Ceba nodded, following Jubei's lead and scurrying past to peek ahead. Despite his wounds, he would still take care to fulfill his role as scout.

Also gonna do a short rest, nomming a healing potion and spending my last healing surge for 10 HP, healing up to 20 and probably leaving a small trail of blood literally everywhere I go (T_T)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:51, Tue 09 Oct 2018.

Willa tries to find a spot void of sand for her short rest.  "Sands nasty," was all she said on the matter, but everyone could guess at the problems it might cause for someone of her...physicality.

When Iron Jubei and Ceba begin looking for another door, she heads straight down the middle of the room, where the least sand has gathered.  She stops at the dais and studies it along with the gems above (as best she can from basically the floor), wary of the pillar of light.

OOC
Short rest.

Willa's going to spend some time looking over these things, but I'm not sure what roles might be appropriate so I will make a number to represent her more thorough inspection of it, if possible.  I've put them in the order she would do her checks, first to last and if permitted the time to do so, she'll take 10 on all of them:

Dungeoneering (especially for traps): 12 (take 10) or 11*
Thievery (to disable any traps): 16 (take 10) or 12*
Perception: 12 (take 10) or 17*
Arcana: 18 (take 10) or 24*
History: 15 (take 10) or 19*
Religion: 15 (take 10) or 13*
And - If applicable - mechanics: 12 (take 10) or 19*

*If unable to take 10
This message was last edited by the player at 09:09, Tue 09 Oct 2018.

Drex also had time to tend to himself. He will be following as soon as Willa has finished her inspection. He does not what the group to split up.

Spend 1 healing surg to heal Drex up to 33HP.

Phelan took a moment to recoup the magical energies he had expended during the fight, looking a bit bemused at the conversation. Perhaps his explanation hadn't been quite clear enough. But Jubei made needing to re-explain moot. Either way, after catching his breath, he decided to do his own inspection of the room, looking for anything hidden or unusual.

OOC: Short rest. No healing surges expanded.

    Something about the dias caught Phelan’s attention.  Much as it had Willa’s, but for a different reason.  While Phelan walked around the dias, studying it first.  Willa had been at work at the curiosity it and the bejeweled ceiling provided.  She had not truly needed to focus her arcane awareness to realize this chamber hummed with magic.  It was like the mass of power which surrounded the weyr.  Like a drawing of a building compared to the genuine article the picture attempted to capture.

  The light which spilt in the chamber from the jewels at first appeared to be magically created light but on closer inspection it was revealed to be genuine sunlight.  The stones were directly transmitting the sun’s light to this chamber.  Maybe the stones could even store it?  Willa had wondered.  Though that was less important then the other realization picking at her mind and the curiosity of Amare’s behavior.
  Every time you had been involved in a battle since entering the weyr Amare had been insistent on keeping you moving.  Yet you have spent a very long time now in this chamber and Amare was not insisting on moving on.  He had made himself comfortable, opened his book and had begun writing in it.  Probably sensing her thoughts, Amare looked up at Willa and gave her a smile which reached up to wrinkle his eyes.  Why was he so calm here?  Was it because he knew it was safe?  If so why hadn’t he said anything?
  Part of the ceiling, specially where the sunburst was located, was directly connected to the dias via the lines of a tapestry of spells, nearly as complicated as the wards which surrounded the chamber.  This weave is what had originally drawn Willa’s attention.  Though she would need to concentrate more effort into studying it.

  The doorway at the far side of the arena looked much the same as the one through which they had entered but clearly lead to an entirely different area of the underground of the weyr and Cebakaala saw signs which indicated that a stairwell nearby which lead to ”Draconic Habitat Access.”

Drex goos and stands by Jubei. He is not too interested in the investigations.

Willa cocked her head and pursed her lips together in what appeared to be some very serious and deep thought.  Then, having apparently decided on something, she nodded had to herself and bounced over to Phelan.

"Mr Phelan, sir: strings be!  Are Like fabric pictures!"  The umbrean's arm waved up and down excitedly, apparently indicating at the space between the dais and the ceiling, though there was nothing to see but the column of light. She encouraged him over to see these invisible cords, ushering him along with nonsensical ramblings about magic and the many woven pictures she'd her travels (which boiled down to about two, but she remembered them very, very well).

