Frakdar continues to maintain his composure and is glad that so far his companions who are somewhat less trained in the arts of etiquette are as well. If you look into his eyes, you can almost see the fire of rage and disgust burning there. It might not be a good idea to invite him into the ring for a sparring match once this is done.
Javi has a flash of insight as the long procession begins. All this posturing and condescension is about insecurity and fear. They try to act in a way to shape our fears to guide our reactions and ability to perform.
He can't help but let a small smirk play across his lips as he embraces the mental exercises Master Gond gave him to center his Base Chakra.
Show them your worth in the real tests, Javi… ignore the posturing.
Torgus sniffs at the tea and gives a grimace when he smells no alcohol in it. "Bah, no proper drink and did you check out that lame entrance of the robe guys Javi." He elbows the little guy follow by a little chuckle.
Frakdar rolls his eyes at Torgus' comment.
Will he never learn? It it as though teaching a rock, but less enjoyable. At least one can craft a stone into a piece of beauty.
Just as the drums are seemingly beating at a tempo almost too fast for your ears to distinguish between the individual sounds - they suddenly stop. Then with a throaty roar and flash of light - the elevated head table is instantly filled with people. There are what appear to be the masters of the other three houses - a man in black, woman in white and a half-orc in orange - as well as three immaculately dressed Vudrani men.
As one the rest of the room grabs their small cup of tea, raising it to the head table before putting it back on the table without sipping from it. The immaculately dressed Vudrani then give a small nod, before taking a sip from their own tea cup.
The doors of the chamber then swing wide as a large earth jinn - body of crackled stone moves into the room. It gives a deep bow to the head table before sounding out in a booming voice "The exalted one welcomes the three Houses of Perfection and the House that left as it returns to the palace on this, the eve of the Challenge of Sky and Heaven beginning. The trial begins in the morn... but for this night you will eat" then bringing his hands together in a booming clap - disappearing in a puff of smoke as he does so.
Behind him a procession of servants bring in covered silver platters. The smell of them hits you almost instantly and you begin to involuntarily salivate at the prospect of the feast to come...
Gorak does salivate, his face taking on very hungry wolf like features. Not shapeshifting, but very close.
Frakdar continues to maintain his neutral demeanor. Hoping that the Bear will at least pause before he begins to throw food at the other tables.
Nisk remains petulantly unmoving as the ceremony with the tea glasses is performed. He was aware his behavior was a bit childish but he took a little pleasure in it nonetheless. However, he couldn't stop his stomach from leaping a bit at the sight of the food being carted in and he seemed ready to kill the servers if they didn't set it down soon.
A vast array of foods and beverages in quantities both small and plentiful fill the chamber and are delivered to your tables. Delicately flavored seafood, firey curries, whole roast animals, vegetarian platters, cold salads, preserved meats and vegetables, breads, rice, bowls of roiling soup with hearty noodles and dumplings. You are also plied with tea, beer, juice, yoghurt drinks, and cold teas with jellied balls floating within.
Literally a cornucopia of delectable delights. You see no reason to deny your hunger as the other tables of monks are also tucking in with gay abandon. The Masters are eating also, as are those seated at the high table. The food tastes as good as it appears, and you are easily able to sate even the largest hunger.
Frakdar calmly eats his meal, enjoying the vegetarian dishes and taking some spicy fish. He also enjoys the yoghurt and tea. All the time he is carefully watching the initiates, monks, and masters at the other tables trying to discern what if any signals they give off as to how they might act on the battlefield. Do they jump into the food with abandon? Do they slowly and methodically consume certain foods?
Perception:
Sense Motive:
Gorak observes and eats doing his best to mimic the behavior of others, as he's not sure about social protocol. It's most likely awkward and odd looking, but otherwise he's just trying to blend in.
Javi also follows along, enjoying the food that is served. He finds himself time and again studying the members of the other schools. Unable to squelch his curiosity, he begins to try to work an angle he thinks the most likely to get him information without drawing unwanted attention.
The servers and staff.
Playing the part of the wide-eyed foreigner, he begins by asking any server who will chat about their job and their lives, being intentional to ask them about seemingly mundane details of their lives… things they might brush off as a "simple minded outlander". After he gets a few of them chatting, he'll look for any opportunity to let them talk about the opposing schools. Their styles. Their strengths. And possibly their weaknesses?
Frakdar conducts an observation of the eating habits of the great Houses of Perfection of Jalmeray and find that they eat like normal people. Some daintily, some enthusiastically and others in-between. He does not gain any insight beyond that of a dietary nature.
The serving staff maintain a silence throughout the meal, not even responding to direct questioning. They come and go from the table swiftly, acting only to furnish the table with sustenance and refill that which is emptied.
After a good two hours or more, the stream of food from the kitchen slows to a trickle and all seem to be reaching a level of internal satisfaction. However before anything more formal could be carried out - Master Gond rises and delivers a short bow to the head table before moving to leave the room. The other masters and initiates follow suit.
Judging by the reactions of the other schools, you'd gauge that the correct protocol has not been observed. Perhaps this is Master Gond making a statement of his own when compared to the lack of respect shown him at the beginning of the meal. Despite their reaction, none move to challenge or restrain and the school is permitted to leave unhindered.
The jinn that guided you to the banquet quickly arrives from a side-chamber and leads you back through the grounds to your residence. It is late and sleep comes quickly for you all.
Come morning you are awoken early and there is stiffness in your joints and your belly still swells with the preponderance of food that was stuffed into it. At the head of your bedding is a neatly folded set of monk's robes. They are of the same soft violet colour that Master Gond strode into Niswan wearing, though they do not share the same vision blurring quality. They are cut specifically for you and sized to accommodate your armor if needed, as well as being either long or short sleeved depending on your preference. The belt is a length of black dyed rope.
Gorak is not practiced in the ways of civility enough to understand the undertones of most humanoids motives.
Sense Motive:
Javi wakes, groaning at the state of his body and stomach. The food was just sooooo good…
Quickly realizing that he needs to be at his best at every moment, he tries to wake his body with some of Cassadar's stretches and slow movements, using it as an opportunity to get used to the feel of his equipment under the new school threads.
Frakdar dons the provided robes.
I shall respect the master, but if I ever hear mention of this color subsequently, the speaker had better be able to run very fast.
He then goes through his usual morning ritual of a good breakfast and several stretching and balancing exercises.
Nisk's smile of triumph is much worse concealed than his Master's and he makes a saucy little salute of disrespect as he leaves the hall, feeling good all the way to bed.
In the morning Nisk rose and tried on the robe. Finding the fit excellent and the arms to mid-forearm where he generally tore his shirts he was a little shocked. "Did someone measure us last night? I would suspect drink but I know I didn't have more than a glass of Summerwine. That's rather creepy."
After you manage to get dressed, Fangul comes past to look over you - wearing the same robes as you are. Nodding his approval of your apparel, he gestures you to follow and starts leads you to the entrance, where you are joined by a human sized earth jinn. As you walk through the grounds Fangul explains "As you are newest of our fighters, you must start at bottom of pyramid. Run gauntlet, only rule - make it through, understand? You are no use if dead..."
Your jinn guide is uncommunicative even if pushed and you are led to a four storied tower topped by a covered pagoda at the outskirts of the expansive palace grounds. It is square and has a single entry door at the base. There does not appear to be any other way in. Once you arrive, the jinn gestures with one hand and the door opens, though the view within is screened off by a curtain. The jinn then bows in deference and ushers you to move within.
Fangul clasps each of you on the shoulder in turn and gives a tight lipped nod as though sending you off to battle.
Percep
Perception:
It appears we are six. If possible fight back to back - we will do the flanking, not whatever is out there.
If necessary, we pair up as necessary - leave nobody's back unprotected.
Javi is all but bouncing as they approach the building -- trying to work out his usual pre-fight jitters. He nods to Fangul's counsel, eyes never leaving the approaching door. When both Fangul and the guide are gone, he takes a few small jumps to work out the remaining kinks.
It appears we are six. If possible fight back to back - we will do the flanking, not whatever is out there.
If necessary, we pair up as necessary - leave nobody's back unprotected.
Javi nods, giving the group his usual nervous half-smile, "There's movement under the curtain… air movement. Whatever that means. And let's also not forget to keep moving forward… or upward. Get to the top alive, right? So who's going first? Lead with power or with skill?"
Lets send the Bear out first, let him roar and intimidate them. We follow, flank them and then take them out before they know what happened.
Gorak shifts to the form of a great ape, screams and beats his chest. Then falls in with the others.
The group steps within the bottom level of the tower, into complete darkness. There appears to be a stone floor at your feet and you feel the caress of a breeze blowing around you in changing directions. Once you are within, the door is closed behind and you are left in the dark with only the sensation of air upon your skin to keep you company.
Gorak can see within 60' thanks to dark vision.
Javi curses quietly once the darkness settles in, straining with his ears for any clue as to what's around them.
He continues in a whisper. "Okay, new plan. We need to find the stairs... or whatever will take us up... while avoiding any dangers. Frakdar, Nisk, Cassadar, any of you have any experience finding traps? Or avoiding them? Or... or... " he feels the stone beneath his feet, "... anything with stonework? Also, everyone grab hands... don't want anyone getting separated. Should we tie ourselves together using our belts?"
Feeling the stone beneath his feet:
Stone is good. Lets see what is here.
Perception:
To be clear, dark vision doesn't work?
You can sense that it is stone beneath your feet, though your sense ahead and to the side is tentative. The wall is still there, but you cannot sense the roof above you. The air is swirling and heavy with wind that changes course rapidly as it blows across your skin.
Due to the waiting of the food the brawling bear ate himself into a food coma and was awaken still in a daze. He takes the robe and with short sleeves and wraps it around his bear hide armor. Staying quiet for most the day, to save his voice for his fans.
Stepping into the darkness the Brawling Bear Roars into the darkness, "BEWARE ALL THE BEAR HAS ENTERED!!!! I SEE YOUR HIDING FROM THE CHAMPION OF BALLENWOOD, BUT I WILL FIND YOU ALL!!! And he listens for a response.
Torgus feels the air vibrate and quiver in fear of his Intimidatory assault... but it could just be the wind...
As Torgus steps forward from the wall, the wind seems to strengthen somewhat, he can feel the robe and his hair whipping about.
Quietly but firmly: Quiet - if something moves, we shall hear it. He who moves first gives away his position. And I shall not restrict the movement of my hands. Grasp you fellow's robe if necessary.
"Now we should be able to hear our rivals knees knocking in fear, so your welcome dwarf."
Gorak makes a simian grunt as way communicating that he is ready for anything.
No voices come from the dark, nor do you sense anything living before you.
Frustration tinges Javi's voice from the darkness, "No reason to make more noise than necessary, Bear. And I think Cassadar is right in this, Frakdar. We should tie ourselves together using our belts. Our goal is to make it out of here as a group. It should allow us and our hands to move somewhat freely while ensuring that we can stick together."
The breeze concerns me. If we are facing air djinn, then we must be prepared for a silent and invisible assault. You are free to hold my robe, but I will not be bound. Mobility is everything in a situation such as this. Grab my belt if you must, it is time to move forward.
Unless there is some other response, Frakdar will wait for someone to grasp his belt, and then begins to slowly move forward making sure that he can feel the cool stone beneath his dwarven feet.
"I agree with Frakdar." Nisk says, uneasy at the darkness even his keen elven senses cannot pierce. "Keep hold of each others robes and move forward carefully. Be ready to fight, and if we do fight, keep making noise. We need to be careful not to strike one another by mistake." The half-elf grabs onto Frakdar's robe with his left hand and begins walking, straining his ears for every hint of a sound.
As teams, we fight back to back. Gorak, you and I fought well previously. If we are in pairs, that greatly decreases the chance of hitting a friend. The other four of you should pair up as well.
As teams, we fight back to back. Gorak, you and I fought well previously. If we are in pairs, that greatly decreases the chance of hitting a friend. The other four of you should pair up as well.
"Got it." Gorak says in a voice that sounds like two speaking simultaneously.
As the party pushes off the wall and walks forward, you find that the resistance of the air increases and the winds whip about with stronger flows. After a few steps it becomes increasingly difficult to move and you have to grit your teeth and use significant effort to even keep your current position. Apart from the sound of wind and those that your fellows make you are left oblivious to anything else within the chamber.
Agreed Cassadar
Frakdar drops down and begins to crawl forward prepared to stand should anything untold appear before him.
Strength:
Javi, already accustomed to fighting with Nisk, tries to find him in the dark before dropping to the ground, reaching out to catch foot in front of him, and crawls forward.
Gorak follows suit and drops to the ground.
STR