MASKTOURN

Asha wakes in a dark, square room. The floor is dirt, but she's sitting on a woven rug. The walls are stone brick, and enclose her on every side. There’s no way in, and no way out. The room is suffocatingly warm, dark and dry. Asha would soon begin to feel thirst clawing at her throat. Asha would wake on her side, and soon find she hasn't been restrained at all. Before Asha, 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 woman. She appears to be middle aged, with warm, pale skin and brown, graying curls spilling over her shoulders. She wears a simple, cream-colored dress, with a long red vest over it. Her gaze is melancholy, almost distant, as she makes eye contact with Asha. The woman takes in a heavy breath, and finally speaks. Her voice is not that of the flaming apparition. “Welcome to the Halcyon Citadel.” @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

The first thing Asha did was cough, still curled over on her side. Her throat hurt. But this wasn't what the floor of her bedroom felt like. She had been moved. She jolted upright, instantly taking in deep breaths and frantically looking around the room. "Wh-what-? No no no I- why am I here? Wh-who are you? Is that p-person who was on fire okay??" Asha asked, her voice laced with concern for not only herself, but that flaming apparition she had seen right before she passed out. .... this probably wasn't menopause like she was thinking it was during that hot flash. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Calm down. You're okay." The woman said, her voice calming over its frantic undertone. "The... person on fire is okay, too. Everyone's okay. You've been brought here to compete in a tournament.' @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Fsm. Hopefully she just hit her head on the way down and this was all some baby stress induced nightmare. "I-i can't compete, again, I just had a baby. You have to let me leave." Asha begged, slowly moving closer toward Albanes, and the table. "My baby is only five weeks old. She needs me at home. She doesn't have enough bottles to last for- however long this will take. I need to go home. Now." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm sorry. But it's out of my hands- I'm very, very sorry this has to happen. I am. But there's nothing I can do." The woman pleaded. "I would send you home if I could. I promise." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"If it's not you, then who do I need to talk to to get home? Let me talk to them. This is ridiculous." Asha said, glancing around to try to find the exit to the room, only to see that there really wasn't one.. "I've already competed in one tournament and got away. I think I've done my time, cosmically, or whatever this is about." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I- you would have to talk to my predecessor. But- you can't right now. I'm really sorry." She also didn't think her predecessor would listen to any of the contestant's pleas, but she didn't bring that up. "If you have any questions, I can answer them." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Judging by the age of this woman, her predecessor must have been some real ancient person. Someone having their damn end of life crisis and thinking it would be fun to host a tournament. Asha took in a deep breath to collect herself. Raging at this woman wouldn't do anything, she'd rather save her strongest words for whoever was actually in charge. "Is Roman okay? And my kids?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Your family is safe. They're worried about you, of course, but they're alright." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, that was good to hear, even if it may have been a lie. She reached over to her hip where her purse usually rested, but it was gone. And her overnight bag was gone too. Shit. "M-my bags- I need those, my medicine a-and- other things are in there." Asha said, feeling a little embarrassed. "I need them. I had just- just finished up packing my things when you kidnapped me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You'll get them back. Once we're done here." The woman reassured. "And if you need anything more, I... should be able to get it for you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"..." Asha fiddled with her hands. She was not comfortable talking about this to some stranger, but for the wellbeing of her baby, she'd continue. "M-my pumping supplies are in my overnight bag, if you can get me things I request, can y-you send things too? C-can you send some bottles back to Mlipuko? Kaisa only has enough for a day and a half back home. A-and it's a long drive to get more formula in Mlipuko, we o-only have a fixed supply.. I-i didn't anticipate needing any for her." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

She had to think about that for a second. "Yeah. Yeah, I should be able to do that. I can get some bottles back to your home." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"How long will shipping be back to there..? I don't- I don't really know where we are right now.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'd- have to deliver them personally. We're in a separate dimension from yours. But that means it shouldn't take me too long to get them there." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"... W-we're what..? Like an alien planet like America..?" Asha asked slowly. If the rest of the Americans were anything like that asshole she met, she didn't really want anything else to do with them. "H-how did I get here?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"More like... another plane of existence. This is the Halcyon Citadel, the realm of the Lifebringer." The woman explained. "You were brought here, by a god." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I-i'm dead?!" Asha suddenly exclaimed. Hell was real it and it was a tournament. "I-i don't- the Lifebringer isn't a thing in Ninjago! I-i don't think I belong here-" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No- no, you're still alive. For now." The woman reassured- as reassuring as she could be. "I'm sorry. I really am. But- uh, the Lifebringer is real. And you're here." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Wh-what do you mean for now?!" Asha yelled back, hitting her hands on the floor. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The woman flinched. "It's- very likely you will die here. I'm sorry." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

No amount of bottles she could pump here would be enough for the months Kaisa would be needing. She wouldn't get to send Dekha off to school for the first time. Lupita would never get the help she needed at home with her reading assignments- Roman wasn't a very good teacher.. and Roman.. Well, he'd be a single dad. And Mlipuko.. She had the powers. She wasn't home to give them away or let them loose. Her powers would die with her, and with that, the prosperity of her entire village. "No.." Asha whimpered. She slowly lowered her head to the table and rested her hands on the back of it. "No no no no no no no no.. y-you're evil. H-how could you- how could you do this?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The woman's face twisted into guilty anguish. "I'm sorry. I really am. But there's nothing I can do about it. It's out of my hands." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"G-get your predecessor a-and let me talk to them. That's what you can do. If you're so insistent th-that you can't do anything else.." Asha sobbed, still hiding her face away on the table. "S-so many people at home rely on me- y-you can't just do this. It's not fair." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I can't bring them here. Not now. I'm sorry." The woman said. "I know it's not fair. I'm sorry. Death never is." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha kept her head down on the table. "Wh-what do you kn-know about death.." Asha sniffled, moving her hands to wipe off her face. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"A lot, actually." The woman muttered. "Look- it's going to be okay. I'll take care of you, and your family, for as long as I can. It'll be okay." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Y-you just said I'm going to die. Things aren't going to be okay" Didn't seem like she was going to be calmed down so easily. "D-did you- did you take people from the other tournament besides m-me? Like Spade or Mars or J-Juno?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Right now, you're the only person from your dimension that's been brought here." She said, then stiffened. "... Juno isn't here." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

So she was very alone here. But she did find that clarification odd. ".. a-and Spade and Mars aren't, too..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The woman seemed to snap out of whatever odd moment she had been in. "No. Not Spade, or Mars, or anyone else who attended that tournament." Well, save for one person. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Wh-why was I ever brought here..? I really can't fight in this.. state.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm not sure. I don't think my predecessor had a reason for choosing you specifically." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"So they chose to uproot my e-entire life, as well as my village's, j-just at random? Why were other people chosen??" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Most were chosen at random, like you. Some were chosen because of my predecessors's existing relationships with them- or rather, the deities they're associated with. A few were chosen specifically because my predecessor believes it can use them." Albanes explained. "Trust me, it's probably... better for you, that you were chosen at random. You're less likely to be... used for something." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Wh-.. what are the chosen people going to get used for? Are you taking people's powers here, too? Wh-who all is here?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I can't tell you that." From the expression on their face, though, it wasn't good. "We aren't taking your powers, though. I can't tell you who all is here." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha didn't believe for a second that this wasn't about powers. Sure, and when the losers lose, they go on a boat to go home.. "I-i escaped from one of these before. I'll do it again. I'll kill you just like how I killed Chen and the man that s-stole my powers. You can't keep me here." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"..." Albanes didn't have a reply to that. "I wish you luck, then." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha's instinct was to say thank you, but she bit her tongue. This woman across from her didn't deserve her praise or platitudes. Asha just crossed her arms and stared across the table at Albanes. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If you don't have any more questions, we should move on." She gestured to the bowls between them. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha glanced down at the bowls, obviously wrinkling up her nose. "I'm not drinking any of those, if that's what you want me to do. Sorry." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You can't leave this room til you do." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Are you stuck here too until I do it?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yes." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha hummed to herself. So.. she had the power to somewhat trap this other person here. But also trap herself. But there had to be some other way out.. She slowly reached her arm forward toward the bowl furthest to the right, but instead of grabbing it, she swept her arm across the table in an attempt to knock all of them off the table.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

All three bowls clattered to the floor, spilling their contents all over the nice rugs. Wordlessly, Albanes picked up each bowl and put it back in its proper spot. They sat empty for only a moment, before filling with the same liquids they once held. The source of the new liquid wasn't clear- it looked as if it was being poured in from nothing. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"What-??" Asha mumbled. She thought, surely, that Albanes would have had to get up and leave to get replacements, and that would be her chance to run out.. Uh. At least she knew they were fresh now...? Fresh from whatever dimension they came from, anyway. "... you still can't make me drink it." Asha huffed. "I don't even know what those are." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You can wait as long as you like." Albanes said. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha kept her arms crossed and stared down at the floor. She said nothing else. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes folded her arms over her lap and said nothing. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

And so they waited. Eventually Asha laid down on the rug and closed her eyes in an attempt to out wait Albanes. ... Her plan was eventually thwarted by her own body as she felt pain growing in her chest. Yeah, at five weeks you can't really go more than three hours at a time.. And it had already been a while before she pumped before she got taken. .. she was going to do it at her friends' house. Where she could actually relax. So much for that. She winced as she sat up, lightly holding her hand over her chest. Taking in a deep breath, she winced even more. "F-fine- can you- can you at least tell me what they are..?" Asha nearly whispered. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes pointed to the white liquid, "That one's goat's milk," then the brownish one, "that's mutton broth," and finally the red. "And that's blood." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha didn't want to think about milk anymore. And why on Ninjago would anyone just drink a random bowl of blood?? The diseases! The diseases!!!! "Who's- who's blood is that???" Asha mumbled, already certain on drinking the broth but still very concerned. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"A woman named Saiytsa Senchaidiyeit. She's been dead for... a while." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Then h-how did you get her blood..??? Is that even safe to drink..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's a complicated question with a complicated answer. You don't have to drink it, if you don't want to. You have other options." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I didn't want to drink it, I was just.. concerned." Asha said. So, no blood, no milk.. She sighed and picked up the bowl with the broth. She took a small sip and paused to let herself taste it before she drank it all. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

It was definitely broth! Meaty, salty- honestly kind of bland, like a soup with no ingredients. But at least Albanes had told the truth about it. She watched as Asha drank. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

After her first mouth full, Asha was getting even more uncomfortable with Albanes staring. She lowered the bowl. "Can you- can you not stare at me? It's really freaking me out." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm sorry. I have to. But you don't have to drink any more, if you don't want to." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well.. Asha put the bowl back on the table. "Why do you have to stare??" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I have to make sure you're actually drinking it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Why does it matter if I drink it? What's so special about it?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's not inherently special. My predecessor would just like to make sure that everybody drinks something." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha had a hard time believing that her predecessor was just kind enough to want to make sure everyone got a drink. "... Whatever. So what happens now? You going to make a door or something?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Now, I will have to.. put you to rest, I suppose is a kind way to say it." Albanes hummed uncomfortably. "You will wake when the tournament begins." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Wh-what? No- you can't put me to rest!" Asha scooted back from the table. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I have to. I'm sorry. It won't hurt." Albanes promised. She stood up. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I-i'll- I'll blow you up if you come near me!" Asha warned, holding the palm of her hand out toward Albanes. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes didn't seem particularly... threatened, but stalled. "This has to happen." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

used /r

# 7
Details:[d20+1 (6)]

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs def

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 22
Details:[d20+7 (15)]

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

A few sparks shot out from Asha's hand, but.. nothing near an explosion. "St-stay back! If- if Roman hears about this, he'll- he'll-" Roman really wasn't a fighter.. "he'll get this whole place shut down!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I won't hurt you. I promise." Albanes maintained. She stepped closer to Asha. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

used /r

# 2
Details:[d20+1 (1)]

(ASHA!)

8:14 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 14
Details:[d20+7 (7)]

(as expected)

8:14 PM

(can u roll d5 damage for me)

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

used /r

# 3
Details:[d5 (3)]

(Asha is at 22HP) "Stay-" Finally, something ignited. There was a small spark that headed toward Albanes, but the explosion that came from her hand seemed to backfire.. "Ah!" Asha yelled, moving her hand closer back to herself. Skin had been blasted off in some places, revealing the underlying muscle. "No no no no-" Asha squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered to herself, her injured hand trembling awfully in front of her. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes neared Asha, and put a hand on her shoulder. At the touch, the injury was instantly healed- her hand looked exactly as it had before. "I'm sorry. Please don't hurt yourself." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

8:26 PM

(Asha is back to max hp btw)

Asha flinched back as Albanes touched her, but slowly opened her eyes as her hand healed. "Eh- h-how??" Asha asked, looking her freshly healed hand over.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm a healer." Albanes explained. She didn't move her hand from Asha's shoulder. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Like- like Juno." Asha took in more deep breaths. "Th-that actually- felt a lot like Juno.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That... would make sense. They're the same powers." Albanes shrugged. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

used /r

# 3
Details:[d20+1 (2)]

(Asha you're awful(

8:31 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 8
Details:[d20+7 (1)]

(girl)

(Does that hit because 1 or(

(ill roll a d5 since its a crit fail)

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 4
Details:[d5 (4)]

(albanes 96 hp)

(DAMN(

8:34 PM

Asha tried to shove Albanes away. "Y-you already stole his powers?!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 16
Details:[d20+5 (11)]

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 def

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

used /r

# 19
Details:[d20-1 (20)]

(ASHA!)

(damn asha)

8:37 PM

"He gave them to me." Albanes said, clearly somewhat caught off guard. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"He wouldn't do that- he needed them to bring his dead wife back!" Asha said and scooted away from Albanes again. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 12
Details:[d20+5 (7)]

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 def

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

used /r

# 3
Details:[d20-1 (4)]

(rip girl)

8:41 PM

Albanes didn't reply, but reached out and placed her hand over Asha's forehead. At the moment of contact, Asha fell unconscious. Goodnight! @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha slumped to the floor, yep, unconscious. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs