tushanshu | III. ♔ Video

[Time for your scheduled public service announcement. At his console, Richard's arms are folded and his tone level. After talking to Sadie, he has realized that they can't continue with people being ignorant of the situation.]

For those who aren't yet aware, in Sinbrilee, there are marble arches with runes on them. The gateways with runs that seem to glow with a faint light lead to the realm of Dreaming, while the gates to Death have runes oozing a black substance.

Be careful of both. The worlds both shape themselves to the minds of those within. Dreaming can be pleasant, if you are in such a state of mind, but if you are not, it can be cruel. Death is always malicious. If you come to harm in either realm, that injury may prove to be very real. [Hidden in the folds of his sleeves, his hand tightens into a fist.] In at least one case, an injury has been. It's most likely that healing magic won't work there, nor any other abilities to protect you that require Tu Vishan's energy to function.

[Richard unfolds his arms so he can brush his bangs from his eyes.] I'd like to know if anyone has done any research on the gateways themselves or the realms beyond. Given that one seems the home territory of the being we've been brought here to handle, some understanding of how to move in and out of it could be an advantage.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well... the more we actually visit the other realms the more we'll learn from them, right? And isn't that kind of the point, to have more information?

Learning more is certainly to our advantage. I'd like to have more than conjecture to go on about the differences between the realms and how they work together.

The problem is as soon as we cross the gates we get too caught up in... whatever is going on to actually pay attention. We'd probably need someone with no emotions at all or something to be able to examine all of it clinically.

In truth, I wouldn't be entirely surprised if there are a few among us who fit those criteria. [It isn't a condemnation. Some people just don't feel things as much as others, as Richard knows.] It is easier to keep the surroundings at bay if one has a goal or purpose to focus on, but that method isn't foolproof.

[He nods] Yeah. I ended up crossing Death behind a couple friends and... well, got too caught up trying to pull them out to actually look around and take notes.

I've had the same problem. Once things begin to spiral away, the highest priority becomes getting out of there. Going alone does little to defend against the issue.

Are you implying we should go in groups? Because it's a good idea but... it also sounds dangerous.

Both possibilities, whether going alone or in groups, have dangers to them. It's far too easy for one person's fears to harm another [sorry about that attempted execution btw Enjolras] but it's equally easy for a person alone to fall entirely under the spells of those realms. If anything, the best we can do is understand each person's strengths and weaknesses before they decide to either go alone or work with someone who would be able to protect them rather than feed into their problems.

So basically: we should cross the gates with a friend or someone who knows us well. It makes sense but once you cross them it's not that easy to find the right part of the realm or the right person...

I think for now our best bet is to pick up pieces from what people actually remember.

Is there anything you yourself recall that you think might be helpful for us to know?

Well... I couldn't use my powers when I crossed the black gates. And while Dreaming was a little... mix of the other person's dream and my own, Death was a bit more focused. I think.

Would you say Dreaming was more a reflection of the minds within, while Death targeted those who entered?

The other way round, probably. But yeah, it was- they were similar, but different? But that's kind of obvious anyway...

Obvious to those who have been there, but not to those who haven't. There may be little else to learn from Death and Dreaming, but it is something.

I guess it is. Have you gathered any other information about them? Maybe someone else was paying more attention to it.

There is the proposition that maliciousness of Death is new, and perhaps set up by the threat we were brought here to fight. Those who had been there before said that the presence was certainly oppressive, bearing a heavy weight of misery on those who entered, but they also said it didn't attack them and target their fears as it does now.

[Frank nods, he'd head something similar when he went back to listen to Annabeth's posts...]

That would mean it's getting worse, which is... kind of scary to consider to be honest. Maybe eventually we won't even need to cross the gates to get to the realm...

Now that is a frightening thought. [He frowns.] But if it possible to open gates into those realms, then perhaps a similar system could be used to develop wards against it. Unfortunately, none of the books are ghosts are able to offer any information about how the runes or gates work.

If we had some more of those gates around... or for longer, or something. It's hard to come up with ways to investigate them when we know our stay here will only be temporary.

Indeed. We perhaps could pick one up and bring it to Keeliai, but that somehow strikes me as inadvisable.

[Like, 'and that's why you don't survive this horror story inadvisable.]

[Frank makes a face, getting a 'Oh God no' expression because he knows a couple of people who could actually try something like that. And he really hopes they don't get the idea because really.

Really.]

I get the feeling that'd end up badly for everyone involved.

[No don't that's bad.] I agree. We'll learn what we can based on what we can access without taking too grave general risks.

[...by which he means taking serious personal risks is okay, he will totally go through the portal first, Qilby, don't risk your life! and that's why Dalen's worried about Richard dying without an heir.]

III. ♔ Video

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