Varrus Volkanon

Varrus sighed heavily as he lifted a hand to bridge of his nose, pinching it between his index finger and thumb. It was one thing to not be able to solve a riddle like this, but it was another when lives were possibly at stake- not excluding his own. It was then that his vision fell to the engraving as his hand returned to the pommel at his side.

"Well, we know it has something to do with the torches and where we began. We should make our way back and examine the area," He stated, turning back to face the way they came as he began to trek past those about him. He continued on in silence as his vision focused forward... In his mind however, his thoughts would begin to pour over the information given to him. The speculation of the others reinforce what he originally thought about the torches, but the remainder of the riddle still evade him.

Or should he say, partial riddle. The third partition merely said embrace, and the forth spoke of something all consuming. His first venture was death, but death has no mass... It cannot fill a hole. A hole? At this, Varrus paused a moment, looking over his shoulder back to the inscription for a moment as he paused in his steps. Something unlike the light that can fill a hole.

At this notion, Varrus looked between those in the group around him, "Something unlike the Light that puts an end to laughter and fills holes. At first I was thinking of something with mass, but what if I'm wrong?" His gaze began to flicker to the unlit areas of the room as his brain began to formulate a plan, "I think the answer is closer than we think. Light is all encompassing, yes, but it can be seen and usually bolsters the mood of people within it. However, it's opposite can bring fear and terror to some, while swallowing all within it's reach. Not to mention the cliche wording of the third and forth phrase if I'm right, but..." Varrus paused a moment as he turned back towards the original torches, though making no movement, "What if the answer is darkness?"

"Darkness?"

The idea was bizarre - after all, there was no source of light in the dry room other than torches. As they knew, torches were related to their riddle. Torches, darkness, torches, darkness... She walked around the room, pondering. Everything still itched after her nap on the ground, but she needed to focus now, of all times.

Then something clicked. Juniper turned around abruptly and looked at the torches in Rylo's hands. No. No. This could not be their answer.

"There's only one thing that we'd get from combining torches and darkness. And hell no, I'm not putting them out."

Sigrdrífa tilted her head curiously. It made sense in that twisted sort of sense that riddles did. Juniper seemed violently opposed to the next logical conclusion but Sigrdrífa didn't think the concern was valid. "Now now, no need to overreact. I believe we have at least a mage with us no? Most mages have the ability to create fire from what little I know of magic. Therefor does it not stand to reason that we should put out the torches? If the answers to the riddles form a command than it would form something along the lines of, 'torches something embrace darkness'. If nothing happens we have lost nothing, if it is the answer than we have advanced." Having outlined her arguement in a logical manner Sigrdrífa fell silent. Personally the darkness was not such a thing to fear in her opinion altogether but that was a matter of personal preference. Sigrdrífa held her torch angled towards the wall suggestively, as though she were to grind it out against the wall, and awaited a response to her suggestion.

"Or something does happen, and we all die horrible deaths."

Augustus added dryly, it seemed pretty clear to him at this point what they were meant to do. He didn't suppose the answer was just an elaborate way to kill themselves, it didn't make much sense in the end. Furthermore, while it seemed like an absolute waste of magical ability to just make some light with it, Sigrdrífa was right in that it was possible. Simple even.

"Still, best case scenario at this point is we're trapped here a few days until we run out of water and die anyway. I, for one, would rather take a chance at not having that happen."

He walked over to the axe wielding woman and placed a hand on her shoulder. He wasn't particularly used to trying to sound reassuring, but a ruler needed at least some kind of charisma if he expected to inspire his people. It was something that had been drilled into Augustus since birth. He tried to slip into that role briefly, it wouldn't do for them to be divided on important decisions.

"You're... Juniper, right? What the lady knight speaks is true, if we need light again once the torches are out, I will see to it myself that we have some. I believe, however, that putting them out is our best option for moving forward."

He nodded to the cold warrior as he finished speaking, as if to urge him on. He didn't know if this Juniper woman was afraid of the dark, or simply in disagreement, but he hoped his words got through to her. Sure, he wasn't exactly a figure that gave off an aura of protection, like Sigrdrífa or the cold warrior, a strong imposing man. However, this Juniper woman looked strong enough to hold her own in a fight anyway. She certainly didn't look like she needed "protecting" by any measure.

In fact, if it came to a fight, it was likely Augustus who would need her in that sort of role.

Varrus Volkanon

Varrus shook his head, unable to hide the disappointment now shown on his face as he his gaze focused on the female who had spoken out. He noticed from the start she was built and equipped for combat, but seeing her squirm about the darkness set a foul taste in his mouth. Still, it was refreshing to see the others rallying behind the idea with much less apprehension. Still, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't somewhat off put by the idea himself...

'Intentionally leaving us with only one source of light and then stripping that from us not a moment after our first steps,' Varrus gritted his teeth behind his stoic visage, 'Someone wants to play games...' With that, he turned and continued back towards the torches once more. Once the object came within reach, he place himself beside one on the wall as he lifted it from it's holding, gripping it with one hand as he looked to the others.

"Granted the poem didn't mention any specific order or means to dim these lights, I'd suggest we snuff them out as close to one another as we can. Keep within arms reach of the pedestal, and don't hesitate to call out if something draws your attention."

Ulrich couldn't contribute much really but he did listen in on their brainstorming. He was pretty much amazed by how they were able to figure it out that quickly. They might be wrong though but it seems they were keen on putting out their only source of light. The idea of having no light was quite familiar to him as he travelled in the dead of night without a single light source before, courtesy of their village. He quickly took out his tome from his bag to prepare himself. Who knows what might happen in the dark. And lightning should make fire right?

He looked at Varrus and then nodded. He waited for further orders from them as it seems they were the ones who would be leading this group. He kept his senses alert. He then placed himself behind the nobles and would slowly follow them from behind, as if he was in charge of watching the rear part of the group.

Oh. Right. Mages.

Juniper sighed wearily and ran a hand through her hair, wiping sweat of her forehead. This was stupid, so very stupid, she thought as she looked at her companions, mouthing something that was supposed to be words of gratitude before swallowing and finally speaking.

"Thank you... Edmund, right? And you, - she glanced at the cold-looking swordsman who was still nameless, - "you do have a point. If there's anyone waiting for us, it's easier to beat him if we're many."

"Very well then. If you can all be so kind as to grab a torch we can snuff them all out together." Sigrdrífa said politely and waited for everyone to do so. Upon this happening, she would continue, "When I say three then, alright? One.. two... three!" As explained Sigrdrífa quickly snuffed out her torch and waited for the others to do the same, curious to see if anything would happen. Hopefully something happened, she wasn't eager to starve to death in some sort of dank dungeon without any hope of escape.