As you move through the archway into the inner courtyard, you can see much difference from the fortress that you know. The wall of the fortress neither protects an inner structure nor a governing chamber, and you can see neither stairs that lead to an upper level nor walls that separate rooms. It is simply a partially enclosed courtyard with several nooks and basins along the side of the inner wall where people must have lived.
In the middle of the inner courtyard stands a massive tree with a spiraling pale trunk and deep auburn leaves. It is unlike any trees you have ever seen before. Instead of being made of wood and organic material, this tree is entirely made of crystals. Despite that, this tree seems to be alive, pulsing with light and swaying in the breeze every once in a while, giving a soft tinkling sound.
When you look toward the east side of the wall, you cannot see any hole or deformation on it. It is confusing as you have seen beforehand from the outside that there is a massive hole on the east wall.
As you spend some time looking around the inner courtyard, you also notice the quietness in the area. Before you step inside, you can hear muffled chatter from the tents on the east wall, but when you step inside, all noise ceases and a sense of tranquility fills your body and mind. It is peaceful and calming here.
"What are we looking at?" A voice says, startling your observation after a while. You have not noticed it before, but a gnomish man is standing slightly behind the group with a curious gaze toward the massive tree that you are looking at. He has long ashen hair that has been tied tidily with a leather strip. There is an air of curiosity and amusement around him. He is wearing a deep blue frock coat that covers a formal navy suit and a white cravat around his neck.
Standing slightly behind the gnomish man stands a familiar woman with green hair and dark attire. Sego Ynnachi stares at all of you with distrust, suspicion, and not a little bit of exasperation at being forcefully revealed by the gnomish man.
Karm, you are not quite sure what the name of the tree is, but you have heard about a similar one before. There is a smaller one, about as tall as your hip, with a blue trunk and grey leaves in Timaril. That smaller one is called the Seed of Curiosity.
Drexon looks around in wonder and confusion at the scene around them. He feels a calm unlike any other he has felt in recent times. And the tree is a marvel that captivates him.
He hears speech from behind them and turns to see Sego and the Gnome Eremoz has assumed is Mr Morgenstern.
"Well, well, if it isn't Sego. We've had a very interesting journey, but I expect you know that", he says with narrowed eyes.
"Are you here to tell us what, exactly, is going on? What are those things chasing us and why are they so keen to stop you getting the chest? What are you two up to?".
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Cob, very aware that he has the second box in his pack, still flies up around the tree to investigate further while the others talk. He comes very close to the tree, holding his hand near it without quite touching it.
Investigation to get any sense of 'danger' coming off the tree: 23
"There are only four trees like this including this one," the gnome says. "They are called the Seed of Sabitah. This particular one is called the Seed of Passion and is the oldest among the four. In the past, it symbolizes the burning fire of battle against the Veistonii Hegemon. The most popular one resides in the Seven Court of Timaril. It is called the Seed of Curiosity, which symbolizes the abundance of knowledge still yet discovered and the draw of the voyage into the unknown. One resides in the Root Anvil, specifically in the mountainous region of Emperor Grace Pass, called the Seed of Tranquility, which symbolizes the safety and protection of both the mind and body. The youngest one sadly perished during the War of the Best. The Seed of Conflux, which symbolizes the affirmation of fate and destiny in the face of the confluence of many cultures and lives in Sabitah, was destroyed on the first day of the War of the Best."
The gnome looks at Sego for a long moment before shrugging. "My name is Fredrick Caelum, but yes, I sometimes go by Fredrick Morgenstern. I assume you are here to bring the last piece of the puzzle so we can continue our excavation deeper into the anomalous basement of the fortress. And I will also assume you have had a difficult journey so far. Come see for yourself what we are dealing with."
Cob, you get no sense of danger, but you get the sense of want deep within your belly. You feel as if you can do anything and achieve anything you put your mind to. You do notice that among the auburn leaves, there is one small leaf in the center of the tree that is verdant in color. You get a sense of urgency for you to take it and keep it safe.
Fredrick turns and exits the inner courtyard before heading east toward where the encampment is located. He doesn't wait for you to follow, but Sego remains behind until all of you leave.
You have seen it before from afar, but seeing the state of the east wall of the fortress up close is quite different. There is a large hole on the surface of the wall and parts of the ground. Perhaps calling it a hole would be a misnomer for a blot of darkness on a surface, but that is the closest description of it. What is strange is the fact that there is no deformation or hole on the other side of the wall as you have seen before. This hole should not exist, yet it does. At the center of the hole, a wall of crystalline amber pulses with power.
"As you have seen from the inside of the fortress, there is no hole," Fredrick says. "Yet here, there is clearly a hole. I assume you have been briefed before, but that wall must come down in order for us to determine what causes this hole to exist. As you can see, this hole is not quite normal. We have been here for two months since the first tourist noted the existence of the hole. Back then, it is only the size of a pinprick. Now, as you can see it encompasses almost the entire wall. From our research, this hole leads to nowhere. It just exists and consumes and it will continue to do so unless we can determine what is causing it, which leads us back to the amber wall. Whatever is inside must be the source as the rate of the spreading of the hole is localized around that wall."
Fredrick grabs an apple from a nearby food station and gently pushes it into the hole in the wall. He pulls it out when half of it has passed through the hole and you can see that the half that was in the hole has corroded to dust.
"We have met with the creature you are alluding to. After much research, we have learned that they are called the Meanwhile, a race of aberrant creatures first seen during the War of the Best. They are not really hostile or evil, but they are protective of something. Our best guess is that there is something inside this amber wall that they don't want to release. On the other hand, not breaking the wall will see the entire northern coast of the Verdant Trammel engulfed by this hole in two to three months. We have contained the spread for the moment with a combination of runes and spells, but it is draining and costly. Our other option is to take a sample of the wall and analyze it. From our analysis, we have created a device that will allow us to briefly transmute the etheric amber wall into water, thus allowing a small team entry to investigate and find whatever is causing this hole."
Dvark rummages through the satchel as they walk and as Fredrick pauses he holds out the letters addressed to him and the in the other hand the one to Sego. "Sounds like we have a real challenge ahead of you on this project. Also here's your mail."
Cob pulls his attention away from the tree to follow the others, but before he does, he reaches in and plucks at the small leaf, not worried if someone is watching or not. If it comes loose, he secures it quickly in his pouch and follows after the others.
Still thinking about the leaf, he does manage to hear some of the end of what Frederick says.
"So, leave the wall up and maybe lose everything. Bring the wall down, and maybe get everything destroyed just as quickly," Cob says quietly. "That really only leaves your last option as the only one that makes sense."
Cob looks at the others, the weight of the book in his pack feeling heavy in that moment.
Drexon looks at Sego for a long moment before he follows Fredrick, listening intently to what he has to say and watching intently as he shows them the effects of the hole.
He looks at Cob a little surprised at how quickly he offers his services, but has to admit he feels he has a vested interest as well.
"I would also like to be involved in exploring this, but we need to have a proper sharing of information first".
"We also determined the creatures are called the Meanwhiles. There was one in particular who was more communicative. From what I could determine it is not so much a what that they do not wish to be released, but a whom. And the destruction that this whom could wreak on the world if it were released", he says to Fredrick, watching his reaction closely.
"Does the name The-Could-Have-Been-King mean anything to you?".
"Ah, late mail," Fredrick says. "Always love late mail. Always surprising. The later the better." Sego steps beside him and takes all the offered mail and packages.
"Now, where is the containment box? We have about an hour before noon when the power of Niskala will be at its highest during this month. If we miss even a second, we will have to wait another month before attempting another transmutation. Sego, don't forget to compensate them. As per the contract, it should be 50 copper per person."
Fredrick looks at each of you before his previously amused countenance turns grim and regretful. "I cannot ask you to continue if you do not want to see this to the end. We do have a small group of hired mercenaries that are guarding the camp, but they barely survive the latest Meanwhile Seekers attack on the camp if not for Sego. All five of you seem capable enough. If you want to see this to the end, I can offer an additional 1 silver per person paid in advance. You will enter into an unknown place with unknown enemies that may or may not kill you. From what we can see from a glance, the construction beyond the wall is pre-Third Age, which means there is a chance that whatever the Meanwhile doesn't want to free is a remnant of the Veistonii Hegemon -- aberrations and monstrosity that you have never seen before. On the other hand, you will be the first people in the modern age that see with your own eyes a never before seen fraction of what existed before the departure of the Ancients to the stars. We will equip you as much as we can with potions and rations, but it will be limited to what we currently have if we want to do this now. What say you?"
There is a brief flicker in Fredrick's eyes when The-Could-Have-Been-King is mentioned. His face becomes a bit haunted and his gaze distant. It is as if he is remembering something personal concerning the name, something that terrifies him.
"The-Could-Have-Been-King hopefully does not reside down there," Fredrick says. "That is a name both hated and praised in certain circles. The leader of the Meanwhile and the Neverweres, creatures that should not and cannot possibly exist. He is the one that unleashed the Horde of Travesties upon Ananta-Bahtra, forcing the entire continent to be uprooted to the sky to avoid total destruction. He is also the one responsible for destroying the Seed of Conflux, thus starting the War of the Best. Unleashing him back upon Sabitah will be equivalent to starting the apocalypse. You are correct to be wary.
"However, we cannot be certain that he is down there. All recounts of the War of the Best stated the same: that the Could-Have-Been-King was slain by the Braveheart. While there was no mention of where his body was buried or whether it had been cremated, the Time Agency in Shadowmere swore that their patron, the Braveheart, had dealt with the problem forevermore."
Drexon tries to take in all Frederick is saying. At least he seemed well informed, and although the threat of the Could-Have-Been-King seemed a distant possibility to Frederick, it was very real to him.
He thinks back over the last day spent with these new companions. Fleeing from the Meanwhiles, the train and the vision he experienced, the words of Old Man Jiminy. He knows he cannot refuse the offer, he is totally invested in finding out more.
But neither does he want to influence the others. He knows Cob is in, he waits now to see what the others will say.
I am almost ashamed it took me so long to realize... says Karm with a tone as if he had just discovered that brunch is called that because its a combination of breakfast and lunch
The date, the etheric amber. This process must really be quite a monumental task. I have some arcane capabilities and would like to be a part of this. Allow me to ask, will this be ritualistic in nature or magiotechnical?
And with all respect, "hated and praised in certain circles" strikes me in a way of irony i can't leave unmentioned. If i did not just ruin my chances i would like to converse with you in private once we get the chance. I found something that might be of interest to you
"Ah, a curious mind," Fredrick says to Karm. He turns toward Sego for a moment, asking, "Is this the representative from the Archive? Karn? Karm?"
He steers the group toward a large tent a bit far from the edge of the hole with Sego still remaining at the back of the group but close enough to Fredrick. The inside of the tent is chaos, unlike anything you have ever seen. There is a barely slept-on cot on the side, a large table in the middle with books and papers strewn about, and a large board with pictures, calculations, and runes written on it. Once in a while, a flying bird made of paper flies around the room.
Fredrick pulls a large box from underneath the large table and deposits it on the table, swiping books and papers off. Surprisingly, the fallen books and papers float in the air, never dropping to the ground. With a few presses on the surface of the box, it opens to reveal a strange instrument with a flat drill bit at the end.
"Transmutation is not an easy school of magic, but with the correct catalyst, we can bypass certain limitations imposed by the rules of transmutation," Fredrick explains. "One of the most powerful transmutation magic is one that enables the transmutation of simple dirt and dust into rare metals or even certain magical metals, and vice versa. Our proposal to hire an archmage from Timaril has been denied by their lack of trust and interest in the problem, so we have made a workaround. This device, paired with the Category-1 catalyst within the box you are transporting here as well as the light of Niskala this noon, will bypass the limitations of the spell to allow the transmutation of etheric amber into another material without the need for the power of an archmage. We are exploring new facets of the arcane arts by attempting to cast a high-powered ritual spell with technology. Don't worry, we have tried the device beforehand and it transmuted a small block of granite into pure platinum.
"I'll be happy to discuss it further with you and your institution after we deal with this hole. I keep telling them to upgrade and to be more open-minded, but the old farts never really take me seriously. Hopefully, you will be more receptive to new and unconventional ideas."
The archive does an important job and i think they do it well. But, one should not be afraid of change. And i am sure i have something that really could make a difference.
Cob stays to the side while the others discuss names, and wizards and what might happen. While they walk back to the tents, Cob examines the leaf he plucked from the tree (if that was doable).
At mention of potions and rations, Cob asks about any other equipment that might be available. He pulls at his old leather armor. "Any chance you've an improvement over this? The ones with the metal rivets and studs? Just in case."
{{Cob, make a Sleight of Hand check if you are trying to not be noticed during your examination. Also, make an Arcana check.}}
"Not armor, no," Fredrick says to Cob, "but, perhaps this will help."
He pulls a short metal rod from his pocket and points it at each of you. He presses a button on the rod and a brief high-pitched noise shrieks from the rod. A shimmer of air swirl around each of your body for a moment.
{{He will cast Aid at 3rd level twice. You can add 10 Hit Points to your Hit Point maximum and current Hit Points for the next 8 hours.}}
"I stress once again that you will enter into an unknown place that may or may not contain creatures or obstacles that has never before seen nowadays. If you do agree, we will proceed with the preparation now. Sego, give them everything we can spare."
Sego nods and leads you to another tent where several shelves and racks are filled with supplies. She pulls a few vials of potions from the racks and a couple of bundles of equipment. Without even a single word, she also opens a chest and deposits five sacks.
{{The group can add 5 Potion of Healing, 5 Ration (1 day), 1 Hooded Lantern, 2 flasks of Oil, and 1 Crowbar. You can divy that up as you want. Each of you also get 1 silver and 50 copper.}}
Eremoz speaks up. “I don’t want to put forth the wrong impression. I’m willing to undertake this mission. However, I have a few questions. Why us and not the other escorts for the other packages? Also, once we are through and figure out what’s going on, how do we relay that to you? If we stop it, how do we get back?”
He looks around to his comrades and back to Fredrick. “I understand the need to keep things quiet, since this is a delicate situation. Yesterday, you gave us a box, a train ticket, and an end location. Today, you want to sent us through a wall that was put in place by the gods, to solve a problem that multiple brilliant minds can’t figure out, in an environment where we don’t even know if we can breath, eat, or drink. And that doesn’t even take into account any creatures or people that may be trying to kill us when we are there.”
Eremoz takes a deep breath. “Like I said, I’m willing to try, but at this point I feel like cannon fodder.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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As you move through the archway into the inner courtyard, you can see much difference from the fortress that you know. The wall of the fortress neither protects an inner structure nor a governing chamber, and you can see neither stairs that lead to an upper level nor walls that separate rooms. It is simply a partially enclosed courtyard with several nooks and basins along the side of the inner wall where people must have lived.
In the middle of the inner courtyard stands a massive tree with a spiraling pale trunk and deep auburn leaves. It is unlike any trees you have ever seen before. Instead of being made of wood and organic material, this tree is entirely made of crystals. Despite that, this tree seems to be alive, pulsing with light and swaying in the breeze every once in a while, giving a soft tinkling sound.
When you look toward the east side of the wall, you cannot see any hole or deformation on it. It is confusing as you have seen beforehand from the outside that there is a massive hole on the east wall.
As you spend some time looking around the inner courtyard, you also notice the quietness in the area. Before you step inside, you can hear muffled chatter from the tents on the east wall, but when you step inside, all noise ceases and a sense of tranquility fills your body and mind. It is peaceful and calming here.
"What are we looking at?" A voice says, startling your observation after a while. You have not noticed it before, but a gnomish man is standing slightly behind the group with a curious gaze toward the massive tree that you are looking at. He has long ashen hair that has been tied tidily with a leather strip. There is an air of curiosity and amusement around him. He is wearing a deep blue frock coat that covers a formal navy suit and a white cravat around his neck.
Standing slightly behind the gnomish man stands a familiar woman with green hair and dark attire. Sego Ynnachi stares at all of you with distrust, suspicion, and not a little bit of exasperation at being forcefully revealed by the gnomish man.
Before the others appear, does karm have a chance to recall anything about this tree?
8
+8 history
+6 arcana
+4 nature
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Karm, you are not quite sure what the name of the tree is, but you have heard about a similar one before. There is a smaller one, about as tall as your hip, with a blue trunk and grey leaves in Timaril. That smaller one is called the Seed of Curiosity.
Eremoz turns around, startled.
“Oh! Hello, just looking at the tree. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Eremoz nods at Sego.
”Hey boss. And you must be Mr. Morgenstern?”
Drexon looks around in wonder and confusion at the scene around them. He feels a calm unlike any other he has felt in recent times. And the tree is a marvel that captivates him.
He hears speech from behind them and turns to see Sego and the Gnome Eremoz has assumed is Mr Morgenstern.
"Well, well, if it isn't Sego. We've had a very interesting journey, but I expect you know that", he says with narrowed eyes.
"Are you here to tell us what, exactly, is going on? What are those things chasing us and why are they so keen to stop you getting the chest? What are you two up to?".
What a way to speak to your employers...
Karm looks over to Drexon and then back
...but he is right.
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Cob, very aware that he has the second box in his pack, still flies up around the tree to investigate further while the others talk. He comes very close to the tree, holding his hand near it without quite touching it.
Investigation to get any sense of 'danger' coming off the tree: 23
"There are only four trees like this including this one," the gnome says. "They are called the Seed of Sabitah. This particular one is called the Seed of Passion and is the oldest among the four. In the past, it symbolizes the burning fire of battle against the Veistonii Hegemon. The most popular one resides in the Seven Court of Timaril. It is called the Seed of Curiosity, which symbolizes the abundance of knowledge still yet discovered and the draw of the voyage into the unknown. One resides in the Root Anvil, specifically in the mountainous region of Emperor Grace Pass, called the Seed of Tranquility, which symbolizes the safety and protection of both the mind and body. The youngest one sadly perished during the War of the Best. The Seed of Conflux, which symbolizes the affirmation of fate and destiny in the face of the confluence of many cultures and lives in Sabitah, was destroyed on the first day of the War of the Best."
The gnome looks at Sego for a long moment before shrugging. "My name is Fredrick Caelum, but yes, I sometimes go by Fredrick Morgenstern. I assume you are here to bring the last piece of the puzzle so we can continue our excavation deeper into the anomalous basement of the fortress. And I will also assume you have had a difficult journey so far. Come see for yourself what we are dealing with."
Cob, you get no sense of danger, but you get the sense of want deep within your belly. You feel as if you can do anything and achieve anything you put your mind to. You do notice that among the auburn leaves, there is one small leaf in the center of the tree that is verdant in color. You get a sense of urgency for you to take it and keep it safe.
Fredrick turns and exits the inner courtyard before heading east toward where the encampment is located. He doesn't wait for you to follow, but Sego remains behind until all of you leave.
You have seen it before from afar, but seeing the state of the east wall of the fortress up close is quite different. There is a large hole on the surface of the wall and parts of the ground. Perhaps calling it a hole would be a misnomer for a blot of darkness on a surface, but that is the closest description of it. What is strange is the fact that there is no deformation or hole on the other side of the wall as you have seen before. This hole should not exist, yet it does. At the center of the hole, a wall of crystalline amber pulses with power.
"As you have seen from the inside of the fortress, there is no hole," Fredrick says. "Yet here, there is clearly a hole. I assume you have been briefed before, but that wall must come down in order for us to determine what causes this hole to exist. As you can see, this hole is not quite normal. We have been here for two months since the first tourist noted the existence of the hole. Back then, it is only the size of a pinprick. Now, as you can see it encompasses almost the entire wall. From our research, this hole leads to nowhere. It just exists and consumes and it will continue to do so unless we can determine what is causing it, which leads us back to the amber wall. Whatever is inside must be the source as the rate of the spreading of the hole is localized around that wall."
Fredrick grabs an apple from a nearby food station and gently pushes it into the hole in the wall. He pulls it out when half of it has passed through the hole and you can see that the half that was in the hole has corroded to dust.
"We have met with the creature you are alluding to. After much research, we have learned that they are called the Meanwhile, a race of aberrant creatures first seen during the War of the Best. They are not really hostile or evil, but they are protective of something. Our best guess is that there is something inside this amber wall that they don't want to release. On the other hand, not breaking the wall will see the entire northern coast of the Verdant Trammel engulfed by this hole in two to three months. We have contained the spread for the moment with a combination of runes and spells, but it is draining and costly. Our other option is to take a sample of the wall and analyze it. From our analysis, we have created a device that will allow us to briefly transmute the etheric amber wall into water, thus allowing a small team entry to investigate and find whatever is causing this hole."
Dvark rummages through the satchel as they walk and as Fredrick pauses he holds out the letters addressed to him and the in the other hand the one to Sego. "Sounds like we have a real challenge ahead of you on this project. Also here's your mail."
Cob pulls his attention away from the tree to follow the others, but before he does, he reaches in and plucks at the small leaf, not worried if someone is watching or not. If it comes loose, he secures it quickly in his pouch and follows after the others.
Still thinking about the leaf, he does manage to hear some of the end of what Frederick says.
"So, leave the wall up and maybe lose everything. Bring the wall down, and maybe get everything destroyed just as quickly," Cob says quietly. "That really only leaves your last option as the only one that makes sense."
Cob looks at the others, the weight of the book in his pack feeling heavy in that moment.
"I'll volunteer to go through to the other side."
Drexon looks at Sego for a long moment before he follows Fredrick, listening intently to what he has to say and watching intently as he shows them the effects of the hole.
He looks at Cob a little surprised at how quickly he offers his services, but has to admit he feels he has a vested interest as well.
"I would also like to be involved in exploring this, but we need to have a proper sharing of information first".
"We also determined the creatures are called the Meanwhiles. There was one in particular who was more communicative. From what I could determine it is not so much a what that they do not wish to be released, but a whom. And the destruction that this whom could wreak on the world if it were released", he says to Fredrick, watching his reaction closely.
"Does the name The-Could-Have-Been-King mean anything to you?".
Insight: 15+5=20
"Ah, late mail," Fredrick says. "Always love late mail. Always surprising. The later the better." Sego steps beside him and takes all the offered mail and packages.
"Now, where is the containment box? We have about an hour before noon when the power of Niskala will be at its highest during this month. If we miss even a second, we will have to wait another month before attempting another transmutation. Sego, don't forget to compensate them. As per the contract, it should be 50 copper per person."
Fredrick looks at each of you before his previously amused countenance turns grim and regretful. "I cannot ask you to continue if you do not want to see this to the end. We do have a small group of hired mercenaries that are guarding the camp, but they barely survive the latest Meanwhile Seekers attack on the camp if not for Sego. All five of you seem capable enough. If you want to see this to the end, I can offer an additional 1 silver per person paid in advance. You will enter into an unknown place with unknown enemies that may or may not kill you. From what we can see from a glance, the construction beyond the wall is pre-Third Age, which means there is a chance that whatever the Meanwhile doesn't want to free is a remnant of the Veistonii Hegemon -- aberrations and monstrosity that you have never seen before. On the other hand, you will be the first people in the modern age that see with your own eyes a never before seen fraction of what existed before the departure of the Ancients to the stars. We will equip you as much as we can with potions and rations, but it will be limited to what we currently have if we want to do this now. What say you?"
There is a brief flicker in Fredrick's eyes when The-Could-Have-Been-King is mentioned. His face becomes a bit haunted and his gaze distant. It is as if he is remembering something personal concerning the name, something that terrifies him.
"The-Could-Have-Been-King hopefully does not reside down there," Fredrick says. "That is a name both hated and praised in certain circles. The leader of the Meanwhile and the Neverweres, creatures that should not and cannot possibly exist. He is the one that unleashed the Horde of Travesties upon Ananta-Bahtra, forcing the entire continent to be uprooted to the sky to avoid total destruction. He is also the one responsible for destroying the Seed of Conflux, thus starting the War of the Best. Unleashing him back upon Sabitah will be equivalent to starting the apocalypse. You are correct to be wary.
"However, we cannot be certain that he is down there. All recounts of the War of the Best stated the same: that the Could-Have-Been-King was slain by the Braveheart. While there was no mention of where his body was buried or whether it had been cremated, the Time Agency in Shadowmere swore that their patron, the Braveheart, had dealt with the problem forevermore."
Drexon tries to take in all Frederick is saying. At least he seemed well informed, and although the threat of the Could-Have-Been-King seemed a distant possibility to Frederick, it was very real to him.
He thinks back over the last day spent with these new companions. Fleeing from the Meanwhiles, the train and the vision he experienced, the words of Old Man Jiminy. He knows he cannot refuse the offer, he is totally invested in finding out more.
But neither does he want to influence the others. He knows Cob is in, he waits now to see what the others will say.
I am almost ashamed it took me so long to realize... says Karm with a tone as if he had just discovered that brunch is called that because its a combination of breakfast and lunch
The date, the etheric amber. This process must really be quite a monumental task. I have some arcane capabilities and would like to be a part of this.
Allow me to ask, will this be ritualistic in nature or magiotechnical?
And with all respect, "hated and praised in certain circles" strikes me in a way of irony i can't leave unmentioned. If i did not just ruin my chances i would like to converse with you in private once we get the chance. I found something that might be of interest to you
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
"Ah, a curious mind," Fredrick says to Karm. He turns toward Sego for a moment, asking, "Is this the representative from the Archive? Karn? Karm?"
He steers the group toward a large tent a bit far from the edge of the hole with Sego still remaining at the back of the group but close enough to Fredrick. The inside of the tent is chaos, unlike anything you have ever seen. There is a barely slept-on cot on the side, a large table in the middle with books and papers strewn about, and a large board with pictures, calculations, and runes written on it. Once in a while, a flying bird made of paper flies around the room.
Fredrick pulls a large box from underneath the large table and deposits it on the table, swiping books and papers off. Surprisingly, the fallen books and papers float in the air, never dropping to the ground. With a few presses on the surface of the box, it opens to reveal a strange instrument with a flat drill bit at the end.
"Transmutation is not an easy school of magic, but with the correct catalyst, we can bypass certain limitations imposed by the rules of transmutation," Fredrick explains. "One of the most powerful transmutation magic is one that enables the transmutation of simple dirt and dust into rare metals or even certain magical metals, and vice versa. Our proposal to hire an archmage from Timaril has been denied by their lack of trust and interest in the problem, so we have made a workaround. This device, paired with the Category-1 catalyst within the box you are transporting here as well as the light of Niskala this noon, will bypass the limitations of the spell to allow the transmutation of etheric amber into another material without the need for the power of an archmage. We are exploring new facets of the arcane arts by attempting to cast a high-powered ritual spell with technology. Don't worry, we have tried the device beforehand and it transmuted a small block of granite into pure platinum.
"I'll be happy to discuss it further with you and your institution after we deal with this hole. I keep telling them to upgrade and to be more open-minded, but the old farts never really take me seriously. Hopefully, you will be more receptive to new and unconventional ideas."
Karm he ensures
The archive does an important job and i think they do it well. But, one should not be afraid of change. And i am sure i have something that really could make a difference.
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Cob stays to the side while the others discuss names, and wizards and what might happen. While they walk back to the tents, Cob examines the leaf he plucked from the tree (if that was doable).
At mention of potions and rations, Cob asks about any other equipment that might be available. He pulls at his old leather armor. "Any chance you've an improvement over this? The ones with the metal rivets and studs? Just in case."
{{Cob, make a Sleight of Hand check if you are trying to not be noticed during your examination. Also, make an Arcana check.}}
"Not armor, no," Fredrick says to Cob, "but, perhaps this will help."
He pulls a short metal rod from his pocket and points it at each of you. He presses a button on the rod and a brief high-pitched noise shrieks from the rod. A shimmer of air swirl around each of your body for a moment.
{{He will cast Aid at 3rd level twice. You can add 10 Hit Points to your Hit Point maximum and current Hit Points for the next 8 hours.}}
"I stress once again that you will enter into an unknown place that may or may not contain creatures or obstacles that has never before seen nowadays. If you do agree, we will proceed with the preparation now. Sego, give them everything we can spare."
Sego nods and leads you to another tent where several shelves and racks are filled with supplies. She pulls a few vials of potions from the racks and a couple of bundles of equipment. Without even a single word, she also opens a chest and deposits five sacks.
{{The group can add 5 Potion of Healing, 5 Ration (1 day), 1 Hooded Lantern, 2 flasks of Oil, and 1 Crowbar. You can divy that up as you want. Each of you also get 1 silver and 50 copper.}}
Eremoz speaks up. “I don’t want to put forth the wrong impression. I’m willing to undertake this mission. However, I have a few questions. Why us and not the other escorts for the other packages? Also, once we are through and figure out what’s going on, how do we relay that to you? If we stop it, how do we get back?”
He looks around to his comrades and back to Fredrick. “I understand the need to keep things quiet, since this is a delicate situation. Yesterday, you gave us a box, a train ticket, and an end location. Today, you want to sent us through a wall that was put in place by the gods, to solve a problem that multiple brilliant minds can’t figure out, in an environment where we don’t even know if we can breath, eat, or drink. And that doesn’t even take into account any creatures or people that may be trying to kill us when we are there.”
Eremoz takes a deep breath. “Like I said, I’m willing to try, but at this point I feel like cannon fodder.”