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The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing.

Posted by AuthorFor group 0
Author
GM, 1251 posts
The Storyteller.
Tue 10 Jan 2017
at 19:58
  • msg #1

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

It has been said the self is like a mirror.  I wonder what that means when you and I are in contact then.  Is it akin to facing two mirrors at each other?
A sight some philosophers claim to be a glimpse of infinity.  What then are we to make of our self then?
Then, I wonder, can the mirror of the self be broken?  Can infinity be infinitely divided?
And where does that leave the broken pieces of the infinite self?

--Betwixt Oblivion’s Gate, meditations upon Unity Translated by the Church of Aurelius


    For some the discovery of the previous day made sleeping difficult and fitful with anticipation of both glory and terror.  Morning came too quickly and it felt like there was hardly any time at all to get ready to the adventure that lay instore for you.  Willa found herself very nervous when she realized she was about to become the center of a lot of attention and had to press a very complex string of symbols in exactly the right order or else she would have to start all over again!  Worse there was no one else who could do it.  The message had stated specifically that the doorway only reacted to an umbrean’s touch.
  While Willa fretted about her role yet to come, Phelan tried to coach her and insisted he would be there to help.  Jubei and Drex were doing their morning rituals.  Amare and Morrey were playing in the snow.  Amare’s complexion had considerably improved since your arrival in the mountains and unlike before where he seemed to be suffering from the cold by now he seemed to thrive in it.
  During Amare’s games with Morrey he made note of a sole narayah making his way to your camp.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:16, Sat 14 Jan 2017.
Cebakaala
player, 2 posts
Wed 11 Jan 2017
at 14:15
  • msg #2

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

As the Narayah approaches it is easy to see that he is the scout Soinr mentioned. He walks with precision, not a step out of place, and carefully sniffs the chill morning air. His fur was a mirror of Phelan's - but darker, almost black and greying in places - and his eyes were flitting around as if in a constant state of awareness.
His attire was similar to that of the other Narayah that the party had met, but the scout had clearly made his own modifications to it - not the least of all what appeared to be a family crest engraved into the dark leather above his right breast. Even more striking than his armour and colouration was the small armoury he carried.
Strung across his chest was a bow that while small for most races was comparatively large for the Narayah, and a quiver full of arrows hung beside his tail. At his belt on either side he carried a sheathed short sword - and into the sheathes he had carved flowing patterns of vines and leaves. What stood out the most, however, was the strange weapon he carried upon his back. It appeared at a distance to be a simple silvery lance, however, as he grew closer, it could be seen that the lance appeared to made up out of a variety of different parts all linking together in what could only be described as old Narayah engineering. The strange weapon had a dulled point and a hilt that bent itself downwards and away from the lance itself. It was a most curious contraption.
Sensing no hostility (or perhaps simply ignoring the prospect of such), he finally reaches the party and places a hand over his right breast, above the carven crest.

"Warm greetings to all,
The name by which I go is
Cebaka'ala.

A scout was given
to assist in your great quest,
and that scout is me.

To aid you henceforth
is my sovereign task in
this stygian weyr."


With that said, Ceba takes a small bow and awaits a response from the group of strangers he had confidently approached.
Willa
player, 724 posts
Star Pact Warlock
HP:38/38 Surges:9/9 AC:15
Thu 12 Jan 2017
at 10:20
  • msg #3

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

Willa deflated under a heavily unhappy expression.  "Why Mr Phelan Sir no can just tell what do at Weigher?"  Wearily she turned to look at the new arrival.  She managed a weak smile.  Well, weak for her anyway.  It was still positively cheerful for most anyone else.  She hopped up - glad to leave Phelan's notes scattered across the floor - and sped over to Cebaka'ala at surprising speed.

With a bob, a cocked head and wide, golden orbed eyes she asked, "Willa is.  Be friends?"

The little oozeling's childlike innocence was in stark contrast to her belongings.  She wore sinister dark leather armour, whose otherwise dull metallic studs sparkled acidic green.  On her head was a weighty helm.  Its, currently raised, visor forged into the likeness of a grinning demonic skull, lit by seven verdant gemstones.  And at her side was perhaps the most disturbing item of all: a short rod, quietly hissing and popping with unnatural life.  Its writhing surface slick with fluids best not thought about.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:35, Thu 12 Jan 2017.
Iron Jubei
player, 619 posts
Paladin 22AC 15 otherDefs
37 HP 14 Surges
Thu 12 Jan 2017
at 20:58
  • msg #4

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing



A kaetyma soon followed after, quite large even for his kind, and the suit of armor that seemed to be hewn from solid slate didn't make his form any less sizeable. His armament on the other hand... the ornate bastardsword he wielded looked just a little bit bigger than a shortsword on him, and even the towershield could have passed as a more regular variant as well.

