Where is the Library
We believe our old texts have revealed the location of a long-lost archive. We hope this reaches qualified field archivists to confirm its location and perhaps retrieve important writings.
The Memory Keepers
Recap
Tangle and Pippin receive a summons to help find an old library. They find themselves whisked away to a modest temple in an oasis village surrounded by desert. Here, they meet a simple would-be Cleric Elf called Elias, only he doesn’t seem to have a lot of practical knowledge when it comes to Magic or the Divine. Here at the temple they are dedicated to a god whose name they do not know, but they know the domain of which is History and Memory. Elias has committed his life to trying to recover ancient texts and artifacts that may relate to this god. After initially thinking our wizard duo may be gods themselves, preferring to refer to them as Lord Salacast and Lady Tangle, he is thrilled they are willing to face the dangerous desert to seek out what is hopefully a long-lost archive alluded to in the cryptic old writings and folks tales.
When Elias runs out to get Pippin more appropriate footwear to head into the desert, both Tangle and Pippin immediately begin ritual casting Detect Magic… this modest temple is STOCKED FULL with magical scrolls, amulets, trinkets, and more. All just, sitting out in the open. Right as they are trying to sort them out, Elias returns, a little confused as it first glance they look like they’re robbing the place. However, he is quite excited when he learns his collection has some value.
By the time they leave, Tangle and Pippin are already offering to stay a while longer when the job is done to begin helping Elias on his journey towards becoming an Arcane Cleric. While they head off towards the cliffs where they hope to find the old archive, they discuss how they would like to perhaps build and open a Wizard’s Academy here… having pupils who respect their great expertise could be quite nice, actually!
On their way, they encounter two desert Displacer Beasts… the first they manage to take down with a few well place spells, the second… they stab to death, very slowly but surely, with their letter openers daggers. While they fought for their lives and both received whopping hits from the Displacer Beasts, the two wizards, one short, one slight, are quite the scene battling to the death without any of their usual front-liner support. But, they come out victorious!
Arriving to the cliffs, they briefly rest before investigating the cliffsides. There, they find a ledge that looks… suspicious based on the plant life and placement of rocks. With some investigating they discover an illusory section of the cliffside covering a huge stone door with strange writing over it. Tangle uses Comprehend Languages while Pippin uses Detect Magic. Tangle reads in Celestial: Library of Memoriam, Timekeeper’s Entrance. Pippin figures out there is only one Abjuration spell on the door itself, likely Arcane Lock. With the clever use of Time Magic, he is able to open it even though neither of them have the usual means of entry.
Inside, they walk down a long set of stone stairs that leads to an open door that has flickering torchlight pouring through it. Tangle goes ahead as the Rogue Scout using her invisibility and Sneakiness. Inside she finds real torches lighting an enormous, old, old library that has suspiciously less dust than it should for how old it appears. Further investigation reveals… four golden Kobolds, as well as Golden Wyrmling. The Kobolds are scattered not too far from the Wyrmling, the Wyrmling up high in the tall rafters of the library. All of them… are asleep! She carefully investigates the rest of the library but finds no signs of any other creatures, which she reports back to Pippin.
Pippin walks in and knocks gently on one of the library stacks, and there is a brief tense moment as he introduces himself. Tangle, no longer invisible, is present but cowering behind to layers of bookshelves for a sense of protection. It takes a moment to figure communications out, as the Kobolds speak Common and first get permission to speak plainly with these intruders, where the Wyrmling does not. Neither Pippin nor Tangle speak Draconic but Tangle can understand it thanks to Comprehend Languages. Through this complicated translation chain…
They make known their intentions, Pippin’s formal charm and Tangle’s unintimidating presence plays to their favor as they learn the Wyrmling is the Head Librarian and protects the old History here as the knowledge within it carries great power for destruction. The Kobolds here are its Library Staff. Pippin and Tangle show great respect for this fact but also make a convincing case that with proper supervision and respect, such knowledge can also carry great potential for reconstruction. Eventually they negotiate once per week visits, one visitor at a time, who will defer to the Head Librarian’s supervision and guidance navigating the information available. The Head Librarian tells them they must wait one month while they prepare the library for guests and divide the contents between admissible and restricted areas. They are both then made probationary Assistant Librarian of Minor Knowledge and granted a small advance salary.
Returning to Elias, they decide not to reveal everything, but they are able to tell him his god’s name: Memoriam. They stall on revealing that the Library exists until it is prepared for visitors and they’ve had the chance to train him up and ensure he is worthy. Elias along with several other archivists at the Temple join in classes, but Elias does particularly well. Over the following week, with great studious energy, he begins his journey towards Arcane Clerichood. Pippin teaches him Prestidigitation and Detect Magic, while Tangle ensures he knows Mending and Magic Missile. They are rewarded with several items from the newly discovered stash the temple has.
Pippin and Tangle make plans to return to Luck, raise some gold, learn Draconic, then return to establish a School of Magic including field trips and library visits.