3334/I Have Spoken, and I Shall Speak No More

I Have Spoken, and I Shall Speak No More
Date of Scene:	12 September 2020
Location:	The Cave of the Oracle, Themyscira
Synopsis:	Queen Hippolyta takes Diana, Kate and Cassie to consult with the Oracle of Themyscira. Strange words are spoken and the meaning is as obscure as any Oracle might wish, but one thing is clear: the missing Titans are alive.
Cast of Characters:	Cassie Sandsmark, Diana Prince, Kate Bishop, Hippolyta, Donna Troy

---

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Its been a rough couple of days, and Cassie's at the verge of breakdown.

If she could, she'd have gone directly for the island the moment after leaving Carol Danvers, aka bringer of bad news, at the tower. But a heroic life is complicated. She'd promised Tim help with a job. Also, she's not really sure about making that flight under her own power, it was theoretically doable but nothing she'd ever tried. So, Diana gets a weird text (does Diana know how to text?!) sometime earlier in that afternoon: Gas up the jet. Does the Invisible Plane even use gas? Who knows.

Kate gets a text too: meet me at the camp!

Cassie shows up at the encampent a few hours later. She looks frayed. Realistically, she's on the verge of tears and has been for a while, but adrenaline is kind of keeping her angry, keeping her in motion, keeping her busy with anything else instead. This mission is a bit of an extension of that, as much self-defense mechanism as it is the only way she knows how to help her missing sister.

She arrives with a backpack slung over her shoulder, like she's packed to be gone a couple days. Of course, it's at this point that Diana has an opportunity to demand an explanation: why the jet? Why back to Themyscira?

Which is when she finally explains her plan. "I remember when I was meeting everyone, when I was introduced to Menalippe, people treated her really special- she was some kind of oracle right? Like the one from the myths. I'm going to ask her what happened to Donna. If she's- where she went, since none of the people you contacteds eemed to be able to help find her." More shade on the Justice League and Avengers!

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana is quite technologically proficient, thank you very much! She's been on the cutting edge of technology since cars were barely even a thing! So the text message is well received and the Jet is prepared for Cassie's arrival. And no, this one doesn't use fuel.

After take off, Diana was stepping out of the control cabin, leaving the other Amazon with them to tend to the craft's controls. Adrastea.

"Cassie?" Diana had questioned as she'd approached. It didn't take much coaxing to get the story out of the young sidekick to Wondrous Woman, and when it did Diana just showed a brief look of thought, as she processed it all.

"Mena is an interesting member of our society." Was Diana's initial response to the woman known as Oracle. "She will see us, of course, and she will give you answers, Cassie." There's a small pause then as Diana stands, adorned in a dark navy blue robe over her armor.

"You... may not /like/ her answers though." She raises a hand up to touch Cassie's shoulder. "I would ask that you prepare yourself for that, the possibility that the answers you receive may very well be ... not what you expected them to be."

There's another small pause then and Diana lowers her hand once more to her side. "It won't be long for us to arrive."

Kate Bishop has posed:
Kate Bishop, aka Hawkeye, aka the Hawkvenger is not the bearer of bad news. She is the good friend and rock trying to keep the Titans from flying apart at the seams as they grapple with bad news and disaster.

She also had given Cassie the assigment to go meet with the Oracles as one of the sub-bullets under Magic Solutions. Which honestly wasn't her specialty but if TV and the Percy Jackson novels had taught her anything was at least possible if dangerous.

She was considering asking Cassie about the whole trip to see the Oracles and coming. Even in light of the information Captain Marvel, aka the bearer of Bad Tidings had given to the team. Still she hadn't yet and the text caught her by surprise. Well half surprise.

She grabbed her kit and backed a bag before getting on her bike and comes riding up to the camp, angling this time for Diana's tent and slipping onto the Invisible Jet quietly. Stuff stowed by one of the seats.

She keeps quiet while Diana and Cassie talk about Oracles, for now, fiddling with her bow.

This is not how she wanted to visit Themyscira at all.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"They can't be any worse than the answers I've already gotten," Cassie offers back, with a grim sort of determination. It -is- pretty hard to beat 'they were reduced to constitutient sub-nuclear particles' as bad answers go. "So what've I got to lose?"

Beyond that, there isn't a lot of conversation on the flight. Unlike the first time she took it, when she was overwhelmed with both fascination at the strange vehicle and anticipation for their destination. Now she treats the wonderous vehicle like a commuter flight, going back to a seat and curling up in it, still unwilling to quite surrender to the emotional weight of everything, but clearly affected by it. Even with Kate there, where they should have so much to talk about, about her getting a chance to visit... there's not a lot to say, except the basics. "I don't know how this works exactly, but you were there. So maybe that... I don't know, she'll be able to tell you more."

When they finally set down on the large plateau designated for this function, she grabs her bag and hauls it up onto her shoulder. "C'mon, paradise awaits."

Of course, there's no quiet coming and going for Diana, Princess of Themyscira. No one may have asked Cassie here, but Diana's arrival, or even just her plane's arrival, has already summoned an appropriate royal reception. And yet, it's Cassie who shoves ahead and storms down the gangway, making her reasoning clear. "I'm going to see the Oracle."

Kate Bishop has posed:
Kate understands that, she will ask Diana some questions about the Invisible Jet and also if there are any protocols or other things she should observe or do while they are on the Island.

She clearly does not want to mess up her first visit to Themyscira, probably because she wants to come back if it is awesome. For the rest of the flight though she just works her kit, makes sure everythign is very clean and shiny, and then settles back with her earbuds in listening to some peaceful music.

She doesn't really have SCIENCE or other Titan work to do .. her school work is tucked away thoguh so at one point she does all that because it may be the weekend but school is Monday unless she calls out sick.

Life is strange.

Diana Prince has posed:
It has been a challenging week, not easy for anyone to hold themselves together when so many of their loved ones were in a precarious condition of ... simply not knowing their fates.

Diana was happy to answer questions for Kate throughout the ride. The invisible jet was the second generation of jet, the original being a man-made jet fighter that was invisible by technology created by Howard Stark. This generation of jet... was an alien morphing disc, that had been given as a gift to Diana. They were literally flying around in an alien 'egg' that was bound to Diana, and took the shape of what she willed it to be.

In this form, the Jet is not that different from the X-Men's blackbird, or the Avengers Quinjet. Only it's pure cloud-hued in color, and the interior of the jet is quite visible. Soft and pleasingly shaped edges to everything within it's seating area. The cockpit of the jet is similar, though the controls are all done through holographic displays that the pilot(s) can easily control the gravitational field around the Jet, which means it moves outside the laws of standard Earth physics, thusly it flies smooth as ice.

When they arrive, Diana lets Cassie go first, she gives the young woman space. She looks to Kate there-after and smiles softly to her. "Are you ready?" She asks, offering to escort her out of the Jet. They summarily greeted by members of the Queen's Royal Guard, a long line of warrior wome, some of whom hold flowing colorful flags by their long wooden poles. The flags whip in the wind, and give way to the stairs that lead down from the platform that the Jet lands on.

Down, right into the heart of Themyscira City, sprawling and filled with Ancient Greek architecture that makes it feel as though you're stepping back in time, or into a fantasy world.

Beyond the city are the rolling grassy plains, a forest to the west and the sparkling blue water oceans to the east, a white sandy shoreline visibly slicing it's way between the island and the ocean's lapping waves.

They are greeted by members of the Royal Guard who are eagerly happy to meet Kate, and equally eager to ask about Cassie as she'd rushed past them.

Kate Bishop has posed:
Kate absorbs the information from Diana, not taking notes physically, just mentally.

When asked if she is ready she nods and heads out to the greeting. She was not quite expecting the greeting from the royal guard but it is a good way to take her mind of the grimdark nature of the visit. She is smiles and returns the greetings.

She is kitted out like a warrior, full outfit with her armor, sword, bow, quivver, and staves at this point. She also walks like a fighter really.

Hippolyta has posed:
Surprisingly, it is Hippolyta herself who comes to greet the band of travelers. In recent visits, it was Diana and her friends who would go to the queen. It says something about the unique circumstances of the situation that Hippolyta approaches them with her entourage before they reach the palace.

A woman right out of the detphs of legends herself- if Diana was touched by the blessings of the gods and was a modern hero, it was Hippolyta herself in the young ages of the world who fought, and bested, many of the 'heroes' of the ancient world. The word, then, held a significantly different meaning than it does now. One of the changes that Hippolyta admits have been for the best in Man's World.

Cassandra and DIana are welcomed warmly, but with an undercurrent of gravity and urgency. "There is no need to inform me of your purpose, Cassandra, for I am aware of it." Hippolyta's famous source, upon which she could gaze and know the rumblings of the world of men. She also greets Kate, thanking her once again for being the one to bear the burden of her message and alert the Amazons of their loss. "I only wish that your first time in seeing Themyscira were under better circumstances. But we must do as the Fates ordain."

"If you are ready, we shall proceed to the consultation."

There is a tension in Hippolyta's stance, but it's not reflected in her treatment of her guests. Once or twice her eyes linger on Kates's bow, a glimmer there showing that she recognizes the material, but the gravity of the situation requires that certain things be discussed later.

The procession to the Oracle leads up a winding, solitary path that leads to a temple built into the side of a mountain, where the breeze grows sharp and the whispering of grass swaying in the breeze sometimes sounds like half-heard voices.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Menalippe, the high priestess of Themyscira, awaits the group at the temple pronaos, within the collonaded tetrastyle portico that fronts a cavern entrance. The four columns each bear an inscribed plaque as part of the capitals - on each is a message written in Themysciran Greek - 'know yourself', 'respect forethought', 'certainty brings ruin' and on the fourth, just the two letters phi and theta. Behind her stands a priestess of the oracle, in a long white robe, with a purple veil bound around her eyes, holding a flaming torch and resting a hand on Menalippe's shoulder.

    The procession hangs back, allowing Hippolyta, Diana, Cassie and Kate to approach alone. Menalippe bows her head and salutes the queen, then the princess, and lastly the youngest of the Amazons and her guest. "The Oracle is prepared, oh my queen." She speaks in English for the benefit of Cassie and Kate; lots of Amazons have been learning English recently, and Amazons pick up languages very quickly. Though Cassie's Themysciran has come along pretty well, it's probably a relief even to her - especially in the case of prophecy, where as Cassie has been warned, misunderstanding the words spoken is almost an inevitability. "If you will follow me?" she says, and turns to lead the group through the doorway.

    Within there is a stone-clad corridor, which shortly gives way to the bare rock of a cavern tunnel. The priestess, blinded to the real world by the purple veil binding her eyes, follows on behind Menalippe, a hand remaining on her shoulder for guidance. Shadows from the priestess' torch flicker on the walls. "You are the consultant," Menalippe says to Cassie. "Before we start, you must think very carefully about what to ask. Speak your question first to me and I will advise you how to word it. The better you ask the question, the more chance we have of receiving a useful answer."

    The passage finally opens up into a small cavern chamber, divided in two with a wall of marble. In the first section a shaft of sunlight bathes the vistors in light, coming in from a large shaft in the roof leading out onto the mountain above. Through an opening in the marble wall, the inner chamber can be seen lit by torches. Within a small pool of water bubbles and steams in the floor, a tripod stool suspended above it with another purple veiled priestess seated upon it and the third standing beside her, next to the pool. The pair are joined by the one who had accompanied Melanippe, and the three hold hands, the two standing either side of the seated priestess. A strange, sweet fragrance fills the air.

    "Do not step beyond this antechamber, Menalippe says. "The inner sanctum is forbidden." She looks to Cassie, a sympathetic smile on her lips. "Think carefully," she says, "For words are vague and meaning is important. Be as precise as you can with what you wish to ask. Tell me what you seek to know from the Oracle."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"We're here- Oh." Yeah, Cassie had actually worried about that, being the bearer of bad news and all. Being spared that particular hardship is at least one small weight off her shoulders, although it leaves plenty more for her to contend with. "I'm ready," she confirms. Could there be any doubt? Brittle as her mood is, she is nothing if not determined to see this through.

As they fall into step, she also can't help but cast a glance back at Kate, half-smiling. "Some view, isn't it?" There's something bitter-sweet to that, far from sarcasm but not truly enthustiastic, either. She's happy, no doubt, that her friend's finally gotten to see this place that means so much for her, but the experience is undoubtedly dimmed by the sad shadow cast over it.

And then, they're on the way. The hike is long and winding, but hardly the worst as Themysciran trials tend to go.

Arriving at the temple, she pauses to admire the entrance, and no doubt reflects on how mad her mother's going to be that she -didn't- get to come along for this one. At the same time, in her absence, Cassie's absolutely grateful for the linguistic reprieve.

And so she follows, follows until they reach the inner chamber. Well, the outer-inner chamber, from the sound of it. All Menaplippe's instructions, or those from the priestess, thus far have been met with mostly mute nods or quiet murmurs of understanding. But the caution here, about considering her request, draws a longer thought."Oh, kinda like you'll interpret it for me. Well... I mean, I want to know about Donna and the others that are lost with her. We've been told there's no hope, but I don't think the people looking have tried everything, you know? They don't... they don't have -this- kind of stuff, in their lives."

That all is more a preface, as she comes to stand before the dividing wall, but not beyond. "So I want to know..." And she considers. "If they're really gone, if they're dead, or just lost. Where they've gone?" As much as she -has- thought about it ahead of time, the question, the words still come out in a jumble now that she's finally in the moment. "Like I know, to the Amazons, the dead go to an actual specific place, while to some others, they stop being /anywhere/. So maybe it's the difference between dead, lost, gone? I don't know."

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana is always pleased to see her mother, but the meeting today is one laced in a layer of sorrow, or despair. The Princess makes sure to stay close to Kate upon the journey and even is happy to offer points of interest, tid bits of information on what a location is, so that Kate can get a brief tour along their way, as well as answer questions that the Hawkvenger might have.

As they arrive at the temple, Diana moves in with the others, her shining bracers shimmering in the firelight of the torches within Menaplippe's chamber. A nod of respect is afforded to the Themysciran Oracle, Diana's hands remain at her sides as she looks to Cassie, who begins to speak, then to her mother to gauge her mother's reaction to the questions.

In truth, Diana hadn't considered this option, she was impressed that Cassie had. But, in what experience Diana has had with Menaplippe, she knows the answers... could be disappointing for the young Wonder Girl.

For now though, the Princess stands tall, calm and waits, her hands come together in front of her and her fingers interlace together.

Kate Bishop has posed:
Kate will nod to Cassie about the view, it is an amazing view and she is doing absolutely the best she can to not gawk like a tourist. This is .. very hard.

She does happily absorb the points of interest and tidbits of the Island lore. She tries to not ask too many questions being respectful and not wanting to be a pain in the ass, but she does ask several. I mean Wonder Woman isn't a tour guide after all... but damn this place is neat.

Kate watches Cassie when she talks about the questions she wants to ask, her arms cross and she looks worried but doesn't chime in right now.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Menalippe rests her hands on Cassie's shoulders, bending slightly to bring her eyes level. "You are troubled deeply by this, and other things too. Your thoughts are not clear. Ahead of you is not a single path but one that branches, that turns and twists back upon itself. If you cannot yet be sure of your path, at least look to your feet and watch where you step, Cassandra Sandsmark."

    She straightens, gives Kate a curious look, then turns to face Queen Hippolyta. "Asking of the Oracle requires precision. I believe the question to ask is this: We would know of Troia and her three companions lost to us; in what place they may be, whether mortal realm or realm beyond; whether those who love them might find them again before they themselves step into the night."

    Hippolyta takes a moment before responding with a slow, silent nod. Menalippe turns to take a step into the inner sanctum, and calls out to the three priestesses, "/Arkheisu/". Begin.

    The two priestesses standing release the hands of the one on the tripod seat, and crouch by the pool. They start chanting in soft voices, barely quiet enough to hear, and sort leaves from piles beside them into the pool. The sweet smell that fills the room redoubles.

    The priestess on the seat breathes in deeply as vapors arise more densly from the pool, surrounding in her in a misty cloud. Menalippe speaks in a strong, commanding voice that echoes in the dark chamber, repeating the question in Themysciran. The two blindfolded priestesses pick up laurel branches and stand again, wafting the branches through the steamy air, and their voices become louder, filling the chamber with a musical chanting that rises and falls like the beating of a heart.

    The seated priestess breathes more heavily, her chest rising and falling with the chant, and then slowly she raises her hands to her veil, touching a finger over each eye. After a few moments she utters a few short words, and her companions stop their chanting suddenly.

    Menelippe turns to look at Hippolyta, then to Diana, a confused expression on her face. "My queen, I'm sorry... that is not... I did not expect this. I'm not... Should I ask them to try again?" She turns to Cassie and Kate, looking apologetic. "The words spoken translate in your language as... uh... 'A dry bone will not silence a barking dog'. Answers do not usually come like this. I am sorry."

Hippolyta has posed:
Hippolyta's epression is hard to read when the words of the Oracle are spoken. "It is alright, Menalippe," she extends a hand in a gesture that carries with it the unspoken weight of her authority, "Let the question be put forth again. Perhaps it is merely a question of... appropriate focus."

She speaks slowly and deliberately, and nods at the priestess.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
After she's spoken, Cassie looks, well, not relieved, but she's at least gotten it out. And Menalippe's gentleness in working with her, guiding her, does inspire some slight improvement in her more immediate outward demeanor: a bit of a smile, an understanding nod. "I hate not being able to -do- anything," she admits, softly.

Of course, once the Oracle reconsiders and rephrases the question, Cassie's not going to question or argue with her. She's here for Oracular expertise, after all! All she can do is nod assent, reinforcing that the other woman has the heart of her concern, and then stand, both anxious and awestruck, as she watches the actual ceremony across the divide, listens to words echoing through the cave- some she understands, more she doesn't. Again, she can't help but momentarily think of her mom. It's not like she knew Themysciran Greek either, but she knew enough of a couple archaic dialects that she's done very well in picking it up. Cassie gets lessons at home, sometimes! But this time, she's getting the real deal in person.

By the end of the ceremony, the nervous energy has built considerably, as she waits, waits, waits for an answer. And when she gets one? To say that Menelippe's own confusion is shared would be an understatement.

At first, Cassie looks panicked, with the woman appologizing to her Queen and Princess. But then she /does/ give them an answer. It's just uh.

"... what the heck?" She looks sideways at Kate, less ritual, more teenage 'WTF?!' "Maybe... Do you want to add anything? You were there, after all, maybe, I don't know, it might help."

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana watches the exchange between Cassie and Mena, she sees Cassie's reaction to it, and with a glance toward the others, the Princess steps up behind the young Wonder Girl. Cassie will feel Diana's leather wrapped palms come down upon her shoulders and then she leans down to speak to her quietly.

"Be patient." She tells the young Themysciran. "Be respectful, keep trying. It is through patience and understanding that the clearer answer will find it's way to your questions. This, can easily be considered a test of your willingness to wait for what it is you want most."

Diana offers advice, in that she hopes Cassie will take heed of and benefit from, before she drops her hands and steps back again.

Donna Troy has posed:
    "Do not be disappointed if another try gives no greater reward," Menalippe says to Cassie, with a sympathetic smile. "I am not certain what this means, but? one gives a barking dog a bone to stop her from barking. If the bone is old and dry, the dog is not satisfied and continues to bark. I think the words of the Oracle indicate that it will not have an answer for you that will satisfy you. I am sorry, but we will try again."

