Legwork: What Dreams Ae Made Of Part 4

When last we left our brave, noble heroes (and Alba) they weere left outside the 'negative dreams' zone, still trying to put together their next plan of action. They were talking about heading back in.

Back in to do what, though?

Sasha is off to the side...outside of the no dreams zone, after all. "What next guys?" she says leaning against a tree.

Astaren is flipping through his notes. Hmmming as he does so, "I wonder... nope." then snaps his fingers as he pulls up the journal he found. "I have an idea. If I can find a good enough description of the item that was removed from the alter, I can attempt to locate it through magic."

"A fair plan," Alba mutters, razors singing against each other as she faces the town, idly petting the red-banded viper poking its nose out from beneath her hair. "Except we know not what was taken from this thing. Are we to search other other buildings, mayhap?"

Hun'rar ponders "What if its not an item in the traditional sense... I originally detected an evil miasma over the town before we defeated those creatures. I wonder if its more... ethereal." he conjectures. "What do we know about the black rock?"

"Black onyx," Alba says in answer to Hun'rar. "A favored stone for cultists, but this altar is a single piece. I think not that so much gemstone is oft found in such quantity, so it is fair to assume that it was shaped with magics."

Astaren nods slowly, "Well we could do what ifs, but I am going to at least try. Never know what we might learn." starting to glance through the diary, "And yea the item in question is most likely very magical ins ome sense, even if it is symbolic."

"'Ware, wizard," Alba mutters. "It shall not be wise to linger overmuch within the town. Time may not be an ally, but undue haste will lead to a doom swifter still." Two razors scrape against each other, and with a nod, Alba lifts the snake from her hair, carefully depositing it on the grass. "Abide, Sarathrazz, and I shall ensure you know what I know. Keep company the doll, and we shall return as swiftly as we may."

Astaren is very confused, very very confused, "All I was talking about was checking this journal we found to see if it has a description of the object that was taken. to attempt a locate object spell on. I think we are talking two different things, because you have confused me very much here." Shaking his head slowly and looking back to the journal, still clearly confused.

"..don't go," says the doll.

"It's dark inside. I can't see in there. I don't like it when I can't see."

The tiny doll stomps a tiny foot. It sounds more menacing than it ought to, but then, we're talking about a faceless doll that manifests dream powerws over reality

Sasha tilts her head at the doll. "you....sound worried about us."

"Ahn," says Alba. "I assumed you wished to return and seek more sign. ...I shall wait, then, and see what you glean."

GAME: Astaren rolls linguistics: (6)+16: 22

GAME: Astaren rolls sense motive: (16)+16: 32

Hun'rar nods to Astaren "Perhaps there is something within the mad scribbling of the book. Just... be wary should it be anything more than insane ravings and not something more sinister." he says as a warning as he watches the Wizard.

Astaren flips through page after page quickly as he considers. Then stops, for a moment, and goes back to flipping, "No not mole rates, no not naked rats, no not eaglers... hmmm" pausing on another page. "Here, this is something, a key being inserted into a lock. Though that is something, my suggest.' Standing up, "Is we go back into the village, and try every door and chest. find the one that is locked, and break through."

"...not worried," shouts the doll. "I DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYONE! I don't like /this/. It's dark. I can't see. I don't understand why I can't see. Why can't I see in there? YOU TELL ME."

That's directed at AStaren since he's talking. Then to Alba, she makes a sound of annoyance.

Sasha says, "we're trying to figure that out, little doll...""

Astaren perks up a moment, "Wait, can't see but can still talk. Interesting." Making a notes ashe taps his chin thoughtfully, "There are clues in that as well, not sure what it means, but clues."

Hun'rar raises an eyebrow "I am not sure that's feasible. Especially if we are to limit our time in the town. Could it be metaphorical or something? Like in scripture?" he says closing his eyes and thinking. "My father would have figured this out..." he mutters under his breath.

Turning to the doll, Alba picks it up, turning it to face her mask. "Power over dreams, you have," she says quietly. "It is this power that allows you to speak to us, and be where we are, yes? But within that town? There are no dreams. You cannot see, because to your power there is nothing. It has all been eaten up, my enemy."

Glancing over her shoulder at Astaren, she tilts her head. "Agree with the warrior I do, wizard. Better, perhaps, if we make our visits within the town brief and frequent. Recall you how speedily we were forced to leave the town before."

Astaren tilts his head faintly as he glances back towards the town, "That was the mines, and it was because a detection spell acted as a beacon towards that thing associated with the alter. If you do not wish to go back in, I understand. I am only offering a course of action based on the very little information that we have available to us. I will be going back in to take a second look. A key and a lock, symbolic of something with that on it, or a actually locked item. Not sure, but will be looking for both." Turning to start walking back towards the village.

Hun'rar does have one avenue left he can try, it rarely if ever provides direct answers but it calms the mind if nothing. He sinks to his knees in his full plate and starts praying to Gilead, muttering verses beseeching the god to aid the hunter in finding his prey and to guide all his arrows to strike swift and true.

GAME: Astaren rolls perception: (13)+17: 30

GAME: Hun'rar rolls perception: (11)+0: 11

GAME: Sasha rolls perception: (2)+4: 6

GAME: Alba rolls perception: (6)+12: 18

GAME: Kisaiya rolls Perception: (9)+7: 16

(New BB message (10/220) posted to 'RPP Awards' by Job Tracker: A: Atleti: witness me)

Madness is one of those things that varies by individual. While there may be common traits between people suffering maladies, it's not /super/ common for them to manifest exactly the same way. As these people descended into madness, the ones who didn't flee were clearly exhibiting some similar traits. You find, with a more careful eye of waht to look for, more signs of similar things. for example, a key left in a closet door, or a book open to an old Animus preayer about unlocking the gates of knowledge. There isn't so much a clear indication, but rather, consistant motiffs.

Astaren continues with his search and his smile grows wider and wider as he does so. "Oh revealving your hand you are." glancing to Alba as he smiles, 'You noticing the same patterns I am?" tilting his head as he tries another door and finds it locked, "Yep, as expected. So every third, keys and doors." Writing down in his notes as he considers, "Whole place is reminding of a old comic, about barbarians that drank a potion. Went to a house of madness, or beaucrhacy."

"....A what." Alba's voice is as blank as her mask. Clearly, this is not a facet of wetlander culture she has been exposed to. Shaking her head, she turns to regard the locked door. "So.... so so so. Careful, this madness. But madness, even still. The question, wizard, is whether this is clue, or warning."

"I haven't really noticed patterns at all. It's mainly been you guys." Sasha does look around though. Her senses aren't quite....attuned as the rest.

Astaren motions to Sasha, "Try every third door, you will find it locked, every time. Regardless of order, there is something afoot here. Something is affecting this down, on the physical level. As Alba said though, could be a warning, could be a clue. Everything we discover only makes it more confusing, I am running out of ideas very quickly. I wonder if something is looking for a key to the third lock, or who knows.' Closing his eyes as he considers, "Last option si to explore the mines deeper."

"Hn," Alba grunts. "Think I there is little left to explore... Be watchful and be wary. Even without the use of magic, there is much of us to make a meal of, for a monster that devours dreams."

Astaren pulls out another book as he considers and shakes his head, 'Do not have the right spells in my wizard book, but the cleric side I can get some pass wall stuff and get us through those blocked tunnels. May not be much left in the village, but again I think the tunnels is our best idea, and I suspect we will find something guarding those as well."