GM Lorenzo's #6–15: The Overflow Archives (Tier 4-5) PbP Gameday VI Session II (Inactive)

Game Master Lawrence Smith 2

Taking 10 out-of-combat on Acrobatics, Swim and most other skill checks is fine. You'll have to roll in combat encounters.

The party makes its way down to the Understacks. The gripplis have darkvision and can make out the black-and-white rendered central chamber. The rest of the party uses the light sources at their disposal, either mundane, spells or enchanted items.

The party spots a faintly glowing, vaguely humanoid shape near a shelf at the far north end of the library. It murmurs something unintelligible in a soft voice.

Nixie and Ebonwolf are detecting magic and can try to identify the aura (DC15) or spell effect (DC20).

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Apparently, I took ten! Also, Nixie also has darkvision.

She comes up and tells people, "There is an aura of evocation and illusion coming from that glowing figure. Either it's a spell, or under one." She then again swims below the surface towards the glow, keeping her eyes open.

The Lady Catherine moves forward as well, moving along the tops of the shelves and then pausing to jump from one shelf to the next.

Take 10, Acrobatics to balance is 12, long jump is 13. She has the Jumper racial trait and is considered to always have a running start when jumping.

Behind you, a large strange bird, unlike any avian creature you've ever seen, erupts from beneath the surface of water. Its massive beak opens and looses a hunter's cry and the stench of the grave. Its dead eyes fixate on the area of the strange, glowing figure at the far north end of the Understacks.

Map and Images

The Albatross and the Owl shriek like shawties at a Justin Bieber concert and duck behind the cover of the adjacent stacks, "Wings, don't fail me now!"

Round 1
Bold may act.

Nixie Attwater
Kaya Yoshida
Corona Merrion
Ebonwolf Metalbender
---
The Bird
The Worm
---
"Princess" Tiffany
The Lady Catherine de Bourg
Mr. Collins

Nixie, Kaya, Corona, and Ebonwolf, you're up!

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
"I be think'n thats a distraction!! Its Dancing Lights and Ghost Sound!" Ebonwolf prepares to defend against any attacks from some angler fish they might see. "I dont think were in the stacks any more! We'n might be inna book with the the craziness."

-=-=-=-=-=-
Splash Splash Sqwak Sqwak
-=-=-=-=-=-
"Wha in the world is tha?"
Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
"I think its undead" Muttering a prayer under his lips to Torag hefting is Waraxe high into the air the Holy Symbol tattoo on the back of his right hand glows brightly as a wave of Holy energy meant to harm undead ripples out from him.
Channel Positive to Harm undead DC 14 for half
Torag's wrathful Light!: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Special Abilities, please!

"Sometimes you wonder, 'Nixie, can you hack it?
Why'd you got a voidworm lurking in your jacket?'
It's chaotic, extraplanar,
Protean, and a shape-changer
But more importantly, it's here with me
So come quick and whack it!"

Ear Peircing Scream: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

She shrieks at the voidworm, and then dives to the bottom of the water, hoping to shake it off.

___
She hasn't figured out that if they can survive in vaccuum, a little water won't phase them.

Kn. Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"Zounds!" Corona exclaims, turning as the horrible bird-monster-thing surges up out of the water directly behind her. "It's like someone took the biggest, baddest giant vulture they could find and drowned it and then turned it into a zombie!"

As best as she can, she takes a halting step back and flicks her wrist, causing a small wand to drop into her hand. She waves it in an arc over the party, bestowing a small blessing upon them all.
______

I'm operating under the assumption that those of us who wanted to get on top of the shelves have done so but if not, I'll adjust my action as necessary. For now, Corona takes a five foot step back and uses her wand of Bless (39 charges remaining).

Kaya winced at the sudden shift in lighting, but moved with the group, looking around them in case of an assault. What they were instead faced with was aptly described by the oracle - a giant, ugly vulture. "That's --" Kaya wrinkles her nose. "That's just foul." She mutters at the plain downright awkwardness of it all - and a voidworm, too, if what Nixie was singing out was true.

