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I will go with the rest of the party up the stairs. We must not divide ourselves in this strange place and I certainly have no love for spiders.
Also I must say your song was quite brilliant, Shaedo. I must write it down later if you'll permit me.
Her tails wag, as Shaedo giggles happily. "Why thank you Dijiron. Of course, let's scribe it when we have a chance!"
Shaedo picks up her hand crossbow (if it was dropped), and looking in the direction of the stairs, she turns back to the party with ears up, awaiting to see how the group decides.
"The stairs sound like as good a path as any right now, and they have the most votes, so let's go.
However, I don't want to start moving up with donkeys that just barely fit and have no way to turn them around and get them going back down if we need to make a quick retreat.
If there is no obvious visible platform inside the tower, I say we leave the donkeys and a few people to guard them, while the rest of us scout up toward the roof."
...to examine the stairs, any wide platforms along the way, how sturdy they seem, where exactly they seem to go, etc.
Unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, Ceru is already heading up the stairs--though of course pausing every few moments to check for any tricks or traps.
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Stone and Ooze volunteer to guard the pack donkeys, while the rest ascend the tower (though you suspect that Ooze might just be guarding in order to cover the devouring of an excess of rations and/or the weird burly goblin Vitreous killed).
The stairs wind themselves tightly up the inside of the tower - they create a kind of a half-hallway with the stairs above acting as the 'ceiling' for the 'floor' of stairs you're currently stepping on. Large sized creatures could definitely not fit through this pathway and, with a notable lack of landings, the donkeys shouldn't attempt it. One thing it lacks in terms of hallway, however, is an inner wall: you can see all the way down to the hard, hard floor far below.
When you're about half-way up the stairs, there's a last, strangled cry from the spider corridor, and then the only thing you can hear is the thundering, pounding, clattering sounds of the storm above you.
As you ascend, you notice all sorts of strange diagrams and etched information across the walls and even the floors - notable for being very different from the style of the other diagrams throughout the Tor.
A quick examination reveals these to be far more... technical in their own way - and 'mundane' (or at least not mystical) - than the arcane scrawl of the rest of the place. While mostly simple instructions or relatively obvious imagery (foot prints on stairs: oh, you mean I walk up the stairs, okay, duh - and thorough inspection reveals that these are neither trapped or magical) there are a few things that are less obvious - some nearly incomprehensible. The purposeful defacing seemingly previously done by small-sized creatures doesn't help.
Similar in its opacity to some of the carvings are the complex series of levers and chains that exist throughout the tower, threaded through the stairs or the outer wall itself.
As the stairway ascends, the tower-room narrows, though never as small as the central grated opening, from whence the rain, water, and green mist flows. At the top, you find yourself passing through a kind of floor-hole, akin to trap doors in some attics, only without the actual door.
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The first thing to greet you as you arrive into the new area is the deafening boom of thunder. Lightning bolts leap across the sky, making it nearly impossible to hear anything: occasionally, they even leap near you.
The second thing you notice is the location you're in.
The majority of the area is a large roughly fifty-foot diameter ellipsoid (more accurately sixty feet at it's longer end, and forty at its shorter end).
The outer wall of the Tor is still stone, and there's still a narrow ceiling above you (about ten feet above you, and about seven-foot-wide) that protects you (mildly, anyway) and an 'outer ring' of the large, open area from the downpour. The floor is a large, slightly sloped-inward circular stone base serves as a kind of platform-floor, separating the lower part of the Tor from the upper.
However, what's most notable, perhaps, is the strange yellow-gray metal bars that link the ceiling you're under to the platform beneath your feet that protect you from both the deadly blue haze you find yourself next to - turning it into a green mist that gently caresses feet, before sliding down the slope into hole in the center of the floor, being consumed by the blue haze it returns to - and from the dramatic and frequent lightning strikes inside the area.
The metal cage-wall seems to almost thrive off of the lightning landing all around, absorbing it harmlessly (if still noisily, as thunder vibrates deep within your chest and body) - Shaedo and Dijiron recognize it as a kind of trick some sorcerers used for impressive imagery, this time actually saving the lives of all nearby. Of course, this makes some of the technical jargon below make a bit more sense as well.
Most of the haze and rain funnel through the large, obvious opening in the floor to the tower-room you just came from - the metal grate you were able to see from below. There, you watch as the yellow-gray metal grate transforms the blue haze that passes through into a soft, green mist that falls with the water to the depths below.
Unlike the area below, outside of the carefully crafted cage-hall you find yourself in, this part of the Tor widens, kind of like a cup, with rough-hewn and badly weathered stone steps ascending toward the sky. Of course, unless you particularly desire to ascend into the storm, it's unlikely you'd open the cage door you notice - about half-way around the rough ellipse that you entered from - and enter the blue haze beyond.
Small creatures and objects of many various kinds continually plop into existence outside of the cage but are entirely consumed and ripped into hideous blue haze by the blue haze as soon as they come into existence. Even the stone in the storm waivers slightly, as if it can't decide whether to be solid rock or liquid-soft mud, and so alternates between the two. Hail that strikes the cage-wall, however, does not transform into anything - it remains normal hail, though there's a small green pff! of energy when it does so.
A minor eruption of arcane energy occurs, suddenly building ever-greater energy and pouring it back into itself, sucking the blue haze into a hard ball of awful... which is promptly struck by lightning, all too quickly for any of you to do anything - fortunately for you all, the cage-wall facing the storm feeds off of the energy, absorbing it in a sickening yellow crackling lightning- or fire-like effect.
The unpleasant yellow is quickly turned green by the blue mists, apparently being negated or tempered somehow. There is a brief moment of green calm that suffuses the area, that is quickly pushed back down and consumed by the blue haze, before being shoved through the grate to become green mist again.
However, the lingering unpleasant energy lasted long enough for one particularly notable event to occur: the undead rabbit.
