While exploring the lab, you find 3 potions: flying, invisibility, and mind reading. All of the devils are gone, and the Dryads are gone. The tree is empty.
[[OOC: If those are the potions from the Mortuary, you already catalogued them in post #3272.]]
[[OOC: I think that this is the full list of treasures, and here are some suggestions about who should take each one.
@Aaggie - it sounds like we have plenty of time for ritual castings of Detect Magic and Identify, so we should know whether any of the other items are magical and what their properties are. I flagged a few "suspicious" items below.]]
Potion of Flying This could be useful for our melee fighters, like Khessa or Tyekanik, to reach flying opponents. Otherwise, Vrox could probably make good use of this one (e.g., for aerial scouting or for keeping out of reach of melee opponents while using his longbow).
Potion of Mind Reading Taken by Vrox. With a fixed DC 13, it's not going to be useful at this level for "probing deeper." It's probably most useful by a scout who could use it to "detect the presence of thinking creatures you can’t see," such as creatures behind a door. There's also no saving throw against reading the "surface thoughts" of creatures, which could be useful when he's using Persuasion or Deception.
Potion of Invisibility If Lord Akkron doesn't want this potion, Tyekanik will take it. Vrox is already very stealthy without being invisible, and he has the Nature’s Veil feature, which enables him to become invisible for 1 round a few times / LR.
From the library on the second floor, 3 spell scrolls: (post #3272)
Spell Scroll of Forbiddance No one in the current party can use this spell scroll (cleric-only spell).
Do Khessa or Clarac want to swap an attunement slot for advantage on saving throws against spells and "magical effect" and imposing disadvantage on spell attacks? That's pretty fantastic when we face powerful spellcasters.
If not, maybe we should offer it to an ally, like Sir Sparhawk or Yôht?
Vrox is a satyr, so he already has part of the benefit (advantage on saving throws against spells), and he cannot use a shield while he's using his longbow.
and are you going to add the coins to the bag of holding with the others.
We have at least 2 of them, right? Vrox knows that a Bag of Holding does have a limit. He asks, "After loading up all of Count Glauer's treasures in the bags of holding, do we have enough capacity to add all of the High Mage's, jewelry, and coins?"
[[OOC: @Aaggie - if you don't want to worry about the capacity of a Bag of Holding, then we can just treat them as having no limits. I just didn't want to keep carelessly adding treasure until one of them ruptures!]]
Akkron is more than happy to take the two mentioned spell scrolls.
"Hopefully we have enough loot to buy a few more of these," he says as he tucks the two scrolls into the folds of his robe, glancing at the piles of gold, treasure, etc. "I really, really should have brought my utility spellbook instead of just the one full of blasting and necromancy spells... half of which have turned out to be more-or-less useless because we keep running into demons and undead things don't even feel the chill of the grave..."
It's hard to tell for sure whether the lich is amused or annoyed when he makes that commentary on his ability to dish out punishment. Perhaps a bit of both, honestly. What is clear is that he has no idea what the piles of gold are worth. He rarely needs to purchase anything, and, when he does, usually he just tosses gold coins to the vendors until they look happy.
[[OOC: I think that this is the full list of treasures, and here are some suggestions about who should take each one.
@Aaggie - it sounds like we have plenty of time for ritual castings of Detect Magic and Identify, so we should know whether any of the other items are magical and what their properties are. I flagged a few "suspicious" items below.]]
Potion of Flying This could be useful for our melee fighters, like Khessa or Tyekanik, to reach flying opponents. Otherwise, Vrox could probably make good use of this one (e.g., for aerial scouting or for keeping out of reach of melee opponents while using his longbow).
Potion of Mind Reading Taken by Vrox. With a fixed DC 13, it's not going to be useful at this level for "probing deeper." It's probably most useful by a scout who could use it to "detect the presence of thinking creatures you can’t see," such as creatures behind a door. There's also no saving throw against reading the "surface thoughts" of creatures, which could be useful when he's using Persuasion or Deception.
