Game: Great minds think alike (Part II)

[OOC: @Blackthornes: Please describe what's going on in your character while he's doing that!]

As Ian moves, Lomax describes what has happened. The Abyssal isle these creatures tried to create was not finished. As you slipped into the shadows, you entered a piece of reality that was not fully formed yet. The effect is that, now, you're in the shadows somewhere between the isle and the first layer of the Abyss. While I don't know everything, I believe this is the first time such a thing happened... it feels like reality itself is unsure what to do. Time for experiments, my friend.

[OOC: @Blackthornes: You ignored my question

Please describe what's going on in your character while he's doing that!

Referring to the feeling Blackthornes has in the overall situation!
]

Watching the tunnel, Azure notices five figures coming closer - slithering phantom mariliths approaching the group quickly. They are about seventy yards away from the group.

As Blackthornes tries to open the door, a disembodied female voice appears. "Greetings, traveller!"
The voice is that of a young woman, giving the impression of someone very cute and happy. "I am Fathii, a spell personality, and keeper of the door you are trying to open. I sense that you are trying to escape fiends, which is exactly what the room behind this door is meant for. But, only mortals can open the door, and while I do sense that you are mortal, I can also sense that you are a fiend. Of course, I find this very confusing. Could you explain this, please?"

Lomax makes a strange sound in Ian's mind, something in-between a giggle and a yawn.
I think they will come along fine for the moment. You should find out how to return to the original layer where your friends are. There are three things you can try... experimenting with the shards, or finding something in the darkness ahead, or a combination of both. Realize that, while you experiment, you do not only find out how things work in this in-between-reality - with your experiments, you SHAPE how things work. You can use that to your advantage.

Strangely, no beam of light appears as Ian activates the stone - and yet the object he noticed shines up, as if emitting a light of its own.

First, he thinks the object he sees is an egg-shaped stone, about four yards high. At a closer look, Ian realizes this "egg" consists of the same "material" as the reality shards he left behind - it's just like watching reality transported on an egg-shaped surface.

Fascinating, Lomax says. That's how Abyssal isles look from the outside. I assume we're the first ones to ever see that. Isn't that an interesting feeling?

Slowly, shapes begin to form in the darkness surrounding Ian. Vague objects, silhouettes and distinct shadows become visible... but Ian misses the outlines of buildings, or of a ground.

You are not strong enough yet, Lomax says. You are not returning to the original layer; you're opening this in-between reality to the inhabitants of the Shadow Abyss. You need some kind of support if this is the way you want to go.

Now, Ian realizes many of the various shapes resemble a variety of creatures he knows - creatures that one would definitely expect in the Abyss! Most of them seem to be staring straight at him.

"That is well," the cute voice of the spell personality answers to Blackthornes. "You may enter, and you may decide whom you bring along. But I should warn you; the room behind that door is a room of peace. Trying to break that peace has consequences, and depending on the offense, the consequence will not be nice for the offender. To open the door, softly touch the symbol of lightning. To let anyone else enter, touch his or her or its hand while you are inside the room. Oh, and... welcome. It feels good to have a new face inside the room."

I believe in your terms it would be, someone powerful enough to change reality without magic. An extremely experienced signer, or a powerful fiend or other immortal - for a tanar'ri, at least a balor, better something beyond.

Observing a group of shards, Ian can see the strange creatures still making their ritual. The one who looked up to Ian still stares at where Ian has been - but there is nothing visible there anymore. The creature's eye-tentacles are moving quickly and nervously, a movement that almost makes Ian sick as he watches it.

[OOC: I'm gone on saturday and sunday, back on monday!]

"It is not an illusion," Faathi states as an answer to Saath. "The Faeraan magic keeps everything in here alive and unaffected by outside influences - including me."

The Masked Gnoll says nothing, but looks around with a wide grin on his face. He is probably the only one not noticing a movement at the other side of the room, somewhere behind a couple of small trees. The same moment the door slides to close again, not long before the mariliths would have arrived. The group can already hear their hissing and cursing in the room.

As you like, Lomax says. You are the creating power in this realm, after all. As for the group, they just escaped the mariliths. As far as I can tell, they are out of danger for the moment.

"Hm-hm-hmm."

This is the only reply Faathi gives for a few seconds, before continuing, "So I assume you are visitors from a different world? I assumed such things are possible, and you appeared different enough to not come from Faeraan. So, where are you from exactly?"

The leaves Saath touches seem to be as real as anything else in the room - including Saath himself.

Before Saath has a chance to reply to Faathi, the movement appears again - followed by quick steps. A moment later, a strange figure appears before the group.

The creature is humanoid - somewhat -, but resembles more a knot of fine roots than an actual human-related being. There is no part of its body that is entirely solid, even the torso and head are nothing but a complex network of green and light brown roots. None of the roots is thicker than a human pinky, and fine green hair covers the entire network of roots that make up the creature's body.

A deep, roaring voice appears as the creature's fine hair vibrates all over its body.

"They are coming! The demons, they have conquered the palace! We were right all along, they will kill all of us if they get us!"

Faathi answers in her ever-friendly way, "Fighting is not allowed in here. If any fiend succeeds in entering this room, I can only hope for the fiend it will not start a fight."

Naruk looks at Thuu, rubbing his chin. "By now, there's too many possibilities to really give a good guess what's going on here. I wish I could take a look at those fiends trying to enter from the other side."
He nods to where Thuu came from.

Anyone trying to listen to the fiends Thuu was speaking of can't hear anything - no sound comes in from the outside.