The Jester's Gauntlet (Invite Only)

Balmung didn't like the mechanical-faced man's tone and answer to his question. If it had been under... less-confusing circumstances, he would have paid the man back in kind. But, as the others chimed in, it seemed they were all stuck together, the playthings of a jester.

Said jester didn't give much time to react, as his voice was already booming out of speakers around them, goading them forward. Balmung could tell the person lacked patience, much like the mechanical-faced man, and found that particular trait an annoyance. Balmung glanced at the fork in the path, before his temporary companion spoke again.

Mask, which the man had dubbed himself, gave Balmung the honor of choosing for them. The shadowy man continued to peer into the dim tunnels beyond, his shadow sight hindered but a little by the soft light above.

Both looked identical. The right held an eerie crimson glow, and from the left there could be heard a thundering noise. Rumbling was at his feet.

"We take the left," his deep, soft voice answered. "And my name..." his soft voice took a hard edge. He looked back at the mechanical-faced man, his blue eyes burning behind a veil of shadows. "...is Balmung."

He turned and began walking, shadows trailing behind like puffs of smoke. As he took steps further into the path, it became harder to distinguish where the man began, and the shadows ended.

Foundry Room

The party enters a wide room, where a soft glow of molten hot lava illuminates the area. The room appears to be a mock set up of a large and expensive Blacksmith's workspace. Red hot fire spews from an elaborate pipe system, which connects to a pot placed in the middle of the room.

Weapons, finished and unfinished, align the walls on racks, anvils are dotted across the room, and the sounds of hard at work blacksmiths can be heard, which also produce the loud rumble the party felt from down the corridor.

However, the sound is not being produced by any of the tools in the foundry. In fact, the source of the clanking is unknown. No one else is present in the room.

There are three entrances to the Foundry Room. The first is where the party came from. The second is located across the room, perfectly aligned with the first entryway, and the third exit is on a balcony overlooking the room. The balcony appears to be inaccessible, however, so there is only one way to go if the party does not wish to stay.

The little yordle steps closer to the masked man, though not too close. Even though he is scared, it is still hard for Teo to completely trust his companions yet. Mask is a bit impulsive and impatient it seems, but at least he showed he cared a little. Fiora, or at least that's what he thinks he said her name was, seems to know the most here but she's so... distant. The new man, Balmug, is a little creepy, and there isn't enough to know if he'll be okay. He seemed alright for now though...

"O-okay..." he mutters faintly to Andrei, looking around the room nervously. He was never big on weaponry.