Before them, covered with a thin layer of dust, stands a five foot tall body made out of metal. It looks more like a young adolescent than a true grown up man, but at least it doesn’t look like a child. Small bolts and cogwheels hold the construct together. Its thin grey limbs are covered with copper and bronze pieces of armor, just as it torso. Within its chest is a small excavation the size of a small gemstone.
“That looks a lot more sturdy than you are now”, Bruq jokingly says, but the puppet doesn’t respond. Instead, he takes a few steps forward and looks up at what could be his new face. Its eye sockets are hollow and lifeless, but he think that will change soon.
“I don’t know what to say”, Mero stammers, dumbstruck. A gust of wind raises him into the air so he can look at the head on eye level.
“Well, you can say what you think about it.” Oanoa laughs nervously. Although he thinks his nephew will be better off in this new mechanical body, he’s not sure what he will think of it.
“It is perfect!” Mero’s voice is filled with glee. “It look so much more mature and strong. Now I don’t have to worry anymore about every blade and arrow puncturing my scarecrow body.”
Oanoa can see the joy in his artificial eyes. It warms his heart to see him so happy, especially after what he must have been through, even he doesn’t remember most of it.
“Can I switch bodies now, please? I don’t want to wait anymore. I’m ready!”
The Beholder is pulled away from a melancholic trip down memory lane and as he focuses his vision again, he stares straight into Mero’s eyes.
“I see no reason to postpone it”, he says with a smile on his face. “You’ve earned it. If you can carry the body to the other side of the building, we can start the ceremony there.”
He looks at the other companions. They all inspect the metal body. They estimate the weight at five to six hundred pounds, something they really don’t want to carry after their encounter with the spectator.
“I’m kidding!” The Beholder laughs with his eyes closed, arms wrapped around his belly. His laughter transforms into coughing. He hunches forward. They observe this rather sickly attack he’s having while his tattooed eyes keep staring at them.
He inhales loudly and stands up straight.
“Sorry for that”, he says with a raw sound in his voice. “Maintaining an entire pocket plane with so many portals is quite demanding, especially when I have visitors to take into account. Can’t have you disappearing or dematerializing now, can I?” He smiles again as he inspects their worried faces. “No need to panic, I assure you.”
He snaps his fingers and a soft metal ringing echoes around them. His nephew’s new body disappears.
“Come with me, please. I’ll take you to my ritual chamber.”
Thick wax candles ignite spontaneously when they enter the room. Their light shines on the big scrolls of parchment laid across the stone desk. Small parts of metal are spread across the entire floor. In their quick gaze they recognize them as components for the spectators Oanoa has been building.
At the other side of the room, tied with chains to a big wheel, is Mero’s new body. It’s strapped so well it almost looks like it’s standing on its own.
“How are you going to transfer the puppet from his current ragged state to the new one?” Dargothoth looks at Oanoa, who has his back turned towards him, and makes eye contact with one of the tattoos on the back of his head. The cleric is genuinely interested in what the Beholder is planning to do.
“It’s quite easy”, he answers haughtily. “I just need to burn his body in a magical fire and capture his soul in a crystal to power his new body. Always works. Never fails. Extremely painful.”
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