"Sounds like a Tengu thing," Ellen shrugs. "They're a beastfolk race and sometimes have three eyes."
"Either that or I'm way off-base, but like... it's possible."
Akimi gives the cookies a suspicious side-eye, and does not seem at all displeased they weren't offered any. Baking is hard, and they have learned not to trust most people's cooking--especially baking.
At Ellen's comment, they offer a noncommittal grunt. "Maybe, but Lamashtu being the Mother of Monsters, could be a mutation thing. I've also heard of arcane sight referred to as the Third Eye--the ability to detect or read magic auras. Might be we just need to cast the right spell." They shrug. "Well--Dev needs to cast the right spell. What little magic I know is pretty useless."
After a moment, they decide to try and placate the librarian in hopes of getting actual information about these 'beast laws.' They clear their throat. "Of course Jacques has doubtless been well-instructed in these, uh... 'beast laws'... Maybe he even wrote them! Who knows! Not us lowly mortals. But, uh. Maybe for those of us who aren't him, you could be so kind as to elucidate us?"
She shrugs and pulls a note out of her desk. It reads,
Only one Beast shall be placed in each Pen.
No Beast wishes to see another Beast by looking directly North or directly East.
Two Beasts shall not be in pens that touch, lest they come to blows.
”No clue what it means, maybe it’ll make more sense there.”
"Oh, cool, it's one of those, like, statue-turny puzzles."
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Dev allows himself a blissful moment in the library. He revels as he inhales the musty scent of leather, paper, and dust. Not even El's terrible wordplay will ruin this...hopefully.
The magus pulls out a few scrolls, an ink bottle, and a quill. "Your research is impressive. Surely you have spent time at one of the larger academies. May a make a copy of these? Our collective memory has proven to be spotty at best." Dev scribbles notes so these insightful gems will be available when they are actually needed.
"My memory is just fine, Dave, but by all means, take your notes."
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Without even looking up, "Ever the hilarious one El. Hmm...come to think of it, have you ever even been in a library before? It's not like there is much in here to punch, threaten, or boss around."
He contemplates a moment, Do I want to do this to the Kit? Yeah, why not? "You know El, this may take a while, maybe you and the chef here can go look for a cookbook or something, deep in the stacks. You know, where it's dark and you would be unlikely to run across anyone. Find the right recipe and it might even seem like a date night."
He casually casts a glance at Akimi to gauge their reaction. Smiling inwardly to himself, Yeah, this ain't ever gettin' old.
Well, that might be two of them. Now, how to get rid of the other one? "Ya know Jac, if they don't have anything on your exploits, maybe you can find out more about Findlay or his family. If not, there may be a book with some insights about being a...father." Dev shivers at this last part.
Ellen raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I've been in a library before. My palace had one."
She gets the hint, though; if Akimi seems up for it, she slinks off with them to some forgotten corner.
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Akimi opens there mouth and replies to Dev with something to the effect of "Habbabhaffuh" before following the monk off to, er... look for recipes.
"Something with sugar, I hope," they squeak.
Wait--palace?? Oh, right. She did mention she was royalty. How did I forget that?? Oh gods above, I bet it had the most amazing kitchens. And staff! Imagine what I could do with staff! They seem dangerously close to forgetting why they were following Ellen away in the first place, until they catch a glimpse of her swagger and remember very suddenly what the plan is.
About forty minutes later, they half-stumble out of the stacks somewhere deep in the library looking thoroughly disheveled. Insofar as a fox person without hair can have 'bed-head,' they have it. "We uh. We should. Do the thing. We were doing. I will wait outside, I need um. To stand outside."
As Akimi wobbles their way outside, they look like they got beaned in the dome with a brick, but like, in a good way.
Finley seems excited to look up local History about his family and Jacques relents, figuring he can slip a few notes in some books about his accomplishments.
Jacques takes the magus' literary suggestions to heart and is soon immersed in the parenting section of the library, where he can be heard reading the juicy bits aloud to Finley.
The group hears nothing untoward from the upper room, but Dev comes down and out really really sweaty. He is mum about the reason for his exertion.
Jacques finds himself in the 'how to become a parent' section and begins reading out loud to Finly. Who turns a bright shade of red and hides in the bookshelves.
_________________________
Using the clues given and the map, you quickly find yourself on the path out of town to find this trove of knowledge (or 'real' treasure, maybe too).
After a bit of travel up into the nearby hinterlands, you find the map is quite accurate. It indicates a low ridge up ahead hides a 'scar', which is actually an entrance into an underground complex of some sort. The terrain looks like gentle rolling hills in this area and all one probably needs to do is walk on up. I'm sure it'll be super simple.
Akimi stops to scope out the area , particularly looking out for traps or ambushes.
Akimi spends a bit of time studying the map. It's how the group finds the area so quickly.
From this distance away, nothing regarding the entrance is available. The terrain looks odd though. Almost as though distorted. You have a really strong feeling the land between here and the entrance will warp your perceptions once you start walking.
Jacques spends most of the walk from town reading aloud to the others about the latest developments and theories regarding parenting in today's Golarion. "I had *no* idea how important the influence of Ustalav has been in the development of the school system!"
But when his attention is needed to attend to the latest hazard he sighs, dog ears his current page, and tucks the book away for later, while he considers what there is to be done.
His ever-confident face dims for a moment and then he slaps the chef confidently on the shoulder. "Good thing you know everything, right!?!"
Dev slaps his forehead, ”I knew I shoulda focused on magic. Dammit.”
Akimi shrugs. "I have only a basic knowledge of this stuff. I think we're just going to have to push through and hope for the best."
Akimi waits to see if anyone has a better idea. If no one speaks for a minute, they nod and start moving forward.
Jacques agrees. "What could possibly go wrong?!?"
"Hey, you think this is like one of those trick carpets where it looks like a chasm, but it's actually just cleverly-patterened?"
She squints.
"Hope this isn't, like, the reverse of that. Jacques, care to go first?" she asks, quietly pinching the scruff of Akimi's neck.
The brave Jacques Renard strides forward confidently!
Nothing dangerous happens, obviously. Or does it?
Akimi
Ellen
Jacques (10 ft forward, Will Save Due)
Ouchies!
Dev
Akimi scrunches their neck from the pinch, feeling something run up and down their spine that isn't pain, but is deeply unpleasant. They scowl at Ellen but nevertheless allow Jacques to go first.
When Jacques doesn't immediately explode, Akimi shrugs and follows the braggart.
Jacques is not as confident as he was before, either. The hellscape seems a bit intense.
Jacques pauses, uncharacteristically hesitant, perhaps even looking... dare I say it... a bit ... scared? No, no, such a thing cannot be, not to the bravest adventurer to ever grace the Inner Sea and beyond...
"Um, where's Ved? Maybe he should go first? Wasn't he always talking about seeing me in Hell? Because I think I found it..." Jacques wavers, neither advancing nor retreating, waving Finley about as if to ward off any as yet unseen threats.
The brave Jacques Renard quivers boldly in fear! He seems shaken at something and surprisingly only talks a little bit. A tiny dribble of blood oozes from his left ear.
Akimi strides up to see what is wrong with their meat shield/cannon fodder. Surely it can’t be that bad…
Ellen thinks a moment and considers her options.
Akimi (10ft forward, results of will save given after ‘ouchies’ acts)
Ellen
Jacques (-12 HP, Frightened 2, 10 ft forward)
Ouchies!
Dev
Hero Points: Akimi 1, Ellen 1, Jacques 0, Dev 1
Akimi (10ft forward, results of will save given after ‘ouchies’ acts)
Ellen
Jacques (-12 HP, Frightened 2, 10 ft forward)
Ouchies!
Dev
Ellen, sighing, reaches forth and yanks both Jacques and--if needed--Akimi back away from whatever the thing is.
"Nope. Nope nope nope. Whatever it is that's making the brave and triumphant bleed, I'm not letting happen to anyone with more sense."
Ellen pulls the two back by their scruff. The terrain returns to normal for Jacques. Looks safe again!
Jacques heaves a sigh of relief before launching into his usual commentary. "You see, Finley, adventuring it is not for the foolhardy or the rash. Only the bravest among us can dare to tread such paths, paths that may even lead to Hell itself! Fortunately, I was able to scout ahead for our group - I was not terrified er not at all terrified - though a lesser hero might have plucked their eyeballs from their very sockets! But now, I can assure our wise Cap'n, that this is definitely NOT the path we want to take. Really any other path will be more suited to our adventuring glory. Why don't we go, er, that way!" Without waiting to see if his comrades are following, Jacques starts to hurry in the other direction, doing his best to look as if he is scouting expeditiously, rather than fleeing ignominiously.
Akimi gets yanked back with a "urk!" and flops on their ass in the dirt. They look indignantly up at Ellen as they get to their feet and dust themself off. "Look, are we going in or not? Coz this is the only entrance I can see. You find another one, we can take that. Otherwise, we either go through the bleedy tunnel or we go home."
They cross their arms and wait, clearly irritated. This wasn't even their idea! They really only went to the library to sate their curiosity, which was already sated so why the heck did they agree to this? Of course they now want to see what's inside the bleeding-inducing tunnel, but that's beside the point! Really, they'd be happier going back home and fixing up a nice pulled possum sandwich on brioche. Maybe with a brown sugar glaze.
Dammit, now they're hungry on top of everything else.
Akimi glances back toward Jacques as they drag out some jerked beef from a ration tin in their pack. "Uh. Somebody might wanna snag Sir Loudmouth the Nearly Brave before he stumbles into something worse."
Ellen groans.
"Look. I understand that this is the only way forward--if, in fact, we want to do this at all, given the, y'know, blood--but just because the path ahead is actively on fire--rhetorically--doesn't mean we have to walk into it. Let's see if we can figure out a better way or at least what we're dealing with, here."
"Dev, fetch our guinea pig. We can probably use him again later."
She digs into her pack and produces a small cup and fills it from her waterskin, then sets it down in the problem area (using a stick to scoot it the last few inches).
"If it's vibrations, we should see it rippling on the surface. If it's angry spirits, they might consider this a gift--a poor one, but at least they might show themselves and be pissy about it, and then we'll know."
Dev chases down Jacques, who is definitely not running away.
The cup seems non-plussed by whatever caused the visions to the braggart. Perhaps it is evidence Jacques has a brain! Or at least that the water cup does not.
Jacques gazes into the cup and seems strangely calmed by it. He turns his head this way and that, staring at his reflection and slowly beginning to smile. "Damn, I'm good looking, ain't I? What a hero - the bravest in the land - a face like that can handle anything - even a journey to Hell itself! What's a little nosebleed to a true hero?!? C'mon, let's go! What's the worst that could happen?"
Akimi thinks about saying something to the effect of 'the worst thing that could happen is you keep talking,' but bites their tongue. They're cranky at getting jostled around, but no reason to take it out on Jacques.
They sigh. "Cup's a bust. It's something mental, seems like. Maybe an illusion? I dunno magic very well. Dev, you know what this is?"
They take a look around to try and find a safer entrance, though they're not hopeful.
The hazard is still exactly what Akimi thought it was the first time they looked.
They think perhaps… if someone ran in and triggered it, everyone else might be able to then rush past before it blasted anyone else. But who might be a good sacrifice? Or someone who could withstand a brain bleed?
Akimi sighs and leans in toward Ellen and Dev. What they're going to say might hurt the swashbuckler's feelings, and as annoying as he is, they don't want to wound his pride that's already probably stinging.
"I think somebody's gotta trigger it and we all run past before it can reset. Someone with a strong will should do it. And... I think that means it's either Jacques or me. I've... I've seen a lot. Let's just leave it at that. It lets me shrug off some freaky stuff. And Jacques is... well, let's be real. He's kinda too stupid to be properly afraid of it. Or would be, if he hadn't already felt its bite."
They glance at the swashbuckler and put their hands on their hips. "I think the braggart is too spooked to try again. I mean, we can ask him, but I think it should be me. If this thing makes me start bleeding all over, I have some clotting agents and a chemical poultice in my kit that should help."
"Hey, now," protests Ellen, crossing her arms. "I'm willful and stupid."
"I'll set it off. You run past and drag me if you need to. You've got stuff in your kit but you're also the one who knows how to use it. I've got some knowledge, but..."
She shrugs.
"Also I can heal myself at-will."
The group waits a few minutes (ten) and Akimi heals up Jacques.
And after a bit of discourse, a sacrificial lamb is chosen. The Captain, of course, heads out as the away team. Prince Ellen strides up the slight hill and steels her resolve.
Akimi grumbles unhappily, but acquiesces. The captain's gotta captain, they suppose, even when she's not actually on the ship.
It takes almost twenty minutes, probably because it's hard to get at Jacques's internal head bleeding when his skull is so damn thick, but eventually Akimi gets the swashbuckler patched up.
"Good as new, Jacques," they say with an amiable pat on the shoulder. Their statement is somewhat marred by the lines of dried blood sticking to the braggart's fur from his ears down to his collarbone.
Prince Ellen waits for Jacques's brains to be pushed back into his earholes, then steps forward.
"I'm feelin' pretty good right now actually," shrugs Ellen as she is besieged by the horrors.
Jacques watches Cap'n Prince Ellen bravely pass through Hell itself and feels a renewed surge of bravery. "Come, Finley! We must not let the Captain advance unaccompanied - onward!" He too darts forward.
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Ellen strides forward. The landscape twists and turns to her usual nightmares. She shrugs, slightly concerned but bears right through it. After all, it isn’t like she isn’t used to them at this point.
Jacques confidently ignores the plan and follows, putting himself back into what he expects to be another hellscape. But instead this time it is a somber funeral. A whispy ghost he recognizes as Finley is speaking, ”Jacques was a good friend to me. Helped me through some things. I think that is the biggest thing I remember him ever accomplishing, but it really mattered to me.”
A priest steps up and begins murmuring a prayer. Some boring bland thing about death and renewal. Jacques turns to look at his adoring crowd mourning his death and his heart almost stops, three people. AND AND ONE OF THEM IS DERV!?! What the hell?
His brain bleeds again.
Akimi and Dev rush past the two and keep running until they reach a small crevice in the rock face. It almost suddenly appears in front of them actually. Jacques and Ellen catch up shortly, probably.
Ellen's nose wrinkles.
She can't be here. She would not be dead here. It's an illusion. Just another nightmare, only this time...
She grabs the quivering Jacques by the arm and pivots, dragging him toward Akimi and Dev--toward safety.
This time, I'm awake enough to tell the difference.
Nonetheless, the fur on her tail stands on end, and she, too, quivers as she catches up with the others.
One hand reaches into her jacket pocket, thumbing the yellow bit of fabric inside.
Be safe, Vix.
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