The cleric of Iomedae comes and tends to everyone's wounds and over the course of the afternoon everyone's statements are taken, facts and timelines checked. It seems to take ages but Lady Phrune's lawyer assures you they're being efficient. Eventually late that afternoon you're all discharged and if anything you seem to have earned a deal of respect from the junior ranks in the watch, for the Saville Street gang have a vile reputation.
As you leave the watch station, you notice a huddle of excited street children from across the street. They're talking animatedly and pointing at you.
"Vāha ki unhēṁ hai! Mujhē lagatā hai vē Saville girōha pakaṛā sunā!!" says one.
Another adds excitedly, "Mainnē usē dēkhā! Vahām̐ ēka hai ki dēkhō, vaha gāyaba hō ga'ī aura jaba vaha vāpasa āyā, vaha thōṛē dō mēṁ Artus kālā kaṭā hu'ā!"
The first can hardly believe it, "Vāha! Āpa ḍara lagatā hai kahāṁ?"
"Bilkula nahīṁ!", the second replies.
The third retorts, "Āpa bhī kara rahē thē!"
"Vaisē maiṁ kala maiṁ nāva para unasē milā aura rahanē kē li'ē unhēṁ kahīṁ acchā milā, usa kahānī kō harā sakatē haiṁ!", says the fourth one.
"Vāha kī taraha vē kyā kara rahē haiṁ?", ask the first.
"I saw it! See that one there, he vanished and when he came back, he kinda sliced Artus the black in two!"
"Wow! Where you scared?"
"Of course not!"
"You were too!"
"Well I can beat that story, yesterday I met them at the docks and found them somewhere nice to stay!"
"Wow what are they like?!"
But at that moment they notice you looking, and all but one runs away, hiding down an ally. It's Deepa the street urchin from yesterday. She says, "Āpa ātiśabājī kō dēkhanē kē li'ē karanā cāhatē haiṁ? Nāva bhī aba taka bhīṛa hōgī, lēkina mujhē lagatā hai ki sabasē acchī jagaha patā hai! Yaha kō'ī bhī kabhī bhī mērē dvārā vahāṁ sē calā jātā hai, isa parityakta ṭāvara hai, lēkina yaha bandaragāha kā sabasē adbhuta dr̥śya hai."
Looking at the urchin,
"Hama. Tō agara āpa isa dina kaisē kara rahē haiṁ? Phira sē aisā lagatā hai milanā"
On a closer inspection you notice she is smeared from head to toe in multi-colored powders, and is beaming, apparently she had a very good day. Excitedly she tells Pratavh, "Varṣa hara kisī kā isa bāra khuśa hai. Sūraja, mandirōṁ pūrē śahara kō garma fīḍa hai, itanā svādiṣṭa khānā! Āpa nāriyala, aura kiśamiśa kē sātha jaṛī mīṭhā phlaiṭa brēḍa kōśiśa kī thī. Mērī pasandīdā mmmm! Ātiśabājī sabasē acchā kabhī isa sāla hōnē jā rahē haiṁ, vē kucha prasid'dha kavi sabhī taraha sē academe sē vahām̐ kā kahanā hai. Unhōnnē kahā ki saṅgīta, yā kucha aura karanē kē li'ē unhēṁ ḍāla rahā hai, yaha saba bahuta hī rōmān̄caka lagatā hai!"
"Did she say bard, academy? Some words i'm missing, my Vudrani isn't that solid."
"Some celebrity perhaps? Maybe it's worth checking out, at the very least it'll be a festive atmosphere."
Responding to Lilly's request for clarification, Pratavh says, "She said there is a famous bard from the academe who is putting music to the fireworks display. It sounds quit interesting indeed."
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"Fireworks Hirati? Is that all you wish to see? turning the the street urchin Come little one"
Alwyn begins humming a slow waltz-like tune while dancing with the orphan. In the background, he conjures up 4 lights to bob and weave with their dance. After a moment so as not to frighten them he becons for the other to come from the ally. The lights float towards them playfully inviting them out.
Eventually ending in an elegant bow to the orphan. "You dance divinely my dear"
Gasps of wonderment are heard from down the ally, and as if by magic the wide-eyed children follow Alwyn's glowing orbs into the street enchanted. They kids seem a little in awe of the group. The bravest of the urchins Deepa suggests, "Ki parityakta ṭāvara kē li'ē jānā ā'ō. Hama ātiśabājī kā sabasē acchā dr̥śya hōgā!"
The other kids seem a little scared of this idea, but Deepa cajoles them, "Āpa heightd sē ḍara nahīṁ rahē haiṁ aura sūkā rōgī sīṛhiyōṁ āpa kara rahē haiṁ?"
