With a tired sigh, Saros looks up from his studies and quickly summarises "First things first, this here amulet does contain Weirdings 'soul', and he is none to happy about me separating it from Celeste, so that is a good thing.  What is troubling is that it also contains others, and from what was conveyed, I take it that it was Celeste's mother.  It is a thing best destroyed to be sure.  As for Celeste herself, she seems to have free will, but whatever Weirding did to her, gave her some powers. Without Weirding's domination, I think giving her freedom is of little real danger, so unbind her and let's see if we can't explain the situation to her when she awakens"

Saros pockets the amulet for now, not knowing how best to dispose of it right now then continues "There is not much more to do until Celeste wakes up. Gnator, if you want proof of what we say, look out the window and you will see that what remains of Lord Wierding is not human."  and then recalling his scouting for magical items he continues "It seems that Weirding keeps most of his more valuable items up here, what's say we take an hour or so to rest and then continue to explore.  We still have a tome to find and a lost comrade to boot"

When Celeste does wake up Saros begins by immediately apologising "Glad you are back with us again lass.  We had to be sure that your loving step-dad did not have control over you, so while you were asleep I have had a look at those scars.  You need to know a few things.  Your step-father was not human, it was a creature that has been experimenting on the townsfolk and on you.  You have been given some power, power that can hurt others if you choose to use it, but otherwise I can find nothing else wrong with you.  I am truly sorry for what has been done, and I would like to help you in any way that I can to see that you are okay.  The amulet that you were wearing was a thing of his creation and now contains his essence now that he is dead, and is something that needs to be studied further before we can understand whether it is safe to return to you.  You said it was a memory of your mother, could you hear her while you were holding it?"

Khan's mood hardly improves in hearing Saros' news. And the moment the gnome goes to pocket the amulet, her eyes narrow in suspicion. However, her first step forward with intent to "remedy" the error is the last, as another thought leaves her looking pensive for a moment. Finally, she shakes her head and address the group (prior to Ang and B'leep's arrival). "Twice. Thrice. You have talked. Ghee has talked. Neither convinced progeny for long. You underestimate her. She stays bound. Eyes covered until Khan says otherwise." She states firmly, and gives Saros a hard look as if daring him to countermend the order.

"Once comrades return, we secure room as well. Bar door just in case. Still goblins and ogres out there. Both stupid. Might not 'see' Khan's warning as warning." She states, reminding them of the first totem bearing the bugbear's head sticking still by the path along with a few other heads. Provided noone challenges her strongly worded request, the Grung immediately sets to work trying to tear up enough bed sheets to make a thick blindfold for the girl.

In either event, when Ang and B'leep return to tell the tale of their findings to whatever extent, none of it moves Khan nearly as much as the deformity on her second. Even knowing it to be the result of magic, Khan tries to examine it all the same from a medical perspective in hopes of maybe -- just maybe figuring out a solution. 

Medicine: 13.

Regardless of any findings or lack there of, she insists in Grung for Ang to rest sooner than later, and continues to fuss over the purple until duty or request forces her to do otherwise.

Bleep returns to the human girl's room with Ang. They will return to that last room with greater numbers. While he didn't see anything dangerous in that room, that doesn't mean that there isn't. He just couldn't see it.

BEFORE THE GRUNG DUO RETURNS

DM's Screen:

Saros explains to Ghee, Darrik, and Khan that the amulet he holds houses the soul of at least Lord Weirding and his late wife. Concluding that this is most likely the periapt they were looking for, Saros argues that they need to destroy it. Nonetheless, he pockets the artifact for now, earning a suspicious look from Khan. 

The next point of order is what to do with Celest. Saros argues for her release, deducing that she is cause for little concern. Khan disagrees. The orange grung fashions a makeshift blindfold and adds to Ghee's ropework. The gnome and the grung's rivalry sparks again, and an air of disagreement fills the room.

(OOC: Celest is now considered to be blinded, on top of being unconscious, incapacitated, prone, and having her hands tied behind her back.)

Postponing any responses to Khan for the moment, Saros then invites Gnator to see the evidence for himself. Assuming Darrik lets him go, Gnator starts to make his way to the window. He sees the decapitated body of his old master, as well as the dead guards, apprentice, and pets. If there was any lack of a reason for him to be afraid of OGA + Watchers, well... Gnator then turns around and approaches Celest. He takes a close look at her wound, checks her pulse, and ensures she is breathing. He says: "Miss Celest will need some time before she regains consciousness on her own. I'd give her at least an hour."

UPON THE GRUNG DUO'S RETURN

Ang and Bleep make their way back to Celest's room after concluding they'd rather have the whole party available when entering that last room, the Study Library. Upon their return, Khan almost gasps in horror once she sees Ang's hunchback, despite the purple grung herself seemingly taking the mutation in stride. Khan spends some time examining the deformity. She pokes, sniffs, and even rubs it for a moment. She understands little about it but suspects that the change is temporary. If she is right, whether it lasts minutes, hours, days, weeks, years... that's anyone's guess. 

Meanwhile, Darrik and Ghee begin moving some furniture around. They blockade the door and push a dresser in front of the broken window. Once the room is properly secured, the party finally takes Saros up on his suggestion and takes a rest. Gnator does not dare asking whether he can leave.

(OOC: Go ahead and roll your Hit Dice in this in-game thread and then hit the "Short Rest" button in your character sheets. Don't forget to also click on the "Confirm" button right after, otherwise it won't be registered. Feel free to let me know if you are doing anything else during the rest.) 

Ang will try to rest a bit.
hit dice : 15 + 10 (total of 3 dice used)

Is a short rest enough to study the ring and attune to it ?

Saros will use all 4d6+8 HD and get back a 3rd level spell slot as well

Hit Dice: 22

Saros first seeks out Gnator, and takes advantage of his fear of the group "Gnator - this is a lot to take in, but Celeste is in a lot of danger yet, and her outburst of power has left my companions wanting to tidy up loose ends here.  If you care for her, you need to get her to stay calm when she wakes, and not try to run or strike out at us.  The grung are nervous about her power so if she uses it they are likely to strike her down for good.  Can you help her?"

Saros also seeks out Khan during the rest, keen to discuss Celeste further "Khan - I am fairly certain the danger has ended with Weirdings death, and what is left of him is captured in the pendant and impotent.  During the casting, both Weirding and the girls human mother reached out their thoughts.  Wierding just demanded to return the amulet to Celeste, something we are not going to do, whilst her mother asked someone to take care of her daughter.  I suspect from what Gnator has said that Weirding may have killed the girls mother.  She struck out at you in fear only and deserves a chance at an ordinary life.  Give her a chance at least.  If you are willing to touch the pendant while I am holding it you may be able to talk to Weirding if you want....I want to keep it to interrogate Wierding to see what secrets he might give up about this place"  Saros will hold it out, but retain his hold on it if Khan touches it to make a connection.

 If time permits, Saros will put his head in the library room and see if he can make out anything from a distance  with respect of book titles, obviously looking for the "Brain Dead - a psionics guid to necromancy"  He won't go after it just yet, just want to see if it is there.....

Hit die: 5 +8

Hit dice: 32

Bleep will spend the time looking at the robe.

Ghee slumps against the furniture now stacked against the doors of the manor. Catching his breath, he decides that taking a moment to re-centre himself would probably be best. Crossing his legs and focusing on his breathing, the albino dwarf tries to clear his thoughts.

(OOC Ghee only has one hit die left, so 1d8+4= 6 healing. Also hoping that Ghee can restore some ki points.)

--->Short Rest Healing(3): 24 HP regained.

(Ew... Spending that last hit die as well then: 9)

SHORT REST MECHANICS

The group takes a breather and tends to their collective wounds.

• Ang heals for 25 HP, is able to use his Healer's Feat healing feature again, and is now attuned to the Ring of Invisibility.
• Saros heals for 22 HP and uses Arcane Recovery to recover a 3rd-level spell slot.
• Darrik heals for 13 HP and regains his uses of Wild Shape. 
• Bleep heals for 32 HP and studies the robe he found, understanding it to be a human-child-sized Robe of Stars.
• Ghee heals for 6 HP and regains all his Ki Points.
• Khan heals for 33 HP and regains all her Ki Points. The effects of the Potion of Heroism run their course.

(OOC: I'll resolve other actions taken during the rest in a separate post.) 

Khan's fussing eventually comes to an end. Ang is told of the Orange's foundings, as well as given one last stern request to truly take easy over the next hour. Yet her stern demeanor is not to last, as she's soon effects a smile and croaks in such a tone and way that only Grung would understand it to be praise for their efforts. More might've been said as well, if not for one chance look in Saros direction having soured her mood. She nods one last time to the two, dismissing them to see to their own injuries. In the meantime, Khan found a spot before the girl to sit and at least be in position to quickly knock her out in an emergency.

However, she would -- like Ghee had begun doing so -- entered a meditative state center her being and even accelerate her healing to a small extent. As for Saros, she at least cracked an eye to regard to the Gnome, if though with a dispassionate look. "... Wierdling not dead. Not gone. Not until all traces erased of him." She states calmly. "You interrogate him. You learn secrets of this place. Then, you destroy it. Find way if not certain now. But destroy it before you leave jungle." She added, speaking in a tone that would broker no argument. "As for Progeny-..." Khan looks down to the girl. "... If she harms.. if she runs again..." Khan looks back up to Saros with narrowed eyes. "She dies. If after done here she lives... >Your< responsibility. You take her from Jungle. Far from these lands, and back to yours, if must. If see her here again in these lands, or learn you not do this...? She dies. And you? You best not return ever if that comes about. We understand each other?" She asked plainly. 

Now reunited, Ang and Bleep shares the info they have uncovered. Khan is stern at first but also shows appreciation for her grungs' information gathering skills. Ang then spends a good chunk of the next hour practicing with her new ring, while Bleep studies the robe he found closely. Khan excuses herself for some time and joins Ghee in meditation. Darrik mostly keeps watch, but finds little to report apart from a noticeable decrease in the amount of overall noise coming from the town proper.

