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Mira and Tiamat successfully reached the top of the bridge. No monsters assailed them on their ascent and the bridge didn’t fade until after they finished the climb. Mira gasped for a breath in the thin air, her stamina tapped out.
The Sky Realm looked like rolling hills in winter, but the land was white clouds, not snow. The sun and the realm’s two moons shone down from the clear blue sky. All the clouds were below Mira now. The air was freezing while the light of the sun burned fiercely. Mana beat down upon the duo like a weight from the moons. Seeing these extraordinary sights, Mira realized that the Mystic Realms still had more secrets to learn.
She could see a flock of Rocs, dangerous and powerful magical birds of thunder and lightning, circling high in the sky. The cloud palace stood proudly and tall in the distance. Mira gasped; her mana reserves had been severely depleted with the climb. She used another of her bracer’s spell gems to cast [Invisibility] over herself and Tiamat. The monstrous birds were far away, but better safe than sorry. Pulling supplies from her magical inventory, Mira set up a quick camp to rest for a bit.
As she settled into meditation, she cycled her mana; greedily she pulled in the rich bounty of Akasic energy raining from the sky. After she felt more like herself, she then replenished her devices, her staff, rod, blade, and bracer. After an hour of cycling mana into her devices, she was able to recharge all of them.
She fretted about her burn rate for gems on her Spell-Shard Bracer. She pulled her used and cracked spell gems, pulling some new gems from her Talisman, and embedding the proper sigils upon them before filling the empty fittings in her bracer.
The pair, still under the veil of the invisibility spell, were ready to travel again. The palace in the distance beckoned them and the faen threads were thick as ribbons, cavorting in her mind, encouraging her onward. The palace towers gleamed white on white, a welcoming sight. As Tiamat fretted, Mira smiled and started a game they played since seeing The Princess Bride movie at her family’s movie night.
“What do you think, Missus T? Shall we stroll over yonder and find our last and best score?” Mira asked, raising her pitch on the last word.
“Of course, we shall,” Tiamat answered in counterpoint and continued. “We really couldn’t ask for much…more.”
“But, T, I think I see large walls and a gate ahead.” Mira sang.
“Well, they better open it quick, or they’ll all get…dead!” Tiamat said with a grin.
"Shall we slip through, and past the guarded gate?" Mira queried with a playful twist.
"Of course, my dear, we'll navigate this twisty fate," Tiamat responded with a nod.
"But, T, the guards at the gate are sure to speculate," Mira mused.
"Well, let's show them a performance they won't underrate!" Tiamat declared with a chuckle.
"But, T, what if we’re forced to fight? I'm just a mere featherweight," Mira advised.
"Never you fear as long as Tiamat is here. While we might take a while, we won’t be late," Tiamat assured her.
The duo continued to play their rhyming game the entire time that they slowly strolled to the grand building in the distance. Protected from detection, with Invisibility from the attentions of the dangerous Roc, the pair found themselves enjoying the best day ever as they approached their destiny.
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Camped again amidst some persistent tufts of cumulus clouds, the pair eyed the gate and its protection. Before Mira and Tiamat stood the formidable guardian of the gate, a towering golem of stone and metal, standing a staggering 12 feet in height. The guardian was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, its stony exterior intricately engraved with ancient runes and sigils, each glowing faintly with a power that blended both elemental and arcane forces.
Its massive limbs, composed of solid stone, were etched with patterns that seemed to pulse with energy. Arcane symbols of protection adorned its metallic chest, while fiery, molten veins ran beneath the surface, giving it an otherworldly, animated appearance.
As the guardian loomed over the entrance, it emitted a low, resonating hum, crackling with the essence of the elements and arcane magic. Its presence was both awe-inspiring and intimidating, a true testament to the craftsmanship of its creator and the power that imbued it.
Mira and Tiamat exchanged a glance, their playful banter silenced by the imposing figure before them. It was clear that gaining entry to the Cloud Palace would require more than just clever rhymes and tricks; it would demand all their skill and ingenuity.
Mira silently weaved a shell of [Silence] to discuss their options. The pair had delved into enough dungeons and performed enough capers to have developed a shorthand for tactical approaches.
“Watcha think, Tiamat? I'm thinking Hawaiian Punch with a sneak twist or maybe Do You Know Who I Am for openers.”
“I’m not sure, M. I’ve always thought Back Flow was more elegant. Or with all those Rocs overhead, maybe Monster Train?”
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Mira reviewed their normal gambits in her head again.
Hawaiian Punch: Bolstered and enchanted gates, with guardians, were oftentimes the worst point of entry. The palace wall was likely weaker, with more area and unguarded. She had powerful offensive spells and both her Vorpal Knife and a legendary Portable Hole (a Faen artifact) were useful to create an entry anywhere.
Back Flow: Mira’s set of Spell Shards included a spell for Phantom shape. She could transform herself and Tiamat into a cohesive mist form to navigate through the palace's drainage system.
Special Delivery: They would disguise themselves as couriers and deliver a trapped package, creating a distraction or taking out the guard. Best used in a busy city setting.
Trojan Horse: Mira and Tiamat present a large, beautifully wrapped gift box, claiming it holds a priceless treasure for the palace. The box conceals a teleport anchor sigil that allows Mira to transport herself inside once the box is placed within the palace.
Monster Train: They lead aggressive creatures right to the gate, going invisible to watch them fight the guardians, and hopefully slip past in the confusion.
Do You Know Who I Am? Pretend to be an official demanding to see the owner under fabricated pretexts.
Boop: The pair would just walk right up and start blasting. Despite her protests to the contrary, Mira could level a small city with her power. But magic was notorious for having specific counters that negated some of the more powerful effects.
Mira started to begin listing out the pros and cons of each option, but Tiamat immediately interrupted her before she could really begin.
“You always need to over-plan everything, Mira. Just get your circlet out. You know that you're going to do it already, I can see the future too.” Tiamat sniped.
Mira couldn't argue, she did think she needed to use her highly prized planning tool. The Seer’s Halo was a powerful Faen magic item. Wearing it, a mage could sample the outcomes of multiple futures. It was only good for a short time frame but could often show the best option and reveal secret traps or issues that were hidden. It was a simulation, but the game knew itself and it provided a highly accurate future sight.
“You’re right as always, stinker. Watch for trouble while I do this, okay?” Mira asked.
Tiamat chuffed a disdainful puff of smoke as Mira sat down in a meditation pose and summoned the circlet. Placing it on her head, her eyes rolled back into her head, and she started to [See]. The Faen threads and weaves of luck and fate roiled in her head and painted a monochrome picture of the future possible.
…Tiamat dove down, and a pair of Rocs shattered the peace of the cloud lands with thunderous screeches. The Rocs’ speed was far, far faster than the little dragonette, and they caught her before she could cross the distance to the gate. Mira screamed, too far away to help, as the pair crashed together in a spray of blood…
“Nope! Next.” Mira mumbled.
...the phantasmal form of Mira and Tiamat speed through the tight drainage system. The architect of the palace must have been a deranged plumber, the path forked and twisted in a labyrinthine maze. Desperate for an exit, Mira screamed as the spell expired and…
“Next!” Mira grumbled.
...Mira and Tiamat presented the delivery to the looming and silent behemoth. Predictably, the powerful golem opened the box with surprising delicacy. Mira eyed the sigils and runes lining the stone and metal torso. Then the box flared, but the hidden Conjuring Talisman built into the trap spell failed to pull the Golem into its inventory spaces. Sensing the surge from the box as the attack that it was, the Golem’s alert rang out like a klaxon. The Gate swung wide, and four more Golem marched out, lightning crackled and arced over and between the massed guards as Mira and Tiamat turned to run…
“Huh, I guess this isn't an Akasic construct golem, maybe it has a beast core or even a necro core. Next.” Mira said, wondering if maybe Boop might work if she was quick enough. In this vision, she saw that the golem’s glyph structure had a fundamental weakness. One quick hit with her staff might stop it before it alerted the Palace.
…Mira and Tiamat introduced themselves to Golem, claiming to be representatives of the Akasic Magicians’ Conclave. They needed to confirm Glaucus’s residence for their alumni record. As the Golem pondered the speech, Mira struck swiftly with her Aether Nexus Staff.
The Staff, one of Mira’s master enchantments, forged of Mithril and embossed with orichalcum and gemstones. The glyphs on the staff could store and convert mana to elements like fire, frost, and lightning; and vice versa. Its end cap was a different material, made of banded VoidSteel, it could discharge and disrupt spells and spell forms on contact.
Mira used it now, stabbing at the Golem’s central nexus, a weakness to route all its function through one sigil. The Golem’s form flared and the arcane lights died as it crumbled to pieces. From the pieces, a whirling configuration of lightning and energy rose. It wasn't a Golem at all, but armor for a Lightning Elemental. Its crackling energetic screeches rose, and a bell sounded out from inside the wall and the gate opened…
“Damn, next,” Mira said, she could feel the strain on her mana channels. It didn't usually take this many tries to find a viable approach. She couldn't take much more.
…Mira and Tiamat circled the wall, far from the gate. Hidden from the view of even the flying Roc. Mira unrolled the Portable Hole, yet another spatial device she couldn't store in the Talisman. She placed it on the wall where it stuck like adhesive and promptly became a real hole as tall as Mira. Tiamat and Mira carefully went inside.
The hole was almost six feet deep and led to a deserted hall with weak glow lighting on the ceilings. Mira complained about things never being easy as she summoned a fishing rod with line and a bob made of sticky pitch. Tiamat watched the hall, while Mira stuck the pitch under the outside edge of the hole’s bottom. Unreeling the line and walking back to the hall, she set herself.
Starting slowly, she peeled the hole up, and as it started to fall, she pulled it through itself. It landed at her feet; a rumbled cloth composed of delicate threads. It was woven by Fae Gloom Weavers from shadow and was incredibly fragile. The hole could be reused but retrieval with this “pull and invert” method was dangerous. Mira sighed in relief as she recovered the valuable tool…
Mira was startled awake, a sharp pain in her chest. She felt blood trickling from her nose, eyes, and ears. Her Qi core was empty, she had overextended her vision too far. With panicked breaths, she turned her mage sight inward, she saw her empty core dry and fragile. A breath more and it flickered slightly. A trickle of Qi remained and began to slowly grow again. She exhaled in relief.
Thank the gods, a damaged core would not only ruin the mission but would likely cripple this character forever. Mira thought and shuddered. She had never come so close before. She cracked open her eyes and was looking into Tiamat’s concerned snout from almost touching distance.
“I’m ok. I just need a few moments. Looks like Hawaiian Punch is our ticket to ride. Sneaky style.” Mira confirmed as Tiamat offered her the Polyphial Flask. With a nod, she uncapped it and took a long pull of a mana potion from its depths. This place was indeed looking like a death trap. They would need to use every trick they had. She hoped it was enough.
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