The party comes to the front doors of the Pillars of Pedagogy finding it a pristine space of utter peace and harmony. The immediate tower the party finds a desk with a gnome seated pouring over a book and notations in a ledger. The young looking gnome looks up from her work and smiles at the party in greeting. She then escorts the party to an adjoining room to gather and speak.
"I am avowed Whistler," the gnome beams cheerily but with a lowered tone of voice. "This area was reserved for your research. Master Nygaar explained your research and we've compiled some works on the Cloud Peaks flora and fauna. There's also a need for texts on the possible location of the mining town of Vermeillon," the Whistler explains. "We do not have exact texts on this settlement but we have brought a few items of interest, " she adds gesturing at the three stacks of books ranging in size from a large atlas to a small handwritten journal. "Anything else I can bring to you just let me know," she explains awaiting the party to enter the study room.
The itself is brightly lit with one large table surrounded by chairs and two separate reading nooks with plush looking over-sized chairs flanking a fireplace lit by the same magic fire the party has seen throughout Candlekeep! Elliðaey however is decidedly absent.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Avowed," Jade asks, casting a quick glance at the others, a desperate urgency in her voice, "would I be able to request some other works? I'm looking for anything you may have on arts or artifacts that may be used to restore life. Not Revivification or Raising the recently Dead or any of the blessings of the lesser Saints mind you, but Resurrecting the truly dead. Those souls that have fully departed their bodies for the next realm. Does Candlekeep have any such information?"
Millicent immediately sets to work when they reach the Pillar, stating the word " Diligence" to enter.
She sorts through the tomes provided making notes and comparing information.
Investigation/History: 20
OOC What subject is Millicent's focus? Need a bit more information to model on your 20. History of Cloud Peaks? Mining the Cloud Peaks? Towns/settlements? Disappearances? Unexplained phenomenon?
Millicent like the others are greeted warmly but avowed Whistler and directed towards the pile of tomes set out for the party.
"Avowed," Jade asks, casting a quick glance at the others, a desperate urgency in her voice, "would I be able to request some other works? I'm looking for anything you may have on arts or artifacts that may be used to restore life. Not Revivification or Raising the recently Dead or any of the blessings of the lesser Saints mind you, but Resurrecting the truly dead. Those souls that have fully departed their bodies for the next realm. Does Candlekeep have any such information?"
"I see you symbol of Ilmater. I ask you why haven't you sought out this council for history amongst your own order," Whistler asks curiously not accusingly, the gnome visiblely perplex!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"In all honesty, the question never occured to me there. My order placed great focus on serving the will of Ilmater. My interest...serves my own desires. Candlekeep allows me to seek answers to questions that I wouldn't consider asking at home."
She turns her gaze pointedly to the Painbearer as she speaks to Whistler, "I hope that you can respect my need for some discretion with this inquiry."
"Yes, of course. I am ready to assist in whatever way I can that the library will allow," Whistler replies her voice still low. "Please, give me a few minutes. I will have a few volumes on what you seek," the gnome says boarding on giddy as she tottles off to her desk writing a note on a slip of paper before holding it aloft and with a puff of glittering smoke it disappears. "Anyone else who would like to make a request please let me know," the gnome says brightly before taking her seat.
Whistler
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Yes Whistler I am not one for books, but if you can summarize or find books that are simpler to understand about burial rites and beliefs around the supposed location of the town. Also if you can find a text on ways that people without holy assistance can deal with the undead. I have some gold if that is needed for your services"says Zaphi.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Eila had been the last to arrive owing to the baffling length of some of her faith's rituals, but sets about diligently to task. "I do have a personal request, but I fear it's quite specific and I don't wish to derail our investigation into Vermeilon," she says as she picks out a small but thick book about the history of platinum mining in the Cloud Peaks region, as well as the atlas. "I will seek you out once we've enough information for Elliðaey's task first."
She looks about the room for their notably absent leader before settling at the larger table. Eila bows her head and reaches not for her holy symbol, but to bury her fingers into the silvery-grey fox fur on her collar and says very quietly, "Knowing Mistress, in your halls, grant this one your eyes to seek and your mind to know," casting Enhance Ability on herself.
