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"Hmm.. I don't think I have anything more to add. The redactors are hard at work with these books, which used to contain history about Cheliax and how the life was here before the civil war. Other than that they have some artefacts they are working on, and that Nox woman is overseering it all from an underground garden." It replies to Meliora.
"I dont suppose you know how many redactors there are? Underground garden?"
She asked with a frown. She didnt like the idea that they were going to have to put this thing down. It seemed nice enough.
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"There are nine redactors working in shifts, two days from now the next shift comes with fresh redactors. They have an orgekin the temple saved somewhere and he delightful utilises his evil tendencies from his parents. Nox reacts of devil despite being human and has a hellhound she controls to great effeciency. The garden used to be a place for serenity and searching for the perfect self in accordance to Irori's teachings."
And then, Meliora had an idea.
A stupid, completely crazy idea, that pushed the limits of sanity and legalism, but legalism was pointless hooey anyways and loopholes were great.
"...so, friend. Buddy. What if I were to... inform you. That Raul betrayed them, and made plain what they were doing? And that a rebel group of book lovers had already attacked and slain everyone above, trying to get here to stop them in a bloody melee that finished off everyone above? And most importantly, the church knew about it and... sent a few specialists in dealing with rabble to help deal with the rabble? And that we need to pass through so that we can warn them and help them reinforce? After all, we both know that you're supposed to stop intruders. But if you convince yourself that we're not intruders--and if you look above you'll totally see that everyone's dead but Raul who is mysteriously missing--then you don't have to lift a finger, you can protect the books, and since you haven't technically broken your word you're entitled to your pay."
Yes, it was a clear and blatant lie, but she knows from spending several nights staring up into the eyes of a beautiful girl telling her that she was interesting that you never really had to make a sense motive check unless you wanted to.
"Well. I suppose that's what I get for being incognito." Meliora turns to head back up and work on stealing clothes from the redactors above.
"Come on, guys, we'll change into the finery and be right back."
"Yes, best to get out of these disguises."
Jack retrieves the tabard and other trappings from the dead priest, shaking them out violently in case there are any more spiders inside them. Once he's got the tabard over his armor and the unholy symbol around his neck, the ranger asks the others, "You really think this is going to work? That the scrivenite is really going to fall for this?"
"The guy's a Scrivinite, basically a bookworm elemental. I'll bet he's looking for an excuse to not have to follow orders since they're destroying books, so if we follow the letter of the rules and have a vaguely believable story, he isn't about to kick up a fuss. It's their fault for leaving a loophole that let us talk to it and figure out how to make him let us by."
She gives a confident smile.
"Basically... There are lies that you want to believe 'cause they're convenient, so you don't question it. Right? This is the same idea."
"And if we have to stab it in the head...err, cover a few times...can I use my longsword or should I use a silver or cold iron weapon?"
Meliora straight up shrugs. "I'm brilliant, but I'm not a miracle worker here. On the plus side, though..."
And there's the confident smile becoming a wry smirk.
"Well, you won't have to worry about it. You'd have to hit first, see..."
Lena takes the clothing with a horrified look on her face. She flatly refuses to put on the unholy symbol. I cannot do that. Even in the face of saving knowledge, and avoiding an unnecessary fight I cannot wear this symbol. I will carry it in a prominent place. Milani forgive me for that act."
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Don't worry Lena there is only 1 unholy symbol and Jack took that. THe redactors just had asmodean monk outfits.
She started to giggle so hard at Meliora's joke about Jacks swordmanship she almost snorted. She hurried along and did her best to warp the monk outfit about her but tried to fashion it in such a way that she could get rid of the damnable cloth if she needed too quickly.
Halfway through the process she realized this was stupid.
"Don't worry Jack you are getting much better at hitting things with your sword i think. I can use an alchemical mixture to disguise myself.. do you think this bookworm elemental can see through such things Melly? This monks robes are tight in the chest and smell like old sweat."
Jack gives Canacha a fake glare when she starts giggling but it turns into a speculative one-out-of-two-ain't-bad half-smile after her final comment.
When the group approaches the scrivenite, Jack tries to appear haughty and imperious.
Mic puts on what she thinks is the appropriate look as they walk back down. When the get close she looks the creature dead in the eyes saying.
"Good work. This was a good test for you."
and moves to keep going.
Lena puts on the monk outfit and follows the others. She gives the creature a nod and keeps moving. I hope this works.
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Most of you passes safely by the outside as it just quickly looks at your clothes and continue to read it's book. However it stops Micheria "Halt!" it says looking intently over her for a few minuts before tightning her monk outfit a bit. "You look way to laxed, the woman beyond is in a bad mood and looks for any reason to outst out imagined intruders."
Through the door you come to a set of stairs leading down taking aleft turn further down opening to different paths.
Mic stands up straight, trying to look concerned.
She grunts acknowledging what was said and keeps moving.
Glad it was mic that was stopped and not her she hurried after the others but stuck close to Meliora's side.
"Whew... that was close. You think once we stop all the Assmo's the thing will go away? Or will we have to like sneak by it again?"
She asked the wizard with a frown Once more trying to adjust her robes.
Meliora follows along, walking with what poise she can muster.
It's been way too long since she had to be poised, though, so the effect is questionable at best.
Then, once she's managed to get by, she responds to Canacha.
"Once they're dead, there's nothing else to guard. We'll just wander on out, and eventually the duration will end and it'll just... go back home.
Jack creeps to the end of the stairs and then carefully peers around the next corner.
She gives the srivner a nod in acknowledgement of the warning. "That went better than expected." she tells the group as they move to the next room.
"Jack let us know what you see, and I'll follow a little behind. Just in case." she stays about 20 feet behind him.
Still moving with stealth, Jack takes a listen outside the nearest door.
Peering back at Lena and the others, Jack pantomimes pressing his ear to the door before shrugging and shaking his head. He then carefully tries to open the door. If it's locked, he'll dig out his thieves' tools and try to pick the lock (unless Canacha scurries up to do it instead, like she usually does).
Waving the others forward, Jack moves quietly to the next door to the south, again listening before trying to open the door.
Meliora follows along at a safe distance. She's not talking, for once.
Lena moves forward carefully, and peers past Jack into the room.
Rather than risk leaving foes behind the group, Jack backtracks a bit and checks out the twin doors in the northern hallway.
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Two of the rooms are just small supply rooms for keeping the place tidy.
The last door opens into a slightly bigger room then the other sleeping areas. Set aside for the order’s Chancery Scribes—senior members who made great contributions to the library or the order’s understanding of history. This apartment features a private bedchamber, workspace, washroom, and a small portrait of a young Rexus Victocora flanked by a middle-aged man and woman.
"We should bring that to Rexus." Lena says.
She detects magic in the room.
She looked at the painting and tilted her head to the side a bit studying it.
"Yeah... we should. Think those are his parents? They look nice."
She began her voice sort of distant. Silently she looked for a way to take down the painting and remove it from its frame to roll it up. It would be too awkward to carry any other way.
Jack nods at Lena's suggestion. "It almost seems like no one's home, but I'm guessing we'll run into resistance soon enough...maybe all the Asmodeans at once. If we do, remember to let me target the humans: They're kinda dumb and occasionally forget to dodge when I hack at them."
Jack then leads the party to the southwest corner, peering cautiously round the corner.
"Noted." Meliora whispers. "If we see a bunch at once, I'm going to drop them down a hole. Or make them fall over via grease. One of the two."
"And I will shoot them... or blow them up... ooh ooh i have some acid maybe I will acid them away too."
She chimed in sounding a bit more like her chipper self.