Lily bends down and whispers to Mona, who then begins to sniff at the bodies of the men. Before heading for the door they came from, snout close to the ground.
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Gaedren pauses.. feeling a familiar tingle that washes over him when Shaylee speaks. It is the same feeling that he gets any time a restorative sensation impacts his form. The light bruises and cut from the blade had similarly disappeared and he felt a bit more refreshed.
" That.. normally happens sooner... No matter. "
Gaedren shoulders his Longspear and gets his bow ready for use, they knew there was danger and long range was king in those situations.
Mona leads the group down the northern hall past two rooms, both flanked by doors, until the party comes across a round room with a large floating crystal sitting in its center.
A slight chiming sounds faintly in the room.
Mona approaches the crystal sniffing around it, before sitting down in front of it.
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Gaedren is tensed the entire time. This was unexplored land for him and the welcoming committee didnt make the situation all that better.
He eased up once they met the sudden.. destination. Lowering the bow Gaedren looks to Mona.. then Lily. " What an interesting find. I assume Mona is saying they came from.. Here? Anyone know what in Nethys' name this crystal could be? I mean, maybe it has something to do with those lights that went off during you all coming in? Avarice.. anything you might be able to gleam? "
Avarice moves about the room, then circling the crystal, running her hands across it.
She then scratches her head and pulls out a potion from her belt.
"Ok. We've been bound here, that's the lights. These crystals function as intermediary gateways to traverse the tower. Technically they're all focal points, and any can take you anywhere you want to go; provided you know the command word."
"Ergo, if I were to say, Nexus... and Avarice vanishes as a ring of light travels up the tower walls.
Gaedren begins to listen intently to Avarice... but when she suddenly disappears he panics. " WHAT!? Why did she touch it and say the word. Well I cant let her be by herself... Everyone, touch the crystal and repeat after me..this is a bad idea... Nexus "
Gaedren following soon after.
Gaedren feels his head begin to pull away from his body as his body elongates, it's a sickening feeling, but a second after it comes, it is gone.
Gaedren now finds himself in an absurdly large room, the walls are so far apart from one another he cannot see them. Apparently the tower doesn't have to follow rules of uniform size, or perhaps its always this size and merely this chamber is simply one enormous room.
Avarice is standing a feet few in front of him, looking down.
Below you both shines many small lights of candles and torches, and above that, small blue orbs lazily float through the air.
The enormous chamber has been converted into a makeshift town of sorts it seems.
Gaedren is awestruck by the very nature of this entire place. Magic could do great and wondrous things but he did not imagine a place like THIS could even exist! The ability to change the very fabric of space and time with a simple magical crystals. Perhaps he was..thinking too little as far as this place was concerned. A wish might not be the height of this land at all!
The first thing he did however was notably predictable he reached out and firmly yet not roughly grabbed Avarice's hand. His look one of anger mixed with clear concern. " Great Asmodeus' Flaming Balls, Why on Golarion did you TOUCH the crystal and say the word by yourself!? It could have been dangerous Miss Avarice, you've could have gotten ganged up or any which way harmed! What if I didnt follow after you...? " He starts to calm down.
Visibly he pinches his nose and looks once more. " If you are going to do so.. at LEAST inform me.. or the rest on what you are doing.. or attempting to do. "
Avarice takes her other hand, dropping her cane and slaps Gaedren firmly across the face.
"If I did not know the portal way would be safe, I would not have taken it. You forget yourself."
Turning back to the city below, "This city could be useful too us, perhaps not as well. We must take caution."
She turns back to Gaedren now and rubs his face when she struck him, "Your concern is not unappreciated, merely, respect that I of all people know how to keep my best interests in mind."
Then the lights begin to pour in as others arrive.
Gaedren was about to say more but the force of which rattled his jaw and made the world spin momentarily. What was he hit by? It could not have come from such a lady... or maybe it did? Gaedren quickly started to note that EVERY woman was some sort of dangerous.. and built like a brickhouse! He shakes his head trying to get everything back into focus and thus only heard the cursory words of Avarice fall upon his ears.
The next moment the same hand that rocked his world was.. comforting the clear easy bruise on his face. " I.. I understand I suppose. I guess I got a bit concerned... You are clearly ... in control of your mental faculties. I.. er.. apologize. " It was at that point he realized the others had arrived... and they likely had been there.. and now he realized what the scene might look.
"Just because we found some beds doesn't mean you need to start rushing things right away."
Hazel peers over the long drop down off the platform.
"Looks like we've a bit of a walk."
