Tag: Baldur's Gate

Report 2: Amberdune Bookshop

On By ravonlockeIn Journal, SvalaLeave a comment

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.

String Quartet

On By ravonlockeIn Journal, QuillLeave a comment

The mandolin, viola, and cello acquired. Page says the last piece is a bass. So, she runs off to talk to all her harp people and the bard college. When she returns, she says we have to go to Baldur’s Gate. Oh, oh no. She needs to find someone there, who might have it. I might still know people, but most of them don’t like me. I don’t want to go, but I can’t let her wander around there without me. She pulls up the genie, and we all head there together. At least it’s a city so Red won’t complain too much.

When we get there, most of them head off to drink and soak, but Nevi, Page and I go to the High Hall to look into collectors in town. She has four names which we narrow down to Francisco Fissel, a giant merchant on the far side of town. We gather up to sleep for the night, no use scouting unknown territory this late at night when we’d have to pass through the gates.

Page gets up early in the morning, and I follow her out. I may not be welcome here, but she can’t go alone. It’s not safe here. We head out through the gate and around to the far side of the mountain. He’s got a big, three-story shop here: Francisco’s Fineries. We check out the building, look for sewers nearby, and Page stares hard at the gargoyle up on top of it. We almost leave, but then head inside.

The first floor is full of shiny things of all varieties. They don’t look terribly fine, but they are really fun. I pick up a few trick coins as Page engages with one of the clerks. He seems happy to show us around, so we head upstairs. There are clothes here from all over the realms, beautiful things. I look around while she talks with him some more. Then we head to the top floor. Here, the room is filled with all manner of weapons and armor and instruments. The one she wants isn’t here, though. There is a door up here, into the mountain, but it is well-locked. So, we head back to the group.

Red is very concerned about breaking in there and not finding the thing we’re after. He’s also worried that if we do anything to confirm it is there, and then steal it, that we’re more likely to get caught. So, surprising everyone, he suggested we go and ask to make a trade for it. We went, but the owner wasn’t around and the clerk said to come back in the evening. So, another spa day for us.

Back that evening, it was a strange meeting. Red, well, tried to be Red. Usually that works, but Francisco was only interested in Page. Makes her admit we have the rest of the instruments. He says the bass is a family heirloom, that his ancestor stood against the hordes attacking a small village. He won’t give it up. The talk about a prophecy then, about bringing all four together to play. He is interested in doing that, so Page invites him to Waterdeep for a performance, and he agrees.

We head home immediately, and set up a concert for the very next day. Page invites the other musicians she wants to play with and we provide security while they practice. That night is the most beautiful music I have ever heard in my short life. It was so amazing. Even Page was a bit dazed afterwards, as we headed home, with only her cello in hand.