Lost Mine of Phandelver

Rigel pulls up short of crossing the threshold of the tent. Turning back to those left behind he changes his mind, "Your right Marcon, perhaps we should all go in. It's probably a trap but we stand a better chance together than apart. So come on everyone, once more into the maw of danger?" He gives a half hearted grin.

Garet nods in agreement and gently touch talisman of goddess of nature

With that, the party proceeds through the tent flap ready to confront whatever awaits them on the other side…

…they emerge into the same small room Rigel had glimpsed  earlier: a table for six with a fine dragonchess set featured in the middle, apparently ready for play. A fire crackles in the hearth, but the boy, Isolde nor any other creatures are found.

(OOC: to play, anyone can roll d20+INT mod. Add Proficiency bonus as well if proficient with a dragonchess gaming set and any magic effects that would be addded by spells.)

Rigel rubs his chin and shakes his head side to side, "I don't know how to play chess." He casts an inquiring look at each of the party with his gaze ending on Vanzaren. 

Garet cast "guidance" to the person that will play by doing short pray to goddess of Nature to help keep the mind of 'player' sharp and clean

"Im familiar with it," Van sighs, approaching the table. He murmers some words under his breath, and writes out a sigel in the air that looks rather like a fox before sitting down to play. ((Cast Enhance Ability Fox's Cunning))

Intelligence: 24 + Guidance 2

Marcon had been visibly sweating at the prospect of playing. So when Vanzaren -- even if grudgingly, he couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief. "Uh... ehehe, Good Luck, man. Didn't quite expect things to be like this right off the back." The ex-farmhand went on to say while glancing around for any signs of a hidden carp or Isolde around.

A chess piece from the opposing side of the board floats up and moves on its own:

18

The play continues between VANZAREN and the unseen force representing his opponent, until eventually the wizard out-foxes his opponent. Once the winner is declared, the stone hearth begins to move to the side revealing a secret passage behind it!

"Let's not keep our host waiting." Rigel comments as he heads towards the secret opening. "Think we should wedge something in the opening to hold it?"

Marcon scratches his head in thought for a moment, before then sighing and shaking his head. "If what Mr. Harlen said earlier was true, she can pretty much warp the inside of her tent however she darn well pleases. So, I doubt a door stopper is gonna stop'er from closing that back up." He comments, and with that, he 'officially' follows Rigel down the secret tunnel. 

Garet nods and fallows the group

The group hurries down the darkened passage and emerge into another room. This one is much larger and has shelves all around the perimeter except for the section where the passage exits in the room. Sitting upon the shelves are numerous ale tankards, steins, mugs and other ornately decorated drinking vessels. Each one is pre-filled with liquid, though it is not clear what the liquid is just by looking at it. For some, it appears to be plain water but others feature colored, glowing and/or fizzing liquids.

In the center of the room is a large silver-plated wine spitoon.

Rigel walks forward slowly and inspects the spitoon.

"Where's a good thief when ya need one." He grumbles as he gingerly touches the vessel with an axe head.

Perception: 14

Ronk scratches behind an ear and walks along a row of shelved, looking the containers over. "Hmm. Anyone see any instructions? Or a riddle?"

'm..maybe we can use your d..doll?" 


Investigation to check for any mechanisms / triggers connected to the spittoon 9

 "Ah man, if this is like some kinda drink'n game, I swear to Helm-" He declared, cutting off there to just shake his head in disapproval of the whole thing. If noone else can figure out some gimmick to the test though, as Marcon himself could barely focus past the fatigue and annoyance to think in the moment, he'd go over to start staring between the fancier drinking vessels and the more plainer mugs, pretending to study them at the very least. "... I'unno... I don't think this is somethin' a doll can help with, big guy. But if you wanna try somethin' wit' it, I guess be my guess?" He says while fishing out the one and holding it back out to Garet.

Ronk walks to the spittoon and looks it over as he pulls out the bugbear doll. "Maybe we're supposed to put the drinks in here for a certain weight. If we knew how much we needed, the doll could help with that..." He looks to the others, holding the doll over the vessel. "Two pounds to start?"

Through their investigations, the party determines that the spittoon sits atop a pressure plate which activates...something. They deduce that the intent of the design is for the cups of liquid are to be poured into the spittoon until it reaches the correct volume and weight, thereby allowing the mechanism to subsequently function, but to what effect, they are unable to determine.

"I like the doll idea better than pouring out unknown liquids that could have negative reactions. Go ahead and give it a try Ronk." suggests Rigel.

Ronk shrugs, whispers into the ear of the doll and sets the now two pound doll into the spittoon.