Oh, that? says one of the archaeologists, as Juliet walks back from Caduceus. I wouldn't worry about that at all. Wholly harmless.
Yes, another nods. Harmless. Oh! Have you seen the sphere yet? she asks, pointing to the ivory sphere on the balcony, just like the one seen at Azlant Ridge. Now don't touch it — it makes people sick, you see — but it's exquisite to see up close!
It's all very safe, Juliet says, nodding as well. So long as you don't disrupt our work or destroy anything, you're perfectly welcome to look about. But of course you wouldn't, you're Pathfinders as well! Ah, how forgetful of me! She chuckles to herself as she grabs a brush and starts dusting off a piece of the mosaic.
|
Kirana listens as well as the others. She watches as Caduceus and Amenhotep engage with Juliet, then opts for a more direct approach. "I'm sorry, but you should know that we've been sent because you haven't reported in recently. I understand you have a discovery on your hands, which is wondrous news, but... why not have a report dispatched on the find?"
|
"You should know that your base camp is packing up and leaving. They were attacked by beautiful, misunderstood monkey-men. So much death. Such a waste..." Markolf's voice trails off as he chokes up.
To distract himself, Markolf will look around and see if there's anything else worth noting in the room.
There is legitimate sorrow as Markolf's words sink in, but none seem interested in leaving the site, declaring its value too significant to leave behind; we may never pass this way again, and that would be just an absolute crime!
Juliet nods knowingly as Kirana mentions a report. Yes, you're right, I'm behind. But I've been holding off until I have something even more wonderful to report. We're close to something, something big...I can feel it!
|
Jhalan whispers to Jaysin's ears, then to all Pathfinders in his group.
They're charmed.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
Still firmly holding Juliet's hand, Caduceus tries to lead the archaeologist outside. "Please understand, my orders were very specific, with exacting clarity. I must return you to check in regardless of your progress. After that, I would think that the Society would allow you to return if this is as important as you believe it to be."
Still firmly holding Juliet's hand, Caduceus tries to lead the archaeologist outside. "Please understand, my orders were very specific, with exacting clarity. I must return you to check in regardless of your progress. After that, I would think that the Society would allow you to return if this is as important as you believe it to be."
Juliet remains pleasant and polite, but is firm in her resolve to remain and continue the dig.
One of the archaeologists calls to Amenhotep to Be careful around that thing, it makes people sick! and another invites the party to look around the ruin But to please be so kind as to bring us any glowing stone discs you might find. We've found a few already — fascinating things, really!
Amenhotep moves up the steep, narrow stairs to the platform standing some thirty feet above the lower chamber. It commands a breathtaking view of the Terwa Uplands. The sphere takes up nearly the whole platform, leaving just a few feet of stone around its edges. Mosaics along the stairwells show sway-backed cyclopes spreading white dust on their foreheads and helmets.
In the midst of that blackout he gets images of the past: a mass of one-eyed giants placing the sphere on a ledge overlooking a set of hills; visions of horrific evil emerging from the shadows, causing the sphere to glow; and a tremendously large automaton of adamantine answering the call of a similar sphere in ages past.
When he wakes up, he has his hand on the sphere. Next to his hand is the smudge he saw previously, and he can see that it, too, is shaped like a hand. He feels very much at peace, as though chaos has been purged from him.
|
|
"I'd like to hear more about these glowing stone discs. They sound fascinating. Or maybe Fascinate-ing. Gentleman, may I have a word with you outside?" Markolf jerks his head towards the exit.
|
|
Feeling quite at peace, Amenhotep returns to the others, and quietly updates them on his findings.
"I think the Sphere is what summoned the adamantine automaton; apparently, it is designed to activate when horrific evil is in the area, kind of like an alarm system. When I touched the Sphere, I also felt as if the Chaos had been purged from my soul... and it looks like one other person has touched it, recently..."
He then goes over to Juliet.
"How do you know that the Sphere is dangerous? Who touched it?"
|
|
Unless anyone (or anyGM) has any objections, Markolf will find a quiet place to copy his scroll of Suppress Charms and Compulsions into his spellbook. Then he will spend an Arcane Reservoir point and a full-round swapping out Investigative Mind for Suppress Charms and Compulsions.
Jhalen will cease being embiggened.
He then goes over to Juliet.
"How do you know that the Sphere is dangerous? Who touched it?"
It made Arletta sick when she touched it, Juliet says. Arletta hasn't been doing well at all since she did. Oh my gods, you didn't touch it, did you? You'll get sick too!
She's probably over near the camp, Juliet says, pointing beyond the sphere's balcony. She keeps to herself mostly since she fell ill.
