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You have barely fallen asleep before you are startled awake. It seems that you have fallen asleep near a great jade palace, heretofore unseen. It is softly lit by muted lanterns, and revellers in fancy dress and masks of various sort are gathering on the well-manicured lawn. Peacocks strut and fan, and flamingos stand one-legged in a pond and nearby stream.

Suddenly, brazen trumpets call, and a voice rings out, “Welcome guests, one and all, to the Cotillion of Somnos!” The revellers sweep towards a broad staircase that leads up into the palace.

One of the revellers, wearing a turquoise-studded mask fashioned to appear like a one-horned demon, looks in your direction. “Come, fellow guests!” she calls to you. “The Ball of Hours is about to begin!” She dances swiftly across the lawn toward the jade palace.

As this module is now available, please excuse yourself if you have read it. Otherwise.....Welcome!

beermotor wrote:Do the characters see each other / recognize each other, or is this sort of a solo-dream event they just happen to be sharing (without knowing)?

The characters see and know each other.

Cisneros follows eagerly, without hesitation.

Daryll follows, but much slower, and is wary, looking around at the area.

Sorry for the delay ...

Murq walks across the lawn, marveling at the palace, the effort it would have taken to construct such a thing, not to mention the acquisition of that much jade, why ... He stops short, some short distance from the stairs, suddenly thinking to check if he is armed.

Jed follows his fellows eagerly.

beermotor wrote:Cisneros follows eagerly, without hesitation.

Daryll follows, but much slower, and is wary, looking around at the area.

As Daryll examines the area, he notices that whatever he focuses on -- a peacock, a bit of greenery, a costumed guest -- seems to be in sharp focus while the rest of the world fades into a backdrop. Moreover, looking behind him, he can see his slumbering form lying on the bed where he fell asleep.

Dumnbunny wrote:Murq walks across the lawn, marveling at the palace, the effort it would have taken to construct such a thing, not to mention the acquisition of that much jade, why ... He stops short, some short distance from the stairs, suddenly thinking to check if he is armed.

Jed follows his fellows eagerly.

Murq is indeed armed; the characters seem to be carrying all their normal equipment, exactly as though they were awake.

--

The wide steps lead upward to a double door, now thrown wide, its light streaming onto the lawn. One door is panelled in ivory, the other in horn. Before the gates stand two huge guardsmen with festive costumes but very serious-looking halberds. The one to the right wears an azure mask that resembles a rhinoceros. The one to the left wears a lifelike mask that looks like a hornbill. As you approach, they cross their halberds before the gate.

“None may enter the Palace of Somnos this night without wearing a mask,” declares the one on the right.

“Therefore, choose what mask you would wear,” says the one on the left, and the bird eyes on his mask blink.

I assume there's no masks immediately present...

Cisneros imagines a gilded golden mask in a disk shape, with spiked rays of electrum, like the sun.

Daryll imagines an owl-shaped mask, dark brown, black, and gray, with a sharp wooden beak.

The masks they imagine appear in their hands.

They put 'em on.

The guardsmen step aside for Cisneros and Daryll, allowing them to enter if they so choose. They keep an eye on the as-yet-unmasked Jed and Murq.

Jed pictures a bear's face, carved from dark almost-black brown wood, with teeth of ivory and eyes of ruby. Murq pictures an idealized dwarven face intricately crafted of mithril.

They likewise find the masks appearing in their hands, and, as soon as they don them, are admitted.

Beyond the gates of ivory and horn, a 10-foot wide staircase of polished coral and porphyry leads up into a chamber in which other masked guests are mingling. Flamingo-like creatures with azure feathers and spindly feathered arms distribute golden wine in silver cups. Three ornate doors lead from the chamber, left, right, and straight ahead.

As you look about, a soft but penetrating voice can be heard:

“Somnos, the Dreaming God, has heard the petitions of your hearts, and has granted you this chance to come before Him and make your requests. You need but make your way to the chamber where Somnos slumbers, and ask of Him what you would, before the thirteenth chime rings the end of this Grand Ball, this Cotillion of Hours.”

To each of you, the voice sounds like that of your mother, or of some other loved one now far distant or gone. The Cotillion of Hours has begun.

Cisneros goes through the right door.

Daryll watches him, then follows.

Murq and Jed hustle to keep up with the others.

Does Murq and/or Jed go through the door with Cisneros?

Enquiring minds want to know.

Raven Crowking wrote:Does Murq and/or Jed go through the door with Cisneros?

Enquiring minds want to know.

I think that's what he meant by "hustle to keep up with the others" ...

As he opens the doors and walks through, Cisneros will imagine that he is suddenly wearing a fine suit of mithril plate armor, ornately carved and inlaid with bright gold, and around his neck is a fine crimson cloak emblazoned with the image of a golden sun.