She spreads out the atlas, flicking over to the maps of the region around Amn that include the Cloud Peaks, and reads the book about mining in the hopes that it may contain the location of notable platinum deposits she suspects the town may have been constructed around.
( Trying to deduce the location and route to Vermeillon from the book + the map in the atlas. Investigation check with adv due to Enhance Ability - Fox's Cunning: 9 )
Millicent immediately sets to work when they reach the Pillar, stating the word " Diligence" to enter.
She sorts through the tomes provided making notes and comparing information.
Investigation/History: 20
OOC What subject is Millicent's focus? Need a bit more information to model on your 20. History of Cloud Peaks? Mining the Cloud Peaks? Towns/settlements? Disappearances? Unexplained phenomenon?
Millicent like the others are greeted warmly but avowed Whistler and directed towards the pile of tomes set out for the party.
( Looking initially for mentions of Vermeilon and building out from there. Specifically local folklore and legend with some side trips into the history of the settlement.)
"Your names would be quite helpful," Whistler replies to Zaphi but looks over the entire party. "I am a member of the Keep my life's work is aiding seekers such as yourselves. I need no coin for my services nor does anyone else within these walls. We are here to serve as part of our devotion to Candlekeep and the preservation and dissemination of knowledge," the female gnome explains quite enthusiastically! "I have many tomes in dragonic if that would aid you but as I explained Vermeillon is unknown to the Keep until Master Nygaar brought it to our attention. Any information you all can gather would be of help to us as well. But to address your questions about undead I can certainly provide that for you," she adds again producing quill and a slip of parchment. The gnome scribbles pleasantly on the parchment, the quill nib softly scratching Zaphi's request, before she holds it aloft and the same comical glittering smoke engulfs the slip of paper! "Just a few minutes, " she then explains to Zaphi. The gnome then suddenly straightens up with a brilliant grin. "I have your request, " Whistler says to Jade going to a place in the wall and pressing the panel. The wood then produces a door, as if by conjuring, and it opens revealing the contents inside. "Ah, what I thought, " she says looking over the tomes. "Here," she hands over three weighty leather bound tomes of varying size to the paladin. "The third is...quite curious to me. Enjoy, " she exclaims passing the books over.
Jade finds two volumes if general true resurrection magics and another specifically about the devotion of Ilmater already somewhat familiar to Jade. The tome is titled Plea of Rest. This tomes outlines how within the devotion of Ilmater the deity allows the devotee a tenday of respite from Ilmater's dictates, to prevent emotional exhaustion or allow the devotee to do something Ilmater would normally frown upon. This custom is an established tradition that some leaders of the faith rely upon after sending their most faithful out to do things that the church cannot otherwise accomplish like covertly removing a tyrant rather than confronting him openly, for example, or allowing more zealous worshipers a break to prevent essentially thier own death. The other two are basic theory of resurrection magics and how each of the holy seven, the main Gods (I'm not gendering them when speaking of the entire pantheon) of Faerun, restore life. They are vague at best. Jade gleaning that, after hours of reading, these practices are closely guarded by each faith but are vaguely familiar.
Eila pours over the volumes and seeks geographic knowledge. The cleric finds a few vague passages about the ore deposits found in the past but sadly nothing is more up-to-date than a hundred years ago. She is sure however after feeling the oddly gently press of a hand on her shoulder when she finds a chapter on the signs of mithril deposits she has the knowledge to discover them in the landscape they will traverse in the Cloud Peaks.
Hours later Elliðaey arrives with a stunning looking half-elven woman. She's shorter than the monk but no less physically imposing. She wears fine leather armor but carries no visible weapon. She looks concerned at the party assembled there but that concern vanishes in a confident resting expression.
"Whistler," the woman says to the gnome. "Elliðaey tells me these good people are also looking for Vermeillon, " she adds as the gnome nods then deeply blushes.
"You know I cannot share the queries of other Seekers mistress Grosvenor," Whistler replies her hands folded in front of her. "But if Master Nygaar brought it to your attention than I am more than happy to aid you all," the gnome adds gesturing over the party.
