Test and the Mysterious Temple.

A few days ago, an exhausted man had burst into the inn Test had been staying at. The man claimed to be part of an archeology group that had been excavating a newfound ruin in the jungle, only for their work to be brought to a sudden halt. Ancient midara still inhabited it and attacked the group; they managed to capture several members and dragged them away.


And that was how Test found himself cautiously pushing his way through the thick jungle foliage as he made his way to the excavation site.  He followed the river like he was told and found himself at the group's camp. Empty tents stood and digging equipment was scattered about the place.

Test searched for any signs of where the archeologists has been taking. The jungle was not his natural environment, but he had to at least try to find a way to follow them.

Examining the camp, it looks like several people were dragged into the entrance to the ruins the group had uncovered.

Heading inside, Test found a pink haired woman in short shorts and a top that barely contained her breasts. She was currently biting her thumb as she nervously paced about.

Test was surprised to see someone right here in the entrance. "Um. Hello?" He said, instinctively placing a hand on his halberd. "Is something the matter?" He couldn't help but notice how seductively she was dressed. His eyes wandering just a little as he watched her.

Her head snapped to Test, allowing him to see her emerald eyes staring at him. "Please, please, tell me you came to help save my team!"

"You're with the archeologists? Yes. I came to save them." Test immediately replied, his whole demeanor changing when she asked him for help.

"I'm Nana! Half Midara and leader of this expedition!" she introduced as she took his hand and vigorously shook it. "I've tried to save my men several times, but I'm just no match for the midara here."

"Where are they? What can I do?" Test asked, ready to follow her lead. He'd meet at least one half midara before. He knew better then to instinctively distrust them. She said she was leader of the expedition and he saw no reason not to believe her.

"Come with me." Nana said as she led him further inside. The two soon arrived at a large chamber with pillars carved into the shape of women holding up the ceiling. There were the three large stone doors, each marked with a symbol. In the center of the room was a wide pedestal with many lewd pictures covering it.

"Welcome to what I've been calling the hub." Nana told him as she showed him around. "Each of these doors seem to lead further in, but the exact room they go to seems to change every time I go in one."

"That's... strange." Test replied, not sure what else to say. "What sort of things have you found beyond them?"

"Midara, mostly." Nana admitted with a sigh." But I have noticed a couple things. That door," she pointed at the door that had what looked like a tiger carved into it, "always has beast type midara behind it." She then pointed at the door that looked like it had chains carved into it. "That door always has servants and I guess what you'd call 'lower class' Midara. You know, like thieves and workers and such." She then pointed to the last door which had what looked like a shining gem carved into it. And in there, are the more 'refined' midara."

Nana then brought test to the wide podium covered in erotic pictures. "You see this? Every image on it is a button. None of the doors open until you press at least one, but which one you press seems to influence the midara you encounter."

The podium had dozens upon dozens off those lewd images carved into it. Every fetish known to man had to have some sort of representation.

"Which ones did you press?" Test asked, not realizing how his question might be interpreted until after he asked.

"A lot of them." Nana said with a tired sigh as her shoulders slumped. "Even using the same button and door combination, I have yet to run into the same Midara twice. I have no idea how so many midara could have survived in this place for so long."

"Well some sort of magic must be at play. Maybe it's taking you to other places. Some experimentation is probably in order." Test said, steeling himself. He pressed a button depicting a sexy woman hypnotizing a man with a swaying pendulum and began to head towards the beast door. Jumping into action with a speed that was probably unwise.

The door slowly opened as he approached it. "Good luck." Nana told him before the door ominously slammed shut behind him.

Test found himself in a room with a lone tree being illuminated by the sun shining through holes in ceiling. Sleeping in the branches was a cat girl with black fur. Her tail was hanging down with a pendulum tied to it, leaving the hypnotism aid at eye level with the man.


Test: 30 Willpower
Napping Nekomata: 10 Stamina

Test tried to sneak past her. Keeping an eye on the car girl (and her pendulum) as he looked for a way forward without having to fight.

(Hypnotic Sway -roll 29, 40- Success!)

The cat girl opened a single eye and watched Test try to get by her. She gave her tail a little flick, causing the pendulum to start swinging back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth.

Test eyes were naturally drawn to the movement. The gentle swaying captivated him and soon his eyelids began to feel heavy.



Test: 29 Willpower + Hypnotized
Napping Nekomata: 10 Stamina

Test slowly came to a stop. He was suddenly a bit tired. Maybe he should rest awhile. He hadn't realized that the cat girl was awake. The adventure's shoulders slumped and his eyes drooped as he watched the pendulum sway and let himself rest a moment.

Weak Struggle

(Weak Struggle -roll [33, 11]- Fail!)
(Hypnotic Sway -roll [37, 86]- Success!)

The catgirl smirked and flicked her tail again, letting the pendulum continue its hypnotic movements and further entrance the intruder in her domain.



Test: 28 Willpower + Hypnotizedx2
Napping Nekomata: 10 Stamina

Test was about done resting when the tail flicked and scattered his thoughts. "Just a little longer." He thought. Letting out a yawn as his body relaxed.

Weak Struggle

(Weak Struggle -roll [19, 42]- Fail!)
(Hypnotic Sway -roll [19, 22]- Fail!)

"Tired?" the cat girl asked from her perch as her tail continued to swing the pendulum back and forth. Back and forth. "You must be. You had to travel quite far to get here."


Test: 27 Willpower + Hypnotizedx3
Napping Nekomata: 10 Stamina

"Yeah." Test agreed, weakly nodding along. But the sound of the cat girl's voice made him realize she's as awake and prompted a more concentrated attempt to return to wakefulness.

Struggle

(Struggle -roll 84- Success!)
(Hypnotic Sway -roll 94, 34]- Crit Success!)

"Then sit down and rest for a while." the cat girl said as her pendulum continued to swing.

Test tried to pull himself out of his trance, but the hypnotic back and forth swing of the pendulum pulled him right back in.


Test: 26 Willpower + Hypnotizedx3 + Stunned
Napping Nekomata: 10 Stamina

That sounded reasonable. Test sat down and let himself relax. He didn't seem to be in any danger after all. And it was easy to rest and follow the pendulums sway.

(Hypnotic Sway -roll [10, 56]- Crit Success!)

"Mind if I come down there and join you?" the cat girl asked as she stretched a bit so she could keep the swinging pendulum level with his eyes. "Cuddling up with a cat girl sounds nice, doesn't it?"


Test: 25 Willpower + Hypnotizedx4 + Stunned
Napping Nekomata: 10 Stamina