The Center of The Storm (Location)

dodo_bear

Fort_Master_Gustav Nekhala is slightly disappointed that he didn't even get one skip. He then begins wading into the pool.

Fort_Master_Gustav

dodo_bear
The pool and the environment seems to be reacting as they normally would. However, Nekhala can feel as if something is different, perhaps unlocked? There seems to be a missing piece hidden within these messages, something that Nekhala should do.

dodo_bear

Nekhala, acting on a opssible connection between the second and third statues, attempted to wash himself in the pool.

Fort_Master_Gustav

dodo_bear
As Nekhala washes away his alien body, some kind of black matter comes off but in large ammounts. he feels himself dissolve in some way as his body literally melts in the water, though it is a painless effort. He can continue this cleansing or stop if he is afraid of the consequences.

dodo_bear

Fort_Master_Gustav Nekhala jumps out of the water, and calls to Orion to investigate this further.

Fort_Master_Gustav

dodo_bear
Looking back into it, Nekhala sees that the water is as crystal clear as when they came. The darkness that was shooting out seems to have dissapeared, perhaps it was an illusion? Nekhala feels no different than before.

dodo_bear

Fort_Master_Gustav He steps back into the pool, and then gets out. The same as before. perhaps one has to wait longer for any effect? Nekhala isn't sure if he wants to know, though. The result could easily be as bad as it could be good. Unfortunately, the only way to find out would be to get somebody else to go in. The only other person there, though, is Orion, and Nekhala doesn't want to have anything bad happen. He eventually decides to just go for it, and stays in for a bit longer.

Fort_Master_Gustav

dodo_bear
As nekhala stays in longer, he can feel his body melt, as he looks at his hands, completely darkened with the substance, yet his mind seems to be unwavering. He is likely at the final treshhold again, a last chance to jump out. What is the correct path to take?

dodo_bear

Fort_Master_Gustav Nekhala jumps out of the pool, unsure of whether the path shown by the statues leads to good or bad. Finally, he takes the plunge, and completely immerses himself in the water, determined to wait.

Fort_Master_Gustav

dodo_bear
Nekhala dissolves and dissolves and dissolves. The pool fills itself in its entirity with the darkened mud. There is a small moment of confusion, as Nekhala's body undoes itself into the nothingness of the calm waters in one of the first orbitals. Everything surrounding him seems to be shining brightly, and soon, his eyes get used to the unwavering brightness.
Nekhala looks down and sees no more body, in fact, he sees that he is controlling nothing, yet he is present. His form is somewhat etherial and free.
Surrounding him are the same objects but shrouded in a golden light, though his mind is still too young to grasp what he sees, he sees the world and everything around him from what they truly are, lit by the light of truth. His immaterial form allows him to converse with the nature of that small portion of reality in which the golden light strikes, molding it with his own mind.

dodo_bear

Fort_Master_Gustav Nekhala proceeds to attempt to telepathically tap Orion on the shoulder.

FangTheCat

Fort_Master_Gustav

dodo_bear

(Sorry for being late.. Lost all internet and even phone service for quite a while.)

dodo_bear

FangTheCat (So, you gonna notice that, or...)

FangTheCat

dodo_bear
(I didn't. Again. Internet issues, I was gonna edit it but whatever. i'm just annoyed because I keep staring at the bottom right only to see "Cannot connect to this device")

Orion turns abruptly..
"What's this?"

Fort_Master_Gustav

FangTheCat
As Orion gets used to his surroundings, he realizes that nekhala seems to have simply faded. Right befohe his eyes, he bathed himself in the water of the pool and seemingly dissapeared as he did so. You feel as though his presence is still existant, somehow, but you cannot see him anywhere.

FangTheCat

Fort_Master_Gustav

"This is.. Quite an unexpected turn.. Just when I was getting used to this.."
Orion would seem confused, sitting silently. much like his old Drone vessel would have in a time like this.

dodo_bear

FangTheCat Fort_Master_Gustav Nekhala begins to explore the new form, moving over the triangular patterns, attempting to see the inner workings of the area, in order to find the path ahead. He attempts to speak out,"Orion, I think if you try to wash yourself in the pool, it will allow us to see the way forward. Don't get out, no matter what happens."

FangTheCat

dodo_bear

"Hm.."

Fort_Master_Gustav

Orion attempts to wash himself in the pool, awaiting a reaction and expecting the worst.

Fort_Master_Gustav

FangTheCat
Orion doesn't seem to get the same results from washing himself in the pool. Perhaps there is a step in understanding missing? Or maybe a sort of ritual of passage? Nevertheless, he seems to recall Nekhala reading the statues beforehand.

dodo_bear
The pseudo-environment seems to beckon and answer his requests. The path ahead lies beyond the large door etched into the wall. He seems able to operate the environment to its function despite not entering contact with it, the water flows, the doors open and close, the levers operate, the light shines. yet none of it can be transformed.

FangTheCat

Fort_Master_Gustav

Orion steps back out, locating the statues and reading, as Nekhala did.

dodo_bear

Fort_Master_Gustav FangTheCat Nekhala shunts the lever into the up position, and moves through the gate.

Fort_Master_Gustav

FangTheCat
The three statues form a triangle around the pool, and they read, one by one, with their messages somewhat worn out due to time:

Here lies forever, The King.
... thus we can conclude that the world is endowed with soul and intelligence, conversing with us in such facets as we converse and live within it. The attempt to separate all existances from one another is barbarism and utterly...

..it is for them whose pure form reigneth to return to the cave and unmistify the projected lies, for they saw the golden light that bathes and reveals, and they knew both themselves and the truth thereof.

...that man is made twice: One in gold and one in mud. And that the gold converses with the truth as it beckons and responds, and that the mud taints the dialogue thereof. Only that of which learns to purify itself can not only live within the world, but make the world live within him. Those that...