The Griffin's Crier

The PCs braved the stable Arcane Gate that they found on the cube level of the dungeon and found themselves in a smaller, blocked off portion of the complex. They examined the small area and found the following:

1. Bed chambers for The Oracle and Blueberry
2. A small library with many books on magical theory and also, several Journals
3. The Master's Chest that the PCs traded to the Oracle.
4. A permanent teleportation circle (which allows someone to teleport to here with no chance of error)
5. A room protected by an illusory boulder. Beyond the boulder, there was a Helmed Horror, guarded by a Shield Guardian.
....a. The Helmed Horror was wielding Bannock's signature weapon from your previous lives.
....b. The weapon refused to attack Bannock, forced itself out of the Helmed Horror's grip, then forced attunement to Bannock.
....c. When Brigga came near, the sword initiated an ego contest with Bannock and then attacked Brigga.

Among the magical library, you also find four relatively thick books that seem to be private journals. From a quick peek inside, you speculate that the four books roughly cover these topics:
1. Life in Farweald
2. Magical apprenticeship in Rookroost
3. Life as the Oracle
4. More recent journal that starts with a description of meeting the PCs

The penmanship in the first two books is neat and even, easily readable. The last two books, though, are filled with difficult to read text scrawled unevenly across the pages haphazardly, with barely legible notes inserted randomly in and around the 'main' text.

You can either scan through for quick information, which requires an Intelligence (Investigation) check per 15 minutes, or you can start from the beginning and methodically read the whole thing which will take several hours.

Also, the Shield Guardian has fully regenerated. I'm putting up stats in the prior thread.

Onarra will cast Detect Magic on the bookshelf (unless we already did) before choosing and reading the 'events starting with meeting the PC's' journal.

She will also attune to the Shield Guardian amulet after first holding it out and saying, "Is everyone okay with the elf who made a deal with the devil now binding a magical bodyguard to herself?"

Fen's Ego wrote:She will also attune to the Shield Guardian amulet after first holding it out and saying, "Is everyone okay with the elf who made a deal with the devil now binding a magical bodyguard to herself?"

LOL!!

You don't detect any magic in the bookshelf.

Oracle #4: The PCs

1. Post describing meeting the PCs. Deep read on Brigga. Devolved into a fight and the Oracle teleported back home with Blueberry.
2. Description of things learned from Brigga.
...a. Summary of the events that the PCs have already learned about their backstory, with these additions/clarifications
...b. Brigga information
......i. The Oracle notes a location that Brigga’s Expedition emerged as in the Griff Mountains on the eastern side of the Troll Fens.
......ii. Brigga turned from Moradin and soon after started worshipping Joramy, the goddess of Fire, Volcanoes, Wrath and Quarrels
......iii. It seems the Master started communicating with Brigga via dreams after the magical accident. This seems to have accelerated Brigga’s change in alignment as she became more selfish and bitter.

...c. Ritual information
......i. The Oracle makes some speculations on the secret ritual that Erk was performing by stealing a piece of the PCs souls and trying to destroy the Well of Many Worlds.
.........1. Stated reason is patently false. Why do some big ritual to open a planar portal when you already have the Well of Many Worlds?
.........2. Ritual’s purpose was obviously to steal a portion of PCs souls and mingle them with the Well. But why?
............a. Ritual seems to have succeeded and failed.
............b. Magical catastrophe was obviously unplanned
............c. Seems almost like some sort of unexpected magical trap was triggered? Maybe causing some sort of feedback?
.........3. Seems likely that the original intent was to sacrifice the PCs during the Ritual, probably draining all of their collective souls.
.........4. Could Erk and the Master have been attempting to reach the Book of Infinite Souls??

...d. Expedition to the City of Brass
......i. Failed to ‘rescue’ Gwendolyn because she was there of her own free will. Working with powerful efreeti named Shahzadeh Mamoun Yaser Aziz, The Generous. The PCs confronted her and learned that she had some sort of efreeti heritage and she struck a deal with Mamoun Yaser Aziz to learn about her heritage and also awaken her dormant efreeti traits.

