CYOA:The Orc and the Tower Pt 17 (Patreon)

The sound of a great tumbling waterfall cascades and echoes through the stairwell as you and the others ascend. 

Moisture fills the air and you begin to perspire as the steps continue, finally emerging into an expansive shaft. Moldering tomes and scrolls litter the stone floor, adding to the thick scent of the air.

A continuous and decrepit spiraling staircase climbs dizzyingly up the walls of the shaft as waterfalls cascade downward past its sweeping curves. Some of the falls turn to mist before they reach the enormous sculpture of a goddess footed by a pool Moisture fills the air and you begin to perspire as the steps continue, finally emerging into an expansive shaft. Moldering tomes and scrolls litter the stone floor, adding to the thick scent of the air.near the center of the room. Just beyond them you see what appears to be a gated door.

“It’s disssgustingly wet in here” remarks Paier. As you wearily look at the stairs, you hear the goblin say the statue’s face looks familiar. The centuries have deposited stalactites upon this ancient statue’s face but it still bears a distinct likeness.

You study the statue and then turn to look at Paier, whose face betrays a dawning realization. ”That’sss me…” 

“I remember thisss room now, or what it used to be. Once a meager sssstudy near the top of the tower where the wizard and I…resssearched.” She trails off momentarily before continuing “but it’s grown much taller and twisted since that time. How many ages have past and what has become of this place?”

Paier seems to be filled with new resolve. “Haste! We should continue our assscent to find the wizard, but we have more options than the stairs.” 

You and the goblin follow Paier to the iron, gated doorway, which is revealed to be a part of a cramped mechanical room, capable of climbing the narrow shaft it occupies, as Paier explains.

“This machine was powered by the evil energies of the devil's orchid that grew in the dungeon, perhaps the foul thing died of neglect.” You inspect the machine and say nothing. 

“The wizard was obsessed with channeling the power of magical things, but he didn’t stop with plants it seems.” Paier contemplates the remains of the manacle about her ankle. “It can run without magic but it’s quite ancient now, it may be dangerous to use.”

The goblin seems to have an affinity for mechanical things and marvels at the absence of rust as she inspects the machine, while muttering foreign curses about staircases.

“Sssstill, we could perhapssss ring for the Bellbeing to carry ussss to the top…” Paier eyes an ancient, crudely decorated bell standing near rippling water of the pool. “It may asssk usss to pay a toll, however.” Paier smirks, perhaps at the pun.

Paier and the goblin look at you for the final word and you decide to...