Hsang's eyes narrow as he examines the painted symbols.

"So she left something to start us looking I assume?  Presumably something that would make sense to us only would be logical." 

He glances at the pictures again with some confusion eyes tracking them as if expecting to see something different.

"Strange selection don't you think.  You almost could wear all of these but it would be inefficient."

Chess ala'riina got up from her seat and moved to Jarvis "Hello Jarvis Martel, I'm Chess ala'riina Nasadra and I was hoping that you still had some of Esmeralda's belongings or a journal that she might of left behind for us to unravel some of these clues. her words were very eloquent and she never once took her eyes off Jarvis when she spoke to him.

"To be precise, it isn't a star--it's a pentacle. A star is either solid or doesn't have the inner lines. In the latter case, it's an outline o-,"

Of a star yeah, yeah. Give me a break. Ki'nae always hated feeling stupid. Her travels had always taken her so far, but only so. Now darktall - I guess Vashon now - was bringing up in her old feelings of inadequacy. While the bullet-bruiser was nobody's fool, she certainly wasn't the sharpest sword in the sheathe.

Fortunately she didn't dwell long enough to grow angry. Jarvis captivated her with a tale of prophecy, one to match many (certainly not just any) tales of the bards and songsouls and poets and chanters. Was this a story come to life? Perhaps this tale was the Tale of Tales, with players aplenty and a plethora of plot.

Ki'nae listened with her back against the wall. Gloved thumbs remained tucked into her belt; her hands never strayed far from her precious pistols. How many of these suckers will think to get greedy with the goods? She didn't know these wild aces from jokers, but then again, if they were formidable, each in their own way, they could be competition. To the fiery firearmist, nothing could be more true than a troupe. Were these partners up to a performance of a lifetime?

Her eyes slid about the room like a heatwave, taking in the questions with thoughts hot with curiosity.

"Strange selection don't you think.  You almost could wear all of these but it would be inefficient."

Ki'nae snickered. Even she wouldn't underestimate her greed. Perhaps. I could use some boots. And gloves. She adjusted the brim of her hat, making sure it covered the green star mark on the side of her head. After all this, I could probably use a bigger hat.

The cavehu-err-Chess was going up now, asking for belongings of this great Oracle.

Ki'nae cleared her throat. Loudly.

"I'm sher we'd all like to take a pretty lil' gander at any book or whatchamacallits or whoyahadits ole Esme had hangin' about. Though I reckon after 500 years in ain't in too good a condition..." She tipped her hat to Jarvis. "I've got a few inquries of m'own."

"Fer one, what y'all been doin' up here fer 5 centuries? Just worship'n these green stars 'n such? Hard to protect somethin' y'know so little about." It was curious to her that such a building was built so long ago, but to think there was was so much faith put into a prophecy boggled her. She'd only known commitment like that through actors; professionals that were always faking it for a good story.

"Fer secondly, what're we s'posed to do after we fetch these glorious raiments? Take 'em to the tailor fer a fittin'?" Ki'nae caught herself from haucking up spit. She caught herself, then tried to discreetly gulp.

"'N fer threely, yer askin' us to walk into a hellhole name Mt. Doom, buddy. Folks have already name it Mt. Doom. Sounds mighty dangerous of you to suggest we risk 'n worry our hides to get a job like this done. Ki'nae bit her lip, scrunched her face at the craziness of it all. Was she truly part of a legend in the making? Was the nine out of thirteen she saw in her mind given a once in an aeon opportunity to change the world?

"So at the very least...can I get some free drinks out of it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:58, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

All that this Jarvis spoke about brought a resemblance of what was and had happened.  Esmerelda, that was a name she had heard in her studies those many summers before.  Vogh tried to research back into her memory for what she remembered of the Old but not forgotten Oracle.
09:13, Today: Vogh Kath rolled 28 using 1d20+13.  Oracle knowledge check.

Vogh smiled to the people that had given their names, Vashon, Lucien, Ozrus, and Chess ala'riina.  If they were the cycle that Esmerelda spoke of Vogh would need to get to know them better as to her it sounded as if they might need to work together.

Vogh then asked a question of her own, once Jarvis answered the others questions, "With the wonders hidden, how are you sure or is anyone sure that none of them have been found before?  Even by past Green Star Cycles?  I too must think that research has been done to locate the items in the past."

"Of course, you may look at Esmeralda's journals," Jarvis replies to Chess. "They are in our library--all 75 of them, one for each year. There's not much to found in the last 5, though. Towards the end of her life, her mind--and visions--were not as sharp as they were in her youth. She often had visions of two-headed cows, an alchemist's bomb that could blow up a city dropped from the clouds by a great metal bird, tsunami's in deserts, magical horseless carriages that spewed noxious gasses into the air... well, you get the idea. Fortunately, none of that has come to pass, though there was a report of a two-headed cow down in Ilsig a few years back."

"The library is in the west tower."

"This is a monastery, Ki'nae. To most outsiders, we don't do anything. In reality, we meditate to attain enlightenment. In theory, if we are successful, we shall reach a higher plane of existence. We also study, partly in that endeavor, but also to learn about the world, which might be the same thing. We're still trying to decide that."

"We also copy books. We copy the writings, add illuminations, bind the new books, and repair the old ones."

Almost as if on cue, a dozen monks emerge from the east doorway carrying tables, chairs, food and drink.

"I was not being a negligent host, but I was not sure that you were the Cycle or that you were staying. By all means, though, help yourself to any nourishment you may require. Our repasts are simply fare, though, so I hope you won't be disappointed."

The tables are slightly curved such that when placed end to end, they form a large circle, somewhat akin to a 'round table'. The food put out consists of breads, cheeses, nuts and fruits. The drink is water, wine or mead.

"We do not worship the Green Star. We are merely keepers of its story. Nor do we protect anything, other than ourselves. We do not even protect our Oracle; she does that herself."

"When you find the Wonders, I suspect you will know what to do with them, but I would think you should be using them to stop the Great Destruction."

"Why would we seek to find these items? We are not the Cycle. At least, none of us have been draw here by the Green Star. There is only one Cycle. If the Great Destruction had occurred 100 years ago, different people--those who were the Cycle then--would have been drawn here. I'm sure a few monks have tried to locate the Wonders over the centuries, as much for what you say as out of curiosity or possibly even greed."

"It is our firm belief that Esmeralda's chosen hiding places have remained hidden because they were part of her vision. Do you not think she would have foreseen the items being found before they were needed? Of course, I cannot state that with certainty, but we have not heard of any of the items being found. Whether the prediction and the Wonders were true or not, an item of such significance would surely have surfaced ere now."

Chess ala'riina looked at Vogh and wondered where did she get the impression that there was other Cycles.  Jarvis mentioned that we were the Cycle and it seemed that it took 500 years for us to arrive.  But then Jarvis was gracious enough to explain more to her.

But Chess ala'riina was very much interested in the visions that Esmeralda had in her late years.  It seemed that what she did foresaw will come true as it took 498 years for the vision of the two head cow to come true.

"Thank you Jarvis, I would enjoy reading each one of them, all 75.  Especially her later years. she said with a gracious smile.

When offered access into the Library she nodded. "Would there be a Sage in the Monastery that might be able to help me in a different matter?

  "So do some of us want to go visit the volcano while others do research here? And if so should we take folks that can remove themselves from the volcano's area if it looks like it will erupt again?" he asks as he crosses to a table and picks up an earthenware jug of water and pours himself a glass. After setting the glass down he grabs an apple and takes a bite. "I only ask because for all of us to go or all of us to stay seems almost a waste. We have two objectives and more than a few folks. I would imagine at least one or two of you can get around as easily as myself."

Hsang chuckles lightly.

"Ah they are never so blind that they cannot see, never so deaf that they cannot hear.  Their roots run deep through the earth and bind the life to the walkers.  Praise to the life."

He glances over at Jarvis.

"I think we might need to discuss this as a group Jarvis.  Do we have any maps of the region as it was during the time of the Oracle?  Also any maps showing things as they are now."

His helm moves to sweep the group.

"Can I assume none of you feel like being a lone wolf?  In which case we need to form groups of some sort.  I doubt anything much is hidden in the journals, days of reading seem a likely trap not a help for us in a time of crisis.  So we need leaders for what, three or four groups?"

The white-haired Gnome scratches his head as Hsiang speaks.

"Seems to me that the volcano is intertwined with this Great Destruction in some way, unless, of course, the volcano's eruption is the Great Destruction. Somehow, I don't think that's the case," Tyrol chimes in.

"Since each one of us is supposed to wield one of these Wonders, there must be some rhyme or reason to that. I mean, what good would it be to give me the sword or the shield? I don't use either of them. Well, I suppose if the shield turned me into a giant, that might be a different story."

"So, I was thinking, which one of us can wear the armor? That seems like the best place to start."

"And, as for groups, might that not depend on where we wind up going? If all these Wonders are buried under a stone in the Misty Mountains, it'll only take one group to get them, right?"

"Now, while I think research here is probably a waste of time--ain't the monks been doing that for a hundred years already?--sending one group to the volcano to scope it out seems like a smart course of action. There's supposed to be some fuss, so we should see what the fuss is all about."

"I have no problem with volcano-spotting, but I'm more of the research type."

He grabs some bread and cheese and pours a mug of mead for himself.

"Two-headed cow? Wonder if I could transform into one of those..." the druid mused, mostly to himself. He wouldn't have minded lounging around the monastery for a few weeks, or even months, reading Esmerelda's journals. Unfortunately, he doubted they had that kind of time, what with Mt. Doom still in the process of erupting.

"I also wouldn't mind heading toward the volcano," Ozrus replied when the topic of splitting up arose. "I was actually assuming that was the destination my scar was leading me to before I got close to this monastery, so I made a few preparations for such an exploration. I should be able to get around pretty easily too, I think." In demonstration, the druid began climbing the wall of the monastery effortlessly, and even made his way across to the center of the ceiling without issue. "As for which wonder we head toward first, I don't really care. The first one we get a lead on, I suppose. Either way, I am curious to see how this all plays out. It's not like I had anything better to do anyway."

"Twelve locations are marked.  I very much doubt that is a coincidence that there are twelve items shown.  So we have to split up.  Once we have maps we should be able to deal with the problems.  However unless you can see the link between the locations and the items perhaps we should look to function before you share treasures you know nothing about.  There are armors that can be used by mages and wands that can be used by sword-swingers after all."

Aniyu nodded his head to the group, "Investigating this 'Mt Doom' is a wise move. Unless there is a Wonder close enough that would aid us, I think finding out what caused the eruption is vital. To be clear, it is not, technically, a volcano. I apologize to correct, but..."

He opened a hand, spitting into his own palm and squeezing it, a chilly aura forming around his fist. He opened his hand again, faster this time, and a brief flurry of snowflakes lifted up from his dry hand and formed a projection in the air; an obvious illusion to illustrate his explanation, "The Earth under us is alive, it continues to move and grow, as we do. Volcanoes are caused when the Earth grows apart, when these 'plates' spread, the magma from beneath the earth fills these channels up to the surface." The illusion shows a generic landscape, a 3-D view into the ground, showing the plates separating, the magma rising to the surface, overflowing onto land, and gradually building the 'standard' volcano shape.

A quick exhale into the illusion makes the flurries scatter and reform into another illusion, one again showing the plates as they were before, shifting to match his story, "Mt Doom is the opposite. The 'plates' have moved into one another, grinding up against one another to form the mountain. These do not create channels for magma to rise to the surface." The illusion shows the plates pushing together, sliding on top of one another and forming a mountain. Magma below the surface attempts to rise up a channel formed by the shifting space, but is cut off by the nature of how the earth is colliding together.

He leaned in, closing his eyes and inhaling deep through his nose, pulling the snowflakes into his lungs and ending the projection. He gave a slow, clear exhale, before looking among the group, with a soft smile, "There is some other external force at play here, whether or not that force is natural, magical, or intelligent, is what we need to find out. I would be honored if I could accompany those heading to the mountain."

OOC: Using Major Image for the effect.

"Agreed, Aniyu!" Vashon concurs.

"I'm not one for studying either, so I'll head for the volcano. I work better when my feet are moving."

"Unless any of you need to rest, I'm all for heading out now."

  Lucien looks at the fellow who most reminds him of the traders on the Golden Way from far off Kara-Tur. "Ok it seems more than a few of us want to go to this mountain. The reason I suggested a certain mobility is that unless I am wrong it isn't to terribly far away. Say less than a day's journey. Which means it should be with in my ability to get there and back with no more than 4 other people in a few hours. But I have a great distaste for leaving folks behind so if we got separated I want to knkw you can get back here with out me or my means of travel. Make sense?" as he spoke the looked at everyone that had voiced a want to go to the volcano or whatever some wanted to call it. "I understand there may be some confusion on what exactly it is at the moment, but here is my take. If it looks like a dragon, smells like a dragon, and eats like a dragon you aren't likely to call it a housecat unless you are stupid or you are crazy. It's dragon. So for arguments sake it's a volcano. Just one of those easier things. Until we know it is a godly manifestation of Kossuth that is both a direct portal to the Elemental Plane of Fire and The Abyss let's not call it or anything other than something we can all wrap our heads around." he waits for nods or at least gruding consent. "I don't feel we need a leader per se at this point, but I do think we need some one that can be trusted to collect any thing found and have a backup for that person so if worst comes to worst we don't have any issues as far as knowledge sharing goes. And as far as leaving right now goes that might be a little early for that. I spent a lot of my energy getting here a night indoors and near a fire might do us all some good. If you insist then we shall go."

"Perhaps we should split up based on current preparedness then," Ozrus suggested from his spot on the ceiling. "The half of us who are most ready can go now. The other half can leave in the morning and do some research in the meantime. I could fit into either group myself. I don't really have anything I need to do before leaving, but I'm also not in a hurry. I wouldn't mind skimming those journals or preparing some potions before heading out..." He had sold all of the potion reserves he had accumulated over the years in order to pay for his new magic ring. So he was currently completely depleted.

Aniyu looked to Lucien and cocked his head, finally giving a nod, "I disagree with your logic. I call things what they are, but my explanation was not to force you to use any particular terms. I am simply giving insight, it is your choice to hear it."

He nodded at the notion of cooperation and safeguarding "I am willing to submit to a Gaes or whatever oath or pact binding we have among us, or the Citadel."

He shrugged, "I am ready to leave whenever. I could also spend the day gathering more information about the mountain for us, if others need time to rest."

"I can get back on my own, and help others to do so, too, if that is an issue," Vashon answers Lucien's question.

"As I said, I am ready to go now. Is there any reason, Jarvis, you wish us to wait? If not, then I'm heading out. Who's going with me?"

He's not sure if he'd go alone--he's not a scout, but he had committed to a course of action and tended (and intended) to see it through. He didn't consider it a big deal if he changed his mind. One had to adapt to circumstances.

He grabbed some cheese, nuts and an apple as he head out the door.

Two-headed cows? A great metal bird? Sounds like they've got some serious keif lying about. The drug was a particular product moved about the Company, but to her, it never seemed worth the experimentation. Not worth seeing two-headed cows and the like.

"This is a monastery, Ki'nae."

"I prefer to be called Bash, buddy." She make sure to say it loud, too. Get the hint, folks? "Bash'll do." She had no intention of sharing her name anytime soon. If word got back to The Company that she was out and about sharing her name, it wouldn't go down too well for her. Her tongue was often so loose she was scared it would fall out of her head. When'd she let her name slip? Could the old man read minds?

If he could, hopefully he wasn't wondering what she was thinking now; who found it fun to be in a secluded building being boring for the rest of their life? But while she couldn't fully appreciate the man's occupation, she could appreciate the fine and timely spread set out.

"Our repasts are simply fare, though, so I hope you won't be disappointed."

"I most certainly won't be," she mumbled, her surprise behind high brows. Despite her mien she was far from a brute, so tipped her hat in thanks for the meal. The punching pistolero knew the significance of grub outweighed gold in many cultures. She felt that this was one of them. They must have been serious about asking for help.

"Thank you Jarvis, I would enjoy reading each one of them, all 75."

She sounds like she would make a thrilling conversationalist. The slinger swaggered to the table, procuring lumps of loaves and chunks of cheese. Her ears stayed tuned as she fashioned herself a makeshift sandwich, gulping it down with mead.

"So do some of us want to go visit the volcano while others do research here?"
"Can I assume none of you feel like being a lone wolf?"
"Seems to me that the volcano is intertwined with this Great Destruction in some way, unless, of course, the volcano's eruption is the Gre-"
"Two-headed cow? Wonder if I could transform into one of those..."
"Once we have maps we should be able to deal with the proble-"

Bash swirled her second helping of mead around in her mug. Seemed Lucien the Red figured himself a party planner. No one could plan parties like her troupe could. She didn't need some guy she didn't know asking about her methods and means of getting around. She'd figure it out like she always did.

Really, though. How far would these combat wombats get heading off to explosion hill with no clues and even less sense of the matter? Who'd let this poor priest's victuals go to waste on such an auspicious occasion? Maybe they could chat a few lads up, piece together some shared stories or...

Well I'll be damned. Looks like Chess is on to something. How typical of men was it then that Vashon and the thing in armor (had to be some sort of male behind that helm) would want to sttrike out at the drop of stick. Hope they were careful not to let the same twig bounce off the ground back up into their-"As far as we ken reckon, that mountain might blow up again." Ki'nae took a pause to wet her whistle, then looked at her mug appreciatively. "Not bad beer, Padre. But I reckon if..err...Chess here wants to take a crack at them books fer the night, maybe with some help from...uh...Sir Tiny T and...mm...Mr. Anywho, I'd stay behind fer a day 'n see what she finds. Mayhaps we stumble across some sort of suggestion to the whereabouts of the loot. I mean, wonders." She added a cheeky grin and winked at Jarvis. "I ken do fer a day o'respite m'self. Was a long ways walk. I ken offer my inquirin' mind to the cause..."

Good thing she'd won that game of dice with the guide.

Wonder if I could beat him again, so he could get us to that mountain?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:58, Wed 07 Oct 2020.

"I am a Sage," Jarvis replies to Chess, "but certainly not on every subject. I may be able to help you."


"We have many maps in our archives, Hsang," he replies to Hsang. "I do not know off hand how old they might be. I do have the impression that the maps from that time updated about every ten years... more often if there was some reason to do so."


"I have no reason to keep any of you here, Vashon," Jarvis also replies to Vashon. "All of you are free to come and go as you wish. It is not I that drew you here, nor am I asking anything of you. Your destiny is your own."

"I suspect you are here merely to find out your options. Do nothing and perhaps everything you know gets destroyed... OR... attempt to stop it. The choice is yours."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:38, Wed 07 Oct 2020.

She thought for a moment "Is it possible to invite your Oracle here to speak with us as well. she smiled as she remembered him saying she is the reasoning for us being here.

Vogh had thought about it and she too had decided to stay.  She could help Chess go over the journals and see what she could learn about this Esmerelda and all this nonsense about the green star.

Vogh made her way to the table and grabbed up some fruit and cheese along with what looked like a light rose wine.  "I will stay as well.  The journals could bring some enlightenment."

Hsang stands and gives a slight bow to a point as central in the room as possible.  His armor hides his emotions and gives him anonymity and allows him to be completely impersonal.

"In that case could I trouble you to provide me directions to your archives and I will thank you for your help."

His helm stares deep into Jarvis's eyes for a second as if considering saying more but he shakes it and stands back slightly to give the old warrior space.

Kurat was interested in locating the items, he decided to study the paintings on the walls. He wanted to check them for any identifying marks that the items might hold that might help them identify them. He also hoped the paintings were in the likeness of the items thus making it easier to identify them.

He figured it was unlikely Esmerada had left directions to them in her journals, if they had been left then surely someone in the time since would have found them. If she could see the future as well as the librarian claimed and she could see the twelve that would come forth then it stood to reason that the location of each item would be tied to these twelve. They'd be located somewhere of importance in their past.

He disagreed with the librarians assertion that no one person could wield all of them. That did not agree with logic. Though if they were powerful enough wielding them all might could destroy the wielder.

He thought to his past to see if he could remember seeing anything similar to what the paintings depicted in his past.

Once Hsang sees what Kurat is doing he moves over to him and speaks in a low voice.

Kurat nodded to Hsang's appearance next to him. The Damaran male motioned over the pictures studying each in detail.

He whispered back to Hsang,