"Maybe you should try talking to it again," Alalla says to Zenithral. "I have paper and styluses in my pack."
The Severed Hand
Be sure to read and follow the guidelines for our forums.
"Maybe you should try talking to it again," Alalla says to Zenithral. "I have paper and styluses in my pack."
He nods at Alalla. "I'm not sure if it's dextrous enough to wield a writing utensil. Might slip out of its fingers, but it's worth a try."
Taking the supplies, he writes in elvish.
I am Zenithral, grandson of Arannis. What is your name?
He places the stylus on the paper and slides it under the side of the doorway for the Collector to see.
This violent outburst leads to a sullen silence. A moment later, the paper is shoved back under the door, followed by a broken stylus. The paper is marked by a large tear, but folding it smooth the group can read a half-finished word.
Leth
With a minir Illusion, Fergy makes the image of a very cute bunny that keeps scaring itself with it's own rainbowed farts.
He casts message towards the Collector. "Are you Lethias, Arannis' brother? One tap for no. Two taps for yes. Three taps if it's more complicated."
The collector stands there in the doorway, helmet swiveling to look from one of the heroes to the next. It half-turns away, then reaches one arm around its back and starts removing bodies from the spikes on its back. About four corpses in it pulls free the body of an elven warrior. Despite the centuries that have doubtless passed since his death, this one is somehow still recognizable as Lethias. The corpse collector shakes the body as if in emphasis, then shoves it back onto the spikes. This done, it goes about returning the other bodies to their respective places.
After a half a dozen paces, it stops and waits.
Cant blame that one on this awful tower.
The halls are eerily silent, aside from the discomforting sounds made by the collector. The companions can't help but remember the way the seer had disappeared into the floor, and each of them thinks they feel twisted eyes on them as they keep walking the dark passageways.
Time is hard to judge in this place, but after perhaps a quarter hour of meandering, the collector brings them to an ascending staircase. The armored hulk halts, then puts a finger spike to use on one of the walls and etches a symbol onto its surface.
The collector stands completely motionless, though one of the bodies lets out dry moan. It doesn't show any sign of wanting to continue up the stairs.
With a minor Illusion Fergy draws a copy of the symbol next to it, then below them a nose, and a big smile. It looks kinda funny, but Fergy tries not to cramp the Collector's style.
"Keep up the dream big guy, we'll make an artist out of you yet."
As the heroes climb the stairs, they find themselves wondering what went wrong in this place... and what horrors yet await them.
At the top of this stairway they find a spacious room that Zenithral recognizes. This is where he and his father shared their last words, where Erestor ran his son through and then was struck dead by a spell of frightful power. There is no sign of Erestor's body.
The chamber is not empty, however. The presence is more felt than seen, but the companions do notice shining eyes peer at them from the shadows in the corners - but whenever the party draws close with a light source, the eyes instantly flit to another shadow in the room.
There are five more staircases leading up, one to each of the towers. One of them is blocked off by rubble, the tower above it destroyed on Zenithral's visit yesterday. Above this ruined staircase is an engraved symbol of a full moon. Each of the other staircases also have a sign above them: an arrow, a sunrise, a broken arrow over a tear, and a quarter moon.
Any attempt to locate the speaker results in a violent, ripping hum as it moves from one shadow to another.
"Larrel has been driven mad, and will slay any who attempt to speak with him."
From one shadow, from all of them, eyes glare at the companions. One pair, or dozens of pairs... it is impossible to say.
"Why do you seek out the archwizard?"
His eyes dart around and he hesitates for a moment. "It involves an artifact called the Heartstone Gem."
For a moment there is only silence, and the companions wonder if their conversation with this voice is over. But then, suddenly, it speaks out again.
"I may have the means of providing Larrel with clarity... if you do something for me." The eyes stare, round orbs that reflect the party's light. "In Shevarash Tower dwell what remains of the Hand's defenders. They would have preferred to die in battle than remain as they are. Grant them a warrior's end, then I will help you speak with Larrel."
The voice dissolves into incoherent grumblings.