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"Quite good to know, I suppose. Erm... perhaps we should get back to the archive - wasted seconds are critical here."

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Hoo lets out a half hearted "Yeah." and is clearly worried now, mostly about the fact that books are still being destroyed.

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"If wwwwe aren't quick about th...th....tthis, there will be no librrrrrary to save." He hoists his earth breaker and heads for the door.

The World's Most Interesting GM |

The party sloshes back downstairs into the library basement to continue their exploration.
Quick note: Mistress Koi is still pumping out a lot of water from the mezzanine level, and while the water level on the main floor and in the basement are at shallow bog-level at present it won't be long before it climbs back to its former depth downstairs and then perhaps a hour more before the water fills the basement and seeps up, and on to the main floor (a total depth over the spiral stair of about 16').
As before, the only lighting in the basement is what filters down from above through the stairwell, and whet you bring with you.

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Boomer takes the lead and heads through the lower stacks looking about for any more pieces of the scroll.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

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Stefan keeps his eye out for the book and more scroll fragments as he follows the others.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

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Xavier, holding his illuminated rapier up high, looks around.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Swim: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5

The World's Most Interesting GM |

1d2 ⇒ 2
The party enters the southeaster section of the sublevel after Boomer spots a scroll fragment just inside the doorway, Vozzik can tell that is magical just by looking at it.
The room itself seems to be a storage place for books pertaining to genealogy. However there is something odd about it. Off in the corner behind the door the party discovers a patch of darkness that does not seem to fade regardless of how close they bring their lights. Vozzik can see the magic permeating, and supporting the unnatural darkness.
Assuming that he looks into the abyss of darkness long enough with detect magic, Vozzik can tell that it's magic is of 'moderate' strength. The scroll fragment reads as 'faint'.

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Zahd glares at the impenetrable darkness and signals for the others to stay back for just a second. He lights a torch and throws it into the impenetrable darkness.
If the torch doesn't do anything: Blast it.
Either way: Zahd is going to try and recall any information about or experience with impenetrable darkness (which I assume is Knowledge: Arcana)
Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

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Hoo takes notice of the dark patch and pushes herself to the front of the group.
"I don't know why, but I kind of want to go in there..."

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Stefan looks at Hoo as she moves to the front with some concern. Unsure of why the ranger would want to go into the darkness.
"Resist the call of the darkness! Don't give into it!"

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Hoo turns around at Stefan and looks dumbfounded for a second, before breaking out into laughter.
"Bahahahah! You think I seen some, daaark magics! I'm just curious! Ehehe, ehe... But yes, I heard the saying, about curiosity killing cat, I volunteer to be first, but I just want your all thoughts. Stefan, you're verr funny."

The World's Most Interesting GM |

Zahd glares at the impenetrable darkness and signals for the others to stay back for just a second. He lights a torch and throws it into the impenetrable darkness.
If the torch doesn't do anything: Blast it.
Either way: Zahd is going to try and recall any information about or experience with impenetrable darkness (which I assume is Knowledge: Arcana)
The torch sails into the darkness and then, unseen, it splashes into the 20" of water on the floor and goes out. Or so Zahd would assume since it is still dark and you heard a splash.
Yep, alls under Knowledge (arcana)'s rules for identifying an ongoing magical effect--DC 22. This is indeed (at its core) magical darkness. If Xavier is using something beyond the light spell he can use that to defeat it. I would also note that darkvision is a thing.

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I would also note that darkvision is a thing.
A thing possessed by, IIRC, both Vozzik and Stefan.

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Boomer eyes the darkness and approaches after the torch is thrown in. Given his keen sight, he holds his earth breaker high and walks in.

The World's Most Interesting GM |


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If Xavier is using something beyond the light spell he can use that to defeat it. I would also note that darkvision is a thing.
Nope, just light.
Xavier waits as Boomer enters the edge of the magical darkness. "Well? What's in there?"

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"Just looks like more of the thame, to me? Narrow alcove lined with bookcatheth full of bookth and paperth."

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"Question is, if it's more of the same, why would it be hidden in magical darkness? Bet you..." Zahd quickly rummages through his pockets for something of value. "...uh... ...two candles that that darkness is hiding something important."

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Boomer shrugs back at the others and starts to explore the area.
Perc: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

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Hoo walks into the darkness, as her teammates squabble, and probably still can't see anything, but looks around anyways.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

The World's Most Interesting GM |

Boomer enters the benighted corner of the half-drowned library with Hoo right behind him. The shelves hold a number of books in various forms folios, scrolls, codices, and actual bound books. All of them look old, the ones on the lowest shelves are either submerged or show signs of recently having been. Boomer stops at the end, and Hoo bumps into him.
Hoo walks into the darkness, as her teammates squabble, and probably still can't see anything, but looks around anyways.

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Boomer jolts as Hoo runs into him and calls back to the others, "J...jjjust looks to be more library st...st...uff. I'm sure they hhhhhave a purpose, but I can't ss..ssay what that purpose is. Any thoughts, HHHHoo?"

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Hoo speaks softly to Boomer.
"I think there's an important book in here. Could be wrong, but I'm looking anyways."
Hoo looks closely at every exposed book, and feels around the apparent stacks of tomes.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
I'm doing this knowing that Hoo is probably almost completely blind

The World's Most Interesting GM |

Hoo speaks softly to Boomer.
"I think there's an important book in here. Could be wrong, but I'm looking anyways."
Hoo looks closely at every exposed book, and feels around the apparent stacks of tomes.
'Looks' is definitely not the right word.
Blindly Hoo feels at the shelves, spines of books, stacks of paper, and Boomer's backpack full of unstable explosives.

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Zahd listens to Hoo's shuffling / flailing about, wincing in equal parts social empathy for the embarrassment Hoo might be feeling and inner pain at hearing someone blindly knock over books. He calls into the darkness, asking "Boomer, if you could look for a book called The Darklands Precepts in there? Insider info told us that it contains some relevant knowledge."

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Xavier, who was previously attempting to tap his foot against the ground and failing due to the water level, looks quizzically at Zahd. "We heard that? When?"

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"We, uh, heard it last night! Yes, that's it. Last nigth! At the...club! The Book club!" Stefan answers as he too tries to find the book. Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

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Boomer looks for the book per Zahd's instructions.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

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Hoo realizes that she should probably be embarrassed by her foolishness, and steps out of the way out of her comrades.

The World's Most Interesting GM |

"We, uh, heard it last night! Yes, that's it. Last nigth! At the...club! The Book club!" Stefan answers as he too tries to find the book.
His eyes accustomed to the dark, Stefan steps into the alcove and looks around. In the furthest corner, alone on the last shelf, finds a thick tome bound in pale dwarf skin. He and Boomer can tell because the mummified nose, lips, and beard are all still attached to the cover. It is the legendary Darklands Precepts.
As they slide it from the shelf they can hear the susurration of distant, whispering voices softly whimpering in pain all about them from the dark.
Outside, of the alcove the darkness seems to swell outward encroaching upon Xavier's feeble light.

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Stefan, slightly unnerved by the whispers, does not want to stay any longer and hurriedly returns to the others. "Let's continue searching." he says as he looks at Hoo and Zahd and gives them a nod.

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"Let's continue searching."
Zahd sees the encroaching magical darkness and affirms Stefan's statement with a "Yes, let's."
Zahd will allow the others to pass by him on the way out of the chamber, but will tell Stefan "You know, if you wanted to I could hold onto the text for now; it's not that I don't have faith in your capacity as a librarian, it's just that you seem much more... 'Frontline'? than I, and I too have experience with books of old age and poor condition."

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At his words Stefan looks at the Bard for a few moments before shrugging and handing it over to the archaeologist. "Sure. Here."

The World's Most Interesting GM |

Stefan, slightly unnerved by the whispers, does not want to stay any longer and hurriedly returns to the others. "Let's-...."
As he speaks the whispering voices cry out in a cacophony of anguish drowning out Stefan's words. As he withdraws with the book from the alcove the darkness comes with him.
The darkness extends to a radius of 15' all around Stefan--or rather the Darkland's Precepts. Every noise Stefan makes seem to be magnified
At his words Stefan looks at the Bard for a few moments before shrugging and handing it over to the archaeologist. "Su--...."
Again the screams of a dozen tormented souls can be heard emanating from the darkness around Stefan to the point that Zahd can barely hear him. And of course Zahd can't see Stefan holding out the book because of the darkness. Note too that if your PC identified the darkness effect they have a grasp of how the spell works.

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"Why did the book have to be darkness? I want to see it! Oh, but there we have more to do. The Scroll!"

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Stefan attempts to block out the screams, covering his ears with his hands only to realize he'd need to put the book against his ear. Nerves getting increasingly unnerved by the screams he attempts to open the book hoping that there was something inside which would turn the darkness off.
The warpriest is mostly sure there had to be a away. Not believing that there would be creatures that would deliberately have this darkness on at all times. How would they read it after all?

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As the noise starts to build, Boomer covers his ears and heads out of the alcove, trying to get away from the noise.

The World's Most Interesting GM |

Stefan opens the night-shrouded, dwarf-flesh-bound tome, and finds it written in incomprehensible jagged handwriting. Flipping around he finds it the same text used throughout.

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"Why couldn't it have just been a normal book?"
Zahd covers his ears before proceeding to shout "You know what, considering the circumstances I'm probably not the best candidate to hold it. I can barely see in front of my feet in normal lighting conditions down here. We... we might need to leave this for later?"

The World's Most Interesting GM |

Zahd shouts.
Note: the loud, anguished, spectral, voices only get loud when Stefan speaks.

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"Maybe what if youse a bag? Darkness didn't go through the wall, maybe doesn't go though a bag too. And the voices, also. If you're don't touch the book, because it's in a bag, maybe it'll be fine."

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Stefan barely hears Hoo but sort of understands as he was actually thinking of putting it in his bag as well and proceeds to store the book in his pack praying to Iomedae that a bag would be enough to block the book.

The World's Most Interesting GM |

Stefan quenches the darkness engulfing the party by placing the accursed tome into his bag and strapping it tightly closed.
Now what would you like to do?

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"It was really that simple? I need to stop overthinking things..."
After muttering to himself, Zahd will (embarrassedly) motion for the others to proceed ahead of him into the hallway.

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Stefan sags in relief. Finally something went right in this mission. Steeling himself once more he turns to the others.
"Let's continue looking. I believe there are still some places we haven't searched." he says before leaving the room and turning right.

The World's Most Interesting GM |

Stefan sags in relief. Finally something went right in this mission. Steeling himself once more he turns to the others.
"Le-."
Again like a sudden wind the tortured wails begin again, drowning out Stefan's words and filling the group with chill dread.

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Boomer rejoins the group as the wailing subsides. As Stefan begins to talk and the wailing begins again, he covers his ears and yells out, "I TH...THINK YOU SH...SH...SHOULD AVOID TTTTTALKING FOR NOW!" He then heads into the hallway with the others, earth breaker held forth.

The World's Most Interesting GM |

The next room's door is open revealing a chamber full of atlas's, and maps. Many of them have been dragged from their shelves and lay on the surface of the water like huge lily pads.