Berk approaches the pedestal, looking at the golden pendant and stops. He stands there motionless for a few heartbeats, staring at the pendent, lost in thought. After a bit, he takes a step back from the pedestal, and shaking his head furiously.

"No. I'm sorry" he says, softly, almost as if he is in pain. "Not me. Someone else should take it. It is not... for me."

At that he remains quiet, distracted by his own thoughts, purposely looking away from the pedestal.

 "No one ever changed the world for the better without first taking risks." Ayo says, mostly to herself as she appears to be steeling herself for some action. She shakes her hands and takes a deep breath. "Okay, okay, okay."

OOC: Grab the thing before they do! Jiminy Crickets! Come on! Just grab it!

" My only faith is in my friends........"

" But It Is Strong."

Randa moved up to reach for the amulet.

Randa and Ayo step forward at the same time, both with their hands outstretched to do something dangerous. The less experienced and less certain Ayo, however, withdraws her hand upon seeing the more sure Randa reach for the prize.

Randa touches the golden pendant and light bursts from her eyes and mouth as her face is contorted into an anguished scream. Then the light beaming expression extends to Joy, then Ylis, and Vazo’yn.

The light around the pedestal fades as a spectral figure in the form of a male human rises from the amulet. He is dressed in leather armor and a tattered red cape and wears a shield. His face is framed by curly brown hair and bears a melancholic expression. He pleads, “I am imprisoned. Please help me.”

Suddenly, the ground vanishes beneath your feet, and you fall, tumbling through a vortex of golden light. You fall deeper, deeper, deeper, then suddenly stop. The golden light subsides, and you find yourself suspended in a pitch-black expanse. Alone, Fellowship by your side. You feel water buoying you. A vermilion light appears in the distance, illuminating the melancholy warrior, who is shackled to the ground by disgusting strands of a fleshy, crimson substance. The light barely illuminates your friends beside you, and, strangely, a man you have never seen before. A bald man with dark skin and glowing purple eyes that, shortly after appearing beside you, fade to amber. He says something, and he gestures with his hands in a reassuring way, but he makes no noise at all. Then he points back to the melancholy warrior in the distance, and you drift along, as if pulled toward him.

He raises his gaze to the heavens and, sobbing, chokes out, “Moon Weaver, I beg of you. Guide those with the power to save me to the site where first I prayed to you.” He looks around, and his eyes settle on you. “Oh, gods, there you are! My name is Alyxian. I am lost in darkness. Long ago, I prayed to the Change Bringer in the heart of a temple of evil. I beg you, take my jewel and…”

You feel consciousness leaving you, as if the pressure of the water were crushing the life out of you. Alyxian’s voice is the last thing you hear before you pass out. “Save me. Please!”

Consciousness escapes your grasp.

You open your eyes and you see Ayo and her friends (and... Berk?) trying their hardest to rouse you. Galsariad pulls the weave and Dermot calls on the heavens, but you fall back into blackness. Nothingness. You are not unconscious in a way that you have experienced before. This darkness that takes you feels like you pass through the veil of life, but find nothing on the other side. An absence. Void. Oblivion. A chilling anticipation, a feeling of terror that only strikes you in the moments between that darkness and waking.

You are in an underwater tunnel with precious little light. As you find consciousness again, you reach your hand up. Ayo takes it and shouts something to you. Her words are muffled and the darkness at the periphery of your vision starts to make its way back to the center again to take you whole. She pulls a berry out and jams it into your mouth in a most ungentle way. The darkness continues to swallow you and she shakes you.

You wake again and you see an incredibly large tentacle hoist you up from the floor. A blade, a spear, a mallet, weapons held by your one-time rivals that cause the unspeakably large tentacle to drop you. You see Ayo, her crew, and Berk shouting coordinating efforts to each other to beat back a great underwater beast before darkness takes you again.

You feel the warmth of the sun on your face and the sound of gulls in the distance. You open your eyes to friendly hands carrying you, arm around their neck. As your vision comes into focus, smiling members of Ayo’s crew note that you are awake, then throw you backward onto your rear with a splash, right in front of the elders.

“What… is this?” Elder Ushru says to you all.

“They beat us fair and square. Just needed a bit of a hand getting back is all.” Ayo responds with stooped shoulders. Exhaustion presses her and her crew down a few inches from their full height.

OOC: Whoa...that gave me all kinds of feels from The Upside Down and Shadesmar.

Ylis looks up from her puddle, confused, bewildered, and soaked. Who was that guy? What was with the tentacle beast? How did we get here? Did everybody make it?!

She looks about desperately hoping to see all of the Fellowship and Ayo's gang. The vision and events seemed harrowing if they were real. And that Alex guy...well if he knows the Moon Weaver, Ylis is almost obligated the help him. She had been blessed by the Moon Weaver's light on more than one occasion, so her heart tells her she needs to rescue him.

A deep sigh of relief escapes her mouth when she sees everyone, then she flops back down, closing her eyes in an exhausted heap. 

Less than a minute passes before she cries out, "Poop! I lost that cool glowing spear....ugh."

Randa felt a deep and abiding ache in her gut.

What did I do? Gods, What did I do?

Randa looks up at the Elder, " I don't know."

Joy stumbles to her feet, her hand brushing damp hair out of her face as she tries to steady her breath. The vision still lingers: chains of flesh, that voice begging, the void that swallowed her whole and left nothing in its wake. She opens her mouth to speak, words trembling at the edge of her lips, but they falter, collapse in on themselves. “I…we saw--” Her voice wavers. “A spirit...Alyxian? He tried to cleanse a temple of evil, got trapped...needs our help?" She shakes her head.

With a weary sigh, Joy slips a hand into her pouch. Her fingers brush over the smooth curve of the prize they fought and bled for, and she draws out the emerald eye. Its glow feels heavy in her hand. She extends the relic toward the elder, the act more a relief than a victorious presentation.

OOC: Funnily enough Wysp, I have been binge-watching Stranger Things for the first time for the past three weeks lol. I know, I know, how can I have waited this long. I think it may have influenced some of my writing. :p

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

OOC: Funnily enough Wysp, I have been binge-watching Stranger Things for the first time for the past three weeks lol. I know, I know, how can I have waited this long. I think it may have influenced some of my writing. :p

[And I'm currently reading book 2 of The Stormlight Archive!]

Irvan kneels down to Ylis and presents the silver spear. “No, you haven’t lost anything.” He hands it to Ylis, smiles, then steps away.

DM: Please add a standard spear to your inventory for the moment, Ylis. I will change it later. 

Elder Ushru receives the Emerald Eye, filling his large fist with the jewel, then holds it up for the crowd still standing in the shallows behind him. They erupt in cheers, but Ushru quiets them after several attempts. “We must make sure!” he says before handing it over to Elder Colbu Kaz, who requires both arms to hold it.

With a snap of his finger the loupe tumbles into the air and he catches it with his eye as it spins back toward the earth, pinched between his brow and cheek. “Now let’s see here… Hmmmmm yes yes, that looks pretty good. I remember that imperfection right there…. Hmmmm…”

The little goblin leaps into the air in jubilation and upon landing, cries out in pain as a loud crack of his back reminds him that he is not a young goblin anymore.

“GAH! Ooof, it’s, it, ah… it’s the real deal. Someone else grab it. Ugh.”

Elder Ushru bends over and picks up the Eye, holding it once again into the air, where the townsfolk leap for joy.

“We have our champions for the Festival of Merit this year! Let their names be known!”

Ushru turns to the Fellowship. “Please, announce yourselves.”

Ayo rushes up to Randa as she stands and takes her hand. “You dropped this.” she says. Randa opens her hand and sees the golden circular pendant. Ayo holds Randa’s gaze, nods, then backs away. Galsariad looks on with deep disappointment, even frustration, but defers to his leader and says nothing. Elder Ushru also sees the exchange and his eyes narrow, but he continues to hold his hands out waiting for the Fellowship of the Wind to identify themselves as the town’s champions.

Quote from Shasher >>

[And I'm currently reading book 2 of The Stormlight Archive!]

 OOC: My favorite series of all time!

Vazo'yn is slow to recover from the mind bending trip between... realms? Memories? Dreams? He's not sure where they went and what they saw, but he holds on tight to the images so they don't dissipate into hazy memory. He knows they will he important.

Eventually he pulls himself to his feet, water squelching in his shoes and dripping from his clothes. He runs a hand through his long hair to pull the damp strands away from his face. The movement reveals an expression between confusion and pride. The Fellowship has won, but the final leg of the journey was a bizarre one.

He steps forward at the request of the elders.

"We are the Fellowship of the Wind," he announces.

"Named so for a task that bound us together a long time ago. Joy, bearer of the light. Ylis, bravest of us. Randa, fast and true. Riven, our rock. Berk, a new companion, but trusted without hesitation. And finally me, Vazo'yn. We are proud to have once more achieved our goal in the face of adversity at this year's Festival of Merit. With thanks to Ayo and her companions."

He pauses before continuing.

"It seems... it seems fate had yet another task for us, though," he concludes with a meaningful look to his friends.

Elder Ushru cocks an eyebrow at the implication in Vazo’yn’s words but doesn’t address it otherwise. He turns back to the crowd. “And as promised! REWARDS!” he pauses here and allows the crowd of hundreds to exhaust themselves with cheers. Then he turns to the group. “Let the Fellowship enjoy 10% off of all wares and services until the beginning of the next Festival of Merit.” He looks over the Fellowship and sees how haggard they and Ayo’s crew all look. “Hmmmm we might have overdone it this year. 15% discount, for our outstanding champions!”

He then brings over a leather pouch and hands it to Joy. “100 gold pieces, as promised, and our thanks for feeding our wonderful town for tonight’s feast! Every creature that fell is being collected as we speak to prepare for our celebration tonight. We try to create as little waste as possible in Jigow. Also, I invite you to stay at the inn owned by my nephew, the Unbroken Tusk, free of charge.”

He looks to Ayo and her beaten and bloodied crew. “You too can stay at the Unbroken Tusk free of charge tonight. It has many amenities, including massages for those sore sword arms.” Ayo and her crew seem crestfallen, and Elder Ushru interprets this as disappointment for having lost. He parts from Joy and approaches them.

DM: Joy, please add 100gold to your inventory. You may divide it up as you wish among the four other party members.

“Do not despair. I chose you and your crew for a reason-that true merit is not something proven in a single event or over one day. Rather, merit is proven over the course of your life, one small act at a time. You showed courage in your contest today, but you showed the beginnings of true merit when you allowed the Fellowship to claim their win, when you could have taken it for yourselves. Hold your heads high, for you have great potential if you hold onto that distinguishing trait.” He claps Ayo on the shoulder reassuringly and she responds with a wince of pain from all her cuts and bruises, then she smiles in thanks.

The trek back to the town is quick and uneventful, save for one anomaly. Randa and Ylis notice a bald man with dark skin and amber eyes in the crowd for only a moment on the return trek through the shallow sea back to the mainland, but he is gone as quickly as he is noticed.

The Fellowship and Ayo’s crew feast with the townsfolk in a giant potluck, where everyone seems to have brought their own favorite dishes to share. Some intricate, some simple, many delicious, few terrible, and fewer still divine in taste. Among the last, of course, is a dish made from Berry’s hands.

The festival lasts for another few hours until late into the night, the Fellowship drags themselves to the Unbroken Tusk for their free room, refreshing shower, and comfortable bed.

DM: You have reached level 4!!!!! OOOOOOOOoooooOOOOOO! You may RP your ending your before-sleep conversations or thoughts freely. When that has reached a natural stopping point, I will start the next day, but you get a Long Rest and sleep without being assaulted.

Joy smiles tiredly as Elder Ushru presses the pouch into her hand, the weight of it grounding her in a way the shifting world around her cannot. She doesn’t even hesitate, of course splitting it evenly among her companions. For now, she forces herself to let the memory of Alyxian's desperate plea drift to the edges of her mind. Tonight, at least, they have earned a reprieve.

The relief of the fresh air, the warmth of Jigow’s fires, and the cheer of the festival all soothe her raw nerves. She even lets herself laugh a little as she tries dish after dish, praising Berry’s dish with a wide grin. When the talk turns toward their winnings, she leans back with a sparkle in her eye, patting the side of her armored hip. “Fifteen percent off, huh? Perfect timing. I’ve been wanting to try a trident for a while now, see if I can’t get the hang of fighting like the old tales of sea-knights!"

Vazo'yn eats only lightly at the inn that night. The day's toils and revelations have left him on edge and unsettled his stomach. He struggles to let his mind free from its worrying over their shared vision. What does it mean? Where must they go? When?

Though he does not let it prevent him from sampling Berry's creation of the evening. He picks at that quietly, contemplatively.

"I'm sure you'll be able to find a master craftsman here for the festival to help you with that," he says to Joy with an encouraging nod.

OOC: Level 4!

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

Irvan kneels down to Ylis and presents the silver spear. “No, you haven’t lost anything.” He hands it to Ylis, smiles, then steps away.

 

Ylis gasps in wonder as the spear is handed to her. Tears of delight mix with her sea water soaked fur. She rubs her eyes and gives Irvan's knee the biggest hug she can, "Awww man! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!" Then she begins to bounce about in a circle doing a little jig holding the spear aloft. She doesn't notice the jibber jabber of the officials and their declaration of victory. Oh wait, Vazo is talking.. ha! I don't know about the bravest, hairiest maybe she continues to dance.

------

Later during the feast, she tries at least a bite of everything, except the dish which had tentacles in it. She would swear they were still moving in that milky soup.bleh. She also makes sure to shake hands with all of Ayo's team, complimenting them on their cuts and bruises.

At evenings end she snuggles into her warm bed and right before she drifts to sleep flashing bits of the Alex guy and his cry for help enter mind. Moon Weaver strengthen us all, we're gonna need some help....zzzzz

Back at the Unbroken Tusk, Berk grabs the first round of drinks and enjoys the food.

When he is alone with the fellowship, he speaks. "Joy, when you asked me to grab the pendant... I wanted to... I tried, but I wasn't allowed. Or I was told not too, perhaps is a better way to say it. I did not know what would happen when it was retrieved, only that it could not be me."

"There is much about my past I do not know. Hell, much about my present I do not know. I know that I have power. The power to heal, power to hurt, and a few things in between, but not why I can. Where does it, or perhaps from 'whom', does it comes from? I only know that I can do it. My patron is a mystery to me, as is my past. Where did I come from? Why was I left alone on the side of a mountain in a snow storm? Have I been reborn? Am I a goblin?..." he says, not frustrated, but inquisitively. These questions are nothing new for him.

He finishes his drink and looks at the others, raising his voice in salute, "You welcomed me without reserve and I appreciate it. A real tribute to the connection you had with Giles and he had with you, to accept me so quickly. To accept someone such as myself, with so many, mysteries."

He stops, and looks back at Joy...

"When I went to the pendent earlier, I was stopped. I was stopped by... by my Patron, whomever, whatever they are. I had a vision, of people in trouble. Many people. Chaos and carnage. I believe two of these people, may have been my parents. They are in trouble, and I think I am meant to help. One thing is clear though," his face becomes a mask of sorrow, "my path and that of the Fellowship, will now diverge."

"I'm saddened, as I have come to respect and admire each of you in, ... well in today! But I must go where I must go, as you must go where you must. I hope my path will uncover some of the unknowns in my life, perhaps your path will too."

"We all have questions, right?"

"But enough of the serious stuff, I only hope that wherever paths we all take, there are cooks like Berry along the way!"

Berk will hug whomever let's him, and after a few more drinks, will try and hug them again, even those less inclined to hug. Berk will stay until the last member of the Fellowship retires, relishing in their company. 

When at last it is time to retire, Berk proceeds to his room. As he climbs the stairs, holding on to the rail, he turns to his right and says to the air, "Welcome back, you've been gone a long time. Did you find them? Everyone is searching for them." 

On his shoulder a small Imp becomes visible, it's skin a charcoal red with streaks of blue and silver. The Imp wraps its tail around Berk's shoulders and neck, comforting.

"I did" it says, "but we must hurry, the Order is homing in."

"We will leave tomorrow Tauk" Berk says, reaching up to comfort his familiar. "Tomorrow," as he closes the door behind him and falls into bed.

Ylis gives Berk a big furry hug. She understands the spirits that can haunt a soul and would make one want to travel to another place. She also had similar callings in another lifetime.

He proved to be a steadfast companion and she would remember.

Joy rises to her feet as Berk finishes, her eyes already glassy with unshed tears. She throws her arms around him in a tight, warm hug, pressing her cheek to his shoulder. Her voice trembles, but she manages to keep a smile in it. “You’ve done so much for us today, Berk...Thank you. I’ll miss you.” She sniffles, pulling back just enough to look him in the eyes, her hands still on his arms as though she isn’t ready to let go. “But I understand. We all have to follow where the waves take us, don’t we?”

She hugs him again, teary but smiling brighter this time, a little laugh slipping out even as her shoulders shake. “Good luck, Berk. I know you’ll find your answers and your family. When we meet again, you’d better have stories to tell all of us, alright?” She gives his arm a playful squeeze before letting him go, wiping her eyes quickly so the others won’t see too much softness from her. Still, her gaze lingers on him fondly, holding hope that their paths will cross again.

The paladin doesn't remember her weariness until the celebration has settled down and she finally collapses into bed in a heap.