"The Sphinx’s Lair" w/ Pirate Rena. ((Honestly this is such a cool idea asdfghjkl I love puzzles/riddles.))
Tucked away amongst well-loved books and trinkets of old, laid the Sphinx as she continued her studies. The bow of a claw gently turned a page, comforted by the gentle clinking of chimes as they floated past. This refuge, one of many that were hidden away, were the true marvels that she, along with her predecessors, vowed to keep safe; Not the crumbling structure of the temple meant to distract or discourage.
And so, when one chime suddenly fell to the ground, the impact caused her to jump. Whipping around she saw the ashened metal and pitch black beads upon the floor and her stomach churned.
Instantly she was sprinting out of the expansive study leaping through a labyrinth of mirrors; worn and jagged edges grimacing at anyone’s touch. Though this illusion meant nothing to her, paws thundering and blood rushing to her ears as she hurried for the entryway she sought.
Nonono!! This couldn’t happening. Not a soul could set foot in the temple that she didn’t know about! She enchanted that charm herself!!
Claws raked at the ground forcing her momentum to a sudden stop as she careened through the doorway and the sudden scent of magic upon her pallet gave her the answer as to how an intruder found their way so deep into the sanctum undetected.
In the pristine chamber, on the other side of the room sat a lone pedestal. Though, what was occupying said perch was being blocked by a figure who floated precariously above the ground upon a broomstick.
“That’s quite enough, sorceress…”, came a low growl, tail thrashing behind her. The figure perked and turned only slightly to look at her…as if only just now she was bothered with the sphinx’s presence.
“You should really use more advance charms to fortify this place; the loopholes are bigger than the entryways…And that’s ‘witch’ to you.”
Amber eyes starred her down, seeing past what the rest of the world did. Such as the fact that the woman before her was far older than her body looked and this brewed a sense of overconfidence from achievements past. Though, little did the intruder know that she had already tripped up; falling into a well guarded secret amounts the guardians of all things known and unknown, “Ah, yes. I can tell that by the familiar beside you; a broom is well suited for your caliber.”
“Says the Sphinx who still has her spots; too young to cast proper illusion magic.”
Serena’s ears folded back, banter would have to wait, seeing as the sorceress needed to leave this space. Now.
“This is sacred ground and you are to leave immediately, less you fall victim to its curse like dozens before you.”
“If this curse is like the other enchantments you’ve made, I’ll take my chances.”, came a hum in reply. She turned again to the item upon the pedestal: a simple statue, carved and polished out of pure black quartz in the likeness of a sphinx. Who’s uncut gaze swallowed darkness whole, reflecting back what it knew only in small refractions of light.
A circle of ash around the statue was disturbed, which alerted the temple of the breach. Even so, the sorceress’s hand reached out again as if to inspect the item. This time a snarl interrupted her.
“Very well, then.”, Serena’s patience has more than been exhausted. Foreign words were delivered on a rapid tongue, taking sentience in the space between them. A blue film glossed over Serena’s eyes and suddenly the witches limbs began to grow heavy and ridged, falling on top of her broomstick, “Hey! What are you-?”.
But this ritual did not end there, the living runes forming an almost halo around the crown of the sphinx’s head, who still was reciting a vow as old as time though will be recounted time and time again. Unlike most creatures of magical potential, a sphinx’s magic is woven into their words. As such, any sentient being who willing engages in conversation unknowingly becomes apart of the ancient magic’s influence. Given, it could not be misused to kill or maim…but that was what claws are for.
With a final shuttering breath, the runes faded into mere connotation and the room grew still once more. “Take hold.”, it was a simple command given by Serena which caused the witch to give a look of bewilderment. “Do you really believe that I am just going to sit back and let you-?”, her shoulder rolled, most likely to cast magic of her own towards the guardian but her sentence cut off once she realized that her palm hadn’t left the grain of the broomstick.
A look of indifference was given in return, lips parting to give another command, “Prop your self up only on your hands.” And so the witch did, utilizing the solid grip from before, her form lifted uncontrollably off her seat, her core and legs desperately shifting and contorting to keep herself balanced. Her eyes cast down at the floor for the first time, seeing as it would be what she would slam into if she couldn’t keep her balance. And what welcomed her gaze at first was a simple cobblestone floor…though, in the cracks and crevices of these stones a fine, black dust, almost like graphite, lined the space. The more she looked the more it appeared the dust shifted and moved, pulling the stones in tow funneling the space down…down…down, where an indescribable hunger waited for her in the pit. Impatient scratching could be picked up by her ears, almost like the entity was trying to crawl its way out to her.
“ALRIGHT! Alright!!”, came a admittal of compliance. And still indifferent amber eyes gazed at her, “Of your own volition come to me, but only if you agree to these terms: upon your arrival we will be civil. I will present you with a right of passage into my home and I will hear what you have to say. Any divergent from this and you will make a lovely addition of dust to the floor of this room.”. After all, Serena couldn’t control the broomstick.
The witch’s weight plopped back onto the broom and the look of relief on her face was quickly replaced with a look of contempt as she flew towards the steps of the entryway Serena still stood upon. Though, the guardian could have cared less, she was just as displeased about their current situation. Nonetheless, she waited until the intruder had placed solid footing on the stone steps next to her before continuing to speak:
“Capable of tremendous joys or destroying lives, I am greatly sought after, but a commodity that none seek to keep. Only those willing to bear my weight am I entrusted to. What am I?”
[Reminder to the player that you have two guesses and 3 days to give them. This will start at 11AM EDT and end 11AM EDT on 10/12/18]
