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[ Updated with new color balancing! Old here: In the Beast's Clutches [Old] ]
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The journey through the tunnel was a silent one, but when Verum and Silverado emerged at the center of the labyrinth neither could hold back a sharp inhale at the sights before them. They stood on a plateau above the labyrinth, either side dropping off into a sheer cliff face with the labyrinth shrouded in mist below. From up here, all paths through the maze could be seen. On one side, the sky was lit up with the brilliant colors of a sunset more vivid than anything seen before in Tokotna. On the other side was a sky that mirrored the one they had just left, smoke and flames creating a heaving mass. Above them, the two skies clashed - black storm clouds rumbling with thunder and flashes of lightning tearing claws across either side. Before them stood the entrance to Aippaq's Shrine, built into the mountain and carved with symbols and runes that bled blue-green. Verum and Silverado glanced at each other with guarded eyes. The reversal dipped her head, and Verum stepped forward onto the plateau. A sudden, hot huff of air made the pair whirl around, fangs at the ready.

A dark chuckle from twin mouths greeted them as Meelanik stared them down. "Finally you arrive with my spirit. Hand it over now, tokota, and you will receive your reward" the dark spirit purred, his sides undulating as faces pressed against his sides, trying to escape. Before Verum could reply, a flash of light heralded the arrival of another spirit.

"Shut your mouths, all of them! That spirit is mine, it needs to rest with Aippaq, not in your bloated belly!" The toki, who could be none other than Sikrinerk howled, the stars in her tail twinkling.

Meelanik’s jaws grimaced, but his reply sounded more bored than angry, "Foolish anklebiter!"

"Oversized toaster!"

"Endless thorn in my side…" Meelanik growled, "You foolishly believe in the goodness of all tokotas? Then let this one choose for itself who it wants to serve. You, or me."

Sikrinerk tilted her head, considered this proposal for a moment, before she turned her attention to Verum. Her gaze was hopeful as she addressed the dire, "Very well. What says you, tokota? Do you wish to condemn this spirit to be the fat one’s meal, or will you allow me to guide it to eternal rest?"

Verum placed the lantern down beside her and lifted her head. Ransom squeaked in the lantern, but the dire paid it no mind. "I came here with a single purpose," she said, gaze level, "and that purpose was to fulfill the wishes of my benefactor, Borga. He sent me on this journey to deliver this spirit to Meelanik." Her lips curled up. "I have no love for you, Devourer," she sneered, standing her ground before the large spirit, "but by my loyalty, this spirit is yours."

Meelanik's eye glittered with hunger and he let out a burst of dark laughter. Beside him, Sikrinerk bristled.

"A wise choice, tokota," the dark spirit growled, leaning in. "Come then, give me the spirit!"

Verum nodded and dipped her head down to pick up the lantern. Her jaws came back empty. She felt ice run through her veins as she slowly lifted her head and turned to look behind her. Silverado stood defiantly, lantern in her jaws and fire in her eyes.

"... Silverado," the dire growled. "Give me the lantern."

The reversal snarled. "No," she said, her voice cold. "No, I don't think I'll be doing that."

Verum's growl grew in volume. "Silverado," she commanded. "Give me the lantern."

Silverado's eyes flashed. "You would condemn Ransom to live in the hell we just experienced?" She retorted. "There was nothing there but senseless slaughter! I may be a thief and my paws may not be clean of blood-" her gaze flickered down to Ransom in the lantern, who gazed at her with a hint of wonder, "-but I have never stolen or killed without the intent to gain something tangible out of it."

Verum snarled, turning to face the smaller tokota fully. "Silverado, this is your last warning," the dire snarled, feeling her talisman burn against her leg. "Give me the lantern!"

"No!" Silverado shouted. "I will claim my reward," she said, eyes hard. "But I will not claim anything the Devourer has wrought!"

"That spirit belongs to me!" Verum roared, feeling a dark energy burn through her body. "I was the chosen one!! I will be the one to fulfill Borga's wishes!!"

Silverado snickered, snarl morphing into a mocking smile. "Haven't you learned your lesson by now, little Verum?" The reversal sneered. "Finder's keepers!" With that, the lilac tossed the lantern to Sikrinerk.

Verum's fury echoed across the plateau.

"SILVERADOOOO!!!"

➤ Surrender the spirit to Sikrinerk Have your spirit forcefully surrendered to Sikrinerk

You place the lantern in front of Sikrinerk and step back. Sikrinerk smiles warmly at you, the glowing halo that surrounds her body brightening with motherly pride. As promised, she gives you your reward.

1 x Sikrinerk’s Gift has been added to your event inventory

"I’m so proud of you! I knew you would make the right choice in the end. No spirit should suffer alone in the void. This little one will be happy with me."

Sikrinerk bows her head to you, and moves forward to take hold of the lantern, but before her teeth close around it’s handle, an angry bellow sounds beside you. A wave of heat blasts against you, and the force of it sends Sikrinerk skidding back. Enraged, the Devourer charges.

You are frozen in place as you watch his jaws open impossibly wide. In one swift motion, they close around you, bathing you in darkness. You are knocked off your feet and are sent tumbling through a vortex of heat and howling wind that pulls further into the darkness. When you finally come to a stop, you find yourself floating in a void, all sensations lost to you.

For a few moments there is nothing to see, hear, smell, or taste, until suddenly, something flickers to life just like a candle flame before your eyes, bathing you in light and emitting a feeble but welcome warmth. It is the Lonely Spirit. It must’ve also been devoured. It darts forward and clings to your fur, emitting a nervous yelp. By the light of the spirit, you observe that this void is not completely empty. Around you, pieces of debris float carelessly through the air - scraps of bone and fur, wilted plants, and even manmade objects. Anything that Meelanik devours in an attempt to sate his hunger remains here, forever trapped inside the endless darkness..

After some time a chorus of howls and cries begins, faint at first, but over time it grows in intensity. Each and every cry fills you with a crushing sense of misery and despair. The source of the cries becomes apparent as the spirits of dozens of lost tokotas and animals slowly close in on you. Their gaunt faces, which are in some cases, composed only of bare bone, reflect the faint light of the Lonely Spirit. They crowd around you, but perhaps thankfully, they always stay just out of your reach.

You float helpless in the void, with nothing but the light of the Lonely Spirit and the miserable company of other devoured souls to remind you that you are somehow still alive.

You don’t belong here, but you are hopelessly trapped.

MAIN CHAPTER PROMPT: After encountering both Meelanik and Sikrinerk outside of Aippaq’s shrine, your tokota made the choice to surrender the spirit contained in the lantern to Sikrinerk. However, Meelanik did not allow you to defy him so easily - he devoured both your tokota and the lantern. Your tokota now floats in the endless void of his belly, trapped and unable to return to Tokotna. Depict your encounter with Meelanik and Sikrinerk, the surrender of the lantern, and/or the aftermath of your choice. If you choose to depict the void, you are not required to depict Sikrinerk/Meelanik, you may instead choose to depict at least one of the other souls present there (a tokota, animal, or human form). You can find complete rules for main chapter entries here .

You can read more about Verum, her obsession with following Borga's holy word, and her misadventures with the renowned Pirate of the Glaciers and notorious pain in Verum's side, Silverado, in my LoRE journal:

>>> Seer's LoRE 2019 Tracking Journal <<<

Once again using my favorite texture for stained glass >>> Texture 634
And also referenced some stained glass fire and lightning because I couldn't figure out what I wanted them to look like LOL

Description

[ Updated with new color balancing! Old here: In the Beast's Clutches [Old] ]
---

The journey through the tunnel was a silent one, but when Verum and Silverado emerged at the center of the labyrinth neither could hold back a sharp inhale at the sights before them. They stood on a plateau above the labyrinth, either side dropping off into a sheer cliff face with the labyrinth shrouded in mist below. From up here, all paths through the maze could be seen. On one side, the sky was lit up with the brilliant colors of a sunset more vivid than anything seen before in Tokotna. On the other side was a sky that mirrored the one they had just left, smoke and flames creating a heaving mass. Above them, the two skies clashed - black storm clouds rumbling with thunder and flashes of lightning tearing claws across either side. Before them stood the entrance to Aippaq's Shrine, built into the mountain and carved with symbols and runes that bled blue-green. Verum and Silverado glanced at each other with guarded eyes. The reversal dipped her head, and Verum stepped forward onto the plateau. A sudden, hot huff of air made the pair whirl around, fangs at the ready.

A dark chuckle from twin mouths greeted them as Meelanik stared them down. "Finally you arrive with my spirit. Hand it over now, tokota, and you will receive your reward" the dark spirit purred, his sides undulating as faces pressed against his sides, trying to escape. Before Verum could reply, a flash of light heralded the arrival of another spirit.

"Shut your mouths, all of them! That spirit is mine, it needs to rest with Aippaq, not in your bloated belly!" The toki, who could be none other than Sikrinerk howled, the stars in her tail twinkling.

Meelanik’s jaws grimaced, but his reply sounded more bored than angry, "Foolish anklebiter!"

"Oversized toaster!"

"Endless thorn in my side…" Meelanik growled, "You foolishly believe in the goodness of all tokotas? Then let this one choose for itself who it wants to serve. You, or me."

Sikrinerk tilted her head, considered this proposal for a moment, before she turned her attention to Verum. Her gaze was hopeful as she addressed the dire, "Very well. What says you, tokota? Do you wish to condemn this spirit to be the fat one’s meal, or will you allow me to guide it to eternal rest?"

Verum placed the lantern down beside her and lifted her head. Ransom squeaked in the lantern, but the dire paid it no mind. "I came here with a single purpose," she said, gaze level, "and that purpose was to fulfill the wishes of my benefactor, Borga. He sent me on this journey to deliver this spirit to Meelanik." Her lips curled up. "I have no love for you, Devourer," she sneered, standing her ground before the large spirit, "but by my loyalty, this spirit is yours."

Meelanik's eye glittered with hunger and he let out a burst of dark laughter. Beside him, Sikrinerk bristled.

"A wise choice, tokota," the dark spirit growled, leaning in. "Come then, give me the spirit!"

Verum nodded and dipped her head down to pick up the lantern. Her jaws came back empty. She felt ice run through her veins as she slowly lifted her head and turned to look behind her. Silverado stood defiantly, lantern in her jaws and fire in her eyes.

"... Silverado," the dire growled. "Give me the lantern."

The reversal snarled. "No," she said, her voice cold. "No, I don't think I'll be doing that."

Verum's growl grew in volume. "Silverado," she commanded. "Give me the lantern."

Silverado's eyes flashed. "You would condemn Ransom to live in the hell we just experienced?" She retorted. "There was nothing there but senseless slaughter! I may be a thief and my paws may not be clean of blood-" her gaze flickered down to Ransom in the lantern, who gazed at her with a hint of wonder, "-but I have never stolen or killed without the intent to gain something tangible out of it."

Verum snarled, turning to face the smaller tokota fully. "Silverado, this is your last warning," the dire snarled, feeling her talisman burn against her leg. "Give me the lantern!"

"No!" Silverado shouted. "I will claim my reward," she said, eyes hard. "But I will not claim anything the Devourer has wrought!"

"That spirit belongs to me!" Verum roared, feeling a dark energy burn through her body. "I was the chosen one!! I will be the one to fulfill Borga's wishes!!"

Silverado snickered, snarl morphing into a mocking smile. "Haven't you learned your lesson by now, little Verum?" The reversal sneered. "Finder's keepers!" With that, the lilac tossed the lantern to Sikrinerk.

Verum's fury echoed across the plateau.

"SILVERADOOOO!!!"

➤ Surrender the spirit to Sikrinerk Have your spirit forcefully surrendered to Sikrinerk

You place the lantern in front of Sikrinerk and step back. Sikrinerk smiles warmly at you, the glowing halo that surrounds her body brightening with motherly pride. As promised, she gives you your reward.

1 x Sikrinerk’s Gift has been added to your event inventory

"I’m so proud of you! I knew you would make the right choice in the end. No spirit should suffer alone in the void. This little one will be happy with me."

Sikrinerk bows her head to you, and moves forward to take hold of the lantern, but before her teeth close around it’s handle, an angry bellow sounds beside you. A wave of heat blasts against you, and the force of it sends Sikrinerk skidding back. Enraged, the Devourer charges.

You are frozen in place as you watch his jaws open impossibly wide. In one swift motion, they close around you, bathing you in darkness. You are knocked off your feet and are sent tumbling through a vortex of heat and howling wind that pulls further into the darkness. When you finally come to a stop, you find yourself floating in a void, all sensations lost to you.

For a few moments there is nothing to see, hear, smell, or taste, until suddenly, something flickers to life just like a candle flame before your eyes, bathing you in light and emitting a feeble but welcome warmth. It is the Lonely Spirit. It must’ve also been devoured. It darts forward and clings to your fur, emitting a nervous yelp. By the light of the spirit, you observe that this void is not completely empty. Around you, pieces of debris float carelessly through the air - scraps of bone and fur, wilted plants, and even manmade objects. Anything that Meelanik devours in an attempt to sate his hunger remains here, forever trapped inside the endless darkness..

After some time a chorus of howls and cries begins, faint at first, but over time it grows in intensity. Each and every cry fills you with a crushing sense of misery and despair. The source of the cries becomes apparent as the spirits of dozens of lost tokotas and animals slowly close in on you. Their gaunt faces, which are in some cases, composed only of bare bone, reflect the faint light of the Lonely Spirit. They crowd around you, but perhaps thankfully, they always stay just out of your reach.

You float helpless in the void, with nothing but the light of the Lonely Spirit and the miserable company of other devoured souls to remind you that you are somehow still alive.

You don’t belong here, but you are hopelessly trapped.

MAIN CHAPTER PROMPT: After encountering both Meelanik and Sikrinerk outside of Aippaq’s shrine, your tokota made the choice to surrender the spirit contained in the lantern to Sikrinerk. However, Meelanik did not allow you to defy him so easily - he devoured both your tokota and the lantern. Your tokota now floats in the endless void of his belly, trapped and unable to return to Tokotna. Depict your encounter with Meelanik and Sikrinerk, the surrender of the lantern, and/or the aftermath of your choice. If you choose to depict the void, you are not required to depict Sikrinerk/Meelanik, you may instead choose to depict at least one of the other souls present there (a tokota, animal, or human form). You can find complete rules for main chapter entries here .

You can read more about Verum, her obsession with following Borga's holy word, and her misadventures with the renowned Pirate of the Glaciers and notorious pain in Verum's side, Silverado, in my LoRE journal:

>>> Seer's LoRE 2019 Tracking Journal <<<

Once again using my favorite texture for stained glass >>> Texture 634
And also referenced some stained glass fire and lightning because I couldn't figure out what I wanted them to look like LOL