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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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Rows of bookshelves fill this room, each bookshelf labeled in a flowing, elegant script. Two wingback chairs with night-blue upholstery flank a wooden table with a green felt top. The glass walls offer a view of the Cheya's dark water beneath the flooded river's surface. Istiel's torch bounces shadows around the room; nearby the staircase, you find three dead beastlings, their limbs broken and heads caved in. Down the nearest isle of bookshelves, a creature stands, unmoving and inert. It is about five feet tall, with four arms, and balances on three legs that rise into a central body. The whole of the creature is made of interlocking wheels, that you would assume whirr and move - if the creature showed any capacity for movement. Dried blood covers the creature's arms.
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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Drazan transforms into a air elemental and follows after Istiel and the glow of her torch. Upon discovering the creature made of arms, legs, and wheels Drazan puzzles aloud, What is THAT? Even as Drazan hisses the simple question, his axe slowly slides up, anxious to attack, expecting it to need sundering.
I am no slave. Drazan sighs annoyed, his eyes swimming through the vivid details of this dreamscape.I took my freedom and it is mine. He pauses a moment to shift his mind from his dream companions to the library and the unfamiliar settlement. Where is this? Is this the library I am going to with the others? What purpose am I here to see this for?
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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"I would hypothesise it is some sort of animated security system." Imix pauses staring at the machine, and starts to look for dust. "Everyone stay still. It doesn't seem to have triggered yet."
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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Imix finds a strange lack of dust in the surrounding area. In fact, everything seems well kept, and kept up, not at all as if the library had been abandoned by catastrophe and disuse.
Looking around, the Suriname also finds two more of the strange creatures in other parts of the stacks. The wheels that the creatures are made of are strange, not at all intended for travel. They have, for lack of a better word, teeth. Teeth that interlock into each other.
"Yes. And systems to keep everything clean, I should imagine. Doubtless the correct Darohm word will wake some ancient librarian to assist us. On the other hand the wrong word may see us forced to fight the very thing that could help us." Imix sighs in exasperation. "Which of us is most fluent in Darohm?"
Istiel pauses as her torchlight casts a yellow glow over the wheeled-thing, her eyes instantly catching the blood coating its many arms. "A metal guardian?" She replies in a steady voice, wondering how she would fight such a foe. Trees were no match for her fists, but metal?
Warily watching over the suriname as he notes the additional metal guardians, Istiel expands on his idea. "If they keep this place clean..." She reasons, her mind turning slowly as she recalls how her master would become upset if his scrolls were not put back in a precise order. "...do they attack if we move something?"
His request for a Darohm word, however, draws a blank stare from the warrior.
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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Oios, having spent so much time in Yd's library, finds himself studying the elegant script upon the spines of the shelved tomes, as well as the writing covering the columns flanking the staircase entry. The script is elegant and flowing, not at all like the script among the books in Darholme, which is ruinic and blocky. Groaning, the realization hits the shadow like, well, a heavy tome dropped from a tall shelf.
The books in this library were not written in the same language as those in Darholme. Indeed, it is possible that the flooded city you stand in is not a Darohm city at all!
The leader stamps their spear again - hard - against the bottom of the canoe, rocking the whole vessel violently. "The purpose is to not go there! Any such building, which would contain knowledge, could contain the knowledge to do what was done here - the dropping of the earth, the flooding of this land, the certain death of most all of its inhabitants! Such knowledge is not to be had. I forbid it! None of the Ulash Grimm will step foot in that building, by my order and penalty of death!"
They stare at you, nostrils flaring, while the old man ducks his head in quiet acquiescence.
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Sarenith 23, night, Oios
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Oios manages to get a hold of himself after a bit. He sighs. It is as you say of course. All that is left is to survive, to grow strong, and then to return to the Valley. He takes his leave.
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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This is not the speech of Darholm he snaps angrily. Instead it is of some completely other language. And that metal thing seems like it is completely undamaged while it ripped those beastlings to shreds. It would be foolish to incur their bloody wrath. He forces the frustration away from himself with a visible effort. I will scry for what else might be here.
After he muses
I wonder if the metal exists to defend the stairs or to keep from anything being distrubed. I propose to interfere with one of the books nearest the exit and if nothing happens then we will know. If it does start moving then we will retreat.
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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"I did not come here to be a coward." Istiel scoffs when Oios mentions retreating. "I do not fear the metal. I will pull the book." She says proudly, waiting for them to take position.
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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Here and there, within the books, there are three stronger auras as well - tomes more magical than the works surrounding them.
Caster Level is 3 I believe for a mid caster at Level 4. Please correct me if wrong.
This place.. is.. suffused... with magic. he says.
A puzzle look splashes Drazan's face at the sudden outburst. You're angry about this; you forbade it and it happened anyway. Do you know whom is responsible? Is there a way to undo the dropping of the earth? Can it be healed? Is that knowledge in the library?
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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Drazan moves wherever he thinks he is intended to stand to wait for what is likely an antagonistic act. If we are not to cower, then why stand over by the door where I cannot hit it with my weapon? Better yet, why don't I cut this creature of wheels down while it sleeps? Why wait for it to wake?
"I agree with Drazan." Istiel says with a nod towards her fellow warrior, who clearly understands how this situation should be handled. Usually she would oppose such a maneuver as dishonorable, but these were hunks of metal, not people.
The monk places one scarred fist into the open palm of her other hand. Willing her life force to swell to the surface of her skin, the others see her hands grow an incredibly tough bark-like appearance. With a wave of her torch she beckons Drazan to assist her in glorious combat against an unknown foe.
"Come. We will kill The Metal."
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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While Oios can make little sense of the auras emitted by the windows and creatures, the books emit an aura consistent with protection, while the columns seem to have some sort of enchantment function, with a tinge of necromancy showing in the aura as well.
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Sarenith 24 early morning
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The old man looks pensive. "What is done cannot be undone. So say the gods. But... the Library may hold knowledge as to why it was done."
The leader nearly shouts back, "But we'll never know, as it is forbidden to enter! I have commanded it, so it will be!"
No Oios retorts. We are here to learn and loot if we can, not to destroy. This is a strongly magical place with much of it turned to protection. We do not understand it and what we do not understand can easily destroy us instead. Even if we did prevail it would be far more... glorious... to come back later with deeper understanding and possibly turn this metal to OUR use rather than bash it into pieces.
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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Drazan turns his gaze and mind to the dead bodies of the strange beastlings as he contemplates Oios's idea to use the metal wheel creature for their use. Something tells me my idea to kill it before it awakens is better, but we try it your way first. I can wait until it pursues us to kill it. Though I doubt the Eldeleth made either task easy for us.
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Sarenith 24 early morning
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Who are you to forbid anyone? Who will ensure your will is done? I must know more about this catastrophe even if it is only the why. The flight cannot continue to flee if there is nowhere to land. They need to rebuild and gather strength so that they can retake their homes. I cannot lead a dying people to war with the mountains. They will be smashed to pieces. If the library contains knowledge that can be used to fight, then it is only a matter of time before either I have it, or the First Flame have it. It has to be me first! Drazan finishes his intention to rebel by standing squared up toward the leader. Nostrils flaring. The rage bucking to break the restraint.
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Sarenith 24, Library 2nd Floor
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"These are they who summoned the First Flame. The Answer to how, and perhaps how to stop it, may be hidden in these books. The only reason the books exist in this state is the metal creatures. I concur with Oios. The true treasure here is the knowledge - not the artefacts."
Imix turns to Istiel "We are hunters, now, not warriors. If you care only for glory, I will animate a rock for you to fight."
He continues, turning to Drazan "Easier to kill it now, yes. Safer, perhaps. When have we taken the safe or easy route? We have come this far because we have taken risks - and they have paid off. Perhaps this is the risk that kills us, but without risks the whole Flight is doomed."
"You do not understand the way of a warrior or a hunter." Istiel chides Imix with an unusually harsh tone for addressing the Suriname. "Fighting your moving rock would be the same as hunting a bird raised for sport." She walks over to a book shelf, poised to remove one of the tomes when they are all in position as they had planned.
We should be positioned to retreat. If it moves at us, put the book back to see if it calms the guardian. If it keeps coming we leave. These rain bringers are our focus. If this place wishes to keep its secrets then we leave it be for more urgent matters for now.
"Does anyone speak the language, or better yet, read it?" Imix asks thoughtfully. "Not just here. Do we know anyone who does?"
Drazan casually speaks, waiting just outside the entrance, If we can get one of the volumes with a comprehensive enough vocabulary one of us might be able to learn it, I'm assuming its Eldeleth, but I do not speak it. Perhaps our hosts know it.
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Sarenith 24 early morning
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Sarenith 24 library floor 2
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Istiel slides the book off the shelf, noting that for something that has presumably not been touched in ages, it is surprisingly dust-free.
The metal guardians stand silently, inert.
So spotless this place is, as if an army of maids comes to clean it up nightly, even the blood around the corpses is not there. Oios points out. Now... Isitel open it carefully...
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Sarenith 24 library floor 2
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The book opens, and nothing happens. Though, now that the book is open, Oios can tell that the abjuration magic is coming from the back cover of the book, on the inside of the cover.
Flip a few pages to the halfway point. Oios instructs while trying to make sense of the script. Then put it back. Whatever protective magic is on this seems like it will only activate when we get to the back page. No reason to test what it will do on ourselves
Seeing nothing happen, Drazan sets to start walking through the library browsing the spines and covers of books with writing and leaving anything else to caution.
"Or, perhaps, it is trying to remove a book which provokes the guardian?" Imix hesitates "Or when we leave?"
Istiel does as instructed, albeit with growing frustration. "Magical book backs?" She says incredulously, but lacks the knowledge to refute such a strange statement.
She closes the book and places it back on the shelf, turning to look at the strewn bodies. Without blood or even dust, there was no way to tell where they were coming from or why.
Stalking around them in a circle, she winds around the metal guardian itself, staring at its intricate teethed wheels with confusion.
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Sarenith 24 library floor 2
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Though the vast majority of the books are in the flowing script of the Eldeleth, Drazan does turn up the odd tome here and there in a different tongue. He finds a dialect of Abyssal on a few, and more in the language of the Darohm as well.
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Istiel stares at the metal guardian, searching for answers deep within its polished core.
Suddenly, a voice mimicking her own with a tone like a whisper on a floating leaf lands on the surface of her stilled mind. no book leaves without the guards noticing The caressing whisper sends small ripples throughout her psyche, and she shivers slightly, briefly glancing around.
She spies the pillars, thinks about the magic. "They guard the books." Istiel says suddenly, striding towards the pillars. "The book backs are magic. The pillars are magic. If a book passes through the pillars the guards attack."
While tempted to pick up a book and toss it through the columns to test the idea, she decides this would probably make Oios angry. "We can stay here and read. Copy. But we cannot take the books with us." She states, now confidently moving about. While the others continue to look through the tomes, she searches for any other adjacent rooms or hallways so they can continue exploring.
Oios opens his mouth to retort and then shuts it. Yes, that.. makes sense. Good work Isitel.
He harumphs. Damballah has seen fit to make us rich in linguists. We will spend the day here to try and find out what is keeping this place clean and if it is safe. If it is then while we are away we will ask them to go over these books with strict instructions to keep them within this room, with some of the guards to protect them. Thus we will add the secrets of another ancient empire to our knowledge. He sighs. It should not have taken the destruction of our home for us to start learning the truths of the world. Now help me drag the beastlings out. They should be given a proper burial. Let us make sure they do not have any items from this room on them when we do so.
Istiel nods to Oios, seemingly in agreement on that topic at least. She kneels down and thoroughly checks the beastlings for anything that might belong to the library before picking them up and moving them to the top floor one by one.
"Elegant." Imix says, nodding slowly as all becomes clear. "We should definitely send for the Other Suriname. And ensure no-one makes a mess, in case the cleaners are also dangerous."
Begrudgingly he adds "Taking the time to see the dead are floated is probably a good idea. Do we know if the residents do that?"
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Sarenith 24 library bottom floor
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The dead beastlings stowed for now on the top floor, you again descend the staircase, entering the final, bottom floor of the library. Large stone doors stand to the northwest and southwest, each flanked by the same columns you've seen above. A large desk stands beneath the northwestern windows, through which can be seen the dark, murky waters. A small crest hangs above the desk in between the two windows, its coat of arms resembling a constellation. Dozens of books cover the main desk, left open as if the reader abandoned them in a hurry.
As you approach the desk, a slow hiss echoes from the southwest, forming threatening sounding words.
You feel a cold wetness fall upon your exposed flesh, and looking up, see fat snowflakes dropping through the ceiling. In seconds, the floor has a light dusting of snow and the snowflakes fall faster, obscuring your sight and muffling sound, and bringing the utter stillness and silence of a midwinter blizzard with it.
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Round 1
Istiel strides into the library, torch held high. She scans the room, eyes lingering on the crest on between the windows before resting on the desk. She stops suddenly, puzzled.
"The other floor is orderly. Why are books-" Her observation is cut off as a hiss emanates from the southwest corner of the room, causing her entire body to straighten into a rigid posture.
The monk whirls in a circle when the snow begins to fall all around them, torch wooshing and flickering at the sudden movements. "Magics!" She shouts as the deafening snowfall descends on them.
Briefly her vision swims as the falling snow triggers a long forgotten memory...
...and she is transported back to a time long ago in her far-distant youth. She shivers and clings to a waterskin, keeping it from freezing with her own body heat as the old timers talk about how they haven't seen a blizzard like this in their entire lives. A massive snowfall strains the roof of the longhouse as families huddle together in wooly blankets in an effort to keep warm, and in the center a small tallow fire casts a pathetic amount of light across the large building.
Her cold breath erupts in puffs, and as she glances around she can see it... the shining tendril-like tributaries snaking from all mountain men, leading up through the shadowed roof and beyond to the softly pulsing river of the time above.
She glances to the side at another child near her age, who is also huddled around a waterskin and staring at the floor with their eyes closed. The silvery tendril extending from their head is wispy and smokey, as if it is about to dissipate at any moment. She lifts a hand and slowly reaches out to touch the tendril, fingertips hesitating just an inch away.
Suddenly, she is urged forward by some force and strikes, wrapping her fingers around the tendril and squeezing. It is slippery and warm, pulsing and squirming in her grasp as if trying to escape. The child starts awake in slow motion and gasps, eyes bulging like a caught fish. Istiel recoils and lets go, but it was too late- the small tendril breaks apart and unravels, before the child slowly slumps forward heap, eyes wide open.
Mouth agape Istiel reaches out and shakes them, but gets no response. She panics, looking all around, and the others huddling around her under the blanket start to stir. She didn't mean to, it was an accident, it wasn't her fault! it wasn-
The scene freezes before her eyes and begins to reverse, and she has to watch herself go through the motions in opposite order until her hands are once again grasping her waterskin. But much, much tighter now. Beads of cold sweat form on her scalp, and she feels frozen down to her very soul. Hazel eyes stare at the floor, wide and fearful, and she is unwilling to look to her left for what seems like an eternity. Eventually, she gather her courage and takes a quick glance over and to see the child still there, breathing softly, the wispy stream of time coming off of them like a barely coherent haze...
A throbbing in her temple shunts her back to the present day, causing her to blink rapidly. Above, the river of time flows with all of its usual slow laziness, and Istiel wonders if what she saw ever happened, will happen, or had now happened.
Forgoing contemplation, she wills her legs to move and rushes towards the sound of the hissing, moccasin bound feet leaving a trail of prints in her wake. "Show yourself!" The warrior shouts into the sound and sight deadening snow, all the while weaving between stacks of books.
Aquan - and possibly a reader? This could be our translator.
Imix will rush to the books to try to determine (A) how long they have been open (B) what languages they represent and (C) if there is an easy theme to their topic.
If possible, I'd like to make him have a roll to guess what we face. Obviously he can't communicate it.
Imix's attention is caught by the windows, glass somehow holding back the waters outside. 'A marvel.'
He is distracted when he hears the accusation. 'Fair.' he admits to himself. He doesn't even notice the snowfall, at first. His new vest keeps his skin warm, and the flake from melting.
Then it is too late, the snow falling in deeper drifts. Silent. Alone. But not cold. Heaven, for a Suriname.
Quickly he makes his way to the desk and the books. 'I have, perhaps, moments to stop this fight. I must know if I should.'
The lich? Did it follow us, or did we stumble upon it again? Drazan says, though the words are lost to the storm. Then, he pulls a weather worn gourd from his belt pops the cork and imbibes the fluid within doubling his size.
STATUS
Enlarged +2 Str size, -2 Dex size, -1 AC size, Reach 10'
Spend two actions and a spell point to Divine Magic.
Free action, point out aura most likely to be creature.
Oios is able to shrug off the silence and spends a moment to try and divine the nature of the magic around him, hopefully it will pinpoint whatever creature is causing the magical snowfall. If he is able to, he will let the others know where he suspects it to be.
Peace Peace! he will also call out in all four languages he knows.
Round 2
The snow falls, muffling the room, though Oios's voice rings clear throughout the room. Your foe's voice shoots back.
He's two steps north of Isitel with strong magic! Oios snaps in Tooyah before returning to Abyssal.
we do not with to take anything! We only wish to study and learn! Please at least let us discuss this!
Round 2
At Oios' words Istiel spins around to face the north, torch roaring at the sudden movement. She reaches for a small bag tied to her silken belt next to her potion gourds, ripping it free with a quick tug.
She launches the tanglefoot bag with an overhand toss, hoping to hit the creature and not only reveal its location, but cement it in place.
Round 2
Cantrips; hand of flame. Guessing the threat is implicit, but he'll lose actions discovering the effect when he tries to make it explicit.
Serpentine... or crocodillian?
Either way, this seems to be a spellcasting reptilian creature of learning in a library. Imix's empathy may actually be engaged.
What is Abyssal, in this world, do we know where it comes from?
Is it possible to make a roll to know more about the magic style from what he's seen? Spellcraft?
Edit: just saw Discussion.
Imix, still above the books, conjures flame. Whatever words he tries to say are swallowed in the silence of the snow - much to his obvious disgust. He stares at the place where the serpent was for a moment, and then deliberately extinguishes the flame.