"Granted I'm no scholar, but ... 'all'? How many of them are there, then?"
"More than my mind could comprehend."
Relieved at Seren's return Segang continues to examine the metal rods. Just what do these rods contribute? Tuning or control?
"I'm glad you're all right, Seren," says Melianthe sincerely. "Can you tell us more about what you saw, or do you need a rest? And of course, if there's any clue as to how we get past this puzzle..."
Just to be safe, Melianthe scans Seren for signs of lingering magical auras, curses, invisible magic space worms, and the like.
She smirks at Segang while she scans. "No interest in Castrovel, then? Triaxus?"
"Did you sneeze or are those worlds? What's their story then?"
”I found myself floating amongst the stars looking down upon our world, nay our plane, with millions of worlds tugging at my senses. I tried to focus past the flashing images of worlds mundane, bizarre and unsettling. I could not control the images or the device. It was beyond me. It was all I could do to just keep my wits about me. And then, poof. .... I was back here.”
Seren winces in pain, looking down at her left palm. A sihedron symbol is now tattooed there!
"...The Thrallkeeper's Mark..." Melianthe stares at the tattoo.
"Well, then, do we attempt to earn it, or stop with Seren? It may also be a key, to opening that seal. Seren, you've earned power, or luck, it would seem," says Mel, her eyes dancing.
"And they are worlds, Abby, known worlds, but I think Seren has seen far more..."
"Huh, it appears so ... also, I believe I can summon celestial aid with this as well, although I'm not certain how often ..."
Seren turns her hand over and over looking back and forth at it.
Segang continues to examine the metal rods extending from the sphere.
Segang sees closely that the sphere is balanced upon the three metal rods. They are set in a triangular formation. Strangely, they do not anchor to the floor, but float in the air.
Shortly after Seren returns, another tremor rumbles through the acropolis, filling the air with dust.
"Perhaps we should...leave," says Melianthe. "Isn't this what we came for?"
These rods seem to float. They must be magic. Mel, can you identify them?
"They are also holding up the incredibly powerful Thasilonian artifact. Recommend we dont destroy that."
Seren looks at her hand again, "Yes, the Thrallkeeper'a token is what we came for. Unless we wish to try and get through that stone plug. Perhaps some teleportation magic?"
"My scan only turned up divination magic, even though we have levitation--generally of the school of transmutation--and teleportation, or something, which is generally a form of conjuration."
Melianthe shrugs. "I don't think I'll be able to detect anything further. It's possible this is a focus for another artifact located elsewhere."
Mel arches a brow. "Only if you want to try to focus on what's behind that plug...I mean...did you actually reach Korvosa? Because if not, I'd say we shouldn't try again."
"I am NOT using that thing again. I was unable to do anything but fight for my sanity." Seren shakes her head sharply.
"As for the plug, we either leave it untested or teleport into the blind. I am good either way."
Jarha is having some trouble following the conversation, but with the tremor he pops out to see if it had any effect on the plug, tugging at it again telekinetically with his full power in case it has loosened.
"Perhaps we should ask the opinion of our fellow travellers," Abby suggests, with a nod for the Shoanti.
"Show them the mark--but be ready for some sort of adverse reaction from them, I suppose," says Melianthe.
The plug remains firmly in place, despite the tremors.
Hargev is with you, along with Nalmid. He appraises the mark on Seren's hand and nods, "You have achieved a rare honor," he says, clearly impressed. Krojun also nods, but remains silent.
You hear a distant shout of alarm from the direction of the elevator. The ground rumbles once again.
"We need to go," Abby says. "Either we're in trouble or the people by the elevator are, and in both cases we need to be elsewhere."
Jarha makes an impressed nod upon hearing the reaction to Seren's mark, and quickly moves with the group back towards the elevator at Absinthe's direction.
Melianthe activates her Fly hex, just in case, and flits on above the group.
Hmm. Given time I can break through this with my adamantine earthbreaker, but I fear we do not have that time. He will activate a charge of his mask so that he can see invisible targets and move to the front of the group Lets go see what is making noise.
Seren casts haste on the party and Shoanti as we rush to the hole.
