Editing Chat with Oggie

Oggie - we've had a player chat and we think that the illusory image ofa pagoda puts us in mind of either an Asian Temple or a Romano-Greek meeting place.  It's not clear to us if the Harpies created the illusion to lure somebody into a trap (most likely) or meet with allies (less likely). So overall, we have a place that seems to be originally linked to death in some way, that is occupied by Harpies wearing skulls who have created an illusion of a place that is far more positive (likely meeting or religion).  It is interesting that the pagoda imagery can also be linked to the kind of advanced societies that would have built the city and sewers, before they regressed

Oggie Ogden⁩
I think you are too taken in by the Harpies’ ability to control your mind.  They cannot, for example, create this sort of illusion. So, ask yourself what is real and what is not and why things might appear as they did.  This is nothing to do with death - quite the opposite.  Your last point is along the right lines…

so, this still feels like a semi-religious and formal place that is intended as some sort of a meeting place / worship place

⁨Oggie Ogden⁩
Yes - remove the Harpies and their detritus from your mind…what’s left?

There was death symbology on the door handles but a pleasant pagoda and pond inside.  I still think meeting place.  
somewhere for life to be welcomed back

Oggie Ogden⁩
What of the other symbology?

the pagoda is Asian

Oggie Ogden⁩
What was on it

12 birds of prey - 
links to the years cycle and the runestones and opening/closing pathways

Oggie Ogden⁩
Absolutely - Water below

it also opened to the night sky in a particular pattern, which seems very astral - or at least linked to the 'heavens' in this campaign

Oggie Ogden⁩
Yep - good point.   So water, earth, mineral, fire but no Air in Batu’s reckoning…  So, was it an illusion?

or did we briefly open a pathway?

Oggie Ogden⁩
Aha…Much closer…

so this is now sounding very similar to what the Khan's necromancer was talking about

Oggie Ogden⁩
Yes, indeed - there is a link …Probably a stretch right now for you but give it a go…

well, I'm wondering if there are similar places that have 'earth below', 'fire below', etc - presumably arranged in a pattern which currently alludes us

Oggie Ogden⁩
Excellent- relationships of the elements, gender and what determine the year in ascendancy?

an animal spirit I think?

⁨Oggie Ogden⁩
Yep - brilliant!  But what does that mean here?

Female fits the cycle we have from Batu but Air and Eagles don't.  either there is a different version of the same calendar or the calendar has been corrupted from its original form - to favour certain elements

⁨Oggie Ogden⁩
Yes, how many animals are there in the Chinese zodiac?

12 i think

Oggie Ogden⁩
Yes - there are 12 in Batu’s…  No birds…

I know, which is odd...

Oggie Ogden⁩
Not really…

I meant odd to me, with no knowledge of chinese mythology!

Oggie Ogden⁩
Well I suppose it doesn’t make sense to Batu…

the chinese zodiac does have 4 pillars though

Oggie Ogden⁩
Is that the year, day, month and hour?  Not really done that if that’s what you are thinking.

yes - although the zodiac also divides into 4 trines, grouping them in 3s.  we were supposed to have been just entering the 4th trine, which starts with tiger, but that was the ceremony that was disrupted.  Batu's vision says that they have kept the tiger.

Oggie Ogden⁩
Correct

They may be trying to take control of the zodiac in some way

Oggie Ogden⁩
Yes - to do what? (A bit of a stretch and a departure from true Chinese Astrology.)  Also where and when…

my vision suggested that the Kharash want to be the bridge or gateway between death and life

⁨Oggie Ogden⁩
Correct - why?

I don't think we know - but it was linked to their god it seems

Oggie Ogden⁩
Yes it was and is linked to the other visions, albeit tenuously

year of the dragon - would be the end of the cycle and an 'Iron' year.  that seems auspicious for the Kharash?

⁨Oggie Ogden⁩
And me.  So, they have the Tiger and they want to use it somehow, somewhere to influence the Zodiac iot have some effect…  You have seemingly stumbled on a ‘stepping stone’ (don’t read anything into that - just a term) which potentially forms part of a bridge from death to life - with Air and Water symbology.  Which connects both the earth (stone) with the sky.  What do you expect to find in this place?

do you mean - why are we bothering to go back?  or, what should we be looking for?

⁨Oggie Ogden⁩
Bit of both I suppose…I’m happy if it’s just a reconnaissance- but be careful…

it is definitely just a reconnaissance and we will definitely be careful.  It would be useful to know which set of 3 years/runes this temple is keyed to, just for future completeness.  Mainly we want to find Shang-Ti's guidance and take proper note of direction and symbology this time.