A Quantitative Analysis of the Effect of Lay Lines on Transdimensional Scrying
There is no Truth, Only Observations
Gleanings from Rary's Personal Journal
The Traitor's Journal, Annotated
The Plane of Truth
Dealing with Planar Allies

Saran to clerk: May one look into the unknown past as well as the unknown future?

(Note: while the man talks he minor illusions imagery in a similar way that a teacher may draw on a whiteboard while teaching. But it is 3d and totally awesome.)

The old man says, Well, yes. And no.

In both of these things it is possible, and something that everyone does, all the time. You cast your mind backward into your memory and recall events. But even Rary himself would admit that the mind is not a perfect vessel. But like scars from a wound all things leave their mark, magic can be used to read these marks. Some things are better at retaining an accurate record. For instance, if a man walks across muddy ground, the mud will bear a record of his passing. Easy to read and fairly accurate. If that man walks across flagstone, the task becomes more difficult, unless his feet are still muddy I suppose.

The man chuckles.

With the aid of magic, objects, or people -some focus- may be read, even if they bear no mark we can see with our eyes. Some things take better records, the mind does a fair job, as do items prepared for such a task. Some become infused with the passion of the moment and are thus easier to read.

It is mainly a question of focus. I cannot tell you all that has happened in the last second, because the last second encompasses all reality, and unreality. I couldn't even tell you what happened in the last second in this town, or this street, or even this temple. I can perhaps give a somewhat incomplete account of this room, based on observation, and my faulty memory.

The future is likewise similar. I can tell you what will, very likely, happen with this book, he gestures to a book, in the next second. But, I don't know. Maybe you will surprise me and nudge it. If I can control the influences around a focus, I might have a better chance. Or if I know how those other things will act. Everything in the future is a haze of infinite possibilities and interactions.

Again, magic mitigates the uncertainty by combining the likely actions an interaction of the objects or people in question. Some great thinkers created ways to divine the inner nature of people, materials, and all known things to try and know their tendency toward chaos, law, good and evil. Also, of course, thier physical properties. These spells combine these knowns to predict a likely outcome, in much the same way our minds do.

But the only truth you will find is in present, though we see as through glass darkly.

Perhaps there is something you wish to know.

I wish to know the circumstances around a deed. It was found among my father's belongings, who has passed on.

The man gestures for you to give him the deed. He takes it and starts looking it over.

Let's see, I don't recognize this place, sounds Thayan, perhaps in Priador.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/..._Realms_nations#Thay

Let's see, who is 'Saran Helder'? Is that your dead father? He looks up at you and raises an eyebrow.

That is my name.

Well, I should warn you that if this is Thayan, it may be illegal to own land there, assuming this is authentic. Your question implies that you seek some magical divination to be done, but let's run down the mundane paths as much as possible first- fix some of those variables. I believe I have an atlas aorund here somewhere...

He shuffles some books around on his desk a moment, shakes his head, then walks up the stairs onto the raised platform. (assuming you follow) He walks to a large table covered in a giant map of the continent(s). The map has no labels, but you see symbol of Boccob (eye within a pentagram) scattered throughout the lands. On top of the map there are several contraptions that appear to be different sized lenses being held at varying distances above the face of the map by wire frames. He slides one over the map and you see it reveals the names of cities and towns on the map where you look through the lens.

He brings it to a region which you can see through the lens is labeled Thay and he starts inspecting coastal towns.

Ha! I knew it. It seems you own land on the coast of Thay, possibly a port. Very valuable indeed, but given their propensity to make war and engage in the slave trade, perhaps more of a liability to an illuskan, if I may venture a guess.

I can cast some divinations on this note, but such services aren't free. Tell me, where are you from?

(I don't want to play both sides of the table, but I assume you tell him...)

You see, I have this little project here, he gestures over the map, I have identified all the locations I could that are, or have been associated with Boccob. He sweeps his hand of the map again and several of the symbols begin to glow. These ones are mostly active temples and libraries, and other noteworthy buildings or sites. The others require investigation. Some are where tmeples used to be, important locations in the histories of Boccob, homes of powerful followers of Boccob who may or may not remain, or anything else I could come up with.

