The water filled path 03OCT20
7
OCT/20
She Arrives – Selise:
They started to gather a couple of the bodies. It was time to test the “X” trap and get some rest. Oni was standing on the south end of the chamber. They were prepared to head out. The mist on the north end of the room started to shift and shimmer. Oni moved into a stance to charge to the far side of the room. Sora, who was in the rear, shifted to grab her weapon. A woman stepped through the mist into the room.
Oni looked at the woman and they made eye contact. Oni knew her. He was about to say, “Arnai how did you get here?” A rush of warmth surged through his entire body. A sense of joy rushed into his soul. He smiled. Again, Oni was surrounded by light and energy. He was on that plain of light. The black spire off in the distance.
Oni turned to see the person chained to the floor. He saw Arnia. Before it was just her voice, but now it was her in the flesh. She was chained to the plain with that blue-black chain. The sphere was still chained next to her. The rainbow energy still smashing all over the glass globe. Oni stared at it. He saw less rainbow. It is as if parts of the rainbow no longer exist within the globe. Tears start to flow from his face. He turned to see Arnia. With great fear on her face, “You must hurry.”
Selise: “Oni, Mar’iya, … how in Tiamat’s grace did I end up here.”
Mar’iya: “Selise, where did you come from.”
Oni stared at Arnia. He longed for her. He wanted to stay here with her and bask in her arms. He heard Selise’s names, but it did not process for him. He was here and not there. He wanted to be here and not there. Arnia put out her hand, “you must go back. You must hurry. I need you.” Oni shock his head. Did he care. He could stay here forever even if that forever was minutes. It might be worth it. Arnia pushed her hand out again, “you must go back.” Mar’iya’s voice sunk in again, “Selise, where did you come from?” Oni blinked his tear-filled eyes several times, and he was back. Selise stood on the far end of the chamber, “Selise, how did you get here?”
Selise told them that she was about to kill Agis when she was moved, or teleported here. Oni and Mar’iya started to ask her a lot of questions about where she had been and what she had been doing. Oni was not sure it was her. Sora, Naga, and David just wanted to know who she was. Mar’iya reached out to Oni’s mind, “I think this is really her.” After several, far too tense moments, Oni dropped his guard, walked across the room and hugged Selise. He was grateful to have her with him again. Sora spoke up, “who is she?” Oni smiled and said, “she is my sister.”
Traps Set and Rest:
They still wanted to test the “X” in the “X” room. Sora grabbed two of the bodies. Oni looked at her. He watched the massive arms pick up two bodies like they were nothing. He was glad she was on their side. Selise moved with them. She was as confused as they were. It was also impossible to hide within these rooms. She would need to trust these new companions, as they will need to trust her.
They fell back to the “X” room. Selise looked inside, “so you think it’s trapped.” The entire group nodded together. David, still not feeling totally secure with Selise, pointed to the edges of the room, “The edges seem safe.” He pointed to the giant “X” on the floor. “We think that might be a trap.” Selise smiled in a way Oni had never seen. It was marked with excitement, and surprise, “let me take a look.” She barely walked in, “that’s a pressure plate.” Sora tossed one of the bodies on it. A giant piece of ceiling dropped on the dead body.
The group looked at the giant boulder in the room. David in his normal sarcastic voice, “well I guess we know what that does.” The group fell back to the blade room. This room had not been repaired. The cleanup crew were not able to put this room back. Oni thought about it for a moment and thought, “maybe they cannot create new pieces. When we took the blade and rope, maybe we broke the room forever.” He looked over to Mar’iya who smiled back. Oni wondered if he was always watching his mind. Oni thought to himself, “you are a jerk for invading my mind.” Mar’iya did not change so either he was not in there or he was hiding his knowledge.
As if Mar’iya was trying to change the subject, even though he did not know he was doing it. He motioned up to the ledge, “Selise, that is the ledge up there. We have not gone up there yet. Each of these rooms have them.” She looked up the wall. She ran her hand along the wall as her mouth drooped down on one side. Oni was about to say he could help, when Sora spoke up, “I could fling you up there.” Selise nodded and smiled.
Selise stepped back a few steps and ran towards Sora. Oni was glad they were working together. He thought it would take a little time, but they were working together, and this was the start. Oni remembered back to when Nessy joined the tribe. She helped Selise climb into an old ruined building. This felt about the same. Selize ran towards Sora. Sora had her hands gripped together waiting to fling her up the wall. Selise foot placed perfectly in Sora’s hands. She jumped expecting a to be flung. She jumped over Sora tumbled back and landed on her feet. Sora flung her hands in the air. It took everything Oni had to not laugh. It was the first time Oni has wanted to laugh since Raam. He shook his head as he thought, “stop thinking about Arnia.”
Sora looked a little angry and mildly shouted, “I got this, try it again.” Again, Selise stepped into Sora hands perfectly. Sora lifted them up within the perfect second. Selise misjudged the sheer power of Sora. She pushed off and was flung straight up into the air. She landed flat on her back. Oni was still able to stop laughing. He noticed David and Naga shifting their eyes away from the scene. They needed to laugh as well. Oni wondered if he should pipe in and help, but he was loving this, so he just kept his mouth shut and watched the show.
Selise did a kip up and stood in front of Sora. Oni knew this look from her. She was now determined and was going to get this. She looked almost through Sora as she spoke, “we got this.” Oni was loving the show but was glad that the third times the charm. Selise again stepped perfectly into Sora’s waiting hands. Sora flung her up just as Selise span upward. Selise flew through the air. Her arms stretched out. She looked like a bird spreading her wings. She did a single flip and landed with her toes just on the edge of the ledge. Oni looked up. Everyone looked up. He thought this was the perfect end to a wonderful show.
Selise moved along the ledge like a jank on the prowl. Herman crawled out onto Oni’s shoulder. Oni fed him a little dung and he thought to him, “I know little buddy. I told them you were up there already.” Oni padded him a little, “sorry buddy they do not trust you as I do.” Selise moved around the entire room. She walked crotched with her arms out for balance. She stopped a couple of times but completed the path. She jumped into one of the corners, popped back and forth then rolling out unto the ground. Oni thought to his little buddy, “maybe if you could do that, they would trust you.”
Mar’iya and David always to the point both spoke almost at the same time, “see anything.” Selise had concern on her face and in her voice, “felt like someone was watching me up there. Gave me the creeps.” She kind of looked at everyone, “like what should I have seen.” David again in his condescending way, “like a door.” Selise clearly not enjoying his tone, just pointed to the door to the room and walked away. Oni looked at his little buddy again and thought, “maybe if you could point, they would trust you.” Oni smiled as he heard Herman laugh within his own head.
The group rolled out mats and laid down to rest.
Maybe a Dream Section:
Oni opened his eyes. He was standing on the great plain of light. He looked over to see the tower. The plain went out in all directions, but somehow the tower seemed to be the center. Light beamed out. Oni knew this was his death place. It gave him a peace that only came from death. As long as he had a good life his death would be here in peace.
He did not see her. Arnia or the other person were missing. He looked in all directions looking for any sign. Even if he did not find her or them, he should see the glass ball. He looked around for the glass ball, but it was missing too. Oni felt a little dread. He could feel his own heartbeat starting to pound. He could not control his breath. He looked around for the sun. He wanted to focus on it to control his breath again. Rage came over him as he just realized that the sun did not exist within the plain. His heart started to beat even harder. He had never noticed, but this plain has no sun. The sun of rebirth was not here from him to see.
He started to run. He ran towards the spire. He ran harder and faster. The tower stayed just as far away. He wanted to be near it. He wanted to end this. He ran faster and faster. He heart felt like it was going to explode within his chest. He tried to run faster. He collapsed on the ground.
He lifted his head. He had hoped to be next to the tower. It was so far away; he could barely see it. It was a tiny black dot. He panicked. He turned to look out across the light plain. Behind him the ever lit plain had a black spot. He moved up to his knees and he saw another part turn black. The light was going out. His wonderful afterlife was being destroyed. It was starting to become smaller. He wanted to run again. He knew it would not matter so he just slowly stood. Another section became black forever. The plain was dying.
He cried out “Arnia.” To his right was the tower. The door still open. The silent image was still there waving him into the tower. He walked around the tower. He looked off into the distance and saw black spots in many parts of the plain. He looked down. His body was covered in black spots. He was being ripped about as well. His existence was now tied to the plain. As a new black spot showed up out in the plain a new black spot showed up on him.
