[Global] End Game.

[Nauta F'mos Geey]

It was a gambit which did not pay off as Nauta did not recall any part of the boasts. The only thing he got was the name Silver- certainly not one he heard of or the aukari would have recognized with the exploits which accompanied it. Silver was also pretty far away as Almund was only a place heard of from traders across the sea. The one thing Nauta was sure of were despite Captain Silver's delusions of grandeur or the reasons for him being an immortal's pick; Nauta could try anything on the man without fear of repercussions precisely because Almund was so far away.

He wanted to test the other two but knew there was the risk his ruse may be recognized after his admission that "no, thought you were Chad from home. My mistake." There would be other opportunities and methods but until then the aukari would have to rely on his own observations. Another riddle appeared, the woman but the more important question he asked her was "who are the other four immortals?" though whether she thought it meant the omission of Cassion or the immortal Nauta represented was up to her interpretation- Something he may regret as it may give up an advantage but then again, he ought to word his queries better.

Which brought him to the next and more important question. "The smoke and gem," or gem he pointed out which specifically reminded him of another involved with this charade that he had to ask if "you're like the maze lady?" There would be no reason why he recognized her otherwise and if the answer provided him no clue, he would end up asking her in a more direct fashion, like the man with the coin had in private as he left through the door. Perhaps that was why he got the boon? A special relationship he could exploit to get himself some sort of a head start?

But maybe just about everyone else had a special relationship to exploit- other than Nauta as he only knew the woman as the immortal of lightning and alcohol once the other participants blurted out her identity. If only they would continue to do so for the rest of the game to make up for his own wants. Nauta watched as each picked their drink, likely with whatever idea they had of the immortal before them but like all aukari, Nauta was ingrained with the idea she was the enemy and because he turned his back on Sirothelle's architect, took to the idea the only one he could ever rely on was himself.

The alchemist slowly went to each of the goblets to study them. If he were to take the immortal's claim of the contents as is, she was already proven right as none had any smell to suggest any were different from the other. A pity his time in the kitchen was not useful even for this. He then studied the cups and found there were quite a few which would injure him if he drank from. He was not going to spill anymore blood this early even if it was the blind obedience immortals looked for in their servants. Of the chalices left to choose from, there was only one choice.

He took the seventh chalice back with him to where the other participants were. If it were the chalices which would affect the quality of the wine, the transparent and colourless glass would allow the aukari to detect any foreign contaminants from the chalice in his drink. There was a reason why most of the tools an alchemist would use was made of glass anyway. With no smells out of the norm either, the aukari had the confidence to down his drink completely. How he may be affected by it however... it was lucky he always had some of that with him.

However unlike the rest of the participants, he did not immediately drink and instead waited as he looked upon Illaren expectantly. If asked why, his answer would be based on his own experience as a chef which he observed "it's impolite to drink without host and not wish her well." Only after she led with her own drink or indicated there was no need for custom, Nauta partake with his drink, slowly as he was worried of how it could affect him if he downed it too quickly. Nevertheless whichever Nauta ended up doing, his drink would also be preceded by "may best m- person, win." He did not want to accidentally draw the hostility of the fully armed woman with such an exclusionary remark.

[Whisper]

As the four stepped up, the Immortal of Lightning and Alcohol merely watched. There was a lazy smile on her face, as if she was enjoying her part in the Challenges, however other than that, her face was utterly impassive. She would give nothing further away to each of the mortals as they stepped forward to select a mug, nor if they glanced over to her. Not even her own champion would receive additional support, such was the requirement of the challenge Cassion had set.

But she was not surprised by the choices they made. Ilaren, as was within her rights to do because of her domains, knew these champions personally. Granted, she did not know the aukari as well, but she had taken some time to understand him. The others, however, were no strangers to drinking and, as they had experienced life lessons through nights fuelled by alcohol, Ilaren had watched, she had learnt, as she often did with the millions who worshiped her every trial when consuming droplets of finely crafted alcohol. In her own way, it was as if she knew them each intimately, though they might not share that perception.

The ninth drinking vessel was chosen by Tio: it was the one which was, on first appearance, a white wood. On closer inspection, it would be realised as bone, as if a great boar had been defeated, and this was a trophy for the magnificent, fearless hunter who defeated the animal. While a show of strength, it was also a display of hubris. It was not clear how the animal had died… but even if the animal had been killed in self-defence, to then defile the body and use the animal’s bone for something so… needless… the killer should have suffered, and the drinker would share that guilt. He would spend the rest of the challenges plagued by guilt and followed by voices reminding them of his unworthiness. Just what he would believe himself to be unworthy of, however, was a very personal matter, and he might not have the endurance to ignore the mental warring inside his head.

Arlo chose the most common of all drinking vessels on offer. The fourth was a plain pewter mug, similar to any other common mug found in the average tavern all over Idalos. Though it was common… it was a flagship example of why the phrase, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ existed. Simple but sensible, of course, and it would not let the drinker down. No doubt all had sipped from these vessels before. Having stood the test of time, these flagons had been around for arcs and arcs, they were hardy and regularly accepted a solid beating from drunken patrons from cities in all corners of the world. Their hardiness would be reflected in the results on the drinker. He would experience increased strength and endurance throughout the other challenges.

