Test 4.

[azumods]

KNOWLEDGE Compared to the frigid chamber you've just left, the cavern you enter now is warm. It isn't difficult to see why; while there's still a fair amount of space in here, it's far smaller, and there's a source of heat and light in here - a small fire going near a corner of the room, tucked away behind the wall and difficult to see as you enter, but fairly obvious once you're inside, the light from the flames bouncing off the corner of the chamber and making it decidely easier to see. There thankfully aren't any more of Froslass' "sculptures" in here; there is, however, a person. Candice is in the corner near the fire, pressed back against the wall and watching you as you enter; it's likely obvious from the start that there's something wrong with her, though it's difficult to say what just from looking at her. Her eyes aren't fixed in the same sort of dull, blank stare that the people affected by Team Galactic tend to display, but at the same time, they look viscerally wrong - it's alert but it's empty and almost completely unfocused, as though she's taking in information and she's processing it, but she's not actually seeing any of it. It's unsettling, but she's still watching you, and she's holding something close to her chest as she does so; she's got the thick, blue sweater untied from around her waist, and she's holding it bundled in her arms like she's trying to protect it. Her eyes don't come into focus, even as she addresses you. "I told you that you aren't welcome here. You need to leave. Now." Her gaze darts as she speaks, like she's trying to take in as much as she can, even if she doesn't seem to be registering any of it properly; her expression is hard. Cold. What happens now is up to you.

Comments

[semistableman]

I'd rather trust Cynthia knows what she's talking about. She told us to leave Cyrus to her.

[greydients]

I don't have any doubt that she knows what she's talking about, but we can't just let her face him alone! What if he hurts her?

[semistableman]

I'm sure that thought has occurred to her as well.

I'm not saying I trust her, but I do trust that she knows what she's talking about when it comes to Cyrus. The fact that he hasn't shown up to finish us off himself speaks volumes about the kind of power he wields.

[greydients]

Just because someone is powerful, it doesn't mean they don't have weaknesses.

[...]

...we need to talk to Cynthia again.

[semistableman]

Look, as much as I agree with you, the fact of the matter is he doesn't view us as a threat.

That's not someone you want to go up against without knowing exactly what you're getting into, and we don't. Not when he controls something that'll wipe us again and give him enough information to make sure no one bands against him ever again.