.)
Although Graxx is excited to give chase to their fugitive, the rest of CRAP needs a few extra moments. Utar spends his by breaking off the needle portion of the triggered trap built into the chest's lock and claiming the droplet of blood for divination purposes.
Obsben and Neya team-up to crack the chest "puzzle," moving its many parts as a way to study it before finally revealing the hidden compartment containing the source of magic the halfling had pinpointed. Neya tries to deftly open the delicate box in question but he angle of approach is an unfavorable one. Eating up more time than the group would like, the eldritch monk eventually hears a satisfying click and claims the well-decorated leather purse hiding within. Puling on the strings that have kept the purse closed for many decades, Neya finds 5 dry beans inside. There is also a Potion of Healing (Greater) inside the box.
(OOC: Because you have spent quite a bit of time in this room now, including ritual casting and slowly making progress with the tricky chest, I'll go ahead and ask for an INT check from those who were not actively working on the chest, so Graxx and Utar.)
Graxx regains: 90 Hp
Plus 14 Temp HP for spending extra 10 mins.
Before short rest
Second wind: 13
The short rest
Hit dice (Burning all monk dice): 52
Extended Signature
(OOC: The short rest is completed successfully. I assume the group is going back down to the sub-archive?)
Having spent their rest quietly seething that this thief has continued to be one step ahead of them and also silently berating himself for trying to throw his weight around with the Head Curator earlier whicha appeared to do absolutely nothing but add another name to long list of folk he had rubbed up the wrong way.
Staring intently at the floor, Utar raises his head and carefully wanders over to the hole blasted in the side of the sub-archive. Poking his head in, he listens intently, seeing if he can determine if anything is alive in there.
Perception - 19
"Okay, whats our next move? We've found two of the three stolen books and the one missing is the one from that snarky arsehole, right? We've one Cult of the Dragon member with Aleyd but there's another out there and maybe another, if they aren't this mysterious 'B' character. Do we start hunting for the book? Do we delve into whatever this is and hope to follow them? Something else entirely? For the first time in a long time, I don't think I know for sure."
"Well, let me make it easier on you." Obsben put a fist before her mouth and cleared her throat, then practically slapped both hands on her waist and said, "We go down flipping hole. Because, and I hate to say this particular phrase, 'with any luck' we'll discover our culprit WITH the book, seeing as the last one was abandoned part way here. At worse, we'll have a bit more on our plate to handle before the night and maybe the next day out, but it'll be far easier to manage when we've at least apprehended our thief."
She then abruptly points at Utar. "So stop doubting yourself needlessly. Sure, you've put your foot in your mouth a few times, and your god seemed not much of a mind to mend our hurts at your request. But you mean well, and from what I've seen, most deities tend to be a bit either a bit dickish or too busy dealing with their own messes. So don't take it too much to heart, ya nutta man." She states frankly, before her shoulders sag and arms hang to the side in a tired sigh. She then looks up to Graxx and holds out her hand. "Up, up."
(OOC: Forgot to mention re-uping the Light on her dagger once the original died out.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx quickly nods acknowledging Obsben’s request.
Graxx eyes light up.
”Yes!” Graxx exclaims excitedly.
”Down the hole we will go.” says Graxx as he lifts Obsben onto his shoulders.
”We will be walking death! If we can survive that last fight we can survive anything together.” says Graxx.
"I'm curious what the Cult would want with the tome that Ellison took," Neya says. "We know that particular one was tampered with. I guess that's a question for him when we catch up."
Extended Signature
On their way back to the sub-archives, CRAP recaps their mission so far. While Neya shows particular interest in the last book they have to recover and the Cult's use of it, Utar allows some doubt to seep into his thinking. Obsben is quick to swat that hesitation away, and Graxx punctuates that stance with a team-spirit shout! Recognizing the value in having a close-knit team, Utar takes the lead (despite Obsben asking Graxx to do it) and peeks into the room past the blasted wall.
