Ming opens her mouth as if to answer Kora's question about the Dream, then closes it and looks away, farrowing her brow in thought. "If you want to try... well, I'd say stay out of the dream as much as possible, but if you think you'll have no problem escaping then I'll believe you." She still can't believe how easily they all woke up the first time. Maybe it's because they're outsiders, or just that they've had more rest in the past. Still, she doesn't like the idea of them wandering around...even if they are kind enough to keep an eye out for her parents to let them know she's alright. "Most people in the dream don't have much time to look around. With all the work we have to do, there isn't much time for anything else..."
She sets her glaive down, tired of carrying it already, then says to Aoufie, "Honestly its behavior wasn't all that strange in my opinion. If Tsien Chiang is allowing it to wander, then it likely has to follow her rules. The Jiangshi are the same way. They won't hurt sleepers, the most they'll do is move them out of the way, but if they see someone who isn't stuck in the dream then... well, they'll try and eat them." She shrugs, "I've never seen that thing before... and I don't know why Tsien Chiang would want it here if it isn't helping to remodel the city, but I can't think of any other reason for its actions."
"For now I say we follow the wall south like Anthony suggested."Akyan nods, "Though I do worry that the gate will move like the rest of the city." He gives Ming a glace when he says this.
He shrugs at Mina's suggestion, "That's more convenient then building a ladder, since we'd risk loosing one when the city rearranges itself, unless we tried carting it around with us."
Anthony is quiet as the walk, lost in thought and watching their surroundings. He knew going to the funeral was mistake. He didn't owe Aoelwyn anything, especially in death, and 'closure' is a myth. Now they were trapped in someone else's prison chasing a dead woman's delusions of heroism.
But you deserve to be here. Maybe it's your hell too.
Deciding to walk along the length of the wall, it takes the group about 3 hours until they reach the gate of the city. As they walk, the city gradually becomes more and more decrepit. Soon, the mansions they pass are no more than crumbling runes, the gardens gnarled swathes of crawling vines, the streets jumbled collections of filthy cobblestones. Ming recognizes this as the part of the city furthest from the Palace of Bones, though she’s never been here before. Most of the residents of I’Cath steered clear of this part of the city as it was in such disrepair.
Once you reach the gate, you see it’s comprised of pure brass with steel bands reinforcing it. It looms as tall as the wall, and two statues of coiled, serpentine dragons stand guard on either side, their watchful eyes looking over the ruins of the city.
The big man let out a low whistle as they approached the large gate. “What d’you think? Should we see if it will let us through?” It was a long trip across the city. If they did something to the bell and had to run, they’d have a long distance to cover before they were clear. “I’m not sure what’s best guys. Part of me is saying we are out of our depth and don’t really know what we’re looking for in this city. On the other hand, we know Azalin’s here actively helping to finish the city. I don’t love leaving without doing anything besides poking around.” He scrubbed a hand down his face, he was getting tired. Not falling down beat, but tired enough he didn’t want to stay up another night. But, seeing how scared Ming was of the dream, he’d rather not enter it without a really good reason.
"I wish there was a way we can help these people. Though that means heading back to the palace. Perhaps we should rethink leaving. I know that means risking our necks, but will we just traverse the dark realms ever running? Most likely the next dark realm will just be as dangerous as I'Cath or it may be worse. I think the only way we can be truly safe is to end this blasted threat one way or another." says Aoufie with a tone of concern for the folks left in the dreaming state.
Aoufie thinks about what they have seen so far with Barovia and I'Cath. "Running away may keep us safe, but I feel we would be on that hamster wheel for the rest of our lives. Well, that is until Azalin's plan comes to fruition then all of us we be in deep trouble."
Ming looks up at the gate with wide eyes. So she really could have just found the gate by walking along the wall... or going to the place she hasn't been before. Then again, she hadn't spent much time looking for the way out when her first priority for the last few weeks has been food.
She looks to Anthony, "We could try.... even if you don't want to leave yet, at least if the gate opens you know we... well, you know you can leave when you want to." She averts her eyes, clearly still unsure whether or not she could leave her family here if these mistwalkers decided to head to another realm.
Her face brightens a little when both Anthony and Aoufie make it known that they don't like simply leaving now. "I'll help however I can," she pipes in.
Akyan nods in agreement with the other's words. He doesn't like the idea of doing nothing in this realm, but knowing of a potential way out is never a bad idea. "Let's just check for traps before trying to shove the thing open."
Approaching the large gates, he searches for traps.
Investigation: 22 (nat 20...accidentally rolled intimidation, so subtracted 2 from the roll)
If there are no traps, he looks over at the others, "I may need help getting this open."
Looking around the rubble-strewn area near the gate, Akyan doesn't find anything that could serve as the mechanism responsible for opening and closing the gate. Then again, it could have been destroyed a long time ago and merely looks like another pile of rubble. As for the gate itself, it's gleaming bronze surface is scratched and marred by all sorts of blemishes from long years of unuse. At one point in it's history, it looks like it has taken quite the beating, but it endured the assault well.
When you come within ten feet of the gate, the stone, serpentine statues on either side of the gate suddenly animate and come to life. Turning their heads to look down at Akyan with the sound of stone scraping on stone, they both say in a grating, gravely voice, "Only those with the seal of Tsien Chang may pass through the Bronze Gate. Retreat, or face the consequences of your idiocy." Their twinned ultimatum echoes through the ruins of the city as a sudden tension descends upon the group.
Aoufie instinctively leaps back from the gate "Damn, magical guardians. Well, their goes this exit unless anyone wishes to fight these large guardians"
Anthony, who'd been giving Akyan space to work while scanning their surroundings, halted in place with a slight sigh as the dragons animated. "Yup. That checks out. Better to find that out now instead of running for our lives."calling up to the dragons "Don't suppose either of you know the last time someone came through with a seal?"doing his best to seem calm and casual while understanding that these gate guards could probably obliterate them in an instant. He also wasn't sure they could have a conversation. They might be more like animated statues.
Kora has hung back from the group once they got to the gates, worry creasing her forehead. As talk starts about sticking around and helping these people, she crosses her arms. But then she feels herself soften a bit. What do they know about what they really need to do here? They are assuming it is the bell cause they haven't run into anything else that makes sense. Some sort of fragment of the darkstar? And honestly what were they supposed to do here, thwart the dreadlord's heart's desire correct? "Ok, so we want to stop Tsien Chang from getting what she wants, which is a perfect city. And obviously, Azalin is trying to help this happen. How do we thwart it without using a wrecking ball throughout the entire place? Maybe somehow create some natural disaster? I don't know... plus, that wouldn't help those that are stuck here."
She sighs, frustrated with the entire situation. "And we're positive these talismen only work if we are actually in the mist?" She jumps back as the serpent comes to life and actually scares her. She is impressed by Anthony's calmness as he questions the gate.
Aoufie checks to make sure the statue guardians do not attack if so, he says to Kora "I believe we can thwart Tsien Chang in part by disabling the bell. That way all the people will wake. She must have created that bell to make it easier to reshape the city without anyone's interference. Trying to coral hundreds of awake people will surely put a dent in her plans. Madam Eva also spoke of a resistance group called the Circle who is said to exist in multiple dark realms. Maybe we can follow those that gather the spawned food."
Ming jumps backward instinctively when the serpents come to life and dress Akyan, re-summoning her glaive to her hand without thought as she prepares to defend herself. It takes her a moment to realize that the serpents aren't going to attack unless the mistwalkers insist on trying to pass through... which they don't seem to keen on. Still, it takes her a minute before she lowers her weapon, eyeing the gate and thinking to herself that she might have been lucky not to have found it until now... they might be better off trying to climb the wall rather than face the serpents. Light knows none of them are going to be able to get a seal from Tsien Chiang... well, maybe they could but she has no clue how.
As the mistwalkers talk, she listens quietly... feeling like its not really her place to interject, not that she knows what to say anyways since she's still not positive what their goal actually is at this point. It seems like they aren't either, but that doesn't make her anymore willing to speak up.
"The enemy of any city is fire, and with everyone asleep, there won't be a fire brigade." Muttered under his breath to Kora as he watched the stone dragons to see if they would answer.
Reaching out to other awake citizens was a good idea, glancing at Aoufi with a nod. It was why he'd asked about Vistani here.
As soon as the dragons spring to life, Akyan skips backward several feet, reflexively taking on a ready stance. Of course the gate has animated stone dragon's guarding it, why use mundane means to trap a gate when you can magically enchant guards to keep anyone from exiting or entering. Fighting the urge to grit his teeth, he remains silent waiting for the serpents to reply to Anthony...or seeing if they will even respond to his questions. They are just animated objects after all.
Seemingly oblivious as the stone they’re made of, the statues pay no heed to Anthony’s inquiry. You get the feeling they’re here to guard the gate, not engage in conversation. However, when Akyan scurries nimbly away from the statues, the revert back to their former position, the sound of stone grating on stone rending the air once again.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
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Ming opens her mouth as if to answer Kora's question about the Dream, then closes it and looks away, farrowing her brow in thought. "If you want to try... well, I'd say stay out of the dream as much as possible, but if you think you'll have no problem escaping then I'll believe you." She still can't believe how easily they all woke up the first time. Maybe it's because they're outsiders, or just that they've had more rest in the past. Still, she doesn't like the idea of them wandering around...even if they are kind enough to keep an eye out for her parents to let them know she's alright. "Most people in the dream don't have much time to look around. With all the work we have to do, there isn't much time for anything else..."
She sets her glaive down, tired of carrying it already, then says to Aoufie, "Honestly its behavior wasn't all that strange in my opinion. If Tsien Chiang is allowing it to wander, then it likely has to follow her rules. The Jiangshi are the same way. They won't hurt sleepers, the most they'll do is move them out of the way, but if they see someone who isn't stuck in the dream then... well, they'll try and eat them." She shrugs, "I've never seen that thing before... and I don't know why Tsien Chiang would want it here if it isn't helping to remodel the city, but I can't think of any other reason for its actions."
"For now I say we follow the wall south like Anthony suggested." Akyan nods, "Though I do worry that the gate will move like the rest of the city." He gives Ming a glace when he says this.
He shrugs at Mina's suggestion, "That's more convenient then building a ladder, since we'd risk loosing one when the city rearranges itself, unless we tried carting it around with us."
Aoufie nods in agreement with Akyan and moves along the wall south to see what they will find.
Anthony is quiet as the walk, lost in thought and watching their surroundings. He knew going to the funeral was mistake. He didn't owe Aoelwyn anything, especially in death, and 'closure' is a myth. Now they were trapped in someone else's prison chasing a dead woman's delusions of heroism.
But you deserve to be here. Maybe it's your hell too.
Deciding to walk along the length of the wall, it takes the group about 3 hours until they reach the gate of the city. As they walk, the city gradually becomes more and more decrepit. Soon, the mansions they pass are no more than crumbling runes, the gardens gnarled swathes of crawling vines, the streets jumbled collections of filthy cobblestones. Ming recognizes this as the part of the city furthest from the Palace of Bones, though she’s never been here before. Most of the residents of I’Cath steered clear of this part of the city as it was in such disrepair.
Once you reach the gate, you see it’s comprised of pure brass with steel bands reinforcing it. It looms as tall as the wall, and two statues of coiled, serpentine dragons stand guard on either side, their watchful eyes looking over the ruins of the city.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
The big man let out a low whistle as they approached the large gate. “What d’you think? Should we see if it will let us through?” It was a long trip across the city. If they did something to the bell and had to run, they’d have a long distance to cover before they were clear. “I’m not sure what’s best guys. Part of me is saying we are out of our depth and don’t really know what we’re looking for in this city. On the other hand, we know Azalin’s here actively helping to finish the city. I don’t love leaving without doing anything besides poking around.”
He scrubbed a hand down his face, he was getting tired. Not falling down beat, but tired enough he didn’t want to stay up another night. But, seeing how scared Ming was of the dream, he’d rather not enter it without a really good reason.
"I wish there was a way we can help these people. Though that means heading back to the palace. Perhaps we should rethink leaving. I know that means risking our necks, but will we just traverse the dark realms ever running? Most likely the next dark realm will just be as dangerous as I'Cath or it may be worse. I think the only way we can be truly safe is to end this blasted threat one way or another." says Aoufie with a tone of concern for the folks left in the dreaming state.
Aoufie thinks about what they have seen so far with Barovia and I'Cath. "Running away may keep us safe, but I feel we would be on that hamster wheel for the rest of our lives. Well, that is until Azalin's plan comes to fruition then all of us we be in deep trouble."
Ming looks up at the gate with wide eyes. So she really could have just found the gate by walking along the wall... or going to the place she hasn't been before. Then again, she hadn't spent much time looking for the way out when her first priority for the last few weeks has been food.
She looks to Anthony, "We could try.... even if you don't want to leave yet, at least if the gate opens you know we... well, you know you can leave when you want to." She averts her eyes, clearly still unsure whether or not she could leave her family here if these mistwalkers decided to head to another realm.
Her face brightens a little when both Anthony and Aoufie make it known that they don't like simply leaving now. "I'll help however I can," she pipes in.
Akyan nods in agreement with the other's words. He doesn't like the idea of doing nothing in this realm, but knowing of a potential way out is never a bad idea. "Let's just check for traps before trying to shove the thing open."
Approaching the large gates, he searches for traps.
Investigation: 22 (nat 20...accidentally rolled intimidation, so subtracted 2 from the roll)
If there are no traps, he looks over at the others, "I may need help getting this open."
Aoufie volunteers to help push open the gate pending the result of the investigation.
Looking around the rubble-strewn area near the gate, Akyan doesn't find anything that could serve as the mechanism responsible for opening and closing the gate. Then again, it could have been destroyed a long time ago and merely looks like another pile of rubble. As for the gate itself, it's gleaming bronze surface is scratched and marred by all sorts of blemishes from long years of unuse. At one point in it's history, it looks like it has taken quite the beating, but it endured the assault well.
When you come within ten feet of the gate, the stone, serpentine statues on either side of the gate suddenly animate and come to life. Turning their heads to look down at Akyan with the sound of stone scraping on stone, they both say in a grating, gravely voice, "Only those with the seal of Tsien Chang may pass through the Bronze Gate. Retreat, or face the consequences of your idiocy." Their twinned ultimatum echoes through the ruins of the city as a sudden tension descends upon the group.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Aoufie instinctively leaps back from the gate "Damn, magical guardians. Well, their goes this exit unless anyone wishes to fight these large guardians"
Anthony, who'd been giving Akyan space to work while scanning their surroundings, halted in place with a slight sigh as the dragons animated. "Yup. That checks out. Better to find that out now instead of running for our lives." calling up to the dragons "Don't suppose either of you know the last time someone came through with a seal?" doing his best to seem calm and casual while understanding that these gate guards could probably obliterate them in an instant. He also wasn't sure they could have a conversation. They might be more like animated statues.
Kora has hung back from the group once they got to the gates, worry creasing her forehead. As talk starts about sticking around and helping these people, she crosses her arms. But then she feels herself soften a bit. What do they know about what they really need to do here? They are assuming it is the bell cause they haven't run into anything else that makes sense. Some sort of fragment of the darkstar? And honestly what were they supposed to do here, thwart the dreadlord's heart's desire correct? "Ok, so we want to stop Tsien Chang from getting what she wants, which is a perfect city. And obviously, Azalin is trying to help this happen. How do we thwart it without using a wrecking ball throughout the entire place? Maybe somehow create some natural disaster? I don't know... plus, that wouldn't help those that are stuck here."
She sighs, frustrated with the entire situation. "And we're positive these talismen only work if we are actually in the mist?" She jumps back as the serpent comes to life and actually scares her. She is impressed by Anthony's calmness as he questions the gate.
Aoufie checks to make sure the statue guardians do not attack if so, he says to Kora "I believe we can thwart Tsien Chang in part by disabling the bell. That way all the people will wake. She must have created that bell to make it easier to reshape the city without anyone's interference. Trying to coral hundreds of awake people will surely put a dent in her plans. Madam Eva also spoke of a resistance group called the Circle who is said to exist in multiple dark realms. Maybe we can follow those that gather the spawned food."
Ming jumps backward instinctively when the serpents come to life and dress Akyan, re-summoning her glaive to her hand without thought as she prepares to defend herself. It takes her a moment to realize that the serpents aren't going to attack unless the mistwalkers insist on trying to pass through... which they don't seem to keen on. Still, it takes her a minute before she lowers her weapon, eyeing the gate and thinking to herself that she might have been lucky not to have found it until now... they might be better off trying to climb the wall rather than face the serpents. Light knows none of them are going to be able to get a seal from Tsien Chiang... well, maybe they could but she has no clue how.
As the mistwalkers talk, she listens quietly... feeling like its not really her place to interject, not that she knows what to say anyways since she's still not positive what their goal actually is at this point. It seems like they aren't either, but that doesn't make her anymore willing to speak up.
"The enemy of any city is fire, and with everyone asleep, there won't be a fire brigade." Muttered under his breath to Kora as he watched the stone dragons to see if they would answer.
Reaching out to other awake citizens was a good idea, glancing at Aoufi with a nod. It was why he'd asked about Vistani here.
The stone dragons watch Akyan intently, waiting to see what his next move was. Thankfully, they don't take any aggressive actions. Yet...
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
As soon as the dragons spring to life, Akyan skips backward several feet, reflexively taking on a ready stance. Of course the gate has animated stone dragon's guarding it, why use mundane means to trap a gate when you can magically enchant guards to keep anyone from exiting or entering. Fighting the urge to grit his teeth, he remains silent waiting for the serpents to reply to Anthony...or seeing if they will even respond to his questions. They are just animated objects after all.
Seemingly oblivious as the stone they’re made of, the statues pay no heed to Anthony’s inquiry. You get the feeling they’re here to guard the gate, not engage in conversation. However, when Akyan scurries nimbly away from the statues, the revert back to their former position, the sound of stone grating on stone rending the air once again.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable