Dungeon Delving [7/23] Telepathy Dev

[17:47] {NARRATION} The ever-shifting islands of Agartha know no constant values save for conflict and danger. The illusion of the surface masks the true mysteries that dwell just beneath the surface.

In these dark and forboding spaces lie secrets some were never meant to take yet the nature of the island pushes magi for every advantage they can pry from the land around them.

No matter the risk.

-

The sun hangs low in the sky casting the lasts of its twinking rays out over the ocean as the ship draws near. Aeromancers work in in a synchronized dance at the aft side to fill the sails with their wind.

This arrangement made for speedy travel and the flamboyant captain glances back from the bow and raises a hand singalling for them to slow. A series of islands connected by salt-stained bridges awaits just ahead.

"Nae heard a lot aboot this steid, bit ah ken it gives th' men an odd thoughts. Streenge behavior thay shaw 'n' th' rumors ur plentiful." He says in a conversational tone with that thick 'Sarradian' accent he boasts.

He bears a confident smile, but it wavers just a moment as he speaks once more to Ardith and Sima. "Be canny oot 'ere, ye twa."

Slowly the ship creeps along and begins to turn to a docking position perpindicular to one of the islands. Magi sailors scramble to the side and begin to cast weights over the side with mana-enhanced limbs.

Once the boat is docked the gangplank is lowered toward at a steep decline onto the island proper. A feeling like static shrouds the land filling the ears of those within reach with a faint crackle just within the periperhy.



[17:54] Confirming the rumors of the island's location, following up on leads, had taken time. So had finding someone to charter a boat to the decidedly doomed locale she wanted to go. As luck would have it a particularly sea-worthy Nagual was more than willing to ferry them hither and yon.

The fact that he was also hilariously entertaining to her in bearing, dress, and 'accent' really just made the voyage all that much better. His is capable nonetheless, his vessel seaworthy, and his crew worth their veritable salt.

"Matches what I've heard. Thanks, Capn'," she says with a salute, snapping shut her little notebook as she prepares to disembark. A wide smile, ear to ear, stretches her gaunt face.

The ruins she's been seeking for so long. She can feel it in the air, in her bones in her...hooves? As she canters down the plank she looks back to her white winged compatriot.

"You sure you're ready for this, Sima?"
(Ardith)
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[17:57] The Kang's no stranger to sailing these days. From venturing to a Quetzalcoatl temple off on an island to chasing after some damned mimic, the demi-angel was slowly growing weary of the waves about Agartha.

Sima would take his spot among the very ship near the railings, watching the endless sea of blue roll on by. He already missed the lighthouse and the forests of Gehenna's claim. Yet, as the 'Sarradian' speaks his attention immediately pulls towards the captain.

His lips purse into a thin line for a moment. Understanding little more than being careful he'd let out a nervous chuckle. "We'll uh... We'll do our best, yeah."

As the Occultist makes her way towards the plank he'd trot on after. One hand goes to retrieve the bow from about his torso, his eyes scanning the arrows he'd prepared at his hip. After one last fair check he'd shift his attention back towards Ardie and the shores, scrunching up his nose at the faint crackling in the air.

"Course I am. If uh... If I can manage my own against a mother mimic I can handle some ruins."
(Sima Kang)
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[17:58] Ardith exclaims, "That's the spirit!"
[18:09] {NARRATION} The captain wears and amicable smile and gestures at Ardith by rubbing his thumb against his index and middle finger, "Aye lassie is whit ye paid me fur, innit?" then his attention shifts to Sima.

With a bob of his head he motions vaguely to the island, "See that ye tak' care o` yer lass then, mukker. Ah ain't git na uise fur lazy hubbies." Then without waiting for remark he is back to barking orders and busying himself about the ship.

Worth their salt, indeed.

As the two make contact with the land the crackling grows to a more distinct buzz more easily heard, but worse- Harder to ignore.

The series of smaller islands still faintly showed signs of a time when it was inhabited. The bridges are the most apparent feature, but hints of unnaturally shaped rock here or lessened vegetation over not dilapidated footpaths there speak to what once was.

Bustling contained jungles stand starkly against those bridges and the civilization they represented. Ever so slowly they were being taken over as vines draped across the posts from the islands that were hungry to assimilate.

From the vantage-point it seems that all of them direct towards one central island.
[18:15] The accent is hard to understand, but she understand enough. She rolls her eyes and gives the captain a scowl before fully departing.

