You suddenly find yourselves standing in someone’s study. An older man is sitting in a cushioned chair reading some papers. He almost looks elven except for the bright red hair and the dark orange tint to his skin. When you appear he takes a moment to look at each of you. He then appears to look back at his papers as he says – “I you some I last see have weight saw that lost since you.”
The man gets up from his chair and moves closer to you looking at each of you carefully in turn. It almost looks as though he is looking through you. “You woefully for ahead are ill what all prepared lies. For berks know get you starters don’t how to are you even to where going.” He quickly scans each of you and finally looks at E. “I you compass assume have that a?” as he holds out his hand…
"Go here you!"
<Hands him the compass>
"Go here you!"
<Hands him the compass>
He takes the compass and puts it on the table and then gets out some tools and starts to tinker with it. “How to around with equipment are make the such people it planes primitive?” He then takes out a large mallet and smashes the compass flat and hands it back to E. He then goes to one of his book shelves and takes out a rather complicated looking piece of equipment and tosses it to E. “Finding to is as something the the as detecting is path planes simple if magical.” He then looks around – especially up. And says “You’ll hurry have to. It we having looks will company like be soon. I that here don’t they for believe are you. I them as will as I delay long can.”
"Who are you?"
"This is all horribly interesting, though I still can't quite decipher what you were saying about the compass, but I think there was something about it being too primitive, anyways, the point is where exactly are we supposed to be going to in such a hurry before the presumably bad things get here? Or is that what that fancy piece of equipment is supposed to tell us? I mean, it's not like I care, I'm happy to go anywhere cause I like exploring and seeing new places and all that only it might be helpful to have some general idea of what is actually going on...although perhaps slightly less exciting so maybe it's okay not knowing. Hmmm. That's an interesting conundrum."
"Who are you?"
"Viserys. And not know I wish your do to names. The know the enemies able to less about less will to find I you our be use you."
He looks up again.
"The that expecting summoned truth I to you is was have. I could more wish give direction I you. Ultimately will the guide compass. Is more from there you me anything need?"
He turns to Vassago --
"And are in no not a you currently test."
"I am Vortic, and if I am to understand Alaric here then you are a dabbler in the chaotic arts?" Vortic nods to Viserys.
"As for needing things... what in the spheres is going on?" He rests Alaric against the ground, hands over pommel.
Pinna patters about the room nervously, following Viserys' gaze to the ceiling. "Pinna thinks we should listen to carrot man and leave here now. Voices in Vortic's head can explain later. But where to go?"
<Examines compass for North>
Survival check:
"Thank for compass you the Viserys kindly upgraded."
<Examines compass for North>
Survival check: d20 + 10"Thank for compass you the Viserys kindly upgraded."
Either it's broken or you need to activate it.
"I am Vortic, and if I am to understand Alaric here then you are a dabbler in the chaotic arts?" Vortic nods to Viserys.
"As for needing things... what in the spheres is going on?" He rests Alaric against the ground, hands over pommel.
There is a device that was created on Mechanus that was going to make all the planes more "lawful". A group of us stole it, but one of our group betrayed us, took the device, and has perverted it to his own use. We knew that this day was coming, but we were hoping to be able to stop him before now. He needs the blood of different aligned "planars" to activate the machine. That is why we are being hunted and killed. (That and he doesn't want us interfering with his plans.) You being a small enough group and a group that he doesn't know about may be the only chance the multiverse has to survive.
I understand the need for chaos at times in our lives. But the thought of an entire multiverse -- including your precious prime plane -- comprising nothing by absolute chaos makes me more than just a little scared.
"Can this anyone thing figure out? I'm wouldn't me sure have something Viserys given broken."
"Can this anyone thing figure out? I'm wouldn't me sure have something Viserys given broken."
Quick little Moff DM hint...
Spellcraft check:
If nothing comes of that, then detect magic
Spellcraft check: d20 + 5
If nothing comes of that, then detect magic
"Thank for compass you the Viserys kindly upgraded."
By the way, every time you talk like that, he gives you an odd look. Eventually he says... "Does talk he like always that?"
"This has an new shown exit compass me."
<Heads for the doorway>
By the way, every time you talk like that, he gives you an odd look. Eventually he says... "Does talk he like always that?""Thank for compass you the Viserys kindly upgraded."
"In a way..."
"This has an new shown exit compass me."
<Heads for the doorway>
And now you are in his hallway.
By the way, every time you talk like that, he gives you an odd look. Eventually he says... "Does talk he like always that?""Thank for compass you the Viserys kindly upgraded."
"No. Usually speaks leprechaun."
Pinna follows E out the door.
And now you are in his hallway."This has an new shown exit compass me."
<Heads for the doorway>
It need to seems a the I "key" portal
<Goes back through the doorway>
Pinna watches in some confusion as E. reverses course. She wanders down the hall in search of an external door, looking through the place with some curiosity but touching nothing unless it's really shiny.
Pinna watches in some confusion as E. reverses course. She wanders down the hall in search of an external door, looking through the place with some curiosity but touching nothing unless it's really shiny.
Viserys gives you an approving nod as you find a ring that shines and seems to change color the more you look at it.
