Zakhar looks up when the strangers arrive, still clearly recovering from both mental strain and physical injury. He seems almost dazed as his companions start talking with them but starts to come out of it as the conversation continues.
"Our luck with the authorities hasn't been great." He says quietly. "They tried to arrest us on site despite us not knowing where we are or why we were teleported here. If you try and talk to them maybe don't mention us..."
He trails off realizing what he started saying. He's fallen so low already. Before this mess he'd been the one with the power to arrest people. Now he's running from the law without fully understanding why.
Marduk taps one foot, taking in the responses in silence before giving a small chuckle at Sizzle's outburst. Then he shakes his head, "Well, no point in alerting the authorities I suppose. If there's even anyone to alert in this area." He sighs, frowning as he registers what Sizzle had said about being 'teleported away' and then Zakhar's words echo what the gnome said.
"Wait, so you were teleported here too? With no recollection as to why or how?"
He looks to Zakhar, "Fine. I have little faith in the law anyways."
Jessa again looks over at Marduk. "They seem a bit... odd. And they seem to be admitting to evading arrest." She had heard him mention he had little faith in the law, so she chose not to push the point. "It is odd they mention teleporting to a strange place. It does sound a bit little like our situation."
Finally, she calls out to Sizzle and Esta. "If you dislike this place, then where are you heading next? Perhaps we could travel with you for a bit. Is there a town or city nearby somewhere? But please, do tell us about this teleportation." She hopes they might more directly answer that question than they did when she asked about where they were.
Esta’s gaze softens slightly as Jessa speaks again—less suspicion, more curiosity this time. She nods once, slowly, and gestures toward the sarcophagus behind them.
“The only name we’ve found is etched there—Laxuelu,” she says. “No signs, no maps, no helpful spirits pointing the way. Just that. And a lot of silence.”
She glances toward the others, then back to the newcomers. “If you’re thinking of coming with us, you should know—this place doesn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat. We’ve been attacked, hunted, and nearly arrested, all without knowing why we’re here in the first place.”
Her voice is calm, but there’s a tired edge to it. “We’re still searching. For answers, for a way out, for a construct that might not even be here anymore. If you’re looking for a safe road or a friendly town, I haven’t seen one.”
She pauses, then adds, “But if you’re willing to walk into the unknown with your eyes open… then we won’t stop you.”As she lingers for their response, she adds "I believe the town was called Sigil, it was a new place for me until I woke there.. someone who claims to want to help us has asked us to come here, sent us by way of this teleportation device. And now we are here, and here we are."
"Sigil!" Jessa calls out when Esta mentions it. "Surely this is not Sigil. But it's nearby? Oh! This must be the Outlands! Fortitude should be here somewhere. I can just head there and I'll be right back home."
She seems to breathe a sigh of relief as she looks about. "Not quite sure how to orient ourselves here," she mumbles. "But I think maybe we could see the spire of Sigil."
"Yeah we woke up in a morgue..." The goblin says as he seems to calm down a bit. "I think it is safe to say that somehow our arrival was tied to death in some way... it wasn't easy getting out of there..." He pauses a bit longer and thinks a moment. "Strange that shortly after the death of our two companions we had two newcomers teleport to our location... I may not know what's going on exactly but I'm smart enough to know that it cannot be a coincidence."
"It seems two people showing up just as two of your companions died is exactly the sort of thing that would likely be a coincidence," Jessa says. "I can see your assumption about your arrival in a morgue somehow being about death. But we ended up just right over there." She points in the direction she and Marduk had come from. "That however," she points towards the impossibly tall spire in the distance, "is Sigil. I think if we just go there then I can get my bearings to Fortitude and be on my way." She looks at the others. "Which way are you folk going?"
Esta follows Jessa’s gesture toward the distant spire of Sigil, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she exhales through her nose, steadying herself.
“Well,” she says, voice quiet but firm, “we still need to find the automaton before we can think about heading back. It’s not here, so we’ll be continuing the search a while longer.”
She looks between Jessa and Marduk, her tone softening just slightly. “You’re welcome to come with us—if you’re serious. But if you do, understand this: whatever brought us here didn’t drop us into an adventure. It dropped us into something broken. Dangerous.”
Her eyes flick briefly toward the upper floor, then back. “We’ve already lost people. This place doesn’t care how well-armed or clever you are. If you’re coming, you need to be ready for that.”
She pauses, then adds with a faint, dry edge, “And if you’re not? That spire’s not going anywhere.”
Jessa seems uncertain about what to do. "Just how many companions have you lost?" she asks. "The way you said that makes it sound like it's more than just the two." She sighs, "Probably better to stick with others out here. But for your sakes I hope you're not up to no good."
Well there is definitely more to be learned further up the tower, but also at least 1 nasty thing, maybe more. Let's make a plan and hurry up before the guys upstairs get their chance to rest! :)
Esta’s jaw tightens slightly at the mention of heading back up the tower. Her eyes flick toward the stairwell, then quickly away again.
“I’d rather not go back up there,” she says, voice low but firm. “We’ve already seen what’s waiting in that library, and I’ve no interest in giving it another chance.”
She glances at the others—Sizzle, Zakhar, the newcomers—measuring their resolve.
“But if you’re all set on it… I’ll follow. Just know this: we go quiet, we go quick, and we do not linger in that room. We’re not ready for another fight like that.”
Her fingers tighten around her bow, not out of fear—but readiness. “If there’s something useful up there, fine. But we get in, we get out, and we keep moving. The longer we stay, the more likely we end up like the others.”
She doesn’t wait for agreement—just starts checking her gear, already preparing for the worst.
(Jessa has Divine Sense, so can detect good and evil within 60 ft. if she uses it. How far would that cover? Being outside I'm guessing it isn't the whole 1st floor? What is she were inside on the ground floor? Could she sense upstairs? Trying to get an idea of how much of an area it works in.)
(Yeah! If she stood right in the middle of the first floor she could hit the entire library within the walls. However, divine sense won't detect anything behind total cover, so unless something appears in the stairway up, she likely won't be able to detect anything up there without going up.)
"If you wish to go inside, I can detect the presence of undead, fiends, or celestials," Jessa says. "Perhaps I can locate the source of whatever attacked you so it can be avoided." She shrugs, "If you think there's something here we should check out. It's not my expedition." She pauses, adding, "Why are you looking for this automaton anyhow? Did you lose it?"
Marduk listens silently for a moment, a small and rather mirthless smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as the conversation unfolds. "Coincidence or not we are here now... and I honestly can't say I have much of a reason to stay. Though at the same time I don't have a destination in mind so perhaps sticking around wouldn't be a bad idea, for the time anyways."He looks to Jessa, wondering if she would simply head off for Fortitude. When she instead offers aid to these... well, possible thieves, he just shrugs.
"Yes that is a good question, why are you looking for this automaton? I'm assuming it has something to do with this 'individual who claims they can help you, but why do they want it? I'm assuming they lost it correct? Or are they hoping you'll steal it for them?" He pauses for a moment, eyes glittering as his gaze passes over each of them. He shifts his stance, still keeping his hands in his pockets as he lets out a breath, "Besides, what is she claiming she can help you with? Are you trying to return to your homes? Or are you just hoping for answers as to why you were teleported into a morgue? Hell, how do you know this person isn't the one responsible for teleporting you into the morgue in the first place, considering they so conveniently could teleport you here."
He shrugs again, "Ah, I suppose it doesn't matter. If you are here up to no good then why would you tell me? If you're being used then I suppose it's your own problem to figure that out as I don't have all the information. I hope for your sakes that this is neither of those options and that this individual really will help you with... whatever it is you need help with." He frowns, "Or does this have anything to do with you running from the law?"
As you all decide what to do exactly, anyone who wants to look upstairs, perhaps toward the room where the previous victims died, they might see a large, ugly demonic creature shuffling about in the room.
Jessa sighs as it seems this group is just simply not very talkative. She walks inside, to where the stair ascends. She focuses her senses to try to detect any sources of good or evil that might be present. (Divine Sense - Until the end of your next turn, you can sense anything affected by the hallow spell or know the location of any celestial, fiend, undead within 60 ft. that is not behind total cover.) She then moves up the stairs.
Zakhar looks up when the strangers arrive, still clearly recovering from both mental strain and physical injury. He seems almost dazed as his companions start talking with them but starts to come out of it as the conversation continues.
"Our luck with the authorities hasn't been great." He says quietly. "They tried to arrest us on site despite us not knowing where we are or why we were teleported here. If you try and talk to them maybe don't mention us..."
He trails off realizing what he started saying. He's fallen so low already. Before this mess he'd been the one with the power to arrest people. Now he's running from the law without fully understanding why.
Marduk taps one foot, taking in the responses in silence before giving a small chuckle at Sizzle's outburst. Then he shakes his head, "Well, no point in alerting the authorities I suppose. If there's even anyone to alert in this area." He sighs, frowning as he registers what Sizzle had said about being 'teleported away' and then Zakhar's words echo what the gnome said.
"Wait, so you were teleported here too? With no recollection as to why or how?"
He looks to Zakhar, "Fine. I have little faith in the law anyways."
Jessa again looks over at Marduk. "They seem a bit... odd. And they seem to be admitting to evading arrest." She had heard him mention he had little faith in the law, so she chose not to push the point. "It is odd they mention teleporting to a strange place. It does sound a bit little like our situation."
Finally, she calls out to Sizzle and Esta. "If you dislike this place, then where are you heading next? Perhaps we could travel with you for a bit. Is there a town or city nearby somewhere? But please, do tell us about this teleportation." She hopes they might more directly answer that question than they did when she asked about where they were.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Esta’s gaze softens slightly as Jessa speaks again—less suspicion, more curiosity this time. She nods once, slowly, and gestures toward the sarcophagus behind them.
“The only name we’ve found is etched there—Laxuelu,” she says. “No signs, no maps, no helpful spirits pointing the way. Just that. And a lot of silence.”
She glances toward the others, then back to the newcomers. “If you’re thinking of coming with us, you should know—this place doesn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat. We’ve been attacked, hunted, and nearly arrested, all without knowing why we’re here in the first place.”
Her voice is calm, but there’s a tired edge to it. “We’re still searching. For answers, for a way out, for a construct that might not even be here anymore. If you’re looking for a safe road or a friendly town, I haven’t seen one.”
She pauses, then adds, “But if you’re willing to walk into the unknown with your eyes open… then we won’t stop you.” As she lingers for their response, she adds "I believe the town was called Sigil, it was a new place for me until I woke there.. someone who claims to want to help us has asked us to come here, sent us by way of this teleportation device. And now we are here, and here we are."
"Sigil!" Jessa calls out when Esta mentions it. "Surely this is not Sigil. But it's nearby? Oh! This must be the Outlands! Fortitude should be here somewhere. I can just head there and I'll be right back home."
She seems to breathe a sigh of relief as she looks about. "Not quite sure how to orient ourselves here," she mumbles. "But I think maybe we could see the spire of Sigil."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
It is not hard at all to find the spire of Sigil, as the impossibly tall tower rises beyond sight in the distance.
"Yeah we woke up in a morgue..." The goblin says as he seems to calm down a bit. "I think it is safe to say that somehow our arrival was tied to death in some way... it wasn't easy getting out of there..." He pauses a bit longer and thinks a moment. "Strange that shortly after the death of our two companions we had two newcomers teleport to our location... I may not know what's going on exactly but I'm smart enough to know that it cannot be a coincidence."
"It seems two people showing up just as two of your companions died is exactly the sort of thing that would likely be a coincidence," Jessa says. "I can see your assumption about your arrival in a morgue somehow being about death. But we ended up just right over there." She points in the direction she and Marduk had come from. "That however," she points towards the impossibly tall spire in the distance, "is Sigil. I think if we just go there then I can get my bearings to Fortitude and be on my way." She looks at the others. "Which way are you folk going?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Esta follows Jessa’s gesture toward the distant spire of Sigil, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she exhales through her nose, steadying herself.
“Well,” she says, voice quiet but firm, “we still need to find the automaton before we can think about heading back. It’s not here, so we’ll be continuing the search a while longer.”
She looks between Jessa and Marduk, her tone softening just slightly. “You’re welcome to come with us—if you’re serious. But if you do, understand this: whatever brought us here didn’t drop us into an adventure. It dropped us into something broken. Dangerous.”
Her eyes flick briefly toward the upper floor, then back. “We’ve already lost people. This place doesn’t care how well-armed or clever you are. If you’re coming, you need to be ready for that.”
She pauses, then adds with a faint, dry edge, “And if you’re not? That spire’s not going anywhere.”
Sizzle nods and turns a small knob on the side of his strange wand, prompting it to krackle with energy. "I'm ready to go."
ooc: I will be on vacation and won't be back until next Saturday. I may not be able to post so please feel free to bot me as needed.
(Have a safe and great vacation! :) )
Jessa seems uncertain about what to do. "Just how many companions have you lost?" she asks. "The way you said that makes it sound like it's more than just the two." She sighs, "Probably better to stick with others out here. But for your sakes I hope you're not up to no good."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Well there is definitely more to be learned further up the tower, but also at least 1 nasty thing, maybe more. Let's make a plan and hurry up before the guys upstairs get their chance to rest! :)
Esta’s jaw tightens slightly at the mention of heading back up the tower. Her eyes flick toward the stairwell, then quickly away again.
“I’d rather not go back up there,” she says, voice low but firm. “We’ve already seen what’s waiting in that library, and I’ve no interest in giving it another chance.”
She glances at the others—Sizzle, Zakhar, the newcomers—measuring their resolve.
“But if you’re all set on it… I’ll follow. Just know this: we go quiet, we go quick, and we do not linger in that room. We’re not ready for another fight like that.”
Her fingers tighten around her bow, not out of fear—but readiness. “If there’s something useful up there, fine. But we get in, we get out, and we keep moving. The longer we stay, the more likely we end up like the others.”
She doesn’t wait for agreement—just starts checking her gear, already preparing for the worst.
(Jessa has Divine Sense, so can detect good and evil within 60 ft. if she uses it. How far would that cover? Being outside I'm guessing it isn't the whole 1st floor? What is she were inside on the ground floor? Could she sense upstairs? Trying to get an idea of how much of an area it works in.)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
(Yeah! If she stood right in the middle of the first floor she could hit the entire library within the walls. However, divine sense won't detect anything behind total cover, so unless something appears in the stairway up, she likely won't be able to detect anything up there without going up.)
"If you wish to go inside, I can detect the presence of undead, fiends, or celestials," Jessa says. "Perhaps I can locate the source of whatever attacked you so it can be avoided." She shrugs, "If you think there's something here we should check out. It's not my expedition." She pauses, adding, "Why are you looking for this automaton anyhow? Did you lose it?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Marduk listens silently for a moment, a small and rather mirthless smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as the conversation unfolds. "Coincidence or not we are here now... and I honestly can't say I have much of a reason to stay. Though at the same time I don't have a destination in mind so perhaps sticking around wouldn't be a bad idea, for the time anyways." He looks to Jessa, wondering if she would simply head off for Fortitude. When she instead offers aid to these... well, possible thieves, he just shrugs.
"Yes that is a good question, why are you looking for this automaton? I'm assuming it has something to do with this 'individual who claims they can help you, but why do they want it? I'm assuming they lost it correct? Or are they hoping you'll steal it for them?" He pauses for a moment, eyes glittering as his gaze passes over each of them. He shifts his stance, still keeping his hands in his pockets as he lets out a breath, "Besides, what is she claiming she can help you with? Are you trying to return to your homes? Or are you just hoping for answers as to why you were teleported into a morgue? Hell, how do you know this person isn't the one responsible for teleporting you into the morgue in the first place, considering they so conveniently could teleport you here."
He shrugs again, "Ah, I suppose it doesn't matter. If you are here up to no good then why would you tell me? If you're being used then I suppose it's your own problem to figure that out as I don't have all the information. I hope for your sakes that this is neither of those options and that this individual really will help you with... whatever it is you need help with." He frowns, "Or does this have anything to do with you running from the law?"
As you all decide what to do exactly, anyone who wants to look upstairs, perhaps toward the room where the previous victims died, they might see a large, ugly demonic creature shuffling about in the room.
Jessa sighs as it seems this group is just simply not very talkative. She walks inside, to where the stair ascends. She focuses her senses to try to detect any sources of good or evil that might be present. (Divine Sense - Until the end of your next turn, you can sense anything affected by the hallow spell or know the location of any celestial, fiend, undead within 60 ft. that is not behind total cover.) She then moves up the stairs.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer