IC - [D&D 5E] Candlekeep Mysteries

[Pyrophilios]

Kynos frowned once again. A library inside a keep that basically was nothing but a library seemed excessive to him. Still, at least it didn't look like there were any nasty surprises here - unless one of the book happened to be bound in human skin...

"Let's wait with diving into the books until we have explored the mansion in full. We wouldn't want to be surprised while we are concentrated on reading."
He opened the door to the hallway and went for the second door that they had passed.

[munimortal]

Sir Kynos passes through the room, and is about to open the southern door, when a creaking noise is heard. Patricia, much closer to the bookshelf sees the bookshelf falling towards herself and Lady Runa as books fly off the shelves and take flight.

Spoiler: ooc

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I need dex saving throws from Patricia and Runa, and initiative from everyone!

[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

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Ini
(1d20-1)[10]

Kynos whirled around, looking wildly for the source of the disturbance.

[Archemist]

Patricia lets out a lizard-like chirp of surprise as she is entirely unprepared for the books to move on their own.

[Ramsus]

Lady Runa of House Ouss’viir Half-Orc Bard AC: 15 HP: 10/10 PP: 11 PIv: 10 PIs: 13 Conditions: -- Concentration: -- Runa had been looking right at the shelf at the time and manages to leap back out of the way. ((I assume.)) Spoiler Show Dex save: (1d20+5)[21] Initiative: (1d20+3)[8] Usually it's good to tell us what the DC of the saves are so we can know if we passed/failed and what the consequences are of each without you having to make a second post just for that information.

[munimortal]

The bookcase falls the the ground pinning Patricia to the floor as Lady Runa nimbly escapes. In the place of the bookshelf is a swarm of flying books which does not look friendly.

Spoiler: Map/Escape

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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
everyone should be able to edit it. Thanks Ramsus for that sheet.

Patricia the escape check is Athletics DC 13.

[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

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I haven't seen Ini for the Book Swarm, but just in case, here is my action for the round
Attack:
(1d20)[19]+5, damage (1d8)[3]+3, if crit (1d8)[1]

Kynos turned around, shield high, drawing his weapon as he moved and hacked at the flying books, trying to draw its attention away from his trapped companion.

[munimortal]

Before anyone else can react, the books fly towards Sir Kynos, attempting to bash him with their covers. But are blocked by his shield and armor.

Spoiler: Rolls

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(1d20+3)[15] damage (2d4+1)[6]


Besmara is Next

[Dimers]

"Abyss and all the Hells, that didn't sound good," Eleazar mutters as he readies his shield and weapon. He tries to get a look at what's happening through the doorway.

[munimortal]

Sir Kynos's blade slashes through several of the swarming books, and they fall to the floor.

Spoiler: Next Turn

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Patricia is up next, followed by Lady Runa.

[Archemist]

With a quick shake of her head to overcome the surprise, and a mighty "ooph!", Patricia bench-presses the bookshelf off of herself and flips it back towards the book-swarm. Her dragonborn physique is surprisingly muscular for a supposed book-nerd wizard. She leaps to her feet, ready for whatever the books try next.

Spoiler: OOC

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(She rolled well on the Athletics check in the OOC thread, but I think there's not much else she can do on her turn.

[Ramsus]

Lady Runa of House Ouss’viir Half-Orc Bard AC: 15 HP: 10/10 PP: 11 PIv: 10 PIs: 13 Conditions: -- Concentration: -- Runa, not entirely sure this will work, takes out her lute. She strums a few bars, trying to imbue them with the little bardic magic she knows. In this case she's just trying to use the magic to disorient the books. But she's not so sure if this will work on animate objects. And of course, this is the first time she's used her magic in a dangerous situation. Spoiler Show Casting Vicious Mockery on Book Swarm: DC 14 Wis save or take (1d4)[4] psychic damage and have disadvantage on their next attack roll.

[munimortal]

The swarm of books hear Lady Runa say, "Are you sure you want to borrow all those books? You don’t want to overdue it." And then the whole party can see a shudder go through all of the swarming books, as a few of the smaller short stories fall out of the air.

Spoiler: Next Up

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It is Eleazar's Turn

[Dimers]

Once Eleazar gets a view of what's happening, he remembers being told of a similar magical trap in the Vault of the Sages -- but he was never told how to disarm it, of course, that being far above his license in the library. He elects to follow Kynos's example, and moves in to take his mace to the flying tomes. "Hyahh!"

Spoiler: mechanics

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I moved my token on the board, no problem making it far enough to attack in the same round. (d20+4)[9] to hit, with a hit dealing (d6+2)[7] nonmagical bludgeoning.

[munimortal]

Eleazar's attack flies through the swarm of books, now at half strength, but does not hit any. The books attempt once again to swat at Sir Kynos...

Spoiler: books

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attack at disadvantage (1d20+3)[4]/(1d20+3)[23]
damage (2d4+1)[5]

But bounce harmlessly off his armor. With Besmara to act.

[Pyrophilios]

Undeterred by the strange malevolent collection of books, Kynos pressed the advantage and slashed left and right throught he fluttering foliants.

Spoiler

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(1d20+5)[6], damage (1d8+3)[6], if crit [roll1d8[/roll]

But his enthusiasm proved to be misplaced: Wild swings only increased the chaos of the swarm and didn't manage to score any hits.

[Archemist]

Patricia sees the books swirl around and she closes one eye, tilting her head. Her side-eye is almost as devastating as her cold magic, and a frost begins forming over a few of the books in the swarm.

Spoiler: OOC - Frostbite

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It should make a Con save DC 13 or take (1d6)[4] cold damage. Theoretically, if it fails it also has disadvantage on its next weapon attack but I'm not sure if what it does counts as a weapon or not.

[munimortal]

Frost forms around several of the books as they fall. Lady Runa is next to act.

[Ramsus]

Lady Runa of House Ouss’viir Half-Orc Bard AC: 15 HP: 10/10 PP: 11 PIv: 10 PIs: 13 Conditions: -- Concentration: -- Runa keeps playing her lute, hoping to bookend this encounter with a song. Spoiler Show Casting Vicious Mockery on Book Swarm: DC 14 Wis save or take (1d4)[2] psychic damage and have disadvantage on their next attack roll.

[munimortal]

Spoiler: Saving Throw

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Wis Saving: (1d20)[6]

Even more books fall from the swarm. About a third of the original books remain flying, and it is Eleazar's Turn.

Spoiler: Turn Order

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Just so this is easier to find...

Eleazar, Enemy Turn, Kynos, Patricia, Runa

[Dimers]

Eleazar takes careful aim for a couple swats at the fleet flying folios, trying to block out any thoughts of librarianly ethics.

Spoiler: mechanics

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Hey, batter batter batter, suh-WING batter! (d20+4)[23] to hit, (d6+2)[7] damage.

[munimortal]

With his mighty swing Eleazar slashes through the remaining books sending pages flying through the air. Bits of paper and dust fill the air where the battle took place, but otherwise, silence returns to the room.

Spoiler: OOC

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Combat over!

[Pyrophilios]

Kynos looked around, not putting his sword away: "Well, it turns out that there are in fact dangers around. Let's get on with it and knock out whatever is around here separately before they can combine forces."
He turned once more to the door to leave the room and open the next - provided the others followed.

[Ramsus]

Lady Runa of House Ouss’viir Half-Orc Bard AC: 15 HP: 10/10 PP: 11 PIv: 10 PIs: 13 Conditions: -- Concentration: -- "After you." Runa says with an accompanying motion of her hand, thinking that this isn't a "ladies first" sort of situation.

[Archemist]

Patricia brushes herself off, smoothing her skirts. She remains in the room and searches the library for a minute, examining the fallen books and other shelves. She says, “Well, that wasn’t a very friendly welcome. Between Matreous’ imp statue and these flying books, this Fistandia person is either protecting something quite valuable or messing about recklessly with magic. We should be careful and not hasty.”

She is trying to seem calm but is obviously a little rattled from the sudden combat. In the moment, her adrenaline and confidence had let her face down the books, but now that there is a minute to reflect, those are fading.

[munimortal]

Sir Kynos and Lady Runa head for the door, but Patricia stays behind to peruse the shelves in this library. The shelves contain books on many subjects: arcana, natural science, religion, astrology, and planar travel, as well as volumes of poetry, mythology, and folk tales. One book in particular catches your eye. It appears to be the same book that brought you to this mansion. The tome is made of ornately tooled leather decorated with gold filigree, the cover features an illustration of an imposing looking spellcaster, but unlike the original this one features a large letter "R" on the spine of the book. Other than the numerous books, one item catches your attention. On a small desk in the northeast corner of the room, a large piece of vellum with a map of of the area around Candlekeep, as well as some notes. There is also a small pouch which contains 50gp.

[Archemist]

One book in particular catches your eye. It appears to be the same book that brought you to this mansion. The tome is made of ornately tooled leather decorated with gold filigree, the cover features an illustration of an imposing looking spellcaster, but unlike the original this one features a large letter "R" on the spine of the book. Other than the numerous books, one item catches your attention. On a small desk in the northeast corner of the room, a large piece of vellum with a map of of the area around Candlekeep, as well as some notes. There is also a small pouch which contains 50gp.

Patricia picks up the "R" book gingerly, as if it might start moving and swarming. When it (presumably) does not attack, she opens it and flips through it, checking for any notes about portals, passwords, locks, etc. She calls Eleazar over and says, "Come look at this book, doesn't it seem like the one from the study? And this map - does it seem accurate to you?" If he studies the map, she also attempts to pocket the pouch of coins.

Spoiler: OOC

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Sleight of Hand: (1d20+4)[7]. Also Arcana for checking out the R book: (1d20+5)[14].

[munimortal]

When you open the tome, you discover that all the pages are blank.

Spoiler: OOC

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Eleazar, the map seems accurate to you at first glance, but you can roll investigation, or history to scrutinize it. Also, you totally notice Patricia trying to pocket a pouch of some kind.

[Pyrophilios]

Kynos looked around: "Come on, we have likely a lot of time ahead of us before we can get out of here again - the books will still be here later."

[Archemist]

Kynos looked around: "Come on, we have likely a lot of time ahead of us before we can get out of here again - the books will still be here later."

"Coming!" Patricia calls ahead. She moves to join them back in the hallway to try the next door down. "We found a book that may be important - I'm wondering if we need to do something to get its text to appear." She acts nonchalant about the purse thing for the moment.