Down in the Depths

Aug 18, 2022 5:09 pm

The Traveler

Ghillie knows that this is no moon of Eberron; in fact, this is nothing natural, at all. It seems constructed by some form of...magic, maybe?

Kevin knows that it is not orbiting anything; it seems to violate the rules of natural space-time. It heads directly in the direction of the moon Vult, like its intent is to collide with that moon. He also figures, based on its angle of trajectory that with a slight adjustment, it would head for the next closest moon

Gunnar doesn't recall any history in that hollow cranium of his (j/k), but Alin seems to remember something in his studies of the Traveler.

Alin connects lines from various written and oral scriptures he has read regarding his god:

Quote:

Massive but slow waves roll across the sea. Between their peaks, a long, low line of pale stone is visible in one direction, probably less than a half mile away...

Uneven causeways only a few feet higher than the sea's surface cut across its face, forcing the great waves to continually break. Massive, worn, and ancient, the causeways are arranged radially with a series of concentric bridges, like a spider’s web. At the "web's" center, an enigmatic city skyline of irregular towers and pale walls overlooks the red waves...

Rivulets of dark cloud stream past overhead, obscuring a weirdly textured, solid "sky" above them...

OOC:

I am going to change this to a spoiler, so that you all can see it, but your characters would not know about this happening to Alin, obviously.

[ +- ] Telepathic Message to Alin

Aug 18, 2022 7:56 pm

Somehow somewhere someone is directing that huge ball of stone towards one moon, perhaps two. And it will hit in about 10 days, right? Krinn please tell me that the controls are in this complex. Otherwise, the only thing we can do is find a good place to watch the fireworks.

Aug 18, 2022 8:57 pm

Krinn says (audibly in the speaker system in this cavern), "I was not made aware of these parts of this facility. It seems that in the floors below this one, each of the subsequent 13 floors of the dungeon are connected through astral projection to each of the various moons and their associated planes.

"Perhaps travelling to the floor associated with Vult would give you a better sense of what is going on there, and perhaps you can find a way to stop that thing from there. That's the only thing I can come up with as a way to stop that thing.

"I am open to some non-linear thinking from organics, such as yourselves, for a way to manage it.

"You could also reach the library adjoining this cavern, to see what Gryndl'sir might have known about this body. He was a formidable polymath; he may have knowledge or thoughts in the library about this new celestial body."

Aug 19, 2022 6:41 am

XOSkel10 Inactive for 3 months

What is our current floor? How many floors do we need to go down to reach the Vult floor?
He looks to the dwarf for his stonecunning and the druid for his knowledge of primal powers

Alin (They/Them)

Aug 19, 2022 10:48 am

As the group contemplates tries next move, Alin is silent. Their face becomes very pale as the enormity of their realization sinks in.
"Did everyone hear that?" Alin whispers.

Alins skin continues to lose colour, more than a paleness of shock, it’s as if the paints had been washed away from the canvas and only the sketch were left. Rather quickly, their hair grows white and lifts from their shoulders. Finally Alin’s eyes lose colour and any definition of pupils or iris. Shorter hair, slightly smaller in stature, Alin stands amongst the others in their true form.

Aug 19, 2022 12:52 pm

Ghillie nodded at Alin once their reversion was complete. It was rare to see changelings in their natural form.

"I heard, kid, but I'm not panicking yet. Let's see what this great Gryndl'sir might have known about this unnatural object. Perhaps there may be the means to gain further knowledge within his sanctum, too."

Krinn

Aug 22, 2022 8:33 pm

runekyndig says:

What is our current floor? How many floors do we need to go down to reach the Vult floor?
He looks to the dwarf for his stonecunning and the druid for his knowledge of primal powers

Krinn

"By stepping under the projection of Vult (you can see the sort of shadow/outline that it casts on the floor), you will be teleported to that floor.

"To return to this cavern, you simply have to go back to that teleportation circle on that floor.

"There are other entrances and exits between floors, but this is the most direct path to any one floor, or back here.

"I will not be in contact with you on any of those floors, but I hope that you can come back and relay what you have seen.

"Remember this issue with convergence, also. We are butted up against two big, scary issues here, but the satellite crashing into Vult is supposed to happen sooner than the convergence; I will let you all decide which to deal with first.

After Krinn says this, you notice runes outlining the shadows cast by each of the projections of the moons. You do not see a shadow cast by the strange satellite object aimed to collide with Vult, though. However, you do see runes outlining the shadow of the empty void that represents where Crya should be in orbit.

Aug 22, 2022 8:34 pm

XOSkel10 says:

As the group contemplates tries next move, Alin is silent. Their face becomes very pale as the enormity of their realization sinks in.
"Did everyone hear that?" Alin whispers.

Alins skin continues to lose colour, more than a paleness of shock, it’s as if the paints had been washed away from the canvas and only the sketch were left. Rather quickly, their hair grows white and lifts from their shoulders. Finally Alin’s eyes lose colour and any definition of pupils or iris. Shorter hair, slightly smaller in stature, Alin stands amongst the others in their true form.

Alin feels, deep down, that he was the only one that "heard" the telepathic communication.

Aug 22, 2022 11:13 pm

"We should bring you with us, Krinn. There will surely be other arcane machines for you to communed with."

Aug 23, 2022 12:18 am

Krinn says, "Well, if I am to go with you, the teleportation circles would not be available to us on this side; the ones on the various floors would be one-way portals.

"If you want me to go with you, then we would need to proceed in this order to get to Vult:"

There appears before you a table with the names of moons and their associated planes.

"The pathway to get down to the next floor is located to the west."

An opening in the wall gets lit up, which shows a huge stone stairwell that leads downward.

Aug 23, 2022 1:02 am

"Taking or leaving Krinn's your call, Kevin, but I think we'd better take the orb along."

Gunnar Broad

Len Inactive for 28 days

Aug 23, 2022 5:25 am

Gunnar is astonished by both the magic on display and the scale of this place. He waits for the others to make the call on the where's and the how's of the exploration, saving his faculties for the inevitable violence that he'll happily tackle.

Aug 23, 2022 11:20 am

If there is teleports back and forth, then we go check it out and then return for Krinn.

Aug 23, 2022 12:00 pm

"Makes sense. Can you tell what else lurks on the other levels, Krinn?"

Last edited August 23, 2022 12:00 pm

Aug 23, 2022 4:56 pm

"Think of each floor like a glimpse into the plane you are in. Certain dangers and creatures and land and obstacles manifest, as if you were in that plane of existence.

"Since you are traveling to Vult, for example, (due to its association with Shavarath, The Eternal Battleground), you will see and interact with legions of angels and demons fighting continuously in battle. Anything that is part of that plane may be present at the time you travel down to that floor.

"This is according to the records left behind by Gryndl'sir; he doesn't really explain mechanically how this happens, but a docent is the energy source needed for the two-way teleportation to be possible."

OOC:

Essentially, each floor will act as a holodeck, with a lens into that particular plane. This holodeck has the safety measures turned off, so you are in mortal danger, and should be at the ready for encounters that may come your way.

Krinn doesn't know if it is purely hologram you will be interacting with, or if you are actually interacting with a portion of that plane, or if there is some other explanation for what you are seeing and interacting with.

Of course, I know, and you'll find out as we go down in the depths. ;)

Aug 23, 2022 6:54 pm

"I'd love to see some reflection of the Twilight Forest and the Faerie Court. The Churning Chaos or the Endless Night? Not so much."

Ghillie pointed at the portal with a grim look on his face.

"Shall we?"

Aug 24, 2022 5:08 am

XOSkel10 Inactive for 3 months

Sword and shield ready, and battlecat covering their rear Kevin is ready to teleport into a warzone.
Ready

Alin (They/Them)

Aug 24, 2022 10:46 am

"I’d rather like to see a glimpse of Xoriat, perhaps we’ll get that chance. I am not keen on a war between celestial beings we must keep out of the middle of the battle." Alin pauses and seems to finally consider the whole conversation "What do we look for once we get there? How far astray will we let ourselves go into this piece of plane? It seems very critical that we do not lose sight of the portal to get back here…."

Aug 27, 2022 1:15 am

"I've got enough crazy thoughts in my head already, Alin. I don't need those crazy thoughts manifesting outside," the druid grumbled. "What precautions should we take, Krinn?"

Aug 27, 2022 6:38 am