...e. PCs magical items – This appears to be a combination of information learned from Brigga’s first deep reading and the Oracle’s observations of the PCs at other times, including your encounter in the woods north of Farweald when you captured Lonz, Balrakas, Balfhe and Markel. But he’s obviously been observing you at other times, too.
......i. Pixie Duster – Dust of Disappearance but the container is also magic. It will slowly replenish the Dust after it is used. Probably takes about a month to replenish.
......ii. Fey Deck – Deck of Illusions but there are several unique cards which invoke spell effects. Some of the ‘illusions’ created will actually be real.
.........1. Also, the container serves as a link to a specific faerie dragon in the Feywild. If the Deck is taken to the Feywild, it should be able to contact the dragon.
.........2. Also, the Deck will negate time dilation when travelling from the Feywild back to Oerth.
......iii. Malphas' Little Helper Brigga's (Serpentine Owl) is enchanted to specifically look for dwarves, 3 in particular. It’s also enchanted to search for something else but that property is hidden, even from the Oracle.
......iv. Brigga’s Decanter of Frothing Rage (Decanter of Endless Water) will summon several hostile water elementals when the Geyser function is activated.
......v. Brigga’s Wyvern’s Talisman (Amulet of Health and Poison Resistance) is cursed. The wearer will take maximum damage from any physical attacks made by a creature with the Dragon type.
......vi. Brigga’s Orb of Madness can be intentionally broken to produce a powerful mind affecting attack on everyone in a specific area.
......vii. Brigga’s Decanter of Endless Potions contains the imprisoned spirit of a minor elemental spirt.
......viii. Silvered Warhorn of Acheron (Bannock’s Horn) – when the Crashing Legionnaires are summoned, there is a chance that they will leave behind a magical weapon or magical armor. This item will remain in the user’s possession for a week, until the Horn recharges.
......ix. Bannock’s Sorrow's Oath (Silver Dagger) was made by a werebear to destroy werewolves
......x. Bannock’s Answerer – the spirit of the sword was damaged when Brigga killed Bannock. In addition to its regular properties it has also become a cursed sword of vengeance.

...f. The Master’s Chests
......i. Transmit treasure to somewhere. If the Master is imprisoned, being sent to a servant instead? To what end?

Oh yeah, and Onarra's Ring:

Gilad's Ring (Ring of Mind Shielding) also gives Resistance to Necrotic damage

Fen's Ego wrote:Onarra will cast Detect Magic on the bookshelf (unless we already did) before choosing and reading the 'events starting with meeting the PC's' journal.

She will also attune to the Shield Guardian amulet after first holding it out and saying, "Is everyone okay with the elf who made a deal with the devil now binding a magical bodyguard to herself?"

Bannock has no initial problem with Onarra attuning to the Shield Guardian. He will say that he wonders if it wouldn't just be more prudent to destroy it eventually. But for now, have at it.

EvilGenius wrote:Among the magical library, you also find four relatively thick books that seem to be private journals. From a quick peek inside, you speculate that the four books roughly cover these topics:
1. Life in Farweald
2. Magical apprenticeship in Rookroost
3. Life as the Oracle
4. More recent journal that starts with a description of meeting the PCs

The penmanship in the first two books is neat and even, easily readable. The last two books, though, are filled with difficult to read text scrawled unevenly across the pages haphazardly, with barely legible notes inserted randomly in and around the 'main' text.

You can either scan through for quick information, which requires an Intelligence (Investigation) check per 15 minutes, or you can start from the beginning and methodically read the whole thing which will take several hours.

Bannock will point out that the description of the journals matches our understanding of the former life of the Oracle, and his change into his current form.

Out of character: We are resting in the Oracles home/hideout, correct? Or, did we leave to somewhere else?

Jonkga wrote:Out of character: We are resting in the Oracles home/hideout, correct? Or, did we leave to somewhere else?

You are resting in the Oracle's Secret Chambers. You've been there for about an hour reading the PC Journal.

EvilGenius wrote:Oracle #4: The PCs

...c. Ritual information
......i. The Oracle makes some speculations on the secret ritual that Erk was performing by stealing a piece of the PCs souls and trying to destroy the Well of Many Worlds.
.........1. Stated reason is patently false. Why do some big ritual to open a planar portal when you already have the Well of Many Worlds?
.........2. Ritual’s purpose was obviously to steal a portion of PCs souls and mingle them with the Well. But why?
............a. Ritual seems to have succeeded and failed.
............b. Magical catastrophe was obviously unplanned
............c. Seems almost like some sort of unexpected magical trap was triggered? Maybe causing some sort of feedback?
.........3. Seems likely that the original intent was to sacrifice the PCs during the Ritual, probably draining all of their collective souls.
.........4. Could Erk and the Master have been attempting to reach the Book of Infinite Souls??

This is of interest to Bannock. He doesn't quite know what to make of it, but will ask the rest of the party if they know what the Book of Infinite Souls is, and if this sheds any light on their memories of things past.

The Book of Infinite Souls doesn't ring a bell for anyone specifically but a Bard or Mage might be able to tell you more (with an Arcana check).