Niska Grosvenor
"Hello and well met everyone, " Niska Grosvenor calls out in a husky voice as Elliðaey smiles softly at the party. "The Keeper of Tomes allows me entry into Aluado's Library and while fumbling about met your lovely companion Elliðaey, " the half-elf then grins at Elliðaey the party can see is looking at Niska with slight caution, as if something is amiss but her expression is too guarded to convey the concerns meaning directly. "May I join you," the half-elf announces not asks as she takes a seat across from Eila looking at the cleric with a curious expression. "Find anything good," the bubbly woman asks pushing her coily curls behind her ever so slightly pointed ears that gives only the vague hint to her heritage but betrays her youth.
Millicent immediately sets to work when they reach the Pillar, stating the word " Diligence" to enter.
She sorts through the tomes provided making notes and comparing information.
Investigation/History: 20
"Ask about the dangers and the mysteries of the area," the sultry female voice says in Millicent's ear in the tone of a lover's whisper. "No time to lose," she adds a smile in her velvet voice.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Thank you, Whistler. Unfortunately, I seem to have pursued the wrong tack. Is it possible that Candlekeep has anything less theoretical? I'm thinking more along the lines of histories, or even legends, where These types of resurrections were actually performed? Or perhaps any magical items or artifacts that have proven useful in aiding such miracles?"
Eila peels her attention at last from the dry mining textbook and over to the newcomer, gaze flitting from watching her fingers curl around her pointed ears to her armour to her eyes. "I um, yes. Mithril," she stammers, "I mean, this book, it's about geology in the Cloud Peaks. There's mithril deposits in the area," she adds lamely.
"I ah, I'm Eila. It's nice to meet you, Miss... Grosvenor, was it?" She removes a glove and holds a hand out across the table to shake.
Millicent immediately sets to work when they reach the Pillar, stating the word " Diligence" to enter.
She sorts through the tomes provided making notes and comparing information.
Investigation/History: 20
"Ask about the dangers and the mysteries of the area," the sultry female voice says in Millicent's ear in the tone of a lover's whisper. "No time to lose," she adds a smile in her velvet voice.
Millicent fixes both Whistler and Niska with a look, " Millicent is me. Would either of you have anything whether by word or script on the dangers and or mysterious happenings among the slopes of the Cloud Peaks?"
"Thank you, Whistler. Unfortunately, I seem to have pursued the wrong tack. Is it possible that Candlekeep has anything less theoretical? I'm thinking more along the lines of histories, or even legends, where These types of resurrections were actually performed? Or perhaps any magical items or artifacts that have proven useful in aiding such miracles?"
OOC Jade give me an investigation roll
"Ah, well if it's lore you're after it's less practical knowledge and more...uh personal accounts, " Whistler replies blushing for her colleagues below missing the mark. "We do have tomes of relics but I can tell you now that these items are not readily available and most are lost to time," she adds. The gnome performs the summoning spell for Jade's more specific inquiries.
As Whistler calls for more books for Jade there's a thunk of tomes in the secret panel! These are for Millicent oddly just what she requested. Opening the parcel Whistler hands over a bard's account of his travels in the Cloud Peaks.
In reading it Millicent finds the elven author regales the tales he's collected amongst the mountains inhabitants in the Cloud Peaks. The bard himself having come upon serveal abandoned mining towns but the man never mentions the towns by name. The bard's tale is also fifty years old. Millicent in these tomes finds out the Cloud Peaks have notoriously mysterious fog that rolls down the mountain. It's said that it's arrival is the first sign of lingering misfortune. It speaks of the spirits that haunt the fog descending the mountain. These haunted soles and rumored undead make their home amongst the craggy landscape. Seeing this Millicent recalls Zaphi asking similar questions and she can choose to share these books with Zaphi if she would like.
Eila peels her attention at last from the dry mining textbook and over to the newcomer, gaze flitting from watching her fingers curl around her pointed ears to her armour to her eyes. "I um, yes. Mithril," she stammers, "I mean, this book, it's about geology in the Cloud Peaks. There's mithril deposits in the area," she adds lamely.
"I ah, I'm Eila. It's nice to meet you, Miss... Grosvenor, was it?" She removes a glove and holds a hand out across the table to shake.
