The group of heroes which somehow has still not given itself a name, wandered through the desert, searching out the Grand Library based on the map location revealed by Dan. The sun beat down, the sands stretched past every horizon. But after a while, a sound whistled over a dune, distinct from the wind.
Orophor went forth to inspect, keeping low and staying out of sight. When he reached the top of a dune, he spotted it. The Grand Library. He ushered his companions forward, and they observed the smooth, weather-worn sandstone protruding from the sand high above their heads, higher even than the dunes they stood upon. Tall spires stretched up from 5 corners of the pentagonal walls, their tops adorned by onion domes poked full of holes that whistled in the wind, a sparkling gem visible perched atop each dome. 2 enormous windows of dark stained glass peer down from the facade you face, perhaps 100 feet above. Between the glass, a towering statue of some scholar stands proudly, a curious script etched in the stone on either side of him. Which Sven read.
As the party approached, they noticed a small stretch of fabric taut above the sand. The ashes of a cookfire ait next to it. They got closer, and saw a single figure in the camp. They moved forward with caution, and met Balsar, a Dragonborn warlock. He had received dreams of the Grand Library from his patron, The Spirit of the Forest, and instructions to wait there until another dragonborn came. Upon seeing Sven, he was absolutely delighted. He’d do anything Sven asked.
Balasar gave them what information he could about entering the library, which was little. The party messed around with the five tall standing stakes painted Green, White, Blue, Brown, and Black, as well as the clear orb amidst them, before deciding to send Gugu clambering up the wall using a little magic from Beorn.
She did that. And she entered the library! Crawling through the upper most window, she found herself among row upon row of book in the cavernous structure. As she browsed, she was confronted by Lofaxio, a gaunt, severe looking man with a scar across his chin visible under his red beard. Time running short on Beorn’s spell, Gugu climbed back out and helped the party mess around with the pillars some more.
Eventually, they figured out that shining sunlight through the green crystal atop a minaret of the library into the clear orb and onto the green pillar opened up a slide in the sand that sent them down into the Grand Library. Or, Balasar figured out where it went, since Sven commanded he go first. Once inside, they were again greeted by Lofaxio.
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They got to know Lofaxio briefly, learning he alone tends the books now, the other bookkeepers having succumbed to sand pox some 2 months ago. Alone, aside from the Riddle Worms. Most of the worms worked below the library, spinning silk in the sand to keep it from sinking much further into the great crack in the earth opened up some 75 years ago, believed to have come from the mines at Samso. Bart the worm was nearby, though. Though mostly alone, Lofaxio enjoyed the solitude after the tragedy of his life prior, his family having been killed after refusing to leave a cloister which was demolished to build a field for the King’s Games.
Lofaxio told the party about several ruins they might enjoy exploring:
* The dwarven tombs under The Mitten
* The City of the Mountain Men in the Fingerlands
* The Necromancer’s Tower at the Clit (top of the Slit), some say is still occupied and sending dark signals throughout Dellin
* Abandoned mines in the Salty Dunes
* Recchia is better known for their ruins, from the age before the Death Head
* Bergot also has famous wood elf ruins in the Denue Forest
They also learned a great deal about the continent of Lorten and its history. Hopefully you took good notes, because the DM sure didn’t. They also learned that the mysterious egg they’d been carrying appears to be the egg of a deep fire dragon. A great feat of magic might make it hatch.
Then the party met Bart the Riddle Worm, and he invited them to the greenhouse of the Library, where they proceeded to pound worm juice and sing drinking songs. After a wonderful rendition of Old Hopper Heart, Bart rewarded the group by shitting out 3 emeralds and a ruby, which somebody picked up.
Staggering on their feet, the party went back downstairs to join Lofaxio. Gugu, feeling the worm-alcohol, opened up about her history as a criminal and a spy. She impressed upon the group that she can get messages to and from her contacts over long distances and knows all the corrupt caravan masters and sailors. She then asked Lofaxio if he had any books that could teach such a thing (at least, I think it was Gugu… maybe it was Tenli? Or Orophor?).
Indeed he did! And upon reading said book, Orophor gained a level. Of course, everybody else was curious whether they could likewise find power in books, and Lofaxio provided. So, everybody leveled up.