Well, if it wanted to be sneaky... Two could play at that, right? She didn't have the ability to deal with the worm - yet - but she could at least help with their rather larger opponent. She slipped between bookcases, moving carefully and as quietly as she could manage through the water. The best place for her, after all, was behind the enemy.
Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Swim: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 Not actually sure I can do both in the same move, but I'll go with which ever gives me the greater movement if they're exclusive.

From their hideaway in the stacks, the Albatross and the Owl cackle with terrified delight at Kaya's pun, "Foul. Fowl. The foxgirl is hilarious!"

The undead juju zombie giant vulture doesn't laugh. It slams into Nixie and pecks at the squirming lump beneath her jacket.
Slam: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 251d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Bite: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 211d8 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Nixie knows a voidworm can change shape into a tiny viper or weasel (as per beast shape II), and it has the supernatural ability to confuse a creature struck by its tail slap, (DC14 Will save or become confused for 1 round. This is a mind-affecting effect. The save DC is Charisma-based).

Nixie feels the voidworm slither around insider her jacket, "Please don't hurt me! Save me from the nasty Bird!"

Map and Images

Round 1
Bold may act.

Nixie Attwater (-14)
Kaya Yoshida
Corona Merrion
Ebonwolf Metalbender
---
The Bird
The Worm
---
"Princess" Tiffany
The Lady Catherine de Bourg
Mr. Collins

Tiffany, Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins, you're up!

"Yeah, I'm agreeing with Mister Worm over there, Nixie," Tiffany says, pointing at the undine as she pulls out a net. "Don't squash him, he's totally going to make a tasty dinner once we're done! As for you, bone bird, how about we screw with your wings just a bit? That'll make you far less scary!" With a coy smile, Tiffany tosses her net across at the creature.

Net adept, melee reach vs touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

... Yet she finds her confidence wavers as she nets some water and floating parchment - little else. "$#!@#"

I am confused by the results you have listed for Nixie. Since she went underwater, shouldn’t the Vulture have to deal with either Cover or Improved Cover? Either would make the second attack miss.
The hit point total listed also confuses me. If she took both hits, it would be 15+9=24 damage or 9/2 + 15 = 19 damage if the Vulture takes the penalties from table 13-7 of CRB.

Could we please get a clarification on this?

Mr. Collins was left upstairs and will not be acting in any combats in the basement.

Lady Catherine sees how badly the attacks have hurt Nixie. She shouts out “Nixie, retreat past me! I will be able to attack the dirty bird when it follows you!”

Free action to talk. Ready action to attack the bird as it (hopefully) goes past. Since I did not move, I can take a 5’ step as part of the readied action to get the attack.

Readied Attack, Mwk Longsword, Power Attack, Bless, Higher Ground?: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 27
Longsword Power Attack damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Attack of Opportunity?, Mwk Longsword, Power Attack, Bless, Higher Ground?: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 25
Longsword Power Attack damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

24 damage, unless Lady Catherine is right and the second attack missed. I’m at 3 hit points now. .

The worm’s cry for protection makes Nixie pause. She can’t bring herself to kill it, even though her life is in danger. “Very well, let’s get out of here then! But you have to help us... Deal?” Not waiting for the reply, she full withdraws, swimming past Lady Catherine like her life depended on it.

Thanks for noting the errors. Please forgive me. I've amended the actions thus far. Please let me know if I've missed anything. Posting right after an international flight through the night was a mistake. ;-)

Will Save, Channel Resistance: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 4 = 27 Ebonwolf flips the Bird the back of his hand, and the undead juju zombie giant vulture shudders in the shockwave of Torag's wrathful light.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 Obsessed with catching its voidworm prey, the Bird fails to notice Kaya sneak up behind it.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 The voidworm is dazed, but otherwise resists the sonic damage of Nixie's ear-piercing scream.

