Quest Labyrinth - Adventure 1

[Wrenmae]

"And ruin our good luck?" Casting a derisive glare at his partner, the mage ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He had no idea how much the time chamber had aged him, but at least he wasn't feeling the ill effects. Ignotus on the other hand nearly crumbled merely from existing. It was a wonder the pigeons even functioned anymore.

The res Wrenmae had used became wind the moment the explosion had roiled around them, pushing it out even as Ignotus diverted the flames. The remainder of the res seeped back into his arms and fingers, like gas retreating into its home.

At this juncture, Wrenmae paused, staring down first the left, then the right path.

"Let's review the facts," He said, more to himself than Ignotus. "This place was recently brought from the depths...it appears to be a series of rooms, traps, and mazes. The architecture suggests something akin to a temple, but would anyone want to worship a god that required mental and physical gymnastics just to move rooms?" he shrugged his shoulders, glancing behind them.

"Besides, the way back is gone. I must examine the possibility I'll starve to death down here."

Sighing, he started down the right passageway, the pigeons always keeping the lead. "I sincerely doubt I'd like to eat well aged human..."

[Paragon]

The right passage brought them to yet another room. This labyrinth seemed endless, and the pair were beginning to tire, failures weighing heavily on them, and at each stage the way back was sealed from entry. The room was seemingly empty at first sight, an intricate door on the other side. But then they saw the small glass tank beside it, seemingly crafted into the wall itself. Within the water swam a small, strange coloured fish. Bright blue, with neon stripes down its side, it swam to and fro. There was something else in the water too. If the pair looked close enough, they'd see a switch on the other side of the wall. If the fish were to swim through a narrow hole it would activate said switch. Was this unassuming fish the object of their passage?

[Ignotus Everto]

Nuit did not tire easily. Without a metabolism to speak of, and no need for sleep or oxygen, the bodily processes that caused fatigue had, for the most part, all shut down.

That being said, when Nuit did tire, such as Ignotus was now, it was almost always cause for worry. While Ignotus had assured Wrenmae that he would not starve to death, Ignotus himself was starting to get worried. He had perhaps a month. A season at most, thanks to the incident with the mirror. And the labyrinth seemed determined to keep him encased in its depths. While it wasn't impossible to reach the surface- water was a very destructive beast when it wanted to be- Ignotus worried about keeping intact from a flood, reaching the surface, and, of course, his friend.

Wrenmae was clever, and extremely powerful, but he had little more than a week if they really were trapped.

But worry about escaping was a second priority. The curious little fish came first. Ignotus quickly glided over to the glass, bending down to examine the little aquatic creature more closely.

It was possible for him to use Projection to press the switch- Unless it was heavy. But then, the fish wouldn't be able to press it either. Of course, there was also the matter of Djed drain. Projection would bite into reserves that he might desperately need later. No, it was much better to be as frugal as possible. Cordas might have controlled the fish, but he could not penetrate the glass to touch it. That left one more discipline.

Cocking his head to one side slightly, Ignotus began to tap on the glass with a bony finger. A short, staccato beat of four. tap tap tap tap. tap tap tap tap.

The sound they would produce would substitute for his voice. It was simple enough. Just a gentle suggestion to see if his hunch was correct. Turn left. It wasn't really a command. Just an introduced bias. If it would turn left, then they would be in business.

[Paragon]

Ignotus' hunch proved a valid one, as the fish veered left in the water. No sooner had it turned however, it span starkly, seemingly surprised at the enforced movement, and swam off in its own direction again. Suggestion had worked, but not entirely. It seemed it would need another hypnotist. Two lots of suggestion might just be enough to guide the fish to the switch, and hopefully release them from this room. Hypnotism was the key, but Ignotus alone was not enough.

[Wrenmae]

It wasn't hard to catch on to what the nuit was doing. At this point, much of Wren was finished with the adventure, with the delving, with all of it. He had come here to be part of the mystery, to seek the tales his heart told him were yet to be done.


