#Phaelastra

[aellesaan]

Wanderings in Mac’Aree: The Final piece.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

At the base of the pedestal the following was written in Argussian, an ancient old dialect: "I get cut, but I never bleed. I have teeth, but I don’t bite. I get put on a ring, but I’m not a diamond. I get turned, but I’m not a page." Beside this inscription was a round metal ring, looking remarkably familiar as the other projectors the Construct had used, this one only containing a button, perhaps a summon in case they got stuck?

Ash was the first to the pedestal which held the key, followed by a bouncy Aellesaan, but it was clear that he had no idea what this strange writing said. He stood there, scratching his head for a moment, looking at the weird chicken scratch, but was unable to decipher it. He looks back to Aellesaan and raises a brow "You have any idea what this nonsense is?" He points at the writing, then his eyes fall to the button, and his eyes light up. "Oooh, I wonder what this does..." Ash , not knowing if it was some sort of self destruct button, not really having paid attention to much of what the emotionally sensitive can opener had said before, besides the fact that it seemed very quick to anger and sounded more like a five year old throwing a tantrum than any real threat, presses the button rapid fire, mashing down on it as if he had hoped it was a call button for food service.

As Ash mashed down the button, Aellesaan patiently waited. "I wonder if there is food after this for a reward. I want a burrito right now; preferably a roasted orc burrito. Have you ever had orc before? Tastes quite delicious." Realizing she was rambling, yet again, she looked at the other Draenei. "Any of you old folk know how to read this scribbly mess?"

Ashaar grinned at Aellesaan and nodded.” That's what I was hoping, actually. I hoped this was some sort of food call button, maybe they'd give us some food for being so patient and awesome." Food was all he really had on his mind since dropping his sandwich, and his grumbling stomach was certainly making a fuss. He mashed the button a few more times, looking at the circle with a furrowed brow "Come on, you hulking mass of mechanical ignorance, give us snacks!"

If that button had of been a destruction button or in any way dangerous well oh boyyyy lets just say Ash would not have had a great day oh no not at all. As it were, it was lucky for him it was not dangerous, and it didn't seem to do much of anything yet besides emitting a glow a pattern which emitted onto the pad that seemed insignificant so far. Epilvik blinked at Aellesaan shaking his head in surprise. "Wait.. orc burritos? like orc meat.. it tastes nice.. really? But they are filthy animals... hardly better than a rapid dog... I’m very surprised, though pleased at the same time as well. Least they serve one decent purpose, and better yet they have to be dead to do it." Epilvik commented morbidly, as unaware as the others of how to read the script, so he watched to see what the pad would do. They certainly didn't get snacks, not even close, instead... it was their favourite mechanical construct as it blinked into existence, seemingly having been disturbed from whatever it was doing. "What the- oh it’s you again... and you’re all wet," It said laughing hysterically in amusement as it looked at Ash, though it stopped haltingly as it looked to Aelle. "Well you made it through. You guessed right, but you got dumped on, and very well. Guess my help would have been useful, huh?" it questioned with immense satisfaction. "So now I bet you want me to read that puzzle for you huh? Well well well... give me one good reason why I should do so?" He said nearly ready to leave this group stuck in this place.

Aellesaan smiled kindly at him, and waved. "Hello again dear old friend. I must say, thank you immensely for your guidance. I have heard a saying before: Two heads are better than one. It was a pleasure to work with you on this. However, would you be so kind as to teach me what this script says? I do love learning, especially from a handsome fella as yourself. Your armour is so nicely cleaned and shined." Her kind words, plus being in a wet t-shirt should work on him she hoped. Isn't that what all men wanted? She wondered.

Ash frowned as the only thing that appeared in the circle was that annoying construct. "Great, this asshole again. Don't you have a scrap heap convention to get to? You better have brought some fucking snacks, you cantankerous, bug-ridden vending machine." He was having fun coming up with new, and inventive insults for the arrogant chuck of scrap metal, whether or not it was helping their cause. He looked at Aellesaan with a raised brow, and half a grin "Seriously? Gonna try charming the can opener?" He gives a bit of a shrug, and looks at the Curator "Hey, tell us what that says, and she'll show you her boobs." He hoped that would work, after all, the thing did seem to have a bit of a crush on the spunky space goat. He waited patiently for the construct to reply, hoping it wasn't some dumb riddle again.

Aellesaan glared at Ash angrily. "My breasts are mine not yours. Watch yourself before you end up with frozen limbs you dim witted goat faced Draenei! Go grow your own pair of tits," she said with a huff.

Ash's face went blank as Aelle yelled at him; a slight pout formed on his lips as he blinked a few times at her. He turned back to the construct and glared. "See what you did? You made me upset her! You should be ashamed of yourself, you defective trash compactor!" He huffs and gives Aelle a nod, like he had just fixed things.

"Oh, for crying out loud, here!" Kairyth finally snaped, looking up from where she'd been studying the writing. Her lips moved soundlessly as she squinted and puzzled over the archaic writing. She reached into one of the many pouches at her belt and shoves a desiccated strip of... something... at Ash. "Eat this, it's good for you. " The something, should Ash be bold enough to try it, would prove to be smoked and dried clefthoof of a sort many Rangari carried on their person -  flavorful despite its unappetizing appearance, and sufficient to keep one's teeth busy and the worst of hunger pangs at bay for a time. With a huff, and ignoring Aeiia's pleased exclamations over her "generosity," Kairyth turns back to the writing. "My Pop made me learn... hmmm. Been a while..." She stops, looking blank. "I'm almost certain this says "teeth." Something about teeth. Or cactus. And this one here," She taped the writing with one stained fingertip. "Blood. Or bleeding. Or possibly uh... juice?" She sat back on her hooves with a groan, swiping water from her face irritably. She took a long drink from her second-best flask. "Well this is useless."

If the construct could beam properly, it likely would at the pretty Draenic ladies words. The construct turned to address her properly, so far being the only one there that has cared anything about him, and that treated him with even a modicum of the immense respect he considered himself entitled to. "Least there is one amongst you who sees greatness before you. Why can't the rest of you be like her? She at least was clearly raised right!" He commented huffily to the others as Aellesaan flirted with him openly, enjoying the compliments that she paid him. Unfortunatly before he had an opportunity to respond to Aellesaan, good ol Ash butted in again with the insults. The construct immediately swung its fury toward him; reached out as it flicked the man on the nose... hard. "Oi deaf prick... haven't you learnt by now insulting those you need help from isn't of value?" It questioned him rhetorically with a  voice full of loathing for the man. He tilted his head though at Ash's suggestion. "Oh is she now.. well... huh.... hmm..." The curator responded going silent as if seriously contemplating that offer before he noticed Aellesaan angrily responded to Ash, looking near ready to hit the man in the face. He made a soft chuckling noise at seeing someone else put him down.

