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After a few seconds of miming to Aleimare, he steps up to the sleeping beast, draws back and with a quick strike puts it down. Certain that it won't be waking any time soon, the Hellknight turns to face his companions.
Aleimare regains his hearing first, then Kyra, and finally Sir Terramor after about 30 seconds.
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Free to explore the chamber, you find that each column is sealed by a magical barrier. Through each barrier you see are records of every auction of the Sun Orchid Elixir.
The one exception, however, is the northernmost pillar, which contains only a single shelf of books. Aleimare makes note that there were many more books that were there, but were recently removed. The remaining books are written in a strange language
The bottom shelf of the column contains an unlocked chest full of platinum, gold, gems, and magical items. Atop the small trove rests a handwritten note, saying simply, To get you started.
scroll of comprehend languages works wonders...
does someone want to read that?
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The language is Tekritanin. The books contain records of all bids, both winning and unsuccessful, over the last 100 years, constituting 20 auctions. The records contain no names, however, merely long series of coded numbers to distinguish bidders from one another. There is no evident cypher for the code.
You do manage to make out what you are sure means, "Copy 4 of 7." This possibly means that Ofarah intends for you to simply take this copy rather than force you to make a copy...
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With the auction records secure, you exit the Conundrum through the ring gate mounted on the wall, using the vials of gaseous form Ofarah assured them would be waiting for you. When they arrive back at the Thuvian Embassy, you find yourselves in an empty guest room with a ring gate fixed to the wall. Upon exiting the austere chamber, you startle a passing guard who had no idea that any guests remained from the night’s festivities. She escorts you out of the embassy, informing you all that Ofarah herself shortly after the attack on her life (apparently right after she sent the PCs through the ring gate), boarding a ship bound for Lamasara.
When you report to the Grand Lodge, Kreighton Shaine greets you all with an eccentric bow and squeals in delight at the information you present him. He seems less interested in the actual contents of the books, however, than excited about the challenge of deciphering the codes that are used within.
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Maximo strode through the streets of Absalom with renewed vigor. Though the mission into the Thuvian records vault did not produce the alchemaic revelations regarding the Orchid Elixir he had hoped for, he had discovered another avenue of research. A list of those who have recently won bids for it! Granted, the list was written in a dead language, and coded to boot, but it was a start. If he could decode the identify of even one of those on the list...
But first, to the Hideaway and a fine glass of Alkenstar Icewine!
