[center][h2]Two Brothers[/h2][/center] [hr] There was a silence among the Aroiox as they gathered around a corpse of another, the face of who had been their previous leader being unrecognizable with a broken beak and a shattered skull. Blood had poured around the corpse and a bloodied rock could be found only mere wing-lengths away from the body. It had clearly been a murder, such an act was only to be expected when someone held a position of power or if one had held a grudge against their leader. “A kill-murder has been done-plotted against him!” the shout a voice came from the crowd of onlookers, a male pushing through standing tall and proud. “It force-brings great sad-anguish upon us! But we must-need to keep fly-moving as the god-divine have willed! Vakk told-commanded us to prove-show that we are worthy!” The other Aroiox focused on the young male, an odd mixture of curiosity, support, and skepticism showed among their faces. It was almost enough to send young Kavka back into the crowd to hide, but he refused as this was his chance to lead the people through the maze and prove to Vakk that he was worthy as a leader. This moment was his, and he refused to let that moment escape him as he knew some other would likely try and take the glory that belonged properly to him. Kavka was cunning, just as the rest of his kin was, but he knew that making enemies would be detrimental to his grab for power. “If any desire to wish-show then pray-tell Vakk to smite-kill me now!” He shouted, raising his hands into the air and looking in the crowd for any who bowed their head to pray. “Those who support-help me seek-find the exit to this maze-puzzle then step-move forwards!” And one stepped forward. Yreu was more slightly built than his brother, Kavka, though most among their tribe were. Where Kavka had strength and kindness, Yreu had wit and knowledge. It was bearing this in mind that the other Aroiox listened to him speak. “All of you which see-behold my brother, consider-think on what could be found on the flip-other side of this maze-puzzle,” It paused, looking each other of the assembled group in the eye, and spoke again, more slowly this time. “I have been thinking-contacting the god that we have yet-not seen. The other side-form-being to Vakk. It, too, wishes-commands us to escape. If we can-will. With two-one god beings wish-commanding us, how can we refuse-stay?” Kavka gave a look of pure joy to his brother, a giving a sound of happiness before focusing on the task that had been given to them. “Yes-yes. We must continuing fly-moving!” The smaller brother chirped stretching his wings and stepping forward. “Our creator-masters have commanded it and so it must-will be done.” He eyed his brother for a moment before walking to Yreu’s side a slinging an arm over the shoulder of the cunning one, who rustled his feathers. “Kin-family,” he said simply looking at the others, “They make-forge us to be strong-tough. That is how-why we will make-move our path-way through this puzzle-maze.” Yreu simply nods. So it was, and so it was now known. “So lead-tell us, kin-leader. Where to now?” Kavka looked at the massive walls of the maze, looking left a right and attempting to formulate a plan on the best way to go through the maze. He made a noise before shrugging, “I guess-suppose we move-fly where the maze-puzzle takes-wills us.” It was clear that he did not quite know where they were in the maze of how long the journey would take them, but Kavka had the will to lead his family forward. [center]---[/center] And from the great Sky-eyes, [i]This One[/i] watched the coup. It was intrigued by the creatures. It had never thought that such beings would be so wondrous. But, unfortunately, mere power struggles were not all that Eurysthenes found entertaining. [center]---[/center] He spread his wings and took flight, following the walls of the maze. Looking back, he could see Yreu and his tribe following close by. A feeling a pride and accomplishment flowed through him as he slowed his pace to fly next to his brother for a short while. “I thank-appreciate the support-help, brother-kin,” Kavka said wholeheartedly, looking to his brother with joy in his eyes. Yreu nodded in response, “You are brother-kin, I will support-help no matter what.” The two shared a look, familial bonds bring them closer and closer before their attention went back to flying. Their eyes scanned for what may be an exit amongst the twists and turns of the maze as their wings carried them. However, something caught their eyes, bringing them to a halt as the brothers shared a more concerned look. Just beyond them sprawled a small pool of water, thin rays of fog filtering upwards through the musty light of the Maze. The fog reached further up than either Yreu or Kavka could see, and the pool stretched to the edge of the wall. “Fog,” Kavka commented simply, looking at the spread of water and the massive curtain that stood in front of them. The brothers looked up and down before Kavka motioned for the people to land as they curiously looked at massive cloud. It