OOC: Sylyra could search if he wishes. The sub-basement where you fought the shadows would be a likelier place to find rodents as it was entirely untended to by the Library.
I'll assume that the party is sharing where they are staying with Cassra unless someone objects to Briny. The Laughing Goblin where the party has been staying to this point is across the city, or the Cracked Crown where the party met with Aleyd Burral at the onset of this adventure is just a short distance across Podol Plaza. I'll leave this description generic to keep us moving because I remember that Sylyra was staying at the Laughing Goblin but I can't recall if the rest of the party was staying there as well in this adventure (and I'm unfortunately running out of time today to go back and check).
Weary and beleaguered, but alive, you make your way back across Phlan toward your respective rooms. The sight of Hex and Uragum's withered and sallow forms draw many an eye in Podol Plaza, but you are unhampered on your journey back to the inn. The sun has not yet set, but and sleep is difficult to find for the weakened members of the party. At first, they lie with an unnatural chill that clings to their bones, bringing a strong nausea along with it. But as the lingering presence of the shadows gives way to the evening sunset, so too does their ill effects. The affected pair find their strength returned shortly before nightfall, and when morning dawns, their minds and bodies are strengthened anew (aside from the lingering memories of the nearly fatal fight).
OOC: Characters have gained the benefits of a long rest, and everyone's STR score has returned to normal. Sylyra and Uragum are able to change their list of prepared spells if they wish.
Hex would be okay with telling Cassra where the party is staying. Considering the lack of strength in both her and Uragum, she'd suggest staying at the Cracked Crown for just one night.
Once morning comes and Hex feels her strength return to her, she immediately jumps out of bed to do some stretches, revelling in being able to move the way she wants to once more. She contemplates hopping back into bed but decides against it, leaving her room to see if everyone else is awake yet. If not, she'd wake any still sleeping party members up and hurry them to eat breakfast so they can go seek out the killer before they completely lose the trail.
As the others prepare to leave the library, Sylyra pulls Briny aside. "While I think we have fought enough for today, I would hate to lose the trail of our quarry. I would like to return to the archive and solicit help from a four-legged friend." The elf tilts his head a little and gazes down upon the human with a slight grin. His green eyes sparkle in the candlelight. "Do you feel comfortable helping Uragum and Hex on your own? I promise not to go any deeper than I need to."
If Briny agrees to escort Uragum and Hex alone:
Sylyra will make his way back to the room where they fought the shadows. He will seek a rodent and cast animal friendship on it. Using his speech of the woods, he will explain that they were following someone. He will ask it to seek out this individual and return to the sub-basement with any information about where they are and what dangers lie between the shadows' room and where they went. If the person is moving, the creature should follow them until dawn and then return to the room to wait for Sylyra's return.
If Briny requests Sylyra's help with Uragum and Hex:
Sylyra will not argue; he will return to the inn without protest.
Briny hesitates, then nods. "I know you're plenty capable of keeping yourself safe, just- just be careful. There's no guarantee those shadow things will stay in the deeper parts." Then she will help Hex and Urugam make their way to the Cracked Crown.
In the morning she is relieved to see her party feeling back to their old selves, even if it does mean a bit of an abrupt wake-up call.
After a good bit of sleep, whether restful or not, Uragum awakens with a groan. Whatever the shadow things did to his strength and whatever brought it back brought with it a massive head ache and rumbling stomach. He rubs his face with both hands as he sits up. "Well, that was sleep, now it's the food. Some grub and its back on the case. We still have a case right? And what day is it? How long were we out?"
OOC: No significant change to the effect of the previous description - Briny would be able to get Hex and Uragum to the inn safely, either Hex or Uragum would have just had to leave their inventory with Sylyra since Briny wouldn't be able to carry both.
Whether it is the fatigue, the time of day, or the recent explosion and toppling of bookshelves frightening away any local vermin, Sylyra struggles to locate a friendly rodent or other source of animal life within the first section of the sub-basement or in the Archives above it. He regroups with the rest of the party in the morning to find his companions' strength returned.
OOC: Ready to advance once the next action is confirmed. Back to the sub-basement where you fought the shadows? Or is there something else the party would like to do first?
You cross Podol Plaza once more beneath the morning's overcast sky and enter Mantor's Library. Cassra is waiting by the doors to the Archives with key in hand, freshly dressed in a sling to support her broken arm. She nods grimly. "Here's hoping for better luck today. Master Openrael wanted to send some scribes in to begin the cleanup, but when I informed him of what happened yesterday he was rightfully hesitant to keep anyone there for an extended period of time. We did gather Garda's body so we could lay him to rest, but everything else was kept as it was when we discovered it," she says, grimacing at the thought of the discovery.
Within another half hour, you've descended into the Archives and found your way back to the area where the stairs descend into the dark sub-basement of the Library's Archives.
Area Description:
This room is littered with the ruined remains of bookshelves, desks, and other furniture. The ceiling is 15 feet high at the outer edges and vaults up to 30 feet high in the center of the room, which is itself an enormous square, 100 feet to a side. The toppled shelves extend 40 or so feet out from the walls (considered difficult terrain). The middle of the room is barren, but is blackened with the soot of century-old flames, and charred bones are strewn about.
A huge hole appears to have been blasted into the far wall. The ground there is littered with bricks and debris.
Hex has some torches still so she'll whip one out again. If everyone is good to go, she'll carefully head towards the hole in the wall and look through it.
On the way to the sub-basement, Sylyra is deep in thought, lines creasing his olive brow. As everyone pauses in the doorway of the room where they fought the shadows to steel themselves, remembering what had happened just the day before, the elf clears his throat and says, "Let's be more careful today." He doesn't make eye contact with anyone and appears uncomfortable with the apparent sentiment behind the statement.
As they move forward, Sylyra will keep an eye out for any animal he can communicate with.
Briny nods at the advice, carefully looking at the shadows around them for any sign of unnatural shadow behavior as she prepares to go through the hole.
OOC: Confirming that Sylyra will be searching for animals as we continue. Removed another torch from Hex's inventory.
The light of Hex's torch floods into the sub-basement, casting shadows from the toppled shelves onto the walls. Stepping over the shelves and books, you step through the blasted wall into another room.
This room is approximately thirty feet deep and half as wide. Its walls are lined with shelves laden with books and miscellaneous objects. At the far end of the room, a silver chest rests on a wooden table.
A second, similar hole has been blasted into the right wall, beyond which the sound of running water can be heard. On the blackened and charred floor around this second hole are the remains of a horn, shattered nearly beyond recognition.
Hex will head to the second blasted out wall to peek through it while the others examine the items and the room. Trying to make sure there aren't any immediate dangers that might jump them while the party is looking around.
OOC: Somewhere in between the two lol. An animal horn that's been fashioned into a device, like one of these numbers:
Sylyra can't tell exactly which animal it originally came from, as it's been shattered nearly beyond recognition and blackened and charred along with the floor.
Examining the hole in the right wall, Hex sees a rope anchored to one of the nearby shelves, leading downward into darkness. The sound of running water can be heard within. With her torchlight, she can also see a pair of walkways running along a channel of moving water - a sewer, by the smell of it.
Sylyra picks up the horn and tucks it into his belt. He then eyes the chest. Is it open or closed? Does it look like it has a lock? Is it decorated with anything?
Briny joins Sylyra in looking at the chest. She will examine it for any traces of anything with an arcane nature ((+2 for an Arcane roll)) and then (assuming it is closed) say "Well, I could use my mage hand to try and open it up from a safe distance."
Approaching the chest, Sylyra sees it lying open. Inside the chest, a series of racks and boxes on clever, articulated hinges unfold and spread out, allowing access to multiple different storage spaces simultaneously. The chest is of remarkable construction inside and out, embossed with an unfamiliar symbol, and the lock is fascinatingly complex.
On the other side of the room, Hex peers at the contents of the shelves. Many of the items held atop them seem to be personal notes and collections. Many hold no title to alert a viewer to their contents from a glance. Many of the objects laying alongside the notes and journals are arcane in nature - focuses and material components of various unknown spells foremost among them.
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OOC: Sylyra could search if he wishes. The sub-basement where you fought the shadows would be a likelier place to find rodents as it was entirely untended to by the Library.
I'll assume that the party is sharing where they are staying with Cassra unless someone objects to Briny. The Laughing Goblin where the party has been staying to this point is across the city, or the Cracked Crown where the party met with Aleyd Burral at the onset of this adventure is just a short distance across Podol Plaza. I'll leave this description generic to keep us moving because I remember that Sylyra was staying at the Laughing Goblin but I can't recall if the rest of the party was staying there as well in this adventure (and I'm unfortunately running out of time today to go back and check).
Weary and beleaguered, but alive, you make your way back across Phlan toward your respective rooms. The sight of Hex and Uragum's withered and sallow forms draw many an eye in Podol Plaza, but you are unhampered on your journey back to the inn. The sun has not yet set, but and sleep is difficult to find for the weakened members of the party. At first, they lie with an unnatural chill that clings to their bones, bringing a strong nausea along with it. But as the lingering presence of the shadows gives way to the evening sunset, so too does their ill effects. The affected pair find their strength returned shortly before nightfall, and when morning dawns, their minds and bodies are strengthened anew (aside from the lingering memories of the nearly fatal fight).
OOC: Characters have gained the benefits of a long rest, and everyone's STR score has returned to normal. Sylyra and Uragum are able to change their list of prepared spells if they wish.
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Hex would be okay with telling Cassra where the party is staying. Considering the lack of strength in both her and Uragum, she'd suggest staying at the Cracked Crown for just one night.
Once morning comes and Hex feels her strength return to her, she immediately jumps out of bed to do some stretches, revelling in being able to move the way she wants to once more. She contemplates hopping back into bed but decides against it, leaving her room to see if everyone else is awake yet. If not, she'd wake any still sleeping party members up and hurry them to eat breakfast so they can go seek out the killer before they completely lose the trail.
As the others prepare to leave the library, Sylyra pulls Briny aside. "While I think we have fought enough for today, I would hate to lose the trail of our quarry. I would like to return to the archive and solicit help from a four-legged friend." The elf tilts his head a little and gazes down upon the human with a slight grin. His green eyes sparkle in the candlelight. "Do you feel comfortable helping Uragum and Hex on your own? I promise not to go any deeper than I need to."
If Briny agrees to escort Uragum and Hex alone:
Sylyra will make his way back to the room where they fought the shadows. He will seek a rodent and cast animal friendship on it. Using his speech of the woods, he will explain that they were following someone. He will ask it to seek out this individual and return to the sub-basement with any information about where they are and what dangers lie between the shadows' room and where they went. If the person is moving, the creature should follow them until dawn and then return to the room to wait for Sylyra's return.
If Briny requests Sylyra's help with Uragum and Hex:
Sylyra will not argue; he will return to the inn without protest.
Briny hesitates, then nods. "I know you're plenty capable of keeping yourself safe, just- just be careful. There's no guarantee those shadow things will stay in the deeper parts." Then she will help Hex and Urugam make their way to the Cracked Crown.
In the morning she is relieved to see her party feeling back to their old selves, even if it does mean a bit of an abrupt wake-up call.
After a good bit of sleep, whether restful or not, Uragum awakens with a groan. Whatever the shadow things did to his strength and whatever brought it back brought with it a massive head ache and rumbling stomach. He rubs his face with both hands as he sits up. "Well, that was sleep, now it's the food. Some grub and its back on the case. We still have a case right? And what day is it? How long were we out?"
OOC: No significant change to the effect of the previous description - Briny would be able to get Hex and Uragum to the inn safely, either Hex or Uragum would have just had to leave their inventory with Sylyra since Briny wouldn't be able to carry both.
Whether it is the fatigue, the time of day, or the recent explosion and toppling of bookshelves frightening away any local vermin, Sylyra struggles to locate a friendly rodent or other source of animal life within the first section of the sub-basement or in the Archives above it. He regroups with the rest of the party in the morning to find his companions' strength returned.
OOC: Ready to advance once the next action is confirmed. Back to the sub-basement where you fought the shadows? Or is there something else the party would like to do first?
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I'm ready to return to the sub-basement.
Yep ready to go back to the sub basement
You cross Podol Plaza once more beneath the morning's overcast sky and enter Mantor's Library. Cassra is waiting by the doors to the Archives with key in hand, freshly dressed in a sling to support her broken arm. She nods grimly. "Here's hoping for better luck today. Master Openrael wanted to send some scribes in to begin the cleanup, but when I informed him of what happened yesterday he was rightfully hesitant to keep anyone there for an extended period of time. We did gather Garda's body so we could lay him to rest, but everything else was kept as it was when we discovered it," she says, grimacing at the thought of the discovery.
Within another half hour, you've descended into the Archives and found your way back to the area where the stairs descend into the dark sub-basement of the Library's Archives.
Area Description:
OOC: What is the party's light source today?
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Hex has some torches still so she'll whip one out again. If everyone is good to go, she'll carefully head towards the hole in the wall and look through it.
On the way to the sub-basement, Sylyra is deep in thought, lines creasing his olive brow. As everyone pauses in the doorway of the room where they fought the shadows to steel themselves, remembering what had happened just the day before, the elf clears his throat and says, "Let's be more careful today." He doesn't make eye contact with anyone and appears uncomfortable with the apparent sentiment behind the statement.
As they move forward, Sylyra will keep an eye out for any animal he can communicate with.
Briny nods at the advice, carefully looking at the shadows around them for any sign of unnatural shadow behavior as she prepares to go through the hole.
OOC: Confirming that Sylyra will be searching for animals as we continue. Removed another torch from Hex's inventory.
The light of Hex's torch floods into the sub-basement, casting shadows from the toppled shelves onto the walls. Stepping over the shelves and books, you step through the blasted wall into another room.
This room is approximately thirty feet deep and half as wide. Its walls are lined with shelves laden with books and miscellaneous objects. At the far end of the room, a silver chest rests on a wooden table.
A second, similar hole has been blasted into the right wall, beyond which the sound of running water can be heard. On the blackened and charred floor around this second hole are the remains of a horn, shattered nearly beyond recognition.
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What kind of horn? A musical instrument? An animal horn? If an animal horn, what kind of animal? What kind of material is it made from?
Hex will head to the second blasted out wall to peek through it while the others examine the items and the room. Trying to make sure there aren't any immediate dangers that might jump them while the party is looking around.
OOC: Somewhere in between the two lol. An animal horn that's been fashioned into a device, like one of these numbers:
Sylyra can't tell exactly which animal it originally came from, as it's been shattered nearly beyond recognition and blackened and charred along with the floor.
Examining the hole in the right wall, Hex sees a rope anchored to one of the nearby shelves, leading downward into darkness. The sound of running water can be heard within. With her torchlight, she can also see a pair of walkways running along a channel of moving water - a sewer, by the smell of it.
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Sylyra picks up the horn and tucks it into his belt. He then eyes the chest. Is it open or closed? Does it look like it has a lock? Is it decorated with anything?
Seeing no immediate danger, Hex goes yo examine the room as well. Is there anything else of interest in the room on the shelves or just laying around?
Briny joins Sylyra in looking at the chest. She will examine it for any traces of anything with an arcane nature ((+2 for an Arcane roll)) and then (assuming it is closed) say "Well, I could use my mage hand to try and open it up from a safe distance."
OOC: Added broken horn to Sylyra's inventory.
Approaching the chest, Sylyra sees it lying open. Inside the chest, a series of racks and boxes on clever, articulated hinges unfold and spread out, allowing access to multiple different storage spaces simultaneously. The chest is of remarkable construction inside and out, embossed with an unfamiliar symbol, and the lock is fascinatingly complex.
On the other side of the room, Hex peers at the contents of the shelves. Many of the items held atop them seem to be personal notes and collections. Many hold no title to alert a viewer to their contents from a glance. Many of the objects laying alongside the notes and journals are arcane in nature - focuses and material components of various unknown spells foremost among them.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!