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

Game Master Kyshkumen

As he waits for the chance to get on with the mission, Robert thinks back on what the letter contained from Princess Eutropia. Stupid Taldans... and their stupid politics.

His tail twitches from irritation at the crowd. He tries to keep an eye on the others as they await the start of the caper.

Sorry for lack of posting, been busy here. I didn't need to make any purchases, just would have read the letter when I had a chance.

Lucia stands near Robert, waiting to begin the mission.

Barham waits on the edge of the crowd with his fellow Pathfinders. His hand rests on his companion's shoulder, and the halfling is gratified that his companion has been allowed inside with him.

"Our my last visit to an Opparan theatre, to a Taldan opera house" he offers to the group, "poor Scrump had to wait outside. There was some sort of cultish business afoot, and things got hairier than my left heel right quick, I can tell you. Let's hope this venture goes more smoothly, eh?"

Robert opens the scroll tube which contains an unsigned letter asking the aid of the Pathfinder Society in procuring any information regarding the shining crusade in an effort to help the situation in Mendev. Along with the original letter is a formal request signed by the Arch-Exarch Gregorious to admit the bearers to the Kitharodian Academy's rare book collection. Toward the end of the original letter, the unknown source explains that the hidden entrance can be found by studying honor, courage and glory.

Seeing Robert studying the contents of the scroll tube, Tal sidles up to him. "Any clues in there on how to make this crazy plan happen?" he asks.

Kyrie frowns as she looks at the letter, then rolls her eyes when she gets to the clues. "... Architects and their egos," she mutters. "It couldn't ever be something simple like 'gem inlay in the center pillar, third blue gem on the left', they absolutely have to make it a riddle they're certain people will still understand centuries later... Right. Honor, courage, glory. I guess we'll be looking for three clues then."

You feel like you should find out where the library is and make your way there quickly, before Vassago's wooing of women draws to much attention.

Val sidles up to Vassago and whispers "You'd best quit flirting and make use of that tongue to find out where we're supposed to go."

You're obviously our party face, so let's see how well you can gather us some intel. :-D

"Later, my lovely.", turning around and shaking his head at the tengu. "Tact, my avian friend... never interrupt a man while he's working. Likewise, I won't tell you how you stab things.", pointing to the unusual weaponry at Taal's side.

"With that settled, let us find our way to the library, mi amigo!", as the ifrit looks to find an usher who can direct them to their destination.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Vassago manages to grab the attention of one of the ushers. "Welcome to the Kitharodian academy's music hall. Did you need my assistance in finding your seats this evening?" He is trying very hard not to stare at Taalaako or Barham's companion.

"Oh no, good sir. We are here to do... some quiet studying in the library.", displaying the writ from Gregorious.

The usher blinks and turns his head as if he didn't hear you properly. "I'm sorry did you say the library? That's a rather unusual request on the night of such a big performance. Maybe you should wait here so I can check with someone."

Need a bluff, diplomacy or intimidate.

"No worries my friend, just direct us to our location and we'll be on our way so you can attend to the guests, a far more important duty with such an audience, no?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Hrmm... could use a bit of help.

Seeing Kyrie and Tal with the letter, Robert quickly pats his pockets to see if they took anything else of his.

He was thinking back to what the letter said, not taking it out and reading it. Only a fool would have brought it with them.

"Fools!" he whispers harshly. "Put that away before someone sees it! And stay out of my rooms!"

He strides over to Vassago and the usher and snatches the writ from his hand. "As my over amorous companion was saying, we'd like to visit the library. It is unfortunate that the only time it wasn't reserved was during the performance. We were so hoping to enjoy it tonight. Hopefully it will be loud enough that we might be able to at least hear some of it as we conduct our research tonight. So if you would be so kind as to give us directions, you can get back to those lucky enough to not have to work on this glorious night."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 161d6 ⇒ 6 Using a point of inspiration for a total of 22

"Much better put, my cloaked friend!", patting the cloaked man on the back and smiling at the usher.

Looking back and forth between the two people in front of him he replies. "Well I guess your unlucky enough to have to work through this as well. If you go through those double doors on your right. Walk straight across the courtyard and into the next building. Go down the hallway on your left and it will be the fourth door on the right." He pauses a moment and adds, "It would be best to show that letter to the librarian on duty. They will not allow you in without it."

Keep in mind there are two letters. One from the mysterious benifactor and one granting access to the library.

"Thank you, good sir!", Vassago replies, rounding up the others and directing them to the library.

Following the directions the group makes it to the library. Opening the door you see a young man in scholarly robes reading a book, his feet propped up on the desk. "Oh Good evening!" He quickly jumps up and sets his book down. "You'll have to forgive me I was not expecting anyone during the performance. My name is Tobias and I am the librarian on duty, how can I be of assistance."

Kyrie looks around, playing the part of overawed unsophisticated bumpkin to the hilt while she lets the more eloquent members of the party do the talking.

"Tobias the librarian? Wonderful, excellent," Barham volunteers. "My friends and I are scholars, sent here to study the Rare Book collection with permission of the, er..."

He trails off, having forgotten precisely whose signature was imprinted upon their letter of admission.

"Perhaps you have a note or letter that I can verify? Even if you just gave me the name I would still need to.....what in the world is that?" Tobias points at Barham's eidolon clearly forgetting the business at hand. "I think I've read about those, yes that arcane mark you share." Tobias starts visually scanning the bookshelves, "I think it was in that book I read last week about extra dimensional planes."

Robert brandishes the letter from the Arch-Exarch. "This is what you are looking for I believe?"

Robert manages to get Tobias' attention by presenting the letter. "Ahh yes if I could just take a look at that." He quickly scans the document. "That all seems to be in order. If you could follow me please I will take you to the rare book section."

Tobias leads you through a set of double doors. Inside a large table stands at the center of this large room, whose walls are lined with rows upon rows of inset shelves. A set of double doors is the only way into the room, and two stone statues depicting bearded scholars with open books are the only other decorations.

Posting link to the map at the top of the page.

"We appreciate your help, young man. Here, for your trouble." Tal flips a gold coin toward the young librarian. "We'll likely be studying through the night. The books are through here, I would assume?" He indicates the double doors.

"I appreciate the generosity sir, however I can not allow you to stay over night as the library closes after the performance. That still gives you two hours to find what you are looking for. I will do my best to give you as much extra time as I can but unfortunately the head librarian will be stopping by after the performance."

"I'm sure we'll find a way, I'm sure it will suffice," Barham nods to the librarian. Once the man has gone back out the door, he casts a practiced spell and sets to searching the room with his eidolon.

Guidance and rolling Perception, Barham aiding Scrumpy.

B Aid Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
S Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Even with your help Scrumpy is unable to locate anything unusual about the room.

Robert glances around the room, then listens at the door to make sure the boy has left. Once he's sure they're alone, he turns to the others, "Ok, the princess' letter mentioned we have to study 'honor', 'courage', and 'glory'. So, why don't we spread out and look for books, plaques, or something with those words on them?"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

So looking around the room the two statues hold blunt styluses which look like they could be used to help read old, fragile texts. On the Western Statue's book are the words, "Innovation, respect, knowledge, courage, integrity, honor, excellence, glory"

Tal walks over to the Western statue. He tries to lift the stylus held by the statue.

"Well, that's convenient! Maybe too convenient though." Lucia says, looking at the statues.

Taalaako is able to move the statue's arm with little to no effort and also notices it seems to set on an individual word.

"Looks like we can tap the words with this stylus. Do you think we should just tap honor, courage, then glory?" Tal asks the group.

"What meaning would that have, mi amigo?", the bard not being privy to the contents of the letter from their patron.

"It's worth a try," Kyrie replies to Taalaako, after looking around to make sure the coast is clear.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Looks good.

"Here goes nothing." Tal taps the stylus onto the word honor, then courage, then glory.

The western wall silently swings open revealing a spiral staircase which leads down.

"­¡Excellente!", Vassago exclaims at the passageway's opening.

"Now, let's put our illusionary cards down for our cover as we see what we can discover!", the bard retrieving his card and placing it under a chair as directed by the Venture-Captain.

Tal also picks a chair and puts a card under it. He then takes a moment to study the illusory double of himself. "SKWAAK! Why does it have me reading an ancient cook book all about cooking poultry?!?"

Edit: One day I'll get the hang of switching to my in-character posting alias before I click Submit. LOL

Go ahead and place your icons to represent your images for when you put the card under the chair.

"Well done Taalaako, well done," Robert rasps out as he places his own card. He then goes around and starts selecting a few books pertaining to the same topic from the shelves. He opens them to random pages and places them in front of his illusion.

He then sighs, "If only our doppelgangers could perform actual research..." He looks around wistfully at the incredible collection of rare books, and is saddened that they won't probably actually have time to read any of them.

"Excellent work, now for the fun part!" Lucia says, peering down the staircase.

"Oh my," the halfling gasps as the hidden staircase reveals itself.

"That wasn't too hard, not too difficult. Let's be on our way then, eh?"

"Impressive," Kyrie agrees as she places her illusionary double on one of the chairs, in front of a few books on the history of combat techniques developed as a response to the incursions from the Worldwound, then follows Robert and Taalaako down the stairs.

You can here the musicians warming up their instruments. Sounds like the performance is starting.

I moved some of your images since you put them in the room where Tobias is working. Is there anything else you wanted to do here before you go down? Also the rules for searching the library are up on the campaign tab. Please feel free to ask any questions on the discussion thread. Oh and since the performance is starting that means the clock is ticking.

"Let us go, friends!" as the bard then finally becomes quiet for a bit to slink down the stairs.

Glancing around to make sure everyone's cards are in place and looking right, Robert nods to himself, makes sure his balaclava is still in place and follows the ifrit down the stairs.

Tal signals to Vassago to allow him to go first, quietly padding down the stairway.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Tal's quiet talon-steps are almost inaudible as he readies one of his chicken sabers, steadying himself on the stairwell's wall with his other hand.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

He peers through the relative darkness of the stairwell, his low-light vision allowing him to see at least a few feet ahead, watching for traps.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Hearing the music above, Vassago instinctively hums and even sings a few lyrics as he approaches the large doors ahead.
"In short, in matters vegetable, animal, or mineral, I am the very model of a modern Taldan general."