To Prove D&D Exists for Echolon

OC: No worries, enjoy your family time!

“Well, let’s find out what the blazes is behind this thing.” Toots carefully opens the door.

Tommary's got one hand on the key in the floor, and the other on his sabre in his iconic "doing a lot at once" pose that maybe the Wind Demon Rodan will someday be inspired to replicate through wind sheared bronze.

A short passage opens before you, lit from hundreds of glowing pebbles affixed to the ceiling. They are bright green and red and pulse with no discernible pattern.

After about 30 feet, a room awaits, filled with bright yellow light.you can see a short table (maybe a foot or two high) with a simple setting for one person. On the left, you see the edges of greenery and on the right a pair of large size black boots. You cannot see who the boot are attached to as they are around the corner. You can just catch the whiff of pipe smoke and the sweetness of fresh baked cookies.

In an almost uncanny reenactment of something that tugs at Tommary’s memory from somewhere in the vaults Toots says “It’s a trick, get an axe.”

OOC: If Toots’ detect magic is still up, what does she see?

If it isn’t she says “I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that all looks magic.”

Most of the things you see do radiate an enchantment. The lights, the bit of greenery, the plate and cup, and the boots.

“Oh yeah, definitely, totally all magic.”

message to Toots, "Should I go all no see me and see what's in there, or should we circle up and talk about what you're seeing and how we should go forward?"

“You’re askin’ me?!? It looks like…. You know when the Town Founding Festival^1 comes around and the carnival games one out? Remember what it was like when you were a kid and all the lights lit up all everywhich way, and the prizes seem larger than life and look like they’z just shining with magic?  Well like that, only for real and without the rigged games and sugar high.”

1. ^( https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/99658-to-prove-d-d-exists-for-echolon?comment=2631)

Tommary leaves Toots to gawk at the wonderland and asks Ely and Ily "So I can do my invisible creeper act and see what I can see before we all go in, or we just walk in aboveboard for audience with those boots that I think are taller than mine, or maybe even Nine,"

Ely replies: “I think this is situation that calls for an invisible creeper.”

“Good luck creeper.”

Tommary tries to keep his characteristic composure, but is actually a bit apprehensive about his offered course of action.  The children's section of the LoreVaults he used to haunt whenever he was nursing fractures and other injuries from his wheelboarding days or other hijinks had much to say about the old times forces that often got celebrated around the same time of year as Cliffside celebrates Founding Festival, guided by that North Star to the most defensible position and whatnot.  There was one entity from a frozen Far Realm who would interlope into this world with horned beasts and assistance from an army of creatures that were something akin to "tinker elves," who would practice their craft of making whimsical wonders but also building mechanisms that seemed to enchant or break normal laws of reality.  While much wonder and joy was assoicated with this entity's craft, he was also said to be powerful moral arbiter keeping all young on lists of acceptable or contemptible character.  And most importantly for the matter at hand, there's some sort of godsight, where he can scry whether a body was asleep or awakened.  Tommary regains his resolve, after all if he was revealed to the being of Good Tidings and Moral Arbitration, there was always the matter of Tommary's youth being spent having to build his own wheelboard deck from broken and discarded paint stripped parts while other kids got theirs through artisanal shops with bright color schemes and protective varnishes and waxings.  If it comes to it, there will be words.

Tommary cast invisibility upon himself and enters the lights fantastic, in a creepy way.  Stealth 22     

Toots turns to Elyona, whispering: “Think he’ll make it?”

Tommary's creeping isn't just sneaking, it's peeping all eyes and ears at all about him.  Perception: 25

OOC: HUZZAH, THE TRIUMPHANT(???) RETURN

IC:
Right before Tommary casts his spell and begins his infiltration, Ilyara steps up next to him.  Rilla in one hand, icon of the Traveler in her other, she rests a hand on Tommary's hip for a moment and murmurs a brief prayer.  "Traveler's cloak shield your steps; the road before you swallow your footfalls.  Silent, safe, sure."  She then pats Tallboots' hip, firing a smirk up at the guy before drawing a symbol of the Traveler and muttering another, less intelligible prayer.  "Sic 'em, Tallboots," she says, gesturing him onwards.

{For one hour, Tommary has the Blessing of the Trickster, granting him advantage on Stealth checks (even if Invisibility falls), and for the next sixty seconds he also has Guidance.  Go git 'em, Midnight.}

OOC: ok, these are some straight up Spiderman rolls.  No spoilers, but catch the movie when you all can.

EDIT: but to take the retconned gift, here's the second advantage role for the stealth 27

EDIT 2: Down hall may know Tommary's awake, but we all know Tommary's good for goodness sake.

Tommary makes a creep sneak down the hall and finds the boots are attached to legs, which are dressed in red leggings with white trim. A further spy reveals an ample belly also dressed in red with white trim. The belly bound by a thick black belt bearing a shiny brass buckle. The coat on this being has brightly polished, engraved buttons, some of which are covered by a wide fan of white beard. His head is also adorned with flowing locks of snow white hair.

Reclining on a large comfortable chair, he is reading a thick tome with the title "The List" embossed on the cover in flowing shining silver. When Tommary comes into view, he looks over his glasses, puffs on his pipe and gives Tommary a solid, knowing wink. "I knew you would make it." he chuckles.

OOC: So Santa sight can see past invisibility?  Actually not surprised there.  

"Ok, I was never sure what happens now.  Like folks always said we weren't supposed to see you at work.  But I think that's only when you were actually doing the gifting thing.  I mean, there's the whole lap thing, which I was never into.  I mean, are you even supposed to be here?  I guess the world's probably significantly out of whack since you're heyday but the lore always put you somehwere colder.  Dangit, did the overlord of this mountain kidnap you and make you one of its guardians too?  I mean I think I'm at only three out of eight run ins with folks in this place ending civilly.  Like the last one, well wasn't a bowl full of jelly, more of a very rectangular mold full of jelly."

While he yammers Santa, Tommary is darting his head around trying to get a read of the chamber beyond the presence of the jolly one.  Perception 25