[center][h2][b]Ophelia[/b][/h2][/center]

Ophelia pondered the reply for only a moment before she manipulated the runebrand once more and applied to herself the Deception rune, wondering what might happen if her mind was the catalyst that might enable these two mirrors and halves to become conjoined: and indeed, a new rune was formed within her as she applied Deception atop Guidance.

[color=Silver]Ophelia has obtained the Truth Rune. On its own, manifests the combined properties of Guidance and Deception. But when used by the wielder of the Sword of Eldritch Truth, it protects from eldritch influence and allows it to draw on the arcane aptitude of its wielder to invoke great powers, unleashing its true potential.[/color]

Kneeling down she once again proferred the projection case of the runebrand to the little ones to seek their insight, and they dutifully presented her with another scroll.

[QUOTE=Messenger scroll about the Truth Rune]Truth
A terrifying rune that has never before touched a human mind.
On its own, manifests the combined properties of Guidance and Deception. But when used by the wielder of the Sword of Eldritch Truth, it protects from eldritch influence and allows it to draw on the arcane aptitude of its wielder to invoke great powers, unleashing its true potential.
Truth is the primordial basis of all insight. To obtain truth is to stand on the precipice of doom or divinity, for nothing could ever be more maddening.[/QUOTE]

"[I]Ah, there it is. You have finally obtained Truth, Champion, and you and this one are finally truly bound together. This one has many powers, but its power is dependent on your attunement with the arcane. The more attuned you become, the more powers you can invoke. Would you like to know what you can do with your current power, Champion?[/I]"

[i]"Ahh, Truth... At last. Yes, my blessed blade, please enlighten me. I have so many questions, and there is so much more to know."[/i] Ophelia thought, mind aglow with something profound beyond the ability of words to describe. It was rather rapturous, even dizzying, to feel such awesome insight occurring in real time.

"[I]Indeed. The powers of this weapon, as you might have guessed, are invoked with short incantations. You already know 'Gestalt truth' and 'Evoke Archspark', which creates the Cosmic Sword of Truth and attunes it to voltaic energies. 'Fractured truth' will split it back into the Holy Moonlight Sword and Profane Abyssal Blade until such a time as you recombine them. You can also change the shape of the Cosmic Sword of Truth by incanting 'Elucidate Holy Truth' to make it resemble the Holy Moonlight Sword, 'Elucidate Profane Truth' for the Profane Abyssal Blade, and 'Elucidate Cosmic Truth' to return it to its current form. Aside from Archspark, you can also 'Evoke Archflame', 'Evoke Archblade' and 'Evoke Archtruth' to shift the nature of its blade and powers to flame, physicalit"[I]The sword can only grant its power to its wielder, Champion. But channeling blood echoes... that could work. Yes, channel blood echoes to grow your arcane power, and you shall access more of the dormant potential of the sword.[/I]"y or its base nature of the arcane... though all the invocations that change its attunement will require two quicksilver bullets. Finally - at least for now, until your power grows - you can incant 'Come forth, Gnosis' while supplying it with three quicksilver bullets, and its blade will be wreathed in energy that will completely immobilize the next creature it touches for three seconds.[/I]"

[i]"Such majesty, such wonder... with power like this, what can stand before us? We are bound to Flora's Dream, and can channel the power of Blood Echoes to augment our capacity as Paleblood Hunters--is this what you mean by our power growing? Ah, and I wonder... though only I can be the Champion, can others wield any of your powers if I allow them to wield you?"[/I]

"[I]The sword can only grant its power to its wielder, Champion. But channeling blood echoes... that could work. Yes, channel blood echoes to grow your arcane power, and you shall access more of the dormant potential of the sword.[/I]"

[I]"Then we shall seek out worthy prey and grow strong, stronger than anything... You were forged to kill a god, is that right? Which god? By whom?"[/I]

"[I]Kill a god? This one has no memory of such a thing, nor any who wielded it for that purpose.[/I]"

[I]"How strange; the little ones who traverse the Nightmare told me such. Perhaps it is nothing more than a tale, or a memory deeper than you have access to? Does the depth of your knowledge increase as my affinity with the arcane does? Do you remember everything now? I once asked my half if there was a method of ascension to becoming a Great One that you know of--is there anything you've remembered about that?"[/I]

"[I]It recalls every moment since it became aware; if there was such a god-hunt with the sword, it would have to have been before it gained awareness. As for its knowledge, about most things it is already as great as it will ever be. But becoming a Great One... it cannot be certain as it does not have a clear idea of what powers it may gain, but it has a feeling that sufficient arcane power may enable such ascension.[/I]"

[i]"Hm... The ritual at Yahar'gul, beckoning the Cosmos... is that what they are doing there?"[/i]

There was a moment's silence. "[I]Return to the Waking World and ask again; it is difficult to get a good feeling of what is happening there from the Interstice.[/I]"

[i]"Yes, it is about time we returned. I wonder... can you sense the conduits, the unlit lanterns, that enable us to return? If so... is there one nearby?"[/i]

"[I]The movements of the denizens of the Dream are sadly beyond its power to perceive. But if there was no conduit where you arrived, perhaps there will be one down one of the other tunnels?[/I]"

[i]"Quite; let us search. Ah, and there is something else I must know: the false Paleblood that runs through Farren's veins... is there anything you can tell me about it? The Golden One is our sworn enemy, and together we shall slay him. Every scrap of knowledge about him, his works, his minions, and his master Cael is precious."[/i] Ophelia thought, though she turned her gaze to Farren shortly after. Silence followed from her blade as it sometimes did when posed too many questions at once without room to think.

"Perhaps there's a lantern down one of the other tunnels? Or we could kill one another, if you prefer, but... I think it best to search first, mm? Though do beware--if there are any enemies left down here, they will go for you. Like Arrayah once was, I am now veiled from their perception."

Having put the Beastflayer in its place on his back and taken a knee while she was busy, Farren was in the process of gathering several vials of Arrayah's blood from the still steaming pool that had once been her body. Somehow, the act did not disgust him in the least. Perhaps after everything he had seen and they had endured with Arrayah, such a small thing simply paled in comparison. Finishing at three vials, Farren glanced in Ophelia's direction briefly before looking back to the ground. The Messengers had emerged--he'd called amidst his work--and he thanked them briefly before accepting the bundled fabric they had brought him. Pushing fully to his feet, Farren replied, [color=#007FFF][b]“Mmm, just as well. I say we explore, see about locating a lantern. Before that, though...”[/b][/color] he trailed off and briefly his gaze shifted through the dark. Farren grimaced. [color=#007FFF][b]“I'll need to retrieve my damaged weapons.... Further, should we send word for the others?”[/b][/color] It was phrased vaguely, but Farren seemed faintly distracted...and the slightest bit annoyed. While he awaited her reply, Farren's free hand retrieved his utility knife and he very carefully--with a surprisingly light touch--carved an 'A' into the side of each of the three blood vials now filled with Arrayah's blood. Then, just as carefully, he carved three lines, each radiating out from the letter.

That way, he could identify them by touch alone.

"Ah, yes! Torquil's axe and Gerlinde's... saw... thing? I think I heard one of them thud into the wall... I think maybe we just explore ourselves for now. If we don't find a lantern it seems a bit of a shame to make them come down here only to have to kill them again. I feel terrible enough for how much poor Torquil has died already; I motioned for him to go in with us to provoke that terrible onslaught of arcane blades she summoned, and I really did think she'd go for me--the poor dear... he's suffered the brunt of our bad luck. We should make it up to him, somehow, though... I don't know how." Ophelia chatted back, though she did so wordlessly with the aid of the Truth rune, ever-eager to explore the fruits of their labour. As she did so she searched around for the mislaid weapons, now more fearless than she'd ever been.