Soon the pathfinders have returned and regrouped. Guessing that the statues and sayings are related, Etna offers a quick prayer to Desna before placing the statues.
On step one, she gently places a statue of a lion reading from a scroll.
On the second step, the halfling places a lion crouching in ambush
On the third step is placed a lion chained to a great weight
And on the final step is placed a lion wrapped in the flag of Taldor
There is a brief moment of pause where the pathfinders exchange quick glances with one another. Then, boldly, Alrik steps forward onto the steps and down into the lower room. A second passess, and them another, before the he exhales- sure now that his solution was the correct one.
As he looks about the room he sees chests of expert craftsmanship that line the walls. On the far side of the room stand two bookshelves burdened with yellow- paged tomes and sundry ancient trinkets. Banners and tapestries cover nearly every inch of the walls, each representing long- dead nations or depicting conflicts left not chronicled.
Springing into action, both Lovissa and Rorrim begin to look for any sign of traps or other surprises, finding none. It is obvious that the stone steps were the primary guardians of this room.
Amarsia will also begin looking around to aid with a perception.
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Soon the pathfinders have returned and regrouped. Guessing that the statues and sayings are related, Etna offers a quick prayer to Desna before placing the statues.
On step one, she gently places a statue of a lion reading from a scroll.
On the second step, the halfling places a lion crouching in ambush
On the third step is placed a lion chained to a great weight
And on the final step is placed a lion wrapped in the flag of Taldor
There is a brief moment of pause where the pathfinders exchange quick glances with one another. Then, boldly, Alrik steps forward onto the steps and down into the lower room. A second passess, and them another, before the he exhales- sure now that his solution was the correct one.
As he looks about the room he sees chests of expert craftsmanship that line the walls. On the far side of the room stand two bookshelves burdened with yellow- paged tomes and sundry ancient trinkets. Banners and tapestries cover nearly every inch of the walls, each representing long- dead nations or depicting conflicts left not chronicled.
"Oooo.... Ahhh...."
Now free to enter the secret (and protected) room, the Pathfinders begin to sort through and catalogue all of the items and documents laying about.
Taldor keeps some of its most dangerous texts here, including primary, unmodified accounts of events from millennia ago, original versions of laws since replaced, records of foreign policy debacles quickly silenced in the interest of decorum, and remarkably objective (and sometime empathetic) biographies of enemies
of the state.
As Alrik is looking around the back of the room, he moves a draping flag partially covering something in the corner. Behind it, he finds a heavy bronze shield embossed with the head of a roaring lion.
Despite their numbers, it takes the party some time to search through the room. Just a few minutes into the searching there is a crescendo from the concert outside, briefly drowning out any noise produced during the search. The rest of the searching takes around 10 minutes to accomplish with everyone contributing.
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"Hmm, sounds like everything is wrapping up nicely then. I'll go with you to return the keys Rorrim."
"We do apologize. Hopefully we can use some of our resources to help track down your son. If you come with us I know we can cure your blindness. I understand your conviction to stay though. Your love for him is obvious. May Shelyn bless you."
Alrik, Lovissa, and Amarisia make their way back to the main chamber carrying the bronze shield recovered from the secret room. As Lovissa holds the shield she recognizes a strong magical aura.
As you enter the room again, the lion statue calls out to you
"What brings you back to The Magnificent Guardian again? Shouldn't you be leaving before the Lion Blades return? Besides, you were all scampering about a not that long ago, without paying me a care in the world!"
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While part of the group runs off to the main chamber, Rorrim and Etna follow through with their promise to return the chamber keys to Iliyanna.
"You may set the keys on the desk. I was not expecting you to find anything on my son, though perhaps I was grasping to some small hope... but never mind. It is not my fortune for today or any day. I will stay, though perhaps the Lion Blades will regret having a blind caretaker." With the last statement, her aged face twists into something resembling a mischievous smile, though with her eyes covered under the blind fold it is hard to be sure...
The Guardian smiles broadly at Lovissa's adulation and flattery, as though basking in the respect and glory being given to him.
"Please, hold the shield up closer so that I can inspect it. Oh yes... Humm... I do believe that will work. You all have impressed me indeed! Not only is this a magical item worthy of my presence, but it also appears to have once held a similar enchantment, in some ages past."
Now, Let me hold it for a moment."
And with that, the Lion opens his mouth and allows Lovissa to gently place the shield in his mouth. His face hardens with concentration and a low, almost inaudible growl, springs forth from the Lion's carving.
The shield begins to glow slightly, and as you watch- the patina and age apparent on the shield melt off, leaving behind a radiant bronze shield. 15 seconds pass, then another. Slowly, the figure on the wall grows still while the lion on the shield begins to move about. A few moments later, a shield with a moving Lion's face rests, held gently, in the mouth of a motionless statue.
"Ahahahah! It's really going to happen! It's really going to happen!" as a laughter of pure joys echos out from the shield. "Now come! It won't do me any good to be here, if you can't get me out from this basement!" His laughter continues as he reigns it in. "I will finally be able to see the history I have learned about for so long! Don't you worry, I will do my part to defend you should the need arise- Onward and Tally Ho!"
As Lovissa lifts the shield back out of the statues mouth she notices two things. The first, inside the mouth of the stone, motionless lion, is now a solid stone key attached to the tongue. The second, written in flowing script across the back of the shield, she sees a new engraving- Glorymane.
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Amarisa sheds a small tear over the Lion's excitement and she is completely fascinated by the sheer magic. That was fantastic! Oh my gosh the adventures you're going to get to take. I am really excited for you. She turns back to look over her shoulder towards the room Iliyana is in. But snaps back and smiles for the Lion.
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Lovissa looks positively ecstatic!
"I'm glad we could free at least one soul today. We have two more yet to aid. Looks like that will be for another day..."
After a moment she asks, "Glorymane? It that your name Magnificent Guardian? Do you know anything about Iliyana's son? She refuses to leave because the Lion Blades have him. If we knew where he was we could organize a rescue."
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While part of the group runs off to the main chamber, Rorrim and Etna follow through with their promise to return the chamber keys to Iliyanna.
"You may set the keys on the desk. I was not expecting you to find anything on my son, though perhaps I was grasping to some small hope... but never mind. It is not my fortune for today or any day. I will stay, though perhaps the Lion Blades will regret having a blind caretaker." With the last statement, her aged face twists into something resembling a mischievous smile, though with her eyes covered under the blind fold it is hard to be sure...
"I'm just an academic, but I have a friend on the outside who might be able to help." Solemnia says. "I'm sure she can help."
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The Guardian smiles broadly at Lovissa's adulation and flattery, as though basking in the respect and glory being given to him.
"Please, hold the shield up closer so that I can inspect it. Oh yes... Humm... I do believe that will work. You all have impressed me indeed! Not only is this a magical item worthy of my presence, but it also appears to have once held a similar enchantment, in some ages past."
Now, Let me hold it for a moment."
And with that, the Lion opens his mouth and allows Lovissa to gently place the shield in his mouth. His face hardens with concentration and a low, almost inaudible growl, springs forth from the Lion's carving.
The shield begins to glow slightly, and as you watch- the patina and age apparent on the shield melt off, leaving behind a radiant bronze shield. 15 seconds pass, then another. Slowly, the figure on the wall grows still while the lion on the shield begins to move about. A few moments later, a shield with a moving Lion's face rests, held gently, in the mouth of a motionless statue.
"Ahahahah! It's really going to happen! It's really going to happen!" as a laughter of pure joys echos out from the shield. "Now come! It won't do me any good to be here, if you can't get me out from this basement!" His laughter continues as he reigns it in. "I will finally be able to see the history I have learned about for so long! Don't you worry, I will do my part to defend you should the need arise- Onward and Tally Ho!"
"That's grrrreat!" Solemnia says pointing skyward to make her point.
As Lovissa lifts the shield back out of the statues mouth she notices two things. The first, inside the mouth of the stone, motionless lion, is now a solid stone key attached to the tongue. The second, written in flowing script across the back of the shield, she sees a new engraving- Glorymane.
"Um, but did we just wall up that nice old woman like a cask of Amontillado? I mean now that there's no 'Glorymane' here is there also no 'Glorymane-hole'?" the scholar asks with genuine concern. "I m-mean without a Gloryho-"
The lion on the shield pauses carefully before answering Lovissa's inquiry. "Yes, that is my name- though it has been many years since I trusted another with the knowledge of it. Will it be you, brave warrior who bears me into freedom? Or is it you, Elf academic?"
Listening more to party's concerns, Glorymane's face saddens.
"I know not of Illiyana's son. She is held prisoner by invisible chains that are stronger than any steel. I will miss her friendship and company from this place- but you are not the first opportunity for freedom she has allowed to pass her by. Perhaps some day she will taste true freedom... but that will be her choice and her choice alone."
"Now come. The strong man is right, time is not our friend now"
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"I'm going to need to hide you, Glorymane. They won't let us leave with you. Apologies, my friend."
Lovissa checks her bag, curious if he will fit in her backpack. If not, she places the shield upon her back, and puts the backpack on top of the shield, to hold it in place and cover it up. Then she arranges her thick, white fur cloak to cover up her bag and the shield. Satisfied, she nods at the others.
When they're ready she leads the way back to the stairs, and up into the library .
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Rorrim enters the room as Lovissa is discussing their options for leaving. " We need to reset as much as we can, the lion statues downstairs, make sure we reset any doors. Glorymane is there anyway to reset your former body, the permanent yawn seems alittle obvious"
If nobody else volunteers I wish to take the pass without trace potion and restore as much of the library as I can to it's original order.
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"I'm going to need to hide you, Glorymane. They won't let us leave with you. Apologies, my friend."
Lovissa checks her bag, curious if he will fit in her backpack. If not, she places the shield upon her back, and puts the backpack on top of the shield, to hold it in place and cover it up. Then she arranges her thick, white fur cloak to cover up her bag and the shield. Satisfied, she nods at the others.
"H-here drink this, when we are ready to leave." says Solemnia to Lovissa. She hands her a small vial seemingly filled with nothing.
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"I think if you slip out early we can justify you having to go and handle some personal business. It will avoid them looking through our things. With the rest of us being searched and finding us not only unharmed but with nothing else on us they will have little to be suspicious of. Were like ghosts at this point!"
While the group takes a moment to plan, music continues to trickle into the lower library space.
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Lovissa and Solemnia discuss briefly an escape strategy. Solemnia produces a flask of perfectly clear liquid and hands it to the occultist. Potions exchanged, the party continues to move forward into the western hallway and towards their original entrance to the library.
Rorrim digs around in his bag before pulling out a vial of blueish liquid, before taking it. It's slimy texture is off putting, but in a matter of moments he feels the magic begin to work. Looking about the main chamber they are in, he prioritizes his tasks.
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I want to return the lion statues near the deepest chamber to their original places, close any doors we came through. and only take as much time as that takes. the rooms are clear so Rorrim will only use enough caution to avoid walking into a room full of obvious guards.Rorrim is focused on getting upstairs at the same time as everyone else so he doesn't get left behind
Heeding Amarsia's warning, the main group heads off and up to the main library. As they travel, the sound of the music grows even louder, becoming clear to everyone in the party just how close they have cut their time.
Reaching the top of the staircase, our heroes find themselves in a dark hallways, the inside of a secret door all that is between them and the rare books collection. The handle is easy enough to find, even in the dark.
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Waisting no time Rorrim heads back into the library one last time- intent on setting several of the more obvious indications of their passage right. Unable to do anything with the shell of the Magnificent Guardian, he hurries past to the administrators office and to the file room.
Remembering precisely where each statue was left, he quickly arranges the room back to where it started. He checks the file cabinets to ensure they are securely closed and then heads back towards the main group. Closing doors behind him as he goes... most specifically the hidden passage from the administrators office.
Confident that he has done well, Rorrim makes his way to the stairs by which they originally entered, lagging just a few minutes behind the rest of the party who had already headed up stairs