Ep 31 - The Ambar Tower and a betrayal.

We left our Adventurers last game as they made their way from Eaden to the Ambar Tower. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Arriving at the pier, the small yacht was moored and the Party disembarked to follow Simtharal along the pier to the Island that held the Ambar Tower. The wooden planks gve way to stone pebbled pathway that lead up a slight increase that filed through the ring of thick trees that bound the Island preventing view from without. As they past the trees they noticed that the land around the Tower was a lawn of green lush grass, despite that the lands among the Gogalla Empire were dying. As they paid closer attention to the lawn they noticed that purple wisps of energy radiated upward from the ground before dissappating about a meter above. When asked, Simtharal explained that the wisps were caused by the natural energy of the Axis of power. It was for this reason the Tower was built in this location and why the Heart Sphere was rested at the Island. The Heart Sphere drew on the power of the Axis and sent it forward to the lesser Elemental Orbs of power for them to be sustained and thus the equilibrium of the land was maintained. The Amber Tower was stone structure with black marble stones placed around the edges of the windows and the main door. It stood one-hundred meters (328ft) tall and 50 meters (164ft) in diameter, the top ending in a four-sided spire that pointed to the sky. From their position they could see the spire was segmented by large openings on each face. Entering the Tower behind Simtharal, they saw numerous Wizards and Sorcerors in blue robes with gold trim similar to Simtharal's clothing, and every now and then some who wore black robes with gold trim. Simtharl explained that the blue robes dignified students while the black robes dignified the Lesser Arch Mages. His purple robes with gold trim were the colours of the Grand Arch Mages, who had up to five Lesser Arch Mages under them. He ended by informing them that the other three Grand Arch Mages waited at the top of the Tower for them. He led them toward a column that ran up the centre of the Tower and there they began ascending the stairs to the upper levels. As they ascended he explained what each floor was dedicated to. The first four levels were devoted to a study of one of the elemental factions with open floors comprising of study desks, libraries, and areas where mages can practice their arts. The next two levels (5 and 6) were devoted to sleeping quarters while the following four levels (7-11) were devoted to different areas of craftsmanship; wood, metal, fabric, and stone. Level 12 was a large library of general history and lore of the whole of Primundu and beyond, level 13 was a martial art training facility, and level 14 was an open room where, spaced evenly along the walls, eight arched wooden doors stood, each a different colour . The last floor was also an open area and the first thing they saw as they entered the room was an elaborately carved pedestal of gold and silver, shaped into the form of large singular flame in the centre of the room. As they looked around they saw that t he room's walls held four tapestries of other towers set in different backgrounds; one a floating Island in the sky, one a volcano, one a mountain top, and one that is surrounded by a vast sea. Between the large tapestries were the four wide arching windows that reached high to the spired ceiling. As they entered the room they were greeted by the three other Grand Arch Mages. One was a human male with fiery red hair and beard to match, who introduced himself as Brock Makelin, Grand Arch Mage of the Water Faction. The second to introduce herself was Alure Brightgaze, a blue coloured Tiefling with sparkling red eyes and sleek purple hair tied back behind her head between horns that curled backward like a rams; she was the Grand Arch Mage of the Air Faction. The last to introduce herself took all of them by surprise, except Bardryn who called it rightly in their small wager. A female Drow stepped forward with an air of authority despite her stereotypical background, introducing herself as Lelsealea Moonwalker, Grand Arch Mage of the Fire Faction. Calico was instantly infatuated. After introductions were made and conversation was had where the Mages informed that they had changed the warding around the pedestal so that Gareth could not see the Sphere or take it from its place again, Simtharal invited Jett to place the Heart Sphere he carried into the pedestal. On walking closer he saw that in the body of the flame a circular bowl area had been shaped, and in it lied sheets of red, purple, and blue silks. From the base of the pedestal, four concaved lines have been cut into the stone floor that lead out, one to each window. As he stood next to the pedestal Jett looked to see if he could determine if any markings were etched and saw runes etched into the stone around the edges of the opening in the flame where the bowl sat.  As he was about to take the Sphere out, Brock quickly interjected that he might feel "a little kickback" from the Axis power meeting the power of the Heart Sphere. Becoming a little nervous to place the Sphere in the bowl, Jett nevertheless took it out and unwrapped it from the red silk that covered it. This was the first time that he had seen the Sphere and saw it to be a clear crystal ball about the size of a lawn bowl ball. Inside the Sphere a red misty gas swirled lazily about in which tiny points of light shone. In the centre of the Sphere a smaller red ball of light pulsed brightly, sending out waves of red light that ended against the glass. Jett gently placed the Sphere into the bowl, anticipating the feeling of the powers meeting but nothing happened. He looked to Simtharal who appeared confused, then turned back and took the Sphere out before replacing it again - nothing. Turning to Simtharal to ask what was happening, the Arch Mage came to inspect the Sphere. Slowly looking over it, Catsi suggested one of the Mages ast Identify on it, which Simtharal answered by holding his index finger up to quiet Catsi. Turning to Jett he informed that the Sphere was not the Heart Sphere, but a fake. The group tried to explain that the Sphere was the same one given them by Dael back at the Tombs of Alelas. Not believing them, the Grand Arch Mage began to accuse them of switching out the real Sphere for a fake. As he did so the other three Arch Mages took an enclosing stance behind the group. Before things got out of hand,Calico remided them that he had the Reliquary to place in the Sphere's stead and a high Persuasion roll calmed the Mage down; however, an angry Bardryn began to rage at the betrayal of Dael. Once calm, he asked Calico to place the Reliquary in the bowl as none of them could touch it due to its protective ward, reminding him of the kickback he may feel. Calico slowly stepped forward, holding the Reliquary out before him. As he got closer, the runes around the edge of the bowl began to light with a blue hue which brightened as he drew closer. When he placed the Reliquary into the bowl, a low Constitution saving throw, saw him thrown backward as the two powers met, landing five feet on the floor before Alure and Lelsealea who looked down at him amused. Once in place, they saw the runes turn to a constant purple glow and after a few seconds, a red flow of energy began to pour out of the top of the flame body and fall down the flame to pool where the body of the flame met the pedestal. Once the area was full, the energy flowed down each of the four sides of the pedestal and run along the ruts cut into the floor to the windows where it flew out into the air and dissipated. Happy that the power of the Axis was once more being sent to the Elemental Orbs, the Mages turned their attention to the betrayal and their new priority of retrieving the Sphere before it got into the hands of Gareth. While they spoke about the best way to achieve this, Alure was pulled aside by a Mage in blue who whispered to her before leaving the room again. She asked the Party to leave the room so she could discuss new information with the Mages; however, a natural 20 persuasion from Bardryn gave them the ability to remain to hear the news which was that a member of the Green Cloaks had sent a message to the Emperor's Palace by sending spell that Dael had attacked them and that he was the only survivor of the Green Cloaks. The message ended with the member saying that Dael was last seen near Larton with the Heart Sphere, but badly wounded. With a better idea of where to go and begin looking for the betrayer, the Party returned to Eaden to arm themselves from the Military Store and gather their belongings for the journey to Larton - via teleportation circle of course!