Found Book

Once we are all settled back in at Dirty Frank's and everyone is rested and healed, Kelyn will invite the party into her room. She will pull out of her pack a book and hand it to the closest person. "I found this in Diuth Aboajeag's basement under a pallet."

Looks like his spell book. It could easily be trapped so we'll need to proceed very carefully. I don't have the spells or skills to determine if any traps are on it or how to remove them. Maybe Anna could help us? Maybe she could also identify or direct us to someone who could identify the ring we found with the Hag that I am still holding until we know what it is and who would most benefit from it?

I was wondering when that would appear, Kelyn slipped it into her bag quietly while everyone was running around in circles in the basement. Ana would not ever touch a Mage's book, spellbooks are Anathema to witches, especially one named Ana Thema D'Vice...

I figured since we had more important stuff to do at the time, the book could wait until later. I, Tracy, know what the book it but since Kelyn cannot read, she does not.

Very good, prioritization is a skill lacking in many RPG players, happy to see that you did it this way. I can only control players motivations when it is counter to alignment and/or class restrictions. The Paladin putting poison on her blade, or the "Good" player advocating murder of innocents, for example. Greed is common in D&D and the rules tend to reinforce greed. If Kelyn had attempted to sell the book for profit there could have been Druid/healer or alignment issues. If she had tried to sell the book to a neutral party to fund a wildlife preserve, not so much. Character motivation should come from the requisites of the character, back-story, class, race, and alignment. If a back-story is one of avarice and lust for power, the character is not claiming any holy order and is consistently acting in a certain manner, that is "good" behaviour.

Another note is the fake spell book that was on the desk was too much temptation for one character to handle, in the heat of an adventure is not the time to read books, or get sidetracked by shiny objects. take them, secure them and journal the items for future use/inspection. Potions are an exception, until a character quaffs an insanity or poison potion anyway... We decided the best way to trap players was with books in a GMA meeting, Mages are driven by the quest for spells above all other motivations. The fake spell book trope is a familiar one from heroic fantasy, but it still works almost all of the time.

So maybe from now on, we should make a rule that Kelyn picks up all the books and hands them out later for examination. ;-)

There is no Party Agreement in force at this time. These are common in D&D and can either avoid or cause much character strife. The GM can not enforce these agreements unless there are certain conditions extant. Very few back stories are so detailed that all aspects are covered, the group must find their own way to resolve these issues. As a "free will" policy is in effect, I can only limit certain characters in certain actions, Kelyn can't burn down the forest, without losing her spell casting ability, Hammad can't start a war just for kicks without losing some of his negotiation abilities. Brundle has voiced a commitment to the Cuthlic Church, but is not bound by that in any way that I, as GM, can limit his dedication or punish transgressions, he does not receive anything from St. Cuthbert other that his personal satisfaction. Raping a sheep in the church might cause him to lose contacts, not receive the discount at the bake sale, but that is the limit of how I can control his character. B.T.W. Brundle has not done this nor expressed an interest in doing this, I just wanted to give a ridiculous example. Pastafarians Unite!

So as soon as someone reads it and let's everyone know what it contains, I'll have Al set up the handout so everyone can see it.

The Book is posted in the Handouts. Send me a message noting success and failure and I will update your journal . You should update your C.S. spell book, also you must note failures on your character sheet .