That do be a really good question.
In any case, we need to be very good guests and not touch anything if we can ‘elp it. Something just do be feeling odd about this place.
Mirela examines the symbolism to see if she can get any clues from all the carvings.
I find this quietness disturbing. But then, I am a man of chaos, blood and screams.
Nargun looks around, then
It seems as if the house itself, or something dark within, was waiting with baited breath to pounce on us.
The only religious iconography she sees are the mahogany doors carved with images of the Vudrani deity Chamidu, the God of Wild Beasts. Chamidu appears as a six armed, four-faced giant who rides a tiger with human
hands for paws.
Now that I do be seeing this in the light of day, the ‘ouse looks to be Vudrani style. And that represents Chamidu, the God of wild beasts.
Mirela says pointing at the six armed creature on the tiger with human hands.
Artegall will be in the Entrance Hall (D1) looking out the windows. Those are the light blue segments in the exterior (eastern) wall, correct?
He will be about 15' from the double doors into D8, at what seems to be a large window.
Nargun stays close to Twilight, ready to kill anyone daring to attack her.
Where is everybody?Or even anybody?
Maybe we look at the grounds or go out the front door and be looking for guards like the ones that did be taking us in last night?
Maybe we look at the grounds or go out the front door and be looking for guards like the ones that did be bringing us in last night?
As the party approaches the door to go back outside, the elephant looking out over the hall suddenly animates, trumpeting as loudly as any bull elephant in the wild and looking balefully at the party with its huge ruby of an eye.
Mirela freezes and looks around her hand firmly on Whisper’s collar holding the crouching wolf from springing at the elephant.
Nargun growls and rises his axe, putting himself in front of the group, not too far, but obviously daring the statue to attack
"So they don't want us to leave.
Well, we're still waiting for them. Perhaps this alarm will remind them of us.
They know we are here and we were invited to stay the night."
In less than a minute, a squad of Arkona liveried guards trot in through the front door. None of them look familiar to the group, but the man in the lead nods. "Ah, the guests! Did you sleep well? Are you ready to meet with Lord Arkona?"
Before we do be going, what is the trigger for the elephant? It trumpeted and scared my wolf something fierce.
Artegall waits for any answer to Mirela's question, but is otherwise ready to go to meet with Lord Arkona.
The guard looks up at the elephant over the door. "You are not a resident of the house. What else would it be?" He gestures to a pair of double doors to the north. "The receiving room, if you please. We will send a runner for Lord Glorio."
The guard patrol escorts the group a short distance to the north, to a comfortable room warmed by a large fireplace, its marble sides and mantle carved into a parade of capering monkeys and tigers. A large sofa is against the north wall, while a few cozy-looking chairs sit to the south.
At the end of the grand hallway to the west is a fourteen-foot-tall marble statue of a six-armed woman with four faces on her head—one looking to each of the four cardinal directions—stands under a dome of colored glass- Chamidu. The statue wields numerous weapons in its six hands, and a small kneeler at its base gives a place to pay respects. Each of the statue’s eight eyes is a sparkling bright green orb.
This time, the guards stay in the room with the group until the runner returns. The squad leader and runner have a short exchange before the sergeant turns back to the group. "My Lord wishes to meet you upstairs. Follow me, please."
Artegall stops and looks at the statue of Chamidu. How much does he know about this deity?
He will follow the sergeant up the stairs.
Now that no one was threatening them, Nargun follows quietly Artegall, trusting his lead
Mirela glances around to make sure there is nothing to worry about when they come back, as well as to see if there is anything special about the statue of Chamidu. Then Mirela and Whisper follow the others up the stairs.
The guards take the group up a wide set of carpeted stairs to the second floor, where a wide balcony overlooks a garden on the ground floor 25 feet below. Looking down is like looking into a clearing at the heart of a vast jungle, teeming with life. Exotic bird calls and the scent of dozens of tropical flowers drift up from below, along with warm, humid air at odds with the weather outside. In fact, from everything the group knows about the size and layout of the building, this jungle is entirely enclosed in spite of the evidence of their eyes, ears, and noses.
Just within sight and hearing to the north is a huge, burbling fountain, while just below the height of the second floor is an immense, life-sized jade statue of an elephant, a howdah perched on its back, its tusks and trunk raised high in greeting to the southeast ground-floor doors.
The guards don't give the interior jungle a second glance as they lead the outsiders around the overlook to yet another ornately ornamented door and lead them inside into, surprisingly, a great bath chamber. The air in this chamber is even warmer and more humid than the jungle balcony, filled with steam rising from the bubbling oval bath set in the floor to the southeast. The walls, ceiling, and floor are polished marble tiles of alternating blues and greens, giving the entire chamber a pervasive aquatic feel. Three lacquered wooden benches sit just north of the bath.
In the bath is a good looking, dark haired, middle aged man with a broad smile on his face as he lounges in the water. It's impossible to tell whether he's entirely naked under the bubbling bath water but he is at the very least shirtless and wet. "My friends! I trust you've passed a good night resting here? Have you had anything to eat yet?"
Not waiting for a response, he looks at the leader of the squad. "Dav, get some food and wine brought in for our guests." Lord Glorio gestures at the benches by the bath. "Please! Sit, sit. I'm sure we have a lot to discuss."
Nargun waits a little, then sits, feeling a bit hungry and knowing he could probably survive some poison should the need arises
[b]Nice place you have here.It's strange to get a peaceful night, we arent used to this luxury anymore. I'll admit I kept one eye opened, no offense meant.[b]
Not waiting for a response, he looks at the leader of the squad
Artegall will likewise sit down.
"Thank you."
He waits for someone more diplomatic to present requests, but will listen carefully to Lord Glorio's responses.
Mirela sits down and keeps Whisper at heel.
Thank you sir. I don’t be needing any food but Whisper ‘ere ‘as not eaten for over a day. If she could get something, I would be really grateful.
She pauses for a moment then continues.
What you ‘ave been doing for the people ‘ere is really impressive. The ‘ole island do be falling apart but you do keeping the light of community alive. I do be guessing a number of families are safe because of you.
Mirela sits down and keeps Whisper at heel.
Thank you sir. I don’t be needing any food but Whisper ‘ere ‘as not eaten for over a day. If she could get something, I would be really grateful.She pauses for a moment then continues.
What you ‘ave been doing for the people ‘ere is really impressive. The ‘ole island do be falling apart but you do keeping the light of community alive. I do be guessing a number of families are safe because of you.
Lord Glorio beams at the praise. "Yes, well, it is a nobleman's responsibility to take care of those who can't otherwise take care of themselves. With the city leadership having gone mad, we're doing what needs to be done." He nods at Mirela, indicating her and the others.
"I've gotten reports about a group of outsiders moving all over the island. It sounds like you've been busy. And now you're here. It can't just be to thank me for taking care of people." He was still smiling, his posture relaxed as he lounged in the bath, and didn't sound angry, just curious.
No, we're not here just to have some breakfast and a little cosy chat by the fire. But I'm not really a good spokeperson. My skills aren't too social, I let the others do the talking.
Nargun adds, with sincerity
But I do thank you for all you have done for the people. Maybe these words aren't much in that world of pain, but I would be a fool to keep these unsaid.
A servant enters the room and catches Lord Glorio's eye. The man in the bath waves his hand at the servant, who then withdraws. "Speaking of taking care of those who can't otherwise take care of themselves..." A stranger enters.
"Another helpful sort like yourselves! I figured you all should meet."
A short, slender human woman strides purposefully into the room, her body language giving the impression of someone much taller. Her long blonde hair is pinned up in a somewhat messy bun with a pair of lacquered wooden sticks. The hem of her black dress brushes the floor. She gives the noble a cursory but nevertheless polite bow. "Milord. Thank you again for your support." She's about to continue, but stops and turns to face the party, smiling briefly. "You! I've felt you in the weave of the city, working to help her people. I think we have much to discuss."