2022-04-01: A Warm Welcome

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===================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>===================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Keep the Torches Lit!  *>===================
|Type: Entry       |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 3          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 As the sealed gate opens, Igraine stretches out before the eye. Gray stone    
 walkways give way to a central chamber writ large, a lake of magma            
 surrounding a brown rock platform. There are gates going in multiple          
 directions from here, stairways and pathways, and as you walk down them, you  
 encounter another sealed door across a greatroom full of unlit torches.       
                                                                               
 The door seems impervious to harm, but looking closely at the floor will see  
 magical lines connecting each torch to the door.                              
                                                                               
 Good luck with that.                                                          
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

Igraine - the Shrine of the Fire Trial. Many have gathered here in hopes of challenging the trial within. With the sealed gate now open, many have already gone in ahead. Clarine is one such person, and she isn't alone - gliding across the walkway, through the central platform, and down the stairs.

The path eventually leads to a great room full of torches, each one magically linked to each other, and a sealed door at the end.

"So we must light them all at once, I assume..." Clarine says, consideringly. "But there are a great number of them. It seems they are designed to extinguish themselves if they are not lit within the appropriate amount of time."

She considers this for a moment, and reaches into her sleeves, drawing out an object - an enchanted prism. Typically used to project shimmering rainbow platforms, this time she has another use for it.

"If I focus the spell just right..." Clarine murmurs, letting the prism hover forward just a bit. And then, she casts a beam of light through it which splits in multiple directions, contacting several of the torches. After a moment, the heat from the light builds up enough that the torches themselves light up.

"I can hold these for a little while... in the meantime, please light the others." She requests, while maintaining the beam.

DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Prismatic Projector toward her party's challenge, Keep the Torches Lit! .
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Seraph Lanval, the Oracle of Schturdark, Water Seraph, and largely jolly soul, partakes in the Trial along with the rest. "Mmmm. I don't think I hafta tell ya, but here... we're in the turf of Fire." He has himself a sip from his drinking gourd as he says this. "Sho I need ya ta know, 'm not gonna be able ta jusht wave a hand 'n make all of it go away."
 
        Beat.
 
        "That'd be rude. 'n alsho... it'sh a reeeeeeeeeeal intricate buncha Seraphic Artes at play. Shooo... that outta the way." He claps the other hand against the side of his drinking gourd. "Longesht shtretch of ground we find, I got ya all covered there." He puts two fingers in his mouth and 'whistles.' It's wet and breathy and, in whistling terms, is not really that.
 
        Here comes that flat-bodied.... horse-headed thing, in its unchanging, stoic, painted-on smile, along with a conjured stream of water going one way. He signals to the rest who might want to take the ride to try and cut some of the travel time off.

DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Bouyant Steed toward his party's challenge, Keep the Torches Lit! .
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.

There's not a lot that rouses Nimue's atrophied sense of urgency. Even as she starts to get more comfortable, even as she starts to put herself back together, she's still kind of a lazy git -- or, more generously, she takes things as they come. Clarine, though, has always been quite warm to her, and for all her...

...myriad...

... personality problems, Nimue doesn't stand back when one of her people wants something. Clarine approaches the Fire Shrine, so Nimue does too! (She'd actually intended to go with Eleanor, but then she experienced a splitting ache in her mana lobe, which she insists is a real organ Seraphim have.)

As Clarine lights some of the torches, Nimue says, "Uh -- actually, I don't have a whole lot of stuff that could start a... *controlled* fire," she admits, a little lamely. "I could use my staff, but I don't really wanna restring it..."

She starts digging in her pack. She *eventually* finds a rag she can shove onto the end of her decidedly not flammable staff, light, and start running with, but it takes her a *while*; if anyone has better, faster ideas, they might just outpace her.

DG: Seraph Nimue has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Keep the Torches Lit! .
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia originally came to the Fire Trial Shrine on her own. Without any sort of well-thought out plan, but that's how she goes through life: impulsively. Happening upon Clarine however, she was all too happy to join her good Seraph friend and her companions. Her explanations for being here involving claims such as 'It seemed like the thing to do' and 'This can't be as bad as the last one'. She at least explains herself a little bit further, relating the relevant part of her adventure at the Ice Trial.

"I had to convince myself that all the delicious food I was eating wasn't real. I managed to do it, but... well, you can imagine how I felt. So you see, I've already been through the hardest trial. Whatever this trial's gonna do, it can't be any worse than that!"

What do you mean, don't jinx it? She doesn't know what that means, she's just facing the trial with the brand of optimism she employs in anything she does. It'll be fiiiine.

Faced with what seems to be the initial challenge, naturally, Xantia's first impulse is to take the direct approach, because that's always what happens. However, she has enough experience with bashing things down for it to only take a few punches to the door before she shakes her head. "This thing's not gonna go down easily. I could keep going, but it's gonna take a while to get it open this way."

Ah, but there's a puzzle! Once it's explained to her how it works, Xantia grins, and promptly sets herself on fire. That's just a thing she does, don't worry about it.

So this should be easy, right? All she has to do is cover the whole room in fire to light all the torches! Unfortunately - obvious hazards to the rest of the party aside - she has to sheepishly admit, "I can kinda only set things on fire if I'm touching them, but I'll try my best to cover as many as I can!"

And that's... pretty much the plan. Xantia's just going to be running around while on fire, setting ablaze any torches in passing that she's able. Hopefully these things don't go out too quickly, or she'll be going around in circles for a while.

DG: Xantia has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Keep the Torches Lit! .
<Pose Tracker> White Knight Leo has posed.

        At some point along the journey into the Shrine, Clarine acquired a shadow. They haven't announced their presence, but the footsteps--and the odd glimpse of the shadow of a fluttering cloak--are a dead giveaway. As the Seraph and her comrades stop to take stock of the situation, their tail finally catches up to them.

        White Knight Leo strides into the chamber, calm and proud and self-assured. He flashes the threeo Seraphim (and their presumed-mortal helper) a winning smile. Lanval is excommunicate. Clarine has opposed the Guard. Nimue is... Nimue. But Leo looks them over and nods, as if confirming they've earned his respect. "Honored Seraphim," says the White Knight. "I couldn't help but notice your coterie. Might I assist you?"

