Foo for You
You stand before a desk in the Adventurer's guld, a huge man covered in scars stands behind it. The office doesn't look good on him. He looks like a man meant to be on the road. The nameplate on the desk says ‘Marcus, Personnel Allocations’. He doesn't look like one of those, but he offers each of you a hand and shakes those that accept it with a strong grip that tests your mettle.
"I am Marcus, and it's a pleasure to meet you all." He stares at you with gray eyes that have seen everything and finds you... perhaps less than impressive. But he doesn't mean it personally. He's just seen a /lot/. "We recently gathered some information on the White Towers which have a connection to the plague which has struck this city. We learned that adventurers - who shall not be named - went to a tower that matches it's description at the behest of a magazine known as Better Homes and Dungeons. They attest that the potions which took the adventurers there were gathered from yet another tower which may or may not be connected to both. We also learned through other means that the first tower is located on the Elemental Plane of Fire."
"So, your task is to go either to the site that the potions were found at, or to the Elemental Plane of Fire to try and locate the tower /there/."
Hun'rar gladly takes the handshake and returns a firm one of his own. "So, finding a tower. Do we have a good way to get to the plane of fire? Also how are these towers tied to the plague?" he asks with an easy smile, helmet clipped to his belt.
Isaac is one of the adventurers present in this moment, though he does seem to shake Marcus's hand with a firm grip and a strong shake. Brief and cordial, Isaac steps back and crosses his arms, listening to this briefing. "Chance of hostile engagement?" Isaac asks with a straight tone.
Seldan takes the grip firmly enough, and doesn't complain at the finger-crushing. He wears less of a smile at the description of their task, but nods. "If we find ourselves on the Elemental Plane of Fire, it's likely," he tells Isaac before answering Marcus. His voice holds a thick Myrrish accent. "So you seek the first tower, the tower the others sought, or both?"
Erendriel stands in the back when she sees Marcus squeezing everyone's hands, folding her hands behind her back. Playing it cool, she doesn't try to be intimidating int he least. Today she will try to be underestimated. "I don't yet have the ability to survive the elemental plane of fire, but I wish I did. I've been near one of those towers before. It's dangerous, alters the weather around it, and is guarded by very strong beings. At least, the one I went to was. I've also apparently been inside one, but my memories of that were entirely wiped. All of these options are terribly dangerous."
Malik shakes Marcus' hand as well, cocking his head to the side as the man explains what's been happening. There's a slight tension there as the options are presented, though when Erendriel notes that surviving the Plane of Fire might be difficult, he relaxes a bit. Apparently, that was on his mind as well. But as she continues to speak, he nods. "I mean, who even -builds- towers anymore? And those mess with the weather?" He shakes his head, grumbling something under his breath about inefficiency and shoddy construction.
"We don't know how the towers are related /exactly/ which is part of what we hope to learn. What we do know is that they are tied to someone we know only as the 'Mistress' and that she created the plage supposedly. We expect that the towers will be guarded with dangerous beings and or traps. We are asking you to go to /one/ of the towers... for now. The other will be explored at a later date. You get first pick of which one you want to explore." He flashes a rough grin. "We have scrolls here that will take you to the Elemental Plane of Fire if that's what you pick, and potions that will help you survive there. Or you can choose to go to the other tower which we have located on this plane."
Isaac shrugs. "Might as well go to the other plane, least thats my opinion. Never been to a plane other than this one. The experience will be nice." Because to him, how cool would it be to say 'been to another plane of reality' at the bars? Killer. Besides, he was armed to the teeth with a large deal of armor protection. He was good to go. He looks around then, seeing who wants to come with him.
Seldan nods his understanding, and his features relax as if satisfied. More knowledge? Bring it on. "If we have the means to get there, and to survive, then I would also see the Plane of Fire," he admits. "The wizard Mikilos Mithralla had some information on the White Towers. I would learn more."
Hun'rar grins "Well I am not one to shy away from danger, the only thing about the plane of flame is that anything we encounter are likely immune to my own fire. But my sword can still cut them down as needed."