    Menalippe bows her head to her queen and gives a quick Amazon salute. She turns back to the priestesses, and asks them to try again. The chanting restarts, the laurel branches are waved, and the seated priestess inhales deeply again.

    The air in the chamber is thick and warm. The vapors rising up from the pool and the hypnotic sound of the chanting start to make people feel slightly dizzy. It takes longer this time, but finally the priestess on the tripod seat opens her mouth and speaks again. The translation from Menalippe is quick: "A prophecy spoken cannot be unspoken. Words may be scattered and lost in the winds, but the truth remains."

    Menalippe looks to Hippolyta, distinctly worried. "My queen... I don't understand. The form of these words, I think it indicates some earlier prophecy. It is as if the Oracle does not wish to speak on a matter that has already been spoken on. It is ancient tradition that a question may be asked a third time, but I do not feel it is wise. What should we do, my queen?"

Kate Bishop has posed:
Kate looks as puzzled as Cassie and actually does mutter very softly "What the fuck..." expressing what Cassie is thinking but she is farther back and then she blushes and crosses her arms and looks sheepish. "A dry bone will nto silence a barking dog?" she trails off "I mean I know ...oracles can be vague..but.. uh.. that is really vague... what could it be." puzzling.

"Oh well.. doubling up prophecy... that makes sense.. um.. does anyone remember any pertinent old prophecies?" she looks to Cassie. Honestly she imagines she will probably ask again.

Hippolyta has posed:
At this, Hippolyta gathers her cloak around her. As Menalippe speaks, Hippolyta nods gravely in acknowledgements of her words. "Where wisdom cannot reach, wise Athena's mother Metis has taught us that we must seek further into the darkness, even at our own peril. Gentle Menalippe, let the question be asked again!"

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
At first, Cassie seems more confused than aything. "I mean I get it, dogs and bones, but... what's old about it? Or dry? I don't really follow that one. It's not like I've ever been here before, or asked something like this. It wasn't much more than a year ago when I didn't even really even believe in any of this prophecy stuff."

Still, she'll wait as Menalippe tries again. Obviously, now, she's worried, because this isn't the sort od divine thunderbolt of knowledge she was expecting. It shows as she starts to pace, waiting for them to repeat the ritual. And she's getting agitated, too, barely containing it for the sake of her company, but the roadblocks they've hit are already throwing some seriously bad vibes.

"Ok so is there something I'm missing here, some old prophecy about Donna?" She glances between Diana and her mother in turn. "I don't care about wise," she admits. "And if there's risk I'll bear it. But I wanna be smart about this. Did you ever come here before to ask about her? Or maybe she could have?"

Still, far be it from her to contradict the Queen if they're going to roll the dice again!

Donna Troy has posed:
    Menalippe looks distinctly nervous about it all, but nevertheless she orders the priestesses ask a third time. The ritual begins again in the same manner, but this time the priestess on the stool reacts more strongly. Her whole body starts to shake and twitch, and she throws her head back. She speaks suddenly and loudly, her voice breaking above the chanting of her sisters, her words no longer in the familiar Themysciran Greek, but an older, harsher, more primitive form. The words seem to come painfully to her lips: "/q'e-so-ra pnu-e-ma ne, u-po e-na wa-ra-wi-ta ou-ra-no/..."

    Menalippe translates the words hesitently as they are spoken, for the benefit of Kate and Cassie, and perhaps even for Diana - this is a form of the language that has not been spoken since before the time of the Amazons. "Four... breathe... yet, beneath... a... broken sky..."

    The chanting from within stops suddenly and there's a sharp intake of breath from one of the priestesses. A shudder passes through Menalippe's body, her expression shocked, and the priestess on the tripod stool suddenly slumps forwards.

    The water of the pool starts to glow with an inner light, and a form rises slowly upwards, shaped of the vapors from the pool. First a crown of golden light, then the figure of a woman below, in a more silvery light. The figure has form but no detail, as ghostly as if it was a shape picked out in the steam by shafts of light. The two priestesses and Menalippe drop instantly to their knees.

    A voice that sounds like warm summer moonlight would sound, if you could hear it, fills the chamber, the words somehow understandable to all even though the language spoken doesn't seem familiar.

    HIPPOLYTA OF THEMYSCIRA, QUEEN OF AMAZONS, MOTHER OF AMAZONS. YOU KNOW TO WHOM YOU SPEAK. YOU KNOW OF WHOM YOU SPEAK.

     YOU KNOW WHAT WORDS HAVE BEEN SPOKEN BEFORE THAT MAY NOT BE SPOKEN OF AGAIN.

    WOULD YOU TRULY ASK THIS MUCH OF ME, TO ANSWER YOU NOW, KNOWING WHO I AM, KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW?

Hippolyta has posed:
The Mother of Amazons inclines her head when the voice resounds throughout the chamber. When she speaks, it is with a gravity that is seldom herd in her voice.

"I hear you, and I see you. That which was once spoken still echoes in the heart of those who heard it. Let it, then, not be spoken as if it were spoken anew, but as if we heard the echoes - for all the deeds of the eternals and those who heed them find echo in the memory of the world. It is then I beesech you, let the Oracle bring them forth!"

Donna Troy has posed:
    No eyes can be seen in the glowing ghostly form that faces them, but one can almost sense a narrowing of the eyes one imagines towards Hippolyta. The phantasm remains silent a few moments, waving and rippling with the wisps of steam that form the shape. The cavern is silent a few moments, and then again the voice is heard filling the chamber without an echo:


    FOUR FRIENDS LIVE BENEATH A BROKEN SKY.
    A RIDDLE NEVER SPOKEN BE SOLVED, ERE THEY MAY RETURN
    THE MOST NOBLE KNEEL BEFORE THE LEAST, ERE THEY MAY RETURN
    AN UNBELIEVABLE LIE BE BELIEVED BY ALL, ERE THEY MAY RETURN
    ENDLESS WAR ENDED FOREVER, ERE THEY MAY RETURN
    UNSEEN BELOW BE SEEN ABOVE, ERE THEY MAY RETURN
    STONE MUST SMILE, LIGHT BECOME DARK, AND UNSEEN LABYRINTH THREADED,
    BEFORE YOU MAY FIND THEM AGAIN.

    I HAVE SPOKEN, AND I SHALL SPEAK NO MORE.

    The figure vanishes.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie actually looks apolegetic, seeing Menalippe's expression of doubt and nerves; obviously, the young woman has inadvertently stumbled into something here with these questions, maybe something even beyond the woman who's been so kind to help her. But Hippolyta's word is literal law, and even absent that, Cassie's drive to find her friends is desperate enough to risk the unknown.

So for the third time, the priestesses perform their ritual. For the third time, Cassie watches, not eager like the first, or anxious like the second, but frightened and desperate. So much so that even the strange foreign words... somehow they resonate. This isn't just 'Answer Unclear, X3.' This is something more. And as Menalippe begins to translate, she seizes on every single word.

"FOUR. That's them! They breathe. Breathe...."

OK, the later words are kind of standard prophecy nonsense. She focuses on the first two, utter elation on her face. Now, as long as she's been holding it back, her eyes moisten and the tears come, pain flushing into joy.

Except there's MORE!

The glowing, crowned figure rises from the pool, and Cassie, although not -quite- as certain of what or who they're dealing with as the priestesses, can nonetheless make a general guess, and mimics their motion as well, dropping to the floor. Seems like the thing to do! Nevermind the Queen.

Bowed, face still tearful, she can barely focus on the form before them, as it delivers apparently a far longer message. Some part of her head is listening, but in the moment, she's overwhelmed and the other stuff barely seems to matter. Impossible trials, confusing riddles? Compared to the bleak, soul-rending, impossible to fight thought of simple -nothingness-, they are mere obstacles.

And that kinda stuff comes with the hero territory. Still, the girl herself seems anything but heroic in her current state, blubbering like a kid. "I knew they couldn't, couldn't just be gone..." she sniffles.

Kate Bishop has posed:
Kate gapes.

Yup utterly speechless.

She stares at the lady talking in a voice that sounds like warm summer moonlight. Wide eyed.

The prophecy gets a lot.... she squints and tries to really focus on it now and figure out what is going on there. It.. well first off it isn't in a language she speaks but.. .regardless she finds herself understanding it. Hell she does pull out her phone and starts typing like mad to transcribe it as best she can, hell she isn't sure she will ever forget it but she doesn't want to forget one word.

If anyone stares in shock she will slip the phone away and look sheepish, it isn't like she has reception here. "Good... good... I have no idea what this means but this is good"

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana stands to the left of her mother throughout this exchange. She glanced to the Queen when she spoke to the apparition, then watched the results unfold. In the end, her stare goe sto Cassie, and Cassie's reaction to what information was gleamed from all of this. A soft smile shows o nthe Princess' lips, a light nod of affirmation and even a little exhale... of relief.

"Well then. I think it might be best if we left he priestesses be for the time being, and returned to the City. This has been, quite an experience for our new guest, I am sure we all need time to process what just happened here as well." She suggests, walking to Cassie then to touch her arm supportively and offer her a direct smile for this moment.

Hippolyta has posed:
The look on Hippolyta is one of open frelief for a few seconds, and then she bows her head briefly in gratitude. When she has gathered herself again, she says quietly, "Let us return to the city, the words that have been spoken are for you to meditate on. If you seek my advice, let the words rest within you for a little while before you speak of them."

She will lead the procession back to the city. Upon reaching the city she will excuse herself to her chambers, but will request her guests to join her for a meal of thanks before they depart "For," she will say, "this is the beginning of a time of trials."

In her chambers, the Mother of Amazons will sit quietly in her private meditation garden, in an attitude of worshipful silence.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Sniff sniff. Sniffle.

Snorrrrt.

Cassie remains where she is for a few moments after letting it all out, only finally starting to get herself back together when she feels Diana's hand on her shoulder. It takes her a moment to get back to processing things, although even then, her response is a little... hasty, over-eager. "Wait?" she wonders, looking up incredulously at Diana, and then to Kate as if in appeal. "But we have to tell everyone, have to let them know." And as if to embody that very impulse, she scrambles back up from her place on the cave floor.

"We've got to-"

But Hippolyta has joined in on this 'go and rest' thing, and if that last exchange reinforced anything, it is that one does not argue with the Queen! Plus, as much as she shows off that eagerness, it's false bravado overlaying serious mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. "... OK."

When they've gotten her back to the city, to her own less grand room, she probably lasts all of a minute before passing out in bed.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Menalippe rises, her eyes going to Hippolyta filled with unspoken questions. As the high priestess of Themyscira she has seen so much over the centuries. What happened here today is not particularly momentous or astonishing compared to some of what she has seen, but it's definitely puzzling to her. "You have your answer, my queen," she says. Unspoken behind that is that there are answers she will be seeking from Hippolyta about what just happened, but not today. Not in front of everyone else.

    As the queen leads the procession back to the city, she takes a moment to speak quietly to the youngest of Titans and her friend from the World of Men. "Cassandra, and... Kate? We have had good news from the Oracle today, but I feel I must warn you that the Oracle's words are rarely quite what they seem. Wisdom comes in not being too certain of what we first think those words to mean. Those first words, strangely as they were put, must surely mean your friends are alive, but I cannot imagine what it means that they are under a broken sky. The rest though... time will tell what those words mean. They may not be so positive. Each of things described sounds impossible. Perhaps they represent a trial, but it is possible too that the Oracle should be interpreted as saying that they will never return - that just as each of these things is impossible , so too is it impossible to meet them again."

    "I do not wish to take away your hope, just to temper it. We do not yet know fully what those words mean, and it is not wise to forget our doubt. All those who consult oracles, even above all others, should remember the words above the temple: Certainty brings ruin."