Gavin continues to narrate what he sees as the two drunks have a brief but animated conversation. The slender man makes several crude gestures and then the woman begins laughing and smacking the table. When she regains her composure, she leans over and whispers something to the man. He begins laughing as well and then the two rise and walk over to a door off the common room with the animals following. They pass through together, into a room barely big enough for all of them, and bolt the door behind themselves. Then the animals curl up on the floor while the people begin removing their clothes.
Gavin ends the spell, offering only that the Seekers have moved on and little useful information could be gained by following them.
"Hmmm," Gaius says, looking a little disappointed. "That's a shame." He shrugs. "I have a spell I can try to use next time to try to talk. Then again, so does the Witness, I'm sure." He leans in to Gavin. "I'm a bit jealous of the ability to cast it so quickly like that. I'll have to see if I can learn to do that."
Gaius stretches. "It's been a while since I tried to scry. I could try them again, maybe see if I can talk to them. Of course, for me it'll take an hour, not a moment."
He adds, "Iker said that we could stay here for a few hours. I wish he'd been specific, but the injury shouldn't be horrible from here if we run out of time. We can provide the specific information. Hells, if you all are at all concerned, I can be the one to stay. As long as I had someone on the other side to heal me of any injuries, I'm sure I could manage."
Then a bit of inspiration strikes Gaius. A bit of mischief, even. "Witness," he says. "You're obviously much more studied than I am in the intricacies of the arcane. I'm more of a magus, taken to the studying the resonance of magic and applying it to my steel and self alike. An arcane duelist, if you will. But I know enough. And I'm thinking of ways to continue to facilitate each other in our respective understandings. Are you familiar with the notion of an arcane amplifier?"
He waits for the wizard's response, and then continues. "I don't necessarily mean for familiars. But rather, there's thaumaturgy. I know with near certainty that you and I could enhance each other's spells with metamagic."
He seems excited by this, and then whirls to the others. "In fact, some of you might be able to participate in this as well. Gavin, for sure. Maximus--" he thinks for a moment, "Probably not, but it'd be a neat trick. And Lyra?" He considers what he knows of how her attunement has shown itself, and thinking that her mind had attuned to entropy. "I think Lyra could learn if she put her mind to it. I don't know what tricks we could get with scrying with a few of us trying to enhance the spell. But it's worth trying, right?"
---
Lyra had been in the process of discussing the Maximus the sounds a stomach might make with a ooze growing inside of it, just about to express her belief of what it would be in a raspberry performance.
"What?" the swordswoman is distracted for that epic moment and looks to the bard "Magic is still new to me, but sure." sound effects are lost and she leaves her perch on cabinet and comes over to listen to his ideas.
Gaius takes on a look of mock-offense, well aware that he and Lyra both knew they were joking. Maximus probably knew as well. "Suit yourself," he says. "You could have gone down in history again, maybeuncle."
With the slightest of grins, Maximus shakes his fist at him and says, "One of these days, Alice Gaius, one of these days."
He seems excited by this, and then whirls to the others. "In fact, some of you might be able to participate in this as well. Gavin, for sure. Maximus--" he thinks for a moment, "Probably not, but it'd be a neat trick. And Lyra?" He considers what he knows of how her attunement has shown itself, and thinking that her mind had attuned to entropy. "I think Lyra could learn if she put her mind to it. I don't know what tricks we could get with scrying with a few of us trying to enhance the spell. But it's worth trying, right?"
Crossing his arms, Maximus stares at him blankly for a long moment before, "Yeah, I have no idea what you're talking about. But hey, whatever works for you is all good to me, buddy." He gives him a friendly, yet somewhat forceful, pat on the shoulder.
"Well I did say I didn't think you'd get it," Gaius says with a shrug, knocking his friend off from the forceful pat. "I'm just the bridge between the two worlds, here."
”I can cast greater scrying and message with a minute’s preparation, but what exactly do we want to converse with any of these Seekers,” he nods to indicate the map and its lights, ”about?”
"Oh, excellent," Gaius says, readying himself to facilitate the casting with collaborative thaumaturgy if requested. "I'm mostly curious about who they are. They're obviously aware of the Tower, although they haven't entered it yet. So I think they fall at least somewhat outside of the compact that we drew up about what we reveal to outsiders."
The Witness gives a slight frown. ”It shouldn’t be necessary to disclose any information about The Tower that isn’t already available in Cardriss.”
The wizard stares off into space for a minute before indicating he’s ready to proceed.
”I don’t believe targeting the same pair of Seekers is likely to prove productive, given their initial reaction. I’ll target the other light.”
The Witness weaves together his scrying spell and an image coalesces in his mind of a market stand in the streets of Kostaldea. At its center is a woman he recognizes: Maritza Spinoza, of the Mercantile Exchange. Oddly, she appears noticeably older than the last time the wizard saw her.
++It appears I’ve targeted Maritza Spinoza of the Mercantile Exchange, though she looks older than last I saw her. If she preceded us through the portal we may have less time remaining than expected…++
The Witness taps into the energy granted by his fourth attunement and casts another spell.
++Assuming, of course, this is the Maritza we’re acquainted with. I’m attempting to confirm this before contacting her.++
The Witness’ eyes begin to glow with azure light as magical auras are revealed to his augmented vision. He finds that Maritza is surrounded by all the typical auras of someone of similar power and experience to himself, plus a small number of simple, long-lasting spells (most notably overland flight), and the magical tether that binds travelers from the Tower to it. There is, however, no sign of any magic that would mask or alter her appearance.
”She’s definitely a Resident Seeker. Either she alters her appearance while at the Exchange, or she’s a Maritza from sometime in our future. I’ll attempt to contact her now.”
The wizard casts another spell, pointing seemingly into mid-air, then at each party member, before moving his lips in a very quiet whisper.
”Pardon me, Maritza Spinoza. I’m the wizard associate of Gavin Soleques. Do you have a few moments for a conversation?”
The Witness, through his magical sensor, sees Maritza turn on her heels and then around in confusion. “This sounds like a message spell? Where are you contacting me from, and why, associate of Gavin?”
”You’re correct as to the spell. I’m contacting you from the Ironspine Mountains, in order to determine if we’ve used the same portal to exit The Tower. If so, I may have further destabilized it, resulting in less time for you before it closes.”
“Curious…” Maritza mutters pensively.
“I’m not aware of any other portal on this floor, but you can’t have left through the same portal I did… teleporting to the Ironspine Mountains would have destabilized the portal too much for me to still be here…”
“Also, when did you all return to the Lower Tower?”
”Ah. It appears we’ve happened across each other in regular prime space from different points in T-time; we have yet to ascend to the Upper Tower. While I’m very much interested in continuing this conversation, I fear doing so could negatively impact the causality of your current existence, as we’ll be returning to your past within The Tower.
“I leave it up to you if you wish to continue this interaction “
”As an addendum, if I may: Do you have any memory of me or my associates ever mentioning this conversation to you? If my theories on cross-temporal interference are correct, such a memory is impossible, as we haven’t had the opportunity to interact with your prior self yet.
“Assuming your answer is ‘no,’ we’ll refrain from mentioning it to prior you so as to avoid any unneeded complications for both of us.”
“I do not recall having conversed with any of Gavin’s associates about an asynchronous encounter, no, and I would gladly accept your offers to both discontinue this conversation and not be told about it in my past; thank you.”
“I you have any further questions for me, please feel free to seek me out inside the Tower, in your own time.”
”Very well, Maritza Spinoza. May time treat you well.”
The wizard smiles to his companions.
++Well that was certainly a productive exchange!++
As the Witness silently watches, Maritza looks around somewhat suspiciously then returns to her interaction with the merchant whose stall she is standing at.
Lyra gets done describing all the ways an ooze could come back out of a person with Marcus, then notices the thinkers are slowing down in their trails. "All done? We could head back and maybe look around for something to go fight?" Lyra isn't bloodthirsty, truly she isn't.
The Witness takes another minute to recall the details of greater scrying and casts it, targeting one from the group of lights Gavin had already observed. ++For future reference,++ he explains telepathically.
"Until now, I had thought that portals out of the Tower led to a time in Cardriss associated with the year in which the floor was associated. It is also good to know that residents of the upper Tower are well, and able to exit to Tower similarly." Gavin says.
The Witness draws on the power of his fourth attunement and weaves together another scrying spell. As his vision shifts to the tavern in or near Tokelau, the wizard discovers that the slender half-elven man and the rather burly woman (who he recognizes to be a half-dwarf) have, in fact, enacted their plan to either embarrass away any scrying or take some voyeuristic pleasure in having an audience. The half-elf is on his back and partially tangled up in sheets and blankets, but the wizard is able to memorize his face. The woman is straddling him and fully visible for study, save for her kneecaps which are buried in the linens. After the Witness has finished memorizing whatever details of her he wishes, his senses return to the maproom near Estria.
Having completed their examination of the map, and being rightly concerned that there time through the portal could end at any moment, the field agents make their way down the hallway and through the portal back into the Tower.
Lyra gets done describing all the ways an ooze could come back out of a person with Marcus, then notices the thinkers are slowing down in their trails. "All done? We could head back and maybe look around for something to go fight?" Lyra isn't bloodthirsty, truly she isn't.
Shrugging, "I'm always up for a fight," he winks, grinning wryly.
Having completed their exploration and arcane investigations, the field agents return to the Tower, and to the residential level of Redwatch. Gaius conjures their dwelling place and they settle in for the night. The following morning, the rise and eat their fill of Gavin’s god-sent feast and the set about a week of downtime inside the Tower.
Gavin would be most pleased to help Rowan find something he has lost, though, if we are searching together, he will attempt to assist by casting acute senses on his new friend and using the assist action. If he is searching alone, he does his best to be quick about it.
Aside from he self-appointed breakfast duties, Gavin occupies his time in service to the tower residents, and getting to know the ones he has not yet met. After the morning feast, he alternates days between meet a new person and Volunteering with Order of Benevolent Healers.
On a visit to the institute, Gavin will ask if it is possible to exit the Tower through one portal, and re-enter through another. If they are unsure, he will propose this as an expedition.
Furthermore, he will attempt to commune with the Tower specifically to determine how to more easily pass through its walls (if such a trick exists).
Request a Favor from an Ally (diplomacy, DC varies; 1/week/ally)
Propose an Expedition to the Institute (diplomacy or knowledge, varies)
Commune with the Tower (Wisdom check, DC 15)
Provide Entertainment in the Temple (perform)
Influence a Resident of Redwatch or the Institute (diplomacy, varies)
Influence a Resident of Redwatch or the Institute (diplomacy, varies)
Influence a Resident of Redwatch or the Institute (diplomacy, varies)
[ooc]where is the list of characters and influences?
Seth talks to everyone wanting to spend a few moments chatting. Lyra would be a bundle of WANTING to do ANYTHING, so he spends the week as them, instead of her. While waiting for the wizard to do what he needs to do, Seth catches up on tales and general stories from the various barkeeps, Finn, Dagny, and Michel
The week of downtime passes rather slowly, but most of the field agents accomplish a fair bit.
You accompany Rowan down 20 floors from Redwatch where he reveals a portal to a derelict watchtower near the coast of Northreach. It only allows exit to Cardriss for a matter of minutes but during that time you are able to assist him in finding a few of Dagny's favorite flower (which he described at great length before using the portal).
With a little bit of asking around, you manage to catch Captain Eralis on one of his infrequent trips to the Temple. While Captain Henethil (whom you've met) oversees the Redwatch scouts, Eralis oversees the more numerous combat units. He carries a sword similar to Theldrassil's but, unlike the earl, he wears a mithril breastplate.
You spend the day at the house of Healing. Most of the injuries you see are minor but in the afternoon Kayne of Kundir arrives with some fairly serious burns.
You return to the Research Institute and propose an expedition to exit the Tower via the portal to the lair with the map and attempt to re-enter via the portal which must exist in or near Kostaldea. Your request is denied on the grounds that, "being impossible to return to our current present, any knowledge gained through such an endeavor would be inaccessible and, therefore, worthless."
You meet Catherine Leigh, a middle aged, (mostly) redheaded woman who wears a breastplate that has buckles like its part of a set of fullplate and carries a fauchard. You learn she is friends with Faunra Moonbrow and Tania Gayle, and the wife of Willem Aames.
You spend the day at the house of Healing. It passes pretty quietly with only a few bumps and bruises to mend and some water to conjure.
On the final day of the week, you feel a quiet inward draw to just be with the Tower. You give the day over to reflecting on the curious ebb and flow of time around it, and allowing the subtle energies that pervade its structure to move through you. By the end of the day you feel somehow more connected to the place, and more comfortable with its magicks.
On your first day of downtime, you invest some time in bending Iker's ear--and appealing to his more violent sensibilities--and convince him to advocate for your proposal to return to Rosethorn Keep and attempt to destroy the vampire serving as guard captain.
The following day, you make your presentation to Morgan's simulacrum. It weighs your surprisingly convincing words for quite some time before finally answering, "I'm sorry, but the elves have established control of that portal and, even given all your passionate reasoning, we will not enter conflict with them over this venture. If you wish to do this, it is Theldrassil, not I, that you must convince."
On the third day of the week, you feel a quiet inward draw to just be with the Tower. You give the day over to reflecting on the curious ebb and flow of time around it, and allowing the subtle energies that pervade its structure to move through you. By the end of the day you feel somehow more connected to the place, and more comfortable with its magicks.
You provide music for the entertainment of the guests at the Temple; it is very well received. For your trouble, you receive numerous free drinks and an offer of company for the evening from a cute elven lieutenant.
You spend your 5th day hanging out with Finn during his shift at the Temple. He praises your fiddle playing and seems to grow friendlier towards you.
You spend your 6th day hanging out with Dagny during her shift at the Temple. She praises your fiddle playing and carries on repeatedly about how Rowan managed to retrieve her a handful of rare Snowblossoms from somewhere in Northreach. She also slips you a couple of free drinks, even though you aren't playing that night.
You spend your 7th day hanging out with Michel during his shift at the Temple. He seems to be the surliest of the four bartenders (or, of the 3 you've really met, at least), but his voice has a melodious, almost magical, quality to it. As the night goes on, he gradually begins making little jokes with you.
The Witness continues to make progress on his research while Gaius busies himself with chores for the elves. With Gavin's service at the House of Healing, the two earn 6 days worth of rent for plot the size they've claimed. Maximus devotes his week to doing absolutely nothing and discovers that several others have largely made that their business as well- including Teague the stone carver and Gerrik the dwarf (both of whom he's hung out with in the past).
As evening falls on the end of the week, the explorers gather once more in their shelter.
The twins trade out a little every day since roles are very fluid in their tiny world at the moment. Lyra's times are usually spent being annoyed as hell at wasting their words on Morgan and discussing with anyone the ability to do Anything At All.
Ultimately downtime is not Lyra's favorite thing to do. She spars with anyone willing, and otherwise, anytime that she thinks her ward, Gavin, is not in danger, she wanders the stairs in hope of finding some strange opening to a place.
Seth has no problem with the downtime since chatting, fiddling, and crafting is his loves. But even he is starting to chaff since he wants to find the secret of the tower.