Lómë -- the Jewel of the Desert; Ghar-- "The More Things Stay the Same..."

[GameMaster]

Ghar had rarely escaped the endless walls of books in the library, and his days were filled with mind-numbing boredom. He would often spend hours lost in thought, wondering about the world outside and what lay beyond the endless desert that surrounded Lómë.

As the only kobold in the city, you were forced to keep hidden away in the library. Few people read or came to the library anymore, and those who did were often engaged in clandestine political meetings or secret trysts between lovers. You know that you are safest hidden away in the many chambers and towering shelves of books, but you very obviously long for something more.

The old librarian was the only person who knows that you existed. She brought you food and drink, and otherwise cares for you you he was her own. She summons her to her beadisde now.

As you kneel beside the old woman, you could see the pain etched on her face, the fading light in her eyes. Her breathing is shallow, and her skin had turned a sickly pale color. Her end is coming soon, and you will no longer have anyone in this world to care for and protect you.

With great efford, she turns her head to you now, her eyes glimmering with a faint hope. "There is one book that I have been saving for a special occasion," she said weakly. "It's about healing formulae, and is lain on the highest shelf of The Tower, behind several other books. I need you to retrieve it for me, to help relieve me of this pain."

Lovingly referred to as The Tower, the highest bookshelf in the library is a formidable sight to behold. It stood at least ninety feet high, towering over the rest of the shelves with an intimidating presence. The books that were stored on this shelf were ancient and rare, filled with knowledge that had been lost to time. The shelf was so high that even the tallest ladders couldn't reach it, and the only way to is to climb. The air around the bookshelf was thick with dust, and the books were covered in a layer of grime that spoke of their age and rarity. It was a place of mystery and intrigue, full of secrets waiting to be uncovered by those brave enough to climb to its dizzying heights.

And so you had, a couple of times, despite the danger.  You had even touched those books, though never dared to pull them off the shelf because they were obviuosly heavy, and your perch that high up was precarious.  But... books behind those books?  You had never heard of such things!  Can you even get to it?

[Complex_Assault]

In a rush of confidence, or perhaps adrenaline, I make my way up to the tower and hastily set aside my odd friend who has yet to be named, and begin my climb up the tower, thinking if this was the change I am granted by my many nights wishing to the moon? If so it is a cruel one. Not wanting to let the only acceptance in my life suffer, I push those thoughts away and just keep climbing.

[GameMaster]

A glimpse into a distant memory is covered in a haze-like fog.  Why would you call your only friend just, "The Librarian" after all these years?  But the question is lost in a fog, and your mind cannot hold the thoughts in line.

You are able to use the ladder to climb halfway there, climbing some 50 feet up the shelf With obvious ease.  From there, with your small and nimble frame you are able to navigate the shelves with ease, leaping from one to the next with grace and agility.  Unfortunately a series of rotted and broken shelves force you to climb diagnolly toward the center of The Tower, away from the safety of the relatively close wall, and the ladder below you.

As you climb higher and higher, you come to a point where the bookcase is split in two in order to accomodate the face of an enormous grandfather clock. Each path leads to the top of The Tower.  To your immediate left is a treacherous climb along a short but very narrow ledge, with nothing to hold onto with your hands, a sheer drop on either side.

The other path is a series of precarious jumps accross several ledges among the shelves, with gaps that seemed impossibly wide.

Either way, a glance down tells you quite clearly that falling would lead to a sudden end for the story of Ghar...

[Complex_Assault]

Spewing more curses than "The Librarian" had ever scolded me for, I decide on the path to the right, jumping from ledge to ledge. At least then, I may have a change to catch myself on something...

[GameMaster]

With your heart pounding in your chest, you make the decision to take the path of the precarious jumps. You know it's risky, but you feel that it gives you the best chance of reaching the top and uncovering the secrets of the ancient tome.

Taking a deep breath, you leap from the first shelf to the second, feeling the air rush past you as you sail through the gap. You land with a thud, your feet slipping slightly on the dusty surface of the shelf. You quickly regain your balance and survey the next jump.

The gap between the second and third shelves is wider than the first, and you know that you'll have to use all of your skill and agility to make it across. You take a few steps back, gathering your strength, and then launch yourself into the air.

For a moment, it seems like you'll fall short, your fingers just brushing against the edge of the third shelf. But you manage to grab hold, pulling yourself up and onto the shelf with a grunt of effort.

