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Mohok considers the puzzle a moment, then suggests, "If we have no other ideas about the order, how about we put them in the holes in the order we found them ? That would be the order most people coming into the library and making their way to this room would pass them in, right?"
He glances around at his fellow Pathfinders to see what they think.
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Valerio stands silently, furrowing his brow... "Perhaps... The messages themselves are a code? First, I must learn the history of Taldor; knowledge comes first. A cunning lie is never told twice; the crouching lion is second. Persevere, persevere, persevere; is three times over, so the burdened lion comes third. Finally, in the end loyalty is all that matters; so the flag bearing lion comes last?" He looks to the others, searching for any signs of support.
With bated breath, Zherohd slots the lion statuettes in Valerio's suggested order.
Just as the last one goes in, there is a loud click. Worried eyes go to every corner of the room searching for the traps or alarms, but in the end, the only movement in the room is nothing but the Guardian-esque lion carving swinging open to reveal another pair of double doors.
You pass through to find yourselves in a dead end. Chests of expert craftsmanship line the walls, and on the far side of the room stand two bookshelves burdened with yellow-paged tomes and sundry ancient trinkets. Banners and tapestries cover nearly every inch of the walls, each representing long-dead nations or depicting conflicts left not chronicled.
Even the briefest of glances at the tomes and parchments hidden away on the aged bookshelves reveals the wealth of information stored within. Primary, unmodified accounts of events from millennia ago; original versions of laws since replaced; records of foreign policy debacles quickly silenced in the interest of decorum; and remarkably objective (and sometimes empathetic) biographies of enemies of the state can all be found herein. Curious titles from all manners of topics jump out: The Unexpected Truth of Aroden's So-Called "Death", The Decemvirate: An Exposé of the Masked Leaders of the Pathfinder Society, Yes, the Aboleths Did It and Here's Why, The Secret Threat of Sarusan, Why the Eye of Abendego Endures... surely, somewhere in here, there is more information of the kind you seek for your mysterious patron relating to Taldan succession and the Shining Crusade.
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What's this then? Zosimos, you should show this to the Guardian. Didn't he say he liked the idea of being on a shield?
Zherohd is quite enjoying having access to these documents; not so much because he's a great seeker of truth or history, but simply because he enjoys gossip and finding out what people really think.
Magical Assistance: Some of the bookshelves bear a minor enchantment that aids researches, 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.
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.
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While the other five tackle the research room, Tippy sits on the steps outside with a small piece of paper, and their notes on the cipher clues they found. He looks quite frustrated when the others come out.
Unless they find a fourth cipher clue in this last room, Tippy shows you his work at some point on the way out of the library. Reading backwards taking every third letter gives you "QGMOEWK". Applying the shifting cipher turns that into, "TJPMCZN" and applying the substitution cipher gives, "DGSUKR?", as N doesn't have a counterpart in the substition cipher given. Applying the substitution cipher before the shifting cipher gives "H_UIFAC", since G doesn't exist in the substitution cipher given, then shifted, it reads "K_SGIYF". Hopefully, there's a fourth cipher clue to make sense of this stuff.
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Wrinkling his brow, his lips moving silently, Cesare suddenly brightens and begins talking. "Wait, wait! We're doing it backwards! Forget those," he says, pushing aside the first and third ciphers.
"It's this one. But we're doing it backwards. These are instructions to encode. We need to reverse it to decode!"
He starts talking at a furious pace. "K, that's...H. Y, that's...A... It reads 'HASTHEBELLOFOBEDIENCE'...'Has the Bell of Obedience'! That's it! Right? Has to be."
The crew set to (carefully) tearing this final vault apart for any sign of what they had come here to find, although a few hang back to puzzle out the ciphers now that they had a chance.
The most important of these findings is one long and weathered scroll found inside a tightly-sealed scroll tube. The parchment is aged and delicate, requiring tentative and careful hands, but the ink remains clear and true. The scroll details the rules of succession throughout the history of Taldor in excruciating detail, and notes how these rules have changed to serve one successor or another throughout the centuries. Any claims to the "purity" of rule and inheritance are thoroughly put to bed with this text. In addition, the parchment highlights various times when the nation chose an heir in a way that was an exception to the rules and the reasons behind that decision, including the succession of a daughter to the throne on one occasion. This detailed expose on the lines of succession matches the description of what the Pathfinder Society was tasked to recover for... your mysterious benefactor.
Perhaps less interesting to most of you--although quite fascinating for young Valerio--is a thin journal entitled Grave Consequences that explores the origins of Tar-Baphon, studies the circumstances of his lichdom, and analyses what the author knew of his necromantic techniques from the perspective of a scholar searching for a weak spot in the Whispering Tyrant's defenses. The cleric gets quite distracted with the tome while the others are busy deciphering codes or some other silly task.
In reading the text, you determine (with some excitement no doubt) that if you carefully read between the lines, one might be able to use the author's notes to recreate several of the Whispering Tyrant's techniques. These include novel ways to command undead, methods for empowering necromancy spells, and even a few details about how to become a lich. You realise that recording a few notes isn't going to be enough; this sort of discovery needs to be thoroughly digested to get the most out of it. No doubt Zarta Dralneen would appreciate a chance to... thoroughly debrief you and examine this journal on her own terms. Perhaps in a silken bedchamber with some delectable Egorian vintage wine on hand.
As yet another crescendo begins to build above, you realise you've got maybe half an hour at best remaining before your time here is up. Time enough to clean up any mess you may have left behind...
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"Makes sense to me," says Mohok, "especially since even the guardian of the library didn't know this room was here. Let's try to get things back the way we found them and get out of here before the cat-squeezers upstairs are done."
He sets to tidying the room they're in, as well as the previous room, and pondering whether they've taken care of all the other rooms they've visited.
Meandering back through the library, the group finds a few things they might be able to fix up on their way--a book left out here, a ladder to the higher shelves not pushed back into place there. Iliyana is escorted back to her room, and she quietly wishes you good luck in your mission.
When you return back to the main library, the Guardian cranes his stony neck to gaze upon the party with a curious smile. "Sooo, how did it go, then?"
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Zosimos checks not only where he's been, but also makes sure his various accouterments are secure. He makes eye contact with each of his teammates before beginning the hustle back. He stops for a short bit to tidy up one more thing,
"Madam, know that you have done a Good Deed this day. May your days in this august establishment continue until Pharasma calls."
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In a voice that rumbles almost as deeply as the stone lion's, Mohok responds to the Guardian's question, "It went okay. There were a few surprises, some books that even I found interesting, and a bunch of stuff I didn't completely understand."
He turns to his companions and says, "Hey, did we find a...how did he say it before? A 'a worthy receptacle to house his magical essence', I think it was. Did you guys find one of those?"
"Ho! Hoho! This is perfect indeed!" the mighty lion purrs, his stony blue eyes glinting in merriment as he beholds the bronze shield. "Jolly good, friends! Your resourcefulness is clear as day! Bring it here for a moment, won't you?"
Once someone brings the shield to the Guardian, he gingerly grasps the shield in his mouth, closing his eyes in concentration. All those with some sense of the arcane can feel the powerful magic in the air, kind of like the brilliant scent of ozone just before a storm hits--and even those of you without such a connection feel goosebumps crawl up your arms as the lion works his magic. Observation on the magical plane (as with detect magic and the like) reveals thousands of tiny motes of glowing, rainbow energy being drawn into the shield. With a sudden last flash of bright light, the ritual is complete, and the Guardian rumbles his approval as sight returns to you all.
The shield's patina has receded, leaving a bright and burnished surface without any hint of the wear of ages. The shield also now bears the inscription "Glorymane" across the inside curvature. On a magical level, the shield glows bright with golden energy; any who hold it feel a strange, almost ticklish sensation around their ears as something seems to make a connection with their mind. Something very confident and prideful indeed...
"I have infused the shield with a spark of my awareness," the Guardian informs the group jovially, "such that I can follow along with your great adventures in the outside world. I would gladly assist in any task, so long as the cause is just or the potential glory is great."
"Oh, and yes--as you might have guessed, Glorymane is my real name." The lion smiles proudly. "Such an epithet I share only with true friends... consider yourselves lucky to be blessed with the knowledge!"
You're now free to retreat back up to the upstairs study room, or whatever else you have in mind for leaving this library... might want to figure out how you'll smuggle such an amazing shield out of here without being noticed, though!
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What a story this would make! Cesare wonders how he could ever tell the story in word or song without winding up on the wrong end of the Lion Blades' blades. No doubt Glorymane himself will spill some portion of the beans soon enough. He resolves to ponder it some more once the group is free from this place.
"I don't suppose that one of you fellows has a spell sufficient to disguise our new friend here? If not, may I suggest that we cover him in a cloak and have Mohok wear Glorymane out on his back? Hopefully no one will notice that he's bulkier now than when we came in."
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From Mohok’s expression, it is clear he is pondering Cesare’s idea carefully. Eventually, he nods and says, ”I guess that would work, if it’s the only plan we have. But if anyone stops me to ask me about the big lump on my back, I don’t have much of a poker face.”
He then looks to the great lion head on the wall and says, ”How about you, Glorymane? Do you have any magic that would make it easier to sneak you out of here? If we get caught, they’ll bring you back in here for sure, and you’ll be sittin’ here lookin’ at the shield and wishing we had made it out unnoticed.”
Glorymane blinks. "Why would I have such deceptive magics?" he asks, almost sounding offended. Doesn't take much to set him off, it seems. "Oh, but I am sure you resourceful types can figure something out!"
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Without the faintest trace of sarcasm, Mohok responds, "This may surprise you, Glorymane, but I don't know a lot about magic. And you seem like you can do some pretty amazing things with your magic, so I thought maybe...anyway, no offense intended."
He then turns to his fellow Pathfinders and says, "So nobody's got a spell or other trick that'll be better than me just wearing the shield under a cloak?"
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Sorry my friend. I'm actually pretty new at this; I could make you drop it, or summon an animal to distract a guard with. But I know no illusions. We could try hiding Glorymane somewhere and coming back for him later carrying a decoy shield and switch then, but that seems excessively complicated and risky.
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"Now, this package contains several potions in case of emergency." Curious Pathfinders find the second parcel to contain a potion of invisibility and a potion of pass without trace. "This last one simply provides you with enough materials to do your job." The sachet holds several dozen sheets of paper and an assortment of writing utensils and ink vials, ready for heavy study.
Mohok, if you drink these then it will be easy enough to walk out unnoticed, and the rest of us can bluff about your absence if anyone notices it.
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Mohok's ugly face splits into a grin, his red-tinged eyes glittering with delight, "Now that's a good plan! I'd be happy to do that. The potion probably won't last long, so I'll wait to drink it 'til we're close to exiting the place. And if we go quick, they won't hear me stompin' out of here over the music!"
He shifts the lion shield onto his back with a quiet, "Ready to see the world, big fella?", takes the potion bottle in hand, and nods to indicate he's ready to go.
"Oh, you have no idea how ready I am," Glorymane rumbles, his eyes twinkling in merriment. "Good luck, adventurers! May your futures be as glorious as can be!"
It takes mere minutes for the group to make their way back up to the study room you were assigned to where your illusory selves are dutifully awaiting your return. Cesare quickly gathers up all the cards, the act of removing them from the chair enough to deactivate the magic without a trace. Mohok quaffs the potion, disappearing into the aether along with your stolen shield and the various other important documents smuggled out from the Library of the Lion, and the group heads back up to the main entrance hall with loud music booming through the hallowed halls from above.
Tobias nods at you as you head for the exit, pushing his glasses up his nose and looking over you with a smile. "Done already, are you? I hope you found what you were looking for." He doesn't seem interested in questioning you further, and doesn't even seem to notice that Mohok is not present...
Leaving the Kith is easy as pie--everyone who is anyone around here is cooped up in the grand theatre hall, after all, leaving scant but a few guards or wandering students around the place to notice your leaving (and they certainly don't appear to be bothered by your presence at all--even with the shiny lion shield hanging from Mohok's shoulders). After a brisk walk through the chill evening air of Oppara's streets, you make your way back to Muesello's bait shop and let yourself in.
The Venture-Captain is found in the back room of the secretive Lodge, warming himself beside the fire as he reads a red-backed book. He looks up in surprise followed by excitement as you enter, welcoming you back and offering you a seat before inquiring rapid-fire about your discoveries. The hitherto unknown facts about the Shining Crusade that you unearthed excite him to no end, and he begins to sift through your hefty amount of scribbled notes with great enthusiasm. "An excellent job, Pathfinders!" Muesello heartily congratulates you with a big grin. Almost lion-like, really... perhaps you've been spending too much time around Glorymane. "I will get these notes sent on to the Grand Lodge in Absalom as soon as possible. And, of course, forward this," he gently taps the scroll about Taldan succession with one pudgy fingertip, "to Princess Eutropia post-haste. ...Ugh," Muesello's eyes go wide as he realises he let that one slip at the last moment, and he whacks himself over the head. "You didn't hear that... alright? Not a word..."
For those with a particular interest in ciphers, Muesello is likewise thrilled to see you having great success in cracking it, and thanks you profusely for the extra efforts you put in to do so.
Next time you're around Absalom, you hear word that some of the best researchers had a field day with your discoveries, studying them in detail and forming a lengthy report that was then forwarded onto Mendev. Whether or not it truly provides the extra edge to the Mendevian Crusade against the invasion that threatens all of Golarion is unclear, but hey, you can feel the warmth of something good in the world...