It's been a long day for Ming-Yue, but then again, every day is long here--and every night longer. That's just the nature of survival here in I'Cath. Ming let out a sigh, eying the alleys as she walked by them. She'd checked on her family this morning... finding that they had been moved from their resting place once again by the Jiangshi. She'd long ago given up on marking their location, since things changed so often here. The rest of the day had been sent scavenging, as her food supply was running low, and she didn't have the energy to brave the garden--not to mention the ever present fear and warnings that nag at the back of her mind whenever she goes near the place. Someday she's going to have to get over that, but today was not that day. So instead, she was here. Looking through the alleyways between the rundown homes in the Mansions. She was nearing the edge of the neighborhood, and had had absolutely no luck in finding anything worthwhile. Hopefully that would change as she neared the outskirts. Perhaps someone had recently gone to sleep or... died... hopefully not died but... eh, best not to think of that. She shakes her head vigorously for a moment, then refocuses on her search. Nightime was almost upon her, so if she's going to find anything she needs to do it soon.
As luck would have it, her eyes come to rest on a sleeper who seems... well, like he hasn't been laying there for as long as some of the others. Poor soul. She briefly wonders if he willingly fell into the dream, or if he just gave in to exhaustion. Swallowing, she hesitates... does she really want to take his rations? Does he even have any rations left? She creeps forward, then gently shakes his shoulder. After several minutes of her trying to wake the sleeper, she lets out a sigh. Well, looks like he's stuck. Who knows when or if he'll ever wake up. But what if he does? What if she takes his food today and he wakes up tomorrow? Will she be the reason he dies? But then again, what if he stays asleep for years? Then his rations might end up spoiled anyways... or stolen by someone else. She sits there for a good while, kneeling beside the sleeping individual as conflicting thoughts and emotions race through her head. Eventually she ends up rifling through his things, searching for anything edible.
When she finds the rations, she picks them up and stares at them for a moment. Then she looks down at the sleeper and says, "I... uh... Well I'm really sorry about this, but right now I need it and you don't. I mean... what if you wake up twenty years from now? No one wants to eat twenty-year-old rations..." She trails off. Why is she talking to this person? It's not like he can hear her. With another sigh, she stands up, brushing some of her hair out of her face as she turns to leave the alley.
Then she catches sight of a large group of... people, as they materialize out of... mist? Wait... the bell hasn't rung yet. There shouldn't be... Oh. Hold on, these must be Mistwalkers! What are they doing here and... do they know what they've just gotten themselves into? Ming takes in a shaky breath and her hands shake for a moment as well as she watches the newcomers. Currently she's holding the stolen rations in one hand, and a longsword in her other. If anyone looks her way, they'd see a young woman standing over a 'body' who appears to be a little shaken. Her black hair is styled in a bob cut, and she has a single white lock that stands out starkly in the darkness. Her eyes are a golden color, and seem to have a light of their own, though perhaps that's just a trick of the lantern light.
Come on, go warn them, she thinks as a wave of urgency rushes through her. No, I don't know these people. What if they... I don't know, attack me? Fear and wariness also rush through her, which is currently causing her shakiness. Stupid. Come on. She needs to just choose. But for now, she's just standing there frozen. A blank yet wide-eyed look plastered on her face as she pauses in her act of thievery.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Anthony trudged through the mists, he tried not to look too closely at the tattered soul remnants that seemed to follow them. If he stared too long they began to resemble people he knew. Some he’d lost to life and circumstance, few, but one was too many, from his own blade or flail. But there were many more he was responsible for even if he hadn’t killed with his own hand.
The human man who stepped from the mists into the garden, glancing around warily, wasn’t particularly tall, around the human average, but broad shouldered and heavily built. His hair was a sandy brown, a little longer on top than on the sides, and he had a couple days growth of beard, a little darker than what was on his head, covering his chin. His eyes were a warm brown and crinkled at the corners when he flashed his dimpled smile at one of his companions. If one were to guess his age, they might think he was in his late twenties or early thirties.
The large man walked with a noticeable limp but seemed sturdy enough to keep up with the others in the group. They were all obviously foreigners by their clothing, and he was dressed something like a templar. He carried a shield and flail and wore an undyed, off-white surcoat with no markings, belted over chainmail armor with red cord. The same red cord wrapped his wrists and forearms, and he openly wore a wooden amulet depicting a pair of hands in prayer position bound with similar red cord.
They have come from one dangerous place and expect to be stepping into another so he is alert, scanning the area for threats.
((PP is 14, Check: 23 if she's not that obvious where she's standing))
The mists are a bit much for Kora. She figured it wouldn't be an enjoyable jaunt, but the creatures watching them and the constant feeling moving through made her skin crawl. As I'Cath opened up in front of her, she actually smiles. "You know, this place at least appears to be better than Barovia. Maybe it is?"
The lanky human was wearing her typical brown leathers with dark green bracers on. Kora's long, white hair untamed as usual, several braids running through and a few feathers stuck in randomly that she was unaware of. Her ice blue eyes scan the unfamiliar territory and then finds a seat on a low boulder by the water. Turning to Ireena, "How are you holding up? Probably would be good to find a place for you to rest."
Stifling a yawn, Ireena nods. "Getting some sleep sounds amazing. We've had a busy day." Then, taking a moment to drink in her surroundings, she says, "I've never seen buildings like these before." Indeed, the buildings were quite different from anything you've seen before. The curved roofs and arches in the design were quite intriguing.
Ismark, with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, looks around the group with a wary eye. "We should probably find some shelter before whatever darkness that lurks here finds us."
At around this time, you see two figures walking down one of the streets nearby. Their movements are stiff and rigid, their arms and legs looking like they don't quite function properly. The stumble along the road slowly, their features obscured by the faint fog in the air.
Ming, lurking in one of the alleyways, recognizes the two figures as jiangshi; their stiff, uncoordinated movements betraying what they are. Seeing jiangshi in this state was bad, very bad. When jiangshi moved like that, it meant they hadn't eaten for a long time, and they would be extra eager to prey upon any unfortunate soul that happened to be awake. Also, seeing jiangshi already out and about in the city meant that Tsien Chiang was going to ring the Nightingale Bell soon, prolonging the unnatural sleep that enveloped many of the residents of I'Cath.
Already on edge, Anthony immediately draws weapon and shield, but he'd rather avoid a fight if he can. He realizes for the first time that this city seems eerily still. So many pristine and beautiful buildings and gardens, who's maintaining and living in them? He glances around for the nearest door.
It was not relevant to the moment, but he wanted to say it before they forgot later. Looking to Ireena and Ismark, "Might want to think about not using your names. We don't know who we can trust and people will be looking for you." ((Assuming he probably spotting Ming-Yue earlier, he would say this quietly to them))
Aoufie navigates through the mists, Akyan frequently glances at each of his siblings, Ireena, and Ismark while also keeping a close watch on the wraiths in the mists. The figures are unsettling, but seem to be leaving the group alone...for now at least. That said, he doesn't let down his guard through the entire walk through the mists.
Stepping though the mist and into I'Cath, the dark elf immediately looks around to take in his surroundings. He has silver-white hair hangs just below his pointed ears, and his silver eyes stand out against his charcoal skin as he scans the area. He is clad in dark clothes, mostly brown in color with some hints of green and grey. If he had been human, one might guess him to be late teens or early twenties, however the elven appearance can be deceiving when age is in question.
He immediately spots the onlooker who appears to be stealing from a dead man. However, based on her demeanor, he figures she found the man like that. Being a former urchin, he finds no fault in her actions. Though that does not mean he considers her not to be a potential threat. For now, he'll just ignore her.
He nods to Ismark, "I agree--" Mid-sentence, he notices the strange figures stumbling down the alley and swiftly takes on a ready stance. Matching his tone to Anthony's tone continues, "Anthony has a good point. We should figure an alias for both of you, but for now lets find a place away from whatever those are."He really doesn't feel like getting into a fight if they can help it, and he's sure no one else wants to either. Especially not after that long walk. He briefly glances towards the alley where the girl is standing. He's fairly certain that most of his party has seen her, so he doesn't feel the need to point her out. However, he's interested in seeing how she reacts to these creatures.
After a few moments of standing there like a frightened child, Ming-Yue's eyes stray to the shambling figures approaching. A shiver runs down her spine as she recognizes what they are and what their presence means. The familiar anxiety brought by the thought of the Nightingale Bell rushes through her, but she can't give herself time to deal with that at the moment.
Shaking her head, she pushes aside the torrent of emotions running through her, and glances down at the sleeper she'd taken the rations from, "Maybe you are the lucky one here..."She says halfheartedly, tucking away the rations and flipping her sword into a reverse grip--attempting to show the mistwalkers that she doesn't intend them harm, while also not disarming herself in case the Jiangshi notice them. The sword, like the buildings in the area, has an exotic look to it--its a longsword, but the guard is much smaller and the pommel is adorned with a ring instead of a solid nob, to which a blue tassel is tied.
Letting out a breath, Ming quickly makes her way over to the newcomers--keeping the sword tucked behind her in clear view but in an obviously non-threatening manner. She gives a small wave, and whispers, "Hey..." She glances towards the shambling jiangshi, and her voice takes on an urgent tone, "You need to get out of here. Now." She motions for them to follow her, unsure of how she's going to guide the group since nighttime is almost upon them, but right now they just need to put distance between them and these hungry monsters. ...then again, what if these people are like... super strong? Maybe they can handle themselves. But, that doesn't mean they'll stand a chance against the dream if they don't know it's a threat.
She's hoping that they'll just follow her, and she inches towards one of the alleys (not the one with the 'body' in it), and glances between the party and the shambling figures. She has so many questions for these people, but right now she just wants to get away from the Jiangshi. They could all handle them together... probably, but she isn't in the mood to take that risk. Well, part of her is. But part of her really, really isn't. These conflicting emotions translate to a sort of urgent calmness, as she quickly beckons to the party.
Anthony sighs, she looks humanoid and alive and they have her outnumbered. "I'm a healer, can that man be helped?" In an ordinary place, he wouldn't ask, he would just try, but they were learning quickly that the rules of these shadow lands were different.
He looks around to the others with a questioning glance, inclined to follow and get out of the open, then sort out later if this woman can really be trusted. "I'm Anthony by the way." in spite of the circumstances, he manages to throw up and easy smile that suits his face better than a wary expression.
Kora is surprised by the sudden tense energy that arises with the woman calling to them in urgent tones and the two shambling.. whatever they were. Definitely a different reception then when they arrived in Barovia. Seeing that the woman was clearly trying to show them that she meant them no harm, she gets up off the rock and starts to follow, her eyes peeled looking at all the buildings and consistently back to the shambling twins.
"Where are we going?" Is all that she manages to say as they start off.
Like Aoufie, Zathon stay alert during the traversal. He can't help but expect trouble at this rate, and is quickly proven it was a good idea to keep his sword and shield drawn when observing the place. He doesnt put away his weapons, but he recognizes the urgency in the new arrivals voice. He's been on that side of encounters before where there wasnt time to explain, so he follows her.
The travel through the mist was nerve wracking, but he is glad his song has helped them reach I'Cath or what he hopes is I'Cath. The first thought that pops into his mind upon seeing the strangely moving beings is zombies. He is suspicious of the newcomer but he too rather not fight after that last battle and so he slings his cittern behind him and follows his new guide.
Aoufie is a medium sized Harengon with gray and white patterned fur.
As they walk, Anthony takes a moment to check in with Aoufie. All of them had been letting this place get to them apart from the small scrap of mirth found with the Vistani. "Thanks for getting us here in one piece. I don't know if our next trek through the mists will be so peaceful.
"Huh?" Ming takes a moment to register that Anthony was asking about the sleeper... so they'd seen that? She glances towards the alley, then shakes her head, "He sleeps. Right now he's safer than we are." She's relieved that these mistwalkers seem friendly at least. Hopefully she doesn't regret asking them to follow her. Anthony and Zathon? Those are weird names. Wait. Don't be rude! She thinks, They'll probably think your name is weird too!She leads them down the alley, preferably getting out of sight of the Jiangshi as quickly as possible. Glancing back as Kora asks her question, Ming's gut clenches. "Right now, just away from here." She manages, unsure what else to say.
"Oh... I'm Ming-Yue," she adds quickly, realizing that she hadn't introduced herself when the other two had. Once they are well away from the hungry Jiangshi, she'll pause and listen for a moment.
Perception: 17
As she does she says, "Those Jianghsi back there... uh... those things we saw. They are particularly dangerous in that state." She pauses, not really sure what else to do in this situation, but will continue navigating the alleys if she hears anything else. If she doesn't notice any sounds or see any other jiangshi nearby, she'll just stay where she is for now. "Right now, there's nothing to do other than avoid them, unless you think you can handle them in a fight." Either way she asks, "How did you end up here?" Then glances back at them, clearly curious and nervous as well, before refocusing on leading them through the alleyways.
If they manage to escape detection, Ming will attempt to lead the party out of the Mansions and towards the Gwai-Huit Center. There might not be any food there right now, but it's the first location that came to mind for her. If she successfully leads them out of the Mansions, she'll pause momentarily at the sliding doorway, and glance sadly back at the alleyways.
"The help is appreciated," He leaves Kora or Aoufie to explain how they got here. 'Magic' wasn't much of an explanation, but he didn't really understand it beyond that. He didn't like the idea of leaving an unconscious man exposed, but the way Ming-Yue commented on the situation made it sound like the.... zombies? preferred moving targets? Or something like that. She could explain it more when they got somewhere safe. Safer? "If I can return the favor.." He assumed the others felt similarly, but didn't like speaking for them.
Ming is able to successfully guide the party away from the things that were stumbling along the road, Jiangshi she called them. She leads you covertly from street to street, occasionally ducking into alley ways or into the buildings to avoid more of those Jiangshi stumbling about. Occasionally, you scurry past the form of a slumbering person collapsed on the ground. All of them have bronzed skin, dark hair, and wear threadbare clothing.
After about ten minutes of weaving through cul-de-sacs and neighborhoods of increasingly dilapidated buildings and gardens, Ming leads you to a stone wall with an elaborate arched gateway set into it. A small flight of stairs flanked by stone statues of lions lead up to the gate, and beyond it, you can see what looks like a park area. Surprisingly, the grass and trees are alive and green. They weren't like that before the last time Ming visited. How did the Jiangshi manage to renovate marketplace with living plants? Normally, plants always died around them, but there had been a lot of gardens constructed recently as well. Things have definitely been changing a lot faster around here than normal recently.
Beyond the small park area, you can see that this seems to be some sort of market district. Several empty stalls and tents rest on the opposite side of the small park. As you stand looking at the gate, the last sliver of the sun disappears behind distant mountain peaks. Ming has only a moment to brace herself before the accursed Nightingale Bell rings out in the night air.
All of you suddenly hear the doleful sounds of a gong ringing out over the city, its resonant tones hanging in the air and echoing unnaturally throughout the city. With it, you feel a wave of exhaustion roll over you as the gong vibrates throughout your being. The gong rings out again before the first toll clears the air, and it rings once more for a total of three times, the last toll lingering in the air with a sense of finality. Once it fades, the city goes back to being unnaturally still and quiet.
Kora can't take her eyes off the strange buildings as the girl leads them through alleys and even through a few of the buildings as they weave their way around and eventually to what looks like some kind of entrance... ooh, now that looks nice, she thinks to herself as she gets a glimpse of what is inside.
When the girl introduces herself, she responds, "My name is Kora Ashdane." Noting her agitation, "We'll chat once we get to a place you feel safe."
Once the bell tolls, "What in the gods names was that?"
This place being called a 'Dream Prison', the people sleeping in the streets, the wave of exhaustion that hits them... 1+1+1+= F. "Let me guess, it's probably not good for us to fall asleep here? How do you survive? "That would kill someone in a week. He had a million questions.
Unlike Anthony and Zathon, Akyan doesn't immediately introduce himself. He makes sure everyone keeps up with Ming as she navigates the odd streets and alleys of this strange place. Noting the bodies scattered around the streets; he begins to regret the decision of coming to this realm more and more, despite the fact that there is no guarantee any of the other realms would have been any better.
Once they stop in the small park area near the marketplace, the drow takes another head count. Satisfied, he turns to their guide. It's only after Kora introduces herself that he mutters his own name. "Akyan."
The sound of the bell, followed by a wave of exhaustion makes his skin crawl. Anthony's words don't make that sensation any better. He turns his attention back to Ming, awaiting her response. If Anthony's theory is correct, then that spell some pretty bad news for most of the group. As elves, Akyn and Zathon may not need to worry about falling asleep, but the rest of the party... His jaw tightens.
"Oh...ok," Ming says in response Kora. A place she feels safe? Hmm... well hopefully they can find that.
At the sound of the bell, she braces herself against the stone wall, doing her best not to look weak in front of the strangers. Still, she can't help but put a hand to her head, covering one side of her face as she grimaces and shivers. "The...the Nightingale bell,"she says to Kora. Taking a moment before removing her hand from her head, a pained expression washing over her before she lets out a breath in attempt to cover it up. She nods to Anthony, "Try not to." She glances in the direction that the sound of the bell came from, "The bell resets the spell each night. If you must try to sleep do so lightly. I... well there is no guarantee whether or not you'll be trapped by the dream." She rubs her arms self-consciously, unsure of how to best advise these people. After all, she hadn't gotten herself out of the dream, so how is she supposed to help them? "I'm not sure how other people manage, but I would guess that now is probably the worst time to try sleeping. I think that you can escape the dream if you have strength of will and are not completely exhausted... but... I have no experience with it." As she says this, she absentmindedly twists her single white lock of hair around her finger, and then bites her lower lip as she thinks about her own time in the dream. "Sorry I can't be more help there. I just wanted to make sure you all know what you just stepped into."
She glances around, "I... think we are safe here for now. There really isn't anywhere safe in this city, but I don't hear or see any Jiangshi currently so..." She takes a seat on the grass, glad to see that it is actually alive this time. Plus, if the Jiangshi come around again, perhaps it could serve as an early warning if it starts dying... Regardless, she doesn't sheathe her sword, instead setting it on the grass beside her and keeping her hand on the hilt. Her head is still pounding from the sound of the bell, but she's doing her best to hide it. "This is the Gwai-Huit Center. It restocks with food every dawn, so lots of people come to get food... oh, that's something important. Food is hard to come by here so, if you have rations... uh... ration them. And watch your back. Everyone here is starving, so if they think you have food they might just try to take it. I... don't like stealing..."She pulls out the bag of rations she took from the sleeper in the alley, "But often, when people get trapped in the Dream, they don't wake back up. Some people prefer that prison to this one." She still looks a little guilty as she fingers the bag before slipping it back into the pouch on her belt.
She shakes her head, then looks back up at the party, crossing her legs while also keeping an eye out for potential threats in the area, "Nighttime is the most dangerous. The Jiangshi will try to eat anything that moves, but they... well they leave the Sleepers alone for the most part. Sometime's they'll move them around so they can rebuild the area, but they don't hurt them."
"So... why are you here? Did... you come here on accident?"
Aoufie gives Anthony an affectionate pat as if to say your welcomed. Weaving through the strange, dilapidated buildings does not nothing to alleviate the tension he feels at the moment. After arriving at the park, he wonders how far until they get somewhere safe. Then the gong rings out and he feels even more tired than he is currently. He bends down to catch his breath and to will himself to continue onward "We have come here from another land far from here but perhaps close at the same time. We seek refuge at the moment and thank you for your help."
It's been a long day for Ming-Yue, but then again, every day is long here--and every night longer. That's just the nature of survival here in I'Cath. Ming let out a sigh, eying the alleys as she walked by them. She'd checked on her family this morning... finding that they had been moved from their resting place once again by the Jiangshi. She'd long ago given up on marking their location, since things changed so often here. The rest of the day had been sent scavenging, as her food supply was running low, and she didn't have the energy to brave the garden--not to mention the ever present fear and warnings that nag at the back of her mind whenever she goes near the place. Someday she's going to have to get over that, but today was not that day. So instead, she was here. Looking through the alleyways between the rundown homes in the Mansions. She was nearing the edge of the neighborhood, and had had absolutely no luck in finding anything worthwhile. Hopefully that would change as she neared the outskirts. Perhaps someone had recently gone to sleep or... died... hopefully not died but... eh, best not to think of that. She shakes her head vigorously for a moment, then refocuses on her search. Nightime was almost upon her, so if she's going to find anything she needs to do it soon.
As luck would have it, her eyes come to rest on a sleeper who seems... well, like he hasn't been laying there for as long as some of the others. Poor soul. She briefly wonders if he willingly fell into the dream, or if he just gave in to exhaustion. Swallowing, she hesitates... does she really want to take his rations? Does he even have any rations left? She creeps forward, then gently shakes his shoulder. After several minutes of her trying to wake the sleeper, she lets out a sigh. Well, looks like he's stuck. Who knows when or if he'll ever wake up. But what if he does? What if she takes his food today and he wakes up tomorrow? Will she be the reason he dies? But then again, what if he stays asleep for years? Then his rations might end up spoiled anyways... or stolen by someone else. She sits there for a good while, kneeling beside the sleeping individual as conflicting thoughts and emotions race through her head. Eventually she ends up rifling through his things, searching for anything edible.
When she finds the rations, she picks them up and stares at them for a moment. Then she looks down at the sleeper and says, "I... uh... Well I'm really sorry about this, but right now I need it and you don't. I mean... what if you wake up twenty years from now? No one wants to eat twenty-year-old rations..." She trails off. Why is she talking to this person? It's not like he can hear her. With another sigh, she stands up, brushing some of her hair out of her face as she turns to leave the alley.
Then she catches sight of a large group of... people, as they materialize out of... mist? Wait... the bell hasn't rung yet. There shouldn't be... Oh. Hold on, these must be Mistwalkers! What are they doing here and... do they know what they've just gotten themselves into? Ming takes in a shaky breath and her hands shake for a moment as well as she watches the newcomers. Currently she's holding the stolen rations in one hand, and a longsword in her other. If anyone looks her way, they'd see a young woman standing over a 'body' who appears to be a little shaken. Her black hair is styled in a bob cut, and she has a single white lock that stands out starkly in the darkness. Her eyes are a golden color, and seem to have a light of their own, though perhaps that's just a trick of the lantern light.
Come on, go warn them, she thinks as a wave of urgency rushes through her. No, I don't know these people. What if they... I don't know, attack me? Fear and wariness also rush through her, which is currently causing her shakiness. Stupid. Come on. She needs to just choose. But for now, she's just standing there frozen. A blank yet wide-eyed look plastered on her face as she pauses in her act of thievery.
As Anthony trudged through the mists, he tried not to look too closely at the tattered soul remnants that seemed to follow them. If he stared too long they began to resemble people he knew. Some he’d lost to life and circumstance, few, but one was too many, from his own blade or flail. But there were many more he was responsible for even if he hadn’t killed with his own hand.
The human man who stepped from the mists into the garden, glancing around warily, wasn’t particularly tall, around the human average, but broad shouldered and heavily built. His hair was a sandy brown, a little longer on top than on the sides, and he had a couple days growth of beard, a little darker than what was on his head, covering his chin. His eyes were a warm brown and crinkled at the corners when he flashed his dimpled smile at one of his companions. If one were to guess his age, they might think he was in his late twenties or early thirties.
The large man walked with a noticeable limp but seemed sturdy enough to keep up with the others in the group. They were all obviously foreigners by their clothing, and he was dressed something like a templar. He carried a shield and flail and wore an undyed, off-white surcoat with no markings, belted over chainmail armor with red cord. The same red cord wrapped his wrists and forearms, and he openly wore a wooden amulet depicting a pair of hands in prayer position bound with similar red cord.
They have come from one dangerous place and expect to be stepping into another so he is alert, scanning the area for threats.
((PP is 14, Check: 23 if she's not that obvious where she's standing))
The mists are a bit much for Kora. She figured it wouldn't be an enjoyable jaunt, but the creatures watching them and the constant feeling moving through made her skin crawl. As I'Cath opened up in front of her, she actually smiles. "You know, this place at least appears to be better than Barovia. Maybe it is?"
The lanky human was wearing her typical brown leathers with dark green bracers on. Kora's long, white hair untamed as usual, several braids running through and a few feathers stuck in randomly that she was unaware of. Her ice blue eyes scan the unfamiliar territory and then finds a seat on a low boulder by the water. Turning to Ireena, "How are you holding up? Probably would be good to find a place for you to rest."
Perception: 15
Part Two:
The Waking Nightmare
Stifling a yawn, Ireena nods. "Getting some sleep sounds amazing. We've had a busy day." Then, taking a moment to drink in her surroundings, she says, "I've never seen buildings like these before." Indeed, the buildings were quite different from anything you've seen before. The curved roofs and arches in the design were quite intriguing.
Ismark, with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, looks around the group with a wary eye. "We should probably find some shelter before whatever darkness that lurks here finds us."
At around this time, you see two figures walking down one of the streets nearby. Their movements are stiff and rigid, their arms and legs looking like they don't quite function properly. The stumble along the road slowly, their features obscured by the faint fog in the air.
Ming, lurking in one of the alleyways, recognizes the two figures as jiangshi; their stiff, uncoordinated movements betraying what they are. Seeing jiangshi in this state was bad, very bad. When jiangshi moved like that, it meant they hadn't eaten for a long time, and they would be extra eager to prey upon any unfortunate soul that happened to be awake. Also, seeing jiangshi already out and about in the city meant that Tsien Chiang was going to ring the Nightingale Bell soon, prolonging the unnatural sleep that enveloped many of the residents of I'Cath.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Already on edge, Anthony immediately draws weapon and shield, but he'd rather avoid a fight if he can. He realizes for the first time that this city seems eerily still. So many pristine and beautiful buildings and gardens, who's maintaining and living in them? He glances around for the nearest door.
It was not relevant to the moment, but he wanted to say it before they forgot later. Looking to Ireena and Ismark, "Might want to think about not using your names. We don't know who we can trust and people will be looking for you." ((Assuming he probably spotting Ming-Yue earlier, he would say this quietly to them))
Aoufie navigates through the mists, Akyan frequently glances at each of his siblings, Ireena, and Ismark while also keeping a close watch on the wraiths in the mists. The figures are unsettling, but seem to be leaving the group alone...for now at least. That said, he doesn't let down his guard through the entire walk through the mists.
Stepping though the mist and into I'Cath, the dark elf immediately looks around to take in his surroundings. He has silver-white hair hangs just below his pointed ears, and his silver eyes stand out against his charcoal skin as he scans the area. He is clad in dark clothes, mostly brown in color with some hints of green and grey. If he had been human, one might guess him to be late teens or early twenties, however the elven appearance can be deceiving when age is in question.
He immediately spots the onlooker who appears to be stealing from a dead man. However, based on her demeanor, he figures she found the man like that. Being a former urchin, he finds no fault in her actions. Though that does not mean he considers her not to be a potential threat. For now, he'll just ignore her.
He nods to Ismark, "I agree--" Mid-sentence, he notices the strange figures stumbling down the alley and swiftly takes on a ready stance. Matching his tone to Anthony's tone continues, "Anthony has a good point. We should figure an alias for both of you, but for now lets find a place away from whatever those are." He really doesn't feel like getting into a fight if they can help it, and he's sure no one else wants to either. Especially not after that long walk. He briefly glances towards the alley where the girl is standing. He's fairly certain that most of his party has seen her, so he doesn't feel the need to point her out. However, he's interested in seeing how she reacts to these creatures.
After a few moments of standing there like a frightened child, Ming-Yue's eyes stray to the shambling figures approaching. A shiver runs down her spine as she recognizes what they are and what their presence means. The familiar anxiety brought by the thought of the Nightingale Bell rushes through her, but she can't give herself time to deal with that at the moment.
Shaking her head, she pushes aside the torrent of emotions running through her, and glances down at the sleeper she'd taken the rations from, "Maybe you are the lucky one here..." She says halfheartedly, tucking away the rations and flipping her sword into a reverse grip--attempting to show the mistwalkers that she doesn't intend them harm, while also not disarming herself in case the Jiangshi notice them. The sword, like the buildings in the area, has an exotic look to it--its a longsword, but the guard is much smaller and the pommel is adorned with a ring instead of a solid nob, to which a blue tassel is tied.
Letting out a breath, Ming quickly makes her way over to the newcomers--keeping the sword tucked behind her in clear view but in an obviously non-threatening manner. She gives a small wave, and whispers, "Hey..." She glances towards the shambling jiangshi, and her voice takes on an urgent tone, "You need to get out of here. Now." She motions for them to follow her, unsure of how she's going to guide the group since nighttime is almost upon them, but right now they just need to put distance between them and these hungry monsters. ...then again, what if these people are like... super strong? Maybe they can handle themselves. But, that doesn't mean they'll stand a chance against the dream if they don't know it's a threat.
She's hoping that they'll just follow her, and she inches towards one of the alleys (not the one with the 'body' in it), and glances between the party and the shambling figures. She has so many questions for these people, but right now she just wants to get away from the Jiangshi. They could all handle them together... probably, but she isn't in the mood to take that risk. Well, part of her is. But part of her really, really isn't. These conflicting emotions translate to a sort of urgent calmness, as she quickly beckons to the party.
Anthony sighs, she looks humanoid and alive and they have her outnumbered. "I'm a healer, can that man be helped?" In an ordinary place, he wouldn't ask, he would just try, but they were learning quickly that the rules of these shadow lands were different.
He looks around to the others with a questioning glance, inclined to follow and get out of the open, then sort out later if this woman can really be trusted. "I'm Anthony by the way." in spite of the circumstances, he manages to throw up and easy smile that suits his face better than a wary expression.
Kora is surprised by the sudden tense energy that arises with the woman calling to them in urgent tones and the two shambling.. whatever they were. Definitely a different reception then when they arrived in Barovia. Seeing that the woman was clearly trying to show them that she meant them no harm, she gets up off the rock and starts to follow, her eyes peeled looking at all the buildings and consistently back to the shambling twins.
"Where are we going?" Is all that she manages to say as they start off.
Like Aoufie, Zathon stay alert during the traversal. He can't help but expect trouble at this rate, and is quickly proven it was a good idea to keep his sword and shield drawn when observing the place. He doesnt put away his weapons, but he recognizes the urgency in the new arrivals voice. He's been on that side of encounters before where there wasnt time to explain, so he follows her.
"I'm Zathon," he whispers in her mind.
The travel through the mist was nerve wracking, but he is glad his song has helped them reach I'Cath or what he hopes is I'Cath. The first thought that pops into his mind upon seeing the strangely moving beings is zombies. He is suspicious of the newcomer but he too rather not fight after that last battle and so he slings his cittern behind him and follows his new guide.
Aoufie is a medium sized Harengon with gray and white patterned fur.
As they walk, Anthony takes a moment to check in with Aoufie. All of them had been letting this place get to them apart from the small scrap of mirth found with the Vistani. "Thanks for getting us here in one piece. I don't know if our next trek through the mists will be so peaceful.
"Huh?" Ming takes a moment to register that Anthony was asking about the sleeper... so they'd seen that? She glances towards the alley, then shakes her head, "He sleeps. Right now he's safer than we are." She's relieved that these mistwalkers seem friendly at least. Hopefully she doesn't regret asking them to follow her. Anthony and Zathon? Those are weird names. Wait. Don't be rude! She thinks, They'll probably think your name is weird too! She leads them down the alley, preferably getting out of sight of the Jiangshi as quickly as possible. Glancing back as Kora asks her question, Ming's gut clenches. "Right now, just away from here." She manages, unsure what else to say.
"Oh... I'm Ming-Yue," she adds quickly, realizing that she hadn't introduced herself when the other two had. Once they are well away from the hungry Jiangshi, she'll pause and listen for a moment.
Perception: 17
As she does she says, "Those Jianghsi back there... uh... those things we saw. They are particularly dangerous in that state." She pauses, not really sure what else to do in this situation, but will continue navigating the alleys if she hears anything else. If she doesn't notice any sounds or see any other jiangshi nearby, she'll just stay where she is for now. "Right now, there's nothing to do other than avoid them, unless you think you can handle them in a fight." Either way she asks, "How did you end up here?" Then glances back at them, clearly curious and nervous as well, before refocusing on leading them through the alleyways.
If they manage to escape detection, Ming will attempt to lead the party out of the Mansions and towards the Gwai-Huit Center. There might not be any food there right now, but it's the first location that came to mind for her. If she successfully leads them out of the Mansions, she'll pause momentarily at the sliding doorway, and glance sadly back at the alleyways.
"The help is appreciated," He leaves Kora or Aoufie to explain how they got here. 'Magic' wasn't much of an explanation, but he didn't really understand it beyond that. He didn't like the idea of leaving an unconscious man exposed, but the way Ming-Yue commented on the situation made it sound like the.... zombies? preferred moving targets? Or something like that. She could explain it more when they got somewhere safe. Safer? "If I can return the favor.." He assumed the others felt similarly, but didn't like speaking for them.
Ming is able to successfully guide the party away from the things that were stumbling along the road, Jiangshi she called them. She leads you covertly from street to street, occasionally ducking into alley ways or into the buildings to avoid more of those Jiangshi stumbling about. Occasionally, you scurry past the form of a slumbering person collapsed on the ground. All of them have bronzed skin, dark hair, and wear threadbare clothing.
After about ten minutes of weaving through cul-de-sacs and neighborhoods of increasingly dilapidated buildings and gardens, Ming leads you to a stone wall with an elaborate arched gateway set into it. A small flight of stairs flanked by stone statues of lions lead up to the gate, and beyond it, you can see what looks like a park area. Surprisingly, the grass and trees are alive and green. They weren't like that before the last time Ming visited. How did the Jiangshi manage to renovate marketplace with living plants? Normally, plants always died around them, but there had been a lot of gardens constructed recently as well. Things have definitely been changing a lot faster around here than normal recently.
Beyond the small park area, you can see that this seems to be some sort of market district. Several empty stalls and tents rest on the opposite side of the small park. As you stand looking at the gate, the last sliver of the sun disappears behind distant mountain peaks. Ming has only a moment to brace herself before the accursed Nightingale Bell rings out in the night air.
All of you suddenly hear the doleful sounds of a gong ringing out over the city, its resonant tones hanging in the air and echoing unnaturally throughout the city. With it, you feel a wave of exhaustion roll over you as the gong vibrates throughout your being. The gong rings out again before the first toll clears the air, and it rings once more for a total of three times, the last toll lingering in the air with a sense of finality. Once it fades, the city goes back to being unnaturally still and quiet.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Kora can't take her eyes off the strange buildings as the girl leads them through alleys and even through a few of the buildings as they weave their way around and eventually to what looks like some kind of entrance... ooh, now that looks nice, she thinks to herself as she gets a glimpse of what is inside.
When the girl introduces herself, she responds, "My name is Kora Ashdane." Noting her agitation, "We'll chat once we get to a place you feel safe."
Once the bell tolls, "What in the gods names was that?"
This place being called a 'Dream Prison', the people sleeping in the streets, the wave of exhaustion that hits them... 1+1+1+= F. "Let me guess, it's probably not good for us to fall asleep here? How do you survive? "That would kill someone in a week. He had a million questions.
Unlike Anthony and Zathon, Akyan doesn't immediately introduce himself. He makes sure everyone keeps up with Ming as she navigates the odd streets and alleys of this strange place. Noting the bodies scattered around the streets; he begins to regret the decision of coming to this realm more and more, despite the fact that there is no guarantee any of the other realms would have been any better.
Once they stop in the small park area near the marketplace, the drow takes another head count. Satisfied, he turns to their guide. It's only after Kora introduces herself that he mutters his own name. "Akyan."
The sound of the bell, followed by a wave of exhaustion makes his skin crawl. Anthony's words don't make that sensation any better. He turns his attention back to Ming, awaiting her response. If Anthony's theory is correct, then that spell some pretty bad news for most of the group. As elves, Akyn and Zathon may not need to worry about falling asleep, but the rest of the party... His jaw tightens.
"Oh...ok," Ming says in response Kora. A place she feels safe? Hmm... well hopefully they can find that.
At the sound of the bell, she braces herself against the stone wall, doing her best not to look weak in front of the strangers. Still, she can't help but put a hand to her head, covering one side of her face as she grimaces and shivers. "The...the Nightingale bell," she says to Kora. Taking a moment before removing her hand from her head, a pained expression washing over her before she lets out a breath in attempt to cover it up. She nods to Anthony, "Try not to." She glances in the direction that the sound of the bell came from, "The bell resets the spell each night. If you must try to sleep do so lightly. I... well there is no guarantee whether or not you'll be trapped by the dream." She rubs her arms self-consciously, unsure of how to best advise these people. After all, she hadn't gotten herself out of the dream, so how is she supposed to help them? "I'm not sure how other people manage, but I would guess that now is probably the worst time to try sleeping. I think that you can escape the dream if you have strength of will and are not completely exhausted... but... I have no experience with it." As she says this, she absentmindedly twists her single white lock of hair around her finger, and then bites her lower lip as she thinks about her own time in the dream. "Sorry I can't be more help there. I just wanted to make sure you all know what you just stepped into."
She glances around, "I... think we are safe here for now. There really isn't anywhere safe in this city, but I don't hear or see any Jiangshi currently so..." She takes a seat on the grass, glad to see that it is actually alive this time. Plus, if the Jiangshi come around again, perhaps it could serve as an early warning if it starts dying... Regardless, she doesn't sheathe her sword, instead setting it on the grass beside her and keeping her hand on the hilt. Her head is still pounding from the sound of the bell, but she's doing her best to hide it. "This is the Gwai-Huit Center. It restocks with food every dawn, so lots of people come to get food... oh, that's something important. Food is hard to come by here so, if you have rations... uh... ration them. And watch your back. Everyone here is starving, so if they think you have food they might just try to take it. I... don't like stealing..." She pulls out the bag of rations she took from the sleeper in the alley, "But often, when people get trapped in the Dream, they don't wake back up. Some people prefer that prison to this one." She still looks a little guilty as she fingers the bag before slipping it back into the pouch on her belt.
She shakes her head, then looks back up at the party, crossing her legs while also keeping an eye out for potential threats in the area, "Nighttime is the most dangerous. The Jiangshi will try to eat anything that moves, but they... well they leave the Sleepers alone for the most part. Sometime's they'll move them around so they can rebuild the area, but they don't hurt them."
"So... why are you here? Did... you come here on accident?"
Aoufie gives Anthony an affectionate pat as if to say your welcomed. Weaving through the strange, dilapidated buildings does not nothing to alleviate the tension he feels at the moment. After arriving at the park, he wonders how far until they get somewhere safe. Then the gong rings out and he feels even more tired than he is currently. He bends down to catch his breath and to will himself to continue onward "We have come here from another land far from here but perhaps close at the same time. We seek refuge at the moment and thank you for your help."