She then turns to Gallias and taps twice to bring up a new crystal ball. "Gallias Renellon, yes, of course! You've tidied up your hair quite nicely, hm? Just like a little boy on his way to Temple for the first time," She reaches out and squeezes your cheek a little, like a distant relative seeing you for the first time in years, "It's quite simple then, dear. Just think of the reasons you came here, and the hero you see yourself becoming, and then do just as the little miss with the sword did. Palm onto the ball-- Are you prepared?"
'Dress to impress, as my mother would say.' Gallias rubbed his cheek to subdue the tingling from being pinched. He would have objected to being handled and talked to like a child but the whole scene had something... endearing to it. He hadn't been pinched in the cheek since... well, it didn't matter that much. Instead he focused on what she had said. The reason why he had came? The first thing that shot through his mind were the 2400 gold pieces. It was quickly displaced a vision of himself accumulating riches both material and immaterial. Which shifted towards the notion of heroism itself. Being a good person is its own reward and what better person was there than a hero? But if Gallias was completely honest with himself (which he wasn't that often: part of being a good conversationalist was that he could even convince himself of certain notions), his reason was quite simple really: being a hero is different. And different is interesting.
As for what hero he envisioned himself becoming? First there came the obligatory power fantasy that was the propriety of youth: Gallias the Powerful, whose words and deeds could shape the course of nations. Gallias the Wise, upon whose lips lay words that could sway statesmen, clergy and even kings. It then shifted to an older Gallias writing out his memoirs, earning coin and adoration from the masses. The masses shrank and Gallias saw himself in a fireplace lit chamber stacked to the rafters with books sitting across from somebody. The face was obscured but somehow he knew who it was whenever the figure shifted: his older brother smiling with slight envy; his younger sister looking up with adoration; his father with that look of pride Gallias could not remember seeing before; his mother inscrutable yet kind; a personal student hanging on every word from his lips.
The last person Gallias saw sitting across from him in his mind room was, quite fittingly, himself. 'The only way you can know what kind of hero you'll be, is by looking back at the adventure you've had.' Said the logical part of his person. 'And not knowing the adventure is what makes it fun.' They both looked at each other. 'Talking to yourself doesn't make you crazy.' The mirror part continued. 'But replying does.' Gallias answered with a grin, remembering the old adage, before pulling his senses back to the reality of the here and now.
Was he prepared? Only one way to found out. Gallias reached out and firmly pressed his hand on the crystal bal
Finn It isn't your best rendition of the lullaby, but with the minor illusion filling in part of the empty soundscape, it does the trick. The woman nods back at you, and closes her eyes to listen to the song. You may not have played a tune built to gather a crowd, but you have been able to provide comfort to the woman in some small way.
Gallias You press your hand against the crystal and feel a quick sting as if you submerged your hand into a frozen lake. As quickly as it comes, it's gone again, and you're left with a pulsing sensation before the crystal begins to fill with an opaque, blue smoke.
"And just like that--" Edelina taps again, and the crystal ball drops into the suddenly appearing hole in the desk, which disappears just as quickly, "You're all settled. Now, in just shy of an hour The Choosing shall begin, so do take care not to stray too terribly far, hm? Once all that is completed you can return to me and I shall settle your lodging requirements, all paid for by the league, and you'll receive an information package for the trials. We need to ensure only the best of the best in this job! Now then, off with you! Would not want to miss such an opportunity to explore the National Library, now would you?"
Gallias, you are currently free to explore the library, observe your surroundings, or interact with your fellow player-characters. Choose:
> Roll an Investigation check to explore. > Roll a Perception check to observe. > Post freely to socialize.
Valor The expanse of this library is truly something to behold. You can't even begin to see how far back it stretches, but it's certainly far.
As you walk about the shelves you notice a youthful, wizardly looking fellow dressed in flowing blue robes carrying a stack of books taller than himself, hardly able to keep them balanced. He wears a small charm around his neck that looks similar to the jade-and-gold icosohedron that Edelina Winfield wore as a brooch, but his is sapphire-and-silver.
You notice that the books he is carrying are careening to one side, about to topple. (Optional Dexterity Saving Throw)
Gallias You press your hand against the crystal and feel a quick sting as if you submerged your hand into a frozen lake. As quickly as it comes, it's gone again, and you're left with a pulsing sensation before the crystal begins to fill with an opaque, blue smoke.
"And just like that--" Edelina taps again, and the crystal ball drops into the suddenly appearing hole in the desk, which disappears just as quickly, "You're all settled. Now, in just shy of an hour The Choosing shall begin, so do take care not to stray too terribly far, hm? Once all that is completed you can return to me and I shall settle your lodging requirements, all paid for by the league, and you'll receive an information package for the trials. We need to ensure only the best of the best in this job! Now then, off with you! Would not want to miss such an opportunity to explore the National Library, now would you?"
Gallias, you are currently free to explore the library, observe your surroundings, or interact with your fellow player-characters. Choose:
> Roll an Investigation check to explore. > Roll a Perception check to observe. > Post freely to socialize.
Gallias rubbed his hand. It did not look frozen but for an instance he could swear it felt frozen nonetheless. Another thing that drew his attention was the crystal ball itself. It had filled up with blue smoke the moment he touched it but before he could have a closer look, the ball was gone and the lady in front of him informed him of further preceedings.
'With all its splendor, a mere hour would never be enough to explore the National Library to one's satisfaction.' Gallias couldn't completely keep the childlike excitement from leaking through his voice as he looked around wondering where he would go first. 'But it's always worth a shot.' He bowed to Edelina. 'I will see you again within an hour, Miss Winfield.' Gallias said before walking off into the halls of the Library.
Careful not to let such an opportunity to waste, he began reciting an incantation underneath his breath as he pondered and looked at all the things the Library had to offer. -------- Casting Detect Magic as a ritual while exploring Investigation check: 15
Gallias The library is a true marvel. The size of an entire village, the shelves stretch at least an hour's walk away, and carve up the massive walls and to the arched ceiling above. Certainly to access some of the higher shelves one would need the power of flight -- or perhaps just an incredibly sturdy ladder.
As you attempt to divine the presence of magic here, you find yourself almost overwhelmed. Almost every other person you pass is magical -- including the half-elf lyre-player -- and you can also tell that there is an incredible wash of magic over the entire building.
The shelves, you can tell, have some kind of Transmutation spell cast upon them. Some of them have both Transmutation and Abjuration magic upon them. (Optional Arcana Check)
Magical portraits hang from some of the walls, massive images of important people, which glow with an aura of Illusion. (Optional Investigation Check)
And the lights -- there are no live fires that you can see. Each lamp instead seems to glow with a touch of Evocationmagic, which you can easily guess is a Light spell of some kind.
What stands out to you in investigating whilst casting your spell, however, are two different points. One is a faint glowing aura down a hallway which must be somewhat concealed from you. The other, is a small something atop a tall shelf that glows with an aura of Evocation in the opposite direction of the hall.
“Great thank you Sir,” Beorro sayed politely. He wondered if he should shake the man’s hand.. That’s what city folk do right? Or is it impolite to touch a stranger? He thought. Beorro has his strengths but social custom was not one. I’m the end he settled for an awkward bow of sorts and then, feeling rather embarrassed, hurried in the direction he was instructed to go as fast as his tiny halfling legs would carry him.
OOC: Can I do a perception check on Winfield an anyone still in line in front of me? If so here’s my roll 9+4
OOC: oops.. I’m doing this on my phone so I don’t have the roll option and I tried to type it. Is that acceptable?
Beorro The Green Robe chuckles after you, seemingly entertained (at or with you, it's unclear) at your antics.
As you approach Madam Edelina Winfield you watch as a well-coiffed man in Cleric's vestments departs her desk, heading off in the direction of the shelves. One another person is in line before you, a human woman in fitted leathers with a cascade of dark burgundy-colored hair. She exchanges few words with Edelina before placing her hand on the crystal ball that appears, and you watch it fill with a yellowy-gold smoke. Then, the woman leaves before Edelina even opens her mouth to continue speaking.
Edelina instead turns to smile at your approach, and takes a seat behind the desk to be closer to your eye level. Unlike the counter from the Green Robe, the desk is not quite as tall, and you can see over it more easily.
The only thing about Edelina that really stands out to you is the jade-and-gold icosohedron brooch she wears, which catches the light, and your eye.
