After you have finished your research the lion nods, then you hear a click - the doors on each of his sides are now unlocked. "Good luck - may you find what you need for the glory of Taldor."
B6.
This long stone hallway terminates in an ascending spiral staircase to the north. Doors line the hall on the east and west.
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Lynn watched as Zzorn started to put the card catalogue into his backpack, "Don't you think it'll be a bit strange if someone comes down and finds that their cards are not present? We must make sure to replace it when we leave." She placed her hand on the intricate hilt of her rapier and takes a deep breath before descending hoping to everything that she'd have no reason to use it.
Zzorn enters the long hallway and heads to the southernmost room to begin the search of the secret vaults.
B7.
These small and simple quarters are sparsely decorated with only simple furniture and a stoic portrait of Grand Prince Stavian III.
This room obviously serves as the living quarters for somebody. It’s kept tidy, but there are still a few signs of daily wear and use such as a small tray bearing the remains of a meal on the desk.
A brass plaque on the frame of the portrait reads, “In the end, loyalty is its own reward.”
Seconds after you enter you see the blankets on the bed move and a women in her sixties appears from beneath the blanket. She turns around and is about to slowly stand up. You see that the woman is wearing simple clothes a cloth and blindfold. Additionally, she has four keys that hang from her waist.
"Hel ... Hello?" the woman says in a slightly timid voice.
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"Well met Madame. Enchanted to make your acquaintance. My name is Visbaron Zzorn Eilif of the Krearis prefecture, at your service. We are here to conduct research on behalf of the Pathfinder Society in order to find ways to turn the tide up north and help the Mendevian Crusade against the hordes of demon threatening Golarion. We have discussed the matter with Glorymane and he let us pass, judging our efforts to be a worthy endeavor. I take it you are the caretaker of this library yes? What is your name Madame?" says Zzorn strolling forward, taking her hand, and bowing at the waist to kiss it.
"Path ... Pathfinders? Who is ... is Glorymane? So ... under whose orders are you here? I certainly hope you have some sort of royal authorization.", she says with a mixture of surprise and affront.
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"We are here on official business of the utmost importance to all of Golarion. We've heard rumor of ancient documents here in the libraries, and hope to find information on the worldwound. Please, tell us if such texts exist so that we may sit and trade tales. This is surely no place for a woman of your standing i'm sure, the air must not be good for the bones."
She seems to be a bit more relaxed, but still very nervous and very silent. But suddenly explodes "Your stated intentions are treasonous! I ... I am Ilyana Baslee and I require you to be escorted by lion blades in these halls. Irrespective of your intentions!"
You have heard of the Baslee familiy. Years ago, the government of Taldor caught Ilyana's husband Rinald delivering state secrets to a foreign agent, though that agent was actually a Lion Blade in disguise. Soldiers arrested both her and her husband, stripped them of their titles, and placed their son in custody of the state; although Rinald was clearly guilty, they couldn’t prove Iliyana’s involvement beyond that of a passive accomplice. She was presented with a choice: go into exile alone or work to further the glory of Taldor in reparation her husband’s crime.
Ultimately she chose the latter, even though it meant being in the custody of those who took her husband from her.
She has clear doubts on how to react. Her emotions are wandering from hope to fear. When she spoke of the lion blades it was clear to you that her emotional allegiance is not as strong as she wants you to believe.
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There is no need to resort to violence or even threats, madam. We wish you no harm, and we aren't here to cause mayhem into this precious library. Please. Let's have a talk. You don't really want to involve the Lion Blades, do you?
Baied sits on the floor, showing both her willingness to resolve this dilemna by diplomacy and her unwillingness to move right now.
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"Baeid, what do the Lionblades have to do with her?"
Assuming she relays what she knows..
"Oh, i see."
Alice softly sings something in halfling, casting guidance and enhanced diplomacy on herself.
"M'lady, my companions speak the truth of our intentions of learning of ways to stave off a demon horde elsewhere. Given your most unfortunate circumstances, you would not wish for those miscreants to come down here, would you? I am me, but i'd smile knowing if i'd pulled one on -them- instead."
Iliyana looks at you with some unease "At the beginning I thought that you are students, but then I realized that no student would be here during a major musical performance. And do not believe that I am unperceptive - I can identify nearly every regular visitor by voice and the sound of footsteps. So I appreciate that you did not lie to me. Trying to convince me with false credentials would have probably led to me to scream for the guards and for my life."
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Your life isn't threatened. We are not here to fight, I assure you. We just need certain informations to help a most noble cause, fighting the Worldwounds demons. I serve Abadar, and it is my duty to preserve civilisation, and this library is a fine example of civilisation. You told us your name, would you like to know mine, as a gesture of good will, and to be on equal terms?
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"Baslee... your family name sounds familiar to me, Madame, but I cannot quite remember where I have heard about it. As for royal authorization... well... let us just say that royals often require discretion in certain matters. Not all Lion Blades are created equal, Madame, and while the organization has a noble mandate in the protection of Taldor, its secrecy can be a downside for the good people of Taldor in that it oftens conceals the truth from them.
As for Glorymane, it is the true name of the sentient lion-head guardian in the large library to the west. This noble guardian has informed us of his displeasure with the Lion Blades and how they have neglected him along the years by defaulting on their reports and updates to him.
Have the Lion Blades similarly... neglected you? if you don't mind me asking... what happened to your eyes, Madame?" asks Zzorn, looking at her simple clothes, her blindfold, and the daily wear present in the room. He sits on a nearby chair to accentuates his offer to listen to her patiently.
"Please state your names and your origin. Then I will consider to reveal my origin." she says with some curiosity.
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Lynn stepped forward slowly, assuming the old woman was blind, and she gently took her hand in her own. The woman felt beneath Lynn's glamour and knew the soft, furred hands that grasped her own. "I am sorry for your loss Miss Baslee. I have heard tales of your fall from grace, though mostly in the whispers of taverns. The places you find the most truth are often the home of drunken tongues. We wish you no harm and have only come for the texts and to liberate whoever we may from their torturous captivity."
Lynn placed her other hand on top of Baslee's as if begging but also a sign of sincerity.
"I am Lynn Kuro of the Grand Lodge, i am a seeker of knowledge and adventure, but also a protector of this world and all the beauty held within it. To know of your plight and that those who you loved are gone because of the same who imprisoned you brings me no joy. If you wish to leave and start a new life, you need only to say so. I have spells and skills that would allow me to escort you out of here in a new guise, to let you be free of this existence. None of us are here to harm anyone and we will only do so if there is no other course of action and even then we will search for an alternative. For that is the way of the Pathfinder."
"I am sorry for your loss Miss Baslee. I have heard tales of your fall from grace, though mostly in the whispers of taverns. The places you find the most truth are often the home of drunken tongues. We wish you no harm and have only come for the texts and to liberate whoever we may from their torturous captivity."Lynn placed her other hand on top of Baslee's as if begging but also a sign of sincerity.
"I am Lynn Kuro of the Grand Lodge, i am a seeker of knowledge and adventure, but also a protector of this world and all the beauty held within it. To know of your plight and that those who you loved are gone because of the same who imprisoned you brings me no joy. If you wish to leave and start a new life, you need only to say so. I have spells and skills that would allow me to escort you out of here in a new guise, to let you be free of this existence. None of us are here to harm anyone and we will only do so if there is no other course of action and even then we will search for an alternative. For that is the way of the Pathfinder."
After the words of Heria and Lynn the blind woman cannot hold her facade anymore and tears start to flow down her cheeks. She cries and cries for almost a minute before she starts to sob and speak at the same time.
"Oh you cannot imagine ... to me you represent either a chance to be redeemed in the eyes of my captors by betraying you or as a means of seeking revenge against the empire that I feel has turned its back on me and my family."
Breathing between the words is hard for her but she continues.
"Years ago, when the administrator learned that I had been studying some of the secret books while repairing them, he ordered me to be blinded — can you imagine that?" she cries out.
Without waiting for an answer she angrily adds "They said they would cure me once my service was complete. Since then, I have worked and worked. I once hoped that my work would lead to me seeing my family restored and reunited, but years of thankless service have convinced me that the Lion Blades may never release me from service or restore my sight. Instead, I suspect that my role here is as much to remind students the price of disloyalty, as well as the lesson of keeping one’s allies close but one’s enemies closer." with a bitter voice.
"I really fear that any open rebellion on my part will result in difficulties both for my husband and for my son! But you have convinced me that any help I can provide is in Taldor’s best interest. But please ... this is never allowed to be traced back to me!" she pleads.
"Thank you for your kindness! You convinced me that helping you is the right choice."
She looks down at her keys "With these keys you can open locked doors and I will further lie and otherwise hide that you were ever in this library!"
Then she smiles "Furthermore, I believe that I can assist you to search the areas for documents that might be relevant for you!"
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As Lynn wipes away the elderly woman's tears, Zzorn strong arms envelop the two women in a group hug, "There's room for one more... get in there Alice!"
Iliyana looks at Criscius and then nods "Your friend is right. Let us hurry!"
Iliyana puts on a robe and walks back into the hall to the next room. She opens the room without using her keys and hears into the room. "All clear but I believe the next room is more interesting for you." she says and continues to the next room.
You take a quick look into the room she just left untouched.
B8. The Study Chamber - Small room
Five broad desks line the walls of this study room. Each work surface is
covered with stacked volumes brimming with page markers as well as numerous open books.
You would guess that this room is a quiet area to read and research without
any risk of interruption by other Lion Blades.
Iliyana walks to the next door and says "I have the keys to this room but never was allowed to enter without the headmaster or a senior lion blade. I also know that some strength is needed as the lock is not the best."
She takes the key from her waist and hands it to you.
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Zzorn gives the halfling female a good squeeze. Then a second one, to make sure she feels truly included... and to make sure it's her.
"Aye! a competition of strength? Praise Kurgess! May the stronger man win!" says Zzorn, holding out his hand to shake Criscius' own.
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Not sure who or what got into the group hug - it felt good anyways - Zzorn follows Illiyana to B8 begins his search.
Baied, Lynn, Heria, Alice: Small Room B8, 30/4 = 7.5 min
[Alice or Baied highest skill with Craft Alchemy or Profession Merchant both at +9]
for B8
Total Time Spent by Party so far: 7.5 B3 + 15 B4 + 10 Lion RP + 15 B5 - 2.5 for Team 2's early B5 contribution + 7.5 B8 + Illiyana RP = 45min + 7.5min + Illiyana RP = 52.5min + Illiyana RP time.
While Baied, Lynn, Heria and Alice work on room B8, Zzorn and Criscius work on that B9 door with key/shoulder combination.
Baied, Lynn, Heria and Alice start to work on the study chamber and the books that were read by individual lion blades.
Zzorn and Criscius receive the key from Iliyana and the door is really a little tricky to open but you jointly manage to push the door and manipulate the key to enter the room.
B9. Ancient Books Room
Criscius and Zzorn immediately see that this room is full of ancient books although it is quite dark. 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 stored within free of dust.
Criscius and Zzorn enter with Iliyana and she looks around.
"This room contains many of the oldest, rarest books in the entire collection, and the dark conditions and sealed cases help to keep the paper in good condition. Although all of the shelves contain a multitude of old books, one case’s contents are particularly special." she says and points towards the center shelf on the east wall.
"I was always instructed not to touch the books in the this center shelf, but that command dates back to when I could still read; I believe that the books in this shelf might be particularly special or noteworthy." she continues.