”We need to go look for the stalae in Neruzavin, I think!”
Let's get going!
Looking in the journal you discover that one of the stelae is in this location. Heading back into the room with the flowers you head up the stairs which ascend for nearly 200ft to a room at the tower's summit.
The iron fittings here have crumbled to rust, and desiccated scraps of wood mark where furniture once stood in this nearly square chamber. Broad, short windows provide a commanding view of the city, indicating that this room is at the top of one of the tallest towers. At the room's centre stands a twelve foot tall column with a single flat face inscribed with dozens of runes.
Do we really need to sacrifice someone? Maybe we get a corpse and just wiggle it.
Atajay ponders how to activate (or deactivate) this apparatus.
Basic knowledge check
"No, we don't need to kill anyone one we just need to get everything attuned and follow the ritual. I think..."
Senn will start following the prescribed directions in the book and notes using the stelae and necronomicon.
Trevor just stands ready for any nastiness.
Penith serves as an extra pair of hands to help, but doesn't really have any idea about magic rituals.
Know. Arc 11+8=19
Know. Dung
Trevor plumbs the depths of his knowledge to help!
Senn slaps him with guidance and offers him a book on the subject to boost that to at 27!
Penith looks at all the others putting their heads together to figure things out and sighs. She'll see about making a small fire and boiling some tea for everyone.
If the group survives, Atajay resolved to learn more about spellcasting at some point in the future.
You all concentrate and there is a strange sensation in your minds, as if you were reaching out to other worlds and realities. Just as suddenly this image snaps back to reality. The face of the star stelae glows softly with several yellow runes and you feel that this one at least has now been attuned.
You know from the Necronomicon that the second stelae is in the region of Neruzavin known as the Snarl.
[dice=Arcana]10+18
”Can anyone think of a reason to not head to the second Stelae? If not, I’d say we head in that direction. I’d guess it will take some time for us to get there.”
Might as well head over.
Naw. Just think about being clouds again and we can fly there."
Gm what's the distance to the next stelae?
"Sounds like a plan!"
The Necronomicon doesn't tell you the exact spot, just the approximate location which is the region known as the Snarl, it's about a mile away from where you are currently.
All set here. Trevor flaps his arms.
”Do we need to take a rest and recovery before we head to this snarl? It doesn’t sound particularly welcoming.”
"I would like that. I can sleep anywhere but I am a little tapped. I do take about the same number of punches as the whole group and my body is bruised." she lifts the corner of her shirt to show her bruises despite not take that many direct hits.
A nap a day keeps the madness away.
After resting which is undisturbed you head towards the Snarl. The Snarl is a large crater in the city ruins containing many fallen towers and large mounds of rubble. It looks as if the majority of this area did not survive Earthfall. You arrive at the western entrance and see a humanoid figure in the distance.
Trevor peers at the figure!
Atajay casts Greater Magic Weapon on his bow, granting it an extra +3 enhancement bonus for the next 13 hours.
"I say we take our chances and approach the person. If they are here they are dangerous but they may have information to speed up the search."
The figure appears to be a malnourished but somehow proud Azlanti nobleman in bloodstained clothing with empty, scarred eye sockets and a body torn and bleeding from what appear to be self inflicted wounds. He bows to you but says nothing.
"Hi... um can you speak?" Penith squeaks from behind Senn's shoulder.
Trevor stands guard in case he attacks.
”Ah, hello there,” Domeric said, frowning as the man bowed. Could he see them despite having no eyes?
”You don’t seem too well...”
"We have water and food."
"And... um... conversation?? ... if you're lonely?"
"My name is Apetolinu, and conversation would be most welcome."
Please pardon me if I am rude, but have you aware of any new arrivals to this city? We track a man named Lowls.
"I'm afraid I have not see anyone else other than yourselves. I have survived only because oblivion has not yet won, and in that time I have seen empires rise, only to be crushed for the hubris of aspiring to be anything more than beasts. I shall remain until humanity learns to surpass these tragedies, yet even I know how it all must end."
Know. Planes
Atajay and Senn you recognise the creature as a broken soul. They have damage reduction. They are immune to electricity, poison and petrification and they have resistance to acid, cold and fire. They also have some spell like abilities
”Get ready to beat this thing down. It’s resistant or immune to most energy types.”
"Why are we beating it down, doesn't it just want to talk?" Penith looks at Atajay with confusion