        Which is a real roundabout way of saying that Leo took a break from his duties to undertake a pilgrimage, and realized at some point he couldn't do this alone.

        White Knight Leo has joined your party! (oh no)

        To his credit, Leo has seen many a torch puzzle in his day, and recognizes it on sight. "Ah," he says. "A devious tradition. Not to worry...!" Leo takes one of the torches, igniting it in Clarine's flames and then charging off to light the others. "We'll be inside in no time!"

DG: White Knight Leo has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Keep the Torches Lit! .
===================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>===================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Keep the Torches Lit!  *>===================
|Type: Entry       |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 3          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 As the sealed gate opens, Igraine stretches out before the eye. Gray stone    
 walkways give way to a central chamber writ large, a lake of magma            
 surrounding a brown rock platform. There are gates going in multiple          
 directions from here, stairways and pathways, and as you walk down them, you  
 encounter another sealed door across a greatroom full of unlit torches.       
                                                                               
 The door seems impervious to harm, but looking closely at the floor will see  
 magical lines connecting each torch to the door.                              
                                                                               
 Good luck with that.                                                          
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
==============<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial - Round 1 *>==============
=====================< Results - Keep the Torches Lit!  >=====================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Clarine                      0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Prismatic Projector                 1   Agility Effects: Fanfare and Quicken  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Bouyant Steed                       1   Agility Effects: Cleanse              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xantia                              0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Nimue                        0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White Knight Leo                    0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Seraph Clarine              0 --(20)--> 20                 Pass
Conditions: Hesitate(2)
Effects: Cleanse|Quicken(1)
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Seraph Clarine has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use
party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

"Ah, a most heavy trial indeed... I am pleased you were able to pass it." Clarine comments with a chuckle as Xantia recounts her trepidations with the Ice Trial.

She is pleased, too, by Nimue's presence. She knows she doesn't get out for much, but that she would do so for her sake is very touching.

While this is going on, however... They're being followed. It's not difficult to notice, but Clarine doesn't seem troubled by it. And when they find themselves in the room with the torches, the one following announces himself. Clarine turns to face Leo. She doesn't respond right away - instead, she takes a moment to assess him, golden eyes fixated on him for a moment.

She is aware that he is a member of the Guard, and she and Lanval have stood against them. Having him here could be dangerous... but then again, he is a very talented individual.

"White Knight Leo." Clarine greets after a moment of silence, offering a polite incline of her head in greeting. "I do not object to your assistance, provided my companions do not either."

She takes a moment to look around at the others, to see how they feel about it, before returning her attention to Leo himself.

"The Trial itself will determine whether or not your motives are pure." She says, and seems satisfied to leave it at that.

Instead, she listens to Lanval as he explains that he can't just make it all go away. She nods at his explanation.

"...Perhaps that is for the best. We must prove ourselves, after all." She decides.

And so, the plan to light the torches gets underway. For the most part, the plan seems to be, 'run around the room lighting the torches'. With three of them on lighting duty, Clarine keeping the furthest ones lit with her spell, and Lanval providing a trustworthy(if a little unnerving) steed to speed things along, they'll be able to open the door with little issue. It might take a few cycles of the torches before they can get the rhythm of lighting them down, but soon enough, the sealed door before them opens.

"...It will only get more difficult from here, I am certain. Steel yourselves." Clarine warns.

DG: Seraph Lanval has drawn a new Challenge.
====================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>====================
==============<* CHALLENGE - Run, Run, Or You'll Be Well Done! *>===============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 2          | 
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 As soon as your group enters this chamber the door seals behind the last to   
 step inside. A bolt of flame abruptly comes down from the ceiling onto the    
 stone floor. Gray stone walls close in on this corridor, wide enough for a    
 couple of people to walk next to one another, and the bolts of fire start up  
 from behind -- that first is only a touch of what's to come.                  
                                                                               
 And the floor is catching fire... Better move fast!                           
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Exhaust========================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval doesn't turn to greet Leo directly, other than accept his presence. He is, by rights, banished by the Goddess from this place - but they're here because of the increasingly erratic and dangerous judgments of the Goddess, and... so it goes. If Yvain is permitting Lanval partake the Trial, why should he voice concern about whether Leo does? (Would he?)
 
        "Mmmm." He nods to Clarine as he staggers on ahead. "Now, gonna be honesht with ya. I could shay, 'the energy here ish real shtrong,' 'n that wouldn't mean much." He says this as they enter a gray stone corridor that seems almost featureless in comparison to the previous chamber. (Almost.) "...I mean 'm gonna shay it anyway," Lanval is going to say that, and basically did so already! But as a stroll across a roughly three person-wide hallway commences...
 
        Sparks of fire build to a fever pitch behind them, and race out across the very ground towards them.
 
        "Theenergyhereishrealshtroooong," Lanval stammers out as he whistles again for that horse to come on out, and try to scoop up those less confident in their ability to run, run, run, or else become... medium-rare.
 
        Yvain wouldn't allow anyone to become well-done in his halls, he's too cool a guy for that.

DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Bouyant Steed toward his party's challenge, Run, Run, Or You'll Be Well Done!.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.

Nimue does not exert herself. That she's here is a miracle; best not to accustom people to several miracles at once. She picks a small subsection of the room to maintain instead.

"With this team?" Nimue asks, glancing around -- and resting her gaze on Leo in particular, for a moment. Her cheeks puff out a bit, and she says, "... Well, okay, steel myself it is, just." She lets out a gusty little sigh, finally getting around to giving Leo a, "Uhhhh... do whatever you want!"

As they progress, she looks at him every six seconds on the dot.

... at least, until they get to the burning hallway. Running, at least, is very much on Nimue's docket -- running from fire, running from her problems, running from her fri...

... hey it's fine. She stopped doing... some of those things. Usually.

"It sure is!" comes Nimue's answer to Lanval.

Not the running from the fire though? That one's still... that's still happening. She can't *quite* make it to full-on windstepping today, though. ... at least, not *yet*; maybe if the fire gets urgent behind her. On the other hand, that's sure to exhaust her.

