*Stack of loose papers and scrolls also written in Aklo: "These documents contain a wealth of information about the actual Gauntlight (lighthouse). The lighthouse is an actual artifact. It cannot be damaged by normal means. Its walls are impenetrable and impervious to any attempt to breach them by anybody except for followers of Nhimbaloth. They block effects that allow temporary passage, such as passwall, and also create a barrier against dimensional travel. To activate Gauntlight, a creature must be in the deepest portion of the artifact, where a creature can observe the world outside remotely through Gauntlight’s lens in its cuploa, including any area Gauntlight’s beam can reach. The beam can be shot once per month. 3 weeks and counting to the next shot."
*A folio containing several esoteric diagrams is sandwiched between several books on teleportation on the north shelf: "The folio details
Belcorra’s series of linked teleportation circles to quickly move around the Abomination Vaults, and it notes the importance of using the awaken portal ritual to activate them should time or mischance deplete them of power. The awaken portal ritual is included in the documents."
Rare Conjuration
Cast 1 hour; Secondary Casters up to 5
Primary Check Arcana or Occultism (trained); Secondary Checks Arcana or Occultism (whichever is used for the primary check)
Range 10 ft.; Target(s) 1 portal
You attempt to reactivate a dormant gate, portal, or teleportation circle by infusing it with magical energies. This ritual must be successfully performed twice, once at each location the portal connects.
The DC required to successfully awaken a portal varies based on the strength and distance between its end points. Thus, activating the portal on the first level of the Abomination Vaults requires a successful DC 15 check, while activating the portal on the fourth level requires a successful DC 23 check.
Critical Success You awaken the portal. If its other side is awakened, the portal can be used normally and won't deactivate naturally. If its other side is not awakened, this side remains awakened for 1 year, possibly allowing you enough time to find and awaken the connecting portal.
Success As critical success, but if the portal's other side is not awakened, this side remains awakened for only 1d6 days before it fades and falls dormant again.
Failure You fail to activate the portal, and magical backlash leaves you stupefied 1 for 24 hours.
*Largest book in the room, on the southern shelf, is a rare text called The Whispering Reeds: "I am glad that you asked me to study this book rather than study it yourself. This magical book appears to simply describe 77 supposed encounters with the Outer Goddess Nhimbaloth and how each encounter left physical or mental scars. The book is heavily annotated in Belcorra’s hand, particularly in areas where themes of Nhimbaloth as an “eater of ghosts” play into the parables and tales. The book can be used against the cult of Nhimbaloth as a weapon, allowing you to inflict positive damage on undead. However, exposure to the book may subject you to a curse from the Outer God. I would not recommend that you read or study this book. The choice, however, is yours. You can leave it in my care, if you wish. Destroying it may also subject you to the curse."
Garidan listens carefully to Wrin's summaries. He especially makes a mental note that there's some one down at the bottom that has control over the Gauntlight and they have less than three weeks left before the beam scmight shoot again.
At the end, he starts the discussion. "Pen, you should certainly try to learn that ritual, as you are the most versed in the arcane and occult. I will certainly try to assist you, but my knowledge is limited, due to the lack of practice. This will help us traverse the tower much faster."
”What do you all think about The Whispering Reeds? Sounds like it could be a powerful weapon! Of course, that curse sounds gnarly as well. Should we try to harness the power or leave the book here?”
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Penflower thinks he should try and learn Aklo, despite having no love for the language. He answers Garidan "You're right, I should study this. It looks complicated, but at least the steps are well documented." He takes the awaken portal ritual and folds the diagrams carefully in his backpack.
Then, about the Reeds, he says "I think it's dangerous to use that. Wrin says it could curse us. Suppose we do defeat our enemies with it, what happens then, do we have to fight each other? It doesn't sound like a good idea to me."
Mac is intrigued by Wrin's recount of her study of the papers. "Interesting, so Belcorra has a hatred for Absalom. If you remember, there was a room on the second level, near where Jon disabled the traps, that had miniatures of a city being devastated by natural disasters and undead and monsters. There was also a painting of Absalom on fire being consumed by ghosts on the island where we fought the doll...must have been a fascination of Belcorra to imagine Absalom's destruction. Maybe she was gathering all of the denizens of the vaults to mount an invasion of the city. And if I recall correctly, with the lighthouse beam, she was able to transport that gruesome spider-like creature in the middle of the graveyard. Maybe she was planning to beam the monsters into the heart of the city before the Rose Guard killed her." Mac pauses, "About this drow apprentice Volluk, we've heard this name before. The brownie mentioned Volluk Azrinae was an apprentice to Belcorra (Pages 6-7 of PbP). The goblin, Borbo, who had his soul trapped in a gem stuffed in a doll said Volluk was his master (Page 17 of PbP). He told us:"
"A powerful mastermind drow occultist artist craftsman." Borbo seems happy with himself that he remembered. He continues, "I know he had a relation with a book lady down below and that he worked for...." Borbo pauses and looks around and whispers, "Mistress Belcorra, who is very frightening and absolutely none of my business. I remember that he did research for the Mistress on some lenses in room up above, but he never shared details about it with me. Said it was very secret. He also experimented on transferring of souls...he said he wanted to live forever. He liked to torture any who displeased the Mistress before he killed them."..."Master Azrinae was not nice. He was mean and cruel to all. And vain, extremely vain. He thought he was the most beautiful elf that ever was. There was a portrait of him before on the level above in the Hall. It was titled "Artist at Work". He could not stop talking about it. Did you see it? His vanity was his weak point. He would get really mad and lose his composure when I would call him ugly or imperfect. He once got so mad at me when I told him about ugly he would look if he transferred his soul to vermin. He could not handle that. Said that he had to do it because his lifespan would end soon.
Mac continues his thoughts. "We have a real deadline now. 3 weeks to stop the beam from recharging."
"I agree with Garidan that Pen should learn the Awaken Portal Ritual to activate the portals we have found on each level. My vote is to leave the Whispering Reeds alone, do not want to mess with objects that can inflict godly curses."
Mac will also offer Jon and Hagrym a moderate and lesser alchemist's fire each. "Against the wood golem, we were screwed because we did not have fire. Garidan and Pen have access to fire by spell or supplies. We should all have access to it just in case."
Mac continues his thoughts. "We have a real deadline now. 3 weeks to stop the beam from recharging."
"We should alert the temple of Sarenrae before we leave town. Perhaps they can gather their clerics and hallow the ground of the graveyard to mitigate the effects of the Gauntlight or at least be on alert 3 weeks from now, assuming we miss the deadline."
"I agree with Garidan that Pen should learn the Awaken Portal Ritual to activate the portals we have found on each level. My vote is to leave the Whispering Reeds alone, do not want to mess with objects that can inflict godly curses."
"I can't pretend some additional power against the undead isn't tempting, but I think you're right. The less we meddle with the gods, the less they meddle with us, and I'm not keen to give them a direct line," Jon agrees.
Mac will also offer Jon and Hagrym a moderate and lesser alchemist's fire each. "Against the wood golem, we were screwed because we did not have fire. Garidan and Pen have access to fire by spell or supplies. We should all have access to it just in case."
"Thank you. I can use alchemy to create fire rounds ahead of time, but it's just chip damage if they ignore the force of the bullet," Jon says, taking the offered bombs. "By the way, Wrin, there wasn't a contract regarding the services of a devil among any of those papers, was there?"
Wrin raises an eyebrow at Jon's comment, "You have dealings with devils? My, my, how things have changed in such a short time. No, no infernal contracts among the possessions that you gave me to review. Be careful when dealing with devils. While they tend to be lawful, do not forget that they are innately evil."
"We didn't forget," Jon says guiltily. "We were going to trade it its contract for safe passage through a door it was guarding, but maybe it's safer for everyone if it remains bound to its post. Or dead."
"I still think that is a safe plan, Jon, once we find the contract. If they're lawful, as Wrin says, then the devil will keep his word and poof back home, giving us access to the room."