The hesitation is impossible to miss, and he doesn't disagree. They didn't really owe this woman anything. She'd helped them, they'd helped her a little. Done and done. But they had even less reason to take on Ireena and Ismark and they had every reason to think it was suicidal. And they'd trusted them with everything. Besides..."Well, the problem is, we've been told a lot of things we could do. I'm not sure if any of it is possible, and I don't think we've fully decided what we believe. But the very, very short version is that, like I said, this place is a bunch of prisons strung together. Best I understand, a lot of the prisoners don't realize that's what this place is, they are just chasing their crazed goals. like trying to make the perfect city. But a couple of them know what's happening and want to... I don't know, break it open I guess. Supposedly, if the prisoners reach their goals, it will free them and it leaves a void that one guy, Azalin, wants to fill. Kind of wants to be boss of the prison I guess, and if he gobbles up too much of it, it will kind of snowball and.. unravel reality. Maybe? Bad for everyone everywhere, basically."
Anthony looked around at his foster siblings. "I think we probably all agree that want to see as few people hurt by all of this as possible. At the core of everything, That would probably be our goal. Minimize the damage. How to do that? Oof. We are directionless at the moment and hoping maybe messing with that bell will gum of the works. But, we might not be able to do anything about it. Sounds like," tapping his head indicating the connection with Akyan "Azalin is here and is the one helping with the progress with the city. Not shockingly."
"That's... a lot..."Ming says, not really sure if she fully understands what Anthony is saying. Still, from the sound of it, if they fail then everyone trapped in the realms might... die? "So... you're saying that if this, Azalin person, succeeds then... it doesn't matter who you are or where you are in the realms, you might get uh... unraveled?" That means that if they fail then it doesn't matter whether or not she goes with them or stays here, her family will be caught in the crossfire and none of them will be able to do anything about it. "So... you aren't really trying to get rid of the realms, or open the prisons, you're trying to keep them from getting destroyed? Is... there no way for the people inside of the prisons to leave?"
No, there is a way, I must escape. I can't be trapped here forever, her thoughts start going crazy, causing her to put a hand to her head. "I... want to help," She says finally. "I don't know how or if I really can do much, but I don't want my family to die because I decided not to help you all." She clenches her fist, holding it close to her chest, "And maybe by helping you I can find a way to get my family out of whatever accursed prison is keeping us here." Her golden eyes show determination, she can't give up on her goal. She was spared from the dream for a reason, and she can't let the light down. So she'll do what she can and throw in her lot with these mistwalkers for now, "So... the bell isn't an option right now? I... can't say I'm surprised honestly, but I had hoped differently." She pauses, "Maybe we should investigate Tsien Chiang's daughters. I... don't know why, but I think they might... I don't know, be important somehow..." Oh gods that sounds stupid, but how is she supposed to explain something she doesn't understand? "Or... maybe we can come back when this Azalin person is gone?"
"Well, I don't have all the details from what Kora saw. Maybe there's a way. Just doesn't sound promising at the moment. Personally, I'm torn. Sucks to try to leave without giving it a serious try, but If we jump this wall and things go poorly, I can't see how we wouldn't be trapped and all bite it right there."
She asked some really good questions. "You hit it on the head with that question about destroying this whole thing. As much as I understand that the monsters kept here need or maybe deserve to be locked away for all eternity.." He really wasn't sure he wholly believed that. Anthony was the kind of person who didn't really care a lot about things like punishment and justice for past actions. He'd always felt like it was what you were doing now that mattered most. Kind of needed to believe that. but it wasn't really the point right now. "Nothing about feeding their addictions with more victims is right or good. And.. the really messed up thing is these terrible people are more powerful here in a lot of ways than they would be back home. Don't get me wrong. They'd get away with some horrible, horrible things before they were stopped. But they are doing horrible, horrible things here with no one of any real power to stand up to them. Kind of f__d, right?"
He looked up, ready to catch Akyan if he needed help down. "I don't know what the right decision is. Part of me feels like.. Let Azalin tear this thing apart. f_ it. Maybe then the gods would take notice and do something about it. What are a bunch of regular people with some magic bric-a-brac supposed to do?"
Kora takes one last glance around, frustrated at the little information she was able to garner, but then reminds herself she was able to see Azalin and know they were here. She scuttles back towards the wall and up it to get back to Akyan. On the way she tells him, I would like to get in further or even wait to see when he leaves, but I only have an hour like this.
Assuming Akyan helps her back down the wall to the group, she becomes Kora the human again, "So, did Akyan tell you that Tsien Chiang and Azalin are in the mansion right now? Ming, do you know when Tsien Chiang leaves the mansion? Does she have any sort of schedule that anyone knows? And you're the right, the garden didn't seem quite right and I saw at least one dryad by the tree in the middle of the pond. Did we want to scout out the other side of the mansion, see if there are other routes?" She asks the last part to the whole group, the mission on her mind, not really realizing that Ming and Anthony had been deep in conversation.
Ming doesn't really know what else to say, or how to respond to Anthony's statements. All she knows is that this might be her one shot at getting anywhere with her goals, cause Light knows that she can't do much by herself. She still isn't sure what she'll do if the mistwalkers decide to leave I'Cath, but that's something to think about when the time comes. So, she says simply, "Yeah..." Which probably wasn't the most intelligent response, but it's all she can think to say at the moment.
Turning to Kora when the druid resumes her human form (Wow that must be nice, to be able to change into animals. That would come in handy so often while trying to avoid the Jiangshi) Ming says, "Schedule? Well usually she doesn't come out until dusk when she goes to the tower to ring the bell. But... well I guess there are always exceptions. Are... you thinking of trying to get into the Palace of Bones? Cause... well I'm not sure if that would work. I think that Tsien Chiang enters the dream whenever she rings the bell at night, so maybe she wouldn't be in the mansion during that time, but I don't know for sure. For all I know she could just ring the bell and then go back into the palace afterwards..." She pauses, then says to Kora's third question, "I don't see why not. It's not anymore dangerous on that side than it is on this side."
Once Kora makes her way back over to him, he gives one last glance around the garden before climbing back up the conveniently placed tree and jumps onto the wall. "You did what you could."He replies to Kora as he does this.
Looking down, he notes Anthony ready to help him down. Grabbing the edge of the wall, he lowers himself as far down as he can, before dropping down the remaining several feet.
(let me know if I need to roll for this)
Once down, he listens to what Kora says and to Ming's responses. "I don't see any harm in scouting the other side. But I do wonder, would it be possible to infiltrate the manor through the dream? If scouting it out in the dream is less dangerous then trying it here, we could at least get an idea of the layout of the manor before rushing in now."
He turns to Kora and Akyan as they return with news. "It might just have different protections in the dream.. We could also ambush her when she goes to ring the bell, or investigate the daughters for anything we can exploit their mother with."
"Scouting or infiltrating through the dream might be a good idea. If in a pinch, we can try to wake ourselves up and Tsien Chiang won't know where we are in the waking world. We still have time before the bell is rung let's check the other sides of this fortress." says Aoufie glad to have all his siblings back together and in one piece.
He will then depart to check the perimeter of this place to see if there are other entrances or backdoors.
"Ambush? That's a big move. What do we gain by confronting her directly?" He agreed the daughters could be allies maybe, but did they want to stay here long enough to invest in that? "We could be robbed in our sleep..." and lose the mist talismans. That would put an end to everything pretty quickly. Entering the dream might be necessary, but he'd prefer avoiding it until they had no choice.
"Making sure I understand everything: We have to go through her house to get to the tower? You saw a Dryad, do you think you could talk to them?" another risk that might not be worth it. They might be a prisoner or they might just sound an alarm. He thinks for a moment. "This city is her weakness. If we make a mess somewhere that might draw her away so someone can get to the bell."
"If you are scouting the other side, I'll hang back." No way he was sneaking anywhere.
"Ambush Tsien Chiang?" Ming looks at Kora with wide eyes. "Are you... really strong enough to do that?"This question seems more hopeful than judgmental--even after her long conversation with Anthony, she still can't seem to grasp that these mistwalkers are just regular people like herself.
She seems to shrink a little when talk of using the dream to infiltrate the Palace begins, and she falls quiet until Anthony speaks up again, "I... could make sure none of you get robbed. I... won't be any help if you decide to enter the dream." Well, she could tell them what she remembers... but those memories are so scrambled she doesn't really believe they'll be all that useful. But... maybe they could find her parents and let them know that she's alright. Well, that's something to ask later, once they decide what they want to do.
"If we stay on this side of the wall we won't have to sneak..." she says when Anthony mentions he'll hang back if that's the plan. "Only whoever goes in will need to be careful. The only dangers out here right now are hungry citizens. The Jiangshi stay in the garden or... uh... well I don't know where else they go during the day, but they aren't out and about until after the bell rings."
"That's good to know." Ming's reaction to facing Tsien Chiang directly was all the confirmation Anthony needed that they should stay clear. Her reaction to entering the dream gave him a similar feeling. He'd back the others up if they thought it was worth their time, though, and keep his grumbling to himself. "You can't enter again?" HIs voice was soft. The question had more behind it than the words suggested, but he wasn't going to push.
Akyan shakes his head at Zathon's comment, and glances at Ming after she speaks, "Ambushing a dread lord sounds like a suicide mission right now. Even more so now that we know that Azalin is here as well." He nods to Aoufie glances at Ming again when she mentions she can't enter the dream. He's interested in her response, but for now he gestures for everyone to continue around the wall. "If we don't need to sneak out here and we plan on scouting the other side, then lets get moving. No point in wasting daylight."
As they walk, he decides to ask a few more questions directed to Ming. He understands Anthony's fear of being robbed. If the mist talismans were stolen, they would be stranded here. However, there is no reason they all needed to enter the dream at once. Yes, Ming says she can guard their belongings, but they still barely know her and there wouldn't be anything stopping her if she decided to steal all of their supplies. Considering Zathon's remark about other dangers, he asks Ming, "Are there any serious threats in the dream? If you are hurt there, are you hurt here? When I say scout out the area, I'm not talking just about sneaking in. Based on what Kora said, there's a chance at being assigned a job inside the manor. If that's the case, that would give whoever manages to get that position easy access to the inside. We might not be able to do any real damage in the dream, but we would at least get an idea of the layout of the place."
Kora follows the group as they head to the other side of the mansion to check that area out. Once they get to that side, she asks for a boost to check over the wall to see what she can of the gemstone garden.
Responding to something Anthony said earlier, "We could attempt to talk to the dryad if we are out of options, just the fact that they live in the middle of the pond makes me think it is not so friendly? But I have nothing else to base that on."
Looking at the layout of everything, she doesn't exactly say the next to Ming, but means it towards her, "How are we to get to the Tower without going through the mansion? It looks to me as though it is surrounded by the mansion."
"Just the fact that they're here in this cursed place makes me think the dryad won't be friendly, they probably see a lot though." He doesn't mind boosting her up to get a look.
He had to admit that Akyan had a good point about scouting in the dream. What happened if someone was trapped in the dream and they took them out of this domain? Would they wake or just be more separated from reality? The two elves might be able to control whether or not they entered, but would they be able to leave freely? So many questions.
Ming shakes her head when Anthony asks if she can't enter the dream again, "I don't know why, but I... don't really...dream anymore." She tugs at her white strand of hair for a moment, twisting it around her finger and biting her lower lip. Clearly this subject bothers her, not in a touchy way, but talking about it seems to push her into a mental space...as she drifts into thought and spaces out instead of talking more. She'd probably say more if asked, but as it is she's just running through things in her head.
Akyan's questions pull her out of whatever thoughts had come to mind due to Anthony's question, and she blinks before saying, "Um... yes and no. As far as I know the whatever happens in the dream is purely psychological. If you die in the dream... well... I think you'd just wake up, but I don't have any solid evidence on that... just rumors really. So I wouldn't test it." She pauses, "Yes... some people are given tasks inside the Palace, but you'd have to gain favor with Tsien Chiang or some of the other people in charge to get there. Not sure how long that would take..."
She blinks. Talk to the dryad? What dryad? Wait... in the gemstone garden? "Unless you guys are really strong, I would avoid the gemstone garden... It's very, very dangerous. Worse than the poisoned gardens in the courtyard. ...I mean... there is food in there, I think. But still, it's very dangerous."
She nods, "Yeah... that's what I've gathered...."Wait, she hasn't ever actually gotten that close to the tower, so maybe she didn't know that? Ugh, stupid memories again. She averts her eyes, "I guess we'd have to go through the Palace of Bones after all, so avoiding Tsien Chiang might be difficult no matter when we try to get in." Maybe they should just wait for nightfall, then they could get into the Palace while Tsien Chiang isn't there, and their only worry would be running into her while inside the tower.
He would like to be able to reassure Ming, she'd had a lot thrown at her in a short amount of time, but he had no idea what to say. Instead he just focused on watching the group's back as they walked. "Sorry about all of this. I wish I could explain it all better. It's all kind of a mess. Did you- need to check on your family before night?" Another thing to add to the to do list.
She gives a small smile, "Its fine. I get it... I think..."At the question about her family, she glances backward towards the Mansions. If she went looking for her family, then everyone here could see what they look like and maybe find them in the dream and let them know she's alright but... "I... would like to. But... sometimes it takes a day or so for me to find them after the Jiangshi go through and change things. If you all don't mind me looking for them, then I'll check on them... if not..." She hesitates, "I... I can wait. It probably won't make much of a difference anyways." She crosses her arms, averting her eyes again. Her family has been asleep for years. What are the chances something would change the one time she doesn't go looking for them? Maybe... if they decide to go back through the Mansions at some point she can look for them on the way? Or if they decide to go scouting in the dream, and someone else wants to keep watch, she can go check on her family then. "But... if you all decide to go into the dream... if you see them could you let them know that I'm alive?"
He knew what it was to leave family behind, thinking it was for the best, and then having too many reasons to regret it. "Yeah, of course. Who are we looking for?"
Ming pauses for a second, then says, "My parents and my little sister." She wishes that she could remember what they looked like in the dream, but now the only faces she can remember for them are the starved, sunken features of their bodies in the waking world. Still, that's better than nothing, "My father is... average height, at least for the people of I'Cath. He's got grey at his temples and... on chin too, but other than that his hair is black like mine...well, most people here have black hair. ...Mother always said I took after Father... well, I think she did anyways..." She trails off, then shakes her head and continues, "My Mother is a little shorter than average, and usually wears her hair in a high bun... but when its down it comes long enough to reach her waist. My little sister is eleven now, and she's about this tall," she holds her hand out to demonstrate her sister's height. "She wears her hair the same way I do, but her face is a little rounder than mine... like our Mother's..."
She sighs, trailing off again as her eyes go distant. "Their names are..." she seems to struggle for a moment before saying, "My father's name is Jaihao. Mother's name is Shuyin. And my little sister is Chenyu. ...Chen for short." Shaking her head to force herself to focus again, she turns her attention back to Anthony, "Thanks... I would really appreciate it if someone let them know I'm alive and trying to find a way for them to join me. ...I just... I'm not sure if being awake is better than being asleep for them."
Her struggle describing things was beginning to make sense now. Anthony was finally getting a sense that something about traveling between the dream and what passed for reality here, affected the memory. Would they be affected as well, or did it have something to do with how much time was spent in one place or the other? "Will they- understand? What you mean by joining you? Do they know they are dreaming I mean?" If she was struggling to remember details about them...he didn't want to share that though with the woman, she clearly had enough to worry and wonder about right now.
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The hesitation is impossible to miss, and he doesn't disagree. They didn't really owe this woman anything. She'd helped them, they'd helped her a little. Done and done. But they had even less reason to take on Ireena and Ismark and they had every reason to think it was suicidal. And they'd trusted them with everything. Besides..."Well, the problem is, we've been told a lot of things we could do. I'm not sure if any of it is possible, and I don't think we've fully decided what we believe. But the very, very short version is that, like I said, this place is a bunch of prisons strung together. Best I understand, a lot of the prisoners don't realize that's what this place is, they are just chasing their crazed goals. like trying to make the perfect city. But a couple of them know what's happening and want to... I don't know, break it open I guess. Supposedly, if the prisoners reach their goals, it will free them and it leaves a void that one guy, Azalin, wants to fill. Kind of wants to be boss of the prison I guess, and if he gobbles up too much of it, it will kind of snowball and.. unravel reality. Maybe? Bad for everyone everywhere, basically."
Anthony looked around at his foster siblings. "I think we probably all agree that want to see as few people hurt by all of this as possible. At the core of everything, That would probably be our goal. Minimize the damage. How to do that? Oof. We are directionless at the moment and hoping maybe messing with that bell will gum of the works. But, we might not be able to do anything about it. Sounds like," tapping his head indicating the connection with Akyan "Azalin is here and is the one helping with the progress with the city. Not shockingly."
"That's... a lot..." Ming says, not really sure if she fully understands what Anthony is saying. Still, from the sound of it, if they fail then everyone trapped in the realms might... die? "So... you're saying that if this, Azalin person, succeeds then... it doesn't matter who you are or where you are in the realms, you might get uh... unraveled?" That means that if they fail then it doesn't matter whether or not she goes with them or stays here, her family will be caught in the crossfire and none of them will be able to do anything about it. "So... you aren't really trying to get rid of the realms, or open the prisons, you're trying to keep them from getting destroyed? Is... there no way for the people inside of the prisons to leave?"
No, there is a way, I must escape. I can't be trapped here forever, her thoughts start going crazy, causing her to put a hand to her head. "I... want to help," She says finally. "I don't know how or if I really can do much, but I don't want my family to die because I decided not to help you all." She clenches her fist, holding it close to her chest, "And maybe by helping you I can find a way to get my family out of whatever accursed prison is keeping us here." Her golden eyes show determination, she can't give up on her goal. She was spared from the dream for a reason, and she can't let the light down. So she'll do what she can and throw in her lot with these mistwalkers for now, "So... the bell isn't an option right now? I... can't say I'm surprised honestly, but I had hoped differently." She pauses, "Maybe we should investigate Tsien Chiang's daughters. I... don't know why, but I think they might... I don't know, be important somehow..." Oh gods that sounds stupid, but how is she supposed to explain something she doesn't understand? "Or... maybe we can come back when this Azalin person is gone?"
"Well, I don't have all the details from what Kora saw. Maybe there's a way. Just doesn't sound promising at the moment. Personally, I'm torn. Sucks to try to leave without giving it a serious try, but If we jump this wall and things go poorly, I can't see how we wouldn't be trapped and all bite it right there."
She asked some really good questions. "You hit it on the head with that question about destroying this whole thing. As much as I understand that the monsters kept here need or maybe deserve to be locked away for all eternity.." He really wasn't sure he wholly believed that. Anthony was the kind of person who didn't really care a lot about things like punishment and justice for past actions. He'd always felt like it was what you were doing now that mattered most. Kind of needed to believe that. but it wasn't really the point right now. "Nothing about feeding their addictions with more victims is right or good. And.. the really messed up thing is these terrible people are more powerful here in a lot of ways than they would be back home. Don't get me wrong. They'd get away with some horrible, horrible things before they were stopped. But they are doing horrible, horrible things here with no one of any real power to stand up to them. Kind of f__d, right?"
He looked up, ready to catch Akyan if he needed help down. "I don't know what the right decision is. Part of me feels like.. Let Azalin tear this thing apart. f_ it. Maybe then the gods would take notice and do something about it. What are a bunch of regular people with some magic bric-a-brac supposed to do?"
Kora takes one last glance around, frustrated at the little information she was able to garner, but then reminds herself she was able to see Azalin and know they were here. She scuttles back towards the wall and up it to get back to Akyan. On the way she tells him, I would like to get in further or even wait to see when he leaves, but I only have an hour like this.
Assuming Akyan helps her back down the wall to the group, she becomes Kora the human again, "So, did Akyan tell you that Tsien Chiang and Azalin are in the mansion right now? Ming, do you know when Tsien Chiang leaves the mansion? Does she have any sort of schedule that anyone knows? And you're the right, the garden didn't seem quite right and I saw at least one dryad by the tree in the middle of the pond. Did we want to scout out the other side of the mansion, see if there are other routes?" She asks the last part to the whole group, the mission on her mind, not really realizing that Ming and Anthony had been deep in conversation.
Ming doesn't really know what else to say, or how to respond to Anthony's statements. All she knows is that this might be her one shot at getting anywhere with her goals, cause Light knows that she can't do much by herself. She still isn't sure what she'll do if the mistwalkers decide to leave I'Cath, but that's something to think about when the time comes. So, she says simply, "Yeah..." Which probably wasn't the most intelligent response, but it's all she can think to say at the moment.
Turning to Kora when the druid resumes her human form (Wow that must be nice, to be able to change into animals. That would come in handy so often while trying to avoid the Jiangshi) Ming says, "Schedule? Well usually she doesn't come out until dusk when she goes to the tower to ring the bell. But... well I guess there are always exceptions. Are... you thinking of trying to get into the Palace of Bones? Cause... well I'm not sure if that would work. I think that Tsien Chiang enters the dream whenever she rings the bell at night, so maybe she wouldn't be in the mansion during that time, but I don't know for sure. For all I know she could just ring the bell and then go back into the palace afterwards..." She pauses, then says to Kora's third question, "I don't see why not. It's not anymore dangerous on that side than it is on this side."
(Assuming I don't have to roll to get back up)
Once Kora makes her way back over to him, he gives one last glance around the garden before climbing back up the conveniently placed tree and jumps onto the wall. "You did what you could." He replies to Kora as he does this.
Looking down, he notes Anthony ready to help him down. Grabbing the edge of the wall, he lowers himself as far down as he can, before dropping down the remaining several feet.
(let me know if I need to roll for this)
Once down, he listens to what Kora says and to Ming's responses. "I don't see any harm in scouting the other side. But I do wonder, would it be possible to infiltrate the manor through the dream? If scouting it out in the dream is less dangerous then trying it here, we could at least get an idea of the layout of the manor before rushing in now."
He turns to Kora and Akyan as they return with news. "It might just have different protections in the dream.. We could also ambush her when she goes to ring the bell, or investigate the daughters for anything we can exploit their mother with."
"Scouting or infiltrating through the dream might be a good idea. If in a pinch, we can try to wake ourselves up and Tsien Chiang won't know where we are in the waking world. We still have time before the bell is rung let's check the other sides of this fortress." says Aoufie glad to have all his siblings back together and in one piece.
He will then depart to check the perimeter of this place to see if there are other entrances or backdoors.
"Ambush? That's a big move. What do we gain by confronting her directly?"
He agreed the daughters could be allies maybe, but did they want to stay here long enough to invest in that? "We could be robbed in our sleep..." and lose the mist talismans. That would put an end to everything pretty quickly. Entering the dream might be necessary, but he'd prefer avoiding it until they had no choice.
"Making sure I understand everything: We have to go through her house to get to the tower? You saw a Dryad, do you think you could talk to them?" another risk that might not be worth it. They might be a prisoner or they might just sound an alarm. He thinks for a moment. "This city is her weakness. If we make a mess somewhere that might draw her away so someone can get to the bell."
"If you are scouting the other side, I'll hang back." No way he was sneaking anywhere.
"Ambush Tsien Chiang?" Ming looks at Kora with wide eyes. "Are you... really strong enough to do that?" This question seems more hopeful than judgmental--even after her long conversation with Anthony, she still can't seem to grasp that these mistwalkers are just regular people like herself.
She seems to shrink a little when talk of using the dream to infiltrate the Palace begins, and she falls quiet until Anthony speaks up again, "I... could make sure none of you get robbed. I... won't be any help if you decide to enter the dream." Well, she could tell them what she remembers... but those memories are so scrambled she doesn't really believe they'll be all that useful. But... maybe they could find her parents and let them know that she's alright. Well, that's something to ask later, once they decide what they want to do.
"If we stay on this side of the wall we won't have to sneak..." she says when Anthony mentions he'll hang back if that's the plan. "Only whoever goes in will need to be careful. The only dangers out here right now are hungry citizens. The Jiangshi stay in the garden or... uh... well I don't know where else they go during the day, but they aren't out and about until after the bell rings."
"That's good to know." Ming's reaction to facing Tsien Chiang directly was all the confirmation Anthony needed that they should stay clear. Her reaction to entering the dream gave him a similar feeling. He'd back the others up if they thought it was worth their time, though, and keep his grumbling to himself. "You can't enter again?" HIs voice was soft. The question had more behind it than the words suggested, but he wasn't going to push.
Akyan shakes his head at Zathon's comment, and glances at Ming after she speaks, "Ambushing a dread lord sounds like a suicide mission right now. Even more so now that we know that Azalin is here as well." He nods to Aoufie glances at Ming again when she mentions she can't enter the dream. He's interested in her response, but for now he gestures for everyone to continue around the wall. "If we don't need to sneak out here and we plan on scouting the other side, then lets get moving. No point in wasting daylight."
As they walk, he decides to ask a few more questions directed to Ming. He understands Anthony's fear of being robbed. If the mist talismans were stolen, they would be stranded here. However, there is no reason they all needed to enter the dream at once. Yes, Ming says she can guard their belongings, but they still barely know her and there wouldn't be anything stopping her if she decided to steal all of their supplies. Considering Zathon's remark about other dangers, he asks Ming, "Are there any serious threats in the dream? If you are hurt there, are you hurt here? When I say scout out the area, I'm not talking just about sneaking in. Based on what Kora said, there's a chance at being assigned a job inside the manor. If that's the case, that would give whoever manages to get that position easy access to the inside. We might not be able to do any real damage in the dream, but we would at least get an idea of the layout of the place."
Kora follows the group as they head to the other side of the mansion to check that area out. Once they get to that side, she asks for a boost to check over the wall to see what she can of the gemstone garden.
Responding to something Anthony said earlier, "We could attempt to talk to the dryad if we are out of options, just the fact that they live in the middle of the pond makes me think it is not so friendly? But I have nothing else to base that on."
Looking at the layout of everything, she doesn't exactly say the next to Ming, but means it towards her, "How are we to get to the Tower without going through the mansion? It looks to me as though it is surrounded by the mansion."
"Just the fact that they're here in this cursed place makes me think the dryad won't be friendly, they probably see a lot though." He doesn't mind boosting her up to get a look.
He had to admit that Akyan had a good point about scouting in the dream. What happened if someone was trapped in the dream and they took them out of this domain? Would they wake or just be more separated from reality? The two elves might be able to control whether or not they entered, but would they be able to leave freely? So many questions.
Ming shakes her head when Anthony asks if she can't enter the dream again, "I don't know why, but I... don't really...dream anymore." She tugs at her white strand of hair for a moment, twisting it around her finger and biting her lower lip. Clearly this subject bothers her, not in a touchy way, but talking about it seems to push her into a mental space...as she drifts into thought and spaces out instead of talking more. She'd probably say more if asked, but as it is she's just running through things in her head.
Akyan's questions pull her out of whatever thoughts had come to mind due to Anthony's question, and she blinks before saying, "Um... yes and no. As far as I know the whatever happens in the dream is purely psychological. If you die in the dream... well... I think you'd just wake up, but I don't have any solid evidence on that... just rumors really. So I wouldn't test it." She pauses, "Yes... some people are given tasks inside the Palace, but you'd have to gain favor with Tsien Chiang or some of the other people in charge to get there. Not sure how long that would take..."
She blinks. Talk to the dryad? What dryad? Wait... in the gemstone garden? "Unless you guys are really strong, I would avoid the gemstone garden... It's very, very dangerous. Worse than the poisoned gardens in the courtyard. ...I mean... there is food in there, I think. But still, it's very dangerous."
She nods, "Yeah... that's what I've gathered...." Wait, she hasn't ever actually gotten that close to the tower, so maybe she didn't know that? Ugh, stupid memories again. She averts her eyes, "I guess we'd have to go through the Palace of Bones after all, so avoiding Tsien Chiang might be difficult no matter when we try to get in." Maybe they should just wait for nightfall, then they could get into the Palace while Tsien Chiang isn't there, and their only worry would be running into her while inside the tower.
He would like to be able to reassure Ming, she'd had a lot thrown at her in a short amount of time, but he had no idea what to say. Instead he just focused on watching the group's back as they walked. "Sorry about all of this. I wish I could explain it all better. It's all kind of a mess. Did you- need to check on your family before night?" Another thing to add to the to do list.
She gives a small smile, "Its fine. I get it... I think..." At the question about her family, she glances backward towards the Mansions. If she went looking for her family, then everyone here could see what they look like and maybe find them in the dream and let them know she's alright but... "I... would like to. But... sometimes it takes a day or so for me to find them after the Jiangshi go through and change things. If you all don't mind me looking for them, then I'll check on them... if not..." She hesitates, "I... I can wait. It probably won't make much of a difference anyways." She crosses her arms, averting her eyes again. Her family has been asleep for years. What are the chances something would change the one time she doesn't go looking for them? Maybe... if they decide to go back through the Mansions at some point she can look for them on the way? Or if they decide to go scouting in the dream, and someone else wants to keep watch, she can go check on her family then. "But... if you all decide to go into the dream... if you see them could you let them know that I'm alive?"
He knew what it was to leave family behind, thinking it was for the best, and then having too many reasons to regret it. "Yeah, of course. Who are we looking for?"
Ming pauses for a second, then says, "My parents and my little sister." She wishes that she could remember what they looked like in the dream, but now the only faces she can remember for them are the starved, sunken features of their bodies in the waking world. Still, that's better than nothing, "My father is... average height, at least for the people of I'Cath. He's got grey at his temples and... on chin too, but other than that his hair is black like mine...well, most people here have black hair. ...Mother always said I took after Father... well, I think she did anyways..." She trails off, then shakes her head and continues, "My Mother is a little shorter than average, and usually wears her hair in a high bun... but when its down it comes long enough to reach her waist. My little sister is eleven now, and she's about this tall," she holds her hand out to demonstrate her sister's height. "She wears her hair the same way I do, but her face is a little rounder than mine... like our Mother's..."
She sighs, trailing off again as her eyes go distant. "Their names are..." she seems to struggle for a moment before saying, "My father's name is Jaihao. Mother's name is Shuyin. And my little sister is Chenyu. ...Chen for short." Shaking her head to force herself to focus again, she turns her attention back to Anthony, "Thanks... I would really appreciate it if someone let them know I'm alive and trying to find a way for them to join me. ...I just... I'm not sure if being awake is better than being asleep for them."
Her struggle describing things was beginning to make sense now. Anthony was finally getting a sense that something about traveling between the dream and what passed for reality here, affected the memory. Would they be affected as well, or did it have something to do with how much time was spent in one place or the other? "Will they- understand? What you mean by joining you? Do they know they are dreaming I mean?" If she was struggling to remember details about them...he didn't want to share that though with the woman, she clearly had enough to worry and wonder about right now.