Lament of Vilarus (Part 3)
The message from the long-vanished wizard Vilarus fades, and Reeve's head and arms snap back into their normal positions. The unmoving wooden face tilts up towards the heroes (well, most of them; Magpie and Murder are still shorter than Reeve).
"Do you have any further questions, or do you require guidance or assistance? I am happy to assist you in any manner I am capable of performing."
GAME: Karasu rolls Intelligence: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Corey rolls Intelligence: (14)+6: 20 GAME: Carver rolls intelligence: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Murder rolls intelligence: (15)+2: 17 GAME: Magpie rolls intelligence: (7)+3: 10
Karasu blinks slowly at the construct. "I find it strange that we can understand the construct, or the individual who left the message so easily." He smiles to himself a small smile and looks at the construct, uttering a few words in xian which inquires of the construct if it speaks the language.
The Goblin tilts her head at what Karasu says, and then simply shrugs her shoulders. "If this guy was meant to welcome people here, perhaps he is capable of speaking multiple languages? Or uhm, it's a spell? I mean, of all the oddities here, that one is not the worst. Though that does mean it's some pretty powerful magic." Murder eyes Magpie.
"Does that jive with your understanding of magics?"
Corey is still marveling at the image of the archmage, and then he has a thought along Karasu's lines of thinking regarding the construct. "Yeah," he says. "It's so old that it's... weird that it's not talking to us in Mynsandraal or something."
So he looks at Reeve, nodding at Murder's line of thought. "Hey, Reeve, do you have a _tongues_ spell active? How do you understand us? Just intellectual curiosity. I mean, it helps us understand what you're capable of as the archmage's... doorman?" Surely there's more than Reeves the eye.
Carver eyes shift back and forth, little expressive motes of forest-green amidst a face set for war. She clears her throat, politely. Guys?
He's right there. Be polite.
"Magic that lets people talk to people that shouldn't oughta understand? Naw that's doable... ain't for beginners, but not out there. What gets *me,*" Magpie says, reaching out for 'Reeve's' shin, but thinking better of poking a millennia-old construct. "Is that he's still runnin' like... well, *clockwork,* after all this time. But if Vilarus made this place as a practical studying commune? That's... amazing. And terrifying, cos of what it was that could've upset wossname so much."
Carver's side-eye earns her a curious look; *would* it have been worth it to give a greeter construct self-awareness? If so... what have the intervening centuries *done* to its magical brain?
"An' when you've answered that, Reeve... *could* we get a tour of the place?"
"I was specifically built by Archmage Vilarus to be the retreat's greeter. While I have limited interactive capabilities, he deemed it absolutely necessary for me to communicate. Therefore, he fixed upon me a permanent Emrahl's Efficacious Translation spell. I can answer questions in any spoken language."
Reeve improbably seems to perk up at that request. "Of course! Please, follow me! It has been four days since our last recorded visitors. However, they did not request the tour."
With that the wheeled construct begins to roll away at a slow pace, in recognition of the smaller members of the party.
GAME: Corey rolls Spellcraft: (2)+19: 21 GAME: Magpie rolls knowledge/arcana: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Magpie rolls spellcraft: (6)+20: 26 GAME: Karasu rolls Spellcraft: (16)+25: 41 GAME: Murder rolls knowledge/arcana: (13)+13: 26
Karasu follows the construct silently. However the knowledge that four 'days' ago there were other visitors is interesting knowledge. How long ago was four days really? Who were the other visitors? They are good questions, but Karasu doesn't speak them. He's doesn't like to ask too many questions really. That's really more Corey's thing.
Murder nods to Magpie. "I think the amazing part is the length of time, to be honest. I mean, mending could fix most any physical problem with him. Probably has a few other spells too, to keep him in tiptop shape."
Her ears perk up at Reeve.
"How many visitors was it, Reeve? What sort of people were they? Are they still here, or have they left?" The Goblin asides to the others. "So was it Lancet, I wonder? Or people after this place, or the treasures it may hold, or knowledge? Did she tell anyone else, I wonder... did we ask her that?"
