The Psionicle, Part IX

[Jarval]

Jansson nods at the figure's words. "A level playing field. That seems fair." He turns back to his companions. "Who's with me? Ruth, you ready for a scrap?"

 

[GnomeWorks]

"I could accompany you, Jansson." Tori'shel says, adjusting her pistol tucked in her belt. "I wouldn't be able to use my gun... but if you could spare a sword, or something, I could assist."

 

[Jarval]

"I don't have a spare sword, but I've got a dagger or two you could borrow." Jansson offers Tori'shel. "Or Ruth or Animus may have a blade to spare. Or, indeed, Animus could take the test with me. Are you up for it, my friend?" Jansson calls over to Animus.

 

[GnomeWorks]

Tori'shel shrugs. "I can always bypass your decision, Jansson." With a sly smile at the halfling, she walks forward. "I am the second for the next test."

The figure nods. "Very well."

Jansson and Tori'shel then disappear in a flash of reddish-black light.

"And who will take the final test, the Test of Rashida?" The figure asks, looking at those who remain.

-----

Test of Merle

The ghosts are still closing in at the same speed they were before. Osius and Shardorn are obviously their targets, and their paths look like they will converge right where the two are standing.

Osius, they are close enough now that you can hit three or four with a stomp.

-----

Test of Millicent

Jansson and Tori'shel appear in a dark clearing. You can hear the chittering of creatures, and the sound very much resembles what you heard earlier in the woods. After a few moments of adjustment, you can make out the outlines of the source of the sounds: thirteen squirrels, much like those that you saw before.

"Hope you have a sword handy," Tori'shel says, looking around. "Sorry if I rushed that. I suppose I just wanted to prove that I am with you now, and there won't be any turning on you, like before."

 

[Dalamar]

Syld steps forward.
"You can count me up for the third test."

 

[GnomeWorks]

The figure nods.

"And who will be the other?"

 

[Darkwolf]

Narok looks around, "Was I supposed to help with the third test?" If there is an affirmation from anyone he'll step forward.

 

[Zhure]

Osius

Osius will step back and manifest Stomp.

 

[Dalamar]

Syld speaks, somewhat irritated.
"Yes, yes you were. Now step forward so we can get this over with."

 

[GnomeWorks]

The figure nods. "Very well."

Syld and Narok disappear in a flash of red-black light.

The rest of you are left alone as the figure vanishes into the darkness of the trees.

-----

Test of Merle

Osius manifests stomp, and the shockwave ripples through the ground and encompasses three of the ghosts. All three fall, but quickly recover... however, Osius notices that they didn't quite fall when they should have, and it seemed unreal, as though the ghosts were moving slightly slower than everything around them.

-----

Test of Millicent

The thirteen beasts begin to close in on where Tori'shel and Jansson are standing. They continue to keep their distance, but you can make out what they generally look like, rather than just their outlines.

-----

Test of Rashida

Syld and Narok find themselves in a small clearing. Around them are thirteen images of the goddess Rashida: a tall female human, with long silver hair, each eye reflecting the current phase of one of the moons. There are no discernable differences between any of the images.