Session 47, part 2

The team’s second time in the Tower of Silence proves much more successful.

08/03/08

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

6th of Summer’s End

Early in the morning, the merchants move on. The adventurers bid them farewell.

The party moves back on to the old trail towards the Tower of Silence. After about an hour of traveling, they run across the remains of the griffon they had defeated two days back. Knowing the Tower can’t be far off, they prepare the robes they had brought. Gante and Kerwyn put them on, while Epona and Glod wait on the path. The two walk down towards the Tower, keeping a sharp eye out for anyone in the area. Once they’re sure the coast is clear, they wave along the others. Glod creates illusory robes on them, and they follow.

They walk towards the structure, and are submerged in the same dead silence as before. Entering the large central tower, they try not to draw attention to themselves as they decide which way to go. They travel through the towers, which become labyrinthine as they move on. Occasionally they pass other hooded figures, but luckily don’t seem to draw attention. Many of the towers have the same layout: a staircase wraps around the inside walls, with hallways leading out in many directions. Most hallways end at the landings on the stairs. The bottom of each tower has a few more exits.

The team approaches the end of one hall, finding themselves on a landing. They see one of the hooded figures slowly walking down. To avoid suspicion, they head down the stairs themselves, unsure if the figure is still following them on the stairs. Hoping everything goes well, the team tries to remain calm, hoping to avoid a repeat of their last time here. As they make it to the bottom of the stairs, they see three hooded figures are standing around what appears to be a table with a man lying on it. They exit through the nearest hallway, not waiting to see what happens.

Continuing through the silent towers, they find more of the tables, each with an unconscious man on it. They find each table to have a small group around it, so they never have the opportunity to examine them. In one tower, they find such a table with no man on it, nor any hooded figures around. The team walks forward to investigate. Several instruments like knives lie around it. The table is stained with red patches, and some kind of flask is sitting on the corner. Kerwyn takes a look at the flask. It has some kind of residue in the bottom, which he can’t immediately identify. He decides to leave it as the team moves on.

For a few minutes, the team follows a pair of figures, but eventually decide to take their own path to avoid attention. One hall leads east to an unusual tower. This one leads down, but no hallways extend from the lower level. Up the stairs, there are two landings. Before entering this tower, they see a figure pass by, heading down the stairs. He passes by, giving the team a chance to look down into the tower. They see some twenty men, each chained to the walls by manacles. They are mostly motionless, though they can’t tell if any are dead. Kerwyn steps out on to the landing and pulls out his sap. He points to it and mimes a swinging motion while pointing at the one who passed by. Gante nods and extends his arms, mouthing “after you.”

With an inaudible thud, Kerwyn gives the figure a well-placed hit to the back of the hood. He drops silently and tumbles down the last two steps. Gante takes his robe, while Kerwyn examines the area. There’s a single chain circling the wall, attached at intervals to the rock wall. Gante gets his manacles and tethers the man to the chain. Kerwyn examines the men who are chained to the wall. There, beneath the stairs, he sees their wizard friend, tired and weakened. He seems unconscious. Gante heads over and lays hands on the man, healing him of his bruises. Inside the robe, Kerwyn finds a hidden pocket containing a key. He unlocks Marlak from the wall and places the robe on him, hoping to sneak him out.

Marlak is awake, but seems to be on the brink on unconsciousness. His eyes are very lazily drifting around, not at all focusing on anything. Gante picks him up, and the team heads up the stairs. Luckily, they see no one around. Taking one of the hallways leading south, they find themselves back in the first tower. They quickly get up the stairs and get through the door. The sunlight is a welcome sight. After passing over the bridge, the team hears sounds once again.

They lay Marlak against one of the rock formations and sit him up. He appears disoriented at best, and unaware of his surroundings.

“Marlak, it’s Gante, from Kendra. Do you remember us?”

He doesn’t respond.

“Hold on, maybe I can get to the bottom of this.” Epona casts detect magic. She sense a spell over the wizard, but can’t tell exactly what it is. “Though I have a spell that may help.”

Marlak is bathed in a holy light. His eyes somewhat focus, but still seems barely conscious.

Epona casts the spell again, with Gante doing the same. They see an improvement in Marlak’s condition. Marlak’s eyes become solidly focused, and he seems to finally become aware.

“Wh- where are we…” he manages. His voice is slow and somewhat slurred.

“We just rescued you from the Tower of Silence. We’re on the road away from it.”

“You musn’t…” He pauses for a moment, breathing heavily. “The Chancellor… can’t trust… don’t trust him… not now…”

“We know, we know, the artifact must be controlling him now.”

He puts one hand to his forehead, resting his head for a moment while Epona casts her spell once more.

“No, he just…” He clears his throat. “It’s not that. The artifacts have power, but don’t control people…”

“So he’s just on a power trip all on his own, perhaps looking for the other artifacts?” Gante asks.

“I don’t know entirely… but the Academy is no longer a safe place.”

“Well, can you walk? We need to get somewhere safer,” Gante says.

“Yes, I should…” He takes a moment to get to his feet.

“Do you have any clue what kind of spell has been affecting you?” Gante asks.

“I don’t. I remember meeting with the Chancellor, and… I vaguely remember traveling to the tower, but nothing more.”

“Well, you just rest now, can you walk on your own power, or do you need some help?”

“I normally prefer using a cane, but I can make without.”

“Well, we should try and get moving before anyone tries to catch up with us,” Kerwyn says.

Epona uses a stone shaping spell create a crude cane, hopefully helping Marlak for the traveling ahead.

“We’ll head for Grandi from here. It seems it’s the closest town,” Kerwyn says. “From there, I’m not sure.”