[OSR Challenge] Judge A Book By Its Cover

Judge A Book By Its Cover: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers stumble into an ancient library deep within a deserted stronghold. An unseen danger threatens all those who enter . . . a danger which the adventurers may misjudge.

Get Set:

• In their search of the deserted stronghold, the adventurers come across an ancient library. The library’s owner had odd tastes, as evidenced by the titles of some of the surviving tomes. Many of the tomes have disintegrated into dust, or disintegrate as the adventurers attempt to identify them. Enough remain, however, for the DM to determine their contents or worth according to the campaign setting. The runes on the exterior of the door promise tomes of powerful magic and arcane secrets rest within the room.
  
  Upon entering the room the players see a seemingly harmless grey mist covers the floor, swirling and drifting. On the far side of the room, across from the door, rests a small shrine on a shelf. Integral to the shrine is a large cut diamond of superb clarity and excellence; the gem is easily worth 2,000 gp, if not more. The shrine is situated so that a number of windows, passageways, and mirrors throughout the stronghold focus a beam of sunlight directly on the gemstone, causing its illumination and immediately drawing all viewers’ attention to it. Throughout the room are set a series of seven-shelf bookcases and random tables. On closer inspection, the books on the shelves are ordered while random texts rest on the tables.

Go!:

• The mist is in fact a large occurrence of gloom mold. Adventurers who succeed at a Knowledge (Planes) check (DC 30) instantly recognize the mist for what it is. Adventurers who do not take the proper precautions will fall prey to the mold. The surviving tomes in the library are as follows:*

  Top Shelf (Religion)
  Guide of Devotees of The League of the Heirs
  Muhammed Ozcan's Foundations for St. Cuthbert's Houses of Worship
  Collected Knowledge Concerning Ithaqua's Outlook, by Trenaquim Braytor
  Jaggrain Vaughan's Collected Wisdom Concerning the Church of Bristlebane
  The Outline of the Church of Gilean, by Baltin Pakspen
  Awshalim's Grimoire Concerning the Church of Tempus
  Handbook about the High Priests of the Church of Odin, by Dexp Caedbaldson
  Bleddig Rowland's Grimoire about St. Cuthbert's Incantations
  Sir Ashur Ram's Treasury of Knowledge about Early Vestments of The Parliament of the Undying Province
  Samagorn Belran's Book about Heroes of The Octal Confederacy of the Serpent The Rites of the Order of the Harvest, by Cordomina Unngith
  Cyclopædia of the Saints of the Church of Thor
  
  Second Shelf (Histories)
  History of Curse, by Scarlanah Age
  History of the Barbarian-Draconic Alliance, by Melor Tregenza
  Well-Known Stories of the Underdark
  Recent History of Hydromancy , translated from the original Elvish by Leoley Lewitan
  History of Daemonology, by Baron Kellos Yarnoch
  Little-Known History of the Halfling-Drow Disagreement, by Calnan Marrekson
  History of Poetry
  Recent History of Ancient Empires
  History of Figalian Armorsmithing
  History of Northmen Customs
  Chronology of Towns, by Baroness Llelia Damarbar
  Legends of Water, by Malgar Inverela
  
  Third Shelf (Biography)
  The Legacy of Alfhildra Gustafsdattir, by Daveth Cammacson
  The Chronicle of Ayc Dragaehisa, by Eoant Zaroth
  Diary of Bucmir Shadmyr
  The Life of Theok Ales, by Jagwyr Dunlum
  The Short Poems of Crisadia Kyragith
  The Birth of Gunnar Tyrsson
  The Life of Kerving Benayth
  The Ballad of Dyna Kormaksdattir, by Poraldelle Maranrya
  Journeys of Mave MacCarson
  The Saga of Sir Arnlaug Thondssen, by Seleidah Colekson
  Diary of Aelfbote
  Journeys and Life of Galagor Tardrew
  The Epic of Morgabelle Larvyr
  The Life of Margh Hodge, by Sir Antholemew Kenmanuel
  Days of Finl Hesroth
  
  Fourth Shelf (Theory)
  The Selected Almanac of Reason
  Malce Damp's Cyclopædia of Valor
  The Folio of Years
  The Favorite Manuscript of Invulnerability
  The Complete Guide of Dream
  The Collected Secrets of Despair
  The Authoritative Folio of Thunder
  
  Fifth Shelf (Cookbooks)
  Jerleron's Spiced Venison and other Delicious RecipesDetailed Recipes from the Kitchen of Edbert Futhaary
  Short Recipes from the Kitchen of Grena Entas
  Unabridged Recipes for Walrus, by Norj Lyrrya
  Treasury of East Gheronese Recipes
  Barbarian Cuisine Made Easy
  Jacval's Battered Fried Perch and other Sumptuous Recipes
  Recipes for Turkey, by Gorrell Wyrbin
  Cooking in the West Gheronese Style
  17 Ways to Prepare Leg of Lamb, by Heathuweard
  Little-Known Recipes for Caribou Sausage , by Brana Zapas
  Recipes from the Kitchen of Howel Seys
  Short Recipes for Beef, by Patradia Aelbyson
  10 Ways to Prepare Goose , by Kettilheard
  Recipes for Beef Tenderloin, by Aidlis Damarnold
  
  Sixth Shelf (Self Help)
  Vebjorga Brusasdotter's Guide to More Grace in Your Life
  How to Join The Torchbearers, by Chiara Roquinn
  The Art of Wood Elven Styles of Furniture, by Jaygan Sventhur
  Heortgar Bengan's Guide to Less Carnage in Your Life!
  Learning about Winemaking, by Ranmand Raicel
  15 Ways to Live off the Land in the Titan's Peak, by Dorvin Victir
  The Beginner's Guide to Taxidermy, by Digory Pearce
  Gwilym Bawn's Guide to More Might in Your Life
  The Art of Cults, by Ønund Thorarinsson , translated by Sir Eadbeorht
  Olrik Svertingson's Guide to More Courage in Your Life
  
  Bottom Shelf (General Reference)
  Essential Legends of Desertfolk Magic
  Grimoire for the Order of the Leaf
  The Folio on East Gheronese Poetry, by Annah Paksmorvyr
  The Study Concerning Ancient Empires, by Sir Ashur Ban
  The Hidden Lore Pertaining to Western Armorsmithing, by Lewiimus Olafcal
  Essays about the Order of the Moon
  The Concepts about Ancient Secret Societies
  Norburnus Zabin's Grimoire on Forbidden Magic
  The Guide Concerning the Misunderstanding between The Torchbearers and The Torchbearers , by Alacob Dorliam
  The Book for Enchantment
  
  Random Tables (Unsorted: to be reshelved)
  How to Join The Thieves Guilds of South Silverway, by Bagdedred Agen
  Early History of Faerie Customs
  Duchess Alexmurindia Ysir's Lexicon for Herbalism
  Knowledge Concerning Ancient History The Life of Annarina Jedeleron, by Keldred Facan
  The Complete Writings for Notable Orcish Folk Heroes, by Arbors Arenbarrya
  Journal of Hermund Venatr
  How to Make Shelter in the Rustycliff Coast, by Kelnett Tameth
  

Notable Creature:

• Gloom Mold: See here for more details.

______________________________________________________
This is the seventh of 26 adventures that I will be sharing over the month of September. They are designed for use with edition 3.5 of the world’s most popular fantasy RPG, although they can be easily dropped into any fantasy setting (or modern/sci-fi setting with a little work). These posts are a part of Asshat Paladin’s OSR Short Adventure Challenge , and utilize his Get Ready, Get Set, Go! Format.
______________________________________________________