Anauroch: Empire of Shade IC

[Nines]

Lune quietly expressed his thanks to the high priestess for her assistance, before bidding their brief host farewell. Turning to the mirror, where the golden threads of the Binder had woven themselves around it's frame, reaching up from their interlaced path upon the floor at his feet, no doubt this was the doorway he had sought.

Rolling the ring upon his hand with a thumb inside his palm, he accessed it's magic. With the other moving instinctively near to the rod at his hip, he stepped through the pane into his own reflection until the two melted into one another, and then were gone. The cold of the glass washed over his entire body, as his form was displaced from one locale to another.

[paradox26]

The Lady of Mystra nods, then lowers herself into a slight bow, as is the custom for even female members of the Church of Mystra, at Shraxtrix's gift, taking it in both hands, before carefully placing it into a pouch at he belt. "Thank you for this fine token, my friends. I shall use it for the furtherance of the Lady's worship," she says, her voice a soothing melody that soothes your minds. You find yourselves wondering if she has cast a minor enchantment, though if she has, which seems unlikely, then it must simply be one designed to settle your nerves and anxieties.

As the party, in its various shapes and sizes, slips through the portal, which seems to adapt even for the mighty bear, you feel a rush of air, and fine yourselves elsewhere, much as expected.

The room is lit by gentle diffuse lighting, and the temperature is cool but not uncomfortable. You can feel a light breeze, which brings with it the faint scent of moist forest leaves. The room appears to be a foyer.

At first glance, this area seems like a pleasant grove, with a fountain providing a pleasant environment for taking a moment’s rest. Closer inspection reveals a rectangular chamber with a riot of lifelike vegetation painted on the walls. The “trees” planted in a double row down the middle of the chamber are actually tile-clad stone pillars placed to support a vaulted ceiling that glows with diffuse light. The soothing sound of bubbling water emanates from the fountain at the end of the hall, and the scent of wildflowers perfumes the air.

Spoiler: OOC Actions

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Can I please have everyone roll for Knowledge History and Knowledge Arcana to learn more about the tower?

[samduke]

Looking around Darla, Ruh, Sharak take in their surroundings, Listening for anything unusual, getting a good idea of what is in the area.

[Nines]

Stepping out and finishing the same stride that had whisked him here, Lune apprised himself of their destination. He gave a soft, coded series of taps to one of the pouches on the brown belt astride the waist of his sapphire-tinted chainmail that seemed to drink in the ambient light, it's links barely audible in the dim quiet of the room.

At the summons, the midnight-black bird emerged once more from the flush seam of it's impossible confines. With a hushed, single flit upward it landed with a prescribed reverse perch, contrasting itself like an inkworn shadow upon the northern ranger's ivory pauldrons. It surveyed at once their flank and rear, as the tandem pair became a silent panopticon of eyes.

Spoiler: OOC

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access familiar pocket, retrieve Allan (raven)

Passive senses: Spot 27, Listen 15 (Ixtalan), 26 spot, 15 listen (Allan)

[BananaPhone]

Faora


Faora moved through the portal with a natural ease, her red-orange hair behind her head like a waterfall and earthen green clothes accentuating her sun-kissed skin.

"Mrrrgggh...." Cuddles grumbled beside her, the massive beasts timid steps forward like that of an uncertain child.

"Oh enough, we're here!" the Druid spoke out of the side of her mouth, her eyes peering around the natural state of the foyer into which they emerged - drawing in a deep, lungfull of air.

[Alhallor]

After Shraxtrix got through the portal she breaths in deeply, her curious eyes take in her surroundings.

It almost doesn't seem like a tower.

The kobold muses while going over towards the fountain. If the water doesn't look strange she would take a sip, to discern if this could be a good place for a retreat.

[rax]

"Anyone see a way out of here?" Aubryn asks his comrades.

[paradox26]

The party quietly discusses between themselves what you have heard of this place. The colelcted wisdom of your group is as follows:
The elf city of Myth Drannor was home to Windsong Tower, a school for wizards that took its name from a carved facade that literally “sang” when the wind blew.
The identity of teachers and students at the school was always a closely guarded secret. The school was one of the last bastions of defense when Myth Drannor fell to invaders in 714 DR. The tower was destroyed in a vicious magical battle. The school actually had three buildings, the main tower and a pair of tree-buildings to the north and south. The tree structures survived the final battle. Graduates from the school were given rings inscribed with magic symbols along the insides of the bands. A cadre of wizards from the school, the Dark Diviners, once earned the wrath of Shar by writing a treatise that revealed several of her secrets.