"See what I did? It was you who were dumb enough to open your mouth unable to keep it in your pants! Just because you can’t appreciate what you already have, with her before you in a wet shirt, you had to try pushing it. Don’t you try pushing that on me now bucko, oh no no no, you’re just a dim witted little man,” It responded back huffily bending to look straight on at him, acting every bit like two males fighting over the same female, and indeed that is what it was, after all beyond being in a construct he was indeed a Draenic male. He watched as one of the wild people angrily stalked over to Ash and threw some sort of food at him and bossed him around quite maternally it seemed. Was it his mother? Truthfully the construct couldn’t give a shit. Kairyth would get a few of the words right, but nowhere near enough to learn the full riddle. "Hmm you got a few words... but oh my my my... you are never going to guess the answer like that, and you only have three guesses before your sealed in here forever, so you better think through it," It told them smugly satisfied in its superior knowledge. "My Light, how do they not teach you language nowadays? Young people, humpf."

Though clearly pleased to see that Kairyth had shared something - anything - Aeiia is also wet and cold and verging on grumpy - none of which suits her temperament. Perhaps that's why, though she smiles sweetly as ever at the construct, her words are laced with salt. "There is no inherent virtue in being old, you know. It simply takes a long time." She turns her attention to the Rangari she'd purportedly feared for decades. "If your lessons under your father's tutelage were anything like mine..." She shudders, forcibly shaking off the memory and composing her features carefully. "The knowledge is there, you must simply find it." She sighed sadly, looking from Kairyth, to the inscription, to the ball of Light in her palm. "This will hurt." "What do--" but the words died on Kairyth's lips, fading to a whimper and then a near-howl of pain as, moving swiftly - more swiftly than Kairyth would have thought her able - Aeiia pushed her palm flat against the words, and clasped her own hand to the scarred tattoo on Kairyth's shoulder. Aeiia's jaw snapped shut with an audible crack of teeth against teeth and the ball of Light in her free hand shuddered violently, twisting and contorting into meaningless shapes, runes, and figures with increasing speed. This continued for several long moments - the kneeling Rangari's screams echoed from the chamber walls, Aeiia's muscles were rigid, until suddenly, abruptly, it ceased. Kairyth's fury was palpable as she wrenched her hand away from the writing, swiping angrily at the trickle of bright blue blood from her nose. "I still can't even read it, you bitch!" She snapped, then stared, open-mouthed. Aeiia gasped for breath, panting sharply. "Mind magic..." she whispered with a moue of distaste. But there, gleaming brightly an inch above her palm, was the shining but unmistakable image of a key.

Ash rubbed his temple a bit as people around him began bickering, possibly a headache from lack of food, possibly from the bickering, but he gladly accepted the jerky from Kairyth, not questioning what it was, simply devouring it. After chewing for what seemed like five minutes, holding a finger up to the construct to let it know he was about to speak again, he swallowed the jerky, and tilted his head a bit to look back at the Curator. "Fine, I will try to be nice, as long as you stop being a complete dick. Deal?" He puts his hand out to shake the construct's hand, but leans forward with a glare. "But let me make one thing abundantly clear...you ever fucking flick me again, and I will toss your rusty metal ass onto one of those sun tiles and watch you melt, you got me?"

Soaking wet, and beginning to feel slightly grumpy, Aellesaan watched the chaos begin to unfold before her. She highly disliked encountering so many loud noises, and the screaming on top of it, made her curl in on her self. Memories of her childhood began to trickle through her mind which left her a curled up, shaking mess. She desperately found a wall, and sat against it, humming to herself to block out the images. She might as well rest while everyone else tried to figure out the scribbles.

Whilst all of this madness had continued on, Danarshi refused to move from the spot in which he landed from scaling the rung course - at least not until he had caught his breath and recovered from his efforts; lazy old fool. As his companions crossed the course of engraved tiles, he simply watched them, learning the answer via the easy way, again; sly reprobate. Although they were rather distant, he could roughly hear the exchange, that of which was consumed by obvious confusion, and then overridden by the blood-curdling screams of Kairyth. At that moment, Danarshi shot up on to his hooves and raced across the tiles, his robes were now utterly drenched from head to toe from the gallons of water that poured down upon him, like the wrath of the titans themselves. The Anchorite stood before the group, awkwardly, water audibly and visibly dripping down on to the stone floor beneath him. "Forgive me for the delay. What did I miss?" he suddenly inquired. So far, he had proved himself as quite the dead weight.

The construct turned its annoyance to a second female, looking bored towards her. "Hm.. something a child would comment, how appropriate considering..." He commented making a sound of what would have amounted to a yawn though watched in interest at the idea of one of the Draenei hurting another. He jumped, startled, as would Epilvik and Rhuua, as Aeiia's action surprised and horrified them with what she was doing, so callously injuring and harming another of their party. Even if she was a rude grumpy butt, and it wasn't fleeting pain either, but the screaming continued, lasting and going on and on as Aeiia must have probed Kairyth's mind for the answers she desired. The anger and fury of Kairyth was palpable when Aeiia finally released her, the Construct assumed the other girl would try and kill this Draenei for what had clearly been a horrifically painful experience. However he noticed Aeiia's hand and the shape glowing above it. "What the fuck... how the ... damn," It commented with a sigh, saddened by the development.

It looked down at Ash when the Vindicator approached it and offered him friendship, making him wait as if considering it for several minutes. "Fine... I guess I can tolerate you, for the time I need to put up with you, but you better behave yourself in the future. Also the idea of you tossing me is laughable... this frame is extraordinarily heavy," It said amused at the thought this provoked.

The rest of the group or any who were looking would be able to witness the glass container slowly sliding into the floor, revealing now suspended, seemingly just in the air, the solid piece of ruby, intricately and ornately carved and shaped. The entire length seemed to serve a purpose from the regular teeth part of the key to the elaborate hilt of it too. The final piece they required to unlock the Vault of Archimonde; where they could then seize the scepter that they had been seeking. The trials and tribulations finally over, having gathered all three items they needed to complete the unlocking sequence. It was then however that a disembodied voice, soft, almost whispering, almost as if it was in their very heads, both there, and then not there, as it spoke to them, "Do not go any further. What you seek will take your very souls. Don’t fall like so many others before you. He wants you to take it." Before it fell silent, it would answer no more from them, as the Construct looked to them. "Well well well... Looks like you succeed, guess now all that’s left is for you to delve into the vault at the great university." He commented casually.

Danarshi's inquiry had almost immediately answered itself as the glass casing around the ruby key slid away, leaving their prize for the taking, or so it seemed. As the mysterious voice filled their minds in warning, concern was quick to seep into the veins of Danarshi. Whilst he struggled to determine the source of the message, suspecting that it may, perhaps, be Shadow, or Arcane magic, he mustered a mighty breath and then stepped forward, towards the key. "Wait. Something is amiss," the Anchorite warned his companions. He stood in front of the key to ensure they could not take it. "It is due to the efforts of you, and you only, that we have survived this labyrinth, my brothers and sisters. Please, allow the burden of seizing the key to be my own. If the worse shall come to pass, at least it will have been I who shielded you all from it." Danarshi insisted in a somber tone. Allowing his companions barely a matter of seconds to try and stop him, he turned himself towards the ruby key and lifted his right arm, courageously grasping it within his right hand. As his hand encased the key, he closed his eyes and focused upon the inner Light within him, hoping that it would be enough to shield him if something were to occur.

The majority of this time, Phaelastra had kept to the shadows as much as possible - quietly following the group's lead. However... at Danarshi's comment, she slowly took the bow off her back, her free hand ready to arm it with an arrow. Her breaths were slow and even; however, every muscle remained tense. While she may not be in the center of the gathering, she could at least hopefully prevent something from happening if her rangari senses are able to pick up on them.

Danarshi, all the ceremony and bravery that he showed, his willingness to put himself into danger and sacrifice himself should it have been necessary, willfully placing himself between his people and a danger that he did perceive. However... it was for naught, he grasped the key, lifted the key, and it came away smoothly of whatever gravity well it had been in, becoming a regular key in his hand. Albeit considering what it was made of, extremely heavy, but they had completed the task, the key was secure, and they were all alive and safe. The Construct tapped its foot loudly. "If you people are well and truly finished, you can all gather here. There is no way back but through this teleport. If you  don’t come with the group, you’ll be stuck here and I am NOT making multiple trips, so get your butts over here. You can celebrate and exalt one another after I get to leave," It complained reminding them of its presence.

Aellesaan having quieted herself down from the previous chaos and screaming, shuffled over to the construct. The whole adventure had hit her, and she felt tired, hungry, and grumpy. She would still of course, be humming to herself with an odd smile on her face.

#Aellesaan #Te'Amun #Danarshi #Epilvik #Aeiia #Kairyth #Phaelastra #Mac'Aree #RP #Wanderings in Mac'Aree #Part five #Aelle #Draenei #Ashaar #Rhuua

[samtheowl96]

Commission for my guildie Phaelastra, and friend of @aellesaan. Done by Lunaros

#Phaelastra #Lunaros

[kyphaz]

Phaelastra

Commission for the lovely @rider-of-theodyn <3 

#Draenei #Pregnant #world of warcraft #warcraft art #Commission

[aellesaan]

Wanderings in Mac’Aree: Part One.

Part two

(Warning: Very long, but worthwhile read.)

It was the third time Te'Amun had been summoned by the Justicar and the Lightwarden to the streets of Mac'aree. The enourmity of the Univesity district was now mostly passified by their previous adventures as well as the efforts and skills of the Army of the Light who was meticulously cleaning up and carving a swathe across the scarred and hardened land that their people once called home. It was here amongst several tall buildings, skyscrapers as they could be described created seemingly out of a rich pearly white marble towering into the skies, their bodies glittering in the light of the sun, sparkling almost as if jewels had been inlaid in the surface, that the members of Te'Amun and those sworn to its service arrived. They would be greeted with the familiar sight of the curator. Obviously someone had "encouraged" it to come along to lend what it called ‘aid’ to the group, after all even if it was an asshole, at least it did know what it was doing and could provide some advice on the matter at hand. Interestingly enough it appeared that Rhuua and Justicar Epilvik, the leaders of Te’Amun, stood just in front of a large double doorway to one of the many towers; seemingly no different than the others, except this one they had propped open with several large stones, the murky darkness inside seeming to eat away the light. Two enormous dire-wolves stood on either side of Rhuua and Epilvik, legs bent as they looked into it, almost as if protecting their masters from whatever danger it was that laid inside the building.

A quiet rangari Draenei, Phaelastra, ominously appeared out of the shadows, Her lanky, sinewy muscles clad in the traditional rangari armour of Draenor. She took in their surroundings, her breaths silent behind her mask. With careful hoof steps, she made her way to Rhuaa's side (or rather, the side of the wolf next to Rhuaa - allowing the beast to gain her scent) and gave the other wolf a nod of acknowledgement. No words were spoken, out of caution.

Akaepi, a rangari as well, dipped her head, a small and respectful bow offered to the pair before her as she arrived. Her usual beast of burden, a hydra, lurked at her heels with three heads looming over the Rangari. Surveying the immediate area before settling with little more than a quiet hiss. A hand lifts in greeting to Phaelastra, regarding her for a moment then attention flickering back towards Rhuua and Epilvik. Her blue eyed hues scanned the immediate area to take note of any others approaching.

The quiet, eerie silence was broken by a sing-song voice, and the rhythmic skipping of hooves, gradually getting louder. "1,2... it's coming for you 3,4... better lock your door 5,6... grab your brick 7,8... going to stay up late 9,10... never awake again. As Aellesaan got closer, she ceased her singing, and looked around. As her wide, round, eyes landed on the door, she tilted her head in curiosity. "So, who is going to be the ginea-goat  and go in first? Nose goes!" She promptly puts a delicate, well manicured finger on her round nose.

Filaanu arrived in quite possibly the loudest way possible, having found a way to ride her gnomish chopper throughout the streets of Mac'aree, most likely ruining the air with the exhaust of her bike. In the passenger seat, her two mastiffs, Dexter and his mate, Spot, sat quietly, their floppy maws flapping about while Filaanu rode up towards the others. Stopping the vehicle when she was near, Filaanu climbed out and approached the others, canting her head to the side once she found Aellesaan with her finger on her nose. "That's not how you pick your nose," she commented before looking to the others, her eyes stopping at the large doorway, "What's through there?”

"I've only been here a few moments," Phaelastra's tenor toned voice replies. There's a slight wave to those who've followed, her tail coiled in a tense formation behind her knees. She pauses, studying Aellesaan with an odd expression - one that's thankfuly hidden behind her face mask - due to her confusion at the saying. Nose goes? With a shrug, she shifts her long bow to her opposite shoulder, a hand reaching back to make sure her quiver is secure. "If no one else wishes to be first, I am quiet enough to go undetected. No use in sending everyone in if it can be prevented."

Aellesaan blinks at their apparent confusion, and lack of understanding. Perhaps it was a human game after all. With a shrug she takes her finger off her nose and glares playfully at Filaanu for her comment. "I am quite alright being here, in the light, and not going first. I've always disliked the dark." To emphasize her point, she sits down, and practices making ice in various forms.

Akaepi merely lofted a brow at the group, a faint huff of what one would assume was laughter falling from her lips. "I do not believe it is our call as to who enters first." She calls out, a small nod of her head given towards their esteemed leaders and the direwolves that loomed near. "We should merely wait for now." A hand lifted, scratching over the many heads of her Hydra as she waited.

Rhuua, mate to Epilvik, dropped a hand to her wolf's head, but the touch did little to soothe her mount's discomfort-- the great beast seemed to quiver with anticipation, the fur along the back of her neck bristled on end as she stared into the darkness. "This is your territory, my love," the Lightwarden's voice was soft, as though she loathed disturbing the silent dark which loomed before them. She canted her head to the side, watching her mate for direction.

