"Greetings, Traveler. How do you find our fair land?" the woman asks. Before you can speak she adds sardonically,"Ah, Fantasy...Where the women are strong, the men are dashingly handsome, and the children are all endowed with magickal powers. It must be very different from the future you come to us from."
You stare at her, unsettled by this. How does she know this? Can she read your mind?
"Yes, I know all about your adventures and how you came here," the woman continues. "I also know who you are going to meet and where you are going to go after you finish exploring the Temple."
You find your voice and venture to ask her what her name is.
"The one and only Prophetess," she says simply, smiling faintly. You wait for the rest, but none comes. So that's how she knew about your past--she's an Oracle. You wonder if she can foretell your death, or hers. You shake away those morbid thoughts and ask her about the Temple.
"No, I don't worship here." Prophetess gestures, indicating the area around the both of you. "I simply found this place. I have no idea what god belongs here, but I believe there were at least one or two here, if they no longer exist now. I like it here...No one really bothers me because it's rather hard to get to. But I can make the journey back and forth. You become accustomed to it after a while."
You ask her if she is lonely here.
"Not really," she says, tilting her head to one side. "I know many and have many friends in this Realm."
You suspect that she isn't telling you the whole truth about herself, but you decide it would be rude to pry futher, and you would not want to offend a denizen of this realm. Instead, you ask her if she is cold in that rushing water.
"A little," Prophetess admits. "But it's refreshing. And it gets extremely hot outside, which I'm sure you've noticed." She glances at the bits of sand still clinging to your worn garb.
You nod. Then you notice something odd. In the canyon wall, there seems to be a faint shimmering, as if the wall were merely an illusion. You decide to ask her what it is.
"I don't know. After my last visitor went in there.....Well, let's just say that they never came back to visit again. I suspect it may be a sacrificial arena for the Temple's god. Since I'm not its Priestess, I doubt it'd take kindly to my intrusion." She eyes you meaningfully with an unflinching stormy gray-blue gaze.
You thank her kindly.
"Not at all. I wish you the best on your forthcoming explorations."
You walk away and stop before the shimmering in the canyon. You debate whether to heed Prophetess's warning and leave, or whether you should take a chance and explore further.