Void by the Sea (Part 2)
When Dirk arrives upstairs (having stayed behind to check over the first floor for any nasty surprises), this is the tableau laid out before him:
A great stone room, cylindrical, with another set of stairs leading upward (despite the house being one story from the outside). A large bay window in one of the walls, that looks out onto darkness... with an ominous-looking humanoid on the other side of the window staring in. The humanoid's face is scarred in disturbing ways, and he is clad in black, as it regards Skyler...
...who has drawn his sword, striking at the impervious window and screaming in inchoate rage, although Murder is trying to drag him back and Cesran is desperately suggesting they leave this floor.
Meanwhile, the creature in the window is actually -smiling- at Skyler's rage. The same way a gardener might appreciate a blooming flowerbed.
GAME: Cesran casts Grasping Hand. Caster Level: 20 DC: 32
GAME: Skyler rolls Strength: (15)+1: 16
<OOC> Skyler is not a stronk boi
GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+10+1: (19)+20+10+1: 50
GAME: Murder rolls strength: (2)+5: 7
<OOC> Murder says, "I'M HELPING"
Cesran keeps his expression neutral so that he doesn’t give anything for the kryton demagogue to work with. He takes out a soft glove from his spell component pouch and he catches a spell with it. A shimmering ephemeral large hand appears next to Skyler and the fingers close around him, “I’m sorry to do this Skyler.” He says in a very monotone voice. “I’m sure you have some fight with this being, but we should be going to the next level.”
Cesran looks towards the others, “Let’s go before this gets worse. The spell will last for about 2 minutes.” He says as he starts to head towards the stairs and he moves the hand with Skyler in it along with him.
The young man's blade, edge shimmering with holy energy, glances off the window as Skyler rages at the mirror, the telepathic link full of a soft, feminine voice whispering out of a dream-like may-have-been-should-never-be with a breathless rise and fall like a lover moaning at the edge of completion. << Suck the marrow from the bone, broken bones, so sweet the breaking, breaking bones, tearing the flesh, flesh so fine, so red with blood... >> Skyler fights against Murder's grip, barely on the edge of sanity even as flickering images tease the edge of the bond as a woman lays dead in front of him in some sick, twisted mockery of a lover laying ready. Eyes already cloudy with death turn slowly to stare straight up at the point of view...
... as Skyler breaks free of Murder's grip with madness born strength just to be jerked off his feet by mystical energies, his face screwed in a mixture of hate and fear as his pale grey-green eyes are absorbed by the sights of his mind rather than reality and tears stream down his face. "... kill you, tear your flesh from bone, flay your skin to hang your skeleton from the ceiling! I'll show you *art*! I'll paint a masterpiece of the room with your *blood* and viscera...!"
Boom boom boom BOOM BOOM! Heavy dwarven boots come flying up the stairs. In bursts Dirk, his cloak flaring dramatically behind him as he kicks open the door and leaps in, thunderbelcher up to his shoulder. "Where are they? Let me at 'em!" he growls. But... there's nothing here. Just Skyler being dangled by a magical hand. And the window... Dirk's eyes get wide as he beholds the kyton beyond the indestructible glass, before they narrow. He snaps his weapon to cover the fiend. "I don't know what yer game is, ye filthy shitbird, but you chain-devils dinnae frighten -me-!" he growls through gritted teeth. "Best you just leave off whatever it is yer doin', afore I teach -you- a few things about pain' an sufferin'!"
The Goblin squeaks at the arrival of the giant hand, letting go of Skyler's belt as the swashbuckler is restrained.
"You need to to chill...", she comments to the man as she follows in Cesran's wake. "Don't let them live rent free in your head, yeah? It's part of how you gain the upper hand against them." Murder cracks her knuckles.
"I've killed a bunch of them fiends before..." She turns to peer at Dirk.
"Yer giving the fiend what it wants... we're expected upstairs so let's get moving."
A chuckle comes from the kyton's thin mouth. "Do come back when you can. It's such a pleasure to have spirited guests..." Thankfully, his voice is drowned out by the other voice from above. "For if art is transgressive by nature, then the purest art must transgress against reality itself. Therefore art must reflect the void, but the void is formless..."
The voice trails off again as the group makes its way to the third floor -- this one a little smaller, but wrought of dull iron -- walls, floor, ceiling. A dozen empty picture frames line the walls, with another staircase leading upwards, and another bay window imbedded in the far wall. This one, thankfully, does not look out onto darkness, but instead bright sunlight pours in from what looks like a fairly bucolic landscape. A figure can be seen at the window on the other side, trying to peer in.
Cesran slowly climbs up the stairs ignoring the kyton’s goading as he focus on what the new voice talking about art being transgressive by nature. He’s never been into artwork, unless it had some historical connection. He makes it up to the next level and he puts Skyler down, << I again apologize for doing that to you Skyler, are you unharmed? >>
Cesran asks as through the mental connection. He looks around this new room and sees another figure peering into the window. << Careful there appears to be another figure in the window, who know what this one might be. >>
Cesran looks towards the others to lead the way as he is not well suited for front line comband.
Skyler reeks of sweat as he's dragged up and away, but slowly, the telepathic bond allows the others to feel the usually blithe swordsman force back the horrors dancing through his brain. Almost literally, as the memories (or dreams?) slowly get folded up like a handkerchief and tucked into an imaginary pocket that he promptly stuffs away. Not gone, of course, but definitely shoved away somewhere neat and below the surface.
<< ... I want fried chicken. >> He says plaintively, before shaking his head, and chanting several terse words in an arcane tongue as he makes a sweeping motion over himself with his free hand. His gloves shimmer, and the sweat is whisked away with some prestidigitation, replaced with the faint smell of gooseberries. "I'm fine." He says softly and pointedly audibly to cover the lie. He shoves his sword back into the scabbard across his back as he rubs his eyes with pointer finger and thumb. << Gods, I hate art. And artists. They're all so pretentious. I bet wizard artists are worse. >> Beat. << No offense, Cessie. Hi Dirk, do you have any snacks? It's crazy in here. >>
<OOC> Murder says, "K/The Planes roll to know what the figure looking in is?" <OOC> Telamon says, "Go for it,"
GAME: Murder rolls knowledge/the planes: (14)+23: 37
GAME: Dirk rolls Knowledge/The Planes: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Cesran rolls knowledge/the planes: (14)+28: 42
GAME: Skyler rolls knowledge/the planes: (4)+1: 5
<OOC> Telamon says, "Good news! It's not a planar creature! It... appears to be an elf. An ordinary elf."
There's a loud, mental sigh after Cesran speaks. <<Oh right I gotta hear people's chatter in my head... I'd almost forgotten.>> One can almost feel the disapproving, mental stare. The Goblin sighs and takes in the new room, and squints at the figure in the window. << How MUCH is the DOGGY in the WINDOW?! The ONE with the WAGGETY TAIL?!>>
She hrmmmmmms. <<That looks like a Sildanyari.>> Moving towards the window, she offers a little wave to the Sildanyari.
Dirk boggles, but only a little bit, as he falls into step alongside Cesran and the others. <<Och, I could eat,>> he thought-grumbles as he trundles up the stairs. <<Doubt there's anything worth eatin' in -this- bloody madhouse. I could -murder- a plate o' chicken wings, an' damn the mess it'd make o' me beard.>> Stepping into the gallery, the burly old dwarf slows his step. He reaches up to tip back the brim of his tricorne, peering around with a hairy eyeball. His gaze falls upon the sunny window. "What the -hell-..." he mutters aloud. He gives his beard a tug, glancing at the others. <<That's a trap, right? That feels like it should be a trap.>>
As the party gets closer to the window, the view looks quite a bit more appealing. Bright sunlight... almost too bright. The color is closer to white than yellow. And then you realize the grassy meadow is a soft, fetching teal in color, and a tree nearby has broad ruddy leaves. A strange bird perches in the tree, flexing four wings before whistling out a happy tune.
The figure is indeed sildanyari, dressed in patchwork garments -- some of elven make, some cobbled together. As Murder leans close, his eyes widen in surprise and he leans back a bit, before moving closer. "Ah... hello?" he says in tradespeak, his voice slightly tinny. "Can you understand me?"
Cesran gives a smile to Skyler, << None taken, I am not an artist and wizards can be pretty insufferable, I know that I can be sometimes. >>
Cesran ducks his head as he hears the mental sigh and can swear he can feel the mental stare from Murder. Note to self, do not include Murder in another telepathic bond, not even if she asks, it’s a trick.
Speaking of tricks Cesran nods in agreement with Dirk, << Probably a trap, or a trick of some kind, maybe these windows are all just windows into other planes. Perhaps each level is a different plane as the owner of the house was experimenting with making his house bigger on the inside. Or perhaps these are his portraits that have come to life, and we are seeing different aspects of the painter’s mind. >>
Cesran stops himself before he continues to ramble on and he moves up behind the others. He nods politely to the elf, “Hello, yes we can understand you. What is your name? Do you know where you are?”
<OOC> Murder says, "Okay, now a roll for what the heck the four winged bird is... >.>" <OOC> Telamon says, "Know/Nature"
GAME: Murder rolls knowledge/nature: Trained Use Only: 0
GAME: Cesran rolls knowledge/nature: (12)+28: 40
GAME: Dirk rolls Knowledge/Nature: (19)+22: 41
<<You know that wizards can be insufferable... yet continue to be a wizard.>>, the Goblin retorts. <<And this is definitely a trap... maybe all the objects of the paintings have escaped.. or he considers these trapped creatures to be art.>>
The mental muttering about wizards and cages is dripping with snark.
Dirk startles a little bit as the sil on the hill (you've heard of elf on the shelf, right?) starts addressing the party through the frame. He looks up at Cesran, then back out that window. He hops up on tiptoes, grunting and grumbling as he does his level best to see over that bottom edge. But he does eventually manage to stretch up tall enough to get a good look. He peers at the strange landscape, it's odd coloring, it's -striking- fauna. "That... that cannae be Ea," he mutters, tugging at his beard. "It dinnae look anything -like- our world. I've never seen a bird like that afore..."
Focused as he is on closing off his mind from the horrors and not inadvertently projecting whatever nightmares lurk in his self-conscious, Skyler isn't singing in everyone's head at least! Bonus! In fact, he's almost subdued as he hangs near the back. << We could just try asking? >> Skyler suggests almost diffidently, << If it is a trap, asking will tell him we know it and maybe throw off his plan. That or it'll trigger it, on our terms. >> He reaches up to rub his neck, near where his sword hilt lies. And, surprisingly for anyone that knows him, he doesn't take his own advice and just blurt it out.
The elf straightens up a bit, brushing a bit of dirt off a sleeve before he responds. "I am Periandr Calathra. I... well, I don't know -exactly- where I am, but I am where I'm supposed to be." His face curls into a small, wry smile. "Though my path was somewhat fraught, I'd like to think I've... matured a little."
Periandr leans a little closer to the mirror. Squinting a bit, he peers. "Wait... aren't you Archmage Cesran? I remember watching you lecture at the University years ago." He sighs. "In any case, how have you come to speak with me across this far distance?"
<OOC> Skyler says, "Does the name ping off the report?"
<OOC> Telamon says, "You may make Know/Local checks."
GAME: Cesran rolls knowledge/local: (15)+28: 43
GAME: Skyler rolls knowledge/local: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Murder rolls knowledge/local: (13)+11: 24
GAME: Dirk rolls Knowledge/Local: (2)+3: 5
<OOC> Telamon says, "Sense Motive, to determine if he's tellign the truth."
GAME: Cesran rolls sense motive: (9)+5: 14
GAME: Skyler rolls sense motive: (8)+17: 25
GAME: Dirk rolls Sense Motive: (12)+4: 16
GAME: Murder rolls sense motive: (18)+4: 22
The Goblin squints at Periandr, and she huffs noisily out her nose. "Another... wizard." Her head tilts slightly. "I am sure many will be surprised to learn that you have not perished, but are simply part of a zoo exhibit, being gawked at by a mad artisan wizard. Is there anything you'd like us to say to the folks back in Alexandria?"
Cesran smiles a little bit, << I choose to be a wizard because I put a lot of hard work into learning about magic and about the world. I just want to use my magic and knowledge to help and protect others. Like trying to figure out what that bird is. >>
Cesran nods his head in agreement with Dirk, << Yes it could be something from a whole other planet. I mean it’s been theorized that life exists on the same plane as our world, but just on another planet. After all there are countless stars in the sky, each one of them could have a planet that contains life. Even intelligent life. >>
Cesran inclines his head politely, “It is nice to meet you Periandr Calathra, where are you supposed to be?” He asks curiously as he thinks back to see if the name means anything to him.
Cesran nods and gives a smile, “I am. I hope that it was a good one. Do you still have that rare tome with you? I believe you were last seen with it. It might help us figure out what is going on if you tell us what you were doing with it. I know that it can be embarrassing when your magical experiments don’t go as planned. If you share with us what you were trying to do we might be able to help you. We are inside of a house that has suddenly appeared outside of Alexandria, we are investigating it because it’s the same house that a wizard-artist was trying to make bigger on the inside and it vanished off the face of Alexandria much like you did.”
Dirk headtilts, reaching up to rub the back of his head. "Wait a tick. Ye dinnae ken where ye -are-, but ye -do- ken it's where yer meant tae be. How... how's -that- work?" He looks up and around at his comrades. <<He's bein' up front, right? I cannae tell if he's fibbin' us or not,>> he thinks at them, before he turns his attention back to Periandr, tugging at his beard. Hearing Cesran agree with his assessment--there's no way that world through the mirror could be Ea--doesn't do much to enhance the burly old ranger's calm. <<Another -planet-? I suppose it could be possible. Though if the forests are -that- color, I'd probably go mad. That color o' teal has no place on a leaf.>>
"Maybe he gets off on it?" Skyler suggests to Murder with a shrug of one shoulder, "Don't kink shame the wizard, Murder." Beat. "Unless his kink is being kink shamed?" He scratches his jaw as he considers that, before shaking his head, "I don't want to think too hard about that. Hi, Perry! Is this a trap and you're going to try and murder us? Or send something to murder us? Can you move to the side so we can see behind you?"
Mentally: << I think I understood maybe two words of that. Let's finish up and go get drunk. I need a good black out and to wake up in a temple fountain again. >>
Periandr's expression tightens, and shame washes over his features. "I don't have the tome, sorry. It was left behind when I was brought here. I... wasn't a good person, a good wizard. Too fascinated with power, too eager to grasp for it." He reaches up to rub his face. "I've been lucky. I could've died, or been claimed by a fiend. Instead I came under the tutelage of the Watcher in the Stars, and... I've been learning some lessons I needed more than anything on magic."
At Cesran's explanation, he frowns, his brow furrowing. "If someone is meddling with spatiomancy, and they don't know what they're doing, it could be opening small portals into other realms or worlds." Periandr rubs his chin. "I'm kind of a walking caution against that sort of thing. Granted, getting hit in the face with a flashpowder packet is pretty disruptive." He looks up suddenly. "Whatever it is, you probably shouldn't let it persist. The Watcher taught me about aeons, and how they exist to keep planar boundaries reasonably intact. The last thing you need is the aeons coming in and deciding everything needs to be burned down to bedrock."
<OOC> Cesran says, "Do I know what a watcher in the stars is?"
<OOC> Telamon says, "Sounds like a title, not a type of creature."
<OOC> Cesran says, "That's what the Old Ones want you to thing. ;)"
<OOC> Cesran says, "Have I heard of the title?"
<OOC> Telamon hmmms.
<OOC> Telamon says, "Roll a Knowledge/The Planes check. It will be hard."
GAME: Cesran rolls knowledge/the planes: (8)+28: 36
<<Well I put a lot of effort into learning stuff too, an' I'll say there aren't any wards in existence that are there 'cause of me.>> The mental grin is full of teeth, matching the physical one. <<And what does it matter, right now, what sorta bird it is? Doesn't help us solve the problem... that being a not-fully-material house sprouting up outside of Alexandria.>>
She stares at Dirk a moment... <<There are plenty of teal plants... aren't you supposed to be respectful of all nature?>> Her eyes narrow at Skyler. <<You really need to chill... have you tried drinking?>>
Periandr has her sighing once more. "Oh gosh, a wizard too fascinated with power and doing stuff that could get them, or others, killed. Where have we heard this one before?"
Dirk's brows furrow and his beard bristles. He harrumps at Murder's though-speech. <<Aye, I know there's -some- teal plants, but a whole bloody forest of it? Och!>> How he -thinks- with a dwarvish accent is anyone's guess, but here we are. He turns his attention back to the mirror. He glances up at Cesran. "If he's in there 'cause he flubbed summat up, should we -really- be askin' him how tae fix all this bullshit?" He pauses, then looks sheepishly at the mirror. "Er. Sorry, laddie. Nae offense, aye?" He nods in agreement with Murder. "Aye, I've had about a gutful o' horrid wizards doin' horrid things. The -last- horrid wizard I had tae deal with was fond o' kytons too. Dozy bastard."
Although he doesn't say anything, verbally or telepathically, it doesn't take a mind link for it to be clear Skyler agrees with Dirk's statement on Periandr's ability to help. He's also completely lost on what everyone is saying, but cling's to Murder's comment as a lifeline in a sea of intellect despite being extremely buoyant.
Coz, y'know, his head is empty.
<< Sounds like a plan, got any alcohol? >> He snarks at the goblin.
Cesran looks to Murder, << Let’s focus on the matter at hand rather than debating the usefulness of wizards. Because it’s a bird that I’ve never seen before and that I’m totally unfamiliar with. It gives us information on what we are seeing, on what these windows are on what this house is. The more information we have the better decision we can make or the faster we can figure out what’s going on here and the faster we can get out of this house. >>
Cesran nods to Dirk, << I think he’s being up front with us, but I am not the best at judging other people’s characters or their intent. >>
Cesran nods, “Yes it's a common mistake that I think most people fall into. The Watcher in the Stars. I’ve heard of that name. What have they been teaching you?”
”Yes that’s what we are here to do is to try to figure out what’s going on before someone gets hurt. Have you seen or heard from anyone else in this house or are we the first?” Cesran asks curiously as he’s love to stay and chat with this fellow wizard and find out who the Watcher in the Stars is, but if Alexandria is in danger or EA is in danger from these Aeons, especially if they found out about the rift near Alexandria.
Cesran responds to Dirk, "He might have been in here for a while and seen what's going on. Or this Watcher in the Stars might have taught him something we don't know. It doesn't hurt to ask him. I think this Watcher in the Stars might be able to help do you have a way to get a hold of them?" Cesran directs the last question to Periandr.
Periandr shakes his head. "I've heard bits and pieces coming out of this ...opening. Mostly some of the most inane blather about art I've heard since my parents took me to a showing in Silvermoon. But a little bit about the void, which is... concerning. If this thing is connected to the void, then you -definitely- need to shut it down."
Periandr can't help but smirk a bit at Dirk's comment. "No offense taken. The adventurers who found me called me a dunce, among other things. I deserved it." Shifting his thoughts back to Cesran's question, he hrms. "The Watcher's meditating. I try not to disturb him, because it usually takes him a bit of time to get his tentacles all untangled afterward." He considers. "Hmm. This sort of thing usually requires a focus point -- a linchpin holding the whole thing together. Knock out the linchpin and it'll just collapse. And it can't be stuffed in a cupboard either -- I bet this spatial construct is -really- fragile."
"Once we destroy the linchpin, how long do we have to get out before the entire place collapses?" Skyler asks with a frown, "Do we need to tie a string around it and pull from the front door, or will we have enough time to get the hells out of here?"
The Goblin siiiiighs again internally. <<Yes, I do have some alcohol.>>, she says to Skyler.
"Sooo, you're suggesting we find the one thing that's responsible for this house appearing in Alexandria, and smash it? I mean, it's been gone for a long time and only just appeared. So something here has changed..."
Murder glances at the stairs leading upwards. "We'll try to come back here before we leave, maybe we can pass word along to family and friends of yours, yeah?"
Dirk glances up at Cesran, squinting up from behind his bushy white brows. "Well, yer the wizard. But 'Watcher in the Stars' sounds a wee bit dodgy tae me. Like one o' those horrid beasties what came from beyond all that space. The ones wi' octopus heads that eat yer brains." He wiggles his fingers in front of his face to illustrate face-tentacles. "Read all about -those- nasty bastards in a copper dreadful awhile back. I'm just sayin'." He turns his attention back to Periandr, listening intently to the (literally) otherworldly wizard's thoughts. He opens his mouth, lifting a finger, and pauses. Lowers his hand, closes his mouth. Then looks back up at Cesran. "Now I -know- I'm a dunce an' dinnae ken the first thing 'bout spatio-whosiwatsits. But... I mean... if we kick out the lynchpin an' collapse the whole thing, does that mean it's goin' tae collapse wi' -us- still inside it?"
Cesran nods politely, “Thank you for your help. I can certainly understand not wanting to be disturbed for something that we can most certainly handle. Please give my regards to the Watcher in the Stars and please let him know that if he is ever looking for a pupil, I’m always looking to learn. Do you need help getting home or are you content where you are at? I’m sure that the Watcher in the Stars can get you home any time they wish, but my offer still stands if he is busy and wouldn’t mind you leaving.”
Cesran nods, “Yes if you have anything you’d like us to pass along we’ll be happy to do so.”
”I’ve only seen the name mentioned once so I do not know a lot about them, but not all the beings that are behind Ea are unfriendly, some are kinder, it would appear that the Watcher in the Stars might be one of those beings that is kinder.” Cesran suggests, “Yes I do have a way to get us back home. While I might not have prepared the Gate spell for today, I do know it and can use it in an emergency.”
Periandr firmly shakes his head. "As much as I might want to come home... I am not ready. The Watcher has assured me that I will return home when I am ready. So, I will remain." He exhales. "You might seek out the adventurers who intercepted me, and tell them..." He pauses, then continues, "Tell them I am well, and that I'm sorry I put them to so much trouble."