Using Glorymane's key, you open one of the eastern doors of the main library and pass into another long stone hallway that terminates in an ascending spiral staircase to the north. Four doors are spaced along the eastern wall.
Male Human Bard/5 HP 38/38 AC17/T 12/FF 15 Fort +4/Ref +7/ Will +5 Init +2 Perc +8|Sense Motive +13*
Chamius chuckles at Tuskgar's comment. "Gurau and I could have used someone like you on my first time out. Halfway across Tian, I swear, and we ended up having to defend a village from a band of tengu. They weren't much for listening to me talk, hey?"
Once into the hall, Chamius calls out in a clear but not overly loud voice, "Caretaker? We're here to do research. Glorymane gave us the key."
Sebastian joins Chamius in the hallway, his thoughts fully focused on the task at hand, "Ah, well if no one answers we should start opening more doors, after all time is our enemy in this endeavor!"
With that, he makes his way to the door on the far south, and checks it for any diabolical devices designed to deter the disagreeable.
"In here!" A female voice calls in response to Chamius.
Opening the southernmost western door you find the caretaker's quarters. It is small and simple quarters, sparsely decorated with only simple furniture and a stoic portrait of Grand Prince Stavian III. A brass plaque on the frame of the portrait reads, “In the end, loyalty is its own reward.”
A woman in simple clothes and wearing a cloth blindfold, looks up at the noise of the door opening. "Good day Lion Blade. Studies during the performance? You must be very industrious. How can I help you?"
Hard Femme Half-Orc Bloodrager (Steelblood) 3 | 31/31 [35/35] HP | 20 AC 11 T 19 FF [-2 bloodrage] (+1 vs charge) | 18 CMD | F +6 [+2 bloodrage] R +3 (+1 vs trample) W +1 [+2 bloodrage]; blood sanctuary | Init +2 | Perc +6 | SM = 0 | Bloodrage 10/10
"Uh, yeah, lots of work to do. No time to sit around for the performance," Nazza responds. "We're looking for some books on the Shining Crusade. Old battles, lich-fighting, all that good stuff. Any idea where we should start looking?"
Male Human Bard/5 HP 38/38 AC17/T 12/FF 15 Fort +4/Ref +7/ Will +5 Init +2 Perc +8|Sense Motive +13*
In a more cultured and trained voice than he usually uses, Chamius adds, "A great evil stirs in the North, and it may be time for the glory of Taldor to rise and oppose it."
Hard Femme Half-Orc Bloodrager (Steelblood) 3 | 31/31 [35/35] HP | 20 AC 11 T 19 FF [-2 bloodrage] (+1 vs charge) | 18 CMD | F +6 [+2 bloodrage] R +3 (+1 vs trample) W +1 [+2 bloodrage]; blood sanctuary | Init +2 | Perc +6 | SM = 0 | Bloodrage 10/10
Gurau nods in agreement with Nazza, "There is no shame in enjoying one's work." Turning to Chamius, "I'm sure your sensibilities she didn't mean to irk."
Knowing that his natural pomposity might be a detriment to obtaining the librarian's aid, Sebastian decides to remain silent and let the silver tongued bards take care of the wooing. Although he does take the opportunity to take a long look around the room for anything of interest.
Iliyana smiles and stands up. "I don't recognize your voices, but I suppose if Glorymane let you pass then you have the authority to be here. I'll unlock the doors for you and you can come back and ask any questions if you have them."
Sense Motive DC 15:
Rather than accepting responsibility for letting you in, the Caretaker seems catious about putting that decision on Glorymane. It could be that she knows you don't belong here, but she seems genuinely friendly regardless.
She then feels along the hall and pauses at each door, unlocking it.
The first door contains a small study chamber. Five broad desks line the walls. Each work surface is covered with stacked volumes brimming with page markers as well as numerous open books.
Small room - max 4 searchers, normal search skills can be used here. It also appears that the documents here are in the process of being studied by others that use the secret library. Disturbing them too much might alert those that are going through them that someone else has been looking through their work.
The middle door opens to reveal another room full of ancient books. 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.
Medium Room - max 5 searchers, normal search skills plus appraise can be used here.
The door at the end of the hall is opened to reveal what appears to be an administrator's office. Two rows of tall bookshelves flank the imposing yet beautiful wooden desk that presides over this room. Over the door hangs a portrait of Grand Prince Stavian III, portrayed wearing an especially smug grin. A brass plaque on the frame of the portrait reads, “A cunning lie is never told twice.”
Medium Room - max 5 searchers. Normal search skills can be used here
Sorry, should have been specific. By normal skills I mean those normally used to search rooms here: Linguistics, Knowledge (history), or text-based Craft or Profession check (such as Profession [librarian] or Craft [bookbinding]).
On the bright side, I can hit perception checks. ;)
Gurau states simply, "Huh." She examines a piece of wall for a moment and then walks over to Sebastian whispering, "I need someone with delicate hands that can remove a trap before it lands." Gurau points out the spot on the wall to Sebastian.
"By the Emperor's Mother, how did I possibly miss that!" Sebastian whispers back loudly with amazement when Gurau points out the trap. "Excellent catch Ms. Gurau. Allow me to attempt to disarm it."
So it seems Chamius is searching the ancient books room. Sebastian and Gurau are in the administrator's office. I need to know where everyone else is before I calculate search times.
Hard Femme Half-Orc Bloodrager (Steelblood) 3 | 31/31 [35/35] HP | 20 AC 11 T 19 FF [-2 bloodrage] (+1 vs charge) | 18 CMD | F +6 [+2 bloodrage] R +3 (+1 vs trample) W +1 [+2 bloodrage]; blood sanctuary | Init +2 | Perc +6 | SM = 0 | Bloodrage 10/10
Nazza follows Chamius into the middle room to help him search.
Garry joins Chamius and Nazza in the middle room, the three of them finding a few clues after about 20 minutes of searching.
Clue - Generals’ Logbooks:
These journals record the perspectives of Taldan generals that led various phases of the Shining Crusade. Collectively, they provide valuable insight into challenges the crusaders had to overcome.
Clue - A Silver Horn:
This text describes in detail an enchanted silver horn capable of granting courage in times of need, which Taldor used for the fifth Army of Exploration and much later during the Shining Crusade, when it was shattered into several pieces. A priest of Aroden prophesied that even if re-forged, the instrument would never sound again, and it was given a hero’s burial. The text mentioned nothing of the horn’s present location.
Clue - Taldan Cipher:
According to this text, one common cipher involves changing each consonant into the letter that comes three places after it in the alphabet and changing each vowel into the letter that comes two places before. For example, D would become G, U would become S, and Z would become C. (Since the vowels rotate backward and the consonants rotate forward, it’s a particularly puzzling cipher to break).
In the Ancient Books room - Perception DC 20:
You notice within one of the cases that loose pages in that case seem to flutter slightly, almost as though a draft were blowing over them. The case has a simple lock (DC 15 disable device to open).
***
Sebastian and Gurau search the administrator's office, finding and opening a secret passage, but are only about halfway done with a search of the chamber.
***
Tuskgar, over in the study, is a little over halfway done with his task.
Male Human Bard/5 HP 38/38 AC17/T 12/FF 15 Fort +4/Ref +7/ Will +5 Init +2 Perc +8|Sense Motive +13*
Hm...that silver horn sounds to be just the thing, particularly as priests of Aroden have prophecy issues. Chamius goes next door and joins Tuskgar. If applicable, he'll concentrate on using his sleight of hand skill to make sure that the notes are restored to their original positions as much as possible.
Perception check in ancient books room:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Hard Femme Half-Orc Bloodrager (Steelblood) 3 | 31/31 [35/35] HP | 20 AC 11 T 19 FF [-2 bloodrage] (+1 vs charge) | 18 CMD | F +6 [+2 bloodrage] R +3 (+1 vs trample) W +1 [+2 bloodrage]; blood sanctuary | Init +2 | Perc +6 | SM = 0 | Bloodrage 10/10
Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 With Chamius' 11, is that an aid another for success? :D
EDIT: Another question: would that potion of pass without trace help someone to search the in-use room north of the caregiver's (the one that Tuskgar is in) without disturbing the papers?
m assimar Bard/1 AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12, hp 9 Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3; +2 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting effects for 1 hour after drinking alcohol, Perception +7, Sense Motive +4, Stealth +3
Before Gary moves into the Office to help search there he will take a good look around where he is."Should we go ahead and check whats behind the hidden door? I'm guessing if what we are after is that sensitive its back there. Besides i want to know what they are hiding back there even if its not what we came for."Rubs is hands together in antisapation.
Chamius and Tuskgar complete a search of the Study in another 10 minutes and find a couple more clues.
Nazza and Chamius, since you are deliberately moving things around in the study to look for clues, pass without trace won't really help there. To cover your tracks in that place you will have to try and put things back where you found them - you'll need to make an intelligence or perception check.
Clue - Magical Assistance:
Some of the bookshelves bear a minor enchantment that aids researchers, such as briefly granting the benefits of read languages or creating an unseen servant to aid in collecting documents.
Clue: After the PCs roll skill checks to find documents, any of them may reroll the check before learning the result.
[spoiler=Clue - Encarthan Maps]
These maps depict Lake Encarthan, the Isle of Terror, and the nations that surround it. Of particular interest are the hundreds of hand-drawn notes and lines showing troop movements, preserving the changing plans of the brilliant generals who orchestrated the Shining Crusade.
***
Meanwhile Garry, Sebastian, Nazza, and Gurau complete a search of the Administrator's office, discovering a couple clues of their own, plus a few items in the top drawer of the desk - a potion of gaseous form and an elixir of vision.
Clue - Bibliographic References:
Several relevant books have extensive indices and bibliographies that might point to even greater discoveries.
Clue: You may use this clue to gain a +5 bonus on a single skill check made to find texts.
Not really a Clue - Ruined Book:
This book is a testament to why libraries should prohibit food and drink; someone spilled a beverage on it and sheepishly put it back on the shelf, where it has sat for several months at least.
Those in the Administrator's Office are about 4 minutes ahead of those in the Study. What now?
m assimar Bard/1 AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12, hp 9 Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3; +2 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting effects for 1 hour after drinking alcohol, Perception +7, Sense Motive +4, Stealth +3
Gary will use prestidigitation to clean the book before it gets put back. "I can not believe some people and their manners"
m assimar Bard/1 AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12, hp 9 Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3; +2 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting effects for 1 hour after drinking alcohol, Perception +7, Sense Motive +4, Stealth +3
quick question if you drank both potions would you be able to search the rooms faster since gaseous form gives you easier movement without ladders and the elixer gives a bonus to perception
Sebastian strolls into the study, informing the others in a quiet voice,"We found a secret door! Once you are finished, shall we check out the passage?"
We have 7 usable clues left, 4 of which gives bonuses for searching. We should try to use some of them in the next room (assuming it's searchable). Since it's a secret room, we also may want to use the clue that gives everyone a reroll if they wish.
Regarding the Time remaining: I've given general approximations that you can use to make a general calculation. Once you have that number an intelligence check might help narrow it down. Also, because of the performance happening above there has been the occasional rumble of percussion and blare of horns, which might indicate where they are in the performance and how long they have been playing - a performance check would be appropriate to identify time passage that way.
Hard Femme Half-Orc Bloodrager (Steelblood) 3 | 31/31 [35/35] HP | 20 AC 11 T 19 FF [-2 bloodrage] (+1 vs charge) | 18 CMD | F +6 [+2 bloodrage] R +3 (+1 vs trample) W +1 [+2 bloodrage]; blood sanctuary | Init +2 | Perc +6 | SM = 0 | Bloodrage 10/10
Did we make the Perception check in the Ancient Books room?
"We might as well get started here, don't you think?" Nazza goes down the secret passage, examining the door for traps before opening it.
Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
She also keeps a pointy green ear out for the sounds of the performance above, trying to figure out how close they are to the end.
Hard Femme Half-Orc Bloodrager (Steelblood) 3 | 31/31 [35/35] HP | 20 AC 11 T 19 FF [-2 bloodrage] (+1 vs charge) | 18 CMD | F +6 [+2 bloodrage] R +3 (+1 vs trample) W +1 [+2 bloodrage]; blood sanctuary | Init +2 | Perc +6 | SM = 0 | Bloodrage 10/10
The Administrator's Room was searched once. Also, though she tries to pick out the music playing above, Nazza isn't familiar enough with it to know where in the performance it currently is.
Through the secret passage you come to a room containing cabinets with tall drawers lining the east and west walls of this room. Six freestanding statuettes of lions in various poses stand atop the furniture. A relief carving of a lion’s head, similar to Glorymane, dominates the south wall, hanging imperiously over a low stone step.
Going back through the thread, it looks like it's been about one hour and 3 minutes. If this is correct, it gives us plenty of time to do some more searching.
Intelligence Check:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Once the group reaches the secret room, Sebastian looks through it for anything dangerous/helpful/unusual.
m assimar Bard/1 AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12, hp 9 Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3; +2 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting effects for 1 hour after drinking alcohol, Perception +7, Sense Motive +4, Stealth +3
Gary will take the time to try and figure out the preformance above to guess the time that has lapsed.
Hard Femme Half-Orc Bloodrager (Steelblood) 3 | 31/31 [35/35] HP | 20 AC 11 T 19 FF [-2 bloodrage] (+1 vs charge) | 18 CMD | F +6 [+2 bloodrage] R +3 (+1 vs trample) W +1 [+2 bloodrage]; blood sanctuary | Init +2 | Perc +6 | SM = 0 | Bloodrage 10/10
Nazza eyes the large lion head on the south wall with a raised eyebrow, approaching it and giving it a skeptical wave. "Hey. You another talking statue like Glorymane?"
With all hands available for searching the secret chamber, you can make an initial search in about 7 minutes. In the first couple minutes you discover the following:
Though the large lion carving is stylistically similar to the Guardian, it is not animated, and Tuskgar discovers it conceals a secret door. Sebastian perceives something further about it, specifically in the stone steps below the lion. They have four shallow, cylindrical recesses that are the same size as the base on each of the six freestanding statuettes scattered about the room. He is fairly certain the steps act as a combination lock—though rather than locking the door, it seems ready to trigger some other device should someone open the door without disarming it.
Examining the statuettes you find that each is created in a different pose. One crouches as if preparing to ambush its prey. The second is roaring as it leaps at prey. The third wears a yoke that is chained to a large block that the lion strains to pull. The fourth wears a tiny pair of spectacles and reads from an ornate scroll. The fifth is draped in the flag of Taldor. The sixth sits erect and wears a crown.
Meanwhile, Garry is able to confirm Sebastian's time schedule with his knowledge of the performance, as he recalls a certain crescendo that played just before you entered the secret passage. He believes another similar rise in drums and horns will occur in about 30 minutes, marking the 100 minute mark of your search.
I need discovery checks from everyone again - Linguistics, Knowledge (history), or text-based Craft or Profession check (such as Profession [librarian] or Craft [bookbinding]).
