[RPG] Sword and Sorcery Play-by-Post

[CJC]

Sitting in a tavern--the Filthy Rabbit--whose primary theme is skimpily-dressed waitresses wearing bunny-ear headbands--you patiently await your DRINK and your ORDER as you review the victories of your last score. Maybe you're counting your money. Maybe you're looking over that mysterious trinket you found. I don't know, I'm not omniscient.
In the center of the tavern a man is sitting at a large table with a pitcher and a tremendous PILE OF GOLD. A crowd appears to be gathering around him as he has been steadily buying rounds for all the patrons.
Alternatively, at the bar you notice the bartender is preparing a STRANGE BEVERAGE in the hollowed-out shell of an avocado.
Who are you, what brought you here, and most important of all what will you do?

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Goals:
In an effort to keep my creative writing skills sharp, scratch my itch to run a role-playing game, and generate activity for AGN, I am starting a play-by-post free-form RPG with semiweekly updates (when possible).
As the thread title suggests this particular RPG will be fantasy themed.


Mechanics:
In short, there are none. The goal of the game is to tell a collective story and have fun. On each Tuesday and Friday, I'll post a scenario for you to react to and you'll post a response--in first person--explaining how your character reacts and what actions and reactions he or she takes and makes. When the next update rolls around, I'll post the results and a new scenario. Repeat ad infinitum.

Each update will be segmented into sections, with each section pertaining to one player. The player in question will be tagged by the forum, and the first paragraph of such a section will start with the name of that player's character. You will not be required to read the paragraphs of other players (Or even their replies to the thread). I will distill any important cross-character interaction into your next scenario. If you are joining late, links to each update can be found in the second post of this thread so that you can easily jump past the responses to the new scenario. They'll be listed in reverse chronological order and they will be numbered, dated, and collected by setting.
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Rule Clarifications:

General: Improvisation is a Staple
You are free and ENCOURAGED to ad-lib. If a fact hasn't been established, it's fair game. If you make too wild an assumption, I will gently reel you back into the narrative. Also, if there is a non-player character and I have not stated they are LOCKED, then they are fair game; you may make them do and say what you please. Other player characters are always LOCKED, you cannot control another player's character.

General: Summarized Conversations
When conducting conversation with an NPC or another player, do not feel that you have to write out the literal dialogue. Posting the gist of your conversational goals is sufficient.

General: The means through which new rules are dispensed
I'll introduce more rules as they become necessary. When rules are introduced, they'll appear at the top of the update. The game is free-form, though, so just have fun with it. For the most part, if you want to do something your character can do it. One warning, though; if you go Marty Stu expect consequences. Also, try not to get too vulgar, there are kids on the forum (This is not the Veldt). Also, if there's a lot of interest I may split the game (and thread) into two (or more) instances.

General: RPG Communication Mediums
This is strictly a forum game. There will be no IRC or Skype component to this endeavor.
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Locked Characters
Here is a list of the currently locked characters and the players who have access to them:



Players
Sancireph = TheDarkOne [Pronouns: Ravager, Aasimar]

Mangetsu Zataka = mrz84 [Pronouns: Paladin]

Malichor = Xyvol [Pronouns: Mage, Paper Wizard]

Reven = SUCCESSOR [Pronouns: Ranger, Stranger]

Jerias = bigjoe [Pronouns: Dragoon, Lizardman]

Rossaria = Tamamo [Pronouns: Huntress]

Gnomish Math Wizard = ctrl-alt-delete

Gringham = CJC [Pronouns: Knight]

Granberia = Tamamo [Pronouns: Cursed Swordsman]

Goldleaf = TheDarkOne [Pronouns: Blue Mage]

Alisia = Tamamo [Pronouns: Valkyrie]


NPCs
Telivar = CJC [Pronouns: Hedge Wizard]

Toma the Younger = CJC & Current Game Master

Toma the Elder = CJC & Current Game Master

Lady Red = Tamamo & Current Game Master [Pronouns: Vampire]

Navine = Tamamo & Current Game Master [Pronouns: Barmaid, Witch]

Lilith = Tamamo & Current Game Master [Pronouns: Succubus]

Katrien = mrz84 & Current Game Master [Pronouns: Captain]

Wallace = Tamamo [Pronouns: Ship's Cook]


Dragons
Texia = SUCCESSOR & Current Game Master [Pronouns: Venom Dragon]

Atticas = bigjoe & Current Game Master [Pronouns: Green Dragon]

Bankraz = SUCCESSOR & Current Game Master [Pronouns: Azure Dragon]

Cecette = CJC & Current Game Master [Pronouns: Jade Dragon]

D'Arsonius = CJC & Tamamo & Current Game Master [Pronouns: Crimson Dragon]

Erasmut = CJC & Current Game Master [Pronouns: Silver Dragon]

Any remaining characters not listed (like the crossbow burglar) are free game for anybody to post, manipulate, and act on as they please.
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[CJC]

Graveblossom Grotto
5: Scenario 10-31-15 (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=909180&viewfull=1#post909180) End of First Chronicle

4: Scenario 10-23-15 (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=909032&viewfull=1#post909032) Dragons: Dimensional Travel, Anatomy, and the Dragons so Far

3: Scenario 10-16-15 (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=908917&viewfull=1#post908917) Mages: Executing Magic by School

2: Scenario 10-9-15 (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=908774&viewfull=1#post908774) Action: Game Pace

1: Scenario 10-4-15 (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=908673&viewfull=1#post908673)

Epitaph for Cecette
-=SPOILER=-

Viridian Stones of Audamar
-=SPOILER=-

Ogre Cardinality
-=SPOILER=-

First Snow
-=SPOILER=-[/spoiler]

A Night with Telivar
-=SPOILER=-

Sailing the Sea of Gold
-=SPOILER=-

House of Telivar
-=SPOILER=-

The Mansion Grounds
-=SPOILER=-

The Filthy Rabbit Tavern
-=SPOILER=-[/spoiler]

[mrz84]

Before I start, I have a question or 2.

1- Can we have/control more than 1 character?
2- Are the only limits the ones you set and that of our imagination?
3- ???
4- Profit!

[CJC]

1.) You may only have one character; that's for my sanity more than yours. Perhaps down the line I'll consider lifting that restriction, but for now one character per player.
2.) Yes, the only limits are your imagination and the little nudges I provide now and then.
3.) The color twelve.
4.) Yes!

[TheDarkOne]

My character is Sancireph, a NG half-elven fighter. I will grab my pack and other belongings from the table, walk to the bar, and attempt to engage the bartender in conversation by asking about the beverage he is preparing.

[CJC]

Well, it's Friday (several weeks later) and we finally have a player!

For people jumping in after this point, just do your best to insert yourself into the situation. In the tavern this should be relatively easy, but if you need help let me know.


TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you collect your belongs so that they will not be snatched by the debaucherous patrons when left unattended and you approach the bar. The tender is STARTLED by this; with the servers taking orders he doesn't usually interact with the tavern's patrons. You ask him about the BEVERAGE and he explains that it's a medicinal brew he prepares for himself each night. When you inquire further, he elaborates that quite a few adventurers visit the tavern and a great deal of them are in possession of various DANGEROUS MAGICAL TALENT. He prepares this concoction with a SPECIAL INGREDIENT he purchases from the MAN WHO LIVES ON THE HILL outside town so that he can protect himself from their various sorcerous inclinations. He offers to SELL YOU ONE if you're interested, but warns that it will also PREVENT YOU FROM USING MAGIC, if you're one of those wizard types.
Considering you're a swords and axes sort of guy, will you take him up on the offer?

[TheDarkOne]

"I might be interested, but what is the cost? And I would know more about this 'man on the hill' you speak of. Who is he?"

[mrz84]

I'm gonna throw in my hat (after some much though on what sorta character to play as)

Name: Mangetsu Zataka
Class: Paladin
Weapon: Great Sword
Armor: Heavy Plate Armor
Misc Gear: Milani's Pendant (given to him by his wife; offers protection from water/ice based attacks, weapons and spells. Can also only be manipulated by the original owner)
Magic: Healing and Buff spells (Holy Type) with a few attack spells (again, Holy Type)
Appearance: http://authornumber2.deviantart.com/art/Mangetsu-Zataka-Battle-Stance-322771085

I'll await confirmation before posting further. Otherwise, I'm sitting near the end of the bar listening in on any information of a certain person's whereabouts. Though the conversation the bartender is having has some interest on the man on the hill as well as anyone with dangerous magical talent.

[TheDarkOne]

I should include some further info on Sancireph.
Class: Fighter
Race Half-elven aasimar.
Alignment: Neutral Good
Weapons: Katana (main hand) and wakizashi (secondary hand)
Armor: Elven chain
Hair: White Blonde'
Eyes: Gold (due to assimar heritage)

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, the bartender explains that he might be able to dilute his own dose to spare enough of the ingredient for you, or possibly go a day without, but it's going to cost around 50 gold (That price is OUTRAGEOUS). Then, he smiles and looks at the guy with the piles of loot at the center of the tavern.
"Tell you what, I'll put it on HIS tab. He's buying rounds anyway."
He prepares a mix of the brew and places it in front of you. It's bubbling and it smells rather bitter.
You ask again about the MAN ON THE HILL, but the bartender does not reply. It seems he does not wish to discuss the matter further.
Do you take the drink?

mrz84
Zataka, you've been following rumors of this particular individual for days with nothing giving way to a solid lead, and you're exhausted. You decide to just sit back and try to enjoy the ambiance of this filthy place before you continue your journey in the morning. Still, as you were eavesdropping on the guy talking with the BARTENDER, you grow curious about this MAN ON THE HILL. It's not really related to your current search, but since you're pulling weeds anyway you figure you might as well ask around. You could speak with the BARTENDER directly, talk to the PATRONS and find out if the guy's a local figurehead, or speak with the SERVERS making their way around the establishment. What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I will take a small sip of the drink to see how it tastes. In the meantime, I take a look around the tavern to see if there is anyone or anything odd or of interest.

[mrz84]

With my personal search at a dead end for the time being, I decide to ask the patrons and servers alike about the man on the hill that I've begun to hear about.

[Xyvol]

(This looks like fun, I think I'll join in.)

Malichor enters the tavern. I am dressed in a long black cloak with the hood pulled up, a pale face and black hair just visible underneath. My ultimate goal is the search for greater magic power, but I most likely entered the tavern 'cause I like bunnies. Noticing the crowd gathered in the middle of the room, I take a seat away from the commotion and try to grab the attention of a server to order.

[TheDarkOne]

Sancireph notices Malichor, but watches him only out of the corner of his eye, ostensibly watching the man with the piles of gold in the center of the room.

[CJC]

===========================
Setting Elaboration

Mages: The 13 Schools of Magic
Psionic
Darkspace
Hedge
Prayer
Scry
Dance
Phantom
Gourmet
Paper
Math
Toon
Lycaon
and Dragon

Most wizards specialize in one form of magic and dabble in a few other schools. There is also great debate about whether Dragon magic is actually a unique mysticism or just regular magic contaminated by "dragon radiation".
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Rule Clarifications

Mages: Tapping Arcane Power
If your character has wizardly abilities, try to describe them in thorough detail the first few times you utilize them. I will use these details to determine where the character's talents fall in the thirteen schools of magic, which I can then use to add structure to your powers later in the game. Remember, you are free to do whatever you please in this game; I will work out which school fits best. In other words, cast spells to determine your school, don't make assumptions about a school to cast spells.

General: In-Character Actions
When acting for your character, try to post in the first person. When asking questions about the game, try to separate the questions from your character actions with paragraph breaks or, more preferably, by putting the questions in parentheses at the top or bottom of your post.
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TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you sip the avocado beverage and note that it is rather like DRINKING FIRE. You find it difficult to imagine how that bartender manages to down these things every night. The drink is tremendously bitter, almost to the point of making you gag, but it leaves a lingering minty aftertaste thata is rather pleasant. You also feel it numbing your inhibitions... the SECRET INGREDIENT must be concentrating the alcohol in the beverage... either that or he threw in various liquors to try and conceal the taste. Maybe the herb is so bitter it can't be taken raw?
You notice a dark-clothed WIZARD enter the tavern, take a corner, and flag down a server. But it is an adventurer's tavern, so this isn't particularly suspicious. There's also a heavily armored... SOLDIER? making the rounds and asking patrons about the MAN ON THE HILL. But the one that's got your attention is the patron with the PILES OF GOLD at the center of the bar. Where did he find all of that money?

mrz84
Zataka, you gather a lot of CONTRADICTORY information about the MAN ON THE HILL. Some of the patrons, mostly travelers, know very little about the hill lord. Some of the adventurers have heard rumors about an eccentric and powerful magician in this region, and jumped to the conclusion that the lord on the hill was he. As for the townsfolk, their stories too are divided. Several claimed that the mansion belongs to their MAYOR, while others have no memory of the building being there at all. In fact, when they went to the tavern windows to look they were startled to see it. Something sinister is at work here.
The only patron you didn't discuss the matter with was the MAN WITH THE GOLD at the center of the bar, as his gregarious generosity is making him difficult to approach.

Xyvol
Malichor, you are finding it difficult to get the attention of the SERVERS, mainly because most of them are scrambling to take the orders of the patrons swarming the CENTER TABLE. You finally manage to flag someone down, but instead of taking your order the server hands you a tall, FIZZING BEVERAGE and a platter of CHICKEN WINGS. Do you correct the mistake?
You are also rather frustrated by the poor service in this place, so you decide to draw some RUNES on your table with your index finger. What do you write? Is it gibberish? Are the runes infused with magic?
The place is crawling with adventurers, almost to the point of being a CLICHE. Of note, there's a WARRIOR in chainmail nursing a BIZARRE DRINK at the bar, and a heavily armored SOLDIER questioning the patrons of the bar (though he hasn't gotten around to you yet). What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I leave the drink, as it is too bitter to finish, and, taking my pack, make my way towards the man with the piles of gold. ((Can you give me a more accurate description of him, like race, age, clothing, demeanor, things of that nature?))

[mrz84]

Amending my character, he uses Prayer(since its the closest to Holy magic I guess)

With the locals and patrons providing few details and even more questions, I decide to make my way to the man with the gold and inquire if he knows anything of the man on the hill as politely as possible, wishing to avoid any unnecessary conflict if I can help it.

[CJC]

Amending my character, he uses Prayer(since its the closest to Holy magic I guess)

Don't be quick to jump to conclusions about how magic works. Like I said, define your power first and then I will define where that power comes from.

I was intentionally vague about how each school of magic works for this very reason.


I'll use Healing magic as an example, explaining methods of healing for some of the schools that take to it more readily.

Prayer Magic is the magic of firm conviction. Believing in something bestows power upon it. In a sense, prayer magic allows the wizard to make assumptions about the world and force them to be true. For healing, a prayer magician believes that the power within can be transferred to the suffering individual, placing hands and speaking phrases that invoke the belief and cause it to become real.

Math Magic is the magic of probability manipulation. Any event may be purged from the record, forcing reality to jump to the next-most-likely event. For an injury, the math magician eradicates the event of the severe wound, shifting it to be just a scratch or--in cases of extreme mystical power--making it no injury at all.

Hedge Magic is the magic of plants. A hedge wizard might grow healing herbs, mash them into a paste, and apply it to a wound. Alternatively, the hedge wizard might grow a fungus that is specifically designed to fill in the gaping wounds of the injured person.

Gourmand Magic is the magic of cuisine. A gourmage can heal injury by infusing a meal with energy and feeding it to the afflicted, triggering a regenerative effect in the body.


That's not to say that the other schools cannot cast healing magic; it is quite the contrary. Think of schools as flavors applied to an effect; the effect is unchanged but the flavor changes the narrative impact of the effect.

So you can stick to prayer magic if you like, but don't feel constrained by it. Your character has healing magic. Perhaps the healing is a combination of all of these things; an amalgam of various powers. Perhaps the source of such power will change over time. Try to let my setting information inspire you, rather than constrict you.

[mrz84]

The closest thing I can use as a comparison to describe the abilities would be to compare them to a D&D Paladin since my character is a Paladin and uses holy/light magic. I assumed the closest thing to it would be Prayer, so if I was wrong, I apologize. The magic he know is pretty limited to 1-2 healing spells and a few defensive buffs (increasing defense, magic resistance, and attack power for a limited time for example) while his other abilities would be strictly sword techniques for offensive attacks (they are mostly neutral in element, though some could have elemental properties. ie: a fiery sword slash vs a plant type monster) I don't have them all worked out yet as I didn't expect to have to use them yet, so again, I apologize. I'll go over what I have in mind for him when I get home from work tonight and post anything I need to, or we can even go over it via pm before I post anything here.

[CJC]

No need to apologize. This setting's power sources are not as rigid as those used within the D&D collections, so I just wanted to emphasize that you need not fret how you use magic.
From what you describe... yeah, your paladin's primary source of power would likely be Prayer magic. Laying on hands with conviction on an injured victim and healing wounds is an infusion of prayer energy. Likewise, a chant that improves the performance of others would be infusing conviction into them, thereby improving them with your own belief. Again, that would be Prayer magic.
Also, don't worry about having your character completely defined. You are free to add things as you go, including the discovery of new powers. Since there hasn't been any peril yet (and I haven't defined what exactly combat entails), don't worry about these things until they arise, okay?

I don't mind discussing in the thread, since others might have similar questions. Since I'm linking to scenario updates in the second post, it shouldn't hurt the flow of the game.

[mrz84]

Thank you for the clarification. I'm just the type who likes to plan his characters' abilities out ahead of time as much as possible within their background (Mangetsu for instance is the father of a character from the Bar-Buddies webcomic I used to post here years ago). Anyway, I'm done character ranting now and ready to get back to the game. :kitty:

[TheDarkOne]

My Sancireph character outside of this thread has a sort of "sixth sense" due to his aasimar heritage. It gives him the heightened ability to detect traps, secret doors, and can often tell if a person is lying, but not always. Will you allow that here?

[CJC]

My Sancireph character outside of this thread has a sort of "sixth sense" due to his aasimar heritage. It gives him the heightened ability to detect traps, secret doors, and can often tell if a person is lying, but not always. Will you allow that here?

Yep, sounds like he's subconsciously channeling Scry magic. Perhaps it is a talent he shares with his people, or perhaps it is a personal benefit that will grow with time. We'll have to wait and see.

(Yeah, this is great stuff! Keep it coming)

[Xyvol]

I sniff the fizzy drink to try to determine what it is before I attempt to drink it. The runes I draw are simply a short, colorful review of my experience with the wait staff, though in a language/script only know to other magic users. I will watch the center table to see what is going on over there.

[CJC]

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Rule Clarifications

Combat: Offense
If you choose to engage in combat, know that the effectiveness of your performance is directly proportional to the creativity of your action. Simply attacking an enemy will get you very little. Use the scenery, use your special techniques, describe the way you attack, and take advantage of the scenery. Remember--if a detail has not been declared, then it is fair game. For instance, I never stated whether or not there is a moosehead on the wall of this tavern. If you wish to take down a moosehead and then slam it over an opponent's head, rendering him blind while he stumbles around looking ridiculous, go for it!

Also, in combat certain opponents will be locked while others will be free. Just like with conversations, you are free to describe how your attack has impact on a free opponent, but not on a locked opponent. For the purposes of this first brawl, every brawler is free and thus fair game.



General: Free and Locked Characters
Just a reminder, when you encounter a character that you as a player are not allowed to control, I will inform you at the end of the post that the character is LOCKED. If I do NOT tell you a character is locked, you may have them say and do whatever you please in the course of anteing your actions.

Once I've told you a character is locked, that character remains locked until I inform you otherwise. If you attempt to control a locked character, I will inform you in the next post that the character is locked and I will respond as if you did not control the character.

Characters that belong to other players are always locked.

Every patron in the bar, including the MAN WITH THE GOLD and the BARTENDER, is a free character. The MAN ON THE HILL is a locked character, however, meaning that when you have a free character talk about him, you will need to use phrases like "He tells you about the MAN ON THE HILL" so that I can fill in the specifics in the next scenario post.

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TheDarkOne
Sancireph, the man is a human, likely in his thirties, dressed in attire that is inappropriate for the wealth he is flaunting. Clearly it was a recent acquisition, and from your gut you feel that he made this fortune through LESS THAN LEGAL avenues, and he seems quite pleased with himself for having done so. You push your way through the crowd to confront him, but he seems distracted by the scores of people trying to garner favor with him in exchange for a piece of the prize. You ponder about how you will manage to GET HIS ATTENTION, but as you plan the heavily armored SOLDIER you were watching earlier walks up, takes out his giant sword, and knocks the piles of gold to the floor. The other patrons scramble to claim these scattered coins; what do you do?

mrz84
Zataka, you try to catch the attention of the MAN WITH THE GOLD as politely as possible, but he is absolutely distracted by the scores of patrons trying to get a piece of his prize. Frustrated, you take out your greatsword and use it to knock a massive portion of the PILE OF COINS onto the floor. They scatter, clanging bit by bit like hailstones as they strike the hard ground. For a moment there is silence, and then the crowd breaks into a roar as they scramble to gather the scattered wealth. The man with the gold gives you a sour look, but you do not allow him to speak.
You demand to know what he knows about the man on the hill. He seems flustered by the question.
"Ho... how do you know about that?"
He is scrambling now, scrapping what's left of the gold into his satchel. What do you do?

Xyvol
Malichor, you sniff the drink and find it smells quite sweet. Taking a sip, you notice that the beverage is carbonated. You've heard of this... certain establishments have started serving this SODA stuff to their younger patrons--sugar water with artificially infused bubbles--though you wonder why a tavern would bother serving such things as they are non-alcoholic.
Looking past the bad review you inscribed onto the table, you watch as a heavily armored SOLDIER takes out his weapon and knocks the piles of gold to the floor. The chaos that follows is almost inviting; patrons crawling on the floor and clawing at each other trying to snatch a handful of toppled wealth. You can tell they are just seconds away from grabbing weapons and launching fireballs at each other. It's been a while since you had a GOOD BRAWL... what do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I grab the arm of the man with the gold and pull him firmly away from the table and out of the reach of the soldier's greatsword. He reaches for his satchel and the remainder of his gold but I tell him to leave it or he'll be crushed by the chaotic mob. I take him towards the door and push him out ahead of me, then follow to get away from the chaos. Once we are outside, I glance over my shoulder to see if anyone has followed. The man looks at the door as if he wants to go back in but as I am between him and the door, he instead calls me an obscene name and storms away. ((Can it be taken as read that I have my pack with me from now on unless circumstances prevent it?))

[mrz84]

I try to regain my composure from my outburst, not having been so frustrated like that in years. With diplomatics failed and a mob of people between the man and myself, I sheath my weapon and try to go out the closest window to pursue the man. I look around my surroundings once outside in an attempt to locate and pursue the man for whatever knowledge he can provide, even if I must bribe him to do so with what little coin I possess. For the time being, I'll avoid trying to anger the elf and explain my reasons if possible.

[Xyvol]

Regarding the soda, I just think "Meh... bunnies." I will prepare a spell to fling chicken wings like projectiles at any looter/brawler that gets too close for comfort. The soldier and the man with the gold are my main focus now, and I am interested in finding out what is going on between them. Should they be split up, I'll follow the soldier to ask what prompted the outburst.

[CJC]

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Rule Clarifications

Combat: Defense
While engaging in combat, you will inevitably be subjected to hazardous situations, such as the very deadly prospect of being thrown through a window. You will ALWAYS have time to react, however. When the narrative indicates you are in peril, the means through which you describe the mitigation of that peril will help you reduce the injury you suffer.
For instance, if the MAN WITH GOLD had been a player character, he might have shielded his body with his arms to restrict the injury to his limbs, or he might have thrown his weapon at the window while he was airborn to break the glass before he arrived, effectively nullifying the injury.
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TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you yank the MAN WITH GOLD away from the SOLDIER and toss him out the window. Odd... you meant to calmly walk him out of the door, but instead you flung him through the window. Your PULSE RATE is accelerating and something feels... wrong. You hurry out of the tavern after the man, finding him on the ground dusting the shards of glass from his clothes. A few particularly large shards are lodged in his body; he begins to shout PANICKED OBSCENITIES as he tries to crawl away. The soldier that threatened him emerges from the tavern.
You felt yourself CALM as soon as you departed the tavern, and you sense that this soldier too was being pushed to aggression by some unseen force. Still, he did attack the man. A MAGE joins you outside the tavern and looks down upon the injured man. What do you do?

mrz84
Zataka, you feel a THROBBING RAGE building in your head. Your arms are shaking and you find it PHYSICALLY DIFFICULT to sheathe your weapon. Still, you grit your teeth and put the sword away, following the MAN WITH GOLD out of the tavern. As soon as you pass through the threshold of the window you feel the anger depart you. What manner of SORCERY is this? The man is on the ground, suffering from lacerations and embedded shards of glass as he writhes on the ground. The HALF-ELF threw him through a window, after all. He is standing beside the man, collecting himself. Additionally, a MAGE approaches from behind you. What do you do?

Xyvol
Malichor, you push the soda away, as it wasn't the flavor you were seeking. Strangely, you find yourself with a flavor for BLOODLUST... some intense force is driving you to violence. Closing your eyes, you focus your mystical senses and detect a pattern of PSIONIC MAGIC radiating off the piles of gold that are scattered along the floor; it would seem there was an embedded spell of RAGE that was set to trigger a riot as soon as the pile of gold was disturbed by aggression. There is also a secondary effect on the coins themselves... a PHANTOM SPELL summoning spirits of greed and anger in the vicinity of the gold. The two together tell you a great deal; clearly the gold was booby-trapped by someone--possibly even the man at the center table. You decide to follow the SOLDIER outside, where you find the MAN WHO FORMERLY HAD GOLD seriously injured on the ground. He seems to have been maimed when that HALF-ELF standing next to him threw him out of the window. What do you do?.

[TheDarkOne]

I kneel beside the injured man. Being assimar (let me know if you need more info on what that is), I have the ability to heal minor injuries, similar to the Lay On Hands ability of a paladin, but unlike a paladin, I can never use it more than once per day, even if I go up in level. I try to pull some of the larger shards of glass from his body, checking for any serious injuries while I do so. Once most of the glass shards are removed, I use the healing ability to close as many of the wounds as possible. Afterwards, I look up at the solider and mage that have emerged from the tavern, and get to my feet as I size up the situation.

[mrz84]

I attempt to explain that I merely wished to speak with the Man with Gold (I shall henceforth refer to him as Gold Man) about where he acquired such a large quantity of gold. I offer my apologies for my outburst and offer to surrender my weapon as a sign of my good intentions to the half-elf. However, I notice that the mob in the tavern is growing louder and sounds of conflict can be heard from inside. I inquire to the mage if he knows any mass sleeping spells to halt the fighting without further bloodshed.

[Xyvol]

I approach the group and say "Everyone calm down! That gold was enchanted to instill rage in anyone nearby." Once the half-elf finishes healing him, I ask the man "Where did you get that gold? Were you the one who enchanted it?" In response to the soldier's question, I say "There is something I can try, but I'm not sure that it will affect everyone." I direct a spell of cleansing at the tavern, attempting to clear away the negative emotions and clam the patrons.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you carefully remove the shards of glass and use the MAGIC OF YOUR PEOPLE to staunch the bleeding, but it is clear the injuries are quite severe: he appears to be bleeding internally. The SOLDIER offers you his sword in apology for the situation and proceeds to kneel down next to the man, hovering his hands over the wounds. A beacon of light spans the gap between them and before your very eyes the injured man recovers. It seems your combined efforts have repaired all of the damage from the glass. The soldier asks the MAGE if anything can be done to calm the bar, and the mage explains that there was a wicked hex on the gold that triggered this whole mess.
Both the soldier and mage appear to be more calm than when they were in the bar, and they are making dedicated efforts to help the situation. Do you trust them enough to share what you know, about the BARTENDER AND THAT BEVERAGE and its relation to the MAN ON THE HILL?

mrz84
Zataka, the HALF-ELF ADVENTURER takes your sword temporarily as a sign of good faith, and you proceed to assist in the recovery of the man with the gold. Once he is healed, you turn your attention to the bar and, seeing the brawl escalate, you ask the MAGE if there is any way to disable the crowd to prevent further catastrophe. The mage explains that he sensed some manner of wicked hex applied to the gold, which appears to be the source of the riot. He proceeds to trace out runes on the doorway with his finger, perhaps to cancel the bad magic.
The adventurer and the mage both appear to be doing their best to prevent further escalation of the situation. Do you trust them enough to share what you learned from the patrons, about the INCONSISTENT STORIES of the MAN ON THE HILL?

Xyvol
Malichor, you attempt to mediate the impending argument between the HALF-ELF ADVENTURER and the HEAVILY ARMORED SOLDIER, but your suspicions about the magic's effect are soon confirmed: it seems proximity is the worst factor and once removed from the gold the effects dissipate quickly. The two work quickly to mend the lacerated MAN WHO FORMERLY HAD GOLD, and you demand to know where he got the gold. He does not reply; you suspect you will need to apply some manner of COERCION to get the answers you seek. But the soldier has asked if you can deal with the bar brawl, so you approach the tavern door and, using your finger, you scribe ERASE in magic runes on the door, hoping to counteract at least the PSIONIC spell with your application of PAPER MAGIC. Something's wrong, though. Your spell should have been able to handle a psionic enchantment like this, but it doesn't seem to be having any effect on the brawl. You take out a piece of paper, scribe the same ERASER RUNE upon it, fold it into a plane and launch it at the pile of gold. While more effective than the first attempt, something seems to be severely interfering with your attempts to counter this spell. Squinting, you notice that the spell has actually bonded with some AIRBORNE POLLEN that is emitting from the pile of gold. Could this be the cause of the interference?
The adventurer and the soldier seem to be calm enough. Do you risk ENTERING the contaminated area again to lead other patrons away from the poisonous magic?

[mrz84]

While hesitant at first, I decide to divulge what I've learned from the patrons about the Man on the Hill, whom I express my belief may or may not have a connection with the current problem. I turn to the Gold Man and attempt to inquire about anything he knows about the Man on the Hill, going as far to offer my entire coin purse in exchange for any and all information he knows leaving out no details.

[TheDarkOne]

I tell the soldier that I attempted to question the bartender about the man on the hill, but got no response. The bartender simply walked away when I asked the question. I do not mention the bitter drink, but I do tell him that the bartender mentioned getting herbs from him. I then ask him and the mage what they know about the man on the hill.

[Xyvol]

Rather than go into the tavern and risk casting a deadly spell in anger, I attempt to lure them outside instead. I take out a new piece of paper, scribe an illusion spell on it, and crumple it up in my hand. I wave it in front of me and shout through the door, "Hey! They're giving away gems now! Everyone come outside!"

[CJC]

mrz84
Zataka, you explain to the two other adventurers that the villager COULD NOT MAKE UP THEIR MINDS about the man on the hill. Some of them recognized him as a powerful HEDGE WIZARD. Others claimed he was the mayor. Still more were confused by the question and said that there was NO MANSION on the hill at all. The half-elf ADVENTURER tells you that the BARTENDER appears to have been in some sort of contractual employ of the mansion's owner, feeding details about TRAVELERS passing through the area. The MAGE is distracted dealing with the bar brawl.

You ask the GOLD MAN what his connection to the MAN ON THE HILL is, going so far as to bribe him with your coins. He takes the money and divulges what he knows:
Apparently, he raided the MANSION ON THE HILL and that's where he acquired the riches he was flaunting at the bar. He used an OUBLIETTE in disrepair on the mansion grounds to gain entry, so he avoided direct contact with the owner. From what he saw within, he is certain that the mansion's owner is a WIZARD, one of the highest caliber. He refused to go into more specifics, claiming he needed to maintain some trade secrets so that he might recoup his losses from tonight. He refunds you a portion of your coins for withholding this information... after a bit of coercion of course.

It looks like if you want to get to the bottom of this mystery, you'll have to GO TO THE SOURCE.

================================

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, the SOLDIER tells you that he couldn't get a straight answer about the MAN ON THE HILL. Some of the patrons called him the MAYOR, while others recognized him as some kind of WIZARD and still more had never heard of him or the mansion. You explain that the bartender seems to be in business with the man on the hill, being a frequent consumer of some MAGIC HERB. When you ask what else the SOLDIER and the MAGE knows, the soldier explains that all he learned was the inconsistent stories. The MAGE is too distracted taking care of the bar brawl to participate in the conversation.

The soldier pays the GOLD MAN to find out what he knows about the MAN ON THE HILL, and he explains that he ROBBED THE MANSION to acquire the riches, and the property was plagued with MAGICAL TRAPS. You sense that he is telling the truth.

If you want to know more, you're going to have to ASK THE MAN ON THE HILL yourself.

================================

Xyvol
Malichor, with the inscription you crumple the paper as you curl your fingers into a fist, and when you open your hand again you are holding a DIAMOND... or at least something that looks sufficiently like a diamond from a distance. You show this to the patrons and they are instantly compelled by the greed that has taken hold of them, charging out of the tavern en masse. Once they are a safe distance from the toxic magic, you explain the situation and tell them it is not safe to return to the tavern. Congratulations, you have successfully ceased the RIOT.

But... looking back into the door, you see the BARTENDER carefully collecting each scattered coin. You try to SCRY magical influences on him, but the gold is generating too much interference. What is going on here!?

You overhear the two other adventurers speaking with the man who had the gold in the first place, and you hear mention of a powerful HEDGE WIZARD. It looks like you'll need to find this wizard to find the answers you seek.

[TheDarkOne]

I turn to the solider and say that I am going to go find this man on the hill to get some answers, and that if he wishes to join me, his company would be welcome. I then ask the mage what he plans to do know that he has ceased the riot.

[mrz84]

I offer my blade and services to the cause, always willing to help those in need. After all, the powerful wizard may know something of my own personal quest, though I am in doubt.

As for gaining entry to the mansion, the entrance the Man with Gold used would be the safest possible way in, though we should still use caution as the wizard may have set up traps there after the previous theft. I advice that we get anything we may need before heading to the mansion.

[Xyvol]

The mention of hedge wizard catches my attention. I enter the conversation saying that a hedge wizard is the most likely culprit, given the pollen emanating from the gold. "The bartender may be in on it, or even the wizard himself. He was suspiciously unaffected by the spell on the gold." (I do not know of the man on the hill, or the strange drink) I pull my hood back and introduce myself as Malichor the sorcerer.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you invite the soldier to join you on your quest for answers and he agrees, stopping only to ask if you have need of supplies before you depart. Confirming you have everything you need, you pause to ask the mage if he will assist. The mage does not give you the opportunity, however. As soon as you mention HEDGE WIZARD, he chimes in that the magic was most likely the work of a hedge wizard and the bartender might be an APPRENTICE, an ACCOMPLICE, or the WIZARD HIMSELF. This mage also pauses to introduce himself as MALICHOR THE SORCERER.

Making the hike up the hill, you find the gates of the mansion are unlocked. This place is enormous! You can see a HEDGEMAZE, a GREENHOUSE, and a PUMPKIN PATCH, as well as the FRONT DOOR. You feel an eerie shiver as you step on the grounds, as if magic is pooling in this place.

================================

mrz84
Zataka, the half-elf adventurer introduces himself as SANCIREPH and the wizard introduces himself as MALICHOR THE SORCERER. Malichor mentions that the spell appears to be HEDGE MAGIC, and if the man on the hill truly is a HEDGE WIZARD this would be the place to start. You recommend gathering necessary supplies and then going to the mansion to investigate. When Sancireph tells you he has everything he needs, you take the lead as you make the hike up the hill. Arriving at the mansion's gates, you find them unlocked.

This place is enormous. From your position at the gates, you can see the FRONT DOORS, a HEDGEMAZE, a FOUNTAIN, and a GREENHOUSE, though there may be other structures on the grounds you can't see from here. It is not so much a mansion as it is a CASTLE, one in remarkably good condition. It looks almost... new.

================================

Xyvol
Malichor, upon hearing HEDGE WIZARD you jump into the conversation and inform them that the brawl was quite likely HEDGE MAGIC. Since the BARTENDER is still in the contaminated area, you recommend seeking the man on the hill as there may be some information on the spell he used that you can ply towards a counterspell. You also think the half-elf adventurer said his name, but you missed what it was.

You travel with the two adventurers up the hill, where you find the mansion sprawled out before you. This place feels very, very wrong. There's magic EVERYWHERE--up the walls, in the trees, in the animals. In fact, as you step onto the grounds you notice that every single animal in the area is staring at you. You try a few quick movements to test your theory and yes, you are being watched.
The FRONT DOOR is before you. There's also a GREENHOUSE to your left and a HEDGE MAZE to your right. What do you do?



(Don't be afraid to wander away from the group! I won't punish you for exploring separate areas. In fact, as a group you'll be able to discover more more quickly if you split up.)

[TheDarkOne]

I suggest we start by checking the greenhouse--going to the front door would be foolish, and I don't wish to get lost in the maze. I start off in the direction of the greenhouse.

((I want to point out at this point that I wear a Cloak of Elvenkind, which allows me to blend into shadow much the same way a thief or rogue might do. I can still be seen in lighted area, however))

[mrz84]

The front doors would be the least favorable way for entry if we want to surprise the wizard (if that's even possible at this point), instead I follow Sancireph's suggestion with the greenhouse and take a defensive position at the main entrance to it with Sancireph on the opposite side of the door and Malichor ready to cast whatever spell that would give us the best advantage once the door is breached.

[Xyvol]

For now I will follow along with the others. As we walk, I comment on the strangeness of the place, and offer the opinion that the wizard already knows we are here, so it doesn't matter where we go.

[CJC]

==================================================
Rule Clarifications

General: Grouped Scenario
When more than one player takes very similar actions, I will lump the response into a single group paragraph, followed by several smaller paragraphs that represent each character's specific observations, and then sometimes another group paragraph. As always, the paragraphs that you are expected to read are those that begin with your character's name or with "all of you".
==================================================

TheDarkOne mrz84 Xyvol
Sancireph, Zataka, and Malichor, on Sancirephs' suggestion you have come to the GREENHOUSE. The doors are not locked, and despite the party's trepidation what waits beyond is only rows of planters with various STRANGE FLORA. Malichor mentions that trying to lurk around is pointless, as the HEDGE WIZARD is already aware of your presence.

Sancireph, you notice several of the plants are MEDICINES grown by your people. You are surprised by this; an outsider should not be able to make such plants thrive.

Malichor, you are unfamiliar with plants and Hedge magic in general, but some of these specimens look excessively dangerous. Are they reagents for some POISON? Probably. You feel you are coming to understand just what this wizard is up to.

Zataka, despite your fears there does not appear to be any peril here, though some of the plants seem possessed of a dangerous sentience. A VENUS FLY TRAP catches your eye, particularly because the plant's mouth is surrounded by thorns that are exuding a NOXIOUS OOZE.

To the three of you, you might be able to learn something about the plants if you are curious enough. Otherwise, this greenhouse seems to be nothing more than a source of raw materials for the mansion owner's chosen profession. You can see a PUMPKIN PATCH through the window, and there is also a TOOLSHED just outside the back door.

[TheDarkOne]

((By "your people," I believe you mean elves? Aasimar do not have their own society))

I look around at the plants grown by the elves(?), to see if I can discover how they survive here. I will also try to find the herb used by the bartender to make his special drink.

[Xyvol]

I will examine the plants more closely, to try and determine if any could be the source of the pollen that was on the gold. If I discover something of importance, I'll share it. If not, I'll wander over to look at the toolshed.

[mrz84]

I examine the fly-trap with caution to see if there anything I can gleam from it, if not, I continue to the pumpkin patch and from there, the tool shed with similar intent. I plan on sharing anything I notice immediately with my comrades.

[TheDarkOne]

Noticing their interest in the toolshed, I warn my companions to be wary of traps. I have the distinct feeling that something here not quite what it seems.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, the plant is a WRAITHWOOD TREE, old enough to bear fruit, though only one. The black plum-looking fruit rests dangling from the tree's largest branch, swelling before bursting into a puff of black fog and growing back. You know of these plants from family history; your parents told you these things can only be grown with blood infused with celestial power. AASIMAR BLOOD. The stories were warnings to beware of mages, particularly those that extended offers of hospitality.

Either the owner of this mansion is AASIMAR himself, or he has a ready source of the blood. WRAITHWOOD is a tremendously precious commodity, though this plant isn't large enough to be worth harvesting. The fruit is worthless, considering it can only cling to one dimension for minutes at best, but you've heard some mages use it to practice DARKSPACE magic. Any which way, you are incredibly offended by the presence of this plant.

You search the greenhouse for the MYSTERIOUS PLANT used by the bartender, but alas you cannot be sure what it looks like, as it was already ground into powder by the time he placed it in your beverage. You'd need an expert in HEDGE MAGIC or HERBALISM to help you distinguish which plant is correct, or at least an ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO HOME GARDENING.


Xyvol
Malichor, you don't have the training to know for sure, but you do know that the more colorful a plant, the more likely it is poisonous. And this greenhouse is practically a TIE DIE SHIRT of colors. Still, you can't sense any latent magical traces on the plants; they appear to have been grown through natural means. If he did use these to create that toxic pollen, he must have conducted the conversion somewhere else.

Bored, you go to the TOOLSHED and open the door. A rake falls on you, but otherwise it's just a boring collection of gardening tools. A manual PUSH LAWNMOWER... you pity the employee that has to use this thing to mow the grounds of this mansion. A RAKE, of course... it fell on you. GARDENING SHEERS... no doubt used to shape the TOPIARY ANIMALS on the grounds. And... wait, the SHOVEL is missing.

From where you're standing, you can see the PUMPKIN PATCH as well as a gated section of the yard. You can't see past the fencing; vines have overgrown the gaps. What do you do?


mrz84
Zataka, as you examine the FLY TRAP more closely it opens its maw, revealing a BLACK PEARL. It is of astounding quality and it bears an almost mesmerizing gleam to it. You find yourself wanting to grab it, but as you reach out you hear a SNICKER in the distance. Yanking your hand back, you barely evade the snapping jaws of the trap.

No longer comfortable in the GREENHOUSE, you advance to the PUMPKIN PATCH. The gourds near the edges are reasonable enough, but the ones in the center are TALLER THAN A MAN. As you wander into the patch, you find yourself turned around, unable to determine which direction you came from. And you hear FOOTSTEPS approaching.

Hiding behind one of the tall gourds, you peek around the corner and see a SILHOUETTE OF DARKNESS. It is roughly the shape of a man, but its posture is wrong. Bestial. It pauses to sniff the air. You still have the element of surprise, what do you do?

[Xyvol]

I suspect that the shovel has been recently used. After disentangling myself from the rake trap, I will make my way to the pumpkin patch, looking for signs of freshly dug ground.

[mrz84]

I attempt to get a better look at the creature from my position without alerting it to my presence, if possible. Otherwise, I lay in wait until the creature's back is turned, with that moment being my chance to strike, and if it lives still after that, attempt to alert my comrades of the creature.

[TheDarkOne]

Offended as I am by the presence of a Wraithwood tree, I draw my swords and use a scissor-slash on the tree to cut it in half. I then pull the lower half of tree from where it is planted, pour some lantern oil on the roots, and set fire to it to be sure it is destroyed. No one who is not aasimar has any right to grow this, and if this mage was aasimar, I would have sensed it by now. Afterwards, I follow over towards the toolshed, still on the lookout for any traps.

[CJC]

Xyvol
Malichor, you go to the PUMPKIN PATCH in search of the shovel or some evidence of its whereabouts, having assumed that since your host is a HEDGE MAGE he must have put the tool to use in the garden. You are quite surprised by the pumpkin patch upon your arrival; many of the gourds are TALLER THAN A MAN. As you wander in, you feel the air around you swirling. Closing your eyes, you sense wyrmholes of DARKSPACE connecting various sections of the pumpkin patch. You can't tell if this is intentional or the backlash of another spell, but the wyrmholes all seem to be drawing matter in towards the center of the patch.

You hear a shout in that direction. Do you brave the darkspace to reach the center of the patch?
================================================== =========

mrz84
Zataka, erring on the side of caution you stay your blade until you can identify the creature. It is a WEREWOLF, dressed in the garb of a MAIL CARRIER and is carrying a watering can. What is this beast doing? Tending to the crop, it seems. Is it under some manner of enchantment? You are disturbed by this, but knowing that your sword does not have a silvered edge you fret that you won't be able to battle this monster. You haven't faced a werebeast before and you don't know which rumors are true. Can they only be harmed by SILVER? Can they not cross moving bodies of water? Do they change back into human beings when the sun is out? Do their wounds heal unnaturally fast? Is the ailment contagious? You decide there are too many unknowns to risk a solo confrontation, so you set out to distract the beast instead.

You slash open one of the GREAT PUMPKINS, hoping that the LYCANTHROPE will pause there as he passes. Much to your shock, you catch a peek inside the gourd as the seeds pour out. There's a MAN, suspended by the lining of the pumpkin, within. He appears to be alive, but comatose. He's human, pale with a white beard. He has no possessions.

Your gasp of shock has caught the attention of the beast. It lunges at you. What do you do?
================================================== =========

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you sever the WRAITHWOOD and then set fire to its roots. Much to your surprise, the flames lick around the roots and harden the rootball into a rigid CANDELABRA OF SPIKES. You attempt to break this... thing... apart with your sword, but it appears to be HARDER THAN STEEL. Could this be why the plant is such a desired commodity? Your parents never mentioned this property; perhaps they did not know. The top of the tree is still intact; you might be able to shape it into a dagger or shortsword and then harden it with flames. Or you could keep the pointy CANDELEABRA as an effective (but clumsy) tool of war.

Heading for the toolshed, you see MALICHOR depart for the PUMPKIN PATCH. After he enters, you hear a shout. What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

Keeping the Candelabra with me (in my pack, not wielded), I run for the pumpkin patch, calling to Zataka that Malichor may be in trouble. I keep my blades at the ready and hurry in the direction of the pumpkin patch.

((By the way, CJC, the word "wyrm" refers to dragons. I understand what you meant by "wyrmholes," but the words "wyrm" and "worm" are not interchangable. They mean entirely different things))

[Xyvol]

Assuming the shout may have been made by one of my new found comrades (because who else would it be), I decide to investigate it's source. Quickly, but carefully, I make my way to the center of the patch. While I do so, I try to remember as much as I can about darkspace so that I may deal with it if it becomes a problem.

[CJC]

((By the way, CJC, the word "wyrm" refers to dragons. I understand what you meant by "wyrmholes," but the words "wyrm" and "worm" are not interchangable. They mean entirely different things))

Do they? :tranquillity:

One wonders if it was a typo, an oversight due to fatigue, or a subtle hint of things to come.

Worm refers to the shape, that is true, but perhaps Wyrm references the beasts that travel through?

We will have to wait. And watch.

[mrz84]

I attempt to block the werewolf's attack with my greatsword. I push back with all my might while attempting to get my comrades' attention. Once they arrive I plan to tell them of the man in the pumpkin I cut open. I also have the suspicion that the other gourds are similar, with comatose occupants.

In the meantime, I try to cast a spell to enchant my blade with fire in hope that will at least have some effect on the beast.

[CJC]

Xyvol
Malichor, you recall that DARKSPACE is folded space or compressed space. For those without control of the magic, a darkspace portal is as normal as stepping through an archway, connecting two physically distinct places that normally should not be adjacent. Non-mages wouldn't even notice such a transition. The space has to come from somewhere; it is relocated in the act of casting a darkspace spell. Such relocations are usually local like the disturbances in the PUMPKIN PATCH, but truly talented mages know how to borrow space from the depths of the dark night sky, apparently working their magic with no drawback.

You step through one of the portals, arriving near the SOLDIER, who is fending off a WEREWOLF wearing a postman's outfit. The wizard cursed the postman? What a jerk! As you moved through the portal, you noticed the space was a compression, meaning some space nearby must have been EXPANDED. You believe this contraction was an unintentional side-effect of the spell, though, as it seems rather random.

Suddenly the werewolf runs off deeper into the patch. What do you do?
================================================== =========

mrz84
Zataka, you bless your blade with fire and shove the beast away from you, singeing its fur with a forceful gash as you rake your weapon across its chest. It snarls.

Well, you DREW BLOOD, so the SILVER THING appears to be a myth. Still, it seems like the beast is RECOVERING RATHER QUICKLY. You stab it through the chest, inciting a yelp. It pulls free of your blade and runs off deeper into the pumpkin patch.

The mage Malichor has arrived. Will you stay to chat, warning of the PEOPLE IN THE GOURDS, or will you PURSUE THE BEAST into the depths of the patch?
================================================== =========

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you run to the PUMPKIN PATCH, following the sound of the shout. But as you enter, you get lost in the tall gourds... much too tall to be grown naturally. You have a headache: you sense something very awful is nearby. And when you turn around, the exit of the patch is nowhere to be found. You CALL OUT. There is no response.

You're ALONE and LOST IN THE PUMPKIN PATCH. What do you do?

[SUCCESSOR]

[Well, I have been trying to think of how to get in on this but failing to think of a way to work my way in. So, I now figure That's CJC's job! Anyway I will just describe a character I have in mind.]

Reven, often accused of looking like a thief but has not once been caught stealing. Taller than most men and of strong but lean build. A light cloak mostly covers a black tunic of a tough but flexible fabric. The reversible cloak on one side looks nearly matte black but more dark grey and the other side a pattern of earthy colors and textures that is not obvious camouflage but blends in very well with most environments. Either side of the cloak is noticeably worn. Baggy earth brown slacks extend from the tunic to a pair of black travel boots that are obviously much newer than the rest of his garb. Altogether he has the look of a traveler and one that clearly likes to often go unseen. His face is neither pale nor very sun-darkened and a thin layer of facial hair covers his round jaw, a very human face with pale grey-green eyes. Though he appears to carry nothing he often pulls various useful items inexplicably from under his cloak such as a satchel of odd wares and foodstuff but this time it is a canteen of strong ale he bartered for in the last town passed. The canteen being half empty is what led him to his current circumstance, notably that he in unmistakeably lost...

[TheDarkOne]

Using my natural Elven sense of direction, I make my way through the gourds towards where I believe my companions to be. I am nearly knocked over by a hairy beast wearing a postman's outfit as it runs past me, but it continues on, apparently not concerned with engaging me. Looking back toward where the beast fled from, I see my companions, and approach them to ask what happened.

[mrz84]

I inform my comrades of my discovery of the person (and quite likely people) in the giant gourds. I admit that I am unsure if freeing them is even possible at this point. They could very well perish if removed for all I know, or they could just simply awake (for any that are still able to do so). However in that case, we would have to worry about defending them until they can escape while a werewolf that may or may not be magically under the owner of the mansion's control. I express that I will follow with whatever idea my comrades elect, as both ideas have their risks. We must think quickly though as the werewolf won't be gone for long, maybe even returning with reinforcements.

[Xyvol]

After verifying that the soldier is not injured, I will inform him and the rest that the patch is a different location than the mansion and is connected by portals that they can't see. I suggest we leave the patch and return to the mansion as soon as we can, explaining that there may be expanded areas of space nearby that contain unknown dangers.

[CJC]

A new challenger approaches!

SUCCESSOR
Reven, the ale is starting to clear from your head, and this is most definitely a BAD THING TO HAPPEN. You've been looking for a fresh source of spirits, but there seems to have been some manner of brawl at the tavern and the establishment is closed. You spot a MANSION on the hill up the road. Those guys always have the best booze, so you shuffle to the gates and let yourself in.

It's quiet. You see the FRONT DOORS, as well as a GREENHOUSE and a HEDGE MAZE. You don't have time for games, so you go for the front door. It opens inward, much to your surprise, and as the door swings open you fall, finding that the floor of the entrance hall is missing.
You dangle from the knob, desperately trying to pull yourself back from the drop. You succeed, barely.
As you ponder WHO BUILDS A CASTLE WITH NO FLOOR, you notice that there's a ledge you can shimmy around through the front door, with doors to the LEFT and to the RIGHT. You might also be able to climb down to the LOBBY below if you had a rope, or even JUMP DOWN if you're feeling reckless. Otherwise, there might be another way in somewhere on the MANSION GROUNDS.

What do you do?
===========================================

TheDarkOne, mrz84, Xyvol
Sancireph, Zataka, and Malichor, you reunite at a crossroads in the PUMPKIN PATCH and trade information.
Zataka informs you all that there appear to be prisoners trapped inside the massive gourds, and he wishes to know if you should ATTEMPT A RESCUE or if you all should ESCAPE THE PATCH before the WEREWOLF returns with reinforcements.
Malichor checks Zataka for contagious injury and, finding nothing, explains that the three of you have stepped through a portal of DARKSPACE and are probably no longer on the mansion grounds. If you wish to seek the wizard, you will need to find your way out of this place, and MALICHOR can help you avoid further portal confusion.
Sancireph mentions that the WEREWOLF passed him as he approached, and perhaps it knows a way out of the patch. Even if it is dangerous, it must have some means of leaving this place to hunt for prey or report to its master (if it is indeed controlled by the WIZARD).

You hear a chuckle overhead. What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

Drawing my blades, I jump backwards into a defensive stance as I look upward to see who is spying on us. I signal to the mage to be ready with a spell, and hope that the solider has his weapon ready as well.

[SUCCESSOR]

Having just survived a near death experience I sit near the front doors and polish off my ale to unclear my head. Determined to make my way into the house I look around inside to see if there is something that can serve as a rope within reaching distance or some other means to descend such as fixtures or soft furniture to land on. Failing that I have a look around outside not too far from the doors. I have little interest in making my way around the massive grounds. Any places I enter I search all nooks and crannies from items of interest (or spare change). As I search for a means to get into the lobby I think on what might be behind the door to the left and whether I should just give up and make my way through it.

[mrz84]

I ready the flame enchantment on my greatsword again and prepare for attacks from above. From the sounds of it it isn't the werewolf, though I'm, not taking any chances again.

[Xyvol]

I demand that the voice in the sky tell us who they are.

(Apologies for being late)

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, looking around you see only a crow perched on the pumpkin above you. That's odd... it looks like it's SNICKERING. Focusing your attention on it you feel the chill of an INCREDIBLY POWERFUL PRESENCE behind the feathers of the beast.


SUCCESSOR
Reven, there's a rather comfy-looking COUCH on the floor below. You might be able to leap to it to cushion your fall. There are no curtains or ropes with which you might climb down, but the VINES growing around the entrance seem sturdy enough. Putting the two together, you take a rather large piece of vine and, using it as a lasso, toss it around the CHANDELIER and swing to the couch, landing on the couch feet first.
The lobby is stylish but sparse; it's got marble floors and a few places to sit, but is otherwise uninteresting. There are three doors on this floor, one across from where you are seated and two to your right, one on the wall behind you and one that's on the far wall, across from the entrance you nearly fell from earlier. Where will you search?


mrz84
Zataka, lighting your sword again you swipe it into the air a few times to intimidate whatever is lurking to attack. You spot a crow perched on the pumpkin above you; it is the only entity of note in the vicinity.


Xyvol
Malichor, you call out to the sky, demanding to know who is taking amusement from this situation. The snickering stops. "Damn, I knew I needed to work on laughing more quietly!"


TheDarkOne, mrz84, Xyvol
Sancireph, Zataka, and Malichor, the crow perched on the pumpkin above you takes a bow and begins to speak.
"You've caught me. I am TELIVAR THE GREAT, master Hedge wizard and owner of this mansion. I just can't help laughing at you adventurer types; you make your livelihoods trespassing on properties and tripping over traps, and it's just so amusing to watch. Like scrying on a bunch of inebriated lemmings."
The crow flies to another pumpkin and turns to face you again.
"I'll give you props for being attentive. Most adventurers would have chased the werewolf, and been overwhelmed by the rest of the pack. You have enough mind to be cautious, and I respect that. Tell you what: if you can find your way to my study, we can discuss the matter further. I may have an employment opportunity for you."
With that, the crow flies off. You are alone once more in the pumpkin patch.

[mrz84]

There is a overwhelming feeling in the back of my head that the hedge wizards isn't one to b trifled with. I suggest for now that we make our way out of the maze and see what he wants. If we encounter the werewolf again, we must be on guard for the rest of its pack. As for the man in the gourd, there really is no choice now but to leave him, as he would be too difficult to protect from attackers. If what the mage says is true, it would be in our best interest to make way to his study as quickly as possible. Until we leave the maze, I keep the flame enchantment active on my greatsword.

[TheDarkOne]

I am concerned about the wizard's intentions--it seems he is evil but his motives remain unclear. I do not trust his words, and I tell my companions that I think the wizard may be luring us into a trap. I am uncertain if we should do as he suggests.

[Xyvol]

"The mansion is most certainly trapped, the wizard enjoys watching people fall for them. However, I fear the only way we will gain any answers is by speaking to him. I suggest we carefully make our way there." I help guide my companions past/though the darkspace portals, back to the greenhouse.

[CJC]

mrz84, TheDarkOne, Xyvol
Zataka, Sancireph, and Malichor, you make your way out of the pumpkin patch at MALICHOR's lead, fully aware that the mansion promises even more peril than you've encountered. You see several more werewolves as you make your escape; no doubt they are others who fell for the ruse in the patch or even just wandered into the wrong place. With ZATAKA's careful planning, though, you manage to avoid direct conflict. Back at the greenhouse, SANCIREPH explains the bloody means through which WRAITHWOOD is cultivated (while carefully tiptoeing around the Aasimar part).
Going back to the mansion entrance, you find the front door is AJAR. The room beyond has a fifteen-foot drop, a ledge to doors on the LEFT and RIGHT, as well as a vine hanging from the CHANDELIER. A man is on the couch in the lobby below, napping in tattered dark clothes. He might look like a cat burglar, but who takes a nap while they're robbing somebody?
What do you do?

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you've dozed off on the couch. You hear a noise from above. Squinting but maintaining the illusion of unconsciousness, you peek to see three figures standing in the doorway you plummeted from earlier. What do you do?

[SUCCESSOR]

Noticing that I have been spotted I recall the layout of the room with my eyes closed. I chastise myself silently for thinking I could be so neglectful for even a moment to nap off the ache. Through squinting eyes I take in the look of the new-comers. Clearly they aren't the owners and whomever they are I don't want to butt heads with them. I take a half second to absorb the details of their appearance that I can gleam from here then get up, keeping sure that only my cloak can be seen and calmly walk toward the far door as if I haven't noticed them and that I belong right where I am. Passing through the door I immediately reverse my cloak that had been turned to the outdoor camouflage to the slightly nicer looking black. I fold in the hood and try to get a bearing on just what sort of place I am dealing with. Hopefully if I come across that trio again I will not be recognized.

[mrz84]

Taking in the layout of the room, I attempt to devise several outcomes of various scenarios that could occur. I pick the one with the greatest chance of success and inform my comrades of our options to best proceed. I ask if either of my comrades has rope or a grappling hook we could use to descend safely to the floor below. The ledges seem like they would be difficult to traverse with my heavy armor, so I suggest we ignore them for now. As for the fellow on the couch, I try to take note of his appearance, but he seems difficult to make out. If we encounter him again, I advise that we be on our guard, though he seems to not be in league with the hedge wizard. He could prove to be an ally, if the right incentive is given.

[Xyvol]

Suspicious of a possible hedge wizard trap with the vine hanging from the chandelier, I decide to create my own way down. Taking out a handful of paper I inscribe the same rune on each. I then toss them down the hole. As they float down, they adhere to the walls at various intervals and harden to stone, creating handholds to climb down with. At the bottom, I beckon my companions to follow.

[TheDarkOne]

I follow Malichor's way down, then suggest we follow the dark-clad man through the same door from which he left the room. If he is a potential ally, it would be wise to join with him as soon as possible, before falling prey to any of the mansion's other traps. Conversely, if he is an enemy, we should make sure he does not impede our progress. I don't want to kill a man in cold blood, but I will defend myself and my companions is he proves violent.

[CJC]

SUCCESSOR
Reven, taking your nonchalant glance, you spot a PALADIN, a MAGE, and what appears to be a HIGHWAYMAN. They seem more concerned with the peril of the sudden drop than with you. You calmly cross the lobby, shuffling your feet in such a way that your movements are silent. It is almost as if you are a specter, some phantom drifting through; from nowhere, to nowhere.
Opening the far door, you find yourself in the AVIARY. Exotic birds abound, perching around the room. But it's odd... shouldn't there be more... leavings... on the floor? The room is surprisingly clean.
You reverse your cloak, tucking in the hood as you look around. There's a SPIRAL STAIRCASE leading up and down, and a DESK with various notes and illustrations, no doubt about the BIRDS. The papers are yellowed and old, though not soiled by the birds.
You feel the cold shiver of stairs upon you. Looking around, you notice that every one of the birds is looking at you. You decide to play a game, stepping back and forth and seeing how the birds react. They look away, as if to pretend they weren't watching, but you can see they're still keeping their attention on you. What do you do?

mrz84
Zataka, you assess the risks of each situation. The fall is too chancy given your heavy armor, you might break a bone in the landing. Likewise, the ledge is not wide enough to safely navigate. You ask SANCIREPH if he has a grapple and he retrieves one from his pack. You hook the thing to the knocker on the door and prepare to swing down into the lobby. Malichor stops you, however, insisting there is a safer way down and summoning a set of rock-climbing grips along the wall. Using the two, you successfully descend to the lobby. There's a door in FRONT of you, one to your RIGHT, and one to your LEFT (where the man on the couch drifted out like a specter). What do you do?

Xyvol
Malichor, before the SOLDIER goes through all the effort of descending with the grapple, you construct a set of granite grips for your descent through careful application of PAPER MAGIC. When you reach the bottom, you realize it would have been easier to make some STAIRS, but too late for regrets. There are three doors before you, with the one on the LEFT being the one that the cloaked couch man departed through. As you go to approach that door, you hear SINGING from the door on the other side of the room. Odd, but not unexpected in a place like this. It seems to be coming from the door on the RIGHT. What do you do?

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, the SOLDIER ZATAKA asks you for a grappling hook and you are happy to oblige. MALICHOR then constructs a set of climbing stones and the three of you descend into the lobby. You set out to pursue the COUCH NAPPER, but upon reaching the door he used to depart you find it is LOCKED. There are two other doors on this level, one to your RIGHT and one across from where you climbed down. A rat walking on its hind legs is moving towards the latter. After what happened in the pumpkin patch, you can't help but feel that this is the hedge wizard's intervention once more, and indeed you feel the shiver of an incredibly powerful presence as you focus your attention on the vermin beast. What do you do?




(I know Friday's update was late. Since everybody responded so quickly, I put in a bonus response. Normal schedule should resume this week, with an update on Tuesday)

[TheDarkOne]

I point out the rat's odd behavior to my companions, and also report that the door the mysterious man left through is locked. I ask Malichor if he perhaps possess any type of magic for opening locks (such as a Knock spell, in AD&D terms). I doubt we can try to pick the lock or break it--it is almost certainly a lock of a magical nature.

[mrz84]

Weighing our options, I'd prefer to find the cloaked man as soon as possible. If only to find the nature of his presence. However that rat is suspicious. I re-enchant my blade with fire and keep a vigil while my comrades try to make headway on the left door, if even possible.

[SUCCESSOR]

Taking in the details I am all but certain the birds are an illusion. Where does it begin and end though? Is the whole room an illusion? The whole mansion? pretend to disregard the birds but I keep note of their behavior as I walk over to the desk and look through the notes studiously but in a hurry until I hear someone trying the door I just came through and finding it somehow locked. Strange. "Hello." I say in a normal voice but not too loud to project into the room where I just left the others talking not to them but as if someone else was in the room. I sit and look through the desk drawers as I talk."I see my presence hasn't gone unnoticed. My intrusion is not hostile, I assure you! I had hoped to take a little rest and maybe meet the Lord of the Manor. Perhaps some you have some spare staples. Or perhaps care to barter." Are my words actually reaching someone or have I grown paranoid I wonder?

While talking I drew out a long thin blow dart gun and shot a wad of paper that flies silently toward one of the birds whose eyes were not on me. I keep a close eye on what happens and what reactions the birds make of my sudden action. I wonder if their eyes even see or whom they may see for.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you ask Malichor if he could possibly pick the lock with his magic, but he doesn't seem to hear you. In fact, he is positively enraptured by the door on the right. He wanders to it, hypnotized, turns the knob, and enters. You hear the door LOCK behind him.
You might be able to pick either of the locks if you had the PROPER TOOLS. Otherwise, the BIPEDAL RAT has disappeared through the last remaining unlocked door.
You hear muffled chat through the locked door.
What do you do?

mrz84
Zataka, you ignite your blade once more. The warmth of the flames is somewhat uncomfortable in the stale air of the lobby. The rat has departed through the door it was approaching. As for the cloaked man, he's behind the locked door. But doors are flammable, and walls next to doorframes are structurally questionable.
What do you do?

SUCCESSOR
Reven, as you read the notes on the desk you pick up on the general mindset of who you presume is the owner of the mansion. They're biology notes, specifically studying the magical capacity of each of the birds. Much to the writer's disdain, it seems the more colorful birds have less magical 'capacity' (as he writes it) compared to the more plainly plumed birds. The writer gripes about this, complaining that vermin have the highest magical capacity and also hypothesizing that the more bizarre or extravagant a creature's outward appearance, the more it strains on the plausible and so the less it can manipulate with magic.
As you talk, there is no response. You begin to feel paranoid. Using your blowgun, you shoot a wad of paper at the closest bird. To your surprise, it reacts as you would expect, distressing and crying out as it flies for safety. But when it perches, it does something unexpected. It gags at the sight of the slightly moist paper and tries to brush it off.
What is it perched on? Strange, you didn't notice that before. There are three STATUES in the room with you, each roughly fourteen feet high. One is of a WOMAN, one of a RAVEN, and one of a LIZARD. Each is clutching a CRIMSON ORB; the woman holds it in her hand with pride, the raven in its beak, and the lizard with it bursting from its chest.
What do you do?

Xyvol
Malichor, drawn to the SONG which grows louder by the minute, you enter the door on the right. It locks behind you.
You are in the LIBRARY. A TUNING FORK sits on the desk before you, vibrating ever so slightly. Is it the source of the melody? Tomes cover the walls, spanning four floors total. There are ladders for the bookshelves, as well as stairs up and down. Such a wealth of knowledge is quite enticing.
What do you do?

[mrz84]

While I go over the situation in my head and several possible outcomes, I ultimately decide to use my flame enchanted greatsword to attempt to break through the right hand door and its suspiciously flimsy looking walls in order to free my comrade trapped within. The rat can wait for now. Once I am able to secure my comrade, I will attempt a similar strategy on the left hand door and attempt to find the cloaked man from earlier.

[TheDarkOne]

As I have neither the tools nor the knowledge to pick locks, I assist Zataka in his efforts to break through the door Malichor went through. Using the spiked wraithwood roots from my pack, I attempt to pry the door open with them while Zataka works on the walls surrounding the door.

[SUCCESSOR]

Perplexed as I am and probably very paranoid. The lack of a reply is good news. That gives me freedom to roam as I please. I still have a feel of being watch which is something I particularly dislike. Anyway something of more interest leads me, food! I make my way up the stairs.

[Xyvol]

D'oh! I blame bunnies. What will I do? Uh, probably never leave? This could hold the knowledge to greater power that I've been seeking! First though, I need to investigate that tuning fork and determine if it poses a threat. I focus my magic senses on it to discover what magic properties it has. If it doesn't require my immediate attention, I'll then search the room for any other exits.

[CJC]

mrz84
Zataka, the walls are not suspiciously flimsy, it is just an architectural fact that while doorframes and doors themselves can be reinforced, people usually forget to reinforce the walls. You hack at the drywall of the lobby and sure enough, you are able to cut an opening between two studs you will be able to climb through. You see a LIBRARY, with MALICHOR examining a strange object on a table. Do you enter?

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you climb the staircase and stop at the second floor, though the stairwell does go higher. This floor has only a catwalk around the room, going to doors on the EAST and NORTH wall. Wait, how do you know which way you're facing? Ah, there's a compass carved into one of the statues! You must have noted it subconsciously as you were looking at them. The EAST DOOR goes back to the Lobby, but since you're on this floor that would be another risky drop. You have no idea where the NORTH DOOR leads.
You hear FOOTSTEPS above you. What do you do?

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, Zataka sends you to the other door so that he won't accidentally hit you as he is hacking at the wall. Using the Wraithwood roots as a pry-bar, you stab the frame of the door and push until it pops off its hinges. Before you lies an AVIARY with various exotic birds perched in the places you can see through the doorway. Do you enter?

Xyvol
Malichor, as you stare at the tuning fork you hear whispers of PSIONIC MAGIC. It appears to be some kind of lure. There's no hint of hedge magic this time, so you take a scrap of paper from the desk, write "HUSH" in runes, and place it upon the fork. The singing stops. As you do this, you hear a CRASH from behind you. The SOLDIER has cut a hole through the wall. What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I place the wraithwood roots back into my pack and enter the aviary with my hands near my swords, ready to draw them at a moment's notice. Remembering this to be the room the cloaked man disappeared into, I scan the room for him as I enter.

[mrz84]

I call to Malichor, inquiring if he has any injuries. Once I am able to confirm his well-being, as well as anything he has found in the room, I'll suggest we find out the progress of our other comrade and the location of the hooded man. I keep my blade drawn and make ready to cast a fire enchantment on it if needed as we continue our efforts.

[SUCCESSOR]

Had I lost my bearing? I try to recall the direction I entered the house from to make sure the compass I saw was correct. It seems this place is meant to mess with the mind. To be sure I sketch out a quick layout of the rooms I have been in to keep track. I want to keep my pleasant solitude for as long as possible so I don't want to head up the stairs and find out who's tramping around. I head through the North door keeping my eye on the surrounds. Maybe if this place is designed to be disorienting then there may be some secret to it if I keep my eyes open.

[Xyvol]

Seeing the soldier and his flaming sword poking through the wall, I quickly run to the nearby walls and scribe a protection rune on them to keep the books and scrolls from bursting into flames. After assuring him that I'm not in any danger, I tell him to go ahead and follow the others. I think the library may contain some useful information about this mysterious wizard, and I wish to stay behind and search for it. I will then begin to look through the books, taking note of any magic related works and what schools they pertain to.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, as you step into the Aviary a bolt whizzes down from above you. You deflect it with your blades. Looking up, you see a WOMAN two floors above you, loading another shot into her crossbow. She's a brunette, wearing mostly black clothing (you assume for sneaking around), with her hair braided and rolled into a bun on the side of her head. From the tangled mess, you assume she is left-handed. She's human, and you don't sense any elvish heritage or Aasimar blood.
She calls down to you.
"If you want to keep breathing, you'll go back the way you came. I don't have time to deal with hapless burglars, there's already too much at stake here."
What do you do?

mrz84
Zataka, you call to MALICHOR, but he insists that he has not been harmed and he needs to investigate the library. He tells you to go check on the other guy, so you go to SANCIREPH. As you approach, you see him deflect a crossbow bolt from the room he's entered. Stepping into the room, you look around to identify the source of the danger.
The room is an AVIARY, filled with exotic yet well behaved breeds of flying birds. There are three statues in the room, one of a WOMAN, one of a RAVEN, and one of a LIZARD. Each holds a single red orb: the woman with her hand, the raven in its beak, and the lizard in its chest. Looking up, you see a set of railed walkways one, two, and three floors above you. On the second walk, a dark-clothed woman with a crossbow LOADS ANOTHER SHOT.
What do you do?

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you sketch a quick map of where you've been. Indeed, you are directly west of the lobby, on the floor you entered the mansion on (with that damn room that's got no floor). Looking up, you see a woman leaning over the rail on the walk above you, aiming a crossbow at the first floor. You quietly make your way to the north door and depart the AVIARY. As you open the door, you are face with a HALL OF MIRRORS. Closing the door to avoid the combat that's about to ignite behind you, you find yourself in the dark. You reach into your cloak and retrieve a MATCH. Lighting it, you are again confronted by the mirrors.
You are in the hall of mirrors. The reflections go on and on. You can't see where there are exits, or even turns. In fact, you can't even see the door you came through anymore, though you know it is there.
What do you do?

Xyvol
Malichor, you quickly fireproof the walls to keep the precious tomes from being damaged by the soldier's burning blade. Sending him away, you set out to quench your thirst for knowledge. The desk with the tuning fork has various scattered notes spread out upon it. Hmm, it seems to be some manner of MAGISTER'S THESIS. The name TOMA BARTRAND is scribbled on the corner of each page, which is numbered. Collecting the stack and straightening it, you place it neatly on the desk.
The title reads "Philosophy of Determination, the Illusion of Magical Schools and its propagation by the Wizard Community at large". Why do magister theses always have such long and dramatic titles? Whew, and this topic is pretty blasphemous. The date is recent. Given the power of the hedge wizard, this can't be his thesis. An APPRENTICE, perhaps?
Near the desk is the CARD CATALOG. Browsing through it briefly, you find the books are categorized by magical purview. Also placed upon the papers is a hard-bound tome with the title THIRTEEN RESURRECTIONS.
What knowledge do you seek?

[TheDarkOne]

I call out to the woman , "I am no burglar. I seek the wizard that lives in this mansion. In fact, I have come inside with my companions by his invitation. He awaits in his study, but we also saw another man come this way and we wish to speak with him." I keep my blades in my hands but at my side, ready to deflect another bolt if it comes my way.

[Xyvol]

The book titled "Thirteen Resurrections" really interests me. It seems like it may have something to do with the 13 schools of magic. Considering it was on the desk with a thesis debunking the modern magical system, the two may be linked. I hope to determine if that is the case. Having seen other magic at use in and around the mansion, I already had a theory that another mage may be present, although I had assumed a prior owner. An apprentice seems more fitting given the evidence just found. I look around for other indications that the person using the library is a student.

[mrz84]

As I approach Sancireph, I spot a woman with a crossbow above us. I attempt to persuade her we are not vandals, merely seeking answers from the mansion's owner about the things we have found in the manor so far, as well as the locaiton of both the hedge wizard (who has invited us to seek him in his study) and a man in a cloak who we seek to know what knowledge he may have found (and to ask if he wishes to join us, as this mansion has proven to be dangerous for even a single skilled adventurer). I plant the end of my greatsword in the floor in front of me to show I have no hostilities towards her, and to use as cover if she fires a bolt in my direction (my greatsword is almost as tall as I am and almost as wide, making such a scenario possible, not to mention it requires intense, almost inhuman strength for me to wield such a weapon) I also inquire what business she has in the mansion, and if she wishes to join us if we have a common goal.

[SUCCESSOR]

Need a proper light, I fish out a wax candle from a small supply of useful things I collect along the way. I use the match to light the candle, no candlestick but a little hot wax never killed anyone. I place a silver coin on the floor before moving. Quite an expensive breadcrumb, I think to myself. I make my way around the walls of the room keeping an eye on how the coin looks in the reflections as I move. If there is a secret then no matter how well placed these mirrors are they will betray it eventually. I use my free hand to feel along the wall for hidden turns and openings. Making my way through the entire room to collect my coin and to decide where I can go.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne mrz84
Sancireph and Zataka, the woman lowers her crossbow slightly.

"I don't care what you do to this wizard's gaudy crap, but I can't have you getting in my way. If the racket you're making wakes our host... What, you were invited? Dammit, that means he knows I'm here too!"

She fires the crossbow, but Zataka deflects the bolt. She drops a smoke bomb, blinding the both of you, and when your eyes clear she is gone. Was she a burglar? Or an assassin? Either way, she seems to have been very enraged by your interruption; if you encounter her again things may not end well.
Well, it doesn't seem like you've learned much from the woman, but you might be able to learn something in this room. There's a spiral STAIRCASE going up and down, the three STATUES that were described earlier, and of course the BIRDS, each of which watches you with unwavering intent. Also of note is a DESK with ancient notes scattered across it.
What do you do?

Xyvol
Malichor, you open the book THIRTEEN RESURRECTIONS and page to the table of contents. As you suspected, each chapter is about reviving a subject using a particular discipline of magic. Topics that catch your interest include HEDGE BUDDING, 1000 CRANE CUTS, DARKSPACE BYPASS, SIN EATING, and DRAGON DIVING. There are pencil marks near these on the page; perhaps the student made notes in the margins. If you pick a section, you'll be able to read them.
Also sitting on the desk is a bibliography of books cited in the thesis. Other than that, the library is rather tidy. Is the student just organized, or has he moved on to another master?
You've got a lot you can learn from reading the material in THIRTEEN RESURRECTIONS or in the MAGISTER'S THESIS (You recall your own thesis... what was the topic?). Or, you can go looking for other books in the expansive library. Or, if you prefer, you can set aside your curiosity and explore other parts of the mansion.
What will you do?

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you manage to locate at least three exits to the hall of mirrors, not counting the one you used to enter. Each is placed at a corner of the hall, which you are now certain goes in a loop. They were easy to locate with your hand as you made your way around. You mark each exit mirror with a smear of wax before collecting your coin.
Hearing arguing from the room you came from, you decide to exit the hall of mirrors as far away from the AVIARY as possible. You find yourself in a fully stocked TAVERN, complete with BILLIARDS and a wall of LIQUORS, WINES, and STOUTS. Finally! No one else is in the room.
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I comment to Zataka that we should be on our guard if we encounter this woman again; our next meeting will almost certainly be violent. I express some interest in the orbs held by the statues, but I ask if he thinks we should take the time to examine them or continue looking for the cloaked man. I also wonder if we should wait for Malichor.

[SUCCESSOR]

I make my way through the stock briskly. I pour myself glass of a deep caramel colored spirit. I rustle up handfuls of dried meats, cheeses, stale bread pieces, nuts, and dried fruit pieces kept around for loungers to snack on. It's not much in the way of a proper meal but certainly will do. I find a comfy sofa and slide into it and chow down while I sip on the crystal of aged spirits. I stow about half the collection of finger food in my satchel and set the empty glass on the bar. I fill my canteen with the a dark leathery looking stout, flask a bit of a blood red spirit, fill a glass with some woody looking beer, and set up a game of billiard. Cautious not to overdo either the comfort or the drink. The respite gets a little tiresome and the game pretty uneventful considering the competition I find myself going over the details of the table more than playing. I head over to the bar and look through the shelves at the particulars of the bottles and their contents. What little secrets and surprises may be stashed here? All the while I keep an ear out just incase the trouble down the way may head toward me still a little paranoid that I am a rat in someone's maze.

[mrz84]

I agree with Sancireph that we should be wary of the woman and express concerns about our other companion. However, I find the bird and the statues unnerving, as if there is some sort of magic at work that I am unaware of. While I would like to solve whatever is causing this feeling, I have little experience with magical traps and such. I turn my attention to the papers on the desk in an attempt to find any information that could be of use to us.

[Xyvol]

The Thesis reminds me of my own work, "Leaving Your Mark: Expanding Beyond the Limitations of Paper," in which I explain that runes can function on a variety of materials other than processed paper. I turn my attention from my own nostalgia back to the book topics. Hedge Budding, Darkspace Bypass, and 1000 Crane Cuts are the topics that seem to be most relevant. The first two are magic I've seen around the mansion, and the last is my own school.

[bigjoe]

Name:Jerias
Class: Dragoon
Race: Lizardfolk (Dragon Corrupted Human)
Weapons: Enchanted Lance.
Armor: Tattered cloth garments covering lightweight battle worn armor.
Motivations: Protecting and transporting a small egg of unknown origins, which is always kept somewhere on his person or nearby.

Further Character Description: Past shrouded in mystery and amnesia, a lizard man whose only intention is the safe keeping of a small egg in his possession. He has wandered from place to place, in search of the proper magical fortifications to create a den and protect this egg until it matures and hatches. He remembers little of his life prior to corruption by dragon radiation. He was once a fiercely trained warrior, and his training and instincts remain intact. He remains capable of communication, but speaks with a snake-like affliction. Not trusting of those who would potentially seek to interfere with his motivations, he maintains an apprehensive approach to strangers.

[CJC]

===========================
Setting Elaboration

Dragons: Dragon Corruption
The theory about dragon magic being a corruption of other magics is not as far-fetched as it seems. Dragons have a tendency to twist everything they touch. Plants, animals, and even humanoids mutate from prolonged proximity to dragons. The most blatant example of this is seen in the Dragoons--dragon hunting knights who dedicate their lives to the eradication of dragons and their ilk. To haphazardly quote Nietzsche: "He who fights dragons will become one himself." In this setting as opposed to our world the phrase is more literal.
It's not unreasonable that such poisoning would also translate to the very fabric of magic in the world. Perhaps a wizard has done research into the matter... Hint Hint.


Humanoids: Dominant Physical Characteristics
In this setting, terms such as "Elf" and "Dwarf" refer to the presence of particularly prevalent dominant physical characteristics.
Having possession of any of these traits does not in any way impact a character's humanity (and if you play it otherwise YOU WILL BE PUNISHED!).

Dwarves
The Dwarven co-dominant gene (not to be confused with Achondroplasia) triggers a shorter, stockier build coupled with thicker, darker hair and a more prominent chin relative to the average 'litmus human'. Two copies of the gene intensify these traits.

Elves
The Elven co-dominant gene triggers a taller, wiry build with thinner and lighter hair relative to the average 'litmus human'. Facial features are sharpened, particularly in the ears and brows. Two copies of the gene intensify these traits.

Gnomes
The Gnomish co-dominant gene results in a proportionally smaller build, intensely bright hair, and a more prominent nose relative to the average 'litmus human'. Because their hair is consistently bright it takes to dyes well. Two copies of the gene intensify these traits.
========================================



(There's a lot that's going to happen in this update, and I need some extra time and space to prepare. The prompt will be in my next post, which I will try to have up by the end of the night)

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, ZATAKA tells you that Malichor is reading in the library and it could be a while; it would be best to proceed without him and meet up later. You approach the three statues, each of tremendous stature and presence, to take a closer look at the RED ORBS that are so prominently displayed upon them. As you investigate you feel an incredible surge of heat in the back of your mind, as if a beast is whispering into your subconscious.
The sensation is like the pulse of energy you might feel from another Aasimar, yet it feels... sinister. You are eager to attribute this feeling to the Hedge Wizard whose mansion you now occupy, but alas it is altogether distinct from his own aura.
As you draw closer, you hear a poem in your head.
"A Dwarven soul is made of stone.
It is strong and rigid. Stone is easily shaped by chisel, but such is always a process of subtraction.
An Elven soul is made of wood.
It grows without bound, reaching for the light. There is always ample raw material, but too rigorous a touch risks its demise.
A Gnomish soul is made of metal.
Strong and durable, but easily shaped with the addition of heat. It is always in a state of flux.
A Human soul, however, is that of the man's own shadow.
It cannot be shaped directly, but can be grown or diminished in the right light.
Ah, but the soul of a dragon is the raging fury of flame.
Fires swallow stone, reduce wood to ash, warp metal into slag, and force shadows to flee.
Flames cannot help but consume everything; it is their nature."
You feel a shiver creep down your spine, and then it is silent once more.
What do you do?

==================================================

SUCCESSOR
Reven, the sweet numbing warmth of the alcohol washes over you as you sample the stock. The finger food decelerates the impact slightly, but you remember what you came for and why. Playing with the billiards table you find it has a slight tilt towards the bar; you suspect the table may have been damaged by heavyset barflies in nights long gone.
"Happier days" you hear from behind you as you lean in to look. Flinching, you turn around to see a rat, leaning against a bottle of wine, on the counter of the bar.
"So, what brings you to my not so humble abode on this miserable autumn night?" the rat says, smiling (as if such were possible from a rodent).
You are left speechless. Is this a hallucination? Or some manner of magic? You WERE just thinking about rats and mazes.
"Come, join me in a drink. This is one of my favorites. I've got my own vineyard on the grounds. This one has a nice oak finish."
You take a seat next to the rat.
"You might want to be on the look-out for side effects. The boy likes to test GOURMAND magic on my stuff, and I don't know which bottles he's been fiddling around with."
The rat pours you a glass and you take a sip.
"Well then, share a bit about yourself and I'll return the favor."
He takes a swig from the bottle.
"But don't expect me to keep up with you. This tiny body isn't really equipped to hold the liquor."
What do you do?

==================================================

mrz84
Zataka, you can't shake this uneasy feeling that is creeping down your spine, so you set out to distract yourself by reading the notes on the desk in the aviary. They appear to be some sort of scientific and wizardly hybrid of biological study. The author is trying to quantify the magical capacity of the various species of birds in the aviary; assessing how much magic each is capable of 'housing' (as he puts it) as well as analyzing flight speeds, dietary restrictions, and lifespans. He writes, with much disappointment, that the gutter-birds seem to have the highest magical capacity, and he goes on to theorize that it is their very mundane nature that makes room for more of the 'fantastic'.
The wizard spoke to you in the pumpkin patch through the body of a CROW. Is it possible these notes were his assessment of a potential spy network? The birds... all the birds. They're his eyes. There isn't a single place in the mansion that they HAVEN'T been present.
A pigeon lands on the desk next to you and begins to speak.
"Things are not always as they appear. Try to remember that a book is more than its cover. Oh, and do try to refrain from breaking my walls!"
With that, the pigeon flies back up into the rafters.
What do you do?

==================================================

Xyvol
Malichor, you begin by skimming the chapter on HEDGE BUDDING. The discussion is a little hard to follow because you really only had one Hedge Magic class while apprenticing as a mage, but it sounds like the goal of the ritual is to grow a plant that contains a perfect CLONE of the individual, and then transfer consciousness into the resulting BUD. There are notes in the margins with two different sets of handwriting. The first states simply "Promising. Reliable but requires time and real estate. Dare I put down roots?" The second says "This is hedge magic, yet the transfer requires an act of PSIONIC magic. Cite in the thesis?".
Wait a minute. That SOLDIER said something about finding a body inside one of the pumpkins in the patch. Until now you were working under the assumption that the Hedge Wizard was somehow kidnapping people and sapping their life force. What if it was a clone? What if every pumpkin in the patch is a clone of the wizard?
Clearly he has taken quite the stab at immortality, successfully. There's no way to tell how old he actually is, then, or how POWERFUL he might have become over the years. You thought the mansion was the work of multiple wizards... previous owners and commission works. If this is all at the hands of a single man...
Best not to engage such a man in combat.
You hear pacing and muttering above you. Perhaps TOMA BARTRAND is still in the library. Or could it be TELIVAR?
What do you do?

==================================================

bigjoe
Jerias, you awaken atop a pile of rubble. Cold. There is pale light from above; from the MOON, but it comes from an opening no longer large enough to accommodate you. Your memory is blurred. You fell, that must be how you got here. But fell from where? And where is here?
Your stomach growls. You look to the egg at your back. Warmth, warmth and nutrition. But no, you need the EGG for warmth of a different nature. A rat scurries across the floor. You pounce, clenching it in your claws. Exhaling flames you sear it BLUE RARE and it is in your mouth. For a moment you feel the warmth as its faint heartbeat goes silent inside of you. The rodent helps with the HUNGER. Some, but not enough.
You see a flash in your mind, of tableware and seasoned stakes, of little pink sausages at the ends of your hands where your talons should be, of flagons of mead and ale feeding warmth into you. Warmth that wasn't as hungry as the little fire inside of you. The thought makes you cringe; you shake it from your mind.
There is a RUSTY JAIL DOOR before you; old dilapidated bars held in place by weathering mortar. Beyond it is a torch, illuminating a cellar filled with great casks of wines, as large as a man.
SILENCE.
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I recite the poem to myself in my head, committing it to memory. I do not yet know what it means, but my guess is that the red orbs have something to do with fire. Glancing at each statue, I try to draw some connection relating to the placement of the orbs on each. Is there some pattern to it that I can discern (remember my heightened aasimar senses)?

[mrz84]

I commit to memory what I can of the notes on the desk. As for the pigeon's remark, I turn it over in my head for a bit before committing it to memory as well. Still knowing now that the birds are a possible spy network, I will have to be wary of them fro the remainder of our time in the mansion. This, however complicates things more than they needed to be.

I turn to my companion and inquire on what progress he has made with the statues and if there is anything I can do to assist. If not, I will relay what we have found to Malichor before continuing the search for the cloaked man. If I encounter the woman again, I will attempt to persuade her we mean her no harm if possible. If diplomacy fails me, I will try to disarm her without causing permanent damage to her (or the mansion's walls).

[bigjoe]

I notice the wear on the mortar and attempt to smash through the cell door forcefully. This hunger is driving me to near madness, and the taste of rat has attuned my senses to that there may be a larger one nearby. Once on the other side, I plan to survey my surroundings and look for an exit. The wine casks are of no interest.

[Xyvol]

I thought I was alone in the library. With the revelation I just had, hearing the sound of someone else above me creeps me out. I put aside my research and sneak up the stairs to get a look at who it may be. I take great care to do so quietly, I do not want to startle what may possibly be an immortal wizard.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you look to the light sources in the aviary and compare them against the shadows. You figure there is some insight related to the statue of the WOMAN and her shadow based on the poem, and the LIZARD is dragon enough to be the reference to the fire. Still, you cannot figure out how the RAVEN fits into the puzzle. You light a torch. The RED PEARLS seem almost hungry at the introduction of fire to the room, flaring up and almost beckoning to be embraced by the flame. Standing behind the LIZARD statue, you note that the shadows grow long away from the WOMAN. You find a sconce on that wall and place your torch, stepping into the shadows and following them to their end.
Hmm, as the flames flicker, the shadow of the woman appears to swallow the pearl and then be enveloped by the shadow of the lizard. It is almost as if the RAVEN statue exists to facilitate the transition between these two states. You decide to investigate more closely.
There is a BUTTON located at the base of each statue.
Do you press one?

==================================================

mrz84
Zataka, you find Sancireph absolutely distracted by the mystery of the statues. He is staring at the red orbs grasped by each statue, almost as if he is being drawn into another world. You try to talk to him, but he does not seem to respond to your presence. With worry, you go back into the LOBBY to speak with Malichor. There are rats running about with masonry tools repairing the damaged lock and wall and grumbling quietly to themselves. No doubt they are under some manner of enchantment. You go to the Library door. It is still locked, so you knock politely. No response. You consider once again hacking a hole through the wall, but decide that Malichor was rightly worried about the valuable books beyond. Considering your host's might, you instead try the last remaining unexplored door in the lobby. It opens out into an ORCHARD COURTYARD, with various fruiting trees and a glass ceiling to let the sun in and keep the weather out. Each tree is surrounded by a THORNY BRAMBLE; clearly the wizard of the mansion prizes these plants more than anything else you have encountered.
You see the THIEF you encountered earlier exit the orchard from the other side. You call for her to wait, but she is already gone. As you consider following her, you hear a rather loud rumbling from the Lobby.
What do you do?

==================================================

bigjoe
Jerias, with the force of your shoulder you slam the prison gate and it crashes to the ground. You rise, dusting yourself off, and taste the air in search of a larger heart to heat your hungry flame. Turning to the RIGHT, you travel down a narrow hallway that runs past several other OUBLIETTES like the one in which you fell; each appears to be long abandoned. Pressing onward, you find yourself in front of a SWIFT RIVER, running through the cavernous limestone that makes up your surroundings. There is a water wheel downstream from you, it seems to be powering a machine that is grinding barley. A pair of RATS swim by, you snatch one and consume it as you have done before. The cold that was enveloping you seems to retreat. There is something comfortable about this place.
There is a path travelling along the river both UPSTREAM and DOWNSTREAM (with the water wheel being downstream).
Which way do you go?

==================================================

Xyvol
Malichor, you very carefully set down the book and sneak up the stairs. On the second floor, standing next to a ladder and paging through one of the books, is a SPECTACLE-SPORTING YOUNG MAN. You catch the title of the book: Phantom Whispers. It is familiar to you, you recall from your own apprenticeship that certain objects can RECORD sensations and, sometimes, even words. The book explains that spirits of the dead cling to things that are familiar.
The young man turns to go to the stairway and, spotting you, gasps.
"Oh my, you certainly startled me. I didn't know we were expecting guests; when I heard the door lock I just assumed the master had come to the library for research materials."
You decide this must be TOMA the apprentice. You ask about the door locks.
"Master is accustomed to entertaining guests but he is aware that they can be particularly reckless around his priceless collections. So he has a standing spell that prohibits access to a room when there are more than two occupants. It keeps people from dragging the party into the wrong places."
You ask how he can host parties when the lobby has a story drop at the front door.
"What? Oh dear, he must have forgotten to open the front door. I'm dreadfully sorry, that is a security measure against burglars."
The young man walks over to a suspicious book and pulls on it. You hear a rather loud rumbling from the LOBBY.
"There, that should do it. The stairs should be out now."
What a curious fellow. He doesn't appear to be antagonistic towards you. He could no doubt answer many of your questions about TELIVAR, the MANSION, and even his THESIS.
Will you carry on the conversation?

==================================================

SUCCESSOR
Reven. as you stare at the RAT trying to decide if he is the equivalent of a PINK ELEPHANT or if he is legitimately talking to you, you notice that the bottle of wine which you and he are sharing begins to levitate under its own accord.
"Ugh, I thought TOMA might have tampered with this one. Telekinesis always seems like a laugh until you fall asleep and break every piece of glass in a twenty foot radius. Don't worry, though, it'll wear off in a few hours."
The rat leaps into the air, grabbing the bottle and trying to anchor it with his body. He floats there rather comically.
"Could you give me a hand?"
You grab the bottle and force down on the counter. The rat pushes it away.
"Well there'll be no more drinking from that vintage. Let me fetch something from my secret stash; the boy doesn't know about it so he can't have tampered with them."
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

Before pressing the buttons, I consider--there are buttons on each of the statues, but just pressing them immediately might not be a good idea. This wizard is clever, and it seems to me that whatever functions these statues serve, the buttons on them must be pressed in a certain order. Judging by the shadow patterns, I will start with the button on the woman statue, but will not press any others until I see what the result is from this one.

[bigjoe]

I head in the direction of the water wheel, scanning the surroundings for anything that may be of use. I give the water wheel a bit of special attention, and take further examination of its function, before continuing to head in the direction I am on.

[mrz84]

After taking a careful note of what types of trees are in the orchard, I consider following the woman. However, I put that thought away as a solo confrontation might prove unwise, even with my armor and greatsword, without any sort of backup. I instead decide to return to the lobby and investigate the noise, being on my guard for any surprises.

[Xyvol]

Yes, wish to carry on the conversation, particularly about the master of the mansion.

[SUCCESSOR]

Hearing the rat speak as I was examining the billiard table set me at edge. I had been listening out for human s approaching but not on the listen for rodent footsteps, would I have heard them. I sit with the rat and take a drink. I carefully retake in the room. It is not in my nature to be surprised by anything magical or mundane, but I on the alert for a trap. I look for threats and an escape as well as assess the talking rodent. My silence has been notice. I play it off as drunkenness. When the rat floats I laugh too loud. Before he can swap the bottles I finish the glass he poured. "Never too early for Psionics... Or late! What's the hour again?" I chortle the words. "If you are pouring from your reserves I'll tell you anything you care to know!". If I truly am welcome might as well have some fun!

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, as you press the button at the base of the statue of the WOMAN, you feel a tremendous sense of peril. You leap back just before a trapdoor opens up beneath you. Looking down, you see it leads to some kind of JAIL CELL. It looks like that button was not the right one to press.
What do you do?

==================================================

bigjoe
Jerias, you travel DOWNSTREAM towards the WATER WHEEL. There is a door near it; you gently open it to find a fully functioning BREWERY, several stories tall. A small utility stairwell goes up four floors. Flocks of birds fly around the devices, apparently performing the necessary maintenance operations. What IS this place?
What do you do?

==================================================

mrz84
Zataka, upon returning to the LOBBY you find a grand staircase leading up to the front door. It appears to have emerged from the wall you scaled down earlier. There is also a fully furnished walkway on the floor above you, leading to the various second-floor doors of the AVIARY and LIBRARY. You wonder if these stairs were always present, and if something simply made them SOLID.
What do you do?

==================================================

Xyvol
Malichor, you ask the apprentice about the master of the mansion.
"He's afraid. He spends so much time in his study now, using rats and crows as ephemeral appendages to bring him what he needs. Ever since we had that brush with that DRAGON he's been terrified of corruption. Honestly it's driving him a little mad; I hope he will feel safe again soon.
I keep telling him all that gold is a nuisance, even UNDER THE MANSION like that. Dragons love that stuff."
Toma sighs,
"I just don't know what to do for him anymore."
You ask the apprentice specifically about the master's relationship with the bartender.
"Who? Oh, that guy that buys the herbs. Ugh, don't get me started on that, they're a placebo."
You ask why the herbs aren't real.
"Well, they are real enough if you subscribe to the traditional views of magic. But really all they are is a physical object on which someone may place their disbelief, thereby protecting them from magical effects. I could grind up some mint and sell it to you and it would have the same effect if I told you it did."
He mentioned some place beneath the mansion as if that is where the study is located.
What do you do?

==================================================

SUCCESSOR
Reven, the rat lets out a deep laugh, full of heart and merriment.
"Seventh of the post meridian. Ah, it's been so long since I've had a legitimate visitor. It seems nowadays the only people who come around are stuffy apprentices and adventurers looking to snatch my gold! Tell me, what's your story?"
You tell him your name is Reven and you were out looking for something to fill your flask on this cold autumn night.
"Ah, a man of the brew I see. Perhaps you'd like to see my brewery, it's down the hall over there. I do rather like to take in the spirits. Merriment, food, parties... oh how I miss them so. My name is TELIVAR, Hedge Wizard, Mayor, Brewmaster, Chocolateer, Magister, Horticulturalist, and Freelance Novelist. I am a collector of titles."
You ask why he doesn't host parties anymore.
"People don't take well to my... peculiarities. It has been quite a while since I made an appearance in person; too high a risk of contamination."
Contamination?
"Haven't you noticed? No, perhaps it isn't apparent to someone who isn't looking for it. Tell you what, the next time you go for a hike in the woods, count the number of dragons you spot in the sky."
He pours another drink.
"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we'll all be dragged into another dimension."
You have no idea what this... rat... is talking about. Perhaps he was right about the liquor having a big effect on such a small body.
What do you do?

[bigjoe]

I consider my options. I could make a quick snack of several of these birds, but as they appear to be operating machinery, they may be functioning on some higher level and it might be best to leave them alone. I decide to climb the utility stairwell and see if there is anything I can make use of.

[mrz84]

Weighing my options, I decide to return to the aviary and check on my companion's progress and to report what I've found so far. Once I've checked on him, I'll proceed to the second floor of the aviary and see what I find up there.

[TheDarkOne]

The other button could lead to more danger, but my elven curiosity gets the better of me. I cross over to the lizard statue and press the button, keeping my senses alert for anything that might happen as a result.

[Xyvol]

"Wait, what? A Dragon?!" I ask to know more about the dragon and the circumstances involved with that encounter. Then, I relate the encounter in the pumpkin patch, the invitation to meet in the study, and the mention of employment. "Do you think Telivar intends to ask us to fight a dragon?" I ask if the study is located under the mansion. I also tell him that there are other adventures searching the mansion currently, and ask if there is an easy way to reach the study. A shortcut perhaps?

(Merry Christmas guys! And a special thanks to CJC for running this game for us!)

[SUCCESSOR]

"This brewery you speak of. I imagine it as anomalous as the rest of this place. I am no stranger of the art myself. The rare ale, spirit, tincture, or such often fetches me good deal or a night off the roads. Before the night is done I shall see it! Maybe I may learn a thing or two or walk away with a prize rarity someone along my way may pay enviously for a sip. It is a shame I may not drink with the man but his proxy.

"I saw a few disgruntled type that fit the adventurer bill. More marauders? They seemed to have had a quarrel with a equally disgruntled woman. A friend of yours? I am not unfamiliar with partaking in merriment in hostile waters but it sounds as if your castle is being hit from all sides. Though, I am certain you are aware as it seems to me your peculiarities do not end with rodents but fowls as well. You don't strike me as the type to just go down with the ship. Tell me, Telivar. What misadventure have I been drawn into?"

The talk of dragons set me at unease, though I by no means fear them(besides the obvious reasonable reasons to fear them, of course). I pull in my cloak trying not to look unsettled.

[CJC]

bigjoe
Jerias, you climb the stairwell, your feet making uncomfortable clicks as your talons tap against the reinforced metal floor. At the SECOND level and THIRD level you find doors leading out of the brewery. There is also a VALVE HANDLE that appears to have fallen away from the stills. One of the birds turns away from its work and looks at you. It cringes, recoiling, and flies as far away as it can. The other birds similarly abandon their posts. What is it about you that fills them with such aversion? The little fire inside of you cries out, as if it wants to embrace them in its flames.
What do you do?

==================================================

mrz84
Zataka, as you enter the AVIARY you see SANCIREPH press a button at the base of the lizard statue. He slowly descends into the floor as if by lift, which closes behind him as he disappears. Panicked you tap the button a few times, but it seems to be frozen while the mechanism does its work. You hurry to the second floor to look for another way to control the device, but instead find a GRAPPLING HOOK left by the woman who attacked you earlier.
The other two statues have buttons of their own at the base. Alternatively, you could take the stairs down into the CELLAR to see if you can spot your companion as he descends.
What do you do?

==================================================

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, as you press the button at the base of the lizard a sense of rightness washes over you. Of course! The dragon's soul is flame, so it shapes everything around it. That statue was the one triggering the changes in the shadows of the other two. The floor beneath you begins to descend at a comfortable pace; you believe you've found a secret passage and your suspicions are soon confirmed.
You find yourself high above a SEA OF GOLD! This room is enormous, a great cube roughly fifty yards on each axis, filled halfway with wonderful piles of glittering gold. You are roughly ten yards above this sea, looking down at a full-sized WARSHIP sailing in circles on the riches. Wait, can ships sail on solid metal? Given the mansion wizard's taste for the extravagant, you feel there is some manner of magic at work here.
What do you do?

==================================================

Xyvol
Malichor, Toma explains that Telivar had a personal clash with a dragon when it attacked the mansion a few weeks ago, and ever since he hasn't left the study, instead operating via proxy with the rats and the crows.
"He drove the beast off but was injured during the fight, so he couldn't kill it. He wouldn't even let me treat the wound. I'm worried, but he says I should focus on my studies. He says it's HIS job to be worried."
He places his hand ponderously upon his chin.
"He usually has adventurers working as contractors for him; collecting scrapings of magic artifacts. But given his recent state of mind, perhaps he does intend for you to fight the dragon."
You mention the scuffle in the pumpkin patch.
"Master Telivar only uses LYCAON magic on people he finds too troublesome to bargain with. If you're polite, you should be fine. You've already impressed him if he gave you an invitation to his study."
You ask how to reach the study.
"Well, the safe way is through the WINE CELLAR, but you won't be able to find the entrance without my help. Otherwise, there's the secret lift in the AVIARY, it leads right to his study."
What do you do?

==================================================

SUCCESSOR
Reven, the rat palms his forehead with his paw a few times, shakes his head, and then begins speaking again. The slurs of alcohol are purged from his voice this time.
"True, I do facilitate the function of much of this mansion with various magical incantations and the brewery is among such manipulation. It is one of my key sources of revenue, outside selling my services to the odd bored noble. It is a spectacle if you care to observe such things; a perfect infusion of wizardry and science."
He shakes is head.
"In response to your other question, no, the woman is not familiar to me. Another poor soul plagued by greed, seeking her prize from my coffers. She will suffer the consequences as any other thief does; I have CURSED THE GOLD to punish those who take it unlawfully. I suspect this is why those other adventurers are here; I lost a sizable pile a few nights ago and this is likely the fallout of that curse. Rest assured, though, that though my mansion is a fortress to the malcontent it will welcome all who come with open arms. The adventure in which you are now ensnared is not here."
He takes a swig from the bottle on the counter.
"I had a brush with a dragon a few weeks ago. The thing has left me with more wounds than I care to admit. Worse, signs of its corruption have been burning their way into my magic. It has opened my eyes to a startling truth and I am terrified. If it is adventure you seek, then I would happily feed it down your blade to that wretched lizard's heart. But such matters are better discussed in person. My study can be found through the CELLAR; twist the spigot on the CASK that houses no wine and you will find the way forward."
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I look out over this strange scene with suspicion, sensing that this may be some sort of illusion. The piles of riches hold no interest for me--if I am to become wealthy, it will be from my own work, not stealing it from another. The ship in particular has me baffled--how does it sail here underground with no wind? As the lift descends, I keep my senses attuned for any telltale signs that this might not be as it seems.

[bigjoe]

I give into the will of the fire and scorch several of the birds, before heading through the door on the second level. I am alarmed by the behavior of the birds, so I keep on alert for anything suspicious.

[mrz84]

I pocket the grappling hook, thinking it could come in handy. I decide it best to leave the other statues alone and instead decide to descend into the cellar, all the time careful of any trouble I may find. At this time, my highest priority is my comrade's whereabouts and safety.

[Xyvol]

I thank Toma for his help and ask how to get through the wine cellar to the study. I'd like to find out the wizard's intentions as soon as possible, and let the others know what I learned. I also tell Toma that I look forward to reading his thesis when it is finished. I looked to be a very interesting theory.

[CJC]

(With my main computer out of order at the moment and with other things conflicting with the schedule, I had to postpone Tuesday's update to today. I am also going to refrain from giving SUCCESSOR's update until he has had a chance to respond, as he's had a rough week and I do not want to put any more on his plate).
==================================================

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you hear a GREAT EXPLOSION from somewhere above you. In fact, the shockwave of the blast disturbs your center of balance and you fall, landing on your back on the deck of the ship. It certainly looks real enough from this vantage.
Looking over the side, you see that the ship is moving not by the force of wind, but rather by a current in the gold. Perhaps the gold itself is an illusion, or it has been subjected to some manner of magic to make it FLOW LIKE WATER. This seems likely as the gold in the tavern was also enchanted and no doubt came from here. Still, you do not feel the aggression that plagued that wealth; either this is a different stash or there is some trigger that makes the gold 'attack'.
There's a door to the CAPTAIN'S CABIN as well as two leading down into the depths of the ship.
What do you do?

==================================================

bigjoe
Jerias, you surrender to the WILL OF THE FLAME and spew an inferno upon the fowl workforce. They scatter, their feathers scattering as they are swallowed by the fury of combustion. These flutter gently onto the machinery of the brewery, burning through essential components and then, finally, upon contact with the brew, exploding like rockets and tearing the room to pieces. You survive the blast by taking shelter beyond the door in a HALL OF MIRRORS. When you look again, the brewery is nothing more than a smoking crater leading down into the caves below. Is this what the fire wanted? You hear a voice in the back of your head:
"Yes, yes, drive the spike of fire into the heart of the fortress and tear forth the sweet nectar of gold contained within."
What is this VOICE? It seems familiar but at the same time foreign, as if it is an alien entity forcing its way into your mind.
What do you do?

==================================================

mrz84
Zataka, as you descend into the cellar the ground shakes as a GREAT EXPLOSION sets the building quaking. Several stones fall from the ceiling but you are able to avoid them. The lady burglar from before, however, was not. You find her unconscious in front of a great CASK OF WINE; it appear during the aftershock a stone came loose and struck her on the head.
There are an incredible number of wine casks here, and the one she's collapsed in front would appear to be nothing special save the fact that she was investigating it before she was knocked out cold. You can see ahead of you a series of JAIL CELLS, abandoned and in terrible disrepair, with one even missing its door. There is a hall of them stretching in either direction.
What do you do?

==================================================

Xyvol
Malichor, Toma tells you there is a WINE CASK that isn't a cask at all. It's along the SOUTH WALL and if you try to tap it you will find that it is empty. Instead, turn the spigot like a handle and the front of the cask will open, revealing a STAIRWELL leading down to the Master's Study. There is one more hazard, however: The Master's gold is enchanted with TOON magic; it flows like water and nobody but a CRAZY DUCK could possibly swim across it (everyone else sinks). He tells you to be sure to use one of the SHORE BOATS that should be docked at the gold's edge and NOT TO LEAVE THE BOAT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Toma thanks you for your interest and modestly states that he'll need more evidence before he can defend it to the panel.
As you step back into the lobby, you hear a TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION from the door on your RIGHT. The entire mansion shakes, and you are forced to dive to safety when one of the chandeliers falls from the ceiling. Toma bursts out of the library, panicked, and then departs through the door on the right, looking for the source of the blast.
What do you do?

[bigjoe]

I turn away from the destruction that I have just wrought. As I gaze upon my many reflections, memories of a deep torment flood my mind. This moment fills my being with rage. I have become what I once sought to defeat. Out of no desire for strategy, merely out of disgust, I begin smashing the mirrors with my lance, intent on removing myself from my vision. When there is no mirror left, I close my eyes and reflect upon the voice. Though I feel it is the source of my fury, it gives me direction. I continue onward in search of an exit, lighting the way with a small flame if needed. I take heed of the egg which I seek to protect. Its safety shall always come first.

[TheDarkOne]

Taking a closer look at the sea of gold, I decide it would be unwise to abandon ship. There might be clues or answers to the many questions in my head in the captain's cabin, so that will be my first destination. I keep my senses alert as I head in that direction, one of my blades in hand as I try the handle of the door.

[mrz84]

In an ironic twist of fate, I use the lady burglar's own grappling hook (which I acquired earlier) to bind her and prevent her from getting into more trouble. Once I'm done with that, I plan to put her into one of the abandoned cells that has the closest to a functioning lock. I then search the casket of wine for anything of significance, even the tiniest detail.

[SUCCESSOR]

WTF? I swear to god I posted just before the fire. Grrr... Or I typed it all up on my phone and forgot to push submit. (Wouldn't be the first time.) Let me reacquaint myself with whats going on.

[Xyvol]

Picking myself up off the floor of the lobby, I realize that I have no idea where the wine cellar is or how to get to it. I hadn't asked about that part. I'd prefer to go straight to the wizard at this point, but with no clear direction of where to go, I decide to follow Toma into the room where the blast came from. I may be able to assist with whatever crisis has occurred. From a hidden pocket of my cloak, I pull out some paper pieces that have been folded into star shapes and marked with runes of sharpness, making them deadly when spinning.

[SUCCESSOR]

I explain to the rat I have little interest in adventure. There is little he could offer me to warrant slaying a dragon and I have no interest or means of carrying piles of gold. If I were to go to his study it would be for the company and conversation. Not many chances to engage a scientific mind in the life of a wanderer.


(sorry if i miss anymore there is a lot to do yet)

[CJC]

bigjoe
Jerias, you smash every mirror that you can find. Suddenly, you notice a RAT is watching you with great intent. When you lock eyes with him, he roars.
"YOU MONSTER!" the little thing shouts as he takes a bipedal pose and begins to gesture with his front paws. A magical symbol etches itself in the air in front of this little vermin, and from it spews forth a deluge of river water, jetting straight for you.
The egg on your back twitches slightly.
What do you do?

============

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you open the door to the captain's cabin. Inside, you find a desk, a stack of papers, and a husky man in a recliner, facing away from you. He's looking into some kind of ellipsoid CRYSTAL BALL. From your vantage you can see a picture-in-picture display of THE CLOAKED MAN FROM THE LOBBY in some kind of tavern, ZATAKA in a WINE CELLAR with that LADY BURGLAR from before, MALICHOR in an ORCHARD with a young wizard, and a SPEAR-TOTING LIZARDMAN smashing mirrors in a dark hall. He is making subtle gestures with his hands and mumbling as he watches, almost as if in a daze.
It would appear that you've located TELIVAR'S STUDY.
What do you do?

============

mrz84
Zataka, you bind the BURGLAR WOMAN and place her in one of the cells. The lock is flimsy, but it is the strongest you were able to locate. Confident she will be detained until you finish your business, you then return to the cask she was investigating.
It's against the wall, but there doesn't seem to be anything significant about it. You decide to help yourself to the contents, so you grab a nearby FLAGON and tap the cask. Nothing. It appears to be empty.
You stop to ponder, and that's when you notice the breeze. It's coming from behind the cask.
What do you do?

=============

Xyvol
Malichor, you follow TOMA through the door, coming upon an ORCHARD contained within a COURTYARD. He doesn't notice you. Instead, he runs out of the ORCHARD through a door on the other side. You follow. The two of you come to a door that has been blasted open. Beyond is a crater and a clear view to the PUMPKIN PATCH.
Toma turns back and bumps into you.
"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry, but I must go to the library and prepare a damage invoice. Master will want to know how much gold repairs will take."
You ask why he doesn't seem concerned that the mansion is under attack.
"Defense is not my responsibility. Besides, I'm sure master Telivar has thought up a suitable response already. He will be quite cross if I don't prepare these numbers quickly, though."
You ask where the Wine Cellar is.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I keep forgetting that people are not familiar with the layout of this place. You can find the wine cellar by taking the stairs down in the AVIARY or the TAVERN. The TAVERN is right over there, actually."
What do you do?

=============

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you tell the rat that an adventure of dragonslaying would not suit you.
"Well, good company is good company regardless, and perhaps there is another task I could pay you for... if not in gold then perhaps in fine spirits. Such is a matter to be discussed in person, however."
Before the conversation can continue, the shockwave of an enormous explosion shakes the room.
"What was that?! What if it's back! Oh ****!"
The rat possessed by Telivar looks around frantically, as if it is looking through a different set of eyes.
"No, not a dragon. One of its lackeys. Dragoon. I have to take care of this."
The rat goes limp. You lean in closer and it awakens, squeaks, and flees to a hole in the wall. You assume the wizard has relinquished possession of its body.
With your conversation partner gone, you decide to make your way to the study to continue the conversation in person (Only a soldier runs TOWARDS an explosion, after all). Taking the stairs down as far as you can go, you find yourself in the WINE CELLAR.
You see the SOLDIER from the LOBBY tying up some woman in front of a wine cask. You hide around the corner and wait for him to depart. When he's gone, you approach the cask. As you suspected, it is the empty cask, so you turn the spigot and the thing opens like a door.
Passing through, you shut the opening behind you. Walking down a long stairway, you come across a gigantic room, roughly fifty yards on each side, with a SEA OF GOLD filling it roughly halfway. There is a WARSHIP sailing in the distance and four SHORE BOATS docked at a pier near where you are standing.
What do you do?

[bigjoe]

I catapult off of my spear towards the ceiling and cling to it tightly, hoping to avoid the deluge. If I am successful, I make an attempt to flee the area; This rat is a force to be reckoned with.

[mrz84]

I examine the wine cask again, this time fiddling with every possible thing I can to discover what mysteries it hides. I stay cautious however in the case of a trap.

[TheDarkOne]

I keep my katana drawn but down. I take a step forward and say, "Expecting more company? My friends may be otherwise occupied, so we can start without them." When he turns to face me, I pull the wraithwood root from my pack and toss it to the floor in front of him. "First, we shall discuss this."

[Xyvol]

I am somewhat baffled by Toma's reaction. Does this sort of thing happen so often that the biggest concern is the cost? I stand and take in the scene of the crater and the blast as I put my stars away. Once Toma has left, I make my way to the Tavern.

[CJC]

bigjoe
Jerias, you spike your spear into the ceiling and cling tight, narrowly evading the deluge. As the water clears, you see the rat flailing its paws in concentric circles, gathering the shattered MIRROR GLASS in a terrifying BALL OF DOOM. You flee through a door as the rat launches it.
You are in a LIBRARY. The place is huge, four stories tall to be precise with books up the walls. A young man is sitting at a desk one floor down, frantically scribbling numbers on a roll of parchment. There are stairs going up and down, as well as a door to your RIGHT.
The egg on your back twitches slightly.
What do you do?

============

mrz84
Zataka, you fiddle with the cask, first pushing against the edges. You find that it is hinged on the right, set up to swing in. Figuring it is a door, you look for something that would function as a knob and quickly settle on the spigot. Indeed, as you turn it the face of the cask swings open. Passing through, you find a long staircase leading down. Following it, you come across a glittering SEA OF GOLD COINS as you enter a room roughly fifty yards on each side. There is a WARSHIP in the distance sailing in circles, and there are four SHORE BOATS docked near where you are standing.
What do you do?

============

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, for a moment it seems as if the wizard has not heard you. However, he flinches upon realizing he has company and leans over slightly in his recliner. Turning his head, he looks at you and then to the object on the floor.
"Oh, you're that elf fellow that was in the Pumpkin Patch earlier. So you're here about my offer then? What's that you want to discuss?"
You explain rather forcefully that you found this specimen in HIS greenhouse.
Squinting, he paws around his desk with his left hand. You raise your katana expecting an attack, but instead he grabs a pair of reading glasses and raises them to his eyes.
"Well then, that appears to be the root ball of Toma's Wraithwood tree. My but he will be disappointed."
You pound your fists on the table demanding an explanation.
"The boy is working on his magister's thesis. This specimen was one of his experiments. He's no doubt cataloged the data by now, but I believe he was going to use the tree as part of his defense. He'll have to start over now."
You vehemently demand to know where the Aasimar victim is being held.
"He didn't use one, he used his own blood."
This doesn't sound right. You did not sense an Aasimar presence when you entered the mansion. But it doesn't seem like Telivar is lying.
"His thesis is aiming to redefine the way we look at magic. Though personally, given my own recent close encounter, the results of his studies seem almost textbook. Anyway, that's his work, you'll want to talk to him. I think I scried him in the LIBRARY."
He shrugs.
"Still, before you leave, would you care to discuss my BUSINESS PROPOSITION?"
What do you do?

============

Xyvol
Malichor, taking in the grave crater with one last glance, you acknowledge that a mansion like this is an attractive nuisance for any manner of adventurer, so you assume damage and calculated repairs would be common. However, devastation of this magnitude seems a bit extreme to be blase' about. Perhaps it is a matter to be discussed with the manor's lord?
You go into the tavern. The place is eerily quiet. There are tables on this level and a bartender's island in the center of the room. You take the stairs up to catch a quick gander at the other levels. On the second floor there is a table of BILLARDS. It has been recently used. Additionally, there is a great WALL OF SPIRITS and a traditional bar counter. Two glasses and a bottle of wine sit on the counter; the bottle is still open. A dumbwaiter is on this level; flour has been spilled within and there are rat footprints patterned in the dust.
Going to the third floor, you find a series of small rooms, each with a bed. Somewhere for patrons to crash after a night of partying?
Heading all the way down the staircase, you find an oaken door. Opening it leads you to the WINE CELLAR.
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I concentrate with my senses, trying to detect any sign of an aasimar presence. Even if he could mask it from being detected by other beings, that would not hide him from another aasimar. Unless he is actually a tiefling instead...they too could use their blood to grow wraithwood, but I would not sense a tiefling's presence. Meanwhile, I question this wizard about his business proposal.

[bigjoe]

I remember the command of the voice, to find the gold hidden beneath the mansion. This man is concerned with numbers, finances. He should know the whereabouts of what I am searching for. I sneak up on him to hold him up for the location of the gold. I have the drop on him; if he attempts to flee or attacks me, I am prepared to take him down.

[mrz84]

I carefully get into one of the boats and, with even greater care, attempt to row to the warship. I attempt to time my approach to prevent capsizing. This gold may look solid, but my battle-trained senses tell me that a fall into it would be the last mistake I make.

[Xyvol]

The tavern certainly looks built and stocked to accommodate a large number of people. I'm curious as to how often the mansion has invited guests and parties. Suspecting the open bottle of wine was used recently, I prepare to encounter another adventurer as I enter the Wine Cellar.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you try again to sense Aasimar blood off the wizard or another inhabitant of the mansion, but find nothing. From what you can see of the mansion lord there is no evidence of infernal blood on his physical presence, nor does he have the air of a pact beneficiary. He is, however, concealing his right arm. You ask about the business proposal.
"Well, it's actually TWO proposals, one in the short term and one in the long term. I'll start with the short term. My home was recently assaulted by a dragon."
A pneumatic tube descends from the ceiling and from it erupts a small scrap of paper.
"Ah, damage reports for the brewery. Hmm... we're going to need a quarry."
You look at him, confused.
"Sorry, this will only take a moment."
The ship lurches to the left and then settles into calm sailing once more.
"Right then, that takes care of that. They'll begin repairs in the morning."
He quickly scribbles something on a scroll of paper, sends it back through the tube, and then it vanishes again into the ceiling.
"Anyway, long story short I need somebody to kill the dragon and bring me samples from its body. Scales, fangs, bones, whatever you can pry off the thing. I'll pay double if you can bring me the whole body intact. Though I suppose before I offer such a bonus I should ask you to name your price."
What do you do?

============

bigjoe
Jerias, you grab the young man by his throat and hoist him up into the air. Strangely, the look of fear on his face (an expected reaction) quickly turns to excitement as he assesses you with his eyes. You correct his reaction with a few forceful lashes of your tail. You begin to speak. It is difficult at first; the words are familiar but you can't comprehend how to shape them with your mouth. 'The Gold' you say in a forceful, intimidating hiss.
He tries to speak, but your claw is on his throat and all that emerges is a gasp. You drop him.
"My goodness, look at you! An honest-to-goodness dragon corrupted dragoon!"
He seems to be analyzing you as if he is trying to catalog your characteristics.
"Would you mind terribly if I harvested a few samples? Some scales, a tooth, what have you? I'm sure they'll grow back".
You once again remind him: 'The Gold'.
"Bit of a one-track mind on you. Let's have a gander, shall we?"
He locks eyes with you. By instinct you interpret this as an aggressive act, and so lunge forward to bite. But he has already recoiled and he is visibly shaking.
"I... I..."
Once more you remind him: 'The Gold'.
"Yes, yes, the gold. Please, follow me."
He leaves the room through the door on this floor. What do you do?

============

mrz84
Zataka, indeed the gold appears solid when you examine it, as it should. However, the oars of the shore boat pass through it as if it were water or, perhaps more appropriately, molasses. As you row towards the boat you are startled by a spontaneously forming maelstrom near its port stern. What could only be described as a HOLE draws in floods of the gold and your boat with it. Then, just as spontaneously as it had begun, the maelstrom ceased. You and your ship are in position at the port side of the boat, but there is no crew to hoist you aboard.
Unfortunately you parted with the GRAPPLING HOOK. Still, there are CANNONS on this side of the ship, so you decide to climb in there.
It's DARK. There is a painting of a BOAT on the wall, barrels of GUNPOWDER in a room to your left, and a LOCKED DOOR to your right. You have a general sense of unease standing in here. Is it the rocking of the boat? Or something worse?
What do you do?

============

Xyvol
Malichor, you enter the WINE CELLAR expecting to encounter another adventurer, and indeed you do. As you step into the area you see a series of OUBLIETTES in a row, and one of them houses an unconscious WOMAN tied up with some kind of grappling hook. In the wine cellar itself there is a single cask with its face open, revealing a stairway leading DOWN. Clearly someone has been here first.
The woman is human: a brunette wearing mostly black clothing. Her hair is badly tangled to the right, indicating she is left-handed. She has a CROSSBOW on her belt. You do not detect any magic on the woman. Some kind of strike to the head knocked her unconscious. You wonder if she in danger of expiring from the complications of a concussion. Who tied her up?
And more importantly, what do you do?

============
SUCCESSOR
Reven, hearing footsteps you shelter yourself with your cloak, pretending to be a pile of rags. The SOLDIER from the LOBBY walks past you, boarding one of the shore boats and rowing his way to the WARSHIP in the distance. He does not notice you as he goes past. During his approach you notice a portal of DARKSPACE open in the gold, drawing in an incalculable sum of coins and then spontaneously closing again. During this even you also notice that the gold seems to be flowing as a liquid, rather than the solid it should. You confirm your suspicions by reaching into the gold; it runs through your fingers. Grabbing a nearby bucket you dunk it into the gold and pour it out on the dock. Odd... on the dock it behaves as a solid, and the metal was able to interact with it correctly. A limitation of the magic, perhaps? The lord of the mansion made no mention of this when he invited you down here; was it simply an oversight or did he want you to observe his power firsthand? Or is this some kind of test? A matter to be discussed in person indeed.
What do you do?

[mrz84]

Taking in my surroundings, I formulate several scenarios of what I could do, and decide to start by examining the painting of the boat in detail before turning my attention to the locked door. Knowing how dangerous gunpowder is, I decide to leave it be for the time being.

[bigjoe]

Wary that he might be leading me into a trap or ambush, I follow him cautiously with my spear drawn. I have a feeling that I just need to get eyes on the gold and I will satisfy the voice.

[TheDarkOne]

"My price for slaying a dragon? How much do you suppose a life is worth these days? I don't know if I should be flattered that you think so highly of my abilities, or insulted that you would send me to my death." Then I step forward, raising my sword a bit. "Now, tell me of this Toma. He is no aasimar; how does he grow wraithwood?"

[Xyvol]

I check the room for any clues to the struggle involving the woman, to try to discover if she is friendly or a threat. She may be tied up as a result of encountering one of the other adventurers I came in with, or it could be another reason entirely. Didn't the Soldier have a grappling hook he tried to use at the front door? I will check her wound to make sure it isn't life threatening. If it is, I will attempt to stabilize her so she won't die. If not, or when I'm done, I continue through the wine cask and down the stairs.

[CJC]

mrz84
Zataka, inspecting the painting you notice that it is a landscape interpretation of the very ship you are currently occupying. As you look closely, a door on the painting seems out of place. Running your finger down the canvas you find a key has been painted into position and you tear it free. You put the key in the lock and turn it.
Making your way to the DECK, you see a cabin door which subsequently shakes as if struck by a heavy object. You can hear voices inside.
What do you do?

============

bigjoe
Jerias, as you follow the young man into the lobby he turns on his heel. Flailing his hands, he animates the CURTAINS and ensnares you. You burn them and stab him with your spear, striking him in the shin. He screams, flailing as the fire-wreathed fabric dances across the lobby. Frantically forming a ball of light in his hands the stuck wizard tries to fling it at you, but you grab him and redirect his blast downward, opening a gaping hole in the floor. You see a WINE CELLAR below and, more importantly, below that is a SEA OF GOLD.
What do you do?

============

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, the hedge wizard glares at you.
"Put that away. I told you he's redefining how we think about magic. Clearly he found a workaround."
As his eyes lock on yours, his right eye flashes orange, the pupil contracting into an... obelus? Division sign eyes, weird. Within a moment it reverts to a milky blue.
"Honestly yes, dragonslaying is a risk and you are expendable. But I wouldn't just fling you into a conflict you don't believe in. That's what gold is for, and clearly you can't be bought."
You swipe your sword at him but he catches it with his right hand. Or rather his right claw.
"But if I can't bribe you into helping me, perhaps I can scare you. This is dragon corruption, and this is just the tip of the iceberg."
He flings you against the cabin door.
What do you do?

============

Xyvol
Malichor, you don't see any evidence of a struggle, but you do see scuffs on her clothes. She's been dragged here. Checking her eyes you find that she is responding correctly to light; she doesn't appear to have a concussion. Assuming she is a prisoner of the soldier, you leave her constrained. As you head for the cask, a TERRIBLE ORB OF LIGHT blasts through the ceiling and--subsequently--the floor. Looking up, you see a LIZARDMAN glaring down the hole. Looking down, you see a glorious OCEAN OF GOLD.
What do you do?

============

SUCCESSOR
Reven, a TERRIBLE ORB OF LIGHT blasts through the ceiling of the grand room you now occupy, crashing into the gold with a splash.
What do you do?

[mrz84]

I hasten to the door and attempt to enter it. If a conflict is at hand, perhaps I can put a stop to it with words. Otherwise I'll be forced to use my greatsword, with a fire enchantment ready to cast on it.

[TheDarkOne]

My natural elven sense of balance allows me to right myself as I am flung towards the door. I glare at the wizard, daring him silently to attempt anything, but he stares calmly back. I consider attacking, but not knowing what other effects his "dragon corruption" might have on him, I think better of the notion and sheath my weapon. "You are correct, I cannot be bought. As for your 'conidtion,' that is your problem and not mine, therefore I leave you to it. I do not believe we have anything left to discuss, and so good day to you." I turn and reach for the door handle, but keep my senses attuned to defend against anything he might send at me from behind.

[bigjoe]

I take further steps to immobilize the wizard, not wishing to kill him after witnessing his power. Afterwards, I head in the direction of the gold with my spear drawn, keeping myself prepared for anything that might throw itself at me.

[Xyvol]

The ocean of gold below me is the one Toma mentioned, I am close to my goal. The Lizardman seems to be angry, and I don't care to stick around to find out why. I dive into the stairway and pull the cask facing closed. I inscribe a rune of magical locking on the back of the cask-door. I then descend the stairs.

[SUCCESSOR]

The burst of light startled me out of a trance. Had the gold mesmerized me? Is that another spell on it or something else? How long had I been there?

Feeling more at unease I head toward the ship. Where else is there to go that doesn't hold more danger? I head toward the study with determination. Maybe Telivar can offer at least some safety or defense from the catastrophe that seems to have erupted around me.

[CJC]

mrz84
Zataka, you force the door open but there doesn't appear to be any scuffle. In fact, the only person in the room is the hedge wizard TELIVAR, seated at a desk across the room.
"Hmm, the paladin. Hello."
You stare at him, perplexed.
"So are you here for the business proposition, to get questions answered, or just looking for the fellow with the katana? If it's the first two I'm happy to oblige. If it's the last, there's the door."
What do you do?

======

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you expect the hedge wizard to make some move against you, but much to your surprise he lets you leave without interfering in the slightest. As you step through the door, you find yourself on the mansion grounds by the front door, rather then back on the warship deck like you expected.
It's snowing. Odd, looking around the scenery isn't what it was when you entered the mansion. Could it have moved? There's a MOUNTAIN to the north, and you can see a village on the path in that direction. To the south is a pair of roads, one going into a FOREST and the other cutting across a PLAIN. The sky is dark but clear, you can see the stars and you notice a LARGE SHADOW cut across the glow of the moon, heading in the direction of the forest.
What do you do?

======

bigjoe
Jerias, you jab the wizard's other leg with your spear so that he cannot run off. Then you dive, through the opening and down into the gold, landing with a splash. Peculiar, you can feel the coins but they move as if they have no solidity. The egg on your back twitches violently and cracks. From it emerges an infant dragon--green--who matches eyes with you and smiles. He speaks with the hauntingly familiar and manipulative voice that clawed at your mind earlier.
"Ah, such a veritable ocean of gold. And more than that, so much more. Gold that comes and goes, gold that touches every corner of the world. Yes, this will do quite nicely."
He leaps from the shattered remains of the shell and vanishes into the gold.
What do you do?

======
Xyvol
Malichor, you seal the cask and make your way down to the sea of gold. You are standing at a dock in a perfectly cubical room roughly fifty yards in each dimension. The room is halfway filled with gold and there is a WARSHIP in the distance. Near you you see two SHOREBOATS resting near you. Remembering what Toma said, you know that the gold is not solid and you will not be able to cross it safely on foot unless you use the boats or somehow dispel the enchantment on the gold.
Looking up, you see that LIZARDMAN plummet from the ceiling. He lands with a splash in the distance.
What do you do?

======
SUCCESSOR
Reven, you take one of the shoreboats and row your way to the warship. As you travel the sea of gold a lizard figure plummets from the ceiling, crashing into the coins near you. You make haste with your efforts and pull up to the warship, quickly climbing aboard with the use of a handy grappling hook from your cloak. On deck, there is a door to the CAPTAIN'S CABIN as well as a set of stairs going down. Beyond the cabin door you hear Telivar's voice. He seems to be talking to a PALADIN. The soldier from earlier? Perhaps.
What do you do?

[mrz84]

I first inquire about the other intruders that I have encountered, however briefly, in the mansion and what he knows of them. The lady rogue and the cloaked man. After that, I inquire about the proposition he mentioned from earlier.

[TheDarkOne]

I am not willing to abandon my companions, the paladin and the mage, to whatever this hedge wizard intends. My options outside the mansion are limited, however, and I strongly suspect the door behind me to be locked. I do not believe I will be able to enter the same way I did before, so I circle around the other side that we did not explore the first time to see if there might be another way inside. I intend to not only find my companions, but also this Toma the wizard spoke of to question him about the wraithwood. I also curse myself for foolishly leaving the root ball in the wizard's study.

[bigjoe]

I swim around and search for a way out of the gold, feeling rather lost as to what my purpose is in life

[Xyvol]

Dispelling the gold is probably out of my league for now. I expected the lizardman to drop though the hole, I'm just glad it wasn't onto my boat! A boat in the middle of a sea of gold is an odd place for a study, but then again the wizard seems to like strange things. I board a boat and begin to row to the warship.

[SUCCESSOR]

I try to further disguise myself just in case. I fold in my cloak so it sort of looks like a cape. Pull some leather straps off my boots and bind it around my wrists. The makeshift cape swings back a little showing a scabbard hanging off my belt on the left side but no sword is held in it. I could almost pull off looking like a Ranger that is down on his luck. If anything I look more like an adventurer than a vagrant. I enter the to see what other trouble could be brewing inside the cabin.

[CJC]

mrz84
Zataka, the hedge wizard mentions that he has encountered the LADY BURGLAR before, roughly a month earlier when she made a failed attempt to steal from his treasury. As for the CLOAKED MAN, Telivar admits having shared a drink with him and describes him as a "Wanderer, intellectual, and a good drinking buddy". That doesn't really answer much, but perhaps the wizard doesn't know much about him either.
When you ask about the proposition, he clarifies
"Actually, it's two business proposals, a big one and a small one. Considering your friend's reaction, let's start with the small one."
He locks eyes with you.
"You're a paladin, yes? How much do you know about the fabric of magic? The tangible component of it? I'm helping my apprentice do research into such things and scrapings from magical equipment are essential components for such research."
He hands you a bag. Placing a gold coin into an identical bag on the table, it pops out of the bag you are holding.
"What you have there is a magical artifact; a Darkspace bag. I made this. I'm certain an adventurer like you will encounter many items like this in your travels. What I desire is simple: take a scraping off of any magical gear you encounter and send the particles through this bag so that I can examine them. I am willing to pay generously for these research components because I am far too indisposed to collect them myself."
He turns away from a moment, attempting to look dramatic. It's not very effective.
"As for the other proposition, I-"
He halts, startled.
"Wait, you're looking for someone. Who is it that you seek?"
As he asks, the door opens behind you and a RANGER walks in.
What do you do?

=====

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, as you walking the grounds you pass a HEDGE MAZE. Considering the mansion owner's specialty you suspect it would be unwise to enter such a place alone. Instead, you ignore it and continue to the back of the grounds. There's a gated section of yard overgrown with ivy; you can't see past it. More importantly, though, you see an enormous crater at the back of the mansion as if an entire wing was blasted off of the building. Was that the rumble that knocked you on to the warship? Surely this couldn't be the wizard's doing; why would he demolish his own house?
The crater dips down into a series of limestone caverns roughly a twenty foot drop down from where you are standing. You can also work your way around its edge to one of two doorways back into the mansion.
What do you do?

=====
bigjoe
Jerias, unable to track the baby dragon you swim to the WARSHIP to prevent yourself from drowning in the enchanted gold. You claw your way up the side of the vessel until you are able to reach the deck. There's a DOOR to the Captain's Cabin, as well as a stairway leading down to the belly of the ship. The only other feature of note on deck is a BARREL of salt-packed fish and a PILE OF LAUNDRY.
You have a flash in your head, a memory of that man that glares at you through mirrors. He's on a ship like this. His spear is your spear. He speaks to the crew about his many conquests against the dragon menace. Usually that menacing voice shakes you out of such trances but this time it does not interfere. Was it the baby all along? Was he manipulating you?
A MAGICIAN climbs on deck. When he sees you, he draws a piece of paper from his robes.
What do you do?

=====
Xyvol
Malichor, despite the currents of the sea of coins you are able to reach the Warship with little difficulty. Unfortunately you've lost site of that lizardfolk that was swimming in the coins. Upon reaching the warship you take out two pieces of paper, roll them into spikes, and scribe a rune upon them to make them as sharp and hard as metal. These you use to climb to the ship's deck.
As you climb up to the deck, you see that the LIZARDFOLK has beaten you here. He's standing with a spear in hand, staring at the door to the Captain's Cabin. You instinctively reach for your paper shurikens.
What do you do?

=====
SUCCESSOR
Reven, using the odds and ends that you keep in your cloak, you begin to tailor your appearance as that of a troubled ranger, hoping that your rapport with Telivar will even out with your presence as another adventurer to give you an unbiased entry into the cabin. As you are finishing your disguise, you see the LIZARDFOLK that fell near your boat climb on deck. Reflexively you drop to the ground, letting the subtle magic in your cloak disguise you as a pile of laundry. Luckily you don't have to wait long for an opportunity to escape; as soon as you hide the MAGICIAN from the lobby boards the deck from the opposite side. While he and the lizardfolk stare at each other you slip into the cabin.
The SOLDIER from the lobby is inside. Beyond him you see a chubby bald wizard with a great white beard. He's dressed in stereotypical blue robes; almost hilariously so as they even have stars and moons stitched into them. Is he legitimately trying to be a joke, or is he so powerful he can afford to dress like a lunatic?
As you enter the soldier notices you.
What do you do?

[bigjoe]

I take a glance at the magician and give him a look, a look that is slightly confrontational, but says "I'll mind my own if you mind your own." I am prepared to throw down, but my attention is directed toward the ship and the memories that it evokes.Assuming I am not attacked, I head towards the Captain's Cabin, I believe I may have to try to form words with its occupant.

[mrz84]

Quickly looking the ranger over, I don't recognize him as one of my companions. I can only assume that he is the cloaked man, though he looks more presentable than the glimpse I had of him from before. I can only assume from the details I've been told of him that he is not my enemy. I introduce myself politely before turning my attention back to the wizard.

I reveal its less the person's whereabouts I am searching for, but more his origin. I already know where his splintered body and soul reside after his attempt to murder my newborn children was stopped by the gods of my home world themselves. However, I have no idea how to combat him should he ever escape release. That is why I search for any information about him and his dark powers. I reveal that my search thus far on this world has proved fruitless, and I have my doubts he has ever been here before as I would have been able to clearly sense the terrible dark powers lingering here after my brush with death when I fought him.

[TheDarkOne]

Realizing that my companions must have made their way to the warship by now, I know I must get back to it. Keeping in mind where I found the entry into the sea of gold (the aviary), I make my way toward whichever door would get me closest to that location. I also keep an eye on the cavern below the crater for anything that might lurking in its depths. If the door I reach is locked, I have a plan, thought it is not one I would use if I had another option.

[SUCCESSOR]

As I walk in I acknowledge the greeting and boredly reply what pleasure. Looking past the Soldier I say to the Wizard, "Telivar! Been speaking of me, have you? Tales of my daring I hope!" I make my way across the room and lazily lounge in a corner while the Soldier carries on with his conversation wondering if I oversold it.

[Xyvol]

My mind races as I try to recall if I remember anything about the lizardman species. Do they tend to be hostile? Do they speak the same language as us? I had assumed the blast from earlier came from the lizardman, and have been hoping to avoid him if possible. Now that I am face to face with him, I'm careful with my actions. I want to be ready to defend myself, but not come off as if I intend to attack the creature. Holding my paper stars ready to fling, I careful watch for signs hostile actions. I glance at the cabin door. This is probably where the study is, but how to reach it with a possible enemy blocking the way?

[CJC]

(Due to scheduling issues this will be the last Tuesday update until further notice. Friday updates will continue as before, so the game will run at half speed)

bigjoe
Jerias, you launch a challenging glare at the MAGICIAN ON DECK. He recoils slightly, reaching into his pocket as if to arm himself. You lash your tail in his general direction defiantly, as if to say that he isn't worth your effort. You then open the cabin door and enter the study beyond. There's a PALADIN standing directly in front of you; he turned as you entered the room. His sword is enormous, the kind that a soldier might use to kill horse and rider with one swing. A ZANBATO. Beyond him, on the floor, is a peculiar bundle of BLACK METAL that looks like some kind of candelabra or spike trap. Past that is a desk, at which the entity whose essence matches the rat you encountered earlier sits staring at you, his expression locked between the equally potent emotions of TERROR and RAGE. At his side stands a RANGER who is casually leaning against the wall.
The MAGICIAN enters the door behind you.
What do you do?

=====

mrz84
Zataka, the RANGER exchanges idle pleasantries and then goes to the wizard's side, as if to imply that he is in Telivar's employ. Telivar admits he detected you were searching for someone but he could not sense the nature of that quest. After your description he nods and says that such power is in direct defiance of the magical fabric of this reality and he warns that you are not likely to find the answers you seek here.
"How did you come upon this place, paladin? It is odd, the extent of our magic is essentially insular to our dimension, unless... unless it pulled you in as well."
He seems distant in thought. You are unsure of what he speaks but the notion leads you to reminisce about how you came to this world.
The door behind you opens again, and through it walks a sinister looking LIZARDFOLK armed with a spear and dressed in tattered military garb. Glancing to Telivar you see the hedge wizard is visibly shaken by the presence of this creature. Before you can react, though, your ally MALICHOR enters the door behind the lizard.
What do you do?

=====

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, as you go to open the door it falls off its hinges, crashing inward into the portrait-lined hallway beyond. You enter. Remembering where you are in relation to the Aviary you turn right and open the pair of doors in your way. Beyond is an ORCHARD with various fruiting trees. You take a moment to study the area: each tree is protected at its base by a hedge of thorns, but each tree appears perfectly mundane. There are no wraithwood trees here. Also, you notice that it is not snowing in the orchard; looking up you find that the area is contained just as the Greenhouse was. With nothing else of interest there you go through the matching set of doors and find yourself back in the LOBBY. A young man is on the ground before you, bleeding, with a gaping hole in the floor adjacent. Both of his legs have been subjected to some kind of piercing weapon. He is pawing around on the ground, unable to crawl as the slick of his blood on the lobby floor prevents his hands from gaining any traction.
What do you do?

=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you very clearly attempt to project your affiliation with the hedge wizard, but the PALADIN seems more interested in your host than in you. Oh well, more drink for you. You take a swig from your flask and let the warmth fill your extremities. Telivar carries on a conversation with the Paladin about the nature of the man the latter is seeking, but you don't really care for the details. It's entertaining listening to the wizard try to translate his professional expertise out of dusty jargon and you decide to enjoy the show and wait your turn.
You turn your attention to an inkwell on the desk. Feeling the telekinesis still lingering from the other spirits you attempt to lift it with your mind. Indeed it begins to shake at your command. As you settle into the focus of the action, however, the cabin door opens and a LIZARDFOLK enters, dressed in tattered military garb and wielding a SPEAR. He and Telivar share meaningful glares, and you notice Telivar's right pupil flicker bright orange as their eyes meet. Just before they share words, the MAGICIAN from the lobby enters behind the lizard.
If a fight breaks out you are in the best and worst position simultaneously; you are out of reach of the fray but the only exit is all the way across the room, over a desk, and has four people in the way. Then again, you are holding an inkwell with your mind... and it's full.
What do you do?

=====

Xyvol
Malichor, you swap intimidating glares with the lizard and he shrugs, lashing his tail in your direction and then turning his back on you to approach the cabin. You briefly consider teaching him a lesson for underestimating you but then you hesitate, trying to remember of what a lizardfolk is capable. You had heard rumors that the lizardfolk used to be dragonslayers that were corrupted into service of their quarry, but the implication of the story is only one-directional (he could have been born a lizard). IF he were a dragonslayer he should be able to speak the common tongue, though no one has been able to thoroughly study the condition.
As you are trying to decide if he's feral or not, you notice he has disappeared and so you follow him into the cabin. As you enter you can feel the tension in the air, like the moment before you'd light the cannon fuse. Zataka the soldier is here, along with that vagrant you saw in the Lobby and a wizard in tacky blue moon robes who you assume is Telivar. The latter two are behind a large desk across the room. It is painfully silent. The lizard is directly in front of you and has noticed your entry.
What do you do?

[SUCCESSOR]

There are far too many serious people in this room. Obviously there is little hope of escape in this current state. Hostile or not if I attempt to blind the reptile and sneak out my actions could be mistaken for Telivars and cause a battle. I imagine I am irking him enough by pretending he and I are familiar causing a bloody conflict could very well damage the good will. The PALADIN on the other hand looks completely upset that his business is being disturbed. I fling the ink at him. With his attention on the Wizard it is unlikely he will blame Telivar whilst the wizard is intently focused on the reptile. As it makes its inevitable mess I burst into laughter.

[bigjoe]

I ignore the others and focus in on the entity whose essence matches the rat. He seems to be in command of frightful knowledge,so I get straight to the point. I try to form the words "What do you know of this condition?"

[TheDarkOne]

I kneel beside the injured man. I don't know if twelve hours have passed since I healed the man from the tavern, but since the laws of magic seem different here, it may allow for a loophole, even though my healing power is divine rather than arcane. In any case, I try to focus my healing ability. Even if I can't heal him fully, I might still be able to heal him enough to prevent him from dying. The likelihood that my companions will pass back this way is small, but I cannot let this man die. And he may also have information about this Toma the wizard mentioned.

[mrz84]

The wizard's words dredge up the memory of my departure from my world. My wife bestowing unto me her pendant, originally a gift to her from me, that she has since enchanted herself to provide protective properties. However she mentions to me that she has since beseeched the gods of our world themselves to further enchant it with the ability to grant me extra-dimensional/planetary travel via specially created magical corridors that I can manifest when I need to travel between worlds and dimensions. To ask the gods of such proves how important my personal quest is. If not for the sake of my childrens' safety, but for the sake of all existence due to the enormous dark powers the threat possesses.

I am snapped out of my recollections though from the sound of the door to the cabin opening. I take in the lizardman's appearance quickly, but cautiously. I can tell that he is formidable, but sense something else. As if he doesn't desire combat, but something else. However, his spear has signs of fresh blood on it. He is certainly willing to go to great lengths to get what he is after. I then see my companion, Malichor enter behind him. The situation is dire and could become violent and deadly. I show no attempt to further provoke the lizardman and keep my blade sheathed. He clearly wants something of the wizard. Should he act in violence against him, I will shield him with my greatsword, if needed. However I shall only do so as a lat resort. My focus right now is to diplomatically defuse the tension of the situation as best I can.

[CJC]

(Starting with this post updates will only be made on Fridays until further notice)

SUCCESSOR
Reven, as you toss the inkwell the LIZARD begins to speak. "What do you know of this condition?" he manages to growl at Telivar before the inkwell strikes the PALADIN and shatters, spraying ink everywhere. You laugh hysterically as the ink splats into their eyes and faces. The Paladin makes a blind jab towards the source of the ink but does not connect a blow. The Lizard, conversely, sweeps the room with his tail and knocks everyone to the floor. You see a paper shuriken fly up from the tussle and pierce the ceiling as if it was made of steel. The three begin to brawl but then inexplicably vanish. Only Telivar remains in the room.
"Very cute. Here, this should give us some privacy."
You feel strange, as if the world is jello and you're an errant chunk of fruit.
"So, what would you care to discuss? It's got a few minutes before it wears off."
What do you do?

=====

bigjoe
Jerias, you are able to release your words in a low growl. As you speak, however, a vial of BLUE INK floats into the air and flings itself toward you, shattering and splashing ink into your eyes. You quickly drop prone, knowing that blinded opponents will attack wildly until they are able to regain their sight, and then you swiftly trip the two men standing next to you with your tail so they don't have an opportunity to attack each other. You place your claws on the paladin and prepare to pin him but then discover that he's gone and you're alone on the floor. Wiping the ink from your face you stand and look around, finding only yourself and the wizard left in the cabin.
Something is off about the air. It feels warm and inviting, and almost inexplicably familiar.
Telivar places his right hand on the table. It is a claw much like yours.
"Oh, I know rather a lot about this condition. But why don't you ask your master about it. Where is the dragon that sent you?"
You do not understand what he means. What do you do?

=====

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you attempt to heal the man but you feel the connection to your magic fading as you cast your spell. Could your doubt actually be inhibiting your ability? Still, you are able to at least stop the bleeding. With the man stabilized you help him up and walk him over to the couch at the side of the lobby. You ask who did this to him.
"A... a lizardman attacked me. He wanted me to lead him to master Telivar, but his eyes... there was some dark entity pulling strings behind his eyes. I tried to run and he stabbed me."
You ask the man his name.
"I'm TOMA, the-"
Upon hearing the name you instantly throttle him and pin him to the wall. He begins to choke.
What do you do?

=====

mrz84
Zataka, after snapping out of your memories at the sight of Malichor, you turn to the wizard Telivar in hopes of asking him to defuse the situation diplomatically. As you do so a vial of BLUE INK shatters in your face, blinding you. As your training dictates you punch blindly towards the source of the blinding fluid but your blow connects only with the air. You are then tripped by some unseen force. Clearing the ink from your eyes and standing once more you find that you are standing alone in the room, with Telivar as the only other occupant. The air around you feels thin, as if you are standing at the top of a mountain. You remember this sensation but you can't place it.
"Well then, that's much better. It was far too crowded in here."
You ask where you are.
"This place is the INTERSPACE. It's like a membrane between dimensions. It should be very familiar to you, you must have passed through it when you came to this world. I've placed us all in the various folds of this membrane so we can speak privately."
What do you do?

=====

Xyvol
Malichor, trying to calculate what you wish to do to prevent a brawl, you are startled by a vial of BLUE INK which flies up to Zataka and shatters, splashing into your eyes. In your panic you draw one of your PAPER SHURIKEN but you are tripped as you throw it. It sinks into the ceiling. Scrambling to stand, you suddenly notice that a CYAN FOG has filled the air and the other occupants of the room have vanished. Only TELIVAR remains.
Looking around, you see the shadows of DRAGONS in the darkness of the fog. Telivar's right hand is placed on the table, spiraling flames of tiny dragons crawling around it and up his arm. Even your paper shuriken has one on it, methodically dancing circles as it nips at its own tail.
"There isn't much time. There's something you need to know."
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I loosen my grip enough to allow him to breathe, but keep my hold on him. He starts to speak but I silence him with a glare. The I speak in a calm but deadly serious voice. "I will ask questions and you will answer them. You are not an aasimar and you do not appear to be a tiefling either. How is it you are able to grow wraithwood?"

[mrz84]

Having most of my other questions answered before the interruption earlier, I ask what he can tell me of the lizardman that entered the cabin and what he wants. For my last question, I ask what the other proposal he mentioned was. I also mention that his smaller proposal to get "scrapings" (or whatever he would like to call it) of magical items seems like a reasonable proposition, though some magical items would be harder to get samples of then others (guardians, traps, etc).

[CJC]

SUCCESSOR helped me realize that I took a serious cop-out with the last update. I was concerned that the format we were using wouldn't be able to handle direct player-to-player interaction and in my zeal to prevent a mechanical hiccup I left several players with no real options and effectively ruined the tension of the scene.

So, I'm going to introduce two rules and push the scene back in a direction that will allow player-to-player interaction with a fresh update. The first rule will ensure that players are not penalized for this and future 'early' updates and the second will make player-to-player interaction possible and flexible so that I don't have to mediate between updates.

The rules are in this post, the update to fix the situation will follow in a second post.

==================================================
Rule Clarification:

General: Act Medias Res
If an update has a section that has the following construct:
[Act Medias Res]
...
[/Act Medias Res]
somewhere within, the update contains an ACT MEDIAS RES. This is a special section of the update where you may insert actions your character took in the middle of the update's events. Its purpose is primarily to allow you to ask specific questions in a conversation, though you could really do anything you want (if you derail I'll nudge you back into feasibility). In one of your action responses (see Action Tennis below), you may place the term [Act Medias Res] (color optional) at the top of your post to indicate you are inserting the action into the gap provided. This is NOT a requirement; if you do not take an action with Act Medias Res you can fill the gap at any later point by starting the top of your post with an HTML link back to the update that had the gap.
When you use up an Act Medias Res the results of the gap are filled in in the following update. A generic example of how I'll respond to your Act Medias Res is presented below:

You take a moment to recall your conversation with TELIVAR in the study.

~~~~~
Conversation with Telivar
"You see, they're highly unstable."
You ask him to clarify hamster baryon signatures.
"See, two visually identical hamsters could have alternate baryon signatures. If they were to make contact with each other they would cause a TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION that would likely destroy this entire mansion and all of the surrounding villages. They're VERY dangerous."
Telivar clears his through forcefully, effectively indicating he wishes to end the conversation.
~~~~~
You are particularly stricken by his thorough and almost terrifying knowledge of atomic hamster fusion. You ponder how this information will be useful in the trials to come.


General: Action Tennis
A feature of the game that no player has utilized as of yet is the ability to log more than one action between updates. I believe the feature has been avoided because of a distinct lack of structure, so I present: ACTION TENNIS!
From this point forward, any player may make UP TO THREE posts between updates. Each post represents one action scenario.
That's really the extent of the rule, but here are the implications:
As before, you are free to make assumptions about any character or topic that is NOT LOCKED. As of this post the only topics in the story that are locked in the game are TELIVAR and DRAGON MAGIC. Do note, though, that the characters of OTHER PLAYERS are always locked, meaning you cannot make assumptions about their reactions. Just because you can't make assumptions about their reactions doesn't mean you can't interact with them. Because everyone gets up to THREE posts between updates, you can launch an action at another player, wait for them to react, and then react YOURSELF to their response. This is action tennis.
For a clear example, TheDarkOne 's character Sancireph is LOCKED, as is bigjoe 's character Jerias. If the two were in a scene with the NPC Toma, either player could control TOMA or THEIR OWN CHARACTER but neither player could control THE OTHER CHARACTER. That is, TheDarkOne cannot dictate Jerias's actions and BigJoe cannot dictate Sancireph's actions, but both can dictate Toma's actions. The more you post, the longer my update to you will be. This means the more you do, the more you will get out of the game. Take advantage of this and use Action Tennis to interact with the world and other players. I may even volley quick responses back at you when you are interacting with NPCs, though remember that such is only necessary if the NPC is LOCKED since you have the right to simply state how an unlocked NPC reacts to your actions.
This feature is necessary to allow for the rule above (ACT MEDIAS RES). Filling a gap counts as a post, so you have to make sure that an ACT MEDIAS RES is in a separate post from any actions you are taking currently (Otherwise you will confuse me and then bad things will happen).

==================================================


In short, use ACT MEDIAS RES to fill in scenes that are in the gooey center of an update, and use ACTION TENNIS to interact with other players and accelerate the pace of the story.

[CJC]

(Because SUCCESSOR brought my mistake to my attention, he gets top order in this fixer update)

SUCCESSOR
Reven, Telivar slides a SMALL LEATHER POUCH across the desk and asks you to pick it up.
"Well, you may not be a dragonslayer but you do wander a lot. Perhaps this will interest you."
You pick up the pouch. It doesn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary, until you reach inside and see your hand pop out from an identical pouch on the desk.
"That's a MAGIC ARTIFACT that I made. Part of a set, actually. It lets me pass small things back and forth to my subcontractors. I have a business proposition for you: throughout the world there are other magical artifacts just like this, made by other magisters or lost in forgotten ruins. If you come across such a magical structure in your travels, take a scraping and send it through the bag to me. I'm collecting data on the fabric of magic around the world and these samples are crucial. I'll make it worth your while; if gold isn't your thing I can at least pay you in RARE SPIRITS."
You take the bag and place it into your cloak pocket. Strange, you seem to be acclimating to the strange sensation in the air. It's rather like being drunk, actually.
[Act Medias Res]
Conversation with Telivar (Filled) (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=905329&viewfull=1#post905329)

~~~~~
Venom Dragons and Darts. Is the Darkspace Bag capable of passing messages, and can Telivar mend Artifacts?
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
As Telivar starts to respond to your last question the both of you hear a ROAR. Looking up, you see the ceiling of the study RIPPED OPEN as a gigantic DRAGON tears it off of the ship. Above you is not the room you were in before, but a terrible tempest of wind and electricity. Telivar shouts, flailing his arms wildly in the air briefly before disappearing without a trace. The dragon disappears with him but the twisted sky does not.
Over the course of a few minutes you see what's left of the cabin fill with the PHANTOMS of human shapes. Eventually these take form as the other occupants of the room: the PALADIN, the MAGICIAN, and the LIZARD. The door to the cabin swings off its hinges, but it no longer leads back to the deck. Instead, it opens to the HALL OF MIRRORS.
You feel a shiver down your spine as you look through the doorway. The danger sense in the back of your mind whispers a warning: "Here there be monsters".
What do you do?

=====

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, the apprentice TOMA chokes briefly before beginning to speak.
"I didn't use Aasimar blood, I used my own blood."
This doesn't make any sense to you. You explain that there needs to be a celestial component and he doesn't have the requisite genetics to attain such an effect.
"That was the whole point of the experiment! I have been trying to prove that the rituals and superstitions of magic are entirely unnecessary components to the result."
[Act Medias Res]
Interrogation of Toma

~~~~~
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
He pushes you away.
"If you're intent to attack me, though, do not expect me to surrender willingly. I will defend myself."
As he speaks, a cloud of gray fog bursts out of the doorways and envelops you both.
"What was that?"
You look around. You're still in the lobby, but something feels... off. You can see shadows moving around in the fog. Toma seems equally nonplussed by the situation.
"There's atomized magical energy in the air. Master Telivar? What could he be casting?"
He looks at the shadows.
"It's almost like he's summoning a ghost world. Why would he do that?"
You notice something else, though, as Toma is trying to work out the situation. You sense an Aasimar presence permeating from him. This is the first time he has projected such energy. Could the fog be the cause?
"This is very bad. Master Telivar said that he feared dragon corruption was infecting his spells. If he's right, we're all getting contact contamination. I'll go to the library and see if I can find a suitable counterspell."
He opens the doors to the library, but beyond them lies a COAL MINE.
"...That's not good."
What do you do?

=====

mrz84
Zataka, Telivar answers your last question first:
"Anything you come across in your travels is worthwhile to me. I am collecting data and even common magical items have their uses. That said, if you are able to acquire rare specimens I may be able to compensate you more generously. As for the other proposal, it is of a more personal nature. Recently I was attacked by a Dragon. I drove the beast away but not without sustaining significant injury. More distressing, however, is the fact that its attacks left traces of CORRUPTION in my system and the poison has been spreading. I need someone to kill that dragon. Preferably lots of people, actually, because individually nobody really stands a chance. I mean look at that Lizard guy, he's a perfect example of it."
You ask why the lizard is involved.
"He's a DRAGOON. Or he was, anyway. It's their job to go around killing dragons. But inevitably they get killed, or they turn into something like that. He's no doubt here on behalf of his dragon master to recruit me or kill me or some other such act of war."
You ask why the dragon needs to die.
"Ah. This is something I only recently came to realize from my tussle with the thing, and something to which you can relate. You know how our rules are restricting your abilities in this reality? Well, our rules are actually breaking the rules. This dimension isn't SUPPOSED to have magic, so wizards achieve magical effect by snatching physical laws from other reality. Unfortunately, each time we do so we're pulling our existence closer to overlap with that other reality. It's a dragon dimension and the DRAGONS are entities that have ripped their way through the membrane between our worlds. The only way to fix that hole and undo the damage they've inflicted is to kill them."
[Act Medias Res]
Further Discussion with Telivar (Filled) (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=905327&viewfull=1#post905327)

~~~~~
What would prove effective against the dragon?
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
As Telivar starts to respond to your last question the both of you hear a ROAR. Looking up, you see the ceiling of the study RIPPED OPEN as a gigantic DRAGON tears it off of the ship. Above you is not the room you were in before, but a terrible tempest of wind and electricity. Telivar shouts, flailing his arms wildly in the air briefly before disappearing without a trace. The dragon disappears with him but the twisted sky does not.
Over the course of a few minutes you see what's left of the cabin fill with the PHANTOMS of human shapes. Eventually these take form as the other occupants of the room: the RANGER, the MAGICIAN MALICHOR, and the LIZARD DRAGOON. The door to the cabin swings off its hinges, but it no longer leads back to the deck. Instead, it opens to the HALL OF MIRRORS.
You fret the presence of the dragoon. While you can respect that he once served a great purpose in this world he is likely working towards its destruction. But you sense that you are not safe in this cabin and you'll need everyone's help to get out of the INTERSPACE.
What do you do?

=====

bigjoe
Jerias, you explain that you don't have a dragon master.
"What? No, you must or you wouldn't look like that. Listen, no offense to you, but-"
He stares at you briefly, as if staring into your mind.
"Wait, that's not possible. There's only one voice in there."
You demand an explanation.
"Sorry to tell you, friend, but you died. And some dragon came along and REVIVED you to act as a personal crescent wrench. That's why you look like that, it's the residual corruption of the DRAGON MAGIC."
You ask why a dragon would need humanoids.
"You mean besides the whole totally loyal servant thing? Well, there are certain things a LIZARDFOLK can do that a DRAGON can't. The big scaly beasts are lacking in finesse. Beyond that? I can't say, I've never met one of you that wasn't subjugated and trying to kill me."
[Act Medias Res]
Conversation with Telivar

~~~~~
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
As Telivar starts to respond to your last question the both of you hear a ROAR. Looking up, you see the ceiling of the study RIPPED OPEN as a gigantic DRAGON tears it off of the ship. Above you is not the room you were in before, but a terrible tempest of wind and electricity. Telivar shouts, flailing his arms wildly in the air briefly before disappearing without a trace. The dragon disappears with him but the twisted sky does not.
Over the course of a few minutes you see what's left of the cabin fill with the PHANTOMS of human shapes. Eventually these take form as the other occupants of the room: the RANGER, the MAGICIAN, and the PALADIN. The door to the cabin swings off its hinges, but it no longer leads back to the deck. Instead, it opens to the HALL OF MIRRORS.
You're still mad about the INK IN YOUR FACE. You're also fighting your primal urge to attack, your body is shaking as your mind processes these mammals as prey and the FIRE IN YOUR CHEST mewls for fuel. Still, you don't think you can escape this place on your own.
What do you do?

=====

Xyvol
Malichor, Telivar begins to speak in a grave, serious tone.
"We're bringing about the end of the world."
You look at him like he's wearing a penguin suit.
"Magic. We're directly causing the dragon crisis."
You ask for an explanation.
"Toma's thesis holds the key to most of it. The rest I figured out after I got maimed by that dragon that attacked my mansion a while back."
He points to his right arm.
"The dragon corruption is actually bleedthrough from another dimension. The one where we snatch our magic from. See, our world isn't designed to handle magic. So our forebears shrouded our theft in rituals so that we wouldn't know what we were doing. We're pilfering physics from other realities."
You shrug and say that doesn't sound like such a bad thing.
"Oh, but every time we do it we punch a hole into another reality. And somebody punched a hole into the wrong one. It's a horrible nightmare world of DRAGONS and they're hungry. And here's the worst part: they started pulling back."
You stare, stunned, as he continues.
"See, they've decided they want to absorb our reality and they have the power to do it. That's why more and more dragons have been appearing in the wilds; they're coming through to drag us back with them."
[Act Medias Res]
Further Discussion with Telivar (Filled) (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=905360&viewfull=1#post905360)

~~~~~
Toma's Thesis, Darkspace Reality Bends, and Dragons ripping into our reality? How are these related?
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
As Telivar starts to respond to your last question the both of you hear a ROAR. Looking up, you see the ceiling of the study RIPPED OPEN as a gigantic DRAGON tears it off of the ship. Above you is not the room you were in before, but a terrible tempest of wind and electricity. Telivar shouts, flailing his arms wildly in the air briefly before disappearing without a trace. The dragon disappears with him but the twisted sky does not.
Over the course of a few minutes you see what's left of the cabin fill with the PHANTOMS of human shapes. Eventually these take form as the other occupants of the room: the RANGER, the LIZARD, and the PALADIN ZATAKA. The door to the cabin swings off its hinges, but it no longer leads back to the deck. Instead, it opens to the HALL OF MIRRORS.
You're still in shock about what Telivar has told you. Staring at the tiny dragon still spiraling around your remaining shuriken, you wonder if it's even safe to use magic here. But how will you escape back to reality?
What do you do?

[mrz84]

I ask Telivar if there is anything that would prove effective against the dragon. Any information he can tell me would be of great importance.

After being brought back to the cabin with the others, and seeing the dragon first hand, I realize that things have spiraled downhill quickly.
Realizing the situation is dire, I say to the others that we must work together to survive this day. The dragon must not be allowed to enact its plans to bring this world under its control. I ask the lizardman his name and if he is willing to aid us with his dragon-slaying skills, as they would give us a distinct advantage in combating the dragon. I turn to the ranger and ask him if he will aid us as well, we will need every person capable if we are to survive.

[TheDarkOne]

The present situation is taking precedence, but I make a mental note to question Toma further about to aasimar energy emanating from him--if he is aasimar, how is he able to prevent another from sensing it? Seeing that the library door no longer leads where it should, I open the door that should lead into the Aviary (with Toma following me) to see where it leads.

[SUCCESSOR]

[Act Medias Res]
Conversation with Telivar (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=905325&viewfull=1#post905325)
"I said I was not interested in the amount of gold one may charge for killing a dragon. I have gold I barter with on a rare occasion. Gold has a way of getting a man's throat cut." I take off my cloak. Interestingly it has no pockets. Neither my satchel or Telivar's bag are anywhere to be seen either. Only the empty scabbard but more notable on my back where it is likely to never be seen slipped between my belt and my tunic is a Kris. The blade is wavy reminiscent of flame and though the edge is fine the sides of the blade are textured with needle like depressions and protrusions thin and long across both lengths of blade. The guard likewise has fang like spurs. Every detail speaks of poison; the weapon itself infamous for human sacrifice. The grip is elegant with a spiral bearing cryptic words and on the end is a large Hell's Opal that appears too black and reflectionless.

"I have a magic item or two in my posession but none I would part with." I turn so the Kris is no longer visible to Telivar. I open the hand not holding my cloak and show him 3 darts each banded with red, amber, and yellow. "I craft these for trade. They are venomous darts and their toxin comes from a small Venom Dragon not of this land. I assume you know that all dragon toxin is magic-based and may help you in your understanding of magic and dragons. They are dosed by the amounts the dragon excretes when wary, aggitated, or fighting for it's life. The latter has a fair chance of killing a man while the former most will only paralyse him a few hours. Most interestingly there is no numbing effect, infact sensation is increased to the point of immense discomfort and vivid halucinations occur. Elf-kind seem immune to the paralysis but their enhanced senses and lucidity seem to make them even more suseptible to the increased sensations and halucinations. If you are capable of the magic of mending I would trade them to you for fixing my cloak. It is more threadworn than even I care to look at. What ever price for artifacts I may come across can be discussed further. I imagine the bag is equally suitable for passing communications as well."
[/Act Medias Res]

[Xyvol]

[Act Medias Res]
Further Discussion with Telivar
I have three questions to ask Telivar:
"I only scanned Toma's thesis briefly, but I thought it mostly had to do with the schools of magic overlapping, and how more complex spells make use of several different types of magic. Is that what is causing the bleed though of realities, or is that the way to fix it?"
"What does role Darkspace magic play in this disturbance of realities?"
"What do you mean by pulling back, have the dragons found their own way to enter this reality?
[/Act Medias Res]

[Xyvol]

I check my paper stash to make sure the dragon corruption has not affected the unmarked pages. Assuming the pages are good, I take one in hand and begin folding. As I fold, I recall Toma's words to me about the bartender's herbs and how they are a physical object on which someone places their disbelief. I focus on that idea as my hands mold the paper into a small likeness of a dragon (and to think, people called me a nerd for joining the origami club in school!). Pining my anti-magic talisman to my cloak pin, I then reach out to grasp my shuriken and hope my plan worked.

I also wish to look at the Hall of Mirrors from inside the cabin, to determine if the new space is some sort of illusion, or possibly a fold of Darkspace.

[bigjoe]

I make a brief introduction to the others, and agree to work with the paladin until we get out of this situation. I take a rather forceful tone, letting it be known that I am only going along with them due to circumstance. I then offer the suggestion that I should scout ahead, at a distance. This would be the best way for me to overcome my instincts. The farther away I am the less likely I am to turn out of hunger.

[SUCCESSOR]

I agree to help Zataka and his allies. Though I fear being part of a group may make me more of a target. I speak about how I am familiar with the Hall of Mirrors' layout and can bring us through it but warn that I sense a many hostile presence. I pull out my dart gun worried the toxin will have no effect on dragon-kind. I ask Jerias if dragons hold sway over his mind and if he will be a danger to us. I pull my cloak full on with the black outward. There is little to worry about if I am recognized from the Lobby I need to be as unseen as possible. I sense bigger concerns that are telling me to flee from the room we must now enter.

[CJC]

mrz84
(Please put ACT MEDIAS RES replies in a separate post from your regular response next time. Though it was clear what you meant in this context, if a later gap goes unfilled for several updates I will get confused by your format)
Zataka, you attempt to rally the others trapped in your endeavor, but each seems distracted in their own thoughts. You wonder if they had conversations with the wizard as you did and you ponder what they might have discussed. MALICHOR peeks out the cabin door into the hall of mirrors, tossing a paperweight from the desk into the opening. Indeed it appears to be reality, at least as much as reality can be defined in your current predicament.
You pause to recall your conversation with the hedge wizard.

~~~~~
Conversation with Telivar
"Ah. This is something I only recently came to realize from my tussle with the thing, and something to which you can relate. You know how our rules are restricting your abilities in this reality? Well, our rules are actually breaking the rules. This dimension isn't SUPPOSED to have magic, so wizards achieve magical effect by snatching physical laws from other reality. Unfortunately, each time we do so we're pulling our existence closer to overlap with that other reality. It's a dragon dimension and the DRAGONS are entities that have ripped their way through the membrane between our worlds. The only way to fix that hole and undo the damage they've inflicted is to kill them."
You ask if there is anything Telivar knows that might help with combating the dragon.
"If I did, don't you think I would have tried it?!"
He shakes his head.
"I'm sorry, this whole situation has me terrified. I can't really say what a dragon would be vulnerable to; I've never been able to examine a Dragoon's artifacts to see HOW they harm the beast. All I can say is this; just as you are subject to our reality's laws while you are here, so are they. Perhaps there is weakness there."
He places his hands over his eyes.
"I can't get the image out of my head. He's coming to get me, I know it. He's going to turn me into one of those things. Maybe if you could-"
As Telivar starts to respond to your last question the both of you hear a ROAR. Looking up, you see the ceiling of the study RIPPED OPEN as a gigantic DRAGON tears it off of the ship. Above you is not the room you were in before, but a terrible tempest of wind and electricity. Telivar shouts, flailing his arms wildly in the air briefly before disappearing without a trace. The dragon disappears with him but the twisted sky does not.
~~~~~
You steel your nerves and raise your sword, bravely preparing to step into the HALL OF MIRRORS. The LIZARD stops you.
He says, forcefully:
"Very well. We will work together to escape this place. And ONLY to escape this place. I am JERIAS."
The RANGER also introduces himself as REVEN and agrees to assist as he knows the layout of this hall in particular.
Jerias enters the hall first, staring at the mirrors in a concerned and inquisitive manner. He moves quickly, frequently dropping to all fours and sniffing the air. This thing used to be a man? It's hard to picture. After a short distance you lose sight of him; it appears he has turned a corner. Concerned, you enter the hall to track him.
Infinite refraction dizzies your senses. You can't tell if the hall is straight or not. Still, you press on. You feel an unnerving sense of dread sweeping over you. Then, without warning, one of your reflections steps OUT of the mirror and swings his massive sword in an arc at you.
What do you do?



=====

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you open the door to the AVIARY fully expecting them to lead to somewhere they shouldn't, and indeed you are correct. They instead open up to the ORCHARD you passed through earlier, but something is very wrong. The SKY is on FIRE and the trees are all fully-bloomed WRAITHWOOD, with the various dendritic limbs sporting HUMAN FINGERS. Toma turns away and loses the contents of his stomach.
"I've never seen a fully grown one before... that's... that's horrible."
He pauses.
"Wait, you were talking about Wraithwood trees and now the orchard is full of them. ...I think I know where we are."
He shakes his head, as if he himself cannot believe what he is about to say.
"Master TELIVAR has been going on about this place for weeks: the INTERSPACE. It's like a fold between dimensions. I thought he was just rambling; I thought it was just a complication of the DRAGON CORRUPTION. This place is real?"
He looks at the trees again.
"Your thoughts created this ORCHARD. We're in a fold of reality that is perilously close to our collective subconscious and if we're not careful our WORST NIGHTMARES will come to life before our very eyes. What do we do?"
The young wizard apprentice seems quite distressed by the situation and you can't honestly say you're pleased about it. Still, there doesn't appear to be any imminent danger in the WRAITHWOOD ORCHARD and you've noticed that this reality seems to respect DOORS even if it doesn't respect the spatial connections between them.
What will you do?



=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you briefly review your conversation with TELIVAR before his disappearance.

~~~~~
Conversation with Telivar
"That's a MAGIC ARTIFACT that I made. Part of a set, actually. It lets me pass small things back and forth to my subcontractors. I have a business proposition for you: throughout the world there are other magical artifacts just like this, made by other magisters or lost in forgotten ruins. If you come across such a magical structure in your travels, take a scraping and send it through the bag to me. I'm collecting data on the fabric of magic around the world and these samples are crucial. I'll make it worth your while; if gold isn't your thing I can at least pay you in RARE SPIRITS."
You take the bag and place it into your cloak pocket. Strange, you seem to be acclimating to the strange sensation in the air. It's rather like being drunk, actually.
You display your cloak, dagger, and darts to Telivar and explain that you have a collection of magic items, but not ones you would part with.
"Oh, I don't actually need the items themselves. I only want to examine the trace magical energies that circle them. No more than a surface scraping would be required."
He seems worried about your direct contact with a dragon.
"How is it you are able to interact with one of those beasts without corruption? Unless... perhaps it isn't the same species as the ones that have been plaguing me. It could even be native to our reality, or one with which we have a less hostile exchange."
Telivar isn't making a lot of sense; he seems distracted by something else.
"Benign dragons... if only I could... well, anyway, what was you other question?"
You ask if the bag he gave you could be used for communication.
As Telivar starts to respond to your last question the both of you hear a ROAR. Looking up, you see the ceiling of the study RIPPED OPEN as a gigantic DRAGON tears it off of the ship. Above you is not the room you were in before, but a terrible tempest of wind and electricity. Telivar shouts, flailing his arms wildly in the air briefly before disappearing without a trace. The dragon disappears with him but the twisted sky does not.
~~~~~
Without an answer you decide it would be best to try it anyway. What harm could it do? Grabbing a scrap of paper you write a simple message: "Where are you" and slip it through the bag.
While awaiting a reply you note that the MAGICIAN is staring through the cabin door to the HALL OF MIRRORS, which you recognize from your earlier experience in the mansion. Odd, it is illuminated now, with little flames at the base of each mirror. The LIZARD briefly mutters that he will help, and enters the hall first to explore (This frustrates you because you already know the way through). He quickly disappears in the maze of reflections. The PALADIN passes through the door next, great sword drawn, and after a few paces he is assaulted by his own reflection. THAT'S definitely new. You peek through the doorway; the hall appears to have the same floor plan it did before. Judging on your position you estimate you're looking at it from the AVIARY entrance, the one you used last time. Could the same trick work as before, with reflections assaulting their likeness?
What do you do?



=====

Xyvol
Malichor, you note that the only afflicted pages are those that ALREADY HAD MAGIC upon them when you entered this place. The rest of your paper appears to be unharmed. Following what TOMA explained you craft a dragon talisman to protect you from their touch and indeed it scares the little lizard off of your remaining shuriken. Turning your attention to the HALL OF MIRRORS you set out to prove that the place is real. Recalling your conversation with Telivar...

~~~~~
Further Discussion with Telivar
"See, they've decided they want to absorb our reality and they have the power to do it. That's why more and more dragons have been appearing in the wilds; they're coming through to drag us back with them."
You ask about Toma's Thesis, believing that he was describing overlapping different disciplines to make more powerful magic.
"No, something like that is much more conventional and would be welcomed by the Magister community. Toma's research was controversial; he was trying to show that the trappings of magic were unnecessary and that magic itself is a SINGULAR FORCE that has been disguised as many."
You ask if Toma's research is what weakened the bounds between reality.
"No, if anything Toma has uncovered an ancient truth that was buried. This damage has been a result of magic since the first Magisters manipulated the ether around them; it is as old as the dragons that plague our lands. We've ALL been tearing holes in reality without even realizing our error."
You ask about Darkspace's role in these tears.
"Darkspace seems to be more prominent than other fields of magical ritual because of its relation to space, but in truth it is simply a ritual placed onto the underlying concept. In actuality I used a PHANTOM spell to bring us here, as I have been trained in the traditional style and that was the method that seemed most practical to reach this place. But I could have achieved the same result with any ritual or more importantly with NONE AT ALL. The effect is the same; I steal physics from another dimension and apply it to ours. This is the crime all wizards have been committing since the invention of magic."
You ask about the dragons pulling back, and if they have found their way into reality.
"We commit magic by stealing physics. Isn't it reasonable to assume entities in other dimensions do as well? Clearly our world has something they want. My guess would be-"
As Telivar starts to respond to your last question the both of you hear a ROAR. Looking up, you see the ceiling of the study RIPPED OPEN as a gigantic DRAGON tears it off of the ship. Above you is not the room you were in before, but a terrible tempest of wind and electricity. Telivar shouts, flailing his arms wildly in the air briefly before disappearing without a trace. The dragon disappears with him but the twisted sky does not.
~~~~~
You toss a paperweight from the desk into the HALL OF MIRRORS. It lands as expected; at least this place is not an illusion. That LIZARD introduces himself to the PALADIN as JERIAS and says he will help until you escape and no further. He enters the hall and disappears around a corner. ZATAKA follows, sword drawn. After a few steps, you see that he is behaving as if he is under attack, but there is NOTHING THERE.
What do you do?



=====

bigjoe
Jerias, you are annoyed that the PALADIN is proposing an alliance, but you begrudgingly accept for the purpose of ESCAPING THIS PLACE. You make it absolutely clear that you will only work with them until YOU ARE SAFE. You look into the hall of mirrors. You SHATTERED all of these mirrors, yet here they sit undamaged. You leap into the hall in a sprint, looking for anything peculiar about the place. Turning a corner you find and throw open a door. Beyond is the LIBRARY you found that apprentice in earlier. It's ON FIRE. Turning back you hear the PALADIN struggling, as if he is locked in combat with something. You can't see him from here, though, because the reflections are all of you. Blinking, you notice that one of them is SMILING AT YOU.
What do you do?

[mrz84]

*Sorry, I forgot the tag. I'll remember it next time*

I raise my greatsword to block the attack. I keep a defensive stance while I test its abilities. Should I find an opening or detail I can take advantage of, I will strike. I try to take note of which mirror the reflection came out of, as I have a hunch that it may or may not be important. Should I feel the need to, I will not hesitate to enchant my weapon with fire or an element that could be of use on my opponent.

[SUCCESSOR]

~~~Clarification: I never meant to imply that the cloak was in anyway magical. It was meant to be an ordinary old cloak that's only special property was it was reversible. Though, I suppose it could have acquired some magic. Also, Reven would not have displayed the Kris for Telivar to observe. He keeps it on his back where the cloak would always cover it specifically because he doesn't want it seen. He turned away from Telivar when he mentioned magical artifact as a subconscious act of keeping the item hidden.

I first wonder why the room holds dangers. It should be Telivars magic in there and why should it see us as unwelcome now? Is the dragon manipulating him? I follow my think last-fight first comrades into the room of mirrors. I head for the door i departed the room from earlier that once led to the Tavern. No matter what has changed in the room visibly I can get there easily by memory. I stay as far from all mirrors as possible. Whatever is attacking us is magical and must originate from the respective mirrors. Instead of trying to fight the magical beings I try to shoot the mirror with a dart which should be sturdy enough and move fast enough to (at least slightly) crack glass and test my hypothesis. A few darts in the beings in emergency or to help my companions wouldn't hurt. Mostly I try to get myself and guide them out of the room as quickly as possible. Should the Tavern exit be unreachable (or lead somewhere unwelcoming) I will take the door in one of the other corners that I did not explore earlier.

[TheDarkOne]

I quickly close the door and consider Toma's words. If what he says is true, then it seems I could get to where I want to be by simply focusing my thoughts. Finding my companions from earlier is my main concern for now, so I bring the images of Zataka and Malichor into my mind, and, leaving Toma to his own devices, I open the door again to see if what is beyond has changed.

[Xyvol]

I surmise that Zataka is seeing some sort of Illusion or magical effect inside the room, but my talisman helps me see the truth. I quickly fold another piece of paper into a talisman, then rush to Zataka's side and offer it to him. I say "What you're seeing is only an illusion. Take this talisman, if I am right it should protect you from the corruption of the dragons." I suggest we continue on together.

[bigjoe]

I ignore the reflections and try to get back to Zataka to warn that the direction I took lies in flames. I have noted that there is something more going on here than simple reflections from mirrors so I avoid making eye contact with any of the mirrors, lest I be ensnared by some sort of magical trap.

[CJC]

Zatoppleganger volley (2 Left)
Zataka and his reflection are standing toe to toe with locked blades. Reven, attempting to cancel out the double, fires a dart at one of the mirrors hoping that shattering it will shatter the doppleganger. Unfortunately the action backfires: as the dart makes contact with the mirror it passes THROUGH it, refracting and raining dart copies all over the room in a hailstorm of pointy poisoned danger.

Malichor folds a PAPER DRAGON OF PROTECTION and tries to bring it to Zataka, but is interrupted by the hail of darts. He drops the talisman and it flutters in front of Zataka, failing to make contact. But unbeknownst to Malichor the talisman has touched the DOPPLEGANGER and caused its arm to shrivel and fall off.

Zataka, protecting himself from the darts, tries to cast a LIGHTNING ENCHANTMENT on his blade, but as he does so the doppleganger panics and tackles him through one of the mirrors. The two vanish, appearing somewhere else in the HALL OF MIRRORS. Following their disappearance a horse-sized DRAGON coated in electricity forms out of the air where Zataka was chanting, briefly examines the scene, and then shatters several of the mirrors before spotting the talisman on the ground and fleeing by ripping a hole in the wall.

Jerias, running to warn about the Library being on fire, turns the corner just in time for the HAIL OF DARTS. Ducking down and crawling along the ground he makes his way to Malichor and passes on the information.

Reven takes refuge in the door that SHOULD lead to the Tavern, but as he opens it he falls forward and crashes into one of the OUBLIETTES, with the door he came through on the ceiling. An ogre walks past, apparently making rounds, and the CROSSBOW BURGLAR from before whispers from the next cell "Hey, can I borrow a lockpick?".


Toma volley (1 Left)
Sancireph tries to manipulate the fabric of this INTERSPACE by shutting and opening the doors again, but he finds they still lead to the DARK ORCHARD. Apparently once a door has been assigned, it cannot lead to another place. Is it a sign the dimension is becoming stable? Realizing this, he goes to another door in the lobby; the door on the second floor leading to the AVIARY, and opens it thinking of Zataka and Malichor. Beyond lies the HALL OF MIRRORS, but Sancireph is immediately startled by Zataka and a ONE ARMED COPY falling out of one of the mirrors in a scuffle and a HAIL OF DARTS flying to and from each of the mirrors.



This is a VOLLEY. It's not a update but rather a means of supplying more setting information so that players can continue to respond amongst each other. I will never volley until everyone has posted at least once and if players are interacting with each other I will avoid it. Volleys are significantly faster to write because I don't have to supply action prompts, so I will probably be able to do something like this once or twice during the week to help span the gap between actual updates.

ALL NPCs share the same volley pool, meaning there will be at most three of my volleys between updates (though usually there will not even be one)

[mrz84]

The situation is becoming too dangerous to handle. As I continue to defend myself from both my now one-armed copy and a hail of darts from the mirrors, I try to find an exit. The hall of mirrors is confusing though, and I try to find the quickest way to safety while trying to keep my allies alive as well.

[TheDarkOne]

I crouch low to avoid the hail of darts, drawing my blades and rushing to Zataka's aid. "We can discuss what has happened since we separated later," I say as I join the battle, bringing my blades across in a scissor-slash at his double.

[Xyvol]

Any thought of helping the other adventurers goes out of my head when I hear that the library is on fire. "No, we need Toma's research!" Panicked, I crawl forward in the direction Jerias came, hoping that the flames have not yet consumed the room. I am also concerned for Toma's safety, as I am unsure where he went after we parted ways.

[CJC]

mrz84 TheDarkOne
Zataka and Sancireph, the doppleganger is sliced in half as Sancireph scissors it with his blades. It doesn't seem to have any internal organs to speak of; rather it appears to be made of twisted up pieces of rope. Though it's still moving around it can no longer inflict any harm as it cannot wield its weapon anymore. Sancireph glances at the mirrors. His reflection glances back menacingly and starts to step out of the reflection, swords drawn.
Zataka finds a door and throws it open. Beyond it is some sort of HEDGE MAZE, with an ANGEL FOUNTAIN immediately before you out the doorway.
What do you do?

=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you get up off the oubliette floor and dust yourself off. A slip of paper falls from your cloak as you do so, it seems it got caught in a pocket after it was ejected from TELIVAR'S BAG. You read it.
"Shh! He'll find me if you keep sending messages!"
The page smells faintly of smoke, as if it was being stored somewhere near a fire.
You can see the WINE CELLAR from the oubliette. The door back to the hall of mirrors is still hanging open above you. It appears the PATROL OGRE has gone, at least for now.
What do you do?

=====

Xyvol
Malichor, you make haste to the Library and indeed it is wreathed in flames. You're on the third floor. Toma's research is still on the desk on the ground floor, but the STAIRS are ON FIRE. You can also see that the FLOOR has been weakened by the flames.
The bookshelves are sheets of inferno, sapping your strength with their radiant heat and the toxic smoke that they belch. Tiny embers scatter as individual books crack and burn, threatening your paper supply and the anti-magic talisman you have crafted. Behind one of the bookshelves you can see a glimpse to some SECRET STAIRWELL. It could lead down to the first floor or it might go somewhere else.
What do you do?

=====

bigjoe
Jerias, upon telling the MAGICIAN about the burning library he immediately dashes in that direction. Something about protecting the books. You keep low to the floor, evading the HAIL OF DARTS. You are aware the mirrors are enchanted with some sort of aggressive magic, and you surmise that magic is connected to matching gaze with your reflection. Odd, your thoughts are becoming more coherent. You feel... liberated since the dragon on your back departed. You always thought you were protecting it, but was it driving you like Telivar suggested?
You close your eyes and crawl along the floor, running one claw along the wall so that you can navigate the room. After a short distance you believe you have escaped and so you open them. You are in a GARDEN. There's a collection of GRAVES immediately in front of you, each labelled only with a date. You feel safe here, almost as if you want to go to sleep. The flowers are hypnotically swaying left and right, almost cradling you as they dance.
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I quickly take a swipe with my katana at the doppleganger's neck, decapitating it before it can brings its weapons to bear. I turn and follow Zataka, heading for the hedge maze and fountain I can see outside. At this point, I no longer care whether or not Toma follows me. I am, however, concerned for Malichor's safety, but I feel that we need to remove ourselves from the more immediate danger, then come up with a plan.

[mrz84]

I enter the door hoping Sancireph will follow quickly and that the doppelganger can't exit the Mirror Hall. I examine the fountain and the immediate area with great caution, while explaining to my companion what has happened since we last met. I keep my greatsword drawn in case of an danger.

[Xyvol]

The fire is obviously way worse than I had hoped. Instead of risking my life and magic trying to make it through the inferno, I decide to investigate the secret stairway that has been revealed. Even if it does not lead to the ground floor, it may be an escape route that Toma used. I gather my cloak around me and pull the hood up tight. With a running start, I leap trough the flames of the burning bookcase (I assume that's how the passage was revealed) and hit the floor/stairs rolling to smother any flames that may have caught. Once I come to a stop, I look around to see where I'm at.

[bigjoe]

As lulled as I am by my surroundings, I keep my wits about me. I investigate the graves further, to see what the dates are. If there is nothing surprising about the dates on the graves, I continue onward, fighting the desire to fall asleep in this seemingly cozy place.

[SUCCESSOR]

I shoot a dart into the cell with the woman. I am not accustom to helping free criminals but I don't want this place going to hell with her locked in it. She should be able to use the dragonscale tip to pick the lock. It is the best I have. I do my best to try to reach the door I just came through to not leave my allies in a hailstorm of darts I created. Nor do I have any idea where the wine cellar might take me. I try to be very quiet as to not bring back the ogre. I look over the paper that Telivar sent to me for any clues to his whereabouts.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you quickly decapitate your doppleganger as it emerges from the mirror and then you retreat through the opening to the HEDGE MAZE. Zataka follows you and you shut the door so that your attackers cannot pursue. You briefly consider waiting for TOMA but come to think of it he didn't actually follow you INTO the hall of Mirrors, it seems he stayed in the lobby when you left. Zataka tells you that he, Malichor, that RANGER from the lobby, and a lizardfolk DRAGOON were talking to Telivar when a dragon ripped off the ceiling and the wizard fled. The doors have been scrambled ever since (but you knew that from earlier). You explain that this dimension seems to tap into your thoughts and by opening a door you can go to any room in the mansion as long as you're thinking about the right thing. You also warn that this makes NIGHTMARES BECOME REAL. Strangely, Zataka says he's seen this sort of thing before.
Looking at the ANGEL in the fountain, you see that it is holding a RED PEARL like the statues in the AVIARY did. But Zataka has already informed you that your host is not in his study on the ship. So if you were to trigger a trapdoor in the same manner, where would you want to go?
Alternatively, the hedge maze appears stable enough. There doesn't appear to be anything particularly perilous about this place, except the tempest in the sky, but there also aren't any apparent doors to use to reach another portion of the mansion.
What do you do?

=====

mrz84
Zataka, you escape the hall of mirrors with Sancireph and tell him what happened with the lord of the mansion Telivar. Sancireph explains that he was in the lobby with the APPRENTICE when this weirdness began. The doors are scrambled and rather than leading to their spatial relations they lead to whatever is on the mind of the person who opens them. That is, until they've been opened, and then the destination becomes locked. You mention you've seen this sort of thing before; the dimension must be unstable and attempting to lithify into a concrete reality. Sancireph warns that your worst nightmares could come to life if you aren't careful.
The ANGEL in the fountain is holding up a RED PEARL. Alternatively, the hedge maze has paths in all directions except for the door leading back to the HALL OF MIRRORS. Looking at the door now that it has been closed, it appears identical to a LATTICE ARCH that is propped against the hedge wall of the maze. This place seems peaceful enough except for the tempest in the sky. But you worry about being out in the open like this, especially considering the way the dragon attacked in the cabin.
What do you do?

=====

Xyvol
Malichor, you gather your cloak around you and dive through the burning bookcase, one shoulder forward to smash the weakened wood obstructing you. Landing in the staircase you find yourself unharmed, but the flames have consumed your ANTI MAGIC TALISMAN. Descending one flight of stairs you come to a heavy door and throw it open. You look around. Strange, you would have thought this would be a secret section of the library, but upon thinking of TOMA you instead find yourself in a COAL MINE. Workers toil away at the walls with picks, loading their finds into a cart that is immediately in front of you. You do not recognize any of these people, but you do notice that several of them are suffering the effects of PETRIFICATION, either on their face or on one of their limbs. Some of them even have their pick arms completely turned to stone, rendering them unable to drop their tools.
What is this? You don't really see any traces of Toma but this mine looks expansive. The people are real enough but as far as you can tell they were not in the mansion before Telivar's panic attack.
There are paths leading forward, slightly left, and slightly right. The door behind you looks like it SHOULD have lead to the office. You fret about the fire spreading to this place because coal is so flammable, but the secret stairs were made of stone so it might not be a problem. Also, you can't feel the heat of the flames in this place.
What do you do?

=====

bigjoe
Jerias, you shake off the comforting lull of this graveyard, convinced it is yet another trap of the mention designed to destroy you. You approach the graves. None have names listed. Instead, each bears only a date. One of the graves is fresh. You dig it out with your spear. The DRAGOON enchantment makes it easy to do so, as the tip makes contact it creates a pocket of darkspace which you direct to fling the dirt aside. Within the grave is the body of TELIVAR, but something is off. He looks too desiccated for a freshly deceased man. You were just speaking to him, he can't have decayed this quickly. You check another grave. There is another body; it too is the wizard Telivar but the corpse is much more decomposed. Are they descendants? No, each is in possession of identical features. Telivar has learned a method of producing clones.
If he has such power, perhaps he might be able to extract the human portion of you and create a copy. Maybe he could split you on your Jekyll/Hyde axis and make you two whole beings; the valiant dragoon and the vicious lizard. You dig up another grave. Strange, this one doesn't have a body in it. Instead, it has only a trap door.
Your mind swirls with thoughts of the wizard, your former life, and your current predicament.
What do you do?

=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you snicker at the misfortune of that crossbow burglar but you decide to help her. You shoot a dart into the wall next to her and whisper "That's the best I can do, good luck". You make a few quick jumps towards the door above you, but you just can't reach it and you fret that you'll generate too much noise if you keep trying. With the ogre sentry out of the way and the path back to the HALL OF MIRRORS unreachable, you decide to pick the lock and try your luck with the cask that's actually a door. As you open it you come upon the TAVERN you shared a game with TELIVAR in earlier. You're on the ground floor. But something's odd. There's a legitimate party in here. In fact, it's standing room only. People seem to be having a grand old time drinking and dancing and brawling but you're certain none of these people were in the mansion when you arrived here. Where did they come from? They're certainly tangible enough as you brush by them, helping yourself to one of their wallets as you do a bump-and-grab. The thing is full of paper with odd printed portraits. Where's the gold? Wait... this paper matches the paper Telivar's return note was printed on! Could he be nearby?
The bartender on this floor looks pretty busy. If you're looking for a drink, you might want to try your luck on the SECOND FLOOR. You also can't reach the door that SHOULD go to the winery without making a commotion, but you know there are at least two exits on the second floor.
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I briefly consider the angel statue, but decide against checking for a trap door there as a do not want to enter the mansion again. My natural sense of direction might get us through the hedge maze under ordinary circumstances, but the dimensional anomalies may not be confined to just the mansion itself and it is best not to assume anything yet. I consider the lattice arch an odd feature and mention it to Zataka, suggesting that we take a closer look.

[mrz84]

I examine our surroundings a little more thoroughly, in particular the lattice arch. I also believe that we should get our bearings in relation to the maze's exits/entrances. I suggest either I boost Sancireph up to the nearest stable ledge above the hedge maze walls, or we find another method of traversing the maze, all the while staying on guard for any threats, such as the dragon. If we find anything of interest I will suggest examining it with caution.

[Xyvol]

I try to reason out my confusion. Why would Toma be here? How did I arrive here, the two locations seem disconnected. Was thinking of Toma what brought me here? I turn to the door behind me that I entered from. Reluctantly I reach out to the door, realizing I may be about to destroy the only way I know of getting back to where I was, but I need to know if I'm right. With a sigh, I close the door, then open it again expecting to see the coal mine's office.

[bigjoe]

I see if I can break a piece off of the more decayed Telivar. I might need it for some scientific reason I'm not yet aware of. I then turn my attention to the trap door.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne mrz84
Sancireph and Zataka, of note you see that the lattice arches in the hedge maze appear to be hinged. In fact, it looks like they're designed to move floating sections of the hedge to rearrange the maze. It's a defensive measure to keep someone from solving the maze by running their hand along one wall. Odd, you would suspect that the maze would employ magic like the PUMPKIN PATCH but it appears completely mundane in its construction. At least it would if everything around here wasn't scrambled.
Zataka boosts Sancireph up on one of the hedges. All you can see beyond the maze is a vortex; it is as if it is an island hovering over some terrible abyss. There are also PEOPLE wandering the maze grounds. They don't look like your companions and you know you didn't see them when you were on the grounds earlier.
[Act Medias Res]
Seeking the lost within the maze (Filled) (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=905562&viewfull=1#post905562)

~~~~~
Creative Gardening
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
Sancireph mentions that the lattice arches are kind of like doors and you might be able to open a connection to another part of the grounds or back into the mansion if you think about the right things. The air here is starting to make you itch.
What do you do?

=====

Xyvol
Malichor, you expect the door to change its destination after closing it, but to your relief it still leads to the BURNING LIBRARY. It seems that though this paradimension is scrambled it is attempting to stabilize into a concrete reality; once a door connects to a location the two spaces are joined by the opening, meaning that door will always connect those to spaces. To that end you realize the best way to navigate this place is to find doors and open them so that the dimension stabilized. But you fret when you come to this realization; if the dimension is trying to stabilize and it's full of dragons, what impact are you actions having on other realities (particularly the one you wish to return to)?
[Act Medias Res]
Conversation with the Miners (Filled) (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=905597&viewfull=1#post905597)

~~~~~
The Placebo Effect
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
You see Toma approach. He sees that the door has been opened, curses, and then runs down the tunnel to the right before you can talk to him. Could thinking about Toma as you opened the door have brought you to this place? It does seem rather coincidental that he's here.
What do you do?

=====

bigjoe
Jerias, you pry the corpse's radius off his desiccated arm and tuck it into your supplies to present to him later. Then, you go to the trap door and throw it open, thinking it might lead to Telivar. However, as you put the bone away your mind drifted to the egg that once rested on your back, and you feel the thought rip through the world around you as you throw open the trap door. Below you is the great fall to the SEA OF GOLD that you made earlier. You can see your CHARGE swimming in the wealth below but he looks frustrated. You are unsure if you want to go to him; on the one hand you feel a need to protect him but on the other you are wary to let his clawing manipulation crawl back into your mind.
Looking up to the sky, you see the GREAT WYRM from earlier fly across the tempest above you. It doesn't seem to spot you. As it flies by, you notice something significant: it has almost a translucent hue to it, as if it isn't really there. You should also be able to feel its mind as it passes you, but there is nothing. What the heck IS that thing? Is it even a dragon?
What do you do?

=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, never one to pass on a party, you head up to the second floor, get a drink, and join a game of BILLIARDS.
[Act Medias Res]
Chat with the patrons

~~~~~
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
You make your way up to the third floor, which should have rental rooms considering the design of the tavern. You can hear the fluttering of a dervish behind one of the doors, as if there is a pile of paper caught in a breeze.
What do you do?

[mrz84]

[Act Medias Res]
Seeking the lost within the maze

I am hesitant to leave potentially innocent people in the maze, but they could very well be hostile as well. I mention this to my ally and then discus what he believes the best course of action would be, as I am at a loss of what to do with so many variables to consider on my own. One one hand, we can attempt to rescue the others in the maze with us. But on the other they could be hostile and a confrontation could prove unwise. Then there is the factor of the lattice. If it does function as a door, where would we want to use it to get to? If we do decide to rescue the others in the maze, I could use my greatsword to hack through the walls.

[TheDarkOne]

I consider Zataka's idea, but I don't think it would be wise to try hacking through the maze--the wizard likely has magical safeguards in place to prevent that. Using the lattices as doors could prove useful in finding Malichor or even the the ranger Zataka mentioned. As for the other people in the maze, it seems to me they are trapped here just as we are. I suggest that if we should cross paths with them, we will share what we know about the maze and the dimensional doors, so that they may find their respective ways back. I focus my thoughts on Malichor and open the nearest lattice door.

[Xyvol]

[Act Medias Res]
Conversation with the Miners

After my investigation of the doorway, I turn my attention to the miners. I approach one who has petrification on his arm, but none around the mouth. Taking my paper stash, I motion for the miner to hold his arm up to me as I begin tearing the paper into strips. I wrap the strips of paper around the petrified arm like a bandage. Habitually I go to scribe a rune on the paper, but catch myself. By using magic here, am I possibly corrupting this man even further? Am I tearing more holes in the world every time I apply my craft? I remember the little dragons crawling around my shirukens, and imagine them crawling over the man's arms. Instead, I decide to try the placebo trick. After all, it did work with my talisman. I tell the man to leave the bandages on, and over time their magic will help to reverse the petrification effect. I ask him why they are mining here and who they are working for. I ask about what is causing the petrification. Lastly, I ask if he has seen a scholarly young man in glasses in these mines.

[/Act Medias Res]

(whew, I am thankful for the Act Medias Res in this round, as I wanted to post more last round but didn't get a chance to come back and post again. BTW, if we are allowed to post three times between updates, is double-posting allowed then?)

[CJC]

(whew, I am thankful for the Act Medias Res in this round, as I wanted to post more last round but didn't get a chance to come back and post again. BTW, if we are allowed to post three times between updates, is double-posting allowed then?)

(Yes, I use the might of my Orange usergroup to declare that double-posting is okay in this thread. ^_^)

[SUCCESSOR]

... is double-posting allowed then?)

(Yes, I use the might of my Orange usergroup to declare that double-posting is okay in this thread. ^_^)

There is no rule against multiple posts in any forum.

[SUCCESSOR]

I try the door to see if it is locked and try to enter the room unheard or seen. I keep my dart gun at the ready.

[Xyvol]

(I had a feeling there wouldn't be a problem, but I'm kinda conditioned to avoid it, ya know :P )

Seeing Toma, I chase after him. I need to talk to him about his research and the burning library it's in. "Toma! I need to talk to you about your research," I call as I run after him.

[bigjoe]

I try to reach out to the baby dragon with my mind, to see if it will come to me. I am concerned for the fact that it is frustrated, but am not willing to go back down into the sea of gold. I surmise that the wyrm flying above may be some kind of illusion, but I keep on my guard.

[CJC]

mrz84
Zataka...

~~~~~
You boost Sancireph up on one of the hedges. He tells you there are PEOPLE wandering the maze grounds but they don't look like your companions and he doesn't recognize them from your earlier visit to the grounds.
You raise your greatsword to slash at the hedge maze. Sancireph warns against it but you take the initiative and with two slashes cut an opening the the wall of topiary. Stepping back expecting a retaliation, you are surprised to see that the plants are simply trying to grow back together. You are also startled that your actions didn't create a new door leading to another part of the mansion.
You step through the opening before it closes. Sancireph calls out to you, but you know there are people in this maze and they need to be rescued. You trample your way through the maze, somewhat startled by how easily you are able to circumvent its natural defenses. Something about this place is bolstering your might. Is it proximity to your home dimension? You can't say for sure.
You find a man first. He says he's a travelling salesman and he and his employees wandered into the hedge maze when the front door was locked. You ask him about TELIVAR but he says he just knew the mayor lived here and he was looking to make a sale. You tell him to follow you and proceed to collect all of his employees and lead them back to the fountain at the center of the maze.
Though these people do not seem to know much about the wizard, your actions have taught you that while this dimension plays musical chairs with doors, the WALLS seem to lead to the right places.
Sancireph mentions that the lattice arches are kind of like doors and you might be able to open a connection to another part of the grounds or back into the mansion if you think about the right things. The air here is starting to make you itch.
~~~~~
Sancireph opens the lattice arch. It leads into a COAL MINE. As the air is making your skin itch, you go in first and tell the SALESMAN to follow.
There are miners in this cavern suffering from various stages of PETRIFICATION. Many of them have had more than half of their bodies turned to stone, only wielding the picks because they are locked into their frozen digits.
As you ponder what could cause such a thing, TOMA and MALICHOR approach.
What do you do?

=====

TheDarkOne
Sancireph...

~~~~~
Zataka boosts you up onto one of the hedges. All you can see is a vortex in all directions beyond the maze, as if you are hovering over an abyss. You spot people wandering the maze grounds but they don't look like your companions and you don't recognize them from your earlier visit to the grounds. You share your findings with Zataka
Zataka raises his greatsword to slash at the hedge maze. You warn against it but he slashes away anyway and creates an opening. It quickly starts to seal up but he leaps through before it closes. Fretting the loss of another companion, you start to look around for a way to assess the danger in this maze. Everything feels so pleasant, though... almost alarmingly so. You feel strangely comfortable standing in the wilderness. Closing your eyes, you focus your attention on your other senses. There's pollen everywhere. But it's laced with something, like back in the Filthy Rabbit Tavern. Magic? Is it residual from the creation of the maze, or something more sinister. You reflect on what Toma said; you've been thrust into a dimensional pocket and because Telivar cast the spell his magical signature is permeating the space. But he's suffering from dragon corruption, so that poison could be seeping into you simply by its presence. You feel one of the pollen clusters land on your skin. It burns and leaves an itching sensation. Opening your eyes you focus your attention on the spot. You can't see anything but a red mark, but taking out a pair of reading glasses you look closer and see a tiny dragon trying to burrow its way into your body. You flick it off.
Coming to the realization of the danger, you affirm that the more magical the space you occupy, the worse the risk of contamination.
Zataka returns with a crowd of merchants. Not wishing to alarm him you keep your discovery to yourself... for now.
You mention that the lattice arches are kind of like doors and you might be able to open a connection to another part of the grounds or back into the mansion if you think about the right things. The air here is starting to make you itch.
~~~~~
You open the lattice arch, thinking of Malichor. It leads into the COAL MINE from before. Zataka goes through first, followed by the merchants. You are the last to enter.
There are miners in this cavern suffering from various stages of PETRIFICATION. Many of them have had more than half of their bodies turned to stone, only wielding the picks because they are locked into their frozen digits.
As you wonder if Telivar is to blame, TOMA and MALICHOR approach.
What do you do?

=====

Xyvol
Malichor...

~~~~~
It seems that though this paradimension is scrambled it is attempting to stabilize into a concrete reality; once a door connects to a location the two spaces are joined by the opening, meaning that door will always connect those to spaces. To that end you realize the best way to navigate this place is to find doors and open them so that the dimension stabilized. But you fret when you come to this realization; if the dimension is trying to stabilize and it's full of dragons, what impact are you actions having on other realities (particularly the one you wish to return to)?
You approach a miner whose face has not petrified and ask him who he is working for.
"The Colony"
He doesn't seem to pay much attention to you. You mention you can treat his petrification, though, and this catches his attention.
"You... you're the man he spoke of."
You ask who.
"My grandfather said our savior promised a man would come who could undo the damage."
You're confused. Still, you wrap his arm in paper and tell him it will heal over time as your magic takes effect.
"Magic that isn't contaminated! I can't believe it, you really are the man of legend!"
You ask him what he's talking about.
"He brought us down here to protect us from the black sky. See, the dragons stole the sun, and the poison of their influence destroyed most of the surface world. He brought us down here to protect us, and used the last of his power to fend off the corruption."
You ask if it was Telivar
"Telivar? I've never heard that name before. No, our great savior's name has been lost to the ages. He used the last of his magic to turn the corruption to stone, so that one day someone with the power to fix it might revive us. In doing so he too was turned to stone; he still sleeps in the center of our settlement."
You ask what they are mining.
"Coal. It's too cold to survive by burning fire, and the trees don't grow quickly enough."
He seems perplexed.
"How do you not know of the black sky? Where are you from?"
You begin to feel theatrical and you hush him, saying it is part of the mystery.
You see Toma approach. He sees that the door has been opened, curses, and then runs down the tunnel to the right before you can talk to him. Could thinking about Toma as you opened the door have brought you to this place? It does seem rather coincidental that he's here.
~~~~~
You chase after him, eager to warn him that his Magister's Thesis is about to go up in smoke. But you're having trouble catching up to him. You finally stop him in a cavernous section of the mine, where a campsite seems to have been erected around a single statue in the center. You suspect this is the colony of which the miner spoke. Toma is standing stunned, staring at the statue. You lean in to get a good look and are startled by what you find. It's a statue of TOMA. Granted, he looks quite a bit older but you can still recognize his key features.
"What... what is this? Another phantom? This wretched place is playing games on my mind."
He turns around and sees you. You mention his thesis is in a burning library.
"That's not important right now. We have to find master Telivar. Every moment we spend in this awful place his corruption is spreading across the mansion, his body, and even into us. We have got to find him and calm him down before it's too late."
One of the tents opens its folds, and from it springs Zataka, a group of travelling MERCHANTS, and Sancireph.
What do you do?

=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you try the door and find that it is indeed locked, but that isn't a problem for you. You take out a vial of acidic venom and smear it on the lock, causing it to pop with a satisfying click as the door gently swings open. Leaning in to take in your surroundings, you notice that the door leads to the AVIARY. It's dark, save for a few sources of light you can't pinpoint casting shadows from the statues. You feel the gentle warmth of fire somewhere high above you. Looking up, you see a crest of burning feathers resting on the catwalk one floor up. There's a PHOENIX sleeping in here! You've heard all sorts of rumors about phoenix down and its mysterious properties. You also wonder how your PARTNER would react to an honest-to-goodness phoenix, but she's been pretty quiet as of late.
The thing hasn't spotted you yet.
[Act Medias Res]
Dance with a Phoenix (Filled) (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=906037&viewfull=1#post906037)

~~~~~
Plundering Plumage
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
You notice the three red pearls in the clutches of the three statues on this level are pulsating, as if reacting to the heat of the bird. There's a switch at the bottom of each statue, but their shadows are dancing as if they're alive and you are filled with a crushing sense of dread as you get close.
What do you do?

=====

bigjoe
Jerias, you reach out to your little green ward with your mind, hoping to draw him back from the madness he's fallen into. You can hear his thoughts as you focus on him.
"This is all wrong, this is all wrong. It was supposed to be MY gold, MY influence. It's too soon to go back, what is that rotten wizard thinking?"
He notices you and flies up.
"What are you doing here, dragoon? Oh, nevermind, you can help me either way."
[Act Medias Res]
Interrogating an Adolescent Dragon (Filled) (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=905744&viewfull=1#post905744)

~~~~~
About Atticas's thirst for gold
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
You allow the little lizard to climb back into the sling on your back and, finished in the graveyard, you return to the HALL OF MIRRORS. Upon seeing the HAIL OF ARROWS your partner snickers and lets loose a bolt of green lightning from his mouth. It scatters the darts, knocking them to the floor and then disintegrating them until only one remains.
"Now then... where could that wizard be hiding?"
You know there are several doors out of this HALL OF MIRRORS, and you know that one leads to the BURNING LIBRARY and one leads back to TELIVAR'S CABIN. There's also a door open leading to a HEDGE MAZE and a door open leading to one of the OUBLIETTES, though you get a sense of vertigo as you approach it and you are wary of entering.
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I mention to Malichor that I was looking for him. "We came to this place together, and if we are to leave it, we should do so the same way." To Toma, I say "Your master, Telivar, has done more damage than can ever undo. I don't care what his purposes were, or if he is even still alive now. Personally, I hope he is dead and being tormented in the Abyss as he deserves. You may accompany us if you wish, but you follow us, not the other way around." Then I ask my companions "Now that we know how these doors work, what is our next destination? I would personally like to get away from this place as soon as we can."

[mrz84]

I suggest that we at least find a way to get the merchant out to safety. If we can find more than one door, using one to open a way outside of the mansion would be idle for that. While I am not fond of Telivar's methods, we can't let what is transpiring here bring the rest of the world down with it. We should also find him and deal with this mess as quickly as possible. I inquire with Toma on any ideas or information he might have, though I warn that my patience is wearing thin and that we all must co-operate if we are to live this day.

[bigjoe]

[Act Medias Res]
I first ask the dragon why it desired the gold. I want to be sure that it had a good reason for bringing me into this peril. As I journey into the realms of higher thought, I have developed an ability to question things. I want to be sure the dragon is on the same level, and that we can have a mutual understanding. I then ask the hatchling what its connection to the wizard is. Finally, I ask how I can help it.
[/Act Medias Res]

[bigjoe]

I take the door leading into the hedge maze. Somehow, I get the feeling that the wizard would shield his location behind a challenge such as a maze.

[Xyvol]

Sancireph appears to have a grudge against Telivar, so I try to speak quickly. “Telivar isn’t the only one to blame for what is happening. It all of us! All of us who use magic are what’s causing these worlds to bleed into one another.” I try to explain all I’ve learned since coming to the mansion, about stolen physics, about corruption on everyday magic. “Toma, your thesis is the key to understanding this, but now that the library is in flames, we need you!” I tell him that his placebo theory works, that it drives away the corruption. To the rest of the group, I say “Go, take those merchants to safety outside the mansion. But I need to find Telivar in order to solve this.”

[CJC]

TheDarkOne mrz84 Xyvol
Sancireph, Zataka, and Malichor...
Having reunited as a trio, you three begin to discuss your options.
Sancireph rants that Telivar is to blame for everything and he needs to quickly meet with a painful death.
Malichor interrupts, explaining that the events that are transpiring here are not Telivar's fault alone but the consequence of ALL magic users. He goes on to detail how Toma's thesis describes the practice of magic as a series of rituals used to disguise a theft of reality.
Toma corrects him.
"Actually, I only explored the fact that magic works without the trappings of tradition."
He pauses for a moment.
"Wait, is that what's happening?"
Malichor corrects himself and says that Telivar told him about the theft of magic, a discovery he only learned upon being tainted during a dragon attack.
Zataka interrupts, saying that the priority now should not be placing blame but finding a way to safety for both yourselves and the bystanders you have encountered. He suggests opening a door to the exterior of the mansion.
Toma interrupts again:
"No, that won't work. Master Telivar is powerful but he isn't that powerful. In the misfire of his spell he's drawn us into this INTERSPACE, but I doubt it extends beyond the mansion grounds. The only way out is to counteract the spell, and the only person here powerful enough to do that would be Telivar himself"
Malichor points to the statue and asks 'What about him'? Toma shakes his head.
"All of this is just some figment... an echo from the ghost world. That's not a real wizard. It's just some terror given form by the properties of this place"
The merchant leader pipes up this time.
"Sir, I most certainly am NOT a figment, and I resent the implication. I am the great merchant chief Beymond Franks, renowned across the continent! And you and your supposed master are a couple of hapless wizards!"
[Act Medias Res]
Argument about the Colony (Filled) {Zataka (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=905862&viewfull=1#post905862), Malichor (http://armageddongames.net/showthread.php?96720-RPG-Sword-and-Sorcery-Play-by-Post&p=905974&viewfull=1#post905974)}, (Closed) {Sancireph}

~~~~~
Zataka - Isn't the resemblance uncanny?
Malichor - Figments don't have mass.
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
Toma shouts
"ENOUGH! We're not getting anywhere by arguing and each minute we spend here is causing more of the dragon corruption to leech into our bodies. Let's find a door and go to the master; then when this is all resolved you can do whatever you like. Leave, preferably."
He goes to one of the tents and throws the folds open. The opening leads to a swirling ellipsoid mass of book pages hovering above a bed in a small tavern room.
What do you do?

=====

bigjoe
Jerias...

~~~~~
You can hear his thoughts as you focus on him.
"This is all wrong, this is all wrong. It was supposed to be MY gold, MY influence. It's too soon to go back, what is that rotten wizard thinking?"
He notices you and flies up.
"What are you doing here, dragoon? Oh, nevermind, you can help me either way."You ask why the dragon was after the gold
"Well, outside of rolling around in it like a fluffy pile of snow? This gold reaches every corner of the world. Telivar has lots of connections and his business acumen is astounding. If I could just leave a trace of my influence on the gold before it goes out, then my reach would likewise cover the entire world!
...But the damn wizard had to go and get attacked by a different dragon. The wizard won't be a wizard for much longer and then this gold isn't going to go anywhere. And even if it did, it's got the stink of HIS magic on it, not mine. Dammit."
You ask what the dragon was hoping to achieve by spreading influence with the gold.
"You're one of us now... almost. You've felt it. The hunger; the need to feed the fire. We don't have to get by simply chomping smaller lives. There are other ways to warm the heart. And to be loved... well, it's much more pleasant than flossing sheep bones out of your teeth, if you know what I mean. That's what I want."
You mention that you were protecting him.
"That's different. I mean, you HAD to do that. Or at least you should have... I, uh, I kind of got the process wrong when I brought you back. But what was I supposed to do?! I hadn't even hatched yet, and you had the gall to die on top of me!"
You ask what he means.
"Making a lizardfolk is a very intricate process. It involves converting what you were in this dimension into the equivalent being you would have been in our dimension. But I didn't really know what I was doing, so you just sort of got mashed together."
He pauses for a moment.
"For what it's worth... I'm sorry I did this to you."
He looks at you.
"Not that you didn't deserve it, dying on top of me like that you big jerk!"
He seems uncomfortable with the direction the conversation has taken.
"Anyway, uh, whatever your name is... we should find that wizard and get him to stop casting this spell. I'm not comfortable being so close to the homefront at the moment, I haven't accomplished what I set out to do when I came over here and I don't want to be yanked back before I'm finished."
You tell him your name is Jerias.
"Nice to meet you, Jerias. I mean, the part of you that I didn't scramble like a bird's egg omelette. My name's Atticas."
You allow the little lizard to climb back into the sling on your back and, finished in the graveyard, you return to the HALL OF MIRRORS. Upon seeing the HAIL OF ARROWS your partner snickers and lets loose a bolt of green lightning from his mouth. It scatters the darts, knocking them to the floor and then disintegrating them until only one remains.
"Now then... where could that wizard be hiding?"
~~~~~
You make your way to the HEDGE MAZE, finding a statue of an ANGEL and an open section of hedge bizarrely leading into a COAL MINE. Looking beyond you can see the MAGE, the PALADIN, and a half-elf RAVAGER arguing about the lord of the mansion and the predicament they are in.
What do you do?

=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, the Phoenix departs with an inferno that envelops the room. As its flames lick the walls the malevolent shadows are dispelled. You feel much safer than you did before.
The AVIARY has at least four exits not counting the one you entered: Stairs that SHOULD go down to the WINE CELLAR, the door you originally took into the HALL OF MIRRORS, the door on the second floor which should lead to the LOBBY BALCONY, and a door you are unfamiliar with. Of course, with this dimension of monsters there's no way to know where ANY of these doors lead, but you feel tempted to try one.
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

I concede that perhaps Telivar is not wholly to blame, but it was he who began all this when he allowed the man from the tavern to take the tainted gold in the first place. However, finding ourselves and these merchants a way out of here is what is most important. As for Telivar, I much prefer to leave him to his fate, but for now I will whatever course of action is most to our benefit, even if it means aiding him. I go to one of the doorways we have not yet opened and focus on the hillside outside the mansion grounds from when we first approached earlier. I motion my companions and the refugees over this way and open the doorway.

[mrz84]

[Act Medias Res]
Argument about the Colony
I would argue that even if it is a figment, perhaps understanding it might help with our escape. Besides, the resemblance between Toma and the statue is uncanny. We cannot rule out that as a mere phantom or even coincidence.
[/Act Medias Res]

I take a quick look into the tavern before anyone else steps through. I wish to make sure its safe before we let the merchants enter at the very least. Once I confirm there is no immediate threat, I enter the tavern and let the others know its safe. I keep my greatsword in front of me, ready to use it to block any incoming attacks.

[bigjoe]

I try to look for a way to sneak around the three who are arguing; I have no interest in their affairs right now, and they might not take so kindly to the presence of Atticas, should they discover him. I also take time to inquire of Atticas if he can scout for other ways out of the maze.

[bigjoe]

(My post got deleted or isn't showing. Reposting)

I try to look for a way to sneak around the three who are arguing; I have no interest in their affairs right now, and they might not take so kindly to the presence of Atticas, should they discover him. I also take time to inquire of Atticas if he can scout for other ways out of the maze.

[CJC]

(Yeah, we were having some database issues but it seems to be all repaired now. Thank you for your patience and understanding)

==================================================
Telivar Chronicle Concluding
The scrambled mansion, as well as the Telivar chronicle in general, will be closing within the next three updates (including this one depending on your actions). At that time, any open magenta-colored ACT MEDIAS RES gaps will also close, as their ability to impact the conclusion of this chronicle would necessitate a need for retcon.
I am eager to move into the next chronicle which will be more grounded and less cataclysmic in scope. It will also allow the ready introduction of new characters (for anyone waiting to join in or any current player looking to increase their character load), so I'm really excited about moving into the next stretch of the story (I'm also sick of tracking doors... there are 42 doors in the mansion proper as well as who knows how many on the grounds... not to mention the fact I have to remember which doors are already in use. It's maddening).

I planned three endings for the Telivar scenario. At least one player is working towards each ending. But interestingly enough one of the players has inspired the possibility of a fourth ending which I had not considered. So I've concocted a fifth. Therefore the first player to deal with Telivar will have their ending triggered, effectively closing the chronicle.
==================================================


=====

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you open a door hoping it will lead to the hill outside the mansion, and in a small way it does. You see the gate to the mansion grounds, and turning back to look at the door it is indeed the front entrance. However, between you and the gate is nothing but a narrow strip of land, with a terrible abyss looming beneath. It looks wide enough to cross comfortably single file, but that doesn't help much. There doesn't appear to be anything beyond the gate, just a cliff to the darkness below. Perhaps Toma is right, it seems that the scrambled space only extends as far as the mansion grounds.
What do you do?

=====

mrz84
Zataka, as you enter the small inn bedroom... the kind you might see in a tavern, you take a close look at the whirling mass of pages. It almost looks like a cocoon, or perhaps some kind of egg. You take a quick slash at it with your great sword and scatter some of the pages, managing to catch a glimpse at what is inside. It's the lord of the mansion, TELIVAR. He still seems to be wrought with panic, and when you try to call out to him he does not respond. There must be some way to CALM HIM DOWN. You think about the argument you just had with the others about the COLONY IN THE COAL MINE.

~~~~~
Malichor points to the statue and asks 'What about him'? Toma shakes his head.
"All of this is just some figment... an echo from the ghost world. That's not a real wizard. It's just some terror given form by the properties of this place"
The merchant leader pipes up this time.
"Sir, I most certainly am NOT a figment, and I resent the implication. I am the great merchant chief Beymond Franks, renowned across the continent! And you and your supposed master are a couple of hapless wizards!"
You chime in: "You have to admit the resemblance is uncanny. Even if it is a figment, perhaps understanding it might help with our escape. We cannot rule out that as a mere phantom or even coincidence."
Toma seems resistant to budging on his opinion. You can't stand when people are stubborn like this. You take a closer look at the statue.
The level of detail is exacting; you've seen this kind of petrification before in your home dimension. There's no sign of chisel marks on the body, so he's clearly alive (or at least he was). You don't recall if there is any way to reverse the process on a fully fossilized specimen. After all... it's just rock at this point. Maybe if you could find some incredibly positively charged medicine, like say a Phoenix feather. But where would you even look for such a thing?

Malichor scolds him, explaining that he was able to touch one of the miners and that phantom images don't have mass.
"But we're standing in a ghost world. Who says the rules aren't different here?" Toma retorts.
Malichor shake your head, citing a lack of necessity for the logic. He explains it is better to start with the assumption that the rules are the same and then test for discrepancies.

Toma shouts
"ENOUGH! We're not getting anywhere by arguing and each minute we spend here is causing more of the dragon corruption to leech into our bodies. Let's find a door and go to the master; then when this is all resolved you can do whatever you like. Leave, preferably."
~~~~~
If only there were a way to revive the petrified version of Toma. Perhaps he could dispel the phantom realm you now occupy.
What do you do?

=====

bigjoe
Jerias, you lean in to try to understand the bizarre coal mine positioned at the middle of a hedge maze. It is then you notice that a lattice archway is framing the scene. You realize this is just another door portal like the ones you've encountered before, so you quietly grab the hedge on its sides and pull it shut, effectively closing the portal. Turning to Atticas, you ask him to fly up and scout the maze. He soars skyward and looks around but seems puzzled.
"It's just floating in the middle of nowhere. What's with this place? Even back home we don't have messes like this."
He returns to your back.
"I don't know, even if we made it to the edge of the maze, it's just an abyss. And I'm not strong enough to carry you while I fly. Maybe we could open another door, like the one you just closed. That wizard's got to be around here somewhere."
You navigate the maze until you find another closed patch of lattice. Thinking of the wizard, you try to open it. It won't budge.
"Huh, that's odd. Shouldn't it go where we want? I thought that's how this works?"
You pause for a minute, then you come to an epiphany. All the doors to the wizard must already be open. You tell Atticas.
"Great, so we have to find a door that's already been opened? Where do we start?"
You could keep checking doors in the hedge, confident that they won't move if you're thinking of Telivar. Or you could try going back to the places you've already searched; perhaps he's connected to one of those rooms. The BURNING LIBRARY comes to mind as a good candidate.
What do you do?

=====

Xyvol
Malichor, you're standing in front of the STATUE OF FUTURE TOMA with PRESENT TOMA refuting its authenticity. You wonder if the placebo effect of a paper charm would work on something that's already gone.
What do you do?

=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you're still in the aviary. You ponder your brush with the PHOENIX. What happened? It's almost hard to remember. A slew of doors are available to you. You could try to find those other people who were wandering around the mansion, or try to find the wizard to end this madness.
What do you do?

[TheDarkOne]

Returning to the hedge maze, I report my findings to my companions. Getting out of here that way is not an option. Much as it irks me, I suggest we find Telivar to find out how to stop this chaos. If he can help us, I'll repay him by letting him live. I come to a realization and tell my companions: "It's unlikely that the coal mine is part of the mansion. Perhaps we can escape that way? There must be a passage to the surface through there."

[mrz84]

I inform my comrades of my findings and of the current state of the tavern, which seems to be safe at the moment. I ask Toma if he has any suggestions. I keep in mind about the statue and any possible means of acquiring a phoenix feather (I bring this up at the next chance I can to the others, and ask Toma if he knows if there are any feathers in the mansion, perhaps used as writing quills, etc)

[bigjoe]

I begin to think.. maybe not all doors take the shape of an entrance. Maybe the door that leads to Telivar is of a different nature. I scour my thoughts for any clue that might lead in the direction of Telivar. I think of the dragon that flew overhead, a mere illusion. What is reality but awareness? An idea reaches mine. I instruct Atticas that we should burn the hedge maze. I begin to set fire to some of the hedges, hoping that Atticas will see the deeper picture and follow my lead. If doors that open from touch do not lead to Telivar, then perhaps a doorway of synchronicity will.

[Xyvol]

[Act Medias Res]
Argument about the Colony
I point out that I wrapped one of the miners arms in paper, and I couldn't have had physical contact if he were merely a figment. I also relate the belief that the statue is their savior.
[/Act Medias Res]

[Xyvol]

(If I still have time before the update...)

While waiting for Toma to proceed into the tavern, I study the statue version of the savior. Hearing Zataka's remark about a phoenix feather brings a sudden idea to my mind. I loudly declare that I will bring the Savior back to fix this mess, hoping any coal miners in the area hear me, because I know they believe. I walk up to the statue and put my hands upon it, the spout of some gibberish that sounds like I could be magical. Then I close my eyes and hope I don't look like a fool...

[SUCCESSOR]

[Act Medias Res]
Dance with a Phoenix

A sleeping phoenix. I wonder if I could grab some feathers from it and flee. I concoct a plan. Under my cloak I coax out something... in a few second a small creature comes out. Nearly the size of a domestic cat. It unfurls it's wings which each longer than the full length of it's body, a small dragon. It's entire body is cover in spiny scales much like a hedgehog and it in a calm state they lay flat and touchable (if you don't go the wrong way) until it sees the Phoenix, the scales become a tangle mess of toxic pricks.

"Quite, Texia" I whisper. I motion that I am going to approach the Phoenix from the other side and despite not being able to communicate with me in a conventional way Texia always seems to have a good understanding of my intentions. She waits patiently as I approach the phoenix with a plan to pull some feathers and use her as a distraction to escape. As if senseing what I was planning the phoenix eyes open despite my completely silent approach and looks straight at me. It starts to start communicating with me through extrasensory means.

Warning me of the events unfolding in the mansion and a possible fate of myself and Telivar. For some reason despite barely knowing Telivar and having met many strangers along my travels and not developed such concerns for them I am actually worried about his fate. I wonder if this is a real prediction or if the Phoenix is using my anxieties and concerns to deter me from assaulting it.
[/Act Medias Res]

[SUCCESSOR]

Having witnessed the power of the phoenix I feel happy to be alive. Texia looks much more agitated. I come up to her and using a special tool I extract some of her venom that she makes in excess and carefully clear some of her loosening scales (both of which are invaluable in my defending myself and trading). This act of grooming her calms her down and despite her hunger she crawls back under my cloak and once again it is like she isn't even there. Maybe if I find a rat or some more of those birds I will coax her out to hunt.

I choose a random door since i have no idea what I can expect to find on the other side. My mind focused on Telivar. I hope to be able to stop these cataclysmic events but also hope that such an end doesn't cost Telivar his life(and an equal concern for my own).

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you step back into the coal mine and then take the tent exit back to the hedge maze. It's swallowed in flames. You catch a glimpse of the LIZARD DRAGOON before he leaps into one of the flames and vanishes. You flinch, briefly wondering if you should follow him. Instead, you return to the coal mine where Zataka and Malichor are waiting. You tell them that you tried to get to the mansion exterior using the door, but it seems like the doors won't let you leave on their own. Still, maybe the coal mine has a way out since it seems odd that a mine would be on the mansion grounds.
Zataka gets your attention and says that he's found Telivar. The mansion lord is in the tavern room with the whirling ellipsoid of papers... INSIDE THE ELLIPSOID. He couldn't calm Telivar down when he was in there, but that's just because he couldn't reach him. Upon hearing this, the original TOMA rushes into the room.
Malichor steps up to the statue in the center of the cavern and begins to wrap it in paper. He chants words that are unfamiliar to you.
"Allegro calibri papyrus dotomche maiandra segoe vrinda"
You look around at the partially petrified miners standing all around you. They seem to be enraptured by Malichor's every word. To your shock, you sense an AASIMAR PRESENCE surge in all of these people when clearly it wasn't there before. The power of that presence traverses from their bodies to Malichor's hands, and the statue begins to twitch. Its fingers regain their color, its eyes open, and after a few moments what was once nothing but a statue transformed into a man... a man who looks shockingly like an older version of TOMA. Upon seeing Malichor, he smiles.
"Malichor. I thought it would be you."
The formerly petrified man takes Malichor to the side and whispers something to him.
Suddenly, the tent flaps leading to the inn room with Telivar slam shut. The situation feels like it's about to explode.
What do you do?

=====

mrz84
Zataka, you return from the tavern rented room and tell everyone in the coal mine that you've located Telivar. Before you can ask about the Phoenix feather, Toma rushes into the room.
Malichor steps up to the statue in the center of the cavern and begins to wrap it in paper. He chants words that are unfamiliar to you.
"Allegro calibri papyrus dotomche maiandra segoe vrinda"
You look around at the partially petrified miners standing all around you. They seem to be enraptured by Malichor's every word. You begin to fret; when you tried to enchant your sword earlier a dragon spawned out of thin air. But to your surprise, the statue begins to twitch. Its fingers regain their color, its eyes open, and after a few moments what was once nothing but a statue transformed into a man... a man who looks shockingly like an older version of TOMA. Upon seeing Malichor, he smiles.
"Malichor. I thought it would be you."
The formerly petrified man takes Malichor to the side and whispers something to him.
Since the guy looks a lot like Toma, you decide to ask him about the Phoenix feathers.
"Huh? That's a really good idea, but I wouldn't know where to look. We didn't have any back then, they're pretty rare."
You're inclined to believe that time travel isn't a possibility, but with this interspace you consider the possibility that you're intersecting with a reality that has the same events transposed to an earlier position on the timeline. You wonder what impact this would have on YOUR OWN SEARCH, perhaps interspaces like these are the key to shutting your foe out of all realities.
You ask the formerly petrified man if he can calm Telivar down.
"Well, as I was just saying to your friend... I can end the spell, but I can't help Master Telivar. He's too wrapped up in the spell. If I intervene, he'll be lost when the interspace collapses. What do you think I should do?"
As you consider going back into the room with Telivar, the tent flaps leading to the inn slam shut. As hard as you try, you can't open them.
What do you do?

=====

bigjoe
Jerias, you suggest to Atticas that perhaps if you can't open the doors that exist, you could make your own. You then let the raging fire within you escape, setting the hedge on fire. He nods and joins in on the infernal revelry. As the flames grow you see sparks of electricity pop out between the flames. The space between these jolts expands until you can see little windows to other parts of the mansion, opening and closing as the fires flicker. You catch a glimpse of a whirling ellipsoid of papers, and through it you can feel the push of two conflicting minds. You call to Atticas and the two of you leap through.
You appear in a bedroom, the kind that would be rented out in an inn or tavern. There's a swirling ellipsoid of pages in the center of the room. The wall behind you is on fire, you suspect the fire is bleeding through the portal connecting the hedge maze to this place. There's a narrow gap in the pages, through which you can see the wizard Telivar. The right half of his body has succumbed to dragon corruption... he kind of looks a little bit like you from where you're standing. His eyes are shut and he seems to be chanting something. Is it... some kind of prayer? You can hear the whispers of another dragon coming from his direction; the voice definitely isn't Atticas. Perhaps it's the corruption clawing at his mind, and your recent liberation from Atticas's control has allowed you to sense it in this manner.
The mage TOMA you attacked earlier enters the room. He doesn't seem to notice you, but he appears panicked upon looking at the swirling mass of pages.
What do you do?

=====

Xyvol
Malichor, you ponder about the argument about the colony...

~~~~~
You point to the statue and ask 'What about him'? Toma shakes his head.
"All of this is just some figment... an echo from the ghost world. That's not a real wizard. It's just some terror given form by the properties of this place"
The merchant leader pipes up this time.
"Sir, I most certainly am NOT a figment, and I resent the implication. I am the great merchant chief Beymond Franks, renowned across the continent! And you and your supposed master are a couple of hapless wizards!"
Zataka chimes in: "You have to admit the resemblance is uncanny. Even if it is a figment, perhaps understanding it might help with our escape. We cannot rule out that as a mere phantom or even coincidence."
Toma seems resistant to budging on his opinion.

You scold him, explaining that you were able to touch one of the miners and that phantom images don't have mass.
"But we're standing in a ghost world. Who says the rules aren't different here?" Toma retorts.
You shake your head, citing a lack of necessity for the logic. You explain it is better to start with the assumption that the rules are the same and then test for discrepancies. In fact, it gives you an idea.
If that statue is supposed to be Toma and you could revive it somehow, he would be able to verify whether or not this 'colony' was real.

Toma shouts
"ENOUGH! We're not getting anywhere by arguing and each minute we spend here is causing more of the dragon corruption to leech into our bodies. Let's find a door and go to the master; then when this is all resolved you can do whatever you like. Leave, preferably."
~~~~~
You step up to the statue in the center of the cavern and begin to wrap it in paper. You then spout of a list of fonts that you like to use when inscribing runes, hoping the faith of the colony miners will instill them with power.
"Allegro calibri papyrus dotomche maiandra segoe vrinda"
You can feel their stares of awe on your back as you work. And as you feel their stares, you feel the power of their hope surging through you.
...The statue begins to twitch. Its fingers regain their color, its eyes open, and after a few moments what was once nothing but a statue transformed into a man... a man who looks shockingly like an older version of TOMA. Upon seeing you, he smiles.
"Malichor. I thought it would be you."
You're absolutely stunned. You cast a spell with nothing more than the hope of the miners and not an ounce of magic expended and it worked. And this guy is CLEARLY Toma from the future.
He takes you to the side and whispers to you.
"It's been a long time. But it doesn't look like you've waited as long as I have. So... this is the scrambled mansion then? Wow, it was so long ago I can hardly remember."
You ask him what happened to this place.
"The colony, right. I founded this place to protect the survivors when we lost the sun."
You're startled by this declaration. You ask, somewhat nonplussed, what he means by that.
"The dragons that are poking through in your time... they're small potatoes. The big ones are the real problem. Once they caught wind of our theft, they decided to take something back. And they stole the sun."
You ask what you can do to help.
"For me? Nothing. Nobody on this side is powerful enough to snatch the sun back. We're just clinging to what warmth we can until the end comes. But I might be able to help you. Unfortunately, it comes at a cost."
You ask about the cost.
"I can dispel the ghost world incantation that master Telivar initiated, but he's too wrapped up in the machinations of the spell. If I unbind it, he'll be swept away with the incantation as the ghost world vanishes. I can't help but think that we might have stood a better chance against the big fish if Telivar was still in the picture, and I hate to put the decision on you, but... I don't know what to do."
What do you say?

=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you ponder on your brush with the Phoenix.

~~~~~
There's a PHOENIX sleeping in here! You've heard all sorts of rumors about phoenix down and its mysterious properties. You also wonder how your PARTNER would react to an honest-to-goodness phoenix, but she's been pretty quiet as of late.
The thing hasn't spotted you yet.
You ponder the prize of acquiring a panacea like Phoenix Down and so you decide to sneak up and help yourself to a few feathers. But first, you rouse your partner and, though a silent understanding, convince her to catch the bird's gaze so you can creep up and take your fair share. Still, as you approach the Phoenix locks eyes with you and you freeze, hoping it hasn't actually spotted you. You feel a surge of heat wash over you body, almost as if you were standing near the mouth of a volcano. This situation seems just as dangerous. Suddenly, a voice echos in your head.
"A courteous request might yield better results than a con. Just a thought."
You sweat slightly and ask it to repeat that, hoping that the voice you heard was just your anxiety playing tricks on you.
"I mean I'll give you some, if you'd like. That's why I came here after all."
You shrug. A free gift is a free gift, and you can expect a healthy profit for something as rare as Phoenix Down.
"That's not what it's for."
...Did the phoenix just read your thoughts?
"Yes, yes I did. But I'm getting ahead of myself. You see, this scrambled paradimension and the dragon attack that spawned it are small potatoes. The ones poking through are REFUGEES. See, in our dimension heat is a commodity. Everyone who lives there has a burning flame in their chest which requires the stokes of heat, and the most powerful hoard the sources and force everyone else to bow for access. See... our dimension doesn't have stars like yours does, only the phoenixi generate heat. We are caged songbirds in that sense, and compared to our dimension yours is a paradise of sunshine and warmth."
You ask what this has to do with you.
"You have seen some of the refugees from our world, and you have forged a symbiotic bond with one of them. Your relationship with Texia is special, and gives me hope that one day our two realities might merge into one and we might share resources. The mages of your reality reach into ours for our natural magical potency and we reach into yours for sources of heat, but picking each other's pockets is only going to draw the attention of the big fish, and they'll ruin everything if they join in on the plunder."
You ask what you should do.
"The dragons that have breached into your reality are small potatoes; their strength and stature in our world was small enough that they could slip through relatively small tears. More powerful entities like myself cannot reach your dimension because we have too much metaphysical volume to pass through a tear. But the tears are getting bigger, like this one the wizard Telivar has ripped in his panic. I need you to take advantage of the tears while they are still small, so that you can pose a sufficient threat when the big fish come to feast."
You say you still do not understand.
"This little dragons that are tearing through... teach them that they're fighting for the wrong things. Encourage them to grow strong, so that when the big fish come to feast they'll face an army that can defeat them. I give you my boon with the hope that you can foster this rebellion as you have fostered your friendship with Texia."
With that, the phoenix looks away, closing its eyes as if it is in pain.
"The heat of the down has healing properties. It will protect you from the corruption bleeding from my dimension. It can also reverse its effects, but only in those who have not succumbed to the flames."
You notice the three red pearls in the clutches of the three statues on this level are pulsating, as if reacting to the heat of the bird.
~~~~~
You groom Texia to calm her down after the brush with the phoenix, wondering why she became so agitated. Is what the beast said true? What are its motives?
As you let Texia back into your cloak, you notice that the cloak is now covered in Phoenix feathers. You were hoping for a few pinches of down and you've got a whole cloak of them. You ponder the boon you've been given but then pause and decide it's best to see to Telivar. Picking the second-floor door to the HALL OF MIRRORS, you think of Telivar and try to open it. Initially it's locked, but one of the feathers flickers and then it opens, revealing a tavern bedroom.
To your left, you see the LIZARD DRAGOON standing in front of a WALL OF FLAMES. To you right, a young man you suspect is the wizard's apprentice stands panicked, staring towards the mass in front of you. It is a spiraling ellipsoid of spellbook pages, and within you catch a glimpse of Telivar--half-corrupted--silently praying.
What do you do?

[mrz84]

As tempting it would be to use the interspace for my own quest, helping Telivar takes priority. After careful consideration, I believe that there must be another way to free Telivar and close the dimension without losing him as well. First however, we must find a way to reach him now that the tent flap is closed.

[TheDarkOne]

The aasimar presence worries me...that kind of energy could only come from another aasimar, which I have confirmed there is not, or a tiefling. In any case, I have no interest in returning to the burning hedge maze--or, for that matter, any part of Telivar's mansion. I suggest to my companions that we and the refugees find our way to the surface and see where we are. As for the newly revived and older Toma, it makes little difference to me whether or not he comes along. As for Telivar, I care little about what becomes of him.

[bigjoe]

I try to distract Telivar from the prying voice of his manipulator. I hold up the piece of his past incarnation and beckon his attention,that he may open his eyes. If he does not respond, I turn to Toma and ask him for his help freeing Telivar. My prior confrontation with him may cause some hostility, so I show that I am trying to reason now. I then instruct Atticas to try to delve into the mind of the opposing dragon, to see if he can find anything out about what is going on.

[SUCCESSOR]

I carefully avoid the flames and storm of spell pages to move in closer to Telivar, calling to him. When it seems my words cannot reach him I notice the Dragon Man is trying to get Toma to aid him in freeing Telivar. I wonder if the Assistant is in shock. I try to tell them both of the cloak and ask if it may help, but I cannot tell if my words are understood by the Reptile or even getting to Toma. I risk throwing the cloak upon Telivar and bear down for disaster.

[CJC]

=====

mrz84
Zataka, you resolve that it would be best to rescue the lord of the manor. Unable to open the tent flap, you draw your massive sword and slice the tent to pieces. But underneath, all you find is a bedroll. Without the shape to form a doorway it seems the space has defaulted to what should be expected. You go in search of another door, winding up in the hedge maze. The place is ablaze and the heat bites at you through your armor. Also, the lattice openings have all been incinerated; the last one burns to ash behind you as you pass through. You see an opening through the flames that leads to the tavern, but it is too small for you to pass through. The inferno threatens to swallow you.
Suddenly, a frigid breeze blasts out of the opening in the flames, extinguishing the flames as it spirals up towards the sky. A collection of PHOENIX FEATHERS fly past you as the breeze carries them skyward. You catch one, while the rest vanish into the tempest. Suddenly, the sky clears up, and a light snow begins to fall in the shadow of a magnificent full moon. You look around you; the entire maze has been reduced to dust and you are standing in a field, with the edges of the mansion clearly in view. The air feels clean and crisp, and as you look around you see that the abyss below you has vanished as well. It seems the danger has passed.
You make your way to the front door. As you approach, you see the crossbow thief pulling away in a wagon full of loot. She takes off over the plains to the EAST.
To the NORTH, you see a MOUNTAIN VILLAGE. Smoke is rising from the houses; it seems the breath of industry is wide in that place.
To the SOUTH, a FOREST seems to cling to darkness in an almost ominous fashion.
Where do you go?

=====

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you fret about the Aasimar presence, but then you consider that this world seems to change the rules, and perhaps that energy is indicative of something else. This thought doesn't just extend to the ghost reality; this entire dimension seems to treat the Aasimar state differently. After some thought you decide that the sensation must be associated with natural magic instead of that which comes from ritual or incantation. This calms you slightly because it means there may not be an infernal force at work, but it also worries you because it might mean you WON'T BE ABLE TO SENSE ANOTHER AASIMAR. Still, you resolve that you've had enough of the manor and its master, so you lead the merchants up the natural grade of the mine out to the surface. As you approach the mouth of the mine, a cyclone of flames sweeps across the walls, threatening to ignite the coal contained within and cause a massive explosion. Yet strangely, you don't sense any danger as it passes. A single phoenix feather floats past you as the flames surge and you catch it.
When the inferno has passed, you finish your exit from the mine. You emerge in the PUMPKIN PATCH, but you can't sense any darkspace bends like before. Also, the tempest in the sky has vanished, being replaced by a full-lit moon and a gentle snowfall, signalling the first winter. It seems the danger has passed.
The merchant troupe's leader appears disoriented, claiming that the mansion grounds are certainly the same but they seem to be at a completely different locale. Upon looking towards the MOUNTAIN TO THE NORTH, though, his disposition improves. He says this was their next stop anyway, and invites you to join them for the walk up to the mountain settlement.
You've seen this region before; it's the same as when you departed Telivar's office. There's the settlement to the NORTH, the ominous forest to the SOUTH, and an expansive plain to the EAST.
Where do you go?

=====

bigjoe
Jerias, you hold up the femur of the other Telivar, as if to tell him that he need not fret being broken as he can rise again. Subsequently, Atticas tries to reason with the dragon taking hold in Telivar's body.
You hear their conversation in your head.
Atticas- Hey, what the heck are you doing? Can't you see that this guy's too much for you to handle?

Bankraz- Buzz off, gnat, find your own wizard. Why don't you try that apprentice over there, he looks scrawny enough for you.

Atticas- Take a look through his eyes. Do you see what he's doing to try to break from you?

Bankraz- Huh, would you look at that. But so what?

Atticas- You want him to tear a hole right back to the homestead? Are you really that eager to go home? Because I'm not.

Bankraz- ...Well....

You're distracted from their conversation by the appearance of the RANGER, who leaps into the swirling mass of pages with some CLOAK OF FEATHERS. As he wraps these feathers around the wizard, an incredible nova of flame erupts, blasting the room to pieces. For a moment there is nothing but a warm, comforting light. When it passes, you find yourself in the shattered remains of Telivar's tavern. The wizard is on the floor, completely purged of his corruption. He appears to be unconscious.
Atticas says it might be a good idea to leave before he wakes up. You depart the mansion.
It's cold, but strangely for the first time in forever you don't feel the hungry rage of the flame within you. A light snow falls in the brisk midnight air. To the NORTH, you see a settlement in the mountains. To the SOUTH, you see an ominous forest. And to the EAST, you see an expansive plain.
Far to the WEST, you can also see the ocean.
Where do you go?

=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you leap into the whirling vortex of storm pages and find yourself in the eye of the spell, standing next to Telivar. From here you can see the entirety of the mansion: the face of each page is a window to a different room. A phantom of the dragon that attacked during your earlier meeting with the wizard moves from page to page, searching. From here, you can clearly tell it is a fabrication of the imagination… some specter of dread given form by the terrors of a powerful and panicked man. You wish to inform the wizard that the dragon that stalks him now lives only in his imagination, but you still can’t get his attention. Shock is a tricky thing like that.
You call out to Toma and the Dragoon, but just as your words could not penetrate the tempest of pages from the outside it seems this spot is insulated from outside influence, save the paper windows to other segments of the mansion.
Taking a gamble, you remove the cloak of phoenix feathers and throw it over the mansion lord, thinking back on the beast’s words about corruption and embracing the inferno. Each feather pulses with an intense orange glow, brightening to white and blinding you as the room, the spellpage tempest, and even the wizard fade out of view. You feel a blast of heat and then you grasp around, trying to find your senses in the flood of white.
You catch a vision of the wizard Telivar, with the draconic scales on his right side ripping free and gathering in a cluster to his right. When he has been purged of the features, he fades back into the white. As for the cluster of scales, it pulses with the pace of a heartbeat and grows until it is roughly the size of an elephant, unfurling into a dragon of azure and silver.
“That heat… I’d heard about phoenix fire but I never expected it to be so intense. I couldn’t hold on.”
He looks at you inquisitively.
“…Just who are you?”
[Act Medias Res]
Recruiting Bankraz

~~~~~
~~~~~
[/Act Medias Res]
The blinding white gradually fades after his departure. Bit by bit the world reconstructs itself around you. Telivar is on the floor, unconscious. Toma is trying to rouse him, but the dragoon is gone. In fact, much of the room is gone, likely destroyed in the explosion when you shrouded Telivar in phoenix down. Roughly two thirds of the feathers remain, hanging in the air and pulsing as the light strikes them. You take a few minutes to gather then and you hide them in your cloak.
Telivar begins to rouse. He notices the corruption is gone, and in an ecstatic cry asks if you slayed the dragon.
Your answer is dependent on the result of the Act Medias Res
He says that a refilled flask isn’t nearly enough to pay you for your deeds today. He reaches into his gaudy robes (who wears stars and moons on blue felt in this day and age?!) and pulls out a miniature statue in the likeness of himself, carved out of onyx. You are hesitant to accept this ‘gift’ which feels like a marketing gimmick until he explains.
“This is my boon. Break it on the ground once, and I will come. Anything you want, if it is in my power to perform, is yours.”
You thank him and stash the idol. Telivar turns to his apprentice and informs him that they must begin repairs to the mansion at once. Feeling you have overstayed your welcome, you silently slip out.
Standing on the widow walk on the roof of the mansion, you take in the cold winter air that accompanies the gently falling first snow of the year. The moon is full above your head, and you pause to take in what this winter will bring. The big fish… are you really the one to front this offensive?
You scan the horizon. To the NORTH, you can see a band of merchants making their way to a settlement in the mountains. To the EAST, you can see the CROSSBOW BURGLAR cutting across an expansive plain with a wagon full of loot. To the SOUTH, the cries of an ominous forest draw and repel, like the breath of a great beast. Could another dragon be there? What is this sensation that you’re just now beginning to notice? Is it the Phoenix’s doing? Finally, far to the WEST you can see a port town against the rocky shores of the sea.
Where will you go?

=====

Xyvol
Malichor, you tell Toma Bartrand the Elder that the immediate threat needs to be dealt with if you have any hope of facing the threat to come. You therefore ask him to dispel the ghostworld, no matter what cost may be inflicted upon the caster. He raises his hands, preparing to split the spell and set the world right again, when suddenly a flash of flames washes over the mine and swallows you. You flinch, anticipating this is the fire in the library spreading into the mine and igniting the coal in an explosive flash, but strangely as the inferno envelops you you feel the heavy sensation in the air evaporate. When the flames pass, you notice that the workers of the colony have each recovered from their petrification. They turn your praise to you, hailing you as a savior, but you really don’t know what happens. Then, you notice a few Phoenix feathers hanging in the air. Quickly you gather them up, though you decide to let Toma the Elder have one.
He asks you if what just happened was a result of your incantation, but you say you don’t have any idea. You go to check the door back to the library, but now it leads to the mine’s office.
“The phantom world is dispelled! Did somebody get to Telivar?”
You and TtE lead the colonists out of the mine, emerging in the pumpkin patch. They look at the sky, amazed. One of them points and asks what the light in the sky is. “That’s a star”.
TtE looks confused. He turns to you. “This is your timeline. Why are we here? Shouldn’t we have been sent back when the spell ended?”
You say that maybe this is his second chance, to get a better outcome.
“Perhaps you’re right.”
He looks to the colonists.
“But someone needs to look after them. They’ve suffered too much at the hands of magic; this is no place for them. I’ll take them far away from here.”
He then looks around at the surrounding scenery.
“This looks like the Audamar region. I’ll take them west, to the sea. We can catch a ship there.”
He bows to you.
“Thank you for all you have done.”
With that, TtE collects the colonists one at a time and vanishes, apparently stepping through a portal of darkspace of his design. You take in the region around you.
To the NORTH, you can see an industrious MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT. To the SOUTH, a forest seems to pulse with dark energy. To the WEST, you can see a vast plain with a single wagon moving away from the mansion.
Where will you go?

[TheDarkOne]

First, I go to Malichor and ask if he knows where Zataka might be found. Once we locate him, we should decide from there where to go. I remember a brief encounter with the female thief, but know nothing of her whereabouts, not those of the cloaked man from before. I wish to be away from this place as soon as possible, but before we go I reach out once more with my senses, trying to detect any aasimar presence. If there is none, or even a hint of celestial energy, then my worries will be put to rest.

[mrz84]

I look for my allies to see if they are unharmed. Once I have confirmed they are safe, I inquire of what transpired before we depart. I also discuss our options. The crossbow thief's destination and motives are of interest to me, however if my companions desire to go elsewhere, then I shall not press the matter further. After that I would most likely suggest we head towards the nearest town to stock on supplies if we are to journey anywhere else. Before we depart to where ever we decide, I scan the area one last time for the dragoon and the ranger with the intention of asking if they wish to join us. If they decline, I will respect their decision.

[Xyvol]

The forest seems to call to me for some reason. Hopefully I can find something there that will help me understand my new found powers of magic. I suggest this as the next destination.

[SUCCESSOR]

I head south to the forest. If there is a dragon there I will learn of it. It will be good to be out in the wild again instead of a creepy mansion.

[bigjoe]

(Grr... my post never made it.. inconspicuous filler post incoming)
I head towards the ominous forest.

[CJC]

TheDarkOne
Sancireph, you sense no lingering Aasimar presence beyond your own. You are relieved by this.

mrz84
Zataka, you can't seem to locate either the RANGER or the DRAGOON.

Xyvol
Malichor, you try to put a name to the sensation you are feeling from the forest, but it feels entirely unfamiliar to you. Still, your expertise in certain styles of magic is limited. Perhaps it is a power you haven't had the chance to experience firsthand, or perhaps it isn't magic at all.


mrz84 TheDarkOne Xyvol
Zataka, Sancireph, and Malichor
you briefly discuss your next destination. Zataka is interested in pursuing the crossbow thief across the plains to the EAST, but suggests you go NORTH first to the city to procure supplies for the journey. Malichor, on the other hand, seems drawn to the forest and suggests you head SOUTH.
With the late hour, you agree that perhaps you should head to the city to at least spend the night so you can set out fresh in the morning.
You find an inn at the edge of town. A single light is on, which you can see through the door. The desk is unmanned with a note: "Please leave 10 gold on the counter and help yourself to a key and some refreshments - Management"
You each take a room and rest for the night. A few hours into your sleep, you feel the ground quake. It's coming from outside.
What do you do?

=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven, you follow the pulsing sensation south to the forest, coming to the treeline after a short walk. Before you enter, though, you sense something behind you. Turning around, you find that it is the DRAGOON. Did he follow you here? He seems just as startled as you.

bigjoe
Jerias, you set off towards the forest with Atticas, feeling drawn to the danger. The shadows of the night seem to twist in front of you, but after a few moments you realize it is not a trick of the light but rather another being moving in the same direction. It turns around and you recognize that it is actually the RANGER from before. How did he do that?

SUCCESSOR bigjoe
Reven and Jerias,
You stand at the mouth of the forest. Strange, the trees have grown in such a way that you can only enter from the footpath before you. A cloud of smoke rises from somewhere beyond, its scent medicinal and its purpose unclear. As you enter the forest you notice silence. Even in the dead of night, shouldn't there be night predators stalking the treetops? There is no motion here, and your instincts tell you to dread. You hear a slight rustle. ...Something is stalking you. As you journey deeper into the forest the sensation grows, but you can't place it.
Reven, you step on a snare trap and are abruptly hoisted up into the air, suspended by one leg.
Jerias, while trying to help him the pile of leaves beneath you gives way into a pitfall, trapping you in a hole. The sides of the pit are too soft for you to climb out with your claws.
You can hear something approaching. Its footsteps shake the ground as it walks. How did this thing get the drop on you?
What do you do?

[mrz84]

I quickly don my armor and grab my greatsword (it is still sheathed) and glance out the nearest window. I look for any signs of the disturbance. I then quickly rush to my comrades (if they haven't found me first that is) and urge caution as we attempt to find the source of the noise, as well as protect any civilians we find from harm. During the whole time, I ready to unsheathe my greatsword at a moments notice to either attack or defend (depending on what the situation best calls for ie: if a civilian or ally is in danger, I step in front of them with my greatsword as a verticle shield of sorts to absorb the blow, and if an attack looks to be elemental based, I cast a spell on my blade of the opposite element in hopes of countering it easier)

[TheDarkOne]

I swiftly head outside, looking for the source of the quake. Seeing Zataka, I head to his side to see if he knows anything. I also have my heightened Elven senses to detect anything that might be the cause.

[SUCCESSOR]

Getting caught off guard sends my reflexes into action. I immediately have a blade out and cut the cord around my ankle. Instead of dropping I hold on and pull myself up to into a point of advantage. In the tree I tie a rope I carry in my satchel onto the end of the cord and throw the end down into the pit hoping it will be long enough to reach the DRAGOON. I move into a position in the branches of the tree where I might be unseen for a moment. I coerce Texia out, who is expecting to hunt, with a quiet grunt and a gesture I tell her to fly around on the look out and she complies. The only thing left to do is wait and see what I will soon be dealing with.

[bigjoe]

It takes an enormous amount of effort, given the shape of my hands, but I manage to climb the rope that the RANGER threw down for me. Once outside the pit I take my lance into a combat stance and prepare to face whatever beast set this trap. I instruct Atticas to guard my side, should something try to sneak up.

[CJC]

==================================================
Rule Clarification

Combat: ReACTion
To further smooth out the kinks that combat pose in a delayed response environment, I am introducing a new type of ACT MEDIAS RES block, the ReACTion block. These gaps will be presented in cyan and function exactly the same way as an Act Medias Res with one exception: any ReACTion block that is unused before the next update will CLOSE, meaning you can insert actions between updates but once an update comes the opportunity has passed.

==================================================


mrz84
Zataka,
Upon leaving the inn, you immediately spot a trio of OGRES walking past the building. The first is green, carrying a GREATAXE which is roughly as tall as you are. The second is red and is carrying a giant burlap sack, which seems to have things moving inside of it. Cats? The third is light blue and has a swirling vortex of cold dancing around its fingers. Anticipating a fight, you set your blade on fire.
The red ogre sees you and drops its sack. Something falls out... it's a GNOME. These things are snatching gnomes?!

Getting the Drop on some Ogres

~~~~~
Cleaving Overhead Strike
~~~~~

Sancireph joins you at the entrance to the inn.
Fight!


TheDarkOne
Sancireph,
Leaping to your feet, you briefly assess the state of the inn. The building doesn't appear to have been damaged by the shaking. You check the rooms. Malichor is still asleep, but you decide that you can come back for him if you need him. It might be nothing, after all. Consequently you check the other rooms. There's a DWARVEN KNIGHT snoring loudly in the room next to yours, as well as a GNOMISH COUPLE you assume are the innkeepers. Down the hall, that MERCHANT TROUPE from the mansion have packed into a single room like sardines. The last room appears to be vacant, and you confirm that the key is still behind the desk.
Seeing ZATAKA outside the inn, you join him just in time to see a band of three OGRES tromping past the inn. The RED ONE is carrying a SACK FULL OF GNOMES, while the GREEN ONE has a gigantic axe and the BLUE ONE seems to be preparing some sort of spell.
What do you do?


Xyvol
Malichor, you are cozy in bed!


=====

SUCCESSOR
Reven,
You use the snare as a rope to climb up into the treetops and then quickly lower it to the DRAGOON in the pit trap. You have to extend the rope with some from your own supply because it wasn't long enough, but you are able to pull him out of the hole and up into the trees. You send TEXIA out to scout the area but as she takes off you notice the source of the stomping: a gigantic BLUE OGRE standing roughly nine feet high. It looks at the traps, noting that they have been triggered but haven't actually captured anything. Looking around, it locks eyes with you.

Getting the Drop on some Ogres

~~~~~
Missed!
~~~~~

The ogre cups its hands and begins to form a swirling vortex of snow.
Fight!


bigjoe
Jerias,
The RANGER drops you a rope and with his help you climb into the canopy of the forest, raising your spear to attack the thing that's been following you, and tell ATTICAS to cover your back in case it's an ambush.
Beneath you, a single BLUE OGRE stomps out and checks the traps, finding them empty. How did this giant thing get the drop on you? It looks around, finally looking up and spotting you in the canopy.

Getting the Drop on some Ogres

~~~~~
Missed!
~~~~~

The ogre cups its hands and begins to form a swirling vortex of snow.
Fight!

[TheDarkOne]

I point out the blue ogre as being an ogre mage and mention to Zataka that it poses the biggest threat with its magic. I draw my blades and step forward cautiously. Seeing that the ogre mage's attention is momentarily distracted by something in the forest, I use the opportunity to launch a surprise attack, with any luck before it can cast a spell.

[mrz84]

Getting the Drop on some Ogres
With my fire-enchanted greatsword, I leap at the ogre mage and attempt an overhead verticale slash. I attempt to press my advantage on the ogre mage, while keeping a close eye on the other two. If the chance presents itself, I make a break for the sack of gnomes in an attempt to rescue them.

Wondering why the ogres are interested in gnome-napping, I do everything in my power to rescue the gnomes. I focus my attacks on the ogre mage as its icy magic will have less of an effect on my due to my pendant's magical abilities (see my character's introductory post on the first page)