>>6365661A narrow passage–<span class="mu-i">very</span> narrow given how quickly you managed to smack your foot against a wall–expands far ahead of the dead end you landed, and any attempt to <span class="mu-s">HELLGEYSER</span> your way to the top proves fruitless. No matter how high you travel, the walls merely extend a little higher… and had you not kinda twisted your ankle on the landing, you’d probably try again!
<span class="mu-r">”Whoof. Maze. That’s a kick in the head…”</span>
<span class="mu-r">RED</span>, you exclaim as you pace around your new prison, what… where are you? What happened to the fight? The Archdevil borrows your aching shoulders for a quick shrug.
<span class="mu-r">”On-hold, from the state of things…”</span> He replies with a dispirited sigh. <span class="mu-r">”I reckon Trier’ll keep ya’ here ‘til you change your mind… or <span class="mu-i">lose</span> it.”</span>
Figures, you reply as you slump against the wall. Well it’s a maze–doesn’t that mean there’s a way out?
<span class="mu-r">”Sure, on principle…” RED</span> replies. <span class="mu-r">”Might be far, though.”</span>
HOW far? You’re not spending another thread on <span class="mu-i">build-up</span> again! The players are gonna dip faster than a tortilla chip at a dip convention!
<span class="mu-r">”Hate to crush your spirits, pard, but the maze scales with the caster’s skill, so…”</span>
Swell, you groan, so you’ll get out of here in your fifties!? Will Zoral still be <span class="mu-i">around</span> by then? Will your <span class="mu-i">friends</span>!?
<span class="mu-r">”Hold your horses, Tex–I was just getting the bad news out first!”</span> Chides the demon who <span class="mu-i">ISN’T</span> currently trapped in a labyrinth! <span class="mu-r">”Good news is that there IS an exit… somewhere! Might even be around the corner–could totally miss it if you picked the wrong path straight out the gate, y’know?”</span>
You aren’t convinced. Is… does that happen? Seriously? Another borrowed shrug lifts your shoulders.
<span class="mu-r">”It’s what I’d do!”</span>
He’ll have to forgive you for not dancing for joy. Does he know any other alternatives to navigating a maze in complete and utter darkness?
<span class="mu-r">”Hmm….” RED</span> mutters as you idly flick the wall and frown, <span class="mu-r">”The caster has to concentrate to maintain the maze… so if you were to break his concentration somehow, well…”</span>
Then the maze would disappear, you chirp with renewed pep in your step! But he’s probably aware of that too, huh?
<span class="mu-r">”Not ta’ mention if I was just swindled by some extraplanar pipsqueak I wouldn’t take anything at face value either!”</span> Adds the demon. <span class="mu-r">”He should be stuck in that weaker body for a while, though, so at least we don’t have to worry about that, right?”</span>
Sure, you sniff, you can focus on worrying about the <span class="mu-i">maze</span> instead…
<span class="mu-r">”AND the monsters.”</span>
Your eyes widen. Muh-muh-muh-<span class="mu-i">monsters?</span>
<span class="mu-r">”Yep! Mazes are full of ‘em! The good ones, at least!” RED</span> replies in a chipper tone! <span class="mu-r">”Traps, too! Nasty ones! Watch that toe, kid! Ouch!”</span>
>CONTD. 