During the terrible flash of arcane energy, the hail, of course, continued to transform, unabated. One particularly unfortunate development was a rabbit that came into existence immediately beside the grate, and began to be washed in... at which point the yellow eruption scoured the poor creature. You saw, however briefly, the terrified animal suddenly... separated: its flesh, its organs, and its bones, all sloughed off from each other in a hideous display... and continued moving. During the brief dominance of the sickening yellow energy, the trisected corpse pieces each independently acted - the bones heading in one direction, the flesh slithering in another, and the organs floating malevolently. And then the green calm happened, and they all just... started coming back together... and then the blue haze devoured all.
And this is where you begin to understand: the metal was feeding off the storm, after a fashion. Although individually none of you were able to get the whole picture, by putting your heads together, Beylinda, Dijiron, Eris, Shaedo, and especially Lulu (with a hint from Ceru) slowly began to realize that this tower, this entire Tor, was a battery of some kind. And a very, very bad one.
This brief interlude also began clarifying some things, making them fall into place. The levers were fail-safes: numerous ways of shutting off all sorts of things, from the grate in the center of this area, to the chains you can see that run throughout this central tower. While you don't know the specifics - you'd have to read the Tor itself, most likely, to get a decent understanding of what does what -, it's pretty clear that these devices are all part of the safety and control systems for this energy-gathering tower.
In ancient days, of course, there were no mana storms: the device was entirely crafted for the purpose of gathering and harnessing the incredible power of the storm, and possibly utilizing that to power arcane batteries. It's hard to say if it was successful: certainly the tales never mention such a thing.
But what is being powered now is something far, far more malevolent, and far more successful. Whether by design or mistake, the metal in this place was tainted by foul and incredibly potent necromancy, and the anarchic and destructive power of the mana storm, ironically, increases the amount of energy that can be gathered exponentially. Purposefully or not, the arcane and electrical energies were slowly being leeched from the surrounding storm and being gathered somewhere deep below into a battery of malevolence, ready to erupt like a volcano...
What erupted, however, would not be nearly so prosaic as lava and explosions. No, it would be far, far more deadly. And everyone in the mana wastes, Nex, the nearby Mwangi, and possibly even Geb would have much to fear - undead would not necessarily be immune to the ravaging effects of whatever this was. While you don't know what it is, none of you - none of you - want to be anywhere nearby when it goes off. Good luck getting far enough away, though... considering you've no idea when it's going to erupt, and currently you're trapped in a storm just as likely to devour you and scour you from existence.
Sounds like a good plan, Layla! Shaedo think-talks with agreement!
She then sees Ceru going toward and then up the stairs and darts after her.
"Oh, oh, wait for me!" Wait for me!
The kitsune is at first vocal in her enthusiasm for exploration, and then quickly remembers to use her mental voice for stealthy stuff.
She does what she can to help Ceru identify any traps or hazards, and otherwise keeps an eye and ear out for anything else of interest.
Once Shaedo has caught up with Ceru, she begins moving quietly, and cautiously.
"Huh. Right. Wow.
So, unless we want to get completely fried, I guess we go back down the stairs now, and try to get through those big sealed doors to stop the evil whoevers from exploding this tower with nasty.
Do you think whoever's controlling the spiders might actually be able to help us against the gobs and evil peeps?"
Layla turns to head back downstairs as she continues mental discussion.
Yow! So it would seem that we sought refuge from the dragon's fire and magic by jumping right into the dragon's mouth! ...
Shaedo turns back quickly and heads down the stairs. If possible, she scurries along the walls, to allow more of the group quicker passage.
While I am not eager to head into the belly of the beast, I gather from what everyone is saying that the only way we're going to survive this is if we somehow stop the tower from blowing up...
Shaedo continues the telepathic dialogue as she descends the stairs.
Checking out the spideys is probably a good idea- however- eew- it is. One of them did wink at Vitreous, so maybe whoever controlling them is nice... either way, it would be really bad if they came after us, when they're all done with the gobs.
Ceru grins at Shaedo as she follows her up, and looks with great fascination at all of the carvings, levers, and such. Her fists shake as she wills herself not to touch things, as indeed, everyone is figuring out what a very very Bad Thing they have just discovered.
Back to the spiders is a good idea. If they're being controlled, it doesn't seem to be by goblins, but then there were two factions fighting each other, I think...
Sunny stands at the top of the stairs eyes closed to slits and fingers in her ears. Her own, feeble way/attempt at making the intensity of the opening to the storm manageable. Once every one has had their look around, she quickly descends back to the bottom of said stairs (Having never really left them) and takes a moment to recover from the very loud and often intensely bright environment above.
"Hmm... looks like th'a doors need checkin' out next." She indicates the portal, "Jus' ta' be makin' sure they's doors an such..." Though every one can note she's eying the spider tunnel with some trepidation.
"it's okay. I'll go first. Anyone willing can follow me. If you think you'd be good at talkin' nice to spideys an' whoever's got 'em trained, please come along. If you think you'd be good at savin' our bums if the spideys turn nasty, please come, too."
Unless there are any objections, Layla starts to head down the spider corridor, light stone circling her head.
She has both of her kukri out in case she needs to cut through webbing, but she's hoping to avoid touching the potent webbing as much as possible, by walking down the center of the narrow corridor and avoiding the walls.
If she sees spiders, or someone who might be their controller, she plans to verbally greet them in a friendly sort of way.
"Oooo...nertz...." Is Sunny's soft, whispered comment at Layla's determination at checking out the spideys. She pads along quietly, lingering towards the back of the group.
This is exactly what I came here for,said Dijiron, his eyes wide open with wonder and terror. I must mark this down and investigate further. He retrieves a small scroll of parchment from his pack and begins to write down in shorthand the incredible discoveries of the arcane battery.
How do we know someone is controlling the spiders? Perhaps they are Druids who turned into spiders. Or arcane mages with the appropriate spell. Or even just people turned into spiders against their will by the strange energies in this hellscape.
Taq remains safely hidden in his special pouch on Dijiron's belt.
So it seems we are heading down spidery hall after all she says smiling I had a feeling we would have to start down that path first.Don't worry i'll be right behind you she says her weapon still free I wil let you in a little secret Layla, i am probably going to be using my sword hand very soon she winks
And that was a real nice song Shaedo
Shaedo follows behind Beylinda and Layla, and any other slashy types who want to go first. She has her healing wand ready in her vest, and her new light crossbow with a bolt loaded at the ready.
What's a trick you could play on a spidey? No idea- a cup works on the small ones, but the big 'uns? That's what I dislike about spideys- they just don't get tricks - or music. You can charm a snake with a song, but not a spidey.
She is careful to avoid touching the webbing as she progresses. Watch out for the webs, they'll make you crazy!
Shaedo mind-giggles in response to Beylinda's compliment. Thanks Bey! I hope to sing many more of our group's adventures together!
Shaedo offers a friendly foxy grin in support of Layla's friendly greeting, and otherwise keeps a lookout for anything moving on the walls or ceiling.
You don't go far before seeing something... curious. Even before everyone manages to enter the tunnel, you find two goblins - familiar-looking ones at that.
One is easily recognized by the gunshot wound vitreous left in its shoulder, despite being rather thoroughly covered in the webbing. It takes a few moments for you to realize what you're looking at, though... and then you notice that the job has been completed... with... a... bow. It appears that someone left him... gift-tied... for you? Still breathing.
What makes this even more strange is the fact that many of the creature's belongings (all those that could have easily been removed, say, by a strand of webbing...) have been removed and wrapped in a... 'cute'?... little sack next to him. Also with a... decorative bow.
The other (one of the fire-goblins) has been only partially dragged down the hallway before being left. Oddly, it looks like wounds were attempted to be patched over by webbing - almost like bandages - but... the attempt to save the life of the goblin with a crossbow shaft (still through its eye) seems to have been thoroughly unsuccessful, given the copious amounts of blood and the only half-completed mummification, apparently abandoned half-way through the attempt.
Its stuff, however (well, as much as the burly one's) has been packedged as well.
While being in the hallway might make things trickier, the burly one and the two sacks of belongings have each been (very conveniently) left with an unwebbed stick attached, pointing in your general direction. There is a similarly (unattached) stick near the dead goblin with a crossbow bolt.
Keen eyes and careful observation note that there are - perhaps very carefully, considering the number of stray strands around - no strings attached (very literally in this case) to either the burly goblin or the sacks of stuff.
It seems pretty clear that these are left as gifts of some sort to the lot of you; though the gifter is not entirely "civilized" (or polite) it seems; as he, she, or it didn't clean up their mess with with the fire goblin; instead leaving it to rot in front of you. Looks like they tried to make a gift of it before failing. Eh... close enough?
The sticks seem firmly attached to the things they're supposed to move, and the webbing used for the "gifts" seems extra slick - instead of being sticky on the outside like most of what coats the halls - leaving no trail, like fine silk. It's still probably toxic, though. You find that you're easily able to slide or lift the various packages in any direction you choose. It seems they won't impede your passage, after all (though it might be exceedingly uncomfortable for the burly goblin, as he's quite weighty, and will probably be slid anywhere you go).
The remaining stick is easily within grasp. As it turns out, they seem to be... a set of boarding pikes, though relatively exotically crafted.
Most of them look pretty ancient... and are surprisingly light. In fact, there's minor magic on them! Checking them out reveals quickly that they are, in fact, preserved: apparently having long ago been coated in unguent of timelessness.
Ceru's sharp appraisal skills, combined with Shaedo's bardic knowledge quickly work to ascertain that the pikes themselves are actually not only masterwork, but the head is crafted from a carefully balanced and melded viridium/gassteel hybrid material, with darkwood shafts (which are what was preserved, it seems).
It's... nearly impossible to tell what, exactly, is in the sacks of belongings without tearing open the webbing.
Peering down the spider corridor, with Ceru's lamp, you actually think you can see the end of the hall, about a hundred feet further on after a soft, slow curve: it seems to open up into a large space, but in the distance you can see the glittering iridescence and strands, as well as hear some sort of distant rumbling or clashing noise, though it doesn't sound anything like combat... just... clatter.
What's to say the spiders aren't intelligent? Are they even really spiders or just strange creatures that look like a spider. I've never heard of a spider with poisonous webs. Then again this is the 'Wastes and the things I've seen out there... would curl a mustache! Without wax even...
Readying his pistol, Vitreous follows after Layla and Belinda. A thin sheen of sweat appears on his brow, as his fear of spiders twice his size begins to take hold.
"Dream spiders are natural. They always make webs than can knock a person unconscious. But when these ones attacked the gobs, I heard a raspy voice call out from down this hallway and call them his or her 'children' and tell them to stop hunting vermin and come back home for now. The voice even spoke our common tongue, but just an old fancy style of it. And it looks like these gobs have been left as presents for us. And whoever it is seems to have no love of the gobs, so maybe they can help us against them. C'mon."
Layla continues carefully down the narrow hall, leaving the 'presents' to be acquired upon their return, stepping quite precisely to avoid the webbing, keeping her daggers ready, but also keeping a cheery grin on her face, ready to pleasantly greet whoever they meet.
Sunny still tries to suppress a shudder as the group picks its way carefully through the spidey webs.
The webbing outside isn't sticky. It's like they're webs made for gift wraps! (Tehehe!) The spideys could've been made smart by the wastes--Mutant spideys- brrr! which means, we can talk to 'em- and deceive them, should that be necessary! Shaedo keeps her ears up and her eyes alert as she follows the others further down the spidery hall.
