1. Get Spirit expertise from the Lupus (Kyeltziv)
2. Get Construct expertise from a Construct Master in a Chirop jail (John, P’orihc, Ki’stha)
3. Don't talk to strangers (Kleigg)
4. Help Kleigg with his mission (Vandolf)

"Hah! That works, that works well. People don't question that which they fear, either.
Alright, I'm good with this. I assume Linna is staying here where her services are needed more.
Lucida, you mind if I take a breather before we head back out? Spent most of the last 24 hours either travelling or getting schooled."

Lucida: "Sure thing. Just poke a telepath to call me when you're ready, and I'll be there in a flash."

Looks like you've got some free time, and with Linna making sure the lord gets a constant intake of coffee, you can explore the area on your own.

Torrent doesn't seem to be in the room right now in his usual corner, but the beefy armored lupus is standing beside the lord for protection.

"Where are the spotter and Torrent? I'd like to chat a bit with them before we leave, if possible. Oh, and is it fine if I speak to the telepath? She's the reason my group got wrapped up in this whole thing, and we never did get any conclusion with her."

Elizabeth: "The spotter is on the East wall, in a little elevated hut. Torrent is in the third room over. And yeah, you can speak to the telepath, she's in the prison a block from here, the guards'll direct you to her."

"Then I'll take my leave."
> Head over to Torrent's room. Knock first.
"Hey, Torrent? I have a few questions for you.
How did you come to work with Elizabeth?
What were you doing before joining up with Vranhal and Elizabeth?
And why does Lucida have a grudge against you?"

After knocking on the door, you enter and, seeing the armored figure sitting in a padded chair, deliver your questions.

He stares at you for a good long time.

Torrent: "All are related. Now get out."

"...Mm. Sorry to bother."
> Leave. Let's try that a bit less spazzy. Go up to the walls where the spotter is.

Leaving the room and quietly closing the door, you exit the building and head over to Vranhal's east wall, which is quite a distance away.

A tower containing a staircase is connected to the wall, which you can make out a sort of wooden hut-like structure on top. Looks like where the spotter was supposed to be.

Heading up the spiral staircase of the tower, when you reach the top you're met by a mage in a black cloak with a golden emblem of an arrow stitched into the upper arms. He has a set of earmuffs on, and he hands you a pair.

Uh, you're supposed to put them on, you guess, which you do and he gives you a thumbs up.

The man steps out of the way, and you step up on the roof of the tower.

The wooden hut is a small platform elevated on some stilts with a chair and a roof over it, only enough space for a single person really, and the platform is only about as high as your head.

In the chair is a woman with short, messy brown hair in a black cloak, the emblem of a hollow circle on her shoulder. She's facing towards the east, her back to you. Two blue mages stand at the left and right sides of the "hut," and a duo of black mages are behind. On the wall are numerous groups of six black mages, spread out over quite a distance. Periodically they pull a metal rod out of a quiver on their belt and fire it off in an explosive blast that you can feel in your chest - the earmuffs are probably to protect your hearing.

You walk to the eastern side of the tower roof, getting a better view of who you assume is the spotter. Her sleep-deprived bloodshot eyes are partially covered with pair of round-framed glasses with the left lens missing. Hovering in the space in front of her are circles of moving images, panning across fields. Occasionally a man will appear in one of the images, one of the black mages on the wall fires, and the man in the image explodes into a spray of gore.

Spotter: "You a spotter in training?"

"More of a sniper. Though, even closer to a fighter. Have been considering going into kinetic archery techniques like this, wanted to see what it was like.
How does being a spotter work?"

Spotter: "I'm a light mage. I see stuff far away. When I see a target, I pick a sniper to shoot it by sending the sniper the target's bearing, elevation, the wind, temperature, and when I need that shot fired, and then the sniper does it. Or,"

There's the sound of a war machine firing somewhere in the city, and a little later, a group of men in one of the images are consumed in flames.

Spotter: "I have 'ol mailguy deliver a package for me. You should be a spotter - high demand for 'em right now. I'm managing twenty two sniper teams at the moment, you can imagine how much bank I'm making."

"That damn mail system at it again.
Lucrative as that sounds, I don't think I could stand being so inactive. Not to make light of the work, it looks pretty difficult, but I'm a bit too in love with kinetics and moving around.
I heard you're the only spotter right now, were the others stationed around in the field?"

Spotter: "No, they're all dead. The Second had a telepath lurking around taking out spotters before the war declaration. I'm the last one alive that's capable of doing the job, there're some newbies in training right now, though.

Don't feel bad if you try to shake my hand and one of these fellows here snaps your neck, just makin' sure I'm kept safe."

"...Well I wasn't worried about that BEFORE but since you say that...
How long til other recruits get up to speed? Days? Weeks?"
Spotter: "Couple of months? They can barely make a blink of light at the moment and they've got a mess of number crunching training ahead of 'em. The sooner the better, but better to make sure they're adequate than to throw 'em in the chair and have 'em miscalculate every shot."

Artifact (0/1):

Inventory:
-Magic Weapons and Constructs (Book)

-Crude Mana Stone (Mana: 1/1)
-Mana Stone (Mana: 2.3/2.3)
-Mage Stone (Mana: 0/10)
-Mage Stone (Mana: 0/10)

-Gold Coin (Qty.2)
-Silver Coin (Qty. 4)
-Copper Coin (Qty. 28)

-Envelope (Roll 222)
--Handwritten Notes
--Project Heartstone Notes

-Kinetic Bolt Staff (Construct) (Security: Level 2 - Code 47) (Mana: 0/1, Output: 2)
-Cotton Shirt
-Potato Sack Pants

-Crossbow Bolt (+2 Edge , +2 Impact) (Qty. 10)
-Crossbow Bolt (AM Head) (+4 Impact) (Qty. 9)
-Marble (Artificial Matter) (+0 Impact) (Qty. 1)

-Small Square Plate (Artificial Matter) (Runic Spell: “Light Grenade”)
-Taschenblitz (Mana: 0)
-Taschenblitz II (Mana: 0) (UNARMED)

-Translucent Black Lense (Artificial Matter) (+8 Blind Resistance, -2 Aim)
-Flexible AM Square

-Healing Lantern (Mana: 60.68/100)

Equipped:
-Halberd (Artificial Matter) (Security: Level 2 - Code 47) (20/20 Durability) (+15/15 Edge | +10/10 Trauma)

-Running Pants (+1 Evasion)
-Combat Boots (+1 Evasion)
-Bandages (Old)
-Bandages (Old)

-Black Mage’s Hooded Robe (5 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+4/4 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)
-Padded Shirt (5 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+4/4 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)
-Plate Armor (Artificial Matter) (Security: Level 2 - Code 47) (10 Armor Resilience , 40/40 Durability) (+20/20 Physical Defense)

-Gauntlet (Artificial Matter) (Security: Level 2 - Code 47) (Right Hand) (+5 Impact) (7 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+15/15 Physical Defense)
-Gauntlet (Artificial Matter) (Security: Level 2 - Code 47) (Left Hand) (+5 Impact) (7 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+15/15 Physical Defense)
-Greave (Artificial Matter) (Security: Level 2 - Code 47) (10 Armor Resilience , 40/40 Durability) (+20/20 Physical Defense)
-Greave (Artificial Matter) (Security: Level 2 - Code 47) (10 Armor Resilience , 40/40 Durability) (+20/20 Physical Defense)

Skills:
(Magic)
-(Spirit)
--(Mana)
---Deposit (Discharge a select amount of mana into a source that is in contact) (does not consume AP)
---Withdrawal (Take a select amount of mana from a source that is in contact) (does not consume AP)
---Form Artificial Matter (Create magic’d solids) (Durability: Steel) (Efficiency: 1 Mana = 2 Durability)
---Form Memory Stone (Create a memory stone) (Efficiency: Low)
---Form Mana Stone (Create a mana stone) (Efficiency: 1 Capacity = 8 Mana)
---Form Conduit (Create mana conduits)
---Form Release (Create a release crystal) (Efficiency: 1 Capacity = 10 Mana)
---Form Focus (Create a focus crystal) (Efficiency: 1 Ability = 9 Mana , Ability Strength (per ability): 100% = 9 Mana [cannot exceed 100%])
---Form Sparker (Create a Mana Sparker) (Efficiency: 1 Impulse = 0.01)
---Security Sequence (Level: 2) (Load a memory crystal with a magic sequence that protects the construct from deconstruction)
-(Kinetic)
--(Impulse) (Offensive skills lower target’s Will by 50% for Stagger check)
---Micro Meteor (Launch an object with kinetic force) (+ to Projectile = Arcane + Mana)
---Meteor Shower (Fire multiple projectiles with damage evenly distributed) (Inflicts Total + to Projectile = Arcane + Mana)
---Kinetic Bolt (Launch an orb of kinetic energy that explodes upon impact) (Inflicts Trauma = Arcane + Mana)
---Levitation (pick up and levitate small objects)
---Course Correction (Repeat the Land/Miss on a melee attack (consuming AP), but the target has 0 Evasion)
---Blast Wave (Lets out a powerful but short-ranged concussive wave) (Inflicts Trauma = [Arcane + Mana] * 1.5)
---Propulsion Blast (Power a melee attack with a kinetic blast on impact [no AP/Mana is lost from Propulsion Blast if the melee attack misses]) (+Damage = Arcane + Mana)
---Counter Force (Single Turn Condition) (Applies counteracting forces to a target, lowering strength and evasion) (-Strength, -Evasion = Arcane + Mana)
---Impulse Evasion (Evasion) (Can use Standard AP or Evasion AP) (Launch yourself with kinetics to evade an attack) (Can be used when Stumbled, can be used to recover from a Stumble) (Evasion = Arcane + MP)
--(Fortification) (If cast with Mana, Mana is only drained when abilities are disturbed/buffed attacks land)
---Stabilize (Direct Magic) (Single Turn Condition) (Lock an object’s movement relative to a target) (+Trauma Resistance = Arcane + MP)
---Lockdown (Single Turn Condition) (Lock your bones in place and petrify your skin, resisting damage) (+Physical Damage Resistance = Arcane + Mana , affected parts are unable to move [affects evasion])
---Power Flow (Single Turn Condition) (Cast at beginning of turn) (Fortify your bones and strengthen their movements with kinetics) (+Strength = Arcane + Mana)
---Agility Flow (Single Turn Condition) (Cast at beginning of turn) (Fortify your bones and accelerate their movements with kinetics) (+Evasion = Arcane + Mana)
-(Thermic)
--(Fire)
---Heat (Direct Magic) (Warm up a target, burning it with enough energy) (Inflicts Burn = Arcane + Mana)
---Fireball (Launch an orb that unleashes an explosion of heat on impact) (Inflicts Burn = Arcane + Mana)
--(Ice)
---Freeze (Cool down a target, freezing it with enough energy) (Consumes 2x AP) (Inflicts Freeze = Arcane + Mana)
-(Pure)
--(Light)
---Illuminate (Create light, blinding a target if strong enough) (Inflicts Blind = Arcane + Mana)

