Fable - Ask Thunder Down Under

[Liadrin]

Location: Under the Seret Mountains

Liadrin wasn't one for adventuring, well, not in the normal sense. This location was something of a mystery to herself, if not for her new companion she'd never think to even investigate it. She knotted the rope several times over, before lowering it down into the hole in the earth, then tied it off to the most secure looking rock she could find. Being more conditioned for close quarters fighting, she had elected to go first, and would begin her climb through the hole, her lithe body fitting into the hole, and with a bit of work she climbed her way down, though was left all struck by the sight. There seemed to be another world under here, a seemingly limitless supply of water churned from over the near by cliff, large stone columns met at the ceiling, and before them loomed a massive stone archway, with a strange almost moon like glow from the archway emanating the cliff side she currently was descending down to.

She had to snap herself out of her distracted state, moving down the rope before she lost her grip, swords jingled against her back as she did so, until her feet found the hard earth underfoot. She hadn't seen such structures before, at least, nothing like this, and not in person. Most of her learning had been from forced reading and brutal personal instruction, but this? There was something unreal about it all, almost enthralling to the young woman. She nearly forgot about her companion up above, Liadrin took the rope and gave it three hard tugs, signaling that it was safe down on the bottom. With that done, she removed one of her blades, and slowly approached the door, finding it to be seemingly sealed, as well as bearing a language written upon it that she couldn't understand. Perhaps her companion could make light of this.

Namidre Dhendizad

 

[Namidre Dhendizad]

Namidre had been overjoyed that she had found someone to accompany her. She was rather timid, and while she wasn't useless in a fight she was generally more subservient, and far more willing to comply with demands than most other adventurers would be. So she felt truly blessed to have met someone who would be assertive for her, it took a lot of worry off her shoulders, and let her focus on how best to actually handle a fight should it come up.

But she seriously doubted they'd find any enemies here to fight. This location was known only to her people, who were also completely cut off from it due to the fact that noone was allowed to leave the city without permission. And they were several leagues south of her home city, so really, it was plain impossible that they'd find themselves in confrontation with anything other than a giant bat or a spider maybe.

She, being a subrace of sidereal elf, had the ability to see in the dark, not as well as some races, but well enough. So she'd be useful even if it were dark, luckily it wasn't.

The rope was tugged thrice, no threat. So the young elf woman nervously creeped down the rope, not used to such an exercise, luckily it had been knotted to give her better grips on it, but even so she was terrified of falling the entire way down. An eternity later her feet met the ground, and she stumbled a short ways as she landed.

Looking up at the cavern around them she saw so many things, waterfalls, cliffs, rocks, the phosphorescent moss that grew in her home was also found here. And she spied a few lanterns too, the kind filled with the phosphorescent oils that were harvested from the aforementioned moss. It filled her with a sense of homesickness.

"So this is what it looks like!" She said with a sense of wonder. "I've always wanted to visit this place, but noone was allowed to leave."

She approached the door, and began to read. "Well, that's ominous."

Liadrin

 

[Liadrin]

Liadrin stepped aside as the elven woman made her way down the rope. The Kavosh glanced to see if the woman required any assistance, but it soon became clear that the woman was not as physically imposing as Liadrin. She hadn't encountered Elves before, least, not the ones of the dark variety. They were equally beautiful in her eyes, or at least from the illustrations that she had seen. Namidre for certain was one of the more appealing woman she had encountered, though the Kavosh was left to ponder if that was merely the fact she was the first Elf she had laid eyes upon, or she was just genuinely attractive. Regardless, the answers to such questions was best to be ignored for the time being. They'd not be in each others company for much longer, as was tradition, Liadrin planned to split the moment this expedition was concluded; last thing she needed was painting a target on her back again.

She let forth a low sigh, her blade sliding back into the sheath, before moving towards the twitching rope. She decided to wait by the rope, steadying it to try and be somewhat helpful, and then swiftly moving aside as her companion reached the ground. She pointed towards the door, though it wasn't needed, as Namidre was already moving towards it, which was Liadrin's signal to draw steel once more.

Namidre made a statement that the Kavosh could agree with, she herself sought to explore such places, but doing so on ones own was borderline suicidal truthfully. Thankfully, she had someone just as reckless as Namidre to tag along, though the woman only gave soft 'hm' in agreement. She wasn't one for talk, not when there wasn't something worth saying at least.

Moving behind the woman, she only caught the initial statement, though was left annoyed at how there was no further explanation given aside from it being 'ominous'. Not exactly helpful. Liadrin's lip twitched in annoyance, realizing that she would have to inquire further to garner the meaning. "What does it say?" She said, her tone concealing her slight irritation, and more focused on the mystery that looked before the pair.

She observed the stone archway for several moments as she awaited the explanation, her mind wondering on how to open it, before the thought came to her. She could just melt away the stone, alter the property from stone to dust, but that could easily go astray.

No, there was probably a safer way forward, one that she perhaps should leave to a mage with for finesse than herself.

Namidre Dhendizad

 

[Namidre Dhendizad]

Moving behind the woman, she only caught the initial statement, though was left annoyed at how there was no further explanation given aside from it being 'ominous'. Not exactly helpful. Liadrin's lip twitched in annoyance, realizing that she would have to inquire further to garner the meaning. "What does it say?" She said, her tone concealing her slight irritation, and more focused on the mystery that looked before the pair.

"Basically it says "ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE!"" she explained. "But I think it's an exaggerating threat than a guaranteed fact. Though we should certainly proceed with caution."

She examined the door. It was tall, stone carved, more like what dwarves would do than elves, but they made it. There were several other sources of writing along the door and the walls surrounding it. She spent fifteen minutes or so studying various symbols and words along these walls, and after that time she returned to the door and placed the end of her staff on the door, right in the middle.

Wordlessly she began to draw a rune on it's face, it wasn't terribly complex, but it worked. After she did this there was the sound of stone scraping on stone, and the doors began to open. It wasn't dark, but it wasn't light. two hallways went, left and right on the inside of the door. Regularly placed lanterns filled with the phosphorescent oil that was dimming. Nothing lasts forever and these lamps seemed to be running out of their phosphorescence.

"In we go. And let's hope we don't wake up any cosmic, eldritch horrors."

 

[Liadrin]

Liadrin wasn't one for humor, so to say she didn't find the Elfs remark funny was putting it lightly. "Cute." She had to think that Namidre wasn't jesting with her, though she couldn't be certain; after all, she didn't know the Elf that well. She said humorlessly, her pale eyes staring at the stonework, her limited book reading keeping her from fathoming what in the world could have created this. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to feel for a pulse of magic in the area, wondering if it might hint at the origins of this place.

She didn't have to focus for long before the sensation lashed back at her. Her feet nearly buckled from under her, before her concentration faltered; indeed there was a great source of magic within this place, a frightening amount even. Her head jerked up, a mix of excited and concerned about what rested beneath the pairs feet. She was about to speak with Namidre, before seeing the Elf was studying the door, perhaps devising a method of which to open it. Liadrin let out a breath, suppressing the bubbling excitement within her and merely crossing her arms as she awaited the path to be opened up. Her eyes studied the rune, trying to burn it into her mind in the hope she could mimic it at a later date, but the glow of the pattern made it hard to follow. She frowned, straining her eyes as the Elf repeated the process, and seemingly unlocked the door through her efforts.

Liadrin's eyes widened at the hall that opened before them, all disappointment from her lack of magical understanding faded, and astonishment took it's place. Namidre then threw out several words that she wasn't familiar with, and the astonishment morphed into confusion. "A what?" She asked, falling in behind the mage as she was uncertain where to even start within this structure. It was then that Liadrin felt something amiss, that magic she had felt swelling under her feet just moments ago shifted, as if it had moved. The sensation gave her pause, her eyes looking to the ground, and felt nothing further. "Did...you feel that just now?" The Kavosh asked, her hand hovering over her nearest blade, though kept it sheathed for now. There was a shift in the seemingly uncaring warrior, perhaps a hint of fear for this unknown she felt.

Little did the pair know, that they were not to be the only ones venturing into this hall. Though that would only be a problem for their future counter parts, for now, they had an ancient ruin to discover.