Epilvik turned to his mate with a nod as several of their people arrived. "Thank you my friends for coming once more. As we all know from the previous two expeditions, where our "friend" here explained, we must retrieve the third and final key in order to complete the locking mechanism that holds the sceptor of such great power. One that we might even be able to use to harm the Dark Titan himself. We have the tablet, we have the compass, and now we need the next item." Epilvik explained to them. "However as before... it seems.. whatever is down there in the heart of this planet, whatever malevolent being or creature resides down below, is now activly working to stop us. Thus the wolves guarding to stop anything coming out. We will need to work swiftly, and accurately; we cant make mistakes here, else...." He said with a grimace. "Albeit the Curator of the Universities has already somewhat explained that like before this area will be heavily dependant on your cognitive reasoning, would you care to explain, Curator?" Epilvik asked the robot(construct). "Not particularly you over important, self worshipping, lump of shit. But yeah, by all means go run in there. I’m sure you’ll do fine; just a couple of puzzles, and you’ll be done. You’ve done fine so far; dont worry about the rest. It’ll be fine, just get in there and get it done," He responded to Epilvik. Clearly, the pair didn't appreciate one another very well as Epilvik responded by punching it in the face before loudly swearing as he cradeled his fist in pain. Perhaps another might be able to get it out of him with their feminine wiles.

Akaepi merely stared at the exchange between Epilvik and the Curator. Ah yes, diplomacy at its finest! Only the barest hint of laughter bubbled over her lips, a twinkle of mirth wrote upon concealed features. "Come now-... There is clearly a reason for you being here," Words addressed to the Curator with an off-handed wave towards Epilvik; Please forgive her, she's trying, but feminine wiles is not her forte. "Does it not speak volumes that our esteemed leaders would turn to you for your infinite wisedom and advice in this?" The bristle of that wolves fur did not go unnoticed and, certainly, made Akaepi's form that little less at ease about the entire situation. Forboding darknesses never had a good track record for her. "If nothing more then would it not be a kick to their teeth to know that you are doing what they could not by assisting us?" Pandering to ego's however-... That usually worked as far as Akaepi knew. Well, it did in those silly books she read anyways.

As Epilvik explained the situation at hand, and conversed with the "charming" Curator, Danarshi was approaching the group on hoof, wandering towards them at a leisurely pace. Upon close inspection, the Anchorite appeared refreshed. The small gathering in Dalaran the other day had certainly reinvigorated him. Having only been a small number of metres away, Danarshi had overheard the exchange and, therefore, understood the situation at hand, despite the Curator's deliberately poor choice of wording. Halting to a stop a few paces away from his kin, he issued them with a singular salute. "Hail, brothers and sisters." he greets them. His eyes turned to the tower ahead of them, more specifically its entranceway. His mouth drops open as he falls amidst his own thoughts. Ultimately, the Anchorite's eyes rested upon Epilvik. "Puzzles have never once been my specialty, though regardless, my hand is yours, Justicar. I shall progress upon your word." he swears. He cannot help but to send the Curator a shifty glance. It did not feel as though the spirit was on their side. He would be weary of her.

Phaelastra frowned behind her mask, remaining silently otherwise. She crossed her arms, gaze flickering to Akaepi, to await further orders. All the talking seems to make her uneasy. Filaanu remained just as silent, looking back to her chopper to make sure her mastiffs had climbed out and were at her side before simply crouching down to pet one of the dogs. Shortly after, she stood back up and yawned, glancing to the tower ahead.

The Curator tried to hit Epilvik in the balls which he only deftly leapt out of the way of, hiding behind the otherside of Rhuua; now deliberatly out of range as Akaepi approached the robot construct in his stead; addressing it in a very civil and adoring manner. "Theres a reason alright That boso dragged me across the town to bring me here. Didn’t even try asking, he was very rude. You know, Lord Archimonde would have done no such thing no no, a gentlemen and a scholar that man was. Ahh his return will be sorely wanted," he commented wistfully as Epilvik nodded to Danarshi in greetings. The construct seemed to consider Akaepi’s words carefully as if evaluating them as she spoke. "Hmm your words speak reason, after all, it takes a certain mind, a genius if you will, to grapple with the magics and mystery that surround this task. After all, the locking mechanism was designed by yours truely. Although after Archimonde put me in this body, he forced certain parameters that stoped me from just guiding and giving the answers. The most I can do is provide advice." He explained. "Hmm fine, the final object you need is at the end of this passage, on the sixth floor of the building in the conference room, that is where you will find the answer. Once you enter, the building will seal until you either die or succed, sending advance parties or groups will not help you here."

The Rangari merely paused. There was a flicker of surprise that it actually worked though it was short lived. She dipped her head down low in a bow, smiling. "You would honour me with any advice you could impart. Despite how rudely you were pulled away to assist, you are proving to be beyond helpful and we would be in your debt." Standing up straight again, her gaze flickered to the building once more. Going in there did not sound like a fun time at all. Oh boy, sixth floor; all or nothing.

Aellesaan looked up at her peers, and the construct, listening carefully.  With a sigh, she stood up, and idly scratched at her blonde hair. "Well, lets get this party started shall we!" She started dancing towards the door.

Danarshi bites down upon his lip in sudden concern. Sealed until success or death? This was certainly a risk. As his kin each prepared to enter through the doorway, the Anchorite steped forward. "Wait," he abruptly lets out in an attempt to slow their approach. "If we venture beyond this doorway, there is no guarantee that we will be able to return." Danarshi reverts his attention to Epilvik. "Forgive me for my suspicions, Justicar - I intend not to sway from your lead, though, what is the intended purpose of the artifact that we seek? If it is worthy of the cost of sealing ourselves within this tower, then I would expect that is exceptionally powerful." he expressed. He bats yet another eye in the direction of the Curator, distrust present upon his face. Inside the tower, they could very well be placed beneath the mercy of the defiant spirit. He had heard of Vigilant Quoram, a similar entity who had acted in much the same manner. The constructs of Mac'Aree, thus far, were not of the trustworthy category.

Epilvik looked to Danarshi before nodding in response. "True, there is not, we may fail, but with our experience, our knowledge, and our diverse skill set it is unlikely to be the case that we will. However as for what is inside, in here is only a key, but it is the final key to our end goal, that goal being the sceptor of Archimonde himself, he who founded the University district on Mac'Aree, the principle place of higher learning, experience, and knowledge of our ancient and powerful race. It was here that our experiements, and our thirst for knowledge and power first drew the attentions of the Dark Titan." Epilvik explained to him. "That staff, was with Archimonde for millenia. So very, very long in fact, that the measure of power contained in the staff will be immense. Such force possibly, as much raw energy, as the sceptor of Sargerus is capable of." he added further. "That and that alone is why we need it, with such raw power, it is likely even a titan can’t stand before such an assault." Meanwhile the Contruct had been speaking with Akaepi as she continued to flatter and flirt with him as much as she knew how to at least. "Mhmm you’re right, I was quite rudely pulled away and abused wasn’t I. Humpf, we Vigilants really need to unionize. That'll show all those people who think they can boss us around what’s what. Yeah yeah thats a good idea." he said to himself going off on a tangent. "Hmm any advice huh? Well I suppose I'll tell you the solution for your first puzzle. Let’s see,

I have an eye but cannot see.

I am fast but I have no limbs.

What am I?..

There that is your hint, now please go right ahead. If you make it through the first I'll see you on the otherside." He commented before waving the group inside. Who would dare enter first?

