"Is that so?" the lion muses. "It seems much has changed since I last heard tell of the outside world. The wheel of time continues to shift and history begins to repeat itself again."
A strange sound comes from its throat, a low, pleasant rumbling sound more befitting small house cats. "You will find that there is a blind caretaker who lives beyond and that the most carefully guarded books are kept beyond the locked doors of his purview. The doors here on either side of me are locked as well."
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"Someone else is down here?!" Ilathor whispers alarmingly to the others. "Thank you my dear, magnificent lion. This has been a most enlightening conversation," he concludes with a bow as he backs away quickly, motioning for the others to join him.
"What now? The caretaker has a key, but we aren't exactly supposed to be here. Are any of you practiced in the art of procuring items while unseen? If so, the rest of us could continue searching this portion of the library while the caretaker's pockets get lighter."
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The lion looks on with what feels like some amusement. "Exhaust your options," he advises, "And if you've yet to find an answer, perhaps we can come to an agreement."
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"We can attempt to communicate with the caretaker, but the risk is they will sound an alarm. I'm not opposed to it if we think that may be more fruitful," Ilathor admits. "After the small rooms, if we cannot find the caretaker, a negotiation with the lion seems prudent.." With nothing more to say, being unskilled in both proposed options, he sets off to the other half of the library to begin his search.
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Tok opens the door to a well-lit room that holds many chairs which are aligned toward two giant chalkboards that hang on the northern wall. Along the opposite wall, several shelves hold books on sundry topics. Simple but colorful tapestries hang along the north wall, giving the room a bright appearance despite the lack of sunlight and the dour portrait of Grand Prince Stavian III affixed to the wall.
Ilathor takes another ten minutes to really dig out the goods, finding some potentially useless clues and exhausting the room's resources to his satisfaction.
Waze notices that these books cover a wide range of topics. A 15-minute hourglass sits atop the desk... And interestingly, there's a brass plaque on the frame of the portrait that reads, "To serve Taldor, I must first learn the history of Taldor."
--
Although Yates feels he's done an excellent job at working the lock, he's very much dissatisfied when the expected gentle click doesn't come. These doors' locks are well-made.
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Taking a look back at Mr. Lion Head, Yates takes a second to contemplate that maybe the lion would appreciate the attempt at unlocking the doors. He sees that the lion at least isn't openly objecting and decides to try something a little bolder. "Ah, Mr…. Wait we never did ask your name. Is Lion okay? Uh Mr. Lion would there happen to be keys for these doors around here, or should we keep trying at the locks. And if there are keys could you be so kind as to direct us to where they might be?"
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Angry Magic Tree is too busy rubbing under the lion's jaw to explore the new room. "Have you been down here by yourself for years? Do you have itchy spots? It would be hard to scratch them without any hands. Do you like to read? It would be terrible to be stuck in a library with so many books and no hands to turn the pages. Or do you have hands hiding in that wall? What are the Blades you mentioned? Are those your hands?"
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Not such a proud Elf in the face of being barred from his beloved books, Ilathor throws himself upon the floor before the lion and begs. "Please!" There is much to be learned and every moment that separates me from such beloved knowledge wounds my very soul! I only wish to learn, a most noble pursuit, yet here I lay before you, unable to do so! Will you help us through the doors?"
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Xavier stands back for a moment, analyzing the situation. Mr. Lion Head has been trying to help, but hasn't just opened the doors... are we even sure Mr. Lion Head can open them?. "Are you able to open the doors, or are you just toying with us? Because you have been somewhat helpful, but I can't tell if you're giving us as much as you can or the bare minimum."
After a moment, the lion gives in and purrs, its ears wriggling in pleasure. "A bit lower, yessss..."
When Xavier speaks up, the lion seems to startle out of its state and bares its teeth at the halfling. "Why would I be obligated to give anyone anything? You are not Lion Blades and should not be here. You ought to consider yourselves blessed that I have not already alerted the Blades!"
It leans into Angry Magic Tree's neatly scritching vines and adds, "But I shall indulge your insolence this once as your friend is very good at... oh, yes, just a little to the left..." He pauses for a moment, but at last reluctantly adds, "Yes, yes, I think your knight here has earned some additional aid. I do so happen to have the key to the eastern doors, but I'll only let you borrow it in exchange for a clever and respectful riddle."
Nuzzling at Angry Magic Tree's hand, it admits, "I have long wished to leave this place, to see what is beyond the library. If you can find a worthy receptacle to house my magical essence, I think I would enjoy traveling with you."