Potion of Invisibility If Lord Akkron doesn't want this potion, Tyekanik will take it. Vrox is already very stealthy without being invisible, and he has the Nature’s Veil feature, which enables him to become invisible for 1 round a few times / LR.
From the library on the second floor, 3 spell scrolls: (post #3272)
Spell Scroll of Forbiddance No one in the current party can use this spell scroll (cleric-only spell).
Do Khessa or Clarac want to swap an attunement slot for advantage on saving throws against spells and "magical effect" and imposing disadvantage on spell attacks? That's pretty fantastic when we face powerful spellcasters.
If not, maybe we should offer it to an ally, like Sir Sparhawk or Yôht?
Vrox is a satyr, so he already has part of the benefit (advantage on saving throws against spells), and he cannot use a shield while he's using his longbow.
and are you going to add the coins to the bag of holding with the others.
We have at least 2 of them, right? Vrox knows that a Bag of Holding does have a limit. He asks, "After loading up all of Count Glauer's treasures in the bags of holding, do we have enough capacity to add all of the High Mage's, jewelry, and coins?"
[[OOC: @Aaggie - if you don't want to worry about the capacity of a Bag of Holding, then we can just treat them as having no limits. I just didn't want to keep carelessly adding treasure until one of them ruptures!]]
For simplicity's sake, bags of holding have no limits
[[OOC: I think that this is the full list of treasures, and here are some suggestions about who should take each one.
@Aaggie - it sounds like we have plenty of time for ritual castings of Detect Magic and Identify, so we should know whether any of the other items are magical and what their properties are. I flagged a few "suspicious" items below.]]
Chest #1: (post #3282)
gems: assorted rubies, sapphires, and emeralds -> Treasure for later
a glowing platinum diadem -> Treasure for later Is the diadem magical?
a golden scepter & orb -> Treasure for later Are they magical?
Chest #2: (post #3282)
Magical inks for scribing scrolls and spell books These supplies could be split between Khessa and Lord Akkron.
An Obsidian hourglass Is the hourglass magical?
A Painting of Vairae in his prime Is the painting magical?
An "Archdevil’s quill" Is the quill magical?
Chest #3: (post #3287)
Spear of Gael Wode @Aaggie - Did Khessa learn anything about this item's properties from her Identify?
[[OOC: I think that this is the full list of treasures, and here are some suggestions about who should take each one.
@Aaggie - it sounds like we have plenty of time for ritual castings of Detect Magic and Identify, so we should know whether any of the other items are magical and what their properties are. I flagged a few "suspicious" items below.]]
Chest #1: (post #3282)
gems: assorted rubies, sapphires, and emeralds -> Treasure for later
a glowing platinum diadem -> Treasure for later Is the diadem magical?
a golden scepter & orb -> Treasure for later Are they magical?
Chest #2: (post #3282)
Magical inks for scribing scrolls and spell books These supplies could be split between Khessa and Lord Akkron.
An Obsidian hourglass Is the hourglass magical?
A Painting of Vairae in his prime Is the painting magical?
An "Archdevil’s quill" Is the quill magical?
Chest #3: (post #3287)
Spear of Gael Wode @Aaggie - Did Khessa learn anything about this item's properties from her Identify?
To your trained eye, the Glowing platinum diadem (is worth about 20,000 gp) set with four astral sapphires (each worth 10,000 gp) and a large diamond (worth 25,000 gp). The Golden scepter and orb (worth 35,000 gp). The Archdevil’s quill that can only write lies (worth 20,000 gp). The painting is not magical.
The Soulstone Grimoire: Scrawled in devil’s ichor, this tome describes the rites necessary to achieve immortality in undeath. The book includes instructions for crafting a soulstone and imbuing it with power, transforming the ritual caster into a lich. In a final, terrible act, the completion of the ritual requires tearing out one’s own heart and the heart of a loved one.
To decipher the grimoire, you must be a spellcaster who can cast spells of 7th level or higher. If you spend 80 hours over a period of 30 days or fewer studying the book, you learn the ritual to create a soulstone and turn yourself into a lich. The ritual takes 1 hour to perform and requires you kill a loved one during the procedure. In addition, the ritual requires components and gems worth 100,000 gp, which the ritual consumes.
The Spear of Gael Wode:
This spear was awarded to Vairae in recognition of their accomplishments on the battlefield, but it now lies discarded in the High Mage’s vaults.
You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. While holding it, you ignore difficult terrain and you are resistant to piercing damage.
The spear also has 5 charges. You can expend 1 charge to cast the tree stride spell from it. In addition, when you make a weapon attack with the spear, you can expend 1 charge to cause grasping vines to erupt from the spear’s tip. The attack’s target and each enemy within 5 feet of them must succeed on a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be restrained by the entangling plants. A creature can use their action to make a DC 20 Strength check, freeing themself or a restrained creature within their reach on a success.
The spear regains 1d4 + 1 expended charges daily at dawn.
Khessa would also like to keep 'The Soulstone Grimoire' - not to kill a friend and become a lich, but simply for the sake of knowledge. Even details of forbidden knowledge can be useful - for example, to counter those who have embraced such ways. Plus, as long as the tome is in her possession, no other wizard with undead ambitions will be able to use it.
Aside from that, if anyone is interested in any part of the treasure, please come forward... otherwise, what no one is interested in is put in the bag of holding waiting to be used or sold at the first opportunity.
Once these operations are completed... if we consider that there are still parts of the tree to explore, the blonde arcane warrior leads the party to complete the exploration.
If we have already explored everything (or in any case finishing exploring is something quick and uneventful) the tall adventuress suggests taking advantage of the tree to rest, then leave again in the morning. We still have to find Kaine and ruin his plans - whatever they are...
Vrox doesn't really hoard treasure. He prefers to travel light and fast and never carries more than he can fit in his magic backpack and quiver. Commerce of the Feywild relies less on a simple exchange of coins for goods and much more on bargains and exchanges of curiosities, favors, and more abstract things like "a song" or "a happy memory." The lords and ladies of the Feywild provide him with lodging, equipment, and rewards when he is working in their service. The rulers of the nations of Eosia are also generally happy to host him when he visits this plane as an ambassador from the Summer Court. Even when he's not on an adventure or diplomatic mission, Vrox makes his home in the flower-covered fields of the Feywild and doesn't have much use for piles of coins.
On the other hand, Vrox is very interested in magic items, the works of master craftsman, and gems that sparkle. While he's always looking for magic items that may help him on his adventures, he also collects magic items that are amusing and a little chaotic, like his Mystery Key. Or that could be used in a trick or prank, like the Sovereign Glue. Vrox claims the "glowing diadem set with four astral sapphires and a large diamond." He holds it up and says, "This craftsmanship is exquisite. It is a crown fit for a Fey lord or lady! I will present it to the Summer Queen herself! It is a fitting token of thanks from the peoples of Eosia for the Summer Court's help against the Nefarious Duo." The "assorted rubies, sapphires, and emeralds" also catch his fancy, and his eyes seem to shine as bright as the gems themselves while he examines them.
Vrox may also take the Archdevil's quill. He wrinkles his nose and complains that it smells of sulfur and lies, but he's amused by the fact that one cannot pen a true statement with the quill.
[[OOC: I don't know how the party was splitting treasure before Vrox joined. Magic items seem to go to whomever can use them or wants them most. I guess that you just split the mundane treasure in equal shares? We're currently 5 party members, but we also have Sir Sparhawk, Richard, Brother Maynard, and Yôht. Do we each take a 1/5 share? 1/7 share (i.e., the NPCs get a half-share of the treasure)? 1/9 share (the NPCs get a full share)? Or we just pile it up for now and figure out how to divide it later?
If Vrox still has any portion of his share of treasure left after claiming the bejeweled diadem, he would want to take as many of the rubies, sapphires, and emeralds as he can. In any case, he's happy to carry that portion of the treasure for now!]]
