Source map notes
As you look at the map, you realize that this may take a while. The five manses are scattered all over creation. It's pretty clear that the moon icon represents the moonsilver manse, the sun the orihcalcum manse, the star the starmetal manse and the skull the soulsteel manse. The symbol near the center is a common symbol used for jade, so that is probably the jade manse. You're guess is that the eye icon represents where you are now, that is, where the Eye is right now.
Adrios: Your combined Intelligence + Lore score of 7 tells you that the numbers next to the icons are a radial coordinate system, pinpointing the location of the manses. The first number is clearly an angle, measured relative to an imaginary line between the centerpoint of the map and the middle of the far right edge (representing the line between the elemental poles of earth and wood). The second number is obviously a distance from the center of the map to the manse. These are really big numbers, so you guess that they are measured in yards. You thing the last number might be elevation above sea level, also in yards.
Cruxis: Your combined Intelligence + Lore score of 6 tells you that the numbers next to the icons are a radial coordinate system, pinpointing the location of the manses. The first number is clearly an angle, measured relative to an imaginary line between the centerpoint of the map and the middle of the far right edge (representing the line between the elemental poles of earth and wood). The second number is obviously a distance from the center of the map to the manse. These are really big numbers, so you guess that they are measured in yards. You're not sure about the last number.
Gutts: Your combined Intelligence + Lore score of 2, and your emerging reading ability, tells you that the symbols next to the icons are called "numbers", but you have no idea what they mean.
Guen: Your combined Intelligence + Lore score of 3 tells you that the numbers next to the icons are probably some kind of coordinate system, but you are not sure how it works.
Jorias: Your combined Intelligence + Lore score of 7 tells you that the numbers next to the icons are a radial coordinate system, pinpointing the location of the manses. The first number is clearly an angle, measured relative to an imaginary line between the centerpoint of the map and the middle of the far right edge (representing the line between the elemental poles of earth and wood). The second number is obviously a distance from the center of the map to the manse. These are really big numbers, so you guess that they are measured in yards. You thing the last number might be elevation above sea level, also in yards.
Juuken: Your combined Intelligence + Lore score of 3 tells you that the numbers next to the icons are probably some kind of coordinate system, but you are not sure how it works.
Regret: Your combined Intelligence + Lore score of 4 tells you that the numbers next to the icons are definitely some kind of coordinate system. The second number gets bigger as the line gets longer, so that is probably the distance from the center of the map. You're not sure about the other numbers.
Stag: Your combined Intelligence + Lore score of 6 tells you that the numbers next to the icons are a radial coordinate system, pinpointing the location of the manses. The first number is clearly an angle, measured relative to an imaginary line between the centerpoint of the map and the middle of the far right edge (representing the line between the elemental poles of earth and wood). The second number is obviously a distance from the center of the map to the manse. These are really big numbers, so you guess that they are measured in yards. You're not sure about the last number.
Varden: Your combined Intelligence + Lore score of 6 tells you that the numbers next to the icons are a radial coordinate system, pinpointing the location of the manses. The first number is clearly an angle, measured relative to an imaginary line between the centerpoint of the map and the middle of the far right edge (representing the line between the elemental poles of earth and wood). The second number is obviously a distance from the center of the map to the manse. These are really big numbers, so you guess that they are measured in yards. You're not sure about the last number.
Jade manse
The jade manse is very near the center of the map, but not exactly at the center. It appears to be on the spot of the Imperial Mountain, also called Mount Meru. This mountain rises six hundred miles high and is both the literal and symbolic heart of Creation. It can be seen from every part of the Blessed Isle and, on a clear day, even from the Threshold. Though called the Imperial Mountain, the Imperial City is actually far away on the east cost of the Isle.
Adrios: If the final number of the coordinate system really is an elevation, this manse being only 155 yards above sea level would mean that it is deep under the mountain.
Cruxis: Cruxis once attempted to make the pilgrimage up the mountain, largely at the behest of Tela, someone Cruxis was sweet on. Tela's friend was a strong follower of Pasiap, and convinced Tela to go with her. Tela and Cruxis followed for about a week, then got "distracted" and spent the rest of the month wandering around the Blessed Isle.
Gutts: The mountain is extremely deep into Imperial territory. Getting there is likely to be difficult, even by air, as the large chunk of the Realm's military, including airships, defend the Blessed Isle.
Guen: The mountain is rumored to be quite inhospitable, though there are supposedly trails for pilgrims that are well traveled. You once heard a lunar tell a story about an older lunar named Walks Under the Ice who bragged about climbing to the summit back in the First Age, in human form, without using magic. This was considered so impossible that no one believed him. This caused him such a loss of face that he ultimately agreed to a repeat performance, with younger lunar as a witness. He attempted it several hundred years ago, at the full height of the Realm's power. He and his witness were never seen again.
Jorias: If the final number of the coordinate system really is an elevation, this manse being only 155 yards above sea level would mean that it is deep under the mountain. The mountain itself is the manifestation of the elemental pole of earth. It was once the seat of the Solar Deliberative.
Juuken: Every year, thousands of people make a pilgrimage to the Imperial Mountain, walking a path called the Spine of the Amaranthine Dragon. This begins at the foot of the mountain four days outside of Juche, at an Immaculate monastery called the Steady Foundation Pagoda. Healthy mortals can make the trip to the Victorious Ascendance of Mankind (a temple at the highest point mortals are allowed to go) in about a month. Exalted are allowed to travel a few weeks higher through the cold, to the Immaculate Temple of Ivory Resplendence, just below the summit.
Regret: Regret associates the mountain with the Realm and the Blessed Isle, so will not have much good to say about it.
Stag: You've seen the Mountain up close with your own eyes. Back when you were masquerading as an Immaculate, thousands of people a year used spend a month or so making a pilgrimage up the mountain, though you never did so. Near the very top of the mountain lie the ruins of Meru, once the seat of the Solar Deliberative, from where the solars ruled Creation. It is said to be inhabited by all sorts of strange creatures now. The mountain itself is the manifestation of the elemental pole of earth. Unlike most elemental poles, it is not surrounded with the chaos of the Wyld, but there are occasional unpredictable currents of earth essence that can be dangerous
Orichalcum manse
The orichalcum manse looks to be suspiciously close to Rathess. As you will recall, though now in ruins, Rathess once was the capital of Creation, possible the oldest city ever. In the Wyld, you also learned that the city was the center of Dragon King culture.
You have been told by Sundial that the sword Soul Mirror is somewhere in Rathess, and have recovered the memories of the two terrestrials that hid it. Stag was chosen to view those memories. After doing so, he told each of you a step on the path to locating the sword. With Jorias' help, he eliminated all knowledge of the path except the proper ordering of your hints, placing it into a sorcerous gem, which was then destroyed.
Adrios: When spreading instructions about finding Soul Mirror, Stag told you: "While looking at the face of the room's major feature, take the passageway to your immediate left. Take the first left, then a quick right, then go a half mile until you see the sun."
Cruxis: A long time ago, when you were back on the ship headed to Lap, you remember Jorias telling that one of those gates to Yu-Shan (heaven) is somewhere in Rathess.
Gutts: When spreading instructions about finding Soul Mirror, Stag told you: "In the water, enter the mouth of the dragon. Go left, then right, another right and a left, until you lament the shark."
A long time ago, when you were back on the ship headed to Lap, you remember Jorias telling that one of those gates to Yu-Shan (heaven) is somewhere in Rathess.
Guen: When spreading instructions about finding Soul Mirror, Stag told you: "In the city, find the red granite road. From its halfway point, you can see the white jade footbridge. Go to the bridge, and jump off of it."
A long time ago, when you were back on the ship headed to Lap, you remember Jorias telling that one of those gates to Yu-Shan (heaven) is somewhere in Rathess.
Jorias: When spreading instructions about finding Soul Mirror, Stag told you: "Head towards the passage closest to the statue's shield. Ignore all the archways and branches you see, heading straight until you run into a T-intersection. From there, backtrack until you reach the third archway on the left. Walk through that archway."
Juuken: Though Rathess is several thousand miles away from Harborhead, the nation that occupies the attention of the White Queen, that is still fairly "close" by the standards of Creation. You remember overhearing a report made to the White Queen about a scouting party sent out to the deep East having been ambushed on the way by an organized band of goblins near Rathess. Only three men survived, describing the attackers as "fanatical zealots" and "cannibals".
Regret:
Stag: Stag has intentionally forgotten the visions he got from memory gems that revealed the hiding place of Soul Mirror, but he remembers the order of the visions he told to the others:
- Guen
- Gutts
- Adrios
- Jorias
- Varden
Rathess certainly holds one of the gates to Yu-Shan. You haven't heard of anyone using it, though.
One of the wonders of Rathess was its Great Observatory, supposedly the greatest astrological tool in all of Creation, in some ways apparently surpassing the Loom of Fate itself. It is known to be damaged to the point that it no longer functions.
Varden: When spreading instructions about finding Soul Mirror, Stag told you: "Move forward the direction you face. At the intersection, go strait. Then straight, straight, straight, right, left, straight. About ten yards before this hallway leads to the next room, stop and remove a stone from the ceiling."
A long time ago, when you were back on the ship headed to Lap, you remember Jorias telling that one of those gates to Yu-Shan (heaven) is somewhere in Rathess.
Moonsilver manse
Adrios:
Cruxis:
Gutts:
Guen:
Jorias:
Juuken:
Regret:
Stag:
Soulsteel manse
Adrios:
Cruxis:
Gutts:
Guen:
Jorias:
Juuken:
Regret:
Stag:
Starmetal manse
Adrios:
Cruxis:
Gutts:
Guen:
Jorias:
Juuken:
Regret:
Stag:
Varden: