This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Everyone watches with amazement as the Angus' dart expertly weaves past alchemical equipment, allies, through the skeleton's ribcage, and finally lands with a crack against the skeleton's spinal cord. The skeleton shudders forward, extremely badly hurt and barely hanging on to un-death. It lunges with outstreched claws towards Caspia...
Skeletal Alchemist Claw Attack: 19 Damage: 4
The claws rake against the triton's armor, but they find no purchase and Caspia avoids another wound.
The hammer emits a thunderous sound as it is swung down onto the Skeletal Alchemist. The hammer hits with a sickening sound of bones cracking. A fine white powder of small bone fragments are scattered across the room. In the alchemists spot is the hooded cloak.
Gulin crunches the alchemist's skull as he presses the hammer down, leaving the hammer standing upright on what is left of the re-dead undead. He immediately looks to the trove of alchemical items.
"Excellent! Now, help me find what we came for, and we can be done with this place!"
He describes to the group the apparatus to contain Cinderpetal, as well as describing what alchemical notes regarding the ore machine or ore processing might look like. While speaking, he pokes through the cloak, seeing if the alchemist had any items of worth. He then begins carefully sorting through the table of alchemical goodies, hoping to be able to gather up the tools for a more portable alchemist's kit, in addition to the other things he is seeking.
Looking through the skeletal alchemist's re-dead bone pile you find the following: (1) an interesting leather satchel bag with a multicolor face painted in pastel tones, (2) one of the skeletal ribs which appears to have been dipped in gold, and (3) a flat river rock with an arcane symbol carved on its face.
Now that the fighting has died down, you look at the L shaped table along the south wall. It is obviously a desk, and glance about the surface of it. Lying open on the desk is a book, opened to a random page. Next to the book on the table are the following items: a golden human skull, a golden apple, a golden rose, a set of five small discs, and a stack of 47 gold coins, and random alchemical glassware.
The bench running along the eastern wall contains various alchemical supplies and a larger cylindrical glass terrarium that has been dulled by the ages. Every now and then you catch a glimmer of light from the terrarium that forces its way through the dusty opaque glass.
You judge that the supplies and glassware are sufficient to assemble a portable set of alchemical supplies.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Gulin takes a look at the various items. The gilded items go into the bag containing the platemail and other loot. "These might be worth a pretty penny back in town!" He also gathers up the alchemist's supplies for his own kit.
Arcana 23to recognize the arcane symbol on the river rock. Sending stone?
Is there anything notable about the five discs?
He carefully opens up the satchel, looking inside.
Caspia walks over to the terrarium to see if it contains the cinderpetal they need and to examine the glimmering light that shines through the ancient terrarium.
The terrarium continues to throb with light, obscured by the aged opaque glass as you approach. Examining the terrarium, it appears to be an air-tight container. You press your eyes up against the glass. You are astounded to see a beautiful flower contained within with green leaves and petals that alternate colors like a kaleidoscope. One moment the petals are a bright red, the next they shift colors into a deep orange. This must be the cinderpetal which Ferrin Kastilar spoke of.
Gulin Runehammer Arcana Check:
You don't recognize the exact rune on the river rock, it doesn't match up with your studies of a sending stone. You are certain, however, that this stone is magical. Perhaps in some unique and different way.
The five small discs appear to have small numbers inscribed on them: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100. Despite them appearing to be the same size and shape, they feel progressively heavier as the numbers increase, though even the disc labeled 100 can't be much more than a couple of pounds. You sense that these disks may have a minor scientific or mercantile use.
Does anyone have anything else they wish to search in the room? Josh searched the body, collected items from on top of the desk, and grabbed alchemical items from the bench. Tiffany searched the terrarium.
What was in the satchel? And were there any notes related to compounds useful in dissolving ore or otherwise related to my task to repair that mining machine?
As you look in you don't notice any contents currently contained within the satchel. Strangely, the interior seems much larger than you would have guessed from the exterior appearance of the satchel. The only paper within eyeshot is the book open on top of the desk.
"Interesting!"Gulin says, as he peers into the satchel. "I will have to spend some further time examining this."
As an experiment, Gulin takes the weighted discs in one hand, while holding the satchel in the other. He then carefully places the discs into the satchel, feeling if the weight changes at all, or if it is just a surprisingly roomy bag.
Gulin then moves over to the desk to look at the book. Before digging in, he looks to Caspia as she examines the terrarium. "Oy, Caspia. What'd you find?"
So many things to loot and examine on the way back, while Angus pilots the boat full of stuff we can sell in town... This weekend I'll do some bookkeeping from the mansion and update the inventory.
All: check Discord. Posted the link to the Google Sheet Inventory there. Think I got everything, but if there' something of note I missed, let me know or put in the fix. Bold items require action, be it identification or just hauling. Items that have a ? value, we need to figure that out.
Steve: In addition, Gulin would like to look through the book further. Was the skeletal alchemist turning mundane objects to gold? Are the objects we found solid gold or just gold-plated? Also, can I gauge the worth of the golden items?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Gulin drops the small disc objects into the bag...
Gulin Perception: 21
Despite how incredibly light the objects are, Gulin's senses have been fined tuned through decades of practicing the scientific method. The weight of the small discs disappears as they are placed and left in the bag.
Gulin moves over to the desk, sitting down in the chair between the desks drawers and begins to further examine the book. Despite your background, the book, "Ye Secret of Ye Philosopher's Stone" is too profound and recondite a work to be fully understood by anyone other than the appropriate specialist with sufficient study. Given Gulin's background, he may or may not be able to decipher the book, but it would take hours if not days.
Gulin is also shocked to discover that the objects on the table are solid gold. Given each objects weight, he estimates that the skull, apple, and rose would be worth a combined 30 gold.
When I get home I will double check the book to make sure that the inventory isn't missing anything really important that you should have found.
(Caspia speaking, I’m in mobile and can’t figure out how to change colors): “Found the cinderpetel. Gulin, can you tell what they were up to in this house?”
“Angus, perhaps we get this boat loaded for now. Do we wish to explore the rest of the house and see what else we can find? It seems strange things were afoot here. I’m eager to get back on a boat, but don’t want to leave anything valuable.”
"Bah, I think I've had my fill of dark houses full of bugs, undead, and bandits. My guess is Sanbalet's used the fact that this place was rightly haunted to keep the locals away, and hid ol' Brewy McBones behind that heavy door."
He looks a bit disappointed, but continues. "I think we've found what we need, regarding Angus's debt to the little halfling. Unfortunately, I did not find any notes to help me on my task, but perhaps with the alchemical gear and some funds I can brew something up over the next few days, or find someone who speaks Gnomish to translate the working texts I have."
"Lets load up the boat. I still want to set the place on fire before we leave, so that no further smugglers get any smart ideas."
As the four of you load the items you have found into the rowboat, Zi looks to Gulin and speaks,
"Your guess sounds about right on Sanbalet's setup, though I doubt he was working with the skeletons. Those skeletons looked pretty old, and Sanbalet had them trapped behind a barred door labeled DANGER. Since I was a young child there were always tales that this house was haunted, and it would be a little amazing if he was hiding out here for the last decade."
"But I'm a little with Caspia on this one, I hate to leave behind a stone unturned. We need to inform the council on what has happened here, and while we have most of the story I don't think we have all of it. What exactly was Sanbalet up to here? It looks like some sort of smuggling operation, but it doesn't make sense that half a dozen people would be guarding an operation that can only afford a rowboat. Would we have any means to quickly scan the remaining rooms?"
"Also Gulin, if you are looking for someone who speaks gnomish, the Carpenter's Guildhall back in Saltmarsh is run by a snobby gnome named Jilar Kanklesten. I assume she would know how to speak gnomish. What is this task you speak of? I grew up in Saltmarsh and have a bit of knowledge of the area."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Aye, I figured Sanbalet found the skeletons much like we did, and chose to bar them off so he could operate in relative peace. Well, we can just head upstairs and quickly sort out any additional rooms. Once we get upstairs I can talk to Avalloc and have him peer in the windows, make sure we don't have any major surprises. As for my task, I'm attempting to fix up the mining equipment up at the Copperlock mines, and needed to sort out a specific chemical compound."
To the upstairs! Eventual perception roll for Avalloc (still nighttime I guess so no advantage)
You climb back through the trapdoor which you entered the basement and head towards the main entrance of the mansion. The stairs appear safe to traverse. You climb he staircase on the eastern wall to the next story, reaching a balcony that overlooks the entrance hall. At the top of the stairs Gulin holds a hand up asking the party to stop. Avalloc takes off outside and peers into the windows. The sun is beginning to rise, undoubtedly allowing the bird to make full use of its sight and abilities. It takes flight, leaves the house and begins to circle, peering through each window on the top floor.
Avalloc Perception Roll: 14
Gulin Runehammer:
Through Avalloc's eyes you see two bedrooms with open doors on the western side of the mansion's top floor. The two rooms to the north appear to be either storage rooms, or just full of piles of rubbish. To the east are three additional bedrooms. Avalloc spots a large object laying on the floor of easternmost bedroom.
As Gulin awakens from looking through his hawk's eyes, Zi leans in and asks, "What do you see Gulin? Anyone against splitting up? I think the biggest threats in this mansion may be behind us."
"Aye, we should split up. Caspia with me, Angus with you. There's something in the easternmost bedroom, and some storage rooms to the north. Some bedrooms to the west... We'll check out the east, you go north first. Shout if you have any issues."
Gulin then leads the way to the eastern door to the bedroom, cautiously opening the door with one hand, hammer in the other, looking out for the large object his familiar noted.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Angus McTavin:
Zi leads you towards the northern hallway. As you follow the floorboards creak. A loud crack follows and you watch as the floor shatters.
Zi Dexterity Saving Throw: 15
You watch as the cleric barely throws herself clear of this section of the floor. Where she used to stand there is now a 7 foot hole in the floor.
Gulin Runehammer and Caspia Aspergina walk down the eastern hallway and reach the easternmost door. As Gulin reaches forward to open the door, it clicks, locked. Lying on the ground in front of the door in the open is a dull metallic key. You hear a loud cracking sound come from the hallway behind you. You hear Zi shout, "Angus, stay here, I'll check out these rooms on my own! That was a close one!"
Over your shoulder you watch as the light from Zi's shield disappears, she most likely has walked around a corner.
Everyone watches with amazement as the Angus' dart expertly weaves past alchemical equipment, allies, through the skeleton's ribcage, and finally lands with a crack against the skeleton's spinal cord. The skeleton shudders forward, extremely badly hurt and barely hanging on to un-death. It lunges with outstreched claws towards Caspia...
Skeletal Alchemist Claw Attack: 19 Damage: 4
The claws rake against the triton's armor, but they find no purchase and Caspia avoids another wound.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
Gulin raises up his hammer, cracking down with another two-handed swing, a dwarven shout on his lips.
Attack: 15 Damage: 12
Booming Blade: 8
Edit: Steve, I should be at 17 HP. My arcane ward would have absorbed 8 points of the first acid attack.
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
The hammer emits a thunderous sound as it is swung down onto the Skeletal Alchemist. The hammer hits with a sickening sound of bones cracking. A fine white powder of small bone fragments are scattered across the room. In the alchemists spot is the hooded cloak.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
Gulin crunches the alchemist's skull as he presses the hammer down, leaving the hammer standing upright on what is left of the re-dead undead. He immediately looks to the trove of alchemical items.
"Excellent! Now, help me find what we came for, and we can be done with this place!"
He describes to the group the apparatus to contain Cinderpetal, as well as describing what alchemical notes regarding the ore machine or ore processing might look like. While speaking, he pokes through the cloak, seeing if the alchemist had any items of worth. He then begins carefully sorting through the table of alchemical goodies, hoping to be able to gather up the tools for a more portable alchemist's kit, in addition to the other things he is seeking.
Investigation: 23
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Gulin Investigation Skeletal Alchemist Check:
Looking through the skeletal alchemist's re-dead bone pile you find the following: (1) an interesting leather satchel bag with a multicolor face painted in pastel tones, (2) one of the skeletal ribs which appears to have been dipped in gold, and (3) a flat river rock with an arcane symbol carved on its face.
Now that the fighting has died down, you look at the L shaped table along the south wall. It is obviously a desk, and glance about the surface of it. Lying open on the desk is a book, opened to a random page. Next to the book on the table are the following items: a golden human skull, a golden apple, a golden rose, a set of five small discs, and a stack of 47 gold coins, and random alchemical glassware.
The bench running along the eastern wall contains various alchemical supplies and a larger cylindrical glass terrarium that has been dulled by the ages. Every now and then you catch a glimmer of light from the terrarium that forces its way through the dusty opaque glass.
