Report 4: The Search for Orichalcum

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Meeting with Great Reader Teles Ahvoste

  • Much damage has been occurring around the library from broken chains to broken power units.
  • They have been stepping up patrols, but it is not enough.
  • The Housing Units for the power of the Mythal are being attacked or breaking down.
  • They were designed ages ago by Dugedden who has been out of touch for a century.
  • The housing units are made of Orichalcum which was only provided by Dugedden’s clan.
  • Scouts have been sent to find his last known location but it is dangerous travel in the Spine of the World.
  • We are tasked to find his workshop, discover his disposition, and either negotiate resumption of relations or return with the ore and his plans for the units.
  • We will be transported to the nearest town, Blasingdell, to our assumed destination and be given further information there from the Mayor, Sir Miles Barrik.

Preparations

  • Orichalcum is naturally cool and incredibly dense and has a natural magical current that makes it easier to enchant.
  • Ysayle believes we will be lucky enough to find a large sum of the metal, but #13 believes that to be statistically unlikely.
  • We have no group members who can speak Dwarven though magic will help us read any leftover writings.

Blasingdell meeting with Sir Barrik

  • The location is two days ride on horseback north, but he has only a couple pack horses to spare.
  • We are provided a rough map to our intended location, the Stone Tooth, a 1400′ tall spire.
  • There are aggressive orc tribes in the mountains, followers of Gruumsh it is believed.

Travel to the Tooth

  • #13 is quite adept at following maps and navigating terrain, he believes it no harder than navigating the great cogs, which he says can be as large as continents.
  • Mr. Ashfall updates our map as we go along.
  • On the second day, #13 notes footsteps of a 6 orc patrol in the area.
  • We are attacked by these in the night, and one appears to have reached her violent perfection before death.

The Stone Tooth

  • We arrive at midday on the third day to see smoke curling out of an opening halfway up.
  • Tuppance, the raven of Mr. Darkfoot, is sent to investigate and finds no orcs moving about, but a well-trodden switchback path leading to stairs, and the smoke coming from a natural rock chimney.
  • We all go up to investigate the chimney and send #13 and Tuppance down to investigate.
  • After he noisily puts out the fire below, we all make our way inside to a large kitchen with a floor covered in stew that just might have townspeople in it.
  • Down the hallway, we find sleeping quarters and two humans, Garadil and Carana, in a cage whom we free and bring along with us. They were part of a mission to map the area.
  • We take a narrow, rough-hewn path to the east which stops at a smooth wall, where #13 finds a hidden door, behind which is a circular passage marked with Orcish graffiti and curses.
  • Behind a hidden door in this passage we find a room containing an Orc Shaman and her three apprentices, who all attack without question, and all die for the glory of Gruumsh.

Report 3: Secret Room & Firefly Cellar

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Amberdune Bookshop Wrap-Up

  • Master Reader Renzu and Grovekeeper Nim brought Dawnbringer Galure to perform the resurrection of Nidallia, a Lamia, as it turned out.
  • Mr. Darkfoot acquires clothing for the Lamia from the tailors.
  • We bring her, Korvala and the other two pack members back to the Hearth for explanations.
  • Nidallia seems familiar with the trick they were playing, but displeased they were playing it.
  • Mr. Darkfoot explains how she may gain proper access to the Library in the future.
  • Vziir’Ag gifts us with a portable hole for our services.
  • Inside the hole, we find a number of things including a skeleton, gold, potions, scrolls, weapons and armor that the group divides up.
  • The skeleton remains seated in a chair in the room until we can decipher where it came from. I must learn to speak with the dead, imagine how much we could learn.

Opening One of the Doors

  • Mr. Darkfoot requests everyone gather in the room, for he has found a key that he hopes will open one of the doors.
  • He did not, in fact, find the key, but stole it from the Lead Chanter. Saying she had a ring of over 100 keys and perhaps she did not even know she had it.
  • When putting it into one of the doors and turning it, both the key and the lock disappear and the door opened.
  • This new room is similar in style to the first Room, but contains a great many secured storage boxes.
  • There are heavy magical protections in this new room preventing magical travel, divination, and other such things.
  • Each of us finds a key in our own pockets that opens the chests within, all of which are empty.
  • There is a rug in this room, which, when moved, is found to be covering a dormant teleportation circle.
  • As an experiment, I take one of the blank books from the Room and carry it into the new room. It does not disappear as it would if I took it out into the Library.
  • Mr. Ashfall puts his mark upon one of the boxes to claim it as his own.

Discussions

  • Mr. Darkfoot explains that banks create fake money while either embezzling from people or the government. They loan more money than they own, he says, it is just numbers on paper.
  • #13 asserts that luck does not exist, that everything in the universe is by design of the cogs. Mr. Darkfoot disagrees.
  • #13 says there are many different types of cogs for the many different types of love, but that three are specifically responsible for romantic connection between two people.
  • #13 has heard of the masked modron and believes it must be one of the other shelvers.
  • #13 says modron are not capable of forming emotional attachment, even though Mr. Trisfir says the masked one exhibits emotion. I’m not sure I agree with that.
  • #13 says he must be a rogue modron which can perform multiple tasks at once.
  • This is dangerous because it might make bad decisions, never having been socialized to behave this way.

Firefly Cellar in the House of Rest

  • Great Reader Sylcira Savikas assigned us to take materials to the Firefly Cellar in the House of Rest and to assist with renovations there.
  • It is so called because it is lit with magical firefly lanterns.
  • Scribe Varneer gives us additional books to carry when we arrive, asking us to deliver everything to Ebner.
  • Other inhabitants include Ebner’s young daughter Gailby, Crinkle, a kenku, and Katoola, a tabaxi.
  • Ebner takes us down to Crinkle’s office on the lowest floor, and we deposit everything with him before getting some dinner and sleep.
  • At breakfast in the morning, everyone is humming the same tune, but there does not appear to be an enchantment on us.
  • Scribe Varneer rushes up to the top floor and seals us all in, telling of a “singing madness” that had happened once before.
  • Ms. Lendiel and I return to Crinkle’s office to see if we brought something untoward in with us the day before, but nothing looks unusual or out of place.
  • The lights begin to flicker as Ms. Lendiel listens to a humming in the stones of the floor.
  • She follows the humming through the floor and I follow her with a steady light.
  • Ebner begins screaming from the top floor and we rush up to find him catatonic.
  • He is breathing, but quite cold. Gailby reports that he was complaining about the song, and then stood up and fell over shrieking.
  • I cast Protection from Good and Evil on him and he begins singing words to the song.
  • It is a story about a mother scything a father while he slept in a wheat field and a dog eating a hand.
  • There is also mention of a Shimshine Shadow, but that’s just a story parents tell children to get them to do their chores. It’s a trickster who punishes the lazy.
  • There is a malevolent presence here, not a story, though turning undead and abjuring the arcane does not chase it away.
  • The humming grows louder and several others begin singing the words. It is very difficult not to join.
  • Books begin flying of shelves and we head down to the Kitchen to find the others.
  • Gailby had looked at a book with Crinkle the night before so Mr. Darkfoot goes to find it.

Shimshine Shadow

  • The book has four sections and is a moving machine of a thing.
    • First the woman with a scythe and a legless man and a black inky shadow figure
    • Second the dog eating a hand
    • Third a riverfront and a drowned boy
    • The fourth scene is broken.
  • Mr. Trisfir sets to work fixing the book and the room grows cold.
  • Ms. Lendiel hears the song coming from the room next door and takes Mr. Ashfell to investigate.
  • As the fourth section is completed, showing a young woman squishing the shadow with a millstone, Ms. Lendiel screams.
  • I race to her and heal here and she stops screaming.
  • Mr. Ashfell destroys some skeletons they had uncovered in the wall of the room. Perhaps people who had hidden from the initial outbreak of the singing madness.
  • Crinkle reports that the book itself was not one we brought with us, but is fully registered as a book available for borrowing.
  • There is no millstone here, but there is a giant stone candelabra on the top floor so we go up there.
  • The singing gets even louder and a shadowy figure appears.
  • Mr. Trisfir begins to lower the candelabra, Ember throws a firebolt at Ms. Lendiel who falls, Katoola attacks Mr. Trisfir.
  • I heal Ms. Lendiel and bring up a spiritual book to defend us.
  • The book opens upon the table, spewing shadow. The forth section now depicts us crushing the shadow with the candelabra.
  • Ember throws fire at the shadow, but it explodes into mist, reforming over the book.
  • #13 arrives and goes to examine the book while Mr. Trisfir drops the candelabra.
  • The shadow, the table, and the floor are crushed beneath its weight.
  • The lights come back on at full, the singing ceases, and the air warms.
  • A nearby book transforms into the Shimshine Rhyme, but it is closed and innocuous for the moment.
  • Scribe Veneer opens the door to the Avowed waiting outside. They take the book and ensure we are clear of the curse before escorting us to the bath house to refresh ourselves.

Report 2: Amberdune Bookshop

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Bookshop investigation

Location: Baldur’s Gate, Upper City, The Wide.

  • Mr. Trisfir discovers Wizards of the Wide, Coppers to Crowns, and Amberdune
  • A guard tells me of Wizards of the Wide and Amberdune
  • Ms. Lendiel acquired hot drinks for everyone, she is very kind, but investigation does not appear to be her strong suit.

Amberdune Bookshop Investigation

  • Mr. Darkfoot suggests we attempt to subtly investigate the shop and detect magic for any further exploding books. With the possibility of buying and examining any suspect books if the sellers are not forthcoming. An addendum of following the booksellers at the end of the day if nothing is otherwise discovered.
  • Mr. Trisfir, Mr. Darkfoot, and I enter the bookshop to browse, while the rest of the group observes from various other places around the market.
  • Amberdune Bookshop is a simple stall selling a variety of materials from broadsheets and penny novels to expensive hardbound books.
  • There are two patrons and two clerks, neither matching previously given descriptions. Both dusky brown skin and blue eyes.
  • Mr. Trisfir asks the younger seller, an energetic young man, for unique books.
  • The young man refers to the woman behind the counter as Ivani, she refers to the young man as Theryn.
  • They offer Mr. Trisfir The Wanderings of a Humble Aasimar, but he cannot afford its 400 gold price tag, so he leaves.
  • I approach next, noting some small transmutation on a couple of the books behind the counter.
  • Theryn offers me Fallen Tethemar for 225 gold, which I do not quite have.
  • I involve Mr. Darkfoot in the discussion at this point, and he begins to interrogate Ivani.

Ivani Interrogation by Mr. Darkfoot

  • The book came to her from collector who bequeathed a collection to the shop’s patron.
  • Ivani knows no magic nor anything about an enchantment on the book.
  • She refuses to discuss any further books from the same collection.
  • The shop’s patron will return in forty-five minutes if we wish to speak with them.

Korvala Interrogation by Mr. Darkfoot and Myself

  • The patron is a dusky woman with amber eyes and auburn hair.
  • She leads us away from the shop to a bakery patio to eat and speak.
  • She repeats that the items are from her personal collection and is suspicious of our concern.
  • Mr. Darkfoot shows her the burn he received from the one which attacked us.
  • She is genuinely surprised and invites us to speak later than evening at her home with all the special books present.
  • Shohei keeps an eye on the shop to be sure they do not skip town while we wait.

Korvala Interrogation

With all present in her home beyond the Black Gate beneath a larger building.

  • There are seven people living here, appearing to share familial characteristics.
  • Mr. Darkfoot explains more fully our reason for being here.
  • Korvala created the books with magic – creating Gingwatszems, creatures that can mimic tiny objects or animals for a short time.
  • The intentions were deceitful, but relatively harmless under normal circumstances.
  • The Gingwatszems, when not locked in a highly magical library, would simply unravel after a time and wander off.
  • Mr. Darkfoot and Mr. Trisfir insist she stop doing this as Candlekeep is the ideal place for this type of book to end up in this region.
  • They are trying to raise enough money to resurrect Nidallia, her previous patron, who was killed by adventurers.
  • She has the five original books, include one about Gingwatszems, which we ask to see, and the latter of with #13 reads while we talk.
  • #13 suggest she sell something less dangerous, but she just wants to get out of selling anything as quickly as possible.
  • Mr. Darkfoot suggests we bring the five books, some part of her fallen friend, and the money they have collected so far, to Candlekeep, and we will have Nidallia resurrected, so they can go back to their lives.
  • Korvala agrees and will bring several members of her family along.

Other Bookshops in Baldur’s Gate

  • Wizards of the Wide only sells spell foci and spell scrolls
  • Sorcerous Sundries is a massive tower with good security. There is an angry illusion who is not very helpful. The books (and other items) are kept behind portals, but the arcane specialists can put in requests per topic. I found a book on the interaction of the Weave with the Hells.

Resolution of the Amberdune Investigation

  • We report succcess to Whisper who allows us entry with our guests to the Hearth
  • Taking the three originals of the books, we speak to Parmac to get a meeting with Vziir’Ag
  • Vziir’Ag is strangely familiar with Mr. Ashfall who is extremely uncomfortable with the attention
  • Mr. Darkfoot explains our findings.
  • Vziir’Ag sends to the First Reader, Bookwyrm, who recognizes me.
  • He looks at the books and takes us immediately to the Hearth.
  • He recognizes them as Jackalweres, which shocks them and us, to be honest.
  • He examines all of the books and confirms the offered deal.
  • He will send for a friend to resurrect their friend in the next few days. They are welcome here while they wait.
  • We will be paid when the matter is concluded satisfactorily.

Report 1: Gathering of the Group

On By ravonlockeIn Journal, SvalaLeave a comment

Meeting convened at The Hearth. Topic: The Room. In attendance: Mr. Shohei Ashfall, Mr. Axel Darkfoot, Ms. Ysayle Lendiel, #13, Mr. Rhys Trisfir, Ms. Ember Rosewood, and myself.

Conjectures:

  • Mr. Darkfoot suggested that the Doors in the Room might lead to what you most want at the moment you opened them. Mr. Ashfall wants to recover things, but says it in such a way, that I believe he may be looking for things of value. Ms. Rosewood is looking for druids from her circle who came here and then went missing.
  • #13 suggested that there is a link between the seven of us and the Room. That it was perhaps designed by some intelligence who was looking to connect with people possessing certain traits. Traits we either outwardly exhibit or that we do not yet understand. The group is unsure what traits we all might have in common, as yet.

The meeting then dispersed to be reconvened at the Room itself.

Investigations:

  • Mr. Darkfoot tries to pick one of the locks, unsuccessfully. He reports that the lock kept changing as he manipulated it.
  • Several members of the group then began studying the magic on the doors, as though we had not thought to do that in the past year since the doors stopped working.
  • Ysayle gets everyone a drink from the tea and coffee service, but all of us drinking at once does nothing to help open any doors.
  • #13 suggests we look in the library for books on the Creators or on other rooms that had been lost and/or found. Mr. Darkfoot has a place we can start, a book called Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions.

Mazfroth’s Mighty Digression Investigation

  • The book is located in the Research Wing of the Dragon Bones.
  • Mr. Darkfoot and Mr. Ashfall examine the book for magics and find Transmutation, but does not appear explosive or dangerous to open.
  • Mr. Darkfoot and I examine the contents, written in common, which discuss magics of various schools, the Spellplague and the nature of the weave in 150 pages of handwritten, poorly bound text.
  • An unfamiliar voice then speaks in my head saying “Need Life” over and over.
  • The book discorporated into four balls of crackling energy – orange, green. blue, and grey.
  • These balls then began to attack us.
  • Mr. Darkfoot got off some eldritch magic before one of the balls nearly killed him.
  • Ms. Lendiel was badly injured, as well, in their first volley.
  • #13 went to hide from the attack as he is not equipped for such interactions.
  • Ms. Lendiel then came to Mr. Darkfoot’s defense with her blades, as I healed him back to consciousness.
  • Ms. Rosewood summoned a small fire spirit and shot fire at one of the balls of energy, neither set any library property alight.
  • Mr. Ashfall joined the fight with a smoky grey sabre, as Mr. Trisfir began to punch them with gauntleted fists.
  • A masked and caped modron then leapt down from the shelving, destroying one orb and damaging another, saying they were here to protect organics, before disappearing in a cloud of fog once the orbs were all destroyed.
  • A report was then handed over to Fembris Larlancer to be sent up to the Great Readers.

Meeting with V’ziir-Ag.

Also present: Daral Yashenti. Absent: Mr. Ashfall.

  • Two other books have similarly exploded: Dark Hunger & The Fallen Tethamar
  • Previous attacks were managed by Lesser Readers.
  • All are books recently received from supplicants.
  • Two of whom, Valor (Dark Hunger) and Yalerion Highscroll (Mazfroth) are still here and can be questioned.
  • We are requested to investigate and resolve the matter.

Valor Interrogation

  • Tiefling woman (blue), 6’3″
  • Arrived 13 days ago
  • Book purchased in Baldur’s Gate, Upper City, unknown bookshop of questionable character offering 1st edition books
  • Booksellers: Pale, dark-haired man & quiet, stern woman
  • Asked for a good book for trading, but did not specifically mention Candlekeep
  • Unable to pay for the book she came here for without her trade, she is working off her debt reshingling the Hearth.

Yalerion Highscroll Interrogation

  • Human, late 20s, worshipper of Oghma
  • Arrived yesterday
  • Book purchased in Baldur’s Gate, Upper City, The Wide, in a “really neat” bookshop with Dune in the name
  • Bookshop is in a back alley, and has lots of 1st editions
  • Shopkeepers: A very friendly man
  • Asked for rare of 1st edition books – bought the nicest looking one
  • Read the book on the way here
  • Traveled in a caravan and spoke about the book
  • No one else in the caravan seemed to have shopped at the same store

Gate House Inquiry

Avowed: Whisper.

  • Check in records for all three included Baldur’s Gate, but no further location information.
  • 13 Books have come in from Baldur’s Gate in the last month.
  • Note made to be more aware of books from there and to look out for Dune bookshop.
  • #13 has shelved three of the books.
  • We and other Avowed recover all 13 books that have not yet exploded.
  • All seem to be safe at this time.
  • V’ziir-Ag approves a mission to Baldur’s Gate for further investigation.

Travel Report

  • Supplies included walking boots, tents, bedrolls, and a pack animal are acquired.
  • Day One – Quiet. Sleeping on the ground is more uncomfortable than the Room.
  • Day Two – Quiet. Goodberries taste a lot better than hardtack.
  • Day Three – Quiet. I should have bought a horse.
  • Day Four – Quiet. It is raining now and we’re sleeping on rocks.
  • Night Four Addendum: Rats! Giant Rats attacked us in the night! Mr. Darkfoot said there was also a wererat in the forest. #13 hid, as is appropriate, and Mr. Ashfall was slow to respond to the danger. Ms. Rosewood’s fire spirit is also useful for healing. Mr. Trisfir was a good ally in this fight.
  • Day Five – We have arrived in Baldur’s Gate and taken rooms in an inn.

Svala, Cleric of the Arcane

On By ravonlockeIn Backstory, SvalaLeave a comment

Svala’s family was not nobility, but they wanted to be, and they certainly had the money to pretend to be. Life was all about creating perfect connections for her parents (Algir and Avie). They had as many children as they could manage, to create those connections and the Perfection they desired. Eldest son (Dallid) was to rise to prestigious military rank. Eldest daughter (Fain) to marry well into a noble house. Second son (Kavin) to become a renowned scholar. Second daughter (Griya) a renowned arcanist. Third son (Lonar) a famous artisan. Third daughter (Mirella) a famous artist. Fourth son (Rill) a great politician. Fourth daughter (Svala) to be a high priestess in the Church. The fifth son turned out to be twin daughters (Triela and Uvana), and they, it was decided, would be the most talented musical duet ever heard at court. Ten children was the perfect amount, a perfect number, and so it was done. 

Her childhood was happy. The family rejoiced in learning and growing and even in failures, for there was always more to learn. No expenses or experiences were spared. The children were all encouraged to follow their curiosity wherever it led. Avie’s drive was to be the perfect mother and so she gave them everything they could ever want or need. 

Until they came to their twentieth year. Halfway to adulthood for a Vedalken, this was the year when they began preparing for the rest of their lives. The lives chosen for them, and that they had been trained from birth to look forward to. One by one, year after year, they left home to follow their paths. Dallid left to join the youth brigades because officer training starts young. Fain began to learn courtly manners and dancing, attending her first ball that year. Griya and Kavin were sent away to learn from the brightest scholars. Lonar and Mirella were apprenticed to the best Algir could find. Rill began attending council meetings with Algir. And Svala was sent away to become an acolyte. The twins, she guessed, got apprenticeships of their own, but she was no longer around to see. Perhaps they went to a bard college instead. She hoped they were having fun, they were the sweetest of her siblings. 

The church wasn’t bad. They encouraged the pursuit of knowledge nearly as much as her parents had. But they had a very specific bent to the knowledge. Svala, however, once she got her first taste of arcane magic, could not let go. She immediately began studying everything she could find about both divine and arcane magics. Her appetite and aptitude concerned some of the elders, and they started keeping a closer eye on her studies. Sent her out into the city on more errands to try and keep her on a clerical path of service. 

This was, however, not the best plan to keep her away from the arcane, nor other magics. She often passed by the wizard school and saw the students practicing spells. They laughed at her cleric robes, but she was undeterred. She passed by a druid grove quite often, and they were much more welcoming. It was on one of these errands, during the festival of the solstice, that she first saw what magic could really do. Magnificent powers, arcane, natural, and divine were all on display for the festival. And she wanted to know everything. 

She peppered one of the traveling wizards, Idarin Gilmoira, with so many questions, intelligent questions, that he told her of a Library where she might find all the answers she was looking for. She begged him to take her there, to rescue her from a life she had not chosen. She had loved stories of maidens rescued by knights as a child and was not above a little manipulation in the pursuit of knowledge. At first, he declined, she was too young, but she came back to him every day for the entire weeklong festival, and he finally relented when she offered to pay him for his help. She also knew that when manipulation doesn’t work, cold hard cash usually did. 

Her knowledge of her homelands, written down as they had traveled, was enough to gain her entrance. Her insatiable curiosity and her companion wizard’s recommendation, as well as her purse of gold, gained her admittance to the school. She threw herself into her studies, thrilled to no longer be restricted by the elder clerics. The Library was the most wondrous place she had ever seen with seemingly endless knowledge available upon request.