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"Ha!" Tam calls out from her stone steed. She pets its rigid mane. "I got use for you yet."
"Okay, so if we go left to right, one to four, same direction as Taldan script, then, let's put the bookish lion as one, my trusty ride here as two, that chained one as three, and the one with the flag as four. First learn history, Cunning twice, three 'Perseveres', and end with loyalty."
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With the final statue seated in position, a latch yields and the lion's head wall swings open revealing a deeper vault.
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.
Combing through this room and taking down notes of pertinent texts will also take 1 hour divided by up to 5 people using the standard skills (History, Linguistics, Book-related Craft or Profession).
The caretaker appears incredibly reticent and does not seem to want to join you in rooms 6 and 7. She appears to prefer to pretend that she knows nothing about what's going on. Instead she helps Untir clean up the swarm damage, albeit very slowly.
Research Time!
Copper: Skill - ??? Room - ???
Kolris: Skill - ??? Room - ???
Telos: Skill - ??? Room - ???
Narayan: Skill - ??? Room - ???
Yesmoro: Skill - ??? Room - ???
Untir: Mending the swarm damage for another 15 minutes
Clues being used:
???
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Current Assignments:
Copper: Skill - Sailor (18) Room - 8
Kolris: Skill - Local (31+5) Room - 7
Narayan: Skill - Craft (10) Room - 8
Untir: Mending the swarm damage for another 15 minutes
Telos: Skill - ??? Room - ???
Yesmoro: Skill - ??? Room - ???
Clues being used:
Bibliographic References (Kolris)
Others???
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Research Assignments:
Copper: Skill - Sailor (18) Room - 8
Kolris: Skill - Local (31+5) Room - 7
Narayan: Skill - Craft (10) Room - 8
Untir: Mending the swarm damage for another 15 minutes
Telos: Skill - Linguistics (23+3) Room - 8
Yesmoro: Skill - (+3) Room - 7
Clues being used:
Bibliographic References (Kolris)
Hand-Written Notes (Telos)
Cross Reference (Yesmoro)
After 20 minutes of research, Copper, Narayan, and Telos find themselves inundated with an incredible amount of valuable information, antiques, and other rarities.
Directly related to the assignment, they find a text about the great foe of the Shining Crusade and a document describing the lineage of rulers in Taldor.
This is a thin journal that explores the origins of Tar-Baphon, studies the circumstance of his lichdom, and analyzes 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.
This long scroll details the rules of succession throughout the history of Taldor. It also highlights times when the nation chose an heir in a way that was an exception to the rules. This matches the description of what the Pathfinder Society
is tasked to recover for Princess Eutropia.
Additionally, a broze shield decorated with a lion's head that matches the Guardian's head is tucked away in one of the many chests.
Beyond that, several chests are filled with display cases of ancient jewelry, once owned by Taldan nobility, logs of espionage activities performed by the Lion Blades throughout the continent, and even several dossiers on prominent pathfinders along with a suspected list of the ranks of the Decemvirate.
After another 10 minutes, Kolris and Yesmoro wrap up their research and are able to record notes from a few texts that indicate the possible location of a Taldan relic.
This text is a mess of esoteric poetry and obscure riddles. One of these entries describes a silver horn once
used by Taldor, which seems to be hidden somewhere in southern Brevoy. Spending considerably more time analyzing the poem may reveal additional hints about this horn and its location.
Another peak in the performance can be heard midway through the party's research, and it seems as though there will be one more piece performed before the end of the night.
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The Guardian looks at the shield brought to him by Narayan. "Ahh... I admire your resourcefulness. This shield seems as though it once held an enchantment much like mine... Bring it forward please."
He grips the shield gingerly within his mouth and concentrates for nearly a full minute. The shield's patina recedes, leaving a bright and burnished surface. The inside of the shield bears the inscription "Glorymane."
"Please, bring this shield with you on your quests. It now contains a spark of my awareness and will happily assist you on your journeys, so long as the cause is just or the potential glory is great."
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"Well, what do you think, everyone? Do we have enough information for the Society and its benefactor? Or should we make one last investigation before we go?" Kolris appears willing to push it to the last, risky, minute if need be.
He will continue to pay attention to the music above, listening for loud moments. "When we're ready, it might make sense to time our exit into the library above with one of these crescendos."
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"I agree with Telosss," Yesmoro hisses. "It would be preferable to take our leave early, but there remainsss work to be done. We need to clean up, our time will nearly reach a dwindle."
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Kolris is pretty sure he can give about 10 minutes notice before the crescedo that will mark the finale. The piece being played is a medley, but once the end comes in true Taldan fashion it can be expected to be rather bombastic.
Copper and Telos spend some time carefully placing the statues and the vault as close to their original states as possible and Untir takes some time to clear any remaining debris under the rug. The general's logbook that he repaired was easy enough to get some notes from, all of which will be useful to the Pathfinder Society.
The secret door is re-latched, and the trap remains armed, just as it was when you accessed it.
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Kolris keeps everyone apprised of the status of the music above. He nods to Untir, "all still quiet upstairs as far as you can tell?"
When the bombastic crescendo approaches, Kolris starts motioning for people to head upstairs. He follows behind and tries his best to undo the evidence of their passage, closing doors and locking locks as needed.
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The scorpion exudes an emotion of calm and relief as Untir returns into the rare books room.
The secret library is resealed and all of the cards recovered. After a few minutes there is a knock at the door to the rare books room and the libraries shouts in. "Closing in a few minutes. Wrap up your studies and put your books back where you found them. I hope you found what you needed."
Not having so much as a reason to suspect what went on, he happily escorts you off of the premises just as the visitors for the performance begin to trickle out and before long you are back on your way to the lodge.
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Venture-Captain Muesello excitedly welcomes you back and inquires what they were able to learn. Seeing the stacks of notes a wide smile crosses his face. "Congratulations on a job well done! My sources tell me that lion blade activity is no higher than usual... seems like you made out just fine. So what are your findings?"
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Narayan gives his report in a heated, almost offended tone,
The Lion Blades would roar and ssnarl if they were better massters to their sservantss. We found only maimed and imprisoned aides within the Library who have guarded our presencce mosstly due to our kindnesss and the Blades' sspite. They are a towering tree, but their rootss are rotten with thoughtlesss cruelties.
Narayan visibly calms and centers himself.
The Worldwound is today. We found notess of battle and sstudy from the Shining Crusade, and tales of an enchanted horn that was broken and propheccied to have losst itss powerss. This propheccy was given before Aroden's death. It may hold no truth.
Our Taldan friend may be dissapointed though; there were many times that an heir was chosen desspite their rules, and she already ssitss near the top of the tree.
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Muesello smirks a bit at Narayan's last statement. "I do believe that may be precisely what she was looking for. But anyhow, this information regarding the Shining Crusade will be most advantageous with our upcoming struggle against the forces of the worldwound... I'll see to it that these notes are sent forward to the Grand Lodge immediately. You have certainly earned your keep today Pathfinders."
~The end~
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As Untir listens to the Venture Captain, he absently strokes Da'e, now resting peacefully in his pouch. Thank you, my guardian. Thank you for keeping an eye out.
"I agreee. That was a most fascinating library. That so much knowledge can be kept within a space, and so reverently so. It was a pleasure to have worked with you, fellow Pathfinders. I am sure our paths will cross again." Stifling a large yawn, he continues, "But please excuse me. I believe it is time to retire."