[PFS - PbP Game Day 3] 5–11: Library of the Lion (tier 1-2) (Inactive)

Game Master StephNyan

The map's under 'Library,' which can be found below my name.

Pushing the words honor, courage and glory on the statue's scroll doesn't do anything.

@Eleanor: Yes, and there was something extra for characters of the Grand Lodge. Though you're currently looking for a way to open the secret entrance Rallas found. (The Perception spoiler in my previous post will help those who may read it.)

Rallas looks for the switch to open the secret passage.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

It must be here somewhere...

Ezekias scans the bookcase on the wall for any books with the words "honor", "courage", or "glory" written on the binding.

"Well, the words we are looking for are here. Maybe there is a catch here or something?" says Fargrim, continuing to fiddle with the statue's scroll.

Did anyone make that perception check?

There has to be something we are missing.....check for a book with that title.

Rallas checks the books, both looking for something with that title and for the switch for the door.

Rolan made the check, but for some reason he didn't share the info. But since he's gone for the weekend:

"Hey!" Rolan exclaims, as he inspects the western statue. "The right arm of this statue can be rotated up or down by several degrees! We could shift the word that the statue’s stylus points at."

Ezekias and Rallas find nothing else that could be an opening mechanism for the secret door.

Fargrim tries to move the stylus to point at the words she was pressing earlier, 'honor', 'courage', and 'glory'.

Ah...good eye, Rolan. That should be it. Be wary of an alarm.

Rallas checks for an alarm/trap.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Eleanor steps forward to the group.
"I believe we are to wait until the party start to set up our decoys?"

Fargrim opens the secret door by shifting the statue’s arm so that its stylus points to the words honor, courage, and glory, in that order. You hear a click, and the secret door opens.

The door has a latch on its interior that allows it to be opened and closed from the other side. The 15-foot passage beyond leads to a spiral staircase that leads down. Rallas doesn't find an alarm or trap.

You hear the music from the party has just started.

Fargrim takes the pack of cards and puts one on each chair. She has a quick play with them to see they work and don't need any adjusting.

Time to activate the cards, I think. And we should save our potions of Pass Without Trace for when we come back, eh?

"Agreed"

"I hope I can leave without notice before my double takes place." she states looking over her card with interest.

With the cards arrayed, Fargrim heads into the corridor.

How concealed is the entrance? Will it be obvious it is open? Does it shut behind us?

There's a latch on the other side, so we can safely close it behind us while we work.

Ezekias activates his card and moves into the secret corridor as soon as everyone is ready.

Fargrim slips down the passage and looks down the stairwell. Taking her time she descends.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
stealth: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8

Rallas checks the stairs before going down.

We should be on our toes....no telling what we might find.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 +1 more if a trap

Ezekias makes sure the door is closed behind them and follows down the stairs.

As soon as the cards are attached below the chairs the illusions that look like you appear. The illusions look exactly like you, and appear to be reading.

You quickly descend the spiral staircase, Ezekias closing the hidden door behind him. The staircase descends 20 feet to a small room with double doors to the east. This room is unlit, and the doors are unlocked.

Ezekias will light a torch unless someone else has a better light source.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Fargrim seems unfazed by the darkness, but makes no complaint when her companiosn light a torch.

Going past the inscription, she looks at it carefully.
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
"Well, that is odd.. she says, telling the group of the hidden message.

"'Our monarch’s virtues are our own', could this be a library of virtue?"

Ezekias ponders the hidden message which steadfastly refuses to show itself to his straining eyes.

It makes no sense to me. Yet.

He moves into the hallway with a sweep of his cloak.

Come, friends. Time is short.

The meta-gamer in me wants to explore the northern doors based on what the map shows, but for the party the first door they see is to the south, so that's where Ezekias stops.

Unless someone stops him, Ezekias opens the first door to the south and peers inside with his torch.

"Well, that is odd.. she says, telling the group of the hidden message.

"'Our monarch’s virtues are our own', could this be a library of virtue?"

"A Library of Virtue? What do you mean by that?" she asks, unsure what Fargrim could be suggesting. Eleanor waits for those to scout in front to beware of any traps that may be about.

"Virtues can be subjective," Negi says, peeking after Ezekias."maybe we shouldn't look too much into it."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

"Who knows what we may find down here. If that hidden message is the oddest thing, I'll be surprised. You'd never guess what I found in the woodwork of the Cheliax ambassadors bedroom... anyway, I digress."

She follows Ezekias and looks past him into the room.

Hi everyone, I'm back. I didn't notice that Rolan had made that perception check a while back, or I would have told you guys, I think I somehow just forgot to check if he met the DC.
Rolan follows the rest into the room, glancing carefully around.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Ezekias throws a sly look at Fargrim at the mention of an ambassador's bedroom,

wisdom check <= 9?: 1d20 ⇒ 2

and wisely decides to avoid querying for details.

That is a story I shall have to pry out of her later...

There could he a hundred meanings to that phrase.....keep an open mind when looking around. I think this could be a rather interesting investigation.

Rallas checks for anything regarding the mission, no matter how obscure.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Good to have you back, Rolan!

Main Library Chamber

Thousands of books line the dozens of shelves in this high-ceilinged library. Several tables and chairs near the center of the room provide a place to read quietly, and five rows of pew-like benches nearby face an immense lion’s head carved from the eastern wall.

Rolan already made this roll, but others may also want to give it a try:

Perception, DC 15: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Ezekias is vaguely aware of his own existence. Maybe. I mean, for all he knows, he's just an abstract construct of some deranged god's parlour game. The magnitude of that thought prevents him from seeing anything useful.

He steps into the room, squinting in the near darkness.

Rallas focuses his efforts...

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Fargrim looks at the books with interest.
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
"Oh, that's torn it."

She approaches the head carefully, looking for how it moves, and then decides to check it with detect magic.
Casts detect magic

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Eleanor is too distracted by how she's taking her time with all that heavy armour.

Eleanor looks around for any book that may mention the worldwound. Something entitled about Lastwall or demons she believes might aid her.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Negi is just a little too worried about Jon to notice.

If your character moves into a room or within a space, could you move your character on the map? Thank you!

Fargrim approaches the lion statue, and before Eleanor gets a good look at any of the titles of the books the lion speaks. "Greetings, visitors. I am the mighty Guardian, protector of this library."

The Guardian seems to snicker a bit when Fargim casts detect magic. Fargrim senses divination magic from the lion. "I reckon you seek something here. Approach. For if you want to know things that I know, you must first inform me of things you know."

He waits for all of you to approach, meanwhile observing your reactions.

Ezekias smiles in delight.

Magick! How wonderful!

He moves next to Fargrim and awaits the lion's next pronouncement, attempting to remember something in his studies that the lion will find interesting.

Are there lamps or torches in the library, or are we all still using Ezekias' single torch?

Rallas moves beside Fargrim, his interest clearly in the guardian.

Greetings, Guardian. Do you have a name or do you prefer Guardian? If you could help us with our search, it would be greatly appreciated.

sorry I have been posting from my tablet, cant move the token.

Rolan approaches the lion, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. I'm afraid that there's little that you do not know, but I can certainly attempt to conjure up an obscure fact for your amusement.

Knowledge(Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

And, Rolan can tell the Guardian about the existence of religion, and maybe describe what a tree looks like, but that's probably about the extent of his usefulness.

Guardian, I've been told that our monarch's virtues are our own. Can you tell us what you think of that?

Fargrim looks with surprise at the talking lion.

She approaches. "What manner of creature are you, mighty guardian? And what would you like to know? "

sense motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 Curious what the figure wants to know, and why it wants to know it.

She smile sweetly at the lion. "What is a magnificent mane you have."
Takes ten on diplomacy for 16 if it matters, others may want to try and aid me here.

Eleanor moves a space to keep searching for the topic and turns to realise people appear to be talking to the stone statue. She places her hand on the sword and watches silently.

You're still using one torch but I assumed you'd be walking around the room after entering it. You would've noticed the lion at some point while in this room.

The Guardian glances over at Eleanor and Negi, but then focuses on those in front of him.

"I... know what trees look like..." he says while frowning at Rolan.

To Ezekias he replies "I will answer that later."

The stone lion seems to like it when Fargrim compliments him on his mane, showing something which looks like a smile. "Thank you, young lady. My mane's my pride and joy. Isn't it absolutely perfect?"

"Are you Lion Blades?" the Guardian asks those in front of him. Rallas feels that he somehow cannot lie, even if he'd want to.

"Who are you, and why are you in my library?"

Will:

Is this a request for a saving throw? If so, to whom and what is the DC?

I do not know what a Lion Blade is, so no I am not one. I am here researching a subject for my masters.

"We wish to research the Worldwound, noble guardian." Eleanor states, letting go of her blade and giving a bow. "We wish to find this information to help protect others from the fiends."

"Truly mighty guardian, I have never seen the like of your mane before. As my friends have said, we have been given permission to look at books in the library. Mighty Taldor is threatened by the presence of the world-wound. I'm sure someone as wise as you must be able to help us in this noble search."

Note even though Fargrim made the save, she is still saying things that are true.

As the lion begins to speak Negi moves closer.

@Ezekias: Check the spoiler. Your saves are in there, I made them for you.

"I see," the Guardian says. "Perhaps you could tell me something of what's been going on in the world outside? The caretaker doesn't allow the Lion Blades that come here to tell me anything. Can you believe it? It's absolutely rude of him to do so!"

"Tell me about the Worldwound, and what's going on there at this moment. Also, how exactly are you involved in all of that?"

Though the Guardian seems aware Fargrim's flattery's a bit over the top, he and his ego enjoy it anyway. "I know, I know. Yes, I'm indeed very wise and capable."

You may want to make some Diplomacy checks while talking to the Guardian.