OOC
Should Willa manage to convince Phelan to investigate, she'll try to help him in determining their purpose.

Aid Another - Phelan on Arcana Check: 12

17:35, Today: Willa rolled 12 using 1d20+8.  Aid Another - Phelan with Arcana.

Phelan blinked slowly as he examined the dais, eyes glowing slightly as he was evidently searching for strands of arcanima. He was nodding in understanding when Willa's exclamation interjected. "It's an e-right that term won't be helpful. Basically this is a platform that can be raised and lowered to take you to an upper or lower level." He looked over at Willa as encouraged him, deciding to approach. "Those strings you see likely help operate it, though we'd still need to find the method of controlling it."

He looked thoughtful. "Perhaps after we explore onward, we can return here to see if we can operate it? I don't want to take too many risks as I don't know how functional it is currently."

    Amare stopped writing and with a crisp clap of pages put away his book and stylus.  As he rose from the dais someone spoke.  "Adventurers, and the expedition beyond our walls we would ask your attention."

  You each looked around for the source of the voice then.  It had sounded calm and neutral though it was your guess weather the speaker was male of female.  "This is a telepathic message we are broadcasting from our citadel.  You have caused us some trouble in the last few days and a great deal of concern.  After some deliberation we have decided to negotiate with you both.  Our defenses will no longer engage you upon sight and will respond with necessary force only when provoked.  If you believe we can not be trusted than we will give you this assurance for what little it may be worth to you it is sacred to us.  We were dragons in the flesh once, we do not engage in treachery nor suffer traitors to live we will not deceive you in our promise of a truce."

  There was a moment's pause before the voice finished "We will send a delegation to the gate to meet with any representatives from the expedition you send.  You may come armed but you will not be permitted to send more than four people.  Adventurers, when you meet our defenders it will take a moment for us to speak and arrange a meeting."

Willa looked confused for a moment, before scowling.  "All hear?  Or just Willa?" She warily casts her gaze around, hunched and ready to spring into action a moment's notice.  "Voices be.  Say want meet.  But Willa no like.  No friends be with spirit-slaving demons masters!"

She blinks a moment later as something else occurs to her:

"Must to warn Soy-near!  Soy-near no know of spirits trapping!"

OOC
18:04, Today: Willa rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  Insight on inside voices.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:05, Tue 16 Oct 2018.

Ceba's fur bristled. He did not like disembodied voices, it was a personal pet peeve of his. He quietly considered the possibilities of an actual delegation meeting with whatever was the source of the voices. He did not consider himself much of a delegate, but if it was the group's decision he would make the effort to do what needed to be done.
Ideally, though, he would have his Lance at the ready to snipe the voice-things to death.

Phelan had jerked in surprise at the telepathic message, but his expression settled from surprise into a frown. "I... Don't like this. I really don't. Ceba... When you were dispatched to join us, were you given any method to communicate to the expedition?" His paws seemed to be gesturing slightly as he spoke, betraying some anxiety. "Though it may still be worth a shot of us at least finding out."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:54, Wed 17 Oct 2018.

    Furrowing his brow Amare looked around, in one blink his eyes lost their iris completely becoming pools of blackness.  His unblinking gaze swept the arena before he blink again, regaining his red irises.

  "There don't seem to be any psychic sensors I can detect here." Amare said.  "The...voice, it came from above us.  Roughly.  I think it was from within the crystalline spire." he added before he paused, frowning.

  "I've been told umbreans are born from the residual memories and experience of those in the area around them, is this true?  If that is the case, it is a possibility.  Even considering the...uh short lifespan of umbreans Willa has recalled fragmented memories from her previous selves." Amare said as he spoke up again after the pause.

  "Personally I find it incredible that they could have endured that long and retained any sort of continuity.  If there is any consistency Volon observed in your world its that no society remains the same for millennia." as if he suddenly realized he might have to explain something he'd casually mentioned just a moment before.  "Ah, Volon would be the colossus Kendall restored."

