The Tranquil Garden Beckons

"Later, perhaps," said Nekarb with a smile. "The Chamber needs to recharge. Also other things must take priority. I know that the master wants you to spend some time in the Vault of Lore and also the Tranquil Garden, to prepare yourself for tonight's feast." [97766, 97903]

"The tranquil garden sounds nice," said Andrea, and felt another wrenching sensation. Falling to her knees, she tried to suppress her gag reflex. When she looked up, Nekarb was gone. Instead, she found herself standing in an unfamiliar (and unadorned) hallway, in front of a massive wrought-iron gateway. At the top were the following words (also in iron):

Delthai Omnathelion Purporta - Tranquil Garden

Andrea could see nothing through the gateway, it was in front of a huge white wall. "Am I supposed to just walk into the wall?" she muttered to herself, as she stood to her feet.

Just as she was considering the option of exploring the new section of the palace she found herself in, she felt inexorably drawn towards the wall within the gateway. She opened her mouth to scream, and then fell silent in shock, as she found herself within the garden.

Cooled by a refreshing breeze, Andrea looked around in awe. The garden was aptly named, as she felt nothing but a complete and utter sense of relaxation. The air smelled of jasmine and lavender, and just behind her she saw the gateway, through which she saw a dirt path leading up to the garden.

Strange plants, shrubs, flowers, trees and vines of all kinds grew up around her, along a lazy winding trail. There appeared to be benches spaced evenly along the trail as far as she could see. She heard birds chirping, and she felt as though she was under a spell. It was like a narcotic, but an extremely gentle one, she thought idly as she walked down the path.

Around the next curve she smiled involuntarily at the fountain in front of her. Its babbling sound was incredibly soothing, and the water spewing from the various openings was lit with a shifting array of colors. The statue itself was disturbing, being some stone representation of a many legged creature with tendrils and various appendages, but that wasn't important. What was important was that she sit there on the bench and watch it. So beautiful...

1. Andrea succumbs to the fountain's mesmerizing display, sitting to watch it for a while. So beautiful...
2. Andrea shakes her head as if to clear it, moving on down the path.
3. A small monkey with intelligent eyes beckons Andrea to follow it into the underbrush. How odd.
4. In a room high in a tall tower, Arteth Sugrani watches Andrea in the garden. >>YES<< he says with a gurgle, >>ENJOY MY GARDEN, ANDREA...<<

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