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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 988102" data-attributes="member: 1210">The Book of OlafBy midnight the party has reached the Library of Voldaith, thanks to Chairo's guidance.  It was obviously once a proud-looking building, but now it's in ruins.  The ceiling is mostly intact, though; hopefully things haven't been ruined too thoroughly by inclement weather.  The place is large, with big piles of debris throughout it, the mark of fire in places.  There are books everywhere.A cursory search using detection magic fails to turn anything up.  His stomach roiling, Orbius slices a rabbit's belly open and reads the steaming entrails.Is the Book of Olaf in this library?  Yes.Where precisely is it?  In the attic.What does it look like?  Red.What is Chairo's alignment?  Neutral.Is it safe to rest in the Library of Voldaith?  Yes.Who is the most influential leader in this city?  Rat Brain.What is his alignment?  Chaotic Evil.About how many warriors does he command?  200.Given our level of skill, what is the likely outcome if we fight his forces?  Not too good.Will he seek us out for what we've done to his champion?  No.From where we are, where must we travel to reach the Halls of the Unbound?  North.What guards the entrance to the Halls of the Unbound?  The sea.What other items on this plane would be of great use against Felenga?  None known.Is there anything in the attic we need fear?  Yes.What?  The Book.Why?  It is of the Far Realms.Can any of our group safely access the information within the Book?  Unknown.What do we have available to help avoid the negative effects of the Book?  Unknown.The Eye tells the rest of the group what he's learned, and collectively they mull.  It's late, so they decide to sleep on it and search further in the morning- after all, it seems safe to rest here.Zonzor, on the other hand, is busy being pissed off and exulting in his victory over Sir Breaker.  He rides through the ruins for hours, trying to recruit more lackeys through threats, but the only man he finds flees after claiming to have the plague.The next day the group searches the library thoroughly, both from within and without, until Thrush finally locates a trap door in the ceiling.  When he pulls on it, a heavy staircase of a strange, glassy-looking metal drops down, and the group carefully ascends into a small hidden attic.  Within it is a strange book on a pedestal.  The Book is strange looking, large and thick.  It seems wrapped in wet red leather; when touched, the leather drips a thick, bloodlike fluid.  It's creepy and disturbing, and worse, when Angelfire opens it and starts trying to read it, everyone feels a mental shock bore into them.  The entire party cries out as the unnatural energies threaten their very minds, but only Zonzor seems unduly affected- this time.  He's rather upset by it- his brain, never too sharp to begin with, has gone even duller.  Orbius assures him that they'll help him when they can, then the group discusses the implications of this event."That's the first magic we've seen here," Orbius says through a dry mouth."I don't think this is very safe," Horbin comments.  "Maybe it's sealed in there for a reason," muses Malford.The group confers, and they decide that, ideally, they would prefer to leave it behind.  "But someone has to read it," Angelfire points out, "and since I've already started, I might as well be the one to finish it.""I'll stand guard in case something goes awry," Horbin the Holy offers, and the rest of the group reluctantly agrees.  There's no way to open the staircase from within the room; the party seals the two in, first telling them that they'll check in with them periodically."For Dexter's sake, be careful," cautions Malford, but the staircase has already slid shut and no sound penetrates it.Within two days, it's apparent that it will take a week for Angelfire to learn what he must from the Book; but fortunately, no one molests our heroes.  Zonzor's intellect slowly returns to him; growing bored after a couple of days, he rides off to try to find the retainer who abandoned him, riding to his farm, but to no avail.  Cursing the disloyal man, he returns to the Halls of Greypeak in a foul mood.Meanwhile, on Cydra, in Malford's capitol of Var, High Priest Turdlin of Malford receives an unexpected visitation....Next Time: Turdlin receives a message!  Our heroes head north!  Danger and excitement, and- oh yeah- Lord Ruin!!</blockquote>

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