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Date Posted: 17:23:58 12/09/01 Sun
Author: Erlic Eastlore
Subject: Enlightenment
In reply to: Isobel 's message, "This had better work...(part 2)" on 15:34:20 12/07/01 Fri

Erlic didn’t know what to make of the old man’s statement about enlightenment, let alone the test of enlightenment. As far as he was concerned, he had discovered a secret door, something any good thief could have discovered, and simply followed it to its destination, along with Ravin, and Isobel. However, the old man did mention a word that was very dear, and special to him, kami, and it was one he was quite familiar with, especially from the teachings of his mentor.

Now the three of them were somehow committed to take the tests in order to leave this place. What worried the assassin the most was the man’s cryptic message, which stated that the benefits of enlightenment are many, but that each failure demanded a price, and it was that which worried Erlic at the moment.

Soon they were all drawn into some sort of vortex, which pulled them out of one room, and into another room with no visible doors or passageways. The only visible object was the well with the strange inscription on it. Isobel read the riddle out loud, not realizing that she had just given Ravin the opportunity to know what was inscribed on it. The woman cut her hand, and fed the well with her blood. Within moments she headed for an area in the wall and vanished. Erlic stopped and thought for a moment. The old man stated that this was a test of enlightenment. If one wished to see, one must believe. That could only mean that in order for Erlic, and Ravin to see what Isobel had seen, they would have to follow her lead.

“I suggest we do as Isobel did,” Erlic stated to his friend as he approached the well. He pulled out his dagger, sliced his hand, and let some of the blood fall into the well. Ravin followed the same process, and soon both men were actually able to see the door. The two thieves simply looked at each other, shrugged, and went through.

As they walked through they found themselves in a narrow but long cavern. They spotted a statue at the other end, and made way toward it, soon finding themselves back with Isobel. It seemed the woman was extremely glad to see them, as they were to see her. Erlic didn’t like being separated from his companions, especially when they were in a strange place that spoke volumes of magic.

They came across the statue, and Erlic read aloud the inscription for Ravin’s benefit. He stared down at the many gems, and pondered its answer. He looked to the ground, and found the many gems scattered everywhere.

Glittering, sparkling rainbow hues, to proceed you will need to choose. Take the treasure if you so desire, restore my sight and live through fire. When you have chosen be on your way. Choose incorrectly and you must pay.

Erlic thought about the fire portion of the riddle, and looked at the gems. Off all of the gems, only two were exactly alike. This could only mean that those two gems would have to be inserted into the sockets of the statue. How the fire played into the picture he wasn’t sure as of yet.

He explained to his friends what he was about to do, and advised them to huddle close to the ground, just in case the fire was some sort of trap. Once his friends were in position, Erlic placed the first gem into the eye socket. Nothing happened. He then placed the second gem into the socket, and quickly looked around. At first nothing happened. Suddenly the gem like eyes started to glow, and the wall opposite them was covered in fire, not spreading, simply hovering in that area.

Erlic looked to his two friends. “The old man spoke of enlightenment,” Erlic stated. “And that also refers to trust of sorts. If you’ve noticed, there hasn’t been any fights of the physical sense, merely that of the mental sense. I’m going to run down the center of the corridor, and leap into the fire. I believe, according to the riddle, that the live through fire portion is just that. If I make it, I’ll meet you on the other side.”

Ravin looked at Erlic a bit incredulously, but before he had time to say anything, Erlic proceeded down the corridor, and paused just before the fire. The assassin looked behind him once more, and walked through, disappearing from the room.

Incredibly enough, and without any damage to his body, Erlic wound up in yet another room that was void of any doors. The room he was in was roughly thirty-five feet by twenty feet, and in the center of the room was a massive cube of dark gray stone with a statue of a Griffin perched on top. Leading up to the pedestal was a torn, and faded rug. Inlaid on the front of the cube in silver letters was written:

Relaxed I sit upon my perch
Till suddenly I give a lurch
And off I speed on wing-tips three
Before my prey can think to flee.
I make its flesh and tendons part
And claw my way into its heart.


Erlic studied the cryptic message for a bit when he heard his friends enter the room, undamaged, and unscathed. The assassin showed them the riddle, and read it aloud for Ravin’s benefit. Ravin smiled, and looked to the other two people. “I personally think it has something to do with an arrow, “ the thief stated. “Unfortunately, you’re going to have to count me out because I don’t use them. Anyone else have any?”

Erlic looked back, and realized that Ravin’s words had merit, however, the next question was where to shoot it. He thought about aiming at the griffin, but the riddle was engraved within the stone. It was, after all, a test in enlightenment was it not? And therefore, logic would dictate that the cube, although made of stone, would be the logical choice by any standards.

“Well,” Erlic stated. “I’ve got an arrow, and bow, so I guess we’ll give it a try, and see what happens.” The assassin moved back to the wall, and retrieved his bow. He quickly put it together, and notched an arrow. He waited till his friends were out of the way before releasing the arrow. He shot the arrow, and it pierced the cube, and vanished. Suddenly the mouth of the Griffin opened up wide, and spit out three pearls, all-seeming to be of equal quality. As quickly as the mouth had opened, it quickly shut once again.

The assassin replaced his bow back into his pack before coming forward. The three adventurers looked at each other, and decided that since only three gems of equal quality had fallen out, it was possibly their reward for answering the riddle. With that, they pocketed the pearls, when suddenly a grating sound could be heard. From the opposite end of the room, part of the wall moved to reveal another door.

The group of three looked at each other, and proceeded forward into the next room.

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