"You are quite the astute observer, caretaker. Have you a name? We have been sent here to explore a possibly serious danger to these premises. Would you be so kind as to help us do that? Make certain the library is safe. Is that not your occupation? It should prove to be entertaining if we are wrong, and heroic should be we be correct."
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Seeing that things are balanced on the edge of a sword now, Tessara risks a bit more honesty-- "As I'm sure you've begun to suspect, madame Caretaker, the danger my colleague spoke of and the subject of our research are one in the same. Our employer has good reason to believe that the shadow fey are mustering their forces, and we have been sent to find what information we can to stop them. Believe me, we bear the utmost respect for the library and all its archives, and are only here to take notes. Please, for the sake of your library and your city, I beseech you, help us to help you."
If worse comes to worst, Cassandra still has the letter detailing our mission... I'd hate to fail Lady Eshin by giving it up, but the most important thing is to find the information before it's too late.
Stenne watched this exchange nuetrally,sipping at her flask. She decided to offer an peace offering to diffuse the situation.
...Um,would you fancy a drink,ma'am?
”I see. That does sound quite troublesome.” The woman pauses and an awkward silence falls across the room once again. ”I am Iliyana Baslee, and as you know, I am the caretaker here. How you know that is another question, but it seems I don’t have time to uncover all the mysteries you bring along with you.”
Iliyana turns to Vars. ”It is my occupation to assist the legitimate patrons of this archive in their research. Helping you, however, will be very dangerous on my part. If the administrators of these archives discover that I aided you in stealing secrets from here, my punishment will be much more serious than it was the first time.” Iliyana reaches up and adjusts the blindfold over her eyes.
"...Um,would you fancy a drink,ma’am?”
Iliyana looks over in the direction of yet another voice. ”My goodness! How many of you are there? I appreciate your offer, but I try not to indulge such… on second thought...” She reaches her hand out and accepts Stenne’s offering.
”How can I be sure that your transgressions will never be traced back to me?” Iliyana says after taking a large swig of Stenne’s drink.
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Vors finally exhales, realizing he has been holding his breath the entire time. Thank the gods for Moonshine and her cider.
"Iliyana, it is a pleasure to meet you. Our mission is known but to a very few and no one other than those in this room need know we ever met. I can guarantee you privacy on this matter."
"Than it was... the first time? So, madam, it seems you are not unfamiliar with secrets. May I ask what you have done to keep such 'secrets' so... secret? As for us, why on my honor, mum's the word!" Prince Magniventris says. "We are a discrete lot, Iliyana, and no hint of this shall ever reach the administration, I assure you. And if you find this place dull and require entertainment, why, what is more exciting than assisting a few mysterious patrons of the library?"
"If that is not your style of entertainment, may I suggest a short ballad from Duskovsky's second movement from the Rites of Earth?" he says, pulling out his flute and playing a few notes.
He turns to the others and shrugs sheepishly. "At the very least," he whispers to them, "I can keep her occupied while the rest of you investigate further. I can play quite loudly."
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This old bird seems quite a bit more adventurous than I first assumed...
Hurrying to agree with Vors and Prince Magniventris, Tessara nods--then remembering Iliyana can't see her, speaks up as well: "As our presence here is also not quite of an official nature, it would be just as detrimental to us if your involvement were discovered. So you can clearly see that we have every incentive to keep your secrets as well as I hope you will keep ours."
I promise to do my best not to allow someone to get punished unjustly due to my actions. Tis hard enough when your own kind shun yet,I know.Stenne said with uncharacteristically soberness.
Prince Magniventris waits patiently for a response, playing absent-mindedly along with the faint sounds of the concert on his flute.
”That is true, little one. But I have also learned that it can be dangerous to keep said secrets. You had best all be right about no one finding out about this, because if they do, I will not be the only one they come after.” As soon as Prince Magniventris starts to play his flute, Iliyana looks towards the noise and snaps, ”Quiet! Do you want the whole Collegium to know you are here?” She takes a deep breath, then continues ”How can I help you?”
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Tessara breathes a silent sigh of relief, then takes a moment to organize her thoughts, and answers "We have reason to believe that several tomes concerning the shadow fey were brought into this part of the secret archives by some professors--" She pauses as a sudden suspicion overcomes her, remembering the Guardian's words.
”The caretaker is the one responsible for taking care of that area, in fact, he should be there currently, probably in his personal quarters.”
"he"?
"As the caretaker of this area, we were hoping you might be able to direct us to where they were stored..."
Iliyana hesitates for a moment then says, ”There are a few places the books you are looking for might be. Come with me, I will show you.”
Iliyana leads you out into the hall. She stops at the first door and says ”This is the study chamber where students and professors alike can come and study the tomes we keep here. No one is currently in there, but I know a few of the faculty leave what they are currently researching open on the desks.” She then motions to the second door, ”That s the Ancient Books room. Many of our oldest and most valuable books are kept there. Of course the room is locked, but I have the keys to open it if you would like to look there. Either of these rooms will probably contain the information that you are looking for.”
"And the last door, Iliyana. What is behind there? Is it locked as well?"
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Tessara follows along with the group, rather impressed by Iliyana's ability to navigate while seemingly blindfolded. Perhaps the cloth is just a ruse? Or she's simply that familiar with the area... She considers whispering this to Prince Magniventris, but has second thoughts, recalling that individuals deprived of one sense often heighten their others.
”That door, well, that is the Administrator’s office. He is in charge of the archive.” Suddenly, Iliyana becomes visibly uncomfortable. "I… I don’t think it would be the best idea to… search that area.” Her voice trails off. ”Anyways. Where would you like to start?”
Iliyana is hard to read, especially since you aren’t able to see her eyes. From what you can gather, she is genuinely afraid of her employer, and surprisingly willing to betray them. Based on her comment about “the first time” she may have had trouble with the Collegium in the past.
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"Thank you, Iliyana. I would like to start in the study chamber. You are such a dear for helping us. I cannot express my gratitude enough." Vors heads into the study chamber.
Vors cannot see well for some reason. Maybe an allergic reaction to the dusty room. He proceeds to rub and wipe at his eyes.
Something told Stenne that her employer wasn't a benevolent boss. She even had her suspicions that it was the reason why she wore the blindfold--some cruel punishment that involved in blinding her.
She shared such thoughts with her fellows discreetly.
In a hushed voice Vors replies to Moonshine "Yes, a good point you have there." He reaches his hand out for another swig of cider.
”Very well. But be careful not to disturb anything.”
Iliyana approaches the door, her feet shuffling along the floor. When she opens the door, you can see five board desks that line the walls of this room. Each work surface is covered with stacked volumes brimming with page markers as well as numerous open books. The magical lights continue to flicker in their scones. Inside the room, the world seems quite and still; the music seems to quite and becomes barely audible.
Iliyana steps inside and holds open the door to allow everyone to enter. ”If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
Stenne passed around her flask to any who'd partake,wiping her mouth with the back of her hand before showing it into the front of her apron.
She took a gander of the books occupying the five desks.
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She shared such thoughts with her fellows discreetly.
Tessara nods in agreement, and taps the side of her nose in a gesture of discretion.
"Thank you so much, Mistress Iliyana. Your contribution to the safety of Zobeck's future will not be forgotten, even if it must be kept secret." Following the others inside, she takes note of the strange quietness, curiously trying to discern its nature for a few moments...
...before she pulls the book she'd found before from her satchel and uses the extensive notes in its margins to help search for the tomes the Guardian spoke of.
Book about shadow plane:You come upon a desk with a large map splayed across it. Upon further inspection you realize this is a map of the shadow plane that was most likely made by a merchant who visited the plane recently. Because of your military background, you know that this information could be incredibly important if a war does break out.
Most of what you find is illegible to you. It seems to be scrawling with an arcane nature, and based on the other things at the work station, it is most likely just notes about a class that the owner is in.
The effect is definitely magical, but you haven’t come across anything exactly like this magic before. It seems to just pervade this room and almost acts like a barrier to outside noise. Noise inside the room seems to be muted.
You find a note about the precise location of a few books the author might was interested in. Most of the books are not in any subject of interest, but one looks like it might be of use.
While his associates appear to be on to something, Vors takes his time looking for secret doors.
"You have been most helpful, Madam Baslee. Thank you."
Prince Magniventris searches for books on the shadow fey as well.
Hn.Seems to need Read Magic to make any sense of it...she noted.
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Cavasin approaches a table with a map splayed across it and examines it for a moment. "This map..." says Cavasin aloud, "... this map appears to detail the shadow plane itself! It might prove to be useful if we ever find ourselves there."
He looks over his shoulder to the rest of the party. "Do we have any means of copying this information? Parchment, vellum, quills?"
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Prince Magniventris rummages around in his bag. "Of course, I am never ill-prepared. I have here some parchment." he says, pulling out a few pieces.
"And... surely I did not forget... let me see..." Sheepishly he says, "Would charcoal or chalk be of any use?"
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Hn.Seems to need Read Magic to make any sense of it...she noted.
Overhearing Stenne's plight, Tessara comes over with a smile and the book she'd just found. "Allow me, my dear Deepmug." Her eyes glow for a moment, as she takes a small prism from the pouch at her waist and murmurs a few words of arcane power to complete her spell. "אני מתרגמת את הקודקס הזה"
"This map..." says Cavasin aloud, "... this map appears to detail the shadow plane itself! It might prove to be useful if we ever find ourselves there."
He looks over his shoulder to the rest of the party. "Do we have any means of copying this information? Parchment, vellum, quills?"
Tessara hurries over to see what Cavasin's found next, drawing out the paper, ink, and inkpen that the Lady Eshin had given her the day previous and beginning to copy the map. "Excellent work, Cavasin!"
School illumination on (illusion); Level shadowsworn 0, sorcerer/wizard 0
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range touch
Area Wall up to 100 square
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance Yes
Vors helps Cavasin and George with the transcribing, hopefully speeding things up.
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"Hmm! This is quite an intriguing discovery, Deepmug. I think it's some kind of cantrip, but I've never seen this particular spell before... it may be shadow fey magic." Tessara takes a minute to quickly copy down the arcane notation verbatim, intending to take her time analyzing and writing it into her own spellbook as soon as she has the chance.
Vors finishes up his transcribing. He joins Tessara. "Iliyana, would you be so kind as to assist with this lock?"
”Yes, yes. Of course.” Iliyana walks over to the door and opens it with one of the keys she keeps on her belt.
As the door swings open, you can see that 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. Behind the glass, the books on the shelves look old. The glass of each shelf is kept closed by a small, simple lock.
Iliyana steps into the room. ”Years ago, back when I still had the use of my eyes, I was told not to touch the books in the center shelf along the east wall. Perhaps the reason for that was that they hold some secret knowledge. Would you like me to open it for you?”
"One moment, please." Vors meticulously inspects the center shelf along the east wall.
Vors addresses the group. "Look at this. There appears to be draft behind the glass. The loose pages are fluttering"
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Vors addresses the group. "Look at this. There appears to be draft behind the glass. The loose pages are fluttering"
"How very strange... perhaps some divination magic will illuminate things." Focusing her mind, Tessara speaks the words of the incantation, casting detect magic on the bookcase in question and concentrating on it to see what she can discover. "תראה לי את הסודות שלך"
Stenne joined Vors in searching for anything hidden.
”What do you mean by fluttering? There shouldn’t be any breeze, I take great care to ensure that the rooms are kept in perfect conditions to preserve the books.”
"Perhaps we should leave this section for last. Iliyana, are there any books on the subject matter we seek in this room?" Vors searches the room with his typical meticulous methods.