Wadi Ahk'kolon |
Wadi shrugs and puts the book back where he found it. "I don't think carrying this book around will be a wise decision at this point. We will need to be able to see the Fox in order to catch him methinks. We will have to return later for the book."
GM Hmm |
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As Archon attempts to read the book out loud, a clamorous noise arises from the book of 40 people shrieking incoherently. This effect only lasts while he is speaking while either reading the book or even carrying the book. When he stops speaking, the noise stops.
When reading silently and carefully, Archon slowly realizes that the book contains a number of subjects that seem primarily of interest to Drow, including forms of address and etiquette, holiday festivals, a guide to obeisances and letter writing, some demonology rituals, and other magical notations. This takes a while to sort out because the language the book is written in is intentionally formal and obscure.
As all of you experiment with the bookmark on some of the other genealogy books, you discover that each book apparently transforms into something else while the bookmark in place. Each text that he tries it in transforms into something different:
- The Big Book of Giant Etiquette. One sentence: "Bash first!" and 450 blank pages;
- Obsess for Success: A Gnome's Guide to Professional Advancement. It's written in gnome with advice like "Sleep, sex and regular meals are all optional for a true artist in the midst of creation frenzy..."
- 450 Uses for Caltrops: This one is fully illustrated, like a coffee table book. "Use 331: Christmas Tree stands. Use 332: Potato Roasters!"
- Just Admit You're Wrong: A Practical Guide to Wooing Keleshite Women: "When in doubt, 'Yes, Dear' is your go-to phrase..."
Each book returns to its original state when the bookmark is removed. The bookmark, when reinserted into the Blakros History, becomes the detailed guide to badger leash laws once again. Pull it out, and it returns to its original state.
When inserted into the book within the sphere of darkness, the darkness goes away, and you are all holding a book written in common: Terell's Definitive Guide to Diseases of the Turtle. Among the titles that catch your eye are "Chapter 19: Delousing your turtle" and "Chapter 23: Eye pus and you."
You get the sense that the bookmark was created by someone with a sense of humor.
You pull the bookmark out again and you are once again in a 15 foot sphere of darkness. As you examine the book, you note that it is bound in a weird grey leather that is creepy to the feel.
Archon the Divine Caller |
After seeing that last one, "Oh, I think I get it. It makes whatever book it's entered into only speak, or write in this case, the truth, and unlocks the highest forms of wisdom on the subject. Anyone have any superglue. I think this last book, "When in doubt. . .", deserves to have it's literary voice as available to the world as possible."
:P
I'm not sure we make it past that point.
DM Beckett |
Am I going to need to defend myself from a beating if I ask if Scriverner's Chant can be used to make copies of the "enhanced" version of Just Admit You're Wrong: A Practical Guide to Wooing Keleshite Women?
:P
GM Hmm |
If you have a blank book, yes you can copy one of the bogus texts that the bookmark creates for you.
Jan Itor |
Book later okay with Jan, question though what happens if book is in space like handy haversack. I no have one to try, maybe darkness go away make it easy to carry and mean Fox-man can't get it.
While we're here I'll hand Wadi a platinum ring and cast Shield Other and I'm not going to worry too much about Shield of Faith down here, I'll count on Desna to protect me when needed.
GM Hmm |
Does anyone try putting the book in a bag?
Archon the Divine Caller |
"I'll just carry it. I have a sack that's waterproof, and this is clearly something that Shaine would want kept safe. I don't think it has much to do with the "Fox". Doesn't really fit the same theme."
plus completely covering it should contain the darkness, too.
GM Hmm |
Covering it contains the darkness, but every time Archon speaks, the clamor of 40 voices shrieking incoherently rises again from the book.
Jan Itor |
Wadi Ahk'kolon |
Wadi sighs irritatedly. "Look can you just leave the book here Archon? There is no way we will be able to catch the Fox with all that racket you are making!"
Dioneo II Starnon |
"True that, my fiery friend. And what about that scroll piece? What so we do of it?" Dioneo says, waving the sodden piece of paper.
Archon the Divine Caller |
I'll try to place it into my Bag of Holding, but if that doesn't silence the noise, we can leave it here. "Are we sure that's not exactly what we want to do, keep the trickster from being able to trick us?"
