• Graded • The Pure

[Cervantez]

☠ Ashan 30, 719, Possibly ☠
☠ Mood: Curious, Cautious
☠ Company: Many others
☠ Current Thought: What Harm could it do?
☠ Current Theme: Bury Me Low
☠ Attire: Masterwork Armor

"Common Speech"

"Xantheon Speech"

☠ He was not expecting the man to litterally take his eyes. Yes they were flames, but that didnt give the the man the right to do so. Panicked, Cervantez stumbled a bit, trying to get his barings as he was now looking at himself, his eyes in the palm of another.

With his knowledge of mages who could do such things, it was evident this man was a defier. in the moment of his irritation at the man, Number None spoke, announcing another had gone through with their trial. Hearing the man speak as well, it seemed the only obvious answer was to go into their respective portals, but for what.

What kind of trial was this, and why were they the ones to do it? These questions lingered in his mind until the man gave his eyes back. A sigh of relief and a growl of disgust came from the necromancer as he watched the man enter his portal. The name Number None spoke would be remembered, Hector.

There numbers where dwindling and Cerv had two choices left to him. He could go through his portal, or he could investigate more. He chose the latter.

Looking to the door that resonated with him, he approached and what he could only think to be his spark, gave him a feeling of joy from looking at the dismal display of colors. With his demonic hand he reached out and touched it, palming the surface of the portal, and in a curious thought, seeped ether into the portal to see what it would do. ☠

[Aegis]

The Third Door that Zarik identified was the Door of Spirits. And with it came the usual information, and a few names, as expected.

Enrick Maze, not lost nor found, supported by sea.

Rabu, child of journeys, supported by bubbles.

Wald Lowca, wolf without a pack, supported by laughter.

Following that came the Door of Life.

Maxine, child of herself, supported by Storms.

Kisaik, child of mud, supported by trees.

Thysbae, child of Chaos , supported by stone

Not long after that, Zarik gave his hand, and his magic, to Number None, who accepted both with the care of a loving parent. There was a gentle squeeze and then Zarik's world changed in his eyes. To those still there, it still looked as though the man was simply holding Number None's hand while they continued to walk their endless circuit.

In Zarik's eyes though, he'd find himself standing atop a mountain that rose above the clouds, overlooking the world. The air was surprisingly warm under the single sun in the sky. The wind whipped about playfully, teasing at Zarik's hair. He was atop a small plateau on this mountain, and in the center of it was a stone dolmen. Atop it laid Number None, motionless and lifeless.

And all around, in the air, were great, ephemeral beings, looking down. They didn't appear to have a single, unchanging shape like a mortal body might be. They were defined and undefined at the same time. The one consistency was they emanated pure, natural power. One felt, deep down in Zarik's soul, like forests, as a whole. Another as oceans. Another as land. And so on. Beings of such massive concepts, of endless strength.

These were the Verses.

And regardless of whether Zarik had ever heard of them or not, he would simply know.

They swarmed and brimmed and undulated with pure and unbridled power, with no malice, menace. And soon, the sky darkened as another being came into existence. It was infinitely big, stretching across the entirety of the world's window, infinitely deep, and seemingly unparalleled in its strength. The Induk Idalos had arrived. The greatest spirits of this world, of this one amazing pocket of space and time, connected to all the others by Emea, were now here.

The Versus, and Idalos, flooded the area with power, sending Zarik's Spark singing in the foreign, alien notes, ones that were true and pure. A great rending opened up in the space over top Number None. Within that crack was swirling chaos, glowing bright in purples, reds, and golds. The Verses' combined powers swirled this chaos out of the rend, like a tornado forming, stretching down toward Number None.

Once it connected with his chest, another tornado of energy formed. This time, directly from Zarik's chest. Every fiber of Zarik's being felt as though it were about to be ripped apart, to be shattered into a countless number of infinitesimally small pieces. And yet, there was no pain. Nothing but chaotic tranquility. Zarik's soul, within his body, began to glow bright white, with his spark glowing a softer purple upon it, visible from without. The chaotic storm grew from his soul, and joined that with Number None.

