Fantasy Nightmare Hunter (closed)

[Epiphany]

Well, the young man was friendly at least. Well mannered too, with his offer to shake hands. Emmaline reached out to shake after Natevar but then the commander mentioned werewolf. The former Paladin perceptibly paused. Then her face tightened, she visibly made an effort to shrug and reached out to shake hands with Marcus.

"I'm certain we will," Emmaline said politely, in response to Marcus' expressed wish to work well with both of them. If her tone wasn't completely convincing, at least she was willing to make the effort.

When the commander led the way back to the main hall, Emmaline once more fell into step behind him. And likely beside Marcus. She didn't try for small talk, though, and simply kept her eyes fixed forward on Natevar's back. A snub? Or maybe just a military thing? Could be nerves. It's not like a Paladin had any reason to be nervous in a place like this, of course...

Emmaline watched the display with the book with faint interest, which turned into active interest when the book blasted open. The light show was spectacular and Emmaline had to admit it caught her attention. She'd faced her share of supernatural evil but encountering magic like this wasn't common, not for a Knight Banneret. When the book made a staircase to the floating gem, out of parchment, she just shook her head out of reflexive denial. But when Natevar spoke up, she just nodded. Then turned and fixed him with a fierce stare. "I'm a vampire, sir, and I was a Paladin. I'm sure most of the people here couldn't think less of me if they tried. Let them see the courage of Arcadia at least. Besides," she added with a grim smile. "Given what I am, I doubt a lifelong commitment will last long anyway."

With that, Emmaline turned back to the gem and marched straight up the stairs, heading up to grasp the gem waiting for her.

 

[JadeGreen17]

-From Emmaline's POV-

Emmaline made her way up the paper steps, which were as unyielding as solid stone. As she approached the apex of the steps, Emmaline felt herself falling into something resembling sleep. She hadn't felt sleep since her becoming a vampire, and unfortunately for her, this wasn't a deep and restful sleep, but rather a short and lucid one; akin to a half-awake morning snooze one would go through after setting their alarm to snooze. She realized her eyes were closed, and opened them.

Emmaline was laying on a stone pedestal. It seemed to contain some variant of the familiar tesseract rune she had seen just a few moments ago in the chamber where they had found Marcus. But the rest of the world around her couldn't have been more alien. The sky faded from green to blue to violet, with rows titanic stone tablets slowly circling the horizon, but never rising or setting. At the absolute zenith of the sky was a square shaped sun locked in a perpetual eclipse with another square-shaped object, bathing the entire world in a dim twilight. Puffy golden clouds rained drops of liquid gold that were cool to the touch, and failed to wet any clothing or skin they came into contact with. These droplets drained into rivers and over waterfalls.

The grass was was thick and hardy, ridden with bulbs, like peas in a pod and was maroon in color. Stout, Knobby turquoise trunks gave way to spirals of pink leaves that wound and unwound themselves in opposing spirals. Jagged blue rocks formed arches and columns, sculpted in no natural way. Emmaline noticed she had her weapons and full armor, back from her time as a Paladin.

As she began to compose herself, she heard a strangely accented voice from behind call out "Hero!" A being stood there. It was slightly shorter than Emmaline, with slate gray fur covering its entire body, in constrast to the vibrantly colored world around her. The creature had rounded, simple anatomy, with padded feet and mitten like hands. Its only distinguishing feature was a pair of eyes that were silver, like orbs of liquid mercury that reflected Emmaline's face through them like a mirror.

"Hero, Please. Your arrival was fore-told. You must come to pro-tect our village, and erad-icate a great evil." Spoke the creature in an offbeat tongue, bringing emphasis to the wrong syllables and sounds.

The creature turned its head to indicate to Emmaline. Across the valley was a village where huts were carved from red onion shaped bulbs growing out the ground.

-From Marcus' point of view-

Emmaline became difficult to see as she ascended the paper steps. Moments after she faded from view, the bright lights and spinning pages stopped as abruptly as they started. The book collapsed back into a tiny journal, the stone resetting itself into the cover. The small book fell two stories landing gem-side up in the middle of the floor with a sharp thump.

Natevar picked up the journal, which gave off a small amount of smoke. It was no longer latched shut, however. He opened it to the first page and Marcus saw that the inside was blank. This was short lived, however as words began to appear on the page; as if written by an invisible pen, describing Emmaline's arrival into the alien landscape.

Natevar offered the journal to Marcus for him to hold.

"We can use this to keep track of her progress. Though, don't bother taking notes because the book creates a different trial for everyone, and resets after every trial. You can either stay here and read along to her ventures or come with me to meet the rest of the Hunters here. Your call." Natevar said.

~~~

"Don't worry, if we leave, she'll be perfectly fine. The book will return her when she's done. Even if she dies in there, she'll be perfectly fine when it returns her."

 

[Epiphany]

The transition from surreal paper-staircase-to-glowing-orb and lying down on a stone pedestal took the vampire by surprise. She didn't like it.

Nor did she like how utterly strange the world had become. A square shaped sun? Golden rain that wasn't rain? Even the grass was more like an artist's rendition of a child's bedtime story than anything one might actually see in the real world. At least her arms and armor were familiar. Impossible, of course, like the rest of this place but a familiar kind of impossible.

Clad in platemail, one arm lifted her sacred shield and admired its mirror-like polish, knowing she'd never see its like again. The other lifted her personal weapon of choice; a beautiful golden mace, ideal for bashing in heavy armor and smashing faces. Any number of Nex monsters had ways of shrugging off sword blows but most everything responded poorly to a solid blow to the face, in Emmaline's experience.

"Hero!"

Emmaline turned and barely restrained a grimace at the sight of the inhuman creature. She stayed her hand only because of how utterly inoffensive it looked. And because, surreal and dream-like as all of this was, she knew enough to accept that this was a test and not some monster deserving of destruction.

"Hero, Please. Your arrival was fore-told. You must come to pro-tect our village, and erad-icate a great evil."

"Very well," Emmaline said, inclining her head towards the creature even as it pointed out the village in need of defense. "As foretold, I will protect your village then." She set out for the huts, hopefully with the creature in tow. As they walked, she added, "You have a lovely place here." The quip passed her lips more as a way of trying to engage with this impossible place than out of a real desire to make small talk.

She gripped her mace and looked forward to a good, clean, brutal fight.

 

[JadeGreen17]

"Y-yes." The hairy creature managed to stutter out, quivering a bit. "This world is qu-uite lovely; all of it ma-de possible by our ex-cellent leader. It was h-he who prophecized that a hero would come to our aide"

The two made their way to the village. Many more of the hairy gray humanoids were seen here. The village was bustling with activity, Some worked in fields of green soil cultivating yellow and black stalks that sprouted from the ground. Others carried bundles twice their size of what appeared to be the leaves from the spinning trees on their shoulders. Numerous guards stood vigil, each to a cluster of citizens; carrying long spear-like implements that spiraled in black and white ribbons to a drill-like point.

The bulb like dwellings formed a nearly-closed circle around a central point in the village. Opposite the entrance to the inner circle was a large bulb, clad in decorations. Several more guards emerged in two rows, and their line parted to reveal a new creature stepping down the curling ramp from inside the oversized dwelling. It looked somewhat similar to wooly humanoids, but was taller, and had snowy white fir, with jet-black eyes, and appeared more muscular in stature. This creature had individual fingers, toes, and a slight snout with an obvious nose and mouth. Something akin a mane grew from its head and neck, giving it somewhat the appearance of a lion.

This new creature spoke without the hesitation of the other, but instead with an imposing, booming voice that commanded attention. When he spoke, all the farmers and workers stopped in their tracks and turned their attention to him.

"Great hero, you have arrived." The great being smiled "A horrible monster plagues our village. Its eyes are as blinding white as the uneclipsed sun and its fur as dark as the void that consumes it. Each time it comes, it kidnaps our own and takes them back to its wicked lair high on the mountain." (The being gestures to a spiraling rock formation wrapped in swirling clouds). "But you needn't head there. The beast comes here once per cycle, and will be arriving in but a moment. Succeed where my guards cannot, and bring this beast to justice."

Before offering Emmaline any opportunity to remark or question him, the being retreated into his hut with an eyre of nervousness. The platoon of guards followed shortly thereafter, and the ramp to the bulb dwelling curled up and closed like a door. The gray-colored being was also escorted in. He looked back at Emmaline briefly and shuddered but failed to say anything.

The sky began to grow dark and the sun became further eclipsed as the dark square grew, seeming to blot out the corona of the square sun. The many creatures scurried back into their dwellings which closed in a similar manner, though many still had open windows. A quartet of guards remained outside, two flanking Emmaline on either side. The bright colors seemed to wash away from the world as a black mist emerged from the woods. Emmaline stared into the woods as a pair of blindingly bright white points stared back. The creature seemed to be holding its ground and refused to approach the village...

 

[JadeGreen17]

-Intoduction: Feather & Charlie-

-Meanwhile, Somewhere in the western Chespake Terratories. A small town built into the rocky mountains. A cluster of brick buildings built around a train station and small hydroelectric dam along the river. The town is built around a market circle. Steamboats make their way up and down the river carrying timbers and iron feedstock, as well as passengers. One steamboat pulls into a dock by the side of town and people begin to unload.-

A tall, lanky but strong-looking man steps off. The man appears to be a fullblood atlantean. Though he appears to be perhaps in his early 20's, clean faced and full of vigor, his demeanor tells of a quarter millennia of life and experience with the order. He wears a heavy coat and trousers, concealing his hunter brigandine, and gives a warm smile as he steps off the steamboat.

An old woman, who couldn't be more different to the man then steps off. She is short, old and ragged, with long gray hair tied back in a messy bun. She carries a long wooden staff that appears to be burned on one end. She wears an ebony-black furry coat that is soft to the touch, along with a tall pointed hat. Her right eye has a purple iris much larger than the other squinty eye and bugs out of her head a bit too much.

The two are shadowed by an absolutely enormous man wearing a large trenchcoat, who is easily eight feet tall and very broad to the shoulder. His long frazzled hair only partially covering bony knobs protruding from the side of his head. Someone observing the monstrous man might notice a tail softly swaying about below his coat.

At the man's flank is a heavy-set dark skinned woman, wearing a wide brimmed hat. What appear to be pistols are holstered at either hip and she wears a heavy poncho concealing her set of hunter armor. She plucks some seeding grass growing from a crack in the concrete dock and places it between her teeth, before glancing around to see their final companion getting off the boat.

A tall, slender woman. She is almost completely wrapped in tight black clothing, but is draped in a dark gray cloak. Only a small patch of pale skin around her eyes, bearing blood-red irises is visible. She shades her eyes to the sun as she steps off the boat into the evening sunlight.

The five draw more than a few onlookers for the eccentricity of their group. Though the presence of the massive man seems to scare anyone out of talking within earshot. A few murmurs can be made out about freaks or a circus sideshow. The team makes their way through town, huddling in tight so that they can only hear one another. The Atlantean, walking in the middle, speaks first.

"Alright. Our seekers have reported that there are two beings here. One of them is a type-2 lycanthrope, and the other a Therianthrope."

"What's a Therianthrope?" asks the huge man in a deep voice.

"A very powerful and rare form of animal transformation of which many others are a derivative." Says the witch with a cackle. "One who can transform into any animal. Worry not, my eye can see them no matter what form they take." She says, pointing a knotted finger at her protruding purple eye.

"Come, we must find out the local's relationship to the creatures. Has anyone gone missing or been found dead?" said the atlantean gesturing to a local eatery. "We can ask around in here."

-+-

The five are now making their way outside of town, and the sun is thoroughly set with a dim yellow band along the western sky and millions of bright stars illuminating the desert night sky.

"It didn't sound to me like these creatures have been causing the locals any trouble. But we shall check up on them anyway, just to make sure nothing bad has happened here. Then, we can Especially with that therianthrope involved. I've been doing this for two hundred and sixty four years, and I can count every therianthrope I've seen on one hand."

"Didn't a hunter go missing here a few years back?" asked the cowgirl.

"I believe so. We don't know what happened, but there is a chance these two might not have the best view of us. We should be ready for a fight, just in case."

The witch produced a large vial of blood substitute potion from her cloak and handed it to the girl wrapped in bandages. She lowered the bandages around her face, revealing her triangular, bony face. She drank the potion in gulps, finishing the entire bottle quickly. A bit of the potion ran from either corner of her mouth as she ran her tongue across her fangs; fangs that seemed to be dropping in lower now. She then began to unwrap the bandages around her arms revealing they were mechanical. She studied the prosthetics for a moment before clenching her hand causing silver claws to emerge from the tips of her fingers.

The cowgirl pulled her would be firearms from her belt. She cocked the hammer as a miniature crossbow popped out of each mock pistol with a tiny mechanism of gears, levers and springs. She meticulously loaded six small bolts into each revolver mechanism before re-holserting the weapons in her belt.

The vampire retracted her claws. The witch hit her staff against the ground, and with that single hit, the burnt end ignited like a torch with a dim red fire, illuminating the group.

"They're close. I can feel it in my bones." Said the witch.

The five carried on to meet Feather and Charlie.

 

[Epiphany]

So the creature was afraid of her.

Emmaline chuckled to herself as they made their way into the village. This was an artful illusion and a remarkably self-aware one. She didn't know quite what to make of it. Certainly Nexicism hadn't really accounted for things like this. Obviously it wasn't human which made it a Nex. But Nexes were typically monstrous, usually from human origin and preoccupied with the destruction of human life everywhere.

The Nex didn't build villages. They certainly didn't farm. Even the most twisted of Necromancers wouldn't envision that scenario.

The ex-Paladin stopped before the taller, snow white monster and regarded it evenly. She didn't like these odds but at least she was armed and armored. ...And then it played along with the 'great hero' motif. The amusing thing to the vampire was that, had this fantastical land been populated with humans, she might actually believe this was real. Paladins dealt with horrible monsters plaguing villages all the time.

Which prompted the question. What was the purpose of this? This magical trial seemed to play to her strengths but it did so with an agenda; Nex in place of humans deserving of salvation. Was it meant to make her sympathetic to monsters?

"I will do so," Emmaline said, responding to the great being as she was probably expected to do.

This whole trial was created by an organization with questionable moral principles, with a willingness to compromise with evil. She'd agreed to work with them to help her destroy the evil they mutually agreed upon. Emmaline would have to be very wary that the 'mutual agreement' wasn't widened through their cunning plan.

The vampire watched the sky grow dark and the monsters farming the fields retreat to their shelters. She lifted her mace in hand, swung it experimentally a few times and rapped it against her shield once or twice, amused at the aura of nervousness projected by all of the denizens of this place. Then the black mist arrived and with it, those blinding lights for eyes. Emmaline met its gaze for a moment before blinking away in pain. Vampiric senses were sharper than her mortal senses had been but that wasn't always an advantage.

A moment passed with no movement on either side. Then the Knight Bannert chuckled, remembering that none of this was real. She rapped her mace on her shield once more, producing a gong-like sound, before waving both arms wide as if inviting an attack.

"Come and treat with me, you who plague this village, who take its people for your own purposes. Sit before me and I will do the same and we will have words. You will explain what you have done with these villagers, why you come here and what your purposes are. And I will listen to you, withholding my righteous right arm as you say your peace."

Pitching up her voice, she said "I am Emmaline Steele! I have heard the tale of these people! Now I will hear yours."

There. That should satisfy the high-minded, foolish sentiments of those orchestrating this illusionary test. And if the monster proved to be a monster...well, she was now a monster too.

 

[JadeGreen17]

-Emmaline's Book of Trials ctd-

The guards shuddered and readied their spiraling weapons as the beast slowly and purposefully made its way from the fog. It too was hairy, but its hair was long, ebony black and matted into tufts and tangles. The creature seemed hunched over, and walked with a limp, as though one of its legs had been badly injured long ago and never quite healed right. The creature stopped about five meters from Emmaline and tilted its head curiously. It smiled, grinning ear to ear revealing row after row of pointed white teeth, studying the Knight Barnett with its glowing white eyes.

The creature took a deep breath before talking in a hushed, hissing tone. "I... expected you to be played... the fool..." The creature paused. It's white serpentine tounge slithered in and out, weaving hypnotically between the beasts' teeth like a snake. "The great ruler of this village has... deceived you... and enslaved these people under the... oppression of his guardsmen, while I... have slipped into his village under the cover of night and... Guided... the enslaved to a safe place where he and his guards... dare not venture."

"You're not honestly going- going to hear this horrible beast out?" Stammered one of the guards, who was unsure if he should point his drill-spear at Emmaline or the beast.

"She- she has taken our young and our elders, and never returned them!" Hollered another, more brave one of the guards. "Don't be fooled by the beast's silver tongue! Destroy it as you have been prophecized to do so!"

 

[Epiphany]

Emmaline glanced at the pair of guards on each side of her and chuckled at their obvious fear and concern. "Are you worried it's going to kidnap me? Better monsters have tried. Are you worried it's going to kidnap you? Then take shelter with the rest of your warriors. Or are you worried it's going to harm more villagers? If so, why only the four of you to stand with me and not all of you? Be grateful I will hear it's side of the story. That's more time it's spending not kidnapping your people."

"Allegedly kidnapping," she amended, with a respectful nod to the black-skinned monster with white eyes.

"You say these people are enslaved?" Emmaline continued, speaking directly now to the beast. "I see no walls. I see no obvious exploitation. They have homes, work, their fields are full. The one who fetched me upon my arrival called you a great evil. There are an unusually large number of guards here, yes. One explanation is they enslave these people. Another is that they protect them against you."

"So, you claim you have the best interests of these people at heart. That you rescue them. Where do you take them? Do they freely consent to this journey? Would you offer proofs of your words by fetching one back here to confirm your account?"

Such pretense. It was tempting to speed up this trial by just killing everyone like the Nexican monsters they all were. But the Nightmare Hunters were probably expecting her to do exactly that. And she had no intention of giving them the satisfaction of playing to their prejudices.

Yet.

 

[JadeGreen17]

Emmaline's Trial Ctd

"Un... fortunately, I cannot bring one back as proof. Those I have taken are children... and elderly, weary from their labor and... travel. Perhaps instead... I can take you to the hidden village... Though... what proof do I have that you are not attempting to... doublecross me?"

"Consider this... I am more powerful... at night. The white lord is more powerful... in the day. He knows that I would only dare to come... at night, yet he guards his citizens during the day... What purpose would that serve other than to... keep them in line? If they were free, what reason would they have to... rebel-"

A new voice punctuated the night. The white lord stepped down from his palace alone and began walking towards the two, speaking as he walked. His eyes seemed even darker now, like a vacuum that sucked away the already dim light.

"Emmaline, What are you doing? Are you a fool? Negotiating with this monster? She is evil through and through, and instead of doing your duty to our people, you have stood idly by attempting negotiations and listening to its treacherous lies! You are to listen no longer, destroy the monster at once!"

"Fool! It is he... who is the liar... destroy him!"

The two beasts began to stare one another down as they moved closer to one another. The black beast stood up on its hind legs and was noticeably taller and more imposing, though the white beast was flanked by his four guards. While the guards seemed rather cowardly and weak, possibly inconsequential if this were to come to blows, it did look as though they would even the odds. The two stared into one another's eyes, one bearing a pair shining bright eyes and the others' eyes all consuming black. The white beast let out a throaty growl while the black beast made a low hissing sound. The two began circling around Emmaline, each looking for an advantage in this fight, and were clearly moments away from coming to blows, Yet refused to do so.

 

[Daniel Reaving]

The sound of footsteps rang out through the quiet streets of Acadia in the night. The clunking of armor and yells from paladins accompanying the foot steps. Ariana Jane and there parents ran swiftly down the streets ahead of the group of paladins all hand in hand. "They went this way!!!! Get the traitors!!" A enraged cry came from behind the 4 which made Ariana look back to see the mob of paladins all dressed in armor and out for blood, many of them people her family knew. Some even close friends. A look of terror started to slip over her face as her parents pulled her and Jane down a side alley. "Come on sissy we need to keep up!" Jane said worriedly as she grabbed her sisters hand to keep her running with there parents. "Come children this way!!" There mother said quickly as they took a sharp left down an even smaller alleyway. "Mama where are we going?! Why are our friends chasing us?!" Ariana asked her mother, tears on the edges of her eyes as she ran with her mother who refused to answer. Jane knew but refused to speak.

It didn't take long before the reached the edge of the city walls. "Mama please what's going on?!" Ariana demanded as she pulled on her mothers arm who looked to her. Bending down she brought her hands to Ariana's shoulders and gave her a comforting smile. "A lot of things are going on right now baby... but you'll know all in good time." She said to Ariana before glancing at Jane who was standing to the side. Softly she geastured jane over and hugged her and Ariana. "Come on its open!" There father suddenly said which made them separate from the hug to see a passage way in the wall. Then the yelling came again making the girls look back down the alley way before back to there mother. "Mama..." Ariana said which made her mother place her hands on Ariana's cheeks and kiss her forehead. "Go on baby girl we will be right behind you." And with that her mother pushed her gently towards the passage. Then she turned to Jane and pulled her close. "Promise me Bitala.... promise me you'll take care of her?" She asked Jane who smiled and nodded before hugging her tightly then heading after Ariana through the passage.

The girls didn't get far into the passage when they heard yelling and holarinf of other paladins once more. Both turning around in time to witness there mother and father draw there weapons as the mob closed in. Fear filling Ariana as she watched them start to fight off the mob she quickly started running back down the hole towards her mother and father but Jane quickly grabbed her. "Mama!! Papa!!" She yelled out to them. "Go Ariana!! Go!!! Find the nightmare hunters!!!!" Her father screamed out at her as he brought his sword down on a small beam to the side of the entrance, breaking it made rocks at the entrance crumble down and block it off leaving the girls with one last glimpse of there parents as they were grabbed by the mob. Ariana dropped to the floor crying, accompanied by her sister who was hugging her tight. "Come on sissy we need to go." She said softly as she gently pulled her sister to her feet and took her hand, leading her down the dark passage way.

It took a couple hours but soon the two girls found a door at the end of the passage. Pushing it open they found them selves in a deep lush forest. Seeing the tall trees instinctively making the two hug each other close as they looked around. "Where do we go sissy?" Ariana asked Jane who just stared off into the woods. "I dont know sis... i dont know."

 

[JadeGreen17]

Intro Ariana+Jane

As the two wandered deep into the coniferous woods, heading north by the moonlight into the mountains that were north of Arcadia, the two failed to notice that they had surpassed an outer border. In the dark of night, a few stray rocks were inscribed with protective runes that would hardly be visible, even during the day. One of these runes triggered some equivalent of a magical alarm.

The Blindfolded Man, wherever he was in space and time was alerted to this alarm; someone had wandered into the outer range of one of his sanctuaries. Though he could not see in any traditional sense, he could tell whoever had just wandered into the sanctuary, seemingly was the reincarnated bearer of a chakra spirit. He knew that the chakra spirits were well known for their powerful and unique abilities, though on some level, it was simply a game to him; simply to see how many of the seven chakra spirit bearers he could manage to keep within his order at any one time. Though he didn't know who this person was or why they had wandered into his sanctuary. Unlike some of his previous initiates that he had kept tabs on, this one had appeared out of the blind. He wasn't even certain they would be a potential candidate, and he was the face of this order. He thought it best to make his appearance direct.

The wind seemed to pick up slightly, gently swaying the massive tree trunks that creaked and groaned with age in the breeze. Black sand began to swirl about in the night, creating a vortex, like a miniature black tornado. The Blindfolded Man appeared before the two girls, standing perched on his cane, balancing on one foot theatrically, holding his hat in his hand opposite the foot he was balancing.

He broke from the theatrics when he realized what was in front of him. On the spiritual plane he recognized Bitala. But on the mortal plane, the human form she had manifested was identical to that of the human she was bound to. Even the Blindfolded Man confessed to himself that this was somewhat bizarre. It was enough to be caught off guard by someone wandering onto temple grounds, but this was taking it to another level. Regardless, he always found it a tad rude to question another's eccentricities, and chose to offer a rather generic, if a bit stern welcome, not knowing the motivations of his guests.

"Hello my dear girls, a nice night for a walk?
seems that you've passed through my magical lock.

You've caught me off guard, that I'll confess
Strangers on my land tend to cause me some stress.

So I must ask; what brings you out here?
Wish to harm my fine friends, that's what I fear."

 

[Epiphany]

Emmaline felt a flicker of amusement at the monster's initial excuse, quickly replaced by surprise at its offer for her to accompany it back to this hidden village. Obviously a potential ambush. But maybe not. If it'd planned to lure her into a trap in its lair, it would have approached this initial encounter differently. It would have tried talking first. No, the monster had expected her to just attack it. So if it was wiling for her to visit this village, there probably was a village.

Then she openly chuckled at its caution. "I arrived in this place with what you see, my sanctified mail, my shield of faith and my mighty right arm of righteousness here. You have no more than the chief of this village has; only my word, when I give it. And I will give you this much; my interest is in the truth and in preserving the innocent. I don't trust you but I don't trust this village's chief either. I am not a deceptive creature to doublecross. If I oppose you, I will do so directly and to your face."

Emmaline seriously considered the next line of reasoning. It could be a lie of course. It was a damning observation if true.

But then the village chief stepped in and complicated everything. Much to the Paladin's amusement. The fact that the souls at stake belonged to monsters and were likely magical illusions anyway gave her a level of detachment she would not have enjoyed otherwise. It certainly gave her enough objectivity to realize the theoretical stalemate these two faced. Each sought her loyalty.

She really expected to have grown bored with this by now. The remarkable, breathtaking detail of this illusion occupied her senses, though, and the surprising (if unnecessary) complexity of the moral test she faced here kept her attention. So she shook her head as she stood between them, then pointed her mace towards one of the village huts.

"People of this village, show yourselves!" Hers was a voice trained to command, able to carry across a battlefield, and it brooked no disobedience. While she waited (hopefully) for the villagers to emerge, the Paladin considered the leaders of both sides as they circled her.

"I have no reason to believe either of you. And I see only one obvious path to the truth; the people themselves. You've both made accusations. Let's hear from them directly. The one with nothing to hide will welcome the inquiry while the liar will reveal themselves. Which will each of you prove to be?"

A large part of the Paladin hoped it provoked one of them to violence. Honestly, if they both attacked her, that would suit her too. She had no patience for word-smithing or deception and the sooner she could provoke them to be the Nex they were, the sooner she could smash their skulls in.

As Psalm 12 said, 'When the righteousness path cannot be seen before you, consider your imperative'. Her imperative was to extinguish evil and protect the innocent. The former would reveal themselves shortly. The latter might not exist...but a part of her considered the possibility that her actions here might make a positive difference in the lives of these villagers and found that an appealing thought.

 

[JadeGreen17]

Emmaline's Trial ctd

Both beings held their ground; hampered by their better judgement, they refused to attack one another. They both looked on with nervous anticipation as one by one the bulbous huts peeled open and the townspeople and guards stepped out of their dwellings into the town square. Even in their alien faces, Emmaline could see them struggling to muster the courage to do so. Eventually everyone had formed a circle around the three, with a hundred pairs of silvery eyes looking in at them.

"Well go on, tell her. Tell them about your great leader, and the lengths he has gone to to protect this village." He barked after several tense seconds of ear-shattering silence. The citizens remained quiet. Some were visibly quivering, though it was unclear if it was because they were pressured into lying, or because in the presence of the black beast.

"He-he is the kindest- most honorable - leader, and means no ill will agianst any of us. This horrible beast has kidnapped our young and our - elderly." Stammered one of the citizens nervously after a few seconds. Just like her first meeting with the creatures, it stammered oddly, enunciating the wrong syllables of each word.

The white-fired beast smiled and gestured to the creature. "There you have it." He growled. "Now destroy-"

"It's true! He-" Shouted another one of the creatures wildly. This one was much smaller, an adolescent. At that moment he was tackled by another citizen who smothered his nonexistent mouth and prevented the creature from speaking.

"Madness! That child has been hypnotized by that beasts' wicked charms, destroy it in this second before it can do any further harm to my people!" Growled the white creature.

"Lies!" Spat back the other creature. "That child speaks... the truth, let him give his testimony to the hero. Then you will know... who it is that must be... destroyed."

Frustratingly, neither being had yet made a move. Though both creatures were obviously very short on patience, but they both recognized that if they opened combat with the other, it would put the other in a morally superior position. A position in where Emmaline would enter combat and turn the tide in favor of the more defensive. Deep down though, it seemed that both beings were aware they were illusions, aware of their purpose, and they awaited her final choice with curious anticipation.

 

[Daniel Reaving]

It felt like years As the girls wandered quietly through the dark woods quiet as can be to try and keep there presence hidden from anything else that could be out there. Though soon the girls unknowingly passed into a sacred area and almost immediately came to regret there path as the wind picked up a little making the trees groan and creak menacingly. Then black sand started to float into the air. Converging into a small tornado like shape the girls hugged each other and watched the form in the dark with fear. Then a man materialized from the sand. Standing on one foot and a cane in a rather goofy fashion though they still stared with fear, then he spoke. Talking about how it was a nice night for a walk and all and how they entered his domain, then he asked if they meant him or his friend harm. The question puzzled Jane but neither reacted, all they did was stare at the man while hugging one another close to each other for comfort, there eyes frozen on him hints of fear in there eyes as they remained silent for now.

 

[JadeGreen17]

Jane+Ariana intro ctd

The blindfolded man studied the two with a brief pause, uncertain about why they were so scared. Sure his masking technique was not perfect; still allowing his jagged teeth and gray skin to show through. His choice to appear as a short, rotund man had always been a deliberate one; one made to ensure his appearance to humans was as nonthreatening as possible.

He considered simply hitting them both back over the border with his signature attack; but that seemed unwarranted. These girls were intimidated even by his relatively nonthreatening demeanor; surely this was just a convincing deception by some Paladins (the girls were in Arcadian clothing after all) in an attempt to locate and infiltrate the temple. That seemed unlikely.

He knew not of the human, but he had met Bitala before; many times in previous incarnations over the thousand years his order had stood. He knew Bitala put on a front to those around her; an outer layer representing the personality that her human host manifested. But inward, she retained, at least in part, a small part of herself that remained constant through her many reincarnations, and some of those previous incarnations had become members of this very order. Though it had been a long while since he had seen Bitala, several lifetimes, and was unsure if her memory of him had survived that long. The idea that Ariana didn't know Jane was her chakra spirit never crossed her mind; he had assumed she knew exactly what she was.

He turned directly to Jane and spoke.

"Bitala, my old friend, how do you do?
Your spirit's the same but your body is new.

Don't tell me now, you forgot your old friend
I'd really hate for our bond to come to an end.

Let her hear it from you, let her take it to heart
I mean you no harm, I know you're that smart."

 

[NineTimes]

Feather and Charlie walked down the path in a deep conversation.
"Of course I know stealing is bad, I give it back all the time though!" Charlie said in an exasperated tone. Feather signed something that made Charlie sigh.
"You're right. Though I choose to follow on my own free will so it's still me giving the things back." Charlie huffed, Feather continued to sign. Charlie held up their hands in a sign of defeat.
The duo turned around the corner to face the squad. Feathers looked over at Charlie and signed quickly.
"I don't know them, why would you think that?" Charlie said staring back at Feather. Feather signed with his eyes staring at the squad. Charlie shrugged and watched as Feather took a journal out and flipped through various pages of poems. Feather scribbled something down and turned the journal to face the Squad in front of them.

"Do I know you?" The paper said in clear, cursive lettering that had clearly been self taught. Charlie snorted a laugh and earned a small huff from Feather.

 

[Daniel Reaving]

(Sorry it's not longer I've had a super long day and litteraly can barely think XD)
The girls still stared at him as he spoke Ariana giving him a puzzled look as he spoke to her sister who acted the same. "Who are you speaking too?" Jane asked while at the same time giving him a look that said 'we will talk later it's complicated'. Still holding onto Ariana as she as well looked back to the old men before him she decided to speak. Clearly afraid she stammered and spoke quietly. "P-please sir..... Th-they took our parents... t-the paladins did." She said softly to him almost in a small whisper out of fear of the stranger

 

[JadeGreen17]

-Feather & Charlie-

"Good evening" said the tall atlantean hunter in a calm, charismatic tone, pausing for a moment and awaiting a response before continuing to speak. He gave a slight bow to the two. The rest of his squad stood by in something of a loose formation, two of them on either side. Nobody even seemed particularly agitated on part of the Hunters, as though this were simply business-as-usual.

"We're simply here to get documentation on your presence, and ensure you aren't causing any real trouble for the locals. My compatriot here (gesturing to the tall vampire) says she overheard you talking about some minor theft. Though we are Nightmare Hunters, not the local law enforcement; and that is not our duty to report you for minor crimes... If however, we determine you to be a threat to the people of this village and surrounding area, we will be required to get involved. Lucky for you two, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Therefore, all I must ask is for but two things. One, may we have your names for our records; and two; if either of you are willing to share any knowledge of any other supernatural occurrences in the region surrounding this town, perhaps those that might warrant our involvement?"

-Ariana & Jane-

Meanwhile, halfway around the world, but in a not too dissimilar corner of remote, heavily wooded mountainous country; the Blindfolded man continued his dialogue with Ariana and Jane.

"That's quite the predicament, you failed to say
though worry not, a friend's on his way.

Be afraid of him not, we are not mean
Though because of your paladins, we cannot be seen.

Guide you to the temple, when he arrives soon,
you will climb the great mountain by the light of the moon."

A cloud of bats circled the clearing between the trees, leathery wings beating against the cold mountain air. They spiraled downward in a double helix, swarming together on a nearby rock. The dimly lit outline of a tall, lithe figure appeared. Tasarist; from the temple. He drew a handle from his belt not but a moment later. Metal wafers extended out on intricate mechanisms of tiny gears and levers, seamlessly combining to form the blade of a dagger. But upon examining the scene his face became contorted with confusion.

"Tasrist my dear boy, lower your blade
come and see, new friends I have made. (gently hooking his cane around the hand with the dagger, pulling the arm down)

The girl carries Bitala, the spirit of love.
They require your guidance to the temple above.

My thanks are with you, now get on the run
Don't want to see you get fried by the sun."

With that, the Blindfolded man disappeared quickly and unceremoniously. He had felt sympathy for them, and could have teleported them to the safety of the temple himself, but they were already on temple grounds, only a few hours travel. Though he felt as though perhaps Tasrist would be more sociable. He was after all, a being of Evernesi, and even after a thousand years of living among humans, he could never truly be on their wavelength. The rhyming curse was also frustrating for explaining things eloquently in these more complicated situations.

Tasrist sheathed his dagger, the blade retracting as neatly as it had extended. and chuckled, burying his face in his palm seemingly embarrassed on behalf of the Blindfolded man.

"He tried to explain everything to you with those stupid rhymes, didn't he? Whatever- If he wants me to do it, I'll take his word for it. Come on, you two look like you could use a good meal and a place to sleep more than anything else. The temple's only about an hour up that way, I'll walk you there"

Tasrist gestured up the mountain along an overgrown trail, and began with a brisk pace.

 

[Epiphany]

Whoever had created this illusion was outstanding. Despite their inhuman faces, Emmaline could see what she'd seen in other situations like this. Fear of the lord, fear of the monster, doubt in a newcomer whose arm might not be strong enough to save them. But there was no other way but to give them the choice, a chance to save themselves.

The spectacle of revelation, from terrified lie to desperate confession, only made the ex-Paladin shake her head. Of course they were probably both liars.

"I'll make this simple," she said to the two monsters of light and darkness. "Here are your choices."

"First choice, I'll listen to that child's testimony. Then I'll ask the testimony of every villager here and then I'll ask your guards about their real duties. And then...I'll let them decide what I should do about you. For my righteous right arm has never failed in battle and everyone here is very well aware that my coming was prophesied."

"Second choice, you," she pointed at the black beast, "Will return every villager you've rescued. Once these people are reunited with their own, you're free to go on the understanding that they don't need you any more. You will even have my thanks. The same goes for you," she said, pointing at the white beast. "Both of you leave this village, right now, never to return on pain of my inevitable return to deliver this village should you ever approach again. They're better off on their own and I'll make certain they remain that way."

"Third choice?" Emmaline flipped her mace around in her hand, spinning it several times to limber up the arm. Then she smiled and there was no mistaking which choice she hoped they'd make. "I give this whole situation up as being impossible to verify and save this village by just killing you both now, at the same time if that's how you want it. Maybe the villagers, maybe even the guards will pitch in, seeing their chance for freedom. Maybe they don't. I don't really care either way."

"Testimony now, exile now, or your destruction now. Make your choice."

 

[NineTimes]

Charlie sneezed into their sleeve, and Feather scribbled something down. Feather turned it around, the previous message had been crossed out, and newly written down was 'I am Alex De Vasques, and the idiot next to me is Charlie Konfust.' He then wrote down a few more things. 'They like taking stuff that's not theirs (in their words) but I alway make them give it back, don't worry!' He showed giving a warm smile. Charlie began to slowly walk backwards, believing that they wouldn't be noticed. They turned around and was grabbed by the collar.

They turned around to face the squad. Feathers signed at them to stay put.

 

[JadeGreen17]

Emmaline's Trial (End)

Both of the creatures stopped. Guilt was written all over the white creatures face, though the black one still appeared somewhat frustrated. "The second choice..." hissed the black one, still sounding somewhat frustrated with having to make this decision. After all, it recognized the white being would not agree with the first, and the third would only result in her swift end. The white creature seemed to agree as well; even if that agreement only came in the form of a slight bow. The creature scampered off in the night.

Some time later, night had turned to day; or whatever semblance of day the eternally-eclipsed square sun gave in this bizarre illusion. The black creature returned through the woods; no intimidating black mist following it. Instead, it was shadowed by about two dozen more of the gray wooly creatures. Some seemed elderly, with drooping eyes and shaggy fur that grew black and white in a few places; and others looked like the young who with wide eyes and a characteristic untrained waddle in their walk.

"Is this... all of them?" hissed the black monster.

"It is." Returned the white one.

The two groups of creatures ran for one another, and families embraced their loved ones with cries of joy and relief. Emmaline looked around, but both the black and white creatures had either made a stealthy exit; or simply vanished from the scene. An aura of peace and happiness fell over the illusion as the eternally eclipsed sun finally slid out from behind its diamond shaped veil, the two moving in opposite cardinal directions across the sky. The full sun caused the pea-pod grass to begin to bloom, the pods peeling open to reveal spiral threads that unwound as they drifted in the alien breeze.

One of the creatures, that Emmaline only recognized by the more subtle inflections in its voice, was the creature that had first guided her to the village.

"Thank you" Said the creature calmly. Its studder and bizarre annunciation gone. "We must stay here, and continue to live in peace. You must return to your own realm; I sense you will continue to bring peace and balance to the world there."

Meanwhile, back in the temple, Natevar and Marcus (who apparently have been sitting here oddly silent for since the trial began :p) find that the story written by the invisible pen has come to its conclusion. The book shot from Marcus' hand and flew back to the center of the room, where it re-opened into a swirling light and spiral of pages. The spotlight shown down on the center of the room, where Emmaline began to appear. To her, it felt as though she were waking up from what had been an exceptionally long and vivid dream. When she returned, the Blindfolded Man was there as well, having just returned from the border to the sanctuary a moment ago. How had he known the trial had finished. Surely, he must share some deep magical connection with the book.

"Your bravery and wit, they are very real.
I'm honored to have you, Emmaline Steel."

The blindfolded man gave a smile and a short bow, removing his hat, revealing his head of shiny slick black hair. He then tapped his cane twice to the center of the floor, directly below where the book still hovered. Natevar looked around as though he expected something to happen that hadn't. The blindfolded man also turned around and looked confused, then turned to Seigns.

"What? I didn't mess with it." He replied innocently.

"It was working last time." Grunted Natevar.

The blindfolded man tapped his cane once more to the center of the floor. This time a little more forcefully. The flow of water from the spring ceased a moment later. The mountian about them made some very bizzare gurgling sounds, like ancient plumbing. Without warning, Orange magma began to ooze from the holes in the sanctuary wall. With a hiss, it filled the pools that surrounded the main room and eventually tracing the lines of the geometry in the floor and draining in the center. The heat in the room was almost too intense to bear. Seigns was forced to lift up his robe to avoid it catching fire. The mountain let out another gurgle as the water then returned, spilling over the magma that protested with hissing and steam, filling the room with a thick, hot mist. Eventually the water found its way back through the geometry, cooling the magma as it went.

Once no dim glow of the magma remained, the water began to drain away. In the center of the room, a small pillar rose above the floor, grinding and scraping against the surrounding floor as it did. The pillar was composed of a reddish orange crystalline silt, about twenty centimeters in diameter and a meter and a half high. It did not seem to be any more solid than a sand castle extruded by a bucket. Water started to pool around the base of the pillar, crumbling its foundation into a small pile. When it crumbled, two shiny and silver objects became visible in the red silt, which began to drain away through the center of the floor along with the water.

One of the objects was a small steel box, trimmed with maroon leather and silver fixings, about fifteen centimeters by fifteen by twenty-five, with an unusual locking mechanism consisting of a small rune and a series of circular dials. The other was what looked like a handle. It was long enough for both hands, and straight, with the same maroon-colored leather forming the grip of the handle. Two sapphires were inset on the handle. Natevar dusted the red silty sand from the objects as best he could and handed them to Emmaline.

The silver box gave a quiet click and the dials spun the moment it was placed in Emmaline's hand. The lid was no longer tightly locked. The two sapphires on the handle seemed to have give in them, as though they could be depressed like buttons. Both objects seemed much heavier than they should have been.

"Those are yours now. They will only activate for you." Natevar said. "Welcome to the order ~ Repid!" he shouted to the balcony in the cavern opposite the passage to the tesseract room, where he stood leaning against a wall with his arms folded. "Show this young lady around, and finish with showing her where her quarters are." He said with exasperation, as though he had previously messed up many simple requests such as this.

Repid rolled his eyes and gestured for Emmaline to follow him. "Come on." He sighed.

-Will write response to Charlie and Feather when I get home from college-

 

[JadeGreen17]

-Feather+Charlie-

Charlie looked to his shoulder to see a paladin clad in platemail.

"Are you- By the direct order of Cheif Paladin Lilith Valentine, stop right there, foul creature of Nex. Prepare to be slain." Said the captain of the paladin squad in an authoritative tone. He was a large man, with graying hair in a short, neatly trimmed beard, a square jawline and cold bluish gray eyes. The man would have been quite handsome in his youth, and had aged well. HIs movements were still swift and youthful, despite appearing to be in his late fifties or early sixties.

The atlantean Hunter stepped between the two. He dropped his jacket on the ground, revealing his concealed armor. The Paladin didn't flinch, as his squad began to flank him. "Oh, and you must be some of those traitorous Nightmare Hunters I've heard so much about- looks like it's my lucky day..." He sneered, eyeing the vampire, witch and beastlike man amongst their ranks.

"It is the duty of my order to maintain peace between the mortal and supernatural world." The atlantean hunter spoke with a calm inflection, as though he had this exact exchange many times before. " These two have caused no harm, and are under our protection."

"Damn paladins, have to come and complicate a simple patrol mission." Grunted the hunter with the crossbow-pistols.

"It is my duty to eliminate these foul creatures that infest our world. These heinous Nex invade our beautiful world and attempt to take what rightfully belongs to humanity, are all of you hunters really so blind to that fact?" Yelled the lead paladin. He calmed himself a bit. "It would be unwise to try and cross me, you're outnumbered two to one." He bragged, gesturing to the half-dozen platemail-clad warriors at either side of him.

The massive man stepped up next to the hunter. He threw off his cloak, revealing his heavyset and hairy body from the waist up. The man began to snarl and yell uncontrollably, clenching and unclenching his fists. His teeth began to morph into fangs, and the bony knobs on his head grew into a wide rack of antlers with painful cracking and groaning sounds not unlike timbers in a forest. Claws the size of railway spikes sprouted from his fingers and coarse black hairs grew all over his body as his musculature grew. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, and upon reopening them they glowed a cold blue with narrow slit-like pupils.

The man let out a yell, no a roar. A deafening roar that shook the entire valley. The sound instilled a deep, primal fear in everyone present; even the Hunters that were sided with the man looked to have been shaken to the very bone. One of the paladins on the end of the formation dropped his weapon and fled the scene right then and there. The beast then reached for his belt, now exposed that his cloak had dropped and plucked an oversize handle from it. He squeezed down on the handle as gears and levers extended forth, extending down a shaft that assembled it forming together seamlessly at one end a large hammerhead with clangs and squeaks.

The Paladins took formation in two rows. The first row took position, shields unfurling from the gauntlets on their armor in much the same way the hammer just had, though the transformation was less complex. They lowered their spears. The second row readied their bows. This was an old, and basic Paladin formation, but was known to be effective. The beastial man charged down the formation solo, the half-dozen arrows that landed in his torso did little to slow him down. He drove his antlers into she shield wall, bucking up, sending one of the Arcadian warriors flying several meters into the air and landing in a nearby bush. He swung his hammer to the side, hitting another Paladin square in the gut. Her paladin armor, which was of the highest quality, dispersed the blow, but she flying head-over-heels into the trunk of a large tree, which she bounced off of, leaving a small splatter of sticky red blood where her jaw had connected with a knot in the tree.

The other Paladins moved in, driving their spears and arrows into the beast, causing it to yell out in pain. The other hunters moved into the fight. The Atlantean charged the lead paladin. He drew a handle from his belt, and metal leaflets extended out before seamlessly forming into a blade that a moment later met the aging man's own sword. The two had a brief exchange, but the Hunters' quarter millennia of combat experience gave him an obvious advantage. He countered every swing with a practiced finesse, and returned every strike twofold to the paladin captain.

A duo of archers, realizing their commander was in trouble; turned their attention away from the beast and readied their bows to bring a swift end to the Atlantean, who didn't even notice their attack. Moments before they could release their arrows, both of their bowstrings were severed by bolts. The girl with the mock pistols smiled, and spun each of them about her hand before ducking into cover as a thrown spear headed her way. She ducked and weaved behind trees and rocks, firing pinpoint shots disarming and crippling the warriors.

The elderly woman stepped into the fight. She stomped her long burning staff on the ground. Her jet-black cloak began to convulse and sway without breeze as feline silhouettes with piercing cold blue eyes broke free. By the time her cloak had disintegrated into about a dozen catlike creatures that could best be described as miniature panthers. With a simple gesture by the hand of the woman, the cats closed in on one of the arcadian warriors. He managed to eliminate several of them with swift sword strikes, but was eventually overwhelmed and dogpiled by the creatures.

The Paladins attempted to regain their formation; with it clear they were on the losing side. They formed a second sheild wall. The beast attempted to break through, but its strength was waining due to its heavily injured state. The slender vampire dissolved into a cloud of bats. She had mechanical arms; and through semblance, each bat had a tiny pair of mechanical wings made up of steel rods and cloth. The bats swarmed about the battlefield with a dexterity and agility that could only come through many decades of experience, weaving low between the legs of the fighters, then high, above the trees before reforming mid flight to where the vampire dropped down, attempting to sink her claws into a Paladin, but meeting only the armor, which she carved two deep sets of scratches in before being knocked back, forced to her side of the battlefield. The Arcadians had taken a beating, and lost about half their force, but now that they were aware of what they were up against and had taken a proper defensive formation, they intended to wear the Hunter party out in the long haul.

"Go! Run! Don't worry about us!", shouted the Atlantean Hunter, attempting to rally his forces to break through the Paladin's defenses.

 

[Daniel Reaving]

The girls were sceptacle at first but the thoughts of a good meal and a bed were to much for the two and they took off after the being that was designated to lead them to the temple. Quickly catching up to his side Ariana and Jane too a place on each side of him. It didn't take long though for the fatigue of what had happened to catch up with the girls. Quickly they had seemed to slow in there step, Ariana's eyes growing heavy as her and Jane both seemed to slough in there poster. Not five minuets later Ariana spoke up. "Can you carry me? Please I'm tired." She asked softly as she managed to catch up to the man and grab his wrist, pulling on his arm gently to get him to stop and pay attention to the two.

Staring up at him with dreary eyes she leaned against him, blinking once or twice as exhaustion set in. Then Jane followed suit. Tugging his other arm with the same tired look that Ariana had hopping he would carry the two for an hour or two at least so that they could rest.

 

[JadeGreen17]

Ariana+Jane Ctd

Vampiric strength or not, Tasrist knew his lithe frame was not up to the task of carrying both girls up the mountain. He found the task of escorting these two somewhat demeaning, and he yearned to get back to his work. He also had a not-so-secret desire to get back to witness the conclusion of Emmaline's trial and see what weapon had been awarded.

He sighed, and a thought crossed his mind; someone who would probably enjoy the company of these two much more. He smiled slightly, brushing his long ebony hair from his eyes and turning to the girls.

"Wait here just a moment; I'll be back with help. Don't get scared if you hear someone coming; nothing gets on these grounds without us knowing." He spoke; disapparating into a double helix of bats before the twins could respond. The flock flew with intention and swiftness and little deviation straight up the mountain a ways.

Fifteen or so minutes passed, and something approached. A huge gray and white wolf burst into view from higher up on the trail. The wolf was clad in a simple cloth robe, not unlike a nightgown, and proceeded to stand upright in a surprisingly humanlike way. The creature had slung a small burlap satchel around its waist and looked bleary-eyed; as though it had been awoken from sleep. The double helix of bats (which seemed to be a signature of his) returned and Tasrist reappeared.

"I told you." Tasrist said in a hushed tone directed at the wolf. " Two little girls. They just- (the vampire drew an imaginary rainbow over his head with his hands) wandered on the temple grounds. One of them's actually Bitala and the Blindman wants us to take them up."

The wolf spoke softly, with the caring inflection of a mother figure. "Oh, you poor things, what are you doing all the way out here in the middle of the night?" She queried, scooping each of the twins into one arm.

"Their names?" the wolf asked. Tasrist looked confused.

"What are their names?" She pressed the question.

"Blind man didn't tell." Tasrist said, rolling his eyes.

-+-

"Well I'm Tho'mer." The wolf said, "-and this is Tasrist" she continued, gesturing to the vampire. "Sorry if he seems a bit rude; sometimes he thinks more about his work than he does about others. Come on, it's getting cold out, and very late, let's not lose a moment and get you back to the temple."

The wolf made swift progress; greater speed than any human could achieve, carrying the twins with little trouble. Tasrist kept pace easily, moving with catlike agility, leaping from boulders and running briskly beside them. The two continued up the mountain through the cloud layer and above the tree line. It grew very cold and the howling of wind became evident until they arrived at what seemed like an unassuming boulder in the side of the mountain. Tho'mer set the girls down in the snow.

"Now then" Tasrist said. "If your going to stay here, you should know how the front door works. The Blindman; or the Blindfolded Man created these temples to be un-breachable. He wanted a magical defense; a hidden entrance with a secret to opening it that no outsider would ever even think to try." He reached into one of the many small pouches on his armor and pulled out a ruffled bird feather "This rock- will move if you tickle it." He said with a smile. He offered the feather to the twins. "Go ahead, give it a nice tickle; right here." (gesturing to an unassuming pit in the rock)

 

[Epiphany]

Emmaline was quite content with how the trial concluded. Upon waking from the 'dream', the vampire blinked her eyes slowly and felt for a moment a sense of profound loss. No longer did her platemail rest on her shoulders or her mace weight her waist. Whatever those Nexian illusions were, they'd been in trouble and she'd freed them from oppressors. And that was a feeling she missed, had never thought to feel again and its absence hurt more with knowing it anew.

Only in an illusion would she ever again be the righteous hero she'd dreamed of being since a little girl.

The blindfolded man's praise woke the vampire from her reverie and she gave him a solemn nod, followed a moment later by an uncomfortable cough and a "The honor is mine" from her lips. She then watched in mute curiosity as the man tapped the floor and finally evoked magma out of the walls. Between the heat and the horrendous humidity, Emmaline shifted from place to place, trying to find somewhere comfortable to stand. Though she didn't feel heat and cold much anymore, that orange glowing liquid could very easily destroy her. Apparently she still had enough of a will to self preservation to avoid its fiery promise.

Her fascination grew as the pillar arose from the floor, leaving behind that small steel box and straight leather-grip handle. She accepted them from Natevar graciously and eyed them before tucking the handle into her belt and the silver box under one arm. Both could be inspected in more detail later. She had a tour to accept first.

The ex-Paladin fell into step behind Repid, mildly curious with how this tour would proceed given the red-haired boy's obvious dislike for her. She didn't bother speaking to him, though, unless to respond to direct questions.