Heart of the Dark [Q]

[Vriska]

[[OOC: There is no particular posting order, but I'd like for y'all to try and post within at least 48 hours and I'll try to do the same. Enjoy.]]

The Temple of Time was once great. It will be great again.

It is ruined, but not sleeping. Dying but not dead.

The Temple of Time will be great again. It was once great.

The doors of the the temple are as they once were and as they will be again: Tall and bright and shining and shut. They will not open to you.

Your guide is waiting. Do not dally.

As you approach, you begin to get a very clear understanding of the rules.

Do not fail. The fate of the world depends on you.

Show no weakness. They will be watching, and they are harsh judges.

Make no sound you do not need to. Your presence has already set them stirring and you do not want their attention on you.

Doubt. Your guide will only speak the truth, but where you are going nothing is true. His form is not his true form. Never turn your back to him, and be unfailingly truthful and polite no matter how he may anger or offend you.

Obey. Follow every command your guide gives you to the letter - your life is in his hands and you do not want to displease him.

If there is any doubt in your heart, you may stop here. Apologize, loudly, for your cowardice, and run. Run until your lungs bleed and your legs cannot carry you any further. Where you fall, pray that yours is a merciful god. They know of your presence, and they do not take kindly to cowardice.

[zaph]

Brave. It was the only word imbued into the heart of young Zaph, though he was normally full of many more thoughts. He wasn't told much; only that he need not speak, and need not hold doubt in his heart or mind. Zaph was arrogant, but knew when to settle down and keep his mouth shut, at least when it most benefit him, as it seemed to now. He'd met no one, exchanged few words with anyone, though there was the guide: the one person that he seemed to have equal ground with in that he did not exchange words either.

Perhaps, Zaph thought, it was a simply not necessary. There was clearly more at stake here than met the eye, and the seriousness of the situation was entirely known to Zaph, as well as the people around him. He glanced about them, and then at the guide. What he was about to see he was sure would burn holes into his memories and scars on his heart, though he was prepared for it. His heart was chained to the idea of bravery, the idea that to survive what was about to occur would take into greater quality no characteristic more than valor. And so Zaph stuck to it, clinging to every shred of confidence and bravery he had in his heart.

He did not let himself doubt. His brown-orange eyes shone with a clear determination.

[Jin Reno]

His heart beat quickly and his senses seemed to alert him to every little thing that seemed to happen around him. Yet this was not from fear. This was not from worry. Jin's skin felt hot and his arm hairs stood on end. The topper of this all though was the smile on his face.

He would not speak, he would not question, and he would never falter. Lisa had already turned to armor, covering his arms with an armor that appeared alive. His face was wrapped up tightly in the tan wrappings, hiding his appearance, though if they had seen him before they would know who he was.

Each buckler sat upon his forearm, and his large shield sat on his back. He had left certain things from his bag within a small protective alcove for when he returned. He would keep his eye on the one who would guide him throughout this adventure, trusting only his words, not his appearance. If something had set rules, there would be no reason to question them, Jin had faith in what was told.

Something was here. Something that would save the world. Something dangerous or powerful. Jin walked along the grass and debris as quietly as he could, observing the others before he looked toward the destination once more. He only had one thing on his mind though, something that drove him even to this point.

Adventure.

[Seayn]

Seayn quickly walked towards where he knew the guide would be, although he knew not how he knew such things. The young man was solid in his determination, ready to protect others from any danger that might be lurking. He wouldn't fail, it wasn't Seayn's best trait but he was stubborn, stubborn enough that giving up wasn't an option. His armor was a thick shell that would protect him from anything, be it judging eyes or harmful blows. He wouldn't show any weakness, hopefully... unless his sword actually had to be used in a fight. Don't trust anything, yet blindly follow the person giving orders. His shield hung heavily on his arm, although his sword was still sheathed. He kept his eyes narrowed, looking for anything that seemed out of place.

Seayn had no idea what he was attempting to stop, yet it seemed important enough to designate save the world status to, so it was important enough for the young man to blindly strike out towards the ruined temple that sat in the Faron Provice, abandoned ever since the knight could remember. He kept his game face on, keeping his face as serious as possible as he strode towards his destination, wherever that might be. His mouth stayed shut as he moved onwards, not having much to say considering that there wasn't any one here to speak to regardless. Seayn frowned, his brow furrowing, this was a serious matter and his mind needed to stay focused on serious things, such as not being horribly murdered or saving the plant from unspeakable danger.

[Rwaht]

x x

Something was drawing him here.

He didn't know what, particularly. Rwaht had no fondness for this temple, and was not particularly devout. He didn't have time for useless old histories. And yet, there was something nagging him, something drawing him here. If nothing else, that interested him. Anything that might emit such a calling merited investigation; Rwaht was reasonably confident that he could handle whatever might show up here.

He entered the temple, noting that three others had gathered around. His eyes narrowed, but he did not say much to them. Instead, he waited for what was to come.

This guide would come, presumably. And then he could discover exactly what was going on here.

[Vriska]

As you line up in front of the massive doors, there is a sense of approval in the air, as if you are a dog who has just pulled off a neat trick. The doors open, but not to you. Beyond the threshold there is nothing. The doors are a portal.

It seems to lead into the heart of an immense darkness.

Your guide is coming. It is on his whim alone that you are granted safe passage through the schism. He stops with his feet on the threshold. He looks almost disappointingly human.

His voice does not break the silence. He speaks but does not say. His voice is blasphemy to the idea of sound and silence. "Welcome! I'm so glad to see you all here!"

He is smiling. His manner is that of an old friend you haven't seen for years. Do not be fooled. "Well, let's get right down to it. You wouldn't want to miss this opportunity, would you? But first, would anyone like to lead the pack?"

He steps aside and beckons into the portal.

Choice; Will you go inside or will you wait?

[Seayn]

Seayn watched the doors open, revealing an unnerving darkness that seemed nearly tangible. Regardless, he follows behind the guide up until the point that he stops upon the threshold. The guide seems strangely human, a handsome man that seemed strangely prepared for adventure. The young human couldn't help but feel that this wasn't his true form and that nothing here should be trusted, perhaps not even the others that had arrived here. He knew at least one of them, yet could he be sure that it was actually him? It wasn't as if doppelgangers were and unheard of kind of monster yet it seemed so cynical to him to distrust everything.

Seayn takes a few steps forward, almost as if to step into the darkness before glancing at the guide only slightly in front of him. The young knight shakes his head before backing up. He inhales deeply, glancing at the others then back to the guide, his eyes firmly planted upon his back. Seayn is obviously content to wait for their guide to enter before doing so himself.

[zaph]

Zaph made no facial expression as the guide appeared. He seemed robotically nice to them, as if it were his duty to act so fake and amiable. Zaph told himself that it was ruse; that there was something about the scene that wasn't quite right; something was definitely off-key, and he knew it. Narrowing his eyes at the guide, returning his kind and inviting words with a cold glare, Zaph folded his arms.

Looking inside the portal, the young man saw only destruction. While the scene itself seemed to be one of hope for the group of five, Zaph saw the negativity in it, as he did for most other things. The portal lead to God-knew-where, and he wasn't keen on going in first. He wasn't old enough, not experienced enough, to lead a group through the portal. He looked to the man in armor, who also seemed hesitant, and to the other two in the group. Perhaps the other one with brown hair would lead; he seemed a natural born leader by stature and index of face. Zaph knew not how to lead, though he was an individual. Realizing he was not suited for the task, the young man stepped back and spoke not. He waited, curious to see what the others would do.

But part of his heart tugged him to the portal. Bravery. That was what was necessary for this venture, and surely he had people to defend that honor with him. The young man shut his eyes contemplatively, and lost himself in thought for a few moments. If the first man didn't go, and he didn't go, and the next didn't go, how could that possibly show bravery in the group? If it wasn't now, it was never indeed. No fear, no regrets.

No turning back. Zaph took a few steps forward, looking amongst the group, and faced the guide. With a look of determination and just a hint of curiosity in his face, he stepped through.

[Jin Reno]

Jin only recognized Seayn among the group, and he knew that out of them all he was someone he could trust. But he was still a bit more interested in the doorway. When it opened, Jin was so close to simply heading toward it and examine it, but someone who he could only see as the guide arrived, and Jin stopped. He just stayed and watched them all, listing to the man and wondering who would go first, but after a bit, one of the others went first.

A smile rose to his face and Jin quickly made his way over to the doorway, bowed slightly to the guide and entered happily. He did keep an eye on the guide and waiting for them all to enter before going in further.

[Rwaht]

x x

Rwaht looked at the stranger for a long time. He didn't trust anyone who just appeared out of nowhere, without any explanation. He knew of two of the others, at least, as important figures in the human leadership. The other he wasn't sure of, but he didn't feel the same distrust for that person as he did for this one. Rwaht's eyes narrowed.

"You first, please," Rwaht said evenly, not risking any more. He didn't like this.

You could almost say he had a bad feeling about it.