While Wandering the Wilds

The forest around you grows dim as the sun gets lower on the horizon. As it is time to make camp you look around for a likely spot. The tall trees and occasional stream with scattered bushes gives plenty of cover but out here in the wilds bedding down for the night without precautions can be deadly.

The night passes with no more event than Alben staying up late to chat with, or at, Dree for about an hour before retiring. In the morning you wake and break your fast and camp, cleaning your traces before preparing to move on. As None of you had a particular destination you make your way to an old and forgotten highway that Serig and Alben had notice the day before.

The highway is make of magically shaped stone slaps of a size and weight to make it last for centuries. Now covered is dust and errant weeks the road is often straight but at times curves and other sections are rent entirely, likely from the Shattering that ended the last age. By noon you reach the lip of a bluff that the road descends as it heads towards what looks to be the remains of city from the Dawn Age. As with most such relics of the age it is greatly damages and the wilderness has invaded it. Though the Shattering ended the Dawn Age and great war with the Immortals was less than a century ago all the ruins from that time are in such a state. A few cities were protected by the Gods, Titans, or greater Mortal powers and such are the seeds of modern countries. Looking down over you sprawling and dead city you doubt you are the first to find it but you see no signs of it being reclaimed and wonder what traced of the Mortal Peoples histories you might find therein. You see 3 great edifices that still tower over much of the city. A tower which is the ancient symbol of scholars and wizards that looks untouched, a massive pyramid that matches what you know of temples to the Deity worshiped before the birth of the Gods at the end of the first age, and what looks to have been a palace. The rest of the building are crumbling ruins long taken and broken down by plant and weather.
Which shall you explore? Tower, Temple, Palace?

You chat back and forth as you move deeper into the city, heading towards the pyramid. You pass several tumbled ruins scattered to the left and right. Then you come to what must have been the city walls. The ring of stone reveals the walls must have stood at least 30 feet wide and twice as tall. The ruble across the traces of the road is lower and you work your way through it with little difficulty. However as you pass the midpoint of the wall you feel an odd sensation, as if dropping several feet when not expecting it. You all pause and look at each other to verify it is not just you. Looking around you see nothing amiss. Sensing no danger you press on.

The stillness of the abandoned city presses in on you as you move deeper. A deep and resounding sense of loss fills your hearts at the wonder of the glory the People possessed not even a century ago. Tumbled down shops and decimated residential areas give way to the larger central structures as you pick you way towards the pyramid. It rises well over 300 feet high with the bottom half covered in vines and small plants that have found purchase in the cracked stone. The lower sections appear completely ruined by by some miracle of divine intervention the typ looks to be intact and you see an ornate opening in this section with stairs leading down with the lower portions cracked and crumbling. Knowing the lower portions were often used for basic administrative and mundane functions you look to the peak and waiting archway to the intact higher temple chambers.

Serig determines that the majority of the edifice is massive some blocks. Though don't is brickwork and masonry your best guess is the majority of it was magically shaped. The stairs are a mix of safe and crumbling stonework but you feel confident you can navigate it without to much trouble.

With Serig scouting the way and Dree searching for any more mobile dangers and Alben in the middle, you make you way up the steep stairs and cracked and broken stonework. At times the brush and vines overgrowing the pyramid help with convenient hand holds while at other times thich growth impedes your way. Seric picks out a path that stays close to the path and skirts a couple of sections that look more like the vegetation is holding it in place than the other way around.

After about 1/2 hour you reach the clear section you all feel flush as the blood pulses through your limbs due to the exertion. From this height you look out over the city and can see that though it has a couple large structures it is not a huge city. Within the walls there are a few other neighborhoods and individual structures that look to be still intact. Dree has not sensed anything stalking them but you have noted that there are some small animals in the area. The small biting flies prove most annoying and seem attracted to the three of you.

You pause for a short break in the last bit of shade to catch your breath before proceeding up the last of the stairs to the large open doorway above. These stairs are all intact and you walk up as Alben huffs and puffs as he mutters about the heat as you climb, totally exposed to the sun and anyone looking around, up to reach the large archway set back a bit into the top of the structure.



Beyond the archway you see a massive chamber light by the sun's light, likely form windows higher on the sides of the pyramid. From what you can see there are likely several side chambers but all seems oddly clean for an open structure exposed to wind, rain, and sun.

Before you leave she instructs you not to not travel the city at night and you should, if possible, stay outside the city or in either the tower or pyramid.

Setting out you descent the pyramid, and wonder how often Elprekt does this trip, if at all. Once back to street level you head towards the tower. The city must have held a decent population as it's wide paved roads would easily have accommodated a couple wagons and still left room for people to walk.

You pass from one region of the city that surrounded the temple and had larger structures and streets to another with smaller buildings and roads that looks to have been a residential section. As you move through this area you enter a small plaza with a well anc cistern in the middle. As you do Serig catches a fresh scent. It smells reptilian but there is something . . wrong. Seeing her companion pause Dree scans the area ans notices there are drying sections of cobble stone. Something was drinking from here recently.

Dree's massive ax bites deeply into the drake while Seric seems to pause before launching an attack with his armored fists that fail to penetrate the beasts tough scaley hide.


Roaring in pain the drake lunges at dree with both bite and claws.but the lithe warrior easily evades the deadly assault.


The sight of Dree striking deeply into the beast before nearly disappearing under it's assault give Alben courage then fear before the roar snaps him from his stupor to stab at the beast again before moving to stay out of the beasts attack range.

Serig manages to strike the beast twice and it flinches from the impacts Dree winds up to unleash another .
The drake is bleeding from the ax cut and slightly stunned from Serig's two strikes so decides this pres is not worth it and turns to run away, leaving Serig with another tail slap as it does.


Seeing the beast move to flee Alben stikes at it but holds back from pursuing it.

Dree can give chase if you want now but after that the drake is gone
Alben seems a bit shaken but you all managed to get through the fight ok.

As you continue on Serig rubs where the drakes tail slammed into him as it is still sore but other than that you are fine. As you near the tower and look up you realize you can not see the top as it stretches up to the clouds and beyond.

Moving closer you circle it until you spot a doorway on the east side but nowhere do you see any windows. The massive structure defies logic as it seems to reach beyond the heavens. At various points on the tower surface you see strange glows or glimmers of reflected light. The towers base is about 100 feet in diameter and the massive door is at least 30 feet across and 50 tall.

As you get near you feel increasing levels of magic. The towers looks be be a simple rough stone structure from a distance but as you near it you realize it is covered in carved and engraven murals depicting lands, creatures, and peoples. You soon realize not all the scenes depicted are of the mortal realm. There are scenes of vast oceans with impossibly vast creatures swallowing ships and dragons. Others show expanses of stars with beings riding vessels through the space between.



Now standing in front of the door you see it has two circles about 3 feet up on either side of a line down the middle. They give the impression of knocker plates. The door is made of an unknown material that vaguely resembles petrified wood. The door is set into a stone doorway that has been carves with a multitude of images of creatures, scenery, plant, and glyphs of all kinds. Above the door is a large paque with glowing runes that twist oddly yet all instantly gain an understanding of their meaning.

The Infinite Tower
Portal CVI.N4

By time you are close enough to touch the door the air and ground seem to humm with magical power. However even without touching the doors they begin gliding silently to the sides creating a gap between them. The gap is wider at the ground level and narrow at the top, as if the doors are swiveling to the side and up. The doors stop after creating a gap 8' wide at the base. The interior is pitch black after only a few feet. What you can see is simple stone floors. The light spilling through the open door does not touch any walls.

When the doors finish moving a gentle voice is head
Unknown individuals, welcome to the Infinite Tower. Please enter for evaluation.
A soft light suffuses the interior yet somehow reveals no additional details other than a pathway leading inwards.

According to your instructions you are to stop at the threshold and present the pendants and say "Agents of the Divine seek conference and access. Acknowledge" Then, and only when you hear and acknowledgement, are you to enter the Tower.

After a short pause you hear a soft tone followed by Acknowledged . The interior slowly brightens to reveal a long and wide hallway, 20' x 60', with doors to either side and another set of double doors at the far end.

The odd thing is that according to your instructions you should be meet by someone after this happens but you see no one.

Elprekt did not know what the person would look like but was definitely expecting someone. Your instructions somewhat hinge on a guide but you do know you are to travel to a higher level. The instructions identifies it as "Private Vault space" and the pendant Dree holds along with instructions to access the Divine vault 3.

The side doors are all identical while the ones at the far end of the hall are different and larger, indicating they are either used more or more important.

As Dree steps through a faint pulse if felt, hear, and seen in the room as if everything shook. As she speaks the voice is heard again. Please wait for an authorized tower agent. They have been notified of your arrival and will be with you momentarily.

You wait a while as Serig and Alben join Dree. After a couple minutes you hear another voice.


Wait, wait a moment, I am coming. Please wait. The male voice states. It sounds sleepy, pleading, and slightly confused while trying to be professional. With not threats present and the door behind you still open, you decide not to venture too far from it for now, you wait several more minutes. Occasionally the mans voice is heard again thanking you for waiting and saying he is coming.

After 15 minutes of idly waiting you finally see a change. The doors at the far end of the hall open and a figure rushes through. A wizened old man in tattered clothes shuffles quickly towards you.

Thank the Deity someone finally came back! And you have a token, how lovely. He pants as he comes up to you and looks you over. How may I be of assistance? You said something about private Deity vault 3?

Now close enough to inspect you see a old human male that stands a bit above average height. His cloths are rumpled and ill fitting but look to have been high quality in their past. He stands somewhat nervously though he is trying to be formal, and keeps glancing at the door behind you with what looks to be a mix of longing and fear.

At Dree's touch the orb begins to glow and hum a moment before the pendant responds in kind. The orb then reduces in size and is appearance shifts to a simple dull brass ball that, though heavy, Dree is able to lift with a single hand. As she does this you both feel words and knowledge enter your mind in a way you never experienced before.

Thank you Along with the words you gain knowledge that you may each take one item, a tool to ais in your development, from the hall you just passed through. Along with this knowledge is the assurance that Alben will receive a reward fitting with his desires. Returning to the room you see the pedestals and other containers have a small label identifying each item.

Give me a roll with short description of how you test/examine each item (Lets just limit it to 3 each)

Serig can easily feel that all the items are magical but does not get any special reaction from the gauntlet. However you notice that the leather gauntlets do not look to be built for combat and are more like a gentleman's quality riding or cold weather gloves. Since this is a magical world I allow most magics to be easily "felt" by touch, taste, or similar senses as appropriate but it must be by contact.


The flame on the campers respite is warm and seems normal except it is not burning the staff. As you get close to examine it you notice what looks to be multiple thin ested rods embedded in it running its length from the tip to about 3/4 the way down. These look to be able to extend out. Think like an umbrella

The ball contains a variety of scents, people, metal, wood. As you sniff it a faint bit of dust makes you sneeze directly on it, however the ball does not move at all. Wow, what a great roll LoL. Good think this system doesn't do fumbles :)

Dree finds small feathers carved into the spear shaft and talons on teh spear head. She notes that while twirling it seems to swing too easily but and stable when she shifts her grip or tosses it though it unerringly lands back in her hand. When held it reacts normally.

The small foxhead charm smells faintly of soot and feels cool to the touch. As you hold it you feel a faint stirring. Not physically but, something else, as if being watched expectantly. The presence seems curious and intelligent.

The gauntlets are very sturdy and though moving does little you note that when you punch the wall you feel a slight tug as if you wanted to you coud punch harder.

The priestess informs you the trials are a means used to measure the strengths and weaknesses of the people. Though they shifted more towards combat evaluations during the Dawn War they can cover a wide range of situations either through simple puzzles, illusions, or even transporting testees to other planes. As this is the first time you will be taking the test it is unlikely that you will be in danger.

She agrees to help Alben and is obviously quite excited to see the orb. She helps you top of your supplies before you return to the Tower. Back to the tower you are quickly escorted to a side chamber by an apologetic Stanimir and glowering Mary. Stepping through ....