"Now, now, Martha, you can get more with honey than you can with vinegar." Sonliin said. "I am Lord Commander Sonliin from Oerth. As you might have heard a short time ago, a trio of dragons followed us when we arrived from Sigil. They are believed to have been sent here by the Dragon Queen to try preventing us from foiling her plans." he said. "We desire access to the Secret Library as there is an artifact that will aid us in trying to restore balance in the universe. If you know anything about the seals placed by Ioun, Pelor or Erathis, it would help speed us on our quest."

Darratheir who had put his bear skin back on his shoulder stood silently in the back of the head librarian office. Only occasionally, when Martha was referring to her tough friends, he was releasing some grunts to remind their host of his presence. And when the lady was done with the listing of the group, he added innocently "And don't forget the barbarian."

The librarian looks coldly at Martha. "I recommend against threatening me in any way, or you shall find yourselves dealing with the authorities here." He turns and looks as if he is about to leave, just simply ignoring Harald, until....

---

The librarian turns, looking Sonliin up and down. "You are  known to me. Your service to the Lady of Knowledge is appreciated. However, there is an issue with your request. If there were such a secret library, would its secrecy not be worth protecting? Would there not be some proof of worthiness to be admitted to entry? Why would one hypothetically allow this group entry."

He turns and looks at the dragonborn barbarian with a look of genuine curiosity when Darratheir speaks, interestingly enough.

Zog steps forward. "Well, good sir, may I present to you Agon, the arch-wizard? He is reputed to be one of the greatest pratctitioners of his art in the multiverse. Would not such an individual, his bodyguard," he says, indicating Darratheir, "and other associates in a matter requiring only the most REMARKABLE knowledge." He smiles serenely.

Zog had a good line of argument. Flattery almost always worked.

"Indeed." Agon templed his hands. "There are enough clues scattered through this library for a sufficiently dedicated researcher to piece together a very accurate record of what occurred, and why the Gods acted as they did. For better or worse, this group already knows the secret."

He wondered why the librarian was staring at Darratheir. "As for worthy, we are all devoted champions of good, and worthy in different ways. As me anything, and I will answer truly. The other each have their own areas of expertise."

Zog, make a Diplomacy check. Gromley, if you want to chime in, this is a good time. Agon, make one of your patented Diplomacy rolls.

They seemed to be dithering. "Take us to the Secret Library." Agon said with strange harmonics in his voice.


22:46, Today: Agon rolled 43 using 1d20+32 with rolls of 11.  Suggestion: Arcana.

As the Head Librarian seemed interested by his person, Darratheir moved closer to him, close enough to him so he could reveal himself. Removing from his head the part of the bear skin that served as a hood, he offered a hard to support spectacle as his burned skin was appealing to nobody but maybe the undeads.

"Look, wise man. This is what Tiamat did to me when I was just a child. This attack also killed several members of my tribe and a vast portion of the IronThorns forest, where I come from, disappeared in the Great Black Fire. For this malevolent act and many others, I have swore to defeat the Dragon Queen."

He stopped a moment and hid his head again under the bear skin. "That's why we are here. We need your help to restore the divine balance and to make Tiamat pay for her acts."

11:10, Today: Darratheir Burnedbear rolled 18 using 1d20+15 with rolls of 3.  Trying some diplomacy.
I knew I wasn't good at moving someone to pity. Next time, I bang his head agains his desk. :D

'Proof of worthiness'... a divine trial!?!' Martha exclaims, aghast. But she quickly recovers and nods fervently as Agon describes her as a devoted champion of good, deciding to keep quiet - for once - for the good of the group.

But she can't contain herself when Darratheir removes his bearskin. 'She will pay for her crimes, Darratheir.' she whispers to him. 'I can also make you a salve to ease the itching, if you want. But at least scars of the body will heal; those of the mind sometimes don't. I will stand beside you as we take her down, partner.'

This message was last edited by the player at 11:48, Sun 21 Feb 2016.

The Dragonborn nodded to Martha. "Thanks for your offer. But I'm not seeking treatment. I prefer to keep these scars, and the physical pain that come with them, to keep my mind focused and the real objective. Defeat Tiamat. I will know no rest until her or her servant can breath."

Diplomacy as requested:
22:01, Today: Zog the Faceless rolled 39 using 1d20+28 with rolls of 11.  Diplomacy.

In reply to Zog the Faceless (msg # 98):

"I assure you, my good sage of books-my credentials speak for themselves. As the advocate for the noble house I serve, I am well known throughout my world, and a few others. I would be more than happy to show you the seal and my writ of approval..."