This room is approximately 30 feet deep and half as wide. Its walls are lined with shelves laden with books, as well as miscellaneous objects. At the far end of the room, a silver chest rests on a wooden table; a unique sigil is embossed on the chest, and its lid is open. A series of racks and boxes jut out of the silver chest on clever, articulated hinges that unfold and spread out. The chest mechanism's simultaneously allows access to the multiple different storage spaces within. This was surely the creation of an accomplished artificer or mechanist.
A second hole, similar to the one Utar is peeking through, has been blasted into the wall to his right. Beyond this second hole, the sound of running water can be heard. On the blackened and charred floor around this second hole are the remains of a musical instrument, shattered nearly beyond recognition. These pieces include a broken lion's head and the shaft of a wind instrument, resembling a flute without holes beyond the mouth piece.
Unless a door was blasted away in the creation of one of the two holes, there seems to be no original access to this hidden chamber.
"There's something in here! A chest! Obsben, might be in your wheelhouse?"
Stepping into the room, Utar casts a quick eye around, clearly the chest is of some importance, and whoever they are chasing has already taken what they want from it.
"We need to check the chest and we need to know what was taken. Anyone know what that sigil relates to?"
Religion - 13
After scratching his head and trawling his own store of religious symbology, Utar looks to the surrounding bookshelves, looking for any kind of journal or diary, even a logbook or inventory.
Investigation - 10
(OOC - Forgot about the levels of exhaustion we're currently rocking! Caught it early enough to amend the skill checks here though!)
Presumably upon being carried inside, and then in seeing the shattered remains of the instrument, she clicks her tongue and softly shake head. "Guess we won't be returning that one." She quietly mused, remembering a certain elf's commentary about a missing horn. However, before she can request to have the fragments collected, Utar's question leaves her looking puzzled for a moment or two. "Mm~ A lot of things are in my wheelhouse I suppose, but I wouldn't count on me finding out much in my state. As it's... *yawn*... taking my everything as is just to not go nappy nap." Obsben admits as much, and so looks to Graxx with both an expectant yet questioning look. For the decision to bother with the chest and risk wasting more time she'd leave to him. And if he wished then... well, she wouldn't argue further!
-Sigil Study: 21. (or if History would more applicable, same bonus)
Regardless of what comes about, Obsben voiced all the same, "If I had to wager to guess, I'd imagine the sigil ties into either a former magical ward, or.... hmm.... or given the nature of the chest and how cut off this space is, this could've been wizard or sorcerer's secret study." She then shrug, and carrying on trying to seem detached about the prospect of further studying the room. But one way or another, her eyes would keep drifting to the nearby shelves and linger perhaps a few seconds longer than they should for any given moment.
If it starts to look as if the party might linger in the room for more than just a couple of minutes one way or another, she does eventually find a moment to begin the ritual of enhancing of her senstivity to magic on the off chance some yet lingered in the room. If not in the books, then perhaps in the trinkets scattered about the shelves.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx receives Obsben's look and receives the message.
"Whatever was there is somewhere now ahead of us. If you can't figure out or get any hints quickly then I think it's best we continue our hunt before our prey gets too far ahead." says Graxx.
Graxx listens intently on the running water.
"The running water concerns me. It could be a second way out of here depending on how the water flows or where it's coming from." says Graxx.
Graxx will approach the hole with the sounds of the running water.
"I'm going to look inside."
Graxx looks down at the broken instrument. Scratches his head for a just a moment. Then will peek through the second hole.
"I find it astonishing that with the amount of force that was needed to make this hole, nobody seemed to have reported a thing."
Extended Signature
"That's just the thing, Neya. So few visit the archives given its condition, and we're so deep underground for the most part by this point that I'd be surprised if anyone even felt it, let alone heard it... Also, given what happened back at the stacks, I'm fairly sure we we're kind of 'here' for the opening of at least one of those holes. So either way, it'a be a 'recent' development." Obsben commented.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
The sigil: Utar comes to the conclusion that the symbol on the chest has no religious significance, to the best of his knowledge. However, something clicks for Obsben. The halfling associates the symbol with Denlor, a wizard who once resided within Phlan at least a century back. It seems plausible this walled off room was used as a hidden stash for the wizard, though it has clearly seen better days. The blasting of the walls seem to have destroyed plenty of books and materials, and the chest...
The chest: Utar figures out that many of the chest's compartments were ransacked, albeit not thoroughly. He is sure the extruding trays and boxes can be manipulated further, but the cleric can't seem to figure the mechanism out before frustration gets the best of him. One other thing Utar notices is that there is a tiny needle jutting from the keyhole, the point of which is smudged with barely-perceptible blood. Obsben shows some interest in the chest as well but only after the group agrees to linger in this room for a bit longer. Her sensitive eyes capture a source of magic within one of the hard to reach compartments in the chest, but some mechanism manipulation will be needed if she is to reach it.
Meanwhile, Graxx uses to afforded time to peek past the second hole. He sees a rope anchored to one of the nearby shelves, leading downward into darkness. The sound of running water can be heard within, even more loudly than when Graxx first entered this hidden room. With his darkvision, the barbarian also sees a pair of walkways running along a channel of moving water--a sewer, by the smell of it.
Neya continues to try to put some pieces of the puzzle together and Obsben helps her connect a couple more dots. CRAP was here (just one level above) for the opening of the holes.
Graxx eyeballs the rope and his nostrils flare and his eyes light up with excitement.
"They went this way! There is a rope leading down into the darkness.", exclaims Graxx!
Graxx looks back to Utar.
"Are you done with the chest?" asks Graxx
Graxx waives his hand in front of his nose.
"The water is a sewer so try not to slip!" says Graxx.
Obsben "Hmms" and "Hawws" and almost failed to give much of a real answer in response to Graxx inquiry. But eventually with a sort of grumbling start she admits aloud, "Almost done, more or less. Just, uh, neeeed a little assistance with the box. Seems our thief was in too much of a hurry and missed a little magical nugget here.... Neya? Would you mind coming here for a second?" With a single finger she motions the totally-not-a-ninja woman over before directing over to the compartment.
"The thing I sensed is in there, but we need to move a few things around. So, I need your fingees for this one. But I'll try to guide you as best I can. Though much like the Ferrohorned fox, I'm sure you'll be fine either which way." She said assuringly, failing to mention the possible poisoning upon potential failure.
-If possible, granting Neya help and a Bardic Inspiration(d8).
(@Lerus: If the help might be contingent on Obby making some sort of investigation check initially to discern how best to get access to the compartment, then I'll leave that in the spoiler. Or can maybe go by her passive -5 due to disadvantage from exhaustion.)
-Investigation: 19.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Hmm, maybe this thief isn't so magically inclined as we thought. Or maybe they're running on empty just like us. Either way, good work, Graxx."
Reasoning that they can wrap this up fairly quickly then at least follow the trail of the thief, Utar points at the blood spotted needle. "Let's grab that before we go. If it belongs to our thief, maybe we can use it get the drop on them, watch them, zero in on their location?"
"Of course. I can help open this chest," Neya agrees. "Let's see what I can do here..."
General Dexterity w/ help + Bardic Inspiration (if applicable): 9 + 1 (9+1)
Extended Signature
(OOC: I'll say Obsben's investigation will allow her to quickly study the contraption, lowering the DC for Neya's assisted check.)
Although Graxx is excited to give chase to their fugitive, the rest of CRAP needs a few extra moments. Utar spends his by breaking off the needle portion of the triggered trap built into the chest's lock and claiming the droplet of blood for divination purposes.
Obsben and Neya team-up to crack the chest "puzzle," moving its many parts as a way to study it before finally revealing the hidden compartment containing the source of magic the halfling had pinpointed. Neya tries to deftly open the delicate box in question but he angle of approach is an unfavorable one. Eating up more time than the group would like, the eldritch monk eventually hears a satisfying click and claims the well-decorated leather purse hiding within. Puling on the strings that have kept the purse closed for many decades, Neya finds 5 dry beans inside. There is also a Potion of Healing (Greater) inside the box.
(OOC: Because you have spent quite a bit of time in this room now, including ritual casting and slowly making progress with the tricky chest, I'll go ahead and ask for an INT check from those who were not actively working on the chest, so Graxx and Utar.)
Utar's Int Check: 20
Second roll for disadvantage: 5