Located in the Taldan Capitol city of Oppara, Venture-Captain Muesello's lodge hides behind the facade of a simple bait and tackle shop, which Muesello dutifully maintains to provide Pathfinders a local base of operations that doesn’t invite much scrutiny. His pockmarked face breaks into a smile as bell on the door jingles, and he motions for everyone to gather in the building’s back room before locking up the shop and propping a sign in the window that reads "Gone fishing."
In the back room, a tall, thin, Taldan female, dressed in a formal, high-collared gown, sits primly at a table by a small fireplace. Muesello bows formally, and says "Agents of the Society, it is my humble honor to introduce to you Lady Gloriana Morilla, a long time ally of the Pathfinders. It is thanks to her that we have our current opportunity before us."
Venture-Captain Muesello quietly closes the door behind him before continuing to speak. "The Pathfinder Society does not have a sterling reputation in Taldor, despite my and others’ efforts to impress the local moves and shakers. As a result, the most prestigious universities and colleges often deny our agents access to the best libraries in Oppara, thinking we are meddling good-for-nothings. As one of the oldest intact civilizations near the Inner Sea, these libraries no doubt house some very precious volumes. Recently we received a most wonderful opportunity—an invitation, really, from a very powerful patron," he adds as he withdraws a scroll tube with a broken wax seal from his apron.
"This patron will secure us a couple hours in the rare books collection at the Kitharodian Academy, during which we may peruse for whatever we wish so long as we also retrieve several documents of interest for our friend. That," he punctuates by tapping the scroll tube on the table "is where things get interesting. Apparently there is an even more precious archive hidden beneath the academy’s library, and our patron believes it to contain numerous original records and undoctored historical accounts otherwise unknown to the world! Our contact knows how to get into the archive and has shared the secret with us."
"Two hours is little time, so you must make the most of your time. I know it will be tempting to research other interests, but it would be selfish for the Society to think of itself when the Worldwound’s borders threaten to envelop Mendev and beyond. I am sending you in with the express purpose of uncovering more information about the Shining Crusade, the sustained war against the Whispering Tyrant a millennium ago."
Lady Morilla snaps open a fan to fend off the room’s growing warmth, adding, "Historically, Taldor is the authority on massive military campaigns, but most texts have undergone extensive revision to serve some political agenda or another. Entering this hidden archive is an excellent opportunity to learn from the real mistakes of the past and apply those lessons to the Mendevian Crusade."
"Remember that you have permission to be in the academy’s library, but not in this secret archive, so do everything you can to avoid being noticed while exploring. In fact, the fewer clues you leave of your passage, the better. Specifically do not steal or destroy any of the library’s contents. A few slip-ups might alert the authorities that someone has been poking around, and too many with give them enough evidence to trace this act to us."
Muesello opens a drawer in the table and begins pulling out a couple small parcels wrapped in cloth. "Any questions?"
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"I assume we are not going to the library as Pathfinders? But will be disguised as something else?"
She looks around guaging the weapons and armour of the group.
"Maybe a scholar and their guards?"
A look of concern crosses her face. "What do we do if captured in the secret archive? I don't think it likely but would the notes we are taking cause any problems. Also what texts does our Patron want us to discover? Are we to copy them, or remove them?"
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Eleanor nods as she listens to the mission being given. It sounds simple enough, however she knows if it were that simple they would've recovered the documents themselves.
"As Iomedae is my patron I will be more than happy to help you in your efforts to retrieve these documents." she gives a soft smile and a polite bow.
Muesello lets Lady Morilla respond first. "Tomorrow evening, the Kitharodian Academy will host an extravagant orchestral performance in celebration of the Grand Prince’s birthday. Such an event should last several hours, and if rumors are to be believed, the Kitharodian’s finest intend to play a complex medley of Taldor’s greatest songs. Several of these are rather dramatic at times, and the sound should drown out any noise you make. With any luck,the performance will also draw away most of the guards."
"If the archive is truly secret, then it’s unlikely that you will encounter many people once inside," Muesello adds. "I imagine there might be traps, so be careful and resourceful."
Muesello then slides the cloth-wrapped parcels toward you. "This one," he says, tapping the first parcel, "contains a deck of illusions that I am in the process of modifying; instead of each card creating a random creature, each one creates a copy of one of you. The illusions won’t interact with anyone, but they can pretend to be reading and deceive the casual observer. Each only lasts for two hours, though. Stick a card to the bottom of a chair to create the illusion, and don’t forget to remove the card when you’re done. The other package contains several potions in case of emergency."
The Venture-Captain then turns to Fargrim. "The Pathfinder Society received the invitation, which means you'll have to enter the main library as Pathfinders. Else you'd arrive there as people who weren't invited. However, you do want to avoid detection in the archive, as you're not supposed to be in there."
Muesello hesitates for a moment before he continues. "I have little doubt that we’re performing some small piece of a larger political plan, even if we benefit from the service. That said, I would hate to lose an entire team of promising Pathfinders. If you must, use this as a bargaining chip..." he says as he hands over the scroll case, "Nearly anyone you meet will look at you more favorably if you surrender it, but doing so would certainly risk our friend’s cover. I’m giving it to you because I trust your discretion in the matter."
The scroll tube contains an unsigned letter that describes many of the mission’s details as well as a formal request signed by the Arch-Exarch Gregorius to admit the bearers to the Kitharodian Academy’s rare books collection. The letter also explains that the Pathfinders can find the hidden entrance to the archive by studying honor, courage, and glory.
Muesello addressed Rallas last. "Like I said, do not steal or destroy any of the library’s contents. You'll be given plenty of paper to take notes. Focus on information that'll help us against the threat of the Worldwound."
K-Y-V-W-K-C-E-C-O-O-M-I-M-E-C-F-G-C-Q-F-C
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Fargrim looks at the varous packages, and in particular at the potions. "One potion to mask our tracks is not going to go very far around an entire team of pathfinders..."
She looks around the group. "Can any of you mask your own tracks - or those of others?"
Turning back to the captain, she repeats her question from before. "What texts does our patron want us to recover? I assume the 'recovery' of those does not count against your suggestion of not 'stealing' any of the books?"
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"We were were told 'Apparently there is an even more precious archive hidden beneath the academy’s library'. I imagine this is like having permission to enter the castle, but not the barons keep.[/b]"
She looks at the captain. "If the music is likely to drown out sounds we make, I assume we will be able to hear it outselves?"
"I thought I'd answered that question," the Venture-Captain replies to Fargrim. "Focus on finding information that'll help us against the threat of the Worldwound. I can't be much more specific, because it's not known what exactly is to be found in the archive."
"We don't have any additional potion available for you. If you want more, you'll have to purchase those yourselves. Which of the documents you hand over when caught is up to you."
Muesello turns to Rolan. "You had to break the seal to read your instructions. What's odd about a broken seal on a letter you had to read?"
The Venture-Captain returns his attention to Fargrim. "Depending on how deep the archive goes, you may or may not hear the music once inside. Outside of the archive you'll most likely hear it."
Colloquially called “the Kith,” this bard college is the largest in the city, and ranks among the largest on Golarion. Although this grand academy allows all souls that wishes to enroll the chance to prove themselves, students must adhere to a code of education and rigorous self discipline. Each department advisor sets forth the graduation requirements for their students.
The Kitharodian Academy sits atop the northern cliffs of Oppara and has an impressive view of the Porthmos River valley. The school boasts architecture as lovely as its music, and elegant domes, towers, and columns adorn the principle music hall. On the night of the performance, mirror-focused lanterns and dancing lights illuminate the structure, making the academy a radiant beacon of Taldor’s greatness.
You find yourselves just outside the Kitharodian Academy, where crowds of commoners and nobility alike jostle to enter the music hall. You have no difficulty pushing your way into the increasingly crowded building, but finding the library requires effort.
You could try to approach an usher or other member of the Kitharodian staff to show you to the library. You may also try to find the library on your own.
The ushers aren't very helpful, as they refuse to leave their positions. Luckily Rallas knows exactly where to go. The library is nearly empty thanks to the imminent performance, but a young Taldan man named does greet you. "Welcome! I'm Tobias, the librarian on duty. How can I be of assistance?"
After showing Tobias the Arch-Exarch’s letter, he quickly reads over it and shows you to a restricted section of the library. "All visitors must leave the library once the performance concludes, which is in about two hours."
"I request you leave your wolf outside the library," Tobias says as he turns to Negi. "The library has strict rules to keep creatures from damaging the books."
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Tobias, could you please direct me to the history section please? I am interested in looking into some of the past conflicts that might have involved my ancestors. Is there a particular section regarding that subject? That would be splendid....thank you.
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Our contact knows how to get into the archive and has shared the secret with us.
May we assume that we will not need to search for the entrance to the secret archive, and we can find it easily? If it's not near the history section, Ezekias will quietly move near to it and pretend to peruse the shelves while waiting for the right moment.
Ezekias scans the library as he walks, noting the location and activity of patrons and staff to be better able to perform a few quiet actions without being noticed.
"I'm sorry, I can't help you with that," Tobias says to Rallas. "I need to be elsewhere as soon as possible."
Tobias then addresses Fargrim. "I'm sorry, miss. The wolf has to leave."
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Ezekias, noting the ongoing discussion, attempts to aid his comrade.
If your concern, good sir, is for the safety of the patrons, I can assure you that the wolf is extremely well trained and poses no more danger than the possibility of the roof collapsing suddenly. And if your concern is for cleanliness, I have served with no fewer than seven human colleagues who far surpass the beast in both body odor and fur shedding.
As my colleague Fargrim avows, you are far more likely to be called to explain why a wolf was howling during the performance than any sort of disturbance inside. Your most reasonable choice is to allow it to stay under the watchful eye of its master.
"I'd rather not have him grab books again. Saliva damages books, you see," Tobias says.
"However, I'll admit he listens well when you want him to come over..."
Tobias still doesn't seem convinced though, even after Negi shows that Jon will come to him when ordered to. "Can you make him stay, heel, or lay down too?"
He then turns to Ezekias. "My first and foremost concern is keeping the books in proper condition. If the wolf's going to make noise while in the hallway, I'll temporarily lock him up in a room that's far removed from the performance."
After a period of silence Tobias says "No, I'm sorry. I can't allow to wolf to join you."
He then shows you into the room. A large table stands at the center of this large room, whose walls are lined with rows upon rows of inset shelves. A set of double doors is the only way into the room, and two stone statues depicting bearded scholars with open books are the only other decorations.
Tobias leaves and closes the doors behind him once you're settled, taking Jon with him. Most of the books in this section are workbooks of famous composers, original copies of musical treatises, and withered manuscripts describing various operatic traditions from beyond the Taldan empire. Despite their academic value, the texts here are of little use in completing your mission. The both of the statues hold blunt styluses—sometimes used to help read old, fragile texts—that point to their books, but only the western statue’s book actually any words: a column of words that reads “Innovation, respect,knowledge, courage, integrity, honor, excellence, glory” in that order.
Rallas doesn't find a section regarding cryptography/codes, but instead discovers that a section of the west wall is hinged to swing outward, and that the mechanism for opening it must be nearby.