Chronicles of the Realm Walkers: Session 41
General Summary
The Realm Walkers rose the next day and prepared for some much needed downtime. The party all had interest in visiting the Library of Kemmera and followed Rhy up the spiraling staircase built into the wall of the cavern to the balcony protruding from the cavern wall in front of the library entrance. Four pillars carved from the stone cavern create the open door ways into the massive two story space. In front of each pillar is a statue carved from the same stone of what appears to be a drow scholar. There are two statue feminine, Drow one reading from a scroll and the other writing in a book; and two of masculine Drow, one writing on a scroll and the other reading from a book.
Inside the party found eight librarians behind the front desk. Rhy received a very cold welcome from the first librarian who spoke with them as it appeared Rhy being a suspect in the book burning was common knowledge. The party inquired into the nature of the situation in the library proper. The librarian had very little information outside that books were burned and they were very deep in the library. The librarian informed the party that while the librarians did not communicate with the spirits (thought the spirits were capable of normal communication) the Umberhall's did, and that outside Tiefling was last seen past the tenth floor of the library. They were also of the belief the books that were burned on the 7th floor. It was also believed teleporting into the library would be very hard and teleporting out of the library would be chaotic, a person would be unlikely to arrive where they intended.
Theren inquired into a few things: Yua's relationship to dragons, no results, becoming a dragon, the librarians were dumbfounded by this request, and tuning forks and interplanar travel, the librarian informed them that interplanar knowledge was on the 5th floor or lower.
Rhy inquired about a map of the region which she was directed to, and anything about Eragis, which the prove fruitless as the librarian had heard nothing about such a creature
Ranrus inquired about large scale constructs akin to creations on Eberon, and was directed to texts on Gold Worms, a cooperative project between the Duergar, Giants, and some Drow.
Lee was looking for information on various texts they'd encountered as well as ancient history: the Library of Leth, they had no knowledge, the Book of Tamit, which they were not familiar with but they did whisper to them that all information on the Titans were guarded by the spirits past the tenth floor.
Lee further inquired about going into the library and the librarian informed them that they could try to enter but the spirits would attempt to stop them, which led to the librarian explaining that they weren't sure if the spirits could be destroyed since their were 2 or 3 mercenary guarded research trips per year into the library leading one to think that eventually they'd run out of spirits. The librarian believed the spirits maybe gave up or accepted the strength of the ones attacking.
Lee also was looking for creation myths of the world. The librarian took the Realm Walkers to the stack to find the texts on the topics of their interest.
Ranrus found a useful text on the Gold Worms and giant artificey, Theren found a basic bestiary knowledge on dragons, and Lee found a peculiar text on Giants. This text on close reading suggested that some Giants were on Ithica before the arrival of the Giant God on Nowch.
Rhy found maps and spent the time copying them. She found a map pointing to nearby lava and modern world maps to which she focused on making a copy of a map of Her Majesty, the Minotaur's continent.
Having spent several hours reading the party decided to check in with the spirit guarding the entrance into the back of the library.
Theren attempted to offer to help. While the spirt did engage he deflected and avoided giving details and, like the librarians, seem focused on Rhy as a suspect in the damage to the library and the destruction of the texts.
The party started to discuss the situation ignoring but near by the spirit. Eventually Theren insulted the spirits abilities to guard and was attacked as they provoked a moment of rage from the spirit. The party continued to talk near the spirit and Ranrus and Lee noticed a strange look on the spirits face for a brief moment when they mentioned Desmond. Lee inquired and they party learnt that there were indeed two Desmonds, one living whom they'd met and another Desmond, the Guardian of the Library, whom Rhy had seen on her last journey into the library. The party, via minor illusion, determined the two did look different from each other.
The party inquired again about Desmond being a Dragon and got the usual response of confusion as to why a Dragon would want to be in the Underdark. Before they could push the question another spirit arrived stabbing the first through the back, their spectral blade protruding from his chest. The first spirit dissolved to dust before disappearing completely. The second spirit took his place guarding. Not wasting anytime Lee and Theren asked again "Do you know Desmond, why does everyone call him cousin Desmond?", "Why does everyone think Dragons won't go underground?", "Is Desmond a Dragon?". While the spirit did not answer he did have a momentarily quizzical look.
The Realm Walkers having satisfied their research for the day and been properly stone walled by the new spirit started to leave. As they approached the librarians desk the ones that faced into the library looked confused and a little scared. They addressed the party asking how they had gotten into the library. The seven librarians began to converse concluding none of them had seen the party enter the library and going on to say no one had entered the library today. As the confusion grew Lee, noticing one missing librarian use minor image to show the librarian they had spoken to primarily and who had shown them to the various sections for their research to the others. None of the present librarians recognized her.
The party began to question them and theorize. Rhy considered Mindflayers, and modify memory, and even a potential connection between the librarian and the destroyed spirit. The librarians, after further questioning, did seem to remember a suspect of the book burning maybe coming to the library that morning but nothing specific.
Rhy used sending to Elaugard to inform him of what was happening.
Theren blinked and went to the spirit confirming the spirit could see the ethereal and material plane and confirmed the spirit remembered them.
Elaugard responded somewhat annoyed that Rhy returned to the library considering she was a suspect and that he was on his was and told her not to go anywhere or kill any librarians.
Lee investigated the now empty desk spot and found it spotless.
Elaugard arrived, was caught up and then shown the image of and voice of the missing Drow, whom he confirmed had never worked there in his entire life.
Rhy left to go see if the spirit recognized the missing librarian. Taking the appearance as she approached the guard started to lunge at Rhy before stopping but they were clearly having to restrain themselves. Rhy dropped the illusion.
She asked what happened and the spirit didn't know. Rhy called to Elaugard who came, immediately frustrated. Seeing the state of the spirit he inquired immediately the spirit respectfully reiterating his own lack of understanding, "I saw someone I was determined to kill and I don't know why." The spirit prepared to leave to discuss what had happened with Desmond and summoned another another spirit. before leaving he asked Rhy to put on the illusion again the the new spirit had a similar reaction to the first and the the one preparing to leave was once again having to restrain himself, until Rhy dropped the illusion.
Rhy feared this might be caused by Ul'Matar but upon spending time thinking on it, while the effect of the sword could be grand, it specifically would not have these results.
Lee suggested using one of the "Lolth's" diamonds to cast greater restoration to Ranrus. He felt a push back against the spell, a divine resistance. Rhy and Lee immediately jumped a chosen, while Theren made note that Vecna didn't play by the rules.
Mentioning Vecna prompted Elaugard to cover Theren's mouth and redirect his frustration onto them, reminding them the taboo nature of mentioning the God of Secrets in a library.
Lee showed an image of Tholly and asked if the Tiefling in the library looked like them and the librarian noted they had similar eyes. The party discussed Tholly's daughter as a potential cause but also the potential that the chosen of Vecna was here, a thought that Elaugard confirmed would likely explain everything that had occurred but was also terrified him as the chosen of Vecna would be the single most dangerous thing to the library of Kemmera. The idea also made the situation much more complicated as someone with control over secrets made it impossible to discern truth when it came to investigating the situation, as anyone's lack of knowledge or contradictory information could be blamed on Vecna with no way to prove or disprove it.
Rhy reached out to Sasnia, who immediately asked her where she had been. Rhy described the situation and Sasnia noted that this theory made a lot of sense as Rhy sudden absence here felt similar to Rhys absence in the basement of the Murder Mansion before the alter to Vecna was destroyed.
Elaugard tried to figure out why the party had been left with their memories intact and, working under the assumption that this individual was the culprit of the burning, assumed they would try to use Rhy's presence here as a further scapegoat and wondered if they had said anything suspicious or encouraged them to do anything they shouldn't. The party thought on it and Ranrus and Rhy realized that Titans, even in Kemmera would be far from common knowledge; likely unheard of or secret, and that a librarian knew this and would specifically tell them the floor such information was on when the librarians knew so little about the specific locations of information in the library that this was incredibly suspect. Rhy in addition remembered, Elaugard a frequenter of the library new Ilateth as a spirit or water elemental, not as a Titan.
While Elaugard didn't know what to make of that information the party collectively dwelled.
Ranrus asked Elaugard to ask the spirit where book on Titans were and when asked the Spirit told him "I can't tell you anything about that Elaugard ."
Elaugard asked the party not to leave the city, and Rhy, sad at his mention she had hoped to leave to collect lava. Elaugard broke down as he tried to understand and explained allowed how Rhy, a person under suspicion of burning books asked to stay in the city wanted to leave to collect lava. He exclaimed his hatred of her which drew the twins insightful eyes.
Theren warned they were sometimes abducted by Archfey, so Elaugard warned against going near Tideguard Castle as the Fey procession was still there and the Festival of Shadows on going.
Theren once again asked about Desmond potential of being a Dragon and was told Desmond was older then his mother and was as confused as any other at the idea of a Dragon being underground. Theren revealed to him, Much to Lee attempted intervention, that Di was a Dragon, resulting in Elaugard liking not just Ranrus but Theren as well.
Elaugard left the Realm Walkers.
Date: 17th of Sithala, 1437 DC
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