The hall is shaken again by the relentless attacks. Silas nods at you, acknowledging your bravery and beckons you follow. He leads you down, deeper into the base of the tower to a large room. It is clearly an arcane workshop that has seen much use. Four large platforms hold strange constructions of wire and crystal. He turns to you...
"This is your last chance to change your mind. Once you have gone through you are committed. Would anyone like to leave? No? Good."
His weary smile shows his exhaustion as he runs a hand through his white hair.
" We will need a number of things on the other side. Fresh water, some sort of safe food source. A map would be nice of the area you choose. Your task is to find us a site for our settlement. Your second task is to document as many of the dangers of these new worlds as possible. Your third is to make contact with, and determine if any natives are a threat or peaceful. The last is to determine as best you can the mundane aspects of the world, such as the weather, or what plants are edible or good for other things. Each talisman is keyed to a specific gate but will also be your recording device. To document these things simply speak to it using the phrase "Shoreborn Stone, I would like to report..." When the time comes for me to re-open the portal and send through others I will first retrieve your report, this will determine what comes to you through the portal. Then I will open the portal. It will open near to the Talisman, or, if you have buried it in soil or sand, immediately upon it. Burying it will allow me to hold it open longer and send more through so that preparation could mean all the difference if you can manage it."
He looks at the three teams. "Any questions?"
Contemplating Silas's words for a moment, Eskul meets Silas's gaze and asks
Yes I have several.
First and most importantly, will the Shoreborn Stone provide any indication of when our time is up? Time may pass differently in this new plane you wish us to explore and I don't want to be caught with the stone in one of our pockets.
Secondly, how durable is the stone? If at all possible we should craft it into a necklace for one of us to wear.
Thirdly, does it have any magical resonance? My concern is that others may sense our intrusion and then may use it to locate us.
Finally, can it be affected by any other magical spells and if so is there a way we can repair it should the spellwork on the Shoreborn Stone be damaged?
He smiles, "The stone is well shielded from disruption and damage but when it is in use it will show as magical. The opening of the portal itself is sure to be sensed by things sensitive but when you use it to record your log it should be safe enough. Even if time passes differently there though the portals will reach through time, you will have 365 days of your local time before I retried the logs you record on the stone and another week or two before I open the portal. For reporting, you may each record up to 25 words per day on the stone and it will organize it for you beyond that."
He smiles, "You are a wary lot, I am grateful and hopeful that you will succeed."
Eskul nods grimly.
It will be prudent to keep track of the days then, I should assign one of our hired crew to track the passage of time as well as keep my own journal. I wonder if I can adapt a spell to monitor the passage of time.
Thank you Master Shoreborn. Discretion is the better part of valor after all. I will be happy to take the Shoreborn Stone for safe keeping.
Additionally, if I may ask a boon? Have you any items that you can provide to us that would assist us in our endeavors? We have already amassed some goods and companions but anything you might provide would prove to be helpful.
"I have little to spare at the moment, but... Hmmm, maybe this?" He takes off a pendant and it turns into a butterfly, which flits over to Eskul. As it lands on him it turns back into a pendant. "This is a message bug. It can carry very small objects between you, or memorize messages of up to 50 words. I don't know how well it will do in the new lands but that itself is something that may tell us plenty."
Adam walks impatiently all around, thinking but not talking:
"Perhaps must say -don't worry, we will do or best!- but that is supposed what we will do anyway, or something like -Don't fear my friend, we will do it- as if all this depends entirely on us, perhaps the new world can sustain life and then we will die from terrible suffering, or terrible beasts can eat us, just an advanced civilization, enough advanced to see us as a treat to their way of life... "
Anton's mind continues to derail his focus on the mission as the last moment nerves catch him, making him look uneasy.
cough, cough
Anton finally makes a fake and annoying cough sound, just to break his silence, but not pronouncing a word.
Thank you for your generosity Master Shoreborn we shall use the message bug as best we can.
Eskul tilts his head slightly to quickly glance at Adam and observes his thoughtful apprehension.
Always itching for action he is. Guess it is no surprise that he's bored with the talking already. Better give him something to do before he gets to antsy.
Master Shoreborn, it appears we are ready to depart. If any of the rest of the party members have questions for you they can take the time to ask while Adam and I fetch our supplies and companions to position them as you indicate.
Eskul beckons at Sgt. Fluffles to follow him, walks over to Adam and taps his shoulder to break him free from his thoughts before leaving the room to fetch the small wagon and the rest of the supplies.
Silas takes a seat, clearly showing the strain that opening the other two portals put on him. He seems grateful for the breather.
The tall imposing man almost entirely clad in armor who had been standing behind the rest of the group just nods and follows them out of the room.
He then, as told, helps guide and arrange the cart a d people to go through the portal. He silently waits behind the car for the order to move ahead. When the portal opens he will help push it through.
Thanks for the help.
Eskul remarks as the group finishes preparing the wagon and crew in-front of the portal.
Walking over to Silas Shoreborn he nods at the small wagon pulled by loaded down riding dogs.
When you are ready Master Shoreborn, we are set to go.
Eskul returns to the front of the wagon, marshiling the groups hired companions and checking the dog's harnesses.
Adam double cheks all the straps and dog leashes, helping as much as he can, thought he is not fond of dogs nor persons. Some menacing grunts from the dogs and aloof glances from the people confirms he is not very apreciated either.
yoooh, troupe, it looks that all is in check and ready to depart
The sapphires glitter as what almost look like waves flow to the center on the construct. They grow erratic as ripples appear and spread disrupting your vision of what is behind it but not obstructing it completely. Silas grunts in strain at the effort and nods, "Go! Do your best. We are counting on you." The keep is rocked by another powerful blow that makes even more ripples appear.
Adam walks to the gate with decision, following Patros with grim face.
Was not supposed I am the guide? nah, not matters, lets see that new world, the old one looks like its not going to stay enough even for the reports, sadly.
Adam draws his bow, just in case.
Aspen ensures the cart and gear geys through before taking one last far off look and plowing into the unknown.
Eskul takes the Shoreborn Stone from Silas and waits for the last of the party to finish passing through the portal before nodding to Silas, grabbing Sgt. Fluffls harness, then steps past the threshold of the portal.
Your breath is forced from your body as you feel yourself squeezed by unseen pressure. Each ripple surrounding you feels like it is trying to crush the life out of you. You are ejected violently on the other side. Thrown clear by the stresses. You lie in the loamy soil for a moment catching your breath.
As you look about you in the odd twilight you notice all the plants have really odd coloration. Leaves of violet are common and the grass is a wirey grey. The sky is dark bluegrey despite the sun being at its zenith and the shadows are deep pools or twilight. On each horizon you can already see the stars. A bird startles from the nearby brush and as it takes flight your eyes have a hard time focusing on it as its form blurs and shimmers.
Eskul pushes himself to his feet shaking off the weird feeling of the portal, trying to clear his senses.
Well that was wonderful. he says clearly sarcastically, brushing the dirt off his form then patting down his travelers clothes checking to make sure everything is in it's place.
Spying the Shoreborn Stone on the ground near where he landed he picks it up and pockets it.
Everyone come through okay?
he asks while he checks over Sgt. Fluffles and proceeds to examine their wagon and riding dogs for damage.
There doesn't seem to be any real damage to anyone or anything.
I wonder what if any changes to magic that Silas mentioned are happening. My muleback cords seem to be working normally. Wonder if I should try that message bug... Eskul muses as he checks over the harnesses on all the dogs and gives cursory glances to the rest of the party.
Fetching a piece of chalk out of his bandoleer, he takes the message bug necklace from around his neck and places it on the ground.
Alright while you all get your bearings I'm going to try this message bug as a test.
Eskul places the chalk next to the message bug, steps back, and speaks a command at it.
Message bug please take this chalk to Patros for me.
Adam get up, recovers its bow, and looks if his partners are all right. Then he stares to the birds and the weird horizon, and starts to wonder.
-Oh s!%$, its that really the day? or just the night with a sun-like moon? I mean, are we going to be affected?
Adam observes with more attention to his parters, to see if anyone has changed in color or they blurs when move, even if their shadows are strange.
As you look around Patros you appear to be on a rolling plain. To the north a great distance away you see it flatten out. The west is dominated by a dark looking forest. Far to the south you see mountains beyond the hills. To the east your view is blocked by a rise in the height of the hills.
The bug uncurls and picks up the chalk in it's legs, flitting over to Patros and dropping it in his hands before chirring noisily.
Your partners do not appear to be affected but after a few minutes of observation you note that there are a number of different types of birds flying about and not all of them have the same effect. Some seem to be displaced, while others blur. The effect seems to lessen when they are in the open but get more profound in the shadows.
Adam gets easy after noticing no changes on his partnes.
Well, first of all we need to find water and hope it is drinkable, both for us and the beasts.
Some options: try to get to a high and see if we can find a stream, or go to the nearest woods, as green vegetation indicates water sources.
Following some animals tracks or observing bird flight paths in the evening can point us clues about water sources too.
Still reeling from the portal Aspen takes his time to get up. Once he gets to his unsteady feet he takes a look around at the greenery greyery , animals, and sun(?) before taking out a glass flask filled with what looks like a small clipping of a tree.
Shaking his head he puts the flask back into its location and also glances around, thinking Adam had the right idea to try find water.
Eskul walks over to Patros and takes the chalk and message bug from him. Replacing them in their respective places on his person.
Well at least the message bug seems unaffected. See anything useful in the distance Patros? Eskul asks inquisitively while trying to gauge where Patros is looking.
Turning to Adam, Eskul asks Sounds fine but is there a way we can test the water? We have enough from our home realm to last us all about ten days. This place is pretty strange but we should have enough supplies to last us a week. That should give us enough time to find a village or town. If any exist in this place.
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Well, there is a variety of terrain around...hills, forest and plains. Mountains are over that way. Those birds are definitely different...
Patros points out the birds and the different effects.
Tough call where to go. Forest might be a little iffy since we are unfamiliar with the flora and fauna. Mountains might be safer, but predators and such could reside there. No apparent signs of "intelligent" life as we know it around....that we can see anyways. The birds are a little off-putting. Unsure if they are predatory. Mountains might pose a problem with the cart.
The less inteligent beings the better. And when I said "hope" I mean it, we are going to drink from this world later or sooner.
Eskul walks over to the wagon and leans against it contemplating the advice from Patros and Adam.
Well Adam's idea of getting higher up is the most sound one we've had so far. I agree that we should be wary of the forest and the mountains. Although that only leaves us with the hills and plains. I'm in favor of scouting up the larger hill there before dusk...er...nightfall....before it gets any darker anyway.
Eskul points to the higher hill in the east
I can try casting an acceleration spell on one of us for a quick boost. Though we might want to test out some cantrips first, just to be safe about it. Silas did elude that things might be different here. The message bug doesn't seem to be effected but I don't think it can scout for us.
Not my best, but I can stand my own when climbing too. Even knowing is the most quick way, I really discorage any solo missions, except for the shorter ones.
Taking a quick sniff at the air Aspen catches a wiff of water over towards the taller hills. You feel the plant would grow but it would take careful nuturing to ensure to local plant life did not dominate it.
Aspen raises an arm and points to the hills with the water and simply states, "Water. Better camp." The fighter then gathers his gear; says a quick, but probably unheard prayer to Gozreh; and stands at attention, ready to move on and defend against anything that might attack.
I can't argue with those results. Patros do you mind scouting ahead?
The rest of us here will get the wagon moving and follow you.
Eskul gestures at Adam and Aspen indicating his intent.
With the rogue scouting we should be able to get some kind of warning if somethings amiss. Should probably give him a better way to report back than us happening across him incapacitated.
Eskul takes the message bug from around his neck and holds it out to Patros.
Here you can use this to send word back if you come across anything of interest.
Adam moves quickly to help with the wagon.
Hey, isn't feel nice some open air after all? Being enclosed into that tower was taking his toll.
You spot a number of wild animals. Most are very similar to the ones you are familiar with. Foxes, a lone wolf, a few rodents. The main difference is that all of them seem to flow and meld with the shadows, making them very difficult to watch. The hike up the nearest hill takes nearly an hour but the sight beyond is spectacular. A narrow canyons holding a river that's headed east. From the top of the bluff in the distance you can see a massive body of water. Possibly an ocean or sea.
I guess it is nice Adam, but the fear of the unknown is cutting into my jubilation.
Eskul listens as Patros returns and makes his report.
Not only that Patros but if there is civilization here then if we follow the shore line enough we should come across it. We could also follow the canyon. I've read of cultures that make their homes in the sides or around them that use the canyon to their benefit.
This seemingly everlasting twilight bothers me however, I would have wondered if it was temporary but if the prey animals have adapted to live in it like you describe then it most likely is permanent. I wonder if light cast by a flame is any different in this realm.
Eskul muses to the group while fetching a bullseye lantern from the wagon, steps a short distance away from the party and supplies. He checks the lantern over and then uses his flint and steel to light it to observe the effect.
Sounds like a plan Says Adam with hope in its tone.
apart from the strange shadowy setting, this place looks great for a setlement, some hills for a watchtower, woods for materials, a river, one side protected by mountains and a big valley. Too good even.
This place looks good, perhaps we even found the perfect place without even searching. If in the nexts days we don't find any other setlement and the river and woods provide a reliable source of food water and contruction materials... well, lets say Aspen deity is with us.
As the torch sparks the light flairs up. This causes an unexpected flight from the area as the light brightens the area. The animals startle and flee from nearby. One bird passes through the bright light as it flees and for a moment, while it is within that range it is as easy to see as ever. It appears to be something like a starling.
Good catch, Eskul. It is something good to know.