"Could even be that they were using'em to help in their research... or could be they were spotted, and needed to silence them. Well, at least temporarily so, considering they didn't even take the time to steal their jaw."Obsben commented on her way back to the entryway to the room.
If she notes in confusion in the others in either question or odd looks given her direction (not that she was a stranger to such), or perhaps even simply on a whim on her part, Obsben turns to the others, smiled gently, and then said, "I'm no cleric, but I've heard enough stories about speaking with the dead and of the requirements for such. And our killer is no fool I'd wager... No... They learned something that required or spurred them to act in haste, least they missed an opportunity."
Afterwards, her smile falters as she returns her attention to the entryway. "Most troubling. 'specially considering we are still not recovered from our fight in the alley.... hmm...." Her gaze goes back to the book in hand, and after a moment's more thought, she opts to open it and at least begin skimming it for any references that might pertain to a 'pool' or other possible key words that might provoke interest from dragon cultists.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"The only other one we know who was down here was Ellison," Neya says as she looks over the broken body of Garda. "I'd say we have more than a few questions for him."
Examining the books on the desk, Utar counts three of them. Two of them are small and are bound in red leather, while the third is a larger white-cover book. The white tome and one of the two red books lay open on the table beside the body. Judging by their titles, the two small, red leather books comprise the collected memoirs of Ren o' the Blade. The white tome is titled "The Weave: A Practical Observation of Impractical Occurrences."
@MB/@Utar: Please pick either the red books or the white tome and roll an investigation check. Someone else can roll another investigation check for whichever book(s) you don't select.
While Utar considers which book he'll thumb through first, Graxx follows Garda's hand, quill, and ink to a blot on the table. Some of the ink forms a line connecting the blot to a piece of parchment on the floor. Picking it up, Graxx notices the parchment is large, gilded, and partially destroyed.
After theorizing on the dead's ability to speak and what might have pushed the murderer into rushed action, Obsben opens her own small, red-leather bound book (the one she found earlier while searching the archives) and skims through it. She quickly realizes that there is a reason for this one to have been left behind. The book details some of Ren o' the Blade's late-life adventures and seems to have very little to do with to topics discussed earlier in this investigation. In fact, the tales here seem to have little to do with Phlan. They go on about the time when Ren faced a gaggle of basilisks, the time when he communed with sentient mushrooms, the time when he temporarily rekindled his passion for serving food at taverns, etc.
Taking a wide look about, Neya hopes to find anything that might indicate where Ellison went. Despite her intention, what she ends up spotting is a few more small, red leather books in the this study room. Most of them are on the ground at the foot of the table, likely discarded after a quick read-through. A few others still remain on the shelves, suggesting the murderer found whatever they needed without having to closely look at these undisturbed volumes.
"Obsben, this white tome might suit your expertise more than mine. You mind checking it while I look over the red? Hmmm, Ren o' the Blade again..."
Gently picking the books up, Utar begins to thumb through their contents. Sensing that it is no conincidence that these titles keep coming up over and over again, Utar knows that his time with the title will matter. Hoping to boost his chances of happening upon the important passage and knowing that he's never really had the patience for long periods of intense study, he asks Torm for his aid.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Hm? Oh... yes... Uhm... sure."Obsben sighs and looks longingly to the red leather bound book in hand, before urging Basil close enough to the table to set it there prior to seeing to Utar's gift. "A Practical Observation of.... ahhh~ Now I see why you asked for me. Very well then." She said with a delighted smile, and after giving Basil a few pats on the head, eagerly began looking through the book.
@Utar: Torm's wisdom flows through you as the pages on the one of the red books, the one that was already open, seems to flip on their own. As the pages come to a stop, you notice that a few pages have been excised from the book using what must have been a very sharp knife. Taking a peek at the second book, after skimming it for a bit, you pick up on similar tales as the ones described to CRAP by Marten Foss. You conclude this one must be the book stolen from the grumpy dwarf.
