The Last Dance at the End of the World - Fern - 2024.09.03
Sept 8, 2024 3:28:40 GMT
Andy D, Alex, and 4 more like this
Post by Fernleaf on Sept 8, 2024 3:28:40 GMT
It was an adventure unlike any I have been on since arriving in the Dawnlands, to a place more imbued with magic and mystery than even the feywild. Despite a long discussion with Forfeit and Ninoc after we returned I feel there is much I do not understand. There is a whole story there, and I’ve but skimmed it, and perhaps read the last page…
—
Of the four others I knew only Ninoc. We were joined by another named Dorian, who I gathered to be friends with some of the others, and we started by going to the temple of Selûne. I had been here before, but only in the large outer room. We now went deeper, there were symbols: bee, key, sword, and a painted door whose handle was able to be grasped, opening into a room of doors. The doors had intricate scenes, all but one were cracked and swinging open on their hinges. The fifth depicted faceless people dancing. After some discussion of magic and consequences the door is opened and we go through.
We find ourselves in a space with people reading. In the corners of my vision I see motes of gold, like walking into a dusty room shot through with sunshine. At first the people look real, but the longer I stare at them their edges start to seem translucent, as if they are ghosts, or memories. Our own party is unaffected. We follow the gathering crowd. There is gold, warm and bright, everywhere. It is on lanterns, hems of clothing, the floor itself, the amount of gold increasing as we enter a ballroom, which seems to be our destination. I’m told much later that this was once in a harbor of the Starless Sea. The room is a sensory overload, gold streamers and paint, aroma of honey, wine and musk, dancers in elaborate costumes. A fireplace is covered in candles and bowls with fantail fish, adding a golden glow.
An acolyte stands with a bowl of gold paint, and people are dipping their hands and forearms into the liquid. Our party follows their lead, each changing a bit as they do so, the paint weaving into their selves and clothes. I’m not sure I want gold scales, and dip in only a hand, as you might beside a river. The ripple stays on the surface of the bowl long after I have left. We head towards the bar, catching glimpses of artists and merchants on the sides of the ballrooms. I see books at one and hope to return. In talking with the woman mixing drinks we learn that it is the Lunar New Year, we can take a “bees knees” (gin and honey) or ask for something special. I talk with Crow as the others get drinks, they are a most interesting individual, older, accompanied by a flock of crows and two wolves. “Don’t ask what this is” Crow says, as the canines are given bits of something that they scarf down with apparent glee.
I ask for something non-alcoholic, and the bartender asks about my goals for the year. I say I want to learn new things: spells, tools and skills, and am handed a fluted glass with a layered concoction of honey, lemon and mint. It is very good, I’ve never had anything that fancy! Everyone disperses, Forfeit, Dorian and Ninoc to the dance floor, Crow to look at art, Sterling to investigate the mechanism that made the expresso for his martini. I go back to the table of interesting things, where the merchant asks me what I seek. I tell him books and stones, and he offers a bag of stardust in trade for a story. A trade! It’s so pleasant to find someone who wants to trade! With the warnings about deals with the fey and Hekrati still fresh in my mind I first ensure that the story will remain with me, then tell the tale of how I came to this place. The merchant does not know of the Dawnlands, but gives me a small blue drawstring bag in exchange. I open it to find glowing, golden sand, ash from a dying star. It might be powerful, but the merchant does not know its use.
We’ve all migrated back to the dance floor, most of us at its edges, when a woman appears. White hair, white suit, one blue eye. As soon as I spot the person, the ballroom shakes. In an instant all of the ghosts, the gold, the warmth, disappears. I manage to keep my footing, though some of the others fall. A wide crevasse opens between the six of us that entered this place together and the woman. I hear whispers that she is called Alegra. She says “It doesn’t have to be this way”, that she “won’t allow it to die” Forfeit responds that “not all places are destined for eternity”. She says “this place is” then turns and walks away from us, becoming more translucent as she approaches the edge of the ballroom.
—
Suddenly we find ourselves back in the circular room with the five doors, except now the last door is cracked like the others, swinging on its hinges. Forfeit tells Dorian that he must let us know if “she is coming with her collectors”. Crow asks if Dorian is ready to take the lives of his brothers and sisters. Dorian isn’t sure. I am even more confused than I was when we arrived at the masquerade, and request details. Forfeit and Ninoc suggest I accompany them to the Gilded Mirror where they will try to explain. I am somewhat surprised to find that the bag of stardust is still in my pocket, and did not disappear with the merchant and the rest of the party.
—
I have been to the Gilded Mirror before, but it feels different tonight. There is gold here too, but of a much different quality, cold and static.
DM: Alex
Participants: Crow, Forfeit, Ninoc (One of the Friends), Sterling
—
Of the four others I knew only Ninoc. We were joined by another named Dorian, who I gathered to be friends with some of the others, and we started by going to the temple of Selûne. I had been here before, but only in the large outer room. We now went deeper, there were symbols: bee, key, sword, and a painted door whose handle was able to be grasped, opening into a room of doors. The doors had intricate scenes, all but one were cracked and swinging open on their hinges. The fifth depicted faceless people dancing. After some discussion of magic and consequences the door is opened and we go through.
We find ourselves in a space with people reading. In the corners of my vision I see motes of gold, like walking into a dusty room shot through with sunshine. At first the people look real, but the longer I stare at them their edges start to seem translucent, as if they are ghosts, or memories. Our own party is unaffected. We follow the gathering crowd. There is gold, warm and bright, everywhere. It is on lanterns, hems of clothing, the floor itself, the amount of gold increasing as we enter a ballroom, which seems to be our destination. I’m told much later that this was once in a harbor of the Starless Sea. The room is a sensory overload, gold streamers and paint, aroma of honey, wine and musk, dancers in elaborate costumes. A fireplace is covered in candles and bowls with fantail fish, adding a golden glow.
An acolyte stands with a bowl of gold paint, and people are dipping their hands and forearms into the liquid. Our party follows their lead, each changing a bit as they do so, the paint weaving into their selves and clothes. I’m not sure I want gold scales, and dip in only a hand, as you might beside a river. The ripple stays on the surface of the bowl long after I have left. We head towards the bar, catching glimpses of artists and merchants on the sides of the ballrooms. I see books at one and hope to return. In talking with the woman mixing drinks we learn that it is the Lunar New Year, we can take a “bees knees” (gin and honey) or ask for something special. I talk with Crow as the others get drinks, they are a most interesting individual, older, accompanied by a flock of crows and two wolves. “Don’t ask what this is” Crow says, as the canines are given bits of something that they scarf down with apparent glee.
I ask for something non-alcoholic, and the bartender asks about my goals for the year. I say I want to learn new things: spells, tools and skills, and am handed a fluted glass with a layered concoction of honey, lemon and mint. It is very good, I’ve never had anything that fancy! Everyone disperses, Forfeit, Dorian and Ninoc to the dance floor, Crow to look at art, Sterling to investigate the mechanism that made the expresso for his martini. I go back to the table of interesting things, where the merchant asks me what I seek. I tell him books and stones, and he offers a bag of stardust in trade for a story. A trade! It’s so pleasant to find someone who wants to trade! With the warnings about deals with the fey and Hekrati still fresh in my mind I first ensure that the story will remain with me, then tell the tale of how I came to this place. The merchant does not know of the Dawnlands, but gives me a small blue drawstring bag in exchange. I open it to find glowing, golden sand, ash from a dying star. It might be powerful, but the merchant does not know its use.
We’ve all migrated back to the dance floor, most of us at its edges, when a woman appears. White hair, white suit, one blue eye. As soon as I spot the person, the ballroom shakes. In an instant all of the ghosts, the gold, the warmth, disappears. I manage to keep my footing, though some of the others fall. A wide crevasse opens between the six of us that entered this place together and the woman. I hear whispers that she is called Alegra. She says “It doesn’t have to be this way”, that she “won’t allow it to die” Forfeit responds that “not all places are destined for eternity”. She says “this place is” then turns and walks away from us, becoming more translucent as she approaches the edge of the ballroom.
—
Suddenly we find ourselves back in the circular room with the five doors, except now the last door is cracked like the others, swinging on its hinges. Forfeit tells Dorian that he must let us know if “she is coming with her collectors”. Crow asks if Dorian is ready to take the lives of his brothers and sisters. Dorian isn’t sure. I am even more confused than I was when we arrived at the masquerade, and request details. Forfeit and Ninoc suggest I accompany them to the Gilded Mirror where they will try to explain. I am somewhat surprised to find that the bag of stardust is still in my pocket, and did not disappear with the merchant and the rest of the party.
—
I have been to the Gilded Mirror before, but it feels different tonight. There is gold here too, but of a much different quality, cold and static.
DM: Alex
Participants: Crow, Forfeit, Ninoc (One of the Friends), Sterling
