In reply to Twiz (msg # 655):

"My card." Fithelos taps his fingers against his thumb. "I suppose I will have to return to Erl and get one," he turns to head toward the exit. "I will return. Though, probably not to this specific section."



So, whatever you add or take away--that's just 5th edition. Sure, I know Forgotten Realms/Dragonlance/Greyhawk lore, but what I like about 5th is that it combines all of them into one. Sure they're all different worlds, but if you want them connected, they can be through planar travel or parallel dimensions...whatever you want. So if Britannia was added somewhere along the way, it makes complete sense.

I'm running a campaign right now that's been going on for almost 2 years, the entire thing takes place on a world/plane called Tarrandria. There was a massive war taking place on Abeir-Toril, and so a huge exodus took place.
The players are the descendants of those who crossed over.
I did this specifically so my players couldn't looks up everything online. There's nowhere to get the answers for the adventure. Sure, they can look up some monsters, but for the most part, it is all foreign and new with bits of the past blended in.

So the way I see it--what I know may or may not work in your setting. If Brittania is not only within this marble, but on its own plane entirely while existing on Faerun (like the ethereal plane for example), maybe deadzones won't work.

Fithelos (like myself) are using what we know to get to a solution. But this is your campaign, the world works how you want it too. I mean, it does suck when A LOT is changed simply because the story isn't going the way you want it, but that's part of the deal in playing this game.

Anyhow, nothing to worry about. So long as you don't include any complex math problems in order to move forward, I'll be having fun.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:15, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 656):

A magic dead zone will work. I don't want Fithelos to travel to the middle of the ocean and not have what he needs. As long as there is decent logic on what he does to find it and bring it back, it will work. How it works changes significantly though.
And you and Fithelos are sure now it is not in another plane, which might make it easiest to find.
What I really like is that Fithelos is soooo tired of gods that even when someone he started to trust (I think) got a sign from her God, he still just said screw it, I'm doing my own thing.

I typed a ton of stuff up right now, but deleted it because I don't want to give away anything how the campaign ends. Suffice it to say, there's a lot of stories going on right now that will smash into each other at the very end.

I keep them moving forward with Fithelos's story in case he bumps into them.

Though Fithelos doesn't know where an exit is, he turns and a door is waiting for him. Before he steps toward it, a small book falls to the floor in front of him open.

The librarian walks to pick out up, "I'm sorry, that's never happened before...ever." She picks it up and reads the page it opened to, "The day dome came down and my son was taken from me, a strange man had come to visit, no doubt on his way fight Fraiti. At first I thought he had won, but we now know Fraiti still lives in Destard. I still have the toy and precious stones the man gave us that day, but I just can't remember his name. Firthos, Fetheros, Fithelos... No matter what I come up with, no one seems to have ever heard of him.
A diary for a man named Lomon. He appears to still live in Trinsic now."
Another stabbing memory, of a boy fighting fake orcs with a fake sword. You hand his father some gems and walk away.  You also recognize Trinsic as a name of a city on the map of Britannia.
The librarian," Well, I guess I'll get this shelved and let you be on your way.

In reply to Twiz (msg # 657):

"Wait," Fithelos says. "Is there more?" trying not to sound desperate and hearing the familiar names he holds out his hand to receive the book. "You said this has never happened before, right? Maybe it means something. Or perhaps, I was simply meant to find it. It does sound like this Lomon might know me."

He pauses.

"Fight Fraiti," he says quietly. "The dragon I saw?" he reaches down and touches the wound that appeared out of nowhere on his leg when he woke up. "I don't have anything against dragonkind...I'm not a dragonslayer..."

Gods and devils this is frustrating, he thinks to himself. I'm getting closer though, of that I am certain. To what, I do not know. The pieces I have, don't make any sense...

He'll read the diary if the Librarian will allow it. If not, he'll find Erl to get another card on the subject 'The Time of Troubles', 'The Shadow Weave' and 'Rite of Unwinding'.

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 658):

She hands it to you, "I'm sorry, but that's all there is. It looks fresh. He probably just started writing it. People tend to start documenting their obsessions."
When you exit the library, all of the historians pole their heads out. They look confused.
Erl walks up to you, "Did you give up?"

