The Lamplight Reveals The Truth (Toryuki Awakening/ Investigation)

She would choose to take the voice’s advice. Whether this was foolish or brave one could not tell. What could be said was that as soon as she began her trek the sound of rain would begin to get softer and softer as her pathway steadily made its way downward. The path would narrow as the bones that were in the walls continued to be the décor of the place that smelt of decay and whatever that dried black stuff was between the bones. Empty eyes would follow her as torches on the wall lit up and faded out as she passed by. In time the warrior would find herself before the presence of a large wall of bones that stretched upward and into the darkness above.

It was unknown how those bones were stacked so high or why they were lined up to create an endless wall with only a small arched entrance in it....

Following the path, the same light trick as before occurred once more, with the black ooze now more prominent than it was before - or perhaps she was just now aware of it, whereas she wasn't before. Regardless, she paid little heed to the bones and ooze, focusing on the path before her. There was no point mourning those that had become someone's twisted idea of architecture. Looking at the arched entrance before her in the middle of the large wall, the Dystoran tilted her head, looking up and down the wall to try to evaluate if she could even fit through the gap. If she could, then the Dystoran would crouch as best she could, before going further through the entrance. If not, she'd walk back the way she came. It was moments like this that she loathed how much larger Dystorans were to some of the other races. The idea of just smashing the entrance crossed her mind, but in reality, there were too many risks to such an approach, so she determined it in comparison to her height, intent on getting through if she could.

At least the newfound silence was something that could help her think.

The entrance while small looking at first would seem to expand and widen as the warrior approached allowing her easy access into the darkness beyond. When the torches lit this time they would reveal yet another narrow passage way that seemed to lead deeper into a place that twisted and turned on its own accord.

Dungeon Key:

As she crouched beneath the arch and into the tunnel, the Dystoran made note of her surroundings. The torches followed the same pattern, which to her signified that she was likely on somewhat of the correct path. The tunnel opening up, the Dystoran opted not to stand at her full height. She was in the territory of an enemy, and she had no intention of failing in her task. Somewhere, within this sprawling ruin, was someone she had questions or bullets for, depending upon the circumstances. In this scenario, the target had an advantage while Toryuki was at the disadvantage - even with Junction's ever shifting nature, the residents would still have a minor understanding of the lay out, whereas she would be going in blind. Furthermore, for all she knew, there was technology here she didn't understand. Perhaps the skulls or lights were doubling as cameras, in which case the enemy was advanced warned of her coming.

She took a couple steps forward, coming to a corner, at which the Dystoran peered around the corner. In the darkness, lit only by torchlight, the Dystoran checked to ensure that there were no enemies in sight. Such was true, and so she began to move around the corner, making sure to look behind her before she progressed. Within the territory of a foe, there was no room for leniency, or risks that weren't needed. The voice of... Nyarlathotep, was it? It wasn't wrong when it declared that it would be a gamble. Still, it was apparent that she'd gone this far. Besides, she was so politely invited by the attacks from the black oozing enemies. Who was she to decline reciprocating a warm welcome?

Someone here had to have answers... And she'd get them, one way or another. Slowly, she took her time making step after step, one foot in front of the other. There was simultaneously a sense of calm, and a sense of urgency, with a meticulous and fore planned method behind her every movement. Slowly. Slowly. Slowly.

Now into another long, narrow corridor, the Dystoran made her way forwards further, constantly looking around and keeping alert. If a human, whatever they were, noticed her, she'd have been compared to one of their meerkats. Or was it mere cats? That mattered not, she didn't know what they were. Besides, it wasn't paranoia if you were right. With the black ichor substance, there were many things that were an unknown, so for all she knew, the skulls could come alive, the ichor could create an enemy, the shadows could leap out at her. So, after a moment of walking, she paused, just long enough to regather her bearings, and consider her distances from where she'd come from. It was important to take your time, and she only wished she had something to mark her progress and route on, so that she could best return without any need to move. There were so many questions here... Who were these creatures? What was this void? Why were the walls made of bones and black ichor? And most importantly of all...

Why did she feel like singing a shanty in her previous combat?

