EQ game Quest-An Evening at Church

in the western tennant fields stood a large, black tent with gold inlays, many a silly looking fake skull and other decoration hanging on or around it, as Gold worked in setting up a quite expensive looking rug in front of it, setting up cushioned pillows like one would bleachers in rows, with one large one at the head with a few of the massive books stacked next to it. spaced around between the pillows, Timber was setting up stations with tea and cookies, while Misty set up a sign next to the the area reading "Church of the Dark Gods of the Void Service, feel free to join, but please be respectful and quite if you do not wish to partake, thank you."

Bayou was making his way towards the tend, feeling rather eager about the whole service. It was his first time really joining in, after all. As he approaches, he waves cheerfully at the ponies setting things up. "Hello there! Nice to see you all. Need a hand?"

Gary was already on his way to the tent for Friday service. He quite liked these Dark Gods and was very interested in getting to know more about them, especially if it came with more gifts like what Tornax had given him. His flight from his tent area wasn't a long one and he was there fairly quickly, landing in front of the tent and walking in, this time unarmed and unarmored. He saw Bayou was already there. "Guess you weren't kidding when you wanted to study them some more. Here for service?" Gary asked

"Absolutely! I should have a friend of mine showing up to check things out. Not for conversion or anything, just curiosity."

"Well, if I can go from being hostile to wanting to join so easily, I doubt it'll take much to sway them"
Gary looked around at the ponies getting ready and walked over to a corner, sitting down and not wanting to get in the way.

Timber Burn looked up as the two new members approached the area being setup OUTSIDE THE TENT, nodding a bit and walking over to them, a slight smile showing despite her emotionless voice.

“Bayou, and Gary, im glad you made it. Almost done setting up, feel free to help yourself to some tea and cookies in the meantime though.”

Ceres had aaaallll sortsa stuff in her Saddlebags. The books and the helmet from the castle, her journal and writing impliments, the runic translation glasses thingy a jar of concentration paste she made and a jar of pls-no-pain paste. Among the things in her Saddlebags was a small jar of sage paste, which some of it she had smeared on her face, which the green paste on her face seemed odd. The thought of possession already put her off ease, since she already cast a spirit out from Starry and it came back with a vengence, but this was just to make herself feel comfortable until she was comfortable with the situation around her. She had a small stripe of the green paste on each cheek bone, going horizontally, and one on her 'third eye' going vertically. The only other thing she wore on her person was that vine choker she got with her vest, masterfully worked by that Cotton Quilt to have celtic knots made by the vines inlayed. Beyond that, she wore a stoic and blank posture on herself. only giving silent nods to the ones she recognized, Gary and Bayou. She may have stood out, but once Ceres got to the seating area, the Ziggress picked out a nice corner to plop her rear in and doff her bags.
even left a note on her 'chest' back in the house that she'd taken the helmet and books out to be identified.



Gary nodded his thanks but politely refused, "I'll just wait here. I wanted to ask about what this service entails, but I'll let you guys set up."

Bayou takes a cookie and nods his head respectfully. "Thank you very much, Timber!" He glances over at Ceres, cocking his head to the side curiously. Green...seemed like an odd color on her. It certainly stood out. He looks down at his own green coat and snickers, then makes his way over to her, taking a seat next to the Zebra. "Nice to see you made it!" He looks her over again before just pointing questioningly at the sage paste. He felt he didn't need to say anything about it for her to get the meaning.


Gold Toe barely looks up as Ceres takes a seat, looking over her odd paste smeared face and the like, before shaking his head slightly and returning to finishing setting up the last of the cushions.

Misty Arch however, done with the sign, turns around, and not paying attention, nearly bumps into Ceres.
“O-oh! I-im sorry, I did-didnt see y-you there! Im.....u-uhh....” She stammers, her eyes clearly locked on the green paste, the oddity confusing her already shy demeanor and freezing her thought process a bit.

As Bayou sits down though, she regains her composure, smiling weakly at him. “O-oh? Y-you a friend of Ba-bayous the-then?”


Ceres shrugged lightly. "I could have gone full out and carved out a pentegram necklace, but it just didn't seem appropriate enough. Just subtle-ish things now, makes me feel more confortable until I get comfortabl-" a bump. A bumpy bump. Ceres kept her ground though, the tall thing she was. She brought her sun yellow eyes onto Misty with a slightly quirked brows, one brow visible from her bob-cut part, the other hidden behind the mane. Misty would definitely get a good view of her sage paste work, and potentially a good look at the celtic knot-work of the vines if she did. Ceres lowered her brow and let out a small nostril sigh. bringing up a weak smile for the mare. "Ceres." she said with a nod 'n bringing her Saddlebags close to her. Probably a part of the black helm would be sticking out. "Yep. I am. Came here for ah... Questions." the lean muscled Ziggress said, with a low tone.


Bayou leans over and waves cheerfully at Misty Arch, the muscular green unicorn clearly enjoying himself. "She had a few questions here and there, both about us, and maybe for the void gods. I figured I'd see about us setting up a session at some point for her to get a look." He looks over at Ceres and then back at Misty. "Although, she clearly stated she has no intentino to convert. She's purely here for knowledge reasons."

“o-oh, gr-great! G-Gold Toe or Tim-Timger B-B-Burn probably are m-more qua-qualif-ied to ans-answer any q-questions though, s-so ill le-leave you two a-alone t-then!” Misty says, nodding and walking off and over to Timber.

nodded to Bayou in a 'what he said' fashion, then swiveled her noggin about for the ones the stammering mare suggested. "Interesting one to say the least, she is..." she mumbled to herself.


Gary watched Misty go and looked at her in concern, wondering if it was a stutter or she was always in fear and nervous. He felt pretty guilty about what he did last time and sighed, wanting to apologize later. He turned to Ceres instead, "Just make sure not to get too rowdy with them and just go with it. Last time we were here I got... confrontational because of how mistrusting I was and nearly got kicked out"

Bayou gives a nod of agreement with Gary and chuckles. "After service we'll speak with Timber and Gold."

"Don't worry, I don't plan on getting kicked out." she said with a low tone, withdrawing her journal and writing impliment to record what nonsense may occur, careful not to accidentally pull out the texts from the castle. "I'd just be going back and forth between my journal and looking at the others and listening, recording, etcetera..." Ceres flipped her journal through to a new section of empty page 'n was ready to start her writing.


Suddenly, everyone hears a bell being rung, the sound making them feel....lighter almost, as they turn in its direction ,seeing Gold tapping his hoof against a small blue bell on a little holder next to the main pillow.

“May everyone take their seats, and may those around respectfully be silent, The time of the Void Gods has come, may we give them the respect they deserve, so we may be offered it back.”

With that, Misty takes a seat near the front left, with Timber taking as close to the middle front as she can, and Gold sitting down in what would relate to the pastors area.

Gary silently walks over and takes his seat.

Ceres has an... Odd kinda lifted sensation. That started her recording process of this event. She went a little wide-eyed from it though, returning to her normal expressionless and stoic facial expressing for this moment.

Bayou watches the proceedings, looking very much like a kid on christmas day. This was a whole new religion to witness, and he was more than happy to watch The feeling of lightness made him wiggle slightly in his seat, but he kept his respectful silence..

Gary closed his eyes and sighed when he sat down. He actually felt at peace here and he needed that feeling especially after the previous day, getting beaten by a small unicorn, stabbed, electrocuted, and smashed by a dragon.


After everyone takes their seats, Gold nods.
“May we start with the Prayer of the Dark, the Foundation for all other Truths.”

Clearing his throat, he nods to Timber, who stands and turns to the others. She outright sings the prayer out, her voice again soothing and mesmerizing.

“Let all who seek the truth be not lead astray. Dark is not Evil, Light is not Pure, The Void is not Empty, the Worlds are not full. For every lie brought forth by the light, the Dark will give a truth, and for every truth the Light puts forth, a lie in return. The world was made for balance, for none are free of their evil side, nor may evil be free of its good.

Let all who seek the path of truth, know the truth, does not take sides.” She lowers her head, Before turning and taking her seat, Gold nodding respectfully, as he grabs one of the books and opens it up.

Still with his eyes closed, Gary hummed along with the music quietly, swaying with it. When it was finished he opened his eyes, disappointed.

Ceres looks down a bit 'n listened to these words, feeling a little enchanted herself. Out of a sign of respect, she kept her head down and so she could write all this down at the same time through the song.. Once the mare was done her stint, she shifted her sun-yellow eyes back up to where those that seemed like 'high shaman's' to her and watched them curiously.

Bayou bobbed his head slightly with the sing-songy prayer. It certainly was insightful. He glances at the book that is opened by Gold, wondering which one it was. He'd try to remember it for later and see if he could do some study into it. It's always nice to know more about the lesson or sermon given at any religious event.


Gold clears his throat.
“Today id like to start off with a bit of a story, then id like those willing to try and guess its point.”

“Now....Long ago, there was a very powerful princess, think she was an arabian if my translations right, who had numerous suitors, from many a race.

She would lead them on, getting gift after gift, praise after praise, and once her dear father died, she took the throne herself, taking the city of the kings under he hooves.  However law dictated she must take a husband within three years, and offer a child to continue the lineage within three of that. But she did not wish to share her power,not with the likes of outsiders and those of the outlying kingdoms of her empire.

So, secretly, she entered into the sacred temple of the gods, a place forbidden to females not of the sects.”

Gold looked, up, seeing that everyone was paying attention, then continued, flipping the page.

“She had to be sneaky, careful, for if caught, despite her status, she was to be ritualistically tortured and given over to the gods.

She was, for those that guard such places are no fools who lack in their skill or commitment. She screamed, she demanded they release her, as she was dragged by her mane to the sacrificial chambers, but...as they passed through the hall of gods, she reached out a hoof. She did not know which gods shrine she touched, but she begged, pleaded that they save her life.

And so a god appeared, his presence shaking the castle to its core, pillars toppled, entire rooms collapsed, the temple priests and guards bowed at the might of this god. But the princess did not.

She ran to his feet, kissed them, thanking him, saying she would give him anything if he saved her life, and gave her what she asked. She would toss out the other gods, or make each their own Temple. She would let him desecrate her, or rule above her directly. Anything.

But the God was He'gar'mo, and he picked the princess up, stuck her in a cage, and added her to his collection. He fixed the temple, and left, His Shrine disappearing, and was never re-built.”

Gold set the book down, and looked to the crowd. “And so the tale ends.”


Gary looked from pony to pony, confusion on his face, wondering what the moral of the story could have been. There's always something more powerful? Don't desecrate temples? Don't make stupid bargains? Worse fates than death?

Ceres couldn't help but to think back to that Saddle Arabian to the castle. Which kinda spawned up a bit of connection in her noggin. Whilst she was listening in, Ceres was also writing down. And the last bit of spare space she had on that page, she wrote down 'the one from the castle?' then flipped onto the next blank page, bringing her eyes back up to those 'shamans'.

Bayou thinks for a moment and then nods. "That rules are in place for a reason, and disrespecting the rules and those that make them will always end with consequences?" He cocks his head to the side questioningly. It sounded similar to many tales he'd heart before, at least in theme.

Gold nods to Bayou, turning to everyone else. “Any other guesses?”

Ceres remains purely silent, watching Gold with her painted face.

Gary may as well take a shot at it, "There are fates worse than death?"

Gold nods to Gary too.
“Yes and yes. There are many answers to many a question, including this one. Bayous hold the most weight, but another one to remember is this; The Gods are not against you, but they are not for you. They have their purpose, their goals, and if you could help them achieve them, they will come to you, when they wish to.”

Gold pats the books, looking to the crowd. “Now, a bit unorthodox, but we do have many a new face as we do an old, so lets make them comfortable. I give each of you two questions, let it be about us, or life itself, whatever you wish to ask. But you get two, so think wisely.”

Ceres looked down to her journal and recorded the answers Gary and Bayou gave, and ultimately the reply from Gold. Her eyes shifted about a bit, with her noggin following slightly, to listen to any poner asking a question, ready to write it down and the answer. Her questions were more a private matter, anyway, something she'd not discuss in a public forum style.

Bayou thinks for a few long moments before starting in with his first question, looking between Gold, Timber, and Misty. "How did you all start worshiping the gods of the void?"

Gary thought to what Tornax had done for them. He had given them weapons to fight. Maybe the gods could bestow power upon them and make them their champions to spread their word... But then something else flashed through his mind. Home. Could these Void gods search through the multitudes of worlds and send those who wished it to return home? Those who were harshly and unfairly ripped from their young lives and thrust into this new world, herded together and forgotten. He had to ask. "Can... Is there a way for us to return home? Could the gods return those who wished it back to Earth?" He asked in a somber voice


Gold nods slowly to Bayou.
“Our tales are all different, but I do not mind sharing mine. It was 1984, winter, back on earth.....I was a drunkard, living from alley to alley. I...Did what I had to, to feed my addiction. Until one night, too many days without a stiff drink, I was stumbling through another alley when I suddenly saw a bright flash. Turning the corner, somethin that looked like a human, but made of fire turned and looked at me, two burnt corpses lying beside it. It squinted, I ran.

Next day, nothin, no word of any deaths, no cops snooping about. Didn't feel like Drinking after that, I wanted answers. Too k nearly three decades to piece together what little I could about the Dark and the Light, before I was brought here, and seeing the opportunity, dug into every crawl space and old library I could, using knowledge from here and earth, I pieced together enough, did my first possession, then formed the church.” He shrugged, sipping his tea.


Timber nodded, before looking over, smiling the biggest Bayou had seen yet. “I just liked the atmosphere.”

Misty however, shakes he head. “i-i do-don....n-no....i-im sorry, m-maybe later....” She looks on the verge of tears, but corrects herself quickly.

Then Gold turns to Gary, sighing sadly. “There are many rules the Gods follow, some of their own law, some of the laws of the universe. In theory, it is possible, but in reality, it would take years of work on our end, with their help and guidance, to send even a small few home, let alone all those pouring through. For what its worth, They themselves do not know what exactly caused the rift, nor they themselves did it. They are not the only powers that be, as it were, but are one of the few universal powers between all worlds. This....limits their interaction though, compared to forces focused in on one spot.”

Ceres also has a quick scan about to see if there were any other zeebs in the NPC crowd before going back to writing the qeustions and answers appropriately before clicking her teeth together a bit at the reply to Gary's question... Though it really didn't affect her much. The Zebra just thought 'shame...' to herself. Stockholm Syndrome already has taken effect, so she felt comfortable enough here and kinda didn't wanna go back. Once the writing was done, she looked back up, listening for any other questions and answers.

Gary slumps and sighs deeply, fighting back tears. Of course it wasn't that simple... his old life was lost. His anger started sweltering up again however. He refused the answer, he refused to believe they were stuck. Surely there was something that could be done, he would just have to find it himself. But he didn't have that power. Maybe if a god or multiple gods were to help him in his quest... He would have to give something probably. Power comes with a price, "Is there a way to make a pact with the gods? Do they have favored mortals that they take a liking to?"

Bayou frowns slightly at Misty's reaction. He'd been worried about her since he arrived, but this only deepened that feeling. He'd have more to ask of her later. But not in a public forum like this. He starts to tap a hoof on his chin as he tries to think of a second question. A few moments pass before he looks up at Gold curiously. "Have the gods ever mentioned a castle to the north that once belonged to the minotaurs? There have been a few in town exploring the surrounding ruins, but those in particular have sparked keen interest, and I'd like to know if the gods have given insight into them."


so much for her hush hush on the subject. She was gunna wait until the public forum style of questionning died down so she could get some time in with those Shaman's, and potentially mr. eyes god dude, to get some of her questions asked. Guess the cat is kinda out of the bag. At Bayou's question, her jawl clenched and her eyes shut. A brief huff came from her nostrils and opened her eyes and went back to writing.


It was Misty who speaks up at Garys Question “O-oh y-yes! Th-the gods a-are mor-more then ha-happy to acc-accept more sin-singular fo-followers! B-but m-most make you pa-pass tests and s-such to...to become one! A-and i-its a big decision, man-many take o-oaths of lo-loayalty v-very seriously, a-and dont like th-those that br-break them!” She nods really quickly a few times, before slinking back again.

Timber and Gold both share a look at Bayous Question, then turn back to him, shrugging. “Doesn't ring a bell really, but more details on the matter might bring something forth we might not know is connected.”

Gary didn't like the answer. It seemed like the question about making a pact was ignored, but that was his two questions so he huffed and sat back, a look of annoyance and mild anger on his face.

Bayou nods a bit and shrugs to himself. Perhaps they could mention more later. It wasn't uncommon for people to explore ruins around here, it seemed. He was happy with the answer he got, smiling at Gold and waiting to see what was coming next.

Ceres brings her attention back up to the Shaman's, wiping the slightly irritated look from her visage to go back to the stoic one, listening in once again to what they had to say for record keeping purpouses.

Gold turns to Gary. “The Gods as a whole rarely agree on anything, let alone bless a single person with all their blessings, but it has happened. Once. But that was so far long ago it is forgotten even by some of the gods themselves apparently. You might gain the favor of a few, but far from all.”

Gold points a hoof at Ceres. “You still hold your two, Miss.....I do apologize, I didn't catch yer name.” He says, bowing a bit in apology.

Ceres was totally writing down the proper the answer the whole time! Her sun-yellow eyes tracked back up before there was a hoof pointned towards her. Now she tensed up a bit. Guess she really stood out, after all. "uh... Me?" she asked with a slightly panicked face, holding up up a hoof to her chest... looking about at the... empty service area. Ceres screamed internally. so much for being tucked away and not noticed. "I'm... Ceres." she finally blurted, giving a tentative nod to Gold.

Bayou looks over at Ceres and flashes her a reassuring smile.

"Uh, I had uh.... More than two questions that I need help with... I was gunna wait until after this for help..." Ceres said, a little shakey in her voice.

Gold smirked, nodding a bit at Ceres. “pretty name, shame you feel the need to smother your face in paste though, make you look a wee off the rocker.” He says, taking a sip of tea. “If the truth you seek is to be hidden in the shadows from others, then why should it not also be hidden there from you?”


"It's uh, sage paste... It's making me feel a little more comfortable..." her nose wiggled. "I needed help from uh..." her eyes wandered upwards to the starred skies, thinking on how to approach this situation. Ah, there's that God's name. "I needed help from... Gorthox..." she said with a declining voice to mention the God's name a little hushed. And back to her tentative tone. "The answers are there, it's a matter of seeing through the fog to understand."


Gold nods, setting his tea down. “And what do you seek from Him made of eyes?”

"Well..." ah shit. Here goes nothing. Ceres grabbed her bags, taking out the black helm with the purple gem on the 'third eye' first. "This thing. Whenever I put it on, I can feel /it/ and it can feel /me/. Like it's sentient, almost." she adjusted the helm correctly so that the gem and the cutout bit for the head faced the Shaman official types. "There are books, also. Speaking of King Grimmar, the Old Language and the history of the Three Races. All written in some kinda weird Runic that hurts to look at them plainly, without these." she said, reaching into her bags and pulling out the raddy pair of glasses she obtained from the castle, setting them down also.


Bayou looks over and then nods at Gold softly. "This is all concerning the castle I'd mentioned before." He quips this in as Ceres continues the explanation. Might as well illuminate everything.

"I... Well, we may have our differences. I consult the spirits, and my Gods and Goddesses, you consult yours. But the main thing is, for me anyways, finding the truth about that castle that Bayou mentioned. And when you said some Saddle Arabian mare earlier, I kinda made a connection to one such spirit still living there. And that King Grimmar's spirit, living in the sword, spread across eleven other swords to, I can assume, are defending other similar castles or grounds..." she took a breath, recovering from her brief rant. "And those dreams I've been having..." she repeated those dreams to Gold that Griff had PM'd her, which really IC, shown up to her in dreams.


Gold listened intently, and as Ceres finished, took a slow, long sip of tea. “Gorthox isnt the god for you. He sees things, finds things, but it is not his duty to *know things.” Gold sets the tea down, lifting up his own kettle and pouring himself some more.
“You all seem worried about this castle and its history, and it sounds quite important. IF yo uwish to learn knowledge from the Dark Gods, it can be arranged. “

As he takes another sip of tea, Timber speaks up, her emotionless voice seemingly making even the wind go still. “There are two gods that might be able to help you, however, both the difficulty of calling forth specific gods, aswell as these ones, is not easy.  What might you offer us for our help, our resources, our time?”







"It is kind of worrysome, this castle, because one of us that went on the expedition seemed to become, corrupted, in one of the rooms. She's been having these nightmarish visions of impending doom upon OH ever since..." After further back story, she huffed in a bit of thought, not bothered by Timber's voice, considering what she could have to offer that wasn't her own devotion. "I uh... I'm a herbalist and scout If you need some plants of a specific type, I can get them for you, or if you need something scouted out, I can do that as well... Ah, let's start with this." she said, looking at all of the shamans at once, feeling her body detense and go into a kind of confident posture. Just more relaxed in general and not-so-rigid. "What is it that you need the most for here?"


Bayou looks over at Ceres and then back at Timber. "I'd be willing to chip in as well. This is a matter that concerns me, and possibly the fate of the town, if things have a chance of going south. I'd like to have at least done something to save us from impending doom, rather than wait around for it to happen." The unicorn nods and flashes them an encouraging smile. "I know the gods won't worry one way or the other if OH is destroyed, but if we can do something to at least entreat some help, I'd be willing to do what I can, both for you all and for the gods."

Gary just sat there, thinking about it. What could he offer them? He was just a lowly guard... He slumped down, looking dejected. Perhaps he would have to look elsewhere... He had to try though, suddenly perking up at hearing the others "I will offer whatever I can... I will not give up so easily!"

Gold simply eats a cookie, Misty looks more nervous then usual, and Timber simply stares deep into Ceres eyes, her purple meeting Ceres yellow....until Timber blinks, and suddenly her eyes are red.
“we need not your petty plants or charms.” Her voice echoes suddenly, like something was underneath it, talking along with her, “what we need is nothing. We are content, we have our own hooves to stand on...but....” She turns, looking to Bayou, then to Gary. “You tow have said you wish to join the fold, so we will offer assistance, so long as you offer your aid when the church calls in need.” she unfolds a wing, and inside the fold sparks red, ominous energy, like a portal of blood, before it fades and three vials full of cherry red stuff hang from her feathers.

“Take one, each, and drink. If you do, you might learn what you wish to know. Be warned, you may not come out unscathed, mentally and even perhaps physically, and what you learn may not be what you intended to.”
[note, if you wish to drink, ill need to know something your character might be looking to figure out, but might be something they themselves dont know they are looking for. No threat of death, but mental and physical injury could happen.]


Bayou looks at the vial and then starts to levitate one up gently if he is given the chance to do so. He gives a nervous laugh and then nods. "There's a saying about drinking the kool aid on earth...but if we can manage to do something right by the folks of Outer Hayven, I can take a risk. This is..." He seems sadder, but more determined as he finishes. "This is our home, after all."

Gary looked to the vials. This could be it... He could gain something from this. He walked forward and grabbed a vial, looking at it in his claws. He looked up to Timber "And this... could possibly give me what I seek? I just need to drink?" He looked back down to it. What she said about being physically and mentally harmed, was it worth it? Was this power worth possible damnation? He thought to his purpose now, to find a way home. He thought about how things were finally looking up for him and he was suddenly and violently ripped away from it. He was cast a bad hand and he refused to accept it. He closed his eyes and shot back to potion.


Ceres has already almost died to a BBEG Spirit getting, so she wasn't really affected by the whole change in Timber's demeanor. Ceres really just watched her undergo the change without so much as a worry. More a face of fascination on how sudden it was. This got her curiousity peaked about this church. Shit, maybe she could learn a couple more stories herself and exchange some! This expanded the internal lore boner.

Ceres stood up and, more with a tro of respect and caution, moved forward, unkowingly if they'd be able to feel her close encounter with the spoop or not. She stopped in from of the official types, looking between the officials. Weird, being this close to them made her Celtic style vine choker feel a little more tight. Maybe it's because she was about to take a deep into the unnkown... Yeah, probably that. But, hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Her sun-yellow eyes came back to Timber's. If eyes were really the window to the soul, then Ceres' would seem stained from that close call she had. Ceres gave light smile and a nod in thanks, regardless, before going back to where she was, distancing herself between hard objects and Bayou and the like because she didn't know what this thing would do or what kind of actions she would have. More a safety precaution from sciencing with that helm and some other stuff in OH, she s'posed.

Bayou glances over at Gary who had already downed his, then looks over at Ceres. He gives her a nod and chuckles. "Well...bottoms up." He then takes the plunge himself, knocking back the potion and hoping for the best.

Timber watches as Ceres approached and stared, before placing a hoof on her shoulder as she turned around. “You might best be careful yourself, compared to the others. One like you, keep stray too far to the other side. Might slip into it fully.”

As Timber draws her hoof away though, the glow in her eyes fades, and she blinks, looking around.
“Wha....I was gone for a moment, sorry, they sometimes slip in when im not paying attention, pacts tend to do that.” She rubs her head, sipping some tea ad Gold pats her on the shoulder, looking at Bayou and Gary.
“Your on yer own once it kicks in, we'lll do what we can, but it wont be much.”

Ceres totally heeded possessed Timber's advice! Ceres looked down at her vial. 'O lady Freija...' she thought to herself, uncorking the vial. 'Please guide my path. If I shall fall, see me through to the great halls of Valhalla...' she finished up her little mental prayer, brought the vial up to her lips and down the hatch, like a drinking pro taking a shot of some hard liquor. The tall Ziggeress sat down, cross-legged and back straight in a meditating pose, drawing a small circle in the dirt in front of herself, just for something to focus upon whilst she attempted to clear all the other fog out of her mind and drop her worries in the trash bit for now.


As first, the sweet, sugary liquid did nothing. Then, like a rush, Their vision becomes one of red swirls and goop, like they were suddenly rushing forward into a portal similar to the one they saw.

And suddenly, they, each alone, by themselves, were in a world of red, chaotic energy, the wind kicking red dust and energy up in their face, barely able to  stand still against the wind, everything around them red, chaos, the landscape flat, but cracked and scarred.

Oddly, it all seemed harmless, but also gave off a sense of urgency, like they were meant to find whatever they were looking for, and quickly.




Gary looked at the area around him. What in the hell did he get himself into? "What... What is this place?" He asked himself, walking forward, wondering into the red wasteland, trying to cover his face from the biting wind and dust. It looked like a horrible place to be and he was deeply regretting drinking that potion "How is this supposed to help me find what I want? What I need?!" He tried shouting over the howling winds to nobody in particular. Surely there must be something out there...


Bayou shook himself as he was thrown into this. The landscape...frankly scared him. A lot of this did. But he needed to find whatever was here. They mentioned a possibility of harm. The sooner he found some answers, the better. He squinted his eyes to try and see if there was anything discernible. Finding nothing but the red dust, energy, and chaos, he started off forward, squinting to try and find anything. "C'mon...I know there's gotta be something in all of this. Something out there...or is this an 'in here'?"

Ceres has never even seen this portal before, or even had this experience before. Ceres still sat in her meditation potition, with a sense of panick creeping up in her, so all she could do was focus on that now non-existant circle. Once that freaky shit was all over, she found herself in a new realm of... What the fuck. Immediately she was almost toppled over from the battering winds and gusts. She immediately broken her meditation potition, reaching out with a hoof to plant to strengthen herself against these winds and held a foreleg up to her squinting eyes so she didn't get TOO much dust in her eyes. They watered already. Her concentration broke and now all sorts of what-the-fucks went through her mind Ceres looked about the odd landscape of chaos, and and the weird fucked up energy bits kinda obscured her vision and she at least tried to get a handle on her situation through her state of panic.


As Gary wandered into the wastes, he felt his own regret and aprehension tug at him, and felt the energy slick around him, and as it did, felt his anger, his regret and confusion seemingly gorw along with the energy around him.

As yelled out into the red wastes, he thought he heard an answer, down a cliff side to his left perhaps? He couldn't make out what was said, or if anything was, only something that wasn't the wind....


Bayou wandered forward into the endless red wastes, his hear feeling heart, like it would fall out of his chest, the energy scraping at his sides, the dust roughing his skin, feeling his fear grow and leech on him, as energy seemed to stick to him a bit.  Suddenly, he saw something out in the distance, but what, he couldn't make out, the wind and energy more intense around the thing. It was large, though, whatever it was.


Ceres would feel her panic grow and grow, the energy seemingly wrapping on her for a bit, the wind seemingly going stronger against her, her panic being fed with each hard won breath.

But she would suddenly see shapes, pillars lined up infront of her, if she could only push her way there....

[everyone, D10+End, then D12+perception]
Ceres 8, 12
Bayou 10, 9
Gary 4, 3

Ceres would be able to fight back the panic, the energy and wind around her weakening, but never dissipating.  As she reached the pillars, she would see them made of smooth, well cut obsidian, so pure she can nearly see through it.

Suddenly, at the end of the two lines, was a large mirror, so large she could not see all of it in any direction. Looking into it, she saw...herself, but her friends were all leaning on her, happily staring at the mirror with her.

And then the image twisted, they all lay around her, dead, but not in blood, but in some sorta dark, ominous ooze. One twitched, then went still, as from the goop a mound rose, and turned, red eyes looking at her.
“You dont want this to happen, right? You dont want them to die?” it spoke in an echo, the mirror vibrating with its words and it loomed over her.


Meanwhile Gary would feel his anger overtaking him, the energy and wind wrapping around him, feeding itno him.

It would all grow too much around him, blocking out everything, as the dust went in a circle infront of him, his mouth dripping with the energy, his eyes burning with it, as the dust formed a red mirror, and showed another him, smiling down at him.
“Are you really so weak? So inferior? Bah, perhaps I should fix that, but are you even worth my effort?” it said, its voice like an echo, the mirror contorting and twisting a bit as it spoke.


Bayou Felt himself fight off hid fear, though it didn't disappear, the energy and wind seemed to fade a good amount, allowing him to reach the structure. IT was a massive temple of some kind, like persian palaces mixed with Egyptian pyraminds, but made of clear, red onyx, so pure it was almost see through, but far from enough light to actually do so.

The steps infront of him were many, and the wind and energy around it clearly much more powerful.


Bayou looked up at the steps and shivered. He shook his head and started up them, trying to go methodically and steadily. So long as he reached what was here. This is what he felt he needed to see. He uses his horn to try and cast some of his own light to peer better through the wind and energy around him. As much as he wanted to stop and gaze at the pyramid itself, visions and things of this nature must proceed. They have a reason.


Gary glared at his reflection, not even noticing the energy dripping from his eyes and mouth "Shut up..." He huffed. He went ballistic "Shut up! Shut UP! I am not weak! I'LL KILL YOU! I WILL NOT BE DENIED!" He shouted, punching with all he could at the mirror, lunging forward with it and going to attack himself in his blind rage.


Ceres combat's all this shit and manages to get so some, what seemed like, some sort of place where she can recuperate herself without being battered by the stupid sand and energies! Phew! But the mirror got her curiosity now. She went closer and... Saw her friends? Peyote 'n Tea 'n Bayou 'n Starry, even the two headed doggo Oro! It did bring a good smile to her... Theeen in faded away. Her face immediately stonewalled after the whole mirror image twisting, revealing them dead. Ceres looked at that ooze that had supposedly done the job. Her face kinda twisted in a mix of despair and rage, unable to do anything. When the ooze took form and began looking at her as it grew and grew and grew... It kinda renewed some determination in her. "...With Odin and the great spirits by me..." Ceres muttered, looking at that ooze and ultimately channeling her frustrations and anger and sadness, and what ever plagued her back home, into her voice. "It shall NEVER happen!" she shouted at the ooze and mirror whilst also venting.


[Bayou and Gary, d12+End]
Bayou, 2
Gary, 8

Bayou would feel the increased energy of the building tug at him, looking up, the stairs seemed like they just...never ended. Step by step he didnt feel himself getting closer, his earlier fears slowly creeping up, as the smooth, perfect surface of the building seemed to get ragged, imperfect, like it was cut bad and then acid had made it wart and boil, only adding to his fear as more energy slicked and licked at him.
“Give up....Turn back...” a voice seemed to say, from everywhere around hum, and from his own head.

Gary smashes the mirror, hearing its echoed laugh dissipate as he looked down, his claw bleeding a bit, but nothing too deep, and the path before him lightening so he could see he was only a foot or two from a cliff edge, though curved enough the fall probably wouldn't of killed him, it would not have been fun.


As Ceres says he words, the reflection laughs at her, and the carnage behind it fades, so its just her and the reflection.
“Oh? And are YOU going to stop me? Alright. What am I? Hmmm? What am I? How do you stop me? Go on, hmm, HMMM?

[Ceres, d10+perception]
Ceres, 9

around the goop, however, Ceres sees....ripples, swirls. Inside she sees images. Twelve knights, Twelve swords, Angry hooded beings talking in a circle, before one holds up a vial, full of familiar black goop....and of a Minotaur king, talking to some being of light, bowing, arms out, asking for aid.

She felt she could....reach out, touch the ripples....


Gary looked down at his bleeding claw, huffing. It was a good pain. He then looked to the cliff and saw the cliff and how close he was, but he couldn't care through the anger. He growled at the fading laughter "Come back so I can kill you! I will have what I want! I will find a way back!"


Ceres takes a minute to process thing as her focus shifted away from the big 'ol arching goop baddy. So, feeling a little better about life and having vented out all her bullshit, thank you stoicism, she reached out to attempt to touch the goopy ripples, and...




Bayou hears the voices as he pushes up the stairs. He wasn't getting closer. The steps were jagged. They were scarred. They were chipped, hit at just like he was at times. He hears the words and shudders, shaking his head. "N-no. No, I don't wanna turn back! Nothing is waiting for me there! I don't have anyone left to turn back to anymore!" He was practically shouting as he makes his way forward, shuddering as he feels his fear gnawing at him incessantly.


Nothing Returns to Gary, but as he willingly give into his own Angry, the Energies seems to pick up, the wind aswell.
“Come, down, into the depths, follow your anger, let it be fed and feed. Come.” a Voice echoes from the canyon below him.


The Energy and wind rip and claw at Bayou, nearly dragging him down the stairs, though he keeps climbing. “You dont know what is ahead, you do not know what may happen. Turn back, Give in to your fears.” the voices Echo at Bayou.


...and as Ceres touched the ripple of the Minotaur, suddenly the mirror shifts to that scene.
“Oh, spirit of Harmony, I come to you in need, for my actions have brought danger to my people, my kingdom. I ask for your help, for a way to defeat this unstoppable darkness.”

The spirit nods, and hand going out, a stone of pure white appears, something written on it she cannot read.
“Follow these instructions, and for a price, you may drive back the darkness. But it may never be defeated, not permanently. Go, do what must be done.” and as the King too the stone, he turned and as his cape whipped around, the mirror was suddenly pitch black, before slowly, it started oozing out that black goop, slowly, then quicker, quicker, those evil red eyes looking at her as it laughed!

[Bayou, d12+End]
[Ceres, d20 to run the fuck away, unless you wish to think of a different action?]
Bayou, re-roll, 10
Ceres,  didnt run.


Gary walked to the edge of the cliff and glared down, not noticing or caring for the wind picking up, but was he ready to succumb? To give in? He thought about it. For half a second. "Finally! I will not be trapped here any longer, I will be free of this world!" He spread his wings and dove into the canyon.


Bayou shudders as he hears teh voice, feeling the wind and energy try to pull him down. He keeps trying to hold firm, gritting his teeth before calling out at the voice. "Th-there's so much that could be learned if we only take a look! A glimpse! I-it's the true job of all scholars! Of learned men! I won't fail in that!"





Ceres watched the whole scene take place in front of her and took a good mental note of this. That's when that ooze starting seeping out of the mirror... She only backed up juuuust a bit... She didn't even run. Instead, after taking those couple steps back, she gathered up enough courage, hopefulyl backed by her own Religious experiences. "...O spirits of Harmony...." she muttered, closing her eyes but she probably didn't have enough time. The tall zebra brought up all her courage and will, and prayed to whichever being overwatching this would have mercy on her. She focused all her will, her courage, /her very spirit/ into her Celtic knotted choker, assuming it's still on. "I come to you in my need," she started, basically regurgitating what the Minotaur knig had said. "for my and others actions have brought danger to me and my people, my village." her eyes shut tighter, praying to the Gods and great spirits that this was the right call. "I ask for your help, for a way to defeat this unstoppable darkness." now came the massive fucknig gamble she was going to take, with potentially her life as well. Ah... She almost died already, what's potentially almost dying in a different realm to her?


As Gary enters into the canyon, the wind settles a bit, but the energy is stronger, its glow the only light, casting many a shadow. As he wandered deeper in, the increased energy tore at him, his eyes burning, seeing red, his mouth hot, the energy coming out as vapors, as suddenly the energy swirled before him, forming what seemed like a human shape, but featureless.
“Hello Gary.” It said, tipping a top hat it suddenly had.


As Bayou Crawls his way, step by step, he finally reaches the top, the energy an wind dissipating heavily, but exhaustion suddenly heavy on his shoulders.  Loooking up, there was a grand, massive entrance, into a darker part of the temple, but looking in...he blinked.

The Runes, lining the walls like never before, but not hurting his eyes! They covered every inch of it, some so massive they reached the ceiling and the floor.

He could see they each were a square, working from the middle out in straight lines, though he didn't know any of the symbols making them up yet.


As the goop slowly went over Ceres, at the last Second, light surrounded her, and she was in a bubble, a bubble of light engulfed in darkness, as a voice, cam, female, spoke.
“You are lucky I heard you, and that I was able to reach here at all. You would not have liked what the alternative was.” It was, the voice soothing, but not forcefully so.


Gary glared at the human figure, snarling. The energy pouring from his eyes in a thick fog "And what do you want?!" He yelled at it with as much venom as he could muster.

Bayou gazed at the runes. He was tired. So very tired. But this...this was something. This was a fire that could be lit under him. No pain from the runes. No headache. He almost instinctively flinched at first. "My gods..."He looks into the entrance and then starts to pull himself further in. He would have loved so badly to lay down and sleep here - but this is no place for resting. The revelation of not being hurt by the runes was startling, but he needed to gaze further in. He had come too far to turn tail.




Ceres keeps her eyes shut for a few more seconds... Is she dead? Alive? she chanced a glance at her surrounding, by cracking an eye open. There was.... A bubble of light? SHe was fine? Standing on solid ground? Because the goop seemed to be going around her. Finally that voice beckoned out to her caught her attention. Both eyes opened up and... Saw some face? Some orb? Some appirition? What did her zebra eyes see GM? "It..." she said with slight disbelief. 'actually worked...' she thought to herself, finishing up her sentence.



The being snapped, and suddenly Gary felt more in control, though the anger was not gone.
“Im here to help Gary. Nothing more, nothing less. You want power? I can help you get it.”


As Bayou entered the area, he suddenly saw two stands of marble at the end of the hall of Runes.

One had a book, labeled “The Limit of the First Language, all it can do.” the other “The Darkness, an answer.” it was obvious he could only pick one, and he felt drawn to the left one, to the runes, the energy licking at him, soothing him, coaxing him to open it.


Ceres saw nothing, only heard. “Well, the goop should clear up in a moment, then you should be safe to tear your mind apart with these disgusting Dark Gods once more. OR, if you wish, I can help you escape from here, and help bar their evil, wicked, disgusting energy from ever touching you again.” it says simply, giving her the options.

[ Bayou, D12+End]
Bayou, 7

Bayou is able to tear away from the temptation, but the choice itself is still his to make, and the book still  draws to him.


Ceres felt a massive sigh of relief escape her. Not because she had the chance to leave, but she was alive. Ceres even sat down, feeling the adrenaline slowly go away from that whole bit. "...I assume that you can't do this again..." she muttered, looking about her as the goops intensity started dissipating. "...Is that goop a part of this world? Part of chaos and darkness?" she asked the, presumably, spectral spirit that she cannon see outside of this light bubble.


Gary gasped, suddenly remembering everything from before. He grabbed onto his head and groaned, feeling like a weight was lifted from his. He turned back to the figure and growled, narrowing his eyes "You're obviously just some sort of devil type! You'll offer me a deal that seems so nice, a deal I couldn't possibly refuse! But then you'll come along just when I think I've gained everything and you'll damn me. Don't think I'm fucking stupid! No gods, no kings! I am in control of myself and my soul! If gaining this... power costs me everything then why bother taking it?!" He hissed and spat at the figure, contrast to it's calmness.





Bayou bites his lower lip as he looks at the books in front of him. The true powers of the First Languge. The true capabilities of the runes. He...he wanted this. He didn't realize how badly he wanted this. To understand them. To see them. To know them intimately in all their manners of creation and destruction that they may bring. He feels himself drawn towards the book. But he stops. He thinks. This...won't save the town. This is why he's here. He came here because Outer Hayven could be in danger. They could be in danger. The people who welcomed him so readily. The temptation to know the true limits of this language was here, but the other book. The Darkness, it held an answer. That's truly what being a scholar is about. The answer and the journey to find it. He reaches out to it instead. The Darkness had the answers he needed for now.



Ceres hears the voice groan. “I could barely do this. You do realize where you are right? This is one of those damnable abominations MIND, er, as close as it has to one. Its trading giving you what you want for its energies feeding off your emotions, in order for it to thus give you the knowledge. An  endless, sick cycle, until you leave. I cannot stay here much longer, make your choice.”


The Figure, tophat gone, shrugs pointing at Gary. “Im not the Devil, im just here to help. No Tricks, no Gimmicks. IF I help you, your anger feeds me. I dont care about your world, either of them. IT is beneath me to even hurt them, or destroy them. What YOU, however, do if I help you, is also not up to me. I will not harm or protect you or your world, merely give you power, and in return I will be more powerful, simple as that. Whether ir damns you or saves you is your own fault.”


as Bayou touches the book, the other sinks into the ground, and burns up.
Looking back to the book, it opens on its own, revealing a mirror.
A voice speaks up. “The darkness, what do you wish to ask about it?”


Gary quirked an eye at the figure, the deal seeming far too good to be true "I want the power to find a way home, and from what I was told by those cultists, even with multiple gods working with them it would take years to find a way back! How could you, some unknown god who hasn't even told me his name, possibly help me with that?!" He huffed out, his face having gone back to a glare.


Ceres considered the options and everything... What she wanted to know... Ceres sucked her teeth and shook her head a bit. "...There's still one person I need to help out." her thoughts went back to Starry and her recently gained affliction of that language thing. "I've a room mate back home that has undergone some changes, and it's affected her speech. I gotta help her out." she smiled at the light orb for all this. "Thank you though, o Harmony for helping me. Hopefully we'll meet in a less... Severe setting than thing, back home... Hopefully not, but, we might." she nodded to... Generally nothing. "Thanks again."


Bayou looks at the mirror. He had so many questions. He wanted to ask so much, and learn all of it. But there was something at stake here. "I need the darkness to show me what to do. There is a great evil that may threaten Outer Hayven. Something concerning twelve swords and the fall of the minotaurs long ago. How do we stop it and save ourselves? What can I do? I know that knowledge is the key to all of this. So I have come here to find it."



Suddenly, Gary sees a smile on the figure, and it points again at him, and he feels his rage, his anger, eating away at his mental walls, at the lies everyone tells themselves.

“But thats not true Gary, you dont care about home, either of them. You just want power, just want to feel it course through your veins. Your right, I could only get you home marginally faster then the others, but thats not my offer, because that is not what you want.  I am Gil'ametch, And you will help me, because it is everything you really want.”


Suddenly, the light cuts out, but thankfully the goop around Ceres had long dissipated. “Staying is as good as siding with those vile creatures. Mark my words, you will pick a side, or it will be picked for you. They are evil creatures, the void, and we have worked for ages untold to be rid of them, and you will not stand in our way.” And with that, the voice is gone, and ceres is back In the wastes, in the storm, but the mirror is gone, two paths of pillars before her.

Both have pictures carved into them, one seems to be of her friends, and possibly a way to help them, the other, the Minotaur, the goop, clearly answers to those.


Bayou looks down, and suddenly the mirror changes to a picture, of him, and eleven more shapes, each holding a sword.
“The swords can harm the evil and seal it away once again. The Goop is a plague, a creation of the underworlds attendants, punishment for steal language from them. Until the races of the world return language, and vow to never use it again, the plague may never truly be stopped. You must find the swords, defeat the knights of the Plague, and then seal it, before it is too powerful, if you do not, more then your town will be lost....: and then the book started melting into black goop, growing, growing in size.
[Gary, d12+End to resist mind walls collapse]
[Bayou, d20 to run unless you wish to do something else?]
Gary,11
Bayou, 18

Gary immediately felt was was happening to his mind "No! I am nobody's pawn! I will have my power but you will not force me!"


Bayou grimaces as he looks at the goop. He learned something. They needed the swords, and the origin of The Goop. What it desired. But the fact that he was meant to be one of the sword wielders was something he'd never expected. He would take more time to reflect, but that would be after getting the hell outta dodge. He turns around and starts at a full gallop, getting the hell outta there as fast as he can manage!


Ceres decided to err on the side of caution a bit more! Even though it may be a futile effort in this chaotic world, she sat down, looking between the two pillars. She took a nice, deep breath, trying to slow down her mind once again, trying to clear all the crap and everything and the recent events from her mind to get a good /feel/ for the land and the paths, if the GM Allows it.



 Gil'ametch Frowns, his mouth disappearing. “You misinterpret Gary, I merely was trying to allow you to destroy the lies you tell yourself.” He shrugs. “but keep going, as we say in the Void, Those who refuse the truth, do not deserve it.”

Suddenly, Gary feels the wind and Energy picking up like mad, and sees the figure look up at the sky. “Potions wearing off, guess your times short.”


As Bayou Gallops out, he sees the wind and energy picking up like mad, and blinks, suddenly on a flat plain, the temple, the stairs, all gone.


As Ceres did and started to feel for the paths, until she felt the wind and energy picking up like mad around her, slowly clouding her physical vision while the energy kinda clouded her mental, however she somehow was able, just for a moment, to feel both paths are probably legit.


Bayou looks around himself, taking in the flat plain. He lets out a heavy sigh and then sits on the ground. He felt exhausted. But he'd gotten what he came here for, and that was the important part. They were all in dire straits now. He had a small regret of not grabbing the book on the First Language. But he would learn more as he moved on. Through practice and patience. Just taking it all at once felt like a cheap win. He looks around before calmly just saying. "So...how do I leave? Do I just sit here?"


Gary glares at the figure. This was his one chance to have the power, even if this supposed god was lying. What did it matter what he said? Gary knew the exact reason for this power. He hung his head. He would not let this opportunity go. "Fine. You have a deal, Gil'ametch." Gary muttered, only barely able to be heard over the hurricane like winds*


Ceres did indeed get battered by some of the wind and energy around her. Once she got outta her state, and sucked her teeth at the wind. 'Rude, to be quite honest...' she thought ti herself. So she took another gamble, and went towards the left path,hoping this gamble would lead her to better understanding her room mate, shit, even speaking her language. Theeeen maybe she could try and find a way out, this was already intense enough for her, and she didn't want to irritate that spirit of harmony anymore afterwards by having this chaotic stain on her pure Pagan soul.


As they ALL go about their business, the wind and energy get so intense they start to hurt, tear at them physically. They all suddenly see off to the side, a portal, bloody like before, set in red obsidian, instinctively knowing it is a way to escape, hell it looks like the thing is sloooooowly coming towards them ,so they probably dont have a choice eventually.


Gil'ametches smiles returns, and floats over to Gary, hand extended. “Your first step toward ultimate power, I wont say itll all be sudden, but you will feel it, in your mind, in your veins, your heart. Your potential, you power, strength, more then you ever could have been. All yours.”


Ceres speed is hindered by the increased wind and energy, but finally she comes to to a stand, a podium, with an orb upon it...but as she gets near, feels immense, pain, and a cut appears on her cheek before she jumps back. However, somehow, she can see it, in the orb, an answer, a step towards helping her friend, knowledge, raw for the taking.

[everyone, d12+End to resist the increased pressure, this ones important]
[gonna wait to see what you do Ceres before giving a roll for the thing, if any]
Bayou, re-roll, 9
Gary, re-roll, 10
Ceres, 10

Everyone feels the energy and Wind literally cutting into them a bit, but they all are able to stand and fight against it and the increased energy assault on their emotions.


Gary stares at the hand extended to him and sighs, slowly taking it and shaking "You say all I want is for ultimate power, but I will return home..."

Bayou grunts in paint at the wind and the assault agaisnt their emotions. But he wasn't going to just lay down. He'd already gotten this far. Literally all that was left was to get out now. He looks over at the portal and dashes towards it against the whipping wind and energy in the air. He had a warning to give to the others.

 Ceres feels a little chugged down from that whole walk thingy regarding the chaotic winds. Somehow she made it through safely to the other side. A bit of travellnig and shaking her head from the reddish dust in her black and white mane, she somehow felt an unexplained jolt of pain on the side of her cheek, making her stop suddenly and take a step back. The Ziggeress sucked her teeth and held a hoof up to her cheek, briefly, then withdrew the hoof to see... Yeap, that's her blood alright. Ceres grunted a bit and continued onward to the podium that the orb was on. A few looks around the room and she went to eyeing up the podium. She clacked her teeth a bit and bit her lip. A few second of hesitation and some thought, "I fucking hope it's worth it, Starry..." she said, tentatively going up to the podium, watching her steps to make sure that there were no false steps or some sort of booby trap nonsense that could impede her. If not, she made an attempt at taking the orb.


Gil'ametch smiles, and squeezes, and suddenly Gary screams in pain, his entire vein network and heart glowing orange, aswell as the orange energy glows from his eyes and mouth, before it all retreats into his heart, and the glow fades.
“ Now run along Gary, to the exist. Rest, the power is there, growing, but dont abuse it til you yourself as capable enough to wield such a gift. Dont destroy yourself over mastering it too quickly, otherwise ill have nothing to watch!” he says, laughing as he dissipates and disappears.


Bayou nearly has to crawl, but get to the portal, disappearing into it.


As Ceres goes for the orb, she feels more small cuts, the area around it like whipping invisible razors!
[Bayou, Gary, d12-1+End for more winds]
[Ceres, d20 to get the orb and get out quickly!]
Bayou, 8
Gary, 7
Ceres, 17

Gary is just left there, his eyes wide and reeling from the pain. He's grasping at his chest. He turns towards the oncoming portal and starts mindlessly walking towards it, his eyes still wide, ignoring the biting winds.


As Bayou and Gary make it out, the both awake with a start, covered in blankets and rags dipped in cool water on their foreheads, on makeshift bed on the carpet. It is night.

Bayou grimaces, feeling all the exhaustion and looking down, see his body is roughed up, covered in little cuts and bruises from the energy and wind.

Gary grimaces even worse, holding up his claw, it was clearly at least cracked, igf not outright broken, on top of his own cuts and bruises from the energy, though he feels...odd too, better then he should, his heart pounding, but in a good way.


Ceres meanwhile, still to the others twitching and turning in her sleep, both in the red world and in real life, is getting covered in small, deep cuts, though she gets out before it too bad.

In the Red wastes, as she gets the orb out, be blinks, the orb gone, but while she doesn't suddenly have a masters understanding of the language her friend is speak9ng, suddenly she feels she...understands the basics, of how its meant to be used, how to tell greetings apart from anger or insults...

The wind and energy however is getting BAD, so bad its hitting hard where she is, but the portal is much closer now.

[ceres, d12-2+END]
Ceres, 6, re-roll failed

Bayou grunts a bit as he looks down over his body. "Yeesh...that was something." He lays his head back, rather relishing the cool water on his forehead. He glances around to see if anyone else is there.

Gary immediately looked down to his claw. It was clearly in a bad way, but he felt... Powerful. He felt /good/ "Wh-what happened... in there?" He tried to clench it, but it didn't want to go all the way. He remembered back to punching the mirror and sighed. He was doing that a lot lately. "Good thing I didn't step off that cliff..."

Bayou turns his head a bit as he hears Gary. He winces. The muscles in his neck were sore. His everything was sore. Muscles he didn't use were sore. "Nngh...cliff? Sounds like a wild ride."

Gary set down his claw, trying not to agitate it and looked at Bayou, nodding "It.. it was quite wild. My eyes aren't red, are they?" He asked, hoping they were back to normal


Timber puts hoof on Bayous chest, giving him a worried smile.
“Glad you came back, did you find what you needed, or what you wanted?” she asks curiously.

Gold was smoking from a pipe as he read fro ma tome, but looks over at Gary as he sits up, nodding. “twas the mind of Hel'in, one o that two twins o knowledge, and wisdom. Shes the knowledge mostly. Right mad, but right useful, if you can survive it all.” He walk over, offering Gary a cup of water, and a respectful nod.

Ceres, meanwhile, crawls her way into the portal, the winds and energy hitting her hard.

As she suddenly jolts awake, he whole body recoils on her, pain shooting through her, as she looks at it. Messy, covered in cuts, some deep, seemingly more bruise then not, everything begging for her to just flop down and not move at all.

Misty jumps a bit, but quickly is at Ceres side, trying her best to keep her from moving as she offers a rag to suck water off of.
“O-o-oh! D-dont m-move t-too m-m-uch! Y-you youve been thr-through a lot!”


Bayou lets out a sigh, smiling at Timber in return. "Yeah...I found something, alright. There was some temptation there, but I got through it. Although I have some worrisome news for you guys." He looks to see if Gary's eyes are red before looking over at Ceres, hearing Misty starting to fuss over her.


Gary takes the cup with a nod of thanks, taking a drink. He sets it beside himself, "Does the name Gil'ametch mean anything to you?" He asks the old man.

Ceres legitimately thinks fug everything else. Pain sucks. But at least it was temporary. Ceres was damn sure she packed the pls-no-pain up before coming! So, whilst probably grunting in a lot of pain, and an out right refusal of the rag, and adrenaline trying to kick in, she reached for her bag in a hurry and yanked out an orange-ish small jar labelled 'pls-no-pain' She stumbled with the jar a few times, but wound up dropping it and watched it roll away. Through as much fucking gall as she could muster, she did a little shuffle towards the jar, finally got a hold of it again and managed to pop the lid off the jar, reaching into it with a hoof and pulling out a nice scoop of the pls-no-pain paste and wasted no time downing it. Now all she could do is wait until it subsides before writing shit down in her journal.


Garys eyes are not red, but at the mention of Gil'aMetch, timbers head whips towards him so hard the pony tail whacks Bayou, and Gold puts a solid hoof on Gary, a serious look on his face.

“Gil'ametch is one of the worse prisoners the Gods keep in the Infinite abyss. If you met part of him, if he said anything, ignore it, forget it. IT will bring nothing but trouble if you dont.”


Misty kinda stammered, not knowing what to do, and not being very outgoing, so just put the rag in a cup and set it next to Ceres bed, flopping her butt down and and watching Ceres do her thing.
“u-uh, is....is th-that stuff....h-healthy?”

Gary's eyes just widened and his breath caught in his throat, a feeling of dread coming over him. He was a damn fool... How? How could he have let himself be tricked so easily?! He started to stew in anger rather quickly. "Then I am damned.." Gary whispered.

Bayou winces as he gets hit with the pony tail, flustering a bit and pushing it away "Gah!" He then hears Gold's warning, looking over to see what the hubbub was in between trying to stretch his muscles a bit to work out the soreness.

