Into the Ruins - Exalted 3e IC

[Eonivar]

Mercy aided Silent Glade in collecting their things in the wagon.

She put her clothing back on, her leggings, stockings, a long sleeved light cotton tunic, simple dark grey robe, soft black boots, a deep red hajib that covered her hair and neck but shown her whole face, and a matching scarf of the same color that she could cover her face with if need be, with her black hooded cloak. She had a backpack of various small books, journals, implements and items, as well as a leather sheath that attached to the backpack for the skycutter Black Wind. The odd and ominous blood red soulsteel weapon that was always cool to the touch and cast no reflection.

She also took a look around the wagon to see if there was anything worth taking from (at least in Mercy’s eyes) the treacherous dragon blooded.

Perception+Awareness+3 for excellency = 5 successes
(Spends 3m for excellency)
After searching the wagon, she joined the rest of the circle outside to listen to what their next steps would be.

 

[Sherwood]

"I know this one. He's a Chosen of Luna." Grey Stone said gently to Amara. "I met him during my days on the road following my Exaltation, before I ran into you and the rest of our group. We shared food and a campfire, and talked about the paths we'd taken prior to that moment. We chose to go our separate ways afterwards, but I am confident in my wisdom regarding my decision to call him a friend."

[OOC: Apologies to Purr ; I just wanted to establish that our two characters knew each other to a degree.]

Amara raises up an eyebrow at the revelation that this is cat is not a forest spirit of some sort, but is instead a Lunar Exalt. She offers up a respectful bow to Fat Cat, saying, "My apologies for not knowing your true nature, noble Exalt, but in my defense, the Chosen of Luna are well known to be expert in assuming other shapes. I thank you for your help."

 

[Psychie]

Those that have gone inside the locked room of the wagon: Please give me a Per + Awareness roll while inside the wagon to see if you spot any exceptional goodies.

 

[Psychie]

For those that have looked inside the locked room, you can see that it is (or at least, was) a strongroom with several large chests of jade coin. That is all that catches Gray Stone's eyes as he is in there.

Silent Glade does spot a beautiful lute made of stained hardwood inlaid with what at first glance appears to be gold. But on a closer look, it is clear that it is not gold, but orichalcum, and the strings are orichalcum, too. Truly a masterwork of a musical instrument.
He also spots a pair of finely made boots lined with white jade. Clearly they are a artifact item.

Mercy spots these two items, and in addition to that, she sees a pair of starmetal Hearthstone Bracers, but instead of just one hearthstone socket set in the right arm, each arm has a socket in it. A tad bit unusual. Perhaps these are not your typical bracers?
She also spots a fine pen next to an inkwell. The pen is inlaid with orichalcum and jade, making it a magical pen of some sort.

Finally, Mercy sees a pair of gemstones, one is a glittering white, and the second is a diamond-bright triangular jewel, both clearly filled with Essence, marking them as hearthstones.

EDIT forgot to add that Fat Cat also spots the lute and the boots. Sorry, Purr !

 

[Psychie]

Rykon It was mentioned in OOC by Dannigan that he wants to see Kerwin searched. You have the first shot at this, since you were on top of him patching up his shoulder. If you wish to, give me a Perception + Larceny roll to see if you can find any hidden treasures on him.

 

[Rykon]

[I’ll give a token Perception roll despite having 0 Larceny. I’ll use my previous post as the stunt. 3 successes.]

 

[Purr]

"I know this one. He's a Chosen of Luna." Grey Stone said gently to Amara. "I met him during my days on the road following my Exaltation, before I ran into you and the rest of our group. We shared food and a campfire, and talked about the paths we'd taken prior to that moment. We chose to go our separate ways afterwards, but I am confident in my wisdom regarding my decision to call him a friend."

jaydude As Grey Stone is speaking, O Mighty Fat Cat turns. Smiling the whole while, he listens intently to the goid-hearted Solar. Then he proceeds to walk toward then around Grey Stone in a trusting manner. Finally, he quietly gives him that gentle and friendly head bump cats everywhere reward to those who so graciously meet their approval.

She offers up a respectful bow to Fat Cat, saying, "My apologies for not knowing your true nature, noble Exalt, but in my defense, the Chosen of Luna are well known to be expert in assuming other shapes. I thank you for your help."

Sherwood Fat Cat listens to Amara until she is finished. Then he slowly closes his eyes and shakes his head in a clearly untroubled manner.

When the word "Lunar"comes up a second time however, he crouches down to Gray Stone and Amara and leans in. He brings the index digit of his right paw close to his mouth and holds it there. Then his eyes open again. Staring straight at Kerwin the Dragon Bloode. There is none of the trust he showed Grey Stone in his expression now; it has been replaced completely by savage wariness.

Having expressed this, he calmly rises, smiles again, and makes his way to Aredin. Rykon

Glancing down at the loyal guard, Da Chonk gently and casually rubs up against Aredin as if to show everyone in the area of his trust. He turns his big body in a way that hides the spot between his front paws from the eyes of others.

In the earth between his huge paws, he flicks out a single scimitar-like claw and scratches a message solely to Aredin:

"Wyld and more here in 30 min.. We must go. I will Deliver Circle on me, no charge, but you must provide destination. Also, loot in wagon!"

Fat Cat looks down and once he sees that his message has been read and understood, he erases it completely. Then...

Psychie ...unless prevented by Aredin, Fat Cat proceeds to search Kerwin too. His big paws gently bat the Dragon Blooded around as he sniffs, pokes, and prods for everything on the man, especially hidden things.

 

[Psychie]

Between Aredin and Fat Cat's searching, you have found a Blue Jade Devil Caster with a pouch of firedust and a Hearthstone Amulet with a glowing stone set in it. He was wearing no armor.

 

[Purr]

Fat Cat happily helps Aredin separate these things from Kerwin. Then he does the same thing with the guard in case Kerwin somehow slipped him anything (like the key to the wagon door that has yet to be produced, but could also be the Hearthstone or something else).

Keeping busy, Fat Cat chomps his big teeth onto guard's upper-body clothing, picks him up, and carries him away like a Papa Cat carrying away an unruly kitten.

Preferably out of earshot of the Circle, Fat Cat deposits the guard at one of the campfires, the guard's back to the Circle.

Fat Cat then proceeds to gather up all of the food at each of the campfires and delivers it all to the Circle by the wagon. There was the mentioning of poisoning earlier; Da Chonk imagines the Circles' tummies to be quite empty by now.

"Aoow!" O Mighty Fat Cat motions to the Circle and at the food, then at the wagon, then into the distance as if eager to be away. But... being a chonkster and unable to help himself, Da Chonk glances down at the food, chomps up some of it, and begins munching with this big happy grin while watching all that is going on.

 

[Sherwood]

Amara looks at the giant cat as he eats, then asks of him, "We have to leave, the sooner the better. Are you going to be coming with us?"

 

[Purr]

Sherwood (Get ready for some silliness!)

Caught with his mouth full enough that his chonky cheeks are puffing out, O Mighty Fat Cat realizes he is being addressed and freezes. Having paused in mid-munch, his huge expressive eyes look at Amara with something akin to dread. His not-thought-out attempt at a verbal reply is equally brillliance-worthy:

"Mglphfibish!"

His eyes narrow as he realizes that he can't talk and he changes tactics.

Looking up to the howdah made of moonsilver that adorns him from neck to back, the overweight Lunar politely positions his body as close to the ground as he can and motions Amara to grab some food and get comfortable up there!

He goes so far as to position his great paws like steps on a furry staircase as if offering to assist the one-armed lady up.

 

[Eonivar]

Mercy eyes the items, and glances at Silent Glade, "Grab the lute and the boots..I will get this other stuff...I will take a look at them later and see if I can identify them, we probably should not linger here long"

She opens up her pack and grabs the pen and inkwell (making sure the inkwell is well stoppered so as not to get ink all over her bag), the bracers, and the hearthstones and puts them in. She then walks over to one of the chests and opens it, grabbing a couple of handfulls of jade coin and placing the coin in her bag, and then shutting the lid. She considered dragging the coin out and spilling it on the ground so those innocents of the caravan could partake but she really wanted to get out and away from this place.

She then glanced back at Silent Glade to make sure he was good before going back outside to see what the circles next steps would be. She stood beside her waiting Demon Wasp Familiar and watched the activity of her other circle members. She heard that the Hunt was not too far behind them and she had no desire to tangle with them.

"Are we running on foot or are you going to acquire mounts? Or are we riding our new Lunar friend? Or am I riding Opal and you all are riding something else? Opal can only carry one other along with me."

 

[Rykon]

With Adorei now fastened to his belt once again, Aredin exhales a sigh of relief despite the pouty aura pressing against his conscious. The merchant prince glance to the blade in the ground and then back to the Daiklave resting in her scabbard. "Well maybe if you came as readily as Amara's daiklave, I wouldn't have to settle for a stage prop when making my threats." He mumbled through a scowl. Between the name-calling and the bloodless surface of his temporary armament, Adorei seemed to withdraw the majority of her complaint. She responded with what he could only interpret as a mental grunt of satisfaction. 'That's cause <someone> practices.' She chided. He merely took note of her scolding as a lesson for a less chaotic time.

Aredin now smiled snugly beneath the comfort of his buff jacket as he approached their towering chauffeur. "We have to make a bit of a detour to lead our pursuers on a little, but I've arranged for some... delays, to give us more of a lead." Turning to the rest of the circle he added.,"I doubt Da Chonk here will need it, but it gives us time to go to ground if we want to rest." It was at that moment he noticed the haul of loot they were stowing away. He winced a bit, knowing Kerwin likely wasn't doing this cause he particularly wanted to. After all, it's not like a Dragon-Blooded had to do anything to get on the Realm's good side. Still, there was loot and then there was Lute. A truly hard-won prize too precious pass up. He eyed the instrument with child-like joy unable to stop himself before "Dibs!" escaped his mouth. Kerwin had his treasure map. He'd make back his losses. Surely. I guess drinks are on me next time.

The eclipse cleared his throat. "Right, if everyone's ready it's far past time we hit the road. O' Mighty Fat Cat, if you would be so kind?" Aredin gave a polite bow before attempting to mount up with a gentle scratch behind his ear.

 

[Sherwood]

While Amara could easily leap to the top of the howdah on the back of the huge cat-Lunar, she lets the large fuzzy Exalt give her a lift up and she climbs into one of the seats on the back of the huge feline. "My thanks for the helpful paw up. Please allow me to introduce myself to you. I am Amara Kaji, Chosen of the Unconquered Sun." The last part is fairly obvious; after all, she did spend a fair amount of Essence getting ready for the fight, even if it turned out that it wasn't really needed and her forehead is now adorned by the glowing caste mark of the Dawn. "Did I hear correctly that you are called Da Chonk? Or was it Fat Cat? I'm not sure which."

She calls out to the others. "Hey everyone! Forget trying to wrangle up some horses. We have a better ride waiting for us. With Mercy taking Opal in the air, there is plenty of room for the rest of us here. Grab what you can so we can get out of here before we are in the middle of another fight with the Dynasts from the Wyld Hunt."

 

[Purr]

An odd thought seems to enter Da Chonk's mind. Unable to share it, he follows it as best he can. Da Chonk looks at the wheel-tracks and horse-prints left by Kerwin and his caravan. Which way were they headed? And which way was the Wyld Hunt coming from? Da Chonk seemed to know the latter, but he tried to figure out just which way Kerwin had been taking Aredin, Grey Stone, and their friends.

Sherwood "M-r-r-owww," replies O Mighty Fat Cat to Amara to get her attention. With intent looks and pointing with his chin, he indicates Aredin and Grey Stone in response to her question. He would love to tell her himself but he lacks the ability to speak. Instead, he chews his food thoughtfully.

Eonivar Looking up at Opal with his huge eyes, Fat Cat waves up to Mercy. Then he pats his howdah and seems to point back to the beautiful Solar. "Oooow?" he seems to ask her, his big fluffy tail meandering back and forth behind him.

 

[Chowlett]

Silent Glade nodded once more to Mercy. With no significant possessions save the two small daiklaves strapped to his belt, it was no trouble to gather up the lute and boots. Of course, they were unusable just at the moment, the natural weight of the jade not offset by attunement, but with little difficulty he slung the lute over his back and picked up one boot in each hand.

By that time, Da Chonk had adopted a quite curious position, and yet it was quite clear what his intention was. Stepping as gently as he could onto the soft fur of the giant cat, Silent Glade mounted to the howdah, murmuring apologies for planting his weight on so noble a creature as he went. Hearing Amara's introduction, he followed up with his own: "Silent Glade, shaman and exemplar of the Unconquered Sun's Night. If it suits you, I shall sit up near your head so I may guide you towards the safety of the Manse I know."

 

[Eonivar]

Mercy listened carefully to what was being said, and acknowledging the large lunar cats implied offer. She knew that they would need some stealth and cover to get away from the Wild Hunt successfully and she had no desire to take them on. She also knew Opal was not stealthy at all. She sighed again wishing that she could just live her life in peace.

She turned to Opal and put her arms on the giant wasps side hugging it.

[Old Realm] “Sorry dear friend, I will let you rest in the essence, I promise I will get you out later so we can fly for a day, ok?”

The wasp made that odd buzzing almost purring sound, telling Mercy that she looked forward to that day and that it will be fine that she rests.

Mercy then stepped back and with a thought; the giant demon wasp dematerializes and disappears leaving the sounds around them.

Mercy turns back to the rest of them, and carefully steps up on the large lunar cat and onto the howdah without a word and sits down.

 

[jaydude]

Grey Stone opted to leave behind the treasures in the wagon. They already had all the material wealth they needed through Aredin, and he'd never much cared for it anyway.

He followed Mercy in climbing up into Fat Cat's howdah. He could have just jumped onboard, but he knew how heavy his bulk was, and he didn't want to risk hurting the Lunar with a weighty impact.

Taking a seat near the back, he let Faith's Pillar rest upon his shoulder.

Spoiler: Grey Stone Stats

Essence: 1
Personal Essence: 10/13
Peripheral Essence: 19/33
Anima: Glowing

Willpower: 6/7
Join Battle: 5
Health Levels: -0, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1,-1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -3, Incapacitated
Resolve 3, Guile 1

Attacks
Faith's Pillar (10 dice Withering, 8 dice Decisive, Withering Damage 19, Overwhelming 5, Bashing, Melee, Reaching, Smashing, Two-Handed)
Unarmed (13 dice Withering, 8 dice Decisive, Withering Damage 15, Overwhelming 1, Bashing, Brawl, Grappling, Natural)

Actions
Rush: 6
Disengage: 6

Evasion 4, Parry 4
Soak/Hardness: 4/0

Increasing Strength Exercise (+1 Strength)

 

[Psychie]

With everyone loading up into the howdah on the large Lunar's back, it is a comfy fit with room for all of you up there, and Fat Cat doesn't seem to mind the extra weight on his back. Now that the howdah on your back has its passengers loaded and the food in front of you is in your belly, Fat Cat finds himself refreshed after his previous long run and is ready to travel once more.

Silent Glade can remember the location of a hidden manse that is going to be a few hours travel time at least, even for the mighty Da Chonk. Assuming that there is no reason to delay, am I free to presume that you set off on your journey?

 

[Purr]

Hearing Amara's introduction, he followed up with his own: "Silent Glade, shaman and exemplar of the Unconquered Sun's Night. If it suits you, I shall sit up near your head so I may guide you towards the safety of the Manse I know."

Da Chonk looks up to Silent Glade and replies, "Owrrr." He sounds pleased and he looks alert.

He pauses once to lick one paw, push it up against the left side of his face and whiskers, and then smooth the whiskers back with well-practiced motions. Then his ears are up and his tail is low as he resumes alertness, looking and listening to all that the night has to offer his senses.

Mercy then stepped back and with a thought; the giant demon wasp dematerializes and disappears leaving the sounds around them.

O Mighty Fat Cat raises one paw and waves to Opal as she fades into the beyond.

 

[Chowlett]

Glade leaned down from his position just above Fat Cat's head, and spoke directly into one enormous ear. "We're heading northeast. Soon we will meet a stand of maple trees set slightly apart from the surrounding forests. From there, a stream flows north - we will follow it upstream for some distance until it forks. Then east, and the land will become broken and hard to traverse. A blasted oak stands high on one ridge, and from there it is but a short run along a ravine floor to reach the manse."

"That is the most direct route. If you, Cat, or any of you others wish to throw off our trackers, then please do so to whatever extent you choose. I will still be able to find the manse afterwards."

 

[Purr]

Glade leaned down from his position just above Fat Cat's head, and spoke directly into one enormous ear. "We're heading northeast. Soon we will meet a stand of maple trees set slightly apart from the surrounding forests. From there, a stream flows north - we will follow it upstream for some distance until it forks. Then east, and the land will become broken and hard to traverse. A blasted oak stands high on one ridge, and from there it is but a short run along a ravine floor to reach the manse."

"That is the most direct route. If you, Cat, or any of you others wish to throw off our trackers, then please do so to whatever extent you choose. I will still be able to find the manse afterwards."

O Mighty Fat Cat nods in reply with what looks like absolute glee.

(How about some exciting traveling music, shall we? =) )

Spoiler: Bodhisattva

"Bodhisattva" by Steely Dan


Partial Lyrics:
Bodhisattva
I'm gonna sell my house in town
And I'll be there to shine in your Japan
To sparkle in your China, yes, I'll be there
Bodhisattva
Look out!

On the Fat Cat's howdah, mounted in the front of every seat, there is an unusual thing - a saddle horn - directly where one could put their hands and hold on. It is not so high that it prevents riders from leaning forward, but Fat Cat probably doesn't seem like the kind of kitty that dallies livestock and you see no ropes. So what's with the saddle horns?

He gently bounces a few times to settle the weight above him and to give everyone a hint that great motion is about to follow. "Owww!" He calls out. It is delivery time! Time to deliver the Circle to Silent Glade's safehouse!

O Mighty Fat Cat calls upon his Skulking Rat Spirit Charm and when he begins moving, anyone looking behind him may notice that his tracks completely disappear as he leaves no trace that he was ever here at all. Once he is certain everyone is sitting down and ready to go, Fat Cat begins his run with the kind of acceleration that gradually picks up to speed without slamming anyone into their seats. He has to have practiced this. His normal traveling gait is a fun smooth glide that only cats and perhaps foxes seem to have when zooming along. It is even and predictable. You could probably set a mostly-full drink down and it wouldn't spill.

Spoiler: Cat Bus!

From Hayao Miyazaki's superb film, My Neighbor Totoro. Woo!

Da Chonk sets on a course where he can take advantage of his Enhanced Sense - Sight and Night Vision to avoid obstacles and make best use of the terrain. The gigantic housecat focuses his Essence and his resolve-filled spirit to call upon his delivery-based Charms and Mutations. This is a "hooray for Luna" moment for him and it shows in his huge smile.

When he spots the stand of maple trees Silent Glade mentioned, he also finds the opportunity to really open up! The monster-cat gives everybody up top a warning "Awrrowrr!!" Then he kicks in his Fleet of Foot Mutation combined with his beloved Charm Instinct-Driven Beast Movement. He hopes Mercy has her hajib on tight because if it somehow manages to fly off, he doesn't imagine being able to go back and get it! This incredible amplification of speed takes O Mighty Fat Cat from the average mortal rider probably thinking, "just hold on tight" to "this cat is too big to be able to go this fast!" to "Oh Holy Mother of Creation, if you help me survive this, I swear I'll never <insert habit of wrongdoing of your character's choice here> again!!"

It becomes all too clear - these are what the saddle horns in the howdah are for!

With the undeniable grace and balance of a natural feline topped with a headlong flight that would shame a striking hound, O Mighty Fat Cat cuts across Creation with such smoothness of gait that it seems he could carry a basket of fresh eggs unbroken. Joined with Luna-blessed fleetness, Da Chonk's confidence shows - he is a Lunar who believes he was born to master the art of getting something from one place to another using a style all his own. Here is where the unique cat at his finest! This is what Da Chonk was meant to do in life - to deliver the goods!

He cuts along the stream Silent Glade points out and that is when things begin to get really interesting! Anyone with the ability to see in the dark likely notices that while the steadily-rushing northbound stream plows ahead, the trail that you are alongside does not. Just as the trail is about to give out, you hear an "Awwooor!" as Fat Cat leaps high into the air and over the stream. He looks like he is about to land in it when the night forest all about you seems to go black for a moment. While your howdah does not change shape, something else certainly does.

Spoiler: Surfin' U.S.A.

"Surfin' U.S.A. (Mono)" by the Beach Boys

You hear the deep, pleasant voice of a man say, "Weeelcooome to de Lucky Fat Cat Express! Now hang ooon!"

There is a tremendous splash! You are surrounded by water below you. As vision returns and you find yourselves no longer on a giant housecat but on the back of a green and gray Armored Terror, a highly-aggressive 30-foot long, 4-ton fish known for its ability to wreck boats of nearly all kinds. However, as you take a fork and proceed east, you realize you have now also landed in the one part of the entire river that contains a new family of River Dragons! Upon your speeding past them, they take your presence here as intrusion and suddenly, you are being chased by half a dozen of the cranky, thrashing reptiles as they chomp and thunder after you relentlessly!

Spoiler: River Dragon

(Image credit: Udon Crew at DeviantArt)

But soon it becomes clear they cannot match the speed of the Lucky Fat Cat Express!

The snapping River Dragons begin to break off as the rushing waters grow stronger and stronger. Ahead of you is a near-pitch black series of trees recently fallen across the riverbanks. The roaring of the waters becomes like that of rapids and it looks as if you are about to smash into the tree branches when your ride spots a hole and makes for it.

Through the hole you go only to discover...

Spoiler: Surprise!

...you're heading over a waterfall!

(Image credit: Vecteezy)

As you begin to pitch forward and careen towards a fate that would widen the eyes of any Armored Terror, the branches of the trees seem to block out all light. The familiar manly voice with the thick accent is heard again.

"Wif de Lucky Fat Cat Express, your merchandise is as good as dere!"

There is a fantastic unfurling sensation. The world becomes light and airy . You feel the wind rushing by you as the water falls down and away into a shimmering lake below. As Silent Glade promised, the land below you does indeed seem hard to traverse. All seems to right itself as you begin to soar over it all. Looking out, you find you are on the back of an incredibly large bird.

Spoiler: Big Birb.

A bird better known as a Roc!

(Image credit: Genzoman at DeviantArt)

Spoiler: Learning to Fly

"Pink Floyd - Learning To Fly (Official Music Video HD)"

From up here, for one brief moment, it is as if much of Creation has displayed itself as a canvas to you. The problems, the stresses that often accompany mortal life, they all seem to drift away replaced by the panorama of nature's undeniable majesty below and the soft twinkling starlit night and silvery moon shining above. Gently, easily, you drift down and down. Fat Cat eventually spots the ridge Silent Glade mentioned and the blasted oak standing proudly, but yes, quite blasted. Nearby is the promised ravine, one so sharp it could have been cut by the sword of some Exalted long ago yawns beneath you.

Like the battle flags of armies, the flapping sounds of great feathers at your left and right reach your ears as you descend farther and farther down. The moonlit ground seems to reach up to greet you. Those great wings open fully to catch the air and slow you. You spot a single winding path so near that you think the roc's claws could reach out and touch it.

Then all goes black once more.

"Aoooww!" you hear and without warning, you are racing along the earth again!

Spoiler: Bodhisattva

"Bodhisattva" by Steely Dan

Look out! =)

Great feline feet carry you along the path toward the manse. Now, some feeling seems to guide O Mighty Fat Cat as his wide white smile is wider than ever. The ravine walls are now high above you, your destination clear. O Mighty Fat Cat's paws finally begin to slow. Then you are moving in a nice leisurely trot that does not jostle you in the least. You can feel the huge breathing beneath the howdah as the trot slows to a walk.

As you reach the manse, O Mighty Fat Cat comes to a stop and settles his body down and flat, his great paws again aligned as stair-steps allowing for easy disembarking. He seems very happy right now.

In fact, here surrounded by the night and with the satisfaction of another delivery done right, all of you can clearly hear this unmistakable sound:

Spoiler: This.

"big cat tiger purring"

=)

 

[Psychie]

Moving along faster than any horse could hope to go, Fat Cat bounds, swims and flies along, looking for the landmarks given to him by Silent Glade. If there is anything in the night that might pose a danger to you, it is quickly left behind by the racing Lunar, letting everyone recover their spent Essence as you hold on in your seats. Even at the great speed of the mighty cat, it still takes well over an hour before Silent Glade spots the first of the familiar landmarks and calls out to Da Chonk to shift his approach to make sure you are heading in the right direction.

Finally, it comes time for you to slow your approach and take in a more careful approach to the manse, and you can see why the place has eluded detection for so long. The weeds and brambles that have overgrown the approach make it nearly impossible to advance without getting ripped to pieces by the long, sharp thorns. There are a couple of ways for Fat Cat to get past them, though. You can shift into a large flying form and go over, or just power your way through the brambles in your current form and let the scratches heal thanks to your own hearthstone. Or you can do something else entirely. How do you approach the manse? Purr

 

[Purr]

"Eeeooow..."

Sniffing here and peering there, O Mighty Fat Cat meows to no one in particular as he sums up the scene. Those brambles and briars would surely make for a rough ride for his passengers. That is the last thing he wants.

Once, he looks up the Silent Glade to see if the Solar has any advice on how to proceed or for any secret paths the cunning fellow might know.

If he has none, Fat Cat transforms into the roc again and as gently and as quietly as possible, he makes his way through the night air and over the fortress of natural undergrowth.

 

[Psychie]

Taking to the air, everyone can see from above that the terrain in the predawn light of the morning is quite formidable. There are three towers ahead of you, one of which has collapsed into rubble and has been claimed by the vines that grow over the sides of the other two. The two that are still standing are each three stories tall, and are just large enough to have one room in them per level. At the very center of where the three towers are (mostly) standing is a large podium, or perhaps an altar, that is covered in the vines and weeds, but at least there are not any of the brambles in here that blocked your approach.

As you slide off of the back of the helpful Lunar that has landed in the clearing, you are all able to feel the fact that this is a powerful manse, with its geomatic energy focused on the altar in the center of the three towers. It is clearly a wood-aspected manse, with all the greenery around you that has been incorporated into the design of the place. It provides a very peaceful feeling, one of tranquility and calm.

Looking about, the two towers that are still standing have human-sized stone doors in them facing inwards towards the altar. There are no windows that can bee seen to break up the smooth lines of the towers. Around the outer border of the clearing with the altar are a dozen lumpy shapes that are covered in vines and moss that look like they might be statues on small pedestals.

From what you can see, there is no sign that there has been anyone here in years, perhaps decades or even longer.

If you are looking for a safe place to relax for a short time, this appears to fit the bill.