Oscar (and anyone else who examines the box) discovers it to be surprisingly heavy, apparently made from solid stone and covered in runes. (Anyone who reads Thassilonian recognizes the runes as being words in that language.) It is about a foot high and a foot and a half long and wide. As Lady Sheila noted, the "box" is not properly a box at all - the carvings that appear to denote hinges or a seam to open the lid are exactly that, appearances only. It rather looks to be a single, solid piece of stone with no intentior carved out of it at all.
While Uraisa was focusing on the book, she hears someone mentioning "Thassilonian" and "paradox box." She carefully placed the book back in the shelf, and turned to see what the others were focused on.
She moved closer, trying to see if she could decipher the runes listed on the box.
Linguistics
Most of the runes Oscar and Uraisa can decipher on the box look to be not really words, but arcane semi-phrases likely associated with the magic of the box itself. One word they both recognize is "wrath," repeated several times on the various faces of the box.
Having surrendered the box to someone with more pertinent knowledge, Ellantera stays close. "So these characters repeated all over the box mean wrath? How do you pronounce it?"
Intrigued, Shiv approaches the group around the box and looks it over carefully. Seeing no obvious or even secret way of opening it he frowns deeply, "Looks like we jus havetah break tha thing open."
Kassandra nods and quietly hums to herself, as she seems to ignore the others.
"I can read some of the words, but it makes my head hurt", Oscar says turning the device over to those more academically inclined.
Miet speaks Thassilonion
Perception
Miet speaks Thassilonion
Shiv gives you all a stained grin, "Ya all best be somewhat watchin' yer'selves round a' bout that box. It's got majicks a'plenty ready ta do gods know what to whatever poor sot opens it." He looks at it a bit closer, "If'n ya give me a bit o' breathin space I mighten make sure it don't burn all yer lovely faces right off." He smirks and jabs a thumb at himself, "Kin't do much mo' harm ta this mug."
Slipping various metal devices out of his sleeves, coat, and boots that look to be something of a cross between something some healer would use and knitting needles with hooks and serrated edges he gives everyone a moment to step back and shrugs as if to say 'your funeral' at anyone who doesn't. He begins to prod and scrape at the various symbols on the box.
Disable device:
In what seems like a surprisingly short time - just a few seconds, really - Shiv steps back from the box, looking extremely pleased with himself.
He gives everyone a salute from the brim of his hat as he walks away from the box with a smug look, "Ain't a bit a protection I kin'nah git by. I'll leave the puzzlin on how ta git inside ta ya now that'll not flay the skin from yer bones."
Dm Shisumo
He gives everyone a salute from the brim of his hat as he walks away from the box with a smug look, "Ain't a bit a protection I kin'nah git by. I'll leave the puzzlin on how ta git inside ta ya now that'll not flay the skin from yer bones."
Ellantera nods and smiles, quite happy that her brother has justified her faith in his abilities once again. She continues to observe the learned at their work on the box.
Out loud, but mostly to herself, she asks, "What is this Tassle-in-an-onion? I don't think I have ever heard of it. What country speaks it? I've met folks from all over..."
Uraisa reaches out a hand to touch the runes that indicate the letter "C" to see what might happen.
"Okay most the runes on all the other sides are the same ones repeating over and over and over and ov-er well you get the point. This side here however has more runes that sem to spell the word cruel." Miet indicates the various bits of the box while doing this.
Kassandra moves closer to the box and the others, "The box is somehow magical. I can see auras of magic rising from it. Opening it might summon someone, or something. Better be careful".
"How do you say 'Cruel' in Thassilonian? Maybe it will advance the riddle somehow?"
Shiv finds a nice vase to use as a spittoon as he watches the further investigations.
As Galyna silently watches the others work numerous thoughts flicker through her head. She can easily think of at least five buyers in the city that would happily pay well to the item just to sit on a shelf.
She finds herself surprised at how many of the group speak Thassilonian, a language she's been working at for a while but still didn't truly understand. . A rather talented group, especially given "Shiv" skill with traps, assuming he wasn't just making up the fact that he disarmed something.
"Thassilionian is an ancient language from the civilization that was here thousands of years ago. They had really powerful magic, dark as all hell. Which brings up the question of opening a "Box of Wrath and Cruelty" being a good idea in a closed room."
Kassandra moves closer to the box and the others, "The box is somehow magical. I can see auras of magic rising from it. Opening it might summon someone, or something. Better be careful".
"How do you say 'Cruel' in Thassilonian? Maybe it will advance the riddle somehow?"
"Worth a shot." Miet speaks the word cruel In Thassilonion to see if anything happens.
Eyebrows raised, Ellantera moves a step back from the investigators before looking at Galyna to see if she's just making fun, but she appears to be serious.
"Oh. I've heard of those folks, actually, but I didn't know what to call them." She volunteers, "I really like looking at the monuments they built and trying to figure out why they are there."
Galyna smiles as Ellantera speak.
"For me it's the stories the ruins tell, the history in the depths of some of those ancient dungeons, full of danger...and all kinds of bizarre treasures."
"The stories, that's a good way to say it. I don't know what's in them, though, just what my imagination says might be."
Speaking the word aloud seems to have little effect. However, when Uraisa touches the first letter of the word, it begins to glow softly.
Excited to see what would happen next, the young Mage touches the rune for the letter "U" to see how that effects the box.
Oscar bring his shield up, and peers over the top of it as the young woman touches the glowing runes.
With a soft flicker, the glowing C and the U switch places. The glow disappears, and the runes now read URCEL.
Kassandra watches excitedly, "go on", she whispers.
"Ah ha," the quiet Mage exclaims, "the key to this puzzle seems to be rearranging the tiles from one word into another word. But what word is the question?"
"What would make the new word significant? I mean, why would we think to use it?"
She searches for something to write with and something to write on - not in one if the books on the shelf. When she finds it, she starts a list:
Cruel. Crule. Creul. Crelu. ....
"Lucre"
"Can anyone else think of any words that 'cruel' can be transposed into?" Uraisa tries the combination of runes to spell out Galyna's suggestion.
Eclru. Eclur. Eculr. Ecurl....
"Lucre comes to my mind as well". "I think that's a name...right"? Does that name mean anything to anyone here"? "Maybe we should search the Library for answers". "Does anyone know the origin of the name"?
El leans back from her paper. "'Ulcer' works, too, but it doesn't make as much sense. Does it?"
"Lucre comes to my mind as well". "I think that's a name...right"? Does that name mean anything to anyone here"? "Maybe we should search the Library for answers". "Does anyone know the origin of the name"?
"Oh! I thought it meant treasure and money and stuff." She looks at her brother studiously acting like he is paying no attention. "Right?"
His eyes glitter with amusement, "Of a sort lass, if'n the loot was git by slittin throats or'n robbin a poor sot blind." His follow up smirk seems to suggest that is the type of loot he prefers.
She gives her brother a disapproving nose-wrinkle that makes it clear she thinks he is making fun of her.
A chuckle arises from Galyna as Shiv's clarification.
"Beautiful word, isn't it?" Erwin smiles blithely.