(1) Dragonpearl: The sage's hut is located on the eastern edge of the ruined city. The section behind his hut, to the north looks like the temple district. The sections immediately to your south are high end residential and to the west is a road that leads to the market areas and the older sections of the city.
** (2) Selini sighs deeply and tears herself away from the books within the man's hut, walking outside while looking back at the book the whole time "Don't see why we gotta go wander around a stupid old city anyhow... just alot of dust and rats..."
(4) Lin Chien: "Perhaps a visit to big building, good idea."
** (4) Lin Chien points in the general direction of the temple
(3) Avraphel: (hmm.. I can't find my notes either.. wierd.. what were we looking for again..?]
(1) Dragonpearl: The various districts were once made up of several buildings but most are fallen and crumbling
(4) Lin Chien: "Temple always important place in city, no?"
(3) Avraphel: (something about a guide and imortalilty}
** (3) Avraphel nods and swing up onto his horse.
(1) Dragonpearl: (a guide of some sort. said to be found near the source of all life)
(2) Selini: "Depends on the city I'd guess..."
** (2) Selini looks at Avraphel, uncomprehending "... We gotta ride those things again?"
** (3) Avraphel laughs loudly and nudges his horse forward toward the temple, "If we search. It does not matter where we begin."
** (2) Selini sighs "How can you search from way up there though?"
(4) Lin Chien: "Oh, but does it not matter if the thing we seek, is in the first place we look?"
** (4) Lin Chien strokes the tips of his mustache
** (2) Selini looks from one person to the next "... your not even listening to me are you?"
(3) Avraphel: "He would follow me if I tried to leave him here anyway.
** (4) Lin Chien looks around. "Oh there you are!" He grins when he sees Selini
(4) Lin Chien: ((Couldn;t resist... lol))
** (2) Selini gets a pouty look on her face as she goes over to her horse "I'm already sore for riding this stupid thing... don't they have butt pillows or something?"
** (3) Avraphel stops and looks away from the buildings back to Selini, "Rathe. He would follow me if I left him. The horses may be needed if we depart quickly."
** (3) Avraphel motions to the horse when he says the name Rathe.
(1) Uester: You'll get used to it after a while.
(2) Selini: "What would we be running from? Its just a bunch of buildings..."
** (3) Avraphel looks at her horse.
** (2) Selini climbs onto her horse and sits there, biting her lip
(1) Uester: Just because they are old and ruiend doesn't mean they are empty. Remeber the minotaur?
(4) Lin Chien: "Lin Chien's experience shows, that statement is a dangerous one."
(3) Avraphel: (It does have a saddle doesnt' it?)
(1) Dragonpearl: (yeah, akll the animals have tack and harness)
(2) Selini: (if it came with one it does ;p)
(4) Lin Chien: "What if buildings crumble around us? Would we not need to leave quickly?"
** (4) Lin Chien trots forward on his pony leisurely
(2) Selini: "Wouldn't we run into something with all the dust?"
** (2) Selini sighs and mutters "Gently" to her horse and she slaps it to make it trot forward
** (3) Avraphel nudes his horse to follow Lin.
(2) Selini: "ow... gently horsie!... I'm gonna have a bruise..."
(1) Dragonpearl: Your horses footsteps echo louldy off of the crubmling walls. A rat skitters by and pillars loom above you. Some of the temples are still standing and you can see the marks of activity here and htere.
(2) Selini: "So what are we looking for? More books?"
** (3) Avraphel pulls his sword from its sheath on his back, "I do not know what we are hunting for. The priest seemed to have an idea.
** (4) Lin Chien looks at Selini. "Were you not the ones who spoke to the man?"
** (2) Selini edges her horse away from Avraphel "Well... if we find more books can I keep them?"
** (2) Selini glances to Lin "No... well... not really... I was in the room though..."
(1) Uester: The scroll said something about finding the source of life and a guide so we are searching for something that fits that description.
** (3) Avraphel glances back, "You do not have to ask to keep what you find."
(2) Selini: "Source of life? Well... thats probably water... or a pregnant woman... so if we see any pregnant women we probably shouldn't kill them..."
(2) Selini: "... is that a yes or no?"
(2) Selini: (isn't she adorably clueless? ;p)
(4) Lin Chien: "Or perhaps... a place where children are brought into this world."
(1) Uester: Water? Yes Water, you are right. so we need to find some water in this city.
(1) Dragonpearl: (heh)
(4) Lin Chien: "A place like the temple."
(2) Selini: "Which temple?"
** (3) Avraphel turns and scans the ruins, "I see only dust and ruins."
(2) Selini: "Temple of water?"
** (3) Avraphel looks toward the temple that they ride toward. He motions with his sword, "What temple is this?"
(1) Dragonpearl: You travel aroud the temple disrtict slowly and not much catches your eye. You can't tell if any of these temples were dedicated to a water god or not beacuse you cant read the glyphs.
(2) Selini: (any of them blue? ;p)
(3) Avraphel: (as.. I assumed we picked out one that looked larger or something.. didn't realize there were that many)
(1) Dragonpearl: (nope)
** (3) Avraphel motions to the one closest to him.
(1) Dragonpearl: (there are a fw, a large one and a few smaller ones
** (4) Lin Chien scratchis his head. "Lin Chien is as lost at this place as a librarian in an armoury."
** (2) Selini looks around and yells out "HEY! ARE THERE ANY GUILDS AROUND HERE!?!"
** (3) Avraphel motions again, "What about that large one there. Something as important as..."
** (4) Lin Chien winces
(1) Dragonpearl: Selini's voice echoes for a bit then fades
** (3) Avraphel looks back over his shoulder.
(1) Uester: Well, lets go look.
** (2) Selini blinks "Guess not..."
** (4) Lin Chien nods and trots onward in the direction of the large building
** (3) Avraphel bursts out a loud laugh and kicks his horse forward toward the large temple.
** (2) Selini follows, looking about cautiously
(2) Selini: (you guys put up with so much from her... don't be afraid to tell her to shut up, she learns that way :P )
(3) Avraphel: (heh)
(1) Dragonpearl: You enter the dark building and see little
(4) Lin Chien: ((Can I knock her out? I'm good at that...))
(1) Dragonpearl: There is a faint smell of vinegar and other acrid smells
(2) Selini: ((sure, but when she wakes up she won't be happy about the bump on her head))
** (2) Selini looks around "Searching in the dark is even stupider than searching from horseback..."
(1) Dragonpearl: ((oh guys, if you ever run across a deck of many things, I have a tarot deck to draw from)
(3) Avraphel: (me too.. actually severall)
(2) Selini: "You guys are kinda new at this aren't ya?"
(1) Dragonpearl: (i have three)
(3) Avraphel: (I assume we left our horses outside)
(2) Selini: (oh ;p)
(1) Dragonpearl: (yeah)
(3) Avraphel: (If so I sheathed my sword and have my axe and shield in hand.)
(2) Selini: "Does anyone have a torch or a lantern or a flaming demonstrator?"
** (4) Lin Chien takes out a torch and lights it up in an easy, unhurried manner
** (3) Avraphel speaks in a deep quiet voice, "The darkness may hide an enemy but it is not all bad."
(1) Dragonpearl: The torchlight flickers and shows pictures on the walls and some sort of altar near the back
(2) Selini: "I like the dark... but its horrible to search in..."
** (3) Avraphel chuckles softly, "Indeed."
(4) Lin Chien: "Then take darkness away, enemy no place to hide, true?"
(2) Selini: "You ever been out stargazing and close your eyes and breath in the deep scent of your... uh... perfume?"
** (3) Avraphel keeps his axe read and watches the darkness.
** (4) Lin Chien holds his torch up to the pictures, looking at them curiously
** (3) Avraphel glances in Selini's direction and then looks back as the room is lit.
(2) Selini: "Avra... why do you have a weapon out all the time? I keep having these visions of backing into you and hurting myself..."
** (3) Avraphel grins, "Then stay behind me."
(1) Dragonpearl: The pictures on the walls depict a burial rite of some kind. A bird headed god stands judgement over the souls. those who pass go through a gate of some kind, those who fail are eaten by a bear-alligator thing.
(4) Lin Chien: "Many animals!"
** (2) Selini looks at the picture with Lin "Hey! That allegator thing needs water! We're in the right place!
(2) Selini: "
** (4) Lin Chien makes the most stupid remark he can think of under the circumstances
** (3) Avraphel glances toward Uester, "Well. Is this it?"
(1) Dragonpearl: Varous stages of the burial are prepresented as well. A large tomb/pyramid. A body wrapped in cloth. And souls traveling to their judgement.
** (2) Selini walks over towards the alter "Hello? Mister guild? you over here?"
(3) Avraphel: "It doesn't not look like the source of life is here.
(1) Dragonpearl: The altar has an impression of a body in it with channels for some sort of fluid
(4) Lin Chien: ((That's "Guide"!))
(4) Lin Chien: "Quite the opposite, one thinks."
(2) Selini: (no... she misheard what we're looking for ;p)
(3) Avraphel: I know very little of these southern gods.
(4) Lin Chien: "Lin Chien must confess that he knows little as well..."
(1) Dragonpearl: There is absolutly no sign of water in this temple other than a canteen
** (4) Lin Chien looks expectantly to the priest
(2) Selini: "I'm not sure... but theres a place up here for someone to lay down... think this is the god of beds?"
** (3) Avraphel moves around the room slowly looking like he's expecting something to jump out of the walls, "What if the source of life is blood not water?"
Uester Shrugs, "I know as much as the rest of you do"
** (2) Selini looks at Avraphel oddly "You get sick if you drink blood though..."
** (4) Lin Chien has a strange urge to thump her over the head with the torch
** (3) Avraphel moves over and grabs the canteen.
** (2) Selini sits down on the alter, "Think I should lay down in the bed?"
(1) Uester: It's not wise to meddle with sacred things
(4) Lin Chien: "Oh yes, by all means, please do."
** (2) Selini blinks "... so which is it?"
(1) Uester: I suggest not but it is your life.
** (2) Selini shrugs "You'd think the god of beds would want people laying in the bed... but ok...
(3) Avraphel: I have seen sacrifices. Some of the savages to the north are.. more savage than my people. That looks something like what they would use in a sacrifice.
** (2) Selini hops back up
** (4) Lin Chien wanders around, looking in each corner, trying to find another exit
** (2) Selini raises an eyebrow "Sacrifice? Isn't that what you do when you jump in the way of your friend and get hit by an arrow?"
(1) Dragonpearl: There are other doors in the temple but they lead to either outside or a room full of rubble
** (3) Avraphel moves over and attempts to pull Selini off of the 'bed'. "These channels would gather your blood."
** (2) Selini looks at it oddly, "Yea... but... wouldn't they have to hold you down? I mean... I wouldn't just lie there if I was getting cut..."
** (3) Avraphel tosses the canteen to Selini.
(1) Dragonpearl: The canteen is full of water
(4) Lin Chien: "No, sacrifice is when one steals and another hangs for it."
** (2) Selini catches it and looks at him oddly
(2) Selini: "Whats this?"
** (2) Selini sniffs the water
** (4) Lin Chien shrugs and moves around, illuminating the other dustier places
(1) Dragonpearl: its water, rather fresh too
** (3) Avraphel shrugs and backs toward the door.
(2) Selini: "Well I don't want it! what if its poisoned!"
(3) Avraphel: (not leaving...just backing up a bit)
** (2) Selini follows Avraphel
(1) Dragonpearl: Lin sees a mural that depicts a snake headed man fighting with another man.
(4) Lin Chien: "Hmmm interesting. Lin Chien wonders of there are more of tese around!"
(1) Dragonpearl: The symbol hon his head matches the snake symbol on the scroll
** (4) Lin Chien blinks as he recognizes the symbol, then moves his torch to illuminate the adjacent panels
(2) Selini: "How long have you had that sword mister Avraphel?
(3) Avraphel: Not long. Long enough.
** (3) Avraphel moves over to see what Lin is finding so interesting about the wall.
** (2) Selini blinks "That doesn't even make sense!"
** (4) Lin Chien points to the mural of the snake-headed man
(1) Dragonpearl: Lin sees more murals. The snake headed man and the other being born from the same woman. The snake fighting the man and dismenbering him. A woman putting the man back together and that man sitting on a throne over what seems to be the underworld.
(4) Lin Chien: "Where is the scroll? This looks familiar."
** (3) Avraphel looks toward Uester.
(1) Uester: Maybe we should ask the sage about this?
Uester Pulls the scroll out and holds it up.
(1) Uester: This symbol and that one are the same.
** (2) Selini shrugs "Thats the underworld... thats about as far from the beginnings of life that one can get..."
(4) Lin Chien: ((Anymore interesting murals?))
** (3) Avraphel looks at the images again on the wall, "But what do they mean?"
(2) Selini: "Looks like the snake guy killed his brother, then got stuck inside him, then the other dude ended up dead and ruling..."
(1) Dragonpearl: (nope,)
** (3) Avraphel backs up, "Maybe we should search another temple."
(4) Lin Chien: "Good idea, then more questions for sage."
whispering to 2 some of the smells in here are famliliar. Kinda like embalming fluids.
** (3) Avraphel nods and back to the door.
(2) Selini: "Yea... this place... I don't like this place... to many dead things..."
** (3) Avraphel waits for the others at the door.
** (4) Lin Chien puts out his torch and follows
** (2) Selini hugs herself and hurries out
(1) Dragonpearl: YOu leave that home for the dead as it seems and head to antoher temple. The only other one that is possibly safe to enter.
** (3) Avraphel exits quick after a last look at the darkness and goes to his horse.
** (3) Avraphel again gets his axe and shield ready and moves to the door.
(1) Dragonpearl: You enter it as well but all of teh murals are crumbling, yeilding very little int he way of information.
(2) Selini: "... Avra... you are always waiting for danger... eventually it'kk find you..."
** (4) Lin Chien re-lights his torch
** (3) Avraphel chuckles deeply, "It will find me if I do not wait too."
(4) Lin Chien: "Head back to sage, or searc for more questions before finding answers?"
(1) Dragonpearl: One of the murals barely depicts a cat woman. and in a corner of the temple you can see a small family of feral cats
** (3) Avraphel glances to Lin and enters quickly.
(2) Selini: (a real family?)
(3) Avraphel: (how does this temple look? dirty? more dirty than the last.. )
(1) Dragonpearl: (mother cat and a few kittens)
** (2) Selini tilts her head "Aren't any of these temples dedicated to normal people?"
(1) Dragonpearl: the temple is crumbling and hasn't held up as well as the first to the ravages of time
(4) Lin Chien: "Possibly this counts as normal."
** (3) Avraphel watches the mother cat from a distance."
(3) Avraphel: (still near the door really)
(1) Dragonpearl: The cat woman on this mural is also fighting with the snake headed man. In fact as you approach, the mother cat and her kittens can be seen feeding on a dead snake.
** (2) Selini walks over towards the cats and looks at them "At least this one isn't as yucky as the last one... less dead people here..."
(4) Lin Chien: "Hmmm... snake-ead man again!"
** (4) Lin Chien ponders deeply
** (3) Avraphel moves furthur into the rooma and looks at the mural, "What does the picture mean though?"
** (2) Selini drops to a knee and clicks her tongue a few times "Here kitty!"
(4) Lin Chien: "Cat, snake, not good friends/"
(1) Dragonpearl: One of the kittens wanders over to Selini
(2) Selini: (is there any meat in normal rations?)
(1) Dragonpearl: the mother cat just watches cautiously
** (3) Avraphel continues looking at the mural, "Why is this snake man in both temples?"
(1) Dragonpearl: (the kitten will eat it)
** (3) Avraphel glances back toward the cats.
** (2) Selini pets it gently, smiling a bit "Your a pretty lil' boy aren't ya?"
(2) Selini: "Someones been nice to these cats... apparently..."
(4) Lin Chien: "Or perhaps, god of cats looks after their own."
(2) Selini: "Well I prefer cats to snakes any day..."
(2) Selini: "Yea... your a good cat..."
(1) Dragonpearl: the mother cat and the other kittens wander over to eat the offered ration
** (2) Selini smiles "I like this place... lets not go over to that other temple ok?"
** (3) Avraphel moves back to the door,.
** (2) Selini looks at the others "Oh... are we leaving already?"
** (4) Lin Chien strides out of the musty place
(4) Lin Chien: "Have we anyplace else to explore?"
(1) Uester: Well, do we go talk to the sage or explore more?
** (3) Avraphel nods, "I think we're going back to that sage."
(1) Dragonpearl: (gee i think so Lin. it is a city after all. LOL)
** (3) Avraphel slides his axe into it's holder on his saddle and swings back up onto his horse.
** (2) Selini sighs and scratches under the kitty's chin "You take care alright? I'll be back later..."
** (2) Selini stands and trots off after the others
** (4) Lin Chien looks back to make sure Selini is with them
(1) Dragonpearl: (mrow?)
(2) Selini: "I like cats..."
(3) Avraphel: Yes. They are good if you cook them long enough.
** (2) Selini slaps Avraphel in the arm
** (3) Avraphel glances at Selini and the nudges his horse forward.
** (4) Lin Chien looks at Avraphel, pleasantly surprised. "You have been to Shou Lung?"
(3) Avraphel: (are we going back to the sage or no?)
** (2) Selini grins wickedly
(1) Dragonpearl: (Oh man!)
(1) Dragonpearl: You arrive at the old man's hut and he isn't home.
(4) Lin Chien: "Dog is better. It is not as tender as cat, but the flavour is akin to chicken."
(4) Lin Chien: "Of course, one has to cook it thoroughly to remove the fleas..."
(1) Dragonpearl: (actually no it isnt the flavor is akin to game animal)
(3) Avraphel: "They are rare to the north. We only have them on special occasions.
(3) Avraphel: (heh.. and the DP knows that.. is scary)
(4) Lin Chien: "Ah, I see. Stray dogs were quite common where Lin Chien lived."
(1) Dragonpearl: (yes I do. My boyfriend has eaten one)
** (2) Selini looks around, "Ummm... you think he's ok? The dead minotaur didn't come back did he?"
(1) Dragonpearl: you see no sign of stuggle.
(1) Uester: maybe he has gone to study more?
** (4) Lin Chien enthusiastically blabbers on about the culinary wonders of felines and canines
whispering to 2 you hear a mewling behind you
** (2) Selini looks over her shoulder
(2) Selini: "Where would he study?"
whispering to 2 the black kitten you were playing with followed you
** (2) Selini smiles a bit and walks over and scoops up a little black kitten, grinning to herself
(1) Uester: Well he could be exploring like we are.
(2) Selini: "Wouldn't he have come with us?"
(3) Avraphel (exit)
** (2) Selini scratches under her kittens chin
** (4) Lin Chien looks around for any clue as to where the man went
(2) Selini: "Lin... could you please not talk about things like that in the presence of the baby?"
(1) Uester: I bet that canteen was his. He may have studied the temple already
(1) Dragonpearl: lets pause till av gets back
** (2) Selini walks over to a desk "And this is a book... its what big people read when they are five years old... your not five yet no your not..."
(4) Lin Chien: "Perhaps if Hsiao-tao was convinced that the cat could understand..."
(2) Selini: "Hey, this cat lived inside a temple... its a god's cat, it might understand..."
(2) Selini: (sorry, I was supposed to stop huh?)
(6) Avraphel (enter)
(1) Dragonpearl: (nah)
(2) Selini: "You know... this cat is remarkably without fleas for not having an owner..."
(4) Lin Chien: "Cats do not have fleas, dogs do."
(2) Selini: (Av? you back?)
(2) Selini: "Cats can too can't they?"
(1) Uester: well lets keep looking around, we are bound to run into him again
(6) Avraphel (exit)
(1) Dragonpearl: (looks like he is having isp problems)
(4) Lin Chien: "If they choose."
** (4) Lin Chien nods and heads out again, moving to the marketplace this time
(1) Dragonpearl: (okay if av cant get back on by 5 then we can call it here.)
(1) Dragonpearl: (ie ten minutes.)
(4) Lin Chien: ((ok))
** (2) Selini reaches over and fluffs Lin's hair, then walks with him over to the marketplace, kissing her kitten's head
(1) Dragonpearl: (I just got my property tax bill. its a whopping 6 bucks! LOL)
(2) Selini: (I miss my cat!)
(1) Dragonpearl: (you have a kitty? I have three)
(2) Selini: (I have a dead kitty... *sniff*)
(1) Dragonpearl: http://www.geocities.com/drgnprl/kitties.html
(1) Dragonpearl: (awww! I had one of those. we got ralph and louie to replace him. Bob's the oldest.)
(4) Lin Chien: ((Why do you do that to all my characters?))
(2) Selini: (my parents won't get another :( )
(2) Selini: (cause I have a secret crush on you ;p j/k)
(4) Lin Chien: ((Next time I'm getting a bald guy, let's see what you fluff then))
(2) Selini: ((I'll rub your bald lil' head!))
(1) Dragonpearl: (which one?)
(8) Avraphel (enter)
(2) Selini: (aah! naughty Goddess!)
(1) Dragonpearl: (are you here to stay av?)
(2) Selini: (say "yes")
(2) Selini: (say it! say it now maggot!)
(2) Selini: (;p)
(8) Avraphel (exit)
(2) Selini: (*sniff*)
(4) Lin Chien: lol
(9) Avraphel (enter)
(9) Avraphel: (well worked this time..)
(1) Dragonpearl: (it was the map.)
(9) Avraphel: (hmm.. it was fine when I was here and you loaded it.. but I couldn't reenter after I crashed..)
(9) Avraphel: (are we really done then?)
(1) Dragonpearl: (yup. Yeah actually I would like to wait and explore the rest of the city while David is here.)
(1) Dragonpearl: ( you guys hit the only section with no real encounters)
(9) Avraphel: (ok.. why don't you reload that and see if it kills me then.. just to check if that's it..
(1) Dragonpearl: (are ye dead)
(2) Selini: woot!
(4) Lin Chien: Hmmmm
(2) Selini: I like my kitty!
(1) Dragonpearl: yup, killed him. lol
** (2) Selini names her kitty "Loki"
(9) Avraphel (exit)
(1) Dragonpearl: Loki huh?
** (2) Selini teaches it to smite
(2) Selini: ;p
(1) Dragonpearl: heh
** (2) Selini points at the fleeing Goblin "Smite Loki!"
** (4) Lin Chien kicks Loki's ass
(4) Lin Chien: Whoo hoo!
** (2) Selini slaps Lin
(2) Selini: be nice to my kitty!