As he's talking, he brings the lens over to your home location. Not far from your home town there is a non-glowing symbol of Boccob.

Are you familiar with this location?

(all you know is that it is within a forest that is not particularly noteworthy or dangerous, a common hunting ground)

After you answer (however you want), he points out another non-glowing symbol near to where you are and says, If you go and investigate this location, I will perform divinations in regards to this deed. In either case, you need not worry, I will not divulge your alleged association with Thay.

Saran tells the man where he is from with slight hesitation.



Saran answers, "It is within a forest, not particularly noteworthy or dangerous, a common hunting ground."



Saran replies, somewhat reluctant to trust this stranger, and somewhat eager to test himself, and for an opportunity to learn about his father's deed in his name, "Sir, you know much about me already, and I very much appreciate your discretion, but I don't even know your name. I would be willing to investigate both locations you have indicated in exchange on the first hand, for some knowledge of who's service I would be in."

You would be in my service primarily, also in the service of Boccob... or at least his church. I supposed he knows all there is to know about these places, but it is possible he no longer sees them. You would also be in service to yourself, as there may be great mysteries waiting to be unlocked, and I perceive you to be a seeker of knowledge.

My name is Francis, in addition to minding the Observatorium I also tutor some students in the city. I have been practicing magic as a wizard for 50 years. I started my training in Waterdeep under the tutelage of Grimdig the Sorcerer. I serve Boccob in the interest of furthering my understanding of the universe.

Do you practice the arcane arts? You seem to have that spark about you.

I am a practitioner, though not of comparable experience.  I studied with Imiydor at the institute in Luskan.
Saran casts minor illusion cantrip to make an image of the institute in a manner similar to what Francis did to help illustrate his explanations.
I am eager to learn not only about my deed, but of the places you indicate as of interest, and accept your terms Master Francis.  I shall investigate these locations and return as quickly as haste permits

Excellent. He walks around to the other side of the table and opens a book. The pages are mostly blank, with vertical lines forming columns, each with a heading. The first column says "Location", the next says "Explorer", then "Scry Indices", Then "Notes".

He says, you know what the secret to advancement is? Disciplined record keeping.

Under the Location column there are alpha-numeric combinations, which you surmise correspond to locations on a map. In name column next to one of the locations he writes your name after confirming the spelling S-A-R-A-N H-E-L-D-ER?

Next to the table, there is what appears to be a large wooden chest of drawers. In modern parlance, it looks like those cabinets that hold library index cards, but with smaller drawers.

He pulls out one of the long, skinny drawers and it contains several gold coins, each sitting in a felt, coin-sized depression. Each depression is connected by a slot to make for easy retrieval of the coins. He begins to pick out the coins and you see that they are stacked two deep. He takes out 10 pairs of coins and lays them on the map table. Each coin bears the symbol of Boccob on one side and a numeric code on the other. Each pair has the same numeric code.

Already sitting on the table is a box about the size of your fist. On one side of the box is a slot and on the top is a small hole. Francis puts one of the coins into the slot and says, revelo. A three-dimensional image projects out of the hole showing the room you are now in in real time.

Francis picks up the corresponding coin and waves it side to side, while doing so, the image shifts in such a way that the coin is always at the center.

The coins are mundane, that magic is in the box. The trick is that it scrys the location of the other coin. The number on coin is to make each coin pair unique and to aid in indexing. Quite ingenius, if I may say so.

He begins transcribing the numbers in the "Scry Indecis" column. Your task is first to find these sights of interest, and then to place these coins in advantageous positions for remote observation. There is a spell I would like you to learn which will aid in this endeavor. A simple thing really. It creates a depression in common materials such as wood and stone, and most metals, in which you may affix one of these coins, or a similarly sized object, I suppose.

The spell is actually generic enough that you may also create a boss from the material and can determine the size and shape of the modification. I would ask that for this purpose you always create a negative of the numeric code, so if the coin is ever removed, as similar focus may still be used, though not in the manner I just showed you.

I will note for your own edification that so marking surfaces in this way can be used as a reference to scry on certain areas and may aid you in your adventures.

You may add this spell to your spellbook (Francis provides the necessary ink, scrap paper, wooden "blanks" to practice on, and a place to study so the process will cost no gold and 2 hours).



Francis gives you 10 of the unique scrying coins and says, Why don't you go to the closer site and check back in before going to the site outside of Luskan?

Sorry for taking so many liberties with your side of the table, I figure that at the point of you accepting the quest(s) that your compliance is a foregone conclusion for some of these things. You can work on the spell now (it is still morning) or go and do something else. Francis has not given you a timeframe. You are free to use the library or whatever you want.

After learning the spell well enough to be confident in its use, Saran heads out to the first location, having already stated he would try to make haste.

Francis copies the portion of the map you will need and you head out of Neverwinter, buying some rations on your way out (do you get anything else? Not sure what all comes in a scholar's pack...).

A few hours into your journey along the well worn road from Neverwinter to Luskan (at some point in the next day you will need to diverge from the path into the wilderness). You are about round a bend when you hear laughing up ahead on the road, out of sight and maybe 100' away.

It is about 3pm.

Not much there that's useful for traveling. Just rations is fine though, I think.

I meant to mention that Saran would have summoned his Raven familiar at the onset of his journey.  He asks the Raven to fly up ahead and uses its senses to see and hear what is up ahead.  I assume nothing would take notice of a raven flying around.

You see two men seated on a two-horse cart, a merchant and his guard by the looks. They both have their hands in the air in the universal "I surrender" pose, though the merchant appears to be grumbling angrily at the guard.

To the right of the guard there is a rough looking man in studded leather armor standing about 30' away, pointing a heavy crossbow at the guard.

About 10' from the merchant, of the left side, there is another bandit with a short sword drawn gesturing with his free hand to the merchant as if to have him toss something to him. Short sword man is the source of the laughter.

Saran moves within range (90') and casts sleep on the crossbowman (affecting up to 21 HP of creatures within 20' of crossbowman), and yells loudly, "Halt, in the name of the law!"

You cast Sleep, which makes a *foomp* sound and the bandit crumbles to the ground.

Initiative time.
Seran 24
Guard 21 (natural 20)
Bandit 9
Merchant 4

Because the Guard got a natural 20, I am going to bump him to first (this round only).

The guard springs into action, grabbing up a crossbow and firing at the still-awake bandit.

The bolt hits the bandits outstretched empty hand and passes clean through with a spray of blood (11 dam). The guard reloads.

Your turn.

Saran Readies firebolt. If the bandit moves to attack, blast him, if he runs away, let him go.
Attack (if triggered): 23
damage (if triggered): 6

He does indeed run.

The merchant powers.

Your turn again.

What does this mean?

Saran let's him run, but stays ready to blast anything that should look like it needs blasting.

The guard hops down and walks over and hacks at the sleeping bandito with a longsword. Who subsequently wakes up, stands up and dodges away from the guard 15' into the trees.

Your turn.

Saran asks the Raven to follow the bandit who ran off first and waits to see what unfolds with the others.

The guard runs after the second bandit and you hear murder off stage right.

You send the raven to follow the first bandit.

The merchant says, thank goodness you came!

"Yes, it's a good thing. These roads are dangerous. Where are you headed?

Headed to Neverwinter from Luskan, trade merchant. He gestures to the cart which is loaded and covered by tarps.

He yells to his guard, Light man, aren't you the looter?! You see that the guard is returning with a coin sack, the bandit's short sword, and corssbow.

What? He don't need these. Almost took his boots too, they look nice. Wrong size though. He holds up one of his freakishly petite feet.

After a few awkward moments the merchant says, Well thanks again for the help. Be safe. and the two climb on to the cart.