"No, I haven't heard or seen anything relating to them, otherwise I would've spoken up." Gadren says. "Although, come to think of it, about two nights ago I came in here to feed the Eogunas, and that door was slightly ajar." He points to a door at the other end of the room he came from. "It leads to the Old Vaults. But that wasn't even the strangest part. I'm sure you know that the undead, armies of the lich, they live down there." He moves in closer and whispers. "Well the door handle was covered in a kind of saliva, and the ground was moist, when it's usually dry and dusty. If you ask me, I think there's something else down there besides the undead." He says.

At that moment, Captain Hallowgazer runs up to you all from the darkness, panting heavily. "Good I... I found you. So long..." He says between breaths. "We have... have a..." He can't quite seem to finish his sentence from his exhaustion, and he begins coughing.

Trinity gives a wild eye at the thought of being out of breath, she has never done anything like that before.

"Ah, something has indeed happened!" Abzerilan exclaims, "Lead the way, it'll be easier for us to see for ourselves!"

Captain Hallowgazer catches his breath, impressed with how eager you are to get going. He smiles and says, "We need more people like you here in the guard." He then motions for you to follow.

You walk for a ways to the very back wall of the Vaults, where Captain Hallowgazer tells you are the most prized artifacts. In the center of this area is a pedestal. The glass case that housed the artifact lies on the ground in shattered fragments. Captain Hallowgazer looks around nervously and frantically, saying "well, this is the scene. We've found nothing to point the finger at any culprit, as usual. Your guess is as good as ours. Which is worth absolutely nothing now." He kicks on of the nearby shelves and the objects on it rattle, all the way up to the top. "Gods, how could someone be this cruel to Inigus and its people?!" He cries.

Thorin, having sneaky enough to dodge Gadren's notice, he now pipes up. "Excuse me captain! Can ye tell me why you've got a chain on a door that opens the other way? I may have had a bit ta drink, but I'm pretty sure the chains are supposed ta stop the doors from opening." He leans against one of the pedestals, but quickly stands up when it budges. "Gadren mentioned some goop at the door the other day. Do ya have any idea what kinda creature might make such a mess?"

"The chains are there to keep the Eoguna in. If anyone would be foolhardy enough to go in there who shouldn't be in there, those bats will tear them to shreds." Hallowgazer says. He speaks faster now, as if he's trying to get to more important matters. "As for the goop, I don't know. I'm not too well versed in the animals of Inigus."

Grix steps upto take a closer look at the scene "Are you able to tell us what artifact was taken this time, and perhaps what other artifacts gone missing before now. Perhaps they are connected?  And did no one hear the sound of glass breaking?" sounding a little confused as to how this could happen without anyone seeing or heating anything.  As he asks, he does investigate the area, looking for any sign that may give them clues.  "Perhaps there is evidence to be found...blood perhaps or tracks in the dust or even hand prints on the glass...why dont we all have a good look" inviting the others to investigate as well

OOC: Knowing his lack of talent...Grix opts to help someone else who is investigating...providing the HELP action tp give them Advantage on the skill check.

Hallowgazer looks worried when you ask the question. "I would've thought that a fellow native would know this." He says. "The artifact stolen was the Rod of Nankon." He says with a heavy sigh. "As for the other artifacts, we've lost the Leumme Wand and the Loyal Staff of Cutuna." He moves to the side of the area opposite to where you came in. "As for no one hearing the glass breaking, they were all dead." He pulls a white sheet off of 5 dead men, wearing the armor of the guard. "If you're looking for evidence, as always there is none. No blood, no footprints, nothing. The only thing we have to go off of now is this." He says, leaning down and wiping is hand on one of the dead guard's armor. He raises his hand to show you all a thick layer of saliva like goop. "We never found any of this at previous scenes, so this is now our only clue."

Somewhat shocked to hear this was the location of the Rod his eyes go a little wide as he responds "The Rod is missing!" and then turns to the others "The artifact that is missing is the rod used to bind the dragon Ximmynen....it must be found" suddenly fearful that the rod might be used to wake the dragon back up...

and before Grix can continue the Capt uncovers the bodies and mentions the goop, and recalling Gadren mentioning something similar he gulps back the revulsion he feels at seeing the bodies and says "Gadren has seen somethung similar on the doors leading to the Old Vaults...it seems obvious that someone or something from the Old vault is to blame, do you think that is possible?"

"I certainly don't think it's impossible. Problem is this doesn't add up. Undead are supposed to be withering, dry and decayed. Not moist and wet. Certainly not able to produce this amount of saliva, at least. And, the Eoguna are trained to kill any undead they see that come through that door. Yet they didn't. So it may be something from the Old Vaults, but it certainly isn't undead." He says, completely baffled. "And yes, you're right lad. The Rod can be used to wake up this continent's most deadly foe. But it will automatically happen now that it's gone. Which makes this of the utmost importance. I know I've asked a lot of you all already, but would you please go down to the Old Vaults and take a look around? It's fair to say that more of this stuff should be your guiding clue down there. If you could find the Rod, Inigus would be in your debt."

Grix just stares at Hallowgazer in stunned silence for a few seconds before answering "Look at those bodies...whatever did that is what you are asking us to go after. How can you expect so few best a creature that can do that!  I didnt sign up to suicide...you asked us here to help out on guard duty and now you are asking ths.....what can you possibly offer us to give us aid and incentive to volunteer for such a mission"

OOC: Grix is angling for the captain to offer some of the magic items that are stored here to aid the group noting that it is certainly in his best interest to help us succeed (if needed Persuasion 6 (so perhaps he should get Advantage...?) 9)

Captain Hallowgazer thinks for a minute. "I am sworn and beholden to protect the items. I do trust you with them, but there is no guarantee you will survive down there, and if you don't the artifacts will fall into enemy hands." He looks over his shoulder at a weapon rack covered with a sheet. "Unless... you have proper equipment." He smiles slyly.

(Sorry for the delay, I had some things to take care of briefly)

Captain Hallowgazer removes the sheet from the weapon rack, revealing a dazzling longsword, a decorative quarterstaff, a gleaming shield, a large spell tome, and a powerful staff. Hallowgazer grabs the longsword and hands it to Tikea. "This should suit you well, I think." He says with a smile. "This is a powerful longsword. It grants you the ability to focus your spells through it, and it empowers your spells as well." (The longsword can act as a spellcasting focus, and at the same time you get a +2 bonus to spell attacks and melee weapon attacks with it.)

He grabs the quarterstaff and hands it to Thorin. "Not sure how you feel about weapons, friend, but this one is better than your hammer there." He says jokingly. "This quarterstaff can be used to attack even further than you normally can, and it can do a lot more damage too." (As a bonus action you can give the quarterstaff the reach property. When it's used in an attack against a target more than 5 feet away from you, it does an extra damage die force damage, so one hand with it would be 1d6 bludgeoning and 1d6 force, two hands would be 1d8 bludgeoning and 1d8 force)

He grabs the shield and hands it to Abzerilan. "Trust in this shield, and it will protect you." He says. "It can be used to ward off certain types of creatures, and trust me it will be useful down there." (As a bonus action, you can emit a 20 foot radius sphere aura with an effect similar to protection from evil and good. When you activate the aura, you choose aberration, celestial, elemental, fey, fiend, or undead, and then the aura acts the same as protection from evil and good)

He then grabs the tome and hands it to Gixeor. "Though Warlocks usually aren't trusted, and believe me it's nothing personal, I see potential in you." He says. "This book should help bring it out." (The book has 20 charges. As an action, you can choose a spell from any spell list for which you have spell slots, and expend a number of charges equal to the spell's level plus 1. Then you can cast the chosen spell)

And finally, he grabs the staff and hands it to Trinity. "You seem lost. I know from my own experience the troubles that come with it." He says. "Let this staff guide you. It knows more about yourself than even you do." (The staff can be used as a spellcasting focus. You can cast any spell you know with a casting time of 1 action as a bonus action with the staff)

Thorin tries to ascertain what the sly smile was about before Hallowgazer hands over the weapons, was there evil intent, or lies, or something behind the smile? Insight check: 18)

Thorin takes the quarterstaff, "Thank ye Hallowgazer." He twirls it, masterfully, then stopping abruptly, holding the staff upright in the middle like a walking aid and taps the end of the staff on the ground. "I'm not really one fer usin' a staff, but I'm sure she'll come in handy at some point," Thorin looks over to the others as they look over their newfound items, "I just need a good ale an' me fists ta throw a few punches." He puts the staff on his back. (Do you have a specific item created to add this to my inventory? Or just add it myself?)

"I'm always up fer some adventure. Just let me gather me things an' we can take a wander through them Old Vaults."

Thorin can tell that the sly smile was more of like a "I figured out the way for you guys to outmatch anything down there" kind of smile.

(And no, I don't have anything. I didn't actually plan on this happening and just kinda made the items up on the spot. Feel free to add it yourself, but ultimately you'll only have them for this part of the adventure)

"Take all the time you need friends. Not too long, of course, but enough to be prepared. Whatever you find down there, report back to me when you're done. If you find the Rod, bring it back. If not, tell me what you find and we can work something out." Hallowgazer says.

"Thank you very much for the aid, friend," Abzerilan says, accepting the shield. "We will not disappoint you."

(because this is supper important now.  What is your ruling on using two spells? I've heard 1 spell and 1 cantrip, I've heard the BA has to be a lower level by half, or just do what ever I want.)

(because this is supper important now.  What is your ruling on using two spells? I've heard 1 spell and 1 cantrip, I've heard the BA has to be a lower level by half, or just do what ever I want.)

(I would say the Bonus Action spell should be a lower level, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a 1st level and a cantrip. If that's all you have though, then I guess that's all that can be done. That being said though, you all do level up to level 2 before heading into the Vaults)

(No worries, I'll add in my staff. So is that a level up now that we have this equipment?)

Thorin, having gathered his things, turns to the others. "Well my misfit companions, I'm ready when you are ta delve inta the depths!"