Lament of Vilarus (Part 2)

Outskirts of Alexandria, midday

The weather is beautiful, a late-spring day. Much too nice to be contemplating a planar jaunt to what may be the world's saddest monument to failure. But, needs must, and it's not like you're going in empty handed.

The Lord Archmage Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon stands there, next to a wagon of supplies. Mundane stuff, really. Food, lantern oil, blankets. "I wasn't sure what you'd need," he says ruefully. "It kind of piled up after a bit." The half-sil sorcerer rubs his chin. "None of you know how to breach the planes, though, and that worries me. I'll try to open a gate there every few days, to check in; once you've gotten set up, we'll work the problem." He pauses. "Hopefully the environment is stable. I spoke to Lancet again but... she couldn't supply much else."

The Goblin is happy to start taking inventory of the cart. "Erm, hopefully it is not just stable, Telamon.", she says somewhat grumpily, "Hopefully it's stabilized at a tolerable temperature with a breathable atmosphere. The Golem did skip a whole bunch of information. What spells she used for defences? Her preparations would let us know what to expect."

Murder lets out a lengthy breath. "It sounds like you're not coming along with us."

Karasu glances over the supplies, his own traveling gear settled onto his back. He has a small tent that can hold two comfortably, enough food for a short amount of time, and other necessities that one might need for traveling outdoors for an unknown length of time. He nods at the supplies approvingly. "One hopes that we will not be gone long enough to need it all, and that if we need more that it can be sent through at need."

If Telamon intends to make a gate regularly that will at least allow them to judge time and resupply as necessary. "Unless you have a means of contacting you in the case of an emergency, this will suffice." In some ways Karasu is curious about why Telamon is not making this trip himself, but why do when you can have another do for you?

"Breach, naw," Magpie answers, clambering into the wagon to give its contents a good inspection. "But you *do* have someone with subjective years of experience handling *being in* the planes. Like, just doing it on purpose this time, *so fancy!*"

More rattling among the packages and boxes is heard, and the gnome looses a delighted laugh. "*Tents,* even! Gonna be a regular old camp-out beyond time and space!"

Deathless is inspecting the provisions as well! The large nose bumps into Magpie accidentally, and as a show of respect, bows in apology. Sorry 'bout that. She at least seems intrigued on what the goblin and the gnome are up to amongst all that food.

Carver observes from nearby, arms crossed over her chest, as they discuss the mission. Also as she mentally prepares for the wayfaring. She always hated this part the most.

Corey nods to Murder's remark. "The Archmage is a busy man," he says. "And he has a wife at home who probably would rather appreciate us not taking Telamon away for too long." She sounds like a nice lady. Corey's somehow never managed to meet her, though.

He smiles at the others. "I'm not worried. I'll be here to make sure we all get back safe and sound. Archmage, you're very kind to provide for us all of this. I would offer to repay you, but..."

The Warden has the grace to look embarrassed. "We have a lot of chickens, and I had to pay a small fortune to import some of the herbs that Karasu wanted to grow in the garden. And to also chicken-proof the garden. It wouldn't be safe for the ladies to eat from it."

Telamon nods to Corey. "That's part of it. I've got some other options, though." He reaches into his haversack, and hands a small box to the elven paladin. "Dreamwalk potions. It's not a great solution, but drink one and try to dream of me, or the Castle. You'll be able to get my attention that way."

He exhales. "Also, if things go bad, I'll be in a position to send backup, or help bring people out if they're hurt. If you need something special, maybe I can send it through during one of my check-ins." Telamon smiles wryly. "I wish I could go. But Lana wasn't the only one who cautioned me about it."

With that, he steps a short distance away, and begins chanting, holding out one hand as the other describes a circle. Tracing it over and over, as silver and blue arcs of light flash between his fingertips. And then suddenly a disk opens in space, expanding. Two feet in diameter, five, ten, twenty feet -- wide enough for four to walk abreast. And beyond...

Strange. For what amounts to a transdimensional tomb, it looks almost welcoming from here. A broad path of white fitted stones leading down to what appears to be a small village or town surrounding a lake, the sun shining high in the sky. Telamon blinks slowly. "...Huh."

Karasu blinks at the village, in complete agreement with Telamon's surprise at the sight of what looks to be a residential district. "Well, that is unexpected. I wonder if it is inhabited." He motions to the cart. "Should I pull this a ways, or can we hitch it to the horse?" He eyes Deathless.

"I doubt the Archmage would require repayment, he did hire us for this mission anyways, and is expecting us to go without major magical firepower." The Goblin eyes Magpie a moment, "No offense intended, but I have the feeling you're more generalized? Where as I've seen him vaporise an entire battlefield in one go. My spells are focused on mobility and protection, or .. fire. I can't do things like... give us a breathable space or such, you know?"

"As for payment, don't worry about it.", Murder says to Corey. "IF it's required, I can probably cover the cost of this cart and its contents."

She looks then to Carver a moment, and then to Karasu. "We can probably push it together, no need for you to strain yourself this early in the expedition. Up to Carver if they wanna harness their horse to the cart. Wouldn't blame them if they didn't wanna."

"Oh that's a *great* idea," Magpie says, popping her head up over the supplies... and offering Deathless her hand as a way to ask permission to pet her. "You got it, Telamon, be *darn* sure I'll be able to get your attention. ...Temporarily, I promise."

Sometimes, when one specializes in half-cracked and *very* attention-getting illusions, one has to specify.

When the Gate opens, the gnome peers through the aperture, tilting her head. "Huh... Y'know, it actually makes complete sense. If you're gonna make a sanctuary, it oughta be some place you'd *wanna* spend time."

Deathless is free. Deathless will know not the chains of the common draft horse. Only wind and plains forever and ever and ever...

Carver grimaces, "She can pull the cart, at least for a little while." Deathless, on the other hand, is perfectly content even if her master bristled a little at the suggestion. She bumps her head against Magpie's offered hand and moves to position when the ranger gives a whistle to strap in. She ignores the gate to the best of her ability.

"We can make sure Deathless gets plenty of breaks and the dignity and care needed." Corey beams as he smiles at the horse. "I've healed a lot of animals in my time, so if Deathless gets a little sprain, I can make sure she's right as rain..."

He had a point about the difference in rainfall in Alexandros and Llyranost, but then the gate opens up, and it's clear to him that's about to not much matter anymore. Cor'ethil's silver eyes blink almost owlishly.

And then they're filled with fascination.

"This is going to be fun," he says. "An will never believe me." He looks to Karasu and offers his arm to his husband. "Let's go!"

Through the portal, the sensation is... oddly less jarring than normal. A mild sense of disorientation at best, as if the party was stepping through a castle gate, not a planar one. With help, the cart is wheeled through as well.

Beyond, the air is... tolerable. There's a faint scent to it, almost metallic, but there's also a fresh breeze, strangely enough. You've stepped out onto a large, white plaza, made of fitted stones. When you look back, you can see the gate has opened inside a vast, circular ring standing upright, the stone inscribed with hundreds of delicate, angular runes. Overhead, the sun continues to shine. At the edge of the plaza, where the path starts to lead down towards the villa, something stirs. Looking like a tailor's dummy with two large wheels for feet, it looks up at you, then begins to roll forward briskly.

A slightly tinny voice emanates from the elaborately carved wooden face. "Welcome, guests, to Vilarus's Respite! It is two hours past dawn local time, on the -- ERROR -- CALENDAR NOT FOUND." The construct waves slender arms. "How may I be of assistance?"

GAME: Karasu rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (9)+12: 21
GAME: Corey rolls Knowledge/Nature: (14)+16: 30
GAME: Magpie rolls knowledge/the planes: (14)+18: 32
GAME: Murder rolls knowledge/arcana: (16)+13: 29

"More of a generalist than a specialist," Magpie answers Murder as they trundle through the Gate. "But one thing I can *definitely* do is make sure we're all okay if planar energies.... leak. And one thing I'm *good at* is, if combat happens... There isn't the enemy born or created that could possibly plan for what I'm gonna do next."

This last, spoken with no small amount of pride, as she blinks, focusing in on the giant ring in they just came out of. "Oh... well that's handy! Yo guys, we got us a big ol' *permanent* Gate down there! Definitely ought to make figuring that out one of our first priorities, might be a time when we can't wait on Telamon to do our planin' for us."

Karasu looks at the construct with some interest. "Can you tell us if there is anything dangerous in the nearby environment? Anything that might harm sentient beings of the primal plane?" He doesn't like talking to what is largely an inanimate object, but it might hold some information so he does it anyways. "Are there any creatures here that might be hunted?"

That will help inform whatever supplies they might need too.

The Goblin gives the Gnome a nod. After entering the village, she looks around curiously, and then stares at the construct.

"Update your calendar. It is Variday, the nineteenth of Hattanani in the year 1027.", Murder informs the thing. Her expression grows thoughtful.

"State your name and purpose.", she demands of it.

Corey looks around as they all get their bearings. He's a graceful traveler these days when it comes to teleporting (helps to have a mother who is magically powerful and teleported the family around places), but he blinks when he seems to realize that the travel was, to him, nearly nothing.

Then he looks up at the sun. He squints (as he covers his eyes a bit with the flat part of his hand in the most squinty-eyed salute that Daeus has ever seen). Except--

"That's no sun." Corey frowns. "Nor is that breeze real. _And_..." He sweeps his hand out as he points at the areas of bare earth around them. "Those have weird black lichen growing. Normally, a village would plant trees here. It's an odd choice, lichen."

Hey, that was a breeze! Maybe Carver is getting used to it. The gate talk goes over her head, not entirely understanding the context of it. Magic stuff. Deathless rolls along at the click of her tongue, though they pause again as some begin to interrogate the uncanny but friendly greeter-log. Corey's explanation, led by the helpful directing fingers, has her acknowledging the keen point. "Lichen usually shows up where things do not grow easily... an' if this is all illusions, then our surroundings may be quite more grim than they appear."

The construct responds to Karasu first. "I'm sorry, I don't seem to know a lot about that. You may wish to speak to Master Vilarus. His next available time is in COUNT OVERFLOW days. Can I assist you with something else?"

It then turns to Murder. "Recalculating calendar. Today's date is 19 Hattanani 1027." A pause, then, "I am COUNT OVERFLOW days past routine maintenance. Please inform Master Vilarus or his apprentice."

Then the construct becomes animated again. "You can call me Reeve. I am the official doorman, so to speak, for Vilarus's Respite. Would you like to see a message from my creator, Archmage Vilarus?"

Karasu frowns a little at Cor'ethil's statement about the sun and the breeze. "Not real? As in they are illusions or that they are not the usual variations of those things?" He requires clarification to understand what Corey means, and what it means for them. Perhaps the lichen is an illusion too. Even lichen requires sun to grow.

"Yes. Play your master's message." He doesn't want to miss an opportunity to see what the mage might have to say.

Murder eyes Corey for a moment. "Well... Lancet did say that something else was here, right? So perhaps it is making this place more like a place it wants to live? Or the magics used have gone awry, and we get lichen instead of trees? Not really surprised that the sun is not real." The Goblin sighs. "What the heck is a lichen anyways?"

She looks to Karasu and nods, she was going to agree to hear the construct's master's message. "Hmm, it's been so long the number of years has swung around into the negative. That's a really long time." She sighs. "Best we don't disturb this place too greatly. Don't wanna find out the hard way that the magic's just about done and could give up the ghost at any moment."

"A lichen or a lycan?" Corey asks of Murder with a bit of a cheesy smile that Karasu has suffered through many times (and still married Cor'ethil). "Because the first one's a colony of algae, and the second one's a person who transforms into a werecreature of some kind, typically with the height of Eluna in the sky, who's weak to silver."

He looks way too pleased with himself. "Lichen are kind of like plants but not. They don't have roots like plants do, but they do grow by the sun. They're not observed to be parasitic when they grow on plants. Do _not_ confuse them with moss, however. They may look similar, but they're not--"

And then Corey catches himself in the middle of his infodump. Karasu's asking a very important question. "The temperature and the breeze aren't natural, is what I mean. The sun is an illusion, but it keeps the plants--and the lichen, because they're _not_ plants--growing."

Carver hooks thumbs to her belt, "So it is a design or a flaw?". Meaning that was the purpose to make sure that some plant life can continue in this place. Perhaps to be harvested at one point by this wizard or his apprentice?

Impossible to know but maybe this message will have more for them. She, too, looks at the log-greeter.

Deathless is just eyeing the lichen.

GAME: Magpie rolls knowledge/the planes: (6)+18: 24
GAME: Karasu rolls Knowledge/Nature: (8)+13: 21
GAME: Corey rolls Knowledge/Nature: (8)+16: 24
GAME: Carver rolls knowledge/nature: (9)+16: 25

As the talk moves to the lichen, Magpie tilts her head. "I mean, it'd depend on if Vilarus brought some real dirt with him, when he *made* this place," the gnome mutters, clambering off the wagon. "Cos you just can't make a farm out of elemental Earth. You get great bedrock, sure, but you need a more... biological approach... if you wanna get dirt that could grow crops..."

As Karasu tells the construct to play its master's message, Magpie very nearly teleports to his side, notebook in hand. If *absolutely nothing else,* this trip has paid for itself in research grants... provided one can capture the words of a literal legendary Archmagus from before the Sundering.

The construct... does this odd thing where it folds its arms in front of it, and then its head rolls back. A small gemstone is imbedded in the base of its neck, and it glows softly before projecting an image, about half-size.

The image is that of an older man, a half-elf in fact, dressed in robes and holding a long staff topped with an tiny orrery. In a sonorous tone, the man speaks. "Welcome, guests, to Vilarus's Respite. I am your host, Archmage Vilarus of the Green Tower."

Vilarus's image offers a small smile. "As the Years of the Sun have progressed in this Second Age, it has become clear to me that the study and practice of magic requires more than just lecture halls and desks. Therefore, I built this place as a common ground for all who would pursue and master the Art. If you have arrived here, then you are an honored visitor to this refuge."

"Reeve will lead you to the residential quarters, or if you require refreshments or healing, to the appropriate facilities. I look forward to meeting you." Vilarus makes a small gesture with his hand, the sign of the dead god Animus. "The wisdom of Animus guide your steps, friends. May the Art flourish forever."

The image winks out.

-TBC