And with that, the companions parted. Zuan and Saano exchanged brief glances as Inan joined them. They had never seen the man smile before....
---
As Anquetiti relayed her plans of merriment and conquest to the amused and devious-looking Nisher, he in turn berated Iskander for the indignation. There was no bemusement on Iskander's face. Tagu stoically led the animals to the stable.
The stone house was sparse to put it kindly. A rectangle of gray rock, overgrown with purplish ivy. There was ample room inside, and one window. Four straw mattresses, a wooden table with an empty water-jug, and four chairs. Against one of the walls hung a long-faded symbol of St. Hurdegilda on a chain, an onyx heart. The stables were attached to the house. The old straw here stank. Hezzab and Maurban expressed their displeasure immediately upon entering.
---
They were led through the Cloister in appropriate silence. Then through a small courtyard and through huge stone double-doors, which opened as the Sisters neared. Though the three companions looked about taking measure of the place, the surroundings of the austere abbey were not worth description. Everything was simple angles of gray stone and ceilings lost in shadow. No adornments or embellishments were present, other than the occasional statue of St. Hurdegilda, carved from the same dull-gray stone as the rest of the keep.
The one feeling they all shared, was an overwhelming awareness of the complete and utter silence. No rats scurried. No bats squeaked. No broom stroke across the stone floor made a wooshing noise. It was deafeningly silent.
At one point, the three passed what appeared to be a vast stone auditorium, where dozens of white-clad Sisters, stood rigidly, shoulder to shoulder, apparently lost in silent prayer, but in reality, as Zuan, Inan, and Saano could "hear" (only in their minds), they were singing in some unknown language, at the top of their "lungs"...the Silent Choir.
The three rose up two flights of worn stone stairs and walked down along plain corridor. The two Sisters then stopped and turned to face the three. One took out a large iron key-chain and stuck a key into what looked like more stone wall, but was actually a door.The door opened without sound (naturally). Inside they could see straw-cots, water basins, table and chairs.
"Please wait here. The Abbess will see you shortly. Someone will come for you when it is time. There is bread, water, and cheese for nourishment." she motioned toward the table, then both turned and left, their steps *not* echoing along the corridor floor....
It didn't take long. As soon as one of them opened their mouth to speak and heard no sound issue forth, they knew. *They* were now silenced as well. Inan, Zuan, and Saano, could only *think* at each other now. A coin dropped on the stone floor (Zuan's quick experiment) also produced no sound.
(ooc: roll for INT checks again. You all made it, which means you can communicate telepathically amongst yourselves. (22:00:30) ChatBot: Murometz rolls 3d20 and gets 12,10,12. Perhaps the abjuration magic Anquetiti detected earlier now made sense. The entire Keep seems to be under magical spell of silence.)
