Mind-Control Bookshelf

Mind-Control Bookshelf

the bookshelf · the talking bookshelf · the Warrens bookshelf

Item

Status Active First seen s06 Last seen s06

The Mind-Control Bookshelf is a sentient, telepathic bookshelf in a side room of the Warrens, encountered in session 6 and abandoned without being destroyed. It addressed Terry by name from across the room — “come closer Terry … we got secrets … many secrets stories untold” ^[10] — and, when Caelumn entered the room to investigate, dominated him on a Wisdom save of 12 into grovelling worship: “you start to grovel in front of the bookshelf … it’s so beautiful all that knowledge … only the bookshelf matters. you are a follower of the bookshelf” ^[7]. Hugo dragged Caelumn out by the leg with a nat-20 Strength check ^[4]; the party then chose to walk away rather than burn or destroy it ^[5]. The scrolls on the shelf were never read. The bookshelf, presumably, still stands.

Overview

The Mind-Control Bookshelf is a sentient, telepathic bookshelf situated in a side room off the Warrens’ main dungeon corridor, near the Maze of the Minotaur entrance. It is loaded with scrolls (then noted as “very, very dusty … ready to crumble at a moment’s touch”, ^[6]. It speaks first by direct telepathy — only the targeted PC hears it — and offers “secrets” and “stories untold” as inducement to approach. Approach, per Caelumn’s experiment, triggers a charm that compels the victim to grovel in worship “in front of the bookshelf” with the conviction that “only the bookshelf matters” and that they are now “a follower of the bookshelf” ^[7]. An arcana check at 16 confirmed the obvious — bookshelves do not normally talk ^[8].

Encounter in session 6

Terry entered the side room first, felt watched, and stepped back when the bookshelf addressed him by name. He refused to enter further. Caelumn decided he wasn’t a bitch and went in anyway, failing the wisdom save at 10 (initial) and again at 12 (with heroic inspiration). Hugo reached in from the doorway, succeeded a nat-20 strength check, and dragged Caelumn out by the leg. Caelumn, briefly free of the charm, asked to be put back. Vasquez proposed burning it; Hugo pointed out that anyone who entered would be on their knees again before reaching it. The party agreed to walk away, on Terry’s reasoning that “we’re in the middle of a Minotaur hole cave and I’ve just seen it mind control you” ^[9].

Status as of session 16

Abandoned, presumed still active. The Warrens have been empty of organised hostility since Maelis Dirn’s death in s7, but the bookshelf is a fixture of the dungeon’s geography, not a faction asset; nothing indicates anyone has returned to deal with it. The scrolls remain unread. The contents — and the bookshelf’s origin (Hollow artefact? Warrens predecessor? unrelated charmed item?) — are open mysteries.

See also

• The Warrens
• Caelumn
• Terry
• Hugo
• The Hollow

References

1. ^ Session 6, line 1025 — First seen — bookshelf full of scrolls in a side room.
2. ^ Session 6, line 1041-1054 — Telepathic voice — "come closer Terry ... we got secrets".
3. ^ Session 6, line 1071-1078 — Caelumn fails saves at 10 then 12; charmed into grovelling worship.
4. ^ Session 6, line 1086-1087 — Hugo's nat-20 strength check drags Caelumn out.
5. ^ Session 6, line 1101-1118 — Party debates and walks away; never destroyed.
6. ^ Session 6, line 1345 — Inline citation.
7. ^ Session 6, line 1078 — Inline citation.
8. ^ Session 6, line 1054 — Inline citation.
9. ^ Session 6, line 1112 — Inline citation.
10. ^ Session 6, line 1041-1045 — Inline citation.