High on a ladder in the Tower Libarary, Swift is glancing through several books. "Not this one either.", he mummbles. Several books lay open on the tables below relating to history in Sirison. The tall blue and white feathered Ixifar reachs out for what he hopes is another promising tomb. "What was Sahk-Vorik looking for?"
"Ah, Master Rune. Specificly a relationship between the sorcerer Sahk-Vorik and the ancient mage Rathousalah." Swift slides down that ladder to the library floor. "In the Cenotaph, Sahk-Vorik had tapped the chaotic power of the Malestorm as Rathousalah did before him. Shak was obviously mad with power, but that doesn't explain his presence in the ruin....or how he found out about it."
Swift thinks for a momment, setting the newly dis-shelved tomb on the table. "Also the presence of the sand imp that stole the map from here in the first place disturbes me. If Sahk-Vorik already knew of of the Cenotaph he would not need the map from here. Some other party was after that imformation as well."
A young elf poked her head through the double doors, squeezing the oak wood of the large entrance way. She opened her mouth to say something but quickly decided against it, not wanting to disturb the two unfamiliars inside. The elf waited to be noticed instead, backing up shyly. Her eyes set on the terrifying faces carved on the large doors, quickly darting her eyes away to the grassy ground.
"Pardon me Master Rune." Swift nods to an aged velum page on the edge of the table. "We retrieved the map. It acted as a gate key teleporting the party to Sirison desert near the Cenotaph. It also had the power to teleport us back here. What ever magic in it is now expended."
Swift lifts the page as if looking for clues that have evaded him hundred times already. "The map came from this library somewhere. The source book is unknown, though it was possibly the tomb Sahk-Vorik was carrying. The text of the map is written in an ancient Sirison dialect similar to the language most of the desert peoples use now."
The ixifar puts down the page still distracted shaking his head. "Sahk-Vorik is the name of a sorcerer, commoner I believe. He was the one who barred our entry into the Cenotaph and tried to kill us when we arrived. In the conflict he was consumed by that which he tried to control."
Kaelan stroles into the Library with purpose with a large dusty tome under his arm.
"Yes, Rune we have a security problem in the tower. It would appear we need to put some time into strengthen our wards. However, atleast the alarm spell on the Library did function as intended."
Kaelan collapses down on a chair and lays the tome on the table.
"I have just returned from Sirison. There was important research to be done there. Swift, Rune, we have a serious problem. This book is ancient sirisonian history. Here is what my own research into history has found."
"In the past, An ixifar sorcerer named Sahk-Vorik founded a group of bandits called the Maledrim, or "Red Marauders" and ravaged the desert kingdoms of Sirison. He aquired a grimoire of High Sorcery know only as Rathousalah's Text. He and most of his band were WIPED OUT when the power of the Text goes wild on the Night of Fallen Stars. This happened in 1416 NB. Over 4300 years ago! The place is marked, read for yourself."
"I now believe somehow, Sahk-Vorik has unintendally resurrected Rathousalah, with his own life force. If his Text was an artifact in 1416 NB there is no telling how powerful he is. I searched for any reference to Rathousalah himself in the archives where I got that tome. There wasn't even his name mentioned."
Kaelan looks at his companions for their thoughts.
The Golem nods, and it's light glow brighter. "Excellent research, to the both of you. This one believes it is experiencing what could be described as pride. Now, this one will follow your leads on this. Tell this one what must be done next." emits from the golem. Rune takes notice of the elf in the door, and briefly recognizes her. "Spectator, what do you need?"
Swift glances up drumbing his fingers upon the book cover. "Our main concern is who or what was behind the theft of the map from this libarary. I currently believe it to be a thrid party not directly associated with Sahk-Vorik. Another concern is what Kaelan and I encountered in the desert. Sahk should have died over 4000 years ago! Either we became part of so kind of spirit echo of events or he survived the first Night of Fallen Star. And if he survived it once, he may do so again..."
As Swift trails off he claps the book closed and lays it back upon the table. "I forsee two couses of action. Either we hunt for the answer or let it come to us. The long hard path lies behinth the sand of the Sirison with Rathousalah. We could spend our entire lives looking for clues in the cities of Parrasson or Kalf-Gi and come to not."
Restlessly the Ixifar paces slowly around the open books on the table. "The other is to wait and see if another theft is attempted. If whoever is desperate enought to attempt to steal from here, they would be desperate enough to try again if they failed. It or they knew to try to take the map which was a gate key. It is highly likely they would try again."
She backed away for a moment when he addressed her, stepping forward sheepishly a moment later, "I heard that a mage guild existed here... The Docents of the Tower I believe?" She pondered aloud, creeping inside the library slowly. She fiddled with the rabbit skull around her neck, looking away from the giant golem.
She backed away for a moment when he addressed her, stepping forward sheepishly a moment later, "I heard that a mage guild existed here... The Docents of the Tower I believe?" She pondered aloud, creeping inside the library slowly. She fiddled with the rabbit skull around her neck, looking away from the giant golem.
Kaelan looks at the small elf woman and says, "Do not be frightened. Rune may have an imposing presence but he is not dangerous to those not of ill intentions. And in many ways quite ... genial. Come in. We are discussing something that may very well require the resources of all in the Tower."
Kaelan beckons her over.
Kaelan then turns back to Swift. "Actually, my feathered colleague, I do believe he somehow survived the Night of Fallen Stars. He himself said he did not know exactly what he was doing the first time. I believe he someone ended up in the Maelstrom. He asked us "Have you ever been to the Maelstrom before?" I believe this tells us he has. and it took this time for him to get out and regain his power. Then to reattempt to absorb the power of the Maelstrom as he did 4000 yrs before. But with a different ritual. This time not only was he using Rathousalah’s Text but also Rathousalah’s remains as well. How he came upon them we may never know, but I doubt he survived this time. This time he was not pulled into the Maelstrom this time he tempted fate once too many and the spirit of Rathousalah himself drained his life essence threw the ritual using his Text and remains as conduit. Now we deal with Rathousalah himself. Something we know nothing about. I think we could scour libraries for ages and fine nothing. I believe Rathousalah will make himself known to us in time. I just hope we are able to stop him."
Kaelan slumps in his chair. "I see no other path or course of action for the Tower. But to strengthen ourselves till the time when Rathousalah returns. And pray we are ready."
The golem nods, "We will prepare. Thankfully, we are not fighting an army. If we are headed to the Maelstrom, this one knows of other elements we can call upon."
The golem bekons for the female elf again, "Sit, we will adress you now. You have found the Docents. What is your name, Elf"
Glimmer flits back in to the tower, brushing off dirt and twigs from her tutu as she ascends to the library. Upon seeing the small gathering and sureveying they group, she seems to fixate on the rabbit skull around the Elf's neck. Seemingly quite, she flits directly into the face of the Elf and screaches out "WHAT IS THAT WHY IS IT HERE WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH IT WHERE DID IT COME FROM GET IT OUT GET IT OUT GET IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!" Glimmer suddenly drops to the floor in a pile, rubbing the spoon around her neck and hugging the rug excaliming "I won't let her get you! I know she wore that horrid thing in here. I'll discover her purpose, I swear it." She then stuffs piles of cookies into her mouth, shortly followed by her red candies from deep within her pouch. Deciding that was not nearly enough, she then takes out the flask Taklinn gave to her, finishing it's content in a gulp and a hiccup.
Malkonius hobbles down the stairs, once again to investigate whatever may be causing the obnoxious racket from the library. He reaches the bottom just in time to see Glimmer pulling several hefty swigs from her flask,
"Oi now, looks like Glimmer's got the right idea here!" he proclaims, as he digs his own flask out from his tunic. He almost finishes his entire flask when he notices the Elf clutching the rabbit skull around her neck. It takes all of his being to keep from spitting out the ale that is still in his mouth, and he starts choking down the rest of the drink, coughing and sputtering the entire time. The Dwarf falls on the floor next to Glimmer, and starts spurting some inconprehensibe words, while pointing at the Elf's 'necklace.'
Rune's gaze falls from the elf to it's housemistress and apprentice, and then back the elf who's necklace had rendered them useless. Stone grins and conplains as Rune levels it's arm at the elf's head. A gem in the center of its palm glows brightly and the markings on the arm glow brightly. "Hands off the necklace. This one will end you. Explain yourself."
"The necklace isn't enchanted, it has no magical powers! I didn't do anything to your friends, back off!" She defended herself, moving away from him, "The rabbit skull around my neck is a momento of my friend Polivandus, it's his skull! He died fighting beside me and I wanted to keep him close to my heart, there is no magic going on here." She reiterated, getting irritated at everyone's rash reactions,
"You are in the tower of the last piece of the fragmented mage, Dalgoon. Mage turned rabbit. How DARE you walk within these halls with that around your neck. Friend or not, you must remove it whilst in this tower. These walls can talk, and see, and hear, and bite Girl. My name is Glimmer, and this is my home. While the Libray is public and available to anyone in town, I ask you out of respect for Dalgoon that you remove it while in the tower's presence. You've upset my comrades. We'd all be more willing to assist with it not in our sight." Glimmer seems much calmer, but rubs the spoon vigorously as she begins hopping about the library. She then turns to Malkonius. "Bravo, friend. Bravo. He'd be proud to have met ye dwarf."
Amid the tension, a crunching blow abruptly swings the door wide-open and rebounds off the wall. An angori lowers his foot from the kicking position in the doorway, and is about to enter but sees the gathering inside, nodding at what he believes is the golem's greeting of lighting the area with his hands. "Oi! 'Eard I s'posed ta give a 'port o' dat sandy place" he announces.
The grimace on his face matches the tone of his voice. "Stinkin' lyin' birdie caravan. Nasty ole water. Nuttin' ta eats. Everytin' we swatted turn to sand. Gorram sand eated us! Finally, when we'z find big nasty ixifar makin' all da bad stuffz, big nasty skeleton eats him first and smashes da place. 'Mind me ta bring a 'Bacca jes fer meself next time yous gets a spook 'round 'ere an' we goin' to da sands."
The angori gives a toothy grin as he grabs the door and begins to shut it behind him, taking his leave. "Tanks again fer tellin' me 'bout da 'gori dat came before me. Ye need anytin' elsh, oi be trainin' in da horns camp."
Marloff steps out from the bookcase's shadow.
He had arrived just as the tension arose over the rabbit's skull and he had gone unnoticed. The angori's aggressive entry had given him further pause.
"Why always the need to get into a situation I know little about?" The Sorcerer asked himself.
He put down his journal on the table and continues to produce loose notes and scrolls from various folds of his robe and lays them in a neat pile as he speaks to gathering.
"This Rathousalah you speak of... you are sure he will come here.... to the tower... ?"
Not waiting for a response. He continues in a thoughtful tone.
"There seems to be one option gone unspoken, when it comes to a course of action."
His eyes survey the tomes and artifacts displayed in the library.
"Can he be enticed to show his face? Is there no way draw him here on your terms? Perhaps then you could better know the hour of his return and gain the advantage."
Marloff sits slowly onto the bench and then rises quickly.
"Oh, forgive me if my words are out of place, my name is Marloff Thistru. I was drawn here by the smell of parchment and leather. My companion, Althena, is a dedicated healer and is meandering through town now looking to use her talents."
Sinking back down, Marloff sits, quietly trying to get a read on how his interjection was received.
Rune remained quiet as the organics vented thier emotions. When the empyrean appeared from behind the bookshelves, Rune shook it's head. "We really should see to our security. Consquently, this one is suprised it you this long to find us, as this one recalls asking you to attend when we delved into the Memory Hollow. Welcome, please, have a seat while this one attempts to sort the others out." Rune walks over to his apprentice and landlord, kneeling before them.
"Apprentice, on your feet. This one expected more control from a dwarf." emits from Rune. Without waiting for it's instructions to be heard, the construct focuses on the Fae. "Glimmer, what is your spoon's name?"
Bewildered, Glimmer looks at Rune. "It's not MY spoon, Rune. It's Dalgoon's Spoon. Rather, he IS the spoon. And a bunny. And a wizard. And a man. And here but not here. Except he's NOT the spoon. This spoon is the Riddle Spoon and I am the Riddle Master of The Enlightened Circle! Good heavens haven't you been paying attention? Keep up Keep up!" Glimmer rights herself and begins to hop in tiny circles around the library, seeming to exact a pattern, yet appearing to be unaware she's doing so.
Seemingly bewildered by the appearance of so many character suddenly, Swift scratches his head feathers and begins reshelving the books he got out. "There is much more to Dalgoon then I thought.", he mutters. Somehow he manages not to get in the fey's way in this task as Glimmer dances around the room.
Climbing a ladder with two books in hand he says, "I think another look at this tower is in order."
Rune stands, and simply lets it's head swivel around as it follows the fae. "Even bettter. So, Glimmer, would you say the spoon helps you keep in contact with someone?" emits from the construct. At one point, Rune stops it's head and focuses on Swift, "This one has wanted to know more about Dalgoon, hence the rabbits that were, prior to fae involvement, residing in the garden upstairs. Take notes of what Glimmer says"
Marloff looks up from his pages, turns to Glimmer
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"Yes do tell. What I have just heard of him intrigues me. He not only sounds well honored but quite powerful."
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Readies his quill at his parchment to take take down any information gleamed from what is likely going to be cryptic response.
Hearing nothing form the Fae, Marloff starts drawing the pattern of circles made by Glimmer's hopping.
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"A map maybe ? Or some rune unknown to me ? Marloff muttered to himself.
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His eyes and thoughts now turn to the being that had pointed his feet towards this tower.
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"What is it with this construct ? There is something I am missing. Dwarven made. Yes definitely. There is great power, to be sure."
Marloff pinches the bridge of his nose and crushes his eyes closed "Perhaps I should have trusted his call sooner ?", "No matter, I am here now"
Glimmer stops hopping abruptly as the group begins to question her for stories. Flitting directly into the air, while clapping and hiccupping, she speaks. "Well, my dear deary dearest dears. If we're going to tell stories of the days of old, we must do it properly. Malkonius, please assist in settig the table that I'm about bed Rune to push over here properly for tea. Rune, please push the big table into the center of the library. And conjure up a tea set. I don't have enough fingers to carry enough cups up from my dunge...rooms here." As she awaits for those two to accomplish the task, Glimmer begins pulling numerous books from the shelves, pausing momentarily to place cookies and candies around the table, along with a large wooden box of her coloring sticks and papers.
Malkonius, just now getting over what was assumably a near-death experience from choking on his ale, manages to regain his composure and addresses Rune's demand.
"Oye now, it ain't evr'y day that yeh 'ave someone just waltz'n on in the library wearin' a damn'd rabbit skull 'round their neck! But hey, I didn't spill a single drop of meh ale! This calls for another drink!"
Malkonius finishes off what little was left in his flask, and with a look of severe disappointment, tucks it back into his pouch. He gives a quick wave to Glimmer to acknowledge her request, and sets off to procure the necessary items to set the table.
Rune nods, raises it's arm, and emits, "Aetheral chains beckon you". A tendril of magic erupts form the golem's hand and latches onto the table. The tendril slowly recedes back into the golems palm, dragging the table with it until it is in the center of the room. Rune then holds both hands over the table, levels them, and then conjures a bland stone tea set.
The Dwarf returns, carefully balancing a large stack of various dishes, flatware, and cloths to finish the place setting. He manages to get everything in place, and takes a seat at the table.
"Sorry, I dunno where the tea is kept here, someone else is either gonna have to go get it themself, or show meh to it."
Marloff pulls a large pouch from his belt and tosses it on the table.
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"I have a nice mix of herbs.", gives a little nod, "Will brew a nice relaxing tea if we can come up with the hot water."
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After dragging the bench over to where the table now sits, Marloff goes back to scribbling notes.
Swift glances down at the set up of the tea party below. Grinning and shaking his head the ixifar slides down the ladder. Looking at the tea setup he chants, "Grace of and bounty form our desires." A plate of cucumber sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies appears in a swirling mist of blue energy. "A Sirison dish of my liking to share.", says Swift as he also conjures a bowl of humus and sits down at the table.
Rune lays dorment in a corner of the library. As the books start to come off the shelves, Rune's center gem begins to pulse and animate the construct. Stone slap back into place as the golem begins to stand, knocking the thin layer of dust off in a shower of filth. The construct looks up at the ixifar and adresses him: "Swift, what are you looking for?"