Somewhere within the Bazaar rests an old house. Long since abandoned and shunned by the populace, it has remained untouched and unexplored for years until now. Lights can be seen flickering at night. Rattling, voices, cries, and weeping soon follow. A howl of angish rushes from the house and into the streets.
Then all is silent.
Something soon is to happen, within the house, and soon a lost child will return home one last time.
Whatever splendor this place possessed is now long gone. Weeds and insects choke the yard and was bushes, trees and shrubs adorned the grounds of the estate have withered and died. Thick vines cling and choke the walls, windows are caked with years of dust and mud. The building is in need of a new coat of paint. As the heroes enter the estate grounds, the gates behind them shrill to a close with a pronounced clack. All is silent and the last two survivors of the DeMach family have come home without welcome.
"Well, I suppose this old home had better days."
A tear comes to his eye.
"A proud house and a proud family. Pride cometh before the fall I suppose."
"A house is stone and mortar, timber and thatch. It's just a thing. Home is something you always take with you, whether you realize it or not," Devlyn says almost absentmindedly, as if he were quoting someone else's words. A small smile plays across his lips.
"As long as you still have the family, the home will always be there. Now let's get what we need and get out of here as quickly as we can....I have a feeling we've attracted the attention of something other than Zhalail's thralls," as he surveys the grounds, his smile fading to a look of concentration.
Blending in almost perfectly with the shadows, Shadow Pelt waits with eyes gleaming from the darkness.
Blending in almost perfectly with the shadows, Shadow Pelt waits with eyes gleaming from the darkness.
"A house is stone and mortar, timber and thatch. It's just a thing. Home is something you always take with you, whether you realize it or not," Devlyn says almost absentmindedly, as if he were quoting someone else's words. A small smile plays across his lips.
"As long as you still have the family, the home will always be there. Now let's get what we need and get out of here as quickly as we can....I have a feeling we've attracted the attention of something other than Zhalail's thralls," as he surveys the grounds, his smile fading to a look of concentration.
"Oh? We are? Then it's best we hurry and go inside. Tristan, you are the key. Touch the door. No worries lad, I'll make sure you're safe."
:::...but...:::
"You are the key that opens the door. This is the only way."
Tristan swallows and musters up what little courage he has. He walks cautiously up the steps and to the front door. He places the tips of his fingers onto the door and there is a explosive display of bright blue energy in pattern of circles, rings, and seven-point stars. Light washes the young sorcerer, his uncle and those assembled before the door. He tries to remove his hand form the door but it seems stuck, like an fly to flypaper. Feeling deceived, he winches and lashes out a spat of anger. Then in a brief moment in a wave of distortion everything fades out.
Tristan and Solmyr shake their heads and rub their eyes. The doors to the house are now open wide.
Arielle looks around, clutching her hammer in case something bad pops out. She stays close to Tristan, following him inside if he chooses to go in.
Arielle looks around, clutching her hammer in case something bad pops out. She stays close to Tristan, following him inside if he chooses to go in.
Noting the light and magic show necessary to get into this place, Devlyn turns his senses back to the surrounding grounds, assuming that Zhalail's minions couldn't get past the family wards and are lurking around here waiting for that door to be opened.
Hoping to draw Devlyn out, Shadow Pelt moves a few houses away and roars.
Aidan and Oroth both draw their swords. While Oroth's sword seems bright, Aidan's is almost invisible in the sunlight.
Lk pulls his axe from his belt, but doesn't take his hybrid from. Yet...
That make any sense? :P
That make any sense? :P
Meanwhile, not far away, Sytt is investigating the house's surroundings, trying to find anything unusual.
As their vision returns, the assembled realize that they are still on the DeMach property, the property is no long in the vicinity of the Bazaar or any where on the world. The edges of the property give way to a swirl phantasm of light and reddish smoke. Faded images, snarls, and savage rumbling can be heard beyond the boundaries of the estate.
Solmyr studies his surrounding and mumbles deeply.
"It's worse than I feared. The estate is pushing away from the Prime and Ethereal planes. It's moving closer to the Abyss. Are judging by the sounds of our neighbors, it's best we go inside."
Meanwhile, not far away, Sytt is investigating the house's surroundings, trying to find anything unusual.
Sytt sees a flash of blue light as Tristan touches the door.
He can see something on the edge of his field of perception, some his magical senses may yet see.
Meanwhile, not far away, Sytt is investigating the house's surroundings, trying to find anything unusual.Sytt sees a flash of blue light as Tristan touches the door.
He can see something on the edge of his field of perception, some his magical senses may yet see.
Sytt sighs. "Reception could be better," he mutters. His claw disappears back into his body and comes out with a tiny orb. He pushes it into his right eye socket, and it pops in as the real eye sinks down. He scans the area, left eye closed.
Arielle looks around, clutching her hammer in case something bad pops out. She stays close to Tristan, following him inside if he chooses to go in.
[Sytt sighs. "Reception could be better," he mutters. His claw disappears back into his body and comes out with a tiny orb. He pushes it into his right eye socket, and it pops in as the real eye sinks down. He scans the area, left eye closed.
[Sytt sighs. "Reception could be better," he mutters. His claw disappears back into his body and comes out with a tiny orb. He pushes it into his right eye socket, and it pops in as the real eye sinks down. He scans the area, left eye closed.
Sytt lets out a moan as he yanks out the false eye. "I hate that! Hades, that hurts!" He stuffs it back into his body and pulls out a scroll. "Kinda wanted to save this," he mutters. He speaks a spell, and the scroll bursts into flame. He yelped and drops it, but it is already ash. "Stupid Efreet." He scowls and searches the area once again with his enhanced vision.
Sytt lets out a moan as he yanks out the false eye. "I hate that! Hades, that hurts!" He stuffs it back into his body and pulls out a scroll. "Kinda wanted to save this," he mutters. He speaks a spell, and the scroll bursts into flame. He yelped and drops it, but it is already ash. "Stupid Efreet." He scowls and searches the area once again with his enhanced vision.
That make any sense? :P
I'm not trying o make the Servants overpowered, I really aren't. They tend to meddle in affairs larger than them, and when said affairs come after them, they have a lot of trouble stopping it. They have a lot of enemies, and as has been made clear, a great deal of corruption. But they know a lot. And sometimes people act like the Servants have no idea what's going, and that bugs me, because oftentimes, I don't know myself. KC hasn't appeared in a while, and I'm having trouble reestablishing the Servant presence. This subplot, which I am thinking of as the Longest Running Subplot with So Few Posts, is really hampering my plans. I blame nobody, as everybody has the right to a subplot once in a while, and I've had more than my fair share. But, yeah, I'm a bit bitter.
Wow, this is my longest rant in a while. Well, if anybody paid attention, thanks for reading, and thanks for letting me rant. Let's get back to the plot.
Sytt lets out a moan as he yanks out the false eye. "I hate that! Hades, that hurts!" He stuffs it back into his body and pulls out a scroll. "Kinda wanted to save this," he mutters. He speaks a spell, and the scroll bursts into flame. He yelped and drops it, but it is already ash. "Stupid Efreet." He scowls and searches the area once again with his enhanced vision.
"Styx!" Sytt says, bewildered. "These people don't like eavesdroppers!"
He considers the gates for a moment. Then he grins. "Now, do I still have that..." He reaches into his body. He pulls out a large ring that should not have fit in his body at all (but then again, neither should any of the things he pulls out). He sighs with immense relief as it leaves his body. "Portable hole in this? I'm curious." He moves the portable hole into an area so that it overlaps with two of the gates.
"Weird," Sytt mutters. "Time for some guesswork. I kind of wonder whether it's any different over here?" He vanishes.
On the Ethereal Plane, he inspects the ghostly subrealm to see whether the house looks any different.
"Weird," Sytt mutters. "Time for some guesswork. I kind of wonder whether it's any different over here?" He vanishes. On the Ethereal Plane, he inspects the ghostly subrealm to see whether the house looks any different.
As the blue flashes fade, the adventurers realize the background and scenery have changed. The sky is dull grey, mixed with ghostly white fog. Colors of red yellow and red flash deeply within the mists and the Bazaar is no where to be seen.
Sytt sighs. "How the hell am I gonna do this?" he mutters.
As the blue flashes fade, the adventurers realize the background and scenery have changed. The sky is dull grey, mixed with ghostly white fog. Colors of red yellow and red flash deeply within the mists and the Bazaar is no where to be seen.
"Anyone know where we are? This place.. it doesn't feel right."
As the blue flashes fade, the adventurers realize the background and scenery have changed. The sky is dull grey, mixed with ghostly white fog. Colors of red yellow and red flash deeply within the mists and the Bazaar is no where to be seen."Anyone know where we are? This place.. it doesn't feel right."
"I don't know. It's still a little bit part of the normal world, but I think maybe it's a demiplane."
"Alright Tristan, Solmyr - lead the way. The less time we spend here, the better it will be I think," Devlyn says while eyeing the fog and it's odd flashes of color.
Sytt sighs. "How the hell am I gonna do this?" he mutters.
"I don't know. It's still a little bit part of the normal world, but I think maybe it's a demiplane."As the blue flashes fade, the adventurers realize the background and scenery have changed. The sky is dull grey, mixed with ghostly white fog. Colors of red yellow and red flash deeply within the mists and the Bazaar is no where to be seen."Anyone know where we are? This place.. it doesn't feel right."
I'm afraid the manor is being pushed closer into the Abyss. How close I do not know. We should be safe inside in the house wards still hold. Come let us not delay anymore.
:::What was that?! Why am I shivering?:::
As the blue flashes fade, the adventurers realize the background and scenery have changed. The sky is dull grey, mixed with ghostly white fog. Colors of red yellow and red flash deeply within the mists and the Bazaar is no where to be seen."Anyone know where we are? This place.. it doesn't feel right."
Arielle and you can still use your innate abilities as the manor is stiill anchored to the Prime Material. Arielle see if can, no, we better move inside.
Solmyr scans the area and ground rumbles beneath his feet.
They are coming. Let's move.
Taking Tristan by the arm, they proceed up the steps and through the doorway.
Sytt sighs. "How the hell am I gonna do this?" he mutters.
** spoiler omitted **
Sytt grumbles. "Do these illusionists think I'm made of money? Now I'm going to have to go and clear this with all the toppers, and they'll talk to their betters, and it'll just take forever. Dammit!" He vanishes.
"Arielle and you can still use your innate abilities as the manor is stiill anchored to the Prime Material."As the blue flashes fade, the adventurers realize the background and scenery have changed. The sky is dull grey, mixed with ghostly white fog. Colors of red yellow and red flash deeply within the mists and the Bazaar is no where to be seen."Anyone know where we are? This place.. it doesn't feel right."
Taking up the position of rear-guard, using it to whisper(hopefully) unheard.
"Oroth, it's hard to feel the Moon here.""I know, it's hard to feel the Sun too. Don't worry, we'll be fine as long as we don't use more strength than we have."
For Sytt,