Five people open a door with a magical key all at the same time. Five people see each other looking around in curiosity and wonder. They find themselves in a very long hallway that seems to comprise of a number of doors. If these new comers to this unknown place take the time to count the number of doorways here they would find 25 doors all the same with no features and all uniform in design. There is a stain glass rainbow tiled ceiling in this hallway and plenty of light seems to be entering the hallway. There is also a very large door at the end of the hallway that is closed but oddly had handles on it at multiple locations like beings of different sizes would use the door. The handles seeming to match for creatures up to a height of 30 feet tall to as short as 3 feet tall. It's a very oddly shaped door indeed. The hallway itself seems to have intricate geometric designs on the floor with one unique circular one that seems to be placed around the large door that enters this room of door.
There are 5 others doors as well. Each one unique like they are each coming from radically different locations. One seems to be a door made of iron and gears or hidges. A human with long trench coat and wide brimmed hat seems to be standing in this doorway. He has leather boots on that seem like they have seen a lot of use. Signs of travel and hardship aplenty on this man. A second unique door looks like it belongs in a basement but there are some signs that it is cold wherever this door leads.. Just behind the dragonborn standing in the door way is what looks like a collections of scrolls and charts in a basement of some unknown location. The third door seems to be a small attic door. Half the height of typical doors and the female wood elf that ducked to get through it now looks around very confused at where she finds herself. The fourth door seems to belong to a run down tavern or inn. The oaken door sturdy and smelling of ale and as its opened. A fairy with gossamer wings steps through this door. They seem to be being careful not to be loud as they enter but they find themselves looking at the others all the same. The last door looks like it belongs to a closet. From inside this doorway steps a dwarven lady and behind her seems to be some kind of setting that seems almost religious in design.
You all are meeting for the first time. Folks brought from various edges around the world to this location. What is this place? No one knows yet. Anyone who tests their door finds they can close and open it, the portal connection the place they used their key to this hallway still there and in tact. It doesn't not appear any of you are trapped and you are free to look around. There is the sound of the ocean waves outside as well as a faint salty smell making you all think this place is near an ocean. The large door has a magical circle drawn into the ground.
The circle is cut in half by the door itself. Is seems designed to make it so that it is impossible to go through the large door without going over this magic circle. The hallway of doors is quiet except for some sound of revelry in the distance coming from the door the fairy is standing in. The large door does not seem to have a lock or keyhole. There are smaller circles of magic that are on the door frame of this large door though. These circles appear on the larger circle under the door. One with an arrow pointing up on on side and other the other side of the door on the door frame is a circle with an arrow pointing down. The a second set of arrow but with a line crossed through them. One going up and one going down. The two pointing down are on the left and the two pointing up are to the right.
Each of you are coming from a very different location but this is the room you all find yourselves in now. There is no sense of danger at this time and the hallway is well lit from the rainbow light coming down from the tiled windows above.
The gunslinger squints as the door opens, and his hand comes to rest on the sandalwood grip of his revolver, a grip that has been smoothed over by being drawn a thousand times. It's so worn down that it looks like it was carved specifically for his hand.
"State your purpose." He says, cold and flat as he looks around the room, clearly not recognizing the absurdity of opening a door to who-knows-where and then demanding to know what the people he finds behind it are doing there. He stands in the door, pensive, unsure of what to do next, watching as the other's emerge; the short woman; the even shorter fellow with wings; is that a lizard?; and a lady with pointy ears. He holds his position and looks at the little fox that is close on her heels. "Where is this? Where is the one they call Walter?"
He looks up, using his hand to shield his eyes from the piercing, multi-colored light from overhead when his hat tips back far enough that his eyes are no longer protected. His eyes are blue, faded by the harsh light of a sun somewhere else. His hair is dark, his face sporting two days worth of dark stubble. His skin has clearly been pummeled by heat and sun and wind and time.
He steadies his hand, loosens his grip on his pistol as his confusion begins to pass and he sees that these unknown others are not hostile. Beneath the poncho he wears as his primary covering is a set of half plate that was beautiful once, of that there is no doubt; adorned in silver and gold, fine leather and expert craftsmanship. Emblazoned on it is a glimpse a coat of arms; a fierce light set behind a cross, equal in length horizontally and vertically and flared at the ends, over which the likeness of two of these bizarre hand weapons he carries are criss-crossed.
The worn man looks back out the door through which he is passing, and steps into the room. A little dust falls from his boots as he does so...
Ulmuur looks in shock as his eyes adjust to the bright light. And the warm, salty air. Wait, what? Ulmuur drops the scrolls he still held in his arms and takes a step forward, through the door. You see a Dragonborn standing there, with shimmering green scales that appear almost translucent. He is wearing a heavy cloak, with simple leather armor underneath. There is an amulet around his neck, but it appears to be a simple metal disk with a number of holes punched in it. Under the cloak, you catch a glimpse of a scimitar, and there is a simple shield strapped to his pack. However, one thing that catches your eye, his horns. They appear normal, green, following his skull curving back. You realize quickly that they are not attacked to his head. They look like they should be, but the is a gap, they are just floating in place.
