GM Kyshkumen's PFS 5-11: Library of the Lion Beta (Inactive)

Game Master Kyshkumen

Tal heads for the Northern (smaller) room and starts leafing through books.
Linguistics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"Some of the books in here might be very useful to us, guys..." he calls softly to those in the other room.

Checking his watch, Robert replies to Kyrie's query. "We've got just less than 45 minutes remaining." After Kyrie found the card catalog, he smirks behind his balaclava. "See, I knew there should have been a card catalog..."

He quickly writes down the positions and descriptions of the four portraits of the prince.

So, thoughts?
??? - dour portrait is affixed to the south wall
Lion Crowned or pounce - hangs to the east, surveying everything in the room with magisterial authority
Flag, pounce, roar - West hangs a portrait wearing an especially smug grin
Lion Straining - a stoic portrait (north? it didn't mention direction)

Seeing Taa head towards the next room, Robert follows and thinks on the puzzle as he works.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 8 + (2) = 28

Searching the classroom for clues you find two useful pieces of information.

Lucia sits in the (hallway?) mulling over all the clues in her head, knowing she isn't much help in the actual search.

"Anything of interest my companions? Time seems to be running short, no?"

Robert may be busy again and I am sure he would share what he found. So go ahead and look at the spoiler.

"Hmm... fascinating. Do you believe there are similar engravings on the other portraits we have found?"

"I'm positive that there are. I'm certain that the positions and engravings have to do with the lion statues. What they do, I don't know, but I think we should figure it out before proceeding further. The only problem would be how do we find out the engraving in the caretaker's room? Come up with an excuse to bother her again?"

Yeah I was busy, sorry... The joys of being a VC...
.
Lion Scroll - dour portrait is affixed to the south wall "To serve Taldor, I must first learn the history of Taldor"
lion straining - hangs to the east, surveying everything in the room with magisterial authority "Persevere, persevere, persevere!"
- West hangs a portrait wearing an especially smug grin " "
- a stoic portrait (north? it didn't mention direction) " "

"Yes, Señor Smythe, I believe that is the best course of action."

If no one else objects, I'll try to take care of that since I have a decent Bluff.

"Agreed" Lucia says, standing up to join the others.

While Vassago works his magic on the blind woman did anyone want to go check on the other portrait?

Well, we'll have to go through that room on the way to the lions anyway...

Just trying to get something else out of the way until Vassago can post again.

The portrait of in the office reads,"A cunning lie is never told twice."

"I don't know about the rest of you but this place has got me stumped." Lucia says throwing her arms in the air.

Heading back to the caretaker's room, Vassago knocks and awaits a response before continue. "Pardon me, mademoiselle, but I wanted to take a look at the portrait in corner. I'm curious about the artist."
Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Nope, let's try that again.
Bluff w/ GM Reroll: 1d20 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 3 = 20

"Oh that's fine please go right ahead, I take it you saw the other two in the classroom and the recital room as well?"

This one reads "In the end, loyalty is its own reward."

Once Vassago informs them of the phrase Robert writes it with the others. "Ok here's what I've got... Any thoughts, think any should be different? Also, we'll have to figure out an order. Was the caretaker's portrait on the north wall Vassago? If so, I'm thinking in order from north to west?"

Lion Scroll - dour portrait is affixed to the south wall "To serve Taldor, I must first learn the history of Taldor"
Straining Lion - hangs to the east, surveying everything in the room with magisterial authority "Persevere, persevere, persevere!"
Crouching Lion - West hangs a portrait wearing an especially smug grin "A cunning lie is never told twice"
Flag Lion - a stoic portrait (north? it didn't mention direction) "In the end, loyalty is its own reward."
.
Crouches as if preparing to ambush it's prey
Roaring as it leaps at prey
Wears a yoke that is chained to a large block that the lion strains to pull
Wears a tiny pair of spectacles and reads from an ornate scroll
Draped in the flag of Taldor
Sits erect and wears a crown.

Is there anything else on the statues themselves?

The last portrait was on the south wall, There is nothing else on the lion statues.

Going to give you all another day but decisions need to be made.

Understandable; I'm trying to get other people's input. I'll post something by this afternoon regardless if there's anything else brought up.

Ok, after taking some time and looking things over again, I think I have it.

"Hmmm... I just noticed something... The engravings... Three of them seem to have a number or position in them. 'I must FIRST learn', 'never told TWICE', and 'In the End'. The other just has the same word three times, which would make them first, twice, three, and end." He looks around at the others, "Any objections if I put my guesses in that order?"

Since others haven't posted any other help, I'll assume not and go ahead and put them in that order. So, scroll lion, crouching lion, straining lion, and flag lion

Robert places the statues and there is a loud clicking sound from the door. It would appear that was the correct order and the door is safe to open. Robert opens the door and sees chests of expert craftsmanship line walls, and on the far side of the room stand two bookshelves burdened with yellow-paged tomes and sundry ancient trinkets. Banners and tapestries cover nearly every inch of the walls each representing long-dead nations or depicting conflicts left not chronicled.

Rubbing his hands together at the sight of the treasure trove of knowledge and history, Robert leads the group into the vault. "Well, let's get to searching, shall we. And please, everyone be careful not to damage anything..."

Knowledge History: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 8 + (4) = 30

More then enough to get both clues I will post them up later.

Completely missed that, I guess that's why you're the investigator!

"¡Muy excellente, Robert!", exclaims the ifrit upon Robert's mental magic.

Moving into the room, Vassago more than happily aids his companion sorting through the tomes and scrolls.
Kn: History to aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Nope... le sigh

Completely missed that, I guess that's why you're the investigator!

There are a lot of items here that are valuable due to their nature or age but nothing sparkly like gold or jewels.

This is the final room so if there is anything else you wish to do here go ahead. After that you just need to retrace how you leave the library. I also added the details for the last two clues you found.

"Did we find what our mysterious patron was looking for?"

"Yes, looks like she wants information on how to succeed daddy..." He quickly looks at his watch. "Ok, we've got about 10 minutes before we need to be back. Let's take our time, make sure everything is put back in place and get back to the library... the other one."

Kyrie nods and starts replacing the books, then helps Robert clean up.

Upon Robert's instructions, the bard will arrange the statues as they were before entering the hidden room. Not much he can do about the bloody swarm of books though...

"Finally we can get out of this place! I wish I could have been more help in here." Lucia says, as she helps to restore the library to it's prior state.

Before departing, Vassago will also bid farewell to the talking lion mantle. "Adios, Señon Leon.", bowing to the beastly figurehead.

"Farewell, I hope you found what you were looking for."

"We believe so," Kyrie replies as she passes the mantle. "Only time will be able to tell whether it will be enough."

After cleaning up as best you can you find yourself back in the upstairs library with about 2 minutes to spare. Still sitting in front of books and appearing to study them are the copies of each of you.

"Excellent, I can hear the rest of the finale!", Vassago exclaims, removing his card and opening the book to near the end of A Review of Taldan Dukes and Duchesses, Vol 2.

"We had very good timing, well done, friends. Let's return to Lady Morilla and try to determine what we've actually discovered, because I still can't make heads or tails of the information we've gathered."

"Me either! I'm just glad we can finally get out of here!"

Kyrie nods as she slips her card into a pocket, then 'resumes' her study of Lion Triumphant: Glorious Victories of the Taldor during the Third Crusade, Volume 3. "If nothing else, this has been educational."

Giving one last look at his pocketwatch, he puts it away and nods in satisfaction. "Well done everyone. I think we found everything we came for and more. Let's wrap up hear and head back, shall we?" He reaches down and pulls the card out from under the chair his double had been sitting in and pockets it like the rest have.

As the concert comes to a finish the librarian pokes his head in as Taalaako and Lucia's copies flicker out, causing him to blink and rub his eyes unsure of what he saw. "The library is closing so feel free to finish up what you are doing and put your books away." After shelving your books you are able to walk out of the academy without further incident. vEnture captain Mueseelo greets you back at the lodge asking what you learned. He is very impressed with the information gathered on the Shining Crusade and sends the info to the Grand Lodge immediately. He congratulates you on a job well done as the local authorities have not been put on alert yet and comments on how the info you found will be studied and sent off to aid Mendev as soon as possible.

Thanks for playing everyone and apologies for the slow pace. I hope you all had fun and I will get chronicles out tomorrow. You didn't do great on the deception points but you got enough of the secondary conditions for the second prestige point.

Well that's a relief, I didn't think we'd make it. Sorry for my lack of skills everybody, probably could have made this a lot quicker.

Well, each scenario is different. This one is for the skill monkeys and the Knowledgers, but there are plenty others where Ninjas can do what Ninjas do.