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Strang approaches the basin curiously, more interested in the stones than most.
He doesn't touch one at first, instead taking a moment to study them.
Once he's done so, he plucks one out of the bowl, and tries to examine it some more, before realizing that is hard to do when all he sees is shadows.
He turns his divinatory sight to examine the room for a moment, then follows the rest.
Each of the agents go to grab a stone. Before Strange has a chance to examine the stone, a hidden enemy attacks him from behind. The sting of steel shocks Dr Strang.
At the sound of Dr Strang in distress, everyone turns around and sees a half-orc standing in the dim light. His form blending with the shadows.
To Act
Boswick
Dr Strang
Theodric
Voros
LT
On Deck
GM
Lavode
Woaltog 113/113
Shadow 56/56
Do not think haste is up yet.
Theodric moves over and delivers a massive over head chop to the half-orc. It cleaves the figure in half, both sides slink to the ground and separate.
Dr Strang recalls knowledge about the stone.
This magical stone is carved into the likeness of a featureless humanoid curled into a fetal position. Its widened eyes stare hauntingly and glow with eerie paleness when activated. The stone serves as a receptacle for a single soul. A living creature may set a condition or set of conditions that draw its soul into the eraminho stone; if the creature is alive when this occurs, its body and all its equipment are drawn into the stone as well. While within the ioun stone, the soul may communicate telepathically with any creature using the ioun stone. In addition to the conditions needed to draw the soul into the stone, conditions may be set to release it, either with its body (if alive) or to the Boneyard (if dead).
In the center of this small circular chamber rises a pillar of pale white ether. Within the column twist the ghostly forms of thousands of silently screaming angels.
The northern room Theo can peek into.
This room serves as an observatory for guests. Facing north, its broad windows allow viewers a stunning view of Absalom and the surrounding isle. The walls are decorated with framed maps of the Inner Sea, sky charts, and various instruments of astronomy and navigation. Three dead Pathfinders lie strewn across the furniture, their throats slashed and their equipment stripped.
Theo can also sees a closed door to the south and then a long corridor that wraps around, following the curvature of the building. However, he is too large in his current state to get through. He believes he can see a door frame though.
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Strang eyes the lone attack with some confusion, his earlier protective spell soaking up all the damage from the blade.
"So how did this fellow get up here?" He muses. "Certainly not the sort of place one would expect to get ambushed."
He holds up the ioun stone, and tries to see if he can communicate with the spirit residing therein.
"Interesting creations these." He offers absently to the others. "Each contains a spirit of some sort. Not necessarily a deceased one either. One that should be able to communicate with the person holding it. And one we could draw out, should we have a need. Though I'm unsure what process was set to do so in these cases."
He starts to ponder the utility of the things, and what would go into their creations. "Some sort of modified Soul Trap spell, I imagine... Would be helpful far beyond just keeping a source of knowledge, from moving on to the Boneyard, but could have applications for interrogation, incarceration, transportation. Fascinating!"
Eventually, he trails after the others, renewing his protective barrier before he does, but still occasionally getting whatever soul is inside his stone to communicate.
At the column with screaming angels, he studies the artwork thoughtfully. "Certainly not for all tastes, for sure. But it could simply be tacky art, not actual souls..."
His tone indicates he's not entirely convinced, and he takes a moment to study it using the usual divine detection and appropriate knowledge skills.
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Of course, as hey come into the observation room, he finally finds something to distract him from his efforts with the ioun stone.
"Oh dear." He immediately goes to check on the bodies, trying to determine time and method of death, or other information that might prove helpful.
"Adril continues to add to his body count, it would seem." He observes with a slight frown. "Though this does not appear the work of a single person, so perhaps he brought allies here as well."
Dr Strang in his expert analysis know that these bodies are only a few hours old. Cause of death is obviously the grievous wounds to their necks.
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"Oh my!" Strang says suddenly, as the second voice suddenly speaks in his head.
"You can sense your surroundings?" He muses aloud, surprised by that. "That is unexpected. Far more than a repository of knowledge then. I shall add espionage, spycraft, and infiltration, to my list of useful applications."
"How do you know Adril?" He asks, "And how many did he come with?"
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Strang frowns slightly, puzzled, though he stops trying to talk to the ioun stone... at least out loud. You ocassionaly note him glancing towards it, and pausing distractedly.
He will also ask who the spirit is? Or was.
<<Where is Shemis now? That we can offer aid.>> He adds.
"I am but a servant, here to grant you access into the tower. Shemis is in danger and Adril is close. "
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Seeing that Dr Strang is apparently having a conversation with his stone, Lavode attempts the same.
<<My name, at this time, is Lavode de'Morcaine. How would you prefer to be addressed? How long have you been in this vessel? Are you in there by choice? What can you perceive in you surroundings? As far as you know, who was the last person through this area?>>
After examining the grisly column of tortured angels, Lavode looks through the opening to the right.
Lavode looks into the Nexian ballroom. One of the many ballrooms within Skyreach, this room carries the distinction of serving as the only ballroom within the Decemvirate’s inner sanctuary. All of the room’s furnishing are magically fabricated or pure illusion, and the chamber’s appearance changes regularly. Currently, it is prepared for an upcoming event entitled “The Masquerade of Hideousness.” Its nauseatingly gaudy decor includes thick, violet carpeting and glass tables set upon white marble bases carved to resemble pyramids. The room is walled with crushed gold-leaf panels set in ebon-lacquered walnut frames and lit by six tremendous iron and crystal chandeliers. Inside the ballroom is another closed door. Opening the door leads to the Tusk Room. This room is lined with iron stands displaying massive scrimshaw tusks from great woolly mastodons, each engraved with thousands of tiny pictographs. Canvases displayed about the room depict artistic renderings of the pictographs along with their conceptual meanings. These translations tell the histories of various tribes living in the Realm of the Mammoth Lords.
As Theo inspects the cells, he notices each of the doors have a seal, each matching one of the factions. [ooc]Ha, found where I am to hand out the faction missions. Opening each door, he finds a simple archway, that he suspects is another portal, leading to who knows where. Going through the portals of your appropriate factions, leads you to a small study.
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Voros looks around and sees most of his companions moving on. He sighs and follows Theo to opt for the Liberty's edge study. After reading the note, the tiefling hands to it to however wants to read it and grasps once again his stone.
What is your name, soul? I am a freedom fighter of the society, so in that we are allies. Who is Shemis and what are you not telling me?
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Well met Draven. Why did you choose to enter a stone? Do you still wish to stay in the stone? How do you know Adril was the last through this area? Can you see your surroundings without eyes? How do you know who Adril is since he supposedly hasn't been here before?
Lavode reads the note from his faction leader and sighs. {Why do so many vicious creatures think torture is art?}
He walks back to the pillar of angels in agony and examines if for a few moments.
Voros, Lavode and Sir Boswick head back to the pillar. Upon investigating, a voice penetrates their mind. You are right to investigate this torture device. I am Aistor, are you here to free me..
This room is entirely lightless. Within the center stands a massive, metal-framed cylinder filled with strange black liquid. A plaque upon its base reads “The Orvian.” The strange liquid within the cylinder seems to devour any light and gives off an eerie chill.