The silver bubble washes over you two, enshrouding you within a bubble of silver (Ulmwin, your magic sense is spiking with Conjuration magics). The front edge of the bubble rushes towards you, slipping past your faces and shrinking behind your backs, as you find yourselves no longer standing in front of a tower door in the middle of desert. The room is circular, the stone walls set with bookshelves crammed with books and scrolls, a catwalk making a second level of shelving accessible, some workbenches strewn with various apparatuses and items, some in various states of disassembly. To your left is a wooden door in the curved wall, and a small sitting area to the right. The ceiling is high, and constructed of a burnished bronze dome, partially open on the side farthest from you, the stars of the night sky peeking through. ((Ulmwin's magic sense is going off the charts, it's almost blinding, and the initial inrush of input is too much to be able to parse.))
The center of the room is what immediately catches your notice however, as there is a massive device on a large, raised stone column, with a wide, tapered bronze tube pointed through the opening in the ceiling, a circular metal staircase leading up to it.
((I'll take an INT check from both of you.))
The tube in nestled into a cradle among gears and glowing bits, and until you hear the creaky voice speak up, you don't notice the wizened figure cradled in a oversized chair near the narrow end of the tube. A gnarled old hand reaches out and grasps a glowing sphere set into the apparatus, and he seems to twist or rub it, as he does so, the central pillar and the domed ceiling rotate together, allowing him to view another part of the sky, and giving you a better view of him. He's short, wrinkled and very old, a puff of white hair and beard surrounding his face. A pair of spectacles rest on his large nose. He pulls another lever, twists a knob, and rotates his hand on another glowing sphere, and the tube raises higher. The whole of his attention seems to be on the narrow end of the tube, he keeps peering into and consulting one or more of the tomes arrayed around him on various slanted desktops. A floating mage hand holds a quill to one side, occasionally dipping into an inkwell and jotting notes in another book to the side.
"If you're done gawking, move out of the circle, ehhh, you don't want to be there when the others arrive.", the figure says in a querulous tone.
Looking down, you see that there is a half circle inscribed and inlaid on the floor, and behind you, a half of a bronze sphere set into the wall at about the height of Randy's chest.
"Yeh 'ungry? Thirsty? Fergus... Fergus!"
There is no answer.
"FERGUS, confound yeh, we've got guests!"
In the sitting area, a platter of scones floats off the sideboard to land on the central table, and a burner ignites under a tea kettle.
" 'Ave a seat, I'm busy at he moment. We can speak once the others do get here."
Ulmwin winces a bit at first, shutting his eyes at the sudden brightness and variation of magic, squinting as he slowly opens his eyes again, only then managing to get a proper look around, his face turning to one of astonishment- Both at the sheer volume of books along the walls, and the strange apparatus standing on the column. It reminds him of some of the creations of the more tinkerish of his folk back home, though none of them had made anything at this scale before- Still, it might prove familiar enough that he recognizes what it's supposed to be.
Intelligence: 1D20+2 = [12]+2 = 14
Finally, he's snapped out of it as the figure speaks, and after giving the circle a glance, quickly takes a couple steps forward until he's safely out of it... Speaking up.
"Gladly, assuming they come soon... I've little doubt that they're intent on something, they wouldn't just leave us behind in a manner of speaking- Though I presume things might have looked rather odd from outside, and after a trick like that I'm not certain if they'll try to follow or do something else..." Ulmwin admits, perhaps a bit sheepishly. For a moment he considers simply silently obeying the wizards wishes, and sitting down and enjoying the offered tea, lest the wizard has them go back outside to say all is alright before returning. But, curiosity seems to take the better of him.
"Food and drink... We've kept on rations admittedly, but they've gotten a bit stale- I wouldn't mind some proper refreshment, I'll admit. But I'm more curious about this place; what are all these books? And were you expecting us, sir..?" he says, trailing off, awaiting a hopeful answer and name. Randy must already regret having allowed the gnome to tag along, seeing how he was not compliantly going along and causing a potential bit of ruckus.
intelligence: 1d20+1 = [9] = 10
Randy may not recognize the purpose of the device the old man is using, but he clearly recognizes a magic circle. He obligingly scoots out of it and makes sure Ulmwin does the same.
