Completed [Seasonal Quest] Upon a Star (Open)

[Alric Wilmot]

Alric blinked stupidly as he observed the ghostly menace attack the strange little girl. He had little time to react, as it seemed several things happened at once. Eridanus, seemed to disappear at almost the exact same moment that Menna threw a dagger at. Alric's eyes widened as he realized he had ran directly behind the dagger. What kind of magic was that? Eridanus shouted for Antar's help as he narrowly escaped a counter attack by the 'unfriend' as Menna called it. Alric flinched at the sudden sounds. Suddenly, that stew he had eaten became very heavy in his stomach. He did not want to go through another fight like he had with the golems. He didn't think he could. Yet, Antar seemed resigned to repeat the performance, and once more set forth to do combat. Alric drifted to the front of the group, not quite understanding why. However, he felt like another fight might cost them time. And time, today, meant lives. Alric had never before realized the importance of life. Teacups broke, clothes unravel, dogs starve, people were murdered. That was life. But... today was too much. His mask was taken from him for Ionu's sake! The temple, was desecrated. No, even if the chance was slight. He would try to avoid fighting. The thing could speak couldn't it? So it was not like an arrow who was determined to soar through the air and not think about the consequences. Those who spoke could think. Those who think can understand. And surely he would try to understand Alric? After all, what kind of thinking being didn’t at least try to understand? That was the purpose of thinking. It may have seemed beyond reason, to most. But for Alric, nothing was beyond reason. “Wait! Antar, Eridanus, let me try reasoning with it. Another fight could cost us too much time.” Alric did not bother to wait for approval. Yet, he knew that this creature would need extra persuasion. Not to mention, Alric was eager to stop this Drysalla woman. These ‘Keepers’ were just getting in the way. So, he set forth a wave of Djed, and began to do what he knew best. He began to hypnotize the being. “Keepers, please listen to reason. A terrible day has befallen all of Alvadas. And all of its citizens need to fight for its continued existence. All of them! Not just those who live above the ground, and not only those who live; all of them. Whether, dead, broken, chained or free, we all need to band together and drive away the dangers that plague us.” He knew the creature would not be easily persuaded, so he strengthened the connection. He sent forth an emotional response, a faint feeling to set the mood. However, Alric surprised himself. The emotion he set forth seemed to be a fire burning through the fuse of the thin cord that was the djed connecting the creatures mind with Alric’s own. It seemed to be an emotional surge for lack of a better word. The emotion he sent forth was empathy. But Alric had to cut the connection quickly. He was afraid such a strong feeling might make the ghost privy to what he had just done. However, he quickly reestablished a connection afterward, and continued his hypnotic speech. “I do not ask that you abandon your post, mighty keeper. I only ask that you realize that if you hinder us, you may not have anything to keep before the day is done. And then what would you be? You would be nothing! A keeper without anything to keep is nothing! So let us pass, just this once. So that we can save the city that houses us both. Help us, to help yourself.” oocI am so sorry for the late reply! I tried to get this out earlier, but one thing after another just pushed it aside. Also, Sorry Antar for not really including your post. I was working on this just as you posted. So, I hope they don't conflict too badly.

[Kamalia Timandre]

They may not have been aware, but the Konti sorceress had managed to follow Jaeden Kincade, his kelvic companion and the bizarre Myrian male into the Sanity Center. Perhaps she had conjured momentary distractions with her considerable magic to allow the group to escape, or perhaps she had decided to lag behind to search for Ulric and Naama, or perhaps not, but what was important was that they arrived at the Sanity Center safe. Kamalia Timandre had always been an enigma—even to her friends.

The wizard leaned on her staff with seeming casualness, her face masked in unruffled serenity, yet her arms quivered in exhaustion and her eyes were blood-shut. She had cast too much magic at once, and she was suffering from minor overgiving. Sometimes it was a wonder how this fragile-looking creature could command such terrible power. Fortunately, the Konti did not appear to be wounded at all.

When it was her turn to introduce herself, the Konti appeared undaunted by the supervisor’s piercing gaze. In fact, she returned it with her own, equally strong, unyielding, and calculating stare. For a moment, it would seem that the sorceress was weighing Nami on invisible scales, before her violet eyes took on their unreadable coldness once again. “I am called Kamalia,” she sang ever so calmly. “I am a songstress and a student of history. A traveler.”

There was no need to declare that she was also a wizard.

She wrapped her gossamer shawl around her shoulders, regarding Zaragosh with wintry, measuring eyes, before walking behind Nami. She appeared unmindful of the conversation that took place between Jaeden and the Myrian.

[Shai]

In stark contrast to her hearth’s marathon, her lungs held still and breathless. There were very few creatures Shai disliked more than ghosts but if this chained monstrosity wasn’t a specter, it had just jumped in line. Holding still had become a well-honed skill for the thief; her occupation often required her to mimic shadows. Some part of her desired to hold so motionless that she would simply disappear; unfortunately the Symenestra wasn’t a mage. Inching back though seemed to garner her little attention, doubly so considering back was towards the exit. Jerking to a halt mid-backstep, her hearing attentively keyed in to Antar’s orders. In a flood her chest released the tension, a task she could on and temper her fear with. Flowing in a side step the spider hid behind a newly reformed pillar. Promptly the woman ascended the stone. Peeking around to watch her associate’s progress Shai scuttled up on the ceiling while gravity pulled her braid from her cloak. It would have concerned her if the hair had offered her enemy any advantage but as it was, the creature probably needed no handhold to rip her from her upside-down perch. Creeping along, she discovered loose chunks where the pillar met the roof. Using her forearm’s extended microcilia the diminutive woman grasped several chunks by forcing them to stick her arms. This arrangement left her hands free to continue climbing. Slinking along the ceiling as the rogue tried to make a pin cushion of the ‘unfriend’. When she’d positioned herself directly above the creature the spider released all of the chunks and scrambled the rest of the way across the room. Shai spared no time o see the results; let her companions be the judge. She couldn’t stay so close to danger. Slipping back behind another pillar, again she peered beyond the stonework to observe. She'd poked her head around the supporting stones just in time to hear another human yell for Eridanus and Antar to halt their attacks. It seemed the man wished to... talk things out with the ghost. Raising an eyebrow after the man's speech; Shai couldn't help but wonder what if the this 'keeper' wasn't here by choice? What if he would want to be free of this burden?

[Nyahna Sasin]

Sasin ate as he listened, and digested both food and information. So Alvadas had it's own, underground version of the knights. He filed that in the back of his mind for later. Surviving was a slightly bigger issue right now.

Keeping the rest of this group alive was also important. They were keeping him safe, after all. So when he detected a new scent, and saw the heat signature of an invisible person approach Shale, he hissed, uncoiling partially. He stopped when she blinked into sight, and relaxed when Shale seemed to recognize her. Still, everyone's reactions worried him. Why were they not alarmed? Couldn't they see someone invisible could.. oh. Right. Invisible.

Still, he kept an eye on her. People didn't normally stay invisible without reason.

The Vantha's yelp of pain startled him, and his eyes flicked from the girl, to Eri, who was on the other side of the room. Still not her. He frowned, curious, as the man massaged his head and pointed at White. Antar grabbed him in a headlock, and said something about the Sym before hissing something to him. Sasin tried to make out the words, but even with his hightened senses, he could only make out a few words.

Well, it didn't really matter for now. They were his allies unless proven otherwise.

Sasin followed the group, bringing up the rear. He was half lost in his own thoughts, and started as Antar addressed him. A bruiser? He laughed, a tinge of distaste coloring his voice. "Sasin." He corrected. "And you've evidently never met my constrictor cousins. What you ssaw in the temple was very untypical of me. I will fight if you need me to, but I'm more sssuited for scouting and keeping watch." He bared his teeth in a wry grin. "A snake ssees more that you'd suspect."

He was nervous, Sasin realized. His accent was slipping out, and not entirely because of the change in his physiology.

Just outside the crypt, he frowned. Under the piercing shrieks of the ravens, he could hear a low sound coming from the crypt. Which they were about to walk into. As they got closer, he managed to identify moans and cries, as if someone was.. was calling to them.

The girl reached out with her doll, touching a painted rune on the wall, and Sasin shuddered softly as it glowed, and vanished, several more following it. Magic. Ugh. The instant the last of them were gone, a something began seeping out from under, around, and between the doors. As the door opened, more spilled out. It didn't seem dangerous, but then the deadliest things rarely did.

He swallowed, apprehension growing in him. His eyes flicked from side to side as they entered, half expecting some creature or golem to come leaping out at them. What they found might have been worse. The cold fog covered quite a lot of his serpent half, and he could feel his scales clicking over grooves in the floor. The sounds he had heard outside were louder now, almost deafening.

A voice boomed out unwelcomingly, and as the net of chains rose, he could see faces in the cloud that came up with it. A sharp, short hiss escaped from him, the snake-tongue equivilent of a high pitched whimper. Every last one of his senses were screaming at him to run, and never look back. But he knew, somehow, if he left the group, he'd never make it out alive. These… whatevers were out for blood. This couldn't get any worse.

…..

It got worse.

First the girl, then the Vantha, then Antar started attacking. Glancing up, he mentally added the Symenestra. Sasin hissed soflty in frustration. He was stuck with madmen.

"Jussst like any other enemy? You usually fight people who can ssswing chainss hard and fast enough to desstroy a pillar?" He demanded, dodging a flailing chain. He made his way to the girls left shoulder, coiling up in the manner of his kind.

[Fallacy]

The Sealed Grounds Those worms, those weaklings, those fools thought they could fight the Keepers. Yes, they still had hope even when all odds were stacked against them. The Keepers kept. Yes, they kept things in and they kept things out. That was the duty of the ghosts, the legion who called themselves the keepers. One of the most powerful beings in this place and yet the mortals thought they could, perhaps out of the whims of fate, win this fight. No, the Keepers were much more experienced than all the living gathered in the room together. The Keepers kept, that was their job. The attacks, all attacks, were easily avoided or misdirected by the fingerprints of soulmist laid upon them. Though the arrows came closest to striking the being, it was obvious the arrows were not of the normal kind for it took the Keepers much more effort to deflect and redirect the arrows than the rocks, dagger, and other things. The crinkle of change echoed throughout the place as the chains slivered through the soulmist at their feet. The sound we eerie and foreboding like snakes in the grass the chains were controlled getting in place, readying to strike. Just how much power did these Keepers have? As it was about to counterstrike young and ambitious Alric stepped forward and gave his speech to the dead. The Djed of the hypnotist could not be blocked by the ghosts soulmist as the more physical measures could have. In fact, it sunk right in, like a sponge to water, and the Keepers were captivated by the words, almost moved. The Keepers had to keep, that was their goal. The chains movements stopped as the Keeper seemed to be considering the words, before answering "A terrible day has befallen the city." it seemed to be absorbing the information, "Fine." its words swayed by the empathic truth to the hypnotists words, "We will let you pass, but," it made a condition, "You must not take anything from the crypt." they said, and from the tone they were serious, "Else you will suffer our wrath." With that the Keepers parted ways, the chains dropping again to the ground, this would have been a fight that they could not have possibly survived, much less in one piece. The Keepers were a powerful ghost. With the dropping of the chains the soulmist in the area began to part where the Keepers were. Below them, the net of chain, was stairs and they descended downward glowing with a unique light. "Hurry" the Keepers urged, "Before we change our minds Menna." Menna and her doll nodded "Stay close friends." she said to everyone before advancing to the stairs, bowing to the Keepers, the legion of ghosts, 'Thank you." she said, her voice but a whisper amplified by the space present. Turning to the group she pointed to the stairs, "I believe they are down there." she said. By 'they' she didnt mean the bones, no, but the people who might know where the bones where. She wondered if they got what she meant, but didnt bother to say much else before taking the first step down. The steps themselves were covered in soulmist, and oddly, it seemed the mist was traveling up the stairs, "Watch your step." she warned, the stairs were of various heights and lengths, uneven in every aspect. Some were slanted downward as if designed to make one fall, while others were slanted inward. Some were big steps, while other were small. The climb down was treacherous enough and more than once Menna herself got tripped up. Down and down, further they climbed into the earth the more endless this staircase seemed. They passed hollowed out rooms where ghosts were present and bodies were set upon the stone tables etched into the walls. They were passing friends and unfriends alike, but no ghost made a move to stop them. If the Keepers let them pass then they surely had a good reason for being in the halls of Alvadas' dead. They would get the occasional look, and some rooms would have treasure, gold, swords, goblets inlayed with precious jewels. numerous nick-naks and toys. Everything ancient and old was present here. Long dead flowers decorated some of the tombs , and the ghosts almost guarded their treasures jealously. Though they all were free to take whatever they wanted, the Keepers had warned them not to. They soon passed an odd and closed room. The only one with a door, and upon the entrance was a symbol carved into the stone. It glowed with a Azure light, faintly adding and blending its color with that of the soulmist. Stopping Menna pointed at the door, "Here is where the Triad of the past were once put to rest." she said. With that she continued down the stairs, if anyone would try to open the door they would find that they could never really touch the door. Their hand would keep on traveling towards the door but they would never feel the cold stone. It was as if they were reaching for something in the distance, even though the door was right in front of them, never being quite able to reach it. It was as if space bent before the door never allowing the unworthy to touch. Powerful magic was weaved guarding the entrance. This however was not their goal as Menna slowly lead the way down even further and then they finally reached the foot of the stairs. Leading further in was a hallway, the glyphs on the walls and everything else seemed to get more and more tightly packed and some of them glowed with power as if waiting to be set off. Traveling down the hallway it opened up to another room much like the one before, where the Keepers dwell. Stopping suddenly Menna turned to the group and rummaged through a bag strapped to her side. Pulling out vials of soulmist she handed out the luminous substance to every member of the group. "Please, if we must fight, we have to be ready." this didnt sound like Menna at all though, no, it was different from the girl who they had met earlier. This one was more assertive and oddly knowledgeable. A different person? "Spread it upon your weapons of choice. There should be enough to cover at least one long sword." Yes a different person indeed. With that she seemed to take a deep breath and then stepped into the room. Pillars lined the place in a circular fashion, seeming to be placed in a spiral going from the middle of the room to the very edges. The middle of the room sported a giant lightning bolt shaped pillar not quite touching the ceiling, but touched the ground and its point seemed to be holding something in place. "We must not disrupt the spiral" she said, and instead of walking through the pillars she went to the edge of the room and started walking, following the curvature of the pillar dotted spiral, careful of her steps. It took more time traveling this way, but in the end the magic wasnt disrupted. As they grew closer to the center of the room it was obvious that this was where the soulmist was coming from. Surrounding the lightning shaped pillar was a circle, and from the crease of the circle carved in the ground soulmist seemed to be erupting from it. In the middle, pinned by the pillar, was a single ghost, and swirling around the circle was numerous ghosts, uncountable, as they traced the edges of the circle, a slight slow emitting whenever a ghost would get too close and touch the invisible boundary. A barrier. Moans and cries of anguish seemed to be coming from the swirling figures as they could not quite reach the ghost in the center, blocked and sealed by a giant ghost dart. "Naarvanas, Naarvanas..." the ghosts chanted, "Forever Naarvanas." they said still trying to find entry to the imprisoned ghost. It seemed even their combined powers over the ages still couldnt scratch this shield. "We are Naarvana... Forever Naarvanas." Reaching the apex of the path, the center of the room was before the adventurers giving them a fine sight of the ghostly tornado around the circle, countless, almost formless, a blur they went along not minding the small group who had assembled in the room, still chanting "Naarvanas" It was only when Menna spoke up, "Naarvanas." It took a minute for all the ghosts to stop their endless and chilling chant of the name. It seemed that Menna had their attention, "Naarvanas is a friend of Menna." she said, "Naarvanas we came here for your knowledge. We need to know the location of the bones of Drysalla and the Hypnotist Verlyna" she spilled it all at once, "Will you help us?" she asked. The ghosts were silent for quite some time, but still ever swirling around the circle in an endless cycle. It was then, once silence completely filled the room that Naarvanas answered, "Will Menna free Naarvanas?" they asked, their voices one, the question asked numerous times echoed with the unified voices of the dead. Before Meena could answer there was a voice that came behind the group, "I will free Naarvanas." it was a feminine voice, but nonetheless echoed with power. If the group would turn to see the newcomer they would see a female garbed in all shades of green imaginable, supernatural beauty graced her and her form. This was Drysalla, Drysalla Everheart, who Antar might recognize from some of the visions he was shown. "I will free Naarvanas," She repeated herself, "if you can get what was taken from me." she said. She pointed to Antar, the white haired man, "I can feel the mirrors power on you." with that a spear of a shiny metallic substance produced from the air and flung itself at the rogue. It moved too fast for the man to respond, but then before the spear could make contact with the white haired man it shattered to dust, doing no harm to the man, but covering him with a metallic haze. The witch seemed surprised that her attack did not make contact. "I see..." she said grinning, "How about this?" she offered, "You give me the mirror and I will not unleash Naarvanas upon you." it was a fair enough trade. Only the gods knew what kind of power the ghost wielded to be pinned with such excessive force. The group of ghosts moaned in response, all too eager to be free. Willing to do just about anything the ghosts answered, "Free Naarvanas and we will get the mirror for you." they agreed.

[Eridanus]

It was not working! The room burst with an explosion of activity as the various members tried their best to take down the legion of ghosts with an assortment of attacks. However, it was not working. Would their pitiful attempts die here? Was Alvadas doomed?

However, the other man who was with Antar back at the Temple began speaking up. His words spoke of reason and logic, yet Eri's senses tingled at every word, a subtle reminder of the presence of magic within the room.

The Keeper paused to consider, and they eventually submitted to Alric's logic, though warning them not to take anything. Eridanus was baffled, they came for the bones, did they not? Regardless, he trusted Menna's judgement and the group followed her in silence.

Before they entered a particular room however, Menna passed around vials holding a glowing liquid. Eridanus recognized it as soulmist, and he instinctively knew that it was of a far more superior quality than the soulmist he could produce. Better yet, it seemed more potent than even his old master, Jared Skyglow's, soulmist. His own was not strong enough to do so, but he recalled Jared passing his own soulmist to spread on clothes and weapons before meeting a particularly hostile spirit, though that was usually rare for most of their tasks involved persuasion than combat.

"We spread these on our weapons or armor if there are any left over," Eridanus informed the group, should they not know what the vials were meant for. "Ghosts are usually immaterial, so if we enchant our weapons with Menna's soulmist we can affect that with our mundane tools."

With that, he carefully poured the vial over his cold-iron long sword, fully covering the large weapon. There was unfortunately only enough for one sword, and as the soulmist was absorbed into the weapon the longsword glowed with the same magical tinge as Menna's soulmist.

When everyone was done, they entered the room, with Menna leading them lower and lower down the spiral. It was a curious but horrifying sight, the multitude of ghosts surrounding a single one.

Suddenly, an unnaturally beautiful woman appeared, and deals and offers were made. From the Karash's story it was highly possible that she was Drysalla, for no human could ever be this beautiful; her flawless appearance rivaled even that of the ethaefal's celestial seeming. Eridanus glanced at Antar suspiciously again. It seemed that this Mirror that Karash and now this Drysalla mentioned was the crux of the issue. It could only mean that the strange thing that almost blinded him was the Mirror itself.

Questions floated to his mind, wondering how Antar gained possession of it. Perhaps he was at the center of this entire issue?

No, I should not doubt my comrade.

Still, things looked dire, and if Drysalla was not bluffing they were in trouble. It was not entire hopeless, for Menna did mention that this legion of ghosts... this Naarvanas was her friend. Though it seemed that their final allegiance lay with whoever freed the pinned ghost, he could perhaps on Menna's friendship in their favor.

"Naarvanas!" He addressed the ghosts. "On behalf of Menna's friendship, we will free you. In return we require knowledge of the bones and protection against that woman," He said pointing towards the unearthly beauty.

"We may not be able to free you as fast as she can, but we will do it. Know that the city is in peril because of her and her obsession with the Mirror, and know that we act for the good of the innocent majority." He was being honest, for this was no time to play games and to act. Their survival might very well depend on who the ghosts sided with.

"You have been trapped long enough, and surely waiting for a little longer will not hurt. Look at it this way, " He reasoned, "give us a little of your time by waiting just a little longer while we free you, and in exchange do much more good for the city and the innocents abound than you can imagine. Compare that with being free a few moments earlier - which is a tiny proportion to how how long you've been trapped - and dooming everyone here."

There was reason and logic in his proposal, yet also confidence was beginning to creep in. His speech was made with conviction, with purpose, and hopefully his strong rhetoric would help the ghosts to see things his way.

"Will you help us, Naarvanas? We will free you. Will you help us or doom us?" He pleaded, a steely resolution evident in his final speech.

Alric WilmotWhile Eri makes his speech to Naarvanas can you add your hypnotism mojo to his words? Also, feel free to join in the rhetoric any time during or after Eri's speech.

[Antar]

oocPersuant to Fallacy’s wishes, Antar is being placed under the control of three things here, the mirror itself , and his more base instincts. He's being possessed by a mirror, possessed by an old triad ghost, by the name of Arkonas(who sealed the mirror in the first place), and currently simmering under it all. Taking in these three things I was requested to release him as a tool for the DS to play with and intro things further. I see no problem with any of this to happen to my pc . So Yeah, Yay for some plot twists At the cessation of hostilities with the Keepers, the arrows fired had dropped to the ground and Antar had made a point of picking up each of them again. He wasn't perturbed against facing a legion or two of ghosts, no matter what the odds but from the original stance of the creatures it seemed they would not have been swayed by any sort of negotiation at all. Though, thankfully this one time his instincts had proven wrong. When he gained a bit of soulmist, it was spread upon the edge of one of his gladius and his kukri, just enough to be effective for later as they began to journey deeper inside the crypts. Afterwards, Meena had lead them in a twisting arc through the catacombs , past a door where all the prior triad members were entombed, and all Antar could consider was a repeat of some far off words as he laid his hand against the cool metal door, only to have it hover slightly a foot away from the obstruction. Closer then what the illusion would say, yet farther as if asking him to maintain his distance as the others ventured on. He would whisper a slight few words as he pondered the meaning behind their last escape from certain danger, "Our companion is right, a dark day has fallen on all alvadas. By the Triads of old I would call each of you back to serve again if it were possible." With that he would turn away , seeking to endeavor to catch up with the others as unbeknownst behind him, upon the sheltered door a strange glyph began to glow, and for a moment, just a moment, the door would crack open and a whisper trail of mist would escape to follow him. But for some reason, he would not notice it. Nor would he notice the thing the mist shrouded within itself as Meena lead them to a darkened chamber lit by the rarest of lights from its center. A flickering pillar of earth looking as if it possessed the incarnate forces of lightning within itself. There was an oddness to this place, a sense of magic long ago used to create this place. Yes, he recognized it as a seal of sorts, an interesting work, combining a few myriad number of disciplines. Reimancy in the raises of the earth and pillars, and whatever that thing used with ghosts was... spiritism? He had quite enough of dealing with ghosts and things, and yet it seemed more would plague them when the masses of the dead chanted 'Narvanas, narvanas as if it was a holy word, or endeavor instead of an actual being. A clear sign of a feral , if fervent state of affairs. As if every ghost was a fanatic of some sort... If he had known about what had come from the door before, perhaps he would have noticed it drifting ever closer, weaving its way through the masses towards him, but alas... alas the unthinkable happened. The woman from his visions, supernal in her beauty and ugly in her soul appeared, making demands and threats and then attempting to attack him again. In that moment, a haze of what washed over his eyes as a vision took him again, a vision of her visage, resonating with the words, "I shall find the heart of the city.” Then it stopped, and he shook the vision from his head as that trail of mist grew closer and closer to him. He wasn't really frightened, it just seemed that her attack had triggered another vision, which made him feel somewhat... stronger as the mirror pulsed beneath his armor. His wounds felt less of an ache as if there was some form of herbal medicine or painkiller being applied and he felt... healthier then he should have been. Still weary, still burdened by the day's toil, yet simply more ... alert? He would turn towards the inner recesses of the circle and begin to walk. But before he made that final step, that bit of mist came upon his back, its contents hidden in his pocket and amidst the strange feelings of warmth, the chill of its presence went unnoticed as it hid itself inside him to cross the thresh hold of the protective circle. Clearing his throat he coughed as he stepped into the inner reaches of the circle, the place where it seemed the ghosts could not trespass as he turned to look at Drysalla and then to the ghosts in question. "Petching minions should wait their turn and not act rashly. Your boss hasn't been asked what he wants yet, and I'm intrigued enough to find out his story. So why don't you sit there like good little boys and girls and let him have his say?" He was ignoring Drysalla, and her eyebrow arched in his direction as he stood between her and the pillars, a clear sign of blocking her ability to destroy the central pillar of lightning. He didn't really know why her attacks did not cut him down, save that it was not his doing, his shielding wasn't even a drop in the bucket compared to the powers teh visions had shown she possessed. But still, still it was as if he was engineering an impasse, prompted too, and yet not clearly understanding why. Through his words, a bluff of sorts came to his lips. A bluff clearly spoken, as if fact and not something made up upon the spot. "Before I go to speak with this Narvanas, I'd like to ask you something Drysalla. Why do you think I still live? No matter, I'll answer it. This thing I found is speaking to me. It tells me not to stop those that wish to Wish upon it, yet only that it does not seek to be parted from the company of a protector. Therefore, it begs a question. If you cannot separate the mirror from me, even if it's esires speak to me not to stop a wisher, then what would be the point of trying to kill me at all?" Drysalla would stop and ponder a moment, "Are you trying to say... that the mirror itself wished for a guardian of sorts, one not frozen in stone?" "Correct." Antar blinked, and for those that knew him, his mannerisms would change slightly, as if affected by another's will. For in essence they were. By now the fairest of the party would begin to realize, Antar was not alone. Whatever this 'mirror' that was spoken of was, it was certainly affecting him, or perhaps the tell tale trail of mist of a ghost possessing him played a part. In truth, all three were potentially in check of one another right now. A pondering look crossed Drysalla's brow, as she considered. "Well then, I wouldn't need to take just the mirror then, only the mirror and you as well. If I did would you obey me?" "I can say, probably not without good reason, incentive, or initiative, I do have free will after all." At that the woman would arch an eyebrow, as she calculated something, "Free will you say, when the mirror wished you to be a guardian of it for its wishers? Is that even possible?"Antar would hesitate to speak when another choice set of words would slip from his lips unwillingly, "Anything is possible and yet nothing is possible. For where lies end truth begins all wrapped up in lies. That is the preponderence for a city of illusions... is it not?" For some reason, the words would make Drysalla pause a moment... "That sounds familiar, in fact, it's a scholar's exact words from a book I learned about the heart of Alvadas in the first place... tell me, who is speaking now? The guardian which is the man of the mirror, or the mirror itself? Where could I find this heart?" "If that is a wish, then you know you must pay the price drysalla, but not here at least. Now, however, there is one other Wisher's wishes to be granted, Naarvanas beckons our presence. Then we shall go with you ... perhaps. The mirror has already told me of the child who began to wish the legends to life again, pity she now lies dead at the hands who orchestrated your rebirth. It was before this one came to us to fulfill our wish for a guardian." Antar took a moment to close his eyes and then hit the side of his head as his body turned towards Naarvanas resting place. "I will think on these things, but regardless, soon the mirror and you will be mine. The mirror, and its present counterpart." "Perhaps, but only perhaps." Antar would mumble as he took the final steps towards where Naarvanas lay. Eridanus was already there, whispering beside it as Drysalla was left with a pondering thought.... still unknown to the reasons why, Antar would reach into his pocket and pull out a small silver lute, tinged with glyphs. The thing the ghost of the Triads had brought to them and hand it to Eridanus as more words tumbled from Antar's lips unbidden. "This is the item to break the seal, but first... there is a question to be asked, 'Narvaanas, do you still want to fulfill your wish?" By now it was quite apparent to anyone around, Antar was not alone in things here, perhaps he was a tool to be used by the mirror, and perhaps he was the tool of another being which guided events like pieces on a chess board. Whatever the case, he was, at least in part ... still himself. Beneath it all a simmering rage began to build, a more animalistic tendency to begin as his nature bade him to call the fires and burn this entire crypt and Drysalla along with it to ash. But for now, such things were held in check by the others. Dormant as it was, yet slowly beginning to simmer deep within.

[Fallacy]

There would be a silence as Antar and Eridanus finished their speeches, one of the men holding the upper hand, the small pocket sized silver lute which was engraved entirely with golden runes. The runes shimmered faintly in the light, almost like the doors symbol on the Triads tomb. There was nothing like the key to freedom staring one in the face while they were imprisoned in the cell below, pinned by a ghost dart of unimaginable power and complexity. One was very sure that no ghost of their right mind, or group of ghosts of any mind, could pull the Naarvana free from its grasp. In fact, the magic was so old and ancient, that its powers rivaled those of Drysalla herself. It was quite the question, could the illusionary witch break the seal, or did the man with the key hold a better chance of releasing them? The answer was obvious to Naarvanas, and that was to go with the man with the key. The pinned ghost spoke up "We will not aid the wench. Naarvanas will aid Menna and her friends." the decision echoed through the air and empty space, commenting on the huge size of the room they stood in. Then again, Naarvanas had to speak loudly for his voice to overcast all the others. The whole time Drysalla remained quiet, even when Naarvanas spoke against her. Nodding "Naarvanas," she started, "You surely must be confused." she pleaded, "has time weathered not only your body, but your mind and will as well?" she yelled the anger and frusturation growing in her voice, "Surely you would like to reconsider." this was an offer from the girl who always got what she wanted. No. Matter. What. To her offer there was only silence as she looked at them again, not only the ghosts but at everyone gathered in the room, "What if..." she pointed to Menna, "That girl no longer existed?" she asked, "If she didnt exist your friendship will be void." Oh it was more than a question... Still no answer from the ghosts who were waiting for so long to be free. Growing inpatient, "Fine. How about I make it a reality?" she asked and then with only a thought it seemed another spear like the one she threw at Antar appeared in the air, hovering on her left side. It then shot, with a grin from Drysalla, at the girl. This prompted a response, but not the response which the woman desired. The legion of ghosts who were swirling, twisting, ever spinning around the boundaries of their master shot out in the girls defense. Their combined powers not only stopped the spear of unearthly metal from even touching the girl, but paused it midair before it came four feet from her. While some worked on the defensive most worked on the offensive, their soulmist lashing out at the green beauty violently. With the force of hundreds of ghosts the one named Drysalla was shoved back, flying across the room, until she hit the wall on the far side of the place. Many lacerations from the sharp threads of soulmist covered her body and shredded her clothes. There was blood, lots of it. It was quite obvious the ghosts aimed to kill, for a gross sound of bones breaking, shattering could be heard when the woman made impact with the wall. That surely would have killed any normal person. "Hold your minions efforts against this wench. They can't kill her like they are... you know as well as I do, Drysalla, should stop being so ugly, Petulance is a sin." would be whispered from Antar's lips as the ghost of Arconus had its say as it turned towards Naarvana, "You seem well enough to rationalize now though, if you help meena, you help all of Alvadas. Even if it means you and your horde did not agree with the Triads of the past, the people, their descendants of the present would need them. If you are freed, you will have to make a deal with the keepers as well to go out and help them all." "The keepers would at the end drag us all back, worse, these minions as you call them would have many of their numbers destroyed and returned to the cycle. Such a thing would weaken me." "What's between you and the keepers after Alvadas is saved is between you and the Keepers, or the present triad. No one else." Arconus would put forwards as a sly note came out of Antar's words, "Every bit of freedom requires a price." Inside his head, Antar would struggle like a caged being as the forces within warred, not for control, but for their say of things at the moment. Indeed there might be a slight whispered apology in his mind from Arconus himself and a promise of understanding soon to be. As the talking between the former Triad member and Naarvanas was happen, Drysallas body was relased from the ghostly grasp and it dropped to the floor umoving, but not dead no. It will take much more to undo something wished into reality. The body was motionless, but then a small laugh came from her as she slowly raised herself from the ground, arm supporting her weight as she took to her feet again. A real solider. This was one of the amazing powers of illusion. The blood and the ripped cloth started to fade away and resow itself. There were sickening pops as bones realligned themselves, and suckling sounds as skin wriggled and returned to its proper beautiful form. She would stare at herself in wonder and amazement and press her hand to her chest to feel her fictitious heart beating. "Oh so now I see... I see... there's more then one thing going on here. Hmmm? I'm alive, but .... but somehow more?" she said in all confidence. There was conviction in her voice, something awe inspiring about it. She took a step towards the group, "Enough games" she said, but she found herself repelled by another force, the ghosts again. They were not fools, but just trying in what they could to keep the threat away from Menna. At those words, Antar under the direction of Arconus, would spin towards the woman, "Games, is that all this is to you? Such a pity you were never one to see what was behind the veil? Or will you let your petulance and pride damn you for all eternity? Tell me: Do you live, or are you dead and merely half alive?" Drysalla stopped struggling to take a step and just looked at Antar, if looks could kill, and belive me hers could, but the man was shielded by an unknown force. "I am alive." she stated, "In fact," she pointed to everyone in the room, "Im more alive than any of you will ever be." such grand delusions. She would not yet admit that she died long ago, "And with my return, I…” "Then how could they find your bones amidst this crypt?" was interjected quickly in her words cutting her off. "You are playing the fool, a puppet of things you don't know. You are the one who isn't listening.” “will create a new order in Alvadas. she laughed, "I will become Ionu." she boldly stated going on, too far gone by her own rant to even notice that she had been cut off. "The mirror cannot bring back the dead. A creation of Ionu can never usurp death. You are a memory, a memory stored in the heart. A heart you now seek. Tell me: If you find what you seek will it truly kill you?" These words were shouted over Drysalla's own, echoing in the chamber, cutting her off in more ways than one. Naarvanas was getting inpatient. "Release me already" it pleaded, the ghosts giving their attention back to their leader. Antar turned to Eridanus and held out the silver lute, "Take it." It was not a question, rather an order and as such the lute was forced into the man’s hands. With the transference of the lute to Eridanus also was the transfer of one of the souls possessing Antar. The will of the spirit was strong, strong enough that it couldnt be fought off by the weak spiritism of Eridanus. With that the man would straighten up, "You should really be more patient. You have been sealed for quite a long time, a little longer shouldnt hurt you." the man smiled at the pinned ghost, but nonetheless raised a finger to a string and started to pluck the lute, the instrument growing in Eridanus' hands until it resembled a full sized lute, "Much better..." he said commenting both on the size of the lute and the body of the mind which he was in. Its much easier to maintain control when there is only one mind to fight off, not two. Some of the glyphs on the lute disappeared as the strings were plucked some more, "Naarvanas, you will be free." the ghost reassured him. The lute began playing a melody as the strings were struck. The notes changing in the air, twisting into something new, dropping and gaining whole tones as it traveled through and to those hearing the sound. It was strange, it was unusual, the sound represented everything that Alvadas was about and more. It was much unlike any music or chord ever played or heard by the group. Along with the sound various glyphs would start glowing on the lute along with various glyphs covering the walls, the floors, the pillars, and as the odd song played on the glyphs glowed, slowly releasing the seal that was placed around the ghost named Naarvanas. The song carried on and on, and more and more glyphs would glow until finally it seemed all of them were glowing. "Release" Eridanus would say, hand swiping at the strings again, the glyphs would then all shatter, crack and crumble. The pillars around the room falling to dust and disrepair. The circle around Narvanas disappearing as well, and soon all that was left was the lightning shaped pillar pinning the ghost to the floor. Though as the last notes of the song were struck, the glyphs even on the pillar glowed and then like the other pillars it too crumbled. When it was finished the ghost rose in the center of the circle looking around in wonder at its legion of followers... as it turned back to Eridanus, and the rest. "very well, I'm free, now what should I do to help get you the bone's hmm? Perhaps a bit of flesh would be helpful as well?" With that the ghost jumped in the body of Dhalvasha "To me Naarvanas" the sym held his arms up in the air in a glorious stance as the hoard of ghosts swarmed and jumped into the body, one after another after another, ghost after ghost filling the body to the brim and then some. However, not all the ghosts were so quick to jump in, liking to swirl around the host body forming a defensive barrier but also a threatening presence. The sym laughed and then bowed to those in the room, ”Allow me to finally introduce myself, I am Naarvanas” he said, ”And I will help you acquire the bones since Mennas friends were the ones that freed me.”

[Alric Wilmot]

Alric was impressed with Eridanus's oratory skills. Alric had been too stunned by the sudden appearance of Drysalla to say anything. And he was glad for it. He doubted he could have come up with a better plan than Eridanus. It appeared this Naarvanas was going to be freed, so they might as well make use of him. Alric did wonder why the creature had been trapped in the first place. Though he supposed it didn't matter any more. He decided to help Eridanus along, and added a current of djed into the being known as Naarvanas. It was a small current, and it was only implanting feelings of feelings. It kept the creature open, as that was all Alric knew how to do when he was not the one speaking. He did his best to appear small and insignificant in face of their newest enemy. He did not trust his ability to persuade would be enough to confront her. As such, he supposed the best course of action would be to get out of the way. It seemed like Antar was not one to shrink away. Alric continued to help Eridanus, but could not help but find awe at the odd ways in which Antar addressed the woman. He spoke so differently from before, what on earth was going on? Alric paid close attention, and learned quite a bit. A mirror, wishes, guardians, and a price. It still made very little sense. But slowly, it was coming together. After a long conversation of things far above Alric's head, Antar released the thing called Naarvanas. Drysalla, at least what Alric assumed was Drysalla, attacked Menna. Before anyone could react, she was saved by her 'friend' Naarvanas. He attacked Drysalla with a fury Alric had not seen since the golems earlier that day. Alric stumbled backwards at the speed of it. Once again, Antar spoke to the creature, but Alric heard only bits and pieces as he got back to his feet. When he had, the creature had possessed the Symenestra, Dhalvasha. oocSorry for the poor quality post. I wasn't allowed to keep this computer for very long.

[Fallacy]

Drysalla acted quickly seeing that Naarvanas had been freed and wasn’t about to help her out, ”Die!” she yelled pointing at the creature who had possessed Dhalvasha, more and more spears of the strange metal materialized all around her, counting eight in all, and they flung at the host of Naarvanas, ”You should have been returned to the cycle long ago.” Fighting Drysalla would definitely be something that would weaken even the mass haunting of Dhalvasha called Naarvanas. It seemed she was not happy one bit, almost shaking with frustration. The spears were redirected, their metal sinking into the walls behind the ghost, the wall cracked under the force as the very ends of the spears could only been seen. The rest were neatly buried into the structure itself. ”You are one to talk.” The ghost responded, glancing over his shoulder to see the spikes embedded into the wall. ”You’re going to have to do a lot better than that.” the body of Dhalvasaha looked back at Drysalla and ginned as ghosts rushed forward to deliver another punishing blow to her, knocking her back again, but before she hit the wall she stopped, suspended in the air, ”We cant kill you.” he said, ”Be gone before you waste more of our time.” he said, the woman raising higher and higher in the air, cuts and lacerations appearing on her skin as the soulmist cut her once more, ”Leave.” he said, the ghosts that were once swirling around him were now creating a vortex around the living memory, keeping her in the air, cutting her, repeating Naarvanas words, an eerie chant filling the halls, echoing over and over and over. With that Naarvanas nodded and the woman shot up, hitting the ceiling and then fell to the floor below, the ghosts once again returning to him. The ghosts however seemed to be less in number, but that was only because some of them used up all their soulmist and had to recharge, which took quite some time. ”We have already wasted enough of our resources on you.” he said as the woman again got up from a killing blow, ”Leave” he yelled, the ghosts echoed his words with just as much power and ferocity behind it. ”No.” her voice called out, ”Not until I get the mirror.” she said in defiance, she had gone through too much trouble to just give up because of this ghost. Did they even know why Naarvanas had been sealed in the first place? She could hear the thoughts of the Heart, feel that it was closer here than anyplace else, ”Give me the mirror” she demanded shooting a look at Antar, the place began to shake, ”Give me the mirror…” she began laughing, rising out of the soulmist, ”I will find the heart.” she said as the room itself visibly began to warp and distort, as if the space was bending, waves, it was like looking through a funhouse mirror, things were bigger than usual and then they got really small, and father away and then close. People started to change positions, their existence in space changing as they moved to point A to point B to point C and so on. The feeling and what was being seen would be a little disorienting for all experiencing it as they shuffled across the room. Along with all the shifting and moving came the sensation of waves, the floor itself moved like an ocean as ripples began forming in the center knocking all those who didn’t have the best of balance off their feet. The ghosts however stabilized Menna and Naarvanas as they rode whatever was happening out. Out of the floor began to rise doors, doors of all shapes and sizes, of all colors and thickness, ”I will find the heart.” she said, the doors themselves were still in the waves of the floor, unmoving and unaffected. Thirty, forty, fifty doors rising and becoming visible, ”Its somewhere in Alvadas.” She laughed, ”Alvadas, take us!” she yelled, throwing up her arms, ”Show us your heart!” she commanded. If she couldn’t use the mirror to find the heart then she would force it to show itself. One by one the doors started to open themselves, and as they opened the crypt began to disappear and in its place was another space, one influenced by the doors which were to be opened. In this white space, this white void, the empty canvas to paint on, stood Drysalla, Alric, Antar, and Shai. The others were not there. In fact, the moment the Antar, Alric, and Shai saw this white space the others present would see the doors disappear along with the group now in the white void, and everything would return to normal. The ground stopped heaving like the sea, and things stopped shifting and everything was… normal. ”Well,” Naarvanas said, looking around to see no sign of Drysala, ”She is gone.” he sighed wondering what was happening, though he had a deal to fulfill, ”Miss Menna,” he addressed the girl, ”You said you were looking for the bones of that woman?” he asked, and Menna nodded, ”Then Id like to share with you that they are that way.” he said pointing to a wall, the brick wall which the spikes still were inside. Though as he started to speak, there was a rumbling sound, and then a sickening cracking in the ceiling, rocks began to fall from above, along with whole sections of the ceiling above. The place as collapsing, and turning to the only exit they knew, the group would find that its blocked off with rubble already. Rocks began to fall, and dust began to fly up and fill the lungs of those breathing it, making them cough and hack, and soon enough there was rocks coming to crush them as well, only to be adverted by the ghosts Naarvanas, ”Hurry.” he yelled, pointing to the wall which was already cracked, ”Go!” With that ghosts sprang forward and supplied enough force to knock the already damaged wall out, revealing a hidden path. Menna ran along with Naarvanas, who was dropping the weight of the stone as he went, all those who didn’t keep up would be crushed. This path wasn’t unlike the ones the group has been down before within the crypt. It too was made of stone and covered in glyphs, though the air was stale, dry, for it had been locked away with this hidden part of the crypt for so long. The earth would still be shaking slightly as they made their first steps into the place, outrunning the earth and stone that went to fill the entryway. This place too was dimly lit by soulmist spreading across the floor and when the group made it into the cavern just a little more, glyphs on the walls would start to glow, and the faint magical fire spread across the tops of the wall, shooting in both directions, kept in line by a series of paths. The hallway seemed just about endless, as the fire shot and disappeared into the darkness beyond. Though it did provide necessary light to see by, but at the same time it would flicker as the flame already started to eat up the oxygen in the air. A mixed blessing. ”This part was sealed just about the same time I was.” the ghost chimed in, ”At the end of this hall is what you seek.” he said, leading Menna by the hand to the front of the group, ”Girl lead the way.” he said bowing to her. Menna herself nodded and started to walk, leading the group further down the hall. Naarvanas however stayed back, and watched the group from behind, his hand sliding over some glyphs on the wall, the symbols glowing slightly before in front of the demon dropped a large boulder, which filled the hall, and it was rolling towards the group. They better start running… The ghost would make his exit. As the boulder rolled towards them, it too was covered in glyphs, and as it rolls past the glyphs on the walls, they too began to activate and spring ancient traps. Spouts of fire would burst up from the floor and ceiling trying to catch those running from the massive rock in surprise, darts of stone would shoot from the walls, and pitfalls would appear forcing them to jump or die. TrapsLets have fun with Indiana Jones! Go ahead and moderate some cool traps for your characters to get hit by. I wanna see what you guys can come up with besides the cliché ones Ive already done above. Have fun As the hallway goes on the fire lighting the way gets bigger and bigger allowing for less oxygen to get to your PCs lungs As the group would run the flames lighting the way would grow ever bigger and more of a threat, for now, everything that shot out of the wall was also on fire, including, this one time, a flammable liquid substance which smelled really odd. If they would make it to the end, the hallway would get bigger until eventually it opened up into a room, but still they would have to jump aside if they were going to escape being crushed by the boulder. Closer examination of the room would reveal that it was another entry point, and they had a choice, for sandwiching the wall which the boulder flung into and then was absorbed by a glyph was two doors. One door was Red, on door was Blue, and floating, suspended in the air in front of each door was a statement, a riddle. ”Golden treasures I contain Guarded by a hundred deadly pains Empires are built by my campaigns Yet I am nothing but mundane I leave as quickly as I appear The smart ones don't come near My life is measured in mere hours But never estimate my destructive powers Golden treasure I contain Guarded by a hundred deadly pains What am I?“ ”More precious than gold My heart is old. Purveyor of life Breaks beneath the weight of your wife While running I grow I can be found below I carve through earth For what it is wroth More precious than gold My heart is so old. What am I?“ Only once the riddles correct answer was spoken aloud would the door open and unlock, revealing what lie inside. Which door will they choose to go to first? Would they split up, or stay together? Options, options… DoorsThe riddles color corresponds to the door which the riddle is in front of. The doors will not open unless you guess the riddle correctly. I will give you a nice description of the room once its unlocked to go in and explore. Go on and take a couple posts to figure everything out ICly. For now on Ill move as fast as you guys do. Antar, Alric, and Shai The void was all around them, white and bright, they stood in the middle of a seemingly endless expanse. Door after door greeted them, each one a different color, a different style, a different everything! Each and every one of them unique in some way, and there they stood, with Drysalla, in this newfound realm. The green witch laughed there, ”You guys got pulled here too?” it was like she couldn’t believe what had happened herself, ”Good.” she said, smiling, ”Now give me the mirror.” she held out her hand as if graciously accepting some honor, ”You know, it was mine first.” she said. If one of them would try to open a door, it wouldnt budge and Drysalla would laugh, "You cant do that. Only I can, and only I know which door you are looking for." She grinned, "So how about a trade? You give me the mirror and I will release you back to Alvadas?"