What Allie reads

[Lyssandra]

Later in the evening as the party prepares to return to the tower, Allie reports a summary of what she learned:
"The book tells of The Tower of Magthallion, the half-brother of Amun Khafele. they parted ways and he came to study in the grasslands and woodlands, disdaining the desert." The woodlands that have since become known as the Forest of Desolation. "The history is hazy, but it says he became obsessed with dragons, conquered the tower, stole the dragon orb, and became a necromancer and enslaved dragons. Hence the quest to retrieve the orb from Magthallion." She continues, showing some pages from the tome itself to the others: "There are diagrams about how to navigate the tower which will help a great deal."

While letting the others review the maps, the bard continues, changing the topic somewhat. "Vampires are repulsed by garlic. If we place garlic around the doors and windows of the rooms we enter, that will prevent all but the most persevere from reentering, and also will help to give us some safe areas to rest if we cannot finish the task in one day. Mirrors are also repugnant to them. Those of us who are less in tune with the gods can use a mirror in the same way Celene and Oakshade might a holy symbol to keep them at bay. Once a vampire is staked, removing its head and placing blessed wafers or something similar in the mouth ensures it will not rise again."

[Carbon14sample]

"A Necromancer.... " Thaylias looks over the towers layout in one of the pages of the book that was given to Allie.

"It is fortunate that it was decided to investigate Oakshades dream and to come here to Talagon. This will aid us greatly."

Thaylias nods to Kel after he mentions the power of the Sword. "I myself have no means to end their existence other than what Allie has expressed needs to be done. I will seek some shops while we are here to acquire the items needed in the ritual."

[Dramavictim]

"The sword of Kantomar can also bring them final death," Kel reminds as he looks over the maps.

OOC: DM, you wanted us to discuss where our characters would be in the city, and what they were doing etc? Is this the thread for it, or should we start one for each character?

[Mockingbyrd]

The auburn haired elan nods her agreement, her face grim as she listens to Allie.

I'll go shopping as well. A trip to temples is in order, requesting wafters of the priests...donating for them of course, and to the grocer for as many cloves of garlic as they can sell us.

~a small smile to Kel~ And yes the sword. Hard to come back from decapitation, especially with a sword such as yours.

~she rises as Thaylias does, and will accompany him to town~

((DM, I'll talk quantities and costs with you before the game ;-) We'll stock up well before venturing out.))

[Lyssandra]

Getting up and down the pit ought not be too difficult depending how deep it is. We do have potions of fly, plus Thurvold can cast the spell. Allie's got the carpet (I knew one day it would prove to be useful for more than fun.) a 60' long rope of climbing, and a 50' silk rope with a grappling hook. If the ropes are too short, some can fly down via potion and/or spell, or Allie could ferry everyone up/down one or two at a time without overburdening the carpet.

[Starshadow]

The book Allie reads through shows diagrams of the tower. The main floor is just as you saw it, a circular room roughly 150 fet in diameter, with stairs ascending at the far end, opposite the rather large doors, which you have already seen to be warded.

You recall the large pit in the floor, from which the demon arose. That is the only apparent entrance to the lower level, as there are no stairs. While the book is unclear as to how far down that lower level is, getting their without a long rope, feather fall or means of flight would be deadly or impossible.

On the lower level there is a circular pedestal with 7 indentations. Seven stones must be placed in these depressions in order to release the wards on the uppermost level of the tower. Surrounding the cistern-like pedestalm are 7 rectangles drawn in the diagram. It is unclear if these are additional pits, altars, sarcophogi, tables or merely rectangles etched into the floor. No notes even mention them.

Despite the 500 feet of the the tower's height, there are no landings between the main floor and top floor. but the top most part of the tower is a place of great magic. It is indestructible and unbreachable from without, unless the key is used, though getting out is not a problem. While you saw no windows, openings or arrow slits upon your outer inspection, the ancient drawings show narrow window-like openings throughout the tower.

The top most chamber of The Tower of Magthallion has a pedestal in the center, mounted atop which is the fabled Dragon Orb of Draconis. While its origins are lost to antiquity, it is said that someone great in the ways of magic can use it to scry upon, summon and control dragons..perhaps even entire flights of them. While named for Magthallion, the most recently remembered inhabitant of the tower, it has been called many things by many people over the centuries, and some say it has existed since the world was created. The Dragon Spire, Tower of the Moon, Gaea's Finger, The Phallus of Hate, and many other names have been attributed to it, yet even the most aged of elves or ancient of dragonkind cannot tell its full history.

Most of the remainder of this book is either gibberish, illegible, torn and water damaged or filled with boring notes having no relevance to your mission.

[Mockingbyrd]

I think Shanti has a way to get down as well, I need to check with the DM though, will let you know!