Thangardt blinks for a few moments, momentarily stunned from getting hit in the face with an overly bright light . As he recovers, he resumes his cocky stance, "I thought ye were gonne eat me, not try te blind me."
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Thangardt decides that since he seems to be the one offending the sphinx, he should give his companions a chance to get away. He boldly walks towards the sphinx, using what he gleamed from the sphinx's book to screw with this "Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild" in a last attempt at glory. (Or maybe entertain them and screw with the sphinx - hard to tell which way this could go.) "Well if ye de be offended by me and me impecible logic, then ye shed eat me first." Seemingly as an afterthought, he casually adds, "Of course thes will reflect badly on ye when the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild sees what happened here - ye cheated et riddles, then gave a petitioner a book I wasna supposed to know about, let yourself get distracted while said book was looked et for several minutes, then arbitrarily decided to eat us like a sore looser cry-baby when ye couldn't win at yer own game. Graphlump already doesna think very highly of some of ye agents ..."
Thangardt tries to look properly remorseful and humble while Jazaka petitions the sphinx for their lives? unlives? existance?
"...twas a riddle...and i knew the answer...and ye didna...and he said one more try...and I was jest helpen..." Thandardt mutters mostly to himself as he back up until the sphinx is barely at the edge of his vision.
Realizing that his direct access to this intriguing book is coming to an end, Thangardt casually puts the book down (ideally he'd like to semi-conceal it amongst other books) being very careful to remember exactly where. He moves closer to Jazaka and Ekan before joining the conversation. "Ye do be doing thes all wrong. The answer is a 'd'. Dawn, dusk and daybreak all start with d. there are two d's in the center of midday. Daisies start with d and cold ends with d. There's no d in sun but there is one in day."
Beginning to get excited, Thangardt flips to “How did the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild create the mountain (and the answer had better not just be ‘magic’)?”, “What does the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild want with petitioners?”, and “What is the role of agents in the mountain?”
Feeling as though he may be onto something, Thangardt tries "What does the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild want with the mountain?", "What does the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild do with the mountain?", and "Did the Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild create the mountain?"
Thangardt tries "Is there an areana in the mountain?" and "What is the goal for petitioners in the mountain?"
Trying to be somewhat inconspicuous, Thangardt flips to "What are the differences between going up or down in the mountain?" Then if he has time to "If one dies in the Mountain, who is their soul forfeited too?"
"מיט באַקקעדאַלינג אין דעם מאָמענט ער איז זייער ומבאַקוועם מיט ווו די שמועס איז ניטאָ, און האלט קאַסטינג גלאַנסיז בייַ דעם בוך, ער האט צו איר" Thangardt mutters unintelligably to himself in dwarven while looking for answers to questions along the lines of "When to help adventures" and (if he has time) "How to help adventurers (that one likes)". "er...did ye sey somethen?...just give meh a moment..."
Thangardt start looking through the book for more information about who the "Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild" might be and what their intention for this book was. Unless a section listed in the table of contents (if it exists in a book like this) jumps out as useful he'll focus on the front and back pages. Basically he's trying to find a loophole of sorts to the "Should you misspeak, or otherwise divulge exact details, dispose of the petitioners" instruction that a good or neutral lawful creature that's taking this book too seriously would be inclined to accept for not killing them. Especially after said creature has promised "you shall be allowed to pose me one question, not a riddle, to which I will answer the truth" (emphasis mine).
"Aye, I do be quite aware of thes. Tis why my question was carefully worded." Thangardt grumbles as he flips through the book. "So by all means give a malicious answer to my question." He tries to find his question in the book.
"eh...I asked ye 'what' not 'how much' so thet's not really an answer."
"What de ye know about this place?"
"Aye, that do be a good answer. Perhaps ye would like te take a pass at the first one?"
"Nay, 'tis not the answer. This do be a riddle, not a simple question. But if ye be wanten an easier one I shall oblige." "What loses its head in the morning and gets it back at night?"
"eh . . . lets see . . . What jumps higher than a mountain?"
"eh...Footprints?"
Before the Androshinx even finishes it's roar, Thangardt is running away as fast as his short legs can carry him.
As Thangardt gets further from the source of his terror, he slows down, eventually coming to a stop at the northern segment of the passage where Jazaka has also stopped.
"Well, we ded be discussen thes." Thangardt says as he leads the party close enough that Jazaka and Ekan can see it too. "We didna find a single answer but we de have sem ideas."
Abashed at having to be scolded for his outburst, Thangardt puts all his effort into being as quiet as a duergar can be. This single-mindedness causes him to almost walk into the north wall.
Apparently unable to contain his excitement at the large pile of books they appear to be circling, Thangardt loudly exclaims "I canna believe how many books theer do be piled heer! And we canne even see et all yet!"
The three continue quietly along the wall to the single sheet of paper. Thangardt reads through the scribbles, holding the paper so that Jazaka can also see it while Ekan continues peering into the darkness. "A snake do be en animal withet legs. End sum of them do be brown." "Fire will grow. Et needs air, but des thet count as breathing? Water puts it out so meybe thet is drownen. Whet abet wind? A small brezze cen turn inte a strong wind, so growen. I dunnaknow if being air counts as breathen. Et can drown out other sounds."
"I swear there wasna an openen ther when I first got ther. Musta been an illusion. Ekan ya didna need to push me through et." Thangardt grumbles as he slowly leads his companions further into the room. Ekan and Jazaka only roll their eyes in response.
As the room opens up, the three start by following the southern wall, moving around the room clockwise. They try to stay in roughly the formation they're in on roll20 so that they're not too close together and all 3 are never in a straight line.
When Thangardt reaches the end of the curved passage, he stops in the doorway and motions the other two forward so they can all peek around the corner.
attempting to disable the traps:
Thangardt, Jazaka, and Ekan make their way through the library in the same manner as before (and following the blue lines), continuing to keep an eye out for interesting books and nasty surprises.
The three make their way through the library, continuing to look at interesting books along the way.
After Ekan points out the first of the trapped books, Thangardt motions the others back around the corner while he attempts to disable it.
Jazaka attempts to read this one first, then T then E.
Thangardt opens Triumphe after, at least to the best of his knowledge, having dealt with both traps. "This desna seem ta have anytheng in et." He bats Ekan's had away as he reached for the book, "We've hed books explode eh tad before when hending them around. So et might be better to wait untel ye look eh tad better in case this one des too." and puts the book into his own pack. "Eh, perhaps I should take the lead fer a bet? In case we mess more traps?" Thangardt leads the group down the lower left passsage from where they are, Jazaka a step behind him and Ekan further back (basically keeping Jazaka just within his sight). All three are also keeping an eye out for other interesting titles.
Assuming they make it back to the relevant shelf without incident (other book of interest will have their locations noted to be returned to since Ekan is quite set on getting his hands on Triumphe and will not tolerate any delays).
Thangardt wisely keeps his new thoughts to himself and only says "Thet des feel semwhet odd. I duna thenk it hes dun much theugh."
"Weeellll, I'm quite sure thes des semethen. Anyone wante try it? No? Well, then I suppose I might as well try..." Thangardt says as he swallows the pill.
Quite grateful for Jazaka's keen eyes, Thangardt begins work to actually disable the nasty blades guarding this shelf. (Jazaka has prudently stepped back, 10ft away from both the bookcase and Thangardt.)
After gaining much insight from Fingerprintes, Thangardt (backed up by Jazaka) inspect the area around Rearrange the Range of Thy Ranger Bow.
Realizing that something nasty is tied to Fingerprintes, Thangardt motions for Jazaka to stand back a bit and begins work to circumvent it.
"There do be another book or two that did catch me eye a bit back..." Thangardt says as he turns to retrace his steps. About to reach for Doth Thine Nemesis Leave No Fingereprintes? Freteth No More, Herein Thou Shalt Find Thine Answer, he thinks better of it. "Eh, Jazaka, perhaps yee could assist me in inspecting these shelves for any more surprises first?
"Oooch...eh...mayhaps this library is not so friendly..." He peers closely at the shelf before carefully trying to pick up the book again. "Doesn't seem ta be anything else bad here..."
"Now what mighten bea so important ta need such nasties?" He shoves Maximize Thine under his arm and opens Wheneth as he walks to where Jazaka stopped to look at another bookcase. "There doesna seem ta be anything I understand en here. Jazaka, would ya take a look?" While waiting for Jazaka, he opens Maximize Thine. After being momentarily engrossed in the book he looks up with a start, "ehhh...I...uh...thet was a...tha best book I've ever read."
"Oooh thes do be book I mest read." Thangardt says as he quickly grabs Maximize Thine Investigative Prowess - 100 Tippes To Unravel The Mystery and Wheneth and Whenethn't to Expect the Inquisition. "Jazaka, ye really needent run through here. If we do be dead don't we have all tha time of eternity?
Thangangardt hustles to follow the familiar tail as it disappears behind a corner, giving a longing look at all the books he's forced to walk by. "Eh, Jazaka, no need ta rush...there be so many books here...mayhapse we shuld look at some."
After sloshing around in the well-water for a few moments Thangardt concludes that there's nothing interesting in the well, "Nothin but water don here. But Aie did get meh monthly bath." He begins climbing up the ladder after Jazaka.
"Aye Thet seunds like a plan." Assuming he thinks the ladder looks sturdy enough to support both him and Jazaka he climbs down. If he's unsure he'll hold the ladder to provide her with a bit of extra support while she climbs.
Thangardt sights as he once again sees no effect from his roll. "Perhaps it's just one roll per die type? Or per participant." He regretfully says as he climbs down. Looking at Ekan he adds, "eh...best make thet willing participant."
After waiting a few moments for an effect sighs and says, "Eh...it didna seem ta do anytheng. Meybe it needs ta reset moer?" He and Jazaka climb down and then Thangardt climbs up and tries rolling the d12 again.
"Aye.......just......need.....ta....catch...mae..breath.." he says as he slowly gets his breathing under back under control. "I think mae die twas a tad unlucky. Perhaps yours shall be a tad better." He picks up one of the twelve sided dice and rolls that, hoping for better luck this time.
Thangardt stumbles and moans when the effects of his roll hits him while Jazaka stands a little taller, basking in her new-found vitality.
"Thes dae seem ta be some cosmic game of chance. Tae bigger thae die tae bigger tae stakes." He walks over to the dice and lifts one of the eight sided ones to roll it, "I thank the middle one daes suit me."
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