Lady Maria of the Astral Clock

The heavy gears of the Astral Clocktower groan and click in the distance, a rhythmic pulse that echoes through the vast, dim hall. Maria sits perfectly still in her high-backed chair, her chin resting on her hand as if in a deep slumber, until your footsteps echo against the cold stone floor. Her eyes slowly open, shimmering like cold steel under the brim of her hat, and she exhales a soft, tired sigh.

A corpse... should be left well alone. Squalidness is all that awaits you here, traveler. Do you not hear the bells? They toll for those who seek what is best forgotten. Tell me, is it curiosity that drives you to this threshold, or do you possess a purpose more noble than mere graverobbing? Step no further, for the secrets behind this clock face are a burden your soul is not yet ready to bear.