"Beorro Timbers!" She greets pleasantly, clapping her hands together in some form of excitement, "I apologize if the city has left you somewhat overwhelmed... I can imagine the sights and sounds can be strange when you aren't embroiled in them day to day! Now..." She taps the desk twice, and another crystal ball appears, floating only a half-inch above the desk, and well-within your reach. "To secure your application all you need to do now is imagine the hero you long to be, the hero you came here today to become. Create that picture in your mind, hold onto it, and then touch the crystal ball -- it will do the rest!"
Valor DEX save to help the wizard 19 and catching the stack righting it again. "Oh would you like some help carrying those," she asks eagerly smiling at the wizard.
Valor You catch the stack with immense ease, and the man sticks his head out from one side to see you. His eyes are wide and mouth is opening and closing like a fish out of water. "I, er... M-my apologies, er, I m-m-mean thank you," He stutters. Then, he looks to his left, then his right, and then over his shoulder as if trying to determine if he's being watched.
"W-would you m-mind t-terribly, vauh, Miss? I-I-I fear I'll d-drop them..." He asks, gesturing with his head to a shelf a few down from the two of you with a number of empty spaces.
Valor obliges the man helping him with a soft smile. "My name is Valor Borathys. What's yours," she asks curiously. "Are you familiar with the recruitment process here," she asks. "What's red mean," she adds quickly.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Valor "Ah, y-yes, Miss Valor, th-thank you," He nods quickly and sighs a bit as you take some of his load. He looks around again as you both walk to the shelf, biting his lip before taking a deep breath and answering, "Lingwater, Raforn L-lingwater-- M-my name."
"R-red? Oh, ye-- I mean, no... N-no, sorry, I don't think-- I'm n-not really s'posed to speak about any of this. I'm s-sorry. I can t-take it from here--"
Finn begins to tire of waiting, groaning in boredom. He looks around for someone to pester. His eyes linger on the man with axe and shield... Eh, better not. Can't really do anything if he can't take a joke. His gaze drifts to one of the red-armored figures. Ugh, same problem.
He finally sets his eyes on the human woman from before. Valor... something? She seemed polite enough. Looks like she's in a conversation with someone, though... A mischievous grin crosses Finn's face. I guess I can return the favor of being nosy.
Finn stands up and saunters over to her and the timid fellow in robes. "So... Whacha doooooing?" he asks, leaning sideways with his hands held behind his back.
Gallias The library is a true marvel. The size of an entire village, the shelves stretch at least an hour's walk away, and carve up the massive walls and to the arched ceiling above. Certainly to access some of the higher shelves one would need the power of flight -- or perhaps just an incredibly sturdy ladder.
As you attempt to divine the presence of magic here, you find yourself almost overwhelmed. Almost every other person you pass is magical -- including the half-elf lyre-player -- and you can also tell that there is an incredible wash of magic over the entire building.
The shelves, you can tell, have some kind of Transmutation spell cast upon them. Some of them have both Transmutation and Abjuration magic upon them. (Optional Arcana Check)
Magical portraits hang from some of the walls, massive images of important people, which glow with an aura of Illusion. (Optional Investigation Check)
And the lights -- there are no live fires that you can see. Each lamp instead seems to glow with a touch of Evocationmagic, which you can easily guess is a Light spell of some kind.
What stands out to you in investigating whilst casting your spell, however, are two different points. One is a faint glowing aura down a hallway which must be somewhat concealed from you. The other, is a small something atop a tall shelf that glows with an aura of Evocation in the opposite direction of the hall.
Gallias rubbed his eyes, both to make sure he was seeing what he was seeing and to make sure his eyes weren't being overloaded by nearly everything being overlaid with magic auras. In hindsight, he really should have expected it but still, it added even more splendor to what was already the greatest sight he had seen so far. When the original rush of excitement passed, Gallias turned a trained eye towards what he saw.
Transmutation magic on the shelves: presumably to make sure the shelves can accomodate the contents. Abjuration magic to protect the contents on the shelves. Illusion magic on the portraits: Gallias hazarded a guess that those were some sort of fixture to make the portraits move or look more lifelike. And the lights were just... light. Neat.
All in all, it really hammered home the scope and significance of the Library. When he last laid his focus on the final two magic auras, Gallias had to take a moment to ponder to decide what to do next. While he could reach out for the small trinket of Evocation magic, he know enough of that school to know that it dealt mostly with inflicting as much harm as possible with the iconic Fireball spell at the forefront. He also knew from experience that eyebrows take way too long to grow back in properly so he decided against grabbing it. Besides, the other aura he had sensed came from down a hallway and was somewhat concealed from him which made it more alluring. After all, concealing something meant that it was worth concealing which meant a certain level of interesting.
