Ryland's jaw drops. "By the grace of Eru, he's turned into a celestial already. Go forth now friend", he says, extending an arm out in a grand gesture. "Go forth into the heavens, and be at peace!". A dribble of snot runs out of his nostril.

Toben laughs in between breaths. "Remind me to thank Nessie next time we see her as well. I don't think I'd be standing here otherwise."

Ryland stammers "But, but, you died?".

Toben pats himself down with his hands. "I'm not dead yet."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:17, Wed 20 Sept 2017.

Ryland cocks his head to the side, and holds out an open palm, confused. "Yes you are. If anything you're at least very ill, you've sprouted wings".

At this point, Xar squeezes his way past the others and clasps Toben on the shoulder.  He smiles, shakes his head, and chuckles silently before patting that same shoulder and stepping back to let others in.

Klale growls back Nothing can do. Cry later.

Assuming he makes it to the platform, he sits and takes deep breaths. So, Toben the Flighty, you make us and hope whole. What now?

Toben peers up toward the top of the tower. "I'd like to get off these stairs sooner rather than later, so let's keep moving. The top can't be too far away. Let's just pray there aren't any more gaps in the stairs."

Just an FYI, the spider climb should still active, unless more than 11 minutes or so have passes.

Ano smiles at Toben as he begins climbing again.  " still full of wonders I see.  Glad your safe."

Ryland laughs, and continues up the wall. "No more lecherous stories for Toben on tower climbs. Duly noted".

The march/climb continues to the platform above.  Energized by the recent events, the group makes it topside well before the spell expires.

Here they see a wide stone surface flaring out from the tower large enough to hold the dragon they had encountered in the depths below and then some.  In the center is the top of the tower, which looks like an ornate, cylindrical mansion with a conical roof.  Elegant designs of dragons, birds, butterflies, winged humanoids, and so much else cover the building.  A single, large door of thick wood sits within a recessed entryway that is accessed by a set of four stairs leading down from the platform surface.

Two small windows can be seen, one on either side of the door.  Inside is a warm red glow much like a lit fireplace.  There is no smoke, no chimney, making the sight a bit more curious.

The rumbling is continuous now.

Ryland looks the mansion over. "I'd hate to be the moving crew with the furniture for this place..". He turns and looks over at Toben. "So you think your Maiar is in here? My bet is the whole house is alive and is going to try and eat us, given our luck so far".

"Only one way to find out. Xar, you mind giving it a one over? I don't trust anything up here right now."

Xar starts off around the platform as the rumbling continues to increase.  By the time he returns, he is having difficulty standing.

[Balance Check DC 13 or fall to the ground unable to stand.]

When Xar is close enough and able to get Toben to look at him steadily enough, he shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head back and forth.

The rumbling shakes Klale, who would have fallen were he not already sitting. Realizing trying to stand would be foolhardy*, he begins crawling toward the door.

*Not that the rest was foolhardy, mind you...Cold, scant air, uncertain climbing, possible tower collapse....

Ano begins to make his way towards the tower slowly and steadily, making sure to watch his footing.

10:21, Today: Ano rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Balance check.

Toben follows behind Ano, slowly making his way towards the door without much problem.

10:40, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 18 using 1d20+2.  Balance check.

Ryland follows as well, sure on his feet. "This reminds me of the time an entire village's worth of people ran me out of town. There were so many of them, the ground shook as they threw things at me. Rocks, tomatoes, pitchforks, mother-in-laws, you name it, they threw it. Dreadful bunch of people. Nost I believe was the name of the place. Some halfwit named Brackard ran the show there. Anyway, apparently, when you mistakenly hear the word "conscription" as "competition" (I blame their accents)" he interjects himself while holding up a finger in matter-of-fact fashion. "...whilst asking where all the lovely young women are, and then exclaim excitedly that you'd love to see them all lined up... well.. you get the idea of how well that would go over".

18:41, Today: Ryland Vance rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Balance Check.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:27, Fri 22 Sept 2017.

As the group reaches the door, one by one, the rumbling reaches earthquake intensity.  It is all but impossible to stand, much less walk.  The tower shakes to such a degree that there is an overwhelming fear that it will fall at any moment.

But it remains.

Then the door flies open and the rumbling stops.  A low growl, more felt than heard, echoes throughout the mountains.

At the door, a middle aged man in white robes beckons to the group.  "Quickly, inside before he gets here!"  The man's hair is silver with tinges of blue that almost seem alive with electricity.  It is all swept back over his head, but rather than cascade down, it continues straight back, culminating in a sharp point a few inches from the back of his head.  It makes his head look like some kind of bird, though his facial features are rugged and handsome.  The man's skin is brown similar to the Haradrim, but his eyes are piercing blue.  The rest of his form is hidden by his robes, though he is by no means overweight.

His height is no more than Ano's and he moves with a similar quickness and fluidity to his movements.

Behind him, in the middle of the room, stands Delunaur in a red robe, no armor in sight.

Ryland reluctantly complies, and then sees Delunuar in robes. In his best southlands accents he remarks with a smirk "Hello, darlin'".

Ryland blinks and when his eyes open, the man with the silver hair stands in front of him.  "Back off, lecher."

"Easy, Gwaelind.  He's harmless."  Delunar smiles at Ryland and winks.

Gwaelind's eyes narrow and he flows backwards, still somewhat between Ryland and Delunar, and smiles.  It has all the charm of a predatory bird.  His movements are graceful and very, very fast.  When he walks, it's as if parts of his body become insubstantial mist and whirl around like a dust devil all of white.  No one actually sees his feet move.

Toben quickly acquiesces. Hearing the exchange between those present, he looks over to the silver-haired man. "Gwaelind? Thank the stars, we've been looking for you. Time to rejoin your brother and sister, and out of her clutches." The inflection placed on 'her' comes with a certain amount of vemon.

Gwaelind looks at Toben and blinks, then back at Delunar and chuckles in light-hearted fashion.  "Oh, please, save me from her horrible torture."

Delunar frowns and slaps him lightly on the shoulder as if to say 'stop it.'

The Song of Wind continues to feign fear at her, leaning away from her in mock terror, his hands up and pleading.  "It's been more than I can bear.  Oh the pain."

Delunaur rolls her eyes and huffs.  She turns and goes to sit all proper like at the edge of a very large and comfortable looking bed.  It's sheets are thoroughly mussed.