DG: Seraph Nimue has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Run, Run, Or You'll Be Well Done!.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Well, this sudden addition to the party is certainly awkward, and not just for the Seraphim. The last time Xantia directly interacted with Leo was back in the Spiran war, on less than friendly terms. Granted, that was a very long time ago, but with the detailed way in which Xantia remembers things, from her perspective it might as well have been only yesterday.

Still... he seems friendly enough right now. And she's self-aware enough to realize there's a high chance that she's missed a memo or twenty and things are Different now. Thus rather than react right away, she looks to the Seraphim to gauge their reaction first. Mainly to Clarine, since she's most familiar with the Light Seraph and her struggles in regards to the Goddess.

Welp, no objection from Clarine means no objection from Xantia. She thus visibly relaxes, placing her hands behind her head and smiling. She's not sure what to say on the matter, but then she technically wasn't addressed anyway, so staying quiet on this should be fine, she thinks.

The unexpected encounter doesn't seem to affect their teamwork any. Maybe it wasn't quite record time, but opening the door went smoothly enough as far as she's concerned. Despite the warnings, her morale remains at maximum, and she chimes in with a cheerful, "I'm sure it'll be fine! We can do this!"

She never actually stops being on fire. That just seems like a practical choice in a place like this. Wouldn't be called the Trial of Fire if there wasn't going to be a lot of fire.

Lo and behold... the next room quickly turns out to be full of fire, from several directions. Her own magical flames only providing limited protection, Xantia doesn't need much in the way of additional incentive to start rushing through this room as quickly as possible. She only has one thing to say regarding this situation.

"I'm beginning to understand the phrase 'a warm welcome'!"

DG: Xantia has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Run, Run, Or You'll Be Well Done!.
<Pose Tracker> White Knight Leo has posed.

        'The Trial itself will determine whether or not your motives are pure.'

        Leo doesn't have a witty reply to that. He simply nods, and some of the bombast seems to bleed out of him. "You aren't the only ones who seek strength to face the challenges ahead."

        Leo pauses in the entryway of the next room, brow furrowing as Lanval delivers his expert analysis. "This is an elemental sanctuary, of a sort," Leo says. He glances back at Nimue, inadvertently meeting her gaze during one of the many (many) times she looks at him. Leo hasn't missed that little detail, either. "How fare you--"

        The room ignites. Leo shoots upright, his eyes darting this way and that as flame leaps at them from new avenues. "Damnation!" the White Knight growls. "Here, grab hold!" He whips a length of knotted rope off his belt, and throws it through the air. The metal hook on one end gleams in the fire-light as it hooks onto an arch in the ceiling. Leo leaps, trying to use forward momentum to carry himself--and any potential passengers--over the flames, and to safety.

DG: White Knight Leo has used his Tool Rope Ladder toward his party's challenge, Run, Run, Or You'll Be Well Done!.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

Clarine offers Nimue an encouraging smile. She doesn't blame her for being concerned about the current party arrangements. Her own feelings on the matter are... complex. But it's as she's said - the Trial itself will reveal his intentions. To Leo's response, she offers a nod.

"Then may we all endure the flame." She replies.

The door opens and they proceed. Clarine looks toward Lanval as he speaks. Strong energy...

...Well, yeah, she sure can't deny that.

Clarine accelerates into a glide, following after the others. She does, indeed, grab hold onto Leo. She's light(pun intended) - she won't slow him down any.

This allows her to focus her intention on rummaging for more of those prisms. This time she uses them for their intended purpose - tossing a couple behind her, where they emit shimmering rainbow walls to help intercept some of the fire heading their way. That'll give them all a little more room for error.

"Indeed..." She murmurs, in response to Xantia's comment.

DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Prismatic Projector toward her party's challenge, Run, Run, Or You'll Be Well Done!.
====================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>====================
==============<* CHALLENGE - Run, Run, Or You'll Be Well Done! *>===============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 2          | 
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 As soon as your group enters this chamber the door seals behind the last to   
 step inside. A bolt of flame abruptly comes down from the ceiling onto the    
 stone floor. Gray stone walls close in on this corridor, wide enough for a    
 couple of people to walk next to one another, and the bolts of fire start up  
 from behind -- that first is only a touch of what's to come.                  
                                                                               
 And the floor is catching fire... Better move fast!                           
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Exhaust========================================
===============<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial - Round 2 *>===============
================< Results - Run, Run, Or You'll Be Well Done! >=================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Clarine                      5 --(5)--> 10                  Pass
Prismatic Projector                 1   Agility Effects: Fanfare and Quicken  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       5 --(5)--> 10                  Pass
Bouyant Steed                       1   Agility Effects: Cleanse              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xantia                              5 --(5)--> 10                  Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Nimue                        5 --(5)--> 10                  Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White Knight Leo                    5 --(5)--> 10                  Pass
Rope Ladder                         2   Agility Effects: Quicken              
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Seraph Clarine              20 --(20)--> 40                Pass
Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Hesitate(2)
Effects: Cleanse|Quicken(1)
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Seraph Clarine has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use
party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        There isn't much to say about a straight run from point A to point B with the threat of being Goddoddin-fried chicken (GFC) made out of a blend of eleven open regrets and failings - there is a fire, there is a path, there is a need. For speed.
 
        The White Knight Leo makes a dashing, debonair... dash with the help of the Rope Ladder, helping carry Clarine along overhead as Lanval rides along on that, uh, 'horse' of his, steam kicking up in his wake as the rising heat evaporates the water behind him.
 
        Xantia and Nimue end up the frontrunners in terms of sheer running speed, and should either be inclined, there can be an argument had as to who manages to run up and touch the doorframe to the next chamber, allowing Nimue to indeed continue to run away from everything or for Xantia to burn off all of that pretend-not-really food from further up north. When they all cross to the other side together, the door slams noisily behind them, stopping the inferno from engulfing them (in this fashion, in this time, in this place).
 
        "There'sh gonna be a lotta that, I think," Lanval says as he doesn't quite rise up from reclining on the horse-raft, as if even he were a little shaken about the urgency and mortal peril of that. He waves a hand for someone else to move on ahead towards whatever's next in store.

DG: Seraph Nimue has drawn a new Challenge.
====================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>====================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Hell's Gate *>==========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 2          | 
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 This chamber terminates in a wide wall in which is set a great gate,          
 ornately carved with runes of fire and sigils of waning. There is no puzzle,  
 no easy mechanism to open this gigantic gate inlaid with a story of binding   
 and sealing.                                                                  
                                                                               
 There is, however, a very old and worn winch, and the direct approach. On     
 the other hand, getting close to the gate suggests that whatever's on the     
 other side is very hot -- it will be a test of endurance as well as           
 strength.                                                                     
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.

"I," Nimue says, with aplomb, "have in fact literally never been more fine." She glances back to Leo once she gets situated a little more comfortably. "No weird relationships with human institutions or *anything.*"

Once she's said it -- or rather pointedly not said it to such an extent that anyone who cares will understand what she's really saying -- Nimue levels off a bit. There's a limit to how much you can freak out about any given thing, and, well, Nimue has probably hit hers. She does scoot a little closer to, of all people, Xantia -- maybe she trusts the non-Seraph to deal with the other non-Seraph.

As they arrive at the ultimate enemy of all Drifters, a door, Nimue looks at the winch. That looks like a whole lot of work. "... Sooooo... any big, strong non-Seraphim," she says, suddenly all sweetness, "wanna open a door for little old me?"

She reaches into her bag, pulling out -- and dumping onto the floor -- flasks of water, surprisingly, and not anything more chemically complex. "So, like, I hate doing this. For personal reasons. It's a long story. But it is *actually* just too hot for me to care about all the bad things that happened to me right now. If you're gonna crank this damn thing and you want cold water..."

She puts her hands out. An ice-cold wind starts blowing. ... It's probably welcome relief, in these circumstances, and it comes with cold drinks!

DG: Seraph Nimue has used her Tool Stolen Drinks toward her party's challenge, Hell's Gate.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

When she hears the words 'grab hold', Xantia instinctively reacts, but thinks better of actually following through with accepting Leo's offer. Nothing personal, it's just that she almost didn't consider that it might not be such a good idea to grab a rope and/or another person while on fire. Xantia isn't the sort to ever insist on personal space, but... better not get /too/ close, Nimue.

Thankfully, Xantia's own speed and agility combined with some limited artificial resistance proves sufficient in making it through unscathed. Even if it may be a bit difficult to tell just by looking. She's not any less on fire than before, but also not any more, so that probably means she's fine. She acts fine at least, taking a short moment to catch her breath before smiling brightly.

"See, what'd I tell you? Totally fine, we did that perfectly!"

Seeing no reason to not still be in the best possible mood, Xantia regards Nimue's aforementioned door with her hands on her hips, studying it for a short moment. She glances at the winch briefly as well, noting its poor condition. But who are we kidding, you already know what she's going to do.

"Well, if a medium-sized, strong non-Seraphim is okay too, then yeah, sure! One open door, coming right up!" This is not a problem for Xantia. This is fun for Xantia.

After a couple of test strikes with her fists, it's plain from the grin on her face that she's determined that yes, this one feels like she could break it down. Not leaving anything to chance, she equips the fist weapon fashioned out of the head of a massive hammer, and uses it to employ that much more force in her strikes. Doors may be a Drifter's frequent enemy, but they're Xantia's favored enemy.

DG: Xantia has used her Tool Mini-Megaton toward her party's challenge, Hell's Gate.
<Pose Tracker> White Knight Leo has posed.

        The flame catches the top of the rope just as Leo lets go, leaping for the door--and, perhaps, carrying Clarine in the crook of an arm. The door shuts, and Leo mops at his brow with an arm. He's quick to turn around, though, eyes darting from Lanval to Clarine to Nimue to Xantia as he makes a mental head count. Everyone's here, and no one was hurt. As far as Leo's concerned, that's a win. "Well done," he says. "But I think this place is merely getting warmed up."

        Leo says that with a straight face. Is this the dread hand of Working Designs? The world may never know.

        As shifty as Nimue's seemed prior to this point, Leo cannot in good conscience refuse a request like that. "I have just the thing," he says, flashing the Wind Seraph a grin. He claps his hands together, and the amber-hued stones embedded in his bright metal gauntlets start to glow. Stone rises from the floor and peels off in sheets, coating the White Knight's body in a layer of earthen armor. His suspicions are correct--the winch itself isn't hot enough to burn, but it's uncomfortable. Leo grips it with both hands as Xantia begins to... punch the door.

        A solid backup strategy, Leo decides. He only stops with the winch long enough to take one of Nimue's offered drinks with a courteous "Thank you, honored Seraph."

        Progress!

DG: White Knight Leo has used his Tool Earthgrasp Gauntlets toward his party's challenge, Hell's Gate.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval remains sprawled on his back for a bit as they discover the ARCH-NEMESIS OF ALL DRIFTERS awaiting someone to dare open them. Nimue, for her part, breaks into a personal reserve to help give everyone much needed hydration, cooling, and encouragement to do something hard for her. Lanval sort of crawls up by his feet (it's a thing) against the ground towards the red-hot winch, lifts a foot up, rests a big toe on the winch, and...
 
        Some steam rises from it.
 
        "Yup, it'sh hot." He tumbles back, sits up, and takes in Nimue's ice-cold wind as an invitation to start producing some drinkable water for his part, too, rather than help open the door as... that's not his strong suit.

DG: Seraph Lanval has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Hell's Gate.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

"Ah... yes." Clarine replies with a quiet nod to Nimue's response. She hadn't considered that. She'll apologize and check up on her later in private, rather than call more attention to it here.

Once on the other side, Clarine lowers herself down.

"My thanks." She says, with a nod toward Leo for the assistance. And at the other end of the chamber is... a door! Unfortunately, it's very heavy, and the emanating from the other side suggests it might not be safe for the Seraphim to attempt to phase through - it has likely been warded against such things, regardless.

Meaning, they'll have to do this the hard way. Unfortunately, she is not among those with the arm strength to pull a winch. However, there is a way she can help. As Nimue and Lanval provide cool and refreshing drinks, Clarine begins to cast a spell.

Before long, light will begin to settle over Leo and Xantia both to give them a boost of strength with which to handle the task ahead.

DG: Seraph Clarine has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Hell's Gate.
====================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>====================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Hell's Gate *>==========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 2          | 
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 This chamber terminates in a wide wall in which is set a great gate,          
 ornately carved with runes of fire and sigils of waning. There is no puzzle,  
 no easy mechanism to open this gigantic gate inlaid with a story of binding   
 and sealing.                                                                  
                                                                               
 There is, however, a very old and worn winch, and the direct approach. On     
 the other hand, getting close to the gate suggests that whatever's on the     
 other side is very hot -- it will be a test of endurance as well as           
 strength.                                                                     
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
===============<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial - Round 3 *>===============
===========================< Results - Hell's Gate >============================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Clarine                      10 --(20)--> 30                Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       10 --(20)--> 30                Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xantia                              10 --(12)--> 22                Pass
Mini-Megaton                        3   Brute   Effects: Rally                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Nimue                        10 --(12)--> 22                Pass
Stolen Drinks                       1   Brute   Effects: Cleanse              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White Knight Leo                    10 --(12)--> 22                Pass
Earthgrasp Gauntlets                3   Brute   Effects: Fanfare              
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Seraph Clarine              40 --(15)--> 55                Fail
Conditions: Hesitate(1)|Weaken(2)
Effects: Cleanse
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Seraph Clarine has failed this challenge! The party gained 15 exploration! If anyone needs to use
party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.

"I mean, I'm like, five feet in boots. Everyone's kinda big," Nimue replies to Xantia, with a smirk. "But go for it!" Leo gets a thumbs-up, but no actual comment from Nimue; her unease is... easing still, at least.

Unfortunately, the winch is pretty stuck; it takes entirely too much time. Perhaps with a larger party of more tangible people to trade off working it, it might be easier; as it is, it takes the two non-Seraphim -- even with Seraphic support -- a fair while and a *lot* of effort to get done.

"Watch," Nimue says, with a smirk. "We're gonna open the door and it's literally just gonna be only fire!"

DG: Xantia has drawn a new Challenge.
===================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>===================
============<* CHALLENGE - The Pit Is Shallow, But Also On Fire *>============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 Ahead of the group along their path through gray stone, lit by torches and    
 by the glow of hot magma close by, there is a wide pit. The door is on the    
 other side of it, but there has to be a way through. However, there are       
 complications: the ceiling is very low, there is no path across, and the pit  
 is on fire.                                                                   
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Injure=========================================
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

It's true, Xantia's average height definitely beats Nimue's. Hard to see herself as particularly big when so many people are taller, but hey, it's kinda nice to be considered big for once.

But oh god what are you doing Clarine, giving Xantia even more strength? Needless to say, before long that door is absolute history. Now the doorway isn't closed by a door anymore, but by rubble, not exactly solving the problem and rendering the winch even more pointless than when it was barely moving. Even so, Xantia doesn't complain. Breaking doors, clearing out rubble... she seems to be enjoying all of it. As long as she gets to apply copious amounts of brute strength, she doesn't particularly care that it takes a bit more time and exertion.

By the time the party's ready to step into the next room, Xantia's finally stopped being on fire, which may be a sign that any of what happened just now tired her out a little and she's started conserving energy a bit more. Despite that and Nimue's prediction, her response is not out of the ordinary.

"Wow, you're right! That's a lot of fire!" She sounds almost appreciative as she regards the large pit full of fire dominating the next room. Door on the other end... looks straightforward enough, aside from there being no obvious way of crossing the pit. Xantia rubs her chin, briefly considering jumping it, before realizing there's a better way to do this. She just has to turn to someone else for help with that. Their impromptu guest, White Knight Leo.

"I don't suppose you have any more of that rope? That would make this a lot easier." It'll be fine now that she's not on fire anymore.

DG: Xantia has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Pit Is Shallow, But Also On Fire.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval has, after a delay, at last found it in himself to stand up in the wake of all that, walking along to the very edge of the pit and teetering on the verge of throwing himself in there wholesale - as he does, because he has a very interesting idea on what 'locomotion' and 'balance' entails, sometimes, as he rears back and staggers on one leg.
 
        "Mmmph. Ceilin' ish a li'l low, couldn't float." He looks at the flames, at the air currents, and...
 
        "Nimue, c'mon, it ain't all fire. There'sh a low ceilin'! Ha ha ha! It'sh only... moshtly fire." He backs away, makes the wet whistling noise, and sets down the gourd on it for a second. The raft's body deforms a bit under the unattended gourd's weight as he puts his fingers together in a horizontal frame. "Mmmph. Might make it... with a runnin' shtart."
 
        He'll set down a stream of water to, indeed, facilitate the running start to carry himself (and/or someone else) across, once he takes the drinking gourd back up.

DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Bouyant Steed toward his party's challenge, The Pit Is Shallow, But Also On Fire.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

They open the door and... yup, as Nimue predicted, that's a lot of fire right there.

"Nimue is often correct on matters like this." Clarine says with a nod toward Xantia. But, as Lanval observes, the ceiling is pretty low... just flying or gliding over the pit is right out.

"It would seem whoever initially built this shrine was wise to usual tricks of the Seraphim..." Clarine observes with a frown. Once again, she turns to her prisms. She can't form a bridge all the way across, but she use two of the resulting platforms to bridge the gap a little and ensure that they have less open fire they need to cover. She keeps a third on hand, just in case she needs to catch anyone who looks like they're about to fall in.

DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Prismatic Projector toward her party's challenge, The Pit Is Shallow, But Also On Fire.
<Pose Tracker> White Knight Leo has posed.

        By the time the door is no longer an obstacle, Leo is drenched in sweat. His hair is plastered to his scalp, and as his improvised armor crumbles off, it reveals that his uniform is in little better shape. "A test of discipline," he says, ans he lets out a sharp huff of breath. "That was... bracing." Which might be defined, by a non-Leo individual, as 'singularly unpleasant'. Still, he can't help but laugh gamely at Nimue's suggestion. "Honored Seraph, what kind of test would that..."