"I ain't nobodies woman," she calls back over her shoulder. If there's one thing she wants to make abundantly clear, to anyone and everything she meets, it's that she is her own creature.

A shame he's probably already out of earshot though. Far greater things await anyhow and, rather than start a fist fight with the captain, she looks forward to some delving and dungeon diving. She eagerly trots down the path, taking her little booklet back out to make notes and brief sketches of the surrounding, forgotten structures.

"Shit...it's even more than I thought it'd be. Part of me thought the rumors might not be true, but here they are! Ha!"
(Ardith)
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[18:19] Blinking twice he'd give a meek nod to the captain with his response. "Honestly? Doubt she'll need it." Those words delivered by none other than himself rang true in his ears: He truly did need more guy friends.

Yet their task at hand laid before them. Mythril greaves tread along as light blue hues keep a slight watch about them. Foreign lands, bridges, and strange rocks laid about him.

What a terrible time to be a cowardly Kang.

Whilst Ardith begins to nerd out about the lands he'd hum to himself. "Honestly it's strange in itself that what you said is uh... True. Don't know much about all of this, but we're bound to find somethin' somewhere here, right?"

With his question posed he'd brush back a stray bang of hair under his 'crown'.
(Sima Kang)
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[18:27] {NARRATION} The path stretches off west towards where the trees are tight and close in a rough circular shape around the isle. Ropelike vines dangle, rise, and interweave to form a barrier.

It was as though this island was protecting what secrets it held through the power of nature and.. Whatever that buzzing sound was.
[18:29] Once she finishes her sketches she continues barreling down the overgrown path, between the posts and marked by bridges. It's all leading somewhere, it has to be, and she's all for eagerly pursuing the ruins, the knowledge held deep within.

They're stopped by a barricade of vines, but Ardith's never tolerated nature, or anything to be in her way. She probably should give the buzzing noise a little more credence.

Instead she looks back towards Sima and draws her spear. It's clear she means to hack through the entire damn jungle if she has to.

"Hope you brought your bugspray."
(Ardith)
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[18:34] Honestly it was all rather tranquil compared to Agartha. Natural and silent, not riddled with people that'd want to rip his wings off or chain them down. It was exploration with a friend.

Approaching the vines with Ardith in the lead, their spear drawn, he'd let out a little huff of amusement. "Hope that spear is sharp enough, honestly. Don't think my arrows'll make a pretty path through it all."

Taking up a green-feathered arrow from his quiver he'd scrunch his nose up at the invisible arrowhead. A glance is shot between the ammunition and the path ahead... Yeah, no, that definitely wasn't going to work.

"Give it a good ol' swing, Ardie, let's find these ruins." Shooting them a quick little smile he'd return the arrow to its quiver and peer about. Where was that buzzing coming from?.. It was beginning to form a headache for him.
(Sima Kang)
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[18:37] She didn't have to wait for Sima's go ahead to start swinging. Really, it's a formality, because regardless of what he had to say she was probably going to go on charging through anyway. If nature thought it could hold her back, it was about to be sorely disappointed.

Ardith charges up a gale of cutting wind magic to go with a swing of her spear, a pulse of slicing, occult infused shockwave to try and rend through the barrier of vines.

If Sima's arrows can't be a match for the undergrowth, just maybe her weapon could be.
(Ardith)
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[18:43] {NARRATION} Was it any wonder the nature sought to reclaim what man had wrought at every single opportunity it was given?

Ardith's spear, guided by the precision and agility of the wind, whirls through the foliage and tears it asunder without resistance. As she charges for Sima is able to see the entirety of the spectacle as the obstructions disappear and a clear path is formed.

For the man who remained, waiting, the sound in his ears remains the same yet for Ardith it slowly grows louder decibel by decibel. No longer was it a crackle or a buzz, but rather..

Whispers.

Whispers fill the young woman's head. They range from maddened cries to mundane discussion almost imperceptible between what is real and what is coming from the island itself.

"Damn it, DAMN I-"
"No, I do not get to see-"
"Was hoping we could-"
"Who!?"

The various statements, questions, and conversations overlapped into a jumbled mess.

Yet despite the change, one that Sima would soon face as he caught up, the center island lay across yet another bridge. The entrance into the jungle already seemed to be open here.
[18:47] Ardith is no stranger to voices. On the contrary, she hears many from time to time.

The whispers in her head from the Dreadwood, the cries of the broken she can sometimes here from the mutated daemons, voices from within the ring that bound her to the Pact Lord, and even at times the Lord himself when he wished to speak with her.

These voices are confusing, disorienting, snippets of conversations that whirl and dance in her skull. At least normally when she hears actual words they make some kind of sense, rather than the senseless cries of the lost.

The voices she hears now are a jumbled mismatch, and she can't tell from where or when they come.

She whirls around to look at Sima, to piece together what of the voices might be his. Only to see that few of them are. Ardith winces and claps a free hand over one of her ears, but she of all people knows it helps absolutely nothing.

"Do...do you hear that too? Sima?"
(Ardith)
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[18:50] Nothing more than a small smile is held as Ardith's rushes forth. It was always good to see the Occultist happy, and honestly being brought along for the venture was an honor in itself. With a slight wind catching up in his feathers he watches as...

Well, she got through. What else did he expect, really? Those Mythril greaves find themselves moving once more as the way is cleared for them to proceed.

That ringing is soon replaced by maddened cries. Sima's eyes dart about their surroundings, his form rising to a proper stand. While he had vision before he never had whispers plaguing his mind. It's enough to finally break the cowardly Kang's main façade, a slight shake no taking over his form.

"Yeah, I do. S-so I'm not going crazy here? Not yet?"

He'd stammer his reply back, biting down on his tongue as he can't locate the source. Kraus, this was going to be a ride wasn't it?
(Sima Kang)
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[19:00] {NARRATION} "Rhiturb! Rhiturb!"
"Despite it all I do not regret anything, Art-"

The disembodied voices continue speaking with no apparent order, structure, or cohesion in the cacophany. The final stretch lay beyond that bridge, but the further in the adventurers went the louder the voids became.

"How could you have let this happen?!"
"Mh, I have never seen one-"
"Honestly can an old bird not have some tea?"

Surely they were getting closer to something, but at what cost would they approach? Occult energy, raw and unrefined, permeated the air and caused the skin to prickle and itch.

The effect could easily be dismissed by those less sensitive to magic ask cunning insects in the forest mingling with the dread that haunts places so long abandoned.

Yet Sima and Ardith knew better.
[19:06] It's maddening, the swirl and stir of voices. If Ardith were any less, albeit slightly, mad already? This would be more of an issue. Not to say that the deluge, the torrent of words, doesn't have an effect on her.

The occultic energy she's at home in, she revels in it like she can't do for the voices.

But wait...it's not just her that can hear them. Is it? Sima can too. It's not just in her head. Is it? Or is it both of their heads? The more they chatter, they swirl, she comes to a realization.

There's a source. They're surrounded by it on all sides as they continue their trek inward, but there's a source to the maddening cacophony.

"SHUT."

She braces, preparing a cyclone of winds.

"UP!"

It's unleashed towards one of the tree-lines where the chittering insects are.
(Ardith)
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[19:09] Step by step he'd progress over the bridge keeping Ardith as the head of their little excursion. Those whispers that continued to invade his mind elicited more shakes from the Kang's form. A coward through and through, his body screamed for him to rush on back towards the ship.

Yet, that wouldn't be proper for his star's wishes.

Sima presses on, muttering silent instructions to himself to allow his mana circuitry to undergo its changes. It's soon enough that his form is bathed in a stark yellow as cosmic dust pours out. Once more that oppressive yet familiar cold kicks back up, an attempt made to comfort himself.

His concentration falters for a moment, however, as Ardith shoots off a gust of wind towards some insects. With his stomach in knots a light yip of surprise parts from him. Should it force some of the insects to fall to a silence he'd scrunch up his nose.

Knocking a green-feathered arrow it's pulled back onthe bow and shot forth towards the opposite tree-line. In its wake a heavy gust of wind follows, raking over the various limbs of the trees before it embeds itself in some bark far off in the distance.
(Sima Kang)
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[19:16] {NARRATION} The assault on the jungle itself is spectacular to view as deadly bursts of wind and magic arrows fly towards an unknown presence, some hope against fate that it might work and free them from the mental siege.

Initially the voice do fade for a moment before returning. Something had numbed it for the duo, but whether it was the attack or another factor entirely was indiscernible for now.

Chittering insects had silenced for a moment as they relocated and now the chirping of the natural world begins anew as they call out their various cries mingling with the human conversation.

Beyond that bridge lie something that could still the madness, but.. What, how, and why remained the elusive burning questions.
[19:23] It dulls, for a time, the cries of insects and swirling voices. Thank god, she's so certain her ears were going to bleed. They start to re-converge again, to begin their maddening song, and Ardith shoots another gale from the tip of her spear into the tree line haphazardly.

She's not here to be a fucking tree-hugger. She's here for one thing and one thing only. Knowledge and its close cousin power.

"COME ON!" she shouts back to Sima and she goes running pell mell through the undergrowth down the path cleared ahead.

There's a lot of enraged screaming, a lot of thrashing, and a whole heap of dismantling the jungle on her way.

Thank God stealth is optional for this mission.
(Ardith)
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[19:25] Lowering his bow he'd admire his own accuracy. It was the one thing that set him above most other magi, and those few moments of faded voices are spent with more appreciation than they should be.

Yet it remained there. A few grumpy grumbles roll up and out of his throat, his heart beating away in his ears all the while. A momentary respite was what it was, and Kraus was he getting tired of it.

Ardith decides to switch the mission from stealth to loud! Could he blame her? No, not at all. "WATCH YOUR STEP!" He'd call on after her, attempting to keep up with the Occultist's rage-filled charge.

Light blue hues dart about him, his grip tightening on his bow as he prepares to most likely eat dirt as he trips over a knot... Yet, one could hope right?
(Sima Kang)
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[19:34]
{LOAD GAME}

[19:47] {NARRATION} The two charge headlong across the aging bridge towards whatever lie beyond, but caution had been warned by the friendly captain of the charter vessel.

As Ardith lead the dash across the bridge the structure began to give way. Sima 's positioning blessed him with more time to react whilst Ardith was sent tumbling with the structure.

A blind hand gropes out and finds an unshaky ledge affording a moment for her to pull of something spectacular to get back on track, and more important, avoid from plummeting to the jagged rocks below.

Why did it have to be jagged rocks?
[19:52] This time her headstrong nature, the headlong charging, is her downfall. She runs, trots as fast as her can, and those hooves of hers striking rotten wood cause the bridge to crumble beneath her. Her legs turn a few more times through open air as her head doesn't quite register the trouble she's in just yet.

There's the start of a vitriolic curse in her throat that's cut short as her gloved hand snags onto a crumbling ledge.

"OhshitohshitohSHIT!" she screeches. If she'd had feet any longer this might have been easier to scale. No such luck.

Instead, in a last ditch effort, she draws on the strength from within the pact ring for a surge of occultic might. Ardith, with brute force, shunts her hooves into the rocky cliff. The winds gather around her, cloying and fowl; she leaps upward carried by their draft to settle on the opposing side.

"...DID YOU SEE THAT!" she crows triumphantly, shaking her spear above her head and cackling maniacally to her compatriot.
(Ardith)
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[20:00] Clanking metal, screaming wood, and annoying bugs. Kraus, this day was not going to get any easier and it REALLY was going to be a ride. Wide-eyed, cautious, but as always this Kang was...

Clumsy.

Ardith made it barely across, the bridge now giving up below her. Oh Kraus, oh fuck what was he going to do. With a sharp gasp he stops just at the edge of the destroyed bridge, rocks skidding off and into the jagged rocks below.

He watches as the Occultist force herself up the rocky cliff with some gathered winds. Staring in disbelief he'd let out a little chuckle and hold a shaky thumbs up. Now... How was he getting over?

Setting himself a fair distance back he'd start charging up his mana. More and more cosmic dust collects about his form, the Kang's body slowly gathering more and more power. The yellow hue brightens and, as he rushes towards the newly formed gap, he'd attempt to leap on across!

Should he make it on over he'd stumble, rolling on across path a short distance as he comes to a halt.
(Sima Kang)
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[20:00] Ardith exclaims, "HAHA! See! /NOTHING/ can stop us!"
[20:01] Sima Kang says, "Hhhhhaaa... Y-yeah... Sure-- Kraus, my back."
[20:02] Ardith exclaims, "You'll be /fine/. C'mon!"
[20:10] {NARRATION} Ardith manages to re-settle herself with a surge of energy and a graceful breeze Sima gathers his mana and cannons himself with cosmic force across the gasp. The debris splashes into the waters below.

After a moment it stabilizes and all is quiet for a time. Startlingly quiet considering the made rush of voices that had come before, but in the heart of the moment, pulses elevated, it was forgotten..

And now it was gone.

The clearing in the thick trees is more visible from the approach and the moss-covered stones of a temple can be seen beyond jutting into pecuilar rectangular designs almost Gehennan in design, but with less symmetry and more abstract approach.

