Reach for the stars

"Reach for the stars and you'll hit the sky Ethyl" his mothers voice still range in his head as if she had said it yesterday. Thalivar must have had similar encouragement in his life. What was he trying to do here? That wasn't a summoning circle that would be used to open a portal to the Abyss or the Nine Hells. That's good at least. The gnome flipped through the book in his hands taking in the nonsensical symbols within. It didn't seem to be illusionary magic unless it was covered over after the initial enchantment. The number or books for that were too many though. It wasn't any script he was familiar with either. He glanced again at the glass structures, quickly noting their position, size, number and so forth in case the information was found useful. He dropped the book and looked back toward the empty cages. Something had been brought here or summoned and held here... but what one was it? And they did appear to be broken OUT of rather than set free. That would practically take the strength of a giant. Even if their muscle to mass ratio was closer to that of a gnome instead of the comparably weaker human kind... Even then that gnome would have to have so much muscle mass... There simply wasn't enough space within to get enough of a fulcrum that the force required wasn't... other worldly... Maybe they were granted magical strength through divine channel to be set free?
 
The gnome looked at the sky above and back at the glass formations. This was not right. It reminded him of stories Morai-Aislin had told of aberrations from other worlds of unknown power. Perhaps the steel was bent from sheer mental power as that of the star walking Githzari people? Not likely... but then again this tower didn't seem likely... and there was strange magic about. Had they simply stumbled into the domain or temple of one of the trickster gods? There was nothing to venerate or point to them if that was the case. It wouldn't be doing well at promoting the worship or fear of any of them if that was the case. No... this was simply some one using the art to summon or contact or manipulate something from the outer planes... or perhaps even from beyond those?
 
The gnome shuddered. He caught himself and looked at the others to see if they noticed. They hadn't. He didn't want them to abandon searching the place out of fear. This couldn't be left un answered in the town anyway. Even Amarille demonstrated being shaken. No... he would need to maintain his semblance of control and confidence. If the place was under the effect of some power still... could any of that be taken? learned from? mastered? Maybe if the language in the books could yield itself to a comprehend languages spell... no certainly not. It was truly non-sensical work. Maybe the glyphs were some sypher for assisting with the master remembering their work? Like a memory imprint based on known material? He glanced back at the lower floors... no... there was too much. The mental capacity of whatever it was... was beyond that of even most divine beings he was sure. That or it truly was non-sensical? The sheer volume? Crazy and obsessive? hmmmmm...
 
He looks back at the skeleton and the cages. Not too much there to recover. The things downstairs seemed most likely to be of use. The statues... that was odd... One would fit next to the bed. The gnome glances toward Halaena for a moment, observing her unconscious handling of the pommel of Talon. Oh well. In time maybe he would be able to handle tasks of this size. His mind drifted back to the swamp. That one at least he could do. Perhaps they would really have some time distracted and he would at least accomplish something. Well for now though the gnome thought, shaking his senses and refocusing at the area they were in. What was the goal? What could he accomplish before his group or the boars ass downstairs had him removed from the tower?