        Leo looks into the next room.

        "...be." The White Knight's ears droop, visibly.

        Nevertheless, it will take more than one lake of eternal fire to stop this group in their tracks. One can all but see the lightbulb over Leo's head as Xantia makes her suggestion, and he rummages in his pack for a second rope line. "I always pack a few for occasions like these," he says. Leo takes a moment to gauge the distance, and set his sights on a torch sconce on the opposite end of the room. He starts to twirl the hooked end, preparing for his shot. "Right... there!" A single, deft throw sends the hook sailing across the gap...

        *ptlink*

        It hooks into place. Leo is quick to tie the other end around something equally sturdy, lest the rope fall into the flaming pit and ruin all their efforts. "One at a time," he says. "Even a slight sag could put someone in the pit." He's one of the last to cross, using his own rope.

DG: White Knight Leo has used his Tool Rope Ladder toward his party's challenge, The Pit Is Shallow, But Also On Fire.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.

But if Nimue is often correct, and *Clarine* is correct on (the previous topic) and all other topics... that might be a correctness loop? It certainly is *here*, where they open the door and, sure enough, it's pretty much just fire.

"... At least the fire is in a hole?" she says, doing her best to sound chipper. Lanval points out there's a high ceiling, and Nimue concedes, "There *is*, at that! Will wonders never cease. One thing that isn't fire."

Nimue probably can't vault the whole thing -- but she *does* think she can make it with two platforms. Once Clarine manages that, Nimue hurls herself bodily across. ... The rope might actually slow her down. She's already pretty floaty...

DG: Seraph Nimue has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Pit Is Shallow, But Also On Fire.
===================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>===================
============<* CHALLENGE - The Pit Is Shallow, But Also On Fire *>============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 1          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 Ahead of the group along their path through gray stone, lit by torches and    
 by the glow of hot magma close by, there is a wide pit. The door is on the    
 other side of it, but there has to be a way through. However, there are       
 complications: the ceiling is very low, there is no path across, and the pit  
 is on fire.                                                                   
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Injure=========================================
==============<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial - Round 4 *>==============
==============< Results - The Pit Is Shallow, But Also On Fire >==============
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Clarine                      30 --(5)--> 35                 Pass
Prismatic Projector                 1   Agility Effects: Fanfare and Quicken  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       30 --(5)--> 35                 Pass
Bouyant Steed                       1   Agility Effects: Cleanse              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xantia                              22 --(5)--> 27                 Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Nimue                        22 --(5)--> 27                 Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White Knight Leo                    22 --(5)--> 27                 Pass
Rope Ladder                         2   Agility Effects: Quicken              
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Seraph Clarine              55 --(20)--> 75                Pass
Conditions: Hesitate(2)|Injure(2)
Effects: Cleanse|Quicken(1)
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Seraph Clarine has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use
party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

When she made her suggestion, Xantia was only thinking of a mundane way of crossing, not considering Clarine's light bridges and Lanval's water stream as well as... whatever that weird floating thing is that he has. To be fair, not exactly the most common of solutions, those.

All are perfectly valid options all the same, and function as intended to aid in the crossing. Even so, Xantia sticks to the original plan, making use of Leo's rope to cross. It may look precarious, possibly even foolish when magical alternatives were presented, but it was a simple choice for Xantia. Stick to what she knows, and has done many times before, rather than take a chance with something less familiar. She can experiment with different solutions when there isn't a big pit of fire waiting below.

Perhaps one day she'll suddenly realize that the rope could have caught fire and she probably should have taken that into account, but for the moment, they are safe and everything is fine.

"Alright, that's one more door!" she states with enthusiasm, then wonders aloud in a less enthused tone, "...How many more doors are there, does anyone know?"

DG: White Knight Leo has drawn a new Challenge.
===================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>===================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Giant Lava Scorpion *>=====================
|Type: Final       |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 2          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 Finally, a central chamber opens up. Magma rings the circular platform ahead  
 on all sides, the ceiling stretching up high enough for a dragon -- or a      
 Gear Smooth grey stone makes up the walls, and in the middle...               
                                                                               
 There's a huge fuckoff scorpion! It's coming up out of the magma already,     
 and with a wave of fiery death, it attacks the group with claw and poisonous  
 tail! It is easily the size of a house, and it is your problem now.           
                                                                               
 And the final gate awaits...                                                  
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Bad Luck, Suffer=================================
<Pose Tracker> White Knight Leo has posed.

        Leo makes sure to tuck his cape into place before crossing. It would not be good if it dipped into the pit and caught fire, after all. Once everyone's safely across, Leo takes another drink from Nimue's water pouch, sets a hand against the door, and pushes. "This one's larger than the others," he says. It starts to grind open with the sounds of scraping stone. "I think we might be getting close."

        And indeed, they are. This chamber is much larger than the others, and Leo can't escape the feeling of being watched as he strides through. One hand comes to rest on his blade's hilt, and the other on its scabbard. Magma bubbles and roils. A chittering hiss rises up from within, faint but noticeable. Leo's ears twitch. "On your guard!" he commands, and he draws his blade with a bell-like ringing tone. The monster reveals itself in the next heartbeat, magma pouring off its carapace as it rises from the pool. Its tail lashes through the air, a stinger half the size of Leo dripping boiling-hot, acidic venom.

        "HAAH--!" Leo roars, and he surges forward, catching that stinger on his blade. Droplets of venom land on his cape; smoke rises from the fabric as the stuff eats into it. For a few moments, Leo and the scorpion are deadlocked, pitting strength against strength. In the next moment, Leo steps to the side, turning the stalemate into a graceful parry. The scorpion's tail slams into the stone, carving out a crater with a tremendous crunch.

        "Lady Nimue, stay back!" Leo cries. His hand darts into his pocket, and comes up with a tiny silver hourglass. He turns it over, and the glass shatters. The silvery dust inside spills into the air, sparkling as it floats out to coat the scorpion...

        Afflicting it with time-distorting magics. It was lightning-quick before, but now it is merely 'fast'. "Face our might, fiend!" Leo roars, as the scorpion readies for a second blow. "DEMON FANG!" His blade cleaves the air, sending a vacuum wave right for the scorpion's eyes.

