Most of the party is standing around in the fog, walking on the water in this submerged library.
Diplomacy attempts against the worm have failed. Though pleased that the bird is gone, the worm decides that he wants to go on a tasting tour, starting with Wadi.
He nips Wadi, who attempts to initiate a grapple but fails.
The worm tumbles successfully out of Wadi's clothes, and looks for someone new to taste.
One and two and three and four
I've never tasted an ifrit before!
He goes after Dioneo!
Unaffected by his own fog, he tumbles next to Dioneo without triggering an AoO, and attempts to taste Dioneo.
His bite bounces off Dioneo's armor!
The whole party is up!
Even with a flank, Oloch's mighty swing misses the tiny worm.
Wadi misses. Jan hits the worm, which is starting to look... scuffed.
The worm dies, crisped to flame by Dioneo.
The fog in the room dissipates.
As the literal fog clears, so does the fog in your heads. You all huddle together on the shelves, baffled to discuss what's going on. You found the source of the flooding, Mistress Koi, and you know that she'd flooded the library to try and force a runaway kitsune out of hiding.
Still, where did all these strange creatures come from? An Owl and an Albatross? A Worm, and a Dead Bird?
You think back to what has gone on before. You talk about the annoying Owl and Albatross, who had claimed to travel here in the belly of the "Big Sleeper", one who the Albatross said looked like a "fish"! The bit about the fish, reminds you of Mistress Koi, who had told you about the Fey Riddler and the creation of "The Name of the Fox" which was prison and prize in one.
You all remember that idiot Virml, and his story of reading from a wee scroll about birds and fish, and then ker-sploosh, seeing a handsome man...
You pull out the two scroll pieces that you have from "The Name of the Fox" poem, still redolent with lingering conjuration magic, and read them one more time.
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Wadi shrugs off the burns received and looks around, shrugging helplessly. "This is far beyond anything I have seen before. Still I think we can assume these scroll fragments that Vemirl activated must have been a portal of some kind, leading to a demiplane perhaps. Everything we have encountered so far is from that plane, whether denizens or prisoners I know not. This Fey Riddler was definitely a prisoner!" He gathers up his robes and prepares to move out. "We need to find those fragments!"
Just before he turns to go he looks at the others. "We should at least try to find if either this Bird or Worm had any part of the scroll on them." Realizing the scroll fragments must still have some lingering magic on them, he casts a simple cantrip and scans the water below...
Wadi finds several still intact magic scrolls in waterproof cases: a scroll of magic circle against chaos, a scroll of slow, and a scroll of arcane sight, but no additional fragments from the Name of the Fox. Looking at those two pieces, you're certain that there must be more to the poem.
You also notice an engraved map of this whole level on a wall, showing the layout of this entire level.
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"I agree. Let us start looking about and see what we can find." as I begin to wade around off to the eastern "wings".
"If only Zarta would have shut her gap, we might have learned something useful of this temple before coming down here. It never hurts to be prepared."
As they walk, "you know Jan, I've always been a bit curious about your faith. I mean, why butterflies? I don't mean that to be rude, I'm honestly curious. One would think something like perhaps the monkey for it's playfulness, wit, and imagination. Or some sort of bird for their ability to travel, sing, and sense of freedom."
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After seeing the number of rooms on the map that have not been explored yet, Wadi decides to expend a precious charge from his infernal healing wand. As the warm glow of the diabolic magic floods his body he finds himself thinking of Zarta and the times he spent with her back when she was the Chelaxian liaison to Absalom...and her infamous soirees...
Once the magic fades from his body he takes a position behind the others. "Zarta is not known for being willing to listen to others. Trust me, I know." As the party moves into the next room, he casts another Light cantrip on his club. "Be careful here. We still do not know who was behind the illusion."
Led by Archon, you choose to explore the Cartographium to the North East. The door to this room is open, making the room a deep bog like the nearby corridors. The water's surface is carpeted with maps made of silk, vellum, birch bark, and sundry other materials.
Jan and Sutekh notice a couple of unusual items floating along the water's surface. One is a silk map that portrays Tian Xia mashed into the side of Avistan to create a strange supercontinent.
The other is a strange bookmark bobbing in the water. Both the map and the bookmark glow with magic.
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Wadi walks over to the map and examines it closely. "This is interesting. It looks like the spell dimension door is incorporated into the map. That could prove handy at some point."
Stashing the map into his pouch, he then turns his attention to the Bookmark. "This is certainly odd, no question about it. Let me see if I can make sense of this."
He shakes his head. "This is something I have not seen before. Have you seen anything like this before?"
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"Hm, I'm not sure about the bookmark. Do you think maybe it unlocks a book somehow, almost like a magic cypher?"
Beginning to grab up some of the floating maps and scrolls, "We should try to salvage as much as we can."
I'll also try to touch the bookmark to the magic scroll map, and try to find a dry book, and see if anything happens, preferably something not too valuable or rare, seeing if anything comes of it.
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Ahh that bookmark is for hiding a book, it change so look like something else. Good for hiding holy books when go to Razmiran, I bet. As for Desna, Archon not sure why butterfly. Maybe is symbol of many things, her feminine form and beauty, the way the flutter as the way paths move, a symbol of maybe hope or luck, something that can move in the night sky, and what can come out of change. Sad most only think of the girly part at least where I come from. Maybe is supposed to show that travels and symbols hard to understand but how you go and think it through is important, would be like Desna that way. I think Desna very strong, constant move, fight, travel, never settle, have many acquaintances but few friends. Is hard life, but also beautiful life.
With Dioneo’s boredom pushing you onwards in your exploration of the eastern “wing” of the understacks, you explore the heritage stacks. The door to this room is open, making the room a deep bog like the corridors outside. This chamber mostly contains volumes of obscure and tedious genealogy.
When Archon plays with the bookmark, he notices no reaction as the bookmark touches the map. When he puts the bookmark into Nigel Aldain’s History of the Blakros Clan: 400 Years of Absalom’s Most Pre-Eminent Noble Family, the book turns into Badger Leash Laws: A Cross-Municipality Study. You page through the book, seeing nothing but descriptions of badger leash laws in cities ranging from Katapesh to the lands of the Linnorm Kings. There are listings of badger leash laws from places where you’re not certain that badgers are even legal pets.
You pull it out of the book. The book you’re holding returns to Nigel Aldain’s definitive history.
Oloch, Dioneo and Sutekh notice a scroll fragment, floating in the water here.
npalatable!” Spat the fat, flesh-fed wyrm
Upon lunching on sons of the judge ;
Then he made of the father a rather fine sauce
Thereby showing he bore him no grudge.
The northernmost alcove of this room is obscured by a 15-foot diameter of darkness -- something you did not notice immediately, given that the whole of the Heritage stacks are unlit. It was only until Wadi walked through the entirety of the room with his glowing club that you realize the sphere of darkness is even there.
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When Archon plays with the bookmark, he notices no reaction as the bookmark touches the map. When he puts the bookmark into Nigel Aldain’s History of the Blakros Clan: 400 Years of Absalom’s Most Pre-Eminent Noble Family,the book turns into Badger Leash Laws: A Cross-Municipality Study. You page through the book, seeing nothing but descriptions of badger leash laws in cities ranging from Katapesh to the lands of the Linnorm Kings. There are listings of badger leash laws from places where you’re not certain that badgers are even legal pets.
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Creatures with darkvision can see in an area of dim light or darkness without penalty.
This functions like darkness, but even creatures with darkvision cannot see within the spell's confines.
"Well, it does seem to also be radiating magic, but, , no sense of darkness. And look here. It might ust be some sort of artistic expression or the archaic norm, but it seems to be spelling out something. "CAU". We need to find the last one, and perhaps see what order the all go in."
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Ahh that bookmark is for hiding a book, it change so look like something else. Good for hiding holy books when go to Razmiran, I bet.
"I see. Does it always conceal a book as the same other book? Can it harm the book it is concealing? That is, if I where to put it into my journal, any chance it might destroy the words within the journal?
As for Desna, Archon not sure why butterfly. Maybe is symbol of many things, her feminine form and beauty, the way the flutter as the way paths move, a symbol of maybe hope or luck, something that can move in the night sky, and what can come out of change. Sad most only think of the girly part at least where I come from. Maybe is supposed to show that travels and symbols hard to understand but how you go and think it through is important, would be like Desna that way. I think Desna very strong, constant move, fight, travel, never settle, have many acquaintances but few friends. Is hard life, but also beautiful life.
"I see. I'm not sure it's for me, personally. My faith teaches it's better to rely on skill, training, and wisdom of luck. And I think defending the weak and sacred appeals to me more thank travel."
Turning to the other priest as we partake in one of Jan's religions expressions, travelling, "And what of you brother? What draws you to the faith of the Lord of Iron? I will confess, that while I can not agree with some of your faith's precepts, I do find a great deal of similarities, Oloch."
"Well, obviously not the slaughtering of beautiful women. . . " he says with a smile. "But I am told that your faith distains unworthy battle with non-combatants, non-threats. That despite, or even perhaps because of your love for battle, there is an unwritten code of war? I also can respect the aspects of constantly testing yourself for the purposes of improvement."
And at the others, "And what faiths do you hold to, if any? Feel free to jump in."
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"Hey Oloch, you see that right? It's not just me?" <Casts Guidance on Oloch> "That's sort of odd." <Readies to cast Create Water, just in case we need more here in a second> "And, do you recognize that lan. . ." <shoves Oloch into the sphere of evil darkness, just to make sure it's not a trap of Disintegrating death>.
"Hey, man calm down. We where just talking about one of the strong points of your faith is about passing the test, right. That was a test. The ultimate test. And it looks like you passed. I gotta say, you might be right. I can see it from here" "and I gotta say, you might be on to something. You do look stronger. More badass!"
Oloch does not in fact disintegrate iwhen Archon pushes him nside the sphere of darkness.
Reading the book is difficult. It is written in undercommon but it looks like the language is particularly twisty -- almost like the book's creators were trying to keep it from being deciphered too easily. You think that its title is something like Shadow Soil Principles, or Shady Realestate Values or maybe Darklands Precepts but you're not sure which?
Is anyone experimenting further with the book in the darkness?
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"My faith? I try to avoid attaching my faith to any one person or being as such can draw unwanted attention on you...and if you live in Cheliax, a visit from the Hellknight Inquisitors is not something to look forward to." He smiles weakly. "So I have learned to have faith in myself and my abilities, and also in my companions."
Wadi moves up to where the strange book radiates the darkness. Looks like no one wanted this book to be read...
"I could try to read it here, but perhaps it would be better to take it with us. I don't relish the though of this Fox getting his hands on this tome. No telling what he could do with it."
Wadi, the book is in darkness and is written in a very twisty undercommon. How are you reading the book? Also, are you moving it at all or just leaving it on its reading table?
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Oloch snarls at Dioneo when the flames hit and burn him badly - "That was uncalled for"
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As Archon pushes Oloch into the darkness, the half orc comes out back again snarling, moving right up to the cleric's face - "I DO see the book, and you will not do that again" - he barks - "Or I will perhaps decide what sort of test should be applied to you" - the furious holy warrior stands there staring at his travelling companion - "Since you took it upon yourself to 'shove' me into a test you believed appropriate, I am sure you agree I am free to do the same"
"IF you survive the test, like you say I did, we will have another chance to debate theology, and I will speak about what guides me whenever I wish to do so Archon"
"Bah" - Oloch turns his back and heads back into the darkness shaking his head - "All of this because of not wanting to admit you are afraid"
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"Hold up Oloch. Let me see if that pedastil is trapped. We dont want you to be burnt again!" the rangers takes a quick gander at the book and its surroundings
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Dioneo looks at the scene with an amused smile. He clearly didn't expect the aasimar cleric to act as he did, but if their eyes cross, he'll give him a little nod.
He lets the others deal with the book and goes straight towards the piece of scroll floating in the water. He casts Detect Magic and states with a yawn:
"Oh well, the conjuration magic within seems to have not been expended."
Wadi attempts the light cantrip, and discovers that darkness is a higher level spell than light. The darkness persists.
Sutekh may check for traps, but he does so blindly unless someone can provide a higher level light spell.
As Oloch first grabs the book, he notiices that that the sphere of darkness travels with him. Does anyone attempt to read from the book out loud or try to do anything else with the book?
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I'll tap both Wadi and myself with "The Wand". And, if my friend grumpy allows it, I'll try the bookmark on it as well. And sure, I'll try to read the book. Just to show I'm not afraid of "the test".
"Anál nathrach, orth’ bháis’s bethad, do chél dénmha, wait, wait, wait, I see it now, this isn't a magic book, it's just a Ratfolk romance novel."
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