Art of the Octangle (5)

Moving away from the Squilltemper Building and towards the Unseen University's Octiron doors, one passes through that curious corner of the octangle, shadowed by the Battlement Balcony, and that is enjoyed by the wizards of the Octarine / Last Order persuasion:

Here on the eastern side of the Octangle, a great shadow looms.  It's the Battlement Balcony, extending an architecturally implausible ten feet outwards from the top of the wall between the University and Sator Square, and keeping the rain off the statue of Archchancellor Niklaus Roxby that sits on a carved granite bench against the wall.  A broken plinth squats next to it, still looking somehow menacing.

In the protective shade of a chestnut tree cuddles a greenish-purple octarine oak bench, and when I try to sit on it I get the following message:

You sit on a greenish-purple octarine oak bench.

> The bench suddenly springs to life, tips you onto the ground, then shuffles off deciding that now is a perfect time to run a quick lap of the octangle.

You stand up.

The bench returns from its light jog around the courtyard.

One doesn't quite get a statue of the archetypal Last Order wizard here, but what you get is even more telling:

In principle, there should have been a statue of a Last Order wizard here.  However, it quickly became a target for Last Order wizards to practise their offensive spells and the smouldering ruins were gingerly removed for extreme thaumic decontamination.  Only a battered plinth carved with knives and fireballs remains, glowing balefully with the remains of thousands of curses, hexes and thaumic assaults.

Another statue can be appreciated, smuggly seated on a stone bench:

Archchancellor Roxby sits here on a carved granite bench, one hand upraised as though to declaim from the book he holds in his other.  A prolific poet, he left a generous bequest to have his collected works released in a luxury edition and his papers filed forevermore in the Library for the delight of wizards of generations to come.  The resulting handsome calfskin-bound edition of one copy now resides in the Obscure and Hazardous Literature Collection under lock, key and magical binding, and it is not known where the then Librarian filed his papers.

Order Rings - The Last Order

Very appropiately, the last ring we talk about is the Last Order's one. I haven't been able to find my missing collection, but I was quite lucky in a brief visit to Sadel Noctus, and found him selling the Vortex Ring I need to post here.
So here it goes. Enjoy a brief look at what people-killing warlocks like to wear!

>look vortex ring

A steel ring, grey as the knife-blade, has been used as a base for this ominous design. Around it have been woven silver and gold wires, creating a lattice through which the enclosed steel can barely be made out. A flat disc of octiron has been fastened to the top of the ring, and a single star ruby protrudes from its centre. Spokes of diamond dust stretch from ruby to rim, and between each pair of spokes lies a bone-white letter.
Written in octarine fire: "Finis"
It appears to have something written on it.
It is in excellent condition.

>read vortex ring

You read the vortex ring:
The Last Order

Order Rooms: the Last Order

Well, as you might guess, this bit of scrying required extra help, as almost all of the members of the Last Order only appear to me in a haze of smoke and mirrors... Therefore, special thanks to Master Benfrey the Obscure, who allowed me to peek into the most discreet and secretive of Orders...

This darkened room is the lounging area of the infamous Last Order. Silently, a few candle flames circle the room and cast a weary shadow among the various objects. Along the walls, multicoloured drapes swoop and plumet, much like the water of a calm ocean. This room hasn't been created for the morbid-minded as much as it has for those who like to keep private. In the centre of the room is a large rectangular table around which sit multiple black leather chairs. Against one of the walls, a large bulletin board stands next to a small chest.
A small octarine eye, hovering in the middle of the room, watches you.
There are three obvious exits: west, southwest and south.

l table: This is a rectangle-shaped table constructed of petrified cherry wood. It's all so executive looking! The top has been polished to a crystal-like gleam and the edges have been rounded off. The feet come down into a swooping claw that grasps a solid rose-quartz ball.

l chairs: These chairs are large and plush. The black leather strains at the seams, yet shines with the subtle luster. These oversized chairs sit properly at the table in a manner that nearly screams "board room"!

l walls: The walls are covered by multicoloured drapes made from velvet. They have been quilted so elegantly that the colours collide in a harlequinesque motif.

l drapes: These are multicoloured drapes made from velvet. They have been quilted so elegantly that the colours collide in a harlequinesque motif.

l floor: The floor is covered in a plush grey shag.

l candle flames: These are what seem to be the tips of burning wicks. Which, of course, should be on candles. But they're not. Instead a mere flame hovers gently and circles the room, causing shadows to dance around slowly and eerily.

l shadows: These are created by the light of the flames and nothing else.

l circle (of fire): This is a circle of flame. Curiously, the vortex around which all the flames seem to be orbiting, shimmers ever so lightly, as if there's a strange air distortion there or a gap leading to l-space.