Log:The Rock of Death, Part 3

The Rock of Death 2020/09/24 Arthur Sasha

3

Arthur gets alerted by Sasha about the spell. "What? Oh, uh!" He looks about and starts to scramble to get down.

The gold and porcelain masked Sasha tilts his head to one side for a moment as the Tso-Neogi approaches then murmurs in an unknown tongue. The spell of comprehnsion that appreantly permeates the Rock renders his words as, "By all its myriad names, Death ends your defiance of the inevitable!" as en echo. A grey mist rises from his eyes and hands as an euqally grey mist envelops the Tso-Neogi and the area around it.

There is a screeching wail from the Tso-Neogi as between one step and the next, its body cumbles to dust and bone fragments.

A faint hint of dust and old dry deacy drifts on the wind as Sasha casts the spell.

Arthur holds his breath and covers his nose as the Tso-Neogi turns into dust. "Wow," he says in a muffled nasal voice.

"Hmm, that was...more successful than expected. I imagined I would simply damage it, not fully disrupt it," Sasha murmurs. "Well, hmm, shall we take a look around? I mean, since the current threat is over?"

"I'll say. Well...I am against killing, but I'm unsure that thing qualifies as alive, anyway," Arthur says and waves his free hand to keep any dust away from him. "Yes, now that the threat's gone, it seems safe to look around for more crystals and anything else we can find."

"Oh, yes, it was not living...well, sentient but not alivel undead rather. Otherwise the spell wouldn't have affected it all." He looks at the door then says, "How close is the nearest Tso-Neogi to here? Just wondering if we should shut the door?"

A glance at the PIU shows the nearest one to be about an eighth of a mile away and not moving.

Arthur looks over the PDA. "It's not terribly far, but it's also not moving. It may not be aware of us yet."

The stronger small of decay in here comes from the bone pile rather than the Giff. They are as mummifiec as the rest of the beings you've seen.

As the two you inspect the room, you note that there is a 'screen' (actually a piece of polished metal' on which a series of glyphs keeps flashing. Sic of them over and over again along with what looks like a image of a gigantic combination long legged spider combined with a sailing ship all in black.

You also spot, near where the Tso-Neogi collapsed into dust, a neck on what looks like sinew of some sort with a rainbow collection of over 30 crystal keys.

there are also a pethora of rather baroque-looking swords, axes, blunderbusses and pistols. scattered around the bodies and in lockers/wrapons cases in the room.

Arthur studies the screen. "Eye of Ptah, What is this?" he asks of the flashing screen. "Is that the warning for the Tso-Neogi ship's arival?" he asks, then glances towards the glinting rainbow of crystals.

"I am afraid I cannot see what you are seeing, Professor. No sensors I can access are within that room," says the Eye of Ptah. "If you access the scan function of the personal information unit, I can then 'see' where you point the imager." The Eye then gives instructions of how to access that scan function.

Once you've done so, the Eye of Ptah transalates. "Ah, yes, the final warning: Emergency Evacuation. Mission Failed. Deathspider Inbound. The image is of a Tso-Neogi Deathspider. This one carries a weapon the Tso-Neogi found from the the Last War. A weapon that reaps worlds of life."

The Eye adds after a moment, "It is still on the Deathspider down in the docking rings. It is what powers the mummified Tso-Neogi."

Arthur blinks in surprise. "It's still here..." he breathes out in shock. "A weapon like that shouldn't be allowed to exist," he frowns. "I imagine there are a number of the missing Tso-Neogi still on that ship," he mutters, walking over to the necklace of crystal keys. He cringes and reaches for it, picking it up from one of the crystals rather than touching the sinew.

Sasha wanders over to the weapon cases and after a moment, opens one, examines one of the baroque pistols, then slips it into the leather messenger bag at his side. The mage remarks, "I would imagine so, Professor. I know if I relied on something to cheat Death, I wouldn't stray far from it."

And indeed, looking at the map the Eye priovided you, there are a dozen Tso-Neogi in one particular part of the docking rind that circles all of the Rock of Bral.

"The Last War was fought among the Elder Races of the crystal spheres dozens of millenia ago. Many spheres were rendered lifeless. The only survivors are either living or unliving weapons and the dozen of so Reighar."

"An appreciator of old weaponry?" Arthur comments as Sasha filches the gun. "If you're capable of magic, I imagine you wouldn't have need of a gun." He looks back at the map provide. "That...is a lot of Tso-Neogi," he comments. "Well, once less of these weapons sounds good to me."

"I am an enchanter, at times, Professor. And magitech is not something I am overly familiar with." He then shrugs. "And sometimes the best magick is the unexpected." He holds up the Colt 1870. "This functions perfectly well as firearm. With the additional bonus that it cannot abide demons and other supernatural evil so it hits very hard against them."

The Eye of Ptah states, "The weapons of the Last War are very rare. No two are exactly alike that any mortal knows of. As for the Tso-Neogi, once I can access the Rocl of Bral's defensive systems, I can destroy the ship at dockside. Likely the Life Reaper will survive, but it can be retrieved no doubt."

Arthur studies the Colt, sensing its magical imbuement. "Well, that must be helpful in a pinch," he smiles faintly. "I'm not much of a gun person myself. I have this," he pulls out an alien looking wrench from his pocket, then puts it back. It's really just for throwing. Inspired from when she saw Porter accidentally take out a group of pirates with just a wrench and some ducking after he threw it. "Well..maybe there's a way to dismantle the Life Reaper..."

"I am considered, hmm, eccentric among mages, Professor. But, hmm, I think this is probably not the right choise for now." Sasha touches the ring on is hand with the hand holding the Colt and it disappears again.

"As for the Life Reaper? Hmm, I think the tactical thing to do would be let the Eye destreoy the ship, retrieve the Life reaper after, and /then/ dismantle it if we can. But, I'll follow your lead in this, for now in any case." His tone is lightly teasing.

Arthur manages a laugh. "An eccentric among the eccentric?" he asks in amusement. "Did you read my mind? Once we get access to the defenses, the Eye can take over with that. Though if the defenses here were capable of such, how did they not manage to fend off the ship?"

The Eye of Ptah states, "The Life Reaper has a much longer range than any of the defensive batteries here on the Rock of Bral. This was a center of commerce and trade, not a military outpost. The Mercane relied heavily upon their strict neutrality for safety. All were welcome so long as their money was good." It adds after a moment. "It seems from what I have gathered that they did send a group of troubleshooters to deal with the Deathspider. Sadly, it seems they failed and the Mercane did not start the evacuation soon enough. Although, there are surprisingly few Mercane in any of the areas I can sense. Perhaps they retreated to the Council buldling. Save for the Council chambers, I cannot sense there."

Arthur nods thoughtfully. "It may be too much to hoped the Council building was spared. Such senseless decimmation," he sighs. He gives an extra look around the room. "Well, are there any other security areas to visit, Eye of Ptah?" he asks and checks the map.

"There are many Security areas but might I suggest that the one's closest to the Council building be the ones you check. Those are the one's most likely to have the keys you need. To access the Council building you will needs a white crystal key, a black crystal key, and a grey crystal key. Or be Mercane," states the Eye.

"What you mean by 'be Mercane', Eye?

"What do you mean by 'be Mercane', Eye?" asks Sasha. "I suppose you mean being more than just looking like a Mercane."

"I am not certain what is scenned for, Sasha. But no one, to my knowledge, has ever defeated the Council buidling securty by merely changing their physical appearance. The scan must be deeper than that. Perhaps even mental."

Arthur purses his lips curiously at that. If Sasha weren't here, Kat may be easily to get through. But Arthur's secret cannot be known. "Well, a good thing it doesn't require the crystals AND to be Mercane," he comments. "I don't exactly feel like carrying a body with us, anyway." He checks the crystals they acquired to see if they have what they need.

Among the crystal keys are white, blue, red, green, purple, violet, orange, yellow, and clear keys. Multiples of nearly every color are present. As is one grey key.

"Ah, a body would not do. I do know, well, I have observed that a Mercane must be alive to enter the Council building. Otherwise Kha-ronem would have entered centuries ago. But, if you wish, I can guide you to a Mercane corpse."

"All we need now is a black crystal, then," Arthur comments. He blinks and looks up. "Who is Kha-Ronem...?"

