DUNGEON ♛ SALAMANCA TEMPLE

[boardmaster]

SALAMANCA TEMPLE
20 MARCH (NARCISSA) 2016

Once a grand place of worship for the ancestors of the Alfersa, the thousand-year-old ruins of Salamanca Temple returned to their full glory overnight. However, it also seems to be teeming with ancient reptiles long thought to be extinct. As the Heroes enter, it’s clear that the multilevel temple is a prime example of the artistic achievements of its time. The rooms are lush with plantlife that creeps in between the cracks of marble tiles and statues of Gladia with serpents at her heel, and the walls are covered in paintings and bas-reliefs depicting a famous epic about the Alfersa’s victory over all reptilian creatures.

The majesty of Salamanca Temple almost makes one fact easy to forget: it was most infamous as a site of magic… and human sacrifices.

Our Heroes know that there’s only one way to get out of here: find and defeat the boss!

	Lisbrand I’m sure you’re all aware, to some extent, that in addition to the war with Noir, Blanc must deal with threats within its own borders. These are what we call dungeons, and we only have a basic working understanding of them. Think of them as natural phenomena. Your task is reconnaissance and retrieval of the mana cores believed to be hidden in the deepest part of the structure, but you will likely encounter resistance. [a gesture to her side] Secretary Verdoni has more details about the nature of the structure. Secretary, if you would.
	Verdoni This is Salamanca Temple, a sacred and important site of cultural heritage to the Alfersa. Grand temples such as this were supposed to fill the devout with hope, but the Gladia of old was not always a benevolent goddess. Gladia’s Alfersan cult was infamous for its taboo sacrificial rituals. As a result, this temple is shrouded in frightening rumors and legends. Over the course of its bloody history, many atrocities were committed over the most trifling matters... The most famous is the tale of Moura Serpente. Perhaps you Heroes will have the chance to personally witness the truth behind these hallowed walls.
	Lisbrand Our scouts are incapable of exploring the structure the way this task force can. Therefore, you will be the front line in this mission. Your issued magical weapon will grant you immediate access to the temple once you approach the entrance. [and just to be safe, she gestures again. some of the Blanc soldiers who have tagged along for support functions march their way towards the appropriate door] Base camp will be established just outside the temple, in the event that you need to leave the area.
	Verdoni Which means that the Airy will be here for a while. Once you finish the dungeon, you are free to retire to your quarters. If you don't feel like riding the ship again, then walk. The journey to Caissa on foot will take a week at most. I suggest heading north to spend the evening at the city of Polgar. I suppose walking is a good thing for you Heroes; we will not always have the luxury of air travel.
	Lisbrand We will be breaking camp in the evening to rendezvous with Airy, so if you are not out of the dungeon by that time, you will be walking back to Caissa. [a pause] But I expect a number of you will do so anyway. This country is on full alert, and traveling by foot should be relatively safe inside our borders, but I hope I don’t need to tell you to be vigilant. I will expect all members of the task force back in Caissa by Lathrya 8th. Heroes, move out!

Basic info on the dungeon can be found here. Dungeon mechanics can be found here. All OOC questions about the event may be directed to the thread below.

ONE ♙

When you enter the temple, the flooring is surprisingly weak — wait, no. That’s a trap. And those are your screams.

You land in what seems to be the vast and sprawling corridors of the temple’s basement: dark, dank, and full of rats. But it’s more than just that — the smell of blood is thick in the air, and every so often, you might hear cries of agony. Magic circles, dried blood on ornate daggers, and tables with unspeakable tools for keeping mouths shut and human limbs in place… something tells you this is exactly what Verdoni warned you about.

MONSTER ♟ Lizardman
Weak against None	Strong against None	Immune to None
Men cursed to roam Enprise in a LIZARD-LIKE FORM by the goddess Gladia. Some conspiracy theorists say they aren’t cursed. In fact, their kind was the first to inhabit Enprise before the Alfersa arrived on a giant spaceship! But locals will squint and silently judge if you honestly believe this. These ANGRY, ARMORED lizardmen are equipped with BLADED WEAPONS and their surprisingly exceptional prowess in COMBAT. Their TOUGH SKIN and SHARP SENSES set them apart from your average human soldier. If you grab one by the tail, he’ll simply chop it off and grow one right back! But you might want to go ahead and take the risk — in alchemy, LIZARD TAILS are known for their regenerative properties. Their WEAPONS, SMELLY ARMOR, TAILS and LOINCLOTHS may be acquired as loot.

Once you make it back to the first level where the laity worship, you’ll be met with... more lizardmen. But not all hope is lost! Find the switch on one of the many life-size Gladia statues to open the hidden door behind the altar and proceed. The switch’s location may vary for each party.

TWO ♙

Only the clergy may enter the higher levels of the temple. Before they do, they must wash themselves in the pools of holy water that flank the entrance. These pools are so rich in mana, bathing in them will even replenish your own. As you splash around, you realize you’re not alone. Red and black lizard-like creatures emerge from the depths of the pools with eyes alight with fire and smoke blowing out of their nostrils. Looks like they woke up on the wrong side of the bed!

MONSTER ♟ Salamander
Weak against Water	Strong against Ice	Immune to Fire (except salamander fire)
In Enprise, salamanders are not amphibians, but FIRE-BREATHING reptiles the length of crocodiles. They have sticky pads on their feet that enable them to CRAWL UP WALLS and LEAP on unsuspecting victims. We hope your spars with the feathered inhabitants of Airy prepared you for this. When COOKED, a salamander’s MEAT can BURN ANYTHING that consumes it. However, it can only be cooked with SALAMANDER FIRE. It’d be wise to keep one alive to cook the rest. We suggest using the FLAME on the tip of its tail — less teeth and much safer. The SALAMANDER PARTS and MEAT may be acquired as loot.

At the other end of the room, there is a door with… teeth? That breathing sound isn’t your imagination; the door is very much alive and will chomp at anything that gets too close. Time to get creative. Behind the door is a staircase to the next level.

THREE ♙

Among the rooms on this level filled with treasures of wines, weapons, gemstones and gold is a large shrine with an imposing 20-foot tall statue of Gladia, a thick needle, pieces of cord and a scroll rolled out on a raised pedestal. Written in old Chernovian are instructions in poetry that varies for each party: Heroes must make a necklace out of the eyes of snakes and offer it to the statue. Those who did their research will be familiar with this practice: by doing this, you are giving her all your bad luck and having her bless your journey ahead.

You’ll need all the luck you can get because the moment you finish reading the scroll with your eyes, hundreds of snakes begin to slither out Gladia’s eyes, nose and mouth.

MONSTER ♟ Alfersan Snake
Weak against None	Strong against None	Immune to Poison
“Hissss...!” Men who were transformed into snakes by the goddess Gladia. Alfersan snakes are HOSTILE and VENOMOUS, but their powerful venom is also known to create the most potent of antidotes. Some adventurers might hate snakes more than others, but you Heroes can do this much, right? The SNAKE PARTS and VENOM can be acquired as loot.

Once the necklace is complete and offered to the statue, the statue will turn, revealing another staircase to the next level.

FOUR ♙

Men weren’t the only ones punished by Gladia. One thousand years ago, the priestess Moura grew envious of a higher member of the clergy, whom everyone preferred over the selfish, narcissistic Moura. What did that woman have that she didn’t? Consumed by these negative thoughts, Moura transformed the woman into a snake and chopped her into pieces for Gladia, praying that the goddess would hear her plea.

In an instant, Gladia answered: “All your life you have lived a lesser being, so a lesser being you shall become!” With these words, the goddess cursed Moura with a head of full of venomous snakes. Ashamed of her appearance, she locked herself up in the temple to fully devote herself to Gladia. They say that Moura lives up to this day, waiting for Gladia to grant her salvation...

As our Heroes enter a large, circular room at the top floor, they will see a desolate young woman muttering the prayers beautifully inscribed in gold leaf on the walls. Olive skin, pointed ears and amber eyes — there’s no doubt that she is Alfersa. As she raises her head and meets their eyes, she greets them with an eerie, twisted smile.

And so do the snakes in her hair.

BOSS ♟ Moura Serpente
Weak against Fire	Strong against None	Immune to Poison
“You are not from this world. … Ehehe… Ahahaha! Oh! Oh, praise Gladia!” Believing the Heroes to be her divine retribution, Moura wastes no time. At the snap of her fingers, a GIANT SERPENT crashes into the room and slithers to its master’s side. The serpent is strong and quick, and when Moura hops on its back, she is nearly untouchable. Strike its soft UNDERSIDE to get some damage in! “To deliver judgement and receive judgement — that is why I exist. I live for no one but my goddess...” The SNAKES ON HER HEAD are a deadly force on their own: they can extend, retract, and even change color according to Moura’s mood. Moura can also use them to get around. When the snakes sink their teeth into your flesh, their bite can either POISON or PETRIFY. The venom will grant its victim DIZZINESS and NAUSEA. We hope you stocked up on antidotes. The remedy for petrification, however, is A KISS ON THE LIPS. One from your true love won’t have any special effect, but that’s rather sweet of them, don’t you think? PRAYING to Gladia — even if by just talking or asking her for anything — will grant you a temporary RESISTANCE TO POISON. “Why? Why do you listen to their prayers and not mine? … Heh… Gladia did always favor the pretty ones!” If you are PRETTY, Moura with direct her rage at you and chase you down. And if everyone is pretty? She’ll take down the prettiest first. To make matters worse, swarms of ALFERSAN SNAKES begin to crawl over the Heroes to distract you and restrict your movements. Don't fret; the TORCHES in the room will help ward both snakes and Moura away. “My goddess, is this enough...?” When you deal your final strike, Moura appears unharmed. But she falls a second later, sprawled on the marble floor and looking up at the ceiling. Slowly, her eyes close and her chest stills. Is she at peace? A glowing object rises and floats above her chest — your first DUNGEON CORE. MOURA’S ARMOR and TOMES ON STATUS MAGIC may be acquired as loot.

You may exit the temple by going back the way you came or jumping out the hole Moura’s serpent made. Falling to your death won’t be a problem — the giant serpents of the temple see you as their new masters. They will catch you and let you hop off their backs once they reach the ground.

FIVE ♙

Salamanca Temple is in a secluded area, so the Airy is parked at an open meadow. Walking back involves cutting your way south across the jungle and crossing the river. We hope you brought a map and a compass! Both are available for purchase on the Airy. The Airy will leave for Caissa on the evening of the 20th. It will arrive in Caissa on the 22nd.

For those who want to explore, the jungle gets thicker as you head north until you find winding stone paths that lead to the city of Polgar.

LOCATION ♟ Polgar

Although Polgar is a city relatively untouched by Blanc’s technological advances, it remains one of the country's largest urban centers due to its TOURISM. The city is home to the ALFERSA, a matriarchal society similar to that of the Amazons, in which men are often relegated to housework and manual labor. Most Alfersa believe that machines are no replacement for good hard work and prefer to live alongside NATURE, though small clockworks and machinery do exist in certain parts of the city. TROPICAL FLORA blankets Polgar and its architecture. There are many TEMPLES and SHRINES here dedicated to Gladia, Lathyra and Oubliette, all well-kept as the Alfersa are proud of their heritage. For the gods, their faith does not waver. Some of their festivals last entire months, with the celebration moving from shrine to shrine in resplendent procession. Polgar is also a popular tropical GETAWAY; its spas, resorts, restaurants, hot springs and brothels are all well-known and high-class, staffed by beautiful men and women and catering to all preferences.

Comments

[hoasen]

[It certainly was a good thing that she didn't notice that Gilgamesh was checking her out? In fact, Setsuna probably had a rougher time with her slender body considering she decked him. Twice. Because hitting a guy once isn't enough?

In her mind: Gilgamesh is helpful and not an uncouth pervert. Setsuna is a nice man, one she needs to wipe away the idea that he's a pervert.

Either way, she's keeping check on the other side, and wondering why Setsuna was taking his sweet time, and takes a look outside. Pretty sure she saw something happening, and would've reacted more if not for the fact that she's trying to protect some lives here, making sure all of these are stable enough for them to come through.

She helps Setsuna balance himself when he comes out through the space, before it's time for Gilgamesh to come in. As soon as he's safely faulted through, the door slams its mouth shut, and gurgles. It's probably a little disappointed there's no blood. Sorry, doormouth.]

I am fine, King of Heroes. [Pretend that there are no spaces and it is all in caps. She touches her chin as soon as Gilgamesh asks that question to Setsuna.

She wasn't imagining things.]

[quaria]

[ Luckily for the King, Setsuna didn't notice what he was doing to Vietnam either. During the time, he was busy folding away his weapon. Setsuna would've silently sulked, to be regarded as pervert before when a real one isn't getting any suspicions at all! Although in reality, he probably would've missed the implication even if he noticed it. He has a growing trust with this King, so he would have instead thought that he was being concerned for the country — checking if she has any injuries so far or so. His King has been nothing but be good to him, he has no reason to suspect him so far.

Even... even if said King winks at him like this. Setsuna almost releases his embrace from that, but he knew better than to impulsively move especially in a crucial moment. Instead, he closes his eyes and hides his face by pressing against the King's shoulder as they altogether move forward. After Gilgamesh announces that they're clear, he immediately moves off and straightens himself after a light sigh. He looks up at his two companions, but is purposely avoiding eye contact from one of them especially after hearing that question.

At this point, they're close enough for Setsuna to learn how to retaliate. That's why instead of ignoring the King (something he would've normally done), he reaches over to gently hit his arm. He walks on ahead this time, intending to hurry on and get this dungeon over with! ]

[babbylon]

[No, she was not, in fact, imagining things.

Gilgamesh laughs and laughs when he's shoved. Under ordinary circumstances, touching the King in such a fashion would be grounds for immediate, and severe, punishment—but with Setsuna he's learned to read into gestures, so he knows it's just a sign he's become flustered. Perhaps not so different from other young men his age, as Gilgamesh once thought; it simply took a bit of coaxing for this rarer side to show itself.

Setsuna could only wish that he might escape him. He's quick to race after him and throw an arm around his shoulders, and nag at him even further... and to glance over his shoulder and whistle for Vietnam to hurry, too, or else she might miss the wild Setsuna in its truest, most sensitive form.

It is an infectious moment of careless happiness, teasing all around as they make their way up the stairs. Perhaps they will need the good cheer for the trials yet ahead.]

[hoasen]

[Questions she would like to ask! But perhaps she shouldn't pry? Ah, now is not even the time. Note to self: Find their friends and connections, try to ask them instead.

Excellent plan. It's times like these she wished Taiwan was with her though. Her sister probably would be able to translate all of this for her so they can have confirmation.

Either way, it's kind of nice to see two people get along so well. It's what's nice about watching the human spirit, even though one is a confirmed demi-god, and Setsuna sometimes passes for a robot (and he's not so robot right now). She runs after after them, after she slings her oar over her shoulder. And she'll give them their moment for a little while longer by walking just a bit more quickly, so that she can peer into the next room without them having to worry about being alert.

And when she does--]

Good heavens.

[A room filled with treasures, a stark contrast to the first room they stepped into when entering this dungeon, is before them. A grand statue of Gladia towers over these treasures, like a guard. She's not entirely sure it is even safe to touch anything here. There seems to be some kind of altar where the statue is.]

[quaria]

[ Unfortunately for Vietnam, Setsuna has never told anyone. He doesn't normally talk about his relationships with others, or does he talk of himself much in general. He prefers to spend time with a smaller number of people if not by himself, so no one has actually caught on about them yet. She's the first one to witness them.

Because of his mentioned trust for Gilgamesh at this point, Setsuna doesn't at all shove him off despite all the teasing he's continuing to insist. He visibly sinks a little as he walks, but it's because he isn't quite used to this kind of treatment from the King yet. Although as it feels a little nostalgic, he's... a little happy deep inside. The sentiments remind him of his comrades from home, as this is something akin to what they do to him sometimes...

When Vietnam exclaims this time though, Setsuna's back to a more alert state. What's ahead of them this time? As he stops at the doorway with the King and the country, the Meister is lightly surprised at seeing such a grandiose treasure room... It looks more like a royal vault than a room for temple offering. Looking around them, it seems there's another hidden door somewhere; he can't see any visible ones to go through next. ]

[babbylon]

[They enter the room, and Gilgamesh finds himself at once overwhelmed.

This time, it's not because of a harrowing enemy, or a splendid pool, or anything else they've encountered thus far, but because of treasure. Treasure, treasure, everywhere, and all of it reminding him of what he once owned within his peerless Gate of Babylon. His grin fades and he steps forward as if in a daze, as if he doesn't really believe what's before his eyes. This, too, was the shape nostalgia took.]

Gold...?

[More than that, even. Gold, silver, precious gems, weapons and armor and enough riches to make them all millionaires. There's no way to cart it off, of course, and that's the real tragedy of it. It glistens and glows within this room, and within this room it shall remain.

Paying no mind to the statue, Gilgamesh kneels before a mountain of coins, running a few through his fingers.]

And so much of it... I believe this discovery will have the Commander quite pleased with us.

[Tragedy, and then reality—the soldiers would simply come in and claim it all in the name of Blanc. What a waste; Gilgamesh pulls away, and ever a waterfall of shifting emotion, descends into gloom once more. He looks to a raised pedestal, near to the statue, and approaches when he sees something that doesn't quite belong.

What was a mundane needle and thread doing here? This probably bore some inspection.]

[hoasen]

[Even Vietnam will admit she's never seen this much treasure in her lifetime, and she's been around royalty. Chinese royalty, considered representatives of dragons. All that war usually has treasure spent in some way or another.

She doesn't know Setsuna's origins well enough, so she's unsure if he had to deal with treasure like this in his time. But Gilgamesh is someone in her world history. She is very sure that he has seen this before.

Vietnam finally moves to join them by the pedestal, after investigating the riches around them.]

I hope so. This can help them, if it is possible to retrieve. [Though she wonders if they could. If anything, the study of it is significant in a historical sense.

When she looks forward at the pedestal, the needle and thread confused her. Is it something to do with creation? There's also scroll already laid out to bear, written in a script that is familiar, and one she can't read.

...Wait a second, she can read it. It's like for some reason, the magic that she now has is able to translate it.]

Are you all able to read it as well?

[quaria]

[ A room full of overwhelming treasure... Something like this could easily be a source of conflict. Setsuna has never encountered such a sight before either, so he's not sure how to feel about it. He could probably take a few items here to take back... Even if not for Blanc's sake, he could personally make use of it as travel or pocket colle. If they're going to be stuck in this world for a while longer, then he understands the need to collect as much resources as possible. It's a passing thought however; he'll have to see if there's anything more useful first. He doesn't want to be greedy about this.

But seeing his companions gathering in front of the statue, he wonders, what are they looking at? Setsuna trails after them after a quick inspection around the room as a safety precaution. The trio is now currently altogether looking at the pedestal and the items upon it; aside from the needle and thread, the poetry lies in wait for them. It's in a language that Setsuna has never seen before... Oddly enough, he can read it. This is the same case he encountered back in Caissa, when he realized that he can read and understand the local language despite not having learned it at all. He still doesn't know how that is achievable... Is it because they're "Heroes?" What ever "Heroes" really are.

He reads the poem out loud, so everyone can ponder on it together. ]

"A vile gaze brings about misfortune, end their repulsive stare, and may your journey be blessed by the goddess."

[ This is their hint, then... What does it mean? But before Setsuna could get any significant thinking done, loud and unsettling noises quickly fill the room. Movements can be noticed at the statue above them as well, causing the young Meister to immediately lift his head and arm himself with his nonmagical sword. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh knows that danger approaches as soon as the words leave Setsuna's lips.

For Gilgamesh grew up in a culture full of these treasure palaces, of dungeons and of riddles, and so he understand the poem for what it truly is: a herald of warning. He draws his sword, he holds his ground, he digs his heels in preparation for whatever malevolence may follow...

And he shrivels, almost immediately. He's not imagining things now, tiny sets of teeth and tails that belonged to disgusting salamanders. These are snakes, real and in the scaly flesh, and his stomach starts to turn and he can feel the bile creeping up his throat. Their bodies are thick and repulsive, reeking of the blood and sacrifice they'd left behind. They bare their fangs, creep over every inch of space, and hiss and snarl and Gilgamesh can think solely of that instrument of the devil which stole away the only means he had to avenge an untimely death.

But that had been a fool's errand from the beginning, hadn't it? Gilgamesh shakes, yet he forces himself to see straight. He cannot be a liability for his comrades again. He is King, a great Hero, a man of strength and dignity and honor. He cannot wilt before something he could just as easily crush in the palm of his hand.

So even though he wants to fall back, he resolves to fight. Once again, his party members serve as inspiration. How could he be anything but a leader to them?]

They are venomous! Do not let them bite you!

[He doesn't know how he knows, only that he does. Gilgamesh focuses all of his energy on weaving between the snakes, alternating between crushing them with firm stomps and piercing them with his sword. He calls upon all the magic he knows, which isn't much; but a few flares of fire and ice here and there aid in their extermination.]

[hoasen]

[Gilgamesh may have cursed them before with his cries of SNAKE!!! because lo and behold, now there are hundreds of poisonous snakes. They slither so fast, it would be tough to shoot them. With a blade, that's a different story. At the moment she could use the sword she looted from the lizards before, or she could take out her combat knife and wield it like she's going to bleed the snake.

First option. The second takes way too much time when it comes to Man vs 100s of Snakes.]

Okay.

[A confirmation, since the snakes themselves have that kind of slender body that matches the venomous kind. Having known that Gilgamesh fears snakes, she's impressed that he's making an effort to kill them. Though she wonders if he's moving too fast. If he exhausts himself, that would leave him vulnerable. So she better get rid of them as fast as possible. Vietnam isn't really a swordswoman, having a preference for longer two-handed weapons (which she sometimes wields with one), but she knows her way around a sharp blade. So it's a bit odd how she cuts the snakes, despite her accuracy in decapitating them.]

After you read that scroll, Setsuna, they came. Does that mean they're guards, or part of an offering to the goddess? [At least, it sounds like they were meant to give her something, which could be actually something, or the their services in ending all of these snakes. And Vietnam, just because you're used to snakes, please have some kind of sense of self-preservation instead of trying to deduce the problem. Right now.]

[quaria]

[ "End their repulsive stare." To Setsuna, it clearly means killing them. Thinking about the rest can come later, when they have the luxury of doing so. As survival instincts again take over him, all else is set aside until this battle is taken care of. As if to make it clear that his answer for Vietnam is to annihilate each and every one of them, he begins to consecutively slice his way through a gathering mob of the venomous snakes.

Setsuna is paying most attention to the King, as the short display of a momentary paranoia causes the Meister to easily worry about him. He hasn't forgotten how he reacted to those salamanders, either. Seeing Gilgamesh's new-found bravery however, makes Setsuna's eyes light up a little. It's an admirable sight, to see the King attempt to overcome his weakness. It makes the Meister want to support him even more.

They're dangerous as Gilgamesh pointed out, so Setsuna keeps it in mind and makes sure that he doesn't suffer any damage by kicking away any snake that comes too close. Any attempts of a bite at him is countered by a silver-colored crescent wave, either parrying teeth away from him or completely beheading these violent creatures. Only when their numbers begin to significantly drop did Setsuna continue the conversation: ]

This temple has an on-going theme of sacrificial rituals. I believe we are meant to offer them for the next path to open.

[ But he doesn't know how to exactly offer them. Could the needle and the thread be related to it? There's also the first part of the poem to consider... For now though, he continues to end more of these creatures. ]

[babbylon]

[Soon enough, disgustingly enough, all that lies at their feet are twitching piles of snake guts. The few snakes that yet remain slither away in cowardice, and Gilgamesh gives a harumph of victory, shaking his fist and yelling after them:]

Of course you'd flee from a King and his fearsome troops! Back to the depths with you, where your filthy kind belongs!

[Spitting upon the space they'd left behind, Gilgamesh turns to scan over the poem once more, reading certain bits aloud.]

A vile gaze... their repulsive stare... your journey blessed...

[To receive blessing, one must present an offering. And what do they have to offer? What do they currently have in abundance that might serve as an appropriate tribute to such a goddess? Gilgamesh surveys the carnage, and cringes as he happens upon the answer.]

Gaze. Stare. Is this not verbiage that refers to the eyes?

[He cringes, because eyes weren't bodies. They were attached to bodies, and thus required detachment. That must have been what the needle and cord was for. Gilgamesh glances over to Setsuna, then to Vietnam, and then makes a hasty decision.]

Vietnam is clearly the best suited among us for such a task! For her... fortitude. [Sweats.] Yes.

[hoasen]

[Vietnam bites her tongue; were it America, France, any of her Asian brothers, she probably would've made a sassy comment about this. However, this is Gilgamesh, and she will hold back. For his sake. He had a legitimate fear of snakes.

Swiping her blade to the side, she cleared it of the remaining blood before sheathing it, and moves over to their sides. So, they are in agreement that it is an offering. But of what? Such puzzles exists only in literature, movies and games, and not so much real life. This is probably Tolkien level nonsense (but she appreciates it).]

So I am meant to make an offering of eyes...on a string. [She didn't even blink an eye when Gilgamesh made that suggestion, instead pulling out her combat knife.] Alright. I haven't pulled eyes out of snakes before, but there is a first for everything. I suppose it is no different to pulling eyes out of fish or livestock.

[...She sure did get descriptive. Moving over to one of the dead snakes whose head was still left intact, she carefully picks it up, making sure to avoid touching the blood. She faces Gilgamesh and Setsuna. But mostly Gilgamesh.]

You might want to look away.

[And then she begins. After lifting off the eye cap, she starts to carve around the eye to cut out the ligaments before pulling one out, and repeating with the other. Gruesome eyes in hand and blade put away, she returns to the pedestal and prepares her needle and thread.]

It's a strong needle. [With her back at her two companions, she's unsure what they're thinking or how they're feeling right now, focusing only on her task. Piercing the eyes with the needle, she pulls until significant thread is connecting the eyes together, before cutting the thread and tying the ends together.

Well, she's not sure if this is enough, but she places the completed offering down on the pedestal, hoping it will work, and wishing that there was something to clean her hands with.]

[quaria]

[ Look at this King taunt the rest away... It's kind of cute. Setsuna resists the urge to smile, knowing this is a serious moment. Thankfully, he has the rest of the poem to think about and easily distract him from accidentally letting out an amused noise. Once Gilgamesh figures it out though, what ever light mood Setsuna had fades. Although the snakes are now lifeless, the very act of taking their eyes off to offer to some goddess... He doesn't want to hold an opinion about it, but he knows that he doesn't like it. He doesn't believe in higher beings anymore such as gods... So having to do such a gesture with a questionable method no less, he's discomforted. But he doesn't voice anything out.

After Gilgamesh assigns Vietnam to do the dirty work, Setsuna doesn't say anything to that either. Technically, he might be capable for the task as well. But it might be better if she's the one who does it because of how he feels about religion. When she warns for them to look away, he doesn't for a few seconds. Eventually he does though, and patiently waits with his usual emotionless face. While waiting, he looks at the King to see how his condition is holding up. This must be very disturbing for him, considering the creature where those eyes originated from.

Setsuna only fully turns around again after hearing Vietnam place down the offering. It's a disgusting noise... He decides not to glance at the necklace, not because he fears it, but because he's not interested in having this kind of memory. It's then that the statue before them begins to turn, shortly opening the way to the next area. Basing from the view out the odd-looking windows, it appears that they'll be reaching the highest floor after they climb this remaining staircase. Could they finally have reached the last area? To gear up for that scenario, Setsuna again deploys his magical weapon as preparation. ]

[babbylon]

[In truth, Gilgamesh had chosen her to spare them both, because with Setsuna beside him, there's something to hold—his hand, just barely around the wrist, while turned away from the whole gross affair as Vietnam advised. He's not scared. He's seen gore before. But that doesn't necessarily mean he revels in it, and like Setsuna, he doesn't choose to invest his faith in gods despite being one himself. It's discomforting, yes, but less so with the familiar flow of mana coaxed by skin on skin. His face offers no sign of what he's thinking or feeling, blank as the tablet they read from.

However, once she's finished, he does tell her in all earnestness:]

Thank you.

[He was a tyrant to the root of him, but for being the spared the misery of this task, he's truly appreciative. And as a result of this appreciation, he's the first to offer her a means to clean her hands: a small piece of cloth from his pocket intended for such a purpose. It's a strangely gentlemanly gesture, though Gilgamesh doesn't dwell on it for long. His eyes return to Setsuna, and he nods, decisively.]

Lead on.

[Gilgamesh will follow, with Vietnam in tow, most certainly. Sometimes even a King had to cede the reins of leadership, though this is simply a token of his trust.]

[hoasen]

[Honestly, she felt no pressure whatsoever, other than the need to clean her hands after, because she's sure after what they did, you don't want that blood on your hands. And how they may be going into another battle after this. But otherwise the task itself was easy, and nothing stressful.

She probably can't imagine exactly what her companions are going through. All she can feel now is relief that the statue revealed to them their next path.]

How fortunate, it worked. [She was going to turn to speak to them, figure out if they need a plan (like take some of the treasure), when Gilgamesh offers a piece of cloth. She looks towards her hands, and realises what he was doing. Taking it--]

No, thank you. [Since he really didn't have to follow this up.] I will wash it clean before I return it to you. [Since who needs snake muck all over their stuff? Still, she wipes, making sure to not make a huge mess of the fabric so it would be easier to wash later.

As soon as they start moving, she will follow, pocketing the cloth away and holding her oar firmly in her grasp.]

[quaria]

[ It's a little frustrating sometimes, to be reminded again and again... The mana of this world disrupts the natural energies of his body, causing his abilities to be limited. No matter how hard Setsuna wishes to sense the emotions of the King so close to him, he can't. Maybe in time, he'll be able to find a way to catalyze his senses out again. But that time is not today; and right now, he's left with no choice. He can't read anything... He won't be able to understand so easily. But that's all right, even if he doesn't know the answers.

Because they're together in this moment, Setsuna can still do something for him. During the time Gilgamesh and himself were looking away, he allowed the King to hold his hand if that gave him a sense of comfort. For an added sense of security, he very lightly held it back. It was a short moment, but it mattered. Now back to the present, Setsuna acknowledges both Vietnam and Gilgamesh. Before he heads into the supposedly final area, he'll let the two of them gather themselves and prepare as well; the King to rid of any leftover discomfort, and the country to wipe away the blood off her hands.

Thus after setting up his magical weapon, Setsuna walks off aside first to check for anything useful to bring. He noticed books here earlier, so he wanted to investigate them. Since they probably shouldn't take too much time here, he quickly grabs a couple of the books in addition to several gemstones that seemed relatively valuable. He tucks them all away in his bag, then he proceeds to step up the staircase to finally lead the way. ]

[babbylon]

[And to think, Gilgamesh had nearly walked past all that treasure without a second thought. Perhaps he's still so accustomed to having it at a wave of his hand he forgets he's actually lost everything. Taking after Setsuna, he picks through the treasure for some select pieces—an enchanted amulet, a handful of precious stones, destined for his satchel. He considers taking as much as he can carry, but he wouldn't put it past the higher powers of this temple to punish greed.

So, once satisfied with his loot, he scurries after Setsuna to whatever lies ahead.

The staircase proves long. Very, very long. Very long as in miles long, though they're all naturally tireless individuals. They work their way up and into a huge room, big enough to fit hundreds of people. Gilgamesh marvels at it, at the golden inscriptions on the walls, about to comment before he spies a single figure kneeling in prayer. With a quick, sweeping gesture his comrades are sure to understand, he urges them silent, and begins to approach on quiet feet.

Eventually, they will hear a voice, fervent with a sighing quality, like that of a young girl:

"Gladia... ah... won't you hear me? I've been speaking for so very long, and yet not a word! Not a single word! Please, please answer me!"

But none heed her call. It's almost a tragic display; she's clearly delusional, clearly of broken sanity. At once, Gilgamesh understands this to be their target, yet he cannot quite bring himself to ambush her. And apparently, there's no need, as striking eyes fleet up to theirs and a sharp smile cuts across her face.

"You are not from this world. ...Ehehe. Ahahaha! Oh! Oh, praise Gladia!"

There's the sound of something slithering, slamming through the wall and curling up high. Gilgamesh wields his sword, scowling at the two of them. The battle has begun!]

[hoasen]

[Vietnam had to wait until the boys grabbed their share of the goods before she looked at what was good to take. Books was a good idea, so she took a few of what Setsuna didn't take, and also a bag of coins and some jewels. There was a hair ornament she liked, but while she took it, she thinks she might as well trade it in. Nothing good comes out of keeping antiques from magical temples.

It was strange that the staircase took them so high without other problems. Perhaps it was because it was so steep, and that whoever created this temple would have thought adventurers would have surely perished by now. Still, aside from the climb, she was grateful for the quiet.

Until they entered this room, and there was that distant voice. One that belonged to a...there's a twisted priestess in this room? That could explain why this entire temple feels cursed.

But it was just one against a group of three. Until it looks like this girl with a head full of snakes also has a companion. A giant, towering snake.

Alarmed, Vietnam looks over at Gilgamesh. Small snakes, he held up well. What about this towering serpent that the girl was using as her ride? Even she's not comfortable with this at all.

“To deliver judgement and receive judgement — that is why I exist. I live for no one but my goddess...”

Right, this is a problem now, she and the snake are about to deliver "judgement". But snake is a massive target and Vietnam wastes no time transforming her oar into a gun. She loads it in with burst shots, and takes aim. When it poises to strike, she noted that the underside wasn't as armoured as the rest of its body.

And that's where she'll shoot.]

[quaria]

[ As someone used to battling giants that might as well be compared to gods, Setsuna is mostly unaffected by the intimidating height of that bloodthirsty snake. If anything, it only fuels his determination further. He's seen something like this before... Many, many years ago when he thought his life was coming to an end. But it didn't, and he's been granted a chance to live. Today, he is indeed alive... And he intends to continue remaining so. Without hesitation or fear, the young Meister boards his motorcycle and takes position as the battle begins.

"I live for no one but my goddess..." Such a sad statement. It stirs something inside of Setsuna, nearly wanting to scream. But he knows better than to do so. This priestess has long died. What they're seeing is likely an illusion of the past, a phenomena of this long forgotten temple. In order to redeem this priestess and end this nightmare, they all know what they must do. Don't look into the past, don't think about what can't be changed anymore. That is also a part of living on. The bike's engine sounds across the large room, echoing as particles of light form a gentle wind against him. He stays in place, observing as the mad little priestess spout desperate pleas. ]

... God does not exist.

[ Maybe that's a little too sudden. But Setsuna wasn't particularly talking to his comrades. Maybe he isn't necessarily talking to the priestess, either. He's reminding himself of why he's here, and why he must fight here and now. Because not a single god will save him from this situation... No, he must do it with his own power. To live with one's own will, that's the answer he's long carried inside of his heart. He briefly looks at Gilgamesh and Vietnam, giving them a faint smile before turning his head away.

And then, he steps on it, blazing forward ahead of them to gain the aggression of the priestess and her giant snake. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh remembers this moment—from another time, another place, but he remembers.

He remembering staring down the gods and spitting in their very image. He remembers fantastic beasts of enormous statures, the great Bull of Heaven descended from heaven to strike him and his brother down. He remembers the word impossible and how often they both laughed in the face of it. So he sees this twisted priestess and her pet snake and with the faintest of smiles, he feels that same courage rising up within him again.

He remembers that he is Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, keeper of the garden and ruler of an endless domain, and he is absolutely fearless.

Normally, Gilgamesh would favor Vietnam's position and strike from afar with projectiles, but in this realm he has no such option. He must fight, like Setsuna, up close and personal. So he charges on past Setsuna, whom the snake favors as a target, and goes straight for her throat. Or at least that was the plan.

Moura giggles and catches him by either cheek with deceptive strength.]

Wh... wh... hey! I never gave you permission to—

["Well, well, well! Aren't you just the prettiest thing? Why don't you tell me everything...?"]

There's nothing to tell! Not to the likes of you, you screeching harpy!

[This was clearly not the right thing to say.

Moura's living hair turns red, her eyes flaring an unnatural and wicked color, and she hisses with the same grating inflection as her pet snake. Gilgamesh manages to break away, though it's not for long. She starts slicing at him with armored claws, shrieking at the top of her lungs:

"Take it back! Take it back! I'm the most beautiful, the most enchanting, the most radiant...!"]

Hah! That title belongs to none other than myself, Gilgamesh! Wrest it from me if you can!

[Well, at least that's an easy target for Vietnam to hit... but how long can he keep dodging for?]

[hoasen]

[Boys, you sure throw a lot of salt at this poor crazy lady here! "Gods do not exist", "Screeching harpy". Although to be fair, the latter one was called for.

Setsuna responded to the attack by pushing the priestess and her serpent back enough for Vietnam to keep shooting. She'll give it her all now, considering that this beast is bigger than anything they've seen, and there are no more rooms left. She can empty her ammunition for all she cares. She's also pleased that Gilgamesh joins the battle too, even though she wouldn't have minded either way.

Now, Vietnam doesn't falter, but she did have a moment where she was Confused by how the crazed priestess places her hands Gilgamesh and...tries to chat him up? Was she leading him to feel falsely secure? He didn't buy it though, so she raged at him.

Never mind that they're having a verbal match on who is the "Most Beautiful, Most Enchanting, Most Radiant". Goodness. Either way, Gilgamesh gives Vietnam that opening and she takes it, shooting round after round at her mass of snakes, blasting her hair with the red eyes with another shade of red (spoilers: it's blood).]

Watch out! They bite and potentially are lethal like the ones we saw before!

[quaria]

[ Sorry, Vietmom... When it comes to gods, Setsuna has only one answer. Right now, he wants to prove that fact with his own actions. He's startled though, seeing Gilgamesh who decided to outrun him — did this mean the King found a new reason to charge ahead once more? With the two of them charging ahead however, it conveniently led for the priestess and the giant snake to divide their attention between the two male Heroes. Without the girl's attention on the massive snake, they won't be as harmonized compared to working together.

Setsuna at this point reaches the base of the giant snake, ramming his magical weapon against its soft underside before he starts chipping away at its flesh with the bike's mana blades. Aside from the angered priestess's high-pitched yells from the combined efforts of Gilgamesh and Vietnam, her giant snake now joins the chorus of anger. It lets out a deafening noise, but the Meister does his best to ignore it and continue dealing damage against its flesh as long as possible. But once he can feel it stirring violently, he stops and pulls away; he immediately dashes as far as possible, barely on time to avoid a ground-shattering tail sweep. The aftermath seems to summon more snakes into the room, but there is now a gaping injury on the giant snake's belly that can be used as a weak spot.

"Gladia, Gladia...! Why? Even though I am your most loyal servant...!" Moura's actions quickly change. She seems to be in disorienting pain as the snakes on her hair bleed, causing her to fall back from the King. She's covering her face as continues to call out for her goddess, but that doesn't last long. Once she lowers her hands away from her face, tears of blood is then revealed to be flowing from her eyes. She starts laughing hysterically, then points at Vietnam's direction... She's no doubt vengeful for her attacks. Forgetting Gilgamesh for now, the priestess instead rushes forward to the only other woman in the room.

"Ahaha...! What's this? You, woman... You remind me of that one girl... The girl I cut into little, little pieces!" Right after the priestess faces Vietnam point blank, she barely gave the country any time to react. Grabbing the woman's arm with her strong armored arm, she holds the country in place to allow one of her remaining snakes to lunge forward and sink its teeth against her skin. As this is happening, she continues to laugh hysterically one more time. ]

Vietnam!!

[ While giant snake is still writhing in pain, Setsuna takes the chance to rush forward to the country's side. This time, he rams against the insane priestess to force her away from his comrade — causing her to fly a couple of meters back. He looks over to the King, indicating that he's counting on him to check up on Vietnam. He doesn't waste time after that, moving forward to charge after Moura again to this time bravely grab her arm. He does a flip move afterwards; lifting himself off his seat as he tosses her in the air, following to smash her body right on the floor. ]

[babbylon]

[In the end, there is only one course for a King to take. He must move forward. No matter what, he must leave a legacy behind that all might envy. He has none of his magic now, none of his abilities, but his splendor returns in full. Gilgamesh truest strength did not lie in strength itself: it was in believing that he had it, by the virtue of what and what he had always been and would always be. This is what pushes Gilgamesh to win more than anything else.

So the snakes no longer impede him. He dances around them, and Moura's attempted swats. He watches her hair get blasted to painful pieces, and whistles his approval. And out of the corner of the eye, he can tell Setsuna runs circles around the giant serpent. He can handle himself well enough, as expected. Gilgamesh moves to pursue Moura further, but she's quick; she leaps past him before he can act to stop her, now honing in on Vietnam. Gilgamesh curses a Pawn's pitiful agility though nonetheless gives chase.

Unfortunately, it's not in time to prevent the petrification. But there is a certain benefit to having an ancient, living myth like Gilgamesh on the team—he's accustomed to all manner of strange of effects from all manner of beasts, so past his initial panic he recognizes this is by no means a permanent state. He has to rack his brain, though. What is the cure for stone?

He'll need a moment. For now, he shouts to Setsuna:]

Keep her occupied!

[Moura grouses back through some wincing, "Don't act as though I can't hear you, you tart!"

...oh, boy. Here we go again.]

Who are you calling a tart, you shameless floozy?! And what's with that outfit!

["I'm showing off my gorgeous body, of course! Not like some lowborn commoner would understand!"]

C... common...

[Uh, he'll save you eventually, Vietnam. Probably.

In the meantime, while Gilgamesh stomps his feet and forgets why he rushed to Vietnam's rescue in the first place, the wounded serpent's struggling over to assist its master, and Moura's desperately trying to right herself to tear Setsuna's face clean off. At least it started off well.]

[hoasen]

[Vietnam would like to once again swear that this human body is full of crap. Though, she's unsure if she would be able to dodge an attack so fast, and all that happened was she screamed as a snake bit into her skin, and then she was unable to move. Something about reminding the priestess of an old victim, something something.

It got dark before Vietnam even realised what was happening, even knew that Setsuna removed that THORN IN HER SIDE (almost literally), and that Gilgamesh was trying to save her between arguing with Moura about who is the fairest in all the land.

As she's unable to think in this stone form, she can be plotting the downfall of Moura for turning her into stone. Otherwise, she would. And probably tell Gilgamesh to stop falling for Moura's taunts.]