Session 42, part 2

The team finally finishes the last leg of their journey, arriving at the Mages’ Academy.

06/29/08

Players: Gante (Jon), Epona (Elizabeth), Kerwyn (Will), and Glod (Adam F)

2nd of Summer’s End

After an hour on the road, the team comes across a sign, marking out various destinations: It points back to Seaside, with an accompanying sign for Seerand. Ahead, it points to the Mages’ Academy and Northern Mediterra, with a separate direction to Port Tida and Dresdale. Following the path northward, Gante stops for a moment.

“We’re being scryed on.”

Kerywn looks at him. “And… what exactly does that mean?”

“Someone’s watching us from somewhere, though I have no idea where…”

The team grows a bit uneasy, but cautiously continues.

———————-

“Okay I’ve got him. There’s a few others with him… Looks like there’s a cleric, and a rather untrustworthy looking man…”

“Yeah, that’s them. Where are they?”

“Hold on, there’s a sign ahead… Got it, they’re at the crossroads about a day south of the Academy.”

“That’s farther than I would’ve suspected, but it works for me.”

Bellamin shakes his head a bit to shift his focus from the team hundreds of miles away. “You all set, then?”

“Ready to go.”

“Good luck, then. Quoth, keep an eye on him, will ya?”

“Thanks for the teleport, I hope I’ve been helpful. Keep me informed of the progress, eh?”

“More than you can imagine. I’ll do it, as much as I can.” After a few short words, the room disappears with little more than a pop.

———————-

The team is startled by the sudden appearance of Glod the gnome, who had just materialized about twenty feet in front of them. With a sigh of relief, the team sheathes their weapons. A bit disoriented from suddenly appearing here, Glod carefully makes his way over and explains things.

“I ran into my old professor, Bellamin, and had to go help him with something.  I told Quoth to tell you all I’d be gone for a while.  You did tell them, didn’t you Quoth?”

The raven is silent. Glod shakes his head, muttering something along the lines of “birdbrain” under his breath.

Gante, somewhat hopefully, asks “you weren’t the one scrying on us, were you?”

“Bellamin was. He had to figure out where you were before he could ‘port me in.”

“Ah. Good then. One less thing to worry about.”

Gante fills in Glod on what they’d been through during their travels. Glod seems a bit disappointed that he never met Dorban, especially after spending so much time trying to solve the puzzle box.

It gets darker and darker, and the plains turn orange as the sky mixes purple and red. The team picks a spot just off the road to set up camp. They decide on the order for taking watch. Gante takes first shift, and the others get some sleep.

3rd of Summer’s End

In the morning, they continue on the road to the north, coming across another sign: “Mages’ Academy ahead, all others follow road to Northern Mediterra.”

The team takes a moment to decide where they head next, eventually deciding to visit the Mages’ Academy first, then to check out Farren later.

The mountains ahead grow closer with each passing mile. Finally the road begins to steepen as they make their way into the foothills. The road becomes a valley among some of the small peaks, isolating the path from the plains behind them. Ahead, a sign indicates the split, and has the same message as the last one. The right path leads to Northern Mediterra, and the left leads to the Mages’ Academy.

Kerwyn is somewhat concerned by the signs. “Think they’re trying to send a message?”

“Well, the Academy does usually keep some sort of guardian on the road to keep out traveling salesmen and cultists… There was one when I studied there. Never had any problems with it, they let mages and students past.”

“And what about us?”

“Well, I still have my school ID,” Glod says, pulling an old amulet from his pack. “I guess we’ll see if they let me take visitors…”

Around the corner, a 30 by 30 foot square of cobblestone marks the start of a large staircase leading up a mountainside. Each corner of the small plaza has a gargoyle standing motionless on a pedestal. At the top of the staircase, about 300 feet ahead, a single tower stands, only about 40 feet tall.

Glod walks into the square, holding up his amulet. “Um… these people are my guests?”

The gargoyles don’t move, or in any way acknowledge the statement. Quoth shifts uncomfortably on Glod’s shoulders, having never actually seen living creatures so still. Cautiously, the others enter the small pavilion, and the gargoyles remain motionless.

“So far so good. The Academy’s right up the stairs.”

As the team reaches about halfway up, there’s some rumbling from the rocks nearby. Glod looks around. “That’s… different.”

A large clay-like creature emerges from the mountainside and slowly hulks over to the team. It makes no vocal sounds, but seems unfriendly.

“Not really familiar with this particular golem…” It draws nearer, but stops, looking at the amulet on Glod. It bows and turns, moving back to the same pile of rocks.

They make their way up to the top of the stairs, where a ten foot landing separates the stairs from a pair of large doors. A small window is set in one door. Glod knocks on the door and looks up at the window. It pops open as a man pokes his face through. “Yes, yes, just a minute.” He looks at each person for a moment, then turns to Glod. “Guests, then?”

“Yes, we’re here to inquire about an artifact we found a while back,” Glod says.

Kerwyn mentions “if I may, Marlak is the one who is studying it, I believe.”

“Yes, I s- Oh… I see. Right then. Just a moment.”

He disappears from view, and they hear footsteps trailing off, fairly briskly. After almost a minute, the door opens. The man holds it open, and they see the inside of the tower in front of them. On the other side is another door. “Come in, come in.”

Their footsteps echo in the tall tower, which is completely empty, all the way to the top. The man is somewhat apologetic. “Sorry about the wait, we’ve been expecting someone to come asking for Marlak for what seems like weeks now.”

He grabs the handle for the opposite door and pulls it open. “Student and guests, welcome to the Mages’ Academy,” he says, as the sounds of students fill the air.

In front of them, a massive courtyard of wizards spans out for hundreds of yards. Towers dot tall stone walls on either side, fencing in the area, which is more like a town than a school in appearance. Most eyecatching is the tower that is actually floating hundreds of feet above the center of the Academy, tethered to the ground by large chains, connecting each tower. At its top, a large crystalline object shines, with beams flashing at it from several directions.