Library of St. Ursula

An ossuary in the shape of a pillar holds the bones of all the pervious Cantor's of the Abbey. If disturbed, or summoned or if the library is harmed in any way they will manifest and swirl as a tightly packed cloud of ghosts. 

The Librarians will mostly leave the party alone until they approach The Reserved Section. At that point the party must pass a Persuasion check with a DC if 20 or else the ghosts will become hostile. Adjust this DC down based on good role play 

The only power the ghosts have is possession however they are capable of attempting to possess the entire party (there are 12 of them in total). If anyone is possessed the ghost will attempt to throw them from the nearby bridge used in the Test of Fortitude, likely killing them

They collectively have great knowledge of the contents of the library, and of many arcane and historical secrets. in addition it contains the first six of the The Books of the River (the 7th is locked behind the restricted section).

Anyone using this library as a resource will gain advantage on any religion checks involving the Mithran religion

In addition it contains a full copy of all seven of The Books of the River. Six of the books are in the main section of the library while the 7th is in the reserved section.

The library is large and will take several hours to search thoroughly. 

This magical circle is around 10 feet in radius. The circle is constructed of magical runes inlaid into the floor with silver. One set of runes ring the outside of the circle, another ring the middle and  one large rune dominates the center. 

In the center of the circle lies a dead body, dressed in a cloak and hat, wearing a slim backpack.

Arcana 14+ - This is not a summoning circle, or a circle of protection at least not a traditional one.

Arcana 18+ - The runes seem to have something to do with Conjuration magic

Arcana 20+ - The runes seem to have something to do with teleportation magic. 

Arcana 24+ - This is a teleportation circle

Medicine 10+ - The body is that of an elf, and has been dead 10-20 years but the cold constant temperature has preserved it. It seems to have been dead about the same time as the other corpse you found.

Medicine 14+ (if physically examining) The body died of thirst

Medicine 20+ (if not physically examining)  The body died of thirst

Corpse carries

• Shortbow +2
• Quiver Arrows +1
• Rope of Climbing
• Anaru’s Studded Leather armor
• Hat of Disguise 
• 3x Potions of Superior Healing
• 1x Potion of Gaseous Form

The narrow area beyond the wrought iron gate contains two wooden shelves, mounted into the stone wall behind it. Atop each shelf is bolted an iron cage, which completely encloses the contents of the shelf in a box of iron. The grill of the cage is fine enough to prevent the passage of a finger, but not so fine as to prevent visual inspection of the intrerior. In addition to being bolted into the wooden shelf, each cage is firmly bolted into the stone wall behind it  The upper shelf is at eye height, while the lower is at chest height.

Inside the bottom cage you can see seven large books. Each book is individually chained to the bookcases, fine iron chains wrap around each book, locking it shut. 

The top shelf is more of a display case then a bookshelf. The iron box locks in what appears to be a slim, dark sword displayed horizontally on a stand. The sword is also wrapped in fine iron chains that are bolted into the sides of the cage

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Lower Case

The Books are

• The Books of the River (volume 7)
• The Metaphysics of Shadow
• Testaments of Carnamagos
• Four random tomes

https://www.wizardthieffighter.com/2017/47-demiwarlocks-d100-magical-tomes/

https://thalianmusings.blogspot.com/2022/09/books-libraries-and-magical-schools.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR32CLR1T3ZdxCfWINDWeh8HLxyRVMvChX6iF2Hv3bdpmW-CgJc28rguYYw

The locked bookcase can be picked with a DC of 18. Each book must be picked with a DC 18 to open it. If The Librarians are convinced to help, then can open these locks.

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Upper Case

• the Blade of Carnamagnos

Note the Blade of Carnamagos has a cunning poison needle trap hidden in the hilt. DC18 to detect, DC 20 to disarm and only if someone specifically searches the sword for traps

This shelf is also locked and the sword is chained to bookcase (DC18). However if a Path of the Blade warlock touches the sword the chains will rust away to dust.

The lock on the restricted section is quite complicated 

It was designed to only be opened using four separate keys, all being turned simultaneously

Furthermore the lock can only be opened when the grandfather clock is showing nine minutes after the hour.

Each lock has a slightly different mechanism but the process for picking them is the same 

1. an investigation role to see how the mechanism works (DC 20. Artificiers have advantage)
2. An initial roll to defeat the protections on the lock 
   1. DC 20, to defeat a magical glyph 
3. A final role to open the lock, which can only be attempted when the clock hand is pointed to nine after the hour 
4. All the final roles must happen at the same time to open the door 

while it is possible for the same rogue to perform the first two steps the final step will require four separate characters.

in the event the lock is not successfully disarmed anyone standing within a foot of one of the locks will be teleported into the teleportation circle and trapped there by a Cube of Force spell. At the same time, the bells of the Abbey will ring a warning (though this will not be audible to anyone in the library).

The Wall of Force spell was intended to restrain would be thieves until the nuns arrives to deal with them, however since the Wall is airtight, a single person trapped in the room will die in approximately 50 hours. The Wall will last for 7 days. This is how Anarus died.

Also note being dumped into the circle will almost certainly disturbe Anarus's corpse and activate Anarus's ghost

Appearance (D12)

1. This book seems to be made of thin sheets of mithril, it contains many pages but all seem to be blank.
2. This book seems to be made of thin sheets of bark, written on with what seems to be charcoal.
3. Baked clay tablets, man. Better have a little wagon ready.
4. Bone scales of the gimlet dragon. Man, this thing is epic and shiny, and some stupid barbarian might think it’s just 500 cash worth of gem flakes. It’s not. It’s an archive of ancient lore and shit!
5. Parchment bound in a codex bound in silver chain locked with three arcane seals. What kind of silly demon is bound inside?
6. Papyrus scrolls, so old they threaten to fall apart in your hand. 
7. A small stele in a large padded scroll case. The stele is finely etched with runes. It can only be read with some type of magnification. 
8. A brush of jade and gold and sable, it drinks in what you write with blue ink, and spills its secrets with red ink. All the papers and parchments? You just need a surface for the brush, but it’s the brush that is the spell tome.
9. Huge parchment tome, a foot high, locked with three clasps. 
10. A normal looking empty book, full of empty pages, the words only appear when summoned by the ritual incantation. The incantation can be discovered via the identify spell. 
11. A collection of steel and ebony plates bound in the sinews of a satyr, it resonates the spell into your ear when struck with a small yellow ritual mallet. When struck with a small red ritual mallet, it releases a spell at full power, instantaneously, but it is then no longer inscribed in the tome. The green mallet is for taking notes, entering reminders, and scribbling down new spells.
12. A book bound in angel-skin-leather.

How to read the book (D6)

Stone Golem

Ghost of Anaru the Thief