Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure

Malvyn's blast of energy hits Cactus 2 and sends it dropping to the ground.  All is quiet once again around the manor. And at this point there seems to be no alarm raised over the incident. What next? 

With both Cacti downed, Guardok sheathes his rapier and rubs at his wound.

"Well that was unexpected, and a little painful. I guess there are defences we don't know about.", he says to Mal and Mae. As Mal has the key, he waits for him to be ready to continue with the heist.

"Yes, sorry about that..." The purple-skinned tiefling says as he takes a look at the wound his friend suffered, using his magical powers to produce a warm light that makes it close and heal. "...evidently I was not as thorough as I thought when I researched this place. We'd better be prepared for more surprises tonight." He then quietly proceeds to open the southeastern entrance.

(Cure wounds: 9 )

Mae nods, "Surprises indeed. Yes, let's be careful. I don't want to be expelled in my first year here for trespassing and stealing." She frowned for a moment, then set herself and continued on with the others.

(I presume you head for the entrance on the northeast part of the building.)  

Malvyn heads for the door. It is locked, but the key quickly opens it. This hall you step into is lined with four exquisitely carved marble busts set on gilded pedestals. The abstract busts all represent beautiful androgynous figures bedecked with jewelry carved into its stone—and with a single, twelve-foot-long fur stole wrapped around the shoulders of all four statues.

Malvyn and Guardok, you did not see the long fur stole when you walked through here earlier today.  

As Guardok enters the room he gives Mal a thumbs up in response to the healing, and when he sees the statues with the large fur stole, he frowns.

"I don't remember that from earlier", he says to Mal. "Another trap perhaps?", he asks, as he tries to investigate without getting too close.

Investigation: 6+2=8

"We should certainly expect as much. Perhaps just try to stay clear of that stole and hope that we won't set it or the statues off, or anything." The purple-skinned tiefling says quietly, trying to deterime if they could sneak past the statues and the stole by moving along the opposite wall.

After Guardok and Malvyn discuss the matter, they stick close to the opposite wall as the group makes their way past the statues with the newly placed stole.  Nothing seems to happen as you approach the stairwell leading up.  

A bit to your right and across the foyer, you see the carved figures near the double doors leading out. They are all motionless.  More directly to the right, near the dining room, you can see the clockwork butler pacing back and forth. It too seems to have not noticed you. At least not yet. 

Mae is sticking close to Mal and Guardok but behind them. "How far away is the book?" She'll whisper as they pass by the stoles.

"Well, it's in the attic right, so two stairs up." Malvyn whispers back. "Let's see if we can sneak past the clockwork butler. Perhaps we can cause a distraction while we sneak up the stairs?" He whispers to his friends as they peek out at the ever vigilant automaton.

"I can help with distractions. A few sounds here and there. Perhaps between us we can well and truly disorient that butler", Guardok suggests quietly, readying himself to fabricate some sounds 30 feet across the room.

Given the limited range of the spells, Guardok and Malvyn realize they can slip into the drawing room to get close enough to project their spells into the dining area on the other side of the wall.  (OOC - Illusion is 30 ft. range and Prestidigitation is 10 ft. range.)  The drawing room itself has a number of cushioned chairs and holds bookcases as well as a number of easels folded and tucked in beside them. In the northeast corner, an easel holds a watercolor painting of a stylized, chicken-like reptilian creature lounging in a baroque style.

Once the sounds begin in the northeast corner of the dining room, the butler turns towards it. "My pardon, is someone there?" The automaton starts to slowly walking in that direction, putting the wall between you and him. You should easily be able to make it to the stairwell without being seen.  

Malvyn gives his short friend a smile and a thumbs up, then using his own arcane abilites to create ominous whispers from the dining room. As the automaton seems sufficiantly distracted he quickly and silently moves towards and up the stairs, hoping the corridor above would be empty so that he could lead the others to the secret door to the attic stairs.

(Thaumaturgy)

Guardok will follow Mal to the stairs.

"We should probably be a little stealthily now. Maybe someone could take a peek onto the corridor", he suggests in a whisper. He is happy to be the one to do this, unless Mal or Mae want to.

"You are right, you go ahead." Malvyn whispers back to Guardok.

Guardok leads the way up the stairs. At the top, he sees the long hallway with the numerous doors to either side. About the halfway down what seems to be a portion of a column juts out into the hallway a bit. That is where Malvyn had found the hidden stair going up.  At this hour, the place is completely quiet. Nobody can be seen in the place, and nothing seems to be moving. 

(OOC - I will ask for Stealth Checks only if needed. So far, you are good!) 

Guardok waves the others to follow him, and then puts a finger to his lips and motions that he will move down the corridor towards the hidden stairs that Mal mentioned.

He will then creep down the corridor, keeping against the opposite wall to the stairs so he can get a good look at them as early as possible.

Malvyn nods and quietly follows Guardok, motioning to the secret door leading to the stairs to the attic.

(Yay we're back!)

You move through the empty hallway to the false pillar. The door to enter the spiral staircase is still slightly ajar, making opening it quite easy.  So far you have not heard or seen any signs of anyone.