"Greetings, Cebaka'ala. I am Iron Jubei. Your assistance is much appreciated and will no doubt provide most helpful in what is to come.", he spoke and gave a nod to the narayah.
Drex
player, 616 posts
Avenger
Fri 13 Jan 2017
at 09:20
  • msg #5

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

Drex nods respectfully to their new companion. "And I'm Drasden Braskaal Anoer, but you may call me Drex."
Phelan Drixos
player, 619 posts
Sat 14 Jan 2017
at 01:13
  • msg #6

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

"Mostly because if something goes wrong, I want you to be able to handle anything." The Narayah spoke quietly in response to Willa's displeasure. As she ran off, Phelan looked up from his notes, his eyes focusing briefly on the lance the newcomer bore and narrowing before returning to normal. His fur was an inverse to that of the newcomer, though primarily orange with white wreathed through it. His light, almost frail build was noticeable in comparison to the newcomer, as was his relative lack of size compared to his race.

His leather armor was fiarly ordinary, although it did have gear sigils sewn into it. This appeared to be more aesthetic rather than functional and was one of the few cases of it happening. This design was repeated on his cloak, though these sigils did seem to be acting as a magical matrix. As he took in Ceba's introduction and the responses of his allies, he fastened the vials of his infusions onto his bandolier, which had some extra slots beyond it for future creations. Strapped on his back was a crossbow of superior craftsmanship, though it itself seemed to lack any sort of magical nature.

"Phelan Drixos. Welcome then to this group, your contribution will be appreciated." He added some sentences in his own tongue, looking somewhat cheerful to have one of his people around.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:29, Sat 14 Jan 2017.
Author
GM, 1255 posts
The Storyteller.
Sat 14 Jan 2017
at 19:46
  • msg #7

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

    Amare and Morrey were the last to greet Cebakaala.  The former gave only a short hello and a single name while the raven squawked and hopped over at Cebakaala.  Turning his head to one side to look up at you with one rapidly blinking, beady, black eye.
  Besides being a human Amare’s most unusual feature were his black sclera and shining red irises.  He didn’t seem to mind the cold whatsoever and did not appear to be suffering for it being more than half underdressed for the climate.  Besides that, the only other piece of equipment he seemed to carry was a small satchel and a dull red bident.  The long, tapered points spun into a helical shaft which met at a sudden sharp point at the base of the instrument.
  ”I am sure you would like to discuss whatever plans we have for opening and entering the weyr now that our newest member has joined us?” Amare said as he brushed off some snow caught in the folds of his haphazardly made jacket.
Cebakaala
player, 6 posts
Sat 14 Jan 2017
at 22:27
  • msg #8

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

Cebaka'ala greets his new companions' introductions with a pleased grin, apparently glad to be welcomed so freely. Most striking of all was the little Umbrean, one of the first of its kind that Ceba had ever seen.
Is this normal speech for them
or a unique condition?
This one I needs must observe,
my own curiosity
to sate.

The fascination with the oozeling's speech lasted only a brief moment before he attempted to return her hospitality with an equally approachable response - remembering for the most fleeting of moments how many years had passed since last he had truly spoken with a stranger.
"A pleasure truly
it is to find an ally
in this distant place.
An amiable
choice it is to be your friend,
and your allies' too."


Turning to Phelan he subconsciously switches over to his natural Narayan mother tongue and speaks a fair cultural greeting:

Still with his grin, and now back in the common tongue, he turns to Amare.
"I am here to guide
and protect your group from harm.
I defer to you."

This message was last edited by the player at 22:28, Sat 14 Jan 2017.
Willa
player, 725 posts
Star Pact Warlock
HP:38/38 Surges:9/9 AC:15
Mon 16 Jan 2017
at 17:13
  • msg #9

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

Author:
”I am sure you would like to discuss whatever plans we have for opening and entering the weyr now that our newest member has joined us?” Amare said


Willa made a grumpy face and slunk back to the notes to resume her memorising.
Iron Jubei
player, 620 posts
Paladin 22AC 15 otherDefs
37 HP 14 Surges
Mon 16 Jan 2017
at 20:10
  • msg #10

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing



Jubei gave a rumble and nodded. "Yes, we may as well use that opportunity to fill in Cebaka'ala on what we know so far. Shouldn't we?", he spoke and looked over to the others.
Phelan Drixos
player, 620 posts
Wed 18 Jan 2017
at 00:30
  • msg #11

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

"Very well. I imagine Soinr has already filled you in on what will be happening, but I will repeat what we have discovered." A pause. "The Weyr is sealed by a field utilising a mix of arcane and psychic energy. Researchers from your group have hypothesised the source; and I find myself in agreement with them."

He stopped again, looking slightly sheepish. "I'm getting off tangent. A few days back, our group discovered a cave that contained a heavy magical influence in it. We were able to find some old signs that indicated a puzzle. Solving it led to finding out what happened with the Weyr." Phelan broke off briefly, realising he was about to get carried away again with the details.

"In essence though, the field can be bypassed by an Umbrean pressing runes in the correct order on the main gate. Willa will be doing that with my support as needed. Soinr will be providing a detachment to secure the doorway while, presumably, our group scouts out inside." He now looked over the entire group. "Our task is to secure the Weyr. There are multiple goals involved: To discover the text that Jubei seeks, to ensure that the spell array that this was sealed to protect is not disturbed, and to ensure that the Weyr can be made habitable."

"Above all, be on guard. We don't know what we will find in there."
Iron Jubei
player, 621 posts
Paladin 22AC 15 otherDefs
37 HP 14 Surges
Wed 18 Jan 2017
at 21:02
  • msg #12

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing



Jubei nodded reaffirmingly to what Phelan explained, but at the end he cleared his throat to draw attention.

"That may not be quite correct. I have a very... strong assumption of what we will find in the Weyr. The last living dragon in this world.", he paused there for emphasis. "As you may or may not know, the dragons once held a vast empire of which the kaetyma and doola were a part of. Until that one mysterious day when all of them perished and the empire crumbled. At least it was assumed that all of them perished, yet during our... encounter with the beings of the Conduit, and through the vision I received that left me in such an... indignified state, I have come to belief that this... survivor is imprisoned within this Weyr.", the kaetyma had begun to pace back and forth as he spoke and now paused again to give his words a moment to sink in.
"However, I am also quite certain that this dragon will be of hostile disposition. He was a Dragon King and became known as the Tyrant. I doubt that countless centuries of isolation didn't gave him a more positive demeanour. That my vision ended with a dragon-like being made of black ooze attempting to devour me is also kind of a hint in that regard."

"I believe that he is at least part of the reason the umbreans fled the Weyr, maybe this Tyrant was preying on them. It would make sense considering that the vision made him... very Umbrean in appearance, save for the obvious draconic features."
, he spoke that part, looking at Willa in particular. "And had the situation been different, I would have taken that as enough reason to not disturb this prison. But as it stands, I doubt the Narrayah will turn away simply because of... a vision I had. And so I elect to stay and... if nothing else, make sure that this Tyrant is dealt with. Although I do admit that I would prefer it if we could somehow reason with him, an actual... living dragon... or whatever state he is in now... would still be a monumental find.", he nodded then and stopped, finished with what he had to say for now.
Willa
player, 726 posts
Star Pact Warlock
HP:38/38 Surges:9/9 AC:15
Wed 18 Jan 2017
at 21:54
  • msg #13

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

Willa shot up, away from the notes and looked between Phelan and Iron Jubei in shock.  "But code no say Tyrant-King Dragon is!  Weigher Umbreans make code.  Why Weigher Umbreans no say Tyrant-King Dragon is?  Tell much other stuff!"  She paused, looked at the ground, then gasped and worriedly looked at Phelan, "Maybe Mr Phelan Sir and Willa get uncode wrong?  Maybe unlock weigher notes wrong also!  Or..." Then everyone in the room - except for Cebaka'ala - noticed a familiar, complicated look cross Willa's face as her attention turned strangely inward.  She was about to burst into a flood of verbal diarrhoea again.

"Code say returners is.  Friend Iron Jubei say Tyrant-King Dragon is.  Maybe...maybe Tyrant-King Dragon, Returner is?  If Tyrant-King Dragon no survive...may be Tyrant-King Dragon body die.  But not die.  Like umbreans?  Maybe, uh, sykie..? come to Weigher Umbrean spawning pool.  Willa think must be one.  Or many.  Or was.  Then Tyrant-King Dragon Sykie take Weigher Umbrean pool ooze.  Take umbrean essence!  Make new body from.  Become Returner-Tyrant-King Dragon-Ooze?  Umbreans scared.  Don't want all ooze to be taken by not dead dragons.  So lock up and run away from!"

"Also Willa sometimes find strange histories.  Small talks of better umbreans.  More powerful umbreans.  Like Weigher Umbreans." She looked questioningly to Amare in case he had anything to add since he seemed to know a lot of things that other people did not. "Is so maybe?  So Returner-Tyrant-King Dragon-Ooze want take more-powers from Weigher Umbreans?