Windsong Tower, a famous school of wizardry in Myth Drannor, operated in strictest secrecy. Its numerous magic wards defeated divinations, and even its doors and windows were hidden by realistic illusions. The school has few physical entrances; keyed portals were the primary means of egress. An iron fence imbued with deadly magical effects once protected the school. These wards failed over the years. The school was protected by its own mythal, which defeated divination spells and most forms of magical travel. Graduates from the school were given rings bearing the school symbol—a harp surrounded by swirling winds. Advanced students at the school had access to a source of magical knowledge more potent than any seen since the fall of Netheril—including the secrets of mythal construction.

The air is clean and crisp, so when Faora takes a deep lungful they nearly get a headspin from all of the oxygen. Darla can't hear anything unusual, or at least, created by humanoids, but the trickle of the fountain is what you can hear best. Lune and his companions also can't hear or sense anything unusual.

Aubryn's voice breaks the silence that descended after the group's discussion, but doesn't draw any attention from any guardians, suggesting that no one is there.

Shraxtrix goes to take a mouthful of water from the fountain. There is a collection of treasure she can see in the basin. It will take a little time to gather, though, as it is pretty scattered.

[Nines]

"It seems these wizards liked their secrets, even more than usual." Lune said, half pondering, as he moved to slowly circumnavigate the room, the movement helping him to think, as he examined the motifs and the walls that were bereft of further ingress.

"Keep your rings visible, hopefully any of the guardians still in residence will respond to them. I will ward us against the less.. discerning threats." Said the Harper, before muttering a defensive incantation with a hand mudra and a vertical palm. A circle of azure light flared upon the ground about four paces around his form, before fading into the floor.

With the invisible barrier in place, he drew a small, metallic object from a hidden vest pocket, reminiscent of a watchmakers tool, and alternated between stopping to hold it up to one eye, as he made his way around the room. It's violet lens catching and refracting the light as he inspected the foyers walls.

Spoiler: OOC

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cast extended Otiluke's suppressing field; Evocation spells or effects must succeed at a caster level check (DC 24) to function within a 20ft. radius emanation of him.

Ixtalan will thoroughly search the room with the aid of his jeweler's loupe. He'll be looking for a staircase, traps, or other hidden means of entry.
Search DC: 30 check result (take 20).

He'll also see if he can identify any ongoing magical effects, using a combination of his spellcraft (PHB p.82) and detect magic.
Spellcraft DC: 35 check result (take 10).

[Alhallor]

Shraxtrix raised a hand and proclaimed.

There is some treasure at the bottom of the fountain. Should we collect it now or later?

The dragon in her wanted to get the treasure immediately but also was weary of possible traps. It was not easy being a dragon.

Regarding Aubryn's question.

I don't see one currently, but let me see if another perspective helps.

Shraxtrix rubs her hands together to warm them up and then grabs at the air.

Spoiler: Spellcraft 17

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Casting Spider Climb

She then proceeds climbing one of the intrinsically carved stone pillars but stops before she actually begins.

If anyone else wants to climb these up, just ask and I can help you too.

And then proceeds climbing the tower, after she cast the climbing spell on anyone else, to get a better vantage point.

[samduke]

Darla urges Ruh over towards the fountain looking and searching for obvious traps

[BananaPhone]

Faora

The druid smiled while a ripple ran through her body from the sudden bought of oxygen-induced light-headedness. It was an exquisite experience, to be sure.

"Strange whoever made this place wished to foster a mimicry of the natural world...I'd say we are where we intended to be..." the druid spoke with her soothing voice, gesturing to the painted walls and tree-like carved pillars.

Approaching the fountain, her boots silent upon the soft floor, the woman pursed her lips in thought as she inspected the object and noticed the blurred images refracting upon the surface of the water to hint at the treasures that lay within its basin.

"Best not disturb those, I think..." she spoke matter-of-factly to Shraxtrix. Greed had ended many an adventurer. Cuddles moved up behind Faora, its massive bulk equally soft in movement-sound, its massive head moving about and those eyes peering around with lazy curiosity.

[rax]

"We are not here to loot the tower's treasures, but to uncover the plots of the Shadovar," Aubryn reminds Shraxtix. "Leave those treasures for now. If we can find and defeat the Shadovar, then we may claim them and consider them fairly earned."

"I'll look for doors or other exits along the walls," he adds.

OOC: I.e. Aubryn will head for one of the walls away from the fountain and check for any doors or exits.

[paradox26]

There do not appear to be any traps in the chamber, not even the fairly obvious treasure is trapped. The water continues to tinkle from the fountain, which is the only noise in the chamber that the party is not making themselves.