@Obsben: The title alone is enough for you to confirm that this white tome is the book that was stolen from Aya Glenmiir. After flipping through the pages for a moment, you also notice that a few pages have been excised from the book using what must have been a very sharp knife. A follow up discussion with Utar concerning the subject of the pages around those which have been excised results in another finding: both sets of stolen pages were describing the same topic. Based on the entries before and after the missing pages, it seems that the removed pages themselves referenced the Pool of Radiance. One of the remaining pages describes it as a rare magical phenomena caused by a small breach in the Weave, the source of all magic in Faerûn. Specifically, it seems that they referred to the Pool of Radiance as being active and located beneath Valjevo Keep here in Phlan.
@Graxx: This piece of parchment is a bit strange to you. It is clear that it contained a spell but, as far as you know, a spell scroll becomes dust once it is used up. This scroll is partially destroyed but it seems something interrupted the self-destruct process, likely some kind of wizardly fluke. Hence, a few words remain on the paper, just enough for you to be able to read a partial incantation for a spell CRAP has used many times before: Detect Magic.
Wiping the last bit of spew from her mouth, Cassra seems to have recovered a bit from the initial shock of seeing a dead fellow. She approaches Garda, intending to say her respectful goodbyes, but her kind gesture is interrupted by a realization. She points at Garda's belt and calls Neya's attention to what she sees. A leather thong on Garda's belt has been cut. Cassra shows that she has a similar device on her own belt, which carries a ring of keys. "Garda had k-k-k-keys to the sub-archives," Cassra says, conscious of what her breath must smell like at this moment, "It l-l-loo-loo-ooks like our killer now has access-ss-ss to things within the Library t-t-th-tha-that they shouldn't.” She seems quite upset and concerned, and begins to pace around the small room.
Following the little brain storming session with Utar, Obsben closed her eyes and seemed deep in thought up until Cassra's admission. "It sounds then as if that is to be our next destination to visit. For I too doubt they would've taken the keys without needing them. And who knows~ Unless this Valjevo Keep is easily accessible above ground, then it could that some point of it perhaps connect to these sub-archives.... at least, that is what I would presume given what little of Phlan's history I've had the pleasure of learning about in my short time here."She shrugs, then looked pointedly at Cassra. "The question is whether you, Cassra, are still willing to guide us there directly. If not, might we borrow your keys just in case?"
"They must have been using this paper to see what books were magical." says Graxx.
Graxx grips his axe.
"This murderer must be brought to justice! Take us to these subarchives as fast as you can! They took the keys for a reason!" says Graxx growing excited as he feels the tension building.
Graxx bares his teeth... His barbarian side coming out.
"Let us hunt..." snarls Graxx as he looks at Cassra.
"Not that I know of," Cassra responds to Neya's question.
Turning to Utar, Graxx, and Obsben, Cassra nods positively: "Yes, I-I-I-I have such keys as well." She shows them the keys. "You should be able to reach the sub-archives, b-b-but don't let Opanrael know I l-l-let you in there." When Obsben mentions the Pool of Radiance, Cassra gasps but, before she can say anything else, an ear-splitting and ground shaking noise shatters the silence of the archives and the sound of collapsing brick, mortar, and bookshelves fills the wake as it fades away. All around you, shelves and books begin to fall.
Shelves, books, stands, and tables come crashing down all around the archives. While this does not pose a life-threatening danger to most within the archives at the moment, Obsben and Utar delay their reaction time a bit too much. A bookshelf pins the half-orc down, while a storm of books keep the witchling guessing where she should move. In the end, she doesn't (Utar takes 6 bludgeoning damage; Obsben takes 6 bludgeoning damage.)
Graxx, Neya, SaltyBottom, and Basil either react snappily or happened to be standing/perched in/on a spot which was safe from falling furniture and tomes. Nonetheless, an errant book here and there still catches them in a soft spot. The exception is Neya, of course, who is simply too quick (Evasion) for a simple falling tome. (Graxx takes 3 bludgeoning damage; Neya takes 3 bludgeoning damage; Salty Bottom takes 3 bludgeoning damage; Basil takes 3 bludgeoning damage.)
Once the shaking stops and the dust settles, Graxx and Neya help their less agile companions out of their particular pickles. It is then that they notice that the life of a librarian does not necessarily help in making one swift on their feet. Cassra has also been pinned down by a fallen bookshelf, and her arm took the brunt of the blow. She is also trapped underneath an immense pile of books and must be dug out, much like Utar. Although this is not a complicated process, it is one that requires a good amount of time to complete, so that the digging and moving of large, heavy bookshelves is accomplished in a safe and stable manner. Up and close to an hour passes before CRAP is comfortable with their surroundings again; time that has certainly put additional distance between them and their quarry.
