[color=a36209][h3]Osana[/h3][/color] [sup]Location: Underground Path - Dungeons - Waterway[/sup][hr]

	As the path went on, Osana decided now was the time to ask for a bit of mending. She reached to her waist and tugged at a steel chain, then felt her way to the gourd attached to it. Quickly stashing her dagger away at her hip, Osana took the gourd into one hand, while holding her lantern in the other, then halted where she stood. There was no telling what lurked within the darkness before her but, Osana felt as safe here as she felt anywhere-- that was to say, not safe at all. When she closed her eyes, she wondered what it was like to truly feel safe and if she ever had in her lifetime. Taking a deep breath in, Osana exhaled gently and blew the thought away-- the fire of a candle out.

	Behind the cages stood spectral forms in the form of pale green mist. All of their shapes varied. Several were already fully shapeless, having died long ago and forgotten their forms, yet still they were trapped within their cells. Osana looked to these spirits and saw gold-- rootlike in it's form-- snaking through the spectral energies which represented the departed. Hands gripped at the cages, the more recently departed still somewhat human shaped, and they tried to scream for guards, though their words turned into language Osana couldn't understand, she could feel the message. All of them, corrupted and pained even in death, they had no escape from this world though they had passed long ago. 
	
	What stood out the most about these lingering spirits was their apparent need to remain in their cages. They were all trying to summon the guards against her-- as if she were an enemy to them, prisoners in their cages. Another deep inhale and exhale while Osana focused her attention inward. Slowly she kneeled, letting her energy course through the physical plane to secure herself firmly in the spiritual. As she continued her meditative breathing, the voices faded away, replaced slowly by the gentle whispers of the gods. Slowly she raised her gourd to her lips, then removed the cork-stopper.

	A heavy metallic and musky scent filled her nostrils as the gourd was opened-- the scent of Aether. Osana opened her eyes and looked into the gourd-- both in the physical and spiritual planes-- before closing her eyes once more to whisper. Osana's lips did not move in the physical realm but, her spirit whispered into the gourd, driven to focus by the gods. They had read Osana's will before she started this process and deemed her fit for the blessing. She could feel the gourd's weight slowly increase as it became filled with whispers, the aether within becoming physical as it was blessed into being. Once full, Osana began pouring the contents over her injured leg, wincing as her wounded flesh became coated in the substance.

	Osana re-corked the gourd, placed her gaze high, then stood. She didn't want to watch the healing process take place-- it always made her feel sick. Around her, the world wavered slightly, as if viewed through water. Shaking her head, Osana tried to focus on the ground, it's feeling beneath herself, the weight of her body, her breathing-- all things in the physical world. Why had staying within herself become such a struggle recently? While Osana knew the question likely had no answer, she couldn't help but wonder why reality was becoming less real to her than the other realms. A chill crept up her spine, forcing her gaze to the side. 

	Through a golden barred cage she stared. A rusted door was beyond this cage, very plain compared to the gilded nature of everything else in this hall. She looked down to the water rushing around her feet then, taking a moment to note the direction of flow. Part of Osana had expected to be traveling toward the door but, it still surprised her a little to see that it was. Curious, Osana observed the cage bars for a moment. How had she completely missed the oddly bent bars on the path behind her? Perhaps it was her pain and focus on walking that had distracted her. Either way, Osana retraced her steps slightly to get to the opening.

	The bars looked as if something had been placed between them in order to pry them apart. Whatever it was had been powerful enough to bend three bars on each side of the opening. She placed her fingertips against the cold metal, where the thin layer of gold had peeled away to expose hearty looking iron, and wondered what was strong enough to force the bars apart in this manner. Cautiously, Osana stepped through the opening that was more than wide enough to let her in, then turned and looked at the bars once more. Their bend was forced outward slightly-- away from her-- as if something broke through the cage and away from the door behind her. Osana set her jaw at the potential implications but, she turned and walked toward the door anyway.