Game-Summaries:10/27/2018 Recollections

Ci's Shanjiu Inspiration

Ci, Sarya, Dereth, Avant, Zanna, Ford and Coin are gathered at Shanjiu Keep for a meal. Sitting in the Great Hall, servants bring out great heaping platters of steaming vegetables. Ci thanks them and asks them to place the platters on the table and then dismisses them for the evening.

Ci begins, "Yesterday, some of our workers scared off bandits that had attacked a farmer on the road outside. Though their lives were saved, their horses were not, and their cartload of vegetables was destined to rot in the road before they could return with other horses. They offered these vegetables in recompense for their safety. They spent the night here last night, and in the morning we sent them home with a new cart, and new horses. In honor of their willingness to sacrifice the fruits of their labor, I will serve these vegetables tonight. They have been prepared in the style of my home, steamed and well spiced."

In the bowls you recognize cabbage, and onions, and leafy greens. there are beetroots and potatoes as well as some small gourds that resemble miniature pumpkins. Ci then pushes up his sleeves, and begins passing around the table ladling heaps of hot vegetables onto each plate, as he serves a large helping of what appears to be endive, Dereth notices a red scar on Ci's foreaem, that is usually hidden by his robes. Though it's edges are hard and tanned, it's center is pink and seems fresh.

"Ci" Dereth asks, "How did you get that scar there on your arm? If it is bothersome, I am sure I could help." Ci sets down the bowl and touches the scar almost tenderly, and a slight smile spreads across his face.

“In my order we are students of the natural world. In fact, we call the art we practice ‘Yanji’ which in common means ‘The Study.’ We see truth in all things under the sun, and in the aether and though the wisdom to understand them sometimes eludes us, we trust in the existence of those truths nonetheless. When we can see that truth however, we often say a thing is ‘touched’ by another… that is to say, we often use the truth of one thing to describe the truth of another. To explain how I got this scar, I must tell the story of two novices in my order.”

“One of these novices was said to be touched by the Storm, in that he was often quick to anger, and moved like wild whirlwind, unpredictably, and dangerously. The other was said to be touched by the Tortoise. He was calm and slow and deliberate in his movements. He avoided the sparring most novices eagerly participated in, and could often be seen practicing alone for hours on end, at a slow measured pace.”

“One day the young storm-touched novice approached an Elder Master and asked, ‘Master, why do you suffer those touched by the Tortoise to be your students? They are not fast like the Crane, or strong like the Bear, or fierce like the Tiger. They are slow, and seem to care little for fighting. They spend all their days in study, or repeating basic kata. What is their use?’”

“The master called over one of the novices that was touched by the Tortoise, and he gave instructions to both. ‘On the day of the next new moon, you,’ he said, pointing to the Tortoise, ‘go to the top of the northern mountain that overlooks our temple, and you,’ pointing at the Storm, ‘go to the top of the southern mountain. Spend the night there, contemplate your path, and return to me and tell me what you have learned.’ The two novices bowed to their Master, and did as they were told.”

“When the young novice returned, the next day, he was battered and bloody, and looked exhausted from his ordeal. He met the master on the grounds of the temple, where the Tortoise student already awaited, looking calm and composed.”

‘Now,’ the old master said, ‘spar, and tell me what you learned.’ The young novice groaned but did as his master said. Weary as he was his strikes were sloppy... wild even.”

“‘Master,’ he panted, ‘I tried to do what you ask. It took hours, but I found my way to the top of the mountain, although I was hit by falling rocks several times. The night was so cold, though, I had to build a fire, and the prickly thorns of the shrubs bit into my arms as I gathered them. And once the fire was lit, I was beset by wolves! I barely fended them off until dawn, when they left, and then I scrambled my way back down here.’

“Meanwhile, the Tortoise continued his well-executed set of parries and blocks, and, after a nod from the master, began. ‘From the task you set for us, I surmised that perhaps you wanted us to understand the benefit of preparation. Knowing that the mountaintop could be a perilous environment, I spoke to the local woodsmen about the dangers there. They advised me that wolves were frequent at this time of year, and that they would be drawn to fire, especially in the cold.’ The Tortoise-touched student blocked another wild swing from the young novice.”

“‘I recalled reading in the monastery's library of a pool a few hours to the east that had stones which glowed with a light like moonshine. I journeyed there on our rest day, and gathered some of these stones. When I journeyed to the mountaintop, I made sure to have warm clothes and find a spot of relative shelter, and set up a few of the glowing stones at the perimeter of my camp, so that I could see anything that approached. Although I heard wolves howling, they were not drawn to my camp. I stayed guard through the night, and then returned here.’ The old master nodded, and watched the novices spar more.”

‘Sloppy!’ the master cried at the young novice's blows. ‘Why can you not strike with more accuracy?’ The young one replied. ‘I am sorry, Master. I am weary from my ordeal, and my limbs will not move as I wish them to.’ The master asked the Tortoise, ‘And you? Why do your strikes seem to be accurate? Did you sleep before coming here?’

‘No, Master. I admit I am also tired. But I have drilled the moves so frequently that my muscles know the arc even though I am weary.’

‘Very well, then. Show the novice what else you have learned.’

‘His attacks favor the right, but he does not guard his left side,’ the Tortoise student replied, striking a final solid blow, knocking the young novice down.

“As the master leaned over the young novice, he asked ‘Now do you see the benefit of the Tortoise as a Seeker of the Way?’”

‘Yes, Master,’ the young novice groaned, as he slid into unconsciousness. And thus was the young novice enlightened.”

Ci pauses for a second before continuing, “as you may have have guessed, that young storm touched novice was me, and this scar was from the wolves I fought off that night. I have never let it heal completely, as it is a constant reminder to me that the fastest way, and the strongest way, is not always the best way. And that there is no substitute for good preparation.”

And with that Ci continues serving the heaping plate of vegetables. The rest of the meal is spent laughing quietly, and sharing other stories of daring and success. And of course, preparing for the mission that is to come.

Recollections by Dereth

We finish dinner with Ci and I have just completed the keep's artesian well, dedicated to Vivienne, when I hear Sarya calling out for companions from the great hall. Coin, Avant, Zanna, Sarya, Ford, and I all lean in to hear its whisper of "use the artifact" before it vanishes. We take our portal to the Magistery and find Nesune. We inquire about the "use" of the ligatures and learn that we are usually transported to the Astral Plane (DM Note: This is player interpretation), a plane that reflects the intentions and thoughts pervasive on our material plane. Solace is a bright and detailed reflection on the Astral Plane because of the amount of people's impressions and beliefs in one place. When the Eternal Order used the "Training Dungeon" it was our collective intention that put participants into that place and our collective, active intention to leave that pulled us out. With this knowledge gained, I communed with Vivienne to determine our path. She responded with:

Two criminals carry Urza's font as they hunt for the body of their dreaming ally

Powered by twin wings the mechanical monster roams the ruins

You will defeat the archbishop while wielding the realm-shaper's distant touchstones

Coin knew that Urza is mentioned in texts as a master creator, but mentioned as legend. Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion was, according to these legends, merely a rediscovery of Urza's spell. We were unable to find someone from the House of Sonic, magisters who seem acquainted to ominous premonitions. With our ideas and theories floating in our minds, we all touched the Ligatures and were transported to a lovely wood paneled foyer of a medium sized manor.

We begin to explore and find pages that describe a Shade that lives in its own pocket dimension, housed in a "bauble" discovered in a time when Archons (NOT current Magistery rank or position) of the Magistery recorded and discovered knowledge. This Archon, presumably Urza, was ordered to use this thing to create weapons for his master, Prime Minister Venarius.

Through his experiments, he was brought into this Dreamplane and discovered the Shade. The shade helped him discover engineering and design elements that are far outside the understandings of rational beings. As if trying to measure and quantify dream-logic. The Shade showed him visions of a great king that was usurped and imprisoned. The writer was obviously charmed by the shade. Eventually the Shade asks the Archon to release him, and the Archon pauses to consider the ramifications for just a moment and the Shade assaulted him, revealing the manipulation just in time, the Archon fled the world. Research provided by Odinson (yes, OUR Odinson!) mentions the Shade is an oblivion born Outsider that feeds on nightmares of children it captures. It is trying to birth forth into physical from it's true self from Outside: "The Decay." The "fungal monstrosity from before time and space began". An order of knights, Watchers of Decay, formed and separated the Outsider's agency and physical form, trapping the physical form with the Myelin Sword. The Archon began to create his own device to exile the Outsider somehow.

Prime Minister Venarius tortured, interrogated, and threatened the family of the Archon until he revealed all. Prime Minister Venarius has the artificer coordinate a meeting in the Dreamplane. Desiring only more power, and the Shade wanting only to be freed, Prime Minister Venarius frees the Shade's body. The Archon escapes and begins to work on another map-device to enter the Dreamplane. It was then we discover his name, Gimble, and Zanna's repressed memory of her past the Nightshades dredged up fills this corner of the puzzle. Archon Gimble re-entered the Outsider's Dreamplane and did the only thing he could do, merge with it to hold back Prime Minister Venarius AND the Outsider as best as he could. Using Gimble when possible, this amalgam created for itself a clockwork suit and roamed the planes to feed and bring forth it's true form. Thus, Nimor's history and intentions are finally discovered.

Using Gimble's touchstones from his past, we draw him out of Nimor long enough to learn that we need to flee this plane, press the older Magisters about the secrets they continue to keep from us, destroy the map-device that allows entry into this world, and use Gimble's own device to try to exile this Outsider before "the mold from before time and space began will seek out the destruction of all things."

Mold? Fungi? Danifae's marriage to Zuggtmoy, the Demon Queen of Fungus!? Did Gimble say he's been fighting back Nimor for thousands of years? But Zanna is merely an adult, how can that be? How has he perceived time in this place?

Why am I running to keep up with you? Are those war drums?!

What day is it, now?

It's WHEN!?