"Looks like Alwyn's a born children's entertainer, he's got them around his finger.", Lilly says to the others.
"Looks like they've even forgotten about Hirati, poor her.", the last was in a teasing tone.
"Oh, she is not going to like that too much, watch." Hirati, aggravated at Alwyn's distraction from magnificence, conjures up her own dancing lights which dive down and attack his. She flies among them like a tiny general, strafing Alwyn's lights and breathing little bouts of gas at them as she flies through.
The children point at gasp in wonder at Hirati's antics. Slowly more children and adults appear from near by buildings until there's quite a crowd watching...
Deepa suggests heading off to her abandoned tower, claiming that the docks will be too crowded and all the best spots reserved hours or even in some cases days ago. Well all but one spot, known only to her.
As the afternoon turns into evening, and the heat goes out of the sun you make your way towards the south, skirting the docs proper. Judging by the press of the crowds in the distance, Deepa's prediction was correct. Of course the road less traveled has it's own rewards, for you passed through several excellent food markets and where able to buy some truly excellent street food and perhaps a bottle of wine. You marvel what the local cooks are able to do with a few spices, and the freshest of ingredients. Creating delicate little rice pastry cups filled with what might be chickpeas and the most incredible greenish sauce. Mmm delicious!
Eventually the kids tear you away from the street food vendors and onto their tower. You groan inwardly when you see the rickety old thing. It's what you'd imagine happens to a mad wizard's tower after a fire and a hundred years of neglect. The ground floor building is gutted and long overgrown and alarmingly there are sections of stone missing, and much of the mortar is in a sorry state, washed out with rain or invaded by the roots of wild flowers.
Even more alarming is the state of the wooden steps, some of them are clearly rotted through or missing. Yet the children seem unperturbed and are apparently keen to go up.
There appears to be a tree, or perhaps a large shrub growing out of the side of the tower towards the top. That's can't be good for the condition of the mortar!
While following the kids to the tower, Lilly takes in their behavior.
"You know, i get the impression that Deepa girl and some of the boasting types have been here on more than once occassion. Something hints confidence on it. That and they want to see fireworks might be related."
Taking in her surroundings, Lilly casts guidance on herself.
Huh, plantgrowth on the tower? That's never a good sign, that could cause damage and in worst scenario potential collapse."
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"This place scares the d'ickens out of me but the kids seem not to be worried about it. As Lilly says probably from venturing up there previously."
"yea the tree is worrisome. What do you guys think"
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
》
》
》
Mohktar senses the bravery only the foolhardy and the young possess in Deepa and the others. But the structure into which they want to enter seems ready to collapse. "That plant growth there," the monk points halfway up the tower. "It's like a sickness in the bones of the place. I don't think it safe for the little ones."
He looks to the others to translate. "Do they know of an alternate method of viewing the fireworks?"
The monk sets his feet, readying himself to spring forward should any of the children attempt to climb into the ruins of the tower.
》Ready Action
..
At his earliest convenience, Mohktar is going to seek out the help of their butler at the hotel and find a Linguist to teach him Vudrani. :)
The children lead by one adventurous looking boy of perhaps 8 decide it's time to go up! Mohktar manages to grab one of the kids who shrieks in delight thinking it's a game.
Deepa takes Always hand and says, "Grēṭa yaha nahīṁ hai, uṭhō dētā hai! Yaha āpa dēkhēṅgē ṭhīka hai."
Shiko looks at Mohktar oddly You...wish to "heal" the building? Truly, a skill I did not know you had mastered... he smirks.
Mohktar, these Sutorītoratto street rats, they can take care of themselves better than you can..
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"This may be much more solid than it appears. Pratavh? What do you think Permanent Mirage Arcana? This place looks really bad but is actually in much better shape than it appears. Strangely enough I think we should follow the children up. They've been here before. Keep them close and everyone stay close to me should I be making a mistake."
Quickly casting a simple spell, Pratavh examines the structure in front of him looking to verify Alwyn's guess.
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Mohktar releases the child, eyeing Alwyn warily. "Some firm of enchantment? Would that not imply someone wishes to keep people out?"
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"Perhaps, then again maybe just to hide in plain sight, that which they wish other not to see. Your constant companion, Shiro, he made his living at one time becoming invisible so that he could complete his jobs. He was there but disguised in such a fashion as to prevent those around him from recognizing what he was. This tower, I believe has been disguised similarly. If it appears old and decrepit, what was your first idea. Walk away right? What if it contains a wealth of knowledge left over from ages past?"
Alwyn is still waiting on Pratavh's opinion but his discourse with Mohktar is getting his bardic curiosity ramped up.
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Alwyn's comparison of the tower to his ninja companion has a different reaction than anticipated. Mohktar furrows his brows and casts a weather eye upon the tower. "Within the fog of Shiko-san's shrouded persona lurks a most dangerous individual." He looks back to Alwyn. "There us the possibilty the glammer upon the tower hides somethonf similar, no?"
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"Has good also not come from him. Both danger and benefit can be found in the same poison. The difference is knowledge and care during use. I mean not to explore without care; but to venture little is to gain nothing. The children have braved the tower and survived, I don't think the tower is out to kill us yet."
Having finished examining the structure, Pratavh turns back to them, "The structure is likely quite sound, there is definitely a potent illusion on the place to make it look so dilapidated. There appear to have been other enchantments as well, the gate house there," he points to it, "likely used to have an antipathy spell on it. I am not sure what this place was, but it seems to be forgotten now. It's certainly safe to climb up." With that, and to prove his point, Pratavh begins the ascent to the top to enjoy the show.
The trip up is nerve wracking, at several stages what you take to be programmed illusions of ghosts rush out at you making your heart miss a beat. The children shriek with excitement at this, thinking it's wonderful. The rotted looking steps creak and groan and seem to shift alarmingly under your weight but you recognize it as an illusion. There's even a section where the steps have fallen away completely but you notice a few pebbles hanging in mid air. The children dance over this, apparently treating the whole thing like some kind of fairground ride.
The view from the top is well worth it however. You see the remains of what might once have been a large well appointed laboratory, although it seems there was some kind of terrible accident long ago. The staircase the south west of the room ends abruptly in thin air and the walls are cracked and open to the sky in several places. The roof appears to be intact and there's an opening into darkness 60' above. Unlike the 'damage' below this damage appears to be all too real. From up here, you have a commanding view of the harbor, just don't get too close to the drop!
From what you heard the fireworks are due to start soon, and you can hear the excited murmur of the crowds even from up here.
Lilly had seen the circle too.
"Hm, still, a summoning circle in an abandoned tower.
Sounds to me like a plausible spot to launch an attack from, provided enough cultists each start calling up some weird thing to come out and wreak havoc. Who'd suspect it from n abandoned site?"
Moving to the circle and outing his detection spell up again, Pratavh examines it to see if Alwyn's guess is right
"It is definitely a summoning circle, though it is very bad shape. It would not be safe to use it without a lot of work.
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Mohktar makes his way up the tower, wary of the children as they dance to and fro so he can be prepared to reach out and grab one should they fall. The illusions themselves are unsettling to a man who spends his life focused on the pursuit of the perceived world. But the monk slowly but surely learns - with the help of the others - that his perceptions can easily be drawn from those around him. It's the next logical step to seek enjoyment in the wonderment and fearlessness of the children.
At the top of the stairs, the view takes his breath away. To think, I'd have let trepidation prevent me from enjoying this lofty vista! Below them the people of the city seems like a river, flowing in the direction of their hearts and seeking the best outlet for seeing the fireworks. It's a delight to the monk of Irori to see such unified thought prompted from a yearning for happiness.
》
Mohktar spies a bit of the floor but can't seem to focus too long on the circle found by the others. Yet he asks out of curiosity, Can you tell how long ago it was used? Or perhaps what sort of being would have been summoned?"
》 (summoner as a part of the culture)
Mohktar wonders if there has been a history of grand summoners in the island's past. Such a thing would be interesting considering the tower in which they stand. One couldn't build such a structure without someone inquiring to its purpose.
Before you have chance to explore any further, a distance hum of excitement drifts up from the crowds and there is a sound like distant thunder. Suddenly the sky explodes in multitudes of colored stars, and you hear the sound of a great orchestra playing a stirring song.
The spectacular detonations of the fireworks are perfectly in-tune with the crash of the cymbals and the beat of the drum. But wait, there is more! For the fireworks shimmer and shift and the trails start to persist as a huge stage of light is constructed in the heavens. Given form by fireworks and driven by music we witness a man watching a falling star decent upon the land to detonate in an impact of unimaginable violence, throwing the land into a thousand years of darkness. Great detonations reverberate through the city rattling the roofs of the houses.
All seems lost, yet somehow the man survives. And the scene shifts and the music changes to reveal the man or in truth god raising a fragment of the Starstone and taking it to the Isle of Kortos, at the heart of what is now Absalom.