Erendriel claps and practically hops off of the ground when that clarification comes. "Yes, then let's do it. Let's go to the..." she shivers when she says this "Plane of Fire and look for the tower. I mean, whatever is there is probably immune to fire, so I don't know how well i can FIGHT it, but we're there to investigate, right? Not to fight."
Malik, for his part, doesn't look -nearly- as enthusiastic about an endless flaming inferno as the others do. But eventually he just gives a little nod, pulling at his clothes a bit nervously. "Good excuse to buy new clothes when I get back, at least." Grabbing his back, he throws it over his shoulder, looking to the others. "So. Who's leading the way?"
Hun'rar unslings his shield, strapping it to his arm. "I will gladly lead the way, my armor is thick and my shield pretty sturdy. Where are we opening the portal?" he asks of the quest giver. Marcus hands over two scrolls and a handful of potions for you all. "Drink the potions right away then. They'll protect you from the heat there. Then someone will have to read the scroll and that'll take you there. The other one is to bring you back. Hopefully you have someone with you that can do that, because that's not something /I/ can do."
Thankfully there is someone with you that can read the scroll. So after drinking the potions the scroll is read and the world goes dark. For a moment. Then quite suddenly you find yourselves on the edge of a vast city. Or you think it's a city. It's made up of tents of every variation, all of them selling things. There's one selling food over there right next to one that sells rings. Then there's one that sells something pink and looks to be inflatable. The proprietors of these stalls look to be of every variation of race, but most notable are the blue and red-skinned individuals whom make up most of the population. You stand fairly distant from the chaos, but even from here you can hear the sounds of it. Of a tower... there is no sign.
Once the world reassembles itself, Seldan stops and looks around him, frowning. There doesn't seem to be anything threatening coming their way, though - yet. Still, his gaze is wary and sharp as he studies the massive city. "I ought to have at least attempted to learn some of the fire language," he murmurs to himself, then louder, "A white tower would doubtless be an oddity here. If any have seen it."
Isaac accepts the potion meant for him, and he downs it easily enough. He isn't sure if he feels the effects, but he supposes this is where that trust comes in. The world goes black once someone reads the scroll, and then it seems they are in this hellpit of the Fire Elemental Plane. "I would have learned it, if I knew how." Isaac quips to Seldan as his white hair flows with whatever wind exists here.
"Anyone spot a tower? We might have to ask around, see what the locals know."
Hun'rar nods to Seldan "We can start but asking around, I don't speak the language either. Perhaps we can find some interesting items being sold while hunting." he adds looking around.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls knowledge/the planes: (7)+2: 9
This, at least, is something that Malik is more familiar with. Once his feet are under him once more, and the taste of the potion no longer threatening to turn his stomach, he glances around the tent city, the frown on his face slowly turning into a smile. The Tsuran is all too familiar with the likes of these kinds of markets, and for a moment looks like he could wander off and simply lose himself in all the strange new wares. But even he notices that there isn't a tower anywhere in sight, looking over his shoulder to the one that read the scroll. "You sure you said that right?" he asks, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't skip a word or something in there? Miss an accent somewhere?" That frown has slowly started to return. But he's not the one in charge here, so other people get to make the plans.
Erendriel is giddy. Grinning, a bit giggly, excited. Bouncing more or less continuously as the group arrives, and she looks around. "I've been meaning to learn Ignan. Now I wish I had yet. Should we spread out and look, or what?"
"We should speak to the locals and learn what they have seen. A white tower in the midst of this would be an oddity." Seldan hefts his pack and looks over at the others. "And it may be that we have a journey ahead of us. I would see their wares as well."
Hun'rar looks to the others. "Shall we go ask around then? Not sure I have a plan other than that." he says with a shrug, not an easy thing in full plate. "Perhaps split up and all of us try different folks..." he starts walking into the market.
As you walk into the market people immediately start calling out to you... in common. You notice that some people are being talked to in others - every language you've ever heard and some to spare, but those talking to you do so in your native tongue. "Hey you! I have globes of ever-falling snow! On sale now for a very limited time!"
"You miss! A ring to make your fire spells /bigger/!"
"Can I interest you in some exotic meats?"
