** spoiler omitted **
The mysterious entity appears to be speaking truthfully...
"The number of the Singing Spheres is endless, child." The Spinner of Song cackles in a thoroughly unsettling manner before continuing. "Pray tell of which you would know more, and I shall unfold unto you its mysteries."
She appears, for the moment, to ignore the remainder of the Infinite Fool's queries.
"Excellent. Giralt, bring those here. Aeon Priest, is there anything that we should know before laying hands on these?"
The Aeon Priest appears surprised at the appearance of the large metal trunk,
"Ho there boy, where did you find that, and how on earth did you drag it out the window?"
"Maybe we should take a look inside?" suggested Cal.
"Maybe we should take a look inside?" suggested Cal.
"I concur wholeheartedly," echoes the Aeon Priest, "so who would like to do the honors?" he glances around at the motley assembly expectantly,
"Absolutely.", replies the Unfettered Prince, striding up to examine the book.
As the good prince examines the book, Cal will take the trunk and and try to open it.
Watches on with curiosity.
He decides to beginning communication with a common tongue. How do I know how to speak Common?
The human notices a naked elf walk down the beach toward him.
"Greetings", the elf said. "Do you live here?"
"Absolutely.", replies the Unfettered Prince, striding up to examine the book.
The book is enormous, almost the size of a small table, and much thicker. It is unclear how the little blonde boy carried it. The huge tome is covered in a thick red hide, and closed with an elaborate latticework or brace made of a yellow metal. In the middle of this elaborate binding is an unblinking eye which appears to be real.
As the good prince examines the book, Cal will take the trunk and and try to open it.
Cal is zapped.
Electrified Door CR 11
DESCRIPTION
Type mechanical and technological; Trigger touch (see text); Reset automatic (1 minute; see text)
INTERACT
Notice Perception DC 32; Disable Disable Device DC 29
EFFECT
10d8 electricity damage (Reflex DC 25 half) to anyone touching the door; typically an electrified door triggers only if a creature attempts to bypass or force the door; electrified doors connected to a generator have no charge limit, otherwise the trap has only enough energy to function once with no reset
"Well, that tingles." said Cal as electricity arcs over his arm.
Cal stared at the lock on the chest for a moment, looking for the thing that zapped him.
"Anyone good with picking locks? I think this thing is trapped, too."
"Well, that tingles." said Cal as electricity arcs over his arm.
Cal stared at the lock on the chest for a moment, looking for the thing that zapped him.
[dice=Perception]1d20+26
"Anyone good with picking locks? I think this thing is trapped, too."
The Unfettered Prince looks over the tome to get a better idea of what he is looking at.
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"Zap!" laughs the little blonde boy.
"Well, that tingles." said Cal as electricity arcs over his arm.
Cal stared at the lock on the chest for a moment, looking for the thing that zapped him.
[dice=Perception]1d20+26
"Anyone good with picking locks? I think this thing is trapped, too."
The Unfettered Prince breaks off his study of the tome to gaze at the chest.
"I have a little skill with trapfinding. Though I could assist another with more such talent."
The Unfettered Prince breaks off his study of the tome to gaze at the chest.
[dice=Perception to spot the shocking trap]1d20 + 20
"I have a little skill with trapfinding. Though I could assist another with more such talent."
** spoiler omitted **
The Unfettered Prince breaks off his study of the tome to gaze at the chest.
[dice=Perception to spot the shocking trap]1d20 + 20
"I have a little skill with trapfinding. Though I could assist another with more such talent."
** spoiler omitted **
The fey can see the device, but not how to disable it.
"There is it.", The Unfettered Prince says, tracing the shape of the trap mechanism in the air above it.
|
Intrigued by the new oddities, though those seem par for the course in this new world, the Nightmare Dragon kneels over the chest, tracing over the trap as pointed out by the Prince. He flicks a talon over it, then taps it twice. "I wonder what I used that skill for previously," he questions, stepping away from the chest.
Intrigued by the new oddities, though those seem par for the course in this new world, the Nightmare Dragon kneels over the chest, tracing over the trap as pointed out by the Prince. He flicks a talon over it, then taps it twice. "I wonder what I used that skill for previously," he questions, stepping away from the chest.
[dice=Perception-Trap]20+48+5
[dice=Disable Device-Trap]1d20+52-2
[dice=Disable Device-Lock]1d20+52-2
Arc deftly releases a series of ingeniously concealed levers which had heretofore firmly and resolutely sealed the heavy metal container. It opens with a satisfying metallic ringing which reverberates for several poignant moments through the slightly warm air of the Splinter World.
