(@MB: Didn't even need the help!)

Ghee pops into the Study Library to offer his services and Khan wastes no time explaining what is needed from her old teacher. While the dwarf prepares, the orange grung keeps an eye on the two followers he has acquired. It seems that given the lack of friendly faces, both the girl and the grounds keeper decided to hitch their wagon to the one person who showed them unconditional kindness. Khan notices that the two of them make their way back to Celest's room and wait for Ghee to come back. They are not going downstairs on their own as Ghee suggested. They are not that brave.

Ang offers to help Ghee with the frame but the dwarf explains in a kind way that he'd better do it by himself. He picks a corner which seems more likely to give way and starts working on it with his chisel in a careful manner. It takes nearly a minute, but eventually one side of the frame pops off.

Inside the painting, just as Bleep's hope begins to run out, the green grung hears an acute sound capable of causing some pain on his muscles. A bright light takes over his field of vision for a movement. After it disperses, Bleep finds himself sitting on the floor of the real Study Library, with the rest of the party about the room. Bloop is also there, with his back to the group. He lets himself fall to the ground, exhausted of the ordeal he has been through. He doesn't speak, but laughs in relief. 

Also among those liberated from their prison on the wall is a 6ft tall, black feathered raven-man. This is the tallest kenku anyone has ever seen, assuming they have seen any. He appears behind the lectern, showing a bit of fear of the collection of individuals in this room. A moment of recognition hits his face once he sees Saros and a green-furred hyena. In Saros' own voice he screams euphorically: "Darrik!" Switching to Darrik's voice, he follows up with another yelp: "Saros!" The kenku also looks exhausted.

(@Drache: You have a point of exhaustion as well.) 

Ang runs towards Bleep and Bloop and looks if they need any healing ointments. She says in Grung "By the mother Grung, you're back. It worked. And you found Bloop !". She hugs both of them

Saros moves quickly to Cawkrin "My friend, I thought you lost to us....it is so good to find you alive?" then turning to Khan "I am glad that your charges are safe as well" and back to the Kenku "You must tell us how you came to be trapped by Lord Weirding, here is a long way from where we were separated?"

Saros then remembers that the portraits elsewhere in the hall radiated similar magic and calls out to Ghee "Master Ghee....the paintings outside in the hall had similar magic to this one in them, would you be willing to remove the frame from one of them to see whether Weirding has other innocents trapped?"

Once all the reunions and related conversations have died down, Saros will ask to the group generally "The other cases, I would like to examine...I can check whether the doors are still magic if you can spare the time, otherwise it might be quicker to smash the rear pane of each, grab the items and let me deduce what I can about them and then we decide how to share what remains, taking into account the items that the grung have already claimed" 

Ang hears Saros and adds "If you are doing something with the painting outside, I would suggest to prepare ourselves and to only do one painting at a time. Who knows what's inside"

Darrik lets out a bark (hyenas bark, right? Lol), and trots in circles around the kenku.

Khan keeps her composure for the most part, cracking only a relieved smile as she came to know both of her missing Grung were alive and well. After one last look towards the hallway, her attention more keenly focuses on the happenings within the study. Soon enough, the Orange cringes at Saros suggestion, and before Ghee can make a move for them, she would partially blocks the exit and holds up a hand to anyone intent on leaving immediately or smashing glass.

"A moment. Ang think good. Look close to painting before breaking frame. Saw friends in this one before open. If see only monsters, not so good to free them, More trouble than worth." She tells, then looks to Saros. "And you. You check other glass doors. Make sure no magic. Still not sure if breaking might free others or not, yes? Not want deal with house full of threats. Already dealt with enough... Also... when have time before you go. You look in book, yes? See if way to fix Grung outside. One that Khan... should go retrieve now" She requests with a grimace.

Saros initially frowns as Khan imposes herself, but then finds himself nodding in agreement as the grung's logic for caution, and when asked to see if there is a fix to what has been done his expression softens "Of course I will Khan.....first to see if we can find what was done, and then if there is a way to reverse it....but that may take some time"

As Khan leaves, Saros once again finds a spot to cast Detect Magic and inspects the glass cases and the now empty frame, as well as venturing into the halls to look at several of the other frames as well, just to see if they are still emanating the conjuration magic as they were before, then comes back to report to the group.

Bleep turns to his remaining brother and speaks in their native tongue, "Glad to see you again, brother. I was fearing the worst, when we discovered true nature of the wizard."

Ang takes a minute to reunite with Bloop and Bleep. They hug for a moment, allowing Bleep to also show some sympathy for the brother who has been lost for the longer period of time. Bloop smiles at his brother but speaks with difficulty (in the Grung language): "I knew you'd find us. Thank you for freeing me. I don't know for how long I have been trapped in that nightmare. Have you reunited with the others? We got separated in town."

Similarly, Darrik and Saros take a moment to reunite with the third and final member of their original party. Cawkrin pets the hyena and barks back at the transformed druid in a perfect imitation of the previously produced noise. Looking at the gnome, Cawkrin says in Saros' voice: "Good to find you alive? Here is a long way from where we got separated." The kenku then strings together a sequence of sentences spoken in a combination of different voices and tones. The Watchers recognize this as the kenku's unique way of speaking through mimicry, and even recognize the voices of some of their other colleagues back in Candlekeep: "I must scout ahead and confirm the location of our query... Prepare yourselves, I see danger ahead.... You may have defeated me but you shall never break me... I weave my way through the shadows... Ooh, what does this red button do?... Imprison me? I am a scholar!"  

Accustomed to Cawkrin's way of speaking, Saros does not ask him to elaborate, at least not immediately. Instead, he suggests a next step for the entire group. Turning to Ghee, the wizard suggests that the other magical paintings should also be broken in order to release any other prisoners Lord Weirding may have been keeping. Ang reacts even before the dwarf can, warning the non-grungs of the potential danger in that plan. Mostly quiet up until now, Khan goes a step further, blocking the doorway and emphasizing the need for caution. The orange grung asks the gnome to spend his time busy with another task or two: checking for magical sources and studying the book in search of a cure for Blip's condition. Saros agrees, choosing to focus first on the less time consuming of the two tasks.

Over the next ten minutes or so, Saros cast his ritual while the others catch up with their reunited companions. Upon finishing the ritual, Saros notes that the glass cases have lost their enchantment, as has the de-framed painting. Similarly, the doorway connecting the Gallery Hall and the Study Library is no longer enchanted. The contents in display within the other two glass cases are still as magical as they were before (the metal case, the potion vial, and the hanging scroll), and the five paintings in the Gallery Hall are also enchanted in a similar way to how the broken painting was. 

(OOC: Anyone looking more closely at the paintings in the Gallery Hall should roll a perception or an investigation check.) 

Ang keeps silents for a minute then press her forehead on Bloop's forehead  "You are the only one we found alive and well, Bloop. We found one brother with irreversible damage to the brain and the others dead in a pit. I'm sorry"

Giving enough time to Bloop to digest the information, she then says "let's focus on the present time. We will mourn later".
She goes in the hallway to check on the other paintings.

Perception: 7

Once Saros realises that the magic was faded he asks Bleep if he could unlock the remaining padlocks.

If Bleep can pick the locks

 If Bleep cannot pick the locks

and then uses Mage Hand to pick up each of the objects and examine them, starting with the scroll Arcana 18, then potion Arcana 17, and finally the metal case Arcana 12, opening it with the magical hand (if possible).  His working hypothesis is that each is somehow related to the experiments that he has been conducting.

Once he has finished he will relay what he has discovered (if anything) to the rest of the group.

Khan frowns at Ang, then looks to Bloop and shakes her head. "Not irreversible. Know not it yet for certain. I would've ended your brother's life -- end his suffering and shame, if not have one hope left." She then looks over to Saros as he'd begun working his magic. "I will not lie either.... It is no guarantee it will work, but I believe it's possible that the secret of undoing or at least partially fixing what happened lays in the book, I have given to that one." She gestures at Saros.

"He says he will need time, however. We shall give him the day. After that, we will do what must be done." It is then that she looks sternly to her Grung each in turn, making sure that they understood her words not to be a request, but a statement of what would be. "For now there is other business to tend to. Rest for now, I will go now to retrieve your brother. Stay alert, and be wary of Wierdling's daughter. I am.... not so convinced the Progeny should be spared. But for the time being, she shall be allowed this mercy." She said, directing her last words to the Greens before finally making her way for the outside.

As she grows closer to the gate outside eventually, she'll fall back on more scouting oriented techniques; such as scaling the outer walls first and just enough to carefully peek out to make sure no enemies were about, before continuing on her way along the bridge with care. All in a prelude to her finding the hopefully still asleep Grung left on the outside, before then eventually -- Hopefully bringing himself safely inside without opening the gates.

Stealth: 26.

Perception: 19.

Lucky Duck?: 19.

Ghee looks at the broken frame, his tools and the sudden arrivals. A little surprised that his old chisel and mallet were able to undo a complex enchantment, he is nonetheless pleased to see another grung found.

Packing away his tools, he lets the others catch up and plan the group's next move.

@Ang: Bloop goes silent in a reflective moment once he realizes the other two brothers were not as lucky as he was. You then step outside to look at the five paintings in the Gallery Hall but notice no new details compared to what you had seen before. To the best of your knowledge, four of them depict monsters, while the fifth depicts a ritual involving a humanoid skull.

@Saros: You try asking Bleep to pick the other two padlocks but the green grung is in the middle of reuniting with his brother, similarly to what Darrik and Cawkrin are doing. Thinking it is best for you to find an alternative, you hit the remaining glass cases with your staff and they shatter as normal, unenchanted glass would. Your mage hand successfully collects the three items they were housing. The potion and the scroll are easy enough to identify fgiven your expertise: they are a Potion of Healing (Greater) and a Spell Scroll of Fireball. You then open the metal, tinderbox-like case to reveal a deck of cards. You understand enough to realize they are magical, but getting to fully understand them would require more time (a rest) or the Identify spell. You then share all you found with the others.  

@Khan: You deliver your messages to your charges and begin to head back to courtyard. You do so quietly and in a speedy fashion. Climbing the outer walls proves a bit more annoying than you had anticipated, as the vines and flowers happen to have thorns and a few of them prick you (damage roll: 2, their poison has no effect on you). You then find Blip exactly where you left him, although he is awake. He is facing a tree and repeatedly stabbing it. On the ground by his feet, two goblins lie dead, warm blood still pouring from their multiple stab wounds. Blip has two fresh cuts on him as well. You escort him back to the wall and help him climb the thorny wall (damage roll: 4) so that you can keep the main gate closed. You eventually arrive back at the manor's third floor, you mission completed successfully and quietly. (Khan takes 5 piercing damage.) 

@Ghee: It turns out that not every magical spell is resistant to the simplest disturbances. It seems some of these fancy magics are actually quite fragile. You live and you learn. 

@All: If you are ready to take your long rest, please describe exactly what you are doing to set up for the rest, what you are doing during the rest while not sleeping, and the order of watches (roll perception checks.) When describing it all, remember that Bloop, Blip, Cawkrin, Celest, and Gnator are with you too. 

Saros talks to both Cawkrin and Darrik and asks them to take any watches that are required, so as to free him up to sleep, prepare a few different spells if needed, then get to work on studying the tome (slotting in spending time to discover more about the cards if it does not take more than an hour or so).

Actions

1. Cast Alarm - noting that the alarm will be mental only, asking the others to steer clear of where he sets up his bedroll so he can regain his spells for the task of looking at the book

2. Sleep for 6 hours, regaining Spell Slots and Portent Rolls (10, 8)

3. Prepare Spells - leave them as is - although I would love to copy the Fireball spell into Saros's spell book but alas he does not have 6 hours to spare just now

4. Study the Deck for an hour (?) to see if he can glean what the cards might do

5. Ask Ghee again if he would consider picking another picture, that does not look like it has monsters in it, and take apart it's frame to release the magic (Saros offers to use Mage Hand to remove a frame from the wall and place it face down in the hallway - not sure if this is a good idea, but if there are other innocents trapped then they should be released)

6. Begin studying the Tome as promised, spending the time to cast Comprehend Languages as a ritual to pre-empt any text that is not written in a language Saros understands

Ang suggest to rest in the Lord's bedroom. She can take the first round of watch with Bloop, trying to catch up with him.
During the watch, Ang will keep her attunement with her new ring.

Perception Ang: 7
Perception Bloop: (without modifier): 20

OOC: OMG I didn't see we found a Deck of Card ....

Darrik will take whatever watch shift is left.

Perception: 22

"If we're tae stay tha night, Ah'll let tha lady o' tha hoose know. Might even see tae scroungin' up somethin' tae eat in tha kitchen."

Before heading off to inform Celest and Gnator, Ghee agrees to a little more dispelling on a few choice picture frames.

Perception: 26.

If anything, once Khan saw the damage Blip had done, she couldn't have been more hopeful in recovery. So much so, in fact, that Gnator and "The Progeny" are spared any more of her hateful or suspicious glances.... for the evening, at least.

As for Ang's suggestion, the Orange is hesitant to agree. However, if everyone else is of a mind to do so, there is no complaints from her. That is as well, assuming his room wasn't the same one with the eye that warped the Grung. In which case, without some assurances of effectively covering or destroying it without anyone else being affected, the request is denied. At which point, no matter how cramped or uncomfortable other locales may be, she would direct them to one of the guest rooms; remembering they had some sort of magical bathing sections for their uses come that evening or in the morning.

What is recovered from the other cases are things Khan leaves to the others to decide, but recommends the potion at least go to Ghee. Ghee's agreement to help dismantling more frames aside, if Ang or another reports finding no "innocents" among them, then Khan strongly advise against disturbing them. Even if the glass Saros shattered could no longer be used to trap more poor souls, why tempt fate?

In any event, Khan would try to make sure (with some conscripted help from the others), the main doors and Celeste's room window were barred by furniture to the best of their ability. She  would also take the 2nd watch, and quite possibly with B'lip, assuming he could be roused and coaxed into keeping an eye on the door the group rested within without disturbing the others.

Despite his fatigue from being dragged out of the painting, Bleep volunteers for a watch. During his shift, he will attune to the [magicitem]robe of stars[/spell] he had found. Now that he knows what it is, he actually may be able to use it, himself.

Bleep perception: 17