GAME: Carver rolls survival+8: (14)+25+8: 47
It is definitely Corey's thing. The Warden of Gilead is excitable. "Wow! Emrahl's Efficacious Translation is basically the old precursor of the _tongues_ spell. It's actually strictly inferior. Handspeech and other nonverbal spells aren't picked up by Efficacious Translation."
He looks at Murder and nods. "Good questions. Exactly ones I'd like to know, too. Hey, speaking of which, what other spells do you have on you?" Curiosity never kills the Cor'ethil. Right?
Carver clicks her tongue, which invites Deathless to follow along for now. Which she does. The ranger trails a little behind and seems distracted, the flow of conversation also leaving her behind. She marks something. Then again. "Looks as if someone dragged a barrel here by the footpath... and the lichen there has been sampled. They cut a small section from the stone."
"Lancet!" Magpie shouts, snapping her fingers as she follows after the trundling golem. "*That's* the name that was right on the tip of my tongue. ...Tongue. Tongues hey waaaait a--"
And then Corey talks magical history. While under almost any other circumstance, Magpie might be at least a little peeved at someone getting their mouth open to talk about her special interest first... Corey nailing the provenance of the enchantment is actually impressive enough that Magpie just grins at him. "Same braincell," she chuckles. "Speaking of braincells," she says, looking around and up at Carver. "What he was saying is, he's more like a question-and-answer book with a voice, than an actual person. Which makes sense, because that's a *lot* of work to put into a really, really friendly door sign, and honestly kinda cruel. Because if he *was* a proper thinking person, what would hundreds of years of *nothing to do* do to a person?"
As the group moves into the villa proper, it's clear that despite being conjured by an archmage, and sustained by magic... it's seen better days. No trees grow, though a few dead, fossilized ones stand here and there. The black lichen has grown over some of the buildings, giving them an unsightly, poxed look. And while the buildings are mostly intact... some are succumbing to age. A couple look damaged, with blackened marks scorched on them.
Reeve answers Murder first. "There were two visitors. I followed them asking if they needed assistance, but they did not respond verbally. After a while I had to return to my post after notifying Master Vilarus. However, I did not receive a response."
At Corey's question, Reeve replies, "I am enchanted with Emrahl's Efficacious Translation, Fiord's Locomotion, Lesser Image Projection, and Greater Verbal Projection. These spells were part of my construction."
Karasu looks over the village dispassionately. Most would consider it a shame that the place is in such disrepair, but after a thousand years the fact that it is still standing at all is a surprise. More importantly, there were two visitors. Not one. Two, and there is no way to know who it might be given that they had failed to communicate their name to the construct. "We should make camp in one of the less abused buildings."
The Goblin nods in response to Reeve, and makes a little face at the decay that has obviously set in. "Nothing a little fire couldn't fix.", she mutters under her breath.
"Reeve, would you be able to describe the people?" Murder lets out a long breath. "I have some bad news but I am not sure how to ... explain it."
She looks to Karasu. "Hmm, I suppose, but, we should be very careful. I wouldn't suggest upper floors..."
GAME: Corey rolls Spellcraft: (1)+19: 20 (EPIC FAIL)
"Ap bup bup bup bup," Magpie says, waving a hand out in front of Murder. "No speculation. *Just because* it's been *hundreds of years* doesn't mean... well, *much* if we're talking about wizards. There is *all sorts* of wacky stuff they do just to give themselves time to write their memoirs, you got *no idea.*"
Magpie glances around at the dilapidated village, then each of her compatriots in turn, then back at the goblin. "...Also we don't know what kinda 'in the event of' nonsense he's got set up. Reeeeeeally wanna be sure of that before we go breakin' bad news."
"Two visitors..." Corey thinks out loud to himself. "Which didn't respond to Reeve at all. Rude. That's troubling."
He nods to Murder and Karasu as they talk about the buildings grown-over with lichen. "I'm with Murder on this. Structurally speaking, I'm not sure I'd trust a second floor in any building that's a thousand years old that hasn't been maintained by anyone."
