Vesta Shadowbane |
Gabriel sees no further cause for alarm as he detects no traps upon the room itself.
Vesta spies multiple magical signatures from many of the books upon the shelves.
"Several of the books radiate magic." Vesta informs the group. "Though if this book we're after is as powerful as I think it is it's magical radiance will be blinding. Plus the only reason they would leave it on a bookshelf is to hide it. In which case they would probablby mask it's aura. Much harder to do if it's an artifacft. Gabriel can you check these books..." Vesta points out the magical ones "...For traps. Even if they're not the right book they could still be useful. You also might want to check the bookshelves as a whole for secret compartments. If stories have taught me anything one of these books is liable to open a secret door somewhere."
Gathroc The Betrayer |
"The former Elf in me is loath to make this statement, but the warrior and general I am knows that we should probably destroy whatever books we decide not to take with us. Knowledge is most definitely power, so to rob our enemies of their knowledge is to greatly dimish their power. I shall look for books of a more mundane interest to myself." Gathroc will scour the shelves for any books dealing with military history, war strategy and anything to do with combating magical foes be it summoned ones, created ones or other spellcasters. 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (18) + 23 = 41 Perception
Daemon Son-of-none |
I will scour the books and desks in the room with my detect magic on, searching for interesting books or doors that lead to better protected areas, since I figure the book is likely to be hidden somewhere if it is still here at all.
Perception 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (20) + 25 = 45
Gabriel Helminth |
Of course.
Gabriel inspects the indicated books...
Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33 + 4 Vs. Traps
Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37 + 4 Vs. Traps
Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25 + 4 Vs. Traps
Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38 + 4 Vs. Traps
Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28 + 4 Vs. Traps
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Daemon moves to the desk at the rear of the room and finds that the desks are reasonably bare. Though the larger one does hold some articles for writing and a large plainly bound book that is labelled Ledger.
Gathroc finds a number of mundane tomes on tactics and history - but none that fit the description of that which you were requested to seek. For a reconfirmation - are you tossing books into Vesta's portable hole?
Gabriel finds nothing awry with the indicated books, but none of them appear to be what the Shadow Claw is seeking. Most appear to be personal spellbooks that were passed into the library when their owners no longer needed them... but one appears to be a treatise on the magical working of wood into golem-shape.
There are no other exits from the library apart from the one you entered, and you can discern no secret compartments or doors.
As a quick re-cap - you are seeking a book that holds the written history of the Gnomish Wizard's order... not necessarily magical.
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
The ledger is thick and the writing within is in a clipped though precise style. Gabriel flicks to the back and is able to find a reference as follows:
Annal of Order of Iron; Deacon Paeldran
As best you can gauge the book you seek was checked out recently by one of the high priests.
Gathroc The Betrayer |
Gathroc will toss whatever books of interest he finds into Vesta's portable hole. Once Gabriel reports his findings, he looks around the room "It would be best to destroy the rest of this library, but I am not certain how best to accomplish that without giving away our presence." He hefts his sword and readies himself for what he believes will be an upcoming battle. "Now then, does that handy ledger list to whom the book was loaned out to, and where that person resides? I do not wish to rap on every door looking for this book"
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Searching amongst the remainder of the accoutrements on the desk you also find a partial layout of the cathedral. It indicates that the chamber you seek is on the highest level of the inner chambers you are currently in.
Unlike most of the clergy, it appears as though the Deacon resides in amongst the monastic chambers - and not in the general living quarters.
If you are finished here, you can make a beeline for the chamber - or continue exploring?
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
The party makes their exit from the library and follows the path laid out to move towards the Deacon's chambers. After a few minutes padding quietly through stone corridors and wooden staircases you stand at the end of a corridor where you are sure that the door at the end leads to the Deacon's bedchamber.
About thirty feet in front of you is a heavy and solid iron door, and judging by the mechanism on it's side you gauge it surely locked.
Vesta Shadowbane |
** spoiler omitted **
The party makes their exit from the library and follows the path laid out to move towards the Deacon's chambers. After a few minutes padding quietly through stone corridors and wooden staircases you stand at the end of a corridor where you are sure that the door at the end leads to the Deacon's bedchamber.
About thirty feet in front of you is a heavy and solid iron door, and judging by the mechanism on it's side you gauge it surely locked.
Detect magic
Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23Vesta Shadowbane |
The door itself is non-magical, but your arcane sight is unable to penetrate it. Similarly you gauge that any insulation around the door is effective enough to prevent you hearing beyond it.
For reference, Vesta - please remind me if you're still in guard form or ghost form?
In the guard until I have reason to ditch it.... Actually now that I think about it I would have had to ditch the body to get the body to get the portable hole out and put it away. I suppose I would have had a cohort hold him quiet while I did that then re-posess him.
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
The heavy door swings open as Vesta's guard form grunts with exertion. The chamber beyond is a rectangular room roughly 40ft x 30ft and you are entering on a short side. It is well lit, from torch sconces along both walls and facing you at the opposite end of the chamber is a middle aged human male in a simple grey robe. He is seated on a wooden chair in front of a second wooden door and there is a sidetable beside him. A book lies atop the sidetable.
Fingers drumming the silver scimitar across his knees he regards you with eyes that have the edge of cold iron. Not speaking, though clearly aware of your presence, he waits.
Is everyone entering the room?
From this point, please indicate actions but leave the resolution open.
Lastly, I'm marking time - so post roughly a rounds worth of actions at a time please (you can always indicate what you might do moving forward - but this scene will play out tactically until resolved or combat breaks out...)
Vesta Shadowbane |
"Sir, I was told to fetch you. There is something in the reliquary that requires your attention. They wouldn't tell me what. I was told only one such as yourself could understand." Vesta says's with a little bow as a kind of apology for the interruption.
Bluff 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Via telepathy " Get ready to jump him." Vesta also relays the room setup as described by the DM via telepathy.
Vesta Shadowbane |
Spitting to his side, the man replies disdainfully "Do not waste my time with parlour games spirit. I know what you are..."
"Alright then."
Vesta Casts haste on herself and her companions.
Via telepathy to her companions "Sic em!"
Gathroc The Betrayer |
Gathroc steps into view of the man, but remains outside the chamber, for the moment. "We seek a book, nothing more, nothing less. If you know who we are, you probably know we could have wrought considerable havoc and carnage on our way to you, yet we did not. We do not wish a pitched battle, just to obtain the journal we were tasked with finding. Long before I became as I am now, I was a mighty general of the Elven armies. If we were to battle now, it would not go well, for all involved. While I know not who you are, you calm demeanor and poise means you are probably a rather competent warrior or agent of the divine, possibly even both. Let us attempt to resolve this, without bloodshed and the cost of lives, on either side."
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 Diplomacy or Bluff
1d20 + 23 ⇒ (13) + 23 = 36 Perception to see if there's anything out of the ordinary about this man or to see if there's anybody or anything else in the room, beyond the obvious.
Vesta Shadowbane |
FYI: Next week I have my comprehensive final for my masters program. Essentially it's a huge paper that I should be spending every waking moment on. Assuming I do what I should, I won't be on the boards very much. I'll probably still check in during work, but not much else. Just know I've not disappeared, but am just really busy.
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Gathroc - I've gone with the assumption that the first attempt is a genuine Diplomacy.
You put up your roll with an or - but it doesn't work that way. You need to explicitly state if you're lying / misdirecting outright (Bluff), or if you are genuinely attempting to influence in good faith (Diplomacy).
The aged man responds "I am the Deacon, and you should know that after you toppled Thispindix's tower, he made for here soon after. I share your opinion that a battle would not end well... for any of us - but forgive me that I take umbrage when my faithful are slain." with a momentary tightening of his brow as though in thought, his right hand lights up with divine fire.
"I would hear who sent you and what it is you seek between these pages, and if I think that you are lying... I will burn the book." he fires his gaze at your group and sets his jaw in stubborn resolve.
There is an inkling that you might be able to talk through this without bloodshed...
Gathroc The Betrayer |
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31 Sense Motive
Via telepathy He is a bit worried about having to actually face us in combat. I might be able to resolve this without blooshed. Though perhaps if do, we can kill him regardless. What do you think?
Out loud "Deacon..?" Gathroc begins, then pauses, seeing if the man will provide his name.
Vesta Shadowbane |
"Are we sure that's the book?" Vesta asks telepathically
Vesta readies an action to telikinetically disarm the book and pull it towards her.
How confident am I that he is threatening the book we're after?
Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Gathroc (through his sense motive) would have gotten a strong sense that the man is not lying and is being honest.
To Daemon: "I'm afraid you'll need be more forthcoming to stay my hand" beginning to make it ever so slowly descend towards the book "Now, who sent you and what is so important within here that you would risk the wrath of the Lambent Citadel?" clearly getting impatient with half answers.
Just reminding that you can attempt to bluff - but that will need a skill roll in support and has consequences if he sees through it.
Vesta Shadowbane |
How do you know?
No seriously, how do you know that? From what I see, nothing definite was said about if this was the book we seek or not
i think because I misread my spoiler
"Vesta:
From this range and without a spine label you are sure that it is a book, but not of content.
Gathroc (through his sense motive) would have gotten a strong sense that the man is not lying and is being honest."