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THE STOLEN TOMES

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.

“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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Soulsteel, hm? Such an oddity doesn't exist within Augustine's world, at least not in the desired context. While there exists a particular kind of steel that can trap the souls of the living within its steel, he doubts that's the material that Cedrik seeks. Even so, he doubts such a material exists here naturally within the Netherworld despite the worrying list of growing oddities that do exist.

Nevertheless, Augustine could barely take his eyes off the journal once Cedrik opened it. He leans heavily against the adventurer as he attempts to read the sloppy scrawls. It's a little difficult to make out the words but once he sees something mentioning an illness, Augustine cannot help but look surprised.]

…They were sick. [He mutters while reading the notes.] Sick with the same illness Stygia faces now.

[A look of dread lingers on Augustine's face once he notices the brown little splotches on the brittle pages.]

Whoever they were, they...probably didn't make it.

[ Cedrik's good humor slowly fades as he reads over the same notes. It's hard to get the full picture just from the few pages, but it looks to be a record of symptoms as they worsened over time. He almost puts it back--but another page catches his eye. ]

They wrote down the treatments they tried.

[ Even if none of them turned out to be a true cure... ]

We'd best look over this. Perhaps we can find something to ease the symptoms...at the very least, it will tell us what to rule out.

[ As Cedrik starts to close the journal and offer it to Augustine, something falls from between the final pages. A flash of white fluttering to the ground...

A lily. Pressed flat over the years. ]

...

[A deep soul crushing sadness overwhelms Augustine as the long-forgotten flower flutters aimlessly towards the floor. Who knows how long that lily laid tucked within the pages of this leather bound journal. Time itself seems to stand still here within the Netherworld. While the days constantly come and go, there’s just no telling how many decades or even centuries it’s been since the owner of that journal last drew breath. It’s a sobering thought, one that borders on despair.

He wordlessly lets go of Cedrik as he kneels down. His entire body is aching something fierce but he feels compelled to pick up this little white flower. He carefully scoops it up into his hands, careful not to damage the delicate dried petals.]

A white lily. [He mutters while examining the flower with a look of gloom upon his face.] How fitting.

Such a flower symbolizes both death and rebirth.

[Augustine lets out a sigh as he rises to his feet. He stumbles a little but manages without too much fuss. However, it’s evident from the dhampir’s forlorn expression that he isn’t well.]

If…I was to die here, would I be reborn anew?

[ Even on Cedrik's star, white lilies are associated with death, and he's left his fair share at graves over the years. The moment Augustine fixates on the pressed flower he can guess where his thoughts are turning even before he asks.

Tucking the book away, Cedrik reaches for his friend. One hand taking him above the elbow to keep him steady, the other coming around to his shoulder, squeezing it tight. ]

You won't find out. That is why we've come, remember? To find a cure.

[ And they will find one as long as they don't give up the search. Their Shadows may hiss and murmur, they may even speak true, but as long as they keep moving forward, they have hope.

Somehow...it's so much easier to remember that when he's remembering it for another's sake. ]

[His red gaze remains fixated on the gentle white petals for a time, idly wondering if he’ll share the fate as the man before him. It’s a sickening thought, one that makes Augustine a bit queasy. Vampires like him are almost as eternal as time itself. They don’t typically fall prey to illness or disease, so the very idea of him being sick like this honestly terrifies him. While Augustine might only be half-vampire, he never knew sickness throughout his long life.]

Yes, that’s…why we came here.

[ He whispers as he allows for Cedrik to help him up.]

It’s too soon to give into despair, especially since there’s much for us to learn.

[Try as he might to remain positive, Augustine cannot help but feel as if the Sword of Damocles is hanging right above his head. What will become of them if they don’t manage to find a cure? Then what? It’s a ghoulish thought but Augustine is beginning to think he should make a will of some sort. The last testimony of the dhampir once known as Augustine Gheorghe Rosethrawn.]

We’ll…find something, at least.

[He gives his friend a somber smile.]

Let us hope that our little rendezvous here proves fruitful.

Far too soon, I agree.

[ The ideal time to fall into despair is, in Cedrik's opinion, 'never'. But that can be a tall ask at times...especially current times. He gives Augustine's shoulder one more reassuring squeeze and pat before discreetly hooking his arm around Augustine's, resuming the escort from before. ]

Come, let's find some place comfortable and look over our findings so far, eh? If you like, I don't mind scouring the shelves while you do the hard work of reading it all.

[ It may be easier to keep Augustine distracted from his darker thoughts if the man is up and about, but they do need to keep his physical health as well as his mental health in mind. If he's struggling to keep his balance and running out of breath so easily, sitting and resting is probably the better option.

Far from the first time in his life, Cedrik wished he had a better aptitude for healing... ]