The Trial of Eternity

**The Trial of Eternity** is a challenge that the Party had to face to retrieve Crescent Strike. It took place in Jugo, in Borderfall Crest, in an immense pagoda that extended to the ceiling of the cave.

The first floor was a ceremonial octogonal room, featuring depictions of all the elven gods and their symbolic attributes (stone slab with designs of tattoos for faces, arms and chest for Rillifane; bird mask and feathery cape for Aerdrie ; shark skin and teeth jewelry and tools for Sashelas ; multicolored tassels and lanterns woven together for Celanil; ribbons and incense burners for Moonbow; crown of stars for Larethia).

Once going up the stairs, the party faced a series of challenges.

### **Trial of Change || Adaptability - Aerdrie**

*"“Embrace inconsistency as the changing sky - find the eternal through your own metamorphosis.”*

The first trial changed the party into small mice with very little of their original abilities. Together, they had to work around a locked door without waking up common people and a cat - much bigger threats at this size.

### **Trial of Survival || Concession - Sashelas**

*“What you swallow can swallow you - find the eternal through taking and giving.”*

The second trial teleported the party onto a small stone island in the middle of a stormy sea, with a burning campfire and wooden sticks. The party caught a fish, ate it, and had then to jump into the mouth of an enormous shark to find the door at the the end of its jaws.

### **Trial of Foresight || Anticipation - Rillifane**

*“Through the wrath of nature, do as the exalted farmer - find the eternal in preparation of the next season.”*

This trial threw the party in a luscious forest, with a clay pot and a luminous orb. The party magically influenced the orb to shift season to season, their harshness falling onto the party as lava split the ground, rain soaked them to the bone, and blizzard froze them. In hushed attempts, they eventually managed to make their way through.

### **Trial of Community || Solidarity - Celanil**

*"The selfish mourn what they lack, too alone to see what they have in abundance - find the eternal in what is created through giving."*

In this trial, the party had to protect the light of a torch through harsh winds and rain that allowed them to walk through walls and bridges. Once they made their way through, they ended up in an empty village where they played music and lit a campfire until they were interrupted by Anura Cunningker, making her way through as well.

It was soon realized that Anura was coming from the past, from 498 AE, when she was trying to complete the trial on her own. They had a deep, heavy conversation (to know more, check the page of Anura Cunningker), until they parted ways. She left in a door invisible to the party, while the party left collectively pushing the door. Anura gifted Ma'al with a Tiny Hut spell from her spellbook.

### **Trial of Rememberance || Genuineness - Moonbow**

*"Allowed to part, nothing truly leaves - find the eternal in honoring what has never left."*

Walking onto an empty lake, the party made their way to a fountain. By remembering the people they left behind with genuineness, a way opened to the next trial.

### **Trial of Challenge || Prowess - Larethia**

*"Prove your worth and rise to the challenge - the eternal can be only accessed by prowess."*

In a small corridor-like room, the party first saw the crystal bones of a strange dragon's remains. However, their attention was fully taken by the foe making its way towards the party. What seemed to be King Darman of the Fire Genasis' remains attacked the party, using Burning Fervor in a difficult fight, flying left and right to strike the party. The final blow, struck by Pyra, transferred the right of ownership of the divine weapon to her; allowing the King to finally crumble into ashes.

### **Last Trial || Willpower**

*"The light of stars long gone shows the path of the future - stand their burning light and grasp the eternal.”*

In this last room, the party faced three guardians of Larethia, Celanil and Moonbow. In a tough complicated fight where an aspect of Rillifane walked the battlefield while winds of Aerdrie deafened the party and sharks of Sashelas trying to drown the party.

The fight was harduous, with great blows being struck by every member of this fight. The party had to face strong setbacks as Larethia's powers could deny magical abilities and prevent them from moving; Moonbow's influence could help them become invisible and teleport while preventing healing and the attempts of the party to become invisibile, while Celanil could provide mass healing and receive blows to protect the other guardians.

Eventually, the guardians went down one after the other, allowing Teeth to pick up Crescent Strike at last.