Library of the Lion (Inactive)

Game Master Netopalis

Oh, hahahah, I thought you were talking about her... :p

No traps.

The custodian chuckles. "Oh, the paintings? Back when I had sight, they gave me the willies. Always looking over my shoulder. I've been blind for years, though, and have tried to forget them."

You would all easily recognize Stavian correctly in each of them.

I seem to recall we even spotted Stavian in the ballroom before we entered the library - or am I imagining things?

"We should hurry, for her sake and ours." says Rysalius as he enters the next room after Shel's mentioned there weren't any traps.

Tamerius continued to ask the caretaker

If we want our passage without traces, could you please clean the rooms after we search them. It will be of great help for us and for you

I don't have the soul of a cleaner

Shel opens the door she just checked and enters the area, quickly looking for a Stavian painting.

Fendahl continues to follow the others on the lookout for additional portraits and quotes.

"Hrrmm, interesting." as he nods to Tamerius's question to the woman. Even if she declines, he will try to ensure no trace is left in the rooms they visit...at least as best as he can.

survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 to hide tracks (not sure if this is valid - disregard if not applicable)

Terribly sorry about all that. I've been at a con, and some business matters have occupied my attention lately. With the completion of the Diamond City PBP, I should have more time to focus here.

Shel, you open your door to find a small study area with 6 desks, each filled to the brim with books and notes.

No portrait of Stavian here, though.

You all easily recognize the face in the portrait, by the way. You saw him upstairs, and his face is plastered all over Oppara (for better, or for worse.)

What is Iliana response to Tamerius demands ?

"Let's move to another room. Shel, do you wish to check for traps?"

"Lets go. Time is ticking..."

Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24 for traps

If traps are present Disable Device 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

"Agreed." Haldan follows along, helping to keep an extra eye open for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 = 15 Good enough for the assist!

Back from the convention.
'
Tamerius: "I'll do what I can, but my blindness prevents me from seeing everything - I mostly work on rebinding the books."

You folks open up the next door. It reveals a medium-sized room with glass-paned bookcases, all of which are locked. It feels as if the air is a different temperature and humidity here, in order to preserve the books' yellowing pages.

Thank you Iliana it was all I asked for.

Said Tamerius to the caretaker before returning to his comrades.

No Stavian's Portrait here ? I think we must look for them. I suggest to split the party to cover more room.

"a I bet this room has all kinds of important information. I've never seen a library protected like this. We want to come back here after we find all the portraits."

Shel heads to the next room. Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 looking for traps.

No traps.

This door opens up into a crowded workroom. Six desks are pushed up against the wall, each completely covered with books and papers.

There are still 2 rooms on the other side of the library as well.

Fendahl follows and searches as well.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Can I used the pass without traces potion as I'm the more heavily clothed here ?

Asked Tamerius before going anywhere searching for clues.

"No objections here Master Tamerius"

The druid continues looking for portraits and quotations. If not exist in the current room, he will follow to the next.

You have looked in all of the rooms on this side of the library. There are still the two doors in the northern half of the library, near where you started. Which would you like to look inside of?

"I know we will lose a bit of time, but I really think we need to check those last two rooms for portraits before we try to crack that puzzle. If some of the group wants to start searching these rooms, while I check out the last two rooms, I understand. If not, lets be quick and get to the other rooms."

I'm following you Shel said Tamerius

Oh, and while I think of it, if someone can cast prestidigitation to clean after our search it will be good idea to hide our traces to complete Iliana's work

"Let us go together, who knows what traps the Lion Blades have left here."

"Agreed, Shel. We need to find these portraits first. Let's head there."

Hessiel nods, "Let us hurry our time is trickling away."

"Hrrmm . Agreed."

Fendahl follows, searching for clues.

perception : 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Fendahl continues searching...

Im afraid we've been abandoned, guys. I really want to be done with this so Shel can be freed up for a slot in an Online Gameday 2 game. If we don't hear anything in a couple more days, I guess we just need to pitch it in. A week is a long time with no word in a PFS game.

I hope not... but as our GM had some IT problem I hope it's only that.

Hmmm, there's still a fair bit of time until the gameday, are we allowed to get a GM sub? Is there a reasonable point to do that at if so?

I am concerned as well. I would like to finish up, and am not sure if subbing GM would work, but hopefully we hear from him soon.

I've sent a PM to Netopalis, but no answers so far.

His last post is dated from 02/28

Sorry about that. Bizarre week. Anyway, I'm back now. I'll try to speed this up.

In the remaining two rooms, you find the following:

This well-lit room holds many chairs aligned towards two giant
chalkboards that hang on the north wall. Along the opposite
wall, several shelves hold books on sundry topics. Simple but
colorful tapestries hang along the north wall, giving the room
a bright appearance despite the lack of sunlight and the dour
portrait of Grand Prince Stavian III affixed to the south wall.

The inscription under the portrait reads, "To serve Taldor, I must first learn the history of Taldor."

The second room:

This room’s well-worn wooden floor sets it apart from the others.
The west wall is lined with shelves that support books, a variety
of instruments, and dozens of rectangular baskets that contain loose sheaves of paper. Several chairs are pushed against the
wall, and a portrait of the Grand Prince hangs to east, surveying
everything in the room with magisterial authority.

An inscription under the portrait reads, "Practice! Practice! Practice!"

As an aside, you've spent roughly 30 minutes exploring the library. There is one room remaining which you have not entered.

Edit: Hessiel, I forgot to give you your handout earlier. Before you left, Venture Captain Ambrus Valsin gave you a note with a scrambled phrase on it. He instructed you that he believed it was inscribed in some sort of antique Taldan cipher. Your faction mission is to unscramble it.

The letters are: KYVWKCECOOMIMECFGCQFC

Edit 2: We'll safely be done in time for PBP Gameday 2 - even though you've only spent 30 minutes, time will pass by much more quickly when you commit to researching in a particular room.

Oooh neat, and right up Hessiel's alley :)

Hessiel taps his chin owlish eyes sparkling, "Fascinating, but I fear we must investigate the whole before we begin to form our conclusions."

The elf leads the way to the last room examining the door, thrice for traps before attempting to open it.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

I handwaved - you've opened every door, save the one in the room with the lion statues.

Hessiel moves back into the hidden room and places the bespectacled lion in the first alcove, the crouching lion in the second, the crowned lion third, and the flag draped lion in the fourth. As he sets the last lion down he holds his breath ready to hurl himself clear of some trap...

Fendahl watches and waits.

"Hrrrmm. Now we shall see what the lions of Taldor shall reveal...or not."

Haldan stands beside Fendahl, not realizing that he is holding his breath in anticipation...

I'd like to wait and get everybody's input before you finalize an answer. I'll reveal the results in 24 hours.

Before the door is activated, Rysalius replaces the crowned lion with the yoked one in the third slot.

"Practice is a matter of making an effort long enough, don't you think?"

Hessiel frowns, "Not really, though I see your reasoning and admit its a possibility. I also think there is a smaller, but real, possibility that "Our monarch's virtues are our own," is the third phrase and the crowned lion would better fit that. But you are all far senior to me I shall step back if you do not mind and allow others to conclude the placement."

I agree with Rysalius.

"I tend to agree with Hesiel's interpretation, but confess, I'm not completely sure of which statue to place. If the group is convinced Rysalius is correct, I have no objection."

Hessiel nods, "It seems we have a consensus." He backs up taking a position in the doorway.

Fendahl, not having a strong feeling either way, nods in agreement.

"Only one way to find out who is right."

Now that everybody has commented...I'm going to assume we're going with Rysalius' answer.

You place the four lion statues into the bases.

You hear a click.

The door behind the lion's head opens slowly. You enter the newly-discovered secret room:

Chests of expert craftsmanship line the walls, and on the far
side of the room stand two bookshelves burdened with yellowpaged tomes and sundry ancient trinkets. Banners and tapestries
cover nearly every inch of the walls, each representing longdead nations or depicting conflicts left not chronicled.

"Hmmrrmm. Well played Master Rysalius."

Fendahl will cast detect magic and peer into the room.

"Now this is more like it. Well played," Shel smirks as she hops into the room, taking a look around for anything that seemed out of place.

Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Hessiel smiles, "Ah, I can see I still have a great deal to learn. Well done. I suggest those of us with the ability to find and deal with traps each take a chest, time is limited."

If there are no objections he moves to the nearest chest and begins checking it for traps, giving it three searches before he attempts to open it, or deal with any traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27