[4:04 PM] mystical person: The Haspain mountains basked beneath sunlight as light glossed over from the peaks to the hollows of its extensive range; the luminance illustrated a beautiful sheen across the mountain faces and cave entrances. Such an image comes rare to those living within the intramural of the mountains, as the sun would seldomly grace the inner verticals of the sierras. Lior knew this, as he had spent much time confined within the massif, but even after escaping he had never once watched the mountains chisel with shadows as the sun streaked across the mountains.
Upon entering a cave to seek shelter from the heat, the musician scaled the bedded limestone surface, his left palm placed flat against the cave's interior as he walked and glided his hand slowly across the textured wall. His fingers rhythmically danced at every natural bump and gap on the cave's weathered entrance hall. An image masked his vision as he saw the hand of his younger self smooth across the limestone, as well.
And I never imagined I'd be returning here after so many years...
Turning his chin towards the two silhouettes behind him, he asked, "I suppose this would be a proper place for rest? The two ladies must be very weary from the heat and walk."(edited)
[4:26 PM] Myrtenaster: Quickly accepting the offer of shade and cool, Artemis ducked into the cave after Lior, breathing a sigh of relief as the cool air of the cave hit her as she lowered the hood of her black cloak, "Moreso the heat than anything, truth be told. Still the rest would be much appreciated."
I forgot how...trying black is against heat.
The tactician leaned against the limestone wall, running a hand against the surface as she caught her breath. "Perhaps this should also be a proper place to explore, while we remain out of the heat? His Highness gave permission to do so, so long as we remain cautious."
[6:27 PM] Kwakado: With an outfit no more suited to the sun than her friend, and even daintier of a constitution, Persephone was just as eager to take shelter.
While their handsome guide preoccupied himself with a featureless limestone wall, Persephone seized the opportunity to put down her pretense for a few moments, gasping for air as softly as she could manage and frowning from behind the cave's dim veil.
"I don't imagine we'd find much beyond this point, fair or foul." The black blade of the Zweihander she'd kept on her back the whole way up finally came down as well, echoing grimly through the cave as it met with the cool floor.
"But even a fruitless search would make a pleasant break."
And the steadfast smile returned.
[11:28 AM] mystical person: Lior looked toward the cave's mouth: sunlight reaching far back its depths to leave much of the cavern's passage exposed. Vegetation and moss proliferated the ground of the entrance, and the flat rocks leading downward deeper into the cave were plated like stairs as if it were inviting them to its garden. Light penetrated through the ceilings even further back to lay bare a shallow body of water that expanded and grew deeper as it, too, stretched further until the party could see the zone where light did not dare extend to. It would be evident the twilight zone would dip downward with the body trailing with it into a waterfall as they got closer to hear the water splash amongst the lower rocks.
Lior gripped the straps of his own shoulder bag as he hoisted it over his shoulder. "Spelunking it is. I suppose I'll be leading this journey?"
[11:37 AM] Myrtenaster: "If you happen to be experienced with it?" Artemis glanced back at her best friend and then to Lior, "I'm aware that the caves in this region are vast but I don't have experience with spelunking, truth be told."
[11:41 AM] Kwakado: "We've nothing like this back in Floribar...It's as if we're looking into another world, hidden beneath the earth herself...." Persephone prepared to follow along, impressed by the sights ahead.
[11:44 AM] mystical person: Between the girls's discussion, Lior had already disappeared into the cave's waters, skipping across wet stones as his cloak's ends dyed bluer with the water dampening it.(edited)
[11:48 AM] Myrtenaster: Artemis blinked, moving to catch up, "Hey! You're the experienced one here, don't leave us behind!" Before following the path of stones Lior skipped across, though, the mage took off her cloak, carrying it in her hands as they traversed deeper into the cave.
"Do we even have a torch or anything?"
[11:57 AM] Kwakado: "This had better not be how you treat the ladies of your fatherland, bard!"
Persephone called out partly in jest as she tried to keep up, startled at the stranger's speed. Artemis's comments were nearly as concerning to her as the indefinite darkness ahead of them.
"It'll be troublesome if we can't even see. For us, at least."(edited)
[12:12 PM] Kwakado: Persephone gave a worried look to Artemis, and her teasing tone gave way to genuine concern "...sir Bard?"
[12:13 PM] mystical person: And Lior is no where to be seen; his own steps inaudible across the vast expansiveness.
[12:18 PM] Myrtenaster: "....what the hell." Artemis' tone was flat as she looked around the encroaching darkness. "I don't have fire magic so...no magic torch or anything like that from me."
"Anything along the walls or something, Seph? Then we can go find and hit that idiot bard."
[12:29 PM] Kwakado: "I can't quite tell from here, but it looks like we'll have the sun's guidance for...a little longer."
Persephone squinted into the subterranean twilight, unable to clearly spot anything up ahead that could solve their vision problem.
"But we shan't just leave him in there alone..."
She began to take a few cautious steps forward, clearly unused to traversing such uneven ground. It was a foolish decision to go on with no guarantee of proper lighting...but one of them had to make it, and she knew how much harder it would be for Artemis.(edited)
[12:44 PM] Myrtenaster: Artemis walked, one step in front of the other in small cautious steps, reaching her hand out in front of her to rest on the cave wall. "We won't. And besides, him going off on his own like this must means the bard's far more familiar with this than either of us." She rapped knuckle against the wall, "We can use this to keep ourselves orienteed and maybe find a torch along the way?"
[12:49 PM] Kwakado: "Splendid!" Persephone gave a smiling sigh, nodding resolutely toward both the woman and the wall, trusting in their combined guidance. But, looking ahead as they traveled, she couldn't help but feel curiosity mix with concern regarding the careless bard.
"Arty, could it be that our bard is blind? He doesn't seem to mind the darkness at all, and his eyes are hidden behind that daring mask..."(edited)
[12:59 PM] Myrtenaster: "...I'm pretty certain he's not?" Her tone belied her uncertainty when stating it however.
"Honestly, I'm not sure on much about him at all. He doesn't particularly care for fighting and yet he's here."
"Still, he seems to get around unknown and new environments just fine, as well. He might just be familiar with caves?"
[1:09 PM] Kwakado: "More familiar than he is with chivalry, at the least."
Persephone huffed indignantly, stopping for just a moment on a fluffy patch of moss to keep from losing her footing. Still no end in sight.
"That, or abandonment's gone into vogue in our absence."(edited)
[1:34 PM] Myrtenaster: The tactician let out a sharp laugh at the joke, "Who knows? Still, the impression Lior gives off is that he'd rather do the opposite of what everyone is expecting so this just might be his norm."
She tried to lean to see the path ahead of her friend, but failing, "Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary? I've only seen rock, limestone and moss."
[1:42 PM] Kwakado: "No flames or fools yet...but there might be another gap in the ceiling ahead? There's....." Persephone's tone dropped suddenly to a hushed, breathy whisper. "...heavens, is that..?"
The girl took a sudden step back to Artemis, catching herself just before a collision. "...Arty, I think they're....oh no...."
And she hurried ahead to confirm the sight, gripping Kyron's sword for dear life.
[1:46 PM] Myrtenaster: "...what?" Her hand immediately flew to her tome, Die For Me! as she stopped short, to avoid running into Seph, "What is it?" She leaned to see around her best friend.
[1:57 PM] Kwakado: Before them, and extending even further into the cave, were a startling number of skeletons. Most of them were of humans, but others were in a more canine form, while some of the piles were unrecognizable. The cause of all of these remains (whether they were of humans, animals, or...something) was entirely unseen.
"It's...dreadful. What is this wretched mockery of a tomb?"(edited)
[8:04 AM] Myrtenaster: "...the poor souls who lost their way in these caverns."
The mage had turned cold, not showing the strike of horror that had washed over her upon seeing the cavern.
"However, there is probably a torch around here. Let's find it, then Lior so we won't have to dally too long in this tomb of a cave."
[1:30 PM] Kwakado: Persephone waited a moment to take in Artemis's expression, ironically warming the girl's shaken heart in the midst of all this death.
"You're right...there must be something if so many came in here. Were it darker, a torch would be the only thing giving off light...so..."
She sighed in disgust at the ugly necessity of it.
"...we'd best follow the bones."
[10:11 AM] Myrtenaster: "...right." Artemis sighed, "Step around though. I'd rather not possibly disturb any vengeful spirits."
Really, in the past, she wouldn't have believed in such a thing, but...
This tome's proven otherwise. She ran a hand across the tome in her hand.
[2:50 PM] Kwakado: "O-oh!" Instinctively, Persephone's gaze shot down to her feet, relieved to find nothing but stone beneath them, before continuing on down the cavernous corridors. The concept of such sentiments lingering to haunt the earth was all too reasonable for the young romantic, who took care with every subsequent step not to draw any more ire from the departed.
But as enough time passed, her thoughts turned to the living, and their unmistakeable presence. Without turning back, she spoke aloud:
"...I'm so sorry about before, Arty. Back at Crimson Bridge..."
[4:46 PM] Myrtenaster: The tactician froze for a moment before shaking her head with a small smile, "...No need to apologize, Seph. That was a situation I wouldn't have wished on my worse enemy, much less my best friend."
"I want to know though. How are you now? Since you've had time to...process everything that's happened."
[9:08 PM] Kwakado: "But, Arty, I--"
She turned back to try to protest her friend's charity. Tried to tell her that it was more than a situation, that for a moment the bride-to-be had found herself wishing for Artemis to die.
But the small smile lying in wait had outflanked Persephone's argument, cutting her off just before she could even get to the point. Artemis had been there. She must have understood what had happened before her - and why Persephone had remained in isolation until today. An embarrassed, yet genuine, smile came back from her face, silently thanking her friend's mercy as she mulled over the question.
"-...It's so strange. For the longest time, I hated this war. Every day I'd dreamed of when it would finally run its course, and make way for the rest of my life. And yet now..."
Persephone's smile washed out into a grim, ironic grin, acknowledging the strange twist of her heart.
"Now, there's nothing I dread more."
[3:47 PM] Myrtenaster: "Right now, you can take your mind off things thanks to the fighting...no one is thinking of more past the fighting, right?"
Artemis quietly traced the rough surface of the cave wall, "It's what comes after, the recovery that's truly hard. We fight and fight, but how do we move on to peace after months of fighting to rebuild our lives, or rather, what's left of them? Am I right?"(edited)
[4:18 PM] Kwakado: A nervous nod followed her assessment. "I don't know if it reached your ears, but Kyron told me he'd slain Orfé. Just before I..."
She coughed, as if to clear her throat of lingering smoke. "Cawdor herself is in tatters. And there's no telling whether we'll find our fathers when we march on Ethysia....Combat casts a heavy shadow on us, but I've come to cherish that shade." She stepped out nervously onto a flattened floor, smoother than everything they've crossed until now.(edited)
[7:30 PM] Myrtenaster: "...what?" Artemis' shock caused her to pause realizing just the significance of Seph's words.
"...still, you're very right. The shadow is long and dark but now, we're approaching our home country, the time is nigh to step away from that shadow. No matter how much we want to stay in it." She sighed, "But we'll step out of it together, right?"
She took careful steps onto the smooth floor, "Watch for traps, Seph. Just in case."
[7:39 PM] Kwakado: "Traps? You don't think that..oh!!"
Persephone jumped back, spotting something like a thin iron tower extending from the stony surface. Just a little taller than the two of them, and no wider than the grip of their hand, the strange rod had at its top a small bowl full of dead grass.
"That's a trap, isn't it? Heavens, Arty, I think I just spotted it moving...!"
The debutante duellist raised her blade, ready for the worst to come.(edited)
[9:53 AM] Myrtenaster: "...that's more likely an unlit torch, Seph. The dead grass and handle give it away. Traps are usually switchs, depressions in the rocks, wires, things like that, dear."
Artemis giggled at her friend's spooked appearance. "You're rather spooked, aren't you?"
[11:50 AM] Kwakado: Persephone's response was quick and quivering, embarrassed about fearing the torch but no less spooked.
"What?! Not in the slightest - I'm completely composed--"
Then a dry, percussive echo came crackling across the cave, jolting the young lady's frame as it passed through. Letting out a sharp cry, Persephone let the greatsword fall on instinct. The result was a crack and a crunch to answer the echo, as the chopped torch fell to the floor.
With a sheepish look on her face, she turned back to her friend - after quickly checking the other directions.
"Ah, heavens...I'm hopelessly spooked."(edited)
[1:22 PM] Myrtenaster: Artemis giggled, "Do you want me to take point then? And you can control the light?"
She picked up the chopped torch, "I would say this is still usable...as long as we have some fire to light it."
"See anything in your frantic checking?"
[7:10 PM] Kwakado: "Perhaps? I haven't spotted any wires or depressions...but there's something rather civilized about the path ahead..."
Persephone squinted at the smoothed-out passageway going further into the cavern.
"I can hold the torch...would it be too much for you to use a bit of your thunder to light it?"