Oloch Firebrand |
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Hmm, if one places the bookmark on the book, are the voices still heard and blabbering whenever one speaks?
GM Hmm |
Oloch experiments with the bookmark and the book that generates cacophony and darkness. Once again, the book transforms into Terrrell's Definitive Guide to Diseases of the Turtle. He reads from it aloud with no issues at all.
Oloch Firebrand |
The half orc grunts and shrugs - "I am not sure to whom this should be returned - I'll leave it up to you, but Shaine seems the obvious recipient" - the massive warrior turns the book around in his hands - "Diseases of the Turtle" - he chuckles - "At least it is not screaming at us every time we open it"
Wadi Ahk'kolon |
Wadi plucks the book out of Oloch's hands and stuffs it inside his pack. "Yeah, I think we have spend enough time on this!" He turns to face the others. "Since I know the Fox knows we are coming, we should not keep him waiting."
GM Hmm |
You conclude your experiments with the book and the bookmark. Having fully explored both the Cartographium and the Heritage Stacks on the East Wing of the understacks, you conclude that it's time to begin your explorations of the West Wing.
But before you get there...
You look up at the stairwell in the central room of the understacks and realize that water is once again pouring down the stairs. It had stopped for a while. Now, it's pouring once again.
What do you do?
Oloch Firebrand |
Wadi plucks the book out of Oloch's hands and stuffs it inside his pack. "Yeah, I think we have spend enough time on this!" He turns to face the others. "Since I know the Fox knows we are coming, we should not keep him waiting."
Oloch raises an eyebrow at Wadi's rudeness - "Yes, you can keep the book" - he answers without skipping a beat.
---
"I bet 5 gold she has forgotten all about the deal with us" - the half orc shrugs as they notice the water pouring again - "We should remind her" - he adds, moving for the stairs.
Dioneo II Starnon |
"Hum, you have a point here Oloch. Should we all get up, though?" Dioneo says, looking at the wetter than wet stairs with a hint of discouragement.
Wadi Ahk'kolon |
Wadi nods in reply. "I think we should ALL go up there. Someone may have forced her to continue flooding the Archives."
GM Hmm |
You trudge up the stairs through the shower of water. At the top is Mistress Koi, once again spewing a stream of water in an almost meditative state.
When she notices you, she blinks and stops spewing water for a moment.
"Have we met?" She asks in Sylvan. "I can't remember."
Oloch Firebrand |
"We have indeed met Mistress Koi. I am Oloch Firebrand." - Oloch nods, an eyebrow risen impossibly high - "Not only that, we had agreed to assist you in catching the slippery fox you intend to" - he continues - "However, and since we are not aquatic creatures by nature, you had agreed to stop the water flow, lest we be unable to continue our search"
GM Hmm |
"Oh, that's right!" Mistress Koi's eyes widen as she remembers. "I'll stop flooding for now, but let me know when you have all the scroll fragments!"
Dioneo II Starnon |
Dioneo grinds his teeth in annoyance.
"Please do, Mistress Koi. Don't start again until we've come back. Here, let me give you this rope. When you'll look at it, you'll remember me. Noble blazing charming ifrit. Is that ok?" says the oracle, indeed handing the fey a rope.
GM Hmm |
"Ropes symbolize ifrits?" Mistress Koi holds the rope with a tentacle. "I did not know this. Wait until I tell the fey riddler about this..."
Taking your leave of Mistress Koi, you descend once again down the spiral staircase towards the understacks and begin your travels of the West Wing. Checking the map on the wall, you find yourself outside the Dictionarium. The door to this chamber bears a simple lock.
Wadi Ahk'kolon |
Wadi glances uneasily at the locked door. "Somehow I think the Fox would not be troubled by such a lock here."
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Dioneo II Starnon |
Knowledge (Engineering): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
"So? Who goes first?" asks Dioneo, loosing his nerves.
Jan Itor |
perc: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Jan go first. But door no let water in, probably rush of water when door open
Sutekh Amun |
"Locked door? Let me have a proper look at this thing"
Perception: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 22
Unlock Lock: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
GM Hmm |
Water from the hallway outside immediately gushes into the room filled with formerly dry manuscripts...
You guys have one round to prevent the flooding from destroying half the contents of this room.
