Ashlion throws himself into clearing the door. While Lisk circles above, the mindblade heaves rocks and piled gravel out of the way. Despite the formidable size of the pile, it doesn't take long until he reveals a locked door, which looks recently replaced. Sighing, Ashlion puts his shoulder to it and breaks it down (after a few tries).
The door falls inward with a crack, splintered wood hitting the stone floor. Inside, a dark square room is revealed, the base of the tower. While it once had windows, they have been stopped up with ...melted stone? Yes, apparently stone has been molded to fit into the old windows, surely magically.
A staircase spirals up and spirals down. The downward staircase looks dusty and disused while those going upward look slightly more trafficked. There is no furniture or other signs of life in the room, but Ashlion sees a few burn marks and fresh scrapes on the stone. Signs of a struggle.
Ashlion starts to climb the stairs, moving quiet as a mouse. he climbs for several minutes, the stone stairs spiraling upward. Suddenly, without warning, they slap down, creating a stone slide. Spinning, he sees a wide pit open at the base of the stairs, lined with spikes.
'I said, GO AWAY!' a magically enhanced voice booms.
The mindblade just manages to grab the wall of the tower, and stops himself from sliding down into the pit, but walking up the stone slide is out of the question.
In his mind Lisk says, "What was that? I could hear it outside!
|
"Damn it!" Ashlion bellows, his frustration bubbling over. "For the love of all the gods, I come here, trying to help the city and speak to a knowledgable sage and I have to tear down walls nearly get killed! Why in the name of the Flatulent Sages will someone not just showed some damned manners for once!"
Lisk, wisely, lets Ashlion rant before he asks the question again.
Pit trap. Ashlion responds. Dumps you in a spike pit at the bottom of the stairs.
Seeing no other choice the mindblade snaps his fingers, rises into the air and flies over the shaft and upwards.
Annoyed, Ashlion uses magic to fly over the stone tunnel that was the stairwell. His calls go unanswered so he flies in silence, the stone walls a blur beside him. In his mind he hears Lisk chuckle at his laconic description of the traps inside.
At the top of the stairwell Ashlion finds another door. A quick Detect magic shows a door that is tingling with magic, of several auras. Going through this place could take awhile...
On the plus side, it probably means there is someone here, to update the spells.
Painting on the door are the words,
This is your last warning! Go Away