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Kaspar is dumbstruck by the tengu's suggestion. The old and grumpy wizard stares at the Raijan with an expression of what can only be stumped disappointment.
"I have studied magic and its inner workings longer than it takes for tengus to reach adulthood. *Cough* I was required to write pages-long essays about the very nature of magic, and — *cough cough* — I am working on a thesis about a theoretical subject quite unfathomable to most people. While yes, 'magic is magic', anything is possible, but what you *cough* suggested goes against several fundamental principles of magic. As you may know—"
His lecture goes on for a good couple of minutes, and he then agrees to try it out, because there is nothing to lose. Before that, however, Markov wishes to study his spellbook in peace and quiet.
After the break, Kaspar activates the golden wand of weakness, using it on Kalkamedes.
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Korug simply does his best to keep Kalkamedes under control while the others figure out a plan and test magical principles. "Hey, talking sword thing, do you know what this place is or why he wants to come here so bad?"
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"Not particularly. If I remember right, he was around here in the day or days soon before his sleepwalking began. But I don't recall anything like this. However, it does seem to only be visible by the light of the moon. I don't suppose that helps, though."
Kaspar zaps Kalkamedes with the wand, and the sleeping man's efforts only increase. The tug on the rope gets slightly stronger but fades quickly, putting the Pathfinder back in his weakened state.
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Seren watches everyone's antics and stares at the door. In particular she stares at what happens to Kalkamedes. She's been quiet a while as they wandered into the room, perhaps too busy poking at the odd statue to make sure it's not about to move, or maybe her eyes are glazing over as Kaspar lectures, but there's clearly an idea forming in her head. She stomps up onto the dais and makes a show of rolling up her sleeves.
"Hey old man, zap me with the creepy wand. I think it made Kalkamedes stronger. I'm gonna try and push the door open with the sword's help." She yanks Gamin out of his sheath mid-sentence and shakes him about a bit. "Oh powerful sword, make me good at pushin' stuff!" Then she tries to shoulder the door aside with all her puny might.
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At first Kaspar is puzzled, as he was not expecting a weakening spell to have a reverse effect. He even seems vexed, maybe at himself for not understanding the reason why it works the way it does. Then his face lightens up a bit, as he seems to come up with an explanation.
"Ah! Transmutation, of *cough* course!"
He name-drops a few technical terms, like names of magical principles and laws and theories. Punctuated by a few coughs, of course.
"Come now, Seren, let someone stronger do that. Stronger like our resident half-orc."
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Tinker does not seem able to open the door despite his heightened strength. As soon as Korug sets foot on the dais to help, however, he collapses, weighed down by his own gear and armor. "I think that seals it," Gamin says worriedly. "The weakest of your number would do well to open the doors. And perhaps pull the half-orc across."
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Korug pulls himself together and rearranges his armor and gear after being dragged across the dais. "Well, that was not pleasant. Hopefully there's no more tricks like that ahead, I could never deal well being that weak."
As Kalkamedes strains on the rope, pulling towards cage, Korug digs his heels in and keeps him at bay, eager, to show off his regained strength. "Hey Gamin, what is this thing?"
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"Wow old man, you're stronger than you look." She seems impressed by Kaspar's feat of strength as they march into the next room. That wonder returns when she whistles at the sight of the weird demon mouth cage. "People like some crazy stuff in this place. Why's Kalkamedes trying to walk into it? Cause that seems like a really bad idea." After a moment to take a breath she continues. "Hey we should pull the lever from a safe distance back and see if it crushes people inside or something."
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"I'm not sure, I've never been in here. It looks dangerous, but that should be further investigated." Tinker's cursory inspection of the cage reveals that there are no malign intentions behind it. Despite its foreboding appearance, it appears to be a simple lift up and down the huge pit. Given the other option for descending, an almost-200-foot drop, this way seems suitable. The lever is obviously connected to the lift, the whole scene suggesting Thassilonian technology and drive forgotten to the continent.
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Everyone crams into the cage, at which point someone pulls the lever. The mouth snaps shut threateningly, but the apparatus lowers down with surprising gentleness, if a bit slowly. At the bottom, the jaws open once more, revealing a massive open space. Palm-sized shards of jagged steel jut from halfway up the walls of this large cavern, bathing the cavern with a dark green light. A set of natural rock columns support the chamber's ceiling, which rises to a height of twenty feet. A small tunnel leads to the northeast, ending in a dirty pool, and several rounded alcoves branch off from the main cavern. Kalkamedes instantly heads to the southwest, to what, however, is not visible from where the party is. A frantic call stops them from exploring further, and the sleeping Pathfinder likewise halts, at the end of his tether.
The call came from due south, where a haggard, fuchsia-haired gnome sits in the middle of a glowing circle. As gnomes are wont to do, he launches into a story, the first part of which makes no sense. "Friends! Johanis?! No, it can't be...but he is the spitting image. Hello, I am Koth'Vaul. I was imprisoned here in the Black Edifice centuries ago by some people called the Thrallkeepers. They wanted my fey essence to power some form of magic. They all died, long ago, but this thing has kept me young. Now all I want to do is taste fresh air once again, and, if it is my time, die at last. Perhaps then I can travel back to the First World." He points at Kalkamedes. "That man, he has been having sleepwalking problems? I guess that makes sense. An old adventuring colleague of mine, Johanis, managed to escape this place, and he vowed to help me out as well. This man is, I don't know, the tenth-generation descendant of my friend, here to fulfill the promise. I must say, that comes as a huge relief. You have no idea what it's like to be trapped alone for so long!"
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"It's actually a very simple matter," Koth'Vaul says. "All that must be done is to destroy the circle. It can be scuffed and battered physically, as well as dispelled. The only caveat is that I cannot harm the circle in any way, nor can I move beyond it. I do not know the specifics, sadly, but it is encoded to specific kinds of beings, normally those from other planes, but in this case, gnomes and other fey-likes. Anyone else can move into and out of the circle without a problem."
The gnome looks around when Raijan mentions explosions. "What do you mean? Oh, the digging process! All I had to do to power the circle was to be stuck in it, so I had plenty of time to talk. These Thrallkeepers served the Runelord of Sloth, who specialized in conjuration magic. That meant to build this cavern, they employed summoned creatures to burrow and dig out a big room to summon more creatures in. All rather beyond my depth, I must say. I tended to stick to healing magics when I was free."
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Barl recounts the facts which contradict Koth'Vaul's story. "You have been here exactly how long without bleaching? And why would a gnome have an abyssal name? Certainly a gnome should be able to walk across these wards as they are designed to contain outsiders only. And that sleepwalker could not be the 10th descendant of a Thrallkeeper- they have been gone for thousands of years!"
"Something seems fishy here. Who are you really, Koth'Vaul?"
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Koth'Vaul grinds his teeth in anger at Barl's observations, but his composure goes to self-assured as Korug shows off his weapon. "Not bad, little dwarf. You almost remind me of a younger me. But the fact remains you are in the way, and I am still in command of this situation. Illvaster! Kill them! Kill them all!" The gnome's form ripples and twists into a green-skinned, towering monstrosity While it still seems he is stuck in the circle, the pool to the west erupts and out bursts a black dragon as long as Korug is tall! Trailing close behind are two strange appendages, likely severed from extraplanar beings long gone, possessed of a deadly sentience.
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Koth'Vaul grins once again. "Prepare to be disappointed. Illvaster is long dead, not that you could beat him anyway!" Korug then lands a telling blow on his foe, causing the demon to scowl again.
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Tinker looked at the assembled creatures. "We need to keep the demon in the circle so stay away from it and deal with his pets. I am not quite sure about the dragon but it is long dead that the creature from the abyss created along with the creepy hands." he said, as he advanced to join the others in battling the foes, giving tips on dealing with them. "The demon is way out of our league. If he got out, he would not break a sweat killing us. The Crawling Hands are not very agile so use spells that are good on slow guys in armor rather than nimble thieves."
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Seren swallows comically as the gnome changes into a much bigger and scarier demon. "Well, you were a lot cuter when you were two feet tall... eh.. heh, excuse me!" She shuffles away from the circle, picking up speed in her haste to be closer to something a bit less scary, and susceptible to Korug's sword.
As she flies across the room she immediately begins spin in a clattering mess of twirling scarves, letting a spirit overtake her body to empower everyone nearby.
Spirit Aura: All allies within 30ft gain a +2 bonus on all non-spell damage rolls.
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Barl, Kaspar, and Tinker handily figure out how to best combat their current situation. Seren tells off the demon in a rather impudent manner, for which she receives a telepathic vision of her head being squeezed until it pops like an overripe fruit. Understandably, she moves away to fight something else, empowering her allies on the way. The crawling hands writhe forward with disturbing speed towards Korug, heedless of tactical implications but intent to kill.
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Tinker skewers the remaining hand as it gets close, just before Kaspar runs up and uses his magic to control it. The hand, while a bit damaged, suddenly stands rigid and awaits further orders.
The dragon, meanwhile, steps into range of Korug and lands a strong bite to his midsection! "That's it, Illvaster! Kill him! Kill them all!" Koth'Vaul yells from his circle. "You will all rue the day you had the temerity to face me!"