The Arena

[jericho]

A message posted on the message board in the tavern read:

WANTED:
A team of two mercenaries to protect a very important figure
Will pay generously
Battle experience is a plus!
Meet on the road heading west out of Wistvale
~L

There is nothing else marking the piece of paper, no tears or stains.

A man in a black hooded cloak, the shadow of the hood shrouding his face, waited by a cart and a mule, waiting for the two adventurers.

[Legault]

Simeon noticed the message board and decided to stop by and read for any interesting postings--actually, he came to this part of town for the sole purpose of visiting the message board. He had attempted to make it look like he simple decided to stop on a whim, but most observant people would not have been fooled.

He needed money. That was now an essential part of his life. Without a regular job he was very limited on legitimate sources of income. This message board would determine the nature of his meals in the coming week.

He muttered things to himself as he glanced over some of the postings, "Come by... goods--no, I don't want to work cramped in a dusty shop all day. ...Professor... Common... Not Dangerous Nature... Daughter--no, I don't want to be an errand boy. I'll leave the grocery shopping job for some young kid to take. WANTED:...protect a very...pay generously..."

Simeon considered the posting for a while and reread it for confirmation. This job should suit me well. I've never fought in open warfare but I helped defend the monastery from goblins and thieves for years.

He begins to walk toward Wistvale's westward road.

[John Harding]

Jonah approached the cloaked man, having read the sign earlier. He was new in town and lacked any form of currency, so this was going to be the Akaiyan's opportunity to make a little money, and perhaps meet a few more of the locals.

You must be "L"?

Jonah smiled in his naturally friendly manner and extended a hand in greeting.

[jericho]

The man in the hood shook his head no as Simeon came into view of the cart. He motioned for the two to climb onto the cart and they would get going.

I am not the one called L, that is my master, whom you will be protecting.The man said in a raspy voice. He must be either very old or very sick. He sat down in the front of the cart and grabbed hold of the reigns with gloved hands, waiting for the two to climb into the back.If you would so kindly climb up we shall begin our journey.

[Legault]

Simeon pulled himself into the cart. The driver didn't seem like the kind of man who would want any healing... but it was obvious he could use some. Simeon was glad to discover that the man spoke with manners that defied his appearance.

He asked a question openly to both men, "So, what are your names? My name is Simeon."

[John Harding]

Jonah sprang onto the cart, full of enthusiasm for the task ahead.

Good to meet you, Simeon. I'm Jonah.

He extended a hand to his new travelling partner.

[jericho]

As Jonah extended his hand, the Hooded man, lets call him Frank, snapped the reigns and the mule pulled the cart. Frank grumbled something about his master and the stables, but neither of the mercs could hear him well enough to decipher it. The journey did not take long, but the road that they turned onto off the western path led directly to the bottom of a stone cliff. There is no way to climb the cliff, it is completely smooth, unnaturally smooth. Frank sat there, waiting for the mercs to figure out what was going on.

[John Harding]

Jonah looked up at the stone cliff, totally perplexed. He could climb a tree no problem, but that cliff was going to be near impossible without the right equipment.

What's going on?

[Legault]

Simeon was also confused.

"Is his where we are supposed to meet your master? I assumed he'd be waiting in a fortified location."

[jericho]

My master does not wish his guards to be incompetent, so he has devised a task for you. If you can open the door, then you shall be shown to his chamber. Frank got down from his seat on the cart and put his hand on the wall. The wall glowed faintly where he touched it, but only very slightly. A triangle space in the wall appeared where his hand had been, but faded within seconds.

This door is both simple, yet difficult, for if stone is the key, then water is the reveal. To their right was a small pile of stones, none larger than two finger widths, and to their right was a puddle of muddy water.

[Legault]

Simeon believed he understood the man's riddle--or at least, he understood what they had to do.

He wanted to test something for himself first. He walked up to the wall and placed his hand on it for a moment. After he saw what happened, he slid his hand along the wall a short ways. He looked closely to see what appeared or occurred.

[jericho]

Simeons hand making the wall glow faintly when he just holds it there, but when he moves his hand across the wall nothing happens.

[John Harding]

"...if stone is the key..."

Jonah picked up one of the stones and tossed it into the air as he pondered the puzzle. He walked back and forth, taking in the smooth wall.

"...then water is the reveal."

Jonah rubbed the stone in his left hand, thoughtfully, and decided to see if he could see the wall reflected in the puddle.

[jericho]

The stone Jonah picked up was just an ordinary stone, no marking or anything. When he looked to see if the wall was reflected in the puddle, it was, but what Jonah saw he would not like. It was... duh duh duh DAAAAAAAA... a blank wall. Perhaps the water must be used in some other way.

[Legault]

((Please correct me if I'm understanding incorrectly...))

Simeon furrowed his brow. "That's strange, I expected the light to follow wherever my hand went, but sliding my hand along the wall did nothing. I thought the wall was simply touch sensitive and that the light would continue to follow under my hand, wherever I touched..."

His voice drifted off...

Then, after pondering for a while, he said, "I'm still going to try my original idea." He walked over to the water and wet one of his hands (his right hand if the puddle is to the right.) He then went back towards the wall and placed his hand on it. Smoothly he wiped his hand across a small portion of the wall--going from the right to the left. When he had gone a couple feet he slide his hand down one length and went back across the other way. He went back and forth on that small area a total of four times--creating a small rectangle of moisture on the magical stone wall.