FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST | FRAY'S PALACE

[bloodweapon]

Welcome to the Vault. Let your judgment begin.
♫

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PART ONE: THE VAULT

[bloodweapon]

[If the ominous towers of the outside of Braphine's Temple haven't made it clear, the inside will: this is someone's palace. The Nekyia has once again been changed, reflecting the owner's personality, history, and thoughts, and you now stand in the hallowed halls of a different church-like structure. The door lies behind you, but the only way forward is to proceed into the Vault.

Before you lie seven stained glass windows. Each one bears a different design and can be accessed by the stairs in the back of the room for a closer inspection. Watch your step, though, as there are dark red-black flames licking up the sides of the stairs, across the hallways, and over the one door proceeding further inward, limiting just how much of this place you can access. You also have the feeling that you're being watched.

Best of luck to you, adventurers. May you walk in the light of the crystal.]

[beautifulknight]

[ This sure appears to be...a time, and it's barely even started.

His eyes are immediately catching sight of the stained glass windows, but he also takes notice of the distinctly colored flames as well.

The feeling of being watched is also eerie, but he soldiers through, used to the sensation. ]

...Be on your guard and watch your step.

[ He will head towards the stained glass windows first. Carefully. Can he take a look at one of them? ]

[vogelfrei]

[ Just gonna put a hand on his shoulder before they wander off to check different windows. ]

It's time. We'll do it properly.

[beautifulknight]

[ Ah...he appreciates immensely the supportive gesture. Argenti grants him a resolute, but determined look on over at the blond; he is not alone in this endeavor, and he knows that they will not fail.

Not in the slightest.

In the moment, he takes a chance to say: ]

Yes, we shall.

[bloodweapon]

[The seven stained glass windows that lie before you will call out to each of you, whether you intended to investigate them or not. Though they do not speak in words, you will feel the tug to investigate a certain stained glass window, and you will feel its accompanying emotion.

First is a stained glass window bearing a design of a shield. You can't make out the emblem on the shield, as it has certainly seen better days; the shield itself bears a hole through the middle. You will feel the tug of grief and those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

Second is the image of a kingly-looking figure. He holds a massive sword aloft. You will feel the tug of rage; those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

The third stained glass window is a bit odd, as this one seems to depict a flying vegetable? It looks like a weird leafy cabbage being. This one fills you with guilt; those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

The fourth is a bit harder to make out. It seems to be a stack of crates absolutely covered in red - blood, perhaps? You will feel irritation upon looking at it, and those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

Fifth bears a strange beast that looks half-machine, half-monster, with a centaur-like design and glowing red parts that catch the setting sun. Those of you associated with conceit will feel drawn to this one.

The sixth stained glass window simply bears a golden chalice. There's no other indication of what this might hold. You will feel a chill run down your spine regardless and the tug of fear; those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

Finally, the seventh bears the design of four swords. They are all identical and all point downward together. Looking at it makes you feel reckless, and those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

Go on, then. You know what you must do. Reach out for the stained glass window that calls to you. Though you can resist the tug and emotion to investigate any window of your choosing.]

[destage]

[Sayaka will reach for the third, without even a thought. She's not even sure why, really; the absurdity of it is perhaps enough, though the strange feeling of guilt resonates with her actions.]

[beautifulknight]

[ Well, Argenti hesitates between the first and the sixth, because both of them feel equally compelling.

Yet...the sixth one is the stained glass that draws him closer even if the shield is certainly one that beckons. What does the golden chalice hold? ]

[supherb]

[Perhaps it's because the grief in his own life that he hasn't quite finished processing, but Arven finds himself pulled toward the first window.]

[vogelfrei]

[ There's barely any question to what pulls to McGillis here - the fourth window is basically hypnotic to him, who has lived in anger. ]

[gardenful]

[ And Aerith is reaching for the first window, pulled in by that ever so familiar ache of grief. ]

[ledbythewind]

[Oh... there's something painfully familiar about the second window in more ways than one. For a brief moment, he's almost reminded of the form of his uncle gripping a sword (the blade covered in blood, so much blood), and a surge of anger flares in his heart as he steps forward to get a better look at it.]

[idealitas]

[ Yi Sang reaches for the third stained glass window. He can be rational and assume the veggie is an Abnormality; those can have a strong influence on emotions present. Rational thought aside, guilt pulling you in isn't the greatest feeling. ]

[moonshaded]

[It's the second window that pulls her in immediately, instinctive and flaring like the sound of an old friend's voice.

But Kainé is stubborn and has lived with hate in her for a very long time and also I put this in my sign-up. Maybe that's what gives her enough emotional resistance to rather hardheadedly turn her gaze away to examine the seventh window.]

[vogelfrei]

[ Well, McGillis is here. Ever since Argenti alerted them that something was up with Fray, he'd basically been on the lookout for this. And while he can't say with certainty that this is Fray's palace specifically, the aesthetic... seems like it's a good match.

By now, feeling like being watched is nothing new. (Was it ever something new for him?) So McGillis is relatively unbothered and will check one of those windows. ]

[bloodweapon]

[Which window will you choose?]

[destage]

[This place looks incredible, is perhaps the first thought on Sayaka's mind; it's a grand place that seems to almost remind her of some of the things seen in Argenti's palace, and bluntly put, it'd be an awe inspiring place were it not for the circumstances.

...That pervasive feeling of being watched is also familiar, but Sayaka's got her sword close and intends to keep her eyes peeled.]

...Let's move.

[Sayaka would be more cautious, but she's got enough confidence that she's going to go up one of those staircases to observe one of the windows. She tries to be careful in doing so, at least, but she'll make her way to a window and observe. (15) What's going on here?]

[bloodweapon]

[Which window will you choose?]

[kandata]

We're being watched...

[Which is where she puts her priority right now. Kirumi looks around, trying to find out what's watching them. If it's behind one of the glass windows, the rest will figure out, but she'll be thorough and look around to see if she sees anything that might be watching them!]

[bloodweapon]

[Unfortunately, Kirumi won't be able to determine where the watcher is. No matter where you go, you feel as though you're being watched. No matter what you do, those eyes are on you. Strange!]

[moonshaded]

[The feeling of being watched isn't a pleasant one, and it makes her roll her shoulders and look around for the source of it alongside Kirumi.]

Don't like that.

[supherb]

[Somehow, this church-like structure feels more like something Arven would see back home than the one he saw at Aubrey's palace. Honestly...it gives him the vibes of the towers dedicated to the deceased.

He makes sure that Mabosstiff is at his side and away from those flames as he advances toward the windows with the others.]

[bloodweapon]

[Which window will you choose?]

[speedingticket]

[ Rutile is here, unfortunately... Now he knows these things are appropriately called palaces and not movies, he knows a little better what to expect.

(What is a movie, then?)

He hates the feeling of being watched, it pricks at his skin, and as much as he hates to admit...it almost feels like the calamity, on nights when it's full and looms near the earth...

He'll step closer to his neighbor, who is now his accountabilibuddy because no way in hell is he going at this alone. ]

I'm scared...

[ He whispers this to her, but that doesn't stop him from looking around... Is there any readily apparent source of the being watched feeling? ]

[gardenful]

[ She’s here to put a comforting hand on his arm. ]

We’ll be okay.

[ Well, hopefully. But she knows positivity is effective in palaces and so she will continue to be as much. ]

[bloodweapon]

[Unfortunately not. No matter where you go, no matter what you choose to do, that feeling will not fade at all. It seems that there's no means of figuring out who or what the watcher is.]