~~ Outside of the Shrine ~~ @Jorimel | @Maleth | @Colapse | @Nurianis | @Vlayden Wiping some sweat off his forehead from the training, Andurith turned to the rest of the group. "Seems like the Exarch wishes to test our skills. The question is... Will we be approaching this together, or as individuals?" The young Scorpion mused curiously, rubbing his chin as he looked at the Shrine, analyzing it with his eyes before acting. Thinking before acting. Was it going to be hidden in plain sight? Or was it going to be hidden in pure darkness, within the shadows where their eyes could not see? Or even worse, hidden panels and such that they risked harming the shrine's integrity in their search for seeking out destructible parts. He closed his eyes and tried to remember any significant words or phrases from the Exarch ever since he joined the shrine that could help them in this situation.
A few moments of thought passed, before Vailaniel responded - not very loudly - with, "I'd think together would be preferable, at the time being. Until we all can truly work on our own. Though if anyone would prefer we do it without each other's aid, I won't argue." Her eyes soon went to scanning the Shrine, taking a second to ponder - her time within the Path of Awakening may be a bit useful for once, after all.
Valerian's first instinct was to stay back and let others find the proper way inside, however when he thought more about it, it was clear to him that this was some sort of a test for each of them to pass. Remaining silent, he started pacing around the Shrine, but he didn't move aimlessly. Instead, he tried to remain in the shadows and creep through them, as if he was on some distant battlefield. Of course, his skills at subterfuge and stealth were not great, but he worked as hard as he could to remain unseen and unheard as he looked for a way in, believing that the hidden entrance lied somewhere in the dark...
"Indeed, it would be better to approach the task together..." Ariska said, trailing off as one of their number broke off, presumably to start finding the entrance to the Shrine. With the runes that had apearence making mention of tunnels, she was of the opinion that the path to get inside the Shrine was likely to lead underground. So she started to move around so that she coud search along the ground, hoping to find the entrance to get within the Shrine in the darker areas outside of the place, hidden in the ground.
Ladornarr nodded as the others spoke, he agreed with Vailaneil, working as a shrine was preferable for him. He turned to the group as he watched the Ariska and Valerian stalk away. Speaking so that his words would travel across the distance between the group and Ariska and Valerian, while not trying not to rude or to intrude on their thoughts he said. ‘I think it would be sensible to tackle this challenge as a shrine, not as individuals.’ He said as he watched his shrine-mates start to walk off searching for entrances. ‘We fight as a shrine, why should we face our challenges and their dangers alone then?’ Unsure if he had been heard but unwilling to force the issue Ladornarr turned to the runes on the door. He walked towards the shrines entrance, carefully removing his glove from his right hand he ran his un-gloved hand over the runes, tracing their lines in the hopes that understanding would flow into his mind by simply touching them. He knew that the craftworld and everything inside it was built of wraithbone, a psychic material, and he wondered if Sairan had left any further clues in the form of psychic messages or emotions. He looked up towards the hand and foot holds on the wall and thought for a moment. Scorpions were supposed to get into the position to strike by whatever means, but climbing the wall seemed unnecessary, and besides, the runes spoke of tunnels so he ruled out climbing into the shrine. Gazing into the shadows, and there were many of them by this shrine, he wondered if staying in the shadows and becoming one with them would reveal the answers…
Linaya nodded to Vailaniel and spoke in quick, silent handsign. "We should move as a Shrine, and seek the shadows first." She spoke softly to carry her voice to Valerian. "We will join you, brother." She didn't speak so as to order the others - her language carried the subtle inflection that this was her opinion and a polite emphasis. Moving with sure grace to the deeper darkness next to the door, she watched Ladornarr read and take stock of the situation. Linaya used the gesture for seek cover that the Craftworld-kin trained their Guardians to use, hoping that they would all have that in common even though some were new to the Aspects. "I have followed this exercise three times," she said, "and on the second occasion the route was different - I could not find the same shadowed way a second time, but on the third it was there. I do not know if this is a pattern; the sample is too small yet. But in all cases I started up high." "Our enemies are often confined to the ground in battle - slow Humans, lumbering Orks. All races have their skills but height is to our advantage if we use it fully. Let us start high and if the situation warrants it, we can creep in low." Linaya did not feel at ease teaching the squad, and in truth was just hoping that no-one felt that she was overstepping her mark, but she had some experience and it seemed right to share it. "Keep low. Keep flat. Where you cross an open field, do so as swiftly as you can. Be alert. Seek cover and if the time comes, strike without hesitation. That is what the Scorpion does, and so must we." Her green eyes were wide but she nodded with determination as she moved to the far side of the door and began to ascend. "Up here there are several turns, but there is a place where we can speak without being in the open. That would be our first priority, I think, so that we can choose targets without becoming them ourselves."
"Standing in front of the heavy weapons will bring surely doom, whereas flanking them will earn the fruit of victory." Andurith chimed in to Linaya's words, agreeing - just with a quite different example. "There might be places we can only reach by boosting one another." The young man with helmet attached to his waist walked up to where the most experienced warrior started her climbing, just working off her experience and started to follow. There was wisdom to her words, but they all worked together and he was fairly certain that the Exarch anticipated them to work together, which may be turned against them, or perhaps in order to figure out that an every puzzle requires multiple pieces finding their place in the correct socket. Surely it was no coincidence that this exercise is performed on a day where two new claws joined them?
Ladornarr instantly realised how foolish he had been when he saw Linaya’s hand gesture. This was a war simulation, not a casual walk in the park. Silently chastising himself for his rash actions he touched the small rune that was carved into the inside of his armour's left forearm. The rune was of the Shadowed Blade Shrine, and he remembered adding the rune to his armour himself after his first battle amongst the warriors of this shrine. The physical reminder of his situation was enough to cause a sudden change in Ladornarr, an unobservant Mon-keigh would say that it was as if a new person had switched place with Ladornarr, but any of the Eldar would notice the similarities in his actions. His movements now held a natural precision and were more focused, and with deadly intent, rather than his previously jovial and light-hearted movements. Ladornarr hadn't put his war mask on, for to do such things in an exercise like this was unusual, but he had focused him mind on the task at hand and brought his training to the fore of his mind. Flowing like smoke Ladornarr crouched down, as he did he slightly swaying to one side, turning the movement into a short burst of speed in the opposite direction he moved towards the shadows as if he was actually in the sights of heavy weapons fire. Sinuously moving to the bottom of the handholds, where his shrine-mates had begun their climb, Ladornarr followed, knowing that to support each other was life in any situation.
The Eldar looked about for a moment and took in the sights - her time within the Path of Awakening allowing her to notice even the smallest of details. Of course, even here Vailaniel didn't see anything of interest yet, merely deciding to lunge to 'safety' and out of sight, in the theoretical setting of being within a combat scenario. Once out of general sight she made her way climbing atop the Shrine alongside Ladornarr. From there she continued to look around in an attempt to find anything of interest. Aside from seeing some distant civilians she saw nothing, instead looking around to find her fellow Scorpions and do her best to stay within a group. Her motions were smooth and almost artistic in a sense, though to a fellow Eldar they could see her straining the slightest bit too much with some motions. To inferior races though, she certainly was as agile as her race was claimed to be, as were they all.
< @Colapse > Valerian, as one of the new warriors, would have the hardest time finding an entrance, especially working alone. And so it was that he reached the end of the shadowed area of the shrine without finding anything. But if it was that there was none or that he had missed any that were there was unclear. < @Maleth > Ariska, herself rather new, would not have very much more luck than the newcomer. However, her foot would brush against a vine on the ground that seemed too solid, and would seem similar to rope to the touch. If she tugged it, it would seem solidly stuck to the ground. < @Uriel1339 @Vlayden @Jorimel @Nurianis > [ Flashback @Uriel1339 ] Exarch Sairan walked up to the new Scorpion, war-mask gazing down at him as his armor unlocked from the virtual death-shot, allowing him to move once again. "You came in obvious." the exarch growled, stepping away. "The enemy does not watch where he feels safe. Even the strongest fortress has areas left unguarded, dubbed 'safe'. To find such areas, one must know their enemy. One must know when they feel safe." [ Runes @Nurianis ] The runes would seem to give little of use. He would feel traces of Mon'Kiegh minds, those of the guardsman. There were most obviously no humans on the Craftworld, so why would he feel their essence? [Feel free to converse and decide a plan. Make sure to tag me when you have decided, just in case]