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"Why would I be obligated to give anyone anything? You are not Lion Blades and should not be here. You ought to consider yourselves blessed that I have not already alerted the Blades!"
Xavier shrugs. "Fair enough. Didn't mean to imply otherwise."
I do so happen to have the key to the eastern doors, but I'll only let you borrow it in exchange for a clever and respectful riddle.
"Excellent! Wait, are see telling you the riddle, or are we answering it?"
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Ilathor cringes as the lion raises it's voice. Blind, the Caretaker is, but why could they not have been deaf? "A riddle, you say? If you wish, I have but a few off the top of my marvelous head!"
With incredible ceremony, the Elf pulls a table up to the lion and takes a seat as though a teacher before his pupil. "They have not flesh, nor feathers, nor scales, nor bone. Yet they have fingers and thumbs of their own. What are they?"
"Very well... you've passed the first, but will you the second?!" Ilathor takes a moment to clear his throat.
"Alive without breath,
As cold as death;
Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking," he says peering down his nose at his opponent. He'll never get this one!
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The sides of the lion's mouth turn down a bit as he shakes his head. "An excellent riddle, but not one that is respectful," he says, perhaps a bit dryly, "As I do not have hands."
He seems to ponder the next before shaking his head again. "This one I find too easy. If I remember correctly, it has been published in several different books, has it not?" Sighing - as much as a carved lion can, anyhow - he rejects the riddle. "I cannot eat, though I presume it is an enjoyable experience."
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Yates moves in closer to the lion, the idea of a riddle appealing to the man,especially one that makes it so he doesn't have to spend forever trying to pick the locks of the place. "Can I take a crack at making a riddle? This might be too easy, though...
I am an animal and yet use the words of man,
I neither eat, breathe, nor sleep,
Instead my noble visage waits, keeping guard,
I represent my organization in more ways then one."
He then gives the knight and the lion he's scratching a look before adding, "And my noble chin enjoys a good scratching, apparently."
"That seems closer to what I want," the lion rumbles contentedly. "I am partial to it, though I think it could be more difficult and precise."
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"Oh, I've got one!" Angry Magic Tree says excitedly, never ceasing in her scratching as she slowly maneuvers herself to sit on top of the lion's head so she can scratch behind both of its ears. "There once was a infamous thief named Kuthona who thought she could rob Taldor of its greatest secrets. So she snuck into a secret library, but was caught by a noble Guardian lion! The next day was the first of Abadius. Why?"
The lion purrs before inquiring, "Was it not because Abadar is the Guardian of vaults?" He pauses. "Or was it only because the turning of the year?"
Regardless, he seems intrigued. The lion draws away from Angry Magic Tree's hands and... begins to retch.
--
Waze and Tok find that the organization of these texts is a bit strange. Still, a clue is a clue!
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Well aren't my companions at least a little bit clever! Not my taste in riddles, but they weren't for me to begin with! Ilathor's happy thoughts turn to a concerned disgust as the stone lion begins retching. "I- Um- What?" he stutters as his mind races through all the possible explanations for why a rock would begin dry heaving.
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After what seems like an impossibly long time, the lion finally makes a final disgusted sound before spitting the key out straight in front of it. "Ugh, always such an uncomfortable task," he grumbles. "But yes, this key is a loan, so make sure you bring it back to me."
Pausing, he adds, "And do remember to see if you can't find a suitable receptacle for me to leave with you."
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Angry Magic Tree grins triumphantly. "You're close - it's because that was the end of Kuthona!" she says as she clambers down before looking at the Guardian appraisingly. "If only we could take your wall with us," she mutters, thinking out loud. "Would you want something flat, like a book that you could stick your face out of, as your receptacle?"
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"There is not a moment to lose Angry Magic Tree, let us be off to the next trove of historical treasures!" Ilathor exclaims, grabbing the Leshy by the scruff of whatever functions as his neck and pulling him in the direction of the door. "Yes, the talking rock lion is most interesting, but we will find a way to bring it with us after we learn what secrets are held behind this door!"
Unsure what to do with himself while he waits, Ilathor is slightly bouncing up and down as impatience, giddy excitement, and a touch of anger wash over in rapid, perpetual succession.
The lion makes a gruff sound before nodding. "I could not say, but I imagine you will know it when you see it. Do be cautious."
The door opens easily with the key and reveals a second long, stone hallway. It ends in an ascending spiral to the north and doors line the hall on the east and west.
Alas, both doors are locked! Seeing as it's closest to that stairwell, it may be that there's extra security here. It seems you'll need to try another door first... Though to be fair, there are a lot of them. You might want to try the other two doors first!