"Kha-Ronem is the ultimate architect of the Rock of Bral. He like all Mercane was very long lived. But, he died in an accident before its completion. To the astonishment of the Council, he refused to stay dead stating upon his arising at his funeral 'I am not done yet'. All attempts to put him down permanently have failed. I suspect it is because he has somehow made the Rock of Bral his phylactery," the Eye of Ptah states. "He was an outcast, but dues to his deep knowledge, was also tolerated at times. He was quite upset when the Rock was rendered lifeless."

"As he was present when I awoke here on the Rock of Bral, I suspect he had something to with my presence here. But I have no proof."

Evan nods as he listens to the Eye's recitation then looks over to you. "Maybe we should jsut go back to the Gate room and head back to Earth?"

Arthur looks surprised at the architect's resurrection. "That's...dead-ication to one's work, eh?" he grins at Sasha. It's such a painful pun, and even though Sasha's mask is placid and still, Arthur sighs. "Oh, come on, that was good!" he frowns in pre-emptive defensiveness.

He says back to Ptah, "So he probably wouldn't be hostile to us, then, if we run into him?" He looks to Sasha in surprise. "Well...I can't in good conscience leave when the Tso-Neogi have been killing others who have accidentally ended up here. I'll escort you back to the gate so you can go home," he offers with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

Sasha sighs. "I really miss the fact people cannot see my eyes or face when I wear this mask, Professor. Otherwise you would have seen my toungue firnly in cheek. But, the mask is too useful a tool not to wear. Thus," he puts his hand on his heart. "People wll always mistake my intentions. But, to be clear, no I am not leaving for two reasons. One, you are corret. And two, I haven't found what I'm looking for."

When Sasha is done, the Eye of Ptah states, "I have never sensed him pre-emptively attaking anyone he encounters. The Tso-Neogi avoid him since he can easily destroy them. And while he has fought visitors to the Rock since the attack, the visitors always initaited attacks first. OF course, his presence is not good for the living over the long term. One of the reasons he was destroyed from time to time. "

Arthur smiles at Sasha's answer. "Then why did you recommend we go back to Earth?" He listens to the Eye, at first encouraged by Kha-Ronem's abilities to destroy the Tso-Neogi. His smile falters as the news becomes not so great. "Oh. I...see. That doesn't seem...life-friendly. It sounds like he drains life merely by his presence. Where is he currently?"

"I suggested it as it the sensible thing to do...and I've been told I should be more of that by friends, Professor," responds Sasha. "That I should stop sparring with windmills before it gets me killed." He shrugs with one shuilder again. "Eh, antoher day."

The Eye of Ptah responds, "He is presently in the Library annex accessing its scrying system to watch this area, Professor, it seems from my sensors there. I shall put the his locatoin on the map." As the dot appears on the PIU map the Eye of Ptah states, "And Kha-Ronem has now told me to restrict further informatoin to you about him and his location. But, as he does not have access to the Scepter, that is the extent of his command on this matter over me."

Arthur laughs at Sasha's response. "I've never been one for sensibility," he grins boyishly.

He blinks at the Eye's reports of Kha-Ronem watching them. "Well, since you can communicate with him, perhaps tell him hello for us, and can you ask him why he hasn't eliminated the remaining Tso-Neogi after all this time?"

"I have relayed your message, Professor. His response: They are no threat or aid to the Rock or myself. They are irrelevant," responds the Eye Of Ptah.

"Ah, sounds like a charming soul," murmurs Sasha softly.

Arthur frowns crossly. "Irrelevant? Were all these people's lives also irrelevant!? Your once great work serves no purpose other that to be a forgotten tomb now!" he says in a flash of anger.

There is a displacement of air as an 8 foot tall, skeletally thin, blue skinned corpse with white flames in its eye sockets, dressed in spotless ornate embroiderd robes and carrying a simple metal staff, appears looming over the two of you. He, as he appears male, grates out in a voice like sandpaper, "All is irrelevant save the physical safety of the Rock of Bral. It is unfinished still!"

One can feel a palpable cold in the air with Kha-Ronem present. Then the fires in its eyes gentle for a moment, as it pats it robe and asks, "Would you care for a candy, child? I think I have some..." in a much gentler tone.