Innis opens his eyes, and finds himself staring at a blank sheet of dirty beige paper. He's upright, with the paper stuffed up real close to his face. As it turns out, the paper must be some cylinder of shame encircling his head, for he sees but beige all around him... No, wait, at his back, 10, 15 ft away, is a mountain. A large mountain. Innis feels its size. And he stands in the air, about five feet above a shelf. Away from the mountain, the shelf disappears into the papery void, while it ends in a tunnel entrance behind him.
It's simple enough to determine that there is no actual paper before him. It is but a trick of the light. Some dishonest fabrication.
At least the mountain and the tunnel seem real enough, despite the hovering.
Innis can move; ahead, backwards, side to side. But not up and down.
Opening Expecteth Thou to Triumphe in The Arenae?, Jazaka finds herself sitting at a narrow desk. Nothing particularly frightening has taken place, she simply finds herself at a desk made of a lush, dark wood, sitting on a relatively comfortable matching chair. On the desk is a lavish quill, an inkwell willed with rich burgundy ink, and the open book itself. The book contains nothing; all pages are blank.
Jaz flips through the pages:
Jazaka can reach the first few pages reliably, and never gets the feeling she is missing pages, but the further out in the book she goes, pages still blank, the farther from the end she seems to be. She can grab a big chunk of pages, flip them over, and still have half the book left, over and over.
Jaz closes the book:
In the same way she just sort of sat et the little desk upon opening the book, she stands with the book in her hand upon closing the book. Nothing violent, not jolting. She simply stands with the book in her hand, desk and chair and ink and quill all gone.
Jaz opens the book:
She's at the desk again. It works a bit like general anaesthesia: she just cannot account for whatever happens between having started to open the book and sitting at the desk.
To Ekan, the f%*@ery Jaz is doing with the book looks like some four-dimensional popup-book-turned-desk-situation, though it still does not really seem scary. No particular sounds other than jovial creaking of wood, and the sweet ping of the inkwell hitting the desk, come from the transformation.
The two make their way south / around the corner:
There is nothing threatening here, and coming all the way around the short wall they get a better look at the pile of books they glimpsed just before: As usual, most titles aren't anything other than scratches, three titles are legible:
1) The Lawe? Bute Isse It Ae Neutrale Construction?
2) The Lawe? Bute Isse It Ae Goode Construction?
3) Quicke, Quicke, Like Silvere!
After some quick tossing and shoving, the pile of books reveals a nice little nook the two of them can squeeze into.
The dull and oppressive silence of the library gives no hint of any other creatures lurking about. Since Thangardt's screams were muffled after only a few steps along the curved corridor, sound does not carry particularly far.
If Jazaka and Ekan take turns on guard, they can rest as much as they would like. As it stands, you are free to level them up to 2nd level, if you like, unless you still want to discuss the mechanics and how it affects the new character you'll have to cook up. In any case, in the Unreality, rules about spending a day per level doing push-ups don't apply, so once we make a decision, resting to regain spell slots is sufficient to level up.
As the the two survivors huddle in the nook, 1: Jaz:1d2 ⇒ 1, Jazaka finds herself holding the book Expecteth Thou to Triumphe in The Arenae?. It just sort of was in her hands, and she didn't notice right away. Recall, Thangardt stuffed it in his own sack before.
Yeah, I was thinking about the light sensitivity, actually, but forgot to put it in before posting. Frankly, I think Searing Light should do more damage to someone with light sensitivity. It states in the spell that "undead with weakness to light" or some such thing takes more damage, but it seems to me the important thing is the light, not that undead are evil, since constructs take less damage, and though they are not innately good. Perhaps it is a strange inconsistency in the rules. Mechanics wise for Thangardt it does not matter; he wouldn't take any damage anyway.
The sphinx, looking almost unsure, steps towards Thangardt 5ft step. He raises both his clawed paws. For the briefest of moments, the sphinx looks almost apprehensive, like he does not want to strike, or perhaps he just doesn't think it will work. But his doubt passes swiftly, and his massive claws are brought down with considerable force;
Claw 1:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35 Claw 2:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
He actually looks surprised at having struck the little thing, not really noticing the carnage;
Dmg claw 1:2d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 2) + 10 = 19 Dmg claw 2:2d8 + 10 ⇒ (3, 1) + 10 = 14 CMB to grab:1d20 + 24 ⇒ (3) + 24 = 27
Shredded strips of Thangardt are stuck in his claws. Puzzled, he turns to look for the other two, but can't see them.
He picks out the pieces of Duergar that don't fall off themselves, savoring the meatier bits, and starts rooting through the pile of books, muttering about finding the one with questions and answers.
Round 1 (For you proved me wrong, the sphinx changes his mind, and saves his roar for later)
So don't do anything with the damage from before, as he does not, in fact, roar at all.
Hearing the slanderous remarks by the insolent little Duergar rat, the sphinx turns to eye him, and sends flying a ray of Searing Light at the insignificant little ant; Ranged Touch:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15, hitting him square in the face; Searing Light damage:6d8 ⇒ (5, 3, 6, 8, 2, 5) = 29. Thangardt remains standing, having taken no damage, surprising everyone present. The sphinx is speechless.
Well... Jazaka at 1 and Ekan at 20... I'd say, since you guys are at a bit of a power disadvantage here, we'll just do as usual; all you guys go first. The sphinx only got a 2 anyway.
Round 1
Regardless of what you guys do, you'll remain in range of his last roar of the day (even if you move away, your reduced movement speed keeps you within 60 feet of the sphinx since he can move too), so after you do whatever you do, he roars, forcing fortitude saves (It think Jazaka's shakiness is over by now, since, essentially, the sphinx intimidated her on the previous "round" timewise) ;
Fort Thangardt:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 Fort Jazaka:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 Fort Ekan:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
All three take sonic damange, though lessened by the odd physics of the place (halve the damage listed, not tied to the save);
Dmg Thangardt:2d8 ⇒ (8, 6) = 14 Dmg Jazaka:2d8 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 Dmg Ekan:2d8 ⇒ (4, 7) = 11
and Jazaka, failing her save, suffers a Penalty to strength:2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7 for rounds:2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5
Remember to do whatever it is you want to do before resolving any potential consequences from the sphinx's roar.
The sphinx does not advance, but growls, baring his teeth; "You barge into my library, peruse my books, insult my riddles, and fail to give good ones of your own. What could possibly keep me from devouring you where you stand?"Sphinx Intimidation:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Thangardt sleight of hand:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 Sphinx perception:1d20 + 23 - 10 ⇒ (14) + 23 - 10 = 27Giving the sphinx some penalty, since before T speaks he's mostly focusing on Ekan and Jaz
Thangardt slips the book into a pile quite smoothly, but the sphinx catches a glimpse of it saying nothing before Thangardt speaks.
The sphinx stares daggers at the Duergar after he rattles off his answer, a growl growing stronger from deep inside him. It rises to a boom; "Get out! Leave! FLEE" Thangardt Will:1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 2 = 22 Jazaka Will:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 2 = 21 Ekan Will:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Rounds of paralysis, Ekan:1d4 ⇒ 2
Ekan is paralyzed with fear, (and also deafened, but that's a minor worry for now...), toppling, stiff as a log, to the floor in front of the sphinx. Jazaka and Thangardt, though in a pickle, retain their faculties.
"Aye, forced," says the sphinx, still grinning. "You shall have to do better than that! One more chance! One more chance! And no more! Only one! Then..."
“How did the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild create the mountain (and the answer had better not just be ‘magic’)?”: (Oh, really...) To create the Mountain, the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild magiced up some rocks.
“What does the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild want with petitioners?”: Entertainment
“What is the role of agents in the mountain?”: To lead them astray, guide, reward, punish and kill them, revive, maim, heal and trap them, save, confuse, teach and trick them, aid, befriend, antagonise and taunt them. And calm them down.
"Take your time!" the sphinx giggles.
Ekan Perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 Jazaka Perception:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
As the sphinx says this, Ekan catches a good glimpse of his impressive teeth.
Thangardt flips some pages, and easily finds the relevant entries;
"What does the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild want with the mountain?": The Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild wants the Mountain to have petitioners.
"What does the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild do with the mountain?": The Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild hosts petitioners in the Mountain.
"Did the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild create the mountain?": The Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild created the Mountain.
The sphinx, at least to Jazaka, seems ecstatic at Ekan's question; "Aaaaiiiii! My favorite riddle? That must be... That must be... Yes, yes!
Every dawn begins with me.
At dusk I'll be the first you see.
And daybreak wouldn't come without,
What midday centers all about.
Daisies grow from me I'm told,
And when I come I end all cold,
But in the sun I won't be found,
Yet still each day I'll be around.
What am I?"
The sphinx does a little jig that Jazaka thinks is for joy. What the sphinx does is definitely a jig, and it is definitely for joy. Absolutely. 100% certain. There is no reason to doubt that.
As for Thangardt, he finds:
"Is there an arena in the Mountain?": No
"What is the goal for petitioners in the Mountain?": Not die (Graphlump, 28943722124: though it matters little to the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild) (Graphlump, 28943722132: In fact, feel free to embellish here; what petitioners believe about the Mountain is irrelevant) (Curveglop, 28943722259: Indeed, tell them the goal is to reach the top! Or the bottom! And that there will be untold riches to be gained. And also that they will meet their favorite god(s). And their loved ones) (Pathgoop, 28943722701: Haha, suckers ;-) ) (Graphlump, 28943723002: Now, now! Keep it civil! We've seen at least once before that these change-log notes can make it past editing, and as stupid as some of the agents are, they're liable to read the whole thing aloud!) (Arcslop, 28943723009: Yes, Graphlump is right, I remember once we had to drop an entire season for this very reason)
"That's pretty clever! Ekan, was it?" says the Sphinx. "I meaneth, thine answere sufficeth, and thee are bestowed onne single questionne! Nowe speaketh, Ekan, Suli!"
The book is about the size of a proper atlas, you know, large, at least A4 pages, about 500 pages thick, although, as mentioned, you can never get to the last page.
Thangardt slips his finger between some pages, the sphinx none the wiser as he is busy with Ekan, and T looks up;
"What are the differences between going up or down in the mountain?": Going up means any petitioners will face graver dangers. Going down means any petitioners will face graver dangers. See? They suffer either way, and you made them waste a question! ;-) Recall that the part of the text T can read is in the paradoxical Goblin. As such, the winky face is gobsmackingly hideous.
"If one dies in the Mountain, who is their soul forfeited too?": The soul of any who die in the Mountain is forfeit to the whims of the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild.
The sphinx is distracted by Jazaka, leaving Thangardt the time to find two entries;
"When to help adventurers": Ideally, never. But should the wont come upon you, it is better to do so in the earlier stages of the cycle, for it will then be easier to make the adventurers feel properly helped in return for only very simple divulgence of information of supply of objects.
"How to help adventurers (that one likes)": If, for some reason, you find it time to aid a band of adventurers, you may, for instance, let them know that the further up or down in the Mountain they move, the harder will become their plight. A more useless piece of information that shall likely find the adventurers more joyous to learn is the fact of the exit of the library being towards the southwest, past the staggered corridor. If you are in a particularly good mood, let them know that death in the Mountain forfeits their soul.
As Thangardt reads the last bit, he is interrupted by the sphinx's reply to Jazaka;
"Suddenlie findeinge yourselffe inne here isse one immediate concequence of death inne thine previousse liffe. Whatte thy expectethed aboutte thisse place, Ieth cannoteth knowe. But, goode Ekan, thine brainne iseth sharpe asse a tacke; you areth correcte; the Hydra aseth notte morre thanne two eyesse per heade. So whatte iseth the answere?"
In the book (whose last pages are out of reach, so if there's any useful information there, Thangardt will never see it), Thangardt finds the question "What is the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild?", to which the answer, yet again only the versions in Goblin and Draconic being legible, is "The Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild is a Scryecasting Guild of the Pandimensional kind. That seems obvious. Lambast the petitioners for wasting their efforts on such a question."
As for finding a loophole to avoid the potential wrath of the sphinx, it dawns on Thagardt that since the transgression does not really lie on themselves, but the sphinx having given him the book, their case might not be so solid... The book specifies "misSPEAK" as the trigger for disposal.
Jazaka's finely tuned motive sensing sense tells her the sphinx is mostly preoccupied with backpedaling at the moment; he is very uncomfortable with where the conversation has gone, and keeps casting glances at the book he handed to Thangardt.
The sphinx addresses Ekan after a moment's thought; "A Hydra fullefilles thine posede requirementes. Now, sir Duergar, mayeth thee returne the booke? And Lizardfolke... Somme such thinge as it was thatte I saidde beforeth wheneth... No?"
Thangardt finds his exact question ("What de ye know about this place?") (including dialectical oddities), on page 1217 (the book appears to have only something like 500 page, going by weight and size, yet flipping forwards, the end never comes), under the main section "Knowledge of this place". The answer is listed as "[preferred personal pronoun here, suggestion: I] know several things about this place". Under the listed answer is written notes in several languages unknown to the Duergar, although there is enough bits and pieces around he can piece together an outline;
1) You may rephrase the answer according to the situation
2) Should you misspeak, or otherwise divulge exact details, dispose of the petitioners
3) If you so please, feel free to underline the entertainment value of their presence; this is best done in conjunction with some threat on your part, as otherwise, you shall have to invoke item 2
There's something off about the list-environment here... As it stands now, I don't actually use the list-tags, just the item initiators (* in square brackets), for otherwise it looks completely wrong... Oh, well.
"Well, knoweth, thee, eminent Suli, it wasethn't that the questionne waseth so simpelle as thateth, insofarasmuch as it waseth time fore anothere questionne at thisseth time. Ande allethougheth thine contrafleckxion with regardesse to the decorousethe ettiquette mayeth very welle be consideredde sensibille, forwhatsoevverethe we thinkethe, the new riddle mayeth be posedde at thisethe time..." the sphinx looks uncomfortable.
The sphinx, ever perplexed by the audacity of the near-bacterial forms of life in his audience, stares at all three in turn; "I... Suppose... My answer... Little duergar... May... Have been of the... Maliciously compliant sort..." He falls silent for a moment, letting Jazaka's new riddle just hang in the air. "Were you not aware this is how such questions are supposed to be answered?" He tosses Thangardt a book, Gettethe Thee Silliye Questioness By Adventurrerresse: Answerethe Themme Liketh Soe.
Thangardt looks through the book:
Mostly, the book is written like a dictionary, with "silliye" questions and appropriate answers. But among the first few pages is one with some meta-information about the book itself. It seems mostly to be a phrase repeated in myriad languages, two of which (Draconic and Goblin (the Goblin is a fancy sort of hieroglyphic crayon situation that, unmistakably, spells out the very same thing written in Draconic a few lines above, mostly by use of various smiley-representations of dog-faces)) Thangardt recognizes. It says "Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild, 8**#54!!0()-{} All privilege reserved."
"So, Lizardfolk. When... Cast away... Yes, t'is but simple! You shall have to pose another. Suli? Any progress?"
"I shall answer the Duergar first; I know several things about this place. To the Suli, I say, that is a poor riddle. Try harder. For the Lizardfolk... What kind of room...? A Broom has no doors or windows. You get one more try, Lizardfolk."
"For posing one I failed to answer right, yet proving you can pose proper ones with no trickery, you shall be allowed to pose me one question, not a riddle, to which I will answer the truth. Your companions will be put to the same test after you," He gestures to Jazaka and Ekan in turn. "Your reasoning shall serve you well, young Lizardfolk. Suli; your silence may not do the same."
"Simple...? Easier...?" the sphinx seems to find it difficult to wrap his head around this vile insult. It just makes no sense to him that a tiny little rat of a Duergar has the nerve to say such things in the face of the deadliest foe of his life. "I shall confer with the literature,"
The sphinx walks over to his pile, tossing book after book aside, searching. He grows frantic, growling, and spitting what can only be curses in his odd language.
"A torch! A torch is lit at night, bearing then its fiery head, and loses it come morning when it is extinguished!"
"Nothing. Nothing may jump higher than a mountain, lest the mountain is minuscule, at which point it cannot in good faith be called a mountain. So, nothing. This was too simple. Pose me another. A real one. A challenge," he growls the last bit.
The sphinx grumbled for a moment, then spoke with less anger in his voice; "I find no fault in your argument on footprints. I shall have to accept the answer. Now, for the true test; pose me a riddle!"
"NAY! Nitwits! Give it some thought! Irresponsible lot you are. I shall give the two of you a chance to answer as well," he points to Jazaka and Ekan in turn. "Pray tell, what thinketh thee?"
The sphinx looks quite agitated.
Jazaka Sense motive:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 Ekan Sense motive:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Jazaka suspects the Androsphinx might be of a "Lawful-SomethingSomething" kind of persuasion, rather than a straight-laced "Lawful-Good" one.
I made a typo... It's an AndrosPPPPhinx (sphinx). My bad. Also, to make sure it is clear, given Jazaka's amazing nature check, this Androsphinx is unusually large for it's kind.
On the way back, you find him soon enough just move back on Roll20 .
"Well?" the sphinx growls as he sees you come around the corner.
"Do not question my coinage!" he roars, filling you all with dread;
Jazaka WILL VS DC 21:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16 Thangardt WILL VS DC 21:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Ekan WILL VS DC 21:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Number of rounds Jazaka is frightened for:2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6 Number of rounds Thangardt is frightened for:2d6 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8
"Using sails twice for your explanation? Not good. Not good. And you betray yourselves; you know of my notes, so know of my answers. I shall have to pose a different riddle."
He thinks for a moment (for one round, for those of us who keep track), then speaks; "What did you leave without ever having entered?"
I don't think stealth is gonna keep you invisible from that leonine creature around the pile of books...
As you round the pile, Thangardt stares right into the face of a huge lion--looking creature. He does not seem all that happy about your disturbing him.
DC 20 Knowledge Nature:
This is an Androshinx of an unusually large kind. Apart from terrifying physical prowess bestowed by its claws and bite, they are somewhat accomplished lower level clerics as well. They tend to be kindhearted, if a bit eccentric. If you get 25 or more on the roll, just look up the stat-block.
"I have no life, but I grow. I have no lungs, but I breathe. I have no mouth, but I drown. What am I?" booms his voice, causing the pages of the tome he was reading to flutter.
Ekan and Jazaka both hear something; breathing, perhaps. It has to come from the other side of the book pile, for this side is clear of breathing entities other than the three adventurers.
Proceeding north along the wall is as before; some scattered riddles and little else on the left hand side, and the pile of books on the right.
Following along the wall, you find some more scribbled riddles, much the same; a riddle, and then musings about the solution. Always in those same three languages (Common, Draconic, and in hieroglyphs). Jazaka cannot identify the language directly.
DC 25 Knowledge Nature:
Combining Jazaka's admittedly unimpressive linguistic acumen with the considerably keener knowledge of nature (hers or her fellow adventurers'), the glyphs and the riddles point towards the three of you maybe, just maybe, having stepped into the den of a Sphinx.
40 feet ahead as measured from T's location on Roll20, you reach a wall. You may follow it northwards. There are still no traces of anything at all; the floor is void of anything but dust. Only scattered offshoots from the large pile of books you start to realize you are circling, and occasional riddles, dot the floor.
Towards the edge of Thangardt's vision there are some books. You saw them earlier... I just didn't put them in yet... And keep forgetting that T can see all the way to the f$~*ing Moon...
As you make your way through the doorway and into the room, (Stealth Jazaka:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17, Stealth Ekan:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18, Stealth Thangardt:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25) quite stealthily, you see some books to your north. The floor is otherwise empty. As you keep going, it looks like the books are outliers of a larger pile.
Farther along the wall you see a single paper with some scribbles on it.
Someone picks it up:
The paper with scribbles on it is exactly that; paper with scribbles. Some of what is written is in Common, and some of it is in Draconic (as T can recognize), and some is in some strange hieroglyphic language. Assuming T takes a look at some point, the Common and Draconic both say more or less the same thing; two riddles with notes about solutions (The notes differ between the Common and Draconic versions):
1: What has a head, a tail, is brown, but has no legs?
Dog? No = has legs. Every animal = has legs -> No animal. Thing? Head and Tail. Heads and Tails? Coins? Copper!
2: I have no life, but I grow. I have no lungs, but I breathe. I have no mouth, but I drown. What am I?
Tree! No = Tree live. All plant = life -> No plants. Paint? Paint spreads out, dries out, washes out? Spread =/= grow? FIRE
Thangardt is pretty sure the passage ends in a wall, about to turn back around as Ekan points out the big hole where the wall would be. T might be inclined to fight Ekan on this, but inevitably, Ekan persuades his companions that there is, indeed, a doorway of sorts right here at the end of the curved passage (It really is only T that needs convincing...)
Ekan can tell that beyond this doorway lies a very large room. Furthermore, there seems to be something in it. Books, probably. The room does not seem cavernous in any way; the roof, at least from what they can tell, does not slant upwards.
Ekan instantly feels more accomplished after finishing, in a rush of inspiration, An Adventurer's Guidegaining a +1 competency bonus to all his class skills
T and J feel nothing in particular upon reading the book, or any of the others for that matter. The same goes for Ekan.
DC 15 Survival (to determine relative safety):
It looks plenty safe in most of these abandoned passages. Not a bad idea to keep a watch going, but apart from those mimics earlier, the main danger seems to be the traps on shelves and books.
Heading down the left passage reveals nothing of note; more scattered papers, some books of illegible or irrelevant titles (such as Gardening for the Expert or Painting for the Master). The passage curves around/down to the south.
I'm assuming they are all walking more or less together. In this write-up, I'll list things according to the green numbers on Roll20.
There are no apparent dangers in this part of the library. The books you spot along the shelves are all trapped like the others (DC 20)
1: Ensureth Thine Armoure Gleamethest The Brighteste, Alle In The Namee Of The Juste 2: Maule And Maimme, Bolte And Gale 3: An Adventurer's Guide To Survival 4: Magique Up Thatte Daggerr 5: Expandeth Thine Arcanee Knouwleddge Withe The Wordes Writteneth Herein To More Aptley Applyeth The Paine To Thy Ennemmiesse Who Moste Certainlieth Deserveth Whatever Fatee Thou Hast Cooqued Uppe For Them Inne Thine Queste To Unravvelle The Verye Fabrique Of Spacee And Timee For Thou Owne Amuzemente And Probablie A Smidgenne Of Academique Intereste
Once Jazaka gets to the 4th book, she can tell the shelf it sits on is trapped in a similar fashion to a few of the other shelves. If T gets there first and just takes a crack at the 4th book, he could not see the trap (DC 20), and he'll be in potential trouble...
Also, Both Jaz and Ekan are in bad shape... Let's hope there is a stack of healing potions somewhere in this odd place!
All three can make it safe between all the books; trying to read them reveals none contain anything other than gibberish. Rageth has no text in it whatsoever, just pictographs. Still undecipherable, but pretty.
Evidence is amassing in favor of the conclusion that Thangardt is completely immune to magical effects.
Yeah, it makes sense. You write here that you keep T keeps working book nr. 1, but after the first properly failed check, the trap is triggered; T just does not activate the trap's effect. So he can keep trying to disable the trap, but it has already, technically, been sprung, and, as you've seen before, once J or E touches the book, they will get the effect. That said, yes, you can might as well keep rolling until you either trigger or disable the traps.
DM only:
1d100 ⇒ 10
As Thangardt hands the book over to Jazaka, she is immediately outlined by a faint but definitely visible glow of green light. It lasts for about ten minutes.
Within the book, she finds only scribbles that look more childlike than anything, and certainly not of any value to her. The same goes for T and E, should they take a look (they do not get surrounded by a glowing light).
If the info about Thagardt's interactions with traps changes your mind as to what he does with the book, feel free to change things so he does not hand the book to J. After he triggers the trap, he knows he triggered it, it's just that nothing happens past that till someone else touches it.
Ah, indeed, standard rules for HP. Healing is a big deal overall. And I can see the blue cross fine, so I get your plan.
Neither Jazaka nor Thangardt possess the knowledge needed to solve the riddle of Thangardt's apparent immunity to the fire trap, and why he keeps failing to trigger magical traps when he bodges his attempts to disarm them. If, perchance, Jazaka were to, just on accident, sweep her cone of Detect Magic so that it brushes past Thangardt, she finds a distinct lack of an aura around him.
The pile of books looks to be nothing more than a pile of books.
As you make your unassailed way northward, you come across five books of seeming interest (Ekan can tell they are all trapped in the same way all the other interesting books were. As far as he can tell, none of the shelves are trapped themselves) I've put in some wonky green numbers indicating the location of the books:
1) Predictetheth Thee the Futuuree? Upeth Thine Oraculation By Theesse Pracqutiques
2) Cracked Cauldron? Ideas Withe Which a Witche Will Fixeth It
3) AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGETH!!! BLLLLLOOOOOOODDDDDETH!!! RRRRRRAAAAAAGGGGEEEEEEEETH
4) Charge Thine Bladeth, Smiteth Thine Foesse
5) Didst Thou Falle? Rise Frome The Ashesse To Smite Thine Goodde Phoes
If Ekan takes his posse back through the burning hands trap area:
Ekan probably remembers that he got caught in a trap when passing through the shortcut. He, probably, lets Thangardt know about it, and T takes a look to disable the trap (if Ekan is suffering from amnesia, Jazaka rolled plenty good on her perception to spot the trap anyway);
Disable device (DC 25):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Nothing happens, despite Thangardt's bodged job. Even after waiting for a long time, the trap has not done anything at all.
Spoiler: Jazaka or Ekan decides to step through the passage to get to the bookshelf:
Spoiler:
I'm assuming that to get through the narrow passage, all three line up like you indicated: Ekan first, then Jazaka, then Thangardt, with no more than 15 ft between Ekan and Thangardt.
As Ekan squeezes through the narrowest bit of the passage, a cone of fire shoots out, hitting him, Jazaka and Thangardt.
Damage Ekan:3d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 4) = 12 Damage Jazaka:3d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 1) = 5 DC 13 REF for half REF Ekan:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 REF Jazaka:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18
Thangardt, although well and truly in the flames, doesn't even feel the heat of it, much less the burning of flesh, taking no damage at all. Ekan, on the other hand, is faring badly, having been killed though potions and magic might very well save him no problem, so I'm not counting him out just yet.
Once past the trapped passage, Ekan makes clear to Thangardt what book is to be untrapped. Thangardt easily sorts out the trap on the shelf itself, but bodges the one on the book. The trap on the book seems to have no effect, however, and Tangardt is free to open the book.
DM only:
1d100 ⇒ 17
Thangardt opens Triumphe:
The book is completely empty.
Jazaka or Ekan touches Triumphe after Thangardt has attempted to deal with the trap:
Upon touching the book, a strong gust of wind emanates from the book, but subsides after just a few seconds, none of you worse for wear. Looking the book over, it is completely empty.
Jazaka detects magic:
For the most part, I assume Jaz is running her detect magic at full blast, but only now it's relevantThe book has a faint aura of divination magic.
Three seconds after consuming the pill, Thangardt feels a little bit of a shift, the nature of which is not entirely clear to him right away; when, in the past, he thought about helping older ladies cross heavily trafficked carriageways, he always got this sense of duty about it. It was his obligation to help the lady across. He felt good about it, but not because he had done a good deed, but because he had done that which was required of him. Now, on the other hand, helping the lady feels a little bit repulsive. What does tickle his fancy are the very many options he could choose instead. He could just not help; he could help her halfway, then trip her, causing mayhem on the road; he could throw her straight into traffic, gaining a similar result; he could attract the attention of guardsmen, insist the lady was of poor moral character, implore the guards to shut down the street, backing up traffic for miles, causing all sorts of goods to spoil, ultimately leading to the old lady starving in prison, or at home if, for some reason, the guards should fail to jail her. He didn't particularly desire mayhem, but found that should it arise, that was fine by him. He was, however, quite certain that some modicum of planning just plain belonged in any kind of interesting scheme.
The pill looks like any other pill, and does not exude any aura, and does, in no other way identify itself. It seems likely, Thangardt thinks, that the pill has some effect upon consumption.
As soon as T sheaths the mace, it returns to normal again, so thate is resolved already. If, for some other reason than not wanting to lug around a massive mace, you want to flavor it like how you suggested, I'm fine with that.
The book, most of its pages now simply adding to the mess of the pile snarls one last time, and falls still.
Ekan's sickness subsides quickly as he gets a chance to breathe.
Eh, I see now that I messed up the round numbering... All you guys went first, but on the first real turn of the books I put it as the second round... No matter, I'll stick with my wonky round numbering. No tracked effects in the mix, for now, anyway.
Thangardt misses, his mace swinging wide. Just as it goes out of his field of vision, at the end of his failed attack, he feels the mace somehow grow heavier. Much heavier, in fact. It does not feel any more unwieldy than before, just heavier. Better. Bringing the mace back around, it has grown quite significantly. It is now about as large as he is himself. His mace has grown by one size category, with relevant upping of damage die, but with no penalties or anything. He remains proficient with the over-grown mace as if it was sized appropriately. No feats are added. It just grew, and he just knows how to handle it.
Jazaka rips the already mangled book to shreds with her teeth, pages flying everywhere, and gouges some serious rends into the other book with her claws. The remaining book looks like it could need some glue and a steady hand to sort out the faltering binding.
Despite its poor state, the book lunges for Jazaka once more;
Slam:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20, its bulk connecting with her thigh quite uncomfortably; Damage:1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12. Furthermore, the book is stuck on Jazaka's thigh S#%&... I see that I've kept forgetting to have you roll REF saves to not get your weapons stuck in the slime on the books - the save is pretty low, so f~&% it. Let's keep it in mind in case some more of these strange toothed books appear.
Ekan, at the precipice of battle, feels sick At the start of his turn he is sickened, and will be so for two full turns.
Thangardt's mace connects nicely with the book flopping on the floor in front of him, while Jazakas two claws do some serious damage to it just after, torn pages flying their AC is 16.
Not terribly intimidated by Thangardt's puny mace, both the books keep on Jazaka;
Slam right book:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 Slam left book:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
but again they only succeed on flopping, rather than slamming Damn, Jaz got some serious natural armor going!
Dealing with Ekan first By the looks of it, you had Ekan move past the constriction I've marked in Roll20.
Ekan, despite his best efforts, walks right into a trap; just as he is about to step past the narrowest part of the gap between the two shelves of the passage, a cone of fire hits him right in the face
Burning hands(ish) trap:3d4 ⇒ (1, 3, 2) = 6DC 13 REF for half.
The fire quickly subsides, and by that time, he can definitely make out some muffled cries and the thud of weapons connecting with enemies, to his north, past the central shelf in the space beyond the narrow passage he squeezed through.
I moved Ekan to just where the trap triggered, but since he survives the trap fine, I guess he'll go beyond it. In any case, he can still hear the fighting from where he's at in the narrow passage.
Ekan shouts and shouts, CON to see if he shouts loud enough:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8.
Thangardt easily disables the trap, so Jazaka and he can move ahead.
Perc Jazaka to hear Ekan:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24 Perc Thangardt to hear Ekan:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 Jaz and T clearly have good ears, but with just an 8, I don't think Ekan get's the volume high enough to reach them (they are quite a ways away). With only a 5 on the die anyway, no other skill of Ekan's is likely to push him far enough anyway. For future reference, my idea for a rule, in case Ekan wants to keep shouting, is to let him roll CON, and compare it to DC 20 base, but lower that DC by 1 for each point above 20 either of Jaz or T's perception rolls are. So now, with Jaz's roll, she could have heard a 16 from Ekan. Maybe jiggle that if they get closer, though.
------------
DM only:
1d20 + 30 ⇒ (1) + 30 = 31
Perc Jazaka:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 Perc Thangardt:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
As Jazaka and Thangardt step past the pile of books on the floor, to their left coming out of the corridor of shelves, they see another, different pile of books just to their right. There is something, odd, about the piles.
Sense motive Jazaka:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Sense motive Thangardt:1d20 ⇒ 12
Yeah, that's a surprise round right there, since it seems fair to assume Jaz and T would move on after disabling the trap. On Roll20 right now, Jaz is in front of T, but during the disabling, T is likely ahead of Jazaka. On the other hand, before the attack about to happen, Jaz will have had time to go back in front, and since she's the perceptive of the lot, and she has tended to be ahead so far, I'll assume she gets the first attack.
-------------
Surprise round
Out of the pile to their right, a somewhat large book comes thrashing out, teeth at the ready, dripping with some clear, gooey substance. It goes for Jazaka's leg, Slam:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12, but succeeds only in streaking slime across the floor.
Out of the pile to their left, another, similar book comes scooting out, also going for Jazaka's evidently tasty-looking leg; Slam:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8, but like it's companion fails to hit anything but air.
-------------
Initiative rolls (I'll follow the same rules we did with the Whirry Two:
These are mimics, not books. They are smaller than normal, but seem just as voracious and ferocious. That slime is actually a strong adhesive.
DC 25 Know dun:
Spoiler:
Just look up the stat block. These are of size tiny, so I taking off two HD from their total, adjusting abilities accordingly, but otherwise they are like standard mimics.
Jazaka does no find anything of note; most of the writings stacked in this corner are papers and parchments with unintelligible scrawls.
Together with Thangardt, however, she sees that Rearrange has some kind of trap associated with it. She also spots that the blade trap on the shelf itself, that Thangardt triggered but managed to evade, has reset itself while they were busy reading those other books.
Failing the DC 20 Disable Device - Shelf itself:
The blade swings out again, in a wide arc, slicing at Jazaka and Thangardt both;
Blade trap against Jazaka:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 Blade trap against Thangardt:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 Damage Jazaka:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Damage Thangardt:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 It is not entirely unthinkable that Jazaka stepped back a bit as Thangardt fiddled with the trap, so if she did, disregard her damage; the trap blade has only 5ft reach, meaning each square that touches the shelf is threatened, but not past that.
DM only:
1d100 ⇒ 161d100 ⇒ 5
Failing the DC 20 Disable Device - Rearrange:
The trap must have been triggered, but nothing happens. Should Thangardt take a look in the book, he sees nothing but scribbles.
Succeeding the DC 20 Disable device = Rearrange:
Jazaka and Thangardt both find no meaning behind the scrawls in the book.
Jazaka touches the book after Thangardt has failed to disable the trap:
Jazaka slows way down. Her every move feels like a battle. Like moving her limbs through molasses. To Thangardt, though, and any other potential onlookers, Jazaka is acting at perfectly normal speed, but Jazaka will swear on her very name that even her heartbeat has ground to a near halt For about a minute she believes this.
----------
Ekan, silent as a mouse, sees that the shelf next to him indicated in Roll20 by a green blotch has a nasty trap on it, triggered by touching anything on the shelf, or the shelf itself. Now, on the shelf he spots a tantalizing book; Expecteth Thou to Triumphe in The Arenae?. He can tell that the book itself is also trapped, separate from the one of the shelf.
Thangardt disarms the trap. Reading the book, he feels the same intense captivation as before, over in an instant, and then feels like he'll be much more adept at sorting out fingerprint issues from now on In practical terms, he gains a +1 competence bonus to all Investigator class skills.
Failure:
Thangardt presumably triggers the trap, but nothing happens. He is, as such, free to read to book. Doing so, he feels the same intense captivation as before, over in an instant, and then feels like he'll be much more adept at sorting out fingerprint issues from now on In practical terms, he gains a +1 competence bonus to all Investigator class skills.
-----------
DM only:
1d100 ⇒ 241d4 ⇒ 21 is Jaz:1d2 ⇒ 1
As Ekan grabs the book he found, he is surprised to hear Jazaka's voice in his head. For a little more than 10 seconds, unwittingly, he reads Jazaka's mind. Her thoughts strike him as quite superficial, and not at all in good taste for someone holding the rule of law close to heart.
The effect wears off soon enough, and he is free to open the book.
Ekan opens Lawfulle Good:
The book has been hollowed out, turned into a container. Whatever remains of the perfectly cut pages is filled with unintelligible scrawls like those of a child. The container does contain something, however. A pill, about the size of the tip of Ekan's little finger. The pill is an inviting red.
Spoiler: Ekan imbibes the pill:
Spoiler:
1:NG, 2:CG, 3:CN, 4:CE, 5:NE, 6:LE, 7:NE, 8:N:1d8 ⇒ 4 Ekan finds himself suddenly disinclined to help old ladies cross trafficked cart roads, he feels a warm spot in his heart for the likes of Rovagug, and harbors an almost unquenchable thirst to throw litter on the ground.
Ekan, blind as a bat, misses a slew of interesting titles, but does spot, towards the end of the shelf on his left hand (assuming he is facing south), just about at eye level, a book titled Lawefulle Good? Improveth Thy Outlooke On Liffe With Theesse Simple Triques.
------------
Jazaka cannot make heads or tails of Maximise Thine, the scratches not even remotely resembling an intelligible language.
Thangardt's efforts to read Disnooddleing are slightly more fruitful, as he does understand the diagrams, on a superficial level, but the instructions are as useful as a black bear pelt in the desert; no epiphany strikes him.
I moved Ekan to the library map, but he only gets there after some time, essentially, it will depend a bit on how things unfolded for Thangardt if Ekan is close enough to see him. My picture here is that whatever happens with Thangardt is quick enough that all of that is resolved by the time Ekan is up on the library floor, so if Thangardt hangs around toward the start of the corridor Jazaka went down, Ekan can see him, otherwise, not.
The floor of the library is not sufficiently dusty to hold any prints Ekan is able to follow, nor any he is able to find in the first place, and as such, in utter confusion, though hearing muffled sounds from somewhere ahead, he'll have to make a decision: he must go north or south of that first large pile of papers and books
On the shelf Jazaka is looking at, one book in particular stands out; Areth Thine Armes Liketh the Nooddle From the Kitsune? A Practical Guidee to the Disnooddleing of Thine Armes.
DC 20 Perc just before grabbing Areth Thine Armes etc.:
The book has some sort of magical trap rigged to it, presumably activated by touching it.
She gets Thangardt to DC 20 Disable Device - Success
Spoiler:
The book is safe to open
She gets Thangardt to DC 20 Disable Device - Failure
Spoiler:
The trap is presumably triggered, but no effect is apparent.
Thangardt hands back a successfully disabled trap
Spoiler:
The book is safe to open
Thangardt hands back an unsuccessfully disabled trap
Spoiler:
The space between the shelves where Jazaka and Thangardt stand is filled with a large, though not terribly hot, fireball. Jazaka takes 3d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6) = 12 damage DC 15 Ref halves, while Thangardt somehow escapes unscathed. None of the books take notable damage, other than perhaps some singed corners and such. The book is now safe to open.
Failed Areth Thine Armes check:
As Jazaka grabs the book, the space between the shelves where Jazaka and Thangardt stand is filled with a large, though not terribly hot, fireball. Jazaka takes 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 3) = 9 damage DC 15 Ref halves, while Thangardt somehow escapes unscathed. None of the books take notable damage, other than perhaps some singed corners and such. The book is now safe to open.
Someone opens and reads some in the Areth Thine Armes etc.:
The book is a comprehensive guide, with clear instructions and diagrams, to an exercise regimen for not only the arms, but the body as a whole. Whomever reads the book is entirely engrossed for a second, and returns to the Unreality a stronger man/woman His/her strength score is supernaturally increased by 2 points.
Someone decides to walk past the point Jazaka is standing at right now:
The corridor made up of shelves opens into a perpendicular passage leading north and south.
DC 20 Perception check when approaching the end of the corridor you're in right now
Spoiler:
The floor is definitely trapped; a mechanism is rigged to a hatch in the floor, seemingly triggered by stepping on it.
I should have had some DM foresight on Thangardt grabbing books... Some perception checks are in order. I moved T back to the first book he grabs. I'll also try to make things a little more structured by making one post for each of the three adventurers.
Thangard related post
DM only:
Maximize Thine trap:1d100 ⇒ 91
DC 20 Perc just before grabbing Maximize Thine etc.:
The book has some sort of magical trap rigged to it, presumably activated by touching it.
DC 20 Disable Device - Success
Spoiler:
The book is safe to open
DC 20 Disable Device - Failure
Spoiler:
The trap is presumably triggered, but no effect is apparent.
Failed Maximize Thine check:
Nothing happens, and Thangardt happily grabs the book.
Thangardt opens and reads some in the Maximize Thine etc.:
The book is full of valuable tips and hacks to improve ones investigative prowess. In fact, the text is consuming Thangardt's mind for a brief second, sucking his conscious mind in among its pages. A moment later, he has read the whole thing, and finds himself sharper than before His intelligence score is supernaturally increased by 2 points.
DC 20 Perc just before touching the Wheneth and Whenethn't bookshelf (or anything on the shelf):
The bookshelf itself has some sort of mechanical trap rigged to it, activated by touching anything on the shelf or the shelf itself.
DC 20 Disable Device - Success
Spoiler:
The shelf is safe to touch
DC 20 Disable Device - Failure
Spoiler:
The trap is triggered, and a large blade shoots out, perpendicular to the floor, at about waist height, and then jets around the shelf in one fell swoop At this point, only Thangardt is at the shelfBlade trap attack:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15. The blade misses Thangardt, however, as he gracefully scoots out of the way He knew there was a trap here, so he's not flat footed
Failed bookshelf check:
A trap is triggered, and a large blade shoots out, perpendicular to the floor, at about waist height, and then jets around the shelf in one fell swoop At this point, only Thangardt is at the shelfBlade trap attack:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12. The blade misses Thangardt, however, as he gracefully scoots out of the way.
DC 18 Perc just before grabbing Wheneth and Whenethn't etc.:
Thangardt already saw a trapped book before, so the DC is a little lower since he's on his guard. The book has some sort of magical trap rigged to it, presumably activated by touch.
DC 20 Disable Device - Success
Spoiler:
The book is safe to open
DC 20 Disable Device - Failure
Spoiler:
The trap is presumably triggered, but no effect is apparent.
Failed Wheneth and Whenethn't check:
Nothing happens, and Thangardt happily grabs the book.
Thangardt opens and reads some in the Wheneth and Whenethn't etc.:
The book is just a bunch of scribly scrawls, with no apparent meaning to them.
Thangardt hands Wheneth and Whenethn't to Jazaka:
As Jazaka grabs the book, the space they're in is filled with orbs of bright shimmering colors, and both Jaz and Tan are blinded for 1d6 ⇒ 4 rounds, but are otherwise fine DC 15 Fort negates.
Jazaka opens and reads some in the Wheneth and Whenethn't etc.:
The book is full of valuable tips and hacks to improve ones inquisitive prowess. Jazaka actually finds the text so engrossing that she almost blacks out for a split second. When she comes to, she knows all the contents of the book, and she feels calmer, more measured, and somehow more adept at answering the question posed by the book Her wisdom has been supernaturally increased by 2 points.
As I mentioned, the library is brimful of books and whatnot, so even if on Roll20 you only see a few books or piles around, there should be many more, I just was too lazy to put them in, and also, there is only so much value in putting in multiple copies of the same artwork anyway. So just imagine the area mostly being books, and the shelves being much less visible than Roll20 would have you believe.
Jazaka, making her way through the stacks of books finds nothing she isn't looking for; the passage continues ahead, though she spots, just around the corner, the edge of a particularly large pile of books on the floor.
To Thangardt, on the other hand, the shelves are a treasure trove. Just to his left downwards on Roll20, there is a book with the enticing title Maximize Thine Investigative Prowess - 100 Tippes To Unravel The Mystery. Nestled in the crook where the shelves bend to his right, the book An Adventurer's Guide to Survival catches his eye, and all along the shelf Jazaka just passed, books like Doth Thine Nemesis Leave No Fingereprintes? Freteth No More, Herein Thou Shalt Find Thine Answer, and Wheneth and Whenethn't to Expect the Inquisition, and Rearrange the Range of Thy Ranger Bow, all seem just ripe for reading.
Ekan makes his way up the stairs, stumbles a few times, but other than his pride bruising, he reaches the ladder up whence Jazaka and Thangardt vanished. Depending on what the other two are doing, he may or may not be too late to see them right away once he's at the top of the ladder. I imagine it would be at least two full minutes, maybe more, for him to go down the stairs, chicken out, then back up, and then half a minute or so to climb the ladder and get his bearings on top. So if Jaz and Than go only semi fast, they'll be out of sight by the time Ekan can look for them.