(Physical)
-Evade (Evasion) (Dodge an incoming attack) (Dodge successful if Evasion >= Attack Aim) (Uses Standard AP or Evasion AP)
-Intermission (Spend 1 standard AP to recover 1 Stamina and Mana, and expedite debuff recovery by 1 turn)

(Hybrid)
-Falling Star (Modifier, Melee) (Used with another attack, does not consume AP) (Leap up into the air with kinetic force and attack while falling, strengthening the damage of a single attack) (+Strength = Evasion + Arcane + Mana, Evasion is 0 for the next incoming attack)

(Other)
-Counter Strike (Counter) (Instantly attack following an enemy’s attack if your Speed Roll is higher)

Passives:
Strength: 6
Arcane: 13
Aim: 8
Evasion: 5 +2
Will: 7
Speed: 5

-Berserker (Passive) (Grants a separate pool of AP for melee attacks)
-Fortified Resolve (Grants a separate pool of AP for Fortification magic)
-Acrobat (Grants a separate pool of AP for evasion)
-Accelerator (Passive) (+10% Damage and Aim to all “Meteor” skills)
-Quick Rest (Passive) (If no action in the turn, all standard AP is recovered at the end of the turn) (Cannot be used if stumbled or in negative standard AP)
-Constitution (+15% Maximum Base HP)

Ettiin: "I'd love to let you into the bottom floor! But there's no access. Like, it's just a stone floor a few feet below, and a few construction mages say it's solid for a while down. No secret hatch that I could make out either. Tried pressing every stone too, in case there was like, a secret button or something? Nada.

There is a thing at the current top of the tower though, maybe you'll find that of interest - a sort of slot where a coffin was when they found the tower. It's been since moved to a museum in Teleiat, but the slot is still there."




Ettiin: "Let's go!"

The armored guard pulls Vandolf by the arm, who pulls Kleigg by the collar, who is followed by a confused Tabi, the entire group charging up the tower's central staircase, passing floor by floor until they reach the top. Which is, a long way up.

On the top floor, the stairs extend all the way to the ceiling, which would make sense if the tower was upside-down at one point.

In the wall, there's a large rectangular slot with various nodes in the surface, looking like connections for something.

Ettiin: "Look, some sort of, like, giant blocky keyhole or something!"


Tabi: "I could try."

Walking over to the coffin slot, she digs through a bag and pulls out a spool of some sort of clear wire and a roll of sticky cloth strip. Sticking a length of wire to each node and connecting them to her interface brick, she pushes a few buttons on the brick and a large array of characters scroll down its screen.

Tabi: "It's still working, whatever this is."

She stares at the interface brick for a few minutes, the screen flashing a few times, signal readings appearing and vanishing, character sets swapping.

Tabi: "Ooh, I got a word. 'Oubliette'."


Tabi: "I can try."

There's a pause as Tabi works the brick.

Tabi: "Something about a 'false casket'. Maybe it knows my brick isn't the real thing."


Tabi: "Sure. It's on the way to Luttiim, too."

Ettiin: "So, whatever's down there is still ticking. You said it was an oubliette? Wonder what it's holding."

Artifact (1/1):
-Caelum Earth Token (+5 Will)

Inventory:
-Silver Coin (Qty. 3)

-Note from “E”
-Small Pouch
--”Negative Fabric”
-Quill (Qty. 3)
-Inkpot
-Paper (Qty. 10)
-Mana Stone (20/20)
-Padded Shirt (5 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+4/4 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)
-Shortsword (+5 Edge | +2 Impact)
-Potato Sack Pants
-Paper Bomb (Detonates after 10 seconds after pulling string) (Power: 100) (Qty. 1)
-Spool of Thread
-Runic Assassin Gauntlet (Mana: 0/??)
--(Magic)
---Kinetic Blade (Single Turn Condition) (Strike with a blade of cutting kinetic force) (+Edge = Mana)
---Compression Barrier (Form a barrier of extremely compressed air around self, reducing damage and becoming invisible) (Durability = Mana/2, +Evasion = Mana, disregards Critical Shot) (Consumes 1 Mana at the end of EVERY turn)
---Conflagration (The user bursts into flames, destroying evidence) (Burn = 100, On Fire = 20)

