"Master McDarrow, Arasmes found this book in the ruined temple before we were attacked by the zombies," Taltōsh said, handing the book to the dwarf.
"Again, it's in a very old dialect of Varisian. I cannot translate it."
"Could it be what we needed from the place?"
"I did sort of feel something calling me to it. Perhaps the Dark provides?"
Gryfford considers the book on the table.
"Is there some sort of Varisian scholar in Sandpoint, who could translate it for us ?" he asks.
"I hate to brag, but the Dark has provided me with the ability to read ancient tongues before. Admittedly I mostly used it to pass my history exams, but I think it could work for this too."
Arasmes' tone is light but he's lying. He used the spell for something important, not cheating on a history exam. He seems to be trying not to rub the superiority of the Dark over the Light in people's faces... and maybe doesn't want them to know what he actually used it for.
Taltōsh held his tongue at what Arasmes said, turning his attention to the food on the table, while still listening to the conversation.
"Don't be modest, Arasmes" Gryfford says, while smiling good-naturedly.
"If you can translate that tome, well... we're all ears, I guess."
"I can't do anything till after midnight - anyone got any ideas we should do till then?"
Taltōsh turned his attention to the dhampir.
"Eat, rest, ask Marie what she was doing in that supposedly abandoned temple."
Elorin frowns and shakes head as he gets to his feet while looking at Arasmesem The paladin looks as if he is begining to say some thing befor turning away and moving to lean against the wall as he looks at the others.
Angus flips through the book and you see as he touches it the pages glimmer in a silver light. Suddenly in front of your eyes the world flashes away and you see a glowing gem hovering in the air. Then without warning it flashes away and you are standing in the dining chamber again.
"That was--unsettling," Taltōsh said dryly.
"Is this going to be the result of every book Master McDarrow touches?" the others could tell by his tone that the sorcerer was jesting.
"I've long suspected that books are bad for your health."
Gryfford winks to Alia, obviously joking too.
"Hmmm... anybody got an idea of what this gem was ? Is it the... how do you call it... that we're searching for ?"
"The... Dark Eye..." You hear Marie's timid voice speak from where she's standing at the back of the room.
Taltōsh turned in the young woman's direction.
"The Dark Eye? What do you know of it?" he asked.
Arasmes spins round to look at Marie, then recovers his aplomb. "You recognise it?"
"Well... that's intriguing." Alexia comments softly, waiting to hear more from the others.
She looks a bit nervous at the attention, but continues speaking. [b]"I've heard the rumors of course... I mean...that is to say in my studies at the college it was referenced." She stops speaking and looks timidly back at the group.
Taltōsh said, "Do not fret, milady. Please continue."
"It is supposed to be the key to planar travel. I had a mentor who was very interested in that realm of understanding. Why are you searching for it?"
Arasmes bites back his suspicious comments about this "mentor"
"Just going to check something" he says casually, as he starts casting
Casting detect magic.
Is there any magic on the book?
Is there any magic on the girl?
Is there any unaccounted for (like clairvoyance maybe) magic in the room?
Elorin watches intently.
Angus thinks to himself and flips through the book.
"Can anyone read this? The words are extremely foreign."
Arasmes spends perhaps thirty seconds in silence. When he speaks he is colder.
"Interesting... I detect no illusions about the book, but it is magical. Does anyone know a spell that can decipher occult glyphs? Perhaps they are mixed in with the normal words."
Elorin shakes his head. "No. Master Angus, can anyone in town assist us?"
"There is magic that can unravel such words, but unfortunately that spell is not one that I know," said Taltōsh.
Looking to Elorin, he added, "I second Elorin's question."
Angus looks again and various pages of the book, "There's no one in town, I know of a linguist who resides in Galduria north of here. Perhaps in the morning we could set out and see if he can aide us?"
Alia leans over and whispers something in his ear and then he nods, "I think we have all had a rough day, Let us rest and speak again in the morning." He stands unsteadily and moves toward the door, he puts a hand on Marie's shoulder and ushers her out of the room.
"Yes, let us rest," replied Taltōsh.
"Agreed. Rest sounds good. Given Angus' proclamation that something wicked was coming, it might be worth posting watches, and sleeping with weapons near at hand."
At midnight Arasmes will do his normal thing and sneak out to meditate under the stars. Probably on the roof this time.
He'll memorise Comprehend Languages and Read Languages, if that is okay.
"I'll take the first watch" Gryfford says, as he looks thoughtfully at the departing trio of Angus and the two young clerics-in-training.
"I will take the last watch," Taltōsh said.
Perception 1:
Perception 2:
As morning arrives you each awake from your rooms and head down to the main area for breakfast. Angus is already there and has everything ready to go for the day.
Okay to cast comprehend languages and read magic on the book now?
Herein contains the Portal to the Shadow Plane. Only those of the most innocence may use this ritual, so that its magic will ne'er be used for evil. Gather the necessary ritual elements, as well as the Dark jewel, then speak the sigils written here, and the spell will activate. Are you going to read it out loud or keep it to yourself?
Are you waiting for me?