[12:29 PM] mystical person: Before Artemis could respond, the two hear slight echoes of stone and pebbles clouting the floors. The sound stops in unison with the girls's footsteps, the complete darkness and silence enwrapping them with consternation at the source of the echo.
[12:40 PM] Myrtenaster: Artemis jumped, glancing around, the idea of the torch leaving her, "Lior? Is that you, bard?"
Her hand was nervously on her tome, ready to act. These skeletons weren't here for no reason after all.
[12:49 PM] mystical person: The pebbles wake again, slightly beating the ground before the bones quietly rattle synchronously; their noise mimicking the clicking of heels tapping the floor as if footsteps were encroaching slowly towards the two.(edited)
[12:56 PM] Kwakado: "..someone's coming...!"
Persephone hurried from her place behind Artemis, stepping out slightly in front. "I d-demand you introduce yourself at once! We can hardly see in here!"(edited)
[1:08 PM] mystical person: Dim noises fall on their ears: contorted voices of children laughing, muffled shrieks amongst whispers and mumbles. They grow audibly louder as the footsteps draw nearer.
[1:12 PM] Myrtenaster: "Who is it?! Show yourself!" Artemis shouted, allowing the cave to carry her the echoes of the shout along.
[1:14 PM] mystical person: Mommy.. Daddy...
Hehehehe...
Where are you, Mary...
Oh gods oh gods oh gods oh gods...
One day I'm going to marry Peter...
Emilia... Don't go...
Save me...
The whispers get more distinguishable as the steps draw nearer, and the air chills with the mysterious presence.
[1:16 PM] Kwakado: "Arty....I don't understand, what is this!? There's so many voices..."
If the lady's terror wasn't clear before, it is entirely apparent from her wavering pitch.
[1:21 PM] mystical person: The bones end their rattle, the whispers fade, and the steps stop right infront of them. Silence steals their voice and breath immediately; the cold clutching their necks and jaws while a faint breath exudes between them.
[4:08 PM] Myrtenaster: Artemis freezes, realizing that her words wouldn't leave her throat. What the hell...
To herself, she cursed her lack of even a dagger. Externally, she took a step to give Seph room to swing her sword.
[4:19 PM] Kwakado: But Persephone did not strike - at least, not yet. She took a few moments trying to regain her breath - then clenched her every muscle, reasserting that this bizarre apparition hadn't claimed her whole body. Even so, watching Artemis step away from her was frightening - she could only hope it was by her own will - and Persephone jabbed her weapon carefully out into the space between them, desperate not to hit her friend in the process.
[10:19 AM] mystical person: Her sword lunged out to the unknown and struck nothing. The pitch-black ate away at her sword, obscuring it from Persephone's view from what little light was available in this passage. As the wielder's face grew in dismay, cold drafts grasped at their perturbation and bound the two girls from movement; arms of wraiths wrapped their hands and fingers across the girls's own, and the breathing drew to their ears once again.
"You are not my children."(edited)
[10:26 AM] mystical person: The cold phantasmal fingers gripped tighter against their skin, clenching more arduously at their torso, lungs, arms, legs as if the apparition attempted to choke and claim breath from both victims.
[10:29 AM] mystical person: "You aRe NOt mY ChiLDrEN!"
Raspy voices bellowed jointly as the pressure on the bodies intensified into harrowing pain.(edited)
[10:35 AM] mystical person: (Yeah, gonna just follow you guys into past tense, I guess...)
[9:26 PM] Kwakado: Persephone flailed helplessly in the apparition's arms, her face contorting into breathless gasps and silent screams. Even her vision failed her now, filled with terrified tears and spotting shapes in the shadows around them.
help me, she tried to mouth out to Arty. But what little she could still make out was a woman bound by the same waking nightmare. Neither strength nor study had any success in overcoming this force - but still she struggled, the phantom pains guiding her limbs in place of rational thoughts.
[12:48 PM] Myrtenaster: Artemis fought her instincts that screamed to just drop everything as the pain inflicted by the wraiths screamed over every sense, her hands clutching the storybook in her arms tightly. Her voice came out in gasps as she tried to form the words to cast, her body twisting as she tried to escape the grasps of whatever it was that surrounded them.
[1:48 PM] mystical person: The more they resisted, the more vain their attempts grew; the constraints pressed their lungs unyieldingly, and the breathing susurrated louder, laughter and shrieks filling the cave the closer the apparition came to seizing its victory over them.(edited)
[2:25 PM] mystical person: "What are you two doing?" A voice rang from behind Persephone and Artemis, footsteps emerging closer to them as light surfaced to their vision, a torch-bearer igniting the scene with his presence.
The apparition's shrieks came to an immediate halt before Lior's approach, the phantom wisping away into the shadows while leaving the girls to lose to exhaustion, no longer able to stand. Lior observed the two quizzically, "Are we.... examining scattered bones?"(edited)
[2:39 PM] Myrtenaster: Artemis panted, hands on her knees, as she tried to get her breath back. "W-where the hell were you?"
What the hell was that...
[2:51 PM] mystical person: "Oh, Miss Sorine, we're you in search for me? I thought it'd be better if we segregated to explore more of the cave in a shorter time." The bard dismissed her obscenity with a quiet laughter and smile. He gazed back at the bones again, "....Though it seems your exploration was rather unfortunate and fruitless..."
[2:57 PM] Kwakado: "*Unfortunate?!" Persephone staggered forward, still reeling from the apparition's assault.
"We nearly lost our wits, nay, our lives to an unspeakable horror lurking in this cave!"
She spoke through gasps, trying (and failing) to regain any sense of composure.
"There's hardly room in a lady's heart to fear for ourselves and our escort at once, you segregating imbecile..."(edited)
[3:12 PM] mystical person: Startled at Persephone's outburst, Lior shied back one step with hands out chest level, eyes looking at both the girls in confusion with an awkward smile. The tinge of guilt hit him as he heard Persephone's last word.
"Um, I am not sure what transpired here, but I will apologize for my sudden absence: I am an impatient man when it comes to exploration..."
[3:14 PM] mystical person: "...Are the two ladies well....?" His expression grew into one of concern as he started to notice both women's fatigue.(edited)
[3:18 PM] Myrtenaster: "J-just give me a moment or so." She staved off the headache she felt coming with two fingers rubbing at her temple. "...please don't run off next time. Especially if you're with others."
"I have enough of encounters with the supernatural with Die for Me as is..."
[3:19 PM] mystical person: That is most certainly an awkward name for a book. Lior thought to himself.
[3:20 PM] Kwakado: "I can't say..." Persephone leaned on her sword, slowly regaining her balance. "...Something was present with us...or many....Sir Bard, just what is this wretched place?"
[3:26 PM] mystical person: "Are you implying there are ghosts traversing these caves, Miss Persephone?"
[3:27 PM] Myrtenaster: "Some malevolent spirit most certainly is."
[3:27 PM] Kwakado: A timid nod backed up Arty's words.
[3:27 PM] mystical person: The bard looked at both his comrades with wide eyes.
[3:28 PM] mystical person: Then he broke the silence with a large snort before resounding the cavern with laughter, in tears with his hand covering his mouth in a desperate attempt to hide his amusement.
[3:32 PM] Myrtenaster: The thunder mage growled, indignant, "What the hell is so funny?"
[3:34 PM] Kwakado: Persephone cringed at Lior's callous attitude regarding the malevolent spirits. "Open your eyes, knave! Look at the bones!"
[3:39 PM] mystical person: "Oh you ladies are too much, ah ha ha ha ha!" Lior continuously bursted in laughter, wiping tears away as he checked for breath. "Ghosts, they say!"
[3:43 PM] mystical person: Relieving himself of laughter, Lior clutched his now burning sides as he lifted himself up to face the glares of the two again, "Ah ha ha ha.... Yes, ghosts, I'm sure they've come to tickle your feet and nibble on your toes!"(edited)
[3:50 PM] Kwakado: Persephonne's posture shrank, increasingly unsettled by his jokes. That he refused to believe them was frustrating enough, but her concern for their safety dwarfed such annnoyances. Her voice followed suit, much softer compared to its earlier shouting.
"Please, bard...hold your tongue. At least until we've escaped from here..."(edited)
[4:09 PM] mystical person: "Oh, but we have only just begun!" Lior took his torch and marched forward deeper into the cave with confidence radiating from him as he waited for the girls to follow. "We've only grazed the surface; these caves expand for leagues and often hold valuable treasure!"
[4:11 PM] Myrtenaster: Artemis sighed, glancing over at her best friend, "Just what else have you seen in this cave, Lior?"
[4:12 PM] Myrtenaster: "Since you were so eager to run ahead of us."
[4:12 PM] mystical person: "Literally, fruits."
[4:12 PM] mystical person: He gleamed back at Artemis with a chuckle, "My expedition was quite fruitful compared to yours."
[4:14 PM] Kwakado: Persephone screamed internally for a few moments before standing up.
[4:15 PM] Myrtenaster: The tactician let out a long-suffering groan. This bard is a fool.
"Share the fire from your torch with us? Just in case you end up disappearing again."
[4:22 PM] mystical person: "I promise I won't stray anymore; someone has to protect such adorable girls from ghosts, after all." He winked, lighting two more torches for the others before moving onward into the darkness.(edited)
[4:25 PM] Kwakado: "Y-you...shameless..!"
The internal screaming was a faint bit more audible this time. Persephone carried on, her fatigue giving way to anxious energy that kept her upright. She kept close to Artemis, glancing behind and beside almost constantly.
[4:28 PM] Myrtenaster: I'd really like to introduce him to a ghost... The hand holding Equona's sacred tome twitched for a moment as she took one of the torches into her other hand.
"Any ideas on how deep this cave goes, since you seem to be the oh so knowledgable one here." Sarcasm seeped through her last words.(edited)
[4:35 PM] mystical person: "Probably 20 leagues or so. Roughly half a stade downward descent. Haspia's lowest levels are through these mountains, and some reach beyond the sea's surface, where it gets rather dangerous."
[4:36 PM] mystical person: (That's 80 miles long, 303 feet deep)
[4:41 PM] Myrtenaster: "We are not going that deep." Artemis was adamant on that fact.
[4:43 PM] mystical person: "Oh, cheer yourself, Miss Sorine, we can't go that deep. We will be blocked by water."
[4:47 PM] Myrtenaster: "Right. Right. Just how deep do you intend to go then?"
[4:53 PM] mystical person: "A league, no more. I've already scouted ahead and found some interesting finds."
Lior looked back at the two and their waning expressions. He stopped himself before taking his backpack off and sitting down in front of them in the openness of the chamber.
The lights dimly illuminated the entire area surrounding them, and the only noise came from Lior scrimmaging into his bag to fetch petite jar after jar of interesting mixtures and some flat bread. One small jar encapsulated an orange paste, another holding red cream over small cuts of meat, the third with balls of white cheese, and the last with rice.
[4:53 PM] mystical person: "I'm sure both ladies are quite tired; care to join me in a small meal before venturing forward?"(edited)
[4:57 PM] Kwakado: "It's rather rustic, even for a place like this..." Persephone's face hardly waxed at the offer, but she eventually knelt across from him with a small sigh. "But kind of you, nonetheless. I accept, sir."
She eyed the jar of meat with some curiosity, but waited for the meal to begin in earnest.(edited)
[4:58 PM] Myrtenaster: "I accept too..." Artemis sat, her cloak under her legs.
"May I ask what it is that you've set out here?"
[4:59 PM] mystical person: Lior offered flatbreads to the two before pointing at each jar in respective order, "That's chili hummus, chicken curry, smooth cheese balls, and rice."(edited)
[5:01 PM] mystical person: The bard looked at the cheese container again with an inquisitive look, scratching his head, "I believe the lady told me it was cheese made from buffalo milk, which I must say is delicious."
[5:02 PM] mystical person: What was it called again....?
[5:02 PM] mystical person: Lior tries to mumble to himself the pronunciation of the ingredient, "Mot... motorola?"(edited)
[5:05 PM] Kwakado: "And just who was this lady? Don't tell me she prepared this all for you...." Despite her suspicions, Persephone took the bread from the roguish raconteur, nibbling gingerly on it.
[5:12 PM] mystical person: "More or less: people have kindly offered me food for my travels. These were provisions from the most recent village we visited." Lior, too, dug a small portion of his bread into the hummus before biting into the savory texture of the finely grounded roasted chili with the milky smooth mixture of lime juice and garbanzo beans.(edited)
[5:13 PM] Myrtenaster: "From the village where we're staying? Just what did you do to get treated like this?"
"Hmm..." Artemis tore a small piece of the flatbread, nibbling on it as she looked over the spreads. "Do you happen to have a favorite amongst what you've laid out?"
[5:17 PM] mystical person: He licked his thumb from any residue of the hummus before pushing the container with the mozzarella balls towards her, "These are unworldly; I assure you that you've never had these before. Buffalo milk is hard to come by, and I never had the chance to have them until yesterday."
[5:21 PM] Kwakado: "So these are all from the savages...." Persephone nods, with more contempt in her words alone than in their tone. "I should have guessed. Might you pass some of the chicken...err..." Persephone struggled to recall the dish's name.
[5:22 PM] Myrtenaster: She hesitantly took one of the mozzarella balls, wrapping it in a torn pieces of the flat bread.
The tactician hardly hesitated after that though, hearing the quiet grumbles of her stomach. Blushing from hearing it, she bit down into the small wrap she had created. Her eyes widened, the silky smooth texture of the cheese shining through.
[5:29 PM] Kwakado: "Yes, that's the one--"
Persephone's attention turned to her friend's intense reaction to the alien cheese.
"Arty, are you ill? What is it?" Her voice seemed to leap defensively from her mouth, all too ready for another subterranean threat.
[5:33 PM] Myrtenaster: She shook her head, swallowing the bite in her mouth. "No, no. Just my first time trying this cheese. Didn't expect something so out there to be this good."
She pushed the container to Seph, "Try it."
[5:39 PM] Kwakado: "..Yes, of course..what a treat."
With an embarrassed giggle, she took the jar, trying a taste of it for herself. An equally bright expression erupted from her face.
"Oh! Such a handsome flavor....How do they do that?" She handed the container back approvingly.(edited)
[5:42 PM] mystical person: "She explained it as using dairy that easily expands and stretches under very hot water. She kneads curd after they've been treated." The bard followed suit and took a ball of cheese for himself.(edited)
[5:53 PM] Myrtenaster: "I see..." Artemis quietly commented, before using bread to take some curry and biting into it.
...did not expect that kick.
[5:59 PM] Kwakado: "Buffalo, those were the mighty beasts we saw on the way here? I would have thought their bounty crueler, than this." Persephone dipped her bread into the paste, taking a bolder bite than before. The fine texture proved calming, and she sat just a little shorter, more relaxed.(edited)
[4:00 PM] mystical person: "Even countrymen enjoy refined tastes; it's not and shouldn't be exclusive to royalty." Lior leans back on his bag as he observes the two in silence, warming himself agains the fires of the torch leaning amongst each other on the ground.
[5:41 PM] Kwakado: The sheltered noble took another gulp of the meal, tipping her chin as the unfamiliar flavors went down.
"Mm, how fascinating...." Looking into the crossed torches, Persephone thought back to her last experience with tribal tastes, one that was at an much colder fire.
"That Axefighter of ours, Terra... She came to me with questions on our fashion. I thought it silly to help with a Haspien's hair, but now I find myself just as attracted to their achievements."
[6:34 PM] Myrtenaster: "Every country and even cities have their own delicacies. It's just about taking advantage of them when you visit..." Artemis commented, taking a bit of the hummus with bread.
"I'd say that you don't really understand just what's so great about all the different cultures until you can actually travel and visit those cultures."
[11:07 PM] Kwakado: "Well, there must be a better place than this for such encounters."
Grinning eyes, and a faint pout underlined her complaints - a sign that she was starting to recover in earnest from her earlier shock.
"And I could have done without meeting so many of the locals' arrows."
[9:49 AM] mystical person: "Well, survive those arrows, we did," Lior snaps his fingers, pointing in concordance at Persephone.
"Tell me, what were the ladies doing before joining this escapade? I only arrived to the scene to reach Haspia, but alas I've grown fond of the company, so I'll make my stay for just a while longer."
[12:37 PM] Myrtenaster: "Do you mean before traveling with his highness?" Artemis looked at Lior with a curious expression, "I'd still been with Floribar, assisting with the war efforts in any way I could."
[8:03 PM] Kwakado: Persephone chose her words carefully, not wanting to dredge up old memories - especially in the face of this jester.
"For women of our station, this matter goes far beyond a simple escapade. Floribar is our demesne and our duty, and the burden of protecting her lies chiefly with us...whether we may grow fond, or forlorn."
But it was clear from the lady's drifting tone, and the shrinking violet eyes gazing down Lior's finger, that the latter temperament held true for her. The war's continuing burdens notwithstanding, there was something about this mysterious Bard and his impertinent panache that was unsettling in its familiarity, like a ghost lurking behind that trendy mask. She wasn't sure what to make of it.(edited)
[3:47 PM] mystical person: (Apparently we're fast forwarding, zoooooooom)
Lior stood up, patted his bottom before picking and handing each of their torches back to the ladies. Packing up the food they ate, he commented about how fun it was to relax and talk to them with a sweet voice.
With more joy and confidence in knowing neither girls were about to kill him for his previous infraction by leaving them behind, he commenced back to the route with a steady pace for both girls to follow, deeper into the cave until the party noticed a thin glow of light exuding from the other depth. The same faint whispers that had assaulted Persephone and Artemis emanated from the origin of light, but Lior thought nothing of it as he confidently marched forward.(edited)
[3:48 PM] mystical person: He hummed a little as he strided towards the small entrance within the cave, brushing past the rocks covered in ancient runes and petroglyphs that clearly insinuated mystical danger awaited them: multiple horrifying visages were carved onto the rocks, and oddly detailed geometric shapes covered the entirety of the entrance.(edited)
[10:58 AM] mystical person: He poked his head out of the entrance, "YOU LADIES COMING???"
[10:58 AM] mystical person: An awful long silence.
[10:59 AM] mystical person: "OK."
[10:59 AM] mystical person:
Leo enters the cavern and obtains an old ass instrument.
[11:02 AM] mystical person: The bard walked out with a lyre in arm, looking at the still frozen girls standing at the entrance.
"...Alright, let's roll."
[11:04 AM] Kwakado: The moment the light's haunting whispers crossed her ears, Persephone froze in place - as if the spectral hands from before had reestablished their deathgrip on her. She could make out some of the shapes behind Lior's exasperated expression, just as hard on her eyes as the sounds flowing from them.
But before she could call out, or protest his reckless intrusion, the bard was back. Unharmed, it would seem.
"....You, just....took that? From in there?"
[11:16 AM] mystical person: With a grin, he hoisted the lyre and responded with charm, "No, dear Persephone, it was always mine to reclaim."
[11:17 AM] Myrtenaster: "Yours to reclaim?" Artemis looked over the lyre in the bard's hands, "...what is that?"
[11:19 AM] Kwakado: "Are you certain we should be taking something like that?" Persephone folded her shivering arms in front of her. "That chamber's brimming with warnings. Couldn't you hear the whispers within?"
[10:38 PM] mystical person: Lior shrugs, "What is there to worry about, dearest ladies?"
[3:56 PM] Kwakado: The "dearest lady" shook her head, unamused even as she accepted his uncanny confidence.
"Whatever the matter, it's well beyond your concern." Persephone turned to Artemis with a softer, higher voice, but not out of earshot by any means.
"Heavens, it's as if he's trying to drive our wits out."
[5:58 PM] mystical person: Lior smiles as he hands a few baskets of assorted fruits to Perseophone, turns from the two, and marches away from the cavern towards the exit, "Those are a gift from me; I found a small patch of growing vegetation nearby the exiting as the entrance to the tunnel junctions into two. Lest the two girls wish to remain with the wraithful ghost of the cave and soil their pants, we can return to said patch and acquire more than just a man's handful of veggies and fruits.
"But my job here is done; I've scavanged a beautiful new instrument to play and gathered enough provisions for us to munch on. I will remain a guide for the terror-stricken ladies."
He winks smuggly at the two.(edited)
[8:38 PM] Myrtenaster: Artemis looked over the veggies for a moment before glaring at Lior, "Why can't you stop being such an ass, bard?"
[8:56 PM] Kwakado: "Oh, he's simply...misinformed."
Persephone stepped forward with a mocking smirk.
"The poor fool's heard some wayward rumor of Floribar's flowers, that we lack the will to resist this kind of injury. That we've no choice but to let him..drag us here and there, with gifts and ghosts and..!"
With a huff, she turned her head sharply, sending her hair flying in a dramatic flourish.
"The terror-stricken lady is leaving. Without your help."
And she stormed off far too fast, turning a corner.(edited)
[10:57 PM] Myrtenaster: Artemis looked in the direction her dramatic best friend had stormed off before giving a small sigh, "Well, Seph made her point clear. We'll be just fine without you I think. Better off even! Bye!"
And with her torch, she dashed, rounding the same corner Persephone did.
[11:08 PM] mystical person: Lior looks at the two figures blitzing to the opposite direction of the exit, completely baffled by their outburst and dejection of assistance to save face and pride.
As the two fade into darkness, he coughs and waits. Surely they weren't so aloof as to abandon their only navigation out...?
"...They're aiming to get lost again, aren't they...?"
The bard palms his face and mask, sighing as he heads to follow the two deeper into the cave.
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