Khond calls dibs on valor while the others consider how to deal with Reality and Tragedy, with Lore somewhere in the distance being dealt with by Rick, presumably.

The room inside is small compared to the others, only twenty feet wide and thirty feet long or so, with a grinning mask at the end of the short room, and a text written on the wall to his left side. Sadly, it's the same language that's above all the doors, or seems to be at least, meaning he has no idea what it actually says. Luckily, the voice that soon addresses him speaks common, just like all the other masks.

"Great warrior! To overcome my trial, you will face a recreation of one of the emperor's greatest warriors. Should you survive, the reward will be yours. State when you are ready."

---

(Rick, give me a wisdom saving throw.)

Wis sav: 5

((It was almost an 18!))

Rick feels a brief headache before it seems to lessen.

"That answer was so wrong I almost feel as if the penalty should be greater. Titans are not gods."

"Question three. Why was queen Evelynne killed?"

Sylvia starts kicking up a fuss. She doesn't seem to notice what Rick soon does;  how one of the walls close to him starts to turn black, as if blood is seeping through, before he sees what must be a set of eyes staring right at him. Slowly, what can only be described as a creepy jester, mask in a manic, frantic grin and bloody knives in his hands, starts to slowly push into reality. Even from behind that mask, he can feel all the attention to him.

"Oh come on! I don't even know that is supposed to be?! We can't be supposed to be a walking encyclopedia just to be able to answer all these questions right?!"

"Uuh, I don't know if great warrior describes me, but I'll give it my best, since I'm guessing we're not allowed to bring a friend.  Before that, can you tell me what that writing says?"

The voice responds to Khond with the usual kind of fervor as before.

"I do not care whom or with how many they pass my challenge! And I'm not supposed to be the one that's giving answers to questions, but I suppose I might as well. The writing there says 'Valor is to stare danger right in the face to protect one another.'"

"I suppose I should also mention that the moment you start, there will be no retreating!"

Rick runs, grabbing Sylvia as he goes, out of the room.

"Rick is done with Lore, friend Sylvia."

"To protect one another.  It feels like we've already done that just now, but I can't imagine a mere part of Reality would match the whole of Valour...  Still, I suppose it would be foolish of me to attempt this alone, and a wise man knows the difference between courage and foolishness...  I will have to return once my companions have finished with their explorations."

Rick grabs Sylvia, before booking it at massive speed outside. The pixie gives a yelp and instinctively goes invisible as the tabaxi puts in a lot of distance.

"What's going on?!"

After the initial sprint, he gives a quick glance back, and it seems the figure isn't even following him. Close to the others, he takes a quick breather, and-

"What we running from?"

Turning his head, the creepy thing is right there. Laughing as it gives just enough time for Rick to turn his head in shock, before it drives that dagger into his side for 4 damage.

(Give me another wisdom save.)

Wisdom save: 16

Rick yelps in surprise and tries to put someone between himself and the stabbie clown.

Rick suddenly cries out, and runs further, quickly hiding behind Asimi. The elf in question grips her own weapon, and prepares herself, eyes darting about for...

Nothing there. All the party sees is a panicking tabaxi, their scanning eyes simply going over the thing standing right there. Perhaps it is that realization that gives Rick the final nudge to realize that whatever it is, it's not real, despite how real it might feel, as the figure suddenly vanishes. Checking where he was sure he got stabbed and was bleeding earlier, there's nothing there... Though he no doubt still feels just as weakened.

"Hey, are you alright? Hold on, I think you might have some kind of spell on you or something, snap out of it!"

Sylvia starts helping Rick snap out of things as she seems to realize what is happening- Only a moment too late, of course.

Rick still gives the room a suspicious look, before gingerly poking his side where he got stabbed.

"Okay. Rick is not doing any more lore. Lore shot Rick and then made a ghost to stab Rick."

Rick goes to lean again a wall, and slides down it, leaving a grease smear.

"Rick needs to sit down."

 Rick flaps a hand at Asimi,

"New elf go and fight Lore."

Asimi looks hesitant.

"Given how it turns out most of these rooms might not be cakewalks after all, I don't think it's best we go alone. I'll join anyone else that wants to explore one of these halls."

"Rick can wait outside and yell answers, New Elf. Lore doesn't like Rick's answers though. New Elf knew stuff about Titans and soles, yes? Lore will love New Elf. Lore asked about some queen, New Elf knows about that kind of stuff."

Rick drags himself up and urges Asimi over to answer questions, staying out side but within earshot.

Asimi seems hesitant, frowning.

"I don't really know that much about titans, just that Comedy messed with my dreams to get me in this mess. And I always use a cobbler, I don't know anything about shoemaking myself. Which queen am I supposed to know?"

The new elf hesitantly follows, but sounds like she's probably not going to want to give answers unless she feels confident in what those answers might be.

"Comedy stole Rick's name. That's all Rick apparently knows about titans. Rick doesn't know about shoes either New Elf, but apparently more than Lore."

Rick glares in the direction of a fourth wall.

"Queen Eve, right friend Sylvia? Rick is nearly sure it was Eve. Someone killed Queen Eve and Lore wants to know why. Rick would answer: because someone wanted Queen Eve dead. Rick knows that is right, but Rick suspects that Lore would not like that and would hurt Rick again."

Rick gives a particular glare off in the distance. There's no reply. As he speaks to Asimi, the new elf doesn't seem impressed, remarking that while it's probably correct, it sounds like this might not be "enough" for Lore judging by how Rick has been blasted so far.

It's actually Sylvera who overhears, and comes over, seeming rather annoyed by the duo's ignorance.

"Do you mean Queen Evelynne? The only queen us elves have ever properly had? Surely you knew that,"

She shakes her head dismissively, but at least Sylvera doesn't blast the two of them for getting it wrong as she crosses her arms.

"History books said Evelynne died from a disease, but that... Strange not-elf we met where we buried Pallen said that she got killed by savages and got a war started over it. But he also said that he thought that might be a lie. So I'm not sure how we'd possibly find out what the real answer is."

"I agree we should stick together.", a battered Breldo remarks.

Rick gives another shrug at Sylvera.

"Sure. Whatever Old elf says. Old elf can go guess with Lore. If Lore shoots Old elf maybe Old elf was wrong or Lore is a jerk."

"Are we really resorting to just being shot or whatever..? We should maybe look at other rooms first." 

"Rick thinks we need all of the disc things, eventually someone other than Rick will need to get shot."