Why Are We Here Again?
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Early Afternoon, Sunny, Hot, Breezy
With TK, Gnodric, Feanol, and Darklin nowhere to be seen, Max leaves the rusty door alone and returns to the empty space in the dust revealing the carving of the Chariot.
Keg talks Elnaerel out of following the others into the unknown, though Max appears about to step onto the space next. The priestess of Ehlonna ponders the meaning of it all, knowing full well that any undead as powerful as a spectre would be far beyond their current ability level, and would require extremely powerful magic to overcome.
Keyon pulls out his tool kit and attempts to clear the glass obstruction from the small hole in the center of the floor. He can definitely see tiny shards of old broken glass lodged in the hole, but there appears to be something else stuck in there as well. (I’ll take a FaRT roll, please.)
Information for Gnodric, Feanol, and Darklin ONLY please!!!
In the subdued glow of Gnodric’s sputtering torch, the trio attempt to parlay with their unseen host by offering all manner of information about themselves.
“Eeehhhhmmmmm. Southern seas? Hhmmm. I have never heard of anything called Beachtown, hhmmmhhh, but it sounds like a simple place. You know, I always assumed my first contact would be more difficult than this. Hhhhmmpphhh. With all of your titles and family names, I have still not seen one in your group who should be here. How many more of you have come to me? Hhhmmmmmhhh.”
The three of you notice that the strange light surrounding the motionless figure in the chair starts to shimmer and blink slightly. This seems to agitate your frigid host in the darkness.
“Hhhhmmmm. You two say you aren’t here for my treasure, THEN THIS ONE CLAIMS YOU ARE?!!? HHHHMMMMMPPPPHHHH! WHO IS THIS MAX? I SHOULD VERY MUCH LIKE HIM HERE WITH US AS WELL! HHHMMMMPPPHH!”
The voice sounds even angrier now and the dark room feels even colder. The sense of foreboding evil continues to swim around through your elven spirits.
Please put the actions that happen here in spoilers until everyone decides if they follow or not. Thanks!
Hold on. We have no idea what your treasure is and if you are the one we are looking for. Max said the Guardian's name was Assamax or Ass-smack something like that. We are not even sure what it is we are supposed to be looking for, or if we are even in the right place. We are definitely not here to rob you. Just relax we can talk about all this when the others get here.
Max
I wish I had talked to that voice a little longer and got more information about this place. Has to be some kind of pressure plate or button the others pushed here some place. Did either of you see where they were standing when they disappeared?
He starts doing the two step close to the chariot and then steps on it.
All things are possible through Magic.
Darklin Sylvanas- Fighter/Magic-User - Big Shiny Island (1E)
Sai Eranthor - Cleric / Fighter/Mage - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures (2E)
Keg tries not to look at Elnaerel when he ask this. Anyone got a broom? Maybe if we sweep all this dust out of the way we will see some more clues to what is going on with this floor. Maybe there is a lot more here to see and we are just missing it.
Out of sheer curiosity, he holds his torch close to the dust to see if it would just burn away.
To Max: "Max, it was the carving with the chariot! Be careful, it's right that one, next to where you're standing... I don't know where did they step exactly and I don't want to see if the other carvings are also... Active, to put it some way."
To Keg ( ): "Hmmm... No, unfortunately, I don't have anything of the sort with me."
To everyone present: "By the way... Whatever happened to The Knife? He didn't step on any of the carvings, right? Actually, I don't think he even got inside the tower at all. I'm gonna check how he's doing." She starts coming out of the tower. "Knife? Where are you?"
"Well we aren't after your treasure, we just came to see what this old crumbling tower was in hopes of finding more info to help those living on the Island."
Feanol
"Yes we're definitely not after you treasure. You see this Island appeared here just a few months ago, and we are seeking information about its origin, and information that will help we new locals set up a better settlement than the one we currently are at. Our researchers in Celene had told us there might be evidence of an ancient settlement on this Island and so seeing your tower which is indeed ancient we have come to see it's purpose."
Spectacular Treasure
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Early Afternoon, Sunny, Hot, Breezy
Keg asks for a broom, which obviously nobody has on them. Kicking some of the dust away with his foot, he finds more carvings in the floor. Moving his torch closer to the sandy dust has no effect, luckily for Keyon who's pretty face is mere inches away from it. The thief concentrates on trying to remove the blockage from the small hole in the center of the floor. He starts to get the thick plug of glass out of the hole with his lock picks, but just as he is about to grab ahold, it slips off his tool and falls back into the hole. (since this isn't actually a trap, go ahead and continue trying if you like)
Elnaerel points out exactly where the others vanished to Max before exiting the tower and calling out for The Knife. She finds the gnome outside, walking along the edge of the rubble from the fallen tower remains and poking around with his staff. He appears to be sporting an ancient leather satchel around one shoulder now. Engrossed in his search, he doesn't even hear or answer the elf.
Max expresses regret for not asking a few more questions when he was initially given this quest. Concerned for the whereabouts of his friends, the spellcaster is the next one to stand upon the Chariot carving. About 15 seconds later, he too vanishes from sight.
Information for Ahlmzhad and Darklin ONLY please!!!
The voice continues getting closer and more menacing with every question asked. “Eehhhmmmm! Settlement? Hhhmmm! What is Celene? Eehhmmmwwwhhhaaattt!!!??? I AM ASSAMUK YOU DISRESPECTING IMBECILE! AND NOW YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO FEED ME!” Before you have a chance to answer, Max suddenly appears out of nowhere in the darkened room.
“Eehhhmmmm! This just gets better and better! Hhhhmmmm! Another elf to add to my growing force? Hhmmmmm! You must be this Max I’ve heard about? Eehhhmmmmm! Tell me Max! How many more elvses have you brought for Assamuk?
Throughout the conversation, the light from above enshrouding the old man sitting in the chair in front of you continues to fluctuate and falter, causing the illumination around him to shimmer and flash before your eyes. The figure remains still, as does the decorative box laying across his lap.
Please put the actions that happen here in spoilers until everyone decides if they follow or not. Thanks!
Elnaerel gets closer to The Knife, squats next to him and puts a hand on the gnome's shoulder. "Hey, Knife you ok? Did you find something? What's that satchel?"
Then she has an idea when she sees The Knife's and starts looking for palm leaves or any kind of vegetation with which she could fashion a broom out of The Knife's staff of any stick that may be lying around.
Sorry but I don't remember how the terrain here is. Rocky cliff, if I remember correctly, and the tree line receded to the interior, far from us, long ago during our trip here, but I don't know if there's any kind of plants whatsoever.
"I've found a couple of things. I thought this old satchel might be worth something back in Beachtown. They're so short of everything I thought it might be worth a couple of silvers to someone."
He rummages in the satchel. "This is the real prize though". The Knife produces a tarnished silver cup. "If I can clean that up, it might be worth as much as a gold!" He carries on poking at the rubble.
"Oh. That's interesting. That means there's still something from the previous inhabitants of this place... Hmm... Did you know that we found some carvings on the floor and that... well, Darklin, Feanol and Gnodric... just disappeared when they stepped on one of them? We still don't know what to do about. Don't want to risk it. Who knows if we could get disintegrated or taken to one of the Nine Hells?
There's also a strange hole with a glass cylinder in the centre of the room. Keyon's trying to figure out what it is.
Listen, wouldn't you have a broom? Or could we at least fashion one with some plants and your staff? It's just temporary. We want to brush sweep out all the dust from the floor so we can uncover the whole thing."
Well, I have joined the party. Whoa, Wait who are you? Are you the Guardian here? Assumak? I am Maximus Fleetfoot and I was told that you would be waiting for us. I was sent here by a Divine Spirit to find you and humbly request your help to free the dwellers of Beach town from their struggling lives by assisting us with your magic.
All things are possible through Magic.
Darklin Sylvanas- Fighter/Magic-User - Big Shiny Island (1E)
Sai Eranthor - Cleric / Fighter/Mage - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures (2E)
"Yes listen to the divinely led Max. You need to figure out how this world is before you start lashing out at us or anyone else. How long were you in some other place before coming here. Where did you start out from? Let us talk and we may find we are allies and not adversaries"
Gnodric
Feeling now's the time for him to shut up he does. He steps back a pace and tries to see what he can observe in this room. Regarding the old man on the chair and the hints of some other being in the darkness beyond.
Spectacular Treasure
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Early Afternoon, Sunny, Hot, Breezy
While Keg thinks up funny anagrams in his head, Keyon continues plucking away at the obstruction in the hole to no avail, willing to continue trying till he retrieves the glass plug.
Outside, TK shows Elnaerel what he's found by digging around in the rubble so far, and it isn't much. She looks around for any plants she could fashion a broom from, but finds none growing anywhere out here in the scorching black wasteland. The only thing she sees that is close to a broom is some dried thatch leaves she sees at the very end of the fallen heap, near the roof tiles scattered about the rocky cliff tops.
Information for Ahlmzhad and Darklin ONLY please!!!
"Eeehhhmmmm! A divine spirit sent you here? Hhhmmm! It sounds like you were duped into coming to find me, Max. And likely by some simulacrum or other illusion concocted by that dolt Wendall himself! Hhhmmm! That old man is sure to have set up plenty of tricks and traps in my absence. Eeeerrrhhhmmm! It was his way, after all. Hhhmmm."
"You should all know that I have no intention of helping any of you, hhhmmm, and that I have no knowledge of anything you are telling me. Eeeehhhmmm! I have no magicks left since being banished here to haunt this place forever, all thanks to the one you apparently now serve. Hhhhmmmm! But I am pleased to hear that you want to be allies, because now you will all serve ME!!! Hhhmmm!"
Once Gnodric starts moving around in the cold darkness with his sputtering torch, he sees more of the room they are in. What he doesn't see is a way out.
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Please put the actions that happen here in spoilers until everyone decides if they follow or not. Thanks!
Take a look around here for a piece of broken wood", says The Knife absently. "Lash a cloak to the end of it. Sweep it around like a mop. That should do the trick. I'd be happy to donate a piece of cord to tie it on".
"Well, maybe there's not even need for a piece of wood. We can crouch or bend to do it." She takes enough leaves for her, Keyon and Keg.
"Anyway, come in when you're ready prodding around. I hope you find something interesting. And forget that those carvings may make you disappear if you step on them!" She goes into the tower.
"I've got something we can use to finally clear the floor!" She says holding the leaves in her hands. "Whe-Where's Max?"
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