The Search for Aroden {PbP}'s page

The little girl looks at her doll, with no face but still a treasure. She ignores the Dwarf's question for a moment as children are want to do. And after a moment she approaches 'Torch', who kindly gave her the doll. "What do you think I should name my doll? I could pick your mama's name; does your mama have a pretty name?"

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Back in the tentative safety of the lounge-turned-refuge, you once again consider the 'Manifesting Eye' behind the tapestry being used to hide it from view.

Bringing the puzzle Cube to Ulver Zandalus' presence creates no reaction. Neither does showing it to him, nor even turning the sides a couple times in his presence. A dead end. (Ulver Zandalus does, however, still glance sideways toward 'Torch' wanting to stare but not make it obvious. Though it is obvious.)

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Novembre Clacza ; Autumn Evanescu
Regarding the Cube, the Priest of Pharasma, Autumn Evanescu can inform you that its magic is powerful and has something to do with Conjuring a Gate. Novembre Clacza, Inquisitor of Pharasma, provides more information, that the Gate specifically has to do with The Shadow Plane, and that the Cube itself is Evil. Likely connected to some malevolent deity or Lower Planar Lord. Further, Novembre Clacza feels that there is a significant similarity between the Cube you got from the Faceless Stalker, and the Rook chess-piece with the Gate symbol on the bottom that someone 'brought back' from the Nightmare of THe Tatterman chasing you to death.

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Bringing the puzzle Cube to the same area as the Manifesting Eye likewise causes no reaction -- at first. The Manifesting Eye just continues to drip ammonia tears that also have the faint smell of silver polish. It's lamentations of confusion grow to begging: "Who Am I? What am I become?" And get louder, more persistent and with a note of fear or revulsion.

But when someone turns the Cube a few times one way or the other, the Manifesting Eye seems to widen or open its iris more -- as if being dilated -- and the alien spider inside seems to crawl, as tough it is crawling on a web. The disturbing view almost makes it look as though the Spider is trying to crawl out of the Eye. But can not.

Immediately coming to a consensus on killing the unconscious monster you turn your attention to the Cube.

From "No-Name's" suggestion you quickly learn that touching the Electrum pin or needle from the Dwarf's Nightmare to it does nothing. Neither item seems to affect the other upon contact. The Electrum pin is hot to the touch and has an almost imperceptible hum or vibration when it is about ten or twelve feet from the Cube -- you discern as you move away, move closer, figure it out. But touching one to the other does nothing. Neither the heat nor intensity of the Electrum item changes the 'closer it gets' and neither does the Cube have any reaction whatsoever to the pin or needle. The Electrum just, well, 'turns on' within ten or twelve feet.

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Next, the survivor nicknamed "Scalpel" briefly, carefully, manipulates the cube for a few seconds, rotating a few sides at random. Nothing happens at first but then, after a few random (or seemingly random) turns and twists, an Electrum Pin (or Needle) springs out from between a seam among the mini-cubes. Rotating backward the Electrum Pin returns inside the cube. Rotating forward again the Pin springs back out. It can not be snapped off, at least, not from simple strength. Twisting and rotating the Cube a few more times at random and a few more Electrum Pins project from different seams inbetween the various mini-cubes that comprise this 4x4 Cube.

It is uncertain what the Faceless Stalker was trying to accomplish with the puzzle box, as you do not know what the solution would even look like when completed. It seems unlikely that it could be a weapon as the Electrum Pins are only about an inch long and so close to the Cube that, well, even the scalpel would make for a better improvised weapon. The Pins don't seem to be able to be removed from the Cube, but even if they did, one would have to know what purpose a handful of Electrum Pins (or needles) has. It still seems a mystery.

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Of course, there is still a pall of fear among all the survivors even through the intrigue of the puzzle box -- made manifest by "Bat's" interruption and outburst to "Smash It!" The morningstar does absolutely no gross damage to the Cube nor does the scalpel when the fine blade is attempted to cut into the seams of the mini-cubes. It is Bat's own magically enchanted Silver Dagger that, after striking it with both gross and precise attempts, that a few scratches appear on the surface of the Cube. No where near overall destruction -- but a few scratches.

To the consternation or unnervingness of all, however, within a few seconds the scratches made from the Magical Silver Dagger seem to 'heal' and the Cube is repaired. Even the deepest eyelash-sized scar on the Cube magically restored itself as though the mercury inside fills the damage from within and the Cube is whole once again. Clearly destroying it will take much more than what you have on hand.

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The overall mystery of the Cube still outstanding, everyone seems to be ready to try gambits regarding The Manifesting Eye and the patient, Ulver Zandalus.

As the Faceless Stalker falls unconscious, helpless against any form of coup de grace, the puzzle box it was so focused on remains clasped in its rubbery fingers.

The Electrum needle continues to grow hot on the Dwarf's person, and hum or vibrate mildly.

The puzzle box itself is composed of some seemingly unusual alloy -- in that it is unfamiliar to everyone -- but seems perhaps there is lead or another 'dark' metal, as well as perhaps platinum, palladium or rhodium exactly as is the Electrum needle. Perhaps there is mercury inside like a lubricant as the cube is a construction of four-by-four tiny cubes, all of which can be rotated up or down, left or right. There are no markings on any parts of the puzzle-cube.