They go back to the hallway and place the keys in the pedestal, and it starts shifting, a sort of elevator bringing them down to a hallway with a small bridge towards a door that 2 large stone cats are protecting. The stone cats cock their heads “You don’t have the sight, prepare to die”
Amara rushes forward and Adaly prepares to attack, blinks her eyes and now Amara and the cat are suddenly in a different location. Sam also rushes forward, and Adaly throws another spell, blinks and the cat was not in the location she targeted but also one is now laying there destroyed “The fuck” she manages to bring out before she blinks again and the second cat is now also destroyed.
“What was happening there?” Adaly asks while walking closer “They cast timestop” Sam answers and Amara looks very pleased with herself.
They enter the next chamber, and they see 2 boxes, one glass box with 2 rings floating in it, and one wooden box that they cannot see the contents off. A magical image starts appearing of a man in robes. Adaly already having her diamond in her hand, preparing to cast a spell, when the man starts speaking.
“Good you made it exactly at time. I am Heralan. As you can guess I am not actually here, I recorded this about three weeks before you are seeing it, because I am currently on the Astral plane. But don’t worry about that, I’m sure you’re wondering what all of this was about. So let me start at the beginning. As you have no doubt guessed, I am an ardent of the Unquestioned Truth. This order is founded on one simple observation. No seer or prophet ever gets a vision unless they are unable or unwilling to change it. Sometimes you get a prophecy that only comes true because of the actions you take after seeing it, though this is much rarer than the stories make it sound, but never once has a true prophecy been averted. This is because there is only one path that time takes through history and being able to see the rest of the path is only possible if seeing the path does not cause you to deviate from it.”
He pauses a second before continuing “I have been unable to see anything happening in the hells for a while now, so I am genuinely unsure of what is going to happen on your mission, but when you are there, if you can do anything to help the members of my order that are still alive I would be greatly appreciative. They might also be able to help you in your quest, Ardent Anesh and Ialai are both highly skilled and very knowledgeable spellcasters, so they might be able to offer assistance. Speaking of assistance, I do have a reward for you making it this far”
He points at the two boxes behind him. “What you see here are two boxes, one glass and one wood. And the choice you need to make is whether you want one of the boxes or both. If you open the glass box first, you are then free to open the wooden box afterwards. If you, however, open the wooden box first, the content of the glass box is shunted into the Astral Plane, where it will stay for three months before returning to the Prime Material. There is, of course, a catch. In the glass box are two rings of rest preserved, these are magic items created by my order that can be used once every three days to reinvigorate a weary body. The wooden box is either empty or it contains a wellspring of spared moments. This is a much more powerful artifact that once every five days allows access to a demiplane where time moves faster than normal. Allowing you to spend 10 hours in the span of 1 minute on the prime material.”
He smiles and says “Here is the catch: I looked into the future to see which decision you will make. If I saw that you will take only the wooden box, I have put the wellspring in the box, if I saw that you took both boxes I have left the wooden box empty.”
Adaly starts rationalizing, “Now he wants us to succeed so he might have just given us the thing” while Amara goes a bit more the threatening approach “Well he better have given us the wellspring, he wants us to save his buddies, he wouldn’t take a risk”
Heralan reacts “But I made this call 3 weeks ago, as I mentioned I am not here, and this is a test, I don’t really have a choice now do I”
Adaly and Amara bicker a bit more before Adaly says “Well the rings basically do nothing for me, so why would we even risk it?” And Amara nods in agreement so Adaly walks forward and opens the wooden box, seeing the artifact as promised in there, when the glass box disappears.
“Perfect, now Adaly I suggest you cast your devils eyes and look at what Es-Vahelieth is up to.” Heralan says while disappearing, Adaly quickly sits down and does as Heralan says.
Adaly connects to Es-Vahelieth, seeing a skinny white devil with a 10-pack of core muscles “Mezearan, please take whatever forces you deem necessary and teleport towards them. They have been traveling around a lot so make haste, they will not stay long.” The white devil replies “Of course my lord, I shall take the dusk fiends and we shall return shortly with her in tow.”
Adaly breaks the connection “Es-Vahelieths minions will be here soon, fuck” Adaly starts taking her diamond, the ink for teleportation and few other items out of her bag of holding before handing the bag to Amara “Please take this, do not follow if worse comes to worse” Amara looks her and nods in understanding.
Livia starts reacting “But of course we should follow… We are not leaving you behind.” Sam looks at her in doubt. Adaly takes a few breaths steadying herself “Livia, I can get myself out, I cannot get the party out though. Es-Vahelieth is something…. We should avoid a fight, let me rescue myself” Sam also nods in agreement, but Livia seems to still doubtful. Sam goes towards Livia and whispers some things, while Adaly focusses her attention on Amara “I will be okay” Adaly says seeing the concern of her friend “Of course you are…”
Stories of my brain 