In reply to Twiz (msg # 659):

"Give up?" Fithelos asks in confusion. "I need another card. I need to find information over The Time of Troubles, The Shadow Weave and the Rite of Unwinding. Information over these shouldn't be as hard to locate as they are well known events and studied topics," he looks at the historians, arches an eyebrow and adds "Also, I need detailed maps of the Trackless Sea. Specifically covering the areas from Gudbrandstad to...oh hells. The Evermeet???"

Fithelos curses, as he is now taking the time to go over what he read from earlier. "Thank the gods I won't be going there...Elves..." he shakes his head. "Roughly 450 miles west Gudbrandstad and 500 miles east of Leuthilspar. There's most likely nothing but ocean mapped between the two, but if there is anything, I want to know about it."

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 660):

"You were only in there for a few hours.  No one has ever found their shelf that fast.  Not even Bran. Honestly, you were so ready to go, I didn't get to tell you anything about the Library. How many tests did you have??"

"I can get you a detailed map of the world here.  You don't need to go back in for that.  I mean, you should always check with a historian before going into the Library.  Each time you enter the Library, the tests get harder.  Why don't you relax here a little bit?  You can debrief us one what you found, and we can see if any historian already has the information you need.  You'll have to narrow it down a little bit.  Those are fairly broad topics."

In reply to Twiz (msg # 661):

"I can understand the Time of Troubles being a broad topic as it was an era...but the Shadow Weave and the Rite of Unwinding?" Fithelos gets slightly irritable at the sound of relaxing. He was here, now, where the information was. He'd sleep when he had his answers. For all he knew the whole damn place would disappear like the rest of his memories the moment he shut his eyes.

"Perhaps having Lunk with me made the tests easier," Fithelos suggested. "Either way, I will not rest until I've acquired the knowledge I need. If nothing else, I need information over the Rite of Unwinding. They were used around the same time Halaster Blackcloak of Undermountain supposedly died," --Fithelos says, refusing to believe the Mad Mage dead (he didn't care if others called him a conspiracy theorist. The Lord of Undermountain would not be killed in an earthquake).

"The ritual effected the entire region known as Shadowdale. Surely there was extensive research done being the homeland of the most powerful sage in all of Faerun. At least, I would imagine so. If this place doesn't have it, no library I can get access too will."

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 662):

As Erl tries to reply, but a little shook by your demeanor, Bran shows up.
Bran, "Look, you're not talking normal people here.  We're Historians using the Infinite Library.  Something that seems like a small moment in time has a huge ripple effect throughout history.  Saying, 'I need information on the Rite of Unwinding', is like asking a chef about flour.  I pick up whatever flour is available at the closest store, but a baker for a king would be interested in the fields the grain grew.  The type of soil may play some role in the final flavor of the bread.  So, do you want to know who created the ritual, how it was created, how to perform it, the implications of performing it, the side effects, how many times it's been performed, what's the best time of day to perform it, should you dress up for it...?"  He looks to Erl, "Get Kulweg to debrief him and Marla for information on rituals."  Erl does as he is told.
To you, "I see you've brought back a few texts. I mean, I'm assuming you brought them with you.  We'd very much appreciate a chance to read over them before you leave.  Your pursuit of knowledge is tied to ours, we may be able to unlock more secrets for your journey with what you've brought back."

"I can't imagine the library not having the information.  Unless it happened before even the simplest of written language in the material plane, somebody wrote about it.  We've even found events that, as far as we can tell have never happened, place that never existed, or entire generations of people that were never born.  The library doesn't seem to care if something or someone was removed from existence in every mind and book ever written.  It keeps the record."


A few moments later, a gnome and Erl return. Erl, This is Kulweg, he has a few questions for your trip to the library.  Marla is pulling some texts she has on the Rite of Unwinding.  She said we also have some plants in the garden that are grown in dead-magic zones, but they aren't allowed near the library."

In reply to Twiz (msg # 663):

Fithelos is lost in thought about the Library keeping record of everything--literally--that was ever written, be it true or not.
"Do you mean to say, if Karsus kept a journal, it would be here? Or if someone wrote tails of the Imaskari Empire, or notes on how to uncover the magic of the Annauroch Desert, or when Thultanthar would make its next appearance from the Shadow Plane, it will be inside this library?..."
His eyes widen. "...Or...notes on how Japheth Donnard broke his pact with Neifion???"

He collapses to the nearest seat.
Did he have time to read all he needed too?

He turns his focus to the gnome.

"Plants growing in a dead zone??" Fithelos says with more than a little surprise in his voice. "With the Weave flowing through all living things...I did not think plant growth would be possible...though...I suppose we can survive without the Weave...I guess I never thought about it. Yes, I would very much like to see them."

Getting back to Bran last about his requests, Fithelos looks at him and says, "Regardless of how complicated it is, I'll study all the fields, soil, length, time, color, types of grain and whatever else is needed--metaphorically speaking--until I've gained the knowledge I came seeking.
"I'll gladly accept any help you have to offer; but if all you're going to do is tell me how impossible it is, you're wasting your time."

(If Fithelos is allowed to bring back the texts he's read, he would have. I assumed the Librarian would take everything from me before leaving the section. If not, he would have walked out with them.)

He'd set the books down on the nearest table or if Bran was sitting at a table, he'd plop them down right in front of the archivist.

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 664):


Bran frowns, "I know what you're thinking, but if you use the Library too much for personal gain, the riddles quickly become unsolvable.  That's how most Historians are lost.  We won't stop you of course, but maybe stick with your current objective.  The Library seems to have considered it worthy, letting you find your destination so quickly."



Bran will sit down and start going through the texts.  The only thing I think you brought back that would be of interest is the book of rituals.  Everything else seems to be more about your personal journey than general knowledge.  You hear him mutter something like, "Marla will want to see this" as he turns the pages.  You notice he's donned a pair of gloves and is being much more delicate with the book than you had been in the library.  A reminder that you can't just retrieve another copy out here.



Kulweg, "That's something you can talk to Marla about.  However, I don't believe Samael granted you access to the gardens.  We'd have to get permission from him.  On to my area of expertise until then.  You were gone for only a few hours before you managed to find your shelf.  Bran holds the record for quickest retrieval at 37 hours 14 minutes.  Even adjusting for the fact that he had 3 cards on him at the time, you still blew his time out of the water.  Can you tell me about your riddles and their solutions.  How many did each of you solve and how many did you do together?  Feel free to just say how much detail you give him, rather than spelling it out for me.  Did you notice anything different about one of the librarians you met?  Did you notice anything that seemed strange, even for a strange place like the Library?"

In reply to Twiz (msg # 665):

"If it's different for everyone who goes in, what difference would it make what I told you?" Fithelos asks. "And haven't the rest of you been inside? Shouldn't you already know what the Librarian looks like?"

He shrugs. "My bitter, more spiteful half would say to ask Lunk, as Bran thinks he and I aren't much different than one another. I'm sure he can provide you with all the information you need," he smiles thinking back to the peach room. "He can be very articulate when he wants to be."

Knowing it will only make everything worse if he doesn't comply, Fithelos will relay to them the tests he and Lunk encountered. He'll finish by saying, "It may be possible this Library bases the difficulty of the tests based off the combined intelligence of those entering. It is my only guess as to why I was actually able to pass them."

"As for what may or may not be strange, I have no way of knowing. I would need a baseline of what normal is for the Library. To me, the card system, the multiple Librarians, the tests, what is recorded...all of it is strange, even after knowing magic is involved. The only thing I can actually wrap my mind around is that the place is its own pocket dimension. I've experienced those before, and so the size didn't surprise me. Still..."

Fithelos swallows. "What are the chances Samael will allow me in the gardens?"

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 666):

Kulweg, "Information is information.  Sometimes it is helpful, sometimes it isn't.  We don't know until we have it.  Bran has returned more times than any ever. I've been in 5 times.  Erl over here hasn't been in yet.  He's a Junior Historian.  He has to finish his studies on what is here before he has any reason to enter the library.  No sense in sending people through just to get trapped in a riddle."
"Your information probably isn't very valuable though.  Mostly because you weren't told on what to expect.  The one thing that everyone here is going to find strange is that you only had 3 riddles.  Based on what we know, that's the bare minimum for a group of two.  Most of us end up with about a dozen riddles before we find our room.  It's almost as if the Library wanted you to succeed."
You hear Bran mumble, "Or the overseer has taken an interest in him.."
Kulweb, "Yes, or, if Bran's hypothesis is true, your story is important to the creator of all existence."
"As for Samael, he's always treated everyone at the school very well.  As for outsiders, he's usually not so kind.  I can tell you that if he let you in this far, you've already made him a happy man, so that bodes well.  Be prepared to offer something in return, just in case."

In reply to Twiz (msg # 667):

Fithelos cannot help but laugh--manically--when Kulweg says, Be prepared to offer something in return. No words can describe how sick he is of dealing with people that want far, far more in return than what they have to offer.

Just give me a bit of your soul, swear an unbreakable oath, how about your first born?...and you can look at my garden. Fithelos' laugh dies away. Wouldn't it be nice to be the one setting the terms of the bargain for once, he thinks. To have those worry about getting on my bad side...

"Wishful thinking," he says out loud, not particularly caring whether anyone hears him or not. "Well. If there is nothing else, I will wait for Marla to return with any texts on the Rite of Unwinding. I thank all of you for your help thus far. I apologize if I do not show my gratitude as I should, I'm just a bit tired. Truly, I appreciate each of you aiding me, regardless of what you think of me."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:11, Mon 21 Sept 2020.

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 668):

Kulweg, in somewhat of a whisper, "Don't worry son.  Most of the people here think nothing of anyone.  That's why we get recruited as historians." Back to a normal voice, "Oh, the library can take its toll on a man.  We've all been there."  Bran snorts, obviously a jab at both you and Kulweg.  Kulweg, certain he won't get anything useful from you, heads back to his area.

About 15 minutes later, a tiefling woman walks up pushing a cart of texts and scrolls and sits across from you, "You must be Fithelos.  I've heard nothing about you.  Let's keep it that way.  You're interested in the Rite of Unwinding?  I brought you a stack.  Are you looking to perform it or just need to know something about it?"

Bran interrupts bringing over the book you brought back from the library, "Marla, I think this will be important for you.  I'm assuming he brought it back because he needs it for whatever misguided journey he's on.  It may be helpful when answering his questions."  He places it in front of you both. "Samael said whatever he brings out of the library is his to take, so don't get attached."

Bran heads off as well.

In reply to Twiz (msg # 669):

"Such a delightful human being," Fithelos says as Bran departs.

He turns his attention back to Marla. "I'd like to take a look at everything on the Rite, unless you know someone who can perform this and is willing to travel several hundreds of miles with me." he begins looking through the material brought to him. "The Rite, I'd imagine, would be the easy part."

Fithelos didn't particularly like it whenever anyone with power was in favor with what he was doing. It usually meant he was being used somehow. Or, he was unintentionally aiding someone or something, somewhere, in some nefarious scheme.

It would seem his existence was doomed to one of anxiety and paranoia.

He will begin reading the texts/scrolls/tomes brought to him, in order of lightest parchment/cover to the darkest. If they all look identical, he'll start at the bottom of the cart and work his way to the top.

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 670):

Marla, "If it's a person you want, Samael would know someone. He might been be interested in helping if he thinks he might be able to gain from it. I mean the Rite is Unwinding isn't something done lightly."
"If you're wanting to perform it, you'll want to look at these." She picks a few books and a scroll from the stack, "Anyone can perform the ritual, but you'd have to present a a gift or sacrifice to Shar if you expect to draw on her powers but aren't a follower. Given the power of the ritual you're looking at, make it a big offering."
She begins going through the book you brought back.

I'm going back to school next month.  We can either speed up and try to finish in the next 20 days, or slow down to about one post per week after that.
I honestly don't have a lot of content left, so basically it would be forgoing some of Fithelos's character developments.  'Fithelos' would need to just focus on the quest at hand and be willing to put off his personal quest(s).

In reply to Twiz (msg # 671):

I'm okay with moving forward. I'm not exactly sure where to go at this point being penniless...I was going to try and improvise as I go. Because that always works out...

Going back to school? For what? Have you reached the end of your rope working in a job you didn't go to school for? You went for Engineering, right?

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 672):

Marla gets through about half the book of rituals and looks at you, "I think you could convince Samael to help you.  Some of the information you brought back is stuff I've never even heard of.  Samael will probably want to help you if he will gain knowledge to destroy his enemies.  He wields knowledge as his weapon."

If that hint wasn't good enough, Fithelos feels like he now has a way to get Samael to help without actually giving him anything in return.  It's a bold move but he feels very confident he can pull it off.

I went into engineering because, "If I'm going to hate my job, I might as well get paid a lot to do it."  Well I do get paid more, and I still hate it.
Well, it looks like I have a good path up with an MBA.  I can hate my job and get paid more.  Plus ASRC will pay up to $5K per year for it so I won't take on another $65k in student debt to get there.

In reply to Twiz (msg # 673):

I wasn't aware there were jobs (in reality) you could enjoy. I used to believe raises and promotions were a thing--but every job I've been too, during the interview they tell me right then and there they don't do either. I mean, I did get a 15-cent raise after 5 years at Dean McGee. But I'd rather just start off making what I need rather than hoping I can work up to it.

You know. If you wore your elf ears and DMed, I'm almost certain you could do significantly well in streaming. Not implying you should quit your job or anything. Just making an observation.

Fithelos will thank Marla, take the books and be on his way to Samael.

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 674):

I don't expect to love my job.
I just want to not hate my job, or get paid enough I don't care if I hate my job.

I'm 100% positive people would hate listening to me butcher the rules and lore.  I do alright with you because I have time to look everything up.
The stuff I'm running with Elodie and Myka, I constantly screw up, but don't realize it until later.

Lunk is picked up, so he's not falling you around anymore.
When you arrive at the temple, Samael is waiting for you. Beside him you see the man that stopped your caravan when you first arrived in the city. He's now an undead servant.

Samael, tossing chunks of flesh to his young, undead dragon, speaks immediately upon your entering, "I want to apologize.  I was made aware that one of my underlings attacked you on your way to do business with me.  As you can see,  he has been punished appropriately.  He's yours if you would like him.  I have plenty more."

In reply to Twiz (msg # 675):

Fithelos doesn't respond at first. "I get attacked often, his was no more memorable than any before him. I...appreciate your offer, but a servant of any kind would draw more attention than I wish to have while traveling."

Fithelos stares at the dragonling with slight distaste as he speaks.

"I've been informed some of my tasks fall in line with the destruction of your enemies. I don't see how locating and reversing the effects of a powerful ritual that has kept a continent hidden from the world will aid you in the destruction of your enemies," he shrugs. "Then again, I don't know who your enemies are."

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 676):

"You see, that's part of the problem.  No one ever truly knows who their enemies and allies are.  Knowledge and power and intertwined.  It's why I protect the library and my historians.  It's why I'm interested in this island.  I received word from Marla that you uncovered a book of rituals that we had never cataloged before.  If this is true, this may give us an upper-hand down the road, and there may be more powerful knowledge in this 'lost' island.  The Library is powerful, but it isn't always forthright.  Sometimes what comes back is useless, and eventually the historians won't come back at all.  If this island contains a college, training ground, or library of its magics, we can access the information without sacrificing Marla."

"Marla said you were interested in the Rite of Unwinding.  I'm not sure how you think you could pull that off, but I know people that can. I'm willing to help you in whatever endeavor you're currently undertaking, as long as the existence of this island stays between your team and mine."

In reply to Twiz (msg # 677):

"Seems fair enough," Fithelos says. "I wasn't sure myself how I might perform the Rite of Unwinding. But, that's always been the way of things, hasn't it? With magic and rituals both? During the Time of Troubles, someone created the ritual without knowing how. I see no reason I can't do the same. But, I'd welcome any assistance as it is likely I could possibly kill myself in the process."

Fithelos takes a deep breath. "As for the existence of the island--if I am successful, it will be a very difficult thing to do to keep a continent secret. But, until that time, I have no problem keeping it's existence unknown."

In reply to Fithelos (msg # 678):

Samael, "I'm not too concerned with it being discovered quickly.  The route is rarely traveled anymore, and the few ships that do stumble upon it shouldn't be much of an issue."
"It will take a few days to assemble a ship and crew, as well as locate allies in Shar's army capable of performing the ritual.  You'll stay in the dormitory of the school until then.

In reply to Twiz (msg # 679):

Fithelos nods. "I'll see you in three days then."

He will leave, asking a historian or servant once out of the presence of Samael, where the dormitories are.