Harlan and Delphine found themselves gazing upon a miraculous temple, to which this shrine entrance was but a meager awning.  It floated in the sky seemingly unsupported by anything, a short wooden bridge connecting the hillside shrine and it.<br/><br/>The massive wood-and-stone structure was overgrown with moss, kudzu, and shrubberies.  Almost every exposed surface had at least some greenery on or hanging from it.<br/><br/>In the wind there was much more than just clouds and a floating temple, however--there were ghosts.<br/><br/>There spirits, long terrible faces elongated, were the Forgotten.  Delphine knew instinctively that these restless souls would do no good to her Harlan if they were to latch hold of him crossing the bridge.  Even gazing upon them frightened him.<br/><br/>Still, Harlan was a Hero, and being shown the path forward he stepped out with great determination.<br/><br/><strong>"Thank you, Delphine--now let's go find that map and the first Shard!"</strong><br/><br/>Steeling himself he mustered his best Defenses as he crossed the bridge...<br/><br/>... and reached the other side unphased.  The Forgotten seemed to not notice him, or else were confused by the presence of Delphine.  In some ways she was like them, but in others very much not.  What was clear was that the line between the living and the dead was blurred around this shrine.  That meant danger more often than not.<br/><br/>Crossing the bridge Harlan came upon two ornately carved sandalwood doors.  Bowing as he'd been shown he said:<br/><br/><strong>"I respectfully request entrance to this most sacred sight."</strong>He held the position, body tensed, awaiting something.  Nothing happened.  After a moment he stood back up and pushed the door open.<br/><br/><strong>"Fool!"</strong>a voice rang out.<strong>"Did I say you could come in?  Ungrateful, ungrateful youth!"</strong>The voice blew forth from the temple like the wind.  Its airs carried the scent of alcohol.  It reminded her very much of the voice in the back of her head, which now grew louder.<br/><br/><em>"~--pid bastard, p-~-re fo-~-he map.  Maybe I can fool them both, but I'll need to--~"</em>The voice was hard to listen to.  Delphine thought she could use her<strong>Spirit </strong>to listen more closely.  However, whoever the voice belonged to was clearly already powerful in this place.  Inviting them to further influence her was probably not a safe idea.<br/><br/>Ahead of them was a wooden floor.  But with their eyes seeing beyond the veil they could tell it was full of spike traps, and only a very few paths would safely allow traversal through this antechamber.<br/><br/><strong>"Delphine,"</strong>Harlan said, looking at all the revealed spike traps just below a translucent layer of false floor that would've appeared sturdy to their un-Guidance'd eyes.<strong>"Can you help me out here?  Wings or something?"</strong><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Harlan</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Energy</strong>: 2/3<br/><strong>Attack</strong>: 3<br/><strong>Defense</strong>: 2<br/></div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Delphine, Guardian Spirit</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/rr9TUtN.jpg)</div><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/XG7SBAr.png)</div><strong>Energy</strong>: 5/6<br/><br/><strong>Power</strong>: 3<br/><span class="bbc_u">Absorption</span>: 2<br/><br/><strong>Spirit</strong>: 2<br/><span class="bbc_u">Seduction</span>: 3<br/><br/><strong>Bondage of Justice</strong><br/>Justice is blind, and so are you.  Any time you make an agreement or swear to arbitrate a contract you magically follow it through, and force those involved to do so as well.  You're also not great at seeing threats coming because of this, although you can see through the blindfold... a little.<br/><br/></div></div>[/quote]