He responds cautiously to the offer of refreshments. "Food and drink does sound good to us, sir. Were you specifically expecting us? And, if you don't mind me asking, who are you?"
Randy does call Ily over to him and allows the little ferret to perch on his shoulder. "Just stay there, Ily." He gives him a scratch behind the ears.
Ily scurries up to Randy's shoulder and gratefully takes the scratching.
((Randy catches a hint of something similar to a spyglass, while Ulmwin recognized it as a glass specifically build for observing night sky.))
"What? Expecting yeh... somewhat. Ah'm Kreldoran, the rest it can wait. Fergus can get yeh what yeh do want in the meantime."
He goes back to his observations. An empty mug is floated in front of each of you, and a tray with a few glass jars containing various teas is presented by "Fergus" for you to make a selection from.
Ulmwin nods, inspecting the tray for a moment, eventually seeming to pick out something that seems appealing, and soon finds himself enjoying something else than well-water for the first in a long time. He goes to sit down for now, relaxing a bit, though a bit anxious about whatever might be going on outside.
"Pleasure to meet you then, Kreldoran. If need be, I could quickly hop outside again, and get the others to come in..?"
Ulmwin picks a tea, and "Fergus" floats a spoonful into the mug, followed by the kettle floating over and pouring into the mug. The tea is of moderate strength, and delightfully aromatic.
"They'll be along shortly, I can't take the time to change it right now."
He resumes excited muttering and note taking, the device being occasionally rotated as needed.
"Fergus" lifts the tray of scones towards Ulmwin after his tea is properly steeped.
Randy picks a black tea with bergamot ((Earl Grey- hot!
)) with a nod of appreciation and casually browses the book titles.
Randy gets his tea as well, and wanders the stacks. Kreldoran glances in his direction, and either decides Randy seems to be respecting his books enough to be allowed to roam, or just that it isn't worth the effort and time to scold him.
Many of the spines don't have titles, but they all do have a few dwarven runes at the bottom, but not seeming to spell out whole words.
Of those with visible titles, Randy notices:
"Goblinoid Races and Gods: A Study of Disparate Societies"
"A History of the Illithid Diaspora"
"Whimsical Creatures and Where They Might Be Located"
"On the Nature of Celestial Beings"
"An Anatomical Study of Dragonborn"
"Oozes, Molds, and Goos"
Randy helps himself to a scone.
"This is an impressive library that you have. I've noticed that several of the titles have a historical bent?"
He absently waves a hand in your direction, shushing you before turning his focus back to his work.
Ulmwin almost seems to lick his lips as he investigates the different scones, grabbing a good couple of them... Maybe even a couple too many, meaning the others would have to be a bit less picky on what they'd like once they arrived. He scarves down one or two, then is a bit more gentle with them... As his appetite is sated, finally his own curiosity returns to the books, and he joins Randy to respectfully inspect the books, seeming to have an interest in them... He opens his own mouth, intent on asking if he'd be allowed to peruse them- And shuts it when he's hushed. He could wait a little while, he supposes, instead continuing to "bookgaze" from a distance and pick out topics that appeared interesting... Which, being a bard, meant mostly history, because from that stories could be made.
Randy continues to look at titles. "I don't suppose you have any works about the All Mother, do you?"
Ulmwin turns to Randy for a moment, considering mentioning that perhaps the old man ought to take the stories Randy could tell about that subject with a grain of salt, given the apparent source of them... He keeps his tongue though.
"Would you kindly SHUT UP?! Fergus, give this one a scone to occupy his yammering gob."
The tray of scones bobs in Randy's direction as the old fellow turns back to his work, muttering audibly under his breath about the impatience of youth.
"How about you let the man work for now, eh? Take some scones, they're alright." ulmwin says, sitting down, a bit worried what the ones outside would try and do…
Randy quietly sighs, takes a scone. He finds a seat and quietly begins polishing his gear.
