(I had a feeling there wouldn't be a problem, but I'm kinda conditioned to avoid it, ya know :P )
Seeing Toma, I chase after him. I need to talk to him about his research and the burning library it's in. "Toma! I need to talk to you about your research," I call as I run after him.
I try to reach out to the baby dragon with my mind, to see if it will come to me. I am concerned for the fact that it is frustrated, but am not willing to go back down into the sea of gold. I surmise that the wyrm flying above may be some kind of illusion, but I keep on my guard.
[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Zataka...
[indent]~~~~~
You boost Sancireph up on one of the hedges. He tells you there are PEOPLE wandering the maze grounds but they don't look like your companions and he doesn't recognize them from your earlier visit to the grounds.
You raise your greatsword to slash at the hedge maze. Sancireph warns against it but you take the initiative and with two slashes cut an opening the the wall of topiary. Stepping back expecting a retaliation, you are surprised to see that the plants are simply trying to grow back together. You are also startled that your actions didn't create a new door leading to another part of the mansion.
You step through the opening before it closes. Sancireph calls out to you, but you know there are people in this maze and they need to be rescued. You trample your way through the maze, somewhat startled by how easily you are able to circumvent its natural defenses. Something about this place is bolstering your might. Is it proximity to your home dimension? You can't say for sure.
You find a man first. He says he's a travelling salesman and he and his employees wandered into the hedge maze when the front door was locked. You ask him about TELIVAR but he says he just knew the mayor lived here and he was looking to make a sale. You tell him to follow you and proceed to collect all of his employees and lead them back to the fountain at the center of the maze.
Though these people do not seem to know much about the wizard, your actions have taught you that while this dimension plays musical chairs with doors, the WALLS seem to lead to the right places.
Sancireph mentions that the lattice arches are kind of like doors and you might be able to open a connection to another part of the grounds or back into the mansion if you think about the right things. The air here is starting to make you itch.
~~~~~[/indent]
Sancireph opens the lattice arch. It leads into a COAL MINE. As the air is making your skin itch, you go in first and tell the SALESMAN to follow.
There are miners in this cavern suffering from various stages of PETRIFICATION. Many of them have had more than half of their bodies turned to stone, only wielding the picks because they are locked into their frozen digits.
As you ponder what could cause such a thing, TOMA and MALICHOR approach.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Sancireph...
[indent]~~~~~
Zataka boosts you up onto one of the hedges. All you can see is a vortex in all directions beyond the maze, as if you are hovering over an abyss. You spot people wandering the maze grounds but they don't look like your companions and you don't recognize them from your earlier visit to the grounds. You share your findings with Zataka
Zataka raises his greatsword to slash at the hedge maze. You warn against it but he slashes away anyway and creates an opening. It quickly starts to seal up but he leaps through before it closes. Fretting the loss of another companion, you start to look around for a way to assess the danger in this maze. Everything feels so pleasant, though... almost alarmingly so. You feel strangely comfortable standing in the wilderness. Closing your eyes, you focus your attention on your other senses. There's pollen everywhere. But it's laced with something, like back in the Filthy Rabbit Tavern. Magic? Is it residual from the creation of the maze, or something more sinister. You reflect on what Toma said; you've been thrust into a dimensional pocket and because Telivar cast the spell his magical signature is permeating the space. But he's suffering from dragon corruption, so that poison could be seeping into you simply by its presence. You feel one of the pollen clusters land on your skin. It burns and leaves an itching sensation. Opening your eyes you focus your attention on the spot. You can't see anything but a red mark, but taking out a pair of reading glasses you look closer and see a tiny dragon trying to burrow its way into your body. You flick it off.
Coming to the realization of the danger, you affirm that the more magical the space you occupy, the worse the risk of contamination.
Zataka returns with a crowd of merchants. Not wishing to alarm him you keep your discovery to yourself... for now.
You mention that the lattice arches are kind of like doors and you might be able to open a connection to another part of the grounds or back into the mansion if you think about the right things. The air here is starting to make you itch.
~~~~~[/indent]
You open the lattice arch, thinking of Malichor. It leads into the COAL MINE from before. Zataka goes through first, followed by the merchants. You are the last to enter.
There are miners in this cavern suffering from various stages of PETRIFICATION. Many of them have had more than half of their bodies turned to stone, only wielding the picks because they are locked into their frozen digits.
As you wonder if Telivar is to blame, TOMA and MALICHOR approach.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=38796]Xyvol[/MENTION]
Malichor...
[indent]~~~~~
It seems that though this paradimension is scrambled it is attempting to stabilize into a concrete reality; once a door connects to a location the two spaces are joined by the opening, meaning that door will always connect those to spaces. To that end you realize the best way to navigate this place is to find doors and open them so that the dimension stabilized. But you fret when you come to this realization; if the dimension is trying to stabilize and it's full of dragons, what impact are you actions having on other realities (particularly the one you wish to return to)?
You approach a miner whose face has not petrified and ask him who he is working for.
"The Colony"
He doesn't seem to pay much attention to you. You mention you can treat his petrification, though, and this catches his attention.
"You... you're the man he spoke of."
You ask who.
"My grandfather said our savior promised a man would come who could undo the damage."
You're confused. Still, you wrap his arm in paper and tell him it will heal over time as your magic takes effect.
"Magic that isn't contaminated! I can't believe it, you really are the man of legend!"
You ask him what he's talking about.
"He brought us down here to protect us from the black sky. See, the dragons stole the sun, and the poison of their influence destroyed most of the surface world. He brought us down here to protect us, and used the last of his power to fend off the corruption."
You ask if it was Telivar
"Telivar? I've never heard that name before. No, our great savior's name has been lost to the ages. He used the last of his magic to turn the corruption to stone, so that one day someone with the power to fix it might revive us. In doing so he too was turned to stone; he still sleeps in the center of our settlement."
You ask what they are mining.
"Coal. It's too cold to survive by burning fire, and the trees don't grow quickly enough."
He seems perplexed.
"How do you not know of the black sky? Where are you from?"
You begin to feel theatrical and you hush him, saying it is part of the mystery.
You see Toma approach. He sees that the door has been opened, curses, and then runs down the tunnel to the right before you can talk to him. Could thinking about Toma as you opened the door have brought you to this place? It does seem rather coincidental that he's here.
~~~~~[/indent]
You chase after him, eager to warn him that his Magister's Thesis is about to go up in smoke. But you're having trouble catching up to him. You finally stop him in a cavernous section of the mine, where a campsite seems to have been erected around a single statue in the center. You suspect this is the colony of which the miner spoke. Toma is standing stunned, staring at the statue. You lean in to get a good look and are startled by what you find. It's a statue of TOMA. Granted, he looks quite a bit older but you can still recognize his key features.
"What... what is this? Another phantom? This wretched place is playing games on my mind."
He turns around and sees you. You mention his thesis is in a burning library.
"That's not important right now. We have to find master Telivar. Every moment we spend in this awful place his corruption is spreading across the mansion, his body, and even into us. We have got to find him and calm him down before it's too late."
One of the tents opens its folds, and from it springs Zataka, a group of travelling MERCHANTS, and Sancireph.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=38528]SUCCESSOR[/MENTION]
Reven, you try the door and find that it is indeed locked, but that isn't a problem for you. You take out a vial of acidic venom and smear it on the lock, causing it to pop with a satisfying click as the door gently swings open. Leaning in to take in your surroundings, you notice that the door leads to the AVIARY. It's dark, save for a few sources of light you can't pinpoint casting shadows from the statues. You feel the gentle warmth of fire somewhere high above you. Looking up, you see a crest of burning feathers resting on the catwalk one floor up. There's a PHOENIX sleeping in here! You've heard all sorts of rumors about phoenix down and its mysterious properties. You also wonder how your PARTNER would react to an honest-to-goodness phoenix, but she's been pretty quiet as of late.
The thing hasn't spotted you yet.
[Act Medias Res]
Dance with a Phoenix (Filled)
[indent]~~~~~
Plundering Plumage
~~~~~[/indent]
[/Act Medias Res]
You notice the three red pearls in the clutches of the three statues on this level are pulsating, as if reacting to the heat of the bird. There's a switch at the bottom of each statue, but their shadows are dancing as if they're alive and you are filled with a crushing sense of dread as you get close.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=39056]bigjoe[/MENTION]
Jerias, you reach out to your little green ward with your mind, hoping to draw him back from the madness he's fallen into. You can hear his thoughts as you focus on him.
"This is all wrong, this is all wrong. It was supposed to be MY gold, MY influence. It's too soon to go back, what is that rotten wizard thinking?"
He notices you and flies up.
"What are you doing here, dragoon? Oh, nevermind, you can help me either way."
[Act Medias Res]
Interrogating an Adolescent Dragon (Filled)
[indent]~~~~~
About Atticas's thirst for gold
~~~~~[/indent]
[/Act Medias Res]
You allow the little lizard to climb back into the sling on your back and, finished in the graveyard, you return to the HALL OF MIRRORS. Upon seeing the HAIL OF ARROWS your partner snickers and lets loose a bolt of green lightning from his mouth. It scatters the darts, knocking them to the floor and then disintegrating them until only one remains.
"Now then... where could that wizard be hiding?"
You know there are several doors out of this HALL OF MIRRORS, and you know that one leads to the BURNING LIBRARY and one leads back to TELIVAR'S CABIN. There's also a door open leading to a HEDGE MAZE and a door open leading to one of the OUBLIETTES, though you get a sense of vertigo as you approach it and you are wary of entering.
What do you do?
I mention to Malichor that I was looking for him. "We came to this place together, and if we are to leave it, we should do so the same way." To Toma, I say "Your master, Telivar, has done more damage than can ever undo. I don't care what his purposes were, or if he is even still alive now. Personally, I hope he is dead and being tormented in the Abyss as he deserves. You may accompany us if you wish, but you follow us, not the other way around." Then I ask my companions "Now that we know how these doors work, what is our next destination? I would personally like to get away from this place as soon as we can."
I suggest that we at least find a way to get the merchant out to safety. If we can find more than one door, using one to open a way outside of the mansion would be idle for that. While I am not fond of Telivar's methods, we can't let what is transpiring here bring the rest of the world down with it. We should also find him and deal with this mess as quickly as possible. I inquire with Toma on any ideas or information he might have, though I warn that my patience is wearing thin and that we all must co-operate if we are to live this day.
[Act Medias Res]
I first ask the dragon why it desired the gold. I want to be sure that it had a good reason for bringing me into this peril. As I journey into the realms of higher thought, I have developed an ability to question things. I want to be sure the dragon is on the same level, and that we can have a mutual understanding. I then ask the hatchling what its connection to the wizard is. Finally, I ask how I can help it.
[/Act Medias Res]
I take the door leading into the hedge maze. Somehow, I get the feeling that the wizard would shield his location behind a challenge such as a maze.
Sancireph appears to have a grudge against Telivar, so I try to speak quickly. “Telivar isn’t the only one to blame for what is happening. It all of us! All of us who use magic are what’s causing these worlds to bleed into one another.” I try to explain all I’ve learned since coming to the mansion, about stolen physics, about corruption on everyday magic. “Toma, your thesis is the key to understanding this, but now that the library is in flames, we need you!” I tell him that his placebo theory works, that it drives away the corruption. To the rest of the group, I say “Go, take those merchants to safety outside the mansion. But I need to find Telivar in order to solve this.”
[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION] [MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION] [MENTION=38796]Xyvol[/MENTION]
Sancireph, Zataka, and Malichor...
Having reunited as a trio, you three begin to discuss your options.
Sancireph rants that Telivar is to blame for everything and he needs to quickly meet with a painful death.
Malichor interrupts, explaining that the events that are transpiring here are not Telivar's fault alone but the consequence of ALL magic users. He goes on to detail how Toma's thesis describes the practice of magic as a series of rituals used to disguise a theft of reality.
Toma corrects him.
"Actually, I only explored the fact that magic works without the trappings of tradition."
He pauses for a moment.
"Wait, is that what's happening?"
Malichor corrects himself and says that Telivar told him about the theft of magic, a discovery he only learned upon being tainted during a dragon attack.
Zataka interrupts, saying that the priority now should not be placing blame but finding a way to safety for both yourselves and the bystanders you have encountered. He suggests opening a door to the exterior of the mansion.
Toma interrupts again:
"No, that won't work. Master Telivar is powerful but he isn't that powerful. In the misfire of his spell he's drawn us into this INTERSPACE, but I doubt it extends beyond the mansion grounds. The only way out is to counteract the spell, and the only person here powerful enough to do that would be Telivar himself"
Malichor points to the statue and asks 'What about him'? Toma shakes his head.
"All of this is just some figment... an echo from the ghost world. That's not a real wizard. It's just some terror given form by the properties of this place"
The merchant leader pipes up this time.
"Sir, I most certainly am NOT a figment, and I resent the implication. I am the great merchant chief Beymond Franks, renowned across the continent! And you and your supposed master are a couple of hapless wizards!"
[Act Medias Res]
Argument about the Colony (Filled) {Zataka, Malichor}, (Closed) {Sancireph}
[indent]~~~~~
Zataka - Isn't the resemblance uncanny?
Malichor - Figments don't have mass.
~~~~~[/indent]
[/Act Medias Res]
Toma shouts
"ENOUGH! We're not getting anywhere by arguing and each minute we spend here is causing more of the dragon corruption to leech into our bodies. Let's find a door and go to the master; then when this is all resolved you can do whatever you like. Leave, preferably."
He goes to one of the tents and throws the folds open. The opening leads to a swirling ellipsoid mass of book pages hovering above a bed in a small tavern room.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=39056]bigjoe[/MENTION]
Jerias...
[indent]~~~~~
You can hear his thoughts as you focus on him.
"This is all wrong, this is all wrong. It was supposed to be MY gold, MY influence. It's too soon to go back, what is that rotten wizard thinking?"
He notices you and flies up.
"What are you doing here, dragoon? Oh, nevermind, you can help me either way."You ask why the dragon was after the gold
"Well, outside of rolling around in it like a fluffy pile of snow? This gold reaches every corner of the world. Telivar has lots of connections and his business acumen is astounding. If I could just leave a trace of my influence on the gold before it goes out, then my reach would likewise cover the entire world!
...But the damn wizard had to go and get attacked by a different dragon. The wizard won't be a wizard for much longer and then this gold isn't going to go anywhere. And even if it did, it's got the stink of HIS magic on it, not mine. Dammit."
You ask what the dragon was hoping to achieve by spreading influence with the gold.
"You're one of us now... almost. You've felt it. The hunger; the need to feed the fire. We don't have to get by simply chomping smaller lives. There are other ways to warm the heart. And to be loved... well, it's much more pleasant than flossing sheep bones out of your teeth, if you know what I mean. That's what I want."
You mention that you were protecting him.
"That's different. I mean, you HAD to do that. Or at least you should have... I, uh, I kind of got the process wrong when I brought you back. But what was I supposed to do?! I hadn't even hatched yet, and you had the gall to die on top of me!"
You ask what he means.
"Making a lizardfolk is a very intricate process. It involves converting what you were in this dimension into the equivalent being you would have been in our dimension. But I didn't really know what I was doing, so you just sort of got mashed together."
He pauses for a moment.
"For what it's worth... I'm sorry I did this to you."
He looks at you.
"Not that you didn't deserve it, dying on top of me like that you big jerk!"
He seems uncomfortable with the direction the conversation has taken.
"Anyway, uh, whatever your name is... we should find that wizard and get him to stop casting this spell. I'm not comfortable being so close to the homefront at the moment, I haven't accomplished what I set out to do when I came over here and I don't want to be yanked back before I'm finished."
You tell him your name is Jerias.
"Nice to meet you, Jerias. I mean, the part of you that I didn't scramble like a bird's egg omelette. My name's Atticas."
You allow the little lizard to climb back into the sling on your back and, finished in the graveyard, you return to the HALL OF MIRRORS. Upon seeing the HAIL OF ARROWS your partner snickers and lets loose a bolt of green lightning from his mouth. It scatters the darts, knocking them to the floor and then disintegrating them until only one remains.
"Now then... where could that wizard be hiding?"
~~~~~[/indent]
You make your way to the HEDGE MAZE, finding a statue of an ANGEL and an open section of hedge bizarrely leading into a COAL MINE. Looking beyond you can see the MAGE, the PALADIN, and a half-elf RAVAGER arguing about the lord of the mansion and the predicament they are in.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=38528]SUCCESSOR[/MENTION]
Reven, the Phoenix departs with an inferno that envelops the room. As its flames lick the walls the malevolent shadows are dispelled. You feel much safer than you did before.
The AVIARY has at least four exits not counting the one you entered: Stairs that SHOULD go down to the WINE CELLAR, the door you originally took into the HALL OF MIRRORS, the door on the second floor which should lead to the LOBBY BALCONY, and a door you are unfamiliar with. Of course, with this dimension of monsters there's no way to know where ANY of these doors lead, but you feel tempted to try one.
What do you do?
I concede that perhaps Telivar is not wholly to blame, but it was he who began all this when he allowed the man from the tavern to take the tainted gold in the first place. However, finding ourselves and these merchants a way out of here is what is most important. As for Telivar, I much prefer to leave him to his fate, but for now I will whatever course of action is most to our benefit, even if it means aiding him. I go to one of the doorways we have not yet opened and focus on the hillside outside the mansion grounds from when we first approached earlier. I motion my companions and the refugees over this way and open the doorway.
[Act Medias Res]
Argument about the Colony
I would argue that even if it is a figment, perhaps understanding it might help with our escape. Besides, the resemblance between Toma and the statue is uncanny. We cannot rule out that as a mere phantom or even coincidence.
[/Act Medias Res]
I take a quick look into the tavern before anyone else steps through. I wish to make sure its safe before we let the merchants enter at the very least. Once I confirm there is no immediate threat, I enter the tavern and let the others know its safe. I keep my greatsword in front of me, ready to use it to block any incoming attacks.
I try to look for a way to sneak around the three who are arguing; I have no interest in their affairs right now, and they might not take so kindly to the presence of Atticas, should they discover him. I also take time to inquire of Atticas if he can scout for other ways out of the maze.
(My post got deleted or isn't showing. Reposting)
I try to look for a way to sneak around the three who are arguing; I have no interest in their affairs right now, and they might not take so kindly to the presence of Atticas, should they discover him. I also take time to inquire of Atticas if he can scout for other ways out of the maze.
(Yeah, we were having some database issues but it seems to be all repaired now. Thank you for your patience and understanding)
==================================================
Telivar Chronicle Concluding
The scrambled mansion, as well as the Telivar chronicle in general, will be closing within the next three updates (including this one depending on your actions). At that time, any open magenta-colored ACT MEDIAS RES gaps will also close, as their ability to impact the conclusion of this chronicle would necessitate a need for retcon.
I am eager to move into the next chronicle which will be more grounded and less cataclysmic in scope. It will also allow the ready introduction of new characters (for anyone waiting to join in or any current player looking to increase their character load), so I'm really excited about moving into the next stretch of the story (I'm also sick of tracking doors... there are 42 doors in the mansion proper as well as who knows how many on the grounds... not to mention the fact I have to remember which doors are already in use. It's maddening).
I planned three endings for the Telivar scenario. At least one player is working towards each ending. But interestingly enough one of the players has inspired the possibility of a fourth ending which I had not considered. So I've concocted a fifth. Therefore the first player to deal with Telivar will have their ending triggered, effectively closing the chronicle.
