Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

Varinth, you do get a faint magical sense from the books; you can tell that magic was used to preserve them in good condition.  However, none of the books are about magic - they are all histories of the local area and nearby cities, Neverwinter and Waterdeep in particular.

Perception on climbing to gemstone. 21

Dekhan will aid Scupper in his search

Scupper, you can just about make out a path to climb and reach whatever is shining on the roof of the cavern; it would be a dangerous climb, without the right equipment or magic.  However, the more you look, the more you get the feeling that the shining objects of the ceiling are minerals, but not gems; they're unlikely to be very valuable.

You are now standing in the star-roofed cavern, having investigated one of the large man-made buildings constructed within it.  There is one more building, up some steps and to the north of you, which you have not yet fully explored.  Aside from that, you have investigated a large part of the mine, with only the north-west corner still to go.

As you complete your investigations, another wave of sound passes through the cave, originating in the lake cavern you have already explored; the sound is unchanged from before, but is still too loud to be anything but uncomfortable.

Ach! Mebbe it's not a roof of gems...Strix was right, blast him. Ah well...not like the mine is ours anyway. 

Well I suppose it's time to find that Black Spider and give him what for, eh?

"wonder if Skully free, or broke - ghost was master...bah!"

(We can avoid the wave cave, head around Skullies room via the hall south of him? Or just Dodge the waves? Or go see an old friend ...)

The green squares mark the places you haven't explored yet, I think.

(where did the books come from if we didn't open the door in the glittering cave? I thought I banged my head on the door - ok can I go check that out?)

(OOC:  There are two man-made structures in the star-ceiling cavern.  You entered from the south, so you opened the one nearer to the south.  It's just visible at the bottom of the map.  You haven't yet entered the other one, though I think Strix did try to tug on the door at one point.)

Incantis joins in investigating the books, sending Zhudala up ahead to listen against the door to the unexplored room near the southeast.

((thanks so much for the combo map, it's extremely helpful. I agree, I think we should go to through the passage north, explore that lone room, then back track toward the room with the benches & go up the stairs west))

I say we head due north. Check the one room on the right...then head up to the water cave and off to the northwest. Skully is probably still in the forge room so we'll want to go around him.

Agreed.

Strix goes to check that room to the north in the sparkly cave, as before sneaking (ineptly?) - I think he's already tried opening it once and it's locked or stuck, so instead he'll knock politely and if that fails try to force it.

Stealth : 11

Athletics : 18

((Let me know what I'd need to roll to check out the books))

Zhudala perception: 5

Dekhan will wait for the reconnaissance from stealth team six.

Incantis, checking out the books will take a bit of time - probably combining it with a short rest or the preparations for a long rest.  A glance at the titles tells you they're all histories of nearby parts of the world; one is a history of Neverwinter, another of Luskan, another of the Sword Coast more generally, and one that claims to be a history of the whole world, though it's a suprisingly slim volume.

Strix, there is no response to your knocks, and Zhudala hears nothing through the door.  However, the door yields quickly to your surprising monk strength, and though it doesn't quite fall off its hinges and go flying, you are able to open the door and force it to stick open.

You look inside the building before you.  This large workshop was badly damaged by the ancient spell battle that laid waste to the mine. Worktables taking up two corners of the room are scorched, and the plaster has been burned off the masonry walls. In the middle of the room, a stone pedestal holds a small brazier in which an eerie green flame dances and crackles. The brazier and its pedestal appear to have been untouched by the forces that destroyed this area.

Behind the brazier of green flame floats a spherical creature measuring roughly four feet in diameter. Four eyestalks protrude from its central mass, two on each side. In the center of the body is a large eye that stares at you.

Hello, says a thick, burbling voice inside all of your heads.

"The...****?" Strix manages. Then composes himself. "Hi. Am Strix. See eyes, hear voice in head... happened b'fore. Blinky guy. Was reasonbull. So..." He inclines his head. "...Reasonbull?"

Strix, the floating sphere looks at you for a moment, blinks twice, and then you all hear the same voice in your head.

Are you trying to say 'reasonable'?  Yes, I am perfectly reasonable.  However, you will need to show your pass before you can enter, and I would advise against trying to enter without doing so.  This is a high security area, and I am authorised to take necessary steps, you understand.

Hearing the voice Dekhan moves up to stand behind Strix. He babbles quickly letting a deluge of inane chatter wash over the creature. Hello, are you working in conjunction with the flameskull? We’re just after meeting the wraith. May I ask what it is exactly you’re authorized to do exactly? Just for curiosity’s sake, of course. What is the pass procurement  procedure again?

Varinth hears the team talking to someone and moseys up to the doorway, munching on some dried fruit. He peers in, and in mid step pivots, and casually walks away from the doorway.