The Librarian of the Buried City

Fasil led us through a long route to the library. "Before the city was buried," he explained, "the route was easier. But now we need to go through these tunnels that were dug through the buried city."

After a while, Fasil stopped and led us to a cul-de-sac. "We should rest here. We'll need to go through an area that is protected by the Drow, so you'll need to recover your strength before then."

After an extended period of rest, Fasil led us further down through the caves. "The Drow are active here during certain times of the day, so we'll need to be careful."

Tiny looked at Fasil and whispered to us, "I think he's been sneaking drinks."

"We've had a pretty easy time so far," continued Fasil as he led us through the tunnels. "Ah, we're here."

We found ourselves in a room with a shaft in the center of the room. In the shaft was a spiralling staircase leading down several floors.

"We should be ready for battle," Fasil told us, "so one of you should lead."

Firinne led us down the stairway, past two floors. On the third floor down, we found a path to the side that led to a door. Inscribed on the door was the word "History."

We went through the door and found ourselves in a ruined scriptorium -- a room for reading and transcribing scrolls. At the end of the room was a desk with a locked door. Bran easily picked the lock, and he opened the door to find a room that once housed books. Someone had been through this room and taken all of the books.

Bran managed to find one remaining book. It was a children's book titled "Illustrated Exploits of the Early Centenarchy." The book contained engravings with explanatory text on the facing pages. According to the book, the Early Centenarchy ended with the growing of the Whale and the freeing of the Chimera. Kale surmised that this Whale was the Cthona.

We left the rooms and continued down the spiraling staircase. At the next floor, we found a door labeled "Law." In this room, there were sections for books on the Law of Centenarchy and Pre-Centenarchy. The room was destroyed and the books were taken, except for one book on forbidden studies during the Pre-Centenarchy. Kale read through the book and explained that the studies included Illusionism -- the belief that the world itself is not real (it is just an illusion).

We made our way back to the staircase and went down to the next floor, where there was a door labeled "Physik." This room would have contained books about knowledge of the Body, but the room had been completely cleared out.

On the next floor, we found a door labeled "Religion." The door had been torn off its hinges -- perhaps from an explosion. Tiny noted that there had been a battle here in the past few months.

On the bottom floor, we found a door labeled "Arcana." We opened the door and found a room with a table. Behind the table, there was a Drow leaning back in a chair. He had one foot propped up on the table. Near his foot was a wand -- one of the wands that fired projectiles.

He turned to look at us. He was chewing a mouthful of some sort of leaves.

"Well," he asked, " have you found what you're looking for?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm the librarian."

"Really?" Kale remarked. "You seem to have extensive weaponry for a librarian. Are you a guardian of this place?"

"I was. What are you looking for?"

"We are seeking a couple of rituals."

"Well, send someone behind the stacks to look for them."

Unfortunately, this room had been cleared out like the others.

"So," the Drow asked us, "did you find it?"

"No," Kale replied. "We're looking for the Ritual of Finding."

"That should be here, but I guess it is not."

"We are also looking for the Challenge Ritual."

"That would be in the Law section up above."

"We couldn't find any books here."

"Well, then, you'll want to find the surface dwellers who took them. They came down here, looted the books, and killed all of my scribes. Their leader was a big, ugly human they called Dennig. If you find him and the books, send the information my way so that I can reclaim my books. Is there a place where we can meet to make this exchange?"

Carlagnios growled. "Why would we return the books to you if you're just going to give the books back to us?"

The Drow glared at Carlagnios. "I think I know who you are. You killed some of my people at the school."

"Well," Kale explained, "they attacked us."

"Wouldn't you defend your home against outsiders who would attack you and take your property?" the Drow asked.

We were silent.

"Have you ever dealt with the Guild?" Kale asked.

"Surface dwellers are filthy and should be destroyed," answered the Drow.

"Well... There's no reason for us to be at odds. Why should we be fighting over petty things when there are larger problems that we can deal with if we cooperate. Problems like... the Chimera."

The Drow cursed. "The Chimera is a thorn in our side. He does not show any respect for Lolth."

I shivered when hearing that name, remembering our encounter in the school

"Are there any other libraries where we could find these rituals?" asked Bran.

"This was our finest library," answered the Drow. "The books would have been here. You can still try to find Dennig and get the books from him. Make sure to let me know where he is."

"What's in it for us?" asked Carlagnios.

"Money, perhaps?" suggested the Drow.

Bran's eyes lit up. "We'll take the money."

Carlagnios growled. "Ignore the little one."

"Leave me a message at the school," continued the Drow, "if you want to contact me."

"How do we ensure safe passage to the school?" Kale asked. "We might be attacked again."

The Drow pulled out a stone attached to a leather string. "If you want safe passage, show them this."

"What do they call you?" asked Firinne.

"You can call me the librarian."

Firinne pocketed the stone and leather string. "So we just show this to them, tell them that the librarian gave this to us, and they'll let us pass."

The Drow nodded. "They'll... let you live."

We thanked him and left, making our way back to the current city of Lordahl, which sat on the surface above.