Saros will advance to where Ang is and as soon as he hears that Ghee is the one having the conversation, he Message Ghee and reminds him of the scrap of a napkin that he retrieved from Gregor's body, that said "One day"....."Deal with Dicky" and that the napkin has the sign of the Zhentarim.  He also relays his suspicion that the girl might be the receptacle of Weirdings essence and that there is likely to be a periapt, perhaps some sort of physical object, as well, and that we probably should be looking to destroy that, and possibly the girl, to be sure that we have scattered Weirdings essence to the four winds. 

Ghee advances towards Celeste slowly. "Are ye alright? That disnae sound pleasant."

Taken out of the moment by Saros' message, he whispers back a note of thanks and takes a slightly more defensive pose.

Looking the girl over, Ghee tries to ascertain whether this is some kind of physical aliment or a weirdy beardy mental thing that he should be very afraid of.

Medicine - 10

Reaching into his pack, Ghee downs a healing potion (8 healing). Taking another into his right palm, he holds his decanter with the other, subtly aiming it towards Celeste.

"Ah've a potion if that's gonna help, or a drink. Ye need a drink, Celeste?"

(OOC: I heard no response so I'll assume Darrik allows Gnator to go.)

With Darrik finally catching up to the group, the entire party is now on the third floor. On this floor's landing, which also serves as a gallery hall, Bleep, Ang, an Saros continue to share information and discuss next steps. Saros decides to also pass on some info on Dicky to Ghee, who is still inside the room talking to Celest. He also delivers his suspicions that Celest may be more than meets the eyes and that they should keep an eye open for anything that looks like it could serve as Lord Weirding's  periapt. 

For his part, Ghee only says a curt "thank you" back to Saros. The monk then continues to talk to the girl, noticing her painful reaction. She tries to explain: "I... I... suffer from migraines. It is nothing, really. They just pop up suddenly but momentarily. Nothing that should prevent you from taking me away from this awful place. I'm going to assume that you weren't invited in, since you entered through my window. I was afraid at first... I even saw some frog person, but I think my mind was playing tricks on me. Never mind it. You seem like a nice person, talking to me and offering a magical potion too! I don't think it would do much against migraines though. Anyway, off we go?"

While she talks, Ghee studies her winces of pain and drinks a potion himself. On the surface, nothing is apparently wrong with her health-wise, though that wig is becoming painfully obvious by now. And her step-father did have an affinity for brains based on the info Saros and Darrik shared earlier... (Ghee heals for 4 HP.)

Khan remains hidden and continues to listen in on the conversation. The orange grung notices that the girl keeps touching both her head and the area just below her neck. 

Ang decides to check up the other doors. "Let's check this one" he whispers.
To the closest door, And will check for traps before trying to open it.

Investigation: 15

Saros decides that it is time to introduce himself as well and calls out "Ghee, it's Saros, is Celeste alright, can I come in to talk"

As long as he does not get a "No" Saros cracks open the door and introduces himself from the doorway "Pleased to meet you Miss Celeste, I'm Saros, and I might be able to help you with those headaches, and hopefully find Dicky for you as well"

Saros will straight away look to see if he can see any obvious signs that might help in determining whether this is in fact a vessel for Weirding, and where the periapt might be.

Arcana/Investigation 21

"Ah guess we can get.."

Thanking his lucky stars for Saros' interruption, Ghee calls out that he can indeed come in.

"Saros is one o' mah travelin' companions. Ah reckon he's a good egg an' he kens a thing or three aboot book learnin. Might be he even knows somethin' aboot yer man Dicky..."

Ghee leaves that last point hanging, hoping it piques Celeste's interest.

Bleep keeps close to Ang for the search. There is no telling what else the tentacle-wizard may be hiding within these walls.

Khan continues to watch and her hand in preparedness for the moment to strike. While the girl's push towards leaving the room left her increasingly agitated, it is the almost taunting touching at the neck that left her grinding her teeth behind tightly closed lips. Did the girl somehow knew where she was, and had been simply toying with her? Or could it truly by just coincidence?

She shook her head curtly, dismissing the questions, and focusing instead more on reading Saros to at least calm her nerves. Much as she disliked the supposed not goblin the deep gnome in the beginning, his expertise in the ways of magic and the weird warranted at least being patient for a little while longer. After all, the look in his eyes and the words seem to suggest some effort in discerning more about Wierdling's spawn. More that could possibly be used to end it quick before it thought to cast aside the ruse, and take revenge for her fallen predecessor..

IN CELEST'S ROOM

Ghee begins to respond to Celest's request but is promptly interrupted by Saros' arrival. Seeing the deep gnome scares the girl again, though it is becoming apparent that she is prone to feeling that way. She reacts by grabbing whatever her clothes are concealing a bit harder. Ghee quickly diffuses the situation by introducing the Watcher, and all her fear is gone once he mentions that Saros may know a thing or two about Dicky. 

Saros reintroduces himself and mentions Dicky again, gaining the girls undivided attention for that moment. The gnome takes advantage of that by examining the girl from head to toe. Her hands are dead giveaways of what is important to her: the wig and what Saros can only assume is some sort of necklace or pendant hanging from a chain. Although he can't confirm the existence of magical essence in the room by simply looking about, nothing seems more likely to be a culprit at this moment than the two items the girl keeps touching.

Khan continues to bide her time. 

IN THE GALLERY HALL

Trusting her companions to successfully manage the Celest situation, Ang waves at Bleep and the two start moving toward the next closest door. As they walk past some of the art in display at the gallery, they notice large life-like paintings of some of the resident creatures of the jungles of Chult, which the grung are quite familiar with. They see a painting depicting a flail snail swinging its deadly antennae; another of a girallon chucking a bolder; one of a chuul emerging from a deep pond, and yet another of a minotaur grunting furiously. They walk by one more painting, but this one depicts a strange ritual, to the best of their collective guess: a dead and dry humanoid skull surrounded by magical fire.

Finally reaching the nearest door, Ang takes a careful look at it and determines it is not trapped. It appears locked, however.

Darrik observes the grungs from a distance, sporadically looking over his should and catching a glimpse of Gnator descending the steps onto the lower levels. 

Arcana check to know if Any never heard about such ritual: 21
Using thief's tools to open the door (proficient): 21

Staying near the door, unsure how safe it really is to get close to the girl,  Saros smiles at her as he quickly makes his assessment, and continues to discuss Dicky "We don't know much about Dicky, but there is a chance that we may have stopped Gregor before he could harm Dicky.  We found this.." holding up the napkin "on him which seems to instruct him to 'deal with Dicky', the intent of which becomes clear now that we have met you.  Would you like to try and find him again?  If so, all that you need to is take off that pendant and toss it away, I suspect it is how your father was able to find you...as soon as you are free of that you can come with us."  Saros is intent on seeing how much free will Celeste has and hopefully the others give her the chance.

As he is talking he decides to message Khan as well and on top of filling him in on what he told Ghee he adds "My guess is that the pendant she is protecting is most likely to hold Weirdings essence, but she is obviously very protective.  I don't know what she is capable of, but we need to separate her from it.  I am going to ask her to remove it and see how she reacts, hopefully her feelings for Dicky will be stronger than any bond to her father, but if it causes her to react badly then do what you must to remove the chain from her, disable or knock her out if you must, I just don't know if Weirding has any more surprises in store if we interfere so there is some risk" 

Persuasion 12 (assuming the advantage can be applied from Ghee)

Darrik will casually head off Gnator, and keep talking about flying monkeys while walking the opposite direction.

(Sorry, didn’t see that part of the post.)

Ghee attempts to help Saros in his attempt to part Celest from her necklace.

"See ah telt ye he was a good egg! An' that's good news aboot yer Dicky too, hopefully. Ah'd advise ye tae heed his advice, he kens aboot this stuff."

Ghee takes a moment to give Celest's room a once over, expecting it to give off a feeling of being a prison.

Perception 10

(OOC I'm not trying to case the joint, just get an impression about whether she is a prisoner here or enjoyed a bit more freedom like a mini-Mez Kara. If insight is more appropriate, I think it's the same modifier.)

Persuasion check (not great) embedded above...

Bleep keeps a lookout for anyone who would could do them harm.

Perception: 19

IN THE GALLERY HALL

While she works on the locked door, Ang tries to remember if the now deceased mage of her hunting party, the red grung named c'Ahbülos, ever mentioned a fiery skull ritual. The door clicks open before Ang can think of anything, causing the purple grung to switch priorities.

Before entering the new room, Bleep has the slight impression that some of the creatures in the paintings surrounding them are moving. Not abruptly, but and eye may be staring in a different direction and a finger might be pointing toward them more directly. Regardless, the two grungs enter the newly revealed room.

This is an all-stone room with a drain in the middle. Upon the walls are various bodies hanging from meat hooks. Their skin peel back exposing layers of muscle, organs, and bone, each meticulously labeled. The bodies include: a bugbear, a goblin, a male human, and a mind flayer. The goblin and the bugbear bodies are still dripping blood. There is also a shelf filled with organs in jars, one of which houses a incredibly large eye that is perhaps the size of the grungs' heads. This grotesque chamber is some sort of horror study lab, by the looks of it.

Still in the gallery hall, Darrik decides it is best to keep an eye on Gnator. The dwarf begins to descend the steps, and to catch up to the gnome. He says: "The master went outside to help defend the manor. I'll just have to peek out and tell him that Miss Celest is in danger. He'll come right back in, you'll see."

IN CELEST'S ROOM

DM's Screen:

Saros takes the lead in advancing the conversation with Celest. Ghee chimes in when there is a pause in the gnome's argument, adding an extra sense of credibility to the delivery. When shown the napkin, she gasps: "That is my step-father's handwriting! That villain!" However, when told that she'd need to give up her necklace or pendant, she recoils: "But this... This is all I have left of Mama. I shall not be away from it. It is mine. Just take me far away along with Dicky and the pendant. If we are far enough away, he won't find us." Her logic seemed like an attempt to convince herself.

Saros goes pensive for a moment, pulls out a copper wire from his pocket, and begins to send a message toward a random corner in the room. Saros does not know where Khan is hiding. 

-> Luck roll: 2 

Saros' random pointing is not accurate enough. Khan never receives the message. The whole casting does achieve something, however. Celest gets quite nervous: "What are you doing? You are casting a spell! I can see that wire. Why are you pointing to that corner? Who's there? What are you doing? Who are you? You are a wizard aren't you? Just like my step-father, that monster! What are you going to do to me? What have you done to Dicky? It is all a trick isn't it? My step-father put you up to this! HELP! HELP!" She is going hysterical. 

@Ghee: Her room is finely furnished but it all looks well-worn. There is a chamber pot and a tray of leftovers. The room is dirtier than other chambers you have visited in the manor. The door was locked until Bleep tinkered with it. If you had to guess, you'd wager she does not leave this room very often, and not many others are allowed in. 

Saros sighs at the accusation and responds "I am a wizard, that is true, but not like any that you have grown up among.  But Celeste, I am not your step-father, far from it, and I agree that he is a monster.  He, like Gregor, tried to kill us, but we managed to best him and his body is dead.  You are free of him, almost.  That pendant you have will forever bind you to him, so if you truly want to start a new life you will have to part with it.  Your step-father has the ability to play with peoples minds, so how can you be sure that your memory is real.  The only thing I know for a fact is that your step-father needs you to keep that pendant safe, and I think it actually contains his soul for lack of a better word.  Do you really want to risk a memory getting in the way of a new life with Dicky.  I will help you find him, but only if you leave the pendant behind"

Darrik sighs.

”Nope, laddie, we’re not going that way.  Weirding isn’t out there anymore.”

If Gnator refuses to turn around, he’ll sigh and pick up the gnome, dragging him with him.

Athletics: 4