You judge that the supplies and glassware are sufficient to assemble a portable set of alchemical supplies.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
Gulin takes a look at the various items. The gilded items go into the bag containing the platemail and other loot. "These might be worth a pretty penny back in town!" He also gathers up the alchemist's supplies for his own kit.
Arcana 23 to recognize the arcane symbol on the river rock. Sending stone?
Is there anything notable about the five discs?
He carefully opens up the satchel, looking inside.
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Caspia walks over to the terrarium to see if it contains the cinderpetal they need and to examine the glimmering light that shines through the ancient terrarium.
Caspia Aspergina:
The terrarium continues to throb with light, obscured by the aged opaque glass as you approach. Examining the terrarium, it appears to be an air-tight container. You press your eyes up against the glass. You are astounded to see a beautiful flower contained within with green leaves and petals that alternate colors like a kaleidoscope. One moment the petals are a bright red, the next they shift colors into a deep orange. This must be the cinderpetal which Ferrin Kastilar spoke of.
Gulin Runehammer Arcana Check:
You don't recognize the exact rune on the river rock, it doesn't match up with your studies of a sending stone. You are certain, however, that this stone is magical. Perhaps in some unique and different way.
The five small discs appear to have small numbers inscribed on them: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100. Despite them appearing to be the same size and shape, they feel progressively heavier as the numbers increase, though even the disc labeled 100 can't be much more than a couple of pounds. You sense that these disks may have a minor scientific or mercantile use.
Does anyone have anything else they wish to search in the room? Josh searched the body, collected items from on top of the desk, and grabbed alchemical items from the bench. Tiffany searched the terrarium.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
What was in the satchel? And were there any notes related to compounds useful in dissolving ore or otherwise related to my task to repair that mining machine?
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Gulin Runehammer:
As you look in you don't notice any contents currently contained within the satchel. Strangely, the interior seems much larger than you would have guessed from the exterior appearance of the satchel. The only paper within eyeshot is the book open on top of the desk.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
"Interesting!" Gulin says, as he peers into the satchel. "I will have to spend some further time examining this."
As an experiment, Gulin takes the weighted discs in one hand, while holding the satchel in the other. He then carefully places the discs into the satchel, feeling if the weight changes at all, or if it is just a surprisingly roomy bag.
Gulin then moves over to the desk to look at the book. Before digging in, he looks to Caspia as she examines the terrarium. "Oy, Caspia. What'd you find?"
So many things to loot and examine on the way back, while Angus pilots the boat full of stuff we can sell in town... This weekend I'll do some bookkeeping from the mansion and update the inventory.
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
All: check Discord. Posted the link to the Google Sheet Inventory there. Think I got everything, but if there' something of note I missed, let me know or put in the fix. Bold items require action, be it identification or just hauling. Items that have a ? value, we need to figure that out.
Steve: In addition, Gulin would like to look through the book further. Was the skeletal alchemist turning mundane objects to gold? Are the objects we found solid gold or just gold-plated? Also, can I gauge the worth of the golden items?
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Gulin drops the small disc objects into the bag...
Gulin Perception: 21
Despite how incredibly light the objects are, Gulin's senses have been fined tuned through decades of practicing the scientific method. The weight of the small discs disappears as they are placed and left in the bag.
Gulin moves over to the desk, sitting down in the chair between the desks drawers and begins to further examine the book. Despite your background, the book, "Ye Secret of Ye Philosopher's Stone" is too profound and recondite a work to be fully understood by anyone other than the appropriate specialist with sufficient study. Given Gulin's background, he may or may not be able to decipher the book, but it would take hours if not days.
Gulin is also shocked to discover that the objects on the table are solid gold. Given each objects weight, he estimates that the skull, apple, and rose would be worth a combined 30 gold.
When I get home I will double check the book to make sure that the inventory isn't missing anything really important that you should have found.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
Cassia lifts the terrarium with the cinderpetel.
(Caspia speaking, I’m in mobile and can’t figure out how to change colors): “Found the cinderpetel. Gulin, can you tell what they were up to in this house?”
“Angus, perhaps we get this boat loaded for now. Do we wish to explore the rest of the house and see what else we can find? It seems strange things were afoot here. I’m eager to get back on a boat, but don’t want to leave anything valuable.”