DG: White Knight Leo has used his Tool The Goods toward his party's challenge, Giant Lava Scorpion.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval is not a Trial keeper, but as a Seraph, he has a fairly good idea of what sort of chamber constitutes something of heightened importance compared to the rest of the way here. Circular shape, raw manifestations of the element in power about the perimeter. Is this where Yvain will be meeting them?
 
        Yvain doesn't meet them here. Lanval finds himself momentarily impressed when Leo calls an immediate threat sooner than he might, standing up as the scorpion of a common name he knows as kind of amusing emerges in order to make a meal out of them - where Leo moves in to parry the great stinger from a deadlock, Lanval gets out a bottle of shining, sanctified liquid. Even when Althena condemns you, when you know how to make the stuff, it still works.
 
        "Fer the besht if we don't let 'em too near again," Lanval remarks as the White Knight fires off a Demon Fang, deciding to just hurl the damn bottle in its entirety up high and have it spin about, swirling its shining payload into a circular sanctuary to attempt to restrict the scorpion's movement from closing in on them again.
 
        Lanval walks over casually towards where the bottle should land, grabs it by the neck, and swings it down into the scorpion's face.

DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Holy Bottle toward his party's challenge, Giant Lava Scorpion.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

The next room does look promisingly 'final', in Xantia's estimation. A large door is one thing, but a large room with no obvious tasks to perform? Well, this isn't her first dungeon. Any moment now, she's expecting something suitably big to appear to justify the size of this chamber.

In hindsight, it was silly to expect it to come from anywhere else than the fiery depths, but it still manages to take Xantia by surprise. Thankfully, not so much for her to fail to react, leaping back to avoid getting caught by suddenly displaced magma. Readying herself, she waits for the creature to fully emerge, revealing itself as...

A big fire scorpion! This is fine. It's an obstacle that punches can solve, after all!

Well, that's what Xantia assumed. This particular creature isn't making it easy to get close, staving off her attempts to charge it directly by swinging its claws, forcing her to retreat. Frustrated, Xantia activates her ARM, putting a bit more oomph into it than usual to increase the energy blade's size to one more practical for dealing with giant pincers.

Now she just has to find an opening, which is easier said than done. As long as she's forced to use her weapon to defend, the best she can manage is a stalemate. Luckily, she isn't alone here. If the others can keep it distracted long enough, she'll use the opportunity to leap in and attempt to outright sever the tail. Its threat was plain to see when Leo clashes with it - if she can remove it, all that'll be left is a head-on fight. They can handle a head-on fight, she's certain.

DG: Xantia has used her Tool ARM Blade toward her party's challenge, Giant Lava Scorpion.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

They emerge onto a circular platform surrounded by lava and an incredibly high ceiling. It's far too simple for this to be all there is in such an important-looking room, and indeed, they aren't alone here. Leo is the one to give the warning first, and Clarine whirls as a massive scorpion begins to climb out of the lava.

"...Ah." Clarine says. She has nothing against scorpions, really, being a spirit of light and magic who usually doesn't have to worry about attracting their ire. A house-sized lava scorpion, though? Different matter entirely. Still, this is all part of the trial - they must face it all the same.

"I shall handle support." Clarine says. To that end she reaches into her sleeve and draws out the Lightbending Veil, throwing it over herself. It renders her invisible, even to the Resonant - which is advantageous, when her role tends to draw ire from the enemy. With that she begins to cast spells of healing and protection over the party, keeping a close eye on everyone's situation.

DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Lightbending Veil toward her party's challenge, Giant Lava Scorpion.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.

There's one fun trick about Nimue: If you shout at her to do something, she actually does it, usually. It's not one hundred percent, but as Leo takes point, Nimue hops back. She reaches for her sling-staff, takes up a defensive posture, and goes into a cautious half-backpedal, half-sidestep around the scorpion.

"... dammit," she mutters to herself, nose scrunching up. "I know it's the right call, but jeez! This sucks."

She doesn't agonize over whatever-it-is-she's-agonizing-about for long, though. She instead takes a moment to reach into her pack, pulling out her favorite thing in the whole wide world: grenades!

It's a practiced, easy motion, after all these centuries. The weight's a little more than with a rock, but the principle remains the same: toss it up into the air, snag it, whip it. Today, she strongly flavors fragmentation over the explosives she usually prefers -- after all, 'sharp' still works in a circumstance like this, whereas 'fire' is... a bit of a Statement if you want to deal with a magma scorpion that way.

DG: Seraph Nimue has used her Tool Stolen Gadgets toward her party's challenge, Giant Lava Scorpion.
===================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>===================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Giant Lava Scorpion *>=====================
|Type: Final       |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 2          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 Finally, a central chamber opens up. Magma rings the circular platform ahead  
 on all sides, the ceiling stretching up high enough for a dragon -- or a      
 Gear Smooth grey stone makes up the walls, and in the middle...               
                                                                               
 There's a huge fuckoff scorpion! It's coming up out of the magma already,     
 and with a wave of fiery death, it attacks the group with claw and poisonous  
 tail! It is easily the size of a house, and it is your problem now.           
                                                                               
 And the final gate awaits...                                                  
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Bad Luck, Suffer=================================
==============<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial - Round 5 *>==============
======================< Results - Giant Lava Scorpion >=======================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Clarine                      35 --(0)--> 35                 Pass
Lightbending Veil                   2   Combat  Effects: Stalwart             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Lanval                       35 --(0)--> 35                 Pass
Holy Bottle                         2   Combat  Effects: Resilient            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xantia                              27 --(0)--> 27                 Pass
ARM Blade                           2   Combat  Effects: Embolden             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seraph Nimue                        27 --(8)--> 35                 Fail
Stolen Gadgets                      2   Combat  Effects: Embolden             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White Knight Leo                    27 --(0)--> 27                 Pass
The Goods                           1   Combat  Effects: Cleanse              
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Seraph Clarine              75 --(35)--> 110               Pass
Conditions: Bad Luck(2)|Fright(2)|Hesitate(1)|Suffer(1)
Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1)|Resilient(1)
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success!
DG: The party led by Seraph Clarine has successfully explored Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial!
===================<* Igraine - Shrine of the Fire Trial *>===================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Enchantments of Flame *>====================
|Type: Discovery   |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1          | 
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 The Great Gate opens, and the central chamber of Igraine awaits, the site of  
 the Fire Trial to come. It is a large chamber, stretching forth from the      
 entry hall, and within awaits a humanoid silhouette.                          
                                                                               
