Ruin's Dawn: Conquering Hive

[Balthazar Black]

35 Saun, 721

Balthazar was not sure he entirely agreed with Nir'wei's handling of the Explorer and the decisions the Labyrinth was giving them but it didn't really matter until the Labyrinth lashed out against them. If it had the sentience to be reasoned with and to provide them alternate options because it had been reasoned with, it probably had the sentience to be angered or irritated. It didn't really matter in the bigger picture though because the actions had been taken and the words had been said. Arguing over them would only prolong their journey and Balthazar had seen how that could lead to catastrophe in the past. After hearing the responses of the others and watching Tor'ree take a similarly aggressive approach to speaking with the Explorer, Balthazar said, "No one is going to kill you." With a stern look towards Tor'ree.

"I didn't bring him back from the edge so that someone could get angry and push him over it." It was important that he make that known because if someone did harm the Explorer, Balthazar suspected things would only get worse for them. Then Balthazar waited for Nir'wei to explain what his wolves and spirits had found. The reports were more concise and helpful than his final notion that the group could go wherever they wanted and when he found the right path he would get the artifact. As far as Balthazar understood it, that meant the right path was the path of the hunt because it was Faldrun's minion's bringing the artifact according to Raskalarn. Balthazar had seen some of what Nir'wei's wolves could do in the past but he knew how quickly time could change things and it had been a while since he'd seen Nir'wei in action.

Nir'wei suggested that doing something unexpected was the only way to avoid the Labyrinth's plans for them and while Balthazar agreed that it was a way to do just that, he did not see why they should be concerned with the Labyrinth's intentions. Thus far Balthazar hadn't really perceived anything it did as outwardly aggressive towards them. It showed them things they did not like, but that seemed to be the way things like this went. Truth wasn't considered a villain though Balthazar hated what the spirit had shown him. Why should the Labyrinth be? Still, arguing would get them nowhere.

When Nir'wei suggested that what they were looking for was right in front of their eyes and they simply couldn't see it because the Labyrinth did not want them to see it, Balthazar's brow furrowed and he gave Elisabeth a confused look. Were they not looking for Faldrun's minions? Wasn't the Labyrinth was simply the place the minions were drawing power from? Three doors began to seem like two options- do what Raskalarn asked or not, which seemed a little more clear now that they'd been standing in one place for so long. Elisabeth spoke gently to the Explorer about how no matter what choice they made they'd have some form of self-exploration and Balthazar's gaze shifted from the path of the Hunt to the path to the Center.

"That's not entirely true. With our rings, if you and I separate, we should be able to find our way back to each other." Balthazar pointed out as he raised the hand with his silver ring on it. The link let them know when the other person needed help and which direction they were in. In theory, if they split into two groups with Balthazar in one and Elisabeth in the other, the duo would be able to help the groups reunite wherever they went. However there were also Nir'wei's wolves and spirits which had already gone down each path and could probably keep diverging groups equally connected. Balthazar didn't want to split the group. He really didn't want to split the group, but he also didn't want to stand around shouting at the walls to show them what they'd come for. They could have been pulled any thousand directions when they went through the first door and instead they were given clearer choices than probably anyone else who'd come through the Labyrinth.

It was hard for Balthazar to know if there was a right way to respond to the Labyrinth, but he had just about figured out how he was going to when Elisabeth started speaking to the little cat the Labyrinth had given them. He thought it was strange, but he'd known her long enough that it was only a few mental steps before he could assume what she was thinking. He didn't think it would manifest in such a way but Elisabeth already spoke to the cat so he didn't say anything. Spirits were strange and looked strange- no offense to Idalos's best flaming rock. Whatever the Labyrinth was, it was certainly strange as well so maybe talking to the cat would work out. Balthazar moved to the path of the hunt and opened the door but he did not go through it. Instead he held it open and looked back at Ralgar, who's suggestion about them getting trapped convinced Balthazar to make sure at least one door stayed open.

"If the wolves can't recover the artifact from the enemy, we should. Your vision will help if the underground means it's dark." Balthazar pointed out the last bit to Tor'ree specifically but he was addressing everyone in group with opposable thumbs.

[Ralgar Warborn]

As the group discussed ideas, and some threats seemed to be made, Ralgar took a look at the room they were stood in. Whichever direction they took didn't matter just yet, he thought for a moment. If they were here now, what was here? What else could be here that they could use, or something they were missing? If Nir'wei was right, and they had to refuse to pick a path, then they needed more than just a hope and a prayer for something to work. They needed to find whatever it was that kept them here.

When Balth warned not to harm the man, Ralgar nodded to him. In all of his time outside of Scaltoth he had met a large group he liked, and he could safely add Balthazar to that list. In the brief time they had met he had a clear and calm head on his shoulders. In a situation like this, keeping calm was what was important. Following that lead, the man started to search the room around himself, moving across the room to see if anything seemed out of place.

As he did so, people spoke, Ralgar taking in as many of the words as possible. The one that stuck out, however, was Balthazar's final ones. "Agreed" he said with a low tone, eyes glazing over the room for anything that seemed out of place. "This maze makes me uncomfortable, the sooner we leave the better. If that means we follow it's rules, to get to the end, so be it" he said quietly under his breath, keeping the club close to his side.

Nir'wei was searching through different parts of the maze, though Ralgar still didn't fully understand how he did it. When they had walked through Scaltoth and explored the ruins, Nir'wei had provided them with critical information from all corners of the ruins. Ralgar could only hope the same would be true now. Would his wolves see through the illusions? Or did they have their own illusions and worries to work through?

Whatever the answer was, the Mortalborn hoped he would be able to find something of use.

~~Haltunga~~ Common~~

[Tor'ree]

Tor’ree rolled her red eyes when the man said she was only half listening. Typical victim play to gain sympathy for others while taking up a bratty attitude sitting down. The woman wanted to grab her whip and crack him across his back to make him move and show them the right way to their enemies or the middle. There was nothing in her that wanted to trust the labyrinth or the man. But at the moment she appeared to have no other choice. When Balthazar told her to back off in no uncertain terms, the woman felt the urge to bare her teeth to him.

But instead, she moved back and leaned back against the wall watching the group while getting more aggravated. They were spending far too much time trying to get answers out of the madman. It was clear he was crazy and did not intend to truly help them. After all he had already made up his mind before even being able to see them clearly, they were the enemy. Why would he trust them to help the place he called home? Perhaps that was his plan to make them turn against each other by keeping them going in random directions.

“Fine, I won’t kill him. But I also don’t trust him. He has done nothing to earn trust after accusing us of being with Faldrun’s lackies then saying there was one path only for there to be three. However, I do trust you four. So, if you think it would be better to stay together then I will do that. If you believe it would be better to split up because of the rings Balthazar mentioned, then I will do that. I do not want to see anyone be hurt if we can stop it. Or at least none of us, now hurting the enemies would be nice,” Tor’ree said with a smirk.

It helped her to know that at least one of them truly did find some value in her being there. Even if her ability had hindered her more than necessarily help her. Taking a deep breath to focus and calm her nerves the woman remembered the night she had almost lost her familiar. She would not be put in that same situation again.

“As to my ability, I am able to see in total darkness as you would all see in the daylight. However, if there is any amount of light from a fire, a torch, the sun, or even moonlight; I will have a hard time keeping my eyes open. It causes my eyes to be sensitive to any light,” Tor’ree explained.

[Jackalope]

We can skip “Heroes” just for one day

!	Message from: Jackalope
	Filling in for Fate this round. Bear with me.

The Explorer greeted Tor’ree’s and Balthazar’s words with a pained sigh. ”You saved my life. I suppose that means I owe you some sort of debt. Under the circumstances, the best I could do to repay it is tell you what I know of the Labyrinth that I think might help you, and of the things that have recently transpired in it. This I have done, as best I can.” He looked especially at Tor’ree. ”…and though it pains me to think that my offered aid does not give satisfaction, I’m afraid it cannot be helped.” He gave a helpless shrug, then turned his attention to others.

Ralgar had not challenged nor even addressed the Explorer, yet he had, from that man’s perspective, handled himself with dignity, so he granted the Deathkissed a respectful nod.

By contrast, he smirked at Nir’wei’s melodramatic repudiation of the choices presented. ”That is cleverly said,” he rejoined, ”but the choices my Mistress presents are not obviated by something as simple or facile as a snappy comeback. There is still one path for you; in your case, its direction seems to be outward. And yet, even though the trace that path leads in three different directions from your perspective, it will still take you to the center. The Labyrinth may be at a loss as to how to present the right path to so many different explorers at once, but do not think that any one of you is so clever or profound or complex as to confound her singly.”

When Elisabeth spoke the Explorer smiled. ”Cleverly said, and insightful as well. You have nearly gotten to the heart of the matter. The Labyrinth does not define your path; she presents you with choices through which *you* discern your path. My Mistress does not show you where you need to go in any banal sense, only what sorts of decisions will reveal who you are. Your companion here,” he nodded towards Nir’wei, ”seems to think he has circumvented the choice presented to him, but I assure you that on the contrary he has made, whether he realizes it or no, exactly the choice that best reveals his nature to the Labyrinth. It is now merely a question of how cogently my Mistress will respond to that choice, what with so many other confounding variables running around in her bowels.”

Having thus rejoined the various party members’ verbal sallies to his own satisfaction, the Explorer shut his eyes and seemed to lose himself in thought.

Elisabeth went over to see what the cat was doing, and found it prodding curiously at the eggs in the nest. The eggs were not like chicken eggs; they were much more oblong, almost lozenge-shaped. Most were white, but some were other colors. One green one strikingly resembled a cucumber. When the cat noticed it, it leaped up in the air in alarm.

Even more notable than the cat’s reaction was that of Elisabeth’s necklace. As she reached to pick up the cat, her finger brushed one of the eggs, whereupon she felt the pendant thrum energetically against her chest. Its weight seemed to shift subtly, as well, as if some unseen hand were tugging on it towards the eggs. There was no force behind the pull; Elisabeth did not feel her balance affected in any way, would feel no resistance as she backed away from the nest, yet the shift was palpable. The sensation faded once she stepped back a pace or two, but would promptly resume if she re-approached the nest.

Nir’wei’s single outward path took his pack simultaneously along three tracks.

Archailist and Sage, traveling down the Path of the Scholar did not encounter grandmother’s cottage, but eventually they did begin to catch sight of various woodland critters: squirrels and chipmunks sitting up on their haunches, their cheeks stuffed with nuts; rabbits hopping around, ears flopping merrily; adorable jaguar and bobcat kittens rearing up on their hind legs, brandishing their oversized paws in an amusing pantomime of feline ferocity. And yet, in spite of these displays of activity, the woods remained eerily quiet. Apart from that weirdness, though, the wolves saw nothing that would aid the party in their quest.


Down the Path to the Center, Vabina and Castile ran and ran, down halls of bone that seemed to stretch on endlessly as if in a bad dream. As the Explorer had suggested, though, the journey was not in fact without end. At length the two familiars would find themselves in a plain, round, empty room It had but one entrance, by which they had just come in. And it was boring.

The five wolves slinking down the Path of Hunt had a more interesting career.

Picking their way stealthily through the swamp, they came at last upon three aukari at the edge of a pool. Two were having some sort of heated discussion in Vauni. A third, apart from the other two, paced anxiously and irresolutely along the edge, not really following the conversation. From time to time he would cast anxious and resentful looks at the water. All three were dressed in rugged outdoor clothes, including some sort of buff coats or gambesons, though nothing else by way of armor. At their hips they carried curved swords. Curved. Swords.

None of them saw nor heard the wolves, yet as these prepared to pounce, one of the two who were arguing stopped and raised his head seeming to sense *something* untowardSense the Troubled. Al’deurn ability. A half trill later, he was wreathed in a mantle of fire, as he drew out his curved. sword. and shouted some sort of warning. His interlocutor responded in kind an instant later, just as one of the wolves had materialized into view, already mid-flight towards the man’s neck. The wolf flashed back into spirit form just in time to avoid being caught in the aukari’s enveloping flames.

The third aukari, the one pacing at water’s edge, was not so fortunate. Before he could respond to anything, a wolf appeared in mid-air and mid-flight in front of him. It landed on him and clamped its jaws upon his throat, choking off his life’s air, before he could even scream in alarm. A second wolf appeared and set upon him as well.

The other two could do nothing to help, and made no move to try. Instead, they stood back to back, with their curved. swords. raised upright before them, in a classic saber-dueling stance that had the benefit of protecting their throats from frontal attack. The stance did little to protect their flanks; to compensate for this, the pair flared their coronas out an arm’s length or so to either side.

