Hgraam also says that his purpose in investigating the archives of the future is not to learn his own fate, stating that such information is not healthy, and often sends one on a path to avoid that which is predicted, only to precipitate the very events they are trying to avoid. Instead he is researching the destiny of the Steelshadow dynasty of duergar kings that rule Gracklstugh, to determine how long the Cairngorm giants will be bound by their oath to the Deepking, for should the crown pass to another clan, the oath will be void and the Cairngorm giants will be free of their sworn vassalage.
----------------------------------------------
Vizeran raises a skeptical eyebrow at the suggestion that the contents of the vial actually contain the ichor of a demon lord. It seems a little too convenient that the most perilous of all his requirements should just happen to be present, especially after the recent discussion about looking for the site of the battle against Orcus. Nevertheless, he is interested in hearing the tale of how the sample was obtained.
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How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Almost an hour later (51 minutes) Pax emerges from a stairway back into the conversation. Her hair is clean and nicely woven back into a tight weave down the center of her head and a ponytail down her back. Her helm has her gauntlets tucked into it and is under her arm. She looks well rested. In her backpack her spellbook is now filled with knowledge, and the other spellbook have been expanded to include her full set. She walks over to Kaylyn and hands her a book wrapped in fabric. "Can you hold onto this for me? Just in case....I made a copy."
She looks around, seeing everyone for the first time in two and a half weeks of intense study time, and slowly starts mentally bringing herself back up to speed. "So, how are people feeling? Rested? How can we confirm if that blood is real? If we can't, we should probably still try for the Illithid home. Teleporting back seems to dangerous, but taking 5 days to walk there from here is a long time. Maybe we teleport to the Kua-toa village, since we spent some time there, then sneak to the Illithid ship from there?"
Rest... That was a good idea. Not that Sekkar was particularly tired, but aside from asking the library itself where to find each ingredient, he did not see how he can participate in searching them. So, if it was possible, he would ask a librarian to get him a room and wake up, when the smart ones would make up their minds and point to the group's destination.
"Well, if that truly is how time works here, then we can do more research in our own rooms and then meet up later to head to your tower Vizeran. As for teleportation I have a helmet that allows me to teleport once per day. Familiarity with your destination certainly helps. I also have an object I collected from the colony so returning there should be easy enough. If I have something from your tower then I should be able to return back without trouble. It will be day wait that will be the dangerous part as I can only teleport once per day."
As Rhayna reveals the ichor she recalls the gem. "I recall where that came from and it may very well be ichor from that demon-lord. This particular demon-lord happened to within a gem and corrupted people as they handled the gem. When Rhayna here destroyed the gem all that was left was this ichor which she collected. I would be fairly certain that it is the demon-lord's ichor but I would prefer to be sure."
Kaylyn accepts the spellbook from Pax. "Of course. I will keep it safe."
Pax nods, remembering the left over ichor. "Yes...of course. So, then there's no need to go back to the Illithid's base. That frees us to pursue one of the other items. So it would seem we should travel to your tower. We can seek the lair of a purple worm, and hopefully not all simply be murdered by it. It is indeed how it works, though I've already spent more than enough time in study. Unless there's something else that needs research, I'm ready to go on."
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What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
Kirin pinches the bridge of his nose as he tries to keep up but keeps falling behind before seeing spellbook, "Maybe we can trade spells at a later date. This is well beyond my understanding at the moment. too much information at once. Tell me when you want me to do and I'll try to do it best of my ability as I like living with my very sane mind,"
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Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls - Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against Demogorgon Silas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of Annihilation Done
"Perhaps, I could ask The Goddess for guidance on the matter of the demon lord's ichor." Rhayna replies to Kaylyn. "Please give me a moment." Rhayna takes out the crystal, closes her eyes, and casts Divination. "Dear Selune, can I use the ichor that I collected for Vizeran's ritual?"
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Kazri - Level 10 Human Paladin (Oath of the Ancients) - The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks Droknin Palemane - Level 4 Leonin Barbarian (Path of the Beast) - Where the Cold Winds Blow... A Lost Mines of Phandelver Story Faelan (Cottontail) Whisperwind - Level 3 Ranger (Fey Wanderer) - Zorg's Lost Souls II
"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life."
Rhayna casts her Divination spell, and the words of an old proverb from the Selunite priests comes to mind: The shine of the full moon guides the feet unerringly, but even the glow of the waning crescent is sufficient not to stumble. It's a little cryptic, but Rhayna feels somewhat confident that even this small amount will be sufficient, provided it stays fresh long enough.
Vizeran takes a look at Kaylyn's teleportation helm. He says he can't do much about its inability to hold more than one charge, but when he returns to his tower he might be able to fix it so that it recharges more reliably (i.e. remove the 50% chance to not recharge each day). He also thinks he can provide a simple item that will indicate when the recharge is almost due, so the helm can be used as close to that time as possible, and minimise the amount of time between using it and waiting for it to recharge (i.e. something to negate the difficulty of knowing what time of day it is while in the Underdark).
Vizeran is happy to wait for everyone to complete their own research or other activities, as he has plenty of research of his own to conduct. He says if everyone is willing, as soon as they are ready he can have Kleve transport them to his tower.
Let me know any further activities or library research you'd like to complete. You can essentially use the time-dilation to take the equivalent of a couple of weeks down-time, provided you are restricted to activities you can perform in your guest room (so carousing is probably out of the question, unless you really really like your own company). By the time we leave the library, you will all have gained the benefits of a long rest.
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How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Pax does a bit of research on her own while everyone else completes their own reading. She seeks a bit of knowledge of the future. Though she refrains from looking up her own fate, she does search for one thing. She wants to know if Vizeran betrays them, and looks for anything she can about the moment when such a thing may come. Specifically around the ritual and the moments after such a ritual, should it work. It pays to be prepared.
Pax looks almost a new woman when she emerges from her final time away time. Her armor bits ,which previously looked like they'd been scavenged from someone's kitchen, now gleamed. The suit looked reformed, with previous dented plates now shiny and smooth, mismatched pieces now matching, and even fine engraving of flowers all along the greaves, shoulder plates, and shin guards. Her family crest is carved into the surface of both the chest plate and her shield which looks recast to match. Her backpack looks almost brand new as does some other bits of equipment. Either her guest room came with a full smithy, or magic was somehow involved. The flowers engraved into her armor are quickly shrouded by the blackness of shadows that crawl up her legs and writhe around her body.
Once everyone is ready, she pulls her gauntlets on, both now adorned with flowers as well, and pulls her helm down over her head, the shape of it now much more suited to her head and looking less like a loose bucket. The shadows seem eager to flow up and over her armored head leaving her in a shroud of dark shadows. She places her hand on her weapon and stands ready to depart this strange and wonderful library.
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What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
If everyone is doing any additional research, Kirin will try to research the Maze that Baphomet set up camp. Looking for anything about construction, stories of people who escaped and their methods to do and so on.
As everyone gathers, prepared to leave, Kirin is leaning on his staff as he shuffles to the gathering place before sitting down and giving his head a massage as he waits.
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Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls - Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against Demogorgon Silas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of Annihilation Done
When Sekkar rested enough (a very loose term, there is no such thing for lizards. It was Sekkar's sense of danger that kept him restless here), he decided to have a research of his own, not sure how to do that but hoping for the help of stone guys.
First of all, he wanted to learn all he could about Purple Worms. Sekkar never heard of any weaknesses of the creature, but who knows, maybe here someone could know of one.
The second on the list was beholder. Sekkar hoped for a hint where to find an eye without a fight, or the place with a weak, preferably comatose specimen. But if not - any information about the monster could be useful.
Goristros were the third subject. Demons were not his usual prey and he needed some pointers.
When all was done (somewhere in between Sekkar shared his observations over the Society of Brilliance - they were here and had a mindflayer among them!), the ranger tried to help Dawnbringer to learn something about itself (should the sword wish for it). He did not pry himself on Dawnbringer's past (mostly because he was busy studying monsters) but the words "you can visit this library only once in your life" stuck in his head and after all, the sword was the closest ... being he had in this world.
Kaylyn found herself researching much of the same as Sekkar. She concentrated on those objects that needed to be found for the talisman and the environments and locations they may be in. But there was something else that she found she wanted to do. She looked up books on learning to speak Undercommon. Yes, she had a spell that allowed her to understand languages but she wanted to be able to speak to those in the underdark without the use of a spell. So she found herself more and more trying to find lessons on speaking and reading undercommon.
Pensive, for his part, followed Kaylyn around as he always had. While she spent her time in study in the room he rested or flew through the woods that would fill the room.
Rhayna confirms to Vizeran that the vial does contain the blood of a demon lord, though, not exactly fresh. Thus, time is of the essence. The faster they are able to start the ritual the better.
Before she goes to find a room to retire, she uses the crystal to research the future. It seems that the party will be visiting this Labyrinth, so she researches what they will encounter there, and if available, any information the library has about it, so that it may aid them when they visit the place.
(Since she is researching about the future, she wonders if she will ever meet Stool again.)
Kazri - Level 10 Human Paladin (Oath of the Ancients) - The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks Droknin Palemane - Level 4 Leonin Barbarian (Path of the Beast) - Where the Cold Winds Blow... A Lost Mines of Phandelver Story Faelan (Cottontail) Whisperwind - Level 3 Ranger (Fey Wanderer) - Zorg's Lost Souls II
"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life."
(Wow, I really opened myself up for some work, didn't I? All good! It might take me a little while to answer everyone's research, but I'd still prefer to post it all at once.)
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How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
I loved everyone's ideas for downtime research, so I've granted a special benefit to everyone.
Pax
The archives of the future chiefly focus on events as they relate to the stone giants, but several facts can be extrapolated that apply to the Underdark generally. Pax can't find anything that would suggest that Vizeran plans to betray them. According to the archives, the drow mage completes the ritual, which does exactly what he claims it will do, although the performance of the powerful ritual weakens him for several days.
Not much more to write for Pax since she spent most of her time scribing. Also, scribing spells is a suitable benefit for downtime activities, and actually what prompted me to provide something for everyone else, so.... Inspiration granted to Pax!
Kirin
Kirin discovers that contrary to common knowledge (that minotaurs had created it) the Labyrinth was in fact originally built by a cult of demon-worshiping dwarves of Ammarindar. Long ago, the Labyrinth was much like any other part of the Underdark, consisting largely of natural caverns connected by tunnels and underground rivers. The discovery of precious metals and gemstones led dwarves and others to excavate, extending its tunnels and expanding its caves. The results of those efforts saw an insignificant corner of the Underdark transformed into a vast, sprawling network of passages and switchbacks, and the dwarves even began to worship Baphomet and allied themselves with minotaurs and goristros. A few centuries after the dwarves disappeared, the region was settled by baphitaurs, which were a merge of humans, minotaurs, and demons, who created a more traditional maze about a mile square at the most used entrance to the region, known as the Spiral of the Horned King.
Abandoned settlements within the Labyrinth are common, marked out by rusting iron rails and scattered ore carts. Dark mine shafts descend into the unknown depths, while tunnels stretch off in random directions. Rifts both small and large also appear throughout. Many a tunnel ends abruptly at a rift, as if the way ahead was simply sheared off to leave a vast, yawning chasm. Some of these rifts run to depths of a few hundred feet. Others ascend and descend for miles. Many of the rifts show their age by the presence of carved switchback staircases along their walls, or weathered bridges spanning their gaps. Although there are a few well-documented paths used by merchants and travelers from Menzoberranzan and Gracklstugh, travelers who wander off the known paths are bound to get hopelessly lost and starve to death or be killed by the minotaurs that continue to inhabit the tunnels. As well as minotaurs, a group of eight fallen angels inhabited the labyrinth, but they were condemned by gods, and remain there petrified but very much alive.
The quieter parts of the Labyrinth often serve as the homes of exiles and loners, many of whom reside in a shanty town known as Filthriddens. Also of particular historical note was the entire drow House of Jaelre, who resided somewhere in the Labyrinth for a time after their exile from Menzoberranzan before they moved on to Minauthkeep in Cormanthor.
A number of portals have appeared at various times in the Labyrinth - one led to the wilderness near Ched Nasad, another to Oryndoll, another led into Ammarindar, another in the former holdings of House Jaelre led to the forests of Cormanthor - but none are currently functional
The savagery of the minotaurs has increased significantly since the arrival of Baphomet and his minions. In addition, Yeenoghu the Demon Lord of Gnolls has taken to hunting the twisting passages with his hordes of minions.
As a result of his research, Kirin may add his proficiency bonus to any future Survival and Nature checks relating to the Labyrinth, and gains expertise (double his proficiency bonus) to any Arcana or History checks relating to the Labyrinth.
Sekkar
Sekkar asks for help from the galeb duhr, and begins to list his topics of interest. Within minutes he has a small army of the squat elementals dutifully bustling through the library and bringing him piles of stone tablets with snippets of information. He manages to collect the following information:
Sekkar finds Purple Worms easy to understand. They are essentially mindless beasts that plow through the living rock in search of prey. He is interested to learn that the sting of their tail can be as dangerous as their bite, and that their saliva is as sticky as resin and often used for various purposes around their nests.
Most of the tactical information on beholders isn't new to Sekkar, but he does learn that they are more powerful within their lairs, including being able to use the effect of their eye rays through eyes created on other surfaces. He reads of Krazikar the Eye Tyrant in the Vast Oblivium who has amassed numerous slaves and much treasure, Xazax the Eyemonger under Chasmleap Bridge who seems obsessed with grafting the eyestalks of other beholders onto himself with the aid of a svirfneblin surgeon named Pebbles, and Lorthuun the Maimed, who left Mantol-Derith on a mission of revenge in search of Pebbles after he severed several of its eyestalks. Other beholders are mentioned, but their locations are much further away and harder to pinpoint.
Sekkar reads a little about Goristros who are essentially huge demonic minotaurs. There is little useful information, but he notes that they are particularly lethal if allowed to charge their enemies.
Dawnbringer has nothing in particular that she wishes Sekkar to search for. She remembers that she was forged in the city of Volothamp by Calishite worshipers of a deity known as One Sun, under the direction of Pasha Nakkar el Erehnir IV, and was lost during the Vahlen dynasty, but little else. She adds with loving tones that all that is ancient history and she is more than content now with the companionship of the lizardman ranger who rescued her from eternal darkness and solitude, and hopes he will live a very long time so they will never be parted.
Sekkar may add goristros and purple worms to his list of favored enemies.
Kaylyn
Kaylyn focuses on the descriptions of the locations described in the tablets relevant to their areas of interest, and manages to update her maps. Other than that, she focuses her time on learning Undercommon, spending the equivalent of almost three weeks of dedicated study on the language. With her months of exposure to the Underdark tongue, she is a quick study and soon becomes reasonably proficient.
Undercommon has been added to Kaylyn's list of language proficiencies
Rhayna
Rhayna is a little disappointed to find that the crystal's charges don't seem to reset after she rests in the room, but remain on the same time scale as the rest of the library.
The archives of the future chiefly focus on events as they relate to the stone giants, but several facts can be extrapolated that apply to the Underdark generally. Rhayna sees that the party will encounter a dark metal tower perched on the edge of a cliff. The square tower is twenty feet on a side and thirty feet high, with arrow slits in each wall, and is formed from a magic item called Daern's Instant Fortress. Rhayna sees that one of the party will use an identify spell to learn the command words that open the tower and that transform it from a tower into a cube and back again.
Rhayna also learns that the party will encounter a modron, who leads them to an incredible discovery, a strange magically-powered, mechanical device referred to as "The Maze Engine". Its design looks like a working model of the Great Wheel - a 20-foot-diameter sphere built of 1-foot-wide bands of magically hardened and shaped bronze, engraved with arcane symbols. Gaps in the bands show various gears and articulation arms within the sphere, which rotate and shift to represent the relationships between the various known planes of existence. Its function is not stated, but it is apparently capable of altering reality. Rhayna even learns to location of the artifact.
Finally, Rhayna learns that she will indeed meet Stool one more time, but that the circumstances will be rather tense, as the little myconid has been drawn (along with many of the myconids of the region) into the events surrounding the imminent wedding between Zuggtmoy and Araumycos, which is about to occur within days...
The information of the future that Rhayna learns is probably sufficient reward, but I'll also grant expertise (double proficiency bonus) on any Insight, Investigation or Perception check made while in the Labyrinth.
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How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
When everyone has gathered up before speaking, "Upon farther research, the Maze is possible death trap. We have second demon lord, the Gnolls one, turning it into a hunting ground but may be best one stop for materials,"
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Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls - Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against Demogorgon Silas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of Annihilation Done
Pax remains silent, expecting a deluge of information from everyone’s days of research. Feeling confident in their path, and even their, questionable allies, she just stands back, eyes watchful.
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What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
Sekkar did not have much to share. In his experience, people will forget hunting tactics the moment they see the monster. The beholder part could be still useful and he reminded the party about two beholders of Mantol-Derith - one that sent the gnome, and another the party saved from the gnome. The latter (Lorthuun the Maimed) wanted to execute the gnome (Pebbles) and probably his master too - that Xazax the Eyemonger. "As I recall, the gnome did want to get free. We can use it, maybe. With the help of the other beholder, he owes us."Sekkar was still sceptical about the whole affair but if they were doing it, intended to use every advantage. "The beholder from under Chasmleap Bridge seems like the right target." The ranger very much shared Dawnbringer's wish for a long and happy life, but chances for one were dropping by the minute here.
Kaylyn feels that the time she spent researching was well spent. Her love of maps and knowing where things were was satiated by mapping the locations they needed to go. She then spent the rest of her time learning Undercommon. She felt much better now, her ability to communicate with those she meets has greatly improved.
She is sad to leave the room for the last time, spending considerable time wandering the woods in her room. Such a strange and wonderful and magical place. Wishing she could return again and again she knows that once she leaves the library she cannot return.
Hgraam also says that his purpose in investigating the archives of the future is not to learn his own fate, stating that such information is not healthy, and often sends one on a path to avoid that which is predicted, only to precipitate the very events they are trying to avoid. Instead he is researching the destiny of the Steelshadow dynasty of duergar kings that rule Gracklstugh, to determine how long the Cairngorm giants will be bound by their oath to the Deepking, for should the crown pass to another clan, the oath will be void and the Cairngorm giants will be free of their sworn vassalage.
----------------------------------------------
Vizeran raises a skeptical eyebrow at the suggestion that the contents of the vial actually contain the ichor of a demon lord. It seems a little too convenient that the most perilous of all his requirements should just happen to be present, especially after the recent discussion about looking for the site of the battle against Orcus. Nevertheless, he is interested in hearing the tale of how the sample was obtained.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Almost an hour later (51 minutes) Pax emerges from a stairway back into the conversation. Her hair is clean and nicely woven back into a tight weave down the center of her head and a ponytail down her back. Her helm has her gauntlets tucked into it and is under her arm. She looks well rested. In her backpack her spellbook is now filled with knowledge, and the other spellbook have been expanded to include her full set. She walks over to Kaylyn and hands her a book wrapped in fabric. "Can you hold onto this for me? Just in case....I made a copy."
She looks around, seeing everyone for the first time in two and a half weeks of intense study time, and slowly starts mentally bringing herself back up to speed. "So, how are people feeling? Rested? How can we confirm if that blood is real? If we can't, we should probably still try for the Illithid home. Teleporting back seems to dangerous, but taking 5 days to walk there from here is a long time. Maybe we teleport to the Kua-toa village, since we spent some time there, then sneak to the Illithid ship from there?"
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Rest... That was a good idea. Not that Sekkar was particularly tired, but aside from asking the library itself where to find each ingredient, he did not see how he can participate in searching them. So, if it was possible, he would ask a librarian to get him a room and wake up, when the smart ones would make up their minds and point to the group's destination.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Well, if that truly is how time works here, then we can do more research in our own rooms and then meet up later to head to your tower Vizeran. As for teleportation I have a helmet that allows me to teleport once per day. Familiarity with your destination certainly helps. I also have an object I collected from the colony so returning there should be easy enough. If I have something from your tower then I should be able to return back without trouble. It will be day wait that will be the dangerous part as I can only teleport once per day."
As Rhayna reveals the ichor she recalls the gem. "I recall where that came from and it may very well be ichor from that demon-lord. This particular demon-lord happened to within a gem and corrupted people as they handled the gem. When Rhayna here destroyed the gem all that was left was this ichor which she collected. I would be fairly certain that it is the demon-lord's ichor but I would prefer to be sure."
Kaylyn accepts the spellbook from Pax. "Of course. I will keep it safe."
Pax nods, remembering the left over ichor. "Yes...of course. So, then there's no need to go back to the Illithid's base. That frees us to pursue one of the other items. So it would seem we should travel to your tower. We can seek the lair of a purple worm, and hopefully not all simply be murdered by it. It is indeed how it works, though I've already spent more than enough time in study. Unless there's something else that needs research, I'm ready to go on."
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Kirin pinches the bridge of his nose as he tries to keep up but keeps falling behind before seeing spellbook, "Maybe we can trade spells at a later date. This is well beyond my understanding at the moment. too much information at once. Tell me when you want me to do and I'll try to do it best of my ability as I like living with my very sane mind,"
Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls- Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against DemogorgonSilas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of AnnihilationDone"Perhaps, I could ask The Goddess for guidance on the matter of the demon lord's ichor." Rhayna replies to Kaylyn. "Please give me a moment." Rhayna takes out the crystal, closes her eyes, and casts Divination. "Dear Selune, can I use the ichor that I collected for Vizeran's ritual?"
Kazri - Level 10 Human Paladin (Oath of the Ancients) - The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks
Droknin Palemane - Level 4 Leonin Barbarian (Path of the Beast) - Where the Cold Winds Blow... A Lost Mines of Phandelver Story
Faelan (Cottontail) Whisperwind - Level 3 Ranger (Fey Wanderer) - Zorg's Lost Souls II
"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life."
Rhayna casts her Divination spell, and the words of an old proverb from the Selunite priests comes to mind: The shine of the full moon guides the feet unerringly, but even the glow of the waning crescent is sufficient not to stumble. It's a little cryptic, but Rhayna feels somewhat confident that even this small amount will be sufficient, provided it stays fresh long enough.
Vizeran takes a look at Kaylyn's teleportation helm. He says he can't do much about its inability to hold more than one charge, but when he returns to his tower he might be able to fix it so that it recharges more reliably (i.e. remove the 50% chance to not recharge each day). He also thinks he can provide a simple item that will indicate when the recharge is almost due, so the helm can be used as close to that time as possible, and minimise the amount of time between using it and waiting for it to recharge (i.e. something to negate the difficulty of knowing what time of day it is while in the Underdark).
Vizeran is happy to wait for everyone to complete their own research or other activities, as he has plenty of research of his own to conduct. He says if everyone is willing, as soon as they are ready he can have Kleve transport them to his tower.
Let me know any further activities or library research you'd like to complete. You can essentially use the time-dilation to take the equivalent of a couple of weeks down-time, provided you are restricted to activities you can perform in your guest room (so carousing is probably out of the question, unless you really really like your own company). By the time we leave the library, you will all have gained the benefits of a long rest.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Pax does a bit of research on her own while everyone else completes their own reading. She seeks a bit of knowledge of the future. Though she refrains from looking up her own fate, she does search for one thing. She wants to know if Vizeran betrays them, and looks for anything she can about the moment when such a thing may come. Specifically around the ritual and the moments after such a ritual, should it work. It pays to be prepared.
Pax looks almost a new woman when she emerges from her final time away time. Her armor bits ,which previously looked like they'd been scavenged from someone's kitchen, now gleamed. The suit looked reformed, with previous dented plates now shiny and smooth, mismatched pieces now matching, and even fine engraving of flowers all along the greaves, shoulder plates, and shin guards. Her family crest is carved into the surface of both the chest plate and her shield which looks recast to match. Her backpack looks almost brand new as does some other bits of equipment. Either her guest room came with a full smithy, or magic was somehow involved. The flowers engraved into her armor are quickly shrouded by the blackness of shadows that crawl up her legs and writhe around her body.
Once everyone is ready, she pulls her gauntlets on, both now adorned with flowers as well, and pulls her helm down over her head, the shape of it now much more suited to her head and looking less like a loose bucket. The shadows seem eager to flow up and over her armored head leaving her in a shroud of dark shadows. She places her hand on her weapon and stands ready to depart this strange and wonderful library.
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
If everyone is doing any additional research, Kirin will try to research the Maze that Baphomet set up camp. Looking for anything about construction, stories of people who escaped and their methods to do and so on.
As everyone gathers, prepared to leave, Kirin is leaning on his staff as he shuffles to the gathering place before sitting down and giving his head a massage as he waits.
Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls- Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against DemogorgonSilas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of AnnihilationDoneWhen Sekkar rested enough (a very loose term, there is no such thing for lizards. It was Sekkar's sense of danger that kept him restless here), he decided to have a research of his own, not sure how to do that but hoping for the help of stone guys.
First of all, he wanted to learn all he could about Purple Worms. Sekkar never heard of any weaknesses of the creature, but who knows, maybe here someone could know of one.
The second on the list was beholder. Sekkar hoped for a hint where to find an eye without a fight, or the place with a weak, preferably comatose specimen. But if not - any information about the monster could be useful.
Goristros were the third subject. Demons were not his usual prey and he needed some pointers.
When all was done (somewhere in between Sekkar shared his observations over the Society of Brilliance - they were here and had a mindflayer among them!), the ranger tried to help Dawnbringer to learn something about itself (should the sword wish for it). He did not pry himself on Dawnbringer's past (mostly because he was busy studying monsters) but the words "you can visit this library only once in your life" stuck in his head and after all, the sword was the closest ... being he had in this world.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Kaylyn found herself researching much of the same as Sekkar. She concentrated on those objects that needed to be found for the talisman and the environments and locations they may be in. But there was something else that she found she wanted to do. She looked up books on learning to speak Undercommon. Yes, she had a spell that allowed her to understand languages but she wanted to be able to speak to those in the underdark without the use of a spell. So she found herself more and more trying to find lessons on speaking and reading undercommon.
Pensive, for his part, followed Kaylyn around as he always had. While she spent her time in study in the room he rested or flew through the woods that would fill the room.
Rhayna confirms to Vizeran that the vial does contain the blood of a demon lord, though, not exactly fresh. Thus, time is of the essence. The faster they are able to start the ritual the better.
Before she goes to find a room to retire, she uses the crystal to research the future. It seems that the party will be visiting this Labyrinth, so she researches what they will encounter there, and if available, any information the library has about it, so that it may aid them when they visit the place.
(Since she is researching about the future, she wonders if she will ever meet Stool again.)
Kazri - Level 10 Human Paladin (Oath of the Ancients) - The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks
Droknin Palemane - Level 4 Leonin Barbarian (Path of the Beast) - Where the Cold Winds Blow... A Lost Mines of Phandelver Story
Faelan (Cottontail) Whisperwind - Level 3 Ranger (Fey Wanderer) - Zorg's Lost Souls II
"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life."
(Wow, I really opened myself up for some work, didn't I? All good! It might take me a little while to answer everyone's research, but I'd still prefer to post it all at once.)
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
I loved everyone's ideas for downtime research, so I've granted a special benefit to everyone.
Pax
The archives of the future chiefly focus on events as they relate to the stone giants, but several facts can be extrapolated that apply to the Underdark generally. Pax can't find anything that would suggest that Vizeran plans to betray them. According to the archives, the drow mage completes the ritual, which does exactly what he claims it will do, although the performance of the powerful ritual weakens him for several days.
Not much more to write for Pax since she spent most of her time scribing. Also, scribing spells is a suitable benefit for downtime activities, and actually what prompted me to provide something for everyone else, so.... Inspiration granted to Pax!
Kirin
Kirin discovers that contrary to common knowledge (that minotaurs had created it) the Labyrinth was in fact originally built by a cult of demon-worshiping dwarves of Ammarindar. Long ago, the Labyrinth was much like any other part of the Underdark, consisting largely of natural caverns connected by tunnels and underground rivers. The discovery of precious metals and gemstones led dwarves and others to excavate, extending its tunnels and expanding its caves. The results of those efforts saw an insignificant corner of the Underdark transformed into a vast, sprawling network of passages and switchbacks, and the dwarves even began to worship Baphomet and allied themselves with minotaurs and goristros. A few centuries after the dwarves disappeared, the region was settled by baphitaurs, which were a merge of humans, minotaurs, and demons, who created a more traditional maze about a mile square at the most used entrance to the region, known as the Spiral of the Horned King.
Abandoned settlements within the Labyrinth are common, marked out by rusting iron rails and scattered ore carts. Dark mine shafts descend into the unknown depths, while tunnels stretch off in random directions. Rifts both small and large also appear throughout. Many a tunnel ends abruptly at a rift, as if the way ahead was simply sheared off to leave a vast, yawning chasm. Some of these rifts run to depths of a few hundred feet. Others ascend and descend for miles. Many of the rifts show their age by the presence of carved switchback staircases along their walls, or weathered bridges spanning their gaps. Although there are a few well-documented paths used by merchants and travelers from Menzoberranzan and Gracklstugh, travelers who wander off the known paths are bound to get hopelessly lost and starve to death or be killed by the minotaurs that continue to inhabit the tunnels. As well as minotaurs, a group of eight fallen angels inhabited the labyrinth, but they were condemned by gods, and remain there petrified but very much alive.
The quieter parts of the Labyrinth often serve as the homes of exiles and loners, many of whom reside in a shanty town known as Filthriddens. Also of particular historical note was the entire drow House of Jaelre, who resided somewhere in the Labyrinth for a time after their exile from Menzoberranzan before they moved on to Minauthkeep in Cormanthor.
A number of portals have appeared at various times in the Labyrinth - one led to the wilderness near Ched Nasad, another to Oryndoll, another led into Ammarindar, another in the former holdings of House Jaelre led to the forests of Cormanthor - but none are currently functional
The savagery of the minotaurs has increased significantly since the arrival of Baphomet and his minions. In addition, Yeenoghu the Demon Lord of Gnolls has taken to hunting the twisting passages with his hordes of minions.
As a result of his research, Kirin may add his proficiency bonus to any future Survival and Nature checks relating to the Labyrinth, and gains expertise (double his proficiency bonus) to any Arcana or History checks relating to the Labyrinth.
Sekkar
Sekkar asks for help from the galeb duhr, and begins to list his topics of interest. Within minutes he has a small army of the squat elementals dutifully bustling through the library and bringing him piles of stone tablets with snippets of information. He manages to collect the following information:
Sekkar finds Purple Worms easy to understand. They are essentially mindless beasts that plow through the living rock in search of prey. He is interested to learn that the sting of their tail can be as dangerous as their bite, and that their saliva is as sticky as resin and often used for various purposes around their nests.
Most of the tactical information on beholders isn't new to Sekkar, but he does learn that they are more powerful within their lairs, including being able to use the effect of their eye rays through eyes created on other surfaces. He reads of Krazikar the Eye Tyrant in the Vast Oblivium who has amassed numerous slaves and much treasure, Xazax the Eyemonger under Chasmleap Bridge who seems obsessed with grafting the eyestalks of other beholders onto himself with the aid of a svirfneblin surgeon named Pebbles, and Lorthuun the Maimed, who left Mantol-Derith on a mission of revenge in search of Pebbles after he severed several of its eyestalks. Other beholders are mentioned, but their locations are much further away and harder to pinpoint.
