Putting their big brains together, Jaya and Kallie quickly conclude that Ninuron is a young adult time dragon. Time dragons are typically classified as part of the Outer dragon family, meaning that they're natives of the Black Tapestry or even the planar cosmos beyond. As Galatea discovered last night, they're not naturally inclined towards evil and cruelty like their Chromatic cousins, but they aren't known to be altruistic and naturally good-natured like their Metallic relatives.
Time dragons are immortal beings who fancy themselves as the guardians of time; they take it upon themselves to protect the natural temporal order of the universe from outside disturbances. Instead of finding them absolutely frightening like other dragons, people are known to become extremely weirded out by the presence of time dragons. Time dragons can breathe lightning, and they are known to have some ability to influence and even manipulate time itself. However, Ninuron isn't old enough to have such power beyond a heightened sense of initiation. Kallie and Jaya estimate that he's probably only able to cast second tier spells.
"Alright, so Ninuron probably isn't responsible for... this," Galatea remarks, gesturing to the world of frozen time all around you. [b]"That said, I've got a hunch that he might know why time is acting all... goofy."
"Hmmmm, and why we still seem to be unaffected by it. Apart from because we're awesome, that is."
Turning to her better read companions, she asks, "Do we know anything about what Time Dragons like, or dislike? I'm kinda tempted at this point to just holler that we'd like to talk...but I guess with dragons maybe it's best to have a plan in order?"
"What concerns me is that this is the second chronally focused entity with which we have had dealings. This one at least has presumably not frozen time to attempt some sort of assassination like the Time Flayer that interfered in our battle with Erigantus.
"It expected us to impinge on its duties, and that understanding does seem to be increasingly correct."
Kallie shakes her head slowly as she frowns. "Why?" she says in response to Croq's idea about calling out to the time dragon. "It'll probably blame us, or at least think we have something to do with this time warp. Which it might be right; if our parents and mentors got wiped from existence, we're a living paradox. Even if the dragon won't attack immediately, or demand tribute in exchange for our lives, it'll want something."
She starts moving towards the library. "We've wasted enough time already -- and I'm aware of the irony of that statement. The frozen time can get us access to the library without us having to talk our way in. Let's go."
"Ummm, because meeting a TIME DRAGON sounds EPIC? Have any of yall ever met a dragon at all?? Other than that simulacrum Eugeni kept around?" Croq glances longingly at the place it had disappeared from.
"...But I guess you're right. We've got important work to do, and it might be an extra risk." The scaly skald looks a little crestfallen as she agrees.
Jaya looks dubious. "Understanding what's going on here is critical, and it's likely that the dragon will have useful knowledge, or at the least a unique perspective on such events. I think we should treat with him. And yes, it would be epic."
"I'm cool with talking to him. He doesn't seem that old? If things go south we could probably take him?"
With your course of action decided, you venture forth to the front gates of Jorgenfist. According to Galatea, they would normally be manned by either the Black Arrows or the Silver Sentinels, though the Pathfinder Society sometimes helps out as well. However, you find the entranceway completely empty and completely unguarded. Thankfully, the gates are opened enough for everyone to slip inside, though Cheshire has to squeeze a bit.
While searching around for the entrance to the library, Ninuron suddenly materializes from thin air in the western courtyard.
"I see," he says, his voice a light bur rumbling baritone. "This place you seek? Perhaps it is the one I lost."
He starts stepping backwards, towards what appears to have been a mess hall built to accommodate giants.
Galatea tilts her head in confusion, a little confused by this... greeting?
"Did anyone just talk to him telepathically?" she asks in a whisper.
"He's a time dragon. This might not be our first meeting in his chronology," Kallie whispers back.
She clears her throat and doesn't appear cowed by the dragon. "Hey, Ninuron. Good to see you (again?). You just appeared to us, so this is where we first met. Probably. Well, it is to us linear beings. A lost place, huh? As impolite as it might be for us asking you to repeat yourself, could you?"
"Hello, Ninuron, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Croq. We can tell you what it is we seek, if you'd like. And if there's a thing you've lost, perhaps we can help?"
Upon hearing Kallie's question, Ninuron tilts his large head to the side but ultimately nods in understanding and humors the inquiry.
"My home-"
And then, all of sudden, the time dragon vanishes without a trace! A moment later, you hear noise coming from a spire in the middle of the fortress, one due east of the gate. To your surprise, you see Ninuron emerging from a sizable opening in said spire. He seems quite happy to see you.
"At last, you have arrived. I have been waiting for you," Ninuron says in greeting.
The big purple dragon flies over and perches atop what appears to have been a stable, one that has clearly seen better days.
"...I think we just jumped to the start of the conversation? Maybe we should try introducing ourselves again?" Galatea suggests.
This could get old fast, and I don't mean the timeline, Kallie thinks. Still, she smiles. "Yes! Glad to meet you, Ninuron. Your, um, reputation precedes you."
Before Ninuron can answer Kallie's greeting, he vanishes. During the brief lull that follows, Croq quietly discloses that the time dragon is just as confused by what's happening as you likely are. This odd occurrence leaves Galatea visibly anxious, so before Ninuron reappears, in an effort to calm herself, Gali casts a personal spell of some kind.
When Ninuron finally rematerializes, he's perched upon one of the ruined buildings just outside the fortress' courtyard.
"Are you here to help me perhaps?" the time dragon asks before taking flight. Despite his large size, he proves to be quite quick in the air. A few seconds later, he lands atop the front gate and continues, his tone noticeably more tense, "Or, maybe, the reason I remember you is because you're-"
"Please calm down," Galatea interrupts coolly. "We have nothing to do with this."
Surprisingly, Gali manages to make Ninuron back off. Perhaps a bit too literally as he disappears again. When he reappears, the time dragon is back atop the stable like nothing just happened.
"Well met. I believe your name is... Kallie?" Ninuron says. He looks at each one of you before speaking again. "I have dreamt about this meeting. However, I am not certain what brought us here, nor why our dialogue feels so... chaotic."
"Yes!" Kallie confirms her name. "But you don't know why it's chaotic? Is nonlinear progression of chronological events not a normal thing to you?"
"If it's not, maybe it has something to do with the fact that certain impactful beings have disappeared from our memories. I'm rather worried that it is time-related. And the fact that we encountered a time-freezing outsider a short while ago." She was speculating, she knew, but couldn't do much else.
She pauses, thinks, and adds, "Maybe we should write all this down and pass notes?"
"Good idea," Gali remarks as she fetches her journal and writing implements. Once she has them ready to go, she looks at Ninuron and offers a gentle smile. "Ninuron, I can only imagine how disorienting all this must be for you, but truly, we mean no harm. We just want to talk."
Ninuron nods, placated by all the olive branches you've offered him. He then turns his attention back to Kallie and answers her questions.
"This is quite abnormal, Kallie. While my kind does not experience time quite as linearly as you do, jumps like this are extremely atypical," Ninuron says. As if on cue, he vanishes once more, reappearing atop the front gate yet again. Naturally, this leaves him a little grumpy, but your 'previous' interactions with the time dragon are enough to keep him calm.
"A time-freezing outsider, you say? What did this individual look like?" Ninuron asks, quite intrigued. "As for the cause of this, I have an idea, at least for the immediate area. I sense an anomaly. A human generation ago, the former master of this fortress was slayed by a group of great heroes, and yet, he still lives, lurking down below. And I do not believe that he is undead."
Kallie rubs her temple in distress as it seemed like her parents and mentors' actions were being undone. She mentally forms the image of Ryli and holds onto it, suddenly afraid that she, too might fade away.
"Mokmurian is back?!?" she finally asks.
"Presumably, Mokmurian's return is part and parcel of the anomaly if not its cause. Doubtless it has already warped the weave of your own timeline, Ninuron."
Jaya's words give Ninuron pause.
"I believe that you are correct... Jaya if I am not mistaken?" the time dragon replies. And just like that, seemingly through this revelation alone, Ninuron's very presence appears to become more... stable? Tangible? Whatever the case, this helps him visibly relax before he resumes speaking.
"I do not believe I am a native of the Material Plane. However, I do not remember where I am from or how I got here. I have been seeking answers, and after much searching, I was drawn to Jorgenfist for two reasons," Ninuron says. "The first was its great library; I hoped to consult its records for answers. Unfortunately, I found it too heavily guarded to be accessible. Still, I stayed for another reason. My dreams indicated that you could help me."
Ninuron looks at each of you before continuing.
"I would like your help in dealing with this anomaly. I believe doing so will stabilize the local timestream and help me find the answers I seek," he says. "In exchange for your assistance, I will give you the entirety of my treasure hoard."
"...Your entire treasure hoard?" Galatea says, a bit startled by the offer.
Ninuron nods, completely serious.
"You...dreamed about us?" Croq's crocodilian cheeks flush with pride.
A DRAGON dreamed about ME helping them!!!
...Oh, and a DRAGON'S HORDE doesn't sound so bad either!
Finding her footing, Croq declares, "Then your dreams will be fulfilled! We need to access the library as well so we can work together. It would be good to hear everything you know about what's the matter with time from your perspective, and what you found inside Jorgenfist.
"There's something BIG going on. Maybe related to one or more Runelord trying to return to power. Some of our family were working to stop them and then...then suddenly they were gone, and no one but us seems to remember they even existed, like they were erased from time!
"Do you remember knowing about Shalelu Andosana? Or Zoli Tileani, Jeevika Kailani the Treeslayer, Sir Gianluca the Honeyed, or Archmage Eugeni Silva?"
...Only, as she opens her mouth to say their names, she remembers that even she can't remember them any more, and ends up just saying, "Do you remember knowing anything about...the Sihedron Heroes?"
Kallie's mouth makes a familiar twist as she considers the dragon's offer. She couldn't think of a story wherein a dragon promised to give up its hoard. Maybe a trinket or two, but never the entire hoard. Kallie wondered if this meant Ninuron was truly desperate, or planning on betraying them once it has what it wants.
She glances over at Croquelle's wide-eyed amazement at the dragon's flattery while she tamps down an urge to see how the dragon could resist an augmented charm monster spell. She inwardly forces aside that temptation. Maybe later, she thinks, when it's time for the dragon to cough up its hoard.
"Excuse me," Kallie says, holding up a finger. "Exactly how is the library guarded?"
...Only, as she opens her mouth to say their names, she remembers that even she can't remember them any more, and ends up just saying, "Do you remember knowing anything about...the Sihedron Heroes?"
Ninuron takes a moment to consider Croq's question.
"I remember that one of them is what my kind calls a time crux, individuals whose actions heavily impact history itself. Aroden is a good example of one; without him, this planet's present would be unrecognizable," he finally says. "As for the rest of them, to my senses, it is like they have been removed from the timestream entirely."
"Excuse me," Kallie says, holding up a finger. "Exactly how is the library guarded?"
"Normally, by a number of different groups and individuals. I have seen people adorned in distinctive silver armor or dressed in gear with the emblem some of you are wearing now," Ninuron answers. "There are others, but those are the two groups who focus the most on guarding the fortress."
"That would probably be the Silver Sentinels and Black Arrows respectively," Galatea interjects.
The time dragon nods before continuing.
"However, once this anomaly arose, they vanished. When I went to investigate, I was ambushed by a powerful clockwork construct," Ninuron recalls. "As for other possible hazards, the temporal echo of this... Mokmurian is almost certainly dangerous. I also heard loud, menacing, canine-like howls, but I retreated before I encountered their source."
"Sounds like we might find our answers inside then," Aurealia concludes.
Croc frowns at the mention of the Black Arrows disappearing. "I don't really like the sound of the Arrows 'vanishing'...but you're right as ever, sib. Let's head on in. I'm sure it's nothing that Drumstick can't sort out."
"Great. Constructs," Kallie mutters as she follows the Andosana siblings.
"Master Silva... Our master did always warn against relying too heavily on a single avenue of attack..."
"Kallie, do you want me to lend you one of my throwing clubs?"
Kallie gives Jaya a caustic smile. Then she turns to Croquelle, the corner of her nose crinkling into a sneer. "Are they adamantine?"
Ninuron is quite pleased to hear that you will assist him. He briefly takes to the air before finally landing next to the large, gaping pit in the center of the fortress' courtyard. There, you see a set of stairs carved from stone that descend downwards into said pit.
"Follow me please," Ninuron says, gesturing with a large paw for you to follow him. For the next several minutes, the time dragon leads you down the stone stairway and into the natural caverns down below Jorgenfist where Mokmurian once resided. As you travel, you sense a... disturbance in the atmosphere and the very stone foundations surrounding you.
By the time you finally reach the entranceway to the Therassic Library, you see the room flicker. One moment, the area and its furnishings look utterly pristine. The next, everything is in ruins and covered in dust. Galatea suddenly tenses, and following her gaze, you see a person who appears to be her late sister Setsuna studying the area. The long lost Kailani sister turns around and stares in confusion at you for a long moment before suddenly flickering out of existence.
"A temporal echo," Ninuron explains. "You will likely see more of them as we traverse this place."
Kallie's eyes go wide and for a moment she is entranced by the echo. When it fades, the centaur wizard shakes her tail and grips her whip tighter. She avoids looking in Gali's direction, instead staying alert for actual threats and not the existential ones.
"Weird! Maybe we grab hands and enter together. I don't want to end up somewhen else from yall in this freaky timestream."
Assuming no objections, once folks are linked up Croq leads the chain quickly in.
Staying close together, you proceed forward with Croq leading the way. Unworked rock gradually gives way to a smooth and polished stone corridor, but every so often, your surroundings shift back to unworked rock or ruins. As you reach the end of the hallway, you see another flight of stairs going downwards.
"Down those stairs is where I was ambushed by the construct," Ninuron says. With that in mind, he takes a moment to cast what you all have come to recognize as the Mage Armor spell on himself. Ninuron then closes his eyes and listens intently.
"I can faintly hear the sounds of clockwork down there," says the time dragon. "However, I cannot discern how many foes we might be facing."
"It sounds like two sets of clockwork," Kallie says with confidence. "One has a distinct ratchet at three-fourths intervals that the other lacks."
Croq gives Kallie a thumbs up. She uses her rod while wailing out Good Hope for everyone and then Mirror Images on herself.
Jaya smiles gratefully and adds another layer of abjurations. "I have no ear for such things."
Kallie snaps her fingers and a suit of force armor appears around her.
When they move forward, she tries to identify the clockwork creations.
Aurealia casts shield on herself, and haste on the group before following after the others with her polearm ready.
After some careful consideration, Galatea cast a couple of wards on Cheshire and then vanishes from sight.
With your preparations made, you carefully advance into the room beyond. There, you spot multiple ghostly figures occupying the chamber. Some of them appear to be giving lectures of some sort while the others listen intently. However, the only sounds you hear are the faint ticks and tocks of clockwork.
You quickly spot the source. Near the exit, you spot a pair of clockwork constructs standing at attention. They aren't much larger than Croq or Galatea, which makes you wonder how a huge dragon like Ninuron had difficulty fighting one. However, that question probably answers itself when you watch just how quickly they spring to life! Aurealia barely has time to cast her Haste spell before the clockwork duo is upon you.
Despite Ninuron's protective ward and thick purple scales, one construct's rapier easily slices through his defenses. The time dragon lets out a pained growl, and sparks of electricity erupt from his large maw. Similarly, the second construct easily slices into an unarmored part of Croq's arm. Based on the swiftness and the finesse of their strikes, you suspect that Ninuron would have faced death by a few dozen cuts if he hadn't ultimately retreated.
You watch in awe as Ninuron promptly tears into the construct that just wounded him. He quickly proves why dragons are widely feared throughout Golarion as he unleashes a barrage of mighty strikes that would likely kill anyone in your group in mere seconds. However, between the construct's sturdy armor and nimble dodging, Ninuron's attacks only leave his foe moderately damaged, and this is only with the help of the Andosana Siblings' buffs.
You hear Galatea's disembodied voice cast a spell. Whatever it is, it creates a cloudy vapor around Cheshire’s claws and teeth, which appears to make her strikes more accurate. Nonetheless, the construct dodges her claw swings, and Cheshire's bite barely scratches its armor.
"Aw, hell," Kallie mutters when she recognizes the type of clockwork they're dealing with. "Assassins. Electricity will hurt them bad, but they're agile enough to completely evade spells like lightning bolt. I don't even think I'm going to waste the spells. They repair themselves constantly, and it'll take adamantine weapons to do full damage. Can anyone summon a lightning elemental?"
She snaps her fingers. "They're not intelligent. Maybe if you'll all fall back, I can put an illusion of a box around them and that'll fool them?"
"What, fall back? I saw we just concentrate on one til it's in pieces, and then go for the next!
"I agree though, save your spells. Given our luck, I'm sure this won't be the last challenge we face today."
"Hells. They are fast..."
Jaya shrugs nonchalantly, but her teeth are fastened on her lower lip while she thinks. "I suppose there are a few options, but if they're fast enough to make my spells chancy, and their minds can't be confused, baffle their senses."
Hovering above Kallie, she casts an arc of mica down the stairs, and an answering shimmer of dust erupts into blazing light in the faces of the assassins.
Aurealia tries to trip the damaged construct, lashing out at its leg with her polearm.
Greater trip
Greater trip
Greater trip
Aurealia fumbles badly, twice, nearly dropping her horsechopper. Then thanks to the power of haste she finally manages a decent attempt.
Spirits of the Rodericks attack 1/round at (+6 to hit, 1d4+2 negative energy damage)
Kallie watches close to see if the melee members of the party are able to send their first target to the scrap heap. If it's nearly done, she fires off a barrage of magic missiles to finish the job.
Drumstick bounces off the sturdy armor of Croq's intended target. Aurealia then tries to trip the same clockwork assassin, but it proves to be much too agile. Thankfully, Jaya's Glitterdust does blind its sensors, though its companion is left unfazed by the same magic. Seeing this, Kallie decides to hold her spell for the time being.
As Kallie said earlier, the damage dealt to the clockwork assassin begins to vanish as the constructs' extensive repair systems kick in. The duo then focuses a flurry of attacks on Ninuron and Cheshire, the two biggest threats before them. Both dragon and tigress growl in pain as a single slash lands on them, but otherwise, their defenses hold up quite well. More importantly, the sensors of the northern clock assassin are still blinded when it's all said and done.
Ninuron embraces the limitless power of Croq and Roll and continues attacking the damaged clockwork assassin. With its sensors blinded, it stands no chance as the mighty time dragon latches onto it with his massive maw and tears it to pieces with his razor-sharp claws and teeth. After throwing its broken remains to the side, Ninuron steps forward and then bashes the remaining construct with his tail and wings, landing two solid hits in total.
Boosted by another spell from Galatea and the limitless power of Croq and Roll, Cheshire finally manages to land multiple strikes against the surviving clockwork assassin. Even factoring in her foe's resilient defenses, Cheshire's claws and teeth inflict serious damage this time. Still, the clockwork construct seems prepared to fight to the death, even if it is likely to meet its end very soon.
Croq swings drumstick with all of her strength...but with perhaps less than ideal attention to her aim.
Aurealia continues to whirl her polearm, leaping and striking with alternating ends, attempting to knock the construct to the floor once more.
Croq lands a single, solid hit with Drumstick, disorienting the remaining construct and letting Aurealia finally trip it. With her foe prone, Aurealia easily scores multiple hits against it. Ninuron then seizes the chance to end the fight by crushing the clockwork assassin with his massive maw.
"...You handled yourself quite well, Ninuron," Galatea remarks, more than a little stunned by the might displayed by the time dragon.
While he seems pleased with the praise, Ninuron nonetheless chuckles warmly.
"The knowledge, magical assistance, and melee support you and your friends provided were invaluable, Galatea," Ninuron insists. "It would have been a much more difficult, perhaps even deadly fight otherwise."
Searching the clockwork assassins yields only a pair of masterwork rapiers, which Galatea quickly tucks away in the group's larger Bag of Holding. Otherwise, the room is essentially empty. The only thing of interest left is the door along the western wall.
"Those were the advanced models developed right before Earthfall. Hard to say if they're relics that survived the millennia since, or if they were brought forward in time." Kallie falls into a lecturing tone, hoping that her memory of the lesson on clockworks would recall her instructor.
"Anyway, they're scrap now and we're functioning. Next room, everyone?"