Shade Part 7

Though the heroes be not aware of it, a great leathery and mummified dragon had winged its way towards the fallen city. It begins to circle the darkness encompassing it, the darkness that you're inside of.

In the meantime, the Lucht is st aring at all of you as Astaren lays out his plan. A gateway to Alexandria to evacuate the contents of this library to, to save all the knowledge that can be saved.

Heh. Well, it's not a bad one." Kerbasi sits on one of the tables. There's an array of food--a plethora of food--spread on it now. Seven pies. Twenty-two trays of cookies, bread wrapped in cloth (meant to be washed and returned/reused), and a host of dried meats and fruits in jars or cheesecloth. "I can fit a few in m'pockets."

Durrankar takes a deep breath before looking to Kerbasi. "We're going to have a tall order ahead of us. I do hope those gnomes on the airship will be able to make it back as well." He then looks at the books. "We'll get you out of here." He then lightly strokes one of them....as if to reassure.....

Astaren pulls out another large leather bound toem from his bag. Flips it open and nods closing it again, "A empty note book, but like all my books has my arcane mark on it. I do not yet have familiary with this area, but using this I can reinforce the link and greatly ensure the chances of return." Offering the book to Kerbasi, "If you feel somebody trying to scry you, it will most likely be me to help establish a link." then glances around, "The air feels heavy, I think time is going to be of the essence. We good to get things in motion for this plan, or?"

Kravar floats down from where he was keeping watch at a window, "It looks clear so far - good luck. How long do you think i will take to open your gate? If we don't hear from you in say, an hour...?"

Durrankar says, "as you said Astaren. Time is of the essence." he says before looking outside as well. "I do not believe we will be safe for long.""

GAME: Astaren rolls 1d100: (20): 20

Kerbasi, with a long and last FORLORN look at the spread of food, drops off the table. He accepts the book, and tucks it under an arm. "Thank y'. I'll go grab a few and start storin' them. ...th' Ancestry section is that way, you'd said?" he asks the zany man.

Kravar looks bemused. He slips off his haversack, removes a shortbow and a fat quiver of arrows from it (both of which he slings across his own chest), and then sets the haversack down, opened. "If you need more space for books, fill them into here," he offers. "I don't think it's wise to put all of our eggs in one basket." He flashes a smirk in Astaren's direction before spreading his wings and flying for a window to take up his watch again.

And So Astaren is back in Alexandria! No one /there/ is the wiser as to waht's going on. Brundle and Fythe are doing their best to evade the dragon's attention, which is now circling the darkness.

Meanwhikle, /inside/, in the library, the Lucht nods towards Kerbasi, "Yes, yes! THat way! Well, then. I can't believe we're finally going to evacuate! At last, my friends!"

Several of the books do little wiggles.

Durrankar says, "Astaren still needs to do his end." he then looks to Kravar. "How does it look out there?""

"Thank y'kindly," Kerbasi says to the lucht. Then, "You'd best start stackin books to where they're within easy reach," he says to the man. "Make'em easy, faster t'unload with whatever help he's able t'bring." To the others, "I'll be right back," he says. And then, he totally goes to collect all of the genealogy books that he can.

Vardamen.

Astaren appears in front of the Arcanist guild receptionist, who looks up with a bored unsurprised look then back to her book. Astaren quickly grabs the leading member at the moment, explains the situation, and then starts writing letters out to the undead hunting guilds, preservationist, and other groups. The more the safeer, and so forth. Grabbing couriers left and right to keep things moving, and then heading to the Temple of Eluna, where he seeks out the high priest and explains that the temple is about to become a ad-hoc warehouse for a few days!

GAME: Astaren rolls diplomacy: (7)+14: 21

GAME: Durrankar rolls intelligence: (20)+3: 23

GAME: Kerbasi rolls intelligence: (10)+1: 11

GAME: Kravar rolls intelligence: (5)+2: 7

As a member of the Arcanists Guild, the Progressive Arcanists that is, Astaren certainly has a good in with them and that makes it a goopd place to start. It isn't too long before he meets with a Senior Enchnter, who listens to his tale and seems rather flabbergasted by what he's asking him to do.

"You want us to /what/?" is the most commonly repeated phrase during the conversation. It's not that the knowledge isn't valuable -- that's why they're even TALKING about it, but.. .

"Opening a stable gateway to /Heth's domain/? Even for a short time? Negate the OINLY advantage we have in that we can see him coming?" There is fear in his eyes. And, if we're fair, it's not an unreasoanble or unjustified fear. HE's making progress but it is, perhaps, going to be difficult.

In the meantime, back in the fallen city of Krilzor, Kerbas, Kisa, Kravar and Durrankar are organizing and preparing the (often animted) book collection for transit. When the books can fly and talk it is a bit harder to keep them organized, you see, and your Luchtt companion is not of much help. If anything, he seems part6icularly attached to the way the books are organized /now/. He's not so much an active hindrrance as he is something that just adds a bit more of a work around to it.

Durrankar says, "Hopefully we'll close it right after we go through....""

Astaren shakes his head as he writes another letter, "Take this to the temple of Vardema, urgency." A a courier then back to the enchanter, "No you are right, this is risky, dangerous even, but." He pauses as he leans in, "We are dealing with ancient knowledge, things that were sealed away and hidden from Heth even. There are living books created by Animus himself there. If we do nothing, there will never be another chance."

Taking a deep breath Astaren stands up, "This is a oppertunity to fight back at the evil in the world, to show that the good and light still shine brightly. If you can summon the courage, meet me at the Temple of Eluna, if not, I understand and will not fault you. Only ask you help point me to others who may be able to help."

Kisaiya continues to help with the books, looking over the titles from time to time before the lucht gets in her way again. She grins at him, tilting her head, "Tell you what. When we get to Alexandria, I'm sure we can arrange for a whole section for you and you can arrange them just the way you want again. Deal?" She arches her brows.

"Heh...oh, this is a nice one. Ancestries: A through...Ad. Well, that's a start," Kerbasi is saying. The Vardaman is cheerful as the books vanish into his pockets. He's forgotten about the cakes.

Almost.

Well, there is the occasional, forlorn look. And then, "Heh. Has anyone seen th' ladder? I'm up to th' Ajs, but Ak and on is th' next shelf up!"

Durrankar tries to put books into pouches as well, but makes sure to eat a cake.

"...deal!"

Kisa wins. Flawless victory.

Time passes.

Madame Gelfure is summoned in Alexandria and her reaction is 'DAHLING!" to Astaren followed by a 'You want to what? WHAT?' as well.

"This is not something that we can do unilaterally. No, we're going to need to pick a controllsable, safe location. Somewhere that we can redirect if things go wrong. I know just the locale we can use, and I can give assurance to the council this way..."

Politics, you see. Astaren just walked into it.

GAME: Kisaiya rolls Perception: (4)+7: 11

GAME: Durrankar rolls perception: (19)+22: 41

GAME: Kerbasi rolls perception: (16)+11: 27

GAME: Kravar rolls pereptiono: (11)+pereptiono: 11

GAME: Kravar rolls perception: (15)+18: 33

Astaren nods and smiles, "I do not care what location we use, as long as it is safe, secure, and the knowledge will not be lost. The shroud that was protecting the place is falling, and time is running out, fast, very fast. I am going to head to the temple of Eluna and enlist everybody there willing to help carry books, and already sent some letters to some undead hunting groups to help guard." Turning and offering a formal bow to Madame Gelfure, "Please, your assistance is more appreciated."

GAME: Kisaiya rolls Sleight of Hand: (7)+14: 21

"...oh! Royal lineages! And...heh. 'The Unrecognized Lineages of th' Llyranesi Court.' ...that could be interestin readin'. I wonder if Lady Sandiel is in there?" Kerbasi wonders, as he tucks that one away, too. Ancestries, ancestries...ancestries! This is amazing!

Midway through, the priest pauses. Slows putting another book into his pockets. "Heh, I had a thought. Are we all plannin' on escapin through that gate? I could make th' weather overhead pretty uh, foggy an' bad."

Kravar finds a windowsill where he can somehow kneel. He pulls out his shortbow and readies an arrow, peering out of the window with a troubled expression on his face.

Princesses of the Desolation, Prophecy and Betrothals. Kisaiya looks at the title, and then sliiiiiides it into her backpack as she grabs another book and puts it into the bag for transit. Just one after another as she starts humming happily, yay, more unattended books that she can add to her collection!

Gelfure and Astaren are taken elsewhere. Namely, she and other members of the Progressive Arcanists have gone to a different plane all together, a pocket dimension of Gelfure's own creation with the help of a lovely 'Wish' spell some time ago.

/That/ negates the need for anything other than Vardaman assistance, which she is able to wrangle by calling in a few favors in addition to Astaren's request. The look on her face indicates that Astaren had better realize she is going to consider that she is owed by him, big time.

The pocket dimension is...

It's Gelfure's.

It is so Gelfure's. It has the look of a sort of beauty spa, full of steaming pools of water and half-naked Djinn servants because of /course/ it is.

"First, I have asked Lord Aeilius to prepare the gate. He is quite masterful when it comes to conjuration."

Aelius is a rather large Khazadi man who seems flustered to even be here. It's the djinn.

"You owe me," he informs Gelfure.

To the eyes of the Alexandrians in Krilzor, a slit in the air opens and the scarlet tressed Gelfure strides through. "DAHLINGS! Is this Krilzor? I heard about the library. WE had assumed it had crashed with the other islands..."

Kravar whirls and almost fires an arrow through the space in the air. Then he almost falls from his perch on the window at his own sudden movement. But rather than scrabble for balance he steps off and descends slowly to the ground floor. "Yes, yes it is the library at Krilzor." He glances up at the window as his boots touch down. "And...I think we'd best hurry."

Durrankar stares......at the entrance. "Madame Gelfure......You.....really have that sort of room as a pocket dimension?"

"I ah..." Kerbasi moves to put a few of the books into his pockets, casually. Oh so casually. The one he's collecting now is titled: "Forlorn Princes of Veyshan" and another says something about djinni bloodlines. If he's casual, Gelfure will not see them going into his pockets.

"Madame Gelfure, it's good to see you. An honor t'. I uh, heh. Thank y' for taking time out for this. I understand what an expenditure of magic it is." And he does. He gets knocked on his feet after every resurrection, after all, and that's a lesser effect than even this.

Astaren steps out and glances to Gelfure and nods slowly, "Indeed.' Acknowledging he will owe a big favor for this. "Thank you for the help in preservation of knowledge. May Eluna smile upon you for your help." glancing around with a smile very happy, "So much to read." then glances to Kisaiya first, and then the others, "Any books you are planning on sneaking out for yourselves, I would ask copies be made."

Kisaiya raises an eyebrow at Astaren as she wiggles another book and puts it into the carry satchel they're using to carry them off to Alexandria, "You can always look at them when we get to Alexandria!" She rolls her eyes, and another book into the carry satchel.

Durrankar says, "Move fast." he says getting one satchel through the portal. "Thank you Madame Gelfure......""

Thyrson leans heavily on his staff. His knees ache. While he's been helping with the evacuation, he hasn't been pilfering, even if he has had to wipe subtly at the corner of his mouth from time to time.

Thyrson straightens up when Gelfure arrives, trying not to hit his head. At least he /tries/ for dignity, even if its a little elusive.

Just as Kravar looks away from the window, a gaunt, hungry face smashes into it. A wight.

An active wight. It's hands cluthced at it, its mouth pressed against it like it can taste the lifce force on the other side. Pound. Pound pound.

Uh oh.

Kisaiya tilts her ehad, looking at Gelfure, then back to Astaren. "I thought you were getting Sandy! Didn't you say you were going to ask a powerful mage-like-person? SANDY CAN TURN INTO A DRAGON." She looks back at Gelfure, her mouth pulling off to the side, "Who are you...?"

Astaren grins to Kisaiya, "Oh I plan on making many copies of many books here, going to greatly expand my personal collection." looking over a few books and reaching for one, "Erp no time to read now." then starting to help carry books out. "Oh and..."

Pausing for a moment he grins, "This is Madam Gelfure, head of the Arcanist Guild, which I am a member. I owe her a very large favor for this which I will probably be trying to climb out of for a couple years and all. Also..." smiling a bit more and glancing to Gelfure, "This is Princess Kisaiya, she is quiet the fashionable woman." a trace of mischief in his voice for what he just set in motion. As the weight makes its presence known he sets down the box, "Ok we need those who cannot fight to move things while we buy time. This is just the starting of the whole city waking up." turning to start heading towards the door.

"Also, she can turn into a dragon as well." Astaren offers to Kisaiya as he walks by her.

Durrankar SNAPS his head up as the face smashes against the window. "We've been seen. All books get yourselves into the portal." Durrankar is now giving orders. "We are out of time. Madame Gelfure, begin moving books. If you have any attendants, they can move books as well." he then looks to kerbasi. "Has the blessing you have given us worn off?"

"...well, heh. That ain't good. Ah, Madame Gelfure--ah appreciate you comin out this way, Ah do. But, it looks like we've got somethin' ta take care of. Would y'mind if we did our best to hold off these wights, an' trusted th' books to your possession?" Kerbasi says. As he speaks, he tugs at his robes and just--lifts them over his head. Underneath, the priest wears a set of mithral armor and hard leather boots. The olive skin on his arms attests even more to a phurai dae ancestry. He passes the robe over to Gelfure. "Ah put as many histories in here as Ah could. Ah'd be honored t'pass them to y'." To Kisaiya, "Th' Lady an' Lord of th' Arcanist's Guild in Alexandria. We ah heh, work with her from time t'time." He means young mages tend to blow themselves up. A lot.

"You've got a few hours left, I imagine, but not many," Kerbasi says to Durrankar, though his brows raise in surprise. "Ah'm willin to help where I can. I can hold off th' negative energies as well, but only for a while." He bows to the Lady of the Arcanists, and turns back around.

A pause, a squint, "But she doesn't yell like Sandy. I dunno if I buy it." Either way she sighs, and heaves a bag over toward the portal before dropping it with a UNF! and turns to look toward where the others have seen something. She sighs, and she's wearing her usual dress. There's no special armor under it, just her dress, and a pair of good boots for walkin'! Sturdy heels and soles.

"Bla-a-a-ah." Kisaiya says and she reaches back to pull free her scythe where it's strapped to her back out of the way. "BLAH!" She looks to Kerbasi, "Lord or Lady? I don't get it." She frowns, "You can only be one, which one is it!" She asks Gelfure, a glance to them, but then back to the undead - waiting to see the wights of it eyes as it were.

Thyrson turns, licking his lips. "Yes. Some of us can." He carries his burden lightly as a giantborn does, even if he feels the weight of his age heavily now. A glance to the others. "Is it time? I would set some wards before the fighting begins."

"No, really?" says Gelfure to Durrankarr in a dry tone. "On the way here, AStaren was telling me about the state of the city and how the wights seemed inactive. What changed?"

She glances towards teh window.

The lucht is st artled too.

"That hasn't happened in years," he says, pointing at the wight.

A second one appears. Then a third.

"Yes," she says, "I'd think we'd best hurry."

Astaren shakes his head, "No, this was inevitable, with us being here or not. The shade is droping, I thougth you would relize." Glancing to Lucht, "Undead typically have life sense. The shade had to be dampening that power, otherwise they would of sensed you here. The shade dropping also means Heth is turning her attetion here, I would not be surprised if there were her more powerful agents along the way. That is why I proposed this plan, and why i have been near screaming we need to hurry and be urgent. We only have once chance to save this library." Turning towards Gelfure, "Madam Gelfure, any assistance that can be provided in moving books and materials, the sooner we are done, then sooner we can escape."

GAME: Kerbasi casts Wall of Stone. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22

GAME: Astaren casts Ant Haul. Caster Level: 13 DC: 16

GAME: Astaren casts Floating Disk. Caster Level: 13 DC: 18

"Ah gotcha. Well, let's do what we can to buy us a little more time." Kerbasi looks upwards then, and breaks out into a grin that makes him seem younger than he is. "Heh. Most lovely Lady in th' world. We need yer help preservin this knowledge, an' with it its history of ancestries. Ah'd like to build a wall if y'would be so kind. Frustrate some of th' undead out there as a bonus. Do y'think you might help?" he asks. A few moments later, the floor rumbles. A wall of stone thrusts upwards, attempting to block the nearest windows and possible entryways.

GAME: Thyrson casts Form of the Dragon II. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25

GAME: Thyrson casts Dimension Door. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22

GAME: Astaren casts Teleport. Caster Level: 13 DC: 21

Thyrson's form writhes and changes from an aged giantborn into a golden dragon -- looking a little more spruced up than usual, as well. As the enhancements start to layer, his scales start to glow, just a little. He shifts the bags of holding to rest in front of him, then picks up two huge pallets in his claws, muscles creaking. Then, he snakes his neck under a yoke to pick up two more across his shoulders.

Beneath his feet, the floor cracks.

Then, he puts the bags of holding onto his shoulder-pallets (thank you ridiculous number of neck vertebrae) and speaks quick words of power.

And then he's not there -- he's in front of the gate, staggering to catch his (many) footing and shift the books into the pocket dimension...

The wall of stones, thorns, and more are definitely eager. With Thyrson's dragon form, dimension doors, ant hauls, and speeding along with the rest of you, you are clearing books at a rapid pace. If we're honest, emptying things into piles on the other side of the gateway is about the best you're going to have time for. The most critical books, the one of a kind tomes, genealogies, testimonies and more, have been dealt with. NExt up is the rarest of rare books. First editions of Dragonieri cultural books, things of untold value which exist in liminited numbers in the world, preserved artwork and more that exists within the library is next up. As you're making progress here, you begin heearing sound all around you. The wall of stone is being pounded on from outside by what so unds like dozens and dozens and dozens of hands.

Say, howe many people were alive in tis city at one point?

Because that sounds like a /lot/ of them.

And then there's a... crashing sound. A really, really loud one.

Astaren winces as he hears the crashing sound, "Either that was our airship, but no explosions. So, my next guess is an agent of Heth, and something big." frowning as he motions his disk to head towards the portal carrying another large load of goods, "Keep moving. Do we got any more walls we can put up?"

Thyrson keeps hauling -- he's pretty good at it, all said. His scaly head comes up. "We need to be ready." Though he doesn't stop for longer than that, and tries to get another big load in.

Durrankar is also moving books as best as he can, though Thryson is moving a lot more than he is....for obvious reasons...

Kisaiya blinks, looking toward the walls, then up, then to the portal, then the books, the bookshevles and... She frowns, tilts her head and humms, "Well, if I push that one, then that should hit that and then that and... Yeah. Yeah that should do it." She calls out, "Hey! Can you guys focus on emptying these ones first?" She points at the ones that are in line with eachother so that she can push the ones that are empty, then as the others clear, push the next and the next, providing yet further resistance against the wall. More a doorstop to the wall combined with - hopefully - a physical barrier if needed.

GAME: Durrankar casts Wall of Stone. Caster Level: 13 DC: 22

GAME: Durrankar casts Wall of Thorns. Caster Level: 13 DC: 21

GAME: Durrankar casts Plant Growth. Caster Level: 13 DC: 19

Thyrson takes a moment, and carries off the contents of the bookshelves Kisaiya wants emptied. He's in the carrying-rhythm now -- his body can complain about it tomorrow.

Kisa pushes the bookshelves. "Tiiimbeeeerrr." She says with a grin.

Astaren moves through the citadel looking for anything of high value and putting it onto his floating disk, one he is done passing through he will empty it out through the portal and start looking again, "I got another stone wall if we need it, just let me know." Yipping as he jumps away from the falling book shelves, shakes his head and goes back looking for valuble items and stacking his disk.

Crash!

More sounds now.

It sounds like they're going up the walls, climbing. Upstairs, above you, a window shatters on the fourth floor of the library.

YOu've thankfully gotten most of the books out of that floor already, buit it's still means, as feet hit the wooden floors above you, that they're starwting to find their way in. Thankfully, at a /vastly/ slowed rate thanks to you.

GAME: Astaren casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 13 DC: 18

GAME: Thyrson casts Spell Resistance. Caster Level: 15 DC: 23

Durrankar looks up as he hears the sounds from upstairs. "How many more books are there?"

"Too many." Thyrson-wyrm speaks another incantation and more serious wards materialize briefly around his body before fading. A look around. "I'll keep hauilng, but tell me when it's time to set them on fire."

Durrankar says, "I will be joining you when you set them on fire. Then we will be moving through the portal and closing it."

Astaren nods in agreement, "Though none of them unique or rare, uncommon or hard to find, not not unique. We can move past them, keep focusing on the hard stuff." putting a few more books onto his floating disk.

GAME: Kisaiya rolls Reflex: (10)+11: 21

GAME: Astaren rolls perception: (11)+18: 29

Kisaiya here's the crash up above them and sighs. SIGHS! She looks up and then frowns before - with a swish of her skirts that seem to move in a swish that goes the wrong direction - she bolts for the stairs to try and stop them from getting down into this section. Her hand groping about for the right pouch. "C'mon... C'mon..." There! She yanks the pouch free, grabbing the leather tie with her teeth and yanking.

The door is flung open, she whips her ar to spray the caltrops on the stairs before slamming the door shut. Locking it if she can with a bar, then a chair to help hold it shut, and more bookshelves and other items against it to help slow their progress even further. "Hah!"

Walls of stone. Walls of thorns. Walls of... everything, really. Blocked doors. Caltrops. Plants growing here and there willy nilly. To be hognest, the Lucht is in plain awe of all the things you've done to save it.

Gelfure has retreated back to the other side of the gate, where her near-naked Djinn comrades have drawn flaming swords. Just in case you fail to contain the threat.

She is casting something.

First, the walls crack. One of side on the lower level. Then with a massive /CRASH/ it explodes outwards. That it took this long is a testament to your magics and wise planning.

SLowly, the massive head of a dragon, its scaled skin rotten and decaying, peeeeers into the building, eyes glowing brightly with red energy that remain where flesh and blood rotted away.

It rumbles in draconic.

"Bleed, Bleed for Heth" <draconic>