You have two black 'stone' objects. The black orb found behind the portrait and the polished black jet stone from the dummy. You can roll Arcana to try and find out if it is magical or Identify can be cast on either one or both.
"You keep mentioning this pearl... Is it some special magical pearl or any will do? How about this one?"
Lana pulled a thin silvery chain from her neck, showing at the end of it a ring, that was hidden under her shirt before. The ring itself was of an intricate design but right now the most important part was the perfectly round creamy white pearl nestled within a delicate setting of the frame.
"You do not need to destroy it, do you? Then try it out."
((OOC: with DMs permission, the ring is part of Lana's equipment. She would gladly share it with Tex.))
"I don't know, I can certainly try. It needs to be a valuable pearl." repliesTex and he tries to use Lana's pearl in a ritual to identify the black stone and the black orb.
(OOC: The pearl must have a value of at least 100GP it says in the components description. I guess it's up to the DM to decide whether your pearl qualifies.)
Zane replies to Rel, "Yes, I am comfortable with it. I used to be a detective of sorts, working on recovering stolen art. This," he gestures around the room and beyond, "is exactly the type of opulence that usually contains some pieces with an interesting history."
He takes a deep breath and bandages some of his wounds.
"But it may also contain a great deal of danger, which I have too much of personal experience with," he adds grimly.
Rel peers thoughtfully at the dashing Tabaxi. Detective? Recovering valuable art? Better than chasing down runaway slaves by a sight.
"Glad you are on our side, Zane. And as for danger, I hear you. After escaping Menzoberranzan through the Underdark, I too seem unable to avoid danger. Most recently with the sea monster, Vrakath, and now this mansion... we all need to stick together."
Suddenly, she smacks her palm on her forehead, realizing that in extricating the Black Stone from the vampire-in-the-box out of her Handy Haversack, she had forgotten to take the Black Orb from behind the portrait out of her Backpack where she had kept it to quarantine it from everything else.
Rel puts them both on the floor in turn with her Mage Hand and looks sheepishly at both Bellamy and Tex.
I used detect magic which should tell me if they are magical and what school of magic they belong to. detect magic
(Sorry missed this. Tex had used detect magic earlier so you would already have known that the orb is magical. evocation magic. The black stone does not have a magical aura)
After the short rest Bellamy closes his spellbook and moves towards the tunnel and climbs down using his natural climbing ability. "I hope that boy is down here"he whispers.
"Summoning night? Really? Guess a vampire would need it but can not imagine anyone else being keen to use the thing. Of, well. A pity we had to break this toy to get just a gem and still do not understand why they hid it so well but what's done is done. You think you can fix it, Tex?"
Lana still liked the idea to fix the puzzle-jumper, as a memento if nothing else.
"Ready to go? Bellamy, wait for us!" The tiefling used the ladder, like before, to descend and hurried down to not leave Bellamy alone in the tunnel.
(Absolutely, he’d certainly have shared the finding)
“Perhaps it can be used to lure a vampire into a trap. Lure them outside while it is summoned night and let go once they fall for it? I’m not sure that would work, they appear to be a clever bunch, but anyway, we’ll keep it for now. Perhaps we can trade it to the vampires?”
Tex fixes a rope around Lizzy, “Can someone help me lower her, too? “ As soon as Lizzy is down, he follows everyone down.
After they have been thoroughly studied, Rel uses her Mage Hand to return the black orb to her backpack and the black stone to her Handy Haversack. She keeps the spectral hand summoned in case it is needed for the descent.
She offers her own rope in case Tex's fifty feet of rope is not enough to lower Lizzy. While the party lacks a typical strong fighter-type, she suggests Zane is probably the strongest of the bunch to lower the steel defender down with the ropes. (Casting Guidance on him if he does).
As usual, Rel brings up the rear, descending last. Keeping an eye out for signs of anyone following them.
With the party having regained their composure, they begin to head down the ladder and beyond. Using a rope and pulley system, Zane and Texare able to hoist Lizzydown while the rest of the group uses the ladder to descend.
You each reach the bottom and into the caverns below the manor. A large, cold, damp cavern with the sound of water running off in the distance. Each sound you make echoes as your feet touch the hard rocky floor. The sound almost amplified by the acoustics of the open, hard surfaced area. If it were not for your darkvision, you are certain you would be unable to see anything at all, perhaps not even your own hand. From what you can tell with a minute or so of searching, surrounding you is nothing but cavern walls that eventually open to a path leading south
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Taking 2 HDs: 4 and 3)
With only one way forward, Lana waited a bit for the full party to get down and then began her scouting, trying to stay out of Tex's light and as silently as she could, paying attention to the floor, walls and - especially! - the ceiling. (Stealth: 19, Perception: 15+4 guidance)
Zane, even in the limited vision supplied by your darkvision, you are able to see the faintest sight of markings on the stone floor heading to the south.
Lana, scouting forward, you do not spot anything threatening as you enter the opening to the south. The area within is much narrower and the 'ceiling above is about 15 feet now and the walls are about 10 feet apart. You can see that it goes further than the 60 feet than you can see. The only sounds you can hear is the running water off in the distance.
(OOC: Everyone let me know marching order you can fit max two by two in the tunnel ahead. As always, if you wish to proceed stealthily it will take more time as you move slower and you need to make a stealth roll.)
(OOC is the black stone magical?)
You have two black 'stone' objects. The black orb found behind the portrait and the polished black jet stone from the dummy. You can roll Arcana to try and find out if it is magical or Identify can be cast on either one or both.
I used detect magic which should tell me if they are magical and what school of magic they belong to. detect magic
"I don't know, I can certainly try. It needs to be a valuable pearl." replies Tex and he tries to use Lana's pearl in a ritual to identify the black stone and the black orb.
