Lilly you get the sense of distant amusement and you could have sworn you heard a distant chuckle. Some more writing appears saying 'I am the house, please visit the cellar.'
The cellar itself is pretty unremarkable, made from worked stone and only lit by your magics. There are a few crates in one corner with a heavy layer of dust.
In the centre of the cellar, facing the entrance is the most amazing statue. Its of a member of the watch, a young man clean shaven with closely cropped hair, hawkish nose. He has an expression of abject terror and has his arms flung forward to shield his face from something. The stone carving is exquisite, you can see every vein, every fold of skin, every hair. All his gear looks extremely life like and the sense of proportion is excellent. You are pretty sure you'd be able to recognize who this is a statue of if you ever saw them.
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Alwyn smiles slightly as Pratavh begins talking to his self. He'd been known to do the same many times as well. "Stay with us Pratavh, you might have to straighten out what what I screw up in explanation.
Lilly, I've heard of this house or places similar to it. They are a safe haven of sorts. They are of legend and appear to those who are in dire need, giving the rest and protection. Although it has been said that if you are of an evil intent once you enter you may never be allowed to leave.
Pratavh, keep that in mind BTW while attempting to create doors to this place that dont already exist. You just may find something unexpected when you open that door.
The previously engaging sorceress that was so eloquent in her demise, a slightly flat high 'E ',I believe. She was evil to the core and had killed off the others in our charge's family. She has done evil but it was done under duress in weakness of spirit and hopeful protection of family."
Turning back to the chalk board he addresses it and the house in general.
"Pradip, I do not know if you have passed over but do you wish to return to this plane? We may be able to bring you back if you wish to return." Unsure as to whether an answer will be forthcoming, Alwyn turns back to his companions. "At the very least before we leave, I feel we should give those bodies here a decent burial. No need to invite further haunts to this house than we have already disposed of. While we're at it, has anyone seen the wand the mask had? It might be useful."
"Good thing we're not evil then.
I agree, a burial at the very least, but we'll have to leave the house to do so."
Just then, she notices the additional scribbling.
"Hey guys, i think we'll want to visit the basement, more to see it seems."
"Hey, look at this, a statuette., she turns it in her hand, such detail. Almost as if magic shrunk someone and petrified him, or at least made a super detailed copy."
Lilly casts detect magic on it just in case.
Shiko grunts There is nothing good here. We should leave now. This place is cursed. Also, I am wounded.
Thete is no response to Alwyn's question.
When the party descend into the cellar they find a faint aura of alteration magic upon everything including the statue.
Examining the statue closely after casting a spell to see the magic Lilly mentioned, Pratavh realizes what this statue is, "This is not a statue, it is man turned to stone. Changing him back is beyond many ability but if we can take him too a temple they likely could restore him."
"Well, i guess that's what we could do, provided we leave first. But does the house have more clues to people in need of release of any kind?"
What are your intentions? You've mentioned getting Pradip raised, that should be possible if you still want to do so. Of course there's the statue of the man from the city watch, they'd probably want to know what happened to him.
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Mohktar remains quiet as he cleans his temple sword of the rawbone's offal. It's a ritual of sorts as he comes to grips with what the magic users in the company discover of the house. He still feels weakened, like his Ki is unsettled and flowing through a diaphanous film.
When they choose to go downstairs, Mohktar nods understanding to Shiko-san. "Our trials in this house have drawn their weight in blood and spirit. But we have made a difference in this place, turning evil aside."
"I agree with burying the dead appropriately. Best to not tempt the darker realms by not respecting the departed." He gestures to the statue and then up the stairs from the basement where Pradip's body lay. "These two, I think Alwyn has the right of it. Their best hope is in a temple. Perhaps the one you all visited yesterday?"
To the wary ninja he adds, "Shiko-san and I will need to visit the Palaces of Perfection and seek assistance. I fear the Shadow I faced...drew out part of me during the battle." He inclines his head to the party. "Or we can all go to the temple of Irori to seek aid."
The sooner we rid ourselves of this foul place...the better. Shiko says, gesturing to the house around him.
"I'm not contradicting going out, if we all take a body and carry outside to the garden, it should be well right? That should give us all, well myself at least, some peace of mind."
"I agree, let us take them both to the temple, they can surely help us there. As for this place, it is fascinating, knowing of it, maybe I can find it again one day." Still holding Hirati, Pratavh will start moving towards the exit when everyone is ready. Before they leave the house, Pratavh will stop and lay a hand on the door frame of the entry. "I hope I can find you again one day, you are a true miracle of magic."
What is the plan for Pradip?
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Alwyn assist the others in laying the bodies to rest. Singing a slow dirge to invite the haunts that may still be lingering to pass on now that the sorceress has been removed from the house. With hopes that the house may be once again a safe haven for those in need.
"
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!”
“Gone Where?”
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”
Pass on friends, though we never knew you; to those who will welcome you home.
The statue proves to be really quite heavy and awkward requiring both
Shikyomaru (to his chagrin) and Lilly to move. Simply getting it up the stairs proves to be a trial and both are sweating freely by the time they manhandle it out into the garden. The dead fox girl however is much lighter and Alwyn finds he can carry her easily over his shoulder.
You contemplate a long slog ahead to transport the statue and the girl to the temple, given it's the middle of the night and there are no cabs to be found. Yet before you can leave the grounds something very odd happens, the outside world seems to ripple like a reflection of a pond after someone casts a stone. You have a momentary sensation of dislocation and vertigo and then everything is solid but you are no longer in the Harbor District for ahead reaching out of the gloom you can see the dimly lit splendor of the cities main temples. Ahead are the temples of Saranrae and Iomadae and across the street is a temple dedicated to Irori.
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
As Alwyn offers his poetic words, Mohktar kneels before the freshly dug graves and whispers thanks to Irori for holding his soul steadfast in his mighty hand and for bringing the group such a hard won victory.
When they stand Mohktar nods solemn appreciation for the bard's words. "A better send off to a wayward soul I've not heard. Well done."
"Fortune favors us, friends. The Master of Masters opens his doors to us." Mohktar wipes a bead of sweat from his brow and stoops to aid in lifting the statue. "Come, let us seek the patient ministrations of the monks therein."
》 (seeking a fellow monk)
》 (speaking with him | or aiding)
He looks to Alwyn, "Those items from the house, we may wish to see if they are cursed before retaining them as possessions."
"I'm not particularly picky, but isn't Sarenrae not a goddess who values redemption? The little kitsune has worked for the evil sorceress and she's kinda redeemed in our eyes, isn't she?"
.....
"Hopefully she'll have somewhere to go."
Mohktar guides the party to the serene temple of Irori, they pass through a number of formal gardens with arrangements of miniature trees inside wide pebbled walkways. Even at this late hour a number of acolytes are at attention in the gardens contemplating the ineffable. Several acolytes notice your approach and a runner is sent off to summon a senior monk. You hear a distant gong sound and a few minutes later a shaven monk of indeterminate years in an orange robe bids you enter, by the wan light of the moon his eyes shine and with a start you realized that he has cataracts and must be completely blind.
Still his affliction doesn't seem to bother him, for he apparently knows where you are. He approaches within a few feet and bows once to Mohktar and Shikyomaru and once more to the rest of the party, and in a soft voice he tells you "This servant of Irori is known as Maeda Atsuko." Hands fluttering slightly he approaches and recoils slightly and with a heavy heart he sighs "I can see you bear a terrible burden, a young fox cub cruelly treated and what is this? A petrified watchman! And I can sense some of you are wounded..."
Atsuko makes a clicking sound and several acolytes sprint off to fetch various things. One of them moves closer to Atsuko and the man tells him in a loud whisper, "Inform the Captain that some heroes have found their lost watchman, who has been turned to stone."
As if answering an unvoiced question Atsuko looks suddenly at Lilly and tells her, "I feel it in the air and in the stone that you would take this fox cub into the arms of the redeemer. This is well. Great Irori shall provide for the watchman, that is, should he be found worthy..."
Lilly nods at the understanding priest.
"Appreciated, may you have luck restoring the watchman to his former self."
With that, she takes the kitsune in her arms for the walk towards the temple/church of Sarenrae.
"You'll be fine."
Unlike last night the acolytes at the temple of Saranrae are still awake, and the gates are manned. Several of the acolytes point excitedly at Lilly as shd approaches and shout "Mālakina sahī thā!"
Mistress Tari herself opens the door for Lilly and tells her between yawns, "I'm impressed by your fortitude young lady, don't you ever sleep? Ah I see you have the fox girl as the omens said you would. Come in, we have a busy night ahead. We must cleanse her body in preparation for the dawn..."
In her rough Vudrani, she manages to ask them.
"Mistress...was correct? Let me guess, there was a vision i'd be arriving, carrying this girl?"
At mistress Tari's arrival, she eases up, Tari's common speech was much better than her Vudrani.
"Sleeping is when i am tired, and with the adrenalinerush still in an aftermath, hardly. This poor girl fell victim to Zebubs in a peculiar place while we were fighting there."
Shiko, more comfortable and at ease here in Irori's Temple, snarks I'm sure Mohktar will have us saving an entire zoo soon...
"I am glad your goddess apprised you of what was coming. Please, let me know whatever you need, my resources are at your disposal." Hirati rouses herself and sees where they are, "Are they going to make Pradip better?" Stroking Hirati's head gently, "Yes Hirati, they are going to do all they can to make her better."
Replying in the common toung, Mistress Tari smiles at Lilly, "Divinations are often ambiguous, this one was quite the opposite. Please follow me to the amphitheatre and place her on the altar."
You follow Mistress Tari through the gate and you realize that what you had assumed was the temple was in fact a dormitory. The temple proper is outside, open to the air so that the altar may catch the first morning rays. This makes sense for Sarenrae is known as the Dawnflower after all.
You file into the amphitheatre which is somewhat eerie at night, form the acoustics you get the sense of being in a large space yet only a small pool of light is visible where the acolytes are bearing torches.
Lilly places the fox girl on the altar as requested and several acolytes cover her with a cloth as they efficiently disrobe and wash her body before dressing her in a novice's shrift. A soronorus chant starts as the acolytes start softly chanting hymns prsising Saranrae.
Mistress Tari takes Lilly aside to tell her, "The vision had several other details, some of which I'm not at liberty to describe, but this you must know. A little over nineteen years ago I had a vision of such clarity I remember it today. It was foretold you would come here with the girl over your shoulder. It was firtold she would be given a second chance. It was foretold you would be asked to perform a service tomorrow. Its not my place to instruct you one way othe other but I will ask you to listen to the request with an open mind. You should know that what they will ask will place all of you in mortal danger. It was foretold that not all of your party would be keen to help, but all of you will be needed if you are to succeed."
She pauses for a moment before suggesting, "Nothing is going to happen till dawn. I suggest you get some rest if you can. You can stay here tonight, one of the Acolytes will wake you in time."
"I might do that, thanks for the offer."
"Your offer of hospitality is greatly appreciated Mistress Tari and I will gladly accept." Hirati just yawns hugely, worn out from the long, eventful, and stressful day.
A novice leads each you to a cell with a simple straw palette for a mattress. Despite the basic conditions, sleep comes easily. All too soon you are roused in time to see the first glimmer of pink brightening the eastern sky. After a simple breakfast of salted porridge and flaked berries you are lead out into the amphitheater. It's only later you realizes that your wounds have gone, the acolytes healed you in your sleep.
Quite a crowd has gathered for it's the second day of the Yolarati festival. While there's activity all over the massive stone amphitheater, an air of anticipation grows as the crowd expects something to happen. After all tradition has it that the Yolarati is the time for miracles.
The acolytes lead each of you to a position in a loose circle around the altar. In the center, almost unrecognizable in fabulous yellow ceremonial robes is Mistress Tari, leading a chant to welcome the dawn. It starts simply enough, more of a hum than anything but slowly the priests and the congregation's words synchronize and suddenly thousands of people are speaking with one voice. Even for those not of Sarenrae's faith, the event is moving.
The chant of thousands reaches a crescendo and suddenly from behind a distant mountain the Sun appears! As it's first rays touch the altar, Mistress Tari throws something into the air that glitters and she utters a sibilant word that causes a the very air to thrum with power - as if the world had been rung like a gong. For a long moment nothing happens, and the crowd falls silent. The seconds stretch into an eternity before you notice the girl's fingers flutter. With a start she sits bolt upright and promptly starts coughing.
Several of the acolytes rush to her side and help her up, and they carry her away into the dormitory. They beckon you to follow.
The monk Atsuko directs Mohktar and Shikyomaru to sit, saying slowly but implacably, "Ah the excesses of youth, you have been burning the candle at both ends." There is a pause before he adds, "You are wounded in body and spirit. Rest will help, as will the ministrations of Irori, relax you will be safe here and in the morning we shall see to your stony friend."
Hirati cheers, "YAY! They cured Pradip!" Pratavh smiles and follows the acolytes.
Hey, what was that sparkle just now? o.o
Lilly likewise jumps to her legs to follow mistress Tari, practically dragging Pratavh by his wrist in her excitement. "Too casual, come on!"
"Tari, it might be something known to you, to me it isn't. Just before she came to, some shimmering sparkle entered her mouth. Would that have been her spirit, or something else?"
Looking at Lilly, as if for the first time, Mistress Tari replies "Ohh you saw that did you?! You have sharp eyes indeed, although if half the things I've heard are true I shouldn't be surprised. The theology is complicated but you have the gist of it. We can be glad the girl's spirit wasn't tainted, if she had been of a foul disposition you'd have noticed a darkness instead."
You follow Mistress Tari though the maze like warren of the dormitories and the acolytes gently put Pradip down onto a bed. "I know you will want to talk to her, but I imagine she will sleep for some time, and when she wakes she'll be as weak as a newborn. She may find events upsetting, but know this she wanted to return."
A runner hands something to Mistress Tari, and you see her examine an official looking letter with an impressive wax seal. With a shrug, she hands it to you saying, "This appears to be for you."
The letter is made from a single perfect sheet of pure white vellum, elegantly written in Veranti with a flowing hand. Holding it up to the light, you notice a watermark of the Thakur's head in profile. The very same that graces the local coinage.
Alwwn, Lilly, Mokthar, Pratavh and Shikyomaru, Greetings!
I Lord Raheem Pandisar request and require your attendance at the Thakur's private residence today, to discuss a matter of some delicacy. Please show this letter to the waiting carriage driver outside, and to the palace guard upon demand.
Signed R.P
Lilly takes the letter and opens the envelop.
Quickly reading, one hand lands behind her head, rubbing the back in amazement.
"Wow...well that's sure a surprise,", Lilly hands the letter to Pratavh next to her.
"Thanks again for helping her, we'll be sure to come visit when the situation in the letter is over with."
Startled by Lilly's action, Pratavh manages to keep up with her, though he shifts his hand so that she is holding his hand rather than his wrist. A tiny smile starts on his face as he goes with her. He will hold her hand as long as she lets him. Reading the letter, Pratavh is rather surprised, "Well that is unusual. It certainly sounds intriguing."
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Alwyn followed Lilly and Shiro to the Temple of Irori where the soldier was turned over to the monks there. Then gently handing the Kitsune over to Lilly as she goes to the Temple of Sarenrae, he follows her and Pratavh. Accepting the monk's offer of lodging for the night before the morning's ceremony.
The ceremony at dawn is a spectacular thing even if subdued in comparison to the fireworks the night before. A different form of power was on display and felt by all. Summed up in the first fluttering movements of the Kitsune's fingertips. At which point the bard who makes his living with words was speechless.
Following the other's to the Pradhip's room, Alwyn retires to the corner and sings softly a song of quiet welcome back to the world of the living and wishes for a full lifetime of adventure ahead.
"Whats going on with the letter, Lilly?"
Speaking in his native Tien tongue Shiko asks the master Waizumasutā, naze kono tochi wa totemo norowa rete? Watashi no yūjin wa sore o naosu koto o nozomu ga, kore wa kare no furusatode wa arimasen. Wareware wa sono yōna kyōki o naosu tame ni sono yō na nani ga dekiru yō ni?
The monk looks at you strangely for a moment, and then suddenly he nods as understanding blossoms "As it is with the snake, it is with the land. For when you fight a snake, you must remove it's head lest it's tail grow back."