It's no secret that Hyraeatan's Circle of Wardens have been involved in a number of occurrences considered strange even by the wider planar community. Over the eons, the Wardens have broken the arachnid hivemind known as the Runeweb that was draining Hyraeatan's magical energies to dark gods of the Void with a song, led a suicide attack into the heart of the Vile Geometries to devastate the fleshwarped armies of the Kyton Exarchs who sough the power of the Orbs of Wonder, put an end to the rebellion of the Lightbringer Parity and the vengeful archfey Hyandil the Flowering Queen, united the feuding gods of Trine Libria to break the siege on Hyraeatan perpetrated by the forces of Nyarlathotep the Crawling Chaos, and rooted out countless mirrorkin spies and assassins during the Sarrossian Infiltration, among even stranger things. The Wardens belonging to the infamous Broken Circle, a legend even among Hyraeatan's other famed Circles, are no exception to this rule and have dealt with many extraordinary circumstances and planar crises. But none could foresee the strange twists and turns of the tale they would get drawn into.
You are a member of Hyraeatan's infamous Broken Circle and, as you layed down to rest on a seemingly innocuous night beneath the shifting lights of the Radia, you were drawn into a deep, lucid dream. All was dark and silent at first, save for the rythmic ticking of some great clock echoing ponderously in the void. Then your eyes began to focus and a small room of pleasantly-curving, but unnatural, angles came into view. Glowing goldfish the color of an aurora swam through the air near the ceiling, vibrant potted plants of alien origin swayed gently to a silent tune in the corners of the room, and the scent of lavender and rose petals lingered pleasantly in the liminal space. It was after taking in your strange surroundings that your eyes would alight on a solitary figure sitting at a tastefully appointed desk in the middle of the room, which you were sure was not there when you began observing the room. The elegant woman wore a lacy dress like purple and black smoke woven into spidersilk and had hair white as spun moonlight. Her eyes, which oscillated through dusky, vespertine hues of gold, orange, and purple, were fixed on you with great interest and her delicate lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "Please, have a seat, ." the woman said as she gracefully motioned to the chair between the two of you with a delicate hand wrapped in a glove of black lace, "I'm sure you have many questions, Warden of the Broken Circle."
You and the woman spoke at length and she revealed to you that her name is Magdalena the Twilight Seer and that she serves the King of Dreams who rules over the bright side of the Dreamlands. The King, she says, requests an audience with the Broken Circle at his palace in Allialla, the City at the End of the Dream, to discuss a matter of great importance to both the Dreamlands and the Wardens. The Achorstone of Shifting Dreams, an artifact of great power that helps stabilize the connection between the Dreamlands and the Shadow Lattice, has gone missing and even the most powerful divinations have failed. The rest of the details, she says, should come directly from the King himself. At the end of your conversation, she handed you a palm-sized key of shifting, opalescent energy. "This is one of the Thirteen Keys of Somnos that can open a door directly to the heart of the Dreamlands from anywhere in the multiverse. You need but insert the key into the air and turn it with intent and a gate will open to you and yours that will allow you to travel bodily to my lord's domain."
As the conversation began to come to a close, the sonorous ringing of a great church bell echoed through the room. "Ah, it seems our time is up and you must return to the waking world. Thank you so very much for your time, . It is with the sincerest of hopes that I pray you and your comrades will answer my lord's call, that we may work together and bring this tale to a satisfactory conclusion." She places a hand over her heart in an elegant sweeping motion and bows to you, "Until next we meet, dear Warden." And with that the dream shimmers and warps like a painting beneath the water's surface before fading once more into darkness. You wake up back in Hyraeatan feel refreshed and rejuvenated as if you had a very long, very pleasant slumber. Before you can write off the Twilight Seer's visit as just a figment of your imagination, you feel something in your hand and, upon examining it, see that it is the Key of Somnos that she gave you in the dream. It seems that your much-needed break has come to a close and the Broken Circle's next mission has begun.
The demigod yawns, bringing his hand above the covers. In his hand held a Key of Somnos. That's what The Twilight Seer said. This woke one of the nephilim twins, Abigail. She yawned as well.
"”What's that?” Abigail asked.
Josten looks at the key in wonder. ”Apparently. An invitation.”
A low murmur from Josten's other side came from under the covers. "It's not time to get up yet, is it?" This belonged to Abigail's sister, Ada.
"I'm afraid it is", Josten stated.
With tired groans, the nephilim twins got out of Josten's bed. The demigod enjoyed the show as the giant-like outsiders danced their naked bodies all over the room, gathering their clothing, armor, and weapons.
"Looks like Broken Circle business. I must see if the others really got the same keys", Josten conceded.
As the nephilim put on their last weapon belts, Ada pouted. "Well, you better find us when you get back."
"I promise."
Both sisters kissed Josten goodbye as they left. The son of Cayden Cailean casts create water in his golden tankard as he got dressed, making something called a 'tequila sunrise'. In no time at all, the demigod was dressed, armored, and ready for the next adventure, drinking his beverage as he left the room..
The First Flame awakens from its short sleep, perched at the edge of Hyraeatan's grand Orchard. It was not the first time it had spoken in dreams. Indeed, dream-speech was the first way it had spoken, before it had a Voice. The key in its beak proved that it had been true dream-speech.
It shrinks down to its anthropomorphic form, passing the key in its beak to its hand as it does. It tilts its head one way, then the other, considering. Had the other members of the Broken Circle also been given keys? Had they also dreamed?
It will have to consult with them. It opens its wings and flies to seek after them, flowing its plasma through its Voice. Its Radiance takes on an inquisitive tint, as a star's light questing through dark depths of a distant world, searching out places it rarely reaches.
It wasn't often that Arc Zeon slept. His bodily functions had long since halted over a millennia ago. Still, after any particularly grueling day, or after any life-threathening battle, he found that a few hours of sleep quickly became a necessity. Afterall, it was the only way for him to recover from the immense strain on his soul caused by the appropriately named, "Forbidden Consumption Technique."
Still, he was never one to waste time; why should sleep stop him from doing his daily drills? As his mind entered into the blissful state of sleep, his body continued to move on it's own. With the power of Somnambulance, he was able to continue his numerous combat training drills even in his sleep. Throwing his shield at a target, catching it as it rebound back towards him, these things had become second nature to him, even while asleep.
So... it was a pretty big surprise when, at the end of his dream, he held out his hand to catch his shield as it returned from dispatching the last of the training dummies, he missed. Or rather, he caught something else, with his fingers clenched around a key of shifting, opalescent energy.
The returning shield, instead, hit him in the head, almost as if it was annoyed by his failure to catch it. It was at this point that Arc Zeon woke up fully - floored from the blow.
"Ugh. That's new," he says, rubbing his head with one hand while glaring at the opalescent key in the other hand.
"Looks like we have some work to do."
With that, he'll flip off the floor, flick the key to his opposite hand and then pick up his shield with his dominant hand, all before landing back onto his feet. He'll stay in the pose for a second (regaining any aura lost from his earlier mishap), before making his way to the meeting room.
Duskashae is pensive and vaguely troubled when they awaken. "Was visited in my dreams last night," they inform their shoulder guardians tersely. "Wouldn't bring it up, but it came with an invitation and a physical token. This key. 'M thinking I should bring it to the Circle for discussion."
Memm shrugs. "Sure, boss. Prolly better you don't charge off half-cocked on your own again," he snickers.
The other tiny being hovering near Duskashae glares briefly at the devil, then smiles benignly and sympathetically towards Duskashae. "Was the dream disturbing?" she asks, hesitant to voice her fears aloud, but her words heavy with meaning.
Duskashae shakes their head. "Not a nightmare, no. The dream's controller seemed to be a woman named Magdalena the Twilight Seer, and she claimed to serve The King of Dreams. Apparently her lord needs us for something."
With no objections from their companions, the shadowy warden completes their morning preparations and makes their way across the city to the chamber where the others of the Broken Circle traditionally meet.
Maedyri awoke perturbed. Could they not leave a letter rather than invading our dreams? Sending a mental message to her top lieutenant, she made her way to the kitchen greeting any early risers as she passed, occasionally stopping to ask about the goings-on of their lives. By the time she arrived at the kitchen her top lieutenant was already there, brewing a pot of tea. Good Morning Zachul.
Morning ma'am.
Mmm... Her brow furrowed in annoyance. You know I hate that. It's Maedyri.
Of course ma'am-Maedyri. He brought the tea over to the table.
She was certain he was doing it on purpose at this point. Cheeky bugger. Anything to report this morning?
Zachul thinks for a moment as he pours the tea. Nothing that requires your attention. Some idle gossip.
Hmm, just leave a report on my desk. I'll be gone for a bit, warden business. King of dreams has "lost" something.
Sounds ominous. Something we should be "concerned" about?
Not yet.
After enjoying her tea, Maedyri heads outside, enters her personal carriage and guides it through the streets towards the circles meeting place.
Once everyone arrives at the meeting hall, Duskashae attempts to get the ball rolling by standing and relaying her experience to the others. She leaves nothing out, her sepulchral voice echoing from within the sphere of hushed darkness that typically surrounds her. "For my part," she suggests, once her story is done, "I think we should try our keys, and see what the King of Dreams has to say. Without more information, it is difficult for us to determine exactly what is going on, and whether or not this request falls within our purview."
The First Flame, still in its smaller anthropomorphic form, enters the Circle's meeting-place and stands in its usual place (it's not clear if it's ever figured out chairs...). After Duskashae speaks, its light brightens and shimmers--a process its Circle-mates are familiar with by now, meaning it's about to 'speak' by its light conjuring images in their minds.
Its light falls upon them like the light of a distant star shining through a window upon a sleeping figure. Another being stands over the sleeping figure--the woman all the Broken Circle saw in their dreams. She places a key next to the sleeping figure.
Its light shifts to the multi-colored dream-light of a sun in the realm of dreams. The Broken Circle stands in its light, a portal closing behind them. A shapeless figure approaches the Circle and gestures, leading them to a figure in a throne. The Circle listens to this being for a time, then the group starts speaking among themselves. This is accompanied by a sense of agreement focused on Duskashae.
"I communed with my Auntie Desna while I was waiting for the rest to arrive", Josten reveals. "Apparently The Dreamlands holds a synchronous dimensional orbit to The Cynosure. It's literally the 'other side of the Dream Coin.'" The godling chuckles.
The Starsong has met this Dream King a couple of times, and it has generally be positive. I believe it is safe."
Arc Zeon was pensive at the meeting. "This isn't exactly my area of expertise, since I rarely sleep, and it's much more rare that I dream" he says, lightly tapping on his Iron Circlet of Guarded Souls that adorns his head.
"Still, I can't resist a call for help... if it's within my power to do so without issue. That being said..." he drifts off, crossing his arms and furrowing his brow for a moment before continuing.
"From my recollection, the Dimension of Dreams is not easy to access by normal planar travel. That said, I don't think planar travel out of Dreamland is prohibited. If that assumption is correct, then there's no real harm in answering the call. But, if my assumption is incorrect, then it'll behoove us to have a backup plan to ensure that we don't get stranded in the Dimension of Dreams."
At this, he'll tilt his head towards the more magic-inclined Wardens of the Broken Circle.
"Lastly, there's the issue of time. I believe that the Dimension of Dreams operates on a much faster time scale than the Material Plane, since much can happen on a Dreamscape that takes place of only a scant few minutes in the real world. As a result, if we're all agreed to answer the call, then we should do so with haste, as even a second that passes here could mean untold amounts of time over there."
Vulpiano lazily rises late, some time after midday. He was up till just before dawn the night before, helping his friend Alanerra translate some ancient texts for House Vezrigard of the Sanguine Sovereignty. They were written in Jyoti, the language of the Positive Energy Plane’ inhabitants, and the number of those who read or speak that obscure language were a miniscule amount.
He remembers his dream fondly, smiling at the conversation he had with Magdalena. Rare were those who could fluently speak First Speech, and it was nice to converse in such a unique tongue with another. They had discussed a great many things, not just about her reason for visiting, but a myriad of other topics as well. It would seem that the Twilight Seer also enjoyed speaking to somebody as well versed in the esoteric and occult as the learned Arvanxi scholar was.
Stretching, he slowly gets out of his big, oversized, incredibly comfortable bed, and puts on his robe spun of shimmering mooncloth. He then makes his way downstairs to his kitchen, and begins to cook himself a hearty breakfast consisting of pancakes, toast, omelets, sausage, and bacon, along with a large mug of dragonfire juice. Normally, he would have Venator cook for him, but he was feeling in a particularly exceptional mood, so he decided to handle it himself.
Finally, after finishing his meal, and completing his daily check in with Oliviania at the University of Lepidstadt(where she was filling in for him as Dean while he was in Hyraeatan, he examines the key Magalena gave him. Inquisitive as always, he can’t help but try to discover more about the mysterious object. . As always, he shares his insights with assistant, Aurora
Once he’s completed his investigation, it dawns on him that he should probably go meet up with his fellow Broken Circle members. Heading back upstairs to his master bedroom, and into his gigantic walk in closet. He spends a good half an hour choosing the perfect outfit, eventually settling on a red and black suit, red top hat, and gold ascot.
He then exits his palatial extra-dimensional mansion, strolling down the dark, dirty, streets of the Archives. As he does so, he passes countless beggars, homeless, and hungry. He flips each of them a gold coin, not caring what they spend it on, just that for at least a few moments, they are happy.
Eventually, he reaches his destination, the meeting house of the Broken Circle. He’s late, but that’s not unusual for the nobleman. He rarely hurries, unless he absolutely must. He takes his customary seat next to Josten, and pours them both a strong drink from the ornate silver flask() at his hip. ”I’m going to guess you all also had a fascinating nocturnal visit from a gorgeous white-haired mistress of dreams?” He queries his fellow Circle members.
"We did. And many thanks", Josten said to the investigative scholar, accepting his drink. "I imagine will all of us possessing our own individual keys; we can depart at our leisure."
Maedyri shares what she knows of the dream land's flow of time and assures Arc that she has a way of plane shifting them.
Removing the key from her sleeve, she raised it for all to see. Shall we?
Legends say that all a user has to do is turn the key in the air as if unlocking a lock and it will turn into a gate of opalescent energy connecting the area and the Dreamlands and that all it takes to close the gate is extending your hand and willing the portal back into it's key form.
Planeshifting bodily into the Dreamlands is difficult without prior knowledge of a clear destination since some corners of the plane are formless and ever-shifting, but shifting into relatively stable regions such as Allialla the City at the End of the Dream or the Leng Plateau is generally considered reliable. Planeshifting out of the Dreamlands, however, is a simple matter.
Oh but I forget myself. I should offer a "warm embrace of the mind" before we go off into land's strange and wonderful. You all know this to be her strange way of asking for permission to implant one of her drones within you. A miniscule spider which burrows into your flesh, connecting your mind to hers.
The First Flame stands unblinking, unmoving, but its light shimmers, falling on your minds like warm afternoon sunshine on a sunning beast, relaxing and comforting.
The goding sighs, then extends the back of his hand to Maedyri for her drone.
The good doctor has kicked his feet up on the table, drink in hand, pouring over his ever present massive tome of collected lore, esoteric knowledge, obscure facts, and other, stranger rumors and puzzles. He barely registers Maedyri's little speech about the Dreamlands. "Yes, yes, we all know the basics of the plane, unless you're a child." He says, waving a hand dismissively. "What we need to know is if our destination possesses any unique challenges or unknown dangers. Thankfully, that happens to be my specialty. Well, one of them anyways."
Denizens of Leng from the Leng Plateau sail the waters and skies of the Dreamlands in black arks with their Moon Beast allies who hail from the Shattered Moon. They are notorious slavers and commit incomprehensible ritual murders seemingly at random. The strange gemstones known as Leng Rubies can be used as bargaining chips with them, but a prospective bargainer needs to exercise caution, for the rubies induce a curious mania in the Denizens. Those who visit the Plateau itself find the place unnaturally cold and unprotected travelers often freeze to death within an hour. Nomadic cults of goat-legged mythos ghouls and their gug slaves roam the land in search of prey and sacrifices, while the faceless nightgaunts stalk the night skies in search of travelers to terrify. The greatest threat in the Leng Plateau, however, is how it can drive visitors mad, hollowing out their personalities and replacing it with an abiding madness that manifests differently in each individual.
The Slumbering Sea, a depthless body of water containing nascent dreams that have yet to fully form, seems tranquil, yet holds many dangers of its own. Curious sea beasts sometime rise from the depths and playfully nudge ships, sometimes with enough force to list them. Slavers and pirates sometimes prowl the waters, with the dragon-blooded Miraxa the Corsair-Queen being one of the most vicious and brutal. An amphibious dreamwhale daikaiju known as The Prince of the Sonorous Depths drifts through the waters and skies and is largely peaceful, but a terrifying force of primal destruction when provoked. Particularly turbulent dreams sometimes create bottomless vortexes, lightning-shrouded waterspouts that rage across the sea, or storms so fierce that they could shear a great wyrm's wings from its body. Those who 'drown' in the Slumbering Sea sometimes awaken on beaches in entirely different timelines. Perhaps the greatest danger though is something that spoken of only in legends. In the impossible lowest depths of the depthless Slumbering Sea far from the light of the sun, there is said to be a spiraling labyrinth of coral made of black mirror-like substance that ensnares all who journey there and serves as a prison for a horror beyond reality. None who have journeyed to this locale have ever returned.
The gloomy islands dotting the Dying Sea of Nevermore, located as close as they are to the dangerous edge of the Dreamlands where reality and multiversal laws break down into primordial chaos, are full of dangers as well. The faceless Knight of Sorrows rules a kingdom of spectral subjects from the Ivory Spire and his dark regalia- a sword forged in the fires of hate and quenched with the bitter tears of a thousand dead worlds, a cloak woven from the nightmares of children and the fever dreams of the mad gods, and armor chiseled from a giant soul pearl ripped from the Dead City of Minas Lacrimosa- speaks of his hideous power and hateful defiance of life and hope. Beautiful bioluminescent sirens of the depths sing arias that enslave the wills of those who become their consorts and prey. A cruel witch-queen batters ships with her storms of green lightning and black winds, driving them to her island to use in abominable rituals. But worst of all is a growing blight on the unreality of the place alluded to only vaguely, for to directly speak of it and have knowledge of it is to invite it into ones soul to forever stain it and fashion one into a hollow slave of its will.
Allialla the City at the End of the Dream is a largely peaceful place for those who abide by the laws set in place by the King of Dreams. Impossible oneiric reflections of the dreamless constructs of law known as Inevitables wear elaborate masquerade masks and diligently enforce the King's Law. Many powerful visitors from across the planes- gods and their heralds, empyreal lords, dragon kings, and more- visit at the King's pleasure and crossing many of them would be a terrible mistake for most travelers. The city is also home to a unique subset of visitors who have claimed citizenship: cabals of great vampire lords who come to gaze upon the ever-setting sun whose light does not burn their flesh. While most of their weaknesses are suppressed or irrelevant in the Dreamlands, they still need to feed and enjoy weaving complex webs of schemes and manipulation, so they skirt the edge of the King's Law to draw visitors into their service as indentured thralls and sources of blood.
The Gloaming Forest exists on a large island within the Slumbering Sea and it is here that the unreality of the Dreamlands and the Brightlands of the fey overlap and bleed into one another. The Wild Hunt and fey nobles often cross over to indulge in great hunts and sweeping quests that make sense only to the incomprehensible logic of the fey. Both Sidhe and Unseelie fey inhabit the land and will help or hinder visitors as suits their whims. Many Archfey also make their home here: the Steward of the Vine who is the father of the bacchae and engages in wild (and sometimes bloody!) revels, the banshee-like Lady of Wretched Sorrows whose screams and wails drive souls in her curse-haunted stretch of the forest to a cycle of suicide and undeath that repeats endlessly, the Princess of Thorns whose obsession with preserving life usually ends with her capturing a being's existence in rose-shrouded dream effigies that she lovingly tends to, and the Frozen Prince who seeks something to warm his frozen heart and slays or enslaves all that fails to do so.
The Idle Isles of Daydream hold virtually no monsters or dangerous individuals unless a particularly strange daydream manifests. No, the real threat in this region is that the idyllic whimsy that saturates the place is enthralling to visitors and slowly drains them of the will to leave or engage in any action beyond recreation.
Qaṣr al-Kawābīs, also known as 'The City of Nightmares', is a ruled by one of the most powerful beings in the Dreamlands known as the Khan of Nightmares. Beings from all across the multiverse make the journey to this place of dark majesty and shifting terrors to visit the planar marketplace known as the Tarnished Souk or the largest arena in the multiverse known as the Chimeric Amphitheater. The Hounds of Ill-Omen, a tribe of Nessian Were-Hellhounds who each bear a unique curse, serve as the Khan's agents and enforce his edicts with sadistic glee. The Desert of Lamentation that surrounds the City of Nightmares is filled with undead who died unfulfilled (many of which were gladiators in the Chimeric Amphitheater or those who displeased the Khan), corrupt genies and wicked div, and an impossibly tall and gaunt Devourer surrounded by a storm of torn and fragmented souls, known only as "The Ravager", stalks the dunes in search of souls to consume and is said to be the remains of a god who crossed the Khan of Nightmares.
"Well", Josten smiles. "I shall go ahead, and see you all there. Desna's Luck to us all."
The demigod takes his Key of Somnos and sticks it into an appeared keyhole. Jolsten turns the key all the way counterclockwise, and a doorway appears. Taking a deep breath, he no longer needs, Josten Cailean enters The Dreamlands.
Before anyone leaves or accepts a Drone, Arc Zeon will strum the 3 bells of his Bandolier. They chime in a beautifully haunting dirge, affecting all allies in the area with a Death Ward. Arc Zeon will spend a point of his mythic power to extend the effect to 24 hours.
With a curt nod to Maedyri, he'll then grab a Drone, stuff it into his pocket, before getting out his Key to the Dreamlands and turning it in the air with the rest.
Duskashae nods her head once again in assent to carrying one of Maedyri's strange little trinkets. They hoped their trust was not misplaced-- it was unusual that the two of them both represented the same Parity in the Broken Circle, and Duskashae had always wondered if Maedyri had some secret allegiance that had never been revealed. Still, they both seemed to be of the same mind most of the time, and Maedyri had never given Duskashae reason to voice distrust.
As everyone else also prepares to depart, they pull out their key and turn it in the "lock".
The First Flame accepts the specially-modified drone Maedyri made for it. Its light shifts again, falling on your minds like the eager light of a new star, just peering out from its shell of rock and dust to greet the universe, as The First Flame also turns its key in the air.
As Maedyri implants one of her drones in each of you, you feel a sharp but short-lived prick like that of a needle. She concentrates for a moment, and smiles reassuringly. Well, they all tell me that you're indeed right in front of me, so they must be working.
Removing the key from her sleeve, she once again holds it aloft and unlocks the "door".
Armed with the knowledge of some of the dangers the Dreamlands posses, Vulp downs the rest of his drink, closes his journal, and follows his friends, turning his key to unlock the door of dreams.
As the Broken Circle's members turn the Keys of Somnos in the air, the Keys diffuse into a door made of the same opalescent energy. A light tinkling noise like that of a windchime made of glass fills the air and a nostalgic smell drifts from the open gateways.
The Wardens step through the gate and their vision is overtaken by the opalescent energy. All awareness of time and space vanishes in an instant as if falling deep into slumber and the world fades into a silvery-blue ocean filled with bubbles. Scenes both whimsical and touching, sorrowful and terrifying, play out in these bubbles as they float downwards. The bubbles gradually speed up until everything is a blur of color, sound, and emotions. Just as the constant barrage of nascent dreams and nightmares threatens to overwhelm the Wardens, everything goes still, dark, and silent once more. They gradually become aware of their body taking that last step through the other side of the gate and the sound of voices begins to echo in their ears.
When they open their eyes, it is not the familiar headquarters of the Broken Circle that they find themselves in, but Allialla, the City at the End of the Dream. The golden light of the setting sun illuminates a sprawling urban park nestled between baroque buildings of fantastic make and elegant statuary dots the park. A great fountain shaped like a choir of entwined lillends singing to the heavens sits in the middle of the park in front of you and water spiraling upwards from its pool in defiance of gravity to form an aqueous sphere above the lillends before
gently raining downward in curtains like a miniature waterfall.
A handful of the Allialla's inhabitants can be spotted in the tranquil park. An adolescent elven girl giggles while playing chase with a tiny faerie dragon. Two plump mercanes chat about planar numismantics and exchange rates while walking strange six-eyed and twelve-limbed hounds with midnight purple fur. What looks to be a zelekhut inevitable in a colorful masquerade mask and finely-tailored suit courteously bows to passerbys, seemingly on guard duty. And a beautiful human woman draped in a dress of purest white stands gracefully in the shadow of a tree draped in colorful ribbons, coyly biting her velvety lips with vampiric fangs as a scarred minotaur dressed in black and gold military garb and a flowing cloak kneels down and kisses her outstretched hand.
A flock of Elysian doves draws the gaze of the Wardens towards the sky and they see great towering structures connected by elegant skybridges piercing above the golden cloud. Floating islands bearing alien buildings and paradisical gardens dot the skies above and a few of the islands have great waterfalls pouring down from them. And in the distance, winding steps of golden crystal lead to a baroque ivory palace of staggering size in the sky, with dozens of towers that taper off into needles that fly silken banners
Inevitably the attention of the Wardens drifts back to the ground and see something- or rather, someone- that they were sure wasn't there before. Sitting on one of the park benches in front of the fountain is none other than Magdalena the Twilight Seer, poised and elegant as ever. She opens her eyes and smiles her knowing smile once more before standing and bowing to the members of the Broken Circle "We meet again, dear Wardens. I am well pleased to see that each of you have decided to make the journey and hear out my lord's request. Allow me to welcome you to Allialla the City at the End of the Dream, domain of the honorable and just King of Dreams. I trust your journey from the waking world was not too disorienting?"
The First Flame... well, it has not tasted the solar wind of its birth star in a very, very long time. But it knew this was simply a memory of it, for what were memories but dreams of the past?
But in all its eons of life, it hasn't had cause to spend much time in the Dimension of Dreams, so it enjoys seeing the new sights, its head turning and tilting swiftly as it examines its surroundings.
It is not surprised when it sees the one who called them here again. It shines its Radiance on her, as the expectant light of a star shining on a world where the first signs of life are appearing, waiting eagerly to see what happens next.
Maedyri's nose is flooded with an odd yet pleasant mix of smells. The scent of Kyonin's forest floor after a night of rain coalesces with the scent of the web warren's egg chamber after a swarm of hatchings.
Regaining their senses as they step into Allialla, Maedyri takes it all in, admiring the stunning architecture, the intriguing water feature and the beautiful song of the lillends. A little disorienting, but only in the most beautiful and tempting way possible. Are we to meet with the lord at once?
Duskashae looks around suspiciously, certain that many things here are not as they seem. Her True Sight sees through illusions and shadow-magic, but still being a skilled illusionist herself she is often paranoid. She knows what magic-users of her caliber can do.
As he traveled to The Dreamlands, Jostewn was hit with the familiar smells of the Nirvana fields, where the young godling ran and played with all manner of agathions.
Once his divine senses readjusted, Josten took a moment to give his host a courtly bow. [b]"Greetings again, Madam Magdalena. No it was a pleasant experience. Thank you.
As you scrutinize the beings in the park, you take in a few additional details.
The elven child eventually catches the faerie dragon and holds it close like a beloved pet. It chirps and trills happily.
The mercanes continue their discussion as they leisurely stroll through the park, "So the Ao'oolakvi merfolk use seashells psionically keyed to their rightful owners as a means of avoiding theft, and every merchant within the Lord of Hadal Pelagios's domain can read these by running a finger over their surface? Fascinating, and most useful indeed if it can be replicated! This avenue of currency verification could have a net positive influence on planar marketplaces and bears further research."
The masked zelekhut continues to stand on guard and, upon noticing you looking in its direction, it politely bows before resuming its vigil. You notice that its mask seems to move like a living face would and that what seemed to be glitter on portions of the mask is, in fact, an alien material that reflects an unseen starry night sky.
The vampiric woman lets out a throaty giggle as her minotaur companion kisses her outstretched hand, "Oh Lord Asteiros, you are such a charmer! Who knew that one man could be both a warrior AND a gentleman?" The minotaur smiles broadly, "My charms and talents are many, it's true, but I could say the same for you, my bloodstained rose. I heard tales of your last masquerade and, I must confess, I'm sad to have missed such a spectacle. Still, conquering a new kingdom does have its own appeal, does it not my dear?" She flashes a full-fanged smile, "Yes, enough to get even my blood flowing once more. What do you say we return to Chateau de'Salde and indulge in a more private... celebration of your latest victory?" The two wicked lovebirds then began to make their way out of the park.
Magdalena rises from her bow and smiles at those who have responded , "Most excellent. The trip can be be somewhat discomfiting for some, so I am pleased to hear that was not the case."
She turns momentarily to the side and points a delicate finger in the direction of the giant castle in the distance, "That, dear Wardens, is the Sunset Palace, home of the most honorable and beneficent King of Dreams."
She turns once more to the Wardens, "My lord has already arranged for you all to receive a more dignified means of conveyance to the Sunset Palace, as befits your status as Wardens and royal guests. Shall I call it for you? Or would you prefer a more terrestrial trek so that you may better take in the sights of fair Allialla?"
"Good question, Twilight Seer", Josten nodded. "Though a walk amid this new planar metropolis would be entertaining, I would not like to leave The Dream King waiting. I'm sure he's a busy monarch."
Arc Zeon is on high alert. While he's traveled many planes, the Dimension of Dreams is still rather foreign to him, as he rarely dreams. Moreover, that nostalgic smell... the smell of scented ink from his long forgotten life as a high ranking legal barrister, securing high value deals for his company, and living without a care in the world. Or... trying to, anyway. He never really was able to completely close off his heart to the plight of others in need... and look where it led him?
Shaking his head, he clears his mind of otherwise useless nostalgic emotions and focuses his senses on what's around him. "We were all called here for a reason. I presume that there's a danger that requires our expertise to handle, no?" he'll say to the mysterious woman. "If so, I don't think we have time to take the scenic route. It's best we focus on the task at hand and get done with this as soon as possible. The sooner we can leave, the better."
It's clear that Arc Zeon doesn't like revisiting past memories. And the idea that the place could so easily peer into his mind has him slightly on edge. Moreover, the relative serenity of an area he was assuming was under duress had him questioning whether or not this entire thing was just one elaborate trap for the Wardens of the Broken Circle.
The First Flame briefly considers offering to serve as conveyance. It would, after all, love to stretch its wings over this city of dreams, to let its Radiance touch more of this dimension it so rarely visits, but it decides it would not be politic to offer.
Instead its light touches the minds of those around it like warm afternoon sunshine, calm and gentle and accepting as it gives a nod of its head to the words of the others.
Stepping through his gate, Vulp is assailed with the familiar scent of the very first book he ever read. It takes him back a few hundred years, to his childhood home, his adopted mother watching over him, helping her son with any words he might struggle with.
And then he's in the idyllic parks of Allialla, and much like his fellow Circle member, he too takes in all the various sights and sounds. He makes a special mental note of the elven vampire, recalling what he knows of the vampires of the city. They might be useful later.
He flashes Magdalena a warm smile of friendship, tipping his top hat in welcome. "It was actually rather pleasant, thanks." He replies politely. "Honestly, unless we're in an actual hurry, I would love to stroll through the city. It's not every day you get to visit the domain of the King of Dreams, and I would be remiss if I didn't take advantage of being here to explore it as much as possible."
Magdalena nods her head as the group gives their near-unanimous answer, "Very well. While Allialla exists outside the bounds of time and there's no need for haste while within its borders, your desire to get to the heart of the matter is certainly commendable."
She snaps her fingers and whistles, and is answered by a curious melodic wail resounds from above the clouds. A large patch of clouds, some one or two hundred feet across, begins to fall as if being pushed down by something massive. The clouds then part and the source of the wail becomes clear: a giant whale of white and gold whose fins end in gilded feathers and whose head is crowned by a great spiraling horn. Great crystalline growths on the creature's back catch the evening sunlight and gleam brightly as it descends. Attached to the skywhale is a harness that ends in what looks to be an elegantly-carved wooden box that could easily hold a dozen or so people, which gently touches down near the Wardens in the sprawling park. Windows placed in this aerial carriage reveal finely-appointed seats backed by regal velvet upholstery and etched with gilded decorations.
The Twilight Seer opens the door and motions for the Wardens to enter before turning to look at the solar phoenix known as The First Flame, "My King has asked me to convey his sincerest of apologies for the Royal Skywhale not being of sufficient size to accommodate a guest of your stature. Little Misha here is the youngest calf of the Prince of Sonorous Depths and has yet to mature and reach the size of her honored father. She can, however, manipulate the airstreams around her if you would prefer to simply stretch your wings and let her gently guide you to the palace."
"Wonderous", Josten answers. "Will you be joining us, Twilight Seer?"
The First Flame briefly considers stepping into the carriage in its smaller form, but the truth is, stretching its wings sounds pleasant.
It steps into a clear area in the park, and shifts shape to its true form, swelling up to somewhere around the size of the skywhale.
It dips its head slightly to Magdalena, its Radiance shining over all the group like the patient, untroubled light of a warm yellow star encouraging growth on a living world, completely unbothered by anything those its light touches might view as insulting or problematic to it.
The First Flame then turns and dips its head more deeply to Misha, its light focusing more on the skywhale as its shifts to match the dream-sun above, conjuring to mind the image of the great phoenix following behind the skywhile, looking with interest at the city below and the sky above while its Radiance falls on all around.
Duskashae considers the technical and practical differences between the Dreamlands and the plane of Shadow, as well as demiplanes like her own where time moves at a different speed. She wonders if she can recognize that events are happening faster or slower than the standard. Then she cautions herself, and tries to do her best not to be distracted by the colorful surroundings. It would not do for me of all of us to be lulled into dropping my defenses by an illusion of splendor and beauty, she thinks.
Arc Zeon says nothing, but keeps a watchful eye open. He'll try to look out for The First Flame, in case of possible attack.
