Chapter 1: Introduction

The headache is overwhelming. Much like recovering from a blackout after a night of heavy drinking, things slowly start to creep back into your head as the pain recedes slightly. Your name. A few other names, maybe a face or two as well. Where you’re from. What you do. What doesn’t seem to come back for whatever reason is the memory of what the hell you were doing, what caused you this pain. To your shock, you realize it’s not just a loss of recent memory. On top of that, your memory seems to have lost its sense of continuity. Like flashbacks, you remember a few scenes pivotal to your life, but can’t really place where and when they happened, or which one came first.

The pain goes down another notch and your brain is finally able to register information from your senses. You are in the middle of a crowd moving slowly, steadily towards a common destination but you have no control over your body as it is shoved along by the avalanche of people. Nothing around you seems familiar. Faces are those of people you’ve never met before, but that’s only the beginning. There’s humans and dwarves and elves alright, but some races you’ve never seen or heard of before. No one’s talking, they all seem like hypnotized as they march towards their goal, carrying you along. The scenery around is not familiar either, rocky and alien it feels slightly foreboding. Up ahead you see the line of people snaking their way towards a large castle-like structure of unusual architecture. In the distance behind it, a huge spire stabs upwards into the clouds. Your neck hurts trying to go all the way back as you automatically try to discern where it ends, but somehow at its top there’s a big ring-shaped object that floats right above it, much like a ring that’s about to fall into place on a stony finger.

As you get closer, you realize that the structure that seemed like a castle from afar is actually a walled city. More of a castle or palace, because of the large buildings and areas inside that rise over the wall, plus a small settlement of the common folk on the outside of the walls. The stream of people takes you past the huge iron gate and into the massive compound of promenades, courtyards, gardens, granaries, libraries, towers, kitchens, stables, residences, storehouses, and workshops. The construction is of red brick, wood, and stone, with roofs of half-moon glazed tiles. Everything seems to be designed with an eye towards artistry and aesthetics, with even the smallest and meanest of buildings containing architectural flourishes.

Servants and clerks dive into the crowd and come out seconds later followed by someone. This slowly breaks down the river into streams of waiting lines that lead into various halls. The inside is no less grand than the outside, but curiosity gets the best of you as you try to look ahead. The line leads to an office, where a humanoid figure is performing some sort of bureaucratic duty. In front of him stands another figure, clad in full body armor of unusual design. As you get closer, you hear the figure asking everyone’s name. After the apparent clerk writes it down, the figure speaks some words aloud. Compassion. Faith. Devotion. Honor. Greed. Envy. Treason. Every word echoes like a gong, letting you ponder its significance. The figure then names one of the several halls in the compound, before the clerk rises up to hang a placard around the neck of whoever stands in front of the armored figure. As they are led elsewhere by more clerks, your eye catches that the placards read the words spoken by the armored figure. A list of vices and virtues, then a destination. This doesn’t look good.

When it’s your time to face the armored figure, he asks you for your name and you feel like it’s being ripped out of your chest as you are compelled to say it. Upon hearing it, the figure sizes you up. "This one’s not dead" he turns and says to the clerk behind him, this time speaking in a more casual manner. "Not fully dead, at least" he adds. The clerk checks a few scrolls, before replying "An anomaly, perhaps". The armored figure raises a gloved hand and there’s a minor blast on the ground next to him. Once the smoke clears, a nightmarish figure stands there. Over 8 feet tall and thicker than a gorilla, the creature has the head of a bull, complete with a large snout and two long horns. It is no minotaur however, as it has feet instead of hooves and its skin is a dark shade of orange under its thick fur. Despite its bestial appearance, the creature is dressed in polished ceremonial armor over ornate robes. A large two-handed sword is hung on its back, but you’re pretty sure it can be dangerous without it too, thanks the thick talons at the end of its fingers. "You called, lord" it speaks in a deep, resonant voice. "Have this person escorted to the Place of Waiting" the armored figure commands. "Once his high excellence returns, he will know what to do with them". The figure nods in a slight bow, then unceremoniously grabs you by the hand and leads you out of the room and ultimately, out of the compound through the iron gate. Somehow you still cannot react, as if you’re just watching yourself go through the motions, as the massive bull headed creature leads you to one of the buildings of the town outside the walls.



The sign outside has a golden chalice painted on and while the inside looks like the drinking hall of an inn, it is impossibly larger than the outside would allow. The creature locks you inside a room upstairs and leaves. Not much later, it returns with another person. Then a third. Finally, the creature takes off is armor and sits on the fourth bed of the room. "I imagine you have a lot of questions" it says in the same deep voice.

You feel like a weight has been lifted off your chest. Or like somebody just threw a bucket of cold water on your face and woke you up from a bad dream. Unfortunately, this is no bad dream. You’re still in the room with each other and the creature. You are however able to talk, move and act once more.

"I am Bokorumon, faithful servant of the Celestial Bureaucracy" the creature responds. Somehow the word 'celestial' sounds reassuring. Might not look the part, but at least the creature is no demon. "You are at the Place of Waiting, outside the Palace of Judgement, where his divine grace, Yen-Wang-Yeh passes judgement upon the souls of the dead." Bokorumon pauses for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Apparently, you are unusual cases. I have been assigned as your escort and guardian until the great Yen-Wang-Yeh returns to the Palace and bestows his judgement upon you himself."

When Chailin stands up to confront the creature, it doesn't seem to mind her agression but seems more like it minds having the flow of its speaking interrupted. "I would advise you to control your anger, young lady. I understand this is all stressful to you, but mark my words, the Planes are full of powerful beings who won't think twice about tearing you apart."

Bokorumon composes himself before continuing. "You are no prisoners, but for your own good and mine, I advise you against any thoughts of escape. How you got here is a mystery to me. The deceased from the Prime Material are usually funneled directly to their destination and you don't look like you count yourselves among the faithful of the Celestial Bureaucracy, so you weren't supposed to arrive at the Palace of Judgement either. The way I see it, you either died and for some reason ended up here when you shouldn't have, or you either stepped through a portal that brought you here. Let me ask you, do you remember how you got here?"

You really don't come up with an answer to the creature's question. The last thing you remember is you were getting ready for something big. Something important.

Bokorumon hears your tales and nods. "I'm afraid your information sheds no light on the state of your existence or how you ended up here. You may however find some comfort in the thought that the souls of the dead from your Plane are stripped of their memories as they travel through the Astral Plane to get here. Remembering your name and something prior to arriving here is, in a way, proof that you're not dead. Not the standard kind of dead, at least."

He listens to Chailin thinking aloud, then adressing him directly. "Sadly, it is not that simple, miss. Like I said, spirits from your home world are funneled directly to the corresponding Plane, depending on their religious beliefs and how they led their life. If you are looking for someone in particular, those two might help you guess where they ended up. If they passed through the Palace of Judgement, their name and destination should be on the records, but the safest bet is the records of the Dustmen in Sigil's Mortuary. They keep track of everyone that's died, everywhere, ever. That quest must wait however, until his divine grace Yen-Wang-Yeh returns to his Palace and passes his judgement upon you. I do not know when that will be, as he leaves once a year to report to the Celestial Bureaucracy and returns when his reports have been deemed satisfactory. I do hope he comes back soon though, things just aren't run as efficiently when he's gone."

Bokorumon stands up, his frame somehow barely escaping a bump with the roof. "I understand all this might be too much to take in and I sure need a drink. I'll give you sometime to yourselves, if you need me I'll be downstairs." With that, he exits the room and you are on your own.

The door knocks and before you can answer, the door unlocks and a strange face appears from behind the door. You can’t really tell if it belongs to a male or female, as something between excessive makeup and an artist’s version of warpaint is splattered on his/her humanoid face face. "Hi there! I’ve brought you some warm water to clean yourselves". The voice is melodic, if somewhat squeakish. The person walks into the room carrying a large bucket of steaming water, complete with whitewashed towels folded on the lip. They don’t really seem to be paying attention to the draconic illusion dancing above Xana’s head, but whether that’s because they failed to notice it or because it’s a casual sight to them, you can’t tell. This place is strange and you’ve already seen and heard a lot that your mind is still struggling to process, so you don’t really ponder over that. You assume this is probably a female, although the ornate robe is too wide to reveal any body features. "Standard welcome policy" she adds, as she places the bucket in the middle of the room. "Please don’t hesitate to ask if you need a larger receptacle in which to wash yourselves" she says with a little bow. After a moment of hesitation, she continues.

"Servants of the merciful Yen-Wang-Yeh are welcome free of charge, as a token of our gratitude for his divine grace allowing us to set up shop outside his palace. Your friend downstairs certainly took advantage of that, he’s had a few Baatorian stouts already. I’m afraid you do not fall in the same category however."

You suddenly realize you’re not carrying any money with you.

"I am saying you are expected to pay at least the minimum charge since you've occupied a room, even if you won't be staying for the night." While said in a polite manner, you can't help noticing the matter-of-fact tone. Either this is an individual who highly respects laws, regulations and traditions without questions or a shrewd, calculating mercantile wolf in polite sheep's clothing. "The water is free and meant for washing your hands and face," she continues with a raised eyebrow towards the already half-naked Chailin "but I suppose you are free to use it as you see fit" she adds in a quick attempt to save face. "Staying for the night is charged separately, as is food and drinks."Realizing you're not carrying any money, she tries to ease the stress with a polite smile. "Well, I suppose there's also a way that doesn't involve money. There are dishes to be washed, floors to be scrubbed... and then of course there's the cellar."

"Your escort is pretty intoxicated by now, probably beyond the point of being able to discuss such matters and like I said, will not be charged for lodging, food or drinks. I can not force you to pay, but what I must do if you don't, is file a complaint with the clerks of the Palace. In essence, I shall request the higher powers to assist us in resolving the issue." You are still not sure if all this bureaucratic talk is because that's the way people think here or because your host is exploiting the situation to present you with a veiled threat. No matter which is true, your case is supposedly still pending until Yen-Wang-Yeh returns and you're pretty sure such a written complaint won't weigh in your favor, though to what degree can't be told.

"I can't tell you what's in the cellar, but I can certainly tell you what's not there." Of course. Nothing seems to be simple lately. "There's items missing, according to our inventory log there have already been three occasions where the stored foodstuff was less than it should be. I can also tell you it's not rats. The place is clean and the walls are solid. Bit of a mystery, really. Which is why I brought it up in the first place. Should you somehow manage to discover what's going on and stop it, I think you could receive the equivalent of the missing items in store credit as a reward."

"Of course. I'll be in the kitchen, but you'll find the landlord behind the bar for anything you might need. I'll inform him of our discussion". With that, you are left alone as the door shuts.

You are slowly becoming a little more familiar with the strangeness of this place, so as you head downstairs your mind is able to register more information without overloading itself. Most patrons are humans, their clothing similar to that of the servant that came to your room. They either hail from the same world and culture as her or this is what people consider fashionable round these parts. A couple of tables host groups of creatures that resemble hairier, wilder and taloned versions of what you'd call orcs in your home world. They are loud and probably half-drunk already. Actually, upon closer inspection, they look like smaller versions of your escort, Bokorumon, who's drinking alone at a table nearby. Few empty mugs are scattered in front of him, but unlike the others he seems more sad than rowdy. Maybe it's because he's drinking alone and hasn't got any company to get loud with. Finally, a group of humanoid beings is having a low-voiced discussion around a table. There's something peaceful about them that stands out in stark comparison to the orc-like beings around.

The barman looks more like a bouncer; extremely muscular, he's standing halfway tall between human and dwarf. Every inch of his exposed skin is covered in a mix of scars and primitive tattoos, including his head that's completely devoid of hair. His body language is calm, but you somehow feel he's not only watching everything going on but he's also got the nerve to react in an instant, as if his muscles are itching for a fight under his calm demeanor.

Xana simply struts by and walks around the bar towars two arched doors next to each other. One is made of wood and open, leading to the kitchen. All kinds of strange yet delightful smells of unidentifiable food cooking hit her nose. The other door is made of stone and has a few stone steps leading down, clearly to the cellar. Xana grabs the handle, but the door won't budge. "Need th'key f'that, berk" a voice behind the bar tells her.Before she can come up with something smart to say, the gnome notices there's no keyhole under the handle, but what's more surprising is there's no hinges either. No space between the door and doorframe either, which would suggest that the door slides into the wall. It looks more like a solid wall built to look like a door.

Bokorumon looks up at Tarandar and gives him the slightest of facial expressions to suggest something along the lines of "don't mind if you do"

The orc-like creatures are too rowdy to hold any sensible conversation for long. It's more like an exchange of drunken grumbling and burping as they indulge themselves in some carousing. Xana can't really overhear any interesting conversation from the groups of humans, but she's pretty certain they're not travelling merchants. Whether they're locals or visitors she can't tell, neither can she overhear anything about their business here. As for the humanoids with that certain peaceful aura, she feels a little strange as she comes closer. As if something inside tells her the figures are probably aware of her intention.

Meanwhile, Bokorumon takes a big sip of his drink before saying only "Yeah, I'm fine". Tarandar is reminded of verses trying to describe off-duty city guards as poetically as possible and then it suddenly dawns on him. For a moment, his mind discards the weirdness of this place and Bokorumon's monstrous looks to see him for what he is after all: a palace guard, charged with watching over a bunch of clueless newcomers for an unknown length of time.

"Like I said, his divine grace, Yen-Wang-Yeh is off to deliver his reports. Nobody knows how long that's gonna take, but he better come back soon before things fall apart in his absence. Last time there was this wizard under the name of Golden Morning Radience who grew bored and frustrated waiting to be assigned her fate, so she simply left. Picture that, a lost soul roaming free. Makes us look bad. Hate it when things don't work like they're supposed to."

The barkeep listens to Chailin's little speech, before picking up the ring for a closer inspection. "You must be the brains of the group" he says with a crooked smile and a side glance towards Xana mingling with the crowd nearby. "Straight to the point. I like that" he adds, before pocketing the ring. "Make yourselves comfortable, I'll make the arrangements for your food and drink. Any time you're ready, go down those stairs and try to think of the worst food you've ever tasted."

"It doesn't" the barman muses, seeming to enjoy Chailin's confusion. "But it helps you activate the portal that leads there. The thought's the key"

"Every portal needs a key t'activate it, luv" says the barkeep as he swipes the bar. "Most keys are items you need t'be carryin' with you, but sometimes keys are weird. Like a thought, or a feeling or a song y'need t'be recitin'." He pauses to look up at Chailin. "You must be new here if you don't know the dark 'bout the portals, eh?"


"I, uh..." Bokorumon needs a moment or two to figure out exactly what Tarandar is saying to him. "Yeah, your expenses aren't covered and we don't know how long you'll be here for. Sucks for you, but it is what it is." The guardian takes a big sip and empties his drink. "Can't go against the rules. Which, by the way, state that I'm here to escort you. To me that means make sure you don't escape or do something really stupid in your ignorance. You want to earn yourselves some jink to pay for this place, I won't mind. I mean, unless it's like, a fight to the death. Sorry, bad example. Don't even know if you're capable of even doing that. But you catch my drift, yes?"

"I'm no afterlife specialist, but I do know the dead ain't aware o' their state. Makes you pretty alive th'way I see it" the barman says with a grin, before pouring some ale into a mug. "I'll get s'm' food from the kitchen. Try this stuff in the meantime, 'tis strong enough to wake the dead. Ain't gonna have much doubt after quaffin' sum". The man-dwarf seems to laugh a bit at his own joke, then leaves the mug next to Chailin before heading towards the kitchen to place an order.

Meanwhile, the humans turn around to notice Xana. "Kindest apologies, stranger, but we are in the middle of a rather important conversation that we would like to keep to ourselves. Are you lost?" one of them speaks up.

Bokorumon takes a moment to mull over Tarandar's words, though whether he's deep in thought or struggling to think through the alcohol is not clear. "You said so yourself, you are... irregular situations" he finally says. "But that doesn't really change much. My duty is to be your escort, regardless of whether you're alive or dead. At least until Yen-Wang-Yeh shoots you through a portal to your destination Plane. So yeah, if you stay here and don't make up for it, he will, when he makes his final decision. Gotta uphold the laws. Innkeeper gets compensated, Palace is free from the debt you've laid upon it and you end up paying anyway. Price is deducted from your ticket, if you get what I mean. Nice places ain't that cheap and it's your actions that pay the ticket, not the coins in your pouch. It's the way of the Planes." Bokorumon pauses to motion for another drink. "As long as you're still around by that time, my job's done. So yeah, if you wanna improve your odds of a nicer destination, you might as well find a way to pay for your stay here. Doesn't have to take you away, I bet they could use a few extra hands to clean the place or help in the kitchen."

The humans look at Xana. "That depends on your viewpoint, I suppose" one answers. "But generally, people round these parts tend to know where they are and why. It's where they're headed afterwards that's usually the question. You see, a lot depends on asking the right questions."Bokorumon simply waves his hand in a "go ahead" fashion and Tarandar walks to the bar, joining Chailin. The man-dwarf bartender returns with a plate of steaming meat and some vegetables on the side. The taste is strong and slightly smoky, much like game meat, but the texture is soft and juicy. "Brought in straight from Bytopia, marinade's my little secret" the bartender says with a toothy grin of pride, before noticing Tarandar. "Oi, you with her, aye? An' the lil' gnome. Fancy a drink or some food? Your friend here's got you covered for tonight" he says as he pulls out the ring from a pocket. "Though she tells me you're gonna help with our litte... situation at the cellar. Do that and the ring'll be yours again, plus plenty o'credit on yer tab."

Xana's move doesn't go unnoticed but that meat sure is delicious...

Barman returns with a steaming plate of food, which he lays in front of Tarandar. "Don't enjoy it too much, might have trouble rememb'ring the portal key" he says, before noticing Xana helping herself to some food from Chailin's plate. "Yer elf friend and I 'ave come to an arrangement for now, got enough store credit for another plate of food, plus drinks for you and the gentleman if y'like. Just don't get too smashed like ol' Bokorumon there if you're headed towards the cellar later on."

Xana heads towards the stone steps, only this time something seems to fizzle and sparkle in front of the wall. The magical glow grows stronger and soon forms a portal. On the other side, the gnome sees a place that resembles a cellar, barrels and crates lining wooden shelves in a dark room made of stone.

Chailin follows behind the two and a second later, the portal fizzles out.

Tarandar can't see much in the new area, but the air is thick with moisture and the smell of cured meat. His other two companions, thanks to their darkvision, see that the place is made of stone, hewn in large slabs and flagstones. Both walls have wooden shelves, upon which barrels rest. There's also shelves with sacks of flour, cheese and other food items. Several sausages and smoked meats hang from hooks coming out of the ceiling.

Tarandar takes a look around, but can't really find any obvious exits. The only thing that looks like something is a stone arch jutting out of the wall, right behind the spot where the portal that brought everyone here was. This fires up his imagination as he starts to feel the wall around, looking for something that might trigger any secret doors, but nothing happens.

Xana takes a stroll around the cellar, her height saving her from the dangers of slamming head-first into various charcuterie items hanging from the meat hooks. Barrels aside, the shelves are stocked with jars of pickled food, cheese heads, sugar, flour and various exotic items she doesn't recognize but look delicious. When she checks under the wood constructions however, she spots something that looks like breadcrumbs. Sticking her arm under the shelves, she grabs a handful and pulls them out to discover it's actually cheese scraps and some small bites of salami. Vermin tend to eat what they find where they find it and there's no space down there for any food to be stored. Either somebody wasn't careful when sweeping this place or someone hastily hid the remains underneath.

Xana closes her eyes and calms her breathing to the point where her heart rate drops a bit. Completely focused, she thinks she can hear an odd sound from somewhere behind some barrels. Something between a liquid dripping and slight electric jolts. Looking closer between the barrels as she tries to locate the origin of the sound, she notices something's amiss. There's a hint of smoke coming from somewhere, or maybe mist. She comes closer to smell if there's anything burning, then something hairy jumps at her face!

Tarandar and Chailin hear her squeak and turn around to see Xana fall on her back. A large rat the size of a dog jumps off her chest to the stone floor, then two more jump out from between the barrels.

The rats look left and right for a split second, then start hissing in the air. Somehow you feel like they're hissing at each other, maybe a bit at you as well. Seconds later, a metallic clanging noise mixed with a grunt is heard. Checking to locate its point of origin, you see a heap of flesh and armor stuck between the barrels, where the rats jumped out of.

Everyone please roll Perception. I'll roll for Chailin

You notice the rats scurry back between the barrels where they came from.

As Tarandar mentions opening a portal to your home worlds, otherwise helping you catch whoever's been stealing from the cellar, it occurs to you that the portal Wickari and the rats popped out from is somewhat out of place compared to the one that brought you here from the inn. You think of the portals like doors for a moment;why would a door be placed on a wall behind some barrels?

Tarandar sees the three massive rats, big as a housecat each, gathered together and squeaking amongst themselves. All of a sudden, they stop and turn to face him with a hiss, then jump!

Chailin springs into action, glaive in hand. She slashes diagonally, her blade biting deep. Blood gushes out from one of the rats as its back twitches to expose the inner flesh. The two remaining rats shift their focus from Tarandar, recognizing Chailin as the greater threat and try to overwhelm her. One gets lucky and manages to cut off a good chunk off her thigh.

Chailin's HP 12/14

Wickari jumps into action, blade slashing a rat's guts and spilling them on the floor. The beast shudders as it dies, then to everyone's surprise, its body begins to shake as if it's having a seizure. Bones contort, muscles grow and hair retracts until a wiry man in tattered clothes lays dead where the rodent used to be.

Her words backed up by the shock of Wickari's deadly strike, Xana forces the other two rats to retreat. Like their fallen companion, albeit with less spastic shivering, they grow into a hideous hybrid of rat and man, then finally into two dirty ragged young males. "Alright, alright, don't kill us please!" one says in a shrill, shrieky voice.

For a moment, the two humans seem stunned, as if confused by the complexity of Wickari's wording. "Okay, okay, just don't kill us! Whatd'ya need us to do?"

"Come with you? Where to?" the other rat-man chimes in.

Xana focuses her mind on the same disgusting food that triggered the portal to bring her here in the first place and as she approaches the stone arch, the air ripples in a familiar swirl. Moments later, a portal is formed, through it a scene of the inn's common room visible.

Upon the portal's formation, the two men seem to panic. Quickly shifting back to their rat forms, they scuttle away between the barrels. The familiar smoke from the portal they entered spills out and covers their escape.

You are left alone in the room with two open portals. One leads to the inn. You know how to trigger it, but you'll be going back empty handed. The other leads to powers-know-where and will only be active for a few more seconds. Since you don't know the key to activate that one, there's no time to discuss options.

What do you do?

"I am not leaving my ring with the innkeeper!" Chailin objects. Seeing everyone else jump through the portal though, she grunts and crosses her arms in front of her chest. "Fine. But I'm coming back for it!" she exclaims, then jumps through as well.

Game continues on this thread!