The group more or less moves around the desk, looking to at least glimpse at the book. No particular runes are apparent. No traps, weight dependent mechanisms or collapsing ceilings are detected. In fact, it looks like a book. The number 14 is written on the cover.
Vermitrax evidently becomes bored with the empty building, and apparently with all concerns for safety, stating "I doubt the Igors had prepared explosive runes..." and he opens the book to read with a wave of his hands.
And nothing happens. The group releases its reflexively held breath. A moment passes and no fire explosions or poison gas seeps into the room. Lilli, leader of this part of the expedition by default, as she was a member of the IAC, steps forward and picks up the book.
"Interesting. The stamp here on the inside cover indicates this is a copy. The Chief Igor of the library, Kristoff, made a note. And I quote: By vote of positive 5 to 4, the senior Igors have decided to leave this copy and account of the recent activities in and around Daunton. Should a stray or missing IAC member come to this our previous establishment without knowledge of recent events, or the move to Allaria, they can thus be kept abreast of the situation and join us post-haste in New Daunton."
Flipping the page, Lilli reads on, "History of Daunton, volume 14."
She then starts to leaf through the book, "Curious. It appears the Igors have been keeping track of all activities, particularly arcane, but also political and social changes. The book covers several years. It details the adventures of those who came and went from the Hanged Man. There is a section about a Fey prince and the devils who wished to slay him. A whole section on the great dragon Bosche."
Lilli flips a few more pages, "This is curious, there is a point where a couple dozen adventurers, who had left the tavern on a mission (well apparently several missions) who just didn't come back." She looks up,"I think this referring to us!"
Then reading again, "Of course several more adventurers came to the Hanged Man and some even went out to find their colleagues and friends to no avail. It was around this time that the Igors note a change in the atmosphere of Daunton, something they referred to as "the change". My, that sounds ominous. Well the mood around Daunton became more unpleasant. Several people felt it. Scrying and ritual was unable to determine its source. Basically people became more moody, less happy and they became angry. It was postulated that the change had something to do with Daunton's early history. History before the current chapter of the IAC became located here.
"I'm not sure if it is related, but this is when the swordsman mage Artemis Harks started gaining popularity for his move to retake Allaria. He put all his personal finances, as well as significant money from the Old Families of Daunton to make a major military move against the Hobgoblins of Allaria in an attempt to retake the island of Allaria.
She turns another page, "The attack was successful! Simultaneous invasions of the Hobgoblin cities, lead by the adventurers here in Daunton, smashed the hobgoblin defenses and killed the upper hierarchy of their leadership. It mentions Max, Haruka Sato, Beatrice, Damon Bane, Jarel, Eithel. Wow, lots of people we saw at the Hanged Man.
"Instead of attempting to destroy the hobgoblins, it says here, Artemis Harks then reached out to the remaining leadership. And he sought out the dragonborn of southern Allaria. Together they made an alliance to work together to recreate the empire of Allaria.
"Because of the negativity of the climate here in Duanton, thousands of people left Daunton and moved to the continent of Allaria. The IAC voted and also relocated to New Duanton. Daunton was officially changed to outpost status, but I don't think anyone has been here in years."
