That we're merely being "lied to" is certain, by now. The motive of Riltia's lying is what's worth worrying about.
If she wants to betray and kill us all, that's bad. Even if she turned on us right now, we'd be extremely lucky to escape without characters dying. If she turned on us in the middle of a tough combat, we'd be instantly doomed.
Remember, though, that
Riltia herself tried to warn us that "no one is who you think they are". Hence for that reason I think her motives are not completely evil. She may have corrupt forces working on her, however - what with her "dream of great power" moment earlier - but even that may be her dissembling and somehow simply trying to present herself as evil.
Nobody ever found a way back up to DL1.
Clearly, we need to find the right square and then employ Magic Ladder Travel through the ceiling to get back up again!
Anyone in favor of inputting some random values into the Catalyst and seeing what happens?
-1. We should try it, but not now - and not with random values. Let's not give FFS that cookie!
We need to get healed up. And we need prepare for the event that only the active party / only Cherish herself are transported.
Though have Ciro make a ranged weapon first and absorb the sword.
+1.Also, have Cherish heal Riltia and Slog (who is in 1-hit-kill territory - well, with 4d4 attacks on the table, we all are, but especially Slog), put a Bulwark on Riltia, and, and... erm... give that tie to Al as well.I want to see at least one more room of this hive before it becomes an impregnable fortress!
EDIT: Honestly... Why are we not giving each and every character mega-souped-up Bulwarks while abusing the SP fountain, each time
before cheesing SP to super-maximum level?