Mysterious Scroll in the Mansion

The temple of Daeus is a place of peace. The low murmur of voices rarely exceeds that low comforthing thrum, and Zeke walks through that peace in thoughtful contemplation. His form is easy enough to spot amid his fellow Daeusites. Both because of his height, and because of his sith-makar nature. There are simply few of the sith-makar in residence of the temple.

Today he carries no tea service with him, but rather has his claws empty of everything save a quarterstaff which he uses largely as a staff to keep himself upright. To those that examine him closely he seems perhaps a bit tired; strained. But he carries himself with more certainty than is usually seen of him.

The count of sith-makar within the temple increases by one as Un'eth enters. She would barely qualify even as an infrequent visitor, much less a resident. One of the outlying buildings may be more familiar to her than the main grounds, and some time is taken navigating this before she spies Zeke. It may be unsurprising to casual observers that he appears the one sought as she then approaches him directly.

"Peace on your nest, Sunscale."

Cesran comes in looking tired and a bit disheveled. He has some books tucked under his arms as he nods politely to the temple guards as he heads in. He looks around and spots the pair of sith-makar's before heading over towards them, "Peace on your nest." His staff nods her head and echoes the greeting, "Peace on your nest."

The blue-scaled sith-makar stops in his casual stroll as Un'eth approaches him, spotting her while she is still some distance off. He shifts his tail from side-to-side, clearly pleased to see the other sith, and nods respectfully to her once she is close enough for greeting. "Peassce on your nessst Un'eth." His words are gentle things and he seems about to say something more when they are quickly joined by one whom is only slightly known to the blue-scale. "Peassce on your nessst ass well."

Looking from one to the other, Zeke calmly shifts his tail and with some small amusement finally asks, "What bringss you both to thisss one thisss day?"

Un'eth turns to the arriving and greeting Cesran, bobbing her head in acknowledgement and return rather that adding yet another 'peace' to the pile. Looking back to Zeke, she inquires, "What of the ...man that we brought to the temple? Was knowledge gained?"

"I've come to the temple for two reasons, one to check in on Cryosanthia and see how she's doing as well as to give an update on the research that I've been doing concerning the enemy. Unfortunately it's a short update. I've traveled to all the libraries, repositories of knowledge and bookstores that I know of that might have something that could help us, but I'm afraid I've come up with nothing. Have you learned any more about our enemy?" Cesran asks.

Zeke responds to Un'eth first, shaking his head gently. "Thisss one hass not sspoken to hisss corpsse yet, and thiss one doess not believe that any-one hass made arrangementsss to have the man ressurrected. It remainsss unknown why Aya attacked him ssspecifically, and it ssseemsss ass though we might never."

He turns his head toward Cesran and blinks, his gaze growing distant. "Cryossanthia no longer resssidesss here. Ssshe hass removed hersself from thisss temple to where thisss one doesss not know. Thisss one hasss learned sssome-thing of note about our foe of rescent however. That he hasss, or at least had, in hisss posssesssion a lisst which ssseemss to bear the name of all in the Adventurerss Guild. A powerful magical artifact that thisss one hass not been able to fully figure out."

Un'eth falls quiet for a moment as she considers the response to what she asked and that which she did not. Her tail is mostly still, though the tip flicks to and fro. "To silence him... or in spite, another believes. Perhaps both... Did Cryosanthia regain her form?" Otherwise, it seems that he would not be the one to know much further.

Her eyes shift to Cesran. "The scroll is ... a strange thing." Her technical appraisal from her own investigations, of course.

Jinks has never been a particular fan of this place and has managed to avoid the interior entirely since his decade's absence. Maybe it's the lack of a proper ceiling. Maybe the quiet. Maybe he just feels a little more guilty than normal in a temple where the god (or goddess) isn't known for having a sense of humor. Regardless, he braves the foyer today with a look of mild trepidation that he wishes was internal, wrapped in an emerald suit trimmed in honey-colored braiding. His jewelry is golden and heavy with cut gems in a variety of styles. His smart little boots clop on the marble floors loud enough to make him wince and frown at his own feet.

Cesran ohs, "Is everything okay? Do you need me to find her? I have a Discern Location spell that could locate her if you think she's in danger. If it's more personal, I don't mean to pry." He rubs his chin, "Interesting a magical artifact that has the name of every member of the Adventurers' Guild. Do you know does it update itself if someone were to leave or join." He pauses, "I'm sorry did you say that Aya attacked someone? Do we know who that person is and why she would do it? Aya just doesn't attack people at random." He hears the clopping and turns towards the source. He gives a wave to Jinks.

Zeke looks at a loss for a moment and then nods to Cesran. "It isss asss you sssay... persssonal. Thisss one doesss not know for scertain? But thisss one knowss that it doesss change. Aya'sss name wasss on it and now it iss not. It ssseemss that you have not been informed but..." He heaves a sigh, seemingly preparing himself for a fight. "Aya hasss become a demon. One in sservice to Eclavdran. Ssshe attacked sssome-one whom thisss one believesss that ssshe cared for, and killed them. Ssshe isss... no longer trusst-worthy."

With Zeke's words giving more weight to the reasons offered by another for the attack, Un’eth now wonders if keeping knowledge secret was a secondary motive. Neither does she inquire further of Cryosanthia. While she could remind all that trust-worthy and mul'niessa are, by definition, mutually-exclusive, she instead turns her attention briefly to the clopping gnome.

A familiar face is a welcome thing. Jinks lifts a glittering hand and walks over, making an effort en route to ease his footfalls a tad. "Another day of happy news?" He offers dryly after catching the tail end of Zeke's commentary. A thin smile, then, to Un'eth, along with a nod. At least the sun's out and shining today.

"If you have the scroll I'd love to examine it. If it is indeed an artifact then probably disbanding the Adventurer's Guild or renaming it into something else won't render the scroll useless, artifacts are a little too smart for that kind of trickery." Cersan replies and then frowns, "That's unfortunate, well we'll just have to get Aya back then."

Zeke snorts at Jink's comment and then lowers his head somewhat at Cesran's. Yet, after a moment he seems to gather himself up. "Thiss one iss not sssure that even if ssshe could be sssaved, ssshe could be trussted." This perhaps odd comment is gently spoken and he shakes his head lightly before continuing on. "Thiss one doess have the ssscroll, but it isss dangerousss thisss one thinksss to examine it. Scertainly thisss one doess not wisssh to do ssso out in the open."

He waves a claw to the people passing by and lowers the claw again. "Thisss one could allow sssuch if you were willing to join thisss one in a more private location. In cassse the demon isss sscrying the object, or otherwisse inclined to take it back."

"Ssa," Un'eth offers dryly in return to the gnome before looking between Zeke and Cesran. "Perhaps he will something we did not." At the least, he may have new ideas on ways to poke and prod at the thing.

Jinks narrows his eyes, half a conversation behind. He looks at Cesran, then Un'eth, and finally Zeke. The past evening's misnaming straightened out in the wake of draconian peace talks and the lowering of arms. He remains silent on the topic of Aya, smoothing down his goatee even as he raises an eyebrow at the topic of scrolls.

Cesran nods, "Of course, I've been preparing the Mage's Mansion daily just incase. I can cast it whenever you are ready. Unfortunately I haven't had time to find a scroll and put it into my book to block scrying all together. I will get on it as soon as I can." He turns to Jinks, "Jinks if you want to come with us you are more then welcome. A different set of eyes would be very valuable. As for Aya, I am saddened that happened to Aya, but we can't give up hope. We have to try our hardest to defeat Eclavdran, perhaps then those that were in his service will be returned to their former selves. If not then finding a way to save Aya will be our next goal."

Zeke nods to Cesran. "At your leisssure then." He abides, and nods to the other two. "You are both welcome to join usss, but thisss one remindss you that it may be dangeroussss."

"Understanding this ...thing," Un'eth makes a small wave of her claws, "could be needed to stop the fiends. They are certainly dangerous." She is not dissuaded despite not knowing what more insight she might provide.

"Ah." Jinks finally has enough of the puzzle to sort the key points. He reaches into a coat sleeve and snaps open a handkerchief. The gnome dabs it daintily against puckered lips before polishing the coyote's head brooch. "Getting out of bed in the morning-- especially in the cursed city-- is dangerous. Let's have a laugh." He's game, apparently.

"If you have time now all I need is a small chamber where we won't be disturbed and I can form the mansion there, although I hope the Temple won't mind if I use the game for the next 40 hours or so I hate to waste a spell like that." Cesran says with a bit of a smile, "As way of repaying the temple perhaps they'd join me for a feast in the mansion." He chuckles at Jinks' words, "Isn't that the truth."

"The chamber that Cryosssanthia was usssing isss ssstill empty." Provides Zeke, who at least knows this environment well thanks to this largely being home for him. He nods once to the group, and then turns on his heel to lead the way to the small chamber that recently held the white-scaled sith. Once everyone has piled inside, he closes the door, and nods again to Cesran. "Will thisss do?"

Jinks glances up and down the space, folding the tiny cloth fastidiously before tucking it back into his sleeve. "If there's time for a sidebar on a certain giggling gnoll... I have an upcoming trip into the Stygian Empire. But it's no emergency..." Well, it is AN emergency. Just not THE emergency. One more for the pile, really.

Once they reach Cryosanthia's empty room the gnome lingers at the threshold a beat too long before stepping inside. He turns to make sure there aren't any lurking lizard assassins in the corners of the room, his hands at near his belt pouches. "How... is Lily?" The gnome finally ventures, casually.

Cesran looks around, "Oh yes this will be just fine." He takes out a miniature ivory door, a piece of polished marble, and a silver spoon, and sets them on the floor before him in a particular order. He starts to cast the spell and a shimmering doorway appears in one of the walls. The door slowly swings open, "Okay everyone in." He says as he picks up his focuses and moves to head into the door way. Inside it is a a palace made in the style of the Jade Island Merchant Princes, a warm tropical breeze drifts slowly through the main foyer. "We can use the lab. This way." He says as he leads the way up a sweeping staircase and down a hall, "Does anyone want anything to eat or drink?" He asks as one of the doors opens and Cesran turns into it so that they are in a magical laboratory. "Go ahead and put it on the table and we'll see what we can find out." "The little one is healthy, well-fed, and energetic," Un'eth offers in answer to Jinks' question as the mage casts his spell. Afterwards, she steps through the the portal and into the ... palace. She takes a long glance around before inquiring. "Are you certain that this is large and decorated enough to study a scroll?"

"Yesss, Lily isss well." Zeke's eyes grow dark briefly. "Though we ssstill do not know who or why ssomeone gave her name to Eclavdran. Nor even what the demon wanted her for." He sighs and steps through Cesran's doorway and into...

Like Un'eth the splendor of the location is... a bit much for him. A simple, small location would have served him equally well, but for all he knows... this is all Cesran can make. So he's not about to complain. Instead he follows the man through the various rooms to where Cesran leads. "Thisss one doesss not require sssussstanance." He offers, reaching into his vestments and pulling free what looks like an ordinary scroll. He sets it down and unrolls it, showing a list of some names marked with bloodstains and occasionally check marks. Zeke looks down at it seriously and then steps back to allow Cesran to look at the object.

Cesran hmms, "Well this is an extra dimensional space that makes it harder for others to scry upon it. Although it does not block it completely. Still it's what I can offer." He explains as he gets everything set up and he moves to shield his eyes from it at first just incase it's got some sort of blinding magical aura on it. His eyes all ready glowing blue from the spells he has made permanent on himself. "Now it's see what we can see."

GAME: Cesran rolls spellcraft: (3)+41: 44
GAME: Jinks casts Gallant Inspiration. Caster Level: 5 DC: 17
GAME: Jinks rolls 2d4: (5): 5
GAME: Jinks casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15
GAME: Jinks rolls Spellcraft: (15)+7: 22

"We'll suffer through, I'm sure." Jinks returns Un'eth's sarcasm with practiced ease. His lips go thin at Zeke's explanation but the offer of refreshments cannot be ignored. He stands to one side as Cesran settles in to work, holding a plate and a flute of something bubbly. He sets the plate down and moves to stand at Cesran's shoulder with the slender glass in hand, humming a lilting melody as his own, onyx-black eyes begin to glow a soft pink.

Zeke seems to be slightly uncomfortable as the pair begin their investigation of the device, but he says nothing. Keeps his thoughts to himself and then after a long silence of them stairing at it provides. "Thisss one worked with Un'eth to uncover sssome of itsss abilitiesss."

"Thanks Jinks." Cesran says as he hear the humming and can feel the bardic magic placed upon him. "Interesting, this is the most powerful scrying device I've ever come across, it makes a crystal ball, a truly magical crystal ball, look like a child's toy. I'd need to study it further and learn another spell that would help me. I think with enough study I might be able to turn this back on Eclavdran, or at least learn how it's done and create a similar scroll that could be used on him and his allies. If you want that. It's not an artifact, not yet, but it's damned near close to one. I could try to use Mage's Disjunction on it, it's definitely suppress it, but if it destroys it, there might be some consequences destroying something this powerful." He looks over to Jinks again, "What do you think?"

"It iss powerful and dangerous. It should be destroyed," Un'eth shares, though with a caveat. "After, if it can be used against the fiends. It showed more, before, than just the target. Those nearby, with colors."

Jinks takes a slow, steadying breath and licks his lips. "I think we should sell it and retire. Each to our own private islands with our every needs satisfied by countless staff and servants." He steps back and blinks away the glow from his eyes, his awe palpable. Eyes squeeze shut and he shakes his head, chasing away his base desires with some effort.

"If you have it here it does nothing to aid the Duke or his agents, yes?" The gnome looks between the three. "Perhaps he has others, though. Perhaps not exact duplicates but objects similar in purpose or design. Why not find a way to thwart it before destroying it?"

"Thisss one hasss promisssed not to dessstroy it until it can be determined if it isss capable of being ussseful againssst the one that likely created it. Malik hasss sstated that he believess that Eclavdran created it. Thusss might be tied to him in a way that might be ussseful againssst him." Zeke looks at the scroll with discomfort. "Ssso thisss one will asssk that you do not attempt to desstroy it. Thisss one can ssshow you sssome of itsss abiltiesss if you like."

Cesran hmms, "With colors like auras?" He asks curiously and he smiles at Jinks, "As tempting as the would be and as much as I'd like a bit more cash to buy a certain book, I'm afraid we might need it more." He rubs his chin as his mind is racing to organize his thoughts about this powerful magical item before them. "Please go ahead, although be careful. It might be linked to others, I doubt this is the only one he has. There is something not missing exactly, but rather something is blocking of from accessing the full power of this object. We'd need some sort of master key, especially to add and remove names from it."

Un'eth exhales a slight hiss. "We do not know what the colors mean, but they must mean something. If the fiends have more of these, they would not be hiding, or will not for long."

Jinks has no means of destroying such a thing even if he wanted to so his nod to Zeke is purely perfunctory. An acknowledgement that he'd heard the request. "What about manipulating the item? Short the key, I mean. Like how a particularly adept cutpurse might force a wand to function without arcane talent; through will alone." He sips at his drink, glancing between the trio. "Any chance you know someone with that particular ability?"

GAME: Cesran rolls will: (9)+21: 30

"Thisss one doess not know any cut-purses." Zeke offers to Jinks, but he scrolls through the list to Cesran's name, considers and pokes the name. An image of the mage resolves into existence, and Zeke pokes the image again. When the result is fuzzy nothingness he shrugs and scrolls down the list to the next person that he can think of - Jinks. He looks surprised to note that there is both a bloody splotch and a check mark next to Jink's name - which is listed as Jinks on the list - and he casts a quick look at the man before poking the list.

An image of Jinks resolves up for everyone to see, but the image doesn't move, and Zeke pokes the image and... After a moment the image resolves again into an image of /them/. All of them standing there looking at the scroll. Specifically the image seems centered on Jinks. Zeke shudders and pokes this image as well, holding his claw in place until various colors begin to shimmer around each of the people in the image. Blue and white specifically hover around Zeke.

Cesran watches Zeke work the scroll and he ahs little bit as he looks at the images as they come up, "Interesting." He moves a bit closer to look at each of the images and their colors. He moves around, "Have the colors ever repeated? For example. I am a wizard, Jinks is a bard, Zeke you are a paladin and Un'eth you are a druid yes? Did I get that right? If two paladins of the same faith stood in the same image would their auras be the same or different."

Un'eth watches the thing, also with great unease. Aside from a reflection, seeing one's self is rather discomforting. "Ssa, I am, and I do not know if that was tested. Zeke and I were present when we discovered the colors, and are now."

Jinks issues a long and heavy sigh, crossing his arms-- and then uncrossing them when he watches the image mimic the movement. "I'm going to surmise that dye, makeup, and a costume won't trick that." A rapid string of gnomish curses are uttered under his breath. "Well, nothing like walking into the lion's den announced."

A sniff and Jinks looks up from the image, done talking to himself. "I imagine the degree of aptitude for an item such as this would take us outside the realm of a common brigand. Court spies, agents of the crown." The sort of people who might be able to disappear into shadow... but that avenue is closed.

Zeke releases the image, not wishing to touch the scroll more than he has to. "Thisss one notess that the colorss ssurrounding thisss one and Un'eth are the sssame asss before. Thisss one doess not know about othersss." He shifts his feet uncomfortably. "Thisss one hass not usssed the device very much. Lessst thisss one draw attention by itsss ussse." Admittedly, he was taking a decent amount of risk now, but he hoped that it was worth it. "Thisss one alssso, iss not a paladin, and the colorsss do not ssseem to be.... Cassste-related."

GAME: Cesran rolls wisdom +2: (1)+2+2: 5 (EPIC FAIL)

Cesran hmms as he continues to study the images and ohs, "Sorry I thought you were Zeke. Cleric then? I heard Sunscale and thought Sunblade, although I suppose it could easily have been Sunguard." He rubs his chin more, "I'm missing something and it could just be that I'm tired from researching. I do like Jinks' idea of trying to manipulate the item, but I would warn that given how powerful this item is it might have countermeasures should you try and fail. I myself have never been adept at tricking magical items, more the carefully research type." He says as if it wasn't obvious.

Un'eth eyes Cesran askew. "Ssa, there has been much confusion as to who is Zeke and who is not Zeke..."

Jinks actually laughs a little at that. "Well, good luck with it and... well, I appreciate my privacy." The gnome narrows his eyes at the scroll and then drains his glass, setting it down for whatever invisible house staff a magic mansion likely employs. "I'll see myself out."

Zeke wipes the image from the scroll, so that the view of Jinks disappears and the scroll returns to itself. A bloodstained list. The sith looks at it a moment and then at Cesran questioningly. "Do you have any further ussse of it? Thisss one doess not like to leave it out for long."

Cesran shakes his head, "No until I get further spells I am all set. I've seen what it can do and now I'll hit the libraries again tomorrow to see if I can dig up any more information about it as well as seeing if I can't purchase some scrolls. I needed to head to Rune anyway to pick up some spell components. I'll let you know when I'm ready to try again. For now let's see if anyone else in the temple wants some dinner, can't let a nine-course meal for 240 people go to waste."

Zeke looks at Cesran, then chuffs low in his throat, tail swishing back and forth. "Thisss one thinksss that the Temple will than you for your donation thiss day. There are alwayss hungry mouths to feed in sssuch plasscess." He seems amused now, and he will follow the mage so that they can distribute the food to those in need of it.

Thankfully they have some unseen servants to assist them.

-End