CHAPTER 1: First Steps into a Larger World

[tombowings]

OOC: Thus we are left with the choice? Does the party follow the Koi down river toward the Temple of Gemini, do they trek upstream toward the Mage of Mirrors, or do they descend back down into the cave from whence they have just emerged? All of these will prove interesting choices. They could also hike into the unknown wilderness, although I'm not sure I'd recommend that option. Once we make a choice and get out of this ravine, I will begin posting a hex-map of the territory explored.

[chicagowiz]

May 4, 2023 22:54:53 GMT -6 tombowings said:

OOC: Thus we are left with the choice? Does the party follow the Koi down river toward the Temple of Gemini, do they trek upstream toward the Mage of Mirrors, or do they descend back down into the cave from whence they have just emerged? All of these will prove interesting choices. They could also hike into the unknown wilderness, although I'm not sure I'd recommend that option. Once we make a choice and get out of this ravine, I will begin posting a hex-map of the territory explored.

I vote for accompanying the fish to the Temple, with a huge grain of salt/caution. And not because my IRL zodiac sign is Gemini

[Bastet1002]

"Ardbane and I vote to accompany the fish to the Mage of Mirrors," says Zinon finally getting the name right!

[tombowings]

May 5, 2023 7:12:16 GMT -6 Bastet1002 said:

"Ardbane and I vote to accompany the fish to the Mage of Mirrors," says Zinon finally getting the name right!

Well, the fish is headed to the temple. He might, however, be convinced to turn back.

[flightcommander]

"Let us follow the fish on his errand, away from this Mage," agrees Cneve.

[Blackcraft]

OOC: I back following the fish.

[tombowings]

The red koi takes a relaxed pace downstream. Cneve, Bruno, Tormon, Carig, Sebastian, and Zinon follow behind along the mucky bank. Soon, the rocky walls of the towering ravine begin to shrink. The world opens up into a wide plain. Hills rise and fall on both sides of the river, continuing outward, uninterrupted, at far as the eye can see. Only an irregular scattering of leafy trees populate the hills. The enormity of the sight is startling. How could the cosmos be so vast?

"I wonder how much farther until we arrive," the koi muses as the sky begins to shift from black to blue and the stars begin to fade. "The farther I travel, the more I resent that pessimistic enchanter. My fins feel like they're about to fall off. At least the worms are flavorful here."

Not long afterward, the sky erupts in a mirage of red and gold. A burning orb rises from the horizon, lighting the world with its scintillating rays. The green grassy hills awaken. Pink and yellow wildflowers turn their heads toward the rising light. A distant lively chirping emanates from all directions. The air warms, but the comfort provided by the kind embrace is marred by the blinding light that emanates from it.

Soon, Cneve, Bruno, Tormon, Carig, Sebastian, and Zinon are forced to cover their eyes with their fingers. Never before have they witnessed so bright a light. Who knew something so warm and beautiful could impose so much discomfort.

"Apollo's arrows," the koi laughs, mockingly. "They've stricken you blind, haven't they?" A moment later, the koi jumps out of the water and lands with a splash. "Look!" he shouts. "Straight ahead, an enormous wheel wheel dipping into the water. And up there, rising above the others. The temple with a spike rising from its roof. We've reached the temple. Oh, look at their hovels. All marble with warm, thatched roofs. Much more comfortable than the dwellings of those fishermen who've tried to lure me into their hooks."

Cneve, Bruno, Tormon, Carig, Sebastian, and Zinon lower their hands briefly and peer into the distance. The scene, as far as they can tell, is exactly as the fish describes. A cluster of white stone buildings with brown roofs stands along the river bank. In their center is a far larger building, circular in design. A large metal rod, as thick as a man's body, protrudes from it into the sky. Along the river, an enormous wooden circle, half submerged in stream, spins around its axel, itself fixed to a nearby building.

Between the buildings roam half a dozen men, all wearing white and yellow robes. Another half dozen have congregated near the wheel, holding thick sticks over the stream.

"Fishing rods!" the koi screams. "Save me, Ardbane - whichever one you are! That mage has sent me to my death! Yet I feel compelled to continue on! Oh, cruel fate! Just when I was beginning to enjoy my existence, the void calls me back."



0621 - The Temple of Gemini
0722 - The entrance to the red dragon's cave

[dtspurrier1]

Bruno tells the fish, " we will save you so you are not for dinner by the robed men. " Bruno says, " hello good people we are looking for the man in charge"

[Bastet1002]

"Yes," says Ardbane turning to the robed priests fishermen. "The great talking koi, our leader, wishes to speak to him."

[tombowings]

May 8, 2023 19:03:34 GMT -6 Bastet1002 said:

"Yes," says Ardbane turning to the robed priests fishermen. "The great talking koi, our leader, wishes to speak to him."

OOC: Did Zinon become Ardbane?

[Bastet1002]

OOC: Sorry! Just a mistake!

[tombowings]

May 8, 2023 23:28:22 GMT -6 Bastet1002 said:

OOC: Sorry! Just a mistake!

OOC: No problem. I thought that perhaps Zinon was simply even madder than I had originally diagnosed.

[chicagowiz]

OOC: Aw, I was hoping Zinon turned into Ardbane! The craziness would be awesome-sauce!

[chicagowiz]

Can the koi swim close to shore so that I may be in front of it and protect it from fishing rods?

[Bastet1002]

Ardbane is getting hungry!

"No, no, no, Ardbane!" exclaimed Zinon. "I know people eat fish, but we can't eat this fish! He is our friend. We'll find plants or gruel from these monks to eat."

[tombowings]

Bruno, Zinon, and Carig lead the red koi along the bank. Soon they reach the place where the men have congregated around the river near the giant water wheel. The men in white and yellow robes stare eagerly as they approach, their eyes full of hope and anticipation. Cneve, Tormon, and Sebastian remain a safe distance away, looking on, ready to react in case of danger.

Zinon announced the arrive of the messenger fish. Bruno asks to see their leader. Carig remains close to the koi, brandishing his thick stick. Eleven men cluster around. They range from their late teens to old age. They have light coppery skin and thick brown hair. Their eyes are brown, flaked with green.

A man with a short goatee steps forward to speak for the group. "My name is Alexander Bell," he begins. "Unfortunately, the High Priest cannot be fetched. He stumble on the brink between life and death. We have awaited the Mage of Mirrors's answer. His rely has arrived sooner than expected."

"Of course, he does, you fish fryer," bellow the red koi from the stream. He glares for a moment at the fishing rods in several of the men's hands. "And his message is all he sends. He made a bit of a fuss, but came to a decision straight away. The answer is no. Read my fishy lips, no!"

The men in the robes glance nervously at one another. Anxious whispers flit among the small crowd. Alexander Bell frowns. "This is it then. I had hope he would come round. But alas." Alexander Bell turns back to his fellow priests. "Fetch, Leonardo. Inform him that he can text his...his...contraption. Either way the High Priest's soul will sail across the river Styx to the banks of Hades. May the twins have mercy on his soul."

[Bastet1002]

"My friend Ardbane," Zinon gestures to empty air. "... and I are deep thinking. We might be able to reflect on your problem. What was the question Mr. Bell? If my friends and I think of another answer, you may not have to begin your holy text and sticks ritual with your sick friend. I know little of your ways, but perhaps there is another answer. My friends here and I were born from the hot mountain with the big scaled beast, the collector of bright disks and gruel men jailers. Somehow we freed ourselves and came out quietly. We are born with no memory but our senses and our words. We do not know why we live or what men should do in life. Mr. Koi is our guide so far, so I urge you to be gentle with him. He has after all guided us here in safety. Are all men born from the mountain of the big scaled beast? Do men have a life before being born there?"

[chicagowiz]

Having nothing to add as Zinon has said it so very well, Carig will simply continue to protect the No-fish and listen.

[flightcommander]

Cneve cowers behind the others, too weak to defend himself from these strange men, too clumsy to stand in the deeper current, too frightened by the glaring light, and too dim to grasp the gist of the conversation. There is only one thing that keeps him from fleeing altogether — the name, Leonardo ...

[tombowings]

A young man in white and yellow robes rushes off, supposedly to fetch Leonardo.

Alexander Bell looks at Zinon. He nods gently. "Chained were you? Raised by fire and flame? We haven't seen anyone emerge from that cave for a generation, not since that dragon took of residence in that canyon. That's the scaled beast, by the way. I was a child when he took up residence here. It's a miracle you make it out alive. Jove must have willed it. I don't know who those gruel men are, though. The High Priest might know but - " Alexander Bell's voice trails off. He turns to a young priest with a dark bruise around his eye. "Fetch these gentlemen some clothes."

"I'll be back in moment." The young man dashes off into one of the white stone buildings.

"You must be looking for a place in the world, eh?" Alexander Bell says. "I can't say you've found the right place, but you've found somewhere. The High Priest has been cursed, you see. A week ago that Mage of Mirrors strode up to the temple and demanded to speak with the High Priest. Mad, that magician is. To worry about an apocalypses 10,000 years in the future. And to think we, the priests of Gemini, are the cause. Raving! Unfortunately, he's quite the wizard. And the High Priest - well. We can show you if you want. As soon as you're dressed. The High Priest will be furious if we let nudists into the temple." Alexander Bell glances at Carig, head to foot. "It priests of Aquarius might allow it, but not us."

The young man returns with six sets of robes matching yellow robes. "I don't if I got the sizes right."

An older priest swats the young man in the back of the head. "Don't stand there babbling. Hand them out."

The young man hands Cneve, Bruno, Tormon, Carig, Sebastian, and Zinon each a set of yellow robes.

"You know," another priest tells Alexander Bell, "Leonardo has been looking for a new assistants. Ever since - "

Alexander Bell shakes his head. "No, Fillius. Don't encourage that him. A flying machine. It's impossible. Remember last time"

Fillius raises his eyebrows at Alexander Bell. "The High Priest once said the same about your water wheel."

Alexander Bell opens his mouth to reply, when a cry erupts from the river. "It tickles!" the red koi bursts out. A globe of prismatic light is shining from the fish's scales. "What's happening to me?"

[chicagowiz]

Just as Carig was about to dress in the shared clothing ("ah, it would be nice to be clothed again. Wait, how do I know what it feels like to be dressed?"), he hears the no-fish yelling right behind him. He spins around to observe the strange sight.

Carig will cautiously extend his cudgel at the glowing orb, but stop short of touching it. He'll glance back at the priests. "Is this dweomer known to you?"

[dtspurrier1]

Bruno accepts the robes and awaits for the response

( Bruno will not join the Bell's phone plan or Leonardo pizza request either )

[Bastet1002]

Zinon starts to put on his robe, and backs a little away from the fish, and suddenly Zinon's posture becomes more upright and his facial expression a little more severe - almost as if he is a different person.

"Zinon what is going on!" cries Ardbane. "Our new friend glitters and shines like those lights in the sky! Mr. Koi are you about to fly in the sky?"

Then "Zinon" slouches a little and his face relaxes.

"Ardbane," says Zinon. "There is magic at work here. Not all is what it seems. We must see the priests' leader at once, so that we can put a stop to anything bad that may happen. If there is anything, we can do..."

[chicagowiz]

May 15, 2023 10:36:28 GMT -6 dtspurrier1 said:

( Bruno will not join the Bell's phone plan or Leonardo pizza request either )

[flightcommander]

Unsure how to properly attire himself in the yellow raiment, Cneve clutches the robe about him. As he hears the koi's cry for help, he stumbles forward to grasp the fish and tries to extract it from the "glow".

[Bastet1002]

"Put that back it's mine!" screams Abasire. "I saw it first and it's going to be my dinner!"

Grasping his head, Zinon regains control. "Must see the priests leader at once!"

[tombowings]

The older priest answers Carig and Zinon, "His mission is complete. The enchantment is fade." The man's voice is solemn and grave. "His consciousness will return to what it once was. In a way he is dying."

"Dying!" the koi shouts, the prismatic light still blazing. "Dying! I won't go back to being a mere bottom feeder. I'm an intellectual. A philosopher!"

"Not for long you're not," the old man answers. "Though he refused out offer. It is sad to see you go."

"Do something! Save me!" the koi howls, his eyes wide with terror.

The priest frowns. "Such magic is beyond me."

At that moment, Cneve crashes through the water. He raises the koi into the air, shaking him to remove the prismatic illumination. No avail. It's as if the glow is emanates from within the koi.

"Stop that!" the koi howls. "At least met my consciousness melt in peace."

At that point Alexander steps forward to meet Zinon. "Come, there's nothing to be done here." He glances at the fish, which is still flailing against Cneve's grasp. "The High Priest will see you now that you're dress. Leonardo always enjoys an audience." At that, Alexander leads the way into the large white building with the strange iron spike protruding from its rounded roof.

[chicagowiz]

Carig raises the cudgel in a salute to the no-fish.

"Farewell, for to have lived and experienced for a brief moment is more than most can say they've done. You were brave and helpful. You are the most no of the no-fish."

I'll wait till the dwoemer fades around it, and then get dressed.

"Let's go see what this priest has to say, Cneve. Who knows how long we have?"

[dtspurrier1]

Bruno agrees

[Bastet1002]

?Zinon? nods standing more erect than usual with a stern expression on his face, and raises a puzzled eyebrow and small tear rolls down his left cheek.
"What a waste of a perfectly good meal!"

And then slouching into a more relaxed posed Zinon scolds, "Abasire, really! Excuse me Alexander. Please lead us on to your king."