The Silver Stars of the Eclipsing Moon

[Ozzy_G]

We got the order of the artefacts wrong, replies Karl.

[The Great Skenardo]

Bronsk
Still hugging the priestess, Bronsk bows his furry muzzle in shame, but remains silent for the time being.

[Maryring]

"The order of the artefacts wrong?" For a second, Mia looks curiously at Karl before she suddenly jumps to her feet, a feat that causes her to stumble and grit her teeth because of the pain. However, even though she is hurting, she still manages to speak out. "The artefacts. Where are they? And where's Lisaa and Tyrgen?"

[The Great Skenardo]

Vakri
As Mia pulls away, the werewolf seems to relax a little. When next he meets your gaze, the eyes are once more yellow and scrutinizing.
"They are still down below. There is another riddle, one to do with the function of the artifacts."

[Maryring]

"I see." Mia takes a few steps forward, towards the pool of ice in the middle of the room. She seems to be in less pain now, though it is obvious that her head still hurts, as her steps are clumsy. "Then we'll just have to go down there and solve them. Come on."

[The Great Skenardo]

Vakri
"No." The word is simple and definite in its finality.
"You have been weakened by the blast. You must rest here for a while longer. Warm yourself and regain your composure. Then, you may help."

[Maryring]

"Excuse me?" Mia turns towards Vakri. "Who gave you the authority to order me to stop working?"

[The Great Skenardo]

Vakri
Insofar as a wolf's expression can be read, the hybrid looks puzzled.
"Authority?" it asks. It looks to the side, as if seeking an answer from the wooden floor.
Apparently finding none, Vakri returns his yellow-eyed gaze to Mia
"Why would there be authority? Bronsk, with his medical eye, tells me that another blast could freeze you solid, and it is certain we will guess wrong once more. We do not want you to die."

[Amiria]

Lisaa

Lisaa and Tyrgen stayed down in the chamber and argue about the function of the artefacts and what went wrong.

"Karl was right, we were to hasty with the riddle ..."

[Maryring]

"No, but there has to be a reason as to why the orbs targetted me. I was far away, I did nothing with the relics, and I was the last one to enter the realm. Frankly, to me that suggests that there is another reason for why they targetted me. And that means it may very well be something with me that attracted them. So if you guess wrong again, it doesn't matter where I am. They'll hit me once more. And if I'm wrong, and both orbs hit me at random... well, then it could harm any of you too. And as one of Lady Iris' chosen soldiers, I can't let you face this danger alone." Mia's voice is determined, and she barely shows any sign of hurting. It's obvious that she is trying hard to suppress her pain.

[The Great Skenardo]

Vakri
Vakri shakes his head
"Humans make so little sense. If one of the pack is injured, it hangs back. It allows itself to heal so that it may relieve its comrades who may be wounded later. Bravado is meaningless to the pack."
It pauses.
"Unless...you are making a challenge?"

[Maryring]

"This isn't bravado. And I'm not even..." Mia sighs. "How to explain it so you understand... okay, let me put it like this. I'm not a part of your pack. I come from a different pack, and my packleader has given me a task, a task I'm supposed to do, even at the cost of my own life. Besides, I may not be physically strong, but I have good insight into how magic works. Should the trap activate again, I will be able to prevent the magic from harming any of us. It is for the better for all of us that I come with you."

[The Great Skenardo]

Vakri
The seconds stretch long as Vakri stares. Finally, he speaks.
"I do not understand, but Bronsk tells me that he does. Very well. Let us go."

[Maryring]

Mia sighs relieved and smiles, before she descends down through the icy membrane into the wet world below, where the relics are still circling patiently.

[Ozzy_G]

Karl scratches his head nervously. Damn, I thought that the beam just shot up and you were in the way. I didn't think of it targetting anyone... anyway, I guess we need to go back to the riddles and think about them again.

[Maryring]

"Well, let's hope that your assumption is correct." Mia says while looking at Karl. "Getting hit by those beams were painful. It felt... the first orb was cold and hard, but the second... it felt like... almost as if several sharp objects tore through my body."

[Lycar]

"Uhm." Varek remarks "What if them orbs only struck you because you are not... you know.... werewolf ? Just saying....."

Lycar

[Maryring]

"Hmm... wait, what?" Mia looks at Varek. "Are you... telling me that Karl, Lisaa and Tyrgen are werewolves too?"

[Ozzy_G]

Who, us? Karl laughs. Don't be ridiculous. What would be the chances of that? I mean, one werewolf meeting another is unusual, but to randomly meet four werewolves?

[The Great Skenardo]

Vakri
Vakri says nothing, but begins once more to contemplate the riddles in the walls.

[Lycar]

"Hmm... wait, what?" Mia looks at Varek. "Are you... telling me that Karl, Lisaa and Tyrgen are werewolves too?"

"Uhm... no ? I mean.. hey, that can't be the reason anyway. Remember the coin ? When it shot out the cold rays or what that was ? They went for all of us. Yeah, guess them balls were just totally random and you just... got unlucky. "

Varek just crosses his fingers.

Lycar

[Maryring]

"Well... if you say so." Mia answers before she begins to contemplate the riddles herself.

[Ozzy_G]

Karl looks at the riddles again, and reads them out.
"Two faces, two places. I am heaven and hell. The purest of sins, the deepest of virtues."
"To do good, to do evil. I die alone as I make the virtue of sacrifice."
"I hold secrets to be dispelled, and an eternity of neverending charity."
"I bring ruin, I cause corruption and war is my creation. I caused the past, and I weep for the future."
"I have seen it all. The forests and mountains and the sea. I am the guide who shows the soul the way home."
He turns to the others. Well, we got something wrong the first time, but we may have got up to three correct. We'll need to be more careful this time certainly.

[The Great Skenardo]

Vakir
That bit of awkwardness aside, the hybrid takes once more its seat on the floor.
"Hm. Does a sword cause wars, or do wars cause swords? The sword, I think goes to this riddle." Vakri points with a clawed finger to the wall with the fourth riddle.
"The staff is a guide. The last riddle."

[Ozzy_G]

Karl looks unconvinced. That seems to make sense, but then that's what we thought last time. We may have gotten those right and the others wrong, but still...

[The Great Skenardo]

Vakri
"It is known that the coin or the mirror must be the first riddle, true? These are the only things that have two faces. But Only a mirror can show two places, yes?"

[Amiria]

Lisaa

"That sounds right. The sword, the cup, and the staff were in the right position, we just mixed up the coin and the mirror. Uh, I believe. Or do you have doubts about the other three items ?", says the elf.

[The Great Skenardo]

Vakri
"We must try, then."
With a slinking motion, Vakri inches a little closer to Mia.

[Maryring]

"Hmm... perhaps..." Mia says as the relics are put into place. She glances shortly towards Vakri, before she brings up her hands, readying a spell. Like the last time, the walls meld into a cascade of blue light, before beams shoot out from the wall and change into a thorny rose of ice. The rose floats in midair for a few seconds, before it shoots towards Karl at high speed. However, Mia quickly casts a spell at the rose, and it blinks out of existance completely. "That was close..." Mia says, breathing a heavy sigh of relief.

[Lycar]

Varek blinks "Whew... close... heh, see ? Totally random."

Lycar