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Adalram appears on Vel's shoulder, then flaps over to Weltmann's desk and peers at the book, then at the Magister, with his orange eyes. "Who's the third?" the bird croaks.
"We stopped one -- with the gift of the snake," Vel explains. "But with this witch, she probably had a spare in mind. Any ideas?"
Weltmann gives Vel his full consideration for the first time and nods at Adalram.
"Mage are you? Then you should know enough to realise that a rune as powerful as this leaves traces of the caster. If I'm right, I know who created this and I can guess what she'd want. And it won't be three. It will be four. Kyleth was always greedy."
"If all four have different strengths . . . " Vel muses, "We've seen the snake and the raven."
"No offense," she adds to Adalram.
"I would expect the dragon for a resurrection, and perhaps the owl. Would a high-ranking priest get one of these?"
"Hmmm... perhaps I should return any deliveries."
Vel glares at Reason for a moment, then returns her attention to Weltmann. Adalram flies back to her shoulder and preens.
"The dragon I'm sure is correct, but the gifts of the owl were never her concern. Knowing Kyleth, she will want the speed and cunning of the fox."
Weltmann stops pacing and turns to the group.
"You'll have to act fast. Each victim will reduce the time needed for Kyleth's resurrection. If you can, stop the other gifts from being delivered. I can't tell you who the likely targets would be, but if I'm right, Narissa Sul-malla would be the obvious choice for this particular snakebite. She must be in your debt - a thing very few have ever been able to say. If anyone can help you identify the other victims, she can."
Nodding at Reason, he adds "Returning the books is vital. A task after your own heart, sir."
"Ah."
"Yes."
"Of course that is what I meant."
Weltmann quirks an eyebrow at the tiefling.
"Exercise caution in the Library. It does not take kindly to unauthorised removal of its property."
"You'll have to go there at some point. Kyleth's own book will be there somewhere. We can talk about that later."
"You make it sound as if whatever we do, she will come back. If that is the case, the other books don't truly matter. We should find her book and be ready to stop her as she returns, before she can regain her power."
Weltmann quirks an eyebrow at the tiefling.
"Exercise caution in the Library. It does not take kindly to unauthorised removal of its property."
"You'll have to go there at some point. Kyleth's own book will be there somewhere. We can talk about that later."
"I have a question that you might be able to answer, it's about a couple items i've found.. well pieces really."
Gobi reaches into his pocket and holds out the two shards,
"Any idea what these might be?"
"You make it sound as if whatever we do, she will come back. If that is the case, the other books don't truly matter. We should find her book and be ready to stop her as she returns, before she can regain her power."
Weltmann slams his hand down on the desk.
"Of course you can prevent her return, Madame Gnoll. That's why we're talking. But you'll need Pirot Samagal to do it. Runelore of this calibre is remarkable. I understand it, but I can't work with it. Listen to me. If you've met Kyleth then you know her capabilities. He taught her the runelore in the first place. She's older than she looks you know."
His face grows rather grim.
"There's another point as well. I wouldn't wish being sucked dry by that evil b$!~! on my worst enemy. I can work out how to free Pirot. What I can't do is tell you how to disable Kyleth's book. That's on another level altogether."
"I have a question that you might be able to answer, it's about a couple items i've found.. well pieces really."
Gobi reaches into his pocket and holds out the two shards,
"Any idea what these might be?"
Startled by the sudden change in subject, Weltmann picks up the shards and turns them over in his hands.
"Looks like pieces of an outsized ring to me. Where did you find it?" Continuing to examine the shards he goes on. "Teleportation ring perhaps. Attuned to one spot. Fine work. Dragoncrafted."
Vel, impatiently, tries to change the subject back. "Ibrox said you might be able to find out who took Pirot's book out of the Library."
"Interesting question."
Weltmann chirrups gently and a tabby cat wanders out from under the desk. "Damaris. Ask the Library who removed Volume 1 of Pirot's book if you please."
As the familiar vanishes, the Magister's face grows grim. "The list of possible candidates is not long. I find that perturbing."
Restlessly, he paces again, still turning the shards in his hands, having apparently forgotten he is holding them. Minutes pass and the cat returns. Seating herself firmly on the Magister's seat, she fastidiously washes both ears before announcing calmly,
"Archmagus Marovic removed that book and three others yesterday morning. The Library is unhappy. The volumes are all irreplaceable."
Weltmann blanches visibly, although whether this is in response to the news of the Library or the news of the Archmagus is hard to tell.
"Marovic," he repeats quietly. "and the other books, Damaris?"
"Vido's Taerastysraer, Tsyvarni's Art of Camoflague and Gerd Ironhammer's Vineyards of the Dwarven Realms," responds the cat placidly before disappearing.
"Sul-Malla got the Vido."
Arianwyn absorbs all this.
Arianwyn absorbs all this.
Four books have been removed from the Library by Archmagus Marovic. You know what happened to two of them.
Narissa got the poetry book
Pirot got the volume of his own history book and currently resides inside it.
You don't know what happened to the other two books, but you do know that Kyleth is after foxy and draconic attributes to speed her resurrection and make herself more powerful. Narissa is your best source of information about who the other victims might be.
Somewhere in the Library there is a further book, in which Kyleth has inscribed a rune of enormous power. Once that fades, she will resurrect.
Weltmann can't help you dismantle that. He can help you free Pirot, which you need to do in order to disable or destroy the rune in Kyleth's book.
It's up to you if you want to save the other victims either before they get trapped books delivered to them or from the books if you're too late.
Each victim will live four days in the trapped volume before Kyleth sucks them dry of power and takes their prime attribute.
Pirot Samagal taught both Weltmann and Kyleth at some point in his career.
"Anything else you need to know? If not, go away. I need to work on this and I can't with you lot breathing down my neck. The book, if you please, Master Eladrin."
Weltmann holds out his hand imperatively.
Arianwyn hands over the book slowly.
"Back to see Narissa then?"
"Yes," Vel says with a hint of distaste.
Arianwyn grins at Vel, "I'm sure you'll enjoy it really, Mistress Vel. Narissa might be able to give you a little... advice." he adds before leaving the study breezily.
Weltmann takes the book and waves the party impatiently out of the door.
Narissa's house is set within a garden cultivated and tended with rigour to make it seem like a fey wilderness. The area is dotted with gardeners, busily working on restraining the vibrant plant life.
Perception DC12
Muscular gardeners, equipped with scythes.
Arcana check DC15
You note that Narissa's guards include a selection of hanging vines and a compost heap that is almost certainly a shambling mound.
At the door you are greeted politely by a languid half-elf, wearing a jeweled coat, open to the waist. The lithe body rather belies his apparently lazy demeanour. He nods a greeting at Arianwyn.
"Welcome back."
Uncoiling himself, he stands in front of you. "Tiresome, I know, but I'll need your weapons. Orbs, staffs, swords and all the rest of it."
"Of course." Arianwyn says with a smile, handing over his sword.
He turns to the rest of the group and says, "Before anyone balks or comes out with some arrant half-cocked protest, I suggest you don't argue, lest the rather fearsome gardeners and the plant-life decide to evict us."
Vel hands over her orb silently.
Seraphiel nods graciously and passes his quarterstaff to the half-elf. Gobi politely props up his craghammer and starts divesting himself of his smaller throwing hammers.
"Thank you. A necessary precaution. My Lady is beset by many suitors, good and bad."
The half-elf removes calmly removes the proffered weaponry.
"I'll wait here." Whiteclaw says. "And if something goes wrong in there, I'll be the cavalry and bring everyone's weapons inside." Of course, this will also allow her to keep an eye on the guards, but she doesn't say that.
"What do you expect to happen?" asks the half-elf curiously. "You're welcome to wait. I can arrange for tea. Or maybe a meal of some kind. I'm not versed in gnollish preferences. Forgive my ignorance."
He offers a graceful hand to Whiteclaw. "Bankimcandra. Temporarily at your service."
Arianwyn
You know him from the old days. He acts as Narissa's steward and oversees everything to do with the running of her home, including the security thereof. Although you've never seen any evidence of it yourself, the rumour is that he's an adept swordsman and an able wizard.
Arianwyn shrugs at Whiteclaw's reluctance to enter, and says to the half-elf, "Well, Bankimcandra, shall we proceed?"
