Academy of Secrets (Inactive)

Game Master Corsario

The man approach you. He reeks, his clothes dirty but in good state.
"The breaching festival you say? What year is it? But that is not possible! I have been here more than 20 years of torture, yet you say it's only a year later! Are you playing with me? Are you another torture, another mocking joke?"

Belzeragna Map

"How did you keep track of time? Is there a chance the endless torture made it seem longer than it actually was? And who tortures you, and when will they be back? We can try and help you, if you let us!"
1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36

"Time is fickle on planes other than our home one," Aizel added, glancing around. If the man had attempted to deal with the Breaching Festival, he was powerful, and if he had survived 20 years on a plane with dangerous creatures..."We would appreciate any information you have on this place, in our attempt to go home. You are welcome to join us, of course." Aizel glanced at the man, wondering if he had really been here 20 years. If he has, then the people behind this will pay more than gold...

Know history 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (4) + 24 = 28

The elf will take a look at what the inquisitor is pointing out. [b] Let me see if it is in a language that I am familiar with. [/dice]

"I can't get out! I can't escape! I can't know days and nights! I can't sleep! You got to help me! If you are who you say you are, you got to help me! I can help you get out, escape, avoid the mistakes I made! I can help you! But you need to find my spellbook!"
He gestures at the library, and all the flying tomes around.
"I can't find my spellbook, and I can't leave, can't escape, without it!"

Ganorok's voice sounds from behind the mad man.
"No traps here either. And no one besides him, and whatever kind of creatures are moving the books around. I think they are invisible
stalkers..."
Terentius turns back, surprised, to see the small Ganorok appear next to him, smiling.
"Hi! Ganorok is the name, but you can call me Mouse."

About the previous room, and the plaques. Beneath each pile of bones sits a small iron plaque engraved with a short phrase in Infernal describing the victim in enigmatic and ambiguous poetry. There are hundreds of plaques, and hundreds of piles of bones.

The elf will relay that information to the group.

"I doubt that, Ganorok, some other magic would need to be at work. If it was Creatures, I would know-"
Turning to the man:"Are you certain your spellbook is in here? Have you checked the other rooms?"

Invisible Stalker's Natural Invisibility (Ex) This ability is constant — an invisible stalker remains invisible at all times, even when attacking. As this ability is inherent, it is not subject to the invisibility purge spell. Against foes that cannot pinpoint it, the invisible stalker gains a +20 bonus on Stealth checks when moving, or +40 when standing still—these bonuses are not included in the statistics above.
They are REALLY invisible, as in "nothing to see here".
"It has to be here! I can't leave without it! Help me look for it, and if we find it, I will help you escape. We will be free together!"

Hence why I pointed out the bolded part. They are invisibile by nature, and I cannot purge the invisibility, but regardless, I should see them outlined. Same thing as with ethereal creatures, who are not even corporeal, and can't be invisibility purged, but see invisibility should outline them "as if they were normally visible"...it's also one of the only ways I can imagine of pinpointing those without scent. It's totally your call, but I worked under the assumption that it should work from the spell description.

"How long have you spent looking for your spellbook here? Also, you do know that interplanar travel is blocked, in case that was your plan? How did you lose your spellbook in the first place, and how did you manage to survive without it for so long?"

Looking at the books while asking him, trying to discern if there is a pattern to their movement. (Dunno what to roll for this, if simply an int-check or something else...feel free to roll for me.)

I think the bolded part is for ethereal creatures. Yes, scent, blindsense, life sense, those kind of thinks would work.
As for the answers to your questions, need a Diplomacy or Intimidate roll...

Ah, sorry, forgot another roll - had a 36 earlier and am used to rolling once per conversation.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24

Aizel once again inhaled deeply, searching the air for signs of anything untoward.

Scenty Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36

Khatul also joined in, feline nose twitching.

Kitty Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

As a matter of fact I do have glitterdust.

Aizel detects half a dozen invisible creatures around, and ozone whiff flying around letting him track some of their movements, helped by the books "floating" from bookshelf to bookshelf.
The wizard answers Orion.
"I have been here more than a decade! Since... since I lost my book. I had to, you must understand! I was tortured years, and I had to sign. I had to make a deal. I had to, there was no end to the torture. You must understand why I did sign. You would sign too, after years of torment. And the release was to find my spellbook. But the books keeps moving, keeps shifting, and I have tried during all this years to find it, but I am not able to! But with all of us looking for it, I a sure we will find it! I am sure! It has to be! This is my chance! Please! I can't stay here much longer. He has been... experimenting... changing me... making me different... making me loose my mind. I have to get out!"
He crouches and hugs himself and starts rocking back and forth, crying and drooling.
He doesn't respond for anything else you say.

"I think somebody here got his cheese stolen! Well, let's take a peek around."
Perception (taking 20): 45 = 45
"I don't see anything resembling a spellbook!"

"I would assume trickery is at hand here. Why would the book providing release from the contract be placed in plain view, where he can easily fetch it?"

Perception(Take 20): 20 + 22 = 42 checking for something that DOES respond to see invisibility.

Assuming nothing does:"There is neither an invisible, nor an ethereal book here. I would assume the book would be hidden not among books, but in a more cunning manner. We know nothing of the other rooms yet, and this gent here seems to have given up on looking elsewhere. What say you?"

Right, nothing invisible /besides the stalkers) nor ethereal.
"Let's looks for hidden places..."
Perception (take 20): 45 = 45
"I found where he... do his necessities... but nothing else..."

The elf will cast suggestion on the mage. I dont think you are telling us the truth, we might be able to better help you escape if we knew everything.

DC 23 WILL

Will Save (-2 as it is very reasonable): 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 2 = 20
The wizard looks at Enothai...
"It has been so long since I have been touched, by one like you... you are right... I initially refused Chyvvom’s offer of service, but eventually traded away my soul for a chance at release after the years of solitude and torment wore on. I must retrieve my spellbook from the library, and cannot leave the room (much less the demiplane) until I does so. I am sure I have been near of discovering my book, but then it is moved by the creatures in here. Please, I beg you, help me! Free me!"
When asked who Chyvvom is:
He hugs Enothai, shaking in fear and crying on her clothes.
"He is a powerful Phistophilus, but he doesn't serve the dark prince, but another, one called Lorthact, owner and master of this demonic demiplane. Chyvvom rules in the demiplane at his master behest, as Lorthact has not been here in centuries. I bargained my soul to him, and have been trapped for decades. And in those decades he has done "things" to me, and I fear what I am becoming, slowly twisted into “something” by Chyvvom! I will accompany you to battle him, but I cannot leave the library under any circumstances unless I find my book!"

"So, the term of your release is recovering your spellbook from the library, and you cannot leave the room until you did so? I may be overly pessimistic here regarding the fairness of deals with devils, but could it be that this plane has another library that actually holds your book, trapping you in here for eternity, or, until we pick it up from there and bring it here?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 20 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 20 - 4 = 32

In fact Orion got it completely right... the spellbook is not in here. :D
"No! That can't be true! You lie! You came to torture me! To make me desist! Get out! Now!"
A look of a completely unhinged mind shows in his eyes while he stands, and he moves to one side of the room, ready to start casting.

Spell craft 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (4) + 24 = 28 to see what he is casting.

Well, if he spent years looking here, I would assume he would have had chances to run into it. Why take that chance? Also if no hidden compartments or ethereal books, it seemed the most likely trickery to follow the letter of the contract but twist the intent and place the book out of his reach ;)

"We leave. If we find your spellbook, we will deliver it to you. Good luck meanwhile!"
Lifting hands, walking backwards, talking in a soothing voice, Orion is ready to depart, preferring not to knock the unhinged wizard unconscious.

"Good luck finding it back... your sanity I mean"
Ganorok follows Orion out of the library.
The spell he was casting was an abjuration spell

Aizel glanced at the man in concern as he followed the others. If this was what they had to look forward to...

Where to now?

With a shrug Aizel moved over to the door next to the wizard's room, glancing at the south-facing door. "Ganorok? If you wouldn't mind?"

Yes. Let us away from this hellish locale.

"Anybody want to try and guess what we find beyond here?", jokes Orion in an attempt to lift spirits, then gets into position once again, waiting for Ganorok to open the door.

The elf will plant her hands firmly on Orion's buttocks as he gets into position.

Ganorok uses his wands again and opens the small door west.
This room is dark, moist, and rank with the smell of sweat, mildew, and iron. Desks sit in even, tiered rows facing the southern end of the room, where thick metal chains hang from the slate-covered wall, a mock of an Academae lecture hall.
A woman is chained to the wall opposite the entrance - this is Illia Ean, the Cerulean Society thief.
Some seconds after the door opens, a voice comes out from a point in the seemingly empty room.
"Clear! No traps!"

Illia Ean has been badly beaten, and it's bruised and bloody. You imagine hitting her is not the only thing they make, as her clothes are in a heavy state of disrepair.
She begs the PCs to free her, crying hysterically.
"You! You! For the love of the heavens! Help! Please! Don't leave me here! Help! I beg of you! Have pity! Oh gods! Help me!"
Belzeragna Map

You all hear a whisper from a place near, seemingly empty.
"I think she is a goner too... I should be able to free her, if we want to..."

Sense Motive 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

She is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She has been tortured, beaten and molested. You shudder at the thought of being on her place.

"Hold that thought, Ganorok. You, what happened?"
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 26 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 26 - 4 = 38

"Fatmire warned us that you are a shrewd one, one that should not be trusted. So I'm asking you, if we free you, can we trust you without fail until we returned to our plane? Speak!"
Casting Confess on her for this question, checking very carefully if she seems to take damage from it...if not, I'll give Ganorok a go-ahead to free her. If yes, I'll nonlethal knock her out when we are done questioning. Can't leave her here but considering Maganrad had dealings with devils, and that other Mage, too, I think we should be careful with whoever we pick up on this plane...because obviously she's no longer being tortured...Enothai may want to check if she has a contract on her...I doubt she would react favorably to me or Aizel doing that search.

She will check to see if there is s contract with/on the lady.

She repeats herself about the need of help.
At the question, she answers.
"Yes, you can trust in me."
Doesn't seem hurt... or more hurt than she is already.
She continues sobbing.
"Please, if you won't release me, I beg you to kill me! Just don't leave me here! Please!"
She is sincere in that she prefers to die than to stay there.

If Enothai finds no contract, I'm fine with freeing her.- up to Aizel or Enothai to second that or oppose it, going with a 2/3rd vote of the pure players here.(not meaning to exclude Ganorok, but I think going with a Gut Feeling is...hard for a GMPC)

"Are you trapped here, in this room?" Aizel's anger rose in him and the bloodrager forced it back down. Soon, he thought to himself grimly, ready and willing to find what had done this and reduce it to meaty shreds.

As he glanced around he also sniffed, curious to see if there were more of the invisible monsters from the previous room responsible for this. This time he would attack.

Perception + Scent: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

No contracts, and no other creatures.
But Aizel smells the stench of devils. Many of them.
Illia is chained to the wall, the question is moot, as she can't leave as she is chained up. If you are asking if she is "cursed" as the wizard in the other room, the answer is no. She will tell you she hasn't made a contract... yet.

So, do you free her? Kill her? Did I mention her equipment is in a corner of the room?

We don't need the competition. replies the elf.

"Please, kill me if you won't free me! Don't leave me like this!"

Aizel shakes his head. "We're not competing for a prize anymore, we're surviving. If we make money I consider it a bonus. I'm not going to leave someone behind if I can avoid it. And this place reeks of devils. I would not leave my worst enemy to there mercies." Aizel moved and examined the chain. "Can you deal with this, Ganorok?"

Ganorok reappears.
"I think I can. And I think I can't stomach leaving her here, or kill her."

The bulky half-orc nodded. "Two to one, then. Unless Orion wishes to keep her here, we can let her go." He glanced over at the woman. "Please bear in mind that we wish to help you, but don't know you well enough to trust you. You can take your equipment, of course, and come with us if you wish - but my friend here won't take any attempts at betrayal well." And I will rip your head off, he mentally added.