Likely alongside Edwin, Xindyra peers at the letter's content.
"Well what do you know. A letter of invitation, and in -common-.
So they would have had formal relations with outsiders. Interesting."
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Zendara casts detect magic and examines the inside of the post box more closely.
Hey Xindyra, do you know what this does?
She shows her (and anyone else who cares to look) the inlaid circle of metal inside the post box.
When she sees the invitation she wonders
Well, perhaps that will get us past the wardings and let us in? It might require us to fill out the blanks, but I hope not, since that could limit us to just one person or date, and the magic to note that and keep track of it this long would be... phenomenal.
By description of what Zendara feels from detect magic, Xindyra thinks of an evening seminar she attended, concerning identifying magics 2nd hand.
Zendara explains how the magical auras change to Xindyra, and they work together to tell that there is a limited teleportation device inside the box for sending mail elsewhere.
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Edwin scanned the invitation letter for magic auras, and tried to figure out if it could be used to bypass magical locks or traps.
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When they found the tower Yukerii thought it was quite impressive, and different, from what they had seen in the town so far. Sadly, or perhaps not so sadly, it too seemed devoid of life. There seemed no way into the tower, at least not at first, but the discovery of the invitation was something of a surprise. That it wasn't filled out was a bit concerning though. Yukarii wasn't quite sure if she wanted to go inside of the place or not but it did seem that it might hold some answers for them if they did.
While the others were looking visually or magically at things Yukarii decided to try something different. She cast a spell, as always her casts silent and without gesture, and began to examine the area for places or objects of Significance.
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Edwin told the others, " There's quite a few complex overlapping wards on this tower. I think that the invitation could work, but it would have to be filled in; there's enough room for four names.
"What does everyone think? Is it worth trying?"
It seemed like a very risky proposition, but the payoff could be enormous. Think of the knowledge they could find inside!
After casting her spell Yukarii was drawn to the paper they had found. It had Significance and she knew it. She looked up at the others and said, "This is more important than it appears. It is like a sun when I looked for psychic auras."[/] She looked at the group and said, [b]"Before we try to use it let me try to get a reading from it, just let me prepare myself first."
Yukarii took a seat on the ground and said, "When I hold my hands out please place the paper in them." She hesitated and then added, "and then get back just in case." Her words were much more serious and authoritative then her usual polite demeanor underscoring the danger implicit in her words.
Edwin placed the invitation in Yukarii's hands as instructed. Respecting her warning, he stepped back to a safe distance.
When Edwin asked about whether it was worth trying, Zendara says
Yes, I think so... we should try.
But she definitely also thinks that Yukarii should check it out first and see if she can figure out what it is for.
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Unfocusing your eyes you let your mind wander and suddenly a vision of things past snaps into being. You observe an older, regal looking human in an ostentatious wizards robes embroidered with stars and planets. He scurries out of the tower and very carefully bends down to place the card where you found it. Despite the seriousness of his demeanour there's a deep sadness to his eyes.
Facing the floor he whispers with quiet intensity, "I don't know who you are or when you'll come but know this, they made me do it, they insisted! The Voor be damned, I should have refused but in the end I was always a coward. I know what is coming next better than they do, fools who think they can control such a thing! I have damned myself, I should stand shoulder to shoulder with those who will suffer and reap the consequences but I lack the courage. There is a way out, an awful one. One that will torment me, one that I know I will regret, but like the coward I am I know I will take. In my chambers there is a large blue glass vase that I adore, it was given to me by my mother. It will be my phylactery. Please smash it, I implore you!"
Without another word he stiffly got up and returned inside the tower and the vision faded.
Yukarii was sucked into the last "memories" of the paper they had found and saw the man who lived in the tower. She heard his last message and what he wanted of them and once it was done snapped back to the present. *Gasp!*
Yukarii took a moment or two to finish processing what she had just seen and then looked up at the others. "The wizard left a message. The crew made him do something, something that would kill everything on the ship I think, to stop the Voor. He did what they demanded but he cheated his death. He has become....something else I think. He asked that we find and destroy a blue glass vase in his chambers. He called it a phylactery?"
What had the wizard become?. Edwin wondered. "I think we will have to enter the tower, and try to fulfil the wizard's wish. But I wonder how easy it will be, and what other dangers we will find inside. Who should be the ones to go in? I will volunteer."
I agree we should go in, but let's also be careful about this. We don't want to bring back a powerful wizard who can kill us all lightly. He could be totally evil. Let's look around and see if we can learn more about him first. I'd love to help him if possible, but let's balance that with a healthy sense of self-preservation as well.
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"Phylactery?", she looked concerned.
"Oh boy. Phylactery means lich. I read some old dusty library book about them once."
She thinks back to what she can recall on liches.
You're also aware of everything here.
Mariam nodded, "Right it sounds like we need volunteers... I feel this gets the heart of the matter, we've not seen anything else living here but we have seen undead and they didn't just make themselevs. Hard to assume good intentions of anyone who'd deliberately undertake such a ritual..."
Going over the books she read, she obviously recounts some moments, as she smirks like a young girl recalling her sneaky endeavors.
Given the age span of tieflings, that could have been many a year.
Xindyra shares with the others what she knows.
Edwin took out a quill and ink, and laid the blank invitation on a flat surface. After consulting the others, he carefully inscribed his own name, and those of Yukarii, Xindyra and Zendara in the indicated spaces.
So, Xindyra, if I am understanding correctly, in order to become a lich you must first be evil? No good liches?
But also, he says the vase is a phylactery... uh, so... he wants us to kill him, or at least destroy his undead life? I don't get it... and what if, after all this time, he is truly evil and has changed his mind? ... Or, if he was evil to begin with, what if he is tricking us into doing something else?
No, no... nevermind. I'm overthinking it. Whatever, let's just do it... I have no idea whether to trust some old evil githyanki, but I trust you and Yukarii. Sounds like what needs to be done.
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"There are no good intentioned liches, as far as i am aware of.
The ones seeking to become such are most often the ones of foul nature, or in exceptional cases, the desperate who would be in the grey to start with."
"Though i'd hazard to guess that, after spending centuries as an undying corpse or skeleton, one's view of sentient life's value may grow darker."
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Edwin and Zendara fill the invitation out together, they manage quite respectable calligraphy under the circumstances and even spelled everyone's names correctly and got the date right.
Only four could go in it seemed leaving Dr Munroe little to do but fret. Still he put as much of a positive spin on it as possible with a cheery, "Good luck and St Chrisptopher's speed friends! We shall hold the fort here and await your return."
The four companions nervously venture fourth with the invitation in hand. As they approach the tower, the invite briefly flairs with a blue radiance and the front door silently opens...
Inside you find a dusty cellar style first floor with an area in front for stabling a horse. While this pen has what appears to be desiccated straw there's no evidence any horses have been here in years. Little wonder though, no moral horse would put up with the uncanny nature of this alien ship.
The room has a musty smell and its lit by a soft radiance with no obvious source, presumably magical. There are various mundane tools stored neatly in boxes and on shelves (a mix of carpentry, metalworking and mining tools by the looks of them). There is also what appears to be an ice box in the corner. The table on the second room contains a few discarded letters some still in envelopes. There is a closed door to the north.
Sudden motion in the second room makes everyone's heads turn to see an animated broom busying itself sweeping away the dust. It doesn't seem to notice your presence.
Zendara looks in the icebox, and if she doesn't die from that, gathers up the discarded letters before they proceed through the northern door.
The icebox proves to be somewhat interesting, it's a thin metal box with a smaller metal box inside it. Sand-wedged between the two there appears to be a layer of wool. At the very bottom of the box there's a small niche containing what looks like a blue stone behind a metal grid. Waves of cold emanate from this stone, ripping the heat from your hand which you snatch away.
Apart from the cooling stone the only thing in the icebox is what appears to be a crystallised or possibly glace pear. It looks surprisingly appealing considering the gods only know how long this has been left in there.
You pocket a half a dozen letters, are you going to look at them?
Edwin checked for magic auras and reported, "The pear is magical, but I don't know what it does."
Following Zendara into the second room, he asked, "Can I have a look at those letters?"
Sure Edwin, here you go. Let us know if there is anything interesting.
She hands all the letters that she gathered up to him, then goes back to see if the icebox can be moved... might be useful in the future if they take it on the way out.
Once everyone is ready, she uses mage hand to open the door to the North and looks in.
With their entrance into the tower Yukarii looked around nervously. The place was disturbingly quiet, much like the rest of the ship had been, but the fact they knew something that was not truly alive any longer was in here with them somewhere worried her. Yukarii considered calling out Yukaari for a moment in case of trouble but decided that it would do little good since her other self was not as useful against things resistant to mental effects like an undead would be.
With the discovery of the ice box and it's interesting design Yukarii wondered if they could somehow take the stone that powered it. Such a thing would be of significant value to everyone, especially if it could be duplicated. Unfortunately it seemed far to difficult to safely remove.
When Edwin said he couldn't identify the object he found Yukarii cast a spell and looked it over as well.
Unfortunately she had no idea what it was either. Maybe sleeping on it would help clear her mind so she could figure it out tomorrow.
Yukarii began to look at the letters with Edwin while Zendara opened the door and looked into the next room.
The door to the north opens to reveal a well appointed kitchen with a wood-fired cooking range on the left as you enter, shelving on the far wall with jar after jar of pickles and other canned produce. To the north there is a pantry filled with dried goods, of course by now everything that might once have been edible is thoroughly fossilised. There is a closed door leading to the main tower and presumably stairs.
The animated broom follows the party inside, sweeping wherever you step. It seems to be rather keen and makes quite a nuisance of itself!
It looks like this stove is enchanted with the spirit of a master chef. Too bad we don't have all the ingredients we would need for a meal... I get the impression the chef was very, very good.
Edwin couldn't figure the stove out on his own, so he took Zendara's word for it. After looking through the pantry, he checked the closed door for traps, and then opened it [assuming no traps].
The door didn't have any traps, just a standard latch which squeaked softly as Edwin opened the door to reveal a wedge shaped room with undressed stone walls. To the left there's another closed door, this one with a lock and a bar on your side. To the middle there's a spiral staircase leading up. To the right there's a bookcase with various red leather bound tomes and a rather fanciful suit of armour with a weird cyclops helmet. Nothing moves and the air smells of ancient dust and parchment.
Edwin entered the wedge shaped room and scanned the area for magic auras, and then examined the leather bound tomes, trying to discern their subjects.
Zendara moves into the room after Edwin, and casts Detect Magic, worried that the suit of armor might be some sort of animated guardian.
Edwin didn't find any auras in this part of the tower but the moment he picked up an interesting looking book (Fyodrah's A survey of the Geography of five Spheres) he was surprised by a strange whirring noise and a metallic shout in common, "THIEVES! ENGAGING SECURITY PROTOCOL ALPHA TWO."
The suit of armour moved suddenly towards him accompanied by a strange blue glow from within its cyclops helmet!
Xindyra <----- WE ARE HERE
Yukarii
Animated suit of armor
Edwin
Zendara
Spoiler:Xindyra
Yukarii
Animated suit of armor
Edwin
Zendara
Xindyra
Yukarii
Animated suit of armor
Edwin
Zendara
Xindyra and Yukarii are up.
As the sound of the danger comes from the other room, Xindyra looks away from her previous observing of the room she was in.
"What is in there with you?", and she walks into the room, drawing her rapier.
Looking at the walking metal creature, she tries to match it to whatever studies she might have had.
Regardless, she drinks her mutagen.
"Hmm. I reckon blunt force or electricity would work against this thing. Be careful, its own punches will not be light either."
Edwin figured that his first priority was to defend himself against the automaton's attacks. He prepared to cast a spell.
Yukarii had been looking at the documents with Edwin though she couldn't begin to understand them. When they entered the wedge shaped room and heard the armor talking Yukarii felt a wash of worry go through her. Her mental magics wouldn't work on this thing so she hoped some of her other spells would.
Yukarii focused on the sensation of a scorching beam of heat and emotions of hurt and fear from a burn then sent a beam of scorching heat lancing out at the construct.
A sudden ray of power stabbed out from Yukarii heating up a section of the animated armour until it glowed cherry red. Presumably this damaged it but rather less so than if it had been flesh. The automaton's response was unbelievably swift, it grabbed a spear that was hanging on the wall and imbued it with a powerful static charge, weaved round Edwin and stabbed Yukarii in the chest!
<--- HIT
Xindyra
Yukarii
Animated suit of armor
Edwin <----- WE ARE HERE
Zendara
Edwin, Zendara, Xindyra and Yukarii are up.
Through its movement, Xindyra looked for a weakspot that might be exploited on the mobile suit.
Somewhat reverse gripping her rapier, she lashed out with the pommel of her weapon.
Edwin couldn't step away from the suit of armor to cast a spell safely, so he empowered his scimitar to focus on damaging constructs. He stepped into the corner where the armor used to be, hoping to gain a flank if it moved away from the wall.
Yukarii saw the sudden charge of the thing as it came for her. It seemed angry at her attack and Yukarii hadn't expected it would ignore closer targets to come for her. She took the blow to her chest, deflected partly by by her magic and then partially absorbed by the buffer of negative energy helping to bolster her health it still hurt her but not nearly as bad as it should have.
Yukarii knew she needed to get back from the thing so she focused on avoiding it's attacks as she quickly fled from it.
Hearing Xindyra suggest blunt damage, Zendara pulls a blunt arrow from a different quiver and fires at the thing.
(point blank, bullseye shot)
(point blank, focused shot)
Edwin stepped back to the wall and focused on his weapon which started humming softly.
Zendara's blunt arrow slammed into the animated suit of armour's midriff with a solid CLANG! It left a dent perhaps an inch deep in the armour but didn't do anything quite as dramatic as she was hoping for.
Xindyra watches the automaton's strange movements and spots a pattern she could take advantage of. She guessed it would turn before advancing and it did, she struck out with her rapier but the tip scraped harmlessly across the armour.
Fearing the consequences of getting struck agin by its spear, Yukarii cautiously backed away into the previous room.
With its primary target out of reach the robot's tinny voice announced, "Reacquiring initial target, thief #1. Lethal force authorised."
With that it's crackling spear lunged at Edwin, skewering him in the belly!
<--- HIT
Xindyra
Yukarii
Animated suit of armor
Edwin <----- WE ARE HERE
Zendara
Spoiler:Xindyra
Yukarii
Animated suit of armor
Edwin Legacy weapon
Zendara
Xindyra
Yukarii
Animated suit of armor
Edwin Legacy weapon
Zendara
Edwin, Zendara, Xindyra and Yukarii are up.