House of Night The Greatest Treasure - RPLOG
Participants
Date
1/18/479
Log
The door to the House of Night is as enigmatic as ever and stands open to receive new. . . guests. Deep in the deep quarry, in a crevasse in the rocks, amid glowing blue crystals the ornately carved stone doorway is as inscrutable as ever. An unfamiliar canine, an oversized and over-muscled and over-fluffy Chow sits cross legged in front of the portal, seeming to be in deep contemplation.
Bazalt Pads along, grinning, last time he was confused and had no clue what was going on. But this time! he was slightly more prepared and had a slightly better Idea...Ok maybe this was a bad Idea? the wolf sighs and pads along, eyeing the canine as he gets closer. "Hello!" he says, waging his hand, this was bound to go well, right?..
A cheerful looking feline bounds down the path to the doorway, certainly appearing if they have a fair amount of pep in their step. They are armored, yes, but the armor looks as if it has little jagged slits roughly cut at certain points, to let the fur 'breathe'. They stop a meter or two short of the canine, tugging on the clothing beneath the armor to straighten it out, before proceeding at a casual pace up to the canine. "Greetings!"
Maribel makes her way along to the door, her shifting mud golem plodding with her. She glances around at others that have arrived, recognizing absolutely none of them and so deciding to keep to herself for the time being, nodding at the Being in front of the entrance. "Good afternoon."
Rokarion is marching on an idle pace towards the quarry, rumors that the house of night had opened again was enough of an incentive for the youth to put their busy work schedule on hold to go and check the spirit haunt once more. The plant being pulled their heavy body-covering cloak to the side as the canine appeared in sight, "You are certainly not our usual guide, care for an introduction?" comes the soft and nonchalant voice from the flowerling.
An odd character tags along, walking down the tunnels until the feminine figure reaches the small group of people. The not so heavily armored (or armed for that matter) plant-like being politely bows to them, introducing herself with a gentle smile. "Good afternoon. Why, it seems my curiosity about this path wasn't wrong at all."
Bao is dressed for court, albeit roughly, and the sword at his side is not entirely for show. He mutters something beneath his breath about "...least I got out of *that* meeting." The sea lion is immaculately clean--right down to the soles of his boots. He looks the open door up and down, his expression skeptical. "He's got the right," Bao sighs at last, before turning to the others who'd been drawn here today.
Stepping up behind Bao, it's hood drawn up against the rain, a figure looks over the scene. "Curiosity. An interesting turn of phrase." He says, now stepping past Bao to stand next to Rokarion. Glein could feel another Shadow in the area, and as there was no front nearby between the Shadows and the other Beings of the world, he figured that this other Shadow was like him. Friendly to the Beings, and thus broken away from the main host. "A place of spirits, hidden deep within a quarry. Knowledge like this is best learned firsthand..." He quietly mutters. Information worth selling is always of it's best quality when gained directly. Atop that, Glein just needed to get away from the uncomfortable stares sent his way from those he'd hired for building his information brokering site.
The enormous Chow dog climbs to his feet with a grunt. He is wearing unusual clothing, some kind of saffron and orange robes that an especially well traveled or well informed adventurer might recognize as the uniform of the monks of the far off Caldera in Thera'Dor.
"This is the part where I'm supposed to say something cryptic and deepling meaningful," says the canine with a slight accent, and a smooth, pleasant voice, just a little higher than one would expect from a being of his size, "But I don't hold much with tradition like that." He nods toward the open door. "You all planning to go in there?" he asks, "I may not be a guide, as your flowering friend suggests, but I would not mind tagging along. I have heard strange things about this place and would see them with my own eyes." He steps aside and bows, indicating that the others may pass before him.
Bazalt nods to the chow and to those gathered. "Hey!" he speaks happily, nodding to His Boss. "how'r you, Rokarion?.." he asks, looking about slowly before glancing to the door, admittedly, he was more nervous than last time simply cause now he know how dangerous it all was.. "So... Ladies first?" he says, smiling to them. He also took note of Glein but did nothing other than nod to the spider, at least he wasn't alone.
"Strange things? Really, this is the first I've heard of this place. I saw a bunch of people going down this way, and... meh." The feline shrugs, glancing over to Bazalt with a snicker at the mock chivalrous comment. "Only if you're scared, wolf... guy." Cirrus wheels around to take stock of everyone who've lined up to go, looking at both the plants and the other various critters. "Onwards, we go! Except... er... who wants to go first? Heh..."
Maribel leans on her staff, the skunk giving a little nod. "Well. If no one else is going to go, then I will. No sense standing around," she says, directing her golem ahead of her before she sets in behind it, making her way into the otherworldly complex.
Rokarion looks at Bazalt and nods his head, "I have been busy lately, and you?" the plant being responds back to his employee before looking at the chow, "It must have been a long journey for you. This place is usually chaotic, you have an equal chance of learning about spirit history as you are to twiddle your thumbs while two spirits argue among themselves." the jasmine-scented being says as he approaches the door and pushes it open, "Introduction can be done on the way." he adds idly.
Ioph nodded to the Chow as well, taking a few steps closer and lowering her cloak's hood, revealing herself. "And this is the part where I'm supposed to say something regarding experimentation. But in all honesty, I'm mostly curious about the spirits that delve within. Notes must be taken." She smiles, adding to the feline's comment. "I would say ladies first, and considering our friend there, well.. That's apparently the case." She proceeded to walk in, along with the other female, while preparing a book and a quill for possible notes.
Bao has been here before and manages to bury whatever nervousness he might feel about being back. He heads inside, calling over his shoulder, "I'm Bao, for those I ain't met. Could be anything in there, but it probably won't want to kill you. Prob'ly. Just remember that th'spirits don't think like beings."
"Well, we'll learn nothing standing out here like a bunch of fools." Glein says, simply, before stepping forward and through the doorway, though as he does so, he is making sure his pistols and blades hidden underneath the sash worn around his waist were properly loosened in this sheaths and holsters, ready to be drawn to defend himself if needed. Hopefully the weather would not be raining lightly on the other side of that door. Of course, Bao's comment was unusually, potentially, accurate for the Spider, and other shadow-born present. After all, they were not 'beings' like most, but, 'guests' inhabiting the body's they currently were in.
"I have traveled very far," the large Chow says in answer to Rokarion as the group makes their way through the stone doorway and into a large antechamber. "But I think that it was worth it to see this!" the canine says in sudden awe. The room is magnificent and lit with many flickering torches. Engravings and great bas reliefs fill the towering walls. Some are recognizable as Spirits who have revealed themselves, though they account for only the tiniest fraction of the numberless hosts that grace these walls. "Remarkable!" the chow murmurs, touching a carving that seems to be a hooded figure wreathed in flame.
The door slides shut behind the group with the sound of stone on stone. On the far side of the room is a simple wooden door.
Bazalt nods to Rokarion and follows after "I'm not bad.. things are slow.. otherwise-" he stops to blinks and looks around before pulling out a small notebook and a pencil, holding it tightly as he Grins. "Otherwise...I hope for this to be a helpful learning experience..." he says, nodding to the others. "I am Bazalt By the way." he grins, tail flicking "and this place is terribly interesting, last time it was a feasting hall.. huh... wonder if that woman and her shadow are around..." he asks idly.
The leopard follows shortly along behind the others, swiveling around to continue chatting as they walk. "Well, hello there, Bao, Bazalt! I'm Cirrus. Nice to meet you all." She nods, walking backwards without breaking a step. "I do hope we don't encounter anything that's on fire. It's friggin' hot enough as-is, down here."
Rokarion idly yawns as he continues walking without breaking speed as Bazalt follows, before finally stopping in the antechamber, "I do not recall you being the academic type, Bazalt." Roka comments as he looks around, keeping his own well-used pens and book in their holsters, after all there was nothing new for him here. "Also if things are slow for you you can always pick up the small contracts we post on the Society's boards."
Maribel glances back at the others, giving a little nod. "I'm Maribel Blackback. Nice to meet you. I wasn't expecting quite so many to show up, really. I'm used to... Quieter things. But hopefully it is not as off putting to the spirits."
Ioph looks over her shoulder towards the others, presenting herself as they walk further in. "Well, I figure It's best to introduce myself properly. I'm Ioph! And it's nice to be around with you all. I figure I wouldn't want to go in alone on this place." Looking around, she takes a few notes from the engravings before walking further in.
Bao takes a moment to find an engraving of Ser'ther and salutes it with his cypress branch. He tucks that back into his belt, hand moving out of habit to the hilt of the sword at his side. "Impressive," he says, with less sarcasm than he intends. "I guess we got our choice of door number one or door number one. No use dilly-dallying, eh?" The sea lion heads for the wooden door, wondering what, exactly, the House will have once it's done showing off.
"Glein." Is all Glein says as way of introduction, looking over the space around them. The one benefit to an eidetic memory, was his ability to recall events with high precision afterwards. Of course, with only the bas reliefs and engravings in this room, and the door on the far side, he strides directly for that, giving it a cursory examination before seeing about opening it.
The door swings open easily, without even so much as the squeal of hinges. Beyond the door is a rather unusual sort of room. The space itself is cavernous, the ceiling far distant and lost in the gloom, but on ground level it is definitely divided into several different sections, with wide avenues between, like the spokes of a great wheel. The places seems only dimly lit, except up ahead at the center of the wheel, where a warm, golden light beckons to the explorers and several figures stand waiting. Their individual features are too hard to distinguish from this distance.
Bazalt nods to them "pleasure to meet you.." he says, blinking at the contents of the next room. "huh this place is amazing...." he say, grinning. "i'm not, not really at least.-" he say, grinning to Rokarion."-well cept for this one thing that i'm really rather interested in right now.." he did scribble down something when Bao move to the engraving but other than that he just walk along, looking at practically everything. "how interesting.."
Cirrus swivels around once more, eyes skating over the various curious bits on the house as the door opens, the feline now oriented forwards once more. "Amazing, indeed..." Cirrus stares up into the void of a ceiling, squinting directly into it before bringing their gaze back down to look at the light. "That's curious. I suppose we should go check it out... does anyone want to go check that out?"
Maribel's tail flicks briefly as she gazes over the light, before her eyes fall on the figures ahead. "I am not sure how much of a choice we have in the matter," she responds. "We have but one way to go, do we not?" She then starts to slowly approach the figures ahead.
Rokarion eyes Baza and shrugs,"So, you are interested in spirits I see." he says before looking at Bazalt "Hmmm, well that could be interesting." he says without further explanation before moving towards the figures in the light, wondering who was their hosts today.
Ioph peeks around as the doors open, following the feline figure in. Looking over Cirrus' shoulder, she gently nods, curious about them. Deciding to regain some initiative, she follows after Rokarion, adding. "Noted, I'm curious as to what we will learn from these.. Hosts."
Bao moves forward as well, eyes roaming around the giant chamber. He holds his tongue for now, though his gaze keeps coming back to the gathered figures, curious as to what they'll offer or demand.
Hmmm, spaces arranged as though the spokes of a wheel, with the center alight. Interesting symbology, if such was intended. That said, Glein only gives the darkened sections only a moments glance each, unafraid of what the dark might well hold. While there were indeed a great many horrors that resided in the darkness, often, it was what existed in the light that was vastly more dangerous. So he walked along the avenue ahead of them, going straight to the beings that seemed to be waiting for them at the hub, the heart of the wheel around them. As he approaches, he looks the beings in front of him over. "An, interesting arrangement of things you have going." He says to their 'hosts', wondering what was awaiting them.
Six figures stand at the center of the wheel, all watching as the party draws near. A tall stag being with strange, glowing marks, an enormously obese boar, a Creator woman in a fine red robe, A massively pregnant fox woman with many tails, a being that appears to be a handsome Creator from the waist up, but a goat from the waist down, and a non-descript feline being stand calmly waiting in the golden light.
Bazalt nods to Rokarion and Instantly takes note of the spirits infront of him, Three he knew or at least thought he knew. "Hi there!" He nods to the boar and grins. "sooo what's going on this time?" he asks, , tail flicking, admittedly he was nervous-three of the six he knew of and asked about recently.. and they knew right..... they had to know?..
Maribel glances among the figures before offering a nod of greeting. "Why the summons? Is something amiss that requires attention? Or were you just inviting in company?" She asks genuinely, reaching up with a free hand to brush back an errant hair from her face.
"Oh. This is curious. Hello, people! People-things!" Cirrus says, following closely behind the person in the lead and popping out when they near the figures. "How's it going? What's your names!?" The feline seems overly excited, or, at least, acting excited to mask any semblance of fear. She is emoting a lot with her arms as she talks, which results in a strange amount of hand-flailing.
Rokarion pursed his lips as his gaze shifted along the six figures, having met all of them, the plant being couldn't help but be curious right now, deciding to first take out his sketchbook and a pen as he began to jut some things down before finally looking up at the six, "I must admit, this situation is most odd, am I to assume that three of each court are here for negotiations, or is your desire more martial?" the plant being commented.
Ioph seems to take her notes in the old language as she writes, taking a few steps closer to the figures. Just as quickly as the plant was going to say something, she closes her mouth, as the skunk around practically reads her mind on that particular subject. Instead, she gently bows towards the figures, whispering as she asks Rokarion, "I've never really done this before, is it.. Safe to talk with them?"
Bao taps the hilt of his sword. Six spirits meant serious business, especially since, if Bao is keeping things straight in his head, they belong to different courts. Yes, Rokarion confirms it. The ranger takes up a position near the back of the group. He's not one for fancy talk, and he's not looking for a fight. For now, he assumes his job is to listen until asked to do otherwise.
Standing there, his arms crossed, Glein waits. He knew practically nothing about this situation, or these beings. That meant, he was better off waiting and learning. One of the great boons of having once been an assassin - patience.
Each of the beings at the hub of the wheel raise their voices one at a time, in turn.
"I am Kendrac, The Warrior," says the stag being.
"I am Olloch, The Glutton," says the boar.
"I am Hephestia, The Bound Flame," says the woman in red.
"I am Shaila, The Nurturer," says the fox.
"I am Olg'Ish, The Weaver," says the satyr.
The feline woman smirks at the party then frowns when she sees the Chow dog. "Who invited HIM?" she asks, "He wasn't part of-" She stops as the other five Spirits give her a hard glare. "Fine," she says haughtily, turning up her nose, "I am The Scholar."
Then all six speak together. "Find the Greatest Treasure!" they all say together. Then there is a tearing sound and all six are gone. Their sudden departure seems to have an effect on the room as the golden light suddenly expands, revealing shelves upon shelves in the spaces between the spokes of the wheel and all manner of things on them. Books, statues, household items, jewels and even, just as an example, a set of wooden dinnerware.
Bazalt Blinks and blinks again. "uhhh... what just.." he say, scribbling things down "find....the greatest treasure? aint that like.. diffrent for everyone?" the wolf quirks a brow and spins round to eye the others, "I'm just confused."
"Greatest treasure, eh? Well, I say we split up! One of us for each corridor, just to get this thing done faster!" Cirrus looks around at the assembled group, glancing at each one carefully. "You are all smart enough not to run into any silly traps, right? Remember, were probably looking for something shiny."
"Treasure, huh. How wonderfully vague," Maribel says, adjusting her glasses. "And I'd imagine the 'greatest treasure' happens to be different for each of them. And it's probably some sort of test. The 'treasure' we find will be be related to who comes to collect and see us, finding us of agreeable opinion."
Ioph Tilts her head a little bit, adding as she walked and looked around. "Well. No sense in lingering idly. I know what my greatest treasure is, but perhaps it may not be the greatest treasure, if the spirits consider us as a whole and not each individual." Walking over and looking for scrolls, manuscripts and books, she added, "I'll go look for an.. Interesting read. For me, truth and knowledge are the greatest treasures."
Rokarion shakes his head, "That is the point Bazalt, remember that spirits only get he most use out of actual callers, so those kind of tests are designed to see which beings would serve as the best callers." he comments as the spirits disappear, "Or maybe, they are just feeling bored, though I doubt all those six would work together for just simple entertainment." he adds before turning around and eyeing the large chow, "So, you must have travelled quite far indeed, that must have taken you a lot of will to seek what you desire, no?" the plant being says slowly, "Or is my guess wrong?"
"This is about what the spirits want. Every time with th'House, I think," Bao says. "Tricky thing is figuring out what they're tryin' to ask. Different courts make it, ah, trickier still." The sea lion taps his temple. "I'm not sure what 'greatest' means. They might not be either, not in th'singular way, at least."
"Hmmmm." Glein muses. The only information they got about this, task, was a very limited array of information. "Six spirits, six roles. Kendrac, Olloch, Hephestia, Shaila, Olg'Ish, but we lack the sixth name... However, we have six roles. The Warrior, the Glutton, the Bound Flame, the Nurturer, the Weaver, and the Scholar..." Glein mutters aloud. "The 'Greatest Treasure' could be either reflective of each individual being's aspect, or what we view as that. However, it could also be an item of value to all six, if in their different ways." He says, looking over the information they had. "OR, it's very possible what we seek, might well be the name of the Sixth spirit present, unless one of you currently present already know their name?"
The Chow only smiles pleasantly and bows a little. "I fear I am as confused as anyone else," he says lightly, "truly, this place is a strange wonder. And I have traveled far to see it, but I do not know what you are guessing at, friend flower." The big canine listens as the group discusses the strange request.
Ioph will find that there is no shortage of reading material in the shelves. Scrolls and books and tablets abound, some in familiar writing and others in all sorts of foreign tongues. Perhaps if she narrowed her search?
Bazalt nods "yeah i get that but this a test for what, us them, both? Everyones greatest treasure is different.." he nods to glein and hums. "suppose...that might be it.. or an item that corresponds to each.. perhaps......" he just shrugs. "an interesting question.... an interesting game too...." he says slowly.
"Ioph is right. No sense in dilly-dallying! I'm going to go hit up that first corridor, and see if I find anything. Arguing about what the greatest treasure is, is not going to help us find it." And with that, Cirrus detaches from the primary group and heads down the leftmost section, the one that the group didn't come out of!
Maribel glances around slowly before nodding once to herself. She moves towards the center of the room and takes a deep breath before settling herself upon the ground, folding her legs and laying her staff across her lap. She seems quite content to watch the others and wait, for the time being!
"The idea of 'Greatest Treasure' is too vague a term, or, if looking at it objectively, the exact term we need. BUT, what we need to know to know what it is we seek, is the concept of this treasure in the context of the situation. Are we looking for the greatest treasure of each spirit, or the greatest treasure of all six? Or, more esoterically, the greatest treasure, for us? We've not enough clues." Glein says, turning to look over the spaces before them. "It's entirely possible that the remaining clues we need, lie hidden amongst these assorted items."
Rokarion shrugs at Bazalt, "You can always check for food, Zuri would have done that, but again you know who will you meet if you do that." the plant being says before looking at Glein, "The sixth spirit name is the Scholar, not all spirits have actual names, some are simply called by what they do, like the Puzzler as well." the plant being comments, "And by the way, seeing as how you seem like the type of person to walk on the darker side of a corridor, then you might want to know as well that saying a spirit's name will mark you out for them, they usually don't do anything, but you might not want the undue attention." With his piece of advice spent, the plant being looks back at the chow, biting his lower lip, "Hmmm, so not going to play along? Well, you sure do like to travel, so I am guessing that the wind is always at your back? Please, tell me more about your travels, traveller."
Bao looks around the shelves and hallways. "Plenty of things to find, an' useless if we got no idea what we're looking for." He looks to Rokarion, knowing the plant being is something of an expert on esoteric stuff. "What d'you think the Courts might agree on?"
Ioph curiously looks around the shelves. Seeing as her search was too wide, she narrowed it down for signs of old language, as books written by the creators were often the most valuable (and sometimes forbidden) sort of knowledge. On her hands, no dark corner would be left unturned, no book would be forgotten. To this keeper of answers and questions, Ioph, this was a hunt.. On another level. Every now and then, she would also look around for something regarding the current hosts, curious about the Scholar's name, mostly.
The big canine shrugs at Rokarion. "I am a seeker of truth, my friend," he says, grunting as he takes a seat beside Maribel, looking out into the shelves and corridors, "And I believe that the wind has been at my face rather more than at my back. I am not sure what you are trying to learn from me, but I fear I have no useful insights for you." He does seem to approve of Maribel's method and joins her in thoughtful meditation.
Cirrus finds herself on a corridor between two great sections of shelves and assorted debris. To one side there seems to be an infinite supply of household items. Furniture, utensils and useful things of all sizes and shapes made from anything and everything. Wood, stone, metal, some of it seems quite useful, and some seems old and decrepit. The shelves on the other side seem to be the greatest larder in the world. Food and drink of all sorts spill from the shelves in nearly seductive ways.
Ioph's search turns up any number of esoteric volumes. Some of the truly ancient tablets, scrawled on thin sheets of metal are scrawled in the same tongue that adorns the walls of this strange place. There even seem to be some strange, flat devices that might be Creator magic, though it is hard to tell just looking at them. They do bear inscriptions common to some very old Creator text.
Bazalt Blinks and nods a Glein again "honestly I dont know what they want me to pick out.. I suppose the thing that I Treasure the Greatest is a feeling.. Love.." he says it slowly "I dont quite fully understand it. but i understand it's meaning...." he shrugs again. "and there are many diffrent forms of it.. Love the amorous way.. Friendly love.." he shrugs and joins the two others in sitting. "so I guess my Greatest treasure is an immaterial thing..." he shrugs again. "besides how are we supposed to Bring them or let them know we've found the greatest treasure... though, i suppose they'd appear before us or something..."
Cirrus eyes the food and the dinnerware with a wary eye, glancing for anything that might appear shiny. She trots up to the shelves and grabs a particularly tasty looking apple, throwing it up on the air and catching it, much like one would play with a ball before she goes to pick through the silverware and furniture. After a wee bit of this, she returns to the primary atrium, still playing around with the fruit. "Anyone hungry? There's a bit of food down that direction."
Maribel glances towards the canine sitting next to her and nods. "Not interested in running around either, then, I take it? And no thank you. I'm not sure I want to go enjoying a strange meal in a place like this. Who knows what'd happen. I'm happy right here!"
Rokarion shrugs before looking at the chow sitting down, "Pity, those who travel tend to have the most insight." the plant being says before he looks at Bazalt then Bao, "No idea. I am not that knowledgeable in that area. And spirits tend t get angry when asked about those subjects as well." the plant being adds, "The way I see it they either want us to choose one item as a treasure or each one of us chooses what is the greatest treasure in this room for them."
"Some pros of being raised in a creator world is that I know some of these things... But I'm not looking for this, exactly..." The Silphium plant muttered, looking over some of those devices and volumes. She would narrow down her search for something which had always drilled a hole in her curiosity, books related to the order of the natural universe. Perhaps even the oldest, most damaged and forgotten book which would beg to have curious eyes set upon. That would be Ioph's treasure, whatever could get her close to the vast knowledge of the creators, perhaps even tracing back the history of her species.
"Hrm. Not much t'do but test things out, I guess," Bao says. "Yell if you got any inspiration." The big sea lion rolls his broad shoulders and sets off down one of the Life Court's hallways. They'd come, they had said, to help against the dark spirits and the craige. To give hope. So that was what Bao went looking for.
Glein looked over at Rokarion as he mentioned the matter of speaking a spirit's name. "I was not aware of that before, but I am now. Thank you." He says, before looking over the spaces. One was a scholar's haven... Another, the most open larder of food with implements for the consumption of such... It was like each section of this 'wheel' was devoted to one of each of the spirits involved in this situation. The Warrior, the Glutton, the Bound Flame, the Nurturer, the Weaver and the Scholar. "Hmmm." Glein muses, putting a gloved hand to his chin. If he had to chose something from one of those six, which would he pick?
"I see myself not as a warrior. My work was never so clear-cut before." Glein mutters. "I am no glutton, only taking what I find I need." that was two. "I know what what is implied in the 'bound flame'... And I've known no nurturing, only death. I have woven very little productive acts, but have woven my acts nonetheless in the 'tapestry of fate' as some might call it. And While I seek information, I do not seek it as a goal in and of itself. No, what I seek, is a sense of belonging. Of not being judged by what I am, but what I do." He says. "And I cannot say any of those six match that desire."
The apple seems to be perfectly ordinary. For a perfect apple anyway. It is just the right shade of red and smells absolutely delicious. Among the household items are all sorts of interesting and useful things. Brooms, bowls, clothing of all styles and colors and sizes, children's toys, even a beautiful, soft bed laid out with fine linens.
Ioph's search is rewarded by what must be a truly ancient tome, scratched onto thin, metallic plates, though she would be hard pressed to guess the metal. Along with the strange words are a number of etched images, showing flora and fauna of this world and perhaps many others. There are also a number of even more complex diagrams outlining processes and phenomena that are difficult to even describe.
Bao finds himself in a forest of blades and spears, weapons and armor of every shape and description surrounding him as he wanders.
The group that is still in the center of the wheel finds that they are no longer alone. The fox woman, her curves and gravid belly pressing tightly against the flowing wrap that she wears has reappeared. "Love and acceptance," she says in a low, warm voice, "Are both essential parts of my path."
Bazalt Blinks "sure it'll take a bit, somewhat hungry.." and he was hoping-since it was from Olloch's place it'd taste wonderful. He then Blinks and Eyes the vixen appears. "Oh.. hello there, Shaila, wasn't it?" he nods his head to her and shrugs. "I mean like i said it's my current greatest treasure but it might change? who knows? I will always treasure it but i could end up treasuring something else more..." the wolf just doodles in his notebook as he sits there, remarkably relaxed considering there was a spirit right there. "I do have a question though... why are you depicted as something a man, the father instead of the mother?" he bites his lip, that might've been a bit rude.
Maribel takes a pebble between her fingers, humming softly to herself as she puts her magic to use in idle concentration, gradually smoothing its edges and shaping it round. Just a task to keep busy and focused more than anything while she waited. She felt no pressing need to go chasing off after any one spirit's affections.
Cirrus chucks an apple in Bazalt's direction, tossing the fruit over casually as she grabs an orange to replace to apple. Assuming the new fruit looked as good as the last, she'd take a dagger out to remove the peel, nibbling at the food. She wasn't particularly hungry, but she would help herself to a pair of gloves, wandering back over towards the debris to grab it.
Rokarion looks around the room before he goes back to his own book, deciding to add more sketches, this time of the chow mediating near him, passing the time until finally someone decides to pick their treasure.
Ioph would hold the tome with both hands, certainly take her sweet time reaching the group in the middle once again, quietly browsing the thin metal pages of the tome. Sure, her photographic memory and fast reading skills were quite a thing, but she wanted to be careful with such an artifact in her hands, and one which could prove very useful in her goals, especially with the diagrams which could prove to be what she was looking for. Stopping for a moment, she looked around, wondering if any eyes were prying into the Silphium's privacy before moving further back to the group.
"This is why I follow Ser'ther," Bao mumbles, eyeing the panoply of war. A sword is just a sword. A shield is just something you stick between yourself and the things that want to hurt you. "The kit don't even make the fighter." Still, the Warrior probably has different ideas. The Royal Ranger pokes carefully through the racks of war gear, looking for a shield, perhaps one with a sharpened edge or antlers. Or a book. Maybe there's some spirit's treatise on warrior-ness or something.