"It's... rrgh..." she grunted from the mere action of talking, what with all the cuts on her. "...green, healthy 'nuff..." she forced out. A few seconds into the ride and some of her pain already started to go away. Not all of it, she still felt a good few stings, but at least now it was manageable to the point where she wasn't a bumbling pile of wordless mess. She looked upwards to that same sky Ceres had eyed before going on that trip with her mind becoming less plagued with pain. It probably looked like those badass roaches got to her. Ceres' noggin turned towards Misty poner "'ey..." she said to her, holding a hoof out. "sorry for just out right blowin' ya off..." she said, a bit forced through the pain. Though she did her best to put on a genuine smile for the poner that was trying to help her. "brought it 'pon meself... Now I gotta suffer... Tho' the paste is really helpin'..." Ceres trailed on, feeling a lot less like shit and now to the point where she feels like she's got several annoying paper cuts on her body.



Gold clearly didn't hear the last part, but pats Garys shoulder. “its fine, just forget whatever he told ya, he just likes ta mess with heads, ignore it and itll be fine. Just rest, all three of ya, You look like shit, heh.”

Timber jumps as Bayou reacts, turning back to him. “Oh! Im so sorry!”she says, putting a hoof on his shoulder. Bayou would wince, realizing the pain was a bit more then just soreness, but still nothing that would not heal in time, just...more of it.

Misty nodded, giving a weak smile.

Gold cleared his throat, looking up at the moon.
“Well, glad yer all ok, but you folks need some sleep, we'll drag you inside, or you can just sleep out ere if you prefer, but I reckon id be a bad pastor to let you all go home like this.”


Bayou winces as he feels the pain shudder through him. Okay, so maybe soreness was a little off the mark. The ache in his muscles and deep in his body compounded with the small cuts and bruises along him. He then gives Timber a small nod after wincing from her touch. "It's alright, it's alright." Bayou lets out a small, polite cough before he turns to Gold. "I think I could do with laying out here for a time." He then looks over at Ceres. "I need to tell you someting in particular before I get all settled in, though. We have some new developments in the castle situation."

Gary continued to stew in anger, concentrating it fully on Gil'ametch. As he did, he noticed his veins slightly glowing. It took him a second to notice but the shock at seeing it broke his concentration. It had worked. The pact was made. He was truly damned. "I... I need to get my claw checked out, I busted it pretty good"

Ceres will probably have this paste as her best friend throughout the rest of the night whilst her body heals, but hey, at least she'll have some time to rest and not strain herself to get herself home. So, she slowly got up under her own will and packed up her things. "If ya offerin'... I dun' wanna go far to get home..." though she left her journal and pencil out, just so she could write things and her experience down. "Yeah... Fire 'way..." she mumbled, flipping over to the next blank page to write it. "Found out how we could spare ourselves, at least, though 'may have irritated it what saved me..." she said with a slightly defeated voice.

Bayou groans a bit as he adjusts himself to get an easier view of Ceres before starting up what he'd found out. "Well, from the top, we have confirmation. The Goop is returning, and unless we convince the whole world to give up language, it'll be on it's way. But further from that, apparently the swords are the only things that harm the evil that manifests all of it. We need to get the swords, and defeat the Plague Knights and seal The Goop away before it gets too strong. So far though, all I know is that apparently I'm supposed to be one of the sword wielders. Don't know about the other 11. But at least we know what we gotta start doing if we want to save the town...and by extension, the rest of the world." He lets out a groan at the concept.



Ceres body still shoots with pain, even with the paste. This was clearly not gonna be a one Night heal. Gary also feels it, but suddenly Timber is next to him, hooves gingerly on his claw as she inspects it, before turning to Misty.

“Misty, the Amulet of the last Waters please, the Burn oil bandages, and the needles of Amaur.” She smiles to Gary. “Ill get that patched up,at least enough to heal properly, so you wont have to drag the rest of yourself to the embassy in such a condition.”

Gold sighs, walking over and putting a firm but softly placed hoof on Ceres shoulder, making sure she at least sat down.
“Please, all of you. Dont push yourselves. You can talk in the morning all you want, but its not worth losing a nights sleep over in your conditions.”


Gary nodded "Right, I think that'd be for the best. I need to patch up after... what happened"

Ceres kept on writing things down. "Saw him... Grimmar... Summoning that element'o'harmony... I did it by example over there to protect m'self from the goo..." she mumbled on, wincing a bit from the cuts. Recording must be done first whilst the memories are still fresh and what Bayou said to her. "may be able to do it again... Just, need'a'concentrate..." she said, going back to a lay down position, despite all the cuts 'n shit still proving to be a nuisance. Wich a hoof dangling over her makeshift bed, she idly drew a pentegram into the dirt. "Earrth, wind, fire, water and spirit..." she mumbled with a mix of adrenaline from the pain and the pls-no-pain paste bringing her to a rather odd state. Ceres moved her journal into the middle of that pentegram she drew in the middle of the dirt, wiping off the sage smears from her face, which prolly had bits of blood in it, and taking off her celtic knotted choker, putting it into her bag. "Bed, yes... Got one?" she asked.

Bayou nods a bit and sighs. It was comfy enough here. He was tired. Today was crazy, and he just wanted to sleep. He needed to heal...and dwell on what was going on. But the folks from the castle run need to know about this. He'd tell them when he saw them. His train of thought fell off the rails at this point as he started to conk out.





Gold chuckled. Sides what yer on? God one in tha back.” He sits down next to her, giving a small smile. “Once they finish patchin your Friends claw up, ill get them to help ya onto my back fore I carry you back to it.”

It was Then Misty returned with the things, and Timber quickly gets to work. “This is gonna hurt Gary, but bare with it.”
Placing the amulet around his wrist, she said some gibberish, and already that helped ease the pain.
Then she brought out a fancy box full of small, red needles. With disturbing practice, she sticks them into Garys claw, somehow aiming right for the cracks in the bone, each burning and hurting like hell, but he could HEAR the bones mending from the needles, though the pain was insane.

Pulling them out, she the grabbed the bandages, and wrapped the claw up.

He could feel the odd heat from the bandages start to work once she too back the amulet, though the pain was pretty fucking constant and not fun, he knew it had worked, able to properly move it now.

“There,” Timber smiled. “Not as comfy ill admit as a hospital, but don't abuse it and you should be good in a few days.”


Gary hissed through the whole thing like a snake. Why couldn't he catch a break from all this pain? "Th-thanks! Ahhh god, why is there so much pain lately?! First I die last night and now I go through some hellscape and meet some apparently evil god!" He was udnerstandably angry but it all came out like whining.

"aaahhh some good shit yanno... Never doubt a Herballist~" she chimed in reply to Gold, kinda regretting taking that much pls-no-pain paste, but, hey, not really at the same time. It was worth it. Ceres used her free hoof to feel around for her journal 'n break the pentegram up, put the journal back in her bags. The lean muscled, tall zebra looked about to make sure everything back was in her bags 'n sat back up, wincing appropriately where ever, and was, kinda, standing on all fours, albeit a bit woozy from the amount of pls-no-pain paste she took, 'n, eventually guided in an NPC style to which ever bed, but she found herself on the ground again a bit later, this time sleeping on top of a pentegram of hers, just for safe measure in case any bad shit came back with her from that realm and tried to fuck with her.


As Gold and Misty Helped Ceres to bed, Timber tucked in Beyou, turning to Gary.
“We have another bed inside, otherwise you need anything else? Its been a long night for everyone.”


Gary nodded weekly "I'll take you up on the bed offer. I don't want to risk it."

Nodding, he helped Gary into the very back, where In a little corner cut off from the rest of the tent was a bed, and a little dresser, all of it very gothic.
“You snoop in my stuff and ill hurt you.” she say, helping him plop down on the bed.

Ceres room was in the other corner of the tent, but looked much more like a guest room then someones home.

Gary looked at her with weary eyes, chuckling weakly "Don't worry, I won't" He snuggled into the bed, his weariness catching up to him. He was out almost immediately.