Hidden Power
As the sun sets, the Dreamer veers from yesterday's course, and returns to the fabled plains of Golarion, to show us a vision of the past. He flies low beside the cliffs that surround Absalom, and then climbs high, riding an updraft from the warm seas. We arrive in the recently-constructed Starwatch Keep, where the new Starwatch sit at their map table, bickering over the ruby in between them -- the Archive Stone.
But they aren't alone. Another figure sit at the table with them, set apart from the rest, seen once before at the battle at Berengar Hill.
Zikura: "--and so it has been ever since. Dozens of us, trapped within the Archive Stone. Our soul mission keeping Zandarul locked within."
Styx: "So we can't free you?"
Zikura: "Not without defeating the Lich."
Vivian: "Who placed the second enchantment? The one that forces us to... Work together." Zikura shrugs, and Vivian scowls. She knows the witch is lying... A creature of a great many secrets, like a book chained shut. Styx and Cerberus converse in a private thread, while Ez, Gerald, and Aziz grumble about ley lines. Only Selene seems undisturbed, staring directly into the witch's misty-white eyes. Selene: "But why pick us? Specifically me? I barely know these guys."
Aziz: "If only that trait were unique among us..."
Zikura: "I can't make any claims. But I feel a great energy in the air. It was not present in the time before this age. And it seems particularly interested in the Starwatch." The group shivered as a whole, instictually flexing their shoulders. The spirits didn't visit often, but when they did, there was a certain... Divine purpose about them. As if they had their own goals, and far greater knowledge, and were keen to push the Starwatch towards their victory -- whatever that entailed. Gerald: "The construct. Whatever we see in our visions, and the powers we feel when the spirits are here. The stone must be interested in it."
Zikura: "Zandarul is interested. Never forget that the stone's intelligence is his intelligence. And that it is he that wishes for the stone to be used. While this new enchantment protects us from death, it does not preserve our minds... And if our will were to weaken, the Lich would be free." Cerberus gulped, audible in the ensuing silence. Ez: "Well. If we're going to be working together, is there any way we can meet all of you? Summon you three at at a time?" Zikura smiled, and oh was it wicked. Ez felt the hairs stand up on the back of her neck, and had the unnerving feeling that Zikura wasn't looking at her, but directly behind -- through her own skull -- and into the lighthouse. Vivian tensed, following her instincts, and a thought sparked in her mind. Vivian: "No... Truly? It wouldn't break?"
Zikura: "It was designed to hold another power... But one such as yourself could marry the magics. It would function." Vivian bolted up, taking the gem with her, and walked briskly into her office at the base of the lighthouse. The Starwatch followed, with Zikura drifting slowly behind. Aziz noted the distinct lack of footsteps coming from the witch, but Selene spotted an eerily pale heel beneath her robes. As the group reconvened, Vivian was clearing a space near the lighthouse's crystal repository, which held the gemstone that protected the keep from certain magics. Selene: "Anyone want to fill me in?"
Styx: "Not a clue."
Vivian: "Just a second... Ignore the smoke." Aziz was content to watch in silence, dutifully ignoring Gerald and Ez, who were both trying to stand on their toes to see the high table top, without actually appearing to stand on their toes. Ez: "Do you need help? I don't want you to break it..."
Gerald: "Perhaps a spotter?" Vivian huffed, finishing up the last bits of the joining enchantment, and placed the stone in the crystal repository. There was a notable attunement, felt in a small vibration in the foundation. Despite their distance, the Starwatch felt a connection... An ability to activate the stone. They came to agreement in silence, and channeled their confirmation towards the artifact. The effect was immediate. All across the keep, pockets of crimson mist exploded outward, revealing dozens of figures in arms and armor. Silence was broken by cheers, and Zikura laughed -- a haunting mix between a woman's voice and a horse's screech. A drunken wizard lifted Ez up from the ground, swirling her in a dance, which earned him a bite on the neck. Two women started speaking animatedly to Vivian, and a little Gnome introduced imself to Gerald. Selene and Styx found themselves surrounded, peppered by questions about their identity and location, and an elderly Elven woman flashed her knives at Aziz, questioning the keep's defenses. Outside, a Strix twirled in the air, dancing amidst celebratory blasts of flame, water, air, and gunshots -- to Edwin's sincerest delight. The stone's hidden power had been unleashed, and the Starwatch saw a brighter dawn. Somewhere deep inside the stone, Zandarul cackled. The game had begun anew.
Styx: "So we can't free you?"
Zikura: "Not without defeating the Lich."
Vivian: "Who placed the second enchantment? The one that forces us to... Work together." Zikura shrugs, and Vivian scowls. She knows the witch is lying... A creature of a great many secrets, like a book chained shut. Styx and Cerberus converse in a private thread, while Ez, Gerald, and Aziz grumble about ley lines. Only Selene seems undisturbed, staring directly into the witch's misty-white eyes. Selene: "But why pick us? Specifically me? I barely know these guys."
Aziz: "If only that trait were unique among us..."
Zikura: "I can't make any claims. But I feel a great energy in the air. It was not present in the time before this age. And it seems particularly interested in the Starwatch." The group shivered as a whole, instictually flexing their shoulders. The spirits didn't visit often, but when they did, there was a certain... Divine purpose about them. As if they had their own goals, and far greater knowledge, and were keen to push the Starwatch towards their victory -- whatever that entailed. Gerald: "The construct. Whatever we see in our visions, and the powers we feel when the spirits are here. The stone must be interested in it."
Zikura: "Zandarul is interested. Never forget that the stone's intelligence is his intelligence. And that it is he that wishes for the stone to be used. While this new enchantment protects us from death, it does not preserve our minds... And if our will were to weaken, the Lich would be free." Cerberus gulped, audible in the ensuing silence. Ez: "Well. If we're going to be working together, is there any way we can meet all of you? Summon you three at at a time?" Zikura smiled, and oh was it wicked. Ez felt the hairs stand up on the back of her neck, and had the unnerving feeling that Zikura wasn't looking at her, but directly behind -- through her own skull -- and into the lighthouse. Vivian tensed, following her instincts, and a thought sparked in her mind. Vivian: "No... Truly? It wouldn't break?"
Zikura: "It was designed to hold another power... But one such as yourself could marry the magics. It would function." Vivian bolted up, taking the gem with her, and walked briskly into her office at the base of the lighthouse. The Starwatch followed, with Zikura drifting slowly behind. Aziz noted the distinct lack of footsteps coming from the witch, but Selene spotted an eerily pale heel beneath her robes. As the group reconvened, Vivian was clearing a space near the lighthouse's crystal repository, which held the gemstone that protected the keep from certain magics. Selene: "Anyone want to fill me in?"
Styx: "Not a clue."
Vivian: "Just a second... Ignore the smoke." Aziz was content to watch in silence, dutifully ignoring Gerald and Ez, who were both trying to stand on their toes to see the high table top, without actually appearing to stand on their toes. Ez: "Do you need help? I don't want you to break it..."
Gerald: "Perhaps a spotter?" Vivian huffed, finishing up the last bits of the joining enchantment, and placed the stone in the crystal repository. There was a notable attunement, felt in a small vibration in the foundation. Despite their distance, the Starwatch felt a connection... An ability to activate the stone. They came to agreement in silence, and channeled their confirmation towards the artifact. The effect was immediate. All across the keep, pockets of crimson mist exploded outward, revealing dozens of figures in arms and armor. Silence was broken by cheers, and Zikura laughed -- a haunting mix between a woman's voice and a horse's screech. A drunken wizard lifted Ez up from the ground, swirling her in a dance, which earned him a bite on the neck. Two women started speaking animatedly to Vivian, and a little Gnome introduced imself to Gerald. Selene and Styx found themselves surrounded, peppered by questions about their identity and location, and an elderly Elven woman flashed her knives at Aziz, questioning the keep's defenses. Outside, a Strix twirled in the air, dancing amidst celebratory blasts of flame, water, air, and gunshots -- to Edwin's sincerest delight. The stone's hidden power had been unleashed, and the Starwatch saw a brighter dawn. Somewhere deep inside the stone, Zandarul cackled. The game had begun anew.
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