A person was chained to the tower on the far side. A whip smashed into her back. Oni looked and saw her. It was Arnia again. The whip smashed down upon her back. Aria scream out in pain. The whip came down again and she screamed. Oni looked down at his hand. The whip was in his hand. The whip hit her again. Arnia screamed out again. She was crying and could barely talk, “you must whip me. It is the only way to save the light.” Oni held the whip. Another black spot occurred on the plain. Arnia cried out again, “you must whip me.”
The Wraith of Sora:
Oni finally woke from the horror. He opened his eyes to see Sora and David talking over her pack. Talking might be a kind term, they were both heated. Oni scanned his body for black spots. He wondered if everyone was having nightmares. He thought he would ask later if he thought about it. The whole dream put him in a bad mood. Then he wondered why he was always the last one to wake in the group. He looked over to see Mar’iya and Selise talking in another corner. They were talking and maybe even laughing a little. Naga was even up before Oni. He was by himself, but already had his pack all packed up.
Oni strolled over to David and Sora. He smiled and said, “what’s up guys.” The both spoke at the same time. They were both animated and a little loud. Everyone in the room turned to look over to the three of them. David spoke again, “I want to test the sword.” Sora spoke next, “no it is too dangerous, I will grab it.” They broke into a heated discussion, with arms waving. Oni put out his hands, “woeeee..” They both stopped talking and looked at him. Oni looked around and everyone was looking at them.
Oni nodding to David, “would you feel better if someone touched the sword before you do?” David nodded without saying anything really. Sora started to speak, “That is wh,” but Oni interrupted her. He put his finger up to stop her from talking. He then spoke loud enough to be heard by the entire group. “I will grab the sword.” He moved his finger from Sora to David and back to Sora to stop them from talking. “I am the most expendable in the group.” He pointed over to David and then to Mar’iya, “they have amazing powers.” He pointed to Selise, “she can find traps and sneak around.” He pointed to Naga, “he heals.” And finally, he pointed to Sora, “and you. You are the main battle monster in our group. I am none of those things.” Oni reached his hand into the pack and grabbed the sword hilt, “I am the most expendable. I do not feel anything.” He hoped this help everyone feel more important. In Oni’s head he thought, “I would just replace any of you.” He smiled as he looked around the room and thought some more, “David and Mar’iya. If you are in my head, fuck you and yes I can replace you too.”
Oni let go of the sword. He shook his head. His head felt a little muddy. He looked over to David and said, “seems fine. Take it away.” David grabbed the sword and started to speak out loud. “It is magical. It seems to help you in combat both by helping you attack, and it makes you stronger. It is a powerful beast.” He held it a little longer, closed his eyes tightly, “The last owner was that dead body. She attacked and attacked until she just could not stand any longer.” David’s face was covered in sweat, and he seemed angry at what he had just seen. He let go of the hilt with a jerk. He looked at Sora, but without the normal compassion he showed to her, “it is all yours.” Sora grabbed the hilt.
Oni stepped out into the hall outside the door. Two undead beasts were cleaning the room. Oni attacked one of them. The group poured out into the hall to engage them. Sora moved up to one and sung her new great weapon through it and into the wall beyond…
The whole room zapped and popped. Oni now with blond hair and an Irish accent, “not again.” He stood there for a minute, hoping it would go back. It would not. Deanna was holding Worf’s weapon and it was smashed into the wall. Miles new this should never happen. Something was wrong with the holodeck. It should always keep you far enough from the wall, that no one should be able to damage it. He looked up in the now giant room, “Arch.” Nothing happened.
Miles stood there looking over the group. He ran over to the wall and popped a wall unit. It opened revealing the tubes within. It also had a small number on tools. Miles palmed one and used another to fix the damage the sword caused. It flickered and the sword came free. Miles looked at her, “we need to be a little careful.” Miles slipped the tool into his pocket. He returned the other tool to the drawer. He closed it and headed over to where he was standing moments before. He took in a big breath, “Pyramid simulation continue.”
The room turned back into the hall with the two Wraiths. Before it started to move again a voice came over the com system. It was Moriarty. They had all heard this voice many times now. He was in control and forcing this game. He spoke to them all but mostly to Miles in this case, “You cheated… Oni. You cannot take that tool.” Miles felt the little tool beam out of his pocket. Moriarty continued, “you are now going to be punished. The sword is cursed, and you are now going to level two.” As the Wraiths started to move again the automated voice of the computer came over the com, “Fail safes turned off.”
A wraith pounced on Sora. She slashed her sword and destroyed it. Oni attacked the one on the other side of the room. A new Wraith moved into the room next to Oni. Although no one said it, the word FUCK flowed through the room. Sora had a new rage within her eyes. She shifted and swung her blade at Mar’iya. Selise yelled, “We need to get out of here.” Oni dropped his wraith and shifted, “Where would we go? They will just follow us.” Selise shot another wraith with her crossbow. Sora dropped the last of them. Everyone held their breath.
David moved over to Sora. Sora’s eyes cleared, “why is everyone looking at me?” Sora did not attack, and everyone let their breath out. David was first, “that sword is cursed.” Sora shuck her head, “no, you just want my sword. … You are jealous.” Selise was not feeling good about her new companions, “No! you attacked Mar’iya.” Sora smirked a little, “no way. He moved in the way. Tell him to stay out of my way in battle.” Mar’iya looked concerned. Oni closed his eyes. He started to search all the ancient writing in his head. He was looking for cursed items and figuring out how to deal with them. Nothing came to mind.
Mar’iya and David started to talk to the group through mind links. They wanted a plan for the sword and Sora. They thought, if they could get it away from her, they might be able to break the curse. As a team, Mar’iya made her drop it, David through it out in into the hall, and Naga placed an illusionary wall over it. The plan was executed to perfection. Sora reached out her hand the blade just came to her. She was really angry, “the sword is mine and you can’t have it.” She could hear the rage in her own voice.
Mar’iya wanted to know what the plan was now, “what do we do now.” Selise piped in from the edge of the room, she will need to go first. Sora still filled with rage, “you want to abandon me.” Oni was the team builder and stepped up, “No Sora, you are now very dangerous to us. Either you choose to lead, or you must go your own way.” David stepped up next to her, “I would leave with her.” Oni wondered if the sword was affecting him or maybe all of us. David then said, “I will lead with her, I am not worried at all.” Oni could hear a slight shake in his voice. Oni stepped up to the door, “Okay, David and Sora will lead.” Everyone else tried to stay at least ten feet away from her.
The headed back into the mist.
The old elves in Despair:
Selise opened the door. Inside this larger room were five elves, well six if you include the one on the floor in the middle of the room. They were desperate for help. They needed healing for their friend. Selise, David, and Mar’iya started to engage the elves in conversation. Oni moved up to examine the body. Oni heard the lead elf say, “can you heal our friend?” Oni looked up confused, “you friend here is dead. We cannot heal her.” The lead elf burst into tears, “please help us.”
David and Mar’iya were both reading them. Selise was using her amazing insight to decide if they were lying. Oni thought they should help them, “I think we should bring them with us.” Mar’iya spoke in his head, “they can’t be trusted. Oni back to Mar’iya, “bringing the light has risk. We should be something different.” David leered at Oni and spoke in his head too, “Attack them.” Oni went through all his thoughts. He wanted to help them. They did not have a single weapon among them. The three people in his group that could read people best, did not trust them and David even wanted to kill them.
Oni moved to the door, partially to create a gap between himself and Sora. He thought, “I wish she was not so close to me.” Oni stood a little taller and engaged what he thought was the leader of the elves, “You cannot come with us.” He shifted his pack around, “here is a little water and food. Hopefully this will help.” He stood there for a long moment trying to read if they were going to attack. He slipped a piton out of his pack and into his hand. He spoke as the leader again, “Okay Sora, can you lead us out that direction. I will be the last one out.”
Sora and David headed out the door. Mar’iya and Selise headed out next. Just as Naga left, the lead elf spoke again, “please help us.” Oni wanted to help. He wanted to stay and make sure they were okay. He felt like the head lady of house Gardiward. How dare he choose who would live and who would die, just as she did and does. He hated this feeling. He lowered his head as he left the room, “sorry, we can’t help you.”
The Puzzle Cat:
Selise checked the door. We had a new entry plan with Selise now part of the group. She opened the door. Before anyone could even see inside the room, a smell poured out of the room. The smell of water hit all of them. The desert life had made this the most wonderful smell to them. For Oni, only the smell of Arnia seemed greater. All of them stood there sucking in the watery felled air.
Inside the room was a well. Again, for these thirst bound folks of the desert this is the amazing thing in the room. A giant well filed with the freshest, cleanest water they have seen. It drew them into the room. On a ledge on the far end of the room was a giant winged cat. Selise mouth opened in shock and she spoke in a surprised tone, “a puzzle cat.”
Everyone came into the room and circled around the well. The puzzle cat smiled, “hello. I am so glad you are here. Please have some water.” The group not knowing if the creature was going to eat them, starting to fill their water skins, but always with a watchful eye to the creature behind them. Oni looked up to the creature. He marveled in it. He was hoping they would not fight it. Not only did he not want to hurt the creature, he was not sure they could even survive.
Mar’iya and David were about to talk to it. It must have had similar mental abilities as them, as it spoke in all their minds as must as it spoke out loud. It purred the entire time. Its voice had a musical, or tonal quality that made Oni feel safe within the room. He hoped this was good and not just the creature’s way of making them feel safe, before eating them. As if by some musical means, “answer my riddle and I will answer your questions.” David stepped up, “so if we answer your riddle, you will answer any questions we have.” It curled it’s mouth up, “I will answer one question from each of you.” Mar’iya thought to himself, “I got this,” and then said out loud, “we will hear you riddle.”
The cat perched up on its front legs and began to speak.
“When this place overflowed with life and prosperity, a young Halfling coveted the riches found within these walls.”
“Being a pretty good thief she planned hard and long to make such an attempt.”
“The first thing she did was purchase a scroll of water breathing to get though the moat without a bubble bursting”
“She then found another scroll to make her hands and feet as sticky as spider to make no sound when scaling our walls.”
“And then the time finally arrived.”
“She planned this day on a New Moon to better hide in. She wore black as night clothing and even painted her hands and face black.”
“She climbed the walls without a sound made, she swam across our dark and still moat without a bubble nor a wake.”
“But sad to say, before shoe got to our entrance she was seen, with no magical assistance, and was shot down from the cross bolts launched by our guards who easily spot her. “
“How?”
No had a chance to even think about it. Mar’iya spoke up immediately, “she went during the day.” Oni looked over to him. He was angry that Mar’iya would just answer without even thinking they should agree. Oni was not the only one, everyone was looking at Mar’iya. Oni was about to say something when the puzzle cat spoke again, ”well done.” It seemed to have a little disappointment in it voice. It continued, “I will answer one question from each of you, but you cannot discuss with each other what your question is, before you all ask. Just ask within your own mind.”
Oni could only think of one question. He felt guilty as he knew he should ask other questions, this was his oppression and he had to ask, “how can I bring the light back to the world?” Oni’s guilt faded as the creature spoke in his mind, “The level above this one she lost the light that needs your help, that is your first step, help her, help all.” Oni now knew he was on the right path. He hoped all the loss up to this point was worth the end result.
Sora, David, and Naga all had a similar desire. They wanted out of this dungeon and the creature told them it was through the well and into the tunnel beyond. Selise knew she had asked a good question and one no else had thought of. She liked having this over the group, even just for a second. She shrugged her shoulders; I know the order we need to collect the gems. Before Oni could stop her, she said, “ White, Black, Blue, Green, and be ready for red.” Oni needed to talk to her. He did not want that said in front of Naga. He was part of the Tiamat’s plan and they needed to be careful around him. He was Tiamat’s willing or unwilling spy. The Jink’s was out of the bag. Mar’iya who also did not know about Naga spoke next, “So we can get the black one, by using the white one.” Oni wanted to say something, but it was too late. Tiamat now knows the order and where to place obstacles.
The group went into the well. They passed through to the far side. From there they could climb up into a water channel. Mar’iya was still hurt. The group decided to wait here until the next day. This was the only place that seemed safe.
END CHAPTER: Into the Pyramid of Ra