Through the contacts with the Marin'alfar, a map was unearthed, unsea'd. The Palace Seraph passed along this information to those of the Faith, namely a Templar, a Knight of Solace, and a certain Disciple with a sea-faring vessel, the Unsullied. It was advised to include any who could provide support in case there's trouble afoot or negotiations. One never knows what to expect where X marks the spot. It's at this hour which a group has been organized at the docks to set sail for adventure.

It is at the helm where they certain Sentinel disciple stands with her first mate, a more austere servant of the Faith than even the stoniest of Valardin. They are engaged in quiet conversation while they wait for those who are meant to join them on this voyage to board the ship docked at the shoreline. Crewmen await to give aid where they can to the onboarding adventurers.

What? The land loving shaman is setting out to sea again??? It seems so, when Khanne arrives at the docks in leathers, carrying packs for provisions with her. She looks up at the ship with a surveying eye, wary as always. Steps up the ramp take her aboard where she nods to Katarina before setting her bags by her feet, she waits for the others to arrive. "I had heard your ship received damage during the fight near Maelstrom. Good to see it is well repaired."

Lucita steps lightly along to join the others of the group, glancing from one to the other as she says, a hint of trepidation in her voice. "Hello. I'm Lady Lucita Igniseri." She lifts a small pack designed for the transport of small instruments to rest on her shoulder. A breeze sends her silk skirt fluttering around her ankles. When Khanne and Ailith, Carita are seen, visages she recognizes, she relaxes a little.

Lucita steps lightly along to join the others of the group, glancing from one to the other as she says, a hint of trepidation in her voice. "Hello. I'm Lady Lucita Igniseri." She lifts a small pack designed for the transport of small instruments to rest on her shoulder. A breeze sends her silk skirt fluttering around her ankles. When Khanne, and Carita are seen, visages she recognizes, she relaxes a little. (correction)

Preston spends much of his time avoiding the sailors themselves. It isn't that he dislikes boats, it is that he wears heavy steel armour and if he hits the water, he is only coming back to shore as a zombie or a bloated carcass of putrified sea meat. Either way, not his #1 holiday plan. So Preston spends his time carefully sitting on deck, polishing and sharpening the mirror-like diamondplate of Banisher's blade, and carefully repainting scuffs on his shield and armour, having got there nice and early. And made himself at home. Like a brash commander of the Faith Militant. And of course easily distinguished from the other one on this journey, due to the lack of breasts.

    The secondary Voice of Darkwater arrives promptly, in the company of the House's trusted resident researcher and intelligence-gatherer (or spymaster.) Carita is dressed with an eye for propriety (always) and travel (obviously) while maintaining a quietly sophisticated sense of fashion. Yes, that latter point might be the most important - she's vain. When she steps up to where the ship is docked and the others are gathered, she offers the faces - new and familiar - a bow. "Good day all. It seems like an excellent day to take to the Salt."

"It will take more than Darkwater to stop this great beauty," are the prideful words of the first mate, his hands gripping the railing to his aft with an almost loving caress. Katarina's cheeks dimple with her quiet smile toward Khanne, her palm rising in quick salute to the newly arrived shaman. "It is always good to see you, my lady. May Mangata bless us with gentle seas during our passage." A soft exhale, rising on the tips of her booted feet to peer down toward Lucita and the others arriving not long after her. "Welcome aboard!"

Dock-borne adventures are nothing new for island born Thraxian subjects, so the robe clad Halsim walks his way over to the Unsullied with only a glance to it, before he steps up the ramp and onto the deck proper, his hands folded at the waist as he glance those oboard already a glance. His hood is kept up, but not to the point it obscures his face. "Interesting ship you have here." The brown skinned islander states to no one in particular, before his eyes drift over the crew. Then, Katarina gets a look, "I have a bucket of the stuff for study. Trust me, that statement is a lie."

Thena arrives quietly at the docks, her typical black leather armor marking her as an atypical Knight of Solace though for once she sports the telltale tabard with Gild's sigil. Like a slightly less brash commander of Faith Militant, with breasts. She pads up the ramp to join the group gathering there with the captain and crew. "Sister Thena," she offers to Lucita, then inclines her head in greetings all 'round.

Lucita says, "A pleasure to meet you." Further relief can be noted as she sees some who are capable of doing more than flinging a vase, usually missing with it, or whapping someone with an instrument, usually resulting with a handful of kindling and litle other effect, is present. She moves a little closer to Thena. "I hope to not be in the way for this.""

"Considering it was we who went out to fetch samples, on this very ship, let us not be so negative," comes the soft-spoken request of Katarina toward Halsim and her first mate, the former receiving a grim look before she's taking assessment of the newcomers settling in aboard the vessel. "It looks as though we have everyone," she surmises. Not long afterward, she begins the domino of echoing shouts that sees the crew rallying to prepare for departure. The sails are adjusted, a helmsman set to navigation and Katarina pursuing Thena and Preston to talk about their charted course via the map.

Khanne smiles when she sees Lucita, giving her a wave before looking back to Katarina then. "Well, thank you, and... yes, may Mangata and the Spirits bless us all." Her words are succint as she reaches up to touch an amulet she wears about her neck, nodding greetings to the others before she walks over to one of the rails, looking out over the water. Closing her eyes, her whispered words are carried away on a breeze then as she presumably performs a prayer or ritual.

The weather is unusually clear; the skies are blue, the gulls are calling, and the sea spray cracks against the side of the ship. All signs from the sailors and fishers on the docks points to a safe and prosperous journey.


"Dame Thena now isn't it?" Preston enquires across at the Knight of Solace from his seated position, grinning a little "You have to wear the title a little bit of time, Dame Thena, before you put it aside." The Templar, turns his armour, letting out a sigh as he spots a small scuff on the edge and he carefully applies the paint "You may be onto something with the Leather though. I think I spend my life now getting this armour repaired and repainted." There is a pause then before Preston introduces "Sir Preston, by the by. Commander with the Templars. Guard of the Dominus."

    Overhearing the words of blessing before Khanne's prayer lowers into whispers, Carita glances over to listen. She nods assent, approvingly, even while her own hand lifts to absent-mindedly toy with the mirror-polished hand that dangles from her necklace. It's a anxious tell until she catches herself, drops her hand away, and slips over to leave the Shaman to her ritual.

Slowly, Halsim moves over to one of the sides of the ship. "As you say, Your Highness." Clearly undeterred... but also clearly uninterested in an argument over the subject. His attention shifts briefly, then, over to Khanne, who gets a glance to her amulet, then to her. "A spirit based ritual?" Halsim inquires, curious.

"I'm sure you will be fine," Thena says to Lucita with what might be a bit more uncertaintly than might be comforting as she looks at the woman measuringly, then darts a quick little glower at her buddy Faith commander. "I can choose which one I go by, and I like to save 'Dame' for when I need to be intimidating." She shoves her hands in her pockets. "I wear leather because I prefer people not hear it when I sneak up on them. I know that's not your style though." She shuts up then though, so Preston can make his introductions.

Khanne opens one eye to glance at Halsim and says, "Spirits, and Mangata. The Spirits guide me to her."

Lucita moves to a seat, out of the way and near the others, her gaze observing the sailors, the sails growing taut in the wind, and watching the land slide away into the distance. "Been a while since aboard a ship. My sister captains the Red Bargain of the Granato fleet, and have been out for short day trips with her. Lady Khanne, am sorry we did not have time to talk longer when we met not long ago. Spirits? Another told me they liked the music I played." To Thena she nods on listening to her speak of the leather.

The Unsullied faces little to no troubles on the journey, its speed and progress unexpected for a vessel this size. The cause could be attributed to many factors depending on the perspective. A few crewsman remark how the winds caught the sails at the right angles while a young lad swabbing the deck claims it's a feat of their Captain at the wheel. Whichever the case, this team arrive at the destination indicated on the map to discover nothing but open water and a few random doves flying overhead.

Katarina seems to fall into an easy quiet, content to watch over her crew and the passengers aboard her vessel as the voyage to their destination comes underway. A shy one, that Valardin princess, preferring to keep to herself for the time being.

Preston checked perception at difficulty 30, rolling 16 lower.

Lucita checked perception at difficulty 30, rolling 12 lower.

Halsim checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 20 higher.

Katarina checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 10 lower.

Thena checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 4 lower.

Carita checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 6 higher.

Khanne has rolled a critical success!
Khanne checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 62 higher.

    Pausing, she gives Lucita a single nod, "Who wouldn't find peace in your music, my lady, you have a way with voice and instruments that is astounding." Carita compliments, quiet and sincere. For Thena, upon hearing that her passing aquaintance is finally titled, she smiles slightly. Remaining quiet and attentive during the trip until they have reached their destination - her gaze continues to scan the open water, curious. Until, perhaps, she thinks she sees something.

"Mm. I never found accountancy too intimidating, Dame Thena. But very essential." Preston allows himself to tease before he carefully pushes himself to his feet. Of course, that means he isn't paying too much attention to other things "And well. You know how we feel about honourable combat and sneaking about in our order. Anyway, you can't sneak a trebuchet at people. They tend to spot it. And there isn't really a way to prepare for having a large stone pelted at you."

Halsim has been on enough ships to know usual speeds for most sorts of ships... so when things go far better than they have any right to go, Halsim starts to pace the length of the ship... casually taking a look about. Then, the islander stops to the side, and looks down to the water. "Well. That's the first time I've ever seen this sort of magic not take into account the subtle factors." Halsim comments.

"You're a musician? I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket," Thena notes, then slings a quick little smile to Carita. And /then/ rolls her eyes at Preston, though doesn't seem all that riled up by his words. Halsim's though, get her attention and she moves in his direction, looking over the side as well. "What is it? I didn't see anything strange."

Lady Khanne picks up on Halsim's comment to join him at his side. She, too, looks out toward the horizon before motioning to everyone else to come closer. Should any choose to, there's a subtle shift at what once was only open water. Like a mirage.


Preston checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 4 lower.

Lucita's warm smile grows a little wider at hearing the compliment. "Thank you. It has been something so very dear to me, music, since I was a child." And there it is, when Lucita speaks of music, everything else fades away,nearly oblivious to her surroundings. Her expression brightens. "Yes, I sing and play several instruments, not the piano very well though. My hands tire." She extends them to show, the markings of the stringed instruments she plays by the hour show on her fingers, and the span, the width of her hands. "It is a stretch for me to reach all the necessary keys.

Katarina has rolled a critical success!
Katarina checked perception + sailing at difficulty 20, rolling 116 higher.

Thena checked perception + investigation at difficulty 20, rolling 5 lower.

Halsim checked perception + investigation at difficulty 20, rolling 25 higher.

Lucita checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 10 lower.

Carita checked perception + investigation at difficulty 20, rolling 11 higher.

Preston looks up, trying to squint from his location as everyone starts to peer out to see "Thena?" The teasing is dropped "What's going on?" The Templar looks about and begins to buckle his armour on tight. Well. He is a crappy swimmer anyway.

Even though nothing truly feels amiss for the princess herself, it doesn't take a scientist to know when conditions are unusually favorable. Still, Katarina doesn't immediately raise suspicion, instead preferring to cast a thoughtful glance aside to Khanne and Halsim at the side of the ship. "What do you see," she calls out in soft askance of those around her, only to turn her attentions to the horizon where it seems only open water lies. "Prepare to dock," she cries out, and once more the crew are apprehensive and side-eyeing their admiral princess. Apparently they're just getting accustomed to her doing this. She takes the helm, twisting the wheel exactly to her desires to do just that.

    The Darkwater noblewoman purses her lips up, then, her expression thins out. Her sea-blue eyes narrow at the edges, creased with consideration. Until she lowers her study to consider Lucita's musician's hands against her own - then, she blinks. Roused from the introspection, she seems incredibly displeased for a decent heartbeat until she rises from her perch and stalks over to join Halsim and Khanne when they are gestured over. She is standing off toward Halsim's right shoulder, murmuring: "Curious. Not at all comforting. This is not on any of _our_ maps, is it Master Duskwave?"

"Fuck if I know," Thena tells Preston over her shoulder, a puzzled frown touching her features and one hand drifting towards the dagger at her side. "Prepare to /dock/?"

Lucita's absorpton with music is broken and she joins the others, when beaconed closer. Casting her amber gaze around, she says."What are we looking for?

"Some sort of illusion. Pretty big one too, but I can't tell enough from here to know if it's safe for us to get in there with the-" Then Katarina starts, and Halsim gives a look in her direction, "-Or we could just sail right into it." Halsim gives a flat look to Carita, "We've been dealing with rediscovery and disbelief in magic for a few centuries now, so I'm not surprised. Been nice knowing you." He gives a side glance to Katarina.

As the Unsullied drifts toward that open water, the vessel and its crew cross a veiled fog. Wood creaks in response to this passage, a long groan as though aching in pain by penetrating what none should have ever seen. Cold, damp, and wet droplets slowly appear along the ship, including the people onboard as though they walked through a very thin waterfall. The passage is brief and the ship saddles up alongside a half-rotted and forgotten dock attached to a massively tall rocky isle. The grass and flowers which may have once flourished is brown and decayed, leaving a wild and rugged look to the place._A single busted path of laid polished stone leads upward to wind toward what appears to be a chimney top.


As an island suddenly appears, along with a dock, Preston exclaims "What in the name of Petrichor....where in the names of the blessed did that come from?" Preston's brows tighten and he looks around "I do not like magic. Especially when it is deception like this." Preston complains to no-one in particular, but he bristles and holds the hilt of his blade, on edge.

There is a healthy veil of skepticism in Katarina's own expression as she navigates forward through the veneer of misted fogs that lay ahead. "Are you always so negative, Inquisitor," comes the quiet retort of the First Observer, golden eyes never pulling from their surroundings until she's gotten the ship flush against the decayed remnant of the wooden dock. The anchors are lowered, and the princess is gathering her weapons and turning to Thena and Preston, her smile creeping over pale lips bashfully. "Will you take point, Sir Preston-- that is your name, no?"

Khanne had given a nod to Lucita and says, "it is quite alright. These are busy times we are in. And yes... Spirits. I am a shaman, and I commune with the Spirits, in this case, of Sea, Water, Air, Storm. They are the reason I have felt the call to Mangata... they directed me to help her, to aid her, learn of her and all that surrounds her." She goes to the side to see what Halsim sees, then calls others over. She looks to Halsim, and then over to Katarina with a furrowed brow as the Captain sails them right into the dock that appears through the fog. She shrugs her shoulders and says, "some call it negativity, I call it caution..." in response to Katarina's words to Halsim.

"I guess that explains it?" Thena says faintly to Halsim, startled but not doubting and still looking around for any signs of something-not-ocean. Which reveal themselves in due course. She brushes a little of the condensation off the back of her hand and inspects it before taking in the newly-present scenery. When Katarina approaches she inclines her head respectfully, checking the state of her own weapon though apparently content to let Preston tank.


Carita gives her - so presumptuous, no, even from the one that attempted a velvet-gloved corporate takeover (and lost, thank you) - spymaster a worried look. Then, she folds her hands neatly behind her back in an effort to keep herself from fidgeting with her jewelry any further. She draws in a sharp breath, as though the nature of the air - cold, misty - was pleasant. Or, it's just a grounding breath. "As though we did not need further reason to fret. One can hope that allies, not enemies, lay ahead of us."

Lucita lifts one eyebrow slightly. "Been nice knowing you?" The flutter of the pulse in her throat accelerates slightly, her fingers curl into her palms, otherwise clinging to her composure as she speaks in a dry tone. "That's not very reassuring." Prudently she starts to evaluate which of the warrior-types might make the best protector while she keeps out of their way, not really out of lack of courage, just commonsense to not be clinging to a weapon wielding arm and blocking its use. Besides, blood is hard to get out of silk. "is that where we are supposed to be going?"

"It would make sense if I did so." Preston confirms to Katarina, nodding his head "And yes. Sir Preston." The fully armoured knight of the Faith makes his way to the edge of the ship and down over onto the dock, gingerly moving towards something more solid than the dock itself, and of course watching out for a horde of attacking midgets or whatever other threats might appear. He pulls his shield to his side, protecting himself.

"Welcome to the real world, Templar." Halsim gives in reply to Preston without hestitation. "Where the dream is manipulated by those who force it to their will." Halsim continues as he examines the path, then the dock itself. "I'm negative when the situation calls for it, Your Highness.... though I call it being cautious, as Lady Halfshav said." His eyes looking to the dock, then the path... then the island itself. "Abandoned for a very long time." Halsim states, more to himself than to the others, as he steps out onto the dock after the others... his eyes taking in their surroundings rapidly.

Katarina checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 4 lower.

Halsim checked perception + investigation at difficulty 25, rolling 30 higher.

Thena checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 14 lower.

Preston checked perception at difficulty 25, rolling 16 lower.

Carita checked perception + occult at difficulty 25, rolling 23 higher.

"Katarina," Katarina introduces herself in quiet return to Preston, cautiously allowing the fully plated man to descend onto the docks before her. When it looks that he won't cause the whole thing to fall under his weight, she too finds a steady foot beside him. A small dagger is drawn from her hip, wickedly serrated and easy to maneuver in her palm for the time being. "I do not mind taking guard over someone if needed," she volunteers in soft-spoken aside, more fixated on ensuring everyone safely off board than her surroundings.

Khanne checked perception + occult at difficulty 25, rolling 20 higher.

Thena slips her plain gray diamondplate dagger from its sheathe. "I can guard too."

    The moment that they dock and slowly file off the ship for the shore, Carita is certainly on edge. Although, her depthless calm does not alert the onlooker to her current state - merely cool while assessing the nature of the place that they are in. Looking for curious little details that cause the hair on the nape of her neck to rise or the skin to prickle in gooseflesh. There's an itch, and she adjusrs sthe pins in her hair nervously. She knows that's something is off - uncertain how. "It seems like a fishing shack. But, no. It's not."

Carita wields violaceous black pearl hairpins.

Lucita watches those taking point and moving along the dock. "We might have an advantage there, Lady Carita, being lighter weight, not as likely those dock boards break if we try to cross them." She looks toward Katarina and Thena. "Thank you." The Lycene woman waits till it seems to be her turn and carefully moves onto the dock. Her steps are steady, picking each spot a foot is placed with care.

Khanne follows the others from the ship down to the dock and beyond. She looks towards the hut, biting her lip as she exits. She stays behind the others, definitely not a guard.

Rocks fall! More like pebbles roll down that beaten pathway of polished stone that collided with some of the group's feet. There's a rustle of the wind drifting from the top of that hilly path where Carita, Halsim, and Khanne notice a common stone and wood hut. Ivy and wildflowers have consumed its walls, nearly disguised it being nestled against a sharp rocky side. Little else is there on this island.


Preston draws Banisher as they move forward, onto the polished stone path and towards the strange chimney top "Keep your eyes peeled, this would be a good place to ambush us. You know, given their ability to hide an island I don't overly know that they couldn't hide themselves. Invisible attackers would be...well. Novel I suppose." His sword turns in his hand "And, I am quite familiar with this world, inquisitor. I faced the dead at Maelstrom, and I've killed abandoned who have fallen to the Abyss. I have faced corrupted beings that were once men. It does not mean I like it. Limerance abhors magic, and it carries costs to the soul that few are ready to bear."

Preston wields Banisher of Shadows.

"I wasted a giant spider one time," Thena tacks on with an understated dryness, walking forward with the others.

Katarina remains a silent presence amongst the group, lingering not far from Lucita's side as she paces along over the uneven terrain with a careful tread. Hearing Preston mention the undead of Maelstrom elicits a faint grimace from the Sentinel acolyte at the memory. "There is staring down the maw of a kraken and surviving The Gyre too," she murmurs for added chime.

Khanne stops walking along the path as the pebbles roll down and towards the group. Her brow furrows and her head tilts as she looks to them, folling their path of travel up to the hut. She seems perhaps, overly curious about the pebbles, nudging one with her foot gently. She looks to Carita and Halsim, watching for their reactions. "Not unheard of... unfortunately," Khanne murmurs to Preston's words about invisible attackers." She looks full on to him then. "But, The Legate has declared that Limerance does not hate all magic, right? It is not completely illegal now... unless you are trying to use it for nefarious reasons. I forget his exact wording..." Her gaze has drifted away from him though and she is scanning her surroundings, for what? Good question.

    "You have a point, my lady." The rattling of pebbles makes her tense up slightly, and Carita casts a dubious glance over her shoulder at Lucita before she nods silently. "Didn't the Faith very recently shift its view on the subject of magic ..." She trails off, seeking clarification from either the Shaman or the Inquisitor on the matter, leaving any further remark or comment on it alone. She offers, "I broke a nail attempting to pry open a bottle of Maelstrom rum after a long day of correspondences and trade agreements."

Lucita's expression is neutral as she listens to the caution given. the rhythm of her steps is broken as she tries to avoid the pebbles underfoot. She grasps a rebec in one hand, not that it would be that useful, but it is a comfort to her to hold her beloved insturment. "All those dangers you have faced... and all I have had is a big rowdy crowd to face down and amuse with songs." She muses a moment. "And then again, should things have gotten out of hand, that has its own dangers in a way.

"I can't see this is a residence, unless there's something hidden underneath..." Halsim notes, "so that's probably a storage site of some kind." Halsim continues as he inspects the hut from a distance. "Did the Marin'Alfar give any indication of what we'd find, here? Any at all?" Halsim asks, without looking away to the others. A moment later, he's pulling out a notebook from his robe, and writing into it with a quill. Then, when Preston replies, Halsim gives him a curious look. "I see. I assume you are one of those against the new wording of the new law?" After that, Halsim starts to head over, keeping wary. The pebbles falling only get a glance, before he's looking back to the hut.

The party of Preston, Carita, Khanne, and Lucita enter said hut to encounter filth and grim. The interior of the hut is as equal to its exterior -- long forgotten and abandoned. It's a single room dwelling with a fireplace and mantel, a small table for two with chairs that has rusted plates and silver wear, and a workbench with tools for a leather maker. Dust clings to all the surfaces, dust bunnies likely populating beneath a bed with tattered linens. Cobwebs adorn the corners where over time the stone
has crumbled to reveal dirt and rock from the island itself. Whereas Thena at the doorway gets to spend time watching Halsim poke about outdoors; there's little discovered of any obvious ploys or tricks.


"The way they seal those bottles is preposterous," Thena asides to Carita with complete earnestness. To Preston she leaves the theological debate and lingers outside the hut while the others file in, dagger held loosely in one hand. Except for a dark watchful gaze, her overall demeanor is deceptively casual.

"I have misgivings about any change to old laws of the Gods - but I trust others. Still. That something is allowed does not make it liked, or even safe. We know magic risks your soul, that has not changed just because people wish to re-frame the 4th Law." Preston answers, a cautious tone in his voice causing his words to have a certain deliberate nature to them, each starting slower. Preston lets out a sigh though as they press in a little more and he shakes his head "It seems deserted. We /could/ try starting a fire to see if we attract attention."

    "It's truly a nightmare in here. And cramped. Goodness." The tip of her pale nose crinkles up with evident disdain for all of the accumulated dust and cobwebs - all signs of negligence. Carita is keen, sweeping her gaze as she takes a slow-paced circuit around the miserable looking hut, looking for anything that appears to have been disturbed or unsettled. Or, even more obviously: clean.

Khanne walks around the hut slowly, carefully. She watches her steps to try not to break anything, or... fall in anything. Fingers graze over the items upon the table. "It's like... well, they left in a hurry, long ago... or something. Like life froze in time here, nature swallowing it all whole little by little. She steps to the workbench next, fingers again grazing over the tools.

Lucita says, "Doesn't look like much here to me." She uses care to try to avoid the dirt and cobwebs. The rebec bow is used like a stick to knock them away fom her should they get too close, it also makes a handy tool to move some webs out the way to make sure there is nothing on the wall behind any should they be thick enough to block view. "At least so far. Is there anything under the plates? She also looks up, just to make sure no spiders lay ready to drop on her."

Katarina stands some distance away from the hut itself, allowing the others that are far more observant to go picking through its interior of dust and filth. She takes a knee, golden eyes swiveling over the island grounds at length. Waiting, or so one would think, with an arm tucked against her front.

"Let's do a check of the hut, before we go burning anything. shall we?" Halsim states as he comes inside, then... his eyes going over each part of the inside slowly. "Nothing outside, at least. Inside is the same... but then, this could all be illusions. We've already seen the evidence coming here." Halsim states as he begins to write into his notebook again. "Testing to see if any of this will react as it should might be a good idea if we don't find anything." Halsim states as he begins to investigate the hut interior proper.

Khanne looks aside to Halsim, curiously watching him. She gives a nod in support of his statements and continues her perusal of the interior.

Oh no! Bits of dust and cobweb flutter about the hut and toward Carita when Lucita uses her bow as a tool. It disturbs the dinner setting on the table. Then there's Khanne touching tools over by the workbench which appears in more recent times disturbed. Halsim walking about the hut taking notes, there's a soft sound left from wherever he stepped. Suddenly, there's a rattle like a cough of brick and stone as soot and smoke billows out from the fireplace to drift about the ankles of Preston. To any who look ahead would see a dark passageway -- small enough for all of them to crouch and crawl through.


Carita checked composure at difficulty 20, rolling 2 higher.

A cluck of his tongue as he listens, and Halsim makes another note. Then, he looks back to that new passageway. "Storage site or hidden entryway." Halsim concludes, before he slowly walks over and takes a look inside. "Interesting..."

Katarina peeks into the small crawlspace revealed, slowly rising from her place crouched by the doorway. "Look at that," she murmurs, gently calling attention to the dark passageway opened up. She moves inside, edging towards it with care.

Thena isn't going to stay outside when there's an interesting tunnel to explore, so she steps into the hut and crouches down to look. She sees Katarina's butt, presumably. "Can you see how far it goes?"

Lucita lowers her voice to Khanne to say. "If at some point you think spirits want a song played, let me know. I'm unaware of them and have no idea..." Her words break off as she sees the situation she created "Lady Carita, I'm sorry, did not mean to get the dust on you, just see if anything stuck on the wall." And when the soot and smoke start, adding to the dust and webs in the air, she waves one hand in front of her face.

Katarina who is hands and knees into the newly discovered opening and thus blocking Halsim's view can barely make out a natural sunlight at the end of the long passageway. It is difficult to tell what lies beyond that light.


    "Oh, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for my dear lady Lucita --" With a flick of her wrist to bat away that hybrid creature of cobweb and dust bunny from her hair. Carita even manages to do so without flinching because Thrax and manners. Naturally. Although, when it's just about time to go crawling through dirt and soot down a narrow and dark passageway that might lead to certain doom, she sighs.

Khanne nods to Lucita before she is surprised by the rattle, followed by smoke. She covers her mouth and coughs, bending over to look inside while Katarina just forges on in like it's something perfectly normal.

    "There is a spot of sunlight just at the end of the tunnel," Katarina reports back to those in the room behind her, her already soft-spoken voice muffled from her cramped confines. With her dagger flattened under her palm, she begins to shuffle forward to allow room for others to enter in her wake.

Lucita looks at the passage and hears of the light at the end. "Is there a another way to find out, walking around out side or something and seeing if you find where the passage comes out?" She looks at the passage dubiously. "If we're going in there...I'm after you, alright?" She gathers the excess of her flowing silks and carefully tucks it into her wide belt to minimize damage to her garment.

With Katarina scrambling on through, Thena sets her own dagger between her teeth and crawls on after the princess. Mmm, doom.

At the end of the lit tunnel, Katarina, Thena, and Preston are first to enter the wide open circular stone room. Vines and bushes have grown through cracks of the stone walls and create a leafy overhang that blocks out most of the sunlight piercing through narrowed slits way above. It's difficult to see if there's a ceiling or not. A thin glint of rainbow strikes the bare stone floor towards the very middle of the room where a round shape is cut. No doom or gloom to be discovered aside from a closed door directly opposite from where they entered; as such the others arriving thereafter can see for themselves.


Eventually, Khanne makes it through the dim, dark, dusty, smoky passageway and into the light. What she sees has her first blinking from the brightness, then with a bit of awe. She steps aside to let anyone behind her through as she looks around the room with wide eyes that seem both intensely focused, and yet, distant.

    Once it's her turn to follow the others down that tunnel and into the round, stone room, Carita shrugs slightly to herself. "Not terrible yet." Before she dusts herself off.

Thena emerges into the room and hops to her feet so the others can make their way into the room. She glances around, then paces carefully over to the shape cut in the floor.

Clearly not used to crawling through secret, small tunnels, Halsim takes a bit of time to get through the darkness, before he comes out. A look around, and Halsim frowns slightly. Then he walks around, inspecting the room... before that round shape in the floor gets his attention, and he moves to inspect it near ground level. "If this were the Nox, I'd call this entire thing a prank... but I get the feeling someone important lived or was exiled here."

Lucita crouches and makes her way through the passage, a momentarily expression of dismay shows as her veil snags and wayward curls escape willy-nilly. She stands, straightens her garments, and abandons the effort to remain in pristine condition. A few wayward curls and dust streaks never hurt anyone. She steps to the side, lifts one hand and with a graceful pointing finger at the circle in the floor says. "What's that?"

Khanne doesn't approach the hole in the floor yet, but tacks on to Halsim's statements, "or... still is here..." She leans forward, as if trying to get a better look withhout getting too close yet.

Carita checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 33 lower.

Thena checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 3 higher.

Katarina checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 9 lower.

Lucita checked dexterity at difficulty 40, rolling 27 lower.

Khanne checked dexterity at difficulty 40, rolling 26 lower.

Halsim has rolled a critical success!
Halsim checked dexterity at difficulty 40, rolling 7 higher.

Rocks do fall this time as the entire island begins to rattle and shake. The violence of it all sends Carita, Katarina, Lucita, and Khanne apart, tossed with tumbles against the walls. Preston, ever the Templar, attempts to rescue Katarina by offering his hand. In missing, he stumbles in being separated from those at the center point -- Thena and Halsim. Walls begin to take shape, rising out from the ground until each person is put into one of six 'pie' pieces of the circular room, exception being Thena and Halsim together, with the round shape being the keystone. The natural sunlight pierces through the overhang to provide an ability for Solace Knight and Inquisitor to see, but the others are in complete darkness and there's a sound of stone shifting, as if an opening was made, followed by something unnerving and moving over their feet. Was that a hissing sound? Or was it a whisper of the cold wind?


    "Fucking-fucking-fuck." Carita curses aloud, code-switching into a rougher-sounding tone of voice (you can take a barmaid and make her a Lady, but, sometimes she's still just a barmaid) that still loses all sense of calm for half a minute. Then, she draws in a deep breath. Caught in darkness, she picks herself from the floor - tumbled, tousled, and she shuts up. She's not alone in this space. "Motherfuck," she mutters. "I knew that I should have taken those training field lessons."

Lucita comes to her feet after being tumbled about, eyes dilating in the darkness. She draws in a hiss of breath and and throws one hand out to the side, trying to stabilize herself, to orient herself and whaps it on the wall. With complete and total logic she does the obvious. She screams at the top of her lungs, and wow can a singer be loud. "HELLLPPP! GET ME OUT OF HERE!!! THERE"S SOMETHING IN HERE WITH ME AND IT ISN"T ANY OF YOU!!!"

"Well fuck." Thena, never made into a Lady, voices a similar sentiment to Carita, the words ringing out clearly when everything has settled. She crouches and peers into the darkness. "Anyone hurt?" Wince. "Try to stay calm, yeah? We'll get you out."

Khanne checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

There is a gasp as she stumbles, a curse as her body falls and hits the wall... another as stones fall to capture her in a box... or room... or jail of stone, throwing her into darkness. When she feels something moving over her feet, hears... something, there is a small high pitched noise of gut reaction before she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, letting her mind calm, using her other senses to learn about her surroundings, if there is anything to be learned. After she is calm, she touches her pouch of ritual offerings and exhales slowly. "Spirits..." she whispers, trying to keep herself calm.... if not to reach out to them if they can hear her.

Katarina's shrill cry echoes through the vast room as she's thrown down into the pit below, landing with a solid thud on her side. Her features pull into a tight grimace, struggling to make right of herself. "You need to calm down, Lady Lucita," she shouts, whilst attempting to do the same herself all the while. Several deep breaths, and Eurusi cusses later, silently listening with bated breath to make out just what that hissing was.

"What the f-" Halsim starts, before he dodges out of the way of the walls with a 'ugh!' sound as he finally brings his hood back to allow for more eyesight. He looks downwards, then around, then over to Thena. "The elves didn't cover abandoned death traps when they told you about this map, I take it?" Halsim dryly asks, before he takes a look at the lever.

Lucita says, "I AM calm, I just didn't know if any of you could hear me, where you were, so I made sure you could, if you were alive I mean." She says to Khanne "Spirits? Is that's what's hissing around my feet? I can't see what it is. Its dark in here. Really dark.""

{45A heavy weight is felt about Carita's feet, almost cold and scaly. Whatever it is, it moves slowly and between or around or is it over her legs. The sensations increase by the moment. For Lucita, the darkness provides another visitor. There's a tickle at her ear, then another, and yet another. Something crawls over her body, dropping from the ceiling above as her screams rattle loose the dirt and grim. All about Khanne in such darkness, her calm may not be enough to combat the eerie chill and click-clack shuffle of things which go bump in the night. Katarina earns an equal measure of things lurking about, slinking as these things wrap around her feet and slowly attempt to go higher.

Thena and Halsim discover something new and less frightening in their joint pie piece -- where the round shape once was on the floor has risen to reveal an opening at the end, about the length of one's arm, is a lever. To pull or not to pull?

A heavy weight is felt about Carita's feet, almost cold and scaly. Whatever it is, it moves slowly and between or around or is it over her legs. The sensations increase by the moment. For Lucita, the darkness provides another visitor. There's a tickle at her ear, then another, and yet another. Something crawls over her body, dropping from the ceiling above as her screams rattle loose the dirt and grim. All about Khanne in such darkness, her calm may not be enough to combat the eerie chill and click-clack shuffle of things which go bump in the night. Katarina earns an equal measure of things lurking about, slinking as these things wrap around her feet and slowly attempt to go higher.

Thena and Halsim discover something new and less frightening in their joint pie piece -- where the round shape once was on the floor has risen to reveal an opening at the end, about the length of one's arm, is a lever. To pull or not to pull?

Carita checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 3 higher.

Lucita checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Katarina checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Thena makes her way towards the lever, clearly in the pro-pull camp unless Halsim checks her.

    A exceptionally long pause follows. Once Carita has made her discovery, she draws in a slow breath and exhales. Remaining very still. She hisses out. "Snakes." To herself in a whisper, "Why did it have to be snakes, why."

There doesn't seem to be inclination from Halsim to stop Thena, even with the cursory inspection. "We'll just have to hope it stops this contraption..." Halsim notes briefly. "I hate traps."

Khanne has rolled a critical success!
Khanne checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 36 higher.

Lucita is not one to leave matters totally in the hands of others if a chance she can help herself. She keeps her feet as still as possible and begins to pat the wall within reach. "Rock walls, don't feel wood, and don't feel holes ...and there's something moving on my feet...and the wall slants on one side." She cautiously shifts enough to try to identify whether she can rescue herself. "Don't feel any steps...at least not on this part... " She freezes on hearing snakes. "snakes. Snakes. Goddess have mercy.

Katarina exhales a slow breath, rising to her feet with caution. As the scaled body deigns to ascend higher over her tactical-sized person, she takes her dagger in hand and prepares herself to to strike. For now, however, it's a lot of gentle coaxing and trying to channel her best Leola impression in animal-whispering this scaled reptillian devil away.

Lucita says, "They're on me, around me." Words are a near whisper as the sensation of crawly snake is felt."

Kerclank. A softer rumble, then there's a shift in the air with the sound of more stone moving. It may not be the hoped success as all in the darkness will start to feel the air is tighter as if the walls are closing in. For a Templar, the solution is easy. Stab and smite. Preston busily dispatches whatever creatures that fill his pie piece. Whereas that is not so easily doable for the others in the darkness. Carita, Lucita, Katarina, and Khanne will gradually notice more snakes slither from tiny openings against the far back wall of the overall round room.

Khanne checked charm + animal ken at difficulty 40, rolling 17 lower.

Khanne checked composure at difficulty 20, rolling 8 lower.

Carita checked composure at difficulty 20, rolling 3 higher.

"That's unfortunate." Halsim notes, as he notes the softer rumble. "Probably the walls closing in, with our luck." Then, Thena gets another look. "Can you shut it off?" Halsim asks, as he starts to look around for another way for the others to get out.

    Well. If Carita has to die. She will die very calmly, thank you.

"All right, that was bad idea," Thena says softly, hearing the clanking. And Halsim. If she can, she will immediately move the lever to its original position.

"No... no... Not Spirits as in, they are here... just.. uh... Spirits. As in, Oh... Spirits.. like you might say, Gods... Oh Gods... Maybe they are here, maybe... maybe not... uh..." Khanne takes another breath as she shivers and falls silent once more, listening, feeling... not only the air around her, but the walls, as she reaches out to feel her way around, feet shuffling so as not to trip.... or step on a snake.... Snakes... And more of them! As she feels the walls close in, and the air thin (possibly from her own fear) she lets out a small scream and clamps her mouth shut, staying still now. "Shhhh... shhhh... shhh..." she says, then starts whispering words in Northlands Shav to the snakes, trying to calm them... but calm, they do not seem to get. She bites her lip and holds her breath, trying to stay still.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Thena before departing.

    Carita neatly adjusts the cuffs of her tunic, tries to gently tidy her hair in the complete and snake-infested dark. She does briefly consider using the sharp steel in order to stab at any of the scaled, legless things if they twine up too high. But, there is no guarantee that she won't stab herself in the process. She is composed - but, so infuriated. "You spend twenty-one years without dying, Carita, and now - you. Look at you. What good is being Le--" she tenses. "Oh, these snakes are truly inconvenient."

Lucita's jaw clenches and her breath hisses out, not a snaky hiss, just a woman terrified on the inside and trying not to show it, in the dark with snakes crawling on her, around her, Her pulse pounds, and her color pales, not that anyone can see her, but it does. She holds as still as possible. "..anyone know anything about snakes" barely comes out audibly.

Katarina checked command + animal ken at difficulty 40, rolling 13 lower.

    "Go away, little snakey. Shoo, shoo," Katarina whispers quietly at the heavy mass of snake winding away around her foot. She turns, easing her foot and then the other away from its prehensile embrace. Only to find MORE SNAKES. "I'm tired of these snakes, in this abyss-mad hole," she hisses, pinching on the bridge of her nose. Her calm is a tremulous thing. Freak out impending. "Halsim, Thena, any sign of an out yet?" she shouts.

Similar rumbling to before follows when Thena restores the lever. The walls cease to move but not return to their original positions. One look from the Solace Knight at Halsim and she shrugs. "Don't Inquisitors solve these things?" And she steps back to let the man figure it out. For all others in their pie pieces, the snake problem seems to slightly worsen. A rattle is heard in Katarina's area.

Lucita checked charm + performance at difficulty 25, rolling 23 higher.

Lucita tries to comfort and calm herself as she always does, through music, wether it has an effect on the slithery scaley things on and around her she has no idea but she needs the music. A soft rhythmic hum arises, soothing, repetative, and elegant in its way.

    Carita's not very skilled in the use of her weaponized hairpins - at all. But, she knows her strengths. She

Halsim checked intellect + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 29 higher.

"There's a lever here, and we just tried to use it. That was the stone rumbling, probably. See if any of you have one in your area." Halsim notes, "Probably a good time to use your torches, if you have any."

    She is quiet, she is charming, and if she needs to die she will do so in very dignified fashion. Like Lucita, Carita does what she usually does when she needs comfort, she tells herself a story. "So, my best beloveds," she addresses the snakes - yes "There was a time when all creatures crawled and none walked, and one was always polite to the other in passing."

Carita checked charm + performance at difficulty 25, rolling 13 higher.

Katarina checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 4 lower.

"I haven't a torch...." Khanne says, but then she remembers. "I have fire! I do have fire..." She keeps her feet still and reaches into her pouch, fingers feeling around in it for her fire starter. Pulling it out, she tries to light it, looking for the lever that Halsim notes.

Carita checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 21 lower.

Khanne drops a flint and steel fire starter.

Khanne picks up a flint and steel fire starter.

Carita checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 25, rolling 13 lower.

Khanne checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 19 higher.

Lucita does not speak but rather hum/sings the words in a low volume, no more screaming, and hoping to make the snake situation no worse and maybe, if snakes have ears, or are calmed by the vibrations of her humming, drop away from her body, replies. "no fire, I have no fire, a bottle of wine, a lute, my rebec, a snack, and..and a blank book to write music in..." and it is back to the humming.

Katarina grows tense at the sound of the rattling behind her, her breath quickening with an internal groan. Still, she bides her time - keeps her distance, her gloved palms settling flush against the walls as she attempts to CAREFULLY feel her way through, for all the good it does her.

Carita takes minor damage.

"I found a lever!" Khanne shouts, then quiets, looking at the snakes. "It's... at the point... I'm uh... " She takes a breath, clearly apprehensive. "Should I... pull it?"

    Something bites. The pain stings - and Carita hisses a breath through her clenched teeth, "That tickled."

"Pulling the one out here just did something to the walls. If that does something worse, you seem to be able to return the lever and stop whatever it does." Halsim notes, "So go for it, I say."

Preston is not the most perceptive of individuals, but his skill with a sword is known. The majority of his snakes have been killed so it's easier for him to feel along the walls. "Nothing here, yet." Thena, the Faith Militant with boobs, shouts to him, "Try harder."

Khanne takes a deep breath, closes her eyes as she braces herself, and.... pulls the lever.

The lever does move forward and there's a grinding sound but nothing moves as if done out of order.

"Interesting." Halsim notes, "Someone else try theirs, first."

Setting her teeth into her bottom lip, Katarina raises up and attempts to angle herself toward the point of her room. "Please don't get me bitten," she chants under her breath, slowly working around clusters of snakes to try and get it.

Lucita humms and humms and very very very cautiously moves one hand, with the bow held in fingers bleached white with tenion taps along the slope of the wall and tries to locate and assess if bow might be enough to move it or if she has to risk agitating the snakes on her to try to find and identify some leaver.

    Carita starts to move, feeling around for the lever in her tomb - I mean, cell.

After such cautious movements by Katarina, Carita, Lucita, and Preston, they're able to feel their way to that center point -- the round shape which links the walls and those pie pieces. An opening similar to the lever area for Thena, Halsim, and Khanne is found. Six levers discovered!

The thin bead of rainbow light seen when they initially entered the room has moved away from the centerpoint to the far wall behind Halsim.

Lucita gulps and closes her eyes, a moment of silent prayer and she moves very ver cautiously, just partial inches at a time till she can grasp the lever. Under her breath she mutters to the snake on her body. "no biting, just a little ride...no bites.." "tell me when to try this thing. I think found a lever."

Khanne stays where she is, hand on her lever, waiting.

"Go ahead and pull yours, Lucita." Halsim notes, watching.

Lucita hesitates then follows the instructions given, fingers remaining locked around the lever, breath catching as she listens, waits.

Same as Khanne's; the lever does move forward, a grinding sound, but nothing else.

Halsim says, "Carita, did you find yours?"

    "I did--" Carita responds belatedly.

Khanne makes a muffled sort of noise as she bites her lip as a snake slithers over her foot and around her ankle.

Halsim says, "Go ahead and pull it. The other two weren't the right ones."

    So, she does pull the lever as instructed, "Please." Carita mutters beneath her breath before she does.

"Found mine," katarina calls., pulling hers down.

Two clicks and both Carita's and Katarina's levers refuse to move anymore. Locked in position.

"Ok. That was new. Did two people just pull levers?" Halsim inquires.

Preston plants his hand around the lever in his pie piece. "Can I pull mine now?"

"I don't know yet. I'm trying to keep track of patterns with these, but it sounds like two people pulled levers." Halsim notes, before he grunts, "Might as well see what happens."

Halsim says, "Go ahead and pull it, Preston."

Preston pulls on his lever and there's another click.

"Ok. Khanne?" Halsim calls out, "Pull yours."

"Again?" Khanne says, but then moves the lever in her pie-shaped cell again.

Khanne receives another grinding sound but nothing.

"There's a definite clicking coming from some sort of order with these." Halsim replies, "Did anyone elses levers click out of place from that?"

"I'll take that as a no. Katarina, can you pull yours, then?" Halsim continues.

Katarina pulls her lever down with all her might. "I'm pulling now," she responds in answer.

Lucita's hand flexes and relaxes slightly on her lever as she says. "mine just did the move forward and grated when pulled it that once.

    "Doing the same!" Which Carita does.

After Carita and Katarina pull their levers, there's that same click. Preston calls out, "I'm pulling mine like before." And in that order, his lever produces another click.

"Khanne, Lucita, try yours in that order. if that doesn't work, reverse it." Halsim continues.

"Okay," Khanne says again, though she stills as another snake crosses over her feet. "Pulling...." she murmurs.

Lucita does not bother to nod, no one to see and the snake might not like that. "Just tell me when you want me to pull this thing and will try." She pulls the lever when told." I'm leaving it alone till you tell me."

    Likewise, Carita will wait for her cue to pull on her lever again.

Khanne pulling on hers once more produces nothing but the griding sound.

Halsim says, "So far, it sounds like Carita, Katarina, and Prestons levers are the first in the sequence. Lucita, your turn to be fourth."

Lucita says, "Alright" Lucita's voice is meek and rather strained. "Just.. just hurry, this snake...it's going exploring" She gulps. "out of there snake. Didn't you like it better up around my shoulders?""

Katarina exhales a slow breath, looking back over a shoulder at the pit of snakes behind her. "Any day now," she sing-songs.

A tiny slither hisses at Katarina's boot, licking it after her sing-song tone.

Lucita pulls the lever when she is cued to do so, listening for 3 others so she is the fourth as asked.

    "All right. So, we are following the order that we've started to establish. I mean, it is working - and we are making progress, ladies. Gentlemen. Lady Lucita, your turn, please. The rest of us will follow in order until we work at these levers. Stubborn snaaaakes --" Carita's voice lilts as one starts slithering across her bare neck.

Carita checked command + leadership at difficulty 20, rolling 14 higher.

"My turn?" Khanne asks.

Katarina glances back over a shoulder, eyeing the snake slithering near her boot.

    "Yes, try now!" Carita calls out.

Khanne tries to pull her lever then.

Nothing once more. Grinding sounds and the levers all move back to their original positions.

"I think mine is broken...." Khanne mutters with a sigh.

"Or you're the last one, in theory." Halsim notes.

Lucita says, "Mine popped back where it was. Tell me when to pull it again." Under her breath she is near whispering. "Hurry, hurry.""

The little snake slithers over the boot, winding its away around Katarina's ankle. Carita begins to feel one of those crawling menances landing on her shoulder to hiss in her ear. Lucita hears the melody of rattling coming closer. Thena surmises, "That's because Khanne interrupted the sequence. Didn't you say it was Carita, Katarina, Preston?" she stares at Halsim.

    "Lady Lucita, you are our musician ... what are we doing wrong with our pattern, do you think ...ah! Thena, yes." Carita calls out again, trying to focus. "So, me." She pulls on her lever with force.

"As I said, try Lucita as the fourth, after those three." Halsim replies.

Lucita says, "I can't think, I can't think, not with a snake making itself at home in my bodice." She flinches a little at the sound of the rattle. "Pull it fourth, yes, I will pull it fourth..."

"I went after Lucita...." Khanne says, then "oh... Preston didn't go... Okay.. waiting..."

    "Princess Katarina next, then Sir Preston..." Carita repeats, attempting to reassure herself. "Then Lady Lucita. Lady Khanne..." Another pause. "Yes."

"Noted," comes kat's soft confirmation, dancing her way around the little bastard snake. SHOO.

Katarina pulled, when she was supposed to.

Carita pulls on hers, the click happens. Katarina pulls hers, another click. Preston pulls on his lever to make it the third in the announced sequence. Click.

Lucita pulls the lever when she hears the other three that are to precede her, fllowing instructions precisely and as quickly as it is her turn.

Another click follows.

Khanne is counting the sounds of clicks , hearing the four before hers, then pulls her lever.

There's a fifth click!

    "Lady Khanne, you are the next in the sequence." Carita dances a little in place, trying to dislodge the snake. "Nicely done, my lady." She laughs softly, a little frantic-sounding at this poiint.

Looking around, Halsim tries to note anything new. "So that's everyone but us... ours had the walls pull inward before." Halsim eyes their lever.

Lucita waits there in the dark, muttering to herself, and the snake. "If I ever get out of here and one of those guys rids me of you, I wonder how a snakeskin instrument strap or a belt will look." She listens attentively for new instuctions.

"Alright. Let's see if this works..." Halsim goes to grab and pull said lever.

The sixth and final click causes the round room to rumble once more. The snakes hiss and coil, slithering to flee out of self-preservation, and disappear through the small openings on the outer walls. The barrier walls which separated the seven adventurers and the center point gradually to recess into the floor once more. Behind Katarina, that opposite doorway opens, parted to reveal a hidden alcove -- an adorned mosaic room with a dazzling spectacle of rainbow hues and lights from a crystal prism mounted high above at a narrowed slit in the wall. Along those walls, the mosaic showcases a sea-faring vessel in the midst of a tempest, surrounded by blackened waters and dark clouds. At the wheel of the vessel, a man stands holding a round object and a brilliant light similar to a sunray shines. To the center of this room is a pedestal with a single brass object, a plain compass.

"Well, would you look at that..." Halsim comments as the walls collapse back where they came from, and he looks everyone over. "Everyone alright?" He inquires, before he looks over at the doorway that opens. "Huh." Halsim starts to step over in that direction, taking it all in.

As the walls begin to lower and the snakes slither away, Khanne lets out a relieved sigh, her mist-grey eyes locking on the door across the way as it opens. She tilts her head, looking at the mosaic curiously before spotting the compass on the pedestal. She starts to walk towards it, and Halsim, careful for any stray snakes. "The mosaic is beautiful." She nods. "Yeah... I'm alright, just contemplating some exotic snakeskin leathers..."

    Once the walls rumble around her and the snakes flee (bye, Felicia) Carita finally breathes a massive sigh of relief, and starts forward (do not pass go - do not collect 200 silver0 toward the doorway that has opened up behind Katarina. She thought she saw sparkling things, and she really does like the idea of leaving the circular pie of doom room.

Setting her mouth into a quiet line, Katarina quietly stares into the opposite doorway that opened behind her. She moves inside with a careful tread, taking in the elaborate mosaic spanning the walls before coming to look at the compass. "Okay," she exhales slowly, hovering near the brass instrument. "I guess..." She takes it. No regrets.

Preston and Thena coordinate to ensure all the snakes including those poisonous rattlers have dutifully departed the room by way of escaping through their tunnels or smite by the sword. "Anyone bit?" asks Thena, prepared to heal.

Lucita lifts one eyebrow as her potential belt wriggles and slides its way free. She very calmly lifts her chin and discretely smooths the bodice back in place. "I've been better, but uninjured. Thank you for getting us out." Her gaze slides toward the open alcove and she stands in mute admiration of mural and light now displayed.

    "Yes. Yes. I think I was, but, it's nothing --" Carita offers Thena a small smile, "I take it back. It's something, Dame Thena."

Khanne just glances at Katarina as she reaches out to take the compass. "Uhh..." She bites her lip and glances at Halsim, then the mosaic. She just shakes her head with a deep sigh.

Thena takes a kneel beside Carita and gets her pack to apply the appropriate salves and bandages to counteract snake poison, just in case.

As the compass is taken, Halsim looks over to Katarina... and heads in that direction, taking a moment to inspect the compass himself. "I doubt this is a mundane object."

Lucita says, "if anyone wants to sketch the mural details, I've got a book they can have, but I can't draw."

Katarina glances down at the brass compass in her hand, lifting it then for Halsim and others to inspect at their leisure. "If the mural is anything to go by," she exhales, looking back at the elaborate painting behind them. "Then that's an easy thing to believe. Is there any detail on what it's supposed to guide us to?"

Khanne gestures to the mosaic and says, "it doesn't seem mundane at all. If you look at the mosaic, it seems to be what the man is holding... " She glances over again to the snatched up compass, noting then to Lucita, "I'll sketch it as we sail back... I have my own books. But thank you." She turns back to the mosaic, letting Halsim talk to Katarina and look at the compass itself.

The compass doesn't look like anything special. Even to those well-versed in the occult it wouldn't trigger any feeling of unease. And yet on the back is that teardrop and lightning bolt that is in common with the caches starting to be unearthed around the isles.

    "Thank you, Dame Thena," she tells the Knight of Solace once she has aided in the lessening of the pain. Then, Carita directions her attention to the murals on the wall. Carefully, to study them for any interesting visible signs of - well, like darkwater - for instance. Or a pictorial representation of any Archfiends. Curiosity is all.

Lucita simply watches the group, and the mural, the compass, and the room in which she stands, shuddering a little as her gaze passes over the spot she was trapped. "Seems the only thing I was good for was lever pulling, but guess you needed a hand to do that or would still be stuck. Not a crowd to be distracted or need for music to ease pain as Lady Eirene said helps, nor to show a peaceful facade on the group. Guess we did not know that in advance though."

Across the mosaic for all the tempest storms and dark clouds nary a sign of Archfiends, but it is clear the water is darkwater which surrounds the vessel. And beyond the sails, riding upon the horizon, is that a tentacle or the trick of the light?

    The mosaic is beautiful, isn't it? It draws a small smile from Carita.

"I have some theories on where this came from, but I'll need to do some research before I can say for sure." Halsim sighs, "More work... but I'll get to it. The obvious potential application is this thing directs you somewhere." Halsim shrugs. "A treasure map to a treasure map.... and an abandoned one at that." Halsim gets closer to the wall, inspecting as he starts to sketch on his notebook. "This whole thing gives the impression of a doomed voyage to find something in the Deeps... but if that were the case... I have no idea how it got from the Deeps, to an illusion clad island south of the Isles."

"Work is neverending..." Khanne notes to Halsim. "If I can help... let me know?"

With a compass in hand and a beautiful mosaic discovered, the intrepid band of adventurers return to the Unsullied. It's time to go home.