Candlekeep in ruins
Summary of what transpired in a private role-play with @gathertheparty
With the rather panicked messages from her old adventure friend and long time crush, Rose had been hurried towards Candlekeep, a small town by the Sea of Swords, built upon an old library which had been destroyed in various conflicts. A place of old traditions and peace, it seemed to have turned upside down for an unknown reason, however Rose had to seek it out and resolve it, it seemed.
Upon finally entering the town, she rushed past villagers who tried to evacuate, some looking back at her as if she was mad for running straight to the epicenter of the calamity. It was overflowing with heavy magic, one that could leave her suffocated and overwhelmed, for she could feel it without casting any deduction spells. The hint of magic was so palpable in the air, you could cut it with knife.
The warlock found Jade in the very centre of the overpowering magical force, cut off from her and unable to be reached, for the dark walls of palpable and strong magic would kill her if she even attempted to breach it.
Instead, she found herself focusing on finding the source of this catastrophe, calling upon her patron Old One to help her in locating and identifying the threat. She was lead to three houses, one of which seemed to pique the Old One’s curiosity much more as it began to urge her to go in with unclear whispers.
Trusting her patron, she approached the house and moved inside, finding a trap door leading down which she then took, her dancing lights illuminating her path down and into the danger. Her God had warned her, whispering to her of ancient cogs and gears, the whirring noise of machinery filling her ears as she stalked down into the basement.
What she had unearthed had tried to force themselves into her mind, as if trying to take control, but Rose had plenty of experience in it that she was able to resist it, instantly retaliating with force. That, however, hadn’t been the brightest idea, for it had come from a rather emotional side of her, instantly turning hostile towards the sentient machinery, which, in turn, turned hostile towards her.
In an exchange of magical blows, their duel had caused the floor underneath the warlock’s feet to crumble, revealing a dungeon filled with old parchment paper and scrolls, as well as bones of others who had stumbled upon this place. The ancient sentient machine had turned itself from her, shutting itself off of her, much to her chagrin as she tried to connect with it and speak with it. What more was that something or someone was suppressing her Old One, or once leaving Rose’s mind quiet and bare of its’ whispers.
But someone was there to see her and witness her troubles, someone whose presence was not there and unable to be found when he was clearly there, conversing with her. His name was Miriathel. He revealed what the machinery was, a protection tool of the old library which would guard and keep its’ secrets, had been disturbed by the celebration on the surface of the village. The quiet observer, who knew her by name, offered to help her turn the machinery off. All… for a favor.
Trapped by her own folly, she had little choice but to consider his offer and accept. Shaking on it, the promise would not be broken for it had been sealed upon her hand with an odd green mark, left by the observer to keep her from thinking of breaking and escaping their deal. Something cracked within the machine, a source of it, ending all magic that had been activated and destroying the contraption fully. With his end of the deal done he was swallowed by the abyssal portal behind him, and upon his leave, the humming of her god could once again be heard.
Feeling duped, the warlock made her trek out of the building and out into the town, going straight for the town square to find her old companion. With them reunited, they quickly made way out of the town towards a forest where Jade had gotten a request, as well as to escape probable mess from the Order.