Phaelastra's gaze followed the blonde Aellesaan. With slow steps, the rangari’s body dissapeared into the shadows once more, where she followed the path of the other. It would seem that she perhaps has the intention to prevent any harm that would come to her comrad, though they barely know each other.

Aellesaan didn't even take a second to recognize Danarshi's concern, but kept dancing her way to the door, and glided into the murky darkness. "Ah yes, darkness my old enemy. I have never missed your presence. Yet here we are, meeting again." She looked back for the Rangari she had heard called Phaelastra, but the darkness was so murky it prevented her vision. She lifted up her delicate hands, but she could barely see them. Fear gripped her heart causing her thick, decored tail to twitch, and her facial tendrils to go stiff. Aellesaan no longer wanted to sing.

Phaelastra was right behind her. Darkness had always been a friend to the woman, something that she’d used many times in the past to help her do her job. In a swift motion she steped out - just barely able to make the outline of Aellesaan. One of her strong arms wraped around the woman’s waist in attempt to comfort, her voice breaking through the shadows. “We should stay with the others, sister. Let us return to the others, yes?” Truthfully, Phae had stopped paying attention to all the talking - and would like nothing more than to get on with their mission. However, she also knew leaving Aellesan like this would keep them from doing so. She waits for the other woman’s response before she takes any further action.

Aellesaan jumped at the light touch of Phaelastra, but quickly calmed down at the familiar touch of a fellow sister. Looking into the Rangari's eyes and seeing a calm, collected demeanor, she nodded at her words. Aellesaan took a few steps back towards the door and waited for the others. "Thank you, sister. Sometimes, well a lot of the time, I charge ahead with no thought except for the goal ahead of us. It is both a blessing and a burden. Let us wait here for the others to join us, you are right." Aellesaan began to hum a bright melody as if to bat away the darkness cocooned around them.

This brought a smile to Phaelastra’s face that carried to her eyes. “It’s quite alright. The Naaru bless us differently for a reason, yes?” She lowers her arm, until her hand rested against the small of Aellesan’s back - a gentle reminder that she’s right there, the friend in the darkness. With each step of Aellesan’s, Phaelastra followed - allowing Aellesaan to set the pace. From time to time she found herself swaying her tail to the tune of her fellow Draenei, something she’s glad neither of her brothers were there to tease her over.

#Epilvik #Rhuua #Aellesaan #Phaelastra #Akaepi #Danarshi #Mac'Aree #RP #Te'Amun

[aellesaan]

Wandering’s in Mac’Aree: Part Three

Part 1

Part 2 

Aellesaan was sitting in an exhausted heap on the cold tiled floor. Her lungs burned for life giving oxygen, and her legs were wrapped in the distance burn only running could give. Out of nowhere, she began cackling. "This construct is toying with us. Dangling death in front of our faces like a toy to a new born Draenei, and he finds it humouros to the point he makes a death riddle!" By now she is clutching at her sides with laughter as she wheezes and curls up on herself. "The answer is a coffin. Ha! How witty he is." Aellesaan smirks as she attempts to stand up once she realizes the floor is wet, and to her surprise, rising. She eyes the water with curiosity as she walks over to the three objects to peer at them in hopes one is a coffin.

Phaelastra stood straight with her eyes narrowed. She didn’t like these Azerothian tricks, nor the strange voices that came along with them. For a moment, she flickered her gaze to Aellesaan, and tried not to show her amusement over her statements. “Death is natural. Nothing about this place is.”

Meanwhile, Akaepi remained sloshing through the water with sodden boots and her Hydra seemed agitated at best. Riddles were really not her thing, so there was a degree of gratefulness that someone else was answering; right or not. She gave no comment, silent and watching, though the cackling Draenei garnered little more than a roll of her eyes. The Curator gleamed a short amount of her attention, though primarily she studied their surroundings and kept watch. The last thing she wanted was someone ambushing or surprising them.

As Danarshi reached the top, he stumbled over towards the nearest wall, and laid a hand against it in order to support his weight. He took this time to try and re-balance himself. Unfortunately for Danarshi, he had, as per usual, chosen to wear a robe. As water appeared to rise from the very floor itself, the lower section of the robe was immediately drenched; this would weigh him down, without a doubt. Once the image of the Curator came into existence, he trudged through the flooded floor at a slow pace, and approached the supposed hologram. "Hm." Danarshi sounded at the closing death threat; his eyes were now skirting around, specifically at the water that they were standing in. "Do we have a magus among us?" he suddenly questioned, directed towards his kin.

Aellesaan meekly raised her small, scared hand. "Does a magus in training count?" Her face is blushing a deep hue of blue. Riddles she loved, but being put to the test with magic? Her eyes were as wide as a curious baby Draenei.

Danarshi's eyes landed upon Aellesaan as she responded to his query. He looked her down. "If you are able to teleport, yes,” he responded after a few seconds of pause. "If we are unable to locate an exit from this tower, we will need a secondary means of escape. If we are lucky, and there are no magical wards in place that bar such spells." he proceeded to explain. He would then fall back to silence to allow the mage the necessary time to respond, herself.

Aellesaan nodded at Danarshi. "I can do that much." She looked around the room at the others, and the steadily rising water level. "I myself would rather not drown today. Any objections to my educated guess at the answer? We must make haste."

Danarshi returned the nod to Aellesaan. Having an alternate means of escape could prove detrimental, indeed. He reverted his attention forward, where the three ominous containers laid, and then walked towards them, he stopped only once he stood a few feet in front of them.

Danarshi rubed at his chin in thought as he carefully examined the features of each object. Did one of them resemble a coffin? That is what he was, at the most part, trying to grasp. "Opening the correct container must involve the next riddle." he audibly hypothesized before returning his attention to Aellesaan. "Sister. I noticed your observation of the Curator's words. A coffin is certainly a plausible answer," he said as he nodded at her a second time. Danarshi ultimately turned back to face the three objects. He was hoping that he could get the opinion of others, as well, on the choice.(edited)

It certainly seemed like Aellesaan didn't skip a beat, even with the eeriness of the situation they found themselves in. Despite the somewhat gloomy surroundings, and the malevolence that seemed to radiate all around them, she kept herself on the ball already thinking of the possible solutions to the puzzle they faced. Her answer of which they would find in the room they were now in, a closed coffin, but how to use it was the question if they chose it going forward. As members of the group started to move around in the liquid that seemed to be coming from below them, they would realize and notice it was thicker, gluggier, and more sticky than they would have imagined water to be. The light produced by their torches, and Aellesaan’s magic, dim though as it was, would allow any of them, if they looked close enough, to see what it was for true: a dark red substance, thick, sloshing, and quickly staining the ends of poor Danarshi's robes with what, by all accounts, seemed to be blood.

With their choice made, even though they made no moves towards it, the coffin door swung open with a loud creaking noise which echoed around the room painfully, almost as if trying to summon something forward. The coffin inside was dark, and seemed to be deeper, much deeper, than it should. Almost as if expecting them to enter inside; the space was easily large enough to accommodate the entire group within it.

