IC XIII

[thirdkingdom]

Rhys listens at the remaining two doors. The one immediately next to the first room is quiet, and when open reveals a room of similar size and proportions. It appears to be empty, and the thick layer of dust on the floor indicates it has been unused for some time.

The mystic presses his ear to the remaining door, and hears a faint rustling sound.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Seeing Rhys indicate he hears something at the door Thurgan readies his sword and shield to advance within.

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

Thurgan, dwarf
Seeing Rhys indicate he hears something at the door Thurgan readies his sword and shield to advance within.

Tev sets his halberd down quietly on the floor, and joins Thurgan with sword and shield readied.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Once the two others are ready (Thurgan and Tev), Rhys opens the door, then draws his sword, ready to attack whatever might be within, should it prove to be hostile.

[Wyzard]

Severi is extremely prepared to charge into the last room and beat all available ass.

[thirdkingdom]

Spoiling for a fight, the adventurers burst through the doorway, finding themselves in an empty room! The rustling noise seems to be coming from a tattered tapestry hanging on the wall dividing the chamber from the hallway; it is being blown out from the wall, propelled by some strange, cool breeze, the strands of fabric twisting and dancing in the wind. Partially visible behind the tapestry, set into the wall, is a doorway

The doorway does not lead back into the hallway, but looks out into a desolate, deserted mountain valley!

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys stares at the doorway behind the tapestry for a moment in silence before muttering,"The final journey..." Then he says, more clearly,"I'm not ready for this adventure just yet. Let us examine the rest of the building and then be on our way."

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
Once the party bursts through the door and finds a target sorely lacking, Quint lets out the breath he'd been holding. Seeing the tapestry and doorway behind, he sets aside his staff and begins to examine the fascinating find.
"This is amazing," he spouts excitedly, "it could lead anywhere! Surely you can't mean to just walk away, Rhys. What do the rest of you think? Severi?"

He'll examine the tapestry itself for clues that might tell where the portal leads first, then the doorway itself (without touching, or putting anything through it yet). Can he get any sense of where the valley might be based on his broad knowledge skills?

[thirdkingdom]

The tapestry yields no clues. It is shredded beyond recognition. Quint studies the scene and, while he does noy revognuze the scene, concludes that based upon the sun is in relatively the same position. Furthermore, e holster the e industry is cold, it is not an extreme distance, and could be attributed to altitude as opposed to latitude.

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren

"We should be better prepared before taking an unknown journey. We are wounded, and without supplies."

He peers at the thing, disturbed by it.

"And we should research where it might go. I do not savor the opportunity to get lost in a foreign place."

[Wyzard]

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

"Fascinating. Get me a rope, some rations, and a waterskin."

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
Frowning at Rhys's less than enthusiastic repsonse, Quint perks up when Severi chimes in.
"Yes! Now here's an elf with a thirst for answers! I would accompany you, sir, if you're amenable."

[thirdkingdom]

Okay. Let me know how you guys plan on doing this.

[Wyzard]

Severi is first going to take a stick or something, and try to poke the ground on the other side of the portal and then withdraw it. I'm assuming there isn't a "huge first step" problem, where the opposite side of the doorway is ten feet above the local ground or something wacky like that. If everything goes in a way that one would conventionally expect it to, he'll take up two weeks rations and an extra waterskin, tie a rope around his waist for everyone else to hold onto, and then go out, pick a flower or something, and try to come back.

That "testing the portal with a long pole" part is important, obviously."

[thirdkingdom]

Severi thrusts his sword through the portal and taps the ground in front of the door. Nothing untoward happens; his sword makes marks in the ground in a manner that would be expected of a sword. Bravely, he takes his rations and ties a rope around his belt. Bidding his companions hold tightly to the other end, he steels himself and steps forward. There is a brief feeling of resistance, as if pushing through a membrane, and Severi finds himself in another place. Immediately behind him is an almost sheer cliff face as a towering mountain rises to the skies. Clinging to the side of the mountain, some thirty or so feet above the elf, is what looks to be a ruined castle carved into the rock itself. The rope tied about Severi's waist leads straight into the rock of the cliff itself; a slight distortion surrounds the rock and suggests the portal is still there.

The valley itself is perhaps a mile wide and three or four long, the bulk of it being several hundred feet below Severi, stretching out down a steep decline. The ground is brown and barren, seemingly devoid of life. High overhead, however, the elf sees several birds circling above. The air is crisp and cool.

[Wyzard]

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

Severi addresses the portal, and describes all that he sees, including the portal's invisibility, to where he assumes his friends are watching from. He takes the rope and pulls it to one side and then the other, to see if he can make it drag along the "edge" of the "doorway." If nothing untoward happens, he attempts to return.

[thirdkingdom]

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

Severi addresses the portal, and describes all that he sees, including the portal's invisibility, to where he assumes his friends are watching from. He takes the rope and pulls it to one side and then the other, to see if he can make it drag along the "edge" of the "doorway." If nothing untoward happens, he attempts to return.

Severi does as intended and steps back through the doorway. There is again the sensation of passing through a thin piece of fabric, made all the more strange by the need to literally walk into the wall.

[Wyzard]

"Disconcerting, but apparently harmless. The ruined castle may be of some interest at a later date."

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Without saying a word, Rhys leaves the room with the portal. He goes down to his pony and returns to the room with the stairway to the third level with his lantern and a flask of oil. He lights the lamp and begins moving up the stairs slowly, checking for traps as he goes.

[Atlictoatl]

I assume we were able to see Severi talking to us from the other side of the portal. Were we able to hear him?