Vagrant Tower: Void Engine Part 2

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Revision as of 21:18, 4 August 2024 by Harkashan (talk | contribs) (Created page with " GAME: Harkashan refreshes spells. GAME: Harkashan casts Heroes' Feast. Caster Level: 15 DC: 24 GAME: Harkashan rolls 1d8+7: (2)+7: 9 It's been quite a few hours now. A feast being taken in by those, while the Inevitably remains in the chambers. Counting down the time, no doubt. There's been a lot of conversing on the matter of dealing with a Prismatic Wall, by the Void Engine at the center of the whole issue. Harkashan is a little exhausted, having prepared a smal...")
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GAME: Harkashan refreshes spells.
GAME: Harkashan casts Heroes' Feast. Caster Level: 15 DC: 24
GAME: Harkashan rolls 1d8+7: (2)+7: 9

It's been quite a few hours now. A feast being taken in by those, while the Inevitably remains in the chambers. Counting down the time, no doubt. There's been a lot of conversing on the matter of dealing with a Prismatic Wall, by the Void Engine at the center of the whole issue.

Harkashan is a little exhausted, having prepared a small army of spells in order to deal with all of this. And as the various foods have disappeared from the table, and everyone has had their fill, it quickly goes to him casting them just before the time has completed.

"Just remember everyone. Stay as close to me as you can. I will be erecting a spell to prevent anyone from getting Banished. But the Layers of the Prismatic Wall are still going to be a problem until we get the first few are eradicated." He notes. "You can expect anything, from deeply harmful poisons, to hellish fire that even scars the scales of a rugged Sith-makar."

Sitting with individuals who are knowledgable about magic harkens back to so many meetings with her father and his contacts, where Rune would spend long hours tuning out things that were far beyond her understanding. However, she just so happens to have been seated between the Arcanist and Mage, which means that she gets an earful of a discussions about the mirrors and their purpose as defenses. Quietly, she eyes some sketches, looking back and forth between the two as she finishes eating.

At the end of the meal, she speaks up, "So... I think it might be possible to redirect the energy from the mirrors to take out some layers of defense around it. The only problem being, that I'll need someone to give me some guidance on the right order to disable them in." She explains, looking to the other Adventurers. The Arcanist and Mage are likely exchanging a look, as if they are surprised she was even paying attention.

It's a subtly different Iskandar that returns at the specified time. He does seem well rested, but his eyes are clearer and more alert. He seemed delighted at the feast, but avoided drinking wine or ale, even his own.

Iskandar's dressed for adventuring - a heavy dagger at this hip and a case for a small bow and quiver at his waist on the opposite side. A fur half-cape is draped over his shoulders, white and most likely the pelt of a monstrously large wolf, partially covering the weapons.

When the time is right he pipes up with his own advice. "As I won't be able to help with the spellcasting, or the dismantling of 'mystic layers' and such..." So he was also listening...although perhaps not with the same level of comprehension. "I'll focus on any more ah, mundane threats."

Aelwyn had very little prep work. After all, he barely recognized a fireball coming his way from a friendly greeting. Therefore - the Dragoon's preparation was mostly making sure all his equipment was polished and oiled, and then rest of the time was spent Feasting.

And Feasting he did. Or attempt to. The only downside to this feast was that - there was too smart of a conversation around the table that he could not follow. And probably not many of the mages were open to his brand of discussion. Or dancing. Dancing was offered at one point. Nearly everyone.

"Ah, one should stop making this one excited," Aelwyn comments when Harkashan mentions the fires of hell. "But this one shan't have any issue staying close to Lava." A macabre grin was on his face. "The food was excellent and company was..." A brief pause, then he passes. "This one's blade is very restless now, however."

GAME: Harkashan casts Death Ward. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22
GAME: Harkashan casts Death Ward. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22
GAME: Harkashan casts Death Ward. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22
GAME: Harkashan casts Death Ward. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22
GAME: Harkashan casts Archon's Aura. Caster Level: 15 DC: 21
GAME: Harkashan casts Magic Vestment. Caster Level: 15 DC: 21
GAME: Harkashan casts Righteous Might. Caster Level: 15 DC: 23
GAME: Harkashan casts Greater Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 15 DC: 26
GAME: Harkashan casts Shield of Faith. Caster Level: 15 DC: 19
GAME: Harkashan casts Blessing of Fervor. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22
GAME: Harkashan casts Shield of Faith. Caster Level: 15 DC: 19
GAME: Harkashan casts Telepathic Bond. Caster Level: 15 DC: 23
GAME: Harkashan casts Shield Other. Caster Level: 15 DC: 20

Eztli was, surprisingly or concerningly, not much help in the discussions. Best to leave the scholars to scholarly discussions, though the sorceress was twirling a small metal rod in one hand throughout most of the dinner. "I don't know if I know how those mirrors work, but I'll try my best to help. If anything needs to be burnt or electrocuted, should have that covered." Eztli muses. "We'll manage, I know it."

GAME: Rune used a Wand of Shield.
GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 12 DC: 17
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6: (3): 3
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6: (1): 1
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6: (6): 6
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6: (6): 6

As their preperations draw to a close, and the assembled adventurers return to the meeting hall where first their Edict was issued by the INevitable, they find it- the rings of its lower body idly spinning within themselves, the four weapons held at the ready, exactly as they had left it. It has not moved an inch- perhaps it has not even blinked as it awaits the appointed time. The time that is now fast approaching. Even should they address it before then, it remains motionless, until only moments before the time is at hand.

<< THE TIME IS UPON YOU. YOU WILL GO FORTH AND DESTROY THE VOID ENGINE NOW. >> its voice speaks into their minds, the energy held in its lowest set of hands sparking to life as it prepares to send them directly to the void engine in question.

And then with a pop, they are there. It's nothing like traveling through the portal, no sense of time stretching out to infinity and collapsing to an instant. No being swept by invisible tides. One moment they are in the Material Plane, and the next they are floating loosely clustered together, some feet above a rock in the vast, star-strewn expanse of the Astral Plane.

And the orrery- the void engine's defense mechanism- is there. Its idle concentric rings of prisms and mirrors begin to spin and shift as it senses intruders in its realm once more. Energy building at its swirling core.

Iskandar looks around. Then he blinks. He slowly pans his gaze down, seeing through the space between his feet that the 'ground' is more than a dozen feet below. He tenses and then almost just as quickly relaxes, ready to fall. Only he doesn't fall. A few moments later, Iskandar glances around again, this time taking in the rest of the party. All seem to be at different heights, some floating like him but Hark closest to the ground. Iskandar wiggles his arms and legs, considering. Finally he tries again, and this time descends to the ground. He can't help but let out a breath when his sandaled feet touch down.

POP.

From one to the other. It's a drastic and headspin-inducing change. Harkashan instinctively holds his breath the moment before the change comes... and then breathes out on the other side. Trying to immediately bolster himself.

"Okay, there's the Void Engine." He calls out, pointing at the center as people might realize just how /enormous/ Harkashan suddenly is. "For now, stay away from Blue, Indigo, and Violet!"

Harkashan, now a Large creature with /enormous/ draconic-like wings. His horns extending further than before, and an ashen-like aura surrounding him that spreads out towards all of them, granting them protection of all things Evil as long as they remaing within 20 feet of him.

His tail longer, with draconic-like fins. His teeth fiercer. His eyes aglow with golden light.

"We start with the Red one. Eztli, Cone of Cold over there!" He points. "Remember, 'down' is where you think down is. So try to keep thoughts of falling out of your minds!"

"After that, we'll go to that orange one, with a Gust of Wind, and then that Yellow one with Disintegrate."

In that moment, he casts a single spell around them, preventing them from being shunted to another realm. "I am creating an area here that will prevent us from being Banished. That Void Engine will be able to reach us from anywhere regardless until the mirrors are gone!" And then points forward, creating a glowing blue shere surrounding them.

"And be polite to the beings floating nearby. They're trapped here. Unless they start trouble."

GAME: Harkashan casts Dimensional Lock. Caster Level: 15 DC: 26
GAME: Iskandar rolls acrobatics+1d6: 10+(6): 16

Aelwyn hadn't been in here before - he was also a bit lost at what they were supposed to be doing. Destroy the void engine, check. Throw magic at mirrors? Probably mentioned somewhere while he was enjoying quite a few drinks. "Tch, at this point one is simply showing off." The draconian clicks his teeth and then slowly considers his options.

"Ah, they always said there are no such thing as a fall in the Troupe. Just calculated landings." The Dragoon looks below him and then attempts to land onto the ground. Upright, hopefully.

GAME: Iskandar rolls 1d20+acrobatics+1d6: (6)+10+(4): 20
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6: (6): 6
GAME: Culix rolls 1d6: (3): 3
GAME: Aelwyn rolls acrobatics: (16)+10: 26

Upon arrival in this strange realm, there is a moment of complete disorientation for Rune as she shifts directions, floating without sense of up or down. The feeling is tense enough that her heart begins pound in her ears, her body instinctually trying to right itself, despite there not being a 'right' to have. Her arms extend out, like someone trying to float in water, eventually slowing the spin as she focuses on the others, using them as visual anchor points.

"This... is not my idea of a good time." She looks around, trying to get a sense for the area, eyes wide as she tries to take in the unusual sights. Her eyes pan over towards Harkashan, or ... what was Harkashan. It seems she's never seen him in this form as her eyes linger there for a beat.

Then, she snaps back to the moment, "I... can probably handle the orange one." Which is a bit odd figuring that normally the rogue is not a person who dabbles much in magic. However, a bit of shadow seems to be lingering around her forearms. "Eztli, tell me when the red is taken care of."

Harkashan gets a look, of complete resignation, and the longest sigh they can manage. But discomfort wasn't much compared to dealing with elemental planes and dangerous magics. It wasn't long until they were abruptly forced into the plane, anyways, and Eztli is left hovering awkwardly in place. Awkward, since she was doing nothing to remain aloft.

"Cone of cold? I don't think I know how to do that." A distinctly feminine and unfamiliar voice bemoans. There's a flurry of movement and the small sorceress is not falling, but flapping in place instead, and making her way closer to the red mirror.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Culix has dropped a TIMESTOP!

Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Culix to instruct you further. You may earn RPP by logging a scene for a GM.

For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Harkashan gets a look, of complete resignation, and the longest sigh they can manage. But discomfort wasn't much compared to dealing with elemental planes and dangerous magics. It wasn't long until they were abruptly forced into the plane, anyways, and Eztli is left hovering awkwardly in place. Awkward, since she was doing nothing to remain aloft.

Eztli says, “That spell first? Alright, I'll see what I can do in that case." A different, feminine sounding voice calls back." There's some flapping as the sorceress rights herself under her own power, and she manages to fly in front of the group, getting the others out of her way before testing the scroll she had in her robes.”

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 33.

It is now Aether Elemental M's turn! Rune is next!

The Aether Elemental which resembles an inky black expanse of night sky in the shape of a slender male figure writ in colossal proportion stirs, nebulous eyes burning brightly as they open. It does not yet move.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 26.

It is now Rune's turn! Aether Elemental F is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 19.

It is now Aether Elemental F's turn! Harkashan is next!

The femenine Aether Elemental, who burns bright like a cloud of stardust opens her own, inky eyes and lifts her head as she floats above the rocky prison, casting her gaze towards the visitors to the realm. << You returned. >> her voice echoes in Harkashan's head. << You escaped once, you should not have returned. >>

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 13.

It is now Harkashan's turn! Aelwyn is next!

GAME: Harkashan rolls Diplomacy+2: (9)+22+2: 33

Harkashan, noticing the Male one of the Aether elements to start stirring, rumbles to it. "Apologies to disturb your slumber. We are tasked with destroying the Void Engine by an Inevitable." He pauses, listening to the feminine one. He then rumbles; "Indeed, it has been a while since we were last here. I hope nothing ill has occurred since. But we will be breaking this prison." He notes to them.

He then notes to them, as his blade is leveled towards the Orery. "The law of Dimensions demands it to be ceased. I hope you will be understanding, and not interfere. I understand you state we should not have returned. But an option was not given to us."

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 11.

It is now Aelwyn's turn! Eztli is next!

GAME: Aelwyn rolls diplomacy: (8)+12: 20
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 10.

It is now Eztli's turn! Rune is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 9.

It is now Rune's turn! Iskandar is next!

Aelwyn looks at the larger aether elementals. Huh. So he spins in place and then makes another grandious gesture. "And we shall be out of the glorious forms in no time, for this place is sadly ruddened by the bad choices made in the past by certain group." The Dragoon tells the elementals, holding his arms out.

"But this one is quite honored to be in the first presence of such beings." Another bow.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 9.

It is now Iskandar's turn! Astral Orrery is next!

"Just need a moment, please!" The voice calls back to the others as Eztli floats her way in front of the group. Once she was in place, she grabs the prepared scroll, taking a moment to read through it. "Gods it's been too long since I've done this." They grumble reassuringly, but thankfully, they seem to manage the spell, causing the parchment to burst into flames, but strangely sucking the heat out of the air with it, funneling it out of the air in front of her, causing the red crystals on the strange object to freeze over and shatter.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 6.

It is now Astral Orrery's turn! Aether Elemental M is next!

Iskandar takes a few trailing steps after the others, perhaps a bit gingerly after his landing. "More 'mundane' threats?" he mocks his own words from much earlier. "Next time I say something like that...one of your mystics feel free to slap me." He tries to trail behind the party, occasionally turning to cast his gaze across the surroundings and his eyes widen at the sight of the elemental.

Iskandar begins backing more quickly after the others now, staying not too close and yet close enough to be able to aid if somehow he can and - as more likely will be the case, he admits to himself - to be aided. All the while doing his best to keep the astral beings in his field of view.

GAME: Eztli rolls fortitude: (8)+11: 19
GAME: Iskandar rolls fort+3: (14)+14+3: 31

The unusual tone of Eztli's mind-voice is something that Rune has heard before, but it comes as a surprise none the less. She murmurs softly, "Forgot about that." Her eyes pass over the elementals, the threat in their nature obvious. She doesn't comment, focusing instead on weaving wisps of shadow that seem to eminate from her back and wrap around her forearms.

"Right... let's do this." She forms her hands together, the shadow coalescing into a ball which then lashes out in a line from where she is standing, gusting wind past the others and momentarily blacking out the distance between her and the Orrery. It is as if all light has been sucked into that place. The force of it seems to rattle the orange crystals, causing them to shatter.

Shaking her arms out, the shadows still linger there, despite her efforts to dissipate them. "That's probably all I can do, magic wise. If we need to use one of the mirrors, let me know." She looks towards the winged Makari. "Otherwise, I'll leave the rest to the magic-wielders."

GAME: Harkashan rolls Fortitude: (10)+19: 29
GAME: Harkashan rolls Fort+3: (19)+19+3: 41

Eztli."

Eztli?"

GAME: Harkashan rolls Fort+3: (5)+19+3: 27
GAME: Harkashan rolls Fort+3: (18)+19+3: 40
GAME: Aelwyn rolls fortitude: (8)+13: 21

Culix."

The intensity of the light at the heart of the Orrery begins to increase in pulses, the spinning mirrors and prisms focusing more and more of the energy it receives intwards into a singular point at its center. It soon becomes painful to look at, and soon after that becomes blindingly bright, like a star is being born at its core.

Even as it shatters, a strange, inorganic wailing can be heard as the backlash of energy surges towards the remote mirrors, shattering them in turn, but the light continues to grow in intensity. Even closing ones eyes does little to guard against it, shining through their eyelids like a torch, reflecting off every surface and washing out colors until the world is a stark monochrome of pure white and deepest shadow.

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 33.

It is now Aether Elemental M's turn! Aether Elemental F is next!

<< Very well. >> The Male's psychic voice echos to Harkashan. << We will help you. Our power here is limited, but we grant this boon. >> The female says, and then closes her eyes again. The male elemental also closes his eyes, and the two of them project their thoughts to the group, granting them a deep, intrinsic understanding of the Astral Plane's Subjective Gravity.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 19.

It is now Aether Elemental F's turn! Harkashan is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 13.

It is now Harkashan's turn! Aelwyn is next!

It's certainly been long since Harkashan has heard Eztli's 'other voice' within his mind. For all the protesting though, it was best to make sure everyone could hear eachother clearly during a battle against this kind of Construct.

As the Aether Elementals move to assist, Harkashan bids them a grateful; "Thank you." As Eztli and Rune take care of the first two layers.

"Okay, going well. Next, Disintegrate and Passwall!" Harkashan calls out. "Aelwyn and Iskander, hold on a little longer. The last layer destroys all objects and effects. So unless we get through them all, your weapons are at risk of simply being destroyed." He explains to them.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 11.

It is now Aelwyn's turn! Eztli is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 10.

It is now Eztli's turn! Rune is next!

Aelwyn hadn't noticed the odd voices before - he was too occupied with everything else around him. But slowly he connects the voice with the figure. "Ah," He clicks his teeth by habit. "Whence one picked up such a mental voice? Does this one also sound different?" He asks from the group.

Yet the Dragoon did not have much else to do at this stage of their attempts, so he simply relaxed his body and started to move with the flow. His blade spins around him and he starts to circle in the air perhaps a bit aimlessly - but he had a keen eye around his surrounds. His body was supple, and his blade was always ready to strike. "Tch, this one should have asked for a bigger advance if one knew that." The draconian tells Harkashan, tilting his head with a disappointed look. "This one's Flamme Masque shan't be cheap to replace. And probably be upset with this one."

GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+1+1+1+2: (11)+10+1+1+1+2: 26
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 9.

It is now Rune's turn! Iskandar is next!

GAME: Rune rolls use magic device + 1: (12)+23+1: 36
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 9.

It is now Iskandar's turn! Astral Orrery is next!

GAME: Culix rolls 23: (5)+23: 28
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 6.

It is now Astral Orrery's turn! Aether Elemental M is next!

"No, you sound like yourself. Anyways, not the time." The voice answers back as Eztli is reaching for the next scroll that needed to be ready. "This one, oh, I remember this one. Still wish I incinerated the bastard for trying." The voice continues to the group, doing nothing to filter said thoughts as the scroll turns to dust in their hands this time, and a single finger points at the yellow crystals on the device, where a thing green ray springs between the two points, causing the crystals to evaporate into nothingness. "One more down!"

GAME: Culix rolls 1d8: (5): 5

With Harkashan calling out the next spells needed, Rune clutches for one of the scrolls they were provided, thumbing the clasp on it before she squints at the bright light, covering her eyes with her arm. "Alright, let's see if this studying has come in handy or not..."

With control brought from the elementals' magic, Rune soars through the space between to land near the Orrery, ducking between the spinning rings to tag it with a touch, reaching over to read the spell scroll and activate Passwall. It ignites with green light, causing the green prisms to shatter.

Then, pushing off, she weaves between the spinning rings in order to retreat back towards the others, grabbing on to one of Harkashan's large horns in order to slow herself, braced by one of his oversized hands as she lands at his side. "Thanks. Wish father-dearest could have seen that. He'll never believe I cast real magic." Even if it /was/ from a scroll.

GAME: Culix rolls 17: (20)+17: 37
GAME: Harkashan rolls Fort+3: (15)+19+3: 37
GAME: Culix rolls 1d8: (8): 8
GAME: Culix rolls 1d8: (7): 7
GAME: Culix rolls 1d8: (5): 5
GAME: Culix rolls 17: (7)+17: 24
GAME: Culix rolls 17: (19)+17: 36
GAME: Harkashan rolls Fort+3: (12)+19+3: 34
GAME: Culix rolls 1d8: (8): 8
GAME: Culix rolls 1d8: (4): 4
GAME: Culix rolls 1d8: (1): 1
GAME: Culix rolls 17: (2)+17: 19
GAME: Culix rolls 17: (19)+17: 36
GAME: Eztli rolls reflex: (18)+10: 28
GAME: Culix rolls 1d8: (4): 4
GAME: Culix rolls 1d8: (1): 1
GAME: Culix rolls 17: (4)+17: 21
GAME: Iskandar rolls relfex+3: (9)+relfex+3: 12
GAME: Iskandar rolls reflex+3: (19)+11+3: 33
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 6.

It is now Iskandar's turn! Aether Elemental M is next!

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 33.

It is now Aether Elemental M's turn! Aether Elemental F is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 19.

It is now Aether Elemental F's turn! Harkashan is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 13.

It is now Harkashan's turn! Aelwyn is next!

Iskandar sees the beam coming at him and crosses his arms in front of himself as if bracing for a massive blow. But while it may have saved his chest from being caved in by a giant boulder...against fire the gesture does nothing. Stripping off a blackened and still-smoking bracer, he eyes the Orrery and shifts his weight subtly. Perhaps where his tough hide and armor failed him before, flawless timing will work next time.

More screeching of glittering metal against crystal that sounds almost like anguished screaming as more layers are stripped from the orrery's defenses. The light at its core grows in intensity, and collapses down to a single point, impossibly bright.

It then explodes outwards, focused into hundreds of technicolor beams that bounce around the terrain, tearing gouges, or fly into the distance of the realm. A few of the beams sweep across some of the assembled adventurers- though aside from a few minor burns, they seem to resist the bulk of the deleterious effects. The energy within grows dim, but starts to build up in brightness again immediately- but for now, it is safe to look at again.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 11.

It is now Aelwyn's turn! Eztli is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 10.

It is now Eztli's turn! Harkashan is next!

Aelwyn shelters his eyes from the bright light - but he was unphased by the bright beam. "Tch - I truly preferred the close and sweat brawls in the alley and the luxurious duels in the opulent mansions of my quarry." He mutters - or rather thinks - and twirls his glaive around. He continues to float in place, trying not to stare too long at any particular light.

"What shall happen when we are done with this? Does anyone know?" The Dragoon calls out.

GAME: Eztli casts Fire Snake. Caster Level: 12 DC: 23
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 10.

It is now Harkashan's turn! Rune is next!

GAME: Harkashan casts Daylight. Caster Level: 15 DC: 21
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 9.

It is now Rune's turn! Astral Orrery is next!

GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+12: (13)+12: 25
GAME: Eztli casts Greater Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 12 DC: 22

Seeing an opening after being scorched horribly, and coming out none the worse for wear, the sorceress begins weaving a spell. Once familiar, but performed much more quickly than usual, conjuring several motes of orange light that smash into another set of crystals. "Get it now Harkashan, and I'll finish it!" The sorceress calls over, already working on weaving another spell, but not attempting anything yet.

"Well, that's why I am telling you not to go there yet. When the Prismatic Wall is down, you can start using your weapons all you want." Harkashan explains to Aelwyn, before adding. "No, you sound like You. Everyone sounds like however they sound to themselves in their own minds." The growly draconic Sith-makar remarks.

As Eztli shatters another Crystal, Harkashan already begins to announce; "After Rune gets the next layer down -- Magic Missile. I will Daylight after that. And then a Dispel Magic or Greater Dispel magic. I have one of those prepared as well." He notes, as his massive hand comes up and cushions Rune's flight back, so she can hold onto his massive horn more easily.

"Well done, Rune. I do not care if your Father has much to say on the matter. But that was amazing work."

Right as he says this, the core explodes outwards with a variety of colors. But this time, Harkashan is prepared. Various beams touching his allies, but at the same time, his barriers flare up. Various effects being erased as they touch the Divine energies that Harkashan has put up. Embers that almost look like feathers surrounding his allies, protecting them from some of the beams. Where they touch Aelwyn and himself, a 'lotus' of feathered scales bursts open against the skin, almost like a blooming flower, protecting them.

"We keep going. Eztli! Your time to shine!" He calls out, as he begins to draw forth the power of Daylight. Matching tempo with her. And the moment her Magic Missiles strike the barrier of the Prismatic Wall, Harkashan points his finger towards it. And from the Astral Seas, a great light suddenly BEAMS down upon the Orery. Like the Divine were close-by enough to turn a Star to shine just their way.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 6.

It is now Astral Orrery's turn! Iskandar is next!

GAME: Harkashan rolls Fortitude+3: (10)+19+3: 32

Eztli was already preparing for the light to burst more of the crystals. "Unweave the magic holding this here, and make things right!" The sorceress hisses out loud, but as they continue, nothing happens. "Shit. It's still up! Going to be harder to dispel than I expected!" Eztli warns.

GAME: Harkashan rolls Fortitude+3: (3)+19+3: 25
GAME: Iskandar rolls fort: (3)+14: 17
GAME: Culix rolls 1d100: (12): 12
GAME: Harkashan rolls Fortitude+3: (5)+19+3: 27

There is a small cock of the head to acknowledge Harkashan's comment about her father. Despite everything, he is still family, and she can't quite help but care. Of course, that expression turns to one of alarm as the lights start to flickering up again and she tucks herself behind Harkashan's form in order to shield herself from the light.

"I saw something. It's like there's some kind of figure embedded inside the last layer, inside the crystal. They looked humanoid." Of course, she can't see anything at the moment other than some glowing lava-colored scales.

GAME: Iskandar rolls fort+3: (2)+14+3: 19

The screeching continues as layer after layer is stripped away, the mirrors shattering one by one until fragments of crystaline glass drift in great clouds out into the astral ocean. The dim and building light surges in waves, more sluggish than before, until it flashes out once more.

Harkashan protects most of his allies from the wave of searing light, but a shocking pain rushes through Iskandar's skull as his eyes are seared and bleached by the intense light.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 6.

It is now Iskandar's turn! Aether Elemental M is next!

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 33.

It is now Aether Elemental M's turn! Aether Elemental F is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 19.

It is now Aether Elemental F's turn! Aelwyn is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 11.

It is now Aelwyn's turn! Eztli is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 10.

It is now Eztli's turn! Harkashan is next!

Iskandar stares, trying to make out the figure revealed in the final layer. He has no defense against the sudden flash of light, and then everything is dark. Iskandar bellows a brief cry of dismay that turns halfway through the sounds into one of outrage. He waves a hand in front of his eyes. His other hand reaches out in front of him, and then he begins moving it back and forth in front of himself. "I can't see!" he shouts, letting the rest of the party know about his predicament.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 10.

It is now Harkashan's turn! Rune is next!

GAME: Harkashan casts Greater Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 15 DC: 24
GAME: Harkashan rolls Wisdom+Cleric+4: (7)+8+15+4: 34

"Don't worry Eztli. I've got you covered!" Harkashan remarks to Eztli. "You are much better at destroying this thing than I am. So ready something destructive in case I manage it!"

Noticing Iskandar refusing the gift of his protections for a moment, and ending up being blinded, Harkashan growls for a moment; "I do not have anything to deal with your Blindness on the short term, I fear."

He then snaps his finger towards the Orery, as the bright light of the Daylight spell seems to intensify for a moment, searing through the last protection, shattering the last barrier! "Now! Go go go!"

As the last Protective barrier around the core shatters, the rings around it all lock in place for a moment. There is a terrible, grinding sound, and then their spinning accelerates and reverses. At the center of the ruined orrery, A formation of rough, clear crystal holds a man apparently suspended in time. Frozen magic whorls around him, and his face seems trapped partway through a transformation into something more Draconic. His robes are open at the chest, and implanted right where his heart should be is a smaller simulacrum of the orrery, matching its spinning despite the rest of him seemingly frozen in time.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 9.

It is now Eztli's turn! Aelwyn is next!

GAME: Eztli rolls knowledge/arcana: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Eztli rolls knowledge/arcana: (14)+9: 23
GAME: Harkashan rolls Knowledge/History: (5)+10: 15
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 8.

It is now Aelwyn's turn! Rune is next!

Eztli is more than a bit rattled as she recovers from the light, and Iskandar does not. "Shit, that's my fault. I shouldn't have been able to handle that." The voice apologizes. "Will do Hark, but what now? Do we get it out of here, or do we need to break that one in, them, or get them out of here?"

"That's the Ancient Magus who made this tower." Harkashan rumbles. "His bust was found throughout this tower. Guess this literally became his /Life's Work/."

Taking note of the man at the center of it all, Harkashan rumbles; "I believe that Man may himself by the Void Engine. Let's start by extracating him either way."

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 7.

It is now Rune's turn! Astral Orrery is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 6.

It is now Astral Orrery's turn! Iskandar is next!

GAME: Aelwyn rolls reflex: (12)+9: 21
GAME: Harkashan rolls Reflex: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Rune rolls reflex: (3)+21: 24
GAME: Eztli rolls reflex: (17)+10: 27
GAME: Iskandar rolls reflex: (6)+11: 17

With the last magic spell cast, Rune peeks out from around Harkashan to get a look at what lies at the heart of the Void Engine, "So it... is a person. Why does he look like he's halfway between one form and another?" This is another situation where magic escapes her understanding.

"So, what do we do now? It looks like there's still a lot of magic involved here and I don't exactly want to go poking about without knowing what we're doing." She's looking to some of the others, hoping that they might know what to do.

"Just hold tight, Iskandar. It looks like we aren't out of trouble, yet."

GAME: Culix rolls 8d6: (25): 25

Aelwyn shields his eyes some, but he also sees the figure. "Yes, there is someone there. It... is strange." He confirms - but he then does not comment on the situation, moving forward next to Eztli. He twirls his glaive unnecessarily in a flourish, before settling into a ready stance.

"This one feels we should start making decisions!" The Dragoon calls out.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 6.

It is now Iskandar's turn! Aether Elemental M is next!

While the group are talking, the rings suddenly align, and then the Orrery's gravity shifts. With a groan of the first movement in a thousand years, it shifts, accelerating rapidly towards the group and then barrels through them buffeting them with its ruined rings. It arrests its motions floating out in the void, the rings grinding and beginning to spin again.

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 33.

It is now Aether Elemental M's turn! Aether Elemental F is next!

Iskandar is smashed flat by the Orrery's passage. He pushes up and then remains in a crouch, spitting what feels like a chip from his own tooth. "Yes," he says dryly. "Not out of trouble yet. I'd have to concur." He may be utterly helpless now, and nearly so this entire journey. But there's no reason to show it.

<< The heart is exposed. >> The Female elemental says. << We are free. >> The male's voice echos through the mindscape. Its eyes open, and it begins to move, but is stopped as the female voice interjects. << Destroy the heart. We will help. >> there is hesitation. The male one wants to simply leave, now that it can. But it does help its cohort make good on their promise. Both extend their hands, and the errant Orrery vibrates as it resists whatever they are trying to do. Their nebulous manes of unruly 'hair' billow as they exert themselves, and the orrery is dragged back across the idland and slammed down in it's middle. Held there by telekinetic force. The crystal containing the ancient magic cracks from the force of the blow, but does not yet shatter.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 19.

It is now Aether Elemental F's turn! Harkashan is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 10.

It is now Harkashan's turn! Eztli is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 9.

It is now Eztli's turn! Aelwyn is next!

The Orery comes suddenly at top speeds, and Harkashan - wings or not - gets struck right in the face by it. He goes spinning for a bit, glad that Rune let go - or she'd been getting quite the nauseating experience - before coming to a halt.

"Either way, the Orery is still active, and still fighting us. So let's take it out. Spread out a bit, so it can't get us all in a straight line! Eztli, figure out the magic affecting that guy. Rune, pull the guy out of there." Harkashan calls out! "I don't know if this guy wanted to be a dragon or something, but either way, he's at the core of all of this!" Something the Elementals seem to concur with.

"Iskandar, you should be able to hear me. I am going to paint the scene for you." Followed by giving a quick description of how far away the Orery is and what it is doing. So at least Iskandar gets an <idea> of the battlefield!

GAME: Eztli casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 12 DC: 20
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+4: (16)+10+4: 30
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+4: (15)+10+4: 29
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+4: (9)+10+4: 23
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+4: (5)+10+4: 19
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (18)+4: 22
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 8.

It is now Aelwyn's turn! Rune is next!

With the crystal back on the ground, Eztli snaps their fingers and conjures a trio of flaming lances, which smash into the rings and crystal remaining. "Seems to be working, we should be able to break it!" She shouts through their shared bond.

GAME: Culix rolls 23: (8)+23: 31
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 7.

It is now Rune's turn! Astral Orrery is next!

"Tch, this one has a feeling our glorious friends may be seeking to destroy whomever was this poor soul with its heart." The Dragoon points out, before he gives testing wiggle with his behind and tail. Yep, this is somehow magical flight. "Hrr." Aelwyn lets out, with a macabre grin.

Swinging into the action, he turns around and gestures towards the rest of the party. "Remember, a synchronized blades mean chaotic defense." He calls out, before he flies over the orrery. With finesse he dodges around the attack aimed at him, before with unnecessary flourish he lands on the other side, holding his glaive with both hands.

GAME: Rune takes ten on disable device+7+1: (10)+32+7+1: 50
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+4+1+2: (9)+22+4+1+2: 38
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6+1+8d6: aliased to 1d6+3+1d6+1+8d6: (3)+3+(6)+1+(24): 37
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 6.

It is now Astral Orrery's turn! Iskandar is next!

GAME: Culix rolls 23: (8)+23: 31
GAME: Culix rolls 23: (6)+23: 29
GAME: Culix rolls 6d6+12: (20)+12: 32

Floating in the air, Rune watches Harkashan go horns over tail a few times before she turns her attention back towards the Orrery and the man contained inside of it. "So you want me to destroy the thing, or rescue the dragon-man, which is it?" She huffs with her own frustration, a bit unsure about the right course of action given that the Elementals seem intent on destroying it.

"I'll see what I can do." The problem is, as soon as Rune gets close enough to get a good view of it, it becomes obvious that she can't really separate the two, at least not easily. "Don't think I can get him out without damaging either the crystal or the machine further." She reports, already using a couple of her tools to get between the spinning parts of the Orrery.

Jamming one of the metallic points open, she manages to hold it just long enough to stab with one of her blades, before pulling it back again, bits of tool kit going flying in the process. "This thing is tough. Like beating on an elemental tough."

Getting close enough to the core of the Orrery without being struck by its still whirling rings proves difficult. Rune is deft enough to duck between them and strike at a delicate joint, causing another of the rings to spin itself into oblivion and fly apart, the now inanimate metal drifting off to be lost in the void.

Aelwyn is not so lucky, and while he swings for his attack, one of the rings comes around and smashes him squarely in the back of the head, sending his vision swimming and blood trickling down his scales from the force of the blow.

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 6.

It is now Iskandar's turn! Harkashan is next!

GAME: Iskandar rolls 1d100: (68): 68
GAME: Iskandar rolls weapon1+1+4+4: (11)+0+1+4+4: 20
GAME: Iskandar rolls 1d4+4+1+1+1d6: (2)+4+1+1+(1): 9
GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 5.

It is now Harkashan's turn! Aether Elemental M is next!

GAME: Harkashan casts Spiritual Ally. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+4: aliased to bab+wisdom+4: (1)+11+8+4: 24 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+4: aliased to bab+wisdom+4: (4)+11+8+4: 27
GAME: Harkashan rolls WisHit+4-10: aliased to bab+wisdom+4-10: (4)+11+8+4+-10: 17

Iskandar squeezes his eyes shut and tilts his head to the side to listen carefully. He hears Hark's instructions. Sounds of battle. Someone says it's like fighting an elemental. An elemental? Iskandar draws his heavy dagger and with a murmured word in Jotun sets it alight. He braces himself and then speeds towards the Orrery, stabbing blindly forward. His expression turns to one of pure joy as he feels his blade make contact. Then he starts. "That...that was the Orrery, right? Right?!"

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Six - Init 33.

It is now Aether Elemental M's turn! Aether Elemental F is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Six - Init 19.

It is now Aether Elemental F's turn! Eztli is next!

GAME: Culix advances the initiative order.

Round Six - Init 9.

It is now Eztli's turn! Aelwyn is next!

"Thank you." As the Orery is pushed back to its original place, Harkashan begins to move with this. Most of his magic does not work against Constructs. So the best he can do is bolster his allies. He prays for an ally to aid them, so that Rune can better do her work.

Soon, the Astral Sea seems to part, or tear, as a faceless lanky being begins to step through a 'rift' in the ground. Climbing up, bearing a Khopesh in one of its hands. Stepping onto one of the rings of the Orery through a floating motion, and then tries to stab into it. But it seems the Spiritual Khopesh is glancing off of the metal.