Hmmmm... the best gifts the spideys left us may not be the gobs though. An extract from these webs would make an alchemists fire veeeerry colorful... "tehehehe!" On our way back, we'd be clever to collect some.
I agree, Shaedo. There is much to study here and we'll need plenty of materials to do so.
I'm glad to finally be able to reason someone that isn't us in here. So far, it's been evil outsiders and crazed goblins. I, for one, welcome this change of pace.
Presents! What you do with presents is open them. Ceru is already, with a gloved hand, trying to undo a bow, and she looks disappointed when Layla said they would come back for them later.
On the other hand, they still hadn't met their mysterious benefactor and there were still pathways to explore, which was more than enough to distract her insatiable curiosity.
As you approach the end of the long tunnel, it straightens out slightly, having dipped 'downward' and curving almost imperceptibly to the left for most of the way.
As the party's lights finally break through the diffraction of the webbing, a room is revealed. Only twenty-feet deep from the hallway and twenty feet wide. Curtains, strings, and... sacks... of webbing infest the room, thoroughly, creating strange visuals, and making you question, slightly, if you've been affected by the webbing.
The right corner of the wall is positively swarming* with large (if comparatively minuscule) spiders about the size of a ratfolk's palm, that look suspiciously like the dream spiders you saw earlier, save for their size. They seem to almost go berzerk from the light, becoming highly agitated, but not surging forth... yet. Attempting to hide from the light (albeit somewhat poorly), you see three of the spiders clearly in the room, draped within the semi-translucent webbing. There are two goblins, recognizable as the two fire-goblins,
The fourth spider is only half-visible, and only once Layla actually peers into the terrifying room - a line of sharp darkness and light bisects the spider, revealing half of a body and long legs reaching forth from the shadows, hidden as the others. Again, it recoils from the light, but does not surge... yet.
"... so you've come indeed? Even after all the meat? But thou'st left the trinkets... hm." an ancient-sounding raspy voice says from the darkness. "Art thou like the vermin-meat, merely a pestilence and blight (plus some food) 'pon us, or art thou actually sentient? Speak now, that I might prove your worth, lest we find... problem... with the presence of a new pestilence instead of new allies for pest-control." the voice croaks in demand.
*
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Sunny stops in the door-way. Limbs seemingly frozen.
""Nope, nope, nope...Not spideys. Nope, nope..."
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Layla sheaths one of her daggers and holds her glowing ioun stone in an attempt to be polite, so that there is still enough light for her to see somewhat, but so that it's not so blinding for the spiders.
"Greetings, O Voice in the Shadows! We be thankin' ye for the presents and are sorry to be disturbin' ye with our lights.
We be Gob Smash One, an elite team of pest-control agents, seeking to rid this tower of its evil goblin infestation. We also have reason to believe the gobs' allies are plannin' to explode this whole tower with evil awfulness soon enough, so I'm thinkin' it be in all of our best interests to find a way to stop 'em.
Knowest thou a secret passage or other means of gettin' us past those big barred doors out there?"
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Shaedo lowers her crossbow slowly; however, she seems to have forgotten the ioun torch spinning brilliantly around her little foxy head.
"Ah... what she said!" Shaedo declares bravely to the shadowy spidey-thing, gesturing to indicate Layla. "We're sentient- all kinds of sentient! Yup. And we could show with all manner of song and dance! But we are here to smash gobs- and to stop this tower from blowing up and turning the whole world wrong, evil and rotten and such! Is- is this your home? 'Cause then maybe you'd want - to help us? Who are you anyway?"
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The goblins from the fire below are still breathing... but raggedly. Entirely ensconced in webbing, they are paralyzed, unable to move... but one of them remains... awake.
"... all... kinds... heh. Heheheh. Heh-heheheheh. Yes. So I do see."
Something moves in the absolute blackness to the left of you.
"Aaaahhh. So, the 'Grand Duchy' has finally seen fit to send morse-... ah, my most sincere apologies, I meant that they have seen fit to send... agents... now that they, too, have experienced the... problem. Ah? What is this...? The dragon herself? Intriguing that Narahari has some interest. One must admit: the hubris of the living never ceases to amaze. Now: come forth into the room, and I shall behold you, or at least those so bold to speak with shadows and death."
As you step forward into the chillingly webbed room, you carefully step to avoid any... entanglements.
In a hole, in the corner, sits an enormous... thing. Covered in the webbing... nearly weeping with it... is the... corpse... of a dream spider bigger than any Layla has ever heard of, much less seen.
What's worse than a spidery corpse? A spidery corpse that's acting as a shell, that's what. Though nearly mummified with the poisonous dream web with various parts reinforced or even filled with the stuff, what fills the husk more than anything else is... more spiders. Crawling around, within, on, into, and out of the thing, are extremely miniscule dreamweb spiders, leaving trails of obscure webbing wherever they go, and scurrying everywhere in the area immediately surrounding the large corpse, all around the size of a Halfling's thumb.
What's worse than a large spidery corpse filled with poisonous webbing and swarming with tiny spiders? A corpse filled with poisonous webbing and tiny spiders that moves.
The enormous legs seem to stretch forever (especially compared to the smaller folk here), as it moves slowly, almost stately and grandiose... if it weren't for all of the swarms of tiny spiders oozing forth and falling from its body like wriggling, writhing, drops of prismatic-green blood.
The creature shifts, to better see down the hall, shying away from the light, but politely permitting the stuff near it.
"Ah, yes. A Halfling, a kitsune - 축복은 좋은, 공정한 처녀의 모든 신들, 그리고 영광 우박 -... an aasimar - धन्य अच्छा, निष्पक्ष युवती की सभी देवताओं हो, और उनकी महिमा की जय हो -..., a gnome. A sea elf - oh, how exotic! - and a second gnome. A ratfolk - 私はあなたの痛み、立派げっ歯類を理解する;今日はあなたを食べるあなたを尊敬していません - and a... ah... yes. A human." The last word is not quite an expletive. "Hmmm... I see you even... enjoyed... the benefits... of the storm. Clever."