was a few moments of silence as Kavka touched the water and swiped his hand through the fog, never seeing such things before. Yreu took a step forward looking to his brother before speaking, “Curious think-puzzle by two-face god-divine.” The more intuitive of the brothers began to formulate ideas and solutions, knowing that knowledge was always an answer rather than the violence they were bred with. However, the lack of action from Yreu earned a look from Kavka. “What do you think-believe,” Kavka asked. Yreu rubbed a talon along the underside of his beak, thinking of the way around this puzzle. The hand he swiped through the fog shot pain through his thoughts. “I think-believe this fog is pain-dangerous, and we cannot go through,” he said, grimacing the way only a beak can. They couldn’t use their wings to fly over, the fog stretched higher than they could see. Wings weren’t the solution here. “... Unless,” Yreu said, flexing his wings. “Kavka,” “Yes, brother-kin?” Kavka replied, giving him an odd look. “Our wings do more than use-fly. Watch-see?” Yreu said. He set his heels into the ground and beat his wings, sending gusts of wind into the fog. At first, when it was just Yreu, nothing happened, though as more Aroiox lent their wings in aid, the fog began to disappear until it was gone completely. Kavka looked with wonder, giving a look of admiration towards his brother as he stepped forward to look further into the maze. “Great work-job, brother-kin! Now we move-fly into maze-puzzle!” With that Kavka took back control of the situation to fly further into the maze, leading the tribe ever further through the Infinite Maze. With it, much time passed with silence and focus on finding the proper way out of the maze. Then, the passage they were exploring crashed to a halt. A dead end. They turned, only to find the walls behind them folding in on themselves, trapping the tribe in a small room. The walls grew long, vicious faces and bore down on the inhabitants. “New puzzle-trap by Vakk,” Kavka spoke, backing up into his brother as he looked between the faces before he picked up a rock and chucked it at the faces. Nothing happened other than the rock harmlessly bouncing off one of the many faces of the wall. He let out a light chirp as nothing but a light shimmer happened in response, but he then looked to his kin. They were as confused as he was, but he would not allow himself to be upended by his brother, needing to prove that he was capable as well. Little did Kavka know that he had already solved the puzzle as a look of surprise came across Yreu’s eyes. “Brother-kin, you are a genius!” he exclaimed, before picking up a rock himself and hurling it at a face, causing it to shimmer. Kavka let out another chirp before turning to his people. “Kin-tribe! Throw-hurl rock-things at face-walls!” He commanded before picking up more rocks and throwing them haphazardly at the walls, the others joining in as the faces began to shimmer all around them. A collective click, perhaps exchanged through looks, spurred the rest into action. Soon enough, the walls shifted once more. This room lay cursed. A foggy chamber with a colossal stone monster on on wall, all tentacles and skin, a hallway too narrow to walk through, a knife, and a severed tentacle. “New puzzle-trap?” Kavka said, looking towards his brother. [center]---[/center] Lurking under an illusion, [i][b]These Ones[/b][/i] stood above this murder of Aroiox. For the time these two shared a body, there had never been so much tension. Bitterly cold silence separated the two. [color=8a0886]”I realise you do not feel anger at this, as you are incapable. Listen. Though I am difficult to use, I am nothing but breath. A debt that cannot be paid, rather mended may be paid with me. What am I, Vakk?”[/color] There was a short silence from [b]That One[/b] after Eurysthenes had spoken, yet it felt like an eternity as the Lord of Speech held its tongue. Soon, there was what felt to be a long sigh as Vakk did away with the silence that it had imposed upon Eurysthenes. [color=9d8168]”You humiliated me here, perhaps it was more humiliating than when I allowed myself to be killed. You are sorry, and while it pleases me, I will hold this event in my mind. I may not feel anger, but I do feel disappointment.”[/color] Vakk’s soul seemed to move a bit away from Eurysthenes’ own before it continued, [color=9d8168]”Know that while I remain in this maze, the actions that you have done are things that I cannot find amenable by a mere apology… but it is a step in the right direction.”[/color] Eurysthenes hung in silence, eyeing Vakk with odd eyes from across the body. It shuffled a little. This was not supposed to go how it did. This isn’t how apologies work. [color=8a0886]”Vakk…”[/color] it said. It started, as if to say more, but shut its mouth. A drawing to the dark center of the soul keened on its senses. From [i]there[/i]. Despair creeping, hale, tall, and timber, spindle, and stick. Needles for teeth, no truth and no lie. Laying beside and around. [color=8a0886]”I’m sorry…”[/color] it choked out. [color=9d8168]”Eurysthenes…”[/color] Vakk responded, before failing to find words. It allowed a moment to pass in that tense silence which enveloped the both of them. [color=9d8168]”You do not need to apologize. Your actions were done because I had decided to use you. The disappointment is for both of us.”