Brickwall's Exalted

[GryffonDurime]

Grinning Fox Shin

"Ah. You speak that as well," Shin says, and his cheeks flush with a strange mixture of annoyance and embarrasment, as if he suddenly realized how very opaque he was being. "Good. Good. One...one never knows what one will encounter. In ruins."

[Rockbird]

Stone Dust Lion

As the others chatter in languages unknown, Lion has been looking for his employer, and though he would not admit it, even to himself, he was a bit reluctant. The man was... Overbearing might be the word.
As he finds him, he approaches with certain steps, hiding his hesitation well. He clears his throat rather loudly before speaking up:
My men are here. We are ready to begin whatever assignment you have for us, sir!

[Brickwall]

With minimal searching, the group finds Opulent Star's tent. Guards currently seem to be on duty, and aren't letting anyone inside. However, at the address, the Terrestrial's assistant from before comes out, carrying a new armload.

"Sorry, he won't come out. He's busy looking over the blueprints. Something went wrong in his planning, and we're still gathering reports, but whatever it was, it looks like it took out that explorer. I have a map here that should show you where they found it, let me just-" he doesn't finish, as the pile of assorted lore comes tumbling out of his hands as he tries to reach for a sheet of paper. He sighs, and pulls a large sheet off the ground. "Just follow the map to the portion that hasn't been drawn in yet. Er...okay, well, that's a lot of them. But there's that hallway there that cuts off abruptly. That's where we think the problem was."

The assistant is right about one thing. This map looks severely incomplete. Plenty of hallways have dead ends drawn at them, which is totally senseless for most designs. Stairs lead to other sections of the map that don't exist yet. The section he is refering to is obvious enough, though. You don't know what the scale is, but judging by the width he assigned to the large gate you notice, you're guessing this complex is grand indeed.

[Shiny, Bearer of the Pokystick]

Sanguine

The physician stands, drawing himself up to his full height with ponderous dignity.

If you have no objections, I will accompany you."
He pulls his case closed, packing his implement carefully, inspecting each. He slides his hands along his patient's neck, checking pulse, vitals.

[GryffonDurime]

Grinning-Fox Shin

Shin adjusts his glasses slowly as he peeks at the map, looking rather unaffected by the scale of the complex. He doesn't notice the dead ends, and instead sets his hand on his head and ruffles his hair, altogether bored.

"Are we going in, or are you lot going to stare at that rubbish map until all the stars fall out of heaven?"

[GammaPaladin]

Vengeful Mantis

Mantis shrugs and grins. "I'm ready whenever the rest of you lot are."

[demihappycow]

Ji Chan-wook

"Well then, let us get to exploring," Ji says, grinning and straightening his sleeves with little tugs at the cuffs.

[Rockbird]

Stone Dust Lion

Lion nods and swings his arms around, warming them up a bit.
Right you are. All right men, you heard. Drop all unneccessary equipment and get ready! It's time to get to work!

[Brickwall]

The mercenaries seem to have finished ordering themselves from the previous disaster. They're as ready as they'll get.

[GammaPaladin]

Vengeful Mantis

"Ah, why don't you let me help you with those." Mantis says to Opulent Star's assistant, and without waiting for an answer, he starts gathering up the items the man dropped, surreptitiously examining them as he hands them to him one at a time.

[Shiny, Bearer of the Pokystick]

Sanguine

Sanguine nods and makes his way to the gate, inspecting it carefully. After an almost unseemly short period, he turns to the rest.

"We are agreed on a policy of exploration, yes? I see no real cause for delay."
He appears strangely agitated, flushed.

[Brickwall]

The documents look...extremely boring. A good half of them involve math, ranging from accounting to motonic physics, and everything in between. The rest are journals and maps. Not that Mantis, quick as his eyes are, can really get detailed looks, as the assistant is startlingly quick in picking the various items up. A lot of practice. He thanks Mantis quickly and ducks inside the tent. Muffled yelling and another explosion of books is heard by all in the vicinity.
________________________

The gate is, upon closer inspection, exactly what it appears to be from a distant inspection. It's incredibly ornate, and depicts multiple scenes of both daily life and war in the First Age (quite obviously from that era, so much that only the most intensely uneducated person would be unable to guess that). Any of the various inscriptions in Old Realm are prayers to the Unconquered Sun, and some various gods. None of them are standard prayers, and they are all written with poetry that only an Exalt could hope to craft.

[Rockbird]

Stone Dust Lion

Lion takes the map and gives it a cursory glance. Then he sets off with determined steps towards the gate, beckoning the others to follow. He moves like an arrow, eyes fixed on the gate, making not even the slightest of efforts to move out of peoples way.

As he reaches the gate he pauses momentarily and makes sure everyone's there, before heading in.

[GryffonDurime]

Grinning-Fox Shin

Shin smiles as he examines the door's writing, and comments--surely louder than he'd intended--"Cute. In an amatuerish sort of way."

He blinks, then realizes that perhaps that shouldn't have been something to say aloud, and promptly tries to create a distraction by gesturing for them to pull open the gate, plucking away on his sanxian:

Covetous deep ruins,
White-hot wonders held too long
Burn the master's hand.

Covetous deep ruins,
His hand gropes the burning flame,
Great, Opulent fool.

Spoiler

Show

Shin's burning just one little mote this time, and he's still singing about Opulent Star...he really must not like that fellow.

Paradox: (1d10)[1]

[Shiny, Bearer of the Pokystick]

Sanguine

Sanguine's lip curls slightly at the ditty as he makes final checks to his equipment before following Lion at a discreet distance; with a gentle tug at his wrist, he frees a short length of knotted string; each knot contains a golden-hued needle, its tip blackened with some crusted substance.

"We are, it seems, a talented group. Like those that crafted this gate."
He gives a quick glance to his companions, ensuring the less-than-subtle implication is received.

[Green Bean]

Huang

"I have some small talents, honoured mage, but I doubt they would help me craft a gate."

As he approaches the gate, Huang draws two daggers from places of concealment, and places them in more easily accessible pockets. He takes a closer look at the gate, ignoring the incomprehensible poetry and checking for more prosaic obstacles, such as locks.

[demihappycow]

Ji Chan-wook

Approaching the gate, Ji adjusts his coat and spectacles. "Let us see if we can't get this, ahh, open then," he says with a slightly nervous chuckle and a small grin.

[Rockbird]

Stone Dust Lion

Right you are.
Lion approaches the gate and looks for a suitable place to push, or pull. Or maybe kick. You never know with these ancient gate type things. They are tricky, they are.

[Brickwall]

There are some golden handles that, upon inspection, look incredibly obvious, as if someone had told you about them before, though you can't recall such happening. It feels like it was in some other world or time, and echoes across to you.

[Rockbird]

Stone Dust Lion

Lion blinks and shakes his head, shaking off a sudden uncomfortable feeling. What just happened? Something wrong with his eyes?

After coming to his senses again Lion grabs the handles of the door and pulls hard, assuming them to be heavy.

[Brickwall]

The gate takes effort to pull, but once it starts moving, it seems to glide on its own, as does its twin door. It must be some mechanical contraption. However, nobody's thoughts are on that, as the light shines into the door to reveal a giant creature. It appears to be an amalgam of lion and scorpion. It has a mane and fangs, and powerful legs with rending claws, but it his chitonous plates like a suit of armor, and a tail whips around with a poisonous barb at the end. Its shining black eyes stare pitilessly at the group in front of it. It bends forward and lets loose a bellowing roar, but a hideous shriek pierces through it. It crouches low.

[GryffonDurime]

Grinning-Fox Shin

Shin smiles crazily as he tightens his grip on the neck of Tangled Stars. He plays three simple notes, the rough beginnings of one of the many war-hymns of Mars. He briefly entertains the thought of a stronger defense, but the faint blue glimmer is still warm and prickly on his forehead.

"Come, now, gentlemen: this looks like a job for mercenaries and soldiers, not bureaucrats and musicians," he says swiftly, sharing a quick glance with Ji. After, he whispers softly to himself:

"...not a job for the Viziers either. Let's see how these Lawgivers do."

[Shiny, Bearer of the Pokystick]

Sanguine Blossoms

"It is poisonous. Take great care."

The physician takes a step back, squaring his stance, and draws forth two needles caked with black, dried venom, one in each crabbed hand. His eyes narrow and his lips thin to a hard, pale line.

Then again, so am I.

[Brickwall]

The lion/scorpion wastes no time on dramatic show. It springs forward and brings its deadly tail to bear on the closest enemy. It swings in from the side, venomous tip promising agony and death.

[Green Bean]

Huang

Huang is shocked by the ferocity of the creature's attack, but quickly draws one of his daggers. He closely watches the creature's movements, looking for vulnerabilities, or even just a pattern to its movements.

[Rockbird]

Stone Dust Lion

Cursing himself silently for opening the doors so carelessly, Lion tries to avoid the attack. But he is too late, too unprepared, and as the attack closes he shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath.
I guess i have no choice...
Swiftly, he moves his hands and strikes them together at chest-height. He looks at the oncoming attack with determination, and as it strikes him what should have been rending his flesh simply grazes it and slides off harmlessly. Still the force of the attack is not lessened, and Lion is sent flying into one of the great doors. There he gets up slowly, shaking his head at his own stupidity still.
Men, stay back. I'll take this.
He says, drawing his sword.

[Shiny, Bearer of the Pokystick]

Sanguine

The exalted physician drops into a horse stance, lowering his line-of-sight still further, until it nearly falls within the sphere of the hideous creature's eyes.

His arm shoots out, braced, straight; a needle between two fingers. He is poised to move, meditative- his eyes are slits, his concentration profound, and small motions prove he is tracking the opponent with every fiber of his being.