So cold. It's what Moore realizes first. As he opens his eyes, he realizes his memories are a blur. As frosted over as the grass he lies on. Around him are vast mountains that rise higher than his eyes can follow. Everything feels like a blur to him, out of focus and yet wonderful. The sky is a shimmering white that reminds him of pearls, the air clean and full, despite the mountainous terrain.
As he gets his bearings, he sees there is a man sitting on a nearby rock. A youth, carrying a shepard's crook and watching Moore awaken.
Moore rubs at his eyes as he takes in his surroundings. He's heard stories of places like this... hasn't he? Maybe?
"Am I dead?" He calls out to the man.
The man cocks his head to the side, pursing his lips as he considers the question. "That is the normal way of coming here, but you yet draw breath."
Moore blinks, then smiles a little bit.
"Is that why you're here, or do you greet everyone?"
"I'm here because you are needed." The young man inclines his head to Moore, "What do you think of destiny?"
"It's a word that people both curse and praise, usually in the same breath." Moore says, without really thinking about it. "It's like luck, but people pin more importance on it." He continues.
He sits up, tests his wings out and flies over. "I'd introduce myself, but I have a feeling you already know who I am. May I ask your name?"
"Destiny is real. But tell me one thing: What is the purpose of destiny?" The young man asks. "As for myself, my name is not important." He smiles, a gesture at himself. "I tend to the animals here."
"Hm... is that because destiny says your name isn't important?" Moore asks. "Hm... the purpose?" Moore looks out across the field and then down at the ground. "I think that depends on the person... the individual. At the end of the day, there are people who think they make their own destiny, yet others who think destiny is something that shows them their own paths in life. I think... both views are correct. I think that destiny is simply another essence... something that can be used no matter what -- it takes on whatever form you want it to take on." Moore says, nodding to himself, as if he's satisfied with the answer.
"Still... wait, you tend to dead animals?" Moore blinks. Then he smiles. "Are they needed too, or did you just bring them with you?"
"I did not say there are dead animals." The youth chuckles, "But it doesn't matter. What is important is that someone is doing something horrible with destiny. Right now a war over destiny is being fought, to determine what it is and how it should be. Right now there are those who fight against the Duke of Destiny, who seeks to turn destiny into the same chains that bind all devils to Hell."
The young man puts his shepard's crook to rest against the rock, "This must not be. This cannot be."
"What do you think the purpose of destiny is?" Moore asks.
"But... well, if there's something I can do to help, no matter what it is, I want to do it. My memory's... a little fuzzy for some reason, but... I'm sure about this."
"To guide all to above," The shepard looks to the sky, "In the end."
"Good." The shepard gestures ahead, "Walk for a time, explore this place. You will find what you need ahead."
"I'll find your name next time then." Moore says with a nod. "I hope you don't mind if I fly instead of walk." Moore says as he turns and starts to fly along, away from the man.
Moore flies off and away. He finds this place to be a land of rounded, weathered slopes. The mountainside is well kept, with neat forests and terraced fields dotting the landscape. It is quiet and peaceful under the light of the sky. There is a sun but it seems faraway, some grand light that sparkles endlessly and with no sign of night.
In time, you come to a log cabin. It sits near one of those fields, a small mountain lake nearby. The smell of cooking food comes from it - something sweet, reminding you of apples. It also reminds you that you're rather suddenly and sharply hungry.
Moore takes in the sights and the sounds. He wonders, mostly aloud to himself, as there's no one around, "Where in the world am I?" He continues on, until he stops, sniffs a few times and then listens to the rumble of his stomach as he flies towards the cabin to get a better look!
OOC: Any kind of K check he could make to try and figure out where in the world he is or if he's heard of this place before?
K:P would suffice. Do you have ranks? If not but you have bardic lore or the like, you could try that as well.
[21:00] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+5+6 K:P for Moore
[21:00] <PlushieIthea> Nephrite roll for PlushieIthea < 20 > [d20=9]
You recall this place in a strangely detached way. You know it, but you can't recall how you know it. This is Venya, the Third of the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia.
Meanwhile, Moore flies to the cabin. The door is shut but there are windows. Looking in, you can see a woman cooking at a stone oven. Her back's to you, but you can see she wears a brown dress and has matching brown hair. Human or close enough on a glance.
Moore scratches his head as his stomach rumbles again. Celestia? But how...
He knocks politely on the door, either way. No need to be rude!
"Come in!" The woman's voice is plain and pleasant. Nothing special about it, but it's compelling in spite of that.
