ironwood: (LANTERNS / peace)
ɪʀᴏɴᴡᴏᴏᴅ ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ᴇsʜᴀɪ ([personal profile] ironwood) wrote in [community profile] tushanshu_logs2014-09-30 04:21 pm

EVENT | INTERMEZZO | Palace Exploration Log

Characters: ALL!
Date: Sept 28 and onward
Location: Palace of the Landed Sky, Keeliai
Situation: In the wake of Malicant's bold taunt, and the death of the Emperor and five hatchlings, the Palace is left abandoned and open for the Foreigners and kedan alike to explore.
Warnings/Rating: CONTENT WARNINGS are noted in the various subject headers, please take note of them!

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zwischenzug | (ˈzvɪʃənzuːɡ) | intermezzo | n. (in chess):
1. A tactical move interpolated into an exchange or series of exchanges to improve the outcome.
2. "in-between move". An unexpected move tossed into an expected series of moves. (German)

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Where once the Palace of the Landed Sky was a majestic and beautiful thing to behold, it now seems to pulse with negative energy. The outer walls are crumbling in most places, unsteady and fallen into disrepair. The walls of the Palace itself remain for the most part sturdy, minus a few fallen stones and the ruins beside the Courtyard.

The Palace is empty. Though some bodies can be found scattered haphazardly about the halls, most of those who were working in the building have disappeared entirely. There’s no question as to whose doing it was.

Small groups of kedan have also ventured into the Palace in order to loot whatever rooms they can get into, feeling confident that the reward will outweigh the risk of facing off against Foreigners who may feel the need to repel them. Mostly they'll be in groups of 3-5, though individuals or larger can be encountered as well. Some will engage the Foreigners in hostilities and some will grudgingly be sent on their way without challenge, depending on how bold they feel.

No banners, rugs, lanterns, or furniture within the Palace remain in pristine condition (with the exception of Eshai’s room). Everywhere one looks, items are torn, scratched, or smeared with blood. Even the interior walls are often cracked or caked in what one hopes is only blood. Perhaps more unnerving are the ‘veins’ that run through the walls, floor, and ceiling. These thin black tendrils, equal parts within and without the surface they spread across, are textured and feel like pine needles to the touch. These veins run throughout the Palace, yet never seem to thicken, intensify, or coalesce in any one room or area.

Though the walls are still made of white marble and the floor remains interlaced with rose quartz and mother-of-pearl, the shine has gone from them and something of the life and light they brought has withered away. Though the structure remains intact, it feels in some areas as if the walls have closed in, making the previously grand rooms now seem shrunken and constrictive. An air of eerie calm and discomfort can be felt from the first step on. The building is not the Palace anyone remembers.



LINKS
Throne Room | Eshai's Room | Storage Armory | Library
Ritual Chamber | Prison | Courtyard | The Turtle's Head


OOC NOTE
The Palace becomes available to explore as of the 28th, but will remain accessible until further notice. Please direct any questions regarding this log to the QUESTIONS section in the original OOC post.

There will also be a State of the Shell post coming soon to address the current status of the city and its key players. Thank you!
redlightgreenlight: (Happy)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2014-10-20 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
"It isn't that she died so much as that she was murdered," Valdis replied.

She crossed her arms and cocked a hip, waiting for him to see the obvious difference in the substance of the stones. The subtle shift that had alerted Skulduggery to the fact that there was more to the wall than met the eyes. She had memorized their location, but she wasn't particularly interested in telling Dante where they were. After all, he had said that he would do it himself?

She waited, an amused expression on her face, "Any day now would be nice," she quipped.

[personal profile] royalguard_style 2014-10-20 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Just give me a second." He finally started to notice the pattern, and hit the stones one by one. Finally, he hit the last stone, and the passageway opened.

"You ready?" Dante obviously had no idea what he was in for. He still had one of his pistols drawn, and still looked ready for a fight. He clearly was never told just what to expect, or else he wouldn't be so eager. He never would have charged straight in so enthusiastically if he knew what he was about to see.
redlightgreenlight: (unamused)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2014-10-20 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
Valdis didn't bother drawing a weapon, but she did pause before descending into the darkness. Finding out what Malicant was up to was more important than her fear.

"As ready as I can be."