Lubella retreated to just outside the door, ready to sing encouragement to whoever wanted to try opening the chests. "We could return tomorrow, when I can provide more spell support", she offered.
Sidius casts another detect magic, studying the chests from a distance. At the mention of magic, he perks up and offers, "I could ask a summoned creature to open the chests, unless we fear they're rigged to destroy the contents."
And the tension mounts…
"Perhaps we should check them for traps first?, Lubella suggested
"Was going to be my suggestion, yes." Talvek takes a few deep breaths, closing his eyes for a moment before devoting his entire attention to the three chests.
Talvek is convinced, by his mastery of traps, that these chests are neither trapped nor magically locked. Probably just needing small keys, looking very similar to the three clutched in the boney hand of the skeleton outside the room....
A moment later he has all three chests open, and the party is amazed at the wealth stashed here.
Octavio raises an eyebrow and comments....
No wonder our greedy guildmaster risked his life on this treasure.
The first contains the guild’s final takes
from ransoms and other thefts, amounting to 388 pp,
2,345 gp, 6,590 sp, 14,400 cp, and various art objects,
gems, and jewelry worth an additional 4,200 gp.
The second chest is lined with padded velvet, and contains
eight pink potions, four green potions , four violet potions, four gray potions, four brown potions, two vials dust, six vials clear liquid, a single purple vial, and a ruby vial (worth 3,500 gp)
containing a single dose of golden oil.
The third and final chest contains a cloak
of green cloth, a small wooden model boat, four magic rings, a wand ,
and a magic black robe.
Lubella was astounded by the wealth in the chests; she had never seen so much treasure in one place before! She praised Sarenrae and scanned for magic auras.
She checked the contents carefully for traps, not wanting to touch the items until she was assured that it was safe to do so.
Talvek is speechless at the wealth revealed in the chests. For a moment, his thoughts fly to what his family could do with all that gold and platinum, spinning far-flung fantasies of becoming rich and powerful and exacting revenge on his father... but no, the coins and jewels were meant for a greater cause, one that would help everyone in the city.
Seeing Lubella's cautiousness, he gives the chests another once-over, looking for traps on the inside. It would have been quite devious to not trap the locks, but to have a pressure plate on the bottom of a chest, ready to spring a deadly trap once the contents were removed, for example.
Still no traps uncovered. It seems the deadliness of the door blades was enough.
Lubella tried to determine the properties of the items that radiated magic. She laid them all out and started going through them methodically.
Sidius whistles, "Well, now, quite the find." He then offers to identify anything Lubella doesn't.
”Quite the haul. Excellent for arming ourselves and the rest to really take the fight to the Thrunes.”
You finish cataloging the items and haul them up the well to the awaiting team.
Octavio tells the other Hellknights
”The mission at the least uncovered the history of one of the former Guildmasters sought by our order years ago. “
Having finished looking over the magic items, Lublla said to her comrades, "Let's get back to Headquarters. In the morning we can visit Guildmistress Lorelu."
The halfling ghost continues her taunts and howls to the dismay of the Rebellion teams within earshot. Most stay as far from the vault as possible in the confines of the lucky bones.
The next morning, Lubella rose in time for dawn prayers, as was her habit. At breakfast she asked, "Does anyone need to do some shopping before we meet with our friendly neighborhood ghost?"
She said this with some optimism, hoping that Lorelu wouldn't prove to be overly difficult.
The morning arrives as has any other. Damp and dark until the light of the Dawnflower breaks the darkness.
I am afraid dealing with ghosts is not my area. Octavio says as he calls his team back and ready to assist should the 'negotiations' go poorly.
Once everyone had a chance to declare their interest in last minute purchases, Lubella cast some preparatory spells before the meeting with the Guildmistress. "I'm planning on playing Lorelu's game of odds and evens, while trying to get a clue on what's keeping her hanging around here, rather than moving on in the afterlife."
Talvek spends his time in the morning studying some more of the guild papers, in the hope that they could hold that clue.
Not much left to tell on the books without spending weeks, Talvek finds Lubella ready to wager with her undead cousin.
-- once entering the room again ---
Upon entering the room, her faint milky form
shimmering dances in the air around the halfling corpse as before.
She coalesces into the ghostly form of the attractive
but wild-eyed halfling woman. She smiles at Lubella
as the bone dice her skeleton touches float into the
air and spin before her.
She speaks in a soft, musical voice:
“So you have returned? A wager? A game? I’ve waited ages for a game.
These bones are lucky tonight! Will you wager part of yourself for my secrets, my friends?”
Lubella greeted the ghostly halfling woman, "Hello Lorelu! Yes, I'll play with you. It must get awfully lonely here all by yourself. What keeps you here? There must be more interesting places than this gloomy chamber!
"Anyway, I've finally got some interesting questions to ask you. You'll have to remind me again about the rules."
Talvek speaks up, trying to help Lubella. "Truth be told, we were more curious about you, although I'm sure your secrets are also fascinating and worthy of the price. And perhaps we have some secrets of ours to trade, would you be interested in that?"
”Oh WONDERFUL NEWS!!! It has been ages since I have been able to have a friendly game with anyone. I am so excited I cannot believe it. “
She seems almost irrationally exuberant at the chance to play. Genuine excitement but also not quite all there.
.
”Who all is playing? I want to make sure I only have to explain myself once. Rules are very important and cheering is never acceptable. “
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"Some people like to watch first, while they get an understanding of how to play. I'm sure they'll join in when they feel comfortable."
To keep the conversation going, she asked the ghost, "By the way, have you heard about the new Lord Mayor? His name is Barzillai Thrune, and he's issued a list of 'Proclamations'. Listen to this one: 'The odor and flavor of mint is an abomination to the refined palate. Be not the cretin! Mint use in candies, drinks, and all manner of confections is hereby proscribed.'
"I've never heard of someone getting so worked up about mint, have you?"
She tried to see if a bit of local gossip was of any interest to Lorelu.
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Oh right. Watching is so boring.
Why would they not right away? They just miss out on more of the fun.
The halfling spirit pouts.
Very well, here are the rules. At least you will play the game.
She motions Lubella into the room and while waiting, points to the table in the center.
The game is simple. It is called Odds and Evens. Have you heard of it? No? Good.
She looks hopefully at the door to see if she garnered any other interested players.
This game uses a standard gaming cube. The round begins
with the first player claiming “odd” or “even.” The second
player then decides the number of “throws” in the
round (minimum of two). Following so far?
Not really stopping, she continues...
The two players then alternate
making these throws, each rolling three cubes to generate a
number. All of the resulting numbers are added together,
and if the final total matches the first player’s odd or
even claim, that player wins the round. If the final result
doesn’t match, the second player wins the round. The
house is always the first player on the first round. For
all subsequent rounds, the loser of the previous round
chooses the next round’s first player. See? Easy peasy!
to cheat at odds and evens and succeeds at a DC 20
Sleight of Hand or Profession (gambler) check can adjust
the total of his roll; on a success, that player can reroll
one of the three dice rolled in that throw, but must accept
the new result. The actual result of this Sleight of Hand
check sets the Perception DC for others to notice the
character cheating.
Lubella nodded, "Seems simple enough. If I win, I get to ask you a question, if I understand correctly. What happens if you win?"
Lorelu smiles at the question while looking out at the men in the hall.
”You are correct. If you win, I answer any one question. If you, or your timid friends, lose, then I get a bit of your essence. All very simple really. Are we all ready with the rules and willing to start? “ she looks again obviously disappointed not everyone is willing to join the fun.
”Step right up. I am the ‘house’ so I will start. “ as she points to real dice near her remains .
Lubella replied, "I hope that will leave me still able to play. If it drains me too quickly, I might be forced to back out early."
She was troubled by having to play without really understanding the consequences, but there seemed to be no other choice.
"I am ready."
Even though you are not clergy of Sarenrae, your spiritual connection with the Dawnflower is giving you a bad feeling about dealing with this ghost. She is unstable and cannot be trusted
.
Earlier,,,
Before going to the meeting with Lorelu, Lubella met with her comrades.
"Our goal is to figure out how to get Lorelu to move on from the Lucky Bones. Her moans and cries are making the other Silver Ravens nervous. Lets try to find out what's keeping her here, so we can help her to go to the Great Beyond.
"She seems unstable to me, and I don't think we can trust her. While I don't want a fight, we should be prepared for one if necessary. Let' divide up the magic items for now so we're prepared. Since Lorelu is ghost, I think we wound need magic weapons to harm her. I can temporarily enchant my scimitar, so I'm good. As I understand, Blue can use the magic mithril shortboard. Jackdaw, upi should carry the outsider bane dagger; I kjnow it's not you favourite weapon, but it should allow you to hit her if necessary. I'm going to wear the protection ring to make it difficult for her to hit me.
"I don't think regular armor will protect against her touch; whoever wants it can have a charge of my Mage Armor wand. Let's hope we don't have to fight, but let's be prepared just in case."
She handed her wand to Arcos saying, "I'm having trouble with this; can you use it on me?"
”I am getting really annoyed at the lack of enthusiasm by your friends to play. “
Lorelu pouts, almost with derision.
"I'd like to watch the game being played once before I decide if I want to join," responds Talvek, walking into the room and heading casually towards the southern end of the table, so that Lorelu was in easy reach if they needed to fight the ghost.
”Watch? Watch? Why would you not want to play? You do not want to let everyone else have all the fun. The more the merrier as they used to say. “
And almost without warning, the halfling ghost loses it and decides she no longer finds you entertaining. She moves to attack Talvek.
Initiative:
Lorelu reaches out to Talvek and attempts to reach into his head with an incorporeal life consuming touch....
hits
for
--Round 1--
19+ Lorelu(+5)
18- Lubella(), Talvek(-2 STR), Arcos(), Sidius()
NO ONE REFUSES TO PLAY!!!!
She grows stronger as Talvek feels his strength pulled from him.
Lubella scolded Lorelu, "We could have had a pleasant game, but now you've ruined everything!"
She cast a spell and moved around behind the ghost, drawing her scimitar while imbuing it with arcane energy.
"Ow! What was that for? For someone who's been dead this long, you sure have no patience at all!" Talvek protests as he takes a step back to quickly run an oil-soaked cloth down the length of his rapier.
Sidius steps forward, opens his mouth and screams at the creature, hoping the sonic blast will leave it shaken.
Lubella moves and casts. Talvek steps back and blesses his rapier with a rag of righteousness.
Sidius takes direct action and screams at the diminutive ghost.
but it only partially affects her.
Ow ow owie! That is not fair!
Arcos then casts mirror image and follows the others into the room.
The ghost flitters closer and reaches out to touch Sidius
Let's see how you like it!!!
for hits? DC17 Fort for half
Party Goes...as the would-be gambling halfling spirit goes crazy for your lack of exuberance at her game.
--Round 2--
19+ Lorelu(+3)
18- Lubella(), Talvek(-2 STR), Arcos(images), Sidius(-25?)
"Lorelu, we were going to try to help you, but you just won't let us!", Lubella cried.
She spun into her battle dance, and tried to get the ghost's attention, while keeping her own guard up.
"Yes, you are one stubborn ghost!" pants Talvek, struggling with the suddenly heavy rapier as he steps in to strike.
Sidius is severely injured by the small ghosts corrupt touch.
Lubella spins and strikes with her scimitar and slashes the ghost with the distraction caused by Arcos (
Talvek has better aim, stabbing into the halfling spirit and gaining her ire.
--Round 2--
19+ Lorelu(-8)
18- Lubella(), Talvek(-2 STR), Arcos(1+6 images), Sidius(-16)
Sidius winces at the touch, then snarls, "So it's a game of touching, then, is it?," he asks as he converts one of his memorized summoning spells into a healing one. "My turn, then."
for
Arcos tries to strike the ghost with a blast of electricity.
Sidius hits just barely with his his touch but Arcos cannot land his electricity.
fails
The small ghost takes a bit of damage from the cure spell.
You are very persistent. That would have worked great HAD YOU JUST PLAYED THE GAME!
She reaches out again at the witch. hits for DC17 fort for half (hopefully)
--Round 3--
19+ Lorelu(-18)
18- Lubella(), Talvek(-2 STR), Arcos(1+6 images), Sidius(-39)