GM Kyshkumen's PFS 5-11: Library of the Lion Alpha (Inactive)

Game Master Kyshkumen

...and then there was this old woman in the temple district, running an orphanage. One day, a group of adventurers were sent with a package of charity medicine and a request to investigate...

...on that day the entire Blakros museum was covered in a thick fog...

...goblins, with firecrackers...

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 5 = 31

The lion listens to all of Miko's stories intently and seems very pleased with all the attention it is getting. "You have been most kind so I shall do what I can to help you. Regarding the shining crusade, I do not believe you will find anything helpful in this section but you may have some luck in the rare books located further in the library. I think one of you asked about the key." He then opens his mouth to reveal a key. After one of you takes it he continues. "There is a blind care taker back there as well, she talks to me from time to time and I believe she is unhappy with the current administrator as well. Perhaps you could convince her to help you as well." He pauses for a moment to consider something. "If you could do me one more favor, I grow tired of this place and how they treat me. You sound like you have many adventures and I wish to go with you, if you can find a suitable vessel I believe I can transfer my essence into it."

Tuich frowns. "I may have something suitable, but are you sure you would want to do that, noble lion? I have some experience with disembodied spirits," she says, her silks suddenly going still as if something is trying to be inconspicuous, "and I get the impression that it's not entirely pleasant."

Then she asks more thoughtfully, "And if I might be so bold -- and purely to judge the potential negatives for you -- what would your essence be? That is to ask, what are you? With all due respect," she smiles sincerely, still clearly fascinated.

Not sure if Diplomacy would be required, as she's speaking truthfully and from the heart with no ulterior motives, but:

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

"I am a magically created being, and what vessel did you have in mind?"

Garedon is momentarily too excited to speak given the prospect of a magical intelligence, especially one interested in lore: the greatest of his line created them as companions and even advisers, but he fears that that talent will be forever denied him.
PFS rules and all. ;-)

Taking the lion with us is the just and noble thing to do, he rationalizes, though he is forced to admit to himself, most unwantedly, though to do so will also assuredly betray our presence - or the presence of someone, at least - in the secret archives, once the lion is seen to no longer be present or working.

"Well... would a glass flask be sufficient to get you out of here? Then we could switch you to a nice decorated urn or whatever you might like."

"If you don't need much space and it doesn't need to be sealed, I also have a very nice silvered battle aspergillum you could inhabit for the interim." She giggles. "And I promise not to hit anything with it while you're a tenant."

"We would need to do that on the way out, though. We must acquire the knowledge we're seeking first."

The lion considers the items Tuich presents him. "Unfortunately those are not compatible, just keep a look out for anything you think might be fitting for me. I'm sure you'll know it when you find it."

Tuich nods thoughtfully. "Alright. Thank you for your help... erm... is there a name we should call you?"

She looks to Garedon. "How are we doing for time? We should press on, yes?"

she is unhappy as well

You are unhappy with the current administrator then?

Miko picked up that bit.

And the caretaker as well. Blind, you say? How quaint. How does a blind woman get to be caretaker of a library?

So many questions, so many riddles, so little time.

Thank you mister... eh... Lion, for the key and the help. I will be sure to return the favour and seek you a vessel. Tuich has already mentioned some items, will they do?

'cause I only have a bunch of firecrackers, and I'm sure he wouldn't be comfy living in THAT

----

Miko is happy to try the key on the door that didn't open previously. Once on the other side, she says

So we have this caretaker that is in the same boat as the lion. Do we trust her? Or do we avoid her?

"I am know as the guardian of the library, and yes I am unhappy. The administrator does not like the way I teach history lessons as I 'tend to take liberties with the information' as he put it. Yes the caretaker is in agreement with me about the current administrator. After they caught her reading some of the books he had her blinded. So she did not start off as a blind caretaker. Anyway I wish you luck friends and will await your return." The key unlocks either one of the doors. On the other side is another long hallway that terminates in an ascending spiral staircase to the north. Doors line the hall on the east and west.

"Do you know the particular room, Guardian of the Library, that the caretaker resides in?"

Garedon looks at his hourglass and reports, "56 minutes elapsed, 64 minutes remaining."

On the other side of the door - as they are moving to the next location - Garedon quietly replies to Miko, "My tendency would be to avoid her - and anyone else or anything else - that could identify us as not being the usual users of this place. As for how she is a caretaker, I do happen to know a legendary sage who is functionally blind but has a tremendous memory and, of course, assistants."

"I am not really sure as I do not get to see outside of this room. I think it is on one of the ends of the hallway."

"Blinded? How awful! And how very wrong," she adds quietly.

Tuich nods at the lion's comment about not knowing where the caretaker resides. "You don't get to see very much at all do you, poor thing. Just staring at this room all the time. I hope we can find a way to help you. In the meantime, thank you again, mister Guardian of the Library!"

"We need to be quicker," she says to Garedon in a low voice. "Half our time gone and we've found almost nothing." She looks at the floor guiltily. "I know I haven't been much help. Anything you think I can do..." She raises her voice. "Anything any of you think I can do to contribute at any time, please say!"

She looks down the hall. "Well I doubt we want to go up. Which door? Or should we split into smaller teams to save time?"

I did a quick check on your time and I made an error in the calculations. So the correct time is 40 minutes since you placed the cards.

Garedon moves to one of the middle rooms across the hallway, first looking over the door and listening at it, then - if he doesn't hear anything - opening it slowly and carefully before peering in. If the room is empty, he begins searching it for clues.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 2 = 31

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 2 = 25

(Wow, those are some good rolls.)

Miko lets Garedon enter the room, but once he starts his search, she'll move to stop him

Garedon, no. There's four doors here. If any of them lead to another hall like before, we won't have enough time. Let's first find the rare books room the lion mentioned. Maybe this caretaker know where it is?

Bookcases cover nearly every inch of the walls in this room, which is only faintly illuminated by small lights set into the ceiling. A glass-paned door seals each panel of shelves, keeping the ancient tomes sored within free of dust.

Medium room my use Appraise to search. All normal search skill get a +2 bonus here (History, Linguistics, etc.)

"As you wish, although I would avoid the 'caretaker', myself, for the previously-stated rationale. Additionally, there is the strong and significant probability that my maximal skill set does not normally - and even less so, presently - encompass the subset of skills that are most commonly associated with engendering positive social interactions. Colloquially, I would not envisage myself as being referred to as a 'people person'."

"I would also note that the books in this room have the additional protective measures of being enclosed in glass-paneled bookshelves, which may be indicative of their rarity and assessed value. Hmm. 'Portals' and 'enclosures' related to items and areas of value protected in one way are often protected in another, such as by alarms and traps. I will endeavor to scan the room for magic."

Cast Detect Magic and scan the room.

I assume that Garedon's um, 'soliloquies' usually involve other people going on and doing other things, such as checking the other rooms and whatnot. Don't worry: he'll catch up.

"Don't make deals you don't fully understand, Tuich," Vyk scolded. His features softened and his voice grew sad. "Trust me."

Appraise: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"I doubt I could do worse than some of the deals thrust upon me without my consent," Tuich sighs as an unfelt breeze ruffles her silks. Touching Vyk on the arm she adds, "We need to talk later."

"I agree with Miko. We should see what's in all of the rooms before searching the books in each. We could save a lot of time that way.

Vincent gestures towards the other three unopened doors and the unexplored stairway. He goes up to another door and checks it for traps before opening it.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 plus a casting of Detect Magic

He just went on and on, producing this indistinguishable stream of words. Incomprehensible. At the time, I got the impression it wouldn't be a good idea to let Garedon talk to any caretaker, so I let him set out on his business, hoping to catch up with him later.
--Miko Teppen, personal notes.

Glad to know your on my side, Vincent. Us Taldans have to take care of each other

Seeing Vincent examine one door, she moves to the next one.

Perception+Detect Magic: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Well, everyone's taking a door so I guess I should too. Maybe I can actually contribute...

Tuich moves lightly to the last door before the spiral staircase. She casts Detect Magic to check for any auras, (maintaining as necessary to determine type/intensity if so) then examines the door as carefully as she can without touching it, looking for any kind of mechanical traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2

Sigh. I gotta get the poor girl some skillz. <Riddick voice>"Looks clear!"</Riddick voice>

Garedon gets some magical auras from a few books in one of the cases (Green border on the map).

Finding no traps Vincent opens the door and finds five broad desks lining the walls of this study room. Each work surface is covered with stacked volumes brimming with page markers as well as numerous open books.

Small room

Miko hears some movement on the other side of her door.

Tuich opens her door as she did not find any traps. Inside two rows of tall bookshelves flank the imposing yet beautiful wooden desk that presides over this room. Over the door hangs a portrait of Gran Prince Stavian III, portrayed wearing an especially smug grin.

Small room

Tuich quietly slips into the room. This must be like a private library or study room. She turns in place, quickly scanning the desk and bookshelves. As she faces the door she notices the painting.

GM, would the prince be well known or is there maybe a nameplate on the frame? Or to Tuich is it "just some guy?"

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Whee, fumbled Perception! Watch where you step, she lost a contact. :op

Not seeing anything that stands out, she casts Detect Magic to check for auras again, inside the room this time.

There is a plaque on the frame that reads, "A cunning lie is never told twice." Also you find two bottles in the desk that glow with magic auras.

As before, extending the duration of the spell to obtain maximum information. (She doesn't have a Spellcraft skill.)

After the initial searches of each room, Garedon will either go to aid another group or search this room with a group (needing 4 more).

Garedon moves towards the magical books or shelves to give them a closer inspection.
Use the extra two rounds of Detect Magic.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Tuich leaves the room with what information she could gather and joins the diviner.

"Garedon, 'A cunning lie is never told twice.' Does that mean anything to you? It's on a painting of some guy in the next room. There's a big desk in there two, and full bookcases along two walls. But I don't know what to look for."

"Oh, and two bottles with auras," she adds, almost as an afterthought.

Garedon moves closer and notices some of the loose pages on the magic books fluttering slightly. After studying the auras he is fairly certain they are magical constructs.

Lady Adelaide follows behind Miko, ready to help in whatever way she can. Privately, she notes that she is quite possibly the least helpful Pathfinder that could have been sent on this mission. They ought to have sent another Miko or Garedon in place of me, she thinks, her face expressionless.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

"Hmm. Fascinating. Well, best leave them be for now, unless it turns out that they are the 'fitting' vessels."

Garedon considers Tuich's new information: "Another 'virtue' of the monarch, Grand Prince Stavian III? That sentence means remarkably little to me... Falsehoods are the mortal enemy of true scholarship."

If I can, I'll use my Knowledge (History) role of 25 before, or 27 with the +2 provided by the room.

"This library is a work of art. If we weren't so pressed for time, I could easily see myself getting lost in here for weeks," Vyk notes wistfully.

I'll also go with Miko, since it's the last room.

Perception : 1d20 ⇒ 2
Knowledge Planes : 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 2 = 25

I'm pretty sure I heard someone or something on the other side Miko whispers. If it's the caretaker..

Let's stay clear of this room for now, and be really quiet in this next room.

Though I'd love to hear her story. Miko adds as a curious thought. She can barely contain herself going into the caretaker's office.

With a barely suppressed sigh, she moves to help Garedon.

K(History): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

I think we'll fit five in this room, right? Shall we search with five, and give the sixth a headstart in a different room? Or search with four here, so that two can start? Not sure what is optimal here, but it seem wasteful to have people unoccupied in searching...

Tuich will stay out of the room since she'll just bring the roll average down -- you folks with some actual skills get in there.

And Lady Adelaide, I think Tuich would give you a run for the money on the "least helpful Pathfinder" role!

It's not about the average, it's about the best roll. Even if you don't have a 'helpful' skill, you can still bring in valuable support by bringing the search time down.

I understand, but someone with a +7 for example is, on average, going to contribute more to the total, as well as a good shot at the best individual score, than someone untrained and taking a penalty. If we can't all fit in a space, those with the highest potential should be involved. Now when we find a door that needs unlocking or a trap to be disarmed, get out of Tuich's way. :o) And ask Kawrock how she did against the first wave of giant rats. But other than The School of Hard Knocks, knowledge... not so much.

Actually they are going to need you tuich as all the glass cases are locked in that room.

Oh great, call my bluff! :oP

Anyway, ready when they are...

Well I think you need to do some disables before they can search. If it is alright with the group I will use Miko's 18, Garedon's 27, Adelaide's 15 and Vyk's 27 so there is room for one more.

I was speaking of an in-character cue of some sort, but if the searches have already been done then I guess this has to be retroactive, so we just assume someone called for her.

"Well, I'm not Sczarni; they seem born with the skill to pick a lock. And it's not like I run around opening other people's stuff all the time, so I haven't have a lot of practice. But let me see what I can do." She shucks out of her backpack for improved dexterity, opens a leather tool roll, pulls out a pair of fine quality picks, and sets to work.

I haven't seen a count of locks yet but it looks like nine cabinets in the map picture. Using Masterwork lockpicks and casting Guidance before each iteration. Going clockwise starting from the first one right of the door. She'll go around the room trying once on each lock. Then she'll go 'round again based on the results, GM.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 21
Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 27
Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 17
Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 14
Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 28
Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 15
Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 25
Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 26
Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 23

The three on the left are still locked.

Having circled the room and opened all but three of the bookcases, Tuich returns to them to try again. (Same circumstances and clockwise as before.)

Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 21
Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 16
Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 25

It's looking like a DC 20 so I'm guessing the second of those still didn't "take," so a third try:

Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 22

Zat do it fer ya?

So after about 2 minutes Tuich has all the cases unlocked.

Not too shabby for a non-Rogue... though I've sullied her image by being effective at such a shady pursuit, haha!

Uh, oh! I hope you didn't open the cases with the 'lively' book constructs! I'll say Garedon advised against it (as he was mentioning leaving them alone before IC), but leave it up to others to say what was actually done.

The cases are unlocked but not open.

Shall we, uh, carefully relock that case that Garedon said was dodgy? And then finish searching this room?

Uh, oh! I hope you didn't open the cases with the 'lively' book constructs! I'll say Garedon advised against it (as he was mentioning leaving them alone before IC), but leave it up to others to say what was actually done.

Avoiding the magical book case the team searches through the unlocked cases.

Vincent Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

After 12 minutes the group is able to fully search all of the other book cases getting three new clues.

Clues will be on the campaign info tab.