Sekkar reads a little about Goristros who are essentially huge demonic minotaurs. There is little useful information, but he notes that they are particularly lethal if allowed to charge their enemies.
Dawnbringer has nothing in particular that she wishes Sekkar to search for. She remembers that she was forged in the city of Volothamp by Calishite worshipers of a deity known as One Sun, under the direction of Pasha Nakkar el Erehnir IV, and was lost during the Vahlen dynasty, but little else. She adds with loving tones that all that is ancient history and she is more than content now with the companionship of the lizardman ranger who rescued her from eternal darkness and solitude, and hopes he will live a very long time so they will never be parted.
Sekkar may add goristros and purple worms to his list of favored enemies.
Kaylyn
Kaylyn focuses on the descriptions of the locations described in the tablets relevant to their areas of interest, and manages to update her maps. Other than that, she focuses her time on learning Undercommon, spending the equivalent of almost three weeks of dedicated study on the language. With her months of exposure to the Underdark tongue, she is a quick study and soon becomes reasonably proficient.
Undercommon has been added to Kaylyn's list of language proficiencies
Rhayna
Rhayna is a little disappointed to find that the crystal's charges don't seem to reset after she rests in the room, but remain on the same time scale as the rest of the library.
The archives of the future chiefly focus on events as they relate to the stone giants, but several facts can be extrapolated that apply to the Underdark generally. Rhayna sees that the party will encounter a dark metal tower perched on the edge of a cliff. The square tower is twenty feet on a side and thirty feet high, with arrow slits in each wall, and is formed from a magic item called Daern's Instant Fortress. Rhayna sees that one of the party will use an identify spell to learn the command words that open the tower and that transform it from a tower into a cube and back again.
Rhayna also learns that the party will encounter a modron, who leads them to an incredible discovery, a strange magically-powered, mechanical device referred to as "The Maze Engine". Its design looks like a working model of the Great Wheel - a 20-foot-diameter sphere built of 1-foot-wide bands of magically hardened and shaped bronze, engraved with arcane symbols. Gaps in the bands show various gears and articulation arms within the sphere, which rotate and shift to represent the relationships between the various known planes of existence. Its function is not stated, but it is apparently capable of altering reality. Rhayna even learns to location of the artifact.
Finally, Rhayna learns that she will indeed meet Stool one more time, but that the circumstances will be rather tense, as the little myconid has been drawn (along with many of the myconids of the region) into the events surrounding the imminent wedding between Zuggtmoy and Araumycos, which is about to occur within days...
The information of the future that Rhayna learns is probably sufficient reward, but I'll also grant expertise (double proficiency bonus) on any Insight, Investigation or Perception check made while in the Labyrinth.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
When everyone has gathered up before speaking, "Upon farther research, the Maze is possible death trap. We have second demon lord, the Gnolls one, turning it into a hunting ground but may be best one stop for materials,"
Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls- Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against DemogorgonSilas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of AnnihilationDonePax remains silent, expecting a deluge of information from everyone’s days of research. Feeling confident in their path, and even their, questionable allies, she just stands back, eyes watchful.
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Sekkar did not have much to share. In his experience, people will forget hunting tactics the moment they see the monster. The beholder part could be still useful and he reminded the party about two beholders of Mantol-Derith - one that sent the gnome, and another the party saved from the gnome. The latter (Lorthuun the Maimed) wanted to execute the gnome (Pebbles) and probably his master too - that Xazax the Eyemonger. "As I recall, the gnome did want to get free. We can use it, maybe. With the help of the other beholder, he owes us." Sekkar was still sceptical about the whole affair but if they were doing it, intended to use every advantage. "The beholder from under Chasmleap Bridge seems like the right target." The ranger very much shared Dawnbringer's wish for a long and happy life, but chances for one were dropping by the minute here.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
(Oops, I meant to post a map for Kaylyn with all these new locations. I'll do it in a few hours)
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Kaylyn feels that the time she spent researching was well spent. Her love of maps and knowing where things were was satiated by mapping the locations they needed to go. She then spent the rest of her time learning Undercommon. She felt much better now, her ability to communicate with those she meets has greatly improved.
She is sad to leave the room for the last time, spending considerable time wandering the woods in her room. Such a strange and wonderful and magical place. Wishing she could return again and again she knows that once she leaves the library she cannot return.