First things first I need to practice with the bow, I don't want to get all the way to the end only to miss at a crucial moment. So I start practicing by shooting at the green cubes, my first few shots miss completely. After a few minutes I finally start to get the hang of shooting a bow and hit one of the green cubes.

*DING*

Congratulations! You have acquired the combat skill Bow Basics!

Bow Basics

Level: 1

Agi +2

You are 5% more accurate with bows.

'All the other basic skills added damage, but bow adds accuracy?'

Well, that will help, but maybe I should raise it a few levels just to be safe. I decide it's a good idea, and I also need a break from dealing with the cubes. So I spend the rest of the day practicing archery and manage to raise it another two levels.

Bow Basics

Level: 3

Agi +6

You are 15% more accurate with bows.

Hopefully that will be enough, I guess I will find out tomorrow. So again I meditate through the night to avoid dreams, and eat breakfast as soon as I wake up. Then it is time to give it a try, first I put the bow and three arrows under the cubes.

It should be right beside me when I finish all the floating cubes, then I can hit the one in the floor with my foot as I pick it up. Time to give it a try, first I hit all the green cubes, I've done it so many times it is basically auto-pilot now. Then it is the yellow cubes, then the red, then the blue, and finally the white.

When I hit the last flying white cube I immediately drop down and scoop up the bow and arrows. I am counting as I do and when I hit nine I tap the one in the floor with my foot and start counting again. I fire at the left hand wall first, that way if I miss I should still have time to hit the one in the ceiling and buy myself another ten seconds.

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It doesn't miss so I instantly turn the other way as I nock another arrow and fire at the right wall. I watch the arrow’s flight as I count, and again I hit the cube. Just one left, I nock my last arrow, draw as I aim at the cube above me, and loose.

'Bullseye!'

I did it, as the last cube turns black and joins the main cube I jump for joy. As the last cube falls into place there is a flash, the cube disappears and the doors out swing open.

Fifth Trial Complete! Reward : +50 Intelligence!

First Clear Bonus: +10 Agility!

Well, I guess agility makes sense, after all the ducking and weaving to hit those damn cubes! I quickly gather up my arrows and hammock and put them in my pouch and then rush to the next door to read it and see what's next.

Sixth Trial: Wisdom!

Uh oh, I've never really been a wise person. This could be really difficult for me, but I don't have much choice. It is either clear all of the trials or die. I just hope it is like the intelligence trial and doesn't have penalties so I can make multiple attempts.

Well, guess I should get on with it, I give the doors a push and wait to see what's in store for me. The room that becomes visible is much smaller than any of the others, and it has two normal sized doors. There is writing above each door but it is too far away to read, so I step into the room and as usual the doors slam shut behind me.

Once in the room I find out that there is writing on the floor before the doors. So, I translate all the writing and then I have to make a choice.

What is it better to have?

Courage Compassion

So, I have to choose one and then open the door under the word. So courage or compassion? For a warrior it is courage, but for a priest it is compassion. One isn't better than the other, it depends on the person and circumstances. So is it asking which one I am?

I am not a wise man and I know it, so I go with my instincts and open the door for courage. Nothing happens. So I walk through the door and find myself in the same room again.

Did I choose wrong? There was no penalty, and nothing attacked me. So why am I here again? Wait, the writing is different, it isn't the same room.

Which is stronger?

Head Heart

This one is easy, the heart is stronger. If the head was stronger people wouldn't constantly make fools of themselves over emotions. So I open the door beneath heart and walk through. Again I see the exact same room with two doors and new writing.

Which is better to have?

Power Knowledge

I immediately choose knowledge, open the door, and walk through. Again and again I find a question, pick an answer, and walk through a door. This goes on for three hours and over a hundred questions before something is finally different.

Which is unnecessary?

Life Death

This room is a little different, after seeing the same room over a hundred times it is easy to notice a change. The distance between the two doors is greater than in the other rooms. It seems this room is a trick, because neither is unnecessary so I walk to the wall between the two doors.

When I push at the blank wall it swings open, it was the double door that ends the trial. I guess I win? Faced with another short hallway I quickly step through.

Sixth Trial Complete! Reward +50 Wisdom

First Clear Bonus: +25 DP