Well, there goes another theory. How about this? We rest for an hour, recover and consolidate our new knowledge. Then we can open the chest in daylight, and not worry about a necro-jack-in-the-box at night. Then make for Dirk Seldom's tomorrow morn, fully restored for the trip even if there is something in there. 

Your goodberries, good druid - I will not need tonight (unless there is a surprise) but if you cast tonight they can provide extra healing tomorrow - or a donation to the needy of the Spring if we are lucky enough not to need them.

On these treasures, Master Abner, I had been thinking all along about restoring to the Redmanes or their heirs. Now that doesn't seem to be possible. This is not how I meant to 'make my fortune' as they say, but they also say 'don't look a gift-horse in the mouth'. Could we agree to do something redeeming with some portion? Is there a shrine yet in town, for example, we could donate to or build one if there is not? There would be plenty left to divide, though that may require finding a market large enough to sell these specialized items.

Our bearded friend is keen to get out of this house - I do not feel uneasy anymore, but happy to oblige if the weather supports - we could return to our campsite of 2 nights ago on the edge of the clearing.

Not secretly, but more specifically to Abner:

Me being a scholar, I am interested, my fellow arcanist - what spell do you intend to learn next? I am thinking of Hideous Laughter, a non-lethal way to disable. It kind of fits with my idiom. These divine users get to adjust every day, but you and I could do well to mesh our choices

OOC: Yeah, just wanted to be sure it didn't go away with the mirror or anything.

"If no one else is in great need of healing, I can cast it just before we go to bed, the berries should last for about a day. And we can split the gold, for sure," Therne agrees. "It might be better to go to Neverwinter for anything we might sell? Though I believe Dirk said the Redmanes might still have relatives in Waterdeep. I've never been there, I don't know if we want to go that far, or possibly use some of the funds to simply send word, if anyone can identify them."

Adri hands the dagger to Abner, "You will have more use for it than I." 

She listens to Red's thoughts and nods, "To assure safety we should open the box during daylight hours, so if we take an hour to rest and then open the box, I believe we should be fine. Red I think donating some of our fortunes is a very good idea, but we should try to find any family they may have had first."

Short rest recover 9 HP, taking the time to take level 2 

I had forgot about family in Waterdeep, we should send word. For the coins, it is 4 gold and 4 silver each, and we can see about the heirlooms later.

Once we are all rested and ready, Red asks everyone to back up, and uses Mage Hand to turn the silver key and open the casket chest. He'll have the holy symbol of Sune just in case there is some puzzle lock thing or whatever.

[OoC]: IIRC, Therne and Brozak are the only ones who used a hit die to heal in the previous short rest, so everybody except for those two is free to use it now to heal.

As Red uses his ghostly hand to unlock the chest, it pops open with a click. Within the well-padded casket are two matching vials containing a pink milky elixir, which Therne's detection show to be emitting a necromancy aura.

[OoC]: Potions can be identified by tasting them, or by casting identify if one wishes to avoid any negative effects.

I think I'll wait until the morning, when Brother Paladin can lay on hands to remove poison, before I taste. I don't believe the Lord and Lady would store something untoward in their casket to Sune, and if it was the instrument of their intended suicide pact, Lord Redmane would not have used his dagger. But just to be safe...

Ought we to raze this place, to prevent its use for foul purposes? And/or maybe raise a marker, to honor the Redmanes and warn against vanity?

Red got lucky on the short rest, so he's fine - Brozak has the most damage, then Therne maybe?. So contrary to usual practice, how about Red takes the first watch and we give Brother B the night off? We have plenty of extra time for a longer than usual long rest. Maybe a meal that includes some form of food?

Survival check, contributing to dinner 16 Perception check for watch 18

Abner

"Thanks, Adri!" he says brightly, taking the dagger. "I'll check it out."

"I'll take a taste of that potion, unless anyone objects. I've a strong stomach." He reaches for one of the vials.

"As to the proceeds, you all are too pious for me. I just was making sure we didn't have any obligations. I see no reason to give to a shrine to do who knows what with. We'll do good by it. But perhaps we can offer Dirk some souvenir for his interesting advice. In any event, let's head back to Seldom Spring. Cities aren't really my thing."

"And that laughter magic, Red... That's not something for me. Have fun with it. I haven't yet figured out where I want to grow my magic. I was thinking of something really explodey, maybe. But, now that you mention it, I think I'll try to work on this new sleep spell I've been fooling around with."

"Perhaps a donation to the hunting lodge would be in order, since their advice did help us.  And waiting until morning sounds like a much better idea than trying the potions now."

"I don't think we need to raze the place," Therne says. "With the mirrror destroyed, I'm sure the danger has passed. Really the message should be to get your magic items verified by a creditable source. Dirk should have come back once he found the wizard in his party had ill intentions."

Therne will also help find and prepare any food (with her outlander background, finding food shouldn't be a problem).

to Abner I've got Sleep but have not had a chance to use it. Thought of very highly, especially early in one's career. We could mess up a lot of small things together. Sleeping is just as good as exploding, but later, I may count on you doing the blowing up while I do the controlling.

You know you took up with a cleric, a paladin, a druid, and a devil calls himself 'Redemption', right? (that sounds like the start of a joke. Punch line: if I could walk that way I wouldn't need the holy water) If you are surprised by some piety I've got some other surprises.

[I don't think it is worth stopping Abner from tasting - his stomach, and many of us have new spell slots from leveling up]

more generally I guess what we give away depends on what we are able to return. I think Captain 'just dirk' Seldom may be in denial about his former allies. If we don't encounter more of his past I'll be as shocked as Master Abner reacting to my own turns of phase. If you don't think razing the place is in order, I will insist on a marker at least. Near the sign for Redmane Manor I propose.

Abner reaches for one of the potions and dispenses a small droplet onto his fingertip. Tasting it, none of you immediately realise any adverse effects. In fact, Abner seems to respond positively to the taste.

Therne heads into the nearby forest, taking care to avoid Kenku or other hostiles, and manages to fetch back a few handfuls of mushrooms, berries and roots - with which Red helps to compose a vegetarian stew of sorts. It tastes earthy, but good, and there's plenty enough to go around as you all sit in the entry hall of Redmane's manor.

Red takes the first watch whilst the rest of you sleep soundly in your rolls under the cover of the roof. A light rain begins to pour during the night, but you are all sufficiently sheltered to avoid it. After Red's shift, Adri takes her turn, followed by Brozak. Fortunately, there are no signs of life other than the occasional rustle of a badger scampering by or the flutter of bats between the trees.

Dawn rolls around, with the rain having ceased. The ground and grass are wet with dew and the night's weather. Aside from a few clouds to the north, the day looks relatively clear. After eating the remainder of the stew from the previous night, you all feel prepared to leave or do whatever you intend.

Red will spend part of the downtime making a simple sign, ink on salvaged board from the house: Clarise & Alistair Redmane and Household, died circa [this year-4], at rest [yesterday's date]. Vanity and Unknown Magics their Bane; Love Speed them to their Rest. [ooc subject to edits]

To Seldom Spring, I think, even though Neverwinter is closer, to let Captains Seldom and Juglut know the outcome. We can send word to the family from there. A pint or two and a real bed by afternoon.

Red will place the sign by the manor's sign on the way to wherever we decide.

Abner

"Hey - that's pretty tasty! Smells a bit like bad breath, but the taste is terrific! It's magical. Brings the dead to life. But in a good way! Might come in really handy. And we have two! Who wants 'em?" 

"I still have a couple of these berries somebody gave me. Are they still good? Anybody need one?"

[Red already ate all of those berries. Therne was making more right before bedtime for use today]

While we travel, I am interested - As a scholar and a busybody - what all y'all have learned and gained and such. As for me, I am suddenly kinda good at everything, and my beautiful music can accelerate healing in a short rest. Plus, another spell! It really won't change my tactics much, just more of the same. I of course have many opinions which I will try  to keep between my horns unless asked.

I don't want to force it, but I kinda feel a name for our little team is called for. Not necessarily pick one now, but keep our ears pricked for good ideas. Funny and self-deprecating would be my thing. I have a list in my head, but I don't wanna impose - after all, I'll be writing the songs about our achievements and can slip my versions in anytime. And of course we can re-brand if we feel a change is in order.

Abner

"'Unstable beams'? 'Kenku bits'? I dunno about this stuff. I've been a hermit."

OOC: Everyone should have two berries, from Goodberry cast right before going to bed. Therne will probably do this every night where she has a spell slot left. They last 24 hours, so the 1 remaining berry from before we went into the house will have lost its healing ability by the time we're on the road.

"Well, I had a wonderful dream last night, where I was first a bear, wandering the woods in search of honey and berries and all manner of good things. But something startled me, and I turned into a squirrel and raced up a tree. I could see through the whole forest. In a shaded glen, there was a shadow like the one we fought yesterday, menacing some kenku. I leaped down, transforming into a dire wolf as I went, and scared the shadow away." She pauses to reflect on it a little. "It was very exhilarating, and I think I now know how to call on the magic required to transform into an animal."

She thinks about the name as they walk along. "I haven't a need for self-deprecation. Others are already ready to think the least of me, I don't need to encourage them." She looks at Red.

Oh, dear hin, no person who matters thinks poor of you - and no one who thinks poor of you matters to us. I've always used humor to disarm the distrust and disrespect those like me attract. So if I include you in that, it is because we are friends. We all have some reason to need each other. We are all half-something - half-dragon, half-devil, half-orc, half-elf, half-the-height-of-the-others.  We have to stick together, whole together.

And as we wind on down the road... Our shadows taller than our soul... There walks a lady we all know... Who shines white light and wants to show... How everything still turns to gold... And if you listen very hard… The tune will come to you at last... When all are one and one is all... To be a rock and not to roll....

And to your other point - I cannot wait to see you fight as a bear or whatever. That is so punk rock!

Quote from skuk >>

We all have some reason to need each other. We are all half-something - half-dragon, half-devil, half-orc, half-elf, half-the-height-of-the-others.  We have to stick together, whole together.

[OoC]: Awesome quote, have some inspiration.