To Rune - "Whichever you think you can handle. I am uncertain. But I imagine we'd love some answers if we can get them. If not... well, I guess we'll deal with the Orery at the center of his chest as well and see what happens." Harkashan isn't so sure about just saying 'kill him' because... well... that just doesn't seem right to him.

GAME: Culix rolls 8: (5)+8: 13
GAME: Eztli casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 12 DC: 20
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+4: (2)+10+4: 16
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+4: (4)+10+4: 18
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+4: (14)+10+4: 28
GAME: Eztli casts Greater Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 12 DC: 22
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+4: (13)+10+4: 27
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+4: (9)+10+4: 23
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+10+4: (19)+10+4: 33
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4+1: (12)+4+1: 17
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4+1: (7)+4+1: 12
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4+1: (19)+4+1: 24
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4+1: (12)+4+1: 17
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4+1: (10)+4+1: 15
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4+1: (18)+4+1: 23

"I'm not entirely sure what is going on with it, Hark. Something ancient, transmutation magic I don't recognize. But it's a threat." Eztli answers back, already working on weaving more magic. Several flaming spears are conjured, smashing into the orrery, followed by another volley, each striking true.

GAME: Eztli rolls will: (19)+12: 31
GAME: Iskandar rolls will+2: (13)+8+2: 23
GAME: Rune rolls will+1+1: (7)+15+1+1: 24
GAME: Aelwyn rolls will+1+1: (5)+7+1+1: 14
GAME: Aelwyn rolls will+1+1: (3)+7+1+1: 12
GAME: Culix rolls 1d10: (8): 8
GAME: Culix rolls 2d4: (6): 6
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4: (3): 3
GAME: Culix rolls 1d4: (4): 4

As the last of the rings come apart and go flying off in random directions, the crystal expolodes all at once. Its myriad fragments each a perfect cube as they spread in every direction. A voice booms out. A voice everyone here recognizes. The voice of the Inevitable that sent them here.

It booms out with such force that the party are forced to their knees- save for Harkashan, for whom it sounds righteous and /correct/. << THIS IS A SANCTIONED IMPRISONMENT FOR THE CRIME OF DIMENSIONAL TRANSGESSIONS. INTERFERENCE IS CONSIDERED COMPLICITY. >>

As their ears ring and bodies are frozen in terrible awe at the voice of the inevitable, the mage who had been imprisoned is now freed from his temporal stasis. And his transformation continues- wings sprouting from his back, glittering with stars. His eyes burn like suns as he bursts out of his robes, expanding in size and dropping to all fours. A tail sprouts from his back, long and feathered.

A dragon. But not like any dragon likely to be encountered on the Material Plane. And in its prismatic, scaled chest- that spinning orb of machinery implanted still, taking the place of its heart.

The booming voice catches Rune completely off-guard, causing her to clasp her hands to her ears and then fall to her knees, her face twisted into an expression of pain, a scream that is frozen before it can be given voice.

Frozen in that moment, all Rune can do is tremble, eyes staring outward at the transformation. If she had thoughts or words, they are lost in that instant, a faint trickle of blood dripping from one ear.

The moment that sound carves its way through the Dimension, and the Mage begins to transform now that time is no longer halted for him, Harkashan bows his head for a moment.

"I am Deathsinger Harkashan. I have been sent to destroy the Void Engine. The Void Engine lies within this being's chest. So I will proceed with its destruction. If I am wrong, come here and give us the appropiate information! Otherwise, we will proceed with our action!"

He then prepares his weapon in preparation to do battle.

"Rune, the device at its chest! We need to disable /that/! We'll try to stop it from moving!"

As Harkashan's eyes go slits. "I will ensure it will stop properly."

Iskandar's dagger clatters to the floor, shortly followed by the rest of his body. It's only through sheer good fortune that he doesn't fall atop the adamantine blade. Iskandar's ears are still ringing. Everything is black. Slowly he begins to hear a sound. His own breathing, ragged and faster than it should be. Feeling returns to his limbs and he pushes himself up into a sitting position. He reaches out a hand for his dagger and then hesitates. He can't exactly see it, and if he grabs the blade rather than the handle, he'll no doubt lose a fingertip or two. But he's always been lucky. He puts his hand down and feels the wrapped hilt. Scooping it up, Iskandar then plants a hand on the ground, ready to push up onto his feet. Everything hurts, and his ears are still ringing...and Iskandar decides to stay where he is for a few moments more.

Aelwyn falls down to his knees as well with his glaive's flame dying out. He was about to raise his hands over his ears - then he realizes he couldn't hear anything anyway. Growling and snarling, he attempts to get back onto his knees, weakened and unsteady. "I cannot hear," He attempts to say to the rest of the group.

Then his eyes see the transformation happening in place. "... that is a dragon." The Dragoon lets out - perhaps to no one, he could not say, but even as his whole body was swaying with the violent statement, he attempts to grab his glaive, uncertain of what to do next.

Well, he knew what he wanted to do next. But smarter mind might prevail.

Eztli was caught off guard by the happenings, the small sorceress reeling from the sound and how nothing felt quite right. When she finally was able to collect herself, she's left staring. "Oh for fucks sake you could have mentioned this earlier." The small makari groans. "Guess we're not done."