Agnes chuckles, "Ho ho oh! Yes, well, that's not a problem. Don't just a book by its cover you two."

Graeme grins widely as he hears the old woman’s voice in his head. “Ah hope so. Ah nearly bought it a while back and that little bastard was but a boy.”

”... and uhhh, Aye, if he got a an extra pie, I’d be grateful.” 

The group obtains a new member, it would seem. Ismark sets Ireena back in her seat and whips the horses to motion. With the new addition, there's that bit of silence that goes along with new people. For a time, there isn't anything but the sounds and bumps of the carriage wheels underneath.

Setting out down the misty roads westward, it isn't very long until visibility fades to about 20ft. The fog claws away from the wagon as the horses make way, only to swallow up the road behind you. Ahead, jutting from the impenetrable woods on both sides of the road, are high stone buttresses looming gray in the fog.

Huge iron gates, rusted in days gone by, hang imposingly on the stonework. Dew clings with cold tenacity to the ancient bars. Two headless statues of armed guardians flank the gate, their heads broken among the weeds at their feet. Ismark drops the reigns and looks back through the carriage, "Looks like this is a no go?"

“Well, les’ have a look, shall we?” Graeme says stepping towards the gates.

Perception: 21

Graeme steps forward and gets a good look at the gates. While the light is rather stringent, filtered through the mass of ever present mists, the giant gates of blackened metal seem to get less light than the surrounding scenery. Thick charcoal vines, lined with sharp spines, have grown in and around the metal. A strange script vertically lines the trim where the gate doors meet; engraved and lined with a faint metallic bronze.

There doesn't seem a way around the gate as the forest forms a mob-like barricade that chokes the light from the mists. The gates themselves stand at 40 feet in height, melding into the fog's obscurity. Eyes adjusting at the top, you see a cloaked figure sitting on the right buttress up high.

Agnes bends down to one of the heads, “Hello there. May we pass?”

Rumble watches curiously, remaining hidden from the new arrival too the party.

Allen with casual chant Protection from Good and Evil casting it on Ireena. 

The party's new addition steps from the carriage and across the ground to the beheaded stone. The statue's head lays silent in the stringy weeds that smother the once well-designed features. As Agnes speaks to it, it's immemorial eyes stare into nothingness without response. The head itself sits larger than the half-elf; its eyes the size of saucers.

Meanwhile, Allen recites holy words and places protection of his Queen upon Ireena. As he places the spell upon her, her outline shines a bright gold for a moment, transition to black, and fading from sight. Ireena looks Allen straight I'm the eyes and thanks him. "I-I'm not sure what you've done, but I feel as if I'm in a warm embrace. I feel at peace, thank you Allen."

Ismark hops off the wagon, his brown hair wafting in a light breeze and whistles in the gate's direction. "That's quite the structure. Looks like it's been here since the dawn of time."

All the while, Rumble stays concealed, finishing a comfortable position to continue to lie low.

"Hmm. Interesting. Big head indeed." Agnes stands up and takes her staff and taps on the bars of the gates. She then tries to find where the gate would open and tries to push on it with the point of her staff.

investigation: 23

Piercing the serenity of the forrest, “OY!” Graeme exclaims in an almost unreasonably loud tone to the figure on the buttress.

He continues at the same volume... ”Will ya be helpin us ora jus’ sittin’ up there like a’ great numpty??” Graeme continues under his breath, but clearly audible to those around him. “... ya daft bastard.”

Agnes approaches the gate and taps around with her staff. The taps hit the gate, making a solid knock here and there. Walking and tapping periodically, the makes her way towards the middle of the large doors and presses with the staff's tip. As she touches the center, the bronze symbols light a faint, yet dark, violet. Withdrawing the staff causes the script's radiating purple light to fade back to a lifeless bronze. Looking at the chevron and hash marks that make up the font, it isn't a from of languages you know.

Just as the engraved characters return to their dormant state, Graeme calls out into the mist above. Graeme, you see the figure slowly stand and take a step right off from the great height. As the figure plummets, he becomes visible to the rest of the party. About 20ft up, he retrieves a white feather and speaks a few words, then falling at a much slower rate. Touching down gently, his travel cloak flaps in a wind. The man wears finely crafted leather boots and gloves, a billowing cloak of brown and red, and a fine face that speaks noble upbringing. 

The man bows deeply, "Help you? I was here hoping that you might be able to help me open these here gates." The man eyes those of the group he can see and shoots each looks of interest. He eyes Ireena for a bit longer, clearly attracted to the beautiful woman on the carriage.

Rumble peeks at this man from hiding.

'this... man just.. flew. Fell graciously from a great height. This... Interests me...' he thinks to himself.

Rumble is gonna try to use the mist as cover and slowly make his way to the fringe of the forest, staying hidden from sight and he would like to attempt to position himself on a flank.

Stealth is needed: 18

2nd stealth roll if I get ADV from the fog: 19

Edit: wow hahahaha let's hope I get that ADV roll and not -fall- out of the cart hahaha

"Excuse me, who are you? You can't just come down from the sky and expect us to be normal. And if you were up there why didn't you just float over the top to the other side? Don't decent from the mists all nonchalantly like that. You could scare a woman half to death!" 

Agnes started off a little annoyed with this showman at first but then became more agitated as she spoke.

Graeme looks at the man for a minute before responding.

”Well, tha’ figures. Looks like wee gran here might be on to something. Ya got a name, lad?”

The man brushes down his finely tailored clothes, straightens his collar, and runs a hand though his brown hair. He clears his throat and calmly states, "My apologies. I certainly didn't mean to frighten you; especially two lovely ladies such as yourselves. It's just a bit of magic, which I suppose can be frightening to some, but I can assure you I mean no harm. However, I gleaned from the looks of you that you aren't quite so cut and dry. I humbly beg your forgiveness. Vasili von Holtz, at your service."

"Now, about this gate predicament. I would image that only this kind woman here," he open palm gestures Ireena's way, "can open these doors. Needs the blood of a pure virgin, it does. Not a lot, I should think. Now, don't give me that look; it's what's written on the door there in bronze." He turns and motions see the inlaid runes.

As Vasili talks, he maintains a status of grandeur. Smiling sheepishly with a shrug, he continues, "Legend has it that a black dragon once placed an enchantment on this gateway. Only those pure of heart can open it. A means to ward away would-be treasure seekers, I believe. These doors have been closed for quite some time, as you can see. Most don't travel these parts much. But I would say the fine maiden here would do just the trick. What do you say?"

Ireena looks uncertain, glancing between Ismark and the rest. She moves closer to Ismark wordlessly, clinging to his arm. 

Rumble, since everyone is looking and investigating the gates, I'll give it to you. Rumble silently gets out from beneath the carriage's piled up contents and silently makes his way out and around the group as he conceals himself within the mists. The mists cling to your fur, causing a quick shiver to run down your spine

Agnes chuckles at the bit about magic. And gives Graeme a 'get a load of this guy' look.

"You're going to have to hold your horses there mister." Agnes now accustom to ritually giving blood pulls the ceremonial dagger that was given to her, "I've never lied with a man." she proceeds to reopen her wound and presses her hand against the gate.

ooc: To confirm, Agnes is pure of heart?

Lol