"Lots of new baubles, coins, and items, though not for sure which ones are magical." She says simply showing some of the baubles.
She offers up a golden chalice, a golden ewer, a set of silver goblets, a silver tray, a dozen pieces of silverware, a silver chain with an emerald on it, and a golden lamp.
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Exert your will? That is precisely my question. What is your will? What is your purpose? You speak of helping your former master, but now he sits her dead and alone for many years. You claim that he was of the ruling line of Brevoy, but who was he? Why did he choose to stop here and not proceed south to Galt or Taldar?
Squishing sounds can barely heard coming from the South corridor.
Fizzy seems to be concentrating similar to Blienka. The spiders in the corner have fully stopped moving though their eyes are still glowing green. The spread of the runes has completed almost the entire room, covering it in runes burning the webs. Two large green torches are not lit on either side of the large doors down the stairs.
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The collection of power? For what purpose? Power does not equate with beauty. Even the most simple of folk can create the most beautiful creations. While many of the most powerful archmages in the history of Golarian create nothing more than ugliness.
Who exactly was Asc' Verligon Corthendar, this runesmith of the Brevory Royalty of whom you speak? I do not recognize his name, although the blood in my veins is descendant from those who ruled the land to the north until the past few years.
Fizzy begins to hum.
.
Selena takes back the baubles and puts them in one of the chests, she uses the locks provided and secures the two chests she pulls out a length of rope to secure the third. She sits on the throne with one leg on a chest.
At Krazok's appearance and questions she looks at the others.
Krazok shows up again still well covered in gore and guts, none appearing to his own. "So what now? We grabbing the chests and heading back to Oleg's? Our items might be in." His axe is glowing red and gore seems to seep off of it every few seconds.
Well we might need to rest a little bit for our warrior friend there, but I would like to go back and get my new toys!!
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The blue haired woman effectively ignores her new companions as she focuses on the rather bizarre, and in its own way scary, scepter.
Perhaps with your blood line my previous master's plans can come to fruitation. But think of the beauty that can be created with such power! You could be that dazzling figure that Brevoy needs! Asc' was a silent counselor to the king himself, one of the few adventurers who helped him take the throne. Past few years? Has time really been that short for you? It has been at least decades for us, though that spell may have been active.
Power is not beauty. Power is a perversion of beauty. Power is corruption. If used with restraint, power can free people to perform beautiful acts. But, in and of itself, power and beauty are not related. The poor farmer can just as easily create a bouquet of simple wildflowers as can the nobleman a statue of marble. Which is more beautiful, well, that is dependent upon the effort put in.
So, what is this power of which you speak? How will you aid me? This fortress you have created is not a place of beauty. None will see it, and if none can see it, then it is of no value. Unless it can create a smile and lighten the heart, beauty is nothing more than the appearance of an object. If I am to accept you, then what will you give me in return, and a bald statement of power is not the answer I seek.
Calathes speaks his tone is wary and cautious...
We had best quit this place, we can explore it later when we are both stronger and more informed of it... I advise putting that Scepter into a secure chest as well, Hell did not just corrupt Cheliax with devils and cultists... During Thrune's rise to power when neither the honeyed tongue nor the power of the pit swayed their rivals they would often plant "holy relics". These relics in truth either had never been relics in the first place or were altered by dark magic, where Thrune or her masters failed these items succeeded...
The corruption they perpetuated was slow but inevitable, not even the most "pure" heart, devoted to the heavens was immune to this plague upon the souls of Chelexians... Lock it up in a chest and let it be examined by wise sages and suspicious inquisitors alike, only under close and relentless scrutiny will it's true nature be revealed...
In a growl he asks, "Shall I destroy the spiders in the corner as well?" He will either comply and destroy them or shrug. Once either of those actions are done he secures the axe to his weapon rack on his pack and pulls out his pick. Pulling out a rope he offers it to Selena or anyone else who wants to tie the chest and lower it down to him. He begins to climb down slow and steady.
No not yet. I think they are going to go away on their own.
He waves at Cal. Did you need to rest here or can you return to the outpost?
So long as I don't have to enter combat we can return to the outpost...
She snidely remarks at Calathes statement about combat, "We are in the Stolenlands, yes more Northern but still combat is likely. What can't handle any more bandits? Still weak?"
She works with the rope and ties it around the chest and then asks for help from Arvangail and anyone else that will lend a hand. "Krazok, get up here it would be faster with you on top slowly letting it down. We can drag it over as needed. Also I can ride it down to keep it away from the wall."
As Selena says 'keep it away from the wall' the stone moves out and makes a step basically, allowing the rope to be in a position that the chest won't hit the wall.
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I am frustrating? You are obsessed with power, yet appear to have no clue what the power is for. Power is but a tool. Power can be used to create great beauty. Power can allow people the ability to use their abilities for the betterment and beautification of all. Power can also corrupt and destroy. Which is better? Shelyn or her brother the shadow lord? Both have great power. One uses it to bring light, happiness and beauty to the world. The other seeks to bring shadow, darkness, destruction and pain. So, which would you aid? One seeking to make this land a bastion of good and beauty? Or one seeking to dominate and control with no regard for those ruled?
And, of course my blood is royal, why would you doubt me?
Fizzy wanders over and sits on top of the chest.
Ready!
That is a good question I don't know which I would aid never have I been asked that kind of question, whatever my master chose I would support.
No there is no doubt that your blood is royal, just my ability to work in your hands is a testament to it.
He comes back up and is about to aid Arvangail to lower the chest with Selena and Fizzy down to the bottom floor, the webbing is gone and replaced with a stone floor, though he says something hoping it will work, "It would be even better if there was no pit at all, just a hallway."
And a bubble bath! And a kitchen!
The stones pull out from the walls and make a stone floor making the chasm into just a hallway. Now dragging the chests is the only obstacle until in the next vertical chasm.
The scepter glows as the stones move. Then a line of runes begin to glow from fizzy's feet, down the stairs and to the large double doors.
Fizzy runs as fast as he can, with the Fuzz waddling behind him. He throws open the doors.
@Selena
My limbs are still weak, if I were to go into battle it would be a hindrance to this group... My form of combat relies on the ability to bear true weapons of war and heaviest of armors...
Fizzy has some trouble moving the massive doors, though through sheer determination the door creaks open and once through Fizzy finds his dreams!!!
A large great room is in front of you, an open archway directly ahead of you is a large kitchen. Off to the right sounds of bubbling and falling water can be heard. There is a large curtain closed in the archway so you can't see water. Another archway on the left leads to a long hallway of doors.
"So perhaps we should rest here instead of taking the day trip to Oleg's it might even be two day's ride, then again you don't have a mount..." She actually was surprised to hear those words from Calathes, reminder herself of the fact that he nor the other man had mounts seems to be a dour point for her.
Though back to how I can improve you, from your agility and attire I would say you are a monk of some kind, we could craft you some magical tattoos to protect you better or enhance your attacks, my runesmithing ability would be able to apply a rune to your skin and enhance your overall strength, dexterity, consitution, intelligence, wisdom, or charisma. Runesmithing is ideal if you have someone or something that is willing to give up that ability to you. Typically giving them a good life of living here and becoming a vassal of yours. Though basic runesmithing is just welling up the power to make a rune and apply it.
I myself as a scepter can either enhance your charisma or intelligence. I can give you some insight on how to work with your attendants and give you a boost to your leadership. I am able to command one person to do as you wish once per day. I can read magic, craft runes, emit light up to a torch or down to a candle, detect magic, and have a good understanding of what things are worth meaning I am very good at appraising items correctly.
Is that what you were looking for?
Fizzy screams like a kid on Christmas and runs and jumps into the water and starts to splash
Krazok picks up the chest between his two hands and takes the chest following Fizzy. He drops off the chest at the door and investigates the great hall then the kitchen.
"Shall we," She says indicating to follow the other two. She waits a minute then drags one of the chests into the great hall leaving the last one. She will go back and grab the last one if no one else does.
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Blienka continues to concentrate on the scepter, but does move to follow the others.
Yes, I have trained in the martial arts, but this is not what I am. I am a servant of the Eternal Rose. She has granted my divine powers which enable me to heal the ill. To spread goodwill in the hope that people will use their lives to create things of beauty. It does not matter what that beauty is. It could be a poem, a painting, a garden or a song. It can even be how they live their lives.
If I could be granted an ability, it would be to be wiser. To improve my wisdom so that I can better aid those I know and those I meet.
As far as these runes go, I would have to learn more of what they are. I am not well schooled in the arcane and magical arts. If they can aid me in leading these adventurers to fulfill their destiny and to make these Stolen Lands a place of peace, learning and beauty, then I will welcome your aid.
Yes we can get to work on that, improving your wisdom.
I am here to serve even if you seem like a flower. One of the last of royal bloodline and I get to deal with this...
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Blienka rolls her eyes at whatever the scepter last said.
A flower? A flower is not beauty unless it is in the correct place. Put a sunflower in the middle of a corn field and you have a weed, not something beautiful. Beauty is not in the object, it is in the care and detail put into the object.
If you do not wish to aid me, that is your choice. I can just as easily toss you into a river and let some creature dredge you up ten lifetimes from now.
Now then, if you can truly change this place. Lets see what you can do. I do not want an over the top ostentatious palace, but what can you do to make this dungeon into a place I would wish to live in and train? Make the grand hall with flying buttresses, make the doors clean with simple decorations, make the walls of an attractive color, perhaps with chair rails and crown molding.
Blienka then smiles, clearly she has begun to have fun.
Go ahead and toss me to the side then.
No I won't do any changes that you want today. You can either toss me to the side or be more polite, I don't do well with threats as you can tell.
Selena glares at Calathes as she drags the other chest into the great hall. Once that is done she goes over to the hot springs.
She feels the water and it is a nice level of warm. She looks around and slips off her dress before slipping into the water with Fizzy.
Calathes examines his ever shifting surrounding warily, such power...but at what price? Is it worth forsaking your soul, your very self as Thrune has done for the sake of power?
Blienka I advise putting down the scepter, the power it grants you may seem free but that is a lie... Everyone and everything pays a price for the power they wield. The price I have paid to master war can be measured in scars, blood and pain. It is a price that I will continue paying until my final, dying breath.
All power comes at a cost, nothing in this life is free. Even if the scepter does not require anything from you you will still pay a price. That price will be your life, you will grow to rely on it for everything and when it finally fails you will be defenseless...
Calathes speech is grim in it's certainty, these are the words of wisdom that a general bestows upon his troops...
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No, you misunderstand. There is beauty in everything. But, Shelyn only rewards those who use their abilities to create great beauty.
However, if you will not work with me, then I shall put you aside until we determine what to do with you.
Blienka looks up at Calathes:
I do not know what to make of it. Until we are able to learn more about this item, I think keeping it safely in a pack is wisest.
She then takes and sticks it into her pack and turns to follow the others.
I can wait until your bones are clean and your flesh has rotted away as well.
I advise rest before any exploration of the compound begins... For all we know the scepter has created this place to lull us into a false sense of security... Best that we be prepared for battle, Cunning alongside courage and duty is the greatest of military virtues...
Great so that you have all finished dealing with what you were occupied maybe we can move. There are still thing i Need to get done in This lifetime.
says arvanvail appearing from one of the corridors.