==================================================
=====
[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Sancireph, you open a door hoping it will lead to the hill outside the mansion, and in a small way it does. You see the gate to the mansion grounds, and turning back to look at the door it is indeed the front entrance. However, between you and the gate is nothing but a narrow strip of land, with a terrible abyss looming beneath. It looks wide enough to cross comfortably single file, but that doesn't help much. There doesn't appear to be anything beyond the gate, just a cliff to the darkness below. Perhaps Toma is right, it seems that the scrambled space only extends as far as the mansion grounds.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Zataka, as you enter the small inn bedroom... the kind you might see in a tavern, you take a close look at the whirling mass of pages. It almost looks like a cocoon, or perhaps some kind of egg. You take a quick slash at it with your great sword and scatter some of the pages, managing to catch a glimpse at what is inside. It's the lord of the mansion, TELIVAR. He still seems to be wrought with panic, and when you try to call out to him he does not respond. There must be some way to CALM HIM DOWN. You think about the argument you just had with the others about the COLONY IN THE COAL MINE.
[indent]~~~~~
Malichor points to the statue and asks 'What about him'? Toma shakes his head.
"All of this is just some figment... an echo from the ghost world. That's not a real wizard. It's just some terror given form by the properties of this place"
The merchant leader pipes up this time.
"Sir, I most certainly am NOT a figment, and I resent the implication. I am the great merchant chief Beymond Franks, renowned across the continent! And you and your supposed master are a couple of hapless wizards!"
You chime in: "You have to admit the resemblance is uncanny. Even if it is a figment, perhaps understanding it might help with our escape. We cannot rule out that as a mere phantom or even coincidence."
Toma seems resistant to budging on his opinion. You can't stand when people are stubborn like this. You take a closer look at the statue.
The level of detail is exacting; you've seen this kind of petrification before in your home dimension. There's no sign of chisel marks on the body, so he's clearly alive (or at least he was). You don't recall if there is any way to reverse the process on a fully fossilized specimen. After all... it's just rock at this point. Maybe if you could find some incredibly positively charged medicine, like say a Phoenix feather. But where would you even look for such a thing?
Malichor scolds him, explaining that he was able to touch one of the miners and that phantom images don't have mass.
"But we're standing in a ghost world. Who says the rules aren't different here?" Toma retorts.
Malichor shake your head, citing a lack of necessity for the logic. He explains it is better to start with the assumption that the rules are the same and then test for discrepancies.
Toma shouts
"ENOUGH! We're not getting anywhere by arguing and each minute we spend here is causing more of the dragon corruption to leech into our bodies. Let's find a door and go to the master; then when this is all resolved you can do whatever you like. Leave, preferably."
~~~~~[/indent]
If only there were a way to revive the petrified version of Toma. Perhaps he could dispel the phantom realm you now occupy.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=39056]bigjoe[/MENTION]
Jerias, you lean in to try to understand the bizarre coal mine positioned at the middle of a hedge maze. It is then you notice that a lattice archway is framing the scene. You realize this is just another door portal like the ones you've encountered before, so you quietly grab the hedge on its sides and pull it shut, effectively closing the portal. Turning to Atticas, you ask him to fly up and scout the maze. He soars skyward and looks around but seems puzzled.
"It's just floating in the middle of nowhere. What's with this place? Even back home we don't have messes like this."
He returns to your back.
"I don't know, even if we made it to the edge of the maze, it's just an abyss. And I'm not strong enough to carry you while I fly. Maybe we could open another door, like the one you just closed. That wizard's got to be around here somewhere."
You navigate the maze until you find another closed patch of lattice. Thinking of the wizard, you try to open it. It won't budge.
"Huh, that's odd. Shouldn't it go where we want? I thought that's how this works?"
You pause for a minute, then you come to an epiphany. All the doors to the wizard must already be open. You tell Atticas.
"Great, so we have to find a door that's already been opened? Where do we start?"
You could keep checking doors in the hedge, confident that they won't move if you're thinking of Telivar. Or you could try going back to the places you've already searched; perhaps he's connected to one of those rooms. The BURNING LIBRARY comes to mind as a good candidate.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=38796]Xyvol[/MENTION]
Malichor, you're standing in front of the STATUE OF FUTURE TOMA with PRESENT TOMA refuting its authenticity. You wonder if the placebo effect of a paper charm would work on something that's already gone.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=38528]SUCCESSOR[/MENTION]
Reven, you're still in the aviary. You ponder your brush with the PHOENIX. What happened? It's almost hard to remember. A slew of doors are available to you. You could try to find those other people who were wandering around the mansion, or try to find the wizard to end this madness.
What do you do?
Returning to the hedge maze, I report my findings to my companions. Getting out of here that way is not an option. Much as it irks me, I suggest we find Telivar to find out how to stop this chaos. If he can help us, I'll repay him by letting him live. I come to a realization and tell my companions: "It's unlikely that the coal mine is part of the mansion. Perhaps we can escape that way? There must be a passage to the surface through there."
I inform my comrades of my findings and of the current state of the tavern, which seems to be safe at the moment. I ask Toma if he has any suggestions. I keep in mind about the statue and any possible means of acquiring a phoenix feather (I bring this up at the next chance I can to the others, and ask Toma if he knows if there are any feathers in the mansion, perhaps used as writing quills, etc)
I begin to think.. maybe not all doors take the shape of an entrance. Maybe the door that leads to Telivar is of a different nature. I scour my thoughts for any clue that might lead in the direction of Telivar. I think of the dragon that flew overhead, a mere illusion. What is reality but awareness? An idea reaches mine. I instruct Atticas that we should burn the hedge maze. I begin to set fire to some of the hedges, hoping that Atticas will see the deeper picture and follow my lead. If doors that open from touch do not lead to Telivar, then perhaps a doorway of synchronicity will.
[Act Medias Res]
Argument about the Colony
I point out that I wrapped one of the miners arms in paper, and I couldn't have had physical contact if he were merely a figment. I also relate the belief that the statue is their savior.
[/Act Medias Res]
(If I still have time before the update...)
While waiting for Toma to proceed into the tavern, I study the statue version of the savior. Hearing Zataka's remark about a phoenix feather brings a sudden idea to my mind. I loudly declare that I will bring the Savior back to fix this mess, hoping any coal miners in the area hear me, because I know they believe. I walk up to the statue and put my hands upon it, the spout of some gibberish that sounds like I could be magical. Then I close my eyes and hope I don't look like a fool...
[Act Medias Res]
Dance with a Phoenix
A sleeping phoenix. I wonder if I could grab some feathers from it and flee. I concoct a plan. Under my cloak I coax out something... in a few second a small creature comes out. Nearly the size of a domestic cat. It unfurls it's wings which each longer than the full length of it's body, a small dragon. It's entire body is cover in spiny scales much like a hedgehog and it in a calm state they lay flat and touchable (if you don't go the wrong way) until it sees the Phoenix, the scales become a tangle mess of toxic pricks.
"Quite, Texia" I whisper. I motion that I am going to approach the Phoenix from the other side and despite not being able to communicate with me in a conventional way Texia always seems to have a good understanding of my intentions. She waits patiently as I approach the phoenix with a plan to pull some feathers and use her as a distraction to escape. As if senseing what I was planning the phoenix eyes open despite my completely silent approach and looks straight at me. It starts to start communicating with me through extrasensory means.
Warning me of the events unfolding in the mansion and a possible fate of myself and Telivar. For some reason despite barely knowing Telivar and having met many strangers along my travels and not developed such concerns for them I am actually worried about his fate. I wonder if this is a real prediction or if the Phoenix is using my anxieties and concerns to deter me from assaulting it.
[/Act Medias Res]
Having witnessed the power of the phoenix I feel happy to be alive. Texia looks much more agitated. I come up to her and using a special tool I extract some of her venom that she makes in excess and carefully clear some of her loosening scales (both of which are invaluable in my defending myself and trading). This act of grooming her calms her down and despite her hunger she crawls back under my cloak and once again it is like she isn't even there. Maybe if I find a rat or some more of those birds I will coax her out to hunt.
I choose a random door since i have no idea what I can expect to find on the other side. My mind focused on Telivar. I hope to be able to stop these cataclysmic events but also hope that such an end doesn't cost Telivar his life(and an equal concern for my own).
[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Sancireph, you step back into the coal mine and then take the tent exit back to the hedge maze. It's swallowed in flames. You catch a glimpse of the LIZARD DRAGOON before he leaps into one of the flames and vanishes. You flinch, briefly wondering if you should follow him. Instead, you return to the coal mine where Zataka and Malichor are waiting. You tell them that you tried to get to the mansion exterior using the door, but it seems like the doors won't let you leave on their own. Still, maybe the coal mine has a way out since it seems odd that a mine would be on the mansion grounds.
Zataka gets your attention and says that he's found Telivar. The mansion lord is in the tavern room with the whirling ellipsoid of papers... INSIDE THE ELLIPSOID. He couldn't calm Telivar down when he was in there, but that's just because he couldn't reach him. Upon hearing this, the original TOMA rushes into the room.
Malichor steps up to the statue in the center of the cavern and begins to wrap it in paper. He chants words that are unfamiliar to you.
"Allegro calibri papyrus dotomche maiandra segoe vrinda"
You look around at the partially petrified miners standing all around you. They seem to be enraptured by Malichor's every word. To your shock, you sense an AASIMAR PRESENCE surge in all of these people when clearly it wasn't there before. The power of that presence traverses from their bodies to Malichor's hands, and the statue begins to twitch. Its fingers regain their color, its eyes open, and after a few moments what was once nothing but a statue transformed into a man... a man who looks shockingly like an older version of TOMA. Upon seeing Malichor, he smiles.
"Malichor. I thought it would be you."
The formerly petrified man takes Malichor to the side and whispers something to him.
Suddenly, the tent flaps leading to the inn room with Telivar slam shut. The situation feels like it's about to explode.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Zataka, you return from the tavern rented room and tell everyone in the coal mine that you've located Telivar. Before you can ask about the Phoenix feather, Toma rushes into the room.
Malichor steps up to the statue in the center of the cavern and begins to wrap it in paper. He chants words that are unfamiliar to you.
"Allegro calibri papyrus dotomche maiandra segoe vrinda"
You look around at the partially petrified miners standing all around you. They seem to be enraptured by Malichor's every word. You begin to fret; when you tried to enchant your sword earlier a dragon spawned out of thin air. But to your surprise, the statue begins to twitch. Its fingers regain their color, its eyes open, and after a few moments what was once nothing but a statue transformed into a man... a man who looks shockingly like an older version of TOMA. Upon seeing Malichor, he smiles.
"Malichor. I thought it would be you."
The formerly petrified man takes Malichor to the side and whispers something to him.
Since the guy looks a lot like Toma, you decide to ask him about the Phoenix feathers.
"Huh? That's a really good idea, but I wouldn't know where to look. We didn't have any back then, they're pretty rare."
You're inclined to believe that time travel isn't a possibility, but with this interspace you consider the possibility that you're intersecting with a reality that has the same events transposed to an earlier position on the timeline. You wonder what impact this would have on YOUR OWN SEARCH, perhaps interspaces like these are the key to shutting your foe out of all realities.
You ask the formerly petrified man if he can calm Telivar down.
"Well, as I was just saying to your friend... I can end the spell, but I can't help Master Telivar. He's too wrapped up in the spell. If I intervene, he'll be lost when the interspace collapses. What do you think I should do?"
As you consider going back into the room with Telivar, the tent flaps leading to the inn slam shut. As hard as you try, you can't open them.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=39056]bigjoe[/MENTION]
Jerias, you suggest to Atticas that perhaps if you can't open the doors that exist, you could make your own. You then let the raging fire within you escape, setting the hedge on fire. He nods and joins in on the infernal revelry. As the flames grow you see sparks of electricity pop out between the flames. The space between these jolts expands until you can see little windows to other parts of the mansion, opening and closing as the fires flicker. You catch a glimpse of a whirling ellipsoid of papers, and through it you can feel the push of two conflicting minds. You call to Atticas and the two of you leap through.
You appear in a bedroom, the kind that would be rented out in an inn or tavern. There's a swirling ellipsoid of pages in the center of the room. The wall behind you is on fire, you suspect the fire is bleeding through the portal connecting the hedge maze to this place. There's a narrow gap in the pages, through which you can see the wizard Telivar. The right half of his body has succumbed to dragon corruption... he kind of looks a little bit like you from where you're standing. His eyes are shut and he seems to be chanting something. Is it... some kind of prayer? You can hear the whispers of another dragon coming from his direction; the voice definitely isn't Atticas. Perhaps it's the corruption clawing at his mind, and your recent liberation from Atticas's control has allowed you to sense it in this manner.
The mage TOMA you attacked earlier enters the room. He doesn't seem to notice you, but he appears panicked upon looking at the swirling mass of pages.
What do you do?
=====
[MENTION=38796]Xyvol[/MENTION]
Malichor, you ponder about the argument about the colony...
[indent]~~~~~
You point to the statue and ask 'What about him'? Toma shakes his head.
"All of this is just some figment... an echo from the ghost world. That's not a real wizard. It's just some terror given form by the properties of this place"
The merchant leader pipes up this time.
"Sir, I most certainly am NOT a figment, and I resent the implication. I am the great merchant chief Beymond Franks, renowned across the continent! And you and your supposed master are a couple of hapless wizards!"
Zataka chimes in: "You have to admit the resemblance is uncanny. Even if it is a figment, perhaps understanding it might help with our escape. We cannot rule out that as a mere phantom or even coincidence."
Toma seems resistant to budging on his opinion.
You scold him, explaining that you were able to touch one of the miners and that phantom images don't have mass.
"But we're standing in a ghost world. Who says the rules aren't different here?" Toma retorts.
You shake your head, citing a lack of necessity for the logic. You explain it is better to start with the assumption that the rules are the same and then test for discrepancies. In fact, it gives you an idea.
If that statue is supposed to be Toma and you could revive it somehow, he would be able to verify whether or not this 'colony' was real.
Toma shouts
"ENOUGH! We're not getting anywhere by arguing and each minute we spend here is causing more of the dragon corruption to leech into our bodies. Let's find a door and go to the master; then when this is all resolved you can do whatever you like. Leave, preferably."
~~~~~[/indent]
You step up to the statue in the center of the cavern and begin to wrap it in paper. You then spout of a list of fonts that you like to use when inscribing runes, hoping the faith of the colony miners will instill them with power.
"Allegro calibri papyrus dotomche maiandra segoe vrinda"
You can feel their stares of awe on your back as you work. And as you feel their stares, you feel the power of their hope surging through you.
...The statue begins to twitch. Its fingers regain their color, its eyes open, and after a few moments what was once nothing but a statue transformed into a man... a man who looks shockingly like an older version of TOMA. Upon seeing you, he smiles.
"Malichor. I thought it would be you."
You're absolutely stunned. You cast a spell with nothing more than the hope of the miners and not an ounce of magic expended and it worked. And this guy is CLEARLY Toma from the future.
He takes you to the side and whispers to you.
"It's been a long time. But it doesn't look like you've waited as long as I have. So... this is the scrambled mansion then? Wow, it was so long ago I can hardly remember."
You ask him what happened to this place.
"The colony, right. I founded this place to protect the survivors when we lost the sun."
You're startled by this declaration. You ask, somewhat nonplussed, what he means by that.
"The dragons that are poking through in your time... they're small potatoes. The big ones are the real problem. Once they caught wind of our theft, they decided to take something back. And they stole the sun."
You ask what you can do to help.
"For me? Nothing. Nobody on this side is powerful enough to snatch the sun back. We're just clinging to what warmth we can until the end comes. But I might be able to help you. Unfortunately, it comes at a cost."
You ask about the cost.
"I can dispel the ghost world incantation that master Telivar initiated, but he's too wrapped up in the machinations of the spell. If I unbind it, he'll be swept away with the incantation as the ghost world vanishes. I can't help but think that we might have stood a better chance against the big fish if Telivar was still in the picture, and I hate to put the decision on you, but... I don't know what to do."
What do you say?
=====
[MENTION=38528]SUCCESSOR[/MENTION]
Reven, you ponder on your brush with the Phoenix.
[indent]~~~~~
There's a PHOENIX sleeping in here! You've heard all sorts of rumors about phoenix down and its mysterious properties. You also wonder how your PARTNER would react to an honest-to-goodness phoenix, but she's been pretty quiet as of late.
The thing hasn't spotted you yet.
You ponder the prize of acquiring a panacea like Phoenix Down and so you decide to sneak up and help yourself to a few feathers. But first, you rouse your partner and, though a silent understanding, convince her to catch the bird's gaze so you can creep up and take your fair share. Still, as you approach the Phoenix locks eyes with you and you freeze, hoping it hasn't actually spotted you. You feel a surge of heat wash over you body, almost as if you were standing near the mouth of a volcano. This situation seems just as dangerous. Suddenly, a voice echos in your head.
"A courteous request might yield better results than a con. Just a thought."
You sweat slightly and ask it to repeat that, hoping that the voice you heard was just your anxiety playing tricks on you.
"I mean I'll give you some, if you'd like. That's why I came here after all."
You shrug. A free gift is a free gift, and you can expect a healthy profit for something as rare as Phoenix Down.
"That's not what it's for."
...Did the phoenix just read your thoughts?
"Yes, yes I did. But I'm getting ahead of myself. You see, this scrambled paradimension and the dragon attack that spawned it are small potatoes. The ones poking through are REFUGEES. See, in our dimension heat is a commodity. Everyone who lives there has a burning flame in their chest which requires the stokes of heat, and the most powerful hoard the sources and force everyone else to bow for access. See... our dimension doesn't have stars like yours does, only the phoenixi generate heat. We are caged songbirds in that sense, and compared to our dimension yours is a paradise of sunshine and warmth."
You ask what this has to do with you.
"You have seen some of the refugees from our world, and you have forged a symbiotic bond with one of them. Your relationship with Texia is special, and gives me hope that one day our two realities might merge into one and we might share resources. The mages of your reality reach into ours for our natural magical potency and we reach into yours for sources of heat, but picking each other's pockets is only going to draw the attention of the big fish, and they'll ruin everything if they join in on the plunder."
You ask what you should do.
"The dragons that have breached into your reality are small potatoes; their strength and stature in our world was small enough that they could slip through relatively small tears. More powerful entities like myself cannot reach your dimension because we have too much metaphysical volume to pass through a tear. But the tears are getting bigger, like this one the wizard Telivar has ripped in his panic. I need you to take advantage of the tears while they are still small, so that you can pose a sufficient threat when the big fish come to feast."
You say you still do not understand.
"This little dragons that are tearing through... teach them that they're fighting for the wrong things. Encourage them to grow strong, so that when the big fish come to feast they'll face an army that can defeat them. I give you my boon with the hope that you can foster this rebellion as you have fostered your friendship with Texia."
With that, the phoenix looks away, closing its eyes as if it is in pain.
"The heat of the down has healing properties. It will protect you from the corruption bleeding from my dimension. It can also reverse its effects, but only in those who have not succumbed to the flames."
You notice the three red pearls in the clutches of the three statues on this level are pulsating, as if reacting to the heat of the bird.
~~~~~[/indent]
You groom Texia to calm her down after the brush with the phoenix, wondering why she became so agitated. Is what the beast said true? What are its motives?
As you let Texia back into your cloak, you notice that the cloak is now covered in Phoenix feathers. You were hoping for a few pinches of down and you've got a whole cloak of them. You ponder the boon you've been given but then pause and decide it's best to see to Telivar. Picking the second-floor door to the HALL OF MIRRORS, you think of Telivar and try to open it. Initially it's locked, but one of the feathers flickers and then it opens, revealing a tavern bedroom.
To your left, you see the LIZARD DRAGOON standing in front of a WALL OF FLAMES. To you right, a young man you suspect is the wizard's apprentice stands panicked, staring towards the mass in front of you. It is a spiraling ellipsoid of spellbook pages, and within you catch a glimpse of Telivar--half-corrupted--silently praying.
What do you do?
As tempting it would be to use the interspace for my own quest, helping Telivar takes priority. After careful consideration, I believe that there must be another way to free Telivar and close the dimension without losing him as well. First however, we must find a way to reach him now that the tent flap is closed.
The aasimar presence worries me...that kind of energy could only come from another aasimar, which I have confirmed there is not, or a tiefling. In any case, I have no interest in returning to the burning hedge maze--or, for that matter, any part of Telivar's mansion. I suggest to my companions that we and the refugees find our way to the surface and see where we are. As for the newly revived and older Toma, it makes little difference to me whether or not he comes along. As for Telivar, I care little about what becomes of him.
I try to distract Telivar from the prying voice of his manipulator. I hold up the piece of his past incarnation and beckon his attention,that he may open his eyes. If he does not respond, I turn to Toma and ask him for his help freeing Telivar. My prior confrontation with him may cause some hostility, so I show that I am trying to reason now. I then instruct Atticas to try to delve into the mind of the opposing dragon, to see if he can find anything out about what is going on.
I carefully avoid the flames and storm of spell pages to move in closer to Telivar, calling to him. When it seems my words cannot reach him I notice the Dragon Man is trying to get Toma to aid him in freeing Telivar. I wonder if the Assistant is in shock. I try to tell them both of the cloak and ask if it may help, but I cannot tell if my words are understood by the Reptile or even getting to Toma. I risk throwing the cloak upon Telivar and bear down for disaster.
=====
[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Zataka, you resolve that it would be best to rescue the lord of the manor. Unable to open the tent flap, you draw your massive sword and slice the tent to pieces. But underneath, all you find is a bedroll. Without the shape to form a doorway it seems the space has defaulted to what should be expected. You go in search of another door, winding up in the hedge maze. The place is ablaze and the heat bites at you through your armor. Also, the lattice openings have all been incinerated; the last one burns to ash behind you as you pass through. You see an opening through the flames that leads to the tavern, but it is too small for you to pass through. The inferno threatens to swallow you.
Suddenly, a frigid breeze blasts out of the opening in the flames, extinguishing the flames as it spirals up towards the sky. A collection of PHOENIX FEATHERS fly past you as the breeze carries them skyward. You catch one, while the rest vanish into the tempest. Suddenly, the sky clears up, and a light snow begins to fall in the shadow of a magnificent full moon. You look around you; the entire maze has been reduced to dust and you are standing in a field, with the edges of the mansion clearly in view. The air feels clean and crisp, and as you look around you see that the abyss below you has vanished as well. It seems the danger has passed.
You make your way to the front door. As you approach, you see the crossbow thief pulling away in a wagon full of loot. She takes off over the plains to the EAST.
To the NORTH, you see a MOUNTAIN VILLAGE. Smoke is rising from the houses; it seems the breath of industry is wide in that place.
To the SOUTH, a FOREST seems to cling to darkness in an almost ominous fashion.
Where do you go?
=====
[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Sancireph, you fret about the Aasimar presence, but then you consider that this world seems to change the rules, and perhaps that energy is indicative of something else. This thought doesn't just extend to the ghost reality; this entire dimension seems to treat the Aasimar state differently. After some thought you decide that the sensation must be associated with natural magic instead of that which comes from ritual or incantation. This calms you slightly because it means there may not be an infernal force at work, but it also worries you because it might mean you WON'T BE ABLE TO SENSE ANOTHER AASIMAR. Still, you resolve that you've had enough of the manor and its master, so you lead the merchants up the natural grade of the mine out to the surface. As you approach the mouth of the mine, a cyclone of flames sweeps across the walls, threatening to ignite the coal contained within and cause a massive explosion. Yet strangely, you don't sense any danger as it passes. A single phoenix feather floats past you as the flames surge and you catch it.
When the inferno has passed, you finish your exit from the mine. You emerge in the PUMPKIN PATCH, but you can't sense any darkspace bends like before. Also, the tempest in the sky has vanished, being replaced by a full-lit moon and a gentle snowfall, signalling the first winter. It seems the danger has passed.
The merchant troupe's leader appears disoriented, claiming that the mansion grounds are certainly the same but they seem to be at a completely different locale. Upon looking towards the MOUNTAIN TO THE NORTH, though, his disposition improves. He says this was their next stop anyway, and invites you to join them for the walk up to the mountain settlement.
You've seen this region before; it's the same as when you departed Telivar's office. There's the settlement to the NORTH, the ominous forest to the SOUTH, and an expansive plain to the EAST.
Where do you go?
=====
[MENTION=39056]bigjoe[/MENTION]
Jerias, you hold up the femur of the other Telivar, as if to tell him that he need not fret being broken as he can rise again. Subsequently, Atticas tries to reason with the dragon taking hold in Telivar's body.
You hear their conversation in your head.
Atticas- Hey, what the heck are you doing? Can't you see that this guy's too much for you to handle?
Bankraz- Buzz off, gnat, find your own wizard. Why don't you try that apprentice over there, he looks scrawny enough for you.
Atticas- Take a look through his eyes. Do you see what he's doing to try to break from you?
Bankraz- Huh, would you look at that. But so what?
Atticas- You want him to tear a hole right back to the homestead? Are you really that eager to go home? Because I'm not.
Bankraz- ...Well....
You're distracted from their conversation by the appearance of the RANGER, who leaps into the swirling mass of pages with some CLOAK OF FEATHERS. As he wraps these feathers around the wizard, an incredible nova of flame erupts, blasting the room to pieces. For a moment there is nothing but a warm, comforting light. When it passes, you find yourself in the shattered remains of Telivar's tavern. The wizard is on the floor, completely purged of his corruption. He appears to be unconscious.
Atticas says it might be a good idea to leave before he wakes up. You depart the mansion.
It's cold, but strangely for the first time in forever you don't feel the hungry rage of the flame within you. A light snow falls in the brisk midnight air. To the NORTH, you see a settlement in the mountains. To the SOUTH, you see an ominous forest. And to the EAST, you see an expansive plain.
Far to the WEST, you can also see the ocean.
Where do you go?
=====
[MENTION=38528]SUCCESSOR[/MENTION]
Reven, you leap into the whirling vortex of storm pages and find yourself in the eye of the spell, standing next to Telivar. From here you can see the entirety of the mansion: the face of each page is a window to a different room. A phantom of the dragon that attacked during your earlier meeting with the wizard moves from page to page, searching. From here, you can clearly tell it is a fabrication of the imagination… some specter of dread given form by the terrors of a powerful and panicked man. You wish to inform the wizard that the dragon that stalks him now lives only in his imagination, but you still can’t get his attention. Shock is a tricky thing like that.
You call out to Toma and the Dragoon, but just as your words could not penetrate the tempest of pages from the outside it seems this spot is insulated from outside influence, save the paper windows to other segments of the mansion.
Taking a gamble, you remove the cloak of phoenix feathers and throw it over the mansion lord, thinking back on the beast’s words about corruption and embracing the inferno. Each feather pulses with an intense orange glow, brightening to white and blinding you as the room, the spellpage tempest, and even the wizard fade out of view. You feel a blast of heat and then you grasp around, trying to find your senses in the flood of white.
You catch a vision of the wizard Telivar, with the draconic scales on his right side ripping free and gathering in a cluster to his right. When he has been purged of the features, he fades back into the white. As for the cluster of scales, it pulses with the pace of a heartbeat and grows until it is roughly the size of an elephant, unfurling into a dragon of azure and silver.
“That heat… I’d heard about phoenix fire but I never expected it to be so intense. I couldn’t hold on.”
He looks at you inquisitively.
“…Just who are you?”
[Act Medias Res]
Recruiting Bankraz
[indent]~~~~~
~~~~~[/indent]
[/Act Medias Res]
The blinding white gradually fades after his departure. Bit by bit the world reconstructs itself around you. Telivar is on the floor, unconscious. Toma is trying to rouse him, but the dragoon is gone. In fact, much of the room is gone, likely destroyed in the explosion when you shrouded Telivar in phoenix down. Roughly two thirds of the feathers remain, hanging in the air and pulsing as the light strikes them. You take a few minutes to gather then and you hide them in your cloak.
Telivar begins to rouse. He notices the corruption is gone, and in an ecstatic cry asks if you slayed the dragon.
Your answer is dependent on the result of the Act Medias Res
He says that a refilled flask isn’t nearly enough to pay you for your deeds today. He reaches into his gaudy robes (who wears stars and moons on blue felt in this day and age?!) and pulls out a miniature statue in the likeness of himself, carved out of onyx. You are hesitant to accept this ‘gift’ which feels like a marketing gimmick until he explains.
“This is my boon. Break it on the ground once, and I will come. Anything you want, if it is in my power to perform, is yours.”
You thank him and stash the idol. Telivar turns to his apprentice and informs him that they must begin repairs to the mansion at once. Feeling you have overstayed your welcome, you silently slip out.
Standing on the widow walk on the roof of the mansion, you take in the cold winter air that accompanies the gently falling first snow of the year. The moon is full above your head, and you pause to take in what this winter will bring. The big fish… are you really the one to front this offensive?
You scan the horizon. To the NORTH, you can see a band of merchants making their way to a settlement in the mountains. To the EAST, you can see the CROSSBOW BURGLAR cutting across an expansive plain with a wagon full of loot. To the SOUTH, the cries of an ominous forest draw and repel, like the breath of a great beast. Could another dragon be there? What is this sensation that you’re just now beginning to notice? Is it the Phoenix’s doing? Finally, far to the WEST you can see a port town against the rocky shores of the sea.
Where will you go?
=====
[MENTION=38796]Xyvol[/MENTION]
Malichor, you tell Toma Bartrand the Elder that the immediate threat needs to be dealt with if you have any hope of facing the threat to come. You therefore ask him to dispel the ghostworld, no matter what cost may be inflicted upon the caster. He raises his hands, preparing to split the spell and set the world right again, when suddenly a flash of flames washes over the mine and swallows you. You flinch, anticipating this is the fire in the library spreading into the mine and igniting the coal in an explosive flash, but strangely as the inferno envelops you you feel the heavy sensation in the air evaporate. When the flames pass, you notice that the workers of the colony have each recovered from their petrification. They turn your praise to you, hailing you as a savior, but you really don’t know what happens. Then, you notice a few Phoenix feathers hanging in the air. Quickly you gather them up, though you decide to let Toma the Elder have one.
He asks you if what just happened was a result of your incantation, but you say you don’t have any idea. You go to check the door back to the library, but now it leads to the mine’s office.
“The phantom world is dispelled! Did somebody get to Telivar?”
You and TtE lead the colonists out of the mine, emerging in the pumpkin patch. They look at the sky, amazed. One of them points and asks what the light in the sky is. “That’s a star”.
TtE looks confused. He turns to you. “This is your timeline. Why are we here? Shouldn’t we have been sent back when the spell ended?”
You say that maybe this is his second chance, to get a better outcome.
“Perhaps you’re right.”
He looks to the colonists.
“But someone needs to look after them. They’ve suffered too much at the hands of magic; this is no place for them. I’ll take them far away from here.”
He then looks around at the surrounding scenery.
“This looks like the Audamar region. I’ll take them west, to the sea. We can catch a ship there.”
He bows to you.
“Thank you for all you have done.”
With that, TtE collects the colonists one at a time and vanishes, apparently stepping through a portal of darkspace of his design. You take in the region around you.
To the NORTH, you can see an industrious MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT. To the SOUTH, a forest seems to pulse with dark energy. To the WEST, you can see a vast plain with a single wagon moving away from the mansion.
Where will you go?
First, I go to Malichor and ask if he knows where Zataka might be found. Once we locate him, we should decide from there where to go. I remember a brief encounter with the female thief, but know nothing of her whereabouts, not those of the cloaked man from before. I wish to be away from this place as soon as possible, but before we go I reach out once more with my senses, trying to detect any aasimar presence. If there is none, or even a hint of celestial energy, then my worries will be put to rest.
I look for my allies to see if they are unharmed. Once I have confirmed they are safe, I inquire of what transpired before we depart. I also discuss our options. The crossbow thief's destination and motives are of interest to me, however if my companions desire to go elsewhere, then I shall not press the matter further. After that I would most likely suggest we head towards the nearest town to stock on supplies if we are to journey anywhere else. Before we depart to where ever we decide, I scan the area one last time for the dragoon and the ranger with the intention of asking if they wish to join us. If they decline, I will respect their decision.
The forest seems to call to me for some reason. Hopefully I can find something there that will help me understand my new found powers of magic. I suggest this as the next destination.