Episode 15 – Alea Jacta Est
Having reported all that they were willing to their governments and organizations, the party then proceeded to decide how they would approach the border crossing into Pan-Ya Tak. Options included approaching through the mountains, through the forests, or near Lake Chan. Discussions hinged, for the most part, on which approach would be least likely to be guarded by Pan-Ya Tak forces. In the end, it came down to a roll of the bones as Reverend Dunbar used dice to determine whether the party would approach through the mountains or by the lake.

Fate, therefore, decreed that the party would approach near Lake Chan. En route, the party stopped at the large town of Pin Yan on Lake Shon. There, Viscount Nicolo sought things of his own while other members of the party received equipment sent by their sponsors. Time was also taken to find out what was known about Pan-Ya Tak.

The party learned that there was no trade between Hanshar and Pan-Ya Tak, at least not any that was known to the merchants and traders of Pin Yan. The party also learned that there was a zone of no approach extending roughly two miles from the Pan-Ya Tak border. There were no people living in this area, as all had been driven away by fear of magical or mundane attack.

During their travels, as well as from the people in town, the party had also learned that the uprising in Hanshar was quite widespread and was being lead by the younger children of the human noble houses that rule the country in the name of their elven overlords. Those very same nobles had, in turn, disowned those children involved in the uprisings. Due to the dangers presented on the road, the party traveled at the highest level of alertness.

Leaving the town of PinYan, the party continued through the forests and rural areas of the south. It took a further 12 days of travel from Pin Yan to arrive at Lake Chan. Once there, the party inquired at the many local fishing villages as to whether or not anyone had ever crossed the lake to Pan-Ya Tak on the far shore. They were met with looks of amazement, and tales of those few who had tried and were still remembered fondly. None of them had returned, though the occasional burned-out boat had drifted back to the villages.

The party determined that crossing the lake would not be the best way of crossing the border and they set out to find an inland route. A few miles from the nearest village, the party encountered the edge of the exclusionary zone. The forest had been cleared, and kept cleared, for literally hundreds of years. The wall itself was built of masonry, and stood between 30 and 40 feet in height. Battlements similar in shape to dragon’s scales topped it. Approximately every mile along the length of the wall was located a tower. Rev. Dunbar's use of "legend lore" revealed that the wall had appeared over a single nght, about 500 years ago.

In order to determine the best place to try and cross the border, Rev. Dunbar communed with Tayna and determined that there were, in fact, points of weakness. The party was directed to a length of wall roughly 11/2 miles long less than 100 miles from their current location. The party traveled to this place and began to search for the weaknesses in the border. They eventually located a place where several small streams ran directly into the wall and seemed to pass under it. Rev. Dunbar's use of "true seeing" proved that the wall was real. There was then a discussion of methods that could be used to approach the wall and determine where the weakness was.

Master Wu Sun, using his great stealth, approached the wall at night and determined that one of the streams did, in fact, pass under the wall but that there was old iron grill blocking passage. He returned to the party and was loaned a belt of giant strength by Revik. He then returned under the wall and using his greatly increased strength eventually removed the grill. The balance of the party then approach the wall and passed under it.

On the far side of the wall, the party found another exclusionary zone. They also heard the movements of what they assumed to be soldiers along the road in the distance. The party moved into the forest and found the road. The nature of its construction spoke of a strong, imperial government. Rev. Dunbar then used a wind walk spell while Revik transformed into a bird and the party moved roughly 50 miles away from the wall.

Knowing that the Monastery of the Winged Serpent was located in Pan-Ya Tak’s capital, Rev. Dunbar used a “find that path” to determine the best route to take. The party traveled at night, using wind walks and polymorph to achieve great speed. They arrived at the capital and located the monastery just outside the city on top of a hill.

After a brief discussion, it was decided that Revik, Wu Sun, and Sir Kasmir would be the first to attempt to get into the monastery. They approached on foot until the gate guards challenged them. The guards demanded to know who they were. Sir Kasmir told them that they were travelers from far land, seeking knowledge. The three party members were questioned in different languages and the fact that Colin spoke in the Dragon language was considered quite interesting. The guards sought instruction from the monks within the monastery. A monk emerged and questioned the party members further. Ultimately, they were taken into the monastery and given temporary quarters.

After a few hours, the party members were taken to an audience with the Masters and Grand Master of the monastery. They entered in the main pagoda where they found ten human monks arranged on seats in a semicircle. Behind them was the Grand Master, an enormous dragon.

The ensuing conversations gained the party a certain degree of respect from the masters present. The trio also informed the monks of their comrades and was permitted to summon the rest of the party to join the meeting. Refreshments were served while the rest of the party traveled to the monastery.

In the give-and-take that followed, the Masters and Grand Master confirmed much of what the party had learned from their benefactors in the East. They also learned that this monastery in fact, held information concerning a key piece of the Shardstone. However, the Grand Master wished to know what the party would do with the Shardstone piece, were they given its location. The party members were all asked about their feelings in the matter, and something passed between Revik and the dragon. “Interesting choice” the creature was heard to say.

It was at this point that theological and practical discussions as to whether or not the gate should ultimately be opened broke out. There were questions from Rev. Dunbar about why the Grand Master and others in Pan-Ya Tak had done nothing with their knowledge before this time. The Grand Master responded that to act alone would have been foolish and to have sought allies would have been useless as prior to this time no one in the West would have been willing to believe the truth about the gods.

Sir Kasmir also had questions, but the Grand Master bade him look to his own heart for the answers. In general, the Grand Master gave the impression that the presence of the party in Pan-Ya Tak represented a focal point in the progress of history. A momentous decision must be made, and only the members of the party can truly make it.

Rev. Dunbar argued, with great passion, that to open the gate would be foolish. He implored his companions to preserve the existing order. Viscount Nicolo, Master Wu Sun, and, to a great extent, Sir Kasmir all cleared that opening the gate might in fact be the best option. Revik as well seemed opened to the idea of opening the gate.

In the end, Rev. Dunbar asked to be allowed a day to commune with God. His question was simple, "Is it inevitable that the gate be opened?" The response that he received was quite disturbing. Not a simple yes or no, instead he heard "Gate?... Gate... Gate!"