Candlekeep Mysteries Group 2

"I have unlocked the door. You are free to leave at your leisure."

Hino literally shoves her way past Varnyn, and sprints to the exit, leaving the confines of this hell-hole as quickly as she can.  She years to see daylight, sweet daylight, and breath the fresh air of the outside world.

Watching her run out from thw open door, Barbär nods and looks to the sky. I think i may have to practice with that hammer. Hahaha!

Mav takes a swig from the bottle Orvok gave him and follows Hino outside

"Thank you for unlocking the door Ebder, I do hope you have a fabulous day!"  Isa proceeds to walk out back into the fresh air, taking it all in as her mind is now free and clear of that cursed tune.

She spots Hino and Mav just over to her right and walks up quietly to them.... she smiles to herself and then starts humming the crazy tune right behind them.  She simply all out laughs as they both turn to see her "I'm kidding... I'm kidding... " she waits a moment "are you two ok?"

"I will be...." and he pulls out a cigar and lights it up in the courtyard and takes another swig from the bottle in his other hand.

“I will be…” Hino echos, “Just as soon as I get some downtime in the sun and fresh air.”

Once outside Emporious breaths deep from the open air. Happy to be free of the confining underground but missing the tasty lightning bugs, Archie flaps off to look for another meal. Emporious wanders off to look for spell components. 

Finishing off the bottle in his hand, Orvok hurls it - hard - at the statue. ‘Too many damn mysteries here, stacked one on another till there’s no safe place to stand.’ he spits, as thought trying to expel something by force, ‘Dammit…’ he continues more quietly ‘Give me a damn straight up fight…’

Sighing, as though the air has been let out of him, he wanders out of the depths in search of firewood that needs cutting, or some other manual activity. The observant watcher, if any remain, might note that his shadow moves slightly out of step with his movement…

Hino had scurried away to parts unknown (but it's quite obvious she's looking for a client to 1) release a little built-up tension, and 2) make a little coin).

CANDLEKEEP MYSTERIES - THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

Emporius, in your search for spell components, you pass by a section of Candlekeep with rows and rows of bookshelves - naturally. As you walk, you can hear a nervous muttering preceding the approach of one of the Avowed behind you. An older man is scanning the tomes on the surrounding shelves near you, and you can hear him frantically talking. “She must have been here … I don’t understand …” he murmurs as he catches sight of you.

“Ah. Forgive this disturbance,” the acolyte says. “But I’m looking for …” He stops short as he catches sight of a book called The Price of Beauty. “Yes, I’m looking for that.” Then, looking over to you, the acolyte appears saddened. “But you haven’t seen anyone else … well, you haven’t seen Falthrax, have you?”

OOC: Cool artwork!

Emporious bows in greeting, "No I haven't seen anyone else nor have I ever met any one named Falthrax. My appologies. I can help you look if you like."

"That would be fantastic! I am Lorris. I'm searching for a missing friend, Falthrax Loderr. He is a shield dwarf acolyte whom I last saw two days before." Lorris is clearly upset but maintains his composure as he shares the following information. "Falthrax is a dear friend who has been troubled of late by depression; he talked of feeling as though his life is passing him by. His mood had improved in the last tenday after he discovered a book, here, in the Candlekeep stacks—The Price of Beauty. Already a worshiper of Sune, god of beauty, Falthrax talked of how the book spoke to him, and how its advice on meditation and self-worth was helping him. The last time I saw Falthrax, he was in a sad mood and said that he was going to spend time with the book. Falthrax didn’t return to his quarters that night and hasn’t been seen since. He was noticed entering the stacks where The Price of Beauty is kept, here, but no one saw him leave. I think this book might be some sort of portal!"

"Intriguing." Says Emporious as he assumes his typical thinking posture while listening to Lorris tell his tale.

"It just so happens that I have a group of companions who are just ripe for this kind of undertaking.", he says as he stabs the finger that had been tapping his lips into the air. " The two dwarves will be most particularly interested I should think. Why don't you wait right here and I shall round them up. I'll be back shortly."

Before Lorris can reply Emporious scurries off to locate the rest of the crew. As he finds each member or members of the party he relates what Lorris has told him. Once everyone has been informed he will take them all back to the last place Falthrax was seen.

Hino, no stranger to Lorris and Falthrax (having attempted a beard-splitting with them both before, with no luck...) piles into the library, obviously much recovered from their last adventure.  Slapping Lorris heartily on the back, "Lorris, old buddy!  You losing things again?  What's this I hear, you've lost that yummy Falthrax?  Doesn't he know you guys can find beauty right here (she slaps herself on the buttocks), for a price, of course?!"

"SO, where's this book you say he's been sucked into?"  She shows her obvious distaste for books (proving just how right she is for shunning them) as she sneers at the tome that Lorris shows them.  Stooping down low as to peer at the book with an objective eye of distrust, Hino continues to sneer at it with distrust.

"How's this thing work?"  Investigation: 5

Lorris is still with the book by the same shelf. 

Hino, no stranger to Lorris and Falthrax (having attempted a beard-splitting with them both before, with no luck...) piles into the library, obviously much recovered from their last adventure.  Slapping Lorris heartily on the back, "Lorris, old buddy!  You losing things again?  What's this I hear, you've lost that yummy Falthrax?  Doesn't he know you guys can find beauty right here (she slaps herself on the buttocks), for a price, of course?!"

"I'm sorry. Who are you?" he asks.

"SO, where's this book you say he's been sucked into?"  She shows her obvious distaste for books (proving just how right she is for shunning them) as she sneers at the tome that Lorris shows them.  Stooping down low as to peer at the book with an objective eye of distrust, Hino continues to sneer at it with distrust.

He holds up the book. "It's..right here."

The Price of Beauty is bound in soft green leather, eight inches wide and fourteen inches tall, and set with golden clasps. The book gives off the unmistakable scent of lilies. Set into its cover is a polished oval mirror with a delicate gold frame styled like locks of hair, which appear to spill down around the face of anyone who looks into the mirror.

The book is filled with beautiful illustrations of woodland scenes, art, and jewelry. Delicate handwriting accompanies the illustrations, in the form of short prayers and meditations dedicated to seeking self-worth, techniques for massage and healing, and recipes for creating balms and cosmetics.

On the last page is an inscription by the author, Sylvarie Silversong, which reads: “A mirror is a gateway to happiness, truth, and to accepting ourselves.”

You have an overwhelming desire to look into the mirror.

Hino, no stranger to vanity, looks admiringly at herself in the mirror on the front cover of the book.

When Hino holds The Price of Beauty and gazes into the mirror, the image of Sune replaces their own reflection and speaks in a soft voice, saying, “Well met, dearest one. How do you feel today?” 

As Hino peruses the book Emporious introduces each party member to Lorris.