The jeweler's loupe doesn't reveal any traps, and a secret door tot he south west corner. There are doors to the north and south, and at the eastern end of the room there are a pair of staircases, one on the north wall and one on the south wall. To the east is an illusory wall that seems to reflect the room you are already inside, and it displays Conjuration magic.

Shraxtrix manages to climb the pillar and gets a different perspective on things, but it doesn't provide any more information than what the party has already learned.

Suddenly, a sharp rebuke echoes through the hall: “It’s about time you got here! I’ve been waiting days for relief. What’s the matter? Spend too much time admiring
all the trees around here?” The voice has no visible source, but seems to come from among the pillars in the eastern half of the room. It speaks in Chondathan, then if no one responds, repeats the words in Common.

[rax]

"And a fine good day to you as well," Aubryn answers the voice in Chondathan. "We were not informed of any allies awaiting our arrival. Perhaps if you show yourself we may greet each other properly," he adds.

While he speaks, he moves towards where the voice appears to be coming from and makes use of his blindsight to try and ascertain if the speaker is merely hiding nearby or if they're truly disembodied.


OOC: Reminder that Aubryn has 30-foot blindsight, so unless the speaker is incorporeal or there's no line of effect to them, Aubryn should notice them if they're in range.

[Nines]

Lune recognized the Chondathan tongue of his homeland immediately. If the call was a ruse, it was a strange choice indeed. But as he pondered that thought, he heard Sir Aubryn's reply.

As the knight drew the stranger's attention, he took the opportunity of the brief distraction and the cover of the pillars in the room to position himself near the secret passage the others had not yet noticed.

Surely if ambush was our new guest's intent, then at least one avenue of attack would be denied to them. Lune pressed his back to the adjacent stone with eyes to the concealed door, and his ears craned to the exchange, should it continue. He reached out with his uncanny senses, seeking the vibratory source of the hail upon the air. Drawing a small, angled mirror from his cloak, he examined the room discreetly for their new visitor.

Spoiler: OOC

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Ixtalan will move to the pillar nearest the secret door he found, placing the pillar between himself and what he believes the source of the voice is.

He'll try to pinpoint the location of the voice with his blindsense of 60ft. from behind the pillar, while keeping his 20ft. suppression field covering as much of the secret door as he can.

He'll attempt to use the cover to remain unseen as the exchange plays out, keeping a visual on the room from the pillar with the use of his hand periscope.

Remain unseen: Hide 27 *incl. scope (take 10)
Passive senses: Spot 27, Listen 15

[paradox26]

A hollow laugh echoes through the hall. A haughty voice seems to speak directly to your minds: “Enjoyed your visit so far? Time for a little exercise to liven up your experience!” The voice appears to be a little annoyed, presumably at the presence of intruders inside the Tower, but it otherwise doesn't sound hostile. There is no sign of a person being inside the chamber with the party, however, so your highly enhanced senses do not appear to be making much difference, as they detect nothing either. You can only assume that the voice is coming from vocal projection magic. Either that or his magic could be beyond your own ability to detect the speaker.

[Alhallor]

The little kobold nearly falls of the tower when a mysterious voice echoes through the hall. She can't understand the first set of words, that some respond too. The words in her mind are clear however. Exercise?

The small kobold stays on the pillar for now. It's better to stay spread out at first, who knows what kind of exercise the haughty voice had in mind. Shraxtrix didn't cast a protective spell at the moment, who knew if that wouldn't be seen as a sign of agression.

[rax]

"This is certainly a lovely space, though no doubt bereft of the light and life it once possessed," Aubryn answers the voice. "But as you are surely aware, this is all we have seen so far, and I would prefer to see more of this place before passing judgement on how enjoyable it is to visit. I am Sir Aubryn Amcathra of Waterdeep, by the way. Do you have a name or title by which we should address you?"

[paradox26]

The voice rings out, saying, "You may call me Darcassan, known by some as The Adroit, Sir Aubryn."

The name sounds somewhat familiar, and you wrack your brain trying to determine who it might be, and if you have knowledge of your interlocutor.

Spoiler: OOC Actions

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Can I please get a Will save for Aubryn.
If you want to find out if you know the name of Darcassan, please give me either a Knowledge Arcana or History check Note you can't take 10 on knowledge checks. You either know it or you don't.

[rax]

Spoiler: Actions

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Coming right up...

Will save (1d20+15)[27]

Know. (arcana) check (1d20+7)[19]

[Nines]

Sensing the emptiness of their immediate vicinity and the absence of a source to the voice, Lune concluded it was likely a vocal projection they were experiencing. At that realization he visibly relaxed, as the threat of ambush seemed further away, at least for the moment. The parley was unexpected, but as he listened from the pillar he took careful stock of the name the voice offered them.

Things of power, names, especially to one of the Art, and not lightly given. Many mages took shadow names to practice under, or for the vain to build their legacies upon. He knew this all too well, having divided his own life in this way decades ago, out of necessity. Still, such names had a way of taking on a semblance of their own. Alter egos assumed to protect identities, that grew to strike fear into one's enemies, could also become wraiths onto their bearers. A shadow self, bound in much the same fashion, was for some an albatross born of all those made ghosts in its wake.

He had never been quite comfortable with what his own shadow name had become, and had been glad to leave it behind. Wearing the mantle again now felt akin to disturbing the dead, the fateful rest of friends and foes alike. The reverie of searching himself for another's name granted him a brief, frayed vignette of his own. Banishing the thoughts, he returned to the present and brought the knowledge to hand.

Spoiler: OOC

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Rolled knowledge in OOC, post #186

[samduke]

While not entirely unusual Darla was uneasy with the way the voice spoke. Every watchful keeping an eye out for trouble, maneuvering closer towards Aubryn

[BananaPhone]

Faora

When the disembodied voice boomed throughout the expansive, naturalistic antechamber, Cuddle's massive, ursine head darted upwards, beady eyes alert and his ears pricked up in detection before scanning the area. Faora, likewise, straightened her shoulders and peered about, trying to find the source of this invisible companion, before assurances of its physical absence led her to consider they were being spied upon by clairvoyance.

While Aubryn deliberated with the unseen entity, Faora closed her eyes and started to hum softly to herself as she plunged her spirit into the earth below, like tendrils of spectral energy of the wild extending down and outwards to contact and discover their surroundings. Meanwhile, Cuddles grumbled lowly, the massive bear approaching from behind and looming above the druid almost protectively, his massive front section like a muscled arch of fur and muscle about her as his huge head drew about, remaining alert and scanning the area.

[Alhallor]

Shraxtrix kept on the wall for now, the booming voice was pretty confusing and she couldn't make out a clear enemy. She did however made weaving motions with one hand and repeated a spell in her mind several times, without really finishing it.

Spoiler: OOC

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Knowledge = 27 (rolled in the OOC) preparing to cast Haste on my allies if an enemy shows up.

[paradox26]

Aubryn feels a touch against his mind, but it doesn't linger. It seems to try to pry inside his mind, but when it fails it disappears completely.

You have all heard the name of Darcassan, though the epithet he adds is new to most of you. He has several, but that one is new to you. You wonder if maybe he is an echo, placed here by the magic of the Tower. Suddenly, a transparent figure steps out of the pillar that Lune is standing beside.

Faora attempts to cast a communing spell, but the spell inexplicably fails. Perhaps there is a ban on divination magics upon the Tower.

[rax]

"Master Darcassan, I presume?" Aubryn greets the transparent figure. "Your name is familiar to me, though I confess no more than that. May I ask, what is your purpose here in the tower?"

[paradox26]

"It is often good to be known, though for a mage, perhaps not so much. I am a Master of, and the Guardian of, the Tower," says Darcassan, offering a slight chuckle at some unknown private joke.

[Alhallor]

Shraxtrix let's her prepared spell fall and while still on the pillar asks Darcassan.

That's some great news! Do you know anything about any Shade's invading this here tower that you are the guardian of?

[Nines]

For a moment Lune thought that his mind's foray into the spectres of the past had conjured one forth before him. He saw in the man the pale blue eyes of Elinor's late father, she had helped arrange the diversion that enabled his participation in this expedition. He had been a brave soul, resolute. But heroism of his like and longevity did not often meet. He wondered if it had been the same for this phantom.

Ixtalan addressed the transparent guardian, as he stowed the angled mirror with a vanishingly troubled look. "I'm sorry...I thought you were someone else."

"Greetings," he said, briefly extending a hand to meet the newly adjacent form, before thinking better of the man's present state, the windsong ring upon it making the light as he did so. "The name is Lune, and these are my companions," said Ixtalan as he gestured to the group, "though you have already met Sir Aubryn." as the arc of his hand landed upon the knight. "We were sent to counter the designs of the Shadovar against this place, and unravel their plots here." He said, explaining their presence in the tower.

"You mentioned the delay of our arrival. Are you in need of assistance?" proffered Ixtalan.

Spoiler: OOC

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• stow hand periscope into cloak pocket (move action).

• In the attempt to greet Darcassans's hand he'll make sure the windsong ring is visible and check the man's hands for a similar ring. Passive Spot 27.