Something about the lack of urgency in this situation seems slightly... off, to him. From his recollection, the stability of all of the Dreamlands themselves may be at risk, yet the Seer speaks with confidence that time is not of the essence.
It troubles him, but he will not speak up on the matter. He will only do what he does best - Observe, and Protect.
After the Wardens board the craft and take a seat in the luxurious cabin- and the First Flame rises up to be buoyed by the artificial wind currents- Magdalena closes the door and Misha begins to rise into the air. As the skywhale soars above the clouds and turns to head towards the palace, it becomes clear that Allialla's sunset is caused by not one, but two suns. The city rises up from the Slumbering Sea's depths and slopes gently upwards as if built on top of a hill of staggering size. Bizarre sights come into view for those who choose to look out of the windows to the city below: workers dredge glowing bubbles from a river that gently flows up through canals in the city in defiance of gravity, a shattered crescent moon comes view that was once obscured by the palace, and a series of crystal monoliths shaped like helixes dot the city.
After a peaceful trip lasting less than an hour, the group arrives and disembarks on a skydock balcony lare enough to comfortably host over a hundred people. "We have arrived, honored guests."[b] Magdalena says as she gets up and opens the cabin's door. A regal amethyst carpet stretches from the cabin to a pair of large golden doors- etched with fantastical scenes- leading into the palace. Masqued Chevaliers like the one in the park flank both sides of the carpet and raise their weapons in salute as a tiny glowing pixie wearing a relatively conservative courtier's dress and a large pair of glasses floats towards you, trailing a list or scroll of some sort at least twice as long as she is tall. Magdalena turns back towards the cabin and steps to the side before doing an elaborate cursty, [b]"Welcome to the Sunset Palace."
The pixie excitedly flits over to the Wardens as they exit the coach, "Welcome, welcome! I'd heard tales of the Broken Circle's latest batch of Wardens and read ALL the novels surrounding your adventures, but I never thought I'd get the chance to meet you all in person! Can I get an autograph?! Maybe a handshake?! Flowered Queen, this is...!" Magdalena lets out a small chuckle at the pixie's fawning speech, which causes her to stop and flush red in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry! *Whew* Just breath in and out Lily, you've got this!" Lily takes a moment to regain her composure and taking a more measured tone, "*Ahem* Please forgive my outburst and complete lack of manners. My name is Lilianne Springblossom, Majordomo of His Majesty Sirius Aringarde, the King Unseen, King of Dreams, Ruler of Allialla, Lord of the Twin Sunsets, Steward of the Slumbering Sea, Honorary Lord of the Isle of Daydream, Heir of Somnos..." It takes nearly three minutes for the pixie to finish the exhaustive list of the King's many titles. "His Majesty thanks you for agreeing to meet with him here at the Sunset Palace on such a short notice. Now please follow me to the Royal Audience Chamber, if you would be so kind."
The First Flame enjoys its flight over the city, occasionally shining brighter when it flies over something particularly interesting or something it just thinks could use a bit more light. As Misha descends to land, it returns again to its bipedal form and lands by the cabin door.
It returns Magdalena's bow with a bob of its head that might have been an attempt at a bow, then turns to look at the pixie as she arrives. It's... hard to tell if it has a reaction to Lily's sudden praise, since it simply gazes at her with its fiery eyes, but the way its light shimmers feels somewhat amused.
After Lily finishes speaking, The First Flame gives her a nod much like the one it gave Magdalena, its Radiance feeling like warm afternoon sunshine as it does so, shifting to the image of it following after Lily under the light of the twin dream-suns.
Vulpiano smiles warmly at Misha, and walks over to the skywhale "Hello my friend, you are most remarkable. I've encountered countless unique creatures over the years, but never one such as unique as a skywhale. Thank you for providing us transportation to the King of Dreams, I appreciate it." He then reaches into one of the pockets in robes, and pulls out a truly massive treat, which he offers to Misha.
Once done chatting with the skywhale, the scholar mutters something under his breath about his impatient, uncouth, incurious companions, and climbs inside Misha's cabin. Despite his annoyance at not being able to take the scenic route, and thus explore more of the Dreamlands, he takes some solace in gazing out of the window the entire trip.
Finally, when they land, he gets out, stretches his legs, and once more speaks to Misha. "Flying with you was a truly wonderous experience Misha. I hope we're able to visit here again, and I can spend some more time with you." He scratches the skywhale under the chin, and again offers their conveyance a snack.
Turning, he's 'ambushed' by Lily, and speaks to her in True Speech. "Hiya Lilianne, I'm Dr. Vulpiano Avranxi, MD, it's a pleasure to meet you. And yes, I will gladly sign you an autograph." He offers her a hand for a shake as well.
Josten smiles as he watches the word below with the other members of The Broken Circle.
"Incredible. Dreamlands pale in comparisons to Auntie Desna's descriptions!"
The Demigod of Bards is quite used to fans, so Josten smiles magnanimously.
"Good day, Ms. Springbottom. I am Josten Cailean. Very nice to meet you." The godling takes the majordomo's hand and shakes it.
"I, too, will sign you an autograph."