(OOC: The pearl must have a value of at least 100GP it says in the components description. I guess it's up to the DM to decide whether your pearl qualifies.)
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Yawning Portal || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan Shi - Liquid Swords || Syed - Drakkenheim || Kaelthor - Dragonlance ||
Zane replies to Rel, "Yes, I am comfortable with it. I used to be a detective of sorts, working on recovering stolen art. This," he gestures around the room and beyond, "is exactly the type of opulence that usually contains some pieces with an interesting history."
He takes a deep breath and bandages some of his wounds.
"But it may also contain a great deal of danger, which I have too much of personal experience with," he adds grimly.
Rel peers thoughtfully at the dashing Tabaxi. Detective? Recovering valuable art? Better than chasing down runaway slaves by a sight.
"Glad you are on our side, Zane. And as for danger, I hear you. After escaping Menzoberranzan through the Underdark, I too seem unable to avoid danger. Most recently with the sea monster, Vrakath, and now this mansion... we all need to stick together."
Suddenly, she smacks her palm on her forehead, realizing that in extricating the Black Stone from the vampire-in-the-box out of her Handy Haversack, she had forgotten to take the Black Orb from behind the portrait out of her Backpack where she had kept it to quarantine it from everything else.
Rel puts them both on the floor in turn with her Mage Hand and looks sheepishly at both Bellamy and Tex.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
In addition to ritual-cast identify on the orb and the jewel, Tex will conduct a few minor repairs on Lizzy, too.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Yawning Portal || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan Shi - Liquid Swords || Syed - Drakkenheim || Kaelthor - Dragonlance ||
(Sorry missed this. Tex had used detect magic earlier so you would already have known that the orb is magical. evocation magic. The black stone does not have a magical aura)
Tex spends the time to cast his spell revealing the black orb from behind the painting to be a Nightfall Pearl
The other stone is simply a Jet but could be worth some money, how much you are unsure.
After the short rest Bellamy closes his spellbook and moves towards the tunnel and climbs down using his natural climbing ability. "I hope that boy is down here" he whispers.
(Assuming Tex shared his findings)
"Summoning night? Really? Guess a vampire would need it but can not imagine anyone else being keen to use the thing. Of, well. A pity we had to break this toy to get just a gem and still do not understand why they hid it so well but what's done is done. You think you can fix it, Tex?"
Lana still liked the idea to fix the puzzle-jumper, as a memento if nothing else.
"Ready to go? Bellamy, wait for us!" The tiefling used the ladder, like before, to descend and hurried down to not leave Bellamy alone in the tunnel.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
(Absolutely, he’d certainly have shared the finding)
“Perhaps it can be used to lure a vampire into a trap. Lure them outside while it is summoned night and let go once they fall for it? I’m not sure that would work, they appear to be a clever bunch, but anyway, we’ll keep it for now. Perhaps we can trade it to the vampires?”
Tex fixes a rope around Lizzy, “Can someone help me lower her, too? “ As soon as Lizzy is down, he follows everyone down.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Yawning Portal || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan Shi - Liquid Swords || Syed - Drakkenheim || Kaelthor - Dragonlance ||
After they have been thoroughly studied, Rel uses her Mage Hand to return the black orb to her backpack and the black stone to her Handy Haversack. She keeps the spectral hand summoned in case it is needed for the descent.
She offers her own rope in case Tex's fifty feet of rope is not enough to lower Lizzy. While the party lacks a typical strong fighter-type, she suggests Zane is probably the strongest of the bunch to lower the steel defender down with the ropes. (Casting Guidance on him if he does).
As usual, Rel brings up the rear, descending last. Keeping an eye out for signs of anyone following them.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Zane lends his own rope to this effort as well. "It'll be much harder to get him back up later, though."
Athletics (with advantage) if needed: 22
With the party having regained their composure, they begin to head down the ladder and beyond. Using a rope and pulley system, Zane and Tex are able to hoist Lizzy down while the rest of the group uses the ladder to descend.
You each reach the bottom and into the caverns below the manor. A large, cold, damp cavern with the sound of water running off in the distance. Each sound you make echoes as your feet touch the hard rocky floor. The sound almost amplified by the acoustics of the open, hard surfaced area. If it were not for your darkvision, you are certain you would be unable to see anything at all, perhaps not even your own hand. From what you can tell with a minute or so of searching, surrounding you is nothing but cavern walls that eventually open to a path leading south
Zane will try to see if there are any tracks or other marks on the floor. Perception: 25 (survival would be 22).
Also, does the sound of running water come also from the south, or is that unclear?
Tex helps Zane with a little staff that emits light in a 5ft radius (Magical Tinkering).
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Yawning Portal || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan Shi - Liquid Swords || Syed - Drakkenheim || Kaelthor - Dragonlance ||
(Taking 2 HDs: 4 and 3)
With only one way forward, Lana waited a bit for the full party to get down and then began her scouting, trying to stay out of Tex's light and as silently as she could, paying attention to the floor, walls and - especially! - the ceiling. (Stealth: 19, Perception: 15+4 guidance)
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Zane, even in the limited vision supplied by your darkvision, you are able to see the faintest sight of markings on the stone floor heading to the south.
Lana, scouting forward, you do not spot anything threatening as you enter the opening to the south. The area within is much narrower and the 'ceiling above is about 15 feet now and the walls are about 10 feet apart. You can see that it goes further than the 60 feet than you can see. The only sounds you can hear is the running water off in the distance.
(OOC: Everyone let me know marching order you can fit max two by two in the tunnel ahead. As always, if you wish to proceed stealthily it will take more time as you move slower and you need to make a stealth roll.)
Bellamy will be second to last next to Rel in the back.
Stealth 7 rolled in game log