Finally leaving the small study room where Garda was found, CRAP notices that a majority of the bookshelves in the archives have toppled over. Opanrael is not going to be pleased with the prospect of cleaning up this mess, they agree. Clutching her arm, Cassra admits: "While I k-kn-know where to take you, I have b-br-bro-broken my arm in the chaos following the loud noise." She motions the adventurers in the direction of the sub-basement, but glances at her arm and says: "I must turn b-b-back."
The door to the sub-basement is not difficult to find, especially because the bookshelves in the main room of the archives collapsed, clearing the field of view. The door is clearly visible about 40 feet away for those with darkvision. Those without it cannot see the door from just outside the study room because both of the light effects the group has been relying on have run their course by now (dagger and driftglobe.) The area between CRAP and the door to the sub-archives counts as difficult terrain, so some little amount of extra time will be needed to traverse it as well.
(OOC: Any preparations at this point? ALthough it does not count as a rest, since you had to spend nearly an hour freeing your friends and regaining your composure, we can say you had some time to do some preparations, depending on what those may be. Please don't take my question as necessarily meaning you are about to jump into a fight.)
"We'll find whoever did this, Cassra."
Standing, Utar heads over to Garda's body and as gently as he possibly can, takes and looks at the books under her body, reading the titles aloud.
Graxx takes his hand gently away from the body.
"One blow to the head was what got Garda." says Graxx.
Graxx motions toward the blood.
"No more than two hours ago... The killer could be close... But why would they kill this scribe." says Graxx.
Graxx gives a slight nod toward Cassra.
"I'm sorry for your loss." says Graxx.
Graxx sees what Utar is doing with the books and takes it a step further.
"Could Garda have been working on something the killer didn't want finished?" asks Graxx.
Graxx sees the quill and ink and will look to see what Garda had been writing or working on.
"Could even be that they were using'em to help in their research... or could be they were spotted, and needed to silence them. Well, at least temporarily so, considering they didn't even take the time to steal their jaw." Obsben commented on her way back to the entryway to the room.
If she notes in confusion in the others in either question or odd looks given her direction (not that she was a stranger to such), or perhaps even simply on a whim on her part, Obsben turns to the others, smiled gently, and then said, "I'm no cleric, but I've heard enough stories about speaking with the dead and of the requirements for such. And our killer is no fool I'd wager... No... They learned something that required or spurred them to act in haste, least they missed an opportunity."
Afterwards, her smile falters as she returns her attention to the entryway. "Most troubling. 'specially considering we are still not recovered from our fight in the alley.... hmm...." Her gaze goes back to the book in hand, and after a moment's more thought, she opts to open it and at least begin skimming it for any references that might pertain to a 'pool' or other possible key words that might provoke interest from dragon cultists.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"The only other one we know who was down here was Ellison," Neya says as she looks over the broken body of Garda. "I'd say we have more than a few questions for him."
She looks for any trace of Ellison in the area.
Perception: 6
Extended Signature
Examining the books on the desk, Utar counts three of them. Two of them are small and are bound in red leather, while the third is a larger white-cover book. The white tome and one of the two red books lay open on the table beside the body. Judging by their titles, the two small, red leather books comprise the collected memoirs of Ren o' the Blade. The white tome is titled "The Weave: A Practical Observation of Impractical Occurrences."
@MB/@Utar: Please pick either the red books or the white tome and roll an investigation check. Someone else can roll another investigation check for whichever book(s) you don't select.
While Utar considers which book he'll thumb through first, Graxx follows Garda's hand, quill, and ink to a blot on the table. Some of the ink forms a line connecting the blot to a piece of parchment on the floor. Picking it up, Graxx notices the parchment is large, gilded, and partially destroyed.
@Grx/@Graxx: Please roll an arcana check.
After theorizing on the dead's ability to speak and what might have pushed the murderer into rushed action, Obsben opens her own small, red-leather bound book (the one she found earlier while searching the archives) and skims through it. She quickly realizes that there is a reason for this one to have been left behind. The book details some of Ren o' the Blade's late-life adventures and seems to have very little to do with to topics discussed earlier in this investigation. In fact, the tales here seem to have little to do with Phlan. They go on about the time when Ren faced a gaggle of basilisks, the time when he communed with sentient mushrooms, the time when he temporarily rekindled his passion for serving food at taverns, etc.
Taking a wide look about, Neya hopes to find anything that might indicate where Ellison went. Despite her intention, what she ends up spotting is a few more small, red leather books in the this study room. Most of them are on the ground at the foot of the table, likely discarded after a quick read-through. A few others still remain on the shelves, suggesting the murderer found whatever they needed without having to closely look at these undisturbed volumes.
"Obsben, this white tome might suit your expertise more than mine. You mind checking it while I look over the red? Hmmm, Ren o' the Blade again..."
Gently picking the books up, Utar begins to thumb through their contents. Sensing that it is no conincidence that these titles keep coming up over and over again, Utar knows that his time with the title will matter. Hoping to boost his chances of happening upon the important passage and knowing that he's never really had the patience for long periods of intense study, he asks Torm for his aid.
Investigation - 12 plus 4
"Hm? Oh... yes... Uhm... sure." Obsben sighs and looks longingly to the red leather bound book in hand, before urging Basil close enough to the table to set it there prior to seeing to Utar's gift. "A Practical Observation of.... ahhh~ Now I see why you asked for me. Very well then." She said with a delighted smile, and after giving Basil a few pats on the head, eagerly began looking through the book.
-Investigation: 27.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx looks at the piece of parchment.
"Hmmm... Wizard paper..." says Graxx.
Graxx holds it up and studies it.
"What does it say? Graxx wonders aloud."
Arcana: 2
@Utar: Torm's wisdom flows through you as the pages on the one of the red books, the one that was already open, seems to flip on their own. As the pages come to a stop, you notice that a few pages have been excised from the book using what must have been a very sharp knife. Taking a peek at the second book, after skimming it for a bit, you pick up on similar tales as the ones described to CRAP by Marten Foss. You conclude this one must be the book stolen from the grumpy dwarf.
@Obsben: The title alone is enough for you to confirm that this white tome is the book that was stolen from Aya Glenmiir. After flipping through the pages for a moment, you also notice that a few pages have been excised from the book using what must have been a very sharp knife. A follow up discussion with Utar concerning the subject of the pages around those which have been excised results in another finding: both sets of stolen pages were describing the same topic. Based on the entries before and after the missing pages, it seems that the removed pages themselves referenced the Pool of Radiance. One of the remaining pages describes it as a rare magical phenomena caused by a small breach in the Weave, the source of all magic in Faerûn. Specifically, it seems that they referred to the Pool of Radiance as being active and located beneath Valjevo Keep here in Phlan.
@Graxx: This piece of parchment is a bit strange to you. It is clear that it contained a spell but, as far as you know, a spell scroll becomes dust once it is used up. This scroll is partially destroyed but it seems something interrupted the self-destruct process, likely some kind of wizardly fluke. Hence, a few words remain on the paper, just enough for you to be able to read a partial incantation for a spell CRAP has used many times before: Detect Magic.
Wiping the last bit of spew from her mouth, Cassra seems to have recovered a bit from the initial shock of seeing a dead fellow. She approaches Garda, intending to say her respectful goodbyes, but her kind gesture is interrupted by a realization. She points at Garda's belt and calls Neya's attention to what she sees. A leather thong on Garda's belt has been cut. Cassra shows that she has a similar device on her own belt, which carries a ring of keys. "Garda had k-k-k-keys to the sub-archives," Cassra says, conscious of what her breath must smell like at this moment, "It l-l-loo-loo-ooks like our killer now has access-ss-ss to things within the Library t-t-th-tha-that they shouldn't.” She seems quite upset and concerned, and begins to pace around the small room.
"Whoever killed Garda has a headstart. Cassra, can we access the sub-archive? If we're lucky we might catch whoever did this."
Following the little brain storming session with Utar, Obsben closed her eyes and seemed deep in thought up until Cassra's admission. "It sounds then as if that is to be our next destination to visit. For I too doubt they would've taken the keys without needing them. And who knows~ Unless this Valjevo Keep is easily accessible above ground, then it could that some point of it perhaps connect to these sub-archives.... at least, that is what I would presume given what little of Phlan's history I've had the pleasure of learning about in my short time here." She shrugs, then looked pointedly at Cassra. "The question is whether you, Cassra, are still willing to guide us there directly. If not, might we borrow your keys just in case?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx looks anxiously around.
"They must have been using this paper to see what books were magical." says Graxx.
Graxx grips his axe.
"This murderer must be brought to justice! Take us to these subarchives as fast as you can! They took the keys for a reason!" says Graxx growing excited as he feels the tension building.
Graxx bares his teeth... His barbarian side coming out.
"Let us hunt..." snarls Graxx as he looks at Cassra.
"Is there any other exit from the sub-archive that you are aware of?" Neya asks Cassra.
Extended Signature
"Not that I know of," Cassra responds to Neya's question.
Turning to Utar, Graxx, and Obsben, Cassra nods positively: "Yes, I-I-I-I have such keys as well." She shows them the keys. "You should be able to reach the sub-archives, b-b-but don't let Opanrael know I l-l-let you in there." When Obsben mentions the Pool of Radiance, Cassra gasps but, before she can say anything else, an ear-splitting and ground shaking noise shatters the silence of the archives and the sound of collapsing brick, mortar, and bookshelves fills the wake as it fades away. All around you, shelves and books begin to fall.
-> everyone should roll a DEX saving throw!
-Obsen's Dex Save(DC ??): 9.
-Basil's Dex Save(DC ??): 22.
-Salty Bottom's Dex Save(DC ??): 22.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Utar's Dex Save: 2
Graxx Dex Save: 17
Dex save: 12
Extended Signature
-> Damage roll: 7
Shelves, books, stands, and tables come crashing down all around the archives. While this does not pose a life-threatening danger to most within the archives at the moment, Obsben and Utar delay their reaction time a bit too much. A bookshelf pins the half-orc down, while a storm of books keep the witchling guessing where she should move. In the end, she doesn't (Utar takes 6 bludgeoning damage; Obsben takes 6 bludgeoning damage.)
Graxx, Neya, Salty Bottom, and Basil either react snappily or happened to be standing/perched in/on a spot which was safe from falling furniture and tomes. Nonetheless, an errant book here and there still catches them in a soft spot. The exception is Neya, of course, who is simply too quick (Evasion) for a simple falling tome. (Graxx takes 3 bludgeoning damage;
Neya takes 3 bludgeoning damage; Salty Bottom takes 3 bludgeoning damage; Basil takes 3 bludgeoning damage.)Once the shaking stops and the dust settles, Graxx and Neya help their less agile companions out of their particular pickles. It is then that they notice that the life of a librarian does not necessarily help in making one swift on their feet. Cassra has also been pinned down by a fallen bookshelf, and her arm took the brunt of the blow. She is also trapped underneath an immense pile of books and must be dug out, much like Utar. Although this is not a complicated process, it is one that requires a good amount of time to complete, so that the digging and moving of large, heavy bookshelves is accomplished in a safe and stable manner. Up and close to an hour passes before CRAP is comfortable with their surroundings again; time that has certainly put additional distance between them and their quarry.
Finally leaving the small study room where Garda was found, CRAP notices that a majority of the bookshelves in the archives have toppled over. Opanrael is not going to be pleased with the prospect of cleaning up this mess, they agree. Clutching her arm, Cassra admits: "While I k-kn-know where to take you, I have b-br-bro-broken my arm in the chaos following the loud noise." She motions the adventurers in the direction of the sub-basement, but glances at her arm and says: "I must turn b-b-back."
The door to the sub-basement is not difficult to find, especially because the bookshelves in the main room of the archives collapsed, clearing the field of view. The door is clearly visible about 40 feet away for those with darkvision. Those without it cannot see the door from just outside the study room because both of the light effects the group has been relying on have run their course by now (dagger and driftglobe.) The area between CRAP and the door to the sub-archives counts as difficult terrain, so some little amount of extra time will be needed to traverse it as well.
(OOC: Any preparations at this point? ALthough it does not count as a rest, since you had to spend nearly an hour freeing your friends and regaining your composure, we can say you had some time to do some preparations, depending on what those may be. Please don't take my question as necessarily meaning you are about to jump into a fight.)