Road Trip to the Dragon Isles - Escape from the Sands of Time

02 Deepkolt 349 AC

Arthur paces back and forth his nerves never settling down. He flips the silver dagger end over end in his hand as he waits. The storm outside howling on just like the storm with in him. "Come on...where are you..." He head out into the hall and listens.

MEANWHILE...

Granite leans forward in his seat, "Look, lad. I'm not going to lie to ya. I don't much care for bargaining this morning. I, and me friends, be looking to leave this place. I, and me friends, be thinking that this storm ain't natural. And I, and me friends, also be thinking that you might know a way to get around it."

Phineas, who has been fiddling with his Shock 'n' Awe-atron, returns a screwdriver to one of his many pockets and rises to his feet. He turns a dial and the machine begins to emit a high-pitched whine. Steam leaks out of the seams. He doesn't point his powerful invention at Nicholas, more waving it in his general direction as the whine shifts into a whirrrrrrring sound.

"You see, my boy, we need to get to a certain place and we can't do that if we don't leave here. I'm sure you understand. You seem to be a reasonable young man with a good head on his shoulders." The gnome smiles, "Do you think you'd be able to help us out?"

Nicholas sits very still. He looks at Granite, waiting to see if the dwarf will intervene, and then at the hissing, smoking device that is very pointedly not being pointed at him.

He swallows. "Well... I might be able to see a future in which I lend you a hand."

Phineas chuckles, "You see, Master Dwarf? I told you he was reasonable."

Granite nods, "Aye. Ye did at that." He turns back to Nicolas, "Now, lad. Let's start with this storm."

"Yes. The storm," Phineas tilts his head slightly, "They don't usually linger like this. Not without a little bit of help."

Nicholas nods. "You're not wrong. The storm, or at least the wind, was natural enough but it is being held in place, sustained... reinforced from within the tower. It's a defensive measure meant to keep attackers out."

Granite scowls, "Attackers kept out but defenders can't leave?"

Nicholas shrugs, "Wizards often have...other options."

Phineas perks up, "Localized environmental stabilization! I must take notes!"

Granite grumbles, "Professor...."

The gnome blushes slightly, "Ah... yes. Escape first, notes later."

"There are focal points where the magic is anchored. Three of them. The chapel, the observatory, and Master Zalthex's study." Nicholas continues to stare at the Shock 'n' Awe-atron. "If you only stop one, the others will compensate."

"And Rohzgan?" Granite asks.

"He knows how the system works. And he eagerly agreed when Zalthex suggested to extend your stay," Nicholas admits, "I don't know what you have on him, but he really doesn't want you leaving."

Phineas lowers his invention. He pushes a button on the side and the whirrr slows and stops. "Well, my boy, let's go have a talk with Arthur."

Within minutes, the paladin has been brought up to speed. "What do ye say, lad? You ready to get out of here?" Granite asks.

"Let's do this." Arthur rises "Time to collect the others and go."

The trio leaves their chamber and heads toward the stairs. Nicholas leads the way. The group passes through the second floor's common area and continues upward.

As they draw close to the shrine on the second floor, they hear Rohzgan's voice. "I believe Nicholas told you not to stray beyond the first floor. Now, what am I to do with you?"

Davaa doesn't reach for his blade, keeping his hands in full view of the wizard. He inclines his head slightly, an acknowledgement, "He did. But I thought it best not to lose sight of a man who had taken such an interest in my party."

Altan, still concealed on the stairway hears movement behind him and turns, setting an arrow to his bowstring. Nicholas appears, followed by Arthur, Phineas, and Granite. The Khur raises a finger to his lips, calling for silence.

In the chapel, Rohzgan studies Davaa. His eyes cold, calculating. "You are observant, a dangerous trait in the wrong place."

Davaa stands defiantly, "In Khur, it keeps you alive. Keeps other people alive too - people like a certain prince."

Rohzgan doesn't flinch. The purple flames of the candles dance behind him. "You misunderstand your position. You are guests in this tower. Not investigators." He takes a step closer. Not near enough for Davaa to reach him but close enough to threaten the warrior.

"And you misunderstand ours. We are not blind. We know what we saw in the Valley of the Blue Sands," Davaa replies.

Rohzgan lets out a long, slow sigh. "You did see something. But it is your word against mine." His eyes darken slightly, "I will not mince words. You think that I am a threat. Just as I know that you are."

He turns away from the fighter, "Return to the first floor. Wait there. Leave when the storm passes. I will keep this transgression of yours between us. You will maintain your silence. A truce, if you will."

"I will speak to the others - present your offer," Davaa tells him.

Rohzgan turns to face Davaa again. "It is not an offer. "Should you refuse, you will learn how little of this place is meant for you."

Arthur doesn't move and keeps still until Davaa comes out, once he does Arthur nods to him in silent agreement. He then looks at Nicolas.

Nicholas looks back at him, "What?"

"Can he be trusted to keep his word?"

"I mean... yes, for as long as it's to his benefit. But as soon as that changes..." Nicholas shrugs.

Arthur nods. "Sounds about right." He looks to the others, "Alright, we just need Agnes and then how do we get this storm to stop?"

Nicholas glances up the stairs, toward Zalthex's private study and the observatory beyond. "You don't stop it. You... release it, cut the anchors holding it here."

The wizard pauses, "But you have to do them all at the same time."

Arthur pinches the bridge of his nose, "And how will we be able to tell each other when to do it?"

Nicholas remains quiet for a moment and then sighs. He fishes a tiny hourglass out of his robes, small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. The glass has a lavender hue and the sand within sparkles softly.

"We use these."

Phineas gasps softly, "Oh, my boy, that is beautiful."

“These are attuned to one another,” Nicholas explains. “When turned, they don’t simply measure time—they run together - for sixty seconds. When the sand runs out, you must be ready. The tower will know when an anchor is distributed. You won't get a second chance."

"Well then,” Granite says, “all we need now… is to be in the right places at the right time.”

"Actually, there is one more thing..." Nicholas says. "The temple anchor is the center flame on the Great Candelabra - its flame must be snuffed out, the observatory anchor is the orrery - the drive wheel in its pedestal must be stopped. But the anchor in Master Zalthex's study. I do not know what it is."

"I would assume that he is still off with Agnes." Arthur grits his teeth and asks, "Does he have an alarm on his room or something sort of alert spell? Because if not, the only chance we have to figure out what it may be is now."

Nicholas freezes when Arthur asks the question, partially out of fear and partially out of calculation. "Zalthex is not careless. But there are no crude alarms, no bells, no sirens but the room is bound to him."

Phineas tilts his head, "What do you mean by 'bound', my boy?"

Nicholas exhales slowly, "He will... sense if something in the room is disturbed. Not immediately - but he will FEEL it."

"Like steppin' on a loose stone in someone else's mine," grumbles Granite.

Nicholas nods, "If you say so. You'll have a minute, maybe two if he is distracted, to find whatever the anchor is."

"Whatever it is it will be magical in nature, Granite, do you think that you would be able to sense what it is with your magic? Or do you have any way to sense what it may be, Nicholas, Phineas?" Arthur ponders, "I feel that no matter what something bad will happen."

Nicholas holds up his hands, "I've already done too much. I'll be lucky to get out of this alive considering everything I've already told you."

Granite thinks about it for a few seconds. "Aye, lad. I believe I do. And ye be right about something bad happening."

Phineas nods, "Oh yes, my boy, it's just choosing which bad thing it will be!"

"To borrow a sentiment from our master drawf friend, we don't want to be in the mine shaft when it collapses," Davaa says.

Altan looks at Arthur, "Say the word, we'll take whichever one you want - the shrine, the observatory, or Zalthex's study."

Phineas looks at Nicholas, "Do we need all three timers? Or can we just turn the one over and count it down in our heads?"

Nicholas shakes his head, "I've never done it that way - too much room for error, but yes, maybe. You have sixty seconds until the sand runs out."

"Granite, you and I will take the study. Your magic will be key in finding the item we need. Altan, Davaa, you take the drive wheel." Arthur hands them the mace. "Just in case you need it to stop it. Phineas, can you take care of the candelabra alone or do you need someone with you? Arthur rest his hand on Lawbringer. "Are you all sure about this?"

"I'll be just fine, my boy," Phineas replies, patting his Shock N' Awe-atron.

Altan takes the mace. He and Davaa nod in readiness.

Granite adjusts his suspenders, "Aye, lad. We be ready as we can be."

Arthur takes a deep breath and slowly releases it. "It's time then." Arthur send up a silent prayer to both Mallazzar and Sirrion, the god who bestowed him a new name. "I just hope Agnes will know what to do once she notices the storm has gone."

"She'll know. Have no doubt of that, my boy," Phineas answers.

Nicholas furrows his brow. "I don't think I would split your teams this way. You're sending two warriors into the most visible anchor." He shakes his head, "Zalthex is up there. Right now."

Altan smiles, "That's right. And when he sees us coming..."

"He won't be looking at any of you," Davaa continues. "Besides, we aren't going to be the ones who break the observatory."

"Because you'll make sure you give Agnes the chance to." Nicholas nods in understanding.

Arthur draws his silver dagger halfway out of its sheath and looks down at it and then at the others. "I'm more terrified now than when we fought the Blind God in the moutain temple. Davaa, Altan, Phineas, and even you, Nicholas, don't die on me, alright?" He gives a small chuckle, "Alright, unless there's any more ideas, I'd say it's time."

Phineas winks at Arthur. "I have survived explosions, electrocutions, a lynching, and four jealous husbands, my boy. I think I can handle blowing out a candle."

Granite looks around. "Not trying to insult anybody, but everyone here can count to sixty, right?"

Eyes turn toward Altan and Davaa. The Khurs look back at everyone. Davaa looks back, "I'm going to pretend you didn't ask that, Granite. Arthur, turn the timer."

Arthur turns the tiny hourglass over. "Let's go, Granite."

Phineas begins counting, "60... 59... 58..."

The group ascends the stairs. Phineas stops in the shrine. Rohzgan turns, surprised by the sudden intrusion. The gnome aims his Shock N' Awe-atron in the direction of the wizard and his otter. He turns a dial on the side of his invention and it begins to hum. Steam begins to leak out of the seams on the side of the device.

Rohzgan opens his mouth to object but wisely shuts it and backs away with his hands in the air.

Phineas' count doesn't stop, "52... 51... 50..."

Altan joins in, "49... 48...."

On the next floor, Granite and Arthur exit on the landing while Davaa and Altan continue up to the observatory. Altan maintains the count, "46... 45... 44...:

Granite looks at Arthur. Eight doors line the hallway, four on each side. "Call me late to the cave-in, but we shoulda asked that boy where Zalthex's study is."

"Yeah... you're probably right," Arthur replies. "Still, wizards are people too and people are lazy so I'm willing to be bet that he doesn't want to walk that far after climbing three flights of stairs. So...."

Arthur pushes on the first door at the top of the steps. It swings inward, revealing a small library worth of books against the wall behind a polished wooden desk.

Just to the left of the desk, a ball of polished red marble the size of Arthur’s head floats above an iron tripod.

Granite stops in the doorway says, "Well, I bet that's it."

As Arthur and Granite find the giant marble ball, Altan and Davaa reach the top of the stairs.

"38... 37... 36..."

Zalthex turns, his brow furrowing in frustration. Agnes snaps her head around in the direction of the two Khurs, the hazy feeling clearing from her head as she does so.

The tower's master frowns, "What is the meaning of this intrusion? What are you barbarians doing up here?"

Altan adjusts his grip on his borrowed mace. "30... 29... 28..."

Davaa looks the master wizard in the eye and says, simply and without pretense, "We're leaving."

"27... 26...25..."

"You presume much for guests in my tower." Zalthex growls.

Davaa shakes his head, "No. We are done presuming."

As Zalthex's irritation comes to the fore, Agnes straightens.

"24... 23... 22..."

"Your Grace... I would ask that you reconsider the company you keep." Zalthex's voice is softer but it carries the weight of a command.

Agnes steps away from him. Davaa and Altan fan out. Altan's eyes meet Agnes’s and then he glances quickly to the base of the orrery. She turns her head slightly and nods in understanding.

"21... 20... 19..."

Zalthex notices. His eyes travel to the orrery and back to the Khurs. His eyes widen a fraction. "What have you done?"

Agnes meets the wizard's gaze. "He said 'We're leaving'".

The mage's veneer of civility cracks. "You think to disrupt my work?" His grip on his staff shifts. Everyone's hair begins to stand on end as the tower's master begins to draw power."

"18... 17... 16..."

Davaa draws his enchanted greatsword. "Careful, whatever you do next, decides how this ends."

"No, you filthy savage, it decides how it begins..." Zalthex says with a sneer in his voice. The Khur warrior smiles.

"12... 11... 10..."

"Why are you smiling, fool?"

"9... 8..."

"Because... Agnes is standing behind you. And she's a dragon."

Zalthex starts to turn but it's too late. Agnes transforms, burying him underneath her bulk, pinning him to the floor. The wizard squirms, trying to escape.

"5... 4..."

Davaa and Altan move forward and pull open the door on the pedestal.

"Well, I can think of only one way to stop this..." Arthur slowly draws out Lawbringer, "Unless your magic can stop it, Granite, we may both want to be ready to do this." He watches the sand run through its glass and readies himself.

"3... 2... 1... now!"

Davaa drives his sword into the mass of delicate gears inside of the pedestal. Altan hammers the pommel with the mace, driving the sword in even further.

Zalthex screams. The orrery shudders to a grinding halt.

Below, Arthur brings his holy blade down on the marble orb. It shatters under the weight of his blow.

Even further below, Phineas licks his thumb and forefinger and pinches the flame on the center candle, extinguishing it.

In that moment, the tower lurches. Zalthex screams—less in pain, more in fury—as the magic binding the tower fractures around him.

Outside, the wind stops in an instant.

Agnes presses down on Zalthex even harder. "You should have let us leave."

"Granite, if you want to take anything from here, now would be the time. Meet up with Phineas. I'm going to get the others."

"I'm not a thief, lad. The Professor an' I will be waitin' at the bottom," Granite replies.

The dwarf heads down the black steps. He finds Phineas sitting in a pew, Shock N' Awe-atron still pointed at Rohzgan.

"Phineas, time ta go," Granite announces.

"Go? But, my Good Dwarf, this is the opportunity of..."

"Arthur said now," interjects Granite, "Before something else goes wrong."

Phineas hops to his feet, "A tactical withdrawal then." The gnome stares hard at the black-robed mage, "Don't get any funny ideas. I can assure you that you do not want to see what this thing can do from that end, my boy."

Arthur begins the ascent to Altan and Davaa, Lawbringer still in hand. When he reaches the top, he finds Altan leaning back against the wall, arms folded across his chest.

The Khur smiles and says, "I knew it!"

Davaa wipes his face with the palm of his left hand, "Altan... we all knew."

Just beyond the two Khur, Agnes is pressing Zalthex into the floor. Her claws dig into the stone floor. The wizard squirms beneath her. Fog leaks from her mouth and nostrils. She growls, "Hold still."

Arthur smiles once he reaches her, "There's my beautiful woman."

The dragon's eyes flash to Arthur for a second. "It is good to see you, too, my knight, but this is hardly the time or place."

She pushes Zalthex down again, "Hold still or I will bite your head off!"

Zalthex snarls, "You wouldn't dare!"

"Try me," Agnes growls back.

Arthur sheaths Lawbringer. "Oh, she most certainly will. Now we have a couple options. We can let you live and leave here without being followed or attacked and we never will come back again. Or she can bite your head off and we leave without issue that way. So, choose." Arthur takes a few steps forward. "See, I would prefer the first option because I really wish to avoid any needless killing, there has been to much of that already."

Zalthex lies on the floor for close to minute, pinned beneath Agnes. He finally grunts, "Fine. Go and good riddance."

"Davaa, Altan, Phineas, and Granite should have everything loaded and ready to go." The paladin waits for Agnes and the pair walk down the stairs together. "Let's get out of this place and back on the road."