"Yes, listen to Daventry, don't think for a minute you will end up on the floor like a drained husk when she is around Fembris." Ludolf says, but then he staggers and almost slumps over the table. "I..I think I need some rest before continuing this. Please, go on with the investigation as you see fit and I will find you later." He says to the others looking really weary. "I will have to excuse myself First Reader, my most competent associates will likely solve this before I have even recovered." He says and bows slightly before leaving for his sleeping quarters, seeming very weak and exhausted, and stll a bit harrowed over his close encounter with the grim reaper.

(OOC: Ludolf won't be of much use in an investigation with disadvanatge on all skill rolls. Please do continue while he is resting if you want to. Alsdad, any chance of knowing how long Ludolf would have to rest. I hope it's not two days :-P )

Triäsa smiles, patting Klin on the back. "It is no problem Klin.  It is easiest enough for me to do - feel free to ask any time." 

(Triäsa again tries to recall if she had met Yalerion or Valor previously.  Or Barmus before his stay ended.)  

She then looks over at Fembris. "That is kind of a good question though. Could it just be the one creature that turned itself into three different books now?  Hmm, but in that case the original books would still be around.  So are there three creatures - one from each of the books?  If that is the case, then where did the other two go?"  

For a moment Triäsa is quiet, thinking about the various possibilities.  "I have an idea, let me try to see if I might learn something this way.  Is there some of that goo remnants about?"  She walks over closer to where the book, and creature, and been.  There are still some remnants there.  You can see her hesitate, the wrinkle her nose a bit about touching the material again. "It will take a few minutes here," she says and then she begins to sing softly.  The song speaks of history and magic, and continues a bit before ending:   

 'Music and magic mingle,
Surround around this space.
Set vibrations within this entity
To reveal enchantment within.'

And with a motion of her other hand she completes the ritual to cast Identify.  

(From the spell description - "You learn whether any spells are affecting the item and what they are. If the item was created by a spell, you learn which spell created it." That is kind of what she is hoping to get.  Or possibly if it is/was a 'magic item' then what abilities it has.) 

Daventry stops Ludolf before he leaves. "I know that was exhausting, Ludolf... But if more of those creatures are out there, they could kill again before the night's up. We need to find answers... And might need someone who can blast an abberation like that back to the Far Realm so he can study it's corpse for secrets later. Would be a real shame if those secrets were lost forever, yeah?"

She breathes deep. "We pushed hard that fight, so at least a quick breather to gather ourselves will be in order."

Ludolf is about to leave as Triäsa starts singing again, making him stop and listen to her soft voice, forgetting his pains and weariness for a moment.

"Yes, yes you are right Daventry, my rest shall wait, I have only my life to loose." Ludolf answers. "If I just could sit down for a while in the Hearth." He adds.

When Daventry stops Ludolf from leaving Bookwyrm calls out to him, "Mr Crowley, one moment and perhaps I can be a bit of assistance here. I can see you look rather... tired...." He roots around in a drawer and pulls out two small rolled up pieces of paper. "We had a cleric from some temple come by not long ago he left these as a gift I can't say we would really ever have use for them." He reads from the parchment which glows slightly and turns to ash casting Greater Restoration. Seeing this was not enough he reads from the second paper which again turns to ash and you feel as vigorous as your old body ever does. "I fear this is the last bit of aid I can provide to you."

Triäsa you feel from you spell that goo was never actually an item but a magical being that had shifted into an exact copy of the book. The creature was created by a complex summoning ritual while the name of the ritual is lost to time you can see the original item must be used in the ritual. There is currently no magic affecting the goo. As far as the other scholars. The name Yalerion is familiar. You remember meeting him one night as you were welcoming new arrivals. H is a good looking  human with an approachable demeanor and a relaxed posture. He is a scholar from Waterdeep who claimed to have read every book at the Font of Knowledge. The two of you spent an afternoon drinking wine at the Hearth. He mentioned he was spending most of his time reading in the common space of the House of Rest preferring that over the isolation of the Pillars. He was very amicable and he wished to see again.

Fembris feels embolden from the support of the others. The wide toothy smile returns, "You right you all handled that with ease I am sure you can keep me safe from anything! Lets go find these two and get some answers!!" She squints her eyes with a look a fierce gnomish determination and punches her right hand into her left palm and walks out the door expecting you all to follow.

(Sounds like Daventry wants to grab a short rest which is fine if the rest of you are in agreement)

"Aah, much better, thank you First Reader." Ludolf says and bows. "Still, a rest at the Hearth sounds like an excellent idea."

Triäsa relays what she learned from her spell to the others - essentially a ritual summoned the creature that transforms into the book.  And the ritual uses the original book. "So, the victims were not killed for the books.  The books were merely the means to their death." 

As they all head out, Triäsa comes up alongside Ludolf. "So are you feeling better after the First Reader's spells? I tried to pull you out of there, but it would not work."  While she might for a moment sound disappointed, an excited smile quickly comes to her face. "You probably did not see it, but... it worked!  It actually worked! I was able to phase out of this plane and then back!  it was...  amazing.  For just a moment I could see layers and layers of different realities.  Thousands!"

The young woman seems thoroughly thrilled as she relates this information.  Though she tries to keep a pace with the older man, she almost seems to be bouncing with energy.  She continues speaking, not just to Ludlow but to the others as well.  "I have met Yalerion, he seemed nice.  I could go find him while you all rest.  He is likely at the House of Rest."  She laughs. "He claimed to have ready every book in the Font of Knowledge!  Can you believe that?  I had clearly ready more books than him."   

Daventry nods. "Aye, if you think you can find him, I'll keep an eye on Ludolf and Klin while we freshen up." Her tone goes deathly serious. "However! Triäsa, if you see anything that looks funny, smells off, or even raises the hair on the back of your neck by the tiniest amount, you come get us right away and do not go by yourself." The concern in the northern woman's eyes is apparent.

"I swear to Umberlee and Tymora both that if we find you drained in some backalley bookshelf, I'll raise you from the dead just to kick yer ass myself."

(OOC: #shortrestcrowd #naptime)

Triäsa laughs as Daventry warns her about being safe. "Yes, yes.  Yalerion was very kind when we talked the other day, just your average scholar.  You probably saw him in The Hearth at some point.  Good-looking human, tall..."  She laughs again, "Well, taller than me at least."  She waves her hand as she leaves the others and heads over the The Halls of Rest.  "Worry not though, I shall not take any chances." 

You all leave the Bookwyrm's office heading back down the stairs. Klin, Daventry and Ludolf find their previous table is still available and sit down to rest and recover. 

Fembris says, "Why don't well meet back here I'll go see if I can figure out where Valor might have gone off to." She starts hoping around table to table trying to ascertain the scholar's possible location. 

Triäsa you walk next door to the Hearth. Sitting quietly in a corner with a bottle of wine reading a book is Yalerion. When he hears you open the door he smiles warmly and waves you over to his table. "Ah my dear, I see you decided to take me up on my offer of a drink. Please sit, while I love nothing more than a good book it will be good to have such lovely company for a bit." The tall human with wavy dark hair and deep blue eyes stands up as you approach he grabs another glass from the counter and pulls a chair out for you to join him. "I was worried you would never come but I am glad you have. Please tell me how are your studies going? You are looking to travel the planes if I remember?"

 "Yes I feel much better Triäsa, thank you for your concern." Ludolf answers. "A phase, impressive my young Triäsa, your first step towards planar travel." He says encouragingly, walking beside the half-elven bard bouncing down the stairs to the Hearth. He looks skeptical at the idea of Triäsa carrying on the investigation on her own just after they faced a deadly threat, but does not dare to object. "Yes, well, if he is tall and good-looking what harm could possibly come to you." He says dryly over her apparent naivety. "Just watch out for books, but I hear there are a lot of them about." He says, trying not to show how worried he is to see her go off on her own.

Ludolf then finds a table with the others in the Hearth. "So Daventry, tell me more of that tattoo of yours."

Triäsa comes over to the table in the corner where Yalerion sits, giving him a smile. "Well, we had a very nice discussion the other day Yalerion, so of course I stopped by."  She sits on the seat he has pulled out setting her pack and lute on the floor right next to her.  "My studies.  Well, it has been a lot of reading! But I do think I might have made some progress with traveling the planes. Tiny steps, you know.  Though I still am not sure if my main research is going anywhere." 

She pauses, looking up at the man as she brushes back a bit of her hair that had fallen into her face.  "Please though, tell me a bit about your own research.  How is that going?"  She gives a small laugh, "I am afraid I have forgotten what the subject was exactly.  (OOC - Or the DM didn't tell me!) But I do hope you are making some headway." 

She tries to continue the conversation towards Yalerion's studies and looks for an opportunity to ask about his entrance book.  "So what book did you bring to gain entrance to Candlekeep?  What was it about?" 

(Persuasion: 18, if needed) 

(Also, my previous Arcana roll to see if I knew anything about who Mazfroth might be was 22.  Just curious! Or I can roll again if you'd prefer.) 

"Ah. Yes I don't think we talked about me much you are far more interesting than I am." He says slyly as he looks to your eyes. "I study just about anything and everything. I want to read every book I can particularly anything about Toril itself and it's history. When I have read everything I might compile the most important information into a compendium of sorts. It's a lofty goal, I just want to learn all I can." He takes a sip of his wine and tries to carry on a easy, light conversation.

When you ask about his entrance book. "What a wonderful idea that is to charge a book as an entry fee. You can't buy your way in with money and only one with a true passion for books can get through. Not to mention it keeps the collection fresh! They have truly thought of everything." He pours himself another glass of wine and tops yours off. "I was at this quaint little bookseller in the Upper City of Baulder's Gate, somewhere in the Wide... Name of it was... Dune something... or was it something Dune.... Can't really remember. Small stall but they had a number of interesting pieces. Mazforth's Mighty Digressions was the name of it. Collection of essays by some unknown adventurer. I read it quickly in the shop and recognized it was a one of a kind book just the kind of thing that would get me in here. It cost me a crazy amount of gold but it seems I was right." He smiles proudly at his cleverness. 

(You have never heard of Mazfroth perhaps some common author or adventurer but the name holds no significance to you)

Triäsa laughs softly at Yalerion's flattery. "You are kind. But your research is fascinating as well. So a history of ALL of Toril.  That would be quite a tome once you put that together. Most books focus on a region. Or a particular conflict. It is interesting you were just able to find such a unique book in a shop in Baldur's Gate.  Such a serendipitous find!"  She smiles. "Was there anything interesting in it?  Just where exactly did Mazforth travel?" 

She continues the conversation, trying to get an idea of any places Yalerion might have traveled himself.  And lightly prying into how he makes his living or where his money might have come from. 

{Persuasion: 26)

"Mazforth's book is more of a collection of rambling essays that often diverge into incoherent tangents. He talks about lycanthropy and the gods, Mystra and the weave even demon lords and the abyss. Frankly not my kind of read but Candlekeep doesn't need the book to be good, just unique and this fit the bill perfectly." He says flatly.

He becomes a bit more thoughtful as you ask more about him. "I hope you don't think less of me but I am somewhat ashamed to say I come from a fair bit of wealth. I grew up in Silverymoon my family was heavily involved with trade and the caravans in the Southbank. They been doing it for years. I never had much of a mind for that type of work. It was more for my older brothers frankly." He drinks heavily from his glass noting the bottle is empty looks into his bag and pulls out another. "So I spent as much time as I could in the Vault of the Sages to read and escape the dredges of the family business. Once I finished reading everything there I took as much coin as I could get and left to see a bit of the world ultimtaely trying to get into here. I just want to keep reading. Not entirely sure where to go next... but that's next weeks problem I suppose" He takes another long drink "But please we have to talk about something less depressing than me, the spoiled boy living off his parents fortune. What about you where are you from?"

As you hear this story you realize you are very familiar with his family name, Highscroll. Basically all trade in and out of Silverymoon uses their services. Perhaps it is the wine perhaps not but the young man does seem to look familiar. 

Quote from Oberon99 >>

Ludolf then finds a table with the others in the Hearth. "So Daventry, tell me more of that tattoo of yours."

"Mmm, I guess I never got around to that tale, did I? I'll skip the boring bits o' minor piracy, but I found myself on a deserted isle in Moonshae, with a map in one hand and a shovel in the other. Recovered an old chest, but one that didn't look like those I'd seen before. In it were two tomes... one being the spellbook which I paid my fee, the other being... something else. Shone like a night sky, turns out - had glowing blue runes all over the cover. But when I touched it, I learned regrets. Got walloped by somethin', and while I was out I swore I could see into the Weave itself... when I woke up, I had a nosebleed for days, a ring in my ears, and this "tattoo" branded on my arm." Daventry rolls up her sleeve again, showing the constellation-like brand \ to Ludolf, Klin, and Pardot (if he's around). "Before, the Weave was but a dream to me. Now, I can reach out and touch it, shape it." She expends a bit of magical effort, the ghostly hand extracting from her own and hovering, before she lets it dissipate.

Daventry nods to Klin's question. "Well, that's why I'm here, traveled across the Sea of Swords just to seek an answer to that. The second book... seems to have changed me, left me with this." She points a finger at her brand. "I'd like to know what in the Nine Hells it was... and how in said Hells I can do what I do."