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[color=FFC6C6][u]Level[/u]: [b]6[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 58/60[/color] [color=2e2c2c]------[/color] [color=BC8DBF][u]Level[/u]: [b]1[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 10/10[/color]
[color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color] [color=2e2c2c]----------------------------[/color] [color=2E2C2C]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=2E2C2C]●[/color][color=2E2C2C]●●●●[/color]
[color=lightgray]Word Count: 1197 (+2 exp)
[b]Location[/b]: Sandswept Sky - Split Mountain[/color][/center]
It was here in the Seeker's journey that the mountain was really beginning to take it's toll. The snow was growing deep, slowing progress as they trudged through it. The cold grew numbing if one tarried too long, making it awkward to push on. Fending off wildlife, either native or unfrozen by another's antics, sapped strength - but taking a stealthy approach did much the same, crouching and trying to move quietly through the crunch of snow taxing in a whole different way. Climbing ridges and waterfalls, the incline steadily getting steeper... Well it was very tiring. Eventually though the group reconvened at the landmark of a metallic statue of a man, which turned out not to be a statue, exactly, but a man encased in one. Primrose was in Jesse's camp, considering that this must be some kind of punishment. Therion on the other hand was in Midna's, and had even made a move to step forward to help break the man free before the victim himself turned them away. That was the end of that, as anyone that wouldn't fight for their own life couldn't be helped. 

Further ahead a crude path revealed itself, and they followed up up to a large stone castle-like building. A fine place to take shelter, especially because the inhabitants allowed. Kindly old folk dressed in robes who called themselves the Greybeards. An apt name. It was good of them to offer respite, and even information.

[i]Inner-Mountain, and a lift?[/i] Primrose thought that if they could do as the Greybeard suggested, that would surely be a lot easier on them. 

After Arngeir left them to their own devices and most of the Seekers split up, Therion and Primrose did the same. The thief casually rolled his shoulders and then started off down a hall, calling behind him.

[color=BC8DBF]"I'm going to take a look around."[/color]

[color=D34C25]"What for?"[/color] 

Therion stopped and pivoted on his heel until he faced Primrose, spreading his arms and gesturing to himself in general. [color=BC8DBF]"What do you think?"[/color]

Right. While Primrose didn't think he would find much to pilfer from a temple of monks, she waved him off, watching as he turned and went on his way down the first corridor he found. Primrose remained in the large, warm space for a little while. Once more she considered the pros and cons of continuing up the mountain versus waiting at the base. Going back down and then teleporting up seemed really convenient. She might have gladly chosen that option, but... she looked down at her hand, slowly curling the fingers into a fist. [i]I want to become stronger.[/i] She was almost back to her full power, and then some thanks to the spirits she'd taken, but the journey so far had given her the feeling that it wasn't enough. Tangible power, as well as real experience were needed. She decided to continue on. Hopefully the inner route would be a little easier to traverse.

Meanwhile, Therion wandered the stone halls of High Hrothgar. There was very little of value in the place, for him anyway. There were plenty of ancient tapestries, texts and carvings that looked like they would be priceless for people that cared about that kind of thing. He could only imagine the field day Cyrus would have in here.

He came to a room packed with shelving that held books and trinkets. He picked up one of the books, thumbing through it's pages. Some kind of historical text. [i]Next.[/i] He repeated the action a few times, finding languages he couldn't read. Those he could seemed to be myths and stories of some unfamiliar world. He moved on to the next shelf, which held all kinds of junk. Powders, flowers, teeth. [i]Next.[/i] The shelf beside it was much the same, save for a couple of bottles with old, faded labels on them. 

Therion picked up the [url=https://images.uesp.net/4/41/SR-icon-potion-StrengthDraught.png]first one[/url], turning it over and squinting at the writing. [i]Draught of Strength...?[/i] 

[color=BC8DBF]"Score,"[/color] he said to himself quietly, checking over his shoulder to make sure he was alone in the room. He uncorked the bottle and took a whiff, crinkling his nose at the stench. Yeah, that was a magic potion alright. He stuffed it into his bag and examined the few other potions in the room.

[i]Regeneration... health... haggling? How the hell can a potion make you better at haggling?[/i]

He ignored the last one, and since he did't know the difference between regeneration and health he just took both, tucking them next to the draught. He was on his merry way after that, back to the meeting area. He avoided the priests out of habit, that place was so full of dust he didn't think they'd notice anything different for a long while, if at all.

When the group reconvened, he caught Primrose's eye from the opposite side of the room. Usually he didn't discuss his job with the other Travelers much, given they were all upstanding citizens. Primrose had never disparaged his profession though, so he wiggled his eyebrows at her to signal he hadn't come back empty handed. The dancer returned his gesture with a roll of her eyes. After a couple of their members decided to descend the mountain, the rest went on.

There was no snow to trudge through in the mountain tunnel, but it was still bitter cold. Dark too, though that was mitigated by torchlight, and Poppi's own lighting. Eventually the tunnel opened up to a cave which had some natural light, but also an unnaturally huge person frozen inside. Therion looked from the giant, to the winding path ahead covered in a sheet of ice and sighed. He was no quitter though, so he shuffled onto the bridge. Carefully. He was going to be pissed if he slipped and fell. Equally so if someone woke that thing up. If he was close enough to Raz he would have bonked the kid on the head and given the classic "shush" gesture, but all he could do for now was glare his intent. The same went for Midna, though that stare faltered in the middle of her short speech because - what? Seriously what, it sounded like a bunch of gibberish.

Not far away Primrose and Laharl were crossing. The little demon had stuck close to her since reappeared, though she hadn't minded. She looked down at him when he asked for her attention, though the question caught her off guard. She stifled a giggle, while the "Snow White" in question turned his glare ahead. 

[i][color=D34C25]"His name is Therion, he joined us in town just before going up the mountain,"[/color][/i] she whispered back to him, much more effectively than the half-demon's attempt to be quiet. Since Laharl had surprised them on the mountain, of course he would have missed the hijinks in town, and thus Therion's abrupt introduction. [color=D34C25][i]"He is a friend, so you need not worry too much about him."[/i][/color] 

If Laharl looked back at this so called friend he would see that Therion had definitely heard the question, and currently had his unfriendliest scowl on - the one that matched perfectly with his scruffy appearance. [i]What part of 'be quiet' don't they understand?[/i]