Avarice removes her hand from Gaedren's face before reaching down into her belt, "Hazel, honey, did you get injured in our last fight, I'm sorry that I forgot to ask. Here, take this."
Avarice extends a red vial to Hazel.
Hazel looks at the potion with doubt, "I'll be fine."
Gaedren chuckles nervously and shakes his head. " Hehe, Nice joke Miss Hazel, but I don't see that ever happening. I'm not exactly the pick of the litter and now I just found out, might not be much of a man. It was simply a misunderstanding. Not more, no less. " Gaedren swallowed a bit and decided to relieve the tension with deep breaths.
It begins to give a calming effect as well as he composes his form.
" Miss Hazel, I however must say... if you do not need the healing.. if you have some of your own? "
He then looks at the rest of the party, " I guess we do have a long way down though.. I HOPE the rest are somewhat friendly. "
"If I have need, I'll make it known."
"Hey, those blue orbs, they're Witch lights."
"Some of the more powerful fey can create them. I wonder if there are any here?"
"Either way, I'm glad to see other couples begin to form in front of my very eyes, it's exciting don't you think, Varty!?"
" Miss Shaylee, like I said I doubt that will ever happen. When we all get out of here I'm sure Miss Avarice will find a respectable Elven man who far dwarfs any accomplishment or intelligence I could have. He might also be a powerful caster and surely live alot longer. Let's not talk of my inability. "
Gaedren makes a nod to Hazel, " Then I'll trust you to do that just as you had done so from the time I first met you Miss Hazel. Do not hesitate if it becomes pertinent however. I won't pry farther. "
He sighs looking to the rest of the party and then finally down below trying to plan a possible route down to the .. 'habitat' from where they currently stood. " Miss Shaylee, were those Fey particularly hostile or are they much like yourself? "
Shaylee shrugs, "Hard to say, certainly some evil fey can create them as well. I guess we'll see, should be fun."
Avarice examining the platform looks it over, "Cado."
And the platform begins to descend.
Gaedren rocks a little as the platform descends and he looks to Avarice with an air of amazement, " You are full of pleasant surprises Mistress Avarice. " He remarks as they descend.
To Shaylee he seems a mix or pleased and wary, " I suppose we will find out then? I guess this would be the time for everyone to.. stick together, we don't want anyone getting lost or taken advantage of. "
Gaedren putting away his bow and grabbing his Spear once more. He would loo down at the inhabitants as they got closer. And any marked buildings or letters he would notice.
" I suppose we should venture to a common gathering point and get as much information as we can about this.. er.. place. It's almost like going to a Tavern once more. "
Descending down towards the city you can see the city is broken up into three sections as three large walls run through the city.
The platform looks like it is going to bring you down on the center point of these three walls.
The western section of the city seems to be totally dark, with no lights on it at all, while the east seems to hold the vast majority, and the northern seems sparsely populated with only a few structures, though by far the largest one resides within its walls.
"Spell b#~*$." says Asteria nodding towards the largest building.
Hazel shows her teeth to Asteria.
Gaedren notices the tension and intervene before it turns into anything bad. " I'm sure you mean that someone who uses magic lives there Asteria? You seem not to be all that adverse to those who cast spells. As I'm sure you even complimented Miss Hazel on her strength.. and magic. And personally I think her smile might be a bit endearing. Though I may come out at key times. I would be glad to see it more when she was satisfied. "
Gaedren tries to spin the conversation as an observation and good-willed statement.
" Regardless, I don't see much but something tells me NOT to go to the place that has little light. Can anyone else see far? "
"Most people are asleep, some people are about in the eastern section, they look drunk."
" Vartigan, I must say that your expert sight is a godsend at this time. Maybe we can find one that isnt drunk. Shaylee I'm starting to see the other parts of Vartigan you must admire. He can see you form in the deepest of night from a far distance it seems. Are there any persons at the base where we are likely to land? "
"No, it's empty."
A few moments later, the platform touches down and the party finds themselves atop the wall.
" So, Is it agreed we head to the eastern area? It's the most populated so we have equal parts danger and fortune there. But it is also night time here it seems. We may run into men similar to those who tried to harm us.. but I rather we find a building to hold in for whatever is 'morning' here. is that agreeable? "
Gaedren looks to the rest then back to Vartigan.
" Was those persons of any discernible race or anatomy? The Drunkards? "
"Can't tell. Look Human."
"There's buildings, so that means there might be an inn. What do you say Varty, I could use with some alone time after that fight."
"I'm uncertain we should trust anything in this town, and sleeping is least among my list of priorities after that attack earlier."
"Hmmm...I can see both points of view. Perhaps it best we do seek out an inn of sorts, providing one exists, but maybe we shouldn't be alone. Sleeping in one room, should be safe enough."
Gaedren takes Lily, Shaylee and Asteria's comments in account before he responds, likely the rest will pipe up when it is needed. he shakes his head at some of the suggestions. " No Lady Asteria, I don't exactly plan to have us particularly sleep as of now but instead gather knowledge. You need not trust anyone to gather such tidbits as even lies have some semblance of the truth. Taverns are places where people gather for better or worse. Likely even the bartender could tell us a thing or two. As for... staying in one room *cough* That will be a bridge to cross when it comes. At this juncture our lifeline is to become as educated on the way this place works as possible. It may likely be the ONLY civilization on this.. plane is suppose? "
"We're still very much on the material plane...Just sort of...Stashed away, I admit it is odd."
"As for sharing rooms, my body is a temple, I'm not going to share it with everyone."
Lily shrugs, "So stay clothed. But a temple soon becomes abandoned without men to worship at it."
"Don't be coy."
" I'm sure there are ones to worship such... Umm But if you are right I suppose this land is.. effected by strange magic indeed. We arent sure IF we can even purchase things down here. Or what they use to do such. If its ABSOLUTELY necessary Miss Avarice would you at least agree to a partner system so that if/when it comes up no person is alone to be ambushed? "
Gaedren blinked slowly as his eyes adjusted to the area.
" I wish to get moving anyway.. standing in the dark in unknown land does not bode well in either case. "
"If it comes to that, then yes, I'll room with Lana."
"Let's make our way down from here."
" Let's go then.. Stay close, Lug please secure the rear.. Miss Asteria could you come to the front with me? "
Gaedren looks to the rest of the party and then leaps safely of the platform, he tests the ground before heading off towards the eastern wing of this strange place. He held his spear tight but overall seemed to travel with an open eye and a parsed ear. He looked to the buildings as he got closer. If there people came from Elis or Golarion then they would have some form of signs.
Lana moves up to whisper into Avarice's ear, before Avarice responds, "You're not funny."
Gaedren's ear seems to perk up as he walks.
The party descends the wall with the help of a nearby staircase.
Entering into the makeshift city, all the buildings seem to be made of the same material as the walls of the tower.
Surprisingly you even pass through what looks to be a trade district. Though the city is relatively small, it very much seems to provide all the same services as one might expect to find in Elis.
Not long after, Vartigan is able to direct the group to where he saw the three men from earlier.
Standing outside the building, The Lost Boys Tavern.
The exact ability it seems for the persons inside this place to adapt was nothing short of miraculous. It was as if there was a city inside this place all along. Likely it was due to the fact people simply must go on.
Gaedren looks at the sign and seems relatively antsy. A new land... new buildings with new dangers. he smacks his own face to stoke himself up... and immediately regrets it as one cheek is still sore from Avarice's earlier chastisement.
Gaedren walks into the door and places his hand out as if in peace as he looks around at the possible patrons or owner of the business. " H-Hello? "
Gaedren enters the tavern and finds himself face to face with a number of men and a few women who are all or clearly were at one point in time adventurers.
Gaedren gets a few pieces of conversations from around the bar.
"---Yeah, went up to floor 3-C today, undead, tons of them. Lost Bradford pretty much straight away---"
"---No, that trap resets, almost lost my leg to it once, pain in the ass."
"---Heard from Territa that the eclipse is today, might see more new blood soon."
Gaedren makes good to note the small information he gleamed from various conversations. 3-C? Clearly they would need a map of some type. Traps were prevalent, best be prepared. And worst/best of all people INSIDE were well aware of what was happening OUTSIDE. Interesting indeed. Gaedren gave an inquisitive nod to Lana and Avarice before moving to the bar counter. This gave the rest of the party permission to enter.. at least not expecting to fight IMMEDIATELY.
" Excuse me.. are you the bartender or the owner of this establishment? " Talking to whoever was behind the counter.
The man begins to laugh at once, "New blood here." he calls out to the tavern.
Various people raise their mugs to Gaedren and the rest of the group.
"Yeah, I run this place, don't know much about owning it. Name's Quinn, nice to meet you." he extends a hand to Gaedren.
Gaedren looks at the man's hand for a second and at the other tavern-goers before finally gripping it and nodding. He wasnt sure if this was a good or bad thing.
"Ah, Kori you owe me 2g you son of a b#*#@, look at there, he shook my hand." the bartender laughs and claps Gaedren on the back.
"You've got questions, I know it, shoot."