Trap Room

We come into the western chamber. It’s a long corridor, filled with those heavy shadows, which cover the floor like a mist. The only light is on the far side where a large purple jewel sits in a pedestal, glowing.

“Nice” I say.

“Litho’s revealing light!” Melli holds up her staff, and a mighty glow emits from its tip. We all have to squint but the shadows are driven away revealing a yawning chasm with no bottom, and indeed a thing little stone bridge leading further in. The light can only penetrate a few feet of shadow.

“I don’t think it’s wise for us to all cram onto that bridge.” I say.

“No.” Melli agrees. “I’ll go.” She steps up and ventures forward.

This woman is determined. “Wait.” My lizard brain kicks in. “If you do all the work we won’t get stars for completing the challenge."

“I don’t need any.” Says Elizabeth.

“Yes yes you’re a 1-star we know.”

“And I did it all through combat. No dumb ass challenges.” She laughs. “I think you should hop up there, you might slip off.”

“You’re not that lucky.” I hop up, and find my balance. “Cyrus you stay behind.”

“Aww.” His ears droop.

There’s not enough room in the light for three people. “We’ll need you to rescue us if something goes wrong.” If Elizabeth does it’ll she’ll absorb all the stars.

Cyrus is pleased with this and puffs out his chest. “I won’t let you down boss!”

I stay close by Melli and the two of us proceed slowly up the bridge. “Where did you find those two?” She whispers to me as we shuffle.

I shrug. “I was ****. Besides they both kind of found me.”

“You’re going to have to kill the goblin.” She whispers again. “They’re enemies of humanity. Devil-spawns.”

“That’s all propaganda.” I say. I look back and can’t even see the bridge we’d already covered. “Besides Cyrus is a good guy.”

“Tell that to the inquisition. I heard a horde of them was just out here a few days ago, killed a gold convoy. I bet he’s one. Probably the leader, we can’t let him get a star.”

Well this is all wonderful news. She’s suspicious of Cyrus, and confiding in me? That’s a hell yes.

“Look out.” Melli stops. The bridge ahead splits to the left and right.

“I thought it was going to be a straight shot.”

“It’s pretty devious without the light.” She begins to shuffle to the side and I follow. This gap is in the shape of a big square. We walk the perimeter and find another straight line leading to the pedestal. Standing above it is another statue of The Raven Lady. If only I’d found a temple to my god. That would have been fun. Less… balancing.

We eagerly shimmied over to the jewel, a flat piece of purple quartz in the shape of an octagon. "Think it's trapped?" I ask innocently. "I hear places like this are filled with traps."

"Almost certainly." Melli nods. "Though I can't do anything about that."

"Me neither." I reach out and grab the jewel. There's the sound of a pressure plate sliding out of place, a auditory sensation I've never once heard, but instinctually recognized. "Welp, it's been a good run."

I wince, but no slicing blade comes, not any poisons darts either.

"Crap."

I look up and see Melli waving her staff about, this way and that. Behind us the fog that's rolling in no longer flees from the light. It stands firm hiding even our feet from us. "That is crap." I say tentatively tapping my foot to see if the bridge is still there. "Still there." I whisper.

"What's going on over there?" Elizabeth bellows, ever the rogue.

"We triggered a trap." Melli shouts back. "The shadows can't be dispelled by light now."

"That's fucking stupid!"

"Okay!" Melli shrugs, not sure how to respond to that.

"Just walk back, you know the way."

"We kind of can't see where we're going. One wrong step and we'll fall over!"

"Okay sounds good."

Melli looked over at me. "She really doesn't like you. Ex girlfriend?"

"Ex Rival." I correct. "You don't really like me either." I remind her.

"It's not my job to like you." She reponds.

Cyrus the whole time is digging through is back. I watch him pull out a length of rope and make a lasso out of hit. "I have an idea!" He says brightly. He spins the lasso around a few times, and tosses it at the statue. It takes him a few tries and rewinds but eventually he manages to rope The Raven Lady around her neck and secure the rope. He gives it enough slack and lets it hand down towards us. "We'll hold the rope over here in a straight line, it'll keep you lined up with the bridge. You can also hang onto it for support!"

"Great idea!" I say. Deciding to the be gentleman I grab hold and watch him and Elizabeth pull the rope taught. Keeping my hands above my head I inch forward on the bridge, I don't take my feet off of it for a minute. In this fashion I move forward until my toes find the gap at the center of the chamber. I groan. "Now what?"

Cyrus shruggs. "I dunno, I didn't think that far."

"You didn't think past the middle of the room?"

He nods to himself, drops the rope, and pulls out a notebook. "Needs to work on follow through." He whispers to himself.

"Woah!" I gasp, the rope goes slack and nearly throws me off the edge. It's only Elizabeth's lapse in judgement that causes her to grab the rope and save me. I can tell she deeply regrets the instinct only a moment later when she sees that I'm safe. If she'd just waited a moment longer she could have been rid of me and the world would have been a better place. "Cyrus!"

"Oh!" He slaps himself on the forehead, and takes hold of the rope again. "Duh, sorry boss."

It's obvious to me now, I'm going to have to kill him before he kills me. "Fuck it." I grow and get on my hands and legs. Abandoning all shame I shimmy along the bridge, keeping my legs on either side like a horse, until I make it all the way around the gap and I can follow the bridge back to safety. "Not so bad." I huff, my thighs chaffed, and back grumbling.

"I got an idea!" Melli calls from across the way. "Hold it taught."

The three of us follow her instructions. Then I see her jump up, fling her staff over the robe, and use the thing as a zipline all the way across the chasm.

"Damn!" Elizabeth laughs, and slaps the younger woman on the shoulder. "That was good work. Real adventurer material there!"

Melli blushes. "Thanks. I had a lot of time to think about it."

Everyone casts me a pitying glare.

Okay so maybe I left out that it took me about 45 minutes of cautions crawling to get back to safety, sue me!

My life is more important than all of theirs, we're going to have to be precious with it.

Star Acquired!

Slot 5: Darkness- Type: Utility- Effect: Calling on the realm of darkness, the user can summon a cloud of magical darkness, which can not be penetrated by light or magic.

Another useless star!

Sorry I've kept quiet up until now, but seriously?

What good was having a rank, if all my goddess-damn abilities are useless?

Is there no alchemy down here?

Fuck!