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—Excerpt from Varisian folk tale
Light.
Blinding Light.
It takes a few moments before your vision returns to you. When it does, nothing seems familar. Lying flat on your back, you see a sun in the sky, but you do not feel its heat. Squinting, a rail can be seen reaching from one horizon to the other on which the sun is riding upon. The sky's blue color appears to be faded and washed out. Here the heavens appear to be tangible instead of the forever blue that is typically above you.
Your last memory was that of a meeting with Lady Heidmarch within her Manor regarding a Pathfinder mission. As the Heidmarches rarely take on guests, this meeting was considered to be an honor saved only for extremely dignified Pathfinders. The meeting took place in the Manor's parlor. A posh room with even more elegant arrangement for food and drink.
Lady Heidmarch soon joined all of you to discuss your mission at hand.
"Greetings Pathfinders. As you may have known, there has been recent and fortuitous discoveries with regards to the Cyphergate. To further understand these discoveries, we are in need of a well-known scholar of ancient Varisian folklore. Through the Society we were able to find the leading academic in this subject matter. His name is Meloigne Garracy..."
Crows' caw shakes you to the present. Sitting up, you see familiar faces. Fellow Pathfinders. They appear to be as confused as you are and dressed in a fashion from another age. Looking at your hands you noticed a new set of tattoos. Nine new tattoos. They are in the shape of cards with pictures commonly associated with a Harrow deck. Five crawling up on the right arm with four upon the left.
Looking around to see where you at, you notice looming tents that seem to reach greedily for the overcast sky before their tips curl back down in defeat. Faded paint peels from disused cages and wagons scattered about, while slow organ music drifts through the empty pathways. Nearby, a yawning entry leads into the dark interior of a twisted and massive central tent.
"Help. No please don't! Help me!" breaks the silence as a high pitches scream can be heard from the courtyard. There is a murder on the horizon.
Dressed in an ornate baby-blue pinafore with a bow, the horizontal-striped stockings, flat shoes, and a hairband over her loose hair. You have a bag of marbles.
Tattoos: The Queen Mother, The Cyclone, The Marriage, The Idiot, The Brass Dwarf, The Locksmith, The Snakebite, The Lost, The Joke
Dressed in a dress that covers neck and bellows at the feet. It has a matching cape can pointy brimmed hat. All articles of clothing are yellow with purple poka-dots. You have a set of masterwork thieves' tools.
Tattoos: The Wanderer, The Survivor, The Inquisitor, The Tangled Briar, The Rakshasa, The Bear, The Beating, The Dance, The Keep
Dressed in a pointy feathered hat, large blue bow-tie, yellow shirt and Lederhosen. You have a spell component pouch.
Tattoos: The Courtesan, The Desert, The Demon's Lantern, The Waxworks, The Paladin, The Carnival, The Forge, The Teamster, The Winged Serpent
Dressed in a red and white checkerboard suit of a vest and pants with a leather jacket. He has an orange and yellow poka-dot bow tie. Upon his head is a large top hat with a hatband reading "In this style 10/6." You have your dinosaurs, but they have pink bows and goldenlocks on their heads.
Tattoos: The Avalanche, The Vision, The Juggler, The Hidden Truth, The Trumpet, The Mute Hag, The Cricket, The Mountain Man, The Tyrant
Dressed in a T-shirt that looks like a modern day tuxedo top, jean shorts and leather and cork sandals. You have a spell component pouch.
Tattoos: The Rabbit Prince, The Uprising, The Foreign Trader, The Liar, The Theater, The Fiend, The Publican, The Crows, The Empty Throne.
After a quick glance, you notice The Crows as a faint green glow around its borders, the fades away.
Dressed in a grey wool suit in one size too small with a small red bow tie. You also have a pair of masterwork thieve's tools. On his feet are white patent leather shoes.
The Peacock, The Owl, The Betrayal, The Midwife, The Sickness, The Twin, The Unicorn, The Big Sky, The Eclipse
Damn, Not like me to let my guard down.. What in the world.. Where's my blades?! er, more to the point... why am I dressed in this? hm. well, I suppose I do make anything look good... at least the shoes are comfy.
Everyone ok? Other than having the feeling we've been violated? Anyone have any Idea where we are? He goes about subtlety pulling his suit attempting to stretch it out a bit without ruining it.
When he hears the shouts he curses under his breath.
No rest for the confused it seems. And heads off in the direction of the shouts.
Sheyan sits up with a growl, glancing around quickly as he rises to his feet. By the sun and the moon, look at the sun! He looks in wonder at the sight for a moment before taking in the rest. Then he remembers what happened. This must be part of the mission. But what happened to us, and what in the nine hells are wearing!? He's halfway to ripping off the clothing when he stops himself. We have no idea what we're dealing with or what the situation is. Perhaps we need these ridiculous outfits.
Then he looks down at the tattoos, frowning. That seems a bit excessive to permanently tattoo us with something. But the harrow cards are rarely meaningless. I wonder if... His thoughts are interrupted by the screams from the courtyard. He gives a low, stuttering growl, and starts walking towards the scream, eyes peeled for danger.
The green dinosaur raises up on his haunches and gives a roar, confused by the sudden awakening and new environment. Scars run up and down his body, creating a terrifying visage, but the effect is somewhat lessened by the hilarious clothing. He spits venom as he tries in vain to claw the bow off, but his vigorous shaking gets rid of the wig.
At Sheyan's stuttering growl he turns his head, giving a soft growl and following by the druid's side.
Teima raises slowly, glancing around suspiciously at the surroundings. She is a much darker color than the other dinosaur, almost black. As Kio roars she just pads the ground with her poweful hind legs, clawing up the dirt. After a moment she shakes her own head, only getting rid of the headpiece. She inhales and blows out hot air over the party, taking in their scents and smelling for others. Then at Sheyan's growl she turns and walks after him.
"Ah, nothing like an arcane stupor,"Judas stretches and yawns when his eyes catch the tattoos on his arms,"A bit invasive for my taste but the symbolism is overabudant. It appears our clothes have also been changed. This I do regret."
The bizarrely frail man struggles to his feet and nods to his fellow Pathfinders, his long white hair hanging weirdly over the otherworldly attire,"It sounds like a job for the 'Pathfinder Friends'!"
Judas' sarcasm is palpable as he looks around and finds a dislodged wagon wheel spoke,"This will do for now, I'd kill for a cane. Now then, off we go to save the day and such. I hope whoever they are that they don't die before we get there."
The hobbling mage moves as fast as he can towards the screaming, his face betraying only a hint of intense thought as a single bleached brow rises ever so slightly.
It appears we all have new body art. If I remember correctly mine are symbolic for...
Shayn wakes up shaking his head. What are those clothes? A component pouch?
Well, it's a little funny! - he says, admiring himself and his companions. The tattoos also catch his attention.
Okay, now that's good! - he smiles graciously - ... And, where's Lady Heidmarch?
He's interrupted by the high pitched scream. Immediately his hands move, as the small Wayang prepares to run in that direction.
Kaelin slowly comes to, taking in the scene around her. Her hands instinctively rise to shelter her face, and she sees the lines of images down both forearms. Wait, what's goin' on? We were at the Lady's - She takes in her companions to either side and her eyes widen. What the - Then she sits up and feels the rustle of the organza petticoat around her thighs.
Oh, hells no!
Bolting to her feet, she ducks behind a wagon nearby. No one come back here! The sound of ripping and tearing can be heard, and a few moments later she re-emerges holding a wad of ruffles in one arm and searching around her waist with the other, the skirt of her dress hanging noticeably flatter.
What in blazes is goin' - not even my wayfinder! I'm askin' double - I never signed up for this s*#*!
She ties two of the bigger pieces of her former petticoat into a bag of sorts and wads the rest of the discarded fabric inside. Might come in handy. Throw some of it at their feet, trip them up... Then, digging in her deep front pocket, she finds the small pouch, opens it up, and peeks at the contents.
Marbles. A prissy dress and marbles. I swear by this frilly blue monstrosity I will end whoever's responsible for this -
Just then the screams cut across the landscape, and Kaelin instantly jumps to action. Throwing the improvised sack over her shoulder, she stops only to hoist half a broken wagon wheel onto her shoulder. Spokes can tangle them up, good, and it's certainly got some weight to it...shape's pretty hard to counter against...lead with the broken-off point of the rim, it'll do the most damage...
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Fear and fowl are what the dinos smell as the party approaches the cries for help.
"Leave him alone, man... he's had enough.
"Shut up, Bobby!"
Weaving through the tents, the party comes upon a clearing with four figures on the other end. They are surrounding somebody staggering trying to keep himself up by clinging on to canvas corner created by the tents.
"Look at him, Dutch! He can't even stand up!
"So what?
"That don't mean squat!
Upon closer look, the four figures are dressed in purple cloaks and caps. They are holding something in one of their hands that is glimmering in the light.
"Johnny... leave him alone, man! He's had enough!
"I'll decide when he's had enough, man!
"What is wrong with you, Johnny?"
The surrounded man is dressed in a white but it is clearly stained with dirt and blood.
"An enemy deserves no mercy!
"Right!
"Right?
"Right!
"You're crazy, man!"
One of the purple cloaked figures turns around in disgust. He locks his eyes on the party of Pathfinders. He has black feathers cover his body with a crow's head. Painted on his face is a white skull with matching white bones painted on his hands and feet. He cocks his head sharply to to the side as if trying to make out who you are.
Tariel stops, then begins to walk over.
dammit, best course of action is to take attention off the guy...
As he walks he begins to speak.
hey, hey, there's no need for all of this now. It's clear you got your point across. Look, we're on your side here so let us take it from here. Why don't you go take a well deserved rest. We'll make sure to finish everything up here.
As they approached the group, Kaelin had been preparing to charge in first, ask questions later. But as Tariel approaches the group, she realizes that his subtle approach may prove more fruitful. She retires to the back of the group, trying to avoid interfering with his ruse. Her hand never leaves off gripping her new improvised weapon, however. May not have much of a grip on subtle, but if things go south, I'll be ready.
Shayn tries to appear and smile menacingly, trying to aid the bluff of his companion.
Yes... Yes... Let us finish the job... - the Wayang had his most evil look possible, trying to help Tariel.
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Tariel and Shayn and very conviencing and Blue Bobby bobs his head in agreement. He also appears to be in disgust as to what his his fellow flock mates are doing to the poor man.
However red Johnny isn't hearing any of this. After a round house kick to drop the man to the group, he turns to the party in a rage.
"Nobody interferes with our business. Tommy, Dutch, get'em."
Green Tommy and Yellow Dutch turn with their shortswords brandished and looking to continue the fight. The organ music turns to an upbeat drum rhythm with a catching yet simple guitar rift.
All Pathfinders may go!
Sheyan casts bull's strength on Kio, then growls and points.
Kio charges Yellow Dutch and mauls him!
Teima charges with Kio and attacks Green Tommy!
um.. Well, attention diverted... So, success?
oh, dinosaurs. Right. That's convienant... I still totally had this...
oohheeww, Tom Tom, that looked painful bud.
He then looks at johny.
you seriously wanted to fight.. those? Do you still? I mean, your buds are paying the price for your arrogance, but tell ya what. After they pay, I'll let you fight me instead of the giant green death machines. Sound good? Unless you just wanna go the easy way
Now, this I understand, Kaelin thinks to herself, a small smirk on her face.
It quickly goes away, however, when she realizes that, by falling to the back of the group, she's put the rest of the party between herself and the fray, preventing a headlong charge. Cursing, she runs forward, ducking around Sheyan and Tariel, and sprints toward Red Johnny, swinging the wheel down from her shoulder and brandishing it at the leader.
Hey, birdbrain! she shouts. Is it just your wimpy little wings, or is it between your ears that ain't nothin' but fluff, too? We gave you a chance - shoulda cut and run while you had it!
Shayn shakes his hands at the air, smiling as if he was playing with several puppets, then starts his act.
Shayn commands his Augmented Shadow Lantern Archons to shoot their light rays at whoever is standing (first yellow dutch, then green tommy).
Bardic Performance: 1/27
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Sheyan goes through the motions of casting Bull's Strength. When he goes reactivity goes to pull out some bull hair, he is unable to locate his spell component pouch or a piece of holy.
Dutch eyes grow big as Kio jaws and claw come down upon him. Kio bites into Dutch, shakes around a bit before clawing open his intestines. Tommy doesn't see even seen Teima coming as the dinosaur bites down upon him and swallows him whole
Johnny dips and dodges a majority of the rays fired at him except one.
Realizing his two friends were just eviscerated by giant lizards, Johnny, being the man that he is, charges to attack Kaelin.
Johnny turns back to stare at Bobby to get into position. Bobby shakes his head, throws down his blade and runs off in-between the circus tents. Alone, shadows creep across Johnny as the Kio and Teima close in. Kaelin taps her wheel across her hand in a mocking fashion. Between the three of them, Johnny's bones crack and his red blood carpets the entrance to the big top circus tent.
Kio and Teima cough up the crows. In the corner of the tents, the man appears to be alive but with labored breathing. A white baker's hat lies near by while the white-haired man is dressed in jacket top that has two rows of buttons down the middle. He has a stained stylized knotted cloth around his neck. Blood streams out the side of his mouth and down from his nose.
Does anyone have any skill with healing? This guy's gonna need some attention! Kaelin turns to survey the scene, and notices some glints in the grass. What's all this? she wonders, bending over and grabbing a piece to examine it.
Alex sigh. should have taken my offer.. Would at least have a corpse left. Oh well.
I have some rudimentary first aid knowledge, but I doubt it would help much...
He walks over and picks up two of the short blades
I'll take these. Hey. Little red. You want the chain armor or is it mine. Probably need to clean it first though. I'm surprised it survived to be honest.
He latches the sheathes on his back in an X and sighs.
well that feels slightly more comfy. I'm going to take a look around, anyone that's good at staying inconspicuous can tag along. Gonna go find their 4th friend if I can as well. Won't be long. The rest of you see what you can do for him. And try to get some information out of him
Enough for both, if you can make use of it, Kaelin replies, stripping the chain shirt off of one of the fallen foes and pulling it over her head, where it clashes spectacularly with the frilly skirt and ruffled sleeves. She grabs a pair of daggers as well, slipping them into the pockets of her apron. That's better - although this wheel is kind of fun. She re-hoists the wheel to her shoulder. I'll watch your back, Tare.
Before he heads out he pauses moves back to the battered remains and looks around. If he finds any clothes his size he will shameless take them and don them. If not, he shrugs and removes the top small shirt before placing the chain over him. Also, as if a secondary thought, he picks up 3 daggers and slides them on his waist.
As he looks back up he notes kaelin. Darling, you must tell me your fashion teacher. You look absolutely stunning! he manages to say straight faced before letting out a slight chuckle.
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The clothes that were on the fallen 3 are purple loose tops and caps. A bit bloody, but they will fit.
Tariel casts prestidigitation on his new clothes and gear before donning them. And on anyone else using stained gear.
"Wheeeeeup!" With a drawn-out whistle from Sheyan, the two dinosaurs roar and pad back over to him, licking their chops. He smiles and pats each one on the muzzle, muttering encouraging sounds.
Sheyan wordlessly grabs a buckler and a dagger, sneering at the metal armor. When a healer is called for his ears perk up. "I can help. Healing spells are simple enough to not need physical components." He finds his way into the tent and places a glowing hand on the injured man.
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Tariel quarry is long gone after he takes the time to arm himself and slip on the chain shirt. He does discover that the rest of the carnival is dead and dilapidated.
Both Sheyan and Tariel can hear organ music piping through the big top tent near by. It is the only place that has a sense of life to it.
After Sheyan heals the man's wounds, he slowly regains his energy. He opens his eyes and focuses on the nearby Pathfinders, staring in shock at you as you were when you arrived ... where-ever you are.
"Oh, oh. Why thank you, thank you. But you are not you, and you are not from here. Oh-my, oh-my, oh-my. In trouble for sure you are. Indeed, indeed, indeed. He will come find you. Find you He will. Like the others. Oh golly, the others. The smell. The smell never leaves me. I must leave, flee I must. No time to wait. I'm late. I'm late I'm late."
But late for what? And who is "he"?
As he returns.
Who? Who is this? and why should we be afraid of him? and who were the other 4 that were beating you. And why?
Tariel Asks with his arms crossed.
Sheyan folds his arms and looks inquisitively at the man, but the others questions cover what he wanted to know.
Meanwhile in the background, now that the bodies have been stripped there is the terrifying noise of dinosaurs eating.
Shayn sits down and crosses his legs. He pays attention to what's being said, but at the same time tries to meditate over it and find sense. Where are his possessions?, he thinks, where is his harrow deck?
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"They are his servants. They tried to bring me back. Back to him. One last time. But I could not do it. Not one more. The last one is all He needs. All He needs to open the doors. The Doors to the other side."
The man tries to calm down after his manic speech. Then looks around at the Pathfinders and begins to smile.
"But you. You can find him. Find him and free him. Find him before He finds you! Find the one named Meloigne Garracy, for you are not Storykin, retold to be born again.
"Finding the Striding Fortress will be difficult for it is always dancing among the trees and sand. You will need the Conspirator’s tokens to pull you to Sonnorae’s kapenia. Oh, how I loved to cook for Sonnorae. She always loved what I cook. Too bad she was a Last Meal."
As you ponder, you notice The Carnival card on your arm sudden illuminates green, then the illumination fade away.
Also, you do have your Harrow Deck, not a spell component pouch. I thought you were Harrowed, but I must of not seen it on your sheet. And I believe you can use your deck as a material components, right? Well not, you can for the time being. ;)
Tariel just stands staring at the man.
Yep, I knew it. That last tomb got me. I've lost my mind, what's worse I don't even know how I am making up this stuff, I've never even heard of it.
He shakes his head vigorously.
Nothing you said made any sense. Matter of fact, I question my own sanity just hearing you say it.
He walks to the man.
Not to be rude, but I can't let you leave until I know where we are, and I have a map of some kind. Also as to how we got here. Pretend we know nothing about his place and try explaining it again ok?
because we sure don't...
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"Hmmm, yes, OK. That makes sense. Because there is no earthly way of knowing, of which way you need to be going to find the Conspirators. It's a shame really, they used to be such nice people.
"Well I am Blanco Conejo and you are here, at the Midnight Circus. In that big tent is Bernaditi, a nice liar. Or is in lair. Hmmm."
Blanco stands up and bows after a proper introduction. He then points past you with two fingers.
"Then behind you is The Brier which you will need to pass to reach The Prophet's Garden. That way is The Demon's Fend," he continues on as he shifts to the left.
Then turning around completely he points again, "This way is The Manmolds."
Turning the the right, facing a majority of the tents, Blanco spreads his arms wide in a 90 degree arch, starting with his left pointing (with 2 fingers mind you) and shaking his hand, followed by his right.
"Over here is The Sanguine Playhouse and over there is the Smith's Caldera. Finally beyond the entire valley is The Trackless Dearth."
Not realizing you are all utterly confused, Blanco recaps just to make sure the insanity continues to sink in.
"In short: here is The Circus, behind you is The Brier and the Garden, that way is the Fend, this way is The Manmolds, over here The Playhouse, over there the Caldera and finally all around us is the Dearth. Quite simple really."
Uh...ok? Kaelin leans toward Tariel next to her and whispers. Did you understand a word of that? Well, I understood something - he mentioned Garracy, that bloke the Lady was askin' after.
Tariel leans to Kae. Nope, but at least I know the names of the places... I think.
He clears his throat and speaks to Blanco. Alright then. Blanco, you said right? Could you perhaps show us the way to this Garracy?
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Judas evaporates before everybody's eyes as a hulking man fills in his tux top and j'horts. More tattoos develop on everybody's arms as the silent Crow vaporizes as well. (Updated tattoos listed on Campaign Info)
Blanco frowns at Tariel as if the man did not hear what he just said. So he does the next logical thing: speak louder and slower.
"HE HAS GARRACY. THEY ARE IN THE STRIDING FORTRESS. FIND THE CONSPIRATORS, OBTAIN SONNORAE'S TOKENS. THEY WILL GUIDE THE WAY. SAVE GARRACY, SAVE THE WORLD."
Blanco then pulls out a pocket watch that is much too large to have been in his waist pouch. It appears to be broken with gears falling out of a hole in the clock's face.
"Oh bother. Now I'm really late. Good luck, good day. Good day, good luck. Oh bother. I'm late, I'm late, I'm late."
Blanco then hurries off around one of the tents while focusing on his broken clock.
Kaelin watches Blanco retreat around the corner, then turns to the others. Her eyes first fall on the new arrival, and she shakes her head. Someone gets body switched and it's not even the weirdest thing to happen in the last hour. Not getting paid enough...
She shakes her head, then speaks aloud. Ok, so someone correct me if I'm wrong? We're in some kind of...I don't know, a fake world or something, considering I can see the rail the sun's traveling on. We all wake up with these freaky tattoos - and at this she waves her forearms to demonstrate - and have no idea how we got here.
We know we're supposed to look for this Garracy guy, who, besides being one of the foremost experts on the Cyphergate, is apparently the key to this world's survival, or something. And all we have to go on is, what did the kook say, conspirator's tokens? Someone's kapenia? Kapenia...kapenia...where have I heard that word before?
That's right! Kapenias were those scarves the Varisians have, shows their family story or something. So, this Sonnorae must be Varisian, then. Tokens to pull us to her kapenia...gods, I don't know, but these tattoos have to have something to do with all of this. Too weird not to.
So...I guess our next move is to find out whatever we can about these conspirators, whatever that means? She gives a careless shrug, then begins to more closely study the tattoos on her arm.
A baritone voice issues from the new arrival. "I am not fake, woman. Where am I, why is he yelling, and... what am I wearing?" The man would appear to be Shoanti, but for the tuxedo top t-shirt straining against his muscles. He looks around in mild curiosity. "The last thing I remember was Magnimar - I was there to discuss financing an expedition to Xin-Gastaash. But she told me to wait, she had other business with pathfinders to attend to first. And then... I can't remember what happened next, except that the spirits sang to me for a time." He pauses a moment, staring at his forearms. "And now the marks of the Varisians speak upon my skin." He looks about to the others. "Am I dead?"
We haven't quite figured that out yet! Kaelin lets out a loud burst of laughter. We're same as you - talking with Lady Heidmarch, then next thing we know we're in this freak show. If this is dead, though, it ain't too bad - except for the gorram frilly dress.
She angrily adjusts the headband with its large floppy bow. Oh, forget this. She rips off the headband, grabs a strip of fabric from her destroyed petticoat, and ties it around her head to take the headband's place. Then she grabs a long splinter of wood, twisting her hair at the nape of her neck and poking the wood through to hold it in place. There, that's a little better, at least...
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*claps* Bravo
Not only do you know what a kapenia is, but you know who Sonnorae is. She would be akin to a real life Homer, Aesop or Grimm Brothers. She is credited with nearly all of Varisian's fables and myths, even though she may not have been the person who first told the story. Even her own life took on a tale.
In the Age of Darkness, the Varisian scribes and storytellers of the Imlios family hoarded knowledge while civilization struggled for its very survival. Over the harsh centuries, their line dwindled to a single childless bard: Sonnorae. Fearing her family’s knowledge would be lost with her inevitable death, she sheared off a corner of the malleable Dimension of Dreams and crafted her own world in which she could store the greatest tales of her people, anchoring this extraplanar archive to her ancestral harrow deck; she named the creation the Harrowed Realm.
Over time, the stories she collected took on physical form in the Harrowed Realm. Sonnorae would visit them to laugh and dance and play as if she was a child again. As she reached her twilight years, Sonnorae retreated into the Harrowed Realm, where she lived forever with her treasured tales.
As for the tattoos, each one is a card from a Harrow Deck. As to what each individual card means, that is up to debate. Harrowers draw meanings out of the cards in the position in which they are laid, in which order, and sometimes in each orientation to the reader.
(bonus for the Nat 20, Google your card to see what they look like: ie "Harrow Deck The Crows". Look familiar?)
After Kaelin tells her tale and Galstak introduces himself, the two dinosaurs come over to Sheyan with a worrisome coo. They bare their teeth and claws to Sheyan. Their claws are covered in wax and mouths sealed shut by wax as well. Looking over were the crow man corpses were are now piles of flesh colored goopy wax.
As she finishes fixing her hair and resumes studying the pictures on her arms, Kaelin suddenly gives a gasp of recognition. It's Harrow pictures! I remember from my friend Denaya's deck - this is the Queen Mother, the Lost, the Joke...wait, Sonnorae! Hardly ever had a bedtime story, but they were all about her! What was that story...the Harrowed Realm! She made a world of her own from the Dimension of Dreams, built it all shaped after the Harrow! That's gotta be where we are!
She cuts off her story when she sees Kio and Teima with their mouths covered in wax. They're some kind of construct or illusion...everyone, check your arms. Anyone see anything that could have something to do with the birdbrains we just smashed?
"Yes the crows sing upon my skin. You think it means something, that the magic that speaks through those dreams speaks through this tattoo as well?"
The Shoanti contemplates as he awaits an answer. A Dimension of Dreams - do they have souls here; death? Are they alive, or merely illusions.
Tattoos of Harrow images that magically show up the second we get sent to a realm patterned on the Harrow? It's gotta be connected, somehow! Lemme see the Crows, check if there's anything different about them. Kaelin grabs Galstak's forearms, scanning them for any sign of a difference between the Crows and the other tattoos.