Akaepi stared that coffin down for a generously long moment. Oh, this was all damn vile and now they had to hop into some poor bastards grave. A less than joyful laugh fell over her lips, nudging Aellesaan in the ribs as she passed to peer in. "Well, I am certainly not getting younger waiting and the 'door' has opened for us." If there was ever a queen for stupid and possibly dangerous decisions, then it was this particular Rangari. "If this closes on me, please get me out." Her hand lifted and rubbed her own horns for that bit of extra luck before she stepped into the coffin and the corridor beyond it. Her hydra diligently followed, and only took just a few seconds longer to ram his poor frame through it. Well, if naught else happened, at least they died in a premade coffin. How considerate.

Aellesaan cackled deeply as she saw the coffin, and noticed the liquid seeping in appeared to be blood. The humour of it all just got deeper and deeper. Oh how much that tickled her fancy. "This construct has won my friendship; he is so much fun." Just to be sure, She dipped a finger into the liquid, and gave it a lick. "Tastes like blood to me. I wonder if this is the blood of everyone who has tried to enter before-" she was interrupted by a jab in the side from Akaepi who seemed to be leering at the coffin. She giggled at her nudge and her sly joke, no they certainly would not get younger. The blood had the foul metallic taste to it that the others would have wondered how she could be so carefree and positive about tasting it. Her finger was stained red with the colour now as Aellesaan stepped up close to the cupboard. As she hoped in, Aellesaan peered in after her, her body leaning almost inside. If someone were to push her…

The magus seemed to have shaken the quiet foreign rangari. Phaelastra was once again glad to have her traditional face mask on. With a small shiver, she turned her gaze straight ahead while trying to ignore the eerie feeling this place gave her. She awaited the others, allowing them to act ahead of her, as she wanted to at least be useful and guard their backs - just in case.

Akaepi shooted a small glance to Phaelestra and offered out a thumbs up in reassurance. She would have offered a smile but, alas, her face was fully covered by her helm. Nobody had died yet, but the mage with them seemed quite keen on licking up blood. That certainly churned Akaepi's stomach something fierce. "Eugh-..." Note to self: stay away from that one. She consumes blood and laughs at blood and well, possible death scenarios. Yea, the sharp conclusion was drawn that Aellesaan was probably crazy.

As the choice was made, and the coffin opened its door for them, Danarshi was hesitant to enter. The Anchorite could only shoot a stare of sheer disturbance at Aellesaan. Laughing at the face of potential death. Humoured over standing hoof-deep in blood. Tasting the blood. The last time he had seen such behaviour was with the criminal psychopaths of Stormwind City, and the insane necromancers of the Auchenai. Without muttering a word to the woman, despite his concern for her, he passed through the coffin at a slow pace. At least, if anything, they had company who could keep their spirits lifted... hopefully.

At seeing Danarshi also pass through unharmed, Aellesaan followed right behind him. She began humming in a low, creepy tune. "I wonder if the corpses of the others before us will be on the other side? I wonder what terrible fate they suffered. You know, that blood tasted an awful lot like pigs blood, as if it was only a scare tactic,” she kept rambling on as they waiting inside the dark, deep coffin.

It certainly seemed Akaepi paid no mind or heed as she wholeheartedly stepped into the coffin with all the care and consideration of a gnat. Even cracking wise jokes while she did so as she found herself in a comfortably large space considering. Perhaps out of all of them Phael was the most considerate of the situation they found themselves in. Her own response far more reasoned than the other two in the situation. When Danarshi too entered the coffin, leaving the others standing right on the precipice, a loud shriek was elicited. The sound of crunching ensued as the center of the floor suddenly exploded showering them with debris and rubble; littering their clothing and hair. An enormous black claw thrust through the very floor. Though not just black, but darkness itself, almost as if no light could penetrate it, as if it was a void; an anomaly in their world. “Stoppppppp,” Something down below bellowed as the coffin shut hard, and flung the others inside of it with brute force, leaving them squished and trapped in darkness. That was until a light slowly shown: tracing a shape as they sought to see it before finally taking substance as a Draenic skull which began to speak to them. “Ahh new toys? Wonderful it has been too long since I feasted on fresh blood. Bone marrow only soothes the hunger so much you know. One longs for fresh meat,” It chattered at them gleefully. “But like the others, I have to give you a chance. Answer me this true, and free you shall go,” it promised them. “Now what am I? When you need me, you never have me. When you don’t want me, I never seem to go away. I who conquer kings and tyrants, even your castles fall before me. On your deathbed you may only wish for me a little more, but never do I answer,” It told them satisfied it would win.

Aellesaan screeched as she was shoved into the coffin likes sardines with her kin. Was that a blade in front of her eyes? She poked it and quickly withdrew her hand with a painful yelp. As the skull appeared, she poked that too and compared it to the skull on the end of her staff. How intriguing. It was slimmer, yet it contained bigger eye sockets. How unproportional. When it moved, and it's jaw began emitting words, she peered at it even closer. "What magic reanimates you? What were you before you became a talking skull? How did you die?" She wiped a finger against it and licked her finger. "You taste like salt. Probably in order to preserve you for longer usage." She had obviously gotten side tracked from the riddle, which she did know the answer to.

Ash was staying quiet for the most part as he followed his fellow Draenei on the search for the sceptor. He wasn't much one for riddles, and figured he'd leave that up for the others. He was quite content eating the sandwich he had packed for the trip as he followed close behind. As debri started to rain around them, he managed to cover his sandwich with his hand, making sure not to get any dust on it, and was just walking forward into the coffin as it slamed shut. Which unfortunately pushed him forward and caused him to drop his sandwich "Son of a bitch!" The first words to come out of his mouth since he started following, alerting the others of his presence. "Aright, someone's gonna pay for that. That was my lunch!" He grumbled a bit, not liking being in such an enclosed space, even if it was with some rather fine looking Draenei women. "I swear to the light, if someone farts in here...". Ash had indeed been quite lucky when he was thrown in, Akaepi's hydra had not decided to drop a fat one, him being so close to it, he would have cropped the stench that would have erupted quite badly. He looks around, hearing the voice come from somewhere, but not seeing it past all the others. He furrows his brow a bit "We don't have time for this bullshit, just show us the way through here so I can get another sandwich. I'm starving, and there isn't exactly a food vendor around here."

Akaepi's heart startled, a faint yelp given at the sudden darkness, the hand, and then this talking skull. Though panic could only last for so long when anger and stupidity arose. The rangari briskly stepped forward to yank Aellesaan back with a hiss, "Keep yourself in check, this is hardly the time for the likes of games." She snapped, "Now can you answer the riddle or not? Because I certainly do not wish to die in a pitch black hole because my current company decided to lick the damn beast holding us here!" She wouldn't even start about the Vindicator snapping over food. By the light, she was going to stress vomit.

Aellesaan blinked, and then hissed at Akaepi. Closing her eyes to calm herself, she promptly spoke, "The answer is obviously time. As our new addition to the group stated as well. If one were more curious and willing to learn and listen, perhaps you would be better at riddles, hm?" A deep, long sigh escaped between her soft, light blue lips, and her sky blue eyes looked upon the skull once more. "I wish to study you one day, however we are on a mission. The answer to your simple riddle is time. Now please let us pass. Our new addition sounds rather hungry now that you rudely made him drop his sandwich, and I would rather not have him go on a killing rampage simply because he's too hungry and could not better prepare."

"I would be careful who you are insulting." The Rangari snapped back with a bare of teeth, clearly not taking well to the blatant slander thrown her way. "We are on a mission, yes, so perhaps you should take this more seriously than it appears you are. This is no time to be licking BLOOD and acting as if we are on some leisurely stroll. This has nothing to do with learning; we have a task at hand." With such spoken, she merely stepped aside with a hard glare fixated on her face. The rest of her expression was hidden, but likely just as sour.

Aellesaan's eyes went wide at Akaepi, but she didn't say a word back to her. Quietly under her breath though, you could make out the words 'anger problems' and 'calm'. Aellesaan would definitely be staying away from that one.

Ash calmed down as the others walked forward and he realized they were not in an enclosed coffin, but in a larger room. As Aellesaan approached the skull, he finally saw where the disembodied voice was coming from before he looked down, and saw his sandwich lying on the blood soaked floor. With a frown again, he lifted up one of his hooves and inspected them, stained red from wading through the blood. "Hey, do you guys think my hooves will stay like this? This looks bad ass." He looks back up as the two start bickering, and raises a brow. "Hey now, calm your tits, this is no place to start fighting, especially amongst each other." Now that he didn't have his sandwich to occupy his mouth, he was being far more vocal, having been quiet enough that no one had noticed him until now.  He looks at the skull that Aellesaan is speaking with, and walks forward "Listen, you mouthy little paper weight, she answered your stupid riddle, now let us through, or I'll use your teeth as a butt scratcher."

As Ash approached the skull, Aellesaan tilted her head in curiosity, watching them like a predator watches its prey.

A grunt from the normally stealthy Phaelastra is quite enough to voice how displeased she is to be in this situation. But other than this, she’d been relatively quiet - until now. “... from what I understand, teeth don’t make a good butt scratcher.” Her tone is flat, with the slightest hint of amusement.

With Phael's comment one would only be bound to question how and why she might know this as fact. Being as obscure as it was, it certainly wasn’t the kind of knowledge you simply learned at school as a kid. She may indeed have quite some explaining to do if anyone questioned her on that sort of activity. The skull was surprised and infuriated at the woman before him's actions, never having felt so disrespected and attacked in his life, the way she manhandled, poked, and even licked him made him splutter and chatter his teeth angrily. "What.. ahh.. ugh.. damn... You.. stupid... HOW DARE YOU LICK THE GREAT AND POWERFUL UZI'REKT! I should be worshiped as a god, not treated as some curiosity or interest!" He responded back furiously. "I am the great Archimonde's personal conjurer.. I who serve him in all things, for all eternity..." He told them, seemingly he didn't realize he was not alive any longer.

The skull peered forward out of the door, seeming to stretch and elongate. "Is that your answer?" It asked excitedly trying to throw them off with his comment before snapping back as it groaned. "How did you get it....fine.  You win. You get to live." It complained before disappearing, and plunging them into complete darkness. They would feel themselves fall forwards, likely ending up all over one anothers business before feeling a rush and pressure as the coffin started to slide along, and slide along fast, whizzing forwards as it seemed to be moving along  a track, circular and climbing, as if going up. The trip as they tumbled, rolled and fell around inside, took near four minutes before it popped free, coming upright as what they had thought to be a back wall slide open, sliding down into the floor, to reveal a brightly lit room. It was a few hundred metres long, with a pedastool at the end of it, and perhaps that was their prize, they were certainly away from the monster that had been below at any rate.

#Part three #Wanderings in Mac'Aree #Danarshi #Aellesaan #Vindicator Ash #Epilvik #Akaepi #Phaelastra #Te'Amun

[aellesaan]

Wanderings of Mac’Aree: Part Two.

Part Three

As the two females entered the building, Danarshi listened intently to Epilvik as he described the sceptor of Archimonde in depth, issuing the Justicar with his undivided attention. As the explanation draws to an end, Danarshi, in turn, returns a nod to Epilvik in acceptance of the situation. "It is near difficult to fathom the concept of such a powerful artifact being within our very grasp. If this is where it is truly located, and this is the trial in which we must pass in order to retrieve it, then I am in utmost agreement with you, Justicar. We must try. If such a weapon harbors even the slimmest of chances to wound the Dark Titan himself, then we cannot afford to ignore it, or allow it to fall into the wrong hands." he articulated. He conclusively forms into a salute of service before the Justicar. "When you are prepared, lead the way, Justicar. I shall follow you to the ends of this place." he states, returning to a passive stance a few seconds later. Upon Epilvik's command, he would move into the tower, though he could not help but notice his eager sisters who had already started their journey into the darkened structure.

The rest of the group would undoubtedly follow as Aellesaan and Phaelastra would step inside the old building. Rhuua, Epil, and their two beasts brought up the rear, with the small burning torches on their mounts lighting the inky blackness. They revealed what would amount to be a rather large foyer, much the same as would be seen in many storefronts or perhaps a hotel and other similar places the group may have seen. If Epilvik noticed Aellesaan and Phaelastra's closeness, he didn't make comment. Either not noticing, or not thinking it important as he looked around the room, clearly the two girls seemed to be quite happy to take the position of leader in this exploration and he was more than content to letting them explore and move the group as they saw fit. "Hmm now to find a way that the curator's comments make sense in relation to where we need to go." Epilvik questioned, as it seemed there were three tunnels that went off this room, a set of staircases at the end of each could just be made out. One of the tunnels was brightly lit and clear the whole way down, one covered in inky unpenetrable darkness, and in the third a howling could be made out down it, seemingly up the stairs, but not the howling of an animal, no more like one of a harsh storm, a primal earthly howl. Around the room would be several desks, as well as a small sitting and waiting area. Likely nothing that could be of purpose, however the group was free to spread around and look, one never knew what might occur.

Akaepi cast a glance down the three tunnels in turn. As lovely as the nice, warm and light one was- yea, if this was a test then it wasn't that one. It was downright too inviting and that enough was cause for it to be the wrong answer. The second and third equally made her skin crawl but she settled at the howling corridor and outstretched a hand to test for any sort of draft or wind coming from the corridor. "Anything upon the desks?" She calls back, her hydra seeming to just lumber about behind her with an uneasy little snarl given. If putting money on their destination was at hand, she'd pick spooky corridor number three and claim her prize now.

Aellesaan sighed in relief as the dim light from the torches lit up the antechamber. Giggling to herself, she brought a bright blue flame onto her hand for her own torch. Silly girl forgetting such a simple task, she chided herself. Taking a look at the tunnels, she agreed with Akaepi. "The answer to the riddle is obviously a hurricane, or a tornado. They have an eye, but cannot see. They move fast, but have no legs." With a nod to herself, and a glance back at Phaelastra, she moved to stand in front of the entrance. "I hope you guys brought hats if there really is a storm in there. You wouldn't want your hair looking like a rat from the sewer made their home within your hair." Fiddling in her pouch, she procured a leather hat, almost like a lumber jacks hat, but with cutouts for her horns, and strings on the flaps to tie under her chin. "Perhaps we will find out if there is life after death today. I sure do love learning!"

