MASKTOURN

Invo wakes in a dark, square room. The floor is dirt, but he's sitting on a woven rug. The walls are stone brick, and enclose him on every side. There’s no way in, and no way out. The room is suffocatingly warm, dark and dry. Invo would soon begin to feel thirst clawing at his throat. He woke laying on his side, and would soon realize he's been chained at the ankles and wrists. He still had most of his normal range of motion, but couldn't get up without risking tripping. Before Invo, sat a small, low table, covered by a rug similar to the one they sat upon. Two oil lamps flicker at either ends of the table, their small lights the only in the room. The only other objects on the table are three small wooden bowls, all filled with an unidentifiable liquid. The first is white, opaque and creamy. The second is glassy and clear, with a slight cloudy, brownish color to it. The third is just as opaque as the first, but is a deep, muddy red in color. Across from the table is the only other person in the room. A young adult. They’re incredibly pale, with skin so light it’s almost translucent in the low light. Their straight, white hair is cut choppily over its brow and shoulders, and it wears a black-and-white tunic draped haphazardly over a shoulder. Their gaze is brilliant-gold and haunting, piercing through the barriers of Invo's mind. The person smiles widely, and finally speaks. Its voice is that of the flaming apparition. “Welcome to the Halcyon Citadel.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

It took a few moments for Invo's brain to catch up to what had happened to him. No longer was he under the wet rain of Behdsairma, but instead. wherever this uncomfortably warm place was. His eyes fluttered opened, groaning as he felt a small ache on his side. When the stranger in front of them spoke, Invo instinctively tried to reach for his machete, but instead found his arms chained and the blade gone. Underneath his mask, Invo gritted his teeth. Was this the Lifebringer Hmarab told him about? Invo had never seen them in person, but the description of the host was different than what Hmarab had last told him. Perhaps this was a servant then? "Who are you?" Invo asked simply, his voice hoarse and low. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

(divine intuition please :3 @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

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# 12
Details:[d20+4 (8)]

The person raised near-invisible eyebrows, its smile widened. "I am Naiyta Hauryan. I am the Primal, the Nascent Lifebringer." The name would definitely be familiar to Invo. As would the dawning sensation he was definitely speaking to a deity. @DiceParser

12:21 PM

(@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske I tagged the dicebot

)

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

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# 14
Details:[d20-4 (18)]

(invo you mad lad you somehow did it)

(pass!)

The ends of Invo's hair stood on edge as he listened to Naiyta. This wasn't Yeonaixho, or even Ttakeqeri. This was the first Lifebringer. How? And more importantly, why? His brows scrunched as he looked over Naiyta, then around at their surroundings. He was stuck in a exit less room with only some questionable bowls of liquid, a couple of lamps, table, and then themselves. Well, that was enough for Invo. Without saying anything, Invo suddenly vanished like liquid into the closest shadow, leaving his chains to dangle and rattle. However, with no possible exit, Invo slowly emerged back from the shadow, only his eyes and top of his head visible to Naiyta. "..Where is Yeonaixho?" Invo asked, clearly more concerned about why this God was trifling with his affairs. Gods don't typically mess with other ones unless they were ready to face the consequences.@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta simply watched Invo vanish and reappear, seemingly not any more threatened than when he was chained up. "Yeonaixho is dead." Naiyta replied simply. "He has been for quite some time now. There is a new regnant Lifebringer." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

A new Lifebringer? Hmarab did not tell him about this. Invo's brows scrunched once again, visibly annoyed. What did they say again about coming here? A 'tournament of bloodshed'? Ridiculous. He already had plenty of the spoils of war. Invo needed, nor wanted more. "Who?" Invo asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Her name is Albanes Shairoun." Naiyta replied simply. They wouldn't offer more information unless Invo specifically asked for it. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Albanes Shairoun. Invo made sure to keep note of that. He was sure Hmarab would be grateful to know the name of the next Lifebringer host, after all. He stared at Naiyta for a while, thinking of what he could do to get out of this situation. "How are you alive?" Invo decided to ask instead. Hmarab would probably also want to know. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I am the God of Eternity. Of persistence and immortality." It shrugged. "I can never, truly die." "Though, if you seek a more specific answer: you are in the Halycon Citadel. My realm. Everything here was created by me- and it is here, I have remained since my exit from your mortal plane." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Hm, so Naiyta had brought him to some parallel plane. That put Invo at a disadvantage. Damn it all! Hmarab wouldn't be able to help him either if they were in a different realm! Invo's hands clenched, still hidden in shadow. "The Great Hmarab will not be happy you took one of Her best servants. What do you want form me, Lifebringer?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta shrugged. "I do not overly concern myself with my reputation among other deities. Many, including your Great Hmarab, have always had a rather... unfavorable opinion of me." Their gaze met Invo's. "I have brought you here to compete." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Invo's teeth nearly grind to dust as he listened to the way Naiyta spoke about Hmarab. If only he had his machete. He was already at a disadvantage without it. "For what?" Invo huffed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Do you ask what you will be competing for, or why I have organized a tournament?" Naiyta asked. Its tone was almost teasing. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Invo scoffed and somehow glared even deeper at Naiyta. "Both," he huffed with an impatient tone. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You will be competing for your life. It is a tournament to the death, after all. I will also award the victor with anything they desire- within reason, of course." "As for your second question," They hummed, "There is an imbalance within my divine domain. This is my attempt at righting it." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Both answers equally intrigued Invo. Anything he desired? Hmarab had already promised something similar... but if he was stuck in this alternate dimension, he wouldn't be able to collect his reward from Hmarab. Nor if he was dead. Invo's hands clutched and flexed again. The second answer did make Invo raise a brow, however. Was there some internal struggle happening right now? "For the ruler of this realm, you must be quite weak to need a Servant to help." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta's brow furrowed, their cool facade slipping into actual anger. "I am not weak," Their voice shook. "But this situation is out of my control and I require a solution. I do not use you as a servant but as a tool. And you will not speak to me in such a manner." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Invo couldn't help the small snicker that escaped his lips, and he looked rather connivingly at Naiyta. "My God is Hmarab," Invo simply replied, meaning he wasn't Naiyta's tool. Only Hmarab's. "So, so, weak and pitiful you are, Lifebringer," Invo hissed like a poison to his tongue. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You can believe that all you wish," Naiyta hissed. "But now you are in my realm, under my rule. It will be for my cause you die, by my hand. And when you die your soul will fall into my hands." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

As if to just piss Naiyta off, Invo suddenly reached up to his ears and pulled something out of from the inside while it was talking--He took out his hearing aids. He pocketed them underneath his cloak before shaking his head at Naiyta. Nuh-uh. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta scoffed, muttered something that Invo couldn't hear and wouldn't be able to understand even if he could, and just stood there. It maintiained eye contact with Invo. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Invo kept the eye contact, still considering how he could beat Naiyta and getting out of here. Invo then suddenly pointed to the bowls of liquid on the table. Clearly, he wanted to know what those were. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta perked up a bit at Invo's interest in the bowls. Finally, they could get this over with. "Drink one." They said, and pantomimed drinking a bowl of soup with their hands. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Invo watched as Naiyta motioned to drink the liquid, to which Invo grimaced. He raised his hands up from the shadows so Naiyta could see him sign. No. That's disgusting, he signed with a shake of his head. He didn't particularly care if Naiyta could understand him or not. The God should be smart enough to understand him. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta didn't understand Invo's signing exactly, but it got the picture. "You'll be in here til you do." It shrugged. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

The man scowled at that. What sort of liquid is it? Invo signed with a raised brow and then pointed to the first bowl. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Drink it and find out." Naiyta replied. "It won't hurt you." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Well, whatever Invo could read of Naiyta's lips didn't please him. He crossed his arms, huffing. Invo stood there, half shadow, half above the ground as he glared at Naiyta for a good while. It was clear to him that no matter how weak Naiyta might of been at the moment, Invo was still unable to leave this retched space. Slowly, Invo pulled himself out from the shadow and walked over towards the table. He pointed towards the last bowl, raising a brow again. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm not telling you what they are." Naiyta said plainly. "You can find out on your own." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

'Why not?' He signed with frustrated motions. Brahma was right. The Lifebringer was such a trifling God. No wonder Invo didn't even know there was a new one amongst the mortals. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Because you do not need to know." They sneered. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Invo rolled his eyes. 'That's what a weak God would say,' he egged. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta didn't reply. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Do all Lifebringers choose to be as vague and noncooperative as you?' Invo huffed as he signed. 'Is the newest one as disappointing as you are?' @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If you want to wait here til you die, that's also a choice you have." Naiyta said in reply. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Invo looked down at Naiyta, quirking a brow. 'Truly pathetic,' Invo signed with a shake of his head. He looked back down at the bowls of liquid, unsure what to make of it. He picked two up, the clear red one and the opaque white one, one in each hand to examine them. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Now that he was closer to it, Invo would discover just how strongly the red liquid smelled of blood. Probably because it was blood. The white liquid didn't smell like anything in particular. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Invo didn't seem to care for either substance in particular. He put them both down before picking up the last bowl, examining it as well. (edited)

10:06 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The final bowl had a sort of salty, meaty smell. It was probably a broth of some kind. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

A soup..? Now that was definitely strange in comparison to the other bowls. Taking in a deep breath, a sigh, more likely, Invo pulled down his mask. The scar running between his right cheek down his lips became visible as he did so. "Om shanti om," Invo quickly prayed before drinking the liquid. Better get this over with. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Invo would discover it was definitely a broth- salty, meaty, somewhat-hearty broth. Yum? It was honestly kind of plain, with none of the ingredients one would usually add to make a soup. Naiyta watched with quiet interest, the entire time Invo drank. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Invo drank, but didn't finish the bowl. He honestly didn't like the taste very much. He was used to more well seasoned food. Sorry Naiyta. He lowered the bowl, but continued holding it as he looked at Naiyta, expecting something to happen. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta watched intently as Invo drank the broth, not breaking eye contact or blinking once. They smiled. Nothing happened, but Naiyta stood. It took the bowl from Invo's hands, and placed it back on the table. Then, they stepped over the table, and put their hand on his forehead. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

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# 8
Details:[d20+2 (6)]

(U r pathetic invo. Can naiyta defend that lol) @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

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# 7
Details:[d20+5 (2)]

(jeez nays)

11:08 PM

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

(no way LMAO... he's just punching them so)

11:09 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

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# 3
Details:[d5 (3)]

(97 hp)

11:09 PM

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

(EXCUSE ME?)

The moment it touched him, Invo instinctively struck Naiyta in the jaw. His breath raced as he glared at the God. "Don't touch me," he seethed. No one was allowed to touch him beside Hmarab. Especially no other God. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

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# 14
Details:[d20+5 (9)]

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske def

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

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# 14
Details:[d20+3 (11)]

(1 hit 2 miss)

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

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# 1
Details:[d2 (1)]

(rip invo)

(Get got invo)

"Gah!" Naiyta exclaimed as they were punched, and scrambled to grab the man's arm. From the moment they made contact with him, Invo's consciousness was overtaken by slumber. He'd only be able to fight it for seconds before he collapsed completely. Goodnight! Naiyta stood over him as he fell, muttering a curse as they righted their jaw... @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

(Goodnight twunk

)