Having had her claws slapped for snagging shiny things before, Pinna watches him closely and slowly reaches for the ring, ready to pull back if Viserys shows any sign of disapproval.
If he does not object, she picks it up and examines it, then slides it onto one claw.
"Oooh. Colorful."
Having had her claws slapped for snagging shiny things before, Pinna watches him closely and slowly reaches for the ring, ready to pull back if Viserys shows any sign of disapproval.
If he does not object, she picks it up and examines it, then puts it on.
He seems to want you to have it.
** spoiler omitted **"I am Vortic, and if I am to understand Alaric here then you are a dabbler in the chaotic arts?" Vortic nods to Viserys.
"As for needing things... what in the spheres is going on?" He rests Alaric against the ground, hands over pommel.
"Gah, I can't stand this." Vortic tosses the sword on the ground, "Too much too quick. Just have to think for a bit..."
"Gah, I can't stand this." Vortic tosses the sword on the ground, "Too much too quick. Just have to think for a bit..."
;-)
Sorry about the sword confusion. Oh well...
"E, do you have any idea how to use that thing, or are you just guessing?"
"Oooh. Colorful."
Speaking of colors...
"E, do you have any idea how to use that thing, or are you just guessing?"
"I there's to here can a another tell doorway plane. I seem through just to it can't go."
He turns to Vassago --
"And are in no not a you currently test."
He stares in return with complete suspicion.
Every thing ... at every time ... at every moment ... is a test, he replied with a slight hiss in his voice. If it were not, then let this device that the little one bears guide us with ease as to where we need to go ... or to return. Time is not linear, but cyclical. The eternal recurrence; worlds without end. It is my hope that the device will liberate us from this existence.
He watches the halfling with bemusement, but it soon grows into impatience. May I? Vassago holds out his hand.
"Company." Pinna points at a window.
Every thing ... at every time ... at every moment ... is a test
"Let that pass which handed us you the has you hope then test been."
<Hands the strange man the compass>
"Please back are give when done it you."
He begins to reply, but decides against it and simply bites his tongue. He takes the compass from E. and admires its craftsmanship. He begins to comprehend its mechanism in the attempt to use it successfully.
It is my hope that the device will liberate us from this existence.
And my this help from that us it hope device save the is is that will us existence threatening. Just compass a like it guide any is. It you are they not open how will where and lead how them to show doors where but to or prepare. Right compass to to of now is a the Doors the pointing way City. But question do you go the is you need real where think to?
"Where want Vassago do to you go?"
Elysia clutches her head. "I like new languages and all, but trying to understand all these mixed up words is making my head hurt so if you wouldn't mind could someone please translate into right way forward speak?" she asked plaintively.
"Allow me. We have a compass which shows portals, but evidently the destination of the portal is based on someone's desire. Vassago appears to have some place he desperately wants to go, so--I guess--he just needs to think really hard about where he wants to go."
"...but evidently the destination of the portal is based on someone's desire. Vassago appears to have some place he desperately wants to go, so--I guess--he just needs to think really hard about where he wants to go."
The device shows portals and the destinations of portals but not how to activate them. It also seems to point to a destination (or more). Viserys mentioned where it was pointing, but asked Vassago if he wanted to go somewhere else.
At least that was what I intended...
;-)
"Allow me. We have a compass which shows portals, but evidently the destination of the portal is based on someone's desire. Vassago appears to have some place he desperately wants to go, so--I guess--he just needs to think really hard about where he wants to go."
Vassago rolls his eyes. This is the most intelligible thing I've heard you uttered. From this point forward, I request that this form of communication is the one that you speak to the rest of us by default. Away with this glossolalia nonsense.
He wields the compass in his hands and with a couple of flicks of the fingers and an utterance, he casts a cantrip familiar to even the most apprenticed hedge wizards.
<casts detect magic>
Oh yes....I definitely have a destination which I desire. Reveal it.
For chaos here is rampant...
Oh yes....I definitely have a destination which I desire. Reveal it.
You can tell that the doorway into this room is a portal with a destination somewhere on the prime material plane.
The compass is pointing in a direction that is the same as when E. was using it. Apparently you and he have the same desires. ;-)
Viserys sees your impatience...
"Are to you leave ready? Just portals to understand need operate that keys. These as a something as magic could simple phrase as a item be as to difficult specific. The Doors a a proceed City will drawing door of need of to.
Good luck."
He then pulls aside the carpet revealing a trap door.
"I the on soon will magical my release wards home. It best were then would if gone be you before."
"I think he said we have to draw a door."
If that is the case, does anyone have chalk, paint, or any suitable means to draw the door? I have one other suggestion, but it would be ill-advised. He clicks his tongue.
<searches around>
"Here you go, Vassago."
"Here you go, Vassago."
Good. Gooooood. Hopefully it does not require anything too artisan, as time is not on our side here.
<casts mage hand and lifts the chalk from E.'s hand to quickly sketch an outline along the wall; making certain that the dimensions were of sufficient height and width for all to potentially go through. After the work has been completed, he suspends the piece of chalk in the air until E. grasps for it.>
He points the compass again toward the direction as indicated ... with a slight bit of skepticism.
Bah...and he says this was no test....