Run: 2026-02-19-01KHSZ0S92TYQZNCHYJ18E0P74

The warm amber light filtered through a canopy of twisted vines as Rory, Nyx, and Isolde stepped into the sprawling gardens of Dymas. Rory's eyes widened at the sight of enormous fruits hanging from the branches, the sweet scent of ripe melons and berries perfuming the air. "Welcome to the realm of Gluttony," Isolde whispered enigmatically, her silver hair shivering in the breeze. "Where excess knows no bounds." Nyx shifted into their solid form, the shadows coalescing into a tall humanoid figure. "I've heard tales of this place," they murmured, voice like a sigh on the wind. "But to see it with my own eyes..." Rory reached out to pluck a glossy purple berry from a nearby bush, popping it into her mouth. The burst of flavor was intense, the juice gushing over her tongue with a sweetness that made her teeth ache. She couldn't resist a soft moan of delight. Isolde smiled mysteriously as she led them onward through the winding paths of the orchard. The ground beneath their feet was soft and yielding, unlike the hard earth of the mortal world. Rory noticed that Isolde left no footprints in the damp soil, her footsteps eerily silent. As they walked deeper into the heart of the gardens, Rory began to hear strange sounds carried on the breeze - the distant clatter of pots and pans, the low hum of voices raised in laughter and song. She exchanged a glance with Nyx, whose eyes glittered with curiosity. The trees gradually thinned out, giving way to a vast open-air kitchen surrounded by tables laden with food. Chefs with ruddy faces and sweat-dampened hair labored over roaring fires and bubbling cauldrons, while souls clad in simple tunics scurried to and fro carrying platters of delicacies. Rory's stomach gave a loud growl as the rich aromas of roasting meats and exotic spices wafted over her. She pressed a hand to her abdomen, feeling the pang of hunger keenly after their long journey. Isolde beckoned them closer to the edge of the gathering, where she could observe the scene without being noticed. "In Dymas, every meal is a feast," she intoned in a low voice. "And indulgence is not a sin, but a virtue." As if to illustrate her point, a large boar trundled up to one of the tables, its bristly hide glistening with fat. It snuffled eagerly at a tray of steaming pastries before snatching one up in its tusks and bolting off into the undergrowth. Nyx let out a soft laugh, the sound like leaves rustling in the wind. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that pig was possessed." Rory couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of it all. She watched as a group of chefs clustered around a massive iron cauldron, arguing heatedly over the proper ratio of spices for their concoction. One man waved a wooden spoon vehemently, his face red and shining with sweat. Suddenly, one of the lesser souls approached the trio carrying a heavy tray laden with fruit tarts, candied violets, and little cakes oozing cream. She bobbed a curtsy before offering the treats to them with a shy smile. Rory hesitated for only a moment before selecting a tart dusted with powdered sugar. She bit into it cautiously, her eyes fluttering closed as the flavors exploded on her tongue - sharp lemon curd tempered by sweet, buttery pastry. When she opened her eyes again, Nyx was watching her with an amused expression. "What?" Rory asked defensively, licking a stray crumb from the corner of her mouth. Nyx shook their head, a smile tugging at the corner of their lips. "Nothing. I just never thought I'd see the day when Aurora Carter, champion of restraint and self-control, succumbed to the delights of Gluttony." Rory made a face at them, but couldn't help the warmth that bloomed in her chest at the sight of Nyx's rare grin. Isolde watched them both with a secretive smile before turning her attention back to the bustling kitchen. As they continued their exploration of the gardens, Rory became increasingly aware of the strangeness of their surroundings. The plants seemed almost alive, tendrils of vine snaking out to wrap around her wrists and ankles as she passed by. Nyx stumbled slightly as they pushed through a curtain of leaves, swearing softly under their breath. Rory glanced over her shoulder to see if they were all right, but Nyx just scowled and shook off the clinging vegetation with an irritated flick of their wrist. Disquieting as it was, there was also a seductive quality to the garden, like the siren call of a forbidden fruit. Rory found her pace slowing as she breathed in the intoxicating scents of nectar-heavy flowers and ripe fruit, feeling an answering thrum of desire deep within her body. Isolde led them to the entrance of a vine-draped tunnel, her pale eyes glinting with mischief as she stepped aside to let them pass. "Beyond this point," she murmured teasingly, "lies the true heart of Dymas." Rory exchanged a glance with Nyx before stepping into the darkness of the tunnel, her heart pounding with anticipation. The walls were lined with lanterns that flickered softly, casting eerie shadows on the twisting vines overhead. As they moved deeper into the passage, Rory heard the sound of water dripping somewhere up ahead, punctuating the silence like the beat of a drum. The air grew colder, making her shiver and wrap her arms around herself for warmth. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of walking, they emerged into a cavernous chamber lit by glowing crystals embedded in the rock walls. In the center of the room stood an enormous tree, its branches reaching up to touch the distant ceiling, heavy with bizarre fruits that pulsed softly in the dim light. Rory approached the tree cautiously, her eyes drawn to the strange fruits hanging from its branches. Some were shaped like crescent moons, others twisted into spirals or knotted like macramé. A few even seemed to writhe and squirm as if alive. Nyx stepped up beside her, their dark form reflecting the eerie glow of the crystals. "What do you think they are?" Rory whispered, not wanting to break the hushed atmosphere of the room. Isolde came to stand on Rory's other side, her silver hair shimmering in the half-light. "The fruits of temptation," she replied cryptically, her voice echoing softly off the stone walls. "Each one offers a different pleasure, but at a price." Rory frowned, not entirely sure what Isolde meant by that. She watched as Nyx reached out to touch one of the wriggling fruits, only for it to suddenly still and go limp at their touch. "Careful," Isolde warned softly, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone. "Not everything in Dymas is as it seems." Nyx withdrew their hand quickly, shaking off the now-motionless fruit with a grimace of distaste. Rory couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease as she looked around the cavern, seeing the potential for danger lurking in every shadowy corner. And yet, despite the strangeness and peril of this place, Rory couldn't deny the sense of wonder that filled her at the same time. Dymas was unlike anything she had ever seen before, a realm of excess and indulgence that challenged her preconceptions about the nature of sin. As they continued to explore, guided by Isolde's enigmatic presence, Rory found herself drawn deeper into the seductive embrace of Gluttony. Though part of her knew she should resist its temptations, another part yearned to surrender entirely to the pleasures it promised... But for now, at least, curiosity and caution held her back from fully giving in to the delights of this otherworldly garden. And so Rory walked on through the vine-tangled paths of Dymas, her senses reeling from the onslaught of sights, sounds, and scents, always aware of the thin line between wonder and unease that defined her journey through this realm of excess.