Herbs and potions (mad emperor)

[Nahashsan]

After bouncing around in silence for hours, the voices seemed oddly loud outside. "Quite the lively bunch we have" she remarked.

She strained her ears to try and hear the conversation at the door. The stairs took her by surprise and she stumbled before catching herself on the wall.

She blinked, even the dim light seemed bright after so long in the dark. The strange four armed statue wasthe first thing she noticed as her eyes adjusted. " who is she" she asked in a near whisper". Something about the room made her hesitant to speak up.

[MadEmperor]

"Zodia. An ancient goddess some believe first taught magic to mortal kin. We use her symbolically, not as an idol. Though some of us have come to believe," he explained. He put his hand in the creature's mouth and flinched slightly. As he withdrew his hand, some mechanism clanked to life, and the floor began to slide down.

Sucking the drop of blood from one fingertip, he said, "Just a small test of the blood to safeguard this location from the uninvited."

[Nahashsan]

"Zodia, interesting. I mainly pray to Kishra, a local healing deity not that I'm very devout but a lot of patients find it comforting when you pray over them." She said as she watch the Volke place his hand in the open mouth. "You are really serious about the secret part of secret society, it's impressive." She remark as the floor dropped before her.

[MadEmperor]

"Thank you." He nodded as they continued to sink. "We are not yet ready to share our collected knowledge with the world. Nor is this superstitious world, ruled by petty men whose primary qualification is who sired them, ready to receive it. As such, precautions must be taken."

[Nahashsan]

Pearl nodded in agreement, knowledge could be dangerous. Men had a tendency to fear what they didn't understand. Just look at Connlaoth to see what fear of Knowledge looked like.

[MadEmperor]

The platform stopped at a short, decently lit corridor. As he led them down the hall, he motioned to the glowing crystals ensconced along the walls. "A curious mineral found deep in the Terrin Mountains. Provide them with comparatively little magic, and they stay lit for hours or even days."

"One day, we may even be able to make them last nearly indefinitely."

[Nahashsan]

As the platform shuttered to a stop a corridor lit by magic crystals stood before them. As Volke explained the crystals origins and magic properties Pearl approached one to examine it closer.  The light was a curious thing, bright as a lantern but producing no heat.

[MadEmperor]

Bastian opened the door ahead, and the group entered a small, square room. In the center was a raised platform with a large magic circle etched into the floor. Volke stepped up onto it to show it wasn't some elaborate trap.

"The last security measure is this teleportation circle that only members can activate. We keep the true location of our meeting place secret from all but the senior members, the grandmagi such as myself."

[Nahashsan]

Pearl eyed the magic circle in the center of the room with some distrust. She had never liked them, they made her feel funny.

[MadEmperor]

"Are you having second thoughts?" Volke asked with interest. "I assure you, I wouldn't be using them to get around if they weren't safe."

[Nahashsan]

"No no, I'm quite okay. I was just thinking that last magic circle I used left me feeling all tingly and the feeling last two whole days. Granted that was years ago and a different design."

She looked around before focusing on Volke "well no time like the present, do lead on".

[MadEmperor]

Once all present were inside the circle, Volke cleared his throat. He chanted a spell aloud as he brought out a knife. He made a shallow cut on his palm and squeezed a few drops onto the circle. The circle glowed a bright white, quickly becoming brighter until all was white.

The light faded, and they were in a slightly curved room with a doorway on the wall with the shorter curve. There was a mural on the opposite wall depicting an aerial view of the region they had left from.

"Welcome back, Grandmagus Volke," a masked figure in a white robe said with a bow, waiting by the door.

[Nahashsan]

Following Volke's lead Pearl stepped into the center of the magic circle. She didn't recognize the language that was chanting which wasn't surprising since she mainly spoke common. She flinched when Volke cut his palm, so much blood magic used in this place.

Pearl stepped forward to study the mural. It was not a perspective she was used to seeing.

[MadEmperor]

"One of our oldest members is a dragon," Volke explained with a smile. "Fantastic artist, isn't she? It's like you're there with her, high above the world."

[Nahashsan]

"Yes she is a great artist. I can't say that I've ever meet a dragon in person" Pearl replied turning to Volke. "What's her name, I would like to meet her after I become a member".

[MadEmperor]

"Apologies. I cannot divulge the names of Society members to the uninitiated." He gave her a look that implored her to be patient. "It wouldn't be safe for anyone involved. Knowing my name is risk enough. You understand, I hope."

[Nahashsan]

"Of course of course, I should have known better than ask such a silly question. We are talking about a secret society here." With one final look back at the moral she rejoined the group. "Shall we get on to the test"

[MadEmperor]

The masked figure escorted them out into a curving hall with rooms along the outer edge, each labeled with a destination. They led the group to a hall leading deeper into the circle and followed that to a curving staircase going down.

"It won't be much further," Volke assured.

[Nahashsan]

Pearl followed the masked figures lead and made her way down the curved hallway. As they went by she made note of the different entrances along the way.

[MadEmperor]

They were escorted to a large tribunal chamber. Three masked members were already seated on the judicial bench. One of them was in a much more ornate robe than the others. Several other robed members were seated around the perimeter.

Volke led Pearl to a large desk in the center of the room, but didn't direct her to sit just yet. He stepped forward to a address those gathered. "Fellow Antiquarians, magus and grandmagus alike, I thank you for gathering today to judge the worthiness of candidate Shimmering Pearl."

He stepped back and motioned her forward, whispering, "Just answer honestly and do what it asked. You'll do fine."