Fire and Brimstone
As it turns out the key which you are provided is actually a potion. It sits on the desk in front of you innocuously enough. The color of rust and rather lifeless looking in a round glass bottle. You’ve been assured several times that the potion is entirely safe, and that it will transport you to the dungeon that they wish you to explore. The man who explains all of this is an older gentleman with a bright disposition who seems unswayed that he is sending the group of you into unknown danger.
Ga'Elian stands there content to let Cesran run his tests before shooting his designated potion like a whiskey.
Cesran holds up his hand hoping to stop anyone from drinking their potion. "If you wouldn't mind giving me a moment." He says as he puts on a pair of gloves and he carefully picks up on of the potions to look it over with the magic that is infused into his eyes.
GAME: Cesran rolls spellcraft: (8)+41: 49
Durrankar looks at the potion, then to the man. "Do you know where this will transport us?"
Cesran shakes his head, "Unfortunately not. It is a greater teleport in a bottle." He looks over to the older man, "Did you make this? If so I'm impressed. Is there anything you can tell us about where we are going to go?" He asks as he looks at the other potions and suspects he will find they are all the same.
"It takes you to the tower!" He grins at the question, quite certain of himself. "We had someone take one and pop right back so we know that much! Really we want /you/ to answer that question - and what the place is like of course. If you could thoroughly examine the location and come back we will pay you handsomely for the effort." The man pauses at Cesran's question. "Um... no we didn't make them. They were found in yet another tower that an adventurer such as yourselves explored."
Ga'Elian smirks.
Durrankar takes a deep breath. "this is going to take a while, I can see it." He says looking to Astaren......and the sith makar seems a little worried.
Cesran listens, "And have you been to this tower yourself?" He asks as his glowing eyes look upon the man trying to pierce any illusion or disguise. "So there are more than one of these towers? Can we meet with this other adventurer who found the potions?"
"Ah..." The man looks uncomfortable now. There's nothing unusual about him, though there's a few magical items in his desk. "I don't know anything about the tower that these came from unfortunately. They were bought by the company because we heard about the tower. As for the adventurer... he was with the first group that went to the other side."
Ga'Elian takes a rod of brushed steel out of his haversack, and smacks it absentmindedly in his other hand a few times while the others chat.
Durrankar looks to Astaren and shrugs. "We may be here for a while. Have you eaten dinner?"
Astaren is sitting down reading a book, glancing up as he looks to Cesran, "Anything past the third circle for a potion is extremely rare. that is impressive indeed" then raises his eyebrows to Durrankar, "Do I still make you worried?" standing up as he puts his book away.
Durrankar says, "A bit, Astaren."
Cesran starts to cast a defensive spell upon himself, "Well be ready for anything. I dislike just drinking an unknown potion that could take us anywhere. Stay close I can use greater teleport to get us out of there if needed."
GAME: Cesran casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 20 DC: 23
Astaren nods, "At least you are honest. Though as for dinner, yes I have eaten. Always go out on an adventure on a full stomach, learned that lesson once." Then glances to Cesran and nods.
Durrankar says, "Just make sure to poop on the corpses of your enemies...and not us.""
"What is it with magicians and towers? The hell are they compensating for?" asks Sandy, dryly, looking more than a little annoyed.
She's here, though, right?
Ga'Elian grabs his potion vial and opens the stopper.
Durrankar thumps his tail at Sandy. "Not every magician has a comfortable shoppe like you do, Lady Sandiel." he's looking at his potion. "Ready Astaren?"
Durrankar thumps his tail at Sandy. "Not every magician has a comfortable shoppe like you do, Lady Sandiel." he's looking at his potion. "Ready Astaren?"
Cesran shrugs a little bit, "I don't know, never had a tower." He says as he drinks the potion.
Ga'Elian says, "Down the hatch," and shoots his potion.
"The hell," replies Sandy.
And then she drinks the potion because why not. She's only here because they promised her /the best/ pie possible.
Maybe.
