Much like the phoenix rises from its ashes....
You backtrack towards your entry point into the ruined city, traversing the large rubble and overgrown plazas and walkways. The ruins are in such a state, that most of the time, you have no idea what the function of most buildings once were -- some show faded frescoes, where others show little beyond cracked marble or granite -- all items of value stripped off of walls and years of dirt and grime covering everything.
You notice some recent pillaging by the areas where the dirt and grime have been sloppily wiped away or an outline in the dirt where something once lay.
You cross the NW bridge and enter into a sector dominated by humanoid sized ruins. A path through the rubble can be seen, as it appears to be well travelled. It begins at the end of the footbridge you just crossed and winds its way through the area to the SW, bringing you to the next footbridge that crosses the canal to the sector to the south.
Now that Ipshivi's eyes have become accustomed to the canal's water, she notices several more of the gelatinous shapes sitting idle in the water as she crosses the second footbridge.
Once the group is back upon dry land, a loud "WHOOSH" can be heard echoing through the area, followed by what sound like wing-beats. The tempo of them accelerate and moments later a huge green reptilian form can be seen coming into view from behind the looming Titan's Teeth structures to the east. Your hearts race and adrenaline surges as raw primal fear grips all of you as your eyes focus intently upon the creature. Instictively you duck for cover and watch as the creature rises further into the air and starts to turn to the south.
You realize that it probably does not see you, or give a care for your presence. It disappears over the southern canopy moments later, carrying off what appeared to be a stone pillar in its claws.
Soon after, your pulse slows down and the normal sounds from the surrounding jungle return, although you don't remember exactly when disappeared...
The group decides to head directly towards the Titan's Teeth, and makes its way through what appears to have been a huge outdoor plaza or market, evidenced from the large open area. On the eastern side of the plaza, you see a footbridge leading to the middle of the ruined city.
Across another canal lies the base of the heart of the city, with both of the Teeth rising form the center.
You approach the structure from the west, and circle around to the northern side, where you had seen what looked like an entryway from your earlier vantage point to the north. The entryway is surrounded by rubble and stone blocks that appear to have fallen from the tower above, as several of floors have gaps or missing portions of walls.
Several sets of footprints in the dirt show you that there has been traffic into this building in recent times. Aeranduil surmises that both humanoid and larger than humanoids have trod on this very ground.
Ipshivi walks towards the entryway, which at one time, must have been quite glorious, a roughly 40' tall archway, possibly 30-40' in width, with a double wide set of stairs leading up to it with what probably were plantings and fountains along each side.
Now covered in rock and rubble, the passable width consists of 15-20' in the center.
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You notice dried blood spatters on several of the steps and spray patterns on the rubble on each side of the walkway -- a recent battle was fought here, although you can't tell exactly how long ago. No bodies in sight.
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OOC: I'll be speeding up the pace on my end a bit to move the plot forward and get to the fun part -- smashing tiny humanoids with big clubs.
