The grey elf arches an eye brow at the dwarf's inability to enter but concentrates on what she is doing.
Seeing that Ollok is prevented from entering the lord's bedchamber, Thrand ponders what could be amiss. "Perhaps it's his height? 'You must be this tall to enter.' No, but then the lord's children would not have been able to visit him in his room. What could it be? Aha!" The knight realizes what the dwarf and the undead sentry have in common. He searches through his backpack until he finds the item that he is looking for. Reaching through the doorway, he hands Ollok a bar of soap.
Tzardusk lofts a brow curiously at the gesture, and turns to look at Ollok to gauge his reaction.
He stares at the human. "It's good your lack of urgency gives a moments time to make a jest at this time. Seems like a lot of your kind is depending on you to save them. Why don't you use half the wit you were born with and find the clue to your problem. And don't be thinking you smell any better than your horse's rump you been cozying up to every night." Ollok leaves them and goes searching the rest of the area.
The knight laughs. "A few mugs of beer after the battle is won will put you in better spirits." While he is waiting for the others to find the lord's box, he tries opening one of the doors in the western wall so he can see what is on the other side.
I will stay with Ollok while you all look around. Anchard moves to join Ollok.
Her magic working the grey elf will examine the picture which seems to be the focus of the magical aura.
Ollok finds the next door to be a balcony and if he goes outside on it he might get a glimpse of the town.
Thrand finds the next room is fact the lords loo. A long copper tub sits atop a white and gold rug. A brazier and buckets sit in one corner. A stool and shelves full of towels, soap, and scrub brushes occupy the other.
The next door is the closet. The wide closet is choked with expensive-looking clothing, much of it trimmed in fur or embroidered with gold piping.
Arendyl helps Thrand search and his keen elven eyes spots a chest in the corner of the closet covered by blankets that contains fine women's jewelry of an old style liked in this part of the Flaneass. Most likely mementos of the dead Lords wife.
Tzardusk helps Tanariel search for magic and and resolve the door issue.
The barrier is arcane in nature but also holy as well as if blessed by a Lawful Good deity. Behind the picture Tanariel found is a pendant with a polished star sapphire gem that radiates the same energy as the barrier. You both think the pendant is infused with ley line energy and would protect the wearer from that energy if attacked by it or going through it.
Thrand admires the expensive finery.
When his quest for loot is complete, Thrand rejoins Tanariel in the lord's bedchamber.
"A mix of holy and arcane energy ... interesting. Not even sure how that would work, but apparently it does and quite effectively at that."
Thinking there must be more to help us here Aren continues searching. Looking under the bed as well. "The spirit said there would be things here to help us. Keep your eyes sharp.
Being hopeless at finding hidden things, and believing the lord's bedchamber to be a safe space for Tanariel, Thrand returns to the hallway and tries to discover what the other rooms at this level are like.
"Have you tried this door, Ollok?"
Ollok moves over to the door. "Out of the way unless you've found a way to open the door with your dull wit. Although maybe we could use your head and put it to good use." He gives Thrand a few moments to move out of the way before moving him out of the way. Ignoring any further interruptions out of the would be knight Ollok scans the door tracing his finger over the frame.
If trap is found:
If no trap is found but door is locked:
Thrand smirks in response to Ollok's grumpy monologue. He half-bows to the dwarf and steps to the side to allow him access to the door. The knight holds his sword and shield at the ready in case there is trouble.
Ollok finds no traps on the door and opens it revealing a formal dining room. A large, U-shaped table fills most of the space of this carpeted room. Eight upholstered, high-backed chairs surround the table, while a
ninth—which looks more like a throne—sits at the center of the southern end. Tall, narrow windows of stained glass are flanked by thick burgundy curtains with golden crows stitched into them.
Tanariel and Tzardusk take the pendant they found and exit the Lords bedroom. The group search the dining room and find nothing of interest there or in the private kitchen adjacent to it.
Tanariel does detects a hint of magic coming from NW corner of the second floor.
Thrand is starting to like the keep more and more with every room that they discover. In his mind, he is beginning to pick out drapes and tapestries. "Plus this town is near elvish lands, so I would be near Tanariel if I were to take possession of the keep."
The faerie will indicate to the group that she detects something in the NW corner of the 2nd floor.
Thrand acknowledges the Tanariel's declaration. He moves into position and holds his sword and shield at the ready while he waits for Ollok to do his thing.
Aren continues assisting the group with thier search of the royal quarters.
The group opens the door as indicated by Tanariel and discover it is the Lords library. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases cover the walls of this well-stocked study. A thick chair with a table and small candelabra next to it face a wide hearth of goldflecked black marble. The shelves lining the walls are covered with hundreds of tomes and scrolls, decorative figurines and curios, and a lap desk with quills and ink pots.
The magic detected is behind the center bookcase panel.
