Chapter 2: Down the Future Path (To the Past)

Skivven wrote: Skivven laughs at the guards joke and continues down the indicated hallway. "Skivven would say guard correct and you crazy but.." He shrugs and plays with a shell, tossing it up and down before pocketing it again "Skivven did see big lizard, and you not look like magic man. Also you said group? More of you in cells Skivven missed?" He asks as you walk along before replying to Will. "Skivven supposed to escort you But." He replies with a frown "But we close enough and other guards can handle you if you wander off. Go down that hallway there and Skivven take this one to lab. When done hang left when you leave, lab straight down hallway. Not take to long or Skivven shoot legs off." He explains with a smile.

Liana Shadowstalker wrote:


'Diana' walks over to Cecilia, handing her the book. She frowns.

"I'm afraid I have other business that I must attend to, Cecilia. I will be back when I am finished, though, and then I can assist you in your research."

With that, 'Diana' takes her leave, stepping out into the hall. She occasionally checks to make sure nobody is near her, then eventually ducks into another hallway and taps into the ring on her finger, becoming invisible. Once invisible, Liana immediately drops her disguise and begins to quickly and quietly sneak towards the location the Kaiser mentioned.

Cecilia Phron wrote:'Diana's' sudden departure does not improve Cecilia's mood. With a huff, she looks back to her work. She does not notice anything else.

Storyteller wrote:
Still entranced, Will nods at Skivven and goes off toward the lavatory. It's not long before Liana reaches him.

Liana Shadowstalker wrote:


Liana takes some time to study her target, applying poison to a rapier as she does so. She waits for an opportunity to strike, then moves in close and lashes out with the rapier.

Storyteller wrote:
Will fails both fortitude saves, goes limp, and falls to the floor.

Meanwhile, in the alchemy lab:

Alistair, after much searching, is able to find the missing pages to Cecilia's book on the Philosopher's Stone! They were tucked away in a book entitled, "Conjuration and You: A Guide to Gates, Portable Holes, and More".

Liana Shadowstalker wrote:


Liana chuckles quietly to herself, muttering:

"Too easy. I wonder what Trenton wants him for...oh well, it doesn't really matter."

She frowns as she realizes what comes next. She begins dragging Will towards the trapdoor, complaining quietly to herself as she does.

"Honestly, if Trenton wanted this damned fool dead, I could have done it so much more easily than this. Why am I the one dragging him?"

Alistair looks at the pages, scouring the contents while making a quick attempt of an analysis towards what Diana had made, making a further yet secretive glance towards her direction. She wasn't someone he trusted well.

Cecilia Phron wrote:After some relative silence following "Diana's" departure, Cecilia finally speaks, eyes still towards her work.

"While I'm sure you had good reason for staying quiet, alchemist, I am not a patient woman. Tell me what you've been pondering so carefully. Do you have an idea that might expedite my research? Or..."

She looks up, hoping to catch Alistair's good eye.

"...Well... Perhaps you should come over here, if only to... compare notes."

Alistair turned, though not moving his eyes off the pages, as he approached quietly and showed them to Cecilia.

"Seems we've found the missing pages. Also, I don't trust that drow. She's no lab assistant. Not when making a poison like that."

His voice remained low, making gestures on the pages to seem as if he was talking to her about what he found instead. Just in case.

Cecilia Phron wrote:With an incredulous stare, Cecilia opens her mouth to speak. She stops herself, then takes the notes from Alistair. While looking them over, she responds.

"Are you sure it was poison? No.... no, you would know, wouldn't you? I don't make a habit of traveling with fools." Cecilia begins comparing the missing pages with the main text. She continues, still without looking back at Alistair.

"I am absolutely certain about what I said to her, Alistair. What she is, exactly, is a mystery... but she is not drow." Her eyes look up at Alistair from under her hat's wide brim. "Which presents a few rather obvious questions, does it not? Who is she, and why did the Kaiser order her here? Why did she suddenly leave? I'm sure you've been pondering all of this already, yes?"

Cecilia smirks, then looks back to the texts. "It seems the only thing that is certain is that we are being misled once again."

"I have, actually. None of this is adding up quite right. Why trust us so easily? Why take fancy in us outside of what we've already told? Something is definitely afoul. I can smell it, and I'm not referring to the chemicals here. Trenton is up to something. I've an eye on him like I did with that damned barkeep. Be ready for any surprise betrayals."

Alistair kept quiet in his conversation with Cecilia, still pointing out random parts of the pages and acting as if trying to outline something.

Cecilia Phron wrote:Cecilia nods. She responds to Alistair, remaining relatively quiet.

"Given my last conversation with Trenton, it is entirely possible I may end up alone with him at some point. I hope you're feeling about him doesn't portend the same result as your feeling with the barkeep. I have no desire to engage a lich at this point." Cecilia smirks as she reviews the texts, this time legitimately researching.

"Keep gathering whatever information you can about our 'hosts.' I will work with you to piece it together when we next have the opportunity. In the mean time, we will act as they expect... or, at least, as they've demanded. It should be easy enough. We are, after all, legitimately trying to return to our world." She pauses only briefly before adding: "I do not currently have a plan of action, Alistair, but be ready at a moment's notice. Your body should be able to ignore the exhaustion that comes with constant preparedness."

Storyteller wrote:
As Cecilia and Alistair read through the notes, they begin to realize why they were hidden away. The notes detail the creation of philosopher's stones, and it is a gruesome process, for they are created from nothing less than pieces of mortal souls! The pages detail that the creator need not give up their own soul, as the process does not demand willing sacrifice. Neither does it demand an entire soul: a small piece will do to create a weak stone. The larger the piece of one's soul that goes into a stone, the more powerful it will be. What's more, the stone's power will depend largely on the power of the individual who so generously "donated" their soul to creating it. However, the notes go on to caution unwitting alchemists that once one's soul is torn apart for use in a philosopher's stone, one has forfeited the right to pass on to the next world after death. A person who dies without their soul intact is lost forever to the void, ceasing to exist as consciousness fades into oblivion. The notes hint that there are ways to restore a person's soul and allow them to pass on, but they don't go into detail about just what those methods are. It is clear from the notes that the author has done something they greatly regret.

Storyteller wrote:
Skivven and Saul finally reach the alchemy lab, just after Liana drags her quarry through the trapdoor. They are greeted by an alchemist, leaving, possibly for his lunch break. He looks delighted to see the pair. "Good day to you, Skivven! I trust the Kaiser's prisoners are keeping quiet under your thumb, as always?"

Under the alchemy lab, Liana finds Trenton.

Kaiser Trenton wrote:

"Excellent work, Liana. Come with me."

Trenton leads Liana to a strange, upright circular contraption with four straps, appropriately placed to hold a humanoid up by its wrists and ankles.

"Help me get the summoner into this machine. Soon, our hard work will all come to fruition."

Liana Shadowstalker wrote:

Liana begins hooking Will up to the machine.

"So, uh, what do you actually want him for, boss? You were pretty specific about wanting him alive, and you know I could've killed him far more easily."

She shrugs.

"Well whatever it is, I guess it isn't really that important to me. I have to say, though, I don't see why you're allying yourself with that horrible woman."

At the memory of Cecilia, Liana grimaces.

"She...she saw through my disguise. And I don't know that I have the patience to put up with her. She's one of the most aggravating people I've ever met."

Kaiser Trenton wrote:

"For now, I need the research I've asked of her to distract her from her friends. I can't risk her interfering with this, it's too important. Once we are able to return to Amroth, she will become far more useful, especially with the destruction of the Lich. And her friend intrigues me: the automaton man. He willingly gave up his right to a true death to become something so against nature that the gods will surely forsake him, and yet he seems...content. It is them, perhaps, that may understand my motives more than any Drow. But, we have spoken far too long. It is time for action. It is time for me to take the first step home."

Kaiser Trenton flips a nearby switch. The machine emits a horrible humming noise and Will awakens abruptly. He begins to scream as the machine sends electrical pulses coursing through his body.

"Yes, very soon, now."

Catherine wrote:
Catherine is frantic as she walks into the laboratory, and becomes even more worried when she sees two new people there. As she walks over to them she wants to ask them who they are, and perhaps even who they think they are, sneaking around in this lab -- but before she gets a chance, she notices what they are so intently studying, and her face turns pale.

"You... you found them..." she manages to mutter, with her hands shaking and the red jewel on her wooden staff pointed toward them. But when she gets a gets a good look at their faces, Catherine can't believe what she sees: she knows them! They're the whole reason she's in this damned city in the first place!

"You? What are you doing here? And how did you find those notes? Trenton hasn't seen them, has he? Where the hell did he go?" asks Catherine, sliding further into desperation with every question.

Cecilia Phron wrote:Cecilia barely acknowledges Catherine's presence. Catherine didn't leave enough of an impression on Cecilia for her to immediately recognize her.

"Hmph. Another one? For a people unaccustomed to outsiders, the drow certainly entertain several non-drow guests." Turning towards Skivven and Saul: "And a rat, as well... Quite the diversity here."

Cecilia sighs heavily, then addresses Saul with a smirk. "So, Knight... how were your accommodations? I do hope they were pleasant. I'd hate for one of the reliable ones to have been uncomfortable."

Despite her mocking demeanor, Cecilia is apparently both relaxed and relieved as she leans back in her chair. "And where is the useless summoner, hm? We might need him to buy something, or perhaps inadvertently seduce more royalty."

Saul wrote:

"Eh, it was a bit filthy, but at least there weren't people whipping or torturing me. As far as imprisonments go, I give it an alright 6 out of 10."

Saul looks around, and notices that Will hasn't come back from his restroom visit.

"Huh. Well, he was escorted out of the cell along with me, but he was allowed to visit the restroom. I don't think he'd attempt a getaway; he's not that courageous."

Saul then recognizes the weird girl pointing a staff at the group.

"Oh hey, it's Catherine! What happened to you?"

Skivven wrote: Skivven bobs his head and grins a toothy grin at the alchemist "Yes yes very quiet, some more than others. All nice and ordered. Skivven did have issue with cells not being cleaned though." He frowns a bit at that thought."When Skivven done here he need to speak to people about that" He grumbles as he fiddles with the shells in his pocket before striding over to Saul and his companions.

"Skivven assume you free now, to be here anyway. Skivven stick around though to make sure. As for your friend, Skivven sure he pop up. Guards will nab him and Skivven will hear about it if he get lost." He stops to look up at Saul's companions. "So Skivven wonders who...." He pauses mid sentence to stare at Alistair before walking up and extending one claw to poke at him. "Skivven never seen golem like this, who owns?" He says staring up at him with a mix of amazement and baffled curiosity.

Alistair seemed to pay no mind to Catherine, giving a quiet "hrm" under his breath before noticing Skivven's gaze on his own. Well, it was comical in his expression towards him, he admitted internally.

"Alive and breathing with my own mind and soul attached. Though a living and fully sentient golem is something to think about..."

The alchemist stroked his goatee, reflecting on this. Ideas began to form visibly in his eyes.

Cecilia Phron wrote:
Cecilia furrows her brow slightly at Saul's remark towards Catherine.

"You... know her, Knight?" She takes a moment to more carefully examine Catherine and her staff. After a moment, her identity clicks. "Oh, of course. The abjurer. You implied you were familiar with this research, yes? Sit. You may be useful." Cecilia pauses only slightly. "I do not know why you blame us for whatever misfortune has befallen you, nor do I care. There is work to be done. You will either be useful, or you will become a non-issue."

As she finishes what she is saying to Catherine, Cecilia turns to address Skivven and Saul. "I-" She stops as Skivven pokes at Alistair, blinking to try and register what just happened. Cecilia shakes her head following their interaction. "Right. I forget that others are not yet accustomed to your appearance, Alistair."

Towards Skivven: "Rat, Trenton expects us to continue working until we find a way for the drow to return to Amroth. Now that we are largely assembled, work can continue in earnest. We will anticipate for your information regarding the summoner, but otherwise require either privacy or assistance. I'd prefer the former if you're as disruptive as our last 'aide.'"

Skivven wrote: Skivvens ears flatten as he glares at Cecilia "Skivven thinks rude meat doll lady who needs a bath should learn respect before she replaces pleasant knight in cell with big lizard. Skivven suppose though, that she may not be bright and not rude and if that case Skivven wonders why boss keep defective thing around in lab." Skivven then smiles at her as he finds a seat. "Skivven also notes that he is happy to know that he does not have to listen to you and looks forward to enjoying day off watching people work here."

Skivven leans back in his chair, scratching at one ear before speaking again. "Skivven does have questions though. Whats an Amroth. And who was disruptive in labs?"

Cecilia Phron wrote:
Cecilia's eyes widen at Skivven's remarks. While slowly rising from her seat, she glares with her mouth agape for a moment, then rights herself before responding. "You speak with quite a bit of confidence, Rat. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on the grounds that I can't imagine why you'd be allowed here if you were not capable. That said..." Cecilia adjusts her stance, trying to reassert herself. "There's a reason for the scent, and it is not just the poppet. The nature of my work has me around corpses quite often... either because I am studying them, or because I am making them. As for my own abilities? Your Kaiser believes I am capable of returning him and his people to Amroth: Another world, and one from which the drow and us hail. That he believes I am capable of such a feat should be more than enough proof of my abilities."

Cecilia sits back down, satisfied with her response. "As for the disruptor... I believe her name was... perhaps Diana? I did not bother committing it to memory, so perhaps I am wrong. She was in here brewing something or another, then left abruptly after keeping me from the work your Kaiser wants done." She reorganizes her research. "I suppose it is useless to tell you to go away, but at the very least try not to interrupt this project. It is important to the future of the drow, which should be reason enough, no?"

After finishing her statements, Cecilia returns to her work. While she thinks no one is looking, she attempts to subtly tilt her head and smell herself with a slightly blush.