IsleOfJade/SessionThirteen

The Temptation of Yukio

(1) Yeled: The crowd outside the Orichalcum door of the Cave of the Anathema lingers for almost half an hour after Kaimi and those who would follow her entered and Master Li shut the door behind them. They watched as the old master waded into the golden sunlight emanating from the door and removed the Sun Disk, thus sealing the door once again. Everyone was chattering on about this and that, conjecturing as to what might lie beyond and whether or not their school mates would ever come out again. Dawn Star alone sat watching silently as her dearest friends departed, and it was clear that she was fighting back tears.

Yukio: "Pfft. They will return Dawn Star."

(1) Yeled: After 30 minutes, however, Master Li began showing signs of annoyance at his students. He frowned at them as he looked about the clearing on the hill, and eventually his face grew cross.

Dawn Star looks up from the ground at the Fire Aspect, but says nothing to Yukio. Finally her gaze returns to the door.

(1) Master Li: "Back to work!" yells Master Li to his students. "You are not here to gossip. To your training!"

Master Li approaches the place where Dawn Star lays and Yukio stands, his eyes not quite concerned for Dawn Star's plight.

(1) Master Li: "It is for the best, Dawn Star," he says calmly. "You cannot help her in there."

Master Li gestures to two of the nearest students (in this case Si Pat and Minh) and tells them to help the girl down to her dormitory. "There you will rest and await the return of your friends."

(1) Master Li: "As for you, Yukio..."

Yukio: "Indeed, Kaimi is far beyond help...."

(1) Master Li: "...I will need to lean on you heavily in the coming days."

Yukio: "Master?"

(1) Master Li: "Without the others, and with Gao's expulsion, there are few left who are qualified to watch our prisoners. Only you and Kia Min are strong enough to act should something unfortunate occur. I'm afraid I will need to press you and her into extended service."

Yukio: "Yes master. I am not afraid of any challenge."

(1) Master Li: "Oh, I don't think you will have anything to fear. As you know they are quite immobile. It’s simply a matter of staving off the boredom, and keeping up with your training in between your shifts. I would suggest you work it out with her to rotate two or three hour shifts."

Yukio: "Yes master. Is that all master?"

(1) Master Li: "Yes, Yukio. That is all. Thank you for helping in this."

Yukio: "Yes Master." Yukio makes his way to find Kia Min.

(1) Yeled: Kia Min, the second lowest ranking Apprentice at the school, can be found on the upper floor of the Training Hall, where she has been watching the three prisoners instead of witnessing the opening of the Cave door like everyone else at the school. The young water aspect is clearly annoyed by this, showing it on her face when Yukio walks down the hall toward her.

Yukio: "How long have you been at it?"

(1) Kia Min: "All night," she says irritably. "Master Li said no one else was available." Kia Min is dark haired and stout, and Yukio knows well she fights using power rather than finesse. She is not exactly pretty, but something about her resolute personality displays itself in her features and she can be said to have a striking appearance nonetheless.

Yukio: "Ah, want a break? I can watch them for a bit. Get some sleep."

(1) Yeled: The training hall is the largest building in the compound, standing two stories tall with space enough for all thirty students to train should the wish to cram themselves in a little. Its lower floor is an open training ground with padded floors and walls lined with practice weapons. The upper level, reached by a single set of stairs that hugs the back wall of the building, is divided into half a dozen open practice rooms where one or two students may spar or perform katas in private. The rooms don't have doors, but their open doorways access a central hall, which in turn leads to the stairs. They afford some, but not a lot, of privacy. It is in one of these rooms that the prisoners have been kept, and in which Yukio finds the water aspect. The four prisoners are all awake, even the horribly burned monk who was discovered by a farmer and fetched from the river several days after the battle. And yet they have been unable to move since they were brought in. Master Li did...something...to them (he mentions obstructing the flow of essence when asked) that has kept them paralyzed all this time. They can swallow soft foods with help, but can do little else other than flick their eyes about at their captors.

(1) Kia Min: "Yeah, I do," she answers, and her tone clearly indicates she feels it’s about time someone came along. "But first I want to know what happened."

Yukio: "Fair enough. Gao was, resentful to say the least about Kaimi's new powers over him. He attempted to open the door, and the disk began to glow. Eventually, he was burned though, and fell back in pain. Kaimi was about to attempt when Gao began to attack her. Sook defended her, and Master Lee told him he was expeled. Kaimi then began to open the door, and didn't appear to be burned. Just as the door opened, Shurikan came flying out, though they didn't do much damage, except to Dawn Star, who is now resting in her dorm. They've been in the caves for about an hour now..."

(1) Kia Min: "Wow. That was quite the summary. You make it all sound so mundane."

Yukio: "I am not the most pleased with these current circumstances..."

Kia Min shrugs. "Why not?

Yukio: "For one, I should be in that cave. Also, I too have trouble accepting that a mortal could ever be above an exalted in any way."

(1) Kia Min: "Yeah, I suppose. I'm not too worried about it myself. The fact that she's entered the cave doesn't change the fact that she's never exalted with the blood of the dragons."

Yukio grunts, before walking past Kia Min, taking a seat near the prisoners.

(1) Kia Min: "Well, I guess I'm off to sleep. Master Li will just have to accept me not training much today. I need rest."

Yukio: "Enjoy your rest."

(1) Kia Min: "Yeah." Kia Min walks out of the room.

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Well, well, well," says a familiar voice only moments after Kia Min leaves. "I knew the old man would send you to guard them eventually."

Yukio 's eyes dart around the room, looking for the source of the voice.

Yukio: "Gao?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Of course it’s me!" says Gao, entering the room the same way Kia Min departed. "Who else would it be?"

Yukio: "What are you doing here Gao?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Doing what the old man told me to do. Gathering my belongings."

Yukio: "And then what?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Ah, that is a good question, isn't it? What will Gao do now? He's been expelled. It’s not like he's got a rich father with an empire that spans the Qin Xuan."

Yukio: "Just because your father is a crime boss does not mean that you have to follow in his footsteps."

Gao the Lesser shrugs. "Who said I'm going to follow?"

Yukio: "Then cut the sarcasm. What are you planning on doing?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Oh, I'm planning on carving out a little piece of the action for myself. Want in?"

Yukio's eyes perk up. "Elaborate."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "It seems to me you've got skills I could use. Plus you're from the streets already, so the life won't be new to you. I think I can promise you a career full of opportunity. We'll start off under my father, of course. No sense in building anew. But it won't be long before you and I are running a part of the show, if not the whole thing."

Yukio: "Hmmm, and what of our lives here? What of the others? Master Lee? Kaimi?"

Gao the Lesser waves Yukio's questions off, like we would shoo a fly that's been annoying him. "What of them? There is nothing here, really. Not compared with what awaits us."

Yukio: "Gao, I appreciate the offer, however, there is still much I can learn here. If I felt I had exhausted the old man's talents completely, well, we'd have a different story."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Don't be foolish, Yukio! What more do you want to learn? You are already one of the fiercest martial artists on this Isle. But if you must continue, then we'll take the scrolls that can instruct you further. Master Li is not needed."

Yukio 's eyes dart back and forth. Internal turmoil is certainly present. "But...While I answer to no one, Master Lee has lent me a fair amount of help in the past."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "He has thrown you a bone. But the meat's already been stripped by his bitch protégé. Do you think I've become First Apprentice because Master Li has spent so much time with me? No! I've succeeded despite the old man, not because of him. I've studied the scrolls and surpassed what he has taught. You can do the same. I'm sorry to say that he has held you back."

Yukio: "Hmm. But what of the quest Kaimi and them are on? Just leave it be?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Who cares?! What's it matter? The old man feels guilty for something he did two decades ago. Let him send his star pupil to do his dirty work."

Yukio: "Alright, forget the old man and his protégé, I will be greater than either of them could ever imagine. I am sick of being second to a mortal"

Gao the Lesser smiles triumphantly. "Glad to see you've finally seen the light. Now, to business."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "We've got things to do before we leave. Not least of which is that we've got to get these four out of here." He indicates the three immaculates and Grunau the bandit.

Yukio: "Alright, how do you suggest doing that? I’ve not seen anything quite like this magic before."

Gao the Lesser smiles again. "Like I said, he held you back. I just happened to have done a little research, and I know how to release them. That, however, isn't the main problem."

Yukio: "What is then?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Getting them out without anyone seeing you do it."

Yukio: "Aye, well sneaking is what I do. Shall we carry them out?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "No. First, I'm not ready to go. And second, I have two other tasks that will keep me from helping you accomplish yours. Plus it’s the morning and there are just too many people about. It would probably be better to wait until dark, don't you think?"

Yukio: "Very well, we can wait."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Act normally the rest of the day. At dusk I will return and release them from their paralysis. Then, when all is clear, you lead them out."

Yukio: "Sounds good. Until the night then."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Yes," says Gao, turning and leaving Yukio alone with the prisoners.

The Cave of the Anathema

(1) Yeled: The entrance to the Cave of the Anathema stands open before the gathered crowd, glowing like the sun itself on Kaimi, Tetsuko, Ayame, and Mou. Beyond the light is only darkness...

Mou-Shendu picks up one of the paper lanterns, then turns to Kaimi. "Are you ready?"

(1) Yeled: Stale, musty air mixed with a bizarre smoky scent wafts out of the opening. It seems eager to pour out of its prison, and stretches to move free for the first time in a thousand years.

Kaimi nods curtley and moves toward the entrance.

(1) Gao the Lesser: There are no sounds. All the gathered students stand in silent awe, and even the birds and animals have fallen silent in anticipation of what might come next.

Mou-Shendu takes her by the shoulder. "As much as it pains you, perhaps Sook or I should take the lead."

Sook is half a step ahead, and steps around them as mou says this

Mou-Shendu: "Or Ayame"

Sook strides into the cave without further stalling, appearing comfortable and definitely not impressed by the apparent extreme stretch of time since anyone has walked these steps

Ayame: "Oh sure, send me in first"

Kaimi eyes narrow and she glares at Mou

Sook does, however, bend over slightly, so as to fit

(1) Yeled: Sook reaches the entrance and peers in. It is almost immediately clear that the so-called Cave of the Anathema is not a natural feature or roughly carved human construction. Immediately inside the door are stairs carved into the stone and enclosed in perfectly smooth, solid yellow and white marble. The walls are at right angles to the stairs and the ceiling is perfectly parallel to them. Both are also covered in marble. You can see that the paw shaped shuriken originated in several long, narrow openings in the ceiling of the stairs, directly across from the door. The stairs descend steeply downward into darkness. It’s impossible to see beyond that, primarily because the light is just so bright on the outside your eyes cannot pick anything up.

Ayame follows along "I never thought I'd say it but this place is creepy. Or maybe it just stinks."

Mou-Shendu follows just behind Kaimi.

Kaimi eyes peak with interest despite her obvious irritation and she moves to follow Sook and investigate

Ayame squeezes in alongside Kaimi, bumping her with her hips lightly

Kaimi: "Wow you wouldn't think we were going into a cave at all."

Ayame prods Sook along "Hey come on, move it!"

Mou-Shendu: A swirling whirlpool of blues and greens surrounds Mou-Shendu as he focuses on drawing in Essence. He raises his lantern to the walls, floor and ceiling as they walk, searching for any symbols or markings that may have been engraved.

Sook will slowly descend the stairs once all are inside

(1) Yeled: The passage itself isn't wide, but it is enough for Kaimi and Ayame to walk side by side and bump each other only occasionally. The ceiling is high enough that Sook does not have to bow his head. The stairs go down a full level before they end. The light of the dawn sun just barely reaches this far, but it is enough to illuminate a long, unbroken corridor that ends in shadow outside the reach of the light. Both walls of the corridor and the ceiling have shimmering, almost spectral images embedded into the marble. These seem to be made of some kind of material with a reflective patina, and they almost glow in the dim light. Every color is visible in the elaborate scenes that are depicted on the walls. Stars on the ceiling are bright silver, and complex Old Realm writing is scribed in a golden script.

(1) Yeled: As soon as you reach this corridor, the door behind you swings rapidly shut and the light quickly disappears. The mechanism of the door whirls into operation as it engages its lock. Your eyes take considerable time to adjust to the pathetic glow of the three paper lanterns Li gave you, but the highly reflective scenes on the walls remain visible in the dim light.

Mou-Shendu stops and studies the ancient writings.

Kaimi looks around at the murals with interest.

Ayame attempts to read the Old Realm writing.

(1) Yeled: The first, and perhaps most striking, scene in the corridor is to your left and depicts the Sun Tyrant on bended knee, praying in front of some sort of god-figure wearing golden armor and who is crowned with the sun itself. At the Sun Tyrant’s feet is a leopard, and a falcon rests on his shoulder. Both animals have bowed heads in deference to the god. The light from the god’s sun crown radiates down to shine upon the Sun Tyrant. In the place where the Sun Tyrant’s heart should be, the artist has placed a glowing red sphere that appears to also be a small sun.

