The sphinx, looking almost unsure, steps towards Thangardt . He raises both his clawed paws. For the briefest of moments, the sphinx looks almost apprehensive, like he does not want to strike, or perhaps he just doesn't think it will work. But his doubt passes swiftly, and his massive claws are brought down with considerable force;
He actually looks surprised at having struck the little thing, not really noticing the carnage;
Shredded strips of Thangardt are stuck in his claws. Puzzled, he turns to look for the other two, but can't see them.
He picks out the pieces of Duergar that don't fall off themselves, savoring the meatier bits, and starts rooting through the pile of books, muttering about finding the one with questions and answers.
Jazaka and Ekan quickly and quietly make their way through the long curving hallway and away from the sounds of their late companion being torn to shreds and the mutterings of the crazy sphinx. Skipping the unexplored branch to the east, they head back to the part they had previously been exploring, looking for a nook or cranny that they can hole up in to get some much-needed rest.
After several long minutes of composing himself, Ekan finaly asks in a low whisper, "What do you think he meant by the "Pandimensional Scryecasting Guild" and "petitioners" and "agents"?
Jazaka takes a few moments to think over recent events before answering "I do not know...however I ssssusssspect that he learned ssssomething from that book the ssssphinx gave him. The creature ssseemed quite nervousss about giving it to him and wanted it back quickly."
After some quick tossing and shoving, the pile of books reveals a nice little nook the two of them can squeeze into.
The dull and oppressive silence of the library gives no hint of any other creatures lurking about. Since Thangardt's screams were muffled after only a few steps along the curved corridor, sound does not carry particularly far.
As the the two survivors huddle in the nook, , Jazaka finds herself holding the book Expecteth Thou to Triumphe in The Arenae?. It just sort of was in her hands, and she didn't notice right away.
Jazaka idly flips through Expecteth as she dozes off (Ekantaking first watch). While Ekan rests, Jazaka will use up all her spells to heal herself.
Then spends some time flipping through Expecteth carefully to see if she can decipher any of the scribbles. When she finishes that she starts flipping through the books in their nook at random to see if she can find anything legible.
When Ekan awakes, the two wander aimless through the already explored rows of books, flipping through random ones.
When Jazaka finally begins to feel weary again, they head back to their nook for Jazaka to rest and relearn her spells. Upon waking, she heals Ekan almost fully.
They then head toward the unexplored passage to the east of the circular one that led to the sphinx . They'll head south at the first split
Opening Expecteth Thou to Triumphe in The Arenae?, Jazaka finds herself sitting at a narrow desk. Nothing particularly frightening has taken place, she simply finds herself at a desk made of a lush, dark wood, sitting on a relatively comfortable matching chair. On the desk is a lavish quill, an inkwell willed with rich burgundy ink, and the open book itself. The book contains nothing; all pages are blank.
To Ekan, the f!%*ery Jaz is doing with the book looks like some four-dimensional popup-book-turned-desk-situation, though it still does not really seem scary. No particular sounds other than jovial creaking of wood, and the sweet ping of the inkwell hitting the desk, come from the transformation.
1) The Lawe? Bute Isse It Ae Neutrale Construction?
2) The Lawe? Bute Isse It Ae Goode Construction?
3) Quicke, Quicke, Like Silvere!
Innis opens his eyes, and finds himself staring at a blank sheet of dirty beige paper. He's upright, with the paper stuffed up real close to his face. As it turns out, the paper must be some cylinder of shame encircling his head, for he sees but beige all around him... No, wait, at his back, 10, 15 ft away, is a mountain. A large mountain. Innis feels its size. And he stands in the air, about five feet above a shelf. Away from the mountain, the shelf disappears into the papery void, while it ends in a tunnel entrance behind him.
It's simple enough to determine that there is no actual paper before him. It is but a trick of the light. Some dishonest fabrication.
At least the mountain and the tunnel seem real enough, despite the hovering.
Innis can move; ahead, backwards, side to side. But not up and down.