Neither of the remaining aukari occult could pinpoint the wolves’ whereabouts unless the creatures chose to reveal themselves, nor could they sense them directly at all, yet their mark ability warned them of immanent aggression, so they remained on guard. It was a standoff of sorts. The wolves circled around, unseen though not unsuspected, looking vainly for an obvious weakness in the aukaris’ defense. They had time, though. The two-leggers had no way to target them, so they waited, for reinforcements, and/or for their pack leader to suggest a change in tactics.

Info & Rules

• Due to the time-sensitive nature of this, I can not hold out for people to post. If you miss a round, there will (I'm afraid) be consequences. Please Communicate with me if something comes up for the week. There will still be consequence but different. Please post by Tuesday August 17 by 7:00 am Mountain Standard Time.
• This style of event moderation - with objectives etc - was created by a wonderful moderator named Crimson.

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 721, 35 Saun

Elisabeth hadn’t said as much, but she agreed completely with Balthazar’s words regarding the continued existence of the Explorer. Perhaps he was of negligible use but that didn’t mean there was any reason to kill him or threaten as such. To that end, there would be problems if someone desired such a thing.

The confusion evident on Balthazar’s face as both she and Nir’wei had spoken was easy for the young woman to understand, and Elisabeth wished she had more time to explain what was going through her mind. The Yari could be a very linear thinker, and the Labyrinth was anything but. However, there was a need for his perspective because the places her mind seemed to be going were the opposite, and she needed someone to pull her back if she went too far. In truth, that was part of the reason she was speaking her thoughts out loud, so others could weigh in on them.

Balthazar countered her point about not being able to get back to each other by bringing up their rings. Gifted to Balthazar by the Baron during Cylus Dusk, Elisabeth had the mate on her finger, and they had the ability to tell each other if the other was in mortal danger or had tangible need of the other and point them in the right direction.

“I said get back to each other…” she began, glancing over at Balthazar “…but the rings can only tell us the general direction. I’m speaking of physical barriers. What if you go down the Path of the Hunt and immediately that path vanishes for the rest of us. I’m not putting anything past the Labyrinth right now.” Too much uncertainty. Splitting up was a risk; one they would possibly need to take, but she wasn’t sure they were there yet.

The young mage could tell that he was fairly adamant about going down the Path of the Hunt, and she couldn’t blame him for that – she wanted that as well. Ralgar spoke his words, few as they were, and Elisabeth nodded at him, wondering what craziness he must think it all was. Then again, Nir’wei, Elisabeth and he had recently seen crazier. Much crazier….

Tor’ree responded to Balthazar, speaking her mind of adhering to the group’s collaborative decision, so that was another fire put out. She didn’t know the young woman well, but Elisabeth sensed that she wouldn’t go against the group, and had the sense to listen to reason, despite what might come out of her mouth. Another very good thing, and something that she wanted to offer reassurances about.

Glancing over at the young woman from where she was perched on the edges of the nest, she offered a small smile. “Trust is a good thing, and you are with good people. Some of the best I know.”

Elisabeth listened to the Explorer speak to the others, and when he turned to her and offered a smile, she knew she had been on the right track, despite fearing that she had allowed her mind to wander too far. The notion of the Labyrinth being confused was spot on, and while the young mage enjoyed figuring out part of the mystery, it didn’t help the overall picture. They were still in the middle of chaos with a rulebook that was changing.

The Explorer, apparently, was done engaging with them so Elisabeth returned her attention to the cat and nest. She really wasn’t sure what she had expected the cat to do, but it led her over to the eggs. Following, she noted the colors and such, and leaned over to pick up the cat, touching one of the eggs, and that’s when she felt it – her necklace.

It had always been with her, the only possession upon her when she was found in the icy snowbank outside Viden. Barely an arc old, she had carried it her entire life, wondering what it was. Her relationship with Balthazar had provided a few answers, for it had been as much an intriguing puzzle to him as it was to her. The first experiment he had performed on it had been…interesting. The result had been Balthazar being blasted with some sort of energy. That had been in Rharne, and the follow up experiments had happened soon after arriving in Scalvoris, although those had been much tamer.

The first sensation caught her off guard, leaving the young woman feeling as though it was a trick of the Labyrinth. "That’s new..." If Nir’wei was still with her, he would hear the soft murmur of surprise and note her confused reaction easily as her body naturally tried to follow the gentle tug of the necklace.

Standing with the cat, Elisabeth backed up, and began to approach again, kneeling next to the eggs, touching one, and feeling the necklace being pulled towards it once again.

“Uhhh….Balthazar?” Softly spoken, trying to get his attention rather quickly. “The necklace likes the eggs, I think.” He would be the only one that knew the history of the necklace, but there would be no secrets with the rest of the group either.

“I’ve worn this necklace my entire life,” she began explaining to the group. ”I was abandoned outside Viden when I was very small. No one has ever been able to tell me anything about the necklace – at least until I met Balthazar. He will probably be able to explain things better, but he tried using magic on it, and it floated in the air and responded rather violently.”

Struggling to remember, he had said something about notes he had felt. Glancing at him, she trusted that he would correct her if she relayed anything incorrectly. “It’s apparently very old, and many people have handled it over the course of its lifetime, but there was something about three people that had carried it multiple times, I think? It seems to respond in a purely defensive manner against attempts to learn where's it's been and who's handled it, and doesn’t react when I use magic, as evidenced earlier when I was using Defiance with the fires.”

Turning back to the eggs, she explained the reaction she felt. “When I touched one of the eggs, it felt like the necklace was pulling towards it. I can’t explain it. In my entire lifetime of wearing it, it’s only reacted twice – once to magic being used on it, and just now.”

Holding the cat gently, cerulean eyes scanned the group, waiting to see what they had to say. It was an interesting turn of events, to say the least.

OOC Note about Elisabeth's Necklace

Elisabeth is wearing her heirloom necklace. This necklace has its own moderator (Basilisk). Please check in with him as the necklace has been known to have odd reactions to things like magic...

[Nir'wei]

Nir'wei met the Explorer's attempt at snark with an utterly blank stare. "You've lied to us." He knew it the moment that Vabina reached the end of the long, winding path to the center... and found it completely empty. A room with no entrance, no exit, no contents, no clues. Was this the result of him trying to take all three? No, because the other two were still moving, and there was no chance of them reuniting. No branching paths, no more choices to make. A scant three Aukari with nothing between them, no artefacts, easily dispatched. They could light themselves on fire, their swords high and ready... they were only three, soon two. Were there more, deeper down?

Did he trust the Labyrinth to take him to them?

It was at that moment he realised that he didn't. Just like that, Nir'wei stood, and recalled the spirits. Archailist and Sage, back from the forest. Vabina, Castile and Gaddwin back from the blank room, back the way they'd come, and Greyhide, Cold, Myrth, Squeak and Kin repealed from their ambush, realising that the targets before them were clearly not the ones of importance to them... and it was unlikely, in the strange vast swamp that the Labyrinth had dropped them into, that they'd ever find what they were looking for. They'd search and scour and the twisted logic would throw them curveballs and mess with their thoughts to no end. The Explorer did not believe any of them could confound it, so he would not - but nor would he allow it to confound him.

He stood and looked to the others. Still stood in the room. Hadn't they talked about going places, doing things? "This is indecision. Confusion. I've seen what it leads to. I won't be another casualty." Ralgar, funnily enough, was absolutely correct. "The Labyrinth cannot distinguish friend from foe. So it is hostile to us all... and that makes it a terrible place to stand and fight. Or hunt down our foes. We can't trust it. It can't trust us." There was no telling whether it would provide unknown advantages to their enemies. They were all its enemies, after all. "The Aukari will amass their ambient energy using the artefact. When they're done, the Labyrinth and his Mistress might have lost enough power to turn this place normal. Or, they will try to leave, and return it to Faldrun. In either case... the entrance is the best place to lie in wait for them."

Nir'wei turned and walked back the way they'd come - the entrance had not closed, as far as he remembered. "If they have grown too powerful, I will search for a way to bring down the labyrinth from the outside... or at the very least seal the entrance. The Aukari might not be able to be killed. But they can be stopped from leaving, and contained here to avoid reuniting with Faldrun and completing their task," he said over his shoulder as he left. "Whatever else is here... whatever happens to your necklace... is just as likely another false trail of the Labyrinth as this entire quest."

With that, he walked back the way they'd came. All the way. And he kept walking. There was much to be done in preparation for whatever came out of the Labyrinth... if anything came at all, he supposed.

[Balthazar Black]

35 Saun, 721

In a world that seemed driven to split the group apart, Balthazar was left with no decisions he was happy to make. No path they could go down now was the one he wanted to go down because there was no path that they'd all pass through together. Events continued to unfurl with the group lingering in the same room. Nir'wei's wolves were doing their work on Faldrun's minions and everyone else was preparing, more or less, to sweep up whatever was left when the wolves were done. Balthazar did not blame the Explorer for his madness or for the cryptic form in which most of his came because he'd been able to make sense of it, or at least he assumed he'd been making sense of it. The Explorer's final words to Nir'wei and Elisabeth as well as his experience with the Truth spirit on the mountain lingered in the detective's mind while he stood at the doorway to the hunt.

They were at the forefront of his mind when Elisabeth suggested the rings would not help them endure physical barriers the Labyrinth put in their place and Balthazar shook his head a little. "I don't think the Labyrinth would do that." Balthazar admit. It was mostly a feeling but it was a feeling based on everything that had happened so far. It didn't seem like the Labyrinth was as malicious as it was being made out to be by Nir'wei. "All paths are meant to reveal something about us to the Labyrinth and ourselves, right? Then the choice to leave or go back should always be a viable path." There was a logic to this place, there was some logic to everything but it was difficult to understand to say the least. For some, it seemed frustrating in the extreme as well.

When Elisabeth called out to him and exclaimed that her necklace 'liked the eggs' Balthazar fixed a somewhat disappointed gaze on her for a moment. They were trying to make an important decision and she was playing with her necklace and eggs. A necklace that had done nothing but injure him and tell him to stop looking into it. He had nothing but bad feelings about what the necklace would want with or do to the eggs in the Labyrinth. Elisabeth was from Viden and while he knew the necklace had changed hands before he didn't think it would really be connected to the Labyrinth of all places. He didn't know what she wanted him to do with that information and in light of everything else he was tempted to tell her to toss the necklace to the eggs and be done with it... but he didn't.

Elisabeth told the group he'd be able to explain her necklace better and Balthazar shook his head. He'd examined it with his magic and heard the notes before it attacked him but he had little desire to go into that. It didn't seem important for the majority of the group to know what little he'd found. They were in the middle of a time sensitive mission and they'd stood around for too long already. Elisabeth proceeded to explain pretty much what he would have it he'd been forced to and Balthazar grimaced. He looked back down the path of the hunt and then to the group, waiting for Nir'wei to give them an update. The events with the necklace may have been interesting to Elisabeth, but what would it really mean to Tor'ree, Ralgar, or Nir'wei? "If you intend to find out why, Elisabeth, find out quickly. We can't wait here much longer."

Suddenly Nir'wei stood and very abruptly made the decision that he would be leaving which Balthazar took to mean he'd withdrawn his helpers from each path they were down. Nir'wei spoke to Ralgar and made a plea to him seemingly more than the group that the Labyrinth could not be trusted and it was not a safe place to hunt their enemy. There was logic to what Nir'wei was doing and if they failed it would have been an easy solution... but if it were a viable solution to do that, why didn't Raskalarn just have someone destroy it? Realizing now exactly what he was going to do, Balthazar seemed disappointed. He took a deep breath, went over the information he had in his head one last time, and then made his choice known.

"He is wrong." Balthazar said plainly to Ralgar. He would appeal to Tor'ree in a moment but he knew Ralgar was there with them in the Labyrinth because Ralgar trusted Nir'wei from previous experience. The deathkissed had said as much when they first arrived but Balthazar was hoping to sway him from that course. Without Nir'wei, they would need to work together to finish the task Raskalarn had given them. "Not about everything, but... I think this place can distinguish friend from foe. It has rules and the Explorer convinced it to bend them for us. We've been in new territory for everyone since then. I don't think we can blame the Explorer for being wrong about this place. I don't think any one of us can understand it entirely but I do not think it wants to be destroyed. We came here to save it and to stop Faldrun's minions. If we leave now, why did we even set foot in this place to begin with?" Balthazar let the question linger for a moment before he continued, "I can't ask you to trust the Labyrinth but I am asking you to trust me. Both of you." Now he turned to Tor'ree.

"I don't know you, but I know that if there were some place your vision would help more than anywhere else, it would be an underground swamp. You were chosen. We were all chosen. If Nir'wei wishes to leave, we can't stop him. If we fail, his plan might work. The Labyrinth, according to everything we've been told, is here to help us learn who we are. He wants to secure the exit and ensure nothing escapes. I don't think that is an option. We were plucked from our homes and dropped here by an Immortal. Who is to say that once their task is done, Faldrun won't be able to do the same with his allies? If we let them complete their task, they could become something we do not know how to stop." Hopefully that would sink in. Balthazar had seen enough of the Flameborn to know he didn't want anything similar to spew out of the Labyrinth.

"What we know is that Nir'wei's wolves found Aukari down the path that the Explorer told us the Labyrinth said they would be down. That is evidence enough for me that the Labyrinth is willing to help us. We don't need to make an enemy of it because we don't understand it. Nir'wei was right too, indecision will lead nowhere we want to be. I believe we can defeat the Aukari as they are now- weakened by his ambush- but only together. And I believe we can get out of this place, together. So I'm asking both of you," He turned to Elisabeth who was over with her necklace and the eggs, "and you of course," he turned back to Ralgar and Tor'ree, "come with me and stop these Aukari." And with that, Balthazar went into the path of the hunt. If they did not follow he would go alone but he would do what Raskalarn had asked. He did not want another war like Rharne.

[Tor'ree]

Tor’ree watched the woman continue to play with the eggs that the cat had been beside. There was something about the necklace she wore that was bothering her. The Sev’ryn had never heard of a necklace that reacted to eggs, but it would stand to reason that there was much she did not know. After all there was magic users all over Idalos; how was she to know that it had not been imbued with such. The woman stayed back and watched everyone to see where they each stood. It became very clear after a short time that Nir was not about to go any further. Her eyes narrowed some as she weighed the option of just returning to the entrance like nothing was happening before them.

Her mind drifted back to urge of the hunt then they first entered the labyrinth. It had made her pulse race remembering how her first hunt at went outside of Desnind. Many cycles had passed since that time. Normal hunts had bored her and so she did not go out as often. But this task given to them posed a challenge that would push the woman past her current levels. Tor’ree was shocked to see that Nir had made his mind without asking anyone’s opinions and walked off. A prickle when up her spine of anger that he would turn his back on how far they had already come. Her red eyes shifted to the other man that appeared to know the other woman well. He clearly did not want to simply retreat and wait.

Flipping her hair some out of her eyes, the woman watched as he addressed the other warrior that had a similar stance to hers. He had stood back and simply agreed or discussed without causing any waves. In a strange environment like they were in, it was a solid plan that the woman agreed with. She nodded when Balthazar said he would address her shortly before speaking to their companion. The woman agreed there was no way stop Nir from returning to the entrance, it was time for them to decide if they would follow or go ahead. Red eyes narrowed at first when the man turned to her. She mulled over everything that he said as he asked for them to aid him in his attack on the Aukari.

Tor’ree had never truly been needed by anyone else. It was strange feeling that felt good? She was not truly sure if that was the correct word, but it was definitely better than not feeling anything. Or feeling like she was being a useless follower. When the man began on the path of the hunter, Tor’ree moved off the wall and began to follow him.

“Hang on head strong. You will need back up. More than just the wolves. There is no telling if they will have to leave because Nir has,” Tor’ree stated and followed putting her hood down exposing her tanned skin, red eyes, and black hair as she followed him.

[Ralgar Warborn]

Despite all attempts at teamwork so far, the party had split. Nir'wei explained his side and made his way to go, and Balthazar spoke to the Deathkissed. It was a tense moment, Ralgar looking forward to both Nir and Balthazar as they said their piece. He had entered here on behalf of Nir'wei, wanting to stay by the side of his friend if a battle had broken out. Raskalarn meant nothing to him, his own mother giving him nothing in his life so far. Which meant it was the people around him that mattered now.

Once Balthazar had finished speaking, Ralgar looked to Nir'wei as he walked alone. "I don't want to leave anyone alone, or behind" he said, eyes turning back to Balthazar with a moment of concern for Nir'wei. "But you're right to move in, and you're right to do this mission. I have no investment here, no care for Raskalarn or her missions. But I'm here now, and I trust you, so I will fight" he reassured the soldier, placing a hand on his shoulder as a show of camaraderie before gripping his club.

Once the group was ready to move, Ralgar kept his club close to his side, quietly hoping Nir'wei made his way out safely. If the situation was different he would have followed his friend, but Balthazar made a point. They had to push forward, they had been in here for long enough that leaving now was a waste of time. If he could follow both groups together he would, to keep all of his allies safe, but he didn't have the luxury Nir and his wolves had. At the very least the man had those to keep him safe, the wolves that would help escort him out of here alive.

With that thought, Ralgar followed after his group, gripping his club tight in his hand and preparing for combat.

~~Haltunga~~ Common~~

[Fate]

Ambience

Nir’Wei’s spirits returned to him and vanished from the paths that they were currently on. Nothing held them back and they returned to the Wolf Master. He made a decision right there, and he acted upon it. He had identified one of the deep-seated traits of the Labyrinth though he may not have even noticed it. Confusion could bring out hidden attributes of peoples. Nir’Wei made his choice and for there mission it might very well be a good one.

As he walked through the archway they had come he found himself once again in the bones lined hallway. The bones still formed the same patterns he had seen earlier and stretched down for a bit before he could see the faint glow from the entrance. His foot steps echoded around him as he walked, eventually though he found himself in the large entrance room with its chaired remains. Unlike before the room was darkening as most of the flames had gone out leaving only a few smoldering spots where fire was stubbornly refusing to give way to death. Despite the dark the smell of smoke was still strong and cavern was still hot as its walls slowly released the heat.

The Gate swung shut behind Nir’Wei as he exited to stand under the overhang and among the mountains of Rynmere. If he bothered to look at the gate it would look like a pair of cat eyes watching him curiously.


The rest of the party had decided to remain in the cave and based upon what they had heard decided it would be best to hunt down the servants of Faldrun. The cat in Elizabeth’s hands looked up into the young woman’s eyes and gave a questioning meow at part of the parties departure. Then she indicated she was ready to be put down. If Elisa did so the kitten would still walk besides the group.

As the group entered the Path of the hunt they quickly found themselves In the promised underground swamp. There were puddles of water everywhere but down the middle was the largest and it stretched a good distance. In between those were leafy bushes and tall treeish things. The coloring was a very dark green. The ground was a mixture of life and death as knew plants were growing out of remains of old branches and who knew what else.

What little light there was came from the two men who stood on the farside of the room with flames dancing along there bodies, and a weird sort of fungus that gave off enough glow to outline where things were. It didn’t help with any details and Tor’ree found its glow while dimming things a bit did little to affect her ability to see the details in the dark. The water is what would draw everyone’s eyes as it was bitch black, a dark promise of who knew what lay below.

Tor’ree though could see through it like it was a crystal clear pound, In the main pound she could see that there were a series of wood logs leading down like steps into a door at the bottom of the pond. Once upon a time there had been guardian but the crocodile like creature now floated just below the surface clearly dead. Like the other rooms there was always a way out.

All could hear the cursing coming from the men that shared the room with them. “Were are those wolves?” One of them said, his voice squeaking.

“Just keep an eye out.” The other said.

“I hate this Xuir’s shrivelled balls Labyrinth.” The first one said. “Do you think Chalro and Dalisa got through.”

“Yes.” The more clear headed said.“I am thinking we take are chance with the swimming.”

“I would rather take my chances with he wolves.” The whinner said. “I can’t swim.”

The two continued as they stood back to back, flames running up their sides and blades held ready, and the slowly circled across the wide spot they stood on the other side of the body of water. As the moved they were moving closer to the side of the water where the part was. The path was void of any large bushes, but it could still be noisy to cross that distance, but they were looking for disappearing and appearing wolves so there gazes wasn’t looking to far a field.

Info & Rules

• Due to the time-sensitive nature of this, I can not hold out for people to post. If you miss a round, there will (I'm afraid) be consequences. Please Communicate with me if something comes up for the week. There will still be consequence but different. Please post by Monday August 7 by End of Day.
• This style of event moderation - with objectives etc - was created by a wonderful moderator named Crimson.