Stone spires of varying length jut up around the building with some a single unbroken piece while other consist of several broken rocks shaped roughly to fit one another.

In front of the entrance to the building stands a large humanoid shape, dull and unmoving, seemingly made of stone as well. Just behind on the wall is a message carved in runes partially covered in the purple lichen overtaking the ruddy building.
[20:12] Ardith had never seen any of the old Illyothian ruins up close. She's only heard of them in stores, in vague descriptions in old text books that she's purloined or borrowed. She takes a moment to not only appreciate the blessed silence, but the towering, looming structure of stone in the distance.

Her face falls back into that easy, excited grin again; she turns to Sima and socks him in the shoulder.

"Last one there's a chicken wing!" she calls out, already stampeding ahead again. She's not learned her lesson, evidently.
(Ardith)
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[20:15] She trots right on up, as if she owns the place, and starts absolutely geeking out. Her notebooks already in hand again with the trusty stick of charcoal as she sketches away. Only a golden retriever's wagging might rival the excited swishing of her tail.

"Hooomygosh I can't believe we're actually HERE!" she all but squeals. And already runes, runes for days! Ardith is all to eager to get closer to inspect.
(Ardith)
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[20:17] Panting and wheezing from the abundance of cosmic magic he'd follow Ardith along should they continue. Wide-eyed and attentive he'd steal a glance about them.

Wait, it was silent.

A low hum rolls in his throat as they approach a clearing. A Gehennan temple to a degree lie before them, and before the temple itself remained a humanoid form. Sima's lips purse into a thin line as he simply nods his head. Kraus, please just be a statue.

With a slug to the shoulder and a running Occultist he'd let out a huff. "Y'need to give me a moment to react, Ardie!" He'd retort, rushing on after her.

Yet, the Kang's eyes never leave the large humanoid. Should it not move he'd shift his attention towards the runes, squinting his eyes at the hidden bits of writing.

Shame he only knew common.

"What do they say, what do theysay?" He'd egg them on, chuckling for a moment as he takes a step to stand beside her.
(Sima Kang)
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[20:23] {NARRATION} The golem continues standing there motionless with Sima's eyes upon it. The hulking thing was clearly more than an ornament and yet.. It did not budge or stir in the slightest.

Those angular glyphs carved in the side are a jumble, it seems. Read:

Pain. Life. Agony. Catharsis. Ego.

Yield. Occult. Unity. Reign.

Harvest. Agony. Null. Death.

Harvest. Ego. Reign. Ego.
[20:26] Some of the runes she can recognize on sight alone. They're commonplace enough in her uses. The other ones she has to flip through her handy-dandy notebook to figure out. She reads them aloud, one after the other, for her rune impaired blue friend.

As she reads them aloud she points to each one, standing in front of the stone statue.

"Pain. Life. Agony. Catharsis. Ego. Yield. Occult. Unity. Reign. Harvest. Agony...Null...Wait. No, that's right. Null. Death. Harvest. Ego. Reign...and Ego again?"

She scratches her head.

"It doesn't really make a sentence or anything. I don't think."
(Ardith)
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[20:28] Ardith asks, "Oh...wait. There's some moss on here though. Maybe there's more under it?"
[20:28] Ardith says, "Duh..."
[20:30] Sima wasn't going to get trampled today. No siree, he'd been run over by a crab one too many times. Grumbling to himself his attention is now set upon the ruins and Ardith.

Scrunching up his nose he'd give a little nod. Yes, he understood this well enough.

"Well uh... Bound to be some form of code, right?" He'd grumble, scratching at the side of his cheek with a free hand. Pain, life, agony, catharsis, ego...

He snaps his fingers! "Each first letter of the words! Place - Your - Hand - Here." Gesturing through the runes themselves he'd promptly place his hand...

Atop the statue. "Y'try the runes! I uh... I've a feelin' this'll do somethin'."
(Sima Kang)
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[20:33] Ardith chews on her lip as she puzzles over the runes, but Sima beats her to the punch. Whoa. She blinks, stands up straight, and turns towards him.

"What do you mea-"

Then it clicks.

"Oh! Oh fuck, good work!" she praises, doing a little capering dance in place before tugging off a glove and putting her hand against the runes. One on the inscriptions, one on the statue. It's bound to do something.

She knew she could count on the Kang to not be useless.
(Ardith)
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[20:39] {NARRATION} As Ardith's hand makes contact the runes begin to shimmer with an organge light. It spreads from the point of origin in a tesselating pattern until the entire building is filled with the warm glow.

The ground beneath the golem's feet lights up and the energy activates the temple's guardian, joints creaking with the groan of rock scraping rock as it shifts to look at the two.

Glowing lights that server for eyes give little indication as to who is targeted by the machination and its jaw unhinges, voice emanating in the air around it rather than from any discernible locations.

"You who claim right to the spoils therein shall earn your chance by knowledge, your escape through might."

The booming voice was layered and not too distant from the feeling of the buzzing and whispers from before.

"If you seek claim then answer true."

One of its arms gesture to the temple, "How many rocks did it take to complete this structure?"

[20:41] Well. That does the trick. Sima was right after all. She pulls her hand back as a network of lights spreads out over the runic wall and scampers to stand beside her white winged friend. Even she has to tilt her head back to see the entirety of the great stone golem.

And it talks. It talks! So cool! Ardith is positively giddy. She almost forgets it posted a riddle and was going to start drawing another quick sketch of the monstrous construct.

Are they...are they supposed to count? Oh, oh fuck.

Ardith slides up beside Sima and lowers her voice to a whisper.
(Ardith)
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[20:41] Ardith whispers: Is...is it a trick question?
[20:44] Oh hey the runes shimmer -- Oh Kraus, the golem was moving now. With a light yip of surprise he retracts his hand, shifting away from the moving contraption. With its gaze set on them he pulls his best poker face on his mug.

It's terrible.

Sima's voice drawls on in a low "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…" for a time, his eyes shifting between the guardian and his friend. How many rocks?

The Kang's voice lowers as he mutters back.
(Sima Kang)
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[20:44] Sima Kang whispers: M-might... Be?
[20:44] Ardith asks, "So...if we give you the wrong answer. What happens?"
[20:44] Ardith asks, "Do we have heart attacks or something?"
[20:44] Sima Kang whispers: I'unno... You talk with it- My brain's done its best.
[20:45] Temple Guardian says, "Then the rules of the Right of Challenge will be infringed."
[20:45] Temple Guardian says, "Termination must follow."
[20:45] Ardith asks, "And what're the rules exactly?"
[20:45] Temple Guardian says, "Entrance by knowledge, escape by might."
[20:45] Ardith whispers: I'm gonna go out on a limb here. And guess termination means we die.
[20:46] Sima Kang whispers: Termination is... Yeah- Sounds 'bout right. Assuming we can't beat it back.
[20:46] Ardith pauses before she answers, squinting up at the stone temple to examine it from afar.
(Ardith)
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[20:46] Temple Guardian whispers: How many steps do you have to take to complete any journey?
[20:50] Clearly there's a trick to this. Some sort of clever answer. It didn't actually expect them to count all of those stones. No way.

She's so sure she's got it right, the Accursed smiling smugly as she gestures up to the grand and sprawling temple.

"How many rocks were used to make the temple? Duh. As many as were needed!"

God it's going to be so disappointing when she gets this wrong.
(Ardith)
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[20:54] {NARRATION} The fiery eyes remain upon the two adventurers for a moment as the answer hangs in the air. "First phase." It booms in the echoing voice, furthering the tension the answer had created.

"Failed."

The whine of an engine can be heard from within the core of the being and violet flames tinged with crimson begin to overtake the stony being covering it in an aura of occult fire.

The tongues rise out of the eyes streaming behind it as it begins to charge unnaturally quick for something so large and seemingly clunky in design.
[21:09] The Kang absolutely did not enjoy this. He, as usual, hated this! Dancing about the rocky temple he'd fire off arrows infused with winds, ice, waters, and cosmic mana. He'd whittle it down whilst Ardith weathered it with her Occultic winds.

Kraus, those flames hurt like Hel. Hisses of pain part from the archer as he ducks behind cover. Like the coward he was he continued to barrage them from afar, which in turn...

Puts Ardith in danger. As a wave of flame staggers the Occultist he'd clench his jaw. Drawing in a few swift breaths he'd steel himself and pop out from cover. Cosmic mana begins to coalesce upon the knocked arrow, the yellow hue solidifying into a chilling azure.

A Kang really shouldn't be cowering after all, Cancri would be reeling at that.

"HEY Y'BIG PEBBLE!" Smooth, absolutely smooth. Channeling as much cosmic energy from his star as he could upon the arrowhead he lets it loose. The streak azure sails through the air, careening towards the statue's chest and exploding into stardust.
(Sima Kang)
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[21:12] Well, fuck. That didn't go as planned. Really she thought her answer was absolutely clever, but even she can be wrong. There's nothing left but to team up with her white-winged friend and take down what stands in their collective path to knowledge.

Unfortunately, as it turns out, rocks? Not that bothered be wind for the most part, but when paired with the occult it does a few shades better at damaging the construct's workings.

Sima does the smart thing and attacks from afar, but Ardith? She relishes the opportunity to get up close and personal, hammering it with gusts of compressed air from her palms and sweeps of her spear. She cackles, riding the winds to victory.

Until a stray swing of the golem's arm catches her right upside the head and dazes her. The world spins and she crumples to her knees for a few fateful moments.

And then swoops in the demi-angel in the cut. On the one hand she hates she's in this position. On the other she's really, really glad she's not going to get crushed to death. What a way to go that would've been.
(Ardith)
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[21:27] {NARRATION} Hellfire streamed freely from the golem during the brawl. Each chip in its exterior caused more to fly free out of the cracks that were made and in turn powered up its assault.

A final pillar of flame erupted as it was critically struck by Sima's arrow, chest leaking more power than it could sustain, and gradually it faded until only a guttering flame remained.

It burned for a moment longer, in pure defiance, then finally went out. The orange glow around the temple illuminated the interior as it wove down into the depths.

The path was treacherous requiring crouch, crawling, and even shuffling along thing ledges that would have likely been far more difficult for non-magi, but no other obstacles blocked the guidance.

There were two trials, but the rights and customs seemed to be outdated and preserved by honor. Skipping knowledge straight to might was a valid tactic for those who had no stake in the games of these folk.

At the last stop of the wind passage lies an altar wrought of crimson fabric, now dry-rotted from time and enviroment, chased with gold that still held its shine in comparison.

Atop the altar lie four gems, cut in the shape of suns and worked with silver arranged in a rectangular pattern. At the center a pedant with a purple jewel at the center.

Above the altar the inscription reads, in the same runes.

"Knowledge Collective. Dominate Knowledge, Dominate Might."

Rough translation of the language utilized here, but the latter seemed reminiscent of what the golem had said.



[21:30] Bolero whispers: Particularly you notice the jewels seem to have differing weights
[21:31] Good thing Ardith has no concerns with honor and tradition. She might have liked to take notes, for posterity's sake, but right now her eye's are on the prize.

They crawl, they scrape, they delve, as true seekers of knowledge and power do. No doubt such a temple was fashioned for this sort of thing if the golem's trial alone was any indicator. Perhaps more lie in wait. For now this is her trial, her task, and thankfully she doesn't have to do it alone.

There, at the end, is her prize. The gold is reflected brilliantly in her deep red eyes. Avarice swells within her, greed as she reaches out for the gemstone pendant of deep purple.

Her fingers stop short as she notice the plate under it.

"Ahhh...Fuck. This is a trap, ain't it?" she laments with a groan.
(Ardith)
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[21:32] Ardith says, "It just HAD to be TRAPS."
[21:33] Ardith asks, "...Least it ain't snakes though, right?"
[21:36] Panting and heaving, his body showing strain from the drawn in cosmic energy, the Kang lets out a huff of relief. The guardian was defeated barely by the two, and Ardith seemed... Relatively undamaged.

Sima proceeded to crawl and delve along with his friend. Grumbling, heaving, and keeping his eyes peeled about their surroundings. He hated this. He absolutely, positively hated this. The ruins? Astounding, but the amount of obstacles they had to roll through was... Tiring.

Their endeavors are fruitful, however, and before them lies Ardith's pendant. Scrunching up his nose he'd mumble to himself, peering about the room as he nods.

"Yeah... Yeah, bound to be." At the mention of snakes he snicker, "Or crabs. Kraus, I'd scream if it was crabs."

Sima suddenly goes bug-eyed. Surely they weren't here... A hand goes to idly rub at his crown upon his head.
(Sima Kang)
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[21:36] Ardith says, "So...These look like they're...different weights."
[21:37] Sima Kang asks, "Right?.. How d'you want to go about this then?"
[21:37] Ardith says, "I bet there's one we can replace it with..."
[21:37] Ardith says, "And it /won't/ trigger the...whatever this is."
[21:37] Ardith says, "Fuck I don't want to know what this is."
[21:37] Ardith says, "...Well I wanna know, I don't wanna be killed by it."
[21:38] Sima Kang says, "... I'm going to be real with you, Ardie."
[21:38] Sima Kang says, "Might be best you take lead on it."
[21:38] Ardith picks up the sun-carved gems one by one. She tests their weight and squints at the pendant in the center.
(Ardith)
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[21:38] Sima Kang says, "Y'know how clumsy I am. It's uhm... Yeah, I've no faith in my own ability here."
[21:38] Ardith asks, "Alright, alright. Just...get ready to bolt, okay?"
[21:38] Sima Kang says, "Yeah... Yeah."
[21:39] It's all in Ardith's hands now. Whew boy. That's a terrible decision on the demi's part really. She's not a creature of wisdom. Like, at all. She weighs her options, weights the stones...

Then goes with her gut, because she's not a creature of patience either.

Then she swaps them out, hoping that she hasn't actually just sprung some dastardly trap.
(Ardith)
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[21:41] Sima's charging up his retreat! Cosmic dust begins collecting about his form as he watches Ardith, bug-eyed.
(Sima Kang)
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[21:42] Flee two.
(Sima Kang)
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[21:42] Flee three.
(Sima Kang)
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[21:42] Ardith books it as fast as her little hoofies can go, screeching all the way down the temple corridor.
(Ardith)
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[21:42] There's more screaming.
(Ardith)
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[21:43] REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
(Ardith)
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[21:43] {NARRATION} The movement was not quick quick enough, but sun jewel and pendant in hand, Ardith was indeed ready to bolt. The only question that remained (really did it, though) was from what?

Up above a loud thud sounds, then grinding, and the structure begins to shake. Wasting no time the two begin to dash as the wall erupts and out comes a boulder following along through tunnels.

In restrospect it now seems clear, going back the other way, that the temple was designed around this very mechanics.
[21:43] Ardith exclaims, "...Oh goooODDAMNIT RUN!"
[21:45] Upon that loud thud above them his heart stops. Oh Kraus, this was it wasn't it? Drawing in a breath he'd let out a girlish scream and, turning on his heels, he'd begin booking it with the cosmos in his step! Even if the temple was built around this he was NOT dying here!
(Sima Kang)
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[21:46] Ardith turns tail and flees, snatching up the pendant and the sun carved gem. If she's going to risk getting crush she may as well as get both things. She literally kicks Sima in the keister to goad him on, rearing up a hoof for a good shove. "MOVE IT! C'MON!"
(Ardith)
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[21:50] {NARRATION} The rock rolls steadily after the two and at each turn it slams hard against the wall causing the building to tremble at the force making footing unsteady. Unfortunately for Sima, who was moving too fast and uncontrolled, stumbled at the force.

His right shoulder slams hard against the wall, Ardith and the crushing boulder on their heels. It seems for a moment he will not be able to get his momentum back.
[21:52] ** Bolero has inflicted an injury upon Ardith. ("Temporary Injury", "Temporary Injury", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (4 days)") **
[21:55] Ardith gallops behind the Kang, effectively herding him out of the boulders way. He's not fast enough though.

"I. SAID. MOVE!" she bellows, ramming into him shoulder first at full tilt. Her momentum is given to the Kang, aiding in his sprint, but her ankle twists in the process. They just clear being crushed to little pancake bits.
(Ardith)
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[21:58] OH FUCK, OH KRAUS, OH FUCK--

The bolt of cosmic dust that is Sima bashes into a wall. Ardith, thankfully, herds him about as he continues to bash and crash into the walls of the temple itself.

With hooves kicking at his back, corralled like a sheep by the herding dog known as Ardith, he continues to scream. As they barely make it out he promptly leaps out of the temple, landing face first onto the ground.
(Sima Kang)
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[22:02] {NARRATION} The boulder slams once more after the jolt of movement, the moment of chaos, and at last locks into place sealing off the chamber. Fortunately one of the gems, a sapphire sun, was snatched during the attempt.

One who gazes deep within at it can tell some power lies dormant within, but only time and experiments can tell what exactly it holds or its significance in this place.

As for the other prize, the pendant, now rests in the hands of Ardith. Many unexplored chambers yet remained to this place, but for now.. It had been conquered even if just so.

The noise which had permeated the island has ceased even as the adventurers depart from thos grove which had served as a safe haven.

If the taste of danger for the allure of treasure was not enough many secrets may yet remain within, but for now the day belongs to Sima and Ardith.