Loud booms rang out, thunder crashed, the world bent and broke and reformed anew, until Number None glowed white hot, brighter than an exploding sun, for many long moments. Then it dimmed and the world calmed once more. Number None's hand came up in front of his face, and Zarik would be able to feel his smile. The being sat up on the stone, facing Zarik now, "Thank you."

And just as suddenly, Zarik was now back in the chamber, holding Number None's hand. And Number None had stopped walking, and was facing the man. "I am whole now. But we have another to fix, if you'll help me."

Meanwhile, nearly all of the other occupants of the strange, circular room, had disappeared into their trials, though without the accompanying announcements from Number None. But one man was still there at the portal which sung to him, touching it with a hand that was clearly not his own. And at his touch, the portal soothed, warming to the man, his own spark calming in its presence.

But once Cervantez fed his ether into the portal, that same ether became hard as steel, attached to his soul. And it yanked him in.

!	Message from: Aegis2
	Cervantez has been exited from this thread. He is now in the Trial of the Inferior. Zarik, you're now alone with just Number None. If you have any questions, you may ask, I may answer. I may not. I will post again on April 29th.

[Llyr Llywelyn]

Zarik

held hands with Number None and everything changed in the biqaj’s eyes.

He stood atop the mountain that overlooked the world. An immediate affinity washed over him, almost in recognition, as he recalled his initiation into magic. In those tempting moments in Emea where he rested far from the tribulations of the waking world, high on a mountaintop, he’d nearly stayed forever. If it hadn’t been for Alistair’s domineering influence, he might’ve chosen to remain in such peace and to never return to physical existence again. He breathed softly, in enjoyment of the warm sun and caress of wind on his hair and skin.

The young mage observed Number None, who laid motionless on the slab of a stone dolmen. Several numinous entities surrounded the air space above them. Emanation of pure natures made themselves known, concepts he understood yet couldn’t fully comprehend in their respective infinite oneness of pristine power:

The Verses.

Had he heard of them before? Zarik couldn’t recall, yet it didn’t matter because he knew who they were. Not in a scholarly sense, not through the books he read or fleeting dialogues with men like Alistair, but in a way that drilled beyond his very core and filled his consciousness with unquestionable perception.

The sky darkened above them. He forgot he was only in a memory. The Transmuter placed a gloved hand to the center of his chest, gripped the leather of his armor, and his eyes widened. His witchmark cascaded past his irises; the ringed bounds spilling out so an iridescent glow permeated the orbs of his eyes. Underneath the rainbow-like sheen, an amber shade colored the inner light with warm tones. He watched, profoundly fascinated, by the arrival of the great Induk, Idalos.

His Spark sang. He hummed in a trivial attempt to resonate his own mind with the instinctive notes. His grip on his armor tightened. Chaos swirled, reflected in his light-filled eyes, and he witnessed the channeled focus of the Verses propel the absolute power down toward Number None’s lifeless form.

The chaos connected with the guardian’s chest, and Zarik knew it had to be the moment that None first existed: the special memory he’d come to witness… and under his hand, he felt heat rise. He moved it aside just before energy tore through his chest. Whether he had any breath in his lungs at all, it was impossible to tell.

Zarik trembled. He focused, in the unexpected moment, on maintaining every particle of his being to remain together. It didn’t hurt like his initiation of Transmutation had. He could handle this – he could… He smiled through the primordial serenity. His eyes had taken on the bright white of his soul, the light rays tinted with the gentle purple of his spark. He curled his fingers into fists, an attempt to gather himself, then outstretched his arms as if in offer to hug another person. His fingers uncurled and pointed in the direction that the energy coursed from him and joined with Number None. Whether he merely followed along, or performed such action with his own will, it didn’t matter to the young mage.

No doubt or hesitation, no resistance or suspicion, Zarik innocently provided himself to the memory.

Reverberations boomed through the bent and broken and reformed world. Existence seemed to tear apart and then stitch itself together again. Zarik focused, however, on his own singular energy – on his soul as energy connected from him into Number None. He concentrated as he would with any other magical technique, or perhaps more so. The naive biqaj felt driven by his observation of the Verses and Idalos. Compared to their revered presence, he felt so lowly and weak in the strange memory where he existed regardless. Rather than cower in his unworthiness though, he aimed to raise himself beyond any limitations. Not spurred by arrogance, but for the beauty of such an act: an inspired exaltation. He did not need to understand it. He only yearned to experience such perfect elegance.

Experience, he did. He fixated on maintaining his shuddering body’s form, and on Number None’s white-hot brilliant radiance. For many long moments, nothing else but the intimate vision existed for him and he sought to remain as one instead of being shattered apart during the grand occasion.

Then the world calmed. The thunder faded, though echoes lingered in Zarik’s mind. Number None lifted a hand, smiled in his unseen way, and then sat up from the stone slab. The guardian faced the young mage, and thanked him.

Zarik lowered his hands. He returned the gratitude with a smile of his own…


…and returned to the chamber in the next blink of his eyes. His cheeks were warm with silvery-blue blush and wet with tears. His facemask gathered the moisture along the lining. He still felt None’s hand against his. The gilded humanoid faced him. They were no longer walking. Zarik stared, a flurry of confusion in his mind. He listened: Number None was whole now?

While the last remaining occupant was forcibly yanked through their portal, Zarik glanced at None’s feet. The two were alone in the circular corridor. He slyly smiled, the expression hidden by his leather mask, and then he laughed in a cheerful manner. The blond raised his gaze, eyes filled with iridescent shimmer, to look at the other’s inorganic eyes. He commented, “You’ve stopped walking.”

Number None looked around. “So I have.”

He glanced to the side, surveyed the empty corridor and one of the doors. He repeated the glance to the other side and asked, “Is that okay?”

Number None took another step off of his path, “Seems so.”

Zarik followed with a slight step, then passed by with another. He affectionately smiled, and it showed in his eyes, then he gestured for None to take a few more steps off the circular path. “How does it feel?”

“Strange, but I think..this is what it is to be... alive?”

“You weren’t alive before?”

“I... was.. I'm not.. I do not think I was... finished.”

“But now you are,” suggested Zarik. “Because... of our bridge? Or… None, what has happened?”

Number None looked at Zarik, truly seeing him, seeing into the depths of him. “I think... I think you were there. I think they were able to finish me... after seeing you.”

Zarik exhaled lowly, his breath caught behind his mask. He returned the look, then said, “Did… do we… you think, you think, you think… It is okay. If you feel alive, None, and if it is because of our bridge… if you were not complete, but now you are… and if the Verses required my soul to do so, if you…”

“If we’re… if you and I are connected because of it, or if I- initiated you into living? You don’t have to concern yourself with these answers, especially if you do not have them, None. To seek logic in something beyond reason, I don’t need to. Nothing, yet everything, revealed in one… one… and None...”

He struggled to string his sentences together, to channel his many thoughts into mere words. Zarik reached out and gently grasped None’s wrists. He lifted them so that he pressed None's hands against the leather armor over his chest and the biqaj stepped closer to the gilded man. Zarik said, “If you require me again, I will help you. But I have one last inquiry before I do so.”

“I don't know these answers... but I wish to find out.” Number None looked at Zarik, emanating his smile as he'd done before. “I will answer your inquiry if I am able. And yes, I do believe I require your assistance.”

Zarik smiled anew. The biqaj said in a soft voice, “I arrived here because of a human I love, a mage known as Alistair Venora, my mentor and husband. He was not here with me. I wish to know what has become of him and if I might see him again?”

Number None took a moment to stop and think. “That man is here, but has a task different from your own. I can take you to him.” Then it seemed Number None was frowning, “But not yet. That door cannot be opened unless my mission is seen to fruition, one way or another.”

Number None pressed his hands that were against Zarik's chest just a bit tighter, and a momentary vision passed into Zarik's mind. He could see the Seekers in their chambers, deliberating and debating. And there, in his seat, was Alistair, just as he was beginning to open his vote.

Zarik felt a slight thrill when he saw Alistair, his husband busy with the Seekers' conference. He breathily laughed at the vision. Whatever it was, the task seemed suitable for the nobleman. He blinked, then returned his attention to None and said, “Thank you. By mission, do you mean to save the… them. Or has it changed now?”

