"Maybe we should discuss the questions before we try them again? What did it ask?"

"We only got three questions and didn't even try the third, but they were..."

"What is a soul?"
"What is a titan?"
"Why was empress Evelynne killed?"

"...First one I think is more the concept rather than about boots. It's not gonna ask those first questions again is it..?"

"Probably not, but if it does, we'd feel silly for not thinking on them first. And even if it doesn't, might be able to figure out a pattern in how it asks..."

Khond wakes to Rick's prodding, blearily and achily, as he rubs at his various injuries.  "Oh, so we managed to capture some of them?  That's good, we can turn them over to the guard or militia next time we reach a town..." Casting his eyes away from the captured "brigands," Khond blinks at the others, "Well, I'd not assume the questions will change just yet.  'Learn from the past' and all, it could expect us to fail and try again with newfound knowledge.  Did it say anything specific in response to the answers?  And what specifically happened each time?  Every other trial has provided some form of clues or guidance...  Besides, the answers to these questions can vary by perspective.  Some would say that a soul is the essence granted by a god which imbues us with sapience and dictates whether we are good or evil, but I would say that a soul is the accumulation of our identity; Rather than something tangible and inherent to us, it is the identity we build through our thoughts and actions.  And if I recall correctly, I believe our current understanding of the assassination of the Empress suggests the reason was never truly known, so an objectively correct answer cannot be given."

"Rick got every question right and Lore still shot Rick with magic or stabbed Rick with invisible stabby magic! EVERY QUESTION!"

Rick is exceedingly offended Sylvia would suggest his answers were anything but right.

"Rick thinks if Lore wants a specific answer Lore should be very clear in what Lore is asking. Rick answered about Titans from what Comedy said and Rick got shot."

Rick points at Khond when he says there isn't an objectively correct answer.

"That would get friend Khond shot or hunted by invisible stabby magic. Lore wants an specific answer."

He nudges Cladmir forward.

"Rick thinks Bandit can go and see if Lore asks the same questions."

"Come now, Rick, there have been tricks to the other rooms, and I'll bet this one is no different.  Besides, what is a brigand going to know?  I'll try it myself, the worst that will come of it is surely no worse than being pelted with arrows again."  Presuming nobody stops him, the centaur opens the Lore door and heads inside.

While Cladmir is still busy recovering from the fact that last night wasn't a dream after all, conversation idly turns to what the lore door actually contains, and Khond decides to investigate before anyone else.

Opening the door, he finds it to be Exactly the same as before, and soon the mask on the far wall speaks again.

"I will ask of you five questions in turn."

"After your responses to these five questions each, you will be given your reward."

"State when you are ready."

"Friend Khond, not arrows-MAGIC arrows!"

Rick hesitantly follows, though would prefer to keep the door open and listen/watch if he can.

Rick follows Khond along, though wisely stands far enough back he should be out of range for more magic arrow bullshit should things inevitably go wrong. He does get to hear the bullshit that Lore has restarted his spiel from back there too.

Khond approaches the mask, flashing a grin at Rick, "You made it out in one piece, didn't you?  Relax."  Facing the effigy, he speaks, "Before we begin, I have questions for you.  I know you bear enough intelligence for thought beyond simple answer and response, following a script.  What form of answers are you seeking?  From what I have heard of the questions you have asked, objective truths cannot be found in this world to answer them even in the wisest of scholars' libraries."

The thougful mask seems to let out a long "Hmmm..." as if deliberating how to answer that question, before eventually providing a proper answer.

"Asking questions is the right thing to do when you are in doubt. I hold a vast repository of information of the past, and will share that which I am allowed to if asked. You are not wrong that for many things matters are up for debate... But that largely comes from knowledge lost through the time, rather than the absolute knowledge I possess, with the knowledge my answers hold only one correct answer. However, this does not mean I necessarily seek for you to respond with these precise answers I know."

"So rather than precise answers, you want answers that you can reasonably accept as being accurate.  I approve of that.  Very well, let us begin."

"That is not quite what I said either. Very well."

"What is a soul?"

"From what I've heard you're not talking about shoes.  Well, I view souls as the culmination of a being.  The core which bears no physical form, but carries the weight of events which have formed that being's identity."

There is a very brief pause... 

Before a series of glowing missiles escape the masks mouth and home in upon the centaur, dealing 10 Damage.

"How disappointing. On the right path, and then you still just guess." 

"Seconds question. What is a titan?" 

Rick points at the mask,

"See! See Friend Khond! That mask is impossible! Get the Bandit to answer!"

((Did the doors close on just those two while Breldo was scoffing at the idea of "magic" arrows?))

((Nah, door is wide open still.))

Khond grunts as he bears the impacts, then stares up at the mask, "Guess?  You insult me.  The world changes as time passes, and both language and knowledge go with it.  I speak this world's truth while you judge by outdated knowledge and myths formed by those who could not yet comprehend the world.  So tell me, what would you say a soul is?  The essence of wisdom, bestowed by Adameus?  Nonsense.  One must learn from the past, not worship it as an inviolable wisdom."

"A soul is the memory of your existence in the eyes of a divine being."

"This is a fact, no matter how many renditions scholars may have thought up through the ages."