The gift of ash

[Anastasia]

Sinking, slowly.

[Nephrite]

It would certainly be dangerous for those lesser, but for now he decides to sink and see what happens. Perhaps there's even a bell down there.

[Anastasia]

You sink into the platinum. It's quite warm as you'd expect and utterly suffocating. You get it up your nose, lining your nasal passages and altogether lethal - except you don't burn and you don't need to breathe.

Handy traits, that.

The fact that you're also unable to be poisoned is doubtlessly helpful, as your lore notes that excessive metal exposure can cause death.

Regardless of all of that and your near invincibility, you're unable to see anything with platinum over your eyes. You're sinking deeper ever so slowly, but with a distinct feeling of being pulled.

[Nephrite]

Via Afina's Perfect Vision Moore has Blindsight, I assume that helps in some capacity here? It goes to 200 ft.

I also assume, technically, his divine senses can 'see' for a mile around him?

For now, Moore will continue to be pulled. He's rather curious as to where this will take him!

I have a feeling I'm rather uniquely interpreting the spirit of this particular trial, you two.

[Anastasia]

It's a narrow tunnel of platinum that's heading downwards and outwards.

I...cannot argue with that.

[Nephrite]

You know me, I have my own unique interpretations of Celestia's various wisdoms.

There's no harm in following it, if he ends up getting spat out somewhere else then it's not a hugely long trek back either way.

[Anastasia]

Down and out you go - and you land, free of platinum, on sand.

Sand?

You look up and see the waves of Lunia nearby, as you lie on one of the many beaches at the base of Mount Celestia.

[Nephrite]

It would indeed seem like he interpreted this one the wrong way. Perhaps it was prideful of him? Hm. No, it wasn't prideful so much, at least to him...

Regardless, it's not a terribly difficult task for him to get back, though he certainly hopes his friends won't have to wait overlong for him.

That is, of course, if this is even really Lunia that he's on and it isn't another part of this trial.

[Anastasia]

On a glance it looks like Lunia to you.

How are you going back?

[Nephrite]

He will travel back to Solomori Peak and then walk back up the path, assuming nothing prevents him from doing so.

Definitely misinterpreted it. On my way back.

[Anastasia]

Meanwhile you walk back up. The hound archon just nods to you, then pauses, "You...managed to sink in, even after this trial?" An open mouthed stare. "How?" Then a blink, "Apologies, I didn't mean to offend you, divine one." A deep bow follows.

We await you.

[Nephrite]

A great laugh follows that bow. "No, I fell in of my own volition. I thought jumping across was the prideful part, not trying to walk across." He explains. He offers a wave of his hand as he continues on. "Don't let anyone overthink it!"

[Anastasia]

"I will not, your divinity," Is his answer as you go on and return. The lantern archon bobs in the air as it calls, "You're back so fast! As expected!"

Kaja turns, a big smile on his face. "Now what all of us are wondering is - did you keep any of the platinum?" His draconic features are bright with that smile, with amusement and mirth.

"I was not wondering that," Cresiel notes dispassionately.

"I've heard what values you could get at Aurora," Kaja banters, smiling all the while, "What just a little gold could get out of that pixie there. Tell me that it didn't cross your mind."

"Wealth is merely a means to an end," Cresiel declares, "One that the love of drags souls deep and low."

[Nephrite]

"I did not." Moore says with a beaming smile. "I have a feeling it keeps itself here regardless even if you tried to take some. Besides, in the grand scheme of things, we have all the wealth we need now with our station. Kaja, you can probably just create gold coins if you really wanted to."

A pause at that followed by a wave. "Hello again!" He calls across, then he looks at the others. "So, I was originally thinking that just walking through it made you 'humble', but I think I overthought it, since, well, that obviously failed."

[Anastasia]

"It seems so!" The lantern archon bobs in the air, "I really can't say anything more!"