Swimming near the bottom of the flooded Understacks, Nixie evades both the Bird's attacks through the deep water. The Bird shrieks in hungry frustration.

Nixie swims away from the Bird, putting some distance between her and the threat.

"Princess" Tiffany tosses her net, snagging water and some fragments of parchment.

Lady Catherine readies to strike the Bird, if it moves past her.

Map and Images

Round 1
Bold may act.

Nixie Attwater
Kaya Yoshida
Corona Merrion
Ebonwolf Metalbender
---
The Bird (-4)
The Worm (dazed)
---
"Princess" Tiffany
The Lady Catherine de Bourg
Mr. Collins (upstairs)

Nixie, Kaya, Corona, and Ebonwolf, you're up!

I believe Nixie swimming away was part of the most recent action, so she should not be listed as bold. Her first round action was the Ear Piercing Scream.

Thanks for making the corrections!

Nixie, having evaded the Bird's attacks in Round 1, you're free to amend your actions this round; withdraw if you still want to, or, unwounded, choose to do something else.

Map and Images

Round 2
Bold may act.

Nixie Attwater
Kaya Yoshida
Corona Merrion
Ebonwolf Metalbender
---
The Bird (-4)
The Worm (dazed)
---
"Princess" Tiffany
The Lady Catherine de Bourg
Mr. Collins (upstairs)

Nixie, Kaya, Corona, and Ebonwolf, you're up!

"Hey! You leave her alone you overgrown chicken!" Corona cries as the bird attempts to give chase after Nixie but finds itself foiled by the water. She draws her longspear and...

Fabulous Retcon

Taking advantage of the cover provided by the water, Nixie swims past Lady Catherine and then surfaces to sing.

♪ The vultures are always deader
Following the dog-cat’s trail
With the worm it’s a double header
And fractured fairy tale
Just look at the stacks around you
Where all the water spills
The fey surround you
Yeah, we’re soaked to the gills

A wet li-brar-y
A wet li-brar-y
The vultures are deader
Where it is wetter
Just come and see
A wonderland to play
If that bird we can slay
So I am bait
Can you relate?
A wet li-brar-y ♪

Inspire Courage

We will resume play on October 27.

Map and Images

Corona, having earlier bestowed a blessing upon the party, thrusts at the Bird with her cold iron longspear. Although her aim is true, the Bird shrugs off the blow.

Nixie pokes her head out of the water and launches into an inspiring dubstep ballad.

Conditions:
Inspire Courage Allies receive a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Bless Allies gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.

Round 2
Bold may act.

Nixie Attwater
Kaya Yoshida
Corona Merrion
Ebonwolf Metalbender
---
The Bird (-4)
The Worm (dazed)
---
"Princess" Tiffany
The Lady Catherine de Bourg (Readied Action)
Mr. Collins (upstairs)

Kaya and Ebonwolf, you're up!

Kaya and Ebonwolf, you're up!

Ebonwolf takes a swing at the giant undead chicken wondering to himself This has been quite uninteresting so far. I wonder what I'll see next.

Mwk Dwarven Waraxe, Bless, Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 14
Slashing, IC: 1d10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Hidden in shadow, Kaya slips through the water and around one of the stacks.

She sneaks up behind the oblivious, out-sized Bird and thrusts with her rapier. Kaya utters a vixen's curse as her blade misses her target.
Attack, Flank, Sneak Attack, Bless, Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 161d6 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (1, 5) = 8

The Bird releases another hunter's shriek, and clumsy wings beat at the air as the Bird pursues the Worm.

Kaya, Corona, Ebonwolf, and "Princess" Tiffany, you may make your attacks of opportunity.

(If it makes it that far... ) The Lady Catherine's longsword slashes once, twice, slicing off juicy slabs of putrified flesh like a matron at a Zombie Thanksgiving Dinner, dark meat falling away to baste in the flooded Understacks.

Map and Images

Conditions:
Inspire Courage Allies receive a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Bless Allies gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.

Round 2
Bold may act.

Nixie Attwater
Kaya Yoshida
Corona Merrion
Ebonwolf Metalbender
The Lady Catherine de Bourg
---
The Bird (-22)
The Worm (dazed)
---
"Princess" Tiffany
Mr. Collins (upstairs)

"Don't let it pass!!" Ebonwolf yells as the decaying bird moves away.

Mwk Dwarven Waraxe, Bless, Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 12
Slashing, IC: 1d10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 1 = 11

AoO, Net, melee reach, bless, IC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 29
Tiffany holds her net, a wide, threaded sheet with pink bowties tied into it, with both style and grace, first whipping it around her head like a lasso and then tossing it into the air and around the bird's head. "AH HA! GOTCHA!" She exclaims, sticking her tongue out at the feathered friend.

"Oh, oh! He's trying to fly the coop!" Corona yelps as she instinctively jabs at the bird with her longspear. "Stop right there, you overgrown buzzard!"

AoO vs. Big Bird (Cold Iron Longspear; Bless, IC): 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8

With a loud splash, the Bird launches its carcass into the air, saltwater dripping from its undead feathers.

Ebonwolf swings his waraxe, misses the Bird, and his follow-through nearly beheads Corona.

"Princess" Tiffany tosses her net, entangling the Bird about the neck and shoulders.

Corona spits the hampered Bird on the end of her longspear.

The powerful Bird strains against the net, determined to catch the Worm. Its clumsy wings beat down, knocking against the stacks. It lifts the royal grippli, struggling to hold on to the net's trailing line, up and up and away.

"Princess" Tiffany parasails toward Nixie, emitting gleeful croaks and other noises normally not associated with a lady of refinement.

The Bird careens toward it prey, talons outstretched, grasping for the Worm.

Until Lady Catherine delivers her air defense artillery. The dead Bird crashes into the water, and "Princess" Tiffany skids to halt, settling comfortably into her wet element.

Combat over! You've saved the dazed Worm!

The Worm recovers from its momentary daze, pokes it head out of Nixie's jacket, and seems satisfied the Bird is truly dead. It looks around at each of you, trying to decide if you're a threat as well.

"I'm a voidworm, so I'm curious. Especially about how each of you tastes."

It opens its mouth, sharp little teeth gleaming. Maybe it's smiling...

"Wouldn't it be much more interesting for the worm to eat the bird?" Lady Catherine asks. I really hope this thing is into unique experiences!

Pointing with her sword, she says "There is a very nice slice right there! I bet the flavor is much more unusual than any of us."

Diplomacy, Aid Another (by giving a good lead in) if allowed: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

The aid would be for whomever does a normal diplomacy roll next.

"Hello, Little New Friend," Corona waves at the Worm, returning its curious gaze with an equally curious one of her own. "Do your people normally taste each other to say hello?" she asks innocently. "Not to be rude, but I don't know that any of us would taste especially good."

Diplomacy (Aid Another): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Diplomacy + Aid Anothers: 10 + 13 + 2 + 2 = 27

Nixie opens her jacket so that the worm can look around. “I know we started on the wrong fin, but you need to know about land creatures. They really don’t start negotiations by eating each other. If you don’t like eating undead carrion eaters... And I must admit, that doesn’t appeal to me much either, would you like some pickled herring? It’s a land dish that turned out to surprisingly good in a oily-salty way.” Nixie pulls out her rations, including some soggy crackers and the intact jar of herring. “I’m always fascinated about how land people make their meals, especially when they eat food from the sea.”

The obsequious Owl and the accommodating Albatross present themselves to the Worm with a pair of synchronized, deep bows. ""You're famished, we're sure, but these creatures, each one, are simply too sweet to eat."

The Worm licks Nixie's wrist with a raspy forked tongue. "I am indeed quite hungry, but alas, hyperglycemic as well. Doc says I got to watch my insulin levels. Has me on an extraplanar paleo high protean diet alchemically engineered specifically for advanced voidworms like myself."

The Worm darts through the air to the fallen juju zombie giant vulture, in mid-flight opening his impossibly huge maw to snatch the hunk of meat proffered by the Lady Catherine. He swallows the flesh in one gulp, and it slides down the Worm's length, like stuffing a sausage. He lands face-first on the Bird and tears into the creature with a frenzied fastidiousness.

The deep water and waterlogged texts make recovering anything of value here particularly challenging.

Detect Magic Radar activated. Beep Beep Beep.

"Oi. I think I found somethin'. Looks ta be a few scrolls of some kind. Lets see what they might'n be. Cast: Read MagicPulling out a set of reading glasses affixing them to his nose Ebonwolf reads "I believe this is a Magic Circle against Chaos, Could come in handy with some others less than egregious folk. Ooo and this be one of slow, and the final is Arcane Sight i believe. Sadly I be only able to cast this here Magic Circle one the others are outside my learn'ns." Ebonwolf offers up all three scrolls to any who wish to take them for use later.

"Uhhh, you're hungry?" Tiffany unravels the net, a cross look on her face after realizing the bird's trek through the room caused some of the bowties to fall off. "Dude, you're totally a worm. Do you know what I am? Have you heard of this thing called the food chain? You seem to have it backwards, man, and I haven't eaten in a few hours now..." Her eyes wide, she looks at the voidworm menacingly, then stops and carefully considers the textural elements of extraplanar worms. Tiffany thinks hard about how her bowels might react to the dimensional mix, especially while swimming.

"Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum." The Worm gorges himself.

Your explorations of the area reveal passages leading to the northeast and northwest as well as to the southeast and southwest.

Where would you like to explore next, NE, NW, SE, or SW?

"Oh! Why, I didn't know you wore glasses New Friend Ebonwolf," Corona smiles, peering intently at the half-orc as he attempts to study the scrolls. "I like them! It's a good look for you."

She peers curiously at the scrolls once Ebonwolf explains what they are and what they do. "Neato! But that Magic Circle one is the only one that makes much sense to me. Maybe Nixie or Kaya could make sense of the others."

"As for which way to go, it's obvious! We should go left," she adds, indicating what would be the northwest and southwest passages with a vague wave of her hand. "Always go left and if there's no left, just turn yourself around until right turns into left. It's luckier that way!"

Placing the spectacle back into the protective case them came out of Ebonwolf continues conversation with Corona "Aye, I had no need fer'm until I hit the age o' eighteen, err was it nineteen, anywho yes I must wear'm when I read and my day to day but on an adventure I tend to keep them tucked away fer safety. Nothin' worse than a cracked lens." hearing Corona's explanation of the proper directions he adds "Ain't been hearing anything more truthful sounded yet. Seems like we're head'n left. Might i suggest the closest one." Ebonwolf starts hopping the stacks towards the southwest passage.

“Sounds good to me!” Nixie waves farewell to the worm, and takes off in the direction that Ebonwolf indicated.

Good! I'm glad they were able to convince that worm. It seems that the Fey Nixie Fan Club has some value. No need to tell them that, though. In my limited experience, Fey tend to have much too high an opinion of themselves as it is.

Almost has high an opinion of themselves as Lady C has of herself! :)

Lady Catherine will follow as far as she is able from the top of the shelves.

When she needs to, she will swim through the water until she can find another place to climb back out.

"If Corona says left, then left it is! She's always right! Ha ha, get it? Let's go! La la la," Tiffany happily and hoppily marches along the shelves. "Hey Lady C, how did you become The Lady Catherine de Bourgh? Wickedly cool title and all. Totally regal. I'm kinda J-E-A-lous, I can admit, but I can tell it's definitely fitting... Your Excellency." She bows.

“Oh, I am not the leader of a country or anything!” She gives a dismissive wave of her hand. “My other responsibilities would never give me time for that!”

Hopping to the next set of shelves, she then starts her explanation.

“I was doing my part to defend Absalom from an attack. When House Arpadors saw what I was doing, it naturally caught their attention — as well they should have!” She smiles brightly at this.

“After order was restored, dear Martin invited me to his estate in Taldor for dinner. He has become a fan of my work. Recognizing my charm and elegance, he later offered me a title with his noble house.”

With great pride, she says “Thus I became Lady Catherine de Bourgh of House Arpadors.” She gives a short bow.

Then she leaps to the next set of shelves.

Trusting Corona Merrion's oracular instincts and homespun logic, the Mötley Crüe hops, sloshes, slogs, and swims its way through the left, er, southwest corner of the Understacks, until they reach a door marked, "Dictionarium," in an official-looking, alien font known in the Dark Archives as "Alte Schwabacher."

The door is secured with a simple lock.

"Do we have any masters of unlocking here?" Corona asks, pausing for a moment to wring some water out of her undershirt. "Or do we get to have fun smashing the lock? I've got a mace if we have to do some smashing," she offers brightly.

“My dear Corona, I do believe we were charged to fix things — not break them. If we can’t open the door without damaging it, shouldn’t we send someone to fetch the key?”

The dark-eyed kitsune Kaya Yoshida steps forward in the waist-deep water, silent in her well-oiled leathers.

She scrutinizes the door and the lock with a professional eye. A slight frown creases her brow. She whispers "It doesn't seem to be trapped, but the door forms a seal against all this water. It's going to rush into the room when we open it."
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

She pulls a leather kit from her belt, unwraps the trifold bundle, extracts a torsion wrench and a snake rake, inserts them in the lock. A ghost of a smile appears on her stoic face when she hears a satisfying click.
Disable Device: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

She steps back to permit someone else to open the door.

Nixie looks up in surprise. “Oh! Is having water enter the room a problem? I could hold it back while the rest of you find some way to block it!”

She whistles, and the water around the door becomes solid, and then starts pushing away from the door, creating a space where others could move a barricade in place.

Lady Catherine looks around at all the wreckage.

"There must be something here we can use as a temporary dam! Perhaps a broken bookshelf?"

Perception, find suitable object to hold the water back: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Looking to Nixie, she asks "How long can you hold the water in place?"

“Long enough for you to move it if you move fast!”

I have to use rounds of Bardic Performance.

Assuming there is nothing better in the area...

Lady Catherine goes over and tries to move the already flooded shelves in the area to before the doorway, tipping them so there is something to climb over. She digs out her blanket and puts it between the doorway and the makeshift dam, hoping that will help.

Then she opens the door.

Although strong for her size, the small grippli could probably use some help with the task.

Lady Catherine leads the effort to find enough damaged bookshelves, waterlogged books, and other materials to dam the area around the doorway. Then she coordinates the team's careful erection of the barricade.

The Owl and the Albatross observe the sweaty manual labor with fey bemusement.
"Sticks and stones and ruined tomes
May hold back all the water,
But will such stuff be enough
To prevent eventual slaughter?"

The ominous Owl cackles, "Mwaa, ah, ah."

The amused Albatross slaps its thighs, buckles and chuckles.

Nixie sings to the seawater,
♫"Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Jojo, go home!"♫
The Beatles, Get Back

She quickly clears the space around the door. (Expend an appropriate number of bardic performance rounds.)

Ebonwolf Metalbender grips his sword and opens the door.

The party moves into the room and looks around. The dictionarium contains many books, with more language primers, linguistic treatises, and records of inscriptions than anything else.

Corona, Nixie and Kaya also uncover a limp, lifeless manta ray flopped against the wall. It's been used to wrap up a bundle of delicate thesauri.

The party's casters detect for magic and realize the exotic covering is magical.