Teos has been following along almost in a trance, but suddenly seems to snap back to the current situation. He looks over at Harmini as she mumbles some arcane words and looks about the room. He gives her a nod and moves up to where Nima is examining the upper floor.
"Anything interesting?", he whispers.
"School records, mostly," answers Vash, "But there is the creak of metal upstairs -- could be someone moving around in armor, or could be a compass flexing, I suppose."
Nimaethep paused as she heard the movement upstairs. Taking a quick look back she was reassured that Vash has also heard the movement. With an abundance of caution she drew her shielding wand and carefully stalked up just far enough to be able to glimpse the upper rooms.
Peeking over the edge of the stairwell, Nimaethep sees that indeed a great deal of this building's roof has caved in.
In what remains of what must have been quite a grand room, lying in the shade of the remaining stone roof, a complex orrery spins, it's spindly arms tracing continuous arcs through the air, odd symbols and shapes in complex orbits and circuits about a central core.
It is this core that grabs Nimaethep's attention, for shining from beneath the core's metal plates is a light that is identical to that which was shone forth by the other elegiac compass.
Surrounding the orrery , a circular pile of debris, consisting of broken desks, shelves and piles of parchment, lay about the orrery, pushed out and away from the device when it began it's cryptic movements.
Satisfied that there wasn't anything else on the upper floor Nimaethep descended a few steps. "There is a compass up here, it looks like it still works. Its curious though, it seems like it was dormant until we arrived."
You're not sure what the orrery was designed to model, but you're certain that whomever built it , intended for the elegiac compass to power it. The compass likely activated when the wave of necromantic energy washed over the Necropolis.
Right now, the cladding of the core element of the orrery shields the beam of the elegiac compass from view.
Vash follows them into the room and smiles at the good condition of the compass. He leaves Harmini to the arcane investigation, instead looking to the security of the room...Are there any hidden threats, windows with good vantage points to watch the street, other doors/rooms on this level, etc.
Teos moves up into the room, his eyes flitting from place to place as he attempts to ensure the space is free of any possible threats to his friends.
Perception:
Teos moves forward and takes the outer shielding in his hands and pulls.
"Do you know what it is supposed to do before we dismantle it? Someone has gone through some effort to repurpose the compass."
Nimaethep approached the whirling contraption and with a practiced eye began examining the device, working out how best to safely take it apart.
Harmini's mage hand proves too weak to move any of the panels.
Teos moves in and after ducking and stepping over a couple of the slow moving spindles of metal is able to examine the shielding covering the compass.
As Nimaethep watches the sweep of the orrery, Teos is able to easily detach one of the panels of the core, allowing the light from within to spill out. It seems as though the inside of the core is lined with some sort of reflective substance, the light from inside is cast in all directions from the panel in Teos' hands.
The orrery emits a metallic groan, and some of it's spindles shudder and slow. In fact, one such seems to have lost all impetus together, as it slides to the ground....directly at Teos.
Dex Save:
Ouch!!
A spindle, now a dead weight, pivots and descends. First it gouges a path through the old tile on the floor, thankfully dissipating some energy before hitting Teos solidly in the shoulder.
Teos looks about as some of the other spindles wobble and shake, all looking like they'll end up near him should they fail as well.
"Teos, watch out!" Nimaethep called out, too late to help.
"Here, let me see if I can disable the construct. I have some skills with mechanical contraptions that might be applicable here."
The catfolk carefully moved up to the core of the machine taking care to avoid any of the whirring celestial objects. Crouching down she took out a leather kit full of tools, tubes and vials.
It was obvious that the machine was magically powered, but she some knowledge in dismantling and safely dissipating arcane power when bound in the form of a sigil or trap.
Teos stumbles out of the way, rubbing the deep bruising on his shoulder.
"Well I hope you can do something...I really do not want to do that again!"
Nimaethep negotiates her way to the core where Teos stands , rubbing his shoulder.
Squinting, she peers into the cavity of the core, seeing the familiar sight of the elegiac compass running smoothly. The reflective interior of the core seems to be focusing the compass' beam up into a nexus of crystals and gears and tubes. Blinking against the bright light, she intuits that interrupting the 'power' from the compass should halt the movement of the gears and therefore the orrery's arms and spindles.
Reaching in, the spinning elegiac compass spinning uncomfortably close, Nimaethep turns a lever conveniently left by the builder of the orrery for just such a purpose.
With a metallic groan , the arms of the orrery begin to slow, folding in on themselves with short jerky movements. A couple fail in their attempt and crash into the floor, but on the opposite side of the device from where Teos and Nimaethep stand.
After a few moments, all of the orrery's motion has stopped....but the elegiac compass still spins, it's beam still contained within the orrery's core.
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Harmini steps back with a soft shriek as sudden events unfold. Once things are calmed, she moves to comfort Teos.
"I'm truly sorry, my dear. These old devices are difficult to decipher. Here, let me soothe your wounds."
She takes out a short wooden wand and activates it.
"There must be a way to open it now that it's stopped. Any luck, Nima?"
With the final tweak, Nimaethep watched with satisfaction as the device safely came to a stop. "It seems a shame to have to disable such a work, whoever constructed this living model of the skies made something remarkable."
She examined the compass spinning inside the orrery. "Do you think there is any way to expose the compass beam without taking everything apart, or will we have to dismantle the whole thing?"
Leaving the others to deal with the compass, Vash continues to scout the room, checking for hidden threats, other rooms on this level, and any good vantage points on the surrounding area through windows (roll already made).
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Harmini pauses in thought for a moment.
There has to be a way to unshield the light. Hmmm... everyone that knew how this thing works is probably long dead.
She snaps her fingers and presents a new idea to the group when Vash starts looking around.
Clearly, dismantling the device is not our best option. Very likely there are instructions written down somewhere. Let's have a more thorough inspection of our surroundings, shall we?
No immediate threats are found, but in his investigations Vash notices that the upper floor was of newer construction than the ground floor. A number of windows provide excellent vantage points to monitor the approaches to the building.
After sometime poking through the piles of parchments and manuscripts, you find an old leather bound folio. Within, diagrams of the orrery , notes on it's construction ,a six inch long rod of metal, and a journal of sorts.
The notes and diagrams allow you to deduce that the rod was tuned to the device somehow, and could be used to remove the panels.
A quick skim of the journal, shows that the unnamed builder sought to isolate a gateway to the underworld in order to fetch back to the land of the living a deceased lover. But it would seem he died without ever seeing his device in operation .
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While Harmini spends time studying the manuscripts, Alabaster's central blue gem glows and reverberates a soft, calming white noise. The sweet scent of jasmine fills the air.
After some time, she approaches Nima with a series of notes and a metal rod.
"I believe I've found something. This rod may be the key to removing the panels. Though, I must admit I'm not entirely sure how it will work or even what might happen."
Harmini motions for Teos to stand back a bit.
"According to this journal, it seems that the intent behind the device was to open a gateway to The Boneyard and return a lost love..."
That's just not possible. Clearly the work of a madman. And yet, even if it does function as described, I'll never go back willingly.
"Well. Here we go."
She smiles and attempts to operate the device using the rod.
Checking out the windows for any encroaching threats down the streets, Vash checks to see if they have attracted any attention with the previous banging of the device. He then turns to watch Harmini.
Teos moves WAY back to make sure he is not slammed by another piece of the machine flying off.
Nimaethep's opinion of the fascinating device changed upon hearing its true purpose. The catfolk frowned "Then it would seem that this device is an affront to Pharasma, designed as it is to abscond with a soul from its final judgement. It is a pity, the device itself is quite remarkable."
Nimaethep stood by Harmini, ready to lend whatever assistance she could either with the dismantling of the device or shielding her from any errant pieces.
You look out on the necropolis, the late morning sun baking building and street alike. Nothing moves, until you see a small group of zombies shuffle out of a distant alley, pause then turn to venture further into the necropolis.
After some experimentation, Harmini discovers that if she pointed the rod at a passing spindle, and made an upward motion, that spindle would lift itself out of the revolving elements of the orrery and stow itself, suspended above the core of the machine.
In quick order all of the pieces of the machine, barring those that swung low at Teos, were stowed above the core, like a twisted metallic flower.
After some more experimentation, Harmini discovers the gesture that causes the panels concealing the elegiac compass to fall outward on hidden hinges, all except two that Teos bent when tearing a panel from the device.
Once freed from the confines of the orrery's core, the compass' beam shoots out from it's spinning gem toward the south! It passes through the wall of the old academy as if it were not there. Vash, already by a window turns to see the beam striking out across the Necropolis , intersecting the other compass' beam over a nearby building.
"Does this mean that "x" marks the spot?", Teos says wearily as he watches the light show from a nearby window.
”Indeed,” says Vash, ”We should head over there as soon as we have rested.”
"We shouldn't tarry too long, those beams of light are visible to all and now that the location is marked it may attract the curious."
With a final glance around the room Nimathep descended the stairs and cautiously led the way along the beams path aware that the unusual beam of light might attract unwanted attention.
Vash follows her, attempting to be both stealthy and perceptive at the same time.
Teos brings up the rear of the group, his sword and shield at the ready as he tried to keep up while looking all around them as they move.
Perception:
The group leaves the old academy carefully, but find that like the initial compass beam , the second beam seems to repel the wandering undead that roam the Necropolis.
A few times , groups of ghouls or zombies come within sight, but all turn away from the beams.
Eventually the group arrives at the building beneath the meeting point of the two compass beams; a single story building with a three story tower in the center.
The tower's top appears to be exposed to the skies above, with various markings on its walls to indicate the position of the sun and stars on important dates.
Markings on the building proper suggest it was dedicated to the gods Thoth and Maat.
A wide entrance beckons...
Looking at the others, Vash nods determinedly and draws his bow, then moves into the waiting entrance.
Vash sees the main floor of the observatory is decorated in blue tiles and murals of major constellations and celestial events.
On the floor, partially obscured by a tatter tarpaulin is an enormous spiral mosaic.
Other debris lay scattered about the floor as well.
Keeping an eye out for traps, Vash carefully approaches the spiral and prepares to remove the tarp so he can see it all. He waves the others in.
Nimaethep carefully entered the building with Vash, alert for and dangers as this was the source of the necromantic energy that had roused the necropolis' dead.
"Thoth and Maat, the moon and stars. The building seems to be dedicated appropriately, but what do wisdom and truth have to do with foul necromancy?" she whispered, pondering the connection.
Teos enters third and imminently takes a defensive stance while the others look around.
Both Vash and Nimaethep find separate piles of discarded star charts, of the same material and make of that that was given to them by Unwrapped Harmony.
As you pull away the tarpaulin, you see the spiral mosaic in all of its glory. the tile work is intricate and of expert quality. However, the master craftsmen who created it could not hide it's secret from your perceptive eye. The central image appears to be a mechanism of some sort...perhaps a hatch or door.
When Vash pulls the tarpaulin away, you gasp at the beauty of the mosaic spiral that is revealed. You know the spiral is often the holy symbol of Pharasma. Looking around you see prayers to Pharasma woven into the complex tilework along the walls. You recognize all of the usual prayers and affirmations to the Lady of Graves, except one : All who live must pass through the doorway of death to face her judgement
Vash begins to move forward into the mosaic, saying, ”There appears to be a hidden portal at the center here.” If he isn’t stopped, he will try to engage the mechanism he just saw to see what it activates.
Nimaethep nodded to Harmini "Yes, thank you."
Admiring the mosaic she frowned "I am troubled that this would be the source of the troubles. Pharasma is an ardent opponent of the undead. Why would this of all places be the locus of the disturbances, unless..." She trailed off for a moment as she considered a disturbing thought "Unless this was some kind of repository that contained something that they thought should be locked away."
As Vash stepped forward Nimaethep gently stopped him. "There are prayers to the Lady of Graves woven in amongst the mosaic, I recognize most but that phrase there I don't and it has me concerned. "All who live must pass through the doorway of death to face her judgement" may have a more literal meaning in this situation. Let me have a look first."
Nimaethep took out a well worn tool kit filled with a variety of picks, wires, tubes, vials and packages. Using the extensive contents she began to carefully examine the hidden door for traps or wards both magical and mundane.
Examining the floor, Vash can see no way to open the portal, but the moment Nimaethep utters the missing prayer to the Lady of Graves a gently vibration starts within the floor.
Slowly, giving both Vash and Nimaethep enough time to move back to safety, the central stone drops into the floor. It continues to drop about two feet, until it stops, then slides to vanish to one side.
Revealed is a stone , spiral stairway leading down. At the first curve out of sight, a flame flickers on the wall, lighting the way...
Nimaethep's investigation reveals no traps.
"Perhaps I should go first...just in case there is some creature lurking at the base of these stairs!"
Teos will approach the steps, and if not told otherwise, will begin to descend into the floor.