 But a smaller chamber awaits before you reach the main hall and within it is  
 a small altar, warmed by an unseen flame. Inlaid upon the altar are runes of  
 fire, and it is large enough to hold a reasonably-sized object or weapon.     
                                                                               
 This altar can imbue a single object,weapon, or Tool with an enchantment of   
 eternal flame, functioning once for each individual per visit. This new       
 enchantment may be useful in the ordeal ahead.                                
                                                                               
 In addition, those with the Blessing of Althena in the element of Fire may    
 unlock a powerful fire-related spell, such as Firaga.                         
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> White Knight Leo has posed.

        The Scorpion is only stunned by the Demon Fang to the face, but the Hourglass has slowed its reaction enough to broaden that window of opportunity significantly. Lanval's bottle arcs high over the platform, spraying blessed waters all over the enormous creature. Its flame gutters and smokes wherever the water lands; the scorpion reels back as if burned, and its right claw surges toward Lanval, opening wide. There's enough force in that limb to snap a stone column in two--

        Clarine's barrier snaps into being just in time. It strains and pops under the force, but Lanval is left mercifully un-bisected. Leo rushes forward, bringing his blade down in a two-handed strike on the offending pincer's arm-joint. Carapace cracks. The scorpion shrieks. Molten ichor sprays from the wound. Above, Xantia seizes that opening, ARM blade ignited; as the scorpion winds up for another strike, she swings the ARM with all her strength. It goes through the creature's tail, severing it halfway up. The severed limb falls into the lava with a splash, and the monster reels in pain. Its screech grows louder, echoing off the stone walls; Leo grits his teeth as his ears begin to ring. A splitting pain shoots through his skull.

        But it's not enough. Nimue's grenades detonate against the beast's carapace, peppering it with shrapnel. And to add insult to injury...

        CRUNCH

        Lanval's Holy Bottle shatters against the creature's head. He's been doing this for centuries; he knows how bottles break, and isn't so much as scratched. Grievously wounded, the scorpion falls back, sinking once more into the lava pool. Leo lets it retreat. He wipes the burning ichor off on the ground, and sheathes his blade. "Take that," Leo says, and he grins. "Now, let's see what that thing was guarding."

        It's... an altar of some sort. It feels warm to the touch. Leo stares at it a moment, unsure of what to do--but someone else more enterprising can figure out what it does.

<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.

Xantia was notably quiet during the battle with the scorpion, completely focused. But as soon as it's over...

"Yay, we did it! Go us! I knew we could do it!" That moment of brief celebration past, Xantia is curious to see what lies in the next room. The grimace on her face betrays a bad memory.

"Oh no, I know what that is. Last time I messed with one of those, it turned my claw to ice. ...which turned out to be really useful actually, but I think I'll pass on this one. It probably does Fire, and I've got enough fire, right here." She needlessly demonstrates by forming a orb of flame in her palm, then dispersing it by closing her hand.

...So, is that it then? Something's off about this. True, Xantia didn't bother learning all of the particulars before deciding to come here, but it seems weird that they've come this far and nobody's so much as greeted them yet. After all, there's supposed to be a Seraph in charge of these trials. She kind of stopped thinking about that after encountering the others at the entrance, even though you'd think being around so many Seraphim would serve as a reminder.

But now, having not noticed the figure waiting up ahead yet, Xantia calls out, loudly enough to be audible in the next chamber.

"Hey! Anybody here? I got a cold gem last time, I'm not leaving until I get a warm one!"

<Pose Tracker> White Knight Leo has posed.

        "I see," says Leo. Notably, he does not put anything on the altar, even as the others do. Is he reluctant to take up the Goddess' blessing?

        Only after he's sure everyone is out of sight does Leo act. His hand curls around something concealed behind his scabbard, and draws it loose. The White Knight sets the dragon-headed cane down on the altar, and watches as brilliant sparks rise around it.

        A suitable enchantment for a fine weapon.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval waits patiently for the scorpion to make their retreat before following up. It's a bit of decorum, despite outward appearances. If Yvain didn't want the scorpion here, it wouldn't - so in a roundabout way he's there to ensure it gets back into the magma and retreats safely, just quietly amplifying the collective relief and celebration of everyone here for overcoming much of what the Fire Shrine has to give out.
 
        "Mmmm." Lanval smiles gently, eyes closed as he comes along up to the altar. He doesn't have anything to give it, given his own elemental energies and leanings. "All right. Whatever'sh up ahead... wouldn't know fer shure. But 'm shure ya got it." He smiles, has a seat, and eavesdrops on Leo's choice of enchantment. He won't say anything. What can anyone say?
 
        That's a neat as hell cane.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.

Clarine glances briefly in Nimue's direction to check on her, but in the heat of the fight she can't focus for long - her attention turning back to the scorpion so she can prepare to intercept its attacks. Together, they fight it - and together, they force it back into the lava. Clarine waits for a moment to make sure that it isn't going to rear back up before removing the Lightbending Veil.

"...Is everyone alright?" Clarine asks. Ahead, the Great Gate opens, welcoming them inside. She can spot a humanoid figure.

"...He is waiting for us. We are not finished quite yet." Clarine says. ...Assuming that's who she thinks it is, anyway. But first, they are warded with a small room, within which is an altar.

"Indeed... these altars are infused with elemental powers, and can grant such as well." Clarine says with a nod toward Xantia. For her part she reaches into her sleeve, drawing out a sphere of pure, clear crystal similar to the ones she usually uses to create light. She eases it over to the altar and, as it floats above it, it ignites - and when the flames clear, a small flame can be seen flickering within the center of the crystal sphere, burning eternally.

She takes it in her hands - the sphere now warm to the touch - and stows it back into her sleeves.