Azri waited patiently while the others asked questions - it was probably best to not add too many things to Nexus' load at any given time.
Aibek considered what the others said, then turned back to their writing as they waited for a response from the Nexus, concern growing obvious in their features. As their worries turned and twisted in their mind, they came out in a quiet ramble while they wrote...
"I was worried about something or someone somehow tapping into the fountain - and through that the Nexus's -...power or magic or...something that might mean a need to focus on ensuring greater control of the other fountains but it seems there is a lot of other things to consider first. At least the lights seem to be gone...maybe?..." Aibek sighed, feeling like seeing many pieces but not knowing enough about too many somethings made them hard to put together.
"I assure you, Councilor Aibek, that no harm was done to me. When the Island in question is reconnected we will make sure that nothing was left behind. But whatever happened, they used the inherent magic of the fountains rather than my own abilities."
Nexus considered for a moment, and responded to Mihara. "The most likely to still exist would be a small group of Orcs who discovered a means to make themselves Alchemically Invisible. The process had some side effects that slowly drove them insane, so rhyming would certainly be possible."
Considering, the machine added, "Secondly, an Invisible Stalker once attacked the city. It was an unusual variant of its kind, and was able to assassinate several sitting councillors before being caught. Although it didn't rhyme, it did occasionally sing. If it became and undead of some kind, it may still exist."
"There was also a bard, Cartora, who often spoke in rhymes and riddles. Although I do not remember any mention of invisibility, it's possible that a spell or item has allowed them to use it." Neus considered. "And survive this long."
"While most things are possible, that's not the same thing as them being probable." Azri noted. "The simplest answer tends to be the right one, and while we should always be ready to gather information and revise opinions, it's probably fine to proceed on the assumption that the most likely to exist is, indeed, the culprit here."
Aibek raised their eyes from the parchment, "I am glad you're not harmed..." they began with a small smile with relief clear in their tone, "Whether any of those options are connected with the strange lights...though the unseen person may...probably just knew about them just like it knew about magic circles and such... Azerna might know of other long lived people around or that house. If she is out and not busy...it can likely wait until tomorrow in that case anyways" Aibek said with a shrug, glancing towards the inn. While the lights were visible, the witchwolf wouldn't bother the dryad if she were in her room or busy - no matter what Azerna or anyone else said on the matter...
"Limited information is available. Cartora was a bard hired to sow discord among the civilian population and to erode support for the councillors at the time. Although she was ultimately stopped, she also managed to turn several military commanders, which lead to the city's partial fall." Considering, Nexus added, "Azerna was present for all three events."
Aibek nodded, interested that a bard was hired to do such a thing - that lead to a few more questions, lots of people seem to get hired to do strange things here, but sleep would eventually be required...and the witchwolf kinda hoped to chat to the dryad a bit before doing so.
Standing, pocketing their paper & charcoal and dusting the sand off before turning their attention to the Nexus avatar, "Thank you for your time Nexus, I will likely come to the Tower soon to research and discuss with you more... after talking with Azerna and a few other things. Take care." Aibek said, with a polite nod towards the avatar, and then the others.
"I'm heading back to the inn now to sleep on this...after talking to Azerna if she's around and free..." Aibek said as if that hadn't become their habit for weeks now, "meeting up tomorrow to continue working on this? Midday? since it's a bit late now and there is other stuff likely to do...if you all want" Aibek said with a shrug, adjusting their backpack as they shifted towards the inn, distracted eyes scanning around.
Aibek nodded to Ayreth's agreement, a short bow to the others before heading back to the inn.
Trying to enter quietly to not disturb anyone else at this time of night, Aibek goes and sits at the bar, pulling their paper out and going over their notes again to themself as they tried to wind down over their thoughts, listening keenly for anything around them.
The night passes without further incidences, and in the morning it's reported that all the lights in the city stopped when the Whisps left via the tear above the fountain. As Aibek had indeed found Azerna the night before, the Dryad knew to provide a somewhat later breakfast for you all than tradition would dictate.
The shadow archon rolled out of their nest of a bed in the late morning and, after their extended time in the washroom, worked in their room on various things before heading down to the main area of the inn to help with and enjoy the late breakfast, telling Azrena about the event of last night and the possibilities they had thought of in more animated detail than the then tired witchwolf had managed in their conversation the previous night.
"...will likely have to just wait to see if that is the last of those lights or that we...hear from that unseen person in that odd house though. Other than checking with Nexus again, maybe looking into those blood symbols or...there were reports of a sudden appearance of a new village... might swing past the merchants today. Thinking of picking up a few new things for the sparring practice later this week... Pelar won't be happy to hear I still haven't decided how to repair the armour yet if I run into him - anything I can get or do for you while I'm out?" Aibek said with a smile, in a chipper mood though mind already racing as they worked to prioritize everything over breakfast.
Azerna nodded. "Any cloth suitable for bedclothing would be nice. Other than that, I think we're OK here." Azerna waved to the others as they entered. "So, what are your plans today? Are you going to try and visit the new village, or keep hunting for clues?"
Mihara was the last of the group to arrive at Azerna's, having taken the morning to check on most of her kin and how they were getting set up within the harbor and its neighboring area.
With her little sister remaining to help organize, Mihara had made her way to the inn.
"I think visiting the new village might be a good point to start the day."
Breakfast came and went pleasantly, and the Councilors set out for the rumored location of this village. It quickly became apparent that it was not a rumour. Large for a village, the whitewashed outter walls of the buildings formed a solid wall, allowing entry through two possible locations - open gates to the south and north. There was no obvious sign of the inhabitants, and the watchtowers by the gates stood empty.
Aibek's pace slowed as they approached the village. This was all very odd, so quiet with no signs of anyone.
"Nothing like this on my sketch map...I'm almost sure I came this way about a month and a half or so but..." Aibek said, looking around as they got close, the witchwolf reached out to touch one of the outer walls in confusion.
The ground here was bare, when last people came by. The oasis in the middle can still be seen, helping to confirm it's the right spot. But no sign of anything, living or otherwise, can be seen. Still...there are plenty of buildings.
"Hm." Azri said, casually looking around the area to see if she could spot anything of interest to the task at hand. How long, exactly, had this place been abandoned...?
Aibek followed Azri into the village, slowly taking it all in. There was the oasis as the witchwolf remembered it...but that was all that seemed to be as it had been. Moving toward the familiar oasis with quiet incorporeal steps, Aibek continued trying to observe from the shadows...
"Well, I think the circles are kind of homey..." Azri noted under her breath.
"At this point, I'm more concerned that there isn't a summoning circle of some kind. Now we don't know what our mysterious foe of the day is up to."
She begins hovering. "I'm going to get an overview of the area, see if I can spot anything."
As Aibek enters and Mihara floats above the town, nothing continues to move. It is eerily quiet, unnaturally so for any other place. The buildings, freshly whitewashed and gleaming, are barred against the harsh sun.
Near the center is a larger building. It looks like a temple, although no holy symbol is present on the exterior.
Nigrum looks around.
"Is their any magic at play here? Is this one of those mirage towns they speak of in the desert?"
There are several buildings, the older and large ones near the centre. Other sources of magic of several types - enchantment, necromancy, transmutation and more - appear in other places around the town.
"Well, extra magic is good... especially if we can repurpose it. Making things from scratch is slow and expensive." Azri noted. She approached the main building of the area, fully intending to peek inside.
"I see a temple over there. Looks like it could be where the people of Khalharum used to pray."
It quickly becomes apparent that the building is no Church, except perhaps to Brigh. Labratory equipment lies around the bright, well lit area. Lighting trapped in bottles leaps around inside the glass, trapped. A variety of arcane machines of all types stand against the walls or in the middles of collections of tables. Piles of notes sit whever tools and equipment don't.
Aibek followed the others towards the building, "I think I agree Ayreth, I find this creepier...though not yet finding a source for either is troubling..." the witchwolf replied casually as they kept looking around this strange place. While considering what the others had said and what they saw, Aibek felt reminded of Helm and his father, debating whether to mention this place to the alchemists upon returning...
