Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

"Tombs?  What tombs?  The books?  You mean books," Minsys responded.  "Some one should said something.  Thought we was burning the place.  Change o plans then.  Fine..."  with a shrug he dropped whatever book he was holding and walked out the room.

Arvi scurried over to have a look at the cover of the book Minsys had been holding:

Tabesha'l finally deigns to re-enter the manse, after stretching languidly and changing into a clean blouse she pulled from her bags. Coming up to the library, her eyes brighten as she starts perusing through the wealth of books spread around the place. Maybe something will give her a better idea as to what type of arcane secrets her ancestor was studying here ?

Well rested, Tink will rise to her feet and ask, "So what's the next course of action?"

Connak, waiting patiently, stirs when Tink asks.  "Perhaps you and whisker can look around the manse for more traps, so we can finish exploring?"

"Ah reconnaissance. Sure we can do that. Whisker come with me! Let's scour this place like we did when the magnificient gunpowder teapot went missing yeah?" Tink and W.H.I.S.K.E.R. then start carefully moving through the mansion, searching for traps.

(OOC: I hope someone took the potion of possibility?)

The library has a ten-foot-high wooden balcony forming its upper level, reached by a wooden spiral staircase at the western end that curls down to the flagstone floor. Tall bookcases line the walls, their shelves, though mostly bowed and broken, are stocked with numerous moldy books, rolled parchments, grime-covered antiques, dusty trinkets and other curiosities. On the lower level, east of two pillars, are four old desks with chairs tucked behind them. As Tabesha'l and Arvi comb through the library's inventory, they find that one desk has a small book tucked under one of its back legs to level it off. The book is titled Elvish Idioms, and its pages have been cut out to conceal a tiny leather packet containing a strange white powder.

Tink and W.H.I.S.K.E.R. ensured the library was safe, then using the crude map from Falcon showing the location of the secret doors, they head up the spiral staircase to look for more traps. The hidden door on the top level of the library opens into what appeared to be the manse's master suite. Here, a four-poster bed stands between two shuttered windows against the west wall. Other furnishings include a desk and chair against the north wall and an empty wardrobe against the east wall. A fireplace built into the south wall features an elegantly carved mantelpiece, above which hangs an ornately carved staff.

The west wall of the master bedroom conceals the other hidden door. After checking it for traps, Tink is able to push it open to reveal a small room that looks as though it has not been accessed for decades, if not centuries. Hanging on a hook on the far wall is a handsome cloak that billows softly as the door opens. Against the north wall sits a wooden chest with tiny clawed feet. Close inspection reveals that both of these items appear to be safe for handling as well.

Connak moves to the double doors to the north of the master suite and cracks the door open just enough to peak through and see what is on the other side.

Tink and Whisker would look about the room trying to see if they find anything interesting. In particular she would first focus on the fireplace before turning her attention to the wardrobe.

Investigation: 12

CONNAK: Opening the doors carefully, Connak spots no immediate or apparent danger. On the other side, he finds a wide hallway. At the opposite end, he sees a small single door. A set of double doors sits adjacent to the small door on the wall at Connak's left. The wall at Connak's right ends about 15 feet down the hallway, opening up into another passage, but he can't see around the corner from his current position. The entire hall is littered with what appears to be several years worth of droppings of a group of creatures.

(OOC: a Nature or Animal Handling check may reveal additional information, based on the type and result of the roll.)

TINK: Looking around the master suite, Tink discovers that the mantelpiece above the fireplace is actually a lid concealing a long, hidden compartment. The compartment is roughly the width and length of the ornately carved staff hanging from the wall directly above the mantle. Dusty blue velvet lines the interior of the empty, staff-shaped compartment and four slots, each approximately 1 inch in diameter, can be seen along it's length. Turning her attention to the wardrobe, Tink finds that it is empty with the exception of several cobwebs, the husk of a what appears to be a long-dead spider and a heavy layer of undisturbed dust.

(OOC: an Arcana or additional Investigation check may yield further details about the staff, the hidden compartment and the slots inside it.)

TABESHA'L: Back in the library, as Tabesha'l examines the packet of powder, a small hole in the antiquated envelope spills a little of the substance onto her fingertips...which quickly vanish from sight, leaving her hand looking as if she may have been punished as a thief some years ago. The book concealing the powder packet is a remarkable find in and of itself: it contains page after page of alliterative colloquialisms, clever turns of phrase, double entandres and other such elvish lore that reads almost like a manual in how to be indirectly condescending.

(OOC: a History or Insight check may allow one to identify or recall information about the elvish passages.)

MINSYS/VAXIS: Minsys and Vaxis wander back through the courtyard to the north side of the first floor. A circular parlor is strewn with broken furniture — the remains of chairs, side tables, and a wine cabinet. A moldy circular rug covers most of the stone floor. A decaying kitchen shows signs of recent rodent activity to include holes chewed into the bottom of a door leading to a pantry which is littered with debris, bird nests and the rotting remnants of what may have been dry rations many years ago.

(OOC: a Survival or Perception check may cause one to spot something that they might have missed with just a casual glance.)

Connak's nature check: 13

Based on the size, shape, texture and fragrance, Connak believes the droppings to be the fecal matter of the common stirge. He remembers seeing the roost of stirges diving onto one of the half-orcs during their earlier confrontation outside the house.

Connak closes the door and warns Tink not to enter that hallway unless she can exterminate a nest of Stirges.

Minsys looks about and then sits on the floor.  "Watch out for a bit, gonna try something," Minsys says to Vaxis.  He then sets out going though a ritual to magically speak with animals.

When done he shouts into the pantry.  "Hey rats, we mean no harm and will leave ya soon.  Just want to know if ya found anything shiny round here.  Can leave a big bit of meat here ya willing to help us out."

Vaxis stands lookout, hearing Minsys speak rat-ese. He smiles a bit, his head frill extending.

"Whenever everyone is ready, we should leave this place. I do not think there is anymore to be gained here."

Tink acknowledges Connak's warning before taking a closer look at the staff and compartment it lays in. As she does she calls out "Tabesha'l? Are you out there? There is something you might want to see!"

She then sends Whisker to try and bring the elvish lady over.

Arcana: 7 + 4 Guidance

A rat looks anxiously at Minsys before squeaking out a reply: "Chimney...parlor...library...shiny things there! You give food now?"

Tink's attempt to apply her knowledge of the arcane to learn more about the nature of the staff reveals nothing further, but concerning the compartment she is able to determine that the slots are actually key ways that are part of an arcane locking device.

" Hum yes friend Tink ? Hast thee found anything of note, praytell ?"

Although the elven wizard was sitting engrossed in the reading of the library's content, her curiosity is awakened by the urgency she notices in the artificer's voice. Her eyes widen noticeably as they fall upon the staff.

" Oh my ! What have we here, then ? 'Tis the long lost staff of my proud ancestor, 't would seem !" Tabesha'l says in hushed, reverent tones.

Even though she tries to contain the whirlwind of contradicting emotions rising inside her, the wizard's brisk and feverish movements betray her excitement: she can't wait to find out what magic may be contained in the ancient object, even though she also fears to learn exactly how deep her grandmother's moral degradation went... will this prove to be a cursed token of Aerydesia's rotted soul ?

The mage tries her best to decrypt the runic carvings on her grandmother's staff... is this really elven ? Or something more sinister altogether ?

Tabesha'l spots several cheeky elvish phrases that she likes (OOC: see PM sent in Discord)

Turning her attention to the staff on the wall, she focuses more on trying to discern the presence of any magical properties as opposed to searching her recollection for any childhood memories of her grandmother and a staff that she may have owned. As she examines the staff, she realizes its current appearance is actually an illusion...which quickly fades away revealing it's true appearance: stark white along its full length which she belives is of bone construction. The head of the staff is carved in the shape of a dragon's claw holding a human skull. She senses the presence of evocation magic emanating from it.