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Silk Moon Lotus	The burial chamber is much as it was the night of the first trip inside. The crypts still rest as they did before illumiated by the light of the blue flame torchs. A basket and a lantern are the only additions to the room from before. Inside the basket can be glimpsed small clay pots with the something written on them in blue ink. Beyond the late solar's crypt can be seen a doorway leading deeper in. A second passage to the left darkens with no torches glowing down the tunnel. Silk picks up the lantern and one of hte clay pots. She deftly removes the wax seal and pours the contents into the reservoir. "Ames made me some oil that doesn't smell as bad as the usual stuff. It also lasts about twice as long as normal oil." She lights the lantern and looks at her companions. "Straight, left, or open the crypts and hope for treasure?"
Bright Journey	This isn't the first time Bright Journey has been in this crypt, of course, so the rather dry decor doesn't arrest her attention like it had the last time. She's already carrying her bow, of course, eyes wide open as she tries in vain to peer down one hallway, then the other. The shining hearthstone set into her bow doesn't provide nearly as much light as Silk's lantern, to be sure, but it's a modest addition to the surrounding luminescence. Bright Journey shrugs in response to Silk's question. "Straight or right, doesn't make a whole lot of difference to me. I think we'll eventually be going down both, won't we? Besides, without knowing anything about them, just guessing is a bit silly. I...think we should maybe leave the tombs alone, though?"
Rishi	"Whichever way you are thinking is best. This is only being my second time here and I thank you for inviting me!" The dark haired woman smiles appreciatively as her honey sweet voice spills into the room. Her wings are pulled down looking more cloak-like, but she's definitely in her preferred form, tail behind her and clawed feet tapping on the floor. She tilts her head consideringly, her dark silk hair flowing over her shoulder as she does. "Though, why are you using the lantern?" Her castemark lights up, adding a silvery glow to the area, like the moon reflecting off water.
Silk Moon Lotus	"That seems like a reasonable thing to do for now, we may want to check them out later after we clear the rest of the place or at least secure the area." She looks over to Rishi "I tend to hide my caste mark and so I don't think to empower the mark to shed light. I'm used to appearing to be mortal. It also never hurts to have some fire available if needed." Silk looks both ways again then starts heading for the passage at the back of the chamber "Might as well go forward first."
Bright Journey	Bright frowns for a moment, but slowly nods. "It...doesn't thrill me, I admit, digging through tombs. But I have to admit if one of them contains the Daiklave of Solar Stabbing or something, I'd kind of like to know about it before I go to sleep tonight...in the house directly above us." She gets a wry sort of grin and looks at Rishi. "I think it's everyone's second time here. But I think we'll see something very impressive, whether we can use it immediately or not. I'm looking forward to this." Bright shrugs again and grins, looking forward, past the interior tomb. "It's very weird to me that the tombs are so close to the surface. You'd think they would be buried deep, behind all sorts of traps and the most precious things in here. But no, all of them are the first things we run into. Maybe that's a good argument for something even more valuable down below..."
Rishi	Rishi looks around. "It is just being us and ghosts down here, so you should be feeling free to be yourself." She looks sad..or mad..hard to tell in the flickering light. "Having to hide your blessings and your real self...It is being most painful. I always am feeling much better when I can be looking how I like. You should try to be relaxing too." Rishi shrugs. "I am disliking relying on things that can be lost or taken, so treasure is having the little interest. I would be enjoying finding the books, if there are being any." She smiles. "But, yes, I am thinking that this shall be most interesting." Rishi head tilts again, considering. "Perhaps they are being thinking that the ghosts of those with Blessings are being more dangerous than any of the traps? Or maybe the traps are no-longer having the essence?"
Silk Moon Lotus	As the group gets to the tunnel enterance, more of the blue flame torchs light up leading the way to another chamber. Before reaching the room, the sound of running water can be heard ahead. As they reach the room it is not the worked stone of the others but a natural cavern. In the middle of the room is a stone plinth with a blue flame burning brightly. A small stream enters the room from the left, crosses and enters a pool around the phinth, then exits the room to the right. Small stone foot bridges cross each side of the stream. The bottom of the pool looks black in the light from the plinth. On the far side of the room, a tunnel leds deeper. Silk steps inside and looks at the chamber "I think this is part of the Demanse. Perhaps the flames of the torchs is channels from the essence of the plinth?" She walks to the edge of the pond looking for a way to get across without disturbing the water. "Any ideas how to get closer?"
