MASKTOURN

Gale 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 them on every side. There’s no way in, and no way out. The room is suffocatingly warm, dark and dry. Gale would soon begin to feel thirst clawing at her throat. They'd wake lying in their side, and soon realize they've been chained by the ankles. They'd have a lot of difficulty getting up or moving around, Before Gale, 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 Gale. The woman takes in a heavy breath, and finally speaks. Her voice is not that of the flaming apparition. “Welcome to the Halcyon Citadel.” @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Gale awoke with a start, quickly moving to stand before being pulled back by the chains. Chains. Why the hell was she chained? Where was she? Despite the panic in her chest, her breathing was perfectly calm. Controlled. She sat up as best as she could, looking to the woman speaking with a strangely calm expression. She gives her a smile, but her eyes remain in tense focus. “Huh. Funny, I don’t remember taking any invitation. Mind telling me your name, ma’am?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

(divine intuition please :3 @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄 )

(Literally her worst stat)

Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

used /r

# 15
Details:[d20-4 (19)]

(wow Gale)

(LMAO?)

The woman didn't smile in return. "It wasn't my invitation. I'm... sorry you have to be here." She took in a heavy breath. "My name is Albanes Shairoun. I am the Regnant and Septimal Lifebringer." The feeling would be faint, but Gale would get the sense the person she was facing was, in some way, divine. Somehow, inhuman. @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Her smile remains. “That so? You said the same place as that fiery thing, so you’re associated, I assume.” The smile fell slightly as she spoke her title. “You’re.. the real deal, huh. Why was I brought here, ah.. how d’you want me to refer to you?” It was probably better to be polite here, right?? The calm look was slipping. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Yes. The... figure that invited you is my predecessor." Albanes frowned. "Just 'Lifebringer' is fine, I guess. Or 'Albanes', but... that's a bit familiar." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

…Could this lady also turn into flames or- “Lifebringer, good to know. Why exactly am I here?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You've been brought here to compete. In a tournament." Albanes explained. "And it is likely you will not survive. I am sorry." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

The smile fell completely. Her eyes flickered around the room as she took her words in. She shook her head, green eyes thinning with panic. Still, her breathing was completely calm. “…I’m not- let me go. Send me back.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes closed her eyes and exhaled. "I can't." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

She bared her teeth, chains clacking again as she shifts. “Bullshit. Why not, huh!? I don’t have time for this, my sister needs me-“ @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"I understand you do not want to be here. I promise, if I could I would let you go back, but I can't." Albanes raised their hands in a gesture of surrender. "You are now in the Halcyon Citadel, the realm of the Lifebringer. My predecessor holds all power here, and they desire your presence." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄 (edited)

She stares into her eyes for a moment, before shifting back down. “…tch. Y’sound honest enough.. you’re stuck here too, then?” She lets out a sigh. The air briefly disturbing the lamps. “…Is there any way out?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"You can leave through death, or victory. The winner of the tournament will be allowed to return to their life before, and granted anything they desire. But only the winner is given such prizes." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

She stares at her, wide eyed. Anything. Life bringer. “…Is this some sorta gladiator type of.. you want us to kill someone to win. And then we get- sorry, what- what d’you mean by anything??” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

Albanes nodded. "You will have to kill to win, yes. And... anything within our power to give. I don't think there are many things that would be impossible for my predecessor or myself to achieve." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

God, that’s fucked up. But… “Can- can you… bring back the dead, or at least find someone missing??” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Those are two very different feats." Albanes said. "But yes. I am very confident we would be able to do either." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Her breath hitches for just a moment before returning to normal. She bites her lip, before nodding. “Okay. Okay- then.. how is this gonna work, are- are there other people with powers here, or?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yes. The other contestants are being spoken to, just as you are. Once that is done, you will be organized into matches, and you will compete, til only one remains." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Alright.. why.. why is your ‘predecessor’ doing this?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I can't share that information." Albanes said, her tone laced with guilt. @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Fair enough, I guess. Y’don’t sound happy ‘bout any of this.. You seem powerful, can’t you do something?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"My predecessor... is more powerful than I am. They are the embodiment of the power I hold." Albanes said, after a pause. "There is little I can do that could harm them, especially without harming myself." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Shiiit. This whole god stuff was complicated. “Damn, alright then.. hey, if.. If you really are a god… Do you know wh-where my brother is? Roy? Um, Roy Davenport.” Her voice crackled slightly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Roy... Davenport." Albanes repeated. "I.. don't know where he is, I'm not that kind of deity. I'm sorry." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Another deep sigh. Albanes would feel a light, fresh breeze brush past her, before the oppressive heat would close back in. “That’s alright.. ha, you’ll- you’ll just tell me later, yeah? Once I win.” She gave another strained smile. “..Anything I should know?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Yes. When you win." Albanes said. Her tone, nor her face, revealed anything. "If you have any more questions, I can answer them. Otherwise, we'll move on." She gestured to the bowls. @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Right. She’ll get out. She’ll get home. And Roy will be with her. “Can’t really think of anything else, except what’s in the bowls.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. You have to drink one of them." Albanes said. She'd been dreading this part. @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Ha, you… you really like dodging my questions, Lifebringer. What’s in them.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"I'm... not supposed to tell you. But none of them will harm you." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

She made a face, and stared at the bowls. “Great.. can you at least tell me which one is the least gross.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If it were my choice, I would go with... this one." She pointed to the brownish-clear one in the middle, then shifted towards the white one. "But this one is also alright." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Ugh.. Clear brown did not look pleasant, still, all Gale had to go on was this lady’s word. “Alright. All of it?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Only a few sips." Albanes said. @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Thank g- uh, yeah. Cool.” She slowly reached for the bowl, psyching herself up before taking a drink. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes simply watched, resigned. The liquid in the bowl was broth! Meaty and salty and pretty mediocre. It tasted like mutton broth, if Gale would be able to differentiate that. Overall, it was pretty bland. At least the warmth from the room kept it hot. @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Oh. That actually… wasn’t that bad! “Huh. What now?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes sighed. "Now... I will have to put you to sleep til the tournament starts. It won't hurt." @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

She sets down the bowl and frowns. “…I’m really at your mercy here, huh. Fine then.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes rose to her feet as Gale set down the bowl, and walked across the table. She rested her hand on Gale's forehead. "I'll give you a countdown from three, okay?" @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

She swallowed thickly, her forehead twitching slightly under Albanes’ touch. Her skin felt pleasantly cool. “Got it. …thanks.” She sounded nervous. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 25
Details:[d20+5 (20)]

(damn girl)

7:13 PM

( @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄 ...def)

Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

used /r

# 6
Details:[d20+2 (4)]

(fuckin OUT)

"Of course." Albanes replied, though it seemed an automatic response, "Three... two... one." At 'one', Gale was out like a light. @Sauce | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