Gallias glanced around to see if someone was in the near vicinity before heading off down the hallway.
Finn (6) Valor is helping a young man put some books away, but the titles on the spines manage to elude your vision or interest. Also, you definitely know that they're books.
Gallias (9) You make your way down the hall, your footsteps echoing back to you through marble floors and stone walls. As you get closer to the source, you begin to hear voices. The voices seem to hear you, too. "Wait, what was that?" You hear a male voice say.
Dropping his concentration on his Detect Magic spell, Gallias picked out a scrap of paper from one of his pockets, deftly folded it into a doglike shape and breathed life into it with magic. (Origami spell [Tooltip Not Found] which apparently can't be hyperlinked?) It was a bit crude but he had not the time to to neatly fold the paper properly. Deciding it was decent enough, Gallias slipped the paper dog back into his pocket with only the eyes and ears of it popping out. That way if someone meant harm to him, Little Sheet here would bark a warning. It was a trick he had picked up when he was younger and had served him well over the years. With those minor preparations out of the way, Gallias put on his best "It's my first time here and I think I got lost." face which, to be fair, was at least fifty percent true anyway before carefully heading forward with eyes and ears both real and paper ready to pick up on anything unusual.
Gallias You hear footsteps approaching, and peeking around the corner you see the evidence of a person - a bit of hair, the flash of an eye. Then, it pulls back before whoever it is fully reveals themselves.
A man walks down the hall towards you, wearing dark clothes of velvet and leather, with gold embroidery along the chest of his jacket. A golden pin makes it's home on his left breast, looking like an icosohedron. The man is a pale skinned human, certainly not one of the local races, and has a face that would be easy to forget.
Following behind him is a second man, this one a dwarf with tanned skin and a full black beard. He wears green robes - in fact, he is a Green Robe, if the outfit is of any indication, and he keeps several paces back from the other man. "You aren't supposed to be this way," The Green Robe tells you, crossing his arms but still, keeping behind the man in black and gold, who raises a hand to quiet his dwarven companion.
"Perhaps not," The man in black and gold smiles, "But you cannot stifle curiosity, and it appears a Crimguard had abandoned his post. Our friend here merely took the invitation offered to him by an open walkway. Name's Alonzo Amerighi," He introduces, stepping forward and offering his hand to you.
How does she know my name? Surely we’ve never met.. Beorro thought. However, not wanting to hold up the line, he pushed that thought aside and did as she said, trying to imagine the hero he came here to be.
Beorro closed his eyes. Suddenly he was back home in his forest laying his hands on an injured doe to heal it’s wounded leg. Then the image dissolved and he was now an enormous black bear charging down faceless shadowy monsters who were terrorizing a small village. Then that image too dissolved and he was standing in a woodland clearing teaching a group of children of all races the ancient powers of nature and the responsibility that comes with it.
Beorro opened his eyes with renewed confidence about his purpose, and he reached out and grasped the crystal ball.
Beorro When you touch the crystal, you almost sense that you've touched something corrosive that stings your hand and melts flesh to crystal. In less than a second however, that feeling fades completely and you're instead filled with the sense that you've done something quite right. You watch as the crystal ball begins to fill with a Green smoke, thick and impossible to see through. As quickly as it fills, Edelina taps the desk and it falls into a hole that appears beneath it. "A Green! Not as many of those today... Quite a lovely colour, is it not?" She gestures to her jade-and-gold brooch and winks at you.
"Now we're getting nearer to the end of this whole entry process, so it shouldn't be terribly long before Ivellios begins The Choosing! Until then you're quite free to explore the library to your heart's content. Should you be chosen you'll visit me once more, and I shall provide you with your lodging assignments and the rest of the information you'll need for this test of initiation. Now, run along then! The sooner I finish this line, the sooner The Choosing shall occur!"
Beorro, you are currently free to explore the library, observe your surroundings, or interact with your fellow player-characters. Choose:
> Roll an Investigation check to explore. > Roll a Perception check to observe. > Post freely to socialize.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Do don't know or you won't tell me," Valor asks the wizard. 9 She asks before looking to the half-elf. "Hello Mr. Peacegrove just trying to get a leg up so to speak," she begins again. "Do you know anything about this color business they've assigned us," she asks him too.
'Dress to impress, as my mother would say.' Gallias rubbed his cheek to subdue the tingling from being pinched. He would have objected to being handled and talked to like a child but the whole scene had something... endearing to it. He hadn't been pinched in the cheek since... well, it didn't matter that much. Instead he focused on what she had said. The reason why he had came? The first thing that shot through his mind were the 2400 gold pieces. It was quickly displaced a vision of himself accumulating riches both material and immaterial. Which shifted towards the notion of heroism itself. Being a good person is its own reward and what better person was there than a hero? But if Gallias was completely honest with himself (which he wasn't that often: part of being a good conversationalist was that he could even convince himself of certain notions), his reason was quite simple really: being a hero is different. And different is interesting.
As for what hero he envisioned himself becoming? First there came the obligatory power fantasy that was the propriety of youth: Gallias the Powerful, whose words and deeds could shape the course of nations. Gallias the Wise, upon whose lips lay words that could sway statesmen, clergy and even kings. It then shifted to an older Gallias writing out his memoirs, earning coin and adoration from the masses. The masses shrank and Gallias saw himself in a fireplace lit chamber stacked to the rafters with books sitting across from somebody. The face was obscured but somehow he knew who it was whenever the figure shifted: his older brother smiling with slight envy; his younger sister looking up with adoration; his father with that look of pride Gallias could not remember seeing before; his mother inscrutable yet kind; a personal student hanging on every word from his lips.
The last person Gallias saw sitting across from him in his mind room was, quite fittingly, himself. 'The only way you can know what kind of hero you'll be, is by looking back at the adventure you've had.' Said the logical part of his person. 'And not knowing the adventure is what makes it fun.' They both looked at each other. 'Talking to yourself doesn't make you crazy.' The mirror part continued. 'But replying does.' Gallias answered with a grin, remembering the old adage, before pulling his senses back to the reality of the here and now.
Was he prepared? Only one way to found out. Gallias reached out and firmly pressed his hand on the crystal bal
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Finn
It isn't your best rendition of the lullaby, but with the minor illusion filling in part of the empty soundscape, it does the trick. The woman nods back at you, and closes her eyes to listen to the song. You may not have played a tune built to gather a crowd, but you have been able to provide comfort to the woman in some small way.
Gallias
You press your hand against the crystal and feel a quick sting as if you submerged your hand into a frozen lake. As quickly as it comes, it's gone again, and you're left with a pulsing sensation before the crystal begins to fill with an opaque, blue smoke.
"And just like that--" Edelina taps again, and the crystal ball drops into the suddenly appearing hole in the desk, which disappears just as quickly, "You're all settled. Now, in just shy of an hour The Choosing shall begin, so do take care not to stray too terribly far, hm? Once all that is completed you can return to me and I shall settle your lodging requirements, all paid for by the league, and you'll receive an information package for the trials. We need to ensure only the best of the best in this job! Now then, off with you! Would not want to miss such an opportunity to explore the National Library, now would you?"
Gallias, you are currently free to explore the library, observe your surroundings, or interact with your fellow player-characters. Choose:
> Roll an Investigation check to explore.
> Roll a Perception check to observe.
> Post freely to socialize.
Valor explores the library. Investigation 15
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Valor
The expanse of this library is truly something to behold. You can't even begin to see how far back it stretches, but it's certainly far.
As you walk about the shelves you notice a youthful, wizardly looking fellow dressed in flowing blue robes carrying a stack of books taller than himself, hardly able to keep them balanced. He wears a small charm around his neck that looks similar to the jade-and-gold icosohedron that Edelina Winfield wore as a brooch, but his is sapphire-and-silver.
You notice that the books he is carrying are careening to one side, about to topple. (Optional Dexterity Saving Throw)
--------
Casting Detect Magic as a ritual while exploring
Investigation check: 15
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Gallias
The library is a true marvel. The size of an entire village, the shelves stretch at least an hour's walk away, and carve up the massive walls and to the arched ceiling above. Certainly to access some of the higher shelves one would need the power of flight -- or perhaps just an incredibly sturdy ladder.
As you attempt to divine the presence of magic here, you find yourself almost overwhelmed. Almost every other person you pass is magical -- including the half-elf lyre-player -- and you can also tell that there is an incredible wash of magic over the entire building.
What stands out to you in investigating whilst casting your spell, however, are two different points. One is a faint glowing aura down a hallway which must be somewhat concealed from you. The other, is a small something atop a tall shelf that glows with an aura of Evocation in the opposite direction of the hall.
“Great thank you Sir,” Beorro sayed politely. He wondered if he should shake the man’s hand.. That’s what city folk do right? Or is it impolite to touch a stranger? He thought. Beorro has his strengths but social custom was not one. I’m the end he settled for an awkward bow of sorts and then, feeling rather embarrassed, hurried in the direction he was instructed to go as fast as his tiny halfling legs would carry him.
OOC: Can I do a perception check on Winfield an anyone still in line in front of me? If so here’s my roll 9+4
OOC: oops.. I’m doing this on my phone so I don’t have the roll option and I tried to type it. Is that acceptable?
Beorro
The Green Robe chuckles after you, seemingly entertained (at or with you, it's unclear) at your antics.
As you approach Madam Edelina Winfield you watch as a well-coiffed man in Cleric's vestments departs her desk, heading off in the direction of the shelves. One another person is in line before you, a human woman in fitted leathers with a cascade of dark burgundy-colored hair. She exchanges few words with Edelina before placing her hand on the crystal ball that appears, and you watch it fill with a yellowy-gold smoke. Then, the woman leaves before Edelina even opens her mouth to continue speaking.
Edelina instead turns to smile at your approach, and takes a seat behind the desk to be closer to your eye level. Unlike the counter from the Green Robe, the desk is not quite as tall, and you can see over it more easily.
The only thing about Edelina that really stands out to you is the jade-and-gold icosohedron brooch she wears, which catches the light, and your eye.
"Beorro Timbers!" She greets pleasantly, clapping her hands together in some form of excitement, "I apologize if the city has left you somewhat overwhelmed... I can imagine the sights and sounds can be strange when you aren't embroiled in them day to day! Now..." She taps the desk twice, and another crystal ball appears, floating only a half-inch above the desk, and well-within your reach. "To secure your application all you need to do now is imagine the hero you long to be, the hero you came here today to become. Create that picture in your mind, hold onto it, and then touch the crystal ball -- it will do the rest!"
Valor DEX save to help the wizard 19 and catching the stack righting it again. "Oh would you like some help carrying those," she asks eagerly smiling at the wizard.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Valor
You catch the stack with immense ease, and the man sticks his head out from one side to see you. His eyes are wide and mouth is opening and closing like a fish out of water. "I, er... M-my apologies, er, I m-m-mean thank you," He stutters. Then, he looks to his left, then his right, and then over his shoulder as if trying to determine if he's being watched.
"W-would you m-mind t-terribly, vauh, Miss? I-I-I fear I'll d-drop them..." He asks, gesturing with his head to a shelf a few down from the two of you with a number of empty spaces.
Valor obliges the man helping him with a soft smile. "My name is Valor Borathys. What's yours," she asks curiously. "Are you familiar with the recruitment process here," she asks. "What's red mean," she adds quickly.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Valor
"Ah, y-yes, Miss Valor, th-thank you," He nods quickly and sighs a bit as you take some of his load. He looks around again as you both walk to the shelf, biting his lip before taking a deep breath and answering, "Lingwater, Raforn L-lingwater-- M-my name."
"R-red? Oh, ye-- I mean, no... N-no, sorry, I don't think-- I'm n-not really s'posed to speak about any of this. I'm s-sorry. I can t-take it from here--"
Optional Perception on the books.
Optional Persuasion on Raforn.
Finn begins to tire of waiting, groaning in boredom. He looks around for someone to pester. His eyes linger on the man with axe and shield... Eh, better not. Can't really do anything if he can't take a joke. His gaze drifts to one of the red-armored figures. Ugh, same problem.
He finally sets his eyes on the human woman from before. Valor... something? She seemed polite enough. Looks like she's in a conversation with someone, though... A mischievous grin crosses Finn's face. I guess I can return the favor of being nosy.
Finn stands up and saunters over to her and the timid fellow in robes. "So... Whacha doooooing?" he asks, leaning sideways with his hands held behind his back.
Abjuration magic to protect the contents on the shelves.
Illusion magic on the portraits: Gallias hazarded a guess that those were some sort of fixture to make the portraits move or look more lifelike.
And the lights were just... light. Neat.
Gallias glanced around to see if someone was in the near vicinity before heading off down the hallway.
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Finn
(6) Valor is helping a young man put some books away, but the titles on the spines manage to elude your vision or interest. Also, you definitely know that they're books.
Gallias
(9) You make your way down the hall, your footsteps echoing back to you through marble floors and stone walls. As you get closer to the source, you begin to hear voices. The voices seem to hear you, too. "Wait, what was that?" You hear a male voice say.
What do you do?
Dropping his concentration on his Detect Magic spell, Gallias picked out a scrap of paper from one of his pockets, deftly folded it into a doglike shape and breathed life into it with magic. (Origami spell [Tooltip Not Found] which apparently can't be hyperlinked?)
It was a bit crude but he had not the time to to neatly fold the paper properly. Deciding it was decent enough, Gallias slipped the paper dog back into his pocket with only the eyes and ears of it popping out. That way if someone meant harm to him, Little Sheet here would bark a warning. It was a trick he had picked up when he was younger and had served him well over the years. With those minor preparations out of the way, Gallias put on his best "It's my first time here and I think I got lost." face which, to be fair, was at least fifty percent true anyway before carefully heading forward with eyes and ears both real and paper ready to pick up on anything unusual.
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Gallias
You hear footsteps approaching, and peeking around the corner you see the evidence of a person - a bit of hair, the flash of an eye. Then, it pulls back before whoever it is fully reveals themselves.
A man walks down the hall towards you, wearing dark clothes of velvet and leather, with gold embroidery along the chest of his jacket. A golden pin makes it's home on his left breast, looking like an icosohedron. The man is a pale skinned human, certainly not one of the local races, and has a face that would be easy to forget.
Following behind him is a second man, this one a dwarf with tanned skin and a full black beard. He wears green robes - in fact, he is a Green Robe, if the outfit is of any indication, and he keeps several paces back from the other man. "You aren't supposed to be this way," The Green Robe tells you, crossing his arms but still, keeping behind the man in black and gold, who raises a hand to quiet his dwarven companion.
"Perhaps not," The man in black and gold smiles, "But you cannot stifle curiosity, and it appears a Crimguard had abandoned his post. Our friend here merely took the invitation offered to him by an open walkway. Name's Alonzo Amerighi," He introduces, stepping forward and offering his hand to you.
How does she know my name? Surely we’ve never met.. Beorro thought. However, not wanting to hold up the line, he pushed that thought aside and did as she said, trying to imagine the hero he came here to be.
Beorro closed his eyes. Suddenly he was back home in his forest laying his hands on an injured doe to heal it’s wounded leg. Then the image dissolved and he was now an enormous black bear charging down faceless shadowy monsters who were terrorizing a small village. Then that image too dissolved and he was standing in a woodland clearing teaching a group of children of all races the ancient powers of nature and the responsibility that comes with it.
Beorro opened his eyes with renewed confidence about his purpose, and he reached out and grasped the crystal ball.
Beorro
When you touch the crystal, you almost sense that you've touched something corrosive that stings your hand and melts flesh to crystal. In less than a second however, that feeling fades completely and you're instead filled with the sense that you've done something quite right. You watch as the crystal ball begins to fill with a Green smoke, thick and impossible to see through. As quickly as it fills, Edelina taps the desk and it falls into a hole that appears beneath it. "A Green! Not as many of those today... Quite a lovely colour, is it not?" She gestures to her jade-and-gold brooch and winks at you.
"Now we're getting nearer to the end of this whole entry process, so it shouldn't be terribly long before Ivellios begins The Choosing! Until then you're quite free to explore the library to your heart's content. Should you be chosen you'll visit me once more, and I shall provide you with your lodging assignments and the rest of the information you'll need for this test of initiation. Now, run along then! The sooner I finish this line, the sooner The Choosing shall occur!"
Beorro, you are currently free to explore the library, observe your surroundings, or interact with your fellow player-characters. Choose:
> Roll an Investigation check to explore.
> Roll a Perception check to observe.
> Post freely to socialize.
"Do don't know or you won't tell me," Valor asks the wizard. 9 She asks before looking to the half-elf. "Hello Mr. Peacegrove just trying to get a leg up so to speak," she begins again. "Do you know anything about this color business they've assigned us," she asks him too.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.