Instead he was party to a dead man and his pack of pigeons...and now he was...hypnotizing a fish?

Pausing over the water and looking down at the colored creature, it didn't take long to notice what the nuit was trying to get at.

Mimicking the tapping motion above the fish, Wren cast his own djed into the mix, instructing the fish, reinforcing the fish, to go and press the switch, to let them free this prison, this dungeon, and into the lit world beyond.

To leave this menagerie of danger behind.

All questions sank from him, all worry of the outside world, his plots, Ignotus' plots...it all faded. For now the only important thing was making the damn fish move.

Or else they'd all perish.

[Paragon]

With Wrenmae's effort too, their hypnotism powers seemed to have a more notable effect. No longer did the fish sway and swish around however it pleased. It began to move in the direction that the pair willed it to. Wrenmae and Ignotus's Skill Challenge (Hypnotism) Wrenmae + Ignotus Morphing XP = 162 // Your roll was 4 and 3 = 43 - 20 point handicap = 162 - 20 = 142 142 vs 43 SUCCESS The fish passed through a narrow chamber at the back of the tank, and eventually butted its soft head against a switch. The switch gave way with ease, and in turn the door out of this room swung open. The pair would find themselves relinquishing the hold their hypnotism had gained. The passage that was now exposed only went one way. The walls were changing. Kelp and seaweed and shells gave way to pearls and what looked like shining gemstones. It seemed like they were coming to the end of the labyrinth. The only way that presented itself to them was forward.

[Wrenmae]

Staring at the entrance now, Wrenmae nodded at his nuit partner to follow. He briefly paused at the walls that shone with gemstones, even going to far as to test their tenacity to the wall with a dagger. Set like the rest of this place, he left them and continued onward.

They made a strange sight, a walking corpse and his friend, all heralded by a small army of silent pigeons. It might have been comical had Wren not felt the cold snap of nerves enter his mind.

It was becoming painfully obvious the labyrinth was not a place they should have come. They were no closer to finding the entrance or exit than they had ever been, and the discoveries had left an uncomfortable taste in the mage's mouth. No...this place was very much alive, far from the ruins he expected it to be.

"Come, Ignotus," he said to his friend, "Let's hope a disappointing failure in a long lost temple is the only misfortune we'll suffer today."

[Ignotus Everto]

"This is better. This is much better."

For once, part of the labyrinth didn't want to murder him. It was even shiny! Unless it wanted to lull him and Wrenmae into a false sense of security. His companion seemed more concerned than he was- perhaps appropriately, given his need for food. "How long do they last again? A week? Two?"

"At least nothing has exploded this time." the Nuit said with a faint smile. "That's a pleasant change."
As they made his way deeper into the maze, he hoped it wasn't going to be changed out for something worse.

[Paragon]

Finally they came to a small, empty room. Here, just the hint of sea water dripped from the ceiling, cascading delicately down the walls. From nowhere, a feminine voice surrounded them. "You failed two of my tasks, but you passed one. Your perseverance means you will be rewarded. Look to the alcove and take what lies there, there are two, one each. I trust you will use them with virtue." And like that, the voice had gone again. In a small alcove at the far side of the room sat what looked like two conch shells. They were medium sized, and intricately patterned in bumps and swirls of amber and peach. Perhaps if the pair picked up the items, the voice would return to explain what they were for.

[Wrenmae]

Wrenmae sighed, dryly turning to Ignotus.

"A talking dungeon now, certainly we have been blessed. Trials, tribulations, taskings and tests...all for a reward. If I were to guess, I'd say this temple is looking for someone, or something."

He eyed the conchs across the room

"And I think we were just given a consolation prize."

Crossing, he took one in his hand, moving his fingers along the bumpy texture and smooth construction the simple shell.

At least it's pretty, Zan chirped

Shut up.