Namidre Dhendizad

 

[Namidre Dhendizad]

"Cute."

"No, I'm serious," She said plainly, "That's what it says, maybe not in those exact words but that is what it said."

Namidre then threw out several words that she wasn't familiar with, and the astonishment morphed into confusion. "A what?"

"A horror. Either cosmic or Eldritch, really there's no telling which is which or which to expect down here. Underground has more to do with Eldritch Horrors but my people focus more on Cosmic forces, so really we should expect some combination of both. I wonder if we'll find any Thrälls down here, it'd be a great opportunity to learn!"

She summoned a fire on the sapphire tip of her staff, which illuminated their way well enough for both to see. It was a beautiful hallway, but the architecture was flawless. It was smooth stone the whole way with vaulted ceilings and intricate carvings all across the walls, and they would come across several different paths to take.

"Isn't this exciting?!"

 

[Liadrin]

She didn't take the Elf's comment seriously at first, though the presence she felt under her feet was what had certainly gotten her on edge. The explanation that followed from the Elf did little to comfort her as well, the ideas of something that was either Cosmic, or Eldritch sounded far outside of her pay grade. "Perhaps, but I'm more concerned about what we can reasonably handle." She muttered to herself, her hand tapped the pommel of her blade, wondering if she had the capacity within herself to fight off whatever the hell might dwell within this place.

Seeing Namidre ignite her staff, Liadrin fell in line behind the caster, unsure as to what was awaiting the pair. As nice as this place was too look at, that swelling of magic she had felt under their feet was actively on her mind, the Kavosh wondering if that warning up front had any true merit to it. "Yes, and no." She said, her lips tensing as she pondered what that power could possibly be. The first corridor was a grand hall of sorts, the vaulted ceilings were impressive and all, but what would be quite striking if the pair continued forward, coming across what appeared to be a collection of magical statues formed of glowing crystalline structures. They hung from the ceiling, floating several inches off the floor, taking up shapes of familiar yet alien looking creatures, and shifting every several minutes, making the woman wonder just who in the hells created this place. "Marvelous." She muttered, nearly moving to touch one of the shimmer structures, before thinking better of it and recoiling her hand. The sight was lovely truthfully, and looking back to the Elf, she hoped for something akin to an explanation; though she wasn't bold enough to inquire for one.

Namidre Dhendizad

 

[Namidre Dhendizad]

Marvelous." She muttered, nearly moving to touch one of the shimmer structures, before thinking better of it and recoiling her hand. The sight was lovely truthfully, and looking back to the Elf, she hoped for something akin to an explanation; though she wasn't bold enough to inquire for one.

"Isn't it?!" Namidte said chipperly and excitedly. She was giddy at the opportunity to explore such an ancient, revered place. "Not only is it both ancient and beautiful, but can you feel the magic here? It's positively radiating from every stone. Who knows what we'll find down here! Tomes of ancient lore and forgotten magic, scrolls containing rituals for spells of unutterable power, manuals for perfecting ones technique and knowledge in the magical arts, artefacts used by Archmages and Circle Casters, magical constructs like golems and summoned guardians of the ancient ways. This isn't just Marvelous my quiet friend, this is Hallowed."

She looked about at the crystal statues, and thought back to her own words, particularly the word Golem came into her mind. Could these...

She approached the center of the room where a broad bowl had be carved out of the floor and filled with water. It was so perfectly still that she saw reflection in its surface. And in that reflection, more writing. She looked up. And above them there was a circle of elven writing, but it was backwards, looking back down, it made sense in the reflection.

"Hmmm."

 

[Liadrin]

The words of her companion put wild thoughts into the young arcane users mind, though what perturbed her was who might have been the original inhabitants of this domain. Truthfully, she hadn't a clue. "Yes, but why was it left like this?" It was the only question that the Elf didn't seem to voice, and the one that was most prevalent on the woman's mind.

Liadrin dared to look into the magic once more, and her senses informed her of just how potent this place was. Indeed, it was teeming with power, though such strength was fused into the very walls and floors of this place. "If I could have just even a small bit of the power here, I struggle to think what I could do with it." She muttered, her foot falls falling behind the Elf as she was enthralled by what she was witnessing. Though it was short lived, as her eyes fell upon the sight of the before the pair. The center of the room called attention to something, though that something seemed to be writing that she couldn't read. Annoyance took the place of wonder, as once again, she required her pointy eared companion to translate.

All the while, the inhabitant of the tomb was slowly becoming aware to those that were trespassing within it's domain.

Namidre Dhendizad

 

[Namidre Dhendizad]

The words of her companion put wild thoughts into the young arcane users mind, though what perturbed her was who might have been the original inhabitants of this domain. Truthfully, she hadn't a clue. "Yes, but why was it left like this?" It was the only question that the Elf didn't seem to voice, and the one that was most prevalent on the woman's mind.

"That I don't know. Maybe they wanted to keep the knowledge inside safe, maybe they considered it too dangerous to be kept." She suggested. "It really can't be known."

Liadrin dared to look into the magic once more, and her senses informed her of just how potent this place was. Indeed, it was teeming with power, though such strength was fused into the very walls and floors of this place. "If I could have just even a small bit of the power here, I struggle to think what I could do with it." She muttered, her foot falls falling behind the Elf as she was enthralled by what she was witnessing. Though it was short lived, as her eyes fell upon the sight of the before the pair. The center of the room called attention to something, though that something seemed to be writing that she couldn't read. Annoyance took the place of wonder, as once again, she required her pointy eared companion to translate.

"You aren't the only one." She said calmly. "There's simply too much here to even imagine what you could do with it."

She read the words in her own language, and seemed to stop and think. Then she seemed to understand. She placed the sapphire at the tip of her staff in the water and it began to glow. She cast some form of spell, and the pool rippled. The statues began to move.

 

[Liadrin]

"I can understand that, but why is there a big warning on the front door in that case?" She asked, knowing there would be no real answer she would be given. She merely let the elven woman continue on with her words, knowing she wouldn't fully know what was in store.

The pair came to a stop at the pool of water, Liadrin herself feeling the magic, or at least thinking she could. Namidre began to fiddle with the water, much to Liadrin's dislike as she grimaced at what could be at stake. Her hand took to gripping the hilt of her blade, as the statues of the room began to shift, seemingly spurred to life by the woman's spellwork. Again, Liadrin felt a swelling of power beneath her, like an earthquake of magic that was pushing up from the earth, and yet, nothing made itself known. Turning around, Liadrin's hand drew steel, expecting something horrific to happen. "What prompted you to do this?" She inquired, the woman unsure as to what the Elf had been thinking with her decided actions in that moment.

 

[Namidre Dhendizad]

"I can understand that, but why is there a big warning on the front door in that case?" She asked, knowing there would be no real answer she would be given. She merely let the elven woman continue on with her words, knowing she wouldn't fully know what was in store.

"To warn people off most likely." She explained, "We value life, so we only take lives if there is no other option. So it makes sense that they'd try to scare intruders off."

The pair came to a stop at the pool of water, Liadrin herself feeling the magic, or at least thinking she could. Namidre began to fiddle with the water, much to Liadrin's dislike as she grimaced at what could be at stake. Her hand took to gripping the hilt of her blade, as the statues of the room began to shift, seemingly spurred to life by the woman's spellwork. Again, Liadrin felt a swelling of power beneath her, like an earthquake of magic that was pushing up from the earth, and yet, nothing made itself known. Turning around, Liadrin's hand drew steel, expecting something horrific to happen. "What prompted you to do this?" She inquired, the woman unsure as to what the Elf had been thinking with her decided actions in that moment.

She looked up at the moving statues. "I didn't. At least I didn't mean to. Anti-intruder countermeasures perhaps? No matter, those appear to be golems, they'll be slow if they attack us, so they won't be too hard to avoid, but they're impossible to destroy completely unless the seal that animates them is destroyed or nullified. It'll likely be a coin shaped plate of metal, located where the heart should be or in their head. Prepare for a fight."

She brought her staff up and prepared a spell, She relished this opportunity to test her skill.