In the House of the Night - Part III - RPLOG
Participants
Date
10/6/478
Log
Somewhere, it is raining and thunder and lightning crack the sky. But not here in the deep quarry. Here there is only the perpetual twilight of the glowing crystals and the eternal damp of the underground. At the appointed meeting spot, Fenris is nowhere to be found. Instead, a hulking, brutish looking sabre toothed cat stands guard. He appears to be furless, aside from a long, stiff mohawk and frowns around into the dim cavern with his arms folded across a scarred chest. The crevasse leading down to the door of the House of Night is behind the thuggish guard. But this is definitely the place.
Kazel lands close to the agreed meeting spot and spots the guard but frowns as he is the only person around. The slowly walks up to the sabertooth and crosses her arms in front of her chest as she addresses him. "Where is Fenris? And who are you?"
The Adventuring Ladies Solacious arrive in the midst of a hushed conversation, which Natska ends abrupty as she spots the guard on duty. She eyes him for a long moment, tilts her head to the side, and her tail curls back and forth. "Fenris?" she asks, curious.
Iorek wanders along towards the crowd, still holding his arm a little protectively over his torso, though he seems happy enough. He approaches the group, smiling to Kazel
Vestela is heard well before she's spotted, making little attempt to hide her arrival. Heavy footsteps and the jingle-jangle of armour echoes in the cave before the light of her torch is spotted. Soon she rounds the last corner and steps into the somewhat bigger room where they were supposed to meet. Turns out the torch was not quite a torch, more of a small ball of fire hovering in the palm of her hand. One that's quickly squelched as she approaches. She gives her paw a little shake and there's a distinct smell of singed fur wafting from her. Perhaps she doesn't have THAT much control over the elements. Or atleast fire. Silently, she finds a spot in towards the back, content to silently offer the large cat a nod and little more.
Following the group into the quarry is the youthful plant being known as Rokarion. The young jasmine is clad in his usual heavy cloak and blase facial expression. Rokarion takes out his notebook as he eyes the rest of the group, giving the gate's guard a long look, before opening his book and busying himself with whatever the plant being does as he waits for an explanation from the sabre-toothed cat.
Cassidy stands quietly aside Natska once the conversation has been hushed, gloved hands folded behind her back while she stares on from behind her mask. She eyes the odd 'guard' over, slowly lofting a brow. If that was Fenris, he looked down right hilarious.
"Naw," the scarred Sabretooth says, "Fluffy ain't comin'." He jerks his head at the cavern behind him. "You the crazies goin' in there? I'm Jet. I'm just here to make sure none of the wrong people come pokin' around and I'm paid pretty good to make sure that the right guy gets the right loot from down there," he growls. He bares his teeth in what might be a grin at Natska. "I could be Fenris for a pretty thing like you," he says with a wink before turning to the group as a whole. "Listen," he grunts, "All I know is, I let you go down, and take anything you find made of wood or stone and you get to keep anything else you want and I get paid. Fluffy said the door was open, whatever that means."
Kazel greets Iorek with a nod and shrugs at the guard, she does not really care either way. Quickly passing him and making her way into the area of the ruin once more.
"Inconceivable..." Natska mutters quietly, under her breath. Then she grins and touches a hand to Cassidy's elbow. "Good, nobody looking over our shoulder. We get to-" she stops, then glances around. "Mmm. Never mind. Let's get going, I am eager to see what else we may find!"
Iorek nods to Jet "A few of us have been in there before, we know what Fenris wants... though shame he's not here..." he follows along behind Kazel keeping close
Vestela shrugs faintly. "We get to haul rock and wood out of some damp old mine like some damned miners? What gives? And our pay is whatever we happen to find down there? That's sketchy at best. Still, a job's a job I guess. This is what I get for not checking the details before heading out." the polar bear rumbles.
Cassidy slowly turns her head to stare at Jet at that comment. Her ear flicks and she pulls a face that goes unseen behind the porcelain before nodding at Natska. "Yes. Let's go." She pushes on, walking off at a swift pace to make it back to where they'd left off, not caring to wait up on anyone that might be deciding to take it 'slow and steady.'
The steep crevasse is easy to negotiate, leading to a large, stone door that stands open, revealing an open, stone room. Not the shrine that those who have visited before would recognize as the antechamber of the House of Night, but rather a circular, stone chamber with a pedestal in the middle and three doors leading out, one bearing a stylized symbol for air, another for fire and a third for water. As impossible as it seems, the entrance seems to have moved beyond the first few doors! While the cavern is lit a dim blue by glowing crystals, the chamber beyond the door seems to be lit by daylight, though there are no apparent windows.
Above ground, Jet watches impassively as people chatter, argue or move along. "Not my business, Snowball," he grunts to Vestela, "Don't much care either way. But you probably better get goin' if you want any of the good loot."
Kazel is the first to step into the familiar room with the three closed doors. She first looks to the fire one, then to the water one. "I think we should try fire this time. Since we already explored air. Any objections?"
Natska makes her way into the room, ears perked as she looks around. "Huh! Well, then, this is interesting..." she considers the room for a few moments, then looks over at Cassidy. "I'm fine with the second door, unless you are feeling particularly called to open the first?"
Iorek looks to the polar bear as she talks, a small double take as he realises she's a bear with a slight surprised "Oh, it's not like hauling big things of stone... last time it was a little plate thing with symbols on it. That's what Fenris is looking for, helps him open this place up more se we get more treasure." he looks around the room and points at the air door "Kazel opened that with a big magic air blast and we encountered a spirit that even Fenris hadn't seen before in there... I wasn't expecting the door to be shut again... I wonder if something new is in there because the rooms seem to move..."
Vestela lumbers into the room, following the rest. The bear squints upwards in the chamber, trying to spot where the light is coming from. Her attention is quickly drawn to the doors however. "Not particularly fond of fire but sure. Why not. Blast it with fire and let's see what happens. Just out of curiocity, what DID you find in the ways of treasure last time?" she rumbles. After speaking, she takes a moment to weave some protective magic around her. Just in case...
Rokarion has been idly following the group as they walked into the temple once more. Rokarion shifted his focus towards the new room the group was in, inspecting it as he looked around, "Hmmm, I am assuming that each door is opened by its particular element then?" he says in his nonchalant voice to no one in particular.
Cassidy doesn't wait for group census, a bit of flame being conjured and applied to the firedoor, intent on seeing if it opened like the air one had. "Sounds fine to me, Natska. Let's do it." She starts towards the door, regardless of if it opens or not. But hopefully it does!
At the touch of the fire magic, the door marked with a flame swings open smoothly with a sound of stone grating against stone. There is a blast of heat and a lurid glow comes from beyond the portal. Behind the door is a great cavern. The area by the door is made up of cut, worked stone and extends in a narrow bridge, wide enough for two average beings to walk side by side, over an expanse of magma and flame. Despite the proximity to the molten rock, the heat is not so overwhelming as it should be. It is still uncomfortable hot, but not unbearable.
There are no walls along the sides of the bridge, but every few feet is a small plinth with a lit torch set in it. Across the bridge is another door, this one marked with a stylized hammer.
Kazel takes the lead and draws one of her swords. She makes her way onto the bridge, the heat not bothering her very much thanks to her second nature as a phoenix. The bat peers down over the side of the bridge for a moment and grimasses, but continues onwards anyway.
Natska keeps pace with Cassidy, glancing back and forth at the exposed magma. "Just like home..." she murmurs, slipping a short crystal haft into her hand. "Last time?" she asks, glancing back at the bear for a moment. "Oh, the usual. Dead people's gold, gems and treasures dedicated and sacred to the spirits. They'll probably want them back at some point but that's why you sell them instead of holding onto it."
Iorek looks nevously into the room as he flinches at a wave of hot air near the door and looks between the others in the group "We ended up fighting a huge wind snake thing in the air door so...um, be carful." seems to be a little apprehensive about fighting something made of fire, not crossing the threshold yet.
Vestela takes one brief look into the fiery chamber and shakes her head. "Fuck. That. How about we see what's behind the watery door instead. Can't be worse then the threat of falling to a fiery doom!" the polar bear grumbles.
Rokarion follows the group in, pulling his cloak behind his shoulders to help the plant handle the heat before looking around the room, "You have faced a wind snake you say? Was it another protector of the place or a stray elemental?" Rokarion asked as he looked around the room, the aromatic jasmine already obviously sweating...thought with the fact that it is simple just water, one could easily mistake that for some profuse transpiration.
"It was a spirit's... Hmm. Minion, perhaps? An elemental, I guess, but certainly not stray," Cassidy says, pressing on, unfettered by the heat. The perks of being a phoenix. "That door," she says, gesturing. "This is the forgekeeper's 'domain' I would reckon. The door of fire, the hammer on the door. The water one is most likely Ser'ther."
As the party makes their way across the bridge, all seems quiet until they reach about half way. There is a sudden, harsh blast of superheated air! It is not enough to knock anyone from the bridge, though it does buffet everyone harshly. It also blows out most of the torches along the length of the bridge!
The room's heat, only uncomfortable a moment before suddenly becomes overwhelmingly hot! Below the bridge, the far too close magma stirs and ripples.
Kazel flaps the large wings on her back and is quickly aloft in the air, soon she is quite high over the fiery spectacle. Even though she is very heat resistant, the bat does not want to risk anything.
Natska raises her arm to shield her face from the sudden massive blast of heat, and then the jaguar spontaneously combusts! Or, at least, that's what it looks like at first as the feline is wrapped in flames, but soon enough it becomes clear that Natska has instead become a creature -of- flame, a phoenix in full form. With her own respite seen to, she begins focusing her magic on helping the rest of the party, spinning a cool breeze around the group and trying to lower the temperature to a more tolerable level.
Iorek hops back at the sudden burst of heat and stares into the room in a panic. It doesn't look like he can cross the bridge anymore, so he hops around anxiously "You guys all okay?!"
Vestela growls. "I knew it!" and leaps backwards towards the nearest stone pillar. Atleast those weren't likely to burn. Right? Right... It was already dark in the cave and as she watches one of the fellow party members go up in literal flames, the polar bear doesn't hesitate, muttering a formula of dark magic to hide her from whatever guardian might appear.
Rokarion bites his lower lip, the apathetic expression on his face gaining a hint of annoyance as the plant began producing water on a rather rapid pace. With a long breath, he shook his head and continued on his path, mind already working some divine maths to cool down the plant and lowering his body temperature back to almost normal levels, "Apparently the Kind Flame is not in a kind mood today." he said before shaking his head, "An air elemental serving one of the spirits? Who was it? I do not recall any spirit having any affinity to air, was it a new spirit?" he commented as he kept on moving with the group across the bridge.
Cassidy keeps herself to Natska's side, undergoing her own transformation towards her phoenix form. She, unfortunately, must remove her tailcoat for this to allow for the wings to poke out of the back of her strategically tailored dress shirt, but such sacrificies must be made in times of need. She brings her gloved hands up to adjust her bowtie all the while, ensuring she is to remain a dapper bird. A dapper flapper, even.
Even with the torches extinguished, the cavern is still well lit by the glow of the now roiling and rippling magma. Thanks to Natska's considerate application of magic, the heat is just bearable on the bridge, even for poor Vestela without any water or air magic of her own, though a sort of dark haze forms around her, making her difficult to look at.
A rumble of harsh, masculine laughter fills the cavern. "The Kindly Flame?" a deep, male voice says, with tones of crackling flame lying below it, "You do not even know her title, mortal and you assume that this is HER realm!" There is more laughter in the echoing space. "I am FLAME UNBOUND! Face my guardian little mortals! Prove yourselves worthy!"
As the echoes of the voice die away, the magma at a far end of the cavern EXPLODES into the air as a huge form bursts from below! It appears to be some sort of beast! It has a huge, boxy head with wicked horns and black eyes and a hunched back, like a mix between a bear, a hyena and a volcano. With an air shattering roar, the monster charges toward the bridge, magma splashing around wildly!
Kazel does not thing long and steers towards the charging beast. Her sword is quickly sheated and she grabs the battle scythe on her back. Big monsters usually need big weapons after all. She does however not charge the thing yet, instead sending one of her thunderbolts at it while remaining airborne.
Natska grins, her flames flicking and flaring in the heat. She turns towards the charging magma-thing, eyes it for a moment, then spreads her flaming wings wide and throws a blast of raw entropy at the thing, looking like a burst of purple-black flames. "Hit me with your best shot, pal."
Iorek drops his swords to the ground to get them out the way and quickly strings his bow, uncovering his arrow quiver and adjusting it for easy access."Gimme a sec, I got this, I'll cover you!"
Nope. Nope nope nope. The polar bear decides that this is definetly not what she signed up for. Doing her best, trying to subdue the worst of the heat with some applied water mathemagics, she makes a run towards the door and non-fiery doom. "Don't worry! I'll cover the entrance!" she hollers. Ice, don't fail me now...
Rokarion stifled a yawn as the spirit started talking before opening his notebook again, writing back and repeating every word he wrote down loudly, "Note to self, spirits are incapable of understanding sarcasm. Which implies that they do not have any especially strong empathetic ability, but that could also a fault of the dry delivery." satisfied with calling out the spirit's blunder, Rokarion looked up in time to see the monster charging at the group. Seeing as how it was still away from the group, he decided to go for a more brutal spell. Quickly drawing an octagon with his finger, attempting to summon a hailstorm, even against the odds in this place.
Cassidy perks up at the going-ons. The firebeast was of no concern, but what WAS of concern was that this wasn't Hephestia. "Oh ho! Fantastic. You -are- a different spirit. This is wonderful news. Which means the other one probably isn't ser'ther either. Fantastic. I look forward to meeting you," she says before finally turning her attention towards the marauding creature. Her own magical force brought to fore in a flash of vivid blue lightning.
The monstrous magma beast roars with rage as it is struck squarely by Kazel's lightning bolt, though it seems to do little more than anger the monster, and Cassidy's blue bolt is met only with a renewed roar of rage as the monster thunders toward the bridge. Rokarion's conjured storm of ice seems to meet with rather more success as swaths of the beast's fiery flesh seems to sizzle and harden where it is struck by icy projectiles and Natska's magic confuses the monster. Its charge slows somewhat, meaning that when it strikes the bridge, it is only with earthshaking force. The bridge takes the hit solidly, surprisingly sturdy for such a narrow prominence, though the shaking knocks poor Vestela from her feet, sending her tumbling to the ground before reaching the safety of the door!
Kazel groans as her bolt does not do much good and decides to take a closer approach to things. She swoops down as fast as she can and slashes at the beast with her scythe as she reaches is, using her momentum to reinforce the blow and attempting to sink the blade of the weapon deep int to creature's flesh.
Natska flaps her wings once as the phoenix steadies herself, not wanting to lose her footing. She keeps her eyes on the magma beast, watching as her magic seeps into it, and when she lands from her short hop she kneels and begins quickly scrawling equations and formulae into the dust of the bridge.
Iorek thinks back to Cassidy's story about the water elemental with the gem and figures it may apply here too as he spends time assessing the creature for a weakness to share with his collegues as he readys his bow.
Vestela sighs heavily and scrambles to her feet, filling both hands with sharp blades as she gets to her feet. "Right. Enough!" she growls as her anger builds. She digs her claws into the surface she's on and prepares to charge the spirit at an opportune moment. If one presents itself that is. A lousy mage adept she might be, but she had atleast learned enough to somewhat protect her from elements while she waited.
Rokarion let out a sigh as the injured beast refused to back down. With a shake of his head, he eyes the beast again and begins drawing some more shapes into the air as he attempted to send wind scythes towards the magma beast, "Indeed, it does sound like another spirit. Apparently they all decided to use this place as a resting spot of some sort." Rokarion added.
Iorek smirks "Aim for the crack right between it's eyes, I'm sure that will do some damage!
Cassidy tilts her head to the side, humming softly. She waits for the thing to be distracted with the others before taking to the air, only briefly, trying to go over its head entirely, out of reach, and to the door with the hammer on it. Maybe if she knocks on it. Either way, the results should be beneficial, or at least not harmful.
The monstrous Bear/Hyena thing howls as Kazel's scythe rips into its hide, chopping hard into a spot weakened by Rokarion's ice magic. It twists itself about, grinding its stony hide against the bridge and leaving an opening on its huge flank. Rokarion's magic slices at the beast as well, sending little rivulets of burning blood dripping down its sides! It bucks and slams against the bridge, trying to dislodge its attackers even as Natska's spikes shoot up around the things legs, holding it in place!
Kazel holds on tightly to the shaft of her scythe with one hand, the thin, but athletic bat being glad for going with rather light armor. Her free hand draws one of her swords, an ornamented, richly decorated one that glimmers faintly in the light. Without further ado she stabs the poisoned blade into the monster.
Vestela concetrates on staying at her feet. The bear mutters under her breath that she'll come back and haunt every single one of them if she falls into the lava.
Natska starts to stand back up, but the crashing and thrashing of the beast causes her to lose her footing. She collapses flat on the bridge, shielding herself with her wings, and tries to sort out what needs to be done next.
Iorek yells at the boss "Hey Fissure Face! Over Here!" Iorek squints waiting for a shot, pacing slowly closer as he does then looses an arrow for the crack in it's head.
Rokarion lets out another sigh before working out yet another spell, well he was helpful and no one was close to him either, perfect opportunity to try something more dangerous, and with that an elemental burst was let out against the creature.
Cassidy touches down behind the creature, glancing back towards Natska. She contemplates dropping her task to go help, but figures she has it, and instead trots up to the door and lifts a gloved hand, reaching out to knock on it. It was a guardian. A tough one, certainly, but maybe it was like a game! If someone reached the door, it might be proved to be a poor 'guardian' and go away! At least, she could hope.
The monster roars in rage and pain, unable to move with its legs pierced by Natska's earth magic. The added pain from Kazel's stabbing stike on one side and Rokarion's blast of force on the other elicits a squealing shriek. Well, if earthquakes can be said to shriek, at least. Iorek's shot does not hit its mark, but manages to lodge itself beneath one of the monster's burning black eyes, driving it to desperate measures! The fiery beast starts to drop, hoping to evade its tormenters by splashing down into the lava!
Cassidy's knock is not answered and the door remains closed. But the sigils on the door swirl and change, becoming legible text!
Cassidy narrows her eyes at the text, then glances over at the beast. Then back at the text. Squint. "This is absurd," she mutters to herself before turning around. She hoped she was right about this. She waits. Her plan won't work til the beast resurfaces.
Kazel plants her feet firmly onto the skin of the beast as she realizes what it is attempting. She pushes herself off and draws her weapons out of the beast in the same motion. The bat assists her push with a gust of air magic and a few flaps of her wings to land on the bridge.
Natska pushes herself back up to her feet in a swirl of heat and flames. She gathers her will and her magic, but she holds her strike, waiting to see if the creature has had enough punishment yet.
Iorek surges forward drawing another arrow hoping to finish the wounded beast off with a shot to that crack. He looses another arrow.
Vestela isn't going to wait to be devoured from below. Beast temporarily gone, she lumbers as quick as you like over to the relative safety of the entrance. "Watch yourselves! It's not done yet!" she shouts.
Rokarion eyes the beast as it begin knocking itself into the laval, and with an idle shrug he continues crossing the bridge towards Cassidy, "What is it?" he asks as he eyes the door, "Does it require a literal hammer or something of the sort?" he asks as looks at the inscriptions.
Cassidy looks towards Rokarion and shakes her head. "It's.. Got something to do with fire, I think. Or kindness. Order. I'm going to pet it," she says, looking towards the lava. "So try to abstain from further agitation til... My attempt either fails or succeeds! And hope it doesn't take offense to me trying."
The monster splashes hard down into the magma, then lunges back up with a roar, jaws gaping and rivulets of burning magma dripping from its fangs! It tears itself free of Natska's restraining earth magic and flings itself onto the bridge! The beast's huge front paws with their sword length claws scrape along the stone as it starts to haul itself up!
Iorek's shot goes wide of his intended mark, but strikes the monster squarely in its obsidian eye, halting its advance, but not dislodging it.
Cassidy hunkers a little lower as the beast pops back up, waiting for its attention to be on the others. She approaches soundlessly from behind, trying to get close. She doesn't act in hostility, though, instead reaching out with a gentle hand to try to pet along its flank.
Kazel sprints to come to a stop next to Cassidy. The bat holds her scythe between beast and fennec with one hand, right above the outstretched arm of the latter. She puts on a grim face and tries to intimidate the beast with her stance and look. "What do you think you are doing?!"
Natska blinks at Cassidy's request, tilting her head a little. She gives Cass a small nod though and continues to hold her fire, ready to strike if the magyena attacks.
Iorek has readied another arrow, frustrated at himself for his inaccuracy. Just before he looses it, he lowers his bow, relaxing the string as he stares quizzically at Cassidy trying to figure out what she's doing
Not wanting to accidentally push anyone off the bridge, Vestela opts to try to blind the second eye instead with a dark hex.
Rokarion rubs his chin as he reads the inscription, giving Cassidy a nod, "Fascinating, I guess that might be the correct method." the plant being said as he opened his notebook again, "I am going to assume that this new spirit represents the more chaotic and destructive nature of fire, but what is more interesting is his challenge. I wonder if he is somehow an underlying or a vassal of some sort to Hephestia. Perhaps even in the Elemental Court there is greater and lesser spirits, but in a more political sense. Like supporters of a more influential politician."
As Cassidy reaches out and strokes the great head of the monster turns to snap at the pair standing beside it! Cassidy's fast action gets her out of the way, but Kazel is not quite so lucky. While she is not caught by the things huge teeth, she is sent sprawling to the ground! Vestela's well placed magic blinds the beast and sends it tumbling from the bridge, giving the party a moment of respite. It looks like kindness was not the answer this time!
Kazel groans as she falls, but is quick to jump back to her feet and take a step back to the center of the bridge, where she sheaths her sword to once more wield her sizeable scythe with two hands. The bat rolls her eyes at herself for even stopping to attack for Cassidy's idea.
"Oh no you don't," Natska snarls at the magma creature. With b hostilities clearly in full swing, she puts the finishing steps in on the formula she had been preparing, and launches a strike of reality warping, debilitating magic, seeking to erode and decay the guardian as it flails.
Iorek looses an arrow after the beast as it falls, before he glares up at Cassidy, angry that her idea nearly got Kazel injured before he runs over to check on her "You okay Kazel?"
Vestela waits at the doorway. This time ready to pounce and give her two pieces of her razor sharp mind if the beast would appear again. "What does that writing say?" she calls out across the bridge.
Rokarion shakes his head as Cassidy's attempt fails, "Well then now for the other possible outcomes..." He says before looking at Vestela, "Hearth's kind flame by order bound repels chaos' blazing hand.'" He says before continuing to write on his book, "I guess if any of you have a candle or torch or any similar 'beneficial' flame. The implication here is that is supposed to repel the magma monster. I guess another thing to try to lighting a torch or a candle using the creature's body and thus symbolically 'binding' his flames."
"That is why you don't try to get in my way," Cassidy remarks to Kazel with a scoff, landing next to Natska. "I announced my intention, but still you tried. You've only yourself to blame," comes her chiding as she folds her hands behind her back. "I like that second idea," she says, glancing around. "What about those?" She suggests with a tilt of her head, trying to light one herself, with a bit of fire magic, just to see the result. If they don't have to light it with the beast, all the better.
There is a gurgling howl from beneath the bridge and the best surges out of the magma once more! Natska's magic seems to have treated it ill. Its already wounded eye oozes some sort of ichor and its other wounds bubble and froth horribly, and it seems to have sprouted a new arrow from its throat! Hard to believe that the thing still wants to fight. Its huge, burning paw comes screaming down toward the bridge as Cassidy lights up a nearby torch!
But the strike does not land! Instead, the thing bounces off of some unseen barrier, sliding off to one side! The searing heat of the room also seems to diminish somewhat!
Kazel's eye twitches at Cassidy's lecture, deciding to give her a load of her mind as soon as they are done with the guardian beast. The bat waves her hand in the general direction of the remaining torches to make them come alive with her fire magic as well.
Natska wavers for just a moment at the effort of her spell, then lets out a slow breath. She sweeps her arm (and a wing) at the nearest torch, lighting it with her own flames instead of her magic.
Iorek glares at Cassidy, stepping inbetween the Lady amd Kazel
"You know, if you ask other peoples opinions rather than getting it wrong maybe it wouldn't have happened! I overlooked the blood for the thirsty door that you're "too good" to offer your own blood and tell us to do it! I said nothing as you came storming in here without even thinking to ask for opinions, but don't you go blame Kazel when she wanted to keep you safe! I don't care who you are in town, down here we're a team or equals taking a job and you will show my friend respect!"
the young dog is showing a conviction he didn't even know he had, the hackles on his neck raised, his red eyes almost glowing with the passion of his emotions, using all the will he has to stop himself from shaking.
Vestela blinks a few times before she gets into action, lighting the torches nearest to her with fire magic and working her way down the bridge towards the hammer-glyphed door. "Fire good, fire bad... they need to make up their minds." she grumbles.
Rokarion shakes his head and moves to the door, idly feeling its texture with his, now glove-less hand, as he waited for the others to light up the room, deciding to rest for a bit, no need to watch too much energy with magic after all.
Cassidy raises her brows, laughing quietly. "Oh please. Discussing in the middle of battle isn't wise. Sometimes you have to take a chance," she says, even as she tries to light as many of the remaining torches as she can. "I never said my blood was too good for the door. In fact, my status hasn't come into play here at all. But I do not appreciate people trying to get between me and a goal. I know what I'm doing, even when I know I'm not right. It's for learning purposes. It could have worked, or it could not have," she continues on, though her attention is clearly on the math at hand. "She ran forward and tried to come between me and the thing, and she get hurt for it. I do not like seeing her hurt, but it was her decision to do."
With the party's combined efforts, the torches are all finally lit. The magma monster, which has been ineffectually beating on some kind of unseen barrier finally stops and backs away growling before it sinks down into the glowing flow.
A disappointed sigh echoes through the cavern. "And we were having so much FUN!" comes that crackling, masculine voice again, "Fine, hide behind your walls. The Unbound Flame will still be here."
With a rasp of stone on stone, the hammer marked door slides open, revealing another room!
Kazel turns to Cassidy the very moment the beast retreats. She marches over to the fennec and puts a finger on her chest with quite the preassure to it. "You will not talk to me like, understood? I don't care about your title and status. We are equal down here, just as Iorek said. I know damn well that you are here on some kind of personal agenda and I don't approve of it at all, but I kept quiet so far because you were not endangering yourself or the group. It was a stupid idea to try and calm that thing. But you know, I could grab you by your collar and hold you over the lava. Just see if I can do it, could work, could not. A learning purpose right?" She spits out onto the ground as she turns around. "Do not expect me to try to protect you again. With that the bat stomps off into the direction of the newely opened room.
Natska moves up to stand beside Cassidy, her own flames slowly dying down and forming brilliant crimson and gold plumage. She levels a flat, unimpressed stare at Iorek, then moves it to Kazel. "Hands off," she orders, tone cold. She continues staring until Kazel leaves, then turns towards the magma and bows her head. "It was entertaining. Thank you. Do you have a Name?" she asks, warming up again.
Iorek seems completely bewildered by the Lady's reply and what he feels is just arrogence blinding her to the truth of her mistake. He doesn't even seem to notice the torches lighting or the door opening, a red mist clouding his vision and thought is sheer emotion. HE snaps out of it with a start as he sees Kazel approach Cassidy, breathing hard as he tries to contain himself and remains silent until he follows Kazel into the room without another word.
Vestela expells a blast of air from her nose in a huff. "There there, children. Let's pick the bones clean and argue elsewhere. I'd rather not be in here any longer then needed. Stupid fire demons... I bet the water door had little but a soothing bath to enjoy. But nooooo..." she mutters as she lumbers her way into the newly opened door and enters into whatever might lie beyond.
Rokarion shakes his head and shrugs before moving into the open room as the others are busy arguing, not his problem at all, and besides he has far more important things, like writing things down on his book.
Cassidy laughs again at that, clapping her hands. "Oh ho! This one is fiery," she says to Natska, grinning behind her mask. "I mean, I thought -I- was aggressive. But those two! Goodness. I kind of like that dog, though. He tried to stick up for his interest. My hat is off to that," she says jovially as she makes her way along.
There is a sound of crackling flame as the party leaves the room, and then they are in what appears to be a well maintained, comfortable kitchen. "I do apologize for my brother's behavior," says a young looking Creator woman in red robes attending to a little stove, "Please! Come and rest yourselves." She points out a table laden with good food and drink. "I am Hephestia, the Bound Flame," she says, "Welcome to my domain in the House of Night. You have prevailed in the test of fire. What would you have of me?"
Kazel gives a nod and a tiny bow to the spirit in greeting. The bat sheathes her weapons and speaks. "Greetings Lady Hephestia. We are searching for certain texts and plagues, but mostly just exploring the House of Night, it seems to have not have guests before us in a very long time." With that the bat bows slightly once more, but she seems to grin at something only she can hear.
"Plaques," Natska says as she makes her way into the room, then bows to her host. "That supposedly contain more information on the House of Night, on the first ones, and perhaps where the next House would be." She smiles. "But I would gladly ask such questions of a knowledgeable person, should they allow it."
Iorek looks around for something, like he heard a noise as his breath is slowing and he is calming down. He looks to the Creator woman, angry at himself for being so emotional meeting another Creator. He does what she asks and quietly sits down at the table as requested, taking slow deep breaths to calm himself.
Vestela makes a beeline towards the table, draining the closest tankard that looks like it might be alcoholic in one big, careless gulp. The large bear seems little interested in the spirit and, thirst quenched, begins looking around for that promised, gleaming treasure. Has to be some here somewhere. Maybe the silverware was actual silver?
Rokarion looks at the Bound Flame, and does what he has done with every spirit until now...begin drawing a picture of her, "Well if you are offering, Miss Hephestia. Could you please tell us about what purpose do those 'Houses of Night' serve? Wouldn't they better be inside the cities of our predecessors rather than out inside a quarry here? Or was that the intent?"
Cassidy smiles and bows her head towards Hephestia before looking towards a fire she could've swore she heard speaking. "Perhaps we will," she murmurs, before turning her attention back towards Hephestia. "I do believe this is the closest I have ever seen two spirits. It's nice to know my assumptions were not entirely off when assuming you to be behind that door."
The woman, or Spirit as she must be, laughs melodically. "You must mean the seal of Flame," she says and shakes her head, "You tell that well meaning meddler that he must come and retrieve it himself. As for the House of Night? It is a testing ground and a school for those who would follow the path of the Spirits. Here, our disciples learn and grow, and here we are shaped. Do not dwell on it too much. The House arrives when the seeker is ready." The young woman refills Vestella's tankard and smiles at the polar bear. "What would you have of me, warrior," she asks, "You have passed my test and deserve a reward. That goes for all of you. You have reached my little wayhouse beyond my wayward brother's test. You shall be rewarded before you go."
Kazel grins broadly at that. "We will tell him that. But he probably won't like it." The bat moves over to the table to grab the most expensive looking wine now that she is convinced that it is save and takes a sip. "I would not mind a new light armor, to be honest." She lets her eyes wander about the goods in the warehouse.
Natska holds Cassidy's chair, then takes a seat herself, taking some of the lighter food items to eat and replenish her energy. "I would like... to know why someone would want your seal."
Iorek thinks for a moment, looking for something non alcoholic to drink and gulps down some water "I want a sword.... worthy of a champion from stories... like a long sword...no. What was it called... A kanata! Need to start fighting like a man."
Vestela hmm's, scratching beneath her chin with a claw as she ponders the offer. "Well now. I certainly found myself lacking something bigger and heavier back there. Not to mention ranged. Maybe a rifle? That'd be handy. Like a blunderbuss!" she finally rumbles, draining her second tankard in the process.
Rokarion finishes his drawing of the young Creator woman before nodding his head and adding down some extra notes. Rokarion looks at Natska and nods, "Indeed, and if it is a thing that one earns by completing your trail wouldn't that mean that the 'meddler' needs to do the trail himself to be worthy of it? Because right now as I understand it from you, seals are rewards for disciples who complete their trails successfully."
"I seek a sword, as well," Cassidy says, settling at the table. "A longsword, but I make no specifications as to the design. I want you to design it as you see fit. A blade shaped by your whim. It need not be fancy or elegant, only as much as you wish to make it. Such a thing would be an honour to wield," she says, adjusting her top hat.
Hephestia smiles as each request is made. "Very good," she says to the material requests, "They shall be made and delivered. Never fear, it is always worth the wait." She turns her smile on the more scholarly of the group. "An answer is a fitting reward," she says, "The Seal of Flame is part of a lock. Or perhaps a key. It is hard to say. It is not a thing I could usually give, but I am aware of your friend's quest and have agreed to part with it should he come to me. Tell him so for me." The woman waves a graceful hand over the food and drink. "Now," she says, "Eat, drink, refresh yourselves. There will be other days for further adventures in the House of Night." The Spirit indicates the door and shows that it now opens back into the cave from which the party began. When they look back, the Spirit is gone.
Kazel:nods to where the spirit has been standing moments ago and takes another sip of her wine, before grabbing a few small cakes and another bottle of wine for the way home. She makes her way out, but stops as she passes Iorek, telling him to meet her later. With that the bat is gone.
Vestela grabs an armful of delicious food and drink as she makes her way out as well. Maybe the guard would like a meatball for his troubles atleast.
Rokarion nods his head and heads for the exit, letting the others enjoy the food and drink. The plant being had places to go and people to meet.
Iorek picks and chooses at a few unusual looking items on the table, but he feels a little nausiated after his outburst so doesn't eat much "Thank you for your hospitality." he looks to the Creator woman with a nod and makes to leave, nodding to Kazel as he passes also. He opens his mouth as if about to say something to Cassidy in way of an apology for his temper but instead he just turns away and leaves looking forward to the walk to town to reflect.
Natska frowns for a moment, then nods her head. "Very well. Thank you for your gracious hospitality, Lady," she says. She waits for a few minutes, then offers Cassidy her arm. "I'll pass the message on to Jet. We need to find Fenris..."
Cassidy turns a smile, albeit one unseen, to Iorek and tips her hat to him as he passes. There were no hard feelings there, at least. "Well, Natska. If Fenris isn't already outside," a cough, "Then perhaps he's at the inn or something. And yes, thank you for your hospitality," she says, helping herself to some water and a few snacks. She avoids the alcohol for now, though.
