Yggdrasil (Afina, Moore, Jaela)

[Corwin]

It's been a while since they left, so Jaela grabs a pear to nibble on as she heads to the new door.

[Nephrite]

"If it's any consolation, I don't think your method was wrong, Afina." Moore says with a smile.

[Ebiris]

"Perhaps we can ask someone later on," Afina replies. Honestly she's getting a bit impatient with this whole rigmarole. Send devils and conquering elves wandering through an endless maze fine, but shouldn't fey be given more courtesy when coming to their birthright? Such as it is, anyway.

[Nephrite]

"It does feel like if it was trying to teach us something, or perhaps a lesson for each room, that it'd be a bit more clear. Perhaps that one was simply to take the time out to enjoy ...life?" Moore shrugs. "I was never very good with metaphors..."

[Corwin]

"I'm not one either, which might be why no room tried to teach me something," Jaela voices, waiting by the door for everyone to catch up.

[Anastasia]

You go along a long hall, coming to a dead end. However, an old knight in armor sits here. His face is mostly hidden by a helmet, but you can see the wrinkles of age on his shadowed face. Indeed, as you approach, he takes off the helmet. He's an ancient elf, weathered more than the oldest human. "Few make it this far," he greets you, "Simple tests that lead to simple paths, gentle currents that show who you are and what choices you make. Sometimes you chose to avoid paths of ruin, other times you replaced one valid path with another. Yet at the end, you stand before me here."

[Nephrite]

Maybe that previous room was to learn to serve other people before yourself? Moore shrugs to himself at the thought. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance and be honored in such a fashion, sir." Moore says, stepping back properly as per Court procedures.

[Ebiris]

It's like someone read her mind!

They probably did, too.

"Well met," Afina says, showing courtesy to the knight. "I am Afina Devilsbane. What lies beyond?"

[Anastasia]

"The front door," The elf says, bowing his head as if napping. "I am Brimdor, a lowly door guard."

[Ebiris]

There's nothing lowly about any door guard in this place. She remembered thinking that being a warden of the World Tree would be the highest station any fey could ever aspire to, far grander than any role in the Seelie or Unseelie courts.

"Will you allow us to pass, Brimdor?"

[Anastasia]

"I may. If I may, what did Grandfather Time tell you of this maze and trials?" He looks up to Afina.

[Ebiris]

"Of this maze? He said that we merely had to find the front door, and that force would not avail us," Afina recites. "Of trials he mentioned the trial of Sehanine Moonbow in the moonlit night beyond. And then we must petition either King Oberon or Queen Titania for that which we seek."

[Anastasia]

"This trial has no wrong answers, save for unprovoked force." Brimdor says, "Those who understand that find it little more than a silly distraction. Those that do not...demons, devils, fiends, those with hate in their hearts...will never find Yggdrasil." He gestures, a door appearing next to him. "The way out is ahead, along with the trial of Moonbow."

"Oh, so you have to make friends and be good?" Tree says, "Master always said friendship is the greatest power of all!"

[Ebiris]

It's true, every bit of force they employed was in judicious defence of themselves or of Yggdrasil as a whole! "You have our thanks," she says, inclining her head before advancing through the door.

"Your Master was a smart man, Tree," she says. Even if he still somehow failed the tests, his words were well spoken at least.

[Anastasia]

"Good fortune," Brimdor raises his hand in salute, "May the King or Queen hear your appeal and reply favorably."

Tree smiles and goes along, as ahead is a broad stairway going down. At the bottom is a single large, fancy door. Solid wood, nicely carved, smooth. It's decorated with a tree motif.