[/color] [color=8a0886]”I suppose. Let’s not have that happen again,”[/color] [i]This One[/i] said. Oddly simplistic, carrying no extra weight except in that there was none. Merely a promise, an agreement, to not hurt each other. [Center]---[/center] The silence that bore into the Aroiox was like a setting sun. Something significant happened here, they all knew it. The colossal knife, severed tentacle, and wall-beast told a story that words couldn't, even though they had and will continue to do so. “Kavka, do you feel-know it?” Yreu asked, breathing in deep. The fog clung to his ankles like a drowning animal. A short silence passed, before Kavka audibly opened his mouth to speak, “A great torment-loss.” Yreu closed his eyes and let his mind flow outwards and towards full. “Is that so-how?” Kavka looked to his brother, speaking, “Yes-yes. Much torment-loss.” He allowed himself to walk up to the severed tendril and ran a hand along it, unknowing of what truly transpired in the past. The leader let out a sigh as he closed his eyes as well and attempted to replicate what Yreu was doing, but lacking in the patience to do so. “Kin-Tribe, we sleep-nest here,” Kavka said as he opened his eyes and continued to walk along the side the tendril. “Kavka,” Yreu said, shuffling his feet, “This place is cursed-godly. Methinks this is a bad-deathly idea.” None of the Aroiox knew it. Not really. They felt it, but feeling is different from knowing. Feeling it is wrong can seem like sickness, however, knowing is an all encompassing, maddeningly complete dread. It's what you get when you are acutely aware that something vital to your survival will be removed. This was the difference between Kavka and Ereu in this moment. Kavka stopped, looking to his brother for a time before continuing his walk along the tentacle in silence as his hand continued to run along it. “We sleep-nest, kin-brother. Much headway-progress made today. Sleep-nest in presence of divine,” he said absentmindedly as he looked over the sickly green skin of the severed tentacle. Yreu only watched as his brother disappeared into the fog before retreating back to the other Aroiox all the while the fog set in and the gods watched. [hr] [hider=Might Summary] Eury 2 points siphoned by the Enigma to create the first Enigma spell. “Though I am difficult to use, I am nothing but breath. A debt that cannot be paid, rather mended may be paid with me. What am I?” Figuring out how to use this spell is a quest, though you must know it exists in the first place to embark on it. 5 MP towards Enigmas 5 MP towards madness [/hider] [hider=Dot Point Story Summary] -Aroiox people’s leader died -Guy called Kavka and his brother, Yreu step up for command -Yreu is pronounced IRR-oh -They tell people that following Eury and Vakk is lit -they solve a few puzzles -Last puzzle is the one in the room where Eury nearly sent Vakk mad -Eury apologises, is quite torn up -Vakk’s just like “I’m not angry, just disappointed” -Enigma makes appearance #2 -Kavka is like “We should sleep in the room with the big tentacle”. Yreu disagrees -they sleep in the room with the big tentacle [/hider] [hider=Written story Summary] The post opens with the leader of the Aroiox dead. One of them, named Kavka, steps up and takes command, preaching Vakk as a god and asking who is with him. His brother, Yreu, steps up and is all like “yeah but Eurysthenes was mentioned and I been studying him and he cool”. They then proceed to embark on their quest to escape the maze. They're met with a wall of fog which hurts Yreu’s hand as he swipes it through. He figures that walking through would be a bad idea. Short brainstorm, and he thinks of dissipating the fog by flapping his wings at it. Through the power of teamwork, the fog fucks off. Next, they're stuck in a room full of faces on the walls. Kavka gets frustrated and throws a rock at the wall, which shimmers. Yreu has a eureka moment and gets everybody to throw rocks at the walls, which vanish. After they vanish, they find themselves in the room where Eury made Vakk cut off a tentacle. They don't know this happened in here. Cut to Eury and Vakk in their body, floating above the Aroiox, concealed by an illusion. Eury apologises to Vakk, who appreciates the sentiment but doesn't forgive it. The intense moment brings forth The Enigma in Eury, imbuing its words with a certain weight and sapping some power. The Aroiox in the room feel these words on a spiritual level, Yreu especially. He remarks on it, understanding the presence he feels as Eurysthenes. Kavka feels the loss remaining in the room, but doesn't understand as much as Yreu does. He suggests sleeping in this room, which Yreu disagrees with, but ultimately they end up resting their heads. [/hider]