Again the music shifts taking on a sinister note as we witness the villainies of Tar-Baphon the whispering tyrant. Then in strides Aroden accompanied by a cavalcade of fire crackers, and suddenly they are fighting. Great and foul sourceries are unleashed by Tar-Baphon, but these flow off the gods back like water. Terrible beasts are summoned and flung at him but to no avail, and we see Aroden slay the wizard-king in the middle of the Isle of Terror. The music bombastic and triumphant.
As a counterpoint, the scene shifts and the music slows and becomes maudlin, as we watch the prophecy of the Starfall Doctrine go awry. Rather than heralding the beginning of a long-awaited Age of Glory, Golorion is racked with three weeks of storms. One of which rages to this day still known as the Eye of Abendego.
A hush descends on the city and ragged clapping breaks out but only to be drowned out by the thunder of rockets for above the sky we witness the the greatest of 'servants a paladin called Iomedae take the stage. We see her travel through the Starstone and gain divinity herself.
A final deafening fusillade of rockets detonates up in the sky, leaving streamers of twinkling diamonds which form into the she shape of the Goddess who having taken up the mantle of righteousness, walks into the proverbial sunset to battle the forces of darkness.
Again the city falls quiet, but only for a moment, for this time the cheering could probably be heard from Absalom itself!
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Alwyn as the music start tells them that this piece is Verant's the like of Aroden. Before subsiding into a quiet wonder watching the display. Many times you can hear him making sounds of admiration as the show proceeds, standing again to clap and cheer with the crowds below as the display comes to an end. Youthful exuberance evident.
"Now THAT is a Master Bard's display"
Pratavh enjoys the fireworks performance, raptly watching as the story unfolds and not daring to blink for fear of missing something. Amazingly, or maybe not, Hirati is also quiet perched on Pratavh's head. Even after the show ends she does little but sit there stunned. "You are quite right Alwyn, a masterful performance indeed."
It's getting kind of late now and one by one the children depart until only the party are left in the tower. What do you want to do?
"Unless everyone wants to sleep here tonight, I would suggest we return to the inn for the night. Of course if any of you have something else you would rather do I suppose we can." Hirati is still flopped on Pratavh's head like a hat and has fallen asleep from the days excitement.
Shaking her head, "No, i prefer the bed of the inn over an old dusty floor, thank you. Nothing else comes to mind for doing right now."
The journey back down is somewhat disconcerting, as was the journey up. You're ready for the creaking "floorboards", and the various "gaps" in the floor. Still you get down without incident and start heading west. To begin with there's a residual hum of activity from the docs area. As you as wind your way home you travel through various parts of town, some nicer than others. While you are through a somewhat dilapidated area of town, it suddenly occurs to you that it’s eerily quiet around here, as if you were completely alone.
You think you hear a child crying down a side street.
As they were on their way back, Lilly still had a vivid image in mind of the fireworks. All the bright colors in the sky, as well as the performance.
But the quiet did occur to her.
"Hirati being asleep helps, but don't you think it's a bit quiet? Ambush type quiet, the sort that........hang on, is that a kid crying?"
Not hearing what Lilly does, but trusting her judgement, and dislike the situation, Pratavh casts a spell and then prods Hirati, [b]"Wake up, Lilly thinks trouble is brewing."[/dice]
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
¤
Mohktar bends his ear to the sound and nods confirmation. Lilly's observation is an astute one as to their location, this would be opportune for an ambush.
The monk looks back to Shiko and then to the alley way. He silently gestures to the group, pointing to himself, then to the walls lining the alley. "Shiko-san and I will head up, view the situation from on high..." He spies the area ahead and runs a hand along the wall, then gauges the height to the roof.
"If there's trouble I'll signal with a whistle. Otherwise we'll return with what we see." He turns to the ninja. "Let's scout, Shiko-san." Mohktar leaps upwards and vaults his way along the outcroppings and fire escapes to sneak to the roof.
¤ (burn a Ki point to 'jedi' leap)
¤
¤
You follow the sounds of crying and find a small boy, perhaps seven years old curled up in a ball down the end of an alley. He sobs something incoherent, "Vē saba calē ga'ē haiṁ. Mērē dōsta sē adhika pāra kara dī hai."
The boy looks at you with despair in his eyes, tears flowing down his cheeks.
What is the kid doing in this backwater corner of the city? It's one thing if you're a group of adults, but this...
Lilly kneels down, patting the boy on the head, trying to comfort him in her broken Vudrani.
"You're safe, i understand if you don't want to talk about it now, but if you do want to tell us what happened we're all ears. If not, we'll take you home, how does that sound?"