MASKTOURN

Lacey 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. Lacey would soon begin to feel thirst clawing at her throat. She'd wake laying on her side, and soon discover she isn't restrained in any way. Before Lacey, 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 Lacey. The woman takes in a heavy breath, and finally speaks. Her voice is not that of the flaming apparition. “Welcome to the Halcyon Citadel.” @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

Lacey coughed, rubbing her throat as she slowly stood up. Glancing around the room was no issue even with the two small lights. Her eyes seeming to slightly glow when she opened them. God she was thirsty. She jumps a bit as she makes eye contact with the woman, hair for a moment glowing from her being startled before going back to normal. She was confused when they started to speak. "I'm- I'm sorry what??" She was a bit confused and baffled at the same time. Trying to focus on anything bit how dry her throat was. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You're in the Halcyon Citadel," The woman chose her words carefully. "You've been brought here to compete." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"Yeah... I got that." She awkwardly raises an eyebrow. Eyes flicking for a moment to the bowls of.... some sort of liquids before back to the woman. "You really should of had... whatever that was. Confirm with a yes or no answer." She started to walk towards the table slowly. The woman seemed to be careful with her wording. Either out of consideration for the tense situation of basically being kidnapped in her opinion, or to ensure she didn't say anything she shouldn't. Or couldn't. Hm. "... and. Um. You are? I assume your a part of this 'competition' somehow seeing as you were here when I woke up." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

(divine intuition pls :3 @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠 )

Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

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# 17
Details:[D20+2 (15)]

"Please, sit down." The woman said, more of an order than a request, with a slightly raised hand- metaphorically stopping Lacey, if not physically. "It was not my choice. I had little say in how you all were selected." They took in a heavy, uncertain breath. "My name is Albanes Shairoun. I am the Septimal and Regnant Lifebringer." Though the words might not be familiar to Lacey, she would understand the power and meaning behind them. She was talking to a deity, on that deity's home turf. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"Oh- oooh. Uh. Sorry. " She goes to sit down. Lacey could tell she was genuine in not really having much of a choice in the selection process which made her feel a bit better at least. "I also apologize for my rudeness, miss. Uh. Do you prefer being referred to by your name or title? I know deities can vary in how formal they wish people to be talking about them - let alone around them in the same room, and I wish not to offend." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

Something subtle shifted in the woman's expression, though what or why Lacey wouldn't be able to tell. "Just... 'Lifebringer' is fine. There's no need to be overly ornate." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"Of course. Mainly wishing to be polite at least, Lifebringer." She gives an attempt at a smile. A part of her worried that she couldn't tell what she was thinking, but that was for later. Hopefully. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Thank you. I do appreciate it." Albanes nodded. "And I am sorry, that you were brought here, truly." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"I appreciate that as well." She nodded back. "But I have to ask, if I may. What are these bowls of liquid here for?" She points at said bowls. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We'll get to that in a bit." Albanes changed the topic. "First, I need to tell you some things about the tournament. Namely.... it is very, very likely you will die here." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

She winces at the bluntness. "With uh, what that flaming... thing? Person? I'll just say the one that spoke to me first so I'm not just rude - but I had a feeling with what they said with the blood and stuff it wasn't going to be pretty." She sighs. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Mhm. Naiyta has never been... subtle." Albanes frowned. "Then, I am glad you are informed. If you have any other questions, I may be able to answer them." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"Uh... I guess like. General rules." And if there was a way to get out of this alive but well, she didn't want to ruin any chance to know what was going on. "And why exactly this is happening? I can assume the more obvious but is this some sort of entertainment thing or...?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm. Rules... there aren't many. You will be expected to fight when your match occurs, but not to cause violence outside of that set time. Beyond that... treating your fellow contestants with general respect, and obeying the wishes of my predecessor or I, and other authorities in the Citadel. As long as you don't go out of your way to cause trouble, you should be fine." They sighed. "I can't tell you why this is happening. I'm sorry." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"I see...." She would take a mental note of that for later. "I understand. I'm at least glad that the violence that will occur will be limited to these fights." He rubbed her chin in thought for a moment. So the reason for this gathering of people was to not to be shared with those chosen. They were all specifically picked. And deities were involved with this, and at least Lifebringer was not willingly wanting to be a part of this but wouldn't- or couldn't- stop it from happening. "How will the contestants needs be met during our time hear." She finally asks. Along with the other information she'd gotten, seeing how they would be treated besides the bare minimum of treating the other contestants with respect would possibly help her later when she could talk with the others. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We will provide your base needs- food, shelter, medical attention if necessary. If you require anything... abnormal, we should be able to take care of that, too. We are already aware of your, and the rest of the contestant's, medical conditions." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"Thank you...?" Besides the invasion of privacy to know her medical needs, she suppose there isn't really anything she should be mad about given well, they likely just knew and didn't look at medical records. Deities and magic and stuff. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course. It's... the least we can do." Albanes replied flatly. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

She awkwardly clears her throat. "So uh... I have to ask. What are the bowls for? Cuz one looks like slightly dirty water, one looks... I don't wanna think about it, and the other is hopefully wine or something." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"They're to drink." Albanes informed unhelpfully. "Though, I would suggest not moving to that topic unless you have no more questions to ask." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

".. hm. Well... I guess the main thing is if there will be clothes we can change into? I doubt you've magiced everyone's wardrobe here so I just want to ensure that will be taken care of. Otherwise, no more questions. Thank you for answering the ones I did have previously - whether you could give a concrete answer or not. " She gives a polite nod to the deity again. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We will provide clothing." Albanes nodded, and didn't elaborate further. "If you have no more questions, simply pick a bowl and drink." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"I... suppose ill go for the white one." She really hoped it wasn't anything gross. She could feel her hairs stand up just from the idea of having to ve made to drink something disgusting. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Very well." Albanes nodded, and let Lacey do just that. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

Hesitantly she goes and finally drinks the liquid after telling herself it probably wouldn't be that bad. Hopefully. God she hoped it wasn't spoiled whatever it was. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

It was goat's milk! A bit warm, but fresh-tasting, sweet, and overall pretty neutral. Albanes watched silently as Lacey drank. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

She gives a momentary sigh of relief before finishing. It actually wasn't that bad honestly. The freshness of it seemed to at least ease her as she lowers the bowl. "Huh... you know. I don't think I've had goat milk before. It's not bad." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, I'm glad you like it. You'll likely be having more." Albanes said flatly, and began to get up. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

She notices this, setting the bowl down as she turns towards her. Lacey's eyes still glowing some in the dim light. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes stood up to her modest height, and began carefully walking around the table to where she could stand over Lacey. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"Uh... hi?" She awkwardly said. Not really knowing what was happening. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You'll wake when the tournament begins." Albanes informed her, and rested a hand on the woman's forehead. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"Huh? Wait wake up-?" She was confused, even more so when she rested a hand on her forehead. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

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

@Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠 def

Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

used /r

# 5
Details:[D20+3 (2)]

Lacey wouldn't have the chance to hear the answers to her questions before she was pushed into a deep, dreamless slumber. Goodnight! @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

It was like when the melatonin hits all at once, knocked out like light. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs