At the casters' bidding, the lions are placed in order - the first is History, the second is Cunning, the third is Perseverence - sometimes mistaken for stoicism - and the last lion with the flag draped over its back is Loyalty!
When Tok carefully pushes the secret door open, it eases open with ease, revealing a hidden vault.
Chests of expert craftsmanship line the walls, and on the far side of the room stand two bookshelves burdened with yellow-paged tomes and sundry ancient trinkets. Banners and tapestries cover nearly every inch of the walls, each representing long-dead nations or depicting conflicts left not chronicled.
Here, the group finds suggestions of the many primary, unmodified accounts of events from millennia ago, original versions of laws since replaced, records of foreign policy debacles quickly silenced in the interest of decorum, and remarkably objective (and sometimes empathetic) biographies of enemies of the state. There's not enough time to go through everything, but the ten minutes are sufficient for them to find two texts: a thin journal and a long scroll.
Assuming they've found all that needed finding, they return to the Guardian in the library.
The Guardian seems a bit surprised to see you, but that doesn't stop him from being pleased at your find. "Very nice," he praises. "This shield appears to have once held an enchantment not unlike my own. You must be very resourceful to have found it."
His jaws work for a moment before he pauses and asks, "Were I to move into the shield, would you take me with you? I would like to experience the outside world for myself."
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”Of course we’ll take you with us!” Angry Magic Tree says, clapping his hands happily. ”And you can tell us stories and we’ll show you forests and meadows and swamps and gardens...”
As Ilathor starts to become lost in the books again, the leshy tugs in his robes. ”Hey! We need to clean up after ourselves! The lady said not to leave any traces we were here!” he says insistently.
At the acknowledgement, the Guardian leans forward to delicately grasp the shield in its mouth. It closes its eyes and resettles, concentrating. After approximately a minute, the shield's patina recedes, leaving a bright and burnished surface. When next the Guardian speaks, his voice is much calmer than before. "A welcome change, this!" the lion practically purs. "I share my name only with my true friends and in bringing part of me with you, I think you have earned the right to it. I am Glorymane. This shield will carry a spark of its own awareness from this point on and will happily assist any of you so long as the cause is just or the potential for glory great!"
After some brief discussion on how best to get the shield out, the group manages to gather Ilathor - and his findings - back up again, moving to hide their tracks on their way back to the Rare Books room that Tobias had left them in.
They've only just shut the secret door, resetting it, and recollected the illusion cards when a gentle knock announces the librarian's presence.
"I hope you were able to find all you need," Tobias says, stepping through the door. "The performance is nearly over, so you'll want to gather up your things so I can escort you out before the crowds get too thick."
.....
It doesn't take long to exit the Kitharodian Academy premises, but no one really relaxes until the group is once more safely behind the fish and tackle shop that Venture-Captain Muesello has set up. Excited to see you all, he quickly welcomes you into the closed store and locks the doors as he gathers you into the backroom, ready for your report.
"Tell me, what did you learn? Were you able to gather information for the princess? What did you find about the Shining Crusade? How did it go?" he asks, eager.
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The wizard is thinking that it would be great if someone would discover one day something to copy these texts easily without having to rewrite them.
For the rest he let the others tell the Venture-Captain what they meet in the library and how they resolved the challenges who occurred. Only if asked directly he expresses himself about the story of their search in the Library of the Lion.
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"I have a name," Angry Magic Tree says grumpily. "Why does nobody remember it?" He fumes for a few seconds before processing the rest of Tok's comment. "Oh, yes! This is Glorymane! He's a guardian of the library and he asked us to show him around and maybe read him a book since he doesn't have any hands to turn pages." He pulls the shield and displays it proudly. "Say hello to the Venture-Captain, Glorymane!"
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After much kicking, screaming, and other toddler tantrum theatrics, Ilathor is finally dragged away from the find of his dreams.
When the Venture-Captain inquires about their findings, it takes him a moment to rev his brain up and begin divulging all that he has learned, naturally with his own positions of inquiry and commentary. After approximately forty minutes of brain dump, he takes a seat, pleased with what he has down, and begins reading the notes he had scribed, happily oblivious to the discussion around him.
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"That is... very impressive," he says, leaning back in his seat. The Venture-Captain pauses for a moment before grinning broadly. "And here you are! I'm very pleased with your hard work! You've done very well and I'll be sure my report reflects as much. Go on and rest - it's late. Feel free to visit Patsy's Premier Pastries again, too, if you'd like. It'll be on me."
With that, he dismisses you back into the world, obviously proud of your adventure.
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"I got bored," the leshy explains unashamedly.