OOC-10:14, Today: Gromley Underhill rolled 43 using 1d20+27 with rolls of 16.  Diplomacy to assist Zog (Or visa versa).
This message was last edited by the player at 19:02, Mon 22 Feb 2016.

The man seems mildly entranced by Agon's presence and his words, and the sweet words of Zog and Gromley seem to sway him when he hesitates.

However, instead of making an obvious reference, he refers you to--an apothecary in the city. "Proceed there and ask Eldervaren for the Elixir of Mental Hope. He will then have tests for you to determine how to proceed. Go with Knowledge."

No further questions will sway him. He now simply stands content and insists that he has given you what you need to be on your way.

Martha nods at the man, relieved at the lack of divine trials, and departs.

'You know what this reminds me of a little', she remarks to the group on the way to the apothecary. 'A game called Donkeys and Doorknobs played by some of the nerdier kids in my class back home. At the start of the game they have to run around imaginary towns doing this sort of thing until they get enough points to do better stuff.

In any case, at least we know exactly how to proceed, which is always something. Well done Agon, Zog and Gromley.'

When the head librarian was done with the group, Darratheir bowed slightly before him to thank him and he followed Martha outside. However, he stayed silent when she mentioned her class.

"Thank you very much for your time," Sonliin said to the Head Librarian before departing with the group to find the apothecary. "Lets see if we can get some directions to Eldervaren and the Elixir as I have not been to his shop." he said to the group.

Zog nods. "Agreed. Happily, I am skilled in asking for directions."

He smiles and then suddenly shifts form. He now appears like a young, eager deva male, clutching his hands anxiously. "Come, let's find our way."

He then proceeds to ask for the nearest apothacary's shop.

The gods delighted in testing mortals, and Agon is willing to go along--to a point.  But this could be interesting. "I'd like to see what an apothecary approved by the God of Knowledge sells."

"Well Ah hope it's "Strong Liquor o' Bein' Awfully Clever."

Harald laughed.  "Well, strong liquor at least."

Zog, make a Streetwise check. Agon, make an Arcana check, and if others with knowledge skills like History or Religion want to contribute a roll, this would be an appropriate time.

Sonliin scratched his chin trying to remember if he has heard anything about a shop run by Eldervaren in the city.

19:14, Today: Sonliin rolled 40 using 1d20+24 with rolls of 16.  History.

Noticing Darratheir’s silence Martha asks ‘did you have problems with learning when you were young? You don’t have to say if you don’t want to, but I am interested.’

On the streets asking for direction, Martha muses out loud. ‘You know, I always thought about opening a little shop when I retired. Still thinking about it actually – even though I love teaching the kids all the complaint letters sometimes get to me. I had never thought of an apothecary, but it makes sense, considering my cleric training and knowledge of healing. Do you think it’s too late to start one up, after we kill Tiamat obviously?’

She considers how to locate the shop. ‘Presumably people with health problems would visit the apothecary, let’s see if we can spot any on the streets’. She scans the crowds for likely candidates and sees where they are heading.

13:25, Today: Martha rolled 45 using 1d20+25 with rolls of 20.  Heal check to identify ill people on street. CRITICAL SKILL HIT!

When Martha asked him about his past, Darratheir's first reaction was to turn his head in the opposite direction while grumbling. "Hrmph... From where I come, we learn things the hard way. My tribe is the protector of the great Ironthorns Forest and our role is to watch over it. Us, young Dragonborn are soon taught to take care of nature more than ourselves." He stopped a moment, considering whether he should continue or not before finally speaking again. "And as you might imagine, my apprenticeship has been quite... Hectic, if I must say, and I have soon had to learn everything by myself, alone in the wild."

He made another pause, looking all around him, his eyes glowing by the sunlight every time he was moving his head. "And to be honest, I never felt good outside of nature. I don't like to be in a city for too long and this crowded place starts to bother me."

Zog is rather excited at the idea of having to find something exotic like this apothacary's shop, so he wracks his memory for every good-aligned magical component that could be part of an exotic potion that one might find on the home plane of the Benign Powers. He comes up with a pretty good range of suggestions.

You and me, Martha--we critted it! Arcana of 39.
20:32, Today: Zog the Faceless rolled 39 using 1d20+19 with rolls of 20.  Assisting Agon, if feasible

Agon searched his memory for what he knew of this particular shop, and relied heavily on the 6th sense that drew magic user to magic as he wandered aimlessly through the city like a lost dog.

Arcana +44, plus any assistance from Zog