Re: Chapter 11 - Back to No-Go (Knob Forest)
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 4:09 am
at the sage’s
Ilfrien reacquaints herself with the group. Will the gain of her sword skill compensate for the loss of Hellebore’s natural powers? Time will tell.
They make their way to the sage in the center of town, just paces from the court. The vapid, bawdy books continue to line the shelves. Seeing the large tome under Angus’ arm, a clerk runs to the back. Targus appears soon afterwards, impeccably attired and surprised. His face alights when he sees the musty old tome. ”So quickly!” he smiles, rubbing his hands together. ”Shall we have a look?” he asks rhetorically. He gently places the book in a special cradle to avoid opening it fully and pulls a pair of thin snow-white gloves from his coat pocket. ”You haven’t handled this?”. Seeing that they haven’t, and learning that it has been checked form traps, he goes to a back room and returns with a thin metal rod with a spatula at the end.
”Mmmm…can’t tell from the cover, but you found this in a church crawlspace?” No special knowledge here, just assuming the party told him. Many hold their breath unconsciously as he opens it…
Disappointingly, the first few pages are completely ruined, the black ink faded from the waterlogged pages. As Targus turns the pages gently with his tool, a word or two can be made from the subsequent pages. After several dozen, two stanzas, as if from a poem, are written. The handwriting appears to be consistent.
Middling wise every man should be:
Beware of being too wise
Happiest in life most likely he
Who knows not more than is needful
...and...
Happy is he who hath won him
Perun’s ways and wisdom
For ill led is oft who asketh help
From the wit and words of another
”Perunists aren’t known for their prose” mutters the sage, almost apologetically.
And many pages later, green ink is written across the page. This, the party cannot read. Targus stoops over it squinting. After several moments, recognition washes over his face. ”Written in the tongue of the lizard man. Note the change in color. Priests of Perun are forbidden to write in such a way that would confuse their words with those from Perun himself. The esoteric tongue suggests he wishes to keep the meaning hidden.”
He sighs. ”Well, now is when we discuss your payment. I can either buy the book from you outright, if you wish to sell, or our translation of the passage, with context to their meaning, will be your payment. How would you like to be compensated?”
Actions?
Ilfrien reacquaints herself with the group. Will the gain of her sword skill compensate for the loss of Hellebore’s natural powers? Time will tell.
They make their way to the sage in the center of town, just paces from the court. The vapid, bawdy books continue to line the shelves. Seeing the large tome under Angus’ arm, a clerk runs to the back. Targus appears soon afterwards, impeccably attired and surprised. His face alights when he sees the musty old tome. ”So quickly!” he smiles, rubbing his hands together. ”Shall we have a look?” he asks rhetorically. He gently places the book in a special cradle to avoid opening it fully and pulls a pair of thin snow-white gloves from his coat pocket. ”You haven’t handled this?”. Seeing that they haven’t, and learning that it has been checked form traps, he goes to a back room and returns with a thin metal rod with a spatula at the end.
”Mmmm…can’t tell from the cover, but you found this in a church crawlspace?” No special knowledge here, just assuming the party told him. Many hold their breath unconsciously as he opens it…
Disappointingly, the first few pages are completely ruined, the black ink faded from the waterlogged pages. As Targus turns the pages gently with his tool, a word or two can be made from the subsequent pages. After several dozen, two stanzas, as if from a poem, are written. The handwriting appears to be consistent.
Middling wise every man should be:
Beware of being too wise
Happiest in life most likely he
Who knows not more than is needful
...and...
Happy is he who hath won him
Perun’s ways and wisdom
For ill led is oft who asketh help
From the wit and words of another
”Perunists aren’t known for their prose” mutters the sage, almost apologetically.
And many pages later, green ink is written across the page. This, the party cannot read. Targus stoops over it squinting. After several moments, recognition washes over his face. ”Written in the tongue of the lizard man. Note the change in color. Priests of Perun are forbidden to write in such a way that would confuse their words with those from Perun himself. The esoteric tongue suggests he wishes to keep the meaning hidden.”
He sighs. ”Well, now is when we discuss your payment. I can either buy the book from you outright, if you wish to sell, or our translation of the passage, with context to their meaning, will be your payment. How would you like to be compensated?”
Actions?