resuming from
The Gardens of Summer

you are in a domed room with one exit and
four tympanic alcoves flanked with differing classic columns.
In the center of the room is a statue of Janus pointing ahead.

by the base of the statue are two startled looking guards in blue cloaks.

Alastrine takes a half step backwards hoping that someone who's apparently been here before can adequately satisfy the guards.

In reply to Alastrine (msg # 2):

Hograth is the last one through.

"Right, let's distribute what we took, get a report to the Haderaum and get ready for the last gate...the winter portal. Rest up, unless there is a compelling reason, we should assemble after we have sold all we have to sell. Then we will distribute funds, make our purchases and meet back here tested tomorrow morning. Questions?"

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 3):

"If you all are heading back to the Hadereum, what do you need us to do? Stand by the open portal?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:26, Mon 06 Feb 2023.

In reply to Guardsman (msg # 4):

"Ah no, stand by the closed one."

Hograth will close the portal...

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 5):

and you do that by?

In reply to Narrator (msg # 6):

Turning the statue that points at the gate, of course, so it doesn't point at any gate.

While the others are discussing staues and so forth Alastrine sits cross-legged on the ground and tries to rest for five minutes.

In reply to Alastrine (msg # 8):

one of the guardsmen passes Alastrine a waterskin, while the other quietly steps in front of the cards on the ground.

"Thank you," Alastrine says as she accepts the waterskin. "That's very kind." She unfastens the container ad sniffs it to see if she can identify minerals in the water.

Alcohol not mineral!

Alastrine chuckles at Urrun's observation, "Very true!" and smiles at him to show she's not laughing at him. She takes the refreshments gratefully, then handing back the waterskin. "If I might enquire, what are those 'cards'on the ground?"

In reply to Alastrine (msg # 12):

"Oh, er, just a past time. been here since we relieved the last two, nothing doing for hours."

"Being new here, I'm afraid I don't quite understand," Alastrine replies, looking somewhat small and fragile. "It would be wonderful if you would explain it to me, please?" She does a thing with her eyelids that many men seem to respond to.

In reply to Alastrine (msg # 14):

"They are sentries placed here by the Haderaum to ensure that there is no unauthorized use of the gates, and that we are not stuck in the realms beyond the gate. I turn a blind eye to the cards as long as they stay alert and do their job."