Kia has been deep in thought trying to understand all the arcane references and the runes and everything. She feels as if she ought to be in her element here as this is the stuff she is travelling to discover. However, she finds herself feeling a little lost. She is almost looking forward to the next battle.
Absently, she hands over her sword and crossbow.
"Here."
Then follows the others into the house.
Bankimcandra nods amiably.
"Of course. Madame Gnoll, I must ask you to remain here in this hallway. When I return I will be happy to provide you with whatever delights this house can offer you. I assure you, this dwelling is well guarded, but in order for it to remain so, certain precautions are necessary."
He bows once more and leads everyone except Whiteclaw through an ornate door. A bare few minutes pass before he returns and resumes his place alongside the gnoll.
"And now you must tell me what hospitality I can offer you."
All but Whiteclaw
Once through the door, Bankimcandra leads to the party through the house to a conservatory. Here Narissa is seated, leaning forward and in the middle of a story. Her audience is none other than Roswitha and judging from the dwarf's enthralled expression, the story itself completely fascinating.
"... of course I couldn't resist. Could you?" - Narissa's joyful laughter peals around the room. Roswitha nods energetically. "No. I don't think I could. How clever of him to do that!"
At the sound of approaching footsteps, the dwarf looks around, sees Gobi and runs towards him, holding her arms out and then stopping and looking embarrassed. Narissa rises more slowly, but her greeting is just as warm in its own way, especially when her eyes fall on Arianwyn.
"Welcome. Join us and have some lunch while you tell us what has happened. Something clearly has." She looks pointedly at the obvious signs of singeing and ink on your garments.
"I don't need any refeshments, I'm fine." Whiteclaw remarks, resting her back against a wall. "Thank you for the offer." Her tone is polite, though she scans around often like, well, a guard.
Inside:
Inside
"I see. So I was not the sole object of interest to your witch. Did you find Pirot Samagal and could he help you?"
Narissa gestures to you all to sit down, adding quietly, "Where is your gnoll friend ... not ..." the question hangs in the air.
Inside** spoiler omitted **
Whiteclaw
Bankincandra nods his appreciation of the gnoll's watchfulness. After a time, he stands up and performs a series of exercises. Whiteclaw has ample opportunity to see that he is significantly more combat savvy than first impressions may have suggested.
"My Lady believes she is under threat and I trust her judgment. It's a difficult balance to find ways to protect her that don't involve armed guards. Using the garden was my idea," he comments idly as he tests his reflexes.
Inside
Expressions of horror at Pirot's fate and relief that Whiteclaw is still alive flood over Narissa's face.
"Bankincandra will look after her. He's very versatile. Can you rescue Samagal? Believe me when I say that such a fate will be agonising. I felt the power and the pain of the doom awaiting me. Your witch was enjoying herself, I would swear it."
Inside
Narissa laughs at Seraphiel's comment. "You flatter me. Neither selflessness nor charity are among my virtues. I have an unreasonable desire to stay alive and my needs are notoriously earthy."
More seriously she goes on. "Truthfully, you know very little of me. I am greatly, greatly in your debt and trust that I will repay it in full in any way I can. But do not mistake the pleasure I take in the repayment for charity or virtue. There are many in this city who will tell you otherwise and they will be quite right. Your blessing is welcome indeed, but I am neither saint nor angel."
Inside:
Kia has been surreptitiously (for her) eyeing up Narissa and trying to compare her composure and demeanour to her own. Having finally decided that she, also (probably), cuts quite a fine figure (not that that is in any way important) she gets to the point.
"The man an the university, Weltmann, said that you would be able to help us with the other victims. About who they are, I mean. Er... Who are they, do you think?"
Inside
"Weltmann thought I would know who two more victims might be? I don't know whether to be flattered or upset. Did he say why?"
Inside:
"Oh right, yes. Begin at the beginning. Sorry. Well you see there were two more books that Archmagus Marovic took out with these. You got the poems, Samagal got his history and then there was Tsyvarni's Art of Camoflague (I've always wanted to read that) and sombody's Vineyards of the Dwarven Realms which didn't sound that interesting."
"Perhaps it would make more sense if you asked and I just answered - or someone else did."