(1) Yeled: The rest of the wall is covered by script that seems to be a list of names or titles. The first name is given as Jia Bouyu. Afterward follow dozens and dozens of other names, with neighboring names or titles being related in some way. Thus Jia Bouyu becomes Jia Bouyu the Chosen becomes Jia Bouyu Chosen of the Gods becomes Glorious Chosen of the Gods, and so on, until the last name written is Great Lord of the Heavens, the Unconquered Sun. Other titles that appear at various places and in various forms on the list are the Golden Fang, Flawless Falcon, Shining Lord of the Isle, and Vanquisher of the Slumbering Deep.

Mou-Shendu: "This is incredible," Mou mutters, more to himself than to his companions.

Sook: "odd....they seem to like the sun....yet it is so dark in here..."

Kaimi: "Are those all names for the sun Tyrant?"

(1) Yeled: ((Roll Int + Lore) Mou-Shendu: [7d10.vs(7)] => [6,6,4,10,9,9,10] = (4) Sook: [5d10] => [7,1,10,7,1] = (26) Ayame: [4d10] => [4,1,4,4] = (13) Kaimi: [3d10.vs(7)] => [9,1,1] = (1)

(1) Yeled: ((Some of them are, for sure, although the name Jia Bouyu is entirely new for everyone. The name Unconquered Sun is reference to the chief god of the heavens))

Mou-Shendu: "Yes", says Mou. "But I believe they show the rise of the Sun Tyrant as he ascended from a great being, to a lesser God, and ultimately to become the Unconquered Sun, greatest of the Gods."

Kaimi smirks. "So they say. If he's so great where is he now?"

Ayame laughs.

Sook: "Well, if he is the sun.....then he is in the sky," Sook says and looks matter of factly at kaimi.

Kaimi: "Yah Sook. Right. Top of the class for creepy thoughts."

Ayame: "Well at least the sun can't see us in here."

Kaimi: "Yah actually nobody can see us in here. Have any of us given any thought to whether we can open that door back up from the inside?"

Ayame: "I'm not worried, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Don't know about you guys though." Ayame sticks her tongue out

Mou-Shendu moves over to the mural that seems to depict the Sun Tyrant bowing before the Unconquered Sun. "Could it be?" he asks himself.

Sook: "Could what be?" Sook says, answering Mou’s comment that wasn’t addressed to him.

Mou-Shendu: "That the Sun Tyrant," he says, pointing at the sun on the Tyrant's heart, and drawing a line to the crown on who he believes to be the Unconquered Sun, "grew to become the Chief God of the Heavens.?"

Sook: "I doubt it"

Ayame: "That's pretty unlikely."

Sook points to the tyrant. "There, he is bowing to the sun.....he was a servant...if he became the sun, where did the sun go?"

Kaimi: "Wait, A tyrant in charge of Heaven? Mou you are giving Sook a run for his money now."

Sook: "and kaimi....tyrant is what he is called now....we cannot say if he was such...when he lived"

Ayame: "Maybe there are two suns and they just trade off." Ayame seems to be poking fun at their brainstorming

Sook grunts and walks on.

Mou-Shendu continues studying the murals and writings.

(1) Yeled: On the right, a second scene depicts the same god-figure from the first scene, still crowned in the sun itself. The Sun Tyrant is now absent. In his place is a host of wicked looking beings made up of an amalgam of various malformed animals. These seem to be attacking the god, but the god faces them with a glowing sword and overwhelms them, throwing back wave after wave. The remainder of the right wall contain a series of 75 magical invocations, calling on the power of the Sun to perform various tasks, most of which concern cycles of life-giving and sustenance providing. Each invocation ends with the phrase “Praise to you, glorious Sun, with superior power!”

Kaimi: "That bit doesn't look good." Kaimi indicates the second mural. "I wonder who won."

Mou-Shendu: "The Unconquered Sun..." Mou answers, absently.

Kaimi: "Maybe the Sun lost and the Sun Tyrant took his place? That’s in keeping with your theory Sook."

Ayame: "Well I don't think the animals won or we'd see them in the sky"

Kaimi: "Well you wouldn't because a hundred years ago it was raining cats and dogs and that took care of all the animals."

Ayame: "Oh hey, I remember that."

Kaimi laughs.

Sook gets to the edge of the light, then turns. "Are we here to solve this...or look at comics?

Mou-Shendu turns to Sook. "What makes you think that these writings don't contain the solution?"

Sook glances at the murals. "Praise....it is but another word for grovel when the one you praise is not a god"

Mou-Shendu: "You could be right, Kaimi. It could indicate that the Sun Tyrant conquered the Unconquered Sun, and took his place. The Sun God predates the Sun Tyrant, so if this is true, that may be the only way it could be possible."

Kaimi: "Joy. So how ‘bout these then?" Kaimi gestures to the invocations. Why are these here? Doesn't the artist think the Sun knows his own tasks?"

Ayame: "They're probably prayers, not reminders"

Mou-Shendu: "These are prayers, or incantations, calling on the power of the Unconquered Sun for aid in the lives of men. This may have been an ancient temple of sorts, for the noble families of the Jade Isle. Ancient forms of their house symbols are carved upon the exterior of the door."

Kaimi: "Oh. So they are instructions for the worshipers then. Right."

Mou-Shendu nods.

Kaimi: "Hey didn't Master Li say that some of those symbols are similar to those that some families have today?

Mou-Shendu: "He did."

Kaimi: "Maybe they have old records in their libraries that would tell of these times."

Mou-Shendu: "Records of these times are scarce and obscure. That's what makes this place so incredible. I should like to come back here and study this all more thoroughly, when that is the priority."

Kaimi: "Well you know, I or the sun will open the door for you anytime. Just ask. Either of us." Kaimi cocks her head sarcastically. Kaimi: "Save night time perhaps...."

Mou-Shendu smiles. "Thank you, Kaimi."

Kaimi smiles. "No problem!"

Mou-Shendu turns to Sook, again. "Lead on," he offers.

Sook turns and heads on, now that the light is following him.

Kaimi, whose eyes had been straying down the corridor, leaps to follow him.

(1) Yeled: At the end of the corridor you come to another downward descending stair. Its ceiling is painted with strange, winged gods and goddesses who float among the stars and magnificently plumed pheasants and phoenix. On either side of the stair are two niches, the ledges of which continue from the floor of the corridor from which you came, dividing the walls horizontally. A separate scene and golden writing is placed in each of the upper and lower sections of both walls. Small statues of seated gods and goddesses line both ledges. At the end of the stair, above the opening to the next area, the Sun is shown with a symbol that is even today known to mean long-life and prosperity. Master Li has the same symbol written on a posting on the hill.

Mou-Shendu again looks of the scripting and imagery.

(1) Yeled: The upper portion of the wall on your right depicts the Sun Tyrant and his Moon Queen paying homage to what appears to be a goddess adorned with the moon. The goddess glows a shimmering silver color from head to foot. She wears nothing but a mask, which is half bright and half dark and is clearly a representation of the half-moon. In this image the Moon Queen, and not the Sun Tyrant, takes the lead. She stands directly before the goddess, her head bowed. She is shown in a gown of translucent material, and her body can be seen beneath it. Her moon tattoos on her shoulders shimmer brilliantly in silver, mirroring the silver of the goddess. A hawk with moon markings rests at the queen’s feet, its head is bowed like the queen’s. The goddess and the queen hold hands warmly. The Sun Tyrant kneels behind his queen, not interacting directly with the goddess but showing a great deal of respect. Once again he has a small red sun located over his heart. He is here without his armor. He wears a simple but elegant gown of pure white. His swords remain at his waist. A falcon rests sleeping behind him.

Kaimi stands back gazing at the images. "So were they High priest of the Sun and High priestess of the Moon or something? Or just a self important King and Queen who thought they had the god's ear?"

Ayame: "I vote for the latter."

Sook: "From what i have seen....they cannot have been more self important...than the current immaculate regime"

Ayame: "If they were even half as stuck up it would still be the stuff of legends."

Kaimi: "Well they seem fairly tyrannical. Maybe they were taking notes from these two."

Mou-Shendu: "I can imagine that people of their influence could easily obtain the Gods' ears. If they could rally their people - either by greatness or fear - they would have a lot they could offer a god.""

Kaimi: "Well if they really are the Sun Tyrant and the Moon Queen that would probably be true."

Sook smirks, "The gods do not need us.....we could all die today....and the sun would not notice, the moon would not mourn."

Mou-Shendu: "Would you be listening, Ayame, if I could offer you the continued prayer and offerings of the entire jade Isle?"

Ayame: "Me? No way. I'd be destroyed within the hour."

Mou-Shendu: "But what if you could fend off the others, long enough to overpower them?"

Ayame: "That's a lot of what if"

Mou-Shendu: "There was no Immaculate Order to rally against the Sun Tyrant, and the Unconquered Sun heads the Heavenly Bureaucracy. Here in Creation, I have yet to see a bureaucracy that hasn't been tempted by power."

Mou-Shendu surveys the various murals and statues as he talks.

(1) Yeled: The wall section on the upper left shows the Sun Tyrant and his Moon Queen on bended knee before five goddesses. The Sun Tyrant is in his full golden armor, adorned with a leopard skin, and has his twin swords. The light of the sun shines down upon him. The Moon Queen also wears armor. Hers is silver. She has no weapon, but interestingly the nails on her hands are long and claw-like. The goddesses themselves are identical of face and form, but have different trappings. The closest to the Sun Tyrant is dressed in yellow clothing fit for travel. The next wears a light blue gown that highlights her more seductive qualities. The third wears red armor plate of exquisite quality and form. The fourth wears a green cloak. The hood is pulled up over her head and a veil hides part of her face. The last wears a traditional dress reserved for a period of mourning, and it is violet in color.

(1) Yeled: The lower sections are mostly identical. A naked woman of sprightly features, webbed feet and hands, and blue skin kneels down and faces toward the top of the stair. Each holds a sword of water with a written warning against all who threaten those who traverse the “watery passage.”

Mou-Shendu: "This one portrays the Sun Tyrant and Moon Queen bowing before the five Maidens of Fate."

Kaimi: "The who?"

Mou-Shendu points to each one in turn, "Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The Goddesses that tend to fate."

Kaimi: "Really?"

Mou-Shendu nods to Kaimi.

Kaimi turns to the mural and addresses the Maidens while shaking a finger at them

Kaimi: "Ladies! We need to have a talk."

Ayame: "They don't take criticism well"

Kaimi: "Who says I was going to criticize? Which one of you decided that I had to come here?"

Ayame points to Saturn.

Kaimi: "Oh.” Kaimi Looks at Saturn thoughtfully.

Ayame smirks.

"It wasn't necessarily any of the Maidens that laid this path for you. They watch over and tend to fate, but they do not create it." Mou-Shendu turns to the lower mural. "This one I don't recognize, but she is clearly affiliate with the water. Any thoughts, Ayame?"

Ayame looks more closely.

Ayame: "She’s just a Nymph. They're lower servants in the hierarchy"

Kaimi shrugs "Well I ought to talk to somebody I think."

Mou-Shendu: "Mercury is the Goddess that watches over journeys and travels. If you wish to offer her a little prayer, she might see fit to grant you safe travels."

Kaimi raises an eyebrow, looking amused. "Not exactly what I meant but thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

Mou-Shendu: "Just don't let the Immaculate Order catch you doing this." Mou-Shendu casts his light further down the stair.

Kaimi: "They can get stuffed for all I care."

(1) Yeled: The stair ends on a second corridor, much like the first. Each wall bears the life sized image of the Sun Tyrant, with the red sun at his heart. Before him sit at least eight dozen gods of every shape and form. There are gods that look human in form, there are gods that appear as animals, there are gods that appear as animal headed humans and some that are human headed animals, and there are gods that look neither human nor animal. All the gods are much smaller than the Sun Tyrant, although that doesn’t seem to mean they are lesser. It almost seems if he is depicted as facing each one in turn, and the detailed script below the images seems to bear this out. It basically reads like a conversation in which the Sun Tyrant praises one of the gods, and the god praises the Sun Tyrant in turn.

Mou-Shendu continues to observe the engravings and works of art as they walk on.

(1) Yeled: The end of this corridor opens into a large room, the floor of which is some four or five stories below. The walls of this shaft are decorated with a single, massive scene. There is an opening in the wall opposite the corridor in which you are now standing, but it is at least 25 feet across the well and there are no visible means of reaching it.

Kaimi: "Hmm. Anybody bring rope?" Kaimi steps forward and leans out over the edge looking down.

(1) Yeled: Shinning a light into the well illuminates the scene, but also that the floor of the well seems to be dark and metallic and somehow alive, or at least moving. Whatever it is chitters incessantly as it writhes about some 40 feet below you, at times flowing a few feet up the wall before settling back into the dark, oozing mass.

Kaimi: “Actually forget going down there. That doesn't look friendly."

Mou-Shendu: "Hmmm," says Mou as he tries to cast more light down below.

Ayame: "So, who thinks they can jump that?"

Kaimi bows to the side and holds out her hands, palms up "be my guest!"

(1) Yeled: The scene wraps around the entire room. It depicts a great, dark abyss. To your right, you can see the Sun Tyrant twinkling like a luminous star in an otherwise black room. The red sun appears over his heart, and a sun burst is depicted on his forehead. He is wearing his battle armor, and his twin swords are drawn, glowing like the sun, and prepared to strike. He is not standing on anything, but instead seems to be descending through the nothingness. His eyes are cast downward, and they glow as well. There is something almost monstrous about him, as if he has become the perfect machine of war and nothing human of him remains. Here, finally, is the Sun King as he is normally thought of. Other than the Sun Tyrant, most of the abyss is absent of anything but blackness. As your gazes follow the Sun Tyrant’s eyes downward, however, nasty looking men with long teeth and terrible claws show up faintly against the black background. They do not reflect the light of your lantern at all, and appear as mere shadows. The further down you go the more common they are, until they cover every inch of the wall. They gaze back at the Sun Tyrant. Those on walls cast their eyes across the room to him. All eyes are on him. Below these shadowy men something else is depicted. At first you’re not sure what it is, as it is shadowy like the men, but quickly you make out long curved teeth that rise up out of the writhing floor. They dominate the lowest part of all four walls, as if some massive maw was rising out of the well to consume it in its entirety. You realize that the Sun Tyrant isn’t looking at the shadowy men at all, but rather this huge thing in the floor. There are many warding spells written in golden script along the uppermost border of this room.

Ayame: "This doesn't look good in any way."

Mou-Shendu studies the wards, seeing if he can make heads or tails out of them.

Kaimi: "You know this place started out kinda nice, aside from the traps that is, but it seems to be going down hill."

Sook: "Without a rope....I dont think you could cross"

Ayame: "Who says you could cross even with a rope."

Ayame: "This place could be full of traps"

Sook looks into the pit, "Looks like bugs"

Kaimi: "Yah. I think the big pit might just be one."

Ayame: "I know I can't make that."

Kaimi: "You know, there has to be a way across. Why would they build a passageway on the other side otherwise?"

Mou-Shendu: "I agree."

Sook: "i was thinking, if we had rope....i could climb down and take it...across"

Mou-Shendu: "No, Sook. You are not going to go down there. Whatever is down there is very dark and most likely very powerful. It may be some remnant of what the Sun Tyrant was battling in these murals."

Kaimi: "Maybe if we just start looking for a switch we could find a trap door or something."

Sook: "it could be that there was a way across.....and it is now...gone"

Kaimi: "That would make this trip very short and very pointless. Mou when you were reading the walls back there did you see any instructions that might apply to this?"

Sook looks down again, "Looks like bugs."

Kaimi: "I agree. Even if it is just bugs... They just don't look very friendly."

Sook rips off a small piece from his sash and lights it with mou’s lantern, then tosses it into the pit.

Mou-Shendu puts one toe over the edge, just to make sure what they are seeing is real, and not just an elaborate decoration.

(1) Yeled: There seems to be a drop, yes. The burning cloth falls slowly down, down, down, tumbling as it goes in the heavy stagnant air. It reaches the writhing floor, which flows away from it momentarily before it is subsumed by the mass.

Sook: "Definitely bugs"

Kaimi: "Heh! No you are not going down there!"

Sook looks back up, at kaimi

Kaimi: "No."

Sook: "i dont think that bugs will be able to hurt me significantly"

Mou-Shendu: "It did seem to flee the light, for a moment."

Sook turns to mou,"it was fire...nature avoids fire"

Mou-Shendu: "Bugs are drawn to light, are they not?"

Sook: "Not those kind of bugs. Moths, yes. Those look more like bugs that...you know....prefer the dark. However,we have no rope. Even if i could get across....i could not get up...."

Mou-Shendu smiles and puts a hand on Sook's shoulder. "Let's not gamble you life on the guess that they are bugs just yet, for kaimi's sake".

Kaimi nods emphatically.

Sook looks from the pit, up the wall, to the opening opposite. Sook then allows his gaze to go up, and look at the ceiling of the room

Ayame: "We'll form a chain with our bodies and swing back and forth until we can reach the ledge on the other side"

Sook shakes his head at Ayame, "It is too far."

Mou-Shendu resumes studying the writings and pictures, looking for more clues that might indicate how it is intended that one might reach the other side.

Kaimi: "C'mon. This is a puzzle. I think we just need to be smart to get across. Let’s look for clues. Just like we played at when we were kids exploring other ruins. It's not like we need to rush."

Sook continues to study the ceiling

(1) Yeled: The ceiling is at normal height and depicts faint stars partially obscured in the darkness.

Kaimi begins to run her hands lightly over the walls and floor, searching for hidden switches.

(1) Yeled: ((roll Per + Inv, Kaimi) Kaimi: [2d10.vs(7)] => [3,6] = (0)

(1) Yeled: Kaimi finds nothing.

Ayame: "Maybe you could throw me"

Sook: "again, without a rope, that is of no use"

Mou-Shendu turns to the face the image of the Sun Tyrant. He decides to take a shot in the dark. "Praise be the the Sun Tyrant!" he shouts. "Praise to he whose brilliance conquers the darkness!"

Kaimi raises both eyebrows at Mou.

(1) Yeled: With Mou's words, the sky that is the ceiling opens up. The stars disappear and give way to the brilliance of the sun itself. The rays of the sun caste their light into the darkness, and the shadowy figures fade away into nothingness. The great maw closes and retreats, and the writhing floor chitters angrily and shrinks into a thousand, thousand holes in the floor and walls. The light also shines on something immediately below you... or it seems to. The light is reflecting off of something maybe three feet down. Whatever it is seems to span the room.

Sook grunts, "Self righteousness knows no bounds."

Kaimi looks delighted. "Wow Mou! It worked! It was cheesy but it worked." Kaimi leans over the edge to get a better look.

Mou-Shendu 's gaze rise to the ceiling, and then back down to what it lights below.

(1) Yeled: Whatever it is is transparent. The light reflects off of something that doesn’t' seem to be there.

Mou-Shendu: "This place is clearly designed for those who praise the light of the Sun." he replies to Kaimi.

Kaimi: "Clearly. Well now it looks friendly."

Mou-Shendu: "And that" he says looking down "must be our bridge". Mou-Shendu steps down onto the shimmering nothingness…

(1) Yeled: ...and finds solid floor (probably the same marble from the rest of the place) beneath his feet. To the others he seems to be walking on air.

Kaimi: "Neat! Let’s go."

Ayame: "Woo!" jumps down onto it.

Kaimi strides forward onto the bridge without hesitation.

Sook looks unsure, but carefully lets his foot move down until he can feel it is solid

Kaimi grins at Ayame and marches across, looking around her wonderingly as she goes.

(1) Yeled: The bridge carries everyone safely across the chasm to the opening on the other side.

(1) Yeled: (roll per + awareness)) Mou-Shendu: [7d10.vs(7)] => [3,1,4,2,1,3,8] = (1) Kaimi: [6d10.vs(7)] => [6,3,4,3,5,1] = (0) Ayame: [7d10] => [2,6,9,10,8,5,4] = (44) Sook: [6d10] => [1,10,8,1,7,2] = (29)

Mou-Shendu taps Sook's arm and points to Kaimi, running off ahead.

(1) Yeled: Ayame notices that there is a small, hidden archway at the bottom of the shaft, just as Kaimi stumbles, losing her footing on the invisible bridge.

(1) Yeled: (roll dex + ath, Kaimi)) Kaimi: [9d10.vs(7)] => [6,7,4,5,2,5,5,6,5] = (1)

Ayame tries to grab her

(1) Yeled: She slips off, but manages to grab a hold of Ayame's hand with her own to keep from falling 40 feet or so. She dangles precariously as the sprite holds on to her...having only just snagged each other with their fingertips.

Ayame grabs her forearm with other free hand as she pulls, yanking her back onto solid ground.

Sook rushes over and helps ayame pull her up.

Kaimi grabs the ledge and pulls up

(1) Yeled: Ayame, with Sook's help, pulls the lithe girl up.

Kaimi: "Whoa that was close. Whoops? thanks."

Kaimi smiles sheepishly and turns to examine what she tripped over.

Ayame: "Sheesh"

(1) Yeled: She tripped over the fact that she wasn't paying enough attention to where the invisible bridge ended and the air began.

(1) Yeled: Across the well, three quick stairs drop you in what appears to be a large room. Four pillars are employed to hold up the ceiling, which is decorated as a sky with stars. The pillars themselves show the same images on each of their four sides. Each of the four walls has a scene, and an opening centrally located on the far wall reveals another room beyond this one. In the center of this room is an exquisite chariot made of solid Orichalcum and decorated with large pieces of jade and molded feathers. Only those parts of its wheel mechanism are separate pieces. It is in perfect condition, and has leopards depicted on either side. The Chariot is not like any chariot you've ever seen before.