The emperor wasted little time upon his arrival in surveying Isola for his purposes. It was almost reflexive. Where there was magic lay power, where there was power was an opportunity. He was drawn to it like a moth to a flame, needing resources to unyieldingly continue to fulfill his mission. A shoddy wooden staff could only get him so far.
The foggy brambles of Mistwood welcomed him into their fold, and he breathed the cool, refreshing air with gratitude. Though he was cautious, he was undeterred. Strange, mind-boggling monsters? Bizarre, unexpected magic? Hah! Such a land was one he'd called home for centuries. It would take far more to catch him off guard.
Finally, his staff hit stone. Looking down, he gazed upon the structure that sprawled before him. A decrepit circle of stones carved out their presence within an expansive clearing, standing ominously in the mist.
It wasn't one of the fabled, more complete ruins of the Broken Circles, but it was a start. Even if no relics were hidden in this particular area, perhaps this was a safer location to study before moving on to one that would harbor what he desired. He stepped forward, stooping down to brush a hand across the stone, checking for inscriptions.
A sound somewhere just past the brush caught his attention. Even without augmentation of magic, his senses remained sharp. He swung, brandishing his wooden staff, unafraid but poised to teleport out of the way should an assailant come his way.
"Who's there?"
@grimflyer