[[ OOC: Yes, usually whatever we decide to monetize is divided equally between everyone. As for magic items, we usually followed a desire/utility criterion. Since we are all already at legendary power level, it is also rare to find magic items that really make a big difference. ]]
The Spear of Gael Wode is cool, but maybe Brother Maynard should take it? The spear is a monk weapon, so he could use his Martial Arts die instead of the spear's regular damage die when attacking with it.
it doesn't really make sense for Vrox:
Vrox has the Land's Stride feature ("moving through nonmagical difficult terrain costs...no extra movement"), so he already has part of the benefit provided by the spear.
Resistance to piercing damage could be useful since Vrox is the party member with the fewest HP, but Vrox would have to know that we're facing opponents who rely exclusively on piercing damage before he'd trade his Ring of Spell Storing for that resistance.
Tree Stride is on-theme for a Ranger, but it's the kind of spell that's only situationally useful. And Vrox already has Dimension Door for getting out of trouble.
The spear's restraining attack is basically Ensnaring Strike, which Vrox can already cast with a 19 DC.
But, most of all, Vrox generally fights from range, so it doesn't make sense for him to attune a weapon that he'd have to use at such close range. (And when he's at close range, he'd rather attack with his Vorpal Sword for a chance to one-shot an enemy.)
The spear also doesn't make sense for Tyekanik, who will basically always be most effective when wielding Annam's Greataxe. There's not really a good reason for him to attune any other magic weapon.
[[ OOC: Yes, usually whatever we decide to monetize is divided equally between everyone. As for magic items, we usually followed a desire/utility criterion. Since we are all already at legendary power level, it is also rare to find magic items that really make a big difference. ]]
I was actually tempted by that devil's contract we found at Count Glauer's keep to rebuild Vrox as a Warlock just to see how that class plays at level 20, but that would be so out-of-character for a ranger with Fiends as his Favored Enemy. Plus, I really like Vrox as a character. If I wanted to try another class, I'd just ask @Aaggie to let me introduce another character and send Vrox back to the Feywild for a while.]]
Clarac spends the time others open the treasure chests in silent prayer. She kneels near where the phylactery used to be and prays that the undead and fiendish scourges never return to the tree.
"I make no claim for any of these items. If needed, I will hold any of the evil items until they can be destroyed safely."
Akkron hesitates a moment when Khessa volunteers to take the cursed "how to be a lich" tome. It's not that he doesn't trust her... but... he's not sure he wants it to even be in possession of a mortal. Any mortal.
"Perhaps it would be in everyone's best interests if I keep that particular tome..."
He takes a moment to flip through it (assuming Khessa gives it to him), glancing over the instructions thoughtfully.
"Actually... this method is surprisingly tame compared to some rituals I have come across... the fact that it only requires one life is certainly a point in its favor. And, interestingly, requiring the sacrifice of a loved one implicitly means that someone truly heartless cannot complete it, as such a person would have no true loved ones to begin with... fascinating."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Khessa then leaves the tome to her lich mentor - it being difficult to find someone to whom the tome would be less useful than to him: "Okay, then you keep it, Master Akkron, if you prefer... I have already explained to you that I am not interested in living forever, if those I love must die, but if you are more comfortable keeping it yourself, I agree that in your hands it will be no less safe than in mine!"
The blonde arcane warrior, for the rest, having completed the exploration and the 'cleaning' of the singular tree, proposes to rest there and resume the journey the next morning, in search of Kaine to discover (and foil) his plans.
You have completed your search of the tree and the various rooms, and find no other items of interest
[[OOC: @Aaggie - there's still a question for you about the hourglass below. Otherwise, I'm just reposting the list of treasures with updates based on responses. Let me know if anyone disagrees with the disposition of these items. I've already added the indicated items to Vrox's and Tyek's inventory.]]
Spellguard Shield from the statue in the armory (post #3272) -> Offer it to an ally, like Sir Sparhawk or Yôht.
No one wants to swap out our current items for this shield.
