In The Belly

JP with Largehobbit, Winteroak and Cindy

After what felt like hours in the silence of the oval room, with only the distant echo of prayers and chants far in the distance, a door opened in the room. Tamazzalt, The Ascendant, waked in followed by three other priests.

As he walked towards the stone plinth, the three priests walked to stand in front of each Penintent. Cupped in their hands was a vial filled with a pinkish gold viscous substance.

Islana immediately recognised it as Felfar as she watched the Ascendant bring forth a strange stone from the folds of his robe and placed it gently on the stone altar.

"The New Moon fills the sky. The three of you have answered The Call and tonight you are tested on our ways and yours." The Ascendant started. "The Herald has been sent out amongst the heathens to gather souls for the trial. Each represents a facet of what it is to be the true vessel of the Maelstrom. You will face them now and be tested. They bear witness to the truth within you, they are both sacrifice and judge to all that must come next." Another paused where he looked at the three girls, his eyes lingering on Islana.

The priests opened the vials and handed it to the penitents.

"Drink deep and seek communion with the souls within the Stone." He said.

Once the three all drank the full contents of the vials, the priests retrieved and left the room, followed by Tamazzalt.

The wooden door closed with a loud band leaving the girls in near darkness…

A soft creak of wood breaks the silence. Then again... and again. The room seemed to softly sway beneath Islanas feet, rising and falling with a strangely familiar rythm. The air became hot and damp as the Felfar took hold on her mind and the acrid stench of unwashed humanity began to fill her nostrils as her breath came heavy and laboured. Distant voices could be heard now against a backdrop of... crashing waves? Madaya whimpered with fright as the room seemed to warp around them until their surroundings became plain to Islana at least. They stood in the belly of a ship. Around her now she could make out the splintered timbers of the hull and above the sound of sailors at work. A nearby lamp flickered into life, and then another. A third sparked into life and this one was held in the hands of a small pale boy with dark hair.

"I am Toman Riese." he gave a bright smile even as the ship lurched to the right almost taking Islana and other girls from their feet. "I think a storm is coming."

A ship, not unlike the one which had brought Islana to Arcadia all those months ago. She recalled trying to spend as little time as possible in the belly, as it was always unpleasant.

The whimper from Madaya made the redhead want to tell the girl everything would be alright but Islana didn't know that, for certain.

Watching as one by one the lamps lit up and a young boy appeared. Reese The last name certainly got her attention. That couldn't be a coincidence, could it?

"Hello, Tomas." Islana returned the smile as she felt the sudden movement under her feet. "I believe you might be correct."

At the use of his name the boy's smile brightened further and he approached. The ship lurched once more, this time to the left and the girl Silina fell heavily as a nearby barrel rolled from his stack and knocked her from her feet. Toman seemed unaffected by the ship's movement. He came to stand before Islana and glanced briefly between her and Madaya. Outside the roar of thunder could be heard along with the panicked cries of the ship's crew. "Will you help her?"

Toman gestured down toward the fallen teen.