RP:Answers in the Stars
Synopsis: Meri and Trent embark on a journey into the mountains to discover what secret lay dormant.
Characters: Trent, Meri
Location: Gualon - Xalious Mountains
Date: May 4th, 2016
Foundling Street
Trent stood quietly, looking upon a fairly sizable two story house that sat just off of Foundling Street. It was a large stone house that looked fairly old, yet well maintained. Trent seemed to be leaning on a makeshift cane, his brow furrowed in thought as he looked over the front of the building for any signs of a future issue. He looked tired and worn out.
Meri was on her way to the gardens as she is prone to doing, it was and still is one of her favorite get-away places. Before she has a chance to really hunker down to do whatever it is Meri likes to do while loitering in the gardens, she spies Trent's form from the distance and, naturally, she wanders right on over to where he is standing. Pulling up right beside him, she lets her gaze fall on the house that he is staring at, brow lifted a touch, "What we doing?"
Trent answered thoughtfully. "Debating on whether or not I.. made the right decision." His steel blue gaze turned toward the blonde haired woman and he smiled. "I am moving to Gualon." Shifting his weight upon the cane, Trent turned toward Meri fully, a moment taken to observe and note the woman's attire for the afternoon, his question one for idle chit chat. "How have you been? I have no seen you in a few days."
Meri 's attire was nothing fancy -- it was as it usually was. A pair of jeans that were a bit on the aged side, a modest looking top that was dark in color. That's not to say it was modest enough that it was hiding her full-sleeves, but the ladies were appropriately covered. Especially when compared to some of the other skirts in the land! Meri was just not a girly-girl. We know this. A smile is extended to Trent, "Moving to Gualon? Really? But don't you work out in Cenril? That's going to be a bit of hike for you, no? Why Gualon over Cenril?" Not that she was judging, the curiosity was posed for the sake of the conversation.
Trent looked quite serious when he replied. "I... lost my job. Cenril was attacked. It's not safe." With a small limp, he managed to walk over to the steps of the house, three in total, and sat himself upon the top. "I was on my way back to the inn when these really powerful lycans began their assault. They had three... four in total. They were strong. I tried my best to help with the defense of the city but... I would up getting stabbed." His gauntleted hand rubbed the thigh. "There was blood everywhere. Buildings were burning. It was a mess, Meri."
Meri thumbs at her those as she listens to this account in a manner that suggests that she is very much not pleased with the story that she is hearing. Lips are pursed together and a brow is lifted a fraction for a second time, "Like the entire city of Cenril was attacked by lycans? And you lost your job because of that?" A shake of her head because some bosses, yo. Blue eyes briefly drop to the leg that Trent indicates he was stabbed in but they are quick to return to his face. "How long ago did this all happen? Can't have been that long ago?"
Trent nods slowly. "Yes, docks were spooked. They halted transport and shipments for the time being." With her later questioning he looked to the sky in thought. "It was perhaps four... five days ago at most? It was horrible. I attempted to return the other night, to survey the damage and see if anyone needed assistance. I... had an unfortunate meeting of sorts. With a man..." he paused as his gaze fell then to the ground. "No.. a creature. Tainted and dark. Evil. He... had some troubling revelations for me."
Meri keeps silent during the account, her expression remaining a somber one and her gaze eventually falling to the paved ground. Or more specifically her boots. Not that she was really studying them, she was just thinking and absorbing the information that was given. When Trent stops talking, the woman lifts her gaze upward to meet his as if encouraging him to expand upon this revelation nonverbally. If he did not pick up this silent cue for him to continue, red lips would part after a time to utter, "Go on."
Trent leaned forward and rested his elbows upon his knees, taking time to carefully recollect what this entity, Sacrilus, had said. "I happened upon a cathedral. And inside was this man. Creature. Whatever. He called himself Sacrilus, Face of the Damned. As I gather, he 'leads the dark lord's army'- Whatever that may mean. He was dressed in this blackened armor, that had strange intricate symbols decorating every available space. As I looked upon that armor, I came to realize..." He paused for breath, his eyes finding Meri as her went on. "..that I knew these symbols. They are the very marks that line the forearm of this damned gauntlet." Trent pulled back the sleeve to gaze upon those strange markings. "I was told not to stare upon those markings for they may drive me mad, or even worse, let demons into my head. When I pressed him about their origin; I was told that these markings are of a demonic script. The ones marring this gauntlet.." he points to two near the wrist, "..stand for binding... The gauntlet to me, I to the gauntlet." His finger trails the west of the script to the elbow. "The rest... apparently some form of curse. Of.. immortality." Trent's brow knit, here. Something troubled him quite deeply.
Meri keeps silent for longer still, this was a lot of information to try and take in. It seemed as though Trent were making quite a few discoveries over the last few days, busy, busy. Once his fingers are finished trailing the length of his gauntleted arm down to the elbow, Meri reaches out with tattooed hands to take hold of the very same appendage. She and the thing had been doing -okay- so she wasn't too concerned about it mauling her for this attempt. "Well, I don't really see any direct connection to what I have been seeing when I..." Well she won't even mention that idea, lest Trent scold her. "If anything I say it raises more questions than it answers, doesn't it?" Her own fingers would trail directly over the scripts, tracing their patterns. Okay, maybe this was a test to see if she would see something as she cannot recall of this was a test that she'd ever conducted yet. The gauntlet, yes. The scripts? Hm. She must be a glutton for punishment.
Trent nodded slowly. "Far too many to be of comfort." he admitted. As Meri began to test her luck, Trent watched carefully, still continuing on with his thoughts and concerns. "The strangest thing is that this Sacrilus. He seemed familiar in some light. And his question... He asked if I had died before. To which, of course, I answered that I did not." As Meri's fingers traversed that etched metal, she would not be met with any sort of repercussions exactly, but she might noticed that they seemed to react to her. Each and every symbol traced would glow a soft scarlet red for but a few seconds before fading out. "However, as I think about it. You said that you saw a knight whom had inflicted a mortal wound upon himself, and Emilia said that she saw a tombstone bearing the name written upon the badge I carry. Something about this is more than coincidence."
Meri is admittedly glad that she is met with no repercussions, the woman did not exactly want to find her way back into Gualon's clinic. With one hand, she continues to hold Trent's gauntleted appendage. Her grip was not a tight one as she knew better than to try and attempt to force the thing to do anything, more of a light askance of cooperation. Blue eyes do indeed note the way that the scripts seem to light up at Meri's touch. His thoughts and explanation is processed but then put to the back burner in order to draw Trent's attention to the glowing. "Hey look," she says to Trent, letting her fingers run along the script until..well, he gets the memo.
Trent raises a brow as he takes witness to what Meri has noticed first. "I don't think I've seen this before." he commented. Mimicking his friend, Trent began to trace those same script with his own finger- to absolutely no effect. "Strange." With a sigh Trent continued to watch that strange hazy glow from Meri's touch, trying to understand its implications. The hand itself, flexed, open and closed in an idle state.
Meri wrinkles up her nose. She was not entirely sure that she liked the implications that the scripts reacted to her and not to Trent. "I'd say you should get other people to try but...." Would the gauntlet even let them get close enough to try? Unpredictable likely. Anyway, if a touch from her fingers caused it to glow..what happens if she pressed her entire hand to a script? Meri intends to push her luck and find out exactly that, palm pressed fully to one of the scripts. If it did nothing well, curiosity sated. "We still need to make it out to Xalious."
Trent smiled finally when Meri posed her suggestion. A bit of a soft chuckle escaped and he set his gaze upon the woman with an approving expression. "I was thinking the exact same thing, just now. Great minds think alike, I suppose." As Meri's palm pressed against the cool metal, she would undoubtedly notice a bigger reaction drawn from the amount of flesh she tested with. The first thing noticed would be the scarlet haze now burns might brighter and is quite warm to the touch. Physically his warmth with become some form on energy, absorbed through her hand and beginning to travel throughout her bloodstream. She may notice her heartbeat picking up a little, her senses heightening slightly. On a more mental level she may feel a bit more energetic- as if having drunk two or three cups of coffee. A sense of light euphoria, a tingle to her core would spread throughout her body. It was a peaceful feeling, rather than one of malice or ill intent. "I think the next step is to explore the mountain range there. I have been to the famous Mage Tower, but it is not the one I have dreamt of. Given that there are mountains in the images this gauntlet has drawn, perhaps it is higher up in the hills."
Meri didn't particularly feel inclined to pull her hand away from the runes, as she was not feeling threatened nor harmed. As specified, the feeling was indeed euphoric and peaceful to Meri. Since experimentation was the name of the game, she would keep her hand there for a prolonged amount of time just to see if the feeling would change. "How come they are reacting to me and not you? You don't find that concerning at all? There is only so many of these scripts I can touch at one time. Hopefully they are not meant to all be turned one at once..." Anyway. Meri didn't particular have anything to do, and since Trent was on a roll with finding out information on this mystery of his. "We could leave tonight. Unless you have something better to do."
Trent made a face that would ask if she were serious with her earliest questions. "Of course it concerns me, Meri. Perhaps it's a defense mechanism? Perhaps it likes you now? Perhaps it has something to do with your own untapped abilities? Perhaps you too are linked to this thing? Your guess is as good as mine, truthfully." The longer Meri held onto the gauntlet, the stronger those sensations would become- so much so that it may start to affect her much like the way drugs might make one feel a sense of high. Trent seemed surprised then as Meri made mention of an early departure. "Tonight? Really?" He pondered a moment before offering the woman a nod. "I suppose.. I do not see why not. I haven't a job or any obligation. I was most likely just going to sit and think as it were. If you want to go tonight, then I am with you."
Meri is familiar with the feeling, and it is a feeling that she should not be reminded of. Yes, on the surface it seems that Meri is doing quiet alright, doesn't it? The euphoric feeling far too resembling of a drug high doesn't tempt Meri for too much long as her grip is released on the gauntlet. She is done testing her luck and playing with temptation. A smile and a shrug of her shoulders as Trent seems to waffle back and forth with his answer. Stay or go, stay or go. Meri couldn't get a solid read on what he would rather do. So the blonde hunkers down into a seated position right there on the street. "Well we can stay and we could think if you would rather." Dames, always make it complicated don't they?
Trent watched that unnatural glow fade with Meri's release, teeth sinking into his tongue lightly as he thought upon the idea further. How far would they get tonight? Would they even find anything? What sort of dangerous were they facing? Regardless of any nagging thought, Trent shook his head and said, "No, I think you may be right. It seems that this trip has been put off long enough. Ever since we first met.. we have had plans to do this. Something always seems to happen to prevent this venture. I think.. it might be for the best." He chuckled. "I can have a bag packed in a matter of moments. I don't own much, really."
Meri glares at Trent, for she had just sat down. Really Trent? Now you make up your mind? Now? Thanks. With a grunt and a bit of a grumble the woman pushes herself back up to her feet and brushes off her rear, "Pain in my..." She doesn't finish that sentence, and the smirk she wears suggests she was not serious anyway. A couple tsks to Trent as she offers up a slight correction, "I thought Xalious was Raphaline's idea? She knew where it was, no?" Perhaps Meri's memory was still hazy. "Well, I don't have too much to pack either so...Why don't we break here and meet at the Gates of Gualon?" Though in reality her player votes we shuffle to Xalious next?
Trent grins at Meri in turn. He knew what he did. No remorse felt. NONE. "Sounds like a plan to me. I shan't be long." With that Trent lifts himself off the stairs of his new home and hurries inside to back a few supplies.
Rough Range
Trent and Meri did their little journey from Gualon to the split in the road near Xalious. It would have been a fairly lengthy journey and thus, both would surely be riding upon horses for most of the way. Trent had a leg injury after all. With his hood up, Trent looked first to the South and then to the North, looking for any sort of sign in which way would be the correct way to go. Was there something he missed in the village, or was there more to the mountains than what meets the eye? It was when Trent lifted his hand to scratch an itch upon his nose that the pair might note a vibrant azure glow emanating from the gauntlet for no particular reason at all. Glancing to Meri, Trent gave a puzzled look. "A sign?"
Meri once upon a time had a horse. However, given how long she was gone and that she left by sea, whatever happened to Kadence is a mystery to her. Bets are that Tristram ate this horse. Dragons, yo. Naw, realistically it was probably sold in her absence or something. So if they were both coming by horse, well Meri would probably be renting/borrowing one. The gauntlet begins to glow, this time blue in color. A brow is lofted and while Meri does agree, she expands by declaring, "Everything about that thing is weird."
Trent felt his fingers shift and when he looked he would see that the thing was flipping Meri the bird. "I'm not doing that." he quickly commented. He was certain she would know this at any rate. As Trent forcefully pulled his hand toward his chest, which coincidentally were the same direction Xalious Village had been resting, the azure glow began to dim. This perplexed Trent enough that he would attempt to experiment a little. Extending the arm north, the glow would brighten. Pulling it back it would dim. The correlation was too strong to ignore. "I would assume that we head north? Think we can trust it?" he asked with a hint of caution in his voice. While Trent had his attention tuned into Meri, should the other happen to glance toward the north, she might notice a shrouded figure in black far in the distance, seemingly watching the pair.
Path to the North
Meri dismounts from the horse as Trent begins to experiment with how the glowing of the gauntlet changes depending on the direction. The question of if they could trust it? That is met with a lofted brow, does Trent need to ask. Preemptively, as if she were expecting to earn this reaction from the gauntlet for a second time tonight, she flips it off as she strides northward, leading the horse. "No." If Meri notices the figure, she doesn't seem to care to draw attention to it's presence quite yet. Let's head northward just a little bit more and see what happens. Then again, it is possible that she is unaware at this moment.
Trent followed suit and lead his horse by its rein, walking at a steady hobbled pace. It did seem the leg was beginning to heal better, but it would take some time to be fully functional. "I want to thank you again for coming with me. I know all of this must be strange, given the odd history we have shared. It is of some comfort to not have to do this alone." A confirming nod is set in motion as he gauges the road ahead. It seemed to go on for some ways; And the stony guardian of earth seemed to covet the horizon ahead. "If things get too much to handle, let me know, alright? If things become too dangerous, we pull back. I want answers. But not enough to risk our lives over it." Again that shrouded figure would appear, this time far above and to the east. One would hardly notice if they were not looking.
Northern Range
Meri cracks a grin at Trent's little speech there and her response? She lifts a hand and makes a motion like he were yacking too much about things she didn't really care about. Alright, she definitely cared about their safety, she just wanted to harass him just a touch, "Come on, Trent. You know I am going to do what I want to do anyway." Though the road goes on and so do their travels. Every so often those blue eyes of Meri's would scan their surroundings, it was sort of habit. She was kind of paranoid, but a bulk of her attention remains on how the gauntlet is reacting to their direction of travel. Was the glowing on the increase? Decrease? Stationary? After a time, she does very quietly declare in a hushed whisper, "You do know we are being followed, yes?
Trent rolls his eyes at Meri's little poking of fun at his expense. "I... should know this, by now, yes. You have the hard-headedness of a bull. It can be frustrating at times.. but I don't think I would change it for anything. It's part of that..." he makes finger quotes. "..Charm." Meri's attention would pay off, the azure hue growing brighter the farther up the mountain they climbed. As they came to a crossroads, Trent began to slow, taking note of the change in terrain- most notably the snow. Perhaps he should have dressed warmer. "Followed? Are you certain?" His cool gaze begins to survey the surroundings carefully. He did not spy anyone nearby. Using the arm as some sort of compass, Trent pulled back the sleeve and began to move the arm from side to side, the glow seeming to dim to the east, yet growing strongest when aimed west.
Meri wasn't about to draw Trent's attention to what she presumed to be a figure following them, if he could not figure it out on his own it would be something she would monitor herself for the time being. Better than calling too much attention to the fact said figure was noticed. Since Trent has identified that the glowing was intensified if they went west instead of continuing northward, Meri paves the way. Boots thud against the earth as she moves west now instead, still walking alongside the four-legged beast of burden. It's footsteps fell far heavier than Meri's own.
Meri exited to the west.
Cliff
Trent didn't seem like the type that would scare easily. He was often cool. Stoic. Very serious. Yet when he got a look over that cliff, he began to have a mild panic attack. His chest heaved and he began to sweat, back suddenly thrust against the cliff wall behind them. It didn't help matters that he would be leaving solid ground shortly either, having to cross over the most unsafe looking bridge in the area. At least the one in Cenril was sturdy. "I... I'm not sure I can do this Meri. What if the bridge collapses?" it was an honest question.
Meri isn't nearly as concerned about the bridge as Trent is, but she does have the tense to tether the horse up to a nearby tree. Neither of the creatures would be able to make it across the bridge. "Come on. It's not that bad. One foot at a time, you go first, you baby. I will follow right up behind you." She presumes that Trent will have the smarts to follow her lead with the horse and leave the creature behind until the trip back. The mouth of the bridge is where Meri waits, fully intent on making Trent start their way across the bridge. Easier to keep an eye on the scaredy that way.
Vulnerable Rope Bridge
Trent gives Meri the dirtiest of looks. So dirty. The kind that if there was a mud puddle near by, she would be pushed into it. A baby. He'll show her. "I hate you." he grumbled at the teasing woman without hesitation. Of course he didn't really hate her, but still. Tying off his mount, Trent made his way to where Meri waited, a deep breath taken as he looked to the span of the bridge. It wasn't terribly long, but to Trent it just seemed to go on and on. "I think... I want to be very drunk after this.." he admitted in passing, gripping both sides of the bridge with shaky hands. Slowly he takes one step, and then another, eyes shut tight as he tried to concentrate on just getting to level ground.
Meri dares Trent to keep going with that I hate you argument, she'll call his bluff. She would give the man a decent lead across the bridge before starting to follow after him herself, not wanting him to panic if she followed to hot on his heels. She was not concerned about the bridge snapping beneath both of their weights. Trent better not be either, what are you trying to say about Meri's weight their, Trent?! Sure, she teases and calls him a baby prior to going across the bridge but on their way across her words to him were more encouraging. Maybe. They included things like. "Come on." "You've got this." "Half way there." "Keep going." This would continue...until the bridge snaps! ....or they make it across, more realistically.
Narrow Ledge
Trent was a little relieved that she didn't start shaking the bridge or taunting him. Not that he would permanently hold it against her or anything. She was more open. Witty. And liked to jokingly poke fun. Yet in this instance he too saw her more helpful and 'caring' side. While words of encouragement helped him press onward, he did have a habit of meeting those statements with questions of his own. "How much farther." "Are we almost there?" "This is taking too long." -Maybe he was a big baby. As they finally reached the end, Trent stumbled foward and let loose a huge sigh of relief. "Never again." he stated, before realizing that there was probably no other way back to civilization. Those cold steel eyes settle on Meri and he offered a bit of an embarrassed, "Thanks.."
Meri 's feet find their way to the earth which much less of a dramatic reaction. Meri wasn't quite as scared of heights as Trent was. That helpful and caring nature is lost the moment both of their feet are on solid ground, the blonde earning himself a smirk for his declaration. He might have realized the obvious after the fact, but Meri just wanted to make sure that he fully understood it. "It will be at least one more time, unless you are planning to fly back." While the direction they needed to head from here was obvious, Meri was in no particular rush and Trent seemed like he needed to catch his wits for a moment. "Why don't we take a small break here before we keep heading on, yeah?"
Trent knew that he would have to traverse that damned bridge a second time. He just knew it. So when Meri made her point, he kind of just ignored it. "I am good. I.. let's continue. We have come so far now, I just want to get there as soon as possible." There was only one direction to go it seemed, and that gauntlet still shone steady. Looking north, Trent made note of the waterfall ahead, and what looked to be a cavern beyond. "I wonder what it is we will find. I certainly hope this...thing.. is not leading us to our death."
Meri doesn't spend her time arguing with Trent, if he wanted to carry on then carry on is what they would do. The direction was again obvious as the path only had two options. Forward or backward. Backward was to the bridge, which Trent was not looking forward too. His concerns about if they were possibly being lead to their death was not off-putting enough for the woman to not keep pressing forward. Step after step they go. "It could be, I wouldn't put it past it."
Under the Waterfall
Trent was quite careful to keep is eyes open for any sort of dangers or indications that they should turn back. Nothing in sight. The air grew cold the further they pressed on and the falling water from above did not help matters. The gauntlet began to pulsate heavily before the glow suddenly dissipated. "Huh?" he muttered looking to Meri. "Are we here? Did we lose the path?" He took a look around again, not noticing the shadowy figure nearly hidden behind the waterfall in the opening. It would not stay long, seeming to move back and out of view before it was spotted. "I don't understand.." Trent spoke again, tapping on the gauntlet with his other hand.
Meri stops dead in her tracks when the light of the gauntlet cuts off abruptly. In the poor light of the cave it is fairly easy for Meri to not notice the figure she had on at least one occasion observed following them during this trip. Her focus is on Trent and the gauntlet. "So...what if you back tracked a bit? Does it start glowing a bit? And what if you pressed on? Does it pick up? Maybe it stopped because...we're here..." Though as her gaze travels around the expanse of the cave she can see nothing that really sticks out to her.
Trent thought that it couldn't hurt to experiment again. Lifting the gauntlet, Trent began to walk backward and forward and from east to west. Nothing happened. Not even so much as a twinkle. The male's face began to grow red. He was angry. "IS THIS SOME SORT OF JOKE?!" he cried, with both arms extended outward. "We travel all this way for what? What is it that you want to show us?! Why have we traveled here?!" Of course we would look like a raving madman- for none would answer in turn. Naked digits would lift to his face, thumb on chin, fore finger just grazing his bottom lip. "I ...just don't get it..." he said with a sigh.
Meri has never really seen Trent display too much in the way of emotion, so the fact that he is angry is actually downright surprising to the woman. Still, his anger is met with an even-tempered muttering of, "I mean it's not like the answers are just going to drop themselves into your lap, you know? Something has to be missing from the equation." A faint shrug of her shoulders, her feet carrying her deeper into the cave as if they were perhaps going to find something if they just kept looking. Who knows. They'd come this far, why not take a moment to look around. "Come on, just relax, let's keep going."
Opening in the Mountains
Trent was breathing swift and heavy. He wanted so badly to find answers. The whole ordeal was... well, he could not describe it. It was just important that he find out. "You're right. I'm sorry, Meri. I do not mean to lose face in front of you. Sometimes it all just feels like a game. Perhaps a punishment for something I have done." As they ventured into the tunnel, Trent did not say a whole lot. He was trying to force himself to remember. Trying as hard as he can to push his mind to recall just one thing. Anything. But nothing came to surface- Not until they passed into that opening. At first Trent was in a state of awe, the sheer size of the amphitheater-like cavern causing his gaze to first look up and across the valley. Then, as he spied that tower standing directly north did something happen. In his mind brilliant flashes of visions past began to flood his mind. THose tormenting nightmares first came to play, then visions of things he had not remembered dreaming. The flashes crashed down upon his mind like bolts of lighting, roaring like the vociferous thunder of the heavens. He fell then, to his knees, clutching the sides of his head in agony.
Meri could of course not see or experience the things that Trent was feeling. She was entirely unaware that he was struggling with anything until he crumples to his knees. The response that Meri gives is one that is made out of uncertainty. She can't decide if it would be better to risk crowding Trent, perhaps help him to his feet? Get him to lay down? She was not sure. Or perhaps it would be better to give him space and wait to see if this passes? Meri picks a route somewhere down the middle, approaching enough to let a hand come to rest upon Trent's shoulder, "Trent?"
Trent began to make sense of things as the visions began to slow their assault on the sense, his eyes shut tight, beads of sweat forming along his forehead. The amulet around Trent's neck began to hum with that azure hue, soon becoming ashen grey as he finally looked up and upon Meri. One hand planted firm upon the ground to begin the push he needed to rise to his feet. "We're.... we're here." he said softly. Steel blue met the obsidian guardian of the mountains, and for some time he would simply stare upon it without so much as a word. From the peripherae of their vision, misplaced shadows might be seen, as not one, but multiple figures in shrouds seemed be standing still. By the time one would take time to focus on them, they would disappear one by one. "You do not have to enter with me, if you do not want to, Meri. I do not know what we will find inside, but I can only suspect that it will not be pleasant. I could be completely wrong- but I feel as though something beckons."
Meri 's hand falls away from Trent's shoulder once the man manages to find his footing again. His words cause blue eyes to be cast over her shoulder, trailing back the way they came in thought and contemplation. They then traveled toward the tower that Trent seemed intent upon entering -- not that she could blame him. Her answer is not a confident one, perhaps it was the vague shifting of shadows that caused her lack of confidence. If she even saw them. It was questionable. Her focus does manage to find Trent after a him. "No. What if something happens. Better you have someone go with you. So come on...Let's go then."
Caer Arianrhod
Trent enters into tower with a clear sense of caution, leading the way in case anything were lying in wait. There had been no activity from the gauntlet in some time, so this was mostly a venture of blind faith. From upon his back that crimson bladed weapon was drawn, wielded mostly as a defensive tool against any potential threats to the pair's safety. As they enter the circular room full of plantlife, Trent takes a survey of everything that could come into view. "This is a strange place for a garden." he mentions, his gauntleted hand reaching out to touch the leaves of a nearby tree. "Well maintained. Someone must frequent here." Seeing no open doorways, Trent finally spots the staircase, presenting now a choice. "Should we try going down first?"
Meri analyzes the options of up or down. Her gaze drifts down first, peering down the steps as if she might be able to see something of interest. "Yeah, it is a bit of a strange place for a garden," Meri remarks, those blue eyes returning to Trent, point up the stairs to announce her decision on which direction they go. "You know what they keep down the stairs? Creepy places. Like basements. Dungeons. Let's start with up the stairs first, yeah? See what that does us?" While Meri is of course armed, she has not drawn her weapon and will Trent go ahead and lead the way. This was his search for his answers, so he should find them first!
Picture Room
Trent chuckles at Meri's notion of creepy things in the basement and agrees then to lead the way up the stairs. "Very well. I suppose at least if we run into trouble going up, we have the option of leaping out a window." Morbid humor? Trent's sword was still ever ready to clash with potential marauders, his footsteps slow, calculated and most importantly quiet. As they found the landing of what appeared to be some sort of gallery he glanced back at Meri with a very puzzled look. "Pictures? What... is this place? The room decor seems to make little sense." Trent wandered forward into the room, moving closer to examine the strange lively paintings. He was hoping that perhaps something would make sense. "Strange. The longer I stare, the more the paintings seem to come alive. Enchantment? Curse?"
Meri was an artist, so of course her admiration for this room was a great one. At first. As Trent commented, the longer one stares the more the paintings seem to come alive. "Uh huh..." comes her semi-distracted answer. The dizzying effects of the room soon take their hold on Meri, with her gaze immediately fleeing toward the stairs. Her footsteps follow her gaze, a hand on the railing to help keep her balance as she leads the way this time, just to escape this particular room. She might not like this particular space but she is still dealing with it better than Trent and his bridge! Meri exited upwards.
Cauldron Room
Trent notices Meri's swift departure and hurries after her. "Meri! Are you alright?" He was concerne that she just took off without a word. "I wouldn't advise splitting up like that, we do not know what we may find waiting for us." As they came upon yet another floor, Trent's confusion grew. The cauldron that took up most of the room immediately caught the majority of his attention. As if being switched on, Trent's gauntlet began to glow as he reached out to touch the cauldron's surface. "What in the seven hells is this place? Gardens? Picture rooms? A cauldron so large?" The metal fingers of the gauntlet begin to scratch the surface of the cauldron methodically, Trent's gaze turned then to Meri. "None of this makes sense." The sound of footsteps echo from the opposite side of the room, where neither could currently see.
Meri motions toward the gauntlet that Trent seemed to be paying very little mind to at the moment. It was glowing again, and behaving on it's own accord -- though that detail was not so surprising. "I'm fine. That room was just too much. As for nothing making sense...It's impossible to make sense of something if you are still being presented with pieces of the puzzle. We haven't even finished looking around yet. You can't draw conclusions. Stop ignoring what's in front of you. Pay attention to that damn...thing. It's doing something."
Trent finally looked to the metal appendage. Of course, thanks to Meri's instruction. The razor talon was apparently sharp enough to etch into the steel surface of the over-sized crock pot, the scenery depicted seemed most familiar. The tower was present, as were the mountains. At the bottom of the tower seemed to be some sort of dragon-like creature. At the top, a series of stars have been drawn. The newest addition? A large bowl shape in the center of the tower, with what looked to be a hand seeming to emerge from within. When the drawing was complete, the radiant glow once more dissipated. "I'm not sure what to make of this. Did this thing.. come from within? Is there something inside?" Looking around, Trent realized the thing was far too high to climb, and there were no footholds in the walls. "Can we even get up there?"
Meri is also not sure what to make of it, though she keeps those thoughts to herself. Instead she focuses on trying to solve the present puzzle of trying to figure out how to get a peek at what might be inside of the cauldron. "Well, think maybe we can find like a table? Or a chair? Something to stand on? I don't think you should climb into it or anything, just...you know. Take a little peek at what is inside yeah?" Her gaze sweeps about the room as if looking for something that might be suitable to drag on over. "Not really much in the way of furniture in this room." Those pulleys and levers catch her attention but there seems to be no direct way of reaching them or the ledge near them. "What do you suppose those are for?"
Trent trails the chain and pulley system carefully wth his eyes, looking for their original source. As he does so he begind to follow the cauldron around the room, finding nothing to stand on, or any indication of a way to climb. "This doesn't make any sense..." TO her question Trent shrugged. "I am not exactly sure. If I were to hazzard a guess, given the size of the cauldron... I would suspect that they are used to lower something, or perhaps someone inside. Ritualistic perhaps? Sacrifice? Anyone's guess." Again footsteps echoed out from behind the cauldron, close to where another set of stairs lead upward.
Meri gives a slight wrinkle of her nose at the explanation that Trent gives, that was not slightly ominous at all. His footsteps might be sounding toward the stairs leading up but she finds that her gaze wanders toward the set heading back down. However, Trent will not be abandoned in his quest and Meri's own steps carry her closer toward the stairs leading up, off to see what the next room has to show them since they did not appear to make any headway with the cauldron. "Yeah, I don't know, let's keep going, why don't we?"
Starry Heavens
Trent firmly nodded to Meri's suggestion, by now having sheathed his weapon. It didn't seem like there were anyone here, even if he swore he had heard steps. "Perhaps there's a way down from above. It would make most sense, I would think." All thought toward looking for such a way would be immediately discarded as the reached the landing of the Starry Heavens room. Trent would become very quiet as he looked on in wonder as the stars above twinkled and put on some sort of display. "What sorcery....?" he finally said after a moment of stunned silence. He walked to the center of the room, looking to each direction in which a wall should be, both confused and amazed at whatever enchantment seemed to hold this room together. "What is this?.."
Meri lingered near the entrance of the stairs once they made it into this room for no other reason than she had a clear view of the room from where she stood presently. A brow is lifted lightly, but Trent manages to summarize her thoughts fairly accurately. "So far," she muses allowed for the both of them, "There have really been only two areas that you have had a reaction in. The very first space past that tunnel? And the cauldron room. Do you know anything about this tower? Did any of your research tell you anything?"
Trent shook his head as he turned to face Meri with his response. "No. I had no idea of its existence. I merely saw it in my dream. The crude sketches that this.. thing seemed to leave behind. Nothing was mentioned in any of the texts that I researched in Cenril. I hadn't gone through much material in Xalious village's library." Once more he turns, looking for any sort of clues that he might find. Abruptly, without any sort of provocation, Trent's left hand lifted toward the heavens above and the stars all seemed to fade away. Everything in the room grew black, and soon, neither party would be able to see one another. "Meri?!" Trent called out in a panic. He dare not move, for if he wandered too far in the wrong direction he feared he might fall off the edge of this strange enchanted room. "Meri! Are you okay?!" Meri might hear the sound of footsteps coming from the stair case behind her, and through the dim light of the room below, she may spy a shadowed entity in tattered robes standing upon the stairs staring in her direction.
Meri 's gaze is focused on the darkness in front of her, trying to locate Trent within the inky darkness to no avail. Her blue eyes are unable to locate him, but she is still able to hear him at the very least. At least she is left to presume it is Trent's voice that she is hearing but in this strange place she would not be surprised. "Trent?" Her own feet remain stationary as well, at least until she hears someone approaching via the stairs from behind. Then she slowly turns to face this shadowed entity that stands before her in tattered robes. Meri is silent, but her gaze is unwavering, giving whatever it was that was standing before her first chance to speak.
Trent would be seen now as the gauntlet lets loose a brilliant pulse of energy that is sent rocketing into the blackened abyss above, the entire area coated in a vibrant azure haze. To Meri's surprise, as soon as the light eaches her side of the room, the figure upon the stairs would simply vanish, as if it hadn't even been there. Was it a spectre? An illusion of sorts? Or was it all simply in her mind? Whatever it were, it was gone for the time being. Like a beacon of light, Trent remained near the center of the room, staring up at the beam of blue that reached for the heavens with such force that his hair began to flutter. The beam soon left the gauntlet and spread outward within the sky, fading then and letting the natural light return to the room. Trent looked first to Meri to make sure she was alright. Again, with a mind of it's own, the metallic digits of that gauntleted hand began to curl into a first as the elbow pulled down toward the ground. With this action, stars began to form in the sky, familiar patterns and shapes that mimicked those seen across that land in the evening. Once the elbow was fully as Trent's side, the hand flicked the wrist, one finger point up; The stars beginning to shift and flow with the appendage's own movement. The hand slowed it momentum and once more the finger began to withdraw, and as it did so, the stars seemed to also pull closer for viewing. With the fist rotating to the left, so too did this specific group of stars, until they formed a particular constellation.
Meri 's focus is on the tattered robbed figure first and foremost, at least until the flash of light consumed the room. By the time that this light reaches her side of the room, Meri squints her eyes closed to shield them from this azure haze and by the time that she opens her eyes again? That figure she was just staring at is gone. With very little time to reflect or dwell on those details, Meri turns to face Trent again. A couple steps further away from the stair case she goes, if that was out of concern that said figure might reappear? Or just to get a better look at what is transpiring? It was hard to say. Meri wasn't exactly going to go on a rant detailing that information. Let's focus on what is at hand, blue eyes watching the hands manipulate the scene of stars to draw attention to a particular grouping, "Have you ever seen those stars before?"
Trent had been so focused on what was being shown to them that he had nearly forgotten that Meri was near. The fingers of the gauntlet slowly opened, and with this, the constellation was pushed back, higher in the sky. Each and every digits then began to fold and flick, various other stars filling the sky around that constellation until it looked like any other night in the land of Lithrydel. "N-No. Never. Not that I can recall..." Trent said, suddenly surprised by Meri's voice. He turned cool steel blues to the woman as the metal gauntlet fell to his side, the show it seemed was over; yet that same scenery it painted still remained. "Have you? What do you make of this?" With the srhug of his shoulder, the pack that Trent carried fell to the ground, the man kneeling then to produce a stack of parchment and a stick of charcoal. "Think you can sketch out the pattern?" he asked her. Lucky to have an artist nearby!
Meri shakes her head slowly to Trent for she head no immediate nor concrete answers to provide the guy. "I mean, I know some stuff about the stars an constellations and all that but I have never learned of this particular one before...." She confesses, taking that parchment and charcoal in hand so that she can draw said design out for Trent, the woman hunkering down onto the ground to use it as a drawing surface. "And really, it could mean a lot of things. Sailors use the stars for navigational purposes, obviously. Sometimes the constellations have stories behind them, dedicated to...I mean, there are all sorts. You'd have to start flipping through the books. Perhaps the library in Xalious to start though, if there is no information there...numerous other libraries. Gualon. Rynvale." The sketch is completed and offered up to Trent for his examination.
Trent looks up at the sky while Meri speaks, trying to understand exactly what was shown. How did this fit in with the etching of that cauldron room? What did it all mean? "Yes I..." he started before focusing on one particular part of her hypothesis. "Navigation? You might be onto something. What if... the stars position in the sky... is a place in this land? A place that when one looks up, this particular pattern would emerge?" It was a long shot, but it was the best he had. Taking the drawing in hand, Trent seemed to light up. "You are the greatest, Meri. This is wonderful! I will definitely seek out the library in Xalious. The mages there, I am sure they can assist us with this." THe aprchment was rolled up then and placed into the bag, soon to be rested upon his shoulder once more. By now the room had been quite still for some time, perhaps an indication that this strange display was all there is to see. "I do not see an alternative way into that room with the cauldron. Perhaps those who keep this tower have alternative methods of getting up there. Perhaps it is only accessible in times of ritual.." He pondered aloud. "Do you wish to ventured down the tower? To see what lie below?" (Trent's player tends to ignore the above as it's mostly a couple random houses and overpriced shops.)
Meri doesn't remain seated for much longer, not at the mention of starting to head back down. Truth be told, after her little run in with the figure Meri was starting to get a bit eager to get out of this place. Yes, she was unharmed and it had not yet returned. The answer that Trent gets is not a selfish one, even if Meri would like to fully leave this place and heckle the blonde right back over the bridge again. "Well, that is entirely your call I feel, Trent. Do you want to head down there and see? This is for you, not for me, so you should not be asking me." Back down the tower was the only direction for them to go, at least if there was another it cleverly escaped her attention. The present debate was how far would down would they venture...
Caer Arianrhod
Trent lead the way down the stairs. He had not once seen anything that he would deem threatening or troublesome exactly, and as Meri had not spoken up, he opted to continue. "I think it might be best. Just to... sate curiosity?" As they passed through each room, Trent would take one last survey, trying to figure out how all this seemed to connect. Once they hit their original starting spot, Trent asked. "Are you.. okay with this? That we move down? Something seems a little off with you, this evening. Are you alright? Do you wish to speak of anything?" He looked toward the stairs. "If you wish to remain here, where I am sure it is safe, it is alright. I won't be terribly long. I just wish to make sure I do not overlook anything." A reassuring smile is offered.
Meri 's contemplation is not a long or deep one, it did not take much for Meri to draw the conclusions she needed. "No, I will come with you," she says. Nevermind the number of other questions that Trent has asked her. In typical form, Meri is just avoiding the questions that she does not want to answer. Since Trent has indicated that he would like to venture down that set of stairs she's not to keen on, she meanders over that direction. Once more he is left to pave the way. He can run into the creepy, tattered robe figure first. "I don't want to just stand around this place. It's creepy. I feel like something is watching us still. Now come on, let's get down these stairs."
Trent lifts a brow as Meri's concerns are made fully known. "Watching us? Do you mean like those whom you said said been following along our journey?" The blonde haired male was now faced with a choice- Proceed down the stairs in search of answers or heed Meri's gut feelings and leave. His answer would immediately be made clear as he started down those steps. "Stay close. If you think we are being watched, then I do not want to give any thing, or any one a chance to separate us. Caution raised, Trent began a slow descent into the unknown reaches of the tower.
Temple
Meri hesitates at the top of the stairs as she really is not too keen on descending into the darkness. The woman pauses at the top of the stairs only to withdraw her sword from the metal scabbard that is lashed to her back. This is not done out of fear but for the light for upon drawing her weapon free, the entire blade ignites. This gives Trent and Meri more than enough light to see what might be transpiring below. Or study the mosaics, which is one of the first things that catches Meri's attention. She strays from this whole 'keeping close to Trent' thing, so that she can examine them. Though the largest is the most obvious it is not the first piece that Meri studies, but once she does study the mosaic related to the cauldron...well she frowns, declaring, "Y'know, this is the cauldron that is upstairs. You see what they are doing? Kind of like this is a place of sacrifice or something."
Trent was taken first by surprise with Meri's weapon. He had never seen her really wield one before, especially one that seems enchanted. He glanced back with a quiet 'thanks', a moment to study weapon before he would return to focusing on not tripping down the stairs. Once they hit the next available floor, Trent's attention was immediately stolen by that large sarcophagus nestled in the center of the room, eyes next glancing up upon the lid that was suspended from the ceiling. "Strange." he muttered. " I wonder what once rested here. Worse, I can only fear where it has gone." With Meri's grim declaration, Trent turned and began to examine the mosiacs himself, taking time to filter through every detail for potential clues. "Perhaps you are correct. It seems these others detail strange symbolism of life and death, the passing of seasons... I wonder what it could all mean." Trent knelt down before the cauldron mosiac, thinking back to what the gauntlet had etched upon the object's surface. "Indeed. There is some peculiar ritual here. One that makes me feel as though I have a knot in the pit of my stomach." Unbeknownst to the pair, as they examined the strange and twisted artwork, six figures appeared in front of the staircase, each dressed in tattered black shrouds.
Meri keeps that weapon held above her head, like it were a torch, in order to help illuminate the area. The woman's gaze is so focused on the mosaics that she doesn't notice the six figures enter the room, blocking the staircase. "Alright. Seriously. I have had enough of this place, okay? Let's get the heck out of here. Like now." Meri didn't even care to explore the rest of the this strange tower. This was not a question, this was a demand and if Trent did not feel inclined to appease this demand well...Meri was already turning away from Trent with the intention of making for the stairs. She would not get far, for it would not take her more than a few steps to realize that the path out of the area was being blocked by those robbed figures she has been complaining about. The one's Trent didn't seem -too- worried about.. See, she knew what she was talking about. Men."Trent..."
Trent knew that the stairs descended even firther down the tower and as much as he wanted to keep exploring, Meri was obviously not comfortable with any of these recent findings. "I... sure.. If that's what you wish. Just one moment, I find this imagery odd. The fact that they are both lowering and removing bodies from the cauldron is puzzling. Is it sacrifice? Is it a blessing ritual? Perhaps the Libr-" is what he managed to get out before his name was called once more. "What is it, Meri?" the oblivious male asked, coming to a standing position. When he finally turned to Meri's direction, he too saw what she had been seeing and took a step backward to gain a little distance. One of the shrouded figures took three steps forward, the hood atop its head lifted just enough to expose the lower half of its face. It's features were sunken, nose a gaping hole, jaw rotted and corpse like. Its arm lifted and pointed in their direction, the finger raised was shrivelled and brow, with a long blackened nail on the end. It made a hissing sound as the jaws parted, a struggled raspy voice echoing out into the chamber as it began to speak. "You do...not...belong. Answers... you should not seek... Turn away... from this... wretched place." Another stepped forth, standing just behind the first. It too mimicked those actions, its jaw missing as it spoke. "Danger....ahead... Death... Sorrow. Turn away.... from your path... Do not... forsake life..."
Meri figures she and Trent have two options now that they are faced with six rather creepy figures. They can stay and attempt to question these figures, which does not have a favorable outcome for either of them. At least that is what Meri's gut tells her. Or they can leave and turn away from this place as instructed, because the alternative of not sounds very ominous. Now Meri is no expert in this area, but she has done a few tattoos for a couple of creepy people in which Meri has asked a few questions. Her words to Trent are not above a whisper, "For some rituals, you have to give a life to bring back a life. Now let's listen to them and. Go. Already." Which probably meant attempting to pave their way past these figures, a move Meri was willing to make. She'd make for the stairs leading up at a slow and deliberate pace. At a louder volume, so the figures can hear, "Alright. We're leaving."
Trent nodded slowly and began to move forward with Meri's suggestion. As he did so that crimson weapon was removed from its resting place- an act of preparation and defense. As the pair neared, the six figures parted and kneeled, three on seach side, an act seeming to take place as soon as that weapon was drawn. "We meant not to disturb your place of rest. We meant no harm." Trent states as each careful footstep leads between those strange undead creatures. To Meri, one of these creatures would look upon her in such a way that she could see the burning embers of his gaze beneath that tattered hood. Its mouth did not move, and yet to her did is speak- Only to her. "Abandon... the path... He...must... not know. Your life.. danger. Death...awaits you... heed our warning." Trent, oblivious to anything, paused at the foot of the steps, ushering for Meri to take lead and quickly make her way up.
Meri undoubtably got the warning that the figure gives just to her for her pace quickens significantly just to try and distance herself from this place. Up the stairs Meri goes, still gripping her weapon by the hilt and elevating it upward to keep the light. At least it would be easy for Trent to spot Meri, even if she was starting to take a lead. It wouldn't be a lasting distance though, for once she made it to the stop of the stairs a started the way toward the mouth of the cave, Meri would slow to wait for Trent to catch up. If he wasn't hot on her heels already. She couldn't blame him.
Wet Tunnel
Trent wasn't quite as quick as Meri had been, going up those stairs, he often looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was trailing them. Who or what were they? What was their intent? Had Meri and Trent disturbed their resting place, or was there something far more complicated at work? Trent picked up his pace once he realized all was clear, the weapon sheathed as soon as they were far enough away from that puzzling tower. "Are you.. okay?" he asked Meri as they traversed back they way they came. "Are those the ones you spied on our journey here?" He glanced back at the tower, just to be certain they weren't being followed. "How very strange. I wonder if they are the guardians of that sarcophagus?"
Meri glances at Trent as a direct result of his questions toward her, making it very evident that he is heard loud and clear. He gains nothing more than silence from Meri at this point. As they cross beneath the waterfall, the woman very intentionally dips her sword beneath the waters for a prolonged amount of time to that the flames are quenched. From there? More silence, but her steps continue to pave the route back toward the bridge and back toward their horses. Poor Trent, forced to suffer through a fit of silence from Meri while she tries to decide how much she wants to say about what she thinks.
Trent seemed a little concerned with that wall of silence from Meri, hands tucked into his pockets as he opted to walk slightly behind the woman while she thought. His gaze would not leave her form, trying to identify any sort of telltale sign of her current mood or emotion. It was obvious back in the tower she were a tad afraid. Now? Did she feel the same? Or was she angry that he had gotten her caught up in all of that mess? Even as they crossed the bridge, Trent was so intent and focused on the blonde haired woman that he nearly forgot about his fear. It was still here of course, but he attempted to keep it at bay. Suddenly in the length of silence, he would finally speak up. "I'm sorry. To have put you through that. To have you traverse into that chamber- You wanted to leave sooner. I should have listened. I'm sorry."
Vulnerable Rope Bridge
Meri 's red lips finally part when they are about half-way across the bridge, she chooses this time to hit Trent with this information. This could be good, it might serve as a distraction for his fear. "What if I said that...they spoke to me. And what if I said that, I firmly believe that if you come back here, no good will come of it. And if we come back here again?" There was a beat. A pause. She'd wait for them both to get all the way across the bridge before she'd finish this thought. "Well if we both come back, I am pretty sure that you will attempt to kill me. Perhaps not you...but...." The gauntlet becomes the focus of her stare now.
Trent was a bit skeptical- and as assumed, it would distract him completely from that treacherous bridge they were crossing. "Perhaps it was merely an attempt at scaring you? It seems to have the desired effect. I mean... the cauldron, the sarcophagus.. They must be important." Trent's gaze also falls to the metal appendage as he listens carefully. "Why would I... or.. 'it' do that? In all the time we've known one another, the gauntlet has never showcased any signs of wanting to harm you. In fact, any time something has happened, i believe it always reacted in self defense." He shrugged. "But... if it makes you feel better, we will not return here. I will look for information in Xalious. I am certain that this... astral map.. this is what we were there for. I see no reason to return.".
Cliff
Meri isn't sure there is much that Trent could say that would make Meri feel better in this exact moment. The reigns of the horses are untied with Meri putting one foot into the strap of her saddle so that she can pull herself up onto the beasts back. "I don't know, Trent...." Of course she wanted to say that she wished that Trent would just let the issue rest but she also could not fault him for having these questions and wanting to know answers. "Let's just return to Gualon."
Trent stared upon Meri as she climbed atop her horse. He could sense that she was more than troubled by this whole ordeal. What exactly had he gotten her into? he knew what those creatures ittered was a very dire warning, and yet, he just couldn't seem to give up. Following Meri's action, Trent climbed upon his own horse, pulling the reign so that he could trot along side of Meri. "Very well. We can discuss this a little more after some rest. I think we've properly earned some." With a light kick to the horse's hind quarters, Trent starts the way back home for the evening.