Arona nods. I can scout, but I'd rather not. If I get caught by something up ahead or the maze changes then I will be separated and we will all fail... she says.
"Together, then." Ankhet replies, nodding at Arona and Zharifa. She glances back to ensure her crop-mates are with her. "Ready?"
Ankhet continues forward, following Zharifa's directions, with the others close behind.
On one hand, Amenset has to give Arona a point. On the other, she thinks there are some things that could be different in that approach, but maybe it's not the best moment to split hairs in half. After all, they have to work together. She follows the others, wishing number to be a key factor in keeping them safe.
Arona puts her bo staff away... walking forward with the rest of the group. She didn't enjoy being dependant on them, infact she would rather just leave them and seize the arrow alone... But then she would not pass...
She draws her Nine-section whip, the metal bars folded neatly, ready to unravel at the first sign of trouble.
The corridor in which the trail along the ground leads you down continues for what seems like hours, as the hieroglyphs and murals on the wall depict more and more scene of godliness and the power of Solidarity.
Finally, the hallway opens up into a larger chamber, one with a single entrance (the way you came out) and one exit (another opening in the wall directly across from you.).
As you enter the dimly lit room, braziers along either side of the rooms' walls come alight with bright flame, illuminating the room for all to see and revealing several large pillars along the walls beside the braziers.
And what you see is yet another obstacle: a deep pit crossing the floor from wall to wall, appromixately 20-30 feet wide. No other living things (or unliving things, for that matter) appear to be present.
Zharifa casts Wall of Stone in the shape of a bridge so that all may cross the pit without descending into it.
"Well done, Zharifa! Ever are we surprised by your ingenuity!" Ankhet praises. "Come, crop-mates! Together we triumph!" Ankhet leads the way across the bridge .
Ankhet waits until everyone is safely across. Once everyone is together she leads the way out of the room.
Kierna purses her lips and stutters, "Um, maybe we should wait? It, it doesn't seem like it should be this easy. We should, um, probably exercise some prudence here and see if anything happens for a bit before crossing."
"A fair point, Kierna. You wait! I'll go first!"
Amenset nods to Zharifa in approval of her idea and crosses the improvised bridge. "Nice resolution of a problem, crop-mate." She doesn't believe waiting will bring anything positive, but still waits patiently for the rest and keeps her mouth shut.
Arona becomes immediately suspicious. she begins to look around, trying to find illusions, skulks, or otherwise hidden threats.
her keen eyes see all, making note of every tiny detail...
Zharifa wonders why everyone is so worried about her bridge, and crosses it to show that it is safe.
As Zharifa (and any other who choose to follow) crosses the bridge, a shimmering Veil seems to fall from the ceiling in front of the exit, revealing what you've all seen numerous times before: a sphinx.
Just like every other Sphinx on Amonkhet, it does not speak, and yet now stands in the way of your progress.
With a simple wave of one claw, the Sphinx seems to causes a large stone tablet rises in front of the door, etched with multiple runes which read:
"I run smoother than many a rhyme; I love to fall but cannot climb."
It imparts one word into your mind, but that one word is enough to make you flinch in pain at the power of it.
"KNOWLEDGE"
Zharifa thinks that she knows the answer to the riddle, but wants to make sure the whole party is together before they try. If they get it wrong, they might need to fight, and if they get it right, they might need to pass through together, so she waits for everyone else to cross the bridge.
Kierna winces, rubbing her arm, as she moves up to inspect the tablet. She constantly glances over her shoulder at the sphinx, something unreadable in her eyes.
"A riddle?" Ankhet asks. Suddenly she smiles. "I have a guess," she exclaims proudly. "But this is trial is about teamwork. We all have our own strengths and together we are mighty."
Aknhet looks at her crop-mates, singling out the smartest amongst them.
"Come forward. Put your minds to work as one. We await your decision."
Kierna thinks upon the riddle for a moment, mouthing words to herself, then says without any context, "Um, have any of you been inside the Menagerie?" she pauses, then slaps her forehead. "I, uh, should probably explain. So, I've read a little bit about the, the Monument, and how a bunch of the specimens there can only, um, survive in specific environments? And I've that some, um, species of fish are housed in there. To keep the water fresh they, uh, simulate the Luxa, and some of it falls over cliffs. I've seen some illustrations, it's quite beautiful, really. So... water, or maybe a river?"
Good ideas, Kierna. I think you are onto something there.
Ankhet listens to Kierna, and nods. "A wise answer."
She gestures to the stone barrier and asks Kierna, "Would you like to do the honours, crop-sister?"
Kierna shakes her head. "I'm still not certain. I'd definitely like to get other's input on this before we finalize our answer. This is supposed to be about teamwork, after all."
Water seems logical... Arona says. After all, water cannot rize, unless carried, and it is indeed smooth... it seems very likely. Arona says. although, if this is part of the trial, I"m sure no matter how we finish this if we get it wrong or not, as long as we work together we can pass the sphinx. even if we have to fight it she crosses her arms, weapon under one arm.
"Well, we must succeed together" intervenes Amenset, "though that doesn't mean we cannot fail together. However" she goes on, "I agree with Kierna's answer. That's what I would have answered, at least. Good job, crop-mate."
Kierna blushes at the praise, then says, "If you're all sure, then, um..." She walks up to the tablet and states, calmly and clearly, "The answer is water."
The answer Kierna gives seems to have done the trick, as the wall slowly dissipates into mud and slips away from view.
As she turns to look towards the opening, however, she notices the Sphinx standing there, looking her directly in the eyes. It stays there for several seconds before simply turning away and flying out of the opening and into the upper reaches of the monument.
Ahead, you can see what seems to be an opening of the 'maze' into what appears to be a dirt circle, and the top of your obelisk pokes out from the ground inside said circle.
The young woman shivers at the sphinx's gaze, feeling the weight of its secrets, before steeling herself and striding into the obelisk's chamber.
Arona looks up to the obolisk and up at the arrow. I can retrieve the arrow... Climbing the obolisk... However there may be some twist...
Zharifa walks towards the obelisk with the others.
"And here the real challenge begins," Ankhet announces. "Keep alert, my crop-mates! Together we will triumph!"
Ankhet leads, or is close to leading, the way to the obelisk. She casts wary eyes around the area, alert and ready for danger.
Amenset joins Ankhet on the way to the obelisk.
"Okay, as this is a test of solidarity, maybe we should take out the arrow all at once?"
"I don't believe solidarity means doing everything together, at once. I think solidarity means using our varied skills together to accomplish what we could not do alone. Complementing one another, not synchronicity. That is what I feel in my heart, at least." Ankhet remarks.
"Let us approach together. I'm sure the meaning will come to us as we get closer to our objective." She looks back to see if her crop-mates agree with her.
"Yes, yes, I believe that also... it was just symbolic. But you're right - let's get there first and talk about it later."
As the group of initiates approaches the obelisk together, several piles of sand begin to...move underneath the circle of sand beneath the obelisk.
They move closer and closer in rotating cycles, pushing the initiates towards the obelisk itself.
And as if that wasn't worrying enough, along the upper edge of the basin holding the dirt circle, several viziers armed with bow and arrow begin to step up and notch arrows.
Kierna's training kicks in before panic can overtake her mind. She settles into a fluid stance, wand launching into her hand as her odd blade flares to life with arcane power.
Zharifa draws her bow as she positions herself in the center of her companions so that when she channels she can affect everyone. She then shoots one of the Viziers that are threatening them with her bow (but if her ex-lover is one of those shooting, that is specifically *not* her target).
(all damage from her bow is nonlethal)
Amenset's automatic response is to cast a spell on the most direct threat: the viziers, who can turn her into a porcupine if she tries to fly or anything similar.
Ankhet holds her longsword to the skies, pointing it at the arrow the group was sent to retrieve.
"To battle, my crop-mates! For honour! For glory! Praise be to Oketra! All hail The God-Pharaoh!"
As Ankhet speaks everyones weapons become wreathed in flames. Her words harden your resolve, making everyone braver, and more sure of themselves and their crop-mates.
Arona steps forward and drops into her combat stance, letting her nine-section-staff out, ready for combat. she holds a hand forward, pointed and sharp, while her other hand holds the staff back, ready to lash out when an enemy gets near.
Vizier 2: 52/52
Vizier 3: 52/52
Vizier 4: 52/52
Vizier 5: 52/52
Vizier 6: 52/52
Sandwurm 1: 200/200
Thing: 147/147
As Kierna prepares herself for the imminent combat, you see the rest of your group starting to do the same.
Zharifa pulls her bow out, and almost immediately lashes out at the viziers along the top wall. Her first arrow finds its mark, and the second one quickly follows right behind.
Deciding none of her offensive spells will work out as needed right now, Amenset casts a group buff to let her crop-mates have some fun.
(sorry I missed that :P)
However, if Arona cannot act first she will take a different set of actions.
As you all are beginning to engage the viziers or cast buffs and whatnot, the ground beneath you continues to churn as whatever is down there continues it movement. And then it stops, for the creature has burst out of the ground completely, revealing itself to be a massive sandwurm from outside the Hekma. How they were able to get it in here is a true mystery.
Unfortunately for several of your fellow initiates, the wurm appeared beneath a group of them, and it lashes out at one and grabs onto the boy's chest with its massive teeth while also throwing the others backwards and sending them stumbling.
The viziers don't seem too surprised by the wurm's appearence, instead simply lining up shots at random targets in the arena.
Four arrows out of the flurry that are rained down upon you happen to be aimed at members of your particular group.
"No!" Ankhet exclaims, seeing her crop-mates go flying.
She charges towards the Sandwurm with her blade out and aflame.
"Bring it down!"
Kierna gasps, sharing Ankhet’s grief, and dashes towards the sandwurm. Her blade crackles with magical energy as she strikes out at the sandwurm in a blinding black arc from a headlong charge.