"Hey, wake up," Maeve gently nudged Zero, rousing him from his slumber. The coliseum corridors had returned, and Zero found himself seated on Tacitus' throne while the others gathered around a nearby table.
Zero stretched and let out a groan, which slowly transformed into a yawning stretch. "What happened?"
"You passed out. Come on, Oduduwa found a map of the maze," Maeve explained.
Maeve and Zero seamlessly joined the group, fitting into the group dynamics effortlessly. All eyes turned toward the expansive map unfurled before them. The map bore the marks of time, its edges worn and its parchment faded. There was a hint of magic in its essence, with intricate sun and moon motifs forming a celestial clock along the top half. The depiction of the maze itself was present, its walls shifting and rearranging intermittently. Portals, marked with intricate sigils, were scattered across the map. The script on the map flowed with its own rhythm, alternating between legibility and an enigmatic cipher.
"We're here," Idris pointed out, lifting his hand from the map. His gaze then moved to the left side of the parchment. "According to this, the exit should be here, but..." The section of the maze they were in seems disconnected, like a broken piece. "...I'm not sure how to navigate us from here to the—.” The far wall of the hall suddenly exploded, filling the room with smoke and debris.
"Oduduwa!" a deep, echoing voice boomed, reverberating through the room. Emerging from the dissipating smoke was a silhouette holding what seemed like a staff, dispersing the remaining haze.
"Altar!" Oduduwa's voice was filled with excitement. "Welcome back, buddy! Did you find what you were searching for?"
Altar slammed his staff down, releasing a visible shockwave. "Oduduwa, YOU FOOL OF A MONK!" Altar advanced with an ethereal levitation, passing through the table and the map. He lifted Oduduwa's chin a few steps away, shaking him gently. "Who do you think you are?" Altar's eyes glowed with a dark blue hue. "Stealing from me?!" He then turned his attention to the table, a wicked glint in his eyes as he raised an eyebrow and scrunched his nose.
The map obediently folded itself and floated to him, merging seamlessly with his figure. He pivoted back to Oduduwa, his eyes now masked in menacing darkness. "You, you, you!" Altar clenched his staff and shook it near Oduduwa's head. "Argh! I've saved you three times now, and this is the gratitude I receive?!" He pointed at Taharqa. "And you! Did you know he took the map from me?"
Taharqa, visibly frightened, vigorously shook his head. "No, he told me he—" Before he could finish, Altar closed the gap in an instant, gripping the elf's throat. "Don't… You dare… Lie to me." Altar's attention shifted back to Oduduwa, dropping Taharqa. "Let this be a lesson," he declared, his voice returning to a more natural tone. "You don't take what doesn't belong to you."
The room started to spin, reality warping into a mesmerizing experience. Like warm, heavy blankets, the sensation brought comfort despite the disorientation. The surroundings dissolved into nothingness, and a sudden force lifted them off their feet and dropped them in a set of stadium seats as the world reshaped around them.
The seats exuded a translucent green hue, lending them an ethereal and otherworldly appearance. Curiously, they were immobilized, as if bound by an invisible force. Ghostly spectators began to fill the seats around them, representing a diverse range of beings.
As the stadium filled, lights emerged from an unseen source, casting a spotlight onto a circular area akin to a theatrical stage. The lights dimmed, and a voice resounded through the atmosphere, bearing the cheerful and resonant tone of an enthusiastic announcer.
"WEEEEEELLLLLLLLL," the voice rang out, igniting a chorus of cheers from the crowd. The declaration echoed again, further stoking the applause.
Amidst the dimly illuminated stage, a figure materialized, capturing the crowd's attention with an enigmatic aura. It was a Lycan, draped in a meticulously tailored coat of deep amethyst, woven from opulent velvet adorned with intricate silver embroidery. The fabric subtly shimmered, reflecting light to create an enchanting glow. The coat featured a commanding high collar that accentuated the leader's silhouette as it trailed to the ground. Beneath the coat lay a midnight blue silk shirt with silver-threaded cuffs peeking gracefully from beneath its billowing sleeves. The shirt bore intricate pleats, while supple black leather trousers, adorned with silver filigree, clung perfectly to their lean form. Knee-high boots crafted from black leather, embellished with silver buckles, and featuring a slight heel completed the ensemble, enhancing their already statuesque stature. Their fingers sported rings with mesmerizing gemstones – amethyst, sapphire, and emerald – sparkling as they moved. A pendant hung from their neck, a silver chain showcasing a pair of theatrical masks.
Music filled the air, accompanied by rhythmic beats and enigmatic melodies from an unidentified source, as the Lycan began to sing.
"Well, well, well, gather 'round, my friends, to my carNIval, where my fun never ends," the Lycan's movements conjured a ghostly aura, bringing forth more manifestations.
"You've come here and dare I say, WELCOME! So sit back! RELAX! As I turn your thrills to chills," the Lycan gestured towards a contraption resembling a stretching rack, on which three ghosts were placed. "Step right up, come on in, my carNIval's ALIVE!" The contraption animated itself, stretching the ghosts who emitted spine-chilling screams.
Moving to another display, a dunk booth filled with fiery depths caught their attention. "We present to you a world of wonder, a world steeped in hate. And by the end of this show, you'll find us meeting… Was fate." As the word "fate" was spoken, a fireball struck the target, sending a ghost into the flames with terrified cries filling the air.
"I sing, I dance, I'm the boogie man in town, in this spectral spectacle, baby, I'm the one who wears the crown," a crown briefly materialized on their head as they launched into an impromptu tap dance routine. As they approached a ghost seated at a table about to choose a box, they continued, "I'm the ruler of the macabre, master of disguise. In my carnival of chaos, surprises always arise." The chosen box revealed a mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth that consumed the ghost.
Advancing toward a red door that appeared at the center of the stage, the Lycan opened it to reveal a misty scene. The lights dimmed, and menacing shadows of creatures with bared teeth and fierce eyes emerged from the door frame. "Like my friends on the other side, I'll show you the way, to a realm of enchantment, where I can turn nights to days." Lights returned, and elephants joined him, dancing on their hind legs before disintegrating into sludge, forming a ghastly mound of cries and moans.
"In my pit of swirling souls, where eerie rhythms play, I stretch the limits of your pleasure just to see who’ll stay," Extending his arm towards the group, the Lycan floated toward them as the music softened. Hovering before them, he leaned in, continuing his song. "Let my music guide you to somewhere unknown..." A spin took him back to the stage, where fireworks erupted, painting the air in vibrant colors and awe-inspiring shapes. "...in this twisted celebration..." Seated, the aura and shapes converged beneath him, forming a pearlescent white throne. "...where fear has found its throooooooonnee."
Without a second of delay. "SOOO?!" he called out, taking a stand. Everything dissolved, leaving only a dim light. "What are your thoughts?" he inquired, a warm and inviting smile on his snout.
A brief pause followed before Menelik spoke up. "I liked it. We could polish some aspects, but if that was your first grand showcase, it was pretty solid."
The Lycan's attention shifted towards Menelik, his smile widening as he disappeared in a puff of vibrant green smoke, only to reemerge before Menelik with another puff, his enthusiasm palpable. "You genuinely enjoyed it?" His fingers closed around Menelik's hands, his voice brimming with eagerness. "Oh, I'm absolutely thrilled! You know, I've been toiling over it for ages..." His words meandered into a passionate monologue, and Menelik's gaze dropped to their intertwined hands before flicking to the rest of the group, all of whom sported faint smirks.
Menelik silently mouthed, "What's going on?" to the group. The Lycan's gaze lifted, and Menelik swiftly put on a cheerful expression.
"Hey," Zero's voice rang out, capturing the Lycan's attention. He gestured towards them. “Your aura, it’s just like Altar’s, are you Rada by chance?”
The Lycan lowered his paw and offered a nod, his eyes rolling slightly. "Yeah, yeah, it's nice to meet you too." He pivoted back to Menelik. "So… What exactly do you think needs altering?"
"Hey, wake up," Maeve gently nudged Zero, rousing him from his slumber. The coliseum corridors had returned, and Zero found himself seated on Tacitus' throne while the others gathered around a nearby table.
Zero stretched and let out a groan, which slowly transformed into a yawning stretch. "What happened?"
"You passed out. Come on, Oduduwa found a map of the maze," Maeve explained.
Maeve and Zero seamlessly joined the group, fitting into the group dynamics effortlessly. All eyes turned toward the expansive map unfurled before them. The map bore the marks of time, its edges worn and its parchment faded. There was a hint of magic in its essence, with intricate sun and moon motifs forming a celestial clock along the top half. The depiction of the maze itself was present, its walls shifting and rearranging intermittently. Portals, marked with intricate sigils, were scattered across the map. The script on the map flowed with its own rhythm, alternating between legibility and an enigmatic cipher.
"We're here," Idris pointed out, lifting his hand from the map. His gaze then moved to the left side of the parchment. "According to this, the exit should be here, but..." The section of the maze they were in seems disconnected, like a broken piece. "...I'm not sure how to navigate us from here to the—.” The far wall of the hall suddenly exploded, filling the room with smoke and debris.
"Oduduwa!" a deep, echoing voice boomed, reverberating through the room. Emerging from the dissipating smoke was a silhouette holding what seemed like a staff, dispersing the remaining haze.
"Altar!" Oduduwa's voice was filled with excitement. "Welcome back, buddy! Did you find what you were searching for?"
Altar slammed his staff down, releasing a visible shockwave. "Oduduwa, YOU FOOL OF A MONK!" Altar advanced with an ethereal levitation, passing through the table and the map. He lifted Oduduwa's chin a few steps away, shaking him gently. "Who do you think you are?" Altar's eyes glowed with a dark blue hue. "Stealing from me?!" He then turned his attention to the table, a wicked glint in his eyes as he raised an eyebrow and scrunched his nose.
The map obediently folded itself and floated to him, merging seamlessly with his figure. He pivoted back to Oduduwa, his eyes now masked in menacing darkness. "You, you, you!" Altar clenched his staff and shook it near Oduduwa's head. "Argh! I've saved you three times now, and this is the gratitude I receive?!" He pointed at Taharqa. "And you! Did you know he took the map from me?"
Taharqa, visibly frightened, vigorously shook his head. "No, he told me he—" Before he could finish, Altar closed the gap in an instant, gripping the elf's throat. "Don't… You dare… Lie to me." Altar's attention shifted back to Oduduwa, dropping Taharqa. "Let this be a lesson," he declared, his voice returning to a more natural tone. "You don't take what doesn't belong to you."
The room started to spin, reality warping into a mesmerizing experience. Like warm, heavy blankets, the sensation brought comfort despite the disorientation. The surroundings dissolved into nothingness, and a sudden force lifted them off their feet and dropped them in a set of stadium seats as the world reshaped around them.
The seats exuded a translucent green hue, lending them an ethereal and otherworldly appearance. Curiously, they were immobilized, as if bound by an invisible force. Ghostly spectators began to fill the seats around them, representing a diverse range of beings.
As the stadium filled, lights emerged from an unseen source, casting a spotlight onto a circular area akin to a theatrical stage. The lights dimmed, and a voice resounded through the atmosphere, bearing the cheerful and resonant tone of an enthusiastic announcer.
"WEEEEEELLLLLLLLL," the voice rang out, igniting a chorus of cheers from the crowd. The declaration echoed again, further stoking the applause.
Amidst the dimly illuminated stage, a figure materialized, capturing the crowd's attention with an enigmatic aura. It was a Lycan, draped in a meticulously tailored coat of deep amethyst, woven from opulent velvet adorned with intricate silver embroidery. The fabric subtly shimmered, reflecting light to create an enchanting glow. The coat featured a commanding high collar that accentuated the leader's silhouette as it trailed to the ground. Beneath the coat lay a midnight blue silk shirt with silver-threaded cuffs peeking gracefully from beneath its billowing sleeves. The shirt bore intricate pleats, while supple black leather trousers, adorned with silver filigree, clung perfectly to their lean form. Knee-high boots crafted from black leather, embellished with silver buckles, and featuring a slight heel completed the ensemble, enhancing their already statuesque stature. Their fingers sported rings with mesmerizing gemstones – amethyst, sapphire, and emerald – sparkling as they moved. A pendant hung from their neck, a silver chain showcasing a pair of theatrical masks.
Music filled the air, accompanied by rhythmic beats and enigmatic melodies from an unidentified source, as the Lycan began to sing.
"Well, well, well, gather 'round, my friends, to my carNIval, where my fun never ends," the Lycan's movements conjured a ghostly aura, bringing forth more manifestations.
"You've come here and dare I say, WELCOME! So sit back! RELAX! As I turn your thrills to chills," the Lycan gestured towards a contraption resembling a stretching rack, on which three ghosts were placed. "Step right up, come on in, my carNIval's ALIVE!" The contraption animated itself, stretching the ghosts who emitted spine-chilling screams.
Moving to another display, a dunk booth filled with fiery depths caught their attention. "We present to you a world of wonder, a world steeped in hate. And by the end of this show, you'll find us meeting… Was fate." As the word "fate" was spoken, a fireball struck the target, sending a ghost into the flames with terrified cries filling the air.
"I sing, I dance, I'm the boogie man in town, in this spectral spectacle, baby, I'm the one who wears the crown," a crown briefly materialized on their head as they launched into an impromptu tap dance routine. As they approached a ghost seated at a table about to choose a box, they continued, "I'm the ruler of the macabre, master of disguise. In my carnival of chaos, surprises always arise." The chosen box revealed a mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth that consumed the ghost.
Advancing toward a red door that appeared at the center of the stage, the Lycan opened it to reveal a misty scene. The lights dimmed, and menacing shadows of creatures with bared teeth and fierce eyes emerged from the door frame. "Like my friends on the other side, I'll show you the way, to a realm of enchantment, where I can turn nights to days." Lights returned, and elephants joined him, dancing on their hind legs before disintegrating into sludge, forming a ghastly mound of cries and moans.
"In my pit of swirling souls, where eerie rhythms play, I stretch the limits of your pleasure just to see who’ll stay," Extending his arm towards the group, the Lycan floated toward them as the music softened. Hovering before them, he leaned in, continuing his song. "Let my music guide you to somewhere unknown..." A spin took him back to the stage, where fireworks erupted, painting the air in vibrant colors and awe-inspiring shapes. "...in this twisted celebration..." Seated, the aura and shapes converged beneath him, forming a pearlescent white throne. "...where fear has found its throooooooonnee."
Without a second of delay. "SOOO?!" he called out, taking a stand. Everything dissolved, leaving only a dim light. "What are your thoughts?" he inquired, a warm and inviting smile on his snout.
A brief pause followed before Menelik spoke up. "I liked it. We could polish some aspects, but if that was your first grand showcase, it was pretty solid."
The Lycan's attention shifted towards Menelik, his smile widening as he disappeared in a puff of vibrant green smoke, only to reemerge before Menelik with another puff, his enthusiasm palpable. "You genuinely enjoyed it?" His fingers closed around Menelik's hands, his voice brimming with eagerness. "Oh, I'm absolutely thrilled! You know, I've been toiling over it for ages..." His words meandered into a passionate monologue, and Menelik's gaze dropped to their intertwined hands before flicking to the rest of the group, all of whom sported faint smirks.
Menelik silently mouthed, "What's going on?" to the group. The Lycan's gaze lifted, and Menelik swiftly put on a cheerful expression.
"Hey," Zero's voice rang out, capturing the Lycan's attention. He gestured towards them. “Your aura, it’s just like Altar’s, are you Rada by chance?”
The Lycan lowered his paw and offered a nod, his eyes rolling slightly. "Yeah, yeah, it's nice to meet you too." He pivoted back to Menelik. "So… What exactly do you think needs altering?"