"What? Wait? How?" He takes a deep breath and observes. Do not rush to assumptions, observe and process. He sees the four others, and the other doors in the room. Then he looks again to the key in his hand.
He hears the human speak. "Purpose? I was looking for some scrolls when I found a door, and the key, it worked...." Ulmuur stops and looks back at his door. "Wait... Lets me test something." He goes back into the basement of the Observatory and closes the door. Then opens it again. Hmm, still there. Then he looks on either side of the door. The room had doors there, but it was solid wall in the basement. He steps back into the hallway of doors. He takes a deep breath and closes his door. Then tries to open it. He breathes a sign of relief as he is able to open it back up.
"Okay, it appears that I am somewhere else. Is this the same for all of you? There's no way these other doors are connected to the same room I've come through. Amazing." To the human's question, he'll respond. "Hmmm? Walter, I don't know a Walter. As to where, no idea, not yet. At night, I might be able to get a better idea. We are close to water, based on the salt air." He will start to look around some more. He counts out the doors. "Hmm, 25 doors. Plus the big one. And, hello, a magic circle of some type." Ulmuur will begin looking at the magic circle without touching it.
Norwin adjusts her bow on her back as it catches on the cabinet door as she steps out and looks at the others. She kneels down and scritches the foxes ears. Her green eyes are wide, but taking in the entire room. The hand not touching the fox is resting on her hip near a dagger. Her clothes are a little worn and show snags from working in the woods. There is dirt on her cheeks but its hard to tell as it matches with her freckles. A couple twigs are sticking in her hair as well. "Rudy, this wasn't here before was it? Umm, hi? You all found keys too?"
As Manira opens the closet door with the stolen key, she fully intends it to still be the closet filled with familiar items. As it opens up into a beautiful, colorful hallway filled with doors, her mouth hangs open, her eyes go wide and she fully trips on the threshold of the doorway and goes down on one knee, hard. "Ouch!" her voice rings out loudly throughout the hall, and she silences it immediately as her eyes fall on the other occupants.
She's a bit on the shorter side, even for a dwarf. She is adorned with chain mail and a large, beautifully carved war hammer. Once she stands back up, you see that she is holding a good sized shield in her other hand, with a large bronze cog symbol that shows four spokes coming out of the center. She has long, strawberry blond hair and has piercings along her ears as well as a few in her nose.
She stands there frozen for a moment, torn in her mind if she should pretend to be her sister or just go for broke and be herself. The idea though of pretending to be that little miss better than everyone visibly made her shake though, so that decided that.
Manira looks at each of the newcomers and the doorways they have come through. She would guess they are all in the same position she was? She chuckles as she watches the dragonborn test their door a couple times. Yep, definitely all in the same situation. "Somewhere else is right," she finally pipes up, "I've been through that door hundreds of times before and well, this is a first. Yeah, I don't believe I know a Walter either, my name is Manira by the way, Manira Graybeard." She watches as the dragonborn heads over to the large circle and just before she is about to warn him not to touch it, she breathes a sigh of relief as he is treating it the same way she would.
She then turns her head to the crouched down elf, "Cute fox. Yep keys."
Relaxes a bit and picks up the fox and drapes him around her neck, before standing. "Thanks, his name's Rudy, I'm Norwin." She looks at the Gunslinger. "I'm guessing your Walter isn't Wally Pitcher who works the inn stables because that's the only Walter I know. And who are you demanding our purpose the moment you see others. We could ask you the same." She leans back against the door frame, her hands resting on her hips very close to her dagger hilts.
"Wally who?" Roland asks, his brows bunched up. "No, Walter Padick. I followed him here, to this place, some time ago but...he seems to have disappeared into this place this...wherever this is. Who am I? Nobody, but usually when you're the first to speak you're the first that gets to make demands."
He pulls his hand away from the butt of his iron as it becomes obvious the other newcomers are as confused as he is. He thinks about what the lizard is saying in regards to night, starts to ask, then holds his tongue, unsure of what he's about to hear next. He waits...
Ulmuur looks up from the circle as the others are talking. Oh yes, threr are others here, too! "Hmm, what? Oh yes, names. Yes, sorry, it's just, this is amazing mystery, is it not! Better than all the snow and white, it does get boring. Oh, yes, names. I am Ulmuur Starwarden of the Gleamscale Tribe. I am somewhat of an astronomer in Aurora, to the north of the Iceborn Sea. Which, I might add, is where my door leads to. I found a key, or rather, it found me. And, it was odd. I did not want to tell anyone about it. It was my little secret. I felt wrong somehow when I did not carry it with me. And then the door, it was there and it just fit so perfectly. And here we are. Very exciting, is it not!" His horns shift a bit up as he speaks, almost like how an excited dog's ears would perk up.
He looks to the human curiously. "Wait, you followed someone here? There was someone who came in before us five? Six counting the cute fox. Hello Rudy! This is curious. Hmm, more clues, we need more clues." He looks back towards the magic circle. He holds the amulet around his neck, says a word in druidic and touches his forehead as he casts guidance on himself. He will look at the runes and try to see what this does.
((I'm assuming I'll need an Arcana roll?)) Arcana : 7
As Ulmuur tries to examine the magical circle near the door the only thing he is certain of is that it's complex and it is tied in someway to the matching symbols on the door frame. Unwise he is completely flummoxed. It doesn't help that half the circle goes under the door so he can't see it all. The sound of a wave crashing in the distance can be heard as folks continue to talk and meet in this mysterious hallway. The door with multiple handles for multiple sizes of being still standing but mysterious. There seems to be a handle to open the door for a small being, medium, large and huge.
Ruby the fox makes a chirping noise that one rarely hears from a fox as if the fox is greeting the dwarven lady. The fox seems oddly distracted though. Seeming to have their attention drawn by the large door. Occasional sniffing towards it like he smells something interesting. She is well trained and sticks with Norwin on their shoulder and neck and doesn't randomly wonder off.
One more person can give me an Arcana check on the circle.
When Manira hears the fox seem to greet her, she raises an eyebrow and looks at him for a bit, curious. She rotates the head of the war hammer in her hand for a second, then turns her attention to the large door.
Walking over to where Ulmuur is standing she also looks down to the circle, listening to the waves outside. "North of the Iceborn Sea? So you're also from the North Reach?" she turns back to the others, "Are the rest of you from the North Reach as well?"
You have keen senses from your past and you put them all to good use. There is the obvious sound of the ocean yes but there is also a couple other sounds. You can hear the steady asymmetric sound of the waves crashing on a shoreline of some kind but within that sound you also pick up a second rhythmic sound of waves that is consistent but also seems separate from the natural waves crashing on the shoreline. You also hear what sounds like tiny paws pacing back and forth just on the otherside of the large door with the circle and many handles.
Manira knows her stonework and this place is some of the most impressive she has ever seen. In fact, she has only ever seen this type of stone work in one place and it was in disrepair from having been abandoned. This is pre-Great Race War architecture and it is in perfect condition by the looks of it. However, she is unsure which of the great races this belongs to.
The magical circle is a mystery at this time. It seems the complexity of it must be figured out the old fashion way as the people that have arrived have not come across such a design before.
Can I cast Speak w/ Animals to check in w/ Rudy and then get as close to the door w/o touching the circle and try and see under or through one of the cracks and try and speak w/ the thing on the other side?
"Something is skittering on the other side of that door. Doesn't sound too big." scritches Rudy, cast speak w/ animals "Whatcha think pal? something friendly? Something seems to have gotten your attention."
10 investigation to find and look through a gap
animal speak: "Hello? Can you hear me over there? Do you know how this door opens or what this symbol means?"
"I'm sorry. Name's Roland." The gunslinger says, still a little out of his element. "A key you say? Like...this one?"
Roland pulls a key out from under his armor. It hangs on a leather string.
"Where am I from? Not from here. I don't think. I hail from the Kingdom of Gilead in All-World, and to answer the question..." He looks around for a moment. "I didn't follow Walter physically. Just his trail. Through this place. He's been here, though I'm not sure how long ago."
He watches as everyone begins inspecting the large door, and steps forward. He marvels at the size of the thing, at the intricate patterns on it and the floor, and looks for a way to open it as he reaches out and lays a hand on a handle to see what happens.
Roland is Investigating the door...with a mighty 7...
Ulmuur is kneeling, continuing to look at circle. "Hmm, if only we could see the other half. Hmmm, something on the other side you say. I doubt it's much of a trap. A trap wouldn't be this obvious. I could look at the magic, given some time, but I don't think that's necessary. We could just disturb it. Here, I have a ball bearing somewhere, unless one of you is stupid enough to..."
Ulmuur watches as Roland steps through the circle up to the door. "Well, I guess one of you was stupid enough to step on it." He'll stand up and see what happens.
As folks try to gather as much info as they can Roland steps into the magical circle. The circle lights up and to Roland there ia a sensation of magic. He can feel a thru of magic flow over him like it's changing something. However, at the end of the magic's influence he seems to be unchanged. Whatever it did there doesn't seem to be a visual effect from it beyond the circle glowing.
Undaunted, Roland checks the medium height door handle and finds its not locked. He's able to open it showing the circle continues like a mirror on the otherside and the same symbols are on the opposite side of the doorframe too. The door is designed to swing inward he pulls the door open revealing what appears to be a large storage room with crates and barrels stacked on the sides. It all all nicely stacked 4 crates and 3 barrels high. On the opposite side of the door you all are just coming through is another door similar in designed to the one you are just coming through. It has the same circle and symbols on the door frame.
In the middle of the room is what appears to be some kind of humanoid rabbit.
Adorn with loosely fitted clothes that seem to support freedom of movement. The rabbit stands on two legs at a staggering 2 feet tall. They seem to have a breastplate affixed to their chest and a long sword strapped to.their side. However, with their size its more akin to a short sword. Light Grey fur covers their body except around their ears and nose in which it turns pure white till cute blips of pink show. An injury seems to show on their cheek just behind their eye but signs its healed long ago show.
They have already turned towards the group as someone addressed them through the door. They reply in fluent animal "One of you speaks my native tongue? Splendid! We should chat more later. I'm in quite the rush though and I should probably speak in common for the others. When I come back let's have some tea and carrots."
The rabbit gives an unmistakable bow to the group they spot and says in a small feminine voice "Welcome the the Sanctuary! I am Lady Hoppington the 3rd the 3rd (yes the 3rd twice) I've followed my dreams and provided you with quite a bit of supplies for here. The courtyard just out of here is beautiful by the way. Love it. You should totally make a garden there." She gestures to the crates and barrels stacked up high around you. None of you are sure how she managed to stack crates 4 high.
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions but I only got time for one and then I got to be off. I'm sure you all want to explore the place before things get busy anyway." She smiles and it's almost painfully cute when she does. What does one ask a rabbit in this situation?
Manira steps away from the circle for a bit, drawn by the stonework of hall. As she runs her fingers over the stones, she hums to herself as this is some of the most impressive she has ever seen... at least in this good of shape. As she peers closer, she can tell that work had been done by all of the great races. She gives it a slap of appreciation before turning back to the conversation amongst the rest.
"Kingdom of Gilead in All-World? Are you pulling my chain? Such a place doesn't exist!" As she is about to ask the rest if they had heard of such a place, the gunslinger nonchalantly walks over the magical circle that Ulmuur was trying to figure out. "Well... that's one way."
She follows the rest into the storage room and takes in all the crates and boxes that line the walls. The creature in the middle of the room makes her smile. As it starts talking in a foreign tongue, she gets a bit worried, but then Lady Hoppington the 3rd the 3rd greets them in the common tongue and she breathes a sigh of relief.
One? They get one freaking question? Manira's head is exploding with them. She looks to the others and its very apparent on their faces they feel the same way. Finally, she goes for the most basic question of all, "Very nice to meet you Lady Hoppington the 3rd the 3rd, why are the five of us here?"
Norwin stands, keeping a hand on the scruff of Rudy's neck to keep him from going after the bunny. "Pretty sure that ones not for lunch," she whispers to the fox.
There is a bit of a nose twitch as she eyes the fox. A look of amusement. The rabbit lady smiles at Manira as she asks the question most on everyone's mind. Why. Lady Hoppington seems to have expected as much and chuckles as they reply "I swear, this place has a wicked sense of humor. You all are here to be the Sanctuary's next caretakers. That means you protect this place, help those who end up here... or maybe that it summons. It varies. Slay anything that gets in that shouldn't because folks with ill intent could do some pretty horrifying things with this place and overall ensure the functionality of the Sanctuary. Oh! You also have a prison and a vault to maintain. I doubt you'll have access to those places right now though. It's been a long time since The Sanctuary has been in use though so a lot of its more fabulous features are not in tact at this time. You'll need to find ways to repair those if that is what you want. Ultimately the fate of this place is in your hands. Oh! Don't fret the island, I mean... you can but you don't have to. It's got it's own agenda and technically you're not responsible for it as much as just this Sanctuary." She nods. Seeming satisfied that she gave you all a satisfactory answer. One that undoubtedly leaves far more questions then the initial one.
She checks her sword and heads for the door towards what she said was a courtyard. Rudy eyes them longingly a growl in their stomach as they watch the rabbit leave but held back by Norwin with a sense of wisdom far greater then the fox's. As the Rabbit opens the door you all see the circle glow once again but nothing seems to change this time either. There is definitely an affect it is having as they pass through it though. Several of you have decent perception though and notice that the symbols on the door frames are a bit different this time. All of you notice the large and very wide courtyard just outside the door. There appears to be a very large castle at the far end of it. Lady Hoppington turns around and says "Good bye! I will be back another day. I wish you all good luck."
Sets Rudy down once the bunny's gone and goes over to look at the crates and w nat1 for a 2 total... they are definitely crates....
"Rudy, you get a sense of anything?" switches to common "Where'd all the ocean waves go? I guess she did say this was an island. But caretakers fpr what exactly?" *pokes a box*
Five people open a door with a magical key all at the same time. Five people see each other looking around in curiosity and wonder. They find themselves in a very long hallway that seems to comprise of a number of doors. If these new comers to this unknown place take the time to count the number of doorways here they would find 25 doors all the same with no features and all uniform in design. There is a stain glass rainbow tiled ceiling in this hallway and plenty of light seems to be entering the hallway. There is also a very large door at the end of the hallway that is closed but oddly had handles on it at multiple locations like beings of different sizes would use the door. The handles seeming to match for creatures up to a height of 30 feet tall to as short as 3 feet tall. It's a very oddly shaped door indeed. The hallway itself seems to have intricate geometric designs on the floor with one unique circular one that seems to be placed around the large door that enters this room of door.
There are 5 others doors as well. Each one unique like they are each coming from radically different locations. One seems to be a door made of iron and gears or hidges. A human with long trench coat and wide brimmed hat seems to be standing in this doorway. He has leather boots on that seem like they have seen a lot of use. Signs of travel and hardship aplenty on this man. A second unique door looks like it belongs in a basement but there are some signs that it is cold wherever this door leads.. Just behind the dragonborn standing in the door way is what looks like a collections of scrolls and charts in a basement of some unknown location. The third door seems to be a small attic door. Half the height of typical doors and the female wood elf that ducked to get through it now looks around very confused at where she finds herself. The fourth door seems to belong to a run down tavern or inn. The oaken door sturdy and smelling of ale and as its opened. A fairy with gossamer wings steps through this door. They seem to be being careful not to be loud as they enter but they find themselves looking at the others all the same. The last door looks like it belongs to a closet. From inside this doorway steps a dwarven lady and behind her seems to be some kind of setting that seems almost religious in design.
You all are meeting for the first time. Folks brought from various edges around the world to this location. What is this place? No one knows yet. Anyone who tests their door finds they can close and open it, the portal connection the place they used their key to this hallway still there and in tact. It doesn't not appear any of you are trapped and you are free to look around. There is the sound of the ocean waves outside as well as a faint salty smell making you all think this place is near an ocean. The large door has a magical circle drawn into the ground.
The circle is cut in half by the door itself. Is seems designed to make it so that it is impossible to go through the large door without going over this magic circle. The hallway of doors is quiet except for some sound of revelry in the distance coming from the door the fairy is standing in. The large door does not seem to have a lock or keyhole. There are smaller circles of magic that are on the door frame of this large door though. These circles appear on the larger circle under the door. One with an arrow pointing up on on side and other the other side of the door on the door frame is a circle with an arrow pointing down. The a second set of arrow but with a line crossed through them. One going up and one going down. The two pointing down are on the left and the two pointing up are to the right.
Each of you are coming from a very different location but this is the room you all find yourselves in now. There is no sense of danger at this time and the hallway is well lit from the rainbow light coming down from the tiled windows above.
The gunslinger squints as the door opens, and his hand comes to rest on the sandalwood grip of his revolver, a grip that has been smoothed over by being drawn a thousand times. It's so worn down that it looks like it was carved specifically for his hand.
"State your purpose." He says, cold and flat as he looks around the room, clearly not recognizing the absurdity of opening a door to who-knows-where and then demanding to know what the people he finds behind it are doing there. He stands in the door, pensive, unsure of what to do next, watching as the other's emerge; the short woman; the even shorter fellow with wings; is that a lizard?; and a lady with pointy ears. He holds his position and looks at the little fox that is close on her heels. "Where is this? Where is the one they call Walter?"
He looks up, using his hand to shield his eyes from the piercing, multi-colored light from overhead when his hat tips back far enough that his eyes are no longer protected. His eyes are blue, faded by the harsh light of a sun somewhere else. His hair is dark, his face sporting two days worth of dark stubble. His skin has clearly been pummeled by heat and sun and wind and time.
He steadies his hand, loosens his grip on his pistol as his confusion begins to pass and he sees that these unknown others are not hostile. Beneath the poncho he wears as his primary covering is a set of half plate that was beautiful once, of that there is no doubt; adorned in silver and gold, fine leather and expert craftsmanship. Emblazoned on it is a glimpse a coat of arms; a fierce light set behind a cross, equal in length horizontally and vertically and flared at the ends, over which the likeness of two of these bizarre hand weapons he carries are criss-crossed.
The worn man looks back out the door through which he is passing, and steps into the room. A little dust falls from his boots as he does so...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Ulmuur looks in shock as his eyes adjust to the bright light. And the warm, salty air. Wait, what? Ulmuur drops the scrolls he still held in his arms and takes a step forward, through the door. You see a Dragonborn standing there, with shimmering green scales that appear almost translucent. He is wearing a heavy cloak, with simple leather armor underneath. There is an amulet around his neck, but it appears to be a simple metal disk with a number of holes punched in it. Under the cloak, you catch a glimpse of a scimitar, and there is a simple shield strapped to his pack. However, one thing that catches your eye, his horns. They appear normal, green, following his skull curving back. You realize quickly that they are not attacked to his head. They look like they should be, but the is a gap, they are just floating in place.
"What? Wait? How?" He takes a deep breath and observes. Do not rush to assumptions, observe and process. He sees the four others, and the other doors in the room. Then he looks again to the key in his hand.
He hears the human speak. "Purpose? I was looking for some scrolls when I found a door, and the key, it worked...." Ulmuur stops and looks back at his door. "Wait... Lets me test something." He goes back into the basement of the Observatory and closes the door. Then opens it again. Hmm, still there. Then he looks on either side of the door. The room had doors there, but it was solid wall in the basement. He steps back into the hallway of doors. He takes a deep breath and closes his door. Then tries to open it. He breathes a sign of relief as he is able to open it back up.
"Okay, it appears that I am somewhere else. Is this the same for all of you? There's no way these other doors are connected to the same room I've come through. Amazing." To the human's question, he'll respond. "Hmmm? Walter, I don't know a Walter. As to where, no idea, not yet. At night, I might be able to get a better idea. We are close to water, based on the salt air." He will start to look around some more. He counts out the doors. "Hmm, 25 doors. Plus the big one. And, hello, a magic circle of some type." Ulmuur will begin looking at the magic circle without touching it.
Norwin adjusts her bow on her back as it catches on the cabinet door as she steps out and looks at the others. She kneels down and scritches the foxes ears. Her green eyes are wide, but taking in the entire room. The hand not touching the fox is resting on her hip near a dagger. Her clothes are a little worn and show snags from working in the woods. There is dirt on her cheeks but its hard to tell as it matches with her freckles. A couple twigs are sticking in her hair as well. "Rudy, this wasn't here before was it? Umm, hi? You all found keys too?"
As Manira opens the closet door with the stolen key, she fully intends it to still be the closet filled with familiar items. As it opens up into a beautiful, colorful hallway filled with doors, her mouth hangs open, her eyes go wide and she fully trips on the threshold of the doorway and goes down on one knee, hard. "Ouch!" her voice rings out loudly throughout the hall, and she silences it immediately as her eyes fall on the other occupants.
She's a bit on the shorter side, even for a dwarf. She is adorned with chain mail and a large, beautifully carved war hammer. Once she stands back up, you see that she is holding a good sized shield in her other hand, with a large bronze cog symbol that shows four spokes coming out of the center. She has long, strawberry blond hair and has piercings along her ears as well as a few in her nose.
She stands there frozen for a moment, torn in her mind if she should pretend to be her sister or just go for broke and be herself. The idea though of pretending to be that little miss better than everyone visibly made her shake though, so that decided that.
Manira looks at each of the newcomers and the doorways they have come through. She would guess they are all in the same position she was? She chuckles as she watches the dragonborn test their door a couple times. Yep, definitely all in the same situation. "Somewhere else is right," she finally pipes up, "I've been through that door hundreds of times before and well, this is a first. Yeah, I don't believe I know a Walter either, my name is Manira by the way, Manira Graybeard." She watches as the dragonborn heads over to the large circle and just before she is about to warn him not to touch it, she breathes a sigh of relief as he is treating it the same way she would.
She then turns her head to the crouched down elf, "Cute fox. Yep keys."
Relaxes a bit and picks up the fox and drapes him around her neck, before standing. "Thanks, his name's Rudy, I'm Norwin." She looks at the Gunslinger. "I'm guessing your Walter isn't Wally Pitcher who works the inn stables because that's the only Walter I know. And who are you demanding our purpose the moment you see others. We could ask you the same." She leans back against the door frame, her hands resting on her hips very close to her dagger hilts.
"Wally who?" Roland asks, his brows bunched up. "No, Walter Padick. I followed him here, to this place, some time ago but...he seems to have disappeared into this place this...wherever this is. Who am I? Nobody, but usually when you're the first to speak you're the first that gets to make demands."
He pulls his hand away from the butt of his iron as it becomes obvious the other newcomers are as confused as he is. He thinks about what the lizard is saying in regards to night, starts to ask, then holds his tongue, unsure of what he's about to hear next. He waits...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Ulmuur looks up from the circle as the others are talking. Oh yes, threr are others here, too! "Hmm, what? Oh yes, names. Yes, sorry, it's just, this is amazing mystery, is it not! Better than all the snow and white, it does get boring. Oh, yes, names. I am Ulmuur Starwarden of the Gleamscale Tribe. I am somewhat of an astronomer in Aurora, to the north of the Iceborn Sea. Which, I might add, is where my door leads to. I found a key, or rather, it found me. And, it was odd. I did not want to tell anyone about it. It was my little secret. I felt wrong somehow when I did not carry it with me. And then the door, it was there and it just fit so perfectly. And here we are. Very exciting, is it not!" His horns shift a bit up as he speaks, almost like how an excited dog's ears would perk up.
He looks to the human curiously. "Wait, you followed someone here? There was someone who came in before us five? Six counting the cute fox. Hello Rudy! This is curious. Hmm, more clues, we need more clues." He looks back towards the magic circle. He holds the amulet around his neck, says a word in druidic and touches his forehead as he casts guidance on himself. He will look at the runes and try to see what this does.
((I'm assuming I'll need an Arcana roll?))
Arcana : 7
As Ulmuur tries to examine the magical circle near the door the only thing he is certain of is that it's complex and it is tied in someway to the matching symbols on the door frame. Unwise he is completely flummoxed. It doesn't help that half the circle goes under the door so he can't see it all. The sound of a wave crashing in the distance can be heard as folks continue to talk and meet in this mysterious hallway. The door with multiple handles for multiple sizes of being still standing but mysterious. There seems to be a handle to open the door for a small being, medium, large and huge.
Ruby the fox makes a chirping noise that one rarely hears from a fox as if the fox is greeting the dwarven lady. The fox seems oddly distracted though. Seeming to have their attention drawn by the large door. Occasional sniffing towards it like he smells something interesting. She is well trained and sticks with Norwin on their shoulder and neck and doesn't randomly wonder off.
26 perception (nat20 whooo!l
When Manira hears the fox seem to greet her, she raises an eyebrow and looks at him for a bit, curious. She rotates the head of the war hammer in her hand for a second, then turns her attention to the large door.
Walking over to where Ulmuur is standing she also looks down to the circle, listening to the waves outside. "North of the Iceborn Sea? So you're also from the North Reach?" she turns back to the others, "Are the rest of you from the North Reach as well?"
Intelligence check: 17
Arcana check: 11
You have keen senses from your past and you put them all to good use. There is the obvious sound of the ocean yes but there is also a couple other sounds. You can hear the steady asymmetric sound of the waves crashing on a shoreline of some kind but within that sound you also pick up a second rhythmic sound of waves that is consistent but also seems separate from the natural waves crashing on the shoreline. You also hear what sounds like tiny paws pacing back and forth just on the otherside of the large door with the circle and many handles.
Manira knows her stonework and this place is some of the most impressive she has ever seen. In fact, she has only ever seen this type of stone work in one place and it was in disrepair from having been abandoned. This is pre-Great Race War architecture and it is in perfect condition by the looks of it. However, she is unsure which of the great races this belongs to.
The magical circle is a mystery at this time. It seems the complexity of it must be figured out the old fashion way as the people that have arrived have not come across such a design before.
Can I cast Speak w/ Animals to check in w/ Rudy and then get as close to the door w/o touching the circle and try and see under or through one of the cracks and try and speak w/ the thing on the other side?
"Something is skittering on the other side of that door. Doesn't sound too big." scritches Rudy, cast speak w/ animals "Whatcha think pal? something friendly? Something seems to have gotten your attention."
10 investigation to find and look through a gap
animal speak: "Hello? Can you hear me over there? Do you know how this door opens or what this symbol means?"
"I'm sorry. Name's Roland." The gunslinger says, still a little out of his element. "A key you say? Like...this one?"
Roland pulls a key out from under his armor. It hangs on a leather string.
"Where am I from? Not from here. I don't think. I hail from the Kingdom of Gilead in All-World, and to answer the question..." He looks around for a moment. "I didn't follow Walter physically. Just his trail. Through this place. He's been here, though I'm not sure how long ago."
He watches as everyone begins inspecting the large door, and steps forward. He marvels at the size of the thing, at the intricate patterns on it and the floor, and looks for a way to open it as he reaches out and lays a hand on a handle to see what happens.
Roland is Investigating the door...with a mighty 7...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Ulmuur is kneeling, continuing to look at circle. "Hmm, if only we could see the other half. Hmmm, something on the other side you say. I doubt it's much of a trap. A trap wouldn't be this obvious. I could look at the magic, given some time, but I don't think that's necessary. We could just disturb it. Here, I have a ball bearing somewhere, unless one of you is stupid enough to..."
Ulmuur watches as Roland steps through the circle up to the door. "Well, I guess one of you was stupid enough to step on it." He'll stand up and see what happens.
As folks try to gather as much info as they can Roland steps into the magical circle. The circle lights up and to Roland there ia a sensation of magic. He can feel a thru of magic flow over him like it's changing something. However, at the end of the magic's influence he seems to be unchanged. Whatever it did there doesn't seem to be a visual effect from it beyond the circle glowing.
Undaunted, Roland checks the medium height door handle and finds its not locked. He's able to open it showing the circle continues like a mirror on the otherside and the same symbols are on the opposite side of the doorframe too. The door is designed to swing inward he pulls the door open revealing what appears to be a large storage room with crates and barrels stacked on the sides. It all all nicely stacked 4 crates and 3 barrels high. On the opposite side of the door you all are just coming through is another door similar in designed to the one you are just coming through. It has the same circle and symbols on the door frame.
In the middle of the room is what appears to be some kind of humanoid rabbit.
Adorn with loosely fitted clothes that seem to support freedom of movement. The rabbit stands on two legs at a staggering 2 feet tall. They seem to have a breastplate affixed to their chest and a long sword strapped to.their side. However, with their size its more akin to a short sword. Light Grey fur covers their body except around their ears and nose in which it turns pure white till cute blips of pink show. An injury seems to show on their cheek just behind their eye but signs its healed long ago show.
They have already turned towards the group as someone addressed them through the door. They reply in fluent animal "One of you speaks my native tongue? Splendid! We should chat more later. I'm in quite the rush though and I should probably speak in common for the others. When I come back let's have some tea and carrots."
The rabbit gives an unmistakable bow to the group they spot and says in a small feminine voice "Welcome the the Sanctuary! I am Lady Hoppington the 3rd the 3rd (yes the 3rd twice) I've followed my dreams and provided you with quite a bit of supplies for here. The courtyard just out of here is beautiful by the way. Love it. You should totally make a garden there." She gestures to the crates and barrels stacked up high around you. None of you are sure how she managed to stack crates 4 high.
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions but I only got time for one and then I got to be off. I'm sure you all want to explore the place before things get busy anyway." She smiles and it's almost painfully cute when she does. What does one ask a rabbit in this situation?
Manira steps away from the circle for a bit, drawn by the stonework of hall. As she runs her fingers over the stones, she hums to herself as this is some of the most impressive she has ever seen... at least in this good of shape. As she peers closer, she can tell that work had been done by all of the great races. She gives it a slap of appreciation before turning back to the conversation amongst the rest.
"Kingdom of Gilead in All-World? Are you pulling my chain? Such a place doesn't exist!" As she is about to ask the rest if they had heard of such a place, the gunslinger nonchalantly walks over the magical circle that Ulmuur was trying to figure out. "Well... that's one way."
She follows the rest into the storage room and takes in all the crates and boxes that line the walls. The creature in the middle of the room makes her smile. As it starts talking in a foreign tongue, she gets a bit worried, but then Lady Hoppington the 3rd the 3rd greets them in the common tongue and she breathes a sigh of relief.
One? They get one freaking question? Manira's head is exploding with them. She looks to the others and its very apparent on their faces they feel the same way. Finally, she goes for the most basic question of all, "Very nice to meet you Lady Hoppington the 3rd the 3rd, why are the five of us here?"
Norwin stands, keeping a hand on the scruff of Rudy's neck to keep him from going after the bunny. "Pretty sure that ones not for lunch," she whispers to the fox.
There is a bit of a nose twitch as she eyes the fox. A look of amusement. The rabbit lady smiles at Manira as she asks the question most on everyone's mind. Why. Lady Hoppington seems to have expected as much and chuckles as they reply "I swear, this place has a wicked sense of humor. You all are here to be the Sanctuary's next caretakers. That means you protect this place, help those who end up here... or maybe that it summons. It varies. Slay anything that gets in that shouldn't because folks with ill intent could do some pretty horrifying things with this place and overall ensure the functionality of the Sanctuary. Oh! You also have a prison and a vault to maintain. I doubt you'll have access to those places right now though. It's been a long time since The Sanctuary has been in use though so a lot of its more fabulous features are not in tact at this time. You'll need to find ways to repair those if that is what you want. Ultimately the fate of this place is in your hands. Oh! Don't fret the island, I mean... you can but you don't have to. It's got it's own agenda and technically you're not responsible for it as much as just this Sanctuary." She nods. Seeming satisfied that she gave you all a satisfactory answer. One that undoubtedly leaves far more questions then the initial one.
She checks her sword and heads for the door towards what she said was a courtyard. Rudy eyes them longingly a growl in their stomach as they watch the rabbit leave but held back by Norwin with a sense of wisdom far greater then the fox's. As the Rabbit opens the door you all see the circle glow once again but nothing seems to change this time either. There is definitely an affect it is having as they pass through it though. Several of you have decent perception though and notice that the symbols on the door frames are a bit different this time. All of you notice the large and very wide courtyard just outside the door. There appears to be a very large castle at the far end of it. Lady Hoppington turns around and says "Good bye! I will be back another day. I wish you all good luck."
Sets Rudy down once the bunny's gone and goes over to look at the crates and w nat1 for a 2 total... they are definitely crates....
"Rudy, you get a sense of anything?" switches to common "Where'd all the ocean waves go? I guess she did say this was an island. But caretakers fpr what exactly?" *pokes a box*