"Clear. Nothing here but dust." Alaeron will look at the rug with interest. "Those flames look real enough I'm surprised it hasn't leaped off and attacked us."
"Let's not tempt fate here," Piers said wryly.
"I've had to do this sort of thing once before and it cost me the lives of three good soldiers," he nervously handles the bead around his neck.
"Looks clear folks!" He called to the others, "Only way to go is up."
Tiriael moves inside the tower, carefully observing evry nook and cranny of the area - "It seems so"
The inscription begins to swirl, slowly at first, then opens a doorway into the tower.
Entering the structure's ground floor, enchanted crystals light up and illuminate the inside. You notice that, save for some dust and cobwebs, it is remarkably well preserved. The room itself is rather spartan in its appearance, with only four chairs with a small table by each. On each table, lies a book or two as well as a candlestick. There is a staircase to the left that spirals up to the next floor.
Unlike the outside of the tower, this floor is not nearly as blinding to the Bard. The only magic seen by her eyes are the illuminating crystals and the area rug with the phoenix and lion.
Turning to the others - "The illumination and the rug are magical"
Alaeron chuckles at that, Seems I might be right about it attacking us... He will slowly move towards the staircase and take point on the climb up. "Guess it's time to see what's above us."
Doran gives an embarassed wince as the Captain reminds him of how old this tower is compared with the Void tower. Entering, he clucks his tongue appreciatively as he examines the fine carpet. "Eyes of the Fire Dragon" he quietly whispers under his breath.
Doran's eyes open wide. "Whoa... the magic in this carpet is beyond my cap...cappa...capabile...skills!"
"Well that worked." Nebari says as he enters the tower last with a smile on his face. "Let's see what you've got for us old man"
Nebari will search the tower for clues with the others.
The Captain takes point up the stairs, moving slowly but not all that stealthily upwards. He was hoping the whole tower would be as quiet as the first floor but knew that was not exactly probable.
You make your way up the stairs to the second floor. Upon reaching it, to see a slightly larger rug with the same design as the one downstairs. In the corner, opposite of the stairs, is a beautiful luminescent fountain, shedding light like a full moon on a clear night, only a little brighter. Against the wall directly in front of you lies a desk and chair, carved out of what appears to be mahogany. In another corner is a bed of simple design yet made with red satin sheets trimmed in gold. This room has one main difference than the one below, it is completely devoid of dust.
"Hold," Piers said to the others, putting a little space between him and the others before entering the room. He had seen too many formations blasted apart by hostile casters to want to risk that here. He let his sword dip lower.
"Anyone home? Er, Master Ulric?"
Your call goes unanswered.
Alaeron listens closely, "Anyone hear that? Sounds like air passing under the rug."
Alaeron will move to the other side of the rug, "Captain, would you give me a hand moving this?"
Rolling back the rug, you find a fairly large trapdoor with the image of a Hydra carved majestically into it.
"Give me a moment"
Tiriael goes through her usual anlysis of the trapdoor.
Terra makes her way to the trap door stooping down she places her hand on the floor as close to the trap door as possible (or on it if the trap door is also stone).
Terra looks beyond the stone to see what is on the other side.
there are stairs they descend a long way down. not sure how far
I see no other creatures beyond the door
Terra stand and moves to allow someone to open the door.
Piers shrugs, grasps the handle and hauls the trap door open.
The Captain only managed to open the door a few inches before it slammed itself shut and wouldn't budge when he re-attempted.
"Somebody had something to hide. " Nebari remarks.
He lays the shield on the floor and tries to figure out the mystery.
Upon setting the shield down close to the trapdoor, the Hydra image on it begins to hiss, as well the larger Hydra image.
Nebari slides the shield over the door.
The shield stops in the middle of the trapdoor. With a loud *crack*, the door splits and opens. The shield drops down into the hole, then flies back up, then falls again, only to fly back up again. Looking down in the hole you see the stairs Terra mentioned, but they are facing down.
Doran blinks. "...huh. Nicely done!"
He begins the descent down the stairs first.
As soon as Doran attempts to step through the hole, he feels gravity reverse on his foot, forcing it back up.
Doran trips over his own feet- and the reverse gravity effect- immediately.
"BLASTTTTTTT-"
The momentum of his foot flying back up caused the young sorcerer for fall backwards and land, hard, on his posterior.
Doran staggers back against the ground and blinks. "Oww! What in the Wyrm was that?"
Alaeron watches the situation unfold with interest, he helps Doran up with a hand "Magic has always evaded me, mind if I try first and take point?"
Alaeron will move to the stair case, lay down and try to slide into the opening.
Alaeron slides over the edge and into the next room. On the other side, he stands and looks down at the hole he just climbed through. The room he just left, as well as his companions within it, appeared to be upside-down. From where he stood, the stairs were going up.
Nebari casts Levitate and enters the staircase.
Nebari floats through the hole with ease, but upon reaching the other side discovers he is still upside-down to Alaeron.
"Well that is damned unsettling," Piers said, sitting on the edge of the trap door and easing himself into the stairwell.
"Wow..." - Tiriael smiles at the effect, as she follows the others to the floor below, using the same method as Alaeron.
Alaeron helps Nemesis into the reverse gravity room. The cat is a bit scared and shaken up by the quick reverse in pull, but Alaeron settles him down.
Placing the cat upon the ground and drawing out his bow, Alaeron will make a quick scan of his surroundings, preparing for the rest of the party to join him and wanting to make sure they don't walk into a trap