This small room, also open to the sky, is a tidy camp consisting of six tents. A few sheets of canvas stretched between rivets in the wall provide shade to a table and chairs. A solid stone door leads north.
Hiding — not at all successfully — amid the tents is a female human in drab and dusty robes, who appears startled that the party sees her. Oh! Um, hello! Who are you people?
Wel... she begins, studying the lot of you, ...how about some questions first? Tell, me, what think you of snakes? And I presume you've met my fellow archaeologists. Would you say they are acting, er, peculiar in some way?
|
|
Their tongues and fangs are fascinating, as is their means of locomotion. But I'm generally more interested in limbs. Can you imagine what you could do with prehensile feet?
Markolf pulls a charau-ka leg out of his handy haversack to illustrate his point.
Wait...you're not really sick, are you? Are you just faking so they'll leave you alone? And what's the deal with the glowing discs?
|
|
Jhalan nods, and whispers to Markolf's ear what he thinks. Then one by one, all his other companions.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Arletta asks several more probing questions, but each is a little less pointed than the last as she gradually becomes convinced the party is not under the same charm effect as her companions. I accidentally brushed the sphere yesterday morning, she half-whispers, then wiped my brow — suddenly, my head cleared. I know something of charm magic, and I'm quite sure they're under some sort of malign influence. They're not violent in any way, just so very unconcerned. And I'm certain there's much about which to be concerned.
She pauses, and the silence is broken by the now-familiar sound of metal on stone. Arletta points north and continues. That! I'm sure the appearance of the monolith is not coincidental to our presence here, and the charm effect we've felt. The wall has a crack in it, though, and...
Arletta pauses again, then looks as if she has reached a decision, reaching into her nearby satchel and pulling out a carefully wrapped bundle. She peels back the blanket to reveal a round stone disc, more than a foot across and at least an inch thick. She hands it to Caduceus, who is astonished that it weighs probably four times what appearances suggest it should. Whatever has their mind is, I think, inside that room. And it's been telling them to put these into that crack when they find them! I haven't given this one up yet, but I fear something terrible will happen.
|
|
"This does not bode well. Markolf, this spell you have to break the enchantment, how does it work? Will it effect everyone in an area, or will it free one mind at a time?"
Turning back to Arletta, "Thank you for trusting us with this. Tell me, how many more would they need to unlock whatever is being held? If we destroy this piece, would they still be able to open it up. Sorry Markolf, but its destruction must at least be discussed."
As the disc is removed from the satchel, it emits a glow, similar in intensity to a light spell.
Arletta shakes her head at Caduceus' question. I don't know. I'm not even sure what the disc is supposed to do. But I know two others were found and put through the crack, so I decided this one needed to be kept for awhile instead. I have no idea if there are more or not.
|
|
Markolf chooses to ignore the suggestion that they might destroy his precious stone disc.
"The spell will only work on one person at a time and will only remain in effect for 10 minutes. We should probably save it in case any of us fall under the sway of...whatever is ...um...swaying people.
"I assume your god will try to protect you. You should hold on to it for now."
Markolf will hand the scroll to Caduceus, since he has the highest Will save by a very wide margin.
He turns back to Arletta, "Do you know what's causing this effect? Or how you managed to escape it? Did touching the orb protect you? Do you want me to try to give you monkey feet?"
Arletta thinks the ivory sphere may be of use, and that its dust is the reason she was freed from the enchantment, since after feigning her illness the archaeologists were all suspiciously certain that the sphere was the cause of her malaise.
She also declines monkey feet, despite the kind offer.
|
|
Markolf reviews his notes...
"Ivory sphere is a defense mechanism of some sort...connected to the Azlanti monoliths...cold iron golems...
"Mosaic with cyclope astronomers...tower is some sort of temple and observatory....
"Another mosaic shows cyclopes spreading white dust on their foreheads and helmets..."
"Arletta brushed the sphere...then wiped her brow...which broke the charm..."
"Refused offer of monkey feet..."
"Doors smashed open...crashing sound coming from the direction of the broken doors...
"Appearance of the monolith is not coincidental Pathfinder presence and charm effect...
"Wall has a crack in it, charm has been telling them to put glowing discs into crack...
"Disc radiates abjuration magic...protective spells...create physical or magical barriers, negate magical or physical abilities, harm trespassers...can banish to another plane of existence..."
Markolf nods to Amenhotep.
"We need to put some dust on our heads before we do anything else."
He slips the stone disc into his Pathfinder pouch (holds 2 cubic feet, so I think it will fit. Otherwise he'll put it in his Haversack).