[HQ Ignorance] Scene 127: Off To See The Wizard

[lev at mimesisrpg.com]

The rump Fellowship spends the night in the modest home of Liu Che; in the
morning he raises the party and is in an optimistic mood, especially given
the news of his wife. Indeed, he almost seems to be in song...

"Wake up, you sleepy head. Rub your eyes, get out of bed. You're off to
see the Wizard, you'll find he is a whiz of a Wiz, if ever a Wiz there
was.... Because of the wonderful things he does".

Dressing himself in the most striking dark and light blues and wearing a
magnificent flat hat he looks concerned at the average robes that most of
the Fellowship, with the exception of Rikku, are wearing. "You know... I
am a tailor", he suggests helpfully.

After preparation the Fellowship enters into the Wizard's realm of
Puppetland. In many ways it seems so similar to that of The General. The
people are going about their business, trading goods and services, but
they do so without enthusiasm and indeed with furitive glances. There is
all-pervading sense of fear about the place and, on occassion, a spectral
form can be seen in the shadows.

Approaching the tower of the Wizard, the roads become alleys, increasingly
cramped, flanked by dilapitated buildings. The puppet population thins and
and fades eventually to nothingness. All that can be heard is ethereal
howls, whether from the winds that blow or from other source.

"We're being followed", says the ever-aware Seeker, answering the
question, and indeed the dragonewt is correct. A number of ghostly
apparitions are now following the party, darting to and from the plentiful
shadows. Eventually, the darkness becomes too great and Rikku summons a
small fire elemental to light the way.

It was at first difficult to realise, but the Fellowship had made it to
the entrance of the Wizard's tower. Unless the General, whose tower was
surrounded by a broad and open plaza, the Wizard's tower was surrounded
by, and merges with, a concentration of buildings. The only hint was the
appearance of two bright and ghostly figures stand in front of two doors
and who block further movement.

"You carry the banner of our enemy", says the first.
"And of a stranger", says the second.
"One of these doors leads to the Wizard. The other to the Void. Open it
and all material beings will be sucked in, and gone forever.", says the
first.
"You may ask one of us, and one alone, a question before choosing", says
the second.
"But beware! Of the wrong choice!", says the first.
"My fellow always lies", says the second.
"It is not so. I tell the truth", says the first.
"You might want to decide among yourselves first", says the second.