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Stali makes sure to take the evidence against Shadow Orchid, but suggests to the guard at the Way of the Kirin they could contact Amara Li if they need more information about this person.
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“We thought Shadow Orchid should visit with some Way of the Kirin members. We didn’t think you needed any information from her.” With a shrug, he says “Sorry!”
Pointing towards Mr. Pepper’s bag, he adds “The Codex is in there,”
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"No technically about it. A number of us are no fans of outright breaking of the law for the Society's gain. Considering the person in question though I'm less opposed than I was." He unslings his haversack and opens it up so D can lift out the tome.
"I am looking forward to studying this a great deal and am ready whenever you are." He looks for the most comfortable seat in the room not being occupied and promptly takes a seat, ready to read.
The more of these they send us on the more I feel like we're too frequently being used as pawns.
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"Ah, perhaps I was not clear," the Venture-Captain smiles. "I didn't need to get any information directly from Shadow Orchid. I only wondered what happened to her. Come to think of it, I had been entertaining the thought of an alliance with the Way of the Kirin, but now is not the time."
Aram Zey blatantly interrupts, clearing his throat as he stands from his desk and shuffling over. "Yes, now is not the time. Now is the time to start deciphering the Codex!" Zey peers into the haversack.
Amara Li pulls up chairs and clears off a desk, and Zey awaits the book. "This could take some time, so get comfortable. Let's begin."
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Gallix stands behind Mr. Peppers, watching the arcane master do his thing. Occasionally, he pipes up with questions about what Mr. Peppers is doing, what runes he is using, how he knows which arcane theorems to employ, etc.
Thankfully, his questions aren't too annoying, and may have even jogged Mr. Peppers's memory to use a particular warding rune to protect himself from the abysium.
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Stali quickly realizes that he will not be of any use in decoding the codex. He decides the other side of the room is a good place for him to watch from. Far enough away that the book shouldn’t harm him, yet close enough to help if something unfortunate happens to those working on the project.
While watching, he makes small talk with Amara Li who also doesn’t appear to be busy with the codex.
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As they prepare to read Mr Peppers prepares himself to be in the best possible position to comprehend and learn from the Tome This could be the only chance I have to read this, I best not screw it up.
He takes out his own personal spellbook, opens to the correct page and memorizes another spell, sighing softly as he replaces one of his favorites in his memory bank. He then softly casts the spell on himself.
As Sirettis flips the pages Mr Peppers reads along to himself, at first a bit annoyed at Gallix's intrusion in his concentration but slowly gains some confidence in the extra set of eyes. "You're right Gallix, those two symbols do look similar but not identical. Perhaps they were merely written by two different hands. I'll keep that in mind."
Tall, dark and frustrated quickly realizes this Tome is harder to understand than most Arcane writings he's come across and a single bead of sweat forms on his brow as he has to reread several lines of runes with Gallix's help.
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Mr. Peppers and Gallix pour over the tome for hours, with Sirettis carefully turning the pages using her hair to avoid its effects. Your friendly Venture-Captain ensures lunch is brought in during the deciphering process for occasional respites.
All told, it takes 15 hours before things come together. The Abysium Codex contains a great deal of what appears to be superfluous nonsense - mathematical formulas, randomly placed arcane symbols (though Gallix uncharacteristically spots that they don't mean anything important), and a bewildering number of nonsensical poems, prayers, and riddles.
What is learned, however, is that the party must each touch the Abysium Codex and then utter Aram Zey's trigger word to gain access to the Sacred Vault - the heart of the Hao Jin tapestry. It is there that the ritual can take place.
When all is through, Aram Zey paces the room, his eyes drooping with wear. "It appears we now know how to access the Vault, but I cannot help but think there's more. What we have now is a ... basic outline." He stops in the center of the room. "There must be additional clues that will increase the ritual's chance of success. Let's have one final look. Those with religious, planar, or historical knowledge may also be able to provide insight into something we missed."
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Mr Peppers looks up from his reading, his eyes clearly bloodshot and irritated. A look of impatience crosses his face followed by realization: Why did I not use my heightened awareness spell? Folly. Perhaps it will find the key we missed! "Ok, let's not miss anything, I wish to retire to my quarters and sleep like the dead."
Empowered by a renewed hope and slightly annoyed that the key would be something other than unending knowledge of the great arcane, Mr Peppers pulls his spellbook close once more and studies it for a moment to regain a spell to memory.
Reminded of his folly and rush earlier, the intelligent Elf puts his mind to recalling useful information.
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During the grueling 15 hour study session, Stali trades off with Uesugi and D on watch. Allow each of them some time to rest so that the whole party isn’t fatigued.
He is no help at all on decoding anything from the book.
He does ask Amara Li “Any chance they” gesturing towards Mr. Peppers, Gallix and Sirettis “will be able to rest after this research? They are going to need some,”
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Aram Zey beams at Mr. Peppers and Sirettis as they point out the clues:
Locate an ivory statuette of the lich Takaral, a divine servant of Nethys. Crush it and use the powder as a material component during the ritual.
Locate a child’s wooden training katana, once owned by the Perfect Swordswoman Setsuna Kuga. A magical incantation is inscribed on it, as a haiku. Recite it during the ritual.
Locate a golden brick that was once part of the great golden wall that encircles the Eternal City of Axis. Inscribed upon the brick is a magical incantation in the form of a prayer from The Order of Numbers, the holy book of Abadar. Recite it during the ritual.
Locate an onyx merchant’s scales, a symbol of Abadar. Use the scale as a divine focus during the ritual.
".. A splendid job, wizard." Zey pats Mr. Peppers' shoulder. "You'd surely show some of those without magical or arcane talent - or worse, those that pretend - what it means to hold such a wealth of knowledge."
Amara Li clears her throat with a glare at Zey. "Let's try a little harder to cooperate, yes? Stali here has it right. They deserve a rest after that lengthy research session. I've arranged lodging for all of them."
Zey rolls his eyes, sighing heavily. "Yes, I suppose a few hours won't get the Aspis that much closer," he remarks icily.
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Hearing the clues, Stali asks “Will it take someone with magical talent to recite the poem or other incantation?”
Best make sure I understand what parts of this I can do.
Stali inclines his head slightly in acknowledgment of Amara’s words.
I am glad to see it isn’t just me that is bothered by Aram Zey’s pretentious manner.
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"Sounds like we've got a few things to gather," Gallix says, exhausted after the extended research session. "I think a drink and a night's rest is just what the doctor ordered, eh Peppers?"
Gallix feels his hackles rise slightly at Zey's comments about those who pretend to have arcane talent, feeling like he could very easily be on the bad end of that reference. He shrugs it off, though, realizing that he has other talents that took their own kind of training and experience to gain.
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Mr Peppers smiles as he considers Zey's words before looking towards Stali for a moment "Yes we all have our talents. Most are masters in their crafts. Mine happens to be the Arcane. Those other avenues of knowledge are merely some late night reading on the privy to pass the time. My real focus is arcane theory and real world application."
He then turns his attention towards the rest of the team, doing something he doesn't often do in this setting: bolstering the merits of the rest of the team. He pauses thoughtfully after each, as if to give them their due one would think.
"Stali here, while he hasn't been part of the Red Arm as long, has the keenest eyes and talons of us all. No detail is left unfound." Even if I think I could replicate much of that with magic, impressive none the less.
He turns to Gallix "Gallix." He pauses for a moment as he tries to sum up the brawler "Fists of lightning, heart of gold, and recently a budding neophyte scholar." Weak constitution for such a heavy drinker I must admit.
He gives a slight nod towards the quiet Uesugi in the corner "Our faithful samurai protector. Do not fear death while he is still standing, unless of course you are at the wrong end of his blade." Far too silent of late to my liking, his mind seems distracted.
Next to him is Sir D "Our resident telekinetic master. The power his mind has over objects is fascinating, if not a bit scary. He works with powers even few know exist." His portrait still unsettles me to this day.
Last but not least he moves to Sirettis "Sirettis. Small in stature but huge in influence. Magical in more ways than I can believe, her powers astonish me far too frequently." FAR too frequently. Teleport?! GAH!
And with that tall, dark and tired grabs up his things and prepares to follow Amara Li to their rooms for rest. "It is far too late for a drink Gallix, we've got to fix this tapestry in the morning and I don't wish to be late to the party." He nods to Zey as he goes.
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Sirettis is ready for rest, or at least to get away from the book. She lets Aram Zey ramble on for a bit.
<If he died, do you think anyone would mourn his passing? How long do you think the Society would wait to replace him? Maybe a sorcerer would not be as conceited.>
Sirettis hears Its thoughts and cannot help but smile. Enough of that macabre talk. You were once this focused.
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"How very convincing," Zey turns and throws his hand up dismissively as he walks off to another room. "Oh, and rest assured, no magical talent is needed to recite a poem," he calls. Li sighs knowingly. The party exits and heads to the local inn for a rest.
The next morning, the party reassembles at the Lantern Lodge, and Amara and Aram Zey gathers you in the meeting room where the Hao Jin Tapestry hangs. "I suppose I should tell you a little about the Sacred Vault. The shrine exists outside the demiplane’s normal geography, and is inaccessible even to those inside the Hao Jin Tapestry unless they are in possession of the Abysium Codex or have some other magical means to access the shrine. We know little about the shrine, other than that it contains more treasures from Hao Jin’s collection and is the home to some form of magical power source that acts as a regulating device for the entire demiplane.”
"Be ready for anything. As our expeditions into the Hao Jin Tapestry have demonstrated, the demiplane contains a wide assortment of creatures and dangers.”
Zey's face turns even more serious than usual. "I must warn you not to attempt to return to the Material Plane unless the entire group is prepared to leave. If one of you leaves the demiplane, you can only return to your companions if you are in possession of the Abysium Codex."
He points to the tapestry. "If you're ready, one of you needs to hold the Abysium Codex and touch your finger here - just to the right of this faded starburst design. Then the rest of you must briefly touch the book, and the one touching the tapestry must utter the trigger word: Axis."
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Sirettis wakes up, casts Mage Armor, and then takes the book. She immediately feels the illness overcoming her.
Then she casts Remove Sickness on herself.
"I am ready. I will be fine for about 90 minutes."
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With the Codex in Sirettis' hand and the Red Arm all touching its center, she touches the spot indicated the tapestry. A feeling of your limbs being pulled apart briefly fills each of you, and you watch as Zey's smug grin blurs and fades, your vision going black. Then you're whisked into the tapestry, arriving in a large circular chamber. Behind each of you floats a 2-foot-diameter sphere of pulsating blue light.
The air in the circular chamber is cold, stale, and smells of death. Seven large, dark-furred humanoids lie in a bloody heap near the wall behind you. The lone exit to the chamber is ahead: a long, LONG hallway. It's hard to tell how long it actually is.
The domed ceiling bears a painted mural depicting a blue sky.
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As the teleportation happens Mr Peppers' lips curl into a smile as the world disintegrates then reforms around him Amazing. I can't wait to learn to do this myself. I will travel to all of the world's greatest arcane libraries on a whim!
He snaps out of his revelry as Sirettis speaks. He looks over at the heaps and nods in agreement "Barbaric goblinoids. Good riddens." He weaves a few spells on himself before the group starts its investigation.
"Perhaps someone very large sat on them."
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"If you suspect traps, I will assist however I can." She casts Perceive Cues to enhance her vision and her hunches.
"When I teleport it feels like a strong wind carries me across to my destination. Interplanar travel feels quite different."
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"I'd love to have a discussion with you sometime Sirettis on your observations between the two forms of travel." He pauses and takes a bit more stock in his feelings during the transportation.
Afterwards Mr Peppers nods, returning to serious now that threats are apparent. "Yes let's take a solid accounting for this room. I'll check it over for any magical interests."
He calls forth detect magic and begins looking around the room for anything of interest.
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Stali and Sirettis find the area free of traps. As for magical auras, the blue spheres that hover behind you all evoke moderate conjuration auras. Each of you can only see a single sphere - the one directly behind you - rather than all six.
The only way forward seems to be along the long, white and gold-veined marble hall.
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Stali leads the party down the long hallway roughly 300 feet, carefully keeping his head down and checking for traps as the party moves on. The hall looks safe, and it soon leads to a vast opening, where virtually every inch of wall space in the chamber is covered with art or holds some work of art. Marble busts, bas relief carvings, and painted frescoes adorn the walls. Hundreds of stone shelves stretch from floor to ceiling, holding thousands of figurines, statuettes, decorative masks, and various other items. A massive pair of iron doors stand in the center of the far wall.
In the room, a human wearing a purple robe stands leaning against the wall while a female dwarf who wears a holy symbol of Abadar paces impatiently. With them are three bugbears.
"And here I thought we'd be trapped forever," the robed man smiles as he notices you emerge from the hall. "Travelers, perhaps you might know a way out of this place?"
The dwarf stops in place and glares at the man. "Ascalar, you're entirely too trusting. There are more of them than us, you know. Ugh. This is why I prefer to travel with goblinoids than people like you."
"Simmer down. They'll help us. Trust me." Ascalar stands completely still. "Won't they?" He looks on at Stali and Gallix, waiting for an answer.
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Mr Peppers looks up and into the room, still detecting for magic when he sees and hears the inhabitants. As he scans them for magical auras he thinks to himself Strange to see a Dwarf willingly and wantingly working with goblinoids. And here I was told that arrangement wasn't going to be finalized until late summer/early autumn...
"How did you become trapped down here, and what happened to your bugbear associates down the hall?" Something tells me these are Aspis agents...
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Stali moves to the side, allowing the more diplomatic people in the party to lead the conversation.
That is always the problem with featureless hallways, no place to hide.
Hearing Sirettis give demands rather than try for a more diplomatic approach, he decides to enter the conversation. “I’m sorry, but having found the stench of the dead bodies put us a bit on edge.” He gestures back towards the hallway he just came out of.
Gesturing with a claw to himself, he says “I am Stali, the scout of our party.”
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"Such great questions," Ascalar replies. "It involved a strange ritual. One that involved one of those assassins. Apparently, it was a one-way trip. No way to get out."
His words sounds pretty honest to Sirettis. Mr. Peppers senses several auras emanating from the robed man, but he will need more time to figure out what they are.
Ascalar narrows his eyes at Mr. Peppers, recognizing his magic detecting abilities. "I see you are interested my magic! Why don't we, oh, have a little talk about what spells you're capable of? I'll show you mine if you show me yours."
Then he begins waving his arms around suddenly in a way that's likely familiar to Mr. Peppers.
".. And then you could also help us get out of here, right, friend? Yes, I bet that sounds like a great idea, doesn't it?"
The dwarf rolls her eyes, and raises her battleaxe. "Took you long enough. Come on, they likely have the book. Take one prisoner and kill the rest."
-- Bold is up --
Stali, Gallix, Uesugi, D
Yellow bugbear
Mr. Peppers
Pink and Red Bugbears
Ascalar (Green), Haelvora (Blue)
Sirettis
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Mr Peppers watches the tell tale signature components of the charm person spell. His lips curl into a smile as another opportunity to demonstrate his arcane dominance presents itself. With the waggle of a long index finger with perfectly manicured cuticles he dismisses the casting with ease.
"You know, if you worked on your somatic movements perhaps your spells wouldn't fail you at such important times. And I do look forward to browsing your spells, if they are worth while." He waves dismissively.
Counterspell: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell targets a spellcaster and is cast as a counterspell. Unlike a true counterspell, however, dispel magic may not work; you must make a dispel check to counter the other spellcaster's spell.
Targeted Dispel: One object, creature, or spell is the target of the dispel magic spell. You make one dispel check (1d20 + your caster level) and compare that to the spell with highest caster level (DC = 11 + the spell's caster level).
Counterspell (Su): By expending 1 point from her arcane reservoir, the arcanist can attempt to counter a spell as it is being cast. She must identify the spell being cast as normal. If she successfully does so, the arcanist can attempt to counter the spell as an immediate action and by expending an available arcanist spell slot of a level at least one higher than the level of the spell being cast. To counterspell, the arcanist must attempt a dispel check as if using dispel magic. If the spell being countered is one that the arcanist has prepared, she can instead expend an available arcanist spell slot of the same level, and she receives a +5 bonus on the dispel check. Counterspelling in this way does not trigger any feats or other abilities that normally occur when a spellcaster successfully counters a spell.