The pouch is filled with marbles, but they seem far from ordinary the way Simeon reacts upon opening them. Abraxas removes Chaossong's book from the shelf.

For Simeon:

OOC: Added unidentified marbles to Simeon's inventory and the book to Abraxas's inventory.

Simeon quickly explains to the others what he has discovered about the marbles. "These may be of some significance or benefit to our party."

He then places the pouch of marbles in his pack. 

OOC: Ready to advance once the next action is taken.

Room Description:

A typical wooden door is closed at the end of this hall, but the walls to its side contain a pair of bookshelves. Though the hall is coated with dust, the bookshelves seem tidy and clean, each with well-organized shelves of books and journals.

Garu looks around to the rest of the group, observing the interactions with the bookshelves. She then turns and starts inspecting the door in preparation to go through.

"Yes, let's continue," remarks Simeon, as he watches Garu's inspection of the door. 

The wood elf helps Garu to identify any potential dangers and moves the group forward if nothing is amiss (Investigation w/ advantage: 18)

Harmony found the books to be boring and not helpful for them from what she could tell. She did see and hear of the marbles Simeon got, thinking that at least that is interesting. She nods back to Simeon at the mention of continuing on, following him and the others.

Garu Investigation (Advantage-Help): 5

After looking over the door, Simeon leads the way forward into a cavernous room. The ceiling bears a resemblance to the room with the pool in its center, except the ceiling must be almost forty feet high here, and the pool is much deeper.

Mottled, aqua-skinned manta rays swim within the pool, their skin blending well with the water. A narrow walkway on either side of the twenty-foot-long walls lead toward a closed wooden door at the other side of the room.

Fading to the back of the group, Abraxas tries to flip through the book and walk along with the others at the same time. He wants to see how unholy the processes described in the book are and what types of constructs it mentions.

He'll also try to remember everything he's learned about the nature of manta rays: 6.

"I suggest the widest walkway," he says.

"Yes," says Simeon in response to Abraxas.

The wood elf leads the way along the narrow walkway to the left, the words of guiding bolt still upon his lips. If he reaches the door without incident, Simeon utters the words to his guidance cantrip and looks the door over for any signs of traps and pushes through to the next room.

• Stealth to move past the rays: 12
• Investigation to examine wooden door: 2 + 3

By the time the party reaches the middle of the ledge, three of the manta rays have ascended to the top of the water. Then, surprisingly, they continue even further, floating upward into the air and hovering near eye level. They spread throughout the room, eyeing the party and floating in wait, but have not yet made a move to attack.

Harmony was surprised to see again that they ended up in a room with a pool, but there were manta rays in the pool instead. She follows the other along the walkway, trying to be as quiet and non-threatening as possible like before. She was really surprised and nervous as the manta rays were now floating in the air, still trying to show that she means no harm to them.

Stealth: 23

Abraxas watches the rays, but continues moving along with the others toward the next room.

The trio of rays hover to the side. One places itself between the party and the door, while the other two circle around to surround the entire party. They make no noise aside from the water that drips off of their backs into the pool and onto the stone that surrounds it.

"Their intent seems clear," says Simeon softly, "but let's see if this changes anything. Be ready."

Uttering words he has spoken a thousand times, the wood elf casts thaumaturgy, hoping to cause the wooden door at the room's end to fly open forcibly. 

"Let me guess - you're also hungry,", Garu calls out to the manta rays. She watches them, trying to confirm if they intend to attack us, whip in hand, and ready. 

Abraxas looks up, notices the rays, snaps his book shut, and readies Ray of Frost.

When Abraxas snaps his book shut, the door slams open from Simeon's magic. Garu does not have to try hard to read the manta rays' intent, as they launch into motion, diving to attack.

Initiative:

Turn Order:
Manta Rays
Players
Mro Jus Bir & Mro Jus Bur

Poison Sting vs. Abraxas: 10 Damage: 7
Abraxas CON Save: 5
Poison Sting vs. Harmony: 21
Poison Sting vs. Simeon: 15 Damage: 3
Simeon CON Save: 18

The rays soar into action, each flying directly above a target. Their stingers strike downward. Harmony shifts out of the way of harm but Abraxas and Simeon each feel the stinger dig into their collars, and though the wound by itself doesn't feel too painful, the bite of poison begins to dull their minds and cloud their vision.

Round 1 Order:
Manta Rays
Players <=====
Mro Jus Bir & Mro Jus Bur

Placement:
Abraxas, Harmony, and Simeon are each engaged in melee combat with a manta ray directly above them.

Health:
Abraxas and Simeon are poisoned.
Abraxas and Simeon are lightly wounded.

Harmony had seen as the manta rays surrounded them and blocked the door, not liking it before hearing Simeon. Then the door slammed open before the manta rays dove to attack, managing to avoid it only to see that Abraxas and Simeon got hit. Oh crap! She immediately touched Abraxas and cast Lesser Restoration in case that attack had been poisonous. "Stay away from them!" she told everyone as she uses Mantle of Inspiration.

Action: Lesser Restoration on Abraxas to get rid of the Poisoned condition

Bonus Action: Mantle of Inspiration - 8 temp HP to Abraxas, Simeon, Garu, Bir and each can immediately use their reactions to move up to their speed without provoking opportunity attacks

Putrid pus begins to run from Abraxas's nose. He, trying not to vomit, casts Ray of Frost at the ray above him. 

He does so with disadvantage: 24 because he's poisoned, for 11 damage.

Simeon, feeling the ill-effects of the poison, attempts to retaliate by sending a streak of radiant energy at the ray...

 ...