Basilisa brushed gently past Bran, their hands touching as she reached for the last case. “Hmm!” Her muffled tone hid a pleased note. “Let me try again.” The Bard hoped she would redeem herself from her last clumsy attempt.


OOC:

18:36, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  Investigation.

Bran and Basilisa's investigation of the cylinder confirms that if there is something encased in the lead that the lead cylinder was poured around it. There are no lines or cracks, the only mark is at one end where it appears a small portion of lead was shaved away.

Basilisa couldn’t quite make sense of the cylinder. “Whoever crafted this cylinder ensured protection of whatever is inside.” She shrugged in resignation, at least for the moment.

OOC:

12:50, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 9 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 6.  Investigation.

After the initial investigations prove the cylinder is solid Cinnabar shares her conclusions with the others.
”I expect that whatever is contained within the lead is considerably more dangerous to us than we are to it, I can melt away the shell but it would probably be better to do so in a spare pot or bowl of iron rather than just tossing it on the floor, unless someone can can create one of Tenser's Floating Disks to hold it, that would work as well.”

Bran shifted his eyes to Basilisa when they touched, a small smile lifting the corners of his lips, but he made no other comment or movement. He examined the cylinder with her and finally let out a sigh.

He glanced at Cinnabar and shook his head. "Hmm...I'm not sure we are there yet. Whatever's inside could be very helpful or very dangerous. Or both." He looked at the others. "Do we need to know what's inside right now?"

“We’ve undertaken so more than a few pains to protect this little treasure,” Basilisa said as she stared at the cylinder. “Aren’t you curious, Bran? I would like to know what lies inside that lead casing.”

Bran let out a little chuckle. "Of course I'm curious! Of course I want to know what's inside." He smiled and shrugged. "If we can do so safely, if we think we can contain whatever is inside if it's bad or destructive, then I certainly wouldn't try to stop anyone."

He stood up and stepped back from the cylinder with a gesture to 'go ahead' if that was the group decision.

Gesturing first to the cylinder Cinnabar doesn't seem particularly concerned.
”I don't know about whatever is inside it, but there is only one way to find out. Toss it in and we will find out.”

Then with a few quiet words and a gesture she points at the ground nearby where nobody is standing and a five foot cube bursts into flame and burns without fuel.

Telorn looked at the group and shrugged. "I suppose it's safe enough. Hopefully there is nothing fragile or explosive inside." From his stance you can tell he has a spell ready to be cast.

With the fire crackling, Basilisa cast Mage Hand. She attempted to grasp the cylinder with the spectral hand and set it into Cinnabar’s fire. “May Tymora favor us now!”

Basilisa's mage hand is able to move the lead ingot into the flame. There is just a moment as nothing seems to happen. But then you all can see the grayish white color a portion of the flame turns as the lead begins to slightly burn and melt away.

Everyone waits and watches. After a few moments there is a sudden pop and a flash as the flame turns black and then vanishes. Laying on the floor is a crystalline rod about a foot in length and a couple inches in diameter. You can see what appears to be a faint lights emanating from inside it, slowly shifting and pulsing.


OOC: If everyone would please make a perception roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:33, Mon 25 July 2022.

The crystalline rod elicited a gasp from Basilisa. She stared in rapt silence as she watched the light pulse within. Her mind pored over the snippets of magical lore she’d accumulated over her life in hope of identifying the power at work.

OOC:

20:20, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 12 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 7.  Arcana.
20:20, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 8 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 6.  Perception.

Kel'li's attention is taken by the rod, as she tries to remember if she has seen its like.

Kel'li rolled 15 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 12.  Arcana.
Kel'li rolled 7 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 3.  perception.

Joser has very little formal education, having grown up on the streets.  But, his education on the streets has brought him into contact with many things.  So, he racks his memory to see if he has encountered anything about, or any information about, a similar item.
Unfortunately, it seems likely he has not.

22:04, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 7 using 1d20 with rolls of 7.  History.

22:04, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 10 using 1d20 with rolls of 10.  Arcana. 

Bran watched with curiosity, along with a healthy dose of apprehension, as Basilisa used her magic to put the cylinder in the fire. He wondered if it was too tough for the flames when nothing happened at first. But no, it just took a bit of time!

"wow. beautiful."

Then he racked his brain to if he had heard anything about this before in his religious studies.

"Do you want me to take the time for a detect magic ritual again?"

08:04, Today: Bran Siverlight rolled 13 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 2,10.  Perception.
08:06, Today: Bran Siverlight rolled 14 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 11.  Religion.

Without waiting much more than a second or two Cinnabar reaches down into the flames, which wink out as her hand passes through them, and picks up the crystal rod before it can even grow warm in the fire.

None of you can recall ever hearing any rumor or reading any description of a magical rod that fits with the one you are seeing. Telorn looks on at the rod now exposed and appears about to speak when Cinnabar reaches forward and picks up the rod.

Bran's eyes shifted slightly, then again. A frown marred his face and his eyebrows drew closer together. He started looking around more and more. "Uhhhh...does anyone else see that? Or...feel that?"

He moved closer to the floor where the rod was at. "There are...cracks...the color is fading..."

He stepped back and looked closely at Cinnabar to make sure nothing was happening to her too.

Kel'li took a step back, ready to either bolt or support her 'companions' as needed.

The tension in the room feels like it could be cut with a knife.  Joser looks at the nervous faces and stands up.  With a nod and a small smile, he steps back a couple of feet.

As Cinnabar picks up the rod everyone can see the discoloration and cracks that had begun to form. Those that had noticed it a few moments earlier the low groan you felt immediately ceases.

Cinnabar stops moving and is standing motionless, you can see that her eyes have glazed over.

Telorn looks on with a mix of fascination and concern. "Well this could either be really bad, somewhat good or maybe even neither. Either way I suspect we should stand ready."

Kel'li takes another step backward.

While clearly not passed out Cinnabar does remain focused entirely on the rod, or something it is doing, the occasional flash of expression on her face far more subdued than normal is the only suggestion she is even remotely active any more.

Bran eyed the cracks for a moment longer, checking to make sure they weren't still growing. "Huh. Well. That's strange. We should likely not put it down on the floor again."

He looked over at Cinnabar. "Cinnabar? Are you...alright?" He took a step towards her.

Everyone notices that the room has grown eerily subdued, sounds seem distant and far away. Cinnabar doesn't respond to Brans question. You would think she is paralyzed except for the movement of her eye and various expressions. It is almost like she is elsewhere ore watching something only she can see.

The rod however shifts in color the pulsing growing in frequency. As you all individually debate your next action the rod suddenly glows a brilliant blinding white light. You hear a faint pop followed only a second later by a deafening boom.


Continued in Where are we now?