[center][h2][color=F0E68C]Asteria[/color][/h2][/center][hr][hr]
Asteria felt a profound sense of relief when Ed returned unharmed, and even without alerting the people outside. Since the gold coin did not seem dangerous, she picked it up with her mouth, leaving it under her tongue for the moment. She then set a paw on Ed and communicated with him telepathically. [color=F0E68C][i]“Not mad. Glad you’re back. Hiding is fine. If bandits…attack…someone else…we could help?”[/i][/color] Her Telepathy skill wasn’t high enough yet to get whole sentences through, but stringing words one by one and pausing longer between each sentence was possible. [color=F0E68C][i]“I’m going into that second chamber,”[/i][/color] she added. With the help of her newly upgraded Muffle skill, Asteria sneaked to where she’d laid the hatchet next to her sleeping spot, grabbed it between her teeth – and being careful not to accidentally swallow the coin still in her mouth – carried it to the second chamber, and laid the tool on a shelf closest to the open door which connected the first and second chamber. Next, she concentrated on the Muffle skill actively, figuring out how to actively invest a part of her ‘stamina’ into it. When it felt like it worked, she slowly, carefully, and almost-silently dragged all their remaining items to the second chamber as well, and put them in the vicinity of the shiver-inducing padlocked wood-and-iron door.

Since she had the time, Asteria investigated the second chamber more closely. A very eye-catching part of the table had a drain with a basin underneath it. It was fairly obvious from the metallic scent and the colouration of the stains that the set-up served for some sort of sacrifice rituals or the like. Whoever and whatever they were doing, they’d both seemed to mix herbs directly into what she was sure was blood – either human blood or monster blood – as well as hung plants from the ceiling. Asteria craned her head up and used her Plant analysis skill on each of the plant matter part she was able to discern in the bunch. Just to try and see if her assumption was correct, she used Monster analysis on the blood stains and the remains of the mixture in the basin. Asteria approached the basin underneath the table, observing it from up close. [color=F0E68C][i]Hmm, just in case this is another custom one is supposed to do to appease the spirits or the dead or who knows what else…[/i][/color] Asteria went and rifled through their belonging, dug out one Nullven cone, and brought it with her as she approached the basin. Crouching next to it, she pressed her left forearm to her teeth, pushing and pushing until a small but bleeding gash appeared. Then, she dangled her arm above the basin, and used her right paw to squeeze her left arm and get the fresh blood to drip in. As a small rivulet of blood formed, Asteria concentrated on that inner energy, calling forth the mana, and invested a small part of it into the blood offering. After that, she crushed the Nullven cone, scattering it in as well. She didn’t say anything, because she wasn’t aware of any chants, but kept her mind focused on a peaceful, non-aggressive feeling. Hey, if burning the bug meat last night truly had somehow caused the gold coin to appear, then maybe doing something like this wasn’t a half-bad idea either.

[hider=Action summary]
Picks up the gold coin with her mouth, keeps it under her tongue (for the rest of this post).
Communicates with Ed via Telepathy.
Uses Muffle actively to first carry the hatchet, then the rest of their belongings to the creepy second chamber.
Hides within the second chamber and investigates it.
Uses Plant Analysis on the clump of plant matter hanging from the ceiling.
Uses Monster Analysis II on what seems to be blood stains.
Brings one Nullven cone close to the basin.
Cuts her left forearm and drips mana-infused blood into the basin.
Crushes the Nullven cone and adds it to the mixture in the basin.
Thinks about peace while waiting to see if the “ritual” does anything.
[/hider]