Vivian made the good decision of choosing the sixth could barely me described as more than a block with a hole in the top, and multiple markings from where someone had obviously been trying to hack away at it. It would even seem out off place in the room of a slave, and barely fit for purpose. It was borderline useless, but it was clear from the sheer amount of chisel markings that the creator had painstakingly stabbed into the goblet, that someone with no experience had tried so hard to create this. It showed determination, and good work-ethic, even for a person without skill. If anything, it had more value to it because of the inexperience, and the drinker would reap the benefits. Vivian would experience unwavering endurance and courage for the tasks set ahead of her.

The seventh was blown glass, chosen by Nauta, and was transparent and colourless, cut with a fine pattern and composed with such precision that it was evident no mortal’s, even a master artisan, skill could have created it. It was an unprecedented work of mastery, glimmering in the light brighter than any others,. It would not be surprising that someone had chosen this goblet, stunning at it was, and they would have been right to do so. The drinker would benefit from the mastery of the creator of the chalice, with increased intelligence and awareness affecting his journey forward from this room.

Of course, Ilaren said nothing of these effects to the four challengers, even though she knew the outcomes of each goblet. There would be no effect from the wine itself - though sweet to the taste, it was not a particularly potent alcohol. As to the effect of the chalices? They would not even feel a marked change in their internal make up… at least not until they each left the room. The effects might be immediate, or they might only appear in a stressful environment, when their capacities exceeded the demands placed on them.

If they would help or hinder, Ilaren could not say, for she did not know what trials awaited them.

“The chalices, as you have each chosen them, are yours to keep,” Ilaren intoned, her voice serene and calm as she continued to smile upon each of the four. Even beyond the realm of Emea, the goblets would stay with the four champions when they awoke. They would retain their magical power, and each challenger would be free to use the vessels as they saw fit… assuming they remembered enough not to throw away the priceless items.

With a flick of her fingers, Ilaren caused the walls of the room to part like curtains, and light spilled in from the space beyond, guiding the mortals’ way forward, towards their next challenge. She raised her glass a final time in toast to the four, “My heart is as full as my glass, as I drink to you, brave champions. Until we meet again.”

Mod Note

!

Message from: Whisper

Well it was my pleasure to take part in this quest, with my mini cameo appearance! Congratulations to most, condolences to one... Pegasus and future moderators in this thread will play a role in deciding how your characters will be affected by the choices you made here, however you all have an idea, so feel free to self-moderate the effects too. As Ilaren said, you now own your individual goblet, and the effects will remain the same for each future drink (either for yourself or another).

The Nine Chalices

If you are interested:

1. [Positive - clean, tidy and to the point (greater insight into future challenges)]
2. [Negative - lack of effort (lethargic/apathetic)]
3. [Negative - distracting from the purpose (forgetful)]
4. [Positive - hardy and and withstood the test of time (increased strength)]
5. [Negative - prideful and vanity (believing oneself to be invincible)]
6. [Positive - hard-working (unwavering endurance and courage)]
7. [Positive - unprecedented craftsmanship (increased intelligence)]
8. [Negative - unable to weather the storm (reduced strength/courage/fortitude)]
9. [Negative - wasteage and lack of respect (haunted by voices professing their guilt and unworthiness)]

[Pegasus]

1st Cylus 718

Not all of them asked questions and, those who did received answers. Tio did not ask anything of the woman who was previously a bird. Arlo asked her if he recognised her and the woman looked at him and smiled. In that moment, of course, recognise her he did. Vivian, too, had no questions to ask and so the questions were left to Nauta. When he asked who the 'other' four Immortals were, she smiled at him. "The Immortals represented here are Delroth, Edasha, Ilaren and U'frek." Quizzical eyes turned to him as he continued to ask. It seemed he was the chatterbox of the group, her smile seemed to say. As for the smoke and the gem, he asked if she was like the maze lady. Their guide considered her answer carefully. "I am here, functioning as your guide. I suppose I am like her in some ways in terms of function. Is that what you mean?" She looked at Nauta and when he asked more directly, her smile lifted. "I am here to escort you into a through Emea. It is my realm."
Secret Achievement Unlocked: Good questions!!: Nauta & Arlo both asked good questions. This will have a positive consequence Then, they went into Ilaren's room.

In there, they made choices. Choices based on what they saw, what they believed about it.
Secret Achievement Unlocked: He chose.... poorly: Tio chose a negative consequence cup. This will have a further impact on him, as yet unseen When Nauta spoke to Ilaren, her face remained impassive, when Tio asked for her autograph, she did not give it. However, as the final toast was finished, as she gestured to them to move forward, there was the Guide. She stood, the other side of the door and she met Ilaren's gaze. It seemed like some kind of communication went between the two, though none of the mortals saw more than an exchange of glances.

Once the door behind them closed, they were in a corridor, wide and clean. Stained glass windows reflected intricate patterns as sunlight poured through them and onto the floor. "Any questions, as we walk?" The woman asked. "I have one for you all. If you were writing the story of your part in this tale, what would you name it?" She seemed generally positive, it must be said. Then, questions asked, they reached a door and, again, she opened it.
Secret Objective Achieved!: Respect is necessary: Vivian, Arlo & Nauta all showed respectful attitudes to Ilaren (or what she considers respectful). Secret Objective Achieved!: I made her smile, ma!: Tio's enthusiastic nature made Ilaren have to bite back a smile.

OOC Info

!

Message from: Pegasus

Rules / Things to Know: You are now, very firmly IN Emea. If you ask any questions where the bird-woman paused, please pm them to me, I'll pm you the reply and you can use that in your post. If you do not pm them, but choose to ask them in your post, that's fine, but obviously you won't get the answer till next time I post. THANK YOU! To Whisper for her portrayal of Ilaren. Please DO NOT POST! - Your second test is about to be posted by the next cameo appearance in this thread!! Keep watching. I'm going to post again on the 3rd March. I might post sooner if everyone has posted. DO NOT POST UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT MOD HAS! If you miss a round of posting, you will incur a disadvantage It is very important that I am clear. Actions in this thread have consequences. Everything from where you sit to what you say to.. well, you get it. Where an action has to possibility for giving players advantages / disadvantages (as a number do in this post) I will share that with another mod to verify BEFORE you post.

Objectives

I will be utilising the "Secret / Hidden Objectives" format and there will be, in some posts, an OOC "task" or "goal" etc. I will differentiate between must do objectives, and can do objectives.
In your next post: Must Do: In your next post, you must answer the question asked of you by the guide.
Can Do: Expand on the story you would tell in some way, including one of the other pcs.

There are two hidden objectives in the next round.

Currently

Name	Current Advantages/Resources	Current Disadvantages/Drains
Tio	Neutral	Ilaren's TestHe Chose Poorly
Arlo	Silver from the WestIlaren's TestGood Questions!	Neutral
Vivian	Ilaren's Test	Neutral
Nauta	Lucky LastIlaren's TestGood Questions!	Neutral

[Maltruism]

Whatever manner of decor the the last room had displayed, the chamber opening before them now was plush with opulence and indulgence. Red satin and cloth-of-gold cushions were offset by Cambria Wood furnishings with platinum fittings and onyx highlights. Scented candles blended exquisitely with the aromas of the rare materials, and tapestries of such detail that they seemed to show magnificent true landscapes adorned the walls. Where these tapestries hung just short of covering the full length of a wall, the paneling behind gleamed with pearly translucence. These gaps were subtly flaunted, as were all other hanging adornments, by a relaxing breeze that originated from no window or screen that betrayed its presence to the eye.

Lounging amid the wealth, as if it was merely his due, and nothing excessive, sat Delroth in bronzen splendor of both skin and armor. He viewed his visitors as a cat views toys that have lost their novelty. He clearly preferred to gaze upon himself, as was evidenced by the mirror lovingly oriented directly above him. He slowly writhed upon his lounge to bring the visual pleasure of his bodily features to his appreciative eyes. He fully anticipated that his visitors would likewise share in the truth of his glory.

He rose slowly, assuming the crush of his abdomen would evoke a swoon from the woman who entered after the contestants. His undeniably athletic perfection was embodied in the graceful tread of his catlike steps as he approached the group. Just a smirk of disdain found his lips as he bypassed the contestants to take the hand of the guide and bring it gracefully to his kiss. It lingered a moment longer than decorum would dictate, and began to work its way across the slim wrist with intent to travel the length of the arm and beyond.

Something passed between the two and Delroth sighed with soft disappointment, His hands sliding down to define the attractive torso of the guide as he stepped back. "Some other time then, my vision. Duty calls." He spoke the word with plain resentment, which remained on his face as he finally deigned to address the group before him.

"So, I am bidden to test you to determine your...worth..." A snort of derision colored the word, as he sighed heavily and gestured for the four to follow him. He led then towards a quartet of beautiful birds sitting placidly upon a long single perch. In all the room, the perch was the one concession to pragmatism, as the Lord of Birds knew that exotic materials were not suited for the grip and girth necessary to avoid strain upon the feet and talons of his pets.

But the table before it, and some of the bowls upon that made up for it, sharing the exotic splendor of design and material present throughout the rest of the chamber. Each bird had a pair of bowls before it. In each case, the bowl on the left held simple seed, and was not adorned in rich finery. The one on the right held gold, worked to seed-like size and shape, and was encrusted with scroll-worked silver and gold, and highlighted with gems.

"So, my young servants, I task you with feeding my children. And you..." the Immortal said, with a tone of mockery directed to Tio, "Don't you go and eat it all yourself." This was said with an unclarified reference to a curse he'd placed upon the mortal's head some time past. "But don't despair either. Once you have fed them what you think is an adequate amount, either seed or gold, you may keep the rest for yourself, whether you choose to eat it or not."

Again a gleam of taunting mischief found its way to Tio before the Immortal of Vanity returned to gaze in narcissistic purity upon himself. He did not say if any of the birds were designated to any of the mortals, so it was to be assumed that they could select according to their own intuition. The bird on the left was not of a flashy breed, being only a dove, though one of surpassing radiance and build. The one to the right of it appeared to be a breed of parrot, the coloring of its feathers shifting before their eyes. Second from the right sat a raptor of indeterminate breed, its wings seemingly graced with the steely blessing of Tarouz. And on the far right was a small sleek breed, that showed no additional embellishment.

!	Message from: Maltruism
	As with the last test, the participants should assume there are reasons for the differences between the birds, as well as some impact to be gained or suffered on the basis of how much they are fed. You are not bound to choose a different bird than anyone else, you MAY all four feed the same one if you choose. And whichever one you choose WILL eat as much as you give it.

[Tio Silver]

Although he didn't know it at the time, Tio chose one of the wrong goblets. It seemed his understanding of who Ilaren was and what she stood for was incorrect, blinded as it was by his own naive assumptions of the meaning of her domains. The wine is his goblet was delicious as he drank it, though the moment he finished a rather strange aftertaste filled his mouth, as if it had been made from bad grapes. It was a slightly worrying taste, but since he didn't feel any immediate effects Tio assumed his choice had been fine. He didn't feel any different after all.

Sadly Ilaren didn't give him an autograph, but she did let each of the contestants keep their selected goblets, which Tio counted as a win since his goblet was arguably the nicest of the four. The Immortal then raised her glass in a farewell salute to the four of them, and bade them to leave through a parting in the wall the shone like a star. As he made his way over to the exit, Tio looked back to Ilaren and mouthed 'write me' with a cheeky grin, the stepped through the parting into the next area.

The room he found himself in now was a corridor lined with stained glass windows, with sunlight pouring in from every angle. It was a beautiful sight, but unfortunately Tio was suddenly too occupied to take notice of it, as the moment he stepped into the room his head filled itself to burst with derisive voices, all hounding at him with horrible comments. How dare a liar like him, someone who never even told people his real name, presume to compete among champions of the gods in such an important contest?! He didn't even like Delroth anymore, and yet he was hindering the progress of these other contestants, who fought out of love and devotion for their deities, purely because he expected a reward! What on Idalos gave a scoundrel like him the right to be here?!

Had it just been the strange disembodied voices perhaps Tio could have ignored them, but they weren't the only problem he suddenly faced. A deep, intense surge of guilt welled up within him, and despite the breathtaking scenery around them the yludih suddenly looked so depressed and lifeless that you could practically see a rain cloud floating over his head.

"... 'M sorry, a worthless liar like me shouldn't be here..." He moped, dragging his feat like a zombie as the bird-lady led them along the corridor. "I only got this far because one of Delroth's other chosen got cocky and accidentally caused me to win. I should just go home and choose a job more suited to me, like a worm farmer. There's only one name for my part in this story; 'How the Fool lucked his way to the final round.'"

When the bird lady asked if they had any more questions, one did indeed pop into Tio's mind. It was a question that, to the others, would sound a bit pointless, but held a special significance to him. "I have a question. This key we're after, the one we hand over to be crowned the victor... it wouldn't happen to be made of silver, would it?"

Eventually the group reached a door at the end of the corridor, and the room beyond it was filled with something that did wonders to lift Tio's spirits a little; wealth! Gold and jewels, expensive fabrics, master-crafted furnishings, the room had it all! It was exactly the sort of room Tio saw himself living in after he made his fortune! And sitting in the middle of it, perched like a bird looking down on the world below, was a figure he knew all too well.

"Sugar Daddy! It's you!" Tio exclaimed, his childish excitement returning once again. But it was back only for a brief moment before the feeling of guilt overtook him, and his expression turned downcast once more as he looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry, we've only been here a little while and I almost started singing other Immortal's praises already. I should have let that hooting lady or Blondielocks represent you instead of me..."

He listened as Delroth explained the task, looking away guiltily whenever the Immortal directed a comment regarding his curse at him, and then observed the four birds. Once again Tio had a suspicion that this challenge was designed to test how closely the contenders fit in with the Immortals ideals, so which one was this about? None of the birds were any more bird than the others, so that couldn't be what this was about, nor was there any wind involved. That left greed and vanity to work with.

After a split seconds decision, Tio headed over to the bird on the left, the dove of surpassing radiance and build. Of all of them this bird reminded him the most of how Delroth seemed to view himself; a being stronger and more dazzling than anyone else, and so likely was the one that best represented vanity. When he reached the bowls in front of it, Tio took the bowl full of golden seeds and tipped the entire contents of it into his pocket, then took a handful of seeds from the other bowl equivalent to about two tablespoons and fed them to the dove. By then the others would have probably chosen a bird to feed, and if any of them hadn't used the gold seeds in the other bowls by that point Tio would then go around and take all the remaining gold seeds from those bowls as well.

His reasoning was that this was a test of each contenders greed, which according to Delroth was a good thing, and so the winner was the one that acted as greedy as possible. Feeding the valuable seeds to the birds was a sign of gluttony, not greed, and so didn't feel like the right answer to this challenge. The better option was to feed a moderate amount of seeds to the birds and take as much gold as he could for himself.

Satisfied that his choice might be right, Tio went over to Vivian and leaned in to whisper something to her in hushed tones. "Hey Tomcat, you're Ilaren's champion right? Tell me, is she... how do I put this delicately... available?"

[/align]

[Arlo Creede]

Ilaren's test had been an interesting one, and while he'd felt as if his choice of drinking vessels was important in some way, he'd been just as curious to learn which of them his fellow competitors would choose. It might tell him something more about them, about the way their minds worked, without them saying a word. And whatever he learned, he'd file away in his mind for later. After it was done, he left Ilaren's presence feeling somehow different than he had before. But for the life of him, he couldn't say quite how that was. More, something, and purely in a physical sense. It wasn't an unwelcome sensation at any rate.

Others though, notably Tio, seemed different too and it brought a thoughtful frown to Arlo's face however briefly. They knew each other but weren't close, him and Tio. They were far from confidants. But what Arlo knew about Tio was that he was a braggart at times both by word and action. He'd never seen him once appear to doubt himself whether he ought to or not. But now? Well, something was definitely afoot. Nonetheless, it was Jesine who was once more accompanying them through a corridor in Emea, a place that Arlo was more than comfortable in being.

When she rattled off the Immortals that were represented here among the four of them, that was also important. And having crossed paths with Ilaren already, if they were to be confronted with additional Immortals, he was coming to suspect that he knew who they might be already. "I'm curious," he said when their guide asked if they'd any questions. "You told us the stakes that we're playing for. Wealth, blood and direction. But what about the key?" Arlo asked. Surely, the key that Cassion had lost or planted somewhere was important in itself? Was it just a key, a device, or something more meaningful?

At any rate she asked about stories, and storytelling happened to be squarely in his own wheelhouse. "The Minstrel's Tracks." That's what he'd title a story about his part in all of this. Was he a minstrel? In a sense, in part, he guessed he was though he didn't necessarily care for the word. And in this place? Emea. Well maybe that too. "A minstrel, a bard, a storyteller no matter where he goes, no matter how far, leaves a trail behind him, so that others will know where he's been before by the stories they hear. So long as you know the signs," he figured, and even should his name never be known. "Even him," he said, glancing at Tio, "Or her, him." A glance at the other two. Everyone that ever passed along information or related any sort of event known or experienced, was a storyteller of sorts.

The next place they were shown into, among other things, was quick to reveal for Arlo just which Immortal Tio was representing here. And Arlo had paid just enough attention to his classes at University, to know which one it was. Delroth. Ego gushed out through the Immortal's pores and drenched his surroundings in opulence gone mad. Not Arlo's favorite Immortal if he had to choose, but not the one he'd place at the bottom of the list either. Nonetheless, while Tio gushed, Arlo bent his head in respect. One really ought to pay their respect to any being who might be capable of obliterating you in the blink of an eye.

Still, he figured that this was a test, just like before but also different. And like the wine and Ilaren, birds for Delroth. Birds, bowls of seed and bowls of gold fashioned into seed. The parrot and all it's bright colors reminded him of Vega's eyes. But it was the smallest, sleek, plainer bird that Arlo chose. Quick on the wing, easily blending into its native surroundings, cunning enough by design to keep a low profile but small and fast enough to evade a larger and more aggressive predator. These most certainly weren't ordinary birds, so Arlo figured he probably didn't need to worry about feeding them too much. Or about what might happen in the belly of a bird in the wild after gorging itself on beads of precious metal.

Arlo had never considered himself to be someone consumed by material things. But like anyone else, a little shine tended to catch the eye. He was only human after all and those golden seeds might, over the course, turn out to be something more useful than just a precious metal. And wasn't wealth one of their aims here? But they were Delroth's birds and might also like just a little glitter in their meal. So dipping into the bowl of ordinary seeds first for a heaping handful, he added a very small sprinkling of gold, to feed the small bird that he'd chosen. And then emptied the rest of the gold from his bowl, into his pocket.

[Vivian Shiryu]

The moment Vivian downed her own goblet, she felt...nothing. Perhaps the effect would only manifest when needed? Either way, she had to focus on her task. When Ilaren said they could keep the chalices, Vivian smiled happily, then raised her crude chalice in salute. When their guide reappeared, she followed her out of the room somewhat reluctantly, but did so without comment.

When their guide asked if they had any questions, Vivian pondered for a moment. "What does the key unlock?" she asked. Really, that was the most important question to her. She still really hoped it wasn't something mundane. When their guide asked them a question, Vivian shrugged. "Mission report: Cassion's game." she said. She was a soldier, not a storyteller or anything of that nature. If she were to tell her part of the tale, it'd be in a report to a commanding officer.

The next room, and the next Immortal, were...interesting. This one seemed extremely full of himself, even positioning a mirror so he could look at himself, and he was derisive of their duty. In truth, she kind of hated his attitude, but she was representing Ilaren here, so she said nothing. Instead, she just followed this new one over to a quartet of birds and listened to the rules. She didn't get the gold eating joke, but she supposed it didn't matter anyway.

Instead, she looked at the birds for a moment, then walked over to the nondescript raptor. He was the most soldierly bird, the one that spoke to her the most. The others were all fancy, but the raptor was, to her, the more beautiful animal, simply for how focused it was on what it was. Birds didn't eat gold, she didn't think, so instead she focused on feeding it seed. Honestly, she didn't think raptors ate seed, but she wasn't one to question magic birds, so instead she fed the bird two small handfuls of seed. Birds, so far as she knew, didn't each much. She left the gold alone entirely.

When the bragging one, who had turned not braggy later, approached her to ask about Ilaren's availability, she looked him up and down for a moment. "Not my place to say if she is or isn't. But if you want to have a chance with an Immortal, get some dignity first." she said, her tone cold and dismissive.

[Nauta F'mos Geey]

After his drink and a little after that, Nauta still did not feel anything from Rharne's best other than its sweetness. A future trip to Rharne was considered by the cook as the wine's taste and the fact he had yet to erupt should make it worthwhile to procure some for himself. Still, Silver acted quite uncharacteristic after they left. Maybe that was what Illaren's interference but then again, Nauta did not know the man well enough to have such an opinion and it seemed pretty farfetched even with an immortal involved.

The more important puzzle other than Silver's shift in attitude therefore was their guide's question. She was obviously no immortal or at least, none of those involved with the game but Nauta saw no harm in answering anyway. He may be better off with a cooperative attitude as there would be nothing but benefits and so far, she was nothing like the maze bitch which he considered was quite fortunate of them already. Of course, the problem with the question was not being the artistic sort, Nauta needed a guiding hand for an answer.

Which led to the questions he asked; of the title of the tale and its author as it may also give more clues of the game he was in. This question Nauta asked with the rest of the group as he saw no benefit or disadvantage to keeping it to himself and, may give him direction for an acceptable answer like the names of the others. The guide's answer and the other names- save the woman's which was dull even by aukari standards, had him convinced the name, title or whatever else were nothing more than a narcissistic embodiment of the individual and the role they saw themselves as having in the tale.

It was only fitting the name he gave was "shraisi äz vasthet" and it being in his native tongue was as personalized as it was going to get; Nauta was not going to volunteer his name to the rest. Only if prompted he would remember to translate it to "free to choose" although his unfamiliarity with Common would express the original name as a question posed in the shifting tones of Vauni. Someone practised enough with the language would pick out the nuances or someone astute would realize it was obvious there was nothing but choices thus far; from the stakes to goblets which Nauta's choice more of a tease. Though he fled far from Sirothelle and Faldrun's influence, he was still a pawn of the immortals their games and had to play according to their rules.

Really, was there any choice in it for him the moment he decided to assist Edasha?

His next question was asked only after the rest passed through the door and was not as much help as he hoped- disappointing as he thought it would be useful. Disappointment turned to curiosity after he too got through the door. If he thought the names of his fellow players were narcissistic before... From Silver's greeting, Nauta could assume the man in pageantry was the immortal represented by his fellow player- not a long list to go off. Delroth's obvious contempt unlike Illaren's more inclusive test did not leave Nauta with the best of impressions though he was not going to say that instead, played along with Arlo with a bent head for the very same reason the man had his.

Fortunately with Hajnasis back home Nauta was more comfortable with this test. Unfortunately, he took too long with his study of the seeds that the bird most like Hajnasis was already fed by the woman. With his own knowledge of food and alchemy useless in the Emea, which was a pity, his choice was already made for him by circumstances. He would not feed the raptor a meal the cook himself considered inappropriate for it which left Nauta with the parrot. Seeds seemed more appropriate for that bird as far as the aukari could tell.

Though the parrot being as distracted as it was took a little time to be fed, only after Nauta thought of using the shiny gold pellets to get its attention. Because Delroth was going to have his birds fed, the immortal would not have provided anything bad for them... or so the aukari reasoned as he fed the parrot. That was the other reason Nauta had the bowls mixed and then split as he did not find any particular oddities between the two. A handful of one bowl, well two for a chance to study the enthralling bird of colours as it occupied itself with the food. If it was anything like Hajnasis, it would feed itself until satisfied after it realizes there is food before it.

A handful from the other bowl- actually two to balance out what he gave the parrot was for Nauta himself as the chefemist saw both seed and gold of equal value just for being from the table of an immortal. He would have left it at that but he knew Silver was after the gold, the woman's bowl already emptied into the man's pockets like his own. It would be like killing two birds with... not literally of course and when Silver was just about to reach the bowl in Nauta's hands, the aukari tipped it with an "opps?" for the man to collect the gold off the floor if he really desired them. Perhaps Silver in his greed would believe it an accident but for the others, who is to say what they thought of the aukari's act?

Nevertheless he wiped his now empty bowl just what he needed. While the food he brought was no good, it was people food after all, the cook filled the bowl with water and left it by the parrot. It was only natural for a thirst following a meal although he was unsure if the same rule applied to these birds. His task complete, Nauta returned to the rest with nothing more to say except "huh, dignity" if Silver only returned after he picked the floor clean. The man did expose his weakness in his insecurity and as any aukari knew, it was better to add fuel to the fire even if Silver was incapable of erupting because of it.

[Maltruism]

Were the participants to assume that the Immortal was too self-absorbed to really take much note of their actions, they'd have been wrong. The mirror on the ceiling flexed as needed to keep an eye on all they did. However, to their good fortune, he was too self-absorbed to bother with penalties on those he felt more disappointment with; for it was to be assumed he would be disappointed by any mere mortal.

It would only be a matter of how much benefit he extended. And while the level of greed displayed by each participant would figure into this decision, he felt it obvious that his birds, representing himself to some degree, should likewise be assumed to embody greed. Those that fed seed alone, were showing care for his children. But those that fed gold, or at least a blending of the two, were acknowledging the necessity of sating their greed as well, which was as much a form of hunger as any need for basic sustenance.

Probably more than anything, his vanity was shunned. His own minion, Tio, had tossed out a few juvenile remarks as meager attempts to flatter him. He was initially prepared to disregard them as lacking sufficient eloquence to merit his notice. They grew in substance, in his perception however, as the best anyone after Tio could manage was a cursory nod of the head. The woman gave him not even that much.

'Oh, if only she was a significant enough being to merit the bother of punishment!' he thought to himself, a part of his mind hoping she'd do something truly offensive. But it was not to be. It did salvage his amusement somewhat to see his own Tio steal her gold. 'That will be a mark in his favor!' It was diminished somewhat by his ongoing innuendo towards Ilaren. He had his own eye on that one, considering her an ally of sorts. It was primarily her participation in this game that had encouraged his own.

As far as his remaining domain of 'Wind' went, outside of the relaxing breeze gracing the chamber, it did not enter into his arbitrary equations. It would be the means by which any earned bonuses would be bestowed in the upcoming challenges. He would hand each participant a rich, gold necklace, with a small number of beautiful charms, each in the form of the bird they'd chosen. The chain the charms were strung upon was already worth 300 gold nel for the presence of gems gracing the remainder of its length.

These gems would match the color scheme of each participant's chosen bird; with the dove being a simple string of white pearls, the parrot boasting an almost gaudy barrage of colorful gems, and the raptor and swift's chains falling somewhere between. But upon each would be the charms. As he draped the necklaces over the heads of the contestants, he explained that squeezing the charm would bring a breeze to the wearer, which would bestow the intended benefit.

Were any to ask why there were different amounts of charms, or what they represented, he would smile, or sneer, to express his degree of favor toward the inquirer, and explain:

Tio Silver

"Tio, my boy, You have shown a worthy appreciation for riches, it sits there in your pocket, along with that of our soldier-girl here. And you cared enough to feed my dove the obvious choice of food. But did it not occur to you that MY birds will desire something more than the merely obvious? Would my birds not embody the love of riches, a taste for riches, as well? I would remove a charm from your necklace for that. However you did at least have the courtesy to acknowledge me with spoken words, something apparently too difficult for the rest to bother with. When you grip one of these four charms with intent to receive its blessing, a refreshing breeze will come and remove one affliction of body or mind, not both, from you. Once spent the gem will remain, visually unchanged. I would not see the beauty of my gifts dimmed."

The Immortal's smile for his minion waned considerably as he stepped to meet the next one in line. He offered only a cold nod of acknowledgement, a slight sneer displaying the level of courtesy he felt he'd received.

Arlo Creede

"Two charms only I give you. Had you perhaps been raised to give due compliment, spoken aloud instead of stifled behind a mere nod, I would have strung a third. They will be activated in the same manner as Tio's, though their boon will be one of wind-borne speed, rather than the purging of affliction. You did have the wit to prevent him from stealing your gold, a credit to you. But you denied aught but a meager portion to my Swift. I find the offense to offset the credit. Two it is."

What glare Delroth had levelled at Arlo only worsened as he stepped in front of Vivian. At first it looked as if he might bestow nothing, but the soft jingle of a necklace sounded beyond the din of his anger.

Vivian Shiryu

"No greeting for your host? Not even a NOD! You feed but a pittance, and only one of seed! You give not so much as a single pellet of gold? To my HUNTER? The one you clearly identify with! Should I feel some gratitude that you choose to disgrace yourself at the same time that you disgrace my child and bring insult to me? Had you not cast such eloquent critique upon my underling, I may have given you nothing at all. As it is, I give you a single charm. It will grant a renewal of physical energy and mental focus. A "second wind" if you will. You will find your hunter's eye sharpened as well."

He said this last comment grudgingly as he turned a sour expression away form Vivian. Seeing the steady decline of favor as Delroth stood before each mortal in turn could well have given cause for Nauta to believe he would slain for some perceived offense, arbitrary as they seemed. Yet at the last, a smile once again appeared on the Immortal face.

Nauta

"Well. We have see one, two and four charms bestowed. Do you ask, 'Whither number three?' Then let this necklace answer that question. You did only give me a nod of recognition, else I might have given you four. You did share equally of both gold and seed with my children. I think your fellows did not realize how this would matter to me. This gives honor to both myself and you, as well as my children. And though you probably did not intend, it raises you to presume to stand as equal. Inasmuch as this concept is absurd, it give voice to a vanity I can truly appreciate. Take then these three charms. Oriented as they are with my pied jester, their activation will allow you to know true vision from manipulation, and not to fall prey to ensnarement of the mind."

[Pegasus]

2nd Cylus 718

There were more questions, from many of them. The bird woman looked first at Tio and she smiled a gentle, almost sympathetic smile. Then, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "I don't know what the key looks like. I only know that Cassion wants it and one of you will get it, or not." Her expression seemed almost mischievous, although this close up Tio could see that she looked tired.

Arlo, too, had questions about the key and Jesine shrugged. "It's his game. His rules. He wants the key and is prepared to reward one of his fellows with something for it. They, in turn, will reward you." Her lips lifted in a child-like smile and she said, to them all although it was Arlo's question. "I think it's as likely that he thinks we're all getting boring and it's time for an adventure, you know. Maybe, think of it if you will, maybe there is no key?"

Vivian's concern was not with the key itself, but with what it unlocked and Jesine laughed. It was like the sound of a tiny tinkling bells. "Nothing. Everything. I don't know," she said, with a shrug. "Maybe it's to lock, not unlock. Maybe it's to decorate. I have no idea." Nauta's question, his first one, was to ask Jesine what the title of this tale was. When he asked that, Jesine looked at him and raised an eyebrow, as though impressed. She replied with "I suppose the title is different for each of us, but for me? This tale is Cassion's Gambit". He continued to ask, though, wondering who the original author was.

That provoked a laugh and a smile - but in a friendly way. "Tales like these don't have one author, I suppose. Cassion made the game, the Immortals chose the tasks and you all walk the steps. I suppose we all are." She seemed impressed with the questions, it had to be said.
Secret Achievement Unlocked: Good questions 2!!: Tio, Arlo, Vivian and Nauta all asked good questions. This will have a positive consequence As for the names of the stories of their lives? Jesine's face took on a serious air. First, she spoke to Tio. "The Fool? It is a symbol of unrefined wisdom. Ask him," she said and gestured to Arlo. "He met the fortune teller too." Her gaze turned to Arlo then and listened to his title. "A good name," she said with a slight frown. She seemed rather less sure of what he said, or maybe it made her think about something. Whatever it was, her expression cleared and she nodded. "A trail of breadcrumbs to follow? Cassion would approve."

The title of Vivian's book caused a raised eyebrow and Jesine nodded. "A factual tale? Those are important and necessary." Nauta's title, after she had asked him for a translation, got no response from her other than a slight nod of recognition.
Objective Achieved!: The Book of My Life: All pcs gave a title. These will have specific consequences. Arlo expanded on his tale, which will increase his consequence (for good or bad). And then... they met Delroth.

It was an experience in and of itself, but they all exited from there - with varying numbers of charms. When they stepped out - as they all did at the end of Delroth's task, it was to find Jesine there once again. She seemed more serious, maybe a little quieter and she led them through the corridor for a few steps in silence.

"Oh, here. This very step," she pointed to a point on the floor which looked much like any other point in the floor in this corridor between worlds, "You are more than half way to him now. It's important that you remember. Remember and learn from each of them. Ask me anything you will, but remember what your goal is. No more secret questions now. All in the open" And from that footstep onward, all questions were, indeed, out in the open.

OOC Info

!

Message from: Pegasus

Rules / Things to Know: You are now, very firmly IN Emea. THANK YOU! To Whisper for her portrayal of Ilaren and Maltruism for Delroth!! Please DO NOT POST! - Your third task is about to be posted by the next cameo appearance in this thread!! Keep watching. PLEASE NOTE: All effects from previous tasks are still in effect. I'm going to post again on the 10th March. I might post sooner if everyone has posted. DO NOT POST UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT MOD HAS! If you miss a round of posting, you will incur a disadvantage It is very important that I am clear. Actions in this thread have consequences. Everything from where you sit to what you say to.. well, you get it. Where an action has to possibility for giving players advantages / disadvantages (as a number do in this post) I will share that with another mod to verify BEFORE you post.

Objectives

I will be utilising the "Secret / Hidden Objectives" format and there will be, in some posts, an OOC "task" or "goal" etc. I will differentiate between must do objectives, and can do objectives.
In your next post: Must Do: Ask at least 1 question of Jesine.
Can Do: None

There are three hidden objectives in the next round.

Currently

Name	Current Advantages/Resources	Current Disadvantages/Drains
Tio	4 x Delroth Charms	Ilaren's TestHe Chose Poorly
Arlo	Silver from the WestIlaren's TestGood Questions!2 x Delroth Charms	Neutral
Vivian	Ilaren's Test1 x Delroth Charms	Neutral
Nauta	Lucky LastIlaren's TestGood Questions!3 x Delroth Charms	Neutral