Further searching through the palace, you see more and more of these sets of clothing and armor. A set of armor lightly scorched from the inside, but otherwise only ravaged by time by many of the exterior doors, Small piles of Silk Robes, many sitting near chairs or other furniture.
Opposite the room with the large table is another long hallway, pointing to some centered point in the building. A huge canopied bed fills the far wall of the room, but otherwise the furnishings are sparse. A personal shrine sits beside the oversized bed, with a few lit candles surrounding a picture of an aged man with a long beard and greying hair.
Beyond that is another hallway, from which a large brass tube points to the heavens, peering out a large window that must have been built specifically for this contraption. Inlaid in the floor and blue tiles with smaller white tiles scattered in the pattern.
Looking through the brass tube displays a spiderweb of refracting images, the lenses cracked and worthless. Near the tube itself is a beautiful set of blue robes, and a small pair of cracked brass spectacles.
|
"Kita, I wonder if this tile star chart and the ashes we've seen have anything in common? Isn't the sign of the dog also a constellation? Maybe it has some sort of bearing on this palace...
And perhaps Mai Chun might appreciate these robes and spectacles, cracked thought they be..."
At the mention of the candles, Myth draws his bow and keeps an eye out for others...
As your exploration of the palace continues, there is a long Room, filled with broken and rotting bookcases, scrolls, and ancient tomes. Most of the tomes have been damaged, and the scrolls have long since fallen into disrepair, most likely due to the large broken skylight, and broken windows where rocks and dirt have pushed in. In front of a large open tome (Which is in remarkable condition) are a fine set of robes, made of a fine silk. Many layers of fine colors and beautiful patterns depict the different seasons in Tian Xia. The tall collar appears lightly frayed, as a small pile of ash is collected just underneath the hem.
As you make your way to the back of the manor, the angled rooms and hallways all seem to point toward a center location.
|
Abolt comes forward with the wand and take the book. Once he can he lets the rest of the group in on the information.
"It seems to be a teleportation ritual. You need, lets see, fine robes, license, chanting and... hmmm.... gilded sensors, no, censers?
It seems it can move an entire building, fascinating. It ends with "If all of the members of the ritual are not balanced in perfect harmony, The light of Heaven will strike you down where you stand." Yikes!"
|
"So, they attempted to move the palace somewhere and the spell failed?
Is that what happened to all of these unfortunate souls? How horrible!"
"Hmmm... these robes don't seem to be all that old. The ritual couldn't have been attempted in ancient times could it? Another reason to find these scrolls. The knowledge within them is dangerous and must be kept carefully controlled.
The book itself obviously came from some other room, as all of the books here have been destroyed. We should remain vigilant.
Abolt, can you secure that book in your pack?"
|
|
"Perhaps controlled was not the correct word I was looking for?
Certainly you can agree that a spell of this destructive magnitude should be help closely by those learned individuals who can fully understand it and are not prone to attempting such a ritual without proper preparation.
We wouldn't want to see a repeat of the dozens of deaths we see here being caused by some Sorcerer's Apprentice deciding to dip into his master's spell book without fully understanding the magic within, would we?
I consider that control. Only very learned and experienced arcanists should ever have access to spells of this magnitude. Perhaps you think we should make copies of it to post on every street corner in Avistan?"
|
|
"At least we know his they got turned to ashes. Balanced in perfect harmony? Does that mean the group had to be wearing an equal number of robes representing each season? Or wearing only those robes which matched the current season?
Perhaps we should check out this central room that all paths seem to point to for more clues?"
Mythryndyr will cautiously and stealthily approach the central room, bow drawn and eyes open for any potential danger...
The converging hallways lead to a cavernous throne room, rocks and vines spilling out of doorways behind the tall throne. Directly in front of the throne is a shimmering blue woman with an ornate headdress, kneeling before a small picture, with lit incense.
Immediately noticing your presence, she stands with a practiced grace, and bows deeply. "Good afternoon. I am the late Princess Song Rui. What brings you to the summer palace?" Raising from her bow, and tucking an ethereal strand of hair back behind her ear, she blows softly, extinguishing the smoldering stick.
|
|
Kita will kneel and touch his head to the ground before the spirit.
Is this a real spirit or an illusion? Best to be respectful for now.
Do I know anything that would help me to identify the princess?
"Your Highness, forgive us for disturbing you.
We are but explorers now come to the end of our quest. The Summer Palace has been lost to us for many years, and we have just now been able to piece together the information needed to find it again.
We now seek irrefutable proof that we were able to find the palace. We will then leave you to find what peace you can."
While kneeling, Kita will cast his eyes around looking for any sign of other occupants of the room.
Kita recognizes the headdress as typical of the nobles in Lung Wa, and the style of dress seems appropriate for the time period as well. "Honored Guests, it is I who is happy to see you! I have been here so very long honoring the memory of my mother and father, that I have not been outside of this palace for decades. What news do you bring of the Empire? How far do the borders of Mighty Lung Wa stretch?"
Glancing around the room, you see no other occupants. It looks like Song Rui has been the only occupant for a long while.
Listening to the History lesson, her face saddens when talking about the fall of Lung Wa and the death of Aroden, and the squabbles of the many successor states afterwards. "Death does give a bit of a different perspective on Politics and Infighting. It all seems so very meaningless now."
|
|
Feeling better about the spirit and recalling what Mai Chun told them, Myth steps up and bows.
"Ma'am, our benefactor sent us here to secure the Lung Wa legacy. Do you know of a gold-and-gemstone statue of a sovereign dragon coiled around a jade scroll case? It would do much to secure that legacy if we could retrieve it..."
Song Rui gazes down sadly. "That statue had a place of honor on my dressing table. Unfortunately, by bedchamber was destroyed in a landslide many years ago." A sudden flash of insight crosses her ethereal face, as the walks about an inch above the ground to the back of the throne. "My mother told me to hide that scroll before we moved the palace, just in case something went terribly wrong. I'm not sure that a Landslide is exactly what she was thinking, but hopefully it should still be here safe."
A moment later, a soft click from behind the throne proceeds a smiling Song Rui returning with a gold statuette curled around a jade scroll case.
"I believe this is what you are looking for? I have never opened it in all of these years. I have no interest in keeping it, I don't think I would be very useful politician in my current state."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Myth bows low to the spirit. "You are very gracious, m'lady. By allowing us to retrieve this, you will ensure that Lung Wa's memory will live on..."
Myth thinks a moment...
"M'lady...is there any way you can accompany us? I know not the way of spirits nor if you can leave this place...but if it's possible, I know you would be revered by our benefactor who is so very interested in your history..."
|
|
Still kneeling, Kita is shocked by the current turn of events.
"Truly, if you desire to get out and experience more of the world, the entirety of Tian Xia would be greatly blessed. Your knowledge and experience would be invaluable and you could learn much of the current world through your interactions.
However, if that is not your desire, or if you are somehow tied to the palace, please let us know if there is any way that we can assist you. Can we do something to help the unfortunates who were destroyed during the failed ritual?"
Looking puzzled for a moment, Song Rui addresses Mythrynder. "I never really considered leaving the palace. There isn't really anything keeping me here other than tradition. Maybe your benefactor could use some first hand knowledge of Lung Wa?"
Smiling at Kita, she adds "I don't believe that the Might of Heaven can be reversed, and it has been a great while since the failed ritual. A proper burial would be difficult in their current state, but perhaps collecting their ashes and scattering them somewhere peaceful should suffice. You are very charming for a man in armor. You remind me of a frequent visitor to our palace. A powerful general, but kind and wise. If he wasn't so swept up with one of mother's adjutants, I would have liked to have known him better."
Offering an arm to Kita, she adds, "Perhaps you could accompany me to find a few suitable Urns?"
|
|
Kita immediately snaps to attention and offers his arm to the spirit.
The gesture is decidedly odd as the spirit's arm has no weight, but Kita attempts his best to follow the normal protocols, allowing the spirit to lead him through the palace to the storerooms.
"The General surely would need to have been blind not to have taken notice of your beauty, Highness.
He likely thought that expressing interest would have been rising above his station and set his sights lower.
If, as the Honorable Boolar Rejic says, you refer to General Zhen, we recovered some of his correspondence during our quest to find the Summer Palace.
If such correspondence is of any interest to Her Highness, I am sure that Mai Chun will make it readily available to you."
Taking his escort duties seriously, Kita makes sure to watch out for any threats. Once urns have been located, he will assist the mages however he can in gathering the ashes.
Looking about the ruins of the palace, you are able to find a few suitable urns, and recovering all of the ashes is no major task. "I know of a nice quiet, peaceful place not too far from here, so we can put their souls to rest. If you wouldn't mind escorting me there, I would be happy to accompany you back to your historian afterwards! What was her name? Mai Chun? I'm certain we will have much to talk about."
An old stone footbridge crosses over a narrow creek, with Cherry trees that have long since grown wild framing either side of the path. Resting her head lightly on Kita's Shoulder, she smiles. "Even overgrown, there is much beauty here." As the blossoms slowly turn to a more rocky trial, Three familiar faces are standing across the path.
Song Rui looks a little frightened, before looking to Kita. "Oh Dear... Bandits? There hasn't been Banditry in this area for Ages!"
"A fool and his money are soon parted, as are a Bandit from his head," Yue Xin quips, while stashing a map into the pockets of his robe. "Great treasure is like great opportunity, and My Masters in Po Li will reward you Handsomely for the opportunity of revealing the truth of the Summer Palace"
From above, you hear a familiar voice laugh from the branches of one of the Cherry Trees. "Great Treasure? What kind of treasure would you trust with That Guy? A nice Brush maybe? a Fancy Hat? I have something a little more... Useful that I can offer. Zheng, show em!" Zheng, Jianhong's reluctant bodyguard displays a small set of Potted Paints, before tucking them back inside a belt pouch. "You can paint anything you want with those, and it becomes real! Well, except getting the dean to reinstate you as a student..."
"Wise warriors such as these wouldn't listen to Petty Thieves," Jiang Fei snidely remarks. "In exchange for the knowledge you found at the summer palace, I offer you great wisdom, and further training in the Jade Ogre Style."
Yue Xin begins, "The wisest path is that..." before being cut off by Jianghong. "Shut it Fortune Cookie! We all know that only one of us gets to leave with the scroll. Who's it gonna be?" Jianghong looks expectantly to the party, waiting for a response.
|
|
Kita will immediately take two steps forward and move in front of the princess while drawing his Katana.
In a voice of command, he will implore them to remember their honor. "FOOLS! Is this how you present yourself to Her Royal Highness Song Rui, Princess of Lung Wa?!
Prostrate yourselves now and beg her forgiveness!
Only then will there be a discussion of sharing of knowledge."