As you gather the scattered treasure, a figure from the North appears in the hallway, barely illuminated by a tall handheld candle, everything around you slows down. Words left unsaid hang on the tips of your tongues, and time itself seems to pause in respect for her arrival.
A tall, curvy young woman with white-blonde hair appears at the farthest end of the North hall, wearing cascades of glistening gold and amber jewelry, and nothing else. She holds out the candle in front of her to get a better look at the group of you.
"Hello? Are you new visitors?" she asks curiously. "I am Chronia Torn. What are you doing out here?"
Ashen Chanterelle immediately drops to her knees, lowers her face, and presents her holy symbol, which Chronia clearly recognizes. "You're traveling with one of ours? So you're all pilgrims, then? If so, please, come inside a moment, before more scarabs escape the private collection." She points East to the Almery, and North to her chamber. By this time the once tall candle is already down to a waxy stub in her hand.
Waiting behind her is a stubby little chalk-white creature, roughly bulldog-shaped but with a flat piranha-like face and a ridge of spines on its back like a lionfish. "Come, visitors! Fracture-of-the-Bone won't bite unless asked politely." The stubby piranha-dog snorts happily and goes to each of you to sniff a hand or leg.
The wind in the hall continues to move Westward at jagged intervals, and child-snake Gibba has already disappeared East in the purple darkness, gibbering to himself.
The Great Switcheroo
Louise Ambre-Aliona vs. Luniel Gekka
@ 3:26 AM Apr 15th