Chest #1: (post #3282)
gems: assorted rubies, sapphires, and emeralds -> since Vrox is interested in taking as much of his share of the treasure in gems, he offers to carry them in his backpack until the party is ready to divid the treasure.
Magical inks for scribing scrolls and spell books -> split between Khessa and Lord Akkron. Presumably, these supplies help defray the cost of copying any spells to their spellbooks.
An Obsidian hourglass - @Aaggie - did we ever find out if this item is magical?
A Painting of Vairae in his prime -> Bag of Holding for later
An "Archdevil’s quill" -> Vrox
Chest #3: (post #3287)
Spear of Gael Wode -> Offer it to an ally, like Brother Maynard
No one wants to swap out our current items for this spear.
He takes a moment to flip through it (assuming Khessa gives it to him), glancing over the instructions thoughtfully.
"Actually... this method is surprisingly tame compared to some rituals I have come across... the fact that it only requires one life is certainly a point in its favor. And, interestingly, requiring the sacrifice of a loved one implicitly means that someone truly heartless cannot complete it, as such a person would have no true loved ones to begin with... fascinating."
Vrox looks at Lord Akkron, his expression wavering somewhere between pensive and horrified. He ponders a moment which is worse: a powerful wizard who truly loves no one or a powerful wizard who is willing to sacrifice a loved one in his own quest for immortality and power. It makes him wonder what Lord Akkron did to attain his everlasting undeath. Vrox imagines the years slipping past--first centuries, then millennia, then entire ages of the world--as everyone you know grows old and dies. The king in his high castle would die, then the entire kingdom would fail and eventually be forgotten. Perhaps even the mountains themselves would be ground down to dust with enough time. Vrox cannot think of such an unending stretch of time as anything but a burden of weariness and sorrow. His mind recoils in horror at the thought, and he pities the elf whom the High Mage Vairae once was. He feels that, in destroying lich, they not only rid the world of another evil, undead Power, but also released the poor elf's soul from the torment of eternal undeath.
Vrox wonders what Lord Akkron had to sacrifice--other than his own life!--to transform into a lich. When he realizes that he's staring at the wizard, he blinks and looks away. He decides not to ask, unsure whether he really wants to hear the answer.
The blonde arcane warrior, for the rest, having completed the exploration and the 'cleaning' of the singular tree, proposes to rest there and resume the journey the next morning, in search of Kaine to discover (and foil) his plans.
Vrox agrees: "We've traveled far enough today, and the tower will be easy to defend if any of the High Mage's allies try to enter tonight!" He proposes that they go down to the ground floor to rest. That way, they can be sure that no enemies sneak in while they're sleeping in the upper levels. "I also want to make sure that we're near the door and on the ground level in case the magic that created this tree-tower fails, and it start to collapse before morning."
Ready to set watch for the night and then head out in the morning. During his watch, he sits outside in the shadows and moonlight of the forest, near the main doors of the tower with his shield ready.
Khessa, as she does every time the party rests, protects the area with Alarm (audible version) and Private Sanctum (to prevent anyone from teleporting or plane-traveling into the middle of the area or to spy on the party with divinations).
[[OOC: If those are the potions from the Mortuary, you already catalogued them in post #3272.]]
[[OOC: I think that this is the full list of treasures, and here are some suggestions about who should take each one.
@Aaggie - it sounds like we have plenty of time for ritual castings of Detect Magic and Identify, so we should know whether any of the other items are magical and what their properties are. I flagged a few "suspicious" items below.]]
Anyone? Vrox already carries a Potion of Healing (Superior).
This could be useful for our melee fighters, like Khessa or Tyekanik, to reach flying opponents. Otherwise, Vrox could probably make good use of this one (e.g., for aerial scouting or for keeping out of reach of melee opponents while using his longbow).
Taken by Vrox. With a fixed DC 13, it's not going to be useful at this level for "probing deeper." It's probably most useful by a scout who could use it to "detect the presence of thinking creatures you can’t see," such as creatures behind a door. There's also no saving throw against reading the "surface thoughts" of creatures, which could be useful when he's using Persuasion or Deception.
If Lord Akkron doesn't want this potion, Tyekanik will take it. Vrox is already very stealthy without being invisible, and he has the Nature’s Veil feature, which enables him to become invisible for 1 round a few times / LR.
No one in the current party can use this spell scroll (cleric-only spell).
Lord Akkron is the only one who can use this one
Khessa wanted any scroll with a spell of level 5 or lower.
These supplies could be split between Khessa and Lord Akkron.
magical?
magical?
magical?
@Aaggie - Did Khessa learn anything about this item's properties from her Identify?
Taken by Vrox.
Taken by Vrox. He took both tokens for now, but he's happy to give one of them to someone else.
Taken by Vrox.
Taken by Vrox for now, but he's happy to give it to someone else.
Lord Akkron is the only one who can use this one
Khessa wanted any scroll with a spell of level 5 or lower.
Lord Akkron is the only one who can use this one
We have at least 2 of them, right? Vrox knows that a Bag of Holding does have a limit. He asks, "After loading up all of Count Glauer's treasures in the bags of holding, do we have enough capacity to add all of the High Mage's, jewelry, and coins?"
[[OOC: @Aaggie - if you don't want to worry about the capacity of a Bag of Holding, then we can just treat them as having no limits. I just didn't want to keep carelessly adding treasure until one of them ruptures!]]
Khessa would be content with the 2 scrolls she can copy. The shield would be wasted on her, since she, like Tyekanik, favors two-handed weapons.
Akkron is more than happy to take the two mentioned spell scrolls.
"Hopefully we have enough loot to buy a few more of these," he says as he tucks the two scrolls into the folds of his robe, glancing at the piles of gold, treasure, etc. "I really, really should have brought my utility spellbook instead of just the one full of blasting and necromancy spells... half of which have turned out to be more-or-less useless because we keep running into demons and undead things don't even feel the chill of the grave..."
It's hard to tell for sure whether the lich is amused or annoyed when he makes that commentary on his ability to dish out punishment. Perhaps a bit of both, honestly. What is clear is that he has no idea what the piles of gold are worth. He rarely needs to purchase anything, and, when he does, usually he just tosses gold coins to the vendors until they look happy.
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
For simplicity's sake, bags of holding have no limits
[[@Aaggie - We still had some unanswered questions about whether we detected magic / determined properties for the items in red below...]]
To your trained eye, the Glowing platinum diadem (is worth about 20,000 gp) set with four astral sapphires (each worth 10,000 gp) and a large diamond (worth 25,000 gp). The Golden scepter and orb (worth 35,000 gp). The Archdevil’s quill that can only write lies (worth 20,000 gp). The painting is not magical.
The Soulstone Grimoire: Scrawled in devil’s ichor, this tome describes the rites necessary to achieve immortality in undeath. The book includes instructions for crafting a soulstone and imbuing it with power, transforming the ritual caster into a lich. In a final, terrible act, the completion of the ritual requires tearing out one’s own heart and the heart of a loved one.
To decipher the grimoire, you must be a spellcaster who can cast spells of 7th level or higher. If you spend 80 hours over a period of 30 days or fewer studying the book, you learn the ritual to create a soulstone and turn yourself into a lich. The ritual takes 1 hour to perform and requires you kill a loved one during the procedure. In addition, the ritual requires components and gems worth 100,000 gp, which the ritual consumes.
The Spear of Gael Wode:
This spear was awarded to Vairae in recognition of their accomplishments on the battlefield, but it now lies discarded in the High Mage’s vaults.
You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. While holding it, you ignore difficult terrain and you are resistant to piercing damage.
The spear also has 5 charges. You can expend 1 charge to cast the tree stride spell from it. In addition, when you make a weapon attack with the spear, you can expend 1 charge to cause grasping vines to erupt from the spear’s tip. The attack’s target and each enemy within 5 feet of them must succeed on a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be restrained by the entangling plants. A creature can use their action to make a DC 20 Strength check, freeing themself or a restrained creature within their reach on a success.
The spear regains 1d4 + 1 expended charges daily at dawn.
Note-I will be out until Sunday evening
Khessa would also like to keep 'The Soulstone Grimoire' - not to kill a friend and become a lich, but simply for the sake of knowledge. Even details of forbidden knowledge can be useful - for example, to counter those who have embraced such ways. Plus, as long as the tome is in her possession, no other wizard with undead ambitions will be able to use it.
Aside from that, if anyone is interested in any part of the treasure, please come forward... otherwise, what no one is interested in is put in the bag of holding waiting to be used or sold at the first opportunity.
Once these operations are completed... if we consider that there are still parts of the tree to explore, the blonde arcane warrior leads the party to complete the exploration.
If we have already explored everything (or in any case finishing exploring is something quick and uneventful) the tall adventuress suggests taking advantage of the tree to rest, then leave again in the morning. We still have to find Kaine and ruin his plans - whatever they are...
Vrox doesn't really hoard treasure. He prefers to travel light and fast and never carries more than he can fit in his magic backpack and quiver. Commerce of the Feywild relies less on a simple exchange of coins for goods and much more on bargains and exchanges of curiosities, favors, and more abstract things like "a song" or "a happy memory." The lords and ladies of the Feywild provide him with lodging, equipment, and rewards when he is working in their service. The rulers of the nations of Eosia are also generally happy to host him when he visits this plane as an ambassador from the Summer Court. Even when he's not on an adventure or diplomatic mission, Vrox makes his home in the flower-covered fields of the Feywild and doesn't have much use for piles of coins.
On the other hand, Vrox is very interested in magic items, the works of master craftsman, and gems that sparkle. While he's always looking for magic items that may help him on his adventures, he also collects magic items that are amusing and a little chaotic, like his Mystery Key. Or that could be used in a trick or prank, like the Sovereign Glue. Vrox claims the "glowing diadem set with four astral sapphires and a large diamond." He holds it up and says, "This craftsmanship is exquisite. It is a crown fit for a Fey lord or lady! I will present it to the Summer Queen herself! It is a fitting token of thanks from the peoples of Eosia for the Summer Court's help against the Nefarious Duo." The "assorted rubies, sapphires, and emeralds" also catch his fancy, and his eyes seem to shine as bright as the gems themselves while he examines them.
Vrox may also take the Archdevil's quill. He wrinkles his nose and complains that it smells of sulfur and lies, but he's amused by the fact that one cannot pen a true statement with the quill.
[[OOC: I don't know how the party was splitting treasure before Vrox joined. Magic items seem to go to whomever can use them or wants them most. I guess that you just split the mundane treasure in equal shares? We're currently 5 party members, but we also have Sir Sparhawk, Richard, Brother Maynard, and Yôht. Do we each take a 1/5 share? 1/7 share (i.e., the NPCs get a half-share of the treasure)? 1/9 share (the NPCs get a full share)? Or we just pile it up for now and figure out how to divide it later?
If Vrox still has any portion of his share of treasure left after claiming the bejeweled diadem, he would want to take as many of the rubies, sapphires, and emeralds as he can. In any case, he's happy to carry that portion of the treasure for now!]]
[[ OOC: Yes, usually whatever we decide to monetize is divided equally between everyone. As for magic items, we usually followed a desire/utility criterion. Since we are all already at legendary power level, it is also rare to find magic items that really make a big difference. ]]
The Spear of Gael Wode is cool, but maybe Brother Maynard should take it? The spear is a monk weapon, so he could use his Martial Arts die instead of the spear's regular damage die when attacking with it.
it doesn't really make sense for Vrox:
The spear also doesn't make sense for Tyekanik, who will basically always be most effective when wielding Annam's Greataxe. There's not really a good reason for him to attune any other magic weapon.
[[OOC: Time to find more artifacts then! ;-)
I was actually tempted by that devil's contract we found at Count Glauer's keep to rebuild Vrox as a Warlock just to see how that class plays at level 20, but that would be so out-of-character for a ranger with Fiends as his Favored Enemy. Plus, I really like Vrox as a character. If I wanted to try another class, I'd just ask @Aaggie to let me introduce another character and send Vrox back to the Feywild for a while.]]
Clarac spends the time others open the treasure chests in silent prayer. She kneels near where the phylactery used to be and prays that the undead and fiendish scourges never return to the tree.
"I make no claim for any of these items. If needed, I will hold any of the evil items until they can be destroyed safely."
You have completed your search of the tree and the various rooms, and find no other items of interest
Akkron hesitates a moment when Khessa volunteers to take the cursed "how to be a lich" tome. It's not that he doesn't trust her... but... he's not sure he wants it to even be in possession of a mortal. Any mortal.
"Perhaps it would be in everyone's best interests if I keep that particular tome..."
He takes a moment to flip through it (assuming Khessa gives it to him), glancing over the instructions thoughtfully.
"Actually... this method is surprisingly tame compared to some rituals I have come across... the fact that it only requires one life is certainly a point in its favor. And, interestingly, requiring the sacrifice of a loved one implicitly means that someone truly heartless cannot complete it, as such a person would have no true loved ones to begin with... fascinating."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
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Khessa then leaves the tome to her lich mentor - it being difficult to find someone to whom the tome would be less useful than to him: "Okay, then you keep it, Master Akkron, if you prefer... I have already explained to you that I am not interested in living forever, if those I love must die, but if you are more comfortable keeping it yourself, I agree that in your hands it will be no less safe than in mine!"
The blonde arcane warrior, for the rest, having completed the exploration and the 'cleaning' of the singular tree, proposes to rest there and resume the journey the next morning, in search of Kaine to discover (and foil) his plans.
[[OOC: @Aaggie - there's still a question for you about the hourglass below.
Otherwise, I'm just reposting the list of treasures with updates based on responses. Let me know if anyone disagrees with the disposition of these items. I've already added the indicated items to Vrox's and Tyek's inventory.]]
Vrox looks at Lord Akkron, his expression wavering somewhere between pensive and horrified. He ponders a moment which is worse: a powerful wizard who truly loves no one or a powerful wizard who is willing to sacrifice a loved one in his own quest for immortality and power. It makes him wonder what Lord Akkron did to attain his everlasting undeath. Vrox imagines the years slipping past--first centuries, then millennia, then entire ages of the world--as everyone you know grows old and dies. The king in his high castle would die, then the entire kingdom would fail and eventually be forgotten. Perhaps even the mountains themselves would be ground down to dust with enough time. Vrox cannot think of such an unending stretch of time as anything but a burden of weariness and sorrow. His mind recoils in horror at the thought, and he pities the elf whom the High Mage Vairae once was. He feels that, in destroying lich, they not only rid the world of another evil, undead Power, but also released the poor elf's soul from the torment of eternal undeath.
Vrox wonders what Lord Akkron had to sacrifice--other than his own life!--to transform into a lich. When he realizes that he's staring at the wizard, he blinks and looks away. He decides not to ask, unsure whether he really wants to hear the answer.
Vrox agrees: "We've traveled far enough today, and the tower will be easy to defend if any of the High Mage's allies try to enter tonight!" He proposes that they go down to the ground floor to rest. That way, they can be sure that no enemies sneak in while they're sleeping in the upper levels. "I also want to make sure that we're near the door and on the ground level in case the magic that created this tree-tower fails, and it start to collapse before morning."
Ready to set watch for the night and then head out in the morning. During his watch, he sits outside in the shadows and moonlight of the forest, near the main doors of the tower with his shield ready.
Vrox's watch - Perception 30, advantage from Sentinel Shield
while hidden in the shadows - Stealth: 32, advantage from Shadowfell Brand Tattoo
Khessa, as she does every time the party rests, protects the area with Alarm (audible version) and Private Sanctum (to prevent anyone from teleporting or plane-traveling into the middle of the area or to spy on the party with divinations).