"Also, Also..." Although her ramblings had normally found their own natural conclusion by now, Willa didn't show any signs of stopping this time...
This message was last edited by the player at 22:05, Wed 18 Jan 2017.
Iron Jubei
player, 622 posts
Paladin 22AC 15 otherDefs
37 HP 14 Surges
Thu 19 Jan 2017
at 10:34
  • msg #14

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing



Jubei ended up looking a little confused as he attempted to follow Willa's... extrapolation.
"I... slow down a little, Willa. What do you mean with sykie? The rest does sound... like something that could have happened. Although I admit that I don't know what capabilities this dragon king has, but I would assume that he must have been incredibly powerful to begin with, as the few stories I know of ancient dragons tend to feature queens, rather than kings.", he gave a little shrug then.

"I think we'll learn more once we open the gate."
Cebakaala
player, 7 posts
Thu 19 Jan 2017
at 13:15
  • msg #15

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

Ceba listened with an ear of curiosity, puzzling together the story being told and allowing his occasionally wild imagination to fill in the blanks. The prospect of going toe-to-toe against an ancient, oozing dragon king was enough to make his paws itch with excitement. A peaceful solution was all well and good, but he would relish the challenge if the diplomatic solution failed. In some small way, that wild part of his soul called out longingly.
Author
GM, 1256 posts
The Storyteller.
Thu 19 Jan 2017
at 14:44
  • msg #16

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

    ”In eons passed, yes Willa.  My sources are prehistoric by this age.” gesturing to the scattered notes he continued ”Your decoding of the text is correct simply because any flaws would have been glaring mathematical ones and Phelan has demonstrated a great if still very rudimentary command of mathematics.” he added with a teasing smile in Phelan’s direction.
  Turning back to Willa Amare finished with ”Considering the visions you have experienced on our journey here don’t you think it’s possible that you might very well be descended from the umbreans that fled here?”
Willa
player, 727 posts
Star Pact Warlock
HP:38/38 Surges:9/9 AC:15
Thu 19 Jan 2017
at 18:07
  • msg #17

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

Willa didn't need to consider Amare's suggestion for very long.  She had assumed most of her visions up to this point were memories from past lives rather than anything prophetic.  But that didn't seem like anything special.  Absurdly, she had a least as little, if not less than, contact with other umbreans as anyone else here, so assumed this to be normal for her race.  She shrugged.

"Umbreans spawn of pool.  Pool is of dead other umbreans.  Willa guess is are many pools.  Also guess Weigher Umbreans go far.  Weigher Umbreans die.  Go many pools. Spread sykies far.  Umbreans not live long.  So Willa think maybe most all umbreans Weigher de-sented." She looked to the others in case they might be misinterpreting her as being someone of import in light of Amare's comment. "So no matter if Willa or other umbrean.  All is same."
Cebakaala
player, 8 posts
Fri 20 Jan 2017
at 13:32
  • msg #18

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

Ceba's mind lurched with thoughts and images of pulsating pools of dying oozelings, their limbs and features slowly melting away into what could best be described as a puddle of Umbrean goop. He suppressed a shudder and was momentarily grateful that his people had what he considered a more "normal" reproductive method. In his travels he had come across many creatures with strange spawning habits, but something about the ultimate fate of the little Umbrean before him left him feeling peculiarly sad.
"Although Willa may
not be a descendent of
the old Weyr-dwellers...
There are secrets here.
Are you prepared to face them?
Are you strong enough?"

Despite his comment being generally directed towards everyone, a hint of extra focus was placed on Willa. Ceba had to be sure that his new companions were truly ready for whatever they may find, and with the usual time of travel with his fellows to test their mettle being absent until further notice he wanted to ensure that none of them would back down. He mumbled to himself in his native language, apparently lost in thought.
Author
GM, 1257 posts
The Storyteller.
Fri 20 Jan 2017
at 21:32
  • msg #19

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

    ”Certainly.  However, when was the last time any of you saw another umbrean?  I’ve been looking around for others since Kyssea and though there are signs of their presence in the past.  Many years ago.  Willa I have enough reason to believe you might be one of the last umbreans on this island.” Amare paused before adding.  ”Consider that.”
Drex
player, 618 posts
Avenger
Sat 21 Jan 2017
at 15:14
  • msg #20

Re: The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 5, Therefore I am Nothing

"Now that you mention, I haven't." Drex said as he scratches a newly formed boil.

"And I agree with Jubei, it is wiser not to leave this god-like abomination in this place for anyone to come and release it, due to ignorance or arrogant folly."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:16, Sat 21 Jan 2017.
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