[PFS] Yogadragon's Library of the Lion (Inactive)

Game Master yogadragon

Here are all of the clues we have so far. Please add new ones if I missed them.

Prolific Author: It appears that a long-dead historian wrote more than a dozen books on the topics you’re researching. Perhaps you can find other insightful books by this author.
Clue: You may use this clue to gain a +3 bonus on
a single skill check made to find texts.

Esoteric Alphebetization: :This library uses a strange system for organizing its texts: it alphabetizes its texts based on the progression of major musical scales instead of using the Taldan alphabet.
Clue: You may use this clue to grant a +2 bonus on all checks made to find texts in a single room for the rest of the scenario.

An Exciting Read: You have found several particularly engaging texts, and you find it particularly easy to concentrate on the reading.

Clue: Use this clue before a PC rolls a skill check to find a clue or text. He rolls twice and takes the higher of the two rolls.

Handwritten Notes: There are extensive notes scribbled in the margins of this book. These hand-written insights could be key to your next big discovery.

Clue: You may use this clue
to gain a +3 bonus on a single
skill check made to find texts.

Bibliographic References: Several relevant books have extensive indices and bibliographies that might point to even greater discoveries.

Clue: You may use this clue to gain a +5 bonus on a single skill check made to find texts.

Taldan Cipher #2 According to this text, one common cipher involves changing each consonant into the letter that comes three
places after it in the alphabet and changing each vowel into the letter that comes two places before. For example, D would become G, U would become S, and Z would become C. (Since the vowels rotate backward and the consonants rotate forward, it’s a particularly puzzling cipher to break).

There were also the ones Syl'las found in the recital hall:

Hidden Gem: Right next to one great discovery, you make another incredible find!
Clue: Use this clue whenyou or another PC discoversa clue or text to find one additional clue or text, if any remain in the room. (If attempting to use this in a room that doesn’t have anymore clues, it doesn’t count; this clue can be used again.)

Magical Assistance: Some of the bookshelves bear a minor enchantment that aids researchers, such as briefly granting the benefits of read languages or creating an unseen servant to aid in collecting documents.
Clue: After the PCs roll skill checks to find documents, any of them may reroll the check before learning the result.

How many of these clues have we used? Many of 'em appear to be single use...we maybe should save most for the locked rooms...

We might should split up for the next two rooms, maybe two in one and four in the other...B8 is small and B9 is a bit larger...

As for the librarian, was thinking we can go back and talk to her after our search...

Might have a little trouble posting this morning/afternoon. On my phone and must be in a semi-dead zone, coverage is hit and miss, mostly miss...since Artus and Charis are going to B8, can someone please move Flyn in front of B9 (can't move on my phone)? Thanks...

I'll post as I can...should be back to my PC this afternoon/evening...

Moved you Flyn.

Usable Clues:

Prolific Author
Esoteric Alphebetization
An Exciting Read
Handwritten Notes
Bibliographic References
Taldan Cipher #2
Hidden Gem
Magical Assistance

I think we already used Magical Assistance as well?

Usable Clues:

Prolific Author
Esoteric Alphebetization
An Exciting Read
Handwritten Notes
Bibliographic References
Taldan Cipher #2
Hidden Gem
Magical Assistance

I probably won't be able to post anything tomorrow morning. I might have time in the evening, but worst case scenario I will be back Monday morning.

No worries...and good job, really enjoying the scenario...

Oh, and Kiboko, thanks for moving me...

Can anyone make sense of the portrait plaques? Here are the messages:

room 10 (desk): a cunning lie is never told twice
room 7 (librarian): In the end, loyalty is its own reward
room3 (classroom): To serve Taldor, I must first learn the history of Taldor.
room 4 (recital hall): Persevere, persevere,persevere!

And then there was the hidden autostereogram message: 'Our monarch's virtues are our own'

What about the ciphers?

I think the portrait plaques are some sort of code, similar to how we opened the secret door to get down here (pointing the statue at words in order)...

I think the stereogram message just let's you know to keep an eye out for the portrait plaque clues as the portraits on the plaques feature the Taldan monarch...each of the four clues has a placement value along with a virtue...cunning (twice), loyalty (end), history (first), and persevere (mentioned three times)...

I'm guessing maybe we'll find another statue that points to these four words that might open something important...I could be wrong though...

As for the ciphers, shouldn't hurt mentioning it here...it's a side quest for Grand Lodge members...

So it looks like the plaque messages are saying: history, cunning, persevere (perseverance?), loyalty. But we don't know why yet.

Kiboko, are you sure about the second potion?

This is the description for Vision I get and it seems quite powerful.

Oh duh! I can drink it and think about the long lost histories of a time before the Taldan tradition of crowning a male heir King.

elixir of vision

An elixir of a 7th level spell would be impressive :)

It is this:

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/e-g/elixi r-of-vision/

Not a potion of vision. You can't make potions of spells higher than 3rd level I believe. It is actually a wondrous item, not a potion, which is why it was a spellcraft not perception or craft alchemy.

Aha, that explains a lot.

One of em minimal combat scenarios! haha! Thanks, had lots of fun!

Thanks Yogagdragon! An interesting scenario, quite different to the norm. You kept it running smoothly and at a good pace.

I am glad I didn't bring my Lion Blade, looking at that chronicle sheet! Kiboko is not going to get along with Baron Tooth of Ravenmoor I think.

Yea i was expecting a combat on the way out.

TY

I ran this one a while ago, it is I think what contributed to the investigation or library combats so to speak. very good for knowledgeable characters.

One of em minimal combat scenarios! haha! Thanks, had lots of fun!

Yea i was expecting a combat on the way out.

I only fired the one arrow...but I really enjoyed the puzzle/time aspect of the scenario...how many combats did we actually avoid?

Thanks again, Yogadragon! And thanks to all...learning a lot about Pathfinder playing with y'all...'preciate y'all showing the ropes to a newcomer and look forward to our next journey...

We evaded at least 1 battle by putting the statues in the right place. Plus combat would make way more noise than it should, hehe. Nice to see a scenario that isn't all combat.

Nice interplay on the team, by the way. Kiboko's in-character argument really showed some facets of his character.

And finally, my day job roll: Profession (Burglar): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

I've found these pbp scenarios really useful for developing Kiboko's personality. More so than typical 4 or 5 hour convention or gamestore slots.

I feel the same way. It is nice to be able to physically roll the dice once in a while. But love the role play that can be explored in PBP

Nice interplay on the team, by the way. Kiboko's in-character argument really showed some facets of his character.

Agree...thought for a moment there that Kiboko was gonna go full Barbarian rage on me during our discussion and toss me thru the wall...led to one of my favorite moments though when Syl'las said "'scuse me boys" and walked thru us and got the keys...that was funny...

Well you kept worrying her about the time and then proceeded to take time discussing how to bypass a blind woman.

So she just did what came naturally to her, getting close and lifting things from people.

Well you kept worrying her about the time and then proceeded to take time discussing how to bypass a blind woman.

So she just did what came naturally to her, getting close and lifting things from people.

Oh, I agree...I was real anal about the time and then I go and get into a philosophical debate with Kiboko...

With that hourglass running around the library, I felt Flyn was like the white Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland...

You avoided two combats. If you take too long, there is a group of Lion's Blades waiting for you when you come out, and then as Charis said, the combat with the statues.

I enjoyed watching Oret in this scenario. He obviously felt uneasy with the whole thing, but was given enough justification to go along with it.

As far as bringing your Lion Blade, you guys actually earned enough deception points (they accumulate from actions you take to cover your tracks) to avoid that boon, so it would have been fine. Looking back, I feel like I rushed the interactions with the Lion... we could have spent more time on that.

You will get better at pacing the more you GM.

Personally, when I GM, I don't mind slowing it down if there is a chance to RP. Just have to read the group.

You did a good job, would not mind playing another with you running.

I have reported the event. Can someone check and make sure I did it right?

looks good to me.

You avoided two combats. If you take too long, there is a group of Lion's Blades waiting for you when you come out, and then as Charis said, the combat with the statues.

I enjoyed watching Oret in this scenario. He obviously felt uneasy with the whole thing, but was given enough justification to go along with it.

As far as bringing your Lion Blade, you guys actually earned enough deception points (they accumulate from actions you take to cover your tracks) to avoid that boon, so it would have been fine. Looking back, I feel like I rushed the interactions with the Lion... we could have spent more time on that.

I thought you did well, Yogadragon and I enjoyed it...

Might have a question or two for y'all, as this will move Flyn to 3rd level (I got a credit earlier for We B4 Goblins). Just want to make sure any purchases/upgrades I do are PFS legal...

GM_Yogadragon wrote:

You avoided two combats. If you take too long, there is a group of Lion's Blades waiting for you when you come out, and then as Charis said, the combat with the statues.

I enjoyed watching Oret in this scenario. He obviously felt uneasy with the whole thing, but was given enough justification to go along with it.

As far as bringing your Lion Blade, you guys actually earned enough deception points (they accumulate from actions you take to cover your tracks) to avoid that boon, so it would have been fine. Looking back, I feel like I rushed the interactions with the Lion... we could have spent more time on that.

I thought you did well, Yogadragon and I enjoyed it...

Might have a question or two for y'all, as this will move Flyn to 3rd level (I got a credit earlier for We B4 Goblins). Just want to make sure any purchases/upgrades I do are PFS legal...

If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Thank you, will do.

For all you GMs...is there an errata for the cipher in this scenario?

MECFGCQFC
OBECIENCE

For the above part of the message, it appears to be OBECIENCE as the F = C. I know sometimes if it's a vowel instead of a consonant one letter could be two different ones but that's not the case here. I was assuming it's just a typo as it's gotta be OBEDIENCE...is it possible I missed something? Just curious...

Haha! It's always a challenge for me to be a lawful character, more so one that worships Adabar! Had a lot of fun too!

It's always a challenge to do these non-combat scenarios on PBP, and I think you handled it very well!

Have you done the chronicle sheets yet?

Thanks in advance

Chronicles can be found below:

Chronicles!

Thanks Yoga, you the man!

Thanks for the Chronicles!

Thanks Yoga, you the man!

It took me two tries to do yours because I totally butchered the name the first time!

Sorry 'bout that...Flyn was my first PFS character and I tried to just go with Flyn but it said that name was already taken...so I came up with that name as I was reasonable sure it wouldn't be...

Thanks again!

Much thanks! I'll message you guys when im ready for the trilogy!

How's everyone doing in the special?

HMM has just announced the next gameday, it seems best with timing for me to start the gameday then, as right after the special i'll be going on a long vacation just to be back in time for gameday!

Couldn't take Flyn on the special as I committed to a tier 1-2 table but I'm running another character in that one and we've done well the first couple of combats...our group chose the technology track. Flyn recently finished up The Wardstone Patrol and that was a good one; found it interesting to research the Mendevian Crusades in Library of the Lion and then participate in 'em on the very next mission...

So that would put the trilogy starting in late August? That sounds good to me...what tier is the trilogy? Flyn is at 3.1 right now and it's possible he could be at 3.2 at that time...

Hope you have an awesome vacation!

The whole faithless and forgotten trilogy is tier 1-5.

I'm not in the current special because I played it at a con last year, but I am playing in a couple of ongoing PbPs with other characters. I'll have at least one PC available for F&F if we start late August. Kikobo will probably be level 3 or 4, and I'll have others in range.

I am in the special and so far so good.

Unfortunately i have done that trilogy :(

Ah, then it looks like there is no 1-5 trilogy that is unplayed for all of us.

Something higher tier maybe?

Flyn is the highest tier character I have...he might be at level 4 by then but no higher...

I might've missed it but I didn't see anyone mention the Scions of the sky key trilogy and it's tier 1-5. Has anyone done that one? Thought it might play off of our finding a part of the sky key during wounded wisp..

I've played and GM'd the Scions trilogy.

Here are the trilogies (and a quadrilogy) that I have not played, with their tiers:

season 4: echoes of the past 5-9

season 7: faithless and forgotten, 1-5

season 8: tyranny of winds, 2 x 1-5 and a 3-7

season 2: heresy of man, 5-9; shades of ice, 1-5

season 1: devil we know (four parts), 1-7