Sped up by Seren's haste, the group ascends the illumacore back to the entrance level. When you reach the top, you find Shadfrar and Ahalak flanking the doorway under cover, weapons ready.
"We heard a shout and some fighting from the Sklar-Quah to the left," Ahalak whispers. "Then it went silent."
Krojun grunts and moves out into the central chamber. Immediately, two Red Mantis appear and attack the Shoanti warrior.
;
;
The Red Mantis score hits but Krojun's well-ingrained combat instincts keep him from getting severely wounded.
Abby leaps up, kicking off from the wall, and twists in mid-air to land behind one of the Red Mantis assassins.
"We killed the last couple of you bug-faced losers who tried it on," she says in a conversational tone of voice while stabbing out for the assassin's vitals. "You'd think at least some of you would have the sense the gods gave the common mule and know not to keep trying it on."
"Not THESE guys again!"
But Jarha is so surprised he has to wait before acting.
Seren floats up to the top delicately, a big grin spreading across her face, "Look upon us and DESPAIR!!!!"
Segang is caught slightly off guard, but not totally surprised. He grips his earth breaker tighter.
Melianthe pauses to wonder why the Red Mantis assassins would be here. Are they also mere thieves? Or here to deal with us?
Absinthe reacts immediately. She tries to acrobatically pass over and around the Red Mantis but the assassin is ready. He blocks her maneuver and strikes out with a sawtooth saber.
;
Unable to tactically position, Absinthe's attack is not as effective as it could have been.
Seren casts against the other Red Mantis.
The assassins continue to harry Krojun, who does his best to defend but still takes a number of cuts from the sawtooth blades.
;
;
;
;
With wounds that would have felled a weaker man, Krojun hardly seems concerned. He roars in rage and retaliates with his earthbreaker. He lands two crushing hits on the western assassin. He then steps back onto the bridge.
;
;
;
Jarha uses a move action to gather energy, electricity sparking from his hands, and then he targets the most injured Red Mantis assassin with an electric blast:
Segang steps up and attacks, power attacking.
Seren casts stone discus and fires them with blunt damage at the nearest assassin.
Segang strides into the fray and smashes the wounded Mantis on the left, knocking him against the wall. The assassin grunts, but continues to fight.
Jarha charges and fires an electric bolt, but it clips the doorway.
Seren casts and tosses a pair of stone discs, but has the same problem as Jarha.
Melianthe hexes the right hand Red Mantis with the Evil Eye.
Absinthe hops up on Segang's shoulders and leaps off from there to land behind the red mantis to the right, putting him in a flank!
From there, the Tiefling launches into a fresh attack on this enemy's vitals.
Seren curses and follows up Abby with a blast of magic missiles from his wand.
Melianthe evil eyes one of the assassins.
Absinthe tries another maneuver, but the Red Mantis prove wary defenders. He shoves her back and slashes with his saber.
;
Seren hits the eastern Mantis with a pair of force missiles.
The ground shakes with a powerful tremor, and the oily water in the center pool sloshes...
The Red Mantis speak a vile prayer to their death god and their forms are shrouded in bloody mist. The western attacks the flanked Segang, while the eastern raises his sabers into a prayer position and weaves them beguilingly.
; plus
; plus
The doorway from the viewing gallery bursts open, and a third Red Mantis appears, sawtooth saber dripping blood. Another two emerge from the far entrance.
Krojun steps to the right, making space for Absinthe or Segang, while swinging his earthbreaker.
;
;
;
Jarha uses a move action to gather energy, electricity again sparking from his hands, and then he targets the Red Mantis who entered the room from the viewing gallery next to Ahalak:
He also takes a 5 foot step.
Melianthe waves a hand and speaks a truly vile spell, her voice growling.
"Alright, this is getting ridiculous ... and someone please tell me why the ground is shaking? I don't like it."
Seren points at the newest one to arrive and casts a phantasmal killer, "Face your fears!"
Cursing in Abyssal, Absinthe stabs out at the assassin to the right.
Segang ignores the fascination attempt, not even noticing in in his rage. He fill attacks the enemy to his right. If it goes down he steps that way. If not he steps forward out of the flank.