Movement:

Dungeon Key:

The way ahead would appear to be clear. Just another narrow passageway of bones and skulls. Skulls with eyes that followed her every movement. Though whether that was because someone or something was actively watching her or if it was simply the nature of this place was a mystery that would probably never be solved. Regardless nothing seemed to change, except the soft hum of a song of some sort that could not be deciphered. All the sound did, as it filled the air, was add another layer of eeriness to the torch lit darkness all around.

The soft humming... Where was it coming from? Still, she knew. No matter how many times she asked herself questions like that, she would get no answers. Not yet anyways, but perhaps in either the capture or death of her target, answers would reveal themselves. And if not, then maybe she'd at least get more questions, as if more questions were raised than answers, then there was a high chance that those were the questions more relevant. If this were true... Then she could pursue those new questions, with surety that they were what she really needed answering.

After continuing forth for a bit, she reached another corner, once more skirting the edge of the corner to look around it and ensure the coast was clear. Once more, in front of her was little more than just an empty pathway, with a dimly lit area from the occasional torches, adding more to the eerie atmosphere than it did relieve it with light. Still, even if it was quiet and calm now, that did not mean it was going to stay that way. Enemies? Friends? She didn't know what could possibly be hiding amongst the shadows.

Rounding the corner, the Dystoran proceeded a short while, before coming across what looked akin to a door... Due to meta-reasons, the description of the door remained vague for now, Toryuki pausing at the door in order to inspect it, and understand what sort of mechanism the door required to open, such as if it were an authentication device, or a door knob. Anything that would give a hint of the most efficient style to get past it. Strength would also be an option, although with a foreign architecture style, there was no way of knowing how good of an idea it was. If she could confirm that it was such a thing that she could open, the Dystoran attempting to open the door with a firm grasp, using any momentum she had to enter into whatever room lie beyond. Taking a step inside the room, Toryuki looked around, making a mental note and painting a mental picture to try understand her surroundings.

Of course, there was always the possibility that such a door would not open despite her strength, and so instead, were this the case, Toryuki would merely turn and continue along the corridor. Even if the room held nothing of import, any knowledge she could gather... That was good, as if she knew the room was empty now, then she knew that the location of importance and, specifically, the target, was somewhere else. For now, it was just a game of exploration until any friends, foes, clues or dead ends arrived.

Movement:

Dungeon Key:

((OOC: A room counts as one square so you don’t have to count all the squares in them to move around them.))

The humming would continue. Sometime it would be soft and at other times rather loud. At one point the humming seemed to come from right next to her, but despite the sounds of the place nothing ever attacked. When she approached the door and examined it, she would find that the door was made out of long bones that crisscross one another to make zig zag patterns upon the door. Like the rest of the place the black substance was on this door too so when it was touched, the bones would sink slightly as black dust fell from it as it trembled.

At first the door would appear to be stuck, but then with a groan and grinding sound, the door would tremble some more before shifting on ancient wheels to the side and into a hidden pocket to the left. Once opened, the gloom would reveal a large room lined from floor to ceiling with those same skulls. Though in here there were also skeletal bodies with there arms crossed across their bodies as they stood upright watching the world with glowing red eyes.

Also in this room was a pile of clothes, shoes and bones to the far left corner of the place. Though whether there was something in that pile or not was unknown for now. Either way, the warrior had the choice of either exploring the room or passing through….

Originally intent on simply progressing in her hunt for the target, her thoughts changed as she took in that this room was not quite empty. Taking her gun, The Emperor's End, from her back, the Dystoran warrior moved over to a nearby pile of bones, clothes, and other such things. If it were a pile of just bones, or a pile of just clothes, it would be a slight bit less intriguing to the Dystoran, but as it was a mixture of the two, perhaps this was once a person, or multiple people. Why it was in a pile was interesting though...

Cracking her neck, Toryuki loomed over the pile, before nudging at it with the barrel of her gun in order to assert whether it was a trap or dangerous of some description. If it was, after all, she would be best pressed to deal with the enemy in the room, and then not have to worry about it on the way back. And, if it wasn't an enemy, then perhaps this poorly deceased pile would have clues on what she could do, where she could go, and such forth. Once the pile was confirmed to be non-hostile, assuming it was indeed non-hostile, Toryuki began to further investigate it with her hands, keeping her weapon in her grip and occasionally glancing around the room to ensure she was not ambushed, specifically gazing at those skeletons who glowed, as they seemed most likely to spring to life. Or, unlife, as it were.

