Temporal pixies

[Anastasia]

Lady Sanzha leads you in a lazy circuit of the palace, nothing but a thick cloak of ice.

Troublesome, for lesser creatures. Stand back.

Lady Sanzha goes forth and lays her hand on the ice. It begins to melt away, an archway opening up within. Foot after foot of ice thaws and melts, first to the walls of the palace and then around it, making a cored out path in the center rather than melting all of the ice otherwise.

This palace still knows a master when it senses one.

[Nephrite]

Would that whatever creatures are likely inside would bow so easily as well. But there is merit in a good challenge.

Moore will proceed after Sanzha!

[Anastasia]

Do you think they'll listen to reason?

No.

Why?

This entire effort went wrong and they've been trapped in it for eons. If nothing else, I expect hostile insanity. Creatures driven so furious and mad that the only recourse is battle and blood is what I expect. Nor will it be simple to obtain a piece of the Wheel.

[Nephrite]

If we can bring the creatures hope, then we shall do so. If we have to fight and kill them because they will not relent, then we may have to do that as well.

We're here to fulfill our duties, and it may weigh heavy upon us to do so, but never forget to try and save what you can.

[Anastasia]

Either way, we'll succeed. So that if nothing else, these creatures can't go out and harm others.

Meanwhile you proceed in and around, a search for a door. In some time you come to one, a porch of a dozen steps, low and circular, all that leads to the entrance. Twin statues of marid women, clad in silks and water, flank this door. An intricate magical diagram is drawn on the door, inlaid with what looks to be sapphire and pearl. From the looks of it, your arcane lore informs you it's a rather powerful and complex blood seal.

[Nephrite]

Can I tell who actually created it, just for the talking point?

Arcane Sight, spellcraft for 114 and K:A for 119.

[Anastasia]

The creator is Tramza.

[Nephrite]

Does a fancypants K:P of 119 tell me who that is? Or maybe a K:H is more appropriate? If it is that's 99 instead.

[Anastasia]

It's very obscure - an old marid prince, from long ago ages. He was said to be a remarkably good mage, for what little of his life and times remains in this era.

[Nephrite]

"Hm, so this dates back to Tramza's time." Moore says as he hovers in front of the door.

[Anastasia]

"It is very old," Sanzha agrees, as she approaches. "Step back."

[Nephrite]

Moore does so!

[Anastasia]

Sanzha reaches out, and with a slice of her hand, a splash of blood hits the door. The sapphire and pearl diagram bursts into light as wordless song fills the air, all before the door slowly opens to reveal a path within.

[Nephrite]

Moore nods and will proceed inside, assuming Sanzha doesn't have any rules or anything for them first!

[Anastasia]

"Slowly," Sanzha warns, "It's stable on the outside, but the inside could be anything."

You step inside.

Immediately you stand in a marble corridor, classical pillars and thick blue carpeting here. The walls are inlaid with thick bands of gold, curled like roots of a great treat that extend out. There is no water here and it's frigidly cold, yet not a speck of ice can be seen.

The hall extends some time until it ends in white light, nothing more.

To your left side are stairs that go down. They wind into aquatic darkness, water returning as it goes down.

To your right side are two sets of stairs, both going up. The first is free of water, though puddles of it sit, stagnant and unmoving. The second set of stairs winds, the stairs turning from stone to blue ice as they proceed up in a tight spiral.

Near the white light a figure sits. It is radiant in a way that feels like the light of Cresiel or other celestials you have met, yet you cannot see its features. It wears armor from head to toe, obscuring every detail about it. The armor is featureless and smooth, almost more of a bodysuit than armor, save for the face. The face is that of a panther, painted black and with eyes that glow a dull white. It does not react to your entrance.