"So one way or another, we need to obtain the location from this entity. With a name like the Trial of Resilience, I'm assuming it isn't friendly." Sigrun says dryly.
Neverhome thinks for a moment before shrugging. "Knowinh other two "trials" could very well be. Hopefully nyet though."
Silently, Zses follows after the others, just a little relieved that the next room didn't seem to be enshrouded by darkness like the ones before.
This small candlelit room is empty save for a bed and a night table where a candle burns in an iron candleholder. The bed is perfectly made, but the sheets display an ominous, dark crimson stain in the middle of the bed. As soon as all of you have entered the room, the candlelight begins to turn red and pulse rapidly. A moment later, the figure of an Irrisini woman rises up from the stain on the bed - and then fragments. The room suddenly becomes a swirling chaos of tortured faces, reaching arms, and twisting hair. She is everywhere within the room at once, screaming and shrieking.
Percy almost instinctively shakes off the effect and focuses on the room.
Hobbes shrugs off the effect though he is very confused. "What in the inferno is going on?"
There's no magic in the room. Whatever's assaulting you is some kind of angry spirit.
It's not magical! It's a spirit!
"Okay, how do we kill it?"
We may not! The test is to Endure!
Calm yourself spirit why are you in this room so angrily?
He asked tail lashing
"Given her resemblance to the child doll, and the bloody bed, she probably died in childbirth." Sigrun says softly as she stoically withstands the mental assault.
The spirit's voice comes from all around you. "Mother killed me!" Her voice rises into another piercing shriek.
"That is terrible! Who is your mother? Why would she do something so bad?"
He asked actually feeling very bad for the spirit. He wanted to hug the spirit sort of... though that would be most awkward.
The shrieking pierces into Sigrun's skull like an iron spike making it hard to even string together a thought. She grabs a hold of Lyosha as her knees buckle momentarily.
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Quickly catching Sigrun with concern Neverhome holds her tight as he watches as the tortured spirit shrieks. He wasn't angry with the child though, after what he saw at the river he couldn't be.
Hobbes grips his skull as the pain seeps through. He starts stumbling around.
Zses barely manages to not get shaken by the spirit's shriek. Trying to focus, he attempts to notice anything particular about the situation.
"Please make it stop." Hila whimpers as she sees Hobbes in pain.
Although the first bit of shrieking catches the elf off guard, he clamps his hands over his ears, and the second instance seems much more bearable.
The spirit sounds sad. "The Mother of all Jadwiga did this. Said it was 'my time.' But she WON'T HAVE ME!" Her voice reaches another furious crescendo.
This outburst got to him, almost bringing him to his knees he know held onto Sigrun for support. Along with the pain those fearful words brought anger back into him as well.
Have you considered that your Mother is Eldest, and as such has a wonky view of time? Don't think of it as "She won't"! Think of it as "She hasn't Yet!
Hobbes keeps stumbling as the outburst gets to him again.
Hila keeps resisting.
Despite having his hands over his ears, he too suffers from this.
He had thought perhaps his ears, soft and tufted as they were laying flat back was helping keep the screech from his ears proper.... but her last screech just tore through his sense so hard. He could barely focus.
"Yes, perhaps it is not time yet.... what is your name spirit?
He added to Percilicious' question trying to lay his eyes even further back. It was all he could do to not cover his ears with his hands.
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Feeling Lyosha buckle under the next assault snaps her out of her own suffering, the flame haired warrior supporting her beloved.
The spirit responds proudly. "I am Jadwiga Yelizaveta, daughter of Baba Yaga and 13th queen of Irrisen. I have taken precautions to ensure my safety. The cycle ends here!" The mocking laughter that follows contains more then a hint of madness.
Now it was the laughter of the spirit that seemed to be cutting right through his mind, his hands slid upward for just a moment his eyes fluttered before he shook his head lightly and his tail started to rapidly lash back and forth.
We want to help you, but we need to know where to find the shard!
He said with some force... clearly the creatures keening and laughting were starting to ... bother him.
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Percy, lover of chaos, is unfazed by the laughing just as she was by the crying.
"What precautions have you taken?" Neverhome simply asks as he shrugs off the mental assault. From what he knew of Irriseni history however, whatever precautions she took were for naught.
"What cycle?" Zses manages to say, unfazed by the laugh.
"Every hundred years Dearest Grandmother returns and takes away current queen, replacing her with new queen." Neverhome simply states.
Hobbes is able to resist the laughter this time.
Hila also resists.
Percy reaches out and steadies Hobbes with a touch. She didn't want to speak, but she wanted him to know she was there.
Hobbes' gaze meets Percy as her hand reaches out. His eyes belie what part of his mind has been lost. He lets out a slight smile.
Sigrun focuses, fortifying her mind the way she would her body in battle as the mad cackling continues.
"Or...she already has."
The spirit sounds proud. "I put it inside a porcelain doll and sent it in a different Hut layout. There's no way she'll bother searching every room in the Hut. I'm so clever!"
Percy grins, turns on her heel, and walks out with Hobbes in tow.
Helping Sigrun stand while in turn needing her support Neverhome simply shakes his head. "I hope you find your peace, former queen."
With that he'll leave when Sigrun goes as well.
All three ravens are waiting for you. "Have you learned the shard's location?"
In another version of this hut, contained within a porcelain doll. Percy reports. She ready wants to make up a riddle for them, but decides that the simple way was best for now. Hobbes' eyes worried her.
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"... within egg, within nail." Neverhome can't help but add. Turning to the others he shrugs. "From story I heard when I was child."