Adventure: The Power of Knowledge (DM: Fragsie, Judge: TwoHeadsBarking)

[Fragsie]

The startled young woman nods fervently then turns around and heads back the direction she had come.

As the party leave the stairwell and enter the third floor, the atmosphere changes considerably. Row upon row of twenty foot high bookshelves fill the chamber that somehow shouldn't fit into the logical size of the library's upper floors, each one full to bursting with tomes and scrolls that absorb the quietest of sounds and make the silence somewhat oppressive. When you turn into a book-lined corridor signposted 'PHARMACOLOGY' you all see a cowled figure standing wrapped in shadow about ten feet in front of you, surprising considering there is no obvious way that the figure could have overtaken you.

[sblock=If You're Not Mikara]The figure is identical to the one you saw in the Overgrowth shrine when Mikara had disappeared.[/sblock]

 

[Tomalak]

[sblock=Clarification]I'm assuming he's standing out in the open now, clearly confronting the group? If not, please disregard this post.[/sblock]
"That's a handy trick you've got there. I don't suppose you're here to talk?"

 

[Fragsie]

Although out in the open and a lot nearer than before, the figure is still difficult to see clearly, it's clothes are faded and grey and shadows seem to cling to it.

"Actually, that is one of the reasons yes."​

it whispers in common just loud enough to be heard.

"We can tell you that the Runelord was here, he discovered who he is within the original census of Daunton, and discovered who he could become within a book of bedtime stories.”​

The figure pauses for a moment to allow it's words to sink in, then the cowl turns slightly to regard the deva in your midst,

"Ceryx, you must come with me now, you are needed elsewhere for a while."​

To the surprise of the rest of the group, Ceryx nods his head once in compliance and takes a few steps forward to stand beside the shadowed figure. He looks over his shoulder back at the party with an apologetic look in his eyes, "I wish you success, with any luck I will be allowed to return soon and help you see this through to the end, but just in case... Well, I'm sorry I won't be there to fight at your sides."

The avenger looks away again and starts walking down the corridor along with the hooded figure, with each step the pair seem to fade away until they are gone and the five remaining adventurers are left alone with only books for company.

[sblock=OOC]I had hoped that Ceryx's involvement would be revealed somewhat later than this, but with mohalloran having a break from enworld at the moment I thought it best make the most of what could have been a major twist later in the story.[/sblock]

 

[Tomalak]

Watching the place where the two disappear with a quizzical expression, Andrec shakes himself out of it after a moment, then turns to the group. "We have three, perhaps four tasks here in the Library. First, we must carefully examine this area to see if there are any clues left behind. Second, I have no intention of ignore what we were just told, despite the unusual source, so someone must check the census records. Look for anything referring to a Runelord, and see if you can find out who might have been checking them recently. Third, somone must speak with Acolyte Sharli. She may recall some piece of information, some clue that is now obscurred, about the scene when she arrived. However,she may also have some lore about this 'Runelord' figure. Fourth, while seeing to the other tasks, keep an eye out for any information that may refer to the strange cowled figure we just met. Take whichever tasks seem best suited to you; I'll fill in where needed. Mikara?" Andrec steps a short distance aside from the group, to let everybody begin their chosen tasks.
[sblock=Mikara]Inclining his head in a gesture requesting her attention, he speaks quietly, so as not to disturb the others. "Did you encounter that figure while you were separated from the group?"[/sblock]

 

[Fragsie]

[sblock=Library Research]Researching a topic in the library takes 6 hours followed by a skill check. You can spend an action point to reroll a skill check before you know the results even if you rolling to aid another.

Topics you can research so far are the Census (History) and the Runes themselves (Arcana/Religion).[/sblock]

 

[JRYoung]

Skalisss searches this section of the library for knowledge of the runes the party has seen so far.

Religion check (1d20+6=21)

 

[Kalidrev]

Mikara whispers back to their coordinator extraordinaire.

"I saw a few cowled people, but I do not recognize whoever just took Cerix."

In a library, Mikara is more useless than a one armed, one legged man in a butt kicking contest, so she resigns herself to the menial task of retrieving books for those doing the research. Anything she could do to keep their momentum and continue the investigation would get her one step closer to the Runelord.

 

[Fragsie]

//Kalidrev, do you want to make an aid another check for that? Even if you have +0 in the skill that's still a 50% change of a +2 to the result.//

 

[garyh]

[sblock=Fragsie]Can we fight something? Please?[/sblock]

 

[Fragsie]

[sblock=OOC]There is an encounter straight after the library scene... But your characters don't know that [/sblock]

As you reach the end of the corridor, there is a halfling woman in library robes waiting for you in a small hall with three doors, she holds out her hand for you all to shake in turn and introduces herself as acolyte Sharlia, "I'm so glad that you're here, I know the guard have looked around, but I think something much more sinister is going on here that they have assumed, I'm here to help you in any way that I can."

Once the introductions are complete she leads you through one of the doors into a rather dusty chamber filled with yet more bookshelves full of ledgers and scrolls. An area around a large writing desk has been cordoned off with yellow rope. The desk and the floor around it are littered with parchments, some torn or even chewed.
"This is where I found Maesters Writ and Wordsworth, they were sat on the floor playing with the records as though they were toys." she says with a worried expression.