Jacob felt rage. They had won! Yet why did he lie here on the ground unable to move. Jacobs friends ran over to him even as their own astral bear forms dissipated. Though they found that they could get no closer to him than 5 feet. As if a wall of force had been erected around him.

Jacob felt he still had one more battle to win. Too his surprise the Roc spirit spoke, “You one so weak, DARES to think he can subjugate me?!” It paused for a moment as if taking in the entirety of who Jacob was. “You are at your limit. I refuse to be under your heel!” The Roc’s voice clearly male, reverberated in this empty place.

The great Roc took flight in this black void, racing at great speed toward him, “You should be grateful for such a swift and merciful death, FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO ME! When I have killed you, I shall take your place and slay all those you call friend!”

Jacob felt a warm hand upon his shoulder, he did not need to turn around to know it was Hethara. He reached up and placed his hand upon hers, but then he brushed it aside. “I must do this on my own.” To his words she did not meet him with anger but with even greater love and respect.

Jacob dug deep within himself, to win he had not only to move past his limits, he needed to entirely shatter them. In the darkness of that moment with the raging Roc bearing down upon him, he heard the same voice that had spoken to him when he had just arrived. As if it were the world itself that had spoken.

You are worthy…

With a burst of light, he found the strength he needed at the bottom of his heart. His form swelled until he stood as tall as the Roc itself. He raised up his fists and brought them down upon the form of the Roc, driving it to the ground.

Back with his friends one by one they fell, exhausted from the fight and by the power that had been invested into them. The first to fall was Calisa, the shadow of the Roc parted revealing her unconscious form drenched in its blood.

The next was Archival who had been using his Druidic magic forcing vast amounts of plants to spring forth from the ground to bind and hold the Roc while his friends had mauled it.

The last to fall was Hellen. She fell to her knees driving her blade into the earth, trying to take one more step, to help her fallen comrade. She had only known him a short time, but he had proven himself with this act. What kind of person would she be if she denied him as a friend now? Her final words before the darkness took her, “I believe in you!” Her words hardly more than a whisper.

Thomas did not fall for he was used to this kind of exhaustion. His towering form standing watch over his sleeping comrades.

Jacob mercilessly beat the Roc and still it did not yield. He was sick and tired of this bird! So, he dug his fingers deep into the Roc’s flesh and lifted it. The Roc seemed not to notice as he continued his peaking and claw strikes against Jacob.

Jacob imagined a great pit stretching out before him and so it was. “If I can’t win, then I guess we both die!” Jacob said as he stepped off the cliff. Jacob heard another new voice.

Iron Will has evolved into Adamantine Will…

For those who challenge Death, require a will stronger than steel…

Jacob and the Roc tumbled down through the void. The Roc stretching out its claws looking for a solid wall that simply was not there.

It was at this moment that the Roc realized the weight of what he had just done. The Roc attempted to fly but its wings found no purchase here. While it hated the thought of being subjugated by this man, he could not help but find respect for him. He was willing to give up his life if it meant protecting them.

The Roc closed its great eyes and said, “I yield.” There was no longer darkness for only light filled this place.

You have successfully contested your Right of Sky...

You have obtained the Great Roc Spirit Totem...

Your affinity for Spirits has increased...

Jacob spoke with three voices as he felt the Roc's spirit join with him. "We are they who rule the land and sky! Who will debate our right?" In the light of this place, falling throught the void none came to contest his accomplishments. Jacob heard the beating of wings only to realize they were his own.

He felt as his fall ceased, and reversed. His form flipping around to face towards the sky. He felt his new wings beat with the might of a hurricane and in only three beats of those great wings he crested the edge he had walked from but a moment earlier. Jacob felt a hand on his shoulder and the all to familiar presense of something more, "Rest now..."