Saros spends some time with Gnator, trying to convince him to help keep Celest calm. Feeling he has no other option, Gnator hesitantly agrees: "I can try, but it is not like she sees me as a friend. I am not even allowed in this floor, let alone her chamber. She is as likely to scream at me as she did to you."

Some time passes and the monk's meditation session reaches its conclusion. Saros seeks out Khan and tires to explain his point of view, vouching for the girl and her right to have a shot at a normal life. The gnome even offers the orange grung an opportunity to speak with Lord Weirding herself, but Khan dismisses it. The proud frogling tells the wizard that the responsibility of dealing with Weirding is now his, since he is the one choosing to keep the pendant for some time instead of destroying it right away. Khan puts the life of the girl on Saros' conscience as well, going as far as threatening both the girl and the gnome. The two seem to have no option but to agree to disagree. 

For now, Celest is allowed to live and the periapt is kept safe.

As the hour of rest comes to an end, the group begins to collect their belongings and move the barricade away from the door. Almost on cue, Celest begins to turn in bed and regain consciousness. Gnator steps up and approaches the girl. He whispers softly in her ear, as a way to both comfort her and let her know that their conversation is their own. This approach seems to work somewhat. Celest sits up in bed, still quite dizzy and confused, but seems responsive to Gnator display of care. Saros steps up and explains what he can about Lord Weirding, the pendant, and the scars on Celest's head. She takes it all in silence. After a bit, she stands up and speaks to the group as a whole. Her demeanor is the calmest she has displayed so far: "Do what you must. I don't care about any of this anymore. Everyone I cared for is now gone... probably even Dicky. I simply wish to leave this place and never return." She then approaches Ghee and adds: "You have been the kindest one to me. Will you please take me away from here when you are done with whatever it is you need to do?" 

Satisfied with the message he delivered, Saros let's Ghee talk to the girl for now and steps out of the room. He tries to gather a bit more information on the Study Library from afar, but only succeeds in confirming the description shared by Bleep and Ang. Then, Saros promptly returns to Celest's room and the group begins to talk next steps.

(@MuggsHil & @Shadow: You may roll an arcana check if you'd like.) 

Arcana 25

(Yeah . . .I’ll let you handle that lol.)

"Aye Celest. Ah can see ye safely away from fae here. We can check on yer Dicky afore we do just in case then get ye oan a boat tae wherever sounds good. There's plenty 'o places oan tha mainland tae get a second chance."

Ghee looks around the girls room.

"Pack anythin' ye want tae take with ye. Tha boat tae tha mainland ain't a one way trip, but it isnae exactly quick either. It ain't warn like here either. Pack yer woollens, Celest."

Taking in what Khan, Celeste and Ghee say, Saros feels a bit more confident about Celeste's welfare (and his own for that manner given the threat from Khan).

Feeling refreshed, Saros spends another 10 minutes casting Detect Magic before venturing toward the room containing the books and other artefacts, and on top of looking around the room before entering to determine magical sources, he also looks for more mundane things that might signal danger (Investigation check 21 for trip wires, pressure plates etc).  If he doesn't discern anything, he will be extra cautious and lead with his staff pressing the ground before him and approaching each of the three glass cases to see what they are, although he suspects that the book might well be the prize Darrik and he were seeking.

If nothing obvious happens he will inspect the cases visually and magically, to see if there if any magic that might be triggered if the case is opened.  If so, he will retreat out of the room and ask one of the others to break the cases from outside the room (better to be safe than get fried or worse).  If nothing jumps out he will try to use his staff or something else that he can hold if possible,  but if this does not work then he will thow caution to the wind and do it by hand, starting with the book, then the potion then the case(he figures that the grung has already plundered a reasonable share of items so will be looking for something that can benefit he and Darrik.. 

Bleep speaks to his fellow grung in their own language.

"Bloop has got to be somewhere in this building. I feel I won't be able to rest until I have some knowledge of his fate."

 Khan says nothing in return to Celeste, but at least acknowledges her words in a slow nod. Then she squints, realizing not only that someone removed blindfold, but did the same to the rest of bindings, much to the grung's personal chagrin. Before she can stand up and start interrogating the others, B'leep's comment gives her pause.

"... Mn. He will a remain a priority in search. But for now, we all stick to close to the others. No more venturing off on our own until least there are other traps or oddities to deal with." She said in Grung, avoiding the reflex to look at Ang, least she start fussing again. "We follow Gnome and Dwarves. We seek records kept by owner of home. Perhaps in them we discover where the last one is." After sharing one last look at her kin, and then one to Celeste, who she still visibly harbored some contempt for, paranoia and anger is suppressed as she made to follow after Saros.

Granted, seeing him stop to perform his little weird ritual elicits an annoyed sigh and a quick word in Grung to her kin, stating her intention to return to Celeste room and keep watch on her until Saros' ritual was done.