The Masked Merchant stood silent, waiting. A black, egg-shaped crystal in his hands gave off a low and ominous hum, swathes of smoky shadow, and occasional whispers.

At last, Master Vargas paced up alongside him, dropping to his haunches with a grunt. "Hag-rteho," he greeted, tilting his head to eye him sidelong.

The Merchant responded in his guttural, almost choking whispers. "You have asked... Master Vargas..." and here his own strange masked face turned far too far to one side to regard the ex-Overseer, "for a Trial... to be prepared." Vargas suppressed the urge to interrupt, to blurt that of course he knew this, he himself had asked. He waited, instead, though his tail twitched with impatience. "...You have given me... the details."

Silence.

"...And have you found something?" Vargas pressed, after a long moment.

The masked tilted farther. "You will not... like it." The crystal was lifted, presented to the Master.

Vargas' six toxic eyes widened. "That? You want to release that? Here?" The Master recoiled, eyeing the crystal uncertainly. This was a risk-...

"It has not fed... in too long. If it is... left much longer... it will emerge... on its own. It is best... to let it feed... controlled... Master Vargas. And a trial..."

Vargas grimaced. "And a trial means its kills will at least serve a purpose," he finished, with obvious reluctance in his tone. "Very well. Be sure to secure Hydra in advance--we cannot risk that thing breaking free. I will gather my creatures, and have them send out word of a trial to come. Ahh--and those chrysalises you'd prepared--get them ready, if you would."

The Masked Merchant turned away, facing into Hydra, and Vargas--receiving no response--hesitated, after a moment, and then simply pushed up and left.

This thread is to announce the next upcoming Trial of Hydra. You may post your sign-up using the form below. Though its details are, as yet, secret, the following information is available.

- This will be the third Trial of Hydra. This involves Gembound entering Hydra for an Event that will prove quite dangerous.
- Rounds will each only be 3 days, so please do not enter if you cannot post in time.
- Many Gembound will die. Death will be everywhere.
- Rewards will be suitably high, including a choice of pre-chosen mutations and one particularly rare item.
- Players may enter up to three characters apiece. Each surviving character may receive full rewards, and the magicka claim for this thread may be made for even characters who die, with no minimum post count requirement.
- Those members who do not have a character old enough, or one they'd like to risk, may adopt a premade Gembound. If they adopt one, they may only enter the adopted character; adopted characters must be entered in the Trial and cannot be roleplayed beforehand.

Adoption
These Gembound will start as adults, but Fledglings; they will hatch at the start of the Trial (and therefore cannot be roleplayed in advance). However, members may send them unlimited magicka to prepare them in terms of spells and abilities. Details on the characters' species, appearance and basic framework of their personality will be sent in advance, and the players may then create the account for their character.

Please check in advance to ensure that no one has already claimed the stone you want.

Entry Form:

Code:

<b>Player's OOC Name:</b>
<b>Characters Entering:</b>
<b>If adopting instead, which stone?</b>

Available Stones:

The stones are all claimed! If you'd still like to adopt, let a GM know and we'll make a new one for you.

Smoky Quartz
Citrine
Vanadinite
Hiddenite
Chrysoberyl
Epidote
Analcime
Chrysocolla
Morganite
Papagoite

Edit: read more about the Trial and its rules and rewards here.

Player's OOC Name: Arthur
Characters Entering: N/A
If adopting instead, which stone? citrine

Player's OOC Name: Snail
Characters Entering: N/A
If adopting instead, which stone? Papagoite

Player's OOC Name: Mair
Characters Entering: N/A
If adopting instead, which stone? Chrysocolla

Player's OOC Name: Chishio
Characters Entering: @Rainstorm
If adopting instead, which stone? N/A

Player's OOC Name: YspobDon
Characters Entering: N/A (stay away from my kids)
If adopting instead, which stone? Epidote

Player's OOC Name: Lizz
Characters Entering: N/A
If adopting instead, which stone? Smoky Quartz

Player's OOC Name: Blackbird
Characters Entering: @Styx @Mayngo @Hera
If adopting instead, which stone? n/a

Player's OOC Name: Charlie
Characters Entering: N/A
If adopting instead, which stone? Morganite

Player's OOC Name: SilverWinter
Characters Entering: N/A
If adopting instead, which stone? Vanadinite