The Wizard's Challenge

"I am going to regret this, alright let's go" Urselles gets on the boat with Klander 

((Back!))

Shalech will also do an arcana check on the books:  12

Then will say, "Theodore, you sense any magic in this other room?"

Theodore looks closer to the third room, detecting magic from the staff; but from nothing else.

The books have been laid out by Croak before the group; three of which are necromantic in nature.  The group carefully opens the first and begins flipping through it.  At a glance it appears as a general breakdown and step by step of how to cast necromantic spells.  

Nathan, you find that you can read this book, as well as the second one, with ease. Someone wanting to learn necromancy would profit a lot from these books.

The third book, both Nathan and Shalech recognize as very similar to the one Shalech already has; though this one appears to be written by Surrisk, and is created using the same magical code.

The fourth and final magical book is blank, completely blank.  Nathan, you believe that this is an unused Spellbook, void of spells.

Urselles, you grab ahold of the boat as the river water starts to pull it, and Klandar climbs up to the deck.  You hear him mutter something about; "...this would be a better plan if I could swim..." as he positions himself to jump on John as the boat passes.  Normand can be seen putting everything into his run, obviously expecting to have to save his dwarf and goblin friends soon.

Urselles starts a small prayer to her goddess, she thens turns up deck to Klander "so whats the great plan, jump on him"

Klandar turns towards Urselles; "Well, yeah..." His face has a look like; "That was a stupid question," but you know that his answer was the dumb one.  He starts to rock back and forth, counting; "One... Two..."

Shalech will say to Theodore and Nathan, "This encrypted spellbook... mind if I keep it with Kyristan's in my pack?  The other two are of no interest to me.  The blank one either.  Lets go check out the next room."

Investigation to find items of value in the next room (besides the staff): 14

"Of course, keep it with the other one!"

How long would it take to take a look at the books and figure out which spells they contain? If too long, then Nathan puts away the other two spellbooks, and will  inspect them together with the boots when they get to Dar's tower. While is not particularly fond of necromancy, he thinks that it is a tool that can be used for good as well as for bad purposes, and these books might contain spells that they need .

Shalech moves into the third room and examines the items on the shelf.  The ornate wand, that Theodore says is nonmagical, looks like it could become enchanted and is quality made.  The gems look of some value, at least 50gp, you'd assume; maybe more.  The ink and scrolls, though blank, look to be high enough quality to be used in the creation of magic scrolls.

Nathan, looking quickly through the two books, it appears that neither of them seem to contain spells.  The first appears to be more along the lines of how to tap into necromantic energies, what effects to expect on your body and the environment, likely material supplies needed, ways to preserve a body, stuff like that.

The second involves many different types of undead, common hazards involving them, preservation and maintenance, environmental types and their effects on undead, etc.

 ((How many gems, and the total is worth 50gp?)

"These scrolls and ink are probably valuable to a wizard, but I have no use for them.  Same with that staff over there."  Then Shalech moves over to the door on the left and once again checks it before even attempting to open it.

Investigation: 16

(Two gems, you are unsure of the actual value; but together they are worth at least 50gp.)

It doesn't take you long to realize that this door likely goes back into the cave.  It is easy to open, and sure enough, it opens facing the 'kitchen' and destroyed pantry, and the bits of food left behind from the bear.

Speaking of which, Joran calls out from outside; "It's coming back into the cave!!"

Shalech will close the door, leaving only a small crack open to be able to see the bear pass.

Stealth: 15

The bear approaches, eating back over the food trail, begins to turn back into what you assume is its home; when it suddenly stops infront of you.

It looks around and begins sniffing the air.  It then starts moving down the hall, to where Croak placed the food.

Croak; you, Theodore, and Nathan hear the bear approaching the secret door near you.

Shalech closes his door, then starts running back through the rooms yelling, "Unless you feel like fighting a bear, close the secret door!"

"Klander is there any way I can convince you do not do this rediculus plan" 

"...1, wha?  What do you have in mind Miss?" Klandar replies, halting his jump.  Normand, breathing heavily, reaches the shore where Nine Finger John is headed; John doesn't seem to have noticed yet.

Croak rushes to the secret door the party first entered. Before shutting it, he throws a morsel of food away, toward the pools.

"Give him a minute and we should be able to sneak out thew other door"

"I don't kno, wait a minute this is a fishing bot, so it probably has a fishing net, we could use that to try and get John" 

The door shuts mere moments before the bear arrives, Croak can feel the weight of it's steps on the other side of the door.  After about a minute, you think its absorbed enough into the food that it won't notice the group leaving through the other door.

Klandar gives a look of; "That is a better idea." He starts heading for the side of the boat.  "I'll grab the net, you steer the boat."

"Suppose we should be going."

"uh uh uh, ok" Urselles as she runs over to the wheel