Moore opens the door and then shuts it afterwards when he flies in.
"Ah, hello... erm... I hope you're not just cooking for me, too?" Moore asks, as his eyes scan the rest of the home. This can't all be real, can it?
"Don't think I could be, since you just got here. But you're welcome to have some," She turns. Her face is pale porcelen, far more beautiful than a human's. It's flawless and her gaze is that of burning sunshine. A well spring of fear comes from seeing her, but her smile melts that. "Be not afraid, I like visitors."
The rest of the home is simple. A bed, a fireplace, some knick knacks and so forth. It's all hand made and a bit crude, but still well but together.
Moore briefly recoils for just an instant before he calms down and nods. He smiles and goes over to take a seat. "I'm Moore! What's your name, ma'am? Thank you for having me."
K:P To identify the strange porcelain woman?
Certainly. Go for it.
The woman comes over with a bowl of hot apple in a cinnamon sauce. It smells incredible, your stomach audibly rumbling. "Iris," she answers him as she goes to at a rough hewn wooden table.
[09:56] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+6+5 to identify what this terrifying and kind woman is
[09:56] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=5]
Moore looks a bit sheepish as he goes to dig in, but hesitates for a moment. "Miss Iris," he starts, his voice audibly sounding nervous. "Am I really in Celestia? This is... This -is- Venya, isn't it?" He asks, looking down at his bowl of apples.
"It's... I'm a little... I don't think frightened is the right word, I'm not afraid." Moore says, quietly. "I suppose the right word is 'anxious'."
More isn't sure. Some sort of outsider? He can't pin it down. Due to the lack of wings, it could be an archon or angel that is in a different shape.
"It is," Iris says, not batting an eyelash at the question. "It is not merely Celestia, but the third of the seven mountains. Did you not know this as you climbed Lunia and Mercuria?"
"Er... I don't think I actually climbed anything..." Moore says with some hesitation, but as he tries to remember, he just shakes his head as he digs into the apples.
"No... I don't... I really don't think I did. I just... I was on my way somewhere, and... ...then everything gets all fuzzy. It'll come back to me in time, I know, but... when I woke up, I was outside, I met a nice shepherd who told me to keep going, but he said that I hadn't actually died." Moore says, poking at the apples a bit more. "So it sounds like somehow or another someone brought me here... or maybe I got here and I just forgot how."
The apples are quite good and hit the spot.
"That's quite unusual," Iris says, hands folded in her lap. She watches Moore as he eats, "There must be a greater reason for it. A greater destiny, for the purpose of the mountain is to climb it, not to bypass it."
"That's what the gentleman said -- I was needed in the battle against the Duke of Destiny." Moore says. "I certainly didn't mean to skip over anything important!" He says with some earnest. "Um... this is very good, thank you. Do you, um... ...Do you cook for the other people who come by here on their... er... ...well, I guess their journey up the Mountains?" He glances out at a window. "But... if I'm not dead, then... I wonder how exactly I did get here..."
"Speak clearly," Iris smiles, "Be not afraid. I cook for myself for the pleasure of it. If you do not know why you are here, you must discover why. The holy mountain moves with purpose, Moore. It is the blessed duty of those that are here to learn of its purpose and to rise higher. If you are needed to battle this Duke of Destiny, then I daresay you need to learn of Celestia's destiny."
Moore startles a little, but takes a breath and nods. "I can do that, Miss Iris. To that end, then, where should I go? Should I just continue on past this and see what destiny has in store for me next?"
"Yes," Iris replies, gesturing towards the outside. "Seek Xiranthador, the underwater library and fortress of the Seer."
Moore nods. "Sounds like I have quite a trek in store, then." He smiles. "Do you mind if I come back here some time to try more of your cooking, Miss Iris?"
"Not at all," She smiles warmly at that, "You're welcome here any time the mountain guides you this way."
"Thank you so much, Miss Iris!" Moore says. "Do you want any help with the dishes before I go? It'd be rude of me to not even offer."
"Thank you, but you're a guest." Iris waves towards the door, "Go. Something greater than dishes awaits you."
Moore smiles and nods. "Then I will be back to see you later, Miss Iris." He then goes do the door, gives her a flourishing bow and then shuts the door after him. He decides to continue in the direction he was going before he stopped here.
Xiranthador, the underwater library, and the fortress of the Seer? What the heck?
OOC: K:P again?
Go for it.
[22:11] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+6+5
[22:11] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 15 > [d20=4]
OOC: One of these days he'll roll something he actually knows instead of fake knowing it.
Moore draws a blank on it, unfortunately.
> roll 1d100 random encounter
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 96 > [d100=96]
> roll 1d100 random encounter sub tables
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 97 > [d100=97]
You wander for a few hours. The terrain is much as it was before, pleasant and predictable. You soon come to a sloping hillside that has a cave in the side of it, an old hole worn open by rain and time. It's the first thing besides mountainous contryside that you've seen in awhile. Everything is natural and calm here, like the real world, only ordered.
Well, no sense in not stopping! Moore flies over to the cave.
"Hello? Is anyone in here?" He calls out!
Moore's voice comes back in an echo. Beyond that, there's no reply to his call.
Moore will head inside! There's no sense in worrying about what could be in it!
For reference, make a spot check and also note if you have darkvision or any other sensory abilities.
OOC: Moore has low-light vision but not darkvision. He does have the Light spell if necessary.
[09:51] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+15
[09:51] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 18 > [d20=3]
You quickly need the light spell. The cave ahead is narrow and winding, leading you on and on and on. You eventually come around a turn and stumble on a huge chamber ahead. Your light immediately fills it, for there are myriad things for it to reflect off of.
A massive treasure chamber lies here. Gold, jewels, art, weapons and far more things rest in great piles. Such treasure as Moore has never seen - and something that overshadows even that. It is as large as a village, a massive dragon cast of solid gold. It's looking right at Moore as he sees it, a gaze of molten gold boring into him.
"Hello!" Moore says with a smile. "I hope I'm not intruding, I saw the cave on my way through the mountain... I called out but didn't hear a reply."
Inwardly, he's filled with a mix of excitement as well as fear. I mean, technically speaking, if he's already in a place where the dead come, then he's probably fine, right?
The massive dragon sniffs the air, "Aaaah? A fey, a little pixie?" It questions aloud, "I'm sorry, but I'm blind. Hello there."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that!" Moore says. "I didn't mean to sneak up, then. I'm Moore, I just arrived a bit ago. It's nice to meet you. It must get lonely all the way in here."
The gold wyrm rests his head on a pile of coins before replying. "Oh yes, I don't have many visitors except for archons and angels. Thank you for coming, but can I ask a favor of you?"
"Oh of course!" Moore says. "What is it?"
A wing is gestured towards a particularly large pile. "There's a blue diamond in that pile, but I can't hear so well over there. Could you fish it out for me?"
"Sure thing!" Moore says as he flies over to look for the blue diamond.
If the shepherd was right, and so was Iris, that he's needed and he's important... it would be not only rude... fate wouldn't have given him these sorts of opportunities only to have him brush them side.
There's treasures all over. Gemstones of all types, gold and platinum coins, jewelry and more. The riches of an entire kingdom, a blue diamond sitting amid them all.
"I'm curious about something, uh... sorry, I didn't catch your name." Moore says as he picks up the blue diamond to carry it back. "How did you even get all this stuff in here to begin with?"
"Days long gone," The dragon leans forward and sniffs the diamond once you bright it close. He happily sighs and rests his head besides it. "Talinalinas. What are you looking for in this realm, traveler?"
Tali... dragon names are weird.
"Well, Mister Talinalinas, I'm not sure. I woke up here just a bit ago with my head all fuzzy. I met a nice young man who told me I was needed to fight the Duke of Destiny. I met a nice woman named Iris who told me to keep going. She said I should look for... uh... Xir... Xiranthador. I don't know if that's a person or a place, though. I was also told to look for an underwater library and something called the fortress of the seer. I found your cave while I was flying along. The young man I met first told me that normally people come here by dying, but I'm not dead. It seems fate has something in store for me, I guess!" Moore shrugs with a smile, even if the dragon can't see it.
The dragon doesn't blink at any of that, just listening. "Xiranthador? There are ways to get to it. Find a deep lake and you will be on your way. If you are drawn to a destiny here, then the way there will reveal itself."
"Oh, really? That doesn't sound so hard. Oh... I can't really breathe underwater though, is that going to be a problem?" Moore asks. "Hm... but before I just go back to my wandering, can I help you out with anything else?"
"Then hold your breath," The dragon chuckles to himself, "No son, you've done enough. You've shown kindness to an old wyrm. Thank you."
Huh. He really hadn't thought about that. "All right. Well, if I come back this way I'll stop in and say hello. It was nice to meet you, Talinalinas!" Moore says as he puts the blue diamond down before he goes to leave, head back outside the cave, and then continue on!
You wander for a little while longer. Soon enough you come to a dirt path winding along the hillside, which leads to a fork in the road. A little blob of white lots floats in the air there, bobbing back and forth. "Which way, which way," A child-like voice murmurs aloud.
Moore tilts his head at the blob, eyeing it and trying to identify it. "Hello? Are you trying to decide which fork to to take?"
K:P on identifying the light.
"Oh hello!" It burbles cheerfully, sounding like a boy. "Yes, there's two paths and I don't know which to take. I don't know which is the one I'm meant to take, you see?"
[22:09] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+6+5
[22:09] <PlushieIthea> Nephrite roll for PlushieIthea < 23 > [d20=12]
"I don't know that it matters... I think both paths probably end up leading to your destination." Moore says with a smile. "But if you'd like some company, I'll pick for you and we can go together."
The creature before him is a lantern archon. They are the simplest of the archons, essentially children that are agreeable and well behaved. They can also teleport at will.
"Oh! That would be nice of you, thank you," The archon bobs up and down like he's nodding. "So you think it'll work out no matter what I do?"
"That's what I'm learning so far." Moore says with a smile. "Do you want me to pick, or do you want to pick and I'll go with you?"
"You can pick," The archon replies, no mouth visible, but the voice still comes from the ball of light. "Which way?"
"Let's go..."
OOC: [22:40] <Nephrite> roll 1d2 1 is left 2 is right
[22:40] <PlushieIthea> Nephrite roll for PlushieIthea < 2 > [d2=2]
"Right." Moore decides, and starts flying that way. "My name is Moore, what's yours?"
"Beniel," The little blob answers right away, "But most people call me Ben or B." The lantern flies around Moore, energetically doing laps around him. "The right path, that sounds good. When in doubt, do what's right."
"Ben, then." Moore smiles as he starts to fly along. "Are you new here, Ben?"
"I've been here awhile." A pause in the archon's flight as you start to walk on the right path, "I'm supposed to find something here."
"Do you know what it is?" Moore asks, turning to look back at the archon. "Or is it more of a 'you'll know it when you find it' kind of thing?"
"Oh, it's like that. You don't know enlightenment until you get there. My superior said so! He has a dog for a head, did you know? He's called a hound archon and he's really wise." Beniel perks up by the end of it, flying 'round and 'round Moore once more. "You gain it by living it as much as by seeking it. He says that a life well lived is all the guide you need, because it'll bring you to Celestia's guidance!"
"He sounds like he knows his stuff." Moore agrees as he continues to fly along. "Well, you're welcome to stay with me as long as you want, Ben. I'm looking for a few things... I guess I'm supposed to find a lake and then go to the bottom of it to try and find some stuff."
"Okay! Then we'll have to find a lake." With happy agreement, the archon follows along with Moore.
Soon enough the path leads you to exactly that - a mountain lake. Cool, clear and perfectly reflective, it resembles a mirror more than water. It is undisturbed and tranquil, a few gold and silver hued animals lying around it.
"I don't think there are such things as coincidences here, do you?" Moore asks as he flies over to the lake. "Hm... Well, I was told that what I was looking for was at the bottom... hey, you don't need to breathe water or anything, right? I don't want to just plunge in without you, Ben!"
"I'm fine! I can manage," Ben zips over the water, not disturbing it in the least. "If it's where you need to go, it'll be just fine."
Moore nods. He takes a deep breath before he plunges into the water and starts to swim towards the bottom! Or whatever is in it!
The water is the easiest to swim in that Moore's ever been in. It's barely there, more like water than liquid. Going down, you find that light penetrates deep into the lake. At the bottom you can see an opened tunnel in the bottom, leading to a stairway going down. The waters also stop there, as if they can't cross any deeper.
Moore looks over at Ben and shrugs as he continues on. He'll continue swimming until he exits the water and take a moment to catch his breath!
"I kind of question why a lake like this is even really here... just to be scenic?" He says with a smile. "Maybe it's necessary..."
Going down is easy enough. When you reach the stairs and air, "I think it's really pretty!" the archon says.
"You're right, it really is." Moore will nod in agreement and head towards the stairs! If Light is necessary again then he can cast it.
Down the two go. The cavern is narrow at first, the stairs tightly penned in. But slowly it opens up as you go down, soon enough at the bottom. It's a spacious cavern, limestone and wet. Water drips and accumulates in little puddle-ponds, a constant chorus of drips a background to it all.
"Oh, I like this too!" Ben flies a little bit ahead, "Oh, look at that!" Ahead you can see the end of the cavern, a passage carved out of the stone. There's an archway with designs and decorations on it.
Moore flies over to look at the designs and decorations for anything important or meaningful!
What languages can you read?
Common, Sylvan, Elven, Gnome, Halfling, Gnoll, Kobold, Draconic, Orcish, Auran, Dwarven, Aquan, Terran, Celestial and Ignan
I also have Comprehend Languages if necessary.
The decorations are of winged figures - archons or angels, you think. That much is obvious. They're guarding something, perhaps books or scrolls? There's also some writing in Celestial, the phrase, "Defense of Wisdom" noted in a few places.
You can make an K:P check here.
[22:27] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+11
[22:27] <PlushieIthea> Nephrite roll for PlushieIthea < 18 > [d20=7]
Unfortunately, you draw a blank on what that could mean from your knowledge.
"Any idea if this is a reference to anything, Ben?" Moore will ask as he will go to walk under the archway.
"Um, Erathaol looks over knowledge," The archon says, dipping down in the air. "I bet a lot of big archons look after with him, too!"
Moore nods. Erathaol... Erathaol... something about that name...
[23:06] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+19 K:R on the name Erathaol
[23:06] <PlushieIthea> Nephrite roll for PlushieIthea < 28 > [d20=9]
Erathaol is the Third of the Hebdomad, the ruling archons of Celestia. He oversees destiny, fate, knowledge and similar concepts. He rules Venya, the layer you're currently on. You also recall that he always surprises his enemies when he fights, even when he should be surprised instead.
That can't be a coincidence. Can it? Hm.
Moore will continue on, looking around as he goes. "It's a thankless job, I bet, looking after knowledge and fate like that."
"Especially since knowledge is power," Beniel goes up and down, bringing to mind a nod. "But that just makes it more important to do." Ahead the passage winds on for a little bit, before coming to a stairway going down. But as you approach it, you are stopped by an unseen force and pushed back. A quiet, thoughtful voice murmurs, heard as if right besides you.
"What are you doing here?"
Moore jumps a bit and looks around. He starts to speak in one direction, but pivots occasionally in case he's pointing in the wrong one. "Oh, hello! We're exploring! I was told this was the way to Xiranthador. I was told when I got here by a nice young man who was tending to some animals that I should try and find it, amongst some other things.
Beniel is silent, unmoving.
"Tell me, what would you do with the knowledge that lies within Xiranthador?" The voice asks, coming from the same side (right), no matter which way he turns.
Moore will stop turning, in that case.
"I was told that I'm needed to help aid in the fight against the Duke of Destiny. Before I do anything, I want to better understand who that is and what I have to do with it. I'm not going to turn away from my own fate, my own path to follow, but... I want to make sure I understand it before I start to go down it. I think the best way I can be of help is arming myself with knowledge beforehand." Moore says, nodding to himself as if he's satisfied with that answer.
"I suppose I'd also like to try and find out how exactly I came to be here. I'm not objecting to being here -- no, I'm sure someone knew I should be here, in fact. But something definitely happened to cause me to be here, and I'd like to know what that was." Moore says.
"Then what would you give for knowledge and the power that knowledge brings?" The voice asks.
Moore folds his arms and looks down at the ground for a long while on that one.
"I suppose the best thing I could offer is my life -- the dedication to that knowledge and the dedication to the power to help people with it. People with knowledge... any kind of knowledge... should always share it with others. Knowledge does no one any good to stay in one person's head, never to see the light of day. If knowledge was more widely spread across the world then I think everyone would be able to better understand each other."
"You would give yourself?" The voice challenges back, "Then what value is your own life if you give it away so freely?"
"The value of one's own life is determined by the person living it, and no one else." Moore answers. "To dedicate one's self to a task is to give everything you have to it." He continues, folding his arms again. "But ultimately, the search for knowledge never really ends, does it? So even if I gave myself to it, I'd always be finding things no matter what. So, I guess, in the end... I'm not so much dedicating my life to knowledge, but I'm dedicating myself to always be in search of knowledge. So... to answer your question: The value of my life is what I see and do with it -- I cannot put any kind of tangible answer to that question." Moore says, nodding to himself again. "Yes, I believe that's right -- the value is the person."
"An interesting answer," The voice replies, "Come forward."
Once that's done, Beniel shakes up and down quickly, "Sorry, but he told me to be quiet and not to interfere!"
"He wasn't the one with the dog for a head, was he?" Moore asks as he continues on. Iris was right -- he should just speak clearly and firmly... he has no reason to doubt himself.
"No, he was another one. I could tell he was a superior when he was able to speak into my mind. Normal archons can't do that." Beniel follows as you go down the stairs. Down, down, down, down. Soon the walls begin to shimmer, laced with semi transparent quartz. More and more quartz in the limestone, which grows more and more transparent. You soon see bright blue water outside of the stairway, shining with a pearl-white light from below. Great schools of multi-colored fish swim about, joined by silvery dolphins.
Below all this, you can see the stairway heads towards a fotress. It seems to be made of pure pearl, glowing with a light that illuminates all the deep. It is vast and faraway - you can see whales farther down, mere specks compared to the massive fortress.
"Goodness." Moore says quietly as the two continue to travel along, although he stops to marvel at the sight of the underwater pathway. "I don't think people can even dream this sort of thing up. This really is beautiful... I wonder if Erathaol himself had something to do with this, or if it was just... here, and he decided to continue with it? Hm... I suppose it doesn't matter, really." Moore says as they go. "Some things are just as they are because they are."
"Oh! Oh! I know that one!" Beniel bobs, "It's part of the Sealing Story!" The archon perhaps looks around, but with no eyes, it's hard to tell. "Do you want to know?"
"Certainly! We've got a long way to go, so don't leave anything out." Moore says with a smile.
"Well, the Sealing Story is about how in the beginning, Zaphkiel sealed the paths to Chronias. He only left the Bridge of Al-Sihal open and charged Xerona to guard it. Then he told the Hebdomad to establish bases in their domains, so that the worthy can be guided towards Chronias." Beniel pauses as a school of gold and blue fish swim by, "Ooooh, so pretty," he giggles, "And then Erathaol built Xiranthador. He bred oysters who were so big they had pearls the size of houses, made furnaces so hot that they could melt the pearl and trained artisans so skilled that they could cool the liquid pearl and shape it into building blocks."
"What is Chronias, exactly?" Moore asks.
OOC: Is that a K:P or a K:R, if either?
Either, though K:P is easier.
[12:37] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+19 K:R
[12:37] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=14]
Chronias is the seventh and final layer of Mount Celestia. Little is known about it, for any who enter never return. To climb to Chronias is the point of Mount Celestia, where perfect unification with order and good is assured. It is ruled by Zaphkiel, the leader of the Hebdomad.
As Beniel noted, there is only one path to Chronias: The Bridge of Al-Sihal, which is guarded by the solar Xerona.
"Well, I don't think I'm headed there just yet." Moore says with a smile as they continue down. "I hope you find what you're looking for in Xiranthador though."
"So do I," Beniel follows along. Down and down the stairs go, closer to your goal. On and on you walk until you at last reach the fortress. The stairs end before a huge gate that leads into it, currently shut. A single lantern archon floats there, no other guard seen.
"Hello," the little archon says, "It is said that knowledge is power. Prove to me your power. Offer me a piece of knowledge worth the power that lies within this place."
Moore shakes his head. "I don't think I have within me any knowledge that rivals such an awesome place as Xiranthador. But... I can tell you something you don't already know!" Moore says with a nod. "I arrived in Venya without dying. At least, that's what the nice young shepherd told me." Moore says with a smile. "I mean, unless you want to hear something about the finer arts of motivational speaking... I could talk your ear off about that! ...Er... proverbially, of course, I mean... you know, since you don't... have ears, so to speak."
"Tell me something about that, then," The archon says.
"Okay!" Moore says with an emphatic nod.
"Well, first, the most important thing you have to keep in mind is who it is you're talking to. Certain types of people respond to certain types of motivation -- for example, have you ever tried to lift the spirits of a shocker lizard? Well, as you know..." His voice drops to a whisper, as if he doesn't want to offend any shocker lizards that might be nearby. "They aren't very smart, yeah? So you have to keep that in mind when you're trying to help them." He raises his voice back up. "In addition, it really just depends on the person... some people simply like to be DEmotivated in order to be motivated. It's weird! Well, no, it isn't weird, it's just how they work. So you have to sometimes do the opposite of what you'd think. That's especially true with drow, you know. You also can't just judge someone based on race alone! That's terrible! So sometimes you really have to get to know a person before you can truly give them the motivation that they need. Sometimes you don't really have the time to devote to all of that, though, so that's where magic comes in! But you might know that already. Let me tell you about the time time I motivated a dwarf into drinking some elven liquors..." Moore will start to tell this particular story.
The poor archon may want to stop him at some point. Or not. Depending on if he really wants to hear the story.
The archon seems perfectly content to listen.
Go ahead and make your story, then make a diplo check when you're done.
"Well, I happened upon a disagreement between two very nice friends, a dwarf and an elf -- it doesn't get a lot more stereotypical than that, does it?" Moore says. "Anyway, they were having a disagreement about ales and liquors, the two of them adamantly refusing to even budge an inch on the matter. The dwarf liked things only brewed with barley and hops and the elf only liked things made from fruits. Well, the dwarf just wouldn't even try the liquor, so I happened to be there at the time and decided to intervene! Well, it turns out the poor dwarf had gotten sick once trying elf liquors because of some bad fruit that was used. Well, after doing some convincing and motivating, he was able to finally try the liquors! He loved them! It was really great, the two of them had an entirely new conversation about that sort of thing... I really felt like I made an impact."
[12:40] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+23 Diplo
[12:40] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 43 > [d20=20]
"That's some interesting knowledge, and how you used words and knowledge as power. I think that's worthy," The lantern archon agrees, floating aside. "Go on in!" The gate opens, revealing a wide entry hall. The walls are lined with bookshelves, each filled to capacity. Archons and angels are about - reading books or going amid the shelves, everything gleaming white from the pearl walls.
"Thanks!" Moore says with a smile as he flies in. He looks over for Ben to make sure he didn't get lost somewhere along the way. "Do you have any idea where we should start with this...? I'd rather not just pick a book at random." Moore says, considering his options. "Maybe we should ask someone? Although I guess we should know what we're looking for first... hm. I'm still trying to figure out more about why I'm here, so maybe if there's someone in charge...?" Moore says as he looks around, looking for anyone who might be overseeing all the archons and the angels.
Make a quick Spot check.
[13:03] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+15
[13:03] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=18]
None of the archons seem to be doing much. Just flying around and reading, no real leader. But your gaze does attract the attention of one. A green-skinned archon that carries a trumpet, putting down her book. She has hair of the same color and is tall, perhaps eight feet or so. In flawless Sylvan she greets Moore, "It's rare to see one of your kind here, child of Titania. Welcome and well met."
Moore smiles and responds in Celestial to be courteous! "Hello! My name is Moore, it's a pleasure to meet you." He says with a bow. "I'm sorry to trouble you, but... Well, it's a bit of a story -- I was told to come here, but not really told what to do once I got here. Although, I suppose in hindsight, I keep finding what I need to when I get there." Moore says as he nods to himself, as if he's okay with that.
"I was told to explore, and in doing so found myself here." Moore explains. "I'm apparently to be part of the fight against the Duke of Destiny, at least that's what I was told when I woke up here."
"The Holy Mountain provides," The archon nods, stern face giving away little. She kneels down to be on eye level with Moore, blue eyes meeting his own. "If you need something here, wander. You will find it in the fullness of Celestia's time."
Moore smiles. "It seems like that." Moore says with a nod. "I'll keep looking, this place has a habit of putting what I need to find right in front of me." He says. "Thank you very much!" He finishes in Celestial, before he goes to fly along to look around some more.
Beniel follows, quiet for the moment. You wander on...and on...and on. Eventually you wander amid endless bookshelves and come to a little dead end. There's a few chairs here, a silver tray with steaming mugs of tea and a few snacks. Hunger gnaws at Moore as he sees and smells them.
"Do you ever need to eat anything, Ben?" Moore asks as he goes to sit down and enjoy a mug of tea with the food! "It feels rude to eat in front of someone who isn't eating, you know?"
"No, I don't even have a mouth," Ben says, floating above Moore as he eats.
"Besides," A new voice says, gentle and masculine. It calms you immensely, all your worries and concerns fading. At the same time it is terrible, powerful, overwhelming. "Be not afraid." The figure that comes to sit opposite you is clad in purple robes, skin of a flawless white that resembles alabaster. He has brown hair and his gaze makes your body want to quiver, seeming to see through your eyes and into your entire soul.
Beniel goes stone-still, "S-s-s-s-----" He tries, only for his words to trip over each other.
"Peace, Beniel." He says, "I am Erathaol, Moore."
Moore is in the midst of a snack bite when he stops dead in his tracks.
"I... ....um..." He takes a deep breath and slowly puts the snack back down. "...I'm not sure what proper protocol is when addressing a deity, um... Lord Erathaol, so please forgive any mistakes on my part." He manages to get out without stuttering too much. He then brushes any crumbs off of himself. "I... ...let me start with this -- thank you for bringing me here. I would guess it was by your design that I was given this opportunity."
"I am not a deity," Erathaol demurs, "I am simply a servant of the Holy Mountain, as we all are. Worry not, for you are forgiven." He pauses for a moment as Moore cleans himself off. "So it is. Do you know what was important in what you have done so far?"
"When you say 'so far,'..." Moore trails off. "Do you mean since I arrived in Venya...ah, sir?" Moore asks. "If so... well, I've met several people so far. I'm sure that's no coincidence. No matter which way I went or what I did, I continued to manage to find the things that I needed to find. I'm sure a lot can be said for Mount Celestia itself, but even then, something seems... I can't put my finger on it, but I think you understand what I mean." Moore says, sitting up more straight than usual.
"Yes. You trusted the destiny of Celestia while walking your path," Erathaol says. "That trust is important for you, because everything Celestia is opposes Baator. As long as you follow what is right and what you have learned, you will walk the proper path because the Seven Heavens are within your heart and soul."
"Does that put me against Queen Titania?" Moore asks. He decides he's comfortable enough to take a sip of the tea.
"The fey do as they please," A slight smile comes to Erathaol's calm face, soothing Moore's fears. "Her children follow the path they wish. You are your own being with your own free will to choose."
Moore nods with a small smile himself. "Then, Sir Erathaol, what would you have me do from here?" Moore asks with a glance at all the books. "Actually, if I may... what happened to me prior to arriving here? The gentleman I met -- ah, does he have a name, by the way -- mentioned that I'm not dead, so... obviously there were circumstances. If it isn't something I need to know, I understand, but I would like to know, if possible." Moore says, setting the mug in his lap.
"There are circumstances," Erathaol agrees, "Tell me, do you remember light?"
Moore closes his eyes for a moment.
"Yes. An ocean full of it." He opens them again. "But there was something more to it than that. It's fuzzy, but I can remember small bits and pieces." He says, looking down into the mug.
"Yes. You cane through an ordeal and proved your worth, even if you do not remember it. It is the future that is important now. Aurora needs your help to defeat the Duke of Destiny. You have seen Celestia's will and guidance through your journey here," Erathaol explains, "Imagine chains that drag one down, pull you to misery and a path of desolation. That is what the Duke of Destiny offers, so that all will wallow in the same misery as the devils. Every step and every deed will lead deeper into Hell."
[12:09] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+5+6 K:P for Aurora
[12:09] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=16]
Moore nods. "All right. I know that all the other questions I have... and even the ones I don't have, will be answered by following the path in front of me. To that end, would you like me to continue to follow the path Celestia has offered me until I have the strength to join those in Aurora?" Moore asks. He takes another drink of the tea.
"Normally I would have you walk the Holy Mountain," Erathaol says, "But circumstances do not permit the time for it. A more direct solution is called for." He offers his hand out to Moore, his gaze burning into him like a star.
Moore smiles. "I'm sure I'll have time for it eventually. I still have to visit that nice young man again and get his name and try more of Miss Iris' cooking." He says as he takes Erathaol's hand!
"Sun's Rise," Erathaol says as you take his hand. His voice fades into overwhelming light, "His name is Su-"
Stars, sun, moon, night. The earth, the fire, the wind and the waters. Life and death. An endless circle at war with itself across the spokes of a wagon's wheel. Dragons clash across it, lead by king and queen. Dreams fade into screaming nightmares. Order rises and falls higher and lower than you can see. Today and tomorrow become reversed, and the next and into the next and the next, until time itself seems naught but a stream you leap along, back and forth with no rhyme or reason.
It all fades to one thing - the light. Not the light of that other place, a light that burns it away from above. This light is the light of Erathaol - no. It is more. It is Celestia, it is is is is is - Moore is overwhelmed.
You've just gained 7 levels, Moore. Go ahead and post a reaction, then do them now. The rest will be at a later date.
Sun's Rise.
It's about all he has to hold onto as his world is flipped inside and out, back and forth, there and back again. Is that the light of... it has to be. There's only one thing that can be that bright -- Chronias itself. No wonder no one comes back.
Maybe he won't come... no. He has to stay here, in the here and now. There's time for tomorrow later. Now is important -- he manages to pull himself back, but... he has to travel the path laid out for him first. Yes, the path that Erathaol... and Celestia offer.
He understands.
Okay, post in nagging when your levelling up is done. I'll resume us in a new thread then.