"Certainly you spirits appear to have a taste for, I think the term would best used is, theatrics?" Glein says, looking over at the fox woman. "So, it would appear this 'challenge' doesn't appear to be finding any specific, physical treasure. It's in determining, at our core, which spirit we resonate with?" He asks, lowering his gloved hand from his chin and looking at the woman in detail. "You six certainly presented it in a puzzling fashion."
Shaila nods to Bazalt, a look of supreme patience on her face. Or maybe his face? What originally seemed to be heavy pregnancy now seems to be sheer heaviness. "I am The Nurturer, my child," he- she- Shaila says, "It is not a role restricted only to male or to female beings. And so I am both." Shaila smiles on those waiting and those returning. "I see that some of you have chosen your treasures," she. . . no, definitely he says, "We shall wait a bit longer." The Spirit stands with hands folded and turns a smile on the meditating Chow. "Forgive the welcome, dear," she says, he says? "We did not expect you. Though I suppose we should have learned to always expect you by now."
Bao's search rewards him with an interesting find, a sturdy, round shield with a stag's head emblazoned on it, with antlers arching up in a very realistic fashion from the painted head, forming a bit of an extra guard. Twined around the outside edge is a great serpent, biting at its own tail.
Shaila turns a warm smile on Glein. "Perhaps, little shadow," he- she says, "But that is our way."
The leopard emerges from that section of the house, back to the central room, mildly unamused. She glances at the gravid fox for a second, nibbling quietly at the orange. Cirrus proceeds across the way, heading to a different wing. Clearly, there was nothing shiny, so there obviously hasn't been a treasure yet.
Bazalt nods to the spirit. "I See.. thank you." HE scribbles it down and nods. "might I ask what the point of this was, the find callers? to help us find out about ourselves? both? nothing?" he Bites into the appel after the Question, tail twitching. The..Chow... Another spirit perhaps?...or a caller to a disliked one?...so many questions.
Maribel glances up towards the fox spirit, raising her brow. "Yes, I've often found that waiting can be a great treasure itself. Especially when motives and incentives are... Unclear. Stumbling blindly ahead is a good way to walk into something dangerous."
Ioph steps into the center room, addressing the wolf's words directly. "Questions need answers. Answers which one may not enjoy hearing, dear." With another step, she gently closes the tome on her hands, bringing it under her left arm. "And some questions have answers unique to each individual. Is it not what this is all about?" The plant firmly added, raising her gaze from the wolf to the fox spirit, giving her a short bow.
Bao picks ups the shield. "He only bites his own tail when he thinks it's funny," the ranger mumbles. Still, he takes the serpent as a sign that--at least--his patron will not be *upset* about the choice. He just hopes that there won't be frost serpents leaping from unexpected places when he leaves. His decision made, Bao returns to the chamber's hub.
"What makes me question most then, is the process in which you apparently pick out those you seek. It seems an awful like you throwing a handfull of coins in the air and seeing where they land, hoping some land where you want." Glein states. "And, more importantly in my mind, why you have us, through this process, pick who we resonate with, when there might be times we aren't sure ourselves? Would it not be easier to pick someone and tell them?"
"Who is to say that we do not?" a deep, smooth voice asks as the satyr steps from the shadows to stand before Glein, "We tend to know what we want a bit faster than mortals do."
"We have passed far beyond the point where we have any doubts about ourselves," comes another voice as the Scholar steps from among the shelves to stand beside Ioph, "We only seek to ease your doubts. To let you decide who you are. We do not call you you until you have called to us, darling."
"Some choose prematurely," a resonant voice says as Kendrac appears beside the newly returned Bao, though his frowning gaze falls upon the Chow, who is still sitting in an attitude of meditation, "But we can forgive mistakes."
"And others hesitate too long," snorts Olloch, strolling into the hub munching on an apple. It seems that only Hephestia has failed to return.
Bazalt Blinks, Taking note of what they say, ears twitching intently. "hrrrmmm.. so you say..." He loks to each of the spirits and then to the chow. "sooo..." he asks, then stops. "do we.. even get a choice here?granted we came.. but sometimes we like to debate our options. Sometimes we get stuck others..." he shrugs and munches some more on the apple, it wasn't that bad to be honest.
"You're probably not going to be stuck, no," Maribel says, folding her legs. "But that's also exactly why I chose to sit here. By waiting and not making a choice that I wasn't certain of, I have avoided myself any potentially uncomfortable situations. But in this case, I think you'll be fine."
Rokarion eyes Bazalt before glancing the spirits as they begin to reappear, "Indeed, you need to remember Bazalt, that this is a contract of sorts. Just because you seem to agree with a spirit that doesn't mean you should contract it, but if you do, then you should also fulfil your end." the plant being says as he eyes the Scholar, "So, care to tell me who is the monk sitting here?" the plant being idly asked.
Cirrus eyes each spirit as they reappear, peeling off the wedges of her orange to continue consuming. "What Bazalt said. I mean, from what I gather, most of the people really didn't... go, anywhere." She looks over the assembled group, tucking the gloves she acquired in her pocket, folding them over loosely. The leopard turns to look at Maribel, eyeing them warily. "Making no decision, in my opinion, is much worse than making the wrong one. At least, in the latter, you can take credit for what you did."
Ioph turned her gaze over to the scholar, tilting her head for a second as she calmly said, "Well, that was quick. Although.. I do have to agree with you. I think my thirst for knowledge may have called you. " Expressing a gentle smile, Ioph added, "Though I never really caught your name, dear Scholar... Would you be so kind as to share it with us?"
Bao respectfully lays the shield at Kendrac's feet. "It's a nice shield, sir. Not for me, but nice." He looks around at the reconvening spirits. "We are one short. Does somebody have a fire?"
"As I understand things, oftentimes, you don't need to go anywhere to figure something out. You can learn just as much observing what's around you, and work out your thoughts in the process." Glein replies to Cirrus. Looking over all those present, he shrugs. "While I know what I seek at this time, I do not know if that is a goal I truly wish for, or have to help me find what it is I wish for. And, all things considered, well, I am not sure if I truly, yet, resonate with any spirits present."
"You have already spoken it, Dear Ioph," the Scholar says in a silky voice, "What other name do I need? It is only vanity, after all." She gently takes the book from the plant being's hands.
Shaila shakes her head. "No, child," she says in answer to questions, "No one will be required to make a decision today. There will be no vows exchanged. We have called you here only to learn something about yourselves and what it is you value."
Kendrac nods at Bao. "Not now," he says, "But someday, perhaps." He snorts a derisive laugh at the sea lion's concern. "The Bound Flame has no seekers here today," he says firmly, "She will attend to other duties."
The satyr, Olg'Ish laughs and it is a warm and pleasant sound. "Remember what you have learned today, mortals," he says, "And know that should you call, we will come."
Suddenly the lights go out and the group is left in utter darkness. Then, gradually, light returns, only instead of the golden light of the chamber, it is the soft, blue glow of the crystals outside the door.
"And that is that," the Chow monk says with a sigh, rising from his meditation, "I have never managed to surprise them before. They always seem to know I am coming." He bows to the group collectively. "I thank you for allowing me to accompany you," he says and looks to Rokarion specifically with a warm smile, "I am only a Seeker. One like you, perhaps, though I think I may have spent more time pestering these spirits than they like."
Bazalt nods slowly and then.. Blinks "that was.. uh.. Helpful?." he blinks and sighs and takes a bite from his apple "I think i'm more confused towards who I would follow, not that i what to follow any just yet..." he shrugs and Gets up "suppose it's time to head back...might fly..." he mumbles, already walking out.
"Curious. Have a long way to walk home, anyways..." She peels another wedge out of the orange, chewing it quietly, thoughtfully. She offers a half-bow/curtsey kind of thing in Chow's direction, before nodding to the rest of the group, and heading out the entryway. This... changed things.
Rokarion looks back at the chow and sighs before actually palming his face, then with a deep breath the plant being raises his head again and eyes the canine, "Of course, of course. That slipped my mind." he quickly notes before packing up his items and looking at Cirrus, "Not all of us are here to choose. Some came merely to observe." he adds as he turns around and begins heading back to Firmament.
Maribel stands, brushing herself off. "Well! This was entertaining, certainly. I think I should get home, though. There are some things I need to check on." She gives a little bow and turns to make her exit.
"And stay safe, all of you. You've been... Interesting company and this was a rather revealing experience. I hope some of us can do this again sometime soon." Ioph then politely bowed to the group before picking up one of her books and a quill, preparing to take some notes before leaving through the door.
Bao sighs as the lights go out. "Spirits do that. Come if you call, too. For all the antlers, I don't know as the big buck appreciates the wild places and the wind and the water. Gotta fight, too, though, to keep it all safe. Wouldn't want to get on his bad side." The sea lion shakes his head. "Ser'ther'll want to hear about it, too, even if he already knows what went down." He bows, shallowly, to the chow, addressing him as much as Rokarion. "Hope you learned something, too. I'd hate to think they're the only ones getting anything out of this."
"Sounds reasonable. And if one is already been looked at to be 'called' upon, I can only wonder what troubles that will bring. Since I am sure each spirit has it's own quirks to suffer." Glein says, following the lot out. "Here is hoping that our paths do NOT remain uncrossed for the rest of our days."
