The Fireball Gazette

A Bold Leap into the Tiny Frontier
Returning to the Treasury alongside the battle-hardened Moon Priestess Selene, the party prepared for their next mission. However, Tiyana, nursing a sprained wrist, opted to hold the perimeter, while Ace rejoined the ranks, fully recovered and ready for action. Selene laid out the plan: to pursue the rogue mask spirits, the party would need to shrink down and stage an invasion of the Great Portal Book’s pages.
Before anyone could debate the legality of such a maneuver or ask for more backup, Selene deployed her magic. In a sudden flash, the adventurers were reduced to a single fraction of their size, standing on the very edge of the book’s bottom page like pioneers arriving at a new land. They gazed up at the towering figure of Selene, whose voice boomed with the authority of a supreme leader. After ensuring the squad was combat-ready and unharmed, she retreated into the distance, leaving them to forge their own path.
The party’s campaign into the mysterious book world had officially begun.

Stars, Trees, and Mysterious Candles Deciding to scout the left page first, the party arrived at the foot of a massive star chart. As Deva conducted her reconnaissance, she identified several familiar constellations but spotted an anomaly: within the Pisces constellation, a single star had been replaced by a shimmering purple amethyst. Stepping onto the chart’s trampoline-like surface, Deva confirmed the gemstone was securely anchored and immovable - true unyielding territory.
Nearby, a large tree rose from the page, its branches heavy with both drawn and real wax candles. Some burned steadily, but most were out of commission. Ace attempted to ignite one of the drawn candles, testing his firepower, but discovered they lacked any flammable potential. Marina climbed the tree to inspect the real candles for any hidden threats.
Deva then uncovered a section of elotvish text inscribed on the page. Though it required careful transcription due to its oversized lettering, the poem revealed a crucial code:

Through the book you wander, tiny and small,
seeking the gems, hidden for all.
Six lie concealed in a careful line,
from top to bottom – follow each sign!
Press then the buttons, without any haste,
in the same order you carefully traced.
The gate will open, no longer sealed tight,
when you honour the puzzle and get it right.

Beside the riddle, a drawing of a dragon clutched a blue sapphire, while Mabel, patrolling the page’s edge, found a green emerald tucked into the top corner. With three gems officially claimed, they turned their attention to the right page.

The Stone Door and an Unexpected Ambush
On the opposing page stood a colossal stone door, nearly filling the sheet like a massive barricade. Beneath it lay six protruding buttons, each a different color: Green, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Orange, and Red. Eager to execute the riddle’s instructions, Ace pressed the buttons corresponding to the gemstones they’d already secured - Purple, Blue, and Green. Lacking the full sequence for victory, they returned to search the forest illustrated on the left page.
Peering into the drawn trees, Ace felt an eerie presence as two glowing eyes stared back at the lone scout. With a sudden charge, a lynx emerged from the paper thickets, its claws aimed at Ace’s vital organs. Though he deflected the initial strike, his alarm cry alerted the rest of the squad.
Ace retaliated with his electrified rapier, delivering a high-voltage critical blow that pierced the lynx’s head, only for two more insurgents to emerge from the paper shadows. Mabel, hesitant to use lethal force on the creatures, took a defensive stance, while Marina provided heavy artillery, raining crossbow bolts from the tree above. Meanwhile, Deva transformed into a horse, closing the distance with tactical precision before reverting to human form and negotiating a peace treaty with one lynx using Animal Friendship.
The remaining lynx attacked Deva, slashing her with its claws. Ace stepped in to defend his comrade, delivering a flurry of decisive strikes. Together with Marina’s sniper support and Deva’s Flame Blade, they neutralized the second lynx. The final lynx, now tamed, provided vital intelligence: It reported that the orange gem lay within the flames and the yellow one was hidden in the forest, but it knew nothing of the red gem. After tossing a mouse to distract the creature, the lynxy vanished back into the woods, leaving the party to continue their sweep of the area.

Uncovering the Final Gems
Marina and Deva climbed the tree to examine the burning candles more closely. In the heart of one flame, they found an orange amber stone glowing brightly. Meanwhile, Mabel, guided by the lynx’s intel, explored the forest again. A massive mama lynx emerged, her yellow, topaz-like eye glowing softly. Sensing Mabel’s peaceful intentions, the creature retreated into the depths of the forest, leaving her unhindered.
Finally, Marina examined the ornate red border framing the book and discovered a hidden ruby nestled among the intricate designs. With all six gemstones officially annexed, the party returned to the stone door to test their solution.

Unlocking the Gate
Ace, standing before the buttons like a man at a control panel, pressed the remaining ones in the order the party had claimed the gems: Orange, Yellow, Red. As he hit the final button, an electric shock jolted his arm as the buttons sprang back, having entered an incorrect combination.
The party put their heads together and then attempted to press the buttons in a top-to-bottom sequence, following the page's natural order. As the last purple button was pressed, a faint hum filled the air, and the massive stone door began to retract, revealing a spiral staircase descending deep into the book’s interior. At the summit, an ornate golden gate awaited, beyond which stood a resplendent palace shimmering with untold treasures and mysteries. The party stepped forward, eager to claim whatever glory lay ahead. What secrets would this new territory reveal? What dangers awaited in the golden palace?

– TO BE CONTINUED –