The ambient lighting in the chamber was a dull faded green. The echo of spinning machinery resonated throughout the room. The old Mystan slightly bent of back, whispering words of power, waved his hands as he manipulated the raw arcane dials of the pedestal before him. Several rings ranging from a center circle moving outward to large rings were displayed upon the platform. Every ring had several glyphs and runes written upon its surface. Several of the circles were spinning, but the a few starting from the center had already stopped, the rune at the top of each circle was glowing an eerie amethyst light. 

Rarenrar with two other dark cloaked guards watched on from the out edge of the chamber. The Mystan looked over his shoulder, sweat gleaming on his brow. "The gate is almost aligned, I only require a few moments more." 

Rarenrar nodded his hood and mask concealing his features from the old Mystan. The elder sighed and went back to work. These beings, whoever they were, had promised him safe passage back home should he complete this simple alignment. He didn't know if he could trust them but he had little choice. The task itself wasn't that difficult after all for someone as skilled as he. 

Without turning back he asked for what must have been the fourth time now. "I have you word you will let me go once I complete my task?" 

"Once we verify the coordinates, yes." 

The Elder went back to his work Rarenrar started to pace from a mix of boredom and a mixture of enthusiasm. To think after many long years they would be going home! He knew it was a bit premature but he could not help but feel optimistic. Suddenly his inbuilt comm rang within his inner ear. He looked to the other two cultist, ordering them to remain with the Mystan, then quickly exited the chamber into a narrow hallway. 

[i]"Tharchion, an alarm just went off on the mid-levels. We're sending archons to investigate but thought you should be aware."[/i]

Rarenrar scowled. "Understood, but seal off the entrances between here and the lower level. And get a sky talon airborne just in case." 

With that done Rarenrar wasted little time in contacting Shenestra. Should whatever, or whoever, had managed to infiltrate the tower got past the archons he wanted a quick response available to deal with the threat. A part of him did hope that might be necessary, it had been along time since he'd needed to take part in any kind of direct conflict. 

--------
(lower level)

As the clockman opened the door, a charm activated responding to the unidentified intrusion. However no guards responded, there were no alarms sounded or any shouts of warnings. The hall appeared apparently calm and void of a living soul, just a dark corridor void of light. The moment anyone were to enter it and proceed down toward the only elevator on the floor, the walls would suddenly hum. Trap doors suddenly revealed themselves, and a dozen [url=http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvqr1rGMgT1qzkrfxo2_250.jpg]armored figures[/url] draped in fine steel emerged from the doors following a stream of noxious gas. The torrent of poison was meant to incapacitate living targets, so they had no effect on the manner of creatures entering the hall from both sides. They hefted blades blazing of nether energies and wasted little time in menacing the intruders with their weapons. The eye slits of the armored figures were afire with deadly amber light, but they moved as if nothing was within the suits of mail.