Action:

As she dug around in the clothing the remains would not spring to life, remaining still and quiet as she continued to explore it. At first nothing would come up, but then deeper in her hands would find a wallet. If she were to open it, she would find some money, but also a slip of paper that simply read: "Whatever they want" before it became a blurred messed of words that could not be deciphered. Also in the pile she would find a strangely bent key though whether it was important or not was a mystery.

Upon confirming that the deceased was not indeed an enemy waiting to assault her, Toryuki inspected the items on display ahead of her, before bowing her head in silent respect. She held this pose for a moment, placing her weapon back to its position under her cloak, before crouching down to pick up the key, opting to leave the money and the paper to the deceased. "I do not know if there is a life beyond death, but if there is, may you take your belongings with you. I am sure you fought valiantly in life. Find closure in your death, and know that were the situation different, I would not take this key. Please forgive me for the transgression of taking the key. Rest well, deceased."

Having said her peace, Toryuki moved to the door she had initially began to move towards, before checking for if it were one she could also open. After confirming if it could, assuming of course that it could be opened, the Dystoran pressed the door open as she had done prior, stepping out into the new corridor before her without turning back once. She had to move on and find either clues or the target.

Actions:

Dungeon Key:

There would be a faint whisper of amen in the background after the warrior had paid her respects to the dead; however, where the voice came from would remain a mystery as the glowing eyes of the skeletons in the walls watched her quietly as she took the key and then proceeded to the next door. Much like the first, the door would give her some resistance. But in time and with a groan that door too would open allowing her into the skull lined corridor beyond once more.

Loli loli stepy step- wait, wrong roleplayer, wrong character. Starting over...

Moving past the open door, Toryuki looked ahead of her, before looking to her right. To her right, it seemed the path was shorter, and once more ended in a door, while ahead of her she could see nothing like that bar the corridor going onwards. Thus, she went to her right, continuing along before forcing the door open and stepping into the new room before her, taking in the sights around her once more and gathering her bearings.

Movement:

The skulls would watch her as she passed through the halls and watch as she entered the room beyond. A room that surprisingly did not have a single skull in it and was instead lined to the brim with cords of jewels and treasures that glowed with their own mythical power. In the center of these jewels sat a single skeleton dressed in elegant robes and wearing a wide brim hat with strings of jewels hanging from it. For its age it still sat upright with its legs crossed, its hands pressed together in a prayer form as it somehow managed to not crumble from the weight of the golden necklace with a large jewel upon it that hung from its thin neck.

At first the room was quiet, but then with a creak the skeleton shifted its head and looked over at her from under the brim of the wide hat it wore upon its ahead. “Ah…a traveler. Seeking treasure yes?” the skeleton would ask in a ancient and whispery voice that seemed to be bored rather than surprised or upset by the intrusion.

As she entered the first room that was not made out of skulls, Toryuki looked around, taking in the sights of the glistening treasure, before centering in on the central skeleton. At first, she believed that such a thing could have been merely decoration, yet as it turned and spoke, the first thought that went through Toryuki's head was 'oh, another talking skeleton. Perhaps they know Samuel.'

As the skeleton spoke to her, Toryuki paused for a moment, before shaking her head. "I can understand the misconception, but I am afraid I did not come here as an adventurous plunderer. So, no. None of these jewels are anything that would cause a desire for theft. Instead, I've come in pursuit of an individual, to ask of them questions. Ah, but I must not forget my manners. I am Toryuki of Dystor. To whom do I have the honour?" She declared, bowing her head towards Mr Bones, not a hint of hostility in her posture or tone of voice.

The skeleton would listen before releasing a surprisingly low and deep chuckle as it creaked and moved its arms from the position it was holding.

"You speak to the ruler of this place. A greedy king who sold his name and soul for all the treasure he could ever desire," the skeleton would gesture towards the room. "I got my wish and yet I am unhappy. I still desires things. Always more, more. I want an end to it, but I am afraid my way is lost. Cursed to remain, my true desire locked in a chest I cannot open." The skeleton would shake its head. "What individual do you seek? Perhaps I can help you...for a favor that is."