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OOC NOTE [click to expand]
ooc note
Exploration logs aren't events per se, nor are they mandatory. They're another type of prompt, not unlike the Notice Board's -- albeit (typically) a bit more fleshed out. And they serve multiple purposes! We use them to explore uncharted territories, specific establishments in Stygia or an NPC's motives, for instance. They do sometimes moderately correlate to the overarching plot, and will most of the time offer some kind of reward: artifacts, new transformations, clues, boons, etc. These prompts are generally available during less eventful months and for an undetermined amount of time. Just like the Notice Board's, they might create great opportunities for CR building. You're absolutely welcome to share your discoveries!
You are approached by the chief librarian
of the Academy, who explains that
several important books have vanished, and that
theft is suspected. Rather than admit that they
have been lax in their duties, the librarians ask
you to investigate the losses.
You enter the main hallway and are met with rows upon rows of colossal balconies, which stretch impossibly further than what the exterior of the building would suggest, housing seemingly endless rows of nearly identical bookcases. The shelves are filled with tomes both famous and obscure, innumerable in subject and author. All around, strange orbs of light seem to dance and glimmer about, as if sentient, through the bookcases and main hallway, as if to invite you forward. Books, both single and in small collections, levitate through the air, moving about as if to organize themselves back into their place - wherever that place may be. The scene is wondrous, chaotic, and oddly serene. The librarians lock the main doors behind you, and for a few hours, the library is quiet, allowing you to explore and search the place.
► STORAGE ROOM
Reams of parchment, blank vellum, quills, and ink are stored on shelves in this small area.
► CHIEF LIBRARIAN'S OFFICE
The head librarian’s chambers contain book-lined shelves, a desk, a small bed, a table, and chairs. It is homey and crowded, with decanters of fine liquor, jars of aromatic weed, and a collection of handcrafted pipes. The wall behind the desk looks a little odd, as if altered or repaired in the recent past.
► DOCUMENTS ROOM
The walls of this room are lined with shelves containing varied documents—old manuscripts, maps, records and the like—as well as several tables and chairs for study. Stairs go down to a basement that ends at a locked door. It contains various items including food and water, three tall statues, cleaning supplies... and skely-tons. One of them carries a rusty key in its mouth, which unfortunately doesn't unlock the door there.
► BOOKS YOU MIGHT COME ACROSS
If you go back to the Chief Librarian's chambers and investigate the wall, knock: it's hollow. There's a safe on the other side: unlock it with the key, and you'll find a diagram detailing three highlighted areas in front of three different statues. The basement. In truth, there are three pressure switches in front of each statue on there; when all three are pressed simultaneously, the locked door opens on a secret passage. However, if any weight is removed from the switches, the door is once again locked. Parties with 4 or more characters may make easy work of this predicament, but smaller parties may have to improvise and use books or furniture in lieu of other characters.
When all four switches are triggered, the hidden passage is revealed... and as you reach the end, you realize, too late, that it's a trap. The Chief Librarian stands before you, the glimmers of the library congregating around him; books begin to float, most likely the stolen tomes.
The door locks behind you, and the Chief Librarian lurches forward, transforming into a giant, monstrous beast. A werewolf, particularly weak against silver. If you're bitten or scratched, you'll experience your first transformation on the next full moon, which will also negate the alterations you may already be going through.
Once you've defeated the Chief Librarian, report to the Academy's Elders. They'll investigate the scene and reward you with a Slumberbook, which soothes and calms the listeners’ Shadows if read aloud. If you ask about the stolen tomes, now scattered across the ground among ripped robes, they'll hesitate and mention that 'the truth will rise when you gaze upon the cantilever stairs.' And with that, you're encouraged to leave, but not without an invitation to come back whenever you wish to browse the available collection of books.
“Can I count on your discretion? We have been losing books. Well, not exactly
losing … we think our books are being stolen. Naturally,
it would not do for the Academy Elders to learn that we
librarians have allowed important volumes to go missing.
I’m asking you as a favor to discreetly find out what’s
happening. We can’t offer much, but you would certainly
have our gratitude.”
You enter the main hallway and are met with rows upon rows of colossal balconies, which stretch impossibly further than what the exterior of the building would suggest, housing seemingly endless rows of nearly identical bookcases. The shelves are filled with tomes both famous and obscure, innumerable in subject and author. All around, strange orbs of light seem to dance and glimmer about, as if sentient, through the bookcases and main hallway, as if to invite you forward. Books, both single and in small collections, levitate through the air, moving about as if to organize themselves back into their place - wherever that place may be. The scene is wondrous, chaotic, and oddly serene. The librarians lock the main doors behind you, and for a few hours, the library is quiet, allowing you to explore and search the place.
► STORAGE ROOM
Reams of parchment, blank vellum, quills, and ink are stored on shelves in this small area.
► CHIEF LIBRARIAN'S OFFICE
The head librarian’s chambers contain book-lined shelves, a desk, a small bed, a table, and chairs. It is homey and crowded, with decanters of fine liquor, jars of aromatic weed, and a collection of handcrafted pipes. The wall behind the desk looks a little odd, as if altered or repaired in the recent past.
► DOCUMENTS ROOM
The walls of this room are lined with shelves containing varied documents—old manuscripts, maps, records and the like—as well as several tables and chairs for study. Stairs go down to a basement that ends at a locked door. It contains various items including food and water, three tall statues, cleaning supplies... and skely-tons. One of them carries a rusty key in its mouth, which unfortunately doesn't unlock the door there.
► BOOKS YOU MIGHT COME ACROSS
► Under The Silver Moon: This book contains information on lycanthropy and the effects that it may bestow upon you. The author of this book makes lycanthropy sound like a REALLY good idea.
► Cooking with Grandma: This seemingly pleasant sounding book goes into great detail explaining how the flesh and bones of older humans can be used to make delicious food.
► Call of the Void: A strange tome written in an unknown language. Attempting to read it causes headaches and dizziness.
► Mnemotical Magic: This tome has moving pictures of funny situations and animals. Which seems like a humorous pass-time soon reveals that the magically animated graphics are powered by a curse, probably. Directing an open page to a person will also make them repeat the depicted action; if the page shows a dog wagging its tail, for instance, the targeted person will feel the urge to mimic exactly that.
► Bargains of the Netherworld: A mysterious memoir recording the author's descent into madness before murdering his family.
► Incredible Creatures and How to Kill Them: Details weaknesses monsters are known to have.
► Claiming the Crown: An Experienced Guide to Assassinating Royals. How to brew a poison, how to create a disguise, tips on wielding daggers, and more!
► Half-Human, Half-Darkling, All Man: Porn. It's porn.
► Nightwalkers: A well used guidebook of general information on creatures that hunt humans such as Nightweavers, Werewolves, and Hags.
If you go back to the Chief Librarian's chambers and investigate the wall, knock: it's hollow. There's a safe on the other side: unlock it with the key, and you'll find a diagram detailing three highlighted areas in front of three different statues. The basement. In truth, there are three pressure switches in front of each statue on there; when all three are pressed simultaneously, the locked door opens on a secret passage. However, if any weight is removed from the switches, the door is once again locked. Parties with 4 or more characters may make easy work of this predicament, but smaller parties may have to improvise and use books or furniture in lieu of other characters.
When all four switches are triggered, the hidden passage is revealed... and as you reach the end, you realize, too late, that it's a trap. The Chief Librarian stands before you, the glimmers of the library congregating around him; books begin to float, most likely the stolen tomes.
“It was a joy watching you run in circles. It would have been much quicker to just lock you in, but I'm in dire need of entertainment. I've been under the scrutiny of the Elders for a while, you see. So many of these tomes are filled with lies... It is my sworn duty to revise and redraft, but they would rather follow in those damnable stingers' footsteps. Well, no matter. These books will disappear with you, and the truth will finally adorn the shelves. You've been a most excellent decoy. May you rot in peace now as I continue my work.”
The door locks behind you, and the Chief Librarian lurches forward, transforming into a giant, monstrous beast. A werewolf, particularly weak against silver. If you're bitten or scratched, you'll experience your first transformation on the next full moon, which will also negate the alterations you may already be going through.
Once you've defeated the Chief Librarian, report to the Academy's Elders. They'll investigate the scene and reward you with a Slumberbook, which soothes and calms the listeners’ Shadows if read aloud. If you ask about the stolen tomes, now scattered across the ground among ripped robes, they'll hesitate and mention that 'the truth will rise when you gaze upon the cantilever stairs.' And with that, you're encouraged to leave, but not without an invitation to come back whenever you wish to browse the available collection of books.
being a were doesn't limit you to lycanthropy. you may choose to turn into any beast you like. available changes include:
► sharper canines, pointier ears, and claws
► longer hair, patches of fur anywhere on your body
► uncontrollable urge to turn into beast on full moons
► berserk-like behavior during transformations
► enhanced strength and agility, five senses heightened
► can turn others by scratching or biting them
► pack instinct
► memory loss and exhaustion after transformation
► transformations may be triggered by strong emotions
► may be cured by piercing the were's hands with silver nails
no subject
still, the faint blush on the boy's face warrants some consideration. ]
You don't have to feel embarrassed. Interrelationships can be difficult.
1/2
no subject
What is this, speaking from experience?
no subject
Yes.
no subject
it takes him a moment, but then he hooks his foot behind the legs of one of the chairs at the table's edge, pulls it out and sits down in it. ）
Who are you, anyway? I haven't seen you around.
no subject
Vincent. [ he typically spends his time alone, so it's unsurprising that he has gone unnoticed by most. ] You?
no subject
（ it's not that he objects to his first name being used, he's just... private in most cases, and he has the opportunity here to curate what people know of him. it's a contrast to his own world, where his reputation has a tendency to precede him. kurosaki ichigo, special war power, juvenile delinquent, troublemaker... the works. ）
Earth, Japan. If that rings a bell for you.
no subject
It doesn't. [ he has met a few who're from the planet though. ] But I've heard of Earth.
[ he rests his right arm on top of the table where a map of the netherworld has been laid out. ]
I'm from Gaia.
no subject
Yeah? Is it anything like this place?
（ miserable, eternally dark nonsense. ）
no subject
[ he can't imagine any world that would be as bleak and miserable as the netherworld. ]
It's much livelier. Less macabre. [ gaia might have its societal problems, but it thrums with life — something even the most robust city here lacks. ] Is Japan?
no subject
funny. he never used to. but being a shinigami... having karakura under his protection... it changed the way he saw it. ）
It's a pretty average place. Not too big, compared to some other areas... quiet, though we have a couple local celebrities that like to liven it up now and then. Decent people. Great food. My old man runs a medical clinic out of the ground floor of our house, so we get to meet a lot of... interesting characters.
no subject
[ vincent has long since lost a place he could call a home, traversing across different parts of the world on his own. maybe a few of his friends may argue otherwise, but he considers it for the best that he doesn't become attached to any one city or town.
he really shouldn't have opened himself up to friendship either, but... he is grateful that he found it nonetheless. ]
Is it just you and your father?
no subject
（ he doesn't usually talk much about his sisters, as protective of their memories as he is of them personally. but... with any luck, he's not going to see them here.
his jaw works faintly off to one side, and then: ）
Two younger sisters. They're fraternal twins. Yuzu and Karin.
no subject
It was only me and my father while growing up. I never had any siblings of my own.
no subject
（ literally couldn't be him. without his sisters... he's not sure he ever would have come out of depression after his mom's death. he and his dad were both too lost without her, but having karin and yuzu, barely older than toddlers... it's not like they could let them down, you know? ）
Can't imagine my life without mine, though.