(2/2)

You stand before the automaton at the end of the hall, your grip steady on your staff and torch. Master Marcus? Could the thing possibly have mistaken you for your father? You have no idea what your father actually looked like, since you were left abandoned when you were a very small child, but uncle Folio did always used to say that you favored him.

The automaton takes a shaky step forward, its heavy wooden foot clopping loudly against the rough gray stone of the floor. You could probably take this thing out with a well placed hit from your staff, or maybe even light it aflame with your torch, but it hasn't shown any signs of hostility towards you. Yet.

>What do you do, young Magi?

>>30484831
"Marcus was my father. I've come here by the order of my uncle Folius and I'm hoping you can tell me what you are"

>>30484831
Torch it.

>>30484831
Run away.

>>30484831
"I'm afraid you have the wrong person."

“I'm afraid you have the wrong person,” you say, relaxing your readied stance ever so slightly, “Marcus was my father, I am Magnus. I was sent here by my uncle Folius to await his arrival.”

The automaton seems placated by this information, as it stops its jerking march forward and assumes a relaxed, yet still firm, posture. Its voice is strange, possessing the affect of an echo in a slightly different voice than the one it uses to speak with. As it speaks, you notice in the dusty light that it has no mouth, or facial features of any sort, save for two small depressions where yellow eyes of fire burn.

“Master Magnus it is then.” The automaton bows deeply. “I am the Servant. Master Marcus commissioned me to help maintain this facility and help in his research. Would you like for me to exit standby mode and resume function?”

What does half of that even mean? Well, it sounded like it means you'll have someone to sweep up the place at the very least. And hey, it mentioned helping with some of the research your father did! Maybe it might know something about him? Or hell, even if it knew something about this tower, that would be good enough for you. You close your eyes and think. Alright, time to...

>Ask some questions! (Specify)
>Explore some more! (Specify an area)
>Go back to the Library! (Roll 1d100 or Specify a Book)
>Other..? (Write In)

>>30485272
>Go back to the Library! (Roll 1d100 or Specify a Book)

That one book that seems more like a journal, can't remember the name.

>>30485272
Ask it what causes the Tower to shift form and how can we do it

>>30485407
>>30485386
Only two people?

Uh, sure I guess.” You think that's an acceptable reply.

“Very well, resuming previous housekeeper functions. “ The automaton begins to shamble past you, towards one of the closed rooms in the deep hallway.

“Wait!” You call after it, “Do you know anything about the tower? How it works, why it changes, anything like that?”

The Servant does not even turn to look at you, it just keeps pacing towards the door. “My functions are the upkeep of the facility. Knowledge of this subject eludes me, Master Magnus.”

Damn. You thought for sure the Servant might know something about the tower!

- - - – - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After a arduous walk back up out of the lower levels, through the atrium, up the stairs, across the foyer, and then up two more flights of stairs, you find yourself too tired for the moment to handle the last stretch. You walk to the middle of the library room, plopping yourself down in the plush blue chair and examining the small stack of books you left on the little table next to you. Hmm, “The Principles of Rogeth” sounds like it might be interesting. You crack open the small leather journal and begin to read...

(1/2)

>>30485878

“... and though it can be assumed that He, in His Wisdom, withheld many secrets from even His most beloved followers, it was known in those days that He taught them how to, as it were, shape the Soul, that is to say, shape the Essence of the very Animus within us all, into a physical projection, bringing it across the dimensions and into our world as a physical representation..”

The small leather journal goes on for a few more pages about different techniques for shaping and calling forth the essence of the soul, and by the time you're ready to get back up and take the last flight of stairs, you think you've basically figured out what they mean by “Summoning the Soul”.

>Congratulations! You have unlocked the school of Animism! You can now spend Soul Power (SP) to make things by shaping your Soul into a physical object! Be warned however, should your SP drop below the minimum of zero, you will become disembodied and die!

Well, that sure was informative. It's dark out by now, and you're not sure what else you can get accomplished today. Maybe you could....
>Practice Magic? (Animism)
>Go to sleep?
>Other...? (Specify)

>>30485894
>Go to sleep?

We should try it out real quick. Not to long just for a few minutes. Then we can sleep.

>>30485894
>>Practice Magic? (Animism)
just a bit. who would learn new magic then not try it out

>>30485894
>Practice Magic? (Animism)

>>30486063
Second try to make an eagle I might be the same magic our uncle used earlier

You figure you can spend a bit of time practicing some of the concepts you've read before you go to sleep. After all, what kind of person reads a manual on how to do magic and then doesn't even try things out?

You move to an empty spot on the floor and stand relaxed, just as the book told you to. You look inward, and try to get a sense of the move and flow of your Soul through your body.

>Roll 1d100

Rolled 69

>>30486152

Rolled 88

>>30486152
Communing with the dice gods

Rolled 37

>>30486152

Rolled 94

>>30486152
Please, dice?

There! You've got it! In your minds eye, you envision a soft blue glow filling your body with warmth and energy. This must be your soul, or Animus as the book called it. You have a feel of it, you know how much is there, now it should simply be a matter of willing it forth, just as you read in the book. Focus your mind, command your soul to respond to your conscience. Push the soul, through your arm, into your palm. Feel it begin to pool, begin to coalesce into something tangible...

>SP (6/6)
What do you summon forth...?
>A Knife? (1 SP)
>A Sword? (3 SP)
>A Flame? (4 SP)
>Other? (SP subjective)

>>30486328
>A Knife? (1 SP)

this is our first try lets not get crazy and burn this place down

>>30486328
Knife nice and basic

Rolled 55

>>30486328
A volleyball

>>30486328
>A Knife? (1 SP)

Rolled 57

>>30486328
A bird.

Rolled 47

>>30486507
life is a bitch to make

>>30486507
Second make an eagle

>>30486328
>A Knife? (1 SP)
Let's not get crazy yet

...Something tangible. Something useful, not too much but just enough to get the job done. You open your eyes and look down to see a beautiful single edged dagger, about a foot long from pommel to hilt, made of silvery wisps of what almost seems to be mostly solid smoke.

You run a finger down the side, pressing the tip, testing the sharpness and hardness. Yes, a blade like this could easily slip through chain mail, you imagine, and maybe even through a few of the weaker points in Brandon's armor should the large man sleeping in your foyer ever become hostile. You feel almost giddy with excitement, and begin to laugh like a schoolchild.

Just as your concentration begins to break, so too does the spirit knife dissolve into a mist, flowing back into your body.

Magic. It's that easy!

>You've learned your first spell, Spirit Knife! This spell can be used to arm yourself in a pinch, and for a low cost too! You can remember up to 10 spells at will, but know that for anything beyond those ten you will need to refer to a spell book, scroll, or some other magical recording device.

(1/2)

>>30486742

(2/2)

With all of the excitement of the day mostly over with, you ascend the marble staircase up from the library and into the Archmage's quarters, your new bedroom. You make your way over to the ladder tucked off in one corner, and make the short climb up to the loft where you find a giant, pillowed bed, with sheets as white as the moon and pillows that are both pleasantly soft and comfortably firm. You lay down, content to let the day wash off of you in a night of restful bliss...

- - - - - -

...And from the darkness of your dreams you see a great beast, standing tall over your tower, staring at you with one large red eye. On its head is a crown, made from the bones of the mythic Zodiac, those primeval lords of the world. In one hand rests a blade of obsidian, dripping black ichor and red blood from its serrated edge. The beast raises its giant, gnarled fist to you, opening its palm to reveal a the figure of an old man.

And old man....

An old man clutching a large storybook tightly to his breast.

>You are dreaming
>You are unarmed
>SP (0/6)

>What do you do, young Magi?

>>30486742
Okay, that's a big limitation. We'll have to be extra careful about what we learn from now on.

Having a knife at all time is still really fucking convenient tho.

>>30486786
We dance the dance of our people

>>30486786
Take the old man from the beast.

>>30486786
Say "Father?"

Rolled 3

>>30486786
Yell at the beast
"GIVE HIM BACK"
Summon sword because fuck you this is my dream.

Rolled 7

>>30486786
"Huh, so you know how you can control dreams when you know they are dreams? I know this is a dream. The limits are that of the mind, not the body or soul." Have the old man appear at your side.

File: 1393373767243.jpg-(201 KB, 730x548, Whatcouldpossiblygowrong.jpg)

201 KB JPG

>>30486819
This.

>>30486840
>this is my dream.
The beast is now an adorable puppy

>>30486840
Won't work, but I'll second it.

“Who is..?” You try to whisper into the dreamscape, but you do not make a sound. You rush towards the beast thing, but the distance between you seems to be getting longer instead of shorter. You hear a laugh booming from all around you, echoing through the belly of the world. You feel the crushing weight of the darkness, the sensation of being cut off from love, cut off from hope, cut off from any chance at redemption.

>Your brothers threw you down here, chained you with the corpses of your favored children, made locks of the enemies you long ago defeated-

“No, this is my dream!” You shout in vain, interrupting a fall into the darkness that you weren't even aware you were taking. A beautiful sword of shining silver appears in your palm, glowing with the brilliance of the stars themselves. You swipe at the claw of the beast, now much smaller and much closer than before. With a sizzle, it falls into the pit, leaving the book floating in midair. The old man is nowhere to be seen.

“...Magnus, it is time...” The darkness taunts you, the voice echoing around in your head, the words becoming shadows and monsters upon the wall of your skull-
“Master Magnus, please, it is time to wake up!” The peculiar voice of the Servant startles you awake. You can see from the pinkish hue of the sky above that the automaton has awoken you as the sun is rising beyond the mountains. Man, what a dream.

(1/2)

(2/2)

You're really not too sure of what to do today, seeing as how you had only planned to wait here until your uncle arrived. But he still hasn't shown up, and you don't want to risk returning to the village if what Brandon said about there being a small army on the prowl is true.

Oh right! Brandon! You should probably figure out what to do with him. He might be okay to keep around, but you're still not entirely sure if you trust him. And what was that he said before about sending an Epistle to the Circle, some Magi college in a city far to the south? Oh well, you've the entire day ahead of you to deal with that.

You make your way down the wooden ladder and grab a bite to eat from the food on the table that the Servant must have prepared before awakening you. Time to start the day! Do you plan to...

>Explore? (Specify)
>Study in the Library? (Roll 1d100, or specify a book)
>Chat with someone? (Specify)
>Practice your Magic? (Animism)
>Other...? (Write In)

>>30487160
I believe it's time we deal with this epistle business

>>30487160
Go talk to Brandon about cities around here.

Rolled 80

>>30487160
>Study in the Library? (Roll 1d100, or specify a book)

Let's get the theory down first

>>30487160
Ask the servant if he has a name if not name him George also ask him what he knows about our father

>>30487160
>Study in the Library? (Roll 1d100, or specify a book)

The Binding: Principles of The Soul

Rolled 88

>>30487160
study in library
Learn more about "The Circle"

You stretch and begin to trot down the marble staircase. It's time to gather some information in the library!

First things first, you need to figure out this business of the Epistle. You're somehow supposed to contact the Circle in a city so far to the south that the old Innkeeper from the village said it would take a month of travel in a wagon to get there. Right, well surely that isn't too difficult with magic at your beck and call.

Next, you suppose you should continue to learn as much as you can about magic. It's useful for one as physically inept as yourself, and being protected is definitely going to help you out in the long run. You suppose you could browse the library for a few more basic beginners books or simple theory books that will help you learn the rest of the stuff faster.

And a book about The Circle, that might be useful to have. After all, you're going to be sending a message to them. It's probably best not to offend a group of what you can only imagine to be powerful and wise Magi.

When you've finished with all of that, maybe you can even crack open one of the books you found the other day, the one about Binding seemed pretty interesting.

Man, what a busy schedule!

>Give me three rolls of 1d100

Rolled 28

>>30487496

Rolled 50

>>30487496

Rolled 61

>>30487496
and ask the servant to keep tabs on brandon

Rolled 50

>>30487496

Rolled 4

>>30487496
ARGLEBLARGLE!

>>30487574
Let's avoid that for now. I doubt the servant's stealthy enough to do that without raising suspicion.

>>30487628
Well someone has to keep an eye on him, I'd really like him to be a cool bro but I can't say I trust him yet.

>>30487748
I don't either. Hence why I don't want him to know I'm suspicious. We'll find a less obvious way to check where his loyalty truly lie.

You feel a bit overwhelmed as you begin to peruse the books of the library, looking for anything that may tell you about Epistles or message magic or really any magic in a similar vein. The best you can come up with is a passage in a book called “Travels of the Ethereal Mind” that details a practice by which you can momentarily sever the majority of your soul and conscience from your body and send it out far away to bring a message to one who is attuned to sensing the presence of a soul, but it looks like an incredibly complicated and risky ritual.

Your foray into the world of basic magic goes a bit better, as you are able to find a few textbooks that continue to expand upon the nature of magic in general, as well as the art of Shaping, Summoning, and Binding that magic, the skills of a true Magi.

You have the best luck with your attempts to gather information on The Circle, as it seems they are referenced everywhere. Founded more than seven-hundred years ago by the Sorcerer King Nesus, The Circle was originally a political body that governed the ancient empire of Ghant. It has three schools, Evocation, Summoning, and Binding, each with three tiers of authority, each headed by an Archmagi. It is currently based out of the southern city of Arcin, a full four weeks travel to the south.

(1/2)

>>30487832

(2/2)

You yawn and stretch. Calling down the Servant and inquiring as to the time, you are surprised to learn that it is almost midday.

> You've spent a great amount of time studying in the library today, and you don't want to look at another book till evening at least!

You still have all afternoon left to do whatever you want. Do you...

>Practice Magic? (Animism)
>Chat with someone? (Specify)
>Explore? (Specify)
>Other..? (Write In)

>>30487855
>>Chat with someone? (Specify)
Ask Brandon about the surrounding region and what cities and towns are around it.

>>30487855
Ask the servant what he remembers about our father

>>30487855
>Practice Magic? (Animism)
We really need to be able to defend ourselves at least a little.

We really should get to know Brandon a little better.

>>30487855
>Chat with someone?

Brandon. We need to know about the surrounding area. Maybe work out how to send a message south to deal with this Animist and his bandit legion.

All this time alone with nothing but books to keep you company has made you want for some good old fashioned human interaction! You make your way down the tower to the foyer, where you find Brandon laying on his back, doing various stretches and exorcises. His armor is piled up by the wall near where he fell asleep, though you still don't see any sort of weapon about his person. Upon noticing you, he stops his sit-ups and stands, towering over you.

“How may I serve you, young lord?”
You stand for a moment, unsure of how to proceed.

>Friendly questions?
>Authoritative questions?
>Demanding questions?

>>30488299
>>Friendly questions?

We should be friendly.

>>30488299
>Friendly questions?

Keep up the sagely act. He seems like a decent fellow, but I'm still not sure he's completely trustworthy.

>>30488299
>>Friendly questions?
>

“No need to call me lord, Sir Brandon. I was just wondering how much you knew about the surrounding area? Perhaps you know of any other towns or villages or forts that may exist?”

Brandon tilts his head and gives you a queer look. “Are you not from these lands yourself, young lord?”

Shit. Well, you are, but you never got out much in the village except to go watch the sunset. Not like you can relay that information to Mt. Muscle.

“Er, I have only recently come to claim the tower,” you say, trying as hard as you can to avoid telling an outright lie, “and I have yet to survey the countryside in any great detail. All I ask is if you have any knowledge of cities or towns within a few days travel distance?”

Brandon scratches at his chin with a massive hand. “Well, I suppose the closest major city would be Erodayne, which is about ten days travel to the south along the coast. Other than that, there are a few isolated villages up on the slopes, but the majority of them are extremely isolated, even from one another.”

Right. One city, ten days travel to the south. Other than that, nothing. You guess that answers your question.

“Anything else you need, young lord?”

>Anything else you need, young lord?

>>30488538
"Nothing I can think of. Thanks for your assistance."

Maybe find some way to create a messenger pigeon to get a message to Erodayne? Can we research that, tommorow?

>>30488538
Ask him about himself.

>>30488661
There's something we never did try: the mirror. Maybe it's the solution to our problem.

You nod your head and continue to ask him questions.“Tell me a bit about yourself, Brandon. Where do you come from?”

“I was born in a small town in the Kingdom of Caledon, that's to the south and east, on the other side of the mountains. I was taken from my home at a young age to have my soul tested.”

What?

“Apparently, the Paladins of Rogeth liked what they saw in me, because the very next day they arrived at my father's farm and bought me for five hundred pieces of silver.”

Five hundred silvers? That seems like an oddly low price for a human life. Perhaps they value lives more cheaply in the kingdom across the mountains?
“I was raised by the Paladins as a squire for many years before I got the chance to prove myself in combat against a horde of Orcs. After that, I rose in rank quickly and became Captain of the War Chanters. I maintained that position for three years before the Paladins' service was purchased by Carrigan. You know the rest of my story from there.”

Wow. So it seems that Brandon here has had a rather interesting life.


There is still much time left in the day. Do you...

>Practice Magic? (Animism)
>Chat with someone? (Specify)
>Explore? (Specify)
>Other..? (Write In)

>>30488922
>>Explore? (Specify)
What other parts of the tower haven't we explored?

>>30488947
I would also like to explore more of the tower

Rolled 1

>>30488922
Investigate the mirror.

>>30488922
Check the mirror in the library

Have you all forgotten that thing ? It might be super important.

>>30488947
There are still three rooms in the lower levels that you have yet to explore.

There is also a room in the cellar that you still haven't checked.

You can explore the area around the tower if you wish; you might find some interesting things.

You can also re-explore rooms that have already been seen. Some of them may have a hidden secret.

>>30489013
Let's go to the lower levels then.

>>30488922
Ask Brandon what's his plans if he plans to stay maybe we can get him to teach us how to fight

>>30489013
Explore the lower levels.

Also, I bet the library has a secret chamber behind a bookcase.

>>30488993
Second

>>30488998

There is still alot of time left in the day and we just left the library like 10 min ago. We can stop back there later today. We should check out the rest of the rooms in the tower. Who know whats in there

>>30489118
It'll take a turn either way. Might as well get it out of the way now.

I apologize guys for this happening again, but I'm going to have to jet for the rest of the night due to job reasons. Thread will be archived, I'm glad we managed to get an audience tonight.

Next thread should be sometime Thursday, please follow me on Twitter @TheOldMan_QM for more quest updates!

Thank you for playing and see you next time!

>Also, your vote will be stored for the next thread

>>30489190
Thanks for running.

>>30489190
My first time in this quest. lots of fun thanks

>>30489190
Adios Señor