Fairy waltz

[Anastasia]

Thus you go on. The sounds and scent become more pronounced as you do - until they stop entirely. Ahead lies a dull, cobblestone path inwards.

'This may be it, we've walked far enough,' Sylvie sends, 'But considering Mask, it's hardly so straightforward.'

[Nephrite]

Take 10 for 115 on Spellcraft and 120 on K:A with Arcane Sight. anything notable?

[Anastasia]

CL on Arcane Sight.

[Nephrite]

[14:02] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+37
[14:02] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+37 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{49}

[Anastasia]

You don't detect any magic.

[Nephrite]

'I'm not willing to believe there isn't any magic here, but if there is, it's likely Mask's, so we probably can't scrutinize it anyway.' Moore says. 'So let's just proceed and see what happens.'

[Anastasia]

'No choice otherwise,' Kaja agrees, blades out nonetheless.

Sylvie merely takes the lead, walking on.

It's a path in the darkness. Yet it becomes brighter as you walk. Only dim now, enough to see the dead ground all around you. Nearby is a tree full of black ravens. A dead tree, but sitting around the base is a heap of golden coins. Beyond this, perhaps a few minutes of walking, lies a river and ferry-boat, where a shrouded figure stands before a skiff.

[Nephrite]

'I think I know where we need to go. I assume the coins are a diversion for the greedy.' Moore says as he proceeds towards the shrouded figure. 'There are lots of stories about a ferryman like this, I wonder if he'll be able to see us at all.'

[Anastasia]

"It's a persistent legend around a particular type of daemon,' Sylvie agrees. 'But let's also remember that it's a thief-god's domain, not a righteous one. Stealing may be the point.'

Kaja strides forward, 'Then we fly over the damned river if we must,' Kaja declares.

[Nephrite]

'If we've actually entered Mask's domain, then he'd know we're here.' Moore says. 'We can try and communicate with them and see what they'd want us to do to be hospitable.'

[Anastasia]

'Worth a try, if you want to give up stealth,' Sylvie points out, 'Not an exchange without risk to a deity of thieves and stealth, but not the worst idea either.'

[Nephrite]

'Hm. Let's go to them and observe for a moment. Maybe they go and come every now and again?' Moore suggests. 'There's no harm in observing.'

[Anastasia]

You mean the daemon, right?

[Nephrite]

I mean the shrouded figure at the ferry boat.

[Anastasia]

Of course.

You approach the figure. The river is wide and rapid, a thin spray of dull brown waters misting in the air. The hooded figure watches you, and when you come within 100ft? 'Do you bear the coin to pay my toll, seekers of Mask?'