"Oooooooooh." Azri hurried in, darting around the room and checking the contents. How much was here? Was anything finished? Could she finish anything that wasn't? Were any of the supplies usable for things she could make all on her own? So many questions, wheeeee!
...
Why yes, she did have an interest in various arcane objects.
Aibek failed to see anything relevant. There were certainly no stories of such a place, nor were there more than a handful of devices connecting it to other planes. They seemed almost cursory.
As Azri darted among the benches like a child in a sweet shop, it becomes clear that the other Planes are about the only thing not especially dealt with in depth. Mechanisms, chemistry, physics, biology, arcana...devices for the study and molding of all of them sit, some more used than others.
An intricate model of what appears to be an eyeball sits on one desk. Mechanical wings sit upon another, while a small stove constantly boils water without any obvious heat or fuel.
Aibek felt almost disappointed at the apparent lack of Planes-based gizmos and then felt silly as they hadn't and really shouldn't expect any at all. The Shadow Archon looked around slightly, maybe something would give more information on who or when all of this tinkering had been done. It did seem odd for water to seem to be boiling with no one around...
The wings are medium sized, although that does mean each is about ten feet long. A frame work of what appears to be Mithral and silk makes them up. Some kind of small engine sits in the middle.
Oddly, the device that involves boiling water seems to be plugged into a network of bronze pipes, feeding it a constant supply of water.
Aibek notices that there are two distinct smells of people in the lab, likely within the last few hours. One smells mostly of grease and the esoteric materials of the lab, while the other smells overpoweringly of soap. There are other smells - odder, more difficult to determine.
"There are a lot of scents in here...people... Aibek commented, considering them more curiously than the gadgets everywhere. The witchwolf chose the preferable soap scent to focus on and tried to see if there was any clear path or information they could get from it.
"Well, there are procedures." Azri noted... for what, exactly, she didn't say. She did, however, focus for a little bit to see if she could spot anything else that might tell them where the locals had gone.
There was no obvious sign of where anyone had gone, but Aibek was able to follow the scent of soap down to the lakeside. A small windowless building squatted one side, and a laundry line of clothes baked dry in the harsh sun, suggesting where the scent had come from.
Mihara eyes the room over. "Well... I can't say I expected something like this. What a strange array of tools."
Mihara searches the room, particularly looking for hidden storage, doors, or other concealed objects.
Aibek walked leisurely as they followed the scent. They tilted their head curiously as they eyed the lake - much like the rest of the oasis, it was an unusual sight in Khalharum - before turning their attention to the small building and the well baked clothing. Soap for laundry made scent...sense - would have to inquire if Azerna needed more after seeing if they could get that material... probably should have asked what kind of cloth the dryad thought was suitable for bedclothing, maybe the twins would know what worked best with the city's weather...
Shaking those thoughts back, Aibek looked around while slowly approaching the odd, small windowless building...
For her part, Azri hung back, curious to see what would happen when Aibek approached. If a bunch of unclothed people burst out and started yelling at them, she'd... laugh, probably?
The scent of soap overpowered Aibek's ability to see any other scents, but the Witchwolves keen ears picked up something scrapping as they moved towards the building.
A passing thought of how not even Aibek's beloved herbal soaps were this strong as the scrapping caught their ears and raised the witchwolf's curiosity further. The first impulse was to call out a greeting but scrapping wasn't exactly a clear indication of much, let alone a person at all that might be friendly to such things. Aibek observed as best they could with all their senses for a few moments before they continued walking with incorporeal steps towards the building.
It was hard to tell, without peeking through the wood, but it sounded like someone was leaning against the door...
Well, there was either knocking on the door or smashing it in... and Azri was fine with either, really.
Aibek glanced back to Azri and the others with a shrug before knocking on the door. If someone was inside, they might know what is going on.
"Hello? I...We are councillors of Khalharum, hoping for information on this village." Aibek called, trying to keep their anxious voice calm.