“I have changed. The mission has not.”

The young mage nodded. He settled his momentary emotions, conjured by the sight of Alistair alive and well, and he composed himself. He looked at Number None with a determined expression and said, “Then let’s see it through and fix this other you speak of.”

Number None "smiled" and gestured to the door that had called to Zarik. “I will protect this place as I have always done. So you may return.”

Zarik glanced at the portal, then back at None. “Oh, I see. Then I look forward to returning to you again.” He let go, stepped away, and headed toward the door that resonated with his spark. He paused, then turned and looked at None. “Before I go, what would you announce for me? Who supports me and what am I of?”

“Zarik, child of the First, supported by Number None.”

“Of course,” teased Zarik in a tone as if he should have known that already. He waved farewell, then lingered for a pause… in wait to see if None had anything more to say, before he took a short breath and finally gave in to his spark’s desire to enter the gateway meant for him.

Number None smiled and nodded, and continued his circuit, adding in new curves and struts to the path.

Speak ❈ Think

[Rabu]

Inside the doorway was walls build of stone, mostly likely build long ago by tall folk of a distant land. Unfamiliar to Rabu but far more comforting than what they left behind. He spotted a strange metal statue in the form of a man, Rabu was nearly startled off Enrick’s shoulder when it suddenly moved towards them and talked.

“Help wid wat?” Rabu asked as he regained his place on Enrick’s shoulder. the tunawa narrowed his gaze as he tried to make sense of the living metal construct before him.

“Was you deh one dat do all dis?” Rabu didn’t know wether to be upset, scared or just cry. He hoped that when he found the door he’d wake up from this nightmare and yet it continued with no explanation.

“How you talk wid out mouth?” Rabu hadn’t seen nearly any movement in the metal man’s face but it was clear somehow that it the greeting had come from him.

After shooting his rapid fire questions to the metal man, he noticed that Wald was not beside them. The tunawa looked back to see the man had still not entered the door and wore a look of terror on his face.
“Come inside wid deh haste Vald! Not safe dere!.” Rabu cried out to his terrified friend.

The Tunawa leapt off Enrick and hit the cold stone ground below. He ran to the door and and made wild gestures with his hand as if to yank the man in with the force of some kind of invisible rope. The fear of losing a friend again, quickly turned to anger and looking deep within himself, Rabu harnessed that anger.

“COOOME INSIIIIIDE NOOOOW!” Rabu shrieked louder than anyone thought possible for a creature of his stature. his voice sounded more like the roar of a savage beast then the soft whistle of a panpipe, like it normally did. Hopefully the outburst would be enough to snap the man out of what every crisis he was experiencing.

[/quote]

[Ricky]

Upon entering to meet the strange entity that greeted them before Enrick's eyes were alight with silver and cyan, their vibrant hues swirling much like the portals that lingered all around them. The round room seemed to be a crossroads of a sorts to other areas, with numerous doors much like the one they'd walked right out of. Was this the heart of what called them into action? Rabu already seemed eager to ask the important questions, albeit some of them slightly silly and personal with the entity.

Sure enough the Tunawa noticed Wald still remained hesitant, and proceeded to encourage the hunter to join them. Enrick couldn't help but chuckle as he looked back from the door they'd walked through, and faced the metallic figure in turn with his own questions to ask. "Oi'm wit' Rabu 'ere, we can try t' help but first we need t' know t'ings. Like what it is we're supposed t' be doin, and where exactly all dese doors lead us t'." From the looks of it they were the only ones at present, anybody who had been here before must've gone into one of these many doors... to do whatever needed to be done.

"We saved a giant sea monster from Mer, was dat what we needed t' do before findin' te door?" The sailor could only wonder what significance resided in that, since their actions would surely carry far reaching consequences in the near future. But the door itself? That posed a curious enigma just as the rest of this room did, since they had much to learn and figure out before they could really do anything 'helpful' for the cause. Finally Enrick looked back and waited to see if Wald decided to move any, his head hung to the side a little as he sighed to find the hunter barely budged an inch.

"C'mon mate we ain't got all Trial." He tried to be like Rabu and encourage their companion, albeit he didn't maintain as much enthusiasm as the Tunawa.

"Enrick", "Ẹrọim", "Follower", "NPC"

[Wald Lowca]

Wald was basically pulled through the door, once inside the door closed behind them. Wald immediately sat on the ground in front of the door. He couldn't make heads or tails of his surroundings, the fear sunk into his mind as his eyes switched around him.The people around him were strangers, they did not know of what was wrong. His hands began to shake as if the cold of the frozen land he was from surrounded him.

Wald started to grip into his knees, his knuckles turned white with the grip. His eyes closed as his breathing became controlled. Wald was trying to calm himself, trying to regain himself. This was harder without his family with him, anyone of them would be helpful, but Wald felt like he was alone now. This feeling did not subside easily, as he started to slow his heart rate. Wald focused on what he could control. While his breathing slowed the color in his knuckles slowly returned.

Slowly Wald would calm down from the terror he had, escaping into the recesses of his mind. Where he began to think of what just happened, he had saw many things in the last few moments. A giant sea creature with a door in its belly was on the list, though this gave Wald pause. He sent the Spirit that accompanied him into the belly, before the fighting with the Mer started in full. The information from the spirit had been a lie, when he looked through their eyes there was no door. Why was that? Wald opened his eyes and looked to the spirit. His eyes questioning the beast.

Wald took a few moments to reorientation himself, and joined in on the questions for the being.

[Aegis]

Number None looked down at Rabu after hearing his first question, and Rabu would be able to feel a smile, even though there could not be one. "Some of those within their trials might need help getting out. If they cannot get out, they will be trapped for all eternity like those before them." At the following question, None shook his head, "No, I am the guardian of this place. I protect those that are here, and those that arrive, to the best of my ability." Then Rabu would feel the presence of a smile again, "I don't know. I just do."

Number None was no longer trying to walk circles around the place, now able to stop and talk to the new arrivals. This brought him great pleasure. Before he was able to respond to Enrick, he spoke loudly. "Praetorum, child of Strength, has completed the Trial of the Strong." None was positively beaming with pride and joy. The portal that had led to Praetorum's trial flickered out of existence so no others may enter it.

There was an explosion from another portal. Fire, rocks, water, and wind all buffeted out of it at high speeds, slamming into the wall across from it. But the portal still held true. Number None looked Enrick in the eyes, "Hector, child of Nature has completed the Trial of Balance. But he is mortally injured, and does not appear to be able to leave. Will you aid him, Enrick, child of the seas; Rabu, child of tales; Wald, child of the forest? I believe the great spirits sent you to aid these mortals in their journeys." Number None gestured to the portal that had just exploded. There were many other portals still open around the circular room, and none of the other three doors had yet to open.

!	Message from: Aegis
	Questions are always welcome. I will post again on May 22nd.

[Ricky]

Wald took his time to regroup with them within the centrifuge of portals while the entity None answered questions, from the sound of it they were here among others to help complete trials. That's where all these portals had to lead right? Different trials which had to be completed in order to leave, but the bigger question was what would happen when all the doors were closed off? Completing these challenges seemed to be the main obstacle, and now that there were three here a few options remained to be decided; whether they were going to help the others together or alone.

Enrick's silver eyes were bright as he watched None announce one of the trials completed, the name of it's successor one he wasn't at all familiar with. Praetorum the child of Strength. Did they all have aspects they represented here? Qualities that pertained to whatever roles they were to partake in these trials? So much uncertainty with what was really going on, all Enrick really knew was that he'd found himself sailing the Windrunner again among Spirits... and now here he was about to risk his life for the unknown.

Just as the portal to the Trial of Strength closed a reaction spurred from another, episodes of elemental power displayed from another trial in short tempered bursts. Then second announcement regarding another trial which reached its conclusion, however the participant involved seemed to endure serious injury during the process. The guardian of the portals then asked that they consider helping this "Hector" as well, with hand gestured towards the portal afterwards to more or less guide their path. "Oi'll go." Enrick stated firmly as he glanced towards his peers with cyan eyes.

"Oi wouldn't mind de company, but it might also do t' split from 'ere." The sailor reasoned with a cross of his arms. "If we gotta open de ot'er doors, which how many 're dere again?" He asked the entity for confirmation before continuing with his logic. "Tree doors left, an' if dis Hector is important any den least Oi can do is help get 'em back 'ere."

Enrick moved towards the doorway for the portal to the Trial of Balance, his hands shaken a few times to work the jitter out of his nerves. He honestly had no idea what he was about to do, nor what to expect when he crossed over into whatever awaited beyond. The trial had been complete though right? So hopefully he only needed to locate this Hector fellow, and bring him back into the room once more while the others did their own thing. "Wish m' luck." He bade to them as a means of a temporary farewell, since he hoped they'd be here when he got back. Of course that depended on what they decided, he wasn't in charge of where they went or what they did.

Without any more time wasted on considering it, Enrick walked into the portal towards the completed trial; curious as to what awaited him beyond the door.

"Enrick", "Ẹrọim", "Follower", "NPC"

[Hart]

"Speaking in Rakahi"
"Speaking in Common"
"Speaking in Common sign"

extra line here
Continued from here.

There were people in the stone room, but Hart wasn't able to introduce himself, nor was he able to listen to their introductions. He walked through the Door of Death to the nearest wall and leaned against it.

His head hurt.

He was aware that he hadn't completed what he had been brought here for, but the calm had overtaken him and he felt... finished. He was trembling more and more from the effort it took to stand, and he was tired, and his eyes fell closed against his will. His legs seemed to buckle, though it was a controlled fall, and Hart slid down the wall to hunch on the cold stone floor.

Though he told himself that what he was supposed to do wasn't yet done, he couldn't get up and he couldn't open his eyes. His head hurt more and more, now that he was away from Daia, away from Moseke. He began to feel the Fractures again, as if they were open wounds. His chest hurt. His back hurt. His hands hurt. One of his hands was burned. All of him ached, and he slumped against the wall, his chin falling to rest on his chest.

He crumpled in. He slid further, until he was lying in a bundle of ill-fitting clothing on the ground. He was thinner and more fragile, somehow, than he had been before.

He was aware, perhaps, for a few minutes longer, though he didn't seem to be aware. It was an odd sort of awareness, detached completely from how much pain he was in. He breathed slowly, as if sleeping, and it would appear he was asleep. But he could vaguely make out the voices of people in the stone hall.

Then at some point awareness went, and he laid without moving, exhausted and aged and in pain, but feeling none of it.

OOC: Just so I don't forget, Hart used Fulfillment 42 times. He used Wish three times and he Fractured three times. Three Wishes (3/12) amount to 25% of his life. Add onto that the amount of life he gave away to Moseke and Daia. Hart appears to have aged from about 27 to 53 arcs old. He also burned his hand.

He needs sleep.

[Wald Lowca]

Wald was starting to pay attention to the questions, and the answers that None had begun to give to the group. Wald was thinking of what he could asked the being, as many things made little since. Before he could say anything, one of the portals exploded in elemental furry. None began saying how the one inside that one, had completed the trial but was to weak to finish. That was of no concern to Wald, but the rest of his party seemed to take it upon themselves to go and help. Enrick began his walk to the door, as Rabu followed, after giving Wald a hug goodbye. Wald stood there alone for a moment with None.

Wald began his questioning of None. "Do you know who summoned us, or what the waves of energy was? Would you tell me the cause of them?" That was the first of many. It was to gain a conclusion.

Wald gave a pause for the answer. "Who or what are you really? If you are a guard of this place, who brought you here?"

Wald had many questions, some of which he would refrain from asking the being. As it was doubtful that he would know. Though each question was to help weave a story of what had happened. In the end, Wald did not fully trust anything that had happened since the transport anymore. He had Laughing dog show him something false, even though after we found the door where they had looked. He had his connection to Karem severed, who would be able to do such a thing. Another Immortal maybe?

"Were you the one that severed my connection to Karem?" This was probable the more dangerous question, though if it was truly this being. He could be able to tell how strong they are.

OOC

If Wald sees through the door where Sybil is covered in blood and looks injured. He will jump through the door and tackle the poor lizard slave in anger.

Wald has a way to track Sybil through a unique smell.