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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 9390357" data-attributes="member: 42582">The Palace of SpiresThis magnificent palace, consisting of the main building and adjoining walled garden, was erected by Porpherio to house himself and his beloved. It was formerly the residence of Caerwyn and Porpherio in the garden. It once faced the lake, as its original site was that now occupied by the maze.After Caerywn’s death, Porpherio built a tomb for them both in the palace’s crystal dome, and he transported the whole building into a parallel dimension, where it serves as the couple’s tomb. Despite its location, the place is, essentially, still a part of the garden. Thus the enchantments that affect the garden (including restrictions on fire and on flying) apply here also. Although the palace is not actually within the garden and cannot be seen from there, remaining hidden in its parallel dimension, the view from any part of the palace is exactly as it would be were the palace still on its original site.The dimension in which the palace exists is very limited indeed and so, while it is possible to see out, it is not possible to leave the palace or its dimension by physical movement (eg by climbing over the walls). Characters attempting to move out of the palace will encounter what appears to be an impenetrable force field (the edge of this limited “universe”). When Porpherio transported the palace to the parallel dimension it became a permanent, unchangeable entity (it is the whole of its universe). This means that none of the of the fabric of the structure can be damaged in any way whatsoever.Porpherio joined the palace to the garden by a teleport link, and protected the garden end of it with a maze that covered the palace’s old site. Thus, the palace may only be reached via the teleport mechanism in the garden maze. Characters may only leave the palace via the sundial in area P1 (below). They may only leave the garden via area P13 (as described below).A dweomer on the palace, and its pools and flowers, serves to keep its gardens in order without the need for other attention. The walls inside the palace are very smooth and difficult to climb (+1 Ob).P1: as writtenP2: as writtenP3: as written, and grants+1D to recovery tests but staying on watch requires an Ob 2 Will test.P4: Inside the porch, a flight of broad stone steps leads up to an arched doorway. The huge double doors, each 10 feet wide and 30 feet high, are of silvery metal and are decorated with a fine engraved geometric pattern. There are no door handles. The arch over the door protrudes from the wall and is supported by a slim stone pillar on either side. Black letters are carved around the arch over the door.The doors are of bronze, one foot thick and thinly plated with silver. Like the rest of the building, they cannot be damaged. They will not open for a party any of whose members are carrying weapons or magical items that might serve as weapons:● The doors may be opened with the Rhyme of Opening (Ob 2 (magically stuck doors));● The doors may be opened by brute strength (Health vs Ob 4; up to five others may help);● If a party has laid down all their weapons and offensive magical items the doors will swing open, inwards, automatically.Closer inspection will reveal that the pillars on either side of the door have the shape of a slender human female. One of her ‘hands’, held close to her side, carries a slim sword. Any attempt to take weapons or offensive magical items into the palace, or to open the doors other than by the laying down of arms, will cause the pillars to animate and attack the party to drive them off (concentrating on those carrying weapons or using offensive magic). The sword, formerly of stone, becomes steel. While animated these entities can be damaged; if the column is killed, it returns to stone (as does its sword) on the spot. As soon as characters lay down their weapons the columns will cease to attack, return to their original position and revert to their stone shape, the swords becoming stone as well.</blockquote>

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