GM Bret's PbP Gameday IX: Library of the Lion (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

When Elris brings the shield to the Guardian, the animate statue praises them “Oh, that looks like a worthy find.” The guardian examines the shield, commenting that “It seems this once held an enchantment.”

“Do you think you can smuggle it out without anyone noticing?”

I’m going to assume you say yes.

The Guardian asks you to bring the shield close. It then gingerly grasps the shield in its mouth and concentrates for a minute. As it holds it there, the patina on the shield recedes leaving a bright and burnished surface.

Once Elris has the shield back, he notices there is an inscription “Glorymane” on the inside of it.

Ela watches the lion absorb into the shield, and nods in appreciation.

That's a pretty big shield Elris. Where are you going to hide it?

Grelthe is so excited about the shield she neglects to lecture everyone on taking the shield, and is visibly bouncing. She's a big lady, she might by able to carry it out on her back under her cloak? (If we need to roll stealth though Grelthe's not great at it. But I do still have my messenger bag reroll *waggles eyebrows*)

"Well, that is a good question. They might wonder why I have two shields too but I would be honored if Grelthe would carry mine for me." Elris suggests handing off his own shield while he carries Glorymane with them out of the building.

“It is rather large to hide it under a cloak. If you have some way to turn it invisible, that would work. Otherwise perhaps you can just act as in a manner that belies any suspicion so as to not attract attention?”

Sleight of hand at a penalty, invisibility on the shield, bluff, any other course you might want to suggest.

The Lion statue seems very pleased with the idea of seeing the world outside the library.

Grelthe remembers one of the potions VC Muesello gave us was invisibility. (Does that work on an inanimate item? Or would it need to specifically be an oil instead?)

(Although also invisibility only lasts for 1 min/level, so maybe we should think more creatively - I don't know if we can get out in that short amount of time. Grelthe is quite bad at both Bluff & Sleight of Hand, but also I have a promotional reroll I haven't used yet that might be helpful)

I think that's the difference between an oil and a potion

"Yes, of course, I will need something as a personal emblem as a Baronet," Iacopo will attempt to use his scroll.

caster level check, DC 5: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

If we do use the scroll, we should probably save it until we are ready to leave the secret library, to maximize its duration.

I am willing to say the scroll isn't used until you are getting ready to leave. Casters know the limits of their spells and especially in PbP it can be difficult to track time.
Iacopo promises to use their scroll and it will work when he uses it. In other words, keep the activation roll and mark the scroll used.

Let me know if anyone wants to join Toral in B10 to speed his check up.

Igor eyes Iacopo fumbling with the scroll and that he is clearly a bit out of his depth. He looks amused at the man's efforts.

"Next time just ask for help with that? You might get lucky this time but if you play with fire you will get burned."

Igor can help Toral out and speed up the process (hopefully).

I assume the Glorymane shield process didn't take up much time, so... Grelthe will also go to B10 to assist Toral

Kn.Nobility: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

With the help of Grelthe and Igor, Toral takes 8 minutes to finishes the search in B10 finding two clues.

They think that is all there is to find there,

"We have quite a few documents involving the Silver Crusade? Perhaps we should begin doing one last sweep for cleaning any messes we may have made before heading back upstairs, and avoid the keeper's chamber altogether?" Elris suggests to the group.

Yes, but I don't think we'll be able to do a complete cleaning. I think we should just focus on the obvious damage and push the rest out of obvious passing view.

My math puts us at about 1 hour 15-20 mins in to the performance? GM, am I in the ballpark?

Grelthe nods in agreement, something is still furrowing her brow slightly.

"Tobias, the head Librarian said the performance would conclude in 'about two hours.' So yeah we should probably clean up and head up to the real library. Do we want to leave immediately, or hang around in the upper library til the performance is over to blend into the crowd?"

But while everyone else is tidying up as best they can, Grelthe asks [original] Glorymane about the caretaker, are the Lion Blades treating them well, allowing them to speak with outsiders, etc. She also asks Glorymane about the connection it has with the shield - can they both see and hear from it?

(She also holds the shield, and thinks real hard Can the bearer of the shield telepathically communicate with you? feeling a bit silly but curious.)

”We should do everything we can to hideout presence!!“

survival to stop tracks from being discovered : 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Timekeeping: Igor has been using a dagger with a light spell on it, renewing it each time it runs out. It lasts 30 minutes per casting. Iacopo also used a Mage Armor from a wand just a few minutes before Igor's dagger stopped glowing and that will last an hour.
I am more than glad to give information like this, but will not comment on the exact time.

When Grelthe asks about the connection, Glorymane replies "The shield now contains a spark of awareness and will happily assist one of you so long as the cause is just or the potential glory great."

"It only has a small portion of my essence though, it will only be able to understand Taldane, not speak it. It can give a vague empathetic response."

Taldane = Common.

"I encourage you to go forth, do great things! I will be able to observe your actions thanks through the eyes of the shield."

While Toral is doing an excellent job of trying to cover the tracks, there is a limit to how well he can cover up the incinerated books. While he is doing that, Igor's dagger goes out and Igor renews the spell.

Anything else people would like to do down here?

Elris is ready to head back up stairs and face the angry mob waiting for us, lol.

"Oh we will, Glorymane! I believe it is time we headed back upstairs before the show reaches completion, shall we?" he looks to the others before starting to head that way, closing doors as they go.

You head back uptake stairs, through the secret door to the Rare Books collection room. Your illusionary doubles are still there.

Elris quickly begins collecting the cards.

"Best if someone doesn't see us alongside the illusions." he says as he picks them up.

Grelthe will offer the shield back to Elris before they head upstairs if he wants it "Since we are making it invisible, there is no need for my bulk to disguise it."

Ela walks over to her illusory double, and asks (mockingly), So what did you get done up here? Bet you didn't fight any animated books...

She squats down and pulls her card out from under the chair leg.

Toral is really as that they were successful!

He checks the secret door to be sure that they close it properly.

He takes his card and stores it away.

”Let us go to the librarian and get out!“ he says with a smile.

Igor nods at Elris as he collects all the cards. Once everyone is back upstairs he moves the arm on the statue that controls the mechanism of the secret door to its previous position hopefully concealing their mission below.

"Ready here. I think we should leave now."

As you are taking care of the cards, the light on Igor’s dagger goes out. Having no reason to renew it, he fully sheathes the weapon.

Iacopo uses their scroll to turn the shield invisible just before you call for the librarian.

Tobias comes soon after you call for him and let’s you out of the library without incident. As you are leaving, the music swells again. Tobias remarks there is only about 20 minutes left to the performance. He also chides you for the noise you made while researching.

“I do not know what you were doing that made such a racket, but please if you ever come back remember this is a library. Such loud noises are unacceptable.”

You return to Venture Captain Muesello‘s shop where he is eager to hear your report.

“Did you find anything that would help our sponsor? What did you find about the Shining Crusade?”

We can role play as much or as little of the reporting as people wish.

The adventure is complete.

Grelthe takes a deep breath and becomes about twice as considerate and sociable as you've seen her so far, as she tries to (quickly) calm down and befriend Tobias, the librarian. (I know we are in a hurry to leave, I just wanted to use my fancy diplomacy ability before the adventure ends, that's all)

"Ah, you are wise Tobias, to caution us for our noisyness. Some of us know better how to behave in libraries better than others, but some of us just got so excited by the wonderful library and its contents that you have here!" She pouts prettily "You wouldn't block us from experiencing such a deep trove of treasure for a little too much excitement, would you?"
Diplomacy (Irritable Diplomat trait): 1d20 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 5 = 30

Toral smiles at the venture captain and rubs his hands.

”Sir, I believe that you will find the documents that we found to be very promising! If this would not be for the crusade against the demons then I surely would be able to fetch a fortune for this information! The artifacts or relics which might be of use have tremendous power and have been used in the past to overcome evil! And I can assure you that we did not expose the identity of the noble lady that aided us!“ he says and claps his hands as if this was a deal.

Grelthe proudly hands over Princess Eutropa's letter, as well as their copied research. Her chest is stuck so far out from pride she looks like a balloon that might pop. Then you watch it deflate in real time as she realizes they should probably tell... "Unfortunately we didn't get out 100% clean, so they will be able to tell that SOMEONE was in there, just not who. It wasn't our fault! We got attacked by a swarm of magical pages and had to defend ourselves. Other than that everything went swimmingly." she tries to take back her proud stance, but it looks a bit forced now.

Muesello is very pleased that you didn't have to give up the letter.

"I am certain that this information on succession will be of great interest to the princess. I know that I plan to send the information about the crusade to the Grand Lodge for further study."

"It seems you have done a good job. It will be a few days before we get any indication of what they might find, but you got out safely and with the information we want."

"My apologies Tobias...this crusader still forgets he is in a library and gets too excited when he finds something interesting." Elris apologizes with a smile to Tobias. When they get out without incident, he gives a whoop when they are clear of the grounds.

Holding up the invisible shield, "Glorymane, here is to the adventures ahead but first is the boring part of reporting! Aha. I can't hog you all the time though...I am sure these other guys want to take you on some missions as well.", he says talking to the object letting it see the group.

---

"The significance of all of it is a bit over my head but there is plenty about the Silver Crusade in there. The history of our order is just as important as the future, right? Like Grelthe said we had a bit of trouble which I am sorry for but we aren't in jail!" he smiles clapping a hand on her shoulder.

"That is most fortunate, it would have been difficult to get you released if captured. There would be no official acknowledgement of it, I am sure. To do so they would need to admit where you were found."

”Good! Then the mission is accomplished and I can go back to my business! This time at least the expenses that the society paid are somewhat making up for my forgone profits!“ he says with a chuckle.

”Farewell to you all!!“