Soren notices one thing that Dr. Strang had overlooked: the eyes in the stone heads of the various unfinished and incomplete sculptures in the room sometimes almost seem to be moving, as if they are watching all of you.
He does not, however, detect any magic, or hear anything particular behind the door.
Obtrivi - 12 dmg; 1 Wis dmg;
Dr. Strang - dmg; 1 Wis dmg; overland flight;
Soren - dmg; freedom of movement (1:23); resinous skin (1:23); Medium Air Elemental form;
Ignatius - dmg; 2 CHA dmg;
Dunia - 5 dmg; Sage Jewel;
Obsidian - 5 dmg;
This chamber’s walls rise to a domed ceiling riddled with cracks. Forty-foot-high stone shelves fill the room, all lined with books and papyrus scrolls. A ladder leans against the south corner shelf leading to a small walkway that wraps around the room.
Obtrivi - 12 dmg; 1 Wis dmg;
Dr. Strang - dmg; 1 Wis dmg; overland flight;
Soren - dmg; freedom of movement (1:23); resinous skin (1:23); Medium Air Elemental form;
Ignatius - dmg; 2 CHA dmg;
Dunia - 5 dmg; Sage Jewel;
Obsidian - 5 dmg;
Dunia senses that there is magic throughout the room. Or, perhaps more accurately, that the room itself is under some sort of lingering abjuration magic.
As Soren and Dr. Strang and Ignatius examine the room, taking about 10 minutes, it's apparent that this repository of literature chronicles numerous facets of the Jistka Imperium and the Citadel of the Weary Sky. They note that one of the books, a particularly heavy tome, seems to be out of place. Upon examination, a marked page in this book details the Jistkan elementalists’ first contact with a shaitan genie named Illaton who showed a particular interest in building constructs and underground structures.
Beyond this, the group feels that it would probably require at least another hour to learn much more from the contents of the library.
Obsidian encases the group in a tomb of stone so that they can truly concentrate on the books in the library.
Obtrivi - 12 dmg; 1 Wis dmg;
Dr. Strang - dmg; 1 Wis dmg; overland flight;
Soren - dmg; freedom of movement (1:23); resinous skin (1:23); Medium Air Elemental form;
Ignatius - dmg; 2 CHA dmg;
Dunia - 5 dmg; Sage Jewel;
Obsidian - 5 dmg;
The group opens the next door. This long room has an arched ceiling. The floor, walls, and ceiling are covered with detailed mosaic tiles depicting fabulous buildings and colorful magic used by stylized humanoid figures. Three alcoves contain limbless iron statues covered in flecks of shattered tile.
There are double doors to the south and a single door to the west.
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Obtrivi looks at the teams they think and then pulls out his letter and passes it to Dr. Strang.
Dr. means smart man yes? Sister says give this to smartest pathfinder. Obtrivi forgot earlier... sorry...
He blushes with embarrassment at forgetting such a important task.
Pretty. Obtrivi observes, his chainsaw putting away rather loudly .
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Strang, only slightly disappointed that they have decided to move on, instead of getting lost in the library, seems eager to see what else the complex has to offer, and moves to the front for a better look.
"Oh, would you look at that!" He exclaims, at the sight of the mosaics, trying at once to see them and determine if its safe to go in.
Seeing nothing immediately threatening, he goes and immediately starts examining the nearest bit of tile-work. "Definitely the earlier Jistkan style." He observes. "The colors have weathered the years remarkably well, wouldn't you say!"
He runs one hand absently along a pattern, looking up at the ones near the ceiling. "Truly remarkable."
He then says a quick prayer to Anubis, and glances around with a more divine gaze.
This corridor gives a visual description of the entire Jistka Imperium’s history in a series of mosaics that cover the room’s walls, ceiling, and floors. Some of these mosaics depict an elemental spirit bound within a golem, who appears as a ghostly overlay atop a stern-faced stone golem. These mosaics prominently feature a group of four genies who appear to have constructed Deep Sky, with a particularly emphasis on a shaitan genie.
The three limbless iron statues were once iron golems that someone attempted to disassemble.
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As the doctor makes his way along the edges of the room, examining the tiles, he occasionally steps away from the wall, to get a wider view, nodding appreciatively.
"Amazing!" He utters, not for the first time. "It seems to cover the entire history of the Jistkan empire... all done in tile! Wonderful craftsmanship!"
"See this part over here," He adds, pointing to a section in the southwest corner. "This part seems to be about this place. Deep Sky."
He stands away again, looking at it for a moment, before continuing. "Seems like there were at least four genies involved in the construction, though most of it was the Shaitan depicted there." He points to large stone-like creature. "And though its hard to be certain, what with the medium being well... colored tile... it does seem like that shaitan formed a connection with some sort of elemental spirit that bound to one of the Jistkan golems. See, it is depicted in those images there." He points to another section of the mosaic.
He pauses slightly, looking with a troubled frown at the dismembered golems in the room. "Though, now that I think on it, that spirit... or ones like it... likely still inhabit this place, even now."
He moves over to the nearest golem, floating up until he is looking at it at eye level. He taps on the top of its head lightly with his staff. "Hello? Anyone there? We'd love to talk! Hello?" He raises one eyebrow, a hopeful look on his face. Then switches to Jistkan, and says it again... then once again in Terran, before glancing back at the others with an embarrassed shrug.
"One never knows, right?"
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Soren takes in the history lesson from the Doctor, though he does lift an eye-scale upon seeing the conversation with the statue. "Something has been watching us since we arrived through statues and things," the nagaji hisses at the Doctor. He sweeps the room with detect magic, then moves over to the door on his left to inspect it for traps/noises on the other side.
Neither Soren nor Ignatius hears anything at their respective doors.
Obsidian opens the double doors.
A silvery glow filters through a fine mist in this chamber. A silvery metal rune pulsates with an iridescent light in the chamber’s southeast alcove.
To the south stands an impressive crystalline fountain, which sprays a jet of water high into the air. A crack in the fountain’s base releases a steady stream of water across the gray stone floor.
In an alcove to the southwest is a statue of a man in robes, his face contorted in a surprised sneer.
Directly across from the open doors, on a platform up a few stairs, is a creature (Green). Chunks of rock spin about its humanoid form of vibrant green light.
Off to the sides of the entrance, stand two other creatures (Blue and Red), seemingly nearly identical. These towering stone creatures bear the likeness of archaic armored warriors.
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"Well will you look at that." Strang exclaims with excitement, at the sight of the room and the creatures therein.
"I think that's an ozimat!" He adds a moment later, at the sight of the creature on the platform across the far side. "Very rare those! Can come about when the animating elemental spirit survives the destruction of the golem it animates."
"Like those stone ones there." He adds, pointing to the large golems on either side.
"Fully incorporeal it looks like," He continues, as his gaze goes back to the elemental creature, "But clearly still strongly connected to its native element. Earth, I'd guess. It doesn't seem overtly hostile right now... Though given how they come to be, it would be hard to say... resentment might be strong. Perhaps it would be willing to talk?"
He smiles, apparently eager to find out. "Best faces forward, people!"
He calls across to the creature, in a gravelly sounding language, hoping just that.
"Um... hello? We are scholars, and explorers. We mean no harm to you or this place." He starts out. "We come seeking the source of a great elemental disturbance, that seems to originate from here."
He bows slightly. "I am Doctor Menes Strang, my companions and I are members of an organization known as the Pathfinder Society."
He raises one eyebrow inquisitively, a hopeful look on his face that the ozimat will respond in a friendly fashion.
The ozimat replies in a calm and methodical manner with a voice like gravel under a boot.
As Dr. Strang and the ozimat speak, Dunia attempts to gauge the creature's motives. It certainly does not appear welcoming.
Standing near the doorway, Soren does indeed perceive that the ozimat appears to be incorporeal, though the two stone golems are very, very, corporeal.
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Obsidian steps into the room confidently and speaks back to the creature in the same gravelly language sternly.
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Dunia's voice normally sounds like someone rolling a barrel of molasses along a gravel road, but when she speaks Terran, there's nothing syrupy about it.
"Your duty is clear, and we won't ask you to disregard it. Did you know of the Jeweled Sages before you were sealed away? I number among their order. All that we seek is to understand and restore the glories of the past."
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Strang's eyes go wide with surprise as both Obsidean, then Dunia, start talking... He hastily puts a hand on the kinetecists shoulder hissing under his breath.
"I said best faces forward." he hisses.
He quickly cuts in trying to be more diplomatic than his two compatriots appear to be.
"As to why we are here. I have told you the truth." He continues. "It has been many thousands of years since the mortals that once lived here moved on. The mighty Jistkan empire is no more, only small hints and hidden places remain for us to learn about their achievements..." He pauses for a moment, then adds. "And mistakes."
"But there is a great disturbance here, that is breaking through to the elemental planes themselves. It is at the behest of elemental forces on those outer planes, that we are here, trying to learn the cause, and perhaps stop or mitigate the damage it is causing. Do you know of any such thing happening here?"
"This room, behind me." He adds, waving one hand to the room with the mosaics. "It tells the history of this place. Of the genies that constructed it. Of the golems that assisted them." He stops suddenly, frowning. "Perhaps even you. If anyone might know if parts are going astray, it would be those still here protecting it all these millennia later."
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Obtrivi speaks, looking rather like a upset child who's had his cookie stolen and told it was his fault for being upset.
Metal men hit Obtrivi!
He says in a loud frustrating pout.
Helga says if somebody hit Obtrivi, Obtrivi should Crush! Metal man shouldn't have hit Obtrivi! He hurt Obtrivi's nose!
He rubs the clearly frequently broken nose.
Obtrivi no Crush if you not bad, but hitting first is bad!
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Ignatius edges towards the door, with his hood pulled up over his head and leaning on his musket, which is once again glamered to look like a simple quarterstaff. He lets his allies move forward and attempts to watch the party parley without revealing his presence.
Probably a better idea that I keep my mouth shut for now and keep ready for when things go south. Too bad they're talking in Terran; I can't understand a word of it.
Obtrivi - 12 dmg; 1 Wis dmg;
Dr. Strang - dmg; 1 Wis dmg; overland flight;
Soren - dmg; freedom of movement (1:23); resinous skin (1:23); Medium Air Elemental form;
Ignatius - dmg; 2 CHA dmg;
Dunia - 5 dmg; Sage Jewel;
Obsidian - 5 dmg;
Obsidian speaks threateningly to the strange creature... ... but he merely laughs in a distinctly unfriendly way.
At the same time, Dr. Strang and Dunia adopt a more diplomatic approach and are able to balance their friend's efforts at intimidation.
The ozimat glares at Obsidian. "I am Korj. I am a spirit of elemental earth that once inhabited a construct vessel, as my siblings still do. Do not presume to lecture me about my true nature, for you know nothing, Jon Snow strange young outlander."
Turning to Dunia, he replies, [b]"No, I know nothing of your order of the Jeweled Sages, but if you seek to restore the past you can be sure that I will do all I can to defeat you, for the past exists only as that which now must be overcome."
As Dr. Strang speaks with the creature, he considers the mosaics they observed in the previous room. It is difficult to say exactly whether they depict Korj since they are so stylized and his very appearance is almost ghostly, but it is not an unreasonable connection. He notes, however, that the shaitan genie depicted in the mosaics looks nothing like anyone in this room
Korj replies to Dr. Strang, "Aye, you are a keen observer of history, I see that. I created those mosaics that you saw outside, as a way of telling the history of Deep Sky, this place. As for the storm you speak of, yes, of course, the Jistkans themselves created this storm millennia ago as they tore apart reality itself. It forced many of them to flee their precious Citadel and come seek refuge here, where they hoped to monitor the storm with a device, the elemental gauge. What you speak of is likely an echo or a remnant of that great elemental storm."
Meanwhile, Obtrivi also tries to join the conversation, before realizing, with some befuddlement, that he cannot understand the gravelly words being spoken around him.
Ignatius moves forward with his musket disguised.