Hooray!

Next, now that they have enchanted items that might theoretically need the protection of the Nexus vaults, they can go see how it works.

Oooh, cool! Off to the Nexus vaults!

The entrance to the vaults is in lowest level of the tower. There, a stone ring taller than all the whelps in Maragosa's flock combined is guarded by a pair of imposing dragonspawn. Inside the ring shimmers a fluctuating blue-green curtain of magic.

Oh wow it's so pretty and magical and shiny!!

"Hello!" She says to the guards, then adds to whoever feels like answering, "How does this work?"

"This is the portal to the vaults. The vaults themselves are technically some distance below yet, in a hermetically warded foldspace, which means they're much bigger on the inside than the outside."

"Wow. And the portal is the only way in? How often do people need to go in and out?"

"The only point of entrance or egress is this portal, yes. Except for the Vault-Warden, entry is only permitted to those who have need."

"I want to learn how to make places bigger on the inside. And how to make portals!"

"Both are applications of arcane magic, which we will cover in due course. For now, let us proceed with the vault. The first step to gaining entry is asking the guardians to contact the Warden." She nods at the dragonspawn. They nod back, and one of them places a hand on the portal ring, which begins to glow with arcane charge while the other begins weaving a spell that extends its tendrils through to the other side.

The visual is almost as cool and impressive as the thing that's happening to cause it, and that's great. 

An irritated-looking humanoid pokes his head out of the portal. "What is it thi- oh. Kharmeena. And another batch of whelplings, here to destroy my cataloging system. Again."

     "Please try to set a good example for the children, Azuregos."

He heaves a long-suffering sigh. "Oh fine. You'd best come in and get this over with, then."

"I don't want to destroy a cataloging system! Is that something that can happen on accident?!"

"Only if a careless whelp does not watch where they are flying," Kharmeena says. "But none of you are the sort to do such a thing, right?" She passes a stern look across the group.

They all do their best Totally Innocent Faces.

"Good. Through the portal, now."

She flies through the portal, slowly enough to avoid any unseen obstacles on the other side.

Going through the portal is a bit of an interesting experience. Physically, it doesn't feel like anything. But if she's paying attention, she can tell there's a layer of magic serving as a bridge between here and there.

The far side of the portal is a wide stone plaza, limned in a blue glow with walls of ice.

She wants to fly out and back in again a few times to get a better look at that magic! . . . But she won't, because she doesn't want to collide with her siblings or hold up the group. Oh neat, ice walls! Does it look like they're a thin layer of ice over stone, or that the structure itself is ice-based?

It looks like it's actually just ice. The room is surprisingly warm, for that.

Probably the ice is enchanted not to melt, which is awesome, but she's not super clear on what the point is. "Why are the walls ice?"

"Magic is the best containment for magic. Frost is strong and stable, and comparatively easy to work."

"Oh, okay. Thanks!" Delighted flapping!

Once everyone's in, Kharmeena tells the whelps to line up to present their artifact to the Vault-Warden. "Make sure to inform him of the nature of the artifact, the circumstances under which you obtained it, any groups that might attempt to retrieve it, and any other unusual circumstances so that he can assign it the correct degree of protection."

She is vaguely aware that this is a total charade but it is still So Fun! She stands very straight as she waits in line and watches the first few siblings present their artifacts.

Azuregos plays along with a minimum of grumbling. Probably because Kharmeena is standing right next to him.

Then it's Maragosa's turn. "Next!" he calls.