[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

With even more awe Shiva watched as Valder skillfully etched the runes into/onto the precious black Stone - it looked so naturally as he was doing that, whoahw... That was nothing in comparison to the pure veil of silence that seemingly has been laid over all of them afterwards. This silence, this immense feeling of power - following the example of her Gothitelle, she tried to soak up this sensation and the quietness, despite the air was thick it gave her a....weirdly pleasant feeling. To her, it was raw and pure, and in no means dangerous or harmful.

That figurative cloak engulfing any sound remained as she made her way down into that nothingness, at first she was slightly worried over setting a foot onto this staircase, well aware that there will be no way back anymore once she has done so. But, taking a deep breath, she reassured herself that this is what they came for, this was the first step into the destination of the long loooong journey - the journey was hard and effortful, and its end came into sight. Several times she has asked herself how long they'll be traveling through Mount Sentry to reach THIS point - and now, when having done so, she hesitated...? N-No way! And so, she rather boldly let the first step of the staircase behind herself, then another, and another, descending deeper and deeper.......


She has lost the sense of how long she was walking down the stairs among Cottonee/Dizzy/Gothitelle and the others of the group as that....that SKY caught her completely off-guard. Like, COMPLETELY ! How could that be??? H-how.... Psychic power? Might and knowledge from another world? Have they reached the matrix and reality is bending? Where have these stairs brought them? This sky being so featureless didn't prevented her from starring up to it with a massive frown, partly caused by confusion and partly by wonder. The open sky.... How she missed it....

Letting her gaze wander, one wonder chased the other - the GAUNTLET! Right before them!! A heavy gasp escaped her as she remembered what the wise Slowking has told them:
"The Stone before my eyes, carved with symbols, seeming to writhe and move.
As I passed through, I stood ere the Gauntlet, and it did not try me nor test me, yet I resolved to place my hand upon it and became heartened.
Atheneum within sight. Guardians, six fell statues, and four Apricorn fruits above.
They did try me and test me, plying me for word and deed, and at last I passed through those secret gates."

More to herself but audible for the others, she muttered something like "That...means we have to touch it, I guess..... A-any volunteers?" Actually, Shiva is highly curious about this 'being heartened' = what will happen upon touching it, but she seems to be too insecure to just DO it. :C (But she gets close to it to get a detailed look at it and the runes that cover it.)

These bluish statues she recognized almost immediately as the very same are standing in a particular place in the desert north of her hometown.

'Atheneum'.... That shack behind the forcefield..... Is it? It can only be the case.... Whoahw, Shiva has imagined the place so wastly different. Looks old... But these Apricorn Bushes partly obscurring it catch her interest. Will it be trees containing the sort she's after...? Once there, she'll at least attempt to obtain some... Will the shack protest when she will try to gather a fruit of the trees surrounding it? Will it allow her to touch the water of the lake?

For now though, Shiva can only place her hands at this psychic forcefield and watch the shack with its trees and lake, a little sad over how near and simultaneously far away it is.......

Once she has gotten enough of the sight, she unglues herself from the invisible wall and joyfully runs up the precious and noble stairs alongside Gothitelle to turn again to the Darmantian Statues. She is aware of the secret that offered Candy may awake them.... Candy made in Mahogany City in particular, but she has never tried that herself in the desert. She didn't have some of these.... But does one of her infamous pirsif berry cookies allure any reaction from them? And, does anything happen when Shiva touches a pillar bearing a Red Apricorn? There must be...keys for that locked door...

In short, she already loves this bizzarre place, although she can't really explain why.