The Die is Cast

[at]

With Tink and Brennen providing assistance and advice for the assault Vadania and the others are led towards the palace, a marble-clad building that towers over all but a few buildings in the city with spires visible from all corners.

As they grow closer the buildings become more ornate and Vadania wonders at the sheer time and scale of the place. The vast walls and the labour needed to bring the materials here were one thing, but it must have taken the lifetimes out countless artisans to carve out the increasingly ornate decorations.

Near the palace the roads begin to empty to make way for soldiers, mages, and towering iron constructs. The guide leads the party around a side path but Vadania catches glimpses of the advancing force - it is clear the city means to annihilate the demonic forces utterly. Not far beyond they reach a sturdy looking gate and the guide indicates they wait while permission is gained for them to continue.


Moriana notes of the constructs, "part of the royal guard. The prince himself must have had a hand in this".

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"It's so big!" says Vadania in wonderment. "And so many solders. Are those iron things golems too?"

[at]

"Amazing to think that such a large city could be sustained all the way out here", Moriana notes.

Rorsan replies, "it is a trading point for all of the tribes to the north and west, far from the capitol, and to the markets of Woldegard and Merebas. But even so much of the outer city slowly crumbles, it was built long ago when much of the land around here was under water." Looking towards the golems, "the princes grandfather brought them when he first claimed rule over this place, though I have never seen them leave the palace grounds in my years here. I hear such things are more common in the east."

Moriana nods, "quite crude by their standards but each equal to a small army. The lesser golem we encountered below would have no hope of defeating one"

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Vadania comments, "If they are that much more powerful than the golem we met, I really don't want to fight one of those! Still it seems like there are more people in this attacking force than in all of the fell! I knew cities had a lot of people, but I didn't think it would be this many!"

OOC: Vadania is getting a bit of culture shock.

[at]

A guard returns, speaks to the guide, and the gates are opened. The guide notes to the party, "I apologise for the delay, it would seem that the magistrate is occupied"

The group is led through into the outer palace buildings, a large tiled room with lush rugs and scattered pillows around a central fountain. Servants rush to provide food and wine and the smell of incense is heavy in the air.

"The magistrate will speak with you shortly, please make arrangements for your weapons to be held before you pass though into the inner chamber". With that the guide vanishes behind a curtained archway further into the palace.

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Vadania considers, "Hmm, I don't mind them holding on to my bow and sword as long as they return them. But they can't hold our spells. Or claws, if I shapeshift."

[at]

"Things are different here than in the Steadlands." states Moriana, "spellcasters have primacy over those without magic. If they considered you a true threat they would hunt you down and those born with power here or taught its secrets have many expectations placed upon them, but as an outsider they would see it impolite to ask such of you."

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Vadania shrugged, "OK, well I have no intention of attacking, so it doesn't really matter. I wonder what they consider weapons. Just obvious ones like swords and bows? Or are they going to want my shard of sunlight as well?"

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"Yes, just swords and the like. Even that is a formality."

Vadania notes that the servant Moriana had handed her own sword to continues to stand nearby. Seeing her gaze Moriana notes, "that wooden sword looks ceremonial enough that you could probably keep hold of it, especially as a representative of the druids, if you have concerns."

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OOC: I didn't realize that there was someone there collecting our weapons. Vadania is a trusting soul, so she doesn't mind handing over the weapons, was just concerned as to what is considered a weapon.

Vadania readily hands over her bow and arrows, which aren't anything special in any case, She then asks the man collecting the weapons if he wanter her wooden sword as well. She draws it out slightly to show that the blade is wood, though it is not a blunt training weapon.

[at]

The servants (there are quite a few) glance at one another but don't comment. Vadania isn't sure that they are allowed to speak.

Before she can ask again a functionary arrives and waves the group through. The servants follow at a distance, staying out of the way but within eyesight in the event that any of the party might want to wave them over.


Even though this is the outer palace the architecture is spectacular, with vaulted ceilings high overhead and embroidered fabrics hung from the walls. There seem few people for such a large building but from time to time Vadania catches sight of one darting from a concealed entrance and assumes there must be servants corridors and rooms hidden beyond the walls.

It is a relatively short walk to the magistrates office. The guard bearded figure sits at the head of a large table flanked on one side by scribes and on the other by a large and odd looking bird in a gilded cage.
"Wellness be upon you. Please take a seat, you've drawn a lot of attention for such a brief visit."

[harknail]

While walking though the large impressive building, looks all around in wonderment and amazement. She had never before been in a building half as grand as this! When she realizes that there are concealed entrances, she has a moment of anxiety as it triggers her paranoia. She manages to tamp it down again, but starts actively looking for concealed doors, including concealed panels high on the wall (possible snipping ambush points).

When directed to sit, Vadania does so. She looks around the room taking in the people, what's in the room, and looking for concealed entrances where more might arrive. It's not that she's really concerned about an ambush in here, just that after loosing her parents to ambush, she can't ever stop looking.

OOC: Not really concerned about the secret doors, just roleplaying her paranoia, the reason for her high perception.

[at]

Looking around she sees the room is surrounded by a balcony where guards stand back just far enough to look down without being too conspicuous. Against the side walls of the ground level stand more guards, this time positioned in the shadows cast by the pillars holding up the balcony.

There are two exits at the far end of the room, and the one entrance the group came in through - the latter can be barred from the inside.

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Vadania isn't worried about guards per say, she'd expect their to be guards. But she feels better knowing where they are so she can't be surprised by them.

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With no reply the man indicates towards the table, "please sit. I am magistrate Haytham, I have been instructed to learn what it is you know of this threat that lurks beneath our fair city and how you came to be here in search of it."

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Vadania explains, "I was there in Clearwater when demon imprisoned under the town escaped. There was an entire underground city there, with a book and some artifacts from those who had captured the demons before. That's where I got my wooden sword from. The book was a picture book illustrating how the demons were captured and where they were located, another person that was with me claimed the book and has taken it far away so that the demons do not get a hold of it. I stayed here to fight the demons as best I can."

"There is powerful magic at work here, when we returned to the surface a month had gone by and the entire town of Clearwater had been destroyed. Burrtown had been invaded by goat men. The goat men king had been possessed by a demon, and had killed most of the other goat men by the time we arrived. We were able to defeat the demon possessed goat man king, then the demon left his body and went elsewhere."

"Another demon had been released from the Silver Flame and had captured the monastery. We managed to recapture that demon. That's when Ylva <pats wolf> and I were charged with the power of the Silver Flame."

"The demon has been going around releasing the other captured demons. The book showed that the next demon was out in the desert. One group set out immediately. When the fellow who was afraid to fight demons and thought we were losing every encounter went back home, I and some new companions try to join with the group already here to hunt the demon."

[at]

"The silver flame", he eyes Rorsan, "I know of their order, the gateway across the western pass. And I have heard much of the troubles to the west. Woldegard and Merebas make the sounds of war, but there has been no such talk here. Are you sure this demon of yours did not travel north, or south?"

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Vadania answered, "The demon has already released some of the others there were also else captive, so it may have done both. But its primary goal seems to be freeing the other captured demons, one of which is located in this land."

[at]

As Vadania speaks the sound of horns can be heard further into the palace and the guards above react and move, a startled "the palace is under attack!" reaches her ears as those around her are clearly surprised.

She recalls the golems that were sent to the other location, wondering if there were more here or if this was all a diversion to draw them away.

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"Return our weapons and we will help defend!" offers Vadania. Though actually, she would help even if her weapons weren't returned, though she would have fewer options.