LOST WORLDS

The Forgotten
Library of Elysara
The Forgotten Library of Elysara

FANTASY / MYSTERY / SECRET / SACRIFICE

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 4. Library of Secrets 6. Garden of Forgotten Words
Rows of tomes, collections, and leather-wrapped pages A gnarled tree, its roots sprawling across the floor,
reach the ceiling of this room on every wall. The musty scent stands at the center of an underground garden. There
of old leather and dust fills the room. Towers of ancient are five moss-covered stone steps. Each step bears a
books and handwritten pages crowd dusty tables. If players cryptic word that refers to each of Elysara’s odysseys.
This library was once the
take time to examine the books more closely, they find a By placing them in chronological order, the tree’s roots
archive maintained by an
journal whose pages seem to respond to those who write will shift, revealing a hidden passage down a ladder. Any
elven mystic named Elysara,
within. You can prompt players to interact by having them player that places their hand upon the tree and gives it
the Keeper of Knowledge.
read, “You are most certainly not Elysara!” a memory will receive a treasure of equal value (at the
It housed the land’s most
DM’s discretion). The player no longer remembers what
profound secrets. However,
it gave to the Tree of Knowledge, but they do remember
after Elysara vanished,
that there was an exchange.
the library’s whereabouts
were lost. Legend says
the library is protected 7. The Sanctuary of Elysara
by guardians, traps, Climbing down the ladder, players find a solitary room
and puzzles to test the in which earthen roots weave across the walls. A simple
worthiness of those who desk and chair sit in the center of the room. A single
seek its knowledge. note, its edges tinged with age, rests upon the table.
Hand the players Elysara’s final letter.

1. Hidden Entrance
In the heart of the Elvish
Wood, the oldest oak holds a
secret. A hidden door lay in its bark,
waiting for a hand to be placed upon it
and the right word to be spoken. Players can
accidentally discover this while resting or
leaning upon the tree. The massive oak creaks,
then splits open, revealing a dark passage.
The Forgotten Library of Elysara

2. Entryway
Twisting roots sprawl along the entrance, leading
into a dark room. On the moss-slick walls, portraits
of elven library keepers stare down. Name plates are
unreadable except for the last, which reads Elysara.
If players speak any louder than a whisper here, the portraits
come alive with a collective shriek. (A constitution saving
throw is required to resist the urge to faint). The door is
magically locked with an elvish riddle etched into the door:
I have leaves, but never grow, full of stories, whispered low.
Seek knowledge here, but speak with care, for silence is the
treasure there. (Answer: The elvish word for “library”)
3. Hall of Echoes
Roots snake along the floor and climb the walls like
grasping hands, and cobwebs hang from the ceiling like
dusty curtains. The air smells like dirt and old books. Up
ahead, massive double doors block the way forward.
5. Chamber of Artifacts
This room contains two long glass cases, one
displaying exotic treasures from distant lands
and the other with aged scrolls and curious
tools. There are 5 paintings on the walls that
depict landscapes, but on closer inspection reveal a
story - an ordered chronicle of Elysara’s journeys. A stone
warrior stands guard, its gaze fixed on the chamber’s riches.
Anyone attempting to leave the room with one of these
relics will activate this silent protector, who will guard the
door and transform this room of wonder into a battleground.