"Yes," Niska says gladly taking Eila offered hand for a firm shake. "Niska," she repeats her given name. "Ah, yes mithril," the young woman exclaims. "Yes, of course," as if she's discovered a detail she'd over looked herself. "Platinum and mithril are found together," she then explains. "That's got to be why the location is kept so secret," she adds looking from Eila to Elliðaey grinning. "Greed will out I'm afraid but at least we'll be closer to the right area to search, " Niska explains next as if it's a forgone conclusion she's joining the search!
"Yes, about that," Elliðaey begins. "Niska is from the area at the base of the mountain where we will begin our ascent, " the monk says. "She's kindly offered to help guide us on the mountains," the monk finishes.
Niska nods still smiling.
"We can leave tomorrow if you're sure you're ready," Niska then says to Elliðaey.
"Yes, well maybe we take the rest of the day to study and leave on the morning, " Elliðaey asks the party. "I believe I can use a bit more time amongst this fine collection, " she confesses taking a deep breath in and savoring the smell.
Niska chuckles behind a hand but looks at Elliðaey with an obviously growing admiration!
"Yes, uh..." Elliðaey squirms at the focused attention of the pretty woman. "Thoughts? Findings," she asks the party.
We can assume the party has been reading all morning. With Niska's aid and information on the mountain everyone gets advantaged on further checks of gaining knowledge for the whereabouts of Vermeillon and the mysterious Cloud Peaks mountains.
Millicent pushes her notes across to Zaphi with a grin, then perches her chin on her hands and watches the interplay between Niska and Elliðaey with a crooked smile and slightly raised eyebrow.
Catching Elliðaeys eye she ventures, " We seem to have a good start here....would it be possible to parcel out a little time to undertake personal studies?"
Eila slips her glove back on and straightens up, focusing back on the task at hand. "Well, there's nothing in here about any recent platinum mining activity, but I've this chapter here on identifying mithril. With Niska's help as a guide, I think I could spot signs of mithril deposits and as she says, that might help find Vermeillon's platinum mine if the two ores are in the same places."
She neatly closes the books after making a few notes about locations of old deposits and proper identification of the right ores, and takes the atlas and mining book back to Avowed Whistlers desk. "Excuse me, Avowed Whistler. I am Painbearer Eila Forthall, I apologise for not introducing myself earlier. Would I be able to trouble you later after our research is concluded about the cost to copy a specific tome? The copies in the church of Ilmater's possession were all burned in a purge of heretics but my mentor and I were hoping there's a copy retained here."
"I can continue with what is here," Elliðaey replies to Millicent. "Yes, please your work is just as important, " Elliðaey smiles softly at her apprentice.
Across the room with Eila....
"Yes. Certainly Painbeaerer Forthall," Whistler replies to the cleric. "The service is provided for most volumes but there are restrictions on some works. As for prices they are set by the length of time it will take our scribes to copy the volume or volumes in question," the gnome continues to explain. "What volumes are you looking for, " she then asks as piece of parchment appears in her hand. "How much time do we have to make these copies? If you need them before you depart they'll be much more expensive," the gnome finishes looking expectantly at Eila.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
At some point, the rumbling in Jade's stomach reminds her that she's skipped breakfast and she pulls out a pair of trail rations. She quietly places one on the table next to Millicent and nibbles on the other while continuing her research.
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Jade heads over with Millicent but immediately parts ways with her inside to seek out a member of the Avowed for assistance.
The party comes to the front doors of the Pillars of Pedagogy finding it a pristine space of utter peace and harmony. The immediate tower the party finds a desk with a gnome seated pouring over a book and notations in a ledger. The young looking gnome looks up from her work and smiles at the party in greeting. She then escorts the party to an adjoining room to gather and speak.
"I am avowed Whistler," the gnome beams cheerily but with a lowered tone of voice. "This area was reserved for your research. Master Nygaar explained your research and we've compiled some works on the Cloud Peaks flora and fauna. There's also a need for texts on the possible location of the mining town of Vermeillon," the Whistler explains. "We do not have exact texts on this settlement but we have brought a few items of interest, " she adds gesturing at the three stacks of books ranging in size from a large atlas to a small handwritten journal. "Anything else I can bring to you just let me know," she explains awaiting the party to enter the study room.
The itself is brightly lit with one large table surrounded by chairs and two separate reading nooks with plush looking over-sized chairs flanking a fireplace lit by the same magic fire the party has seen throughout Candlekeep! Elliðaey however is decidedly absent.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Avowed," Jade asks, casting a quick glance at the others, a desperate urgency in her voice, "would I be able to request some other works? I'm looking for anything you may have on arts or artifacts that may be used to restore life. Not Revivification or Raising the recently Dead or any of the blessings of the lesser Saints mind you, but Resurrecting the truly dead. Those souls that have fully departed their bodies for the next realm. Does Candlekeep have any such information?"
OOC What subject is Millicent's focus? Need a bit more information to model on your 20. History of Cloud Peaks? Mining the Cloud Peaks? Towns/settlements? Disappearances? Unexplained phenomenon?
Millicent like the others are greeted warmly but avowed Whistler and directed towards the pile of tomes set out for the party.
"I see you symbol of Ilmater. I ask you why haven't you sought out this council for history amongst your own order," Whistler asks curiously not accusingly, the gnome visiblely perplex!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Jade flushes somewhat at the question.
"In all honesty, the question never occured to me there. My order placed great focus on serving the will of Ilmater. My interest...serves my own desires. Candlekeep allows me to seek answers to questions that I wouldn't consider asking at home."
She turns her gaze pointedly to the Painbearer as she speaks to Whistler, "I hope that you can respect my need for some discretion with this inquiry."
"Yes, of course. I am ready to assist in whatever way I can that the library will allow," Whistler replies her voice still low. "Please, give me a few minutes. I will have a few volumes on what you seek," the gnome says boarding on giddy as she tottles off to her desk writing a note on a slip of paper before holding it aloft and with a puff of glittering smoke it disappears. "Anyone else who would like to make a request please let me know," the gnome says brightly before taking her seat.
Whistler
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Yes Whistler I am not one for books, but if you can summarize or find books that are simpler to understand about burial rites and beliefs around the supposed location of the town. Also if you can find a text on ways that people without holy assistance can deal with the undead. I have some gold if that is needed for your services" says Zaphi.
Eila had been the last to arrive owing to the baffling length of some of her faith's rituals, but sets about diligently to task. "I do have a personal request, but I fear it's quite specific and I don't wish to derail our investigation into Vermeilon," she says as she picks out a small but thick book about the history of platinum mining in the Cloud Peaks region, as well as the atlas. "I will seek you out once we've enough information for Elliðaey's task first."
She looks about the room for their notably absent leader before settling at the larger table. Eila bows her head and reaches not for her holy symbol, but to bury her fingers into the silvery-grey fox fur on her collar and says very quietly, "Knowing Mistress, in your halls, grant this one your eyes to seek and your mind to know," casting Enhance Ability on herself.
She spreads out the atlas, flicking over to the maps of the region around Amn that include the Cloud Peaks, and reads the book about mining in the hopes that it may contain the location of notable platinum deposits she suspects the town may have been constructed around.
( Trying to deduce the location and route to Vermeillon from the book + the map in the atlas. Investigation check with adv due to Enhance Ability - Fox's Cunning: 9 )
"Your names would be quite helpful," Whistler replies to Zaphi but looks over the entire party. "I am a member of the Keep my life's work is aiding seekers such as yourselves. I need no coin for my services nor does anyone else within these walls. We are here to serve as part of our devotion to Candlekeep and the preservation and dissemination of knowledge," the female gnome explains quite enthusiastically! "I have many tomes in dragonic if that would aid you but as I explained Vermeillon is unknown to the Keep until Master Nygaar brought it to our attention. Any information you all can gather would be of help to us as well. But to address your questions about undead I can certainly provide that for you," she adds again producing quill and a slip of parchment. The gnome scribbles pleasantly on the parchment, the quill nib softly scratching Zaphi's request, before she holds it aloft and the same comical glittering smoke engulfs the slip of paper! "Just a few minutes, " she then explains to Zaphi. The gnome then suddenly straightens up with a brilliant grin. "I have your request, " Whistler says to Jade going to a place in the wall and pressing the panel. The wood then produces a door, as if by conjuring, and it opens revealing the contents inside. "Ah, what I thought, " she says looking over the tomes. "Here," she hands over three weighty leather bound tomes of varying size to the paladin. "The third is...quite curious to me. Enjoy, " she exclaims passing the books over.
Jade finds two volumes if general true resurrection magics and another specifically about the devotion of Ilmater already somewhat familiar to Jade. The tome is titled Plea of Rest. This tomes outlines how within the devotion of Ilmater the deity allows the devotee a tenday of respite from Ilmater's dictates, to prevent emotional exhaustion or allow the devotee to do something Ilmater would normally frown upon. This custom is an established tradition that some leaders of the faith rely upon after sending their most faithful out to do things that the church cannot otherwise accomplish like covertly removing a tyrant rather than confronting him openly, for example, or allowing more zealous worshipers a break to prevent essentially thier own death. The other two are basic theory of resurrection magics and how each of the holy seven, the main Gods (I'm not gendering them when speaking of the entire pantheon) of Faerun, restore life. They are vague at best. Jade gleaning that, after hours of reading, these practices are closely guarded by each faith but are vaguely familiar.
Eila pours over the volumes and seeks geographic knowledge. The cleric finds a few vague passages about the ore deposits found in the past but sadly nothing is more up-to-date than a hundred years ago. She is sure however after feeling the oddly gently press of a hand on her shoulder when she finds a chapter on the signs of mithril deposits she has the knowledge to discover them in the landscape they will traverse in the Cloud Peaks.
Hours later Elliðaey arrives with a stunning looking half-elven woman. She's shorter than the monk but no less physically imposing. She wears fine leather armor but carries no visible weapon. She looks concerned at the party assembled there but that concern vanishes in a confident resting expression.
"Whistler," the woman says to the gnome. "Elliðaey tells me these good people are also looking for Vermeillon, " she adds as the gnome nods then deeply blushes.
"You know I cannot share the queries of other Seekers mistress Grosvenor," Whistler replies her hands folded in front of her. "But if Master Nygaar brought it to your attention than I am more than happy to aid you all," the gnome adds gesturing over the party.
Niska Grosvenor
"Hello and well met everyone, " Niska Grosvenor calls out in a husky voice as Elliðaey smiles softly at the party. "The Keeper of Tomes allows me entry into Aluado's Library and while fumbling about met your lovely companion Elliðaey, " the half-elf then grins at Elliðaey the party can see is looking at Niska with slight caution, as if something is amiss but her expression is too guarded to convey the concerns meaning directly. "May I join you," the half-elf announces not asks as she takes a seat across from Eila looking at the cleric with a curious expression. "Find anything good," the bubbly woman asks pushing her coily curls behind her ever so slightly pointed ears that gives only the vague hint to her heritage but betrays her youth.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Ask about the dangers and the mysteries of the area," the sultry female voice says in Millicent's ear in the tone of a lover's whisper. "No time to lose," she adds a smile in her velvet voice.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Thank you, Whistler. Unfortunately, I seem to have pursued the wrong tack. Is it possible that Candlekeep has anything less theoretical? I'm thinking more along the lines of histories, or even legends, where These types of resurrections were actually performed? Or perhaps any magical items or artifacts that have proven useful in aiding such miracles?"
Eila peels her attention at last from the dry mining textbook and over to the newcomer, gaze flitting from watching her fingers curl around her pointed ears to her armour to her eyes. "I um, yes. Mithril," she stammers, "I mean, this book, it's about geology in the Cloud Peaks. There's mithril deposits in the area," she adds lamely.
"I ah, I'm Eila. It's nice to meet you, Miss... Grosvenor, was it?" She removes a glove and holds a hand out across the table to shake.
Millicent fixes both Whistler and Niska with a look, " Millicent is me. Would either of you have anything whether by word or script on the dangers and or mysterious happenings among the slopes of the Cloud Peaks?"
OOC Jade give me an investigation roll
"Ah, well if it's lore you're after it's less practical knowledge and more...uh personal accounts, " Whistler replies blushing for her colleagues below missing the mark. "We do have tomes of relics but I can tell you now that these items are not readily available and most are lost to time," she adds. The gnome performs the summoning spell for Jade's more specific inquiries.
As Whistler calls for more books for Jade there's a thunk of tomes in the secret panel! These are for Millicent oddly just what she requested. Opening the parcel Whistler hands over a bard's account of his travels in the Cloud Peaks.
In reading it Millicent finds the elven author regales the tales he's collected amongst the mountains inhabitants in the Cloud Peaks. The bard himself having come upon serveal abandoned mining towns but the man never mentions the towns by name. The bard's tale is also fifty years old. Millicent in these tomes finds out the Cloud Peaks have notoriously mysterious fog that rolls down the mountain. It's said that it's arrival is the first sign of lingering misfortune. It speaks of the spirits that haunt the fog descending the mountain. These haunted soles and rumored undead make their home amongst the craggy landscape. Seeing this Millicent recalls Zaphi asking similar questions and she can choose to share these books with Zaphi if she would like.
"Yes," Niska says gladly taking Eila offered hand for a firm shake. "Niska," she repeats her given name. "Ah, yes mithril," the young woman exclaims. "Yes, of course," as if she's discovered a detail she'd over looked herself. "Platinum and mithril are found together," she then explains. "That's got to be why the location is kept so secret," she adds looking from Eila to Elliðaey grinning. "Greed will out I'm afraid but at least we'll be closer to the right area to search, " Niska explains next as if it's a forgone conclusion she's joining the search!
"Yes, about that," Elliðaey begins. "Niska is from the area at the base of the mountain where we will begin our ascent, " the monk says. "She's kindly offered to help guide us on the mountains," the monk finishes.
Niska nods still smiling.
"We can leave tomorrow if you're sure you're ready," Niska then says to Elliðaey.
"Yes, well maybe we take the rest of the day to study and leave on the morning, " Elliðaey asks the party. "I believe I can use a bit more time amongst this fine collection, " she confesses taking a deep breath in and savoring the smell.
Niska chuckles behind a hand but looks at Elliðaey with an obviously growing admiration!
"Yes, uh..." Elliðaey squirms at the focused attention of the pretty woman. "Thoughts? Findings," she asks the party.
We can assume the party has been reading all morning. With Niska's aid and information on the mountain everyone gets advantaged on further checks of gaining knowledge for the whereabouts of Vermeillon and the mysterious Cloud Peaks mountains.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Millicent pushes her notes across to Zaphi with a grin, then perches her chin on her hands and watches the interplay between Niska and Elliðaey with a crooked smile and slightly raised eyebrow.
Catching Elliðaeys eye she ventures, " We seem to have a good start here....would it be possible to parcel out a little time to undertake personal studies?"
Eila slips her glove back on and straightens up, focusing back on the task at hand. "Well, there's nothing in here about any recent platinum mining activity, but I've this chapter here on identifying mithril. With Niska's help as a guide, I think I could spot signs of mithril deposits and as she says, that might help find Vermeillon's platinum mine if the two ores are in the same places."
She neatly closes the books after making a few notes about locations of old deposits and proper identification of the right ores, and takes the atlas and mining book back to Avowed Whistlers desk. "Excuse me, Avowed Whistler. I am Painbearer Eila Forthall, I apologise for not introducing myself earlier. Would I be able to trouble you later after our research is concluded about the cost to copy a specific tome? The copies in the church of Ilmater's possession were all burned in a purge of heretics but my mentor and I were hoping there's a copy retained here."
OOC Jade give me an investigation roll 13
"I can continue with what is here," Elliðaey replies to Millicent. "Yes, please your work is just as important, " Elliðaey smiles softly at her apprentice.
Across the room with Eila....
"Yes. Certainly Painbeaerer Forthall," Whistler replies to the cleric. "The service is provided for most volumes but there are restrictions on some works. As for prices they are set by the length of time it will take our scribes to copy the volume or volumes in question," the gnome continues to explain. "What volumes are you looking for, " she then asks as piece of parchment appears in her hand. "How much time do we have to make these copies? If you need them before you depart they'll be much more expensive," the gnome finishes looking expectantly at Eila.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
At some point, the rumbling in Jade's stomach reminds her that she's skipped breakfast and she pulls out a pair of trail rations. She quietly places one on the table next to Millicent and nibbles on the other while continuing her research.