"Bah, I think I've had my fill of dark houses full of bugs, undead, and bandits. My guess is Sanbalet's used the fact that this place was rightly haunted to keep the locals away, and hid ol' Brewy McBones behind that heavy door."
He looks a bit disappointed, but continues. "I think we've found what we need, regarding Angus's debt to the little halfling. Unfortunately, I did not find any notes to help me on my task, but perhaps with the alchemical gear and some funds I can brew something up over the next few days, or find someone who speaks Gnomish to translate the working texts I have."
"Lets load up the boat. I still want to set the place on fire before we leave, so that no further smugglers get any smart ideas."
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
As the four of you load the items you have found into the rowboat, Zi looks to Gulin and speaks,
"Your guess sounds about right on Sanbalet's setup, though I doubt he was working with the skeletons. Those skeletons looked pretty old, and Sanbalet had them trapped behind a barred door labeled DANGER. Since I was a young child there were always tales that this house was haunted, and it would be a little amazing if he was hiding out here for the last decade."
"But I'm a little with Caspia on this one, I hate to leave behind a stone unturned. We need to inform the council on what has happened here, and while we have most of the story I don't think we have all of it. What exactly was Sanbalet up to here? It looks like some sort of smuggling operation, but it doesn't make sense that half a dozen people would be guarding an operation that can only afford a rowboat. Would we have any means to quickly scan the remaining rooms?"
"Also Gulin, if you are looking for someone who speaks gnomish, the Carpenter's Guildhall back in Saltmarsh is run by a snobby gnome named Jilar Kanklesten. I assume she would know how to speak gnomish. What is this task you speak of? I grew up in Saltmarsh and have a bit of knowledge of the area."
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
"Aye, I figured Sanbalet found the skeletons much like we did, and chose to bar them off so he could operate in relative peace. Well, we can just head upstairs and quickly sort out any additional rooms. Once we get upstairs I can talk to Avalloc and have him peer in the windows, make sure we don't have any major surprises. As for my task, I'm attempting to fix up the mining equipment up at the Copperlock mines, and needed to sort out a specific chemical compound."
To the upstairs! Eventual perception roll for Avalloc (still nighttime I guess so no advantage)
Avalloc Perception 11
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
You climb back through the trapdoor which you entered the basement and head towards the main entrance of the mansion. The stairs appear safe to traverse. You climb he staircase on the eastern wall to the next story, reaching a balcony that overlooks the entrance hall. At the top of the stairs Gulin holds a hand up asking the party to stop. Avalloc takes off outside and peers into the windows. The sun is beginning to rise, undoubtedly allowing the bird to make full use of its sight and abilities. It takes flight, leaves the house and begins to circle, peering through each window on the top floor.
Avalloc Perception Roll: 14
Gulin Runehammer:
Through Avalloc's eyes you see two bedrooms with open doors on the western side of the mansion's top floor. The two rooms to the north appear to be either storage rooms, or just full of piles of rubbish. To the east are three additional bedrooms. Avalloc spots a large object laying on the floor of easternmost bedroom.
As Gulin awakens from looking through his hawk's eyes, Zi leans in and asks, "What do you see Gulin? Anyone against splitting up? I think the biggest threats in this mansion may be behind us."
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
"Aye, we should split up. Caspia with me, Angus with you. There's something in the easternmost bedroom, and some storage rooms to the north. Some bedrooms to the west... We'll check out the east, you go north first. Shout if you have any issues."
Gulin then leads the way to the eastern door to the bedroom, cautiously opening the door with one hand, hammer in the other, looking out for the large object his familiar noted.
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Angus McTavin:
Zi leads you towards the northern hallway. As you follow the floorboards creak. A loud crack follows and you watch as the floor shatters.
Zi Dexterity Saving Throw: 15
You watch as the cleric barely throws herself clear of this section of the floor. Where she used to stand there is now a 7 foot hole in the floor.
Gulin Runehammer and Caspia Aspergina walk down the eastern hallway and reach the easternmost door. As Gulin reaches forward to open the door, it clicks, locked. Lying on the ground in front of the door in the open is a dull metallic key. You hear a loud cracking sound come from the hallway behind you. You hear Zi shout, "Angus, stay here, I'll check out these rooms on my own! That was a close one!"
Over your shoulder you watch as the light from Zi's shield disappears, she most likely has walked around a corner.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent