Dreams Into Journey

Kysdiane follows Lia into the room and looks into the small box that Lia had gestured to earlier. He glances at the exchange between Avia and Gulgus but pays it no mind.

“You don’t look too bad, sir.” Renata smiles as she replies. She takes the cup of water from Avia and nods in appreciation, as she observes the statues of birdkind. “What’s in the box? Do we think it’s the sixth flying machine that’s missing?”

Arcana: 23

Anyone tried detect magic? Renata would want to see if the box contains the same kind of magic with the rest of the flying machines.

Renata closes her eyes, takes a minute as she ritual casts detect magic on the box and the other five bird machines. 

As Avia offers treats (which Gulgus graciously partakes) and help with repairs, Kysdiane and Lia inspect the box that Nessarian revealed.

Judging from the interior, it can a deal more than everyone currently in the facility. On one side near the wall, there is a lever that that is sticking straight upward on its fulcrum, it appears it could move forward and backward, to a degree. On the same side, on the wall near the opening is a series of four small glass domes lined up one on top of the other, separated by an inch.  Currently the top one has a very faint, flickering glow.

Renata first expands her magical senses for a rough analysis of each of the machines in the room. Nearly all of the flying machines, save for the one that was renovated, have a very minimal amount of magical charge remaining. The same case appears goes for the box that Kysdiane and Lia are looking at.

Needing a more in-depth look at what sorts of magic are at work, Renata takes some time cast a spell that highlights magical sources for her. Thanks to the much more-magically active Harrier, she is able to detect a number of crystals that are capable of storing and conducting evocation and transmutation magic. But they do have the capability of adjusting to other schools of magic. Similar crystals in varying sizes and numbers can be found in the other models, suggesting differing purposes:

• The Heron has the least amount of crystals, possibly suggesting an experimental project
• The Peregrine has a large amount of evocation and transmutation. The transmutation magic seems to be focused on keeping its structure intact.
• The Harrier has a heavy focus on evocation. Especially on tubes attached to the underside of its wings, which have signs of recent use.
• The Pelican, despite its size, has more of a transmutation charge focused in its interior, could the inside change at will?
• The Starling has an tremendous emphasis on evocation and abjuration magic, as if it was made to go to more hostile environments

As for the box, magic seems to be more of an accessory with some a minor evocation enchantment as well as a slightly more significant transmutation charge, possibly to keep it in working condition.

“The magic energy within the chamber seems to be very similar to these other machines,” after the spell ended, Renata comments, “the power of evocation would imply the forceful nature of these constructs, and transmutation to maintain their physical properties. I would guess they were perhaps projects of  a war, as I’m sure you’ve already seen its capabilities. “

Would Renata be able to open the box?

The box was already open  - in fact, it opened by itself - by the time Renata, Avia and Kysdiane arrived. What I described was in the inside.

Avia walks over "Let me see that, dear." She inspects it for a moment then says "Would you like me to help you? As you know I work with magical machines daily. I could also see if I can inspect those tomes for anything else. Or, if you are hungry I can cook a meal!" She then takes a twig out of her pocket and uses magical tinkering on it, making it glow and have a nice odor, smelling of a warm soup. She hands it to Renata for her to use. "So you can see."

“Thank you, Avia,” Renata takes Avia’s twig with both hands, and the warm, delicious smell that flowed over it brings back memories of her home. Her face flushes a little.

“Since the Harrier apparently leans a heavy emphasis on evocation magic, I believe we could use another one that would complement it well. Perhaps the Starling? It is spacious enough to carry multiple passengers. And its abjuration prowess should be able to protect it through danger, negating harm.” Renata suggests, before she walks over to the Heron and gently strokes it, as she continues, “The Heron seems to be unfinished, compared to the rest, it possesses a lot of less magic. We might be able to take it down for parts needed to assemble the other constructs.”

Arcana: 14

History: 19

Sleight of Hand: 13

"I don't understand much of the complexities of contraption building, but I''m pretty handy at figuring out things that fly," Kysdiane says gesturing to his boots. "I suppose I could try to help..."

Humming to himself, he begins to pick apart the Heron for parts and transfer them to other members of the group and then helping assemble them onto the Starling.

Arcana: 18
History: 4
Sleight of Hand: 4

Kysdiane will also cast guidance on himself adding a 4 to whichever of his checks is used.

"Poor Heron." Avia tries to help using mending to augment her fixing. 

Arcana: 7

History: 6

Sleight of Hand: 4

"So are we fixing these up prior to exploring further then?" Lia asks, glancing as the others move around the other constructs.

Wiping his brow as he works, Kysdiane responds, "I have a feeling exploration is going to be much easier if we can fly around!"

"Well I don't think any of those constructs are going to fit into that small box." Lia says, gesturing to the small room that she pointed out earlier. "I believe we all have to stand in there, to explore further in here..."

"Wait... We are supposed to stand in the box!?" Kysdiane exclaims. "I thought there was supposed to be something inside the box." He says as he stops working for a moment and looks inside the box again. "Why would we stand in a box," he mutters quietly, "Well I guess there is no harm in trying it... but we should probably get back to work after this."

"Yes, I believe it is some sort of transport." Lia says as she nods to the small room. "It was not there until we activated something, then it rose out of the floor." (Unless I am remembering that wrong...)

(@DragonDenn: You recall correctly)

"I guess we will use the teleporting box instead of the giant flying machines then..." Kysdiane mutters to himself in a bit of disbelief. "Today has just gotten weirder and weirder." He ponders for a moment before he turns back to Lia and says, "We have already started on the Starling, and even if it's not immediately useful now, having a flying transport that can carry all of us might come in handy at some point. Let's finish the Starling up, and then we can try the box. How does that sound?"

The group, deciding a larger transport might help - and a after a brief aside regarding the box that rose from the ground - agree on restoring the Starling.

Looking at what parts they need, they decide to cannibalize the simpler Heron in order to get the job done faster.

"Normally, I'd object to the destruction of such a marvel of magic and engineering." Nessarian says in an almost disappointed tone, "But considering that this tome describes its make in great detail, I might actually find out more from what is written than my own flawed observations."

As the reconstruction effort goes on, where one person lacks, another is more than able to make up for. After four hours of work, the Heron is only a shell of its former self while the Starling appears as if it was constructed only recently.

By this point, Kysidane would have removed his armor and it would be lying to the side while they were working. When they finally accomplish their task he lays on the ground staring up at the ceiling and lets out a loud sigh. "Well that was fun, but we should decide our next course of action. I don't really have a preference. Anybody else?"

"Well we have more of this place to check out." Lia says, nodding to the box. "That seems to be some sort of way between levels here, or at least that is my guess..." She has been helping as she can, but stays by her harier more often than not.