"Withdrawing an item requires requesting the item, then going and getting it, then we have to go to the Master List for you to remove the information from it."
Each of you except for Lefty hears the same thing in their heads:
I am the Voice of Aroden. In the name of the god of humanity, I greet you, and mourn for your loss. We have set aside sleeping pallets in the far corner, and I can summon food should you require it.
"...I miss him too," Star whimpers.
Her eyes go blank for a few seconds, but Lorelei quickly composes herself. She turns to her allies and says, "Seems napping in the lobby wasn't necessary. Even if we don't need to rest, maybe we should stay for a while. Manisha's still missing. ...I also want for Rose to recharge. Her Miracles are useful!"
Aroden? Truly? What happened to you, and how did you come to be here?
Okay then, I think I'd like to withdraw. Are there any items related Calistria? In addition, my companions and I could most certainly make use of a few items, Quester, The Scroll of Eldritch Might, the holy sword of Sir Thaddeus Longshanks, and that piece of shield in the corner. The Heartseeker could be of use, but I do not believe any of my associates are Red Mantis.
Manisha takes another circuit through the armory, she is thinking of anything that could assist them in their fight, even knowing that the previous owners are likely dead.
And, she's thinking of how much of these artifacts she can shove in her bags.
"Very well, I will assemble the master list. Please wait here."
With that, he goes zipping off out of sight. Moments later, a horde of zombies begins shuffling into view. Although they are zombies, they do not appear to be trying to eat you. In fact, they are moving to form up into rows, like a group of soldiers. Moments later, over 1000 zombies stand before you. Shortly thereafter, The Archivist returns and says "It will be several minutes before the master list is assembled. Would you like some tea while we wait?"
Young Baergar, who is apparently the slayer of the great linnorm Fafnheir and king of the north, I bid you welcome. you have been marked by the immaterial, and that means that you might have a chance where so many others have failed.
As to how I came to be here, I was sent here to stand vigil over Tar-Baphon's corpse, should the necromancer rise again. My lord bade we watch, and safeguard what souls I could. Then he went silent, and the wards were erected here. So, here I stay, safeguarding the well of souls.
You honor me. How can I be of aid?
You may destroy the lich, so that my vigil may end and I might be free to seek my master.
Star continues rambling about her Cestus and Miracles.
Speaking of the gauntlet...
...Excuse me? Can you hear me? the artifact calls to the voice she heard in Lorelei's head.
My name is Rose Starling. I would say that I am Lorelei's aunt, but I think describing myself as a memory of that woman would be more accurate. Pardon my niece's... behavior. She used to have direct connection to Lord Aroden, and I don't think her mind ever fully recovered from his death.
Turning her gaze to Star, The Voice "thinks" at her You poor child. Who has harmed you in such a manner?
As your group is close enough to the sphinx to communicate with her, you see a shape form in the large crystal pyramid next to her. It is a human male who appears to be wearing armor, but is unarmed. The spirit mouths something at your group, turns around to look behind him, mouths something else, and then is snatched away back into the crystal with a silent scream.
Help me. The lich is going to use my soul for something horrid.
I feel myself bleeding away. Please, you have to help...
If anyone doesn't speak Chelaxian, Lefty will translate. Just read it.
We must be swift. The evil is palpable.
He's not all that good-aligned, but this place is creeping him out!
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Let me put it this way. Being directly connected to a god isn't all it's cracked up to be. Especially when he dies, a weary voice in Lorelei's head answers softly. Regardless, thanks for your concern. Me and my Aunt Rose miss him.
Manisha watches in awe, and aprehension as the undead line up. your master list is a bunch of undead?
the little floating light makes a sighing sound and says "I was using paper, but ran out, and then these undead started showing up and I was forced to improvise."
Your soul has been ravaged. If you wish, I can attempt to repair the damage, but there might be.....risks.
I know the damage. Broken leg, ears, and mind. However, these I don't know... What risks? And what benefits? Star asks curiously.
I think that I can make you whole. I can see the damage you've taken and I believe that I can mend it. Doing something like this always has it's risks.
...I appreciate the offer, but I don't want to risk our mission. I'm this group's healer. I can handle how I am now. Maybe after Tar-Baphon is gone?
Very well. I just worry about you.
Standing, this truly magnificent creature shakes herself and then continues to "speak" with you telepathically, while pacing around the room.
I have an offer to make, but it is not without it's danger. I believe that I can change the target destination of this teleportation circle, but there is a chance that it could be deadly to your group. A good chance. But it would let you bypass the myriad other deadly encounters that you would have to face. And there would be cost, but it would not be paid by you. What say you?
Is this deadly gambit a better chance than facing Tar Baphon's forces on the way to him?
We've beaten up Tar-Baphon's goons so far, but saving time is important. We would be jump closer to the lich, right?
As I said, I believe that I could use the portal to move you directly to his "lair" if you will. The levels of magic that I would be using, however, are staggering and something might very well go awry.
Star unknowingly repeats the offer to the rest of the group. "Do you all want to jump right to Tar-Baphon's lair? Maybe at some unknown major risk? Once Manisha gets back of course!"
We'll only have one chance, whether we face him now or later. I don't think anyone would feel perfectly prepared whenever that happens. I say we jump.
Lefty examines the dragon bone staff again, along with the mysterious box.
Just how many items do you have here? It doesn't look like that many...
I certainly hope you didn't inventory each individual coin...
As the zombies keep pouring in, The Archivist answered your question: "I taught each of them to remember a single magic item. Most mortals think that zombies are unintelligent, but that is simply a short-term perspective. They can be trained, if one takes the time to do so correctly. As for how many items there are, this armory currently holds 15,414 items. Was there anything in particular you were looking for?"
As you are speaking with The Voice of Aroden, Stalnee returns, this time with the body of someone dressed like one of the cultists that you encountered earlier. Entering they room you are currently located in, he walks up to the crystal and pushed the body into it, similar to how one might push their hands into clay. A spirit similar to the man appears inside the crystal and then moves away from view.
Any bags of holding or portable holes, preferably. You know, there are a lot of churches that could benefit by donations from the vault...
"We don't have any of those, as they do not work here."
Manisha continues to watch 15,414 zombies shuffle into neat and orderly lines.
Have you trained them in synchronized formations? Can they line dance? Can they sort like a pivot table?
More importantly, can I collect the items I'd like to withdraw now? Any flying carpets in here?
"It takes about a decade to teach them basic information, and more like a half century to teach them to talk again. Yes, you may collect the items you would like to withdraw now. Just point out the items you would like to take, and the master list will secure them for you; and no, no flying carpets, although we do have a witch's cauldron on hand that can fly I believe. It does require you to know the rituals to activate it, however."
Manisha indicates the items they had previously discussed, and just for kicks, points at a couple of other interesting items as well. She can check them out once she finds the others.
*The blade of Ser Renly the Bold: This +4 bastard sword is made of Elysium bronze. It grants the wielder the benefits of the aura of courage ability of a character their level.
*Cane of The Gentleman Explorer: This fashionable cane accents any courtier or noble outfit worn by the wielder, in addition to the following powers:
As long as the wielder is holding it in a hand, they receive a +10 bonus to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive checks. Additionally, once a day the cane can produce a mage's magnificent mansion.
*Headband of The Crane Master: This white Tien styled headband of a type commonly worn by monks. it has the glyph of the rising sun in red on one side, and it is designed to be tied off at the back of the user's skull. While worn by a character who possesses a style feat, that character receives the entire crane style chain of feats. Additionally, such a character receives Vital Strike and all feats that have Vital Strike as a pre-requisite, but can only use them with kick attacks.
*Tome of Legends: This Ironbound book has many more pages on the inside than it's outward appearance would indicate. If a character spends a 1 round action studying the book, they receive the benefits of Bardic Knowledge of a bard of their character level for the next two rounds after that. Should a bard with the bardic knowledge class feature be the one perusing this book, then their bonuses for bardic knowledge are doubled.
*Armor of the Iron Titan: This +5 Heavy Fortification Adamantine Full Plate has the ability to take over fighting for a wearer should he become disabled in such a way that it prevents him from acting (such as dazed or stunned). The armor will use the standard attack routines of the wearer, but with limited capability. It will use the same number of attacks as the wearer would normally get, but the bonuses to attack and damage are halved, and the armor neither grants nor benefits from any tactical benefits while attacking on it's own (i.e. no flanking or higher ground bonuses). In order to benefit from the latter ability of the armor, it must be worn for a 24 hour period, during which the wearer must be engaged in a combat (whether practice or actual).
Collecting the listed items, an old man with a lantern appears and says "Are you Menasha? Man is a? Drat, I know it's something like that. What's your name missy?"
That's me, Manisha. Who are you?
"Ah yes, Manishe. Well, come along girl, your little pals are waiting for you. My name? You don't know who I am? Oh, I see....I'm Stalnee. Now come along child." With that, he begins shuffling towards the hallway that you arrived in, holding his lantern before him.
Kick it up to HD.
After a brief trek through the curtain of time, Manisha is led into the main room where the rest of you first appeared after Stalnee lead you here.
Manisha follows along, when she meets up with the others she sets the stuff down. I come bearing gifts, been busy?
After a brief trek through the curtain of time, Manisha is led into the main room where the rest of you first appeared after Stalnee lead you here.
Noting your ascent to attempt to teleport directly the the whispering tyrant, The Voice "says" to you You should probably rest and prepare your spells. you will likely need them for what is to come.
After taking a day to do another rest (and checking out the things that Manisha brought with her from the vault), you cast your spells, make your preparations, and move into the portal room.
The voice has been working busily while you rested, making precise modifications to the teleportation circle in the room. You can see that several of the runes have been changed to the holy symbol of Tar Baphon. Completing her preparations, she begins channeling power into the portal, so much power in fact that nascent hole in space/time that is forming almost shorts out, but then she manages to stabilize the portal and she motions for you to enter.