The rest of the climb is a blur of jumps and grabs, your body moving with an almost unconscious grace as you make your way ever closer to the top of the bookcase. And finally, after what seems like an eternity, you see the ancient tome, nestled in a corner of the topmost shelf.

With a sense of triumph and relief, you reach out and grasp the book, feeling the rough surface of the cover beneath your fingers. You've done it. You've climbed the bookcase, faced your fears, and triumphed over adversity to uncover the secrets of the tome.  There are actually other items and tomes hidden back here behind the openly viewed and organized books as well, as well, but a sudden thought comes to you:

A simple peek out over the edge of the bookcase,reminds you that you have to climb down to the ground so far below. The climb was difficult enough, but the descent promises to be even more treacherous if you mean to safely take down the fragile book.

[Complex_Assault]

I quickly look down for what might be a safe place to drop the ancient tome, then to the ledges wondering if I could throw the book first, then jump myself, ultimately deciding it was to risky... unless there is another hidden item here that could help? I quickly place it in my bag and search through the rummage.

[GameMaster]

There is definitely no way the soft binding or yellowing pages of the book would survie the nearly 100 ft. drop to the stone floor, not in its aged condition.

Carrying it in your sack may work, but you already just barely made one of the jumps across the ledges. Would you be able to make it back the other way, now more tired and with the extra weight?

[Complex_Assault]

I look at the other items that were hidden with the book. Though short on time, surely it wouldn't hurt as much as the drop...

[GameMaster]

Examining the book more closely, you find that the outside cover is false-- There is actually a completely different cover within, a strange dark fabric that looks almost like the night sky, but with a strange brown stain on one corner.  Other than that, it is just another fantasy book the history of a world that never existed.

[Complex_Assault]

I realize rather than contemplating how to survive the fall, I may have to look up. since this is the highest floor, and no one could dare to light torches and candles here, there must be a window somewhere for light, or I never would have seen this book. But risking the truth of the clattering noises in the library... perhaps it is about time I put myself out there, although I'll do my best that it not be intentional.

[GameMaster]

The ceiling is in fact dominated by a domed, stained-glass window, but is perhaps another 30 feet above you.

[Complex_Assault]

A fall from 30 feet more makes no difference at this height, and possibly more controlled way down with a view of the outside seems appeasing. Before making any attempt to reach it, I realize I need a way out once I get there, else it would be wasted time and energy. I look for any cracked glass, locks, or damaged seals on the windows.

[GameMaster]

If there are any cracks or flaws, you don't see them from your current position.

[Complex_Assault]

Feeling confident, and a bit desperate, I decide that is the best route for now anyway. I look for possible routes to the ceiling window. If there is something just out of reach I might try to lasso it with the handle of my bag, depending on the ledge, and the bags, conditions.

[GameMaster]

Feeling confident, and a bit desperate, you decide that taking the risk is the best route for now anyway. You look for possible routes to the ceiling window, knowing that it's the only way out of the library. You begin stacking all of the other from the top shelf books into a single stack, so that you can climb as high as possible toward the window.

As you stack the books, you can feel your muscles straining with the effort. The books are heavy, and each time you add another one to the pile, it becomes more and more unstable.

Finally, after what seems like hours of stacking but must've only been a couple of minutes, you're standing at the top of the pile, just a few feet from the ceiling window. You can see the bright light of the sun streaming in through the glass, and you know that you're close to freedom.

But as you reach up and break a pane in the window, you hear a sound from below. It's a low, rumbling growl, and it sounds like it's coming from the shadows at the edge of the room.

You freeze, your heart pounding in your chest. You know that something is down there, something dangerous and deadly, something you've never encountered before despite all your years in this place.

Taking a deep breath, you push open the window and climb out onto the roof. You're free, but you can't shake the feeling that you're not alone. As you run across the roof, you can feel eyes watching you from every shadow, following your every move.

The ceiling is too rounded and steep for you to stay on, and you have to jump free on purpose in order to survive the fall.  Onto the top of a clothing shop you go, landing on fabrics layed out on a table in an attempt to break your fall.  The table also breaks, and the clothes goes flying into the air.

By some miracle, you don't seem to be seriously hurt.  You hear surprised and angry shouts all around you, but can't see past the orange cloth over your head.