Rummaging in his safest knicknack hiding place, Ceba extricated a small object. A communication device. He turned it over in his palm a few times, tapped it a few times, and handed it to Phelan, feeling that if anyone could make use of it it would be the Machinist amongst them.
After all, Ceba had always felt rather cursed by non-weaponised technology.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:55, Fri 19 Oct 2018.

Jubei meanwhile seemed to have reeled a bit from that sudden announcement of a 'cease fire'. He had been staring into some indescribable distance for a little bit before he gave a nod. "We will meet them. I have to know if they speak the truth about what they were. Dragons...", he muttered and shook his head with no slight disbelief. "We should head back to the gate as well. It is better than to walk around hoping we'd find more of their defense machines." The kaetyma pawed momentarily at the floor with his frontlimbs, before he straightened himself again.

Phelan fiddled with the device briefly, activating it after a brief moment. Carefully, he spoke in his native tongue, voice taking on the bored tone of someone giving a basic report. After some moments of talking into the device, he looked back up at the group.

"Sorry. Reports are easier to give in my tongue. You're right though Jubei, best we can do is head back."

Willa hunched and crossed her arms like a sulking child.  Frowning she said: "We go back.  They make to start attacking again more.  Back to start be!"

After a couple of moments she looks up with interest.  Her apparent grumpiness gone, she stands up straight, raises a finger matter-of-factly and points upwards.

"Willa see Oracles before!  Are so nice!  Good friends of.  Even give Willa gifts!" He raises her new rod to bring it to everyone's attention.  "Also, Say can to be asking for true.  Maybe is good to ask if can trust voices?"

Ceba scurried slightly ahead, slipping as best he could into what few shadows were present, as he watched ahead for anything that might be of interest.

Stealth: 24, to be hidden in shadow
Dungeoneering: 18, to find the way and any oddities that strike his fancy

    Exploring further up the hallway from the arena Cebakaala found the stairs which the sign had indicated.  The area was lit by the same luminous crystals he had seen elsewhere in the weyr and following the stairs up a flight he found a metal door, very similar in design those had come across before only this one look rather well kept.

  It took a few minutes before a reply came in on the communication device Phelan held.  There was a sharp burst of noise from it then a voice in narayan spoke overlaid by a ear aching scratching.

Drex is quite, is this offer to parley genuine? Drex is sceptical, considering their attempts at diplomacy where ignored and that the intarface told them in the previous tower.

But why would they, the enemy suddenly have a chance of heart? Was it the pressance of the Nemesis, perhaps. This thought does not seem to convince Drex of the sudden change in their adversaries.

What is clear is that we shall meet with them, but to go to the entrance, Willa describe it well enough.

"Jubei, do we go to meet them at the entrance or do you have a different plan?"

 Phelan responded to the Narayah voice, sounding like he was repeating some of what he said.

"Willa... What are these oracles you mentioned, again?" He was frowning.

Willa looks confused.  "Oracles be Oracles.  Willa say of before.  Many times.  How Willa got magic.  Willa first friends."  After a moment she exclaimed, "Oh!  Before Willa say Oracle.  Think to be only one.  But Was wrong.  So very very wrong.  Teachers also.  Many be!  Willa so happy!  Not knowing has so many friends!"

Willa looks to the ceiling, specifically the light transfusing crystals and waves.  "Hi, Oracles friends!  Willa sorry could not speak for longer.  But Willa other friends okay now!"

Oracles? Drex looks at Willa and Phelan questioningly, hoping or maybe dreading the explanation to follow.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:41, Sat 27 Oct 2018.

"No, unless we happen to run into some of their guard machines on the way to the entrance, I don't have any other plan.", the kaetyma rumbled and shook his head, before he turned his attention to Willa with a raised brow. "Was that what happened at the start of the fight?", he asked. "That you learned these things I mean."

    "Willa fought off daemonic possession by means of invoking the aid of an arcane patron.  Who also happens to be a god.  One of the Far Gods to be precise." Amare answered for Willa.

  There was burst of noise from Phelan's communication's device which startled some of you.  As the somewhat familiar voice of Soinr crackled out in narayan.