Argenti's Palace

[beautifulknight]

The stage is set they say;
They don their masks and shields,
Shadows creep and cover their minds;
Now, what beautiful role shall they play?

𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮


♫

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[destage]

[...Sayaka's going to go up the second set of stairs. Keeping an eye on what's happening below, but she is curious if there's anything further ahead--]

[beautifulknight]

[ On the second and final set of stairs happens to be the following floating items:

An ocarina and a cross.

There is a door but it is firmly shut and will not open even if you all try to blast it open.

Also, there is a shadow on the wall nearby, watching. ]

[destage]

[...

Sayaka should have stayed downstairs. She'll...raise her hand up in the general direction she feels watched in (roll perception: 10), just--]

...I mean no harm. But I would like to examine these items, if you do not mind. Please excuse me.

[Sayaka will take a look at the cross (19)!]

[beautifulknight]

[ The shadow merely tilts its head at her... and with her perceptive roll she notices that it is shaped in that of a tall male, but nothing else.

She is also allowed the opportunity to gaze upon the cross. It turns into particles of light once she touches it and moves away from her...

All seems well.

In fact, it reforms into a painting of a woman with an indescribable appearance, layered in pinks...and red, her long hair flowing, her long dress overflowing, her hair overflowed. Beautiful, Exquisite, Entrancing...

Sayaka is caught in her thrall, almost stunned for whatever reason. Her hand reaches out to her through the painting, but as she is attentive, Sayaka will see claws on that hand (19) Uh oh!

(Roll another 1d20 to avoid.) ]

[destage]

[Oh! There's a brief second where Sayaka is distracted by the beautiful painting forming, absolutely entranced. She's beautiful. She's truly everything Sayaka would want to grow up to be when she gets older, even if such a fantasy is--

But perhaps thankfully, Sayaka is attentive enough to notice the hand coming at her, and jumps right back (20) before she can be grabbed or attacked, letting out a little yelp in the process!]

--H-Hey, keep your hands to yourself, please!

[imperiosity]

[She's practically standing next to him so uh, he will at least react to that little episode by looking over right as Sayaka jumps back.]

Hey, you okay?!

[Does he need to stab something!!]

[destage]

It's--it's that painting, don't get distracted by it, Wei-san! She's got claws and she's not friendly no matter how pretty she is--!

[...SAYAKA WAS THAT A POINT THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE--]

[beautifulknight]

[ ...Oh, her?

She's still here.

In fact, she even smiles and says: ]

You passed the trial now. But you must know that it is your lot in life to experience many trials. The day you fail, is the the day you lose all that you are.

[ ...Even if she is speaking to Sayaka, it feels like she's referring to someone else too. But, just like that, the image of the woman vanishes, leaving an empty painting. ]

[destage]

[Sayaka starts for a moment, because she's not trying to get caught unaware again. The...smile, it catches her off guard, and it hits that Sayaka doesn't know if she's being talked to or if it's someone else.

She pauses a bit, looking at it calmly, and wipes the sweat forming on her head. Nodding with her resolve.]

...I know that well, but even so, I...I will keep going no matter what. I promised someone important to me that. I won't go back on it. I won't fail.

[Sayaka isn't sure if she should bring the picture with her, really, but...well, a part of her wants to pick it up anyway. Is it very heavy? Otherwise she'll look to Aaron and--]

Maybe we should get back downstairs and help the others? I don't know if there's anything else we can find, but...

[imperiosity]

[If she wants to carry the painting back down, he would be willing to help but it's definitely not on his list of priorities right now, especially if it's left blank.]

There's that shadow watching us, but I dunno if we wanna mess around with that right now, especially when there's only two of us. Going back downstairs sounds good to me -- we can always come back here later.

[destage]

Let's go see if the others need help.

[...Which does mean Sayaka will leave the painting behind, though she does try to set it against a wall out of respect.

Come on, let's go see if anyone else needs help!]

[beautifulknight]

[ The shadow will watch as Sayaka does that...and gives a wave as if saying 'goodbye'.

Then it will dissipate, along with the painting. ]

[imperiosity]

[He's just following along with Sayaka, so when he sees those objects and shadow... hm. How about we look at the objects first.

Can he grab the ocarina?]

[beautifulknight]

[ Feel free to do so!

Once he does, the ocarina sparkles with light before heading a little ways from Aaron to stop and turn into a painting.

It is a painting of grassy plains, and a beautiful sky that stretches from end to end. In the middle of it sits a blue-colored ocarina; it feels almost completely unrivaled in its ebullience, and perhaps a little extra to be the center piece of this work of art.

Suddenly, from above, a spotlight shines upon the painting.

A voice begins to speak, as if telling a story, dramatically and with great flourish:

Once upon a time,
There was a land that flourished,
Until evil grew and avarice blossomed,
Their claws sinking deep into hearts,
Fanning the flames of war,
Piling towers of bodies that reached the sky,
Etching betrayal until it had no name,
Pounding the sky and ground into dust;
Into bright lights, into egregious cacophony,
Until demons emerged, until minds deteriorated,
Into madness, into perpetual disarray.

Before his eyes, as if deep contrast, the painting shifts to two people dancing, their figures not discernable other than one being of an individual with long hair dressed in a red dress suit and a short-haired person in a yellow ballgown.

Yet...

The ocarina emerges back out from the painting, which dissipates right after. Does he take it? ]

[imperiosity]

[Even he has to admit that it's quite the production to behold, but that's just how palaces are, aren't they? There's always a little bit of meaning in these little setpieces, even if they might not be discernible to the person who finds them.

And even if he still doesn't quite understand the significance of the ocarina, he will reach out to take it in case it ends up being important somewhere down the line. Hopefully this isn't a trap!!]

[beautifulknight]

[ Hard to tell indeed, a times.

Aaron has chosen to take the ocarina and will have it in his inventory.

At least now he can help Sayaka? ]

[imperiosity]

[Woo he has an item now!! Yeah, he'll reconvene with Sayaka and then can figure out where to go next.]