As the dim light washed throughout the large foyer of the tower, revealing many of the eery features that were scattered about the interior, Danarshi did not, once, allow himself to be swept up in the moment. Any manner of creature, from panthara to evil spirits, could sneak up on them at any moment. He did, however, notice the three tunnels, each with a significantly differing atmosphere about them. It was true: one tunnel was too inviting, one was too mysterious, and the other was, well, something. The third did certainly line up with the riddle, however, as it did sound much like a hurricane or tornado. As the group wandered forward, a voice would've spoken from the darkness. Sardonic and biting, the gravely tones were - no doubt - startling at first as it spoke . "You lot are all standing around like a bunch of  sitting ducks." From the inky blackness Tzipor'rah would've emerged, looking fierce despite her small stature. Her tight leathers were topped with a fearsome looking helm, the kind that many Rangari wore during field work. She stood with a hand on her hip and her bow slung over her shoulder. Like the ever faithful shadow he was, Kha'ul too appeared from behind the group looking as sparkling as ever, his ethereal form towering over Tzipor'rah's as he stood by her side. "Walking directly into a storm seems like a terrible idea. Don't people usually try to avoid storms?" Kha'ul asked, raising a purple and sparkly brow. Tzipor'rah shot him a look. "In normal circumstances, but these are not normal circumstances."

As the voice of Tzipor'rah rang from the darkness, Danarshi alertly twisted his entire body in its general direction. As, however, the Draenei huntress usually makes her appearances, he immediately stood down, remaining silent. Eventually, he nears Aellesaan, and had overheard her questioning of the afterlife. The Anchorite peers towards the woman. "There is a life after death, sister, and, lest you pass on peacefully, you do not want to live it." he plainly describes. This man wasn't dead, yet, still, he knew all about it.

"I cannot say there is anything too terrible for ducks that are sat." Akaepi quipped back at Tzipor’rah with a visible roll of her eyes. One of her shoulders rolled, a huff falling from her lips and trying to play off the sharp start that her poor heart received at some stranger slinking out of the darkness. Her head shook slightly before turning to Aellesaan, "I am aware of the answer, given we have what appears to be a storm down this corridor but I would much rather not jump to conclusions without first surveying the situation first." Her hand continued to scratch at her Hydra's scalp, the beast hissed very loudly at Tzipor'ah for daring to scare him.

Aellesaan blinked at Akaepi, and turned away, feeling slightly berated. She continued to patiently stand there, her tail swinging to the beat of a song that was stuck in her head.

Once Phaelastra felt Aellesaan was safe with the others, she stepped back into the darker shadows. Her fingers stroked against her quiver of arrows; her grey-silver eyes watching the group.

Akepi's searching and looking on the desks would elicit no aid in their current task, but she would find hundreds upon hundreds of drawings, seemingly pictured of the lobby they stood in. Only the images had a murky black shape coming in it from all sides, clawed hands seemingly reaching for the dozens of individuals in the office, drawings after drawings repeating these images, the hands getting closer and closer until she would simply come across black pages. What would be most eerie though, would be the fact that the male to female ratio of the individuals in the lobby in the images, would match the group of Te'Amun, as if history was repeating itself, or, it was to come. Any further thought on this matter quickly came to an abrupt end though as both the front doors sealed shut, the light that was coming in blacking out, as an ink like look spread out over the glass, the only light left would be the torches they had with them and their magical ability.

When Aellesaan spoke the tunnel she believed to be the answer, a loud chime could be heard coming down it. The sound repeating every time another agreed with her, signifying something or reinforcing their choice perhaps. Albeit at the same time, a rough creaking could be heard from below, a rumble, the sound of cracking, breaking, smashing, almost as if the floor was crumbling away beneath them. The group would need to move sooner rather than later, did they trust their minds choice to lead them to safety?

Aellesaan quit pouting and immediately looked at the tunnel when it chimed. A smile spread across her lips as it chimed again, almost like a ‘I-told-you-so’ smirk. As the ground began shaking, she dived for the tunnel, "Well looks like the party is about to get started!" She shoulder rolled down the length of it, feeling the increasing rumble of the ground below.

The Rangari Akaepi could not help but roll her eyes. A faint grumble of 'So much for caution' rolling out from under her breath as she glanced to the others then the corridor. She didn't like this place-... She didn't like those pictures and she definitely did not like how the floor was falling away either. "We should move." She, oh so helpfully, called out. "Do not wander too far from the group nor split apart. We do not know what is in here."

For a small while, Danarshi remained in silence. Whilst his kin worked to unravel the mysteries of the foyer, he kept a steady eye trained upon their blackened surroundings - that was until the troubling sounds started to erupt from the very floor itself. Danarshi peered towards the ground beneath his hooves, his eyes widening. As Akaepi made the wisest of calls, he did not hesitate to follow her lead. "Precisely! Let us move, brothers and sisters!" he replied, beckoning the few others towards him as he ducks into the noisy tunnel.

As the group followed Akaepi and Aellesaan sprinting down the hall, any who might glance back would only see darkness. A penetrating deep darkness. One of which no light could possibly escape, so encompassing as to drown out even a glimmer of hope; the floor being eaten up step by step, whether or not just disappearing in the darkness or into the darkness was a question none of them would wish to answer. Not with the disturbing eerie groan that came from within it, almost as if it was trying to speak. A deep malevolence buried within the darkness below, the sound of scratching claws, grinding and screeching against the polished stone. The passage was only 20 or so meters long, but it felt like a mile as they bolted in mortal fear for their lives. Bounding up the stairs swiftly, rising two floors up, before they would feel safe enough to collapse panting in exhaustion, and catch their breath. It was here on this flight though that their good friend returned, the Curator. Blipping in on some sort of pedastol, obviously not there physically, but the image seemed off somehow. The construct was bathed in a blood red, flickering, wavy and garbled, its voice distorted and uneasy. It looked back and forth, and around as if it didn't want to be there even in this form. "Run run run... dont stop now... run run run.... hiding is futile .... run run run.... find what the person who buys me doesn't need me, the person who makes me doesn't want me, and the person who uses me can't appreciate me.... or perish in this place..." It said to them before blinking out. They would notice with that they were plunged into darkness, only the torches they carried and a single ceiling light remained on; there beneath it rested three objects, each of which could be opened. They however soon noticed that in the darkness it seemed to be getting wet... although they were in a building, but stranger yet, this rain that seemed to fall, didn't fall so much as rise, splattering against them as they moved. They'd soon realize if they stepped they seemed to be standing in hoof deep puddles of some kind. It was that moment the pedastol flashed back on. "You are all going to die in here." It told them clearly and menacingly before blinking back out just as quickly.

#Te'Amun #Aellesaan #RP #MG #Mac'Aree #Epilvik #Rhuua #Danarshi #Phaelastra #Akaepi #Tzipor'rah #Draenei #Sceptor of Sargeras #Still going