Session XLIX - Of shackles and socks

Day 3 in Typhon's Realm - 

The group appear on a mountain trial, a great bridge before them, and stand in awe at what the see before them. 12 pairs of statues, depicting the dwarven ancestors, line the bridge that spans between mountain faces. Far below, a river winds between the mountains and onto verdant plains. They stand there for some time as they take in the view before an armed dwarf appears not for from them. He names himself Cresius, he's been in a battle and is very confused to find himself dead. As axe and shield drop too the ground they vanish and his armour becomes normal clothing. He says he would like to wait for his opponent (whom he believed he had killed at the same time) and he looks out over the valley.

The group journey over the bridge and up the mountain path towards the giant city they see. Farmland spreads out around and Arinet looks towards the farmstead of Ruric Ironfoot. Batthu questions what she's looking at and she responds saying that it is the home of a friend then vows to check in more.

They enter the city, somewhat odd amongst the dwarven populace, and are not aware that the guard has already been called. Arinet seems overwhelmed by the number of people and they all step off the streets top give her space. Once she seems ok the group notice that the  streets are emptying rapidly and are greeted by the gate garrison. Tertia Julius Sera steps out and asks them what they are doing here. The party manage to baffle her with the truth and she nominally arrests them. As she reaches the nearby garrison building, she sends a runner to report to the Imperial Council.

The group confuse Sera with the facts of their journey and intrusion into the Eternal City. The party hear the lock-step of a marching column approach. Imperial Legionaries can be seen marching into the garrison with a burly but regal looking dwarf. She is declared as Prima Claudius Taura and refers to herself as the 'junior' member of the council. She is accompanied by Septimus Flavius Magnus, the founder of the Acadamy of Arcane Learning in the Empire, who will assess their threat to the Eternal City. 

Several Imperial Guard escort Magnus and his guests the Academia in Morte, where he takes them to his private teaching room. Here he asks them each in turn for their reason for being here. Over the course of the conversation he ascertains that they are attempting to close the rift and The End. There is a long discussion of magical theory. Magnus notes that the power can effectively be drained or transferred. To drain it would take immense power and he suggests finding a spell book containing 'Wish' to use as a scroll. He also believes that the power could be transferred using orium. Belam contributes that maybe they could use orium to feed the cables from the shackles to the bound elemental. Magnus generates a formula for the ratio of cable length and diameter in addition to a quantity of dampening required to prevent the cable from melting from too much power. Batthu suggests packing sand into socks but the barefoot Magnus has never really come across the concept of socks (he expresses a dislike of the sandals worn by his people). 

After the diversion of the socks, Magnus believes they are armed with the knowledge to complete their mission and escorts them to the gates. On the way Tiandeiraeg teaches Magnus of Rat-screw and Magnus defeats Tian handily at chess. They also discuss the predicament of the spell binding them to the realm of death, the party assure Magnus that the deal with Mabd should see them free. 

The cross the bridge, finding Cresius still looking out. As they leave Magnus walks Cresius back to the city and they step off back towards Typhon's lair.