Journey of the Elementals RP (Pm if Interested, Started)

[Lambi]

"I for one was simply curious about them. Although, upon hearing about them further has made me interested in them further. I wonder what sort of thing I would gain if I were to go through them..." Silvana pondered it for a moment before dismissing it. "I might find out later, if I go through the trials. At the moment, I can't say there's much I really desire." And there really wasn't. She was content with what she had. Even her knowledge over dark magic was enough for her as was. Who knows, maybe she'd find something that she desired and would have a reason to take the trials, if she'd even need them for the thing she'd desire.

Silvana looked around behind herself as she had been following the guide. It did look like some of the mages she'd met earlier, such as Raven, weren't there with them. "I guess they weren't as interested in the trials as we were. Or thought to stay behind for one reason or another. Can't say I know what that could be." She shrugged and looked towards the door they were at. "I also guess we should just wait a bit and then see when or if we can come in."

 

[Mr. Omega]

Drew took a moment to think about what Fei was asking for. ...How would I explain my little sister getting wings to the folks? But on the other hand, the trials seems interesting... He sighed and decided to follow the guide. He worked his way as close as he could and asked a couple questions. "So... is it at all possible for outsiders like us to take the trials? And is there the possibility one could get these wings?" He figured there was almost no chance, but he wanted to at least seem that he was humoring Fei. Between the cultural and possible biological differences, he was confident that it'd be deemed impossible, or at least they'd be forbidden. If it was possible, then he'd have to think up an excuse for Fei before they actually arrived.

 

[CounterAttack]

"I guess they have their reasons. Not everyone would be super interested in taking the trials," Gabriel chimed in. "Me, however... I think I might give it a shot. See what it involves, and what's offered at the end... if I pass," he added as a slightly ominous afterthought. The price that kept being mentioned was probably something that wasn't to be taken lightly. Briefly the young mage wondered what kind of price would be asked of him.

Their guide had mentioned some sort of crystal... was it some sort of magical artifact, or one of Kerbones' technological marvels? How would it work, though? And if it were magical, what discipline of magic would something like that fall under? Gabe doubted it was the work of a Hydromancer.

"I have a couple more questions, while we're waiting. Are people allowed to talk about the trials after they take them? And is there a place where we can observe someone in the midst of their trials?" Gabriel chose not to ask why Alexander had been singled out for the trials: presumably it was something to do with him being sent to see the Prime Minister. Perhaps the Lightdweller himself could explain that.

 

[UnusualStranger]

The Prime Minister nodded carefully as he listened to Alexander's tale, noting that this was perhaps the first time he had lost patients while healing, and also that it was two of his own that were lost that evening. As he turned his attentions back to the gateway, seeming to think about something. He stood, and stepped over to the gateway.

"I am sorry for the loss that you had to endure, Alexander. It is somewhat my fault that they had fallen, but I could not anticipate other forces to be assembled so quickly to act against myself and the kingdom. I was also unaware that the Assassins would be in the city already, expecting my return with guests. But, I know there is little I can offer to make such things up to you other than my sincerest apologies, and any comforts that you request while you recover."

He walked around the gateway as he talked, still being seen as the oddly transparent gateway did little to hide him. As he did step close, the lightning about him became much more obvious, dancing about his entire form around the gateway.

"I imagine you are not willing or ready to try the trials, which is perfectly understandable. Though, I cannot claim what exactly you would want to gain from the trials, it is not my place to know, or to know the price you would pay for it. Is there something you wish to...privately discuss before I allow the others inside?"

[hr]

The guide turned to Drew, giving a small shrug as he asked about being able to take the trials, and if they could get wings from it. The man's wings were hidden underneath the mystical robes at the moment, but he still answered as jittery as ever.

"Outsiders like yourselves? With the Prime Minister's blessing, I would not imagine why you would not be able to take them. And, it is possible to get wings from the trials, I guess. Why you would ask for those, I am not sure, but I guess it is your choice all the same. I wonder what the cost would be though? It just seems odd..." The guide paused in his thoughts as Gabriel brought up his own questions. Suddenly distracted, the man switched topics almost instantly.

"Talk about the trials? Most....tend to keep the moments kind of private, as the trials seem to leave a few different kinds of marks on those who attempt them. But if you are willing to talk about them, I wouldn't see any issue with it personally...but as far as I know, unless you decide to take your trials together, there is no way to...well, see what happens in there. I'm not sure you would want to anyways. There are rumors that....well, some people don't come out looking as steady as they went in, ya know? Like they....saw ghosts or something. Family even. Its kinda weird the things you hear, ya know? Especially when I'm not even sure if the gate is even there, even after the Prime Minister went through it like he did. It sure is....something. Not sure how else to say it really, as odd as that is."

 

[blaze96]

"I don't think I will take the trials sir. However there is, maybe you would know more about a gift I received than I. When we were on the ship, I spoke to an entity. Told it what I wish for in life, and it gifted me with a kind of familiar one might say. A shadow if you will. For the longest time it did nothing, and then last night when I passed out in my own blood I could have sworn it glared at the other mages. Then it passed on a thought to me, at least I think it did. It may seem odd to you but then I never thought men could have wings before I came here. I wondered if you might know anything of this entity or its gift and if not if I might have access to perhaps a scholar to help me find something." Alexander replied.

 

[SkyeNeko]

Fei wore a big smile on her face as she listened to them talk about the trials. She wondered what kind of things the trials were. Maybe an eating contest? Maybe a race? Maybe fighting? It would be cool if they were just making it seem hard so that no one would take them. Maybe they were just being jealous, and didn't want anyone to take the trials, so that only they could have wings. Why wouldn't anyone want wings? They looked so cool, and soft, even if you couldn't use them to fly, it would be AWESOME! She had to ask the Prime Minister if she could take the trials.

 

[Mr. Omega]

Drew kept his smile but was shouting several profanities in his head. He turned to Fei, trying to sound a little more serious "Look, Fei, are you positive about this? Do you even know what you're getting into?" While he had her attention, he decided to ask another question to the guide, hoping she'd pay more attention. "So... one more thing about these trials... are there any risks? Has anything bad happened to anyone taking them?" He figured that if he was right, the guide would say something that might get Fei to reconsider. Plus I might be overreacting... 'Trials' sounds bad, but maybe it's just some old tradition. Still, never hurt to be sure...

 

[UnusualStranger]

The Prime Minister arched an eyebrow, obviously intrigued by what Alexander said. He paused for a moment, and then nodded to himself.

"Well, if you are seeking a scholar to find more about these....odd events, I get the feeling you would like to talk with my....eccentric guide that I had lead you here. He's a little off, of course, but his knowledge is surprising, and while sometimes his ideas are...well, to be frank, insane, he does have a tendency to be incredibly right. JOSEPH!" The Prime Minister turned towards the doorway. "ENTER! TIME FOR OUR GUESTS TO SEE THE TRIAL!" With that, he turned his attentions back to Alexander.

"But you say that it gave you...a shadow? But one that is...like you? Like down in the chamber? It follows you? That is....interesting. It has shown emotion....so perhaps there is something to it. But, Joseph will know more, I am sure. Despite his ramblings, he is brilliant."

[hr]

The guide paused, seeming to look over the question that Drew had posed. After a small moment, he decided on...something.

"Well, I must be honest. Some....after the trials are not...happy. Some have seen things in the trials that they won't talk about, or can't properly handle. And....some have not wanted to survive after the trials. Some have come without their wings, some have come with destructive skills, or knowledge that....well, they tossed themselves off the ledge. It really is something. Some claimed that they were being followed by themselves, others claimed that their powers were too destructive to allow them to survive. Others claimed yet that there were voices whispering, or that they betrayed their love, or their family. Though, there are....times where they are missing something a bit more....important. An arm, I think I saw once. Wasn't bleeding, but....he had both of them before he went in."

Then, the guide heard his name called. Joseph, apparently his name was called, and he turned, opening the door. "Well, no time like the present to show you the...well, doorway, for lack of a better term. It has changed though, so I wonder what it is today...." With that, he led the mages into the mostly clear room filled with chairs around the odd barely existing gateway.

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

Cale listened on about the talk of a "trial". It did interest him a bit as it offered something else to think about and he was always up for a challenge. He followed the guide with the rest of the mages, thinking what the trials must hold. He wondered if it was anything like the trials back at the academy. It seemed like years ago that he was last at the academy and the homesickness began to kick in whenever he thought about the earth.

He walked in the room that was mostly clear besides the chairs. He wondered if his shadow also walked in with him and after some eye adjustment, his shadow was barely visible. Cale hadn't given much thought into his shadow ever since he received it from the spirit but a feeling came over him that maybe he will end up needing its help. Cale looked around, in search of whatever the guide wanted to show him.

"What now?" Cale asked.

 

[CounterAttack]

At the guide's answer to long-term results of the trials, Gabriel cringed a little. More so when he heard that one person had come back minus an entire arm. That did not sound healthy... was it worth it, though? Possibly. Who could tell? Maybe he would describe some of his experiences to the others, should he complete them.

"Well, no time like the present to show you the...well, doorway, for lack of a better term. It has changed though, so I wonder what it is today...." The guide - who was presumably the Joseph to whom the Prime Minister was calling - led the mages into the room.

Inside was a strange gateway, seeming to turn transparent at times, as well as some chairs arranged around the central gate. The Prime Minister stood before the gate, surrounded by what looked like some sort of lightning-based magic. Alexander was in the room too; he, however, was a distance away from the gate.

"What on Darkengrad... Is this the trial? Pass through the gate?" Gabriel queried in slight awe, curiosity piqued. "Or is the gate another portal to somewhere else? An arena or something where the trials are held?" He felt a familiar presence nearby: his shadow was at his side, arms folded across its chest. Its attention was divided between the gate and the Prime Minster, ignoring Gabe entirely.

 

[Lizmichi]

Nat just nodded looking at the damage. "Damn them. I'm sorry to hear that we have lost some of our own. I'm glad you're ok Raven, any idea on how the others are doing? I was badly hurt during the start of the fight so I have little idea. We mages need to stick together as best we can. We may not see eye to eye but in a world that hates our kind, we're all each other have." Nat said plainly with a hint of emotion.

Nat was in thought about what has transpired and her face twisted into an odd look of worry and anger. "I should of been stronger. Dammit why do I fail? I can barely protect Nina, let alone any of my other mages and my students. Maybe my mother was right, I am nothing." Nat quickly became lost in thought until Nina touched her arm softly then she blinked back to the ruined dinning area.

Nina just looked at Nat, not use to her showing any feeling for her other mages. This wasn't like Nat, however, nether Nat or Nina has seen this much blood shed. This was truly a new experience for the both of them. To Nina, it was a glimmer of hope that maybe Nat had a chance to be normal, well as normal as Nat could be.

"Has the Prime Minister said anything Raven?" Nina asked curious herself on what was going on still holding Nat's arm as she felt it shake with sorrow and anger.

 

[NeoAC]

"A couple of them took hits," Raven answered Nat. "One of the sunsu-," she caught herself from uttering her preferred term for denizens of the light in the presences of Nina, before remember that despite her appearance, she wasn't actually one of them. It was hard to tell sometimes. "One of the sunsuckers took a big hit, went a little nuts during the battle, he's been recovering from what I hear."

She then moved onto Nina's question. "As for the Prime Minister, your guess is probably better than mine. That guy is just a labyrinth to try and figure out anything on. I can't get a read on angles he's trying to play, whether or not he may have sicced those guards on us, what he plans to do with us, nothing."

 

[Mr. Omega]

Drew gulped when he heard the description. "You... did hear that, right Fei?" he was really hoping she was paying attention to that part. He knew she was distracted at the moment, but he was fairly something like that would at least register. It'd certainly make things a lot easier for him if she decided to back out on her own. Still, he knew he couldn't let her go through it. He had promised to himself he'd let her take care of herself on this trip, but this was not what he had in mind. He knew things would get rough, but he was counting on himself, or at least some of the other mages being able to make things a little more manageable. As they arrived at the area where the trials would take place, he saw the Prime Minister standing in front of the gate as if he were expecting them. Well that fills me with confidence...

He wanted to ask a little more, but he figured he'd let the Prime Minister speak.

 

[UnusualStranger]

The guide, Joseph, looked confused at Cale for a moment until it suddenly dawned on him that perhaps he could not see the gateway quite like he could. He sat for a moment in a nearby chair, taking out a small pad of paper and scribbling something down, and muttering "interesting..." to himself as he did so, before rising and then pointing at the center where the odd gateway still seemed to be shifting.

"WELL, this is where my expertise stands. This is the Trials. Or, the gateway to the trails, or something of that nature. You do have to pass through the gate, but it doesn't really give off much more info than that. I have gone through.....twice now? Its difficult to say, but some of my colleagues have told me that I went through a dozen times, which I find difficult to believe that I still have everything on me at that point." He stood back, glancing at the Prime Minister from time to time, who seemed to be much more concentrating on the gateway and the energies that flowed about himself, and then answered Gabriel's question.

"Well, it sends you to another....line, I think is the best way to put it. It puts you in a situation which is different from this one. It is...quite real, let me tell you. Of course, I'm not quite sure what effect those shadows will have in the other world. Maybe they will serve as a guide? Or perhaps a guardian? I'm not quite sure. But what I am sure of is now you can wander into the gate. As a group, or by yourselves, if you wish. All probably to the same line. Or maybe a different one? In any case, the trials are different from other tests that you might encounter. You are given...a choice of trial. If that is a mercy, I am not quite sure. But, if memory serves....give me a moment..."

Joseph went to his robes, seeming to look for a bit of paper in one of the odd pockets before one of the odd runes giving an odd glow. Joseph muttered something, then pulled out an odd book.

"...Ahem! The choices stand as...moral, battle, peace, personality, goals, and...broken. The two times I went through, I chose both peace and.....moral? Yes, yes, I know. But in those, I went to...the same line, I think. I ran into all sorts of individuals. In fact, that one fire fellow seemed familiar, so maybe I saw him in one of those? As do you, little girl, but I can't recall from which path...maybe one in which mages ruled? But, in any case, I know that these effects are quite real on the line they touch, if only for a moment. You might even run into yourself, which is...an interesting affair to see how you turn out." Joseph sat quiet for a moment, seeming to listen to something has the runes on him seemed to shimmer a few times and then give a steady glow. "OH! Yes, you probably want to know about the ending...you meet a changing....well, spirit, is the best I can think of it. A ghost that changes depending on...something. But they offer you a trade. It is negotiable, I think, but you will never walk out with more than you went in with. That is made clear....And....I think thats about it. I think. SO! If you want, you can all step in to take the trials, and I can begin the rights needed to get you in there....or you can instead chat with the good Minister. Though, he is feeding some of his energies to the gate, it is in preparation. Just in case you all want to go, its going to take quite the jolt of power, so it pays to be ready, you know...."

 

[blaze96]

Alexander listened as Joseph explained the trials. He really had no interest in them himself, he hadn't seen anything here he would be willing to trade one of his few possessions away for. Besides if he couldn't earn it on his own he either wasn't meant to have it or didn't deserve it in his opinion. Trading with some being for an unknown power in an unknown trade didn't sit with him. However if all the others decided they wished to go in he would follow to make sure he could help if need be. Once Joseph had finished talking to the group however he spoke up to the man.

"If you find the time at some point I would like to ask you about something that happened to me last night to see if you might understand more about it." he said to Joseph.

 

[Lambi]

Silvana listened with interest as Joseph went on about the trials. It all made sense to her, though she still wasn't quite sure how they were to go about doing the trials once they'd enter. However, she had at least one question for Joseph. "You mentioned shadows just then. Are you saying we get shadows to follow us inside the gate?" She obviously wasn't aware of the shadows the others had, so it was perfectly natural that she asked about it. She watched while the Prime Minister fed some energy to the gate while she waited for her answer.

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

Phebe stepped into the room with the gate. There were some chairs and the prime minister, but she ignored him and looked at the gateway. She listened to Joseph, and thought about the options he mentioned. Moral or peace didn't matter to her, and she felt like she had fought enough just to get to the room. She wasn't even sure how she would prove herself in anything other than battle, but part of the fun was finding out.

She thought about leaving the bow behind in the room, since she didn't want to trade it for anything, but she could buy a new one when she returned triumphant. It could also prove useful in the trials. How, she didn't know yet.

"Broken, huh?" Phebe grinned. "That sounds like fun."

It was the one who had sparked her curiosity. She reached out for the gateway with her hand, to see if anything would happen, but stopped before touching it.

"Oh, and I would like to go alone." It wouldn't be testing her if she went with a group. It would be testing her ability to work well with others. She had nothing against them, but this was something she did for herself.

 

[CounterAttack]

Gabriel listened closely to Joseph's explanation of the trials. Six options... moral, battle, peace, personality, goals and... broken? What was 'broken'? What did that even mean? Whatever it was, it didn't sound like something Gabriel would like to try. It then occurred to him that there was a possible - though likely coincidental - connection between the trials and magic. There were six commonly accepted schools of magic, and six categories of trial. Whether each brand was linked to a specific trial, he knew not.

Before he could think over this further, one of the mages he had first met last night, the one named Phebe, stepped up. "Oh, and I would like to go alone."

She was going to jump in blind? Gabriel wanted to know more about the options the trials offered. He spoke up, looking to Joseph as he did so. "Before anyone does anything... would it be possible to tell us a bit more about each of the categories? Like, what does it mean by moral, or goals, or 'broken'?" Hopefully learning more about the categories would help Gabe to make a decision on both whether or not he would take them on, and which option he would choose.

 

[UnusualStranger]

Joseph turned about, listening to the mages as they all seemed to have questions for him that seemed to all demand answers. He pondered for a moment, seeming to contemplate Phebe's move in particular towards the gate, especially as it seemed to shift as she moved to touch it, becomign a different style of door as she stood so incredibly close to the gate, which now had a much more firm existence...at least where Phebe stood so close. He first turned and nodded to Alexander, not quite understanding why he would need to chat about things from last evening, but decided he would humor him with..whatever it was.

"Course, I am more than willing to discuss....whatever it is you are wondering about. Not sure what I can do for you, but sure, why not...." Joseph started, then turning to Silvana.

"Hm? So, you do not see them either? I would guess not. No matter! You would have one follow you around all the same. They are different from what I am describing, but it is all I can think of calling them. Its a darker shade of what you are, but they are not quite like what you are. They react and do things differently, as if they are trying to become something like you, but not quite you. Thats the best I can do, since they never seem to answer my questions, the quiet things they are." Joseph said, finally turning to look at Phebe as she seemed to be in a rush. The Prime Minister had sat back down, shutting his eyes for a moment as if he needed a bit of a rest after the energy that was sent into the gate.

"Well, I will not be stopping you if you wish to go into the gateway. Just don't come blaming me for...whatever it is that happens in there. I just know some things, not much else, so if you come out all beaten up or missing something kinda important, it isn't on me for that stuff..." Joseph paused for a moment, thinking of the question before attempting an answer. "Well, I don't know really. Those are more names that I chose to put on them. They actually...well, they are presented to you in a different way, I think. My experiences don't match what....few others dared to talk to me about them. So maybe it won't make it like yours? But...to me anyways, the choices seemed relatively obvious, each with its own sign showing what each was largely dealing with. Choices, death, battle, broken things...it all made sense to me, so maybe the gateway will make sense by showing you something like that? What I know is that categories will...show you an element of you. Dealing with the word chosen in some form or another, if my own experiences gave any indicator of what happens where...."

He stepped over to the gateway next to Phebe now, seeming to glow more from his robes as he did so, the runes giving off new different glowing signs. Running a hand over a door, which seemed to change into less of a door, and more of a glowing wall of energy, different from what Phebe had for where she stood.

"Course, it is always the most interesting when you have to see yourself for what you are. The extremes you could go to, the people you could kill or fight over, and the worlds that you could burn just to win. Or maybe lose? Maybe you are given a shadow so that you can see another kind of reaction to what you have become...or are. It is probably like attacking yourself to see something different happen." Joseph was smiling now, seeming to be thinking about something else now.

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

Phebe saw the gate change into a door, but did not open it straight away. She listened to what Joseph said. Was her shadow going to come with her this time as well? She wasn't sure if she liked the thought or not, it hadn't tried to hurt her yet and maybe it would actually prove useful for once.

"That does sound exciting." She said, after Joseph had stopped talking. Phebe took a deep breath, put her hand against the door and pushed it open. The light coming from the gateway made it hard to see anything on the other side. Well, there was only one way to find out anyway. She stepped through it.