Threatened by fire, the brittle pages yield to Gamble: a secret room!
+3 Research Points, 3rd Threshold Reached!
Mataranka spends a scholarly jaunt deep into several journals at once, just at the precipice of revealing yet more about the mysterious keep. If only she had more time...
+4 Research Points!
Third Threshold:
1st
The PCs confirm that the Chernasardo Rangers have allowed Fort Ozem to go to ruin to conceal its true purpose. They use the fort as a base of operations despite its current appearance. They share control of the fort with the church of Iomedae and the Knights of Lastwall.
2nd
The PCs learn the rough layout of Fort Ozem, including that it follows a “sword-and-hilt” design. The rundown building at the front of the fort is a shell designed to frustrate intruders. The characters also learn the location of the hidden entrances in the fort’s outer wall, as well as the secret door in area "A15"
3rd
The PCs discover that the church of Iomedae maintains the space Iomedae used during her time at the fort as a showroom in her honor - and this room contains an entrance to the catacombs beneath the fort...
Progress & Thresholds Reached:
19 Research Points
First, Second, Third
R2) Defiant in Death The books in this section contain the souls of Seldeg’s former foes. Even in death, these souls are loath to give up their secrets to the enemy...
Checks: Arcana, Religion, Society, or Iomadae Lore (all Moderate), Force Open a book (DC 20), or Coerce an author (DC 23)
Research Pts Earned (of 10 Max): ☠☠☠☠☠, ☠☠☠☠
Only one more Research Success is possible with this "Room" of the Flayed Files!
R3) Traitorous Tomes These books are made from those who betrayed the Chernasardo Rangers, the church of Iomedae, or the Knights of Lastwall. While the books contain important information about the enemies of Tar-Baphon, the souls of these traitors continue to conceal the truth, constantly shifting the words written on their pages...
Checks: Academia Lore (DC 21), Perception (Hard) or Occultism (Very Hard)
Research Pts Earned (of ?? Max): ☠☠☠☠☠
The party remains mostly intact as Research into Fort Ozem and it's inhabitants continues...
Each "Round" Evil PCs can make up to 3 checks, but for each they fail, they must roll a Choice Saving Throw to overcome the effects of the Flaying Files (rolling at the end of the round, after skill checks)! Choose and roll 1-3 checks for this Round, declare any outcomes (CS/S/F/CF), plus any triggered saving throws!
Progress & Thresholds Reached:
12 Research Points
First, Second
R1) Ears To the Ground This section contains books made from the bodies of Seldeg’s former spies and informants. The books all hold rumors the author believed to be true. As some of these rumors contradict the others, it is up to the reader to decide whose ears were most discerning...
Checks: Sense Motive (18), Society (DC 23)
Research Pts Earned (of 10 Max): ☠☠☠☠☠
R2) Defiant in Death The books in this section contain the souls of Seldeg’s former foes. Even in death, these souls are loath to give up their secrets to the enemy...
Checks: Arcana, Religion, Society, or Iomadae Lore (all Moderate), Force Open a book (DC 20), or Coerce an author (DC 23)
Research Pts Earned (of 10 Max): ☠☠☠☠☠, ☠
R3) Traitorous Tomes These books are made from those who betrayed the Chernasardo Rangers, the church of Iomedae, or the Knights of Lastwall. While the books contain important information about the enemies of Tar-Baphon, the souls of these traitors continue to conceal the truth, constantly shifting the words written on their pages...
Checks: Academia Lore (DC 21), Perception (Hard) or Occultism (Very Hard)
Research Pts Earned (of ?? Max): ☠
30 minutes inside of the Flayed Files, Mataranka emerges unscathed, as slickly does Gamble. And Plunk.
Ghorzaan's mind breaks a little - a small, nagging, paranoid voice in the back of her head, impeding her ability to think!
Ghorzaan, you are Stupified 1, which penalizes all further Research Checks (yes, even Athletics checks made as Research checks, etc) for your duration in the Flayed Files!
Mataranka succeeds in browbeating a filthy Iomedaen, who falls weak as her philosophy is perverted by the twisted ghoul.
S and S = +2 RP
Plunk, meanwhile, the unassuming skeleton simply getting it done in the background, manages to unravel several red herrings, leaving a host of previous theories substantiated by diligent triangulation!
CS and S = +3 RP, earning next Threshold!
Ghorzaan's intimidating presence simply fails to land without a physical dimension - her prey manage to keep their lips sealed.
Double F
Gamble manages to glean a single clue from an infamous former spy who changed teams mid-war!
S = +1 RP
Second Threshold:
The PCs confirm that the Chernasardo Rangers have allowed Fort Ozem to go to ruin to conceal its true purpose. They use the fort as a base of operations despite its current appearance. They share control of the fort with the church of Iomedae and the Knights of Lastwall.
The PCs learn the rough layout of Fort Ozem, including that it follows a “sword-and-hilt” design. The rundown building at the front of the fort is a shell designed to frustrate intruders. The characters also learn
the location of the hidden entrances in the fort’s outer wall, as well as the secret door in area "A15"
However!
...is that Seldeg laughing in the background? Or was it just...
...something about the room begins to pluck at the sanity of the inhabitants... ...or at their strings of their soul... ...for it appears what was once thought to be a one-way transfer of power is beginning to cost the Evil Party a piece of themselves... ...perhaps the "prisoners" are fighting back... ...perhaps some divine thread allows them to ply a resistance... ...whatever it is, it begins to take a toll on the party...
To Do:
0) Still awaiting Yiks' checks...
1) Choose Mind or Spirit!
2) If you choose Mind, roll one DC 23 Will save for each Failure you have rolled so far!
3) If you choose Spirit, roll one DC 23 Fortitude save for each Failure you have rolled so far!
4) If you have Critically Failed, take a -2 penalty to the saving throw it triggered!
5) Reference your Outcomes below, and declare any change in Status!
S of CS to Mind:
No effect.
It's bothersome, but you feel comfortable to continue.
F of CF to Mind:
You become Stupified 1 (or 2 CF) for the duration of your time in the Flayed Files!
This is a cumulative effect.
If you reach Stupified 4, you will no longer be able to make Research Checks!
S of CS to Spirit:
No effect.
It's bothersome, but you feel comfortable to continue.
F of CF to Spirit:
You become Drained 1 (or 2 CF) for the duration of the Adventure!
R1) Ears To the Ground This section contains books made from the bodies of Seldeg’s former spies and informants. The books all hold rumors the author believed to be true. As some of these rumors contradict the others, it is up to the reader to decide whose ears were most discerning...
Checks: Sense Motive (easy), Society (DC 23)
Research Pts Earned (of Max):
R2) Defiant in Death The books in this section contain the souls of Seldeg’s former foes. Even in death, these souls are loath to give up their secrets to the enemy...
Checks: Arcana, Religion, Society, or Iomadae Lore (all Moderate), Force Open a book (DC 20), or Coerce an author (DC 23)
Research Pts Earned (of Max): ☠☠☠☠
R3) Traitorous Tomes These books are made from those who betrayed the Chernasardo Rangers, the church of Iomedae, or the Knights of Lastwall. While the books contain important information about the enemies of Tar-Baphon, the souls of these traitors continue to conceal the truth, constantly shifting the words written on their pages...
Checks: Academia Lore (DC 21), Perception (Hard) or Occultism (Very Hard)
Research Pts Earned (of Max): ☠
The party confirms that there is a trio of organizations that operate out of the "disguised" fort!
First Threshold (5 pts):
Research Points The PCs confirm that the Chernasardo Rangers have allowed Fort Ozem to go to ruin to conceal its true purpose. They use the fort as a base of operations despite its current appearance. They share control of the fort with the church of Iomedae and the Knights of Lastwall.
Still awaiting Yik's 1st check before moving us along!
Mataranka discovers an account of a former ranger who, leveraged due to agents of the Whispering Tyrant abducting his family, divulged that the Chernasardo were interested in using the abandoned Fort due to it's strategic location - Gamble is able to force open a tome that definitively corroborates the account, a captured ranger tortured to death over weeks concerning the matter...
Partial Info - the first Threshold is 5 points, w/ Mataranka's S and Gamble's CS providing combined 3 Research Points towards that total!
Anchor Post (Consider "favoriting" for easy repeated reference)
The party enters the portal... into a circular path between two impossibly tall walls, each lined with shelves filled with books bound in the flesh of Seldeg Bhedlis’s enemies (and in some cases, his former allies). The path has no beginning or end; walking in any direction always leads to a new section of the library!
There are three distinct "rooms" each with different "media"... Choose one room to enter, and make a single roll!
R1) Ears To the Ground This section contains books made from the bodies of Seldeg’s former spies and informants. The books all hold rumors the author believed to be true. As some of these rumors contradict the others, it is up to the reader to decide whose ears were most discerning...
Checks: Sense Motive (easy), Society (hard)
R2) Defiant in Death The books in this section contain the souls of Seldeg’s former foes. Even in death, these souls are loath to give up their secrets to the enemy...
Checks: Arcana, Religion, Society, or Appropriate Lore (all Moderate), Force Open a book (Moderate), or Coerce an author (Hard)
R3) Traitorous Tomes These books are made from those who betrayed the Chernasardo Rangers, the church of Iomedae, or the Knights of Lastwall. While the books contain important information about the enemies of Tar-Baphon, the souls of these traitors continue to conceal the truth, constantly shifting the words written on their pages...
Checks: Cypher Lore (Moderate), Perception (Hard) or Occultism (Very Hard)