As you drink the potion the world around you has become dark and hot. Hot enough to flay the skin from your bones if you stay out in it much longer. The ground is black and gritty, ash crumbling beneath your feet with every small motion of your body. There is smoke and the smell of sulfur in the air clinging like an unwanted perfume.
Ahead, a jagged outcropping of black obsidian bisects a river of lava. Roiling magma pours over the edge of a cliff, a cliff upon rests the tower. A bone-white structure in the midst of the darkness that surrounds you. Orange and red reflect off the building without windows to make it more welcoming. Just barely you can make out a doorway at the base though the heat that rises from the magma makes that difficult.
The tower itself is circular, and only three or four stories tall, but in the darkness it seems much taller. There is no evidence of life from the tower. No light in the windows or shadows moving from within.
Astaren raises his eyebrows to Durrankar, and lets out a slow sigh. "Yes.' His tone neutral. Then glances to Sandy, "Do not understand it myself, but Rune is full of them, I mean full of them. Every school of magic has its own tower, every arch-mage has their own tower, it is insane. Rune is a city of towers." He pauses a moment, "That tower is short and squat, if they were compensating, they did not do a good job of it."
Durrankar says, "Or the top of the tower would melt if it was over a certain height." He then takes a breath. "Shall we?""
Ga'Elian takes a moment to cast a spell, then says, "Let's do this."
GAME: Ga'Elian casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 20 DC: 14
Cesran takes a moment to cast resist energy on himself as well as he looks over the tower. "I can create a stone walkway that would get us to the door and over the lava." He continues to look around, ready for anything to pop out of the lava.
GAME: Cesran casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24 GAME: Durrankar rolls perception: (3)+26: 29 GAME: Cesran rolls perception: (1)+24: 25 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Sandy rolls Perception: (4)+19: 23 GAME: Ga'Elian rolls Perception: (4)+28: 32 GAME: Astaren rolls perception: (20)+23: 43
It's lucky for all of you that the creature in the magma is terrible at hiding. It rises from the water like an alligator. Eyes peering red and interested as it looks at you, a glowing orange snout visible leagues from its eyes. Further back the smooth ripple of its spine makes waves in the magma.
GAME: Astaren rolls knowledge/the planes: (17)+25: 42 GAME: Ga'Elian rolls Knowledge/the Planes+Fiend: aliased to Knowledge/the Planes+10: (4)+7+10: 21 GAME: Cesran rolls knowledge/the Planes: (7)+27: 34
"...the hell is that? A magma dragon?" asks Sandy as she stops dead. Stops, stares at the creature. "Whew. Bloody hot here." She tugs on the collar of her shirt, trying to make herself a bit more comfortable.
"OI!"
Durrankar says, "If that's a dragon, we have a problem." he then sighs. "I don't want to hurt a dragon....."
Astaren steps back and pipes up, "That is a guardian, a Fu, pretty rare actually. Very loyal, we might be able reason with it. Explaining we are investigating the location and would like to not cause conflict. Might be able to give us some answers as to the owner of the tower, oh and it breathes Sunlight, so guess it is a rainbow magma creature."
Ga'Elian puts his rod away and takes out his bow instead.
Cesran looks over at Durrankar, "We may not have a choice." He looks over towards Astaren, "Interesting I'll have to do more research on it when we get back. Let's try to talk to it." He looks around, "Anyone a good talker?"
GAME: Durrankar rolls diplomacy+6: (20)+23+6: 49
Noticing the bow drawn the Fu rises up out of the magma and places its claws on the edge of the river. It glares at you with heavy eyebrows and long whiskers that drip lava down as it considers you.
GAME: Cesran rolls diplomacy: (20)+0: 20
"...oh, piss off, Cesran. I'm right here," says Sandy, darkly. Oh gods. Is Sandy your 'talker'?
She marches closer to it. "Why, hello there, your... whiskeryness."
Durrankar, as he sees the dragon start to rise up, puts his staff in front of Sandy and Ga'Elian. "weapons are not needed here." Durrankar steps forward and looks to Sandy, then looks back up to the dragon. "Ancient one, I am Durrankar of Am'shere, steward of Mictlan. We have come, at the behest of the guild in Alexandria, to investigate this particular tower. If you're this tower's guardian, we shall not take anything from this tower, as it belongs to you."
GAME: Sandy rolls Diplomacy: (7)+15: 22
Cesran looks over at Sandy and he hurries up after her, "Sandy perhaps you should let someone else talk." He looks back as the others and he's glad that Durrankar steps to the forefront. He inclines his head as does his staff, "Greetings to you Ancient one. I'm Archmage Cesran, we mean you and this tower no harm, we are merely here to explore and report back."
The Fu glances toward Sandy, pawing its whiskers with pride and seeming uncertain of if she meant the complement. It's easily distracted by the greetings that it is offered. “Steward Durrankar, Archmage Cesran. I am Etiol, guardian of this tower. It belongs not to me but my beloved wizard. By my leave you may enter, but if you break anything within, or steal any item, my wrath you will face." Without anything further the Fu Etiol sinks into the magma and swims quickly away.
"He did have some magnificent whiskers. Well shall we go greet this wizard then? Say hello, and see what everything is about?" Astaren offers with some slight cheer.
Ga'Elian says, "Well, we've come this far. May as well keep going."
Durrankar bows to the Fu as he lowers himself into the magma. "that went better than I expected." he then turns towards the tower. "Why do I have the feeling that we'll need to take something from the tower to save it?"
Cesran bows down to the magma dragon, "We will heed your wise words." He looks over at Durrankar and nods, "Yes it does seem how these things go doesn't it. Well let's be off to see what's in this tower."
GAME: Cesran casts Wall of Stone. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27
Cesran moves to the forefront and he lifts his staff as he in a commanding voice casts a spell. Stones come up from the lava and they hiss in the air as they cool and create a very elegant stone bridge complete with trestles and railing. The stone bridge spans over the lava, but leaves enough room for the magma dragon to move under it. The stones quickly cool as Cesran finishes. He looks to the others, "Shall we go?"
"...right, well. Okay. So a wizard again. TOLD YOU. Wizards and the towers."
Sandy points a finger accusingly at Cesran.
Ga'Elian shakes his head and strides across.
You walk forward to the tower which seems if possible to become larger as you approach it. Without any further disturbance you reach the door which is quite evident, but seems to have no actual door handle. There's a strange symbol on it however, a wizard's mark perhaps.
Cesran looks over at Sandy, "Maybe we'll find plans in it so that I can make my own flying tower above Alexandria?" He teases Sandy as he walks along the stone bridge.
Ga'Elian puts the palm of his hand on the glyph and says, "Open sesame."
Astaren walks across the bridge, and glances down to the lava. Waiting for the others to make their way past the door and knock.
Durrankar walks his way across the bridge and looks at the door. "Interesting...."
Ga'Elian stands aside.
Durrankar pokes the door with a claw gently.
Cesran hmms, "Well it's a wizard's mark for sure, it also has some spells on it to make it stronger. Repulsion and Reflection. No doubt to keep others out." He studies the door, "I could try to dispel the spells placed on it, but that wouldn't open the door." He hmms as he looks at the potion vial.
The door does not open to the gentle prodding, but nor does it respond by blowing up, or harming the person that touched it. It seems safe enough.
"Well, yeah. Makes a big tower, he's sure as hell gonna make sure everyone know who owns it," says Sandy, snarkily.
"Well, let's go, eh?" She nods towards the door.
GAME: Ga'Elian rolls Stealth+4: (13)+36+4: 53 to Aftershock
Cesran traces a Z shape in the air with a dot between each of the tines but nothing happens.
Astaren glance over to the door, "Have we just tried knocking really hard? You know, like civilized people do?"
Ga'Elian says, suddenly standing next to Astaren, "Folks, I just took a little stroll around the tower. Its top seems to be leaking some black substance that looks like it has dissolved part of the building. The black stuff has a faint glow."
Cesran looks over at Ga'Elian and he reaches back to unroll his magic carpet, "Can you show us where?" He asks as he steps on and gives the magic carpet a tap, "Come on wake up." The tassels around the edges of the carpet flutter before the magic carpet starts to lift him up.
Astaren glances to Ga'Elian and nods, then turns to start walking around the tower to look at this substance.
It's a bit of a close walk around the base of the tower, but not that daunting from the air. Around the back of the tower you can see what Ga'Elian was talking about. Part of the top of the tower has been... leaked through. The floor of the last floor has been eaten away by some sort of thick black substance that glimmers like glitter has been thrown into it. There's no space between where the substance is and the building itself as if this ichor is slowly eating its way through the building while clinging to it.
GAME: Cesran rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (2)+27: 29
"What's next? WE find his terrible collection of 'erotic art' and have a fight versus his pet Succubus?" says Sandy, dourly.
She is not in the best of moods.
GAME: Astaren rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (12)+13: 25
Cesran has to shade his eyes as he looks at the ooze. "Great...just great super magical ooze. I could use a spell on it, but I'm interested to see what others think. Last time I used that spell we sort of fell through the planes for a bit." He rubs his eyes a bit as he turns so he doesn't have to look at the ooze.
Astaren shrugs his shoulders, "It is black, and it is oozing. A black pudding?" shaking his head, "I study the planes, not the dungeons and things that dwell in them."
Durrankar places his hand on Astaren's shoulder. "Search your knowledge, Astaren. I'm sure you can find the information..."
Ga'Elian says, I want to try something. Balancing on his feet on the flying carpet, he casts a spell, then prepares to shoot an arrow.
GAME: Astaren rolls knowledge/dungeoneering+8: (4)+13+8: 25 GAME: Ga'Elian casts Flame Arrow. Caster Level: 20 DC: 16 GAME: Durrankar rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (14)+5: 19
Ga'Elian asks, "Any objections to my trying to light this thing up?" He pauses to give folks a chance to object, but he's surfing the rug, ready to shoot.
"...close enough," says Sandy at the ooze.
"...bloody slimes.."
Cesran looks over at Ga'Elian, "Well we could ask the dragon about it, I thought he was the guardian of the tower, so perhaps this came from inside of the tower. Keep on a look out for the dragon shooting the ooze might provoke it, if this came from inside of the tower."
Cesran holds up his hand, "Wait...it could be a spell mishap. That magic ooze could be the wizard that was owner of this tower. Don't shoot it."
Ga'Elian relaxes his stance, but says, "That might be true. On the other hand, it /is/ dissolving the tower. I can't imagine that's what the wizard wants."
"Best option is to get inside, figure out what happened, and if possible restore or help the wizard of the tower." Astaren offers glancing to the ooze.
"...are you serious? The ooze is the wizard?" says Sandy looking at the others.
Durrankar says, "Sandy....let's get into the tower and see if the wizard is in there. if he is, we need to get him out." he then stops and looks at Astren. "And that's what we'll have to remove from the tower. I'll explain it to the dragon. Let's go.""
Cesran looks to Sandy, "It's possible, let's try to gather all the information we can to make an informed decision, but we go off blasting an ooze that might be able to help us." He starts to head back towards the entrance to study the spells placed upon the wizard's mark.
GAME: Cesran rolls spellcraft: (9)+41: 50
Cesran nods, "As I thought the door here has a spell on it that will reflect back any spell cast upon it and it's made to withstand physical violence."
Ga'Elian says, "The door may, but what about the walls?"
Durrankar takes a breath, then looks to Astaren. "Think it's stone, Astaren?" he says gesturing to the outside of the door.
"...alright. HOw about just dimension dooring through it? " says Sandy, hands up.
Looks like she's getting ready to try.
Astaren walks up and touches the outside of the tower thoughtfully, "can't hurt to try." then glances to Sandy, "Because we don't know what is on the other side. You could end up with a door into solid stone, and get ejected on other side straight into magma."
Durrankar says, "Looks to Astaren. "think we could make a passageway into the tower and bypass the door?"
Astaren nods to Durrankar, "We can at least try. This way everybody can get in easily."
Durrankar says, "Right. Let's give it a try." He says rubbing his hands together.....and goes to grip the stones."
The spell is woven, and cast into the area around the door, a spell to shape the stone and work it away to allow you passage. As the spell is cast however there is a sudden blue glowing light from the symbol on the doorway that pulses. There’s an odd ripple and then that is all.
Astaren taps his chin as he see's the spell resisted by the wall. "You know, if this is the standard arch-wizard tower there will be countless defenses to guard it. We need to figure out how to get past the symbol, so best solution. Ask." Then turns and waves towards the Fu, "Hey! HEY! HEY!" his voice magically louder from some prestidigitation. "Your wizard friend may be in trouble, there is ooze rotting out the back of the tower. Go take a look, but if you can help us get in, we can make sure your friend is ok."
Durrankar grasps at the stone and....tilts his head as the stone simply doesn't move at his call. "Well.....it looks like it isn't just the door that will rebound spells." he then taps his chin. "Wait...." he says digging into his pack.
GAME: Durrankar used a Chime of Opening.
Durrankar drags a long silver tube from his pack. "Forgot I had this." he says before he flicks a claw on the tube. the tube emit a rather musical tune.....if a tube can be musical...
Across the lake of magma it seems that the Fu has heard Astaren. Clearly concerned it swims over to you. "Damage?" It sounds upset. Meanwhile the chime rings and the door swings inward without much effort at all. "Please check it out." It bends down toward you "It seems like you have found out how to get in after all."
Durrankar looks up to the dragon. "I apologize, great one, but if that thing damaging the tower is what we think it is...we may have to remove something from the tower....or someone. If the wizard in here is alive, we may have to remove him from the tower for his own safety." At least he's honest. With that...he trots his way into the tower....
GAME: Durrankar rolls perception: (14)+26: 40 GAME: Astaren rolls perception: (15)+23: 38 GAME: Ga'Elian rolls Percep/Ioun: aliased to Perception+4: (2)+28+4: 34 GAME: Sandy rolls Perception: (4)+19: 23
As you come into the small room inside the door you see a series of inscriptions on the floor and ceiling and walls at five foot intervals. They are so very clearly a trap that you immediately stop before you can accidentally step on one. Down the little hallway there's a door that you can see already.
Durrankar says, "Well...I can honestly say that no one has walked through this room in years."
Ga'Elian takes a closer look at the walls, as he says, "Perhaps the floor is unsafe, but levitating or flying across might work." As he has the ability to do neither himself, apart from riding Cesran's magic carpet, he looks to see whether the walls could be scaled.
Astaren blinks as he looks at the floor, frowns for a moment, then shrugs. He pulls out a set of boots from his bag, and switches them out. Then starts to levitate off the floor, "Well we can find out."
Durrankar says, "If you can do that, Astaren, see if you can turn off the traps from the other side."
"Well, this is... great," Sandy stops for a moment and then just looks down at the floor. "Well, what's all this..."
She's squinting. Inspecting.
Astaren walks across the floor, taking his time and being careful. he finds a small spot to stand by the door and looks around, "Uhhh we may all have to find a way to cross. Traps like these typically do not have on off switches. This guy... did not want visitors it seems."
Ga'Elian looks at Cesran. "Mind if I hitch another ride?"
Durrankar says, "Well.......I know of one form that'll have an easy time with this room." And he changes into a hummingbird to fly across......"
Ga'Elian calls across, "Astaren, will the door open?"
Astaren glances to the door, and reaches over to see if he can open it.
As the door swings open, for a moment you see the face of a demon. He grins at the sight of you and drops the room into darkness that can not be seen through. At least not by anyone down it. Durrankar and Astaren are still face-to-face with the demon.
"Oh hey," says Sandy. "Demon. I'm going to murder the fuck out of you."
She sounds like she means it.
-TBC-