Tzardusk looks around the place with wonder, especially the library. "This lord lived very well. Sad that his sone was corrupted so badly."
"It is sad indeed. His moral failing has lead to much pain and suffering."
Thrand stands ready to move the center bookcase aside with brute force, but only if Ollok and the others fail to find the latch. He does not want to damage the future lord's property.
Ollok finds the latch and attempts to open it.
The elf prepares herself for what is behind the case. What a wonderful library of things arcane! she says wistfully.
Thrand replies to Tanariel, "When the battle is over, we should return to this library and search it for anything of interest. There are probably some nice maps here."
Thrand begins to mvoe the heavy bookcase by himself in an impressive feat of strength showing off his muscles to the elfen wizard just as Ollok manages to find the latch to move the bookcase....
Two books are locked and secured behind hard glass and as Ollok looks over the glass container he sees acid sacks lined with the glass so that if the glass is broken the acid will destroy the two books. The first book appears to be an arcane spellbook with flowery designs a female would have, possibly the late Lords wife who dabbled in the arcane. The second book is ashen grey in color and appears more sinister in it's leather bound with a gaping maw face on the cover.
DC 25 to open. Trap configuration does not allow one to take 20 due to the acid splash. One needs to disable all four acid traps in the corners; or 4 successful DD checks. If there is a failure by 10+ then one of the acid pouches bursts open and damages one of the books and the thief. Two consecutive failures and one of the books is destroyed. Three non consecutive failures before four success and only one book is able to be retrieved (party choice).
The ashen grey book has Infernal writing all over it withe the title being "Deraths Laments". The book may possible contain Black Speech as well.
This appears to be a complicated trap to keep the book out of the hands out of anyone.
Ollok nods as he examines the acid flasks thoroughly. "This one will be needing a serious amount of concentration to disarm. The books could be damaged so if you have another way you can think of opening the case tell me now."
Anchard's hand meets his chin in thought for a moment before he speaks. I can ward one of us against the traps harm, but can only protect the book if I had a way of handling it. With proper preparation and study I can improve on Ollok's existing skill with traps but nothing so far as a guarentee for success.
The group spends time looking over the glass case foe a regular keyhole but find none.
The grey elf will cast read magic just 8n case there is something they missed.
Tanariel casts read magic and discovers nothing new, however casting it on the ashen grey book gives her a slight headache.
Spellcraft to figure out why the book is giving her a headache.
because it is evil and does not like being probed...by an elf no less... the audacity of the lesser races
Thrand miraculously notices Tanariel's discomfort and gives her a firm, moderately armored chest to lean her head against. "Take it easy, my lady. Is the magic causing you some distress? Do not overdo it."
"Provide me with whatever aid you can give me Anchard. Just keep it up as long as you can." Ollok lays down his tools and figures out what he will need as Anchard calls upon his deity to give him whatever help he can.
Taking a long thinbar and another similar one with a slightly hooked end he is just about to begin to work the lock on the case when he stops.
"One of you best make the call now about which book we need to save in case this does not work." looking at Tanariel "You make the call elf. I got quick enough hands to grab one but not two if this fails."
The knight wonders about the acrid smell and the smouldering books, but he figures that the dwarf and the faerie maid have everything under control. He finds the smell much less pleasant than the usual horse smells that he is used to and decides to leave the room.
"I will be in the hallway. Call me if you need me."
While in the hallway, he examines the nearby stairway.
Ollok curses as the acid damages the second book with the gaping maw.
As he tries again to open the case a second trap goes off spilling onto the book burning away at the pages. Forgetting about that book he works on the other side hoping to get the last remaining book.
Tzardusk watches from across the room, wondering why they are spending so much time on a couple of books... they must be important, but how?
Ollok eventually figures out how to open the glass case and as the acid begins to spill due to missteps the dwarf grabs the Flowery book, avoids taking any damage himself,looks as the ashen gray sinister book gets covered in acid, begins to smoke as if fighting the damage off, gets caught on fire which makes everyone take a step back and then disappears in a cloud of smoke leaving behind a scorched stain on the wall where it used to rest. You all, except Thrand, could swear you heard the book cry out as if in pain before it vanished. Ollok hands the flowery book to Tanariel and she discovers the book is a spellbook.
the book radiates as good
1st lvl Spells
*Celestial Healing
*Protection from Evil
*Endure Elements
*Unwelcome Halo
2nd lvl Spells
*Continual Flame
*Protection from Evil, Communal
*Warding Weapon
3rd lvl Spells
*Magic Circle against Evil
*Dispel Magic
4th lvl Spells
*Daemon Ward
Aren hopes to himself that the other book did not contain any answers to our current situation.
Casting read magic, she peruses the new spellbook This book is full of abjuration and light spells. Spells of goodness. The other, I am assuming was full of dark magic.
I am fine with that outcome, lets continue.
The grey elf nods. Yes, we should be about our mission.