Seeker Eternal

Kris prompts Blue to her shoulder and summons Vulnerhaak with a whistle. She waits until Killian and his demon mount are ready, then leads her wyvern through the gate on the lead to its harness.

Kris experiences an odd sensation she has been previously never felt before, as she, Killian and their mounts are pulled from the planar realm they are in and into another. It is very briefly disorienting.

On the other side, the orientation of the portal lies flat in a large circular platform. Kris, Killian, and their conveyances stand on a blue crystalline surface, that glows not unlike the emanation produced by activating the skull key upon the arisen pedestal. Beyond the landing zone the platform continues of a dark stone roughly in the shape of an oblong octagon, or a stylized eye.

At the focal points of each of the eight corners stands a hooded medium-sized statue facing inward toward the center of the portal. Each of these statues appear virtually identical and very lifelike in their crafting. The hoods seem empty, but give off the vibe that they are ever watching the gate.

Several low flowing steps around the octagon platform lead down to a grey cobblestone plaza. Wood and stone buildings surround the plaza, but all are dark. In the distance, torchlight and other forms of illumination can be seen scattered throughout the dark city surrounding.

The sound of moving waters alerts them to the docks just south of the arcane gate and the tops of masts and sails rise up behind some of the buildings in that direction. The sky is filled with dark clouds in an inky black sky. The visibility wall of the cloud cover is perhaps a couple hundred feet at most.

Movement coming from the northeastern end of the plaza finds a lone bipedal figure approaching with a lantern filled with a curious light of a purplish hue...

Kris gives her wyvern's snout a reassuring pat to keep him calm and not attack the stranger outright. She watches as the figure approaches, but remains silent to see what it does when drawing nearer to them.

The lone figure is a tall man in a hooded robe. What at first looked like a lantern from a distance, looks like some type of strange one foot diameter orb of metal and resembling a eye. The purplish glow is emanating from the iris of the eye.

He looks over Kris and Killian, as he approaches and stands at the bottom of the platform.

"Lady Kris Amani and Killian Maal I presume?" He directs to each of them in turn. "We have been expecting your arrival. You may call me Chamberlin. The Lord has prepared accommodations for your stay within the Octagon Tower of the palace. Please follow me..."

Kris nods. "Its been a long and eventful journey, Chamberlin." She tells the man. "Rest and a proper meal would greatly be appreciated, if it can be provided?" She continues with a slight tug on the wyvern's lead. "For our companions as well."

"Quite so, m'Lady." The tall man acknowledges. "Bring along your beasts and your demons. Comfortable accommodations and meals await all." he gestures towards the shadows of a high castle wall and towering structures rising up on a hill close behind the buildings across the plaza to the north and northwest. Then, turns and begins walking back up the plaza to the northeast, where an open castle portcullis beckons.

Kris finds it very refreshing to speak to a stranger that doesn't talk in code or riddles that only they can understand, even if the details are sorted out. Much of her formative years were spent in such a place and it was very frustrating. She doesn't miss that realm at all and hopes never to see or hear of it again.

She leads Vulnerhaak toward the indicated open gateway and nuzzles Blue with one cheek, as the little blue monkey rides on her shoulder.

Killian gives a satisfied grunt, as the old man mentions food and rest. He tugs on the winged nightmare's reins and glances up to the almost naked woman sitting astride it.

"Yes. There are many an appetite needs quenched this night. Aye, Shary?"

"Quenched?" The beauty laughs. "When have your desires ever been sated, Killemall? Perhaps, subdued for a measure. Never quenched, like the fires in your blood."

End Scene