The dead spider... talks... by having the smaller spiders within itself play with various strings within the head-region. You can see it. Hideous, terrifying, fascinating.
"Quite the... eclectic group sent by the self-proclaimed 'grand' Duchy. Hm. Yes. I think that indeed one might like you. Well. Most of you." it says, regarding Eris, cooly.
"I will grant thee passage. Once. But thou needst not be worried for another eruption - I am not. If that is all the goblins desire, they are welcome to it, to their grief. I have been exposed to the Well oft enough that I know its secrets and dangers - the secrets and dangers of this whole tower, which they DARE to threaten to bar me and my children from! - but, be aware: they are great beyond the veil of this passage, and I will not permit my secret den to become a... hallway. I will extract thy word - from each of you - that it shall not be impugned upon again. In return, as I know how your kind value shiny trinkets, I shall permit the acquisition of any... hm... let us say three... items each. This is not negotiable: it is a payment for services rendered unto me."
It pauses. "Or... perhaps you do desire my aid. If each of you sacrifices one third of your payment, I shall assist you, for the sake of my brood. It hast been long since I have... stretched these old skeletons, and with such... heh... august company... I feel that not even Nuglet the Keeper nor the master bearing her leash could withstand our final assault. Be not mistaken, however: you shall not find this easily done; I have withheld my hand only for the sake of my children: while I would be fine, many will be destroyed. Some is inevitable: death is the way of things; but an unacceptable number would be crushed and irrecoverable."
It appraises. "Or... perhaps one of this band might enjoy knowledge? Wisdom is found in such things, and I hold many secrets: gifts are made for giving, but much more valuable could be a secret held - for one of your prizes, I will teach that which none else might: the truths of this tower, or the mysteries of the arcane. Or perhaps... my blessing. But beware: my blessings are not mine to control, and may come with more cost than you desire."
Another pause. "In the end, the choice is your own: prizes, assistance, knowledge, or blessings. Three each. I will reward thee according to your desires. I will not tolerate impertinence, but will regardless permit a secret passage once to our mutual foes. If you walk to them, however, and you fear their ritual, know that you likely will not be returning. The essence of truth, as you know it, is distorted here - and even more, now, by this storm - and so you will likely get few chances to return once you are beyond the veil. For that is why the Duchy has sent these warriors, yes? To conquer, as humans and dwarves are wont."
It waits for a response.
Layla nods politely and addresses the large spider monstrosity:
"Ah, well, we thanketh thee, Mr. or Ms. Big Undead Spider Thing.
Havest thou a name that we should be adressin' ye as?
We'll have to discuss the boons you're so generously offerin' before we make a decision.
But, no, the Duchy and Narahari didn't send us to conquer, really, but more to smash gobs, defeat some knight, and stop some lady from destroying the worlds.
Also, I'm pretty sure if the gobs actually blow up this whole tower, none of us will be okay. Just sayin'."
Layla mentals her allies:
"Well, this creature looks creepy, but it's polite an' smart an' is offerin us some mighty nice assistance an' even prizes, so I think we ought to agree. I also vote that we ask for its help, since we might really need it. Okay?"
Shaedo attempts to stand tall (for her small stature), and put on a show of courage. However, her tails betray her feelings; they are thoroughly floofed, straightened and very puffy with her dread.
She watches the spideys crawling about the husk, the spideys in the corners of the room and the long legs very warily, trying to supress her trembling and holding up a hand with a superstitious warding sign made with her fingers.
"Errr... With all due respect, O very, very, very old one, or ah, great many spideys speaking as one- or... no, yes, ah, I mean- O Tower Master... We do not have any 'Well' in mind when we mention the Tower blowing up. Up-stairs, there's all kinds of bad hoodoo mixed in with some kinda magical battery that's taking all the power of the storm to turn it into something really nasty...."
Shaedo then shares her other thoughts via telepathy. I agree Layla; I would much rather have this thing on our side, if only that means it won't be coming after us! But... it knows Narahari! It's offerin' us secrets for a price, but I wonder how much could we get out of it with well-phrased questions? Dare we ask it about the flying skull thing from earlier?
Oh, and Dijiron, maybe you could explain the whole thing about the battery to the- spideys?- better than I!
Ceru steps in, eager to see the source of the voice revealed. The room full of spiders instinctively makes her skin crawl a little, but she is also fascinated and amazed by the thriving spider ecosystem with this sentient... guardian... in the middle of it. She wonders if the creature is also a product of the magics of the tower or something else. How it speaks with the resonance of the webbing amazes her in particular.
Absolutely, Layla. Besides... a house spider in the kitchen eats flies and moths that would wreck your food, and killing one is bad luck! A... a... undead dream spider that eats goblins is likewise I think a better friend than enemy made, and I think doing something other than trying to get along with it would definitely, definitely bring bad luck...
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Beylinds tries to rack her brains as she shift in the knowledge of things she has heard about the great big spider
Well for myself i would rather just have something with no other cost attach. If that wouldn't bother you. she replied with a smile
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Shaedo stands aside as Beylinda steps forward and speaks, briefly but seemingly with great confidence to the sentient spidey swarm. The fellow bard's confidence inspires something similar in Shaedo. Her tails become somewhat less puffy, as the kitsune takes a deep breath and begins speaking to the mass of spiders within the undead spider husk.
"You say ye have great knowledge and many valuable secrets. However, are you free to leave the tower as you please to see the outside world? If I were in your place, I would be greatly curious about what has been happening elsewhere, and would leap at the opportunity to learn! You offer us knowledge as payment, so you must recognize its value. What say ye then, to trading knowledge for knowledge?
"My life compared to yours must seem brief, maybe even insignificant. However, in my short time, I have been all over the continents of Garund and Avistan. To as many well-traveled places from the Impossible Ilses of Jalmeray to the city of Monuments on the West Coast of Varisia. While I have mostly spent my time here around the East of Garund, I have been nearly everywhere and seen a great many things. I have stories to tell, and songs to sing! Would you trade perhaps one or two of your secrets in exchange for the story of the world over the last two decades or so?"
Shaedo strains her foxy head for stories about every area she has been. This would be a massive bardic knowledge check using knowledge local for every well-traveled place in Avistan and Garund, to come with stories to tell about those places. Bonus: + 4,
taking ten, if possible, unless the check is better:
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I will pitch in towards assistance. I would also be greatly interested in what secrets you may hold if you'll permit me to record. You may stay anonymous, of course. If there is something left over, then my spellbook is rather lighter than I'd like. If you have any arcane knowledge or perhaps scrolls then I would like them very much.
As to my compatriot's offer, I have only stories of Absalom and Goka to add. Though I always enjoyed the tales of the Great War betwixt the Ratfolk Empire in the Darklands and the former Empire of Lung Wa, if you should like.
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Screwing up his courage visibly on his face, Vitreous marches up to the spider thing, without weapon drawn.
Your offer of payment is accepted. Along with my friends we would request assistance for later, as for an item, I was really looking for some slippers to help with difficult terrain... I saw some in a shop once in Katapesh, they were glorious but pink. And well pink just wasn't the right color for my outfit at the time and well when I got back to the shop in a more appropr..."
Suddenly realizing he is rambling, he gulps and finishes the story."...umm they were gone...
After a short pause "While your blessing sounds terrifying, the chance of something new and exciting is too much for me to resist. I would have your blessing before I continue further into the tower."
"Assistance is definitely a good thing." Ceru approaches the spider next. "You're very generous to offer us so much help, after the help you've provided already. I definitely would like to know more about the tower... and even though we are well equipped, I'm sure I could use a magic bow or sword or maybe an amulet or dagger or periapt... what is a periapt anyway? Or a mitre? Is that the funny hat a priest wears? I'm sorry.... you know, I expect you are much wiser than I am. Maybe you should pick the weapon and the adornment... I think I am willing to risk a surprise."
She pauses. "Oh and if you take up Shaedo on her offer my papa has told me many interesting stories... if I can remember them right..." she trails off.
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Layla still hopes the Spider Thing will provide a name or title to call it, but decides to speak up again.
"Okay, well, we've discussed it and decided we will be askin' for your assistance, indeed, against our enemies.
Also, for myself, I'd love to have one of these here magic haversacks to use. They look mighty handy!
Additionally, it would be great to know more about our enemies here, or whatever wisdom you think we most need.
However, if, as our fox warrior suggested, you would be interested in swapping stories or information in trade with each other, then I could choose one other item, and I'd really like one of those highly resistant lookin' cloaks hangin' over there!
I could maybe give you some ideas for pest control in the future."
"Narahari, what have you wrought upon these creatures? Fascinating. And I thought...? But no, revealing the secrets of another is not my place."
"Heh. Heheheh. Clever, spirit, that you would seek to trade for trade's sake. But I will trade what is given."
"Thy tales are excellent, tailed-one! ... and the others at least... interesting... and so, now, I shall return with tales of my own; this Halfling has requested my name, and is eager for it, despite my appearance. Very well; I will tell you: I have none. At least none in a language that you can speak. But those who call me by a name oft call me: 'death', 'the end', 'that which lurks', 'the dreaming death', 'the shadowless', 'the caress', 'the final farewell', 'the devourer of hope', 'the eternal hunger', 'the endless dream', 'the father of many', 'the mind-killer', and more."
"Once, I was like many of my kind - simple-minded and a ravening hunger. But no longer. In my days of ignorant consumption, I came across what I now know to be a clown or jester. An ancient creature, it wept, though I hardly understood this emotion, of course. It was a strange experience: the consumption of flesh already dead, and the devouring of a spirit dedicated to joy, incapable of granting it, and crushed into despondence. It was then that I came to understand that there were... people... individuals... other than myself. Entities who thought, and who spoke. Living creatures were not all vermin fit to be devoured... and sometimes, the noises I'd heard them utter actually held a pattern to them... a pattern called "language"."
"It must be said, the revelation was not a pleasing one. Nor was the flood of memories or ancient information that excellent being of fine jest once held. While I was not that creature, I gained its mind, and some measure of its spirit."
"I recalled how all it had longed for was to bring joy... and how the sorcerer had wanted nothing but power, and managed to claim it from the creature, using its unique gift to inflict misery and terror on all and, the worst crime of all - to its own mind -, never finding even the mildest humor in any of it. I went to stand before the wicked thing... and he captured and bound me. It was a curious sensation - helpless, powerless, controlled, for the first time in my existence. Terrible... but fascinating. I see from blood, sweat, eyes, and minds that you, too, knowst the depths of that sensation - one not being in control of the self is a terrible... powerful... fascinating thing. And I? I was his prize. His crown jewel. That which he'd longed for and sought. A perfect hunter for him. And hunt for him I did. I murdered, devoured, and destroyed all who opposed him, silently, quietly, endlessly, and with no hesitation - the perfect servant. I was unstoppable. He was unstoppable. The wicked torments I committed in his name are too profane for the ears of the living. But I came to know humans well, in those days. Oh, yes. Very well." he looks, for a long and hard few moments, at Eris.
"And so I followed the new master. I learned his secrets. The power that sang through his blood - the twin songs of vermin and death that conveinced her that he would be a rising god in a world of eternal darkness. Many flocked to his banner, and he became a force that was unreasonably powerful and deadly among mortal kind, before his own ascension to true immortality, as I had gained."
"To be sure, the body - any body - is ultimately frail, fragile, and prone to disruption. I cannot say he did not take exquisite care of mine own form - many unguents, magics, and spells went into making me ever-greater, ever-more-durable, and longer-lasting. I was well-fed, fattened off of the lives of innocents regardless of mine own will, and spawned many, many children across the world. My children were altered by him, as was I. I was fed many unique and interesting creatures - some specially altered by him - in an effort to learn and discover my secret - whatever that was - and, perhaps, replicate it. In truth, though I knew my own secret, I shared it not: I had no method of speaking, you see, and despite his empathy with the kind I once was, he could not read my mind. And, of course, I have no hands with which to draw or write, so I must be - naturally - not a sentient being..." it grumbles, very dangerously. A chill falls over the room and things seem to get just a shade... darker? The spiders twitch and swarm in agitation... and fear.
The light suddenly returns to normal, the spiders calming. "But then, the Old One came. I know not who he was, but only that he feared him, and feared him greatly. Rightly so, it seems, as he nearly destroyed him with but a few gestures and a few phrases, stripping of all great things, and leaving him empty and naked on the ground. When he hesitated to destroy my master at the last, I did not. I ended the miserable wretch with the same fury that he'd forced me to inflict on the many helpless sentients over eons of service. And so the Old One recognized a sentience within me - a sentience that hungered for either justice or revenge. Either way, a sentience that could be useful. And so, once again, I learned. With the Old One, I learned a new skill: how to talk. The Old One, taught me the secrets, even sought experiments with me on others of my kind, now that it was known how... but we were never able to replicate my success. Now, of course, I know why. But none here are likely to learn this secret. The price... is far... too... high." You could almost swear it speaks with... amusement... in its voice?
"Nonetheless, I wandered the lands, and eventually the arrogant man-god brought the detestable fire-orb to the sky. To this day, I remain uncertain why morsels such as your- ah, ah, see how old habits die very hard? Especially when one is already dead! - why mortals such as yourselves delight in a blazing flame of destruction, disease, and blisters. Humans once again ruin all good things and expect others to thank them for it!"
"Though I retreated to the ancient trees, seeking the aid of the Old One, I found much changed. Monstrous entities from beyond the world had moved in to where I had left. I ate some, incited war between others, and left. Many places I hid in the darkness, waiting, and watching, devouring those souls dabbling in the arts as the Old One taught me to recognize as wicked as I found them. There was no shortage in those days."
"But eventually, I came here. I am aware that this was once considered good ground, and is now ruined by humans - as they are wont - but for me, it became a place of refuge. My brood and myself grow here now, well, secure, and stable. Sometimes I will enter somnolance, allowing my brood to travel (generally to the... I think you call it 'West'?) and sometimes I will be awake, as I am now. But until the coming of thes... vermin, all have recognized my domain and permitted me and mine to it, or perished in the attempt on my existance!" the darkness returns, and the spiders begin agitating again.
"But these creatures... knew. They knew me, and knew my specific abilities. They planned around them, and waited until I hearded my spawn to safety before sealing my way to other places, and threatening my remaining spawn. Unacceptable. Justice or vengeance will be mine against these wicked creatures. And you... you shall be my instruments."
"I shall share more... but that is enough for now, I think."
"Thou art... well-versed in destructive lore. I am impressed. Some of what you may expect does not hold true, but for the most part... well said. I had not considered Halflings as... noble before. 'Twas my impression that all of ye were servants. 'Tis a well-done thing you've presented here. I shall have to incorporate a few of these clever things."
It shifts. "Very well: a trick of mine own: one may wish to spread a web to catch a prey, but a prey that catches themselves is not a worthy opponent, and provides little sport. One may much prefer to catch a prey who catches themselves in their mind. Fear, then, is a powerful resource, and one to be used judiciously against those who would harm you. And I am far more frightening than most things in this tower. Still, perhaps some of my wisdom may assist you..." she starts before giving a few pointers of things gobs freak out about in general, and ways to pick up in specific, as well as things she's noticed about these goblins.
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Shaedo listens intently to the speaking spidey husk, the one with many (creepy) names, yet none at all. The little fox begins to relax. The joy of hearing a story always gives her a warm, calming feeling, no matter who tells it.
"A mortal's life is as frail and fleeting as the morning dew," Shaedo quotes, echoing the nameless husk's comments on the fragileness of life, "Yet how can a whole person disappear?" The kitsune muses as she listens, her ears perked up.
Her body trembling, her tails get puffy again, whenever the room gets dark and wrong, yet she continues to listen.
When all is finished, she cries out with a sigh, "What a story! I do hope you do not mind if it becomes a song? So- as to who you are- if I heard you right, you have many souls, but your first was the soul of a jester. You are a spidey's husk with a soul of laughter. You do not have a name? Then I shall give one if you shall have it. Hmmmm... it must be fitting for your appearance and yet a little silly since you have a jester's spirit... I know, I shall call you Husk!"
Shaedo thinks for a moment, "So... Husk, it was your meany ex-master who made you hurt people? But you yourself, are a nice spidey? You only want to be friends with us, yes?" Shaedo wears a little foxy grin.
"We shall be glad to help you fight the evil in this tower. I must admit Husk- spideys- give me the shivers sometimes, but... I must admit that I admire your sneakiness. If you can teach us secrets, as one of my boons, I would like to learn how to be as quiet and sneaky as a spidey! And then... if you have another one of those haversacks, well, I am always looking for handy ways to carry- shinies! (Tehehe!)"
"Yeppers, then, Father Husk, we'll definitely be wantin' your help against them nasties. I'm glad you like my ideas, and I thank ye for yours. If we can clear out the gobs and their allies and stop 'em from explodin' this place, we'll be happy to leave you an' yours as masters of this here tower."
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Sunny makes herself comfortable (as comfortable as she can be with all the spideys about) some where on the safer silk about/closer to the door. As for her own tales?
"Where ta' begin'?" She ponders.
"I were all'a'ways lots more interested in whut where happenin' about tha' place! I were all'a'ways lookin' forwards ta' when tha' Sea Folk were migratin' past!" Her voice begins to pick up speed as her recollections unfold and the remembered joys it brings back.
"We kin would be spendin' our time a'tween visits makin' things ta' trade with tha' folk. Our hands and such," She extends her tanned arms and wiggles her fingers, "Jus' seem ta' be more quick at doin' tha' rilly fine things they seems ta' has ta', y'know, squint at."
"Tha' Elders would be workin' out which bit of tha' island might be needin' a touch more height an' such. Them's workin' on settin' up rilly big poles with banners an' such on 'em, while others would be settin' up tha' rock throwin' thingys on'a beach." Sunny wiggles into a slightly more comfortable, legs crossed position as she relates her memories.
"Then, when they's Sea Folk arrive, there's all'a singin' an'a dancin' an'a tale tellin'." She blinks.
"Here! Y'know they's Sea Folk? They be sayin' they come from a place where tha' water, it don't move!" Sunny's voice carries her amazement at such a notion/idea/tale, "An' they comes all'a way along an' to our islands. It be a right long trip even by they's reconin'. An' they's more'n glad ta' be meetin' and greetin' us. Gives 'em some chance ta' kind'a gather 'em-selfs, like." She shakes her blond mop.
"It were them tales of them comin' all'a way ta home an' that bein' only a part of they's journey whuts give me itchy feets." She giggles, extending her legs and wiggling her toes.
"Any-who, they comes all'a'ways ta' home and lots of tha' other islands about, but t'is jus' all part of they's trip to another place they say tha' water all turns solid. this whole trip? They say it all be in'a line... Goin' on fer ever an' ever." Sunny scrunches her face and shakes her head.
"Their way of explainin' things like that rilly does me sconk in. Them going from place to place but all'a'ways movin' on, never needin' ta' go backwards." Sunny blinks and continues.
"So, they's arrive an' there's tha' singin' an' tha' dancin' an' tale tellin' and us throwin' rocks with tha' big wooden thingys on'a beach an' they's young 'uns and later they's champions all havin' a go at catchin' with tha' different sized rocks an' such. An' them throwin' 'em back ta' be gettin' tha' poles, them targets we's set up. With us givin' 'em tha' prizes afer tha' best rocks dropped on'a spot." Sunny grins.
"Well...here me an' some of t'other like kin were all rilly entranced by all'a' stories an' with tha' help of all'a me kin we put t'gether some stuff an' hitched our selfs ta' tha' bottom of one of tha' boats whut come washed in from tha' seasonal storms we be gettin'. Y'know? When tha' great storm gets all riled up every season? Some times, maybe aver few decades or so, we get some ship all banged up an' come limpin' in't our cove an' we help 'em out when they's nice enough people." Sunny's explanation meanders along.
"A'cause sometimes...well...some peoples, they's kind'a strange." And Sunny frowns again, again shaking her head, "It be somat I still be havin' right trouble understandin'. Why some folks do tha' strangest things they do...."
Sunny's tales wander to an end and she looks to see any soprt of reaction from the Spidey.
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Dijiron chronicles Husk's story as it contains interesting insights on the world before the Age of Darkness.
Yes the surface races are always droning on about the wonders of the sun and light. "Who needs them?" I say. But I can tell you something of a distant land too long out of contact with the Inner Sea.
Long ago, in the age of Enthronement - or the Age of Ascendancy in Tina Xia's calender - Diguo-Dashu was led by the Hero-King Rerdahl. He reigned for three decades with peace and justice until the Human Empire of Lung Wa encroached upon the surface of our lands. Lung Wa who filled with cruel, greedy, and bigoted humans who saw other races as only resources to exploit.
Border skirmishes and diplomatic efforts went nowhere. Both races were too strong in their home terrains. And so, the great general of Lung Wa, Zhen, was forced to resort to dishonorable to draw out Rerdahl.
He sent his finest assassin to poison Rerdahl's son, Agdahl. Enraged with grief, Rerdahl prepared the Ratfolk into what we call the Great Swarm. We stormed into the Sunlands and took over a dozen cities until the Great Seige of Xiwu. It is there Rerdahl personally dueled Zhen and avenged his son's death in single combat - or so the legends say.
What is indisputable is what happened after Zhen's death. Lung Wa's secret weapon was revealed: Dragons. The rulers of Lung Wa made a treaty with small force of Imperial Dragons and they devastated the armies of the Ratfolk.
We were chased back to our homes but the humans did not follow us underground. They sued for peace and so the war ended with both sides claiming victory. We claim it for avenging the death of Prince Agdahl and the humans claim it because we were forced to pay a war indemnity as part of the treaty.
Today, Lung Wa is gone as a result of the death of Aroden and the beginning of the Age of Ashes. Diguo-Dashu lives on. So I think I know which side won in the end.
"I'd prefer to remain mysterious, too many secrets and histories revealed will kill my allure with the ladies. Your assistance and blessing are well appreciated. Now if you can point me in the direction of some goblins, I'll start smashing them."
Ceru tries very hard to listen intently for this is very important matters, but the dead spider speaks for a VERY long time, and she starts to get that glazed over look as she instead begins to ponder the nature of the webs that can allow it to vibrate in a way that allows it to mimic speech. By the time she realizes he's stopped talking, Sunny is actually already in the middle of her story.
Ceru tries to recall what she did manage to pick up, and wonders at the origin of the jester he mentioned, or why that particular spider was chosen to be augmented. She DID pick up too, at the very beginning, him mention Natahari, and she starts to wonder at exactly what the dragon had done to them, although she still completely trusts it was all for the best.
She also eyes Vitreous, wondering if he REALLY has secrets, and if so how she could unearth them without seeming inappropriate, or if he's just saying he does so he can flirt with people.
All this leaves Ceru quiet as she tries to consider everything going on, and she forgets to contribute anything of her own.