The
Ruby Tower
16/3/10,122 - Athalau
Illyra, aware of the events occurring at the tower via her mind link with Tharla, continues her wanderings along with Magda through the artisan quarter well aware that from their earlier finds & from the discussions with Erimmes that magic was common to the bulk of the Athalau's inhabitants.
Tharla stands aghast at what as happened whilst Kilite bellows for Molin get out. Inside there is silence, Molin is happy, in fact he has not felt this peaceful since he suckled at his mother's breast. Why would he ever want to leave the comfort of the tower for the chaos of the world beyond, no, better to stay here in the warm. Out of curiosity Molin feels his way around the towers wall, taking his knife out he scratches at its surface, absently he notes that he can raise no mark on the warm stone, in fact his knife has now lost its edge, no matter he doesn't need it know anyway.
Reluctantly Illyra realises she must return to the others, with a last cast around her eyes alight on two intact sealed clay box's, each the size of a small chest, picking one up, Magda remarks that it is an enchanted container developed to allow travellers or merchants to carry fresh fruit or spices across the continent, the merchandise contained in the box to be as fresh as the day it was sealed. Struggling to carry both box's Illyra is grateful to meet Tharla coming to find her.
Standing looking up at the tower the three vent their frustrations & argue the merits for various ploys to either discover the towers secrets &/or release Molin from his apparent imprisonment.
Anticipating the actions of the guardian Tharla approaches the door & triggers the guardians defences as before. Several times this is repeated allowing Kilite the opportunity to pull the door open as the guardian pursues Tharla from the threshold. Once Kilite opens the door sufficiently to see Molin within, however despite his calls for Molin to leave, his remonstrations are largely ignored.
As the actions are repeated it occurs to the three that the guardians are learning from the groups actions, each time there is less & less time for Kilite to try & coax Molin from the confines of the tower. On the third or so attempt Kilite looking over Molin's shoulder, who bizarrely does not even turn when Kilite screams at his back, can see a feint outline of the inside of the opposite door.
Inside Molin notes that occasionally one or another of the doors are dragged open & then slammed shut, strangely the outline of the three remaining other doors only can be seen when the fourth door is open. Once he even saw somebody he knew before the tower welcomed him in, waving his arms around & mouthing like a fish trying to talk, maybe he wanted to come in to the tower, strange that he didn't but, well, its nice in here, maybe he'll come back later.
Sensing the vast but passive power contained within the tower Illyra is not surprised when her attempts at trying to breach the walls of the tower with a mind speech casting is simply reflected away.
Again the rigmarole of luring the guardian away from the door is acted out, Tharla's deftness of foot allowing her to avoid the blows of the guardians halberd. This time however the guardian reacts quicker than before as if anticipating Kilite's intention to throw open the door. As the golem reaches for & batters the open door against the gesturing Kilite, Kilite, to Illyra's horror steps inside the tower & the door slams shut behind him.
In disbelief Illyra & Tharla stand at the foot of the dais staring up at the tower, unable to understand why on earth Kilite had done what he had done, contemplation is given to simply leaving, taking what they've got so far & forgetting all about Kilite, Molin & Athalau. Reluctantly they realise they cannot yet abandon their friends & strive to construct a method of defeating the guardians.
Inside Kilite is welcomed with open arms by Molin & he too feels the calmness of the tower descend upon him but no matter how pleasant it is he has an itch he cannot scratch, an uneasiness that will not pass, that, & no matter how much Molin bids him rest awhile, he cannot truly forget. Molin, dismissing Kilite's concerns, remembers Erimmes flask at his belt. Removing the stopper he is surprised when nothing happens, after all why would Erimmes not enjoy the serenity of the tower.
Having approach & touched the still form of the guardians Illyra & Tharla are relieved to see that this does not trigger any reaction & the seeds of a plan are hatched. Searching the surrounding structures a length of rusting yet durable chain is found, this is used to bind the one of the golems arms/halberd to its body. An hour later, perspiring, the two manhandle the torso of a collapse statue up the dais, pulling the door open the rattle of the chains alerts them to the struggles of the bound guardian, as the door swings back the carved stone is pushed in front of the doors to hinder their closure.
As Illyra & Tharla hear the guardian break the hold of the chains they can see Kilite & Molin through the open doors, there is little reaction from the towers inhabitants other than a frown, which momentarily scars Kilite's face. Realising that Kilite & Molin cannot hear there pleas to leave Illyra leans across the threshold, for a moment the world stops turning, all is as it should be, then anchored as she outside of the tower she drags herself out of the towers embrace.
As Illyra withdraws it dawns on Kilite that this is all wrong, to remain in the tower will not bring peace only a long slow death, pulling Molin along with him he approaches the open door, only to hesitate at the last, almost turning to return, Illyra however thrusts her arm inside, grabs Kilite & drags him, & in turn Molin, from under the very nose of the now free guardian.
Fleeing down the side of the dais, the guardian above at last batters aside the, by know, pulverised statue section & slams the door closed before returning to take his place by the side of the door as if nothing had ever disturbed his rest.
Stood at the bottom of the dais, Illyra voices her opinion that whatever magic the tower holds it is best left alone, after all a power so strong that it can hold back the glacier, could shake the world if freed from restraint. Slowly the four look at each other, maybe this is what the sky city bitch wanted from Erimmes, maybe she knows about the tower, maybe, she thinks, Erimmes has the key.
Maybe we can climb the tower thought Kilite looking up.