The House of the Night - Ice and Mirrors - RPLOG
Participants
Date
7/7/478
Log
Fenris did not send out a call today. In fact, there was no job posting, no rumors, no one even talking about the House of Night today in Firmament. Nevertheless a select few seem drawn to the place anyway. In the narrow chasm that holds the entrance, the solid stone door stands closed in the glow of blue crystals.
Cassidy slips out of the sky, landing before the door, a hand touched to her hat to keep it on. She straightens up and adjusts her bow tie before folding her hands behind her back, glancing around to see who else might be coming, aside from herself and Natska.
Zuri walks up to the entrance, coming to a stop as the stone door comes into view. He turns back to smile at Rokarion and urge him forwards. "This way!" He watches Cassidy descend before racing down to meet her. "Hi miss Cassidy!"
Bao approaches cautiously. He's heard rumours about this place, about the strange experiences intrepid beings have had within. He did not, though, expect himself to be here. One moment he was stepping out of the Royal Ranger outpost in Saltide, walking briskly...and then he was walking here. He's not sure whether he actually walked all of the intervening distance, and there's wary confusion on the sea lion's face.
Natska touches down next to Cassidy, and almost immediately the shadows begin to thicken and gather about the pair as Cassidy scans the area for threats. Satisfied that it is safe enough, she releases her magic and nods her head to the pair of Beings. "Hello." She looks back and forth, then nudges Cass. "Here, do you think? Or further in?"
The door stands, silent and imposing with its strange carvings and images of a long lost civilization etched on its surface. It almost seems to be waiting for someone to come and swings silently open, revealing a well lit, empty room with only one door on the far side, marked with a symbol like a swirling water drop.
Cassidy flashes a little grin at Zuri from behind her mask. "Hello there, Zuri. NIce to see you," she says, nodding at Bao as well. "Looks like we were expected. Let's not keep them waiting, then, hm?" She says, smiling and stepping forward to make her way towards the water door. "What do you mean, Natska?"
Zuri peers up at the door before returning his gaze to Cassidy and Natska. "Fancy meeting you two here!" And uh.. everyone else too." He blinks as the door starts opening on its own, and actually takes a step back. "Huh.. yea, expected." He looks back at Rokarion, whom has since moved down to join the other beings. "I.. guess we should go in then. I'll keep an eye out for traps and bad things as usual, I guess." He starts to walk forward, peering ahead into the passage that opened before them.
Bao, tall as he is, does not have to look as far up to the top of the door as his fellows, but he does so anyway, craning his neck to stare up into the darkness. "Aye. It's rude t'stand on the doorstep when you've been invited in." He steps forward confidently, but with a surprisingly light tread.
Natska inclines her head and then falls into step behind the others, making her way inside. "Such a strange place," she muses.
The room really is bare, aside from the far door, marked with the water symbol. The walls of this chamber are made up of intricate bas reliefs, depicting strange and wonderous figures, some of which are recognizable as familiar Spirits. It seems as if the water door is the only way forward.
Then a voice comes from somewhere in the room. "Oh give them a choice at least!" comes a booming voice with a two ton laugh, "Can't hog all the fun, Snake!" Then, suddenly, there is another door in the wall. No flash of light, no sense of movement. Just a door marked with a cornucopia and grapes where there was a blank wall a heartbeat ago.
Cassidy chuckles quietly as she approaches the door- Wait, there are two doors now. She pauses and hums. "Why wouldn't we, Zuri? We've been here so far. There's much to learn and know, so of course we'd be here." She settles her hands on her hips and glances between the doors.
Zuri stops halfway through crossing the threshold of the water door as the loud voice puts him on instant alert. He turns aside, looking about to try and find the source of the voice, but all he finds is an entirely new door. He blinks, clearly having missed the door before, or so he figures. The salamander walks up to the new door, peering up at it curiously and admiring the cornucopia. "I didn't know grapes were a magic thing." He turns around. "Rokarion, are grapes a magic thing? Is fruit magic a thing?"
A loud shout is heard, followed by a certain plainly dressed feline descending down from said rope. As soon as she gets close to the ground, she leaps off and lands on the ground, hunched over. As she stands back up she looks to everyone else already assembled and takes the war hammer from her back, "So, which door are we going to this time?"
Rokarion followed Zuri as he led them to the House of Night, standing silent as he wrote down some words. When the new door appeared, Rokarion eyed Zuri and shook his head, "The symbol on the door is not representing magic but the spirit's 'abode', so to speak. So, the water symbol is for Ser'Ther." Rokarion said idly, "Which means that grapes are a symbol for the spirit behind that door, I do not recall any spirit having that kind of symbol, so I guess it is a new spirit." Rokarion said before shifting his attention to adding a few notes on his book.
"From the life court?" Bao hazards. "They *did* say they were going to be more involved. This is mostly over my head, but..." He shrugs. "I've gotten around a good bit the last few months." He looks at the water door. "And I hope that this door isn't as 'funny' as Ser'ther's fountain."
Natska quietly laughs. "Right. 'Funny'. His door was here when we arrived, that makes me think that he wanted to chat with us. Shall we?"
The two doors stand closed and silent, waiting for the group to make their decision.
"Ser'ther is elemental court. And as much as I'd love to investigate a new spirit..." Cassidy gestures towards the water door. "I feel like we should speak with him. I've been meaning to, for a bit. Though we should certainly come back to visit the other, later!"
Zuri pokes the new door. "Huh... so this is like the Spirit of Grapes or something? That's weird, but I'm not one to judge! Maybe we should go talk to him? I mean, Mister Ser'ther is a nice snake-thing, but does he have grapes?" He peers back at the other beings, as if having just asked a serious question.
Rokarion shrugs as he looks at the grape door before shaking his head, "Grapes here is obviously a symbol of wine, Zuri." Rokarion answered as he moved closer to the door, "I would not mind visiting a new spirit, I am guessing from the symbol that he might be a spirit of revelry and mirth. If he is one of the life court that is." the young plant being added in his usual nonchalant tone.
Bao takes up a spot between the two doors. "Ser'ther's not all that hard to find." His brow creases. "Leastwise, when he wants to be. I think we can prob'ly learn more new things from th'other. Whether he's got grapes or not." he adds with a wink to Zuri.
Natska makes a quiet noise, then looks over at Cassidy and shrugs. "I think we might be outvoted, love. Or do we split up?" she asks, tail curling back and forth.
Cara begins to scratch her chin with her free hand as she makes a decision, "We better see Ser'ther first. If he has business with us, then we better talk to him." At this point, the feline turns to everyone else, "I'm going with Cassidy to see Ser'ther. I still have a few things to ask him and I'm okay with splitting up."
The water marked door suddenly swings open. Looks like someone is impatient. Beyond the door the room is dimly lit, and seems to be lined with mirrors of all things.
Cassidy steps through Ser'ther's door, tail flicking as she takes in the mirrors. "Well then. I guess we'll go this way! We can meet up with the other spirit, later. I'm sure the door will be there," she says, nodding. "I want to see what Ser'ther wants."
Zuri whines. "Aww!" He pouts. "I wanted to meet the wine spirit." He sighs. "Oh well, next time!" He plods over towards the water door and peers inside once more, then stalks in, crossing the threshold to explore what's beyond.
Rokarion shrugs and juts down some more notes before shifting towards the now open door, "Looks like Ser'Ther is quite more impatient during the summer." Rokarion adds idly, "So tell me, what business do you have with the spirit, Natska and Cassidy." the plant being added as he entered the new room, looking around into the mirrors.
"I guess he wants to talk -now-. Fair 'nough." Bao says. He follows close behind Zuri into the mirrored room, trying not to be distracted by the reflections. Ser'ther has seemed trustworthy enough, after a fashion, but there's no way this will be as simple as being invited over for tea.
Natska gives Rokarion a small smile as they make their way into the chamber. "I think he's the one that called. And Cass said she had questions for him. I'm just here to learn, myself."
Cara turns to the grape and cornucopia covered door and shouts, "Sorry about this, but we have to see Ser'ther first. We can meet next time though or ask Ser'ther about you." Then, the feline proceeds to run through the water marked door with a smile on her face. As soon as she makes it inside, she skids to a stop, and looks at the mirrors for a moment, "This reminds me of the Temple of Balance."
The dim light shows a room that is relatively small, compared to some of the massive spaces that have been in the House of Night before. Remarkably, in each mirror each being can see only themselves reflected, though the reflection is different in each mirror. Like a fun house, only stranger. In one mirror is a reflection of a skeleton, another shows a being with strange, glowing geometries on the flesh or fur, another shows each being an image of themselves with motherly proportions or disheveled with yellowed, rotting teeth. Each mirror a very different image, though all recognizable to each as their own visage. "Choose the truth," comes a voice from all sides.
Cara looks at the reflections for a moment and her eyes widen, "Hey, these all look like the marks of beings who are actively dedicated to spirits." She quickly turns to everyone else and asks, "Do you guys agree with me?"
Cassidy looks around at each mirror, brow furrowing. "Yes, that's what they are, Cara," she says, reaching up to adjust her hat. "But what does the truth imply?" She glances around, seeking out a mirror that looks like herself, if only... Exceptionally clean. The mark of Ser'ther.
Rokarion yawned as he continued to idly walk around the mirrors, looking for one that would show his reflection naturally with no added effects, "That it seems. So, Ser'ther, what do you hope to gain out of this? Wouldn't you spirits already know each others' dedications?" Rokarion asked in his usual cold tone.
Bao closes his eyes and listens. He can't hear the reflections, obviously, but he can hear the words of the other beings as they share their theories and experiences. Plus, it's easier to think without a hundred different...hims...staring back at him. Ser'ther's temple had been about persistence, its hierophant a man of practical rather than metaphysical responsibilities.
Natska makes a quiet noise as she slowly makes her way around the room, eyeing the images in each mirror. Then she shakes her head, turning to Rokarion. "Truth is subjective. 'Truth' requires meaning, and meaning requires perspective." She calls out louder, "Or is that off the mark?"
There are many mirrors, somehow more than it seems should fit on the surfaces of the room. Strange renditions of all kinds follow the movements of the beings in the room. Some larger than life, some younger, older, fatter, thinner, wearing all kinds of strange and wonderful clothing, even one in which they stand completely nude, wings wrapped around their bodies. The voice does not answer and more questions. Apparently, a decision must be made.
Zuri walks from mirror to mirror, admiring himself on all the reflections to see what each spirit does to him. "Wow! I had no idea spirits would give you weird tattoos and stuff!" He says as he stands before the mirror that apparently gives him a marking of a flame on his forehead, completely replacing the more abstract spots that normally decorate his skin. "This is fun!" He bites his lip. "I wonder what the purpose of this place is tho..." He turns around to see what Rokarion is doing.
Cara continues looking at an odd image of herself with tusks and shudders, "No way is this the one. That can't be the truth." Her ears twitch as she hears Natska speak and then she turns to face Natska, "Wait, Natska, you're right. Are you onto something?"
Rokarion shakes his head at Natska, "I am aware of truth as an abstract concept, Miss Natska. My question is for the spirit and its intentions, but apparently it won't answer, typical." he says as he continues to jut down notes on each of the mirrors that he sees before finally stiffling a yawn and moving to lean on one of the room's walls, busying himself with his work, apparently intent on ignoring the spirit's request.
Cassidy tucks her hands in her trouser pockets as she moves from mirror to mirror, seeking something that stands out. So many interesting things. "Well, at least it's nice to know what I'd look like with different spirits in my alignment. Honestly, I'm not sure what truth would imply for me. I don't really intend on finding any spirit, yet. I've not yet met one that seems... Appropriate. I need to speak with the air one again."
Bao is not a philosopher. Before he opens his eyes, he pictures himself as reflected in still water. He knows it's not perfect, but it seems as close as he's likely to get. Holding that mental image, he looks for the one that best matches it.
Natska's ear flicks and she turns her head, a bit of motion catching her attention. "A blooming staff. This one, do you think, Cass?" she asks, walking up to touch the edge of the mirror. "And I should hope pacting is more than a fashion statement... although I would be amused, in a way, if that is all it was. Some prank that would be."
Silence reigns in the room. Apparently, Ser'Ther, or whatever Spirit reigns here is waiting for someone to make a decision out loud.
Cara's ears perk once more as she overhears the information, "Well, that takes care of that problem." The feline instantly runs over to the magical trio, still keeping her war hammer in one free hand and smiles, "Yes, let's go through this one. Who knows. Maybe these doors just lead to the rooms of other spirits."
Zuri giggles. "So we're supposed to make pacts here? That sounds pretty dubious! A pact should be something that takes consideration I think. Can't just go ahead and do it willy nilly.. hm..." He bites his lip. "Hmm.. " He walks over to Rokarion, watching what the plant being is doing. "Hm.. Rokarion, you don't suppose Mister Ser'Ther is waiting for one of us to dedicate to someone before he lets us through? That seems silly."
Cassidy glances towards Natska and moves over to invesitgate the mirror she's at. "Mmm. Yes, I would say so. I don't know what the real goal is here, but I do think that's Ser'ther's staff. I've seen Angus with it at times, I believe..." She gives a little not and ceases her wandering to stand by Natska and the mirror instead.
Rokarion perks his hear as he hears Cassidy and Natska comment on their mirror, deciding to move over to it, "Hmmm, well I guess it is possible that the 'truth' is what Ser'ther chooses in this case." he answers as he stands next to the two, one could be amazed that the plant could even appear cleaner than usual!
Bao growls audibly. "None of these are me. None of them are true." He crosses the room to where the others stand, staring at one particular version of himself. "But this might be as good as anything."
Zuri follows Rokarion over to the Ser'Ther mirror, smiling at his reflection. "Now who's that handsome salamander? Oh wait, it's me, Zuri!" He giggles, then pauses, biting his lip. "Hmm.. you say this is the one for Ser'Ther huh?" He reaches into his satchel to bring out a fist-sized, ovoid rock, covered in strange scribbles and markings. "Mister Ser'Ther left this behind when we first met. I wonder if I should give it back or something.."
Natska smiles a little then bows her head to the mirror. "Ser'ther, please share your truth with us."
A sigh fills the room. "Perhaps it is too much to ask," a voice says and the mirrors suddenly evaporate into mist, "Welcome, I am Ser'Ther. Why do you come to the House of Night?" The mist coalesces into the form of a large serpent curled around the perimeter of the room, its huge head bobbing above the gathered beings.
Cara turns her head slightly as to that question, "Didn't you ask someone to come here for something?" The feline instantly puts her hammer down and asks, "Well, I do have a question that came about as we got here. Who was going to be behind that door with the grapes if we went through it?"
Rokarion eyes the now materialized spirit, before doing what he had done before with all spirits, move closer to the serpent's head and begin to draw a sketch of him, "Here for exploration purposes, however if you are willing to answer questions, then I would not mind asking some."
Cassidy stretches out a little and nods, watching the mirrors vanish. "Yes. I'm here to learn, really. Not much more, for me! I'm just curious and eager to know more about the spirits in general."
Natska smiles. The jaguar clasps her hand together in front of herself, turns to face Ser'ther, and gives him a bow. She restrains her initial question, and instead she answers, "Thank you. Why the mirrors?"
Zuri plods next to Rokarion, still holding the ovoid stone. He smiles up at the spirit, then gets up on his tiptoes to peek at Rokarion's drawing. He plops back down after Cassidy's question, and nods. "Yea! Like Miss Cassidy said, we'd like to know more about spirits. Also why some beings seem to think you're all out to get us, and are nothing but trouble."
"I was hopin'" Bao says, "that maybe you could tell me why I'm here, sir. Something pulled me here today. Seemed uncivil and honestly kinda foolish to ignore it, but that don't mean I know what it was."
Ser'Ther notices Rokarion's sketching and subtly poses, probably showing the Jasmine what he thinks is his best side. "I may not speak of the others in this place," he says, "It is theirs as much as it is mine. Only that the Spirit who spoke to you is eager to enter the world again. If you have questions, only ask and I will answer if I can. Ever have I watched over the children of this world!" His coils rustle against each other, which is strange in a being composed wholly of water. "My domain is water," he says, "But my work is to watch over the measure and potential of the beings of this world. That is what the mirrors are for. They were -are- things and people you might become."
"You seriously think I could ever get that clean?" Bao says before he can catch himself. He clamps his mouth shut and looks apologetically at the spirit. "I mean, I prob'ly could, but it'd...well. Life'd have to be different."
"Water takes many forms," Natska muses. Bao's outburst causes her to smile and she looks around again, slowly taking in the images once more.
The huge serpent suddenly focuses in on Bao. "I see you, Bao of House Solacious," he says, "My Spirit calls to you. The purity of wild water and power of the waves. We could help one another." The huge head moves to turn a glowing blue eye at the sea lion.
Cara clears her throat for a moment, "Could you tell me some about the Craige by any chance? Like any weak points by any chance? If that doesn't work than can you tell me a little bit more about how the spirits came into being in the first place?"
Rokarion continues to finish his sketch as he eyes the spirit, noticing its posing and mentally noting vanity among Ser'ther's characteristics. "Very well, tell us more about yourself kind then. How long have you lived on Promise, and what made a lot of you return now? Don't use the craige excuse, It is obvious that not all of you are concerned with that." the plant being asked again.
