Bran listened a bit and then gave a small shrug. "My magic does not detect traps, per se, but yes, I can detect magic with a spell." He gestured towards the case, "I assume on that before we open it? Very well. It will take a few minutes." He didn't want to waste spell energy if he didn't have to in their current situation so thought 'wasting' a bit of time would be more preferable.

He then gripped his holy symbol and uttered a quiet prayer to his Goddess, eyes closed and concentrating for about ten minutes.

OOC: Casting Detect Magic as a ritual, not sure if this weird place will cause an issue with that.

Telorn sighed and nodded as he looked over to Joser. "Yes that very thought has crossed my mind. This entanglement is very frustrating and not of my choosing I assure you. Hopeful whatever is in the case will shed some light on the current predicament and things can be set right."

"This evil spirit. None of my scrying has shown anything. What do you know of it?"

“Wait,” Basilisa held out her had to her companions. “We’re not opening that case until Telorn starts opening up with more truthfulness.” She stared at their host. “I commented on your being younger than the first time we met. You brushed over my observation, though. What aren’t you telling us about yourself and our arrival here?”

Telorn sighed and took a seat. "Yes I generally take on various ages and looks when I journey outside this small realm." He paused for a moment gathering his thoughts. "You see when I transported myself back here I only intended to bring you Basillisa, to save you from what I sensed was about to befall the docks of Baldur's Gate. I had no idea that what ever was linking the lot of you would bring all of you along."

"The truth is that I can only leave here once every six tendays. And can only atay away for one day. Generally if I bring visitors I can send them back whenever I wish, but when I tried with your group I failed. Which leaves me to believe that, as Joser pointed out, that I have also become linked to you and your group. Which is problematic to say the least."

"I have made inquiries of several of my allies in various realms and planes. But so far none have proving to be of help. I apologies but until we can figure out how this link or bond works and how to break it I'm afraid you too are stuck here with me."

Bran hadn't wanted to interrupt Basilisa so he waited patiently, but then quietly said, "No magic on the case I can detect." He then listened as Telorn replied to her. He sat up straighter and glanced at Basilisa at what was said, but relaxed slightly when it seemed like there were no ill intentions and in fact that he was trying to save her.

"What befell the docks?" Maybe that had been stated earlier and he had missed it during his ritual casting. He then waved a dismissive hand. "Never mind. Problematic for us all, really. So what is this place? How do you travel and where are we going?"

Never let it be said that Joser never just listens.  He sits down, after grabbing a mug of ale, or whatever is currently available to drink, and falls silent.  His attention is directed at the conversation before him.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:32, Fri 10 June 2022.

Terlorn looked to Bran. "From my studies I believe this place is a portion of a Netherese estate that was jettisoned in to this plane during the cataclysm that befell Nethril. I was investigating the ruined remains of a Netherese site years ago when I came across this strange archway. I must have been triggered it while examining it. I awoke here, since then I can at times think of any place I wish to go and be instantly transported there. But unfortunately as I mentioned earlier there are limitations."


"Since there is no magic emanating from the case. Do you wish to proceed with opening it or should we try further examinations or are there other questions?"

Bran listened as Telorn spoke. Some of it...he didn't understand. Some of it he sort of understood. He thought he vaguely recognized the Nether-named stuff. "Hmm."

He frowned a little, then thought REAL HARD about being back in Baldur's Gate along with his friends. "Once every tenday, only for a day. Sounds...complicated and annoying. Does the transportation aspect only work for you? Have others tried?"

Then he shrugged and glanced at the others, but - barring any objections - he opened the case.

The pirate, somewhat annoyed that Joser had had to 'translate' for him. fumed for a minute while the others went back and forth. He sighed, and reached out to catch Bran's hand when the priest approached the case.

"Oi, 'oly 'un.  Iffin'a box go'in give yee a nasty, best a 'oly 'un 'handy 'n waitin'"  He cautioned, and motioned to the case.  "I'sa a mind mayhaps this be may kin'a mystic, nay 'oly nay hexer."

As he spoke, Blue gestured at the case and slowly slid his blade free.  Assuming no further interruptions, he slid the case a little closer to himself and opened it in place of the healer.

Bran looked over at Blue and blinked a few times. "I caught like...two of those butchered words, I think." He took the case and handed it over to Blue. "But...I think you are wanting to open it instead of me?"

He stepped back.

The case is larger than a standard scroll case being about 3" in diameter and slightly over a foot long. It feels a bit heavier than you would expect. Possibly due to what looks like a cylinder style locking mechanism that encircles the tube about midway and has 8 rings with various symbols etched into them.

Without resorting to magic of some sort, cracking the correct code may prove time consuming.



OOC: The locking portion looks similar to this but with runes instead of letters. Should you wish to try the more mundane method it will require four separate Thieves' tools rolls starting at a DC 15 if missed there is a cumulative +2 on further rolls.

“Umberlee’s Tits! Damn this infernal thing!” Basilisa tried, but fumbled like a novice on all but one attempts. “Shit!”

With a disgusted grunt, she plunked her tools on the table. She looked at Blue & Joser. “I hope one of you has better luck on the damned locks.”


OOC:

Yeah, no.

13:58, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 16 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 11.  DEX w/Thieves Tools.
13:58, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 9 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 4.  DEX w/Thieves Tools.
13:58, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 6 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 1.  DEX w/Thieves Tools.
13:57, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 8 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 3.  DEX w/Thieves Tools.




 

Watching Basilisa take a crack at it Cinnabar pays close attention to the process.  When it is complete she stretches out one short arm and inquires of the other woman.
”Do you mind if I take a look at it?”

Once passed the device she settles in to examine it further, pulls out a set of fine tools from a pouch at her waste and begins manipulating it very carefully, turning it and locking it at each stage of the process.

“By all means,” Basilisa said as Cinnabar worked on the locks. She felt better turning it over to Cinnabar, but would allow anyone who could to try. For expediency’s sake, she hoped that Cinnabar succeeded on the first attempt.

Bran had stayed back while Basilisa had worked on the device, just in case there was any kind of...mishap, but had been ready to dash forward with healing if such was the case. He let out a small sigh when nothing bad happened, but frowned that nothing good had happened either.

He joined Cinnabar in examining the runes and mechanism, but staying just back a bit so as not to crowd her or hopefully make her uncomfortable.

Time seemed to go unnoticed as first Basilisa and then Cinnabar worked on the lock. Finally though it yielded to Cinnabar's efforts. There was a slight pop and a hiss as the case came open.

Terlorn audible breaths a sigh of relief as his posture softens. "Thank the Gods. I was sure something horrible was about to happen."

With the lock disabled the cap slips loose and falls to the table. Inside you can see what appears to be a tube of blueish-white metal which fits snugly inside the case.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:56, Wed 29 June 2022.

Clearly satisfied with the work itself and not particularly interested in the thing inside Cinnabar sets it down in the center of the table she was working on and stands up to move around a bit.

Joser stands up and leans over the table to look more closely at the item.  Wha' is it?  A container o' some kind?  Or jus' a bar o' metal like used fer forgin' weapons or tools?

“Good work, Cinnabar.” Inside the case was a strange metal. Joser brought up a question likely on their minds. “Whatever it is, people have died for it,” Basilisa said, as she stared at the strange metal.

"Well, someone take it out."

Bran smiled and gave Cinnabar's shoulder a quick squeeze. "You are amazing, as always. Thank you."

He peeked inside a little. At the urging and speculation, he gave a shrug and reached inside to pull out what was inside, to make it outside instead.

Bran slips the metal cylinder free of the case, holding it in his hand. Now that it is out into the light you all can see that it is made of lead coated in oil.

Terlorn groans a little, "Well that explains why it wasn't showing any magic."

Apparently whatever is inside the lead is of great enough importance for Nicodemus or someone to go to quite a bit of effort to conceal its magic or someone is playing an elaborate joke on the group.

When Bran pulled out the oil-slick lead cylinder, Basilisa shook her head with an incredulous laugh. “Either the lead is yet another case, or we’re the victims of an elaborate jest.” She chuckled softly as she looked the tube over. “So much trouble for a prank, though. Only the gods would possess such a capricious sense of humor.”

"Well, maybe someone should try opening the lead case?"

Bran shrugged a little. "It only hurts sometimes to check." He smiled.

He will examine the lead cylinder, looking to see if it appears it can be opened and any clues on how to do so. He will then set it down on the table in case others wish to examine it as well.

08:26, Today: Bran Siverlight rolled 17 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 14,14.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:26, Wed 06 July 2022.