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[Kamikaze_X]

Thalmir, still holding an arm out, keeping the manipulation of the elements in check, bounded through the obstacle course nimbly. His magic worked for the most part, aside from parts of his cloak being seared by the intense heat. His body was kept cool, as well as the others, however, by the end of the sadistic trial they were placed into, it had started to wear off. Once they all got to the end, he stopped the flow of magic, utterly exhaustion, and only kept awake through the fact that he was glad it helped to keep them all alive and unharmed for the most part.

[Redcoat]

Anikus flew through the door to the chamber at lightning speed, collapsing in a heap on the stone floor with an unceremonial crumpling sound. He hacked for a few seconds uncomfortably, finally settling into a pattern of heavy, solemn breathing. The sweet air filled his lungs, soothing them. He was alive. The party was alive. They had made it through the tunnel, all of the Reavers--certainly enough to allow them safe passage back to the Momentum were dead, and soon, he would be too, likely at their hands. It was time to get his Shard and leave, quickly. But his muscles protested any movement. For now, he had to rest.

He couldn't have left, even if he'd wanted to. That would require sailing the Momentum alone, which was impossible, as well as marooning all of his friends on this island, possibly until their dying day. He couldn't do that, even if they'd likely eat him for dinner over his leadership. And why shouldn't they? He'd put them into the worst situation possible. Almost as if some malign deity was watching over their adventure, they'd walked straight into a trap.

Around him, he witnessed the oddly clean and serene state of the chamber, in comparison to the burning hells of the tunnel. The idol gleamed, its glistening surface cast of pure fool's gold, its shining eyes chiseled expertly from common coloured glass. It was worthless, staring down at the scholar as if to insult him and everyone else who had made this journey. A cruel joke, a cosmic irony.

[Lyon]

Telchi removed the silk scarf and tied it around the hilt of his sword. He kept an arm on Thalmir's shoulder lest the ranger fall. "Well, we made it..." he said tiredly.

"For all that it's worth," said Kaethe in irritation. "This thing is worthless!"

[Chef]

Finally! Grimlain thought to himself. We finally got through that damned mess.  I was beginning to think this treasure was a hoax!

Grimlain walked over to the statue, a smile almost spreading across his face until he realized what the seemingly "golden" idol was made of.  It was fool's gold.  This had to be some cruel joke.  They had gone through something comparable to the bowels of Hell itself, and this was what they were rewarded with.  Grimlain's face was red with anger.  He couldn't believe it.  He turned to Anikus, his temper rising.

"I'm going to sit in the corner for a while before I get tempted to tear someone's head off," he said blatantly, clearly holding himself in.  "Dammit!"

He walked a little ways away and leaned against the wall, slowly hitting his head against it in sheer disappointment.

[Phantom]

Alec made sure Ria was okay, then turned to Anikus, "Well I think I speak for us all here when I say you have some explaining to do.... and if it aint good.... off with your head!" Alec glared, he wasn't happy about the danger Ria had just been in.

Ria just stood limply trying to recover. Too tired to say anything or do anything helpful.

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Sakura snorted derisively.

"What a damn waste of time. I didn't even learn anything from that at all. Well, except 'don't follow Anikus. Ever, if you can help it.'"

Sakura kicked a small stone, which rattled away into inky blackness, presumably bouncing off an unseen wall. There was now sound that it did, but no one seemed to care. She sighed from frustration, sitting down tiredly.

Takeshi dusted ash off himself looking around.

"Odd, that someone should happen to put forth so much effort to protect something so obviously false. And to place it in such a fine chamber. Well, in any case, after all is said and done, we can always sell the statue for enough to make return trips home or get better gear. It could probably also pay for a mighty fine prison for our...leader."

Takeshi looked again at the chuck of pyrite and silica.

:Even if it's fake it looks valuable enough to by a first class cell for a first class fool.:

[Redcoat]

Anikus, his breathing steadied, looked up at his comrades. He still had some strength left. Not enough to stand physically, let alone stand up for himself in an argument like this. Maybe there was nothing here. Maybe he'd failed them. But there was one shot left. One last, long shot.

After all, Takeshi was right. Who would put nothing at all in a chamber like this? He'd known sadists, but none with this much time on their hands. And besides, the notes had been clear. This marked the spot. Everything was right, and had the Clans been as crafty as he'd imagined, he might even avoid the removal of his head.

And so, Anikus' magelight flickered one last time as he placed his hand above his head, its focus parting the darkness to reveal a small cache of treasure, concealed by dust but otherwise untouched by time. Existing there was a small pile of gemmed trinkets, useless except perhaps as excellent decor or as wares to distract a bloodthirsty pack of disillusioned adventurers. A vase, followed by a miniature, ornate dagger; a chest, open, revealing gold coins; a small collection of barbarian-satisfying trinkets. It was perfectly set up, perfectly placed.

Perhaps too perfectly, Anikus reasoned. But he detected no malice in its being here. It was a psychological trick. Momentarily his eyes flashed above the door, to a piece of what appared to be dirty, rusted iron. A worthless piece of metal, were it not for its aura. The Shard was within reach, and they had reached it.

"Divide the wares among yourselves equally. I shall take a single item of my choosing; the rest is of lesser import," he said, voice shaking, possibly in relief. "Let it never be known that my ventures are fruitless."

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Sakura rifled through the various pieces, finding nothing that she really cared for. She then chose, at random, a pair of necklaces that were similar in design.

:Well, these look fair enough. Silver...looks like it's in pretty good condition for being here for millenia...:

She walked up to Takeshi, placing one of the simple necklaces around her neck and handing him the other.

He absentmindedly put it on, then seemed to make up his mind.

"I think we should take the idol...thing."

"Uh...why, exactly, Takeshi?"

"Looks valuable."

"It might be trapped."

"After what we just went through, traps suddenly don't...bother me."

"Oka-ay...just as long as you bash our glorious leader over the head with it one time."

"I think I can find more useful implements of head-bashing."

Takeshi reached for the idol grabbing it, and attempting to lift it. It didn't budge easily.

:Hmm...heavy. Perhaps I'll leave it. Don't know if I feel like lugging it around with me.:

He glanced at it once more. Shaking his head.

:It would be madness to carry it anyways, even if it is worth much...:

[Kamikaze_X]

Thalmir hung onto Telchi's arm that supported him. His use of magic utterly drained him, and left him exceedingly tired. With an eye cracked open, he glared at Anikus, a look of annoyance upon him.

"If I had my strength, I would probably break your face in... you're lucky, scholar. Tread lightly on our next journey..." Thalmir wearily said.

For him, those shining trinkets that the others pushed and shoved to get, seemed worthless to him. He let go of Telchi and sat down tiredly on the ground. Whatever his share was, someone else could take it, jewels and money meant nothing to a ranger.

[Chef]

"Well, at least we'll get something out of this ordeal," Grimlain grumbled, walking towards the pile of trinkets.  This trip wasn't going too well for any of them, and even these trinkets wouldn't make up for what they went through.  Grimlain was wondering why they even came here in the first place.  It had cost them hell to get out alive.  He rummaged through the pile until he found what seemed to be a steel dagger in decent condition.  He looked at it and tested it quickly with a few strokes.

"This could be useful sometime," Grimlain said to himself, putting it in the sheath that came with the dagger and attaching it to his belt. "I'm sure it will help me sometime in a tight fight."

After taking the dagger, Grimlain was finished.  Any item that didn't help him in combat didn't interest him that much.  He leaned against the rock wall and waited for the rest of the party members to finish doing whatever it was they felt necessary to do.  He was tired.  He didn't really care what happened next as long as they left this damned tunnel.

[Lyon]

Telchi looked rather sternly at Thalmir. "You'll do no such thing to our esteemed leader until I've decided that you're fit to walk on your own," he said, breaking his intense look with a smile. He clapped Anikus on the shoulder. "Well done, scholar. It appears that you've led us well after all." He walked off to peruse the chamber.

"I never doubted you," Kaethe lied with a straight face. She picked up the chest of gold coins and began unloading them into her money-bag. She was grateful now for the spells of lightness she'd had placed on it... perhaps they'd be worth the price that the city mage-workshops had gouged off of her.

[Redcoat]

Anikus stood up, and, smirking, moved silently to the location of the iron bar, above the door. He cast a slight telekinetic spell--the effort made him sick to his stomach, but it would be easier than climbing up there--to knock it from its moorings, and caught it as it fell.

It was a heavy piece of iron, totally unremarkable except for the flakes of rust peeling away suddenly and unnaturally in Anikus' hands. Revealed was a red-painted piece of a shining metal; the rust had been a veil, and revealed was a piece of a larger object, a portion of an ornate ring. Along with the flakes of magical rust, it lost a great deal of its weight; Anikus stuffed it into his cloak ceremoniously, and he could barely contain his excitement.

Satisfied that all had taken their fill of the riches, he beckoned for them to follow him. The tunnel now sat calm, and offered no obstacle to the weary adventurers. They would move as a pack outside, to offer resistance to any remaining Reavers, but Anikus anticipated that few, if any, would still exist.

The party proceeded across to the Momentum. Sol had begun the last portion of her march towards the West; the party moved without much conversation. Inside of Anikus' head, however, the desire to tell the party exactly what they were looking for had reached a critical point. He would prepare his papers and tell them everything he knew.

Suddenly, from the ship, a signal scratched at the edges of Anikus' consciousness. It was annoying, even grating--though not painful, and easy to tune out. Dismissing it momentarily, his memory sprung into action: it was the Momentum! To avoid annoying his already agitated party, he ended the signal immediately.

"That's our ship!" he shouted. "Double time! I am not going to have this expedition stopped by thieves of any sort!"