Ruckus does manage a single chuckle at Emma's tone. "Well, alright, suppose I can put up a lot if it's in service to a prank. And I suppose that story does help back up all those people claiming to have been your kids or grandkids. But I'm still not sure why you're telling me all this. You've already got Sevastion and Yulia on your side, so it's not like I got much in the way of intel you ain't already got."

Emma leans back as she sits on the edge of Xenia's desk, and lets out a sigh. "Ahhh, guess I did let the moral of the story get a little muddled there. Look, the point is, well, you've maybe heard the saying 'power corrupts', or something like that? It's bullshit. Power reveals. If someone is selfish, or sadistic, or greedy, it was always there. It just maybe didn't have a chance to reveal itself while its owner was a nobody."

The imprisoned imp tilts his head. "Really? Cause it sounded like you got really fuckin' efficient at corrupting folks. You flipped a couple dozen Champions to your side over the years, isn't that right?"

Emma nods. "Flipped them away from the Free Kingdoms, sure. Turned them into warlords and sent them back with their swords pointed in the opposite direction? No, that was only about half of em. Maybe those are the ones who got to be more famous later on, since they were the ones who had territory and armies and all that. But it wasn't the 'power to conquer' that I - ah, Xenia - offered them. It was the power to do whatever they wanted. And for half of em, it was shit like, baking, studying magic, one guy went and became a sea captain and sailed off to who knows where. But what we've noticed about you and your bunch? Your problem is you all want power and you ain't got shit."

Ruckus waggles a hand at that. "I mean, that's true for me and a few of the others, sure. I was pretty much a nobody back home. There were some folks with some real weight to throw around though. Nothing like the big ol' Prince of the Fallen Tower had, but still."

"You're not exactly working in the mail room, I'll give you that. But even for the ones at the top, there were too many people fighting for too small of a pie. No one feels safe, everyone's driven by insecurity. Thaddeus thinks his glorious family line is going to be forgotten. The warlords who signed on with him were all one bad battle away from getting toppled and executed, vassalized, or enslaved. The lower ranks didn't see any way for advancement that didn't involve leaving their entire damn planet behind. All of you have bet everything on this wild-ass plan that somehow Xenia is going to solve all of your problems. That's not something folks do if they feel like the status quo's working out for them."

"And...I take it you're not exactly feeling inclined to solve all of our problems, huh?"

Emma leans forward, with a wicked grin on her mirrored copy of Xenia's face. "Oh, but there's the rub, kiddo. The scheme. We are. And you're going to help me."

The imp buries his face in his hands for a brief moment. "Gods, now I know why so many of us were nuts, they inherited it from you. What does that even mean!? Are you saying you are going to go home with Prince Thaddeus after all?"

The mirrored woman shakes her head. "No, because that's what Thaddeus thinks he wants. And the rest of you want it even less than he does. You don't give a shit about the Kingdom of Seven Cities that he came from, you just want a place where you can live your lives in comfort without worrying about someone assassinating you through your bedroom window at night. And if it was just that simple, I bet you Xenia could swing things so that most of you could have that here. But we're not super inclined to do that either, because at least half of you are murderous assholes and, grandkids or no, we wouldn't want you as neighbors."

"So...you're gonna what, test everyone like you tested me and the brothers, and see who's not an asshole? Didn't I, uh...already fail that test? Not that I'm complaining about being given a second chance, mind you."

"Something like that. Unfortunately, Sevastion and Yulia aren't real high on the social skills thing, they barely knew most of you, and a proper test needs a bit of insight into the person being tested. The Champions were a pretty diverse set, but more or less they all had the same basic backstory. For this crowd I need something a little more. You, though? I've heard a bit about you, and you seem like the type to know secrets. Get a little bit into everybody's business, don't you?" Emma chuckles at the slightly guilty look on Ruckus's face. "We will give you half credit for not falling for the rabbitgirl trick, but you're right, we don't fully trust you, and you haven't exactly proven yourself yet. So before you help me test anyone else, you're going to face a little test of your own. Xenia?"

She looks to the side, and a moment later a new portal ring appears on the floor not far from where Ruckus is sitting. "There you go. Get to it, Trapmaster, and...try not to disappoint us again. Xenia's trying to be reasonable, given there's family involved and all, but third chances aren't a common thing for her even when she's in a good mood."

The imp swallows heavily as he looks at the circle of arcane symbols. "Is, uh...is a moral test really gonna work if you tell me it's a test beforehand?"

Emma laughs again. "Ruckus, weren't you listening? Xenia told every Champion exactly what she was doing, and it worked anyways. It's not a pop quiz you can study for. It's just you, and what you bring with you. Now...get to it."

Ruckus licks his lips before hopping out of his chair, and attempts to put a brave look on his face. "Well then...here I go..."

----------------------------------------

Ruckus blinks his eyes as the portal's magic completes, and his attention is immediately drawn to the statue standing before him. Given it's of a goddess who's at least four times his height and with more than enough curves to match, it embarrassingly takes him a few moments to examine the rest of his surroundings. When he does the imp realizes that he's currently within a shrine, with two unfriendly priestesses staring at him. Well, on closer look perhaps the rabbit-eared one is simply cautious, but the glare on the other more than makes up for it, and given that she's wearing light armor and a sword, she does somewhat skew the man's weighting of the pair just slightly. "Ah...hello?"

The rabbitgirl priestess grants him a nod and introductions. "Welcome to the dungeon's Shrine to Fertility and Shields. I am Priestess Deylia, and my associate here is Priestess Brightsky - although you may have heard of her by her title of 'Valkyrie' instead."

The imp grimaces. "You're - the Floor Seven boss, right? Thought you'd have wings, but, uh, even without I really hope this isn't gonna be some sort of combat test."

The green-skinned elf looks down at him, both literally and metaphorically. "I would recommend not turning it into one - although it would cut this short and save me a great deal of time if you wish to try it."

Ruckus raises his hands. "No, no, ain't gonna try anything! But uh, what exactly is the deal here, then?"

Deylia takes care of the explanations. "It's rather simple, really. I'm going to offer you items in pairs to choose between, while Brightsky here will determine if you're being honest or if you're only choosing answers you think will make us, or Xenia, happy."

The man returns Brightsky's probing look. "What, you're some sort of elvish lie detector?"

The woman's voice is cold as she responds. "Try me, and find out."

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"...Right. So, what am I choosing between, then?"

Deylia steps behind a long altar at the front of the shine, and picks up two covered trays before setting them on top of it. "We'll start with a...calibration of the test. Oh, I should note - these aren't hypothetical questions. You can literally have your choice. Now, which of these two meals would you prefer? I'm assuming your menu's been limited the past day or so." She lifts the covers off of the trays, and reveals two very different meals beneath them. One is a nice, juicy steak, with a side of veggies and a buttered roll, while the other plate contains...a single moldy biscuit, and an uncooked egg. Ruckus once again eyes the two priestesses.

Finding a convenient stool waiting for him on his side of the altar, Ruckus steps forward and climbs up to get a better look at its contents. "...A calibration test, you said? Well, I've told a few lies in my time, but I don't think even I'm a good enough actor to say I want whatever the hell kind of dinner you call that one on the left. I'll try the steak, please."

Deylia smiles, and pushes the tray across to Ruckus's side of the altar. "Go ahead, you may eat while we continue." She gives the man a minute to pick up the provided silverware and dig in, before picking up the next two items from the floor next to her feet. The first item she displays is a set of well-made clothing, apparently sized to fit the short imp, and it's immediately tempting given the man hasn't changed in a day and most of his equipment was taken from him when he was captured. The other is a set of three spherical contraptions, and while Ruckus isn't entirely certain what they are, the rogue knows magical explosives when he sees them.

The imp blinks briefly at the newest set. "You're offering me clothes or...bombs? Is that what I'm seeing here?"

Deylia nods. "It is. The clothes are lightly enchanted for protection from the elements, while each explosive item is, I'm told, powerful enough to take down a heavy wooden door. Or an Advanced Challenger."

Ruckus sets aside his fork and begins reaching out, briefly, before halting himself and sighing. "Fuck. I gotta be one hundred percent honest here? I mean, the clothes look good, but..." With a frown on his face, Ruckus moves his hand to the left and carefully plucks up the bombs, moving them to his side of the altar. Deylia raises an eyebrow at the choice.

"The food is obvious - would you mind explaining this choice, though?"

Brightsky interrupts him before he can answer. "Because the imp values destruction over protection. He is being true to himself, however."

Sighing, Ruckus offers his own explanation. "Typical elf judgment, eh? No, for me the bombs are protection. You gotta understand, I ain't been without a weapon for years. Even in my sleep! Hells, especially in my sleep. I honestly feel more naked without a blade or a trap than I would if I was literally naked. Weapons are higher on the list of needs than a new shirt, that's all it is."

"I suppose I can understand that. Next choice." The next two items have quite a bit of difference in their weight, as Deylia starts with dropping a heavy bag of coins onto the altar. Through its loosened opening Ruckus can see the glint of silver, meaning it's not quite a fortune but it is enough money to keep a Challenger happy for months. On the other side, she places a simple rolled-up scroll. "The currency is obvious. The scroll, meanwhile, will permanently grant the reader knowledge of a spell allowing them to see in the dark, from the Midnight Shadow class of Rogues. Single-use. Its market value is approximately similar to the coins here, slightly less."

This time Ruckus doesn't even hesitate before snapping up the scroll, somewhat surprising the Valkyrie watching on. "Really? You value knowledge over silver, imp?"

"Abso-fuckin-lutely. You know why?" The man taps his temple. "Because you can lose material goods and possessions at any moment, and faster than you might think. What goes up here? Now that's more secure than a bank vault. That's before we even get into the question of if I'm gonna be able to spend anything, honestly..."

While Brightsky's face isn't any friendlier, Deylia's does grow more sympathetic. "Did you perhaps have a deprived childhood, Mr. Ruckus? One built around insecurity?"

He shrugs. "Well, I wasn't poor, but shit was...competitive. Having a favorite toy or some shit was a good way to get it stolen from you, yeah?"

"I see...well, on to the next one." The next two items are easily placed, given that they're both mere scraps of parchment with something written on each of them. Ruckus takes a few minutes to continue enjoying his meal, and slightly annoying the Valkyrie watching him eat, before peering closer at what they say.

"Good for one night with...any non-mortal dancer from the Fiver's Lounge?" Ruckus looks up at the priestess in front of him, who blushes slightly.

"The mortal dancers aren't exactly hired on for such work...although I've heard they do participate from time to time. That's just one option, though."

"Right, and the other one...good for one week's worth of top-quality meals in Worthy Inn? Well, heheh, the food is pretty good, but - " Ruckus begins to reach towards the first slip of paper, but comes to a quick halt as Brightsky's hand suddenly grabs on to the hilt of her sword. "Whoa, whoa? Passing judgment on me again, lady? I'm not the one who put the offer on the table!"

The elf shakes her head, though. "I am not judging you for desiring pleasures of the flesh. I am noting that you're about to lie to us."

Ruckus's eyes grow wide. "Eh? What do you mean? I'm a hot-blooded imp man, of course I..." Although his indignation starts strong, it doesn't take long before his voice begins to trail off. "...Fuck. Guess that was a bit of an, uh, automatic reaction there. Kind of used to showing off, y'know? To be honest I uh...ain't really that into the 'pleasures of the flesh' as much as I might like to claim."

Deylia's voice continues to be understanding. "There's no shame in having, or not having, particular preferences, Mr. Ruckus."

"Oh, don't get me wrong, I love the ladies! It's just that, uh..." The imp glances towards Brightsky before continuing in a lower tone of voice. "...I got, uh...performance issues. You know."

"Ah. I see. I appreciate your honesty."

"Right." Ruckus gulps. "Did I...fail?"

"You're still within the bounds of the test. This is our last one, though." Deylia puts forward two more scraps of parchment, and Ruckus wastes little time before reading them.

"Good for...one free emergency teleport out of the dungeon, with all material possessions and full health? You're giving me the option to just walk out of here?" Ruckus scratches his head. "What, you wouldn't even make me promise not to tell Thaddeus about any of this, or something? And you're not gonna stab me if I choose that one? This isn't another 'the dungeon can't lie' thing, is it?"

Brightsky scoffs. "I will not stab you if you choose it honestly. But it is as Deylia said - there are no tricks here, every offer is a true one. If you honestly want your freedom, it is yours, regardless of the costs to us." She frowns again, although this time it doesn't seem to be at Ruckus. "Even if personally I find this to be...an unnecessary risk. I swear it on Lord Theolif, and that is not an oath I take lightly."

"Huh. And the other one...'help Worthy Dungeon put your former companions to the test, and determine their true character'?" This time Ruckus finds himself even more confused. "This is...literally just the offer Worthy was making earlier? I can work with Worthy, or I can leave? What was the point? Why go through all this? Weren't you gonna ask if I'd rather stab a puppy or my nana or some shit like that?"

Deylia gives the man a slight smile. "The point of the test was to slow you down, and make you think about what it is you really want. If you had the choice given to you immediately, would you not choose to leave, and rejoin your companions? Would it not be the safer option?"

Brightsky continues. "But it is time to consider your true self, not the expectations placed on you, not the person you pretend to be around others. Consider the question fully. Do you truly wish to continue to follow Thaddeus in his quest, and to join in his fate, for good or for ill? If you genuinely wish for that, you may leave with your prizes and I shall not harm you. ...Again, against my personal judgment. Of course, should you return bearing arms you will be under no protection."

Now it's Ruckus's turn to frown, as he stares at the two slips sitting before him. A minute goes by, then another, and part of him wonders if the Valkyrie can tell what it is he truly wants here because he's not sure if he does himself. Eventually though only one choice seems to call to him.

In a soft voice, the man speaks. "...I never thought it was gonna work out."

Deylia tilts her head slightly, unsure if her rabbit ears heard correctly. "Hrmm? What's that?"

"I never thought the plan was gonna work. Not the 'recover Xenon' part of it, that part didn't seem so hard, at least before we found out Xenon was a fuckin' rock in this world. I mean the part where Prince Thaddeus was gonna make us all lords and ladies back in his home kingdom after we got there. How we'd...finally have peace, and not have to scrabble and fight for every inch between each other anymore." Ruckus shakes his head. "It was never gonna work. We'd just bring the old fights along with us, and it'd be the same shit all over again. Some of us, yeah, did just want out of it all. I know I did. But some of us just wanted the chance to be a big fish in a little pond."

Looking back up at the priestesses, Ruckus's voice is more confident as he reaches out and grabs hold of the second slip. "Well...maybe I wouldn't mind doing a little fishing."

While Brightsky's expression remains clouded, Deylia gives the rogue a warm smile. "Well, Mr. Ruckus - welcome to the team."