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 ENCOUNTERS / D8
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A small flock of flying books swoop down to
attack explorers.
An ornate folded paper butterfly gracefully
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lands nearby. If pursued, it will lead a player to a
nearby hidden treasure.
3 A book within sight displays a curious property
that would give cause for investigation. This
could include but is not limited to: glowing,
floating, voices, shaking, or something reaching
out from between the pages.
A nearby vine snares the character with the
4 6
highest intelligence and begins to pull it toward
the Tree of Knowledge.
5 A creature emerges from an open book into
the library. The party will find it is not able to be
The Forgotten Library of Elysara
defeated. The creature’s attacks will always fail
because it is an illusion with physical properties
and can produce sound. After it is left alone, it
will disappear.
A medium-sized, brown spider spins a
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message in its web in front of their eyes.
An echo spirit mimics the last character to
7 library’s hidden entrance, a lone tome will remain,
speak. The third time this encounter is rolled, a
8 full-bodied clone of the speaker emerges and
attacks the original player.
BOOKS
The Stars and Our Fate: A Treatise on
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Celestial Navigation by Elara Stargazer
The Draconomicon of Scales by Bahamut
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the Platinum
Fungus Among Us: A Mycologist’s Guide to
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the Underdark by Myconid Sage
The Elven Blade: A History of
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Swordsmanship by Elrohir Moonshadow
Dwarven Drinking Songs: A Collection of
5 Legends whisper of a time after the Forgotten
Ballads and Toasts by Brokk Stonehammer
The Paladin’s Code: A Guide to Righteous
Conduct by Sir Gareth Brighthelm
The Goblin Chef’s Cookbook: Surprisingly
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Edible Treats by Grumblesnap
The Alchemist’s Codex: Potions, Powders,
8 dwelled near the forest, a testament to the
and Poisons by Zardath the Alchemist
Gnomish Engineering Marvels by Gearheart
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the Clever
The Subtle Art of Persuasion: A Bard’s
Handbook by Dorian Nightsong
The Language of Flowers: A Guide to Sylvan
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Communication by Bartholomew the Wise
Unveiling the Arcane: A History of Magical
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Theory by Archmage Theliel
/ D12 ENDINGS
Leaving with memory of the tree
Centuries passed and the wondrous knowledge
tree became a well-known legend. A young boy
seeking his fortune in the world found the tree
and became king of the land by using it’s gifts. A
wicked advisor parted him from this life and took
the tree’s power for his own. The land felt the
curse. The magic twisted, left a reminder: some
secrets are best kept hidden, lest they become a
king’s burden and a kingdom’s ruin.
Leaving with NO memory of the tree
Keeper’s sacrifice. Years rolled by, and the Tree of
Knowledge, nourished by the library, flourished.
Its branches reached upward through the roof,
bidding an enchanted forest rise up from the soil.
Miraculous discoveries bloomed – lost healing
techniques, forgotten languages of diplomacy,
and whispers of ancient pacts that fostered
peace. This newfound knowledge ushered in
an era of unprecedented harmony for all who
Keeper’s ultimate sacrifice.
If the tree is destroyed
Should the Tree of Knowledge fall, a terrible fate
awaits the library. Slowly, walls crumble, shelves
topple, and the forgotten lore it holds dissipates
like whispers on the wind. All knowledge will be
lost, save for a single ember. Nestled within the
its weathered pages cradling a single, withered
seed. This solitary survivor, a testament to the
library’s legacy, will hold the last secret.
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Elysara’s Final Letter

As dawn approaches, I find myself compelled to share a secret this very

place has held close for far too long. The burden I carry has become
a weight too heavy to bear alone, and perhaps, by sharing my tale, a
solution might present itself – though hope dwindles with each passing
moon.

For generations, this library has served as a sanctuary for lost

knowledge, a haven for whispered lore and forgotten histories. It was
within these hallowed halls that the mantle of Keeper was passed on to
me, a responsibility I embraced with both reverence and trepidation. Yet,
fate, it seems, had a different path in store.

One starlit evening, amidst the towering stacks, I stumbled upon a

peculiar sight – a single, withered seed nestled within the pages of an
ancient tome. Curiosity, that insatiable companion of all Keepers, urged
me to plant it. With tender care, I nourished it not with water and
sunlight, but with the forgotten melodies and verses that echoed within
these walls. Each word whispered, each verse recited, coaxed the seed
forth, a new leaf unfurling with every syllable. Slowly, steadily, the
seedling grew, its branches reaching for the library’ s vaulted ceiling, its
leaves rustling with the whispers of forgotten lore.

Driven by a scholar’ s curiosity, I experimented with the knowledge tree.

Simple offerings, like forgotten lullabies, yielded minor gifts from the
tree. But as I delved deeper, offering cherished memories of my village and
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Elysara’s Final Letter

mentor, the gifts grew extraordinary – a hidden map and an enchanted staff.
A horrifying truth emerged: the tree’ s power mirrored the value of the sacrificed
memory. A terrifying vision unfolded: warlords bartering memories for armies,
sorcerers sacrificing love for forbidden magic. The knowledge tree, a haven for lost
lore, could become a tool for devastation.

Destroying the tree was unthinkable. It was a gift, a beacon in the vast
unknown. Yet, leaving it unguarded was an even greater risk. In the end, with a
heart heavy with sorrow, I made a choice. I, Elysara, Keeper of the Forgotten
Library, will sacrifice my own memories of this place, the very foundation of my
being, and pour them into the knowledge tree. The library will fade from my mind,
a necessary price to ensure its continued existence.

Tomorrow, I leave. I walk away from the love of my life, from the very essence
of who I am, all to protect the knowledge this library holds. May whoever
finds this letter understand the sacrifice made, and may they find a way to
safeguard the power that now resides within the walls of the Forgotten Library.

With a heart etched with sorrow,

5 Elysara, the Forgotten Keeper
The Forgotten Library of Elysara

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