Rabite
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Post by Rabite on Mar 2, 2016 2:56:07 GMT -6
[Renamed spell]
So far so good, the guards on the towers did not manage to spot the team when they got past the fences, and the night helps keeping them hidden even if the guards spotted them thanks to the range. The camp itself was quite quiet, and most of the tents don't seem to have any lighting on at the moment, suggesting most of them are either vacant or asleep. There's a few larger tents in the camp that are still light up, so it might be a good idea to not get too close to them unless the team plans to have a preemptive attack, or try to sabotage the camp for some reason.
Thanks to the two warriors guiding the team, there should be no problem in advancing without getting spotting, using the tents and shadows as covers to hide their movements. However perhaps they were unlucky, when they pass one of the tents, a half asleep man suddenly walks out right after Dieter and Gedeon has past them. From their formation, this means the guard would be right in front of the two girls, and would possibly cause problems no matter if they try to fight him or flee.
However, before the man fully realize what happened, Kate quickly step over and grabs the man by his arm, but she doesn't seem to be attacking him.
"Hear my whispers in your ears, watch my visuals with your eyes, may your mind be enticed by my attractions... Candy Voice."
Just as the man was about to call for help from the others inside the tent, he suddenly stop in place, looking enticed by the spell. First, this should come in a surprise as Kate herself did not mention about her knowledge of magic, nor did she mention that she could use it herself. However it could easily be explained by who her employer is, who possibly could have told her about his journey and such knowledge. Second, the magic she used is different from what the others have used so far, but is somewhat similar to the mind related spells that James had used.
"Good evening sir, can you do a favor for a lady?"
"Eh... s-sure..."
"Thank you, now please carry on, do whatever you planned to do before meeting us and then go back to sleep. You were in a rush weren't you? Better hurry and go do that, then head back to sleep, you got a long day ahead of you."
"Yes... I do... thank you..."
The man then proceed to leave and do whatever he originally planned. What the magic did was kept him in a dreamy state, weakening his mental resistance enough for small mental tricks like that to work. While normal hypnosis would require one to be completely relaxed and could have woken up easily, this spell uses Kate's personal appearance to catch her opponents off guard, and would be quite difficult for a regular person to break out of it. The spell is not exactly unique, as many famous beauties in history managed to use their attractive appearance to obtain great power and wealth, such spell could possibly be reasons why even great leaders seems to have little resistance towards them.
Kate, seeing that it works well, sighs in relieve. She haven't used it on anyone before ever since she found out about magic, but it's good to see that it worked well. For Mind magic it is important to have a strong mind and confidence, and less requirements on imaginations. You need to be sure that this is going to work fine for it to have effect, if you yourself don't even believe this is going to work, you won't be able to cast the magic at all. It's a good thing that she knows her own 'weapons', and are confident that very little healthy men would turn down her temptations. That said, she'd rather not use it all that often, who knows what the targets under the tell might do.
After sending the man off, she nods back to the team to show that everything is fine, so they could keep going. Other than that, it is pretty much a stroll in the park, with no other incident happening.
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Assuming that the team manage to get inside the ruin, they would find a narrow path that can only allow two person to walk side by side. The walls are filled with hierography, which mainly explains the process of mummification just like many other ruins. Some of them shows the stories of Anubis, whole others explain how the shrine was built. A heavy scent of dirt, dust, and generally ancient materials floats in the air, making the place smell like a store house that's been abandoned for years, which fits the shrine's condition quite well.
The shrine is surprisingly bright, since the grave diggers seems to have setted up lightings along the walls. The lightings would allow the explorers to have an easier time in checking out the shrines, however it also increases the chances of them getting discovered. Luckily there is no sign of anyone so far, but it's never bad to be careful. As they move further into the shrine, they reach a part of the halls which seems to have blood on them, fresh blood so it's not something caused in ancient times. There doesn't seem to be bodies, so whatever died here must have been moved out of here.
Though it would be easy to guess that there must be some traps here that killed those victims, it would not be easy trying to figure out what activates those traps, or if they are still working at all. The bloodstains suggest that it would be some sort of ranged, pointy weapons, and seemingly coming from multiple directions but perhaps not at the same time. Normally they might be able to scan the floor to see if there are any pressure plates, but it seems the years of wearing have created enough sand and dust to cover up the plates, making it very difficult to pinpoint its locations. Luckily it's not a very long hall, but it'll likely keep them on their feet.
At the end of the hall is a giant room, however they could feel it to be very small, as a giant statue of a beast stands inside the room. There would be several half eaten bodies laying around the room, but their condition suggests that they've been dead for a few days. Once inside if they observe carefully, the statue seems to be alive, and looking at the intruders. However it does not say anything, nor does it seem to block the exit of the room.
"The Trial of Wisdom... this must be the Sphinx?"
Kate helps read some messages carved near the entrance of the wall, which shows that there are several trials that one must pass, in order to prove their worth to the god of the afterlife. There seems to be more than one trial, and the trap filled halls is not one of them. It doesn't seem to say anything about how to pass the trials, so it may be up to those taking the test to figure out.
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Richter
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Post by Richter on Mar 2, 2016 4:11:08 GMT -6
Luck was on their side for the moment it seemed, they managed to hop the fence without any trouble. The act of getting there was a little more...difficult, than originally expected, but it worked. At least Gedeon was strong. Dieter was too, he weighed more than he looked and likely a fair bit of that was muscle. Although no body builder, he clearly kept in shape. To be fair, you had to as an adventurer. Regardless, they moved through the camp carefully. The gravity of the situation really could weigh on a man here, surrounded by all these tents. If an alarm went up they'd be in some serious trouble. But as a famous man once remarked about being surrounded: They could shoot in every direction. The enemy couldn't, and there'd almost certainly be friendly fire...
But it was better to avoid all of that entirely. Which it seemed would be what they would do.
Until by some misfortune one of the robbers chose that exact moment to wake up and stumble out of his lodgings. Not only that, but in the worst possible place as well. There was a small spray of sand around the German's heel as he turned around, ready to bash his head in. He only stopped when Kate grabbed the man's arm and began to chant. Some kind of spell that dazed the target. He stopped mid swing, only lowering the weapon when it became apparent that she had somehow vexed the soldier in question. Impressive. Useful too, because he wasn't sure if he could have put him down in time to keep him quiet. Gerhardt watched him walk off in a trance with incredulousness, but moved on once Miss Casimir signaled that it was all part of her plan.
Why question success?
They continued to follow the tactics laid down prior. They loop around the camp, sticking to shadows, and wind up around the back end of the hill that the ruin's entrance is dug into. Rather than risk dealing with the guards, slipping in behind them would be significantly more prudent provided they all could keep quiet. Which shouldn't be too hard to do considering that, once again, the two men are here to assist. It was probably a good thing they were in the third world considering how their strategies were playing out. Dieter and Gedeon would go first, with Dieter hanging over the edge by his knees and Gedeon providing support. The explorer would take his spear, which he removed the head from on approaching, and lodge it between the walls about halfway down. Since the haft was telescoping, this would be an easy feat. Then he'd grab hold of it and swing around to land on his feet. Following second, Salvator could simply hang by his hands and use the staff as a brace for his feet. From there, he could support himself with a palm on either wall to lower himself into a crouch, grab the bar, and then also lightly ease down to the ground. The two girls could then just drop off and they'd catch them, with Dieter snagging his spear and reassembling it while they scurried into the dungeon.
Were they free to speak, he'd make a comment about feeling more like an acrobat on this mission than an explorer. They could reminisce later, supposing they lived to tell about it.
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The group is kept quiet as they move, just in case anything might echo back to the camp, or forwards to anyone manning the deeper parts of the ruins. He couldn't read the ancient pictographs on the walls, but he glanced at them on occasion during their journey regardless of that fact. Considering the nature of the language, he could make out some of what was being said simply by the way the hieroglyphs looked. The parts talking about mummification and Anubis didn't escape his eye, and it made him wonder if this was a tomb, temple, both, or something else entirely. He hoped that something about a hidden exit would be in there for Miss Casimir to find, it would make life much simpler down the road. It wasn't something he was banking on, but maybe they'd get lucky. An outstretched hand stops the party when they start to find fresh blood (fresh for an ancient tomb that is) on the sandy floor. Dieter examined the pattern of the spatters, it seemed to imply that a number of sharp projectiles came at some poor bastards from at least one angle. Maybe several, hard to tell. People had clearly passed through here afterward, and that made the investigation work more difficult. Bootprints muddled the scene, and he wasn't exactly a forensics expert at the best of times. What he did note out of hand was a lack of projectiles stuck in the walls or left on the ground, so he assumed the trap encompassed some kind of spring-loaded melee weapon. Probably a self resetting one. Either that or whoever took the bodies also took the expended ammunition with them. Same end result, he supposed.
He'd been in tombs before and some of them could get pretty complex when it came to traps. He recalled one in western China with mirrors and light, messy business there...Most stuck to pressure plates, tripwires, or other mechanical levers such as opening a door. Picking plates out wouldn't really be easy with the debris on the floor, same deal with tripwires. But luckily, the group was oddly well equipped to navigate this hazard. The sand on the floor would even help, too. Finally, he chanced speaking up in a whisper.
"Here is what I am thinking. Gedeon and I will use our spears to check for traps. We should be able to get enough leverage to force them down, if any pressure plates exist. Similarly, we should be able to break any tripwires from afar. Wherever we clear, is where we'll step. You two," he said to the girls, "will follow in our footsteps exactly. The sand should make this easy."
So that was what they did. Using the blunts of their spears, the two warriors would test a foot-sized section of the trapped hallway at a time; pushing hard and at a 45 degree angle to best apply the maximum amount of pressure for the best chance of activating any plates. They began this search first with a sweep to clear out the aforementioned foot of space, to set off any tripwires early. The side benefit here was that their poles should keep them far enough back to not get hit by any traps they set off, or at least be out of the way of the worst of it. Supposing nothing went off, they'd step into the safe spot and continue onwards from there in this fashion. Supposing they did hit a trap, and could handle the results, they'd try another space until finding a clear one and moving into it; after filling in the trapped area so no one behind them would make a mistake and go there by accident. They progressed down the egress using this strategy, with Dieter and Gedeon both taking a side so they kept a decent pace. In theory, it should be fairly simple.
In practice, they'd have to wait and see...
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Whatever the outcome, the chamber at the other end with the stone creature caught the adventurer by surprise. First because of its size and workmanship, second because of the torn bodies and blood. Some of which, he noticed, was spattered onto the statue in such a way that it appeared as if it ate them. With magic running around, he knew better than to assume it was a coincidence. The third thing he noticed was that it wasn't a statue at all, and that realization made him grip and level his spear at it immediately. Nothing happened yet, but that didn't mean he let his guard down.
"The statue is alive." He warned his companions. "No one approach it, not yet."
An eye was kept on it while Kate read the hieroglyphs around the room. Revealing that it was apparently a sphinx brought back memories of the story associated with this creature. The riddler, if he recalled right. One of the most prominent pieces of Egyptian lore, though it also appeared in Greek mythology as well. Its function remained mostly identical, as was what happened if you answered wrong. Death, as it were. A big question was if it was always animate like this, or if it became so when the worlds began to merge. An academic inquiry at the moment, no matter how fascinating.
"If it follows the stories, it will have a question for us. We will have to answer it under pain of death." Dieter relayed, on the event someone of their quartet didn't know how this went. The monster wasn't exactly forthcoming to offer any riddles, which confused him somewhat. Ever the bold one, he took the initiative.
"We're ready for the trial, guardian. Ask us your riddles." He announced to the sphinx. Maybe it just needed to be addressed to get it going? It was his idea anyway, if it didn't work then perhaps someone else would have another theory on how to go about it. Seeing all these dead men around here only made him more keen to avoid fighting it if at all possible, so playing its game was definitely worth a shot.
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Post by Pitman on Mar 3, 2016 0:13:02 GMT -6
Gedeon and Tamara moved slowly as they were passing through the tents, keeping silent and calm Gedeon had his spear ready to strike at a moment's notice. Suddenly when a man suddenly showed up at the wrong time he was ready to throw his spear at the man's head. Luckily Kate's own magic and her quick thinking stopped that from occurring. He seen that kind of magic before but a different kind, usually this made him look at Kate warily but not as an enemy but as charms can be very dangerous.'
"Tamara don't her ask how to do that.", Gedeon whispered to his charge who gave him an look which meant she was caught red handed.
Never the less the thoughts themselves would only be a slight mischief as the man soon went away giving them a chance to their destination. In truth Gedeon dreaded it and not because of the armed men but hoping it was not belonging to Hathor. Any other Gods and Goddesses he was fine but Hathor would only make his world a living hell. He would soon silent move with Tamara into the ruins as he moved with ease inside. Once inside he gave a good look at their area they were in, with no alarms sounding he soon sighs a bit of relief which was a good thing.
"An acrobat?", Gedeon soon asked in question.
"He means he does a lot of stunts with climbing, moving about that most normal people can't do in this world.", Tamara soon stated as if she even knew.
"Oh, I thought it was all explorers normally did.", Gedeon soon shrugged at that comment which could be expected from another person from another world.
They would soon continue deeper into the ruins as Gedeon held his spear with a good grip as they moved deeper in without trying to cause a trap to trigger. As they went in Gedeon and Tamara soon noticed the blood and the bodies. Of course traps, it was expected in these kind of ruins to stop grave robbers from stealing any of the items. Gedeon went down to observe the scene as Tamara comes up to him asking, "So what do you think?"
"Obviously traditional trap, well for some odd reason I expected worse then what was used. Normally it would also trigger other nasty magical traps but then again. This is a different world so the traps are extremely traditional and easily overcome.", Gedeon soon stated as he saw Dieter finish what he was doing.
Both of them soon turned to him as he gave off his idea to the group which Gedeon soon replies, "Ya manageable, Tamara you didn't gain weight righ- Ouch!!"
Which a slapping sound of a hand to Gedeon's face could be heard as Tamara stopped his comment from completing. With that done Gedeon soon got to work with Dieter, pressing everything with subtly so not to trigger a trap but notice where to avoid. Gedeon soon turned to see Tamara behind him but looked down at her feet to notice.... her feet were above the ground.
"You could of asked.", Tamara soon stated as she was using air as a way to not even step on the ground.
Gedeon soon mutters, "Spoiled Brat who doesn't want to conserve her mana"
Soon a second slap on Gedeon's other cheek could be heard in the tunnel as Tamara punished Gedeon again. As they arrived at the final destination Gedeon and Tamara soon saw what was before him. The first thing he soon says you ask?
"Thank you, its not Hathor. Instead its Anubis... alright all is good.", Gedeon commented even as the dead eaten bodies before could be seen.
Tamara looked at Gedeon with an raised brow which was not the time or the place to say that out loud. Regardless both also looked at everything as the room was giving a story of mummification. Trial, of course that is what they had to do, Gedeon was not shocked. For some odd reason Egyptians loved their riddles and trials to the point of insanity. With him hearing of the things Kate would say or Dieter soon getting his shock back to normal Gedeon simply stared at the statue and soon says, "You know you don't need to stay still. We obviously know you move and eat."
"Gedeon!! You suppose to respect the statue even if it was one!!", Tamara soon stated to him which Gedeon simply shrugged a huh.
Turning their attention to the statue now Gedeon saw Dieter soon shouting, about the being ready for the riddle Gedeon soon adds, "And make it snappy."
Soon a third slap could be heard from Tamara on Gedeon since they entered the ruin.
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Rabite
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Post by Rabite on Mar 3, 2016 1:23:34 GMT -6
The spears managed to deal with much of the traps, activating some sort of chained spears that should shoot out and hook onto their victims before dragging them to their death. It's a good thing that the two decided to put some efforts into doing this, because there's a lot more than it seems, with enough to easily grind down a small army. However their method had one problem, it does not put enough weight on some hidden spring boards. Dieter was lucky enough to not activate them by accident, but while the other two are messing around, there were several hidden plates that are hidden by the sand.
The plates would not send spears at them, but rather suddenly spring short, dagger like blades out from the ground at great speed. It won't be enough to kill anyone unless you're crawling, but it's more than enough to poke a large hole into the victim's feet. Their short length and close distance to the plate itself also means it takes very, very little time for them to activate, making it very difficult to make a decent judgment let alone avoid the blade.
Other than that, they would be able to get pass the area just fine.
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The large statue, the Sphinx, looks at the new intruders with a bored looking face. Looks like it was already full from its earlier meals, and was resting when the group came along. However it still have a job to do, and it won't hurt to have extra sets of meals, so it stood up straight and looks at each member of the group.
The giant monster is huge, close to 20 meters tall and being quite close to the ceiling of this large room. It originally looked to be made out of sand, however color appears on its body along with fur like coating over its body, making it more like a giant beast than a statue.
"As I was tasked, I will ask you four questions in total. If you fail to answer it correctly, then the lives of the person that answered it wrong, will be mine. Here is the first question. A man went to a restaurant after finally arriving home after a shipwreck, being rescued after several weeks. He ordered a tortoise soup, but after he's done, he asked the chef if this is really tortoise soup. After being told yes, the man paid, and then he killed himself, why did he do this?"
He paused to let the question sink in, and allowing them to ask for him to repeat the question, before continuing to the second one.
"Next question, three people are sitting in the same room and taking the same logic class, and are each asked if they wish to start the course. The course will only start, if all three of them answers yes, but they are only allowed to answer for themselves. This means they cannot cut off the others and simply say yes for everyone. Now, A, answered that he is not sure. B, gave the same answer. and C, also the same answer. This resulted in the course being dismissed. Now which one of them, should be held responsible for this?"
This time, a logical question, one that is quite different from the first. But at least this one is something you can find the answer step by step, rather than being lost.
"Third question, there is a photo, this photo will require 24 hours of non-stop sunlight to be developed. Tell me how you can do this on Earth. And lastly, on foot, how do you carry out a circumnavigation of Earth, within 5 minutes of time? That will be the fourth question."
The last two questions are more related to a combination of quick thinking and knowledge about Earth itself, by comparison they would be as easy as pie if compared to the first two question. Now they have to figure out the answer, and decide on who should answer which question. The group is allowed to discuss among themselves, but when they actually answer the questions then they would have to take a risk. If it's incorrect, they would likely be eaten by the giant beast before them.
When answered correctly, the Sphinx will then turn back into stone, allowing the group to pass. This is of course, assuming they got it right and not have to fight it in battle.
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Richter
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Post by Richter on Mar 3, 2016 2:34:43 GMT -6
Dieter pondered over the questions. The first group would almost certainly be the most difficult. The last pair though, he thinks he has a pretty good idea on. Fortunately they had a chance to talk this over, they'd likely need it. So he went about hashing out the answers with the rest of the quartet.
"Three, I'm assuming has to do with the midnight sun phenomena. You'd have to take the photo to the north or south poles during their respective summer seasons. That would provide you with 24 hours of sun on the longest day of the year." Dieter recounted. Four came next, he was less certain on this one. "I'm guessing that the final one also deals with the polar caps. All meridians meet at the poles, circumnavigating means to cross the world. The world is broken down into meridians. Supposing you found the earth's exact magnetic pole, where they all meet, walking between them in 5 minutes would be possible."
It was clear he was struggling a little bit more when he went back around to the others. Even so he spitballed his theories in how to answer the starting duo, or at least how to approach them. Maybe someone else would have an idea. "For two: I could see very many ways of answering this one, all of them varying depending on context. That makes it very difficult. In one sense, I would say student A. As the first one to not answer in affirmation, he would invalidate the votes of any who come after. In effect, they might as well not even vote to begin; it would end immediately. This is if you look at it from the strictest sense of 'any vote but yes is a no'. Alternatively, supposing you take 'not sure' as a floating answer, it would fall on the head of student C. The first two, in effect, waive their votes, and since the last member doesn't give a concrete answer, there are no yeses and thus the class is canceled. A default, if you will."
The first one was even trickier. "Obviously something happened while the sailor was shipwrecked, and tasting the soup brought back some kind of memory or realization he couldn't live with. Perhaps his entire time there he had survived off of scraps and ignored plentiful tortoises thinking that they would taste foul, and upon returning and having the soup, realized he had made himself miserable for no reason. Although, if only gone for several weeks, I couldn't see such a strong reaction being in character. If it was several years or a few decades, then maybe. Likely, it was a bad realization that drove him to madness instead. What that could be that relates to tortoises, I am not sure."
The explorer stroked his tiny mustache with his fingers. This one really wasn't adding up. He tried to get more information from the beast, but that was a no-go, so they'd just have to work it out themselves. He glanced over his shoulder to James's assistant. "Do you have any input? The shipwreck riddle has me stumped."
In addition, he asked Tamara and Gedeon for their input. But their constant bickering at a time like this was getting to be a little draining. They were, after all, in something of a life-or-death situation. Hardly a time to quarrel, one would think. It already made them slip up back in the trap hall, ideally it wouldn't detracted from their progress now. It was clearly starting to get a little old.
"Your antics already could have gotten you poisoned in that hall, you're lucky those needles were so ancient that any poison on them would have evaporated. Secondly, kindly don't disrespect creatures we know nothing about in regards to their capabilities. Focus on the objective. If we fail one question, we're all going to be in hot water."
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At any case after they deliberate Gerhardt would give Kate his answer to question 3 in the way mentioned above. Take the photo to the north or south pole at that region's respective summer month, at the longest day of the year, supposing the weather is clear. Supposing she did know how to answer the shipwreck riddle, he would instead give this answer to cover himself. Ever the gentleman, he gave the one he was most sure on to the woman.
He'd answer question 4, saying that to circumnavigate the globe in 5 minutes you'd go to a magnetic pole where all of the meridian lines meet and walk around them in sequence. This one he was less sure on, so he saved it for himself. Once again, if Kate answered question 1, and he took 3, he'd give this one to Tamara.
That either left Gedeon with no answer, or his shaky solution to 2. Pending on if Kate came through for them. He recommended that Gedeon say Pupil C was to blame for the logic class not starting.
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Post by Pitman on Mar 3, 2016 23:51:30 GMT -6
As the spear blade part came towards Gedeon' foot soon hurting him, which he should've expected. Due to this he was in pain but just took it. Now injured he limped on one foot as he moved forward toward the next room. The down side now lightning step was out of the question.
As Gedeon and Tamara soon stopped bickering now was the time to get serious, hearing the statue give out the four riddles almost completely stumped both of them. They would turned to Dieter and Kate as they would soon ask, "So uhh these riddles..."
Of course it was not doing to be easy, why would it was Egypt for fucking sake which usually over complicate things even further. Makes no small wonder there was many dead bodies and none of the thieves have attempted to get in recently. Gedeon began to wonder if they were now just sitting it out or they had some other agenda in mind. He soon turned to Dieter who soon would answer the first riddle, then heard the others. When all riddles were soon revealed, Gedeon and Tamara soon turned to Dieter who began to give his own opinion. Pondering on what it could mean Gedeon soon asks, "So these riddles, sound more modern then ancient. I wonder, if it has to do with anything."
This could be something, or something else regardless they discussed the options to answer these riddles. On the first of the shipwreck Gedeon soon adds, "So an trauma huh, that could explain it. Sometimes the thought of it and something to ease suffering could trigger that."
Determining, how each of the questions to be handled Tamara listened closely about the median line and the poles. She soon nodded on what she had to answer and began to formulate a way to give her answer. As for Gedeon, he soon thought of the pupils, and listening to Dieter's reasoning it was pupil c's fault made sense. The way they had go differently but last pupil didn't meant it was his fault. When they were done on figuring out how to answer and all was agreed with they turned for the questions they had to answer.
When it was time to answer the riddle that Gedeon had to answer he soon walls up with his answer.
"It would be pupil c's fault.", Gedeon gave his answer.
If this worked or not he was not sure but hoped for the best to answer this riddle. Whatever Tamara was given, she would give her answer she was told to say. She hoped, to answer to her best ability and of course to avoid problems.
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Rabite
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Post by Rabite on Mar 4, 2016 2:09:38 GMT -6
"If humans can advance with time, there is no reason why other intelligent beings cannot."
If the Sphinx just relied on that one question in the myths, it would have starved to death from not able to turn anyone into prey, so it's not a wonder that the sets of questions they ask gets upgraded periodically. It's also a being that's thousands of years old, plenty of time for it to devise new and more difficult questions.
The last two questions are the easiest, and the beast did not expect them to get it wrong, unless he's dealing with someone without much formal education or have pretty slow thinking. Good thing Dieter's around so those got dealt with pretty easily. The other two are the problem here, and it's difficult to only rely on a single brain for ideas, but Kate is here to help out. Being a writer and an assistant to someone that seems to know all sorts of weird stuffs, she managed to explain them a bit easier to the other two, and figure something out for the other questions.
"Some of these questions are tricks, take the fourth question as example, there is no limits on where you must circle around Earth. In other words if you are at the tip of Earth such as the North Pole, you can just run in a circle to complete the question. The third question is more of a meteorology question, during the Summer in Antarctica, the sun remains in the sky for the whole 24 hours which would allow the photo to be developed."
For the second question, she wrote a table on the sandy floor using a piece of rock on the side, which lists out the possibly answers of the three.
"As Mr. Gerhardt had guessed, only C could have answered yes. In the case of A and B, if they answer yes then they would have skipped the answer of B and C, which is against the rules that are setted here. If they did not answer no, that means their own response to the question, is yes. However for C, as A and B had both shown to have answered yes, his answer as maybe would become no. In this case, the blame would be at C."
The last question is not exactly a question that could be answered right away, it is a type of situation puzzle where a series of questions are exchanged to reach the answer. It was considered a trump card by the large beast, as you do not get to ask it any questions in return. However it was quite unlucky today, as James had asked her this question before in the past to mess with her, and she remembered his answer in the end.
"The reason why the man killed himself, is because he was not alone during the shipwreck. He was with a friend, who when he is starving, gave him some meat and told him that it is the meat of a tortoise. After tasting the real tortoise soup, he realize that he had been eating human meat after all, so he killed himself in despair."
The Sphinx seems taken back by the answer, it never thought someone could have gotten it so easily, guess humans have more potential than it expected.
"So, did we get them all right, Mr. Sphinx?"
"Hm, looks like I have underestimated you all... you and the older man at least. Very well, carry on. And you, the crippled one. I would recommend you watch your mouth, not all of us are as patient as I am."
It steps aside, and returns back to a resting position before turning back into stone, allowing the group to pass and enter the next room.
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The next room was much different from the last, it is slightly smaller, and much of it are deep pits that light can't even shine into. This room like the last had many corpses on the side, these ones seems to be caused by blades of some sort. Statues of ancient soldiers stands right in front of the few paths that are in the room, blocking those that tries to pass them. They're not moving or show any signs of movements, but it's quite safe to assume they are the ones responsible for the death of the corpses, judging from the blood on the blades that they are holding.
"This ones says... the Trial of Loyalty. Those that refuses to show their respect and loyalty shall be drawn into darkness by the valor of the brave. Loyalty..."
The paths themselves are also quite small, barely enough for a single person to pass through, anymore would have a pretty high risk of losing their balance and falling. There doesn't seem to be any visible traps in the room, so the main thing they'll have to worry about would be the pits and the statues that seems to be standing in their way.
"I guess we'll have to in some ways show our respect in order to advance. Those statues might have the possibility of coming to life if we do it wrong."
And it's not going to be easy fighting them, judging from the futile attempts from the grave diggers and their lifeless bodies. There are plenty of bullet casings around the room, but not a scratch could be seen on the statues or the walls, showing how durable they are despite their ages.
On the ceiling are large groups of bats, which seems to have taken shelter in the darker areas. They carefully watch the small group entering the room, and are ready to try to swoop at them to defend their home from intruders.
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Richter
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Post by Richter on Mar 4, 2016 3:24:56 GMT -6
Dieter was thoroughly impressed at Kate managing to solve the shipwreck riddle. It also made him very upset that the Sphinx would pull that kind of trick, it was basically cheating. Surely that was going against the spirit of the trial, even if not the rules in letter? Yet unlike Gedeon, he was smart enough to shut up about it and not say anything regarding the attempted deception. Once again, no need to ruin a good thing. They'd managed to get through this without a fight, to his great relief, and even better, anyone following them would have to pass it.
Ideally, all these bodies meant that not many people before them had managed such a feat. But judging from the lights, 'not many' didn't equate to 'none', so they still had to be careful. Speaking of careful, he gave the beast a wide berth as he slid past it along the wall, just in case it was planning to go against its word, or if it had lied to them about solving the puzzles. That seemed not to be the case, so they got to press on with the only damage so far coming to the mage's foot.
Maybe he could look at it later and bandage it up. For now he seemed willing to bear it, so prudence demanded they keep moving.
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The next room they came to was no less intimidating. Deep pits spanned by narrow walkways, which were guarded by blood-gilded statues. Dead bodies and spent bullets littered the ground where fruitless fights had taken place. So it appears that the robbers had managed to bypass the Sphinx. It made Dieter wonder how, if it got tired of asking questions after the first dozen, or if all of them just so happened to get the riddles right. Either way their leader was either very callous, or the men extremely greedy. It didn't matter when it came to these poor bastards in here, nor did it to them for the moment. Getting by came first.
He nodded at Kate's translation of this room's purpose. "A trial of loyalty, but how does that relate to statues, I wonder?" He asked out loud.
It was less clear than the last one, considering their challenge this time wasn't talking to them. He rubbed his eyes tiredly, gazing up at the ceiling through slitted fingers and catching sight of the bats waiting overhead. They didn't look amused to see more intruders, and he uttered a curse of "verdammt". An upwards nod of the head drew the group's eyes to where he was looking. "I doubt they're part of the trial, but we should be wary of them all the same. A swarm of bats harassing us while on the path is hardly what we need. Those pits look deep, these lights don't even show the bottom."
That gave him an idea, as it were. He picked up a spent brass casing and dropped it into the darkness to wait and see how long it took to hit the bottom. He was waiting a very long time, and the adventurer gave them the kind of look that said falling down there would surely be your end. So, they'd have to make sure not to do it.
"As we know, these trials are mystical rather than...how can I put it? 'Mechanical', maybe? That is to say, I think our actions and intents are what matter, even if logically, this structure would have no way to respond to them. Such as the 'beast' we passed. What the 'trigger' is for safe passage, I do not yet know." Gerhardt said, thinking out loud. Maybe someone in the group could give him input. "Loyalty is the name of the game, this we must keep in mind. I doubt the robbers here were very loyal to one another, I suspect they only cared about themselves. The question now, is how will that be tested? Where does respect come in? This also cited as being important. Bravery as well, tertiary as it were."
He gave the group time to think about that while he went over to one of the lights affixed to the wall. He took his knife and used that as a tool to pry it from its moorings, holding it in his hand. With that done, he shined it up at the bats to disturb them. It'd make them angry for sure, but better to do it now on their terms rather than have the bunch attack while on those paths. If nothing else, they'd likely not charge directly at the group and the light. If they were fortunate they'd go somewhere else, past them or deeper into the tomb.
"I imagine those statues will give us trouble. My theory is that we'll be tested to see if we support one another against their challenge, or if we take advantage of the guardian's distractions to try and bypass them. That's loyalty. Respect..." There was a long pause. "Ancient Egyptians respected women in an unusual way for the era. They saw them as virtuous and guardians of the home and family. Men could be innovative and knowledgeable, but also wicked, evil, and backstabbing. Something of a departure from how Greeks viewed the two sexes, perhaps that is why they typically only merged male deities? One could suspect that letting the women go first would be the key, supposing we are being asked to respect them and this culture's emphasis upon it, through the lens of the tomb's constructors. But I am not willing to endanger them on a guess."
"My other presumption is we have to show these 'soldiers' some kind of respect on the way to approach. Perhaps bowing our heads and sheathing our weapons, being that they're soldiers? Royal ones, perhaps. I do not know if that was the custom back then, but it was fairly congruent against most cultures. Raising arms against one's liege and his subordinates tended to be seen as treasonous, more so for Pharoahs, whom were seen as living gods. This is the one I would try, if no one else has better guesses."
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Supposing no one did, that last one is how he'd handle the trial. They'd move down the same path, but 10 or so feet apart so if one of them fell, the others wouldn't go along for the ride. Still, it was close enough that they could help if one of them slipped. Fortunately, due to all of the spears, the two warriors could fight together despite the cramped conditions. Dieter approached with cautious steps, head inclined and weapon put away. That didn't mean he couldn't get at it quickly, however; just that it wasn't being carried in a threatening manner.
This one, he had the hunch he'd have to fight it out with. So the other benefit to all going down one path was that it might only lead to one activating that they can gang up on.
"Here goes nothing."
As he moved to step onto the path, he stumbled over a hole blown into the floor by a few missed shots, probably from some earlier battle. He caught himself on his left foot. "Verdammt. Watch your step." He warned the group as he proceeded, left foot first.
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Post by Pitman on Mar 4, 2016 23:46:29 GMT -6
When the riddles were answered Gedeon and Tamara soon held their breath as they received the answers. They were correct but for not the obvious reasons, which itself was above what Gedeon could think. He soon moved forward even as the pain of his foot continued, as he limped forward to follow the others. When entering the next room he noticed the bodies of the dead robbers but also that of the statue's with blood on them.
"Great more statue's that can move.", Gedeon comments as he looked around which then Dieter suddenly pointed up.
As both he and Tamara looked up to see the various bats which made Tamara soon give off a face of a no way.
"Bats, great... just fucking great..", Tamara commented as she shrugged.
Gedeon soon hears of the Trial's name of Loyalty, which made him think now. Could it be that to show loyalty to a King or is it loyalty to the God Anubis? Whatever it was it was something he had to think on as he saw the dead bodies and noticed something since they came in. Ever since they came and how village asked for experts in the field of the curse, as well how the grave robbers acted. It only meant one thing in his own suspicion but it could be completely wrong.
"You know, so far I seen bodies of grave robbers and so far managing getting in. I been wondering, how did they get in the first place?", Gedeon soon asked everyone if they were thinking on the same line as he.
Tamara soon pondered as well for a minute in this, which she wondered then soon figures what Gedeon is thinking.
"You thinking the various people that were invited here by the village.", Tamara soon says which Gedeon soon nods.
"Exactly, if these grave robbers on how they acting to get in if they were so well organized shouldn't they also have their own experts? Or maybe possibly those experts could be the ones invited here including James. It makes sense in a way, but now I wondering why he hasn't shown if I am right then possibly he could be in this place and the end of it.", Gedeon soon reveals in his own thoughts.
This was all theory and nothing but to think Gedeon managing to think of this he soon turned to Dieter and the others then nods. When Dieter continued about the Trial of Loyalty he saw him what he was going to do and stayed back to see if the theory was correct. He also put his own weapon away on his back and soon would follow him slowly. Tamara would be behind him just in case and she would stay close to him as they moved forward.
"Good Luck.", Gedeon soon states as he followed to whatever result of the way they moved would be.
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Rabite
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Post by Rabite on Mar 5, 2016 1:45:24 GMT -6
"That could be a possibility, either they had prior knowledge of this place, or they got some experts to work with them. But so far we haven't seen anyone like that dead yet, so we can assume if they're around then they would still be alive. As for James... I can't really see him helping these people out. Another reasoning could be that he entered the shrine first, and the grave robbers followed him."
Kate gave the idea some thoughts, and gave her own opinion on Gedeon's idea. It sounds reasonable that some of the experts invited to the village would be here, their intentions or reasons for being here would be another story.
It was still fine when Dieter begins to head down the path, but once Gedeon takes a step in, the statues ahead begins to move towards the group. Looks like they screwed up on something, or at least whatever that they have to do would have to be done together rather than just by a single person. With speed unlike a mechanical trap, the statues charges towards them, with one of them trying to swing its scimitar not at Dieter but at the rest of the group. Though of course, if he continues to stand there he would be hit in the progress.
At the same time, the bats begin to take action, swarming the four in large groups and attacking at the same time as the statues. Looks like these animals are a bit smarter than they look, and even if they won't inflict any serious injuries they would at least distract them while the statues attempts to kill them.
Kate, who was at the back of the group, saw the statues moving, and acted quickly to retreat to safety back to their starting point. While doing so she also pulls Tamara back with her, believing that the other two would be able to deal with the statues on their own.
"Watch out! They're coming at us!"
She also attempts to shoot at one of the statues with her rifle, but the bullet simply bounces off to the side, not doing any visible damage. Some of the bats attempt to go after her as well, so she tries to swing the rifle around to keep them at bay, covering her neck to avoid serious bites from the flying critters. After dealing with the problem for now, she decides to point out what she saw before the statues began to move.
"It looks like they started moving when Mr. Salvator walked onto the path... maybe the paths only allow a single person to pass through them, at at time or at all? Or maybe Mr. Gerhardt did something that is different from the rest of us, without us noticing?"
Maybe they could figure out something from what, or maybe it is both their actions and the limit of only a single person in a path, which makes some sense as it would be too 'safe' if intruders can just choose a single path to go.
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Richter
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Post by Richter on Mar 5, 2016 5:14:18 GMT -6
So far so good, Gerhardt managed to get a couple of feet down on the path. He looked back and gave a thumbs up to indicate that Gedeon should follow. Which was when all hell broke loose, because as soon the wizard did, the statue on this path bolted downrange right at them. It was met with a quick call of "scheisse!", followed by him turning on a heel and sprinting right back down the way they had came. A quick glance over his shoulder showed him that he wasn't moving fast enough. When it got within sword range the German quickly ducked down, the sword going over his head with a *WOOSH noise. The problem here is that there was one thing he forgot that would exacerbate this situation.
Gedeon got hobbled by the first trap. So while he avoided it, Salvator would likely still be close enough to get caught by the sword. Hopefully he could duck in time as well, or come up with another plan to evade the strike.
He wasn't sure if it would try to attack more than once, and neither did he care. One thing was for sure, he probably wouldn't be able to get out of the way with a slow man at his back, even if they would stop following at the end of the path. So he'd probably have to fight it. Luckily, Gerhardt had thought of that. Within seconds he had his spear in his hands and extended, and his eyes closed and brow furrowed as he forced himself into a short, but deep, focus. The man reached inside of himself to his stockpile of numen, mostly untapped by now, and called it forth from that internal wellspring. He directed it through his body with a thought, using Will to weave the magical essence into his bones, tendons, and muscles. In affect, boosting his strength in the short-term via direct application of magical power.
Dieter, and many of his group in fact, practiced a form of magic based on Internal Alchemy. The reason he was spry and strong for his age was rooted in this. He didn't have much magic in general the way most of his group would see it, because most of his tricks were 'always on', so to speak. They paid the price of power for this constant duration, he may only be 15% faster than Gedeon before he uses Lightning Step, but the latter is only fast for those scant minutes while his has no time limit. With that said he could further bolster these enhancements by spending numen directly, converting this spiritual power into energy to reinforce the body itself. Here is the alchemical 'transmutation' often spoken of, and the quintessence to fuel it was the stuff of the gods and spirits. In these instances no words or runes were needed, just a strong spirit, focused mind, and healthy body - because it only affected himself.
His runic magic, on the other hand, was a different story. So how that works will have to come later.
At any case he increased his strength and his body's ability to use it, so that he wouldn't break his own bones or rip the tissue surrounding it. He slammed the end of his spear against the ground between the statue's legs, lowered himself into a crouch again, and threw himself forward with a mixed cry of war and exertion. He used the weapon as a lever to, hopefully, rip the stone soldier's primary leg out from underneath it. With this unbalancing it, and Gerhardt subsequently ramming it with his shoulder, he hoped that this would send it over and into the pits flanking this path. A difficult feat normally, but his bolstering spell would make it easier. In his mind it was a clever avenue of approach; since the stone soldiers were so tough, he wouldn't match himself against their fortitude. Instead, he'd test their reflexes and evade their strongest asset all together.
Whether or not this worked, the second objective was to buy time for Salvator to get back to the edge of the path. Even if he didn't get rid of the guardian he hoped this would at least stumble it enough that they could make an escape. He'd turn and quickly flee once the mage knight had gotten clear, staying evasive if the statue didn't fall, and just running flat-out of it did or otherwise was made to stop. By the time he got back, he helped to swat away any bats that were left with his weapon.
"That could have went better." Dieter commented dryly while a frown creased his face. He turned and looked at the path thoughtfully. "They didn't move until you followed me, Gedeon. Why?"
Kate seemed to have a theory towards that, and he nodded in agreement. "I don't like it, but you raise a good point. Yet, where does loyalty come in, in that instance? I still feel that we are missing something."
And then it hit him, or at least, one idea did. It still didn't address the loyalty thing, but it was something that he did different from the rest.
"It almost slipped my mind, but I stumbled while getting the path. My left foot was the first onto the stone of the maze as a result. Do you suppose that is relevant?" He asked, looking down at his boots. "Most cultures disdain the left side as 'dirty', 'malign, or 'wild'. In the strain of occultism that I study, being called 'left handed' or following the 'left hand path' means that one is considered dangerous and unorthodox, if not evil, or at least following magical theories that are assumed to fall into one of those categories. This is something in common with the generalized cultural traditions that these arcane beliefs are born from, the latter likely rooted in and expanded from the former. Still, it is worth a shot."
"I recommend that we go one-by-one, rather than splitting up. It would be a safer way to test the waters. Once again, I'll go first."
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So like that, Dieter once again went down one of the paths. Alone, this time. Once more, he moved with his left side leading. This time, he kept his weapon directly at hand so he could parry and fight without any delays.
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Post by Pitman on Mar 5, 2016 21:44:50 GMT -6
As Gedeon was moving forward suddenly he noticed the statue began to move before him as soon as he began to move towards him. During this he noticed the bats as well began to move to attack to the group as well soon after they moved.
"Tamara get back!!", Gedeon soon shouts as she pushes her back towards Kate to grabbed her hand to pull her away.
It seemed whatever they were suppose to do, they did it wrong which made him cringe at the thought, which soon he retook out his spear as the statues were coming towards him.
"This is why I dislike these kind of things!!", Gedeon soon got into a battle stance.
As he ready his spear his lightning step was out of the question and even Spark Death wouldn't work due to he was dealing with statue's of unknown magical origin. That left him with a few options on what to do, which he was now in a dilemma on what to do.
'Great, spark death is obviously out of the question and Lightning Step cannot be used too well. What to do... think, think what else I got that can use? Wait if their using blades and not gun then... I can use my stone skin!!', Gedeon soon thought then suddenly went into a trance and began to chant his stone skin he used during the tower of babel those weeks ago.
"Alright this should give me some defense as I fall back!!", Gedoen soon stated as he now preparing to fight the stone statues which a slash was coming at him.
Raising his spear a clank could be heard as his weapon and the other hit, though Gedeon expected it to be hard he didn't expect how strong were this statue's his own muscles were being pushed their their limits as each deflection he did as he slowly moved back even as his foot was in pain. Suddenly bats came in which started to attack him which made it even harder. He was about to be hit by a blade that was coming for him only for Dieter's timely attack to give him enough time to fully back back. The bats continue to attack until suddenly flames could be seen around him being fired at them.
'By the flames of the Serpent come to me, by thy eat away all my enemies!! By Flames and the Snake of the winged Beast burn away all!! Flame Burst!!', Tamara chanted out as suddenly flames could be seen coming from her hands like a flame thrower was aiming towards the bats that were attack Gedeon, giving him more then enough time to fully fall back.
"Seriously... what is with this place anyways.", Gedeon soon commented as he finally got back and his stone skin suddenly drop to the group.
Gedeon was catching his breath on what to do to next, whatever happened they must of done something wrong. This gave Gedeon a moment to think, Loyalty. To be precise what kind of Loyalty they speak of? Loyalty to those of the group their apart of? Or is it loyalty to the God Anubis? Does this Trial require to prove yourself loyal to him? Or even the god's themselves? Maybe Hathor hating him might be the real reason for him being attacked. Though he had no issues with Anubis at the moment, maybe he got the memo? Whatever the case Dieter talking of the usage of the left foot and maybe it meant respect in truth?
"Dieter, I been wondering are we sure? Loyalty is a broad term in a way, loyalty to what? Your King? Your Group? Your Nation? Loyalty to the God's themselves? Maybe there is more then meets the eye.", Gedeon gave his own input though he could be wrong.
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Rabite
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Post by Rabite on Mar 5, 2016 22:35:08 GMT -6
The statues themselves weren't that strong, so it wasn't a wonder that a skilled warrior like Gedeon could block the attacks. Dieter's increased strength helped him knock the statue over the pit... only to see the entire thing reform back on where the statue stood as if nothing has happened, which explains why they look like mint condition and did not suffer any aging.
The bats, were really just normal animals that has a bit of wits, so they burn pretty easily when Tamara goes after them and squeak as they burn to their doom. Bats do look like tiny animals at times, so it might bring some guilt to the group for burning such creatures like that. The WWF or other nature rights group would sure have a field day if they know about this, how dare you harm innocent animals!
When Dieter goes down the path again, the statues doesn't seem to attack and only move slightly, looks like his actions fit what they are looking for during this trial. Walking with your left is a very unusual action, only 10% of the world population are left handed, and less than half of those people are left footed. One of the reason of this is because of the heart, as living beings, people would try to cover their vulnerable areas and one such location is their heart. Walking with your right foot first helps keeping your heart away from danger, however some suggests that giving your weak points to your ruler is one way of showing your unmoving loyalty towards them.
No only that, when visiting someone of high position, you would stand side by side so they could clearly see all of you, something that was also provoked when they tried to head down the same path at once. One last thing is shown by Kate who started going another path a short moment after Dieter, which is to hold your hand by your chest, in front of your heart. Several culture also see this action as a sign of respect towards others, and with all three requirements met, the statues did not seem to move after her at all and merely stood in place.
It shouldn't take long before everyone figures it out, and are able to pass this trial.
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Now they reach the third room, this time it's a room similar to the first, however there are no sphinx here. Instead of a statue, there is a large golden scale in the middle of the room, big enough for a person to stand on it. There is also a small flight of stairs that leads up to it, allowing a person to walk up to one of the side of the scales. On the sides of the room are two large heads of wolves, dark in color and seems to have their sight focused on the scale.
"The Trial of the Soul... the worthy shall be judged by their soul, weighed against the truth. The unworthy shall be devoured forever for their sins, if they are unable to prove their virtue. I think we have to... stand on the scale?"
If one decides to stand on the scale, they would notice that the scale itself does not tilt at all even when they stepped on it. Only when one has fully stand on the scale will the stair begin to move aside and the trial begins. The tested will be hit by some unknown powers, their life will flash before their eyes as their actions are tested. The experience and doings that have a greater impact to themselves or others will be much more clear and shocking than the regular happenings.
Kate decides to go first this time, and carefully stood on the scale, holding onto the chains to keep her balance as she experience the happenings. She could see many events in her life, her birth, the impacts to the world caused by her published(though, minimum), meeting important people that impacted her life, even some her smaller habits and attitude towards others. As she gets the visions of the happenings of her life, the scale would begin to shake, moving up and down when it weights these happenings. One's ideals and values towards things are also judged, if one takes little care in the lives of others, it would surely be frowned upon by the deity that makes the judgements. In the end, it stopped with the scale being slightly tilted towards her side, which if you look at it from the ultimate standard she would be deemed unworthy, however as nothing seems to happen other than that she can safely assume that she passed the trial.
After noticing that the visions have passed, she feels a bit dizzy from watching all those visions. It is similar to having rapid flashes of images, likely to cause seizures if you have some hidden health problem, but for a normal person it should be just fine. The stairs returns back to its place, allowing Kate to step down from the scale and step aside for the next person to do the trial.
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Richter
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Post by Richter on Mar 5, 2016 23:39:30 GMT -6
It seems that after a few attempts they guessed what they needed to do for the path puzzle, and crossed it without anymore troubles. This was a relief. They were getting close to the end now, Dieter could feel it. He also had to admit that this place was constructed by brilliant hands, the workers were talented in both magic and conventional arts. It made him wonder just how much had been lost from the ancient days? Maybe the two marcosms were closer than they thought?
An uncomfortable feeling came to weigh on the warrior as soon as he got into the final trial chamber, it being as impossible to miss the giant scale as it was. He was already gritting his teeth before he had even heard what they'd be doing here, and in truth, he already had an idea of what it would be just from the massive instrument taking up most of the chamber. His eyes scanned it and the stone figures that were watching it, likely the ones who'd be eating any sinners. They looked pretty intimidating, more so than the sphinx. Worse, there was also twice as many of them as the sphinx.
"Well. A fitting trial for this god, I think." Gerhardt said.
Normally he'd volunteer to go first, but this time he didn't, nor did he try to stop Kate from doing so. By his reasoning, she'd probably be the most likely person to pass this test. So, better to have them go first. His body tensed when the stairs moved and the scale with her on it dropped, expecting something to attack right then and there. According to the stories, outweighing a feather would condemn you to a lake of fire, or being eaten by horrid beasts. It depended on which version you read. Yet, that did not happen. Perhaps the judge was more fair on this side of the spirit/matter barrier? Dieter sighed in relief when the doctor's assistant stepped down off of the device unharmed. As best as they could tell, anyway.
"So that is how it works? I see. No time like the present." For once, Dieter was actually given some cause for concern, likely for the first time since they had met him. Something in his past must really be bad. He moved up to the scales without a word, climbing the stairs and stepping onto the golden bowl at their end. As it moved away, the flashbacks began.
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At first he didn't see anything, he heard it. Thousands of people cheering and shouting his name, while he lead them in protest in the streets. Later in government. Then he saw bodies, more than could be counted. Dead men. Some in plain clothes, some in uniforms. Gunshots, fires, destroyed buildings. The scream of planes through the air, the wailing of bombs dropped by the dozen. Automatic fire tearing up the walls of houses before artillery brought the entire thing down in a heap of brick and dust. Tanks rolling through streets...Things caused by his actions. A man of ideals, this, and one who realized sacrifice would be needed to achieve them. He gave up much to do it, too. A private life, happiness, such are the burdens of having power. But he took them on willingly.
Everyone he lied to was there, too; there were many. Everyone he deceived.
But it wasn't all bad. There were people he helped and brought out of poverty, gave purpose to, employed and fed. Many friends whom he supported until the very end, even as their enemies closed in around them likes packs of wolves. People neglected and without a cause, whom he protected and united, and taught that they had worth. A place on the verge of ruin with rotting infrastructure was turned into a modern power with plenty to go around for those living there. Great advances were funded in technology, and new strides in protecting environmentalism and new schools of thought...
And then he left all of them behind to run.
From there he saw jungles and remote villages, lost tombs and forgotten treasures. A reunion with old friends and allies in the backwoods of the world where he found himself again and reswore old oaths of protection and unity. Now he moved around wartorn countries bringing aid to people that needed it, and guarding sites of great heritage and importance. Collecting up lost fragments of the world's secrets and painstakingly piecing them back together so mankind could use them once again, and keep them out of the wrong hands. Better deeds, but the motive behind them was still somewhat ambiguous. Good deeds, but they bring more war, but there can seldom be peace in this world without threat or use of violence intermittently.
There were so many of them that it was hard to see any one event clearly, but he felt every one of them as they were touched on. As an older person, he was up on the scale for a very long time. Likely, he'd be there for longer than any of them. Something odd that the spirits judging might note, the first set of memories, everything up until leaving for the jungles, would seem...odd. They were his memories but also not. Like two books written by the same author, if you will.
Likely that wouldn't affect their judgement, but it was interesting.
And then it all stopped, and there was silence. Though he was still caught in that dreamlike state, standing in a pool of light surrounded by darkness. Nothing was said, but he could tell that he was being urged to speak and account for himself. It must be the proof of virtue it asked, he glumly thought. Well, he steeled himself, he wouldn't go quietly into that darkness.
"I did everything I had to for my people. We were made pariahs so that others could grow rich at our expenses. While we starved in the streets, they reaped our labors and taxes in without remorse. They funded rebellions and curtailed our armies so we could never rise again, willfully denied us rights and kept us in chains. Did we not have a right to strike back, to protect ourselves and our families, assert our inalienable rights to life and happiness?" Dieter said, voice booming. Though this was all in his mind, as were the visions. Shared with him and whatever it was that would be judging them. "I struck any who struck at me, and I will not apologize for that. No more than you let threats to your kingdom exist south in Nubian, or east in Mesopotamia, did I let them sit outside our door and wait to kick it in when they were ready. Neither shall I apologize for taking broking men and giving them worth, and giving them duty and virtue and pride after being stripped of everything."
"No one else could have saved them, or would have. Yet, I have not repeated my mistakes. Despite it all I lost, but I have moved on and learned. My goals remain the same by my means have changed. I was hasty in those days, and driven to near madness by stress and ill health. Look at the good I've done in the last decade, and tell me that I lack the virtue you seek. I've protected entire communities from extinction, published records thought lost, and funded dozens of museums and places of learning. Does your culture not value these things, were scribes and historians not venerated? Cut this life short if you will, but know I am not a man to be cowed by the many nor the strong!"
This man was in fact a skilled orator when he needed to be. In a blink of the eye he was back in the room with the scales. They appeared to have weighed him harshly, drooping like the leaves of a well-watered plant. Whether his defense would be enough or not, he wasn't sure, but the stairs slid back into place to let him off. He walked back to the group, and he looked awful. Pale in the face and wary, having lived through more than a lifetime or things better left forgotten. Again keeping silence, he moved to the corner of the room and leaned against a wall to regain his composure.
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Post by Pitman on Mar 6, 2016 1:52:15 GMT -6
Gedeon and Tamara soon were relieved at the bats being pushed back and the Statues not coming for them now. Though both noted how they fully recovered which Gedeon soon comments, "Ah, so that is how they work, figures as much the entire ruins is itself a Boundry Field just like we saw back on the cruise ship. Though different in its take its defiantly giving off the same feeling now."
This meant as long they were within the ruins the Boundry Field itself would be working. Now that they had fully recovered they both soon saw Kate go next but on another path which then finally uinderstood what was going on now. Both nodding to each other they both would take another path starting with their left foot and kept their left side exposed as much as possible. They would continue to move until they finally made to the other side. Once done they would then hook back with the others to the next trial to whatever it may be.
As they arrived they noticed the look of the room, well Kate tells them the trial name and Gedeon soon mutters, "Great, so now they have to judge our soul? So very Anubisy."
As they waited, Kate was up first as she entered the scale whatever occurred inside she would soon come back down as both Tamara and Gedeon turned to each other and shrug. Next was Dieter as they waited they saw his own reaction and wondered what could of happened as he was looking at something disturbing. Soon Dieter was done as he got off which left either Tamara or Gedeon's turn now with not much else Tamara wanted to be next which Gedeon soon nodded at her as she soon walked up to the scale.
As Tamara walked up to the scale she soon was seen visions of her short life, her birth as she saw her family that alone hit her in the gut. Her father, mother, and two brothers were there as she was smiling as a babe. Soon she was shown her childhood itself which lead into her current personality, spoiled rotten as they stated as she saw all the servants and even the best teacher one could get. Of course she didn't know at the time she didn't know why she was treated so special compared to her brothers. What she wanted she got the faces the various other girls and boys forced to give her things she wanted even from other families. She was that of the Asheborne line of course the better bloodline then others as she continuously got everything. As she continue to see her life it was obvious now why Gedeon dislike her so much when they first met. Her life she always treated better and in that time that selfishness made her into a horrible person. Then the scene changed in her mind and soon hears the same voice that made her stiff completely that anyone could notice. It was that night... the night her parents died the night everything she knew was crashing down before her.
'No... please no... run... run!!', Tamara soon mentally shouted as she was her father being brought down as he soon smiled at his 'little girl' as she hid as suddenly he was hit by a spell and burned into ash and bone.
She saw it all one by one her family her servants everyone was dying and the fire was burning hot. It was shaking Tamara so much she put her hands to to her body.
'Make it stop... make it stop!! MAKE IT FUCKING STOP!!', Tamara mentally screamed soon after only to hear that voice again.
"Ah, so here is the girl..", a hood dark stated as the shadow of two red eyes could be seen as he soon grabbed her by the neck.
"You will become one with the darkness girl, the prophesy cannot be undone your fate was foretold since the day of your forebear Sir Gilbert!", the voice stated as she was feeling the life was choking out of her then suddenly a bright light.
Tamara soon saw blue hair and a man in armor as he was wielding a spear as he stabbed the hood man who was now bleeding black blood.
Ge....Gedeon!!, Tamara soon cried as as the vision itself ended.
Of course she remembered how what happened and she passed out after only to wake up in the new world.
'I... I get it... I was never a good person... I deserved what I got. My selfishness... my arrogance... my thought how I was the center of everything... Its all my fault.... all my fault.... if only I changed then.... then... my family would be alive.... none of this would of happened!! There is no way I can justify myself!! I am.... am sorry... but... but... because of it... because of the way I acted... I- I met him', Tamara replied to whatever her judgment will be.
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As Tamara soon exited out of the scale Tamara herself was shaking, whatever was happening it hit Tamara hard. Quickly moving he soon caught as quickly as he could pain be damned. As he slowly set her down she loss consciousness but kept on repeating, "I am sorry... I am sorry..."
Gedeon soon understood what must of happened, to relive the day that her entire family died. The Day she lost everything and it must of hurt her far more then it should. Possibly she herself tries to forget it and possibly keeps it out of mind. Now it was Gedeon's turn on what will happen as he soon says, "Kate, Dieter Take care of her I will be right back."
Gedeon soon got up as he slowly hands Tamara over to Dieter and Kate then soon walks up to the Scale of what his own will add on. Soon entering the spot he soon felt the magical energy as whatever spell the scale set soon activated.
Gedeon suddenly looked at the familiar setting a quick flash as he recognized a face that belong to his uncle Victor. He was next to a women who was giving him a bundle into his arms.
'Please protect him... I... I cannot anymore... when the time is right... tell him...', the women whispered which he didn't recognize nor the place.
Suddenly he soon was in a area he completely recognized the region looked ruined, no plants simply dead land in a dead area.
'Ah this is the Boundry Zone... to think I would be here once more.', Gedeon soon stated as he looked around to see his younger self and uncle Victor practicing with wooden swords.
"Left!! Right!! Parry!!", Victor soon shouted as the young Gedeon attacked Victor with his practice Sword, only to be hit on the back of his head and fall to the ground.
"Hmph!!", Gedeon soon shouted as he was on the dirt with sweat in his face.
"Come on!! That is not fair!! Why haven't I learned a thing about magic either!!", Gedeon soon shouted back at the old man before him. His beard was full of grey as he was much older then his young student.
Victor soon chuckles as he soon helps the boy up soon says, "To wield magic requires much training yes, but your not going to be a mage. No A Mage Knight must be strong both in body and magic. To prepare your own body is the first as your growing the mind itself can be trained anytime but the body must be built up from the ground up. Now Gedeon get up, last time you snuck out so that was your punishment for trying to go off into the dangerous areas again."
'Ah right, forgot I tended to do that, thinking back now... I can understand why he was worried. Though I wasn't aware at the time.', Gedeon soon stated as he saw that before him.
Soon the vision changed as it was raining hard as he remember clearly, as a group of men in robes who all had staffs and a few with blades.
"He is an abomination Heretic!! We will right the wrongs of that whore of a priestess for betraying our people to Nidhogg!! The boy must die!!", soon one man shouted toward Victor who was wielding a simple blade in hand.
Victor was bleeding heavily as he was standing before the group exhausted as Gedeon only looked from a distance. He did nothing nothing as he soon began to run running hard as he could because he was told to.
"Go boy... I will hold them here, go to the Knightly Order of Conjurors!! Go to them and live boy!! Become Strong like your father and mother!!", Victor soon stated as he soon charged at the group for the last time.
'Right... I was running for my life, I am suppose to be a proud warrior but I ended up abandoning my only family I knew.'. Gedeon soon remembered what happened soon after.
Soon the scene changed it had been years and Gedeon was running as fast as he could from them. He remember this when he was in Egypt, he remember it so correctly because it was the incident with Hathor. If actually was foggy on what lead to it but he did remember she was so pissed she was chasing him herself. What it due to the comment about how she was such a cow of a woman or was it because he called her not as good mother. Whatever the case it was the beginning of a series of incidents which in the end if it wasn't for his mentor he would of been in hotter water, namely a boiling lake or a boiling pot put to death. No it was neither of that it was in fact of the job the Knightly Order were given and because his mentor stated he needed some experience in the field. It really was because during a situation fighting against some wizard who wanted to use Hathor's drum to wake the undead rise. Long story short both her special drum was destroyed and her Special Pet Cow? Well lets just say it won't be able to make milk or even be useful anymore since it got turned undead. Ya... oops.
'Right... and I sort of pissed off everyone because of that. I was hoping they forgot about it... I guess not.', Gedeon muttered as the scene changed into the most recent one.
Flames could be seen as his very own squadron were on the ground in the pool of their own blood. It was a disaster if one could say, they were assigned by his mentor to protect the Asheborne Family due to a recent threat against the family. Of course Gedeon was all gun hoe about it and thought getting something so vital he finally got his first crack at being a squad leader. He saw all their faces and all of them become friends and brothers. Comrade in arms out, all young and stupid to not think they couldn't handle it. He remember it clearly as that night the entire mansion was on fire and he was the only one left alive. One by one his comrades died before him one by one they gave up their lives so he could get to the Grand Master and his family. In the end it was mostly in vain as only one survived that night.
Gedeon saw himself move forward in his mind he wanted revenge for his comrades and in his mind he had to fulfill his mission when he arrived at the scene he only saw the hooded men who's face was covered in shadow and two red eyes. Whoever they were they were good, and they were powerful. Powerful enough to kill the Grand Master as his charred and maimed body was seen on the floor. But he had to move quickly and saw her the young teenage girl that everyone talked about a Mage Knight born once in a millennium. His only thoughts was to save the girl as he moved to stab the mage who fell to the floor. His body disappearing like shadow magic could be seen. Inspecting the girl he soon noticed how she looked as check if she was alive. Soon he grabbed her without thought due to he saw shadows coming toward him at high speed. He had to run had to escape so only way would be to leave his friend's bodies behind to get out, his duty, his mission, a mission which turns out ends up being his sole mission now. To Protect her and keep her safe from whoever these people were. Gedeon saw himself begin a chant and opened a scroll as he carried Tamara out in the flames of the mansion. His only escape was to teleport which he soon activates and enters.
'Right... if I only knew that somehow by sheer bad luck, I ended up here. Where Everything began... where everything ended. Yes I get what your judging. Both the bad and the good, it matters not one's life is full of choices. Regret? Yes I have regret, people I care die yes that is what keeps happening and its the exact reason why I move forward. I will not allow anymore to die and I will protect Tamara even if it kills me. I made my choice's and will not falter no matter what you decided. Worthy or unworthy I will press on forward no matter what. Now bring your worst.' told the scale as he was not shaken unlike Tamara.
The differences were drastic between the two, Gedeon already experienced his pain and grew from it. Yes he still had regret and yes he still remember those scars, but for Tamara's sake and his duty he will face whatever came towards them.
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