The spell names get a particular rumination. "You know, those spells sound familiar, but I don't really know anything about them. I think Ansír mentioned them when her whole schtick was researching ancient versions of spells--she was really into this whole 'spell etymology' thing for a while. So they're probably old and obsolete versions of modern spells, too. Just couldn't tell you which ones."
Carver mms, without much commitment. As Magpie has moved on from her point about the Rolling Greeter, there is no pushback.
The group pauses at a crossroads. A little further down the road can be seen the lake, and Reeve gestures to it. "The Retreat's reservoir is Archmage Vilarus's pride and joy. He perceived rightfully that water, more than anything else, would be needed here, and the entire Retreat is engineered to reclaim and purify water and return it to the reservoir. It is also the home of numerous plant life, tended to by the guardian of the reservoir. You may see the guardian on its duties underneath, but rest assured if you should fall in, it will nudge you to shore."
The construct waves its hand at a signpost leaning at a ten-degree tilt. "Toward dawnside is the temple, a general worship center for those who venerate any of the gods of Light or Twilight. The infirmary is attached there." An arm is pointed in the other direction. "The library and laboratory is located duskside. If you need assistance with the facilities, please inform one of the resident constructs. On the far side of the reservoir are the residential buildings and Vilarus's home."
Interesting, for those who can speak sildanyari, the signpost is actually written in legible, if very -old-, sildanyari style.
Reeve turns to Murder. "I'm afraid I can't divulge information about visitors without Archmage Vilarus's permission. However, I did receive notification of two visitors at the library, so perhaps they went there."
Karasu nods to Reeve. "You have been immensely helpful. Can you inform us which of these buildings is in the best repair, and best for habitation by sentient beings?" He looks at the various buildings, having his own opinion on the matter, but being unwilling to state them until he has all the information that might be gathered. "I think our next stop will be the library."
"Hmm, the temple might be interesting. So might the laboratory and the library. Maybe we can work out what books they looked through." Murder eyes Reeve. "Is there a ... librarian?"
The Goblin looks to Magpie. "You don't think it'd be a good idea to tell him?"
"Oh wow, a guardian of the reservoir, huh?" Cor'ethil sounds positively excited by the idea. "Must be a water elemental of some kind, I'd bet. They tend to be possessive about bodies of water. But that library's definitely calling my name." Yes, Karasu has had to endure his husband excitedly stopping into every library or bookstore there is to see.
Corey studies the signpost for a long moment, enthralled. "Wow," he says. "I haven't seen sildanyari that old since Mother had me read the Seven Lays of Lyrasiel'ala in its original form. You know, maybe I'd get along with this Archmage." Then again, Corey gets along with most people.
"Hey, uh," Magpie says, brow furrowed. "Could you tell us more about this guardian? Are we talking elemental, or creature...?" Magpie opens her mouth to continue this line of thought, but then visibly remembers the kind of construct they're dealing with.
At Murder's question, Magpie pauses, and slowly turns to face her, eyes wide. "Not... until we're ready to leave, an' don't plan on coming back. Cos I wouldn't bet lunch on there *not* being a 'you don't have to go home but you can't stay here' kind of protocol. Best not to light that burner until it's time."
With a full-body shudder, she looks back up to Reeve. "Yes library please, after we have a good spot to crash!"
Carver stops to consider the sign, hooking thumbs to her belt as she does. Her expression is too blank to suggest she understands a whit of it, but she does recognize what it is; so similar to some of the runes of the Yggsdrassil circle. Deathless's ears flick back as well, and for a moment, it almost looks like the horse is trying to read alongside the ranger.
Then they turn away to follow the others again, to this mysterious library.
The construct considers. "This building was going to be used for worker lodging. I am deeply sorry this part of the villa is in disrepair. I will submit a maintenance request." A pause. "Request filed. Someone should be along soon to examine the facility." At Magpie's question, Reeve replies, "The guardian is a unique creature that Archmage Vilarus created and raised with his own hands. It is not like anything seen on Ea, but it is benign and will not attack you. If you have more questions, please consult the Archmage or his apprentice."
The building's condition is not -great-, but it appears stable and barring an earthquake (unlikely here), it will stay up. Notably, there is a basin that has a perpetual stream of clear water flowing into it from an elaborately carved angel holding a ewer. Very pretty, and if this was just for villa workers, clearly Vilarus wasn't shy about keeping them happy.
The walk to the library is uneventful, but you can't help a feeling of... foreboding. As though something was waiting in the wings. The library is an imposing structure, built in the classic Old Eldanar style -- lots of marble and columns. Worrisomely, the great double doors are slightly open.
GAME: Karasu rolls Stealth: (8)+21: 29 GAME: Carver rolls stealth: (14)+28: 42 GAME: Murder rolls stealth: (16)+8: 24
As they approach the entrance, Karasu notices the door ajar and immediately motions for the others to stay back a little as he crouches down and moves toward the doorway stealthily. He's not the only one with stealth skills this time, and he's glad of it, but he edges closer to the entrance slowly and cautiously. He makes another motion when he's nearly at the door that he intends to look inside. Which he does. Peeking into the interior as silently as he can manage.
GAME: Karasu rolls Perception: (20)+20: 40
Carver pulls her cloak tighter, prepping to try a subtle approach but Karasu is quicker. There is a pause but instead of joining and potentially ruining their careful efforts, she mutters an incantation to herself with practiced motions.
The Goblin sticks a finger in the running water, and licks her finger afterwards. She hmms and sticks her face in, gulping down several mouthfuls. Her eyes glance around the place, her expression slightly dubious. "Well, at least it is not about to fall over. Good place to crash at."
When they begin to approach the library, noting that the double doors are open.. Murder slows, her gear, clothing and armor changing colour to match the background behind her, kinda sorta. She follows along behind Karasu, peeking into the place as Karasu does.
GAME: Carver casts Gravity Bow. Caster Level: 14 DC: 15 GAME: Corey rolls Stealth: (10)+3: 13
When Karasu and Murder go sneaky, and Carver prepares for... possibly a fight? Magpie blinks, then stops right where she is. No sense ruining their efforts by being... well, herself. Biting down on her lower lip, the gnome peers about the general area, just in case her wiggins happen to have a different source than the... library... with... doors open *oh,* that makes sense now.
But you never know.
Where Karasu is the one of the pair that is quiet (and sneaky), Corey is... not. He notices Karasu and the others are trying a stealthy approach, and so Corey goes... Painfully still, and painfully quiet.
Except for the rings on his armor, which are not doing him any favors. Or the plates of mithral in his armor. They're rubbing up against each other and it sounds a little like the sound it makes when Corey's at home cleaning the nice glass ornaments they have with a cloth and some sudsy water. (Eek, eek, eek, eek.) Or maybe it's closer to a disastrous concerto that Corey tried to play on a stringed instrument when he was six years old, and his lovely, wonderful mother smiled the entire time despite the fact it was the worst version of 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Ni'essa' that had ever been heard.
At any rate, the noise is horrible. Corey cringes the entire time. But at least it's not _thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk_.
GAME: Karasu rolls Will: (14)+9: 23 GAME: Corey rolls Will: (17)+18: 35 GAME: Magpie rolls will: (11)+11: 22 GAME: Carver rolls will: (20)+11: 31 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Murder rolls will: (2)+10: 12 GAME: Murder rolls will: (16)+10: 26
At Corey's jingling approach, suddenly the sounds from deeper inside that Karasu detected stop. And then... something touches the minds of the whole party. Something not human, not even humanoid. Something /alien/. It's a bizarre melange of mental contact, and entirely unpleasant -- like having your brain groped by an entirely incompetent teenager. The experience is so unpleasant it leaves Magpie and Karasu stunned for a few moments.
Then the mental contact recedes, as if embarrassed. There's a sense of communication, and then words seem to form -- not from voice, but in your minds, a much less intrusive contact. ** Apologies. Parley? We mean no harm. **
And then something shuffles around the corner so it can be seen. Ten feet tall, it resembles nothing so much as a cone of leathery flesh, topped with four tentacles. Two of the tentacles end in pincers, a third in a four-pronged appendage, and the last in an ovoid head with three huge eyes, eight slim tendrils dangling down from the bottom, and five antennae jutting from its crown.
- How have you come here, bipedals? Did you see the flying ones? They hunt us, and they will hunt you too. **
GAME: Magpie rolls knowledge/the planes: (4)+18: 22 GAME: Corey rolls Knowledge/The Planes: (14)+8: 22 GAME: Magpie rolls knowledge/the planes: (9)+18: 27 GAME: Murder rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Carver rolls Knowledge/Dungeoneering+2: (12)+13+2: 27 GAME: Murder rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (4)+5: 9
Karasu backs away from the sight of the... whatever it is that he sees before him. The mention of flying things makes his shoulders itch with the need to look up, but he doesn't look up. No, there's a threat right here. "What flying things hunt you?" He inquires. "We need to know what threats exist here."
Carver's face twist with disgust as something worms in the dark places behind her eyes, gentle kneading without consent of something more intimate than flesh. Her gloved hands itch to draw and fire, but the retreating invasion draws her short, and eyes fall on the creature. She tilts her head curiously. Not what she expected it would seem.
The sounds stopping indicate they have been noticed, though with what happens next, the group would have been found out.
Murder SNARLS, putting most dogs to shame. Her eyes glow red. "gET oUt oF MY hEad!!"
At the continued contact, albeit less intrusive, the Goblin continues to snarl, even salivating at length. A hand reaches up to pull at the handle of her greatsword, the sound of the metal scraping against the sheath made more ominous by the blades pale blue glow.
But she does not advance... leaving room for talk.
Magpie has Been Places and Seen Some Shit. That doesn't mean she's *immune* to the need to stop for a moment and let her brain recalibrate to being groped by a creature who is... probably about as used to speaking to Material creatures as she is to not. So it takes a bit of digging out the ears, rubbing the eyes, and in general activating all five senses in sequence, before she can reorient on the here and now. And once she's back in the present, she blinks, remembering the last time she'd seen a description of a creature very, very like this.
"Easy, easy," she says, patting Murder's shoulder, then Carver's leg. "They asked for parley..."
Scootching a few paces forward, she holds her hands out at the end of her nubby arms, palms turned up. "...Yeithari? Always wondered if that was your people or the name of the one..."
Cor'ethil had been expecting several things. Ruins. Ancient things lost to time. Magic. Adventure. And a fun story to reflect on with Karasu later as his kitsune ancestor alights on their doorstep again to bother them.
This was not on his list. He boggles at the entity. "Erm." (Yes, very intelligent response, Corey, great way to convince the creature that you're capable of sound thought.)
Then Murder starts snarling. Cor'ethil frowns deeply, concentrating on the entity for a moment. "Hold on, Murder, it's not evil. Just... strange. And I think that description fits a lot of people, so, let's hear it out?"
He puts a hand to his chest in greeting. "Hello. I am called Cor'ethil Cari'thana, Corey for short. I don't know what you are, exactly, but you kind of remind me of strange tales of creatures beyond this planet. I haven't seen any 'flying ones'."
- The flying polyps. We have been contesting with them over this demiplane. We tracked them here. In the meantime, we have sought to understand what happened. **
The cone-like creature shuffles back, allowing the group to enter. As they come down the hall, there is more clicking, and a second Yeithari moves from behind a shelf. This one holds a strange object that looks unnervingly like an artificer death ray, though it makes a point of not having it leveled at them.
- We cannot communicate with the animated machines here. And we do not understand the language of these tomes. ** The Yeithari gestures with its clawed hand to where numerous books are stacked on the table in some odd organization. A couple are open, showing writing in an elegant sildanyari script. ** We have also found gemstones which project images and sound, but again, we cannot translate them. **
-TBC