Foo for You (Part 3)

You've finally made your way to the second floor of the tower. Above you is a self-repairing mirror teaming with insects, one of which you just defeated a few moments ago in a hard won battle. No you have a chance to look around, though carefully avoiding glances upwards that might lead to being drawn up into that mirror as Malik was.

There are two doors on this level. One to your left, and one to your right. Both look identical to one another and offer no obvious clues as to what is contained behind them. Then there is the staircase which continues upwards. Any one of these is yours to explore.

GAME: Erendriel rolls perception + 1: (7)+10+1: 18

Erendriel takes a deep breath, and starts trying to look at the doors. For whatever reason, distracted, stressed after all of this, she doesn't do it twice, but just makes a normal search. "Not seeing anything, but I'd still be careful. Expert trap setters are way better than me."

Malik looks around at the doors, keeping his bow in his hand for now. He looks to the stairs, then over his shoulder to the others as Erendriel checks for traps, reporting back her findings. Looking to the others, he asks, "Are we thinking out, or up?"

Seldan's breathing is still a little fast after the fight, but he's cleaned his blade off and resheathed it, tucking the rag back into his belt pouch. It calms down around the time Erendriel finishes with her search. "Very well. We should be thorough. Better to not leave anything behind us, I think. I will go first, if none other wishes." Unless stopped, he'll reach to open door #1 on the left.

Hun'rar nods to Seldan "You or me." but he doesn't stop him from going through. Instead he gets his shield and sword out.

Erendriel will make sure to back up behind everyone before anyone does anything. "I'm not that tough."

The door opens and loud music pours out. Its a style you've never heard before, and seems to grate on the back of your eyelids. Inside is a posh room. A bed thick with warm pillows and various knick knacks on the walls. Including one heavy book which looks to be dominating a whole shelf to itself. On the bed is a red-skinned individual laying back and taking it easy. At least until you barge into his room. Then he startles upwards and with a wave of his hand dismisses the music. "Guests? More guests? What are you doing up here?"

Malik follows along through the room, mostly keeping quiet for the moment. The red-skinned person, however, gets his attention. Looking to the paladin, he just offers a shrug. "Don't look at me," he tells the others. "People aren't really my thing."

Seldan snorts, his lips tugging up in amusement before addressing the person inside. "Forgive the intrusion, we had not realized anyone was here." His tone is formal, the Myrrish accent very audible. "This place is unknown to us, or how it came to be here, but the Foo outside was amenable."

Erendriel steps forward, stepping around and past the people she just tried to get behind a moment ago. "Hello," she says, giving a bow to the man. "We are travelers from a far away plane, seeking information about threats to our neighbors and communities back home. We were given permission to enter this place by the guardian outside. I apologize for the intrusion, but may we speak to you?"

GAME: Erendriel rolls diplomacy: (6)+16: 22
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (2)+10: 12

Hun'rar stands back and let's the others talk for the most part. Stoic knight and ready for any malarkey should things go sideways.

"Of course there's someone here!" The individual snorts and rolls off of his bed, coming to the doorway as Erendriel moves forward. She receives an odd look from him. "The Foo really isn't in charge of visitors though he... Wait... Are you here to see /me/?" The man seems stunned at the thought and peers at each of you in turn as if expecting to see someone he recognizes though clearly he does not. "You aren't sales people are you? I hate sales people."

Malik seems to have nothing to add for the moment, and so simply remains quiet, leaning in the doorway, letting the more experienced diplomats do the talking.

Seeing that Erendriel seems to have the matter handled, Seldan lets her take the lead, stepping aside so that she can be seen more clearly. "Not at all. As the lady says, we seek information on a matter troubling our home, a virulent plague. Towers such as this one are thought to be associated in some way, although the association is unclear."

Erendriel bows again. "That is right. We are not selling anything to you sir. We are seeking information. Do you know anything about diseases, may I ask? Or um... snowflake scars such as this?" She then lifts her arm, pulling back her robe and her armor to try to show her own scar on her upper arm to the man.

"Can't say as that I do. You should ask my master though, he is very wise, and often has knowledge that others seek. There have been may delegations here over the years that have come to beg his aid." He coughs. "I am Ignition by the way. And it's a pleasure to meet you all though I'm afraid I know nothing about plagues or snowflake scars. Is that..."

Suddenly he stops and stares behind you. "Did you let loose one of the masters bugs? Oh dear now I'll have to clean this up." Ignition sighs.

Hun'rar shakes his head "There was also a mess near the entrance with the summoning circle, not ours mind you." he adds gesturing back the way he came "Where can we find your master?"

Seldan nods politely. "Ignition, thank you for your suggestion. Zeheir is your master, is he not?" He looks back at Hun'rar, and at the outside hallway. "Yes, although not intentionally. My apologies." He looks over at Malik at that.

"And a mess in the entrance hall. Oh dear. I keep telling him I'm not a maid but here I am." Ignition waves a hand at the bug and it vanishes without a trace. "Yes, you must have indeed heard of him then. He resides in this tower of course; it's his home. The top is his office and where he most often spends his time. If you'd like to see him you're welcome to make an appointment or wait in the waiting room downstairs."

Malik looks around the room, eyes scanning the names of the books on the shelves. Those that he can read, anyway, looking for anything familiar. The curious wizard lets the others do the majority of the talking, and the explaining.

Hun'rar furrows his brow "Well we are here already, I am Hun'rar Villefort, Warden of Gilead. We would speak to your master, can you tell him we are here. The sooner we gave answers the sooner we can leave." he says brusquely. "Lives may be at stake."

This time, Seldan holds his peace as Hun'rar speaks first, except to add, "Lives -are- at stake. The plague twists the animals. We would hear whatever he might have to offer us."

Erendriel doesn't bow yet again, lest it cheapen the gesture, but she does keep her friendly smile. "May we ask your help getting an emergency appointment with him? I myself was afflicted with the plague before I was mysteriously cured. It's a deadly disease and most people aren't as lucky as I was. Ignition, please help."

"Lets see then. Earliest appointment available?" He taps his wrist and a large book appears in his palm. He flips it open and scans through it. "There doesn't seem to be anything soon though there was that cancelation by the celestial delegation so I can mark you down for that..." He hums to himself and peers at you sharply. “On the other hand I just saw another delegation from your plane go up there not so long ago and they haven't come down yet, so why don't you all go join them." He snaps his fingers and the book disappears. "Let them know I don't appreciate line jumping even if it is for a good reason."

That seems to be just about all the encouragement that Malik needs. He turns, heading out of the room and moving toward the stairs.

"Very good, and you have my gratitude, Ignition." Seldan steps aside to let him out of the room, and in fact turns away towards the stairs behind Malik. "I will do as you ask." He looks over at the others as he prepares to follow Malik up the stairs, carefully not looking up.

Hun'rar nods "Blessings of the Great Hunter." he says before following Malik. Once out of the room he addresses the party "Might be this group we need to talk to instead of exploring this tower."

Erendriel bows again as Ignition does his thing. "Yes, thank you." Then to her companions. "Let's try it? Better be careful though, since we don't know who they actually are..."

Malik looks over his shoulder to the others, since he's apparently leading the way, feet moving fast. "If there's already someone that's gone up," he says, "then we go up, and find out what's happening there." Looking to Seldan and Hun'rar, he says, "Chances are, given all the deadly traps, they won't be terribly happy to see us." And then, over to Erendriel, "Might wanna have those scrolls ready in case things go south."

"If there is indeed anyone upstairs," Seldan murmurs to himself halfway up the stairs. "They may well be gone, and did the Foo not say he wasn't home?" That is said quietly enough that only those closest to him can hear him.

Hun'rar shrugs "I smell trouble in any case, be ready for it." he says gripping the hilt of his bastard sword, ready to draw it.

Erendriel nods. She slowly drifts back to the rear of the group, but reserving the right to rush ahead and speak if death isn't on the line. "If this is the guy who sent the vampire to kidnap me... then that's a bad sign. But do we know that for sure? Let's look." Gesturing to the stairs, ready to follow.

Up the stairs you go, and as the staircase comes to the end in a doorway you have only one way to go. Forward. You open the door and head through into the room at the top of the stairs. It's a dimly lit room, and as you enter it you realize two things. One, the room is badly damaged by something, and two, that it is very difficult to breathe. The pressure on your chest lasts a few seconds and then suddenly you're shunted /forward/ through the room to where a desk is situated. It's the only piece of furniture in this room. As you look back to see the rest of your companions you realize that there's a huge bubble of some kind between you and the exit you just entered through, and that one by one your companions are being pushed /through/ it and to your side.

The 'bubble' in question is black in color, and shimmers and sparkles like glitter thrown on oil. It is to those of you who have encountered the plague before... unsettling to say the least. Because this is clearly some manner of counterpart to the small plague-creations that have attacked in the past. Though this one much, much larger than those. Where the ceiling should be it stretches upwards, hugging the upper and back edge of the tower like a massive slug. And you were just in it. Lovely.

"And the transverse ratio of pi sequentially rotating upwards into the atmosphere will always allow for the quadratic equation to follow." The sound of a man's voice draws your attention away from the plague-bearing monstrosity you were just /inside/ to where a man stands behind you talking to himself. He wasn't there a second ago. His back is to you so you can't tell much about him, but he seems to be talking to himself.

GAME: Malik rolls Fortitude: (7)+4: 11
GAME: Malik rolls will: (4)+6: 10
GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (3)+9: 12
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (11)+12: 23
GAME: Hun'rar rolls fort: (10)+16: 26
GAME: Hun'rar rolls will: (19)+15: 34
GAME: Erendriel rolls fort: (19)+3: 22
GAME: Erendriel rolls will: (10)+6: 16
GAME: Hun'rar rolls knowledge/arcana: (3)+16: 19

Erendriel looks to the others, and murmurs "What's going on?" trying to keep her voice down. Eyes wide, trying to take all of this in. It's a lot, all of a sudden!

Hun'rar turns on his heal "What... who are you?" he says raising his shield "What is going on here? Is everyone alright?" he asks the others without facing them. "It’s... an illusion. Kind of."

Malik looks like he might say something. That is, until he takes a breath, and just comes back with a cough, seemingly unable to catch his breath for a moment.

Seldan coughs hard as he lands, and makes a disgusted face that immediately turns to a frown and a look back up before looking to the others. "Kind of?" he manages after a moment.

The man whom is before you startles at the sound of your voices, turning around. He's a handsome if somewhat thin man with steely gray eyes and intelligence that burns through them. He's the sort of man you'd remember seeing if you've seen him once if only because you couldn't possibly forget the way that him looking at you feels. It's as if he knows the weight of the dirt on your cloak from walking the distance since you've last cleaned it. Who could tell your life story from your buttons. In a word, its disconcerting. "I am Zehier and you are?!?"

Erendriel will attempt to step forward if she can. Holding her chest, inhaling deeply, she'll do her best to gather herself and answer. "I am Erendriel of Alexandria and Sendor. Ignition sent us here so that we may speak, after the Foo allowed us inside. We are explorers seeking information about a plague of a black ooze, and towers like this one seemed to be related. May we ask if you know anything about it, sir?" She then bows as well as she can after that shock and pressure.

GAME: Erendriel rolls diplomacy: (9)+16: 25

It takes Seldan a minute to gather himself as well, and by the time he does, with another glance up, Erendriel is already talking. So he says nothing, allowing Erendriel who seems to know more than he does to lead.

"A plague? In Alexandria? You are all from that tiny town?" The man seems to consider this for a second. "I remember a red plague that swept through there just as people were getting settled. Cure was a tiny flower known as "alm". Grows mostly in north." He rolls his shoulders and sets his hand casually upon his desk. It causes a mild ripple in the air near his hand. An odd distortion you can't quite explain. "As for towers like this one you mean. /Tower/. Singular. My tower is unique."

Hun'rar looks to the others "Hun'rar Villefort." is all he says as introduction, otherwise let's Erendriel ask the questions. She knows the most about the plague.

Malik finally catches his breath, looking full of questions. But instead, he chooses to exercise a bit of discretion, letting others talk as he moves to offer Seldan a hand, the two of them not having gotten out quite as easily as the other two.

Erendriel inhales again, trying to remain calm despite how utterly intimidating this situation really is. "I apologize. Tower. We have few leads. Some of us, myself included, have been found cured, but with a snowflake-shaped scar on our bodies. Others remain difficult to cure. Your... ooze here reminds me of the plague oozes we've seen, so to be honest sir, I was hoping you knew something about it, so that we may save the victims. And... Alexandria has grown quite large now sir. It is a major port city now." He must be old.... she thinks.

Hun'rar ponders for a moment "Does this tower have entrances in multiple places perhaps? Can you describe the symptoms of this red plague perhaps so we can know for sure if it is one and the same?" He adds with a wary glance.

"Snowflake-shaped scar?" He seems pensive, gaze growing distant and then suddenly he blinks. "Ooze there? You're mistaken. You see, I'm not where you are. This is a recording. An illusion for when I'm not around. Did you say that there was an ooze in my tower? That's completely unacceptable. Say what?" Zehier, or the recording of Zehier rather cuts himself off and looks at Hun'rar. "The tower goes everywhere and when. It only has the one doorway, but that doorway can be any I choose for it to be. Depending on the iteration of the tower that you're in. In any case you should all head out, I don't want the ooze you found to harm you all."

Seldan shakes his head slowly, but offers Malik a glance and a grateful look. "No." His accent is if anything thicker than usual. "This one is different. If it is the same ... the Nar-Sektoth brought it to Am'shere. It is both an ooze and a disease, and fully neither." He folds his arms across his chest. "It may be too late for that." He looks over at Malik, suddenly. "Sindri and her employer will have your memories of this place, Malik. If things are as I fear, you will need to trust me. How will you know that what I am saying to you is truth?"

Malik gives a slow nod as a theory is confirmed -- the man can't see what they're seeing, or the damage that's been done to the tower here. Things are starting to make more sense. Until Seldan goes and reminds him that he won't remember any of this.

He blinks a few times, looking at the Paladin like the man just slapped him. But after a moment, he nods, reaching into his bag to hand the man something as he drops his voice to a barely audible whisper.

Hun'rar shakes his head "If the ooze is hostile I will smite it. In any case the cure to the plague ooze we have back home is pressing and lives are at stake. Is there nothing you can help us with? Is this tower just another infected place or is this the source?"

"I know that I am not the source of the plague, and I can not imagine that my tower is either. Likely someone brought the thing with them and left it there. Like I said; I will deal with it when I return." The man is very certain that he is not the source of the plague, but his conviction seems forthright. "As for I, I would be happy to be of assistance, but as a recording I can't offer much. Speak with the real me if you can find me. I'll be able to do more."

Erendriel bows. "Thank you for your time, Zehier," deciding he doesn't want to be pestered any more. She'll then lean to her companions and murmur "I think that's pretty important stuff to take home, don't you all?"

Hun'rar ponders for a moment and nods to Erendriel "Probably..." he then takes a step forward "Two last questions, who were your last visitors here and when is the past time Zehier was here?" he says not really concerned about annoying the illusion.

Seldan blinks, but nods to whatever it was Malik said and takes the small item, placing it into a belt pouch. Sharp eyes might see a plain wooden ring, nothing fancy. With that, he turns to the others. "Yes, we must seek out this Zehier, the real him. If he is willing to aid us. For now, we should leave." He takes a last look at Malik and draws a deep breath, but waits as Hun'rar speaks.

"From the looks of the lower level, I don't think you've been here in a long time." Malik might not be much of a diplomat, but he also has a tendency to cut straight to the point. He looks to the recording of Zehier. "Looks like there was a hell of a fight. And frankly, your tower's seen better days." It's not like he's going to remember this in the morning anyway. "What would you tell us if you knew that you weren't coming back?" The 'ever' in the question might not be spoken, but it's implied heavily enough.

"I couldn't tell you the answer to either of those questions. I'm only active when I'm not around. Depending on the iteration of the tower you're in you might be able to ask someone else those questions though." Zeheir rolls his shoulders and then looks at Malik. "As for parting advice, if you're dealing with someone that created a plague then they are a powerful spellcaster. Someone who really knows what they're doing. Oh, and the snowflake marks sounds familiar to me. I seem to remember something about a tribe of northmen who died in a blood-bath - every man, woman, and child murdered and found with snowflake markings on their bodies. You might look into that."

With that the recording of Zeheir vanishes. Leaving you quite alone.

Erendriel goes wide-eyed at that last little bit thrown in. "Um, ... I think we should scroll back and report this. It's all one tower. The tower has been invaded and hijacked by outsiders. And... a tribe of northmen attacked by ... whatever does the snowflakes. Any other ideas?"

Hun'rar nods to Malik "I think your right, best to get back and report. This village that was decimated seems another point to investigate as well." he looks to Erendriel "Lets go."

Malik nods, seeming satisfied with that answer. Or as satisfied as he's going to be, anyway, given that the recording blinked out of existence.

GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (12)+9: 21
GAME: Hun'rar rolls fort: (2)+16: 18
GAME: Malik rolls Fortitude: (10)+4: 14

"Yes. We should learn more of this tribe of north-men, and perhaps see about locating this Zehier, if indeed he yet lives." Seldan pushes a lock of hair out of his eyes. "We should return. Is everyone ready?"

Erendriel reaches for her pack to pull out the scroll. "So... shall I?"

Hun'rar nods "Yes, I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to."

Malik simply nods, taking a deep breath as he prepares to forget pretty much all of that.

Indeed, as the scroll is read and you are all returned to Alexandria, Malik's memory is erased just as promised. The rest of you however are left with haunting memories of what just passed. It seems almost a blessing in disguise though there is one thing troubling... As you make your report there are several stifled coughs in the room. A weight in the chest. Congestion that just wont go away. All in all it's not been a great day.

-End