....If they are not interrupted, Vrox will take the time for his own ritual casting of Detect Magic. Then he equips his shield so that he's ready for a close-quarters encounter while they start searching the rest of the tower. Vrox will start with the 4 chests that were in the hall outside the adamantine door. He examines them carefully--without touching them!--looking for signs of a trap, magical or otherwise.
....If they are not interrupted, Vrox will take the time for his own ritual casting of Detect Magic. Then he equips his shield so that he's ready for a close-quarters encounter while they start searching the rest of the tower. Vrox will start with the 4 chests that were in the hall outside the adamantine door. He examines them carefully--without touching them!--looking for signs of a trap, magical or otherwise.
[[OOC: Is it a mechanical trap, like the chain attached to the cannister on the wax-covered desk downstairs? Or do you mean that the Detect Magic detected some sort of abjuration magic on the chests? That is, can Vrox just attempt to disarm the trap with his Thieves' Tools?]]
[[OOC: Is it a mechanical trap, like the chain attached to the cannister on the wax-covered desk downstairs? Or do you mean that the Detect Magic detected some sort of abjuration magic on the chests? That is, can Vrox just attempt to disarm the trap with his Thieves' Tools?]]
You see that the two chests have a minuscule arcane symbol carved into its side. From your experience, you know this to be a type of magical trap, that if thieves' tools are used carefully, can be scratched out and rendered useless.
[[OOC: Is it a mechanical trap, like the chain attached to the cannister on the wax-covered desk downstairs? Or do you mean that the Detect Magic detected some sort of abjuration magic on the chests? That is, can Vrox just attempt to disarm the trap with his Thieves' Tools?]]
You see that the two chests have a minuscule arcane symbol carved into its side. From your experience, you know this to be a type of magical trap, that if thieves' tools are used carefully, can be scratched out and rendered useless.
Vrox warns everyone, "No one touch the chests! There's a glyph here." He points at one of the chests. Even if the others can see it, it's incredible that Vrox noticed the tiny symbol. He finds the same symbol on one of the other chests. He suspects that all 4 chests may be protected in the same way, even if he hasn't found the magical symbol on the other two. "I think that it's part of some abjuration magic that protects the chests, but there's no way to tell what it does. I can try to scrape off the symbol without triggering it, or we can try to dispel the ward."
Since scraping off the symbol would not use any limited resource, Vrox will go ahead and try that first. As a fey, Vrox has some resistance to spells, but he asks Clarac to remain close enough that he can also benefit from her aura of protection in case he accidentally triggers the trap while trying to remove the symbol. He suggests that everyone else move back as far as they can, maybe all the way back into the throne room or down the stairs, just in case the ward goes off. It might blow up in his face, or it might fill the entire hallway where the chests are with fire or ice or some life-draining force.
Vrox releases concentration on Detect Magic and casts Enhance Ability (Cat's Grace) on himself. Then he takes out his Thieves' Tools and tries to scrape off the symbol from one of the two chests:
[[OOC: Ugh! Rolling with advantage, and he got two 3s. :-P Apparently, Vrox sneezed at an inopportune time! At least we'll get to see what spell the lich used to protect his treasure.]]
[[OOC: Ugh! Rolling with advantage, and he got two 3s. :-P Apparently, Vrox sneezed at an inopportune time! At least we'll get to see what spell the lich used to protect his treasure.]]
As you are working the trap, you sneeze and in a poof of magic, you are teleported back into the throne room next door.
Yoht will open the non-trapped chests. Chest #1 contains Assorted rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, a Glowing platinum diadem and a Golden scepter and orb. Chest #4 contains a multitude of gold and platinum coins.
Chest #2 can be opened, and it contains Magical inks for scrolls and spell books, an Obsidian hourglass, a Painting of Vairae in his prime, and a Archdevil’s quill
If Khessa has finished her exploration of the library, she will use Detect Magic to determine which of the items found in the chests are magical and will Identify those that are.
The blonde arcane warrior also tries to Dispel Magic to neutralize the magical trap on the chest #3
As you are working the trap, you sneeze and in a poof of magic, you are teleported back into the throne room next door.
Vrox sneezes and accidentally banging his hand on the chest. His instinct is to freeze and tense up, expecting an explosion or something else terrible to happen. The chests disappear, and it takes him a moment to realize where he is. He calls out, “Hello?! Is everyone still OK?”, as he walks through the throne room and back to the hallway with the chests. Assuming that he finds that the others are still safe, he says, “I guess that would have been more serious if the High Mage were still alive and waiting for us in his throne room.”
Vrox will go ahead and try to remove the symbol from the other trapped chest. There’s no guarantee that it’s guarded by the same spell, but he’s a little more relaxed, thinking that maybe the High Mage was trying to trap people who meddled with the chests, not to kill them outright.
As you are working the trap, you sneeze and in a poof of magic, you are teleported back into the throne room next door.
Vrox sneezes and accidentally banging his hand on the chest. His instinct is to freeze and tense up, expecting an explosion or something else terrible to happen. The chests disappear, and it takes him a moment to realize where he is. He calls out, “Hello?! Is everyone still OK?”, as he walks through the throne room and back to the hallway with the chests. Assuming that he finds that the others are still safe, he says, “I guess that would have been more serious if the High Mage were still alive and waiting for us in his throne room.”
Vrox will go ahead and try to remove the symbol from the other trapped chest. There’s no guarantee that it’s guarded by the same spell, but he’s a little more relaxed, thinking that maybe the High Mage was trying to trap people who meddled with the chests, not to kill them outright.
You are able to remove the arcane symbols and thus rendering the trap harmless. When you open the chest, you find the Spear of Gael Wode; Well of Many Worlds; 2 feather tokens (tree); a tube of sovereign glue; a tube of universal solvent; scroll of astral projection; scroll of geas; and a scroll of symbol.
[[ OOC: What powers does the Spear of Gael Wode have? Khessa can Identify it if necessary. ]]
"The High Mage had amassed an impressive treasure, both of knowledge and magic" Khessa notes. "It is truly a shame that he allowed himself to be seduced by evil... what a formidable ally he could have been!" and, almost unconsciously, her thoughts turn to Adad-Nirari, the lich of the Cipis Empire who is now one of the few who still remain faithful to the memory of the dead god Ashur. A lich who, like Master Akkron, had not lost his deepest humanity just for the fact that he became undead...
The blonde arcane warrior leads the party to explore the last unknown parts of the tree, to be sure not to miss anything of this intimately magical place.
[[ OOC: Are there only the stairs that led down from the chests' room left, I believe? We don't need to role-play the exploration in detail, if the tree is now free of threats; I'm also fine with a summary of what else we discover or find there. ]]
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: Added the tooltips for easier reference...]]
Vrox finds it harder than expected to remove the symbol on the chest, but he thankfully disarms the trap. After a quick perusal of the scrolls, he hands them over to Lord Akkron: Vrox knows some primal / Fey magic, but he cannot understand these scrolls at all.
Vrox is delighted by the other items (once we have time to Identify them). As an ambassador from the Feywild to Eosia and other realms, the Well of Many Worlds opens many worlds of possibilities, and the randomness tickles his fancy! "How fascinating! Imagine wanting to leave your current plane so badly that you're willing to travel to any other plane!" He realizes that it could be deadly to step into, for example, the elemental plane of Fire or into the Abyss, but he supposes that it might be possible to step through and then right back while the portal is still open. He muses, "Perhaps it could help us in pursuing the fiends of the Nefarious Duo back to their own plane..."
The Feather Token (Tree) seems appropriate for an elf in a tree tower. Vrox suggests that it could be useful in creating an obstacle in a battlefield, creating cover from aerial attacks, or for getting up and over a wall or other obstacle. [[OOC: Vrox has a 40 ft climbing speed, so he'd be able to get up the tree in just a couple of rounds without dashing.]]
The Sovereign Glue seems especially useful for playing all sorts of tricks!
Khessa is at most interested in spell scrolls of level 5 or lower, so she can write them down in her spellbook. Other magic items are of very moderate interest to her... Vrox can keep them, as far as she's concerned.
Yes, before going downstairs, Vrox wanted to start with those chests:
You detect a trap on Chest #1 and Chest #3
[[OOC: Is it a mechanical trap, like the chain attached to the cannister on the wax-covered desk downstairs? Or do you mean that the Detect Magic detected some sort of abjuration magic on the chests? That is, can Vrox just attempt to disarm the trap with his Thieves' Tools?]]
You see that the two chests have a minuscule arcane symbol carved into its side. From your experience, you know this to be a type of magical trap, that if thieves' tools are used carefully, can be scratched out and rendered useless.
Vrox warns everyone, "No one touch the chests! There's a glyph here." He points at one of the chests. Even if the others can see it, it's incredible that Vrox noticed the tiny symbol. He finds the same symbol on one of the other chests. He suspects that all 4 chests may be protected in the same way, even if he hasn't found the magical symbol on the other two. "I think that it's part of some abjuration magic that protects the chests, but there's no way to tell what it does. I can try to scrape off the symbol without triggering it, or we can try to dispel the ward."
Since scraping off the symbol would not use any limited resource, Vrox will go ahead and try that first. As a fey, Vrox has some resistance to spells, but he asks Clarac to remain close enough that he can also benefit from her aura of protection in case he accidentally triggers the trap while trying to remove the symbol. He suggests that everyone else move back as far as they can, maybe all the way back into the throne room or down the stairs, just in case the ward goes off. It might blow up in his face, or it might fill the entire hallway where the chests are with fire or ice or some life-draining force.
Vrox releases concentration on Detect Magic and casts Enhance Ability (Cat's Grace) on himself. Then he takes out his Thieves' Tools and tries to scrape off the symbol from one of the two chests:
Vrox - Sleight of Hand/Thieves' Tools: 24, attempting to scrape the symbol off of one of the chests, advantage from Enhance Ability.
Concentration: Enhance Ability (Cat's Grace)
If Vrox's attempt fails, Khessa attempts to eliminate the symbol with a Dispel Magic.
[[OOC: Ugh! Rolling with advantage, and he got two 3s. :-P Apparently, Vrox sneezed at an inopportune time! At least we'll get to see what spell the lich used to protect his treasure.]]
As you are working the trap, you sneeze and in a poof of magic, you are teleported back into the throne room next door.
Chest #2 and #4 are not trapped. Chest #3 still has the arcane symbols for the trap on it.
Yoht will open the non-trapped chests. Chest #1 contains Assorted rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, a Glowing platinum diadem and a Golden scepter and orb. Chest #4 contains a multitude of gold and platinum coins.
Chest #2 can be opened, and it contains Magical inks for scrolls and spell books, an Obsidian hourglass, a Painting of Vairae in his prime, and a Archdevil’s quill
If Khessa has finished her exploration of the library, she will use Detect Magic to determine which of the items found in the chests are magical and will Identify those that are.
The blonde arcane warrior also tries to Dispel Magic to neutralize the magical trap on the chest #3
Ability (Intelligence) check (in case the trap spell is of Level >=4): 24
Well, OK DC for a 9th Level spell would have been 19... 24 should have dispelled the trap! So Khessa tries to open chest 3...
Vrox sneezes and accidentally banging his hand on the chest. His instinct is to freeze and tense up, expecting an explosion or something else terrible to happen. The chests disappear, and it takes him a moment to realize where he is. He calls out, “Hello?! Is everyone still OK?”, as he walks through the throne room and back to the hallway with the chests. Assuming that he finds that the others are still safe, he says, “I guess that would have been more serious if the High Mage were still alive and waiting for us in his throne room.”
Vrox will go ahead and try to remove the symbol from the other trapped chest. There’s no guarantee that it’s guarded by the same spell, but he’s a little more relaxed, thinking that maybe the High Mage was trying to trap people who meddled with the chests, not to kill them outright.
Vrox - Sleight of Hand/Thieves' Tools: 30, attempting to scrape the symbol off of the other trapped chest, with advantage from Enhance Ability.
Concentration: Enhance Ability (Cat's Grace)
You are able to remove the arcane symbols and thus rendering the trap harmless. When you open the chest, you find the Spear of Gael Wode; Well of Many Worlds; 2 feather tokens (tree); a tube of sovereign glue; a tube of universal solvent; scroll of astral projection; scroll of geas; and a scroll of symbol.
[[ OOC: What powers does the Spear of Gael Wode have? Khessa can Identify it if necessary. ]]
"The High Mage had amassed an impressive treasure, both of knowledge and magic" Khessa notes. "It is truly a shame that he allowed himself to be seduced by evil... what a formidable ally he could have been!" and, almost unconsciously, her thoughts turn to Adad-Nirari, the lich of the Cipis Empire who is now one of the few who still remain faithful to the memory of the dead god Ashur. A lich who, like Master Akkron, had not lost his deepest humanity just for the fact that he became undead...
The blonde arcane warrior leads the party to explore the last unknown parts of the tree, to be sure not to miss anything of this intimately magical place.
[[ OOC: Are there only the stairs that led down from the chests' room left, I believe? We don't need to role-play the exploration in detail, if the tree is now free of threats; I'm also fine with a summary of what else we discover or find there. ]]
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: Thank goodness! Two skill checks with advantage, and the highest roll was a 9. 😒]]
[[OOC: Added the tooltips for easier reference...]]
Vrox finds it harder than expected to remove the symbol on the chest, but he thankfully disarms the trap. After a quick perusal of the scrolls, he hands them over to Lord Akkron: Vrox knows some primal / Fey magic, but he cannot understand these scrolls at all.
Vrox is delighted by the other items (once we have time to Identify them). As an ambassador from the Feywild to Eosia and other realms, the Well of Many Worlds opens many worlds of possibilities, and the randomness tickles his fancy! "How fascinating! Imagine wanting to leave your current plane so badly that you're willing to travel to any other plane!" He realizes that it could be deadly to step into, for example, the elemental plane of Fire or into the Abyss, but he supposes that it might be possible to step through and then right back while the portal is still open. He muses, "Perhaps it could help us in pursuing the fiends of the Nefarious Duo back to their own plane..."
The Feather Token (Tree) seems appropriate for an elf in a tree tower. Vrox suggests that it could be useful in creating an obstacle in a battlefield, creating cover from aerial attacks, or for getting up and over a wall or other obstacle. [[OOC: Vrox has a 40 ft climbing speed, so he'd be able to get up the tree in just a couple of rounds without dashing.]]
The Sovereign Glue seems especially useful for playing all sorts of tricks!
If no one objects, Vrox will take possession of one of the tree tokens and the Well of Many Worlds. If no one else wants it, he'll also take the tube of sovereign glue, but perhaps someone else should take the universal solvent.
Khessa is at most interested in spell scrolls of level 5 or lower, so she can write them down in her spellbook. Other magic items are of very moderate interest to her... Vrox can keep them, as far as she's concerned.
Let me know how you want to divide the loot and are you going to add the coins to the bag of holding with the others.