"How about this fine necklace! It will help you find the one thing you're looking for!" Everyone's selling something, and they're selling to /you/.
"Then we can all get souvenirs for the trip home." Isaac quips. Before he gets moving. "Try and find an additional weapon here if you can. In case our weapons arn't effective, the people of this land likely have devised some sort of weapons that can harm the creatures of this plane easier than our own." Specifically, Isaac is looking for weapons, like a sword. Many of these offers are very tempting…
Erendriel whirls right around. She's not distracted from the mission. Of course not. But she wanders right up to one merchant. Sizing the person up. Weird color? Weird shape? "Hi, you have a ring that makes fire spells bigger, do you? I probably can't afford it bit.."
The red-skinned individual that Erendriel speaks to smiles broadly and shows the ring in question off to her. "Not at all I'm sure we can agree on a price! In fact, I'll sell it to you for a /song/." It's a very lovely ring, clearly of high craftsmanship, with a little ruby set in gold.
Malik turns toward the merchant that called out about the necklace. The one that supposedly can help them find what they're looking for. He stares at the presented wares curiously, eyes glancing over the craftsmanship. "A necklace that can help me find what I'm looking for would be pretty impressive," he tells the merchant. "Especially if you're advertising it to -everyone-. People look for different things." The novice wizard's eyes take in the offered selection, asking, "How does it work?"
Hun'rar is a Warden of Gilead and when he is on the hunt, he does not get distracted easily. "Have you seen a white tower around? Do you have directions? I could buy something if you told me where to find a white tower." he asks of some of the merchants. "A white tower, have you seen or heard of it?"
It's the exotic meats vendor that attracts Seldan's attention first, although his true interest lies in the sort of meat that would make good journey food. "What sort of meats?" he asks the vendor politely.
Isaac finds a blacksmith/weapons store, and he moves over to them. "What do you have to offer?" of course, Isaac is truly curious. He's a monster slayer. Anything specifically made for killing and good damage is attractive to him. Maybe a neat sword or a battle axe.
The blue-skinned individual that Malik is speaking to grins broadly. "It looks into your heart and determines what you want most. Then this little star on top lifts off and leads you to that thing." Indeed there's a little indistinct star sitting on top of the jewel on the necklace. It too is of very fine make.
Hun'rar finds that his questions are met with... looks of disgust until one vendor stops him with a smile. The personage in question is of indistinct gender or race. In fact it seems to change minutely from moment to moment. "Information's what you're looking for? We can trade information if you like."
The vendor that Seldan talks to shows off his wares proudly. Another blue-skinned individual. "I am selling dragon meat! Very high quality. It's guaranteed to last until you eat it, and is guaranteed to fill you up! Just one bite sir and you'll be as full as if you'd eaten a banquet all by yourself!"
"Everything under the son sir! Swords, hammers, axes. All designed to help you slay whatever you're looking to kill." Isaac is being shown around the red-skinned individual's tent. There are a huge variety of weapons, but mostly what is offered are swords. "This one here is quite powerful, I would suggest it to you sir, and it's on sale!" He shows off a lovely sword with the image of a woman on the hilt.
Malik gives the merchant a thankful nod, offering a slight wave as he turns to follow Hun'rar's voice. His feet move quickly, sidling up to the man and putting a gentle hand on his arm, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "Not the tactic you want to take here," he tells the Warden. "Most of these people would probably sell their own mothers if they thought the price was right. A few of them probably have." He casts a glance around at some of the smaller vendors. "Offering money for information often means that you get bad information about something that, by default, would have to be far enough away you can't easily see it from here. And they're gone by the time you know better. Discretion might be a better tactic to take. Unless you're just itching to be rid of your coins, in which case, I can think of better uses for them."
Erendriel giggles and tilts her head to the merchant. "Well, I don't know how GREAT I am at singing, but I could try..." Biting her lip, looking very carefully at the ring, sizing it up. "I do have money with me, if you can tell me just how this works... I'll do my best to work with you can dance up with a deal. Also, do you know any thing about a ... white tower somewhere on the plane? I know it's like, a long shot but... we could throw that into the deal."
GAME: Erendriel rolls appraise: (20)+2: 22
Isaac examines the sword that the merchant suggests to him. Quite a powerful sword, hm? He particularly likes the design. "How much?" Isaac says as he looks at the merchant. Of course, he doesn't quite know what he might want in exchange in terms of bartering or an actual price.
"Mmmm a white tower you say?" Erendriel's merchant looks around and then shrugs. "I can't say I know anything about this tower, but I don't care about the quality of the song. All you need do is sing it into this necklace here and I'll give you the ring. As for it, it works naturally. You cast the spell and it gets more powerful." The merchant hands over the necklace to Erendriel.
GAME: Seldan rolls sense motive: (14)+7: 21 GAME: Isaac rolls Appraise+2: (17)+2+2: 21
Hun'rar ignores the man offering information and turns to Malik "So they are honorless? Surely not all of them could be, lying or misleading a servant of the gods would be met with reprisal and curses." He growls loud enough to be heard by the merchant.
The merchant that Isaac is talking to looks him over appraisingly. "I'll give it to you for your left pinky." The merchant nods and smiles warmly. "Harmless extraction of course."
Seldan's merchant looks at him oddly. "I can't say that I've heard of a white tower, but I suppose I could find out for an extra fee. Or you can ask Baba two stalls down! They always seem to know where everything is. They even sell maps of the bizarre!" He seems excited now.
Hun'rar's merchant, the strange individual who now has long red hair and pointed ears where they had neither before doesn't seem at all intimidated. Waiting patiently for Hun'rar to make his decision on if he wants to get the information or not.
"I cannot purchase food for a journey whose length is unknown, really," Seldan replies easily, one hand on his chin. "But our time is short. Were I to spend my time discussing such information, much haggling would really not be possible. What is your asking price for perhaps five days' worth for a single man?" The meaning should be clear enough: your information will get you your asking price if that asking price is within reason.
Isaac looks at the merchant with his narrowed gaze. "If it wasn't already have gone, I'd probably give it to you." He says. "and I'm unwilling to give you my right pinky." He narrows his eyes, trying to intimidate him maybe? "Are you willing to take platinum or I can give you a weapon in exchange."
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (16)+9: 25 GAME: Isaac rolls Intimidate: (14)+7: 21
Seldan's merchant nods sagely. "I would definitely ask Baba if I were you. They'll know for sure how long your journey will be. As for my price... One gold piece. Weight as-is from your plane. Preferably one with that sexy gal Sandy on it." The merchant grins.
Meanwhile Isaac's merchant seems to sense a sale in play. "Your right pinky would be entirely acceptable." The merchant nods. Then swallows. "Ahem. You know that violence in the bizzare is prohibited right?"
Hun'rar's merchant doesn't chase after him, or try to stop him in any way. The mysterious individual - now with purple hair, seems satisfied to stand there and await another customer. Unlike most of the other merchants here who are desperately trying to get your attention.
Isaac still seems largely unimpressed with what his merchant was offering, though when he nods and swallows and that violence is prohibited in the bazaar. "Its always prohibited. But if you scream, it gives me about three minutes." Isaac's gaze grows dark, before he pulls one of the longswords off of his back, offering it to the merchant. "In Exchange." he offers.
"Alexandria does not mint coins with her face, I think, but I have this one." Seldan pulls a gold coin from his pouch and offers it to the merchant. "Will that do?" The merchant eyes the sword that Isaac is offering. "I don't want your sword! Besides, the police would be on you inside ten seconds! Then you'd find yourself in all sorts of trouble. If you don't want my sword don't take it!" The merchant is holding the sword that he offered for the price of a pinky to himself as if it might help him in this situation.
The merchant that Malik talks to smiles softly, eyes shifting to a dull gray color. Now they have rather awkwardly long fingers, but the shift in their body doesn't seem to bother them at all. "I'll exchange information on where the tower is for the information you gather during your trip here. Your experiences for the information you seek.”
Seldan's merchant accepts the coin and hands over meat that looks to be about five bites worth. "Done!"
Hun'rar is probably too honest for this place, all the guile and haggling he hears makes him uneasy. When Malik turns to talk to the merchant he turns and waits, fixing the merchant with his best glare of disapproval. You know the one all paladins learn in paladin school.
Isaac loooks annoyed. Could he fight through the police? Probably. Was he willing to when they had a mission and probably a limited time for the potion? No. putting his sword back on his back, Isaac shakes his head. "No deal. Pawn it off to another fool." Isaac then turns to leave.
Might stir the merchant into offering not a pinkie! A more subtle strategy, but if the merchant doesn't stop him, he'll move on with the others.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls intimidate: (15)+4: 19
"Wait sir! Don't you want the sword!" The merchant talking to Isaac waves after him. "I'm sure we could come to some arrangement! Perhaps something else you'd be willing to part with? A toe? Surely you don't need all of /those/!"
Seldan raises an eyebrow at the tiny portion, but says nothing, instead accepting the small package from the merchant. "A pleasure to do business with you. Baba is down the way you said? If you will forgive me..." He turns and, taking the package, scans the bazaar for his companions.
Malik considers the offer, brow furrowing. "Information on the location in exchange for information on what we find inside?" He's clearly considering that. Carefully. Perhaps too carefully. "And that's the entirety of the deal? A simple trade of information? Words? Or do you mean something else? Like memories?" The wizard puts nothing past the denizens of this plane. Especially ones that seem to flow in form like the tides at sunset.
"Of course I want the sword. But your terms are ridiculous. I lose a toe, I sacrifice balance. No balance, and you might as well give the sword to a cripple. If only it were worth it." Isaac keeps moving. Though he looks to his other companions, checking to see if their situations are alright.
The shape-shifter smiles more broadly. "What a wise boy you are to ask. I want the memories of your experiences here. Just yours though. The other members of your expedition would remember everything, but you... no. You would remember nothing." You're certain now that the shape-shifter is a woman, the voice is feminine and their shape is feminine as well, but then the tide rolls and you're not so certain anymore. "Is that too much to ask for the exact location you're looking for?"
After some looking, and some working his way past the vendors shouting at him, Seldan makes his way to where Malik stands with the shapeshifter. "Good day," he greets politely, but doesn't say anything just yet, instead reading the expressions on faces.
GAME: Seldan rolls sense motive: (20)+7: 27
Malik considers the merchant's words. "Memories," he grumbles. That never sits well with wizards. They tend to be jealously possessive of their information. But Malik -- is considering it, from the look on his face. "Specific terms. Memories from the time that I enter the tower until the time that I leave. No more. Notes I keep are mine. Items I find inside are mine. And everyone I'm with keeps everything. Is that what we're talking about? And no more?" The wizard is suspicious. But it might be worth it.
Erendriel is a little curious,b ut she will take the necklace. She doesn't put it ON, mind you. But she does hold it, and with a smile, she will... sing to it. Singing an old Myrrish traditional folk song, about a big fire in a hearth.
The song disappears into the necklace and when Erendriel is done the merchant hands her the ring, taking back the necklace with a softly satisfied expression. The necklace disappears and the merchant turns to their next customer.
Seldan looks back and forth between Malik and the shapeshifter, listening carefully, studying them both, but most especially "Baba". "Then the white tower is known to you." He sounds sure of that, and draws a deep breath, suddenly wary.
"I know of most every place. I trade in information, so it behooves me to know of as many as I can. Some places I make maps to. Other places I simply know of. Most people are willing to part with memories they would rather not have." The merchant nods and reaches up to touch Malik on the forehead. For a moment Malik's eyes gray and then clear. With that however, Malik knows exactly where the tower is, and will at the end of all of this... forget everything that he has done.
The tower as it turns out is located only a day's journey out from the city, it rests along the edge of a lava river on the edge of a cliff. It's placed precariously there, and when you reach it a day later you find yourselves awestruck the beauty of the image of this white tower hanging on the edge of the cliff surrounded by lava.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls perception: (14)+0: 14 GAME: Malik rolls Perception: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (9)+2: 11
Seldan hasn't said much on the journey out, being mostly interested in looking around him. Great rivers of lava amid cliffs, and a white tower overlooking it all. Incredible.
As you stand on the edge of the pool of lava you gradually realize that you are looking at a pair of eyes with a pair of bushy eyebrows. It's hard to see because it's the same color as the lava, but their massive size also makes it really easy to see. It's clearly trying to hide in the lava... and clearly failing really badly. It... whatever it is, blinks at you.
GAME: Erendriel rolls perception: (13)+8: 21
Erendriel joins with the others, still fingering around with her ring, not wearing it, but studying it. Curious bout it. "This is amazing," she says repeatedly at the sights, walking with Seldan. Seeing the eyes, she waves and calls out. "Hello!"
GAME: Isaac rolls perception: (16)+2: 18
Malik stares down at the bushy eyebrows in the fiery river, shuddering a bit to himself. "Drink this potion, he said. It'll be fiiine, he said." Which Marcus didn't actually say, but Malik apparently remembers nonetheless. He stares at the thing for a second before turning away, rubbing at his face a bit. "Might be some upsides to this whole 'no memories' thing," he offers cheerfully. "I won't remember seeing whatever in the name of the gods -that- thing is."
Hun'rar double takes as he tries to figure out what he is looking at until Erendriel speaks up. "Ah, yes. Hello." he says carefully while making sure his shield is strapped tightly to his arm.
GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/arcana: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Malik rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (5)+8: 13 GAME: Hun'rar rolls knowledge/arcana+2: (5)+15+2: 22
Isaac keeps up with the group and finds his hand already on the grip of his sword. A breath is taken, however light. He stares for a long moment, and he swallows softly. Focus technique, perhaps.
Seldan has his own package tucked away in his pack for the moment. When the eyeballs pop out of the river, he studies them warily. "Remember that you may not remember, but the being in the marketplace will know all that we saw and all that we said. I think them a servant of Eclavdran. Walk carefully."
GAME: Erendriel rolls knowledge/arcana: (15)+9: 24
The creature rears up out of the lava, and it's massive. Easily as tall as the tower itself is and you're only seeing half of it. It places massive paws on the edge of the lava stream and lowers itself back into the lava until just its paws and its face are visible. It's very cute once you get past the fact that it could swallow all of you whole and not even think twice about it. "Hello!" It's voice is bright and clear and obviously very pleased to see you.
GAME: Erendriel rolls will: (2)+6: 8 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (14)+12: 26 GAME: Hun'rar rolls will: (5)+14: 19 GAME: Malik rolls Will: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Isaac rolls Will: (7)+2: 9
Hun'rar looks at it, gaping. He gains just enough control of himself to take his helmet off and take a knee. "Your lordship." he says placing the helmet on the ground in front of him.
Malik turns to look back at the thing as it rears itself up out of the lava, but his jaw drops a bit as the thing plops itself down. The wizard tries to make some words, of some kind, but nothing really manages to come out. Just some vague sounds, followed by a little wave.
Erendriel recognizes what the thing is. "It's a Foo.. might be chosen to guard something." she says quietly to her companions before, well, slipping her ring into a side pocket of her backpack and starting to rush to the bank of the lava river. But then as the sheer size of the creature is revealed, she slows down, coming to a stop, just gawking up, and then back down to where the Foo settles. "I uh.. um..." she stammers. "I... I wanted to ask... if... but I don't want to offend you... um..." The last part, directly to the Foo, said all in Celestial.
Seldan takes a step backwards as the creature comes fully out of the lava and them settles back down. Even knowing full well what it is didn't prepare him for the sheer majesty of a creature like that. His jaw drops a little, and whatever it was he was going to say simply flies right out of his head.
"Oh, I like you." The Foo wiggles at Hun'rar and then peers over the group of you. Thankfully the awe of it is fading... somewhat, and slowly. It seems to like the attention. Its massive whiskers tremble and it looks at Erendriel, whom is the only other person to talk to it. "What was that dear? I did not understand a word of that. Pretty though. Do you speak my language?" <draconic>
Erendriel bites her lip hard when she's quite clearly answered by the big guy. Inhaling deeply, slowly trying to gather herself. "I'm sorry but I don't speak Ignan yet. So I can't understand that. But I..." She shifts her feet, still uncertain and stammering a bit. "I.. I was wondering if you are here as a guardian, and whom you are guarding? We don't want to have any trouble with you." She does her very best to be polite and diplomatic about it with her tone. Well, being in awe she can't even help but do. <celestial>
GAME: Erendriel rolls diplomacy: (2)+15: 17
Hun'rar looks up, eyes wide with wonder but continues in Draconic. "Your magnificence is inspiring, your lordship. We are but humble servants hunting for a cure to an evil that has befallen our home. Your Grace, would you permit us explore the white tower we believe tied to said evil. We beg your leave to continue our hunt, your magnificence." he adds with his head bowed.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls diplomacy: (4)+9: 13
"Explore the tower?" The Foo hems and haws, looking you over prospectively. "You would all have to give me your most solemn vow that you will take /nothing/ from it; that you will do no harm to the tower itself." The Foo's red eyes seem to penetrate you to the very soul. As if it can see /inside/ you. "If you do, I will have to eat you or something far less pleasant." <draconic>
Erendriel scoots back toward Hun'rar, since he seems to be helping. She looks to the Foo, and then to Hun'rar. "Can you... interpret for me? For us? I think we need to know who he's guarding, and how to avoid offending him. But I don't understand him and I can't tell if he understands me."
"I can understand the common tongue." The Foo seems amused as it peers at Erendriel. "But that pretty language you spoke earlier was like music to my ears. Do you have a tower young miss?" Shaggy eyebrows waggle.
Hun'rar nods and looks back to the group, speaking in common. "His Lordship would permit us in the tower provided we take nothing and do no harm to the building. If we fail to keep that promise he would consume us, probably with ketchup." Hun'rar adds to the end with a slight grin.
Erendriel sighs deeply, and giggles. The tension of the awe, combined with the amused speech from the big guy, just comes out that way. She steps forward and bows. "I'm sorry. I do not have a tower. I was born with fire, and I don't have to study it." She illustrates with a casual little ray of fire into the river, which is pretty pathetic compared with the natural fires of the plane. "But yes, I accept your terms. I... we... are only here to look. That's the truth. Thank you."
Malik's still just standing there slack-jawed, looking at the thing. If it weren't for the fact that other people are talking, he might still just be gazing at the thing in awe. But as the terms of the deal are accepted on his behalf, he seems to snap out of it, glancing at the others. "Then how are we supposed to prove we were actually -here-?" he asks the others, now unsure of whether this is a good deal or not. Not that he'll remember any of it.
Erendriel hears Malik's question,a nd steps forward again with another bow. "My companion is right. May I ask for one small favor from you? We would like to be able to bring something back, as proof that we were here, and investigated this tower. We do not wish to steal. We do not wish to offend your honorable charge. But we would like your help, and permission, to bring back a token of evidence."
GAME: Erendriel rolls diplomacy: (6)+15: 21 GAME: Hun'rar rolls diplomacy: (5)+9: 14
Hun'rar stays kneeled and turns back to the dragon. "Indeed your Excellence, a mere token proof would help our mission greatly. Many lives of good people may depend on it." he adds, literally swearing bullets about asking the Foo something like that.
The Foo peers down at Erendriel but seems to consider it seriously. "Would a scale of mine suffice? I can not let you take anything from the tower for it all belongs to my master not me. You might ask him though, with his permission you could take something."
Hun'rar starts hyperventilating and steadied himself even though he is kneeling. "... say yes, say yes." he whispers to Erendriel.
Erendriel bows again. "Yes, of course, we would be honored to take that gift from you. You are very kind to us. Thank you."
The Foo reaches back and scratches along his spine for a moment before freeing a brilliant scale there. It reflects beautifully in the light a orange-red-yellow. It falls to the ground. Easily as large as your hand and it's one of his smallest scales. Then he reaches out and puts his paw across the flow of lava to allow you to cross it to the island that the tower is sitting upon. The tower itself isn't terribly large, and as you draw close you begin to make out that there's not a real doorway. There is however a passage written on the wall. It says, "Speak my name and enter."
Malik steps up to the door, running his fingers along the phrase. "Seems like I read about this in a book once," he muses to himself, looking at the letters carved into the stone. Glancing to the others, he asks, "Any ideas, here?" Because it's rarely as straightforward as it seems.
Hun'rar gives it a brief look but otherwise his attention is squarely on the dragon. "Uh... probably just need to know the name." he says staring at the Foo. "I don't know."
Erendriel shakes her head. "Yeah um. I'm pretty sure nobody knows the name of that mistress, whoever it is, right?"
The Foo preens under Hun'rar's continued attention, clearly displaying itself to its best advantage. Stroking its whiskers and waggling it's fluffy eyebrows. Ducking under the lava so that when it comes up it shines all the brighter with flecks of illumination. It comes a little closer, stroking its whiskers once again. "Can I help?"
Seldan, who has been staring slack-jawed for some minutes while the others talk, finally seems to have found his wits, and shakes himself, still staring at the Foo for a few moments longer. "Does this tower have a name?" he asks lamely.
"None that I know of." Offers the Foo, grinning with bright white teeth.
Erendriel turns around and bows again. "How about the person you serve, who owns it? What do you call that person, may I ask?"
"Zehier is my beloved wizard, and this is his tower." The Foo bends down a little bit, one giant ear wiggling. This close you can feel the heat radiating off of it. It's much closer due to the size of the island and the depth of the lava than it had been before. "If any of you ever end up with towers you must come visit me again." It lets out a huff of breath and pulls away. "I am Etiol by the way." Etiol flexes its scales and suddenly sinks into the lava - gone.
Malik thinks for a moment. "No door," he muses, staring into the polished stone. Malik listens to what the Foo has to say before dipping back under the lava, taking a breath as he reaches out to touch the tower. "Here goes nothing," he mutters, turning over his shoulder to look at the others. "If this thing zaps me, tell everyone that I died bravely, and not, you know, due to random experimentation." Turning back to the Tower, he says in a moderately loud voice, "Zehier."
Seldan looks after the creature for a long, long moment, then shakes himself again, as if somehow finding where he'd misplaced his wits. "Zehier," he mutters to himself, pushing a lock of hair out of his face. He waits to see if Malik's speaking gets them in or not. Do not harm it and take nothing from it. Very well - not as if he has any intention of going against the wall of a creature like that.
At the word the a door appears on the tower, a huge thing that opens immediately to you and shows a huge entryway. As you enter you notice how well crafted this entire tower is. The white walls of the outside give way to simple stone inside, but it glimmers in a way that tells you that whomever made this place took their time with each individual stone block. There is a hallway leading to another door which is currently ajar. It's not quite open enough for you to see inside however. The hallway itself is littered with runes. Each of them marked at exacting intervals on the ceiling, floor, and walls.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls knowledge/arcana+2: (5)+15+2: 22 GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/arcana: (19)+7: 26 GAME: Erendriel rolls knowledge/arcana: (17)+9: 26
Hun'rar takes a step back "By the gods, these ruins are death. You could try and avoid them but it would be difficult. This could easily kill any one of us, perhaps if we are quick enough though....” he says rubbing his chin.
"If you do not look at them, they cannot kill you," Seldan answers, seeming to recognize them as well. "I have read of these. Perhaps there is another way, a secret door ... or perhaps one might blindfold oneself. Were we to do that, how would we know when we have reached the end?"
Malik looks at the intricate spellwork laid upon the hall. It's clearly well beyond his magical ken, the various lines and patterns causing his eyes to blur. "You really wanna make that particular wager?" he asks the Paladin in response to the mention of being agile enough to get past them. "Think that they built an 'off' switch, somewhere? Killing your friends is typically bad form." But he listens to Seldan's suggestion, about the study the runes but quickly turning away, chewing on his lip. "Blindfold?" Followed by, "Who wants to test that theory?"
Erendriel nods to Seldan. "That's right. So my fear is, since they're all the way around, you would have to be blind folded, and then what if there's another trap further along? I have no means of um, levitation right now. Can anyone levitate or fly?"
-TBC