Oloch Firebrand |
Int Check: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3
"I thought we were supposed to protect any further harm to come to the manuscripts in this place" - Oloch grumbles - "Time to get picking up everything before it gets ruined Sutekh!" - he adds, wading into the room, and beginning to lift furniture upright, producing a good place to store the manuscripts and books in - away from the rushing water.
Wadi Ahk'kolon |
"Son of a..." Wadi exclaims. "This was a bad idea guys!" He moves to assist the others in rescuing as many manuscripts as possible.
Intelligence check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
"I see some overturned shelving units and other things around here that can be used to block the worst of the flow!"
Archon the Divine Caller |
Int: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
I'll begin chanting to call on the aid of 1d3 ⇒ 3 Celestial Eagles, instructing them "Save as much as you can, my friends. Grab what your feet can handle and take it to somewhere safe and dry."
Or alternatively. . .
I'll begin chanting to call on the aid of 3 Celestial Ponies, instructing them "Save as much as you can, my friends. Push those fallen bookshelves together to make a shield around the manuscripts."
Jan Itor |
Upon hearing Wadi's suggestion, Jan begins to drag shelves into the doorway to block the flow of water.
Str, if needed: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Dioneo II Starnon |
Intelligence check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Dioneo doesn't know what to do but helps anyway Jan as best as he can.
Strength check (aid): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17 Yay!
GM Hmm |
Working together, you block the flow of water, saving the vast majority of literary treasures in this room. This room houses dictionaries, grammars, thesauri and hundreds of other linguistic texts.
Perception, Archon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Perception, Dioneo: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3
Perception, Jan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Perception, Oloch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Perception, Serket: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Perception, Sutekh: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 +2 against traps
Perception, Wadi: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
In addition to all the books and manuscripts, Serket finds an old limp cloak, lying against the wall that others soon realize glows with magic.
Wadi Ahk'kolon |
Wadi wipes his brow as the group finishes the physically difficult task of saving the precious manuscripts. "Let's not do THAT again!"
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Wadi eyes the cloak dubiously. "That is an interesting cloak. Anyone want to risk donning it?"
GM Hmm |
Continuing your exploration of the Western Wing, you find the Taxidermy Storage room. The door is closed, but the lock appears to have already been jiggered open. There's also a calling card of sorts: a fey scroll fragment, pinned to the door's exterior with a dagger.
Dined on beans and bones and ordure,
Lost her teeth so took her daughters',
Then went wading to make water.
When Sir Crocodile attacked,
Used his teeth to bite him back.
Detect magic reveals that the scroll fragment once had conjuration magic, now expended.
Although the door is not locked, the waist-deep water presses in on both sides. If you want to force it open, I will need a strength check.
Also, do let me know if anyone decides to don the cloak.
Jan Itor |
Ready to go in guys?
Won't be doffing the cloak myself.
Sutekh Amun |
Weekend had work and was away and then surprise 1 day extension. Will join in again tonight when im home
-Posted with Wayfinder
GM Hmm |
Archon turns into a manta ray, with better natural armor, the ability to breathe water and a 60 foot swim speed.
Oloch Firebrand |
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Already leaning his weight against the door, Oloch stares as Archon turns into a manta ray - "What the..? He dons magical cloaks just like that?" - the pragmatic half-orc sounds incredulous - "Why would anyone do that?"
Strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
I went for the basics on that scroll fragment, and tried to piece the capitals together but... No go :D
Archon the Divine Caller |
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A few bubbles begin to come up from the water, each one releasing a tiny bit of sound as they hit the surface and pop.
"Was", and "a", and another "test".
"Orcmanliness."
Oloch Firebrand |
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In spite of the effort, the half orc first raises an eyebrow, then bursts into laughter - "I say you've passed, oh Archon, the Manta Ray"
Wadi Ahk'kolon |
Wadi smiles, "Well, that will certainly come in handy especially if the Fox is nearby. You will never see me try that same stunt! I have heard of a cursed cloak will instantly slay you should you don it! Glad to see you didn't find that one!" He eyes the door as Oloch pushes the door open and readies for anything.
Archon the Divine Caller |
I'll play around with the cloak a bit, exalting in the new form's ability to swim, and then attempt to remove the cloak and return to my normal form.
"That was fun. Anyone else want to give it a try?"