Examine the Statues

You edge closer to the nearest statue, brushing away centuries of dust with trembling fingers. The stone beneath feels strangely warm—alive, even. Each of the five statues is carved from a different material: obsidian, marble, bronze, basalt, and something that looks almost like glass but hums faintly when you touch it. Despite their missing faces, their craftsmanship is flawless. Every line of muscle and fold of fabric is precise, deliberate.

You circle the chamber. The statues are arranged in a perfect ring around the dais, each facing inward toward the chest. They stand frozen in poses of supplication—hands extended, palms up, as though waiting to receive or return something.

When the light of your crystal passes over the base of the obsidian figure, you notice a small engraving. The letters are faint but legible: “The One Who Guarded.”

The next, carved from marble, reads “The One Who Followed.”

 Bronze: “The One Who Spoke.”

 Basalt: “The One Who Judged.”

 And the final, the glass-like figure: “The One Who Remembered.”

A chill ripples down your spine. Those words echo the inscription on the hatch. Open, and remember.

The statues seem to be arranged for some sort of ritual. For an offering? Before you can decide, the bronze statue emits a faint ringing sound, like struck metal. Its palms begin to glow from within, runes searing to life along its arms. The others follow suit, each lighting with a different hue—red, white, green, black, and blue—casting eerie reflections across the mirrored walls.

Then, simultaneously, all five extend their arms toward you.

You freeze. The motion is subtle but deliberate - mechanical yet fluid, as though guided by memory rather than gears. The ground vibrates softly underfoot, and dust drifts down from the ceiling.

They're waiting.

The words of the unseen voice return, stronger now, reverberating through the chamber: “If you seek what was buried, give what was taken.”

The statues’ hands remain open. Waiting. Expectant.

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Ahoy, adventurers! My wife is scheduled for a procedure tomorrow, so we're going to go a day or two without an update. Though, depending on your choices in today's poll, maybe expect additional polls 👀