[elevator] [cerberus]

[guillotineroom]

[ When you open your eyes again the first thing that you, and your teammates, may notice is that you are confined within an iron cage, rectangle in shape. Further inspection will reveal that outside of the cage is a large structure of sorts, reaching far above you. It kind of looks like an unfinished clock tower, really... there are spots that look finished and bolted tightly, and others that look like they had been left once and the work never thought of again.

Also, it's pretty chilly. You might get to notice that.

It's foggy and windy—the kind of wind that howls and roars, jostling your cage against the tall shaft, and every so often you feel as though you might have had the ghost of a raindrop on you. The tower-like build creaks horribly ominously in the wind, and you can see the rusted metals swaying slightly. But if you decide to look around...

Flapping above you (and not helping with the wind) is a harpy-like creature, iron chains wrapped around their talons. Though, maybe it's more like a lion? The chains are bolted to the top of your cage. There are also little indicators on the structure, the same distance apart, that seem to be declaring different levels or heights. They look horribly unhappy to be here, but they're also impressive at ignoring any call you might have for them.

There's a door to the cage, but it won't open, even if it's just a simple-looking locking mechanism. If you peer out, it's too foggy on the ground to make out very much, but you can make out nine other, tower-like structures with similarly flapping harpies. Each one, including your own, has an emblazoned emblem of every team's patron monster, so that you can see where everyone is—it's just difficult to make out exactly who may be in each one. Even more difficult to try and communicate like this.

Attached to the door is an aged metal panel with a screen and four buttons; two to choose between the team names that appear on the dark green and black screen, and two to choose whether you wish for that team to go up or down.

After a moment, a little speaker in the corner starts playing an incredibly bad quality version of this.]

Comments

[menphina]

Oh, no. I couldn't do that at all.. the most I can do is lend you mine own aether and have you work from that yourself. And you'd still need to be trained on how to manage it.

[ She chuckles weakly. ]

Though there is someone here who might be able to train you better than I. And now that we actually get along... he may not refuse if I ask him.

[ Does she seem happy about this? Maybe?? It must be good if she can smile about it in this horrible situation. ]

[cultfavorite]

[Even a little bit of brightness in all this is worth latching onto. And what a thought . . . this isn't the kind of thing he ever would have thought was possible. Although—]

Who is it? Someone you've made amends with from home? I'm glad to hear it. I know you had an enemy or two here.

[menphina]

Aye... [ She smiles a bit. ] He is called Emet-Selch. He's a sorcerer of eld... one of the most powerful of his kind, the Ancients. There was one by that name here before, but... 'twasn't the one I knew and certainly just... not at all like the person I'd met.

[ She thinks the one here before was some alternate bad end version. ]

The Emet-Selch I've known shaped himself as a villain, but he was also a comrade in the end, unlike the one that was here. He acts more unkind than he actually is. But he's fair and wise when it comes down to it. If there's anyone you could learn true magic from, 'twould be him.

[cultfavorite]

Ah, yes, I remember that incident . . . all those texts. Ha. Where I come from, different dimensions are a known reality. Alternative timelines, slightly different worlds—I assume anyone from any of them could be brought here. Which might explain. More than anything, I'm glad to hear you aren't in any danger from this version of your friend . . . I don't know. I'm interested. I never would have imagined such a thing could be possible.

[menphina]

Aye. The Emet-Selch I know would never be so accusatory and thoughtless. It was so unlike him, knowing how calculative he is.

[ She looks thoughtful. ]

I've heard of alternative timelines... how frightening to think there may be some version of myself out there that could be just as different and careless.

[ She doesn't like that! But... ]

Anyroad. After all of this... when we're all better... let's try it out. Between us both. And we can go see him after. He's on Unicorn, now.

[cultfavorite]

All right. If nothing else, I want to hear all about it. I do like being nosy about how things work. And I have people I want to protect, however I can.

[menphina]

Then we shall. I could even train you as a lancer, if you've a mind to study polearms. Estinien and I are both dragoons, and we train together all the time.


[ Just- nice to have things to look forward to. ]

Make some time for me, won't you?

[cultfavorite]

Anytime you want. Though I'm not the most . . . physical person. I do think right now I'm probably in the best shape of my life . . . I might concede to some training. I'm coming around to the idea. And in any case, I'd like to spend the time with you.

[He smiles at her. And he looks down at himself, too . . . he is really not any pinnacle of physicality. He is, simply put, a twink. But at least he's a twink that's eating and sleeping better these days than he used to, and getting more exercise, even if most of that exercise is not appropriate to discuss in mixed company.]

[menphina]

[ Same, but she's polite and not about to go talking about that- ]

I can see that, but you don't need to be the strongest of them all to use polearms. Back in Hingashi, even those of your stature could use one for self-defense. Once you know how... it can be an incredible asset.

[ She pets his cheek. ]

I'll be looking forward to it with you, all the same. Oh, and word of advice for Emet-Selch... if he seems like he's about to refuse, simply look sad and join me in saying "Please, most Eminent Emet-Selch?" He'll cave right away.

[cultfavorite]

Ha! Is that the sort of man he is? Don't worry, I have plenty of professional experience groveling for powerful men.

[IS THIS SOMETHING HE SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN]