Veldred, Flicker, Faah'taluk, and Grishold stood on top of the scaffolding high above the Dream City of Sunclaw, though only Grishold knew their names. He had insisted that they continue to use their code names as it was remembering parts of the forgotten memories that sent Azra into the frenzy that got him locked up.
From their position, they could see a fog accumulating some miles away in all directions. As the fog came closer, things that it enveloped looked as though they became ink in water, evaporating into nothingness.
Veldred shifted uneasily in his robes, his long black hair and beard cleaned and braided now that he was afforded life as a researcher within the tower. It's been close to a year of researching and trying to figure out what was happening to the object, or at least how to influence it with no luck. In one instance, trying to manipulate the object caused all time to jump forward a week and only Flicker was able to tell the difference, which he notated in his journal.
"Prisoner," the Professor said putting a hand on his shoulder. "It was an honor getting to know you in this cycle, and I hope that in the next we're able to keep our memories and continue our work... But if by some chance I do not, or you do not. I hope we meet again."
"I don't think that's going to be an issue, Professor," Veldred said quietly so only he could hear.
Faah'taluk looked at him quizzically as Veldred took a few steps towards the edge of the scaffolding and looked down. Grishold had mentioned that at the end of the cycle the residents were compelled to enter the tower, so the people were currently shuffling their way inside. From this height they looked like dark waters circling a drain.
Veldred gave a quick look to Flicker who made eye contact and gave a little nod. He bent down and scratched Sparky behind an ear, who then ran off chasing a dragon-finch that flew by.
They heard a door beneath them open as a large Half-Orc and a Human stepped onto the roof and looked up at them high up in the air. Grishold nodded and waved at Broom and Kale. They each gave a little wave before walking to separate thrones and sitting down.
Grishold let out a sigh as he stared at the floating object that was now beginning to wobble as if gathering energy.
"Well, I guess there's nothing to do," Grishold said defeated. "I used the Temporal Compass as the catalyst for this spell in desperation all those years ago, but it looks like there's nothing we can do to strengthen or adjust it while keeping the spell active."
"So what are you going to do?" Veldred asked, also looking up to the device. His eyes tracking the scaffolding up to it. "We've exhausted all of the documents in the dream and have made whatever experiments to see about adjusting."
Grishold stared at it silently, running a hand through his beard and scratching his chin.
"I don't know... Guess we'll just keep trying right?" He smiled and laughed a little. "Maybe this time don't be so hard on that poor Goblin Boy that I've made your guard for a day."
"Thousands of years doing this and that's your best attempt at lying, huh?" Veldred said. "Gods, you're as bad as your chess playing. How many of us have you added to the dream since starting?"
Grishold thought for a moment.
"A couple hundred adventurers have made their way in. The ones that I couldn't trust to leave have all been incarcerated in the tower," he said. "So pretty much all but 6."
"And you'll kill us all to save the dream?" Veldred asked, still not looking at Grishold.
"I would do anything for the people of Sunclaw," Grishold said coldly. "I'll make it painless."
"I'm sure you would have."
"Would have?" Grishold says finally turning his eyes towards Veldred, who burst into a bull rush at Grishold, tackling him off the scaffolding.
They fell for a second before Veldred grabbed a bar and swung himself onto a platform. He then broke into a run upwards towards the object. Grishold fell and landed on a lower platform, as he did, he screamed a command word which caused a Glyph of Warding to glow and he began floating.
"You think I didn't prepare things after the last time?!" Grishold yelled as his falling stopped. He turned to face Veldred and began moving in his direction. "You always make things harder for yourself!"
He began to cast a spell as a crossbow bolt flew through the air and hit him in the side. He turned to see Flicker standing next to an open bag of holding with a crossbow trained on him.
"Oh, I see," Grishold said.
"What is the meaning of all this?!" Faah'taluk said as the fight began. He saw Veldred running up towards the object and called out to him. "Prisoner! Don't do anything rash! This could have consequences across all planes and timelines!"
Veldred did not pay attention and continued to run. He glanced down and saw Flicker now in melee combat with Broom, each trading blows with Warhammers. Faah'taluk was trying to make his way up, protecting Veldred by counterspelling Kale while continuing to try and reason with Veldred. But he could not spot Grishold at all.
Veldred scrambled up to the top level, which was three long platforms that ended about 10ft from the object as any structure within 10 ft would begin to disintegrate. He threw off his cloak revealing a device had been affixed to his arm: an anti-magic gauntlet that he and Flicker developed in secret due to Grishold forbidding any type of anti-magic near the Temporal Compass.
All that was left was 60ft of platform for him to run, and make the jump.
"Prisoner! Please!" Faah'taluk called out from the platform below, still engaged in combat with Kale. "This is bigger than us! Bigger than this Dream! This can effect the Time Tree! Our Universe!"
"Do it!" Flicker called out, casting a spell on his Warhammer as he hit Broom, radiant light bursting from them and sending the orc falling from his scaffolding later. "The damage it's already causing is worse!"
"Sorry, Professor," Veldred said as he burst into a sprint.
He ran along the scaffolding as everybody became more desperate to stop him, even the Professor now turning his attention from the Sorcerer to try and stop Veldred as well. The platform blew up behind him as he ran, causing the pathway to become unsteady and wobble. He felt the wood collapsing behind him as his back foot had less and less to push off of. Just as he was about to leap he felt his entire body freeze in place as the platform fell under him. He was now frozen in place, floating in the air, his gauntlet outstretched 10 feet from the Temporal Compass.
Grishold flew up and landed on the second platform, arms out and glowing, casting a spell on Veldred holding him in place.
"You almost had it," Grishold said, his voice steady. "I have to admit the plan almost worked. I'm guessing you wanted to disable the device as it was resetting?"
He looked down at Flicker who was now grappled by Broom, and Faah'taluk and Kale now uneasily standing side by side focused on each other. He looked back at Veldred who was laser focused still on the device.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance," Grishold said while maintaining his concentration. "But I won't make that same mistake twice. From this height I think gravity will do the trick."
Grishold was about to break the spell when he suddenly heard the sound of metal scurrying on the platform. He turned his head but was too late as Sparky jumped from the end of the platform, launching himself towards the compass, hitting it with his head as the disintegration field started to act on his body. The compass flew directly towards Veldred's hand.
"No! Wait!" Grishold yelled, the first sign of emotion in his voice.
As the compass hit Veldred's palm, it was like the entire world started to spin and revolve around him. Grishold screamed and tried to claw his way towards him, as the world started to fall apart and disassemble. Everything began to be swept away in an incredible current, everything in existence beginning to collide and combine, break down and dissolve. Veldred gripped onto the compass tightly as he was swept away until he felt as though he was drawn into a giant waterfall flowing upwards to the sky. He felt his body start to disappear, like every cell in his body was screaming and crying in pain. And then...
Darkness.
His spirit was floating through endless darkness. A low growl, surrounded him. Murmurs. That's when he realized in the darkness a million eyes were watching him. He felt their presence among the twisted and warped structures that the sound was bouncing off.
"You bastard!" He heard a scream far off in the darkness. "I will find you!"
Then he felt the current again, like a leaf falling on a rapid river he was quickly swept away from the scene until he was met with...
Cold.
Veldred was in darkness and felt like he was surrounded in ice. But then he realized he could move. That now he actually had form again and wasn't a disembodied spirit. He began to dig, realizing that this cold around him was snow. As he pushed it all to the side, he pulled himself to the surface and looked around. He was in the shadow of a giant snowy mountain, in a place he's never known. He looked down and saw himself, but it was a body he never knew. Hands he's never seen. As he turned his head, he saw a makeshift gravestone just above where he was buried in the snow. He brushed away the snow to read the name.
He got up on his feet and looked around for signs of life, spotting the telltale signs of a fire some distance away. And there was no time to waste.