Ulmwin sets himself down as well, though continues examining everything from his seat... Eventually he addresses Randy with a lower tone than he usually holds, figuring the man is mostly too busy to reply, rather than desiring silence.
"I recognize that apparatus up there- It's to watch the stars. Well, I recognize it as a much bigger version of one back from my home village that is. I'm placing bets on it's somehow linked to the tower we came from, and he's tracking something in the sky... Would explain why he can't be interrupted until that's done."
He's just wandering, mostly. He would see if he can see the starry sky from their current position, and if it's the same as the one outside, assuming he can get a good angle. (Testing his hypothesis) Otherwise he's mostly perusing books, mainly looking for any interesting history of potential stories he's not yet heard before. He makes sure to stay a good distance away from the wizard, in each case.
intelligence: 1D20+1 = [20]+1 = 21
(Randy feels the caffeine coursing through his veins, revving up his heart, surging into his brain. He is ready to conquer the world!
)
Randy looks appreciatively at his cup. "Good tea."
Ulmwin can make out familiar stars, and wagers there is a good chance that the top of the tower that they are now in is in the same location that they entered in the desert.
There are definitely historical works, a few that are familiar, and others he's never heard of.
Randy realizes that the Dwarven runes are part of a cataloging system, and he's probably able to work out the basics of how it's set up, given enough time.
((Investigation with advantage?))
investigation advantage: 2D20.HIGH(1)+1 = [6, 6]+1 = 7
Randy overcaffeinated and now has the attention span of concussed squirrel.
He's too wrapped up in jitterily figuring out the organization system to find any religious texts, and then Maji shows up.
Maji, as the knocker falls the silver bubble swells outward, encompassing you, but just as quickly, the inner surface of the bubble rushes towards you, and when it passes, you find yourself standing in a large circular room, the center of which is dominated by a large bronze tube pointed at a gap in the domed ceiling and surrounded by assorted gizmos. In a large chair at the narrow end of the tapered bronze tube perches a wizened old man, a wild puff of white hair surrounding him as he busily peers at various instruments around him, and consults and scribbles in various books arrayed around him. He pays you no mind.
The walls of the room are covered in workbenches and bookshelves in two levels, and you spot Randy and Ulmwin wandering among them, who both notice your arrival and look in your direction.
As you wonder just what you've gotten yourself into, a tray of scones floats in your direction...
Maji goes over to Randy, avoiding the floating scones. He's not sure what to think of them nor this tower.,He writes to Randy Are you okay? What happened?
The tray of scones follows Maji over to Randy.
Randy helps himself to another scone (since he temporarily has the metabolism of a hummingbird ). "What happened? Same thing that happened to you, I would guess. We knocked and now we're here. Our 'host' has been busy and kept us feed with tea and scones (Be careful about the black tea with bergamot . It's quite strong.) while he's waiting for the rest of us to arrive. Apparently has something he needs to tell us, but only wants to take the time to do it once."
Has he said anything as to why this tower? Why teleport us? Maji looks a bit interested when Randy says the tea is strong and he carefully picks up the tea and sniffs it before sipping it slightly.
The scone tray is set down, on a side table, and another tray with a mug, kettle on hot water and some jars with a selection of dried teas is brought. Once Maji finds one he approves of, a spoon transfers some leaves into the mug, and hot water is poured.
It is bracingly strong, but as pleasant a tea as he's had.
Randy shrugs. "He just shushes us when we try to talk to him. He said he'll explain when we're all here."
He switches to an herbal tea with mint this time.
Ulmwin nods.
"Yes, best to just enjoy the scones and such for now... How are the others doing outside?"
Worried. Tess plan wait an hour.
Maji looks at the man and writes a note for him. May take a while. Worried about us. Don't know what is going on. He goes over to him and gently pokes him so he can see the note.
As Maji heads towards the circular stair to climb up to where the man is perched in his chair atop the pedestal, the tea kettle and a scone bob through the air, getting around in front of him and obstructing his path. If he tries to go left, they move to his left, if he tries to go right, them move to the right. The scone wafts closer to his mouth.
Randy motions Maj back. "Best just wait, Maj. He seems to be studying something that won't wait. Also it's probably worthwhile to avoid aggravating someone capable of summoning a tower to the middle of nowhere and transporting us via magic."
Maji looks irritated at the kettle and scones and forces them away from him. He frowns at what Randy says, looking a bit annoyed. He writes Any way out?
As long as he is no longer trying to climb up the stairs, the kettle and scone drift back and wait.
Randy shrugs again and gestures to the old man. "He says he can reverse the spell to take us back, but that he doesn't want to take the time to do so until he's done talking to us. In the meantime..." He gestures to the books. "I believe this is his personal library. There seems to be a cataloguing system here, but I haven't quite figured it out yet. He decided to use Dwarvish as his base catalogue system, and written Dwarvish can be devilish tricky to interpret without context." He raises his voice's volume just a little bit, so the old man could overhear him, if he chooses to.
"I haven't quite had the nerve to ask permission to look at the books while waiting, since our host is apparently needing to concentrate on his task."
Maji frowns and sighs. He goes over to the bookshelf and touches a book. He looks at the old man reaction. Assuming there isn't any he pulls it out briefly to look at the cover and title.
The book seems to be in a language that Maji doesn't recognize.
Seeing as the old man doesn't seem to react to Maj looking, Randy decides it may be all right, as long as he treats his fellow bibliophile's property carefully.
"Fergus, do you have any light gloves? I'd rather not risk getting the books dirty. "
"Fergus" doesn't bring you any gloves, though a towel is lifted and folded near a washbasin and pitcher by the sitting area.
Randy takes the hint and washes up and drys his hands thoroughly before helping himself to a book . He's looking to see if he can 1) just find something interesting, 2) develop enough context to figure out the catalogue system he's using.
investigation advantage: 2D20.HIGH(1)+1 = [16, 15]+1 = 17
((Tea is wearing off some. ))
Maji, uninterested in the book, puts it back and goes to search for one he can read.
Invest: 1D20-1 = [3]-1 = 2
Ulmwin ignores the towel and water for now, focusing on his ritual... If the others are gonna wait an hour before trying anything, he's got the time. Once he's finished casting comprehend languages however, he'll first scrub his hands, dry off, before moving to investigate the books. First using his comprehension to try and figure out the sorting system, before he'd satisfy himself with some manner of history book he's not yet heard about- He's had a hunching it would mostly be technical stuff, but that doesn't mean a story could not potentially be woven from it...
Maji goes wandering about, but none of the books he pulls from the shelves are in languages he understands, and a few are even locked with a clasp on the front.
Ulmwin completes his ritual, and begins picking up books to check them out, now that he can understand them. Besides the Common and Gnomish works he'd already recognized, he finds books in at least a dozen other languages. You suspect he makes use of a magical item, or the same spell you do to be able to read all these... surely someone couldn't be fluent in all of them? Though, he does look quite ancient...
Randy, operating on a hunch based on what he is able to understand of the organizing system, wanders the stacks until he finds a section dealing with other Planes. There are books various other Planes, though based on the lettering, many are written in languages native to that plane. You do find a book in Common entitled "On Traversing the Planes: A Fool's Account of Ill Advised Travel", one in Draconic that is untitled, but seems to be filled with musings on the various connections that exist, or can be made to exist, between the planes.
Randy takes both texts over to seat where the light is good and starts rapidly skimming the text for information, trying to get a better feel for the various planes and maybe clues for finding gates. He occasionally sips some tea from his cup, but otherwise is not making any noise except the turning of pages.
Ulmwin, deciding he wants to spend his time "usefully", eventually picks out a topic on history he's seldom heard about- Hoping that by skimming pages, he might be able to craft a wortwhile story out of it, and if not, learn something useful.
The "Fool's Account" is a rather self deprecating first person account of adventures to different planes. As you skim, reading a few passages here and there, you note the writing is humorous, and it's a bit difficult to tell where real information leaves off, and embellishment and yarn spinning begins.
The other book has a few interesting bits you notice at a quick read, the author hypothsizes that while the Feywild and Shadowfell mirror the Material Plane, crossings between them are more likely to form (either naturally or via magic) in those places where the reflections are most similar. They suggest that such natural places would be best formed near old, natural features, an that 'civilization' and the alteration to the landscape that it brings may make such crossings less likely.
Maji looks bored as he not found any books he could read. He wanders around, looking for exits or anyway out of the room.
The place where you arrived has a half circle inscribed on the floor, ending at the wall where a bronze hemisphere is embedded.
Maji goes to the bronze hemisphere and tries to make it open/take it off, thinking it's a way to escape.
"I'd not touch that...", the old fellow says without looking in your direction, still intent on his observations.
Maji turns his head to look at the man, tilting his head. He writes out 'Why' on his board in large letters and tries to make the man see it.
He spares you a scowl, but otherwise ignores you.
Maji frowns and tals on his board loudly to get his attention and points to the question.
He grumpily waves a dismissive hand in your direction, and keeps scribbling notes while consulting his tomes.
"It's some kind of magic Maji, leave it be- If the guy meant bad we'd already be in trouble, yeah? Come and eat a scone for a while, the others will probably get here in a hour, then... I can help you find a book in draconic if you'd like."
After a prolonged wait, the little old man closes up his books, mage hand cleaning and setting the quill down.
He turns to address you. "Does the familiar leaving mean the others do be joining us, or am I still needing to send one of you down?", he gestures to the chair that Ily had been occupying until just recently.
Ulmwin only now looks up from his book, realizing Ily has disappeared. "Ah, I presume it should mean they'll come soon..? Lass seems to have a way to commune with it, so it can probably relay we all seem unharmed."
Randy nods an affirmative. "Tess should be able to see what Ily saw. Pretty sure she'll figure out that if we're drinking tea and eating scones, it's probably safe to come on up." He shrugs. "Can't blame them for being cautious. We've had a bit of a rough trip so far."
"Yes, yes, I'm well acquainted with how familiar's work.", he grumps.
Randy raises an eyebrow, and sips his tea. "You did ask."
Maji sighs and walks away from the hemisphere. Maji goes over to Ulmwin after he said he'd find a book in draconic.
He merely shrugs at the man's question.
"Ah, wel... ah brummprmph.", he blusters in the self important, but nonsensical way that only old codgers can. "They we'll wait a bit more. Fergus, bring me some tea, the black!"
The tea service bustles about, and soon a mug bobs its way to the old fellow as he descends the pillar and joins you in the sitting area, claiming the most well worn chair in the bunch. As he comes closer, it becomes apparent that he is the oldest, most shriveled up old dwarf that any of you have seen, his mane of beard sticking out at all angles as he mutters and peers at you through spectacles perched atop a once broken nose. A frill of whispy white hair starts a third of the way back on his head, and has likely not been frequently visited by a comb.
"I'd be surprised if there was much you don't know sir, if these books were written all by yourself." Ulmwin asks, both as an inquiry, and some lightly veiled compliment.
He snorts into his tea, "Hmmm, yes, well that may be, but I didn't. Write them, that is. A full third of these authors barely knew what they were talking about, and spend half the tome bumbling their way through their ignorance."
He *might* have been flattered? If he is, he doesn't seem the sort to take it all that well, and it kind of comes off as grumpy and blustery.
"A well versed scholar then." Randy gestures to the device. "Is your specialty the stars? Are you an astronomer then, or an astrologer, or both?"
Maji taps on Ulmwin's shoulder and motions twoards the books.
"Aye, stars and other things that cross the sky at night. Those street corner charlatans give things a bad reputation, but with the proper application of science and magic, one can learn all sorts of things."
A silver hemisphere bubbles out of the wall behind you.
"Ah, more arrivals. Fergus, get more water going."
As the bubble shrinks back into the wall, Tess is standing there, and quickly steps forward, glancing back and forth between you, the old fellow, and the portion of floor she arrived in. Shortly after, another bubble deposits Holger, Coljin, and Dornikal into the room as well.