Bright Journey	Bright scratches the back of her head, a curious look on her face as she squints and tries to make out fine detail on the plinth, from the shore. She turns halfway and eyes Silk, and slowly nods. "I actually know little about demesnes and manses, though I understand the basic principle. I didn't even think the essence lighting these torches could be from..." Her voice peters off as she shrugs again. "I thought each was enchanted separately. But you might be right. In a place underground like this, I'm not sure where one ends and the other begins." She kneels down next to the water, trying to peer into its depths, as the others take a more magical approach.
Rishi	Rishi channels some essence into her eyes and nose, opening her gaze to the realm of the spirits and scenting around for any lingering aromas of spirits or sorcery that might signal the presence of traps or dangers as she also heads over to examine the pool. "As long as the pool is not being dangerous I can be flying us over it. Please be waiting one moment while I look around."
Silk Moon Lotus	Rishi smells the sorcery from the torchs behind them as well as from the plinth before them. They have a very similar smell like the same sorcerous working was used on each of them. There is also something about the water that draws Rishi's attention perhaps under the water? From across the room by the passage, Rishi spokes a ghost that darts down the tunnel once Rishi focuses on it for a moment. Looking down into the water, Bright is certain that the light is not what is causing the bottom of the pond to look black. The bottom looks to be some kind of stone that is lining the bed. The plinth definately has some marking on it but they are hard to read do to wear on the plinth as well as distance. Silk nods her head to Rishi "Flying you say? sounds interesting."
Bright Journey	Bright's pink eyebrows raise up when she hears the word "flight", too, although her attention is still mostly on the water, or perhaps what's beneath it. She does glance sideways and give Rishi a smile. "Flight? Now that -does- sound lovely. But I think we'd better learn more about this place before we try it. There's something here...I think there's a different stone underneath the water, a black stone. Can't see it too well. The pillar, or at least the plinth holding it up, has something on it too. I can't see that far that well, though."
Rishi	Rishi opens up and flexes her wings. "I am not wearing these as the statement of fashion. My entire body is being a thing of beauty and function. I can most certainly be flying us over a small pond." She looks slightly affronted. Rishi bends down to look into the water too. "I can be sensing something from the stone too. I could be swimming down to be looking more closely?" She head tilts, considering. "I do not have to be worrying about the breathing, but I should be appreciating it if one of you will be pulling me out if there is being a powerful monster down there."
Silk Moon Lotus	"It would probably be better to check out the water first in case it's a trap. We would be fighting on solid ground instead of hoping the creature in the water cannot eat us all at once or drown those of us without gils."
Bright Journey	"Or mayhap whatever's written here could -tell- us what is going on in the pool. Rishi, Silk, can either of you make this out? I really can't." Bright frowns in annoyance as she tries to squint some more. She sighs and gives up, though, looking to Silk and Rishi. "Or we could try to be ready for something unpleasant...in fact, no matter what we do, that strikes me as a stellar idea. Feel free to try to read it, or fly over, or dive in...you know what you're capable of far better than I. I'll be here to back you up."
Rishi	Rishi might be able to see what the plinth says from here, but, in this light, it'd be simpler to just look up close. That said, checking the water is probably a better idea, so, with a nod, Rishi dives in, adjusting her body to open up her gills as she does and swimming down to get a closer look at the stone.
Silk Moon Lotus	Rishi slips into the water with the grace of a creature born to water. She swims down towards the bottom and can make out regular carvings in the stone. She can feel the essence flowing through the stone, it seems to be moving both towards the tombs as well as deeper into the caverns. This close to the stone and using her occult knowledge, Rishi is certain that the stone is black Jade.
Bright Journey	Well. That was pleasantly anticlimactic. Bright peers over the edge after carefully noting that Rishi didn't, say, get eaten by a grue or catch a face full of acid. Definitely a plus. "Er, Silk, are we so sure this is such a good..." Her voice trails off as Rishi looks intent on the stone and the carvings, and nothing seems to be terribly out of place. Bright can only wait for Rishi to report, but in the meantime she keeps an eye out in every direction. But especially the water. "Well, she seems to be all right so far. Any ideas, Silk?"
Rishi	After examining the tiles for a short while, Rishi comes back up, climbing back out onto shore, shedding a lot of water as she does, until she's entirely dry soon after. "It is looking like those are simply being tiles of the black jade to be keeping the water flowing and clean." She looks back down at them. "They are likely being worth much money and Ammy would probably be loving to have one, but removing any of them without ruining this place would be taking an architect of the most skilled ability."
Silk Moon Lotus	"Right, so let's not do that. I don't want my house to explode. Perhaps there is more black jade in here that isn't part of the construction." Silk looks at the plinth again. "We can probably safely swim across or Rishi could fly us over."
Bright Journey	Nodding in agreement, Bright chuckles quietly and looks over towards the far door. "Honestly, if we've gotten this far and the pillar hasn't exploded, I think we're probably good for this room, at least. How about the two of you? Do you think we're good to move on?" "And back to the black jade for a moment...yeah. We need to make sure no one above finds out about this, or they will try to tear it apart by fair means or foul. Or at least steal the deed to the place. And since I'm sleeping in the spare bedroom...or -a- spare bedroom, I suppose...I would just as soon the foundation doesn't collapse under me as it is. "Shall we?"
Rishi	"I will be needing to fly you over one at a time." Rishi head tilts, looking them over. "I think I should be fine to just hold you around the waist." And So she grabs first Silk, then Bright, doing a short flight over to the island for each of them, before sitting down for a short break.
Silk Moon Lotus	Up close, the plinth is clearly make of obsidian. There are marking in Old Realm around it. It tells the story of a group of dragons who did not join in the usurparion and aided their leaders in escaping. They were attacked multiple times as they fled north and west away from the capital. They were caught at a massive river where 8 of the dragons and their leader were killed. This manse was build in their honor and hidden underground to prepare for the solar's eventual return so that he might provide for his circle once more.
Bright Journey	Bright smiles, but doesn't wait for Rishi. Instead, she steps lively, out onto one of the stone bridges on either side of the plinth, and walks on over to the other side. A bit out of the way, sure, but less of a production. "No, Rishi, that actually -does- sound fun but let's save it for next time. We've spent a little bit of time here but I'd lay money we have a long way to go." She chuckles as she peers down the far hallway. "Not black jade, though."
Rishi	Rishi nods to Bright's wishes, and looks over the plinth, reading the story. After a few moments, she reaches into her bag and pulls out a small notebook and starts copying down the story to share with Ammy later. After a little while she finishes and stands back up. "Which way next?"
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk points to the tunnel ahead. "This is the only path that I see." She leads the trio down the tunnel. This one does have the magical torchs from the previous passages lighting the way. There are scones set into the wall as though to indicate that it would have been possible to have them. This time the tunnel empties into another worked stone chamber. This one has a five bookcases spaced evenly around the room Each one has a caste mark of the unconquered sun, Luna, and, the Dragon blooded above it. The air in the room lacks a smell at all and each of the exalts feel the presence of a powerful sorcerous working. a spirit rises up from the floor "Who enters this sacred place? State your business or be gone!"
Bright Journey	Bright may not have had a chance to read the story herself, but at the very least she'll be able to ask to read it later. That's more than fair. She offers Rishi a quick smile as the three of them head out, but Rishi may or may not be too focused on transcribing to see. As the three of them make their way down the passage, the sudden lack of lighting obviously is concerning. The party has plenty of light still, though, and it's at least not too much of a meandering corridor. Off to the next area! Bookcases, carefully marked, and a...presence...that certainly makes sense here, but yet does not. Bright steps to one side, bow lowered, as she replies once everyone is in the room. Clearly, spirits no longer hold any sort of fear over her, because as everyone arrives she speaks politely, clearly, but firmly. "First, before we discuss our reasons for being here, I invoke my right as a Quicksilver Falcon for diplomatic immunity, for myself and my two companions here. We are not here to harm you or this place." She smiles a bit now. "Now that the formality is out of the way. In the most generic terms, two of us live above here and all of us are exploring. I don't suppose you could share with us what it is you guard and why?"
Rishi	Rishi is slightly surprised by the spirit popping up here, being preoccupied by the books. Given her form and the glowing castemark on her forehead the spirit should recognize her as one blessed by the dark of the Moon and her longing looks at the books should give the spirit ample evidence for what Rishi is doing here. That said, she restrains herself and allows Bright to do the talking.
Silk Moon Lotus	The spirit bows respectfully to Bright "Of course Crowned Sun. My circlemates and I frew lots to see who would remain to guard the library and armory from the Sidereals and their dragon lapdogs. I win the right and so I stand guard even in death." The spirit stands just over five feet tall. She is holding a metal staff that maginify the lantern light in a way that only orialcum does. She is wearing Lammelar armor that casts the light in the same way. She had deep green hair and her eyes are the green of olives. She has a scar that comes down the left side of her face just to the left of her eye.
Bright Journey	Bright is listening very carefully. As a matter of fact, as the spirit speaks, it--she, in fact--begins to find more definition, and among those things comes a level of personability that's a lot easier to maintain when there's a face! And Bright is probably going to have a much easier time reading facial expressions when she can see a face, too! Voice quiet and reverent, Bright straightens subconsciously, brow furrowing and wheels turning four inches behind her eyes. "Sidereals...Dragon Blooded..." Bright actually manages to look sheepish for a moment. "I think perhaps I have overlooked one of the most important things I could be doing here, one of the rarest and most important finds in a city where every book up above has probably been paged through and judged by every scholar in the Eastern Direction. I...would love to speak to you at length, at some point, about the time in which you lived. But perhaps that can wait a bit. You guard the library and armory from Sidereals and Dragon Blooded...and the three of us here are neither. What exactly are you here to prevent? Our taking the books, surely, but what about simply reading them? What artifacts--I assume further in from where we are now--and whose are they?" Bright pauses a moment to gather her thoughts. "I suppose what I'm asking is, how far can we go--what can we do--without incurring your wrath? This is an amazing find, but we're not here to antagonize you, and we'd like a fair chance to learn what we need to to avoid that."
Rishi	"Yes, I should quite ...enjoy simply sitting down here and reading for a time. If you are being permitted to allow this."
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk looks at Bright "Quicksilver Falcon? Maybe you can explain what you just did to me later." The spirit bows deeply to Bright once more. "Indeed you are not the Chosen of the Maidens or Children of the Dragon. I will allow the dragon's children entrance with your permission only." She looks over at Rishi "You may read the books in this room. If you take them beyond the wards, they will no longer be protected by the sorcery of this place and time will catch up with them. I would be surprised if they made it to the exit before turning to dust." The spirit once more turns her gaze to Bright "The armory is behind the general's bookcase. If I did not complete the ritual transition to my current state, I needed to know that I had done all that I could to protect it. As for what you can take, you may claim one weapon and one armor as your own each. Do you agree to my terms Quicksilver Falcon?
Bright Journey	With a quick little grin, Bright looks to her side at Silk and winks. "S'what you get for not spending a little time reading in the libraries in the Temple District. But, short version, Quicksilver Falcon--and I believe Crowned Sun as well--are just old, alternate names for the Eclipse Caste." Bright's brow begins to glow with a center-dotted circle, visible past hanging wisps of her hair. "As to what I did, there was no Essence involved. Well, not any time recently. The Eclipse Caste traveled far and wide as diplomats and courtiers, and there are certain ancient pacts between us and other beings which enforce a peace between us. A peace which won't help if you strike first, mind, so by all means hold back. Not that I expect it was necessary this time, but better safe than sorry." Bright turns back to the spirit. "We certainly don't want the books to be destroyed, and would follow your rules regardless. One weapon and one piece of armor for each of the three of us is surpassing generous." She looks at Silk and Rishi. "Are the pair of you willing to abide by those terms? Stay respectful, don't take more than the one weapon and one armor from the armory, don't take the books, and in exchance we are allowed safe passage here and as much time as we like to read? And are there any other terms we should discuss?"
Rishi	Rishi bows to the spirit "May I know your name? I would honor you properly for your dilligence in watching over this place and in protecting these books." She straighens back up. "We have some friends who have been Blessed by the Blood of the Dragons. You said they may come down here with us? Are they allowed into the Armory?"
Silk Moon Lotus	"Oh, I don't think that information is in the books in the temple district. Sounds like something the Immaculates would have tried to erase from history." Silk looks to the spirit. "I would like to take a look at the armory please. I've learned some things recently and I'm looking for some tools to compliment them. Does the armory have anything besides weapons and armor in them?" The spirit looks to Rishi "I was known as Daughter of the Unconquered Sunrise. My exaltation passed on to another when I died and became a spirit. You will need to name these people as a friend of the Sun and Moon before me for them to enter the armory. They must abid by the agreement the Quicksilver Falcon has agreed to or I will be forced to do them harm. Is this acceptable? I regret that my terms must be so harsh, I will not allow these tools to fall into the Sidereal's hands." the sprit turns to Silk "There are some basic sorerous materials within the armory, those that have not faded for use in the intervening years. I may not cross the threshold into the armory myself as it is warded from spirits and demons."
Bright Journey	"Daughter of the Unconquered Sunrise." Bright recites the spirit's name, and bows to her. "Thank you for your hospitality and generosity. It sounds like we are all in agreement of these terms. Personally, I'm not sure there will be much in the armory for me--my armor is from my past and my weapon, my mate's--but I would like to see it nonetheless." Bright pauses and glances at Rishi briefly. "Rishi, hon, I'm going to ask that you talk to us before inviting anyone down here, and swear them to secrecy before mentioning this place. I mean, my bedroom is a couple stories straight up from here." She grins, even though it's not really that funny. "The best way to keep this place safe is to make sure no one knows about it. That includes Amethyst...and hey, wait. Who do you know that carries the blood of dragons besides Ames?"
Rishi	"Ammy met another recently...who saw me as my true self without calling for the Hunt. I am not knowing much about him otherwise, but I was mainly wishing to know if there would be the ...problems if they were being brought down here." She bows to Bright. "I will abide by your wishes...though I will be sharing the story on the pillar with Ammy and telling her to be talking with you about things here. I am not being a good liar."
Silk Moon Lotus	"That will be good enough Rishi. I don't want you to lie to her, Bright, can you do some kind of binding contract thing with other exalts?" Silk looks at each of the caste marks above the bookcases and heads for the Zenith caste. She looks at Daughter and asks "What's the trick?" Daughter of the Unconquered Sunrise responds "Show it who you really are." Silk looks to the other two "Any clue what that means?"
Bright Journey	At the mention of binding contracts, Bright quietly laughs. "Yes, Silk, I most certainly can. If you think it best that I form an oath with anyone else who wants to come to this place, that they maintain secrecy and Daughter of the Unconquered Sunrise's terms in exchange for access, I can certainly do so. I...don't know exactly what the book I'd read about this meant, though. Only that breaking such an oath comes with dire consequences." Bright scratches the back of her head in thought. "I wasn't going to lie. Saying 'Yes, this is a secret and I'm not telling you' isn't a lie. Of course, I'm not going to -volunteer- that information either. The best secret is one no one asks about!" Bright turns to Rishi, thoughtful. "Well...not running off and banging on the Immaculate Monastery door is a good first step, but I'm a pretty good judge of character. I think Silk and I would agree that perhaps we should meet your friend before he ever learns of this place? I think that would be safest. But I do want to know one thing. "What did the pillar say?"
Bright Journey	Lastly, Bright Journey gives Silk a tight smile and looks at the bookcases, then at Silk again. She taps her forehead meaningfully. "I think this is what she's looking for. And she said the general, so maybe--what's the name--Dawn caste? Try whichever bookshelf has something that looks like a dawn, I guess."
Rishi	Rishi bows to the ghost. "I will make an offering in your name when I return, oh most faithful Daughter of the Unconqured Sunrise. Thank you for preserving this place." Rishi nods "I can certainly be keeping quiet about this place but Ammy and Frosty are holding a special place in my heart and I am knowing that Ammy wished to know of these things, so I will be telling her to be talking with you both about this place." "On the pillar is the tale of how this place was made, of the sacrifice of 8 Dragons to save their Sun Lord and create for him a place where his next incarnation might return. I shall be most happy to recount the full tale at a later time." Rishi goes over to stand before the shelf with the empty silver ring on it. "I believe she is saying to be doing this." And she lights again her castemark before the shelf.
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk sighs "That makes a lot of sense" She points to one that looks like a sunrise "That one I guess, with the Fire caste mark." Silk walks over to the book case as her brow starts to glow with a golden light, a golden ring matching Rishi's in appearance. A clicking noise sounds from within the wall and a doorway appears next to the bookcase. Beyond is a room with 9 crypts, each with an alcove behind it holding a suit or armor and a weapon. In front of the final crypt inside of a ritual circle is staff of orialcum and a set of armor of the same metal. Silk slowly walks in "This is truely an armory of amazing value. Thank you for granting us access" Silk walks straight towards the ritual circle and glances back to her companions "I found what I'm looking for."
Bright Journey	At Silk's comment, Bright can only nod, slowly. "I guess you did. I know you have one or two items already, but it looks like you'll be well geared for whatever we'll run into next." She smiles vaguely. "And there's always something. Me, I'll look around but I have a feeling I'll be holding off for the moment. At least for a while. Aside from all the interesting things happening here of their own accord, I have things I need to pursue..." She smiles to herself, one hand on one of the coffins. "Questions of death, and rebirth...and if I can ever find her again." She pauses, lost in thought. "And I have to find one who speaks for the Lunars anyway, my destiny calls for it. Maybe the information in here will help me find one."
Rishi	Rishi goes into the armory to look and bows respectfully to all of the dead, before leaving in a thoughtful mood. She shakes her head and then says "Bright, I am thinking you should be talking to Frosty. She is knowing many more of those Blessed by the Ever Changing One than I." She looks around the room then sighs in contentment. She walks over to one of the shelves and runs a finger lightly down the books and toys with one briefly, before a thought strikes her. "Ah! I was having one of the questions." "What is being a ...Sidereal?"