"I-I do not know you. Sorry." The naked elf apologized. "Perhaps you remember the sound of water, because you just came from it." The handsome elf pointed behind the dragon-man. "All I remember is the night sky. So perhaps I fell from the sky to be here. I do not know where we are."
"Journey south, my son, to the nine kingdoms disputatious kingdoms of the Steadfast, for there you must find a Golden Child who weaves the light of the heavens like silk upon a loom. Be sure, that the fate of all our spirits depends upon the success of your mission."
Those had been the enigmatic words uttered some few weeks past by Vaboir Nune, Chief Administrator of Aerathis, the greatest city of the nation of Lostrei, to Aerik Sult.
Aerik, as a member of the spy corps of the great metropolis of Aerathis known as the Pryian, was charged by the Chief Administrator with the duties necessary to safeguard the Great Indigo Woods of Lostrei.
These included duties that caused Aerik to leave his beloved home and travel to these benighted, spiritless regions to the south of Lostrei.
The countless tribes of this verdant territory who communed with the world's innumerable spirits via the teachings of their native animistic Gaian faith and the intercession of the constructs known as the amaed or "spirit tenders" were a blessed people, pursuing the ways of true peace and perfect knowledge.
However, this freedom was not without cost, for it had to be watched and defended resolutely -- thus the sometimes incomprehensible tasks with which the Pryian were charged by Chief Administrator Nune and his advisers.
However, the Chief Administrator had assured him that the enigmatic scholars of Aerathis known as the Jharain, "The Builders", had conferred with their amaed and held no doubt as to both the necessity and importance of this mission.
And so Aerik had spent several weeks traveling southwards, to the strange lands which lay below the Cloudcrystal Skyfields.
Doubtless, this 'Kingdom of Navarene' in which he currently found himself was a strange place. The native people were without amaed to guide them, and thoughtlessly heeded the words of petty anchorites known as Aeon Priests, representatives of an unseen potentate known as the Amber Pope who lived in a city far to the south known as Qi.
The inhabitants of the Steadfast were not free or equal, but ruled one over the other, and had no knowledge of the world or its spirits. On the one hand, Aerik pitied them and their sorry condition, but on the other he feared their blind hatred. During his weeks sojourning from town to town, he had learned that the people of the Steadfast hated and feared the people of Lostrei, who they believed, amazingly, and without any evidence, were planning an invasion of their territories. The apparent pretext of this unimaginable, but deeply held conviction, was the unquestioned word of the aforementioned Amber Pope.
Aerik could only shake his head in disbelief.
He had sought the guidance of the spirits, and they had brought him, the previous evening, to the small seaside town of Halfstar. There, he had taken up lodgings in the White Wyvern Inn, a stately local hostelry across the street from a strange building known as the Conjugatorium, which appeared to be a kind of town archives. Aerik had awoken to the noise of a disturbance across the street. From the window of his room, he could make out a strangely-dressed man and a child hovering by the door of the Conjugatorium. The boy dragged a large book and a heavy trunk to the door of the building, which were then received by motley collection of individuals just inside the entrance.
The Unfettered Prince looks over the tome to get a better idea of what he is looking at.
[dice=Perception to spot details]1d20 + 20
[dice=Spellcraft to note any magical auras]1d20 + 21
[dice=Use Magic Device on how best to approach this tome]1d20 + 26
[dice=Knowledge Arcana on the nature of this tome]1d20 + 19
[dice=Knowledge Nature on the hide and the eye]1d20 + 19
[dice=Knowledge Planes on possible origins]1d20 + 19
[dice=Knowledge Religion on deific involvement]1d20 + 19
[dice=Linguistics on any language patterns encoded on the surface]1d20 + 21
The metal latticework which sits atop the thick hide cover of the immense tome is shaped in intricate, angular patterns that appear to be purposeful. They look something like a maze or similarly confusing network of passages. Small details like notches, subtle depressions, and other, comparable marks suggest that it is a highly-ornamental representation of an artificial network.
They eye in the center of the front cover rests in a circular socket in the latticework. The eye appears to be genuinely organic and have its attention fixed firmly on the proceedings, the pupil veering back and forth to examine different elements of its environment.
Opening the tome requires a password uttered simultaneously in two different languages at the same time.
It also require the input of a specific combination of symbols into a small set of dials located below the eye. The register of the dials is a cylinder composed of several dozen tiers stacked one atop the other, each of which is inscribed on its periphery with about a dozen or so enigmatic symbols. Each of the tiers which comprise the cylinder can be turned independently to create different patterns along the outside surface as different symbols match up. Various intentional patterns are created by spinning the tiers.
The hide belongs to a Mujidavari.
The universe is an interesting place. It contains location of incredible beauty. But it’s also home to a predatory terror with a hideous countenance known as a mujidavar. Mujidavari were first encountered on an artificial world well beyond the reaches of Earth’s galaxy.
Somehow, some of these creatures have found their way to the Ninth World. Mujidavari are bipedal, scaly monstrosities with long tails. Where one might expect a head, a mujidavar has a squirming mass of tendrils and tiny mouths. Some of the tendrils end in bony blades, some in bulbous eyes, and a few in still more tiny mouths.
The eye is human or abhuman.
No god or god-like entity is responsible for the artifact -- it appears to be a highly advanced product of mortal manufacture.
The latticework and the hide appear to be inscribed with raised impressions that resemble braille. These provide clues to opening the book.
"I-I do not know you. Sorry." The naked elf apologized. "Perhaps you remember the sound of water, because you just came from it." The handsome elf pointed behind the dragon-man. "All I remember is the night sky. So perhaps I fell from the sky to be here. I do not know where we are."
Taendael Caliean and Gerran Bayl both see a small girl appear on the seashore and point at them, then make a surprised noise.
Under the circumstances, Aerik felt obliged to investigate the strange goings-on. The spirits had guided him here after all, and placed him in a position to observe these events on his very doorstep. It would be foolish indeed to ignore such promptings.
Slinging on his usual gear, Aerik made his way out of the building in a leisurely fashion, crossing the street to investigate the Conjugatorium and the motley crew within.
Of course, Aerik himself probably fit the definition of motley, given his mechanical nature, jade skin and cloak of colourful metallic feathers.
Under the circumstances, Aerik felt obliged to investigate the strange goings-on. The spirits had guided him here after all, and placed him in a position to observe these events on his very doorstep. It would be foolish indeed to ignore such promptings.
Slinging on his usual gear, Aerik made his way out of the building in a leisurely fashion, crossing the street to investigate the Conjugatorium and the motley crew within.
Of course, Aerik himself probably fit the definition of motley, given his mechanical nature, jade skin and cloak of colourful metallic feathers.
Aerik crosses the sole paved road of the Village of Halfstar in his approach to the odd building known as the Conjugatorium. This road is known by several names, including the Parade Progression and the Coastal Causeway. It is noteworthy in that it is a raised, monumental construction composed of thousands of interlocked blocks shaped like starfish. It rises several paces above its surroundings, and thus offers travelers a fair view of the settlement.
The Conjugatorium is a large building that is built in the shape of a 'T'. It is two stories tall, with the setting second level being composed of a tower that rises from the center of the building, at the junction of the two branches and stem of the 'T'.
A strangely dressed man and a small blonde boy stand at the main door, which lies at the end of the building's solitary stem.
Taendael Caliean and Gerran Bayl both see a small girl appear on the seashore and point at them, then make a surprised noise.
The unnamed elf's face lights up to see another being in the beach. Perhaps she will have some answers.
"Hello!" The naked elf waves at the little girl. "Do you live here? Can you tell us where we are?"
Once the chest clicks open, the Unfettered Prince sees it.
"I do not know how I know this but that is my spear!"
The horned figure reaches into the chest and withdraws a spear of an odd totemic design - and seemingly made entirely out of transparent glass.
""Striking Death. That is its name. If your weapons are of similar potency, then our foes may as well surrender on sight.", he says, the grin obvious from his tone.
Whether it is the presence of Striking Death, a nano-cloud, or the Prince's own mind reactivating them, his loincloth and helm both now register as magical to those with the sense to perceive such things.
Identify the properties of a magic item using detect magic.
The cheery figure turns back to the giant tome, spear still held loosely in his left hand.
"I have ascertained much about this oversized book. To open it will require two passwords in two separate languages uttered at once and a specific symbol combination through spinning a set of dials below the living eye. The tome itself is a ornamental image of an artificial network with clues to its opening hidden in the subtle raised impressions on the latticework and the Mujidavari hide. It is a mortal work, not divine."
The Unfettered Prince then attempts to read the impressions by touching them.
Taendael Caliean and Gerran Bayl both see a small girl appear on the seashore and point at them, then make a surprised noise.The unnamed elf's face lights up to see another being in the beach. Perhaps she will have some answers.
"Hello!" The naked elf waves at the little girl. "Do you live here? Can you tell us where we are?"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 23
The girl shrieks and runs away.
Once the chest clicks open, the Unfettered Prince sees it.
"I do not know how I know this but that is my spear!"
The horned figure reaches into the chest and withdraws a spear of an odd totemic design - and seemingly made entirely out of transparent glass.
""Striking Death. That is its name. If your weapons are of similar potency, then our foes may as well surrender on sight.", he says, the grin obvious from his tone.
Whether it is the presence of Striking Death, a nano-cloud, or the Prince's own mind reactivating them, his loincloth and helm both now register as magical to those with the sense to perceive such things.
** spoiler omitted **
The cheery figure turns back to the giant tome, spear still held loosely in his left hand.
"I have ascertained much about this oversized book. To open it will require two passwords in two separate languages uttered at once and a specific symbol combination through spinning a set of dials below the living eye. The tome itself is a ornamental image of an artificial network with clues to its opening hidden in the subtle raised impressions on the latticework and the Mujidavari hide. It is a mortal work, not divine."
The Unfettered Prince then attempts to read the impressions by touching them.
[dice=Perception, touch]1d20 + 20
[dice=Linguistics]1d20 + 21
Round One: Detects it does have a magical aura.
Nothing for Perception check.
"Let me take a look. It's possible I know one of the languages." Cal moves over and takes a peek at the book.
"Let me take a look. It's possible I know one of the languages." Cal moves over and takes a peek at the book.
Aerik opted for the direct approach, walking up to the pair and saying, in all seriousness, "Good morning. Is the Conjugatorium open to visitors?"
The Unfettered Prince maintains his gaze of the tome, seeking its secrets.
"Aeon Priest, Song Spinner, do you know the details of the life of Cigar Thane? According to the patterns, the dials all reference his life and deeds. His aliases, his birthplace, etcetera. Do ye know these?"
Aerik opted for the direct approach, walking up to the pair and saying, in all seriousness, "Good morning. Is the Conjugatorium open to visitors?"
A man with a broad-brimmed hat turns around to regard Aerik. The little blonde boy at his side similarly swivels in response to the stranger's sudden inquiry. Aerik can see beyond them that the door to the Conjugatorium opens upon a vast interior space which appears to be organic, and does not seem to align with the inner dimensions of the building.
"Well, after a manner of speaking I suppose, stranger, and who exactly is asking? I don't very well recognize your face, so you must have come to town recently, unless I am very much mistaken."
The Unfettered Prince maintains his gaze of the tome, seeking its secrets.
"Aeon Priest, Song Spinner, do you know the details of the life of Cigar Thane? According to the patterns, the dials all reference his life and deeds. His aliases, his birthplace, etcetera. Do ye know these?"
Brother Ismin is currently distracted by a conversation with a new stranger who has approached the door of the Conjugatorium.
The latter question will require the assistance of the Infinite Fool, who is the only being in the present company who has established communication with the mysterious entity known as the Spinner of Song who lies entombed in the floor of the Splinter World known as Kyoonsha'rah.
[dice=Linguistics if necessary]1d20+27
The markings indicate that the password and accompanying pattern or code entered into the spinning dials of the cylinder are connected with the life of Cigar Thane. You will need additional information about his life and deeds to uncover the correct information. The codes consist of information like his various alternative names, with a specific number of characters or ideograms indicated, the name of his birthplace, again with a set number of empty spaces available, and so forth. Perhaps Brother Ismin or the Song Spinner can provide the necessary information?
The Fool, still standing like a baliff of times ancient before the first civilization truly spanned the entire planet, considers what the Spinner of Songs has conveyed to him through their peculiar link. There is little -- practically no -- movement from him as he contemplates her words and phrasing, only the lazy mid-air movement of Sy'ad in front of him, facing him. Perhaps there is communication occurring between the two; it is difficult, if not outright impossible, to know for certain without knowing both of them very well indeed ...
"Planets, then," finally replies the Infinite Fool in his musical, gestural language, "and other such places of sophonts. No, Spinner, I have no need for knowledge of the infinite spheres upon, around, within which live the lives of uncounted others. I ... feel ... that I have been out there, and in there, for millenia beyond measure; knowledge of them is not something I seek.
"But you avoid the true question. You ask that I -- that we -- go hence, to reunite your riven mind with your entrapped body, and set you free. Tell me of your intentions, should such be accomplished, as you have been asked once before."
If you want, though, I can toss another die for Sense Motive:
The Fool, still standing like a baliff of times ancient before the first civilization truly spanned the entire planet, considers what the Spinner of Songs has conveyed to him through their peculiar link. There is little -- practically no -- movement from him as he contemplates her words and phrasing, only the lazy mid-air movement of Sy'ad in front of him, facing him. Perhaps there is communication occurring between the two; it is difficult, if not outright impossible, to know for certain without knowing both of them very well indeed ...
"Planets, then," finally replies the Infinite Fool in his musical, gestural language, "and other such places of sophonts. No, Spinner, I have no need for knowledge of the infinite spheres upon, around, within which live the lives of uncounted others. I ... feel ... that I have been out there, and in there, for millenia beyond measure; knowledge of them is not something I seek.
"But you avoid the true question. You ask that I -- that we -- go hence, to reunite your riven mind with your entrapped body, and set you free. Tell me of your intentions, should such be accomplished, as you have been asked once before."
** spoiler omitted **
The Infinite Fool fails to compel the mysterious entity to do his bidding, nor can he discern whether it is truthful or not in its communications with him.
The Fool, still standing like a baliff of times ancient before the first civilization truly spanned the entire planet, considers what the Spinner of Songs has conveyed to him through their peculiar link. There is little -- practically no -- movement from him as he contemplates her words and phrasing, only the lazy mid-air movement of Sy'ad in front of him, facing him. Perhaps there is communication occurring between the two; it is difficult, if not outright impossible, to know for certain without knowing both of them very well indeed ...
"Planets, then," finally replies the Infinite Fool in his musical, gestural language, "and other such places of sophonts. No, Spinner, I have no need for knowledge of the infinite spheres upon, around, within which live the lives of uncounted others. I ... feel ... that I have been out there, and in there, for millenia beyond measure; knowledge of them is not something I seek.
"But you avoid the true question. You ask that I -- that we -- go hence, to reunite your riven mind with your entrapped body, and set you free. Tell me of your intentions, should such be accomplished, as you have been asked once before."
** spoiler omitted **
::::To be happy and free, little one, as you are, and as I once was, many eons past, before the end of my world, and the beginning or yours.::::
The girl shrieks and runs away.
The Unnamed elf watched the little girl run away, and was beginning to get frustrated.
Speaking telepathically to the dragon-man, the pointy-eared stranger said, This is getting ridiculous. Looking up, two large butterfly wings sprout from the Unnamed Elf's shoulderblades. I will try to get a better vantage point. The butterfly winged humanoid jumped into the air and flew straight up about 100 ft. in the air.
"Twice I have asked, and twice you have avoided speaking plainly," speak/sings the dark-skinned man with the staff, lifting it, then striking the floor by his foot with the heel, once, then twice, then a third time. "Thrice I ask, and done, for your purposes beyond mere freedom and happiness. Are you one or many? Would your happiness be as an affliction upon others, a swarm that devours, or would you be peaceful, cooperative, or departing to vast distances?"
The Fool looks long at Sy'ad, then down at the form on the floor, the fluid gestures of his hand and arm becoming more angular, sharp, direct; the tones of his song, gone from inquiring to judging, are now iron and grim. "Understand that it is in my hand, not that of Cigar Thane Hadrama'aldramaan, that the future of your freedom now lies. You may continue to dissimulate if you wish; that may lead to more years of darkness and silence. But think on this -- you have also spoken of the atoll, the doorway to the forsaken corner of the Datasphere in which your consciousness is imprisoned ...
"... and where, entrapped, it might well be permanently destroyed. I have no need of the rewards you offer, of knowledge of previous worlds and this; should I wish such, I will find joy in the discovery, for more knowledge is gained during the journey than at the destination, and our fates and fires forged in thus. But the destruction of a horror and a torment is a journey worth traveling."
The others will see the Infinite Fool lift up the staff and roll it casually onto his shoulder, caught with absent competence right at the balance, seemingly at ease, but -- particularly to those with martial leanings -- primed to bring the staff into play with the slightest movement. "So. Going to answer the question?"
The Fool is not /meaning/ to bluff, intimidate, or be a diplomat, by the way -- he only has a +12 bonus in those -- he's just presenting what he sees as being the situation on the table, and the Spinner's options at hand, and the potential consequences of her choices. Here are rolls if you think they're necessary, but I personally don't --- the Fool is not meaning/trying to bluff or intimidate her, just tell her what's what.