-Running Pants (+1 Evasion)
-Burlap Cloak (2 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+1/1 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)

-Tan Coat
-White Dress Shirt
-Red Cloth Square

-Steel Mace (+10 Impact)
-Round Shield (Artificial Matter) (Left Hand) (+5 Impact) (+8 Strength and Aim when evading) (7 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+15/15 Physical Defense)

Equipped:

-Combat Boots (+1 Evasion)
-Hair Shirt (-2 Physical Actions)

-Grey Dress Pants

-Steel Helmet (10 Armor Resilience , 40/40 Durability) (+20/20 Physical Defense)
-Steel Cuirass (10 Armor Resilience , 14.8/40 Durability) (+7.4/20 Physical Defense)

Skills:
(Magic)
-(???)
--(Mana)
---Deposit (Discharge a select amount of mana into a source that is in contact)
---Withdrawal (Take a select amount of mana from a source that is in contact)
--(???)
---Extrasensory (Detects magic in the area) (Does not consume AP)
-(???)
--(Negation)
---Nullify (Reduce the effectiveness of a magic instance, cancelling it with enough effort)
---Zero Field (Create a persistent nullification effect on a target or area) (Inflicts Null Body = Arcane + MP)
---Capture (Grab an instance of a spell or piece of Artificial Matter, storing it along with its mana)
---Release (Cast a spell that was stored with Capture [removes spell from storage])
---Delete (Delete a captured spell) (Does not consume AP)
---Reversal (Reverses the Light/Dark polarity of a magic instance) (Fire<->Ice , Impulse<->Fortification , Light<->Dark , Electric caster/user is switched) (Reverse Strength = Arcane + Mana)

(Physical)
-Intermission (Spend 1 standard AP to recover 1 Stamina and Mana, and expedite debuff recovery by 1 turn)
-Evade (Evasion) (Dodge an incoming attack) (Dodge successful if Evasion >= Attack Aim) (Uses Standard AP or Evasion AP)

(Hybrid)

(Other)
-Escape! (Roll a 5 or higher to successfully run away from a battle)

Passives:
Strength: 5
Arcane: 6
Aim: 8
Evasion: 4
Will: 12 +5
Speed: 1

-Nullifier (+20% Negation Magic Effectiveness)
-Null Body (-5 Non-Negation Magic, +5 Magic Resistance)

Artifact (1/1):
-Caelum Wind Token (+5 Evasion)

Inventory:
-Basic Magic Theory (Book)
-Crude Mana Stone (Mana: 1/1)
-Crossbow Bolt (+2 Edge , +2 Impact) (Qty. 19)
-Crossbow (+20 to projectile) (LOADED: Crossbow Bolt (+2 Edge , +2 Impact))
-Cotton Shirt
-Potato Sack Pants
-Paper with Address (Arcane Suppliers - Production Manager’s Office, Magusalto)

-Steel Longsword (+10 Edge | +4 Impact)

Equipped:
-Bracelet
--Focus Stone (Skills: Power Flow)

-Piercing Colichemarde (Construct) (Security: Level 3) (+10 Edge | +3 Aim | +3 Defense Ignore) (Mana: 60/60, Output: 30)
--Kinetic Lance (Single Turn Condition) (Does not consume AP) (Reinforce the point of the weapon, improving its damage and effectiveness against armor) (+Damage = Mana, Defense Ignore = Mana)

-Running Pants (+1 Evasion)
-Combat Boots (+1 Evasion)

-Padded Shirt (5 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+4/4 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)
-Grey Mage’s Hooded Robe (5 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+4/4 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)

Skills:
(Magic)
-(Spirit)
--(Mana)
---Deposit (Discharge a select amount of mana into a source that is in contact)
-(Electric)
--(Telepathy) (Skills ignore Evasion and do not consume Mana)
---Message (Sends a telepathic message to a target/multiple targets) (does not consume AP)
---Receive (Picks up on thoughts if people are thinking hard enough) (does not consume AP)
---Trace (Find the source of a tendril from an active spell that uses one)
---Proxy (Create a fake mind at a specified location that you can direct to use telepathy)
---Mental Security (Strengthen your defense against Telepathy) (Inflicts Mind Guard = Arcane)
---Locate (Does not consume AP) (Telepathically scan the area and locate people)
---Analyze (Degrading Condition) (Probe the target's thoughts to discover its behavior and stats) (+Evasion +Aim against target = Arcane - target_Will)
---Mind Control (Force the target to perform an action) (Arcane must be higher than target's Will)
---Calling the Shots (Does not consume AP) (Successfully predict what skill [and order of skills, if performing multiple calls] an enemy will perform, and increase your Evasion by 100% of its base value to that attack. AP will not be consumed while dodging that attack)
-(Thermic)
--(Fire)
---Heat (Direct Magic) (Warm up a target, burning it with enough energy) (Inflicts Burn = Arcane + Mana)
--(Ice)
---Freeze (Cool down a target, freezing it with enough energy) (Consumes 2x AP) (Inflicts Freeze = Arcane + Mana)
-(Pure)
--(Light)
---Illuminate (Create light, blinding a target if strong enough) (Inflicts Blind = Arcane + Mana)

(Physical)
-Flight (Capable of sustained flight. It takes 1 AP to take off [but not land]. Stops Stamina regen during flight, drains 1 stamina at the end of every roll. User specifies Altitude: If user is stumbled while in flight, takes Trauma equal to Altitude) (Altitude climb per turn = Strength) (+Evasion = Altitude)
-Evade (Evasion) (Dodge an incoming attack) (Dodge successful if Evasion >= Attack Aim) (Uses Standard AP or Evasion AP)

(Hybrid)

(Other)

Passives:
Strength: 1
Arcane: 12
Aim: 6
Evasion: 7 +7
Will: 4
Speed: 2

-Edge Alignment (+10% Damage and Aim to attacks with edged weapons)
-Aerial Evasion (Passive) (Can use Flight right after an enemy attack is successfully evaded on the ground)
-Mind Guard (+1 Telepathy Resistance)
-Acrobat (Passive) (Grants a separate pool of AP for evasion)
-Multiprocessing (Passive) (Grants a separate pool of AP for Telepathic magic)

Artifact (1/1):
-Caelum Lightning Token (+5 Speed)

Inventory:
-Copper Coin (Qty. 5)
-Cotton Shirt (Qty. 5)
-Potato Sack Pants
-Thick Cotton Pants (Qty. 4)

Equipped:
-Running Pants (+1 Evasion)
-Combat Boots (+1 Evasion)

-Rifle Ramrod (+2 Trauma)

-Padded Shirt (5 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+4/4 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)
-Blue Mage’s Hooded Robe (5 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+4/4 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)

Skills:
(Magic)
-(Electric)
--(Lightning) (Aim of skills is increased 50%)
---Shocking Touch (Electrify a target within arm’s reach) (Inflicts Electrocution = [Arcane + Mana] * 1.5)
---Lightning Bolt (Strike a ranged target with a lightning bolt) (Inflicts Electrocution = Arcane + Mana)
---Forked Lightning (Hit multiple targets with damage evenly distributed) (Inflicts Total Electrocution = Arcane + Mana)
---Ball Lightning (Create an electric artifact that releases all of its energy upon contact) (Electrocution = Arcane + Mana)
---Discharge (Does not consume AP) (Release any number of electric artifacts)

(Physical)
-Flight (Capable of sustained flight. It takes 1 AP to take off [but not land]. Stops Stamina regen during flight, drains 1 stamina at the end of every roll. User specifies Altitude: If user is stumbled while in flight, takes Trauma equal to Altitude) (Altitude climb per turn = Strength) (+Evasion = Altitude)
-Evade (Evasion) (Dodge an incoming attack) (Dodge successful if Evasion >= Attack Aim) (Uses Standard AP or Evasion AP)

(Hybrid)

(Other)

Passives:
Strength: 1
Arcane: 10
Aim: 7
Evasion: 8
Will: 2
Speed: 4+5

-Capacitance (Maintain a number of active electric artifacts)

You leave your room and lock it, turning around and partially jumping from being startled at Horoma standing right there.

There's a strange expression on her face, like a half-smile while trying to maintain a serious look.

Horoma: "Tuhota went around exploring, Miimas fell asleep in her room."

"I'm gonna head off t' meet Bauen, wanna come with? Or gon' hang 'round with Miimas?"

Horoma: "I'll come along. Not every day you get to see gate magic being taught. Miimas isn't exactly doing anything interesting, either."

"Alright then."

The two of you leave the inn and locate Bauen's dwelling, a large stone dome with an orange banner across the entrance. You knock on the wooden door, waiting a bit before it opens. The twisted form of the gate walker greets you and you and Horoma enter.

It looks like a normal lupus house - the main room, which is right past the door, serves as the dining room, with the kitchen to your left and a living room to the right. The only thing abnormal is the large array of strange rocks and substances that decorate the walls and a few shelves, some looking organic, others are intricate glassy sculptures.

Bauen offers the two of you to take a seat, which you do.

Bauen: "So, you are on the path to learn gate magic. What do you already know of spirit magic?"

"Can channel spirits, bindin' ..likely unbind a spirit with a bit of effort."

Bauen: "Might I ask what methods of spirit binding you use?"

Artifact (1/1):
-Caelum Fire Token (+1 Basic AP)

Inventory:
-Memory Stone Fragment
-Takana Inn Room Key
-Folding Peasant’s Knife (+3 Edge)

Equipped:
-Shaman Medallion (Kyeltziv)

-Leather Carrying Bag
--Wooden Protection Totem (Mana: 151/180)
---Mana Stones (8/8)
----Regenerating Mana Stone (?/24) (Regenerates 1 Mana per turn)
----Mana Stone (Mana: ?/24)
----Mana Stone (Mana: ?/23)
----Mana Stone (Mana: ?/22)
----Mana Stone (Mana: ?/22)
----Mana Stone (Mana: ?/22)
----Mana Stone (Mana: ?/22)
----Mana Stone (Mana: ?/21)

-Running Pants (+1 Evasion)
-Combat Boots (+1 Evasion)

-Brown Mage’s Hooded Robe (5 Armor Resilience , 0/30 Durability) (+0/4 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)
-Padded Shirt (5 Armor Resilience , 0/30 Durability) (+0/4 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)

Skills:
(Magic)
-(Spirit)
--(Entity)
---Meditation (Relaxes and strengthens your soul, resisting outside spirits) (Inflicts Inner Peace = Arcane + Mana)
---Spirit Channel (Let a spirit use your body to perform an action) (Consumes AP for spirit actions)
---Bind Spirit (Affix a spirit to a physical object)
-(Kinetic)
--(Fortification) (Mana is only drained when abilities are disturbed)
---Power Flow (Single Turn Condition) (Cast at beginning of turn) (Fortify your bones and strengthen their movements with kinetics) (+Strength = Arcane + Mana)
---Agility Flow (Single Turn Condition) (Cast at beginning of turn) (Fortify your bones and accelerate their movements with kinetics) (+Evasion = Arcane + Mana)

(Physical)
-Chilling Howl (Degrading Condition) (Strike fear into enemies, lowering their Aim and Arcane) (-Aim , -Arcane = Will)
-Evade (Evasion) (Dodge an incoming attack) (Dodge successful if Evasion >= Attack Aim) (Uses Standard AP or Evasion AP)

(Hybrid)

(Other)

Passives:
Strength: 8
Arcane: 8
Aim: 7
Evasion: 5 +2
Will: 10
Speed: 6

-Sixth Sense (Passive) (+5 Magic Evasion)
-Berserker (Grants a separate pool of AP for melee attacks)
-Acrobat (Passive) (Grants a separate pool of AP for evasion)
-Inner Peace (+5 Spirit Magic Resistance)
-Constitution (+10% Maximum Base HP)

Ettiin: "I'd love to let you into the bottom floor! But there's no access. Like, it's just a stone floor a few feet below, and a few construction mages say it's solid for a while down. No secret hatch that I could make out either. Tried pressing every stone too, in case there was like, a secret button or something? Nada.

There is a thing at the current top of the tower though, maybe you'll find that of interest - a sort of slot where a coffin was when they found the tower. It's been since moved to a museum in Teleiat, but the slot is still there."




Ettiin: "Let's go!"

The armored guard pulls Vandolf by the arm, who pulls Kleigg by the collar, who is followed by a confused Tabi, the entire group charging up the tower's central staircase, passing floor by floor until they reach the top. Which is, a long way up.

On the top floor, the stairs extend all the way to the ceiling, which would make sense if the tower was upside-down at one point.

In the wall, there's a large rectangular slot with various nodes in the surface, looking like connections for something.

Ettiin: "Look, some sort of, like, giant blocky keyhole or something!"


Tabi: "I could try."

Walking over to the coffin slot, she digs through a bag and pulls out a spool of some sort of clear wire and a roll of sticky cloth strip. Sticking a length of wire to each node and connecting them to her interface brick, she pushes a few buttons on the brick and a large array of characters scroll down its screen.

Tabi: "It's still working, whatever this is."

She stares at the interface brick for a few minutes, the screen flashing a few times, signal readings appearing and vanishing, character sets swapping.

Tabi: "Ooh, I got a word. 'Oubliette'."


Tabi: "I can try."

There's a pause as Tabi works the brick.

Tabi: "Something about a 'false casket'. Maybe it knows my brick isn't the real thing."


Tabi: "Sure. It's on the way to Luttiim, too."

Ettiin: "So, whatever's down there is still ticking. You said it was an oubliette? Wonder what it's holding."

Artifact (0/1):

Inventory:
-Copper Coin (Qty. 33)
-Silver Coin (Qty. 5)
-Gold Coin (Qty. 7)
-Mana Stone (Mana: 20/20)
-Mage Stone (Mana: 9/10)
-Orb (Artificial Matter) (Runic Spell: Mana Storage 2) (Mana: 0)

-Handheld Eitulta Lamp (Skill: Illuminate) (Release: 1) (Mana: 20/20)
-Handheld Eitulta Lamp (Skill: Illuminate) (Release: 1) (Mana: 20/20)

-Short Spear (+4 Edge) (Qty. 3)
-Shortsword (+5 Edge | +2 Impact)
-Steel Longsword (+10 Edge | +4 Impact)
-Steel Longsword (+10 Edge | +4 Impact)

-Crossbow Bolt (+2 Edge , +2 Impact) (Qty. 19)
-Crossbow (+20 to projectile) (LOADED)

-Scrap Metal
-Paper (Spirit Map Runic Spell)
-Paper (Spirit Map Runic Spell 2)
-Paper (Light Grenade Runic Spell)
-Paper (Taschenblitz) >Make a similar rune spell, one that is armed once its mana reserves increase by 0.5, like before. When it is armed, it locks onto the nearest spirit with a complexity over 30 and treats this spirit as its master. If the master spirit is within 8 meters, the spell will always do nothing. If the master spirit is farther away than that however, it will release all of its mana as light if a spirit with complexity over 30 comes within 2 meters of it.
-Paper (Taschenblitz II) >Locks onto the nearest spirit with a complexity over 30 and treats this spirit as its master. If the master spirit is within 8 meters, the spell will always do nothing. If the master spirit is farther away than that however, it will release all of its mana as light evenly distributed 0.5 meters away from the compass if a spirit with complexity over 30 comes within 2 meters of it.
-Paper (Fire Mine) >Locks onto the nearest spirit with a complexity over 30 and treats this spirit as its master. If the master spirit is within 8 meters, the spell will always do nothing. If the master spirit is farther away than that however, it will release all of its mana as heat from the compass if a spirit with complexity over 30 comes within 2 meters of it.
-Paper (Mana Storage) >Rune spell that searches for the closest spirit with complexity over 30. If that spirit is very, very close, ie approximately held against their chest, then it transfers its mana into that creature.
-Paper (Mana Storage 2) >Rune spell that searches for the closest spirit with complexity over 30 if the rune is set to T. If that spirit is very, very close, ie approximately held against their chest, then it transfers 2 mana into that creature and sets to F. Must be taken out of the specified range to set back to T.

-Taschenblitz II (Mana: 0) (NO BUTTON)

Equipped:
-Cotton Shirt
-Potato Sack Pants

-Shortsword (+5 Edge | +2 Impact) (Left Hand)
-Shortsword (+5 Edge | +2 Impact) (Right Hand)

-Steel Helmet (10 Armor Resilience , 40/40 Durability) (+20/20 Physical Defense)
-Steel Cuirass (10 Armor Resilience , 40/40 Durability) (+20/20 Physical Defense)
-Black Mage’s Hooded Robe (5 Armor Resilience , 15/15 Durability) (+4/4 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)

-Gauntlet (Artificial Matter) (Right Hand) (+13.5/18 Impact) (6.75/9 Weight) (10 Armor Resilience , 30/40 Durability) (+15/20 Physical Defense)
-Gauntlet (Artificial Matter) (Left Hand) (+13.5/18 Impact) (6.75/9 Weight) (10 Armor Resilience , 30/40 Durability) (+15/20 Physical Defense)

Skills:
(Magic)
-(Spirit)
--(Mana)
---Deposit (Discharge a select amount of mana into a source that is in contact) (does not consume AP)
---Withdrawal (Take a select amount of mana from a source that is in contact) (does not consume AP)

(Physical)
-Flurry (Melee three times, each attack dealing one third of your normal damage [consumes 1 AP])
-Metabolize (Exert your will over your body, forcing it to produce energy faster than normal) (+Stamina = Will)

-Evade (Evasion) (Dodge an incoming attack) (Dodge successful if Evasion >= Attack Aim) (Uses Standard AP or Evasion AP)
-Weak Block (Evasion) (Intercept an attack to defend yourself) (Block connects if your Aim >= Attack Aim) (-Damage = 0.5*Strength) (Uses Standard AP or Melee AP)
-Delay and Evade (Evasion) (Intercept the attack to delay it, and immediately follow up with an evade) (+Evasion = Aim) (Uses [a single] Standard AP or Evasion AP)

(Hybrid)

(Other)
-Offhand Strike (Counter) (When dual wielding and you evade or block using one weapon, instantly follow up with an attack from your other weapon with no additional AP cost)

-Runic Magic (Draw runes for rune-based magic)
--Basic Runes (Structuring of runic spells, numbers, math, distance)
--Thermal (Raw thermal energy)
--Light (Light energy [Not light magic])
--Spirit Detection (Nth Spirit, Nearest Spirit, Complexity)
-->Spirit Map Runic Spell< (1-20 Nth spirits)

Passives:
Strength: 9
Arcane: 1
Aim: 15
Evasion: 4
Will: 6
Speed: 1

-Sixth Sense (Passive) (+3 Magic Evasion)
-Edge Alignment (+10% Damage and Aim to attacks with edged weapons)
-Momentum (Passive) (Keep yourself moving, increasing damage with each attack) (Buff ends when you fail to attack in a turn or are blocked or stumbled) (+Damage = 1d6 per attack , Max total +Damage = 2 * Strength)
-Critical Shot (Increases damage by extra Aim if initial damage to target is greater than 0)
-Berserker (Grants a separate pool of AP for melee attacks)
-Adrenaline Rush (Passive) (Stamina usage is twice as effective)

Artifact (0/1):

Inventory:
-Copper Coin (Qty. 5)
-Silver Coin (Qty. 2)

-Steel Round Shield (+8 Impact | 5 Weight) (+10 Strength | +5 Aim when evading) (10 Armor Resilience , 40/40 Durability) (+40/40 Physical Defense)

-Steel Mace (+10 Impact)

-Note from John (Roll 226)

Equipped:
-Cotton Shirt
-Potato Sack Pants
-Combat Boots (+1 Evasion)

-Wooden Round Shield (+5 Impact | 3 Weight) (+5 Strength | +10 Aim when evading) (5 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+30/30 Physical Defense)

-Leather Brigandine (5 Armor Resilience , 30/30 Durability) (+10/10 Physical Defense) (Armor does not take damage from Trauma)

Skills:
(Magic)

(Physical)
-Shoulder Charge (Ram into the enemy, dealing Trauma damage) (If you miss, you are stumbled) (Trauma = Evasion + Strength + Stamina)

-Evade (Evasion) (Dodge an incoming attack) (Dodge successful if Evasion >= Attack Aim) (Uses Standard AP or Evasion AP)

(Hybrid)

(Other)

Passives:
Strength: 11
Arcane: 1
Aim: 7
Evasion: 4 +1
Will: 7
Speed: 4

-Sixth Sense (Passive) (+5 Magic Evasion)
-Momentum (Passive) (Keep yourself moving, increasing damage with each attack) (Buff ends when you fail to attack in a turn or are blocked or stumbled) (+Damage = 1d6 per attack , Max total +Damage = 2 * Strength)
-Berserker (Passive) (Grants a separate pool of AP for melee attacks)
-Cover Up (If you fail an evasion, your equipped shield will act as your first layer of armor)
-Brace for Impact (Passive) (Lower incoming Trauma damage by your Strength)

Artifact (1/1):
-Caelum Ice Token (+5 Aim)

Inventory:
-Minie Rifle (+24 to projectile | +6 Impact) (LOADED)
-Saber (+5 Edge | +2 Impact)

Equipped:

-Bandages (Old)

-Navy Blue Jacket
-Running Pants (+1 Evasion)
-Combat Boots (+1 Evasion)
-Knapsack

-Padded Shirt (5 Armor Resilience , 0/30 Durability) (+0/4 Physical Defense)

Skills:
-Stabilize (Spend the extra energy to hold still, increasing Aim for the next attack) (+Aim = Stamina)

-Evade (Evasion) (Dodge an incoming attack) (Dodge successful if Evasion >= Attack Aim) (Uses Standard AP or Evasion AP)

-Flight (Capable of sustained flight. It takes 1 AP to take off [but not land]. Stops Stamina regen during flight, drains 1 stamina at the end of every roll. User specifies Altitude: If user is stumbled while in flight, takes Trauma equal to Altitude) (Altitude climb per turn = Strength) (+Evasion = Altitude)

Passives:
Strength: 4
Arcane: 8
Aim: 15 +5
Evasion: 7 +2
Will: 4
Speed: 4

-Critical Shot (Increases damage by extra Aim if initial damage to target is greater than 0)

Inventory:

Equipped:

Skills:
(Magic)
-(Pure)
--(Light)
---Accelerated Repair (Speed up the body’s natural healing process on a target, clearing conditions) (Turns given = Arcane + Mana)

Passives:
Strength: 4
Arcane: 8
Aim: 8
Evasion: 4
Will: 4
Speed: 4

Inventory:
-Mana Stone (Mana: 22/22)
-Mana Stone (Mana: 20/20)
-Mana Stone (Mana: 19/19)
-Mana Stone (Mana: 1/19)
-Mana Stone (Mana: 0/19)
-Mana Stone (Mana: 0/19)
-Mana Stone (Mana: 0/19)
-Mana Stone (Mana: 0/19)

Equipped:
-White Dress Shirt
-Red Waistband
-Black Tights
-Girl’s Dress Shoes

Skills:
(Magic)
-(Thermic)
--(Fire)
---Heat (Direct Magic) (Warm up a target, burning it with enough energy) (Inflicts Burn = Arcane + Mana)
---Flare (Unleash a torrent of flame that burns and sets targets on fire) (Burn + On Fire = Arcane + Mana)
---Fireball (Launch an orb that unleashes an explosion of heat on impact) (Inflicts Burn = Arcane + Mana)
---Flash Point (Launch an orb that sets a target on fire) (Inflicts On Fire = Arcane + Mana)
---Cauterize (Use heat to seal a wound) (Inflicts Burn = [Arcane + Mana] * 0.1 , Removes Cut, Frozen = Arcane + Mana)
---Mirage (Heat the air to cause distortions, lowering Aim and increasing Evasion on the target) (-Aim = Arcane + Mana, +Evasion = Arcane + Mana)

-Evade (Evasion) (Dodge an incoming attack) (Dodge successful if Evasion >= Attack Aim) (Uses Standard AP or Evasion AP)

Passives:
Strength: 2
Arcane: 19
Aim: 18
Evasion: 8
Will: 2
Speed: 6

-Pyromania (Passive) (+50% Fire magic effectiveness) (No damage taken from Cauterize) (No Aim reduction taken from Mirage)
-Twin Dragons (Flare casts twice [on 1 AP])
-Mana Regeneration (Mana regenerates 2 per turn)