The sentries still saw fit to keep me pinned to the ground, their persistence giving way to the limited amount of energy they seem to store. They were becoming less agile, and the light glowing in their heads was fading.
My barrier was starting to show some signs of wear, and my hunger was insatiable. Thankfully, with practice, my movements slowly came back to me. I devoured a couple of hard rations, and tried to distract myself with the book. My finer motor skills still proved above me, but I managed to open to a passage, and turn the pages.
-----------------------
We have been attempting to recreate the specific combination of stones, in the right balance, for ages now. I am beginning to think that the first creations were divine intervention. The stones we are producing now are unstable, and toxic. My room has an assortment of them splattered about in hopes that I can better understand the differences. Why did Meka trade away our miraculous invention?
As more time passes, I seem to think that it is our new pet that is causing the disruptions in the ritual. All of the chaotic dragon energy causes ripples through the veil, and undermines the crystal's structure while fusing. The poor thing can be heard throughout the night, roaring, and panting with frustration. A creature of this magnificence should not be kept in the bottom of a tower.
Hala only knows to throw it a mountain of meat to calm it, and Meka only stirs it up with her incessant probing. She attempted to distract it with a fun contraption of hers. The dragon enjoyed it for a short while before it spun a gear too hard, and caused the container to explode with energy. Instead of seeing it for the potential it was, Meka was upset that one of her thousands of machines broke.
Her screaming, and shaming began to rile up the beast once more. So much so, that the room began to quake. Meka continued to fule the oscillating, foul energy.
I thought the tower was going to fall that today, until I was able to calm them with my chanting. The words from the heavens can calm any being if sung correctly. After the euphoria was over, Meka’s scowl returned to her face, and she quickly left the room. I could tell she was upset with how fast the stairs thrusted her upward.
****
This has been the third full moon ritual Meka has missed. Since her interaction with Ptha, she has been her polar self, quiet and reclusive. Occasionally on a big project, she would be difficult to find, but she made time for breaks. It isn’t healthy to solely work.
Hala has claimed to see her, making trips down to the dragon’s pit late at night. Our servants take care of the food, and care for the beast, so what is Meka up too, and why haven't I seen her as of late? She must be avoiding me…
The last time I saw her was a few weeks ago. Ptha had finished his excursion much faster than the last time he left the cliffs, he must have known where he was going this time. His caravan was somewhat covertly attempting to pass through the small amount of greenery growing in the mountains shadow to the east. Naturally our scouts spotted them on one of Meka’s fancy telescopes.
She erupted from her room in our tower, and quickly found her way to the observation platform. Her expertise with the item revealed that the caravan had only one additional item with them. A large crate, haphazardly assembled, twice the length of an adult human. Meka claimed the contents to be “half spoiled, decaying matter.” A darkness jumped through us, as we contemplated what Ptha had planned for the contents of the crate.
******
Meka has either finished her project, or come to a dead end with it. Her presence is known more now, I usually see her each day. Her persistent examinations, and tests, on our captive in the base of the tower, cause a routine disturbance. Something I find myself fixing. If Meka would just listen to me about her approach. The beast responds more to a spiritual perspective. It refuses to be integrated with machina.
She showed up to the last full moon ritual, with much harassment from Hala. I tried to help her with her pitch during the chant, but it quickly became an argument. I try to be as understanding as I can, and offer aid with the dragon as is needed. She still has few words for me, and those that she does are rather curt.
******
[tear drops stain the pages]
Our world is becoming increasingly chaotic… The sinkhole the elders of Votum spoke of awoke today. It swallowed the Temple of the Sun, into its darkness, never to be touched by light again.
It opened soon after a massive earthquake was sparked by the pained roars of our prisoner.
I wept on the edge of the disaster until I ran dry. Hala had to pick me up, and take me to my chambers. If I had any energy left in me, it would only be put towards more sorrow.
******
I can’t find the same feelings I had when the temple still stood. My warmth has cooled, and I can only find myself when I have my attunement crystal. I try to keep it with me always, as without it my thoughts begin to wander down some dark paths.
Hala is still trying to ‘discern’ what happened, but I know it is just a farce to keep tempers low. Two of the dragon's feeders had a near fatal accident with a powerful sedative. The dragon now refuses to eat any meat presented to it, and there is no hiding that the dragon now has an array of machinery implanted into it. Throw in Meka’s smug smile as she inspects her readings, and the picture paints itself.
When the beast realized the deception, and its new additions, the rage swelled, and shook our fragile ecosystem. I told Hala all this, and that Meka is to blame for the temple's destruction. Her actions were outrageous, and deserve consequences, but Hala only cares about keeping the peace in the city.
I fear that peace is far from our grasp.
*********
Meka debuted her latest invention today. She seemed rather giddy about a clockwork golem. It stood slightly taller than a large man, but was designed to be rather sleek. Its head contains a network of spinning gears, all falling in line perfectly with one and other. Its abilities seemed near endless, with it displaying many feats of strength. Like a mother showing off her children, Meka paraded around the city, fixing many problems.
The machine now stays patrolling through the tower, and the surrounding area. It could be used in so many ways to help people, but now it roams, like a guard, making the tower feel more like a prison.
She must have started building it not long ago. Before that Meka only spoke of a “copper cog” that was going to be life altering. Perhaps this is the result of that? More likely though the cog fell to the wayside, half finished, like most of Meka’s thoughts. The golem came up in her conversations soon after the sinkhole appeared, no doubt an attempt to control the font of power kept in our basement.
The scene down there has become more, and more diar. The poor dragon refused to eat for months, before finally turning on the servants who brought it food. It was able to snatch two of them up for a meal. I tried to call for some action, but Meka, and Hala found it to be an ‘isolated incident.’
*******
I fear I may have to abandon our city, the thoughts, and actions taken here are fruitless, and dangerous. After several servants have been eaten while attempting to feed the dragon, Meka devised a way to once again use a sedative on the beast. Drying out a leaf, and grinding it into powder was a simple way to mask the plant's smell.
I was told by the few servants who survived the encounter, Meka instructed them that the powder was a repellent to keep them from being attacked. It was obvious what her true intentions were when the dragon quickly fell into a deep sleep after eating a couple of lackeys.
She was able to implant more machinery into the depressed soul, but it still didn’t seem to slate her appetite. When the dragon awoke, it was again furious to find that it was fused more with Meka’s contraptions. This time it directed its rage in a physical form, and torched the basement entirely.
The door was easy enough to crumble into ashes, and the crimson dragon tried to break from the tower. However, Meka’s mechanical golem found it easy enough to subdue the weak, and feeble prisoner. Watching the golem attack such a force was frightening. Several components fell from its shoulders. The small bits folded, and grew into what looked like mechanical spiders. They swarmed the beast as a unit, and had it pinned within moments.
I am now the only one the dragon will accept food from, another one of Meka’s messes I am having to pay for.
--------
The journal portion of the Stone Splicing Records ended there. Although a small green circle glowed faintly on the page. I looked it over without much thought, but when my finger touched it, an abrupt voice began talking from the book.
“Amun I require your assistance in feeding our pet once again” a calaced female voice ordered
“Meka I will not let the beast starve, but I am in the middle of my prayers. If I am the only one who can feed it, I will be the one who chooses when the act will occur.” A soft voice replied with force.
“Sure, sure, I am willing to wait for you to finish your errands.”
“Then you are dismissed I can feed ‘our pet’ alone”
“Ha, I shall be present in the matter, I need to study it as much as possible. *throat clear* that brings me to why I came here” A muffled sound of a bag being crinkled is followed by a soft thump of something hitting the table.
“I will not drug that poor, depressed soul for your experiments. Who will it eat from then?”
“That won’t matter once I’m finished. The beast woke up just before I was able to get my final implant into it. Without it, I am unable to complete my network. Once I am done, I should be able to control the dragon with a few additional items. By the time it needs to eat again, I will make it.”
“What a disgusting thing to want to achieve, enslaving something you are unable to understand. I will never help you achieve that goal!” The softer voice became harsher, and more authoritative.
“It has been the same goal all along. We must stabilize our environment, and better our people.” Meka shouts confused.
“No, your goals shifted when you traded away the machine we had worked tirelessly on. It was working brilliantly to calm the weather. You tossed it away for more problems to solve!”
“Look, if I was able to finish my copper cog, I would be able to splice the stones with greater accuracy. We just don’t have a stone imbued with enough spiritual presence to…” an awkward silence broke Meka’s words. “Your sunstone, that would be perfect, I must try it right away!”
“It’s my attunement crystal, and the only thing that is keeping me sane through these chaotic times. I will not part with it, not for one of your oppressive contraptions.”
A loud slap echos from the book. Followed by screaming, and loud rustling. Cries for help cascade out of the journal in Amun’s voice. A thunderous screech is what comes next, followed by the sounds of claws scraping their way up the stairway. The recording ends in another loud thud.
Looking up from the book, I found my captures to be out of steam. They sat in front of me slumped over into a heap. No seams or cracks in their armored shell, and only a faint ticking coming from inside. The light from their head was becoming dull, and it drew my attention to the torch light. It was flickering from above the doorway. Strange... I made sure to come in under the light of my Earrings of Firelight. The dancing fire drew attention to the deep claw marks centered around the stone doorway.
The stairs continued to ascend, so I decided to explore further into it. I took my time with the stairs, making sure to move with a quiet step. Once again, the presence of the tower shifted, and I felt a sense of empowerment.
My courage was cut somewhat short, as I tripped over a small item wedged in the crux of the stairs. A cog, made of copper… Could this be the one Meka was talking about? It felt as though it had a dormant power in it, but when I held the sunstone crystal to it, nothing happened. Maybe Meka was wrong about it’s powers? As I inspected the cog more, I thought it to be a component perhaps.
Hopefully I am able to find the other parts, and have the ability to assemble them together into this prophetic item. I was hopeful when I found another room, a short distance up the stairs.
As I opened the door, it was full of maps, and charts. As organized as the last room, but with a much more open feel. I spent half an hour walking around inspecting every inch of the room. I found only one item of interest, but it could prove to be the most useful one so far. A map of the desert, depicting three major cities, and the location of the Temple of Pazmoltae.
I managed to fold the map carefully enough, and get it into my bag. While I was focused on not tearing the edges, I found that the mechanical sound, that had been echoing through the tower, was now at a speaking volume.
I turned around to find a mechanical man, a small bit taller than me. I assume it to be Meka’s golem, still active after all of these years. It stood there, only making the ticking noise, as it inspected me.
Like the sentries, its body had no cracks, or seams, and it was made from a shiny metallic material. It began to motion towards me, and before I could really react, it was within arms reach.
I gasped a breath as it delivered a swift strike to me. Luckily, the sphere pendant absorbed most of the blow, and I was just sent propelled back on my ass. Once again, the machina was on top of me in an instant, only this time it appeared to be winding up for a stronger blow. As it’s hand came down to strike, I could see the barrier walls form, but crack under the force.
There was a tremendous explosion, as the walls shattered away. I watched as the copper bars that kept the sphere contained, broke, and allowed the sphere to roll along the floor, finally free. The golem seemed to have taken a decent blow from the pendant breaking, and it left it stunned for a moment on the ground near me.
“Hurry, this is your chance, We need to go!” A familiar voice cried to me. I could feel a chilling vibration shake through me from my pockets, as I turned to see Selene, my moon haired maiden in the doorway. Her face locked in an expression of horror, and urgency.
My legs were shaky in her presence, but my spirit found a way to get me to the doorway, and Selene led me farther up the tower.
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