C+1
Flor didn’t rush to the monument, but she did rush to the gift shop. The shop was filled with replicas of spiders, samples of the stone from which the monument was constructed, historical books on the battle, and a coffee table artsy book of poetry with prints from the second floor. Nothing specific or useful caught Flor’s eye while she passed through.
Clerk 3 manned the counter and looked exactly like the Scribe and Barkeep. This must be the triplet. She checked the clock and noted she still had over ten minutes until 1700 - she could spare a minute to see if there was anything on offer behind the counter.
“Hi, you must be Clerk Ja.”
The Clerk looked up from a ledger and said, “Yep, that’s me.” Flor saw the name Jagoda form in front of the word clerk and thought it unusual.
“I’m Flor. I only have a moment to chat, but…”
“Are you catching the tour? I close at 1700, although I’ve been known to open for customers who will commit to BIG purchases.”
“I was just more curious about what you had behind the counter.”
“Well, sorry to say, I can’t bump up the level of your current equipment here, but I have a few other adventuring items. Nothing unique that you wouldn’t be able to find in the city, but I’ve been known to give a discount if you buy multiple things.”
“Like chronos and health potions?”
“Yeah, things like that.” She leaned over the counter and motioned Flor in. Ja whispered, “I even have an island map piece that I’ll let go. It’s dear, though.”
Flor whispered back, “I’m hardly rich. How dear?”
“100 coins.”
“Too rich for me, but maybe I’ll consider once I have enough coin.”
“I only have one,” Clerk Ja leaned back. Then she said, at a normal volume, “Guess I’ll be closing at 1700. Come back tomorrow and we’ll talk about the other items for sale. Enjoy your tour!” She went back to the ledger before Flor even stood from the counter.
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She’s the strange one of the bunch, huh? Flor noticed a few buckets of random springs, gears, and other mechanical items hiding in a corner. She moves through the rest of the displays. It looks like I could make and sell items here, too. I wonder if there is a dungeon like the carillon. {There isn’t. There is a dungeon, it’s just not like the carillon. It’s a starter dungeon. The Monument’s dungeon is a level 1 dungeon while the City’s dungeon is a level 3. The challenge grows exponentially.}
A small group in the Entry Hall surrounded a robust man titled Jacek, Keeper 4. Loudly enough to be heard well but not obnoxiously loud, Jacek said, “Come along. Remember to stay outside the last circle, otherwise it gets painful. Haha. I know!”
Jacek led the group toward the entryway and then out toward the circle.
As he approached the outer edge of the monument, he said, “This is typically far enough. Does anyone want the talk-through version before, during, or after?” Flor shot her hand up, while Jacek looked around. No one else did, but he said. “Okay, just one. What do you want?”
“After,” she said.
“Fine. Anyone else too shy to raise your hands gather on me after the beacon lowers. Now…behold!”
Nothing occurred. And continued not occurring. It was still drizzling, but otherwise quiet. Flor took a quiet moment to match the real monument to the mockup in the Central Hall. Five concentric circles of progressively smaller, perfectly square cubes surrounded a three-sided fountain. Flor knew from the mockup that the number of cubes increased by a factor of three in each ring, until they were barely passable at this outer layer, even at only 1m in height. It was possible to squeeze through, climb over, or go through the one spot with extra space intended as an entrance. Then it opened up inside and was spacious, even though the stones grew larger toward the center.
The fountain ceased to flow, followed by a large cracking and mechanical sound. The fountain opened like a three-point clamshell and a telescoping rod extended from the center topped with a large clear glass or crystal. Flor didn’t count, but the process took a long minute to extend completely. Once it did, the crystal glass circled slowly, paused, and then began to retract. Once it retracted inside the fountain, the water started flowing again.
Jacek said, loudly in the silence, “Wow! Isn’t that amazing, folks? Remember, you can see that every day right at 1700. Now, those of you who want the explanation, come listen.”
The crowd dispersed from dozens to three. Jacek faced toward the crowd leaving, then looked toward those still there.
“Only two, huh?” Flor turned and saw Sparks standing a reasonable distance away. The distance felt calculated to avoid intimidation. “Fine, come on and I’ll tell you about it. Although I know you’ve heard this all before,” Jacek said, pointing at Sparks.