genessia | High Priestess: Solomon's Temple [Action] [Open]

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High Priestess: Solomon's Temple [Action] [Open]

Who: Lucy, participants
When: May 17, midnight
Where: Genessia City Library
Music: The Fate

A pale woman, in a pale gown, strode slowly towards the Genessia library. She spoke to the communicator.

"It would seem that no one in this world knows the way out of it. Very well; I will pierce the mystery, and uncover the secret of Genessia, and how to escape. To do this, I will need a place of contemplation."

She turned toward the large, ware-house like building. She raised her free hand, and delicately, slowly drew it across her vision.

The environment drastically changed, as if she were lifting the veil of an entire landscape. The night sky became clearer; the stars were blotted out in a wave, leaving only a sliver of moon for illumination. And yet, without starlight, the atmosphere was drastically clearer. Not a cloud remained in the sky, nor anything that might obstruct vision in the slightest. The grounds were wiped out of almost all furnishings. Park benches, monuments, even the roads seemed to simply vanish. All that replaced them was a measure of water, a few inches deep and extending for two miles in all directions.

The water was utterly serene, with nary a ripple or wave to be seen. The air was silent; all the nocturnal chatter of insects and buzzing electronics ceased, as if put to an endless sleep.

As the landscape, so the central building. The library, made of efficient, common materials, peeled away to reveal something much more ornate. Stone and glass gave way to gold, silver, and precious stones. Conventional gray was whitewashed into ivory-white. By degrees, the library was transformed into a temple. palm leaves at its feet, and a line of small pomegranate trees adorned either side of the main pathway leading up to its center door. The change finally finished, and she let down her arm.

The woman walked towards the center, gown trailing in the waters. It seemed as though the reverberations of her feet were the only disturbance the liquid would ever know. The doors opened for her, and she addressed her device.

"If any of you are fit to assist me in my endeavor, join me. But beware: not all are worthy. Only the wise among you may abide with me in this holy place. In two days, I shall either have the answer, or..." she glanced towards the moon, a look of fear disturbing her otherwise calm demeanor for an instant. "The waters will overtake." Gently, she held out her arm, and dropped the communicator into the depths.

As it bobbed up and down before finally sinking, the last thing one sees is her black hair, ascending up the temple steps. She enters, and the door is shut.

Here begins the super-fun High Priestess event. Before we begin, a few facts about the area around the library:

Normal rules of libraries apply: No outside food or drink, no roughhousing, no cell phone use, and absolutely no superpowers. This is a library, not a coliseum you philistines! In addition, the temple itself is impregnable to all methods of entry, except, of course, the puzzles.
The water has no apparent source, it simply ends two miles out. That said, as the two-day duration expires, they will get rougher and wilder. They're at their calmest now.
Despite the duration being two days, the moon hangs perpetually in the sky, and it's always night. It will gradually fill into a full moon, and grow larger as well, whipping the waters into greater and more violent tides.
The atmosphere has a slight calming effect, the most noticeable change being a marked indifference towards the passage of time. In addition, the heavy focus on mental facilities will put to rest most ordinary bodily process. In layman's terms, while here, your characters won't have to eat, sleep, or go to the bathroom.
All employees of the library will be shewed off back into their homes, and unable to return to work for the in-game duration of the event. In the off-chance they were working at midnight, they will simply be warped back to their homes.

Think that about covers it. As for how to participate? Your character must simply approach the doors with a will to enter. Their first puzzle will come to them then. It's probably better to enter as a group, rather than run separate instances. Still, if you don't mind going through even if others have proceeded ahead, that's fine. Just be sure not to read any other comments than your own, if you wish to avoid spoilers or getting answers ahead of time.

Genessia's trial of wisdom is about to begin. The first puzzle will arrive shortly...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"A body part whose number depends on fat can only be a chin, can it not?

To end with the alphabet may mean your name ends the same way, with 'Z'. Which would make the farthest possible your shared vowel, 'A'.

Scarf, serpent, these both resemble the letter they share: 'S'.

I name you brothers: Jachin the first to speak, and Saz the other. I have played your fool game, and now you will let me pass."

"I'm sorry, that is not correct. At least, —", began the light voice.

"He means to say, of course, that you are wrong, and that it would violate the Law to explain the degree of your wrongness."

"My, how troubling it is to not know my own purposes! It's a good thing my brother is here to inform me. Regretfully, his main point stands: we cannot let you pass just yet. Not-so-regretfully, you have but one more guess! Think carefully, or else you might never gain entry."

"...Yes, what a tragedy that would be for all of us."

Edited 2015-05-30 02:46 (UTC)

"I must have gotten close indeed, for you to be so intent on silencing your brother. Perhaps even one of your names was correct. Then it is only a matter of discovering which hint can be interpreted differently."

[Eventually Satsuki arrives, as she said she would, with company in tow. She herself is only carrying her usual sword, and she has Luke in tow- Luke responsible for carrying a daypack with basic essentials inside: Compass, notepad and pen, flashlights (ok they probably won't need that due to Ejava's abilities but whatever), first-aid kit, and rope.

She has to say, though, unlike a certain tower created by a mad clown; this shift in appearance could almost be considered an improvement. Now the question remains how this was all accomplished.]

We're here; I take it there are more than just the three of us?

"Oh dear, watch out brother: This crimson-haired maiden may yet make hosts of us!"

"Yes, her pretensions at intelligence are most convincing."

But wait, what's this? Could it be that one head shall become three?

"Oh look, brother, more of them. These ones know even know how to count."

"And what a useful skill that is! Welcome!" The merry brother went on to reiterate the rules of the place, not yet explaining the riddle. He included a caveat. "If I'm not mistaken, you're here as a group, correct? Wonderful! If you all put your heads together, I'm sure you can assist The Lady. However, I must warn you. Should you share information, your fates are intertwined as far as the temple is concerned, and you'll fail or succeed together."

"You'll also share her lone guess, for she has expended one already. If that looks unfavorable, you may leave and come again when the grounds are less occupied. I would not blame you."

They would repeat the riddle's clues again, should they decide to become a trio. The merry brother added another bit. "It must have been fate that led you all here. I'm sure each one of you has a purpose."

"...Do you perform such stupid intonations to befuddle, or merely condescend to their level?"

"Another riddle! You meditate on that while they meditate on theirs, and we shall all share our epiphanies."

"It would seem not. I've seen no one else until you arrived."

The Priestess's video had been public... it was strange that so few had responded.

"Perhaps others have already made it inside, or been turned away."

Luke has been quiet since their arrival, pondering. Notebook in hand, scribbling away, thinking hard. Carrying the pack of supplies doesn't bother him. And though the disembodied voices are making him uncomfortable, he refuses to allow that to unnerve him. Nor does he let the unspoken warning go unheeded.

On the open page, scribbled, are quite a few notes as he tries to work out the names of the two brothers.

Regardless, he looks up at Satsuki and Ejava, though ultimately his gaze lands on Satsuki, searching for her approval to chime in with more than a quick comment. "I'm not sure...but I have some guesses, so far."

Edited 2015-06-05 23:13 (UTC)

"I suppose we shall find out in time.." Satsuki replies, and of course asks Ejava to brief her on the situation thus far. This is followed by a moment of brief silence, in which her attention shifts to Luke.

If Luke allows, she glances to the notebook, and points to the scarf/serpent note. "I feel it is safe to assume the General got one of the names correct; but something about that part of clue is suspicious. He must have used those specific words for a reason."

General Tepet reiterates her thoughts and conclusions without objection. [OOC: I'm not typing it out again here, just, you know, scroll up and see]

"Indeed, it is the beginning of the second brother's name of which I am least confident. Perhaps the hint does not refer to the shape of the letter."

He is half listening to General Tepet's explanation, still looking over the what he's written down and thinking, when it hits him. "Oh!"

And though Luke is confident in his ability to solve puzzles, and certainly confident in the integrity of his answer, the stakes are high enough that he doesn't immediately blurt out the suggestion. With Satsuki's prior nudging and Tepet's previous conclusions, he thinks maybe he's made the connection.

"I don't think he means the letter. I think he means the type of...the type of snake, or the type of scarf, like a boa. Boa constrictor, like the snake, and the feather boa, like the scarf."

He pauses, running through the logic one more time. "Which means, if everything else is right, then the first brother's name is Jachin, and the second brother's name is Boaz."

Luke glances between the two guardians, a small frown on his face. "Is that it? I don't want to give the wrong answer." He hesitates, adding, "we've already guessed wrong once."

As soon as "Boaz" left the boy's lips, a faint rumbling would reverberate through the air. Before their eyes, the two black-and-white pillars that stood guard at the temple brought forth two men. They were large men, standing at seven feet. Not unusual given the twenty-foot pillars they stepped out of. One was all white, the other all black. They were dressed in priestly robes, yet they did not ruffle or fold like cloth. They were statue-men; bronze, and as such their clothes behaved as such. Their robes came down and covered their feet. Feet which they did not seem to use, lifting up and down to walk. Rather, they seem to glide on smoothest bronze.

But their most striking feature were their shades. Jachin was pure white, and Boaz darkest black.

J: Well done, Luke! Indeed, well done to everyone! I cannot tell you how grateful I am to have fully awoken at last.

B:Nor can I, for the reason that I am not. As usual, brother, you have jumped to the conclusion that suits you. He did not give that as his answer, officially. He may yet have faltered.

J: Oh, what is that? He surely would've. Moving past my brother's stodginess, I am pleased to announce that you have proven yourselves worthy to enter the temple. What's more, the two of us shall be your guides the rest of the way. Oh, I can hardly wait! We have so much to talk about.

B: Speak for yourself. What my cheery brother forgot to mention was that you may enter, but you're still a long ways from speaking to the Lady. Or did you sincerely think one simple riddle would be all it took?

J: Oh, they're first-rate thinkers; I'm sure they thought nothing of the sort.

B: Again with your sureties...

J: Nonetheless, he is right. That was but the first trial; more lie in wait as we plumb the temple's depth. Heights! Heights, I meant. We shall go upward and onward.

B: Yes...if you pass them. Now the stakes are higher. Should you fail the trials ahead, the stakes will grow more severe, as punishment for vanity. Then the depths shall make themselves known.

J: Nothing to worry about for you all, of course! Do not let my brother's foreboding dissuade you. Come, walk, converse, solve, meet! You simply must see the Lady, and lend her your aid. The puzzles to come shall prove but a mere formality; a tickling trifle!

B: They "must" do no such thing. Reconsider, and spare the Lady your subpar intellects.

J: As you can see, my brother and I rarely agree on anything. The choice is up to you, of course. But if you do choose to remain outside, I shall be very, very sad.

B: An appeal to sentiment. You've grown soft in your slumber. I retort: my sorrow will most definitely be increased should you compel us to guide you through trials beyond your ability. But if you insist, another restriction: You must leave behind your weapons, both without and within, before you will be allowed to pass. The only sharp instrument permitted is your wits, though I assume them to be rather blunt. This is a place of learning, not violence.

J: Yes, yes, no cell phones or communicators, no outside food or drink, and so on. Come now, make up your minds. Will you give me the great pleasure of leading you to the Lady?

Edited 2015-06-09 05:07 (UTC)

The sudden response cuts off Satsuki's confirmation toward Luke and once the brothers reveal themselves, the answer makes a semblance of more sense. She's not at the tip-top of her world history but she's pretty certain she gets it.

She watches on, almost incredulously, as the brothers speak with their 'quirks' of sorts. They're certainly brother all right, but she can't help but feel that things are going to get exhausting as time goes on.

Then, finally, the rules. She should have anticipated that, and so her frown draws down further. "General Tepet and I are guardians under oath and sword bearers under heritage. To simply leave our weapons laying about in unfamiliar territory would be inexcusable. Surely we could come to some sort of compromise. A punishment for unsheathing them, for example." Obviously she couldn't know this for certain about Ejava, but hopefully she won't get called out on that. The no communicators rule is also a little tough, but alas. She's already removing her communicator from her hip.

As for 'The Lady'. Well they are indeed going to have much to talk about if it is who she thinks it is.

J: Oh, that won't be a problem. I'll hold on to them for the duration of your stay. You can trust me not to admire them during the slower moments. (he takes the communicator as an example)

B: You don't see a problem, vouching for your own trustworthiness? A lack of objectivity, perhaps?

J: Not really.

Edited 2015-06-14 19:58 (UTC)

"I don't have any weapons."

But, because he does follow instructions, Luke is fishing into his pocket and taking out the communicator. He's so comically smaller than Jachin that it's ridiculous that he'd even attempt to hand the small device him, but that doesn't stop Luke from doing so. "All I have now is a first aid kit and my notebook. And pen."

Because Luke knows when he's outmatched. And, let's be real. If stone pillar guys get angry, they don't need weapons. They could probably step on him with one toe and smush him. He is a realist, after all.

J: Of course you don't; you're a good boy, I can tell.

Jachin took all their things giddily, leaving Ejava's heavy sword to his brother, and smiling as Boaz struggled.

B: So you won't be dissuaded. *sigh* Very well, follow us.

The two brothers opened the doors, and led the way. They glided along a singular hallway, with countless books lining either side of them. Jachin was overjoyed, and tried to start up conversation about anything, so long as it had to do with facts. What were the crowning achievements of their philosophers? What were the cultural differences in their thought? What was their favorite food? No subject was too insignificant for him.

Boaz was content to remain silent, challenging or clarifying a bit, but otherwise leaving Jachin to his chatter. The sounds of water gently lapping could be heard outside, and the lighting was like moonlight, if odd for its constancy.

B: It may come as a surprise to you all that we've journeyed for an hour already. As...absorbing as you all find my brother, this is due instead to The Lady. She has constructed this temple for the express purpose of intellectual search. All other activities that might impede that have come to a halt, including any weariness that comes from the passage of time. And before you ask, no, I do not know how much longer we have to go, largely because that will depend on how long you take.

J: That almost sounded comforting. If you miss eating purely out of comfort, we have a supply of pomegranates on hand. My brother will tell you to eat the flesh, but I think that's just a test. I hope. Anyway, don't. Eat the flesh of the seeds instead.

Besides the look of books, the scenery had remained constant till now, as the path split. Jachin went to the left, Boaz to the right.

B: This is the next trial. Here your wisdom shall be tested in a more abstract sense.

J: Yes, not so much in its application, as its very nature. As it's a trickier subject, this trial has different rules.

To start, my brother and I will both take a different position regarding the question. There are two answers, and we'll represent each, making arguments for both. This is purely to stimulate your own thoughts, if you find it unnecessary, well...

B: Then please don't hesitate to shut us up. The rules are these: each of you must come down on one position or the other. No matter which you choose, you will be able to progress to the next riddle. However, choose wrongly, and a cost will be exacted, though less severe than failure at a riddle. You get one guess. You may vote as you please; unlike the riddles, these intersections allow for disagreement.

J: Please understand, we don't do this to harm. The Lady merely wants to insure that in addition to brainpower, you also have a balanced view on wisdom as a whole. That way she can filter those who are truly wise, and, well...

B: Fools who just so happen to do well at puzzles. [He gives Luke a look] Are you prepared for the dividing question?

J: The question is thus: Is wisdom best attained alone, or by counsel? (walks to the left) I say by counsel!. For starters, that is the reason the Lady allowed others to come in, is it not? And I saw you all solve the first riddle together, as a group. Not to gainsay your abilities, but I think you would not have been able to solve it alone. Thinking is such tricky business; one mistake and you'll botch the whole thing. But if you have another, or more, to check your work, your chances of arriving at the correct solution are much greater!

B: Not surprisingly, I disagree. (walks to the right) I say wisdom is best attained alone. I believe she left the library open for two reasons: as a courtesy, and because it is, after all, a public library. I seriously doubt whether anyone less wise than she could meaningfully contribute, and if they could, they should not need any outside help. You cannot even talk at once without the speech being rendered unintelligible; to think that group thought, with all its dissension and noise, could produce anything worthy is risible. In the end, the answer that was given was given by one mouth, speaking by itself. Need I mention how group study so often dissolves into mere socializing?

J: There you have it. Stand by the brother you most agree with, and we shall take you further.

Edited 2015-06-17 00:32 (UTC)

A thoughtful 'hmn' passes Satsuki's lips but given the question at hand there really isn't much to think about.

She can empathize with Boaz rather strongly. If she had been in Genessia on her own, perhaps she would have been more in agrement with the other brother.

"Both brothers raise points that resonate with me. However.." The Guardian makes her way over toward Jachin. "Even with its faults I feel, for myself, a counsel is superior."

"Even the Empress had advisors. True power comes from the combined talents of many--so do the Immaculates teach, so is this lesson embedded in the very Exaltation of the Dragonblooded, and so was this proven by the overthrow of the Anathema who sought to rule by their own strength alone.

I choose counsel."

The Roseblack, as well, approached Jachin.

Boaz: You feel?

Jachin: Just a slip of the tongue. Come along, and see if you've chosen correctly.

Boaz went his surly way while Jachin guided the rest of them along, gliding with a bit more pluck. They were rejoiced by boaz a minute later.

Jachin: I'm pleased to say that you've chosen correctly! Counsel is, of course, the best way to gain knowledge. Three heads are better than one, as they say. I'm glad you weren't silly enough to be persuaded by my brother. Always remember: just because someone speaks last, doesn't mean they're correct.

On he went for the next two hours. The conversation drifted on towards what kind of subjects they liked best in school, if they went. What areas of study do they wish they could pursue, if they had the time? The meaning of this would become clear when they reached the next room.

Moonlight poured into the room, casting its pale light on the bookshelves that lined the perimeter of the rectangular office they found themselves in. At the center stood five statues, each two feet apart. They were in the shape of women, each with different hairstyles and granite clothing. Behind them lay corridors, each with a different subject chiseled on the back wall: Biology, Math, History, English (or Grammar/language, if you prefer), and psychology. Upon closer inspection, each girl's name could be read on her chest. Alice, Brittany, Carol, Diane, and Eve. Each of the girl statues had embedded into her forehead a dial, which could be twisted to land on the numbers two, four, six, eight, and ten.

B: This is your next puzzle. As is so often the case, the wise must guide the steps of their lessors. Decisions that are impossible can become manageable under the guidance of the prudent.

Prove that you have the ability to do this. Each of these young women know neither their intended course of study, nor how long to spend studying. What you do know, however, is that each girl will occupy a different subject, and a different amount of time studying.

J: In other words, you must find five sets, composed of a girl, a subject, and a time allotted for study, none of which shall repeat. So, for example, Alice and Eve may not both be set to eight hours, nor can they both be put in the same subject.

B: To do this, push the statues into their correct corridors, then wind the timers in their skulls to the proper amount. As before, you have two attempts to get it right. You will have the following hints to guide you...

Edited 2015-06-19 01:44 (UTC)

1. The girl in psychology should study less than Alice
2. Alice must spend either 4 hours a week studying, or study history
3. Diane studies 2 hours less than the girl who studies history
4. The girl who studies psychology needs to study 4 hours more than the girl who studies math
5. Eve should study more than Brittany
6. of Eve and Carol, one should study for 6 hours a week, and another should English
7. Whomever studied biology should study 2 hours more than Carol

Boaz: This should be sufficient to correctly place each of the girls. Let me know if you are ready to submit an answer, or if you need help moving the statues, though personally I don't find them very heavy.

Edited 2015-06-19 01:51 (UTC)

Luke is quick to get to work. Thankfully, as previously noted, he's still carrying his notebook and pencil. He abbreviates the hints as presented, the names, the times and the subjects prescribed, and gets to work. He settles on the ground near Ejava and Satsuki, chewing on his lower lip and he works tediously eliminates the initial incorrect combinations.

It doesn't take him too long before he pops back to his feet. The notebook page is a mess of scribbles by now, but it must make sense to him.

"Um, Miss Kiryuin? Miss...Guardian...General Tepet?" He tilts his head. "I've got the answer, but--um. I know I can't push the statues alone. And I can't reach the clocks."

Regardless, he startles rattling off the solution just the same. "Brittany studies math for 2 hours. Eve studies English for 4 hours. Carol studies psychology for 6 hours. Diane studies biology for 8 hours. And last, Alice studies history for 10 hours."

Once all the statues have been put in their proper positions and had their clocks correctly timed, Jachin clapped his hands.

"Masterfully done, and on your first try too! We'll meet the Lady in no time at this rate."

It would be four hours until their next stop, Jachin trying to fill the time by again talking about anything and everything. Thus far, seven hours had passed since the group first entered the temple. One could hear a sound similar to the ocean as the waves increased in noise. It was still a gentle lapping.

J: And now we come to our next intersection. The question is this: Is a little knowledge a dangerous thing? In the interests of fairness, I'll get the last word this time. If you would, Boaz.

B: Very well. (goes to the right) I agree; incomplete knowledge leads to harm. It is always the greenhorn who talks most, filling a lack of wisdom with many words. That speck of intelligence can give one the confidence to set upon a course of action that a real understanding would circumvent. Few know how dangerous it is to teach, especially in the way of wisdom. If you idly pass on what little you understand, that fraction of knowledge will doom its listeners to folly, said listeners lulled into the false belief that they "know it all", when nothing could be further from the truth.

J: (goes to the left) I disagree; a little knowledge is not a dangerous thing. Is the transmission of knowledge not the very reason this temple was built? Do we put warning labels on all of the books that read: "Warning: make sure you finish the whole thing"? Every bit of wisdom is precious, and should be treasured as such. That would be like scorning your personal plot of land because you did not own the entire country! The idea that only total comprehension is worthwhile is extremism to the...extreme!

B: Make your choice, seekers.

Edited 2015-06-21 12:37 (UTC)

The general heads toward Boaz the moment Jachin finishes speaking. "A quest for knowledge must start somewhere, yet far too many disasters are caused by those who have learned too little to know how little they have truly learned. Knowing just enough to get in trouble breeds the very overconfidence that ensures one will do so."

"It may be that a little knowledge is a necessary step on the way to greater knowledge. It may be that it is well worth the danger. Yet that doesn't mean the danger isn't there."

Satsuki isn't really sure how much of this she can take. She's fine with long journeys, but she couldn't have possibly fathomed that a stroll through a library would take this long. Though.. It has changed in apperances, so there is that.

However in her mind there's no question that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. But that doesn't mean that there are times that she's forced to act upon what little she knows anyway. (And she herself has experienced such backfires). She wordlessly joins Boaz with a frown on her features. Deeper than usual.

Edited 2015-06-23 23:21 (UTC)

Luke is standing in the center of the hall looking, for all intents and purposes, panicked. Despite that, he's clearly thinking about his own opinion on the question presented to them.

On the one hand, he understands Ejava's point--the lack of knowledge can lead one to make poor decisions based on half-truths, and those half-truths can perpetuate themselves quickly to negative outcomes. Fast. On the other, waiting until one knows the whole story could result in missing the opportunity to act.

But what about choosing to act while you have the opportunity based on the knowledge you had then, making the most educated decision they could. For example, they're all in here now--and they don't know the whole story yet, do they?

If Luke had waited until he truly understood the Spectre of Misthallery before he'd contacted the Professor so many years ago, then they'd never had solved the mystery...

Luke crosses his arms before taking a half-step towards Boaz. Then, he stops, frozen.

"I have a question before I decide. Is that allowed?"

When Boaz grumbles his assent, he scuffs his shoes against the ground, looking at his feet. He's pretty sure he would've liked better if Jachin had said he could ask another question more than Boaz, but beggars can't be choosers.

"Do you mean the knowledge being incomplete, all by itself, is dangerous? Or do mean actions taken as a result of that knowledge are dangerous?" He glances up, and then back down to his shoes--Satsuki and Ejava had answered without issue, and here he is making a fuss. "Because that clarification makes a difference."

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couldn't Satsuki just shine bright enough to light everything anyway

Well, Luke likes light becuase man this stuff is scary. Flashlights it is! XD

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herpderp sorry

Oh, you /will/ be

EVERYONE CAN RELAX. I have returned.

Phew, think of all the people I won't have to murder

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1st Intersection: The plurality of wisdom

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Puzzle #2: Micromanagement

Re: Puzzle #2: Micromanagement

Apprentice Puzzle-Solver to the Rescue!

Intersection #2: The completeness of wisdom

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