“Engaging us in combat would be a mistake. We are humonculi, here to see Eliot. We are here on official business!”
The Speaker kept calm, but prepared to defend himself if things went south. He also politely asked his body to heal itself, just in case.
Name: The Speaker.
Description: a small man with black hair that is speckled with gray and a small gray goatee.
Nature: All-Tounge
Status: Who does this bird think they are?! The captain, or something!!
HP: 5
Inventory: A purple robe with a large red eye embroidered on the back, a pair of white gloves with a similar eye on the palm, and what appears to be a 4 foot long sewing needle made of black iron. The needle’s sides are blunt but its tip is deadly sharp, and the “eye” has knurling around it so that it can be used as a handle.
Fate Points: 8
(Emphasis added)
(If the GM failed to resolve my action, should I assume it worked perfectly and update my sheet to show a full 10 HP?)
[4]
[HP to 7]
Flesh resets itself a bit more, groaning at the strain. You're quite hungry.
"What'll happen if we force the door, is it gonna explode or something?"
See if any of the animals near the elevator are foxes and if any are grab one.
Name: Debby
Description: Looks like a regular human woman but with the head of a deer.
Nature: All-Tounges
Status: No longer flopping around a freaking out.
HP: 9
Inventory:
purple robe
white gloves
big ass needle
Fate Points: 3
Nothing around here, from crewmember to cannon, resembles a fox. All plants and birds and insects. No mammals in sight...aside from teammates.
I suspect the door will become quite angry.Grey talks with the bird.
"When did you hear about this second passage? Do you know anything about it?"
“Also...Do you have a pistol and holster I could borrow? It could be useful if we encounter an intruder.”
When all is said and done, Grey gets on the lift and goes up.
Name:Grey
Description: A hairless pink colored man with lacking facial features, little more than a pair of eyes, two holes for a nose, and a line for a mouth.
Nature: Verbomancer (Maintain)
Status: Sandy
HP: 10
Inventory: Purple robe, white gloves, giant needle
Fate Points: 1
Not another passage, another method of entry! Another key through the door. Something your kind should be capable of that others would not be able to do. At least not most others.[4]
We have no pistol, our guns are of a larger variety, as you can see. But, He pulls the feather shaped saber off his hip and hands it to you
If you see anyone who seeks to harm our master, strike them down in our stead."hmm, perhaps one of the All-Tounges can ask the door to open nicely"
Ask some questions before the elevator leaves
"So what is the rough layout of the local terrain? How long have you been in the service of Elias? And would you happen to know of any enemies they may have had?"
Name: Master of the Lambent Flame
Description: A messy-haired albino with a desert kepi as an extension of their lifeforce. Keeps an aloof expression when not having a delusional outburst.
Nature: Pureblood
Status: dispassionate
HP: 10
Inventory:
Purple Robe
White Gloves
Needle
Makeshift eyepatch
Pocket ash
Fate Points: 0
Sand. Lots of it. Uh...Sahara. Roughly 47 years, I believe [4]
The master did not socialize much outside this tower, but I believe another mage did join him here for a time a few months ago. Wanted help with something or other, but Elias turned the mage down. I don't know why or what help was asked for. "You ought to place a guard on both elevators, and any other exits. If assassins were involved, they may still be here."
Youare ascends.
Name: Youare A. Homunculus
Description: a wiry man, elderly but still trim and strong, long grey hair tied back in a ponytail.
Nature: Functionary
Status: robed, clean
HP: 7
Inventory: one robe enchanted to PROTECT ("like a big chainmail dress in terms of weight and flexibility: heavy and awkward but not impossible to move in"), one pair of gloves, and one big ass needle
Fate Points: 0
Rest assured that the exits are well guarded. We almost killed you, after all. He laughs and stomps one foot.
The elevator begins to ascend without any command, other than the team's willingness for it to do so. For a few moments it seems the journey upward will be the same blind ascent as before, but then the walls fall away and the gilded cage is rising through open air. The strange pyramidal towers seen from below are not solid structures, they are hollow shells of gold containing untold wonders. Their interiors are lit by gentle auburn sunlight radiating from a benevolently smiling stylized sun mosaic in the ceiling. Glittering glass platforms are strung about like dew on spiderwebs, huge but seemingly weightless, connected by graceful arcing silver stairways and paths. Countless scenes, terrariums, tableaus, aquariums, orchards, zoos, art galleries, statues, playgrounds, and gardens hang in polyhedral gems. Rabbits the size of men look up from tending giant vegetables and wave. Fish made of silk and shaped glass dance slowly through neon blue waters. Deer made of carved and burnished wood, with great apple tree antlers bearing fruit, peek out from between rustling bushes and sheltering oaks. Fountains of gold spiraling purple water upwards, giant scarabs in fine suits catching and bottling it on the way. A rainbow dips and curls, flying languidly yet gracefully about. Too much to look at, too much to take in in the few seconds they can see. A chaotic, wonderful, childish, beautiful dream. At its center, a hanging pavilion holding up a colossal tree. And, wrapped in the embracing roots and trunk of that tree, a granite slab surrounded by a field of candles.
The elevator passes suddenly back into darkness and then slides to a stop. A crack of light appears and double doors swing slowly open onto a short hall. The floor is carpeted in wildflowers, the ivory walls decorated with tree shaped buttresses and painted to resemble a pastoral pathway between lines of trees. Standing directly in front of the elevator is a very nervous looking mole in a suit and thick glasses. Its larger than a normal mole, but still only about 3 feet tall. After a moment the team realizes its not a real mole but a stuffed one, a giant plush doll. To its sides, in maid and butler outfits all, are more animals. Badgers, rabbits, foxes, a full sized bear which dwarfs the rest, white mice, pygmy elephants, monkeys, all milling about and looking to the mole for guidance.
"Ah!" The mole says when he notices the group and rubs his oversized paws together. "You must be the ones who are going to help us. If you'll just-"
"Its awful!" a rabbit suddenly interjects, "The master is locked in his study! We heard shouting and he hasn't come out in nearly a day!"
"Its got to be that awful Witch!" A fox in a maid dress hisses, "You heard her."
The bear whines and looks forlorn.
"Hush." The Mole says sternly, glancing over his shoulder, "This will get us nowhere." He turns back to the group. "The master's study is just above us. Its also the control room for this tower. We have had no word or instructions from him in nearly 24 hours at this point. We cannot even check on him, as the door is locked. Do you think you could help us?"