7-1 Between the Lines (Inactive)

Game Master GM Sapphire Fox

Ram hesitates but follows closely behind Dhovak stepping into the room, drawing his scimitar.
"Nothing good Cordon- surely Wulessa is in one of these rooms"

As the door opens, a familiar bell tinkles overhead, letting Palhuna Murqual know that his shop has visitors once more. The setting has changed subtly since earlier; while the shop’s layout remains the same, the wares previously displayed in cases and on the walls are missing. In their places are keys of all shapes, sizes, and construction.

"Murqual's Shop?....why would we 'ave been bought 'ere?" states cordon with a confused look on his face.

Cordon then sniffs the air a bit.

"Bah, it even has that same musty smell"

He then walks over and picks up one of the keys on the walls and looks it over quizically.

I didn't like being here the first time. Being here in this ghosty world doesn't seem to have improved it any. Benny says looking rather defeated.

I just want to get back to the real world.

Ram immediately grits his teeth, grinding on a clove; "By the Ruby Prince, is Murqual behind this? His odour permeates everything... " He pushes into the room looking for the merchant, his sword seeking a pound of flesh.

"This room has changed... we are still in the Archive arent we?" Ram will search the room looking for answers and a way out.
perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

”It would appear that way,” Dhovahk responds. ”Perhaps this is a reflection of someone’s perspective - that the key to something was in Murqual’s shop?” He walks through the shop and heads for the curtain separating the shop from the back room.

" Yeah, I don't think Murqual could be behind this...as much as he is a snake, I would bet my formula book he don't hav the talent or knowledge to do this."

Then whilst still inspecting various keys he shouts out "Wulessa...can you hear me...are you still with us!!!?"

"Murqual are you here? I shall have words with you and you will taste my blade if I find you are behind this."

the back curtains stir and Palhuna Murqual comes forth, smiling unctuously. Those who watch the shopkeeper see that he is not quite right. His form flickers, almost imperceptibly, and he tends to “jump” from one location to another when not observed directly.

speaking in pantomimes he informs that he has the ability to let them peacefully exit the mindscape, (as he produces a golden key, and gestures to a door that wasn't there before) in return he wants you to give up on rescuing Wulessa (ram notices he is in possession of a scroll, upon it is a clear drawing of Wulessa's face) he holds the key out, making a haughty "give me" gesture with his other hand

”I’m afraid we can’t do that,” Dhovahk replies sternly. ”All of us will be leaving here together. Your use of Murqual’s appearance will not avail you here.”

"yeeaaah, thats definately not gonna happen." says Cordon with a squinty look on his face.

"surely there must be somethin else you want?"
Then clearly Cordon has a 'lightbulb' moment.

"Perhaps we can get you the real Murqual in her place. I'm sure his experience with strange and wonderful artifacts would make a fine addition to your archive."

When Murqual appears Ram is initially surprised, then his face darkens and he burns with anger. "By the Ruby Prince, I will have your head. You have doomed us to this place..."

Scimitar outstretched he pauses as the creature in front of them flickers and glitches.
"What sorcery is this?"

He quietens down to hear reason from his compatriots;
"Whatever it is that has taken Murqual's face does not understand how much he is despised. There will be no contract here. You will return the Captain or face our wrath for keeping her imprisoned here."

Murqual exasperatedly throws his hands up, and both he and the door disappear.

When Murqual vanishes, The facsimile of Murqual’s shop shimmers like a heat mirage, transforming into the familiar meeting room in Farseer Tower.
Familiar, at least, in shape. The furnishings are different, more resembling a grandmother’s cozy tea room than the stark, studious place where this journey began. Intricately brocaded settees and poufs clutter the room, while elaborate tapestries cover almost every inch of the walls. One of these, a floorlength cerulean silk curtain, is embroidered with a portrait of Wulessa Yuul. Her arms are folded across her chest, and a look
of distaste resides upon her face.

After a moment, Wulessa turns within the hanging and speaks to the group.

“When I first became Venture-Captain and took charge of Farseer Tower, this was how the place looked. The whole tower. My predecessor was more concerned with frippery and luxuries than with hard-won knowledge and diligence. If this becomes my final view of the tower, it might be the greatest indignity of all.”

She shakes her head and addresses everyone directly.

“I think you are close to the end. I can feel the archivist pausing its work with me to face you directly. The shadows you fought before now were a reflexive response, like sweeping cobwebs from one’s face. Now I think you have its full attention. I don’t think it can appear directly. Its essence is split across all the archive’s scrolls, but whatever form it takes will have considerably more power than the things you’ve fought before now.”

Ram has gotten used to the changing room and barely blinks as Murqual fades from view.

"As much as it pains to see that the image before us was not really the accursed merchant, at the very least we begin to see the true mind behind this place. We will see you free, Wulessa."

Ram grits his teeth, spitting his next words.
any more gritting of teeth and he'll shatter them XD

"Show yourself, Archivist. We shall dispense with words and you will taste my blade- for all the trouble you have put us through"

As Wulessa describes the archivists intentions, a stern look comes across cordon's face.

"Alrite then, this beasty wants ta play...then let's play. "

He then takes a vial from his belt containing a fluro-green liquid. Uncorks and drinks it.

Moments later, Cordon wreaths over, apparently in pain, as his skin seems to bulge and thicken, his face taking on a slight bestial look.

The pain seems to last only a few seconds before he stands tall again, but something is different, his eyes now have the look of a madman.

"Time to unleash the flame " he says with a disturbing laugh and holding a alchemist's fire menacingly.

GM, Cordon is now under the effects of a Dexterity Mutagen for 10 mins. Please advise when that time has run out

Wulessa grabs hold of either side of the wall hanging she inhabits and pulls. The hanging opens like a door, opening back to the primal layer corridor.

The passage opens upon a tunnel to oblivion. The smooth glass walls stretch fifty or sixty feet, ending abruptly in a maw open to the void. The crystalline structure floating in the void’s heart somehow hovers mere feet away from the tunnel’s end. From this close, it resembles a torus of jagged crystals, slowly revolving around a core of flashing light and mist.

"Wonders upon wonders. What is that thing?"
Ram puts a foot over the threshold of the glass tunnel, testing the integrity of the mindscape. Then, looking back at his companions he pushes forward toward the void.

Can I roll a knowledge check to identify the crystal?

”Perhaps it is the Archivist of this place? If so, it would appear it has forgotten its previous form. Or perhaps it was formed from this place and not a person’s soul at all?” Dhovahk wonders around at the sight of the crystalline structure. Uttering a brief prayer to the souls kept here, he studies the strangeness before him.

Casting detect magic.

Cordon follows Ram into the passage, still holding his vials in case anything should attack.

" We've seen it everywhere in this place. I reckon its whats holdin' this mindscape together. Maybe is we destroy it, then the mindscape will Collapse and release us.

"Is... it some sort of egg?"
At the silence of the thing, Ram will prod it with his scimitar.

as you gaze upon the crystals, you see that facing you is a reflection of yourself, it is only one being but you all see yourself staring back at you, looking like it is going to charge and swing at you, like it has malicious intent

En garde, you handsome reflection! Benny says as he pulls out his rapier ready for something more normal to happen.

Ram peers at the folding colours, then suddenly recoiling in anger as he recognises his own face looking back; "What sorcery is this?"

Ram lashes out in anger at the thought of his own mind being trapped here with Wulessa.
He'll swing his scimitar at the crystalline shape.
attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"So archivist, this is the form you take. We are to fight ourselves...So be it "

Ram Will: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 2 = 16

Ram, you will notice when you swing the creature isn't yourself, its more
of a ball of crystals with 8 limbs (4 legs and 4 arms) but you do miss on the attack

Ram looks in disbelief as his blade bounces off the creature forming in front of him. He glances back at Cordon, eyes widening.

"What manner of creature is this?"
missed on an 18- oh boy this is going to be tough

Seeing Ram swing at the creature and miss, Cordon draws a vial form his bandolier and drinks it. The row of vials containing clear liquids on his belt glow for a moment before returning to their previous state.

Drinking Extract of Targeted Bomb Admixture

He then draws another vial, this one pale yellow in colour and drinks it. Moments later the Bestial Alchemist begins to shrink.

Drinking Extract of reduce Person. If we are meant to be in initiative order after Ram Attacked then I will do this second one as my next turn

"Ram...hit it again."

That is a good question - are we in initiative?

"Remember, this Archivist's tale is finished," Dhovak councils as he raises his hands. "Your tales are only beginning. Let the rain wash away your fears and leave you with clear minds!" A burst like the echo of a thunderclap fills the air for a second.

Casting bless.

If we're in init then I'll attack again, but I'll roll once everyone else has had their turn