challenge of lore

Okay, so, I'm just going to think that almost all of these sections for my half are going to be puzzle based like an actual scavenger hunt to go through trials for each god. I think this as I notice the marks on my map change again. The eye is change to something undistinguishable so I look to the gem next. As I continued through, to the next room, which more of an empty resting chamber, I take note of the walls and their designs. Five carved pillars encircling the room with two blank pillars at a staircase leading down. I feel like I should pay attention to those. I do so and take note of each mark on each pillar the best I can. The first was one like the first room I was in with an eye on top of it and the mark of the yellow god, Palitoh, with four different designs beneath it that seemed to spell something in this world's olden language. I read a book on the old language here, so let's see if I can make it out… I should check the others too, just in case. 

I was right to do so, and read all of the pillars. It was like a riddle story of them. I wrote them down and did my best to translate it.

"Take heed of the eye. For I see through you." For Palitoh. It glows out of nowhere and I can hear a hum from it ringing in my ears until it stops glowing. Okay~. So this one speaks of truth.

Next is the pillar with the red mark for Raida. The god of power. "Know that no king can stand without people, less he be a king of no honor." This might be for trust. Let's go to the Julah one next.

"May a voice be known through the sound of silence. Take heed in the unspoken words." I wonder if that goes with just listening rather than speaking. Like paying attention to body language or something.

"Broken shall be the fool that will not fix what is." Jesus, Liluna. That sounds like a curse rather than a riddle or blessing. It's odd that none of these are in their books. I'm just gonna write them down for later when this is over. What does that even mean?

Okay let's go with Bateyalo next. "Be at peace and stay stern, and your will is your shield. Your pride is your armor." … thank you for that blessing. I think I needed it more than I earned it.

All five glow with each phrase and stop again. I feel like something wasn't right but the room was still free to pass through. All I know is that the last two are missing. Hayula and Malcum. The two that make up my last blessings of black and white.

Stay mindful of your space and you shall be forever clear.

Holy hell!! Hi!! I forgot you were still here!

Repeat it.

… "Stay mindful of your space and you shall be forever clear." As I repeat his words, the pillars start to glow again this time with the two at the stairway.

Yet be mindful of the space around you for it will guide you to a path less traveled.

"Yet be mindful of the space around you for it will guide you to a path less traveled." Now all the the pillars glow and the door to the stairs and the dome room shut. I feel the floor shift suddenly and the room begins to turn for a while until it stops again and a new path opens between the now black and white pillars. The path went straight ahead into a new room with seven statues and a wood stump in the center. Holy mother Mary, what is this?

Each statue had their marks labeled for each person. The first to be seen as I enter is Raida, the god of Power. His figure hunched over to look to the center with a sword in his hand and a large kingly cape draped over his shoulders like a king looking over his servant. Even I felt overwhelmed by its presence alone. I look around and notice all of them hunched over like this with a different item for each.

To the right was Julah, Liluna, and Hayula. The ladies of the lineup. Julah with a hapiscore, Liluna with a bowl, Hayula with a broken animal. I notice the top half on the floor and it was a small chimera like animal with an owl body attached to a Lions back half. The wings broken to either side of it. Was that always like that or did someone grief this place?

The left was the same with Palitoh, Bateyalo, and Malcum. Palitoh with both hands out holding a short staff across them as if to offer them. Bateyalo in a bow with his shield behind him to show his being like a greeting. Malcum only towered over looking down. He had no arms but his hands were on the ground cupped together and enclosed as if protecting something in his hands. Curious, I look inside and see it looked like a tiny heart. What the ever loving…!?

Be silent.

I hear the sound of heavy footsteps under me somehow and hold still. I just noticed that I could see under me. I can see the adventurers running around what looked like a maze. A giant one at that from how high up my room was. A lot of them used their emergency teleport upon entry while others fight frantically working like good teams. I noticed Xyle had finally decided to take up three temporary partners and they were doing pretty well. Funny enough, xyle wasn't the lead of the group. This is the viewing room. But something didn't seem right.

A lot of hostile beasts were rolling in from all around them. Giant bat like things with torn wings and tails attacked the adventurers from almost every angle. No one could find the exit at the center of the room. I look to the stump in the center of the room and look to see it was another puzzle. 

This must be why a lot of adventurers in the scavenger challenge don't make it. I need to make a shape from it but what?

Palitoh.

What?

This is Palitoh's chamber.

… so… it should be the sign for view again?

...

I take the stump and start to turn the pieces starting with the outer one. It goes for a long while until I hear it click and then see the other pieces had moved without me paying attention. Shit it had to get complicated. I take a better look as I turn the next piece and see that there were seven pieces total. Coincidence? Don't think so. These seven pieces moved in opposing directions each with its own speed based on their sizes. It took me about five minutes to memorize the pattern and connect the pieces all at once.

I'm sigh in relief when I hear it lock in place to make Palitoh's mark. 

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

Xyle and his team make their way to the center of the maze and rush after the other adventurers that went ahead, leaving them behind. Xyle was frustrated with how others treated his group and chose to join them to spite them when the room suddenly started to move and space they were on opened a new path above them suddenly. He looked around until he saw Tessa above them looking at the open space that was made until she left the space she was in. He wondered where she was going and followed after her through the maze. Clearing out the beasts that attacked him.

"Wait! Mr. Vaticus! Wait a minute! Wait for us!!" One of his teammates beg as they all chase after him. He finds a path to the new opening and quickly follows it up until he reached the entrance.

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

I've made it to the new room and was able to avoid the chaos. Well minus a few hostiles. This new room was dimly lit in a gold hew that made it feel more inviting that intimidating. I guess that was the point since those things seem to be avoiding this chamber. At the end of the room sat a pedestal with a case on top of it. I open the case and see a beautiful yellow band big enough to fit on my head. I really want to try it on but I don't want to deal with what might come after I do. I take it and stuff it into my bag and turned to walk out the door when I see Xyle rush through the door right in front of me with his new possy. This time he frightened me.

"Uwaah!!" I scream. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Uh… Tessa?" He asks.

"... Yes?"

"What the!?" One of his mates say. "How come you're here!?"

"Because I opened the door?" I swear I wasn't trying to be sarcastic.

"Grrr… are- are you mocking me?"

"No. I was answering your question. Look, I'm going to finish my scavenger hunt and maybe see you guys on the other side."

"Hold on!" Xyle stops me as I try to pass them. "I think I got something that you might be able to help with."

"Huh!?"

"What!? You can't seriously trust him with this can you!?"

"I'm a girl." I growl.

"Of course I can trust her." Xyle pulls a scroll from his pouch and hands it to me.

"... What do you want me to do with this? I'm not part of the fighters challenge."

"None of us are able to interpret what it says. You seem to be going around with puzzles and riddles I figure you could at least read it."

Read it? He's peaked my curiosity and I open it to look inside it. It took me a while to read it and I realize it was a story about someone. About Palitoh. I instantly sat down in the middle of the room before finishing. I stand back up a bit embarrassed and hand it back to him.

"It's just a story." I tell him.

"Huh??" His party sounds annoyed with me.

"About what?" He asks.

"The travels of Palitoh. This is his temple."