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the_scouring_orb [2021/10/31 13:56] – bluethe_scouring_orb [2021/12/13 14:20] (current) – blue
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 Lucatiel sticks relatively close to Tret, though perhaps a bit closer to her Carbuncle for the moment. She can be seen glancing at the man occasionally with a furtive look before quickly looking back around the darkened path. "Ummm... Tretty... Why did you... umm..." She pauses, stumbling over her words. "I know Reena said he was a bad man but..." Lucatiel sticks relatively close to Tret, though perhaps a bit closer to her Carbuncle for the moment. She can be seen glancing at the man occasionally with a furtive look before quickly looking back around the darkened path. "Ummm... Tretty... Why did you... umm..." She pauses, stumbling over her words. "I know Reena said he was a bad man but..."
  
 +----
  
 +===== Another Trial Awaits =====
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||As Lucatiel and Tret made their way further into the underground portions of the temple, the path seemed to look like modern building instead of dirt path. The wall seemed to have unlit lanterns. The walls were cracked and falling apart, in places, but others seemed normal.||
 +
 +Astra stood up looking around, still rubbing her side as it knitted together. She followed after Rina into the new opening. "His blood is on my hand?" She furrowed her brows. She let out a sigh, "This was a temple, to an old god, I mentioned this earlier. What I've read in the past, the trials were roughtly translated to the path of a high priestess or something."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret raises a hand and calls back "hold up, let me check these out..." He then stopped walking to investigate the lanterns, seeking out one with at least plenty of wick left, hopefully some oil as well. He paused his search as Luca half questioned him, looking over to her "... It's not about him being a bad man or not. He was going to kill one of us. Maybe all of us." He set his pack down and began rummaging through it, producing a tinderbox and then resuming his investigation. "Death is a last resort, Luca. I hope you never have to take a life. Try to find other options... Please."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Natural curiosity takes over the fear, and the girl comes closer to Tretty. She looks at what he's doing with the lanterns, watching intently. "He did hurt Astra... and then he started coming over here... Maybe I should have..." She reaches into her backpack and produces an arcanistry book, looking at it furtively. "You all were being really weird and I heard a weird voice in my head telling me to 'overcome him'. What if... What if he heard that voice too and that's why he..."
 +
 +In her possible realization, the girl makes a large sniffling sound before shaking her head. "No! Reena told me to keep it together, so I'm gonna! If anyone else tries to hurt us... I'm gonna... do a magick thing! Just enough to stop them!" She clutches the arcanistry book to her chest with both hands, nodding to herself and looking around again with a bit of renewed confidence. "No death! Just... just enough to stop someone! If it's someone mean or or or... I dunno!" Perhaps in an attempt to help Tret see or just happenstance, the Carbuncle glows brightly again for a small amount of time.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret stops again, watching her now when she mentions the voice. "So you heard something? Hm. Maybe. But still. It was his life or yours, Luca. Do what you can. What you must. If you can stop them without killing them, you'll be better than I was. But... Last resort. Sometimes they won't stop. Can't stop. If it's your life versus theirs... Live."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc>
 + 
 +"I heard a voice too, seems we're not welcome here. Whatever is looking after this place isn't doing a good job of welcoming guests. I'd welcome them to try that shit again."
 +
 +A'erina had caught up with them and glanced over the area, somewhat confused. " When I say something doesn't feel right, you believe me right? This isn't like anything I've read about in any books. Something is definitely off with this place. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Or, maybe we are toys to something we can not see yet. A means of entertainment." she shivered slightly as still was trying to recall everything. She was a step behind A'erina when they caught up to Tret and Luca. "What do you mean things don't feel right?" Astra looked at the wall lanterns then a small stream on the side of the paths caught her attention, dipping her fingers in it she rubbed it between her thumb and finger, sniffing it. "Smells familiar..." She looked at Luca, "Hey girlie, can you do fire spells?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl hesitates at Tret's words, thinking about what he means, though her smile returns quickly. "Last resort! Got it!" As A'erina catches up, she turns around to greet her with a quieter but still excitable "Reena! Oh... Umm, what do you mean? What doesn't feel right?"
 +
 +Lucatiel blinks as she's asked to do pyromancy. "Ummm... No, sorry." She offers an apologetic smile.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Call it being cautious, something I've picked up from getting in with the wrong crowds and doing things I shouldn't be doing... " She snaps her fingers together to create another small orb of fire and holds it infront of Astra. " You can manipulate magics, right? Here's your fire, take it.  " She extends her arm out to Astra as though she's literally trying to give the bunny the fire like it were a sack of coins.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret takes a lamp that seemed like a suitable candidate and started to pull his flint from the tinder box when suddenly there was a new light. He turned and stepped back from the flame, holding a hand out as if to shield Luca "Hold on, before we start setting things on fire... Is it oil? Why would there be oil in those trails?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra manipulated the rest of the fire, lighting the way, the lanterns, and the small dips on the side of the path appeared to have oil ontop of water. The fire burned lightly on the water.This was just a hall way. Beautiful design similar to that of Rabanstre.
 +"We are hardly near the  next room it seems, this is very.." she snapped her fingers "what is that word."
 +
 +Astra looked at Tret, her voice cracked "Trial by fire?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Not quite the phrase, I think... But this seems to be the way. Let's go." Tret put the flint back in its box, box in the bag, lantern attached to his pack, and shouldered up his gear again. He then pushed through and to the front with his stick lightly scraping the ground like a blind man's cane
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"What exactly did you expect when you were inquiring for this?" Astra asked but she looked over her shoulder from the way they came. Looking like she was forgetting something.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I expected nothing and everything. That's why I came loaded up with everything I could think of." He stops, not hearing anyone behind him coming along and would only press in when the others followed "Explore a mystery dungeon, be ready for a possible fight, and try to come home with something worth the effort. You didn't give us much to expect, except something about trials...."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +she shrugged, she appeared the whole time, completely weaponless. However her coat shifted, and on her belt was the holder for her cards, and the inside of her boot was visible the hilt of a short sword or a dagger. "one thing says that this place was a place of great worship," she waved her hand, and then other. "Another script said this place was full of madden zealots. No way of knowing unless you were here."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel follows the group, looking around at the small fire display with an open mouth. "Oooooh... This is more the kind of adventure I was hoping for! Pretty lights and mystery!" Perhaps not hearing what Astra says about zealots and worship, or just ignoring it all together, the girl is unphased by further discussion. Now that her Carbuncle isn't needed as a source of light, it walks much closer to her as she holds her book in her hands, still marveling at everything.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +".....Fucking hell, cultists. Well... I think if there were still any, we'd have met the welcome wagon already. Lets keep on so we can find something worth looking for and get home. Tired of this place already..."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra sighed, "The record of this place is old, by old, I mean older than my elders."
 +
 +||A laugh echoed the hallway as they walked. Not quiet a child's giggle, but something else.||
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina drew her sword. " About fucking time." She yelled down the hallway " Show yourself!  Ain't here to play games, so we're either takin' what's here the easy way, or I'll take what I want from your corpse."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Whuh!? Who's down there!? Is it Haimus again!?" Lucatiel seems to get prepared about as possible for her - she brings the back into one hand and opens it somewhat clumsily. Her Carbuncle moves to be in front of her, looking down the darkened path. "Please! Don't try to hurt us!"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>
 + 
 +Tret perks up at the sound of laughter, then shakes his head "Not going to be Haimus. Possibly not even going to be there for us to hit. But stay awake, everyone. Soon as we start thinking nothing is going to hurt us? BAM. Someone loses a leg."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel takes a step back, looking quite upset. "No! I like my legs!"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Looking back over his shoulder, the remaining male of the party gives Luca a wink "Then like I said. Stay awake!"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl gives a nod and an assured "Hmm!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +scratching the back of her head. "it could be a void scent.... I didn't even think about that. But, there really hasn't been any on this side of the world."
 +
 +the viera stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face the way which they came. "there was another with us, an over weight feller.... I... I...I... remember him coming to my home, and my thoughts became cloudy." A'erina words echoing through her mind, 'His blood is on your hands.'
 +
 +Astra snapped back into her cold somber demeanor, her eyes dulled from the light again.
 +She was soothed by the voice that haunted them. 'You did nothing wrong my wayward rava.' She straightened up, and pointed down the hallway, "I don't think it is too much further."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret stops again and half turns to look at Astra. He regarded her for a moment as she seemed to have some memory issues. His gaze shifted to Rina, and he gently nodded his head towards the bunny and raised his staff a bit. Immediately after he turned back to get done with the hall "We'll talk about him later, Astra. Now... What do we have up here?"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +Seemingly disappointed with yet more voices, A'erina decides to keep her sword out for the time being, she kept looking back on herself as a precautionary measure, she couldn't shake an uncertain feeling that was washing over her, she kept quiet while not quite sure who was actually leading this little adventure, Tret or Astra, but stayed close all the same.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra stepped forward, keeping her back to the rest of the group. She didn't say anything as the group made it to the next room, it was lit with the fires that fed into the room. It was warm, and actually beautiful. Gold accents adorn the stone walls. The room had a similar pillar to the last.
 +
 +Astra walked around the pillar, she was muttering something in a different language.
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel steps forward into the room, though still behind Astra. Her worries about the strange voice are stalled as she sees the splendor of the surrounding room, visibly and audibly gawking at it all. "Oooooooh! It's so pretty! This is definitely adventure! There has to be something really cool in here! Why else would people have made it so fancy! I wonder if there's gold or or or like a statue!?" She chatters excitedly to no one in particular, completely lost in the scenery.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret takes a slow circle of the room, looking at the walls, the pillar, and checking to see if they had a way forward yet. He'd set his pack down on the ground and stretch, watching Astra read and talk to herself "...Something you can read, I hope? or are we going to start attacking each other again?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked at Tret in a weird way. Her head clicked from side to side.
 +
 +||With Astra strange behavior, nothing was said.||
 +
 +||A moment later the laughing orb flew through a wall, spun around playful before resting in an impish form on Astra shoulders. It clapped in delight, then playful poked at Astra cheek before giggling. The orb now imp like creature was white and blue of color, that shifted go shades of purple and pink before back to its blue/white state.||
 +
 +||"Isn't she a lovely puppet?" The voice that came from it was odd, but same one that plaque the minds of the group.||
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina nudged Tret. "What say we kill Astra and her new pet, so we split whatever we can take back with us three ways, I'm already done with this place."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Oh... Wonderful. Just.... Wonderful." As if utterly annoyed with the whole situation, Tret reached up and pinches the bridge of his nose between his closed eyes "...We need her, 'Rina. Killing her won't do anything about the spirit, I'm willing to bet. It might just jump to one of us. Luca, please step away from Astra and her giggling friend...."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>''</fc> 
 +
 +||The imp like creature sees the carbuncle, and becomes excited, vanishes for a second or two and appears on the back of the carbuncle. Trying to ride it.||
 +
 +||"She isn't my friend, nor am I hers." It cooked its head, and Astra followed suite. "She is one of ours now. She tries to resist, but she belongs to us. Plus, you don't want to kill her....." It chuckled and pulled on the carbuncles ears.||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel slaps a hand to her ear, looking at the new arrival in surprise. "Oh! It's... kinda cute? Ummm..." She looks up at Tret, stepping back as instructed and hesitantly holding on to her arcanist's book, unsure what to make of the imp.
 +
 +The Carbuncle, as ever, does not respond in any discernible way.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>''</fc> 
 +
 +`The imp amused by Lucatiel response to the carby ear grab. And poofed off the behind, and slapped the back thigh leg.`
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl twinges, instinctively grabbing at her thigh. It wasn't pain, but more like the echo of the actual slap.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Well, how about you be my friend then, little trickster? What should we call you, and what will you have us do for your amusement?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||The imp hackled, rolled on its side laughing before teleporting itself intop of A'erina head, smacking her ears, before leaning against one, and looked at Tret, in a bit more somber tone, the voice protected from Astra lips instead.
 +"I am no little trickster, this form amuses me. I bored easily and it has been so long since anyone has come to worshipped me."
 +Astra then collapse to the ground, surrounded by a barrier that matched to the markings on the tiles around her.||
 +
 +||"She sleeps now," The imp regained it's voice seemed delighted.||
 + 
 +||"You came here for fortune, and favors. But you have yet to prove to me you are worthy of such divine blessings. Would you not take your places, and prove to me you are worthy of my blessings?"||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Bored... Toying with mortals... Speaking vaguely... You have not convinced me you are not a trickster." There is a sharp TAP at the sound of Tret's staff rapping the ground (and possibly his patience breaking) "where to?"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina attempts to grab the little shit off her head.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||A'erina hand grabbed a handful of aether as the creature disappeared from sight, and reappeared ontop of the pillar. "Oh foolish girl,"||
 +
 +||Looking back at Tret, the imp decided to shift its aetheric presence, a familiar Xaela form was displayed.||
 +
 +||"You want to test yourself Isekai?" It pointed to the center of a square marking next to Astra.||
 +
 +||Each section of what was the floor of the room, made of four squares that made one large square. It flicked its lizard tail before shifting into another male miqo’te form. "What says you two? Try your luck? Need all four of you willing to start?||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Astra!" Lucatiel yells out, making to move towards the woman, however as the barrier comes up she stops instead opting to stretch out an arm. "Ohh... You better not have hurt her!"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +A flash of anger, but Tret gave a smile and raised a brow "Oh come on. In my head too? Little Trickster it is. Not sure what ees-a-keye means..." He approached the marker as indicated, looking back at his pack left behind "Don't suppose I'm allowed to bring anything, am I?"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" You can cut the shit, now. I'll not do anything you want. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||The imp grew annoyed with the group disobedience. "Very well, you are on your own." With quick spin, the entity returned to an orb state, sucking the fire elements leaving the group on their own. "Good Luck." It echoed, and they were alone.||
 +
 +Astra sat up, her head spin, she was on her hands and knees, she tried to get up but the dizziness. She heaved then vomited. Resting her hand on what she saw was a wall, she looked to the others before realizing she was resting on barrier.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret blinks as his own personal barrier goes up, and then the lights go out. He looks towards where Rina and Luca were before, calling out "Hey! can you two still hear me? Theres a lantern on my bag. try to find and light it." He then turned back and squatted down at the sound of vomiting "Astra? You with us then?"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc>
 + 
 +"...Why are you yelling? We can hear you. You're just behind some kind if magic barrier." A'erina went and grabbed the lantern anyway and held it in her hand and went ahead and lit it. " Now what?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra laid on her back, "light it?" rubbing her head "Fucking thing has been fucking with my head." She looked over to Tret, "I think we're locked into the next trial."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Now what? We suck it up and see what games that spirit has for us. If it wanted to kill us, it would have already. Two come on and stand where it told you." Tret's weary smile was illuminated dimly by the lantern behind him as he turned back to Astra "Seems so. Or left to rot here when Rina and Luca run off back to daylight. Let's hope that doesn't happen. I can't even get to my deck of cards to pass the time with." Backed into a corner, the good humor hyur returned to the party. Under the wisecracks, Tret was losing his cool rapidly
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"It's not a spirit." Astra sat up and looked at Tret.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"It is playing the part VERY well."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"It is... more than that. I saw stuff, heard things. That we saw is just a projection." she shook her head then looked at the wall from which it came. "If we win its favor and pass this, then we can move on, get whatever we want and leave." She looked to Rina and Luca. "I'm not sure what will happen, but this is not a death challenge, it is a means to test us, this is I know."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"...I still don't like this." She grabbed her axe, wielding a weapon in each hand before pointing the axe at Astra " When we get back, IF we get back, I want to talk to you, without the need to worry about my life or hers" She says, pointing at Lucatiel. " I have a lot of questions that will have to wait. " Reluctantly doing what was asked and stepping onto the destination which she was told.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>''</fc> 
 +
 +||The floor around A'erina lit up and a barrier formed.||
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"There is always questions, and I have my own for what is behind that wall." pointing to the sealed door way. "... was this what the priestess went through to become high priestess? Or is this just some fucked up game." she fell on her back again. "Something is telling me you don't want to be standing for this."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Wuhh? Run off to daylight? But umm... I wouldn't leave you guys behind!" The girl is quick to point this out, looking between the group in a small amount of worry. She takes a moment to look at the floor and the squares, moving to place herself within the final square unoccupied. "Like this?" she asks, her Carbuncle moving quickly to be by her side. Her eyes dart over to A'erina as she is mentioned, though she doesn't say anything for the moment.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret sighs and sits on the ground as Luca approaches, crossing his legs and waiting
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||Luca was in place, activating the final tiles. They all glowed, sealing the adventurers in.
 +Nothing happened.||
 +
 +Astra looked to the others "When I heard of this place, and sought it out, I started hearing whispers the closer I got. The whispers got louder until I uncovered the city then the temple." She yawned.
 + 
 +||(Do sleep influence/fatigue check - 1d20. Anything below 8 is going to be a watch your friends doze off. anything over 15 is pass out. Between that is drift into a slumber)||
 +
 +"The whispers became images... thoughts..." Astra yawned again, fell over on her side.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +Suddenly A'erina finds herself unable to resist (the dice rolls) some force driving her to take catnap. Refusing to let go of her weapons, she uses them to keep herself propped up, dropping down to one knee, barely able to stand anymore. She looked over at Astra. " You're fu... Fucking... Usele--." like some unstoppable drowsiness had washed over her, with a thud she fell to the ground and passed out.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +looked about as the glows were set off "Really now... what kind of..."  He yawned after Astra and shook his head. damn contagious yawning. Wait. they shouldnt be sleepy... He blinked and looked at the other three again, vision blurring "Ah....ah damn. this can't be go-" And dozed off, chin down against his chest
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +As the glows set off, a wave of slumber soaks into Lucatiel. She looks around at her friends and then down at the Carbuncle, confused but placated. "Whuhh... So tired! Adventure is really.... Exhausting..." She practically drops to her knees, blinking very slowly as her Carbuncle almost instinctively moves behind her. Her head rests against the little aetheric golem as her eyes close fully. "Goodnight everbody~!" And then she's out, tiny breaths signalling her full departure into sleep.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||Each began to come too, completely surrounded by nothingness, and absolute darkness. The area was not warm nor was a cold. However, breathing would appear to be in a cold state. With new attire, each was dressed in a simple cloth top and pants. No weapons, just their bodies. Each were alone in this state.||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel comes to a stand, looking around in confusion. "Wuhh...?" She pauses for a moment. "Uhhh... Tretty? Reena? Astra?" She blinks, fear starting to set in a bit. "H-Hamius!? Carby!?" Even her Carbuncle was nowhere to be seen, and she begins to look around a bit more frantically.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret's head jerked up, not saying a word.  (Thoughts will be translated for readers ease.) Nothing...  Blind... He reached up to touch his chest, then his knees Not my clothes. Ok... I wait. Patience. Calm. Spirit will return.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +As Astra came to, she looked around, the void of nothingness actually made her feel comfortable. A clean slate, no past or errors. "How comforting" She said a loud. She began to walk to see if there was an edge or a force.
 +She felt her mind free of the past.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina stirred and opened her eyes, of course it would be dark. She had got bored of doing this already and channeled aether towards her hand and another small orb of fire hovered just above her palm. It seemed to do nothing except show her the floor she was standing on and her lack of weapons or personal clothing. She'd shout out to try and see if the others were nearby or atleast within shouting distance " Tret! Astra! Luca! "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||Luca image was complete darkness, but distant light taunted her.||
 +
 +||Tret imaging came clear, an object formed infront of him.||
 +
 +||A familiar voice beckoned to A'erina, calling our to her.||
 +
 +||As Astra room shifted, she was taken to a familiar trading post.||
 +
 +||Please check individual channels #rina-trial-of-fear #trets-trial-of-fear #luca-trial-of-fear||
 +
 +----
 +
 +===== Astra's Trial of Fear =====
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra walked among the empty stalls, a windchime chirped in the breeze. Her heart sank. She kept walking but no one was in sight.
 +"HELLO?" She called out, no one responded. She continued forward, but nothing. Everyone was gone.
 +A bit of gunfire caused her to run down and alley. But arriving at the center was nothing. Confused and lost Astra turned around and was stopped in her tracks. The path she came was cluttered with corpses of Viera and Garleans.
 +
 +||Astra is taken back to the day of the invasion of Dalmasca. Instead of fighting, there was nothing, no life at all.||
 +
 +
 +Hesitation begins to wash over her as she walks through the carnage. The veira lying there are her sister, her tribe.
 +She rounds a corner, and hides. Her sister, her own blood, was being held at her knees, her eyes shifted to see her daughter next to her sister. Covering her mouth she hides hoping not the seen.
 +
 +The firing goes off, and then nothing. She holds back tears as she gets up in silence. Nothing changed. She walks  over to the bodies of her blood, and sees both of them. Falling to her knees she sobs.
 +
 +"I'll never be strong enough to save you."
 +
 +||Astra room changed as she hovered over Ysera body, crying. She was now at the one place she never wanted to return to, Carteneau.||
 +
 +Astra held onto her sister as she cried. However the bodies turned to ash as she was surrounded by the redden skies of that night. Her eyes widen.
 +
 +"No."
 +
 +She got up and ran to the small group of watchers, finding a purple eye elezen.
 +
 +"No, no, no."
 +
 +With a sigh, a few others teleported out, but this girl waited. Astra tried to grab her, but her hand fell through.
 +"You fool, what did we expect? To be able to stop this madness? We will never be strong enough, and I am just as foolish today."
 +The elezen stood and watched, before one of the scholars said something.
 +
 +"Come Astra, there is nothing we can do."
 +
 +They both teleported out.
 +
 +The now Astra fell to her feet, and watch everything unfold.
 +
 +".... I'm weak."
 +
 +||There was a pressure on Astra mind, as it did this, it pulled her into the Sharlyan academy.||
 +
 +Astra began to walk about the yards, and the buildings watching others play with magic. Unsure what was going on, she continued to walk around. She looked at her hands, they were shaking. Unable to control her emotions, she looked for her old room.
 +
 +"you don't belong here, you can't even use the arcane" someone called out to Astra behind. "Can't even glamour yourself" A crowd gathered around Astra taunting her.
 +
 +Astra felt helpless, she couldn't feel her connection, her body felt weak. She couldn't save anyone, they will all die, and she will be left to live hundreds of years.
 +
 +"But at least I can try, and try, and try again." She yelled at them. "I will never stop trying, and I will learn."
 +
 +Balls of energy came flying at Astra. She was surrounded by aetheric residue. The teasing kept on. "Astra the Weak is what they will call you."
 +
 +"Stupid Bunny"
 +
 +"GO BACK TO THE JUNGLE."
 +
 +The mockery continued.`
 +
 +"No! I belong here! I can learn." A younger version of her voice came out, the heavy rava accident muddled her words. She covered her mouth. Another ball of magic was throw out at her, she held her hand up to stop it, but to much of her surprise, it collided with one of her barriers.
 +
 +"I am not weak." She said in her normal voice, it was malice and angry. "I am not weak."
 +
 +She pulsed with energy, the residue around her glowed, and spun around her for a moment before exploding away from her body. Dropping to a knee, she shook from the mixture of emotions.
 +
 +||Astra subconscious reality began to shatter, exploding stars around her. Returning her to reality||
 +
 +----
 +===== Awake Again =====
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina began to stir again, she opened her eyes, her head feeling like it had been split in two. She looked as the barriers around the others were still active. She sat up clutching her head, looking Lucafiel's direction as Carbuncle was nudging its master trying to illicit some response. Astra and Tret were still out cold. She looked at her hands, no longer feeling like she  had ~Children fingers~ a smaller frame and feeling younger, breathing a sigh of relief. It felt like almost everything that happened didn't actually happen. She grabbed her weapons and came to a stand but something inside her own head and not anyone else's doing clicked inside.
 +
 +"Don't forget what they said, they don't need you, they'll kill you too when they get the chance, you're useless, remember?"
 +
 +A'erina had given up subconsciously in whatever nightmare she was in, and it was all too easy for her to lose herself when she'd be back in reality. Without a second thought, she began swinging her weapons at the other's barriers, to little effect but if she had made it back then the other should surely follow suit eventually. She kept this up for awhile as she noticed the light beginning to dim over Astra's barrier.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra felt the cold floor under her first, the energy she had trapped inside of her was bursting at the seams. She slowly sat up, shaking. Her hands were glowing. This power that rippled and deamed its escape was different then the cosmos attunement. The barrier dropped while she was adjusting herself. She screamed grabbing her head, releasing the surge of energy. Sadly she did not see Zerking Rina who was hulked out, or she would of released the energy in a different means.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Say that to me now, Astra! Call me useless, tell me the real reason you brought me along. You going to kill me too?" Without so much of an explanation to her rambling she threatened Astra to make a move, " You left me in there on my own..." A'erina would try to wrest control of herself the best she could, if only for a second, managing to just say something that wasn't fuelled by her Beast. "Astra... I'm sorry." 
 +
 +With the Light subsided and the barrier seemingly shielding her gone, A'erina began making a move over to the still woozy Bunny.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked up at Rina, she snarled. "I am not weak." Her eyes were spinning cosmos pulling into a black hole. Her hairs on her arms stood up on ends. She was pissed, and not in the mood for what was going on with Rina.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Tell me what's here, what's so important to you, If not for me you wouldn't even be here in the first place, What's in it for you, Astra. Are you going to have Lucatiel killed too just to get what you want?" With her mention of Lucatiel, she looked at the girl's unconscious body and the Carbuncle desperately trying to awaken her before turning her gaze back towards Astra. 
 +
 +"This is your fault, you don't care " With that she slammed her axe down, imbued with her own aetheric energies, a shockwave was let loose upon impact with the ground, heading straight for Astra.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Why would I ever have Lucatiel killed?" She looked over at the girl passed out, then to Tret. "I had 0 knowledge of what was down here, just lore and legend." she looked back to Rina. "You are physically fine, you do not have a scratch on you." She did not answer what she wanted.
 +
 +As the shockwave came at her, she used the aether that was surging through her own body, and barriering herself off. Then summon a small ball in her hand and yeeting it at A'erina
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The light around Lucatiel's square fades and she manages to stretch out an arm on to her Carbuncle, slowly pulling herself up. She barely makes it halfway, effectively draped over the creature. Tears start streaming from her eyes, but she is too groggy to cry properly. Instead she sees A'erina and Astra fighting, letting out a very confused and half-asleep sounding "Reeeena...."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret stirs slightly. He tries to raise his head and loo-... Tries to raise his head....TRIES TO RAISE HIS HEAD DAMN IT there we go. And look around. No, don't put your head back down goddamn it wake up. Yes wipe that drool off... And there we go. Tret slowly looks about through bleary vision at those around him. That's... Luca? Yeah. Ok, and there's astra... Attacking something? Oh that's bad. What is she... Oh hey, Rina is awake. And that is a shiny ball heading right for her. Maybe you should say something. "Urrrgh...." Well, you tried.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra full on leaped up at A'erina but her weakened state from the trial was little to no effect of a tackle, she yelled at A'erina, "I am not weak, and none of this is my fault. NONE."
 +
 +Astra awareness of Luca or Tret was less than that. She was in full fight mode right now.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +After lifting her axe back up and readying herself, she stood there waiting for Astra to make a move, an attempt at a tackle, waiting for the last moment before she would have connected, stepping out of the way, tripping Astra up as she fell down. 
 +
 +She noticed the barriers dissapear from around Lucatiel and Tret. Her head tilted as she threw her sword in Tret's direction whilst backing up to stand infront of Lucatiel.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra full on biffed from the trip, eating the dirt. Astra slammed her fist into the ground, she turned her body slight, and looked at the retreating A'erina. "I am not done with you." With that, she slammed her hand down into the ground and exploded a wave of starlight out.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret's head rolls around again, taking in the picture of Oh hey, that's a swor- "<FUCK>" the man lurches to the side, away from the blade that went wizzing by him. Pushing himself up from the ground, he starts to call out, but is immediately caught in the blast of energy. he was Flipped heels over head and landed hard on his back with another "<FUCK!>"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Luca tries to pull herself up more but is still too addled from the experience. She barely manages to even stay awake, unable to react as the burst of starlight speeds towards her. She and her Carbuncle are flung some odd fulms away violently, causing her to shriek out in pain and fear. She lands on the floor, her Carbuncle overturned next to her though it quickly hops up and heads towards the fight. Lucatiel stretches out a hand towards it as it rushes, but can do nothing more except whine in pain.
 +
 +The Carbuncle rushes towards the embattled wildlife turned human. It homes in on Astra, running up to her before jumping into the air where it hovered, focusing aether on itself before firing it off towards the woman in a small blast. It lands with grace on all fours, staring at her as it takes a moment.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra is knocked in the head with the ball of energy. "How did you...." she looked behind A'erina to see Luca laying behind her. She then looked at Tret. Then to Rina, and narrowed her eyes on A'erina.
 +"Are we done? They're awake."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I'll be done when I'm done with you. " A'erina crouched down next to Lucatiel tapping her on the shoulder to wake her up some more. " Get up! " She points the head of her axe in Astra's direction. " You're not going to get her killed too, I'm not a failure, I'm not useless. You keep saying I am but I'll prove you wrong!"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel strains against the pain -  a sensation not alien to her but not one she was used to in such severity.  She slowly pushes herself up to a stand using A'erina as stability. She was still a bit muddled, but now she could see properly and was more aware. Her Carbuncle was winding up for another blast against Astra but as the girl stood fully it stopped, returning to her side. Having been barely aware that A'erina and Astra were fighting, much less why, Lucatiel puts her hand on A'erina's arm holding her axe. "Reena! No!"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"<Bitch Mother... Ohhhh my head...>" Tret sits up then pops up to his feet, turns and holds his hands out as he walks between the two warring sides. "EVERYONE STOP. WEAPONS DOWN, SPELLS OFF, CARBUNCLES BACK." He looked between the three, staring daggers at the lot "I'm pretty sure I said we fight when we get home. I'm the only one with blood on his head, so let's fucking keep it that way. The hell is happening here?!"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina had heard his words, but it was in one ear and out the other, she was ready to assault him too until Lucatiel touches her arm. Her beast was quiet for all of a second as she set her sights back on Tret again, but she refused to move from where she stood. In that moment she reached behind her, pushing Luca away from her as she holds her axe behind herself, lifting it up, over and back down to the ground, smashing it into the floor repeatedly. After several collisions with the stone flooring, anyone but her would have notice the axe head warping, bending and chipping hit after hit, slam after slam until after what seemed like an eternity the axe head finally just shatters into a few pieces. One such shard still retained some sharpness, and with enough force from hitting the ground, finds itself a new home embedded in her thigh, luckily missing everything important but causing her to fall to a knee in pain, at the same time the pain seems to have helped her snap out of it.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra stood up fully as rubbed her temples. "I never said you are useless, you are the one calling me weak." Astra walked over to Rina after her temper tantrum, a bit weary not sure if she would attack. "I can fix that."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Hey hey HEY!" The man was momentarily distracted by the axe destruction, but turned as he heard movement to the other side. Staring at Astra, he kept a hand up in her direction and stepped to block her way to the other pair "We're not all fine and friendly just yet. Just... Hold up right there. We fix shit when we know exactly what's broken, damn it."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra used emphasis hands on the shard stuck in A'erina leg "Look, see that," making the gesture more annoying "That is an issue. And if it isn't tended to properly, she might lose her fucking leg. I can fix it"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I said STOP, Astra. you two were just out for blood. Luca! Patch her up..."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +"You indicating I'm weak too?" Astra's hands began to glow.
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel staggers backwards, shoved away from the Beast. She yelps a bit as she moves, about to practically throw herself at A'erina this time, however she stops when the woman begins slamming her axe into the ground.  Her eyes go between A'erina and Astra, and though she doesn't know why she feels very concerned about the rabbit. She waits for A'erina to 'calm' down, turning to Tretty as he addresses her. "U-umm, yes!"
 +
 +She moves over next to A'erina, taking a knee next to the woman as her Carbuncle walks over as well.  "Reena, I'm sorry! This won't feel good!" She puts a hand on the shard embedded into the woman's thigh and breathes in, puffing out her cheeks and holding her breath. Having to use all her strength, the shard comes out without incident and quickly is thrown on the floor. Surprisingly practiced, Lucatiel dives into the bag around her Carbuncle, taking out a bottle of liquid. She pops it open and quickly pours it into the now exposed wound - some cleanser that would likely burn.
 +
 +Diving in once more to her Carbuncle's bag, she brings out bandaging and begins wrapping it around the wound and thigh, finishing when it was very tight. Finally, she puts a hand on A'erina's leg to administer some magicked heals - just enough to close the wound for now.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I'm telling you that I'm only letting one person die here today, Astra. and I'm not happy with even that much. Put your dick away, take a breath, and think for a second. If you want to fight more, you can fight me. But WHEN WE GET HOME, GOD DAMN IT. I will fight you all day and night, but NOT NOW."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"NO ONE HAS DIED!" Point to the others. "We came as four, we leave as four." looking at the door, "did the two of you fail?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel grabs A'erina's leg in a sort of hug, both as a bit of a re-assuring embrace but also out of fear of Tret and Astra yelling. She's intentionally looking away from them at this point.
 +
 +"B-but... Haimus..."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Who?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"We came as five, Astra. There was a man, drunk as piss or something. I don't know. He came with us, I threw him into the pit in the second room we found. I don't know if we failed or whatever, all i know is the two of you woke me up from a perfectly insane dream I was having, and now I'm yelling at you."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra rubbed her head. "Everything here has to play with our minds, what is real anymore?"
 +
 +"What was your visions?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"The cut on your side. Rina's leg. The ungodly pounding in my head. All of that is real, believe me." Tret's stance slowly relaxes as Astra switches to curiosity, but he keeps his place between her and the other two "Vision? ahhh... Zombies... My home... My other home... Blue... and then the sun exploded."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Also, are you sure you did not have visions of kill this man? I do not remember him, I don't remember any of it."
 +
 +"What cut?" Astra looked at the tear in her fabric, but no physical damage since she had healed it full.
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel's voice comes meekly, her head still turned away. "I watched him kill Haimus."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina fcould do nothing but scream in pain as the shard is removed, and finally rejoins them mentally breathing a bit heavily. " I... I'm sorry. I said I wouldn't lose control but, whatever happened to us... I'm sorry."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl only tightens her embrace on A'erina's leg. "It's okay! It's fine!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +She looked between the group. "You sure? You sure it was a physical manifestation to mess with us? And, your visions, the dream. The reoccurring part that continued to happen? Mine, I was rendered completely helpless from being able to do anything. I was weak." Looking at her hands that still dimmed.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Astra. It seems you're the only one that is missing pieces here. The little trickster seems to have been holding you for some time. Do you even remember coming in here? If you don't remember even that much, then trust our version of events." He sighs and relaxes entirely, going over to his lantern from before, relighting it, and joining the others "...Are we all going to play nice now?"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina puts some weight on her leg, grimacing a bit but able to stand and walk. she holds up the handle of her axe before looking at it and throwing it to the floor. " I hope so. Just don't let me lose control of myself again. "
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel also comes to a stand, staying very close to A'erina. "I'll try!" She turns to Tret and Astra, looking very concerned but slowly forcing a smile.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra snapped her fingers, causing her aether I'm her glowing hands to disappear.  A strange sensation would transfer to A'erina injured/healed leg. "Should help with the pain for a bit." She turned to examine the door. "your dreams. Sometimes in readings your dreams are a manifestation of your greatest desires or fears. Things we can't address head on."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel practically blurts out, "They weren't dreams! They were NIGHTMARES! Horrible awful nightmares!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"And why were yours a nightmare Luca?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl looks very hesitant suddenly, almost looking away from Astra. 
 +"Umm... Umm... I was completely alone... Absolutely nobody, just me... Not even Carby... And Luna was dead... And then there were so many people hurt..."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret shakes his head and wanders back over to where he had been sitting before "my dream felt.... mixed. Good parts... Bad parts... And then it all exploded. I'm not sure if I won its little game or not..."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina recalls hers, the very thought of it was distressing enough " Mine was... Well, you saw what happened. Whatever it was, it won. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra scratched my head, let out a laugh. "oh, I might to be the cause of you waking up to early. I kind of couldn't contain my energies from my emotions"
 +thinking about it for a moment, "Luca are you afraid of those you love dying? Tret, what is a zombie? And your homes? Sun exploding? A'erina, you were the first awake, assume you would of been still battling the dream if not."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"That's.... I don't want anyone to die! But it was more about just being completely alone..." She looks a bit sheepish, almost as if ashamed.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Undead things, Astra. like ahhh..... tempered? but dead. And yeah, the sun exploded, and a giant head told me that something was not right...and then a sword was thrown at me and I got flipped like a pancake. But those last two things were real."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"There's only so much I could do against something not real... It felt like I was attacking family and friends for an eternity. Then I fought something that consumed me...? I figured I'd lost and be dead but here I am... Felt like I let everyone down, that I really was useless, that's why when I came to, I couldn't control it, it effected me and I couldn't stop it. "
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc>
 + 
 +Lucatiel places a hand on A'erina's shoulder, trying to be supportive. "Reena... Nooo! You're not any of those things, don't tell yourself that!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra shrugged, "I have zero idea what it wants. I know now it wanted our fears."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"It can take them." Tret looks up to the darkened ceiling and calls out "Hear that? Take them all!" He steps firmly onto the marker he was on before and spreads his hands defiantly "I'll play your game again, but at least show me how to play!"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Luca shrinks, putting herself behind A'erina. "I don't want to go back to that... Please, Tretty!"
 +
 +----
 +
 +===== The Goddess Room =====
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||The door began to open to a small hall that lead to a large chamber. Everything in this was gold and gems.||
 + 
 +||(Does a dragon live here?... it sure looks like a dragons den)||
 +
 +||In the center of the room was a feast fit royals.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret turns as the door opened. Squinting his eyes and raising his lantern up "What the... I... Guess we're moving on?" Off the spot, Tret walked to his pack collected it and his stick, and set off down the path
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel stays behind A'erina, though she would move with the woman when she begins to move.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra ran her hand across the golden detail walls of the hallway."This...... this is something else. You think all this was offerings to the god?"
 +
 +||Golden fabric was hung loosely throughout the room. Among the Golden items, was various jewels and gems.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Once he had entered the room, Tret set his pack back down and looked about with a wary eye. "It's... Something. Too good to be true, it seems." He then busied himself with his belongings, the sound of glass rattling as he dug through the rucksack "Let's try not to touch anything just yet."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra continued to look around, in amazement. "why must you act like an old man in a young man's body?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret slowly looks over to Astra, an incredulous look on his face "Because one of us has done this type of thing several times before and has the scars to prove it. Do we know if all four of us passed the trials? You said before we started off we should get treasure if we pass..."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked at the food, unsure if it was Aetheric conjured or not. "That's odd, either someone lives here, or this was conjured with magic."
 +
 +She looked up at Tret, "What if your scars never existed because you can heal a wound to the point that it was never there?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"You let me know how to heal the wound of watching someone's hand get mangled to pulp because they touched the wrong thing..." Tret turned back to his bag and pulled out what appeared to be a beer bottle and a handkerchief, setting them on the ground near his stuff and standing up to start looking around properly
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra stuck her hand in a pile of coins scooping them up. "See, nothing.." She screamed and then fell face forward into the pile. Not moving.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret starts to say something snarky when she speaks, but is galvanized into attack stance, facing... Well.. Where Astra was.  He looks around in panic for a momen- Oh, there she is. "<No fucking....Agh!>" Tret carefully approaches Astra, sizes up the situation, and tries to roll her off the pile with his staff. He wouldn't touch the treasure with his bare hands if he could help it
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra flung coins up at him, laughing hysterically. "live a little old man, this is coming someone three time your age. This maybe a trap, but" she sat on the pile crossing a leg over the other. "Your so called trickster is being generous. Perhaps it is lonely and wants friends."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret finds himself resisting the oh so tempting and cathartic urge to brain the rabbit with his staff. A look that might kill lesser creatures lingers on the fortune teller for a moment too long, then turns back towards the rest of the room "Then it can come out and have another chat with us. I am glad to make friends, but I do not trust anything but myself right now..."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina picked up her sword and followed Tret and Astra, keeping Lucatiel at a distance but making sure her and Carby are following her. Upon reach the room she refuses to touch anything.
 +
 +"Looks like a trap to me. " A'erina is of the same mind as Tretty though. " I have to agree, call it out and let's have another word with it. Someone owes me a new axe. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra moved to pul a chair out from the table with food, and sat her ass down and kicked her feet up. "Maybe there is a pretty golden axe in here?" She looked to Tret, "You going to hunt your friend down, or you just looking for these so called traps?" pulling out her deck, and shuffling it for the first time.
 +
 +||(Do an exploration rolls.)||
 +
 +Astra played her cards out to see if she could get a better ready of what happen, what will happen.
 +
 +"I wouldn't say that this room is set up with traps, but something does feel off about it. And the food. What is with the food."She poked a piece of fruit.
 +
 +||As Tret and A'erina look around, in the very back of the room, hidden behind many layers of fabric dangling from the ceiling, was a large statue of a woman with four arms. Completely done in gold, her eyes were white, between two of her arms sat a similar looking blue orb from earlier.||
 +
 +||There was gold accent armor covering her body, but for the most part the cloth on her was as sheer and see through as the pieces in the room.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret is quiet, not replying to the taunting of their much-to-be-desired-from guide. Instead, he continues poking around, gently moving the thin cloth at the back with his staff. his eyes widened in wonder as he caught sight of the statue and the orb "<Look at that...>" He leaned back, taking a quick look to see who all, if anyone, was watching him
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra pulled a Lady of Crowns. "That... that's not right I don't use the crowns." She looked up and around
 +
 +||The orb seemed to twitch and look at Tret. In the moment of that the statue shifted into a slight smile.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret slowly looked back to the hidden find behind the curtain, trying to size up what he'd come upon <Too big to try and take and hide... Might kill me if i touch it. Might be the trickster even, looks a bit like the ball... Wait.... is it smiling? No, it was always smiling.> He shakes his head and looks at the orb again. This had to be important... but he couldn't bring himself to touch it.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||Come closer.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +<Let's take a closer look, can't hurt> Tret stepped a bit closer, studying the entrancing orb
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||The hands holding the orb, was life like, veins under the golden skin, the nails manicured. The blue orb reflected off the golden skin, casting the water like reflection on the walls.||
 +
 +||Closer.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret found himself mere inches from the orb, entranced the the soothing voice in his head that was not his.... wait... was not his....
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Is this room what we came here for? Can you stop fucking around? This is not exactly the place for readings." A'erina looked over at Tret. " Oh for fuck-- Tret get away from that!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||Touch||
 +
 +Astra looked at her cards, "I bring them nearly everywhere I go." Looking over to see where Tret was and froze."Tret, back away from her slowly."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret blinked hard twice when he was yelled at, then stood up straight, looking up to the smiling face above him. He returned the smile and tapped his temple "Nearly, Little Trickster... Nearly." he turned the smile over to Rina and shrugged "Found something."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked between Tret and then Rina, then pulling out a sharlyan tome from her bag. "That... isn't a trickster, it's the eye of the blind goddess, the statue is her." Flipping to a page of a image of the goddess.
 +
 +||Pathetic.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret just laughs and shakes his head, pointing up to the statue "Blind goddess or not, she is the little trickster!" he looks back up to her face and spreads his arms "I've missed you. I'm sorry we didn't get more time to play before. Was a lovely child you made..."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel was still positioned behind A'erina cautiously, now looking around at the room. While there was a large sense of amazement in her, the fear and concern of everything that had just happened was overriding it, leaving her only with her forced smile. She peeked out from behind the veritable cat tank, watching Tretty with trepidation. "Tretty please! Don't tempt it!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||The door to the room shut with a loud bang.||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl practically jumps against the back of A'erina, only just stopping herself from doing so.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra eyes narrowed on the closing door, then up to the statue. Leaving the Sharlyan book and her bag at the table she walked up to the statue , making eye contact with the white eyes, verse the orb.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret sighs and drops his arms, leaving the statue and returning to his stuff "Thats it then? Call me pathetic and then close everything up? I expected.... more. From someone bored, at least."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Tret, did you touch her?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Not quite. Nearly, but not quite!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra got right up in her business, lightly running her fingers against an arm, the skin was warm to the touch, she then pulled at her face, looking at her teeth. Then hopping down way from the statue.
 +
 +"If you had, you know she is not a statue. 
 +
 +We need to find another way out."
 +
 +||The statue turned its head and now grinned.||
 +
 +||"There is no way out except the way you came."||
 +
 +
 +----
 +
 +===== Awakened =====
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"U-umm... What do we do!?" Luca looks between the group, hoping one of them has some idea of what to do now because she certainly did not.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" We don't touch anything, we come up with an idea that's atleast reasonable and we don't listen to talking statues. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra nearly tripping on herself as she moved back to the group. "It's not just talking. It moved..."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret stands up, lookings between the 4ish women in the room, then up towards the tallest one by far "Oh goddess, what are we to call you? Surely you wish me to call you something other than trickster."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||The statue did not answer Tret.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>
 + 
 +"well, I tried. Astra, I believe this is your area of Expertise. Get it talking to us." He then turned back to where the door was, pulling a flat piece of metal from his pack before investigating further
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked to Tret, "....what do you mean it's my expertise? Hey wait what you doing with that?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"You have the book, and she was in your head to begin with. Don't mind me, just looking around, since she doesn't want to talk to me anymore."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Do we know for sure it isn't some kind of trick?" It can't really be?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"We don't know anything for sure right now, except that she really wanted me to touch that ball. Really Really wanted it. If we think that's the answer right now? well, I suppose i'll go touch it" Tret poked a few places on the new wall with his bit of metal, testing "Otherwise... I'm going to work on plan B."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Everything so far has been a trick, amongst other things. Let's not piss off any deities while we're here, asmuch as it seems like I don't care, I do actually want to go home in one piece."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra grabbed the book, and sat her frantic ass back down, looking over the pages.
 +
 +"What if she wanted you to touch her icon not the orb? And what exactly us plan B?"
 +
 +||The orb came darting out, and looked each and everyone of them over, before hovering near Tret.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Trying to wedge his pry bar into any available gap, the man becomes aware of a very curious being that has come to visit him. He turns his head slowly and raises a brow "....You Really want me to touch you, Don't you?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||"I'd prefer you don't touch my eye."||
 +
 +||Her voice was more soothing and relaxed. She stood, and walked to the end, and leaned against a pillar.||
 +
 +||"Other than being lured in by viera you all very little about. Why did you come?"||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"your eye? Of course not. That would be just rude." He looked up to the enormous woman as she moved, then down to the orb again. Back, forth, and then settled on the speaker "Well, much like you said some time ago. Boredom."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked up at Tret, "You shouldn't talk to your....." Her eyes looked up at the golden figure. "Oh..."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Just had to prod and poke, eh, Tret?"  A'erina stood with her hand on her blade. " Astra, this thing is claiming you lured us here. You care to explain that?" She addressed their host. " As for you... I've already had it with your mind games, so cut the shit. How about you tell us why you're here, and keep it simple."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I.... I don't know why. It came to me like my visions and readings."
 +
 +||Her blind eyes squinted on A'erina, the orb jetted over to the Miqo'te, examining her further.||
 +
 +||"I need not to explain myself to you, you should bow in my greatness. Worship me mortals, and your desires will be fulfilled."||
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Go fuck yourself."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 + 
 +||"Fuck myself?" This did not please her at all. "Disobedient child." She sneered.||
 +
 +||A ball of light was blasted at A'erina||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel finally emerges from behind A'erina, having been lulled into some sense of security by the seemingly less hostile nature of the flier. "Lured in by... Oh, you mean Astra! I came for adventure!" As A'erina agitates the eye and gets her come-uppance, Luca moves to the side with a gasp. "Reena!"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>
 + 
 +"Somehow I don't think you can grant me what I wan- oh God Rina no!" Tret turned as his companion suddenly got aggressive again
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina's hand was still gripped onto her sword, the telltale signs were obvious as the ball of light came towards her, without so much of a second to think fast, she attacked it, splitting it into two. The orb kept going but the trajectory way off as they proofed into nothing against the wall either side behind her. A'erina had a big shit eating grin on her face as she looked at Lucatiel. " You saw that. That was cool, right? " She resumed her fixation on their new friend. " You really want to know? I came here of my own choice, I wasn't lured here, I was told I could fight things, and that's what I'm here to do. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||The deity rubbed her chin with one of her four arms.||
 +
 +||"You came here to strike blood of someone who you have little to no knowledge of? Someone who you never met, and deemed little knowledge if they could be Foe or Friend?"||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"We came here on the promise of wealth, Great One. Fighting was not expected, but planned for. Still finding it hard to believe that all of the pain has been among ourselves."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||"Cut the bullshit praise outsider," She stepped down on to the lower level where the group was at. Her cloth and ornaments made a lovely humming sound as she walked.||
 +
 +||"You fear your own death, why?"`||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret could only grin like a child who'd found a new toy. Exploration was done, time to turn up the charm "Bullshit? Never. You have still not told me what you wished to be called, but asked to be worshiped." He gently laid his crowbar on his pack and slowly approached the statue and the others with his arms spread "I fear because I... Well... You saw her. You story was too happy for what will happen. I cannot go first."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 + 
 +||"Not all life is with out its fear. The means of using your fear as a weapon against others." She pulled her orb back to her hand and rolled it around her fingertips, it spilt into smaller orbs as it weaved in and out.. "Simply, you wish for something now that I showed you as a result. You did not see the reason why the vision was in that state. For the child to live yours or hers sacrifice was made. It happened to be yours. Your life for the childs."||
 + 
 +Astra stared at the goddess silent as she spoke.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I wish for many things. The child is far down on that list, Great one, and I'd rather it never come to be if that is the choice."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 + 
 +||"May one day, outsider, choices will be made as your essence is not meant for this world, but I must say you have done a well job on adapting. But that in itself is dangerous." The eye reformed into two, one jetted to Lucatiel, studying her.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret did not reply to this, eye twitching a bit at the reply. He stepped back and shook his head, letting the being have her fun for now.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked at Tret, "Outsider?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret looked back at Astra and shrugged.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Here eyes lit up in excitement and she looked like she was about to bust from the seams with questions. She whispered then went into a horrible expression, "Are you a Garlean?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel shrinks again, looking a bit concerned by the studious eye. "Ummm.... H-hi?" She keeps her eyes on it , as does her Carbuncle.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||Why do you fear being alone?||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret takes on an offended expression and shakes his head, then looks up at the goddess. Curious, he begins to edge away from where he was.... plotting...
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra kept her gaze on him, studying him. Now more interested in the man than the goddess
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl looks at the eye meekly. "I... I don't want to just be by myself! I need to be around people!" She seems hesitant to expand further.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||She turned her head to look at Luca, but not directly looking at her. 
 +"You need companionship, like you need food and water to survive? Odd."||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl nods. "Yeah! If I have to be alone I.." She shuts up quickly, unwilling to talk more.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" You don't have to entertain it, Luca. Less we say, the more it asks questions. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||"The second you are alone, the more you wish to not exist. You wished so badly to die from your fear.... why?" 
 +The dead eyes focused on A'erina.||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Luca turns to Aerina, clearly conflicted. "But... But it's true! The longer I was alone the more I wanted to not live! When I was in that awful apartment I... I..."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" But that's the thing, you weren't alone, this thing made you think you were alone, and twisted it, and then used it against you." A'erina returned the gaze with one of her own, while pointing a finger at Lucatiel. " She's young, kind and over-friendly... a little ditzy, I'll admit, but... Using her will gain you nothing. So let her have her fears, but don't turn them against her. That's what seperates her from you, that's what makes her who she is. Fear is a powerful emotion and it's something everyone should have. It's what seperates us from Voidsent, what seperates us from magitek, it's what seperates us from everything. If we had no fear, there'd be nothing to be scared of..." A'erina places a hand on Lucatiel's shoulder. " Y'know what i'm afraid of? Coconuts." She ruffled Luca's hair like she was a child and then resumed her speech with their host. " So you see, Whatever you're trying to do, I'm going to only ask you this once. Astra came here for a reason, Let her have what she  wants, Give these two something valuable to take back with them because he really needs a house and then we will leave. No more questions, No more hanging around, won't even mention this place again to anyone. Think about it. "
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl smiles as A'erina gives her speech, happy to be talked about even if part of it involved being called ditzy. She has to stop herself from laughing when A'erina mentions coconuts. "What, coco-- snrrrk" She breaks into a gigglefit, though she comes out of it as she's patted on the head, completely fine with it even if it's childish. "Yeah! Think about it!" She echoes A'erina's words, though not fully with it.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked at A'erina, then to the floating orb, then back to A'erina "What I want may not be as easily obtainable as I thought. The source of power is either that orb, or actually the talking gold statue.... which makes more sense."
 +Astra looked at the blind woman, "What do you want from us, clearly we are not here to worship or pay tribute. Clearly we are robbing you."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Yeah... Though I suppose we weren't really expecting anyone to be living here still. Makes it a little ahhhh.... Awkward?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||The blind woman statue diety goddess thing with to many fricken arms, let out a chuckle, "What exactly would you offer me for the wealth with in this room?"||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret slowly looks around, as if sizing up the value of the hoard. He was quiet for a few moments, then looks back up "Well, I mean we hadn't come prepared to bargain. Stealing and all that. But... I would trade some body? As long as I get to chose."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked around, "What if she wants something we cannot give her or refuse to?"
 +
 +||"Why don't you sit? Enjoy the feast, a discuss your trade option. But if you wish to leave a discussion must be made."||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret sighs and takes a seat at the table, but does not touch the food "she hasn't asked us for anything. It's on us to offer right now. But if we walk away with nothing, we still walk away."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel watches Tret sit at the table with a look of confusion and curiosity. Even someone as inexperienced as her knew that things were wrong. "Uhm... I think I just wanna go home! I've had an adventure, and it wasn't very fun!"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" Do some more research next time, Astra. You brought us all the way out here for something that wants to bargain with us and you didn't bring anything aside from your cards." A'erina blinked at the mention of the cards. " How about you just take Astra's cards? She uses them for all kinds of magic shit. Would serve something like you well, for sure. Might help you send stronger orbs of light at people if you hoped to hurt them. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||"I have no need for mortals magic." She walked away and returned her resting place. "I need something of value from each of your, or you will have to pay in another way."||
 +
 +||She smiled from her thrown, before turning to stillness, "You have an hour."||
 +
 +||The orb jetted out of the room.||
 +
 +Astra held up the book to A'erina, in a completely different language, "By all means, you want research, read a dead language. Learn history.... not everything is written in books." She snapped at the Miqo’te
 +
 +She looked to Luca, "Not all adventures are fun or exciting, some are dangerous, some are boring, others, well they are just  bizarre."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Sighing and leaning his chair back, Tret closes his eyes and rubs them in frustration "Something from each of us. Of value. Gotta say... I don't really own anything of monetary value, hence this entire trip. Can't begin to think of anything.... Metaphorical that I'd be willing to give up. And I'm not about to offer her my first born child."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked at Tret, "What about a momento or something you carry with you that holds value to you?" Her small bag next to her, and the book near her, she pulled a dagger from a hidden sheath in her boot. "A'erina is right, I don't have much with me, but I honestly wasn't sure what to expect."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel digs through her backpack curiously, producing 4 brightly wrapped objects. "I didn't bring anything valuable either. But I did bring these! Sandwiches Luna prepared!" She seems quite happy about it, in fact.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra eyes light up as Luca pulled the sandwiches out. A loud grumble came from her stomach. "Oh, and Luna made them?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl smiles and nods, extending a hand with one of the wrapped sandwiches towards Astra. "Yeah! Dodo and cheese, some lettuce, umm.... She definitely did something else..." The sandwich was lightly toasted and expertly assembled, about as well as one could do for a plain-ish sandwich.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +At the sound of food, Tret sat his chair back down on all four legs and raised a hand "Throw one of those this way, please Luca. Suppose if we're eating these, can't really offer them."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Umm... How about I just bring it over?" Not trusting her ability to throw, Luca just walks over and hands one to Tret, going back to A'erina to offer her one as well. "Here Reena!"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina declined the offering of sammich. "I'm not hungry, so keep it for yourself just incase you need to eat later, 'kay? " She just shook her head and Lucatiel as she spoke " If I would have known I would have brought something along to strike a deal. But ah, how could I be so stupid and not bring something of value to trade with some deity residing in an old temple. "
 +
 +A'erina proceeded to throw her sword on the table as it slid a little and clattered to a halt. " That's all I have left on me. It's not valuable as in worth anything, but its got sentimental value to me since my mother made it for me. It's been imbued with magic and I've only just discovered this when that thing shot that orb at me. Most swords can't do that, to my knowledge. My older sister is a conjurer and she's probably infused it with protective magics, but I can't say for sure since the last time we spoke was years ago and even then she's always hated me, so it's anyone's guess. But, if we have to strike a deal, it can have it since I have nothing else and I actually want to return home after all is said and done. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra kicked her feet up on the table, eating the sandwich listening to A'erina speak. "We can try, I can either offer up my dagger, or my cards." Taking another bite and swallowing, "You heard her about the cards. She wants something. She played with our minds, maybe she wants something from our minds?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl retracts the sandwich, putting it back in her pack. "Awww... Okay! Umm... I don't really carry anything valuable like that... I have my book and uhhh... I guess... this neckband Luna gave me?" She touches the light green band around her neck, embedded with an emerald. She shrugs, going over to the table with Tret and taking a seat, taking out another sandwich and unwrapping it. She breaks off a small piece to feed to her Carbuncle before eating the rest herself.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I.... Cannot think of anything from my head that She would want or that I would give up. God forbid she take memories." He pauses, then reaches up and touches a pocket on his chest "...Hm. Maybe. What do you give a goddess?" Tret turned some of his attention to the food, chewing thoughtfully
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel pauses, rifling into her backpack once more. "Umm... If Reena is giving up her sword..." The girl bites her lip as she produces a small gold ring, topped with a diamond. She looks at it longingly. "Ummm... This is my dad's wedding ring... I liked having it with me but if it's the key to getting us out of here..."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina walked over to nearby Astra. " ...And what if it wants something that's not of material use to it. My Sword is going to be useless..." She leaned down close to Astra's ears, her mouth at level with them as she spoke quieter to her, out of the hearing range of Lucatiel and Tret. 
 +
 +> " If it wants more, like actually taking one of us. Lucatiel goes home no matter what, Tret has to return to Blue. That leaves me and you. If it comes down to making that choice? I... Just make sure you get what you came for, alright?
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"... Hm. hahaha... No, that's crazy." Tret Stood up suddenly, hands on the table, sandwich finished, chair clattering against the floor "Offering something with close meaning meets both ideas... material and mental. She would not just be taking the item, but the memories and ideas behind them..." He gestures towards the ring and the sword "Jewelry and weapons are never a short supply. Look around, we're bound to find replacements, for the items themselves. But... Not for what they mean. The ring of a father lost. A sword forged and enchanted by family we don't talk to. How do you replace that?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra heard A'erina loud and clear, leoprine ears are amazing, she bit her lip and looked at her. Shaking her head no. Before she could reply, Tret made his statement, "I never actually thought about it that way, what if she wants the memories tied to our objects as well, her ability to toy with our subconscious, and mess with our minds," She rubbed her chin, taking a small bite of the sammy. "What do gods and goddess want above all else? Followers, worshipers, right? More so, what do we have that this god does not?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl continues looking at the ring in her hands, slowly walking over to the table. With great hesitation does she place it on the table, looking ready to snatch it back up at any moment after she does. "I just wanna go home..."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Reaching across the Table, Tret places his hand atop Luca's when she sets down her prize and looks her square in the face "You and me both. But life is not always happiness and gain, especially when you risk going into the unknown like we have. Here." He reaches into the chest pocket he touched before, pulling something out and slapping it down on the table "I'll join you, neh? Your dad is still with you, ring or no. I promise that. I lost my father's sword years ago, but I still remember him clearly." His hand slides away, revealing a simple gold band upon the table
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra shook her head "I dont like this, this does not feel right."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"You don't want to hear my plan C then."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel looks into Tretty's eyes, her own wavering a little bit. "R-right! You're right! It's just a ring!" She nods, feeling just a bit more confident. "We can always get a new ring to replace it! There's plenty of jewelers!"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret's gaze on Astra lingers for a bit, then he turns back to Luca "No... Its not just a ring, Luca. That's the point. In a way, you will be leaving part of yourself be....hind..." He trails off, looking back to the rabbit "Yep. I hate this plan too, suddenly. Plan C?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Go on my blue haired friend, what is your Plan C? By all means, if she consumes the memories tied to our objects, and makes us forget that about us, i prefer to keep the memories." She stabbed the dagger into the table.
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Nooo! I don't want to forget! That's not fair! I can give up the ring but... not memories of my dad!" Luca looks suddenly very upset, the idea highly at odds with her.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"well...I mean... That might be the issue. Lose a few memories... or not make any new ones. We all forget things here and there because we learn something new. If we lose the memory... we can only be sad now, not later, for what we've lost. But we will have the ability to be sad at least." A light twinkled in Tret's eye, and he walked over towards his pack. He then retrieved the bottle and the handkerchief, holding them at chest level "Or we fight and make it simply a life or death bargain. Anyone know anything about killing goddesses?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra jaw dropped at the idea. "Have you ever met a deity?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Luca looks at Tretty, sort of just wringing her hands idly. "Umm...." She had nothing worth saying about killing goddesses.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina stood by, miming Astra as she said " I don't like this, this doesnt feel right"  the very same words she had said upon getting inside. " ...What if I stay here and worship it like it wanted us to in the first place? You both want to go home, right? So if I have to stay here... Then I've done something good for once." She puts a hand on Tret's shoulder " Atleast Blue can forgive me if you made it home in one piece thanks to me, right?" She looked over at Lucatiel. "Same for you Luca..  Luna and Vinalo would think better of me too if you got back safely." She stood near Astra and spoke to her bunny friend. " You know I can't get them home. You have to be the one to do it, that's all I ask. I'll make sure you get some payment..." She pulled out a small note and forced it into Astra's hand. " Most of it's not even mine anyway, it's yours if you need it. Just get them home for me, alright?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret sighs and follows after Rina as she makes her way over to Astra. after the note was passed, he places a hand on the kitty's shoulder. "That's a noble and brave thing you want to do. It's also the stupidest thing I think I've ever heard you say." He wiggled the sloshing bottle at Rina and grinned "You really think she's gonna settle for just you? Nah. And I won't either. We're all going together, by force or by choice, to one place or another."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Reena, no! You can't do that! You're coming back home with me and Tret and Astra! I'm not gonna let you stay stuck here like one of those scary tempered people!" The girl nearly bounds from her place towards A'erina, grabbing the woman's arm and looking at her with her giant pleading eyes.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina wriggles her arm free of Lucatiel's grasp, walking around the other side of the table " One of us is better than none of us. It's not going to let us all go and we have nothin' to give it in return. We're wastin' time the longer we discuss options. You want to keep your memories, I don't want to leave this place and forget things, those are my memories and I'll not have some deity make a snack out of 'em. " 
 +
 +A'erina picks up her sword off the table, and pulls the makeshift necklace from her wrist, glancing over it briefly before dropping it onto the table using the pommel of her weapon to smash the shard  that had gotten them there in the first place, into unusable pieces and shard-dust. 
 +
 +" That takes care of that, now we only have three left." A'erina looked at her companions. " Let me talk to this thing when our time's up. If it doesn't agree to my terms? Well... I guess I get to spend an eternity fighting a God... Either that or it will kill me. Regardless, We HAVE to get you guys home and I'm out of ideas. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra went full panic, "YOU IDIOT." She looked at the dusted particular laying there, trying to out them back together "THIS WAS OUR WAY HOME."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Im sorry, THAT was the stupidest thing I've heard you say now."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||The goddess didn't say anything as she watched from a far, this was interesting. How many tricks did these mortals have up their sleeves?||
 + 
 +Astra screamed and slammed her fist into the table. Furious beyond belief. "You said there was another person back in the direction from which we came? Maybe we can pry the door open, and see if we can collect that shard?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Astra, he's dead! Tret had to kill him! He was going to hurt us!" Luca bursts out, looking concerned over at the rabbit. "We need to just... find a way out!" Her face looks on the verge of breaking once more but she's holding it together for now.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra shook her head, "Then I will go get it from him, and then the four of us can leave. I dont remember him. Did anyone look to see if his body was there? Confirm that he was real, and his death was real? She has already done so much to our minds, for all we know, she has him trapped in a room somewhere."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret stepped back with Luca, sighing and shaking his head. He takes the girl's arm and pulls her with him to his bag "Come here, Luca. Help me empty my bag. I might have just thought of plan D."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" That was my way home, you have three shards left, that can get yourself, Luca and Tret home, Astra, you're the only one that can do it. I don't have much to go back to anyway. I think this is our best option, 3 out of 5 isn't a bad number, it's more than half." A'erina sighed as Tret was going through the alphabet of probably bad plans. " What are you proposing? "
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret waves a hand dismissively at the other pair "no no, carry on with your plan. Let me know if you two find a way to pry your way out or if the goddess takes Rina alone. Luca and I are checking on my bag."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked between the three, when Tret pulled Luca aside, Astra looked at A'erina, "A word my Miqo'te friend" She nodded toward the statue, and leaned in, "Privately."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" Some bag." A'erina turned her attention to Astra and walked up to her, " Alright. I'm listening. "
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"O-oh! Okay!" The girl moves as asked, coming over to Tret and helping him upend and search his bag. "What are we looking for, Tretty?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret carefully sets his cache of supplies out, srapping his rope and hook around himself, setting aside mystery bottles "Answers, Luca... Answers..." He hums and sings quietly to himself, checking his bag and the pockets as he went, handing things to Luca occasionally
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Keeping her voice low enough for A'erina to hear, "You can use aether, and if you channel enough into the shards, they will activate and get you home. I.. I do not think that your sacrifice will be justice, unless you want to serve her." She sighed. "We could tag team this, and hold them off long enough for Tret and Luca to teleport out, but then it's us two verse her." Astra continued to look around the statue, and the draping to find some other room or exit.
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Answers? Like a book? Umm, okay..." She makes a mental note to pay attention for a book.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina shakes her head. " We're not going to win against something like that. I'm good but I'm not Godslaying good." A'erina smiles. " You shouldn't worry, I have a plan of my own, if it backfires, what's the worst that can happen? I spend the rest of my days down here? Who knows, this god might get fed up of me being around after a moon or so. "
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret stands up with his now emptied bag, returning to the other two "Alright. What have we decided? I've got my idea."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"What if she doesn't? I'm going to be leaving empty handed if we don't kill...." She look at Tret, "What's your idea?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret winks at Astra and shakes his head "Now now, we don't answer questions with another question. What are we plotting over here?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel walks over, now free of bag-emptying though very confused. "We never did find a book... Maybe he left it at home!" She nods to herself as if that was clearly the answer. "Umm... I think leaving without finding treasure sounds pretty good now. I think we're in over our head Astra!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +" Astra was suggesting she stay too to make sure you get out, but then that leaves you both without a way of gettin' back. That's even worse than my idea. " She crossed her arms and stood near the table " It'll be back soon, so what's your plan this time, Tret. "
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Umm... Maybe I can teleport us home? Or at least out of here! I can teleport people! All four of us would be.. umm... I can do it!" She nods, not  self-confident.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret holds up his bag and shrugs "other than fighting or offering what we talked about earlier.... This was my plan. But I refuse to leave anyone behind. So... Yeah."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked at Lucatiel, "It is a long teleport, that is why I designed the shards, in order to teleport us, all I am draining myself.... I dont think I can do that right now..." she put a hand on Luca shoulder before following after A'erina. "Can you pry the door open Tret?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Tried it. Didn't find any.... Good holds."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I know! I know, it's really far! I don't think I could get us all the way home, but umm... Surely an aetheryte somewhere! Somewhere that is not here!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +She turned and looked at Luca again. "What is the furthest East you have been? Surely not Dalmasca? Maybe Kugane?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl begins to stammer. "Umm... Uhh... I've been to Kugane! A long time ago! Years ago!" And then quieter, she says, "Many years ago..."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret sighs and shakes his head, pulli g his bag over one shoulder and turningtl to the group "We are having the wrong situation. We are not getting out of this room in the short time we have left. He gestures up at the statue nearby to make his point "She may be listening to us right now. All of this is possibly to our own end. We need to make our choice. Or we will be caught with our pants down making a choice with no time."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra rubbed her chin, "Our options are, A. Play her games, B. Bargin, C. Distract and fight, D. Fight and try to kill her?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel wrings her hands. "Umm.... Ummm... I-I don't know! I just wanna go home! You guys decide!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Luca, if one of those methods got you home, which would you decide?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I'll do whatever if it gets us home!"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina leaned against the wall and let them go about devising plans and the desire to go home. " You really think it's gonna let us just use Aether to get out of here, huh? "
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"ALRIGHT. God damn it, alright. We're getting no where, fast. Again. We need to make an offer, now. We will offer, she will accept or deny, and we will deal with the next steps as best we can. Alright? I would love a payday from this. I would also love to get out of here with all of you." Tret let the bag fall off his shoulder again, looking between the three "We have some plans. We have to do something now though. We may have already lost an hour and she's just watching us because it's funny."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel screws up her face, looking concerned. She forces herself to blurt out, "Fine! Put everything in the bag and give it to me! I'll offer it to her!" Lucatiel stretches her arms out, her eyes shut as if she doesn't truly believe in herself but she does not retract.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"....Not what the bag is for. Though that does remind me... Astra? What were you thinking of giving and why?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Luca pouts, walking over to the table to retrieve the offered items.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra nodded to the plain looking dagger jammed into the table. " My knife from my time as a Viera of Golmore. Or she can have the book, but the book has no meaning to me."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"...So your entire life up to the point you went west? That's... A lot. Cripes. Nothing more specific associated with that knife?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +She shook her head, "hunting, cooking, cutting, even things since then." she rubbed the back of her head, looking rather uncomfortable
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret sighs and runs both hands through his hair, turning around to face the goddess statute and staring "makes sense you do not want to give up that knife then. You'd lose most of your life. If there was something... Single, one great memory connected, this would be easier...."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"We do not even know if she is going to squeeze the memories of the items from our skulls anyways. Let just offer this up, and go home."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret spreads his arms and calls out "LET'S GO THEN! Are you ready, little trickster? We aren't, but I'm tired if waiting!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra snickered at the mention of the little trickster, and looked up at the statue. "She is not that really little."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Wild a wild look in his eyes, he whips around and snaps at Astra "She still hasn't given me any other name!" With that, he turns back, hands still spread, as if trying to summon her forth.
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Luca clumsily brings the offered items with her over to where Tret was, holding them much like a child holding something for their parents. "Umm.... I've got... umm, stuff!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||The deity did not respond to Tret summons.||
 + 
 +"I don't think that is going to work Tret. Here, you want our shit, then have it." Astra picked up the dagger and whipped it across the room at the statues head.
 + 
 +||Dagger somehow missed the face, and landed in the wall behind the throne.
 +Like a wave of energy pulling into the room, the orb of her vision settled back in her lap.
 +"You've decided?" Her voice had a hint of anger and was not a cheerful hum.||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel holds up the contents in her arms as if gesturing to them. "We have thiiiings!"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Wait, N-" Tret raised a hand towards Astra, then reached for Luca, shaking his head at her "Hold on... Yes. We have decided. Are you ready?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Huh?" The girl looks at Tret in confusion, lowering the offered items.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra shrugged at Tret and sat on the table, "What it worked?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +The man slowly approaches, smiling to the blue ball "So... Please remind me what you are putting on the table here. Want to make sure we have a good enough offer for your end."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||The orb completely ignored Tret, "It is food, food that feeds people. Why would I have such desire for this? Are you really that dense to think I would just keep food laying here. I can in fact send it back from which it came, and allow you to starve to death." She stood, yanking the dagger out from the wall with ease. "Mortals these days have no respect or appreciation to us. Such a shame."||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Dense? No. Suspicious perhaps. We've all been through a lot and don't have a lot of trust to give out currently, neh?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||She looked over the dagger, and sighed in disappointment, "Human, outsider, if you think the trials I designed for you were much, then maybe you should of learned to over come what you deemed your fears and shed your weight of them. In that much you would of been reborn." She eyes over the man, "Then again, my trials are not designed for males. The fact that you stand here before me, you should feel honored, not suspicious." She held her other hands out.||
 + 
 +Astra looked at Tret, "Her order was of priest but some of the text translated to Priestess. I guess her devout were women."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I am comfortable with my fears, great one. I am more honored I have not been smashed where I stand, but there is time for that still. But... The trade."
 +
 +----
 +
 +===== The Trade =====
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||Her hands were still held out. "Come, allow me to weight your items against the desires."||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"What was the offer on your end?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||"The treasures in this room? The wealth which you are needed to flourish in your future? Did you forget your desire? Or would prefer to kill me?"||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"and leaving, of course?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 + 
 +||"Yes, yes, and get you silly mortals home."||
 +
 +Astra looked between the group, and then to the Goddess. "Why do you not leave?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel happily moves to bring the items over, just a little bit weirded out by everything
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina continues to lean against the wall, watching events unfold. She directs a question to the deity. " Say if we did overcome those 'trials' of yours, what would we have been granted if we had? "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||"In tradition, those who passed are given the high priestess role with in my devout. However, I do not have much of a following these days." She accepted the gift from Lucatiel, examining the item closely. "I simply cannot leave, as I am bound to this place."||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl looks up at the woman curiously. "Bound? How come? That sounds really lonely..."
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret approaches, reaching up to place his hand over one of hers "If they're of interest .. we've been talking. We think we can offer... Experiences. You wanted us to embrace fears, maybe you would like something.. different." He gestures with his other hand towards the other three in turn as he continued "The love and loss of a father. The time spent with a sister no longer in touch. Family and friends from a place we cannot return. An intimate wedding day. All things to muse on in your time bound here. What do you say?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 + 
 +||"The fears are a means to cleanse your soul, and pledge devoutness to me, however I believe they are the wrong test. Just as your first test. Just confusion and rage, and eager to defend yourself. Your minds are all so cloud in one way or another. Defending your thoughts and you all guard yourselves." She looked at A'erina.||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Umm..." The girl's voice started out meek, though perhaps just by virtue of actually speaking she gained confidence, "Of course we defended our thoughts! We just came in here and practically the first thing that happens is Tretty here has to kill that other guy because he turned on us! And then we get put to sleep and put into nightmares, why wouldn't we be scared and defensive! I dunno about devoutness but if you just wanted like a friend or something you should have just said that, I would have given you my sandwich and everything!"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Fear keeps us alive, unfortunately."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl looks at Tretty, a pathetic whimper escaping her throat. "Not always... Sometimes it can kill us..."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||She stared at the girl, "Who says I want friends? And how do you know what the man earlier saw was not you turning on him? His thoughts were as clouded as yours. Maybe he only desired to defend himself, or maybe this is all what I wanted you to see."||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +A pained look comes over the girl's face. "Why would you want us to see that!? That's terrible! Haimus was a friend and now he's gone!"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" ...So what you're saying is, none of us have what you want. Seems to me like your fear test doesn't really work, as I said, I'm afraid of coconuts and you saw that it didn't seem to work." Since she was the only one aware of what went on in her own nightmare, she was content with lying to them. " How about you stop being vague and tell us what our freedom is worth. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra began to rub her head more, "These head pains, and the black outs are your doing then?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Or .. the gold and such around us at least. I've made an offer at least. Devotees weren't on the block in the first round of talks. Hard to spend our money if we're here worshiping you."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||"What do you each prize your freedom to? Giving your memories of something in exchange? I believe that was one of your suggestions?" She responded to A'erina first, "Lucatiel, how long did you know of Haimus so much deemed your friendship on? Astra, I needed a vessel, and yours was suitable." She sighed.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Four sets of memories, each one dear and important to the person donating. For our choice of contents of this room."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||She studied Tretesta for a moment, looking at a parent who was talking to a child asking to many questions. "By which means do you plan to give over memories?" She nearly laughed at him, "Do you wish for me to cut your head open, and play with your brains?"||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"You've been in our heads already. Taken bits and pieces from our mind to create the trials. Surely one with such power could dig deeper."
 +
 +~~~"But i guess I can make some fava beans for a side"~~~
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"It doesn't matter that I only knew him for a few hours. He was still a friend!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>
 +
 +||She held the orb out in front of them, and then conjured up a spitting image of Haimus, "He was not even real, it was a means to manipulate Astra's mind and see how far I could project a believable image out." She pulled the image back into the ball, "I suppose I could pull memories from the host, but I am not one to remove, but to add and warp reality." She looked over her items presented to her from the travelers. "I have a proposition for you all. Astra's goal is the orb, littler to her knowledge  what this entitled. She cannot just take it from here. You all wish for wealth."||
 + 
 +Astra's eyes looked up, she was livid, gritting her teeth together but not saying a word.
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Well I just wanted adventure and to be with my friends! I don't really want money!"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"...Go on."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||The goddess dead eyes shifted to Luca, "You do not wish to be dressed in fine jewelry?" She pulled several nice items from the piles, and a tiara, "Or wear a crown suited for a princess or a queen?"||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl smiles wide. "Ooohhhh! Ohh those are very pretty! But umm... I could do without it!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked at Tret, "What if... she wishes to keep one of us, or worse, she wants us to follow in her footsteps?" There was a bit of a panic in her voice.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret turns and shrugs at Astra "We are negotiating, my dear huntress. we have made an offer, she will make a counter offer. we may make another."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" Sounds to me like you still haven't made up your minds on what we're supposed to be offering. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||"Everything can be of value. So what do you have to offer?"||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"An offer has been made."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>  
 +
 +||She pointed at A'erina, "She has not offered."||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"we are collectively offering. She suggested a memory as well."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>  
 +
 +||She grew inpatient with Tret, "I care for the item you offer, and you aswell did not present me anything. You suggested memories, and I already told I have little desire for those. It is fun to toy with the mind from time to time, but I want tangible." She held her hand out to both A'erina and Tret. "You both fail to surrender an item. Why make this difficult?"||
 + 
 +"By the twelve stop dicking around and just give her what she wants. I am with Luca, this place has zero value, and I just want to go home. I'm done!" Astra nearly shouted.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Hm. Well, that makes this easier then...Here." He offered his other hand and dropped a plain gold ring into her waiting palm, then stepped back "Apologies. I do love to make things harder than they need to be."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" if you insist." A'erina looks at her sword, before throwing it in her direction instead if handing it over. " There, happy?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||The goddess took the two rings one from Luca, and the other Trets, collected A'erina sword looking over flipping it over with ease. Glancing at Astra dagger.||
 +
 +||"No, I want your bone necklace A'erina." She threw it back at here. "And a piece of jewelry from you Astra."||
 +
 +||The sword slid across the floor stopping infront of A'erina. She whipped the dagger back at Astra, nearly hitting her thigh as it stuck into the table.||
 +
 +Astra furrowed her brows, and removed her necklaces and rings. "The have zero meaning some of them are cheap?" She seemed confused as she set them on thr empty hand
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" ...And what's the purpose of this, then? My sword is worth more than anything else I have, so what're you scheming, I wonder."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||"What is the story on why you wear bones on your like a trophy? Are you not proud of them?"||
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" There is no story. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 + 
 +||"Then there is no use for it, and you could part with it."||
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" I could... But then I'd still like to know why. You know what my offer really is, you were here the whole time, you never left... You know every little thing we talked about in your 'absence', yet you act like this is all new to you. My Sword has a story, I have a story..." A'erina pushed off the wall and approached her. 
 +
 +" So, I'll ask again, What is it you really want? "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||"What does it matter to you? If it is little to no value to you, but I see something else with promise. 
 +Better yet, everyone give me the item of least value you have on you. I would prefer jewelry."||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"...You have my ring, But now it does matter to me. I thought we were bargaining for the treasure in here and freedom. Now you want what we value least. Care to throw satisfying my curiosity in there? i might be able to find something else to add to my end."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Luca stands where she is, very confused and just letting the others talk.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra sat ontop the table returning to her deck, shuffling. "You have my effects.  Not sure what more you want from me."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 + 
 +||The statue like figure began to crumble from its exterior taking more of a humanoid form. 
 +"What would it matter? I have my desires and I honestly have no reason to explain myself to mortals."
 +Her dead eyes focused on Lucatiel.||
 +
 +||"It is a simple request."||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Huh?" Luca looks at the woman, noticing the returned gaze.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina butts in. " You said so yourself that you expected us to worship you. I speak only for myself, So how about how I offer myself as a loyal follower to you. You get someone to worship you, they get what they came here for aswell as letting them leave unscathed. I'll do everything you want of me and more, what do you say?" She didnt like the idea but it seemed that they were getting nowhere.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||A wide smile spread across her lips. "You want to be a devout, then give me your fucking necklace!"||
 +
 +||With a sigh she did a cool little trick and returned the items to their owners.||
 +
 +||She pulled for pieces of jewelry from her piles, matching ring, earing, wrist, and necklaces. "I'm tired of your games, and all will be clear in time. Pick an item."||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret turned, staring at Rina and lowering his tone "I said we're not leaving anyone else... I'll walk back to the Shroud if I have to." Suddenly, he felt his ring in hand, and turned back to see new items offered. He eyes them cautiously, then looked up at the statuesque face "Tired of our games? I don't like making deals when someone is hiding a secret"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel smiles wide as her deceased father's ring was returned to her. "Thaaaank yooou!" She is sure to thank the woman-diety, but her eyes are quickly trained on to the jewelry. "Oooooh...."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra went to touch the necklace was immediately zapped. "Ow, the twelve?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"U-ummm, Reena but..." The girl tries to talk sideways to her friend, but is a bit too focused on the jewelry.
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret jerks towards Astra, then points at her and raises his voice to the goddess  "the hell was that?! Some of us still have our fears, and those fears has kept us alive this long."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||"I said pick, not touch" she growled.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Frustrated by the extra tall girl, Tret throws up his hands and points "The bracelet then...."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" Keep your junk. I didn't come here for trinkets. I came here with a purpose and seeing as you are the only thing here..." A'erina pointed her sword at the now more humanoid looking deity. " Fight me."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I want the necklace." Astra said shaking her hand from the zappies, then looking at A'erina, "You got a death wish?"
 +
 +||The tall woman turned to look in the direction of A'erina. "You wish for my death and to be trapped here for the rest of your life? As short as it maybe, you would more likely die from starvation, become so hallow you result to put dirt in your stomach. All because you let your pride better you?"||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret turns towards the kitty as well, Incredulous once more "Wait wait wait, we don't have to go that route! We're gonna leave, Rina. We can fight things back home!"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Umm...." The girl practically shakes her head, snapping herself back to attention. "I don't want any jewelry! It's all very pretty but... it's not right for me to take it! I'd rather just have Reena!" She nods, practically hugging A'erina now.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>  
 +
 +||"They're your ticket home."||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Ohh... Umm, in that case I pick the earrings!"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Tch!" A'erina loosens herself from Lucatiel's bearhug, although it's more like a plushy bear. She hesitantly, but hastily picks up the ring. " Have it your way, fiend. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||With the items, the were pulled into one cluster, the orb itself bound to it breaking down and reforming. The room itself began to spin, and warp.||
 +
 +||"Our next chapter should be fun my little mortals." The items remade, floated to their owners hands. The goddess began to break and shatter, as if she was made of stone, she shifted into different minerals and stones. Her limps began to disintegrate, turning into dust.||
 +
 +||"Until we meet again."||
 +
 +||She was nothing more than a pile of dirt on the ground, and their room was now a white slate, nothing there, just them, and this "Gift."||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret braces as everything goes topsy turvy, then... Stares. Just... An empty stare at the nothingness "...That's... That's it?"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra walked around but there was no walls or anything, "I have zero idea. It is just nothing." She opened her palm and saw the necklace. "This just keeps getting weirder and weirder."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Luca finds herself standing in the white void, confused and now holding the earrings. She looks at them and then her surroundings, blinking. "Ummm.... What is this? It's really weird! I thought we were going home!" She hesitates to wear the earrings for now.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra stomped on the floor, it made a small clatter like marble. "It like a place in between, not our realm, maybe it was hers? Or maybe this is her prison as it is in its whole." Astra examined the necklace more, there was an urge to wear it.
 +
 +||Each item now had the swirling of the orb in small contained gems on them.||
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Tret drew a other flat knife, flipped it over a few times, then drew back and gave a well practised throw to get an idea of how big their void was. He watched the blade, then looked down at the bracelet he chose ".... I'm so not amused."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina sat down on the ground, atleast there was a floor to sit on. She held the ring between her finger and thumb. What're we supposed to do with these anyroad? Got any ideas, Astra? "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra held up her necklace, "Maybe these are our keys."
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl lifts up her earring, holding it horizontally in front of herself and turning it. "Like this you mean? Maybe there's a keyhole somewhere!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra just stared at Luca after she said keyhole... the Duh face. "More like a magical lock, maybe we put them on, and it takes us else where? Who wants to go first?"
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"I will! I will!" And without hesitation, she puts the earrings on, looking quite pleased with herself.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||Upon putting on the earrings, Luca disappears. The group would be unknown to her location. 
 +She is deposited back at the tavern, in her carbuncle room, with a small pile of golds and jewelry.||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +The girl would blink, very confused, suddenly finding herself back home. Her Carbuncle at her side, also somewhat confused looking. She would just fall back on her bed and stare at the ceiling, thinking to herself. "I hope the others get home safe too!"
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Luca wait...." Astra went to grab Lucatiel before she blipped out. "Shit"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" Great... Now what do we do?!" A'erina looked at Astra and Tret. " D'you think Luca got back? "
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Turning slowly as Luca exclaims, Tret watches her just.... not be there. "...Well I don't think there's much choice. I didn't hear my knife hit the ground, so I doubt we're getting out of here. I don't have my things, it looks like." He pauses, looking around again, then sighs and hangs his head "<Son of a bitch...> I'm out cash now, buying all of that shit."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"What does that mean? You sure you are not a garlean?" She looked at the necklace again. "The only way to see where she went, is by going ourselves? On 3?" holding up necklace
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +"It means you owe me some cash, rab-." He stopped, then sat down on the....void,  staring through his bracelet as the weight of everything just hit him like a truck. They were stuck here. This little bauble might kill him. Sitting in the void might kill him. Definitely would kill him. His hand and the trinket trembled "<...I'm sorry, Blue, if this doesn't work...>" Without waiting for the count, he squeezed his eyes shut, took a breath, and clasped the bracelet on, bracing himself for.... something
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 + 
 +||Tret vanished from the devoid of color room, he was transported to his homestead, in front of him was the funds he needed for his home.||
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina watched as Tret did his thing, sighing, she leaned back, the back of her head learning on her hands as she lay down and presumably look upwards. " Guess that makes you next, hm? "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked at A'erina, "Together?"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +She held the ring up infront of her face, looking through it with an eye closed. " I dunno, I kinda like it here. Nice an' quiet, and... I'm not likely to do anything stupid here. "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"You fucking what? What you going to do when this becomes boring or in a couple hours when you hunger?"
 +
 +<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 
 +
 +Meanwhile, In the Shroud, Tret wasn't dead. He was sure he was, given what lay before him, but certainly the afterlife where he was rich would not also leave him on this godforsaken world. He looked down at the bracelet on his wrist, then back at the pile of loot nearby. Falling silent and looking then up to the ceiling, he started laughing. softly at first, then louder and louder until he was helpless and roaring
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Luca, meanwhile, was still staring at her ceiling, now having removed the earrings and looking at them again. She had barely even made note of the gold that had come with her.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" I don't get bored, Astra. Granted there's nothing here to fight, I'd eventually just give up and go home, I suppose. " She sat back up. " Why's it matter if I go back now, or not at all? "
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +||There was an urge to not remove the items once attached to the body. A bit of possession, however if removed the urge to keep the items on the body ached.||
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Owww... My ears..." The girl looks at the earrings again, shrugging and putting them back into her lobes.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra shrugged, "Never know who may desire you, and come looking. If you are not home, and missing? What would F'loki say?"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina shrugs. " I think he'd carry on perfectly fine without me, I'm not that important. Besides, I'm more of a hinderance than any help. Couldn't even make this fuckin' trip easy, had to go letting that thing get the better of me, and now I'm stuck here, but I have the choice to stay or leave. Along as they got home... That's all that I wanted to focus on. Suppose I won't know 'til I leave."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +She squatted down in front of her, "What if I have visitors looking for you? What will I tell them when they cant find you?"
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +She sighs " You could just say I never made it back, spin some elaborate story 'bout how I got into a fight that I couldn't win. That sorta thing, y'know?" She looked at the ring. " I don't suppose I have much of a choice though, do I."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +Astra looked A'erina ring then her necklace, "I know things have been different and for awhile now you've lived in fear of something or someone. You may have found ways to move around it. But in the long run, this is a means for your escape, then so be. But if these wears are our keys out of this place, then if we need you, we can not just come find you. You have to leave on your own accord." A very worried crease over the viera face, "I can't just lie to the others, and I know I will be worried about you."
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +" Then I guess I'll have to leave, eh?" A'erina takes her time getting to her feet but comes to a stand, putting her sword on her back. " Alright then, let's get out of here."
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 
 +
 +"Then let's go. I trust you to be not to far behind." Astra snapped the necklace on. She disappeared from A'erina.
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +A'erina looked around, just seemingly vast expanses of nothing. All on her own, " I'd probably be dead before the end of the week if I stay..." She'd say to the emptiness. She looked at the ring before sliding it on her finger.  Poof
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>  
 +
 +||Astra and A'erina were both teleported back to their place of place. It was not a typical teleport, just like a plop and a drop.||
 + 
 +||Before them was like the rest, small fortunes,  A'erina received an ornate axe as a reward. Astra received new star globe.||
 +
 +||The memory of the changes would fade into cloudy version of a dream. Not forgotten but not just fuzzy memory. "Be my eyes..."||
 +
 +||The enchanted jewelry seemed to change and shift with desires of the wearer, but resembled the mini orbs.||
 +
 +<fc #f4a460>''[A'erina]''</fc> 
 +
 +Hitting the ground amidst her personal flower garden with a thud, she knew where she was, and let out an audible " FUUUUCK." Rising to her feet she could smell familiar smells and was alert to familiar sounds. " I guess it worked then..." She noticed the apparently small fortune near her feet, picked most of it up, axe included, and tossed it into the corner. "Out of sight, out of mind. " She nodded to herself before jabbing her sword into the ground and heading upstairs for some rest. She didn't even think twice about the ring she was now seemingly stuck with. She clenched her fists as she walked the stairs, either agitated, annoyed or something else. Her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes had a very dim but noticeable glow to them.
 +
 +" ...Maybe now is the perfect time..." A sinister smirk lined her face as she switched the lights off in her lab and disappeared upstairs.
 +
 +<fc #35adb5>''[Lucatiel]''</fc> 
 +
 +Lucatiel at this point was splayed out on her bed, enjoying being able to relax again after the ordeal in the desert. She had not noticed the earrings acting strange, letting her Carbuncle jump up on the bed and just lay with her.
 +
 +<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>  
 +
 +||With the group back in place. The oddities that had happen. A deity was gone, but was it?||
 +
 +||(The Orb have a limited amount of power, sights in a sense. Once your character wants to unlock them, then we can move forward with those. Enjoy!)||
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